Order GRALLE.] [Fail ARDEID^ 



AEDEA SACEA. 



(BLUE HERON.) 



Sacred Heron, Lath. Gen. Syn. iii. pt. 1, p. 92 (1785). 



Ardea sacra, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 640 (1788, ex Lath.). 



Blue Heron, var. (3, Lath. Gen. Syn. iii. pt. 1, p. 79 (1785). 



Ardea ewrulea, var. y, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 631 (1788, ex Lath.). • 



Ardea rnatook, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xiv. p. 416 (1817). 



New-Zealand Heron, Lath. Gen. Hist. B. Lx. p. 128 (1824). 



Ardea jiif/ul arts, Wagl. Syst. Av. Ardea, sp. 18 (1827, ex Forster MS.). 



Ardea asha, Sykes, P. Z. S. 1837, p. 157. 



Herodias matooJc, Gray, in Dieff. Trav. ii., App. p. 196 (1843). 



Ardea nova? Hollandice, " Lath.," Licht. ed. Forst. Descr. An. p. 172 (1844). 



Herodias jugularis, Gray, Cat. Brit. Mus. Grallm, p. 80 (1844). 



Demiegretta concolor, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xv. p. 372 (1846). 



Herodias pannosus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 221. 



Ardea pannosa, Gray, Gen. of B. iii., App. p. 25 (1849). 



Ardea concolor, Gray, Gen. of B. iii., App. p. 25 (1849). 



Herodias asha, Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. A. S. B. p. 280 (1849). 



Ardea atra, " Cuv.," Puch. Eev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p. 375. 



Herodias pannosa, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. ii. p. 120 (1S57). 



Herodias atra, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. ii. p. 121 (1857). 



Herodias sacra, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. ii. p. 121 (1857). 



Herodias concolor, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. ii. p. 121 (1857). 



Ardea cinerea, Ellman, Zool. 1861, p. 7469 (nee Linn.). 



Ardea (Herodias) aliolineata, Gray, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 166. 



Ad. supra fuliginoso-schistaceus, pileo laterali, collo postico et scapularibus elongatis clarius cinereis : ala. et 

 cauda fuliginoso-schistaceis, tectricibus alarum et remigibus extus clarius cinereo lavatis : subtiis 

 omnino fuliginoso-schistaceus, gutture pure albo : subalaribus paullo dilutioribus : regione oculari 

 virescenti-flava : rostro sordide flavo, culrnine brunnescente ad apicem corneo : pedibus viridescenti- 

 flavis : iride flava. 



Adult. General plumage slaty grey, darker on the upper parts, tinged on the lower with brown ; a broad 

 line of white down the middle of the throat, and extending, in some examples, down the fore neck. The 

 back is ornamented with a number of narrow lanceolate feathers of a bluish-grey colour, overlying the 

 scapulars ; and there are a few similar feathers on the lower part of the neck, overlapping the breast. 

 The feathers of the nape are long and silky, and of a brighter tint than the surrounding plumage. 



