186 



caressing the female, it carries its tail, which is perfectly 

 upright, giving the bird, at a little distance, the appearance 

 of having two heads. It seems to breed in the neighbour- 

 hood of Carlton, as I killed a pair of them in the beginning 

 of June, the female having eggs in her body ready for ex- 

 clusion- Their plumage is remarkably thick and glossy, as 

 that of the Grebes, and, like these birds when pursued or 

 frightened, the ducks dive, and show only their bills above 



water. 



The Bittern is frequently seen in the marshes about 

 Carlton House; its habits are the same as those of the 

 British species, and it possesses the same singular cry. The 

 sound is very deceptive, frequently appearing as if quite 

 near when really a mile distant. The Bitterns appear to 

 have the power of inflating their necks and windpipes to a 

 large size, and I feel no doubt that to this property alone 

 they owe the extraordinary booming noise which they make. 



There is also a species of Curvirostra common in the lakes 

 of the plains, near which they breed. On approaching their 

 haunts, they fly to meet you, giving, at the same time, the 

 note of alarm to the rest, who immediately join, as if to 

 chase away the intruder, by which means they are easily 

 shot. The American Curlew^ and several other species of 

 that genus, have the same habit, as well as the Lapwing of 

 our own country. 



A beautiful little bird, Phalaropus Wihani^ also inhabits 

 those lakes. I procured several specimens about the middle 

 of May, 1827. They swim with great ease, but generally 

 frequent the shallow water. 



There is also another small bird that deserves to be noticed 

 for the courage with which it attacks all others that venture 

 near its residence ; it is a species of Flycatcher, about the 

 size of a lark, and it is truly amusing to see it assault the 



ly other large bird. It soars above them 



boreal 

 then dartiuir down 



beak, with all the strength that it possesses, to its head, 

 sometimes remaining in this position for a minute or more, 

 and then it returns in triumph to its station, on the top of 



F- 



w 



I 



I 



» f 



\ 





I 



! 



K 



: 

 1 



