346 Hon. T. L. Powys on Birds 



192. Common Heron. [Ardea cinerea.) 



Common in Corfu and all parts of the mainland in winter. 

 I observed it in August in Albania and Montenegro. 



193. Great White Heron. {Ardea alba.) 



Common in Epirus in winter, particularly at Butrinto. Not 

 nearly so diflficult of approach as most of its congeners, although 

 I never observed it to skulk amongst the reeds and aquatic 

 herbage, as the last-mentioned species often does. I could not 

 find out that it ever remains to breed in Epirus ; but the natives 

 are so singularly unobservant of all birds except the Anatidee, 

 that it is difficult to extract any information from them. 



194. Little Egret. {Ardea garzetta.) 



Very common in winter on the coasts of Epirus, in which 

 province some few remain to breed. I observed this species on 

 the Bojana river, and the Lake of Scutari in Albania, in great 

 numbers in August 1857. The birds of this species which 

 frequent the shores of the Bay of Butrinto in the winter, and 

 spend the day in wading about the marshes, collect their forces 

 regularly about sunset, and fly in a compact body to the jungles 

 at the head of the lake, where they roost. They appeared to 

 pursue exactly the same course every evening; and I used always 

 to consider their appearance in a body as a sign that it was time 

 to take up my post for shooting Ducks in a small marshy pool 

 between the proper right of the Butrinto river and the rocks 

 which shut in the valley to the north. The Egrets almost in- 

 variably flew over this pool from west to east, and generally 

 preceded the arrival of the first flight of Ducks by about ten 

 minutes. 



195. Squacco Heron. {Ardea comata.) 



Arrives in gi-eat numbers in Epirus in March, and I believe 

 breeds in the marshes of the interior. Very abundant on the 

 Lake of Scutari in August 1857. I found this species the most 

 difficult of approach of any of the Ardeidce. 



196. Buff-backed Heron. {Ardea huhulcus.) 



I saw a stuffed specimen of this bird at Corfu, which was 

 killed at Butrinto ; and I think I may speak pretty positively to 



