ARDEIDA—HERONS. 181 
Distribution: Inhabits South-eastern Europe, Western 
Asia and Northern Africa. 
Habitat: Similar localities to the preceding. 
LITTLE EGRET. 
Ardea garzetta Lenn. 
Adult (Summer): Plumage entirely white; two feathers 
on occiput considerably elongated ; back and crop feathers also 
elongated and lanceolate, the former hair-like ; bill and legs 
black ; feet yellowish ; soles yellow ; irides pale yellow; bare 
space round eye greenish. Length 22 fo 23 inches ; culmen 35 ; 
wing ro to 11; tail 4°3 ; ‘tarsus 4 to 4°5. 
Adult (Winter) : Similar but lacks the plumes, both dorsal 
and occipital. 
Immature Birds: Are white with greyish tinge, and have 
no elongated plumes. 
Distribution: Inhabits Southern Europe, Africa, most 
of Asia and Australia. Of casual occurence in Northern 
Europe. 
Habitat : Swamps and reed-beds where vegetation is very 
dense. 
BUFF-BACKED HERON. 
Ardea bubulcus Aud. 
Adult Male (Summer): Cvowz, nape, chest and back- 
plumes rufous buff, the feathers of those parts much elongated 
and filamentous ; rest of plumage entirely white ; bill and bare 
space in front of eye yellow ; legs greenish-yellow ; irides yellow- 
ish. Length 17 to 20 inches; culmen 2°43 wing 9°5 ; tail 3°9 ; 
tarsus 3°2. 
Adult Female: Similar, but smaller with less conspicuous 
plumes. 
Adult (Winter) : Plumage white, only shaded with rufous- 
buff on crown. 
Immature Birds: Closely resemble adults in winter plum- 
age, but back also tinged with pale buff. 
