Page:Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Volume 12.djvu/38

22 As there is a little variation in the plumage of my specimen of Ardea nigra from what has generally been described, and as the plumage when first captured indicated immaturity, being very different from what has been since assumed. I beg leave to subjoin a short description of three states of plumage.

The head and upper part of the neck speckled with pale brown of different shades, having a slight tinge of rufous, becoming darker on the lower part of the neck, the feathers being dusky in the middle: the back, scapulars, and coverts of the wings dusky-black, slightly margined with brown: quills and tail dusky-black, the latter glossed with green: the feathers on the lower part of the npck before pretty long and loose, hanging over the breast: from thence to the tail dingy-white. On the back were two or three leathers, apparently new, that were of a dark glossy green, indicating a change of plumage. This description was taken in June 1814, soon after the bird was captured. The bird continued very gradually to moult throughout the summer and winter, becoming much darker on the head and neck, and much greener on the back; and by the beginning of February 1815 the upper part of the head and back of the neck became dusky-black, glossed with green; the lower neck before dusky-black, and the whole upper part of the body, including wing-coverts and scapulars, dark shining green, similar in colour to that variety of the Glossy Ibis known under the title of Tantalus viridis. The under parts of the plumage continued as at first. The bill, which is full seven inches in length, has the upper mandible a trifle the longest, and deflects a little at the point: the colour is dusky-red, brighter at the base, and orange at the tip : irides light hazel: the lore and orbits bare of feathers, and of a dull red: the legs Rh