192 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



ORDER— HERODIONES : HERONS. 

 FAMILY-ARDEID/E (6 species). 



*EGRET 



(Hcrodias timoriensis, Less.) 



Male {breeding plumage). — Entire plumage pure white, with a 

 bunch of elongated plumes on the back reaching just beyond the 

 tail; "bill beautiful orange; naked space before and behind the 

 eye fine greenish-yellow ; legs alcove the knee pale dull yellow, 

 this colour continued down the centre of the inner part of the tarsi ; 

 remainder of the feet and tarsi black " (Gould). Dimensions in 

 mm. : — Length, 760; bill, 110; wing, 385; tail, 158; tarsus, 143. 



Female {breeding plumage). — Similar to male. 



Male and Female {ivinter plum.age). — Similar to that of the 

 summer but without the plumes ; bill j^ellow. 



Young. — Similar to winter plumage of adults. 



Nest. — A rough but strong platform of sticks, built in a tree 

 overhanging water; usually a heronry is formed. 



Eggs. — Clutch three or four; elliptical in shape; texture coarse ; 

 surface slightly glossy; colour light bluish-green. Dimensions in 

 mm. of odd examples :—(l) 55 x 38, (2) 55 x 37, (3) 54 x 37. 



Breeding Season. — Commences towards the end of November. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania, Australia in general. 

 New Zealand; through the Austro-Malayan Archipelago to North 

 China and Japan. 



Observation's. — This handsome species is but seldom seen 

 about our rivers, and when seen is unfortunately rarely left un- 

 molested. During the summer of 1892 there was an astonishing 

 influx of birds of this species into the island. Reports as to its 

 occurrence were received from the Tamar, North and South Esk, 

 Midlands, Sorell district, and the basin of the Derwent. Unhappily 

 the birds were not given an opportunity to breed in any of the 

 above localities ; but were ruthlessly hunted down. At the present 

 time it is sparingly found at different points on the East Coast. 



*WHITE-FRONTED HERON (Crane) 



{Notophoyx 7iov(B-hollandicB, Lath.) 



Male. — Forehead, eyebrow, cheeks, and the whole of the throat 

 white; head and neck dark slate colour, especially the former; 

 back and shoulders slaty-grey, with long lanceolate plumes of pale 

 vinous tint; lower back, rump, and upper tail coverts lighter 

 grey ; tail dark slaty-grey, the lateral feathers with brownish 

 tips ; wing coverts slaty-grey ; primary coverts and quills black ; 

 long lanceolate plumes on neck and chest deep vinous; abdomen 

 and thighs pale isabelline-grey ; lining of wings white ; upper man- 



