344 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



6th June, and Butler noted several other specimens shot in the 

 same locality. Probably often mistaken for the preceding species. 

 Arclea purpurea, Linn., Purple Heron. — Occasionally met with 

 in quiet, unfrequented vleys. Butler and Reid found a pair at a 

 large reedy vley, on the Natal side of the Buffalo, on the 19th 

 October. No nest was discovered, but they were probably going 

 to breed there. 



Ardeola bubidcus (Savig.). — One obtained by Lieut. Giffard 

 near Newcastle, in the summer months. 



Herodias garzctta, L. — White Egrets are a familiar feature in 

 all the less frequented vleys in the Newcastle district. They 

 are uncommonly shy. Butler and Reid found a small colony 

 apparently breeding in October, but could not discover the 

 nests. 



Ardetta pusilla (Vieil.), South African Little Bittern.— Seen 

 on the march up country, at Richmond Road, in February (B). 



Botaurus stellaris (Linn.), Bittern. — By no means uncommon 

 in the reed-grown vleys in the Newcastle district. Four or five 

 were sometimes seen in the course of a day's shooting. Specimens 

 obtained in September showed unmistakable signs of breeding, 

 but no nest was met with. 



Nycticorax griscus (Linn.), Night Heron. — Butler examined a 

 specimen in the flesh, in immature plumage, that was shot near 

 Newcastle by an officer of the 97th Regt. ; but we did not come 

 across it ourselves, so that it must be uncommon in the tract with 

 which we are dealing. 



Scojms umbretta, Gmel., Tufted Umbrette ; Hammerkop. — A 

 common bird in vleys and along sluggish streams ; by no means 

 shy. Four fresh eggs were taken from a nest at Calleba's Laagte 

 by Lieut. Giffard, on the 30th May. Eggs were also taken by 

 Lieut. Harkness near Ladysmith in October, and on the 21st 

 November Reid found a nest near Colenso, containing an egg on 

 the point of hatching and three young birds just out of the shell. 

 It would appear from this that they, like many other South African 

 birds, breed twice, winter and summer, if not all the year round. 

 Butler adds the following note: — "Numerous nests about New- 

 castle all through the cold weather ; they are huge stick structures, 

 domed, with the entrance on one side, and usually placed upon a 

 rock overlooking a running stream or waterfall, sometimes only 

 three or four feet above the water, though usually higher. The 



