BUFF-BACKED HERON. 493 



The Buff-backed Heron is represented in the east by Ardea coromanda, 

 which is a resident in India, Ceylon, the Burmese peninsula, South China, 

 South Japan, and the islands of the Malay archipelago. It differs from 

 its western ally in being slightly larger in size and richer in colour. The 

 range of the two species does not quite coalesce, that of the African bird 

 only extending as far east as the valley of the Jordan, and that of the 

 Asiatic bird only as far west as the valley of the Indus. They have no 

 very near ally. 



The Buff-backed Heron differs in its habits in many respects from its 

 allies. Its favourite haunts are pastures where cattle are feeding, and it 

 is generally seen in small parties on the most friendly terms with the cows 

 or buffaloes, from whom it picks the parasites which infest them, or catches 

 the flies which tease them. So familiar is it with its friends that it may 

 often be seen resting on the back of an ox or an elephant, who seem to 

 appreciate its services. It also frequents arable land, where it is in the 

 habit of following the plough, as Rooks and Gulls often do, to pick up the 

 insects from the newly turned-up ground. Heuglin says that in Egypt it 

 also' frequents marshes in search of frogs, and visits the African steppes in 

 thousands to feed upon the locusts which abound there, and is sometimes 

 seen in the deserts, visiting the halting-places of the caravans. 



Like the Squacco Heron this species feeds more upon insects than on 

 fish or frogs ; indeed it seems probable that the Buff-backed Heron is 

 almost exclusively an insectivorous bird, though it is difficult to believe 

 that it docs not also feed upon the tender shoots of various water-plants. 



They are comparatively silent birds, except at their breeding-places, 

 where, especially after the young are hatched, they are noisy enough. 

 Heuglin says that the note resembles the syllable grah, and other travellers 

 have likened it to the bleating of sheep. 



The Buff-backed Heron breeds in colonies, making its nest in trees, 

 sometimes in swamps, but often in dry forests, and even, according to 

 Heuglin, in gardens. Where there are no trees it breeds in reeds. Like 

 its congeners it is a somewhat late breeder, waiting in Egypt until the 

 Nile has overflown its banks, in May and June. The nest is composed of 

 sticks, and probably does not differ much from that of the Squacco Heron ; 

 but we have no reliable information on the subject. The number of eggs 

 varies from three to five. They are almost white in colour, but are 

 slightly shaded with bluish green, and after they are blown the dark green 

 of the inner shell is visible through the hole when held up to the light. 

 They vary in length from 1*9 to 1'7 inch, and in breadth from T32 to 

 1'28 inch. The eggs are indistinguishable from those of Montagu's 

 Harrier, but are so much paler in colour than those of any other European 

 Heron that they are not likely to be confused with eggs of the Little 

 Egret or Night-Heron. Only one brood is reared in the year. 



