NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 

 Grey Heron {Ardea cinerea). (Vol. IL, p. 221.) 



Description. — Male : the crown, face, neck, and long 

 feathers at base of neck white. A black patch from behind the 

 eye separates the crown from the face ; this patch ends in a 

 black crest on the nape. Down the lower part of the neck is 

 a double row of black patches. Above pearly-white on the 

 wing coverts. On each side of the breast is a patch of purplish- 

 black, which extends to the vent. Primary coverts dark slate. 

 Edge of wing white. Tail pearly-slate. Centre of breast, 

 abdomen, thighs, and under tail coverts white. Under wing 

 coverts and sides of body pearly-slate. Iris yellow. Skin 

 round eye yellowish. Bill yellow with greenish tinge. Feet 

 and legs greenish-yellow. 



Lengthy 40.5 ; wing, 18.0 ; tail, 6.5 ; middle toe, 4.0. 



The female is almost similar to the male. In the young 

 bird the general colour is darker than in the adult, but the 

 markings are paler and hardly defined. 



Distribution. — The grey heron occurs in the southern parts 

 of Europe and most of Africa. In South Africa it is everywhere 

 common, and seems to be resident. 



Habits. — This heron is usually found singly, but sometimes 

 in pairs. It spends most of its time standing in the shallows 

 of a river, marsh, or pond, watching for an opportunity of 

 securing its prey. If disturbed it rises leisurely and makes its 

 way to a more secluded place. When flying, its neck is drawn 

 back into an " S " shape, and its legs trail straight out behind. Its 

 cry is a harsh " kronk." It is chiefly seen in the early morning 

 hunting for its food, which consists for the most part of fishes, 

 although it will also eat lizards, frogs, and sometimes small 

 snakes. In times of drought it frequents the veld and feeds 

 on the larger insects and snails. The nest, placed usually among 

 the reeds, is built of reeds and rushes. A number of pairs 

 usually nest close together. The eggs, 3 or 4 in number, are 

 pale blue in colour, and equally rounded at each end, measur- 

 ing approximately 2.25 by 1.95. 



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