72 AKDEID^ BUBULCUS 



693. Melanophoyx vinaceigula. Bed-throated Heron. 



Ardea ardesiaca (nee Wagl.) Gurney, Ibis, 1871, p. 264; Sharpe, ed. 



Layard's B. S. Afr. p. 712 (1884). 

 Melanophoyx vinaoeigiila, Bharjpe, Cat. B. M. xxvi, p. 105, pi. lA 



(1898) ; Beichenow, Vog. Afr. i, p. 374 (1901). 



Description. Adult. — Similar to M. ardesiaca, but having the 

 throat vinous-red ; tarsi and feet greenish-grey. 



Length 16-5 ; wing 9-0 ; tail 3-65 ; culmen 2-25 ; tarsus 3-0. 



There are two examples of this species in the British Museum, 

 where they were formerly considered to be the young of M. ardesiaca- 

 This does not appear to be the case, however, as there is a young 

 bird of the latter species also in the collection which has a black 

 throat and yellow toes, as in the adult. 



Distribution. — Only known from the Potchefstroom district of 

 the Transvaal, whence there are two examples in the British 

 Museum, both obtained by Mr. T. Ayres. 



Genus IV. BUBULCUS. 



Type. 



Bubulcus, Bp. Ann. Sci. Nat. (4) i, p. 141 (1854) B. ibis. 



Bill slender and rather short, considerably shorter than the 

 tarsus, which again is about equal to the middle toe and claw : 

 mandibles serrated along their edges ; wing long and strong, the 

 first three primaries about equal and longest ; tail moderate, rounded 

 and composed of twelve feathers ; bare portion of the tibio-tarsus 

 occupying about the lower third of that limb and less in extent 

 than the length of the inner toe and claw ; plumage white through- 

 out except the decomposed nuptial plumes on the head, foreneck, 

 and back. 



This genus, containing two closely allied species, has a wide 

 range over Central and Southern Europe and Asia, from Spain to 

 the Moluccas, and throughout Africa and Madagascar. Only one 

 species is found in Africa. 



594. Bubulcus ibis. Cattle Egret. 



Ardea ibis, Linn., Syst. Nat. 10th ed. i, p. 144 (1758). 



Ardea luoida, Bafin., Caratteri, p. 3 (1810). 



Ardea bubulcus, Audouin, Expl. somm. Bl. Ois. de I'Egypte, p. 391, 

 pi. 8. fig. 1 (1823) ; Delagorgue, Voyage i, p. 334 (1847) ; Ourney, 

 Ibis, 1863, p. 330, 1868, pp. 256, 468 [Natal and Transvaal] ; Layard 



