on my Egrets.



327



The Little Egret has occurred in England. One, for in¬

stance, was shot at Penzance in 1824 ; one at Cork in 1792 ; one at

Christchurch in 1822; three at Ai'ley in 183G. There are people

who say the “ egrets,” written of as common in England in former

days, were lapwings, and it is recorded that Archbishop Nevil had a

thousand “egrets” at his famous feast; and more shame to him,

even if they ivere lapwings !


At any rate, these Little Egrets were common enough in

Europe, and would be still if it were not for the abominable fashion

of wearing their dorsal plumes in human females’ head-gear.


One would like to make those women who, knowing the facts,

insist on wearing “aigrettes,” stand by to see the egrets slaughtered

—stand by, too, to hear the nestlings calling for food which can no

longer be supplied them ; and remain standing there until the stench

of corpses rose in their nostrils.


I must add that on the morning of September 12th, which

was clear and brilliant, both egrets flew very high at 6.30 a.m.

(summer-time), and to my dismay, when I wont to give them their

breakfast, the male was nowhere to be seen. I searched for him by

three small ponds which lie in different parts, but without avail.

The day passed, leaving me saddened. Seven o’clock arrived, and I

had just remarked to someone that I was afraid the bird had really

started on a migration and would be shot, when, hearing a commo¬

tion of swallows’ twitterings and cries—for large numbers were

wheeling over the ponds—I looked up, expecting the presence of a

hawk, and there was the lost egret sailing lightly down (a bolt from

the blue!), lie wheeled round me and settled at my feet. I think

lie must have passed the day by a reedy pond on a neighbouring

estate, for he came from that direction, and was not particularly

hungry. However, he could not resist a dace thrown in to the

entrance hall, so that I was able, very reluctantly, to catch him and

clip some feathers of one wing.



