132 BRITISH BIRDS. 



with a white incrustation which speedily soils; size 3'io 

 by i '9 5. Food consists of such fish as may be visible 

 near the surface of the water, the bird descending upon 

 them with great rapidity from some height. 



ORDER 2SERODXON2S. 



Family, Ardeidee. 



GENUS CII. ARDEA, Brisson (7760). 



Bill long, straight, compressed, stout at base, and 

 diminishing to an acute point ; head crested. Wings 

 ample, of moderate length. Tail of 1 2 feathers, short ; 

 lower part of tibia bare ; tarsus long, slender, scaled in 



front ; toes three before, one behind. 





 188. Ardea einerea, Linn. COMMON HERON. 



Hab. Palaearctic and Oriental regions. 



Male : forehead and cheeks white ; long filamentous, 

 non-erectile crest blackish-blue ; upper plumage bluish- 

 slate ; primaries black ; front of neck white, marked 

 down centre with longitudinal rows of dark slate -blue 

 spots, the feathers terminating on breast in long plumes ; 

 below greyish-white, with some dusky streaks ; bill 

 yellowish ; iris yellow ; tarsi and toes yellowish-green ; 

 claws black. Length nearly 36*00. Female : similar, 

 but crest and breast plumes are shorter. 



Common throughout British Isles, usually nesting in 

 the tree tops in tolerably large protected heronries, but 

 in wilder parts nests may be found on cliffs and rocks 

 as commonly as on trees. Nest : large and flat, of 

 sticks, lined with grass, moss, and roots ; often re-used 

 and added to yearly. Eggs : 3 to 5 ; pale bluish-green ; 

 size 2 '50 by 170. Food: frogs, small reptiles, mollusca, 



