Indian Birds 



ping of their wings, and the fact that they fly 

 with the neck drawn in and the legs projecting 

 behind beyond the tail. A great many species 

 of heron occur in India, but only four are 

 commonly seen by the average observer. 



222. Ardea cinerea : The Common Heron. 

 This is the familiar heron of England. (F. 

 1555), (J. 923), (+V; a little over a yard 

 long.) 



An ashy-grey bird with some white on the 

 head. From the back of the head some black 

 plumes hang. Lower parts white. Bill dark 

 yellow. Legs dirty green. 



Usually a solitary bird. 



223. Buhulcus coroniandus : The Cattle Egret. 

 (F. 1562), (J._929),_(+IV.) 



A pure white bird with a yellow bill and 

 black legs. In the breeding season some yellow 

 plumes grow from the back of the head. 



This is a sociable species. These birds fre- 

 quently accompany cattle, which serve as 

 efficient beaters. The quadrupeds put up 

 grasshoppers, etc., which the egrets seize. The 

 birds sometimes perch on the backs of cattle. 



There are three larger species of egret which 

 are also white ; these belong to the genus 

 Herodias, but these are scarcely common birds. 

 222 



