84 
Allen’s naturalist’s library. 
Botaurus comahis, Macg. Br. B. iv. p. 428 (1852). 
Ardea comata, Seebohm, Br. B. ii. p. 486 (1884). 
Ardeola ralloides, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. x.Kvi. p. 202. 
Adult Male in Breeding Plumage.— General colour of the back 
pale vinou-s, including the ornamental plumes ; the vvin«-s and 
tail white, the coverts with a slight yellowish shade, the°inner 
secondaries also tinged with ochrcous-yellow j entire head and 
neck pale straw-colour, inclining to golden-buff on the lower 
hind-neck, as well as on the throat, fore-neck, and plumes on 
the sides of the neck and those on the sides of the chest • 
the feathers on the head and hind-neck narrowly edged 
with black lines, these lines being sub-marginal on the elon- 
gated nuchal plumes, the longest of which are white at the 
ends; chin white; on the throat and fore-neck some scanty 
lines of dusky-blackish, which are sub-marginal, as on the 
nuchal plumes; bill, according to Mr. Howard Saunders, 
cobalt-blue at the base, black at the point; feet yellowish- 
pink, the soles yellow ; bare loral skin green ; iris yellow. 
Total length, aro inches; culmen, 2 '6; wing, 9-2; tail, 3-2 '• 
tarsus, 27 ; middle toe and claw, 2-8. 
Adult Female. Similar to the male, but smaller, with a some- 
what shorter crest and the dorsal train not so fully developed, 
lotal length, 19 inches; wing, 8'i. Specimens in the British 
Museum show that the breeding-plumage is sometimes not 
assumed by the end of April. Mr. Howard Saunders says 
that this IS usually the case in dry seasons, and it is evident 
that the birds return to Europe still in their winter dress. 
Adults in Winter Plumage.--Earthy-brown on the back and 
scapulars, with some yellowish shaft-stripes on the latter • the 
lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts white like the ’tail • 
wings white, the coverts washed with ochreous-buff, the inner 
secondaries earthy-brown like the back; head, neck, and under- 
parts as in the summer plumage, but the crest plumes not so 
developed, and of the same colour as the crown: the Ions 
nape-plumes not developed; bill dark sap-green, feet darker; 
claws black; ins yellow; loral space green. 
Young Birds. Besemble the winter plumage of the adult but 
are at once distinguished by the black shafts to the primaries 
which are washed or dusted with ashy-brown on the outer 
