HERODIAS. 655 



1347. HerodiaS alba (Lmn.), Jerd., B. Ind. ii. p. 744; Blyth, B. 

 Burm. p. 159; Legge, B. Ceylon p. 1138; Murray, Vert. Zool., Sind, p. 270. 

 Ardea alba Linn., Syst. Nat. i. p. 239; Dresser, B. Eur. vi. p. 231, pi. 

 Ardea torra (Buck.), Franld. P. Z. S. 1831, p. 123. Herodias torra, Salvad., 

 Ucc. Born. p. 347 ; Scully, Str. F. viii. p. 360. Ardea egretta, apud Hume* 

 Nests and Eggs Ind. B. p. 613. The LARGE WHITE HERON. 



In Breeding Plumage. Whole plumage pure white ; dorsal train of decom- 

 posed feathers extending about 4 5 inches beyond the tail; no crest, nor 

 pectoral plumes. No dorsal train in non-breeding plumage. Bill yellow in 

 winter, black in summer; irides pale yellow. 



Length. 34 to 36 inches ; tail 6 ; wing 13-5 to 17 ; tarsus 5-2 to 6'i ; bill at 

 front 4 to 5 ; from gape 5-5. 



Hab. Throughout India, jCeylon, and Burmah ; nidificates on trees in 

 small parties ; eggs pale bluish green. 



1348. Herodias intermedia (Von Hasselt), Salvad., Ucc. Bom. 



p. 348 ; Blyth, B. Burm. p. 159; Legge, B. Ceylon, p. 1141 ; Murray, Vert. 

 Zool., Sind, p. 270; Oates, B. Br. Burm. ii. p. 247. Ardea nigrirostris 

 (Gray), Hardiv. III. Ind. Zool., pi. Herodias plumifera, Gould, B. Austr. 

 vi. pi. 57. Ardea intermedia, Von. ffass., Wagler, Ibis, 1829, P- 659; Hume, 

 Nests and Eggs Ind. B. p. 615. Herodias egrettoides, Jerd., B. Ind. ii. 

 p. 745. The LESSER WHITE HERON. 



Breeding Plumage. Whole plumage pure white, dorsal train exceeding the 

 tail by 78 inches ; a long soft tuft of pectoral feathers; no crest, no dorsal 

 nor pectoral plumes in winter. Bill black in summer, yellow with a black tip 

 in winter; facial skin green; irides yellow. 



Length. 26 to 28 inches ; tail 5-5 ; wing 11-5 to 12-5 ; tarsus 4-3 ; bill at 

 front 2-68 to 3-09. 



Nab. Generally distributed throughout India, Ceylon and Burma, but rare 

 in the latter and in Southern India. Breeds during July and part of August, 

 in colonies and generally in company of other kinds of Herons, Ibises, &c. 

 The nest is not unlike that of its congeners, composed of thin twigs, lined or 

 not with coarse sedge, but generally more closely packed. Eggs, 4 in num- 

 ber, broad ovals, rather pointed towards one end ; pale sea or bluish sea- 

 green, 1-68 to 2*08 in length, and 1-3 to 1*52 in breadth. 



1349. Herodias garzetta (/.), Jerd., B. Ind. ii. p. 746; 



Hume, Str. F. iii. p. 190; Legge, B. Ceylon p. 1144; Murray, Vert. Zool., 

 Sind, p. 270 ; Oaks, B. Br. Burm. ii. p. 248. Ardea garzetta, Linn., Syst. Nat. 

 i. p. 237 ; Hume, Nests and Eggs Ind. B. p. 616; Dresser, B. Eur.\\\. p. 239. 

 The LITTLE BLACK-BILLED WHITE HERON. 



