Birds of Britain 



The legs are carried stretched out behind and the head 

 and neck closely folded in to the body. When disturbed 

 or alarmed they utter a harsh "frank, frank." Although 

 usually nesting inland, they may often be found by the sea- 

 shore in autumn and winter, especially during hard weather 

 when their inland haunts are frozen over. 



The adult is bluish grey on the upper parts ; the head 

 and neck are white with the exception of the crest, which is 

 bluish black, as well as a row of dark longitudinal markings 

 on either side of the neck. Under parts greyish white. 

 Shoulders bluish black. The young resemble their parents 

 but are browner and lack the long filamentous plumes on the 

 back and base of the neck The adult plumage is assumed 

 by degrees, not reaching its full beauty till in the fourth or 

 fifth year. Length 34 in. ; wing 1 9 in. 



THE PURPLE HERON 



Ardea purpurea, Linnaeus 



The Purple Heron inhabits marshes in South and Central 

 Europe, building a nest low down in the reeds, its nearest 

 nesting place to us being in Holland. A good many 

 examples, mostly immature, have occurred along our east 

 coasts. On the back the adult is dark slate grey with 

 rufous and buff dorsal plumes. Neck reddish, with dark 

 elongated stripe down either side. Under parts rich maroon 

 red. Immature birds are rusty red on the neck and upper 

 parts, brownish on the under parts. Length 33 in. ; wing 

 14-25 in. 



224 



