I ,
I.
TIGRISOMA FASCIATUM.
P l a t e XCII.
TIGRISOMA FASCIATUM.
(BMDED IIGEK-BIIIEKN).
Ardea fa sc ia ta
Ao'dea lineata
Such, Zool. Jo um . ii. p. H 7 (1825).
"Wagler, Isis, 1829. p. 662.
M a s . B e itr. iv. p . 634 (1833).
Scblegel, Mu s. d. Pays-Bas, Ardece, p . 53.
S u p rà æueo-nigricaBS, ru fe sce n te tran s fa scio latum : alis caudâque schistaceo-nigris albo to rm in a tis, e t, præcipuè in
pogoniis in te rio rib u s, fasciis in te rru p tia a lb is tran s v itta tis : man dibulâ n u d a , sed ad b a s in linea e p lumis albis composita
p a rtìra o c cupatâ : gu lâ media piumosa, albâ, la te ra lite r u trin q u e n u d â ; cervice a n tie â au g u ste albâ, obscuro ocbraceo
flam m u la tâ: abdomine o cb raceo; b y p o cbondriis e t te ctric ib u s a larum in ferioribus n igricanti-schistaceis, albo tr a n s fasciatis
: campterio e t margine alari e s te rn o albis ; ro s tro fusco-nigro, mandibulæ ma rg in e in feriore flavido : pedibus
n ig ric an tib u s ; long, to tâ 2 7 0 , alæ 1 3 '0 , caudæ 5'3, ro s tri a r ic tu 4 8 ; ta rs i 3 -6 ; d ig iti medii cum u n g u e 3 0. A v is
liornotina, su p rà cinuaraomeo-rufa, n ig ro tran s fa seiata ; su b tiis albescens cinnamomeo tiu c ta , e t u ig ro minus confertim
tran s fa seiata , g u lâ e t v e n tre medio immaculatis.
S a h . I n Brasilià orien t, merid.
In general habit, as Wagler has already observed, this Tiger-bittern is closely allied to tlie
well-known Tigrisoma hrasiliense, o f tropical America ; but, besides the conspicuous difference of
the adult plumage, there is a well-marked structural character, which renders it easily recognizable
in every age and sex. This is a small patch o f feathers which occupies the basal portion
o f the otherwise naked mandible, and advances forwards beyond tbe gape. Immediately below
this patch lies the naked space which borders the throat on each side, and which leaves only a
narrow median line covered by feathers. In T. brasiliense the lateral portions o f the throat
are likewise bare and the middle portion feathered. But in the latter species the whole o f the
side o f the mandible is denuded o f feathers up to and even beyond, the gape ; so that the bare
portion o f the mandible is perfectly continuous with the denuded space on either side o f tlie
throat.
In the adult dress these two Tigcr-bittcms are likewise v e iy easily distinguishable in
plumage, the present species shewing no trace whatever o f the rich chestnut head and neck of
T. brasiliense. The transverse markings o f the tipper plumage in the present bird are also
coarser and further apart.
Tlie immature dress o f T.fasciatum is very like that o f its well-known ally, as figured iu
the Planches Enluminées o f Buffon (No. 790) under the name “ L ’Iionoré do Cayenne,” but,
judging from tbe single specimen before us, is rather blacker above, and may at all events be