ARDEA MAJOR. 



COMMON HERON. 



Generic Character. 



Bill ftraight, comprefled, ftrong, and fharp-pointed. 

 Noftrils linear. 

 Tongue fharp-pointed. 



Eyes, large and piercing, furrounded by a bare fkin. 



Toes three forward, connected by a membrane to the 

 firft joint, the middle one peclinated, hinder toe one- 

 third fhorter than the front ones. 



Synonyms. 



Ardea Major. Lin. Syjl. 1. p. 236. 12. 



Common Heron. Br. Zool. 173. tab. 61. Lath. Syn. 5. 



p. 83. 50. Bewick's Br. Birds, Ft. 2. 



p. 48. Mont. Orn. Ditf. 



T H E Heron is in length about three feet fix inches, and 

 in breadth five feet fix inches, it ufually weighs about three 

 pounds and an half ; bill fix inches long, the edges flightly 

 ferrated, it has a flight longitudinal furrow commencing at the 

 bafe, and continuing three-fourths of its length ; eyes full an$ 

 remarkably fierce, furrounded by a bare fkin of a greenifh hue 

 in the male bird, . in the female it is of a lead colour ; feathers 

 on the crown and hind-head long and flowing, forming a 

 beautiful pendent creft, defcending half way down the neck 



(in 



