1880.] DR. G. HARTLAUB ON A NEW HERON. 39 



the type specimens, and was able to assert that it was the young of 

 ^gialitis curoiiica ; and had in his possession a specimen from 

 Formosa, measuring 4'4 in the wing, which was the facsimile of 

 Horsfield's type. As the smaller Indian Ringed Plover was without 

 a name, Captain Legge proposed that one should be given it, and, after 

 some discussion on the matter, agreed that it should be styled 

 ^.jerdoni, in compliment to Dr. Jerdon, who had pointed out its 

 specific characters, although he had applied an erroneous title to it. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. On a new Species of Heron from Moliambo, in Northern 

 Madagascar. By Dr. G. Hartlaub. 



[Eeeeived January 20, 1880.] 



Ardea rutenbergi, n. sp. 



Pileo et nucha cristata nigro-anels ; fascia postocidari rufe- 

 scenti-fulva, alteraque inferiore latiore et breviore pileo conco- 

 lori ; collo postico et laterali, pectoris lateribus abdomineque 

 medio obscure cinerascentibus, nonnihil fulvo-brunncscenli lavatis ; 

 mento et gula albidis, maculis nonnullis rufescentibus longitudi- 

 naliter notatis ; collo antico superinre in fundo rufescenti-fulvo, 

 maculis obscurioribus irregulariter vario ; inferiore, pectore et 

 epigastrio mediis ex aurantiaco fulvescentibus ; abdomine imo, 

 crisso et subcaudalibus eodem colore lavatis ; dorso, tergo, 

 uropygio scapularibusque (subelongatis et sublanceolatis) nitide 

 eeneo-viridibus, his strictissime et vix conspicue rufescenti mar- 

 ginatis ; alarum tectricibus omnibus ceneo-virescentibus, dilute 

 rufescenti marginatis ; remigibus obsolete virescentibus, limbo 

 apicali strictissimo albido ; subalaribus albo et rufescenti variis ; 

 Cauda virescente ; pedibus fuscis ; maxilla fusco-nigricante, man- 

 dibula fiavido-pallida, tomiis obscuris. Long, rostr. a fr. 62 

 millim., al(B 190, tarsi 57, dig. med. c. ung, .53. 

 This new Heron is a typical member of the Butorides group 

 {A. virescens, scapularis, javanica, etc.), and will take its systematic 

 position next to its nearest ally, Ardea atricapilla. 



The differential characters of this new bird are very striking ones, 

 and such that to confound it with any of the congeneric species 

 seems out of the question. 



The neck and sides of the head, which are of a pure and light 

 bluish grey in A. atricapilla, are of a dull brownish grey with an 

 indistinct rufous 'hue in our new species. The marginal linings of 

 the wing-coverts, whitish in A. atricapilla, are of a fine light fulvous- 

 red in A. rutenbergi. The underparts, pale bluish grey in A. atri- 

 capilla, are of a darker brownish grey with a conspicuous shade of 

 ochraceous, and the foreneck and middle of breast are rather of a 



