of the Lydenburg District. 211 



100. Ardea bubulcus. 



I shot a fine male of this species in a flock which were 

 hopping about under some oxen^ from which they were pick- 

 ing off the ticks. I have obtained them close to Lydenburg 

 and Potchefstroom^ and I have seen them near Pretoria^ Rus- 

 tenberg^ and near the Vaal river. They congregate in flocks, 

 standing on one leg basking in the sun. 



101. Ardetta minuta. 



The Little Bittern is considered to be rather rare in the 

 Transvaal. I procured two specimens on one occasion only, 

 in December 1874. As these birds have a knack of hiding in 

 the reeds, they, no doubt, often pass unobserved. 



102. BOTAURUS STELLARIS. 



The Bittern is found plentifully in the district of Potchef- 

 stroom. Their booming note used at one time to so frighten 

 the Boers that they would never go into a vley, even on 

 horseback, when they heard it, believing it was a large snake. 

 I have shot them near Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, but 

 never further north than about thirty miles north of Pot- 

 chefs troora. 



103. Tantalus ibis. 



I procured one of these at Potchefstroom, where, I am told, 

 a few are sometimes seen together ; but in 1875 mine was the 

 only specimen obtained in the district. It is said that they 

 inhabit similar places to G. aethiopicus. 



104. GeRONTICUS iETHIOPICUS. 



I have observed these birds in flocks of about ten or a dozen 

 at the sides of vleys and swampy jDlaces near Potchefstroom 

 and towards the mouth of the Mooi river, where their white 

 plumage and black shining necks cannot but attract the notice 

 of the bystander. They walk about thrusting their long bills 

 into the mud, and then will stop suddenly and appear to 

 listen with their heads on one side, when they fly ofi", and 

 circling round alight a few yards further away. They have 

 their favourite feeding-places, which I generally found to be 

 in corners near the bends of the rivers. I have also shot 



