ARDEA ATRICOLLIS. 



DIMENSIONS 



lucUes. Lines. 

 Length from the point of the bill to 



the tip of the tail 35 



of the bill to the angle of the 



mouth 5 6 



of the wings when folded 1 G 



of the tail 7 



Inches. Lines. 



Length of the tarsus 5 10 



outer toe 2 4 



middle toe 2 10 



inner toe 2 



hinder toe 1 3 



Male. — The exact colours not known. 



This bird is seldom seen iii South Africa, and all the specimens which came under my 

 observation were procured on the western coast of the Colony, towards the mouth of the 

 Orange River. It builds its nest upon trees, and the only adult specimen I myself obtained 

 was shot on leaving its nest, which was situated on the top of a tree immediately above one 

 of a bird of prey. The nest contained two young ones, and an addled egg; the latter was 

 of a greenish white colour. 



