1863.] MR. R. SWINHOE ON THE BIRDS OF CHINA. 319 



322. Platalea major, Temm. & Schleg. Faun. Jap. 



Breeds probably in Japan. A winter visitant to Formosa and the 

 South Chinese coast, as far south as Canton. I have procured it from 

 Swatow. 



323. Platalea minor, Temm. & Schleg. Faun. Jap. 



Described from Japan. I have never seen it from China, but it 

 probably occurs on the coast during winter. 



324. Ciconia nigra, L. 



Noted from Amoorland. Said to occur in North China. 



325. Ciconia alba, L. 



Noted from Amoorland. Said to occur in North China. 



326. Ardea cinerea, L. 



Throughout China to Amoorland, Japan, and in Formosa. 



327. Ardea purpurea, L. 



Interior of Central China. I have specimens from Hankow. Has 

 also been procured from Japan (Temminck) . 



328. Herodias alba, L. 



Ardea modest a, Gray. 

 A. syrmatophora, Gould. 



Mr. Blyth agrees with me in considering the Great Egret of Eu- 

 rope, Asia, Africa, and Australia the same. It acquires a black bill 

 and long dorsal plumes in summer, in winter the plumes fall away, 

 and the bill of the bird becomes yellow. There is a considerable 

 difference in size between the male and female, the male being much 

 larger. Found throughout China into Amoorland, in Formosa, and 

 probably Japan, though not yet noted from the last place. 



329. Herodias intermedia, Wagl. 



Ardea egrettoides, Temm. 



H. plumifera, Gould, Birds of x\ustr. 



In size this is intermediate between the foregoing and the succeed- 

 ing. In winter it also has a yellow bill, but that organ is propor- 

 tionally very short. In summer the bill turns black ; it acquires 

 long straight dorsal plumes, not curled upwards as in the next ; and 

 the pectoral plumes are like those of the back, not acuminate, thus 

 distinguishing it at once from its near allies. I have a specimen 

 from Hankow, Central China, and have seen it at Tientsin ; so I 

 suspect it is widely distributed throughout China. It is also noted 

 from Japan and India, and is probably the same as H. plumifera of 

 Australia. 



330. Herodias garzetta, L. 



A very lovely bird in full plumage. Very abundant throughout 



