ARDEUWE. 311 



outer toe longer than the inner, and united at the base by ..- 

 membrane, the hind toe long and rather slender ; the claws 

 very long, slightly curved, and very acute. 



591. Botaurus Stellaris. (Linn.) PI. Eni., 789 ; 



Ardea Stellaris, Linn. ; The Common Bittern, Bewick's 

 Brit. Birds, PI. 47 ; Ardea Stellaris Capensis, Sch., 

 Mus. de Pays-bas ; " Roerdomp " of Colonists. 



GENERAL colour, ochreous, profusely variegated with wavy 

 lines of dark-brown ; top of head deep-brown ; chin white, 

 or pale-ochreous ; the markings on the back assume a bolder 

 character than those on the other parts of the body ; the 

 neck is furnished with a ruff, which can be expanded at 

 pleasure. Length, 2' 4"; wing, 12"; tail, 4". 



The Bittern is occasionally found in a few favoured localities, even in 

 the neighbourhood of Cape Town ; and I am told it breeds in Verloren 

 Vley. At Zoetendals Vley I found it in great abundance ; and early in 

 the morning, or during the evening twilight, their booming call 

 resounded from every part of the lake. Mr. Hugo, of Fransch Hoek, 

 brought me a pair of eggs, unfortunately both broken, which he states 

 are of this bird. The colour is a dark olive-green, smooth, and 

 shining as a duck's. Having seen bitterns' eggs in various collections 

 in England, I am satisfied that Mr. Hugo is right in his identification. 



Genus NYCTICORAX, Stephens. 



Bill rather longer than the head, strong, wUh the culmen 

 gradually curved, and the sides compressed to the tip, which 

 is emarginated ; the gonys long and ascending ; the nostrils 

 lateral, and placed in a groove, with the opening linear, and 

 closed by a membranous scale ; wings long, with the first 

 quill shorter than the second and third, which are equal and 

 longest ; tail short and even ; tarsi as long as the middle toe, 

 rather strong, and covered with large irregular scales ; toes 

 long, rather slender, the outer toe longer than the inner, both 

 united at their base, especially the former ; the hind toe 

 long, rather slender, and on the same plane with the others ; 

 the claws moderate, curved, and acute. 



592. Nycticorax Griseus. (Linn.) PL Eni. 758, 



759 ; Bewick's Brit. B., p. 55, Bp. Consp. 2, p. 140 ; 

 Nycticorax Europceus, Steph. ; Ardea Nycticorax, L. 



GENERAL colour, light-slate; paler on. the side of the head 

 and neck, with a vinaceous tinge ; chin, centra of throat, and 

 under parts, white ; the back, top of the head, and a portion 



