ARDEID.i':. 



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THE LITTLE BITTERN. 



Ardktta mixuta (Linnreus). 



This small species has been obtained in nearly every county of 

 England, especially in the eastern and southern districts ; and there 

 can be little doubt that — even recently — it has bred on some of the 

 Broads of Norfolk, and formerly did so in other localities. In 

 Wales, and on the west side of the island, it is of rare occurrence, 

 as it is also to the north of Yorkshire ; while to Scotland its visits 

 are very irregular, though extending as far as the Orkneys and 

 Shetlands. About ten examples have been obtained in Ireland on 

 passage; the latest on October 2nd 1887. Most of the instances 

 recorded in England have been between spring and autumn, but a 

 few in the depth of winter. 



The Little Bittern is only a rare wanderer to the Faeroes, Iceland, 

 Norway and Sweden ; and although it has been obtained on several 

 occasions in Denmark, as well as the district of St. Petersburg in 

 Russia, its usual migrations do not extend beyond the Baltic, 

 Southward, it is found during summer in suitable situations through- 

 out Europe ; but even from Spain, Italy and Oreece it takes its 

 departure in autumn, returning in April. It appears to be resident 

 in the Azores and Madeira, as well as in North Africa, where its 



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