ARDETTA EXILIS : LEAST BITTERN. 2/5 



Its breeding in Connecticut and Rhode Island is 

 noted in the same periodical, vi, 1881, p. 8, and v, 1880, 

 p. y8. According to Mr. Samuels it has been found to 

 breed in all the New England States (Orn. and Ool. of 

 N. E., 1867, p. 403). But we think the bird must be 

 scarce north of Massachusetts. Coues gives the eggs as 

 " three to five " in number ; the full set appears to be five. 

 They are white with a faint bluish tint, elliptical or equal- 

 ended in shape, and measure from 1.20 to 1.25 in length 

 by 0.90 to 0.95 in breadth, being thus not dissimilar to 

 Pigeons' eggs in general aspect. Several sets have been 

 taken in Massachusetts. 



Mr. Brewster has noted the curious fact that upon 

 examining the stomach of a Least Bittern shot at Bel- 

 mont, Mass., May 11, 1876, he found that organ fairly 

 crammed with white, clean cotton wool, the greater 

 portion of which had been swallowed in one lump, 

 though there were several smaller flakes, and among 

 these some slender white worms — notwithstanding all 

 which, the bird seemed to be in good health and spirits 

 (Bull. Nutt. Club, i, 1876, p. 'jQ). 



