244 



therefore by no means easy to unravel; but, with what material I have been able to collect 

 together, I have done my best to work out the synonymy of those which occur within my limits ; 

 and it is satisfactory to find that all I have seen tends to confirm the views expressed by 

 Professor Schlegel in his article on the Herons in the 'Mus. Pays-Bas.' He appears to be 

 quite correct in stating that there is no specific difference between examples of Ardea garzetta 

 from Europe, Asia, Africa, the Malay archipelago, and Australia. From Ardea candidissima it 

 is easily recognizable, as that bird has a full occipital crest, about as long as the bill, instead of 

 two or three long pendent feathers. In Eastern Asia, however, there is a species closely allied 

 to the American Ardea candidissima, viz. Ardea eulophotes, Swinhoe (Ibis, 1860, p. 64), but 

 which seems to be quite distinct. I am indebted to Mr. Seebohm for the loan of the type, 

 which is in full nuptial dress, and differs from Ardea garzetta in that plumage in having a thick 

 bunch of elongated feathers on the occiput, in having the pectoral plumes thicker and shorter, 

 and the dorsal plumes also shorter, and in having an orange-yellow bill, becoming flesh-coloured 

 and purplish on the lores and round the eye ; iris white ; legs greenish black ; feet olive-brown, 

 patched in places with yellow. Total length 27 inches, wing 9 - 25, gape 3 - 75, tarsus 3 - 0, bare 

 tibia 1*75, middle toe 2 - 25, its claw 0-25. 



There is no very great difference in measurements of examples of the Lesser Egret from 

 different parts of the globe where it is found. Specimens I have examined vary as follows : — 



Europe : culmen 3-2-3-5, wing 105-irO, tail 4-3-4-5, tarsus 4-2-4-4, bare tibia 2-3-2-5. 



Egypt : culmen 3'3, wing 10'8, tail 4-2, tarsus 4 - 22, bare tibia 2-47. 



Knysna, S. Africa : culmen 3 - 15, wing 10-10, tail 4-25, tarsus 4 - 25, bare tibia 232. 



Pagani river, Africa: culmen 3-5-3 - 6, wing 108-iri, tail 4-0-4-5, tarsus 3-95-4-5, bare tibia 2 - 3-3-2. 



China: culmen 3-0-3-4, wing 10-3-10-8, tail 4-1-4-5, tarsus 3-7-4-2, bare tibia 2-0-2-5. 



Japan : culmen 3 - 15-3 - 3, wing 10 - 8, tail 4 - 3-4-5, tarsus 3-85—4-0, bare tibia 2 - 0-2 - l. 



Java: culmen 3'15, wing 9'7, tail 3-8, tarsus 3'4, bare tibia l - 8. 



Philippines : culmen 3'4, wing 10-9, tail 4 - 3, tarsus 3'95, bare tibia 2 - 4. 



The specimens figured are an adult male, in full breeding-dress, in the foreground, and a 

 young bird, in winter dress, in the background. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens: — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, b, c? ? • Seville, Spain, May 1869. c. Egypt, winter, d. Knysna, S. Africa {Cutter). e, ? . Leyte, 

 Philippines, October 1877 [Everett) . 



E Mus. G. E. Shelley. 

 a, b, c. Pagani river, Africa (Dr. Kirk) . 



E Mus. H. Seebohm. 



a. China, b. Hankow, China, winter, c. Amoy, April 1861. d. S.W. Formosa, 1861. e. Hainan, China, 

 February 1868 (R. Swinhoe). f. Ningpo, China, November 1872 (Dr. Mackenzie), g. Tokio, Japan. 

 h. Tokio, Japan, March 27th, 1877 (Pryer). i. Java. 



