296 HERONS, STORKS, AND IBISES. 



head are but slightly elongated, but those on the lower part of the front of the 

 neck attain a considerable length; while the long filament-like feathers of the 

 back are developed only during the breeding-season. In the latter period the bill 

 is black, although yellow in the autumn ; the lore is green, the iris yellow, and the 

 limbs nearly black. An exceedingly rare straggler to Western Europe and the 

 British Islands, this splendid heron is more common in Spain and the south of 

 France, while it is abundant in Sicily and along the south-eastern borders of tho 

 Mediterranean. Eastwards it extends through Asia Minor, Turkestan, and the 

 warmer parts of Asia to Manchuria and Japan ; being migratory in the more 

 northern districts, but resident in India, Burma, etc., where its size is somewhat 

 smaller. It also occurs during the winter in North Africa ; while in Australia and 

 New Zealand it is replaced by a closely allied form {A. Jlavirostris), in which the 

 beak is stated to be yellow at all seasons. 



This species feeds on small fish, reptiles, molluscs, and insects. As a rule 

 silent, it leaves its feeding-ground early in the evening to seek a roosting-place 

 among tall trees ; and in Ceylon and India breeds in company with spoonbills, 

 common herons, and other waders in similar situations. The nest is described as 

 being remarkably flat, with scarcely any hollow for the reception of the three or 

 four greenish eggs. Writing of the New Zealand species, Sir W. L. Buller observes 

 that " it is very interesting to watch this stately bird stalking about in its haunts, or 

 fishing in the shallow water, its snow-white plumage rendering it a very conspicuous 

 object. I have always found it very shy and difficult to approach, the slightest 

 sound exciting its suspicion, and making it take wing It flies high and in wide 

 circles, the wings forming slow and regular flappings, the head being drawn in 

 upon the shoulders, and the legs trailing behind." In New Zealand the white 

 heron breeds in several places near the sea in company with the white-throated 

 cormorant; upwards of twenty-five nests having been counted in one of these 

 haunts. When this species breeds in association with the common heron, it usually 

 occupies the middle region of the trees, of which the tops are occupied by the 

 herons, while the lower boughs may be tenanted by night-herons. 



The little egret (A. garzetta), which is one of the rarest stragglers 



Littl6 ESTQt O \ «y /' 00 



to Britain, may be taken as a well-known example of small white 

 herons, collectively known as egrets. The male bird, which measures about 25 

 inches in length, during spring and summer has the whole plumage pure white, 

 with a crest of two long, narrow feathers, some elongated plumes on the lower 

 part of the front of the neck, and the filament-like feathers of the back greatly 

 developed. The beak is black, the lore lavender, the iris varying from yellow to 

 pale lavender, and the legs mostly black, although yellowish interiorly. The 

 winter dress lacks the crest and the plumes on the back. In Southern and South- 

 Eastern Europe this egret is a common species ; and it ranges thence through Asia 

 Minor and Persia to India, China, and Japan ; while it occurs locally throughout 

 Africa, and has been obtained from Northern Australia. The little egret nests in 

 bushes and trees in the neighbourhood of swamps, in company with the other 

 waders; the nest being a platform-like structure of sticks intermingled with a 

 few reeds, upon which are laid from three to six bluish green eggs. The bird 

 difiers from the white heron in being generally very noisy. Both this and the 



