43 G Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [No. 5. 



Pernis brachypterus, nobis, n. s. A much injured skin of a very 

 beautiful species, conspicuously distinguished from P. cristata by the 

 comparative shortness of the wings and tail, and by a plumage more 

 intense in colouring and contrasts than we have ever seen in P. apivora 

 or P. cristata. Length of closed wing 13 in. only ; and of tail but 8|- in. 



longer, as in the next species : according to Degland, they may further be distin- 

 guished readily when in breeding livery, by the stems of the train-plumes being 

 flattened in H. alba, and " relevee, a c6te," in H. galatea. 



2. H. intermedia : Ardea intermedia, Wagler ; A. eyrettoides, Tern. ; A. 

 nivea, Lesson ; A.flavirostris, Bounaterre ; A. putea, Buch. Hamilton; A, nigriros- 

 tris, Gray ; H. plumifera, Gould. Hab. as last, the two species commonly asso- 

 ciating in one flock. In the Malay countries it would appear to be the most 

 common species of white Egret, and Temminck states that it differs in no respect 

 in Japan. It is considerably smaller than H. alba, with much shorter beak, end- 

 long straight dorsal train in the breeding season, reaching nearly or quite to the 

 ground. It has also beautiful long pendent breast-plumes of similar texture to 

 the train ; but no occipital crest. The beak changes colour as in H. alba ; but 

 the tibia is never (that we have seen) whitish as in that species, and this is the 

 only difference we can perceive between the Indian bird and Gould's description 

 and figures of H. plumifera from Australia. The facial skin, also, does not (that 

 we have remarked) become green during the breeding season. Bill to forehead 

 3 in. ; tarse 4£ in. ; middle toe and claw 4 in. ; closed wing 12 in. 



3. H. garzetta : Ardea garzetta, L. ; A. xanthodactyla et A. nivea, Gmelin ; 

 A. orientalis t Gray. Hab. as preceding species, with the exception of the great 

 Austral-asian archipelago and Australia (so far as observed hitherto). Bill black at 

 all seasons, with whitish at base of lower mandible and at the extreme base also of 

 the upper. Feet black with yellow toes. Dorsal train curved upward at the extremity 

 (quite as much so in fine specimens as in the American H. candidissima, though 

 represented as straight in the wood-cut to Yarrell's ' British Birds'). Occipital 

 crest consisting of two or three (generally two) long narrow pendent plumes measuring 

 about 6 in. in fine specimens ; but these appear to be only worn for a short season ; 

 and there are lengthened nuchal plumes of similar texture pendent over the breast. 

 Bill to forehead 3 1 in. ; tarse 4 in. ; middle toe and claw exceeding 3 in. ; closed wing 

 10 in. There is much variation in the depth and quality of the yellow colouring 

 on the toes. When much in quantity it is pale and greenish, and extends more or 

 less up the tarse, even to the tarsal or heel joint, and the claws are then commonly 

 whitish-horny. When contracted in quantity it is of a deeper and buff yellow, with 

 sometimes the tips of the toes and the claws black, all or a portion of them. Hence 

 it may be suspected that varieties of this bird with wholly black toes occur some- 

 times, and the same also probably in the affined H. candidissima of America, 

 which has similar yellow toes, imparting an appearance as though the bird had been 



