ARDEOLA GrRAYI. 
1151 
in English collections (though so abundant in India) that I have not had an opportunity of comparing many Indian 
specimens. A male measures — wing 8-4, tarsus 2‘3, middle toe (with claw) 2 - 4, bill to gape 3-0 inches. In 
Bengal the breeding-plumage is acquired in May and worn until October (Cripps). 
Ardeola prasinoscelis, Swinhoe (which is perhaps the same as leucoptera* , Bodd.), inhabiting China and also the Malay 
peninsula and Tenasserim, is the Eastern representative of the present species. It has, in breeding-plumage, the 
head and neck deep chestnut, darkening into cinnamon-rufous on the chest ; the interscapulary region and dorsal 
plumes blackish slate, the scapulars washed with golden ; throat and rest of plumage white. A Chinese specimen 
measures — wing 9'2 inches, tarsus 2’5, bill to gape 3'2 ; in non-breeding plumage , according to Mr. Hume, it 
resembles A. grayi, except that occasionally it has a crest of buff feathers with black edges, and it may always be 
distinguished by its stouter bill. Legs and feet orange-yellow, with a pinkish tinge. 
Another species, A. speciosa, inhabiting the Malay archipelago, is allied to the last-mentioned, having the dark parts 
of the plumage in the breeding-season ferruginous of various shades and purplish black with a hoary shade, the 
latter being the colour of the back. It is a smaller bird than the latter, an example from Celebes measuring, 
according to Mr. Hume — wing 7'7, tarsus 2-35, bill at front 2'5. A further species of Squacco Heron is A. comata 
from Egypt, which has the crest white with black edges, head and neck brownish buff, and the back yellowish 
brown, shaded with purple ; legs olive : wing 8-5 (Shelley). 
Distribution. — This Heron is extraordinarily abundant in Ceylon, being found at every pool, river, and 
stream, and in all paddy-fields in the cultivated districts of the low country, and by both large and village tanks 
and at most water-holes in the forest-districts of the island. In the western and southern parts, where paddy- 
cultivation abounds, it is, of course, most numerous, extending in the Western Province to the base of the hills 
and up into the valleys of the Kandyan country, wherever the “ terraced ” fields of the natives adorn the sides 
of the mountains. It is found about Badulla, and, 1 believe, is sometimes seen in the Fort-Macdonald district ; 
it likewise affects paddy-fields about the base of the southern hills and ascends into their valleys. 
In India it is, as in Ceylon, extremely numerous, being, as Jerdon says, found at the side of every river, 
tank, ditch, and pool throughout the country. Consulting the writings of recent observers in f Stray Feathers/ 
I find it recorded as common everywhere in Southern Travancore ( Bourclillon ) , also about the base of the 
Palanis ( Fairbank ), throughout the Deccan, where it was first described from by Sykes, common in all parts 
of Cliota Nagpur, and recorded by Mr. Ball, as regards this region, from Bardwan, Manbhum, Lohardugga, 
Orissa, Nowagarh, and Karial. In the North-west Provinces it is equally plentiful, and further west is found 
in Bajpootana, including the State of Jodhpur (where it clings to the pools in the severest droughts as long as 
the water lasts), and in Guzcrat, Sindh, Kutch, and Kattiawar. At the Sambhur Lake, Mr. Adam found it 
not very plentiful. Turning eastwards again, we find it abundant in Furreedpore, also in Cachar, and common 
in Upper Pegu at Thayetmyo ; further south Dr. Armstrong met with it throughout the Irrawaddy delta 
in all suitable places, and over all the low country of the Province of Tenasserim it is equally plentifully 
distributed. Beyond this region towards Malacca it is entirely replaced by A. prasinoscelis. Leaving the 
mainland I find that it is recorded by Mr. Davison as common at Pt. Blair ■ but he believes it to be migratory 
to the Andamans. Mr. Hume observed it at Barren Island ; but at the Nicobars it has not been noticed. 
Westward of India Mr. Hume met with it at the Laccadives, observing it numerously at Cardamum and 
Amini. t 
Habits. — As above remarked, this Pond-Heron frequents all kinds of freshwater situations, from the 
little pond in the native compound, or secluded water-hole in the dry timber-forest or arid maritime scrubs, 
to the extensive tank or wide-spreading paddy-field. It, however, does not despise salt-water fish ; and solitary 
examples may frequently be seen in the sardine-season perched on stones and rocks, even at some little 
distance from the shore, where the water is calm : two birds were always to be seen in such situations along 
the coast of the Fort at Trincomalie, and when tired with watching at one rock (they never used to catch 
much in these places) they would fly leisurely on to another. At night the little colony which frequented the 
* This name was applied to Buffon’s figure (PL Enl. 911) of a young bird ; and as the young of the Indian and 
Chinese species are alike, it is not possible to say with certainty which of the two Buffon intended to portray. 
