658 ARDEID^E. 



Length. 21 inches; wing 10-25 ; tail 4 ; bill at front 2-5; tarsus 3-5. In 

 winter the plumage is entirely white. 



Hab. Sind and throughout India, Burmah and Ceylon. It has gained the 

 name of the Cattle Egret from its being always found amongst cattle when 

 grazing, usually perched on their heads or backs. It is seldom, like the other 

 species, seen wading in water. Feeds chiefly on insects, small frogs or 

 tadpoles. Breeds from April to July. Eggs, 4 5, pale sea-green. 



Gen. Ardeola. Boie. 



Tibia feathered nearly to the knee ; tarsus shorter than in Bululcus ; toes 

 also shorter. 



1354. Ardeola gray! (Sy"kes), Hume, Nests and Eggs Ind. Birds 

 p. 619; Blyth, B. Burm. p. 160; Legge, B. Ceylon, p. 1150; Scully, 

 Sir. F. viii. p. 361. Ardea grayi, Sykes, P. Z. S., 1832, p. 158. Ardeola 

 leucoptera, apud Jerd., B. Ind. iii. p. 751. The POND HERON or PADDY 

 BIRD. 



In summer dress the head is greyish or buffy yellow with an elongate white 

 crest ; neck in front, except a fulvous mesial line, back of the neck, and also 

 breast, with the elongated feathers a little paler than the head ; scapulars pale 

 greyish brown ; elongated dorsal feathers dark maroon ; rest of the plumage 

 white ; tarsal plumes fulvous or pale buff ; bill yellowish, bluish at the base 

 and tipped black ; orbitar skin greenish yellow ; irides bright yellow ; legs 

 and feet dull greenish. 



In winter the crown of the head and nape are dark brown, the feathers with 

 narrow mesial shaft-streaks ; neck behind, on the sides and breast fulvous 

 or pale buff, the feathers edged with dusky brown ; back and scapulars grey 

 brown or pale ashy brown ; lower back, rump, upper and under tail coverts, 

 also the tail and abdomen, pure white ; thigh coverts fulvous ; primaries white, 

 dark shafted, the outer webs of the first three quills and also their tips greyish 

 brown ; secondaries pure white ; wing coverts white, tinged very slightly in 

 some specimens with greyish. 



Length. 18 to 19 inches ; wing 8 to 8' 5 ; tail 3 ; bill at front 2*5. 



Hab. Sind and throughout India, Ceylon, and the Burmese countries. 

 Breeds from May to August nesting in trees. Eggs, 46, pale bluish green, 

 elongated ovals, 1*35 to 1-62 in length by ri to r25 in breadth. Abundant 

 in all moist localities, at the edges of ponds, ditches, marshes, and lakes, 

 and especially in rice fields. 



1355. Ardeola prasinoeeles, Swinh., ibis, 1860, p. 64 ; id., P. Z. S. 



1871, p. 413 ; Hume, Sir. F. ii. p. 483 ; Blyth, B. Burm. p. 160 ; Anders., 

 Yunnan Exped. p. 689; Hume and Dav., Str. F.\\. p. 481 ; Hume t Str. 



