ARDEIN^E. ERODIUS. 133 



acute ; the gape-line straight, commencing under the centre 

 of the eye, at first somewhat sinuate, and toward the end 

 slightly deflected ; a large bare space on each side of the head 

 extending from the base of the bill to a little behind the eye 

 and angle of the mouth. This bare space is said to be " pale 

 green." Mr Yarrell says the bill is " yellow at the base, 

 black towards the point." Mr Gould says it is " deep brown 

 tinged with yellow about the nostrils." No two authors agree 

 on this subject. I find it in the individual here described 

 yellow, with the tip slightly dusky. The occipital feathers 

 are very slightly elongated, the largest being an inch and 

 four-twelfths. The dorsal plumes have rather firm, though 

 slender, straightish-shafts, the longest extending two inches 

 beyond the tail, and fourteen inches in length. The tibia, 

 tarsus, toes, and claws, are black. The plumage white, with 

 a faint yellowish-tinge. 



Now, the only differences in the above descriptions are, in 

 the general size, the colour of the bill, and that of the feet; 

 but in the measurements of the bill and feet, as will present- 

 ly be seen, the difference is great, and while the one has 

 twenty tarsal scutella, the other has only fourteen. 



Erodius Egretta is smaller than E. albus. The bill is 

 long, stout, compressed, tapering ; the upper mandible with 

 the dorsal line straight for two-thirds, then slightly declinato- 

 convex, the ridge broad and slightly convex at the base, 

 narrowed, and becoming rather acute toward the end, the na- 

 sal depression narrow, elongated, with a groove to a third 

 from the tip, the sides convex, the edges direct and sharp ; 

 lower mandible with the angle long and extremely narrow, 

 the dorsal line ascending and almost straight, the edges sharp 

 and direct, the tip acuminate ; the gape-line straight, com- 

 mencing under the eye ; the bill is bright-yellow, as is the 

 space between it and the eye. The occipital feathers are 

 slightly elongated. The dorsal plumes have very slender, 

 slightly decurved, and slightly undulated shafts, the longest 

 extending about ten inches beyond the end of the tail. The 

 tibia, tarsus, toes, and claws are black. Plumage white. 

 Some of the measurements of three individuals of these three 

 species are here given. 



