378 ARDEIDyE. 



The Common Heron occurs plentifully throughout the region. 



They are permanent residents, but disappear from many places 

 during the breeding season, when they in company with other 

 Herons and Egrets, form immense breeding colonies. Such colo- 

 nies occur on the dhunds along the Eastern Narra Canal in Sind, 

 and other places in the district. They all build platform nests, 

 composed of sticks, and the eggs are very similar, only differing 

 somewhat in size. 



Further on a table will be found giving dimensions of the eggs 

 of the various species. 



They breed usually during the rains. 



Ardea purpurea, Lin. 



924. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 743 ; Butler, Guzerat ; 

 Stray Feathers, Vol. IV, p. 23 ; Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. 

 IX, p. 433 ; Murray's Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 269 ; 

 Swinhoe and Barnes, Central India; Ibis, 1885, p. 135. 



THE PURPLE HERON. 



Length, 36 to 42 ; expanse, 58 ; wing, 15 '5 ; tail, 575 ; tarsus, 

 5 25 ; bill at front, 5 '4, 



Bill deep yellow, brownish above ; orbitar skin greenish-yellow ; 

 irides yellow; tarsus reddish-brown, yellowish behind and on the soles 

 of the feet. 



Adult in full plumage : crown and occipital crest black with 

 green reflections ; throat white ; cheeks and sides of the neck 

 reddish-brown, with three longitudinal narrow black bands, two 

 lateral ones from the eyes to the breast, and the third from the 

 nape down the black of the neck ; neck in front variegated with 

 rufous black and purple, the feathers on the top of the breast 

 long and acuminated, purplish-white ; back, wings, and tail, red- 

 dish-ash ; the scapulars purple, long, and subulate, forming a bril- 

 liant plume on each side ; breast and flanks deep brownish -red ; 

 belly and thigh-coverts the same, but paler and mixed with 

 white. 



The immature bird has the crest, scapulars and neck plumes 

 deficient ; the forehead black ; the nape and cheeks pale rufous ; 

 the throat white ; the forepart of the neck and the sides of the 

 breast yellowish-white, with black spots ; back, wings, and tail, 

 dusky- ash, the feathers edged with reddish-ash ; lower parts 

 whitish. 



The Purple Heron is common in suitable places throughout 

 the district. The remarks concerning breeding apply to this 

 species also. 



GENUS, Herodias, Boie. 



Bill moderately long and slender, straight and much compress- 

 ed ; plumage white ; the neck very long and slender ; tibia naked 

 for nearly half its length ; tarsus long, thin. 



