248 
BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 
than I suppose it to be, for, until shot, it is very difficult to discriminate 
it from the other allied White Herons. 
It occurs in India, Ceylon, the Indo-Burmese countries and the greater 
part of Eastern Asia from Japan down to Australia. It is also found over 
a considerable portion of Africa. 
The habits of this Heron do not differ in any respect from those of its 
allies. 
613. HEEODIAS GARZETTA. 
THE LITTLE BLACK-BILLED WHITE HERON. 
Ardea garzetta, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 237 ; Hume, Nests and Eggs, p. 616 ; Dresser, 
Birds Eur. vi. p. 239, pi. Herodias garzetta, Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 746 ; Hume, 
S. F. iii. p. 190; Bl. B. Burm. p. 159 ; Hume ^ Dav. S. F. vi. pp. 476, 480 ; 
David et Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 440; Legge, Birds Ceylon, p. 1144; Andei^s. Yunnan 
Exped. p. 688 ; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 114 ; Oates, S. F. x. p. 243 ; Kelham, Ibis, 
1882, p. 193. 
Description. — Male and female in breeding-plumage. The whole plumage 
white ; a crest composed of two or three narrow feathers about five inches 
in length ; a train of soft decomposed feathers springing from the back 
and barely extending beyond the tail, curled upwards at the tips ; the 
feathers of the breast long and pointed. 
In nonbreedAng -plumage the crest, dorsal and pectoral trains are wanting. 
Bill always black, the base of the lower mandible yellowish ; iris yellow ; 
facial skin greenish yellow ; tarsus black ; toes mixed yellow and black. 
Length about 25 inches, tail 4, wing 9-6 to 11, tarsus about 4*2, bill 
from gape about 4. The female is of the same size. 
The Little Black-billed White Heron is abundant in all parts of Burmah 
except on the hills. 
It has a great range, being met with over the whole of Southern and 
Eastern Asia through the islands to Australia; it also occurs in Southern 
Europe and over a great part of Africa. 
This Little Heron is found in small flocks in every spot where there is 
water, especially in paddy-fields and the edges of swamps. It breeds in 
trees near villages, making a nest of sticks, in June and July, and laying 
five bluish-green eggs. 
