135 



The female is darker, and the feathers 911 the 

 head, breast and neck are shorter. 



She makes her nest of coarse stalks and herbage, 

 and lays 4 to 6 greenish white eggs. 



The bittern is a shy solitary bird, and commonly 

 remains during the day hid amongst reeds and rushes. 



During the breeding season the males make a loud 

 bellowing noise, which has been compared to that of 

 a bull. 



It feeds upon frogs, lizards and fish. 



10. MINUTA. LITTLE BITTERN. 



A. capite Icevi, vertice dorso remigibus rectricibusque 

 nigro-virescentibus, collo tectricibus alarum abdo- 

 mineque pallidefulvis. Lath. 



The bill is green yellow ; irides yellow ; the head, 

 back, quills and tail are greenish black ; the fore- 

 part of the neck, breast and thighs are buff; the 

 belly is white ; the thighs are feathered to the knees. 



The length is about 15 inches. 



The female lays 5 or 6 white eggs. 



GARZETTA. EGRET. 



A. occipite cristato, corpore albo, rostro nigro, loris 

 pedibusque virescentibus. Lath. 



The bill is black ; irides are yellow ; the skin around 



