88 HERON. 



This Species is found in all the moderate and wanner parts of the 

 globe, and was once plentiful in this kingdom,* though now so 

 scarce as to be recorded as a rare occurrence, one being shot in 

 Anglesea,f some years since ; and another near Christchurch, Hants, 

 July 3, 1822. 



In many parts of Europe it is not uncommon, as well as in Asia ; 

 in Egypt it is called the Ox-keeper, as it frequents plains with the 

 oxen, and often perches on their backs to feast on the larvae of the 

 Oestrus, which infest them. M. Levaillant met with them inwards 

 west from the Cape of Good Hope, as well as the Great one, though 

 much less common ; found also in several parts of Africa, and in the 

 Isles of Madagascar and Bourbon ; in plenty at Siam, and in most 

 of the drawings done in India. 



In America met with at New- York, and Long Island, some of 

 the West India Islands, and Cayenne; J associating, for the most part, 

 with its congeners in the marshes, and banks of streams, feeding, 

 like them, principally on fish. Said to be found in Paraguay, and 

 from thence as far as Buenos Ayres. We are informed, that the 

 Egret is slate-coloured the first year, the next grey, spotted with 

 white, and gains the complete dress on the third, which it retains 

 ever after. I received a bird, with the mixed plumage, with other 

 drawings, from Mr. Abbot, of Georgia. In this the bill was very 

 pale blue, yellowish beneath ; legs pale green. It was called the 

 Young of the Blue Heron, but I rather thought it to be that of the 

 White, if not the Egret, for there appear two feathers, longer than 

 the rest, at the back of the head, and some rudiments of elongated 

 scapulars, and breast feathers. 



* In the list of the famous feast of Archbishop Nevill, in the year 14G4, one article 

 of 1000 of these birds is noticed. In 1605 it was probably more scarce, as it is mentioned in 

 the account of provisions for a nobleman's table, as being in season in April.— Archceol. 

 V. xiii. 347, 348. (Mem.) — This bird is not named in the Northumberland Household 

 Book, in 1512. f Br. Zool. App. 631. 



X Mem. sur Cayenne, ii. 217. 



