256 Mr. J. H. Gurney's Notes on 



Mr. Ayres met with a single nest of this species during a 

 journey from Natal to Potchefstroom, performed in the month 

 of December, which, he says, was of a conical form, built in a 

 swamp, and placed in about the same depth of water as the nests 

 of the Crested Coot {Fulica cristata), which it also resembled in 

 the rushes that had been chosen as materials for its construc- 

 tion. Mr. Ayres adds that he thinks the nest was begun in 

 shallower water, and added to as the season advanced and the 

 water increased in depth. Mr. Tristram informs me that an 

 egg taken from this nest and sent to him by Mr. Ayres, is 

 v/hite, with a green lining-membrane, that its texture is glossy, 

 and its size about that of the egg of a Goose. 



576. Ardea GOLIATH, Tcmm. Goliath Heron. 



This fine Heron is a regular inhabitant of the bays and 

 mouths of rivers in Natal, and is recorded as such by Mr. 

 Ayres (Ibis, 1860, p. 220). 



581. Ardea BUBULCus, Sav. BufF-backed Heron. 



This species is an inhabitant of the colony of Natal, as re- 

 corded by Mr. Ayres (Ibis, 1863, p. 330) ; and I have received 

 it thence both in breeding and in non-breeding plumage. Mr. 

 Ayres info.rms me that he has also met with it in the Transvaal. 



590. Ardetta sturmi (Wagl.). Sturm^s Heron. 



Mr. G. R. Gray informs me that, on comparing the type- 

 specimen (which he considers to be somewhat immature) of Sir 

 Andrew Smith's Cancrofhagus gutturalis (Rep. Exp. C. Afr. 

 p. 57) with a West-African specimen of Wagler's Ardea sturmi 

 (Syst. Av. fol. 12, p. 14. sp. 37) in the British Museum, he has 

 arrived at the same conclusion as that adopted by Mr. Layard, 

 namely, that the two are specifically identical. This being the 

 case, Sir Andrew's name, which was published in 1836, must 

 give way to that bestowed by Wagler in 1827. 



A specimen of this rare Heron, sent to me by Mr. Ayres from 

 Natal, was recorded in ' The Ibis' (1860, p. 221). 



592. Nycticorax GRisEUS (Linn,). European Night-Heron. 

 The European Night-Heron has been sent to me from Natal, 



