HERON. 93 



54— RED-CRESTED HERON. 



Ardea erythrocephala, Ind. Orn. ii. 088. Molin. Chi/. 207. Id. Fr. Ed. 214. 2. 



Gm. Lin. i. 033. 

 Red-crested Heron, Gen. Syn. Sup. ii. 302. 



SIZE of the Common Heron. General colour of the plumage 

 white; from the head springs a long crest of a red colour, reaching 

 quite to the back. — Inhabits Chili. 



55— SACRED HERON. 



Ardea sacra, Ind. Orn. ii. 690. Gm. Lin. i. 640. 

 Sacred Heron, Gen. Syn. v. 92. 



SIZE of the Little Egret ; length two feet three iuches. Bill 

 four inches long, dusky brown ; general colour of the plumage white; 

 on the middle of the crown a few obscure dusky streaks, down the 

 shafts of some of the feathers ; several of those of the back, wings, 

 and tail coverts marked in the same manner; scapulars dashed with 

 black ; greater quills more or less dusky at the tips ; the tail feathers 

 marked with dusky down the shafts, and at the end, for an inch and 

 a half, except the outer one, which is plain ; legs yellow. 



Inhabits Otaheite, and the neighbouring Isles, where it is held 

 sacred. — From the collection of Sir Joseph Banks. 



A. — Sacred Heron, Gen. Syn. v. 93. Var. A. Ind. Orn. ii. 696. 69. /3. 



This varies but little, The crown plain white ; scapulars, some 

 white, some black ; on the neck before loose, long feathers, black and 

 white mixed, hanging over the breast; and some others of the same 

 loose texture, and mixed colours, falling on the tail ; the wing coverts 

 have likewise some black feathers intermixed ; quills plain white ; 

 tail the same, except one feather, which is wholly black ; legs black. 



