Mr, R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology of Hainan. 365 



his under parts white. He had a bare head and neck, of a yel- 

 low colour. 



158. Ardea cinerea, Linn. 

 Seen in all parts of the island. 



159. Herodias alba (Linn.). 



160. Herodias garzetta (Linn.). 



Both common. I shot one of each as they stood together in 

 the shallows of the main river near Tinggan city. 



I may here note that, on the marsh near Hoehow, 1 saw, on 

 the 5th of February, a small party of large white birds flying 

 over out of gunshot. They were of the size and general appear- 

 ance of H. alba, but with short legs. They were not H. inter- 

 media, nor indeed, I think. Herons at all, though they had 

 pointed bills. I cannot conjecture what they could have been. 

 I only saw them on that one occasion. 



161. ?Ardeola prasinosceles, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1863, p. 421. 

 The Squacco Heron was abundant about the paddy-fields 



and moist places, but it had not yet begun its moult. I shot 

 one ; but in the winter plumage it is almost impossible to state 

 its species. In measurements it corresponds with specimens 

 from South China; but so does a specimen from Siam. The 

 Siamese bird is, I presume, the A. bacchus, Bp., of Malacca * ; 

 ours may be the same. I therefore register it with a doubt. 

 I have the A. leucoptera (Bodd.) of India in the winter plu- 

 mage. It seems to have smaller legs, more of the size of those 

 of A. speciosa, Horsf., of Java. 



This bird is recorded in the Chinese ' Gazetteer' as " the 

 'Crane with waterproof clothes' f. Vulgar name, 'Paddy-field 

 Cow-slave.' Plumage of a striped colour like waterproof coats. 

 Usually in paddy-fields, following cattle and in their train seek- 

 ing its food. Hence its common name." 



162. Nycticorax griseus (Linn.). 

 Often seen in large flocks. 



* In the Paris Museum they have the true A. prasinosceles from Cochin 

 China ; so that the Hainan bird is pretty sure to be the same. 



t The waterproof cloak of the Chinese is made of bamboo leaves, and 

 has the appearance of the neck of the Squacco-Heron in winter plumage. 



