243 



Hartl., and Ardea xanthopoda, Pelz.), is very distinct from Ardea garzetta; and I understand 

 from Professor Newton, who possesses a specimen, that it is very closely allied to the Indian 

 Ardea leucoptera. 



In Asia it is very widely distributed ; Mr. Blanford saw many at Isfahan, in Persia ; and, 

 according to Dr. Jerdon, it is very abundant throughout India. Captain Butler found it numerous 

 in Northern Guzerat ■ and Messrs. Hume and Davison record it as being common in the plains 

 of Tenasserim. Lord Tweeddale received specimens from the Andamans. In Mr. Swinhoe's 

 collection are many specimens from China, Hainan, and Formosa ; and Pere David says that it is 

 abundant in China, and winters in the central and southern portions of that empire, being more 

 numerous in the south than Ardea alba, which, on the other hand, is the commonest species near 

 Pekin. Messrs. Blakiston and Pryer record it (Ibis, 1878, p. 224) as being a very common bird 

 in Southern Japan ; and they obtained one specimen in Yezo. It breeds in Japan in company 

 with Nycticorax griseus. 



It is said to occur in Celebes, the Philippines, Moluccas, and New Guinea ; and Mr. Gould 

 records it from near Brisbane, in Australia. Mr. Gould separates the North-Australian species, 

 Ardea melano'pus, Wagl. (Herodias immaculata, Gould, B. of Austr. vi. p. 58), from Ardea 

 garzetta ; but Schlegel affirms that it cannot be considered specifically separable, and Hume says 

 that it only differs in being somewhat smaller in size and having much shorter feet. According 

 to Gould (Handb. B. Austr. ii. p. 304), this form is " a native of the northern portion of Australia, 

 and is extremely abundant in almost all parts of the Coburg Peninsula, both on the open sea- 

 beach and in the secluded parts of the harbour." In America the Lesser Egret is replaced by 

 Ardea candidissima, a perfectly distinct species. 



In general habits the Lesser Egret differs but little from the other Herons. So far as I 

 have seen, it is eminently gregarious, and not only breeds in colonies, but is usually to be seen 

 at other seasons of the year in larger and smaller flocks. It is, compared with its allies, not 

 a shy bird, and may be stalked with comparative ease unless it has been subjected to much 

 persecution, when, as may be supposed, it becomes wary, and frequents such places as cannot 

 easily be approached. It is essentially a marsh-bird, preferring swampy localities well overgrown 

 with aquatic vegetation to any others ; and its nesting-haunts are often situated in almost inac- 

 cessible swamps. I have seen small flocks of this Egret on the Lower Danube, but was not able 

 to visit its breeding-haunts near Belgrade, where I was assured large numbers still breed ; but 

 on both occasions when I visited that town I was unable to arrange my journey so as to be there 

 during the breeding-season. I was told that it nests both on low trees and on the rushes, or on 

 the ground itself, constructing its nest of dry twigs and reed-stems, lining it with finer leaves of 

 aquatic plants, grass, and roots ; and the eggs, usually four in number, are deposited late in May 

 or early in June. In colour they are very pale greenish blue, unmarked ; and eggs in my collec- 

 tion, taken by Zelebor, in Servia, on the 2nd of June, measure from Iff by 1^§ to If-J by l^j 

 inch in size, and are almost pure oval in shape, tapering but slightly towards one end. 



The food of the Lesser Egret, like that of its ally Ardea alba, consists of small fishes, 

 frogs, worms, aquatic insects and their larvse, but especially of small fish when obtainable in 

 abundance. 



The various species of White Herons have been not a little confused, and the synonymy is 



