A R DEID.E — BO TA UR LWE ■ BITTERNS. 



885 



of alarm, and a note sounding like strokes of a mallet on a stake, or the noise made by a wooden 

 pump. Nests on the ground ; eggs 3-5, lirownish-drab with a gray (>iot green) shade, 1-90- 

 2.00 X 1.45-1.50. (B. marjitans Coues, 2d-4th cds. of Key, Id84-U0, p. (3t)4, after Bartram, 

 whose names are still disallowed by the A. 0. U. A. lentiginosa Montagu, 1813. B. len- 

 tiginosus Steph. 1819, and of most authors. A. 0. U. No. 190.) 



ARDET'TA. (Ital., diminutive of Ardea.) Dwarf Bitterns. Very small, least of the 

 whole family ; length about a foot. In form very nearly as in Botaurus. Bill slender. Tarsus 

 about equal to middle toe and claw, with hardly any naked sjiace. No peculiar feathers ; those 

 of lower neck h)ng and loose; head slightly crested. Colors of back in large areas. Sexes 

 dissimilar ; young similar. There are 9 species of these queer dwarf Bitterns, of America and 

 the Old World ; they mostly inhabit reedy swamps, and somewhat approach Rails. 



Analysis of Species. 



Under tail-coverts like other lower parts ; quills rufous-tipped; buff scapular stripe (f erilis 



Under tail-coverta black ; quills not rufous tipped ; no scapular stripe if neozena 



A. exi'lis. (Lat. e.ri7j.s, for exiV/iVt's, exiguous, slight, small. Figs. 620, 62 1.) Least Bit- 

 tern. Adult $: Slightly crested crown, back, and tail, glossy greenish-black. Neck behind, 



Fig. (V20. — Least Bittern's Eggs 



most of the wing-coverts, and outer edges of inner quills, rich chestnut; uther wing-coverts 

 brownish-yellow ; quills rufous tipped. Front and sides of neck, and under parts, including 

 lower tail-coverts, brownish-yellow, varied with white along throat-lino; sides of breast with 

 a blackish-brown patch. Bill mostly pale yellow, culmeii blackish ; lores light green ; eyes 

 and toes yellow; legs green, the hinder scales yellow. 9: Black of back entirely, that of 

 crown mostly or wholly, replaced by ridi purplish-chestnut ; edges of scapulars forming a 

 brownisli-whitc stripe on each siile. broader than in J. Young similar to 9. '"'t dorsal ami 

 scapular feathers bntf-tipped. Length II. 00-14. (M) ; extent abrmt IH.OO ; wing 4.(MV5.(M) ; tail, 

 bill, tarsus, middle toe and claw, each, 2.00 or less. U. S. and British I'mviuces. comnnm ; 

 migratory; resident in the South; breeds throughout its range. Found also in West Indies, 



