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BIRDS OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND. 
could not be Ardea alba, as I am assured by Professor MacGrillivray, to whom I 
took occasion to communicate the notice of its occurrence. ‘ The elongated crest 
and occipital plumes denote,’ observes the Professor, ‘its true affinity to Ardea 
cinerea.’ ” Harley’s opinion, therefore, appears to have been confirmed by 
Professor MacGrillivray solely on these grounds ; but, as the size of the bird is not 
stated, it might have been a specimen of Ardea garzetta but for the colour of the 
bill. Mr. Harting, who commented upon this in the ‘ Zoologist,’ 1886, p. 197, 
thinks it “ more likely to have been a Spoonbill,” but surely Chaplin, who appears 
to have been a fairly competent observer, would have noted the extraordinary bill 
of the Spoonbill — so utterly unlike that of any other bird — and have described 
this peculiarity to Harley. 
In Rutland. — Lord Gainsborough informs me that it is often seen on the 
ponds at Exton Park, on one occasion so many as seven birds being seen 
together ; and IMr. Horn writes : — “ Frequently seen in the Welland Valley, but 
I do not think we have a Heronry in Rutland.” 
LITTLE BITTERN. Ardetta minuta (Linmeus). 
A very rare summer visitant to Britain, which, according to Harley, “ has 
once occurred, namely on the banks of Groby Pool at the close of the summer 
of 1853, as I learn from Chaplin.” Mr. Davenport wrote, in January, 1886; — 
“ One was shot some dozen years ago by a Mr. Allen of Glenn, sold by him 
to Potter, and re-sold by Potter to the Rev. J. Shepherd, the then curate of 
Billesdon.” Potter, of Billesdon, remarking upon this, gives the date as 
November, 1867, and seems to be quite sure of the species, but, as the bird 
cannot be traced, the record must stand upon its merits. 
NIGHT-HERON. Kycticorax griseus (Linnaeus). 
Like the last-named, a very rare visitant to Britain, of which Harley, writing 
1840-55, said : — “ A fine example was shot by a countryman a few years since in 
the lordship of Ansty, as it was sitting on the top of a pollard willow by a pool.” 
Harley examined it shortly after capture. “ Mention is made,” he added, “ of 
another bird having been shot in the year 1846, at Donnington, as I gather from 
the manuscript of the Rev. Arthur Evans.” 
BITTERN. Botaurus stellaris (Linmeus). 
Now an accidental visitant to Britain, and rarer than formerly. — Mr. 
Babington (Appendix ‘ Potter,’ p. 68) said : — “ One was shot near Ashby, in 1834, 
by the late Mr. Joseph Cantrell; another, killed at Wanlip, is in the possession of 
Sir George J. Palmer, Bart. ; a third, shot at Glenfield, is in the possession of 
C. Winstanley, Esq., of Braunstone Hall.” Harley wrote : — “ The species occurred 
during the winter months of the year 1844 at Croft, and it has since been met 
