times seen together. They fly rapidly, and settle on the reeds. The
stomachs of those sent contained frogs.” Mr. Frank Oates procured
a specimen at Hendrik's Ylei during his expedition to the Zambesi.
Mr. Andersson writes : “ I have shot several individuals of this very
handsome Heron both on the River Okavango and on the River
Teoughe, as well as in the neighbourhood of Lake N’gami; but I not
recollect having met with it in Damara Land.”
General colour of head, neck, chest, back and wing primaries black
shaded with ashy | belly, vent, sides, shoulders, secondaries, rump,
and tail deep chestnut; legs and base of bill yellow; tip black ( “ legs
slate-colour; iris dark hazel” (F. Oates). Length, 19"&'"• wing- 9".
tail, 3" 5"'. . ' . '
Fig. Ayres, Ibis, 1871, pi. 9.
692. H e r o d i a s a l b a , L. Great White Heron.
This fine Egret was shot on the Great Fish River and is now
in the Grahamstown Museum, where we took the measurements.
Mr. Gurney has recorded it from Natal. Mr. Buckley states that he
saw a few pairs along the Limpopo during the summer, but we are
not certain whether the identifications of these white Egrets in South
Africa can always be depended upon, and whether some of the birds
supposed to have been E. alba may not have been confused with the
next species. Mr. Andersson's last collection contained an example,
but without indication of exact locality. Senor Anchieta has met
with it at Benguela, Lobito and Humbe on the Cunene River.
Pure white with decomposed feathers on the rump; bill yellow;
legs black. Length, 38i"; wing, 14"; bill, ■ tarsus, 6i".
Fig. Dresser, B. Eur. viii, pi. 394.
693. H erodias in t erm ed ia , Wagl. Short-billed White Egret.
Ardea egretta, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 308.
A pair of these most lovely Egrets, male and female, have been
shot at different times in Zeekoe Yley, between Cape Town and
Simon's Bay. We have ourselves seen white Egrets wading about
that piece of water, and also on the marsh nearer to Kalk Bay, but
always too far off to determine the species. We have also'seen
some on the marsh below the Observatory, and on the rocks at
Robben Island. They are, however, generally so wary as to be
unapproachable. Mr. Atmore tells us it is common at the Knysna,
but very shy, and breeds on a small rock in the sea, east of the
Heads; he was too late (December) for eggs. Dr. Bradshaw says
it is scarce on the Orange River near Upington. In Natal, writes
Mr. Ayres, “ these Herons are gregarious, frequenting the bays along
the coast. They feed at low tide amongst the mud and shallow
water, stalking gently along. When they see their prey they stop
suddenly, and make a dead point at it, exactly like a pointer dog at
a partridge ; remaining motionless for a few seconds, then gradually
drawing nearer, they dart their long necks suddenly into the water,
and almost invariably catch the unlucky fish. At high water, or if
disturbed, they always perch on the upper boughs of the mangroves,
and other trees which fringe the bay, never roosting on the ground.
Their flight is heavy, as is that of all the Herons I know.” In the
Lydenburg District of the Transvaal, Mr. Barratt states that it is shy
and not easily procured. Mr. Ayres found the species at Spalding's on
the Hart River during Mr. Jameson's expedition, and says that “ a
pair of these Egrets were met with on the swampy banks of the
river, which was in flood, flying lazily up and down the stream of
their favourite feeding-haunts.” Dr. Bradshaw tells us that it is
common on the Zambesi.
Mr. Andersson writes: “ I obtained these Herons both at Lake
N'gami and at Otjimbinque in Damara Land; on one occasion
(on February 2nd, 1865) I killed three out of a floek of four.
Thie flight is heavy, and at a distance they look larger than
they really are.” Senor Anchieta has forwarded specimens from
Humbe.
Plumage, pure white; bill and bare space round the eye, and
between it and the bill, bright yellow; legs greenish-black. The
male in breeding plumage has the feathers of the lower part of the
neck elongated and decomposed, and those of the back also decomposed
and prolonged to an enormous extent, projecting far beyond
the tail, drooping gracefully over the end of the wings, and turned
slightly upwards at the tips; irides bright yellow. Length, 2' 2";
wing, 10"; tail, 5" 6"'. The length of the bill is given by
Mr. Andersson from the freshly-killed bird as 3’9 against 6’0 in
H. alba. Prof. Bocage makes it 2‘8 as against 4-3 in the larger
species.