BRITISH BIRDS. 





THE PURPLE-CRESTED HERON. 



(A rdca piirpurca, Einn. Hcrou poiirpre y Temm. A 



Is rather less than the common Heron. Eength, 

 two feet ten inches and a half. The bill, from the 

 tip to the brow, is about four inches and six- 

 eighths; the upper mandible dusky, edged with 

 yellow; the under one, the bare space, or lore, to 

 the eyes, and the irides, are also yellow; the upper 

 part of the head is glossy black, and crested, with 

 the two middle feathers elongated about three and 

 a half inches beyond the rest; the chin and throat 

 are white ; neck, rusty yellow and white ; the sides 

 of the head reddish yellow, divided from the cor- 

 ners of the mouth by a black line which is extended 

 to the hinder part of the head, and continued down 



