308 Synopsis of the Birds 



Chiefly nocturnal. Live and build in marshy grounds, 

 hiding closely amongst the reeds, and running a great way 

 in them rather than take flight. Feed on small fishes, rep- 

 tiles, spawn, but especially aquatic insects. 



236. Ardea exilis, Gm. Chesnut, beneath whitish ; neck 

 above rufous ; sides and wing coverts, cream ; crown, 

 primaries, tail, and tuft each side of the breast, black. Length 

 less than twelve inches. 



Least Bittern, Ardea exilis, Wils. viii. p. 37. pl> 65. Jig. 4. 



Inhabits the United States and West Indies : rather rare, 

 and found in summer only, in the northern and middle states. 

 The smallest of the genus : closely related to A. minuta of 

 Europe, from which it is hardly distinguished but by its 

 inferior size. 



47. ARAMUS. 



Scolopax, L. Numenius, Briss. Scolopax, Ardea, Gm. 

 Ardea, Numenius, Lath. Rallus. III? Nob. Jour. Acad. Phil. 

 Grus ! Cuv. Aramus, Vieill. Temm. Ranz. 



Bill much longer than the head, cleft beneath the eyes? 

 compressed, straight, curved and somewhat turgid at tip, 

 entire ; upper mandible slightly furrowed ; lower turgid 

 towards the middle, angular beneath, acute : nostrils in wide 

 orifices, rather distant from the base, lateral, longitudi- 

 nal, linear, pervious : tongue short, narrow, acute. Head 

 wholly feathered ; lora naked. Feet elongated ; naked 

 space above the tarsus extensive ; toes entirely divided ; fore 

 toes elongated, slender, smooth beneath ; hind toe articulated 

 posteriorly with the tarsus, half the length of the inner, 

 bearing on the ground with several joints : nails long, slen- 

 der, compressed, curved, acute, middle one dilated and entire 

 on the inner edge, the posterior longest and stoutest. Wings 

 moderate ; first primary rather short, falciform ; third long- 

 est. Tail short, rounded, of twelve feathers. 



