GKESSOKES— AKDKID.K 211 



nuchal feathers, eyebrow, and abdomen white ; wings grey tinged 

 brown. Bill black, greenish at base below. Facial skin greenish. 

 Legs and feet yellow. Iris crimson. Wing (^ 281-305, 9 274-290. 

 Tarsus 70-78. Bill 65-76 (H,). Young : brown with tawny 

 streaks and large white or buff spots on wings. Iris brown. 

 Legs and feet greenish yellow. 



Breeds. — S. Europe from Spain and Portugal through S. France 

 (Camargue) and Italy to Austria, Hungary, and Balkan Peninsula 

 (not Greece, occasional Holland and Germany) ; S. Russia to 

 about 52' X. east to Volga and Ural ; Caucasus ; also through 

 Asia to Japan and in all Africa to Cape. Migratory in the 

 north ; occurs rarely in N. and N.W. Europe, Canaries, and 

 Azores. Casual in British Isles. 



IXOBRYCHUS. 



Bill much pointed, serrated near tip and nearly straight ; 

 tail 10 feathers; no ornamental plumes. 



Ixobrychus minutus minutus (L.). Little Bittern. 

 Fr. Heron blongios ; Ger. Zwergrohrdommel ; Ital. Tarabusino. 



^ Creamy buff; crown, nape, back, quills, and tail black; 

 wing coverts white more or less washed buff. Bill yellow, ridge 

 above dark brown. Facial skin greenish. Legs and feet green. 

 Iris orange yellow. Wing c^ ? 140-152. Tarsus 45-47. Bill 45-52. 

 $ more ochreous ; crown black, back brown or chestnut with faint 

 buff streaks, wing coverts ochreous. In young, crown is chestnut. 



Breeds. — Nearly all Europe south of Baltic ; Russia north to 

 about 60"', east to Volga and Ural ; Caucasus, and N. Africa ; 

 also C. and S.W. Asia. Migrates ; occurs in winter in Africa and 

 India and on passage in Switzerland, Sardinia, Dalmatia, and 

 Greece ; rare in Scandinavia and British Isles. 



BOTAURUS. 



10 tail feathers; hill pointed, serrated near tip; more 

 nocturnal than Herons, shy, skulking auKjngst reeds; often 

 protect themselves from observation by clinging vertically to a 

 reed stem. 



