

O R D. I. GEN. II. HERON. 



SPE. IX. AFRICAN HERON. 



PI. 152. 



This fpecies is fmaller than the common heron, being not quite three feet 

 in length. The bill is of a reddifri yellow, with a dufky point : the head, and 

 oreater part of the neck, pale ruft colour : the chin and throat, white : the fea- 

 thers on the crown of the head long and black : on the hind part of the neck 

 is a ftripe of black about two-thirds of its length, and on each fide of it is ano- 

 ther of the fame colour, arifing from behind the eye, and continued to the 

 bread : the feathers on the breaft long, and loofe, and inclining to am colour : 

 the back, and wings, deep afh colour : the quills, and tail, black : the fcapulars, 

 long and loofe, like the feathers on the breaft, with a mixture of ruft colour : 

 the breaft, rufty chefnut : the belly, rufty afti colour : the legs, dull yellow : 

 claws black. 



This is an African bird, but has been met with tw : ce in England. The fpe- 

 cimen from which this defcription is taken was fhot in Aihdown Park, near 

 Lambourn, in Berkfhire, and is now in Mr. Parkinfon's Mufeum. 



