BUTE-BACKED ríERON.
LITTLE WHITE HERON. RED-BILLED HERON. RUEOIJS-BACKBD EGRET.
Ardea aquinoetialis,
Árdea rus sata,
Ardea affinis,
PENNANT. MONTAGU.
SELBY. JENYNS.
UORSFIELD.
Ardea—A Heron. AEquinociialis—Equinoctial.
T H I S species of Heron is a native of the southern parts of Europe
—in Turkey, about the mouths oí' the Danube, on that intermediate
sort of 'neutral* soil which fnec tellus est nec mare,' as also in the
Crima?a—both localities so full of interest al the present moment to
others than ornithologists. In Dalmatia, and near the Caucasian range
of mountains. In Asia, it likewise occurs in India and Japan, according
to M. Tcmminck; also in the Dukkun, Himalaya, and Ncpaul, where
it is plentiful; in Upper Hindostán, and by the banks of the famous
Gunga, as also in Java, Sunda, and the adjacent, islands.
One specimen, a female, was shot by Mr. F. ('ornish, at South
Arlington, in the parish of Chivelstone, near Kingsbridge, in Devonshire,
in the end of October, 1805. It was observed for several days in the
same field, attending a herd of cows.
I t appeared to be by no means shy.
It fed on insert-.
Male; length, about one foot eight inches; bill, yellow, darker at
the t i p ; the upper mandible slightly curved; iris, blight yellow. Head
on the crown, hack, and sides, of an orange-colour, but the base of
each feather white, the orange-coloured ends formed of the louse,
unconnected filaments of the web. Neck behind and nape, shining
white; chin, throat, and breast above, white, tinged with golden
vellow, the latter below pure white; back above, white, on the middle
part brilliant orange, and the filaments of the feathers sufficiently long
to reach beyond the ends of the closed wings; on the lower part again
the hack i-- white.