474 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Hartlaub record it from Japan ; but it is not known to breed in either 

 of these countries, and its occurrence in the latter is doubtful. Pallas says 

 that it has occurred in Siberia south of lat. 55 ; but it is possible that he 

 was in error, as no subsequent travellers have met with it. The Purple 

 Heron has no near ally. 



The Purple Heron is only known in Europe as a migratory bird. It 

 does not occur every year in this country, and usually makes its appear- 

 ance in autumn. Most of the specimens obtained were in immature 

 plumage. It arrives in the south of Europe about the end of March or 

 the beginning of April, and leaves for its winter-quarters in September. 



The Purple Heron is a more skulking bird than the Common Heron, 

 and is less frequently seen, even in districts where it is by no means 

 uncommon. It very seldom frequents open water or the banks of rivers ; 

 but it loves marshy districts, where the reeds and rushes are sufficiently 

 dense to afford it a safe retreat, and it often takes up its summer-quarters in 

 wooded country that is flooded, especially willow-thickets. It is a shy and 

 wary bird, and only takes wing when absolutely compelled, always prefer- 

 ring to skulk amongst the reeds and aquatic vegetation in the hope of 

 escaping detection. Like that of the other Herons, its flight is deliberate 

 and powerful, the legs being stretched straight out behind, and the head 

 drawn in between the shoulders. The Purple Heron is less gregarious 

 and more of a ground-bird than the Common Heron. It seldom alights 

 in trees, and on the rare occasions that it does so it conceals itself amongst 

 the branches, and is never seen perched on the topmost twigs, as is so often 

 the case with the common species; it rarely ventures into open places, 

 and searches for its food amongst the reeds. Upon the ground it walks 

 to and fro with a sedate and slow gait. Its note resembles that of the 

 Common Heron, but is not so loud, and is likened by Naumann to the 

 quack of the Wild Duck. 



The Purple Heron is most active at dusk, when the various creatures 

 that compose its food are astir. It dozes away the hot portions of the 

 day, and, it is said, is very fond of sitting in a peculiar position on its 

 tarsi with its neck stretched out at an angle. It is said to be much 

 attached to certain haunts, and a pair of birds return year after year to a 

 favourite breeding-place. It is very fond of running or walking over the 

 large masses of floating aquatic vegetation, or pushing its way through 

 the dense reed and rush thickets, often wading in the water to do so. 

 When flushed it looks very much like a Bittern, as it rises over the tall 

 reeds, and flaps slowly away to more secluded quarters. Jerdon says that 

 in India it may often be observed with its long neck and head above the 

 grass, all the rest of its body being hid from view, and making it appear 

 like the head of a snake. He also says that when flushed it utters its 

 loud harsh note, which it repeats as it flies away. 



