70 HERON. 



in the Museum of the late Mr. Tunstall; and a third shot near Bath, 

 in autumn, 1789, perched on the stump of a tree, on the banks of 

 the River Avon;* and another shot near the River Creedey, in 

 Devonshire. The nest is placed on the ground, composed of short 

 sticks, interspersed with a few leaves of flag ; the eggs four in 

 number, and white, about the size of those of a Blackbird, one inch 

 and a quarter long. 



Mr. Pennant says, it inhabits from New York to Carolina, ex- 

 tending to Jamaica. Mr. Abbot observed a few of them in a 

 particular pond, about Savannah, in Georgia, in the summer ; and 

 adds, that it breeds there, but is not a common bird. We are inclined 

 to think it not far different from Le Heron rouge et noir of Azara, 

 above quoted ; of which it is said, that the natives of Paraguay find 

 them about the river of that name, and that they are easily taken 

 by the hand, not being able to fly. 



31 — DURALTA BITTERN. 



Little Bittern, Gen. Spi. Sup. ii. 301. — parag. 2d. 



LENGTH fourteen inches. Bill pale, two inches long ; round 

 the eye bare, and greenish ; irides red ; plumage above pale rufous 

 brown ; neck the same, but much paler, the feathers longish, hanging 

 loose ; on the lower part of the neck, down the middle, six black 

 spots ; chin, belly, vent, and thighs, white ; lesser wing coverts 

 ferruginous, marked with many spots of black ; quills dusky, with 

 pale edges, and equal to, if not exceeding the tail in length ; legs 

 dusky yellow, darker about the knees; toes long, claws crooked, 



pale. 



Inhabits New South Wales; found there in December. Native 

 name Duralia; chiefly met with in marshes or moist ground. 



* Other instances are mentioned by Dr. Pultney, viz.— one shot on the Bere River, by 

 Harvey Ekins, Esq. ; another killed at Upton ; and a third at Lytchet. 



