338 GRALLJE. ARDEAD^E. 



slow while watching for prey; yet its seizure of 

 prey is sudden, and as quick as the lightning- 

 flash. It feeds principally on small crabs and 

 prawns; which I have always found changed in 

 appearance, by the process of digestion ; the shell 

 reddened and the flesh coagulated, as if by boiling. 

 In one I have found a number of minute eel- 

 like fishes, about an inch and a quarter long, pro- 

 bably the fry of a murcena ; in another, insects. It 

 is usually found excessively fat. 



A specimen, shot from a tree, fell into rather 

 deep water ; and though one foot was disabled, 

 it struck out vigorously with the other, and swam 

 in an upright posture, with the head drawn back 

 (not struggling^) several yards, before it was seized. 



It is not common enough for me to determine 

 whether it is migratory or not; I have obtained 

 specimens on the 16th of September and on the 9th 

 of April, and through the intervening winter. 



RED-NECKED GAULIN." 

 Egretta ruficollis. MIHI. 



I FIRST met with this undescribed species in 

 a little excursion up the beautiful Burnt Savanna 



* Length 25$ inches, expanse 36 , flexure 9J, neck 10, tail 2, rictus 

 4, tarsus 4, middle toe 3$. 



Indes cream-white ; lores deep fulvous, with an oblong dusky spot 

 near the edge of upper mandible ; beak, black above, clay-colour beneath ; 



