THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 
659 
The Reef Heron only occurs in our area on the Fao littoral. Armstrong found 
it fairly common at Fao and had eggs brought to him, said to have been taken 
on the Khor Abdulla, on May 20th, 1917. Gumming records it as also common 
there and obtained several birds and received eggs from the Koweit side. In 
the Ibis, 1886, Sharpe records two of these birds obtained by Gumming as gularis, 
the west African bird ; Mr. Kinnear has examined these birds afresh for me in 
the British Museum and he considers them to be nothing but asha. Both blue 
and white phases of plumage occur and Gumming considered the white to be the 
juvenile dress, an observation I cannot confirm. 
It is a quite resident species and being essentially a salt water bird is not 
likely to occur inland. 
224. Buff'backed Heron. Ardeola ibis. 
Ardeola ibis ibis (L.) (Syst. Nat., 1758, p. 144 — Egypr,). 
This Heron does not seem to be very common and its status is rather 
uncertain ; Gumming thought that it was resident at Fao and says it is supposed 
to breed near the Abdulla Banks, in the marshes on the Koweit side. All our 
records relate to the months of March to October so may be it is a summer 
visitor. Logan Home noted it at Abu Aran in June. Gheesman records that a 
flock alighted in a cottonfield at Sheik Saad on September 16tb and thinks they 
were on passage ; two, which he obtained there, were the only specimens 
preserv^ed. 
225. Sqacco Heron. Ardeola ralloides. “ Mush-’bca Beda.” 
Ardeola ralloides (Scop). (Annus i. Hist. Nat., p. 88, 1769 — Garniola). 
The status of this bird requires further investigation ; all our records relate 
to the months March-September except two, viz., January 6th (Shat-al-Arab) 
and October 23rd (Ramadi), so that, on the face of it, it would appear to be a 
summer visitor. From the end of March it is common in suitable places in small 
flocks of eight to twent}^ individuals, and some were thought at this period to be 
migrating, as at Feluja, Basra, etc. On May 19th, Buxton found it at the Hamar 
lake and shot a specimen with the sexual organs enlarged, but he was told by the 
Arabs that it does not breed there; on June 5th near Amara he saw plenty ; Pit- 
man too, in the marshes around Museyib met with it commonly in June and July 
and supposed it was breeding, while near Baghdad it was common in July-August 
and September ; in many places in August and September it is noted as common. 
Gumming says it is resident at Fao and is supposed to breed in the marshes on the 
Koweit side of Fao. It seems therefore likely that the species will be found 
breeding in the marshes of Mesopotamia, though up to now there is no certain 
record. 
Eight specimens examined : d > Hamar Lake, 20-5-18; Baghdad, 31-3-18; 
Amara, 14-4-18 (P. A. B.) ; d , Nahr I"mar, 26-3-18; Feluja, 27-3-17; near 
Baghdad, 8-8-17 (G. R. P.) ; cf > Basra, 19-4-17 (P. Z, G. and R. E. G.) ; 
Basra (Hobkirk). 
I do not think this Heron can become adult at the first spring ; some of these 
are in adult plumage, others at the same time of year are in immature dress. 
Ardeola grayi has been recorded from Bushire ; we have no evidence of it occur- 
ring within our area. 
226. Little Egret. Egretta garzetta. 
Egretta garzetta garzetta (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. xii, p. 237, 1766. “ In 
Oriente ” ). 
As with several of the Heron tribe, the status of this bird cannot be made out 
with certainty. Gumming thought it was resident and recorded that it was 
supposed to breed near the Abdulla Banks. All our records are of small numbers 
seen in the months of April, August and September which suggests that it is a 
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