130 
PURPLE HERON. 
coverts of the Dreeding state of this Heron are of a 
dark brownish -grey, deeper on the tail, quills, 
and coverts, and these are tinted with greenish 
reflections, having the dorsal plumes narrowed 
and elongated as in the last, the narrow tips being 
of a much paler tint, those at the sides longest, 
and of a pale reddish-brown. The forehead and 
crown are black, the feathers lengthening into a 
long narrow crest, while a line of tho same colour 
is carried down the back. The feathers covering 
the ears are black, forming a narrow stripe from 
the rictus, joining the black of the occiput. On 
each side of the neck a narrow stripe descends, 
mingling with the more irregularly dark edges of 
the lengthened plumes. The throat and fore part 
of the upper neck are pure white, gradually shading 
into the chestnut-brown, which covers the cheeks 
and sides of the neck, not occupied by the black 
stripes. On the fore part of the neck each feather 
elongates until it attains the lengthened narrow 
form ; on the upper parts, the one side of each 
is yellowish-white, the other black ; and thus irre- 
gular lines of these colours are formed, until the 
long tips become entirely yellowish-white. The 
centre of the breast and belly is black, bounded 
on each side with very deep purplish-chestnut or 
brownish-red. The thighs are pale brownish-red. 
The fore part of tho tarsus and toes are brown, 
tinted with greenish ; the hinder part of the tarsus 
and naked tibiae, yellow. The development of tho 
feet, compared with the length of the tarsus, is 
