H E R O D IA ^ PW M IF E R U S , Gould.
Plumed Egret.
Herodias plumiferus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., November 23, 1847.
No one o f the members, of the beautiful genus Herodias is more interesting than the present species, inasmuch
as it is not only adorned with the redundance* of graceful plumes springing from the back, common to
the other species, but it has a mass o f feathers of precisely the same structure depending from the lower
part o f the neck and the chest. In size it is directly intermediate between H. syrmatophorus and H. immaculate.
I possess a?specimen from the Namoi, in the southern part o f Australia, and another from the north
coast,£ and I have also a thpd from Torres Straits, which proves fhaCits range is very extensive; the latter
example is destitute o f the lengthe^^Mtme^.^n^i^are probably only assumed during the breeding-season.
The entire plumage is puregwmte 5;' bill an A orbits yellow ; feet and lower part o f the tarsi black; upper
part o f the tarsi inclining to flesh5colour.
The figure is somewhat under the natural size.