LITTLE BITTERN 



BOONK RUFOUS BITTERN LITTLE HERON LITTLE 

 BITTERN HERON LONG NECK. 



PLATE CLXI. FIGURE I. 



Ardetta minufa, .... GOULD. DRESSER. 

 Ardea tninufa, .... LINNAEUS. 

 Botaurus mtnutus, . . . YARRELL. 



THE Little Bittern, which as a straggler has occurred 

 all over England, breeds in the south of Europe. 



The nest of this bird is generally to be found in dense 

 vegetation near water. It is placed on hummocks in the 

 marshes, or on upright reeds or flags, a little above the 

 usual rise of the water, and in some instances on the low 

 boughs of an overhanging tree: a few have been found in 

 bushes about a yard from the ground. It is made of such 

 materials as the dry twigs of the willow, grass, reeds, rushes, 

 and flags, and is a shapeless structure. 



The eggs, four, and occasionally five, in number, according 

 to most authors are of a whitish colour. 



