66 WADING BIRDS^, 



Subgenus. — Ardeola. (JBonap.) 



In these, the smallest birds of the family, the legs are compara- 

 tively short, the thighs feathered to the knees, and the membrane 

 uniting the toes merely rudimental. The sexes somewhat different. 

 The plumage of the young distinct from both. Their habits, like 

 the Bitterns, are chiefly nocturnal. They nest and dwell in marshy 

 grounds, and hiding, and running out far in their coverts rather than 

 take to wing, they are but seldom seen abroad ; food as usual. 



LEAST BITTERN. 



(Ardeaexilisj Gmel. Wilson, viii. p. 37. pi. 65. fig. 4. Phil. Muse- 

 um, No. 3814.) 

 Sp. Charact. — Chestnut, beneath whitish; neck above rufous; 



sides cream-colored ; crown, primaries, tail, and tufl each side of 



the breast, dusky. Length about 12 inches. 



This smallest of the Bitterns, and closely related to the 

 diminutive species of Europe (Ardea minuta,) inhabits the 

 United States in summer, probably to the extremity of the 

 state of New Hampshire, but are in every place of rare occur- 

 rence, from their habit of selecting the remotest parts of 

 extensive marshes, from whence they seldom ever issue, till 

 the period of migration, which is no doubt nocturnal, in 

 accordance with their usual habits. They are seen in Ja- 

 maica, also, and several other of the West India islands, but 

 whether the birds of the United States extend their migra- 

 tions within the tropics, is as yet unknown, though not im- 

 probable, as they pass on to the north to breed in the spring, 

 as soon as the marshes are sufficiently thawed for their re- 

 ception. They are rarely ever seen in salt meadows, and 

 live principally upon the small fish of fresh waters, or inlets, 

 and upon aquatic insects. Towards autumn, they are occa- 



