ARDEA. 
The Ardeine birds forming the family Ardeidce are easily recognised by 
the general featees given in the above description : many genera are 
accepted, differing in the proportions of their structure and in the presence 
or absence of ornaments and also to a less degree in coloration. 
One of the noticeable characters of the group is the presence of powder- 
down patches : in the Herons three pairs of these can be observed while 
the Bitterns possess two. 
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