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the cold season ; and Mr. A. B. Brooke writes (Ibis, 1873, p. 340) that he found it very common 

 during winter amongst the large shallow lagoons, which are full of fish. Mr. C. A. Wright, who 

 has obtained it at Malta, says that it is not uncommon in the spring and autumn, and during 

 stormy weather it is occasionally seen in the winter. Lord Lilford found it common in Corfu 

 and all parts of the mainland in winter, and he observed it in August in Albania and Monte- 

 negro. Lindermayer writes that it arrives in Greece earlier than any other of its allies, and 

 usually about a fortnight earlier than the Purple Heron. It remains only a short time ; and all 

 but a few pass further north to breed, these few remaining in the north of Greece during the 

 breeding-season, and returning to the coast early in August. In the autumn all disappear, 

 except a few stragglers which winter in the south of Greece. In Southern Germany it is 

 resident, and breeds here and there in suitable localities. I observed it in all parts of the 

 Danube which I visited, most frequently in the marshy districts of Hungary and in Bulgaria. 



In Southern Russia it is also common; and Mr. Goebel says (J. f. O. 1871, p. 142) that in 

 the autumn he has seen as many as fifty together in the Uman district : but it is not so numerous 

 there during the nesting-season ; for he says that there is only one heronry in that neighbourhood, 

 consisting of ten nests built on almost inaccessible trees. 



It doubtless occurs in Asia Minor ; and Canon Tristram met with it in Palestine. It is to 

 be met with in Africa, very widely distributed both during the winter and in the breeding-season. 

 Captain Shelley met with it throughout Egypt and Nubia ; and it is stated to occur in Abyssinia. 

 Von Heuglin says that it is not common on the coasts of the Bed Sea. On the west side of the 

 African continent it is said by Canon Tristram to occur in Algeria, where, he writes (Ibis, 1860, 

 p. 77), it is " occasionally to be seen in the ditches and salt marshes of the oases in winter." 

 Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt-Drake met with it in Morocco ; and Colonel Irby states (I. c.) that, according 

 to Favier, it is " both resident and migratory in the vicinity of Tangier. Those which migrate 

 pass over to Europe during February and March, returning in November and December, being 

 at all seasons plentiful." It has been met with on the Gold coast, Gaboon, Gambia, and in 

 Angola ; and Andersson writes (B. of Damara L. p. 284), in Damara Land " this species is rather 

 common on and near the sea-shore, from the mouth of the Orange River to Walwich Bay, 

 wherever suitable localities occur ; but I have seldom seen it inland, except in Ondonga, where 

 it makes its appearance in December; but the natives say that it does not breed there, and I 

 think they are right." In the islands off the African coast it occurs, but appears to be rather 

 rare than otherwise. Dr. A. Dohrn speaks of it (J. f. O. 1871, p. 8) as being only a straggler 

 during passage on the Cape-Verd Islands. He saw a specimen which was killed at San Nicolau. 

 Webb and Berthelot record it as accidental during passage in the Canaries ; but Dr. C. Bolle 

 says (J. f. O. 1855, p. 176) that it is not rare in Teneriffe in winter, and he has frequently seen 

 specimens carried dead through the streets of St. Cruz. He was assured that no Heron bred 

 there; but Mr. F. DuCane Godman writes (Ibis, 1872, p. 221) that he "saw some few pairs 

 about the coast of Teneriffe in the middle of May, and was told that they breed on the detached 

 rocks near the coast, which is very probable, as they certainly do so in St. Michael's. It is said 

 to be occasional only in Madeira." In the Azores, Mr. Godman writes (Nat. Hist. Az. p. 33), 

 " it is the only resident species of Heron. A few pairs are always to be met with about the 

 lakes in St. Michael's, and occasionally on the coasts of the other islands ; but the sea is in most 



