AEDEOLA GKAYI. Ufa 



in English collections (though so abundant in India) that I have not had an opportunity of comparing many Indian 

 specimens. A male measures— wing 8-4, tarsus 2-3, middle toe (with claw) 2-4, bill to gape 3-0 inches. In 

 Bengal the breeding-plumage is acquired in May and worn until October (Cripps). 



Ardeola jprasinoscelis, Swinhoe (which is perhaps the same as leucoptera*, Bodd.), inhabiting China and also the Malay 

 peninsula and Tenasserim, is the Eastern representative of the present species. It has, in breeding-plumage, the 

 head and neck deep chestnut, darkening into cinnamon-rufous on the chest ; the interscapular}' region and dorsal 

 plumes blackish slate, the scapulars washed with golden ; throat and rest of plumage white. A Chinese specimen 

 measures— wing 9-2 inches, tarsus 2-5, bill to gape 3-2 ; in non-breeding plumage, according to Mr. Hume, it 

 resembles A. grayi, except that occasionally it has a crest of buff feathers with black edges, and it may always' be 

 distinguished by its stouter bill. Legs and feet orange-yellow, with a pinkish tinge. 



Another species, A. speciosa, inhabiting the Malay archipelago, is allied to the last-mentioned, having the dark parts 

 of the plumage in the breeding-season ferruginous of various shades and purplish black with a hoary shade, the 

 latter being the colour of the back. It is a smaller bird than the latter, an example from Celebes measuring, 

 according to Mr. Hume— wing 77, tarsus 2-35, bill at front 2-5. A further species of Squacco Heron is A. comata 

 from Egypt, which has the crest white with black edges, head and neck brownish buff, and the back yellowish 

 brown, shaded with purple; legs olive : wing 8-5 (Shelley). 



Distribution. — This Heron is extraordinarily abundant in Ceylon, being found at every pool, river, and 

 stream, and in all paddy-fields in the cultivated districts of the low country, and by both large and village tanks 

 and at most water-holes in the forest-districts of the island. In the western and southern parts, where paddy- 

 cultivation abounds, it is, of course, most numerous, extending in the Western Province to the base of the hills 

 and up into the valleys of the Kandyan country, wherever the " terraced " fields of the natives adorn the sides 

 of the mountains. It is found about Badulla, and, I believe, is sometimes seen in the Fort-Macdonald district ; 

 it likewise affects paddy-fields about the base of the southern hills and ascends into their valleys. 



In India it is, as in Ceylon, extremely numerous, being, as Jerdon says, found at the side of every river, 

 tank, ditch, and pool throughout the country. Consulting the writings of recent observers in ' Stray Feathers/ 

 I find it recorded as common everywhere in Southern Travancore (Bourdillon) , also about the base of the 

 Palanis (Fairbank) , throughout the Deccan, where it was first described from by Sykes, common in all parts 

 of Chota Nagpur, and recorded by Mr. Ball, as regards this region, from Bardwan, Manbhum, Lohardugga, 

 Orissa, Nowagarh, and Karial. In the North-west Provinces it is equally plentiful, and further west is found 

 in Bajpootana, including the State of Jodhpur (where it clings to the pools in the severest droughts as long as 

 the water lasts), and in Guzerat, Sindh, Kutch, and Kattiawar. At the Sambhur Lake, Mr. Adam found it 

 not very plentiful. Turning eastwards again, we fiud it abundant in Furreedpore, also in Cachar, and common 

 in Upper Pegu at Thayetmyo ; further south Dr. Armstrong met with it throughout the Irrawaddy delta 

 in all suitable places, and over all the low country of the Province of Tenasserim it is equally plentifully 

 distributed. Beyond this region towards Malacca it is entirely replaced by A. prasinoscelis . Leaving the 

 mainland I find that it is recorded by Mr. Davison as common at Pt. Blair ; but he believes it to be migratory 

 to the Andamans. Mr. Hume observed it at Barren Island; but at the Nicobars it has not been noticed. 

 Westward of India Mr. Hume met with it at the Laccadives, observing it numerously at Cardamum and 

 Amini. 



Habits. — As above remarked, this Pond-Heron frequents all kinds of freshwater situations, from the 

 little pond in the native compound, or secluded water-hole in the dry timber-forest or arid maritime scrubs, 

 to the extensive tank or wide-spreading paddy-field. It, however, does not despise salt-water fish ; and solitary 

 examples may frequently be seen in the sardine-season perched on stones and rocks, even at some little 

 distance from the shore, where the water is calm : two birds were always to be seen in such situations along 

 the coast of the Fort at Trincomalie, and when tired with watching at one rock (they never used to catch 

 much in these places) they would fly leisurely on to another. At night the little colony which frequented the 



* This name was applied to Buffon's figure (PL Enl. 911) of a young bird; and as the young of the Indian and 

 Chinese species are alike, it is not possible to say with certainty which of the two Buffon intended to portray. 



