158 British Birch. 



Herons, and have twelve tail-feathers. In the breeding plumage the upper surface is 

 pale vinous, including the ornamental plumes of the back, and the feathers of the head 

 and hind-neck have a black line following the margin of the feathers. At least forty 

 occurrences of the Squacco Heron have been recorded, of which two have taken 

 place in Scotland and three in Ireland. It is found throughout Southern Europe and 

 Africa, breeding in company with other Herons or in colonies. The nest is built 

 of sticks, like that of the Night-Heron, and the eggs are from four to si.\ in number, 

 and of a greenish-blue colour ; they measure one-and-a-half to one-and-three-quarters 

 of an inch in length. 



This species may be recognised by its yellow bill and by the 



^"•^ vmous crest and dorsal train ; in winter the plumage is pure white. 



BUFF-BACKED „ , 1 ■ 1 .1 1 u * ■ i? 1 1 ■ 



Only one example is known to have been shot in bngland, m 

 EGRET. J f b 



,,, , , , •. > October, i8os. It inhabits the Mediterranean countries, the lower 

 (Biibulcus lucidus.) ' -^ 



Danube and Southern Russia, as well as the greater part of 

 Africa. It is generally known as the 'Cattle-Egret' from its habit of feeding round 

 the cattle, and perching on their backs. It devours numbers of ticks which it picks 

 oil these animals, and feeds also on frogs and insects. The species nests in 

 colonies in low bushes in the reed-beds, and makes a nest of sticks. '1 he eggs are 

 from three to five in number, and of a very pale greenish-blue colour; they measure 

 about an inch-and-thrce-quarters in length. 



All the Bitterns may be told by their ten tail-feathers, 



and bv the colour ol the eggs. They are not gregarious like 



BITTERN. , ■ ,, T, 1 ■ 1 T ■ , TT 



, . ,, . , , the small Egrets, and in the Eittle bittern there is con- 

 Ardetta mmiita.) ° 



siderable difference in the colour of the sexes, the male 

 having a greenish-black head and back, whereas in the female the upper parts 

 are chestnut-brown, with distinct streaks on the under surface oi the body. 

 The species is believed to have bred in England in former days, but is now only- 

 known as an occasional visitor. It is an inhabitant of Central and Southern Europe, 

 eastwards to Central Asia, and it also breeds in Scinde and Cashmere. It is a shy and 

 skulking bird and in many of its ways resembles the Rails, threading its way through 

 the reeds instead of taking to flight. The birds also draw themselves up and remain 

 motionless with their bill pointing straight up in the air, so as to resemble 

 the surrounding rushes. The nest is of sticks and reeds, and is either placed in 

 a reed-bed or on the head of a pollard-willow. The eggs are from five to nine in 

 number, and are white with a scarcely perceptible greenish tinge ; they measure 

 about an inch-and-a-half in length. 



The members of the genus Botaunis have ten tail-feathers 

 THE COMMON ^^^^ saw-like edges to the bill. The large size and mottled 



RITTPRN 



,, , . ,, ■ , plumatre of tawny-yellow and black, with the large neck frill, 



Botaunis sti'llarn.} f b J J o > 



sufficiently distinguish the Bittern from all the other British 

 Herons. Although it used at one time to breed in our fen-lands, the Bittern 



