74 SOUTH-WESTERN ASIA 



The squacco heron (Ardeola ralloides) also belongs to the Mediter- 

 L ranean reoion, and is found in similar situations to the last. It nests 

 in colonies in trees amid marshes, the nest being lighter and more neatly made than 

 that of the egret, and carefully lined with twigs, ferns, and flags. From four to 

 six is the number of the eggs, which are of the usual pale bluish green heron-colour, 

 and are laid about the end of May. In structure and habits the squacco serves in 

 some degree to connect the typical herons with the night-herons. It associates 

 with other swamp birds, although but rarely with the little egret, and is dis- 

 tinguishable from a distance by its pale vinous colour and thick neck. In flight 

 it is slow and noiseless, and on the ground rather deliberate and lethargic in its 

 movements, often standing motionless for a considerable time. In districts where it 

 is not persecuted it becomes unsuspicious and easy of approach. The range of the 

 squacco includes southern Europe, Africa, and south-western Asia. It is a common 

 breeding-bird in the valley of the Danube down to the Dobrudscha, but is rare in 

 Italy and southern France, and more so in Switzerland and southern Germany 

 while only a few straggle so far north as Holland and England. In length 

 it measures about 21 inches. In colour it is warm buff" on the upper-parts, 

 and yellowish on the head, neck, and shoulders, with white wings and tail, 

 green lores, blue and black beak, and pinkish legs and feet, the soles of the feet 

 being yellow. 



„. .. Night-herons differ from ordinary herons by their shorter bodies 



Night-Heron. J 9 . 



and thicker necks, the latter being closely feathered. As regards 

 habits they are distinguished from the true herons in the same manner as are owls 

 from falcons, since they shun the daylight, sleep by day, and are active only 

 after dark. From the bitterns they differ by the closer plumage and the presence 

 of the characteristic long, narrow, ribbon-like feathers at the back of the head. 

 The common night-heron (Nycticorax griseus) frequents swamps bordered by trees 

 and brushwood, but never those unprovided with such covert. The nest, which 

 may be described as a cradle of a few dry twigs, sometimes lined with flags and 

 reeds, contains from three to five pale greenish blue eggs at the usual time. During 

 the nesting-season the night-heron is not exclusively nocturnal, the males generally 

 crouching in the daytime near the sitting females, with their necks between their 

 shoulders, their legs bent, and their eyes half, or entirely, closed. In the twilight, 

 both birds go out in search of the small fishes, frogs, mice, beetles, dragon-flies, and 

 larvae which form their food. 



The night-heron has a wide distribution, inhabiting southern and eastern 

 Europe, Africa, Asia, and America, but is absent from Australia. In Europe 

 it is most frequent in the plains of the Danube, but it occasionally wanders 

 as far north as the British Isles, the Faroes, and the south of Sweden. The 

 head is rather large and the neck thick ; but the feathers are more compact than 

 those of the squacco and white herons. When standing with its crest erect and 

 the white neck-feathers extended like fingers, the night-heron is a decidedly 

 handsome bird. It is about 18 inches in length. The crown, neck, back, and 

 shoulder-feathers are glossy greenish black, the lower part of the back and 

 tail are dove-colour, while a collar round the neck and all the under-parts 

 are white. 



