286 BIRDS OF DAMARA LAND. 



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. 



The irides are yellow; the bill black, shading into 

 dusky yellow towards the base and on the lore ; the legs 

 and toes are black. 



[I have not seen a Damara-Land specimen of this Heron; 

 but it is mentioned by Mr. Layard {loc. cit.) as found in that 

 country, which confirms Mr, Andersson^s identification of the 

 species. 



These Herons sometimes transfix and swallow fish of con- 

 siderably larger weight than those mentioned by Mr. Andersson, 

 as one shot by Mr. Ay res near Potchefstroom contained a " cat- 

 fish " of two pounds weight, and with a head " as broad as a man's 

 haud/^ — Ed.] 



335. Ardea purpurea, Linn. Purple Heron. 



Ardea purpurea, Gould's Birds of Europe, pi. 274. 

 „ „ Layard's Cat. No. 579. 



„ „ Finsch & Ilartlaub's Vogel Ost-Afrika's, p. 676. 



I have not unfrequently shot this bird on the rivers 

 Okavango and Teoughe, and at Lake Ngami, and I 

 believe it also visits Damara Land during the rainy 

 season ; but the specimens which I obtained in the latter 

 country were not preserved, and I am therefore unable 

 positively to identify them. 



