ISfr. T. Ayres on Trans-Vaal Ornithology. 265 



that the latter has the throat and chin of a rufous maroon colour, 

 which is probably the remains of the immature dress, as the other 

 specimen sent by Mr. Ayres, the sex of which was not ascer- 

 tained, but which bears the appearance of being a younger bird, 

 has the whole of the under plumage from the chin to the under 

 tail-coverts inclusive, and also the thighs, more or less tinged 

 with rufous maroon, interspersed with a few worn feathers of a 

 whitish hue, and especially white on the shaft. Both the maroon 

 tint and the intermingled white plumage are especially noticeable 

 in this specimen, on the lower part of the front of the neck, 

 where some of the lanceolate feathers are schistaceous on their 

 outer, and rufous on their inner webs. — J. H. G.] 



148. Ardea rufiventris, Sundev. Rufous-bellied Heron. 

 Plate IX. 



Jffl/e:— Total length 19i inches, bill 3, tarsus 2^, wing 8|, 

 tail 3^ ; iris bright yellow, feet and bare part of the thighs yel- 

 low, tarsi pale, basal half of the bill nearly white, the remain- 

 der black, with the tip of the under mandible yellow, bare skin 

 round the eye pale yellow. 



Female: — Total length 19 inches, bill 2^, tarsus 2|, wing 8, 

 tail 2f ; iris yellow, bill yellowish, upper mandible dusky brown, 

 skin round the eye yellow. 



These Herons are shy and exceedingly scarce here ; three or 

 four are sometimes seen together. They fly rapidly, and settle on 

 the reeds. The stomachs of those sent contained frogs. 



[As this rare and beautiful Heron has, I believe, never been 

 figured, the accompanying plate (PI. IX.), taken from the pair 

 sent by Mr. A-yies, will be useful in identifying future specimens. 

 I may add that the description of Ardea semiriifa, Schlegel, as 

 given in the 'Museum des Pays-Bas,' Ardese, p. 35, leads to 

 the belief that it is founded on an individual of the present 

 species. — J. H. G.] 



149. (L. 593.) Scopus umbretta, Gmel. Umbrette. 



Mr. Layard's description of the nidification of this species is 

 excellent ; and I can add nothing to it, except that the inside of the 

 nest is neatly plastered with mud, and that either from this cause, 

 or from the bird's muddy feet, the eggs are often very dirty. 



