Port St. Johns, Pondoland. 205 



177. *Ardea alba Linn. ; S. & L. p. 714. 



The Great White Egret is very rare at St. Johns. 



178. Ardea melanocephala Vig. & Childr. ; S. & L. 

 p. 709. 



(1) 29.3 02. ?. Iris yellow; legs black; bill slate- 



coloured. 



(2) 12.10.02. ? . Bill black, at the base bluish green ; 



skin round the eye bluish green. 

 This is a common resident, often met with in small flocks 

 towards evening, when it roosts in the trees overhanging the 

 water. 



179. Ardea cinerea Linn. ; S. & L. p. 708. 

 (1) 4.1.02. 



Not common at St. Johns. 



180. *Ardea purpurea Linn. ; S. & L. p. 710. 



The Purple Heron is not common at St. Johns. It has a 

 heavier flight than A. cinerea, and seems to have shorter 

 wings and a longer neck in proportion to its size. 



181. *Ardea goliath Temm. ; S. & L. p. 707. 

 A rare bird at St. Johns, and very shy. 



182. Butorides atricapilla (Afzel.) ; S. & L. p. 719. 



(1) 7.5.02. £ . Iris yellow ; legs green-grey ; bill with the 



upper mandible dark green at the base, the lower 



mandible yellow, the upper ridge black. 



Only two examples of this bird were seen. They were 



easy to approach, seldom taking long flights when disturbed. 



They were more or less crepuscular in their habits. 



183. Ardetta minuta (Linn.). 

 (1) 21.1.02. $. 



The Little Bittern is rare at St. Johns, and only two 

 examples were seen. It has a slow and weak flight, moving 

 away to a short distance when disturbed, and then hiding 

 itself among the reeds, whence it is difficult to flush it a 

 second time. 



\_A. minuta is distinguished from A. podicipes by the 

 distinctly dusky neck-frill, which is bright chestnut in 



SEK. VIII. — VOL. IV. Q 



