THE PURPLE HERON. 245 



south of Tenasserim from Mergui to Bankasoon, and Mr. Blyth gives it 

 from Arrakan. 



It extends down the Malay peninsula, and is found throughout the 

 archipelago as far as Australia. Dr. Tiraud records it from Cochin China, 

 where he states that it is not rare. 



This large Heron appears to be confined to the sea-coast and the mouths 

 of the larger estuaries and rivers. 



An allied species (A. insignis) is found at the foot of the Himalayas, and 

 I have received it from Bhamo in Independent Burmah. It has the lower 

 plumage white, and it is found inland, apparently never on the sea-coast. 



610. ARDEA PURPUREA. 

 THE PURPLE HERON. 



Ardea purpurea, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 236 ; Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 743 ; Hume, Nests 

 nmJ Ef/c/s, p. 611 ; Salvad. Ucc. Born. p. 345 ; Bl. B. Burm. p. 159 ; Hume, S. F. 

 iii. p. 190; Dresser, Birds Eur. vi. p. 217, pi. ; Oates, S. F. v. p. 167; David 

 et Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 438 ; Hume $ Dav. S. F. vi. p. 472 ; Legge, Birds Ceylon, 

 p. 1132; Anders. Yunnan Exped. p. 686; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 114; Oates, S. F. 

 x. p. 243. 



Description. Male and female. Forehead, crown, an occipital crest, a 

 streak from the gape to the nape through the ear-coverts, a broad streak 

 from the nape down the back of the neck, two narrow streaks one on each 

 side of the neck from the gape and joining on to the streaked fore neck 

 slaty black ; chin and throat white ; with these exceptions the head and 

 neck with the lengthened plumes on the upper breast are chestnut, the 

 lower half of the fore neck and the breast-plumes streaked with black and 

 more or less whitish at the edges ; remainder of lower plumage a mixture 

 of slaty chestnut and black ; lower half of hind neck, back, rump, upper 

 tail-coverts, tail, quills and scapulars dark slaty ; the upper feathers of the 

 scapulars long and pointed and chiefly chestnut ; upper wing-coverts ashy 

 tinged with chestnut. 



The young bird has no crest and no lengthened plumes on the scapulars 

 and breast ; the whole neck is spotted or streaked, and the feathers of the 

 upper plumage are broadly edged with rufous. 



The nestling has the crown of the head, quills and tail lavender-brown ; 

 throat and chin pure white ; sides of the head and the upper neck rufous ; 

 lower neck rufous-grey, the feathers on the sides being centred with 

 brown ; lower plumage ruf escent, each feather more or less dark-centred ; 

 thighs plain rufous ; upper plumage brown, each feather edged with 

 rufescent, more especially OH the scapulars and tertiaries ; upper and lower 

 wing-coverts bluish brown, each feather broadly edged with rufous. 



