100 WADING BIRDS. 



times even during the day. Instead of the bump, or b'domp, 

 however of the true Bittern, the call is something like the 

 uncouth syllables of 'pump-au-gdh, but uttered in the same 

 low, bellowing tone. 



The cry of the European Bittern, so similar to that of our 

 own species, is thus elegantly described by Goldsmith in his 

 " Animated Nature." " Those who have walked in a summer's 

 evening by the sedgy sides of unfrequented rivers must 

 remember a variety of notes from different water- fowl, — the 

 loud scream of the Wild Goose, the croaking of the Mallard, the 

 whining of the Lapwing, and the tremulous neighing of the Jack- 

 snipe ; but of all these sounds there is none so dismally hol- 

 low as the booming of the Bittern. It is impossible for words 

 to give those who have not heard this evening call an adequate 

 idea of its solemnity. It is Hke the interrupted bellowing of a 

 bull, but hollo wer and louder, and is heard at a mile's dis- 

 tance, as if issuing from some formidable being that resided at 

 the bottom of the waters. This is the Bittern, whose wind- 

 pipe is fitted to produce the sound for which it is remarkable ; 

 the lower part of it, dividing into the lungs, being supplied 

 with a thin loose membrane that can be filled with a large 

 body of air and exploded at pleasure. These bellowings are 

 chiefly heard from the beginning of spring to the end of 

 autumn, and are the usual calls during the pairing season." 



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

 sidered by many as excellent food. 



The Bittern is still a familiar bird throughout temperate North 

 America, breeding from the Middle States northward ; but, like 

 many another bird whose form is familiar, the Bittern's habits are 

 known only to the few, and many erroneous opinions of its charac- 

 teristics have been current. 



The " booming of the Bittern " has been a favorite topic of con- 

 troversy ; but probably that matter has been finally settled by an 

 account of the performance contributed to " The Auk " for Janu- 

 ary, 1889, by Mr. Bradford Torrey. 



Mr. Torrey described the performer as first filling its crop with 

 air, opening the bill and shutting it with a click, repeating this 

 several times. Then, while the bill is kept tightly closed, the air 



