Birds of Astrakhan. 225 



Ardea purpurea. 



The Purple Heron is not a very common summer visitor. 



Ardea alba. 



The Great White Egret is a very common summer visitor. 

 It breeds on willows and, where there are no trees, on the 

 bent-down reeds. 



Ardea comata. 



The Squacco Heron is an equally common summer visitor. 

 It breeds only on high willows. 



Ardea comata x garzetta. 



Henke has in his collection a Heron from Astrakhan, which 

 he believes to be a hybrid between the Little Egret and the 

 Squacco Heron. 



Ardea garzetta. 



The Little Egret is a common summer visitor, breeding 

 only on the high willows. 



Ardea garzetta x nycticorax. 



Henke has in his collection from Astrakhan a Heron which 

 he believes to be a hybrid between the Little Egret and the 

 Night -Heron. 



Ardea nycticorax. 



The Night-Heron is a very common summer visitor. 



BOTAURUS STELLARIS. 



The Bittern is a very common summer visitor. It breeds 

 wherever there are reeds, but singly, not in colonies. The 

 nest is very difficult to find. 



Ardetta minuta. 



The Little Bittern is a very common summer visitor. 

 Its favourite breeding-place is in the hollow under the nest 

 of a Heron or Egret which has been built on the bent-down 

 reeds. 



CiCONIA NIGRA. 



The Black Stork is said to breed near Astrakhan, but Henke 

 never found the uest. It is not uncommon late in summer 

 and in autumn. 



