BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



287 



Squacco Iberon. 



THE Squacco Heron (Ardea comata, Pallas) is a rare ab- 

 normal spring and summer migrant to the British Islands. 

 It is found inhabiting Southern Europe and Africa, and in 

 winter migrates from Europe. The adult has the feathers 

 of cheeks, back, neck, and upper breast, buff, tinged with 

 light reddish on the back; feathers on the crown, which 

 are much lengthened, white, bordered with black; dorsal 

 plumes, much elongated; remainder of plumage, white; 

 irides, light yellow ; bill, blue, black at tip ; bare part round 

 eye, green ; legs and feet, yellowish flesh colour. Length, 

 from eighteen to nineteen inches. The adult female is 

 similar to the adult male, but the plumes are less developed. 



