ARDETTA 575 



ARDETTA, Gray, 1842. 

 802. LITTLE GREEN HERON. 

 ARDETTA JAVANICA. 



Ardetta javanica (Horsf.), Trans. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 190 (1821) ; (Sharpe), 

 Cat B. Br. Mus. xxvi. p. 177 ; (David and Oust.), Ois. Chine, p. 142 ; 

 (Blanf.), F. Brit. Ind. Birds, iv. p. 395 ; (Tacz.), F. 0. Sib. 0. p. 986 ; 

 (Seebohm), B. Jap. Emp. p. 224 ; B. var. amurensis, Schrenck, Keis. 

 Amurl. i. p. 441 (1860) ; Sharpe, op. cit. xxvi. p. 181 ; B. spodiogaster ; 

 Sharpe, Bull. B.O.C. iii. p. xvii. (1894) ; id. op. cit. xxvi. p. 182, 

 pi. ii. 



Kancha-lagla, Hindu. 



ad. (India). Crown, nape, and elongated occipital plumes black 

 glossed with green or purplish ; a short black stripe from the base of the 

 bill below the eye ; rest of neck and elongated dorsal plumes ashy bluish 

 grey ; quills and tail slate-blue, the former with narrow white margins ; 

 wing-coverts glossy greenish margined with buffy white j chin, throat, and 

 a streak bordering the lower mandible, white ; under parts ashy grey, 

 whiter in the middle of abdomen ; bill above black, below greenish yellow ; 

 facial skin green ; iris yellow ; legs green, front of tarsus and toes dusky, 

 soles orange. Culmen 2 '8, wing 7 '4, tail 2 '8, tarsus 1'85 inch. Sexes 

 alike. The young has the crown blackish brown with a few whitish 

 stripes, the upper parts brown with buff spots, and the under parts white 

 streaked with brown. In a series from various localities there is a con- 

 siderable variation in measurements. 



Hob. The greater part of the Indo-Malayan area, north to the 

 Amoor ; Manchuria ; North China and Japan. 



In habits it is chiefly nocturnal, though less so than some of 

 its allies, and may sometimes be seen in the daytime in search 

 of food in shady places, but as a rule it remains concealed during 

 the day and seeks its food by night, feeding on fish, frogs, crabs, 

 &c. In India it breeds from May to August, placing a small 

 nest, constructed of sticks, on a tree, and deposits 3 to 5 pale 

 sea-green eggs, which measure about 1'62 by 1*21. 



803. LITTLE BITTERN. 

 ARDETTA MINUTA. 



Ardetta minuta (Linn.), Syst. Nat. i. p. 240 (1766) ; (Naum.), ix. p. 194, 

 Taf. 227 ; (Hewitson), ii. p. 315, pi. Ixxxiii.fig. 1 ; (Gould), B. ofE. 

 iv. pi. 282 ; (id.), B. of Gt. Brit. iv. pi. 29 ; Dresser, vi. p. 259, 

 pi. 401 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. xxvi. p. 222 ; Blanf. F. Brit. Ind. 

 Birds, iv. p. 400 ; Saunders, p. 381 ; Lilford, vii. p. 33, pi. 12. 



