714 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
times seen together. ‘They fly rapidly, and settle on the reeds. The 
stomachs of those sent contained frogs.” Mr. Frank Oates procured 
a specimen at Hendrik’s Vlei during his expedition to the Zambesi. 
Mr. Andersson writes: “I have shot several individuals of this very 
handsome Heron both on the River Okavango and on the River 
Teoughe, as well as in the neighbourhood of Lake N’gami; but I not 
recollect having met with it in Damara Land.” 
General colour of head, neck, chest, back and wing primaries black 
shaded with ashy ; belly, vent, sides, shoulders, secondaries, rump, 
and tail deep chestnut ; legs and base of bill yellow ; tip black ; “legs 
slate-colour ; iris dark hazel” (F. Oates). Length, 19” 6’"; wing, 9"; 
tail, 3” 5’. 
Fig. Ayres, Ibis, 1871, pl. 9. 
692. Hzropras axa, D. Great White Heron. 
This fine Egret was shot on the Great Fish River and is now 
in the Grahamstown Museum, where we took the measurements. 
Mr. Gurney has recorded it from Natal. Mr. Buckley states that he 
saw a few pairs along the Limpopo during the summer, but we are 
not certain whether the identifications of these white Egrets in South 
Africa can always be depended upon, and whether some of the birds 
supposed to have been H. alba may not have been confused with the 
next species. Mr. Andersson’s last collection contained an example, 
but without indication of exact locality. Senor Anchieta has met 
with it at Benguela, Lobito and Humbe on the Cunene River. 
Pure white with decomposed feathers on the rump; bill yellow; 
legs black. Length, 384”; wing, 14”; bill, 43”; tarsus, 64”. 
Fig. Dresser, B. Eur. viii, pl. 394. 
693. Herropias intermepiA, Wagl. Short-billed White Egret. 
Ardea egretta, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 308. 
A pair of these most lovely Egrets, male and female, have been 
shot at different times in Zeekoe Vley, between Cape Town and 
Simon’s Bay. We-have ourselves seen white Hgrets wading about 
that piece of water, and also on the marsh nearer to Kalk Bay, but 
always too far off to determine the species. We have also seen 
some on the marsh below the Observatory, and on the rocks at 
Robben Island. ‘They are, however, generally so wary as to be 
