from the colony of Natal in South-eastern Africa. 349 



51. Herodias flavirostris (Temm.). Africau Yellow-billed 

 White Heron. 



[Sent from Natal, but not by Mr. Ayres.— J. H. G.] 



52. Ardetta minuta (Linn.). European Little Bittern. 

 Immature male. Eye bright yellow ; bill greenish-yellow, but 



brown along the top ; legs dull green, but soles of the feet and 

 back of the legs light yellow. The only specimen seen ; shot 

 in a small river about twelve miles from the coast ; stomach con- 

 tained shrimps and small fish. This bird was hopping amongst 

 the reeds from one to the other about three feet from the surface 

 of the water with great celerity, occasionally stopping and 

 attempting to hide itself, not by hopping to the ground, but by 

 making itself appear as much as possible like an upright reed — 

 compressing its feathers, and stretching its neck to the utmost 

 with the bill quite perpendicular, so as to be scarcely distinguish- 

 able from the reed upon which it was sitting. 



53. Rallus aquaticus (Linn.). European Water Rail. 

 [Sent from Natal, but not by Mr. Ayres.— J. H. G.] 



54. CoRETHRURA RUFicoLLis (Gray). Jardine's Rail. 

 Frequents marshes and boggy places 3 is very difficult to 



put up, and only flies three or four yards j it is easily caught 

 if the grass is not too long, and evidently cannot fly more than 

 a few yards at a time. 



55. Parra africana (Gmel.). African Jacana. 

 [Sent from Natal, but not by Mr. Ayres.— J. H. G.] 



56. PoRPHYRio SMARAGNOTis (Temm.). Green-backed Por- 

 phyrio. 



[Sent from Natal, but not by Mr. Ayres. — J. H. G.] 



57. Gallinula chloropus (Linn.). European Waterhen. 

 [Sent from Natal, but not by Mr. Ayres. — J. H. G.] 



58. Gallinula PUM I LA* Sclater. (Pl.VIL) Natal Gallinule. 

 Mr. Ayres states that he is unacquainted with the habits of 



* Mr. Gurney has sent me this GaUinule for examination. I can find 

 no described species which at all agrees with it, and am inclined to 



