( 18 ) 



Notes. — This heron is constantly 

 seen in the paddy fields during the 

 summer. In flight it appears quite 

 white as the under parts are chiefly in 

 view. Once it a^lights, the colors of 

 the back and neck so blend with its 

 surroundings as to cause the bird to 

 disappear almost instantly. 



LITTLE BITTEEN. 



IXOBRTCHUS SINENSIS (gM.) 



[Ardetta sinensis (Gm.)] 



Description. — Length 13i inches. 



Bill yellow in male; in female 

 fuscous above, white below. The skin 

 at the base of the bill is yellowish- 

 green in both sexes. Legs are yellowish 

 green ; tibia completely feathered to the 

 joint ; inner toe longer than the outer 

 one. Iris yellow. 



Male. — Crown black. Neck behind 

 rufous, in front yellowish. Back pale 

 brown, wing coverts greyish yellow. 

 Breast and abdomen yellow. Feathers 

 of under parts more or less marked 

 with brown. Axillaries are bufiQsh- 

 white. Wing and tail quills greyish 

 black. There are 10 tail quills. 



Female. — She is similar to the male 

 except the crown and some streaks on 

 the forehead are bluish-slabe and there 

 is a collar of black feathers edged 

 ochracoeus at the base of the neck^ al-a^ ^■»-f|, <-\-*^'<^ 



Distribution. — India, Philippines, ^tuxfcvo rf -u-fi-^ 

 Japan, and all of China. This bird is t<.*.A*u*v» **.»->• 

 a summer visitant in the Yangtse jT t^^tJ tt- 

 Valley. "^ob 



Nest and Eggs.— While it may at (^■<'^*^ >— »-^^ 

 times build its nest in trees or OLX«. o-Vctfertr 

 bamboos at a moderate height from 

 the ground, yet it seems to prefer to 



