HEEODIAS ALBA. 1139 



size. It is no doubt a small race, but not more diminutive than most of the African examples that have been met 

 with, and is no smaller than the Chinese and Australian birds. It is a species which varies extremely in size, 

 tropical bred birds being the smallest. There is, however, a regular gradation as regards dimensions from the. 

 Australian, Chinese, and Indian races up to the largest examples reared in cool climates, to which, I apprehend, 

 the large individuals occasionally procured in India belong. Moreover, as will be seen by reference to the 

 dimensions tabulated above, the difference in tarsus and bill of the largest birds is not proportionate to the length 

 of wing. Under these circumstances it is not advisable to adopt any new title for the small form, particularly as 

 we do not know whether the Linnean type was a small or a large bird. 

 As regards Buchanan Hamilton's name torra, I can find no mention of this bird in the writings of that gentleman, 

 although there exists a reference of Franklin's — "Ardea torra, Buch." P. Z. S. 1831, p. 123. Giebel, in his 

 'Dictionary,' refers us to Bonaparte's Consp. vol. i. p. 425 ; but the only reference I can find in this work is in 

 vol. ii. p. 118, where Ardea torra, Buch., ex Asia meridionali, is used as a synonym of A. nigrirostris, Gray and 

 Hardwicke. It is possible that the title may have been used by Buchanan Hamilton as a MS. name, in which 

 case it would not stand ; and it appears to me that if a new name is wanted A, modesta, Gray and Hardwicke, 

 111. Ind. Zool. ii. pi. 49 (1834), would be the next title in order available. 



Distribution. — The Large Egret is widely diffused throughout the low country, but is most numerous in 

 the dry districts east of Tangalla, and round that side of the island to the Vanni tanks in the north. It is 

 to be found in all large marshes and tanks throughout the northern half of Ceylon down to Kurunegala, and 

 south of that district may generally be met with where there are extensive tracts of wild paddy -land. In the 

 interior between Colombo and Matara, where the fields happen to be surrounded by forest and jungle, one or 

 two of these Egrets may usually be seen in company with the next species. It is not at all uncommon in the 

 Trincomalie district, but I have never met with it in any great numbers. I have heard of its being observed 

 in Durnbara, whither it ascends from the Bintenne country; but I fancy that it is nothing but a rare straggler 

 to that elevated valley. 



In India it is a very common bird, being, of course, most abundant in the better- watered districts, says 

 Jerdon, but may be found everywhere feeding by rivers and tanks. It is said to be very common in the 

 Deccan, and in the region between the Ganges and the Godaveri. Mr. Ball records it from Manbhum, 

 Lohardugga, Nowagarh, Karial, and Raipur. About Calcutta it is occasionally met with ; but I notice it 

 is omitted from Mr. Cripps's list of the birds of Furreedpore. Passing eastwards I find it reported by 

 Mr. Oates as common about Thayetmyo, and by Mr. Hume as generally distributed throughout the plains 

 portion of Tenasserim. It is likewise found in the Andamans. Returning to India, it is recorded by 

 Dr. Scully as occurring in the valley of Nepal in the winter ; and evidently is found all along the base of the 

 Himalayas, as also in the plains westward to the Punjab. In Sindh it is common, and is distributed less nume- 

 rously throughout the entire surrounding region. In Kashgharia, which is inhabited by the largest form of the 

 species, it is common in winter, migrating northward in the spring to breed. According to Severtzoff it breeds 

 throughout Turkestan, and winters in the western portions of the country. Eastward we find Prjevalsky 

 observing it in large numbers in the Hoang-ho valley. At Koko-nor it was met with at the end of March ; 

 and in Tsaidam it appeared as early as the 18th February. It is spread thoughout the Chinese empire, breeding 

 in large numbers near Pekin ; and Swinhoe met with it in Formosa. In the Malay archipelago, through 

 which it extends to Australia, it is found in Borneo, Celebes, Halmahera, Morotai, Ternate, Timor, and the 

 Aru Islands. It has been recorded by Mr. Ramsay from every settlement in the north of Australia, and 

 from most parts of the east coast down to Victoria, and thence round to South Australia. Gould likewise 

 met with it on the Clarence River and in the north of Tasmania on the mouths of rivers. Returning to Asia 

 again, to follow out its distribution from thence westward, I find that Dr. Radde observed it in the Central 

 Argunj valleys, and on the Lower Udir river in Siberia. Major St. John met with it in the Shiraz district 

 in Persia ; and Mr. Blanford saw it in Baluchistan ; while Canon Tristram found it to be a spring and summer 

 visitor to Palestine. In Asia Minor it is common ; and in Greece slightly less numerous, though, according 

 to Messrs. Elwes and Buckley, it is common in the marshes of Macedonia. In South-eastern Europe it is 

 much more plentiful than further west, for in Spain it is very rare ; and in Portugal it is said not to be found 

 at all, although it is recorded by Mr. Godman from the Azores. It is likewise rare in Malta, though tolerably 

 common in winter in Sicily and Sardinia ; but it is scarce again in Northern Italy. In Transylvania it is 



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