ARDEID^ 



NYCTICOEAX 



83 



ward Bros., Natal B. p. 197 (1899) ; Marshall, Ibis, 1900, p. 266 ; 



Alexander, ibid. p. 440 ; Harris, Essays and Photos, p. 147 (1901) ; 



Whitehead, Ibis, 1903, p. 237. 

 Nycticorax aegyptius, Gwrney, in Andersson's B. Damaral. p. 293 (1872) ; 



Ayres, Ibis, 1874, p. 104. 

 Nycticorax nycticorax, Shelley, B. Afr. i, p. 158 (1896) ; Sharpe, 



Cat. B. M. xxvi. p. 146 (1898); Reichenow, Vog. Afr. i, p. 362. 



(1901). 



Description. Adult male and female in breeding season. Above, 

 including the crown, nape of the neck, centre of the back and inner 

 secondaries greenish-black ; sides of the neck extending round the 

 hind neck as a collar at the base, wings, except the inner 

 secondaries, lower back, tail-coverts and tail-feathers ashy-grey or 

 dove-coloured : forehead, a narrow stripe over the eye, chin, throat 



FIG. 23. Head of Nycticorax griseus. x 



and underparts white, becoming slightly shaded with ashy-grey on 

 the sides of the body ; under wing-coverts nearly white ; nape 

 feathers lengthened to form a short crest, in addition to which there 

 are two elongated narrowed white ornamental plumes attaining a 

 length of about nine inches. 



Iris crimson ; skin all round the eye pale green ; upper mandible 

 slaty-black, whitish along the edge ; lower mandible flesh-coloured 

 in the central portions, greenish at the base ; legs and feet pale 

 yellow. 



Length about 22; wing 11-75 ; tail 4-10; culmen 2-70; tarsus 

 2-55 ; middle toe 3-05. In non-breeding plumage the white nape 



