184 ARDEIDZ. 
Supra niger, saturate ochraceo variegatus, plumis singulis utrinque ochraceo indentatis vel fasciatis ; dorso 
imo, uropygio et supracaudalibus nigris ochraceo fasciatis et variegatis ; remigibus nigris, ochraceo- 
rufo apicem versus terminatis fusco variegatis ; cauda virescenti-nigra ; pileo nigro ; facie laterali et collo 
undique ochraceo late nigro fasciatis ; gula alba; gutture medio pallide cinnamomeo, vix nigro fimbriate, 
lineam longitudinalem formante; prapectore quoque eodem modo striato; pectoris plumis lateralibus 
lanceolatis nigro et rufo longitudinaliter variegatis; corpore reliquo subtus stramineo-fulvo, hypo- 
chondriis brunneo fasciolatim variegatis; subalaribus et axillaribus ochraceis, fusco transfasciatis: rostro 
nigro, mandibula brunnescenti-flava; loris nudis fuscescenti-flavis ; iride nitide flava. Long. tota 
circa 31-0, ale 13-3, caude 4°65, culm. 3°45, tarsi 4°2. (Deser. avis adult. ex Aunai, British Guiana. 
Mus. nostr.) 
Juv. similis adulto, sed magis ochraceo-rufescens, nigro variegatus ; pileo nigro ochraceo transfasciato ; facie 
laterali ochracea fere concolore; gutture toto albo; corpore reliquo subtus pallide ochrascente, plumis 
medialiter rufescentibus, quasi longitudinaliter striatis, nigro paullulum fimbriatis et vermiculatis ; tibiis 
ochraceis, anguste brunneo transfasciatis. (Descr. femine juv. ex Rio de Janeiro. Mus. Brit.) 
Hab. Nicaracua, Greytown (Holland *).—Guiana 4; Brazit +. 
This is a rare species in collections, but is nevertheless a very distinct one, as it 
differs from all the other Bitterns in having the head barred with black and sandy-buff 
like the neck-frill ; in B. lentiginosus and the Old-World Bitterns the head is uniform 
brown or black. | 
Although distributed over the greater part of Tropical South America, it is 
nowhere very common, and its occurrence in Central America requires confirmation, for 
Mr. Lawrence expresses some doubt as to his identification of the Nicaragua specimen 
above recorded. We think, however, that there is no other species to which the latter 
could be referred. 
We take the following remarks from Sclater and Salvin’s ‘ Exotic Ornithology’ :— 
‘*Upon comparing B. pinnatus with B. lentiginosus, it is not difficult to point out 
many obvious differences. ‘The under-plumage of the two birds is much alike, except 
that in the former the throat is pure white, and wants the two conspicuous black 
stripes which in B. lentiginosus border each side of the neck. Above the two allies 
are very different, the whole upper plumage in B. pinnatus being conspicuously crossed 
by numerous transverse bars, which are entirely wanting in B. lentiginosus and are 
replaced on the scapulars, outer margins of secondaries, and wing-coverts with dense 
freckling. It is this difference in the wing-markings, we suppose, which led Lichten- 
stein to call the present bird pinnatus. Another conspicuous character of this Bittern 
is the length of the hind toe and great size of the claw. In the specimen now before 
us the hind toe is two inches, and its claw nearly one inch and a half in length. Ina 
skin of B. lentiginosus the corresponding dimensions are 1°d in., 1-1 in. ‘The tarsi of 
the two species hardly differ in length.” 
Beyond the fact that this Bittern has similar habits to the European JB. stellaris, 
nothing has been published respecting its mode of life or nidification. 
