Part 29 (1/2)
Total length 64-88 mm.
Width in front 35-48 ”
Width behind costal facets 26-36 ”
Width at posterior border 27-35 ”
_Coracoidals._
Total length 59-67 mm.
Width at lower extremity 17-18 ”
_Humerus._
Total length 118-180 mm.
Width of proximal extremity 20-27 ”
Width of distal extremity 16.5-24 ”
Width of shaft 7-11 ”
_Metacarpals._
Total length 62-98 mm.
Width of proximal extremity 12-17 ”
Width of distal extremity 7-11 ” ”
The anonymous author of the ma.n.u.script ”Relation de l'ile Rodrigue” (see Ann. Sci. Nat. (6) II p. 133 et seq. 1875) about the year 1830 mentions this bird as follows:--”There are not a few Bitterns which are birds which only fly a very little, and run uncommonly well when they are chased. They are of the size of an Egret and something like them.”
Habitat: Rodriguez Island.
2 Humeri, 2 Femora, 2 Tibiae, and 2 Metatarsi in the Tring Museum. {114}
ARDEA DUBOISI NOM. NOV.
_Butors ou Grands Gauziers_ Dubois, Les Voyages faits par le Sieur D.B.
(1674) p. 169.
L'Abbe Dubois is the only author who has, as far as I can ascertain, told us that the Island of Reunion also had a large almost flightless Heron as well as Mauritius and Rodriguez; and so feeling sure that it, like most other birds of this island, was distinct I name it after him.
The translation of his original description is as follows:--”Bitterns or Great Egrets, large as capons, but very fat and good. They have grey plumage, each feather spotted with white, the neck and beak like a Heron, and the feet green, made like the feet of Poullets d'Inde (_Porphyrio_, W.R.). This bird lives on fish.”
Habitat: Reunion or Bourbon. {115}
ARDEA MAURITIANA (NEWT. & GAD.)
_Butorides mauritia.n.u.s_ Newton & Gadow, Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. XIII, p.