ITf) BIRDS OF BRITIf:H GUIANA. 



in colour to the back, wings, and tail, the ornamental feathers on 

 the back tinged with grey^ and the scapulars and wing-feathers 

 margined with white, or buffy-white ; hind-neck, sides of face, 

 abdomen, sides of body, axillaries, and under wing-coverts grey, 

 somewhat paler on the vent and under tail-coverts ; throat and 

 fore-neck white with an irregular line of dark chestnut-brown 

 feathers down the middle which spreads out and becomes pale 

 rufous on the breast ; outer edge of wing white. 



Total length 365 mm., culmen G6, wing 170, tail 60, tarsus 51, 

 middle toe and claw 54. 



The male described was obtained on the ^lazaruni River. 



Adult female. Like the adult male in colour but rather larger 

 in measurements. 



Total length 393 mm., culmen 63, wing 174:, tail G4, tarsus 51, 

 middle toe and claw 51. 



The immature bird differs from the adult in having the crown of 

 the head streaked with white, the back dusky grey, the buffy-white 

 spots on the wing.*, and the under surface coarsely streaked with 

 white and greyish-brown. 



Breediiuj-season. Unknown in British Guiana. 



Nest. Built close to the surface of the water (Beehe). "In low 

 thick bushes near the water — is simply a few dry sticks put 

 together " (Lloyd Price). 



Eggs. "The two eggs are a very pale blue, and (juickly fade'' 

 {Llot/d Price). 



Range in British Guiana. Upper Takutu Mountains, Abary 

 River, Mazaruni River, Great Savannas {^[cConnell collection) ; 

 Bartica ( Whitely) ; Georgetown and Abary River [Beehe). 



Extralimital Range. South America generally to Argentina. 



Habits. Schomburgk remarks (Reis. Guian. iii. p. 753) that 

 this small beautiful Heron prefers the coast ; here it is mostly 

 found, always singly, in the canals that drain the plantations, and 

 on the swamps near the coast. When alarmed and flying awav, 

 it utters a screeching short note. He often found its nest on 

 trees or bushes. 



We quote the following from Mr. Lloyd Price fTimehri (2) v. 

 p. 65) : — " The nest of the Chough or Sliypook (Ardea cyanura 

 = Bvtorides striata) will be frequently met with in low thick bushes 

 near the water j it is ridiculously small for the size of the bird, 



