The Argentine Little Bittern 



!3 



and perched him on my hand, upon which he flew only 

 fifty or sixty }'ards off, and dropped into the dry grass. 

 Here he again put in practice the same instinct so ably that 

 I groped about for ten or twelve minutes before refinding 

 him, and was astonished that a creature to all appearance 

 so weak and frail should have strength and endurance 



Little Bittern in reed-bed. 



sufficient to keep its body rigid and in one attitude for so 

 long a time." 



An interesting corollary to this story was told me by 

 my friend, Mr. F. V. McConncll, who has explored with 

 Mr. J. J. Quelch, the well-known Director of the Museum 

 at Georgetown in British Guiana, the slopes of Roraima and 

 the savannahs of the interior of the country. On a recent 



