THE LESSER WHITE HERON. 
247 
at front 4 to 4*6^ from gape about 5*5. The female is of much the same 
size. 
The Large White Heron varies very much in size, those from Europe and 
northern latitudes having the wing about 17 inches in length. A few of 
these large birds occasionally visit India. Burmese birds have the wing 
invariably less than 15 inches in length. There seem^ however^ to be 
connecting-links between the largest and the smallest birds, and therefore 
I think it convenient to keep all the Herons of this type under one name, 
as is done by Mr. Dresser and Major Legge. 
This Heron is found over the greater part of Asia, extending down to 
Australia ; also in Europe and Africa. 
A constant resident in Burmah, the Large White Heron is found singly 
or in flocks in almost every portion of the plains of the Province in paddy- 
fields, swamps and on the banks of streams. It breeds in the rains in con- 
siderable numbers near villages and monasteries on large trees, constructing 
a nest of sticks, and laying three or four pale bluish-green eggs. 
612, HEEODIAS INTERMEDIA. 
THE LESSER WHITE HERON. 
Ardea intermedia, van Hasselt, Wagler, Isis, 1829, p. 659^ Hume, JVests and Eggs, 
p. 615. Ardea egrettoides, Temm. Man. d''Orn. iv. p. 374. Herodias 
egrettoides, Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 745. Herodias intermedia, Salvad. Ucc. 
Born. p. 348 ; Bl. B. Burjn. p. 159 ; Hume, S. F. iii. p. 190 ; David et Oust, 
Ois. Chine, p. 440 ; Hume 8f Dav. S. F. vi. pp. 476, 480 ; Legge, Birds Ceylon, 
p. 1141 ; Anders. Yunnan Fxjjed. p. 687 ; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 114 ; Oates, S. F. 
X. p. 243. 
Description. — Male and female in breeding -plumage. The whole plumage 
pure white ; a train of soft decomposed feathers springing from the back 
and exceeding the tail by seven or eight inches ; a long soft tuft of feathers 
springing from the breast ; no crest. 
In nonbreeding-plumage the dorsal and pectoral trains are wanting. 
In summer the bill is black ; the facial skin green ; the iris yellow ; the 
legs and toes black. In winter the bill becomes yellow with the tip 
blackish. 
Length about 28 inches, tail 5*5, wing II'5 to 12*5, tarsus 4*3, bill at 
front about 2'9. The female is of the same size. 
The Lesser White Heron is of rather rare occurrence in Burmah ; but 
it is probably restricted to no particular portion of the country. Mr. Blyth 
received it from Rangoon, Capt. Feilden observed it at Thayetmyo, and I 
procured it on the banks of the canal. It may turn out to be commoner 
