History of British animals - University of Guam Marine Laboratory

Ardea. BIRDS. CULTRIROSTRES. 95CULTRIROSTRES.Gen. LVIII.ARDEA. Heron.— Gape extending as far backas the eyes. Nasal groove reaching almost to the end ofthe bill.126. A. cincrea. Common Heron.— Plumage bluish-grey.Middle toe with the claw much shorter than the tarsus.Will. Orn. 203.— Slbb. Scot. 18,— Linn. Syst.i. 236 Pom. Brit. Zool. ii-421—Temm. Orn. ii. 567-—E, Heronshaw ; S, Craiged Heron ; W,Cryr Glas ; £, Corra riathach ;A r , Hegrie.— Common.Length 3|, breadth 5i feet; weight upwards of 3 pounds. Bill nearly Ginches long, dusky the;under yellow. I rides yellow. Legs greenish. Tarsusplated in front, but reticulated towards the toes. Tip of the tongue subulate.Crest black. Long feathers on the neck, next the breast, and on theshoulders. Front, neck, and belly white. Sides, and stripes on the neck inFront, black. A singular patch of concealed soft feathers on the breast. Thethird feather in the wing longest. Inner web of the three first abbreviatednear the end. Tail-feathers 12 in number. Willoughby and Cuvier statethat this species has only one ccecum. I have observed two, both short. Female,when old, like the male. Gregarious in the breeding season, in heronries.— Nest, on trees, of sticks, fined with wool. Eggs 4 cr 5, of a greenish-bluecolour, and about the size of those of a duck. The young are destitute of thecrest, and the long-feathers on the scapulars and — neck. This species feeds onfish, and is particularly destructive to those in ponds.127- A. stdlaris. Bittern.— Plumage yellowish-red, with blackand bars. The cheeks and crown black.spotsWill. Orn. 207—Sibb. Scot. 18—Linn. Syst.i. 239.— Pen. Brit. Zoo\. ii.424.— Temm. Orn. ii. 580 ;— E, Miredrum, Dumbycoss, Butterbump ;S, Buttour, Bogjumper, Bogblutter ; IF, Aderyii y bwnn, Bwmp vGors.— Near extensive fens, but not common.Length 2i feet. Bill four inches long, brown, the lower mandible andedge of the upper, together with the space round the eyes, and the feet, greenishyellow. Irides yellow. The feathers on the nape, neck, and breast lom>andloose. Quills and greater covers regularly barred with black. Tail shorf,of 10 feathers. Female, less, with the plumage less bright, and the neck feathersshorter.— — Nest in marshes, of reeds. Eggs 5, olive-green. Preys on fishand reptiles. In the breeding season, makes" a loud bellowing noise. It hasdisappeared from many districts where formerly it abounded, and is daily becomingscarcer.STRAGGLERS.1. A. Egretta, Temm. Orn. ii. 572.— To this species, it is probable that theArdca alba major of Willoughby (Orn. 205.) observed in this country byJohnston, and termed by Merret, (Pinax 181.) a Mire Dnimble, must be referred.Montagu states, on the authority of Latham, that it has been killedin'Cumberland, and that it has likewise been once supposed to have been seenin Devonshire. The individuals seen in Britain appear either to have beenyoung birds, or old ones in moult, in which state thev are destitute of theelongated soft feathers of the head and back.