336 h e r o n .
Sr.
SNOWY H.
Description,
P l a c e .
69.
VIOLET
HERON.
Snowy Heron, Gen. Syn. v. p. 92. N° 61,
Ardea nivea, &c. Jacq. p. 18. N° 13.
^ J 'H I S is one third lefs than the Bittern, The bill b la ck:
irides yellow: the whole plumage as white as /now: the
hind head, back part of the neck, fides o f the breaft, and the
back, covered with long narrow hair-like feathers, flowing very
beautifully with every puff of wind j but thofe o f the hind head
longer than the reft, forming a penfile creft: the legs are black :
the toes yellow.
This bird inhabits the parts near Carthagena, in South America- 5
called, by the Spaniards, Garfa blanca. The voice is loud and disagreeable.
Is fometimes eaten by the Indians. This is, no
doubt, the fame bird with my Snowy Heron, which I alfo find is
not uncommon in India *, as well as other parts of the old continent
before defcribed.
I find alfo, in the drawings of Mr. Middleton, a Smaller Heron,
wholly white j the length Sixteen inches : bill three, pretty flout,
and yellow : irides orange : legs black. This is Said to inhabit
Bengal, where it is called Caboga. It Seems to be greatly allied
to the L ittle White Heron, but I will not determine it to be the
lame Species.
Violet Heron, Gen. Syn. v. p. 97. N° 69.
'T ’ H I S bird is Said to be very common in the Eaft Indies. In
Some drawings from thence, the bill was black, tinged with
f Lady Jmpey,
red
H E R O N . *37
red on the Sides: the crown of the head, the whole body, and tail,
black : the neck, vent, and under tail coverts, of a pure white:
legs dirty yellow j in Some Specimens red.
This bird is called, at Bengal, Monickjore; at Hindoftan, Lug-
lug. It is reckoned pretty good eating, and ufed for iport in falconry,
in the manner that the Heron formerly was in this kingdom
*.
Coromandel Heron, Gen. Syn. v. p. ioz. N» yS.
Mr. Middleton. In addition to the defcription o f the bill in the
Synopfis, I obferve that the ends o f the two mandibles much re-
femble a pair of pincers, being broad at that part, and not pointed,
as in the Pondicherry Heron. In this circumftance, So greatly
different from all others o f the genus, as to juftify the nice orni-
thologift in forming a new one.
I find it to be common on the Ganges, but more So on the
'Gumpta -, and that it is known by the name of Goungbill.
Lev. Muf.
C I Z E Smaller than our Common Heron: length nearly three feet.
® Bill Seven inches long, of a dufky yellow; the end black or
dufky : the head and greater part of the neck are of a pale
ferruginous colour: chin and throat white: the top of the
head black, and the feathers elongated into a creft almoft three
inches in length : on the back part of the neck is a lift or ftripe
78.
COROMANDEL
H,
80.
AFRICAN H.
D e s c r i p t i o n »
* Mr. Middleton*
o f