138 SQUACCO HERON. 



parts are nearly black, with a tinge of green ; the 

 toes and claws are of the same colour ; the middle 

 claw pectinated." The above agrees nearly with 

 the description given by Wagler of the young state, 

 the brown colour prevailing with the advance of 

 age. 



A detail of the habits and nidification of this 

 Egret is still much wanted. 



THE SQUACCO HERON, E. RALLOIDES. A. ral- 

 faides, Scopoli. Ardea comata. Pall., Penn. Heron 

 crabier, Temm. The Squacco Heron of British 

 authors. In form, this species begins to depart 

 from the true Egrets. The legs are feathered 

 nearly to the knees, as among the bitterns. It- 

 has occurred several times in the southern and 

 eastern counties of England, but we do not learn 

 of any instance of its capture either in Scotland or 

 Ireland. One is recorded, so lately as July 1840, 

 to have been killed near Kingsbridge, Devonshire. 

 In Middle and Southern Europe it is more fre- 

 quently obtained, also in Greece ; but Africa and 

 some parts of Asia are its true localities ; further 

 than that its habits are considered as similar to 

 its congeners, we have little knowledge of them.* 



The extreme length of this Egret is from 



* Since writing the above, we have a note from Mr. A. 

 Grounds, Ludlow, stating that a specimen of the Squacco 

 Heron was killed near that town, about six years since, and 

 was stuffed by him. 



