of Birds from the Colony of Natal. 469 



Ardetta minuta (Linn.). Little Bittern. (No. 52, Ibis, 

 1859, p. 249; 1860, p. 205.) 



The Little Bittern is common amongst the reedy swamps and 

 banks of rivers in the Transvaal, where it lies close amongst 

 the reeds and hedges, and is not always easily flushed; its flight 

 is never lengthened. 



Tringoides HYPOLEUcus (Linn.). Common Sandpiper. (No. 

 139, Ibis, 1861, p. 131.) 



This species occurs in the Transvaal, but is scarce. 



Tringa minuta, Leisl. Little Stint. (No. 281, Ibis, 1865, 

 p. 272.) 



These Sandpipers are occasionally found in considerable flights 

 on the mud-flats and borders of pools in the Transvaal. They 

 are very shy and difficult of access, and their flight is very 

 rapid. 



PoRPHYRio smaragdonotus, Tcmm. Green -backed Por- 

 phyrio. (No. 56, Ibis, 1859, p. 249.) 



Iris red; bill and frontal shield blood-red; thighs, tarsi, and 

 feet dark pink. This beautiful species is found, though not 

 abundantly, in the more extensive swamps and lagoons in the 

 colony of Natal, and seems to be pretty generally distributed, 

 though, in consequence of its close and shy habits, it is not 

 easily obtained. These birds generally remain amongst the high 

 rushes and reeds ; but during the winter, in the mornings and 

 evenings, they often leave their cover to catch the first and last 

 rays of the sun, and they are then frequently to be found perched 

 on a clump of rushes or reeds ; they make many extraordinary 

 noises, most unmusical and quaint. Their food consists of the 

 inner and soft parts of the shoots of reeds and of other water- 

 plants ; these may be found in their stomachs chopped up like 

 chafi" by their powerful bills, which no doubt are expressly pro- 

 vided for peeling off the outer bark and hard parts of the plants 

 they feed upon. 



There appears to be but little difference between the sexes ; 

 but the female bird is, if anything, the smaller of the two. 



[Mr. Layard (B. S. Afr. p. 341) includes this species under 

 the name of P. erythropus proposed for it by Shaw in 1824 ; 



