THE LITTLE BITTEEN. 
159 
Several examples of this species have been killed at various 
times ill England, chiefly in the southern and eastern counties ; 
but not one has yet been observed so far north as Scotland.'^ Like 
the three species of Ardea already noticed {A. garzetta, A. alba, and 
A. russata), this bird is a native of more southern climates than the 
British Islands, though occasionally wandering so far north. The 
squacco heron chiefly frequents the warmer parts of eastern Europe 
and western Asia — also the north of Africa.f 
THE LITTLE BITTEEN, 
Little Heron. 
Botaunis minutus, Linn, (sp.) 
Ardea minuta ,, 
Is a very rare visitant. 
The first individual of this species kiUed in Ireland, that came 
under my observation (as recorded in the Proceedings of the 
Zoological Society for 1 834, p. 30) was an immature bird — in 
the plumage of the young after the first moult, according to Mr, 
Selby’s description. It was shot in the county of Armagh in 
November 1830, and sent to my friend, William Sinclaire, Esq. of 
Belfast, who preserved it for his collection. An intelligent sports- 
man, on seeing this specimen, assured us that a bfid which he had 
observed in spring some years before at the bog-meadows, near Bel- 
fast, was of the same species. He described it as rising from the 
ground almost perpendicularly when sprung, and descending again 
in a similar manner. Another gentleman, who saw the specimen in 
1833, at once recognised it as identical in species with a bird 
which he had shot a year or two previously in the county of 
Kerry. Mr. T. W. W^arren, of Dublin, possesses an Ardea minuta, 
which was shot about the year 1833 in the county of Longford. 
* Jardine. 
Schlegel. 
