HERON. 59 



Found in the marfhes of Italy, and in fome parts known by Place. 



the name of Ruffey*. Said alfo to inhabit AJlracban during the 

 fummer feafon-{% 



18 



Ardea botaurus major, N. C. Petr. xv. p. 482. N° 22. t. 24. (Gmelin.) Var. A. 



T ENGTH four feet fix inches. Bill yellow : eye-lids naked, of Description. 



a yellowifh blue : irides faffron-colour : head black, and 

 crefted : temples yellow, partly dotted with black : head beneath 

 white : neck chefnut, marked with three narrow longitudinal 

 bands of black ; the lower part chefnut, fpotted with black, and 

 black and white: back of a deep afh-colourj the feathers on 

 the loweft part long, broad, and red ; the longeft white at the 

 ends : rump grey brown : under parts of the body black and red 

 mixed : wing coverts cinereous -, fome of the feathers tipped 

 with yellowifh : edge of the wing ferruginous : quills and tail 

 black: thighs chefnut : legs reddifh brown : claws pale brown •„ 

 middle one ferrated within. 



This fpecies, if diflinft from the laft-defcribed, is found at Place. 



Afirachan in May, migrating from the fouth. * It lays three 

 fmooth plain green eggs, the fize of thofe of a Hen j and is 

 found in the marfhes, where the other Herons refort. 



* Aldrov. Av. iii. p. 408. — This author fufpetts it to be a mixed breed betweec 

 the common Heron and Bittern. 

 t Dec, Ruff. ii. p. 146. 



I* Le 



