408 CLASS XVI. 



Naum. Taf. 221 ; smaller than the preceding, with grey wings, red-brown 

 neck, with a longitudinal black band and very long toes ; this species also 

 occurs in Java, a very rare visitant in England; — Ardea at/and Gil., Guek, 

 Jconogr., Ois. PI. 52, fig. 2, in South America, &c. This group of the 

 herons is richest in species. — Some entirely white species are remarkable ; 

 they have long waving feathers, light but stiif, on the back above the tail, 

 which are used as ornaments for the head, especially in Hungary, where 

 they form part of the national costume. Sp. Ardea erjretta Gm., Bdfp. PI. 

 enl. 925, Naum. Taf. 222, with yellow bill, sometimes black at the tip, — 

 and a much smaller species, Ardea garzetta L., Naum. Taf. 223, with black 

 bill. Exotic species also are known of this group, which, on account of 

 their resemblance to the species here noted, have been confounded with 

 them; comp. Temminck Manuel, 11. p. 572 — 576, iv. p. 372 — 380. 

 Botaurus Steph., Gray. Feet moderate, tliick, witli tibiae 

 plumed throughout the greater part. Tarsi scutellate anteriorly. 

 Toes very long. Bill moderate or scarcely longer than head, subu- 

 late. Neck densely feathered. Wings with first three quills sub- 

 equal, the second longest of all. 



Sp. Ardea stellaris L., Buff. PI. enl. 789, Naum. Taf. 226; the common 

 bittern, le butor, der Rohrdommel; colour of feathers as in the woodcock 

 and some owls ; is, like these, a night-bird ; it builds an inartistic nest in 

 the sedge, and emits a loud sound that resembles the bellowing of an ox, 



Aramus ViEiLL., T emm., Notherodius Wagl. Bill long, com- 

 pressed, with tip curved, protracted beyond the lower mandible. 

 Nostrils lateral, placed in groove, pervious. Feet elongate, slender; 

 tarsi covered anteriorly with large transverse scutella. Toes long, 

 scarcely united at the base. Hallux raised, resting on its point. 

 Neck elongate. Wings with first quill short, third and fourth sub- 

 equal, longest of all. Tail moderate, rounded. 



Sp. Aramus scolopaceus, Ardea scolopacea Gm., Rallus gigas Lichtenst., 

 Buff. PI. enl. 848 ; South America, Cayenne ; brown, with round, white 

 spots on the neck; legs black. This genus is very nearly allied to the 

 following. 



Eurypyga Illig., Helios ViEiLL. Bill elongate, compressed, 

 subulate, emarginate at the tip. Nostrils placed in a deep, lateral 

 groove, linear. Tarsi covered anteriorly with scutella; outer toes 

 conjoined at the base; hallux insistent; claws compressed, curved, 

 moderate. Neck long, slender. Wings with first quill shorter, 

 third, fourth, and fifth subequal, longest of all. Tail long, broad. 



Sp. Eurypyga helias, Ardea helias Gu., Helias phalcenoi des Yieill., Buff. 

 PI. enl. 782, Eess. Ornith. PI. 102, fig. 2, Cuv. R. Ani., ed. ill., Ois. PI. 

 72, fig. 2 ; in South America; regarded incorrectly by Latham as a species 

 of snipe, closely allied, on the contrary, to Ardea. Within the last few 

 years a very similar species from Columbia has become known. 



