284 BIRDS OF DAMABA LAND. 



ARDEID-ffi. 



332. Ardea cinerea, Linn. Common Heron. 



Ardea cinerea, Gould's Birds of Europe, pi. 273. 

 „ „ Layard's Cat. No. 577. 



„ „ Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 417. 



This species is rather common on and near the sea- 

 shore, from the mouth of the Orange River to Walwich 

 Bay, wherever suitable locaHties occur; but I have 

 seldom seen it inland, except in Ondonga, where it 

 makes its appearance in December ; but the natives say 

 that it does not breed there, and I think they are right. 



These Herons usually occur singly or in pairs ; but I 

 have counted as many as twenty in one small spot (not 

 extending more than two hundred yards in any direction). 

 They will remain motionless sometimes for hours, but in 

 the i^mornings and towards evening are usually on the 

 move in search of their food, which consists in great 

 part of fish, though they also feed on rats, mice, and 

 reptiles. 



The iris is bright yellow ; the bill golden or orange 

 yellow, except on the ridge and at the base, where it is 

 somewhat dusky ; a patch on each side of the bill in 

 front of the lore is pale yellow, with a tinge of green ; 

 the lore and the space round the eye are brovsTiish slate- 

 colour, the legs and feet a dusky greenish yellow. 



333. Ardea melanocephala, Vig. & Chil. Blaok-throated Heron. 



Ardea atricollis, Smith's Zool. of S. Africa, pi. 86. 

 „ ,, Layard's Cat. No. 679. 



,, ,, Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 417. 



