EGRETTA. EGRET. 459 



oblong sac at the commencement of the rectum ; cloaca large 

 and globular. 



Nostrils linear in the lower part of the nasal membrane. 

 Eyes rather small. Aperture of ear small, roundish. 



Feet extremely long, slender. Tibia bare for half its 

 length or more, covered with hexagonal scales, tarsus very 

 long, covered with hexagonal scales, anteriorly with scutella. 

 Toes long, slender, scutellate above, flattened beneath ; the 

 first large, the second a little shorter than the fourth, which 

 is connected with the third by a basal web. Claws moderate, 

 arched, compressed, narrowed beneath, acute ; that of the 

 middle toe with a serrate inner edge. 



Plumage soft and full. Feathers on the head more or 

 less elongated ; on the neck short, oblong, inclined back- 

 wards, on its fore part below considerably elongated ; on the 

 hind part of the back quite downy ; four longitudinal dorsal 

 series of very elongated feathers, generally having distantly 

 placed filaments, and often extending boyond the tail. 

 Wings ample, of about twenty-eight quills, besides humerals, 

 the outer three nearly equal. Tail short, nearly even, of 

 twelve feathers. 



Species of this genus occur on both continents — Egretta 

 Leuce, candidissima, and Ludoviciana of America, and 

 Egretta nigrirostris, alba, flavirostris, and Garzetta of the 

 Old Continent being among the most characteristic. They 

 feed on fishes, reptiles, Crustacea, insects, small quadrupeds, 

 young birds, and other animals. They are remarkable for 

 their graceful movements, and in activity greatly surpass the 

 Herons. Their flight is sedate, but buoyant. They nestle 

 generally on trees or bushes, sometimes on the ground, 

 laying three or four broadly elliptical light blue eggs. 

 Equally shy and suspicious with the Herons, they are with 

 great difficulty approached, unless during the breeding 

 season. 



None of the species are resident in Britain, but two or 

 three have been met with there. 



