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ARDEIDJE. 



sportsman or ornithologist, if he wishes to obtain a specimen. 

 It is remarkable how this bird often precipitates itself out of 

 its hiding-place from behind some stump or water-plant ; for, 

 like many other birds that are fond of hiding, it thinks itself 

 secure until a nervous feeling makes it run into imminent 

 danger by discovering itself when any person comes near. 

 When speaking of the tall water-plants among which the 

 Purple Heron resides, it is necessary to add that those parts 

 only are frequented where these plants are thinly distributed 

 over the surface, among which the bird can move about in 

 search of food. 



The general appearance of this species is smaller than the 

 common heron, and by far more slender, but by no means 

 more elegant, which we were surprised to find on watching the 

 movements of this so beautifully feathered bird. The attitudes 

 sometimes assumed by the Purple Heron are far from elegant ; 

 as, for instance, it will sit for hours together at rest, with its 

 neck stretched out in a straight line, just as if the whole bird 

 had been strung on a stick or fishing-rod. We are convinced 

 that these attitudes are of service to the creature in order to 

 save it from detection, but they are at least not pleasing to 

 the eye of the beholder. In its walk the Purple Heron is 

 rather more active than the common species, and on the 

 wing it moves with more swiftness and ease. 



This heron is a solitary bird, keeping generally to some 

 favourite spot ; and during windy weather it rarely flies about : 

 its disposition is more friendly than the former, and far less 

 spiteful. When the present species has made choice of some 

 spot for a residence, it remains in it the greater part of the 

 day, and only leaves it early in the morning or late at 

 night. 



The note of this species is much like that of the common 

 heron, but much weaker and rounder in its sound ; it only 

 utters it when on the wing, and then only occasionally. If 



