490 CLASS AVES. 



makes its nest in reeds or coppice woods, rather than on trees; 

 and the female lays three eggs, of a greenish-asli, which are 

 figured in the work of Schinz, pi. 1, no. 4. 



In the subdivision of the Crab-eaters comes first, the Blon- 

 gosi, (Ardea Minuta et Danuhia.lis^ Gm.) The Little Bit- 

 tern and Rayed Bittern of Latham is considerably smaller 

 than the preceding species. It is not very common in France, 

 arriving there only when the grass in the meadows is high 

 enough to afford it shelter. It appears to be rather more 

 common in Switzerland and Holland ; but in England and 

 Germany it is merely a bird of passage, and but seldom seen. 

 Its ordinary aliment consists in very small fishes, tadpoles, 

 insects, and worms. M. de Riocourt says, that at the season 

 of reproduction this bird utters a cry similar to the barking 

 of a large dog, and that it attaches its nest to elevated rushes, 

 like the reed-warbler, (Turdus Arundinaceus.) Accord- 

 ing to this observer, the four eggs which the female deposits 

 are greenish, and spotted with brown ; while M. Temminck 

 says, that the eggs are white, and five or six in number ; and 

 that they are also represented of this colour by Schinz. 

 Similar differences between naturalists, on points of similar 

 difficulty and importance, we have had occasion to remark 

 before. 



The Crab-eater of MahoUi to which, as may be seen by 

 the text, a number of synonymes, given as of distinct 

 species, are referable, is common towards the confines of 

 Asia, in Turkey, in the Archipelago, in Sicily, and in Italy. 

 It is a bird of passage in the South of France, in Switzer- 

 land, and in some of the southern parts of Germany ; but it 

 never appears in the north. It nestles on trees, and feeds on 

 small fishes, insects, and shell-moUusca. 



Of the Egrets, 



The Little Egret (Ardea Garxetta) is figured by Dono- 

 van among our British birds, and by Graves. It is, however, 

 very scarce in this country at present, though it was once so 



