NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



The female resembles the male, except that the dorsal 

 feathers are less developed. The ornamental plumes are 

 absent in the non-breeding plumage. There is, however, a light 

 pink on the head and foreneck. The young birds resemble 

 the adults in non-breeding plumage. 



Distribution. — This egret is found along the northern coast 

 of the Mediterranean, from Spain to the Caspian Sea, where it 

 breeds. It is found throughout Africa. In South Africa it 

 is everywhere fairly common, with the exception of the Western 

 Province of the Cape, where it is rarely seen. 



Habits. — The cattle egret is nearly always found in company 

 with herds of cattle or antelope. They pick the ticks off the 

 animals and also obtain large numbers of insects, such as beetles 

 and grasshoppers, which are disturbed by the movements of the 

 beasts. Thus it can be seen of what great value this bird is 

 to the stock farmer. The egret is usually found in flocks 

 varying from 5 to 40 or 50 individuals. At night it retires to 

 roost, chiefly in trees overhanging water, the same roosting 

 places being used for some time. The cattle egret breeds in 

 large colonies, generally in company with different species of 

 herons. They nest in trees overhanging the water of rivers, 

 large ponds, or vleis. The nests are light, fragile structures 

 of sticks. The eggs are from 3 to 5 in number, are a pale 

 greenish-blue in colour, and measure 1.8 by 1.3. They are 

 laid between November and December. 



Great White Heron {Herodias alba). (Vol. II., p. 215.) 



Description. — Adult in breeding plumage is pure white 

 with a slightly crested head. P'rom the back a number of 

 decomposed plumes extend to beyond the tail. These are 

 known in trade as ospreys. The iris is yellow. Beak yellow 

 at the base, and becoming black towards the tip. Bare skin 

 at base of the beak yellowish-green. Feet and legs black. 

 In the non-breeding season the decomposed plumes are absent, 

 and the beak is all yellow. In Asia and Europe the bill is quite 

 black in the breeding season, and yellow at other times. 



Length of body ^ 38 in. ; tail, 6.2 ; wing, 14.0. 

 164 



