PURPLE HERON. 



CRESTED PURPLE HERON. PURPLE CRESTED HERON. AFRICAN HERON. 

 PLATE CLVIII. FIG. II. 



Ardea purpurea, LINNAEUS. 



Ardea Caspica, PENNANT. MONTAGU. 



Ardea variegata, LATHAM. 



Ardea Botaurus, GMELIN. 



Ardea stellaris major, RAY. WILLUGHBY. 



WITH regard to the nidification and eggs of this bird, 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 incubation. 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/ 



'The eggs are commonly four, rarely five, in number, and differ 

 considerably in size and shape, as well as in colour/ They are generally 

 dull green. 



