84 OUR MIGRANT BIRDS 



above with dark brown, and with longitudinal stripes ; 

 under parts white. 



Language. A low " wit-wit-wit." 



Habits. It swims well, and floats buoyantly on water. 

 On land it trips nimbly about, reminding one of a 

 Wagtail. Tame in disposition. 



Food. Water insects, &c. 



Nest. On the ground, among thick grass, in some 

 swampy place. 



Materials. A few dry grasses. 



Eggs. Four. Pale buff or olive, spotted and blotched 

 with blackish brown. Very pyriform shape. 



LITTLE BITTERN (Ardetta minuta). 



Not infrequently met with in spring and autumn, 

 usually in the southern and eastern districts. It has 

 bred in Norfolk. 



Haunts. Marshes and swamps. 



Plumage. Crown, nape, and back black, glossed 

 with green. Primaries and tail brownish black. Small 

 wing-coverts, neck, throat, plumes, and under parts 

 vinous buff. Bill yellow. Legs greenish yellow. Length 

 13 in. Female : rather smaller, and has a browner 

 appearance above, and under parts well streaked with 

 umber-brown. 



Language. The male utters a kind of boom, less 

 pronounced than the Common Bittern. The female 

 utters a sharp " gett-gett." 



Habits. By day it is a great skulker amongst thick, 

 tangled reed-beds, through which it can run with extra- 

 ordinary rapidity. It has a curious habit, when seeking 



