252 



Figures notabiles. 



DAubenton, PI. Enl. 315, 348 ; Werner, Atlas, Coureurs, pi. 28 ; Kjserb. Orn. Dan. taf. 55 ; 

 Fritsch, Vog, Eur. taf. 40. figs. 3, 5 ; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 224 ; Gould, B. of 

 Eur. pi. 275; id. B. of G. Brit. iv. pi. 25; Schlegel, Vog. Nederl. pi. 192. 



Ad. capite et collo flavido-ochraceis, pilei et nucha? plumis elongatis, lanceolatis et nigro marginatis : dorsi 

 plumis elongatis filamentosis rufescenti-ochraceis : alis et Cauda albis : mento albo : gutture et peetore 

 flavo-oehraceis, plumis elongatis filamentosis : corpore reliquo subtiis albo : rostro ad basin plumbeo- 

 cseruleOj versus apicem nigro : regione oculari viridi : iride flava, : pedibus flavo-viridibus. 



Adult Male in summer (Seville, June) . Crown, nape, and sides of the head pale creamy yellow, the feathers 

 on the crown and nape much elongated and pointed, a few of the longest quite white, and all margined 

 with black ; dorsal feathers much elongated, filamentous, the upper portion coppery ochreous, and 

 becoming creamy buff on the lower part ; wings and tail pure white ; chin and upper throat white ; 

 lower throat and breast pale creamy yellow, the feathers like those on the back, hairy in texture : rest 

 of the underparts pure white ; bare space round the eye greenish ; bill pale lead-blue at the base, and 

 blackish towards the point ; iris rich yellow; legs greenish yellow. Total length about 18 - 5 inches, 

 culmen 2 - 62, wing 8'6, tail 3"5, tarsus 2 - 5. 



Adult Female (Seville) . Differs from the male merely in having the nuchal feathers rather shorter. 



Young Female (Turkey, 19th May) . Differs from the adult merely in having the dorsal feathers (except at 

 the sides) coppery brown, much darker than in the adult, the nuchal feathers shorter and yellower, the 

 lower throat striped with blackish, and the wings marked with yellowish buff; bill dull greenish 

 yellow, brownish along the ridge ; iris whitish yellow ; legs yellowish green. 



Obs. The fully adult dress is not assumed until the third year. In the second year the crest is rather 

 fuller than previously, but not nearly so long as when adult, and the back is dull coppery brown, the 

 feathers being still rather short. 



This small Heron inhabits Southern Europe and Africa, ranging eastward to the Caspian, and 

 but rarely straggling into Central and Northern Europe. It has, however, been met with in 

 different parts of Great Britain on many occasions. Mr. Harting (Handb. Brit. B. p. 150) cites 

 twenty-one instances of its occurrence in the Isle of Wight, Cornwall, Devonshire, Dorsetshire, 

 Shropshire, Hants, Wilts, Somersetshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cumberland ; Mr. Cordeaux states 

 that one was killed in Lincolnshire, at Fillingham, near Gainsborough ; and Martin (Naturalist, 

 1853, p. 61) records the occurrence of one on the Glasgow canal, near Stockton, on the 9th 

 October 1852. In a letter lately received from Mr. J. Gatcombe, this gentleman writes, "I may 

 mention that a short time ago I examined a very fine and nearly adult Squacco Heron in a 

 collection at Blatchford House, the seat of Lord Blatchford, in Devon, which was killed in June 

 1840 by the side of a large pond adjoining the house. This specimen has never been recorded, 

 except in a very short notice in the 'Naturalist' for 1850; and as this Heron is now so rarely 

 met with in Great Britain, I think that every capture should be noticed." According to 

 Thompson it has once occurred in Ireland, a specimen having been killed in Killeagh bog, a 

 few miles from Youghal, on the 26th May 1849. 



