108 
GREEN HERON. 
Adult Male. 
Bill longer than the head, straight, rather slender, tapering to a very acute 
point, higher than broad at the base, compressed towards the end. Upper 
mandible with its dorsal line very slightly arched, the ridge broad and 
rather flattened at the base, narrowed towards the end, the sides sloping, 
erect towards the edges, which are sharp and direct, the tip acute. Nasal 
depression long, with a groove extending to near the point ; nostrils basal, 
linear, longitudinal. Lower mandible with the angle very long and narrow, 
the dorsal line sloping upwards, the sides sloping outwards and nearly flat, 
the edges sharp, the tip acuminate. 
Head oblong, much compressed. Neck long. Body very slender, much 
compressed. Feet rather long, moderately stout ; tibia bare for about an 
inch ; tarsi of moderate length, covered with hexagonal scales, of which 
some of the anterior are much larger and scutelliform. Toes rather long and 
slender, with numerous scutella above ; hind toe stout, second and fourth 
nearly equal, third much longer ; claws rather long, slender, arched, com- 
pressed, acute, that of middle toe expanded and serrated on the inner edge. 
A large space extending from the bill to behind the eye bare. Plumage 
very soft, loose, and blended ; feathers of the hind head elongated and erec- 
tile, as are those of the neck generally, but especially of its hind and lower 
anterior parts ; of the fore part of the back much elongated and acuminate ; 
scapulars very large. Wings short, very broad, rounded ; second and third 
quills equal and longest, first and fourth equal and but slightly shorter, the 
rest slowly graduated ; secondaries broad and rounded. Tail very short, 
even, of twelve broad soft feathers. 
Bill greenish-black above, bright yellow beneath. Iris and bare part 
about the eye also bright yellow. Feet greenish-yellow, claws dusky. 
Upper part of the head and nape glossy deep green. Neck purplish-red, 
tinged with lilac behind, and having anteriorly a longitudinal band of white, 
spotted with dusky-brown ; a similar white band along the base of lower 
mandible to beyond the eye. Elongated feathers of the back greyish-green, 
in some lights bluish-grey, with the shafts bluish-white ; the rest of the back 
similar ; the upper tail-coverts and tail bluish-green ; the lateral feathers 
slightly margined with white. Scapulars, wing-coverts, and inner secon- 
daries, deep glossy green, bordered with yellowish-white ; primary quills 
and outer secondaries greyish-blue, tinged with green. Lower parts pale 
purplish-brown, tinged wfltli grey ; axillary feathers purplish-grey, as are 
some of the lower wing-coverts ; lower tail-coverts greyish-white. 
Length to end of tail 17f inches, to end of wings Vjh, to end of claws 24, 
to carpal joint Hi ; extent of wings 27 ; wing from flexure 7| ; tail 33 ; bill 
along the ridge 2^, along the edge of lower mandible 3^ ; bare part of tibia 
