89 



LITTLE EGRET. 



EGUET HEKON. 



Ardea garzetta, PENNANT. MONTAGU. 

 Ardea A Heron. Garzetta ? 



THE elegant and graceful Egret, whose whole plumage is 

 white as the driven snow, resembles the preceding one 'sic 

 parvis compenere magna' in all but size; and is likewise 

 assignable to the same localities, as being found in Europe 

 occasionally in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Sicily, 

 France, Spain, the south of Russia, Hungary, Turkey, Sardinia, 

 and the islands of the Grecian Archipelago; and likewise met 

 with in Asia in Persia, and the neighbourhood of the Black 

 Sea and the Caspian Sea. So also in Africa in Egypt and 

 Xubia in the east, and Senegal in the west. 



Specimens have been recorded as having occurred in this 

 country as follows: In Hampshire, one near Christchurch, in 

 the beginning of July, 1822; in Cornwall, two near Penzauce, 

 in April, 1854. In Warwickshire, two or three near Sutton 

 Coldfield; in Devonshire, one at Elatoars, on the River Dart, 

 in the year 1816; one also, mentioned by Montagu, in Anglesea; 

 it was a bird of the second year. A. Cleveland, Esq. mentions 

 in the 'Zoologist,' page 3116, that one was shot in the south 

 of Devon, in April, 1851. 



In Ireland, Mr. Templeton records one as having been 

 shot in the harbour of Cork. 



Meyer says 'The localities usually chosen by this species, 

 are generally the swampy banks of rivers and lakes, where 

 the flags and reeds are of low growth; or the vicinity of 

 woods and large trees, in which the birds roost at night.' 



