390 Birds observed during a journey to the Matabili Country. 
Ardea cinerea, L. 
Fairly common on the Limpopo, where I observed several 
pairs and obtained one specimen, of which, however, I only 
preserved the feathers of the neck and the upper wing- 
coverts. 
Ardea purpurea, L. 
Common through the open country of the Transvaal, build¬ 
ing among the tall reeds of the (c sluits ” that are generally 
to be found in the hollows of the undulating ground. 
Ardea alba, L. 
A few pairs seen along the Limpopo during the summer. 
Ardeola comata (Pall.). 
a , S . Bamangwato, August 19th, 1873. 
Beak yellowish, black towards tip of culmen; legs greenish 
yellow; iris light yellow. 
b , J. Transvaal, July 11th, 1873. 
Distributed through the country and found only singly. 
CheNALOPEX jEGYPTIACUS (L.). 
Seen in pairs on the sandbanks of the Limpopo; they are 
very wary, and begin to sound the note of alarm long before 
one can see them; one which we obtained was shot from a 
nest in a tree, where it was doubtless sitting on its eggs. 
Plectropterus gambensis (L.). 
We obtained one specimen which, I believe, belonged to 
this species. In size it resembled a Goose; and the general 
colour was black. We often used to see birds, I suppose, 
of this species in the marshes of the Transvaal. From their 
colour they were very conspicuous, but very shy. 
Anas plavirostris. Smith. 
Mooi River, Natal, May 19, 1873. 
Beak black, with a yellow patch down the middle of the 
upper mandible; legs black; iris light orange. 
The commonest Duck throughout Natal and the Transvaal, 
and by no means wary. Its flesh is excellent. 
