268 ARDEID^. 



Family, ARDEID^,— Herons. 



All the members of the Ardeidce family swarm in the Province in 

 suitable localities. All are permanent residents and breed from May 

 to September. Their nests are generally loose structures, some more 

 or less compact^ and built of twigs, &c. on trees, standing in the vicinity 

 of water, and particularly on those in the middle of large sheets of 

 water. Eggs, 3 to 4, glossless, and in colour from pale sea green to 

 bluish green, but it is not uncommon to find single nests containing 

 from 8 to 10 eggs, dijBFering in shape, size and colour. 



The following, from Hume's Nest and Eggs, gives the average size 

 of the eggs of the different species : — 



Ardea cinerea 2*27 X 1'66 



Anlea purpurea 2' 17 X 1'56 



Herodias alia 2*11 X 1"55 



Herodias garzetta 1"73 X 1"22 



Demiegretta gularis 1* 7 X 1" 3 



Buhulcus coromanda 1'71 X 1'32 



Ardeola grayi 1*48 X 1*17 



Butoridesjavanica 1'64 X 1'23 



An account by Layard of the breeding of Herodias garzetta and 

 kindred species in Ceylon, conveys exactly what is observable in the 

 breeding season of the Ardeidce, along the canals, &c., in the Narra 

 Districts, and other large sheets of water in Sind. 



During this season almost all the large pieces of water in Sind, 

 unfrequented and distant from human habitation, in which trees are 

 standing out of reach, except by boats, large colonies of ibises, 

 spoonbills, cormorants, snake-birds, night-herons, &c., may be seen. 

 During the day, except by the droppings of the birds, which coat t^ie 

 branches so thickly with lime, little suspicion would be excited of the 

 spot being a heronry, as most of the birds, except a few sitting close, 

 are away feeding, but towards eve, hundreds would be seen coming to 

 roost, amid a continuous cackling. The report of a gun amongst 

 them would present a scene scarcely describable. If disturbed before 

 they have begun to lay, they entirely desert the spot, and carry away 

 almost every stick they have used in building and begin operations 

 afresh in a distant locality. 



Gen. Ardea. — Linn. 



Bill slender, the tip scooped ; upper mandible with a groove from 

 the nostril, but not extending to the tip ; nostril covered partially by 

 membrane; 2nd and 3rd quills longest; tarsi long and scuteilate ixa 

 front. 



