168 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



almost anything that is oii'ered to it. Doderlein mentions an inter- 

 esting case of one of these birds which Uved for several months in the 

 Palermo University Museum without attempting to regain its liberty, 

 although the windows of the rooms it inhabited were often wide open. 

 Among the many creatures forming its varied diet were live snakes, 

 and these the bird swallowed whole if not too large, but when the 

 contrary was the case, it would seize the reptile midway and after 

 shaking it repeatedly, would then immerse it in its water-pan and hold 

 it there till hfe was extinct, afterwards devouring it at its leisiu'e and 

 beginning always with the head (Avif. Mod. et Sic. p. 213). 



The nest of the present species, which in Tunisia is always to be 

 found in swamps and dense aquatic vegetation, is a slight flat struc- 

 ture composed of dry rushes or similar plants, while the eggs, usually 

 three or four in number, are of a pale bluish-green and measure about 

 44 X 32 mm. In some countries the species is said to nest in low 

 trees, and even on rocks and sea-cliffs. 



Among the specimens in Loche's collection of Algerian birds 

 acquired by the late Count Turati of Milan and now preserved in the 

 Museum of that town, there are two examples of the American species 

 Ardea candidissima, Gra., Nos. 177.57 and 17760, which are labelled 

 as having been obtained on Lake Halloula in Algeria. Loche himself 

 does not allude to these examples, or include the species in his list of 

 Algerian birds, but the specimens referred to are undoubtedly of the 

 above species. Whether they are really from Algeria is another 

 question. Count Turati obtained Loche's birds from Schneider of 

 Basle, and it is not improbable that the labelling is incorrect. 



ARDEA LUCIDA, Eafinesque. 

 BUFF-BACKED HEEON. 



Ardea lucida, Bafinesqiie, Carattcri, p. 5 (1810). 



Bubulcus lucidus, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mas. xxvi, p. 213. 



Bubulcus ibis, Loche, Expl. Set. Alcj. Ois. ii, p. 13.5 (1867). 



Ardea bubulcus, Kocnkj, J.f. 0. 1888, p. 273 ; id. J.f. 0. 1893, p. 88. 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from North Tunisia. 

 Plumage white, except the crown, which has an elongated crest of vinous- 

 buff feathers, the back which is creamy-buff, with vinous-buff dorsal plumes 



