Order HEEODIONES.] 
[Fam. ARDEID^. 
AEDEA SACEA. 
(BLUE HERON.) 
Sacred Heron, Lath, Gen. Syn. iii. pt. 1, p. 92 (1785). 
Ardea sacra, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 640 (1788, ex Lath.). 
Blue Heron, var. /3, Lath. Gen. Syn. iii. pt. 1, p. 79 (1785). 
Ardea coerulea, var. y, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 631 (1788, ex Lath.). 
Ardea matooJc, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat. xiv. p. 416 (1817). 
New-Zealand Heron, Lath. Gen. Hist. B. ix. p. 128 (1824). 
Ardea jucjularis, Wa,gl. Syst. Av. Ardea, sp, 18 (1827, ex Forster MS.). 
Ardea asJia, Sykes, P. Z, S. 1837, p. 157. 
Herodias matooJc, Gray, in Dietf. Trav. ii., App. p. 196 (1843). 
Ardea novae liollandice, “Lath.,” Licht. ed. Forst. Descr. An. p. 172 (1844). 
Herodias jucjularis. Gray, Cat. Grallce Brit. Mus. p. 80 (1844). 
Bemiegretta concolor, Blyth, J. A. S. B. XV. p. 372 (1846). 
Herodias jmnnosus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 221. 
Ardea pemnosa. Gray, Gen. of B. iii., App. p. 25 (1849). 
Ardea concolor. Gray, Gen. of B. iii., App. p. 25 (1849). 
Herodias aslia, Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. A. S. B. p. 280 (1849). 
Ardea atra, “ Cuv.,” Puch. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p. 375. 
Herodias pannosa, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. ii. p. 120 (1857). 
Herodias atra, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. ii. p. 121 (1857) 
Herodias sacra, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. ii. p. 121 (1857). 
Herodias concolor, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. ii. p. 121 (1857).. 
Ardea {Herodias) allolineata. Gray, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 166, 
Ardea cinerea, Ellman, Zool. 1861, p. 7469 (nec Linn.). 
Native names. 
Matuku-tai, Matuku-nuia, and Matukutuku. 
Ad. suprji fuligiiioso-scliistaceus, pileo laterali, collo postico et scapularibus elongatis clariiis cinereis : aH et cauda 
fuliginoso-scliistaceis, tectricibus alarum et remigibus extus clarlus cinereo lavatis ; subtus omninb 
fuliginoso-scbistaceus, gutture purb albo : subalaribus paullo dilutioribus : regione oculari virescenti-flava ; 
rostro sordide flavo, culmine brunnescente ad apicem corneo : pedibus viridescenti-flavis : iride flava. 
Adult male. General plumage slaty grey, darker on the upper parts, tinged on the lower with brown; a broad 
line of white down the middle of the throat, and extending, in some examples, down the fore neck. Ihc 
back is ornamented with a number of narrow lanceolate featliers of a bluish-grey colour, often / inches in 
length, overlying the scapulars; and there arc a few similar feathers on the lower part of the neck, over- 
lapping the breast. The feathers of the nape are long and silky, and of a brighter tint than the suri’ounding 
plumage. Irides yellow; loral skin greenish yellow ; bill dark yellow, shaded with brown on the ridge and 
sides, horn-coloured at the tip ; tarsi and toes greenish yellow, the claws brown. Length 25 inches ; extent 
