98 



Genus — ARDEA.. — Edges of mandibles distinctly serrated ; head crested ; 

 nape feathers elongated and ornamented ; plumes of fore-neck not 

 disintegrated ; no dorsal train. 



707. A. Slllliatraiia, Raffles (A. rectirostris. Gld.), Great-billed Heron. 

 Breast, abdomen, and under tail coverts slaty-grey ; ornamental 

 plumes on chest pearly-grey ; head and chest feathers ashy grey or 

 slate colour ; the ornamental dorsal plumes pearly-grey. 

 Young has abdominal feathers rust edged. 

 Total length, about 50 in. ; culmen, 6"5 in. ; tarsus, 8 in. 

 Hab. : 1, 2, 3. 



70S. A. Cilierea, Linn. , Grey Heron. 



General colour grey : crown of head white, black on the sides 

 and the nape crest ; thighs white ; edge of wing white or creamy- 

 white 



Total length, male about 36 in. ; female about 39 in. 

 Hab. : 3, (6), 7. 



Genus— MESOPHOYX.— Edge of mandible distinctly serrated; head 

 crested, without ornamental plumes ; fore-neclt with disintegrated 

 plumes ; an immense dorsal train. 



709. II. plllUlifera, GUI. (Herodias egrettoides, Gld. ; Herodias inter- 



media, Ramsay ; Herodias melauopus, Ramsay, upc Wagler), Plumed 

 Egret. 



Plumage pure white ; bill, orbit«, and bare skin of face yellow ; 

 feet and lower part of tarsi black, upper part of tarsi inclining to 

 flesh colour ; a distinct loral black pitch. 



Total length, 2,5 in ; culmen, 3 1 in : wing, II in. ; tail, 5 4 in. ; 

 tarsus, 405 in. ; middle toe and claw, 3 7 in. 

 Hab. : 1, 2, 3, 4, (i, 8, 9. 



Gexus — HERODIAS. — Edge of mandible not serrated ; no crest plumes ; 

 a well-developed dorsal train. 



710. H. tiinorioiisis, Less. (H. alba, nee Linn., Gould's Handbook, ii., 



p. 301 ; see also British Museum Catalogue Birds, xxvi., p. 270. 

 Appendix), White Egret. 



Plumage white ; bill black in summer, yellow in winter ; lores and 

 orbits pale green ; feet blackish, tibi;e paler ; train of plumes 

 (decomposed feathers) short, just passing tail. 



Measurements of Australian race : — Total length, 30 in. ; culmen, 

 4'4 in. : wing, 15 in. ; tail, 6.3 in. ; tarsus, 52 to 6'4 in. 

 Hab. : 1 to 9. 



Genus — NOTOPHOYX. — Tarsus not twice the length of outer toe and 

 claw. A full crest, but no elongated pair of nape plumes. 



711. N. I10ViP-ll0l!aildice, Lath. (Ardea novaj-hollandiie), White- 



fronted Heron. 



Plumage in general slaty-grey ; forehead, e\'ebrow, and throat 

 white ; dorsal plumes grey ; sides of chest vinaceous ; breast plumes 

 are lanceolate. 



Hab. : 1 to 9. 



712. N, pacifica. Lath. (Ardea pacifica. Lath.), White-necked Heron. 



Upper surface glossy olive-green ; breast and abdomen with large 

 lanceolate streaks of white ; a large maroon patch of feathers on the 

 side of the chest ; head and neck vinaceous or white, with some 

 black markings on the lower throat. Sometimes the neck is wholly 

 white. — Could. 



Hab, ; 1 to 9. 



