THE SQUACCO HERON. 
83 
each failed, and it was only through some of my friends 
that I obtained clutches. While the birds hovered round 
their nests, they kept up a continuous clamour, and the general 
noise was deafening. While we were having lunch half an 
hour later I left my Night-Herons in the shade to be prepared 
that our host’s 
out the white 
hats. It was 
therefore with great difficulty that I ultimately secured some 
perfect specimens. 
Nest. — This is a curious cradle-like structure of sticks, placed 
'll the fork of a tree between three thin branches, and it is of 
so slight a structure that it is wonderful how the eggs can be 
retained in it. Such were all the nests in the colony we raided 
ni Hungary, and no nests on reeds were discovered, though it 
IS said that the Night-Heron occasionally makes such a nest. 
%g5 — Three to five in number, of a pale greenish-blue. 
Axis, f6-2-i inches; diam., i-25-i'5. 
the SQUACCO HERONS. GENUS ARDEOI.A. 
Ardeola, Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 559. 
Type, A. ralloides (Scop.). 
The Squacco Herons form a small group of four, or pos- 
sibly five, species, confined to the Old World. Although 
^Approaching the Little Bitterns in size and general appear- 
^■Ace, the Squaccos really belong to the group of True Herons. 
I hey have twelve tail-feathers, and the bill shows distinct 
serrations near the end of the upper mandible; theculmen is 
equal in length to the middle toe and claw. There is a well- 
eveloped dorsal train, and on the nape are some long orna- 
niental plumes, depending over the neck. 
I. the squ.acco heron, ardeola ralloides. 
Ardea ralloides. Scop. Ann. I. Hist. Nat. p. 88 (1769); 
Dresser, B. Eur. vi. p. 251, pi. 400, fig. 2 (1879); 
O. U. List Br. B. p. 109 (1883); Saunders, ed. Yarn 
(1884) ; id. Man. Br. B. p. 365(1889); 
Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B. part xxiv. (1893). 
■ater on, and was not best pleased to find 
keepers had amused themselves by plucking 
hreedins-nlumes and sticking them in their 
