98 



GENUS ARDEA.. Edges of mandibles distinctly serrated ; head crested ; 

 nape feathers elongated and ornamented ; plumes of fore-neck not 

 disintegrated : no dorsal train. 



707. A. Slllliatraiia, Raffles (A. rectirostris. Old.), Great-billed Heron. 



Breast, abdomen, and under tail coverts slaty-grey ; ornamental 

 plumes on chest pearly-grey ; head and chest feathers ashy grey or 

 slate colour ; the ornamental dorsal plumes pearly-grey. 



Young has abdominal feathers rust edged. 



Total length, about 50 in. ; culmen, 6'5 in. ; tarsus, 8 in. 

 Hab. : 1, 2, 3. 



708. A. Cinerea, Linn. , Grey Heron. 



General colour grey : crown of head white, black on the sides 

 and the nape crest ; thighs white ; edge of wing white or creamy- 

 white. 



Total length, male about 36 in. ; female about 39 in. 

 Hab. : 3, (6), 7. 



GENUS MESOPHOYX. Edge of mandible distinctly serrated ; head 

 crested, without ornamental plumes ; fore-neck with disintegrated 

 plumes ; an immense dorsal train. 



709. M. pllimifera, Gld. (Herodias egrettoides, Gld. ; Herodias inter- 



media, Ramsay ; Herodias melanopus, Ramsay, nee Wagler), Plumed 

 Egret. 



Plumage pure white ; bill, orbits and bare skin of face yellow ; 

 feet and lower part of tarsi black, upper part of tarsi inclining to 

 flesh colour ; a distinct loral black patch. 



Total length, 25 in ; culmen, 31 in : wing, 11 iu. ; tail, 5 '4 in. ; 

 tarsus, 4'05 in. ; middle toe and claw, 3 7 in. 

 Hab. : 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9. 



GENUS HERODIAS. Edge of mandible not serrated ; no crest plumes ; 

 a well-developed dorsal train. 



710. H. tilliorieiisis, Less. (H. alba, nee Linn., Gould's Handbook, ii.. 



p. 301 ; see also British Museum Catalogue Birds, xxvi., p. 270. 

 Appendix), White Egret. 



Plumage white ; bill black in summer, yellow in winter ; lores and 

 orbits pale green ; feet blackish, tibiae paler ; train of plumes 

 (decomposed feathers) short, just passing tail. 



Measurements of Australian race : Total length, 30 in. ; culmen, 

 4'4 in. ; wing, 15 in. ; tail, 6.3 in. ; tarsus, 5'2 to 64 in. 

 Hab. : 1 to 9. 



GENUS NOTOPHOYX. Tarsus not twice the length of outer toe and 

 claw. A full crest, but no elongated pair of nape plumes. 



711. X. liovre-liollaildiae, La'th. (Ardea novse-hollandise), White- 



fronted Heron. 



Plumage in general slaty-grey ; forehead, eyebrow, and throat 

 white ; dorsal plumes grey ; sides of chest vinaceous ; breast plumes 

 are lanceolate. 



Hab. : 1 to 9. 



712. N. pacific:!. Lath. (Ardea pacifica, Lath.), White-necked Heron. 



Upper surface glossy olive-green ; breast and abdomen with large 

 lanceolate streaks of white ; a large maroon patch of feathers on the 

 side of the chest ; head and neck vinaceous or white, with some 

 black markings on the lower throat. Sometimes the neck is wholly 

 white. Gould. 



Hab. : 1 to 9. 



