ARDEID^. 751 



930. Ardeola leucoptera, Boddaert. 



Ardea, apud Boddaert — Blytii, Cat. 1645 — A. Grayii, 

 Sykes, Cat. 174 — A. malaccensis, Gmelin— Jerdon, Cat. 307 — 

 Hardwicke, III. Ind. Zool. pi. — Andhe hagla H., also Kani 

 hagla, — Konch hogla, Beng. — Gndi-konrja, Tel., all signifying 

 Blind heron — NuU-madiyan, Tarn., i. e. blind idiot — Red puchahe of 

 the Gonds — Paddy-hird of Europeans. 



The Pond Heron. 



Descr. — Adult in full breeding plumage has the head crested, 

 with long occipital white plumes ; head and neck greyish-yellow ; 

 the back with the feathers decomposed, dark marone ; wings, 

 rump and upper tail-coverts, tail, and all beneath white. 



Bill blue at the base, yellowish in the middle and edges, and 

 black at the tip ; orbits greenish-yellow ; irides bright yellow ; 

 legs and feet dull green. Length 18^ inches ; extent 28 ; wing 

 8^ ; tail 3 ; bill at front 2^ ; tarsus 2| ; middle toe and claw 2f . 



In non-breeding dress, the head, neck, and breast are fulvous 

 with brown stripes, darkest on the head ; the upper plumage pale 

 ashy brown, wings (except the uppermost tertials) white, and 

 the lower parts from the breast white ; thigh-coverts fulvous. 



This is one of the best known and most abundant of its tribe in 

 India, seen at the side of every river, tank, ditch, or pool of water 

 throughout India. It is so confiding and familiar as to have 

 received the name of Blind Heron in all parts of the country. Its 

 especial food is crabs, for which it watches patiently, either in 

 the water or in the fields, and especially on the small raised bunds 

 or divisions between rice-fields. It will, of course, also eat fish, 

 frogs, and various aquatic insects. It begins to change its 

 plumage about May, and in June and July all individuals have 

 assumed the handsome plumage, which differs so materially from 

 that of the cold weather, as to have been considered by many to 

 constitute a perfectly distinct species ; such indeed was the opi- 

 nion of Sykes. It breeds on trees, in all parts of the country, 

 sometimes alone, sometimes several on the same tree, makino- a 

 rough nest of sticks, and laying four or five pale greenish-blue 

 eggs. It is a favorite quarry for the Shih'a, (Micronisus badius). 



