86 ALLEN'S naturalist's LIBRARY. 



backs of some of the unfortunate birds, instead of decorating 

 the bonnets of women, who are responsible for the wanton 

 massacre of these pretty birds at their nests, as they are also 

 responsible for the sufferings and miserable death of the starv- 

 ing nestlings, deprived of the support of their parents ! 



Nest. — This is described by Mr. Eagle Clarke as like that of 

 the Night-Heron, " composed entirely of sticks. The nests of 

 the Little Egret and the Squacco were seldom to be seen in 

 juxtaposition, probably on account of the pugnacious tempera- 

 ment of the latter." 



Eggs. — From four to six in number^ and of a greenish-blue 

 colour. Axis, i-7-i'85 ; diam., i-3-i-4. 



THE BUFF-BACKED CATTLE-EGRETS. GENUS BUBULCUS. 



Biibulcus^ Bp. Ann. Sci. Nat. (4) i. p. 141 (1854). 

 Type, B. lucidus (Rafin.). 



I. THE BUFF-BACKED EGRET. BUBULCUS LUCIDUS. 



Ardea lucida^ Rafin. Caratteri, p. 3 (18 10). 



Ardca btibukus, Audouin, Expl. Somm. PI. Ois. de I'Egypte, i. 

 p. 298 (1825); Dresser, B. Eur. vi. p. 245, pi. 400, fig. i 

 (1879); B. O. U. List Br. B. p. 109 (1883); Seebohm, 

 Br. B. ii. p. 492 (1884) ; Saunders, ed. Yarr. Br. B. iv. p. 

 187 (1884) ; id. Man. Br. B. p. 363 (1889) ; Lilford, Col. 

 Fig. Br. B. part xiii. (1890). 



Egretta riissafa, Macg. Br. B. iv. p. 474 (1852). 



Bubidcus lucidus^ Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvi. p. 213. 



Adult Male — General colour above and below pure white, the 

 crest, which is very plainly developed, being of a vinous isabel- 

 line colour, the ornamental dorsal train being of the same 

 colour ; the fore-neck with some similarly coloured vinous 

 plumes ; bill chrome-yellow, paler towards the gape ; tarsi and 

 feet dusky-sooty ; iris very pale chrome-yellow, darker towards 

 the outer edge, the eyelids also pale chrome.* Total length, 19 

 inches; culmen, 2*2; wing, 9*8; tail, 3*25; tar:3us, 3'2. 



* The colours of the bill and feet are taken from some notes made by Mr, 

 Thomas Ayrcs, in the Transvaal. 



