LITTLE BITTERN. 



205 



The whole lenpjtb of the male is about thh'teen inches. 

 From the carpal joint to the end of the wing, five inches and 

 three-quarters. The female is a trifle smaller. 



A young bird in its first plumage, and with some down 

 still remaining upon it, — in which state it has been obtained 

 on the banks of the Lea River, near Enfield, — has the top 

 of the head of dark brown ; the feathers of the neck white 

 at the base, pale yellow-brown towards the end, with a 

 streak of dark brown in the line of the shaft ; the feathers 

 of the back dark brown, with bufl'-coloured edges ; the wing- 

 primaries and tail-feathers greyish-black ; the outer web of 

 the first quill-feather chestnut ; the carpal surface of the 

 wing and the tertials reddish-brown ; the wing-coverts buff"; 

 breast pale buff, with long streaks of dusky-brown in the 

 line of the feather 7 thighs in front pale buff", without 

 streaks, but varied wdth brown streaks behind ; vent, under 

 tail-coverts, and under wing-coverts, pale buify-white ; legs, 

 toes, and claws, reddish-brown. The dark-coloured streaks 

 on the neck and breast, and the broad light-coloured margins 

 of the feathers on the upper surface of the body, are lost by 

 degrees. 



A nestling in the collection of Mr. E. Bidwell is covered 

 with a soft ochreous-yellow down, longer on the back. 



