ARDEIDJE. 2d^ 



elongated and decomposed ; all the rest of the plumage white ; 

 bill blueish, with black tip ; legs yellow ; irides yellow. 

 Length, 16" to 17"; wing, Sf. 



Included by Mr, Gurney in his fourth Additional List of Birds 

 received from Natal.-^Ibis Vol., 1862, p. 157. Sed non vidi. 



586. Ardea Leucoptera, Bodd., pi. Eni. 911 ; 



A. Grayi, Sykes, Gray, Illus. Ind. Zool., PI. 48 ; A. 

 Malaccensis, Gmel, ; A. Speciosa, Horsf. 



Upper part of back, dirty-brown ; wings and tail, pure 

 white ; head and neck white, closely streaked with brown ; 

 breast and under parts white, sparingly streaked with brown, 

 and tinged with russet-brown on the flanks ; back of head 

 crested ; bill greenish, and horn-coloured at the tip. Length, 

 16" ; wing, 9" ; tail, 3" 9'". 



Two specimens of this little Heron were sent from Colesberg by Mr. 

 Arnot, On comparing them with Indian specimens, I could not 

 detect the slightest difference between them. I saw it abundantly up 

 the East Coast and Mozambique Channel, frequenting the coral reefs 

 which line the shore ; but it has not been found, to my knowledge, 

 along the coast of the colony. 



587. Ardea Atricapilla, Afzel. ; iJgretta Tlmlas- 

 sina, Swain. Ani. in Menag., p. 333 ; A. Brevipes, 

 Hempr. ; Butorides Atricapilla, Bp. 



Ab(WE, dark slate-coloured, tinged with green, which prevails 

 on the wings ; back, sides of neck, flanks, and under parts, 

 cinereous ; top of head and crest black, shot with green ; 

 chin and fore part of neck white, tinged with ferruginous ; 

 dorsal plumes long, narrow, and lanceolate. Length, 15" ; 

 wing, 7" 2" -, tail, 2" 9'". 



I obtained specimens of this prelty little Egret at Mauritius, Mada- 

 gascar, the Islands to the North-East, and along the whole East Coast 

 of Africa. Two examples were procured by Mr. Arnot somewhere in 

 Mahura's country ; and Mr. Ayres has it from Natal. It frequents 

 equally fresh and salt water, finding its food, which consists of small 

 fish, frogs, water-insects, and shells, with equal facility in either. Ife 

 is very partial to the mangrove thickets which line the tidal rivers on 

 the coast, and roosts among them, perching on the branches. 



588. Ardea Minuta, Linn, pi. Eni., 323, s 



N., XII, p. 240 ; Ardea Minuta, Bp. ; Ardea 

 Danubialis et A. Solpnencis, Gmel. ; The Little Bit- 

 tern, Bewick's Brit. B., p. 52. 



Top of head, back, wing, and tail, black ; remainder of the 

 plumage buff" ; ehin white, and faint white longitudinal lines 



