Vol. XIII 



Chapman, The Standing of Ardetta neoxena. 



I I 



THE STANDING OF ARDETTA NEOXENA. 



BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN. 



Plate I. 



Certain facts in the history of this well-named Bittern have 

 caused several writers, myself among the number, to speak of it 

 as probably an aberrant form or color-phase of our widely distrib- 

 uted Ardetta exilis. In figuring this peculiar bird in 'The Auk' 

 an attempt has therefore been made to bring together for direct 

 comparison as many of the known specimens as were available, 

 for the purpose of deciding if possible the bird's standing. 



Described by Mr. Cory in 1886 from a specimen taken in the 

 Okeechobee region of Florida, there have since been captured 

 thirteen additional specimens. Of this number five are from the 

 type locality in Florida, one is from Michigan, and seven are from 

 Toronto. 1 Through the generosity of the owners of these rare 

 birds I now have before me ten of the fourteen recorded speci- 

 mens. This series presents much variation, to be spoken of more 

 particularly after comparing the apparently normal plumage of 

 the adult male and female and immature male with the corre- 

 sponding plumages of Ardetta exilis. 



Ardetta neoxena, $ ad. 



Crown glossy black. 

 Back of the neck glossy black. 

 Interscapulars entirely glossy 

 black without buffy margins. 



Tail glossy black. 



Front of the neck chestnut. 



Abdomen, sides, and tibia; mixed 

 chestnut, black, and smoky brown. 

 Under tail-coverts ^lossv black. 



Primaries slate gray 

 namon rufous tips. 



without cin- 



Ardetta exilis. £ ad. 



Crown glossy black. 



Back of the neck chestnut rufous. 



Interscapulars glossy black, outer 

 edge of outer ones margined with 

 buffy white. 



Tail glossy black. 



Front of the neck white more or 

 less washed with buffy. 



Abdomen, sides, and tibire white 

 more or less washed with buffy. 



Under tail-coverts white slightly 

 tinged with buffy. 



Primaries slate gray, the ou'er 

 ones sometimes, the inner ones 

 always tipped with dull cinnamon 

 rufous. 



' A fifteenth specimen, from Wisconsin, is recorded beyond in this number 

 of 'The Auk.' 



