132 
Birds of Gambia. 
diet of the larger species is as a rule more restricted to the largea*, 
more fishy and reptilian of the items in this menu. 
I liave never seen the nest of the Little Egret but the larger 
breetl in trees, making flat nests of sticks, two or three pairs to a 
liee, most frequently in this country in or close to a native village. 
A particularly large nesting colony is at Toniataba on the South 
Bank, where these Egrets share some half dozen trees with/ a crowd 
of the noisy black Buffalo Weavers. During the breeding season 
they spend the night of course at their nests, but for the rest of 
the year 'both species although they pass the day widely scattered 
over the country, unite in large flocks to roost in company at night.. 
Both species too frequent the brackish mangrove swamps of the lower 
river and its estuary, as well as the sweet-wa,ter ones higher up. 
Their nightly roosting places these two Egrets share with 
the Bull -backed species, enormous flocks consisting of these three 
species occupying larg^e trees overhanging the water along the river, 
and every evening about sundown they may be seen converging on 
their sleeping quarters, arriving in flocks of varying sizes fi'ora up 
and down stream, flying straight and silently a little way above the 
water-level. Such a roosting place goes on from year to year, and 
during the day shows up at a little distance as a whitened patch 
against the dark green foliage, owing to the quantity of the birds' 
excrement which coats the lower leaves and branches. At dayligh't 
or just before dark, when all its occupants are present, such a spot 
looks from a distance as if it was covered with a huge white sheet, 
which may break up as the boat gets closer or a gun is fired into 
a cloud of sci-eaming birds, rising with much noise and wing-flapping, 
and expressing their disgust at being disturbed with clamour and 
croaking cries; the commotion however does not last long for 
they soon settle down again in their accustomed places directly the 
cause of the disturbance passes on. 
Native names are " Harikoio " in Mandingo, " Khorda " and 
" Toitoi " in Joloff, the last name however, applying to the Little 
Egret only. 
Ardea ardesiaca. BLACK HEKON. 
RariQe. Tropical Africa. (H.L.) 
A small Heron (17 inches) slaty -black in colour and having 
black beak and legs. The small Black Heron which is so common 
along the lower river and the mangrove -creeks, I take to be 
this species, though I have never actually been able to make certain. i 
A. gularis. SLATY EGRET. 
Bar\ge. Ti'opical Africa. Madagascar. (H.L). 
Also common in the Gambia. It is nearly wholly olack or 
a very dark grey when out of colour, but in tlijc breeding season 
the male develops clear slate-blue ornamental plumes and while cheeks 
and throat. Bill yellow, legs black with yellowish toes. Length, 
21 inches. 
A. melanocephala. BLACK-NECKED HERON. 
