464 EGRETTA NIGRIROSTRIS. 



obtained. Without showing that these birds were not albino 

 varieties of the common Heron, most of our Faunists have 

 admitted them as Ardea alba of Linnaeus and Wagler, Ardea 

 Candida of Brisson. No individual had examined a large 

 white Egret obtained in Britain until the specimen above 

 described came into my hands, fortunately in a recent state. 



On comparing it with a stuffed skin from France, and 

 with the accurate descriptions of Brisson and Wagler, I find 

 some differences which seem sufficient to indicate a species 

 distinct from the bird described by them. In the adult Ardea 

 alba or Candida, the bill is yellow, or pale brown, or yellowish- 

 brown, with the ridge blackish, and the bare space at its 

 base dull green. In the young bird it is described as greenish- 

 black or blackish-green tinged with yellow. In the indivi- 

 dual which I have described the bill is of a decided black, 

 with the tip dusky horn-colour. As to the feet, it is probable 

 that no reliance can be placed upon the descriptions of 

 authors, as they have not examined fresh specimens ; and the 

 other details which they give are applicable to several species 

 alike. My specimen may, after all, be identical with Ardea 

 alba or Candida, but until that bird is more correctly described, 

 I prefer considering the individual examined by me, adult as 

 it certainly is, as the representative of a species, to confound- 

 ing it with that obscurely indicated by the discordant accounts 

 of authors. 



