Ornithologist s' Club. 425 



to him by Mr. H. H. Johnstoiij C.B., being the first example 

 of this family obtaiued in Nyasaland. It was shot on the 

 plateau near Zombaj in December last. Mr, Ogilvie-Grant 

 had determined it as Turnix nana (cf. Cat. B. Brit. Mas. 

 xxii. p. 541) of Natal and Cape Colony. 



Dr. BowDLER Sharpe read a paper on the geographical 

 distribution of the Little Bitterns [Ardetta], of which he 

 recognized nine species. 



1. Ardetta minuta (L.). 



Hab. Central and Southern Europe below 60° N. lat., the 

 countries of the Mediterranean, eastward to Central Asia, 

 Cashmere, and wintering in the plains of N.W. India to 

 80° E. long. N.E. Africa in winter, and said to have occurred 

 in East and West Africa. 



2. Ardetta podicipes (Bp.). 



Representing A. minuta in Africa and Madagascar, and 

 appears to be generally distributed south of 15° N. lat. 



3. Ardetta sinensis. 



Hab. From N. China and the Japanese islands throughout 

 China to the Burmese countries, the peninsula of India, and 

 Ceylon, breeding in all these countries. It is also found, 

 apparently as a winter visitant, in the Malay Peninsula and 

 Archipelago to New Guinea and New Britain. The British 

 Museum contains two specimens from Australia. The species 

 is likewise found in the Seychelles, a very interesting fact 

 when taken .into consideration with the distribution of 

 Butoridesjavanica in the Mascarene Islands (see above, p. 295). 



4. Ardetta exilis (Gm.). 



Hab. North America generally, up to the Great Lakes ; 

 south to Texas, Florida, California, Guatemala, and the 

 Greater Antilles. Ardetta newxena of Cory seems to be 

 founded on very old individuals of A, exilis, in which the 

 rufous tips to the quills and the light stripes on the back 

 have disappeared with age or wear. 



5. Ardetta erythromelas (V.). 



Hab. Rcpresents^4. exilis in South America from Panama 



SKR. \ I. VOL. \\. 2 o 



