338 GRALL^E. 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 9f, neck 10, tail 2, rictus 

 4, tarsus 4, middle toe 3J. 



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

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



