BIEDS OF EGYPT. 267 



down the back and one on each side of it ; throat white ; 

 remainder of the upper phimage slaty grey, strongly shaded 

 with rufous on the wing-coverts ; the ends of the scapulars long 

 and narrow, and of a light rufous and pale grey colour ; quills 

 browner ; tail shaded Avith olive ; feathers on the crop elongated, 

 of a creamy colour, shaded with rufous and boldly streaked 

 with black ; remainder of the underparts deep rufous brown, 

 lighter on the thighs, and shaded on the flanks with grey ; 

 centre of the abdomen and under tail-coverts black, chestnut, 

 and white mixed ; a bare patch in front of the eye and beak 

 yellow, the latter shaded with brown towards the culmen ; 

 legs greenish yellow, with the shins and upper part of the 

 toes black ; irides yellow. 



Entire length 36 inches ; culmen o'3 ; wmg, carpus to 

 tip, 14'5 ; tarsus 5. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 274. 



278. Herodias alba (Linn.) Great IFIdte Heron. 



The Great White Heron is plentiful in Lower Egypt and 

 the Fayoom. On lake Mareotis I have frequently observed 

 very large flocks of this species wading in the shallows at a 

 considerable distance from the laud ; and on Birket el Korn, 

 in the Fayoom, I have seen single specimens on several 

 occasions ; but, as it is a very shy bird, I was never able to 

 approach within shot. I have also seen it in the collections 

 of other travellers from Egypt. 



Winter. — Entire plumage pure white; a bare space in 

 front of and behind the eye yellowish green ; beak yellow, 

 shaded with brown ; legs olive-black, shaded with yellow 



