LITTLE-BITTERN 347 



that of the pigeons. The localities favoured by this species for 

 breeding purposes are marshes or lagoons with thick beds of reed and 

 sedge, preferably when interspersed with pools of open water and an 

 occasional willow-tree. As may easily be imagined, anything like 

 close observation of its habits under these conditions is in most cases 

 impossible, especially as it is nocturnal in its habits, and spends most 

 of the day in sleep. One of the writers of this article visited a 

 breeding-place of this species in an extensive reed-bed in Hungary. 

 The water was about four feet deep, and in many places the surface 

 was covered with an accumulation of vegetable debris, through which 

 the thick stems of the reeds, which in such places grow to an enormous 

 height, had forced their way. The exertion required in order to make 

 a passage through this thickly growing obstruction, in tolerably deep 

 water and under a powerful sun, was naturally excessive. The noise 

 also necessarily made in such a progress, the breaking of the reeds 

 and the splashing of water, together with frequent stumbles and 

 consequent plunges in the effort to recover oneself, made it practically 

 impossible to surprise any bird unaware on its nest. Hence it 

 invariably happened that the bird slipped silently off the nest and 

 crept away before the nest itself came within the field of vision, which 

 was restricted to a few feet. [R. B. L.] 



Occasionally, however, they may be met with under more 

 favourable auspices. Thus in Holland, while punting close to a belt 

 of reeds, a little-bittern got up and flew right across our bows. We 

 landed at once and found it tolerable walking, only here and there 

 taking us up to our knees. Presently a second bird got up ahead of 

 us, and almost at once we came upon the nest a mere hollow in a 

 heap of dead sedge, with five fresh eggs. Two birds got up not far 

 away, and we found a second nest partly sheltered by a sallow, but 

 this time the nest was empty [P. c. R. j.]. Though not exactly sociable 

 in its breeding-habits, it is not uncommon to find several pairs 

 breeding together in quite a restricted district. Thus in some parts 

 of Spain they are extremely common locally. Mr. H. Noble describes 



