HEEODIAS GAEZETTA. 
1145 
specimen before me (28th May) measures — wing 9-4 inches, tarsus 3-0, bill at front 3-05. The dorsal train reaches 
half an inch beyond the tail, the pectoral plumes are rather broad and 3 - 0 inches in length, and the crest measures 
3 - 5 niches. 
Distribution . — This handsome Egret is apparently not so widely spread in Ceylon as the last species. It 
is for the most part found in the northern half of the island, being common in the Jaffna district and along 
the east coast as far south as Batticaloa at any rate. Southward I have met with it at the tanks north and 
east of Hambantota. I have never shot it in the Galle district, and do not think it is to be found there except 
as a straggler. It is sometimes met with in the Western Province, and in the North-western is, according to 
Mr. Parker, not uncommon; in fact it probably occurs at all large tanks and suitable marshes &c. throughout 
the northern forests. Mr. Holdsworth has seen an Egret with black bill and greenish feet at Nuwara Eliya, 
which must be the present bird ; and I have no doubt that white Egrets which occur in Dumbara include this 
species. 
The range of this Little Egret is very wide, as it is found on both coasts of Africa, in Southern Europe, 
throughout Asia (as far north in the western division as the sea of Aral, and in the eastern as high up as 
Japan), in various islands of the Malay archipelago, and in portions of Australia. 
Commencing, as usual, with India, we find that it is very abundant in Sindh and common throughout the 
surrounding regions, being particularly numerous in the Deesa district ( Butler ) . It is commoner than the 
last in parts of Eajpootana, and is no doubt found in the Punjab. It is not uncommon in the North-western 
Provinces and in Lower Bengal, being occasionally seen in the Calcutta market, and occurring numerously in 
Furreedpore in the cool season, but resident iu Cachar, according to Mr. Inglis. In the division of Chota 
Nagpur it is common, except in the western district, and is recorded by Mr. Ball from Manbhum, Lohar- 
dugga, and Orissa. In the Deccan it is plentiful ; and further south it no doubt occurs at all suitable places, 
being probably numerous in the south-east of the Carnatic. Turning eastward, it is recorded from Thayetmyo, 
but not from the Irrawaddy delta, and is said to be pretty common throughout the plains of Tenasserim. 
Southwards it is found in Malacca, and in the Andamans is not uncommon. At Acheen Mr. Davison found 
it frequent about streams ; and it doubtless occurs elsewhere in Sumatra. It is omitted from SalvadorPs list 
of the birds of Borneo, but is recorded from the Moluccas and from Celebes and the Togian Islands, where 
Herr Meyer procured it between the months of May and August. In Australia it is found on the shores of 
the Gulf of Carpentaria, and down the east coast to Wide Bay. Returning to the north, I observe that it has 
lately been procured recently by Mr. Everett in Luzon during the month of March. It likewise inhabits 
Formosa and Hainan, and in the south and centre of China is resident, and in the summer is found throughout 
the entire empire. In Japan it is very common in the south, and likewise occurs in Yezo. In the highlands 
of Central Asia it does not seem to have been met with, nor does Severtzoff record it from Turkestan; it has, 
however, been found on the shores of the sea of Aral and the Caspian ; and in Palestine Canon Tristram 
observed it frequently in the marshes of Huleh and about the sea of Galilee. It is recorded from Asia Minor 
and is also found on the shores of the Black Sea, arriving, according to Messrs. Elwes aud Buckley, on the 
Danube in large numbers about the first week in May, and commencing then to breed, one of its colonies being 
on an island below Rustchuk. From Greece likewise Lindermayer records it ; from Sicily Malherbe notes 
it ; and in Malta Mr. Wright met with it. All the year round it is found in Sardinia, but is most numerous 
in winter [Brooke). In Spain it is found in suitable localities throughout the country, and is abundant, writes 
Mr. Saunders, in the Cotos of Donana. In Andalucia it is not so common as other Herons [Irby), and in 
Portugal it is not very plentiful. Further north in Europe it has been recorded from Dalmatia and from 
Hungary; and I observe that recently Messrs Danford and Harvie Brown met with it in Transylvania. 
Lastly, as regards Africa, it is not uncommon in Morocco, migrating north, according to Favier, in April 
and returning in September ; it is also found in Algeria, is plentiful in Tripoli, and is abundant in Egypt and 
Nubia throughout the year ; wdiilst in Abyssinia, as well as all along the Nile and its tributaries, Yon Heuglin 
met with it, and in J uly and August observed it on the shores of the Red Sea. Further south Capt. Sperling 
observed it at Zanzibar and Mozambique. In South Africa it is resident, frequenting the neighbourhood of 
Cape Town both in winter and summer; in Damara Land and Great Namaqualand it is scarce and very local ; 
but it is, says Mr. Andersson, pretty common on the rivers flowing into and out of Lake Ngami. Further 
