568 ARDEA 



Is very closely allied to H. alba, from which it does not differ 

 in general habits. In India it breeds in July and August, in 

 colonies, placing its nest on trees, not unfrequently in towns. 

 The eggs, 4 in number, resemble those of H. alba and measure 

 about 1-9 by T44. 



793. JAPANESE EGRET. 

 ARDEA TIMORIENSIS. 



" Ardea timoriensis, Cuv." Lesson, Traite, p. 575 (1831) ; (Sharpe), Cat. 

 B. Br. Mus. xxvi. p. 98 ; H. syrmatophorus, Gould, B. of Austral, 

 vi. pi. 56 (1848) ; (Buller), B. N. Zeal. p. 226 ; H. modesta, 

 Blakiston and Pryer, B. of Jap. in Trans. As. Soc. Jap. xi. part 1, 

 p. 118 (nee. Gray) ; Tacz. F. 0. Sib. 0. p. 979 ; H. alba, David and 

 Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 439 (nee. Linn.) ; (Seebohm), B. Jap. Emp. 

 p. 216 ; (Tacz.), F. 0. Sib. 0. p. 977. 



Pae-kao, Pa6-lou-sse, Chin. ; 0-sagi, Jap. ; Kotuku, New 

 Zeal. 



ad. (Japan). Differs from H. alba in having the dorsal plumes 

 shorter, the bill orange-yellow both in summer and winter ; naked 

 space round the eye greenish yellow ; legs above the knee pale dull 

 yellow, this colour continued down the middle inner part of the tarsus ; 

 tarsi and feet otherwise black ; iris yellow. Culmen 5*0, wing 16*4, 

 tail 6 '5, tarsus 6'2 inch. 



Hab. Japan and China, south through the Malay archipelago 

 to Australia and New Zealand. 



In habits it does not differ from H. alba, and like that bird 

 nests in colonies, placing its nest on trees, usually at a consider- 

 able height, and deposits 3 to 4 eggs, which are similar to those 

 of H. alba in colour and measure about 2'2 by 1'6. 



794. LITTLE EGRET. 

 ARDEA GARZETTA. 



Ardea garzetta, Linn. i. p. 237, 1766 ; (Naum.), ix. p. 101, Taf. 223 ; 

 Gould, B. of E. iv. pi. 277 ; id. B. of Gt. Brit. iv. pi. 23 ; 

 Dresser, vi. p. 239, pi. 399 ; (David and Oust.), Ois. Chine, p. 440 ; 

 (Sharpe), Cat. B. Br. MUP. xxvi. p. 118 ; (Blanf.), F. Brit. Ind. Birds, 

 iii. p. 387 ; Saunder?, p. 373 ; Lilford, vii. p. 19, pi. 7 ; Seebohm, 

 B. Jap. Emp. p. 218. 



Htron garzette, French ; Garza blanca, Span. ; Garzetta, Ital. ; 

 Kleiner Silberreiher, German ; Kleine Zilverreiger, Dutch ; 

 Tschepuranushda, Russ. ; jBeiadi, Arab. ; Bou-fala, Bou-bliga, 



