652 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



Franklin County August 18, 1896. They keep stringing along through 

 September., October, and some years, the greater part of November. 

 Mr. Beasley noted five in Boone County November 8, 1894, and Prof. 

 W. P. Shannon saw one at G-reensburg November 21, 1896. 



33. GENUS ARDETTA GRAY. 



a 1 . Size very small; sexes unlike; young unlike adult. 



6 1 . Wing under 9.50; color above, male glossy black, female brown; under 

 parts buffy. A. exilis (Gmel.). 64 



*64. (191). Ardetta exilis (GMEL.). 



Least Bittern. 



Male. With the slightest crested crown; back and tail, glossy green- 

 ish-black; neck behind, most of the wing coverts and outer edges of 

 inner quills, rich chestnut; other wing coverts, brownish-yellow varied 

 with white along the throat line, the sides of the breast with a black- 

 ish-brown patch; bill and lores, mostly pale yellow, the bill black- 

 ish; eyes and soles, yellow; legs, greenish-yellow. Female. With the 

 black of the back entirely, that of the crown mostly or wholly, replaced 

 by rich purplish-chestnut, the edges of the scapulars forming a brown- 

 ish-white stripe on either side. 



Length, 12.00-14.25; wing, 4.30-5.25; bill, 1.60-1.90; tarsus, 1.50- 

 1.75. 



EANGE. America, north to British Provinces. York Factory, Mani- 

 toba, Ontario. Winters from . southern Florida southward. Breeds 

 throughout its range. 



Nest, among reeds and swamp vegetation, of rushes. Eggs, 3-5; 

 white, often greenish; 1.20 by .93. 



Eegular migrant; generally rare, but locally somewhat common; 

 summer resident in suitable localities; some places common. 



In the southern half of the State, outside of the immediate valley of 

 the Wabash, it does not breed and is very rare. Two specimens were 

 taken at Brookville years ago (Dr. Haymond). Besides these the 

 only records for that part of the State are a specimen taken by Mr. 

 E. L. Guthrie at Adams, Decatur County, in May, 1884, and one re- 

 ported by Edw. Hughes, from the same place, May 15, 1890. 



As migrants they are noted the latter part of April, in May and 

 in September and October. The earliest record for the State is from 

 Wabash County, where it was taken April 19, 1894. (Ulrey and Wal- 

 lace, P. I. A. S., 1895, p. 150.) 



Perhaps they begin their return migration in August, but I have 

 no dates before early September. They were found at Hyde Lake 



