318 REVIEW OF JAPANESE BIRDS. 



[Herodias eulopliotes Swixn.] 



\S&).—He)-odius enhphotis SwixiiuE, Ibis, 1S(;0, p. G4.— M, ibid., 1663, p. 41s.— /</., F. 



Z. S., 1863, p. 320. — Hume, Stray Feath., VI, 187?, p. 47S.—Jrdea e. 



SCHLEGEL, Mu8. P.-Bas, Ardea?, p. -29 (1863). 

 1853. — Herodias melaitopus Blyth, Journ. As. Soc, XXII (p. 437) {mc AVagl.). 

 1865. — Herodias imviaculata Blyth, Ibis, 1865, p. 37 (wee Gould ?). 

 1877. — Ardca candidissima siibsp. eulopliotes Eeichenow, Jouru. f. Ornith., 1877, p. 



274. 



I have included the present species, which was originally described 

 from Amoy by Mr. Swinhoe, because it is quite probable that it may 

 occur, at least occasionally, on Japanese territory. It is as yet but 

 imperfectly known, and specimens are found only in very few collec- 

 tions. 



Swinhoe's original descrii)tion (Ibis, 1860, p. G4) reads as follows : 



This difters from H. garzetta strikingly in liaviug a yellow bill, full-crested occiput, 

 and shorter legs. It is a rare and solitary sjjecies. Length, 27 inches [686"^™] ; wing,. 

 9.25 [235™m] ; bill, from tip to gape, 3.75 [95'""'] ; tarsus, 3.00 [70°""] ; naked part of 

 the tibia about 1.75 [41'"°']; middle toe, 2.25 [57"""]; its claw, .25 [6.4'°'"]. Legs, 

 greenish black ; feet, olive-brown, patched in places with yellow. Bill, orange-yellow, 

 becoming flesh-colored and purplish in the lores and around the eye. Irides pearl- 

 white. A number of loose feathers spring from the occiput, forming a full ornamental 

 crest, the highest ones being longest and measuring 4^^ inches [IH"""'] each, the 

 length diminishing gradually in the lower ones. Long loose feathers also spring from 

 the lower neck, as also from the back, whereas in H. garzetta they become decomposed 

 into hair-like silky webs curling upwards at their ends. This bird appears to havi- 

 considerable affinity with H. candidiesiina of N. American ornithology. 



He afterwards met with it in Northern Formosa, where he found it 

 " pretty common on the Tamsuy River, being frequently seen in parties 

 of four and five, and occasionally in company with the H. garzettaP I 

 transcribe some of his remarks in regard to the Formosa birds (Ibis, 

 18G3, p. 418) : 



I procured both males and females of this species at Tamsuy. The female is a lit- 

 tle larger, but they are not otherwise to be distinguished. This Egret has a line clear 

 yellow bill in summer, becoming tinged with brown in winter. Its cere is tinged with 

 green and purple ; its irides light pearly yellow. Its legs are in summer black, in 

 winter greenish brown ; its feet and claws are greenish yellow. From H. garzetta it 

 can at all seasons be distinguished by its light and shorter bill, and by its much 

 shorter legs; but in summer its fine full crest marks it at once as different, as well as 

 the scantiness of the dorsal plumes, which do not, as in that species, exceed the tail, 

 and turn feathering upwards. It has considerably more affinity with H. candidissima 

 of America; but that bird is of diHerent proportions, and has a black bill and feet. 

 This bird, in common with most of the Heron tribe, loses its crest early in August; 

 and the other nuptial plumes are then much worn and sc anty, and soon drop away. 

 The breeding season is then over. 



In regard to the alleged close relationship to H. candidissima it may 

 be remarked that the resemblance is onlj^ confined to the fact that both 

 have the occipital crest composed of a great number of plumes. In 

 other respects H. eiilo2)hotes di&ers even more from its American cousin 

 than from H. (jarzetta. In fact so close are its affinities with the latter 



