226 



GREAT WHITE HERON. 



This species is rarely met with in England ; it was first described by 

 Mr. Pennant from a specimen shot in Lancashire, and placed in the 

 Leverian museum. It is said to have been met with in Kent ; and we 

 are informed one was killed in Wiltshire, which weighed seven ounces 

 and a half. 



It is possible this bird is sometimes killed together with the common 

 species, and not discriminated by the sportsman, who only takes it for 

 a fine large snipe. Dr. Latham assures us he saved one from the 

 hands of the cook at a friend's house, where, without discrimination, 

 it was intended for the table with several of the common kind, and 

 that it is now in his museum. 



In the second supplement to the General Synopsis, the Great Snipe 

 and the Savanna Woodcock are, we think, very judiciously brought 

 together, an arrangement which we have also adopted for this work ; he 

 also gives a very full description, from a recent subject, shot in Suffolk 

 in the month of September, and which exactly corresponds with a 

 specimen in our collection. 



GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER.— Aname for theWhitwaU. 



GREAT TITMOUSE.— A name for the Ox-eye. 



GREAT WHITE HERON (Ardea Egretta, Linnaeus.) 



*Ardeaalba, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 239. 24.— Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 639.— Tnd. Orn. 2. p. 

 695. 65.— Ardea alba major, Raii, Syn. p. 99. A. 4— Will. p. 205. t. 49.— 

 Ardea egretta, Temm. 2. p. 572. — Flem. Br. Anim. p. 95. — Ardea Candida, 

 Briss. 5. p. 428. 15.— Ib. 8vo. 2. p. 322.— Le Heron blanc, Buff. 7. p. 365— 

 Gieat White Heron, Br. Zool. 2. p. 175. t. 62.— 16. fol. 117.— Arct. Zool. 2, No. 

 234. — 16. Supp. p. 66.— Will. (Angl.) p. 279. t. 49.— Lath. Syn. 5. p. 91. 60. 



—Lewin's Br. Birds, 4. t. 150.— Mont. Orn. Diet Bewick's Br. Birds, 2. p. 13. 



— Wilson's Amer. Orn. 7. p. 107. 



This elegant bird can only be considered as a straggler; one instance 

 only of its occurrence in this country being recorded. It is described 

 by Wilson as being a very shy timid bird, and very difficult to be pro- 

 cured. " Its principal residence," he says, " is in the regions of the 

 south, being found from Guiana, and probably beyond the line to New 

 York. Its favorite haunts are in vast inundated swamps, rice fields, the 

 low marshy shores of rivers, and such like places, where, from its size 

 and colour, it is very conspicuous at a great distance. 



This bird measures four feet from the extremities of the wings, and 

 three feet six inches from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail ; the 

 train extending seven or eight inches further ; this train is composed 

 of a great number of long thick tapering shafts, arising from the lower 

 parts of the shoulders, thinly furnished on each side with fine flow- 

 ing hair like threads, of several inches in length, covering the lower 

 part of the back, and falling gracefully over the tail, which it entirely 

 conceals ; the whole plumage being of a snowy whiteness, except the 



