THE GREAT WHITE HERON. 13 



Family ARDEIDsE. 



THE GREAT WHITE HERON. 



Ardea alba, 



THIS splendid bird comes to be included in the fauna of the British Isles 

 by reason of its having strayed some eight times within our borders and 

 been inhospitably shot and identified. Its distribution is somewhat more restricted 

 than the Purple Heron. Dr. Sharpe, who has recently very carefully studied the 

 species of this extremely difficult group, has come to the conclusion that this 

 species is only found from southern Europe to central Asia, wintering in Africa, 

 and perhaps, but with some doubt, in north India and Burmah. 



The counties in England which have been favoured by its visits are Cam- 

 bridgeshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Yorkshire. In Scotland, one was 

 taken in the Firth of Forth and another on Loch Katrine. It appears in Europe 

 only in summer, whither it migrates from warmer latitudes in April, leaving again 

 in September. It is many years now, however, since a specimen was seen in this 

 country. 



"The habits of this graceful bird," says Mr. Seebohm, "resemble those of 

 the Common Heron in many respects. It delights to frequent the outskirts of 

 extensive swamps, the margins of rivers, and shallow weed-grown lakes, together 

 with willow- thickets and other wooded country when it is flooded. It may 

 frequently be seen in small parties of half a dozen individuals, walking sedately 

 about mud flats and low islands, or standing preening its brilliantly white plumage. 

 It is a very conspicuous bird, and may be observed for half a mile or more ; 

 consequently is very wary and seldom allows the observer to come near. It looks 

 remarkably graceful as it walks slowly up and down the marshy banks of a stream, 

 or stands motionless, sometimes on one leg, in the water patiently watching for 

 food. * * *. Its flight is moderately slow, performed by a series of regular 

 flappings of the wings. It seems more buoyant in the air than the Common 

 Heron, and looks more graceful," due to its standing more erect and drawing in 

 its neck less. " Its flight is often prolonged for a considerable distance, and the 

 bird is very conspicuous as it flaps over the dense waving reeds. The Great 

 White Egret may be seen in small parties all through the breeding season, and 



