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killed about 1845, near Hyeres, by the late Mr. Besson, a naturalist. A second, no less authentic, 

 occurrence was named to us by the custom-house officers stationed on the Petit Rhone, near 

 Saintes-Maries. It is also stated to occur sometimes in Spain." 



With regard to this last statement we are at present unaware of any corroborative evidence. 



Regarding its occurrence in Algeria the late Captain Loche observes : — 



" Its habits are the same as those of the common Heron, to which it bears great resemblance, 

 though it cannot be mistaken for it. It is only accidentally that it has been procured in Algeria, 

 but is said to be common in Abyssinia and the Sudan, Senegambia, Guinea, and down to the 

 Cape of Good Hope. Denham and Clapperton saw large numbers on the lakes and marshes of 

 Bornou and Loggoun, in company with others of the same family." 



The Rev. Canon Tristram has also informed us that he saw the present species " in Eastern 

 Algeria, very far south, in a chott." 



In his list of the Birds of North-eastern Africa, Dr. von Heuglin has published a short note 

 on the Black-necked Heron, to the effect that it is not rare in Abyssinia and Eastern Senaar, and 

 frequents open fields, and not the vicinity of water ; but this latter statement does not agree with 

 the experience of Dr. Hartmann, as detailed below. His notes are as follows : — 



" Ardea atricollis, which I had repeated opportunities of seeing in Inner Sennar, Roseres, 

 and Fazoglo, does not, as stated by Heuglin, frequent the open fields, but is generally found near 

 water. Here it consorts with other Waders, and rests on high trees further inland. It is said 

 to nest in June, on the wooded islands of the Nile, or in swamps, as, for instance, Moje Diisah 

 and Berket Qaoli." 



Mr. Blanford states : — 



" I once obtained a specimen of this Heron. It was killed in a swampy meadow, near 

 Adabagi, two marches south of Adigrat, at an altitude of about 8000 feet above the sea." 



The present species appears to be distributed all over the Ethiopian Region. Brehm gives 

 its northern range in North-eastern Africa as 14° N. lat. ; and it has been collected on the White 

 Nile by Antinori, Heuglin, Brun-Rollet, and others. It seems to be found throughout Western 

 Africa, having been sent from Bissao by Beaudouin, while a specimen is in the Leyden Museum, 

 from Senegambia. Pel obtained it on the Gold Coast; and Mr. Gurney has received it from 

 Ibadan, whence it was sent by Mrs. Hinderer. The natives of this place call it " Ako ; " and the 

 eyes were stated to be deep purple, and the food snakes and lizards. It is to be noticed that the 

 colour of the eye, as given above, does not agree with the experience of Mr. Ayres. In Benguela, 

 says Mr. Monteiro, it is " abundant on all the fresh-, salt-, and brackish-water lagoons and 

 marshes along the whole coast of Angola. It is often kept tame in the houses, and, though 

 preferring fish, will eat almost all other kinds of food." 



The Black-necked Heron was likewise obtained by the late Mr. Andersson in Damaraland 

 and Ovampo ; and Layard has included it in the Birds of the Cape Colony. From Natal and the 

 Transvaal Republic it has been sent by Mr. Ayres ; and it was observed in the Zambesi region by 

 Dr. Kirk, who says it was " scattered throughout the marshy regions of the rivers and lakes ; 

 commonly found singly or in pairs." The late Baron von der Decken found it in the interior of 

 the Suaheli country. It likewise occurs in Mayotte, according to Mr. Pollen, and is stated by 

 M. Jules Verreaux to have been sent from Madagascar. 



