220 Mr. J. H. Gurney's List of a Collection of Birds 



specific name of " religiosus ;" but as I believe that " athiopi- 

 cus " is a prior synonym, I have here adopted it for that reason. 

 —J. H. G.] 



118. CicoNiA ALBA, Briss. White Stork. 



[In a collection from Natal, but not sent by Mr. Ayres. — 

 J. H. G.] 



119. Ardea GOLIATH, Teuim. Goliath Heron. 

 Male. Eye bright yellow. 



These birds frequent the mouths of the rivers and the bays 

 along the coast. They feed entirely upon fish, easily swallowing 

 those which weigh half a pound, or even more. They wade 

 about up to their bodies, and dart on the fish as they swim past. 

 The Bay of Natal affords fine fishing- ground for these birds, 

 being three miles in diameter, — the greater part shallow, with 

 a muddy bottom, and myriads of fish entering with the tide. 

 These Herons M'hen gorged retire amongst the Mangroves to 

 digest their meal, not roosting on the trees, but on the ground. 

 They appear to be very solitary birds ; I have seldom seen two 

 together. The specimen sent measured, when in the flesh, up- 

 wards of six feet from the bill to the toes. 



120. Akdea atricollis, Wagl. Black-throated Heron. 



Female. Eye light yellow ; legs and feet black ; upper man- 

 dible black ; under mandible greenish-yellow, as also was the 

 skin round the eye. The contents of the stomach were lizards, 

 locusts, a snake about two feet long, and a large rat — all swal- 

 lowed whole, and quite fresh. 



This bird was shot in a marshy valley about a mile from the 

 coast, and is the only one of the kind I have seen. 



121. Ardea purpurea, Linn. Purple Heron. 

 Female. Immature; eye light yellow. 



In the stomach were some good-sized fish. This species fre- 

 quents streams and marshes. 



[A pair of Purple Herons, which I had in confinement some 

 years since, were observed to catch rats when they had the 

 opportunity, and to swallow them whole with great avidity. 

 The specimen sent by Mr. Ayres appears to me to be identical 

 with European examples. — J. H. G.] 



