1840.] 



of the Peninsula of India. 



197 



This is a coraparatively rare bird. I have seen it but once or twice 

 solitary in small rivers, in the northern part of the table land. My only 

 specimen differs somewhat from Colonel Sykes' description, in having 

 the whole under surface of the body grey, dashed slightly with white 

 on the neck and lower part of the body, chin and throat alone are pure 

 white. It appears to resemble much the description of Ard, jugularis, 

 but Sykes pronounces his bird distinct, so for the present I place my 

 specimen under his appellation, as the only recorded similar Indian 

 species. Mr. Elliot in his notes says, " Is common on the western 

 coast at the mouths of rivers." 



Irides light yellow ; bill brownish horny above, yellowish beneath ; 

 legs greenish black ; feet greenish. Length about 2 feet ; bill at front 3| ; 

 at gape 4j^^ths ; tarsus 4. 



306. — E. Javanica. Sw. — A. Javanica^ Horsf. — A. Scapularis, Wagl. 

 •—Kunchnr Bvglah^ H. — Indian Green Heron. 



This pretty little Heron differs according to Horsfield and Swainson 

 from the closely allied South American bird (^Ard. Scapularis) in the 

 comparative length of the toes, and in the legs being feathered close 

 down to the knee. It is only found solitary on the banks of wooded 

 streams, perching in general on a low branch oveihanging the water. 

 It is spread over all the Peninsula. 



Irides light yellow ; bill blar.kish above, yellowdsh horny beneath ; 

 legs dark green ; feet yellow; lores light green. Length 17-18 inches ; 

 tarsus nearly 2 ; bill to front 2y4_ths, at gape o|. 



307. — jEJ. Malaceensis. — Ard. Malaccensia^ Auct. — A. Grayii^ Sykes, 

 Hardw 111. Ind. Zool. — A. affiiiis, Horsf. ? — A. Coromandelica^ Lirh. ? — 

 Buglee, H. also Undhe Buglee. — Marroon-bached Heron or White icing- 

 ed Heron, 



The supposed new species of Colonel Sykes, named by him Ard. Grayii^ 

 I have ascertained to be the summer or breeding plumage of the common 

 Ard. Malaceensis. It begins to moult in April or May, and resumes its 

 plain winter livery about September or October. Perhaps the most re- 

 markable circumstance connected with this is the change of colouring 

 the bill undergoes, from the usual plain dusky tint to the three coloured 

 hues it presents during the hot season. 



The Buglee is a very common and familiar bird, frequenting rivers, 

 tanks, marshes, wet paddy-fields and pools of water — and often seen in 

 the rivers, feeding among crowds of people, bathing and washing, with- 



