and Dr. Pilcher. The Little Egret is common at
certain seasons throughout the south of Europe, and
breeds, occasionally in large numbers, in some of the
wooded swamps of Andalucia. I found it in great
abundance near Tunis in November and December; it
was tolerably common throughout the year in Epirus
and Albania, and I have met with it in Sardinia,
Sicily, and Cyprus.
In habits it is by far the most confiding and fearless
of man of any of the non-skulking Ardeidce of my
acquaintance; I have frequently approached on horseback
or in a boat, without any sort of concealment, to
within a few yards of a party of these Egrets, who
took very little notice of us. It is probable, however,
that by this time the poor birds, or those that may be
left of them, have learned that feminine fashion has cast
its eye upon them for personal decoration, and that the
lust of gain by this cruel folly has rendered the animal
Man, as a rule, a very dangerous neighbour.
This bird forms an artless nest of a few sticks and
broken reeds, placed in low trees or bushes in large
swamps or marshes ; many pairs generally nest in close
proximity, and very often in association with other
tree-loving Waders, such as the Night-Heron, Buff-
backed Egret, Spoonbill, and Glossy Ibis. The only
ugly things about this species are its spiteful temper
and its harsh croak; the uproar made by a breeding
colony of these birds when disturbed and floating in
the air over their nurseries must be heard to be believed.
The Little Egret spends its days in fishing, frogging,
and insect-catching, with intervals for repose and
digestion on a bough, a post, or the back of some
ruminant; this latter site is, however, in my experience,
much less frequented by this bird than by the Buff-
backed Egret. I find the Little Egret somewhat
delicate in confinement, but very tame and careless of
observation.
The sketch for the Plate was taken from life in the
aviary at Lifford.