occurrence of this species iu England was supplied by Mr. Arthur Strickland, in a communication made to 
the Natural-History Section of the British Association, at its meeting at Newcastle in August 1838, as 
published in the seventh volume of the Reports. Mr. Strickland stated that “ this bird had been unjustly 
excluded from the catalogue of occasional visitors to this country by late authors, as he could prove 
on unquestionable authority that it had been killed of late years in more cases than one. The first instance 
was twelve or thirteen years ago : a bird of this species was seen for some weeks about Hornsea Moor, in 
the East Riding of Yorkshire ; it was some time after presented to the author, in whose collection it 
is at present, in perfect preservation. Another, in full summer plumage, was killed by a labourer in the 
fields of James Hall, Esq., of Scarbro, near Beverley, about three years ago, and is now in the possession 
of that gentleman. Another specimen of this bird is in the collection of Mr. Foljambe, of Osberton, with 
a label on the case stating it to have been killed near that place. A careful examination of these specimens 
will, Mr. Strickland has no doubt, prove that this bird is properly separated from the Large Egret of North 
America, which has been frequently placed in our collections for the British species. To these I may add 
a notice of one killed in Lincolnshire, but where the specimen is deposited I am not aware ; and, lastly, 
Mr. Frederick Holme sent me the measurements of a specimen shot on the Isis, in Oxfordshire, in 
September 1833.” 
Yarrell goes on to state that this beautiful species was included in the Swedish fauna by Linnaeus and 
Retzius, that it is an accidental visitor to Germany, France, Provence, Italy, Corsica, and Sardinia, and that 
it is common among the islands of the Grecian archipelago, Turkey, and Hungary. On the authority of 
H. E. Strickland, it frequents the salt marshes west of Smyrna ; and Messrs. Dickson and Ross saw a few at 
Erzeroum, from the beginning of May till October. Mr. Stevenson, in his ‘Birds of Norfolk,’ doubts 
whether the Great White Heron can be fairly included in the Norfolk list ; still he states that Mr. Gurney 
possesses a fine specimen, purchased by him of the late Mr. Thurtell when that gentleman’s birds were sold, 
and, on the authority of Mr. Joseph Clarke, of Saffron Walden, that Mr. Miller once found the wings of a 
Great White Heron near Yarmouth. 
Having shown that the Great White Egret possesses numerous just claims to be enumerated among our 
accidental visitors, I give an additional note or two by some friends who have seen this bird on the Continent, 
which, together with quotations from the writings of Jertlon and a few lines from my ‘ Birds of Australia,’ 
will close my account of this species. 
“ In Sicily,” says Mr. Howard Saunders, “ especially around Catania and Syracuse, this fine species is by 
no means uncommon. In Eastern Spain it is of occasional occurrence; but further west it becomes 
extremely rare — so much so that only a single example- came under my notice in the cotos de Donana, and 
my men, who were well acquainted with the smaller species (^H. egrettd), were unable to give me any 
information respecting it. At Perpignan, just within the French frontier. Dr. Companyo has frequently 
obtained this species, and he assured me that it bred in the neighbouring marshes of Salces.” 
In Messrs Elwes and Buckley’s “List of the Birds of Turkey” (Ibis, 1870, vol. vi. p. 333), these 
gentlemen state that the H. alba is “ very common in the marshes of Macedonia, where we have seen as 
many as fourteen together. The great size and snowy plumage of this Heron make it a very conspicuous 
object among the tall reeds or when flapping slowly above them. We cannot say whether it breeds here ; 
but in Bulgaria, though not so numerous, it certainly does. An old male, which was shot in February, had 
the long plumes of the back, which fall off in summer, fully developed.” 
Jerdon states {vide ‘ Birds of India,’ vol. iii. p. 744) : — “ The Large Egret is distributed throughout 
India to Ceylon, extending (if Gould’s Syrmatophorus be rightly identified with this species) from Europe 
through most of Asia and Africa to Australia. It is of course abundant in the best-watered districts ; but is 
found everywhere, feeding in rivers and tanks, and roosting on trees. It breeds in company on trees, often 
in or close to some village, making the usual nest of sticks, and laying three or four eggs of a bluish green 
colour.” 
Jerdon has remarked that Bonaparte created great confusion by separating the Egrets with yellow bills 
from those with black ones, not being aware that the colour of that organ changes with the season. 
During the period of nesting, the bill is more or less black ; at other periods it is bright yellow. 
Mr. Swinhoe speaks of the Herodias alba iidiabiting the neighbourhood of Canton and other parts of China, 
although he questions the identity of the Chinese birds with those of Europe and India. 
During my sojourn in Australia, I not unfi’equently came upon a solitary individual of the Great White 
Egret, but iu no instance did I obtain black-billed individuals. 
The Plate represents both the summer and \vinter plumage, the figures being somewhat less than the 
natural size. 
