ARDEID.E — THE HERONS — BOTAURUS. 69 



grayish, and in some even almost obsolete. I cannot determine, liowever, that this difference is 

 sexual or seasonal, or dependent on locality ; it is probably sim[)ly an individual variation. 



The Common Bittern of North America lias a very extended distribution, and one 

 almost co-extensive with the northern continent itself. It is found from Texas to 

 the Arctic regions, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and breeds wherever it is 

 found. It is generally, but not universally, distributed, and does not occur in regions 

 unsuited for its residence. 



Hearne, in his "Journey to the Xorthern Ucean," speaks of this bird as being 

 common at Fort York (Hudson's Bay) in summer, but as being seldom met w^th so 

 far north as Churchill River. It is always found frequenting marshes and swampy 

 places, as also the banks of such rivers as abound with reeds and long grass. It 

 generally feeds on the insects that are bred in the water, and probably on small frogs 

 and tadpoles ; and though seldom very fat, is generally considered good eating. It is 

 by no means numerous, even at Fort York, nor, in fact, even in the most southern parts 

 of the Bay that Hearne visited. Richardson speaks of it as a common bird in the 

 marshes and willow thickets of the interior of the Fur Country as far north as the 

 58th parallel. Its loud booming note is said exactly to resemble that of the Common 

 Bittern of Europe ; this may be heard every summer evening, and also frequently in 

 the day. When disturbed or alarmed, it utters a hollow croaking cry. Captain 

 Blakiston did not meet with it on the plains of the Saskatchew^an, although he was 

 told that it was not uncommon in the interior. ]Mr. Mossay met with it on the coast 

 of Hudson's Bay ; and Mr. Ross cites its range on the Mackenzie River as extending 

 even to the Arctic Ocean, where its presence must be very rare. 



Mr. Boardman informs us that this bird is quite common in the vicinity of 

 Calais, where it breeds abundantly. It is usually found on high, or rather on dry, 

 ground, Avhere it makes only a very slight nest. The young birds hide in the long 

 grass ; and it is not an uncommon occurrence for mowers when at work to take off 

 their heads. Mr. W. E. Endicott Avrites to the "Naturalist" (I. p. 325) that the 

 statement that this bird builds in bushes, in the manner of Herons, is not in 

 accordance with his experience. He has never met w^ith its nest, either on low trees 

 or in bushes. So far as he knows, it does not make any nest at all ; but all the eggs 

 that he has ever found have been laid on the bare ground among thick tufts of 

 dwarf laurel on the Fowl-meadows that skirt the upper parts of the Neponset River. 

 He has never found this bird in communities, and has never been able to discover 

 more than a single nest in a field of ten acres, though he has searched diligently. 

 That the Bittern, when it nests on the uplands, or on ground constantly dry and 

 secure from inundations, may have, as mentioned by Mr. Boardman, a very scanty 

 nest, or even no nest at all, as was observed by Mr. Endicott, is probable ; but it is 

 not universally true. The Bittern in the West builds almost universally a substantial, 

 and sometimes considerably elevated nest, ahvays on the ground; but the portion 

 on which the eggs are laid is considerably above the level of the ground. This is 

 undoubtedly due to the fact that it is forced to nest in places either naturally swampy, 

 or which in rainy seasons are liable to be flooded to the depth of several inches. Ex- 

 perience has doubtless taught the bird that the bare earth, or even a scanty supply of 

 dry rubbish, is not enough in such localities ; and thus we find it breeding in the 

 marshes of Lake Koskonong, in the open ground, never among trees or in bushes, 

 and always keeping its eggs as dry as the Least Bittern ; the nest, or, more properly 

 speaking, the upper part of the mound on which the eggs are laid, being always dry. 

 It is not at all gregarious in the breeding season. 



