THE LITTLE EGRET. 207 



Juvenile. — Whole plumage white as in adult but with no 

 special plumes, feathers of back of crown and upper-breast being 

 rather long and rather loosely constructed but otherwise normal. 



First winter. — Like juvenile but feathers of upper-breast 

 longer and some with narrow closely set tips but very much shorter 

 than in adult ; feathers of scapulars and mantle rather long and 

 rami separated at tips but not greatly elongated nor placed widely 

 apart as in adult. The juvenile body-plumage is moulted Aug.- 

 Nov., but not wing- or tail-feathers. First summer. — After spring 

 moult appears to become like adult, but some birds without crest 

 plumes but otherwise like adult summer may possibly be first 

 summer. 



Measurements and structure. — £ wing 260-295 mm., tail 90- 

 110, tarsus 100-110, bill from feathers 85-92 (12 measured). $ 

 wing 240-270, bill 78-90. Primaries : 2nd and 3rd longest, 1st and 

 4th sometimes as long but usually 5-10 mm. shorter, 5th 10-25 

 shorter, 6th 25-35 shorter, 7th 40-55 shorter ; 2nd to 4th slightly 

 emarginated outer and 1st and 2nd inner webs. Rest of structure 

 as in Common Heron but tip of upper mandible not so sharply 

 pointed and notch more distinct. 



Soft parts. — Bill and lores black, base of lower mandible and 

 round eyes greenish-grey ; legs black, toes and extreme base of 

 tarsus yellow ; iris yellow. 



Characters and allied forms. — E. g. nigripes (Australasia) is 

 similar but with black toes. Pure white plumage, black bill and 

 small size distinguish it from other British Herons. 



Field -characters. — At distance Little Egrets do not look whiter 

 than Buff-backed Herons. Both species are small and cannot be 

 confused with Spoonbill or Great White Heron at any distance. 

 With binoculars black of bill and tarsi of Little Egret are characters 

 to be looked for, and can be seen at considerable distances. Usually 

 met with in flocks. Flies with head retracted ; wings rounded and 

 flight slow. (F.C.R.J.) 



Breeding-habits. — Breeds in colonies, often in company with 

 other species such as Buff -backed and Mght-Herons, Squacco, 

 Glossy Ibis, etc. Nest. — Sometimes on top of tamarisk bushes, and 

 at other times on branches of trees, flimsily built of tamarisk and 

 other twigs at varying height from ground. Eggs. — Normally 4, 

 occasionally 3 and rarely 5, light greenish-blue, devoid of gloss. 

 Average of 100, 46.6x33.8. Max.: 55x34.2 and 47.5x36.8. 

 Min. : 42x33.5 and 48x31.1 mm. Breeding -season. — From early 

 May onward in south Spain. Incubation. — Share of sexes not 

 known ; period given as 17-18 days by Baldamus, but probably 

 under-estimated, as Wunderlich gives 23 days. Single -brooded. 



Food. — Small fish, frogs, lizards, worms, Crustacea, fresh-water 

 mollusca and aquatic insects. 



Distribution. — England. — Very rare vagrant. Several recorded, 



