4


those whose only thought, on seeing a strange bird, is to

exterminate it as quickly as possible.


Its colonies breed on trees in swamps or among groves,

and are especially numerous in China, where they are held

sacred. It is the most active of the species I have described,

and, were it not so, it would never get a living in its present

quarters. It is most amusing to watch it mark a piece of fish

from its perch, whence it darts upon it suddenly, seizes it, and is

up on the perch again before the Purple Herons have realized

what has happened. It is also the tamest, and comes up in a

confiding way to feed from one’s hand. It had a mate, which was

killed by the Purple Herons a few days after it arrived ; con¬

sequently I should never advise the keeping of it, or indeed

any other species, with so pugnacious a bird as the Purple

Heron. The sexes are alike in plumage, and the general colour

is greenish black above and whitish underneath.


There are several other species of Heron which have

been taken in our Islands, none of which, save the Common

Heron (Ardea cinerea), are of common occurrence. On this

last-mentioned species I might be permitted to say a few words,

although I have had no personal acquaintance with it in captivity.


It breeds in colonies in almost every county in England,

and is far less liodturnal than the other species. The nests are

placed on the topmost branches of tall trees in woods, generally

in the vicinity of running water whence it procures its food. It

is the largest of our British Herons (having a total length of 36

inches) and is also one of the prettiest.


In confinement it is, I am told, exceedingly pugnacious, and

will therefore require to be kept by itself; in other respects it

adapts itself very well to captivity, and will require the same

attention as the other species.


Of the other species visiting England, we have the Great

White Heron (Ardea alba) and the Little Egret (Ardea

garzetta), which have, in some places abroad, been nearly

exterminated, owing to the ruthless way in which their breeding

haunts are ravaged for the sake of the ‘aigrettes’ for ladies’

hats. These aigrettes are the elongated dorsal plumes worn by

the adult in the breeding season only.


The Buff-backed Heron (Ar'dea bubulcus) and the Squacco

Heron (Ardea ralloides), both Southern species, have occurred

as irregular migrants; also the Little Bittern ( Ardetta viinuta ),

the smallest of the family, which has undoubtedly on one or two

occasions bred in England, and is very common in some parts

of Germany and Holland.



