70 AEDEIDiE MELANOPHOYX 



obtained by him, crammed with the shells of small aquatic mollusca 

 (Siiccinea clelalandi and Physopsis africana). 



Butler and Reid found a small colony of this Egret apparently 

 breeding in the Newcastle district in October, but could discover 

 no nests ; Layard was more fortunate, and obtained eggs from the 

 Berg River, where this Egret breeds freely ; the clutch consists of 

 three or four eggs ; these resemble those of other Herons in being 

 very pale blue and unspotted ; they are oval in shape, almost 

 equally rounded at both ends, and measure 2-10 x 1'55. 



Genus III. MELANOPHOYX. 



Type. 

 Melanophoyx, Sharpe, Bull. B. 0. G. iii, p. 38 



(189i) M. ardesiaca. 



Bill long and slender, about as long as the middle toe and claw, 

 but distinctly shorter than the tarsus ; mandible with a distinct 

 subterminal notch but not serrated ; wings long and strong, the 

 second or third primary the longest ; the bare portion of the tibio- 

 tarsus occupying about half the length of the bone, and about equal 

 to the inner toe and claw ; tail of twelve feathers, nearly even and 

 rather short ; plumage slaty-black, with narrow elongate, lanceolate, 

 ornamental plumes on the head, foreneck and back, not much 

 decomposed, those of the back not extending beyond the tail. 



This genus, containing two closely allied species, both of which 

 are found within our Ihnits, is confined to tropical and South Africa^ 



Key of the Species. 



A. Throat and under surface entirely slaty black... M. ardesiaca, p. 70. 



B. Upper throat vinous rufous, under parts slaty 



grey or slightly washed with vinous M. vinaceigula, -p. 72. 



592. Melanophoyx ardesiaca. Black Heron. 



AiJea ardesiaca, Wagl., Syst. Av. Ardcn, p. 189 (1827); Finsrh dr 

 Hartl. Vog. Oit-Afr. p. 682 (1870) ; Aj/res, Ibis, 1871, p. 264, 1878, 

 p. 299, 1880, p. 269 ; Barratf, Ibis, 1876, p. 210 ; Milne-Edu:. d 

 Grandid., Hist. Kat. Madag. Ois. p. 547, pi. 225 (1881,1 ; Sharpe, ed. 

 Laijard's B. S. Afr. p. 712 (1884) ; Shelley, B. Afr. i, p. 157 a896) ; 

 Woodward Bros., Natal B. p. 19.3 (,1899). 



