_Butors ou Grands Gauziers_ Dubois, Les Voyages faits par le Sieur D.B.
(1674) p. 169.
L'Abbé Dubois is the only author who has, as far as I can ascertain, told
us that the Island of Réunion 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."