THE SQUACCO HERON. 21 



to the old world. Although approaching the Little Bitterns hi size and general 

 appearance, the Squacco really belongs to the group of true Herons. They have 

 twelve tail feathers, and the bill shows distinct serrations near the end of the 

 upper mandibles." 



The Squacco Heron has a considerable resemblance to the Buff-backed Cattle- 

 Egret ; but it is a smaller and much handsomer bird. Like Ardea bubulcus it is 

 in its nuptial array, pure white, except for its rufous buff- coloured train and 

 gorget ; but it differs in having the buff extending from the well developed dorsal 

 train, up the back, on to the hind neck, and from the gorget, along the fore 

 neck and throat. The crest of the Squacco which consists of plumes from the 

 forehead, crown, and nape is more ornate than the Cattle- Egret's, having each of 

 its feathers margined with black lines, and the longest plumes white at t%e tip. 

 The chin is white ; the beak is rich blue, with the tip black ; the bare skin which 

 surrounds the eye bright green, and the legs and feet flesh colour. 



The female is like the male in colour of plumage, but has, as is the rule 

 among the Herons, the ornamental plumes less developed, and in size is slightly 

 smaller. 



In winter the male looses the long plumes of the nape, and has the others 

 much reduced, and of a straw colour. The general hue of the plumage is yellowish 

 white, except the crown feathers, which are margined with brown, and the upper 

 part of the back, including the scapulars and inner secondaries, which is earthy 

 brown. 



The young birds resemble the adults in winter garb ; but they can be distin- 

 guished by the black shafts to their primary wing feathers. 



The Squacco Heron is distributed throughout southern Europe, and nearly 

 the whole of Africa ; it occurs in Asia, on the Caspian Sea. It migrates to 

 Europe for the purpose of breeding, crossing over the Mediterranean northwards, 

 in the beginning of April. It then assumes its nuptial plumage; its nest being 

 made in May, and the eggs laid in June. Some of the chief breeding places for 

 this species, in Europe, are the reed beds, and sallow brakes of the marshes of 

 the Save and the Lower Danube. As they are strictly preserved, the number of 

 Herons, Bitterns, Spoonbills, and birds of such feather that nest there, runs to 

 thousands ; and sometimes one pollard willow will contain twenty-five nests of 

 four species of Herons, besides those of other birds. The Squacco Heron builds 

 a far smaller and less compact nest than the Common Heron ; indeed, its nest is 

 smaller than any other Heron's. It consists of sticks and twigs, rather loosely 

 put together, through which the eggs, lying in the nest, can be seen by one 

 looking up from below. This species builds, as a rule, in trees standing in water, 



