

















































210 Mr. F. A. Barratt’s Notes on the Birds 

gether in the same vley, but always some distance apart ; and 
they can be heard a long way off, calling out “ mahem” with 
a delightful mellow note. At the present time I have four 
living which I brought over from the Orange Free State and 
Transvaal. They all, with the exception of the young one, 
have the white cheek: I have seen birds from the western 
coast with it red; but I have never seen them so from the 
Transvaal. All I have shot, heard of, or seen, have had the 
cheek white. The eggs I have always found to be white with 
a bluish cast ; some state, however, that they are spotted ; but 
I have never found them so. I have seen these birds a few 
miles north of Pretoria. 

95. ARDEA PURPUREA. 
The Purple Heron I have met with throughout my travels 
in the Free State and the Transvaal, but not further north 
than Nazareth, in the latter State. I found it became less 
common in the southern portions of the Free State, and A. 
cinerea seemed to take its place to a great extent. It is not 
so shy as most of the Herons; for I could generally easily 
procure a specimen near Potchefstroom when required. 
96. ARDEA GARZETTA. 
I shot specimens of this lovely little Egret near Pretoria, 
and I have shot them near Potchefstroom both in winter and 
summer. 
97. ARDEA EGRETTA,. 
This graceful bird, with its long sweeping plumes, is too 
well known to need any description. It is, however, gene- 
rally very shy, and not easily procured. 
98. ARDEA ARDESIACA. 
This Heron was shot near Potchefstroom while sitting on 
a stone. 
99. ARDEA LEUCOPTERA. 
I shot the best of my specimens of this lovely bird in Octo- 
ber, when it was in magnificent plumage. It is, however, 
a rather wary bird; and I have often watched them from 
a distance standing near a vley and occasionally curving their 
long necks. 

