724, BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
701. Nycticorax Griszus, D. Night Heron. 
The Night-Heron is generally distributed throughout the colony ; 
but appears to be nowhere common. It breeds abundantly at the 
Berg River in September, in company with the other Herons, in 
a vley near the bank on Mr. Welck’s side, but we never found 
it in the reeds lining the banks. The nests resembled those of 
the other species, and the eggs, coloured the same, were generally 
rather pointed at both ends—three to five in number. Axis, 1” 10’; 
diam., 1" 4’. Mr. Rickard records it from Uitenhage. In Natal 
Mr. Ayres says they are exceedingly scarce; when found they are 
always amongst the dense mangroves, and stationary ; when disturbed 
they almost invariably alight again at a short distance, getting more 
and more wary each time they are put up. Majors Butler and 
Feilden and Captain Reid state that it was uncommon in the 
Newcastle district, only one young bird being met with. In the 
Transvaal Mr. Ayres says they are more plentiful, and he procured 
an adult female and a young male on the Inshlangeen River during 
Mr. Jameson’s expedition to Mashoona Land. Mr. Andersson’s 
notes on the species are as follows :—‘‘This species is pretty 
frequent in the Lake country; it occurs in Ondonga in the wet 
season, and is recorded as having been obtained on the Orange 
River. In Damara Land I have only observed it very rarely, and 
always in immature plumage. It feeds on fish, reptiles, aquatic 
insects, slugs, &c.” Senor Anchieta has met with it at Mossamedes, 
the Coroca River, and Humbe. 
General colour, light slate; paler on the side of the head and 
neck, with a vinaceous tinge; chin, centre of throat, and under 
parts, white ; the back, top of the head, and a portion of the hinder 
part of neck, dark iridescent-green; from the back of the head 
emanate two long, narrow, and pure white plumes, eight inches 
long; legs yellow; irides in adult bird the same; in young birds 
light reddish-madder. The young bird is of a dirty-grey, mottled 
with white. Length, 24’; wing, 13”; tail, 5’. 
Fig. Dresser, B. Hur. vi, pl. 399. 
702. Nycricorax Levconorus, Wagl. White-backed Night-Heron. 
A pair of these birds, male and female, were killed in April, 
1870, at the Klemmont, by Messrs. Ed. Atherstone and H. Barber. 
