LITTLE EGRET. 



ARDEA GARZETTA, Linn. 



Ardea garzetta, Linn. S. N. i. p. 237 (1766) ; Ym-r. ed. 4, iv. 



p. 182; Dresser, vi. p. 239. 

 Ardetta garzetta, Naum. ix. p. 101, xiii. p. 257. 

 Egretta garzetta, Macg. iv. p. 471. 



Hiron garsetta, French ; Seiden-Reiher, German ; Garza 

 blanca, Spanish. 



This very beautiful bird is a rare straggler to our 

 country. Mr. H. Saunders states that as far as he 

 could learn there is only one recorded occurrence 

 about which there can be no doubt, — an adult killed at 

 Countess Weir, on the Exe, on June 3, 1870, and 

 examined by the late Mr. J. Gatcombe. 1 may mention 

 that I have been credibly assured that a pair of this 

 species, now in the collection of Dr. Pilcher at 

 Boston, Lines., were killed more than thirty years ago 

 by the late Holeywell, gunmaker of Peterborough, at 

 Whittlesea ; given to him by Mr, John Evans, the well- 

 known taxidermist of Bourn, and sent set up by him 

 to Mr. I. Pilcher. This occurrence was first mentioned 

 to me by my friend Colonel C. J. Strong, and confirmed 

 by letters in reply to my inquiries from Mr. John Evans 



