10 



LITTLE BITTERN. 



BOONK. RUFOUS BITTERN. 



LITTLE HERON. 

 LONG-NECK. 



LITTLE BITTERN HERON. 



PLATE CLXI. FIG. I. 



Ardea minuta, 

 Ardea danubialis, 

 Ardeola minuta, 

 Cancrophagus minutus, 

 Butor minutus, 

 Botaurus pusillus, 



LEACH. 

 GHELIN. 



PRINCE BUONAPARTE. 

 KAUP. 

 SWAINSON. 

 BHEHM. 



THE nest of this bird is generally to be found where flags grow, 

 sometimes near, but at other times farther off from water. It is placed 

 on hummocks in the marshes, or on strewed 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, or even six, 

 according to Mr. Hewitson, are of a pale whitish green colour. Their 

 incubation occupies sixteen or seventeen days. 



