226 BEITISH BIRDS 



Besides the two species described there are no fewer than eight 

 herons in our list of British birds, most of these being very rare 

 stragglers to our shores : 



Purple heron (Ardea purpurea) is a straggler from the continent 

 of Europe ; it breeds in Holland. 



Great white heron (Ardea alba). Eight examples of this species, 

 a straggler from South-eastern Europe, have been obtained in this 

 country. 



Little egret (Ardea gazetta). A waif from Southern Europe ; 

 it also inhabits Africa, Asia, and Australia. 



Buff-backed heron (Ardea bubulcus). Inhabits Southern Eu- 

 rope ; three examples have been obtained. 



Squacco heron (Ardea rallo'ides). From Southern Europe ; 

 occasionally seen on migration in England. 



Little bittern (Ardetta minuta). This bittern almost deserves 

 to rank as a British species, as it is of somewhat frequent occur- 

 rence, and has been known to breed in the Broads of Norfolk, and 

 in other localities in Great Britain. It is a summer visitor to most 

 countries in Europe. 



Night heron (Nycticotax griseus). This heron has a range 

 almost as extensive as that of the barn-owl, and breeds hi many 

 localities throughout the continent of Europe. The question as to 

 whether or not it has ever bred in England has not been settled ; 

 but it, is now an almost annual spring and autumn visitor to our 

 country, and it is hardly to be doubted that it would breed with us 

 if unmolested, or, in other words, allowed to live. 



American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus). A few examples of 

 this North American bittern have been obtained in this country. 



Two other families hi the present order (Herodiones) are repre- 

 sented by occasional visitors in the list of British birds two storks 

 (Ciconiidse), and a spoonbill, and an ibis (Platalaidae) : 



White stork (Ciconia alba). Common in Holland, and an occa- 

 sional visitor to the east coast of England. 



Black stork (Ciconia nigra). A rare straggler from continental 

 Europe. 



Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia). Now an occasional straggler to 

 Great Britain ; formerly a regular breeder in heronries in several 

 localities in England. 



Glossy ibis (Plegadis falcvnellus). A very rare straggler from 

 Southern Europe. 



