134 THE BIRDS OF AXJSTKALIA 



The Pied Egret. 



Notophoyx flavirostris. 



Northern Australia, New Guinea, Aru, Teniniber, Amboina, and 

 Celebes Islands. 



Above slaty black, with long plumes on the back and scapulars; 

 collar round the hind-neck, the throat and fore-neck, white; feathers of 

 fore-neck elongated and are parti-coloured on the sides of the neck, being 

 white in the centre; under surface blackish slate-colour. Total length 

 19 inches, culmen 2.55, wing 8.7, tail 3, tarsus 2.8. 



"Nest the usual nearly flat stick structure on trees growing 

 near or in water. Only one egg is so far described, that in the 

 British Museum collection from the Gould collection from 

 N. Australia; it is pale bluish-green, and measures 1.60 x 1.21 

 inch. 



The White-headed Egret. 

 Notophoyx aruensis. 

 Northern Australia to the Aru Islands. 



Above dingy slate-colour; tail black; head, crest, neck, and under 

 surface white; sides of body slate-colour; edge of wing white. Total 

 length 18.5 inches, culmen 2.4, wing 8.8, tail 3.2, tarsus 2.85. 



This is a rare bird, and eggs so far not described. 



Genus Oarzetta. 

 No crest but drooping head plumes. Phimes on back and 

 breast. 



The Lesser Egret. 



Garzetta nigripes. 



Java, Malay Archipelago, and Australia. 



White with two elongated plumes from the nape, and similar plumes 

 on the back and breast; bill, feet, and toes black. Total length 22 inches, 

 culmen 3.4, wing 10.7, tail 3.5, tarsus 3.7. 



Nest a platform of sticks in trees near or over water. The 

 four eggs are pale bluish-green, and measure about 1.80 x 1.40 

 inch. 



Genus Demiegretta. 

 Bill not serrated, longer than tarsus. Tarsus longer than 

 mid toe. Tail quills 12. 



