LITTLE EGRET. 



525 



birds of the country between the Black and the Caspian 

 Seas. 



The Little Egret breeds in marshes, and produces four or 

 five white eggs. 



The adult bird has the beak black ; the lore green ; the 

 irides yellow ; the whole of the plumage a pure and delicate 

 white ; the feathers of the occiput and the bottom of the 

 neck in front elongated ; those of the back greatly lengthen- 

 ed and filamentous ; the legs black ; toes blackish green ; 

 claws black. 



Whole length twenty-four inches. From the beak to the 

 feathers on the forehead, three inches and a half; from the 

 carpal joint to the end of the wing, eleven inches and a 

 quarter ; the first and fourth quill-feathers equal in length ; 

 but not so long as the second and third, which are also 

 equal in length, and the longest in the wing ; length of 

 tarsus four inches ; bare part above two inches and a 

 half. 



Young birds are said to be greyish white, and without 

 the elongated plumes. 



The vignette below represents the breast-bone of the 

 Common Heron, about one-third less than the natural size. 



