30 ABDEID^ 



AVERAGE MEASUREMENTS. 



TOTAL LENGTH ... ... ... 23 in. 



WING 12 



BEAK 3 ,, 



TARSO-METATARSUS ... ... 3 ,, 



EGG 2 X 1'4 in. 



Allied Species and 'Representative Forms. N. caledonicus, 

 with the upper parts of a bright cinnamon colour, is the 

 representative in Australia and some of the neighbouring 

 islands (Saunders). 



LITTLE BITTERN. Ardetta minu ta (Linnaeus). 



Coloured Figures. Gould, 'Birds of Great Britain,' vol. iv, pi. 

 29; Dresser, 'Birds of Europe,' vol. vi, pi. 401; Lilford, 

 ' Coloured Figures,' vol. vii, pi. 12. 



This singular bird occurs as an irregular but not infre- 

 quent visitor in spring and summer to our Isles. It has 

 been obtained in nearly every English county 1 (Saunders), 

 chiefly in the southern and eastern districts, more rarely 

 in the north and west. To Scotland it is a very uncertain 

 visitor. It should, however, be borne in mind that owing 

 to the protective coloration of its plumage, the extra- 

 ordinary unbird-like attitudes which it assumes 2 and its 

 skulking habits, no bird is more easily overlooked, even by 

 the most expert and careful observer. 3 



Ireland has afforded us about thirty recorded occurrences 

 of the Little Bittern. Most specimens proved to be im- 

 mature, but seven adult males have been obtained. The 

 following are the counties from which this species has been 

 taken: Kerry, Cork, Tipperary, Wexford, Carlow, Dublin, 



1 On June 30th, 1901, a Little Bittern was taken in a public park in 

 Cornwall, with a broken leg. It probably struck the telegraph wire 

 (H. W. Evans, ' Zoologist,' 1901, p. 354-5). 



2 " It often endeavours to escape notice by remaining motionless, 

 with crossed legs, outstretched neck and bill pointing upwards ; thus 

 resembling a dry reed or a dead bulrush " (Saunders). 



3 These remarks also apply to the Common Bittern. 



