A ITS. i°9 



the Lake of Antioch, which the bird could not possibly have reached 

 without passing through Palestine, I think it fairly deserves a place 

 here. 



The vast shallow Lake of Antioch, extending over many miles, is very 

 shallow, and swarms with eels. The Darters arrive from the south 

 about the end of April, and have not hatched out till the beginning of 

 June. As soon as the young can fly they at once suddenly depart, and 

 are never seen again till the end of the next spring. The lake is full of 

 islets, covered with coarse grass and a dwarf sort of marsh myrtle. For 

 its nest the Darter merely seems to tread down a tuft of coarse grass or 

 rushes, or press down the centre of a litde bush. Wherever there is a 

 stick it may be seen perched, hanging down its wings as if they were 

 broken, or as if the bird were hanging itself out to dry. 



What makes the discovery of this breeding colony most interesting 

 is that Syria would appear to be entirely beyond the range of the African 

 Darter, while the Indian species {Plotus mclanogasfer) might more reason- 

 ably have been looked for. Plotus kvaillantii is known from South 

 Africa, the Zambesi, the Niger, Senegambia, and the Suaheli country, 

 but has not yet been noticed in North-east Africa, neither in Egypt, 

 Nubia, nor the Red Sea; while in Madagascar the Indian species alone is 

 found. 



ORDER, HERODIONES. 



FAMILY, ARDEID.-E. 



230. Ardca cincrca. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 236. Common Heron. 

 Hebr., MSJ^'. Arab., <dkL<jJ, Diinkaleh, and ^^p, 'Arnuo;. 



The Common Heron is scattered in suitable situations through every 

 part of the country, especially about the marshes of Huleh, on the Jordan, 

 Lake of Galilee, Kishon, and the coast. 



The Heron inhabits Europe, all Africa, and all Asia. 



231. Ardca purpurea. Linn, Syst. Nat. i., p. 236. Purple 

 Heron. 



The Purple Heron inhabits the same districts as the former species, 

 but in smaller numbers. 



