GR\LLATORES. 301 



Genus HERODIAS, Boie, 



Nearly every part of the globe is tenanted by species of 

 this genus. Most of those inhabiting Austraha are identical 

 with species found in India. 



Sp. 549. HERODIAS ALBA. 



Australian Egret. 



Ardea alba, Linn. Syst. Nat., torn. i. p. 239. 



Candida, Briss. Oru., torn. v. p. 428. 



modesta, Gray, Zool. Misc., p. 19. 



Egretta alba, Bonap. Compt. Rend, de TAcad. Sci., torn. xl. seance du 

 2 Avril 1855. 



Herodias syrmatophorus, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vi. 

 pi. 56. 



This noble species of Egret, the largest of the group 

 inhabiting Australia, is sparingly dispersed over all parts 

 of that continent, and is usually met with along the rivers 

 and lagoons of the interior as well as in the neighbourhood 

 of the coast. I have occasionally seen it near the mouth 

 of the Hunter, but more frequently on the banks of the 

 Clarence and other rivers little frequented by civilized man. 

 I also observed it in Tasmania, in the vicinity of George's 

 River, and the other unfrequented streams to the north- 

 ward of the island. Mr. Gregory remarks that this species 

 is "only found on the banks of rivers and inlets, and in 

 no instance did we see more than one at a time. It flies 

 very slowly, and in form much resembles the Common Crane. 

 The specimen sent is from the mouth of the De Grey." 

 The example from which my description was taken was 

 killed, on the 2nd of January 1840, on the banks of the 

 Mokai. It is of an extremely shy and distrustful disposi- 

 tion, and can only be approached within range by the ex- 

 ercise of the utmost care and caution. Its powers of wing 



