ARDEID.E. 381 



GENUS, Bubulcus, Pucheran. 



Bill somewhat short, stout, slightly curved along the culm en, 

 smooth ; feet longer, otherwise as in Egretta ; assumes golden- 

 yellow, hair-like plumes on the head, breast, and back during 

 the breeding season. 



Bubulcus coromandus, Bodd. 



929. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 749 ; Butler, Guzerat ; 

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

 IX, 434 ; Murray's Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 271 ; Swinhoe 

 and Barnes, Central India ; Ibis, 1885, p. 136. 



THE CATTLE EGRET.' 



Length, 21 ; expanse, 37 ; wing, 10'25 ; tail, 4 ; tarsus, 3'5 ; bill 

 at front, 2*5. 



Bill deep orange- yellow ; orbitar region yellowish-pink ; irides 

 pale yellow ; legs whitish-green on the tibia and to a little below 

 the knee ; rest of the tarsus blackish-green, with a reddish tinge 

 on the toes, which are greenish below. 



In summer dress, the whole head, which is crested, neck, and 

 breast, rich golden-buff, except the chin, and a narrow median 

 line on the neck ; dorsal plumes of the same hue, very filamentose 

 and decomposed, about eight or nine inches long ; elongated 

 feathers of the breast white at base, yellow at tip ; the rest of the 

 plumage pure white. 



In non-breeding dress the plumage is entirely white ; the bill 

 yellow in place of orange, and the orbitar skin yellow. 



The Cattle Heron is common throughout the district. In its 

 breeding habits it resembles the other members of the family, but 

 occasionally a colony of them may be found breeding alone or in 

 company with the Pond Heron. Their eggs may be distinguished 

 from those of all other herons by their excessive paleness. 



GENUS, Ardeola, Soie. 



Bill moderately long, straight, pointed ; tarsus short, stout ; feet 

 moderately large ; tibia feathered nearly to the knee ; neck short, 

 densely feathered ; the feathers long and lax ; toes long ; dorsal 

 plumes in the breeding season hair-like, dark ; wing white. 



Ardeola grayi, Sy&es. 



930. A. leucoptera, Bodd. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 

 751 ; Butler, Guzerat ; Stray Feathers, Vol. IV, p. 23 ; Deccan, 

 Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 434 ; Murray's Vertebrate Zoology of 

 Sind, p. 272 ; Swinhoe and Barnes, Central India ; Ibis, 1885, 

 p. 136. 



THE POND HEKON. 

 Andhe bagla, Hin. 



Length, 18'5; expanse, 28; wing, 8'5 ; tail, 3; tarsus, 2'4 ; 

 bill at front, 2'5. 



