224 HERODIONES. 



but it has not been obtained in China. The two species are so nearly- 

 allied that Swinhoe regarded them as identical ; but there seems good 

 grounds for believing them to be distinct. 



The Malay species always has a dark crest (with a central and 

 subterminal white spot on each feather in the young in first plumage) ; 

 there is much white on the axillariesj under wing-coverts, and on the 

 tips of the primaries. 



It is not known that the Japanese species ever has a dark crest 

 (though two of my specimens are very dark and grey on the fore- 

 head and crown) ; the pale bars across the axillaries and under wing- 

 coverts are bufE instead of white, and ia only one example is there 

 any white on the tips of the primaries, except on the first. Young 

 in first plumage are unknown. 



It has been stated that the shape of the bill is difi'erent in the two 

 species, but this is not the case, except that in the Malayan species 

 the bill is slightly longer than in the Japanese bird. 



Both species occur on Formosa, the Malayan species as a breeding 

 bird, and the Japanese species probably as a winter visitor, as the 

 examples without the black crest in the Swinhoe collection were 

 obtained in March, a fact which caused Swinhoe to regard them as 

 the winter plumage of the Malayan species. 



There can be no manner of doubt that this species has 12 and not 

 merely 10 tail-feathers as has been stated (B,eichenow, Journ. Orn. 

 1877, p. 246). 



210. NYCTICORAX JAVANICUS. 



(AUSTRALIAN MANGROVE-HERON.) 



Ardea javaniea, Horafield, Trans. Linn. Soc. 1821, p. 190. 



The Australian Mangrove-Heron is a small species (wing from 

 carpal joint 7*5 to 8'2 inches) . It has grey quills, a straight bill, 

 and grey axillaries. 



Figures : Gould, Birds of Australia, vi. pi. 66 (under the name of 

 Ardetta macrorhyncha) , pi. 67 (under the name of Ardetta stagnatilis) . 



The Australian Mangrove-Heron is a summer visitor to Japan, 

 Captain Blakiston obtained it at Hakodadi (Blakiston and Pryer, 

 Trans. As. Soc. Japan, 1882, p. 120) ; and Mr. Ringer has sent 

 examples to the Norwich Museum procured at Nagasaki (Seebohm, 



