541 



ARDEA. HERON, 



Generic Character. 



Rostrum capite longius, va- 

 lidum, basi latum quam 

 altum ; mandibula siipe- 

 riore fere rectum, acutum, 

 sulcatum. 



Nares lateral es in sulcum 

 sitae, membrana semi- 

 clausae. 



Orbitce loracque nudae. 



Collum gracile, elongatum, 

 basi pennis elongatis in- 

 structum. 



Pedes graciles, tetradactyli, 

 fissi, digiti exteriores basi 

 membrana connexi; unguis 

 medius margine interna di- 

 latatus, pectinatus. 



BeaJc longer than the head, 

 strong, the base broader 

 than high ; the upper man- 

 dible nearly straight, acute, 

 and sulcated. 



Nostrils lateral, placed in a 

 groove, and partly closed 

 by a membrane. 



Orbits and lores naked. 



Neck slender, elongated, fur- 

 nished at its base "with 

 elongated feathers. 



Legs slender, four-toed, cleft, 

 the outer toes connected at 

 the base by a membrane ; 

 the middle claw with its 

 inner margin dilated and 

 pectinated. 



Ardea. Linn.j Gmel., Lath,, Briss,, Leach, Temm.y VieiL, Cm., 



Rayy S^c, 

 Cancrofagus. Briss, 

 Ardeola. Rat/., Briss. 

 BoTAURUs. Briss, 

 Egretta. Briss, 



iHE Herons reside on the banks of lakes and 

 rivers, or in marshy places : their food consists of 



