232 BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
Europe, Africa, and southern Asia ; and closely allied forms 
are found in America. 
The accompanying illustration of the actual specimen 
recorded by Sir WiUiam Jardine, is pubUshed with the 
permission of the authorities of the Royal Scottish Museum, 
Edinburgh. ^ „ 
It is impossible to say to what bird the following para- 
graph refers, if indeed it may not refer to the alleged 
occurrence of the Little Egret {see p. 230) But the 
description here given of the rara avis scarcely indicates 
that species and rather than omit this interestmg extract it 
is given under this heading for what it is worth On 
Friday last [i.e., April 18th, 1823] a specimen of that rare 
and beautiful bird the Crested Heron was shot m Loohar 
Moss by Wm. Grierson, Esq., of Rockhall. This ram ams 
though about the same size is somewhat heavier and firmer 
than the Common Heron; while its plumage in place of a 
dunnish white, is at once variegated and beautiful. On the 
top of the head it carries a superb crown from which a 
solitary feather projects at least six or eight inches m length. 
In former times this singular feather is said to have been 
a badge of royalty, and hence the high estimation in which 
the cfested Heron is held by all feudal and titled sports- 
men."* 
THE LITTLE BITTERN. Ardetta minuta (Linnwus). 
A very rare accidental visitor. 
In 1842 Sir William Jardine wrote : " The Little Bittern- 
Heron has been frequently met with in many of the Enghsh 
counties, extending to the Scottish Border."t 
I have found no records of its occurrence in the county 
previous to 1874, when one was obtained. The following is 
the history of this bird as given by the late H. A. Macpherson 
* Dumfries Courier y April 22nd, 1823. 
t Nat. Lib.y 1842, Vol. XII., p. 141. 
