Ornithology of Northern Africa. 77 



117. Ardea ciNEREA. (Common Hcvon.) '' BouAuk." Ax2ih. 

 Occasionally to be seen in the ditches and salt marshes of the 



oases in winter. 



118. Ardea purpurea. (Purple Heron.) 



In the same localities, but far more numerous ; never, how- 

 ever, so far as I know, gregarious in winter. 



119. Herodias alba. (White Egret.) " A'i zouch," Arab. 

 Three or four of these magnificent Herons used to resort to 



the salt lake of Waregla. Again, I met with them at Dzouia, 

 Teraa9in, Tamerna, and Tuggurt, but always in small flocks and 

 very shy. Never fou.nd, like their congeners, in the ditches or 

 under palm-trees, but in the wide open marshes and chotts, 

 where they were extremely wary. They are only winter visitants 

 to the Sahara. I was informed that they breed near Benzert 

 on the Tunisian coast, but did not see them there. 



120. Herodias garzetta. (Little White Egret.) 

 Universally distributed in small numbers wherever a suitable 



locality exists, and frequenting familiarly the gardens and ditches 

 of the oases. It breeds in society on the lake Fetzara, and doubt- 

 less in more southern marshes also. Vide ' Ibis,^ vol. i. p. 358. 



121. BuBULCUs IBIS. (Buff-backed Heron.) 

 Very common throughout the year about oases. 



122. BuPHUs co.MATUs. (Squacco Heron.) 



In small companies about marshes. Vast flocks resort to the 

 lakes of Tuggurt, a portion only of which, as I am informed, 

 remain to breed. 



123. Ardetta minuta. (Little Bittern.) 

 Generally distributed and resident. 



124. Botaurus stellaris. (Common Bittern.) 



In all the larger marshes, but not in open salt lakes. I shot 

 one as far south as Ngoussa, in a watered palm-grove. 



12;"). Nycticorax griseus. (Night Heron.) 

 In the palm-forests of Tuggurt. Probably throughout the 

 whole of the Wed R'hir. 



