1 84 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN. 



being the warm regions of Northern Africa, Asia, and the south-east of 

 Europe, it visits Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Central France, in 

 its spring migration ; but, except accidentally, does not come so far west 



or north as the British Islands The second "rara avis''' shown by 



Mr. E. P. Williams, the little bittern {Botaurus minutus), he (the Chair- 

 man) considered to be an immature female. When adult, the sexes 

 present a great similarity, their plumage being the same. The larger 

 proportion of the examples taken in this country being in immature 

 dress causes them to have been set down as females, when often they were 

 doubtless young males. Dissection, however, would have put this point 

 right. The little bittern has now been killed some twelve or fourteen 

 times in Ireland. The last fresh specimen which had been seen by him 

 was shot in the county of Louth. It is a bird very widely distributed, 

 being found as far south as the Cape of Good Hope, and as far north 

 as Sweden. The Chairman had himself seen the little bittern in 

 Holland, in which country it is commonly found in summer, and breeds. 

 He had seen the eggs offered for sale in Amsterdam ; and was told by 

 Monsieur Westerman, the Director of the Zoological Gardens in that 

 city, that he had obtained the eggs in the neighbourhood. Altogether 

 eleven species of Ardeidse have been obtained in Ireland ; all of these 

 but two species — the common heron {Ardea cinerea), and the bittern 

 {Botaurus stellaris), coming under the category of stragglers. 



The Society then adjourned for the recess until November. ' 



