528 ARDETTA EXILIS, LEAST BITTERN. 



fill — more action is displayed on such occasions than probably under 

 any other circumstance. As an article of food itself, the Bittern is not 

 a success, notwithstanding eminent authority to the contrary. I have 

 several times seen it brought to table, under favorable culinary circum- 

 stances ; but in each instance it furnished occasion for a joke at some 

 one's expense, as little relished, apparently, as the meat itself. 



ARDETTA EXILIS, (Gm.) Gray. 



Least Bittern. 



Ardea eiHis, Gm., Sj'st. Nat. i, 1788, 645. — Lath., Ind. Orn. ii, 1790, 683 (based on 

 Minute Bittern, of Gen. Syn. v, 66). — Wils., Am. Oru. Tiii, 1814, 37, pi. 65, f. 4. — 

 Wagl., Svst. Av. 1827, Ardea No. 36.— Nutt., Man. ii, 1834, 66.— AuD., Oru. 

 Biog. iii, 1835, 77 ; v, 1839, 606 ; pi. 210 ; Syn. 1839, 263 ; B. Am. vi, 1843, 100, 

 pi. 366.— GiR., B. L. I. 1844, 287,— Putn., Pr. Ess. Inst, i, 1856, 210 (Massachu- 

 setts).— Newb., p. R. R. Rep. vi, 18.57, 98 (Sacramento Valley, Cal.). 



Ardea (Ardeola) exilis, Bp., Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 191 ; Syn. 1828, 308. 



Ardeola exiUs, Bp., List, 1838, 47 ; C. A. ii, 1855, 134.— GossE, B. Jam. 1847, 343.— HoY, 

 Smiths. Rep. 1864, 438 (Missouri). 



Ihdor exilis, Sw., Classif. of Birds, ii, 1837, 354. 



Ardetta exilis, Gray, Gen. of B. iii, 1849; Hand-list, iii, 1871,31, No. 10150 (subgenus). — 

 GUND., J. f. O. iv, 1856, 345 (Cuba).— Bd., B. N. A. 1858, 673.— Wheat., Ohio 

 Agric. Rep. 1860, No. 186.^Scl., P. Z. S. 1861, 81 (Jamaica).— CouES & PkKxNT., 

 Smiths. Rep. 1861, 415.— Verr., Pr. Ess. lust, iii, 1862, 158 (Maine, rare).— 

 Allen, ibid, iv, 1864, 76 (Massachusetts, very rare).— McIlwr., ibid, v, 1866, 91 

 (Canada West, common summer resideut). — Coues, ibid, v, 1868, 290. — Lawr., 

 Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii, 1863 (Panama) ; 1866, 292.— Coues. Pr. Phila. Acad. 1866, 

 95 (Arizona). — Coues, Pr. Bost. Soc. xii, 1868, 123 (South Carolina). — Dress., 

 Ibis, 1866, 32 (Texas).— Brv., Pr. Bost. Soc. 1866 (Porto Rico).— Salv., Ibis, 

 1866 196 (Guatemala).— Allex, Mem. Bost. Soc. i, 1868, .520 (Illinois).— Turxb., 

 B. E. Pa. 1869, 28.— Allex, Bull. M. C. Z. ii, 1871, 359 (Florida, not comiuon); 

 iii, 1872, 182 (Eastern Kansas). — Mayx., Guide, 1870, 144 (Massachusetts, very 

 rare).— Coues, Key, 1872, 270.— Sxow, B. Kaus. 1873, 9.— Ridgw., Ann. Lye. 

 N. Y. s, 1874, 386 (Illinois). 



Hah. — United States aud British Provinces. Breeds throughout its United Suites 

 range, wintering in the South. Cuba. Jamaica. Central America. (?) South America. 

 Not obtained by any of the Expeditions. 



Although very generally distributed, this curious little Heron does 

 not appear to be anywhere abundant. I have seen it aliv^e but few 

 times, and am not very familiar with its habits. I have invariably 

 found it in reedy swamps — just such places as the Eails frequent — 

 where, when startled, it ilies up in a manner reminding one of a Kail. 

 Like the Bitteru, it is regularly migratory, passing northward in April, 

 and returning in September. It is said to reside in the Gulf States, 

 and to be more numerous there than elsewhere. It does not appear to 

 gather in communities to breed, like most of the Herons, but is oftenest 

 found singly, in pairs, or at most, three or four pairs. It is also an 

 exceiJtion to the general rule among Herons that the sexes are alike in 

 color. It bears a curious likeness, or rather analogy, in several respects 

 to the Eails. 



The nest I have never seen. According to Audubon, it is " some- 

 times placed on the ground, amid the rankest grasses, but more fre- 

 quently it is attached to the stems several inches above it. It is flat, 

 composed of dried or rotten weeds, and in shape resembles that of the 

 Louisiana Heron, though this latter employs nothing but sticks. * * 

 * * In two instances I found the nests of the Least Bittern about 

 three feet above the ground in a thick cluster of smilax and other briary 

 plants. In the first, two nests were placed in the same bush, within a 

 few yards of each other. In the other instances there was only one 



