336 GRALL.E. ARDEAD^E. 



meal in the shallows, and by the borders of Fresh 

 River. Six or eight were within the space of 

 a hundred yards, all feeding, yet not associating. 



On a moringa-tree near the house at Robin's 

 River, the young friend, to whom I am indebted 

 for several notes, used to see the nest of a White 

 Gaulin, consisting of sticks and twigs, and about 

 as large as a washing-basin; but being in an en- 

 closure, he could not examine it. He used often, 

 in passing, to see the bird sitting in it, and look- 

 ing fearlessly at the passengers ; for it is close to 

 the high-road. He described its beautiful appear- 

 ance, as it sat in its unspotted purity, with its long 

 neck gracefully bent into sigmoid curves, as it 

 gazed hither and thither. 



This bird is closely allied to the following spe- 

 cies, from which it is distinguished by the colour 

 of the beak, lores, and feet, and by the ashy tips 

 of the quills. 



BLACK-LEGGED GAULIN.* 



Snowy Heron. WILS. 

 Egretta candidissima. 



Ardea candidissima, GMBL. Aud. pi. 242. 



Egretta candidissima, BONAP. 



THIS is much more rare than the preceding spe- 

 cies; but two specimens having fallen under my 



* Length 22 inches, expanse 34, flexure 9^, tail 3^, rictus 3 T %, 

 tarsus 4, middle toe 2-^. (A female.) 



