Family ARDEIDAE. 



Ardea cinerea L. - Common Heron. 



(Plates 119, fig. a-d). 

 (Snotickacrt: Avifauna Necrlandica, p. 82, No. 192). 



Colour of surface of shell : 



Average dimensions : 

 Average weight of shell; 

 Texture of shell: 



Shape : 

 Nest: 



Site of nest: 



Number of eggs: 

 Breeding season: 



bliiisli green; flaky particles of lime are 

 spread over the entire surface, in conse- 

 quence of which the pores often resemble 

 white specks. (See introduction of the 

 Family). 



61 X 43 millimetres. 



4.6 grams. 



smoothly granulated (the constituent grains 

 are difficult to distinguish from one another. 



ovoidal, more oval or bellied. 



composed of twigs, reedstems, etc., lined 

 mostly with hair, wool and feathers. 



usually in the tops of high trees, but also 

 in growths of reeds (in colonies). 



4-6. 



March (in a few nests eggs are sometimes 

 found even earlier) — April, also some- 

 times even in May. 



Duration of incubation; 



about 28 days. 



