THE BUFF-BACKED HEROX. 209 



Juvenile. — Like adult winter female but white on crown and 

 feathers normal as well as on centre of mantle and lower -throat. 



First winter. Male and female. — Like adult winter female. 

 The juvenile body-feathers and wing-coverts are moulted Sept.- 

 Dec. (occasionally Jan.) but not wing- or tail-feathers. First 

 summer. — After complete moult becomes as adult but moult is 

 often rather later. 



Measurements and structure. — $ wing 233-253 mm., tail 70-90, 

 tarsus 70-85, bill from feathers 52-60 (12 measured). ? wing 233- 

 247, bill 52-58. Primaries : 2nd and 3rd longest, 1st and 4th as 

 long or 5 mm. shorter, 5th 10-20 shorter, 6th 25^5 shorter ; 2nd 

 to 4th emarginated outer and 1st and 2nd slightly inner webs. Rest 

 of structure as in Common Heron. 



Soft parts. — Bill and bare loral region yellow, tinged pink ; 

 legs and feet dull yellow (ad.), dark greenish-brown (juv. and 1st 

 winter) ; iris bright yellow. 



Characters and allied forms. — A. i. coromanda (India, S. China, 

 S. Japan) in summer has feathers of crown golden-buff rather than 

 pinkish and similar feathers on chin and throat, more of tibia bare 

 than in typical form. White plumage, yellow not black bill and 

 uniform buff tufts of feathers distinguish this species from other 

 British Herons. 



Field -characters. — Can hardly be confused with anything but 

 Squacco Heron and in distance with Little Egret, with which it 

 associates at times. Although at close quarters in breeding-season 

 yellowish-tawny plumes readily distinguish Buff-backed Heron and 

 Squacco from Little Egret, this is not noticeable at distance, when 

 best character for distinction is difference in colour of bill and feet, 

 which are black in Egret while in Buff-backed they look yellowish, 

 and Squacco has dark beak with yellowish feet. Very sociable in 

 habits, resting and feeding in company and associating with cattle 

 infields. (F.C.R.J.) 



Breeding-habits. — Very sociable, nesting in colonies, sometimes 

 of considerable size and at times together with other species, such 

 as Little Egret, Glossy Ibis, etc. Nest. — Usually on bushes or trees, 

 often on tamarisks, generally not high up, and occasionally on 

 ground on rocky islets. Flimsily constructed of twigs and any 

 material available. Eggs. — Normally 4, rarely 5, rather more 

 rounded or elliptical than Little Egret's and paler in colour, though 

 at times hardly distinguishable. Average of 41 Spanish eggs 45.6 X 

 34.3. Max. : 49.3x36. Min. : 41.2x33 and 43x32.7 mm. Breed- 

 ing-season.— -Varies to some extent but begins early in May in 

 S. Spain, though at times fresh eggs can be obtained a month later. 

 Incubation. — No reliable data. Single -brooded. 



Food. — Feeds largely on parasites from cattle, especially ticks 

 (Acari) and insects, coleoptera, orthoptera (locusts, grasshoppers, 

 etc.), caterpillars. Also lizards, frogs and mice recorded. 



VOL. H. P 



