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270 BIRDa OF EGYPT. 



yellowish brown, shaded with purple ; a bare patch in front 

 of the eyes greon ; beak black, shaded with yellow towards 

 the base and keel of the lower mandible ; legs olive ; irides 

 pale yellow. 



Entire length 18"5 inches; culmen 2'G ; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 8'5 ; tarsus 2*2. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 275. 



282. Nycticorax griseus (Linn.). Ni(]U-lIeron. 



The Night-Heron is abundant throughout Egypt, usually 

 /, in flocks, frequenting clumps of sont- and palm-trees. They 



are not shy, and are often difficult to drive out of the thicker- 

 foliaged trees. When disturbed they rise awkwardly, a few 

 at a time ; but when once fairly started they mount high, and 

 fly for a considerable distance. 



Adult. — Upper plumage : forehead, eyebrow, and two long 

 plumes starting from the head white ; top and back of the 

 head, back, and greater wing-coverts black, with a bright 

 metallic green lustre ; wings and tail grey ; underparts 

 white ; beak black, inclining to greenish yellow towards the 

 base of the lower mandible ; legs pale brown ; irides crimson. 



Immature. — Entire upper plumage ashy brown, streaked 

 with pale yellowish brown on the head and neck, and spotted 

 with white on the back and wings; underparts white, 

 mottled with pale brown ; legs and beak greenish black ; 

 irides brown. 



Entire length 21 inches ; culmen 2"S ; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 12 ; tarsus 3. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 279. 



