THE LESSEE WHITE HERON. 247 



at front 4 to 4'6, from gape about 5'5. The female is of much the same 

 size. 



The Large White Heron varies very much in size, those from Europe and 

 northern latitudes having the wing about 17 inches in length. A few of 

 these large birds occasionally visit India. Burmese birds have the wing 

 invariably less than 15 inches in length. There seem, however, to be 

 conn ecting-links between the largest and the smallest birds, and therefore 

 I think it convenient to keep all the Herons of this type under one name, 

 as is done by Mr. Dresser and Major Legge. 



This Heron is found over the greater part of Asia, extending down to 

 Australia ; also in Europe and Africa. 



A constant resident in Burmah, the Large White Heron is found singly 

 or in flocks in almost every portion of the plains of the Province in paddy- 

 fields, swamps and on the banks of streams. It breeds in the rains in con- 

 siderable numbers near villages and monasteries on large trees, constructing 

 a nest of sticks, and laying three or four pale bluish-green eggs. 



612. HERODIAS INTERMEDIA. 

 THE LESSER WHITE HERON. 



Ardea intermedia, van Hasselt, Wagler, Isis, 1829, p. 659 ; Hume, Nests and Eggs, 

 p. 615. Ardea egrettoides, Temm. Man. d'Orn. iv. p. 374. Herodias 

 egrettoides, Jerd. B. 2nd. ii. p. 745. Herodias intermedia, Salvad. Ucc. 

 Born. p. 348 ; Bl. B. Burm. p. 159 ; Hume, S. F. iii. p. 190 ; David ct Oust. 

 Ois. Chine, p. 440 ; Hume 8f Dav. S. F. vi. pp. 476, 480 ; Leyge, Birds Ceijl&n, 

 p. 1141 ; Anders. Yunnan Exped. p. 687 ; Hume, 8. F. viii. p. 114 ; Oates, S. F. 

 x. p. 243. 



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

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

 and exceeding the tail by seven or eight inches ; a long soft tuft of feathers 

 springing from the breast ; no crest. 



In nonbreeding-plumage the dorsal and pectoral trains are wanting. 



In summer the bill is black ; the facial skin green ; the iris yellow ; the 

 legs and toes black. In winter the bill becomes yellow with the tip 

 blackish. 



Length about 28 inches, tail 5 '5, wing 11-5 to 12' 5, tarsus 4' 3, bill at 

 front about 2*9. The female is of the same size. 



The Lesser White Heron is of rather rare occurrence in Burmah ; but 

 it is probably restricted to no particular portion of the country. Mr. Blyth 

 received it from Rangoon, Capt. Feilden observed it at Thayetmyo, and I 

 procured it on the banks of the canal. It may turn out to be commoner 



