184 AllDElD.*. 
The common Heron visits the neighbourhood of Gibraltar 
in great numbers during the winter season ; and they parti- 
cularly frequent the district " between the rivers " near 
Palmones. Mostly departing by March^ some few pairs are 
resident about Casa Vieja ; but I never found a nest. 
Some of the numerous nests which I saw and supposed to 
belong to the Purple Heron, might possibly have had the 
present species for their rightful owner. 
The Great White Heron {Herodias alba) I saw once at the 
lakes of Ras-Doura, on the 26th of April, but was unable to 
get a shot at it. 
On the Spanish side I never saw one, or heard of a 
specimen being obtained. I know the bird well, having shot 
them both in the Crimea and in India, and could not be well 
mistaken ; and although seeing is believing, seeing only is 
not sufficient evidence to include a bird in a list. 
The Great White Heron has the bill yellow in winter, 
black when breeding, the legs and feet black ; and the total 
length is about 36-42 inches. 
256. Herodias garzetta, Linn. The Little Egret. 
Moorish. Bou - fala, Bou - bliga, Bou - bilira {Favier) . 
Spanish. Garza blanca. 
" This bird is not uncommon near Tangier in small flights 
when on migration. They pass north in April, returning 
during November and December ; but some remain to breed 
in the country." — Favier. 
The Little Egret is the least common of the small Herons 
in Andalucia, and, as Favier observes, some remain very late, 
as I have seen and obtained them on the 17th of November. 
The greater quantity arrive about the middle of April, and 
linger here and there on their route, gradually passing on to 
their breeding-places on the borders of the marisma. They 
nest on trees, in some seasons, near Rocio, but are so 
molested that they change their ground frequently. When 
on the wing, and within a short distance, the black legs 
and bill arc very apparent ; and this, added to the fact 
