ARDElDyE. 307 



broad black stripe down the back, a narrow one on each side, 

 and a blue one in front, formed of a succession of spots, and 

 spreading out on the breast, which is . bright-buff ; centre of 

 belly, very dark-rufous; sides lighter; thighs bright-rufous; 

 as are also the shoulders. Leiij^th, 2' 10" ; win^, 1' 2" : 

 tail, 7". 



The Purple Heron is abundant in all marshy places throughout the 

 colony, and has been brought by Mr. Chapman from the Zambezi. It 

 feeds on the same food as does A. Cinerea, and may be found in similar 

 localities I have never obtained its nest here. 



580. Ardea Oalceolata, Da Bus. Bull. Acad. 

 Brull, IV., p. 40. 



General colour, black ; with chin and upper part of anterior 

 portion of throat, white ; two long narrow pendant pluraes 

 proceed from the occiput ; the feathers of the breast and back 

 are much decomposed and elongated ; in the latter projecting 

 slightly beyond the tail, and curved upwards at the tip ; 

 irides bright-yellow. Length, 17"; wing, 8" 3"'; tail, 4i". 



flartlaub, on the authority of Delalande, gives the Cape as a habitat 

 of this curious heron. I have not met with it from hence ; but shot a 

 specimen in Boyana Bay, on the North-West Coast of Madagascar. 



581. Ardea Bubulcus, Savig., pi. Eni., eio ; a. 



Ibis, Hasselq. ; A. Veranyi, Roux; Buhulcus Ibis 

 Bonap. ; A. Coromanda, Bodd. 



9, in breeding plumage : general colour white ; top of head, 

 crest at the back, pendant feathers of breast, and decomposed 

 feathers of back, rufous-isabella colour ; bill and legs yellow, 

 irides yellow. Length, 1' 7" ; wing, 9" ; tail, 4^". 



Two specimens of this Egret, in non-breeding dress (which is all 

 white, without the crest and pendant plumes,) have been received from 

 Mr. Arnot.* Mr. Chapman's Zambezi collection contained several in 

 both phases of plumage. 



582. Ardea Flavimaila; Herodias Flavlmana, 



Sund. Ofvers. K. V. Ac. Forh., 1850, p. 111. 



Genebal colour, grey-black ; toes yellow. 



Of this bird I have not been able to obtain any other description 

 than that given above ; neither have I seen any specimen. It is given 

 as a native of South Africa, loc. cit. 



* A specimen also in non-breeding dress was brought to me by Mr. Shaw, of 

 Wynberg, in May, 1867. 



