746 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Bill black ; legs black ; irides yellow ; facial skin cbrysoprase 

 green. Length 27 to 28 inches ; extent 46 ; wing 13 ; tail 5 ; 

 bill at front 85- ; tarsus 4| ; middle toe and claw 3|. 



In winter, the dorsal and pectoral trains are wanting, and the 

 bill is yellow. 



This Eojret is likewise found throughout India, is rarer to- 

 wards the South, common in the North-east, and particularly abun- 

 dant in Burmah and Malay ana ; it extends through Africa to 

 Australia. Layard states that it is common in Ceylon. It has 

 similar habits, nest, and eggs, to the last. 



Bonaparte separates from intermedia, plumifera, Gould, from 

 Australia ; fiavirostris, Temm., from Africa ; and egrettoides, 

 Temm., from Asia; but I agree with Blyth in uniting these. Other 

 large Egrets, apparently distinct, are A. leuce, Illiger, (Americana, 

 Andubon) ; and A. occidentalis, Audubon, raised to generic rank 

 as Audubonia, Bonap., on account of its larger size, stout, little 

 compressed bill, and robust form. 



The next bird has been separated by Bonaparte as Garzetta, 

 of smaller size, the bill more slender and less compressed. 



927. Herodias garzetta, Linn^us. 



Ardea, apud Linn^us— Blyth, Cat. 1640 — Jeedon, Cat. 

 304 — SkyeSj Cat. 170 — A. orientalis. Gray — Hardwicke, Ind. 

 Zool, pi. 6 — Gould, Birds of Europe, pL 277 — H. immaculata, 

 Gould — Kilchia or Kirckia-bagla, H. — Nella muka honga, Tel. 



The Little Egret. 



Descr. — In breeding, plumage as in the others, white ; a pendent 

 occipital crest of two or three long narrow feathers ; dorsal train of 

 decomposed feathers, long, and in fine specimens curving upwards 

 at the extremity ; some lengthened pectoral feathers also. 



Bill black (at all seasons) ; whitish at the base ; base of bill and 

 orbitar region greenish-yellow ; legs black ; toes yellow or greenish- 

 yellow. Length 24 to 25 inches ; wing 11 ; tail nearly 4 ; bill at 

 front 3/0 ; tarsus 4 ; middle toe and claw 2 j to 2|-. 



In non-breeding dress, the occipital crest and the dorsal and 

 pectoral plumes are wanting. 



