204 BOTAUEUS. 



Tibio-tarsus tare for some portion above heel. 



Tarsus shorter than mid toe and claw. 



Genus BOTAURUS. 



Botaurus=3. Bittern, in late Latin ; probably akin to our "Bittern." French iutor, etc. 

 Certainly not derived from ios+taurus, though perhaps confused therewith in popular 

 etymology. 



Bill short, stout, with broad nasal groove. Long lax plumage, beautifully- 

 mottled yellow and black. Four powder-down patches. Mid toe and claw longer- 

 than tarsus and longer than bill. Hind claw very long. Sexes alike. Cos- 

 mopolitan. 



226. Botaurus stellaris. The Bittern. 

 Baz, India, 



$ 26" to 30". Legs greenish. Bill 3" to 3J", yellow and brown. Crown 

 uniform black, not barred. Moustache black. Neck yellow, with brown spots. 

 Quills irregularly barred black and rufous. Temperate portion of Palaearctic 

 region, visiting N. Africa, N.W. India, Burma, and China. Not observed in 

 S. India, Ceylon, or Tenasserim. Three to five eggs (2'0xl-5), sandy green. 

 (J. 936. B. 1574.) 



Also B. capensis. 25"- Similar to £. stellaris, but quills not so distinctly barred. From 

 S. Africa. 



£. pceciloptilvs, 24". With primary coverts uniform brown. From Australia and New 

 Zealand. 



B. lentiginosus. 28". With primary coverts uniform slaty, with rufous tips. From N. 

 and C. America and occasionally in Europe. 



B. pinnatiis, 30". With crown of head barred. Primary coverts blackish brown, with 

 rufous tips. From north of S. America. 



Also loifh tarsus as long as mid toe and daw : — 



The genus Nawnocftms, One species — N. eurythmus, 12", above chestnut, secondaries 

 shorter than primaries, from E. Siberia to Japan, China to Borneo and Celebes. 



The genus Ardeircellus. One species — A. sturmi, 12J", above slaty grey, secondaries 

 equal to or longer than primaries, from Africa, extending occasionally to Canaries and 

 Pyrenees. 



Also with tarsus much longer than mid toe and claw : — 



The genus Erythrophoyx. Two species — E. woodfordi, 18", with under tail-coverts sandy, 

 from Solomon Islands ; and E. prcetermissa, 19", with under tail-coverts dark grey, from 

 Molucca Islands. 



Also like the family of Ardeidm, with hind toe on same plane as the other toes ; the 

 family of BalcBnicipitidce, with culmen flattened and grooved ; a distinct hook toward the 

 tip, no webs at base of toes, two powder-down patches, and loral space bare. One species — 

 Balceniceps rex, 46", bill 8", slightly crested, the Shoebill, from the Upper White Nile. 



Also the family of Scopidce. With culmen narrow and ridged. A distinct dertral hook at 

 the tip. No powder-down patches. Lores feathered, and distinct webs at base of toes. One 

 species — S. UTniretta, 20", bill 3^", head strongly crested, the Umbrette, or Hammerhead, 

 from Africa, Arabia, and Madagascar. (B.M. Cat., xxvi. 242-290.) 



