166 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



plants, and is always placed on the ground. Its eggs, three or four 

 in number, are pale bluish-green, and measure 60 x 40 mm. 



ARDEA GABZETTA, Linnaeus. 



LITTLE EGEET. 



Ardea garzetta, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 237 (1766) ; Malherbe, Faune Orn. 



dc I'Alg. p. 30 (1855). 

 Garzetta garzetta, Sliarpc, Cat. Birds Brit. Mas. xxvi, p. 118. 

 Garzetta egretta, Loche, Expl. Sci. Ahj. Ois. ii, p. 133 (1867). 

 Herodius garcetta, Kocnig, J.f. 0. 1888, p. 273; id. J.f. 0. 1893, p. 88. 

 Herodias garzetta, Erlanrjer, J. f. 0. 1900, p. 36. 



Description. — Adult, spring, from North Tunisia. 



Entire plumage pure white ; occipital feathers elongated, two of them 

 projecting some way beyond the others ; a tuft of elongated feathers extend- 

 ing from the the lower back beyond the tail ; another tuft of elongated 

 feathers on the lower tore-neck, slightly tinged with cream- colour. 



Iris pale yellow ; bare space round the eye pale slate ; bill and feet 

 black. 



Total length 25 inches, wing 12, culmen 3-75, tarsus 1-25. 



Adult female, similar to the male, but slightly smaller. 



In winter the occipital and dorsal plumes are wanting. 



Like the preceding species, the Little Egret is not uncommon in 

 Tunisia, and may be found wherever there are lakes or marshes of 

 any size. During the spring passage it is rather more abundant than 

 at other seasons, but it is resident and to be met with in the Ecgency 

 throughout the entire year. 



The species nests in certain numbers on the large marshes adjoin- 

 ing the Djebel Eshkul near Bizerta, which, in years gone by when 

 I first visited them, used to be a veritable paradise for all water-birds, 

 and during the breeding-season were the haunts of most of the species 

 oi Arcleidce auA Anatidai found in Tunisia. In those days one used 

 to meet with A. c'merea, A. garzetta, A. huhulcus, A. ralloides, and 

 Nijcticorax griseus, all breeding near the Djebel Eshkul in considerable 

 numbers and in comparatively close proximity to each other, but 

 Blanc informs me that things are changed now, and owing to the 

 persecution of the birds by unscrupulous collectors and dealers in 



