570 ARDEIDJJ. 



quarters ; the first three quill-feathers very nearly equal in 

 length, and the longest in the wing. 



A young bird in its first plumage, and with some down 

 still remaining upon it, in which state it has been obtained 

 on the banks of the Lea River, near Enfield, has the top 

 of the head of dark brown ; the feathers of the neck white 

 at the base, pale yellow brown towards the end, with a 

 streak of dark brown in the line of the shaft ; the feathers 

 of the back dark brown, with buff-coloured edges ; the 

 wing-primaries and tail-feathers greyish black ; the outer 

 web of the first quill-feather chestnut ; the carpal surface 

 of the wing and the tertials reddish brown ; the wing- 

 coverts buff; breast pale buff, with long streaks of dusky 

 brown in the line of the feather ; thighs in front pale buff, 

 without streaks, but varied with brown streaks behind ; 

 vent, under tail-coverts, and under wing- coverts, pale 

 buffy white ; legs, toes, and claws, reddish brown. 



The dark-coloured streaks on the neck and breast, and 

 the broad light-coloured margins of the feathers on the 

 upper surface of the body, are lost by degrees. 



