PELICANS HERONS AND EGRETS 143 



Layard and Dr. Stark found the Darter (as this bird is 

 also called) breeding on the Berg Kiver in the Cape 

 Colony, and the latter describes the nest as a bundle of 

 sticks situated in a willow-tree. The clutch varies from 

 three to five and the eggs are elongated and shin)'- white, 

 with the Cormorant-like underlying bluish layer. 



PELICANS. 



The Eastern White Pelican (Pelecanus roseus) is of a 

 general white colour, tinged with rose-pink, a shoulder 

 patch and the wing quills black ; a patch of pale yellow 

 on the breast. The head is ornamented with a small 

 crest of narrow feathers, and the bill is flat, with a large 

 patch of naked skin below it. 



Besides being found on the Sea Coast, this bird was 

 met with by Andersson on Lake Ngami, by Alexander on 

 the Zambesi, and by Bryden on the Botletli Kiver ; it 

 has also been recorded from one or two other inland 

 localities. 



They subsist on fish, the pouch below the beak being 

 used as a bag for carrying their food. Andersson found 

 this bird breeding near Lake Ngami. The eggs are 

 elongated white ovals. 



HERONS AND EGRETS. 



The true Herons (Family Ardeidce) are represented in 

 South Africa by four species, the first of which is the 

 huge Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath), with a length of 

 over four feet. Upper parts slate colour, except the top 

 of the head and neck, which are ruddy-brown. Below, 

 chin and throat white, a black line down the front of 

 the lower half of the neck ; lower feathers lengthened to 

 form a sort of " apron ; " rest of under-surface maroon. 



