BOTAURUS. BITTERN. 



409 



tip acuminate ; the gape-line - straight, being deflected only 

 at the base. 



Tongue long, slender, trigonal ; oesophagus very wide ; 

 stomach roundish, with very thin walls and a round pyloric 

 lobe ; intestine long, narrow ; ccecum oblong. 



Nostrils linear. Eyes large. Aperture of ears rather 

 small. Legs of moderate length ; tibia bare for a short 

 space or entirely feathered ; tarsus with very broad anterior 

 scutella ; toes long, the first strong, the second much longer 

 than the fourth, the outer two connected by a small basal 

 web ; claws long, slender, that of the first toe stouter and 

 more arched, of the middle toe with the inner edge pectinate. 



Plumage very full and soft ; the hind part of the neck 

 covered only with down, but concealed by the very elon- 

 gated feathers of its sides and lower part, which are directed 

 obliquely backwards. Wings large, of twenty-eight quills, 

 of Avhich the second and third are longest ; inner secondaries 

 nearly as long when the wing is folded. Tail very short, 

 nearly even, of ten soft feathers. 



The Bitterns reside in marshes, and by the sides of lakes 

 and streams, where, in a hideling manner, they search for 

 reptiles, fishes, and other aquatic animals. The males, in 

 the breeding season, make a loud booming or bellowing 

 noise. The eggs, from three to five, are elliptical, of one 

 colour, generally grey, olivaceous, or white. The young 

 remain in the nest until fledged. 



