ARDETTA EXILIS : LEAST BITTERN. 273 



hand. But it avails little ; a kick from a cowhide boot, 

 or a thump with the butt of a gun, generally decides the 

 unequal contest. 



The food of this bird consists of various kinds of 

 small aquatic animals. In its stomach may be found 

 different molluscs, crawfish, frogs, lizards, small snakes 

 and fishes, as well as insects. Such prey is captured 

 with great address, by spearing, as the bird walks or 

 wades stealthily along, the thrust of the bill being mar- 

 vellously quick and skilful. 



LEAST BITTERN. 



Ardetta EXILIS {Gm.) Gr. 



Chars. Smallest of the whole family ; in form, nearly like the com- 

 mon Bittern, having also only lo tail-feathers. Adult male : 

 Crown, back and tail glossy greenish-black ; neck behind, most 

 of the wing-coverts, and outer edges of inner quills, chestnut ; 

 other wing-coverts brownish-yellow, like the front and the sides 

 of the neck and inner parts generally ; the throat-line varied with 

 white, and sides of the breast with a brownish-black patch. 

 Female with the black of the back entirely, that of the crown 

 mostly, replaced by purplish-chestnut ; edges of the scapulars 

 forming a brownish-white stripe on each side. Bill mostly pale 

 yellow, culmen blackish ; lores light green ; eyes and toes 

 yellow ; legs green, the hinder scales yellow. Length about 

 12.50 ; extent about 18.00 ; wing, 4.00-5.00 ; tail, bill, tarsus, mid- 

 dle toe and claw, each, 2.00 or less. 



This queer little Heron, which looks as if might have 

 been a cross between a Bittern and a Rail, is a regular 

 though not abundant summer resident in southern New 

 England. It is hardly a bird of the Canadian Fauna, 

 belonging rather to the Carolinian, and also being not 



