134 GREAT WHITE EGRET. 



mentioned by Mr. Templeton. In Scotland, we are 

 not aware that it has ever been taken. 



During- the last winter (1840-41), there have 

 been several instances of " White Herons" being- 

 seen and killed, both in England and Scotland, 

 which, it is little doubt, were Egrets of one species 

 or other, but the difficulty of tracing them is great. 

 These notices appeared chiefly in the newspapers, 

 and from the peculiar colour and appearance of the 

 bird, they were sure to draw attention. The win- 

 ter was remarkable for the intensity of the cold. 



Annexed, we give the description of a specimen 

 procured on the continent. The entire length, from 

 extremity of the tail to the end of the bill, will be 

 from twenty to twenty-two inches ; length of the 

 bill to the rictus four inches. The plumage is 

 entirely pure white; from the hind-head spring 

 two narrow feathers, four inches in length, while 

 those on the lower part of the neck (nearly of a 

 similar length), toward the tips, become narrowed 

 and compact in form ; the loose hair, like plumes, 

 spring entirely from the centre of the back ; the 

 bill with the tarsi are black ; the toes appear to 

 have been greenish-yellow ; the length of the leg, 

 unplumed, above the tarsal joint, is two inches 

 and a fourth ; of the tarsus four inches. 



THE GREAT WHITE EGRET. ARDEA ALBA. 

 Ardea alba^ Linn. White Heron^ or Great White 

 Heron of British authors. This is even of rarer 



