BIRDS. 193 



who would not depreciate its merit ty assigning a price to it. The only other specimen which 

 had been obtained by the same gentleman in three years had also been given away — the latter 

 to an eminent clergyman in Santiago." 



EGEETTA GALATEA, (Molina.) 



Ardea galatea, Molina, Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili, 1782 ; 2d edition, 1810, 205. 

 Ardea egretta, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 629. 



Gay, Fauna Chilena, Aves, 410. 

 Egretta leuce, Bonap. Comp. List. 1838, 47. 

 Ardea leuce, (Illiger.) Bonap. as above. 

 VuLG. Greater White Heron. Garza grande. 

 FiGUEES. — Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, PL Ixi, Fig. 4. 



" AuD. B. of Am. PI. ccclxxxvi ; oct. ed. VI, PL ccclxx. 



Several specimens of this fine Heron in the collection of the Expedition are precisely similar 

 to the bird of North America ; and as the description of Molina, cited above, appears to have 

 been intended for this species, we have adopted it. It is abundant at some seasons in Chile, 

 freq[uenting the vicinity of the rivers. 



EGRETTA THULA, (Molina.) 



Ardea tJiula, MoL. Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili, 1782 ; 2d edition, 1810, 205. 

 Ardea candidissima, Gay, Fauna Chilena, Aves, 411. 

 VuLG. Lesser White Heron. Garza Chica. 



This is a small white species, nearly related to the Snowy Heron of North America, (Egretta 

 candidissima). It is frequently met with in Chile, and appears to be a constant resident, 

 inhabiting the vicinity of rivers and marshes. 



Of this and other species of Herons Lieut. Gilliss observes: "They name three species of 

 Garzas in Chile : Garza grande, Garza chica, and Garza, of which the last must be intermediate 

 in size between the great and small. These birds are common at all seasons about the banks 

 of the fresh-water streams and lakes of the interior, and may frequently be seen in bands of 

 fifteen or twenty." 



NYCTICOEAX GAEDENI, (Gmelin.) 



Ardea Gardeni, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 645. 



Ardea cyanocephala, Molina, Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili, 1782. 



Nycticorax americanus, Bonap. Comp. List. 1838, 49. 



Ardea nycticorax, (Linn.) Wilson, Audubon, and other authors. 



Nycticorax ncevius, Gay, Fauna Chilena, Aves, 422. 



VuLG. American Night Heron. Guairabo. 



Figures. — Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, PL Ixi. 



" AuD. B. of Am. PL 236; oct. ed. VI,-P1. ccclxiii. 



This bird appears to be specifically identical with that of North America, and is common in 

 western South America. 

 25* 



