99 



713. X. flavirostris,Sharpe (Herodias picata, Gld. ; Damiegretta picata), 



Pied Egret. 



Crest, crown of head, and sides of face black ; throat, cheeks, and 

 neck white ; bill, legs, and feet greenish-yellow. 



Total length, 19 in. ; culmen, 2 5 in.; wing, 87 in. ; tail, 3 in. ; 

 tarsus, 2*8 in. 



Hab. : 1. 



714. X. ariieiisis, Gray, Allied Egret. 



Whole head and neck white ; under surface white ; upper surface 

 slaty -brown ; bill yellow. This was considered by Gould (Hand- 

 book) to be the young of N. navirostris (H picata, 713). 

 Hab. : 1. 



Genus — GARZETTA. — No crest on head but with drooping head plumes ; 

 breast with lanceolate white plumes. 



715. G. nigripes, Temm. (Herodias garzetta, R unsay ; H. melanopus, 



Gld. , nee Wagler), Little Egret. 



Plumage white ; plumes suspended from the nape (two elongated) ; 

 plumes upon back and breast ; feet and toes totally black. Winter 

 plumage is without the plumes and bas^ of culmen more yellow. 



Total length, about 22 in. ; culmen, 3*4 in.; tarsus, 37 in. ; wing, 

 10 7 in. ; middle toe and claw, 27 in. 

 Hab. : 1, 2, 3. 



Genus — DEMIEGRETTA — Bill without serrations ; culmen longer than 

 tarsus ; tarsus longer than middle toe. 



716. D. sacra, Gmelin. Reef Heron. 



Includes Herodias asha, Gould's Handbook, ii. , p. 305 (nee Sykes) ; 

 Demiegretta grayi, Gould's Handbook, ii., p. 305 ; D. asha, Ramsay's 

 Tab. List, p. 21 ; D. jugularis, Gld. 



Demiegretta asha of Sykes equals Lepterodius asha, an extra- 

 Australian species. 



General plumage dark slate colour ; head crested, a pure white 

 streak down centre of the throat. 



Total length, 23 in. ; culmen, 2*8 in. ; tarsus, 2*9 in. 

 Hab. : 2, 3 ; 4, 5. 



Genus — NYCTICORAX. — Tarsus about equal to middie toe and claw ; 

 bill higher than broad. 



717. N. caledoilicilS, Gmelin, Night Heron. 



General colour nankeen (light chestnut) : two or three long white 

 nuchal plumes; eyebrow white ; thighs white, faintly flushed with 

 rufous. 



Hab. : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8. 



Genus— BUTORIDES— Culmen longer than tarsus ; ornamental nape and 

 dorsal plumes lanceolate. 



718. B. StaffliatiliS, Gld. (B. macrorhyncha, Gld. ; B. javanica, 



Ramsay's List, p. 21, and Gould's Handbook), Thick-billed Bittern. 



B. javanica, Hors., is considered by Dr. Sharpe an extra- 

 Australian bird. 



Upper surface slaty-grey ; abdomen rusty-brown ; throat and 

 cheek stripe light brown. 



Total length, 17 in. ; culmen, 2*8 in. ; tarsus, 1*9 in. 



Young.— Throat white, mottled with sandy spots as on wing 

 coverts. The colour of the soft parts varies with the season. 

 Hab. : 1, 2, 3. 



