

SPECIES 6. ARDEA EXILIS. 



LEAST BITTERN. 



[Plate LXV. Fig. 4.] 



LATH. Syn. v. in, p. 66, JVo, 28. PEALE'S Museum, JVo. 3814. 



THIS is the smallest known species of the whole tribe. It is 

 commonly found in fresh water meadows, and rarely visits the 

 salt marshes. One shot near Great Egg Harbour was presented 

 to me as a very uncommon bird. In the meadows of Schuylkill 

 and Delaware below Philadelphia, a few of these birds breed 

 every year, making their nests in the thick tussocks of grass, in 

 swampy places. When alarmed they seldom fly far, but take 

 shelter among the reeds or long grass. They are scarcely ever 

 seen exposed, but skulk during the day; and, like the preced- 

 ing species, feed chiefly in the night, 



This little creature measures twelve inches in length, and 

 sixteen in extent; the bill is more than two inches and a quarter 

 long, yellow, ridged with black, and very sharp pointed; space 

 round the eye pale yellow; irides bright yellow; whole upper 

 part of the crested head, the back, scapulars and tail very deep 

 slate reflecting slight tints of green ; throat white, here and there 

 tinged with buff; hind part of the neck dark chesnut bay, sides 

 of the neck, cheeks, and line over the eye brown buff; lesser 

 wing-coverts the same; greater wing-coverts chestnut, with a spot 

 of the same at the bend of the wing, the primary coverts are 

 also tipt with the same; wing quills dark slate; breast white, 

 tinged with ochre, under which lie a number of blackish feath- 

 ers; belly and vent white; sides pale ochre; legs greenish on 

 the shins, hind part and feet yellow; thighs feathered to within 

 a quarter of an inch of the knees, middle claw pectinated; toes 

 tinged with pale green; feet large, the span of the foot measur- 



