BUBULCUS. 657 



The young or intermediate stage of plumage is white throughout, some of 

 the wing coverts being greyish. 



Hab. Sind, Mekran, Arabian and Western Coasts, also the Eastern Coast 

 to Ceylon. Nidification the same as of the Herons. Eggs, a rounded oval, pale 

 blue, 4 6 in number, 1*83 x 1*42 inch. 



1352. Demi-egretta sacra, Gmei., Syst. Nat.\. p. 640; Hume, 



Nests and Eggs Ind. B. p. 618 ; Salvad., Ucc. Born. p. 346 ; Wald., Ibis, 

 1873, p. 318 ; Hume, Sir. F. i. p. 254 ; ii. p. 304 ; Hume and Dav., Sir. F. 

 vi. p. 481 ; Hume, Sir. F. viii. p. 114; Oates, B. Br. Burm. ii. p. 250. 

 Ardea jugularis (Zorst?), Wagler, Syst. Av. Ardea, Sp. 18. Herodias concolor, 

 Blyth, B. Burm. p. 160. The BLUE REEF HERON or EGRET. 



Breeding Plumage. Whole plumage deep blackish slate colour ; head with 

 occipital crest nearly black ; pectoral plumes and dorsal train much elongated, 

 the former about 3-5 inches in length ; the latter, reaching to the tip of the 

 tail ; abdomen and vent tinged with brownish ashy in some ; chin with or with- 

 out a small white streak down the throat. Young and adolescent birds are 

 pure white, with dorsal and pectoral plumes fully developed. In both stages 

 there are no dorsal and pectoral plumes in winter. 



Length. 21 to 24 inches; tail 3 to 4*25 ; wing 9-85 to 11*75 ; tarsus 2' 7 

 to 3*1 ; bill at front 2*65 to 3*5. 



Hab. The whole coast of British Burmah, the Andamans, and the Nicobars, 

 and spread along the shores of the whole of Eastern Asia. Breeds from 

 April to June. Eggs pale green. 



BubulCUS. Pucker. 



Bill shorter than in the Demi-egretta ; legs longer ; plumes during the 

 breeding season yellow. 



1353. BubulcUS COromandUS (Bodd.\ Salvad., Ucc. Born. 

 p. 350; Legge, B. Ceylon, p. 1147, Oates, Sir. F. x. p. 243; id., B. Br. 

 Burm. ii. p. 251 ; Murray, Vert. ZooL, Sind, p. 271. Cancroma coromanda, 

 Bodd., Tabl. PL Enl. p. 54. Buphus coromanda, Jerd., B. Ind. iii. p. 749 ; 

 Blyth, B. Burm. p. 160; Bingham, Str. F. ix. p. 197. Ardea coromanda, 

 Hume, Nests and Eggs Ind. B. p. 618. The CATTLE EGRET. 



In breeding plumage the head, sides of the face, neck in front (except a 

 narrow mesial line, which is white) nape and part of the hind neck, and the 

 decomposed elongate feathers brilliant orange, the filamentose feathers of the 

 back reaching to the end of the closed wings, rest of the plumage pure white ; 

 legs yellowish green, the joints tinged plumbeous ; bill deep orange yellow ; 

 orbitar skin yellowish, with a pinkish tinge ; irides pale yellow j mid-claw 

 serrated. 



VOL. II. 85 



