Birds of Celebes: Ardeidae. gJQ- 



female specimen described above at Kema in October, 1893. It is known from 

 nearly all parts of Australia, where it breeds. The example from Celebes was 

 killed during the breeding season in Australia, which is against the assumption 

 that the bird is a migrant. 



The best marks for distinguishing the present species from its fellow Herons 

 in Celebes are its white forehead, face and upper throat, its dark grey upper 

 surface with lanceolate scapulars, its yellow legs and blackish bill. The tarsus 

 is encased in front with large transverse scales, taking a smaller reticulate form 

 on the lower part. The toes are not long for a Heron (the middle one being 

 three-quarters as long as the tarsus); the bill is thin and not serrated, and the 

 general structure is light. According to Gould it runs more quickly than the 

 other Herons and never stands motionless in the water; its food consists of crabs, 

 fish and marine insects. It also, as Sir Walter Buller observed, snatches at 

 flies and other insects which come within its reach. It seems to have no very 

 close affinities with any other Heron. The unserrated and slender bill separates 

 it from the true Ardea and discloses relationship with the White Herons, 

 Herodias; in plumage, foot, etc. it shows more resemblance to Demiegretta sacra, 

 from which it may be easily distinguished by the characters mentioned above, 

 besides by its larger size and more slender bill. 



GENUS DEMIEGRETTA Blyth. 



The Reef Heron frequents the sea-shore, feeding upon molluscs, crabs, etc., 

 and its toes and claws are stouter and shorter than in most of the fresh-water 

 forms. The tarsus is somewhat short, about equal to the culmen, transversely 

 scutellated in front, reticulated behind; the bill is not serrated, and the edges 

 of the tomia do not quite meet in the terminal third. It occurs under 

 two forms, one slaty, the other white; the differences between the latter and 

 the white Herons of the genus Herodias are poiijted out further on !key to the 

 White Herons, p. 823). 



350. DEMIEGRETTA SACRA (Gm.). 



Reef Heron. 



a. Sacred Heron (1) Lath., Gen. Syn. 1785, HI, 92 (with var. A). 



b. New Guinea Heron (1) Lath. op. cit. 71, Nr. 34. 



c. Blue Heron var. B. (1) Lath. op. cit. 78. 



d. Ardea sacra (1) Gm., S.N. 17S8, I, 640; (2) Finsch & Hartl, Orn. Centralpol. 1867, 



201, (III) Buller, B. New Zeal. 1873, 228, fig.; (4) Briigg., Abh. Ver. Bremen 

 1876, V, 97; (5) Rosenb., Malay. Aixhip. 1878, 278; (6) Legge, B. Ceylon 1880, 

 1137; (7) Ramsay, Pr. L. Soc. N. S. W. 1883, 42; (8) Seebohm, Ibis 1884, 176; 

 (IX) Buller, B. New Zeal. 2"^ ed. 1888, H, 129, pi. XXXVI; (W) M. & Wg., 

 Abh. Mus. Dresd. 1895, Nr. 8, p. 18. 



103* 



