The Argentine Little Bittern 279 



instead of being carried obliquely, were also pointing up. 

 There was not, from his feet to the tip of his beak, a per- 

 ceptible curve or inequality, but the whole was the figure, 

 the exact counterpart, of a straight tapering rush, the loose 

 plumage arranged to fill inequalities, and the wings pressed 

 into the hollow sides, making it impossible to see where the 



The Argentine Little Bittern (Ardetta involucris). 



body ended and the neck began, or to distinguish head 

 from neck or beak from head. This was, of course, a front 

 view ; and the entire under surface of the bird was thus 

 displayed, all of a uniform dull yellow, like that of a faded 

 rush. I regarded the bird wonderingly for some time ; but 

 not the least motion did it make. I thought it was wounded 

 or paralyzed with fear, and, placing my hand on the point of 



