Egrets and A igrettes . 
5 
that grow at one time of the year on the egret’s 
back, and drop gracefully over the sides and tail of 
the bird. The less fine plumes, with shorter and 
stiffer filaments, forming the yellow aigrette, are 
plucked from the buff-backed or squacco heron, which 
is not an egret. 
Of egrets there are six or seven species, or varieties, 
and they are found in all hot and warm countries. 
One kind breeds in south-eastern Europe, and even 
visits England occasionally. Another species ranges 
over India, China, Japan, and Australia ; and still 
others inhabit Africa and America. They are all 
true herons ; patient catchers of fish, like that ghostly 
grey bird we are familiar with at home ; with broad 
concave wings and a placid flight ; cloud-seekers when 
pursued by a falcon ; but they differ from other 
members of the same genus in their slighter build 
and more graceful lines, their snow-white plumage, 
and the nuptial ornaments of those fine decomposed 
feathers that ladies value so highly. 
It is a very beautiful bird : all birds are in a measure 
beautiful, but they differ in beauty as one star differeth 
from another star in glory. When a small boy, I was 
once greatly surprised to hear a gentleman talking 
about birds observe that, after having seen many very 
lovely kinds in tropical and temperate countries, 
he had come to the conclusion that the domestic 
pigeon was as much to be admired as any species. 
Its colouring was modest—harmonious blues and 
