108 GREEN HERON. 



Adult Male. 



Bill longer than the head, straight, rather slender, tapering to a very acute 

 point, higher than broad at the base, compressed towards the end. Upper 

 mandible with its dorsal line very slightly arched, the ridge broad and 

 rather flattened at the base, narrowed towards the end, the sides sloping, 

 erect towards the edges, which are sharp and direct, the tip acute. Nasal 

 depression long, with a groove extending to near the point; nostrils basal, 

 linear, longitudinal. Lower mandible with the angle very long and narrow, 

 the dorsal line sloping upwards, the sides sloping outwards and nearly flat, 

 the edges sharp, the tip acuminate. 



Head oblong, much compressed. Neck long. Body very slender, much 

 compressed. Feet rather long, moderately stout; tibia bare for about an 

 inch; tarsi of moderate length, covered with hexagonal scales, of which some 

 of the anterior are much larger and scutelliform. Toes rather long and 

 slender, with numerous scutella above; hind toe stout, second and fourth 

 nearly equal, third much longer; claws rather long, slender, arched, com- 

 pressed, acute, that of middle toe expanded and serrated on the inner edge. 



A large space extending from the bill to behind the eye bare. Plumage 

 very soft, loose, and blended; feathers of the hind head elongated and erectile, 

 as are those of the neck generally, but especially of its hind and lower 

 anterior parts; of the fore part of the back much elongated and acuminate; 

 scapulars very large. Wings short, very broad, rounded; second and third 

 quills equal and longest, first and fourth equal and but slightly shorter, the 

 rest slowly graduated; secondaries broad and rounded. Tail very short, 

 even, of twelve broad soft feathers. 



Bill greenish-black above, bright yellow beneath. Iris and bare part 

 about the eye also bright yellow. Feet greenish-yellow, claws dusky. 

 Upper part of the head and nape glossy deep green. Neck purplish-red, 

 tinged with lilac behind, and having anteriorly a longitudinal band of white, 

 spotted with dusky-brown; a similar white band along the base of lower 

 mandible to beyond the eye. Elongated feathers of the back greyish-green, 

 in some lights bluish-grey, with the shafts bluish-white; the rest of the back 

 similar; the upper tail-coverts and tail bluish green; the lateral feathers 

 slightly margined with white. Scapulars, wing-coverts, and inner secon- 

 daries, deep glossy green, bordered with 3'ellowish-white; primary quills 

 and outer secondaries greyish-blue, tinged with green. Lower parts pale 

 purplish-brown, tinged with grey; axillary feathers purplish-grey, as are 

 some of the lower wing-coverts; lower tail-coverts greyish-white. 



Length to end of tail 17f inches, to end of wings 17-|, to end of claws 24, 

 to carpal joint Hi; extent of wings 27; wing from flexure 7-|; tail 3f; bill 

 along the ridge 2%, along the edge of lower mandible 3i; bare part of tibia 



