74 ALTEICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. 



The Least Bittern lias an extended distribution, being found very nearly tlirougli- 

 out tlie United States, and only not found, so far as we are aware, in the more 

 northerly and eastern portions. It has not been met with by Mr. Boardman near 

 Calais, it is not included by Mr. Verrill as a bird of (Oxford County, and is men- 

 tioned as rare even in Southern Maine, and is classed as very rare by Mr. Allen, 

 near Springfield, ]\Iass. Like all nocturnal birds, and more especially those species 

 that shelter themselves in the day-time among the rank grass and rushes, it 

 is probably by no means so rare, in many places, as has been supposed. It feeds 

 exclusively in the night-time, and is rarely seen flying during the day. It is not 

 uncommon in eastern Massachusetts, breeding in Fresh Bond marshes, where 

 Mr. "\Vm. Brewster has met with it both in May and in July. Giraud includes it 

 among the birds of Long Island, where it is u.sually found hidden in the tall grass 

 and reeds, along the margins of freshwater streams. A few were secured among 

 the salt meadows near Babylon, and on the Hanover Meadow near Bine Brook. ,It 

 has also been occasionally found on the banks of the Hackeusack. Specimens are 

 recorded as having been taken near the city of Brooklyn, and others in a swamp 

 near Fort Hamilton. In the latter place young birds, still unable to fly, were cap- 

 tured. In the Western States it is much more abundant, and in Canada, especially 

 in the neighborhood of the Great Lakes. Mr. JMcIlwraith mentions it as a common 

 summer resident near Hamilton, and Mr. Kundien has found it breeding in abun- 

 dance around Lake Koskonong, in Wisconsin. It appears to be resident in Texas 

 and in Northeastern Mexico. Mr. Dresser met with it, in July and August, in 

 the neighborhood of Matamoras, and occasionally saw it in the vicinity of San 

 Antonio. Mr. Salvin mentions it as found in (iuatemala. but whether as a winter 

 visitant or a resident, he does not state. He found it both at ])ue5as and at 

 Coban. 



It is also found in several of the West India Islands. In Cuba it is given by 

 Dr. Gundlach as a resident throughout the year, and its breeding is inferred. It 

 is mentioned by Gosse as among the birds of Jamaica, where it is not u.nfrequently 

 seen dodging about the edges of the tall reeds of the morasses, or among the rank 

 sedgy grass that borders the streams. When alarmed, it does not usually fly, but 

 darts into the rusliy covert, where the thinness of its form enables it to make its 

 way with ease. When surprised in an open place it crouches, as if exjiecting to 

 escape observation. In its stomach are found small fishes and Crustacea. In 

 Jamaica it is called, according to March, the '• Tortoise-shell Bittern." Leotaud 

 names it as one of the birds of Trinidad ; but how common it is in that island he 

 was not able to state. It keeps close among the reeds which cover the flooded 

 regions, and is ])roliably ipiite abundant; although rarely seen, on account of the 

 difficulty of discovering it in the midst of its retreat. It occasionally approaches 

 the edges of narrow watercourses, to fish for the small fry on which it feeds. Its 

 flight is very feeble, and not wi'll sustained. It nests in Trinidad, and has been 

 observed there at all seasons of the year. 



Dr. Cooper speaks of it as common among the great fresh marshes of the interior 



Rump, upper tail-coverts and t;iil, uniform plumbeous-Hack. Anterior and outer lesser wing-coverts, 

 inner secondaries (outer webs) and greater wing-coverts, uniform cinnamon-rufous ; posterior, lesser, and 

 all of the middle wing-coverts, liglit grayish hull (njucli paler than in exi/is) ; lingcd with deeper buff, 

 the grayish tints minutely freckled. Priraary-co\'crts and reniiges slaty plumbeous, tipped with light 

 cinnamon-rufous. 



Wing, 4.0U; cnhncn, 1.68; depth of bill, tlirough nostril, .32; tarsus, 1.15; middle toe, 1.12; 

 inner toe, .tiS ; onter, .95 : hall«.\, .58. 



