62 WADING BIRDS. 



a large body of air, and exploded at pleasure. These bel- 

 lowings are chiefly heard from the beginning of spring to 

 the end of autumn ; and are the usual calls during the pair- 

 ing season." 



The American bird, no less than the true Bittern, is con- 

 sidered by many as excellent food. 



Total length of the American Bittern 31 inches, (only 27 accord- 

 ing to Wilson.) Bill straight, tapering, acute, and finely serrated 

 towards the point, dark brown, on the sides and beneath, yellow. 

 The crown dusky reddish-brown. Neck pale yellowish-brown ; mi- 

 nutely dotted with blackish-brown ; a broad blackish stripe on the 

 side of the neck, from behind the ears. Dorsal plumage, da.ik umber 

 brown, barred and spotted with chestnut and yellowish-brown ; long 

 feathers on the shoulders broadly edged with brownish yellow. 

 Spurious wing, primaries, their coverts, and the bases of the secon- 

 daries, greyish-black ; their tips, lesser quills, and tail brownish- 

 orange, dotted with black. Chin and part of the throat whitish ; 

 rest of the under plumage, ochre-yellow, unspotted on the vent, 

 under tail coverts, and insides of the thighs ; marked, however, on 

 the neck, breast and belly with central stripes of mottled clove- 

 brown ; flanks dusky, with light irregular bars. Legs greenish-yellow. 

 2d and 3d quills the longest. Tail rounded, of 10 feathers. Middle 

 claw pectinated. 



