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to Goebel, it is tolerably numerous in the Uman district, where he noticed straggling pairs on 

 almost all the larger and even smaller ponds overgrown with reeds. They were usually seen 

 from the middle of April to the first week in October. In Asia Minor and Greece it is also 

 tolerably numerous. Dr. Kriiper speaks of it as being common in Greece, where it arrives late 

 in March or early in April, and remains to breed. It does not winter there ; but a young bird in 

 the Athens Museum was shot as late as the 12th November. According to Lord Lilford (Ibis, 

 1860, p. 347) the Little Bittern " arrives in considerable numbers in Corfu and Epirus in April, 

 and remains to breed, leaving the country about the end of September. In Corfu they are often 

 to be found perched in the olives near the marshes, motionless, with outstretched neck, and beak 

 pointing to the sky. More than once I have caught this species with my hand ; and my old 

 retriever often brought me Little Bitterns alive, in the marshes of Butrinto, where I have found 

 the nest in a tamarisk a few inches above the water. The curious habits of this species make it 

 an interesting pet, though I have not found it easy to keep it alive for any length of time." It. 

 is a migrant on the Cyclades, and is said to be common in Crete to about the middle of May, 

 when it disappears. Canon Tristram met with it in Palestine ; and in North-east Africa it is 

 found throughout the winter. Von Heuglin is unable to say with certainty if this bird breeds 

 in North-east Africa; but he met with it in full spring dress in May in the lagoons of Lower 

 Egypt and near Chartoum, and in June he shot two old and one young bird near Rosetta. In 

 August, September, and October he met with individuals on passage in Dongola, on the White 

 Nile and Blue Nile, and one solitary bird in the Gulf of Tedjura. Loche speaks of it as being 

 common and resident in Algeria ; and Mr. Salvin found it extremely numerous in the marsh of 

 Zana ; but Favier says that it is the scarcest of the Ardeidse near Tangier, where it occurs on 

 passage in April and August. 



It is also found on the Azores and Madeira, being, according to Mr. Godman, met with on 

 the central group of the former islands. 



How far south it ranges on the continent of Africa I cannot determine, as there is also in 

 that country another closely allied form, Arietta podicejos, Bp. Mr. Andersson, speaking of 

 Ardetta minuta, says (B. of Damara Land, p. 293), " I never met with this species in Damara or 

 Great Namaqua Land ; but it is not uncommon on the rivers Okavango and Teoughe, and also 

 at Lake Ngami. It inhabits marshy districts, where it hides closely, coming out on the approach 

 of night to feed on small fish and reptiles, and also on insects and mollusca. It is found singly 

 or in pairs." Mr. Gurney, also, referring to a specimen shot at Potchefstroom, in the Transvaal, 

 in February 1872, says, "This specimen was sent to me by Mr. Ayres soon after it was shot; and 

 I then considered it to be an example of Ardetta podiceps ; but having recently carefully reex- 

 amined it, and compared it with other specimens, I believe it to be an adult female of the 

 true Ardetta minuta ; and Mr. Sharpe, to whom I have submitted it, agrees with me in this 

 opinion." 



I am indebted to Canon Tristram for the loan of specimens of Ardetta podiceps from the 

 Transvaal which differ from Ardetta minuta very perceptibly. An adult male differs in having 

 the sides of the head, of the neck, and of the hind neck rich foxy red, becoming rather paler 

 towards the front of the neck ; and it is slightly smaller in size than any of my specimens of 

 Ardetta minuta. A couple of young males are also more brightly coloured than the young of 



