THE BITTERN 59 



breeding season, each pair keeping to a particular 

 haunt. The young are said to remain in the nest 

 until they are able to fly. 



The Bittern has the general colour of the 

 plumage buff, irregularly vermiculated and pencilled 

 on the upper parts and streaked on the lower parts 

 with black, which is the uniform colour of the 

 head and nape; the feathers of the neck are 

 elongated into a very conspicuous ruff. Bill and 

 bare space before the eye greenish yellow ; legs 

 and feet light green ; irides yellow. The female 

 and young do not differ to any great extent in 

 colour from the male ; and the total length of an 

 adult bird is about twenty-eight inches, sometimes 

 a trifle more or less. 



