XXX VIU 



Ardeirallus, the type of which is A. durmi of Africa; but 

 the genus Xanthocnus is distinguished by its loag bill, which 

 is equal in length to the middle toe and claw. 

 ErythrophoyXj gen. nov. 

 This new genus contains two species hitherto placed in 

 Ardeirallus (potius Xanthocnus), but distinguished from the 

 species belonging to Xanthocnus by the long tarsus much 

 exceeding the length of the' middle toe and claw. The type 

 of the genus is E. ivoodfordi (Grant), and a second species 

 is E. pr(Stermissa (Sharpe). 



Among the groups of Herons with twelve tail-feathers 

 Dr. Sharpe pointed out that Phoyx, a name proposed by 

 Dr. Stejneger as a subgenus to include the Purple Herons, 

 is really a very distinct genus, differing from all the others 

 in the length of its middle toe and claw, which is equabto 

 the tarsus in length ; the claw of the hind toe is also very 

 long, only slightly curved, and nearly equal to the halhix 

 itself. Two species are known/ Phoijx purpurea (L.) and 

 P. manillensis (Meyen). 



The slaty- black Heron of Africa, Ardea calceolata, Du Bus, 

 seems to belong to a genus distinct from Herodias, and 

 certainly from Demiegretta, with which it has been placed 

 by some writers. The bill is not so long as the middle toe 

 and claw, and it therefore belongs to the shorter-billed group, 

 containing Florida and Herodias. The name proposed for 



it is 



]^Ielaxophoyx, gen. nov. 



Similar to Florida, but with elougated plumes on the crest 

 and breast; the ornamental plumes on the back not reaching 

 beyond the tail. 



Dr. Sharpe also proposed the name of 

 ]\Iesophoyx, gen. nov., 

 for the bird generally called Herodias interiucdia, which was 

 intermediate between the genera Ardea and Herodias. From 

 the former it ditlcrcd in having no ornamental na[)e-plunics, 

 and in the possession of an enormous pectoral and dorsal 



