BUFF-BACKED HERON. 493 
The Buff-backed Heron is represented in the east by Ardea coromanda, 
which is a resident in India, Ceylon, the Burmese peninsula, South China, 
South Japan, and the islands of the Malay archipelago. It differs from 
its western ally in being slightly larger in size and richer in colour. The 
‘range of the two species does not quite coalesce, that of the African bird 
only extending as far east as the valley of the Jordan, and that of the 
Asiatic bird only as far west as the valley of the Indus. They have no 
very near ally. 
The Buff-backed Heron differs in its habits in many respects from its 
allies. Its favourite haunts are pastures where cattle are feeding, and it 
is generally seen in small parties on the most friendly terms with the cows 
or buffaloes, from whom it picks the parasites which infest them, or catches 
the flies which tease them. So familiar is it with its friends that it may 
often be seen resting on the back of an ox or an elephant, who seem to 
appreciate its services. It also frequents arable land, where it is in the 
habit of following the plough, as Rooks and Gulls often do, to pick wp the 
insects from the newly turned-up ground. Heuglin says that in Egypt it 
also frequents marshes in search of frogs, and visits the African steppes in 
thousands to feed upon the locusts which abound there, and is sometimes 
seen in the deserts, visiting the halting-places of the caravans. 
Like the Squacco Heron this species feeds more upon insects than on 
fish or frogs ; indeed it seems probable that the Buff-backed Heron is 
almost exclusively an insectivorous bird, though it is difficult to believe 
that it does not also feed upon the tender shoots of various water-plants. 
They are comparatively silent birds, except at their breeding-places, 
where, especially after the young are hatched, they are noisy enough. 
Heuglin says that the note resembles the syllable grah, and other travellers 
have likened it to the bleating of sheep. 
The Butf-backed Heron breeds in colonies, making its nest in trees, 
sometimes in swamps, but often in dry forests, and even, according to 
Heuglin, in gardens. Where there are no trees it breeds in reeds. Like 
its congeners it is a somewhat late breeder, waiting in Egypt until the 
Nile has overflown its banks, in May and June. The nest is composed of 
sticks, and probably does not differ much from that of the Squacco Heron ; 
but we have no reliable information on the subject. The number of eggs 
varies from three to five. They are almost white in colour, but are 
slightly shaded with bluish green, and after they are blown the dark green 
of the inner shell is visible through the hole when held up to the light. 
They vary in length from 1-9 to 1:7 inch, and in breadth from 1-32 to 
1°28 inch. The eggs are indistinguishable from those of Montagu’s 
Harrier, but are so much paler in colour than those of any other European 
Heron that they are not likely to be confused with eggs of the Little 
Egret or Night-Heron. Only one brood is reared in the year, 
