Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 419 



158. BuPHUs coROMANDUs (Bodd.), 



It is my opinion that, under the term Russet Heron, two 

 species are confounded, the one being found in South Europe and 

 Africa, and the other in India and its archipelago, and, as a 

 summer visitant, in China. Our Eastern bird can, even in its 

 white winter plumage, be distinguished by the greater length of 

 its bill, which is generally half an inch longer, and by its more 

 naked tibiae. In the summer plumage the distinctness is marked. 

 The African has the crown of its head and its under neck only 

 buff-colour, tinged with a vinaceous hue. In ours the entire 

 head, neck, and breast are clothed with orange-coloured feathers, 

 those of the breast only having a slight vinaceous tinge : the 

 centre of the back is also orange ; but the long loose dorsal 

 plumes are light vinaceous pink. I see that the European form 

 has been distinguished by M. Roux as a different species, under 

 the term Ardea veranii, and that of Java by Horsfield as the 

 A. affinis ; but why multiply synonyms ? A. russata has been 

 applied by Temminck to the European bird, and A. coromanda 

 is an old name for the Eastern form. All the specimens of 

 undoubted European birds I have examined are alike, and are 

 easily to be distinguished from the Asiatic, especially in summer 

 plumage. 



This species arrives in Formosa in April in very large flocks, 

 which do not separate, but breed together, feed together, and 

 remain in constant company till they leave our shores again in 

 the beginning of October. They are very partial to insects, and 

 may be frequently seen seated on the backs of and near cattle, 

 catching the flies that swarm about them. I have found in 

 their stomachs maggots, grasshoppers, and many other insects ; 

 but they do feed on fish when they can get them, though they are 

 by no means such assiduous fishermen as many of their brethren 

 are. They are much tamer than most Herons, and so are easily 

 approached within shot. In confinement they soon become tame 

 and docile, and will feed readily on almost any food offered. 

 They often build in company with the Egrets and other Herons 

 on the branches of trees, fighting and squabbling together, and 

 robbing one another's nests of materials in much the same 

 manner. The nest is merely a small flat pannier of twigs, on 



