on the Birds of South-eastern China. 371 



BUTORIDES JAVANICA. 



This Bittern is a summer visitor to south-eastern China, 

 but is not abundant. It breeds up the North River and 

 at Howlik^ and in one or two other places, making a slight 

 nest high up in a banyan or fir tree. 



When, as sometimes happens, this species nests among a 

 coXowj o^ Ardeola iaccAws, careful identification is necessary, 

 as both eggs and nests of these two species are indistinguish- 

 able. Never more than four eggs have been taken in a 

 clutch, and the bird sits much more closely than Ardeola 

 hacchus ; when put off its eggs it makes no sound, but flies 

 a little way and returns from time to time, but always in 

 silence. Most of these birds appear to commence laying 

 in the first half of June. On one occasion, in the summer, 

 a clutch was taken on the second of the month and put 

 into a drawer on board the gunboat ; it was looked at again 

 on the sixth, when it was discovered that the shells had 

 chipped and that the young birds were still alive ! 



Eggs vary in length from I'Gl to 1'40 and in breadth from 

 1-08 to 1-lG, whilst the average is 1-52 X M2. 



Ardeola bacchus. 



The Chinese Pond Heron is a resident and very abundant 

 species in Kwang Tung and Kwang Si, but wanders about 

 considerably in the winter months, when its numbers may 

 perhaps be increased by immigrants from the north. In 

 the winter it is sometimes seen at Hong Kong, but it does not 

 breed there. 



Birds in winter plumage are difficult to see whilst 

 feeding on the mud-flats, until they take flight, when they 

 at once become conspicuous, as they spread their white 

 wings. As a rule, they feed by day and in the evening fly 

 in flocks like Rooks to roost in some favourite clump of 

 trees, but they do at times feed at night as well. 



Among the Chinese they are considered to be a great 

 delicacy. 



As a rule. Pond Herons nest in colonies of some size and 

 in high trees, but at the same time small heronries may be 



