A HA^"D-LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS. 123 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Resident. Generally distributed. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — The greater part of Europe and Asia south 

 of 60° north lat. (occasional straggler to Greenland and Iceland), 

 also parts of tropical India, and apparently Africa, south to Cape 

 Colony and Orange River Colony. East Asiatic birds are apparently 

 slightly different, but their differences require confirmation. 



ARDEA PURPUREA 



261. Ardea purpurea purpurea L.— THE PURPLE HERON. 



Ardea purpurea Linnfeus, Syst. Xat., ed. xii, i, p. 236 (1766 — " Habitat 



in Oriente "). 



Ardea purpurea Linnaeus, Yarrell, iv, p. 172 ; Saunders, p. 369. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Rare vagrant. Over fifty, chiefly 

 east coast England south of Wash, more rarely south coast, and very 

 rarely elsewhere. In Scotland there seem only two authentic (East 

 Lothian, Oct., 1892 ; Caithness, Sept., 1907). In Ireland only one 

 (Monaghan, prior to 1834). 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeds locally from Holland, France, 

 Austria, Hungary, south Russia to north Africa ; more or less 

 migratory in Europe, but resident and winter-visitor in many parts 

 of tropical and south Africa, extending eastwards to Persian GuH 

 and west central Asia. Replaced by another form in India, China, 

 and Malayan Archipelago. 



EGRETTA ALBA 



262. Egretta alba alba (L.)— THE GREAT WHITE HERON. 



Ardea alba Linnaeus, Syst. Xat., ed. x, i, p. 144 (1758 — Eiu-ope. Re- 

 stricted typical locality : Sweden). 

 Ardea alba Linnaeus, Yarrell, iv, p. 177 ; Saunders, p. 371. 



Distribution. — Great Britain. — Very rare vagrant. About seven 

 authentic — three Yorks., one Cambs., one Notts., one East Lothian, 

 one Perth, (c/. Saunders, p. 371, and Brit. B., i, p. 347). 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeds (formerly in great numbers) in 

 parts of south-east Europe, in the plains of the Danube and north 

 to south Russia, at least once (1863) in Silesia. Seems also to breed 

 eastwards as far as east Asia. Northern birds are migrants. The 

 distribution and description of allied races are as yet imperfectly 

 known, but it seems that the birds from tropical and south Africa, 

 as well as those from India, east Asia and the Malayan Archipelago 

 to Australia, are separable, and the large American Egret might also 

 be looked upon as a representative of E. a Iba alba. 



