Manners. 



3 6 HERON. 



neck behind, and all the under parts, to the breaft, black ; on the 

 J aft, the feathers are long, and hang downwards: the back, rump, 

 and tail, and all the under part from the breaft, are of a blueifh 

 afli-colour : behind each eye fprings a tuft of long white feathers, 

 which decline downwards, and hang in an elegant manner : the 

 quills and tail are black at the ends : the legs black. 

 Place ani> This fpecies is found in many parts of Africa and AJia. In the 



firii, has been met with on the Coaft of Guinea* ; but is moft plenti- 

 ful about Bildulgerid (the ancient Numidia), and Tripoli; from 

 thence along the coafts of the Mediterranean Sea; and pretty com- 

 mon in Egypt f. They are alfo at Aleppo^., and in the fouthern 

 plain about the Black and Cafpian Seas; and are feen frequent 

 beyond Lake Baikal, about the rivers Selenga and Argun, but never 

 venture to the northward ||. In all places found to prefer marfhes 

 and neighbourhood of rivers, as the food is fifh, like moft of the 

 Heron genus. 



It is frequently kept in menageries, being endowed with great 

 gentlenefs of manners, added to its being an elegant bird. 

 At various times puts itfelf into ftrange and uncouth attitudes, 

 and efpecially thofe which imitate dancing : and Keyjler mentions 

 one in the Great Duke's Gallery, at Florence, which had been 

 taught to dance to a certain tune, when played or fung to it§ # 

 The name this bird is known by in the eaft is Kurki, or Querky. 

 Sometimes will breed in confinement : one is recorded to have 



• Hift des Oif, t Haffelq. p. 287. 



J RuJJTeL Akp. p. 69. II Mr. Pennant. 



§ See Trav. vol. ii. p. 34. — Called by Pococke, the Dancing Bird. See his 

 Tra<v. vol. ii. p. 207, 



lived 



