294 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



slow, with its head, neck, and legs extended horizontally to 

 their utmost length, which measure six feet one inch, its 

 breadth across the wings being seven feet two inches ; it 

 weighs eleven pounds. The colour of its skin and flesh is 

 of a rich salmon tint ; the flavour of the latter has a fishy 

 flavour, too over-powerful to admit of its being eaten by any 

 one but a hungry explorer." This species probably ranges 

 throughout Java and Sumatra to central India, where it is 

 occasionally found. No bird is more shy in disposition or 

 more difficult of approach, its feeding-ground and resting- 

 place being always in the most exposed situation, such as 

 spits of land running out into the sea, large morasses, &c., 

 where it can survey all around. 



Its food is said to be very varied, consisting of every kind 

 of animal life inhabiting marshy situations, but more parti- 

 cularly fish and reptiles. 



Head and neck rich deep glossy green, changing into pur- 

 ple and violet at the occiput ; greater wing-coverts both 

 above and beneath, scapularies, lower part of the back, and 

 tail rich glossy green, tinged with a golden lustre ; the re- 

 mainder of the plumage pure white ; bill black ; irides dark 

 hazel ; legs fine red. 



Family ARDEID-Sl. 



The members of this family range over every part of the 

 globe. Those inhabiting Australia include examples of many 

 genera, among them Ardea, Herodias, Nj/cticorax, Botaurm, 

 Ardeita^ &c. They ditfer very considerably in size, and not 

 less so in habits and economy, some being extremely shy and 

 retiring, while others, such as the typical Ardece, atfect open 

 and exposed situations. Their chief food is reptiles, to which 

 small quadrupeds, young water-birds, and insects are added. 



