Herodias eulophotes Swinhoe. 543 



In the Check List of the American Ornithologists^ Union, 

 3id ed., 1910, the Snowy Egret (p. 96) is included in the 

 genus Egretta, though its nuptial ornaments diflfer from 

 those of the type of the genus Egretta. This bird shows an 

 approach in this character to H. eulophotes^ but a fact worth 

 emphasis is that Rickett records that the latter " nests on 

 the same trees as H. garzetta^' (the type of Egretta). This 

 at once suggests that a different line of evolution may 

 have been followed by the present bird and that the white 

 coloration is another example of convergence. It should 

 be remembered that we have white as a predominant colour 

 throughout many of the Ardeine birds, and that very 

 different birds as regards structure agree in having a pure 

 white coloration. My own researches tend to show that this 

 recurrence of white has misled previous investigators in 

 many ways, the lumping of this bird with Demigretta sacra 

 being a glaring instance. Rickett states that this bird is be- 

 coming, if it has not already been, exterminated by plumage- 

 hunters. In consequence, it may be a very rare bird, and as 

 it is so distinct and has never been figured satisfactorily a 

 plate is here given, which shows at a glance the Egret-like 

 plumage and its unlikeness to any Reef Heron [Demigretta) . 

 Students who have not access to specimens will thus be 

 enabled to gauge its relationships to a fair extent, and all 

 will certainly agree with its dismissal from Demigretta, 

 Avherever else they may be inclined to place it. 



The preceding was written and the plate prepared under 

 the impression that the bird had not been previously figured. 

 While it was in the press the Editor, Mr. W. L. Sclater, 

 drew my attention to a plate and discussion of the bird's 

 status in the ' Birds of Celebes ' by Meyer and Wigles worth. 

 The succeeding notes are therefore due to the Editor's 

 intervention^ for which my best thanks are here tendered. 



When Swinhoe described this form from Amoy, China 

 (Ibis, 1860, p. 64), he characterised it thus : — " This 

 differs from H. garzetta strikingly in having a yellow bill, 

 full-crested occiput, and shorter legs. It is a rare and 



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