102 THE BIRDS OF BRECONSHIRE. 
The Little Bittern, Botaurus minutus, 
so far as I can learn, is unknown in this 
county, for after numerous enquiries, I 
am unable to record any instance of its 
occurrence here. It is possible, however, 
that being only an occasional summer 
visitor, it has, from the nature of its 
haunts and its shy retiring habits, 
hitherto escaped observation. Saunders 
says it often escapes notice by remaining 
motionless with outstretched neck and 
bill pointing upwards—resembling a dry 
stick or reed whence its appropriate 
Dutch name — Woud - aapje, meaning 
** Wood ape.” 
WATER RAIL, Rallus. aguaticus. 
Remains with us all the year round, 
and may be very generally found in all 
the marshy places of the county; it is 
seldom seen, on account of its skulking 
habits, but is far more common with 
us than is’ generally supposed. It 
counterfeits death exceedingly well. In 
shooting round a lake near Brecon, I 
flushed a Water Rail close to me. I 
fired, and down fell the bird. On pick- 
ing it up, it lay in my hand for some 
