140 
BITTKRNS. 
Where one individual of a form is only present in 
a fauna, it is often difficult to show its gradations ; 
and, were no more discovered, it might merge into 
the adjacent genera, as only a very aberrant 
species; but, where others appear of a like struc- 
ture, and are seen carrying a representative type 
into other countries, it is often better, for the sake 
of facilitating the artificial arrangement, to sepa- 
rate them. In the Little Bitterns, wo have some 
parts of the form of the small egrets strongly 
marked, but the feathers on the head and neck 
are more broadly formed, and those on the back 
and scapulars are without division or separation 
of the webs, the tarsi clothed to the knees ; the 
manners very skulking, and the nidification said 
to be on the ground; in which habits, and in the 
very narrow and compressed form of their bodies, 
they show a close alliance to the rails. The 
Prince of Canino has apparently acted on the same 
principles, and has given to these birds, taking 
the Ardea minuta and Exilis as typical, the title of 
Ardeola ( Bittern-Heron .) Our native species is 
The Little Bittern, Ardeola minuta. — Ar- 
dea minuta, Penn, etc. — Heron llongios, Temm . — ■ 
Botaurus minutus, Selby, etc. — Little Bittern-Heron, 
Penn. — The Little Bittern of British authors. — 
