Ordee GEALL^l.] [Fait. AEDEID^E. 



AEDEA N0V.E HOLLANDS 



(WHITE-FRONTED HEEON.) 



White-fronted Heron, Phillip, Voy. Bot. Bay, i. p. 163, pi. 27 (1789). 

 Ardea novce hollandice, Lath. Gen. Ind. ii. p. 701 (1790, ex Phillip). 

 Ardea leticops, Wagl. Syst. Av. Ardea, sp. 17 (1827). 

 Herodias novce hollandice, Gray, C&t.lGrallce Brit. Mus. p. 80 (1844). 

 Bemiegretta novce hollandice, Gray, Hand-1. of B. iii. p. 28 (1871). 



Native name. — Matuku-moana. 



Ad. supra dilute schistaceo-cinereus, pileo cristato saturatiore : interscapulio scapularibusque pallidioribus, 

 cinereis, quasi strigatis : tectricibus alarum dilute cinereis : remigibus schistaceo-nigricantibus, secun- 

 dariis clare cinereo lavatis : rectricibus schistaceo-einereis, versus apicem brunnescentibus : fronte et 

 supercilio lato, facie laterali et gutture toto albis : regione parotica et collo laterali cinereis : subtus 

 pallide cinereus, collo undique saturatiore, jugulo medio et imo pallide rufescente : subalaribus pallide 

 cinereis, albicantibus : regione oculari pallide virescenti-flava : rostro nigro, versus basin mandibular 

 albicante : pedibus flavicantibus, tarsis inns digitisque virescentibus : iride lsete flava. 



Adult. Forehead, space round tbe eyes, and throat white ; crown of the head dark cinereous or bluish grey, 

 the occipital feathers rather elongated, and lighter ; sides of the head, neck, and all the upper parts 

 bright cinereous, with a warm purplish tinge ; the back ornamented with a series of long lanceolate 

 plumes of a lighter colour, some of which extend beyond the scapulars ; down the fore neck a stripe of 

 buff, changing below to yellowish brown ; the long plumes overlapping the breast very soft in texture, 

 and of a roseate purple tint ; underparts generally pale cinereous brown, slightly tinged with purple ; 

 quills and tail-feathers dark slate-grey. Irides bright yellow ; edges of eyelids, bare part of lores, and 

 membrane surrounding the angle of the mouth pale greenish yellow ; bill black, the lower mandible 

 whitish towards the base ; legs yellow, tinged more or less with dusky green on the toes and lower part 

 of tarsi; claws pale brown. Length 25"5 inches ; extent of wings 42 ; wing, from flexure, 12 ; tail 5 ; 

 bill, along the ridge 3, along the edge of lower mandible 4; bare tibia 2; tarsus 35; middle toe and 

 claw 2*6; hind toe and claw T75. 



Young. Differs from the adult in having more white about the head and neck, and a darker tinge of brown 

 on the underparts ; the dorsal plumes, moreover, are scanty, and the delicate purplish tint on the breast 

 is altogether wanting. 



THE White-fronted Heron is very sparingly dispersed over the New-Zealand coasts ; but, according 

 to Gould, it is very abundant over every part of Tasmania, the Colonies of New South Wales, 

 South Australia, and Swan River. " Low sandy beaches washed by the open ocean, arms of 

 the sea, and the sides of rivers and lagoons, both in the interior of the country and near the 



2h2 



