THE HEEON. 
155 
Italy — and in 1841, eastward to Constantinople, where several 
appeared, and were remarkably tame (as aU birds are there from 
being protected by the Tm?ks), between the city and the YaUey 
of Sweet Waters. The writing down of this locality, reminds me 
that, some years ago, when sailing up the noble river Blackwater 
from Yonghal to Lismore, a number of herons (probably awaiting 
the falling of the tide) were singularly studded over a part of the 
high and heathy banks of the river, just as the picquets appeared 
guarding the hills around the summer palace of the Sultan, in 
the YaUey of Sweet Waters, lest any profane eye should behold 
the ablutions of the ladies of the harem, when (at the end of 
May) with their lord, sojourning there to enjoy bathing in the 
natural stream. 
The heron is most poetically descanted on in connexion with 
its wild haunts, by Professor Wilson,* and its picturesqueness 
is duly appreciated inUhe writings of those ardent lovers of nature, 
Mr, Selby and Sir WiUiam Jardine. 
THE PUEPLE HEEON, 
Ardea 'purp^irea, Linn. 
Is stated to have been once obtained in Ireland. 
To my brief record of the occurrence of this bird, published in 
the Proceedings of the Zoological Society (1834, p. 30), I am 
unable to add anything. It was simply to the effect that a 
specimen of the purple heron, marked on the stand as shot 
at Carrickmacross,^^ and further stated by Mr. Glennon, bird- 
preserver, Dublin, to have been received thence by him in a fresh 
state, had come under my notice. It is in the possession of Mr. 
Y^arren of that city, and belonged originaUy to the celebrated 
collection of Mr. Harrington. The specimen is in the plumage 
of BewiclPs purple-crested heron. 
In a cafe at the Caravan Bridge, Smyrna, I saw, in the smnmer 
* ‘ Recreations of Christopher North,’ vol. i. p. 53. 
