On a new Species of Ardetta. 73 



96. Colymbus auritus. We saw large Grebes on several 

 occasions, but never near enough for certain identification. 

 In all probability they belonged to this species, which we saw 

 both in the Museum and in private collections. 



IV. — On a new Species of Little Bittern from China. 

 By Robert Swinhoe, F.Z.S. &c. 



(Plate II.) 



The Ardetta figured by v. Schrenk (Reisen im Amurlande, 

 Vogel, t. xiii.) as the young of Ardetta cinnamomea has long 

 been a puzzle to me. A. cinnamomea is a very common sum- 

 mer bird in the south of China, and, knowing it in every phase 

 of plumage, I found it impossible to associate with it v. 

 Schrenk's bird. What, then, could the Amoorland bird be? for 

 no species could cross to the north of China without occurring 

 in China itself. The doubtful bird was not A. sinensis ; with 

 that also I was well acquainted. I could not settle the ques- 

 tion ; and it passed out of my mind until the other day, when 

 a bird identical with v. Schrenk's figure was brought to 

 me — a beautiful bird, with its back all starred with white. 



The question solved itself at once. In my catalogue of the 

 birds of China (P. Z. S. 1863, p. 321) mention is made under 

 A. sinensis of a hybrid between it and A. cinnamomea pro- 

 cured at Amoy. I obtained only a single specimen ; and this 

 so combined the characters of the two species, that I unhesi- 

 tatingly put it down as a hybrid, though Mr. Gould protested 

 at the time that it was a good species. Quite recently, whilst 

 at Shanghai, I saw several of the same birds over a marsh 

 close enough to distinguish them distinctly, and with the aid 

 of Chinese boys I secured three sittings of their eggs com- 

 posed of three eggs each. 



The adult is a beautiful bird, which, combined with the 

 striking character of the immature dress (no common feature 

 amongst birds), suggests the name Ardetta eurhythma for this 

 species. I now describe it as follows : — 



