134 
GBEAT WHITE EGRET. 
mentioned by Mr. Templeton. In Scotland, we are 
not aware that it has ever been taken. 
During’ the last winter (1840-41), there have 
been several instances of “ White Herons” being 
seen and killed, both in England and Scotland, 
which, it is little doubt, were Egrets of one species 
or other, but the difficulty of tracing them is great. 
These notices appeared chiefly in the newspapers, 
and from the peculiar colour and appearance of the 
bird, they were sure to draw attention. The win- 
ter was remarkable for the intensity of the cold. 
Annexed, we give the description of a specimen 
procured on the continent. The entire length, from 
extremity of the tail to the end of the bill, will be 
from twenty to twenty-two inches ; length of the 
bill to the rictus four inches. The plumage is 
entirely pure white; from the hind-head spring 
two narrow feathers, four inches in length, while 
those on the lower part of the neck (nearly of a 
similar length), toward the tips, become narrowed 
and compact in form ; the loose hair, like plumes, 
spring entirely from the centre of the back; the 
bill with the tarsi are black ; the toes appear to 
have been greenish-yellow ; the length of the leg, 
unplumed, above the tarsal joint, is two inches 
and a fourth ; of the tarsus four inches. 
The Great White Egret. — Ardea alba. — 
Ardea alba , Linn. — White Heron , or Great White 
Heron of British authors . — This is even of rarer 
