707 
ORDER HERODIONES.. 
Fam. ARDEIDZ. 
686. ArprEa conratH, Temm. Goliath Heron. 
This gigantic Heron has only once fallen under our notice, a fine 
male bird in full plumage having been received from Mr. Arnot, of 
Colesberg. Dr. Bradshaw has seen one or two specimens on the 
Orange River near Upington. The late M. J. Verreaux assured us 
that he saw this noble Heron at Zoetendals Viey. Mr. Atmore also 
says he is sure he saw it there. Mr. Arnot sends an egg, which 
we feel certain must belong to this bird: it is in colour like that 
of A. cinerea, but larger. Axis, 3’; diam. 2”. In Natal, writes 
Mr. Ayres, “these birds frequent the mouths of the rivers and 
the bays along the coast. They feed entirely upon fish, easily 
swallowing those which weigh half-a-pound, or even more. They 
wade about up to their bodies, and dart on the fish as they swim 
past. The Bay of Natal affords fine fishing ground for these birds, 
being three miles in diameter, the greater part shallow, with a 
muddy bottom, and myriads of fish entering with the tide. These 
Herons when gorged retire amongst the mangroves to digest 
their meal, not roosting on the trees, but on the ground. They 
appear to be very solitary birds; I have seldom seen two together. 
The specimen sent measured, when in the flesh, upwards of six feet 
from the bill to the toes.” In the Transvaal Mr. Ayres con- 
siders it to be the scarcest Heron of the country. He says that 
it is wonderful the size of the fishes they can swallow, and he 
killed one which had swallowed a 2 lb. carp. He also writes: 
“« Whilst out fishing I shot a fine specimen of this Heron; he had 
just caught and gorged whole a cat-fish (here called Barbel) of at 
least 2 lb. weight, and with a head as broad as one’s hand; he 
had dexterously speared it right through the body behind the 
head with one mandible, and had evidently clasped it with the 
other.” During Mr. Jameson’s expedition it was seen in Mashoona 
Land, but was not procured. Sir John Kirk states that it was seen 
in the swamps of the Zambesi delta and on Lake Nyassa, but was 
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