160 EGYPTIAN BIRDS 



bustling for three months of the year, yet they 

 remain in this old-time haunt undisturbed by all 

 the changes that have taken place in this ancient 

 town. Twenty-seven years ago I saw them there, 

 but I have met people who declare there never 

 was a time known when Night Herons did not 

 frequent this spot. There is a certain seat on 

 the front where one enters the hotel grounds, 

 that is under some Lebekh trees these Herons 

 love, and I was early in the season horrified to 

 hear that the order had gone out to shoot all 

 those that were there, as they sometimes soiled 

 the monstrous hats that the ladies were wearing. 

 I appealed in vain to the management — "They 

 had had so many complaints," etc. — it must be, 

 and was. I never dared ask how many were 

 shot ; and I really do not see why the ladies could 

 not take their hats off, or else put up parasols. 

 Anyhow, just because of women's hats, an historic 

 colony of these interesting birds in a very re- 

 markable situation has been in danger of being 

 driven away. This Heron is not nearly so big 

 as our own familiar bird, and is rather squat and 

 dumpy in shape, but he is a fascinating, rather 

 weird-looking creature. Occasionally, one or two 

 stray as far as Great Britain ; but here in Egypt it 



