246 BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 



Iris yellow ; upper mandible dark brown, the margins as far back as the 

 nostrils dusky yellow, produced back to the eye ; margins from nostrils to 

 gape dark brown; anterior half of lower mandible clear yellow, posterior 

 half dull yellow; gape and facial skin greenish yellow; edges of the eye- 

 lids yellow ; legs and toes yellowish, the front of tarsus and toes glossy 

 brown ; claws dark horn-colour. 



Length 38 inches, tail 5, wing 14*5, tarsus 5, bill from gape 6. The 

 female is rather smaller. 



The Purple Heron is very abundant and a constant resident in all the 

 lowlands of Burmah. 



It is found over a great part of Asia, Europe and Africa, extending to 

 Java and Borneo on the south and to Japan on the north. 



This Heron is found singly or in couples except at the breeding-season, 

 when immense numbers congregate and nest together. It affects conceal- 

 ment, and is generally seen in swamps where there is a considerable amount 

 of cover. I found great numbers of their nests in the Myitkyo swamp in 

 July and August. The nest is made of sticks, and placed on matted reeds 

 near the surface of the water. The eggs, four or five in number, are pale 

 green. 



Genus HERODIAS, Boie. 



611. HERODIAS ALBA. 

 THE LARGE WHITE HERON. 



Ardea alba, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 239 j Dresser, Birds Eur. vi. p. 231, pi. Ardea 

 torra, Buck., Frankl. P. Z. S. 1831, p. 123. Herodias alba, Jerd. B. 2nd. 

 ii. p. 744 ; Hume, S. F. iii. p. 190 ; Bl. B. Burm. p. 159 ; Oates, S. F. v. p. 167 ; 

 David et Oust. Ois. CJiine, p. 439 ; Scully, S. F. viii. p. 360 ; Legge, Birds Ceylon, 

 p. 1138. Herodias torra, Salvad. Ucc. Born. p. 347 ; Hume $ Dav. S. F. vi. 

 pp. 472, 480 ; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 114 ; Scully, S. F. viii. p. 360 ; Oates, S. F. 

 x. p. 243. Ardea egretta, apud Hume, Nests and Eggs, p. 613. 



Description. Male and female in breeding-plumage. The whole plumage 

 pure white ; a long train of soft decomposed feathers springing from the 

 back and extending about four inches beyond the tail ; no crest ; no 

 breast-plumes. 



In nonbreeding-plumage the dorsal train is wanting. 



In winter the bill is yellow ; orbital skin greenish yellow ; iris pale 

 yellow ; tibia dull greenish ; tarsus and toes black ; soles yellowish. In 

 summer the bill is black and the facial skin rather bright green ; the tibia 

 bluish black. 



Length about 36 inches, tail 6, wing 13'5 to 14'7, tarsus 5'2 to 6'1, bill 



