316 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



thatj at Halloulaj he found a large colony of Squacco Heronsj 

 ■who were just beginning to sit. Thirty or forty nests were 

 scattered about in various directions in a dense bed of reeds 

 piled up to the height of two or three feet from the mud, 

 supported on tufts of reeds, and composed of great heaps of 

 water-weeds and rushes ; each nest contained three or four 

 eggs. Naumann says that he has found very small fish, 

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

 remarks the partiality of this bird for the company of pigs j 

 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 Eooks follow the plough. 



Sometime in the summer of 1828, an example of this 

 species was shot by one Thomas Marchant, whom I had often 

 heard speak of it, at Wick Pond, in the parish of Albourne, 

 but it was not till January 1849 that I saw tjie specimen 

 myself, in the possession of the late Mr. Holman, of Hurst- 

 pierpoint, whose brother was tenant of Wick Farm when the 

 bird was shot. At his death it was sold to a tradesman in 

 Brighton, and is now in the possession of a gentleman there, 

 who has kindly allowed me to see it, and I have had it photo- 

 graphed. This specimen is in perfectly mature plumage. 



A second Sussex specimen is mentioned by Mr. Knox 

 (O. R. p. 237) under the name of Little Egret; he states 

 that it was then in the possession of Sir Percy Shelley. I, 

 knowing that Lady Shelley was living near Bournemouth, 

 requested my friend the Rev. F. Hopkins, residing in that 

 neighbourhood, to find out whether Lady Shelley still had it, 

 and he kindly ascertained that Sir Percy had given it to the 

 Honble. Grantley Berkeley, and that it had passed from him 

 to Mr. Hart, the well-known naturalist, of Christchurch, 

 Hants, who still bas it in his museum. Mr. Hart informs 

 me that on receiving the bird he wrote to the late Sir Percy 

 Shelley, and sends me this extract from his reply : — " I gave 



