BIEDS — ARDEIDAE — ARDETTA EXILIS. 



G73 



Comparative measurements of Botaureae. 



ARDETTA EXILIS, Gray. 



Least Bittern. 



^rdea exilis, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 648.— Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, 1814, 37 ; pi. Ixv.— "W.\gler, Syst. Av. 

 .~ 1827 ; ^rdea, No. 3G —Add. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 77 : V, 1839, 606 ; pi. 210.— Ib. Syii. 263.— Ib. Birds 

 Amer. VI, 1843, 100; pi. 366. 

 ^rdea {Ardeola) exilis, Bok. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 191 —la. Syn. 308.— Nhttall, Man. II, 1834, 66. 

 ^rdeola exilis, Bonap. List, 1838.— Ib. Consp. II, 1855, 134.— Gosse, Birds Jam. 1847, 343. 

 Butor exilis, Sw. Birds, II, 1837. 



Ardelta exilis, Grat, Gen. 1842.— Cab. Journ. IV, 1856. 345. 

 " Ardetta punctata, Grat, List, Br. Mus. Ill, 83."— Bonap. 

 Minute bittern, Latham, Syn, III, i, 66. 



Sp. Ch. — Head above and the back dark glossy green. Upper part of neck, shoulders, greater coverts, and outer webs of 

 some tertials, purplish cinnamon. A brownish yellow scapular stripe. Female with the green of head and back replaced by 

 purplish chestnut. 



Length, 13.00 ; wing, 4.75 ; tarsus, 1.60 ; bill above, 1.75. 



Httb. — Throughout tlie United States, from Atlantic to Pacific. 



Tarsi rather shorter than the middle toe ; the anterior half embraced by a single series of 

 scutellae and a second series behind, with no intermediate ones distinguishable in the dried 

 specimen. Claws greatly lengthened and acute, the inner lateral extending further than the 

 outer ; the lateral as long as the middle. The toes free almost to the base. Tibia feathered 

 almost to the tarsal joint. Neck above bare, covered by the feathers of the side. Quills 

 lengthened ; the second and third longest. Tail of ten very soft feathers. Head with the 

 occipital feathers slightly elongated. No plumes or elongated feathers elsewhere. 



Top of head, with the short crest, interscapular region, and scapulars, glossy dark green. 



The sides of head and neck, with lesser and middle coverts, brownish yellow ; the region 



bordering the green of the head, the upper part of the neck, the shoulders, and the greater 



coverts, dark purplish cinnamon, as are the outer webs of inner tertials, and spots at the ends 



of the quills and outer edge of first primary. Throat broadly whitish buff, as are the under 



parts generally ; this is sometimes continuous, sometimes in the form of obsolete streaks on a 



lighter ground. On the jugulum, and concealed by the broad elongated feathers of the throat, 



is a large spot, varied with black, dark purplish, cinnamon, and buff. There is a narrow 



brownish yellow scapular stripe in the green, which is usually more or less concealed. The bill 



is yellow, the ridge dusky towards the tip ; the legs appear to be greenish yellow. 

 Jaly 26, 1858.' 



85 b 



