THE HE110N. 155 



Italy — and iu 1841, eastward to Constantinople, where several 

 appeared, and were remarkably tarne (as all birds are there from 

 being protected by the Turks), between the city and the Valley 

 of Sweet Waters. The writing down of this locality, reminds me 

 that, some years ago, when sailing up the noble river Blackwater 

 from Youghal to Lismore, a number of herons (probably awaiting 

 the falling of the tide) were singularly studded over a part of the 

 high and heathy banks of the river, just as the picquets appeared 

 guarding the lulls around the summer palace of the Sultan, in 

 the Valley of Sweet Waters, lest any profane eye should behold 

 the ablutions of the ladies of the harem, when (at the end of 

 May) with their lord, sojourning there to enjoy bathing in the 

 natural stream. 



The heron is most poetically descanted on in connexion with 

 its wild haunts, by Professor Wilson,* and its picturescpieness 

 is duly appreciated in the writings of those ardent lovers of nature, 

 Mr. Selby and Sir William Jardine. 



THE PURPLE HERON, 



Ardea purpurea, Linn. 



Is stated to have been once obtained in Ireland. 



To my brief record of the occurrence of this bird, published in 

 the Proceedings of the Zoological Society (1834, p. oO), I am 

 unable to add anything. It was simply to the effect that a 

 specimen of the purple heron, marked on the " stand " as " shot 

 at Carrickmacross," and further stated by Mr. Glennon, bird- 

 preserver, Dublin, to have been received thence by him in a fresh 

 state, had come under my notice. It is in the possession of Mr. 

 Warren of that city, and belonged originally to the celebrated 

 collection of Mr. Harrington. The specimen is in the plumage 

 of Bewick's purple-crested heron. 



In a cafe at the Caravan Bridge, Smyrna, I saw, in the summer 



: ' Recreations of Christopher North,' vol. i. p. 53. 



