SQUACCO HEEON 25 



to be the earliest on record (Latham, Gen. Hist. Birds, 

 vol. ix, p. 110). 



Among recent captures may be mentioned: One from 

 the south of Ireland, a bird taken near Dungarvan Bay 

 co. Waterford, September 12th, 1896 (Ussher, 'Birds 

 of Ireland,' p. 163) ; another from the North of Scotland, a 

 bird taken on North Konaldshay, on September 7th, 1896. 

 (Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., July, 1897) ; and a third taken near 

 Eye, Sussex, on June 3rd, 1905. (J. B. Nichols, ' Zoologist,' 

 1905, p. 349.) 



The Squacco Heron has also been recorded from : 



England Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Dorset, Somerset, 

 Devon, Cornwall, Shropshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, 

 Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Cumberland. 



Wales Montgomeryshire, Denbighshire and Brecon - 

 shire. 



Scotland Two instances, in addition to the one already 

 cited, one from the Glasgow Canal, near Stockton, on 

 October 9th, 1852 (Harting), another taken near Edinburgh 

 (Saunders). 



Ireland Kerry, one obtained on June 10th, 1875, 

 another on September 17th, 1895. Cork, one obtained May 

 26th, 1849, another in 1850, a third, October 26th, I860, 

 a fourth, July 15th, 1877. Waterford (vide supra), London- 

 derry, one procured on November 24th, 1881. (Ussher, 

 'Birds of Ireland,' p. 163.) 



In its general habits the Squacco resembles, more or 

 less, the other Herons. During the day-time it is wont to 

 remain in the same position for a number of hours, secluding 

 itself among tall tussocks and sedges. 



Voice. Its voice, not often sounded, is harsh and mono- 

 syllabic. 



Food. Frogs, small crabs, shrimps, slugs, snails, fish, 

 insects, shrews and mice, are eaten by this practically 

 omnivorous species ; the late Mr. E. Williams informed me 

 that he found the stomach of a specimen, which he pre- 

 served, filled with the remains of small crustaceans. 



Nest. The Squacco Heron is gregarious in the breed- 

 ing - season. The heronries are built on low trees and 

 bushes adjoining bog-lands. The nest, composed almost 

 entirely of sticks, is roughly put together; the eggs, four 

 to six in number, and of a greenish-blue colour, are 

 laid early in May. The members of a heronry often^fight 

 fiercely. 



