249 
from the colony of Natal in South-eastern Africa. 
51. Herodias flavirostris (Temm.). African Yellow-billed 
White Heron. 
[Sent from Natal, but not by Mr. Ayres.—J. H. G.] 
52. Ardetta minuta (Linn.). European Little Bittern. 
Immature male. Eye bright yellow; bill greenish-yellow, but 
brown along the top; legs dull green, but soles of the feet and 
back of the legs light yellow. The only specimen seen: shot 
in a small river about twelve miles from the coast: stomach con¬ 
tained shrimps and small fish. This bird was hopping amongst 
the reeds from one to the other about three feet from the surface 
of the water with great celerity, occasionally stopping and 
attempting to hide itself, not by hopping to the ground, but by 
making itself appear as much as possible like an upright reed—- 
compressing its feathers, and stretching its neck to the utmost 
with the bill quite perpendicular, so as to be scarcely distinguish¬ 
able from the reed upon which it was sitting. 
53. Rallus aquaticus (Linn.). European Water Rail. 
[Sent from Natal, but not by Mr. Ayres.—J. H. G.] 
54. Corethrura ruficollis (Gray). Jardine’s Rail. 
Frequents marshes and boggy places; is very difficult to 
put up, and only flies three or four yards ; it is easily caught 
if the grass is not too long, and evidently cannot fly more than 
a few yards at a time. 
55. Parra africana (Gmel.). African Jacana. 
[Sent from Natal, but not by Mr. Ayres.—J. H. G.] 
56. Porphyrio smaragnotis (Temm.). Green-backed Por- 
phyrio. 
[Sent from Natal, but not by Mr. Ayres.—J. H. G.] 
57. Gallinula chloropus (Linn.). European Waterhen. 
[Sent from Natal, but not by Mr. Ayres.—J. H. G.] 
58. Gallinula pumila*, Sclater. (PI. VII.) Natal Gallinule. 
Mr. Ayres states that he is unacquainted with the habits of 
* Mr. Gurney has sent me this Gallinule for examination. I can find 
no described species which at all agrees with it, and am inclined to 
