253 
BIRDS OF BEITISH BURMAH. 
Genus ARDEOLA, Boie, 
617. AEDEOLA GRAYI. 
THE POND-HERON. 
Ardea grayii, Sykes, P. Z. S. 1832, p. 158. Ardeola leucoptera, apud Jerd. B. 
Ind. ii. p. 751. Ardeola grayi, Himie, Nests and Eggs, p. 619 ; id. S. F. iii. 
p. 190 ; Bl B. Burm. p. 160 ; Armstrong, S. F. iv. p. 350 ; Gates, S. F. v. p. 167 ; 
Hume ^ Bav. S. F. vi. p. 481 ; Legge, Birds Ceylon, p. 1150 ; Hume, S. F. viii. 
p. 114 ; Scully, S. F. viii. p. 361 ; Bingham, S. F. ix. p. 197 ; Oates, S. F. x. 
p. 243. 
Description, — Male oMd female in summer plumage. Head and neck 
greyish yellow^ the crown dusky ; a long occipital crest of pointed feathers 
white ; back and scapulars dark blackish maroon^ the feathers very long 
and decomposed ; remainder of the plumage white. 
In nonbreeding -plumage both sexes have the cliin and throat white ; 
the whole head^ neck and breast fulvous^ each feather broadly edged at the 
sides^ but not at the tip^ with dark brown ; the back^ scapulars and terti- 
aries dark brown^ a few of the feathers with yellowish centres ; remainder 
of the plumage white; the feathers of the occiput lengthened but not 
forming a conspicuous crest. 
Iris bright yellow ; orbital skin and gape greenish yellow ; the margins 
of the upper mandible to within an inch of the tip^ the central portion and 
tip of the lower yellow remainder of the bill black ; legs and feet greenish^ 
with some yellow about the joints ; claws horn-colour. In the young 
bird the whole bill is reddish flesh-colour, and the legs and feet are bright 
green. 
Length 19 inches, tail 3, wing 8*5, tarsus 2*3, bill from gape 3*1. The 
female is of about the same size. 
The Pond-Heron is one of the commonest of the family, being found in 
every part of the Province except on the higher hills, and Capt. Wardlaw 
Ramsay observed it in Karennee. 
It is found over the whole peninsula of India with Ceylon and in the 
Indo-Burmese countries. It is not recorded from China, but Dr. Tiraud 
states that it is common in Cochin China. In the Malay peninsula its 
distribution is unknown ; but inasmuch as Mr. Davison states that it is 
common down to the extreme south of Tenasserim, it is not likely to stop 
short there, but also to be found in a considerable portion of the peninsula. 
This small Heron is remarkable for its tameness and indifference to man. 
As long as it rests on the ground the colour of its plumage causes it to 
escape notice ; but when it starts up, its white wings render it a conspicuous 
object. It breeds from May to August, making its nest in trees quite 
close to houses, and laying four to six blue eggs. 
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