SQUACCO HERON 25 
to be the earliest on record (Latham, Gen. Hist. Birds, 
Vvol..1x, p. 110): 
Among recent captures may be mentioned:—One from 
the south of Ireland, a bird taken near Dungarvan Bay 
co. Waterford, September 12th, 1896 (Ussher, ‘ Birds 
of Ireland,’ p. 163); another from the North of Scotland, a 
bird taken on North Ronaldshay, on September 7th, 1896. 
(Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., July, 1897); and a third taken near 
Rye, Sussex, on June 8rd, 1905. (J. B. Nichols, ‘ Zoologist,’ 
1905, p. 349.) 
The Squacco Heron has also been recorded from :— 
England—Uampshire, Isle of Wight, Dorset, Somerset, 
Devon, Cornwall, Shropshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, 
Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Cumberland. 
Wales— Montgomeryshire, Denbighshire and Brecon- 
shire. 
Scotland—Two instances, in addition to the one already 
cited, one from the Glasgow Canal, near Stockton, on 
October 9th, 1852 (Harting), another taken near Edinburgh 
(Saunders). 
Ireland—Kerry, one obtained on June 10th, 1875, 
another on September 17th, 1895. Cork, one obtained May 
26th, 1849, another in 1850, a third, October 26th, 1860, 
a fourth, July 15th, 1877. Waterford (vide supra), London- 
derry, one procured on November 24th, 1881. (Ussher, 
‘ Birds of Ireland,’ p. 163.) 
In its general habits the Squacco resembles, more or 
less, the other Herons. During the day-time it 1s wont to 
remain in the same position for a number of hours, secluding 
itself among tall tussocks and sedges. 
Voice.—Its voice, not often sounded, is harsh and mono- 
syllabic, 
Food.—Frogs, small crabs, shrimps, slugs, snails, fish, 
insects, shrews and mice, are eaten by this practically 
omnivorous species; the late Mr. E. Wiliams informed me 
that he found the stomach of a specimen, which he _ pre- 
served, filled with the remains of small crustaceans. 
Nest.—The Squacco Heron is gregarious in the breed- 
ing-season. The heronries are built on low trees and 
bushes adjoining bog-lands. The nest, composed almost 
entirely of sticks, 1s roughly put together; the eggs, four 
to six in number, and of a greenish-blue colour, are 
laid early in May. The members of a heronry often fight 
fiercely. 
