BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 289 



The Purple Heron {Ardea purpurea, LinnDSus) is a rare 

 irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British Isles. 

 It inhabits most of the temperate and tropical regions of 

 the Eastern Hemisphere; in the northern parts it is migra- 

 tory. The adult has the crown and elongated feathers of 

 occiput purplish-black ; back and wing-coverts, deep slate- 

 grey ; dorsal plumes, rusty-red ; chin and throat, white ; 

 sides of head and neck, ferruginous, with streaks of blackish ; 

 neck, yellowish-chestnut, with a black line down each side ; 

 elongated feathers on chest, black, grey, and reddish ; under 

 parts, rich chestnut ; irides, yellow ; bill, yellow, brownish 

 above ; legs and feet, olive. Length, from twenty-nine to 

 thirtv-six inches. 



Little Egret. 



The Little Egret {Ardea garzetfa, Linnoeus) is an exceed- 

 ingly rare irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British 

 Isles, and inhabits the Southern Palearctic Region and 

 Ethiopian and Oriental Regions. The adult in summer 

 plumage has a crest on the occiput consisting of two elon- 

 gated feathers ; lower neck, furnished with lengthened 

 feathers ; back plumes, elongated ; entire plumage, white ; 

 irides, light yellow; naked part round eye, lavender; bill 

 and legs, blackish ; lower part of feet, yellowish. Length, 

 about twenty-four inches. The plumes of the adult female 

 are said to be shorter than those of the adult male, but 

 otherwise the plumage is similar. The young have no 

 lengthened [)lumes. (!'. 290.) 



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