744 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



name of Snake Heron. It rises with a loud harsh cry, which it 

 repeats as it flies along, especially if it has been alarmed. Unlike 

 most of the other Herons, this species breeds among lofty reeds ; 

 I have seen several of its breeding places, but the nests were 

 quite inaccessible, and I have not procured its eggs. It feeds on 

 fish, frogs, &c. 



It is found throughout India and Ceylon, extending into Burmah 

 and Malayana, and is spread throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. 

 Bonaparte separates the African bird as A. Pharaonica, stating it 

 to be much larger. 



Another species of this group is A. herodias, L,, of America. 



The next form is that of the White Herons, or Egrets. 



Gen. Herodias, Boie. 



Char. — Bill moderately long and slender, straight, and much 

 compressed ; plumage white ; the neck very long and slender ; 

 tibia naked for nearly half its length ; tarsus long, thin. 



The Egrets are a natural group of Herons very abundant in 

 India, and found in all quarters of the globe. They have the 

 feathers of the back long and decomposed at the breeding season, 

 in some crested, in others with the pectoral plumes elongated. 



925. Herodias alba, Linn^us. 



Ardea, apud Linnaeus — Blyth, Cat. 1638 — Jerdon, Cat. 302 

 and 303— SYKES,Cat. 169— A. egretta,TEMMiNCK— Gould, Birds 

 of Europe, pi. 276 — A. modesta, Gray— Hardw., 111. Ind. Zool. 

 pi. — A. ilavirostris, Wagler — A. torra, Buchanan Hamilton 

 and I^RANKLiN — A. syrmatophorus, GouLD, Birds of Australia 

 VI., pi. 56 ? — Mallang-hagla, and Torra-bagla, H. — Pedda tella 

 konga, Tel. — Mala-konga of the Gonds — Dhar-hagla, Beng. — 

 Baclio-harado, Sindh. 



The Large Egret. 



Descr. — Plumage pure white ; in the breeding season an elon- 

 gated dorsal train of fine decomposed feathers, which pass the tail 

 sometimes by 4 or 5 inches ; no crest, nor breast plumes ; bill 

 black, quickly changing to yellow ; naked skin round the eyes and 

 at the base of the bill, pea-green, approaching to verditer ; irides 



