LITTLE BITTERN. 



li 



The measurements of the Little Bittern are as follows : — 

 Entire length nineteen inches ; the wing, from the carpus to 

 the tip, nearly six inches ; the tail two inches. 



The top of the head is black reflected with green ; a streak 

 over the eye yellow ; the chin white ; the cheeks, neck, sides of 

 the neck, and loose feathers of the breast ochre-yellow, the latter 

 tinged with violet ; the crop and front of the throat pale 

 ochre-yellow ; some elongated feathers on the sides of the 

 upper part of the breast margined with dusky and rich 

 brownish yellow ; the remainder of the under parts yellow ; 

 the under tail-coverts and inner sides of the thighs whitish. 

 The shoulders, back, rump, and tail-coverts are black with 

 green reflections ; the spurious wing partly black ; the greater 

 and lesser wing-coverts are ochre-yellow ; the quills are dusky. 

 The beak is rich gamboge-yellow ; the iris gold-yellow. The 

 legs and toes are transparent grass-green ; the soles of the 

 feet lemon-yellow ; claws dusky. 



The egg figured 169 is that of the Little Bittern. 



n 3 



