ARDEA PAC1FICA, Latham. 

 Bulla-ra-gang Heron. 



PLATE XC. 



A. capite et collo albis, subtiliter dilute purpurino undatis, collo antico maculis 

 nonnullis irregulariter positis nigris; pectoris plumis lateralibus scapulari- 

 busque longis fusco-purpureis ; dorso, alis et cauda saturate ardesiacis, tectri- 

 cibus alarum virescenti-nitentibus ; alarum margine pure albo ; ventris et 

 partium posticarum plumis albis, griseo-purpureo limbatis. 



Ardea pacifica, Lath. Ind. Orn. Sup. p. lxv. 

 Pacific Heron, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. ix. p. 127. 

 Ardea Bullaragang, Wagler, Syst. Avium, sp. 5. 



This handsome, and according to Dr Latham, uncommon species, has 

 been received in different packages from New Holland, and we believe is 

 yet unfigured. It is said to frequent the shores, and by the natives in the 

 country, bears the name adopted by M. Wagler for his specific designa- 

 tion, which we have chosen as a sort of English name, preferring the old 

 title of Latham which has the claim of priority. 



The length to the extremity of the tail is about thirty- three inches. 

 The feathers on the occiput are slightly elongated, but in none of our spe- 

 cimens formed a real crest, although in other respects the bird seemed in 

 mature plumage ; the head, neck, and long feathers overhanging the breast, 

 are white, tinged with warm purplish-grey, which assumes a darker shade 

 on the crown and on the back of the neck ; the fore part of the neck 

 is marked with irregularly placed black spots ; the back, belly, and under 

 wing-coverts are deep bluish-black, paler underneath, and with the centre 

 of each feather white in the line of the shaft ; feathers on the sides of the 

 breast, and the long narrow pointed scapulars, of a deep purplish-red, 

 having a brown tinge ; in the former, the shafts are white, in the latter, 



