AVES. 407 



Ardea L. (in part), Cuv., Illig., Tejlm. Bill elongate, straight, 

 thick, compressed, acuminate, fiu-nished with a groove from the 

 nostrils evanescent towards the tip. Nostrils placed near the base 

 of bill, covered by membrane posteriorly. Tarsi mostly scutellate 

 in front, elongate. Outer toes connected by membrane. Hallux 

 insistent, inserted internally at the lower part of tarsus. Claw of 

 middle toe with inner margin produced, incised pectinately. Wings 

 moderate, with tirst quill mostly shorter, the three following sub- 

 equal, second and tliird, or third and fourth, longest of all. 



The species of the genus of the Herons are very numerous in both 

 hemispheres of the world. They live in marshy regions, or on the 

 banks of rivers and lakes, and feed chiefly on fish, also on frogs and their 

 larvse, and on water-insects ; they watch long for their prey and then shoot 

 out their long neck as swift as a dart to seize it. They build their nest 

 partly in trees, partly amongst reeds, lay light blue, sea-green or greenish 

 eggs (3 or 4, some species occasionally 5), and moult once a year. There 

 is little difference between the two sexes. Some species are scattered 

 over a large part of the world. 



Nycticorax Steph., Gray. Feet moderate. Tarsi reticulate 

 anterioi'ly with large, hexagonal scales. Occiput crested or feathered 

 with pendent plumes. Bill moderate or scarcely longer than head, 

 with culmen curved. Wings with third quill longest. 



Sp. Ardea Nycticorax L., Buff. PL enl. 758, Nadm. Taf. 225; the niglit- 

 heron, le Bihoreau, der Nachtreiher; very common in many countries of 

 Europe, in Africa, also in Asia and in Japan. — In America a closely allied 

 species or local variety occurs, Ardea Gardeni Gm., of which a young 

 specimen is figured in BuFF. PI. enl. 939. — Ardea caledonica Gm., Cuv. 

 R. Ani., ed. ill., Ois. PI. 74, fig. 2, Australia, Celebes, Timor, &c. 



Tigrisoma Swains., Gray. Feet elongate; tarsi reticulate ante- 

 riorly with hexagonal scales. Bill subulate, elongate. Wings with 

 first quill short, third and fourth subequal, longest of all. 



Sp. Ardea lineata Gmel., Buff. PI. enl. 860, South America, Cayenne, &c. 



Ardea of modern authors {Herodias, Ardeola, Buphus Boie). 

 Feet elongate; tarsi scutellate anteriorly. Bill elongate, subulate. 

 Wings with first four quills subequal, second and third longest of 

 all. Neck elongate, slender. 



Sp. Ardea cinerea (and major) L., Buff. PI. enl. 755 (adult), 787 (younger). 

 Less. Ornith. PI. 97, fig. i, Naum. Taf. 220; the common heron, le heron 

 commun, der graue Reiher; the largest European species, bluish-grey 

 above, white below ; black spots along the neck. These herons build their 

 nests in large societies. The same species is found at Java, in Japan, and 

 at the Cape of Good Hope. — Ardea purpurea L., Buff. PL enl. 788, 



