BIRDS—ARDEIDAE—ARDETTA EXILIS. 673 
Comparative measurements of Botaureae. 
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ea Sia: | s |e |s Sigil yobe| 
| ~ ‘ fi Ss ws = cc) = = 3 | 
_ Species. Locality. | ja ml = | a o jo gia g So | Specimen 
a WP jiaog | 2.22 so} re i o | = 2 oo 
€ Mn les 2: a | 3 5 3 ne\|s = 5 measured. 
| a | la Bl/ealsa | {8 1a a | = 
| Ate os | 7 | 
1099 | Ardetta exilis........ Washington, D.C. ......] | 11.30)..... 4.56) 1.70 | 1.60 | 1.87 | 0.40 | 0.54 | 0.34 | 1.82 | 2.16 | Skin..... c 
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Carlisle Q || DE00| ects are 4.84) 1.80 | 1.50 | 1.88 | 0.42 | 0.52 | 0.32 | 1.74 | 2.24 | Skin....... 
ovnewe do See |iseiesel|LSS70| Lija70||g4. 80) vewese|eossse|sccces|cccccslecadion|sccecs|sosecs|cocecs| BreSliscemem 
Near 32° latitude...seee0+| coves 11.40}. .0008 5.00) 1,86 | 1.70 | 1.94 | 0.40 | 0.56 | 0.36 | 1.91 | 2.38 | Skin....... 
Sacramento Valley .. «++. Gr WAVB0leas 6. 4.44 1,96 | 1.50 | 1.76 | 0.40 0.54 | 0.34 | 1.80 | 2.32 | Skin....... 
Carlisle; Pas cccscceseusss 22.60} ...... 11.10 4.00 | 3.64 | 4.06 | 0.84 | 1.24 | 0.66 | 2.76 | 3.84 | Skin....... 
11.75) +0e000 aa] MCSD esreenie 
10.10) 3.36 Skin..o.... 
25) | Freshivsie sas 
3,22 | 3.57 | 0.68 | 1.18 | 0.58 | 2.54] 3.58 | SKinswes ccs 
ARDETTA EXILIS, Gray. 
Least Bittern. 
Ardea exilis, Gmevin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 648—Witson, Am. Orn. VIII, 1814, 37; pl. Ixv.—Wacter, Syst. Av. 
1827 ; Ardea, No. 36 —Aup. Orn. Biog. III, 1835, 77: V, 1839, 606; pl. 210.—Is. Syn. 263.—In. Birds 
Amer. V1, 1843, 100; pl. 366. 
Ardea (Ardeola) exilis, Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 191 —Is. Syn. 808.—Norratt, Man. II, 1834, 66. 
Ardeola exilis, Bonar. List, 1838.—Is. Consp. If, 1855, 134.—Gosse, Birds Jam. 1847, 343. 
Butor evilis, Sw. Birds, II, 1837. 
Ardetta exilis, Gray, Gen. 1842.—Cas. Journ. IV, 1856, 345. 
‘ Ardetta punctata, Gray, List, Br. Mus. III, 83.’"—Bonap. 
Minute bittern, Laruam, Syn. III, 1, 66. 
Sp. Cu.—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. 
Hab.—Throughout the 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, 
July 26, 1858.) 5b 
