286 



BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



36uff*bacfeeb Iberon. 



^^t_ 



The Buff-backed Heron {Ardea biibuleus^ Audouin) is an 

 exceedingly rare abnormal spring and autumn migrant to 

 the British Isles. It inhabits Southern Europe and Africa, 

 but is met with in the south-western parts of Asia. The 

 adult male in summer has the plumage of the head, neck, 

 breast, and the elongated filamentous feathers of plumes, 

 rusty-buff; remainder of plumage, white; irides, yellowish- 

 pink ; bill, reddish at base, yellow at tip ; legs, yellowish ; 

 lores, yellow. Length, from eighteen to twenty inches. 

 The female resembles the male, but is rather less, and the 

 plumes are smaller. 



