ARDEA.] AVES GRALLATORES. 



DIMENS. Entire length two feet eleven inches : length of the hill 

 (from the forehead) four inches eight lines, (from the gape) five inches 

 seven lines ; of the tarsus four inches seven lines ; of the naked part of 

 the tibia two inches seven lines ; of the middle toe, claw included, four 

 inches nine lines ; from the carpus to the end of the wing thirteen inches 

 eight lines. 



DESCRIPT. (Adult in perfect plumage.) Crown, and occipital crest, 

 black, with green reflections ; throat white ; cheeks, and sides of the 

 neck, reddish brown, with three longitudinal narrow black bands, two 

 lateral reaching from the eyes to the breast, the third commencing at 

 the nape and running down the back of the neck for two-thirds of its 

 length: front of the neck variegated with red, black, and purple; the 

 feathers on the lower part long and acuminated, of a purplish white 

 colour : back, wings, and tail, reddish ash ; scapulars long and subulate 

 as in the last species, of a rich brilliant purple red : breast and flanks of 

 a deep brownish red, tinged with purple ; belly and thighs red : bill and 

 orbits bright yellow : irides yellowish orange : soles of the feet, posterior 

 part of the tarsus, and naked space on the tibia, yellow; fore part of 

 the tarsus, and upper surface of the toes, greenish brown. (Immature 

 plumage.) No occipital crest, or simply a few red feathers somewhat 

 longer than the others : without the long subulate plumes on the lower 

 part of the neck and scapulars : forehead black ; nape and cheeks pale 

 red ; throat white ; fore part of the neck, and -sides of the breast, yel- 

 lowish white, with numerous longitudinal black spots : back, wings, and 

 tail, dusky ash, all the feathers edged with reddish ash : belly and thighs 

 whitish : a large portion of the upper mandible dusky ; lower mandible, 

 orbits, and irides, pale yellow. (Egg.) Pale asparagus-green : long, 

 diam. two inches four lines; trans, diam. one inch seven lines. 



A very rare, and only occasional visitant in this country. Has been 

 killed in Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and in one or two other 

 parts of the kingdom. A specimen is also said to have flown on board 

 a fishing boat off the coast of Cornwall in May 1822, and to have been 

 taken. Frequents the same kind of situations as the last species. Food 

 similar. Is said to breed amongst reeds and thick underwood, rarely in trees. 

 Lays three eggs. Obs. The African Heron of Montagus Ornithological 

 Dictionary (A. Caspica, Gmel.) is this species in immature plumage. 



(17.) A. alba, Linn. Syst. Nat. torn. i. p. 239. Great White Heron, 

 Mont. Orn. Diet. & Supp. Selb. Illust. vol. n. p. 18. A. Egretta, 

 Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. n. p. 572. White Heron, Penn. Brit. 

 Zool. vol. n. p. 427. pi. 62. 



Recorded as a British species by Ray. Asserted by Latham, on the 

 authority of Dr Heysham, to have been shot in Cumberland : supposed also 

 to have been seen in Devonshire and Suffolk. There is, however, no well 

 authenticated instance of its having been met with in this country of late 

 years, nor any British-killed specimen in existence. It is distinguished by 

 its pure white plumage, greenish yellow bill, and long slender legs : the 

 adult, in the breeding season, possesses an occipital crest and long dorsal 

 plumes like the next species. Is common in some of the eastern parts of 

 Europe. Food and habits resembling those of its congeners. 



174. A. Garzetta, Linn. (Little Egret Heron.) 

 Whole plumage white : bill black. 



A. Garzetta, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. n. p. 574. Egret, Penn. 

 Brit. Zool. vol. n. Append, p. 631. pi. 7. Mont. Orn. Diet. 

 Little Egret, Lath. Syn. vol. in. p. 90. Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. n. 

 p. 17. Little Egret Heron, Selb. Illust. vol. n. p, 21. pi. 5. 



