128 HERON. 



thighs, are rufous cinnamon-colour; back covered with long, slender 

 feathers, which fall over the tail, and conceal about half its length ; 

 legs yellow brown. 



Inhabits New-Holland : the specimen met with at Port Jackson ; 

 but having seen others, we suppose to be not uncommon. 



103— NEW-ZEALAND HERON. 



Blue Heron, Gen. Syn. v. 79. 45. B. 



LENGTH eighteen inches. Bill two inches and a half long, 

 yellow, lore the same ; irides pale yellow ; head feathers loose, and 

 somewhat elongated at the back part ; plumage in general pale blue 

 green ; chin and throat white ; legs yellow ; claws black. 



Inhabits Queen Charlotte's Sound, New-Zealand ; the natives 

 call it Matook ; is also found at Otaheite, where it is held in 

 veneration.* 



104— OMINOUS HERON. 



LARGER than the Common Heron ; when standing erect, it 

 measures from the crown to the toes four feet. Bill as in the 

 Common one, yellow; hindhead and crown tufted, with many longish 

 feathers, which are capable of being erected forwards, quite over 

 the base of the bill ; plumage on the upper parts of the neck, back, 

 and rump, pale ash-coloured brown ; wing coverts, and all beneath, 

 very pale blue grey, wing coverts darkest; all the fore part of the 

 neck dashed with dusky black, short streaks, as in the Common 

 Heron ; quills and tail black ; legs long, slender, and yellow ; 

 claws black. 



* So far from eating all kinds of birds, the Otaheitans have a kind of superstitious 

 regard for Herons, and Kingsfishers, almost like that paid to the Stork, Redbreast, Swal- 

 low, and other harmless birds, in England. — Foster's Obs. 207. Parkinson talks of a Grey 

 Heron being found at Ethooa, p. 70. 



