55S 



RUSTY-CROWNED HERON. 



greatest part of the upper mandible of the beak 

 blackish : the under, the space round the eyes, 

 and the irides, aie bright yellow. 



This beautiful bird is common in the western 

 parts of Asia, frequenting the marshy shores of 

 the Caspian and Black seas, also the lakes of 

 Great Tartary, and the borders of the large rivers 

 of those parts, as the Wolga and Irtisch : it also 

 occurs, though sparingly, in several parts of Eu- 

 rope, appearing about the banks of the Danube, 

 and the morasses of Holland ; about four or five 

 specimens have likewise been killed in England at 

 different periods ; a fine specimen is in the British 

 Museum, that was shot v/ithin these few years. 

 To the north and east this bird does not occur, 

 but in Africa it is rather abundant. It seems also 

 to be abundant in Malta, from whence it has been 

 lately sent by J. Ritchie, Esq. to the British Museum. 

 Its nourishment consists of aquatic animals, as in the 

 rest of the genus ; and it builds its nest among the 

 reeds or underwood, and but rarely in trees : its 

 eggs are three in number, and of a greyish green. 



RUSTY- CROWNED HERON. 



(Ardea rubiginosa.) 



Ar. suhcristata ferrugineaf guld alba, ahdomine albo nigra sfriatOj, 

 collo subtus lineis quatuor nigris, pedibus luteis. 



Slightly crested ferruginous Heron^ with the throat white ; the 

 abdomen white, striped with black ; the neck with four black 

 lines beneath ; the legs yellowish. 



