462 EGRETTA NIGRIKOSTRIS. 



feathered for nearly half its length ; in the rest of its extent 

 considerably compressed, and covered with large elongated 

 hexagonal scales ; the tarsus long, compressed, rounded 

 before and behind, with twenty large anterior scutella ; a 

 posterior series of large scales on the inner, and of two rows 

 of smaller on the outer side ; on the tarsal joint the scutella 

 become very narrow, and finally divided. The hind toe is 

 moderate, with eight scutella ; the second a little shorter 

 than the fourth, and with twenty-three scutella ; the third 

 very long, with thirty-three scutella ; the fourth with twenty- 

 seven, and connected with the third by a basal web. The 

 claws are moderate, arched, compressed ; that of the middle 

 toe serrate, with thirty teeth. 



The feathers on the head and neck are of moderate 

 length, oblong or sub-ovate, of rather loose texture, excepting 

 those on a longitudinal band along the fore part of the neck, 

 which are small and more compact. The occipital feathers 

 are very slightly elongated, the longest being an inch and a 

 half in length ; but they scarcely form a crest. On the 

 lower part of the neck the feathers are considerably elon- 

 gated. On the lower parts of the body they are long and of 

 loose texture, especially on the anterior portion of the breast, 

 margining and covering a large space, which is bare in the 

 centre, and on each side has a broad longitudinal band of 

 singular downy plumules of a buffy colour, about three- 

 fourths of an inch in length, with a long orange-coloured 

 shaft, and extremely feeble so as to be easily torn across. 

 On the sides and lower parts the down is of the ordinary 

 kind ; but on each side of the abdomen, behind the femur, is 

 a patch of bufiy down. On the fore part of the back the 

 feathers are large and ovate ; on the hind part perfectly 

 downy. From the fore part of the back arise four bunches 

 or series of very elongated feathers, having rather firm, 

 though slender, straightish shafts, with widely separated, 

 deflected, barbulate filaments. In each of the two middle 

 series are twelve, in each of the lateral about eight long 

 feathers, besides smaller. Posterior to the lateral series, on 

 each side, are six very long, broad, and roundish scapulars, 

 which extend beyond the closed wing. The longest plumes 



