538 



ARDEID.E. 



quarters ; the first three quill-feathers very nearly equal in 

 length, and the longest in the wing. 



A young bird in its first plumage, but with some down 

 still remaining upon it, has the top of the head of dark 

 brown ; the feathers of the neck white at the base, pale 

 yellow brown towards the end, with a streak of dark brown 

 in the line of the shaft ; the feathers of the back dark 

 brown, with buff-coloured edges ; the wing-primaries and 

 tail-feathers greyish black ; the outer web of the first 

 quill-feather chestnut ; the carpal surface of the wing and 

 the tertials reddish brown ; the wing-coverts buff ; breast 

 pale buff, with long streaks of dusky brown in the line of 

 the feather ; thighs in front pale buff, without streaks, but 

 varied with brown streaks behind ; vent, under tail-coverts, 

 and under wing-coverts, pale buffy white ; legs, toes, and 

 claws, reddish brown. 



The dark-coloured streaks on the neck and breast, and 

 the broad light-coloured margins of the feathers on the 

 upper surface of the body are lost by degrees. 



