from Deelfontein, Cape Colony. 17 



year round, either solitary or in pairs. It throve well in 

 captivity and became fairly tame. The nest was a very large 

 structure, and in our neighbourhood was usually placed in 

 the fork of a willow tree near a dam. 



26. AllDEA CINEREA. 



Ardea cinerea Linn.; Sharpe, ed. Layard, p. 708 (1884) ; 

 id. Cat. B. xxvi. p. 74 (1898) ; id. Hand-1. B. i.p. 194 (1899) ; 

 Reichenow, t. c. p. 379 (1901). 



a. $ juv. Deelfontein, Feb. 19, 1901. 



b. J ad. ; c. ? imm. Deelfontein, March 10, 1902. 

 d. S ad. Deelfontein, Aug. 8, 1902. 



The male killed in August is in beautiful plumage with 

 the long crest-plumes fully developed. 



[The Heron is very common, being found near all the 

 dams; it is, however, rather wild. The nests sometimes 

 number thirty in a tree, and, as suitable sites are not plentiful, 

 we believe that A. melanocephula breeds in the same colonies, 

 but this we never could prove satisfactorily.] 



27. Ardea melvnocephala. 



Ardea melanucephala Vig. & Childr. ; Sharpe, ed. Layard, 

 p. 709 (1881) ; id. Cat. B. xxvi. p. 70 (1898); id. Hand-1. B. 

 i. p. 194 (1899) ; Reichenow, t. c. p. 380 (1901). 



a. $ ad. Deelfontein, Feb. 18, 1902. Iris yellow. 



b. ? ad. „ March 19, 1902. 



c. ? ad. „ April 4, 1902. 



The two female birds shew a slight tinge of lilac on the 

 sides of the face, lower throat, and fore-neck. 



[Not so common as A. cinerea, but found on most of 

 the farms where there is any water. The flesh of both 

 species of Herons made excellent bait for wild cats and 

 lynxes, which were attracted by the fishy smell.] 



28. Casarca cana. 



Casarca cana (Gm.) ; Sharpe, ed. Layard, p. 753 (1884) ; 

 Salvad. Cat. B. xxvii. p. 182 (1895) ; Sharpe, Hand-1. B. i. 

 p. 216 (1899) ; Reichenow, t. c. p. 137 (1900). 



a, b. <$ ? . Deelfontein, June 10, 1902. 



SER. VI! I. VOL. IV. C 



