246 BIRDS OF BEEMUDA. 



Length, 26.50 j wiug, 11.00; tarsus, 3.60; bill, 2.75. 



Hab. — Entire temperate Korth America up to 58^ or 60°; Cuba; south 

 to Guatemala; regularly migratory; accidental in Europe. (Coues.) 



A regular visitor in the autumn, and occasionally in March, frequent- 

 ing the sedgy patches on the edges of the mangrove swamps. Mr. 

 Hurdis says : " The stomach of one, shot in the Pembroke Marshes, 

 contained an eel 6 inches long, a mouse, a dragonfly, a grasshopper, 

 and part of a small golden carp." To show how plentifully they arrive 

 in certain years, I may mention (though a cold shudder passes through 

 me as I do so) that no less than thirteen were shot by one officer, who 

 shall be nameless, in the autumn of 1875. 



Genus Ardetta, Gray. 



129. Ardetta exilis, (Gm.) Gray. Least Bittern. 



Ardea exilis, Gm., Lath., Wils., Wagl., Nutt., Aud., Gir., Newb. 

 Ardea (Ardeola) exilis, Bp. 

 Ardcola exilis, Bp,, Gosse, Hoy. 

 Butor exilis, Sw. 



Ardetta exilis, Gray, Gundl., Bd., Scl., Coues «fc Prent., Verr., Allen, Coues, 

 Lawr., Dress., Mayn., Salv., Ridg., &c. 



Length, 13.00; wing, 4.75; tarsus, 1.60; bill, 1.75. 



Hob. — United States and British Provinces; breeds throughout its 

 United States range, wintering in the South, Cuba, Jamaica, Central 

 (and South?) America. (Coues.) 



Has occurred both in spring and autumn, but, from its frequenting 

 the thick mangrove swamps and hiding among their tangled roots, has 

 not very often been obtained. Colonel Wedderburn procured several 

 specimens between 1847 and 1850. I shot a female near the Sluice- 

 gates on March 1, 1875, and Lieutenant Denison records one shot at 

 Basden's Pond in December, 1875. 



Sub-order ALEOTORIDES. 

 Family RALLID^. 

 Sub-family BALLING. 



Genus Eallus, Linn. 



130. Rallus virginianus, Linn. Virginian Eail. 



Eallus virginianus, Linn., Gm., Wils., Bp., Nutt., Aud., Gir., Gundl., Bd.^ 



Coop. & Suck., Scl. & Salv., Dress., and modem authors. 

 Aramus {Fardiralhis) virgiiiianus. Gray. 

 Eallus aquaticus var. /?, Lath. 

 Eallus Umicola, Vieil. 



Length, about 7^; wing, 4; tail, 1^. 



