SQUACCO HERON. 487 



but three examples have occurred in Ireland*. Most of these birds were 

 obtained in May, which is about the date at which they arrive at their 

 breeding-quarters in Southern Europe. There is no record of its occurrence 

 in Scotland. 



The Squacco Heron is confined to Africa and the basin of the Mediter- 

 ranean and Black Seas. It is an accidental straggler to the Canary 

 Islands, but is a resident in all suitable localities in Africa, breeding in 

 Algeria, Egypt, Damara Land, the Transvaal, &c. In the Spanish 

 peninsula it is only known as a summer visitor, and to the east it breeds 

 in the valley of the Danube, South Russia, the basin of the Caspian, and 

 Palestine. In the rest of Europe it is an accidental straggler to most 

 countries south of the Baltic. The Squacco Heron has no ally with which 

 it can be confused; it belongs to a small group of Herons which are 

 distinguished by their short tarsus, which is not as long as the beak or as 

 the middle toe and claw. 



The Squacco Heron is only known in Europe as a migratory bird, 

 arriving in Southern Spain and Greece early in April, but not reaching 

 its breeding-grounds on the Danube until early in May. It differs little in 

 its habits from the Little Egret and the Night-Heron, but is not quite so 

 shy as these birds and is somewhat more gregarious. Although it was not 

 so numerous at either of the great breeding-colonies which we visited last 

 year, it was more often seen in sailing down the Danube than they were. 

 It chiefly frequented the green grassy banks of the river, sometimes singly, 

 but generally in small parties consisting of eight or ten individuals. It 

 was not nearly so active as the other Herons, and was frequently observed 

 standing for a long time in the same position, when alarmed flying on a 

 few steps only. It is a remarkably silent bird, and we never heard it 

 utter a note, even at the nest ; but Naumann says that it utters a low 

 hoarse sound somewhat resembling the syllable karr. In its flight the neck 

 and legs look very short and the wings very broad, but, like its near allies, 

 it flies in a direct steady manner, the bill, which is drawn up close to the 

 body, and the legs, which are stretched out, being in one line. Like the 

 Night-Heron it is somewhat less of a fish-eater than the Little Egret, the 

 stomachs of those we shot containing only beetles and vegetable matter. 

 It also eats crabs ; and Naumann says that he has found very small fish, 

 frogs, small shells, and water-insects in its stomach. He also remarks the 

 partiality of this bird for the company of pigs. It is probable that it is 

 in the habit of feeding after these animals as they turn up the ground 

 with their noses, in the same way that Rooks follow the plough. 



* An example was shot near Killarney in 1875, a second in King's Co. in 1877, and 

 Mr. R. Lloyd Patterson informs me that a third was shot near Londonderry by Mr. Bond 

 on the 23rd of November, 1881. 



