GRALLATORLA. 377 
The Onorgs, to the form of the Crabeaters, add the size of the 
true Heron, and the colour of the Bitterns.(1) 
The Ecrers are Herons whose feathers, on the lower part of the 
back, at a certain period become long and attenuated. 
The most beautiful species, whose feathers are employed for the 
‘purpose which the name of these birds indicates, are: 
Ard. garzetta; Enl. 901. (The Little Egret.) But half the 
size of the Heron. It is all white, and its slender feathers do 
not extend beyond the tail. 
Ard. alba; Enl. 886. (The Great Egret.) This one is also en- 
tirely white, but larger. Both these species are found in Europe, 
where a third inhabits, whose tarsi are shorter, and whose at- 
» _tenuated feathers extend considerably beyond the tail; it is the 
* A. egretta, En\. 925.(2) 
We have also thought it proper to approximate to the Egrets the 
4rd. comata, Gm.; Enl. 348; Naum. Ed. I, 22, f. 45. (The 
Crabeater of Mahon.) A bird of southern Europe, with a red- 
dish-brown back, and white belly and tail. The adult has a 
yellowish neck, and a long tuft on the occiput.(3) 
The feathers on the neck of the Brrrrrns are loose and separated, 
which increases its apparent size. They are usually spotted orstriped. 
A. stellaris, Enl. 789; Frisch, 205; Naum. Ed. I, 27, f. 36. 
(The European Bittern.) A golden fawn-colour, spotted and 
dotted with black; beak and feet greenish; is found among the 
reeds, whence it sends forth that terrific voice which has enti- 
tled it to the name of Bos taurus. Its attitude, when at rest, is 
singular; the beak being raised towards the heavens.(4) 
(1) 2. lineata, Gm. Enl. 860;—.72. tigrina, Id. Enl. 790, which appears to be the 
young of 2. flava, Gm. 
(2) Temminck thinks that the 2. alba is the young of the 4. egretta, and that 
the pl. Enl. 901 does not represent the Little Egret of Europe, but that of America, 
(3) From the exact observations of Meyer, the 2. castunea, Gm. or the ralloz- 
des, Scopol.;—A. squaiotta;—A. Marsiglii;—A. pumila, and even A. erythropus, and 
A. malaccensis, Gm. Enl. 911, are all mere varicties, or different ages of the Crab- 
eater of Mahon, or 4. comata. The 2. senegalensis, Enl. 315, is also a young age 
of the same bird. It is perhaps the true Crane of the Balearic Islands of Pliny, 
XI, 37. 
Add, &. candidissima, Wils. LXIU, 4;—the Garde-boeuf, 4. bubulcus, Savign. Eg. 
Ois., pl. viii;—A. leucocephala, Gm. Enl. 910;—2. jugularis, Forster, or gularis, 
Bosc., Act. de la Soc. d’Hist. Nat. fol. pl. ii, or adbicollis, Vieill. Galer. 255;—4. 
cerulea, Enl. 349, of which the 4. aquinoctialis, Catesb, may probably be the 
young, notwithstanding the difference of colour;—J. rufescens, Gm. Enl, 902;— 
A. leucogaster, Enl. 330;—A. agami, Enl. 859. [Add 4. Peal, Bonap. and £. 
ludoviciana, Wils. V1L, pl. Ixiv, f. 1. dm. Ed) 
(4) Add 4. minor, Wils. Vil, Ixv, 3, or 4. stellaris, B. Gm.; Edw., 136;—4. 
Vou. LL—2 X 
