174 
BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 
The Yellow-crowned Night Heron is very abundant throughout 
the Bahamas. On the desolate little islands of the Miraporvos, we 
met with them everywhere ; dozens of them could be seen at once, 
standing on the rocks and bushes. On May 27 incubation was 
already well advanced, but after a careful search I procured a num- 
ber of eggs in good condition. It builds a rough, flat nest, com- 
posed of sticks, generally placed in a low bush, and sometimes several 
nests were placed in the same bush. The eggs are from three to 
five in number, of a pale green color. No nest found contained 
more than that number. The flesh of this bird is much esteemed by 
the inhabitants of some of the islands. 
Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol. VI. pi. 364. 
ARDETTA E XI LIS. {Gin.) 
Least Bittern. 
Adult Male . — Crown, back, and tail, glossy greenish black; 
back of the neck and some of the wing-coverts, chestnut ; the rest 
of the wing-coverts, yellowish brown ; neck and under parts, yellow- 
ish brown, varied with white, and showing traces of black on the 
side of the breast ; upper mandible, brown above, below yellow ; 
lower mandible, pale yellow ; legs, pale olive-green in front, the rest, 
including the feet, yellow ; iris, pale yellow. 
Adult Female . — The black of the upper parts replaced by dark 
chestnut. 
Length 12, wing 4.70, tail 1.65, tarsus 1.65, bill 1.95. 
