ARDEIDJE 



ARDEA 



57 



only found inland where fair-sized pieces of water exist ; it appears 

 to feed chiefly, at any rate, on fishes, which it obtains by wading, "often 

 in fairly deep water, up to its body, transfixing them with its power- 

 ful beak ; Ay res found a two-pound Catfish (Clarias) in the stomach 

 of one individual. When gorged it retires to digest, resting in 

 Durban Harbour on the ground under the mangrove trees. It has 

 a strong, hoarse, croaking voice, somewhat resembling the barking 

 of a dog. 



FIG. 17. Nest and eggs of Ardea goliath, from a photograph by 

 Mr. Austen Roberts. 



Colonel Butler and Captain Reid found the Goliath nesting in a 

 swamp near the junction of the Ingagane and Buffalo Elvers on the 

 Utrecht side of the river on October 17th. The nest was placed 

 upon the top of a patch of green sedge beaten down by wind and 

 rain in the centre of the vlei ; it was raised about two feet above 

 the level of the water, and was composed of dry sedge and reeds, it 

 was about two feet in diameter and very flat on the top ; at the time 



