HERODIAS INTERMEDIA. 715 
unapproachable. Mr. Atmore tells us 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. Dr. Bradshaw says 
it is scarce on the Orange River near Upington. In Natal, writes 
Mr. Ayres, “ these Herons are gregarious, frequenting the bays along 
the coast. They feed at low tide amongst the mud and shallow 
water, stalking gently along. When they see their prey they stop 
suddenly, and make a dead point at it, exactly like a pointer dog at 
a partridge ; remaining motionless for a few seconds, then gradually 
drawing nearer, they dart their long necks suddenly into the water, 
and almost invariably catch. the unlucky fish. At high water, or if 
disturbed, they always perch on the upper boughs of the mangroves, 
and other trees which fringe the bay, never roosting on the ground. 
Their flight is heavy, as is that of all the Herons I know.” In the 
Lydenburg District of the Transvaal, Mr. Barratt states that it is shy 
and not easily procured. Mr. Ayres found the species at Spalding’s on 
the Hart River during Mr. Jameson’s expedition, and says that “a 
pair of these Egrets were met with on the swampy banks of the 
river, which was in flood, flying lazily up and down the stream of 
their favourite feeding-haunts.” Dr. Bradshaw tells us that it is 
common on the Zambesi. 
Mr. Andersson writes: ‘I obtained these Herons both at Lake 
N’gami and at Otjimbinque in Damara Land; on one occasion 
(on February 2nd, 1865) I killed three out of a flock of four. 
Thie flight is heavy, and at a distance they look larger than 
they really are.” Senor Anchieta has forwarded specimens from 
Humbe. 
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 decom- 
posed 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’. The length of the bill is given by 
Mr. Andersson from the freshly-killed bird as 3°9 against 6:0 in 
H. alba. Prof. Bocage makes it 2°8 as against 4°3 in the larger 
species. 
