560 ARDEIM. 



the web ; from the middle of the back another patch of 

 feathers, the filaments of which are sufficiently elongated 

 to reach beyond the ends of the closed wings ; these fea- 

 thers, as also those of the occiput, and others hanging from 

 the bottom of the neck in front, are of a brilliant orange 

 colour ; all the rest of the plumage is of a shining white ; 

 the lore and irides are of a fine yellow colour, but the 

 naked skin does not encircle the eye ; the upper mandible 

 is slightly curved ; the beak yellow ; the legs are yellow, 

 but the joints and the toes are darker, and tinged with lead 

 colour. 



Males and females are alike in plumage. 



The young specimen obtained by Montagu is thus de- 

 scribed : The length is about twenty inches ; the bill two 

 inches long to the feathers on the forehead, and of an orange 

 yellow ; the lore and orbits the same ; irides pale yellow. 

 The whole plumage is snowy white, except the crown of 

 the head, and the upper part of the neck before, which are 

 buff: legs three inches and a half long, and one inch and 

 a half bare space above the joint ; these parts are nearly 

 black, with a tinge of green ; the toes and claws are of the 

 same colour ; the middle claw pectinated. 



The skin is of a very dark colour, almost black, so that 

 on the cheeks and sides of the neck, where the feathers are 

 thin, it is partly seen, or at least gives a dingy shade to the 

 white plumage of those parts. 



On the back of the head the feathers are a little elon- 

 gated, but scarcely to be called a crest ; on the lower part 

 of the neck before, the feathers are more elongated, and 

 though not slender, hang detached over the upper part of 

 the breast : the tail when closed is in a slight degree forked, 

 and so short as to be entirely covered by the wings when 

 they are folded. 



