ARDEINiE. ERODIUS. 
133 
acute ; the gape-line straight, commencing under the centre 
of the eye, at first somewhat sinuate, and toward the end 
slightly deflected ; a large bare space on each side of the head 
extending from the base of the bill to a little behind the eye 
and angle of the mouth. This bare space is said to be “ pale 
green.” Mr Yarrell says the bill is “ yellow at the base, 
black towards the point.” Mr Gould says it is “ deep brown 
tinged with yellow about the nostrils.” No two authors agree 
on this subject. I find it in the individual here described 
yellow, with the tip slightly dusky. The occipital feathers 
are very slightly elongated, the largest being an inch and 
four-twelfths. The dorsal plumes have rather firm, though 
slender, straightish-shafts, the longest extending two inches 
beyond the tail, and fourteen inches in length. The tibia, 
tarsus, toes, and claws, are black. The plumage white, with 
a faint yellowish- tinge. 
Now, the only differences in the above descriptions are, in 
the general size, the colour of the bill, and that of the feet; 
but in the measurements of the bill and feet, as will present- 
ly be seen, the difference is great, and while the one has 
twenty tarsal scutella, the other has only fourteen. 
Erodius Egretta is smaller than E. albus. The bill is 
long, stout, compressed, tapering ; the upper mandible with 
the dorsal line straight for two-thirds, then slightly declinato- 
convex, the ridge broad and slightly convex at the base, 
narrowed, and becoming rather acute toward the end, the na- 
sal depression narrow, elongated, with a groove to a third 
from the tip, the sides convex, the edges direct and sharp ; 
lower mandible with the angle long and extremely narrow, 
the dorsal line ascending and almost straight, the edges sharp 
and directs the tip acuminate ; the gape-line straight, com- 
mencing under the eye ; the bill is bright-yellow, as is the 
space between it and the eye. The occipital feathers are 
slightly elongated. The dorsal plumes have very slender, 
slightly decurved, and slightly undulated shafts, the longest 
extending about ten inches beyond the end of the tail. The 
tibia, tarsus, toes, and claws are black. Plumage white. 
Some of the measurements of three individuals of these three 
species are here given. 
