THE LITTLE EGRETS. 
79 
^^g-place of any species of Heron. “ In the forest,” he says, 
he water was about four feet deep ; but on its outskirts it 
as high as the tops of the pollard-willows, which presented 
j- ^cnse mass of boughs through which it was impossible to 
’'ce the boat. We succeeded, however, in entering it from 
ehind, and by dint of pushing and squeezing, and a liberal 
“6 of the axe, we reached the outskirts of the colony, and 
P'lt on our wading-trousers proceeded to investigate it. 
e water was so deep that it was impossible for us to stoop, 
th K*’ ^ great difficulty that we selected places where 
0 branches allowed us to squeeze through them. Before 
we 
eached the nests w'e could hear birds getting up with great 
ter of wings, and our invasion of the colony W'as heralded 
y incessant cries. The trees were full of nests, some of 
near the w’ater that we could see the eggs without 
^ nnbing. Few nests were more than from ten to twelve feet 
nve the surface of the water, and some trees contained as 
N' nests with eggs belonging to three species : the 
of th T Little Egret, and the Squacco Heron, those 
ne Little Egret being the most numerous.” 
Lilford writes : — “ In habits it is by far the most con- 
ing and fearless of man of any of the non-skulking Ardeidce 
back^ ^'^.'I’^‘'^nitance. I have frequently approached on horse- 
^ or in a boat, without any sort of concealment, to within 
nob"^ ^ party of these Egrets, who took very little 
tj L ** probable, however, that the poor birds, or 
fash"” *^bem, have learned that feminine 
tliat'n? 1 * upon them for personal decoration, and 
^ List of gain by this cruel folly has rendered the animal 
3 as a rule, a very dangerous neighbour. 
inseXrnr!l“*^ spends its days in fishing, frogging, and 
bouo]< with intervals for repose and digestion, on a 
howev' ^ '■Lo back of some ruminant ; this latter site, 
bird tifJ’ u’ experience, much less frequented by this 
somewhat 1 Buff-backed Egret. I find the Little Egret 
of obRPvr..,,- confinement, but very tame and careless 
ion. It is spiteful in disposition.” 
nest of n ^ ^^oording to Lord Lilford, forms an artless 
w sticks and broken reeds, placed in low trees or 
