Report of a Mission to Guam. 29 



Genus DEMI^GRETTA Blyth. 

 18. Demiegretta sacra (Gni.). Chuchuku. Reef Heron. 



Ardea sacra, Gm., Syst. Nat., I., p. 640; Finsch., Jour. Mus. Gode£ , VIII., p. 32 ; Scl., Chal- 

 lenger Exp., II., B., p. 31 ; Tri.str., Ibis, 1882, p. 144 (Solomon Ids.). 



Ardea jugularis, Fonst., Icon. ined. tab. 114; Hartl., J. f. O., 1853, p. 167 (Mariannae Id.s.)- 

 Sharp, P. Z. S., 1S87, p. 516 (Chri.stmas Id.). 



Herodias grayi. Gray, List. Grail. Brit. Mus., p. 80 (Aust). 



J^rmiegretta grayi, Gould, Hand. B. B. Aust., II., p. 309. 



Jlrniiegi etta sacra, Wald., Ibis, 1873, p. 318; Grant, P. Z. S., 188S, p. SiS; Sharp, Ibis, 1S94, p. 

 245; Hart., Nov. Zool., v., p. 64; Cat. B. Brit. Mus., XXVI., p. 137. "" 



The Reef Herons are not very abundant on the island, and 

 they are extremely wild and difficult to approach. Three speci- 

 mens were secured, one adult male and two adult females: — 



Museum Mid-toe 



Nv. Date. Length. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Culnien. andc. Se.v. 



9585 June 10 25.00 11.50 4.00 8.25 3.37 2.90 H" 



9587 June U 24.00 11.00 3.35 3.50 3.12 2.60 9 



9588 July 14 24.00 11.00 3.68 3.00 3.30 2.86 § 



The spread of the wings is about 37.50, and the depth of the 

 bill at the nostrils is .56. Sexes colored similarly. The general 

 color of the adult is blackish slate ; feathers of the crest and short 

 back plumes tinged with gray in the fully adults ; a white streak 

 down the centre of throat, this streak in some specimens beginning 

 between the gonys and extending three inches or more down the 

 neck ; in others the white streak begins on a line with the anterior 

 of eye and is only about one inch in length. Specimens almost 

 adult have scattered feathers of a dirty buffy white among the slaty 

 plumage of the mantle, neck, and wing coverts ; bill dark above 

 and at the tip, under mandible dusky yellowish ; feet and tarsus 

 dusky 3-ellowish green \\ith dark splotches on the front of the tar- 

 sus ; eye golden 3dlow. Hab. Australia, Pacific islands, Burmah, 

 Malay peninsula, Korea, Bay of Bengal, Japan and China. 



Order PALUD1C0L.€.-Rails, Coots, Etc. 



Hind toe above the level of the others, toes long and slender, 

 wings less than 10. Family Rallidcc, Rails. 

 a'. Without frontal shield. 



b'. Length about 11, barred with black and white on the 

 under surface, wing more than 3.9. Genus Hypotcenidia . 



b". lyength about 7, under surface gray, not barred, wing 

 3.39 or less. Genus Poliolii)imas. 

 a'. With a frontal shield. 



b'. Middle toe longer than the tarsus, no webs or lobes on 

 the toes, wing 6.92 or less. Genus Gallinula . 



b-. Toes with lobes on the sides, wing 7.70-8.30. 

 Genus Ftilica. 



