296 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



spect it differs somewhat from the Herons, though I have never seen 

 it perch on trees. It was found breeding at Port Discovery." 



Subsequently, Dr. Pickering frequently mentions the occurrence of 

 this bird in large numbers in California, especially under date of 6th 

 of September, 1841, on the Sacramento River. 



Specimens in unusually fine plumage and preservation are in the 

 collection of the Expedition. 



2. Genus ARDEA, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 233 (1766). 

 1. Ardea JUGULARis, Forster. 



Ardea jufjiilaris, FoRSTER, Desc. An. p. 172 (1844). 



^' Herodias Greyi, GrRAY," Grould, B. of Aust. VI (not paged)? 



Ardea sacra, Gm. Sjst. Nat. I, p. 640 (1788) ? 



Gould, B. of Aust. VI, Plate LX,— same, Plate LXI? 



Numerous specimens of this species, in brown plumage, are in the 

 collection of the Expedition, and also specimens of the white-plumaged 

 bird, which Mr. Gould has characterized as specifically distinct under 

 the name cited above. Both extend their range of locality apparently 

 over the same groups of islands, from the Paumotu and Samoan 

 Groups, to Australia. In the latter country, they are described as 

 abundant by Mr. Gould, as above, who produces also very respectable 

 evidence of their non-identity. 



We have doubts of the identity of these birds, not only on account 

 of their entire and unusual dissimilarity in color, but also because 

 there is not in the whole collection, nor in any other collection to 

 which we have access, a single specimen showing an intermediate 

 stage of plumage. They are, however, very similar in their forms 

 and general organization, and were considered identical by the natu- 

 ralists of the Expedition, as will be seen in Mr. Peale's observations 

 inserted in this article. 



The name Ardea sacra, Gmelin, may perhaps be applicable to this 

 bird. It was given by Gmelin on the faith of a description by Latham, 

 of a species designated by him as " the Sacred Heron," in General 

 Synopsis of Birds, III, p. 92. Singularly enough, that description 

 would apply only to an intermediate plumage, if at all to this species. 

 Our inability to solve the problem here presented of the identity or 



