78 Allen's naturalist's library. 



bird said to have been procured in Sussex may also be an 

 authentic instance. In any case, the Little Egret is one of 

 our very rarest visitors. 



Range outside the British Islands. — Rare in Holland, Germany, 

 and the north of France, and not wandering beyond the Baltic. 

 In the Mediterranean countries it is more abundant, and ex- 

 tends into central Europe to Sclavonia and Hungary, while it 

 breeds pretty commonly along the Lower Danube. From the 

 Black Sea and the Caspian its range extends to India and 

 Ceylon, the Burmese countries, China, and Japan. It seems 

 to be found in most parts of Africa suitable to its habits, and 

 it breeds as far south as the Cape Colony. 



Habits. — Mr. Seebohm, who has had special opportunities for 

 observing this bird on the Lower Danube, says that though it 

 breeds principally in the densest willow-thickets, it frequents 

 open marshes, sand-banks, and shallows in the river, and the 

 margins of the streams, where its snow-white plumage makes 

 it an extremely conspicuous bird. In its flight it resembles 

 the other species of Herons, proceeding with steady flaps of 

 its broad wings, having the head drawn up between the 

 shoulders, and the legs extended so as to make a straight 

 line with the back. Upon the ground it walks about with the 

 sedate and easy action of the other Herons. It can scarcely 

 be called a shy bird ; but is, nevertheless, very difficult to 

 shoot, except at its breeding-colony. It may often be seen 

 standing in the water, but does not show any partiality for 

 perching, except in the vicinity of its nest. The food of the 

 Little Egret consists principally of fish and water-plants, but it 

 also eats aquatic insects^ frogs, and worms. 



Nest. — The same author, in his " History of British Birds," 

 gives a graphic account of a birds'-nesting expedition made 

 by himself and Mr. John Young in the Lower Danube. He 

 says that the breeding-place of the Little Egret was most 

 difficult to find, as it was entirely hidden far in the forests of 

 pollard-willows, where the water was often very deep. He at 

 last found a colony of Night-Herons, Squacco Herons, and 

 Little Egrets, and my own experiences in Hungary exactly agree 

 with Mr. Seebohm's in this respect, that one may travel for a 

 long distance in a marsh before discovering the actual breed- 



