Mr. R. Swinhoe's Ornithological Notes made at Chefoo. 133 



the following notes on fresh birds^ the sexes of which I deter- 

 mined by dissection : — 



Male, with enormous testes. Total length 14 inches. Wing 

 5-88, first quill -25 shorter than the second, which is the 

 longest, and -1 longer than the third ; wing extending to tail- 

 tip. Taill-15. Tibia, bare for -75. Tarse 1*98 long; middle 

 toe 2, its claw '37. Legs and toes grass-green, yellow near 

 the tarso-tibial joint and on the under surface of the tarse. 

 Soles clay-coloured, claws light yellowish brown. Bill from 

 forehead 1-95, from gape 2-47 ; depth at base -57. Bill 

 blackish brown on culmen, yellowish brown on the rest, 

 darker on sides of upper mandible near tomia, light on sides 

 of lower and on gonys. Cere and bare skins round eye purplish 

 flesh-colour, tinged with green. Iris straw-yellow. 



Female. — Eggs largely developed, nearly ready for emis- 

 sion. Length 12 inches; wing 5-45; bill in front 1-95, from 

 gape 2*42; depth at base '5; tibia, bare for '5 ; tarse 1*75 ; 

 middle toe and claw 2*17. Bill blackish brown on culmen 

 and along terminal edge of lower mandible, light yellowish 

 grey on rest ; yellow on cere and base of lower mandible ; 

 skin round eye greenish yellow ; iris yellow ; legs and toes 

 green, yellower on tibial joint; soles light clay-colour; claws 

 light brown. Plumage spotted like that of the immature bird. 



On the 21st a bird in the male dress proved on dissection 

 to be a female ; and on the 22nd one in female dress turned 

 out to be a male. There was no difference in the swollen 

 state of their sexual organs from those of normal birds. 

 From the number of adult females I examined, there can be 

 no doubt that the immature dress is the full feminine cos- 

 tume ; and that an occasional female, probably well advanced 

 in years, should affect the male plumage is a very ordinary 

 circumstance amongst birds. But what means the adult male 

 in immature dress ? I presume that males require two years 

 to acquire their full plumage, and breed in their first year. 



The Little Bitterns that were brought alive had generally 

 their wings twisted and their legs tied, so that they could not 

 stand ; but they were then very fierce, uttering loud croaking 

 cries, and striking savagely with their bills. They pecked at 



