390 Birds observed during a journey to the Matabili Country. 



Ardea cinerea, L. 



Fairly common on the Limpopo, where I observed several 

 pairs and obtained one specimen, of which, however, I only 

 preserved the feathers of the neck and the upper wing- 

 coverts. 



Ardea purpurea, L. 



Common through the open country of the Transvaal, build- 

 ing among the tall reeds of the '' sluits " that are generally 

 to be found in the hollows of the undulating ground. 



Ardea alba, L. 



A few pairs seen along the Limpopo during the summer. 



Ardeola comata (Pall.). 



a, cf . Bamangwato, August 19th, 1873. 



Beak yellowish, black towards tip of culmen ; legs greenish 

 yellow; iris light yellow. 



b, S. Transvaal, July 11th, 1873. 



Distributed through the country and found only singly. 



ChEXALOPZX JEGYPTIACUS (L.). 



Seen in pairs on the sandbanks of the Limpopo ; they are 

 very wary, and begin to sound the note of alarm long before 

 one can see them ; one which we obtained was shot from a 

 nest in a tree, where it was doubtless sitting on its eggs. 



Plectropterus gambexsis (L.). , 



"We obtained one specimen which, I believe, belonged to 

 this species. Li size it resembled a Goose ; and the general 

 colour was black. We often used to see birds, I suppose, 

 of this species in the marshes of the Transvaal. From their 

 colour they were very conspicuous, but very shy. 



AxAS FLAViBosTRis, Smith. 



Mooi Eiver, Xatal, May 19, 1873. 



Beak black, with a yellow patch down the middle of the 

 upper mandible ; legs black ; iris light orange. 



The commonest Duck throughout Natal and the Transvaal, 

 and bv no means warv. Its flesh is excellent. 



