THE BITTERN. 337 



service it can render amounts to little or nothing. When adult at 

 the time of capture it is altogether intractable, entirely refusing food, 

 and dying at the end of a few days. 



The Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) has the same habits as the 

 one just spoken of, but it is a little smaller. It owes its name 

 to the colour of the numerous spots which adorn its livery. It is 

 rarely met with in France, but is pretty common at the mouths of 

 the Danube and Volga, and the margins of some of the lakes in 

 Tartary. 



The Egret (Egretta alba, Fig. 132) is remarkable for its plumage, 

 which is entirely of a pure white. Two varieties of it are known — 

 the larger, generally called the Great Egret, is about the size of the 

 Common Heron, it is common in Eastern Europe, in the North of 

 Africa and America, and in the Malay Archipelago ; the smaller kind 

 is known by the name of the Garzette Heron, or Little Egret, and is 

 not larger than a Crow ; it inhabits the confines of Asia and Eastern 

 Europe, and regularly visits the South of France. 



These two species are ornamented, during the breeding season, 

 with fine and silky feathers, which spring from the shoulders, and, 

 spreading out over the back, fall on each side of the tail in elegant 

 plumes. These are the adornments which European ladies value 

 much for placing in their head-dresses. 



Northern Africa presents us with a beautiful white Heron, about 

 the size of a Pigeon, the functions of which are extremely interesting, 

 it is called the Ox-keeper. In Morocco this bird is very common. 

 It is in the habit of accompanying the cattle into the fields, and takes 

 the task of relieving them from the numerous flies and insects with 

 which they are annoyed. In France it is met with only at the mouth 

 of the Rhone. 



The Bittern (Botdurus) has both the neck and legs shorter than 

 those of the Grey Heron ; its plumage is of a rich reddish yellow, 

 boldly variegated with dark markings. Districts intersected by 

 marshes are the chief places of its resort ; in these it keeps itself 

 hidden, motionless, and silent, all day long among the reeds. Here, 

 too, it makes its nest, almost on the ground, and close to the water. 

 It does not leave its sanctuary until evening, when it will ascend on 

 rapid wing to so great a height as to be lost to view. Its call to its 

 mate is peculiar ; for it resembles the bellowing of a bull, and can be 

 heard more than half a league. For this reason the ancients called it 

 bos taurus — whence, by corruption, comes the French butor. 



The Bittern is a very courageous bird ; it will defend itself ener- 

 getically against any bird of prey, against dogs, and even man. It is 



w 



