92 



BUFF-BACKED HERON. 



LITTLE WHITE HERON. 

 RED-BILLED HERON. RUFOUS-BACKED EGRET. 



Ardea cequiwnctialis, PENNANT. MOXTAGU. 



rw.s'sota, SELBY. JENYNS. 



" affinis, HoRSFIELD. 



Ardea A Heron. ^Equinoctialis Equinoctial. 



THIS species of Heron is a native of the southern parts 

 of Europe: in Turkey, about the mouths of the Danube, on 

 that intermediate sort of 'neutral' soil which 'nee tellus est 

 nee mare,' as also in the Crimsea both localities so full of 

 interest at the present moment to others than ornithologists. 

 In Dalmatia, and near the Caucasian range of mountains. 

 In Asia, it likewise occurs in India and Japan, according to 

 M. Temminck; also in the Dukkun, Himalaya, and Nepaul, 

 where it is plentiful in Upper Hindostan, and by the bank 

 of the famous Gunga, as also in Java, Sunda, and the adjacent 

 islands. 



One specimen, a female, was -shot by Mr. F. Cornish, at 

 South Allington, in the parish of Chivelstone, near Kings- 

 bridge, in Devonshire, in the end of October, 1805. It was 

 observed for several days in the same field, attending a herd 

 of cows. 



It appeared to be by no means shy. 



It fed on insects. 



Male; length, about one foot eight inches; bill, yellow, 

 darker at the tip; the upper mandible slightly curved; iris, 

 bright yellow. Head on the crown, back, and sides, of an 

 orange colour, but the base of each feather white, the orange- 

 coloured ends formed of the loose unconnected filaments of 



