SAND DUNES AND SALT MARSHES 



a stake into a bog that the bird is sometimes 

 called by the country people the " stake- 

 driver/' 



On one occasion I was so fortunate as to 

 have a very good view of a bittern engaged 

 in the production of this extraordinary song. 

 By paddling my canoe vigorously while the 

 bird was absorbed in his performance, and by 

 remaining motionless while he was resting, I 

 had eluded observation and had approached 

 within a short distance. This method is sim- 

 ilar in plan to that employed in the murderous 

 stalking of the capercaillie. As a preliminary, 

 the bittern opened wide its bill, which it held 

 straight up, and audibly gulped the air six 

 or eight times. Then the '' pumping " began, 

 and with each pump the throat was swelled 

 and the head ducked, as if the bird were ter- 

 ribly nauseated, and were endeavoring to rid 

 its stomach of the air. It was not a graceful 

 performance, or one that would seem to be 

 especially attractive to a lady bittern,— but I 

 suppose it was. 



Besides this curious song the birds have an 

 interesting courtship display of soft fluffy 

 white feathers which are ordinarily concealed, 

 but which on this occasion are spread con- 



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