873 Mr. W. C. Tait on the Birds of Portugal. 



XXXIX.— ^ List of the Birds of Portugal. 

 By Willi A Ai C. Tait^ Oporto. 



[Concluded from p. 314.] 



IGO. Ardea ciNEREA^ Linn. '' Gar9a/' 



The Common Heron sometimes arrives as early as the end 

 of August and stays till the middle of February. It is abun- 

 dant on the edge of the lagoon between Ovar and Aveiro, 

 and also at Esmoriz ; and it may occasionally be seen at the 

 mouth of the Douro^ but I am not aware that it breeds in this 

 country. Being considered good eating, it is much sought 

 after by tlie gunnerSj and its fat has a great reputation as a 

 cure for rheumatism. 



161. Ardea PURPUREA, Linn. "Garcia." 



There are specimens of the Purple Heron in the Lisbon 

 and Coimbra Museums, and Dr. Carvalho informs me that 

 it breeds in the Foja marsh. 



162. Ardea garzetta, Linn. " Gar(^a ribeirinlia/^ Por- 

 timao ; " Garceta,'' Faro ; '' Chisco,'' Olhao. 



The Lisbon Museum possesses specimens of the Little 

 Egret from the Ribatejo and others from the Algarve, on 

 the coast of which I found this bird plentiful. A colony 

 builds a short distance from Portimao on a small, round, 

 inaccessible islet, composed of marine fossils, covered at the 

 top with a short brushwood on which the Egrets make their 

 nests. It was very picturesque to see the Egrets rise in a 

 white cloud as we approached in a boat. I do not know of 

 any other nesting-place in Portugal. 



163. Ardea bubulcus, Audouin, " Garciote," '' Garga 

 boieira,^^ Esmoriz ; " Garca da Barbaria,^^ Alpiar(;^a. 



The Buff-backed Heron appears in Portugal in the spring, 

 and probably nests in this country, where it has acquired the 

 name of "Garca boieira'^ (Ox Heron), from its habit of 

 accompanying the cattle while pasturing on the marshes. 

 In the spring of 1880 I received from Alpiarga, near San- 

 tarem, on the banks of the Tagus, a specimen which had 

 actually been shot on the back of an ox, where these birds 



