712 : 7 souT 
é1a BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
Upper part of back, ashy-grey, variegated with a few red plumes 
on each side; top of head black; neck red, with a 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. Length, 
2' 10’’; wing, 1’ 2’’; tail, 7’’. 
Fig. Dresser, B. Hur. vi, pl. 392. 
690. Arpga arpestaca, Wagl. Lesser Grey Heron. 
Ardea calceolata, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 307. 
Ardea flavimana, id. t. ¢. p. 307. 
As far as we know this Heron has only been found in the 
Transvaal. Mr. Barratt shot one near Potchefstroom, and, writing 
in 1871, Mr. Ayres says: “I have only obtained two specimens of 
this Heron, one of which was shot by my brother in April, 1869, in 
the swamp near Potchefstroom, and the other was also shot by a 
friend of mine in the same locality. The flight of this species some- 
what resembles that of Ardea purpurea.’ Later on he observes as 
follows: “This beautiful Heron has a curious habit, whilst feeding, 
during the heat of the day and when the sun shines blazing hot, 
of throwing one wing suddenly forward and holding it out, so that 
it shades a small portion of shallow water; the bird immediately 
peers into the water searchingly, and invariably makes a dart at 
some unlucky little fish. In the specimen sent the tips of the 
primaries are worn; and without doubt this comes from the wing 
being so constantly thrown forward against rough grass and plants.” 
In 1880 he forwarded a specimen with the following note: ‘ This 
was a solitary bird that I had noticed for some timé passing along 
the river, morning and evening, to and from his feeding-ground ; 
when shot he was leading a small flock of Herodias garzetta, and 
these were immediately followed by about fifty of the Sacred Ibis, 
all in flight towards their roosting-place. All these birds passed 
regularly to their favourite resorts in the morning, returning in the 
evening to more secluded spots to roost.” Sir John Kirk states 
that he found it singly or in pairs along the marshy parts of the 
River Shiré. 
Mr. Andersson does not appear to have met with the species in 
