ARDEIDAE 8/ 



below, though occasionally feathered, as in Ardetta and Zehrilus ; 

 the metatarsus being remarkal)ly long, except in such forms as 

 jVycticorax, Botaurus, and Ardetta. The latter member is covered 

 anteriorly with transverse or hexagonal scales, which become 

 smaller or reticulated behind, and show a decided tendency to 

 fusion in many cases. The toes are long, wdth a distinct web 

 between the middle and outer : the claws are generally short and 

 curved, though elongated, slender, and nearly straight in Botavrv.s 

 and Ardetta ; that of the middle digit being toothed on the inner 

 side, save in Balaeniccps. The wing is somewhat rounded, yet long, 

 and has eleven primaries — reduced to ten in Scopus — and from 

 eleven to eighteen secondaries ; the fairly even tail is short f)r 

 moderate, with from ten to twelve broad stiffish feathers, except 

 in Botaurus and Ardetta, where the ten rectrices are soft and 

 abbreviated. The tongue is usually long and pointed, but in Can- 

 croma, Balaeniceps, and Scoptis it is very short ; the lores and orbits 

 are naked, save in Scopus, as is the malar region in Tigrornis and 

 I'lyrisoma, while the last at times has the throat bare, or merely 

 feathered centrally. The nostrils are impervious only in Cancroma. 

 and Balaeniceiis. The nestlings are uniformly covered with sparse 

 liair-like down. The state of the chick is unrecorded in Balaeniceps 

 and Scopus. The fnrcula is generally V-shaped, the syrinx is 

 tracheo-lsronchial, and an aftershaft is present, the latter and the 

 syringeal muscles being much reduced in Balaeniceps. Crests 

 and decorative plumes are common, as will he seen below. 



Of especial importance are the large, thick, "powder-down 

 patches," or greasy yellow spaces covered with tufts of grey or black 

 filaments, disintegrating into bluisli or whitish powder. Balae- 

 niceps has a l;)ig pair on the lower back, Botaurus and Ardetta an 

 additional couple on the breast, and the remainder of the Ardeidae 

 two more on the abdomen, except Cancroma which possesses still 

 another pair on the upper back. In Scopus they are absent. The 

 use is uncertain, and the occurrence quite irregular. 



Fani. VI. Ardeidae. — There are few persons in Britain who are 

 not to some extent acipiainted with the habits of the Common Heron 

 or Hern, for it may be seen on the coast as well as on inland waters, 

 and now breeds in more localities than formerly, though in smaller 

 numbers ; while of the remainder of the Family the Bitterns alone 

 differ conspicuously in their mode of life. Herons are shy, 

 solitary birds, frequenting lakes, fens, and rivers, where they 



