166 THE BIRDS OF CALCUTTA. 



country. In Burma and the Andamans, however, 

 he meets a slightly larger relative, who wears the 

 same winter dress, but in summer plumage has a 

 maroon ruff and slate back. This bird has been 

 unkindly named Ardeola bacchus ; but I am not aware 

 that its behaviour justifies the appellation, although 

 another member of the heron family, the Malay 

 Bittern {Gorsachius melanolophus), was once captured 

 in Ceylon in a disgraceful state of intoxication owing 

 to in^dulgence in toddy. 



