99 



713. N. flaviroStris,Sharpe (Herodias picata, Old. ; Demiegretta picata), 



Pied Egret. 



Crest, crown of head, and sides of face black ; throat, cheeks, and 

 neck white ; bill, legs, and feet greenish-yellow. 



Total length, 19 in. ; culmen, 2 '5 in.; wing, 8 7 in. ; tail, 3 in. ; 

 tarsus, 2 '8 in. 



Hab. : 1. 



714. N. aruensis, Gray, Allied Egret. 



Whole head and neck white ; under surface white ; upper surface 

 slaty-brown ; bill yellow. This was considered by Gould (Hand- 

 book) to be the young of N. flavirostris (H. picata, 713). 

 Hab.: 1. 



GENUS GARZETTA. No crest on head but with drooping head plumes ; 

 breast with lanceolate white plumes. 



715. G. IligripCS, Temm. (Herodias garzetta, Ramsay ; H. melanopus, 



Gld. , nee Wagler), Little Egret. 



Plumage white ; plumes suspended from the nape (two elongated) ; 

 plumes upon back and breast ; feet and toes totally black. Winter 

 plumage is without the plumes and base of culmen more yellow. 



Total length, about 22 in, ; culmen, 3*4 in.; tarsus, 37 in. ; wing, 

 107 in. ; middle toe and claw, 27 in. 

 Hab. : 1, 2, 3. 



GENUS DEMIEGRETTA. Bill without serrations ; culmen longer than 

 tarsus ; tarsus longer than middle toe. 



716. D. SRCra, Gmelin, Reef Heron. 



Includes Herodias asha, Gould's Handbook, ii. , p. 305 (nee Sykes) ; 

 Demiegretta grayi, Gould's Handbook, ii., p. 305 ; D. asha, Ramsay's 

 Tab. List, p. 21 ; D. jugularis, Gld. 



Demiegretta asha of Sykes equals Lepterodius asha, an extra- 

 Australian species. 



General plumage dark slate colour ; head crested, a pure white 

 streak down centre of the throat. 



Total length, 23 in. ; culmen, 2'8 in. ; tarsus, 2'9 in. 

 Hab. : 2, 3, 4, 5. 



GENUS NYCTICOR AX. Tarsus about equal to middle toe and claw; 

 bill higher than broad. 



717. N. CaledonicllS, Gmelin, Night Heron. 



General colour nankeen (light chestnut) ; two or three long white 

 nuchal plumes ; eyebrow white ; thighs white, faintly flushed with 

 rufous. 



Hab. : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8. 



GENUS BUTORIDES. Culmen longer than tarsus ; ornamental nape and 

 dorsal plumes lanceolate. 



718. B. Stagnatilis, Gld. (B. macrorhyncha, Gld. ; B. javanica, Ramsay's 



List, p. 21, and Gould's Handbook), Thick -billed Bittern. 



B. javanica, Hors., is considered by Dr. Sharpe an extra- Aus- 

 tralian bird. 



Upper surface slaty-grey; abdomen rusty -brown ; throat and 

 cheek stripe light brown. 



Total length, 17 in. ; culmen, 2 '8 in. ; tarsus, 1'9 in. 



Young. Throat white, mottled with sandy spots as on wing 

 coverts. The colour of the soft parts varies with the season. 

 Hab. : 1, 2, 3. 



