ARDEUXfC. 305 



considerable numbers to the north and north-west. It has never fallen 

 under my notice in its wild state, nor can I find any one who has seen 

 its nidification. 



Mr. Chapman obtained it as far north as Lake N'Gami. 



The Sub-Family, ARDEIN^S, or Herons, 



have the bill more or less lengthened, and generally acute, 

 with the gape extending beneath each eye ; the nostrils 

 placed in the lateral groove, with the opening usually longi- 

 tudinal, and partly closed by a membrane ; the wings usually 

 long, and the first quills more or less graduated ; the tail 

 short and even ; the tarsi long, slender, and covered with 

 transverse scutellations or reticulated scales; the toes long 

 and more or less slender ; the outer toe usually united at its 

 base ; sometimes both toes are united at the base for some 

 distance. 



Genus ARDEA, Linnaeus. 



Bill lengthened, and more or less slender, with the culmen 

 nearly straight to the tip, which'is acute and emarginated, 

 the sides compressed, and the lateral margins straight and 

 sometimes serrated ; the gonys moderate and ascending; the 

 nostrils lateral, basal, and placed in a groove, which extends 

 for more than half the length of the bill, with the opening 

 linear and closed by a membranous scale ; wings long, with 

 the first quill nearly as long as the second and third, which 

 are equal and longest ; tail rather short, and even ; tarsi 

 longer than or as long as the middle toe, rather slender, and 

 covered in front with transverse scales ; those near the toes 

 large, and of a hexagonal form ; toes long, and rather slen- 

 der ; the outer toe longer than the inner, and united at the 

 base ; the hind toe long ; the claws moderate, slight, curved^ 

 and acute. 



(576. Ardea Goliath, Temm., PL Coi. 474 ; A. 



Gigantodes, Licht. ; A. Nobilis, Blyth, Ann. Nat. 

 His., 1844, p. 176 ; Rupp. Faun, Abyss., t. 26. 



UPPER part of back, and drooping plumes of chest, leaden- 

 grey ; head, neck, and under parts of body, deep-rufous ; 

 chin white ; down the front of the neck extends a line of 

 black, mottled with white, coalescing and mingling with the 

 drooping plumes of the chest. Length, 4' 6"; wing, 1' 11" ; 

 tail, 11". 



This gigantic Heron has only once fallen under my notice, a fine 

 male bird in full plumage having been received from Mr. Arnot, of 

 Colesberg. Mr. Chapman is familiar with it towards the Zambezi ; and 

 Mr. Andersson found it in Damaraland. 



