392 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



April 1888, on the margin of Farnley Pool, near Otley. When 

 first seen the bird was approaching the water from the direction 

 of Harewood. It appeared to have been unsuspicious of 

 danger, and allowed a keeper to approach within gun range, 

 and this in quite an exposed situation, where it was shot for 

 a Common Heron. The specimen is in the possession of the 

 Rev. F. Fawkes of Rothwell. 



GREAT WHITE HERON. 

 Ardea alba (/,.). 



Accidental visitant from south-eastern Europe and Africa, of 

 extremely rare occurrence. 



This bird is an inhabitant of the Lower Danube and Black 

 Sea areas, south-east Europe, north Africa, and India. 



A reference to it in Willughby's " Ornithology " may 

 possibly be connected with Yorkshire ; that celebrated 

 ornithologist's correspondent, R. Johnson, being quoted as 

 follows : " For Mr. Johnson [of Brignall, near Greta Bridge], 

 who hath seen the Great White Heron in England, puts it 

 down for a distinct kind in his method of birds communicated 

 to us." (Will. " Orn." 1678, pp. 279-80.) 



Thomas Allis, in 1844, wrote : 



Ardea alba. White Heron F. O. Morris mentions one shot near 

 Beverley a few years ago and now in the possession of Jas. Hall, Esq. 

 of Scorborough, near Beverley ; the same specimen is referred to by 

 Hugh Reid. Dr. Farrar says a specimen of this very rare visitant 

 was shot at New Hall by my friend the late John S. Townend, Esq., 

 and by some means got into the possession of Sir Joseph Radclyffe, 

 Bart. ; another at Hornsea Mere, in the collection of A. Strickland, Esq., 

 is reported by him, and noticed in Charlesworth's " Magazine of Natural 

 History " ; but those who have quoted that paper have mistaken 

 Scorborough for Scarborough, which is forty miles from it. 



The Great White Heron is a very rare, accidental visitant, 

 the Yorkshire occurrences, authenticated by the actual 

 capture of the specimens, being but three in number. The 

 first was recorded at the British Association's meeting at 



