BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



281 



Xittle Bittern. 



The Little Bittern {Ardetta minuta, Linnaeus) is a spring 

 and autumn migrant to the British Islands, and is found 

 inhabiting Central Europe and Western Asia, ranging to 

 the south in winter as far as Central Africa. The adult 

 male has the crown, nape, back, shoulders, and tail-feathers 

 glossy greenish-black ; quills, black ; sides of head, neck, 

 and wing-coverts, rusty-buff, the latter paler; throat and 

 under parts, buff, streaked with brownish on some of the 

 feathers at side of chest and flanks ; chin and vent, white ; 

 irides and bill, yellow ; legs and feet, yellowish-olive. 

 Length, from twelve to thirteen inches. The adult female 

 is a little less than the male. 



