ARDEID#. 381 
THE LITTLE BITTERN. 
ARDETTA MINUTA (Linneus). 
This small species has been obtained in nearly every county of 
England, especially in the eastern and southern districts ; while there 
can be little doubt that it bred on some of the Broads of Norfolk 
comparatively recently, and formerly did so in other localities. In 
Wales, and on the west side of the island, it is of rare occurrence, 
as it is also to the north of Yorkshire; while to Scotland its visits 
are very irregular, though extending as far as the Orkneys and 
Shetlands. Mr. Ussher informs me that he has at least twenty-four 
records for Ireland, the majority from the southern counties. Most 
of the instances recorded in the British Islands have been between 
spring and autumn, but a few in the winter months. 
The Little Bittern is only a rare wanderer to the Feroes, Iceland, 
Norway and Sweden ; and although it has been obtained on several 
occasions in Denmark as well as the district of St. Petersburg, its 
usual migrations do not extend beyond the Baltic. Southward, it is 
found during summer in suitable situations throughout Europe ; but 
even from Spain, Italy and Greece it takes its departure in autumn, 
to return in April. It occurs in the Azores, Madeira and the 
Canaries, as well as in North Africa, where its numbers are 
augmented by migrants from the north in winter—at which season 
it visits Egypt and Nubia. In Southern Africa it is represented by 
the smaller and more rufous Ardetta podicipes. In Asia, our Little 
