( 604 ) 



REDDISH EGRET. 



Ardea rufescens. 



PLATE CCLVI. Vol. III. p. 411. 



In this species a long series of elongated feathers commences at the 

 lower fourth of the neck, on each side above, the intervening space 

 being bare for the breadth of ^ inch ; they pass directly down along 

 the back, terminating on the scapulae, at the distance of | inch from 

 its extremity, gradually becoming more elongated, the first being 1 

 inch 8 twelfths in length, the last 14 inches. These feathers occupy a 

 ridge j inch in breadth at its lower part, and ought more peculiarly to 

 be named scapulars, for the feathers so called, which are also elongated 

 and tapering, run across the head of the humerus, close to its articula- 

 tion. These series are terminated by four large and broad feathers of 

 the ordinary texture. The elongated feathers on the fore part of the 

 neck also form two similar series on each side. 



The mouth is as in the preceding species, its width 10 twelfths ; the 

 lower mandible dilatable to 1 inch 5 twelfths ; the tongue very small, 

 1 inch 7 twelfths in length, tapering to a fine point, but flattened, and 

 very thin. CEsophagus 18 inches long, 2 inches wide at the commence- 

 ment, li at the distance of 3 inches, after that uniformly 1 inch ; on 

 entering the thorax it enlarges to 1 inch 3 twelfths ; and between it 

 and the stomach is a contraction, the breadth of which is 9 twelfths. 

 The stomach is very small, of an irregular roundish form, 1 inch in dia- 

 meter, compressed ; its tendons 8 twelfths in breadth ; the pyloric lobe 

 9 twelfths in length, 7 twelfths in width, being much more elongated 

 than in the other species. The proventricular glands are very small, 

 and form a complete belt 1 j inch in breadth. The inner surface of the 

 stomach is soft and irregularly rugous, as in the other species ; that of 

 the pyloric lobe quite smooth. Right lobe of the liver 2 inches 2 twelfths 

 in length, left 2 inches ; gall-bladder oblong, 1^ inch long, and 5 

 twelfths in breadth. Intestine 6 feet long, forming 26 folds ; duodenum 

 2i twelfths wide ; the smallest diameter 1 twelfth ; rectum 4^ inches 

 long ; its width 3 twelfths ; cloaca globular, 1^ inch in diameter; coe- 

 cum 2 twelfths long, and of the same width. 



