26 Mr. J. D. D. La Touche—Field-Notes on 
and breeds in the reed-beds and in patches of bulrushes in the 
ponds. I procured eggs in June and July, most of which 
were brought to me by natives. On June 18 I found a nest 
placed on a pollard willow growing on the bank of a creek 
in the midst of a reed-bed. It was flat and composed of 
sticks, with a depression about an inch in depth. There 
were five eggs, much incubated, which I did not take. 
206. ARDETTA SINENSIS (Gm.). 
Styan, Ibis, 1891, p. 492; La Touche & Rickett, Ibis, 
1905, p. 66. 
The Chinese Little Bittern is extremely plentiful during 
summer. It nests chiefly in the reed-beds and in patches of 
bulrushes growing in the ponds. The nest, made of dry 
reed-leaves and dry bulrushes, is attached to the vegetation 
by bits of the material composing it, these being strongly 
twisted and worked round the supporting reeds or flags. 
The measurements of a nest taken on June 8 were: outer 
height about 5 in., outer diameter about 7 in., depth of 
egg-cavity 1-14 in. There was an attempt at a lining, 
made of a few broken strips of reed-leaves. I obtained 
eggs throughout June and nearly to the end of July. 
The usual number in a clutch is four. The colour is 
greenish white, and the most usual shape oval. Thirty-six 
eggs average 1:25 x 0:96. An exceptionally large specimen 
measures 1°36 x 1:00’, the next largest being 1°33 x 1’, and 
the smallest 1:1 x 80°90". I heard during summer, in a 
marshy field more or less covered with reeds and sedges, a 
strange moaning sound which I believe to have been the call 
of this bird. 
207. ARDETTA CINNAMOMEA (Gm.). 
Styan, Ibis, 1891, p. 493. 
I did not secure a specimen of the Cinnamon Heron 
at Chinkiang, but I once saw a small Heron which appeared 
to belong to this species. It would seem, however, to 
breed commonly on the north bank of the river, as on 
July 11 and 13 a number of eggs, which were apparently 
those of this bird, were brought to me. I was told that they 
