82 ARDEID^E NYCTICORAX 



in a more retired and shady spot; its cry is harsh and its food con- 

 sists of aquatic animals of all sorts. 



No one has hitherto, so far as I am aware, taken the eggs of 

 this Heron in South Africa, but on the Gold Coast Dr. Eeichenow 

 found it nesting in the Mangrove swamps, in small companies, in 

 August and September. The eggs, generally three in number, were 

 of the' usual pale greenish-blue Heron type, and measured about 

 1-5 x 1-05. 



4.- 



Genus VIII. NYCTICORAX. 



Type. 

 Nycticorax, Bafin., Analyse, p. 71 (1815) N. griseus. 



Bill stout, short and somewhat compressed, the culmen slightly 

 curved and about equal to the tarsus, both distinctly shorter than the 

 middle toe and claw ; mandibles not serrated along their edges, but 

 the upper one with a distinct subterminal notch. Wings moderate, 

 third primary generally the longest ; tail short, slightly rounded, 

 of twelve feathers ; only the lowest half-inch of the tibio-tarsus 

 bare of feathers ; tarsus covered with reticulate scales in front ; 

 head crested and ornamented with two, much elongated, narrow 

 ornamental plumes in the breeding season. 



Some nine species . of this almost cosmopolitan genus are 

 generally recognised; two of these are found in Africa and occur 

 within our area. 



Key of the Species. 



A. Back greenish-black, no chestnut on the neck ... N. griseus, p. 82. 



B. A white patch on the back, neck bright chestnut N. leuconotus, p. 85. 



598. Nycticorax griseus. Night Heron. 



Ardea nycticorax, Linn. t Syst. Nat. 12th ed. i, p. 235 (1766). 



Ardea grisea, Linn., Syst. Nat. 12th ed. i, p. 239 (1766). 



Nycticorax europaeus, Stephens, Genl. Zool. xi, p. 609 (1819) ; Kirk, 

 Ibis, 1864, p. 333. 



Nycticorax griseus, Gurney, Ibis, 1865, p. 272, 1868, p. 256 ; Layard, 

 B. S. Afr. p. 311 (1867) ; Barratt, Ibis, 1876, p. 193 ; Butler, Feilden, 

 and Reid, Zool. 1882, p. 344; Holub <& Pelzeln, Orn. Siid-Afr. p. 277 

 (1882) ; Shelley, Ibis, 1882, p. 364 [Shangani River] ; Sharpe, ed. 

 Layard' s B. S. Afr. p. 724 (1884) ; Ayres, Ibis, 1884, p. 233 ; Wood- 



