ARDEA MAJOR. 
COMMON HERON. 
Generic Character. 
Bill ftraight, comprefled, ftrong^ and fharp-pointed. 
Noftrils linear. 
Tongue (harp-pointed. 
Eyes, large and piercing, furrounded by a bare flcin. 
Toes three forward, conneded by a membrane to the 
firft joint) the middle one peBinated, hinder toe one- 
third fhorter than the front ones. 
Synonyms. 
Ardea Major. Lin. SyJI, i. p. 236. 12. 
Common Heron. Br. ZooL 173, tak 61. Lalh, Syn, 5. 
83. 50. Bewick's Br. Birds ^ PL 2. 
p, 48. MonL Orn. Di^. 
JL HE Heron is in length about three feet fix inches, and 
in breadth five feet fix inches, it ufually weighs about three 
pounds and an half; bill fix inches long, the edges flightly 
ferrated, it has a flight longitudinal furrow commencing at the 
bafe, and continuing three-fourths of its length ; eyes full and 
remarkably fierce, furrounded by a bare fkin of a greenifh hue 
in the male bird, in the female it is of a lead colour ; feathers 
on the crown and hind-head long and flov/ing, forming a 
beautiful pendent creft, defcending half way down the neck 
(in 
