ARDEOLA MINUTA 178 



Like the preceding species, the Little Bittern occurs abundantly 

 in Tunisia during the spring passage, many pairs remaining to breed 

 in the Eegency, and its nests are to be found in the oases of the south 

 as well as in all suitable localities north of the Atlas. Loche says it 

 is common and resident in Algeria, but I have no note of its occurrence 

 in Tunisia during the winter, although it is not unlikely that an 

 occasional straggler may be found there in that season, as sometimes 

 happens in Italy. 



In Marocco, according to Favier, the Little Bittern is less abun- 

 dant than it is further east, and the most scarce of all the Ardeidce. 

 Throughout the greater part of Southern and Central Europe the 

 species is more or less abundant during the summer months. In 

 the localities it frequents the Little Bittern resembles the preceding 

 species, being generally found in marshy spots and among thick cane- 

 brakes and reed-beds. In its habits it is even more skulking and 

 retiring than that bird and far more solitary and unsociable, being 

 seldom found otherwise than singly, or at most in pairs. During the 

 daytime indeed the bird is not often to be seen, being difficult to flush 

 or dislodge from its haunts, as it is in the habit of creeping away 

 among the dense vegetation in preference to taking flight. It also 

 trusts to its protective colouring and deceptive talent to escape notice 

 by remaining motionless on a cane or other plant, and with its body 

 upright, its neck stretched out, and its bill turned upwards, it looks 

 singularly like part of the plant. The resemblance is wonderful and 

 the I'tise no doubt often succeeds in saving the bird's life. 



The Little Bittern not unfrequently perches on low trees, though 

 it is more often found among dense aquatic vegetation, and particu- 

 larly in clumps of the common cane {Aruiido donax) so plentiful in 

 Southern Europe. Its trivial name in many parts of Italy and else- 

 where, is derived from its partiality for this plant. The bird is said 

 to feed more by night than by day, and lives on frogs, small fish, 

 worms and aquatic insects. Its note is a low " boom," repeated two 

 or three times. It nests among reeds or other water-plants, and 

 occasionally on low trees and builds a rough structure of twigs and 

 grass. The four or five white, or bluish-white eggs which it usually 

 lays, measure about 34 X 25 mm. 



