British Birds. 
158 
Herons, and have twelve tail-feathers. In the breeding plumage the upper surface is 
pale vinous, including the ornamental plumes of the back, and the feathers of the head 
and hind-neck have a black line following the margin of the feathers. At least forty 
occurrences of the Squacco Heron have been recorded, of which two have taken 
place in Scotland and three in Ireland. It is found throughout Southern Europe and 
Africa, breeding in company with other Herons or in colonies. The nest is built 
of sticks, like that of the Night-Heron, and the eggs are from four to six in number, 
and of a greenish-blue colour ; they measure one-and-a-half to one-and-three-quarters 
of an inch in length. 
THE 
BUFF-BACKED 
EGRET. 
(Bubulcus lucidus.) 
THE LITTLE 
BITTERN. 
(Ardetta minuta.) 
This species may be recognised by its yellow bill and by the 
vinous crest and dorsal train ; in winter the plumage is pure white. 
Only one example is known to have been shot in England, in 
October, 1805. It inhabits the Mediterranean countries, the lower 
Danube and Southern Russia, as well as the greater part of 
Africa. It is generally known as the ‘ Cattle-Egret’ from its habit of feeding round 
the cattle, and perching on their backs. It devours numbers of ticks which it picks 
off these animals, and feeds also on frogs and insects. The species nests in 
colonies in low bushes in the reed-beds, and makes a nest of sticks. The eggs are 
from three to five in number, and of a very pale greenish-blue colour; they measure 
about an inch-and-three-quarters in length. 
All the Bitterns may be told by their ten tail-feathers, 
and by the colour of the eggs. They are not gregarious like 
the small Egrets, and in the Little Bittern there is con- 
siderable difference in the colour of the sexes, the male 
having a greenish-black head and back, whereas in the female the upper parts 
are chestnut-brown, with distinct streaks on the under surface of the body. 
The species is believed to have bred in England in former days, but is now only 
known as an occasional visitor. It is an inhabitant of Central and Southern Europe, 
eastwards to Central Asia, and it also breeds in Scinde and Cashmere. It is a shy and 
skulking bird and in many of its ways resembles the Rails, threading its way through 
the reeds instead of taking to flight. The birds also draw themselves up and remain 
motionless with their bill pointing straight up in the air, so as to resemble 
the surrounding rushes. The nest is of sticks and reeds, and is either placed in 
a reed-bed or on the head of a pollard-willow. The eggs are from five to nine in 
number, and are white with a scarcely perceptible greenish tinge ; they measure 
about an inch-and-a-half in length. 
The members of the genus Botaurus have ten tail-feathers 
and saw-like edges to the bill. The large size and mottled 
plumage of tawny-yellow and black, with the large neck frill, 
sufficiently distinguish the Bittern from all the other British 
Herons. Although it used at one time to breed in our fen-lands, the Bittern 
THE COMMON 
BITTERN. 
(Botaurus stcllaris. 
