HERODIAS. 653 



Forehead, sides of the head and crown white ; a narrow streak from the 

 base of the upper mandible over each eye, and another above it merging into 

 the long occipital feathers, black ; neck behind bluish ashy ; in front white, 

 with two rows of black elongate spots ; breast and under surface white ; back 

 and wing coverts bluish ashy grey ; primaries black ; scapulars silvery grey ; 

 tail bluish ashy ; bill dark yellow, brown on the upper mandible ; irides yellow ; 

 nude oribitar area greenish. 



Length. 39 inches; wing 18 ; tail 8; bill at front 5. 



Hab. Throughout India and Europe. In Sind the Mohannas or fishermen 

 use this species as a decoy in the capture of wild fowl. Each boat has usually 

 from 5 to 10 birds, Their eyelids are sewn up, and they stand motionless on 

 the cross bar of the rudder gear or perched along the edges of the boat. They 

 are fed daily, and during summer, when the occupation of wild fowl catching 

 has ceased, serve the fishermen as food in the absence of anything better. 

 Breeds throughout India from April to July, building nests on trees in. 

 small parties ; colour of eggs sea green; size from 2-08 to 2-48 in length and 

 i'48 to 179 in breadth. 



1346. Ardea purpurea, Linn., Syst.Nat. i. p. 236; Jerd., B. Ind. 

 iii. p. 743; Hume, Nests and Eggs Ind. B. p. 611 ; Salvad., Ucc. Born. 

 p. 345; Blytli, B. Br. Burnt, p. 159; Dresser, B. Eur. vi. p. 217, pi. ; 

 Legge, B. Ceylon, p. 1132; Oates, Sir. F. x. p. 243; id., B. Br. Burm. 

 ii. p. 245 ; Murray, Vert. Zool., Sind, p. 269. The BLUE HERON. 



Head glossy black, with a lengthened black crest, the two middle feathers 

 of which extend 3 4 inches beyond the rest ; sides of the head rusty yellow, 

 with three longitudinal narrow black lines, one extends behind the head, and 

 is continued down the neck, and two lateral ones from the eyes to the breast ; 

 chin and throat white ; neck in front variegated with rufous black and purple, 

 the feathers on the top of the breast long and acuminated, purplish white ; 

 back, wings, and tail reddish ash ; scapulars purple, Icng, forming a brilliant 

 plume on each side; breast and flanks deep brownish red, rest of under parts 

 a little paler. Bill deep yellow ; orbitar skin greenish yellow ; tarsus reddish 

 brown. 



Length. -36 to 42 inches; wing 15*5 ; tail 5*75 ; bill atfront 5-37 ; tarsus 5*25. 



Hab. Throughout India and Ceylon, extending into Burmah. Habits and 

 nidification the same as those of the Common Heron. 



Gen. Herodias.#0*>. 



Bill moderately long, slender, straight and compressed to the tip ; plumage 

 white. In breeding plumage with a long dorsal train composed of lax decom- 

 posed feathers, and pectoral plumes in some. The following is a key given 

 by Mr. Hume to the Indian species of the genus : 



