308 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA, 



583. Ardea Egretta, Gmel. et Wagl. ; Ardea 

 Flavirostris, Temm. ; A. Magnified, Verr ; Ardea 

 Alba, Temm. ; Egretta Flavirostris, Bonap. Consp. 11, 

 p. 1J6 ; Cuv., Vol. 3, p. 339. 



Plumage, pure white ; bill and bare space round the eye, and 

 between it and the bill, bright-yellow ; legs greenish-black. 

 The male in breeding plumage has the feathers of the lower 

 part of the neck elongated and decomposed, and those of the 

 back also decomposed and prolonged to an enormous extent, 

 projecting far beyond the tail, drooping gracefully over the 

 end of the wings, and turned slightly upwards at the tips ; 

 irides bright-yellow. Length, 2' 2" ; wing, 10" ; tail, 5" 6'". 

 A pair of these most lovely Egrets, 5 and Q , have been shot at 

 different times in Zeekoe Vley, between Cape Town and Simon's Bay. 

 I have myself seen white egrets wading about that piece of water, and 

 also on the marsh nearer to Kalk Bay, but always too far off to deter- 

 mine the species. I have also seen white egrets on the marsh below 

 the Observatory, and on the rocks at Robben Island. They are, how- 

 ever, generally so wary as to be unapproachable. Mr. Atmore teUs 

 me it is common at the Knysna, but very shy, and breeds on a small 

 rock in the sea, east of the Heads ; he was too late (December) 

 for eggs. 



584. Ardea Garzetta, Linn. ; GarzeUa Egretta, 

 Bonap. Consp., II, p. 118 ; A. Xanthodactyla et A. 

 Nivea, Gmel.; A. Orientalis, Gray; A. Melanopus 

 Wagler ; A. Nigripes, Temm. 



Entirely white, with two long plumes depending from the 

 back of the head ; feathers of the breast and back elongated 

 and decomposed ; the latter not extending beyond the tail, 

 and curved considerably upwards ; bill and legs in full breed- 

 ing plumage, black : at other times the legs and feet are 

 greenish-yellow ; irides bright-yellow. Length, 2' 4" ; wing, 

 ,12" ; tail, 5". 



Specimens of this beautiful Egret, both in winter and nuptial dress, 

 have been procured in the neighbourhood of Cape Town ; also at 

 Colesberg and at the Knysna. The stomachs of this and the preced- 

 ing, which I have examined, contained multitudes of small aquatic 

 shells (Fhysopsis Africana and Succinea Delalcmdi). 



585. Ardea Comata, Pali.; ?i. Eni., 348, 315 ; 



A. Ralloides, Scop. ; A. Senegalensis, Gmel. ; A. 



Castanea et A. Pumila, Lepech. ; The Squacco Heron. 

 Top and back of head, pale ochraceous-yellow ; occipital 

 feathers elongated, pointed, white ; back rufous, the feathers 



