IXOBliYCHUS. — NYCTICORAX. 195 



Genus IXOBRYCHTJS Billhrg, Syn. Faun. Scand. Aves, 

 1828, p."l66. 



Type : I. minvta (Linn.). 



Icoobrychue, from i?o's=a reed and I3pix'^=-^ tear with the teeth. 



Ixobrychus minutns. Little Bittern. 



Ardea minuta Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 12th ed. i. 1760, 

 p. 240 : Switzerland. 



Ardetta minuta {Linn.) ; B. O. JJ. List, 1st ed. 1883, p. 110 ; 

 Shar^e, Cat. Birds B. M. xxvi. 1898, p. 222 ; Saunders, 

 Manual, 2nd ed, 1899, p. 381. 



Jlfrnwiits^ small, from minuo^l diminish. 



Distribution in the British Islands. — An Occasional Visitor. 

 It is believed to have bred in the Norfolk Broads and formerly 

 in othev localities. It has occurred in nearly every part of 

 England, but most frequently in the southern and eastern 

 counties. Though rare in Scotland, it has occurred as far 

 north as the Shetland Islands. In Ireland about thirty have 

 been recorded, chiefly in the south and east. 



General DLHribution. — The Little Bittern breeds in central 

 and southern Europe, south of about 60° N. latitude, and in 

 north Africa, ranging eastwards to central Asia, the Himalaya, 

 and north-west India. It is apparently resident in Sind. 

 In winter it visits Africa. As a wanderer it has occurred 

 in the Faeroe Islands, Iceland, and Scandinavia ; also in 

 the Azores, Canary Islands, and Madeira. In Africa and 

 Madagascar it is represented by closely allied resident 

 forms, /. 'payesi and I.podireps. 



Genus NYCTICORAX Forster, Sjnop. Cat. Brit. Birds, 

 ^817, p. 59. 



Type : iV. nycticorax (Linn.). 



Nycticdrax = vvKTiit6pa^, a Nightjar in Aristole, a Soreech-Owl in the 

 Anthology (xi. 186) ; but strictly a " Night-Eaven," from I'l-^ + Kopas. 



