— ee — 



286. Little Bittern. Ardetta minuta (Limi£EUs). 



Botaurus minutus. Shelley, p. 271. 



Abundant and resident m reed beds in Lower Egypt and 

 the Faiyum ; its numbers are augmented by migrants from 

 the south in s]3rmg. 



Length about 12 inches. Adult male, top of head, nape, 

 back, and tail bluish black ; wing coverts sandy cream colour ; 

 rest of plumage creamy buf!. The adult female and young birds 

 lack the bluish black on the upper parts, this colour being replaced 

 by dull reddish brown and buff. 



287. Bittern. Botaurus stellaris (Linnaeus). 



Botaurus stellaris. Shelley, p. 271. 



A few pass the winter in Lower Egypt, but it is chiefly a 

 spring and autumn migrant in the country. 



Length about 30 inches. Crown of head and nape black ; 

 a brown patch on sides of head ; rest of plumage sandy brown 

 mottled with black and brown, except the chin and throat, 

 which are sometimes creamy white. 



288. African Green Heron. Butorides atricapilla (Afzel). 



One seen on Jubal Island in the Red Sea in January 1919 

 by Mr. J. L. Bonhote, who is so well acquainted with the American 

 species that no mistake can have been made in the identification. 



Length about 17 inches. Crown of head blackish ; upper 

 parts slate grey with whitish streaks on the plumes ; lower 

 parts smoke grey, slightly streaked on the fore neck with brown; 

 wing coverts glossy green margined with whitish. 



289. White Stork. Ciconia alba Bechstein. 



Ciconia alba. Shelley, p. 265. 



Great numbers pass through during the spring migration 

 and a few remain throughout the summer, but these are non- 

 breeding birds. The return passage in autumn is less notice- 

 able, the majority of storks either passing high overhead out of 

 sight or taking a different route. It is also sometimes seen in 

 winter. 



Length about 42 inches. Entire plumage white, with the 

 exception of the quills, which are black frosted with grey ; bill, 

 legs, and feet red. Sexes alike. 



