156 BRITISH BIRDS’ EGGS. 
LITTLE BITTERN. 
ARDETTA MINUTA, Linn. 
Pl. XXL, fig. 7. 
Geogr. distr.—Temperate Europe generally in summer, and a rare 
straggler to Northern Europe; in autumn it migrates southwards, 
extending in winter tolerably far into Africa; Western Asia: in Great 
Britain it is a rare summer visitant, but has occurred in many parts of 
England, Scotland, and Ireland. It is said to have bred in England ; 
specimens have been shot in Devonshire, one of which contained 
partly developed eggs. 
Food.—Fish, Mollusca, and insects. 
Nest.—A quantity of aquatic herbage, the foundation being mixed 
with twigs; lined with fine grasses and flags. 
Position of nest.—Amongst reeds over shallow water, on the 
ground upon dry flags, or in a deserted Magpie’s nest. 
Number of eggs.—4-9; usually 5-6. + 
Time of nidification.—VI. 
Though the breeding of this species in our islands has 
not hitherto been clearly proved, there is no reason that I 
know of why the occasional spring and summer visits of 
the bird to our shores, and more especially to the Norfolk 
marshes, should be entirely without result. 
Mr. Seebohm says :—‘‘ The Little Bittern is very skulk- 
ing in its habits, and frequents large marshes, swamps, 
clumps of bulrushes, and large expanses of reeds and 
rushes. Although it loves to frequent the solitudes of reeds 
it may sometimes be observed in the trees on the borders 
of the swamps, sitting quite still on the branches, with its 
neck stretched out and its beak pointing upwards.” 
“The nest of the Little Bittern is generally placed 
amongst the dense vegetation of its marshy haunts. Some- 
times it is built amongst reeds a few inches above the 
water, and is often at a considerable distance from the 
shore. It is even said to sometimes take possession of a 
deserted Magpie’s nest in a tree close to its haunt. The 
nest is very large for the size of the bird, loosely put 
together, and made of pieces of aquatic vegetation, some- 
times a few twigs, and lined with finer material, such as 
grass or dead leaves of the reed.”—(Hist. Brit. Birds, vol. 
i., pp. 511, 512). 
