ill winter, and spend the day in wading about the marshes, collect together regularly about sunset, and
fly in a compact body to the jungles a t the head of the lake, where they roost. They appeared to pursue
exactly the same course every evening; and I used always to consider their appearance in a body a sign
that it was time to take up my post for shooting Ducks, in a small marshy pool between the proper
right o f the Butrinto river and the rocks which shut in the valley to the north. The Egrets almost
invariably flew over this pool from west to east, and generally preceded the first flight of Ducks by about
ten mpiutes.”
The Rev. H. B. Tristram, in his “ Notes on the Ornithology o f North Africa,” states that the Little
White Egret is “ universally distributed in small numbers wherever a suitable locality exists, and frequents
familiarly the gardens and ditches of the oases. It breeds in society on the lake Tetzara, and, doubtless,
in more southern marshes also.” Mr. C. F. Tyrrwhit Drake remarks that a few may usually be seen in winter
at Martine, in Eastern Morocco.
Mr. J . H. Gurney says that the bird frequents the Bay of Natal, in South-eastern Africa, but is much
more numerous about the swamps o f the Transvaal; and Captain Sperling, R.N., that it occurs at Mozambic
and Zanzibar, and probably on the intermediate coast o f the Ethiopian Region o f Africa.
“ N ot even Lac Halloula, in Algeria,” says Mr. Tristram, irnhis “ Notes on the Ornithology o f Palestine,”
“ can rival the marshes o f Huleh (Meroni) as a paradise for Herons, with this advantage, that the
breeding-places are wholly inacessible to man. That treacherous swamp, extending for seven miles, with
its deadly malaria, affords a secure haven, under its waving tufts o f papyrus, for any number o f Heronries.''
Among the many species of the Ardeidce there met with by him, the Little Egret was common, but
scattered, and not very sociable.
Capt. Beavan includes it in the avifauna o f the Andaman Islands, the truth o f which is confirmed
by Col. Tytler, who remarks, " I have had this species alive and identified it.”
According to Dr. Jerdon the Little Egret is very abundant in In d ia ; and there it always nests and lays its
. four or five bine-green eggs in trees—a statement confirmed by Capt. Beavan.
Mr. Swinhoe states “ it is common a t Amoy all the year round, and builds in heronries in large
banyan trees. It is also abundant a t Hongkong, Macao, and Canton ; and in Formosa it is a very
common resident species, associating (especially in summer) in large flocks, and breeding in company in
bamboo and other plantations. I procured a fine male, in full plumage, on the 14th o f March.”
Dr. Schlegel informs us that the specimens killed in Japan are precisely like those from the other
countries inhabited by the bird.
With regard to Australia, I have three or four specimens from that country, which appear to be quite
identical with European examples; and C. Coxen, Esq., o f Brisbane, has sent me an excellent photograph
of the bird in its finest state o f plumage: it is a species not yet figured in my folio work on the birds of
that country, though noticed at p. 305 o f the Handbook.
Meyer says “ The localities usually resorted.to by the Little Egret are the swampy banks o f rivers and
lakes where the flags and reeds are o f low growth, or the vicinity o f woods and large trees (in which it
roosts at night). Its flight is rather quicker than that o f the larger species ; but in windy weather it is very
helpless and is obliged to skim low over the bushes and reeds from one piece o f water to another. But
when the weather is fine, it may be seen, if startled by intrusion of any kind, circling high up in the air,
as if surveying the neighbourhood before it finally decides upon its course.” I t is said that it may be partially,
domesticated if taken young, and that its habits and manners are then gentle and harmless : it is idpo, stated
that its ornamental plumes were formerly used to decorate the helmets of warriors, as they still are by the
Persians and Turks.
“ This little Heron," says Badly, in his ‘ Ornithologie de la Savoie,’ “ is occasionally killed ou the borders
of the Rhone, the Iser, the lakes o f Bourget, and the Marches and their very marshy environs. I t generally
appears singly or in small companies o f from two to, five, rarely in greate r numbers, at two periods o f the
yeai^-m April or the first half o f May, when it is;jijothed in its beautiful wedding-garment, and again
towards the end of July or the beginning o f August, with its autumn dress more or less, complete. About
the same time it appears on the lakes and marshes o f Switzerland, but rarely visits the interior o f that
country. Being not very wild, it readily admits o f approach, whether seeking, its food among reeds and
grasses, or perched on the trunk o f a tree or on a stone. During its stay with us it feeds upon the spawn of
frogs and fish, young frogs, fish, worms, leeches, and small reptiles. I t nests in Sardinia and Sicily, selecting
for that purpose damp and marshy places-snited to the habits o f wading and aquatic birds, several couples-
breeding m company. The eggs are from three to five in number, pointed a t both ends, and of a very pale
greenish blue, without spots.”
The Plate represents the bird a trifle less than the natural size, with reduced figures in the distance.