202 BUBULCUS.— AEDETTA. 



Bill shorter than mid toe and claw. 

 Genus BUBULCUS. 

 Bill stout and slightly curved. Wings, body, and tail wliite, ■with the addition 

 in the bleeding season of hair-like plumes on head, neck, and back. The least 

 aquatic of all the Herons. 



221. Bubulcus coromandus. The Cattle Egret. 



Doria bagia, Gai bagia, Bengal; Samti konga (Telugu) ; Huni-koku, Ceylon. 



$ 21". Legs greenish. Bill 3", yellow in winter, orange in summer. — In 

 summer: Head, crest, breast, and dorsal plumes golden bufif. — In mnter: Plumage 

 white. India, Ceylon, Burma, S.E. Asia, Corea, Philippines, and Moluccas. 

 Three to five eggs (1-71 x 1-32), pale green. (J. 929. B. 1562.) 



Also B. lucidus. 19", White, with crest-plumes and dorsal plumes vinous sienna. From 

 S. Europe, Africa, and C. Asia. 



(ii.) Tail of ten feathers (222-226). 



Bill serrated. 



Mid toe arid daw as long as tarsus. 



Tibio-tarsus feathered to heel. 



Genus ARDETTA. 



Ardetta, diminutive of Ardea=a, Heron, on the analogy of the Italian Garzetta, etc. In 

 Pliny the diminutive is ArdeSla. 



A remarkable genus, of small size, with wing not longer than 6". Toes long, 



and claws strong. May be said to be Bitterns with Egbbt bills. Head with 



short pointed crest. No neck-frill. Space behind eye feathered. Feathers of 



upper breast lengthened and concealing lower breast, but not forming ornamental 



plumes. Four powder-down patches. Nearly cosmopolitan. 



Back and scapulars in males uniform, in females generally mottled or streaked. 

 Greater coverts never chestnut. 



222, Ardetta minuta. The Little Bittern. 



Mlni,ta=ama.\l, bom mlniio=l diminish, 



(J 14". Legs greenish. Bill 2 J", purplish yellow. Head, back, scapulars, 

 and tail black. Long feathers of upper breast buff. Flanks with narrow brown 

 shaft lines. In females back and scapulars are brown, edged buff. Europe, south 

 of lat. 60°, Mediterranean countries, C. Asia, N.W. India to 80° E. long. Winter 

 in Africa. Common in Kashmir and in Himalayas as far east as Nepal. Four 

 or five eggs (1-34 x 1-0), white. (J. 935, B. 1570,) 



223. Ardetta sinensis. The Yellow Bittern. 

 Jan-bagia, India; Mannal Nari, Ceylon. 



i 14" to 15". 2 6 oz. Legs pale green. Bill 2f", pale yeUow. Top of 

 head, quiUs, and tail black. Back, scapulars, and tertiaries grey-brown. In 

 females the back and scapulars are brown, edged buff. S.E. Asia, Malay Penin- 

 sula to Japan, New Guinea, and N. Australia. Also in the Seychelles, India, 



