382 LITTLE BITTERN. 
Bittern is found breeding from the shores of the Caspian to Kashmir 
and Sind, while it occurs in Nepal and North-western India ; but 
eastward and southward it is represented by A. scnensis, the back of 
which is brown instead of black, and also by A. cinnamomea; while 
allied species inhabit Australia and America. 
The nest, made of flags and blades of grass, is placed among 
growing reeds, and very little above the water; or in tamarisk- 
bushes ; but sometimes it is in pollarded willows, and occasionally 
the bird makes use of the former abode of a Magpie, in bushes or 
hedges neara swamp. The eggs, normally 4-5 in number, though 
9 are said to have been found, are usually laid in the latter half 
of May, are uniform dull white, with a greenish-grey tinge: 
measurements 1°4 by 1 in. When disturbed from her nest the 
female utters a sound like ge?t, geft; but the male emits a peculiar 
grunting qwof, wough. The food, obtained chiefly by night, consists 
of small fish and their fry, frogs, reptiles, molluscs and aquatic 
insects. During the day the Little Bittern skulks in reed-beds, 
plantations of osiers, and other moist situations ; and, when disturbed, 
climbs among the branches, and threads its way through the 
tangled vegetation with great celerity. The late Lord Lilford 
observed that on its arrival in Corfu and Epirus it frequented 
gardens, orange-groves and olive-trees. It often endeavours to 
escape notice by remaining motionless, with crossed legs, outstretched 
neck, and bill pointing upwards: thus resembling a dry reed or a 
dead bulrush. Mr. H. M. Wallis informs me that at Lake Varese 
a bird had such confidence in its powers of assimilation that it 
remained until grasped, and afterwards it sat quietly upon the 
gunwale of his boat. 
The adult male has the crown, nape and back greenish-black ; 
primaries and tail browner black ; cheeks and neck warm buff, wing- 
coverts paler ; throat and under parts buff, with a few dark streaks 
on the breast and flanks ; bill yellow ; legs and feet greenish-yellow. 
Length about 13 in. ; wing 6in. The female is a trifle smaller, and 
differs in having a brown tinge on the head, the cheeks and hind 
neck rufous,.back brown, wing-coverts brownish-buff ; under parts 
buff, much streaked with wood-brown and umber. The young at 
first resemble the female, but the upper parts are duller in colour. 
The members of the genus Ardetfa resemble the true Bitterns 
in having only ten soft tail-feathers and two pairs of powder-down 
tracts, whereas the Herons have twelve tail-feathers and three pairs 
of powder-down tracts. 
