140 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



LEAST BITTERN, 



A. O. U. >o. 191. (Ardetta exilis.) 



RANGE. 



Common in suitable localities throughout the United States and 

 southern Canada, Winters in southern United States. 



NEST AND EGGS. 



Least Bitterns nest in the rush-grown marshes where they are 

 usually found. The nest is a platform of rushes sometimes rudely 

 thrown together and again woven with some skill, and placed on the 

 ground, in low bushes or attached to the growing rushes, sometimes 

 over the water. Their first set of eggs is laid about the middle or 

 latter part of May and sometimes, especially in the south, another set 

 is laid the last of July. The eggs number four or five and are a pale 

 bluish white in color; size 1.20x.92. 



HABITS 



Wherever you find a pond, lake or stream bordered with reeds or 

 rushes you will be apt to meet with this smallest representative of the 

 heron family. They are very abundant in the south, but in northern 

 L^nited States and southern Canada they are only found in certain 

 localities. As they are so quiet and secluded in the habits they often 

 dwell in places where their presence is little suspected. They are very 

 rarely seen in flight during the day time, confining their journeys to 

 walking about among the rushes; where these grow in the water they 

 progress by stepping from one stalk to the other, which they do with 

 great agility and rapidity, balancing themselves with far greater ease 

 and grace than the most skilful gymnast. Their song seems to be 

 limited to a few cooing notes; clucks of alarm are heard in the day 

 time and calls of "qua" frequently issue from the marshes at night. 

 If, perchance, they are surprised in the daytime, so that flight is 

 necessary, they go but a few yards before dropping into the protecting 

 rushes. 



Like all the herons, these little fellows depend upon their protective 

 coloration to escape observation. This ruse is often very successful 

 because of the peculiar actions of the birds; when standing among the 



