Report of a Mission to Gnaw. 29 



Genus DEMIEGRETTA Blvtii. 

 18. Demiegretta sacra (Gm.). Chuchuku. Reef Heron. 



Aidtit sacia. Gm.. S\st. Xat., I., p. 640: Finsch., Jour. Mus. Godef , VIII., p. 3^ ; Scl., Chal- 



lenf^er Exp., II., B., p. 31 ; Tri.str., Ibis, 1882, p. 144 (Solomon Ids.). 

 Ardca jiigulaiis. Korst., Icon. ined. tab. 114; Hartl., J. f. O., 1853, p. 167 (Mariaiiiuv Id.s.); 



Sharp, P. Z. S.. 1SS7, p. 516 (Chri.stma.s Id.). 

 Hr-iodiiii .i.Taiv, Gray, List. Grail. Brit. Mus., p. 80 (Aust.). 

 J)<'>/ii(X>f//a ffitivi. Gould. Hand. B. B. Aust., II., p. 309. 

 /)i>ni,xii'//a sacra. Wald., Ibis. 1S73, p. 318; Grant, P. Z. S., 188S, p. 333; Sharp, Ibis, 1S94, p. 



245; Hart., Nov. Zool., V., p. 64; Cat. B. Brit. Mus.. XXVI., p. 137. 



The Reef Herons are not verj- abundant on the island, and 

 they are extremely wild and difficult to approach. Three speci- 

 mens were secured, one adult male and two adult females: — 



AfHseiim Mid-toe 



No. Dati\ /.t'lii;///. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Ciilnirii. and c. Sc.v. 



9585 .Iniit- 10 2.").0(l n..oO 4.00 H.25 3.37 2.90 ^ 



9587 .June 11 • 24.0(1 11.00 3.35 3.50 3.12 2.60 ? 



9588 Jul.v 14 24.00 11.00 3.68 3.0(t 3.30 2.86 ^ 



The spread of the wings is about 37.50, and the depth of the 

 bill at the nostrils is .56. Sexes colored similarly. The general 

 color of the adult is blackish slate ; feathers of the crest and short 

 back plumes tinged with gray in the fully adults ; a white streak 

 down the centre of throat, this streak in some specimens beginning 

 between the gonys and extending three inches or more down the 

 neck ; in others the white streak begins on a line with the anterior 

 of e3'e and is only about one inch in length. Specimens almost 

 adult have scattered feathers of a dirty buffy white among the slaty 

 plumage of the mantle, neck, and wing coverts ; bill dark above 

 and at the tip, under mandible dusky yellowish ; feet and tarsus 

 dusk}' 3-ellowish green with dark splotches on the front of the tar- 

 sus ; eye golden yellow. I/ad. Australia, Pacific islands, Burmah, 

 Malay peninsula, Korea, Bay of Bengal, Japan and China. 



Order P.ALUDICOL.€.-Rails, Coots, Etc. 



Hind toe above the level of the others, toes long and slender, 

 wings less than 10. Famil)' Rallidcr, Rails. 

 a'. Without frontal .shield. 



b'. Length about 11, barred with black and white on the 

 under surface, wing more than 3.9. Genus Hypotccnidia . 



b-. Length about 7, under surface gray, not barred, wing 

 3.39 or less. Genus Poliolimnws. 

 a". With a frontal shield. 



b'. Middle toe longer than the tarsus, no webs or lobes on 

 the toes, wing 6.92 or less. Genus Gallinula . 



b". Toes with lobes on the sides, wing 7.70- S. 30. 

 Genus Fnlica . 



