1126 
ARDEA GOLIATH. 
devoured a whole catfish of at least two pounds in weight, with a head as broad as his hand ; it “ had 
dexterously speared it right through the body behind the head with one mandible, and had evidently clasped 
it with the other.” A second example had swallowed a carp of the same weight. Possessed of such a powerful 
bill it becomes a formidable enemy when wounded. Mr. Bligh writes me that when the example above alluded 
to was winged with a charge of No. 2 shot a cooly was sent into the water to capture it ; but the Heron turned 
on him and fairly kept him at bay until it was killed by a second discharge of small shot. On the Red Sea 
Von Heughn noticed it in small parties, sometimes numbering ten individuals ; but elsewhere he found it singly 
or in pairs. At the seaside he observed it frequenting creeks and islands where the ground was soft, coral 
reefs, and places overgrown with Qondel and Shora trees, among which large stretches of ooze had formed. 
In the Nile district it was to be seen about streams, brooks, swamps, watercourses, and also on the open steppes. 
He remarks that although a melancholy sort of bird it displays an uncommonly shy and watchful disposition, 
feeding only in places where it can see far all round, and reposing on wide-stretching sand banks. Its flight 
is slow and sluggish, with some noise ; and if it is suddenly disturbed it gets up screaming, its loud note falling 
on the ear like the bark of a large dog. The individual in the Zoological Gardens I found to be a savage bircf, 
but fond of his keeper, from whom it expected food when he visited it. It welcomed him with its wings out- 
spread and its head and neck lowered nearly to the ground ; and while it kept up a constant flapping of its 
huge pinions it opened its bill wide and emitted a low gurgling cackling note, which increased into a kind 
of roar when it became excited, and erected its large crest. 
Von Ileuglin believes this Heron breeds near the Red Sea on Qondel trees. 
