279 



1638. II. ALBA (PL EiiL 88G; Gould's B. A. Vol. VI, pi. 5G'). 



Syn. Ardeo alha, L. 



A. eyretta, Temminck. 



A. nivea, Lesson. 



A. modesta. Gray. 



A. fiuvirostris et melanorhynchos, Wagler. 



A. torra, Buchanan Hamilton and Fi'anklin. 



A. syrmatophorns, Gould. 



MaUany BdyJa, Tnrra Bdyla, and PatoJca Buyla, 

 H. (Jerdon) ; Bhar Bayla, B. ; Bacho Barado, Sindh. 

 IIab. S. E. Europe ; Africa ; Asia and its islands ; Australia. 

 Common in India. 



A. Male in full plumage (bill black ; naked skin of face 

 beautiful verditer in the recent specimen). B. Another 

 (shot later in the season, the bill and cere beginning to 

 turn yellow). C. Another, and D. Female (shot still 

 later, the bill nearly wholly yellow), — the dorsal trains 

 retained. E. Full grown young. All from the vicinity 

 of Calcutta (1843-0). 



1639. H. intermedia (Gould's B. A., Vol. VI, pi. 57t). 



Syn. Ardea intermedia, Wagler, Isis, 1829. 

 A, eyrettoides, Temminck. 

 A. Jiavirostris, Bonnaterre, nee Wagler. 

 A. putea, Buchanan Hamilton. 

 A. niyrirostris. Gray. 

 //. 'plumifera, Gould. 

 Hab. As last. The most abundant species of Egret in the 

 Malay countries. Common also in India. 



A. B. Males in full plumage (bill black). C. Ano- 

 ther (the bill changing to yellow, but the train retained). 

 D. Young. From vicinity of Calcutta (1843-7). 



1640. H. GARZETTA (PL EnL 901). 



Syn. Ardea yarzetta, L. 



A. xanthodactyla et A^ nivea, Gmelin. 



A. orientalis, Gray. 



A. melanojius, Wagler, "I y . 



A. niyripes, Temminck, J ^* 



£r. immacidata (?), Gould. J 



* Specimen shot at the close of the breeding season, when the bill and cere had 

 re-assuiued the yellow colour, but the dorsal train is still retained : the tibiiE are also 

 coloured too yellow for the Indian bird. N. B. The extent of the yellowish-wliite 

 colouring on the tibise varies much in different specimens, and is sometimes wholly 

 absent, as generally in H. iyitermedia. — Since the foregoing was written, we have 

 examined an Australian specimen in which the tibite were wholly black. 



t Specimen shot at the close of the breeding season, when the bill had re-assumed 

 the yellow colour. 



X The only objection to identification in this instance is the smaller size of the 

 Australian bird, which perhaps is not constant. The toes are evidently coloured 

 from dry skins, and should be bright yellow ; and the crest would doubtless have 

 appeared a little later in the season. 



