ARDEA PU R P
Purple Hero
Ardea purpurea, Linn. Syst, Nat., tom. i. p. 236.
— caspia, S. G. Gmel. Reise, tom. ii. p. 193, tab. 14.
botaurus, Gmel. edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 636.
— rufa, Gmel. ibid., p. 642.
pürpurata, Gmel. ibid., p. 641.
rubifftnosa, Gmel. ibid., p. 632.
— purpurateen*. Brehm, Viig. ^Deutsch!., p." 583.
' ------ varkqata, Scop. Ann., torn t. no. 130-
In structure, plumage, and ornamentation this bird is somewhat intermediate between tfee Cow»
and the Bittern ; for it has the lengthened plumes and scantily clothed neck o f die former, with
legs and wide-spread toes o f the latter. And so it is as regards its habits, manners, and ecom
the Bittern, the Purple Heron is shy and recluse, frequenting rushy and watery marshes rathe
open country. Its nidification takes place among the reeds or on shrubby alders in the midst c
while, as is well known, the Common Heron, with but few exceptions, nests on trees such
firs and oaks, at a considerable height above the ground. In number and colouring, the eg
birds are very similar. The principal food o f the Common Heron is fish ; while that of the Pi
consists o f shrews, mice, frogs, reptiles, and insects—-not that it will refuse fish if they come in it
Common Heron, with its long straight legs, exposes itself on the banks of rivers and estuaries, wht
alert, it scans the surrounding districts. The present species, on the contrary, aided by its lengl
skulks among the herbage on the watery bed* o f reeds and aqua
made to take win g ; and then it only flies for a short 4wt#w*e W » gu
generally admitting that these birds greatly differ, it is .voutewba
generically separated and a distinctive name given to the Purple Her
However widely spread over the Old World the present species
casual visitor to Britain, and its visits as both infrequent ontl irregular
o f Pennant and Montagu many examples, in different states o f pltnn
ticularly on the southern coast—one recorded by Dr. Edward Moor*:
and Mr. Hoy ; so that no doubt can remain o f the propriety o f inc!
Mr. Coweli, of Polperro, sent Bewick a drawing taken from a specin
three leagues from the coast o f Cornwall. The bird was caught
tfe Edward Moor« notices two examples, both young bit*
ch alight«
fought ot
rose from the thick reeds wh
person who shot it. This bii
age it may be read il v mistak«
species of H eron occurring ii
with in Norfolk within a few
been killed in Ireland.
Mr, Stevenson, in bis ‘ 1
mentioned by Yarrell, says, “
immature plumage. The fin
witj, a Milall party, was Flap,
Norwich market on the 28 th
Norfolk, and
. 116) says:—
f a large piece
T he bird
i f been a Bittern by the
stuess o f its colours a t this
m other instances o f this
viduals to have been met
istance of this bird having
eneating some o f the
•cimens obtained in Norfolk, both in
f July, 1862, by Lord Lilford, who,