ARDEID^. 755 



The next birds are placed by Bonaparte under Ardeola, and 

 have the toes longer ; the tail very short, with only 10 feathers ; 

 the body very much compressed and Kail-like ; and the feathers of 

 the neck not so dense as in the last. 



933. Ardetta cinnamomea, Gmelin. 



Ardea, apud Gmelin — Blyth, Cat. 1652 — Jerdon, Cat. 309 

 — Lal-hagla, H. — Khyri-bogla, Beng. — Dosi-konga. Tel. 



The Chesnut Bittern. 



Descr. — Above, fine chesnut colour, with a tinge of cinereous 

 on the crown ; beneath, fulvous ; whitish on the throat, and 

 with a pectoral gorget of feathers, dark brown in the centre ; 

 thigh coverts cinnamomeous ; lower surface of the wings dull 

 ashy. 



Bill yellow, dusky on the ridge ; cere, and base of bill yellow ; 

 irides yellow ; legs greenish-yellow with yellow soles. Length 16 

 inches ; extent 22 ; wing 6 ; tail If ; bill at front 2 ; tarsus 2 ; 

 middle toe 2^. The young bird has the plumage streaked, the 

 feathers being reddish-brown in the centre with pale yellowish 

 margins. 



This Little Bittern frequents high reeds, and thickets of bushes 

 intermixed with reeds ; like the others of its genus, it is chiefly 

 nocturnal in its habits, but I have seen it feeding during the day. 

 It is found throughout India and Ceylon, extending through 

 Burmah and the Malayan islands. 



934. Ardetta sinensis, Gmelin. 



Ardea, apud Gmelin — Blyth, Cat. 1653— Hardwicke, 111. 

 Ind. Zool. pi. — A. lepida and A. nebulosa, Horsfield.— Jmw- 

 bagla, Beng. and H. — also Kat-bogla, Beng. 



The Yellow Bittern. 



Descr. — Adult, top of head black ; back of neck cinnamon- 

 rufous ; face, sides of neck, and breast pale fulvous-yellow, white 

 on the chin ; back and scapulars pale earthy or sandy brown ; 

 wing-coverts and tertiaries pale isabelline fulvous, the latter 



