The Australian Bittern is very similar to the European, B. stellaris.
Genus Ardetta, G. R. Gray.
The members of this genus of Mangrove Bitterns usually frequent the extensive belts of mangroves and low dells covered with reed-beds and dense herbage.
Africa and America are each inhabited by birds of this form, one species of which is also found in Europe, several in India and the adjacent islands, and three in Australia, viz.—
| 521. Ardetta flavicollis | Vol. VI. Pl. 65. |
This species is said to inhabit Java and India, and although I have figured it under the name assigned to the Indian and Javanese bird, I am still inclined to believe that it is distinct.
| 522. Ardetta macrorhyncha, Gould | Vol. VI. Pl. 66. |
| 523. Ardetta stagnatilis, Gould | Vol. VI. Pl. 67. |
| 524. Ardetta pusilla | Vol. VI. Pl. 68. |
This species, with the little Bittern of the British Islands and several others inhabiting Africa and America, would admit of being separated into a distinct genus.
Family RALLIDÆ, Leach.
Of this family no less than sixteen species inhabit Australia, and are comprised in the following genera, viz. Porphyrio, Fulica, Gallinula, Rallus and Porzana, all of which are European forms; and Parra, Eulabeornis and Tribonyx: of the latter, the first is common to India and the Indian Islands, and the other two are confined, so far as we know, to Australia.