STRANGERS OF THE SPRING. 



49 



SPECIES. 



POINTS OF DISTINCTION. 



Red-necked Nightjar 



(continued) 



Bee Eater 



Hoopoe . 



Great Spotted Cuckoo 

 Great White Egret . 

 Little Egret . 



Squacco Heron , 



Buff-backed Heron . 



13 inches (against 10^ in Com- 

 mon Nightjar). 



Forehead white, shading through 

 bluish into chestnut on crown ; 

 throat yellow bordered by narrow 

 black line ; remainder of under 

 parts green; tail green, two 

 centre feathers an inch longer 

 than rest. Female slightly duller. 

 Length ioj4 inches. 



General body colour buff and white ; 

 conspicuous crest rich buff tipped 

 with black, hindermost feathers 

 with white and black ; tail black 

 with broad bar of white. Length 

 ii inches. 



Head gray and crested ; upper 

 parts brown ; under parts white. 

 Length 15^ inches. 



Uniform white ; dorsal plumes 

 assumed in pairing season. 

 Length 36 to 43 inches. 



Same as preceding in colour, but 

 in pairing season has several 

 long pendent feathers from crown 

 in addition to dorsal plumes. 

 Length 20 inches. 



Similar to preceding in colour, but 

 head, nape, neck, back, upper 

 breast, and dorsal plumes are 

 buff, the feathers on the head 

 banded with black; elongated 

 pendent feathers from crown 

 white margined with black. 

 Length 18 inches. 



General plumage white ; head, 



