HERONS. 



297 



preceding species occur in great numbers on the inland waters of Sind ; and both, 

 like the common heron, are kept in confinement by the fishermen. Mr. Hume says 

 that a single boat of about twenty feet in length will contain " a man and his 

 wife, an old man, some relatives, six children, six or eight herons (grey and white), 

 a couple of cormorants, a kid, a dog, and otter-spears, nets, lines, hooks, and the 

 like, of all descriptions." 



other Species. 



LITTLE EGRET (\ nat. size). 



Among other species, brief reference must be made to the beautiful 

 buff'-backed heron {A. buhulcusy, which is so common along the 

 banks of the Nile, and is frequently pointed out to tourists as the sacred ibis. 

 During the breeding-season this bird has the plumage of the head, neck, and breast, 

 rufous buff", and some long plumes on the back also of the same tint ; the remainder 

 being white, with a tinge of creamy on the wing- coverts. The beak is reddish at 

 the base, and yellow at the tip ; the eye and lore are golden pink ; and the limbs 

 yellowish red. This bird always displays great partiality for cultivated grounds, 

 feeding not only upon frogs and locusts, but likewise on worms and larvae turned 

 up by the plough, as well as on ticks from the backs of cattle, — from which 

 habit it is frequently termed the cattle-egret. The squacco heron (A. ralloides) is 



1 Sometimes referred to a distinct genus Bubulcus. 



