ARDEID/E. 



173 



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THE LITTLE EGRET. 



Ardea garzetta, Linn?eus. 



The Little Egret has a more southern habitat than the preceding 

 species, and, as might be expected, its visits to the British Islands 

 are very uncommon. When subjected to critical examination almost 

 all the records of its occurrence are more or less unsatisfactory; and, 

 as far as I can learn, the only example about which there can be no 

 doubt, is an adult examined and recorded by the late Mr. J. 

 Gatcombe, killed at Countess Weir, on the Exe, on June 3rd 1870, 

 and belonging to Mr. E. H. Harbottle, of Topsham, near 

 Exeter. It is not improbable, however, that one has been obtained 

 in Sussex ; while the late Lord Lilford(B. Northamptonsh. ii. p. 118) 

 adduced some evidence that two were shot near Whittlesea about 

 1849. There is no specimen in existence to prove Thompson's 

 assertion that the Little Egret has visited Ireland on three occasions. 



This species has not been found to the north of the Baltic, and 

 it seldom wanders to Germany, Holland, or the north of France, 

 though not uncommon in the southern and eastern portions of the 



