HERON. 233 



back itfelf and wing coverts deep blueifh afli-colour : fecond 

 quills dufky brown: prime quills and tail deep blackifli lead- 

 colour; the laft fcarcely exceeds the quills in length; the fea- 

 thers of it are ten inches long, and twelve in number : the feathers 

 of the fides beneath the wings, and thofe of the vent and under 

 tail coverts, are long and downy, fome of them meafuring near a 

 foot, and of a dufky white colour, as are all the under parts of the 

 body : the legs are long and black, naked far above the knees, 

 and very fcaly : the toes are webbed at the bafe : the claws 

 blunt. 



This fingular fpecies is not unfrequent at Bengal, where it ar- Place andMan- 

 rives before the rainy feafon comes on, and is called Argala, or 

 Adjutant *. It has alfo, from its immenfe gape, gained the name 

 o^ Large Throat ; and, from its fwallowing bones, the Bone-eater, 

 or Bone-taker. It is allowed on all hands to be a moft neceflary 

 animal, as it picks up vermin from every quarter ; fuch zs/nakes, 

 lizards, frogs, and other noxious reptiles; and, its fize requiring a 

 vaft fupply, proves the moft ufeful inhabitant, which the natives 

 o( Jfrica and other places acknowledge by their holding it in 

 great eftimation. 



I find that the downy feathers above mentioned have been made 

 ufe of, in the manner of thofe of the OJirich, in the head-drefs of the 

 ladies, to which purpofe they feem well appropriated, being of the 

 moft delicate texture, and floating with every breath of windf; 



* I have been told, that the bird has obtained this laft name from its appear- 

 ing, when looked on in front at a diftance, like a man having a white waiftcoat 

 and breeches. 



f ^ A good idea may be formed of their exceffive lightnefs, from my having 

 weighed one of them, which was eleven inches and three quarters in length, and 

 feven in breadth, and balanced only eight grains. 



but 



