PURPLE HE RO N 



CRESTED PURPLE HERON. 

 PLATE CLVIII. FIGURE II. 



Ardea purpurea t LINNAEUS. 



Ardea caspica TURTON. 



Ardea variegafa, ...... LATHAM. 



Ardea botaurus^ BRISSON. 



WITH regard to the nidification and eggs of this rare 

 straggler, the following is the account given by Mr. 

 Hewitson, as communicated to him by Mr. Hoy: "The 

 Purple Heron does not begin to breed so early as the 

 Common Heron, the end of May being the time of in- 

 cubation. They breed in society like the Common Heron, 

 very frequently in low trees, in plantations of alder and 

 willow, in the vicinity of rivers and large inland waters, the 

 nests being only a few feet above the ground, upon which 

 they are likewise sometimes placed in swamps overgrown 

 with tall rushes, and in extensive tracts of reeds ; they are 

 large and flat, and are composed entirely of sticks, the finer 

 towards the inside, or lined with species of dry sedge and 

 rushes." They are placed a few yards from the water ; 

 in shape they are flat and broad. Two or three nests are 

 occasionally found near each other. 



The eggs are usually three in number, and differ con- 

 siderably in size and shape, as well as in colour. They 

 are generally dull bluish green. 



