90 HERON. 



52. -SNOWY HERON. 



Ardea nivea, Ind. Orn. ii. 696. Gm. Lin. i. 640. N. C. Petr.w. 45S, t. 17. Dec. 

 russ.\. 1C4. Tern. Man. 368. Id. Ed. ii. p. 376. 



Ardea Caprea dicta, Gerin. iv. 424. 



Ardea candidissima, Gm. Lin. i. 633. Jacq. Vog. 18. 13. 



Ardea xanthedactylos, Gmel. reise, iii. 253. 



Yellow-slippered Egret, Penn. Hind. ii. 158. 



Snowy Heron, Gen. Syn. v. 92. Amer. Orn. vii. 120. pi. 62. f. 4. 



LENGTH more than two feet. Bill stout, straight, three inches 

 and a half long, and black; skin round the eyes yellowish blue; 

 plumage in general white ; the head smooth, but on the neck are 

 some feathers standing out, and those of the lower part hanging 

 over the breast ; back terminated with very long, yellowish white, 

 narrow, feathers, very loosely webbed, curling up at the ends, and 

 hanging over the tail ; legs black ; toes saffron-colour ; claws black. 



The female is less, and the neck and back feathers shorter. 



This is found about the River Don in the spring, coming from 

 the Black* Sea; and returns south in autumn, making the nest on 

 the highest trees. We have seen a specimen of this bird brought 

 from China, and it is not uncommon in India,| as confirmed by 

 drawings from thence, where it is called Gusska.J In some speci- 

 mens the lower half of the bill is pale; lore dusky; plumage wholly 

 white; legs black, the lower part of them, and the toes greenish 

 yellow ; the two feathers at the back part of the head were wanting : 

 supposed to be a young bird. 



* Probably from Egypt, Arabia, or Greece. — Dec. mss. i. 164. 

 f Lady Impey. — Sir John Anstruther. 



J One of these, among the drawings of General Hardwicke, called Boghee Kirtcheea, 

 or Boghee Bontahew. 



