ouc or more species ; the form also occurs in Africa, from north to south. In the New World, the northern
portions only arc tenanted by Cranes; one species inhabits, or rather did inhabit, the British Islands.
Genus Gitus.
235. Gnus c i n e r e a . . . . , , ,
.................................................................................................Vol. IV. PI. XIX.
C ommon C rane.
An accidental visitant.
236. G r u s v i r g o .
Demoiselle Crane.
A native of Southern Europe, Northern Afriea, and India, has been seen and one shot in Orkney, in May
1863 (Saxby, ‘ Zoologist',’ p. 8692). Not figured.
237. G r u s p a v o n in u s .
Balearic Crane.
This bird has also been eaptnred within the limits o f Britain, and by some included in our lists o f species
-w ro n g ly , however, as I think, since its true home is north-western Africa, and its occurrence here must
have been quite accidental.
Family ARDEIDiE.
I f the Bitterns are included among the members o f this universally dispersed family, then the species
amount to nearly a hundred in number. Unlike the Cranes, they are generally sedentary in their habits
and affect watery situations. In the British avifauna there are ten species.
Genus A r d e a .
238. A r d e a c i n e r e a
..................................................................................................Vol. IV. PI. XX.
H e ro n .
Resident and very generally dispersed.
239. A r d e a p u r p u r e a .
..................................................................................................Vol. IV. PI. XXI.
P u r p l e H e ro n .
This fine bird, which is abundant i„ Holland and France, can only be considered an accidental visitor
Genus H e r o d i a s .
240. H e r o d i a s a l b a ................................................................................................................................Vol. IV. PI. XXII.
G r e a t W h i t e E g r e t or W h i t e H e r o n .
Quite an accidental visitant, arriving a t very uncertain periods.
241. H e r o d i a s g a r z e t t a . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. IV. PI. XXIII.
L it t l e E g r e t .
This, like the last, is merely a straggler to Britain.
Genus B u b u l c u s .
242. B u b u l c u s r u s s a t u s . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. IV. PI. XXIV.
B u f f -backed H e ro n .
An accidental visitor.
Genus B u p h u s .
243. B u p h u s c o m a t u s ......................................................................................................................Vol. IV. PI. XXV.
S quacco H e ro n .
The visits o f this bird are very infrequent, and its appearance not to be depended upon.
Genus N y c t i c o r a x .
244. N y c t i c o r a x g r i s e u s Vol. IV. PI. XXVI.
N ig h t -H e ro n .
This bird must be considered among our accidental visitors.
Genus B o t a u r u s . .
245. B o t a u r u s s t e l l a r i s . . . . . . . . . . Vol. IV. PI. XXVII.
B i t t e r n .
Formerly a common stationary form in our marshes and fens; now seldom seen, and mostly in winter.
246. B o t a u r u s l e n t i g i n o s u s . . . . . . . . . . Vol. IV. PI. XXVIII.
A m e rica n B it t e r n .
The frequent occurrence o f this bird in the British Islands demands a place for it in our avifauna; and
hence I have given a figure of it.