ARDETTA 577 



ad. (Burma). Differs from A. minuta in having the crown and nape 

 intermixed with grey ; the hind-neck rufous ; the hack, scapulars, and 

 inner secondaries yellowish brown, with a rufous tinge ; quills and tail 

 slaty hlack ; bill dark brown above, pinkish brown below ; facial skin 

 green ; iris yellow ; tarsus dull flesh ; toes and tibio-tarsal joint pale 

 yellow. Culinen 2'75, wing 5'2, tail 1'9, tarsus 1'8 inch. The female 

 differs from A. minuta in having the upper parts pale brownish rufous, 

 the under parts with pale reddish stripes. 



Hal. Japan ; China ; Burma ; India and Ceylon ; Malayana ; 

 New Guinea ; North Australia ; the Caroline, Marianne, Pelew, 

 and Seychelle Islands. 



In habits it does not differ from A. minuta. In India it 

 breeds from May to August, and in Japan in June and July, 

 depositing 4 to 6 eggs resembling those of A. minuta, and 

 measuring about 1*3 by 0'95. 



805. CHESTNUT BITTERN. 

 ARDETTA CINNAMOMEA. 



Ardetta cinnamonifa (Gmel.), Syst. Xat. i. p. 643 (1788) ; Gjray and 

 Hardw. 111. Ind. Zool. i. pi. 66, fig. 1 ; Blanf. F. Brit. Ind. Birds, 

 iv. p. 402 ; David and Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 447 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. 

 Br. Mus. xxvi. p. 236 ; (Schrenck), Reis. Amurl. Taf. xiv. 



Lal-bayla, Hindu. ; Matti-korowaka, Cingal. 



ad. (India). Upper parts generally pale chestnut-red, the wing- 

 coverts paler ; under parts tawny ochreous ; a white stripe on each side of 

 the throat ; pectoral plumes elongated, the feathers underneath blackish 

 brown with buff edges ; bill dark brown above, yellow below ; facial skin 

 reddish purple ; legs and feet yellowish green ; soles and iris yellow. 

 Culmen 2'1, wing 6'5, tail 1-8, tarsus 1-9 inch. The female has the crown and 

 hind-neck chestnut-brown with a blackish tinge ; upper parts chestnut- 

 brown, spotted with buff ; under parts ochreous, striped with chocolate 

 brown ; facial skin yellow. 



Hal. India and Ceylon ; Burma ; the Amoor, Manchuria and 

 China ; south to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 



In habits it does not differ from A. minuta. In India it 

 breeds in June, July, and August, placing its nest, which is a 

 mere pad of grass, on the ground in swampy places, but some- 

 times on a bush, and depositing 5 or 6 eggs which resemble 

 those of A. minuta, and measure about T28 by 0*99. 



