THE CRESTED PURPLE HERON. 161 



STRAGGLING HERONS. 



There are five species of heron, the appearance of which 

 in Britain is rare, and even doubtful. 



THE CRESTED PURPLE HERON (Ardea purpurea). 



This is a very beautiful species ; and, though rare, speci- 

 mens of it have of late years been found in England in the 

 early part of the summer. It is very common in the marshy 

 parts of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, and by no means 

 rare in Holland. It also extends over the whole length of 

 Africa to the Cape of Good Hope, and on its passage it is 

 very common in Malta and some of the other islands of the 

 Mediterranean. It nestles in tall reeds and thick under- 

 wood, but not in trees, and it does not perch. The eggs are 

 generally three, rather smaller than those of the common 

 heron, of a greenish ash-colour, and lustreless. 



The length of the full-grown bird is about three feet, and 

 the extent of the wings about four feet eleven inches. The 

 tarsi and toes are slender, the claws long, flattened, and the 

 whole foot adapted for walking on soft mud. The bill is 

 brown on the ridge, and bright yellow on the other parts ; the 

 naked spaces round the irides, the garter, the under part 

 of the tarsus, the under parts of the toes (which are reticu- 

 lated), are the same colour ; and the fronts of the tarsi, and 

 upper parts of the toes (which are covered with scales), are 

 brown. The crown of the head and crest dependent from 

 the occiput, the latter formed of beautiful pointed feathers, 

 are deep black, but with very rich and peculiar reflections of 

 green and purple. The upper part is reddish green, with 

 various shades of brown and purple, the throat greyish white, 

 the rest of the throat purplish red, the neck with produced 

 purplish white feathers, and the scapulars with feathers of 

 the same form, but of a brilliant purple red. These produced 



VOL. II. M 



