XON-INDIGENOUS BRITISH BIRDS. 209 



Family ARDEID^. Genus Ardea. 



GREAT WHITE EGRET. 



Ardea alba, Li?tnceus. 



(British : Very rare abnormal spring and autumn migrant.) 



Single Brooded. Laying season in Europe, May and June. 



Breeding area : Southern Paleearctic region. The 

 typical form of the Great White Egret breeds in the 

 valley of the Lower Danube, in Southern Russia, Asia 

 Minor, Palestine, Persia, Turkestan, South-western 

 Siberia (north to lat. 47 ), the Amoor valley, Man- 

 chooria, and Japan. Whether this Egret breeds any- 

 where in the Ethiopian region appears not to be known. 

 Even its nesting in North Africa is very problematical. 



Breeding habits : The Great White Egret arrives 

 at its European breeding grounds in April. It does 

 not appear to be quite so gregarious as its allies, but 

 probably this is due to the great decrease of this species 

 owing to incessant persecution for the sake of its 

 plumage. It seems, however, to be just as socially 

 inclined, and often to breed in the company of other 

 Herons, as well as Ibises and Pygmy Cormorants. Its 

 favourite breeding haunts are inundated forests of low 

 trees, and on the outskirts of dense thickets of reeds. 

 Thirty years ago Von Homeyer found a solitary nest 

 of this bird in Silesia, made in an old fir tree ; whilst in 

 India the small race of this species {Ardea alba) habitually 

 breeds on trees. The nest is flat, and platform-like, com- 

 posed entirely of sticks, the finer twigs being used for 

 the lining. Nests made in swamps are formed of dead 

 reeds and other aquatic vegetation. It is probable that 

 this Egret pairs for life, as it is said to return to its 

 old breeding places, and to repair its old nests. The 



