Ornith. Also 7–9 sguacco. [Local Italian sguacco.] A small crested species of heron, Ardea ralloides or comata.
α. [a. 1672. Willughby, Ornith. (1676), 206. Ardea quam Sguacco vocant in Vallibus dictis Malalbergi. Hence in Ray’s translation (1678), 281.]
1785. Latham, Gen. Synop. Birds, III. I. 76. Castaneous Heron…. It seems a mere variety of the Sguacco, if not differing in sex.
β. 1752. J. Hill, Hist. Anim., 465. The yellowish Ardea, with the head and neck variegated with black, white, and yellow. [Marg.] The Squacco.
1785. Latham, Gen. Synop. Birds, III. I. 74. Squacco Heron…. Size of the blue Heron.
1834. Mudie, Feathered Tribes, II. 148. The Squacco Heron … has been more frequently met with in England than any of the former [species].
1879. E. P. Wright, Anim. Life, 327. The Squacco Heron (A. comata) is found in Asia, North Africa, South Europe, and a rare straggler now and then visits England.
