ARDELDiE. 753 



being white at the base, and becoming albescent on the vent and 

 under tail-coverts. 



Bill black above, pale yellow beneath ; legs pale yellow-green, 

 the soles dark yellow ; irides bright yellow ; lores yellowish green. 

 Length 16 to 17 inches; wing 7; tail 2^; bill 1\ ; tarsus If ; 

 middle toe 2. 



The Green Bittern is found throughout the greater part of India 

 and Ceylon, extending to Burmah and Malayana, and chiefly affects 

 wooded rivers, nullahs, and water-courses, perching on boughs 

 overhanging the water. It is for the most part nocturnal in its 

 habits, and I have seen it, every evening shortly after sunset, 

 come to the bank of the Ganges, and walk slowly along the edge 

 of the water, looking for crabs or other food. 



Hodgson separates the Indian race from the Malayan under 

 the name of chloriceps. Other species quoted by Bonaparte are 

 B. stagnatilis, Gould ; B. patruelis, Peale, from the Pacific 

 islands, and B, macrorhyncha, Gould, from Australia ; B. virescens, 

 and B. scapularis, from America; and B. atricapilla, from 

 Africa. 



Gen. Ardetta, Gray. 



Bill slender, straight ; tibia feathered nearly to the joint ; tarsus 

 short ; toes lengthened and strong ; claws long. Of very small or 

 moderate size. Plumage of the neck more or less lengthened, as 

 in the Bittern ; of nocturnal habits. 



These birds may be said to be Bitterns with the bill of the 

 Egret. All frequent dense cover, thick reeds, long grass, or 

 thickets of bushes, and feed chiefly at night. 



Bonaparte separates the Black Bitterns from the Little Bitterns, 

 retaining Ardetta for the former, which have the toes not quite so 

 lengthened, and the plumage more or less black. 



932. Ardetta flavicollis, Latham. 



Ardea, apud Latham. — Blyth, Cat. 1651 — A. nigra, Vieil- 

 lot — Jerdon, 111. Ind. Orn., pi. 16— A. picta, Raffles— Gould, 

 Birds Australia VI, pi. 65 — Hardwicke, 111. Ind. Zool., Vol. 2, 

 pi. 73. — Kala bagla, H. — Nol-bagla, H. and Beng. 



PART II. 5 C 



