AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 117 



in England, but some of these are open to doubt, 

 and it is possible that some may refer in reality to the 

 Little Egret, Ardea garzetta. 



The great marshes of the Lower Danube appear to 

 be the principal nesting-quarters of this Heron, but 

 it is not uncommon at various seasons on many parts 

 of the Mediterranean coasts ; I cannot positively 

 state that 1 have met with it in Spain, but it occa- 

 sionally occurs on the eastern shores of that kingdom. 

 I have seen it in Sardinia and Sicily, but my principal 

 acquaintance with it was formed in shooting rambles 

 in Epirus and Albania in the winters of 1856-57 

 and 1857-58. It could not be fairly called very 

 common there, but certain spots on the Epirus coast- 

 marshes were, especially during the first winter 

 above mentioned, always tenanted by a few of these 

 conspicuous birds. In general habits our bird 

 resembles the Common Heron, but is more frequently 

 to be closely approached than that very wary fisher, 

 as, although I have never known it to keep close or 

 crouch for concealment, it was often to be found 

 amongst dense jungle of reeds and other covert 

 where it was not difficult to stalk up to within 

 shooting distance. 



The Great White Heron is said to nest in colonies 

 of its own and other species, the nests being generally 

 placed on trees or bushes surrounded by water, but 

 not uncommonly also amongst thick reeds, on broken 

 stems of those plants. The eggs are of a dull 

 greyish-blue green, and four are said to be the usual 

 complement ; but for details I must refer my readers 

 to other authors, as I never, to my knowledge, had 

 the good fortune to find myself within " measurable 

 distance " of a Great White Heronry. 



I had at the time of writing as above, August 1889, 



