248 



HERON TRIBE 



these was at Hornsea, Yorkshire, in 1826, the second at Beverley, in 

 the same county, nine years later, the third on the Firth of Forth in 

 1840, the fourth in Cambridgeshire in 1849, ^""^ ^'"^^ ^^^^"^ ^^ Loch 

 Katrine in 1881. To these may perhaps be added a specimen shot at 

 Osberton, Nottingham, many years ago, and another seen in Yorkshire 

 in I 868. 



Of the little egret {Herodias garzetta) sixteen individuals appear 

 to have been recorded from the British Islands during the last 

 century, including a specimen in the Chester Museum, killed in 1826 ; 

 one of these being from Scotland, and two from Ireland. Another 



example was recorded from Yorkshire in 

 I 90 1. This bird is much smaller than 

 the great white heron, or larger egret, 

 measuring only about 20 inches in 

 length, and is further distinguished by 

 possessing a head-crest and elongated 

 breast - plumes during the breeding- 

 season ; these plumes forming the well- 

 known " ospreys " of the feather-trade. 

 The range of this species (which is 

 referred to in some works under the 

 name of Ardea garzetta, and in others 

 as Garzetta garzetta^ extends from 

 southern Europe and Africa eastwards to 

 India, China, and Japan. 



The last of this trio of rare visitors 

 is the buff-backed heron, or cattle-egret 

 (BubulcHS russatus) of southern Europe 

 and Africa, of which one example has been recorded from Devonshire 

 in 1805, a second from Norfolk in 1827, and a third from Devonshire 

 in I 85 I. The two species of cattle-egrets (the second of which is a 

 familiar Indian bird) differ from the true egrets {Hcrodias) by the 

 shorter beak and leg, the smaller portion of the second segment 

 of the legs devoid of feathers, and, above all, by the assumption 

 of buff, in place of white, hair- like breeding- plumes. Moreover, 

 as implied by the title cattle-egret, these birds differ markedly in 

 their habits from the true egrets. In some works this species is 

 described as Bidndcus lucidiis, this scientific name being of earlier 

 date than russatus. 



MOUNTED IN THE ROWLAND ' 



I.ITTI.K KGkKT. 



