104 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



Like the common Heron the present species occurs commonly in 

 Tunisia, and according to Blanc, is resident and to be met with at all 

 seasons in the Eegency, though more plentiful during the spring. 



In Algeria and Marocco the Purple Heron appears to be abundant, 

 and according to Loche, is resident and found on most of the Algerian 

 lakes. In Sicily the species is particularly plentiful during the spring 

 passage, and is said to be resident in the marshes near Catania. 



In the localities it frequents, the Purple Heron differs somewhat 

 from the common Heron, preferring marshes and reed-fringed pools 

 to the more open spots and neighbourhood of running water generally 

 affected by the latter i)ird. It is also more skulking in its habits and 

 less arboreal than the common Heron, being seldom found in trees, 

 but usually on the ground or among reeds and cane-brakes, where it 

 passes the greater part of the day in retirement. It is chiefly to be 

 seen during the early morning or late evening hours, and appears to 

 be more or less crepuscular in its habits. When on migration the 

 species is usually to be found in small flocks, but occasionally as many 

 as a hundred individuals may be seen together. 



The note or call of the Purple Heron is not unlike that of the 

 common Heron, though not quite so loud, and its food appears to be 

 very similar. It breeds in colonies as a rule, and apparently always 

 in marshes or among dense aquatic vegetation and never in trees. 

 The nest consists merely of a few flags or rushes beaten down, with 

 a slight layer of bits of dry rushes to hold the eggs, which are usually 

 three in number and of a pale bluish-green colour. They measure 

 about 55 X 40 mm. 



ARDEA ALBA, Linnaeus. 



GREAT WHITE EGRET. 



Ardea alba, Linn. Si/st. Nat. i, p. 239 (17GG). 



Herodias alba, Slmrpc, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxvi, p. 90 ; Erlanger, 



■I. J. O. IDOO, p. .3(3. 

 Ardea (Herodias) egretta, Malherbe, Cat. Bais. d'Ois. Alg. p. 20 (1846). 

 Egretta alba, Loche, E.rpl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 132 (1867). 

 Herodias egretta, Koenig, .J.f. 0. 1888, p. 273 ; id. J.f. 0. 1893, p. 88. 



Description. — Adult, spring, from Sicily. 



Entire plumage pure white, the occipital feathers, and those of the 



