840 
Birds of Celebes: Ardeidae. 
Measurements (continued). 
Wing 
Tail 
Tarsus 
Mid. toe 
and claw 
Exposed 
culmen 
9- 
(Nr. 11588) ad., Java (v. Schierbrand) . . 
194 
74 
— 
— 
55 
h. 
(Nr. 11228) ad., Java (v. Schierbr.) . . . 
190 
67 
■ — 
— 
60 
i. 
(Nr. 11229) ? juv., Java (v. Schierbr.) . . . 
186 
65 
52 
60 
61 
j- 
(0 12423) ? vix ad., Java (v. Schierbr.) . . 
207 
74 
57 
— 
62 
k. 
(C 12422) ? vix ad., Java (v. Schierbr.) . . 
203 
75 
54 
60 
60 
1. 
(0 6272) ad., Sumba (Riedel) 
210 
75 
59 
64 
62 
m. 
(C 6273) ? vix ad., Sumba (Riedel) .... 
202 
77 
57 
64 
63 
The examples from Java and Sumba (with one exception, f) have the tips of 
the outer one or two primaries clouded with a variable amount of drab; this is seen 
in two of the Celebesian examples (h, d), in the two others not so. 
Eggs. “Borneo eggs in my collection are bluish and measure 36x30.5 mm” (Nehrkorn MS.). 
Grabowsky found 4 eggs to the sitting on 25*'' April, 1882 (13). 
Nest. Of grass, carelessly built and flat, lying on the marsh-grass clumps standing above 
the surface of the water (Banks of the swamp of Danau Bangkau, S. E. Borneo: 
Grabowsky in Kutter 13). 
Distribution. Java (Horsfield a J, all, Beinwardt e f, etc.); Noordwachter Id. (Vorderm. 
24); Karimon-Java Islands (Burck 17); Lombok (Vorderman 24, Everett 25); 
Sumbawa (Forsten el, Guillemard f 1)] Sumba (Riedel id); Borneo (Schwaner, 
etc. el, 7, 12, 18, 19); Celebes: — (WaU.), Minahassa (Faber), Gorontalo (Rosenb. 
a 7, a 8, a 5, Riedel 14, Guillem, f 1), Southern Peninsula — Tjamba Distr. 
(Platen 14), Maros Waterfall (Platen 14), Macassar (Weber 23, P. & F. Sarasin 
25, Everett 26), Tello, Maros and Tempo (Weber 23), Buton Id. (S. Muller a 4). 
This Egret is a common species in South Celebes, where Dr. Platen (14) 
says “dozens of Herons of about six species, A. spedosa, Ardea purpurea, Herodias 
garzetta, Bubulcus coromandus, Ardetta dnnamomea and Ardeiralla jlavicollis, splendid 
contrasts in colour and size, follow the plough as it turns up the bottomless 
mud of the rice fields”. Ardeola spedosa may he easily recognised among all 
its fellow Herons in Celebes, when in breeding plumage, by the decomposed 
slaty plumes of its back and by its white body and wings; the white wings and 
body equally serve to distinguish it when young, or in non-breeding dress. 
“Often enough”, says Mr. Whitehead (19), “when passing a field, you do not 
observe this little Heron until suddenly dozens of snow-white wings (the small 
and dull-coloured body being difficult to see) open and slowly fiap away”. 
The nearest affinities of this species are with the Chinese Squacco Heron, 
A. prasinosceles Swinh. (= hacckus Bp.) of S. China, and the Siamese and Malay 
Peninsulas; the latter, according to Hume, is a larger bird with the crest rich 
vinous chestnut, and some other diflTerences. A. grayi of the Indian countries 
has the long feathers of the back deep maroon-purple, a greyer hue on the 
head and neck, etc. 
The Squacco Heron, A.ralloides (Scop.), of Europe and Africa is the type 
of the genus Ardeola Boie, which its author just saves from the condition of a 
nomen nudum by giving as its distinguishing mark: its short “toes” (it should 
have been “tarsus”). 
