Obber HEEODIONES.] 
[Eam. AEDEID^.. 
AEDEA MACULATA. 
(LITTLE BITTERN.) 
Spotted Heron, Lath. Gen. Syn. Suppl. ii. p. 305 (1801). 
Ardea maculata. Lath. Ind. Orn. Suppl. ii. p. Ixiv (1801, nec Bodd., nec Vieill.). 
Ardea piisilla, Vieill. N. Diet. d’Hist. Nat. xiv. p. 432 (1817). 
Ardetta punctata, Gray, Cat. Grallae Brit. Mus. p. 83 (1844). 
Ardetta pusilla, Gould, Birds of Austr. vi. pi. 68 (1848). 
Ardeola pusilla, Bonap. C. E. xl. p. 722 (1855). 
Ardeola novae zealandice, Purdie, Trans. N.-Z. Inst. iii. p. 99 (1870). 
Ardetta maculata, Buller, Birds of New Zealand, 1st ed. p. 235 (1873). 
Hative name. — Kaoriki. 
Ad. $ pileo cjeruleo-nigro : supercilio distincto, facie et collo lateralihus sordide ferrugineis, regione parotica 
stratnine^ : dorso toto nigro, pliimis quibusdam brumieo, ferrugineo aut stramineo extus lavatis : tectvicibus 
alarum ocbrascentibus, minoribus dorsalibus et exterioribus fci'rugineis nigro medialiter notatis : alii cseru- 
lescenti-nigra, tectricibus majoribus, ala spnriii et remigibus ferrugineo limbatis aut apicaliter maculatis : 
caud^ cserulescenti-nigrsl : gutture toto albo, utrinque ferrugineo, plumis medialiter saturatius brnnneis et 
stramineo conspicub lavatis : corpore rcliquo subtiis albicantc, bypoeliondriis plumis medialiter nigris, quasi 
striatis, ferrugineo aut stramineo marginatis ; subalaribus ocbrascentibus, medialiter brunneis, margine 
alari undique albo : regione oculari flavicanti-viridi : rostro saturate brunneo, lateraliter et versus basin 
flavicanti-viridi ; pedibus Isete viridibus, tarso superiore digitisque brunneo tinctis : iride aurea. 
Juv. $ mari similis sed sordidior ; tectricibus medianis alarum stramineis medialiter brunneis : gutture minus 
distinctb notato. 
Adult. Forehead, crown of the head, and nape bluish black ; throat and front of the neck tawny buff, each feather 
shaded in the centre with brown ; from the chin and down the fore neck an irregular streak of reddish brown j 
on the sides of the neck the buff passes gradually into a rich chestnut j and this colour is continued on the 
sides of the head, forming a broad streak over the eyes, and another, less distinct, to the angles of the mouth, 
mixed with tawny yellow on the ear-coverts ; underparts pale buff, each feather centred more or less with 
black j on each side of the chest the black predominates, forming broad acuminate sti’ipes; the whole of the 
back and the feathers composing the mantle bronzy black, tinged more or less with chestnut, the scapulars 
margined with tawny buff j quills and tail-feathers bluish black, slaty on their under surface, the inner 
primaries, as well as their coverts and most of the secondaries, tipped with chestnut-brown ; the primary 
coverts and a patch of feathers near the flexure pale chestnut, edged with fulvous, the former centred more 
or less with black j the small wing-coverts and the whole of the secondary coverts blackish brown, broadly 
edged with yellowish buff, and presenting a handsome appearance. Irides golden yellow ; eyelids and bare 
space in front of the eyes yellowish green; bill dark browm along the ridge and at the tip, yellowish green 
on the sides and towards the base of both mandibles ; legs and feet bright green, stained at the tarsal joint 
and along the toes with dark brown. Length 15 inches; wing, from flexure, 625; tail 2; bill, along the 
ridge 2-2, along the edge of lower mandible 2-75 ; bare tibia '5 ; tarsus 2T ; middle toe and claw 2-5 ; hind 
toe and claw 1’5. 
