AIIDEA. BIRDS. 291 



A. scolopacca. (Ardea, Lath.) Plumage coppery brown, with the 

 neck and breast striped with white ; throat black. 25 inches 

 long. Inhabits Cayenne. Shaw, xi. 540 The only species of 

 the genus. 



Gen. 11. ARDEA, Lin. Tem. 



Bill as long as or longer than the head, strong, straight, com- 

 pressed, pointed ; upper mandible slightly sulcated, ridge 

 rounded ; nostrils lateral, placed almost at the base of the 

 bill, longitudinally cleft in a groove, and half closed by a 

 membrane ; orbits and lores naked ; legs long and slender, 

 with a naked space above the knee ; the middle toe connect- 

 ed with the outer by a short membrane ; claws long, compres- 

 sed, that of the middle toe dentated interiorly. 



The birds of this genus reside on the banks of lakes or rivers, or in marshy situa- 

 tions, subsisting on fish and their spawn, testacea, field-mice, frogs, insects, snails, 

 worms, &c. Many of them nestle together. In flight their neck is contracted and 

 bent over the back, while their legs are stretched out behind. They migrate pe- 

 riodically in large flocks, and moult once in the year. The sexes resemble each 

 other ; but the young differ much in appearance from the adults. 



* Bill much longer than the head ; upper mandible nearly straight ; 

 a great portion of the tibia naked. 



A. cinerea, Lath. Common Heron. Plumage of a bluish ash-co- 

 lour ; a long tuft of pendulous black feathers on the occiput, and 

 a similar one of silvery white ones hang from the base of the 

 neck ; scapulars elongated, silvery ; forehead, neck, middle of 

 the belly, margins of the wings, and thighs, white ; sides of the 

 breast and flanks deep black ; on the fore part of the neck large 

 longitudinal black and ash-coloured spots ; middle toe and claw 

 much shorter than the tarsus. 3 feet long, Inhabits Europe. B. 

 Penn. Brit. Zool. ii. pi. 3. 



The Common Heron is dispersed over most of the countries of the world. In some 

 latitudes it is migratory, and in others stationary, though it frequently changes its 

 residence without- varying the climate. It chiefly haunts woods in the neighbour- 

 hood of lakes, rivers, or swamps. Having waded as far as it can into the water, it 

 patiently awaits the approach of its prey, and seizes it with undeviating aim. 

 The heron has a demure and melancholy air, and is extremely shy, and impatient 

 of confinement ; but the young are capable of being tamed. They fly very high in the 

 air, especially befoie rain. In the day time they are often inactive, or indulge in 

 repose. Although in general shy and solitary in their habits, herons are grega- 

 rious during the breeding season, and many of them build their nests in the same 

 place, which is called a heronry. The eggs are usually four ; but sometimes five or 

 six, of the size of those of a duck, and of a greenish-blue cast. When the female 

 incubates, the male fishes for her, and fetches a portion of his captures. 



A. purpurea, Lin. The Purple Heron. Plumage of a bright red, 

 or reddish ash-colour ; tuft of slender blackish green feathers on 

 the occiput, and purplish white at the base of the neck ; scapu- 

 lars elongated, and purple red ; top of the head and occiput 

 black, with green reflections ; throat white ; lateral parts of the 

 neck red, with three narrow black bands ; fore part of the neck 

 with longitudinal, red, black, and purple spots ; flanks and breast 

 purple. 2 feet 9 inches long. Inhabits Europe. B. Lewin's 

 Brit. Birds, iv. pi. 151. 



