280 BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND AND EASTERN NEW YORK 



ber ; it winters sparingly from Cape Cod southward. It 

 inhabits fresh water marshes and wet meadows, particu- 

 larly where cat-tails 

 abound, and is often 

 associated with the 

 Carolina Eail, many 

 of whose habits it 

 shares. When seen, 

 the long bill and the 

 rich, reddish-brown of 

 its wings and under 

 Fig. 82. Virginia Rail parts distinguish it 



from its relative. Its notes, too, are quite distinct. They 

 consist of a low monotonous call, like the syllables cut'-ta, 

 cut'-ta, and a series of more startling notes, wak, wak, wak, 

 each note lower than the preceding, like the grunting of lit- 

 tle pigs. In summer, when the old bird is followed by the 

 young, she utters, when alarmed, a note like the syllable kip. 



HERONS, ETC.: ORDER HERODIONES 



HERONS AND BITTERNS : FAMILY ARDEIDiE 



Three species of Heron and two of Bittern occur in New 

 York and New England. The American Bittern and the 

 Green Heron breed everywhere in suitable localities; the 

 Least Bittern is not uncommon in parts of southern New 

 York and New England ; the Night Heron is common along 

 the sea-coast ; the Great Blue Heron breeds in the wilder 

 portions of northern New York and New England and oc- 

 curs farther south as a migrant. The two species of Bit- 

 tern live in extensive swampy meadows or cat-tail swamps, 

 and depend on their coloration for protection ; if startled, 

 they fly to some other part of the grass or flags. The her- 

 ons stand on the margins of shallow coves and pools, flying 



