324 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 



COMMON BITTERN 



Botaurus stellaris {Linnceus) 



Owing to drainage and cultivation, the Bittern, which used 

 formerly to breed in various swamps and reed-beds, especially 

 in our eastern counties, is now only a casual visitor to the 

 British Isles in winter and spring. 



In the breeding season it utters a loud "booming" noise, 

 but at other times is a very silent bird. 



The adult has the upper parts more or less buff, irregularly 

 barred and streaked all over with brown and dark brown, 

 except on the head, which is pure black ; rest of plumage 

 streaked and marked with chestnut buff and brown ; bill 

 greenish yellow ; legs and feet greenish. Sexes and young 

 are alike in plumage. Length from 25 to 28 in. ; wing 13 in. 



LITTLE BITTERN 

 Ardetta minuta {Linnceus) 



This species is abundant in summer throughout Central 

 and Southern Europe, migrating to Africa for the winter 

 months. It is a spring and autumn migrant to the British 

 Islands and a casual visitor to Northern Europe. It is 

 frequently found in our eastern and southern counties, and 

 there is little doubt that it has on more than one occasion 

 stayed to breed. It inhabits thick reed-beds, and when dis- 

 turbed either creeps away with great speed through the 

 vegetation or remains motionless with head erect, in which 

 position it closely resembles the reeds. 



The male has the crown, nape, back, shoulders, and tail 

 feathers glossy greenish black, the rest of the plumage buff 

 streaked with brownish on some of the feathers at side of 

 chest and flanks, and paler on the wing-coverts. The female 

 has the crown, nape, and back brown. The young resemble 

 the female. Length from 12 to 13 in. ; wing 6 in. 



