288 BIRDS OF DAMARA LAND. 



337. Bubulcus ibis (Hasselq.). Buff-backed Heron. 



BubuJcus russatus, Gould's Birds of Great Britain, pt. xx. pi. 

 Ardea bubulcus, Layard's Cat. No. 581. 



„ „ Finsch & Hartlaub's Vogel Ost-Afrika's, p. 694. 



Bubulcus ibis, Gray's Hand-list of Birds, No. 10132. 



This species is exceedingly common in Ondonga, and 

 quite tame; it perches on trees, and may be seen in 

 flocks of from ten to fifty, frequently in company with 

 cattle. 



The iris is lemon-colour, the bill yellow, tarsus 

 bro^vnish yellow, toes brown above and yellow beneath. 



[The Orange River is quoted by Drs. Finsch and Hartlanb 

 {he. cit.), on the authority of M. Jules Verreaux, as a locality for 

 this species. — Ed.] 



338. Ardeola COmata (Pall.). Squacco Heron. 

 Ardea comata, Gould's Birds of Europe, pi. 275. 



„ „ Layard's Cat. No. 585. 



Ardeola leucoptera. Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 418. 

 Ardea comata, Finsch & Hartlaub's Vogel Ost-Afrika's, p. 697. 

 Ardeola comata, Gray's Hand-list of Birds, No. 10134. 



This species of Heron is found in Damara and Great 

 Namaqua Land throughout the year, but is more 

 numerous in those countries during the rainy season 

 than at other times. It is very abundant in the Lake- 

 regions, and on the rivers Botletle, Teoughe, and Oka- 

 vango. It feeds on insects, frogs, &c. 



The iris is pale yellow ; the bill is of a transparent 

 whitish horn-colour at the tip ; the base of the upper 

 mandible is bright greenish yellow, and this colour 

 extends to the base of the nostrils ; the under mandible 

 is also greenish yellow ; the tibia, tarsus, and toes are 



