“ SS As < i Fa berate i ae Aye i ra) The ty st 4) eat pi oS era eity eerie Pa Hitatane esha tiash Ee i ai Hy Ht ba Peensuenersetiast ihe ieetet Bea sa oe $ ais ay tree yop Mite is atte) HAN be is ‘ eat ie ate ee ae 8 os Hi pia pay ns peste Hil! a s oar tes eae a3 By ba hs at v4 aint = as G A {bs nae itl ties 1 No hg cee P ee fer alenin ao fie iia ‘anit eseteas fs rales aie iret caroaycte faye nEabhe shasta Seed suimisterereyey sep eens ecenee dates zs en vi Whnteu bern rate Telnang shseee pears sect She ruses papatteseben ees Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://www.archive.org/details/generalhistoryof09lath eo 7 a a] - 7 a - _ GENERAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. BY JOHN LATHAM, M.D. F.R.S. A.S. anv L.S. Acap. Cas. Nat. Curtos. Rec. Horm. et Soc. Nat, Scrut. BEROLIN. &c. &e. VOL. IX. WINCHESTER: PRINTED BY JACOB AND JOHNSON, FOR THE AUTHOR:—SOLD IN LONDON BY G. AND W. B. WHITTAKER, AVE-MARIA-LANE ; JOHN WABREN, BOND-STREET, W. Woop, 428, STRAND; AND J. MAWMAN, 39, LUDGATE-STREET, 1824. DIVISION II. WATER BIRDS. ORDER VII. WITH CLOVEN FEET. GENUS LXXI.—SPOONBILL. 1 White || 2 Luzonian || 3 Roseate || 4 Surinagur | 5S Dwarf BILL long, broad, flat and thin, the end widening into a roundish form, not unlike a spoon. Nostrils small, placed near the base. Tongue sharp-pointed. Face naked, Feet semipalmated. ' 1.—WHITE SPOONBILL. Platalea leucorodia, Ind. Orn. ii. 667. Lin. i. 231. Mus. Adolph, ii. 26. Faun. suec. No. 160. Gm. Lin. i. 613. Scop.i. No. 115. Brun. No. 46. Muller, No. 170. Frisch, t. 200.201. Sepp, t. 88.89. Klein, 126.1. Id. Ov. 34. t. 18. f. 4. Dec. Russ. i. 164. Faun. Helv. Tem. Man. 382. Id. Ed. ii. 596. Platea, vel Pelecanus, Aldr. Ratz, 102. Will. 212. t.52. Bris. v. 352. _Zd. 8vo. ii. 300. Borowsk, ii. 68. t. 45. Gerin. iv. t. 437. Gesner, Av. pl. p. 603. La Spatule, Buf. vii. 448, t. 24. Pl. enl. 405. Voy. en Barb. i. 277. Der Weisse Loffel reiher, Bechst. Deut. iii. p.2. Id. Ed.ii. p.4. t.17. Naturf. xii. s. 201. Schmid, Vog. 116. t. 102. Garza, ou Beccarivale, Zinnan. Uov, iii. t. 20. f. 99. VoL, IX. B 2 SPOONBILL. Spoonbill, or Pelican, 4/). ii, pl. 66. Will. Engl. 288. t. 52. Wolb. Cap. i. 142. pl. 7. £.5. Ray's Trav. p. 38. White Spoonbill, Gen. Syn. v. p. 13. Br. Zool. App. pl. 9. Id. Ed. 1812. ii. p. 3. pl. 1. Aret. Zool. ii. 441, A. Id. Sup. 66. Bewick, ii. pl. in p. 25, LENGTH two feet eight inches; weight three pounds and a quarter. Bill from six to eight inches long, very flat, and broadens at the extremity into the shape of a spoon, in colour not always the same; in some black, in others brown, and in a few spotted; from the base to two-thirds of the length crossed with several indentations, the rising parts of which are darker coloured ; tongue short, and heart-shaped ; irides reddish ; lore, round the eyes, and throat bare, and black ; the skin of the last very dilatable. The whole plumage is white; the feathers of the head more or less elongated, and in old birds so long as to give the appearance of a crest; in the adult like- wise, there is a rufous yellow tinge on the breast, and the bare parts round the eyes and throat are yellowish, imclining to red; the legs dusky, or greyish brown; the toes connected at the base with a mem- brane, between the outer and middle one to the second joint, and to the inner as far as the first. In young birds the shafts of the quills are black, and some of the outer ones black at the ends. The female chiefly differs, in bemg smaller than the male. This bird is found in various parts of the Old Continent, from the Ferroe Isles, near Iceland, to the Cape of Good Hope,* chiefly near the sea; met with on the Coasts of France and once in great numbers ; at a village called Sevenhuys, not far from Leyden, in Holland, in a certaim grove ;, where they built, and bred yearly, on the tops of high trees, in company with Herons, Night Herons, Shags, Corvo- rants, &e. and the owner, when the birds were fit, with a hook at the end of a long pole, catching the bough with the nest, shook out the young. t * Common about Sea-Cow River.— Barrow. + Willughby. No doubt before the young birds could fly; the young Rooks, of the same age, are eaten in this kingdom, The wood has, been long since destroyed.—See also Ray's Trav. p. 38. SPOONBILL. 3 The eggs are three or four in number, about the size of those of a Hen,* white, with a few pale red spots. The Spoonbill is found in the temperate parts of Russia, and Siberia, and beyond the Lake Baikal: changes its situation at different times of the year, more southward in winter. It is also a native of India. In respect to England, it is only an occasional visitant; rarely on the coast of Norfolk, but in the year 1773, in April, a flock of them was seen about Yarmouth, in the marshes:+ has appeared, now and then, on the coast of Devonshire; the last instance communicated by Dr. Wavell, who informed me that one was shot near Axminster, 1n December, 1822. And the late Mr. Boys mentioned one having been killed some years since, on the Kentish coast, near Sandwich. They are said to be very noisy during the breeding time, like the Rooks: chiefly frequent the mouths of rivers, rarely being found high up the stream. The food is fish, and they are accused of taking it by force from other birds, in the manner of the Bald Eagle. Will feed also on muscles, and other shell fish, and are mostly found where these are in plenty. Said to devour frogs and snakes; as well as grass and weeds, which grow in the water, in defect of other food. The flesh is thought to resemble most that of a Goose in flavour, and eaten by many; but the young birds are most esteemed. By some authors this bird is called a Pelican. Button mentions, that the trachea is similar in formation to that of the Crane,+ but although it is bent, much in the same manner, it does not enter the keel of the sternum as in that bird. § A better comparison might be made with that of Demoiselle, or Numidian Crane,|| which it much resembles; for it has a double bend * In Sepp they are pure white, placed on a layer of dry sedges, and green leaves. + One mentioned by Dr. Thomas Brown, the year not said. He was knighted in 1671, and died in 1682, and of course must have been between those two dates. + La Tracheée artére est semblable a celle de la Grue, et fait dans le thorax une double inflexion.—Ois. vil, 454. § Lin. Trans. iv. pl. xii. f. 4. || Len. Trans. iv. pl. x. f. 4. 4 SPOONBILL. beyond the middle of its length, and the parts, so curving, are somewhat flattened; the bent parts are each united to the side con- tiguous, and likewise connected in the hollow by a thin membrane. My late friend Colonel Montagu informed me, that he has observed this structure equally in the female bird. 2.—LUZONIAN SPOONBILL. La Spatule blanche de Lucon, Son. Voy. 89. pl. 52. Ind. Orn. ii. 668. Gen. Syn. v- p. 15. Var. B. SIZE of the White. The bill about seven inches long, or more, and narrower in proportion, colour rufous grey, with red edges; the plumage entirely white, but the feathers on the head are elongated, more loose in their texture, and forming a sort of crest; legs dull, pale red. A.—La Spatule blanche de Lugon, Son. Voy. 89. pl.51. Ind. Orn. i. 668. Gen. Syn.v. p. 15, War, A. In this the bill is reddish brown; general colour of the plumage white; legs yellowish. It differs from the other in having the wings varied black and white, hence supposed a young bird. Inhabits the Philippine Islands.—I observe one of these, with the head finely crested, among the drawings of Sir J. Anstruther, which was found on the Coromandel Coast. In this the throat appeared bare, and of a dusky red. Has been found also at Oude, where it is called Dawbual. 1, Cea. Kosi. Joon bill a i : SPOONBILL. Jv 3.--ROSEATE SPOONBILL.—PL. cxt. Platalea Ajaja, Ind. Orn. ii. 668. Lin.i. 231. Gm. Lin. i. 614. Rati, 102.3. Will. 213. Klein, 126. 2. Borowsk. iii. 69. Gerin. iv. t. 438. Nat. Misc. t. 90. Bartr. Trav. 291. Platea rosea, Bris. vy. 356. t. 20. Id. 8vo. ii. 302. La Spatule couleur de rose, Buf. vii. 456. P/. enl. 165. Pernet. Voy. i. 184. t. 2. f. 3. Hist. de la Louis. 1. 116. Bec a cuillier, Ferm. Surin. ii. 153. Mem. sur Cay. ii. 257, La Spatule, Voy. d’ Azara, iv. No. 345. Roseate Spoonbill, Gen. Syn. v. 16. pl. 73. Will. Engl. 289. Harris’s Coll. Voy. i. 728. Amer. Orn. vii. 123. pl. 63. f. 1. THIS is a trifle smaller than the first; length two feet three inches. Bull six inches long, in shape like the other, marked all round with a furrow parallel to the edge, and of a greyish white, somewhat transparent, so as to shew the ramification of the blood vessels; irides red; the forehead between the bill and eyes, and throat, bare and whitish ; plumage of a fine rose-colour, deeper on the wings ;* legs grey ; toes as in the first species. Inhabits the warmer parts of America; seen as far north as Atamaha River, in Georgia : it is, however, according to Mr. Abbot’s account, very rare in those parts, but now and then to be met with in the ponds about Savannah, migrating from West Florida, where they are said to be in greater plenty. Prince Maximilian saw thirty of them sitting together in a marshy spet near St. Salvador, in Brazil, but so shy, as not to be approached within gun-shot. + A.—Platalea Ajaja, Ind. Orn. ii. 668. 6B. Lin.i. 231. 2. B. Gin. Lin.i. 614. 2. B. Platea coccinea, Bris. v. 359. Jd. Svo. ii. 303. Mexicana, Tlauhquechul, Rati, 102.2. & 189. 5. Will. 213. Klein, 126. 3. * In Mr. Bullock’s Museum is one of a pale rose-colour, the lesser wing coverts fine deep rich crimson; upper tail coverts the same; tail plain buff-colour. Another, supposed a young bird, wholly pale rose-colour. + Trav. i. p. 93. 6 SPOONBILL. Scarlet Spoonbill, Gen. Syn. v. 16. Sloan. Jam. ii. 316. Baner. Guian. 170. Will. Engl. 289. § II. This is like the Jast, but wholly of a beautiful red colour, with a collar of black at the lower part of the neck ; irides red. Male and female much alike. Said to inhabit Jamaica, Guiana, Mexico, and other hot parts of South America, and is probably a bird in the most complete plumage: common in Paraguay, and expands from Pampas to Buenos Ayres: some Guaranis call it Guirapito, Red Bird ; others Guirati, White Bird. Has the manners of the European One. 4.—SURINAGUR SPOONBILL. THIS is a large Species. The bill deep blue, the base for one- third black, with several dusky spots on the sides, and for some distance from the tip; down the middle for two-thirds from the base yellowish, marked with transverse bars of black, the under man- dible dusky red ; irides reddish ; forehead and throat dusky black ; sides of the head, chin, and neck before to the breast, dusky white ; the same to the vent, but over the thighs reddish, with transverse, red, curved bars; and the breast marked with long, narrow, dusky streaks ; thighs pale brown, barred with black; the hind part of the neck, the back, rump, and tail, dull rufous red, the end of the last black ; wings pale red brown; the lesser coverts darker ; across the middle of the wing a broad, whitish bar, formed by the larger coverts; quills black, and when closed, equal the tail in length; legs dusky blue above the knee, and a little below it, the rest of the length dull orange red, paler behind ; between the outer and middle toes a membrane at the base; claws black. Tnhabits India; the specimen from which the above is described was brought from the snowy mountains of Surinagur, by the name of Dubee.—Sir J. Anstruther. In the drawing, the bird said to be SPOONBILL. 7 in weight equal to asare* and a quarter, about two pounds and and a half; the length four times that of the drawing; and as the latter is eighteen inches long, the bird itself would measure six feet. It is said also to be found in Hindustan. Should no mistake have occurred in respect to the size of the bird, we may fairly rank it as distinct, both from the Roseate, and Scarlet Species. 5.—DWARF SPOONBILL. Platalea pygmea, Ind. Orn. 1. 669. Lin. i. 231. Mus. Ad. il. p. 26. Gm, Lin. i. 615, Becasseau, Tem. Man. Ed. ii. Anal, p. civ. Dwarf Spoonbill, Gen. Syn. v.p.17. Bancr. Guian. 171. SIZE of a Sparrow. Bill black, longer than the head, and flat at the end, not of rounded form, as in the others, but spread out almost at right angles, so as to be nearly of a rhomboidal form ; the angles and tip of the upper mandible white; tongue smooth; the body brown above, and white beneath ; the quills have white shafts; the tail rounded in shape, short, and brownish white; the feet with four toes, and cloven ; claws pointed. | Bancroft’s description varies somewhat. He says, that the bill is flattish, dilated, orbiculated, and flat at the point, and that the toes are palmated. Inhabits Surinam and Guiana. It is added, in the .Wus. Adol. that the head is slightly crested, and the tongue short and obtuse. We have never met with this species in any collection, nor seen a drawing of it. M. 'Temmmek places it in his Tringa Genus. * Saar or Seer. It is probable that this either varies in different parts of India, or is not well understood ; as all authors do: not agree concerning the weight of it. Some say it is six-tenths of a pound; others near one pound weight; and lastly, that it equals two pounds, and which we believe to be the generally received opinion. 8 SCREAMER. GENUS LXXIT.—SCREAMER. 1 Horned ll 2 Chaja Bin bending down at the point. Nostrils oval. Spurs at the bend of the wing. Toes divided to the origin, except a small membrane between each at the bottom. Palamedea cornuta, Ind. Orn. ii. 669, Lin. i. 232. Gm. Lin. i. 615. Borowsk. ii. 69. pl. 46. Anhima, Bris. v. 518. Jd. Svo. ii. 8349. Rati, 96. 7. Will. 276. t. 47. Le Kamichy, Buf. vi. 335. pl. 18. Pl. ent. 451. Schmid, Voy. 129. t. 115. Aigle d’Eau cornu, Deser. Surin. ii. 143. Camoucle, Mem. sur Cay. ii. 286. pl. 4. Horned Screamer, Gen. Syn. v. 18. pl. 74. Nat. Misc. pl. 565. SIZE of a Turkey; length three feet four inches. Bill two inches and a quarter long, and black ; the upper mandible a little gibbous at the base, the under shutting beneath it, as in the Galh- naceous Tribe; nostrils oval and pervious, near the middle of the bill; from the top of the head, near the forehead, arises a slender horn, of more than three inches in length, sharp at the end, pointing forwards, and movable in every direction, being only attached to the skin; irides gold-colour; plumage on the head, neck, and upper parts of the body, black, the feathers of the first margined with grey, and downy ; some of those round the neck also edged with the same; the under parts of the wings pale rufous, appearing on the shoulders and edges of them, when closed ; at the bend of the wing two strong, sharp, horny, yellow spurs, one above the other, the PIC. L, ‘4 YU 4 ¢ me Le i et CV CATTNIET. SCREAMER. 9 upperimost one inch and a half in Jength; belly, thighs, and vent, white; tail eight inches and a half long, and black ; legs stout, and dusky, the fore claws moderately bent, the hind one nearly straight, not unlike that of a Cock, and one inch in length. Both sexes are much alike, and both furnished with a horn on the forehead. This inhabits certain districts of Cayenne, Guiana, Surinam, and other parts of South America, but is by no means a common bird ; is found chiefly in the marshes, and wet Savannas, for the most part near the sea; observed to be met with in pairs; and it is said, that if one dies, the other pines to death for the loss; the nest made of mud, in the shape of an oven, of a Jarge size, and placed on the ground, the eggs two in number, in size equalling those of a Goose. The young are brought up in the nest till able to shift for themselves ; they breed but once ina year, which is in January or February ; though if the first eggs are taken away, they will have a second nest in April or May. Young birds are often eaten by the natives, but the colour of the flesh is very dark, and that of the old ones tough, and ill tasted. Some authors assert, that this bird feeds on crabs, also birds, such as Pigeons, and poultry; and even to attack sheep and goats, but this is denied by others, who say, that its chief food is reptiles. In the stomach of one M. Bajon found only grass, and seeds of plants, but he adds, that the bird had no gizzard. These seem to be the birds mentioned by Ulloa,* called by the inhabitants of Quito, Dispertadures, or Awakeners, from their giving notice to others of the approach of danger; for, on hearing the least noise, or seeing any one, though at a great distance, they rise from the ground, and make a loud chattering like a Magpie, continuing the same, and hovering over the object of their alarm, whereby other birds, having notice of their danger, have time to escape: the noise is said to be loud and terrible,t on which account Mr. Pennant was induced to give it the name annexed. * Voy. ii. p. 242. Ulloa makes the size that of a Cock. He says, that the head is adorned with a tuft of feathers, perhaps he may mean the next species ? + Terribili voce clamitans.— Lin. VOL. 1X, Cc 10 SCREAMER. This bird is not uncommon in Brazil, met with by Prince Maxi- milian,** on the Rio Grande de Belmonte. It is shy, but soon betrays itself by its loud call, somewhat like that of the Wild Pigeon, but. stronger, called in these parts Aniuma, or Anhuma, or Brazilian Crane. 2.-CHAJA SCREAMER. Le Chaja, Voy. d’ Azara, iv. No. 341. THE total length of this bird is thirty-one inches. The bill strong, and gallinaceous; base covered with short feathers; colour dusky ; nostrils uncovered ; irides rufous brown ; round the eye bare, and blood-colour; at the middle of the hindhead some dishevelled feathers, one inch and a half long, falling in a direction between the bill and nostrils, forming a sort of fixed diadem: the head and neck, for two inches, covered with soft, and cotton-like feathers, of & hight lead-colour; below this are two collars, each nine lines broad, the upper one bare of feathers, and reddish ; the lower soft, black, and cottony; the rest of the neck, back, rump, and under parts whitish lead-colour : the tail consists of fourteen feathers, much rounded, the outer ene being shorter by twelve lines, in colour blackish; quills, greater wing coverts, and scapulars the same; the other coverts mixed brown and blackish white, or lead-colour, beneath white; bare part of the legs rose-colour ; claws black ; legs and shins covered with strong hexagonal scales; the middle and outer toe united by a membrane to the first joint ; the bend of the wing ends in a pointed spur, and on the outer edge are two others, pointed, bony, very strong, and somewhat bent upwards. Inhabits Paraguay, and on both banks of the River Plata; perches on the tops of high trees; walks on the ground in a stately manner. Said to make a large nest in a bush near the water, or among the rushes, and to lay two eggs. It has a strong, sharp, and * Travels, Veils pe 288. SCREAMER. 11 clear cry, day and night; that of the male like the word Chaja, of the female Chajali, repeated alternately ; sometimes seen in pairs, at others in flocks; and both male and female are alike; wades in the water like the Heron, but does not swim, as it is only for the weeds it can collect, for it neither eats fish nor reptiles. It is a tame species, and may be domesticated like other poultry. M. Sonnini, the commentator on Azara, in a note says, he thinks this to be different trom the Horned Screamer, especially as it has no horn. ‘This seems very probable, especially as it is a much smaller bird, the one here described being nine inches shorter; nor does it seem to answer in the colours of the plumage. Cc i) 12 CARIAMA. GENUS LXXIIL*#—CARIAMA. BILL as long as the head, bending towards the point. Nostrils near the base, surrounded by short feathers. Head furnished with a double tuft of feathers. Legs long, bare considerably above the knee. Toes three before and one behind; the latter short, and placed too high up to be useful in walking. BRAZILIAN CARIAMA.—PL. cxuin. Palamedea cristata, Ind. Orn. ii. 669. Lin. 1. 232. Gm. Lin. i. 616. Cariama, Bris. v. 516. Td. Svo. ii. 348, Buf. vii. 325. Rati, 96. 6. Will. 202. t.51. Id. Engl. 276. pl. 51. Mare. Bras. pl. in p. 203. Dicholopbus, Caziama, Tem. Man. d’Orn, Ed. it. Anal, p. xevi. Le Saria, Voy. d’ Azara, iv. No. 340. Crested Screamer, Gen. Syn. v. p. 20. 2. THIS is about the size of the Horned Screamer; standing erect it is twenty-nine or thirty inches in height. The bill formed nearly as in the Gallinaceous Tribe, strong, the upper mandible black, the under orange, the length from the gape three inches; irides gold- colour; round the eye naked and bluish ; the head large, the crown furnished with a large crest, consisting of loose feathers, part of which advances over the bill, the other tending backwards; the colour a light nightingale brown; the rest of the head, and whole of the neck the same, but paler, and freckled ; and the wing coverts have a ferruginous tinge, growing deeper towards the quills, which are deep brown; breast dirty freckled white ; thighs covered with white down, and behind them a border of striped hackles, with a brush of yellowish, or brownish white; the feathers similar to those of the PL. CXLILI. 7 /) , e DL Vazd glia Vartan’ CARIAMA. 13 Paradise Bird, but shorter; rump deep brown, patched with white ; tail nearly black, margins of the feathers white ; legs deep bronze- colour; toes webbed at the bottom, nearly as far as the first joint. For the above description I am indebted to Mr. Chevalier, jun. who took it from a perfect specimen, in the Museum of Mr. Brookes, of Blenheim-street, London, and furnished the drawing from the same. In addition to the above, M. d’Azara observes, that the irides are yellow; above the eye a white line; the wings black, with transverse lines of white, and dotted with blackish; all the under parts soft, like cotton ; tail eleven inches long, the two middle feathers brown, the others with a broad black band in the middle; the naked part of the legs orange, nails black ; three toes before, the middle one two inches and a quarter long; at the back a small one, placed so high from the ground, as to be useless, with the heel rounded, like that of the Ostrich; wings without any spurs. Both sexes nearly alike. Inhabits Brazil, and is by some kept tame; called by the Por- tuguese, Cariama; by the Guaransis, Saria: both these refer to its sharp cry, which is compared to that of a Turkey, but so loud as to be heard a mile off: this bird is delicate as food, and the body very fleshy ; by some thought equal to that of the Pheasant, by which name also many have called it. Is found in Paraguay, but is there rare, and not seen towards the River Plata, although the cry has been probably heard in 31 deg. of latitude. Is said to frequent the borders of forests only, and to prefer wet, or watery places, feeding on lizards and insects; generally seen in pairs, or in small flocks, and at all times very shy: young birds may be domesticated, and in this state will eat meat, but refuse maize, or any kind of grain, Its gait is somewhat stately, carrying the tail low, and its neck high: it is very scarce in collections, nor have we till now seen even a tolerable figure of the bird; as to that in Willughby, it is merely a copy from the one furnished by Marcgrave, and by no means a Just representation. 14 JABIRU. GENUS LXXIII.—JABIRU, 1 American | 3 New-Holland | 5 White-bellied 2 Indian 4 Tetaar 6 Senegal THE bill in this Genus is long and large, both mandibles bending upwards ; the upper somewhat triangular. Nostrils small. Tongue minute.* Toes divided. 1.—AMERICAN JABIRU.—PL. cx iit. Mycteria Americana, Ind. Orn. ii. 670. Lin. i. 232. Gm. Lin.i. 616. Borowsk. ii. 80. Ciconia Braziliensis, Bris. v. 371. Id. 8vo. 11. 306, Jabiru-guacu, Raii, 96. 5, Will. 202. t.47. Id, Engl. p. 276. Buf. vii. 282. pl. 13. Pl. enl. 817, Touyouyou, Mem. sur Cay. ii. pl. 3? Aouarous, Mem. sur Cay. 11. 254? E] Soldado, Gabin. de Madrid, ii. p.57. lam. 25. Le Collier rouge, Voy. d’ Azara,iv. No. 343. Indian Stork’s Head, Grew, Mus. pl. 5. f. 1. the bill, American Jabiru, Gen. Syn. v. p.12. pl.75. Nat. Misc. pl. 461. THIS is a large bird, being, when full grown, six feett in length, from the point of the bill to the end of the tail. The bill is black, thirteen inches long,+ and often more, stout, not unlike that of a Stork, and bending a little upwards; irides black; the head, and about two-thirds of the neck bare, and blackish; the rest of the * According to Marcgrave there is no Tongue in the first Species. ' + Individuals differ, Azara’s bird was only fifty-two inches and three quarters long.— Barrere says, it is six feet high as it stands, + This varies much: in one at General Davies’s the bill was seventeen inches long, but the bird to which it belonged measured only five feet, eight inches. PLC xs. : . Z I. A Poise Sa “TUL, = JABIRU. 15 neck also bare, but of a fine red; at the hindhead a few greyisli feathers; general colour of the plumage white; the tail consisting of twelve feathers; legs strong, of a great length, and covered with black scales ; wings and tail very little differing in length. The temale is three or four inches shorter. This bird is found in all the savannas of Cayenne, Guiana, and other parts of South America, and makes the nest on great trees, which grow on the borders; lays two eggs, and brings up the young in the nest, till they can descend to the earth ; the food is fish. Young birds are at first grey; in the second year change to rose-colour; and the third become pure white; are exceedingly voracious, taking great quantities of fish to satisfy them; in their nature are very wild. The flesh of the young bird is good to eat, but that of the old ones very hard, rank, and oily. Azara says, that it is called by some Aiaiai; is rare in Paraguay, and not seen beyond the third degree of latitude; met with generally in pairs, but never uniting into flocks; perches on trees, roosting thereon at night; appears before the Baguari, or American Stork, and prefers the great lakes to any other situation. He observes, that the nest is spacious, made generally on the fork of a decayed tree, on the borders, formed of small branches, carefully interwoven; the bird using the same nest for several seasons. The female said to want the red collar, but this is not certain, for the male does not get it for a great length of time. The bird described by Brisson, as Ciconia Guianensis,** does not probably belong to this Genus, but rather to that of the Ibis, as the bill curves downwards; in that the neck is naked, and black; the rest of the plumage white, even the quills and tail. This last bird has never come under our view, and we suspect that the American and this have been confounded with each other, unless the latter may hereafter prove to be no other than the Wood Ibis. * Bris. v. p. 373. 16 JABIRU. 2.—INDIAN JABIRU. Mycteria Asiatica, Ind. Orn. ii. 670. Indian Jabiru, Gen. Syn. Sup. 231. View of Hindoostan, ii. 156. SIZE large. Bill dusky, almost straight above, near the fore- head gibbous, the under mandible swelled beneath; from the base of the bill, passing through and beyond the eye, a black streak ; general colour of the plumage white; lower half of the back, prime quills, and tail, black; legs pale red. Inhabits India: feeds on snails.—Lady Impey. 3.—NEW-HOLLAND JABIRU. Mycteria Australis, Ind. Orn. Sup. p.\xiv. Lin. Trans. v. p. 34. New-Holland Jabiru, Gen. Syn. Sup. 1, 294. pl. 138. Nat. Misc. pl. 601. THE length of this species is full six feet. The bill twelve inches long; neck fifteen inches; thighs ten; legs almost the length of the bill, the upper mandible of which is nearly straight, or very little curving upwards, the under the same, but the curvature more perceivable, colour black; the chin, for a little way, is bare of feathers, and reddish ; irides yellow ; the head pretty full of feathers, and with about half the neck black, with a tmge of green in some lights, in others purplish ; the middle of the wmg coverts and second quills, also the middle of the back, greenish black ; tail the same ; the rest of the plumage white; the whole of the legs, and bare parts above the knee, of a fine red; the toes furnished at the end with pale-coloured claws, shaped not unlike those of the human species. Inhabits New-Holland. Native name Barri enna. The above description is taken from a specimen in the Leverian Museum. Among the drawings of Mr. Lambert is a representation of one apparently the same, in which the skin beneath the lower JABIRU. 17 mandible and throat is of a fine crimson, and said to be capable of great distension; head, and half the neck, brownish black, with a variable green and copper gloss; between the bill and eye grey; the general colour of the plumage of the lower part of the neck, the bedy, and wings, white, except on the shoulders, which appear blackish, and tipped with the same copper and green bronze as the head and neck; tail black. This also inhabits New-Holland, and differs from the other probably in sex only. As yet they have been found scarce, as only two have been obtained ; but are now and then seen on the muddy banks of the Harbour of Port Jackson, searching for fish, when the tide is out, and on which, no doubt, they principally live. 4.—TETAAR JABIRU. LENGTH five feet. Bill twelve inches long, black ; irides yellow ; round the eye a little way bare, but not so at the base of the bill ; the head, and whole of the neck, well clothed with feathers, and black, with a purplish or greenish tinge in some lights ; lower part of the neck, beginning of the back, and all beneath, white ; greater wing coverts black ; back, rump, and tail, black ; the wings are even with the end of the tail; legs red. In some drawings from India I observe the crown of the head to be blue; the rest of the head and neck, lower part of the back, tail, and greater wing coverts, fine dark green; but the beginning of the back, lesser wing coverts, and all beneath, white. These two are no doubt the same, and inhabit India; found in the neighbourhood of Futtehguhr, and called Tetaar; builds in the forests, on the summits of the most lofty trees, in June, and lays two or three eggs. In the drawings abovementioned it is named Tintor, or Loho Syren, but more commonly Paunch Caprea; indeed, VOts (TX: D 18 ; JABIRU. it is by some confounded with the Maleykbh, or White-bellied ; perhaps it approaches nearer to the one preceding. In the Museum of Mr. Bullock was one of the first described ; in this I observed, that the bill was black from the base to the middle, and from thence to the end red brown; the fore part of the neck and breast ash-colour, but very pale; belly and thighs quite white; legs red brown. 5.—WHITE-BELLIED JABIRU. LENGTH about four feet. Bill, from gape to point, eight inches; it is one inch and a half deep at the base, and turns a little upwards, colour dusky horn; irides brown; between the bill and eye a kind of lore, and the eye itself surrounded with a broad, oblong, rufous, flesh-coloured, bare space; the chin and under mandible are also bare; general colour of the plumage of the head, neck, and breast greenish brown, approaching to black; but the back inclines more to green, and the wing coverts to purple; the rest of the wing dull, dusky green; quills black ; tail inclining to purple, and both of them equal in length ; the lower part of the breast, belly, thighs, and vent white; legs pale dusky flesh-colour; the toes are blunt, and blackish. Inhabits India.-—General Hardwicke; called Maleykh, On this the General makes the following note: —This the Denoo Birdcatcher distinguishes from the large bird, known by the saine name, at Fut- tehguhr, and calls it a female; and adds, that the male is larger, and the bill red. Among the drawings of Mr. Dent is a bird not greatly differmg. The bill yellowish horn-colour; head and neck dusky blue; back waved brown and dusky; wings deep brown; wing coverts paler ; the under parts, from the breast, brownish white, and the feathers longish and loose; legs dusky pale blue. We suspect this last to be a bird in immature plumage. JABIRU. 19 6.--SENEGAL JABIRU. Mycteria Senegalensis, Ind. Orn. Sup. p. lsiv. Senegal Jabiru, Gen. Syn. Sup.ii. 247. Lin. Trans. v. p.32. pl. iii.—the head. The length of this Species, from the bill to the end of the claws, is six feet two inches; the bill itself thirteen inches; neck fifteen; body twelve; the naked part of the thighs four inches, the feathered part four; knee joint one inch; legs thirteen inches and a half; the middle toe five inches and a half, the two outer ones four inches and a half; all slightly connected at the base; the upper mandible is at first very pale for three inches; the under one the same for about an inch and a half; then a bar of black for about three inches, and from this to the tip reddish, increasing in depth of colour to the end, where it is deep vermilion; on each side of the base of the upper mandible a large, semi-oval, and transparent space, which, at the back part, is continued upwards in a curved direction; across the fore part of the eye, over the nostrils, a bare, flattened part, somewhat in the manner of the Common Coot, and birds of that Genus; beneath the base of the bill, just at the beginning of the feathery part, are two very small, pear-shaped, pendent wattles, adhering by very small! necks; the head and neck are black; scapulars the same, with whitish bases, and fifteen inches in length ; the remainder of the bird white; wings and tail both wanting; the legs very Jong, and the thighs, to a distance nearly equal to that of the legs itself, quite bare; the whole leg and thigh black, except round the knee, as well as round each joint of the toes, where there is a pale zone; the whole length of the leg and thigh is coated with liexagonal, longitudinal scales. This appears to be quite new, approaching somewhat to the New- Holland Species, yet differing in several particulars. Is said to inhabit Senegal; described from the Linnean Transactions, in which it is mentioned at large by Dr. Shaw, from a skin of one lent to him by the Rev. Mr. Rackett, but the wings and tail were both wanting. D2 =() BOAT-BILL. GENUS LUXXIV.—BOAT-BILL. Cinereous || A Var. Spotted || B Var. Brown THE bill in this Genus is broad, with a keel along the middle of the upper part, like a boat reversed. Nostrils small, lodged in a furrow. Tongue small. Toes divided. CINEREOUS BOAT-BILL.—PL. cx iv. Cancroma Cochlearia, Ind. Orn. ii. 671. Lin.i. 233. Gm. Lin. i. 617. Borowsk. ii. 106. Mus. Lev. t. 10. Nat. Misc. pl. 713. Cochlearius, Bris. v. 506. Id. Svo. ii. 344, Der Kahnschnabel, Schmid, Vog. p. 117. t. 103. Le Savacou, Buf. vii. 443. pl. 23. Pl. enl. 38. Tem. Man. Ed. it. Anal, p. ci. Boat-bill, Gen. Syn. vy. 26. pl. 76. Brown, Ill, 92. pl. 36. SIZE of a Fowl; length twenty-two inches. Bill four imches long, and of a singular form, not unlike a boat with the keel upper- most; or, as some think, like the bowls of two spoons, placed with the hollow parts together; the upper mandible has a prominent ridge at the top, and on each side of this a long channel, at the bottom of which are the nostrils; these are oval, and situated ob- liquely ; the general colour of the bill is dusky ; in some specimens dark brown; the parts between the bill and eye bare and dusky ; under jaw capable of distension; from the hindhead springs a long black crest, the feathers of which are narrow, and end im a point; in general the middle ones are six inches in length, the others lessen by degrees, the outer ones being not more than one inch; but in some specimens these long crest feathers reach quite to the back ; plumage on the forehead white; the rest pale bluish ash-colour ; PL CXLIV: BD cath. BOAT-BILL. 21 across the lower part of the neck behind is a transverse band of brownish black, which passes forwards on each side towards the breast, ending in a point, but does not encompass it; the fore part of the neck and under parts bluish white, except the belly and thighs, which are rufous ; the feathers which hang over the breast are loose, as in the Heron; the tail three inches and a half long, and the wings reach nearly to the end of it; the leg measures three inches; and the thigh, from its insertion to the knee, four; the middle toe two inches and a half; the bare part above the knee one inch and a half, the colour of the bare parts yellowish brown, claws black; the toes connected at the base by a membrane, which, as in the Umbre, is deepest in the outer one. A.—Cochlearius nevius, Bris. v. 508. Jd. 8vo.ii. 846. Ind. Orn. ii. 671. 6. Spotted Boat-bill, Gen. Syn.v. p. 27. This differs in being varied with spots of brown. B.—Cancroma cancrophaga, Lin. i, 233. Gm. Lin. i. 618. Borowsk. iit. 105, t. 56. Ind. Orn. it. p. 671. y- Cochlearius fuscus, Bris. v. 509. Id. 8vo. ii. 345. Gallinula aquatica, Tamatia, Raii, 116. 12. Will. 238. Id. Engl. 318. pl. 78. La Cuilhere brune, Buf. vii. 443. Pl. enl. 869. Brown Boat-bill, Gen. Syn. v. 28. Size of the others. Head and crest the same; the upper parts, instead of ash-colour, are of a pale rufous brown; tail rufous ash ; under parts wholly of a cream-colour; bill and legs yellow brown. I find these birds to vary very much : in the first place, the crests are by no means of equal lengths, for the Cinereous One, mentioned by Buffon, had a shorter crest than the Brown Sort, but in those which have come under my inspection, it was just the contrary.** The bills, too, differ in colour; some are black, others brown, and in one * One in Mr. Bullock’s Museum had the head perfectly smooth, with no appearance of a crest. 22 BOAT-BILL. it appeared to have been yellow. If I may be allowed a conjecture, it is, that the cinereous one, first described, is the male, the plain brown one the female, and the spotted variety a young male, and that probably the crests of both may be equal in the adult. In the Pl. enlum. I observe a patch of grey in the middle of the greater wing coverts, which is not in any specimen that I have seen; the figure referred to in Brown, is too short and squat; that in the His¢. des Otis. worse, though the bill and crest are well figured; buat both in the Pf. enlum. are sufficiently expressed; and it is to be hoped, that our representation may not give an imadequate idea of so curious a bird. This species, for I include all the above under one, inhabits Cayenne, Guiana, and Brazil, chiefly in such parts as are near the water; where it perches on the trees, which hang over the streams ; and like the Kingsfisher, drops down on the fishes which swim beneath. It has been thought to live on crabs likewise, whence the Linnean name; but this is not clear, though far from improbable. We are certain, however, that fish is the most common, if not the only food. * a = UMBRE. 23 GENUS LXXV.—UMBRE. BILL strong, thick, compressed, the upper mandible appearmg to be composed of several pieces. Nostrils linear, and placed obliquely. Toes divided, with a slight membrane at the base. TUFTED UMBRE.—PL. cxty. Scopus Umbretta, Ind. Orn. ii. 672. Gm. Lin.i. G18. Bris. v. 503. Id. 8vo. ii. 348. Ombrette, Buf vil. 440. Pl. enl. 796. Tufted Umbre, Gen. Syn. v. 30. pl. 77. Brown, Lil. 90. pl. 35. SIZE of a Crow; length twenty inches. Bill three inches and a half long, compressed laterally; along each side of the uppe mandible is a furrow, running lengthwise, about one-eighth of an inch from the ridge, beginning at the base, and finishing about half an inch before it comes to the point of the bill, where it is somewhat bent downwards: the nostrils are a inere slit at the base, placed at a sharp angle with the furrow, and about half an inch in length, the under mandible is less deep at the base than the upper, grows smaller towards the end, is there a little trancated, and when closed, shuts in beneath the upper one; the colour of both brown; from the hindhead springs a crest of loose feathers, exceedingly full, and four inches in length; this, as well as the whole body, is of an uniform brown colour, most like that of the earth called Umber; rather paler beneath, and the neck feathers palest down the shafts; wings and tail even, the last crossed with three or four bars of deeper brown, and tipped, for about an inch, with the same; the legs long, and the thighs bare for two-thirds of the length; the colour of both dusky 3 between the toes a membrane, about a quarter of an inch deep 24 UMBRE. between the middle and outer, and somewhat less between it and the inner ; claws small, and bent. It is probable that the bird figured in the Pl. enlum. is a female, as there is not the least radiment of a crest: the tail in this bird is of a paler brown, crossed with five narrow, darker brown bars, and tipped with the same. That described by Brisson is also without a crest; the bird engraved in Brown’s work appears a heavy and uncouth figure, the legs much too short, and the membranes between the toes continued as deep as the webs of a Duck’s foot. T once saw a most perfect specimen of the male at Sir Jos. Banks's, which came from the Cape of Good Hope ; that of Buffon was brought from Senegal ; it is, we believe, ascarce bird. In looking over the late Mr. Bruce’s drawings, I observed this bird, very well expressed, and the name given to it was Hermetto; I think it was met with in the course of this Gentleman’s journey into Abyssinia, but am not clear in the circumstance. HERON. 25 GENUS LXXVI.—HERON. * With the Head Crested. 1 Crowned Heron 2 Demoiselle ** The Head Bald—Cranes. 3 Siberian 4 Indian A Var. Red-collared B Var. 5 Common 6 Japan 7 Black-bellied 8 Gigantic 9 Javan 10 Modun 11 Hooping 12 Brown A Var. 13 Australasian Indian *** With Naked Orbits— Storks. 14 White Stork 15 Black 16 Glossy 17 American 18 Violet A Var. B Var. C Var; ¥*** With the Middle Claw Serrated within. 19 Night Heron 20 Caledonian Night Heron 21 Chestnut 22 Darter 23 New-Holland N. H. VOL. IX. 24 Cayenne A Var. B Var. Yellow-crowned (37) Jamaica oO Gardenian io) Obscure mo ww we wv “I ic) Ferruginous Little Bittern Ww i=) A Var. Duralia B. Rufous Rayed Minute Spotted Wattled Heron Common woWwnHwnwwwnw anarnaoaunrk WOW =— Ash-coloured | Striated Lohaujung Great Variegated Rufous Great Egret Great White Lacteous Putea Pied-tail Specious Little Little White Heron A Var. Snowy A Var. B Var. ee & & BR CO wWnNnreoneo ek be ee oarntoank 49 53 Black-crested White 54 Red-crested E 55 Sacred A Var. Gibraltar A Var. Caboga Reddish Egret Demi Egret A Var. Rusty-crowned Heron Streaked Bittern American B. 63 Freckled Heron Lentiginous White-bellied B. Yellow B, Brazilian 56 57 08 Lineated Tiger Philippine Heron Zigzag B. 2 Green H. A Var. B Var. Louisiane Indian Green Sguacco A Var. > Coromandel Red-legged A Var. Squaiotta Castaneous Swabian B. Dwarf 82 Black-backed Sguacco 83 Cinnamon 84 Blue 81 85 86 HERON. A Var. || 96 Chalybeate 108 White-throated Cinereous | 97 Coco 109 Blue-headed Greater Red | 98 Chinese 110 Blue-crowned Crested Purple |) 99 Dusky 111 Yellow-winged Purple | 100 Dry 112 Black African 101 Pacific 113 New Guinea Malacca 102 White-fronted 114 Cracra Senegal 103 New Zealand 115 Yellow-necked Specious 104 Ominous 116 Scolopaceous Sumatran 105 Black-shouldered ***** Bill gaping in the Painted 106 Lepid middle. Agami 107 Clouded 117 Coromandel. IZIRDS of this Genus have a long, strong, sharp-pointed bill. Nostrils linear. Tongue pointed. Toes connected by a membrane, at least as far as the first joint; the middle claw of the true Herons pectinated. * THE HEAD CRESTED. 1—-CROWNED HERON. Ardea Pavonina, Ind. Orn. 11. 672. Lin. i. 233. Gm. Lin. i. 619. Borowsk. ii. 78. t.48. Spalowsk. ii. t. 27. Grue, Tem. Man. Ed. ii. Anal. p.c. Grus Balearica, Rati, 95. Will. 201. t.48. Bris. v. p. 511. t. 41. female. Jd. Syo.i. 346. Klein, 121. II]. Gerin. iv. t.414. Robert, Ic. pl. 12. Grus Capensis, Petiv. Gaz. t.26. f. 9. L’ Oiseau royal, Buf. vii. 317. pl. 16. PZ. end. 265. male. Grue téte de negre, Ferm. Surin. in. 150? Peacock, Kolb. Cap. ii, 245. pl. 7. f. 4, Balearic Crane, Sloan. Jam. 314. Will. Engl. 275. pl. 48. Crowned African Crane, Edw. pl. 192. Voy. to Guinea, 250. pl. 11. Crowned Heron, Gen. Syn. v. p. 34. Gent. Mag, xx. pl. p. 264. SIZE of the Common Heron ; length two feet nine inches. The bill two inches and a half long, straight, and of a brownish colour ; HERON. 27 irides grey; the crown of the head covered with soft black feathers, like velvet ; on the hind part is a tuft of hair, or rather bristles, rising near each other at the base, and spreading out on all sides in a globular form; this is four inches in length, and the colour reddish brown; the sides of the head bare of feathers, bemg covered only by a fleshy membrane, reddish at the lower part, and in shape not unlike a kidney; on each side of the throat a kind of wattle; the general colour of the plumage bluish ash; the feathers on the fore part of the neck very long, and hang over the breast ; wing coverts white, the greater ones incline to rufous, and those farthest from the body to black; the greater quills and tail black, and the secondaries chestnut; legs, and bare part above the joint, dusky. The female is black, where the male is blue ash ;.and the wattles on the throat are wanting; the long feathers of the breast are also less conspicuous.** This beautiful bird mhabits Africa, particularly the Coast of Guinea; common about the whole country of Ardra; a few at, and about Acra, and several at Whidah ;+ found also at Cape Verd, and one or two occasionally seen on the Slave Coast;+ supposed to inhabit Andalusia, in Spain, but upon the doubtful testimony of some sportsmen, whom the birds did not suffer to approach near enough to ascertain. || Why the name of Balearic Crane should have been given to this bird is not well accounted for, as it is certainly not met with in the Islands so called at this day. From its beauty we often meet with it in our Menageries, among other foreign birds, and, with shelter at night, will often live for some years: the chief food is said to be wortns, and such other things as the Heron Tribe usually feeds on; * Whether the male has any singularity in the construction of the windpipe we have not been able to investigate ; but are informed by Mr. Thomson, that nothing occurred in a female dissected by him, more than in the Common Heron. + Bosman. + Brought into Europe in the 15th century, at the first discovery of Africa. \| Mr. White. E 2 28 HERON. also vegetables of all kinds; is observed to sleep on one leg, and will run very fast; it also flies well, and continues the flight fora long time: the flesh of this bird is said to be tough, and not wel] tasted. Mr. Barrow met with it far inwards from the Cape of Good Hope ; for the first time near the Melk River, not far from Candeboo, 2.—DEMOISELLE HERON. Ardea Virgo, Ind. Orn. ii. 673. Lin. i. 234. Gm. Lin. i. G19. Borowsk. i. 84. Gerin. iv. t. 485? 436. Robert, Ic. pl. 15. 17. Grus Numidica, Bris. v. 388. Jd. Svo. it. 311. = Alein, 121. VI. La Grue de Numidie, ou Demoiselle, Buf. vii. 313. pl. 1. Pl. enl. 241. Dodart. Mem, in. p. 3. pl. 35.—Windpipe. Kurki, Forsk. Faun. Arab. p. 9. 4? Garza de Mallorka, Madamusela, Gabin. de Madrid, i, p. 19. lam. 9. Dancing Bird, Pococke’s Travels, ii. 207. Demoiselle Heron, or Numidian Crane, Gen. Syn. v. 35. Id. Sup, 11. 297. Alb. ii. pl. 83. Edw. pl. 134. Pitf. Mem. pl. p. 204. Phil. Trans. \vi. 210. pl. 11. p. 215.—Windpipe. Lin. Trans. iv. 105. pl. x. f. 4.—Windpipe. Wood's Zoogr. i. p. 517. pl. 22. SIZE of the Crane; length three feet three inches. Bill two inches and a half long, yellow, with the tip red; irides crimson; crown of the head ash- colour ; the rest of the head, greater part of the neck behind, and all straight, greenish at the base, changing to forwards to the breast, black ; the feathers of the latter very long, some of them at least nine inches, and hang loose over the adjacent parts; the lower part of the neck behind, back, and wings, tail, and all beneath bluish ash ; behind each eye springs a tuft of long white feathers, which decline downwards, and hang in an elegant and graceful manner; the greater quills and tail are black at the ends, but from the length of the second quills, which are very long, and conceal both, are not observed, while the bird is in a quiescent state; the legs are long, and black. The two sexes are much alike. HERON. 29 Inhabits both Africa and Asia. In the first is met with on the Coast of Guinea,* but is most plentiful about Bildulgerid,t and Tripoli ; from thence along the Coast of the Mediterranean Sea, also pretty common in Egypt. Is found at Aleppo, || and in the southern plains about the Black and Caspian Seas, also seen frequently beyond the Lake Baikal, abeut the Rivers Selinga and Argun, but never ventures to the northward. [it prefers marshes, and the neighbour- hood of rivers, as it feeds on fish, like others of the Heron Genus. Authors are silent concerning the nidification and manners at large ; but we know that they are frequently kept in menageries, and bear confinement well, insomuch as to breed in that state ; for we are told, that six were at one time in a menagerie at Versailles, and that one of them, which had been produced there, lived twenty-four years : it is endowed with great gentleness of manners, and sometimes puts itself into elegant attitudes, at others into strange and uncouth ones, especially such as imitate dancing; and Keysler mentions one in the Duke’s gallery, at Florence, which had been taught to dance to a certain tune, when played, or sung to it.§ It is called in the east, Kurki, or Querkey. The circumstance of the singular construction in the trachea, or windpipe, has been noticed by authors, but not generally known. It does not, as in most birds, go straight into the lungs, but first enters a cavity in the keel of the breast bone, for about three inches, when it returns, after making a bend forwards, and then passes into the chest. This isa common species in India, being seen with the Indian Crane in vast flocks, on the banks of the Ganges, where it is called Curcurna, and Currakeel. * Hist. des Ois. + The ancient Numidia. + Hasselq. Voy. p. 287. || Russ. Alep. p. 69. § See Trav. ii. p. 34. Called by Pococke the Dancing Bird. See his Travels, 11. 207. : @ Penn. Hind. ii. 158. 30 HERON. ** CRANES.——THE HEAD BALD. 3.—SIBERIAN CRANE. Ardea gigantea, Ind. Orn. ii. 674. Gm. Lin. i. 622. Gmel. reise, ii. 189. t. 21. Grus leucogeranos, Pall. It. ii, 714. 30. t. 1. Georg. reise, 171. . Dec, russ. ii. 145. Gmel. reise, iv. p. 137. Siberian Crane, Gen. Syn. v. 37. Arct. Zool. ii. 455. C. Id. Sup. 67. THIS is a large bird, and four feet and a half high, when erect. The bill like that of a Crane, but larger, and red; the edges of the mandibles serrated near the tip; face naked beyond the eyes, rugose, red, and sprinkled with numerous, rufous tubercles; irides white ; plumage white, except the ten first great quills, with their coverts, which are black ; the scapulars are elongated, but shorter than in the Crane; tail of twelve feathers, nearly even at the end; legs long, and red. In old birds, the hind part of the neck is yellowish, but in those of the first year, wholly of an oker colour, with the face, bill, and legs of a greenish brown. Inhabits the vast marshes and lakes in Siberia, especially about the Ischim, and along the Rivers Ob and Irtish, and on the borders of the Caspian Sea; makes the nest among the reeds, seldom acces- sible by man, upon rising, green, grassy tufts, composed of herbs and grass heaped up together; the eggs ash-coloured, the size of those of a Goose, and spotted with brown; they are shy birds, always on their guard agaist an enemy, and said to have an advanced sentinel, to warn them of an approach, and on the least alarm cry aloud, in the manner of the Swan, and fly off directly; hence it is HERON. 31 difficult to get within gunshot, for as they stand nearly five feet high from the ground, they are enabled to see any one ata great distance. The sportsman, therefore, is obliged to use every art to effect his purpose; sometimes under cover of a stalking horse, or other object; at ether times a small dog will divert their attention, which they will attack without fear, while his master gets within reach of gunshot : in breeding time are more bold, and will defend their young even against men, so as to make it dangerous to come near their haunts. The male and female said to guard the nest alternately ; the food is chiefly small fish, frogs, lizards, &c. The summer residence is in the more northern parts, coming there in spring, departing south- ward in autumn, probably wintering about the Caspian Sea, and the parts beyond ; always flying in pairs. A bird similar to this, if not the same, is often seen on Chinese hangings ; I have likewise met with it in some private drawings of Chinese birds, and is there called Tzew-ting-ha; the Russians know it by the name of Sterchi. 4.—INDIAN CRANE. Ardea Antigone, Ind. Orn. ii. 674. Lin. i. 235. Gm. Lin. i. 622. Grus orientalis Indica, Bris. v. 378. Id. 8vo.ii. 308. Klein, 121. V. Gerin. iv. t. 417. Indian Crane, Gen. Syn. v. 38. Id. Sup. 232. Id. Sup. ii. 298. Edw. pl. 45. Penn. Hind. ii. 158, THIS is also a large Species, standing five feet high. Bill greenish yellow, dusky at the tip, nostrils pervious ; irides bright reddish hazel; crown of the head bare and white; on each side of the head, about the ears, a bare white spot; the rest of the head, and a small part of the neck, covered only with a fine red skin; plumage in general ash-colour, paler about the neck; the quills black; se- condaries and tail ash-colour; those nearest the body pointed at the ends, longer than the quills, and hang over them; the legs, and bare space above the knees, are red; claws white; the middle and outer toe connected by a membrane as far as the first joint. 32 HERON. Inhabits the East Indies, also the Mongolian Deserts, from whence it migrates into that part of the Russian Dominions, which lies beyond the Lake Baikal; keeping chiefly within the plains below the Rivers Onon and Argun, which are the western extremity of the Gobean Plain. It is very common in great flocks north of Calcutta; is called in India, Saroos. In some drawings of Sir J. Anstruther, the dimensions are set down as follow: from the tip of the bill to the top of the skull, eight inches; from the last to the breast, one foot seven inches; round the neck ten inches; from the breast to the end of the tail, two feet; from the sole of the foot to the top of the skull, four feet seven inches. This is also well represented in Lord Mountnorris’s drawings, where it is called Sawrace; found in Oude. A.—Grue a Collier, Buf. vii. 307. Pl. enl. 865, Ind. Orn. ii. 674. 4. B. Gen. Syn. v. p. 39. Length four feet three inches and a half. Bill long, black; the head and half the neck covered only with a reddish white down ; round the middle of the neck a collar of red; the lower part of the neck, and the rest of the body bluish ash-colour; on the ramp a tuft of flowing feathers, which hang over the ends of the wings and tail, as in the Common Crane ; tail black ; legs dusky. Inhabits the East Indies. B.—Indian Crane, Var. B. Gen. Syn. Sup. ii. 298. This differs from the others, in having the bill and fore part of the crown yellowish; lore, and space round the top of the neck, bare, and crimson; irides pale orange; chin and throat beset with black bristles; general colour of the plumage dull pale blue; quills and tail black ; legs and bare part of the thighs black, dotted with white.—Inhabits New-Holland. HERON. 33 5.—COMMON CRANE. Ardea grus, Ind. Orn. ii. 674. Lin. i. 234. Faun. Suec. No. 161. Gm. Lin. 1. 620. Scop.i. No. 122. Brun. p.47. Muller, p. 22. Kramer, p.345. Frisch, t. 194. Bris. v. 874. t.33. Id. 8vo.ii. 3807. Rati, 95. A.J. Will.200. t.48. Gerin.iv. t.415. Klein, 121. I. Id. Ov. 23. p.17. f.1. Faun. Arag. 76. Borowsk. iii. 82. Faun. Helvet. Besch. Berl. Nat. iv. 586. t. 16. Bloch. Grus cinerea, Tem. Man. 346. Id. Fd. ii. p. 588. La Grue, Buf. vii. 287. pl. 14. Pl. ent. p. 769. Naturf. xii. s, 202. Schmid, Pog. pe Lis t. 98: Common Crane, Gen. Syn. y. p. 40. Id. Sup. ii. 298. Br. Zool. ii. App. 629. pl. 6. Id. Ed. 1812.11. p.17. pl. 2. Arct. Zool. ii. 453. A. Will. Engl. p. 274. pl. 48. Kolb. Cap.ii. 141, Archeol.i. p.171. Albin, ii. pl. 65. Rus. Alep, 69. Phil. Trans. xxvii. 464? Td. Ivi. 208. 215, pl. 11. f. 4. the windpipe. Lin. Trans. iv. 107. pl. xi. £4. windpipe. Bewick, ii. pl. p.29. Lewin, iv. pl. 143. Walcot, i. pl. 124. Orn. Dict. § Supp. Wood's Zoogr.i. p. 512. THIS is a large bird, at least five feet in length, and weighs ten pounds. Bill four inches and a quarter long, and greenish black ; the forehead, to the middle of the crown, covered with black down or hairs; the hind part bare and red, with a few scattered hairs; on the nape, below this, a bare space of two inches, and ash-coloured; sides of the head, behind the eyes, and the neck behind, white; between the bill and eyes, beneath them, and fore part of the neck, blackish ash-colour; lower part of the neck and the rest of the body fine ash-colour, deepest on the tail coverts; the greater wing coverts blackish ; and those farthest from the body, with the bastard wing and quills, black ; from the pinion of each wing springs an elegant tuft of loose feathers, curled at the ends, which may be erected at will, but in a quiescent state hang over, and cover the tail; legs black. Male and temale much alike. This species seems far spread, being met with in great flocks throughout Northern Europe and Asia, in Sweden, Russia in general, Siberia, as far as the River Anadyr, migrating even to the Arctic VOL. 1X. E 34 HERON. Circle. In Kamtschatka they are only on the Southern Promontory ;* are migratory, returning north to breed in the spring, and generally choosing the same places occupied by them the season before.+ In the winter, inhabit the warmer regions, as Egypt, Aleppo,§ India, &e.; likewise met with at the Cape of Good Hope, changing place with the season. In their migrations often fly so high as not to be visible, their passing only known by the noise they make, being louder than any other bird.| In Spain inhabit the marshes on the sides of the Rivers Palmonas and Guadaranque in the summer, departing again in winter. In France are seen in spring and autumn, but for the most part, are only passengers. Not indigenous to Rome, as Horace mentions ‘‘ Advenam Gruem.”** Willughby says, “ they “come often to us in England ; and in the fenny countries in Lincoln- ‘« shire and Cambridgeshire there are great flocks of them,” t+ though at present they are not more known there than in other parts of the kingdom: they were used at table here as early as the Norman Conquest,t+ and at various intervals between that, and the time of King Henry VIII.; the citizens of London, presenting him, among other things, with twelve Cranes.§§ In 1500, three living ones were valued at five shillings, ||| and twelve years after, they fetched one shilling and four-pence each when dead ;]|||| but at the * Arct. Zool. One of the supposed reasons was the want of frogs, toads, and serpents; uone being found in Kamtschatka,— Hist. Kamtschatka, They have, however, plenty of lizards. + Amen. ac. iv, 589. § Russ. Alepp. p. 69. || Supposed to arise from the singular conformation of the windpipe, entering far into the bone, which has a great cavity to receive it, and being there thrice reflected, goes out again at the same hole, and so turns down to the lungs.—JWVill, 274, pl. 48. The above structure not very unlike that of the Parraqua Pheasant. ** Eyod. iu. |. 39.—Willughby met with them at Rome, in the winter season. i Bnb35 ++ Sometime, of course, prior to 1678, when his book was written. t+ Dugd. Baron. i. p. 109. §§ Hall. Chron. fol. clxv. ||| Gent. Mag. 1768. 259. An Appraismt. Temp. vii. of Thos, Kebell. \|\| || Northumb. Househ. Book. HERON. 35 great feast of Archbishop Nevill, Edward IV. there were no less than 204 Cranes, and 400 Heronshaws, among other things ; serving to shew, they were about half as plentiful as the Heron. At the present day it is very rarely met with in England; three or four times only have occurred in my memory, viz.—Once shot near Cambridge; once on the Kentish coast, communicated by the late Mr. Boys; a third near Burham, on the shores of the Medway, in January 1794, mentioned to me by Sir Wim. Bishop ; and a fourth, which has its dependence on more slight authority.* A few years since asmal] flock appeared in harvest, at Tingwall, in Zetland, one of which was shet.t The structure of the windpipe in this bird is singularly carious, somewhat in the manner of the Wild Swan, but is doubly reflected, as may be seen in the figure referred to in the Philosophical Transactions, as also in those of the Linnean Society. We are-told, that they make the nest in the marshes, and lay two bluish eggs; they feed on reptiles of all kinds, and on green corn, of which last they are very fond, and make so great havock, as to ruin the farmers, wherever the flocks of them alight. The young birds-are thought very good food. In Lord Mountnorris’s drawings one, called Koolung, seems to partake of this, and the Japan Crane; general colour of plumage ash-colour, not white, but the ends of the feathers which hang over the tail, are black a good way up the shafts. * Orn. Dict. Sup. These were observed to feed on corn. + In the year 1696, in the month of May, came into Cardiganshire, two strange birds, which, by the description, seemed to be Cranes, Phil. Trans. xxvii. 464. Much information may also be gained concerning the Crane, in Archeol. ii. p. 171. In a curious Memoir, by the Rev. Mr. Pegge, thought to have been in sufficient plenty in 1605; as they are merely said to be in season from November to May. See Archeol. xiii. p. 141. &c. It is here mentioned in the Northumberland Household Book, p. 534. that the price of one was six- teen pence; whereas, a Peacock was at no more than twelve pence. F 2 36 HERON. 6.—JAPAN CRANE. Grus Japonensis, Bris. v. 381. Id. 8vo. ii. 309. Klein, 121. IV. Ind. Orn. ii. 675. Spalowsk. iii. t. 26. Johnst. Av. pl. 54. f. 4. Japan Crane, Gen. Syn.v. 42. SIZE and shape of the Common Crane. — Bill and legs dull green; the upper part of the head covered with a red skin, sprinkled with a few bristly feathers ; fore part of the neck black ; behind, and the rest of the plumage in general, white, except the greater quills, which are black ; some of the secondaries pointed at the tips, and so long as almost to reach the end of the tail. Inhabits Japan. This bird is frequently seen in Chinese paint- ings, and paper hangings, as well as on porcelain; in all these the loose feathers, which bang over the tail, are black. It also appears to vary in other respects; for in the fine drawings of Lady Impey, both the crown, as well as the neck before, are black ; body and wings white; and the long incurvated feathers on the rump ash- coloured, tipped with black. In other drawings, in possession of the late Mr. Pigou, the crown is red; it is named Chuting-nock : Chu-ting means a red crown, and Nock the name of the bird. In the drawings of Sir J. Anstruther, I find a fine Variety. The bill dusky flesh-colour; plumage in general a delicate, bluish white ; between the bill and eye, forehead, as far as the crown, black; chin and fore part of the neck deep slate-colour ; nape the same; between this and the black on the crown, numerous red papille, the part appearing bare; the back and wings have a greater mixture of blue in the feathers; tail short, white; the outer ridge of the wing black ; part of the second quills and tail coverts very long, inclined to pale ash, and marked at the ends with black, beginning down the shaft, and growing wider to the tips, which are wholly black: these fall over the quills and tail in a state of rest, and hide both; the legs stout, and black. HERON. 37 Inhabits India, called Colong; is reputed a Variety of the Saroos; in Lord Mountnorris’s drawings called Koolung. We have formerly been of opinion, that the birds called by Fryer, Colum, and Serass, might mean the Whistling and Mute Swans, which are well known to differ essentially in the conformation of the Sternum and Trachea; but from later information we are led to believe, that they mean no other than Common and Indian Cranes, the latter of these being called in India, Sawrace and Serass, and corrupted by some into Cyrus ;* the former known by the name of Colong and Koolung—sliding equally easy into Colum, as Fryer spells it. 7.—BLACK-BELLIED INDIAN CRANE. SIZE large; length uncertain. Bill pale brown; crown of the head, as far as the middle, crimson; from thence to the nape black, and finishing in a point: between the bill and eye bare and crimson, passing beneath the eye, and beyond it as a streak ; the rest of the head and breast white, marked on the last with large, black spots ; belly, thighs, and vent black; back, wings, and tail dusky blue, or lead-colour; quills black, and reach to the end of the tail, which is to be seen at all times, as there are no scapulars long enough, as in others, to obscure it; legs long, and yellowish ; above the joint, for three-fourths of the length, bare; the rest, next the body, feathery, and black ; claws black. * The Cyrus seen in very large flights on the sands, in great rivers, and in shallow jeals; their scream very shrill and loud, and in astill night may be heard two or three miles off: serves for the purpose of falconry, and chased by a Hawk called Behree,* and often a fierce battle arises between them, but the Hawk is mostly victorious, by getting above the Cyrus while in the air, when seizing the latter by the head, both fall together to the ground... Oriental Field Sports, V.ii. p.68. This Hawk is also sent in pursuit of the Monickjoor, ¢ Currakeel,t or any of the larger, aquatic birds. * See Vol. i. p. 175. + Violet Heron, t Demoiselle. 38 HERON. Inhabits India; said to frequent the snowy mountains of Surinagur ; weight one sare and an eighth, or about two peunds and a quarter. In the drawing, from which the above is described, it is called in the Persian, Saurus, and said to be a Variety of the Saroos. 8.—GIGANTIC CRANE.—PL. cx.v1. Ardea Argala, Ind. Orn. 11. 676. Ardea dubia, Gm. Lin. 1. 624. Argill, or Hurgill, Jves, Voy. 183, View of Hindoost. ii. 156. Boorong Combing, Booring oolor, Marsd. Sumat. p. 98. Gigantic Crane, Gen. Syn. v. 45. Id. Sup. 232. pl. 115. THIS seems to be the largest of the Heron Tribe, expanding, from the tip of one wing to that of the other, fourteen feet ten inches ;* from the ‘point of the bill to the claws, seven feet and a half; and when standing erect is five feet high. The bill of a vast size, sharp-pointed, compressed on the sides, of a yellowish white, or horn-colour, and opens very far back into the head; the nostrilsa slit high up, near the base, at which ‘part it is sixteen inches in circumference ; the whole head and neck are naked, the front yellow ; fore part of the neck the same, but more dull; the hind part of the neck red, with here and there a warty excrescence, mixed with a few straggling hairs, curled at the ends; on the lower part of the neck before is a conical, large pouch, appearing inflated, like a bladder, greatly elongated, hanging over the breast, and sparingly beset with short down, with a tuft of long hairs at the bottom; the upper part of the back and shoulders furnished with white, downy feathers; the back itself and wing coverts deep bluish ash-colour: second wing coverts white on the outer web; second quills dusky brown; prime quills and tail deep blackish lead-colour: the latter ten inches long, * One, which was living in a Menagerie in England for some years, had only fourteen feet in expanse of wing, but it was supposed not to be a full grown bird. PIC VE * op *. re < 7) AE GORMMEC (Grane. HERON. 39. consisting of twelve feathers, and very little longer than the end of the quills, when the bird is at rest; the feathers of the sides, beneath the wings, and those of the vent and under tail coverts, are long and downy, some of them nearly twelve inches; these, as well as the breast and belly, are dusky white; legs long and black, naked far above the knees, and very scaly; toes webbed at the base, and the claws blunt. This monster, as Ives not improperly calls it, inhabits Bengal, as also Calcutta; at the last called Hurgill, or Argill; it stalks majestically, and appears at first like a naked Indian. The common opinion is, that the souls of the Bramins possess these birds, and they are thought invulnerable; for when Mr. Ives missed his shot at several, the standers by observed with great satisfaction, that he might shoot to eternity, and never succeed. It is found in Sumatra, and the Eastern Islands, but no where so common as at Bengal. It generally arrives before the rainy season comes on, and is called Argala, or Adjutant;* also Bangou Sula, Burong Kambing, and Burong Gaja; likewise, from its immense gape, it has obtained the name of Large Throat, and from its swallowing bones, the Bone- eater, or Bone-taker: it is a most voracious bird, for on opening one, a terapin, or land tortoise, ten inches long, was found in the craw, and a large male black cat, entire, in the stomach.t It is allowed by all to be a most necessary animal, as it collects vermin from every quarter, such as snakes, lizards, frogs, and other noxious reptiles ; and its size requiring a large supply, it proves a most useful inba- bitant, which the natives every where acknowledge, by holding it in great estimation. I find that the downy long feathers of the vent, &c. have for some time past been made use of, in the manner of those of the Ostrich, in the head dresses of the ladies, to which purpose they * It is thought, when looked on in front, or at a distance, to resemble a man having on a white waistcoat and breeches. + A description of the solvent glands of this voracious animal, by Sir Everard Home, Bart. in the Philosophical Transactions, 1813. p. 77. 40 HERON. seem well adapted, being of the most delicate texture, and floating with every breath of wind,* but hitherto have not been in sufficient plenty to become common. I am obliged to the late Mr. Smeathman for several observations made on this bird during his residence at Sierra Leona, in Africa. After saying, that an adult will often measure full seven feet; he adds, that the head, covered with white down, thinly dispersed, appears not unlike a grey-headed man, and his description corresponds with what is before said; also, that they are met with in companies 5 and when seen at a distance, near the mouths of rivers, coming towards an observer, which they often do with their wings extended, may well be taken for canoes, upon the surface of a smooth sea ; when on the sand banks, for men and women picking up shell-fish, or other things on the beach. One of these, a young bird, about five feet high, was brought up tame, and presented to the Chief of the Bananas, where Mr. Smeathman lived ; and being accustomed to be fed in the great hall, soon became familiar, duly attending that place at dinner time, placing itself behind its master’s chair, fre- quently before the guests entered ; the servants were obliged to watch narrowly, and to defend the provisions with switches, but, notwith- standing, it would frequently snatch something or other, and once purloined a whole boiled fowl, which it swallowed in an instant. Its courage is not equal to its voracity, fora child, of eight or ten years old, soon puts it to flight with a switch, though at first it seems to stand on its defence, by threatening with its enormous bill, widely extended, and roaring with a loud hoarse voice, like a bear or tiger. Ts an enemy to small quadrupeds, as well as birds and reptiles, and slyly destroys Fowls and Chicken, though it dares not attack a Hen with her young openly. Every thing is swallowed whole, and so accommodating is its throat, that not only an animal as big as a cat is gulped down, but a shin of beef, broken asunder, serves it but for * A good idea may be formed of their excessive lightness, from the weight of one, which measured eleven inches and three quarters in length, and seven in breadth, and only balanced eight grains. HERON. 41 two morsels; known to swallow a leg of mutton of five or six pounds, a hare, also a small fox, &c.: after a time the bones are rejected from the stomach, which seems to be voluntary, for it has been known, that an ounce or more of emetic tartar, given to one of these birds, produced no effect.** I observe this very singular bird in various drawings done in India; and it appears subject to some Variety from sex or age: in one the bill seems rather bent, the eye placed in the base of it, sur- rounded with dusky mottlings; head and neck bare, red; pouch as usual, with here and there a short bristle; on the top and back of the head and neck sprinkled with hairs, and at intervals a narrow, short, black feather: at the beginning of the back a kind of white ruff of down, falling on each side over the edge of the wing; the rest of the plumage black ; under parts dusky white; legs long, stout, white, marked with numerous dusky spots; claws black. In another, the bill is very pale; the head and neck wholly covered with short down, longer at the back of the neck and nape, and mixed with black streaks; the pouch before just visible, but contracted, and furnished with long, undulated, dusky, downy hairs ; a larger downy ruff of white, and all the under parts white; the rest black. This last seems to be a young bird. [I remark in one of the drawings, that the bill of a full grown bird is said to measure seven- teen inches in length, and that it is equally fond of putrid carcases as the Vulture, for groups of both mix together over a dead animal, never leaving it till they have completely picked the bones.t One of the names given to it is Samcool. * Oriental Field Sports,i. p. 100. + Lord Mountnorris, after mentioning the amazing flocks of Kites and Crows, which cover the houses and gardens at Calcutta, and subsist on the remains of the great profusion of food there dressed, and which the prejudices of the natives prevent their touching; adds, that in the profession of scavengers, the Kites and Crows are assisted during the day by the Adjutant Bird, and at night by the Foxes, Jackals, and Hyzenas, from the neighbouring jungles. —Valent. Travels, i. 510. VOL. IX. G AQ HERON. 9.—JAVAN CRANE. Ciconia Javanica, Lin. Trans. xii. p. 188.—Horstield. THIS is a large bird, and when standing upright, measures five feet from the head to the ground; bill eleven inches long ; the body is black, with a gloss of olive, beneath whitish; crown bare; neck covered only with a kind of down, mixed with a few hairs; a broad band of glossy brewn passes the wing transversely. Tnhabits the [sland of Java, called there Bangu ; it seems much allied to the Gigantic Species. 10.—MODUN CRANE.—PL. cxtvit. LENGTE four feet two inches to the end of the tail, which measures eleven inches and a half; the toes extend one foot three inches and a half beyond the tail, and the wings, when closed, are nearly even with it. Bill nine inches long, straight, sharp-pointed, and somewhat compressed, of a pale dirty green, inclining above to red; the two mandibles do not shut exactly, but diverge somewhat in the centre; nostrils very narrow, almost oblitevated ; crown of the head nearly a bare bone, covered only by its periosteum, of a dirty green colour; head reddish; the neck dirty yellow, both covered Dr. Buchanan, after describing the Idol at Juggernaut, worshipped by the Hindoos, and the natives, at Tanjore, and which, at certain times, is drawn on wheels, along the streets, on an excessively ponderous machine, mentions the frequency of pilgrims and religious devotees flinging themselves under it, in order to meet the most welcome and happy death, by being crushed beneath its wheels. He observes, there are four animals which are sometimes seen devouring these human victims—the Dog, Jackal, Vulture, and Hurgeela, called also Adjutant, or Gigantic Crane. The dogs and Vultures first begin, both feeding on a carcase together, in which they are joined by the Adjutant, so as to leave no trace of the human frame but the bones.—Researche: in dsia, 18il, p. 134. PL.CXLVH. mr ? VE o . Fale the —— < Tae C2 Pina ae Moa WPL HERON. 43 with a white down; on the nape isa crest of loose, blackish feathers, which diverge in all directions; the skin on the under part of the neck is loose, but has no fleshy bag. or appendix; the feathers on the back and rump black, with a gloss of green, and have obscure , palish, transverse bars; those on the under parts and sides are white, with some black feathers round the base of the neck; lesser wing coverts like those of the back, the greater with a tinge of brown; under coverts dirty black; quills black, with a green gloss; the tail rounded, colour as the quills; under coverts with beautiful, strong, white down, almost as long as the tail feathers ; legs and feet obscure bluish black, the middle claw not serrated. This is the Modun Tiky of the Bengalese, and is frequently confounded with the Argala, to which it has, in many points, a strong resemblance, but it is abundantly distinct, and never frequents villages near towns, but lives in the marshes and lakes, where it catches fish and crabs. Modun Tiky implies, that the hair of the head is beautiful as Cama, the son of Chrisna: Cama is supposed to be a Deity of exceeding beauty, and hence every thing of that nature is called Modun, which is one of his names. It is, however, from irony, that the natives apply the name to this bird, as in fact every part of it, especially the head, is remarkably ugly. I see this Species clearly distinguished from the Argala in the drawings of Sir John Anstruther, where it is observed, that it is the bird from which the Commercolly feathers are got; no doubt meaning the under tail coverts, as before mentioned, as both the last birds furnish them equally. Sir T. Stamford Rafiles mentions a small Variety of the Argala, with nearly black back and wings, which no doubt is this bird.t * Dr. Buchanan. + Lin. Trans. xiii. 325. 44 HERON. 11.—HOOPING CRANE. Ardea Americana, Ind. Orn. ii. 675. Lin. i. 234. Gm. Lin. i. 621. Ardea Americana, or Whooping Crane, Amer. Orn. viii. pl, 64. f. 3. Grus Americana, Bris. v, 382. Jd. 8vo. ii. 309. Grue blanche d@Amerique, Buf. vii. 808. PL. end. 889. Grus clamator, Great Whooping Crane, Bartram, Tr. p- 290. Hooping Crane, Gen. Syn.v. 42. Arct. Zool. No. 339. Id. Sup. p. 66. Cates. Car.i. pl. 75. Edw. pl. 132. Phil. Trans. xv. 409. LENGTH four feet and a half, and to the end of the claws five feet seven inches. Bill six inches long, toothed at the edges, near the end, and of a yellow brown colour; the top of the head, and under the eyes, covered with a red skin, beset with black hairs, which are so thick next the bill, as to appear nearly black, and end in a point below the ears; behind the crown, on the nape, a trian- gular black mark; the general colour of the plumage is white, except the bend of the wing, which is pale rose-colour; the nine first quills are black ; the tenth black and white; the rest white; legs and bare part of the thighs black; on the rump the feathers are tufted, and hang curving downwards, as in the Common Crane. Inhabits various parts of America, breeding in the northern, and retirmg southward, in autumn; arrives at Hudson’s Bay in May ; chiefly met with in unfrequented places, in the neighbourhood of lakes, where it breeds: the nest made on the ground, composed of grass and feathers; the female lays two white eggs, like those of a Swan, and sits twenty days. This bird has a loud, long note, which may be heard at a great distance ; the food, chiefly worms and insects, which it searches for at the bottoms of ponds. The natives call it Wapaw-uchechauk :* how far south it proceeds is not certain, but it appears in spring, about the mouths of Savanna, Aratamaha, and other rivers of St. Augustine, going north to breed, and returning in autumn. * Mr. Hutchins. HERON. 45 12.—BROWN CRANE. Ardea Canadensis, Ind. Orn. 11. 675. Lin. i. 234. Gm. Lin. i. 620. Grus freti Hudsonis, Bris. v. 385. Jd. 8vo.ii. 310. Gerin. iv. t. 416. Grus pratensis, Great Savanna Crane, Bartr. Tr. pp. 144. 199. 291. 218. Grus Canadensis, Frankl. Narr. App. p. 685. La Grue brune, Buf. vii. 310. Blue Crane, Phil. Trans. |xii. p. 409. Brown Crane, Gen. Syn. v. p. 43. Id. Sup. 11. 299. Arct. Zool. No. 340. Edw. pl. 133. SMALLER than the last; length three feet three inches; weight seven pounds anda half. Bill nearly four inches, and dusky; the tip of the under mandible flesh-colour ; the top of the head covered with a red skin, thinly beset with hairs; cheeks and throat whitish ; hindhead and neck cinereous; upper part of the back, scapulars, and wing coverts, pale rufous, margined with brown; the lower and rump cinereous; breast, belly, thighs, and sides, ash-colour, changing to white at the vent; greater wing coverts, farthest from the body, blackish brown ; those nearest the body grey, forming a band on the wing; the greater quills dark brown, with white shafts ; the secon- daries pale rufous; some of the last long, and narrow, and reach beyond the greater quills; tail deep ash-colour; legs and bare part of the thighs black ; length of the leg seven inches ; of the leg and thigh nineteen. Male and female much alike.* Inhabits America, migrating from north to south like the Hoop- ing Crane: comes into Hudson’s Bay in May, and has the same manners as the last ; is fond of corn, and sometimes occasions much damage, by eating the maize: is called at Severn River the Blue Crane; by the natives Samak-uchechauk. The female lays two * Dr. Forster mentions one being sent to England, in which the plumage was more dull, and the last row of white coverts of the wing wanting; and this he suspected to be the female. The author of the American Ornithology thinks this to be the young of the last species. A6 HERON. eges, of a dusky white, marked with blotches of brown, for one- third at the larger end, the smaller rather pointed; they form the nests by collecting together, on an eminence, a heap of dry grass, or such like material, nearly as high as the belly is from the ground; and when they cover the eggs, for the purpose of hatching them, they stand over this eminence, bearing their bodies and wings upon the eggs; in this imitating the Flamingo, and, perhaps, many other long-legged water birds: the male watchfully traverses, backwards and forwards, at a small distance, during the time of the female’s sitting, but we are not certain whether he takes his turn or not. This species frequents the pine woods in Georgia, chiefly near the sides of ponds, and is called the Sandhill Crane. Mr. Bartram makes the above to be considerably larger than our description ; his words are, “‘ this bird is about six feet in length, «* from the toes to the extremity of the beak when extended, and the “ wings expand eight or nine feet; it is above five feet high when « standing erect,” &c. : and in another place, talking of their regular and elegant evolutions in the air, in flowing language, he adds, that « when these birds move their wings in flight, their strokes are slow, ‘«« moderate, and regular; and even, when at a considerable distance, « or high above us, we plainly hear the quill feathers, their shafts ** and webs upon one another creak as the joints or working of a «* vessel in a tempestuous sea.” The flesh is by some thought tolerably good, but is much esteemed when made into soup, and is then said to be excellent. Mr. Abbot says, they trequent pine woods in pairs, or small com- panies, when they fly high; their note is allowed to be a sign of clear and cold weather: their flesh reckoned, by some, good eating. HERON. 47 A.—Grus Mexicana, Ind. Orn. ii. 676. Bris. v. 380. Id. 8vo. ii. 309. Grus Indica, Rati, 95. 2. Will. 201. Klein, 121. Ii. Grue brune du Mexique, Buf. vu. 312. Indian Crane, Will. Engl. 275. This is smaller than ours, and the bill straight, narrow, and longer in proportion; nostrils oblong ; irides yellow; plumage ash-colour, similar to the European Crane, but the greater quills are black ; the secondaries are ash-colour, long, and pointed, and reach to the end of the quills when the wing is closed; the tail consists of twelve feathers, and ash-colour. According to Willughby, (who seems to have seen the bird), the chief difference from the Common Crane is, that the top of the head, from the bill to the crown, is bare of feathers, only set with hairs, rough skinned, and of a red colour. Inhabits Mexico, and there called Toquil-coyotl, and Cocea- yauhqui. 13.—AUSTRALASIAN CRANE. THIS is said to be of a large size. Bill long, straight, yellow; top of the head bald, and of a yellowish white: between the bill and eyes, and all round the rest of the head, to below the nape, fine crimson, carunculated, and furnished on the chin and throat with long black hairs, thickly set; irides yellow ; plumage in general fine pale blue ash-colour, nearly white; greater quills and tail black, the last very short; the legs are long and black, segments every where white, or otherwise mottled black and white. Inhabits New-Holland.— Mr. Francillon. 48 HERON. *** STORKS, WITH NAKED ORBITS. 14.—WHITE STORK. Ardea Ciconia, Ind. Orn. ii. 676. Lin.i. 235. Faun. suec. No. 162. Gm. Lin. i. 622. Scop. i. No. 123. Frisch, t. 196. Brun. No. 154. Muller, p. 22. Faun. arag. p76. Rati, 97. A.1. Will. 210, t.52. Schef. t. 26. Bris. v. 365. t. 32. Id. 8vo. ii. 805. Klein, Av. 125. Id. Ov. 34. t. 17. f. 2. Borowsk. iii. 78. 1. Faun. Helv. It. Poseg. p.25. Gerin.iv. t. 434, Gesn. Av. pl. in p. 230. Tem. Man. @’ Orn. 358. Id. Ed. i. 561. Cicogne blanche, Buf. vii. 253. pl. 12. Pl. enl. 866. Hist. Prov. i. p. 348. Voy. en Barb. 276. Robert, Ic. pl. 7. & 13. Johnst. Av. pl. 50. f. 1. 2. Der weisse Storch, Bechst. Deutsch. iii. s. 48. Schmid, Vog. p. 116. t. 101. White Stork, Gen. Syn. v. 47. Id. Sup. 234. Arct. Zool. ii, 455. C. Hasselq. Voy. p- 32. Will. Engl. 286. pl. 52. Albin, 11. pl. G4. Ives, Voy. pp. 299. 307. Fryer, Trav. 251. Russ. Alep. 69. Bewick, ii, p.32. Lewin, iv. pl. 144. Walcot, Birds, ii. pl. 125. Orn. Dict. § Supp. Wood's Zoogr. i. p. 519, pl. 28. LENGTH three feet three inches. Bill seven inches and three quarters long, and of a fine red colour; the plumage in general white, except the orbits of the eyes, which are bare, and blackish ; some of the scapulars, the greater wing coverts, and quills, are black ; the skin, legs, and bare part of the thighs are red.* There is little or no difference in the sexes. This familiar species inhabits various parts of the Old Continent, but avoiding alike the extremes of heat and cold, being never met with between the Tropics, or seen, except very rarely, more north than Sweden, or in Russia, beyond the 58th degree: it never fre- quents Siberia, though sometimes seen in Bucharia, where it makes * The bill and legs are sometimes brown ; such a Wariety I once saw in the collection of that well-informed Naturalist, the late Marmaduke Tunstall, Esq. to whom I owe many communications in Ornithology. HERON. 49 its nest ; tending towards the south in autumn, to pass the winter in Egypt.* In Lorraine, Alsace, and particularly in Holland, they are every where seen on the tops of houses, and the good-natured inhabitants generally provide boxes for them to make their nests in; this they not only do, but are especially careful that the birds suffer no injury, resenting it as done to themselves: are singularly favoured at the Hague, and Amsterdam, where they are seen stalking in the markets, pertectly tame, picking up offal, and garbage, about the fish stalls; and have sheltered places appropriated to their use. As to England, it must be called a rare bird, as but few instances have occurred, of its being ‘ound here at large. Willughby mentions one being shot in Norfolk; and Albin a second in Middlesex: in 1784, one was found dead on the shore, at Sandwich Bay; and in the winter of 1785, another, shot at South- fleet, in Kent. In the beginning of the winter 1789, a farmer, of Downton, near Salisbury, killed a Stork; and in May 1800, one was shot near Sandwich, by Mr. Boys. We have heard of some other instances, but not having put them on paper, can say no further. In the colder parts of France, they are in much less plenty than towards the south ; frequent in Spain; and in no place, more so than Seville;+ common at Aleppo, and said to have two broods in a year—the first towards the north; the second in the warmer * At Alexandria, and other parts of Egypt, as also throughout Turkey, they are in the highest degree esteemed ; and if a Christian should kill one, he would run much hazard of his life ; and the house on which a nest is placed, is supposed to receive great blessings, &c. Hasselq. Voy. p.32. This was also the sentiment of the Ancients; as the same punishment, was inflicted on any one who killed a Stork, as if he had killed a man; and the love of these birds is said to have arisen, from their having freed Thessaly from serpents.—Pliny N. Hist. 1. 10. ch. 23. Anach, iii. 316.—I find the Stork among Mr. Bruce’s Abyssinian drawings. + They are here very numerous in the winter season; almost every tower in the city is peopled with them, and they return annually to the same nests. They destroy all the vermin on the tops of the houses, and pick up a great number of snakes; so that they are welcome guests to the inhabitants, and looked upon witi particular veneration.—Dillon’s Trav. 308. Faber but once, and Aldrovandus never, saw them in Italy; yet Virgil speaks of their being there as not uncommon: cum vere rubenti, Candida venit avis longis invisa Colubris. Georg. lib. II. 320. VOL. 1X. 50 HERON. places; and are seen in vast flocks during their migrations. Shaw saw three flights of them leaving Egypt, passing over Mount Carmel, towards the north east, in the middle of April, each of them halfa mile in breadth, and they were three hours passing over; they are also observed always to change their abode in this manner,** and to rendezvous in amazing numbers before their departure, when of a sudden they take dight with great silence, and are soon out of sight. At Bagdad, Mr. Ives observed a nest of these, June 13, on the dome of a decayed mosque, and says, that hundreds are to be seen on every house, wall, and tree, quite tame.t At Persepolis, or Chilmanor, in Persia, the remains of the pillars serve them to build on, every pillar having a nest.{ It is said, that they are found in Barbary throughout the year, breeding there, and are esteemed by the Moors; and a few of them appear in spring and autemn, at Gibraltar, on their passage elsewhere into Enrope, but do not breed there, though now and then one is seen on the Isthmus, on the sand hills and plashes, in search of frogs, &c.; how much farther south on the African coast it is met with is not well ascertained, but we have anthority for saying it is both in India and China, though perhaps not in great plenty. And Keempter asserts, that the Stork is in Japan, and stays in the country all the year ;§ but E rather suspect that to be the Great White Heron, if not the Japan White Crane, which we know is there a native. || * In the summer of 1765, a cloud of Storks passed over Paris, divided into two troops, or bands, the lower within reach of any one, the other much higher, and came from the north west: they stopped for some time to rest themselves, about the Observatory, and other parts, during which one was taken alive, and several others killed : it was not known from whence they came, and such an event was in France very uncommon.—Guett. Mem. ii. p. xviii. The same happened in the month of June, at Bamberg, in Germany.—Gent, Mag. Sept. 111, p. 274. , + Ives, Voy. pp. 299. 307. + Fryers Travels, 251. § Kempf. Japan, p. 129. || Ardea alba et major, the White and Common Heron at Japan.—Thunb. Travels, iv. p. 99. Keempfer talks of two different kinds of Cranes, one the Common, the other as white as snow; and several kinds of them, the chief the White Heron, and the Grey Heron, both very common; and one of a bluish colour, almost as big as a Crane.—Kempf. Jap. p. 129. HERON. 51 The nest of the Stork is large, composed of sticks, and the eggs often four, of a dirty yellowish white, the size of those of a Goose, but a trifle longer: the young are hatched in a month, and are at first brown. Both sexes said to watch them by turns, till of age to take care of themselves. The Stork often rests, and sleeps on one leg, and makes at intervals a singular, snapping noise with the bill.** The food consists of frogs, snakes, and other reptiles; hence the veneration of all sects for this bird, which frees them from these pests; added to the flesh being no temptation as food, for it is allowed on ali hands to be unsavoury. Dr. Chandler, in his Travels in Asia,t+ makes frequent mention of Cranes; but by his description it is evident that they were not Cranes, but Storks. «The Crane, ‘he says, is tall like a Heron, but larger; the body white, with «‘ black pinions; the head small, and the bill thick; he adds, that ‘‘ they build on walls and houses, and that the Turks hold them in « veneration.” All this agrees with the Stork only, and not the Crane. 15.—BLACK STORK. Ardea nigra, Ind. Orn. 1. 677. Lin. i. 235. = Faun. Suec. No. 163. Gm. Lin. i. 623. Scop.i. No. 124. Brun. p.46. Muller, p.22. Georgi, p.171. Borowsk. ii. 79. Faun. Helv. It. Poseg. 25. Spalowsk, iii. t. 27. Ciconia nigra, Rati, 97. 2. Will. 211. t.52. Klein, 125. Il. Id. Ov. 34. t.18. 1. Gerin. iv. t.433. Tem. Man. d’Orn. 359. Id. Ed_.ii. p. 561. Ciconia fusea, Bris. v. 362. 1. t.31. Jd. Svo. ii. 304. Cicogne noire, Buf. vii. 271. Pl. ent. 399. Dec. russ. ii. 77. Der Schwarze Storch, Bechst. Deutsch. iii. s. 56. Aghirone nero, Cett. Uc. Sard. 175. Black Stork, Gen. Syn. v. 50. Arct, Zool. ii. 456. D. Will. Engl. 286. pl.52. Alb. ii. pl. 82, SIZE of a small Turkey ; length two feet nine inches. Bill five inches and a half Jong, of a greenish grey, with a whitish tip; the * In doing this the head is turned backwards, the upper part of the bill placed on the rump, and the under, set into the quickest motion, made to act on the other.—Jves, Voy. 307, Tt p. 96. ~ Archeol. xiii. p. 841. &e. H 2 52 HERON. top of the head brown, glossed with violet and green; throat and neck brown, dotted with white, but the lower part of the neck is glossed with violet, and dotted with grey brown ; back, wing coverts, and scapulars, violet brown, glossed with green; ramp pale brown ; from the breast to the vent white; quills brown, glossed with green and violet; those nearest the body narrow, and as long as the greater when the wing is closed; tail rounded in shape; legs dull red ; the claws broad and flat. Inhabits many parts of Europe, but is less common than the White, and like that, migrates south in autamn, but is much Jess familiar, for it retires to the thick forests and marshes, at a distance irom habitations, to breed, being a solitary species. It is pretty common in Poland, Lithuania, Prussia, aud Switzerland, migrating much farther nerth than the White Sort; in the more temperate parts of Russia and Siberia not uncommon, and plentiful all along the Don; perches on trees, and makes the nest on them in the depths of forests. From its being less common, fewer authors have mentioned it: it is said, however, to frequent the Caspian Sea, and to be met with at Aleppo; like the White Species, it feeds on reptiles and fish, and the flesh is said to be no better tasted ; the egg, according to Klein, is pale, and smaller than that of the White Stork. It has only been met with in England once, that I know of, and in the Collection of Colonel Montagu, to whom a specimen was brought, having only been wounded in the wing. ‘The Colonel informed me, that it lived in perfect amity among his aquatic birds, and so tame, as to follow him for food, which it would take out of his hands;* it lived on reptiles, and offal of all kinds, but eels were the food it seemed most to delight in. * See Lin. Trans. Vol. xii. p. 19. This bird had a bill seven inches long, the upper mandible rather longer than the under; colour dusky red, with an orange tip; and the inides light hazel: lore and orbits bare, and of a dull red ; the general description much as above mentioned: in respect to the changes of plumage, we refer the reader to the memoir itself. HERON. od 16.- GLOSSY STORK. SIZE large, at least equal to the last Species. Bill long, stout, crimson, and pointed at the end; round the eye bare and red; the whole side, beneath the eye, also bare, brownish green, and rounded behind, passing quite on the ears, and bounded at the back with red ; general colour of the plumage black, with a gloss of green in some lights, and of purple in others; the feathers on the fore part of the neck Jong, and haag loosely over it; all the under parts, from the breast, thighs, and vent white; the second wing coverts long, and hang over the great quills and tail, so as to hide both; the legs are long, stout, and red; between the toes a strong membrane. Inhabits India.—Sir J. Anstruther. 17.—AMERICAN STORK. Ardea Maguari, Ind. Orn.ii. 677. Gm. Lin. i. 623. Ciconia Maguari, Tem. Man. d’Orn. 360. Id. Ed. ii. 563. Ciconia Americana, Bris. v. 389. fd. 8vo. i. 305. Klein, 125. LITT. Maguari, Raii, 97.3. Will, 2u1. Id. Engl. 287. Buf. vu. 275. Le Baguari, Voy. d’Azara, iv. No, 342. American Stork, Gen. Syn. v. 50. SIZE of the Common Stork. Bill nine inches long, the base half yellowish green, the rest bluish ash-colour ; irides silvery; orbits and bare skin between the bill and eyes red; plumage in general white ; the feathers, on the lower part of the neck before, long and loose ; tail white, but the feathers above it are black ; the greater scapulars, greater wing coverts, and quills black ; those nearest the body as long as the quills; the legs and bare part above the joint red; the claws broad and flat. 54 HERON. Inhabits the warmer parts of North America, especially Brazil, and accounted good food; said to snap with the bill as the Common Stork. One of these, alive some time since, at Exeter Change, London, had the beginning of the back pale rose-colour. M.Temminck informs us, that some of these birds have been killed in France. According to Azara, the length is forty-three inches; breadth seventy-eight and a half. Bill seven inches and a half; tail nine. Inhabits Paraguay, and to the south of the River Plata; the Spa- niards call it Cicogne ; the Guaranis, Baguari and Maguari; and others Tuyuyu-guazu: found in moist places, and there wades in the water, but is often seen on dry land, either single, or at most in pairs, yet in January unites in flocks of more than fifty, under 25 deg. lat. : flies often to a great height, and said to perch on trees ; makes a nest towards the end of the year. The young birds are dusky brown, with a white belly ; and when getting the adult plumage, which it does by degrees, appears marbled ; the young, when brought up, become very tame and familiar, flying to a distance, and returning to their master at meal times. 18.—VIOLET STORK. Ardea leucocephala, Ind. Orn. ii. 699. Gm. Lin. i. 642. Ciconia leucocephala, Lin. Trans. xii. p. 188. Heron violet, Buf. vin. 370. Pl. enl. 206. Hunch-back Heron, Penn. Hind. ii. 158. Td. Violet, 157. Violet Heron, Gen. Syn. ve 97. Id. Sup, 236. THIS is thirty-eight inches in length. Bill dusky brown; tongue extremely small; irides crimson; lower part of the neck, the body, wings, and tail bluish black, glossed with violet; the rest of the head and neck white; vent and under tail coverts the same; the legs reddish brown. Inhabits the Coast of Coromandel, and, with a trifling variety in colour, also Java; called there Sandang-lawe. HERON. 55 A.—Bill dusky purple; head and neck white; top of the head black; body above black, glossed with purple and green ; the tail black, the upper coverts mixed with white; legs as in the other. Inhabits India, called Luglug. B.—Bill dusky, the edges red; irides red; the sides of the head bare, marked with grey specks ; crown of the head black; neck and all beneath white; the rest of the plumage black, with a tinge of green on the wings; thighs covered a very little way with feathers; the bare part and legs red. Inhabits India. C.—In another drawing I observe one which is similar, having the tail white, and the breast black ; but as the specimen is repre- sented with the feathers soft and downy, it is probably a young bird. The Violet Sterk is said to be very common in the East Indies ; in some the legs are yellow, and in others red; is called at Bengal, Monickjore ; at Hindustan, Luglug; is accounted good eating, and used for sport in falconry, in the same manner as the Common Heron formerly was in this kingdom. Mr. Pennant, from the shoulders being much elevated, has given it the name of Hunchback. These birds are monogamous; the male and female remaining together at all seasons, at least in the vicinity of Caleatta, feeding on worms and fishes. The Mahomeddans do not eat this bird, though they do other Herons, im respect to a Saint named Monik, the name of a precious stone, said to be found in the head of a snake; and Jur, a pair, alluding to their living in pairs.—Dr. Buchanan, 56 HERON. ¥**%* FHERONS.—THE MIDDLE CLAW SERRATED WITHIN. 19.—NIGHT HERON. Ardea Nycticorax, Ind. Orn. 11. 678. Lin.i. 235. Gm. Lin. i. 624. Scop. i. No. 116. Kramer, 347. Sepp,t. p. 131. Bris. v. 493. t.39. Jd. Svo. ii. 341. Rai, 99. 3. Will, 204. t.49. Faun. arag. 76. Borowsk. iit. 74. Faun. Helv. Dec. russ. i. 77. Gerin. iv. t. 422. Tem. Man. Ed. ii. p. 578. Lin. Trans. xiii. 189. Ardea varia, Klein, 123. V. Id. Stem, 29. t. 31. f. 1—4. Jd. Ov. 34. t. 18. f. 2, Ardea Kwaka, N. C. Petr. xv. 452. t. 14. Le Bihoreau, Buf. vii. 435. pl. 12. Pl. enl. 758. Pernet. Voy. it. p. 26. Der Nachtreiher, Bechst. Deuts. iii. s. 37. t. Il. Id. Ed. ii. V. iv. p. 54. Naturf. xii. 206. Jd. xv. 161. Nitticorace, Cett. Uc. Sard. 273. Night Heron, Night Raven, Gen. Syn. vy. 52. Id. Sup, 234. Br. Zool. 1812.11, p. 23. Arct. Zool. i. No. 356. Will. Engl. 279. pl. 49. Albin, i. pl. 67. Ray’s Trav. p- 38. Lewin, pl. 145. Walcot, i. pl. 126. Orn. Dict. § Supp. Amer. Orn, Vita O7, ple Gl. fi 2.36 The YOUNG BIRD. Ardea grisea, Lin. 1. 239. Gm. Lin. i. 625. Bris. v. 412. t. 36. f. 1. Jd. 8Svo. ii. 317. Faun. Helv. Dec, russ. u. 146. Sepp, t. p. 151. Bihoreau, la femelle, Pl. ent. 759. Der graue Reiher, Bechst. Deuts. il. s. 38. Female Night Heron, Gen. Syn. v. p. 53. Lewin, pl. 146. Id. t. xxv. 2.—the egg. Bewick, ii. pl. in p. 43. Amer. Orn. vu. pl. G1. f.3.—young bird. THIS elegant species is in length twenty inches; breadth forty. Bill stout, three inches and three quarters long, black, with the base yellowish ; ivides orange ; lore and round the eye green ; crown of the head greenish black, reaching a little way on the back of the neck, and there ending m a point; from the hindhead spring three very narrow feathers, nearly six inches in length, of a pure white, HERON. 57 with dusky tips; the hind part of the neck and its sides are ash- colour; the upper part of the back dull green; the lower, rump, wings, and tail, pale ash-colour; the forehead, and the rest of the body, white; legs yellowish green ; claws dusky. The young bird is nearly of the same size, Bill the same; lore white; length twenty-one inches, breadth thirty-six ; weight fourteen ounces twelve drachms. Irides brown; till the second year it has the following plumage :—Crown of the head brown and glossy; the upper parts of the body the same, but inclining to grey ; the hind part of the neck palest, the feathers streaked with brown down the shafts; the lower part of the back and rump almost grey 5 over the eye, from the nostrils, a whitish streak, mixed with brown ; cheeks mixed white and brown; chin white; fore part of the neck grey, with a yellowish streak down the middle of each feather, those towards the bottom of the neck longest ; the rest of the under parts are grey, growing white on the belly and vent; wings grey brown, streaked with yellowish white; some of the greater coverts tipped with white; quills cinereous grey, the eighteen first with white tips ; tail of the same colour, all but the two middle feathers more or less white at the ends; legs grey brown. The female, when in complete plumage, scarcely differs from the male. This species is common both in Europe and America, and we believe, with some exceptions as Varieties, in Africa and Asia likewise. The instances of its being found in England are but few, not more than two or three having occurred to our knowledge.** Is frequent in the southern parts of the Russian dominions, within the latitude of 53. Is probably not met with in Sweden, or it would have been noticed in the Fauna Suecica. Is tound on the River * One in the Leverian Museum, shot in the year 1782; and another taken in Suffolk, at Cockly, about seven or eight miles from the sea coast, which was wounded in the wing, and preserved alive in the year 1797; a third shot at Cliefden, in Buckinghamshire ; a fourth near Lewes, in Sussex, in 1816.—Communicated by Mr. Pennant. Col. Montagu men-+ tions one shot in the summer of 1791. yOu, IX. I 58 HERON. Don, where it builds on trees; also at Astrachan during summer 3 was formerly in plenty at Sevenhuys, about four leagues from Leyden, with the Spoon-bills, and other birds, but the wood that grew there has been for some time destroyed.* Like many of the Genus it migrates according to the season; is not uncommon in Carniola, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland: is met with in France, but by no means common: often shot in Spain, and frequently seen in the marshes and rivers about Gibraltar, but is every where more rare than the Heron. Is found at Aleppo, and may be seen figured in Chinese drawings ;+ we have observed it likewise in those from India, with very little variation; and most certainly, is not uncommon in the province of Oude, as I find it among the drawings of Lord Mountnorris, under the name of Soobuke; called at Bengal, Wak. Is found in Java, where it is known by the name of Guwo. This bird inhabits various parts of America, being met with about New York and Rhode Island, and probably reaching to Cayenne. Mr. Abbot describes it as a native of Georgia, where it frequents the ponds in summer, but is not common: he calls the length twelve inches only, and the breadth forty; and though we have every reason to think it the same as ours, it is certainly much smaller ;+¢ the legs deep yellow; it is said to make the nest in trees, but sometimes builds it among the rocks, and lays three or four bluish white eggs, two inches and a quarter long, by one inch and three quarters broad : the food consists chiefly of frogs, reptiles, and fish. The flesh, in general, is not palatable for food. It is called in America the Qua Bird, from the note imitating that word, in a hoarse kind of voice, 2 * In the year 1663, rented at 3000 gilders per annum, of Baron Pelemberg, ‘for the sake of the birds and grass. —Ray’s Travels, p. 38. + One of these in the speckled dress, in possession of Sir J. Banks, was brought from thence; in this every wing feather was tipped with white, and the spots more distinct than in the European one. Pernetty met with it in Falkland Island, See Voy. aux Malouin. ile pao: ~ The Night Heron said to build on the high Bignonias, in Brazil. Supposed to be the same as the European, but larger.— Maxim. Tr.i. 107. HERON. 59 not ill resembling a person attempting to vomit. The Amer. Orn. informs us, that contrary to the generally received opinion, both sexes, when adult, are so alike in colour, as not to be distinguished, and both are furnished with the slender plumes at the hindhead; and that the reputed female is no other than the young bird in its first year’s dress; but that they gain the full plumage the succeeding spring; for on their first arrival in April, no birds are to be seen in the speckled plumage ; but soon after they have bred, these become more numerous than the others. They migrate early in October. 20.—CALEDONIAN NIGHT HERON. Ardea Caledonica, Ind. Orn. ii. 679. Gm. Lin. i. 626. Le Tayagu-guira, Voy. d’ Azara, iv. No. 357 ? Caledonian Night Heron, Gen. Syn. v. 55. Cook's Voy. ii. p. 111. pl. 50. LENGTH twenty-two inches. Bill straight, shaped as the Night Heron, and black ; between the bill and eye bare and green ; irides yellow ; from the nape spring three long feathers, reaching to the back, as in that bird; crown black; over the eyes, between that and the crest, a streak of white; general colour of the plumage ferruginous, inclining to brown, the neck palest, the feathers of it loose before ; breast, belly, and under parts, white; Jegs yellow; claws dusky. Inhabits New Caledonia, where it is called Collinah; one similar in plumage from New-Holland was in the collection of Mr. Bullock. Among Mr. Francillon’s collection of New-Holland drawings was one, probably the female. Bill dusky, pale rufous beneath ; round the eye bare and bluish; irides yellow; plumage in general rufous brown; crown of the head dark; parts above dusky brown, beneath white; neck streaked with dusky ; back and wing coverts mottled, and marked with pale spots, with the addition of a few 12 G69 HERON. rufous ones on the wing coverts; quills rufous, with pale ends, reaching to the end of the tail; legs blackish. | This was probably a young bird. A.—Caledonian Night Heron, Gen. Syn. Sup. ii. 299. This slight Variety has the bill and legs brown; general colour of the plumage chestnut brown, paler on the fore part of the neck 5 belly white; on the breast, and each side of the back, towards the tail, the plumage is very soft and downy, appearing ofa silky texture, and to the touch full as delicate as that ef Swan’s skin, of which powder puffs are made. Inhabits New-Holland, and seems not greatly to differ from the Caledonian one; and perhaps it may be doubted, whether this last is not a Variety of the Common Night Heron, which has been met with in almost every part of the globe yet known, not excepting our own kingdom. We suspect this to be the Hog Bird of Azara, called by the Guaranis Tayazu guira, and found about Paraguay, in South America, in small flocks, in the marshes, and other inundated places; for in description it comes so near to the Caledonian, as to make one suppose it to be the same; it is said to take the name of Hog Bird, from its making a grunting, somewhat like that animal; and the lower classes think, that if it flies over the houses, it presages death. 21.—CHESTNUT HERON. Ardea badia, Ind. Orn. ii. 686. Gm. Lin. i. 644. Tem. Man. d’Orn. 376. Id. Ed. ii- p- 979. Cancrofagus castaneus, Bris. v. 468. Id. 8yo. ii. 334. Crabier roux, Buf. vii. 390. Der Castanien braune Reiher, Bechst. Deutsch. iii. s. 34. Chestnut Heron, Gen. Syn. v. p. 73. SIZE of a Crow. Bill four inches long, brown; irides pale yellow; head and body above chestnut; beneath dirty white, with HERON. 6l a streak of pure white down all the fore part of the neck and breast, quite to the belly ; wing coverts incline to blue; quills black ; tail chestnut; legs red. Tnhabits Siberia; builds in high trees, and feeds on fish, insects, &c.; supposed to be a young Night Heron, not in full plumage. 22,—-DARTER HERON. LENGTH nineteen inches, of which the neck is seven, and the tail three. The bill almost three inches, it is straight, compressed, sharp, and carinated ; both above and below yellowish, point black ; the gape wide, reaching to the middle of the eye; below the nostrils yellowish green, above livid, upper mandible emarginated, and both slightly serrated near the point; nostrils linear, and pervious, placed in a slight furrow; tongue long, black, sharp; lore and_ orbits naked, greenish; irides yellow, with a brown circle; neck much compressed, and the vertebrae and windpipe disposed as in the Purple Heron; the front and crown are brownish ash-colour ; at the nape three long, lanceolate, white feathers; chin and throat dirty white ; sides of the neck pale dirty yellow, or drab-colour, mixed with ash at the lower part, and some of the feathers are broad; intermixed with these, especially below, are many that are very narrow, and paler than the others; shoulders the same colour as the head; the upper scapulars loose-webbed, and incline to yellow, the under close webbed, and white ; between the shoulders arise many broad, loose, chestnut feathers, inclining to purple, which cover the whole back, and reach to the end of the tail ; all the rest of the plumage is white, with a yellowish tinge on the upper wing and tail coverts; the naked part of the thighs, the legs, and toes, pale green; a web between the two outer toes as far as the first joint, the middle toe serrated within. Inhabits India: it is the Couch of the Bengalese, Crouch of the Sanscrit, and is the most common of the small Herons near 62 HERON. Calcutta: it seems to differ considerably from the bird of the same name, though its manners are much the same :* it draws its neck in between the shoulders, and darts it out to its utmost length ona sudden, in the manner of the Bittern. In the drawings of Sir J. Anstruther is one, very nearly answer- ing to the last described ; head and neck yellowish buff-colour ; from the nape two long feathers. _ Bill yellow, half the end black ; bare part between the bill and eye green; all the back chestnut brown ; the wings, under parts, and thighs, white; legs yellow. With this is another, streaked and spotted as the reputed female of the Night Heron. I make no doubt but the male had Jost at least one of the usual three elongated nape feathers, but in two others I observe at at least six long ones at the nape, in other respects the figures do not materially differ. One of these answering to the last description, in the drawings of Lord Mountnorris, had six feathers at’ the nape ; the wings and tail even in Jength; name, Bugha. 23.—NEW-HOLLAND NIGHT HERON. LENGTH two feet; shape of the Night Heron. Bill like it, and black ; plumage above brown, thickly marked with dusky streaks, and many of the feathers edged with ferruginous; several of the lesser wing coverts pale, or whitish, with dusky black shafts; quills dusky, four of the outer ones white, for one inch and a half from the base, and the inner parts of the webs white; tail eight inches long, and grey, the middle feathers more or less barred with dusky; the three outer ones white within, but barred and tipped with dusky ; tail cuneiform; legs black; from knee to toe six inches. Inhabits New-Holland: probably a female bird. * Dr. Buchanan. HERON. 63 24.—CAYENNE NIGHT HERON. Ardea Cayanensis, Znd. Orn. ii. GSO. Gm. Lin. i. 626. Le Biboreau de Cayenne, Buf. vu. 439, Pl. enl. 899. Cayenne Night Heron, Gen. Syn. v. p. 56. SIZE of the Eurepean Species, but more slender, and the legs longer; length twenty inches. Bill black; lore pale green ; crown of the head white; a streak of white from the nostrils, passes beneath the eye, towards the hindhead; the rest of the head black, ending ima point on the back part of the neck; from this last springs a crest of six long feathers, of unequal lengths, half ef them white ; the rest black ; the general colour of the rest of the plumage bluish ash-colour, darkest on the back and wings, which are marked with a blackish streak down the shaft; quills black: it is high mounted on its legs, and the thighs bare for a great length, the colour of which, as well as the legs, is yellowish. Inhabits Cayenne. A.—Size of the Night Heron. Bill the same and black; head and neck black ; forehead and crown white; from the nape three long white feathers as in the European Species; under the ears an oval patch of white; general colour of the plumage pale blue grey ; but the feathers on the back and wings are blue black, with silvery grey edges; quills and tail blue grey, the last short; legs yellow. Inhabits New-Holland. B.—Length twenty-two inches. Bill dusky, three inches long, with a slight notch near the tip; crown of the head white, ending in several long feathers hanging behind, the rest of the head black ; on the cheek an oval large patch of white, finishing at each end in 64 HERON. A point; the rest of the neck, breast, and beneath, pale blue grey, the two last paler ; the back and wing coverts have long narrow feathers, of a sooty black, with narrow greenish edges, appearing as alternate blackish and whitish streaks, but the beginning of the back is plain dull ash; quills and tail pale blnish ash ; legs dull red. In the collection of Genera] Davies, and in that of Mr. Bullock were specimens of this bird, said to have been brought from New- Holland. 25.—YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. Ardea violacea, Ind. Orn. ii. 690. Lin.i. 238. Gm. Lin. i. 634. Amer. Ornith. pl. 65, f.1. Ardea stellaris cristata Americana, Alein, Av. 124. ix. Cancrofagus Bahamensis, Bris. y. 481. Id. 8vo. 11. 337. Ardea ceruleo-nigra, Rati, 189. Sloan. Jam. ii. 314. pl. 264. f. 4. Ardea violacea, Crested Blue Bittern, Bartr. Trav. 291? Le Crabier gris-de-fer, Buf. vil. 399. Rother Reyger, Naturf. xii, 208. Grey-crested Gaulding, Brown, Jam. 478. Crested Bittern, Cates. Car.i. pl. 79. Yellow-crowned Heron, Gen. Syn. y. 80. Arct. Zool. 11. No. 352. LENGTH fifteen inches and a half; weight half a pound. Bill nearly two inches and three quarters long, black ; irides red; the bare skin round them green; crown of the head yellow,* ending in a crest, lengthening into four or five white feathers, the longest nearly six inches; the rest of the head blue black ; from the corners of the mouth, on each side, a white streak, passing to the hindhead ; back streaked black and white ; and from the lower part are long narrow feathers, which hang over the tail, as in many of the Genus; under parts from chin to vent dusky blue ; quills bluish brown ; tail dull blue; legs yellow, claws dusky. Male and female much alike. * In Amer. Ornith. pure white. HERON. 65 Inhabits Carolina, chiefly in the rainy season; at the Bahama Islands they breed among the rocks, in the bushes on the banks, and are called Crab-catchers; in the Bahamas they are in such plenty, that a boat may be loaded with the young ones in a few hours; and so far from shy, that they will scarcely get out of the way of those who mean to take them: the young are pretty good eating. The above seems to be the one called Poor Job, which Mr. Bar- tram mentions as arriving in spring, in Carolina, and Florida, from the south; and after breeding, and bringing up the young, returning from whence it came. 26.—JAMAICA NIGHT HERON. Ardea Jamaicensis, Ind. Orn. 11. 679. Gm. Lin. i. 625. Le Heron brun tacheté, Voy. d’ Azara, iv. No. 355. Jamaica Night Heron, Gen. Syn. v. p. 54. LENGTH one foot eleven inches. Bill four inches long, and dusky ; upper mandible bending a trifle downwards at the point, the ridge blackish; irides pale straw-colour; before the eye, and round it, bare and greenish; the head somewhat crested; crown dark brown, the feathers streaked with ferruginous; neck the same, but the colours more dull and paler; chin and throat white; neck feathers loose; upper part of the back darkest; the rest of the back and scapulars yellowish brown, some of the last tipped with white ; wing coverts like the back, but the lower order of them much paler, giving the appearance of a broad bar; all the coverts white down the shafts, spreadmg out to the tip, and forming a longish, trian- gular spot; quills the colour of the lesser coverts; primaries and bastard wing tipped with white; secondaries plain; breast and belly white, streaked with obscure pale brown; vent white; legs brown. I received this bird from Jamaica, under the name of Clucking Hen; said to frequent the woods, contrary to the rest of the Genus, VOL. IX. K 66 HERON. which haunt morasses. It is scarce, and very shy: as I learn from the friend who sent it to me; and is larger than the Night Heron, but seems to have great aflinity with it. It is said to have been met with im Paraguay. 27.—GARDENIAN NIGHT HERON. Ardea Gardeni, Ind. Orn. ii. 685. Gm. Lin.i. 645. Tem. Man. d’Orn, 376. Botaurus nevius, Bris. vy. 462. Id. 8vo. ii. 332. Frisch, ii. t. 9. Butor tacheté, ou Pouacre, Buf. vii. 427. Pl. enl. 939. Der geflechte Reiher, Bechst. Deuts. i, 35. Spotted Heron, Gen. Syn. v. 71. Gardenian Heron, Arct. Zool. i. No. 355. Br. Zool. Ed. 1812. V. ii. p. 27. pl. 7. Lin. Trans. vy. p. 276. Orn. Dict. Supp. LENGTH twenty-two inches. Bill strong, dusky ; head, neck, breast, and belly, whitish, elegantly streaked downwards with short, fine lines of black ; crown and hind part darkest ; upper part of the back streaked with white, the lower dusky and plain; the whole wing of the same colour; lesser coverts marked with small yellowish spots; the greater with a small spot of white on each feather, forming two rows across the wings; primaries edged with dull white, the ends tipped with the same; tail dusky; legs deep dirty yellow. The late Mr. Pennant received a specimen, from which the above description was taken, sent by Dr. Garden, of South Carolina, where it frequents ponds and rivers, in the interior of the country, remote from the sea; seen also about Savannah, in Georgia, and there called Indian Pullet ; frequently found in the rice fields. In the collection of Colonel Montagu was a bird, with so many characters of the above, as to inclme one to think it the same: the length twenty-three inches. Bill two inches and a half; crown of the head chocolate brown, shaded to a dull yellow at the nape, where the feathers are much elongated; chin and throat nearly white; on each side, behind the ears, a black mark ; the feathers on the neck long, with fibrous webs like the Common Bittern; those in HERON. 67 front pale yellow, with broad streaks of chestnut, usually one web of each colour; the feathers of the breast long, and chocolate brown, glossed with purple, and margined with yellow ; belly and sides the same, but less bright, the brown marks becoming speckled ; vent yellowish white; back and scapulars chocolate brown, with paler margins, minutely speckled, and glossed with purple; wing coverts dull yellow; quills and greater wing coverts dusky lead-colour, slightly tipped with brown; tertials and tail ke the back; toes long, the middle claw slightly serrated. This was killed in Dorsetshire; another near Cliefden, as men- tioned by Mr. Pennant; a third shot in Oxfordshire, in 1798; anda fourth shot from the bough of a tree, on which it perched, near St. Asaph, in Flintshire, in 1810. It also inhabits Germany, according to M. Bechstein, who seems to think it allied to the Common Night Heron. 28.—OBSCURE NIGHT HERON. Ardea obscura, Ind. Orn. ii. 679. It. Posseg. 24. ii. Obscure Heron, Gen. Syn. Sup. ii. 300. SIZE and habit of the Bittern. Bull rather bent, blackish green; on the hindhead a dependent crest of one feather; forehead, crown, and nape, dull chestnut; back and wing coverts the same, with a gold green gloss; neck behind ferruginous chestnut ; before, with the breast and belly, chestnut, spotted longitudinally with white and ferruginous ; quills dull chestnut, tipped with white; tail chestnut ; legs short, greenish. Inhabits Sclavonia, about Possega. We have retained several of the above as different in species, though with much uncertainty ; especially as the Night Heron is subject to vary much in the various stages of life; and hence, perhaps, may lead into the supposition of more than one being distinct, when in reality they are Varieties only of the same original. K 2 68 HERON. 29.—FERRUGINOUS HERON. Ardea ferruginea, Ind. Orn. ii. G88. Gm. Lin. i. 634. N. C. Petr. xv. 457. t. 16. Gmel. reise, iii. 253. , Ferruginous Heron, Gen. Syn. v. 76. LENGTH twenty-one inches and a half. Bill greenish flesh- colour, with the end brownish; the upper mandible somewhat bent at the tip; lore and over the eyes green; irides saffron-colour ; feathers of the head, neck, and back, longish, black, and tipped with ferruginous; those of the crown somewhat elongated; chin yellowish white ; wing coverts black brown, the outer ones tipped with ferru- ginous; those nearest the body varied with rufous white; quills black; rump, breast, and belly, variegated with ferruginous, whitish, cinereous, and brown; thighs with rufous and cinereous white ; the wings, when closed, reach a trifle beyond the tail; legs green. This species is found in the summer about the River Don, sup- posed to come from the Black Sea, and departs in autumn : feeds on fish and insects ; frequently found with Castaneous species. 30.——LITTLE BITTERN. MALE. Ardea minuta, Ind. Orn. 11. 683. Lin. i. 240. 26. 8. Gm. Lin. i. 646. Nramer, 348. 10. Frisch, t. 206. 207. Sepp, t. p. 57. f.1.2. Borowsk. in. 77,6. Amer. Orn. viii. pl. 65. f.42 Tem. Man. d’Orn. 372. Id. Fd. ii. p. 584. Ardeola, Bris. vy. 497. t. 40, f. 1. Id. Svo. ii. 341. Le Heron rouge et noir, Voy. d’ Azara, iv. No. 360. Le Blongios, Buf. vii. 795. Pl. enl. 323. Der Kleine Rohrdommel, Bechst. Deut. ii. s. 39. Id. iv. 71. Bo-onk, Long Neck, Shaw's Trav. pl. p. 255. Russ. Alepp. 71. pl. 10. Edw. pl. 275. Gent. Mag. xix. pl. p. 427. Lewin, iv. pl. 147. Little Bittern, Gen. Syn. v. 65, Id. Sup. 235. Br. Zool. App. 663. pl. 8. Id. Ed. 1812. ii. p. 18. pl. 4. Arct. Zool. ii, No. 359. Bewick, ii. pl. p51. = Walcot, Birds, 1. pl. 128. Donov. pl. 54. Pult. Dors. p. 14. Orn. Dict. § Supp. HERON. 69 FEMALE. Ardea minuta, Lin. i. 240. Faun. Helv. Ardeola nevia, Bris. v. 500. t. 40. f. 2. Jd. 8vo. 11. 342. Le Blongios tacheté, Buf. vi. 395. Little Bittern, Gen. Syn. vy. 66. Edw. pl. 275. THE male of this species is scarcely bigger than a Thrush ; length fifteen inches. Bill greenish yellow, the upper mandible black at the tip, the edges jagged ; the top of the bead, the back, and tail, dull green ; neck very long; the fore part of it, breast, and thighs, buff-colour; belly and vent white; the hind part of the neck bare of feathers, but covered by those growing on the sides of it; at the inner bend of the wing a large chestnut spot; the lesser wing coverts yellowish buff, the greater whitish ; the web of that next the back half buff, half black; quills black; legs dusky; thighs feathered to the knees; middle claw serrated. The female is of the same size; the crown blackish green; the feathers of the upper part of the body brown, margined with pale rufous; beneath the same, but paler, and the feathers more deeply margined with rufous; forehead edged with chestnut; the feathers on the fore part of the neck long, as in the other; belly white; tail blackish green, margined with fulvous at the end; legs greenish. These two birds are by most authors considered as the same species, and the last being the female. They have been found frequently in Switzerland, also in Arabia, though scarce m other parts.* In France they are also rare, only now and then one being met with; are said to be common on the River Coic, near Aleppo; and that they are observed frequently to stand with the neck stretched straight upwards. According to the Brit. Zool. a male has been once shot, perched on one of the trees of the public walks in Shrews- bury; a second killed in 1773, near Christchurch, in Hampshire, * Thave seen it in drawings from India, &c. we are assured that it is found at Bengal, View of Hind. i. 158. 70 HERON. in the Museum of the late Mr. Tunstall; and a third shot near Bath, in autumn, 1789, perched on the stump of a tree, on the banks of the River Avon;* and another shot near the River Creedey, in Devonshire. The nest is placed on the ground, composed of short sticks, interspersed with a few leaves of flag; the eggs four in number, and white, about the size of those of a Blackbird, one inch and a quarter long. Mr. Pennant says, it inhabits from New York to Carolina, ex- tending to Jamaica. Mr. Abbot observed a few of them in a particular pond, about Savannah, in Georgia, in the summer; and adds, that it breeds there, but is not a common bird. We are inclined to think it not far different from Le Heron rouge et noir of Azara, above quoted; of which it is said, that the natives of Paraguay find them about the river of that name, and that they are easily taken by the hand, not being able to fly. 31.—DURALIA BITTERN. Little Bittern, Gen. Syn. Sup, ii. 301,.—parag. 2d. LENGTH fourteen inches. Bill pale, two inches long ; round the eye bare, and greenish ; irides red; plumage above pale rufous brown; neck the same, but much paler, the feathers longish, hanging loose ; on the lower part of the neck, down the middle, six black spots; chin, belly, vent, and thighs, white; lesser wing coverts ferruginous, marked with many spots of black ; quills dusky, with pale edges, and equal to, if not exceeding the tail in length; legs dusky yellow, darker about the knees; toes long, claws crooked, pale. Inhabits New South Wales; found there in December. Native name Duralia; chiefly met with in marshes or moist ground. * Other instances are mentioned by Dr. Pultney, viz.—one shot on the Bere River, by Harvey Ekins, Esq.; another killed at Upton; and a third at Lytchet. HERON. 71 32.—RUFOUS BITTERN. Ardea Sologniensis, Ind. Orn. 1. 681. Gm. Lin. i. 637. Botaurus rufus, Bris. v. 458. Id. 8vo. ii. 330. Ardez stellaris tertium Genus, Ravi, 100. Will. 108. Butor roux, Buf. vii. 425. Quoimeau, Salern. Orn. 315. Aldrov. 3d sort of Speckled Heron, Will. Engl. 283. xii. Rufous Bittern, Gen. Syn. v. 60. A TRIFLE less than our Bittern. Bill blackish, horn-colour beneath ; irides yellow; crown of the head black; the rest of the head, throat, and neck, ferruginous and white mixed ; greater quills blackish, lesser ferruginous ; tail blackish; legs brown. Inhabits the neighbourhood of Bologna, in Italy. Salerne thinks it may be the bird called Quoimeau, about Sologne, in France. This seems to be very like the Little Bittern. 33.—RAYED BITTERN. Ardea Danubialis, Ind. Orn. 1. 681. Gm. Lin. i. 537. Botaurus striatus, Bris. v. 454. Id. 8vo, 11. 329, Le Butor brun rayé, Buf. vir. 424. Der Gestrichelte Reiher, Bechst. Deuts. ili. s. 34. Rayed Bittern, Gen. Syn. v. G1. SIZE of the last. Bill brown, yellowish beneath; lore naked, yellow ; plumage above, as well as the belly and vent, crossed with lines of brown, black, and pale rufous; mixed irregularly, so as at a distance to appear wholly brown; fore part of the neck and breast whitish : legs grey. Inhabits the Banks of the Danube. Thought by M. Temminck to be the Little Bittern in immature plumage. 7, HERON. 34.—MINUTE HERON. Ardea exilis, Ind. Orn. ii. 653. Gm. Lin. 1. 645. Le Heron varié, Voy. d’Azara, iv. No. 361? Minute Bittern, Gen. Syn. v. 66. SIZE of a Thrush in the body ; length eleven inches and a half. Bill two inches long, greenish, with a pale poimt; irides straw- colour; crown of the head dark rufeus chestnut; sides of the neck rufous; the feathers pretty long, and meeting behind, where it is nearly bare; chin, and fore part of the neck white, with a series of pale, ferruginous feathers on each side of the white, with a blackish line down the shaft of each; on the lower part of the neck the feathers are long, and loose, some of them nearly white, and hang over the breast, which is brownish black : this colour passing up- wards on each side to the back, like a crescent; but the feathers have whitish margins; those of the back rufous chestnut, margined with pale yellow ; the first and third order of the wing coverts like the back, but plain; the middle ones ferruginous, with a dusky line down the middle of the shaft; quills black ; some of the inner prime ones chestnut at the tips; secondaries the same, some few of them wholly chestnut; belly, thighs, and vent, white; tail black; legs green, bare for three quarters of an inch above the joint. Inhabits Jamaica, from whence I received a single specimen: it is said to be a rare bird. Azara compares his to the Little Bittern, as to size and shape. The bill orange, with a dusky base; irides yellow; on the crown a longitudinal black streak ; parts above more or less rufous, dashed down the shafts with black ; neck behind, scapulars, back, and tail feathers, darker in the middle, edged with light rufous; wing coverts the same, but the outer are the colour of Spanish snuff; neck before marked with obscure streaks, on a pale rufous ground; breast PLCXBLVIEL. sate aw! acu , Pre. // ttle y Meron é HERON. Ve and sides the same, but on a paler ground; belly white; thighs covered with feathers above the joint; legs green before, and yellow behind. This bird was met with in Paraguay. 35.—SPOTTED HERON. Ardea maculata, Ind. Orn. Sup. p. Ixiv. Spotted Heron, Gen. Syn. Sup.ii. 305. THIS appears, at first sight, not unlike the Little Bittern. The bill is dusky green; under mandible yellow at the base; round the eye bare, and greenish ash-colour; irides yellow; general colour of the plumage pale brown above, spotted on the back and wings with white; quills pale ferruginous, with paler ends; under parts of the body dusky white; legs dusky green. Inhabits New South Wales: probably of the female sex. 36.—WATTLED HERON.--PL. cxtvit. Ardea carunculata, Ind. Orn. 11. 691. Gm. Lin.i. 643. Wattled Heron, Gen. Syn. vy. 82. pl. 78. SIZE of a Stork; length five feet and a half. Bill red, and carunculated for one-third next the base ; rest of the length dusky black ; round the eye bare and red; irides pale red ; top of the head blue grey; the rest of the head, neck, and breast white, ending on the latter in a point; under the chin are two appendages, nearly four inches long, hanging like wattles, but covered with white feathers, like the rest of the neck ; back and wings blue grey; on the back some long narrow feathers, as in many other Herons, hanging over the tail; quills black, and about even with the tail; between the shoulders, the breast, belly, and under parts black; legs dusky blue grey. VOL. IX. L 74 HERON. Inhabits Africa, but is not a common species. One of them was for some time tame in the Company’s Gardens, at the Cape of Good Hope, from which a drawing was taken, in the collection of Sir Joseph Banks ; also, a complete specimen of the bird was in the collection of Mr. Ballock. 37.—COMMON HERON. MALE. Ardea cinerea, Ind. Orn. 11. 691. Tem. Man. d’Orn. 362. Id. Ed. ii. 567. Ardea major, Lin. 1. 236. Gm. Lin.i. 627. Scop. i. No.117. Kramer, 346. 4. Frisch, t. 199. Rati, 98. A. 1. Will. 203. t.49. Faun. Helv. Gerin. iv. t. 427. 428. Lin. Trans. xiii. p. 188. Ardea cristata, Bris. v. 396. t. 35. Id. 8vo. i. 313. Klein, 122.2. Id. Stem. 28. t. 30. Jd. Ov. 34. t.17. £.3. Molin. Chil. 207. Id. Fr. Ed. 214. Alia Ardea, Gesn. Av. p. 195.—the head. Le Heron huppé, Buf. vii. 342. Pl. enl. 755. Der gemeine Reiher, Bechst. Deuts.i1. s. 5. & 18. tab. 1. Naturf, xiii. s. 195. Schmid, Vog. 114. t. 99. Garza cinerizia grossa, Zinnan. Uov. 113. t. 21. f. 101. Le Heron couleur de Plomb, Voy, d’Azara, iv. No. 347. Crested Heron, Alb. i. pl. 67. Common Heron, Gen. Syn. v. 83. Id. Sup. ii. 803. Br. Zool. i. No. 173. Id. fol. 11G. pl. A. Jd. Ed. 1812, it. p. 10. Arct. Zool. ii. No. 343. Cheseld. Osteogr. Introd.—sceleton, Lewin, iv. pl. 118. Walcot, ii. pl. 129. Pult. Dors. 14. Orn. Dict. § Supp. FEMALE. Ardea cinerea, Lin. 1. 236. Faun. swec. No. 165. Scop.i. 117. Brun. No. 156. Muller, p. 22. Frisch, t. 198. Bris. v. 392. Id. 8vo. ii. 312. Klein, 122. 1. Id. Ov. 84. t.17. £.3. Borowsk. iii. 75. Faun. Helv. Schef. El. Orn. t. 21. Ardea pulla, sive cinerea, Gesn. Av. t. p. 187. Sepp, ii. t. p. 289. Ardea Rhenana, Naturf. xin, 195. Heron, Buf. vii. 342. pl. 19. Pl. end. 787. Deser. Surin. ii. 151. Hist. Prov. 1 346. Reiger, Gunth. Nest. u. Ey. t. 44. Bechst. Deut. ii. 15. t. 1. HERON. 70 Common Heron, fem. Gen, Syn. v. 83. Br. Zool. ii. 173. pl. 61. Fd. fol. 116. Id. Ed. 1812. p. 10. pl. 8. Arct. Zool. ii. No. 343. Bewick, ii. p. 37. Albin, iii. pl. 78. Lewin, 148. Jd. xxv. No. 1.—the egg. Wood's Zoogr.i. p. 323. pl. 24. Graves, Br. Orn. THE male of this species is three feet three inches in length, breadth five feet one inch; weight three pounds and a half. Bill six inches long, dusky, base beneath yellowish; round the eye greenish, and bare; irides yellow; forehead and crown white ; sides of it over the eye black; all the feathers of the crown long, two in particular sometimes exceeding eight inches, and on the whole forming a most elegant crest; neck white; the fore part of it marked with a double row of black spots; wing coverts bluish grey ; outer edges of the wings white; bastard wing and greater quills black ; middle of the back almost bare, covered by the scapulars, which are long, narrow, and loose in texture; colour grey and white mixed ; the feathers on the lower part of the neck before are much the same, and hang loosely over the breast ; on each side, under the wing, a bed of black feathers; breast and under parts white; legs dirty green ; inner edge of the middle claw serrated. The female much resembles the male, has little or no crest ; head grey; feathers of the breast short; and the scapulars of not so loose a texture as in the other sex. This species is very common in these kingdoms, and except in breeding time, is found dispersed throughout the marshy places, and edges of streams, in which it may be seen standing motionless for hours together, waiting the passing by of a fish;* at this time the head is crouched between the shoulders, and the body frequently resting on one leg. It also feeds on frogs, and other reptiles, as wel! as mice; and at times, even on vegetables. In flying, it draws in * Are great destroyers of fish. We have seen one of ten inches long, taken out of the stomach ; and 17 small carps have been found in another; and one kept tame has swallowed 90 small roaches and dace, one day with another.—Dr. Lamb once found six perch, weigh- ing one ounce and a half each, in the stomach of a male bird. L 2 76 HERON. the head, between the shoulders, the legs hanging, or straight out behind.—In breeding time they unite in large societies, and make the nests on the highest trees, composed of twigs, lined with a few rushes and wool, sometimes feathers: the eggs are pale greenish blue, four or five in number; they sometimes make the nest in high cliffs, over the sea.* They may be brought up tame, if taken from the nest, but if old birds are caught, they refuse nourishment, and pine away. Although this bird, in moderate climates, is a constant inhabitant, in the more northern it is only seen in summer ; found in Russia and Siberia, but not very far north. Crantz says, it has been seen in the south of Greenland, but this must have been a rare instance, as we do not find it in Fabricius’s List ; yet it certainly inhabits Romsdale and Nordmer, in the severe climate of the diocese of Dron- theim; and not only this, but the other wading water birds, for the most part, retire more southward to pass the winter. We can trace this bird every where in Africa and Asia; it is found within the Cape of Good Hope;t and is also a native of boti India ~ and China, which drawings, brought from thence, will amply testify ; found all the yearat Calcutta and Bengal, at the latter place called Unjan, and Angeen; builds on large trees, but it differs somewhat from climate, as it has no black transverse lines on the scapulars, or any white. In the marshes at Calcutta, but never comes to the rivers ; has the name from the black streak over the eyes, resembling the mark, that the native women make on the eyelids, with a powder called Unjan, or Soorma of Hindustan. Is a native also of Java, and there called Changa-awu. We find it also in America, being said to come into New York in May, and retiring in October; frequent im Carolina, and breeds in flocks as in England. * A Description of the manners of the Common Heron may be seen in Gi/pin’s Remarks on Forest Scenery, 2d Vol. Svo. 1791. Called in Cheshire Yern, or Yarn.— Gece? 412 GALLINULE. wing coverts plain; the forehead, sides of it, and all beneath very light bluish grey ; thighs barred dusky and whitish; tail short, the colour of the back ; one or more of the outer feathers barred dusky and white ; legs pale green. Inhabits India.—General Hardwicke; called Jelb-kookra; met with at Chetcote, in April. 19.—CRESTED GALLINULE. Gallinula cristata, Ind. Orn. 1. 778, Fulica cinerea, Gm. Lin. 1. 702. Crested Gallinule, Gen. Syn. v. 267. SIZE of the Coot; length eighteen inches. Bill as in that bird ; forehead and crown bare, reddish, and rising at the back part into a knob, not unlike that on the head of the Guinea Pintado; head and neck ash-colour; chin mottled with white; body and wings greenish ash-colour; outer edge of the last pale; under parts of the body pale ash; middle of the belly white; legs very stout, and brown.-——Inhabits China, and India; in the latter called Runcur.— Sir John Anstruther. 20.—GREEN GALLINULE. Gallinula viridis, Ind. Orn. ii. 769. Fulica viridis, Gm. Lin. i. 698. Porphyrio viridis, Bris. v. 529. Id. 8vo. ii. 352. La Poule-Sultane verte, Buf. vin. 204, L’Yahana blanc et bleu de Ciel, Voy. d’ Azara, iv. No. 381. Green Gallinule, Gen. Syn. v. 257. LENGTH eleven inches and a half. Bill and bare part of the forehead greenish yellow; plumage on the upper parts of the body dull green, beneath white ; legs greyish yellow ; claws grey. Said to inhabit the East Indies; but M.d’Azara mentions it as being at Paraguay. GALLINULE. 413 21.—RED-TAILED GALLINULE. Gallinula pheenicura, Ind. Orn. i. 770. Rallus pheenicurus, Ind. Zool. p. 19. t.9. Gm. Lin. i. 715. Red-tailed Water Hen, Ind. Zool. p. 10. t. 9. Id. 4to. p. 49. pl. 12. Red-tailed Gallinule, Gen. Syn. v. 259. LENGTH nine inches; weight seven ounces and a quarter. Bill yellowish green, base reddish; forehead bare, flesh-coloured; plumage above black ; forehead, round the eyes, and under parts, white; quills black, marked with large bluish spots; vent and under tail coverts ferruginous red; legs dirty green, tinged with red; toes long. Inhabits Ceylon, is there common, and call Kalu-kerenaka; is often figured in Chinese paintings, as well as those done in India. A.—La Poule-Sultane brune, Buf. viii. 204. Pl. enl. 896. Red-tailed Gallinule, Gen. Syn. v, 259. 13. Var. A. Length fifteen or sixteen inches. Crown and upper parts of the plamage dusky ash-colour; forehead and under parts white; belly and vent rufous; quills and tail black ; legs yellow; toes long. Inhabits China.—One in General Hardwicke’s drawings called Bodeh. B.—Gallinula pheenicura, Ind. Orn. ii. 771. 14. y. Red-tailed Water-Hen, Gen. Syn. v. 260. 13. B. In this the crown, and all the upper parts of the plumage, quills and tail are of a full glossy black; the forehead and under parts, as far as the vent, white; the last red; legs slender, yellow; toes long. Inhabits various parts of India; is called at Bengal, Dahuc, and Dauc, and is said sometimes to be twelve inches in length. Is found at Calcutta all the year, among long grass and weeds, on the banks of ditches and ponds, in pairs; breeds in the rainy season, and lives 414 GALLINULE. on water insects and worms. The Mussulmans eat this bird, and the lower classes of Hindoos give it to women when sick; the way they are taken is by placing tame ones as a decoy, near the water, in cages, so constructed as to admit of a wild one entering, but not to return. I observe, in a drawing of one of these birds, that the base of the bill above, and forehead, are both red, of which colour I suspect them to be in the breeding season. [ received a specimen of this from the Cape of Good Hope ; it was attempted to be brought to England alive, being tolerably familiar, but died in the passage. Besides the above, we have reason to think that there are further Varieties, as I have met with repre- sentations of them in two different sets of Chinese drawings, in both of which the forehead was of a deep red; bill and legs green; the quills and tail dusky black. Kolben mentions one, as commen at the Cape of Good Hope,* but merely says, that it is black, and of the size of the Common European Species. This is probably one of the above Varieties. 22.—CARTHAGENA GALLINULE. Gallinula Carthagena, Ind. Orn. ii. 767. Fulica Carthagena, Lin. i. 258. Gm. Lin. i. 700. Rallus rufus Americanus, Bart. Trav. p. 294? Carthagena Gallinule, Gen. Syn. v. 252. SIZE of the Coot. Forehead bare, and blue; the body wholly rufous.—Inhabits Carthagena, and, if the same bird with the Greater brown Rail of Bartram, is found in Pennsylvania in spring, coming from the south; and after breeding and rearing the young, disappears. * Kolben, Cap. Engl. Ed. 1. 140. GALLINULE. 415 23.—CAYENNE GALLINULE. Gallinula Cayanensis, Ind. Orn. 11. 767. Fulica Cayanensis, Gm. Lin. i. 700. Grande Poule d’Eau de Cay aie Buf. viii. 182. Pl. enl. 352. L’ Ypacaha, proprement dit, Voy. d’ Azara, iv. No, 367. Cayenne Gallinule, Gen. ae v. 262. LENGTH eighteen inches. Bill three inches long, yellow, with the base green, and the tip dusky; irides bright red; chin, sides of the head, and a little way on the neck before greyish white; head, the rest of the neck, lower part of the belly, and thighs dusky grey brown; back and wing coverts dull olive; breast, upper part of the belly, and quills, bright reddish rufous; legs red. The young birds are grey, not acquiring any red colour till after the first moult. Inhabits Guiana and Cayenne; is common in the marshy places, and lives on small fish and insects: extends also to Paraguay and Buenos Ayres; called Ypacaha, from its note expressing that word, and to be heard a mile off; the Spaniards call it Poulette ; sometimes attacks poultry; and during the absence of the hen, takes away the eggs, and destroys the contents; the eggs are therefore scarce. This bird will also eat many kinds of fruit, bread, and meat, but most fond of worms; in appearance is very tame, but will not suffer itself to be handled ; it pilfers, and hides many small articles, which it finds about the house ; but is useful in destroying rats and mice, and after killing them, if not too large, swallows them whole. A.—L’Y pacaha noiratre, Voy. d’ Azara, iv. No, 876. This is thought, by Azara, to be a mere Variety of the Cayenne Gallinule. A416 GALLINULE. 24.—CHIRICOTE GALLINULE. Le Chiricote, Voy. d’ Azara, iv. No. 368, 369. THIS seems greatly to correspond with the former, yet differs in many points; it is only fourteen inches and a half long, and twenty-three broad. Throat pearly grey ; top and sides of the head, and the whole of the neck, lead-colour; breast red; top of the back and upper wing coverts dusky green; lower part, rump, tail, and thighs, black; quills red, under coverts crossed with rufous and dusky ; naked part above the joint and legs blood red; the bill light green, wrinkled at the base. Inhabits Paraguay, where it is common, but differs m habits from the Cayenne Gallinule ; for it is found deeper in the woods, and frequently seen on tall, well clothed, trees; is also more numerous ; sixteen to one of the Ypacaha, or Cayenne Species. ‘The Guaranis, and Spaniards, call it Chiricote, as the note expresses that word distinctly ; it is familiar, and when tame, feeds om meat and maize. 95.—BLACK-BELLIED GALLINULE. Gallinula ruficollis, Ind. Orn. 11. 767. Fulica ruficollis, Gm. Lin. i. 720. Black-bellied Gallinule, Gen. Syn. v. 253. LENGTH seventeen inches. Bill two inches and a half Jong, yellow, with the base red; crown brown; neck behind cinereous brown; back greenish brown; quills the same, with rufous margins ; chin white; fore part of the neck and breast bright rufous ; belly, thighs, vent, and ramp, black: sides and under wing coverts trans- versely barred rufous and black ; legs red, pretty long. Supposed to inhabit Cayenne, having been brought from that place with others ; but no history annexed. gl re Ged BP. F Vartinito Va Oe GALLINULE. 417 26.—VARIEGATED GALLINULE. Rallus variegatus, Ind. Orn. i. 760. Gm. Lin. i. 718. Rale tacheté de Cayenne, Buf. vii. 165. Pl. en/. 775. L’Ypecaha varié, Voy. d’ Azara, iv. No. 370. Variegated Rail, Gen. Syn. v. 237. LENGTH eleven inches. Bill one inch and a half, yellowish ; back part of head dusky; chin white; the rest of the head, next the body, irregularly spotted with black and white, and streaked trans- versely on the sides, as in the Common Rail ; wing coverts brown, dashed with white, the rest of the wing brown; tail dusky, some of the middle feathers edged with white; legs yellow. Inhabits Cayenne, and extends to Buenos Ayres, but is not common there: met with also at Guiana. 27.—M ARTINICO GALLINULE.—P1. crx. Gallinula Martiniea, Ind. Orns 11. 769. Fulica Martinica, Lin. 1. 259. Gm. Lin. i. 700. Jacq. Vog. 12. No. 9. t. 3. Porphyrio minor, Bris. v. 526. t. 42. f. 2. Id. 8vo. 11. 352. Rallus aquaticus minor, Bartr. Trav. 294? La petite Poule-Sultane, Buf. vii. 206. L’Yahana vert et bleu de Ciel, Voy. d’ Azara, iv. No. 380. Martinico Gallinule, Gen. Syn v. 255. pl. 88. Id. Sup. 258. LENGTH about twelve inches. Bill yellow, with a red base : forehead bald, and blue; irides red ; general colour of the plumage fine glossy green; but the head, neck, and under parts are purple, changeable blue; lower belly dusky black ; vent white; quills and tail dusky, edged with green; at the bend of the wing a small blunt knob; legs yellow ; toes very long and slender. VOL. IX. Huu 418 GALLINULE. Inhabits Cayenne, and other warmer parts of America; also the West India Islands, particularly Martinico, in the swamps, where it is valued for its food: it has frequently been brought alive to England, as it bears confinement well, and is pretty tame, though never so as to be at large. Those we have seen alive here were fed with rice, bread, lettuce, and other such food.. In its wild state it sometimes utters a soft and fine note, especially in the breeding season. The above description answers for the most part; but we have observed one, which had the upper parts blue green, with a tinge of brown; crown of the head brown; under parts white; a little mottled with black in the middle of the belly, but more so across the lower part of the neck, just above the breast; chin quite white; legs brown. From comparison of size, shape of the bill, and legs, I am inclined to suppose it of a different sex only, if not a young bird. That described by Brisson differs, in having the bare part of the ~ forehead and legs red, and is said to inhabit the East Indies, as well as America. 28.—FAVOURITE GALLINULE. Gallinula flavirostris, Ind. Orn. ii. 769. Fulica flavirostris, Gm. Lin. i. 699. La Favorite de Cayenne, Buf. viii. 207. Pl. enl, 897. Favorite Gallinule, Gen. Syn. v. 256. LENGTH twelve inches. Bill yellow; upper parts of the plumage deep blue; sides of the head and neck paler; neck before bluish white; belly, thighs, and ramp, white ; quills and tail brown, the last darkest ; legs long, yellow, hind toe very long. Inhabits Cayenne. GALLINULE. 419 29.—CROWING GALLINULE. Gallinula purpurea, Ind. Orn. i. 769. Fulica purpurea, Gm. Lin. i. 699. Quachilto, Porphyrio Americanus, Rati, 116.14. Will. 238.§ I. Id. Engl. p.319.8 II. L’Acintli, Buf. viii. 208. L’Yahana blanc et brun roussatre, Voy. d’ Azara, iv. No. 382. Crowing Gallinule, Gen. Syn. v. 257. SIZE uncertain. Bill pale; irides fulvous; the plumage of a dark purple colour, with some white feathers intermixed; legs greenish yellow. Inhabits Mexico; is a marsh bird, feeding on fish, and thought to be not ill tasted meat; is called by some Yacacintli, and said to imitate the watching, and crowing of a Cock. In young birds the bare part at the rise of the bill is red. M.d’Azara inet with only one of these in Paraguay, and that in March; he says the length is ten inches, breadth seventeen. Bill dusky, with a green base; throat and under parts white; sides of the head, and neck before pale rufous brown; the crown, and half of the neck behind deep brown, mixed with pale rufous: the rest of the upper parts of the neck, and wing coverts dusky brown, glossed with green; quills dusky, glossed bluish green; back and tail dusky brown; garter and legs straw-colour, tinged with green. 30.—YELLOW-BREASTED GALLINULE. Gallinula Noveboracensis, Ind. Orn. ii. 771. Fulica Noveboracensis, Gm. Lin. i. 701. Yellow-breasted Gallinule, Gen. Syn. v. 262. Arct. Zool. ii. No. 410. THIS is smaller than the Common Quail. Crown and neck behind dark olive brown, spotted with white; back brown; scapulars edged with yellowish white; breast dirty yellow; legs brown. Inhabits America, chiefly about New York. H wu 2 420) GALLINULE. 31.—SOREE GALLINULE. Gallinula Carolina, Ind. Orn. ii. 771. Frankl. Narr. App. p. 690. Rallus Carolinus, Lin. i. 263. Gm. Lin. i. 715. Virginianus, Bartr. Trav. p. 294. terrestris Americanus, Alein, Av. 103. 4. Porpbyrio freti Hudsonis, Bris. v. 541. Jd. Svo. 11. 356. Rallus Virginianus, Rail, Amer. Orn. vi. pl. 48-.f1. Le Rale de Virginie, Buf. vin. 165. L’Y pecaha a face noire, Voy. d’ Asara, iv. No. 373. Little American Water-Hen, Edw. pl. 144. Soree Gallinule, Gen. Syn. vy. 262. Arct. Zool.ii. No. 409. Cates. Car. i. pl. 70. Burnab. Tr. 16, 42. SIZE of a Quail, but stands higher on its legs; length from eight to nine inches, and fourteen in breadth. Bill one inch long, and yellow, base over the forehead bare ; irides red ; the crown and upper parts of the head dull brown, spotted with black ; the face, round the bill, the chin, and part of the neck before, black ; sides of the head, neck, and breast, bluish ash-colour; belly and_ sides dusky white; the last barred with black; body above brown ; back and scapulars edged with white, appearing streaked; outer edge of the wing white ; quills and tail brown ; legs dusky green. Inhabits Virginia, at certain seasons, in vast plenty, and is called Soree. Burnaby, in his Travels, mentions catching 100 dozen of Sorusses in one night, by the Pamunky Indians, in King William’s Country. The manner of taking these birds is remarkable: the Sorus is not known to be in Virginia, except for about six weeks, from the latter end of September :** at that time they are found in the marshes in prodigious numbers, feeding on the wild oats, and seeds of reeds; at first they are exceedingly lean, ‘ but in a short ‘time grow so fat, as to be unable to fly; in this state they lie upon ‘« the reeds, and the Indians go out in canoes, and knock them down * The greater part of September and October they are sold at Philadelphia from half a dollar, to a dollar per dozen. Disappear with the first frosts; some remain in Virginia till the first week in November.—4mer. Orn. GALLINULE. 421 ‘© with their paddles: they are bigger than a Lark, and are delicious ‘‘eating. During the time of their continuing in season, you meet ‘“‘ with them at the tables of most of the planters, breakfast, dinner, ** and supper.” In Georgia it is seen frequently in the marshes, and sides of ponds, but is not very common; is known there by the name of Water-Hen, or Sedge-Hen, also the Water-Rail. It should seem that both the Virginian Rail, and this bird are known under the appellation of Soree, except they are one and the same, which is not improbable. Bartram calls it the Soree Bird, or Little Brown Rail ; and adds, that it is also called Wigeon in Pennsylvania; extends to Paraguay, two of them having been met with there. One, which I suppose to ditter in sex, was sent from Georgia ; crown of the head rufous brown, down the middle a dark streak ; sides of the head very pale cinereous brown; chin white; nape and neck behind rufous brown, the lower part streaked with dusky ; back and scapulars as in the other; wing coverts plain brown; quills the same; outer web of the outer quill white, except just at the end ; throat to the breast pale brown; middle of belly white; sides barred dusky and white; under tail coverts pale rufous; legs the same, but paler.—Sent from Georgia by the name of Spotted Gallinule, but is probably only a sexual difference of the Soree. Inthe Amer. Orn. it is observed, that the females and young males of the first season, have the throat white; the breast pale brown, and little or no black on the head. The males may always be distinguished by their ashy blue breasts, and black throats. 32.—RUFOUS-BREASTED GALLINULE. Rallus Cayanensis, Ind. Orn. 1. 760. Gm. Lin. i. 718. Le Rale de Cayenne, P/. enl. 268. Le Kiolo, Buf. viii. 164. Cayenne Rail, Gen. Syn. v. 238. LENGTH eight inches. Bill brown; crown of the head rufous; rest of the upper parts olive brown; the under, as far as the thighs, 422 GALLINULE. rufous; the last olive brown; the vent pale; from the gape a broad blackish streak passes on each side of the head, including the eyes on the upper part; quills black ; legs reddish brown ; the tail short, olive brown. A.—Rale a ventre roux de Cayenne, Pl. enl. 753. Gen. Syn. v, 238. Length seven inches. Plumage above of a deeper brown; crown chestnut; the streak on each side of the head blue grey; the under parts of the bird are rufous, but deeper than in the last, and continue more backwards; the inside and lower part of the thighs are dusky ; chin and vent rufous white; bill dusky ; legs pale brown. Inhabits Cayenne, with the last, and perhaps differs only in sex ; common also at Guiana, and there called Kiolo, from the note, and chiefly heard in the evening, at sunset ; they collect together in order to pass the night, dispersing singly among the thick bushes in the day time, and make the nest between the forks of shrubs, near the ground, of a reddish kind of plant, with a cover at top, impenetrable to the rain.—One of the last described is in the collection of Mr. M‘Leay, who received it from Berbice, by the name of Soribibi. I have also seen one, which was only six inches in length ; probably a young bird. 33.—JAMAICA GALLINULE. Rallus Jamaicensis, Ind. Orn. ii. p. 761. Gm. Lin, i. p. 718. Bris. Sup. 140. Td. 8vo. 1. 258. Le Rale Bidi-bidi, Buf vii. 166. Least Water Hen, Edw. pl. 278. Brown, Jum. 479. Jamaica Rail, Gen. Syn. vy. 239, LENGTH six inches. Bill black, base reddish; head and throat black ; the upper parts of the head, neck, and back rufous brown, crossed with blackish streaks; the neck before and breast bluish ash ; GALLINULE. 423 from thence to the vent barred white and brown; the wing coverts brown, spotted with white: quills rufous brown, barred with black; the secondaries spotted with white; tail as the greater quills, with a few spots of white; legs brown. Inhabits Jamaica, where it is called Bidi-bidi. 34.—MINUTE GALLINULE. Rallus minutus, Jnd. Orn. 11. 761. Gm. Lin. i. 719. Le Petit Rale de Cayenne, Buf. vii. 167. Pl. enl. 847. L’Ypecaha a sourcils blancs, Voy. d’Azara, iv. No. 377. Little Rail, Gen. Syn. v. 239. THIS is in length five inches. Bill brown; the plumage on the upper parts of the body the same; darkest on the back and scapulars, which are streaked with white; the wing coverts black, spotted with white; sides of the body undulated black and white, as in our Rail; over each eye a white streak ; the under parts pale dusky yellow, approaching to white on the chin and throat, and inclining to ash- colour on the belly; quills brown; the tail barred black and white ; legs pale yellow.—Inhabits Cayenne; three only of these were seen in Paraguay, and two of them young birds. A.—Little Rail, Gen. Syn. v. 240. Var. A. Ind. Orn. ii. 761. 23. 8. Length five inches and a half. Bill brown, under mandible yellow ; plumage above brown; back and wing coverts crossed with several striated white bands; the chin and fore part of the neck to the breast dirty white; the middle of the neck behind rufous; the sides of it ash-colour ; belly, sides of the body, and vent, undulated black and white ; quills and tail cinereous brown ; legs yellow. 424 GALLINULE. I received this bird from Jamaica, and have also seen a specimen from Cayenne. ‘These are clearly Varieties of each other, and both probably related to the Jamaica Rail. ** WITH BILLS VERY STRONG, AND THICK. 35.—VIOLET GALLINULE. Porphyrio alter, Aldrov. ii. 438. t.440. Ind. Orn. ii. 768. 6. B. Fn. arag. p. 78. Porphyrio hyacinthinus, Tem. Man. Ed. 11. 698 ? Purple Water Hen, Edw. pl. 87 ? Purple Gallinule, Gen. Syn. Sup. i. 326. A. THE size not mentioned. Colour of the plumage, for the most part, violet black; fore part of the neck blue; vent white; forehead and legs red.—This was sent from Tyrol, and, according to M. Aso, is either a remarkable Variety, or new Species. M.'Temminck’s bird, quoted above, and appearing to be the same, is eighteen inches in length; the cheeks, throat, neck before, and sides of it turquoise blue; hindhead, nape, thighs, and belly bright indigo blue; the breast, back, wing coverts, quills, and tail glossy indigo; the under tail coverts white; bare part of the forehead, bill, and irides red; legs reddish flesh-colour. This bird inhabits the marshy parts, on the borders of rivers and lakes, in Sicily, Calabria, the Tonian Isles, throughout the whole Archipelago, and the Levant; also Dalmatia, and the southern provinces of Hungary; rarely seen im Sardinia: breeds in the marshes, making the nest of sticks and plants, laying three or four white eggs, nearly of a round shape. GALLINULE. 425 36.—PURPLE GALLINULE. Gallinula Porphyrio, Ind. Orn. ii. 768. Amer. Orn. ix. 67. pl. 73. f. 2. Fulica Porphyrio, Lin. i. p. 258. Gm. Lin. i. 699. Scop.i. No. 152. Bris. v. 522. t.42. f.1. Id. 8vo.ii. 351. Rati, 116. 18. Will. p.238. Klein, 104. 6. Clus. ex. 870. f.84. Aldr. iii. 437. t. p. 439, Borowsk. iii. 97. t.53. Gerin. v. t, 485. Porphyrio Indicus, Lin. Trans. xii. p. 194. Chloropus Acbac, Phil. Trans. xxiii. p. 1395, 19. Der Blau-Vogel, Gm. reise, ii. 79. t. 12. La Taleve de Madagascar, Pl. ent. 810. Kaloe, Cook’s Last Voy. App ? Pindaramcoli, Bartolomeo Voy. Engl. p. 224. Purple Water Hen, Albin, ii. pl. 11. * Purple Gallinule, Gen. Syn. v. 254. Id. Sup. ii. 326. SIZE of a Fowl: length one foot five inches. Bill very stout at the base, compressed on the sides, and above one inch and a half iu length, colour deep red; irides fulvous; forehead bare, and red; the head and neck behind glossy violet; cheeks, throat, and fore ‘part ef the neck, violet blue; back, rump, wings, and tail, dull green, but glossy; quills brown within; tail rounded in shape ; under coverts white; Jegs stout, the colour of the bill. The female differs in being smaller. This bird is more or less common in all the warmer parts of the globe, abounding on the coast of Barbary, as well as in some of the Islands of the Mediterranean. In Sicily they are every where kept for their beauty, but whether indigenous thereto we are not certain: are frequently met with in various parts of the south of Russia, and west parts of Siberia, in places where reeds grow, and are not uncommon about the Caspian Sea; but in the cultivated rice grounds of Ghilan, in Persia, in great plenty, and in the highest plumage. Are very common in Egypt ; at Rosetta, and other parts, are called Sultanas, and are easily tamed, if taken young; their cry, according to Sonnini, nearly resembles the laugh of a person masked. They seem fond of rice, and from * The toes are placed faultily, viz. two before, and two behind. VOL, IX. [rt 426 GALLINULE. this called by some Poule du Riz; often seize the food, and bring it to the mouth with one leg, like Parrots: as soon as they take the rice they constantly run to the water; appearing to bite, or chew it while drinking. The figure of this bird may be observed in Chinese paper hangings; and in some drawings from thence it is called Chinka ; is frequent also in India, and there called Keema and Kareema; likewise at Madagascar and Java, by the name of Pee- jung. Our circumnavigators saw them at Tongo taboo, in vast numbers, as well as at the Isle of Tanna, and other parts. It is said to be common also in the southern parts of America, and has been seen in Georgia, but is probably rare. The female makes the nest among the reeds the middle of March, lays three or four eggs, and sits from three to four weeks; is very docile, and when tame, will associate with other Fowls, scratching the ground with the feet, like common poultry; will feed on many things, as fruit, roots of plants, and grain; is fond of fish, which it dips into the water before it swallows them ; will frequently stand on one leg. -_ ROSEATE Spoonbill Horned Screamer - Brazilian Cariama - American Jabiru— - - Crested Boatbill Tufted Umbre Gigantic Crane - Modun Crane 2 2 Wattled Heron - . Abyssinian Erody - Black-faced Ibis - - White-headed Curlew - Cape Snipe - = = White-winged Sandpiper New Zealand Plover - European Courser - Pied Oyster-Catcher - Austrian Pratincole - Philippine Rail - Chinese Jacana - = Martinico Gallinule White Sheathbill - New-Holland Cereopsis the Plates. to face Page UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA Q.598.2L34GE C001 vo09 A GENERAL HISTORY OF BIRDS $WINCHESTER ULIMIT A AUN AO | 28 Aiba *) east eth i He i ann mi i Fablysiit Bat tet in sis i) i HH i Hi at sie ith a Sa ot ah ete i Oe ocanens ATES a sai i} Rie pinta ite aaa ah . a We ene rs S Hy uh ae isa fs Tat ae eH ote : = pty Ana ih a i ee ena Mi tetast i Th it : ie Beiiies ie Ma lige Beta hia! i einai ah ae a i ae Ea aa a ih ttt dun TMs = ae tthe = ok by Na : ari 8 ; aan ae cae Aue is it me suite fy Heit I Ia phe {) ee vt at mia a eh i ae si oe ie Hi i Me Ans - 1 a ita sit ye cits tt cia rai Rann Aree att ‘ Hite ai teat A BH Sint WAL i - See i - Hanae Tat Sa Sg a hai a iH ; h3 Aes ae x} ae ' i i ty Se tne mst Nit Al fh i HH it o ye ii he set a re cee i 7 ae a. 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