East London, Cape Province. 85 



wliere these Jingy, weird birds may often be disturbed. But 

 tliey frequently make visits to the tidal parts as well, where 

 they seem to feed upon small crustaceans to be caught on 

 the mud-flats as the tide runs out. Sometimes I see one 

 bent upon an excursion, for they can mount to a good alti- 

 tude, and pass away with heron-like progression. They are 

 very solitary birds, and even in the nesting-months are 

 seldom seen other than singly. What purpose that shrill, 

 nasal whistle of theirs serves I do not know, but it comes 

 with startling effect at times from the bottom of some deej), 

 dark kloof. The natives call it "Tekwane," and say it 

 spends most of the day admiring its reflection in the water, 

 which notion they apply to the individual who is conceited 

 of his personal looks — he is no better than a Tekwane, they 

 say. 



Goliath Heron. {Ardea poUatJi.) 



I have only seen this striking bird once during 15 years' 

 observation in this part of the country. It was a single 

 specimen near the mouth of the Nahoon River on 7th October, 

 1901. It was wading up to the belly in a bit of l)ackwater 

 when I suddenly came upon it, and though ap{)arently at my 

 mercy yet it did not seem to think so, but made quite a 

 dignified retreat. Its bayonet-like beak was held at the 

 charge, and I did not feel called upon to test the bird's 

 courage at the expense of my own perha})s. 



Grey Heron. (Ardea c'merea.) 



This is about the commonest of the large birds here, and 

 occurs upon all our rivers, especially at the tidal parts, 

 where the chance of food seems improved by the water alter- 

 nately covering and receding from muddy margins. Some 

 days, when boating, I have seen a Grey Heron ahiiost every 

 100 yards wading or standing deep in the water, apparently 

 unheeding of my movements as I rowed along ; then a little 

 later these birds might be noticed perched on the topmost 

 y)otnts of the Melkbosch growing upon the banks, where they 

 waited patiently till the waterside was shallow enough again 

 for them to resume fishing. When rains have been plentiful, 



