102 WADING BIRDS. 



startled it gives a cry resembling the qua of the Night Heron, and 

 displays a Rail-like disposition to hide amid the grass rather than 

 fly from danger. Some observers think its flight is feeble and 

 cannot be sustained, while others affirm that the bird is capable of 

 prolonged flight. 



CORY'S LEAST BITTERN. 



Ardetta neoxena. 



Char. Similar to B. exilis, but smaller, and lacking the stripes of 

 buff on the sides of the back ; lower tail-coverts black ; wing-coverts 

 chestnut. Length about ii inches. 



Nest. In a swamp on border of lake ; on a low bush two and a half 

 feet above the surface of the water ; built of twigs and lined with leaves. 



Eggs. ? 



This species was described by Mr. Charles B. Cory in 1886 from 

 the type which was taken in Florida by Mr. R. T. Stuart. Since 

 then some thirteen examples have been reported, five from Florida, 

 one from Michigan, and seven from Toronto. 



The habits of the bird are supposed to be similar to those of 

 exilis. Mr. Scott's example was discovered while walking on the 

 leaves of pond-lilies, and when startled it retreated to the tall grass 

 on the margin of the pond. 



Mr. Menge, who collected several of the Florida specimens, dis- 

 covered a nest with four young birds. He writes : — 



'• I had one of the old birds in my hand, which I think was the 

 female. She was not inclined to fight and would not leave the nest. 

 The other old bird was two or three feet from me, and seemed a 

 much larger bird. I did not disturb them, and when I let the old 

 bird go she hopped back on her nest as though she was accustomed 

 to being handled." (R. A. Chapman, " The Auk,"' January, 1S96, 

 p. 14.) 



LIMPKIN. 



COURLAN. 



Aramus GIGANTEUS. 



Char. Prevailing color dark brown glossed with purple ; head, neck, 

 and back striped with white ; throat white. General appearance rather 

 Heron-like. Length about 26 inches. 



