H E R O N . a j 3
back itfelf and wing coverts deep blueifh alh-colour: fecond
quills dulky brown: prime quills and tail deep blackilh lead-
colour; the laft fcarcely exceeds the quills in length; the feathers
o f it are ten inches long, and twelve in number: the feathers
o f the fides beneath the wings, and thofe of the vent and under
tail coverts, are long and downy, fome o f them meafuring near a
foot, and o f a dulky white colour, as are all the under parts of the
body: the legs are long and black, naked far above the knees,
and very fc a ly : the toes are webbed at the bafe: the claws
blunt.
This Angular fpecies is not unfrequent at Bengal, where it ar- Place akdMak-
rives before the rainy feafon comes on, and is called Argala, or KERS"
Adjutant *. It has alfo, from its immenle gape, gained the name
o f Large Throat; and, from its fwallowing bones, the Bone-eater,
or Bone-taker. It is allowed on all hands to be a moll necefiary
animal, as it picks up vermin from every quarter; fuch asfnakes,
lizards, frogs, and other noxious reptiles; and, its fize requiring a
vail fupply, proves the moft ufeful inhabitant, which the natives
o f Africa and other places acknowledge by their holding it in
great eftimation.
I find that the downy feathers above mentioned have been made
ufe of, in the manner o f thofe of the OJlrich, in the bead-drefs o f the
ladies, to which purpofe they feem well appropriated, being o f the
moft delicate texture, and floating with every breath o f wind + ;
* I have been told, that the bird has obtained this laft name from its appearing,
when looked on in front at a diftance, like a man having a white waillcoat
and breeches.
t A .good idea may be formed of their exceffive lightnefs, from my having
weighed one of them, which was eleven inches and three quarters in length, and
feven in breadth, and balanced only eight grains,
S u p p l . H h but