GllESSORES— ARDEID.K 209 



Ardea melanocephala Vigors and Children. 



(iiey with no clicstnut colour and with crown and back of 

 neck black (grey in young). Wing ^ 9 388-420. Tarsus 133-148. 

 Bill 93-108 (H.). 



An African species ; has occurred accidentally in S. Europe 

 and N. Africa. 



Egretta. 



White Herons, with ornamental plumes in breeding season, 

 breeding in colonies in morasses (on platform on reeds or on 

 bushes), or in high trees ; eggs 3-4, pale greenish blue. 



Egretta alba alba (L.). Great White Heron, fr. 

 Heron aigrette ; Gen Grosser Silberreiher ; //«/. Airone bianco 

 maggiore. 



(^ ? summer. White ; long dorsal plumes drooping over 

 tail ; feathers of neck and breast elongated. Bill black, yellow 

 at base. Facial skin greenish yellow. Legs and feet black 

 in front, yellow behind. Iris yellow. After breeding season 

 dorsal plumes drop off and bill becomes yellow, as it is in 

 young. Wing ^ 410-465, $ 400-450. Tarsus 170-215. Bill 



S 1 10-135, ? 1 10-132 (w.). 



Breeds. — Hungary, Rumania, Balkan Peninsula, S. Russia 

 (Lower Volga, Ural and Emba), and through Asia to N. China 

 and Japan. Migratory in north of breeding range ; occurs in 

 winter in N. Africa (Algeria to Egypt), India and S. China. Of 

 occasional occurrence in C, N.W. and S.W. Europe, as far as 

 Britain. 



Egretta garzetta garzetta (L.). Little Egret. Fr. 

 Heron garzette ; Ger. Seidenreiher ; 7fa/. Garzetta. 



(^ $ White ; in breeding season with two long narrow crest 

 feathers, long dorsal plumes, and a tuft of long feathers on 

 breast ; facial skin slaty blue. Bill and legs black, toes yellow. 

 Iris yellow. Wing 250-310. Tarsus 90-115. Bill 73-92. 



Jirceds. — Spain, S. France (Camargue), N.W. Africa, Italy 

 (Po Valley and Tuscany), Hungary, Balkan Peninsula, S. Russia 

 to Volga and Ural, Caucasus, and in Asia to China and Japan ; 

 also through Africa. Migratory in Europe. Of occasional 

 occurrence Madeira, Canaries, Azores, British Isles. 



O 



