HERODIAS ALBA. 
1139 
size. It is no doubt a small race, but not more diminutive than most of the African examples that have been met 
with, and is no smaller than the Chinese and Australian birds. It is a species which varies extremely in size, 
tropical bred birds being the smallest. There is, however, a regular gradation as regards dimensions from the 
Australian, Chinese, and Indian races np to the largest examples reared in cool climates, to which, I apprehend, 
the large individuals occasionally procured in India belong. Moreover, as will be seen by reference to the 
dimensions tabulated above, the difference in tarsus and bill of the largest birds is not proportionate to the length 
of wing. TJnder these circumstances it is not advisable to adopt any new title for the small form, particularly as 
we do not know whether the Linnean type was a small or a large bird. 
As regards Buchanan Hamilton’s name torra, I can find no mention of this bird in the writings of that gentleman, 
although there exists a reference of Franklin’s — “Ardea torra, Buch.” P. Z. S. 1831, p. 123. Giebel, in his 
‘Dictionary,’ refers us to Bonaparte's Consp. vol. i. p. 425 ; but the only reference I can find in this w'ork is in 
vol. ii. p. 118, where Ardea torra, Buch., ex Asia meridionali, is used as a synonym of A. nigrirostris, Gray and 
Hardwicke. It is possible that the title may have been used by Buchanan Hamilton as a MS. name, in which 
case it would not stand ; and it appears to me that if a new name is wanted A. modesta, Gray and Hardwicke, 
111. Ind. Zool. ii. pi. 49 (1834), would be the next title in order available. 
Distribution . — The Large Egret is widely diffused throughout the low country, hut is most numerous in 
the dry districts east of Tangalla, and round that side of the island to the Yanni tanks in the north. It is 
to be found in all large marshes and tanks throughout the northern half of Ceylon down to Kurunegala, and 
south of that district may generally be met with where there are extensive tracts of wild paddy-land. In the 
interior between Colombo and Matara, where the fields happen to be surrounded by forest and jungle, one or 
two of these Egrets may usually be seen in company with the next species. It is not at all uncommon in the 
Trincomalie district, but I have never met with it in any great numbers. I have heard of its being observed 
in Dumbara, whither it ascends from the Bintenne country; but I fancy that it is nothing but a rare straggler 
to that elevated valley. 
In India it is a very common bird, being, of course, most abundant in the better-watered districts, says 
Jerdon, but may be found everywhere feeding by rivers and tanks. It is said to be very common in the 
Deccan, and in the region between the Ganges and the Godaveri. Mr. Ball records it from Manbhum, 
Lobardugga, Nowagarh, Karial, and Eaipur. About Calcutta it is occasionally met with ; but I notice it 
is omitted from Mr. Cripps’s list of the birds of Furreedpore. Passing eastwards I find it reported by 
Mr. Oates as common about Thayetmyo, and by Mr. Hume as generally distributed throughout the plains 
portion of Tenasserim. It is likewise found in the Andamans. Returning to India, it is recorded by 
Dr. Scully as occurring in the valley of Nepal in the winter ; and evidently is found all along the base of the 
Himalayas, as also in the plains westward to the Punjab. In Sindh it is common, and is distributed less nume- 
rously throughout the entire surrounding region. In Kashgharia, which is inhabited by the largest form of the 
species, it is common in winter, migrating northward in the spring to breed. According to Severtzoff it breeds 
throughout Turkestan, and winters in the western portions of the country. Eastward we find Prjevalsky 
observing it in large numbers in the Hoang-ho valley. At Koko-nor it was met with at the end of March ; 
and in Tsaidam it appeared as early as the 18th February. It is spread thoughout the Chinese empire, breeding 
in large numbers near Pekin ; and Swinhoe met with it in Formosa. In the Malay archipelago, through 
which it extends to Australia, it is found in Borneo, Celebes, Iialmahera, Morotai, Ternate, Timor, and the 
Aru Islands. It has been recorded by Mr. Ramsay from every settlement in the north of Australia, and 
from most parts of the east coast down to Victoria, and thence round to South Australia. Gould likewise 
met with it on the Clarence River and in the north of Tasmania on the mouths of rivers. Returning to Asia 
again, to follow out its distribution from thence westward, I find that Dr. Radde observed it in the Central 
Argunj valleys, and on the Lower Udir river in Siberia. Major St. John met with it in the Shiraz district 
in Persia ; and Mr. Blanford saw it in Baluchistan ; while Canon Tristram found it to be a spring and summer 
visitor to Palestine. In Asia Minor it is common ; and in Greece slightly less numerous, though, according 
to Messrs. Elwes and Buckley, it is common in the marshes of Macedonia. In South-eastern Europe it is 
much more plentiful than further west, for in Spain it is very rare ; and in Portugal it is said not to be found 
at all, although it is recorded by Mr. Godman from the Azores. It is likewise rare in Malta, though tolerably 
common in winter in Sicily and Sardinia; but it is scarce again in Northern Italy. In Transylvania it is 
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