Bill with the basal space between the nostrils running into a rounded point in the middle, pale greyish-blue; the sides of the base, and the edges of both mandibles for two-thirds of their length, dull pale orange; the rest of the bill black. Iris reddish-hazel. Feet light greyish-blue, webs and claws dusky. Head and upper half of neck white, excepting an elongated black patch on the top of the head and nape. Below the middle of the neck is a black ring, from the hind part of which proceeds a longitudinal band of the same colour, gradually becoming wider on the back and rump; below the black ring anteriorly is a broad band of white, passing backwards on each side so as to include the scapulars. All the under parts black, excepting the axillaries and lower wing-coverts. Upper wing-coverts and secondary quills white, some of the inner quills with a narrow external black margin; alula, primary coverts, and primary quills, brownish-black. Tail brownish-black, tinged with grey, the shafts black; upper tail-coverts dusky, minutely dotted with reddish-brown. Length to end of tail 20 inches, to end of claws 22-1/2, to end of wings 18-1/4; extent of wings 30; wing from flexure 9-1/4; tail 3-5/8; bill along the ridge 1-3/4, along the edge of lower mandible 2-3/8; tarsus 1-1/2; middle toe 2-3/8, its claw 3/8, hind toe 4-(1/2)/8, its claw (1-1/2)/8; outer toe and claw slightly longer than middle: inner toe 1-7/8, its claw (2-1/2)/8. Weight 1 lb. 14-1/2 oz. Female. Plate CCCXXXII. Fig. 2. The female is less than the male. The bill, iris, and feet are coloured as in the male; sides of the forehead white (not in the figure, it having been taken from a young bird). The general colour is brownish-grey, darker on the head, cheeks, back, rump, and abdomen, of a lighter tint approaching to ash-grey, on the throat, breast, wing-coverts, and inner secondaries, which are margined externally with black; seven or eight of the secondary quills white; the primaries and tail-feathers as in the male. Length to end of tail 18-1/4 inches, to end of claws 19-3/8, to end of wings 17; extent of wings 29; wing from flexure 9; tail 3-1/2; bill along the ridge 1-5/8, along the edge of lower mandible 2-1/8; tarsus 1-1/2; hind toe and claw 3/4; middle toe and claw 2-1/2. Weight 1 lb. 1 oz. GREEN HERON. _ARDEA VIRESCENS_, LINN. PLATE CCCXXXIII. MALE AND YOUNG.