REDDISH EGRET. 419 



tip of the wing, when the latter is closed. Tail very short, slightly 

 rounded, of twelve rather weak rounded feathers. 



Bill black on its terminal third, the rest and the bare space on the 

 head pale flesh-colour. Iris white. Legs and feet ultramarine blue, the 

 scutella bluish-black, as are the claws. Feathers of the head and neck 

 light reddish-brown, tinged with lilac, the tips fading to brownish-white. 

 Back and wings dull greyish-blue ; the long feathers of the train yellow- 

 ish towards the tips ; all the lower parts are greyish-blue paler than that 

 of the upper. 



Length to end of tail 31 inches, to end of wings 32 ; to end of claws 

 40 ; extent of wings 46 ; wing from flexure 14^ ; tail 4^ ; biU along the 

 back 4, along the edge of lower mandible 4^1^ depth at the base 1 ; bare 

 part of tibia 4^'^ ; tarsus 6; middle toe 3, its claw ||- Weight If lb. 



The Female is precisely similar to the Male in colour, but is rather 

 smaller. 



Young nearly two years old. Plate CCLVI. Fig 2. 



The bill is coloured as in the adult, as is the iris, but the feet are 

 dark olive-green, the soles greenish-yellow. The plumage presents the 

 same form as in the adult, but is entirely pure white. 



In this state the bird has been described as a distinct species under 

 the name of Peak's Egret Heron, but must now be restored to its proper 

 species, the adult having been described and figured by Buffon under the 

 name of Aigrette rousse, and named by Latham the Reddish Egret. 



This species may be distinguished at the first glance from aU others 

 that occur in the United States, by the peculiar form of the feathers of 

 the head and neck, which are loose, pendent, and fringe-like, at all sea- 

 sons, excepting in the young bird before the first moult. 



The number of young, as in all other species, much exceeds that of 

 adult or coloured birds ; and I have procured them in the proportion of 

 three to one. I carried upwards of fifty specimens of this Heron to 

 Charleston, where, as well as in Philadelphia, New York, and London, I 

 presented some to my friends and to public institutions. I also sent seve- 

 ral to my friend P. J. Selby, Esq. of Twizel, Northumberland, and lately 

 gave a pair to the Museum of the University of Edinburgh. Several spe- 

 cimens, which I presented to His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, 

 have been by him given to the British Museum. 



Dd 2 



