86 
Allen’s naturalist’s library. 
backs of some of the unfortunate birds, instead of decoratin'^ 
who are responsible for the wanton 
massacre of these pretty birds at their nests nc i 
responsible for the sufferings and miserable death of^the'^stLT 
•ng nestlings, deprived of the support of their parents 1 
Nest. — This is described by Mr. Eaele rhrtn no ri .. / 
Eggs.-From four to six in number, and of a greenish-blue 
colour. Axis, 1 7-1 -85; diam., I •3-1 -4. fereenisn blue 
THE BUFF-BACKED CATTLE-EGRETS. GENUS BUBULCUS. 
Bnbukus, Bp. Ann. Sci. Nat. (4) i. p. 141 (1854). 
Type, B. lucidus (Rafin.). 
I. the buff-backed egret. BUBULCUS LUCIDUS. 
Ardea lucida, Rafin. Caratteri, p. 3 (1810). 
rdea Audrain, Expl. Somm. PI.' Ois. de I’Egypte i 
p. 298 (1825); Dresser, B. Eur. vi n 2 ac nl r 
(1879); B. O. U. List Br. B. p ion (zlkt t ] f ' 
“vf ‘m '“b Varr lir b“"p 
Rg. a b’ Un “n.lo?- ^ Co'- 
Egreita russata, Macg. Br. B. iv. d. a.ia 
I!„iuk,a Imdus, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brft?MiiAjri. p. a,, 
cretrwhThir?e"'^i'fci^^^^^ P«'.' “-Ihih. «« 
line colour, the ornamental dnriii t • "u ^ ‘sabel- 
colour • the fore neck wuL being of the same 
plumes’; MUrome 7 elS%X^^toL";» 
feet dusky-sooty; iris^very pL chrome ^ 
the outer edge, the eyelids aL pale chrome ^VoSTenX ro 
inches; culmen, 2-2; wing, 9-8; tail, 3-25; tarsus, 3-2. ’ ^ 
*The colours of the bill and feet nretnV/a^ 
Thomas Ayres, in the Transvaal. ' 
