248 



KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



under parts tawny white; feathers edged with dusky and dull brown; legs greenish yellow: a 

 loral stripe of dark brown ; bill yellowish with a dark streak at the top. 



Length, 27; Wing, 11.50; Bill, 3; Tarsus. 3.40. 



The female is smaller than the male and the bird varies very much in size. 



It ranges throughout temperate North America and is cominon on the 

 Atlantic coast, breeding, as a rule, north of North Carolina. It ranges in 

 winter south to Central America and the West Indies, being common in 

 Florida in some localities. 



The eggs are usually from three to five in number, grayish brown in 

 color. 



Genus ARDETTA Gray. 



ARDETTA EXILIS (Gviei:). 

 Least Bittern. 



Adult male : Crown of the head black, extending into a small 

 crest ; back and tail black with a greenish tinge back of the neck ; 

 wing coverts chestnut brown ; some of the wing coverts tawny yellow ; 

 front and sides of the neck and tinder parts yellowish brown ^ show- 

 ing white on throat ; 2i^2iX.c\\ oi brownish black on the sides of the 

 breast; bill yellowish, dusky on the top ; legs green, yellow on the 

 back ; toes yellow. 



Adult female : Having the back and crown purplish chestnut in- 

 stead of black. 



Length, 12.50; Wing, 4.50; Bill, 2; Tarsus, 2.10. 



This species ranges from temperate North America 

 southward to the West Indies and Northern South 

 America. 



It breeds along the Atlantic coast nearly throughout 

 its range. It is common in Florida where it breeds, being very abundant in 

 some localities. 



The nest is placed in a bunch of reeds or rushes, sometimes on small 

 bushes. 



The eggs are from four to six, pale bluish white. I have found as mani- 

 as a dozen nests of this species within a distance of fifty yards on some of 

 the small Florida ponds, but it seems to be local, as many ponds in the same 

 locality, seemingly equally suitable, did not contain a single individual. 



