ARDEIDA. 373 
THE LITTLE EGRET. 
ARDEA GARZETTA, Linnzus. 
The Little Egret has a more southern habitat than the preceding 
species, and, as might be expected, its visits to the British Islands 
are very uncommon. When subjected to critical examination almost 
all the records of its occurrence are more or less unsatisfactory ; and, 
as far as I can learn, the only example about which there can be no 
doubt, is an adult examined and recorded by the late Mr. J. 
Gatcombe, killed at Countess Weir, on the Exe, on June 3rd 1870, 
and belonging to Mr. E. H. Harbottle, of Topsham, near 
Exeter. It is not improbable, however, that one has been obtained 
in Sussex ; while the late Lord Lilford (B. Northamptonsh. ii. p. 118) 
adduced some evidence that two were shot near Whittlesea about 
1849. There is no specimen in existence to prove Thompson’s 
assertion that the Little Egret has visited Ireland on three occasions. 
This species has not been found to the north of the Baltic, and 
it seldom wanders to Germany, Holland, or the north of France, 
though not uncommon in the southern and eastern portions of the 
