(10 



itiKi) i;ai,i.i;kv. 



is laboured and slow, but tlicy can vuu and clinil) among the water- 

 plants witli surprising ease. Tliey iVequently attempt to conceal 

 themselves by assuming an upright position with the bill held vertically, 

 and their buft-stripcd breast turned towards the spectator. In this 

 position they so closely resemble the surrounding reeds that they easily 

 escape detection. The visitor's attention is directed to the Little 

 Bittern [Ardetta minnta) (622) [PI. XIII.], which has been mounted to 

 illustrate this marvellous instinct of self-jireservation. Owing to the 

 draining of the extensive reed-swamps the Common Bittern [B. sffl/aris-) 

 (615), formerly one of our regular breeding-birds, is now only a visitor 

 to our shores, and its booming cry, once a familiar sound, is now seldom 

 heard across the fens. 



Passing by the handsome Asiatic Bitterns (Dupetor) (617), the Buff- 

 i)ackcd Heron {Bubiilciis luc/diia) (621), and the Sqnacco Heron {Ardeola 

 i-nlloidfs) (620), we come to the Tiger-Bitterns 626-628), very hand- 

 some birds represented by several genera, and the (ircen Herons 

 {Bufo/ides) (632-634), which form a connecting link between the 

 Bitterns and Herons. 



A veiy remarkable type with wide, sluje-shaped bill will be found in 

 the Central American Boatbill (CancroMci) (629), a bird of nocturnal 

 [Case ;-!■). I habits. On the floor of the next Case several species (jf the nearly 

 allied Night-IIerons (Xi/rticorax) (637-639) are exhibited, of Avhieh the 

 chestnut-backed species are the most handsome, and the common grey 

 species (.V. nijcticorax) (639) is an almost annual visitor to our shores. 

 Tiie Reef Herons {Dcm'wyretfa) (645) are noteworthy as possessing 

 two phases of plumage — a white form and a grey one. The same 

 phenomenon is exhibited in the Blue Heron [Florida cternlea] (647) 

 and in the Reddish Egret {T)ichri)maiiussa nifu) (646), where one form 

 of the species is white and the other rufous. One of the most graceful 

 and elegant species is the Great White Heron [Hcrodias alba) (648), 

 which ranges over a large part of the Old World. As already stated, it 

 is from this species and from the Egrets ( Garzettu) in their nuptial 

 plumage that the ornamental plumes known as "ospreys" are procured. 



Passing by the handsome Purple Heron (Phoyx purpurea) (650), we 

 may specially draw attention to the Great Heron (Ardea (jolinth) i651), 

 which, as its name implies, is the giant of the group; and, most familiar 

 of all, the Common Heron (.1. cinereu) (652). Heronries, as the 

 colonies of nests are called, are found in many parts of Great Britain and 

 Ireland. After the breeding-season is over, the majority of the birds 

 disperse over the country. Many go down to the coasts and remain 

 away dui'ing the autumn and winter, only returning in spring, but, if 

 the season is a mild one, they begin to lay in the l)eginuing of ^farcli 

 or even eariicr. Their appetite is insatiable, and they destroy large 

 numbers of fish, fio^s. voung water-fowl, and even water-rats. 



