THE SQUACCO HERON. 
8S 
Webs or at the tips. In very young birds the tail is also 
Washed with brown near the end. 
Eange in Great Britain. — A rare visitor, generally in immature 
or winter plumage, seldom in full dress. As, however, the 
occurrences have mostly taken place in spring or summer, the 
arrival of the specimens in winter plumage, as may be deduced 
from Mr. Howard Saunders’ remarks in the “ Manual,” tends 
fo prove the truth of my surmise that Squacco Herons come 
niostly in their winter plumage, and that they assume their 
breeding-plumage after they have arrived. Over forty examples 
of this Heron are said to have been obtained in the British 
Islands, most of them having occurred in the southern and 
Eastern counties of England. Scotland provides two instances 
and Ireland three. 
Range ontside the British Islands. — The Squacco only visits 
^orthern Germany and Northern France as a straggler, but in 
Gentral Europe and the Mediterranean countries it breeds in 
suitable localities. Its westward range e.xtends to Mesopo- 
tamia and the Persian Gulf in winter, but it is found through- 
out Africa, partly as a breeding-species, partly as a winter 
I'lntant. In Madagascar, A. idse appears to take its place. 
Hahits — In Spain, the Squacco Heron, according to Colonel 
Irby, is entirely migratory, and arrives during the month of 
•^pril. He has never seen them following cattle, like the next 
species. 
I he food of the Squacco is decidedly varied, and consists 
of fish, mice, shrews, &c., as well as frogs, water-insects, 
uiolluscs, and small Crustacea. Mr. Eagle Clarke gives a 
uiost interesting account of a visit to the marshes of Slavonia, 
mere he found this species breeding in company with other 
crons, Spoonbills, and Ibises; and it will give some idea of 
re extent of these breeding-colonies when he estimates one 
o them at 30,000 individuals. No wonder that, when they 
Were in the air, they produced a “deafening sound” with 
eir wings. The difficulty which Mr. Clarke, an accredited 
zoologist, found in getting a “permit” to collect, encourages 
‘ Ope that these last resorts of Herons in Europe have not 
ecome available to the “plume ” hunter, and that the orna- 
ental feathers of the small Herons will still be safe on the 
