400 

 THE PURPLE HERON. 



ARDEA PURPTJREA. 



Crest and head greenish black; long feathers of the neck purplish white; 

 scapulars brilliant purple-red ; throat white ; under plumage variously tinged 

 with purple and red ; wings and tail reddish ash, with green reflections ; middle 

 toe not shorter than the tarsus. Young birds want the long feathers, and the 

 purple hue generally is less decided. Length three feet. Eggs greenish ash. 



THIS bird approaches the common Heron in size and form, 

 but offers a striking contrast in colour the one being 

 simply dad in white, black, and grey ; the latter having rich 

 red-brown cheeks and neck, a purplish tinge on the breast, 

 and deep purple feathers on the shoulders. It is of rare 

 occurrence in Great Britain and the west of Europe 

 generally, but is not unfrequent at the mouths of the 

 Rhone, the banks of the Danube, and the shores of the 

 Caspian and Black Seas. In habits it differs from the 

 Common Heron, being never seen, like that bird, on the 

 open shore, but confining itself to the swampy banks 

 which are thickly covered with vegetation. It builds its 

 nest among rushes and thick grass near the water's edge, 

 and lays three or four eggs. 



THE GREAT WHITE HERON. 



ARDEA ALBA. 



Plumage white ; crest and neck feathers elongated ; some of the feathers of the 

 back much elongated ; beak yellow, with a black tip ; feet greenish black. 

 Length three feet two inches ; feathers of the back eighteen inches. Eggs 

 pale blue. 



A BIRD of so rare occurrence that every instance of ifs 

 having been seen during the present century is carefully 

 recorded, the last occasion being probably in the year 

 1 840. It is scarcely more common on the continent of 

 Europe, but is said to be not unfrequent in the islands 

 of the Archipelago and in Asia Minor. Its habits, as far 

 as they have been observed, resemble in all respects those 

 of the Common Heron. It builds its nest in trees, and 

 lays from four to six eggs. 



