The Herons. 



157 



THE LITTLE 



EGRET. 



{Gayzetta garzetta.) 



visitor. It is found in Central and Southern Europe as far east as Central Asia, and it 

 winters in Africa and India. In its habits the present species resembles other 

 Herons, and its food consists of fish, frogs and water-insects, as well as mice and 

 rats. The nest is built in the swamps, and is rather a large structure of sticks, 

 lined with smaller twigs. The eggs are four in number, of a greenish-blue colour, 

 and measure about two-and-a-half inches in length. 



The Little Egret in its full plumage differs from the Great 



White Heron in having a crest of drooping white plumes and 



some very distinct elongated plumes on the chest ; tlie dorsal 



train consists of a dense mass of iilamentous plumes. The 

 bill is black both in winter and summer, but the dorsal train is lost in the winter 

 season. It is this train of beautiful feathers which is the 'Osprey' of commerce, and 

 every spray worn by English women in their hats and bonnets represents the murder 

 of a pair of these elegant little birds at the nest, and the subsequent starvation 

 of the young birds. The Little Egret inhabits Central and Southern Europe, being 

 most plentifully met with on the Lower Danube, where it nests in communities with 

 Night-Herons and other species. It has occurred on two occasions in England, 

 but is one of our rarest visitors. The nest is made of sticks and reeds and is placed 

 on low trees or bushes in the swamps. The eggs are from three to six in number, 

 of a bluish green colour, and measure about an inch-and-a-quarter in length. 

 In the Night- 



Herons the bill is 



stouter than in the 



Egrets, and the colour 



is quite different. The 

 ornamental plumes consist of two or three 

 drooping white feathers on the nape. Speci- 

 mens have been shot in England, Scotland, 

 and Ireland. It is found throughout Central 

 and Southern Europe, and temperate Asia, 

 as well as in Africa, breeding in colonies 

 in the marshes. It also occurs throughout 

 the greater part of North America. The 

 nest is a cradle of sticks, and the eggs are 

 two or three in number, of a pale greenish- 

 blue colour, and measuring from one-and- 

 three-quarters to two inches in length. 



Although not unlike 

 THE SQUACCO ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ 



HERON. 

 {Aydcola ralloidcs.) 



THE COMMON 

 NIGHT-HERON. 



(Nycticorax 

 nyciicorax.) 



some ot the smaller 

 Bitterns in appearance, 

 the Squaccos are true 



The Common Night-Heron. 



