AEDEID^. 743 



The next species has the form less robust, the neck longer 

 and more slender, and the' toes much lengthened, like those of 

 the Bitterns, which it somewhat resembles in its habits, also ; it 

 certainly ought to form a separate sectional group. 



924. Ardea purpurea, Linnaeus. 



Blyth, Cat. 1637— Jerdon, Cat, 301 — Gould, Birds of 

 Europe, pi. 274 — Nari, H. — Lal-kank, Bengal, — Pamula nari-gadu 

 Tel. — Khyra in Behar. 



The Purple Heron. 



Descr. — Adult in full plumage; crown and occipital crest black 

 with green reflections ; throat white ; cheeks and sides of the neck red- 

 dish-brown, with three longitudinal narrow black bands, two lateral 

 ones from the eyes to the breast, and the third, from the nape, down 

 the back of the neck ; neck in front, variegated with rufous-black 

 and purple, the feathers on the top of the breast long and acumina- 

 ted, purplish- white ; back, wings, and tail, reddish-ash; the scapulars 

 purple, long, and subulate, forming a brilliant plume on each side ; 

 breast and flanks deep brownish-red ; belly and thigh-coverts the 

 same, but paler and mixed with white. 



Bill deep yellow, brownish above ; orbitar skin greenish-yellow ; 

 hides yellow ; tarsus reddish-brown, yellowish behind and on the 

 soles of the feet. Length 36 to 42 inches ; wing 15^ ; extent 58 ; 

 tail 5f ; bill at front 5f ; tarsus 5^ ; middle toe 5^. Some birds 

 are much smaller. The immature bird has the crest, the scapulars, 

 and neck plumes deficient ; the forehead black ; the nape and 

 cheeks pale rufous ; the throat white ; the forepart of the neck 

 and the sides of the breast yellowish-white, with black spots ; back, 

 wings, and tail dusky-ash, the feathers edged with reddish-ash ; 

 lower parts whitish. 



The purple Heron is very abundant in the well-watered dis- 

 tricts of India, frequenting marshes, reedy ground, rice fields, and 

 the like, but is rarely or never seen on the bare and open spots 

 frequented by the common Heron. It may often be observed with 

 its head and long neck just protuded above the grass, looking remark- 

 ably like the head of a snake, which has suggested its Telugu 



