1154 
BUTOEIDES JAVANICA. 
Ohs. Chinese specimens hare the dorsal plumes paler or more ashy than in mine from Ceylon ; and the margins of 
all that I have examined are pure white. Adolescent examples from Java exhibit the same characters, as regards 
stripe down the throat and black streak on each side of the chin, as I have above noticed are present in Ceylonese, 
d he Chinese race seems to be larger than the Indian; but published data and the measurements of specimens I 
havo seen from Java, Andamans, India, and Ceylon correspond pretty well with one another. 
B. macrorhyncha, Gould, from China and Australia, appears to resemble our bird, but is longer in wing and bill. A 
specimen which I have examined in the Swinhoe collection, measuring in the wing 8-2 inches, is apparently of 
this species. 
Distribution . — This handsome little Bittern is abundant in the north and east of the island, and is likewise 
numerous on the west coast, in the cool season particularly. At that time I have frequently met with it on the 
Colombo Lake and lurking about the banks of various streams between Negombo and Galle. Throughout the 
year it is to be met with near Kotte and similar places on the west coast ; but, as a rule, it is not often seen 
after April in that part of the island. It is to be found in the south-eastern region iu suitable places, and on 
the margins of the Batticaloa Lake it is common, and, I imagine, resident throughout the year. In the 
Trincomalie district I noticed it more frequently during the north-east monsoon than between April and 
October. On the coast to the north of that place it is common about salt lakes or lagoons which are lined 
with low trees and bushes growing between high- and low'- water marks. At Jaffna Layard speaks of it as 
being abundant. It is found throughout the year at Aripu, according to Mr. Holdsworth ; and at tanks in 
the North-central and North-western Provinces Mr. Parker has met with it. 
In India it appears, from published data, to be more generally distributed than the Cinnamon or Black 
Bitterns. I find Mr. Bourdillon recording it from the Travancore hills as a winter visitor, affecting mountain- 
streams up to 2000 feet, Messrs. Davidson and Wenden writing that it is common at Satara, and Mr. Pairbank 
that it is found at Mahabaleshwar and in the hills west of the Deccan. It is commonly distributed throughout 
Sindh, Guzerat, Hutch, Hattiawar, and portions of llajpootana, wherever there are tanks, marshes and 
canals. On the Eastern Narr a it has been found breeding; and near Kurrachee harbour Capt. Butler has 
met with it. From the districts thus mentioned across to Calcutta it is pretty generally distributed, and in 
Chota Nagpur and some parts of the central provinces it is common, according to Mr. Ball. In Furreedpore 
and North-cast Cachar the same is the case; but in the immediate vicinity of Calcutta it is rare. In Upper 
Pegu Mr. Oates found it on the Engmah swamps ; and further south in Tenasserim it is to be met with, says 
Mr. Hume, on every stream. It has been procured at Malacca ; and in the Andamans and Nicobars it is 
very common, breeding there, according to Mr. Davison, in May. It likewise occurs at the Laccadives, where 
Mr. Hume met with it on the island of Cardamum. Turning eastward now we find it extending to Cochin 
China and the south of China in the summer for breeding purposes ; and, according to Messrs. David and 
Oustalet, it ranges north to Mantcliura, Amoor Land, and Japan; but it seems doubtful whether it is this 
species or the larger-billed form, B. macrorhyncha, which is found in these northern regions. Schrenk gives 
the wing of an Amoor-river example as 7'5 inches, which would appear to refer to our bird. In the Philippines 
the present species has recently been found in Luzon; and it is distributed throughout many of the Malay 
islands from Borneo to Sumatra, in which latter island it occurs at Aeheen in the extreme west and in 
Lampong at the eastern extremity. From Java it was first described by Ilorsfield; and in Borneo it has 
been procured at Banjermassing, in Sarawak, at Sibu, and in the adjacent island of Labuan; from Amboyna 
Celebes, Ceram, Halmehera, Morotai, Timor, Flores, Aru Islands, and New Guinea it has been recorded • and 
I observe from Herr Meyer's notes that it is not uncommon in Celebes, breeding there. Along the northern 
sea-board of Australia from Port Darwin it is found as far south as New South Wales ; and eastward it 
extends to New Caledonia, the Society Islands, and Fiji. 
Habits .-^ This Bittern is not by any means wholly nocturnal, as on dull days it may be seen out feeding 
in exposed situations ; and wherever there are overhanging bushes on the banks of rivers or the borders of 
lakes it may constantly be seen lurking about, watching, in a lethargic sort of manner, for fish and frogs. It 
will stand for a long time in an attitude of repose, with its neck drawn in, now and then twisting its head 
awry when any thing attracts its attention ; then perhaps stalking along with measured steps, thrusting its 
head out, gazing into the water with apparent stupidity until its sharp eye catches sight of a fish or frog, 
