36 On the Guadal quiver. 



the sunlight, attending on a herd of black bulls or a group 

 of horses. Some walking by the side of the cattle are 

 constantly stretching out their beaks to the horses' head 

 or jumping up to its belly, in order to snap off a fly or 

 tick which they have spied ; others perched on the backs of 

 the beasts relieve them of many an enemy. All the while 

 the cattle never flinch, but seem to know perfectly well 

 that the birds with their graceful movement and delicate 

 pack are doing them a service. 



Squacco herons,"^' with reddish-brown backs, were also 

 in these marshes, as well as many flocks of that most 

 beautiful of all the heron tribe —the little egret. f The 

 entire plumage of this lovely bird is of a pure snowy white, 

 its beak and legs are black, and its eyes yellow. Like all 

 the herons it has long plumes on the head and breast, 

 and growing from the middle of its back, and drooping 

 over its wings, are those filamentous wavy feathers so 

 exquisitely beautiful on the bird — so artificial and unsightly 

 on a woman's bonnet. 



* Ardea ralloides. f Ardea garzetta. 



