22 ARDEIDA 
no specimen in existence to prove Thompson’s assertion 
that the Little Egret has visited Ireland on three occa- 
sions.” 
Fig. 4.—HEAD OF LITTLE EGRET. 3 Nat. size. 
DESCRIPTIYE CHARACTERS. 
PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial—Entire plumage beau- 
tiful milky-white. From the back of the head proceed two 
long slender plumes, while at the root of the neck and 
especially along the back, the plumes are much lengthened, 
soft and wavy.” (Figs. 3 and 4.) 
sold for £5 5s., probably shot near that place.” Possibly this is the 
same specimen alluded to by Mr. Newstead (ante, p. 70), as the date is 
exactly the same, and the locality in Yorkshire may have been subse- 
quently added to the label under the impression that it had been killed 
in that county.” 
1 Mr. Ussher, in his ‘ Birds of Ireland’ (p. 162), refers to the oecur- 
rences cited by Thompson of the Little Egret in Ireland, with all caution. 
He gives the dates of the three records from Kerry, Cork and Wexford, 
but adds that there is only one bird preserved. This is in the Trinity 
College Museum, but the data of the label are not sufficient to prove 
it is really an Irish specimen. 
?> The beautiful silky filiform plumes of the Egret, better known 
among milliners as ‘ ospreys,’ have been, and still are much sought after, 
for ornamental purposes. In the Eastern countries the Egret feathers 
are worn to adorn the head-dress of persons of the highest rank, and this 
charming little Heron has been further victimised to supply “the 
