THE BUFF-BACKED HERON. 411 



fields. I know nothing so pretty as a group of these 

 Herons arranging themselves in a circle around a black 

 ox buried in the long grass at midday, watching it, de- 

 fending it against the attacks of winged insects which 

 thirst for its blood, and adroitly relieving it of the ticks 

 which hang in clusters to its flanks. I have often admired 

 these scenes in the pastures of Algeria during the early 

 years of the French occupation, and I have more than 

 once pointed out to lovers of the picturesque, as a charm- 

 ing subject for a ' cattle-piece,' this protection of the 

 patient quadruped by its wdiite sentinels. I regi^et that 

 no eminent artist has transferred to the canvas this little 

 rustic drama, for it is possible that representations, Avhich 

 formerly often took place in the grassy plains of the 

 Mitidja, the Mina, and the Chelif, are now become rare." 

 I have translated this passage, because it singularly con- 

 firms Colonel Montagu's account of the only bird of the 

 species which has been obtained in England. It is thus 

 cited by Yarrell : — " This elegant little species of Heron, 

 which was shot near Kingsbridge, in Devonshire, in the 

 latter end of October, 1805, had been seen for several 

 days in the same field attending some cows, and picked 

 up insects, which were found in its stomach. It was by 

 no means shy, and was fired at a second time before it 

 was secured." 



THE SQUACCO HERON. 



ARDEA COMATA. 



Feathers on the crown and occipital crest yellow, black, and white ; throat 

 white ; neck, upper part of the back, and scapulars, rich buff ; elongated 

 feathers of the back chestnut ; rest of the plumage white ; beak blue, tipped 

 with black ; orbits and lore green ; feet brown ; claws black. Length nine- 

 teen inches. Eggs unknown. 



A NATIVE of the eastern part of Europe, as well as of 

 Asia, Egypt, and Nubia. Perhaps as many as a dozen of 

 these beautiful birds have been shot in Great Britain, 



