Oedee HEEODIOjVES.] 
[Eam. ARDEID^. 
AEDEA NOV^ HOLLANDIiE. 
(WHITE-FRONTED HERON.) 
White-fronted Heron, Phillip, Voy. Bot. Bay, i. p. 163, pi. 27 (1789). 
Ardea nonce hollandim. Lath. Gen. Ind. ii. p. 701 (1790, ex Phillip), 
Ardea leucops, Wagl. Syst. Av. Ardea, sp. 17 (1827). 
Herodias novce hollandice. Gray, Cat. Gralloe Brit. Mus. p. 80 (1844). 
Hemiegretta novce hollandice. Gray, Hand-1, of B. iii. p. 28 (1871). 
Native name. — Matuku-moana. 
Ad. supra, dilute schistaceo-cinereus, pileo cristate saturatiore : interscapulio scapularibusque pallidioribus, cinereis, 
quasi strigatis : tectricibus alarum dilute cinereis : remigibus scliistaceo-uigricantibus, secundariis dare 
cincreo lavatis : rectricibus scbistaceo-cinereis, vcr.sus apicem bruimescentibus ; fronte et supercilio lato, 
facie laterali et gutture toto albis : I’egione parotica et cello lateral! cinereis : subtus pallide einereus, cello 
undique saturatiore, jugulo medio et imo pallide rufescente ; subalaribus pallide cinereis, albicantibus : 
region c oculari pallide virescenti-flavd : rostro nigro, versus basin mandibulse albicante : pedibus flavicanti- 
bus, tarsis imis digitisque virescentibus : iride Isete flavfi,. 
Adult. Forebead, space round the eyes, and throat white ; crown of the head dark cinereous or bluish grey, 
the occipital feathers rather elongated, and lighter ; sides of the head, neck, and all the upper parts bright 
cinereous, with a warm purplish tinge ; the back ornamented with a series of long lanceolate plumes of a 
lighter colour, some of which extend beyond the scapulars ; down the fore neck a stripe of buff, changing 
below to yellowish brown ; the long plumes overlapping the breast very soft in texture, and of a roseate 
purple tint; underparts generally pale cinereous brown, slightly tinged with purple; quills and tail-feathers 
dark slate-grey. Irides bright yellow ; edges of eyelids, bare part of lores, and membrane suiTounding the 
angle of the mouth pale greenish yellow ; bill black, the lower mandible whitish towards the base ; legs 
yellow, tinged more or less with dusky green on the toes and lower part of tarsi ; claws pale brown. Length 
25-5 inches; extent of wings 42; wing, from flexure, 12; tail 5; bill, along the ridge 3, along the edge of 
lower mandible 4 ; bare tibia 2 ; tarsus 3-5 ; middle toe and claw 2'6 ; hind toe and claw 1-75. 
Young. Differs from the adult in having more white about the head and neck, and a darker tinge of brown on 
the underparts ; the dorsal plumes, moreover, are scanty, and the delicate purplish tint on the breast is 
altogether wanting. 
The White-fronted Heron is very sparingly dispersed over the New-Zealand coasts, being extremely 
rare at the far north ; but, according to Gould, it is very abundant over every part of Tasmania, the 
Colonies of New South Wales, South Australia, and Swan River. “ Low sandy beaches washed by 
the open ocean, arras of the sea, and the sides of rivers and lagoons, both in the interior of the country 
and near the coast, are equally tenanted by it ; consequently it is one of the commonest species of the 
genus in all the countries above mentioned, and may frequently be seen walking knee-deep in the 
water of the salt marshes in search of food, which consists of crabs, fish, and marine insects. Its 
flight is heavy and flapping, like that of the other Herons ; but it runs more quickly over the ground, 
and is continually moving about when searching for food, and never stands motionless in the water 
