130 PURPLE HEROW. 



coverts of the oreeding state of this Heron are of a 

 dark brownish -grey, deeper on the tail, quills, 

 and coverts, and these are tinted with greenish 

 reflections, having the dorsal plumes narrowed 

 and elongated as in the last, the narrow tips being 

 of a much paler tint, those at the sides longest, 

 and of a pale reddish-brown. The forehead and 

 crown are black, the feathers lengthening into a 

 long narrow crest, while a line of the same colour 

 is carried down the back. The feathers covering 

 the ears are black, forming a narrow stripe from 

 the rictus, joining the black of the occiput. On 

 each side of the neck a narrow stripe descends, 

 mingling with the more irregularly dark edges of 

 the lengthened plumes. The throat and fore part 

 of the upper neck are pure white, gradually shading 

 into the chestnut-brown, which covers the cheeks 

 and sides of the neck, not occupied by the black 

 stripes. On the fore part of the neck each feather 

 elongates until it attains the lengthened narrow 

 form ; on the upper parts, the one side of each 

 is yellowish-white, the other black ; and thus irre- 

 gular lines of these colours are formed, until the 

 long tips become entirely yellowish-white. The 

 centre of the breast and belly is black, bounded 

 on each side with very deep purplish-chestnut or 

 brownish-red. The thighs are pale brownish-red. 

 The fore part of the tarsus and toes are brown, 

 tinted with greenish ; the hinder part of the tarsus 

 and naked tibiae, yellow. The development of the 

 feet, compared with the length of the tarsus, is 



