228 Div. 1. YERTEBRATE ANIMALS— AVE S. Class 2. 



white, marked on each side with a row of black tears ; [dorsal plumage rounded in the youn"^, pomted after the 

 first moult, and much elongated and narrowed in the adult, all the feathers havings a crape-like appearance, devoid 

 of gloss, but rich in colouring. Both sexes alike.] A large bird, very noxious on account of the quantity of fish 

 it destroys, and formerly celebrated for the sport which it afforded to falconers, ['t breeds, like most of the 

 g'enus, on the branches of high trees, many nests together, which are termed Heronries; seizes its prey by an 

 instantaneous stroke of the bill, transfixing it if large ; watches for it motionless ; emits a loud cry or honk, and 

 flies buoyantly : characters wliich mostly apply to the genus generally.] 



We have also another species, the Purple Heron (A. ■purpurea) [smaller and more slender, with longer toes, like, 

 those of a Bittern. It breeds on the ground, and is rare in the British islands. Colour altogether more reddish.] 



Certain small species Tvith shorter legs are termed Dwarf-bitterns [the Ardeola, Bonap. They are in every 

 respect true Bitterns, and resemble that of North America in immature plumage, acquiring a garb analogous to 

 that of the Night-herons when adult.] There is one common in the mountainous districts of France (Ard. minuia 

 and daniibialis, Gm.), which is scarcely larger than a Rail, and fulvous, with the calotte, back, and quills, black. 

 It frequents the vicinity of ponds. 



The Tiger-bitterns conjoin to the contour of the Dwarf-bitterns the stature of a Heron and the plumage of the 

 ordinary Bitterns. 



Egrets are Herons, the feathers of which, on the lower part of the back, at a certain epoch are lengthened and 

 thinly barbed. [Tliey are mostly pure white.] One of the handsomest of them, the Heron-crested Egret {A. gar- 

 zetta, Lin.), is entirely white, with the dorsal phnnage not extending beyond the tail, [and a long occipital crest of 

 narrow feathers, resembling in shape those of the Common Heron. It is peculiar to the eastern continent]. Also 

 the European Great Egret (A. alba and egretta), likewise wholly white, and the thinly-barbed dorsal plumage 

 prolonged beyond the tail. [There are numerous others, in every part of the world. A third in Europe is the 

 Buff backed Heron or Egret (A. russata), with a shorter and smooth yellow bill, longer toes, and coloured dorsal 

 plumage in the adult, like the next species.] 



We approximate to the Egrets the Squacco Heron {A. comata and ralloides), a bird of the south of Europe, with 

 a russet-brown back, the belly, wings, and tail, white. The adult has a yellowish neck, [densely clad like that of a" 

 Bittern], and a long [striped] occipital crest: [the toes are also long, and the lengthened d'irsal plumage of this 

 and the last species are of a hair-like texture, besides resembling in colour. The present species occurs less 

 unfrequently in the British Isles than either of the three last.] 



Bitterns have the feathers of the neck lax and separated, which increases their apparent size, [at least whsn they 

 erect them, which they have the power of doing to their whole clothing plumage]. They .ne commOiuy rayed or 

 speckled, [and not so high on the legs]. 



The European Bittern [A. stellarU) is bright fulvous or clay-colour, mottled and speckled >^ith blackish, and 

 has green bill and feet. It is found among the reeds, whence it emits its terrific voice, which has caused it to be 

 designated Bos-iatirus. [This bird is not rare in Britain, runs with great celerity like a Kail, flies also with 

 unwillingness, and with its legs hanging, during the day, and when surprized putTs out its plumage in an extra- 

 ordinary manner, and strikes with its spear-like bill. In the evening it rises to a vast height in the aii, in spiral 

 circles, occasionally bellowing in its flight : it breeds among aquatic herbage in the marshes, and lays eggs of a 

 dark brown colour.] 



The Night-herons, with the same port as the Bitterns, have the beak proportionally much thicker, and some 

 slender feathers [three in number] growing from the occiput of the adult. One only inhabits Europe yA. nvrti- 

 cora.r, Lin.), the male of which is whitish, with the calotte and back black ; the young brown above spotted with 

 whitish, and the calotte dusky. [It is rare in Britain.] 



In fine, we should remark that these diflerent subdivisions of the genus of Herons are of trivial impnit. and by 

 no means well defined. [Together with the Boatbills, they constitute a perfectly distinct group, strongly >-. ..rac- 

 terized by their anatomy, and particularly by the single minute ccecum, and the number of cervical vertebrae 

 — seventeen.] 



The third tribe, besides having a stouter and smoother beak, has tolerably strong and nearly 

 equal membranes between the bases of the toes. 



The Storks (Ciconia, Cuv.) — • 

 Possess a thick hill, morlerately cleft, without any fossa or groove, and the nostrils pierced towards 

 the back and base ; also an extremely short tongue. Their legs are reticulated, and the front toes 

 strongly palmatcd at base, more particidarly the outer. Their large and tliin mandibles, by striking 

 against each other, produce a clattering noise, which is almost the only sound these birds ever make. 

 Their gizzard is slightly muscular, and their two cceca so small as to he barely perceptible. Their inferior 

 larynx has no muscle proper ; and the bronchi are longer and composed of more entire rings than usual. 



We have two species in France. 



The White Stork {A. ciconia, Lin.).— Wliite, with black quill-feathers, and red bill and feet ; a large bird, which 

 the people hold in particular respect, doubtless originating from its utility in destroying Snakes and other noxious 

 animals. It nestles by preference on towers and chimney-stacks, returning to the same every spring, after having 

 passed the winter in Africa. [The reason that this species is not common in Britain, is that every pan are shot 

 »oon after making their appearance, which prevents the founding of a colony.] 



