THE GREAT WHITE HERON.

( Ardea alba, Lin—Le Heron blanc, Buff)

THE great white Heron is of nearly the same bulk as the common Heron, but its legs are longer. It has no crest, and its plumage is wholly white, its bill yellow, and its legs black.

Its character and manner of living are the same as those of the common Heron, and it is found in the same countries, though this species is not nearly so numerous. It has rarely been seen in Great Britain. Pennant, in his Arctic Zoology, says it is found in the Russian dominions, about the Caspian and Black Seas, the lakes of Great Tartary, and the river Irtisch, and sometimes as far north as latitude 53. Latham says, it is met with at New York, in America, from June to October; at different seasons of the year it is found in Jamaica, and in the Brazils: and our circumnavigators have met with it at New Zealand.

THE length of this bird is about twenty inches. The bill is three inches and three quarters long, slightly arched, strong, and black, inclining to yellow at the base; the skin from the beak round the eyes is bare, and of a greenish colour; irides yellow. A white line is extended from the beak over each eye; a black patch, glossed with green, covers the crown of the head and nape of the neck, from which three long narrow white feathers, tipped with brown, hang loose and waving: the hinder part of the neck, coverts of the wings, the sides and tail, are ash coloured; throat white; fore part of the neck,

breast and belly yellowish white or buff; the back black; the legs a greenish yellow.

The female is nearly of the same size as the male, but she differs considerably in her plumage, which is less bright and distinct, being more blended with clay or dirty white, brown, grey, and rusty ash colour, and she has not the delicate plumes which flow from the head of the male.

The Night Heron frequents the sea-shores, rivers, and inland marshes, and lives upon insects, slugs, frogs, reptiles, and fish. It remains concealed during the day, and does not roam abroad until the approach of night, when it is heard and known by its rough, harsh, and disagreeable cry, which is by some compared to the noise made by a person straining to vomit. Some ornithologists affirm that the female builds her nest on trees, others that she builds it on rocky cliffs: probably both accounts are right. She lays three or four white eggs.

This species is not numerous, although widely dispersed over Europe, Asia, and America.

The above figure was taken from a stuffed specimen in the Wycliffe museum, and is the only one the author has seen. The bird is indeed very uncommon in this country. Latham mentions one in the Leverian museum, which was shot not many miles from London, in May, 1782.

THE Egret is one of the smallest, as well as the most elegant of the Heron tribe: its shape is delicate, and its plumage as white as snow; but what constitute its principal beauty are the soft, silky, flowing plumes on the head, breast, and shoulders: they consist of single slender shafts, thinly set with pairs of fine soft threads, which float on the slightest breath of air. Those which arise from the shoulders are extended over the back, and flow beyond the tail. These plumes were formerly used to decorate the helmets of warriors: they are now applied to a gentler and better purpose, in ornamenting the head-dresses of the European ladies, and the turbans of the Persians and Turks.

The Egret seldom exceeds a pound and a half in weight, and rarely a foot and a half in length. A bare green skin is extended from the beak to the eyes, the irides of which are pale yellow: the bill and legs are black. Like the common Heron they perch and build their nests on trees, and live on the same kinds of food.

This species is found in almost every temperate and warm climate, and must formerly have been plentiful in Great Britain, if it be the same bird as that mentioned by Leland in the list or bill of fare prepared for the famous feast of Archbishop Nevil, in which one thousand of these birds were served up. No wonder the species has become nearly extinct in this country!