84 OUR MIGRANT BIRDS 



above with dark brown, and with longitudinal stripes ; 

 under parts white. 



Language. — A low " wit-wit-wit/* 



Habits. — It swims well, and floats buoyantly on water. 

 On land it trips nimbly about, reminding one of a 

 Wagtail. Tame in disposition. 



Food. — Water insects, &c. 



Nest. — On the ground, among thick grass, in some 

 swampy place. 



Materials. — A few dry grasses. 



Eggs. — Four. Pale buff or olive, spotted and blotched 

 with blackish brown. Very pyriform shape. 



LITTLE BITTERN {Ardetta minuta). 



Not infrequently met with in spring and autumn, 

 usually in the southern and eastern districts. It has 

 bred in Norfolk. 



Haunts. — Marshes and swamps. 



Plumage. — Crown, nape, and back black, glossed 

 with green. Primaries and tail brownish black. Small 

 wing-coverts, neck, throat, plumes, and under parts 

 vinous buff. Bill yellow. Legs greenish yellow. Length 

 13 in. Female : rather smaller, and has a browner 

 appearance above, and under parts well streaked with 

 umber-brown. 



Language. — The male utters a kind of boom, less 

 pronounced than the Common Bittern. The female 

 utters a sharp " gett-gett." 



Habits. — By day it is a great skulker amongst thick, 

 tangled reed-beds, through which it can run with extra- 

 ordinary rapidity. It has a curious habit, when seeking 



