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the irides also changed to beautiful rich pink colour, with a very slight golden ring round the 

 black pupil. This change was quite completed before the bird had fully assumed the buff- 

 coloured back, which is the mark of the breeding-dress." 



Examples have been obtained in most of the provinces of Italy, especially in Liguria ; and 

 Dr. Giglioli states (Ibis, 1865, p. 60) that he met with two on the 30th April near Pisa. In 

 Sicily it is of very rare occurrence ; and Mr. A. B. Brooke says that it is a doubtful straggler to 

 Sardinia. Mr. C. A. Wright observes (Ibis, 1864, p. 143) that there is a preserved skin of this bird 

 in the Malta University Museum ; and Schembri records the capture of two specimens in Malta. 

 Lord Lilford remarks (Ibis, 1860, p. 346) that he saw a stuffed specimen at Corfu which was 

 killed at Butrinto, and he believes that he saw two on the race-course in April 1857. Dr. Kriiper 

 informs me that it has not been observed in Greece of late years ; but Temminck states that one 

 was obtained at the mouth of the Danube, and one in the Crimea, and that it is said to visit 

 Turkey and Dalmatia; and Professor von Nordmann speaks of it as being abundant on the 

 Danube. 



I find no information regarding its occurrence in Asia Minor; but Canon Tristram says' that 

 he saw it in large flocks in Palestine ; and in Africa it is generally distributed in suitable localities 

 down to the Cape of Good Hope. Captain Shelley writes (B. of Egypt, p. 268), "This species 

 is very abundant in Egypt, especially in the Delta, where flocks may be daily seen feeding 

 among cattle without the least fear of man. On the ground it is graceful, but looks awkward 

 on first taking wing. It is a useful bird to the natives, as it causes great havoc among the 

 locusts and other insects, in this respect replacing the Sacred Ibis, for which bird it is usually 

 made to do duty with the tourist. In August it breeds in large flocks in the sont woods ;" and 

 Mr. Stafford Allen says (Ibis, 1863, p. 32) that "perhaps the most conspicuous bird that catches 

 the eye of the traveller in Egypt is the Buff-backed Heron (Herodias bubulcus ; Ardea russata, 

 Yarr. & Gould ; Bubulcus ibis, Bonaparte) in its winter plumage of pure white, which is to be 

 met with in flocks of from four or five to thirty, distributed all over the country. 



" These birds especially affect the society of cattle, and may be seen feeding about among 

 the legs of the cows and buffaloes in the most fearless manner, like Starlings in a flock of sheep, 

 frequently perching on the backs of the lazy animals in the same way. The Arab name 'Abou 

 Gerdan ' (father of flocks), the French ' l'Heron Garde-boeuf,' and the Latin specific appellation 

 ' bubulcus^ all have reference to this marked peculiarity. 



" Contrary to the usual custom of the Herons and Egrets, most of which are piscivorous, 

 the ' Buff-backed ' does not feed upon fish, but upon the various kinds of insects, particularly 

 grasshoppers, which are so abundant in the rank herbage produced by the peculiar system of 

 irrigation in use amongst the Arabs. They are consequently seldom seen near the water's 

 edge. About dusk they retire to the trees to roost ; and though I have occasionally seen them 

 in the date-palms, they generally choose the sycamore or wild fig-tree for that purpose. 



" It is frequently asserted that the Arabs consider this bird as sacred, and that killing one 

 is looked upon as a serious offence ; but I believe this is not the case, at least not in a religious 

 sense. I have sometimes, on having shot one for a specimen, been reproached for so doing, 

 much in the way that we should speak to any one who killed a Robin ; and I think that this 



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