120 THE BIRDS OF NOBTHAMPTONSHIRE 



BufF-back, whilst those of the Night Heron are 

 larger, and very decidedly more blue than those of 

 the present species. 



The uproar made by these Herons on being 

 disturbed from their nests is impossible to describe 

 as they soar in a feathery cloud high above their 

 nesting-place. All three species are gifted with 

 most discordant and very harsh voices, and although 

 perhaps that of the Night Heron is the most un- 

 pleasant to an ear " attuned to harmony," the 

 strident croak of the Little Egret is almost equally 

 disagreeable. 



I found this bird very common in winter on the 

 great lagoon between Tunis and the port of Goletta, 

 and have met with it in abundance on most parts of 

 the Turkish coast of the Adriatic, as well as in 

 Sardinia, Sicily, the Ionian Islands, Crete, and Cyprus. 

 It is usually to be seen in small flocks, wading in 

 shallow water, or stalking about the marshes, and 

 often perched on low bushes. Its food is of the 

 same nature as that of the other Herons, but beetles 

 and flies are favourite morsels, and the latter taken 

 with an adroitness only surpassed by its bufl'-backed 

 congener, which, by the way, I consider as the most 

 insectivorous of the European Herons. 



The Little Egret, in my experience, is impatient 

 of captivity, and very delicate in constitution. With 

 every possible care and attention we never could 

 manage to keep one alive in the Lilford aviaries for 

 more than a few months, although the Bufl'-backed 

 Egret thrives, with some protection from winter 

 weather, for years therein. 



