ARDEID.t. 



357 



THE PURPLE HERON. 



Ardea purpurea, Linneeus. 



Although the l^urple Pleron is comparatively abundant on the 

 neighbouring shores of the Continent, it is only of irregular occur- 

 rence on the east coast of England, and is even less frequent in the 

 south, from Sussex to the Scilly Islands. In Wales, and along the 

 west side, it has seldom been noticed ; while, as regards Ireland, 

 the only example on record is that killed at Carrickmacross in 1834, 

 and now in the Warren collection at the Dublin Museum. In 

 Scotland it is said to have occurred in Caithness and Aberdeen- 

 shire, more than forty years ago. Altogether nearly fifty specimens 

 have been obtained in the British Islands, the majority being in 

 immature plumage. 



The Purple Heron is only a wanderer to the south of Norway 

 and Sweden, Northern (Germany and Poland. Its nearest nesting- 

 places are in Holland, where it is still by no means uncommon, 

 though lately interfered with by drainage ; but, while principally 

 a visitor on passage to Belgium and the north of France, it breeds 

 in considerable numbers in the marshy districts of the Loire. 



