z86 02? ,5V ITHOLOQT, Book III 



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colour. I fufpect. this Relator whofoever he was, was miftaken, accoun ting the bird 

 in this article defcribed by us not to differ from the common Heron-fiaw but only in 

 colour. For Mr. John/on, who hath feen the white Heron in England, puts it down for 

 a diftintl: kind in his Method of Birds communicated to us. 



*. V. 



The lejfer white Heron : Ardea alba minor. 



BEing weighed it fcarce amounted to one pound. From the tip of the Bill to 

 the end of the Tail it was twenty four inches and an half long, to the end of 

 the Legs thirty two and an half It is all over of a pure white colour, like the 

 bigger. From the hinder part of the Head hangs down backward a (hort Creft. 

 About the Eyes the skin is bare of feathers, and of a green colour. The Bill is four 

 inches and an half long, and black. The Eyes are of a pale yellow. The Tongue 

 fhort : The Feet green 3 but fometime covered with a black, fcaly bark, which may 

 eafily be rubbed or (craped off. The Legs are bare of feathers fomething above the 

 knees, and up higher than in the former kind. The outer fore-toe is connected with 

 the middle from its rife to the firft joynt by an intervening membrane. The middle 

 Talon is toothed, as in the reft of this kind. It hath alfo but one blind gut, like them j 

 and a great Gall. ' 



It differs from the precedent white Heron in being much leffer, and in having a creft, 

 which that wants. 



We take this to be the fame with the fmall white Heron or Garxetta of Gefier and 

 Aldrovand, and with Bellonius his Aigretta of the French, although the defcriptions 

 differ in fome particulars. 



Gefier faith, that the feathers of the Creft are long, and fold at a great rate. But 

 Bellonius and Aldrovandus write, thatthefe feathers, which Noblemen and great Com- 

 manders are wont to ftick in their Caps and Head-pieces for ornament, and which are 

 fold very dear in the Cities fubject to the Turk^ do not grow on the Head, but on the 

 Back, at the ridge of each Wing. Our Bird, which we bought in the Market at Ve- 

 nice, had no fuch feathers , perchance they had been before pluckt off, and concealed 

 by the Fowler that fold us the bird. 



Thefecond leffer white Heron of Aldrovandus is the very fame with this, called alio 

 Garzetta in the Valleys of Malai 'forgo, as will manifeftly appear to him that will but 

 take the pains to compare the defcriptions. Aldrovand. torn. 3. j^.93. defcribesit 

 thus. It is a bird all over white, excepting the Legs and Bill, which are black. Its 

 Bill is long, (lender, very (harp-pointed, all of one colour. Between the Eyes and 

 Bill is a certain fpot of green. The Pupil of the Eyes is black, encompafted with 

 a yellow or golden circle, and that again with a black. The Neck and Legs, as in 

 other Herons, are long 5 (0 are alio the Toes, but yellow. The back-toe is the leaft 

 of all: The middlemoft of the fore-toes longeft, and that on the right fide of it next 

 in length. The Claws black and (harp. The Wings very great 5 the Tail (hort 3 the 

 Body (lender and little. 



This, I fay, is without all doubt the fame with our fmall white Heron 5 neither ( as I 

 judge ) doth it differ from the Garzetta of Aldrovand, before defcribed, in any thing 

 but in age, for that was a young bird. In this there is no mention made either of the 

 Creft, or of thofe rare feathers growing on the Back. Perchance they were by 

 the Fowlers, ( who knew well enough their value) plucked off from both Aldrovands 

 bird and ours, 



§. VI. 



* The third fmall white Heron of Aldrovand'. 



IT is leffer than the precedent, but more flefhy. Its Bill fmall, thick, (harp-pointed, 

 all yellow. The top of the Head and Neck arealmoft of a Saffron colour 5 which, 

 though more re mils, is fcen alfo in the Breaft. The Neck is (horter than in other 

 Herons. The Eyes are fituate as it were in a certain yellow (pot: Their hides are 

 yellow, encompaffed with a black circle. The Thighs and Legs are long, of a yellow 

 colour, inclining to Saffron. The Toes are, in proportion to the body, bigger than 

 in other Herons, very long, dusky, encompaffed alfo with whiti(h annulary fcales. 



Two 



