SIX MONTHS’ BIRD COLLECTING IN EGYPT, 2IT 
The first I skinned—which was shot at Boulac—contained 
eleven frogs. Another a green caterpillar and some grain. 
Another locusts, They, are said not to feed on fish (Ibis, 
1863, p. 33). 
Hasselquist (pp. 85, 195, 198) gives interesting particulars 
of the habits of a white Heron which he considered to be the 
Sacred Ibis, but which was in reality Ardea bubulcus ; cf. 
Savigny’s Histoire de I'Ibis, p. 6. 
174. SQuAcco HERON, Ardeola comata (Pall.); 
“Uak abiad zugaiar.” 
On the 25th January I shot a Squacco Heron at 
Damietta. It was wading in a reedy lake with some Red- 
shanks, but when I first saw it, it was alone. We did not 
meet with the species again until the 18th of April, when a 
second was shot from some rushes at the edge of the Nile 
near Keneh. 
At the Faioum we saw some very handsome ones in June, 
among the tamarisks, I surmise that a pair or two were 
going to breed in company with the Buff-backs. They were 
very different in plumage from the brown-backed bird which 
I shot in January. 
175. LITTLE BITTERN, Ardetia minuta (Linn.). 
The only place where we met this bird was at the Faioum. 
I had expected to find it there, as I was told that I should, 
when at Cairo. It seemed however to be confined to one 
small odoriferous swamp, where the water was a foot and a 
half deep, and the reeds and bushes were above the height 
of a man; and I have no doubt it only comes here during 
the time of nidification. We put up at least fifteen pairs in 
a swamp of four acres. In spite of their slow ungainly 
flight they rise to some height, but they have not the power 
