nowhere plentiful; on the Chobe River it was found to be more
abundant by Dr. Bradshaw. Mr. Andersson observes as follows :—
“ These fine Herons are not common in the Lake regions, from whence
they make temporary and solitary excursions into Damara Land
during the wet season. I have met with them on the Rivers Okavango
and Teoughe, at Lake N’gami, and thence eastward along the River
BotletlA They are generally seen singly or in pairs, and are shy
and wary birds, usually able from their great stature to espy any
threatened danger from a considerable distance, and thus to make
their escape in safety. They utter a strong, hoarse, croaking
sound, not unlike the bark of a dog. I believe these Herons feed
almost entirely upon fish, which they transfix with great celerity
and swallow entire : it is said that a half-pound fish is thus easily
disposed of.” It is not rare at Humbe on the Ounene River,
according to Senor Anchieta.
Hpper part of back and drooping plumes of chest, leaden-grey;
head, neck, and under parts of body, deep rufous; chin white;
down the front of the neck extends a line of black, mottled with
while, coalescing and mingling with the drooping plumes of the
chest. Length, 4' 6"; wing, 1' 11"; tail, 11".
Fig. Temm., PI. Col. 474.
687. A rdea c in e r ea , L. Common Heron.
The Heron is very abundant throughout South Africa, in all
suitable localities, feeding upon fish and frogs, and an occasional
snake. We are told they breed on the Cape Flats, placing their
nests in company on tufts of grass and rushes, surrounded with
water. This seems a strange habit, and Very different from their
European practice; but we see no reason to doubt our informant,
who has volunteered to show us the breeding-place, and whose
children make a yearly jaunt thither to feast on the eggs.
Miss Annie Van der Byl has forwarded us eggs taken in a similar
situation in a vley near Fairfield (Caledon). We found it abundantly
breeding with the other two following species at the Berg River, in
September. The nest is a huge mass of rushes constructed on the
reeds. Eggs blue-green, shaped alike at either end. Axis, 2" 3'";
diam. 1" 9'".
Mr. Rickard informs us that it is occasionally met with at Port
Elizabeth and East London.
In Natal, Mr. Ayres says, they are found generally in pairs, and
are exceedingly shy, often feeding with the White Herons, and
alighting on trees. Mr. Buckley states that it was fairly common
on the Limpopo, where he observed several pairs and obtained one
specimen. Senor Anchieta has found it in all parts of Angola and
Benguela. At Quillengues the native name was Lodera-angundo,
two words signifying to stand on a crocodile, a habit which they
attribute to the bird. In Damara Land, writes Mr. Andersson,
“ this species is rather common on and near the sea-shore, from the
mouth of the Orange River to Walwich Bay, wherever suitable
localities occur; but I have seldom seen it inland, except in
Ondonga, where it makes its appearance in December; but the
natives say that it does not breed there, and I think they are right.
These Herons usually occur singly or in pairs ; but I have counted
as many as twenty in one small spot (not extending more than two
hundred yards in any direction). They will remain motionless
sometimes for hours, but in the mornings and towards evening are
usually on the move in search of their food, which consists in great
part of fish, though they also feed on rats, mice, and reptiles/'’
Upper parts, blueish-grey; head, neck, and under parts, white;
a broadish black stripe commences just before and extends over the
eye to the back of the head, terminating in a lengthened pendant
crest; a double row of black spots commences about one-third of
the way down the front of the throat, and terminates among the
pendant feathers of the chest, on each side of which is a broad
black patch, extending down each side to the thighs; quill-
feathers of wings black. Length, 3' 3” ; wing, 1” 6"; tail, 8".
Fig. Dresser, B. Eur. vi, pi. 391.
688. A rdea melanocephala, Vig. and Childr. Black-necked Heron.
We suspect that the Black-necked Heron is more commonly
distributed than is generally supposed; but, owing to its resemblance
to the common species, is not often brought to notice. We once
shot one without being at all aware that we were obtaining such a
prize. It Was on the marshy ground close to the Observatory, near
Cape Town, and at the moment when we fired it was engaged in
a fight with another. We took them both to be A. cinerea till
we picked up our bird. We have received it from Colesberg in the
young state; and Mr, Chapman procured it along the Zambesi
route ; Mr. Atmore iu the George district.. We also saw a specimen