BRITISH BIRDS. 135 



in autumn. Northward it is rare and has only occurred five 

 or six times in Scotland. In Ireland about a dozen have 

 been taken, the last in October, 1893. 



GENUS CIV. ARDETTA, Gray (1842). 

 Differs materially from last two genera in having tail of 

 ten short soft feathers. Tarsus of moderate length only ; 

 tibia feathered to tarsal joint. 



195. Ardetta minuta (Linn.). LITTLE BITTERN. 



Hab. Europe, south of about lat. 55 ; also Northern 

 Africa and South- West Asia. In winter migrating from 

 Europe. 



Male : crown, nape and mantle glossy greenish-black ; 

 wing-coverts bufnsh-white ; primaries and tail blackish- 

 brown ; sides of head and front of neck rufous-buff ; 

 under parts paler buff, marked with dusky streaks on- 

 breast and flanks ; bill and feet greenish-yellow. Length 

 12*50. Female : mantle dark brown ; wing-coverts pale 

 brown ; sides of head and back of neck reddish-brown ; 

 under parts much more streaked. Length 12*00. 



An irregular summer visitor to east and south of 

 England ; it is generally supposed that it may have bred 

 in Norfolk and elsewhere, although the nest has never been 

 found. To Scotland it is a rare straggler. In Ireland 

 about twelve occurrences have been recorded. 



GENUS CV. BOTAURUS, Stephens (1819). 

 Bill and feet much as in Ardea ; tibia bare on lower 

 portion ; tail of ten short soft feathers. 



196. Botaurus stellaris (Linn.). BITTERN. 

 Hab. Palaearctic region ; also whole of Africa. In 

 winter migrating from northern regions. 



