BOTAURUS MINOR, BITTERN. 527 



have procured it iu January at Wasbiugton. It visits some of tlie West 

 Indian Islands. In September I found it migratory tbrougb Dakota iu 

 comparative plenty. It may breed in almost any portion of its range, 

 but nests preferably toward the North. 



The Bittern, as has been said, is essentially " wild, shy, and solitary." 

 We oftener start one from his lonely vigils in the bog, than lind several, 

 or even a pair together, excepting in the breeding season. No doubt 

 Le enjoys life after his own fashion, but his notions of happiness are 

 peculiar. He prefers solitude, and leads the eccentric life of a recluse, 

 " forgetting the world, and by the world forgot." To see him at his 

 ordinary occupation, one might fancy him shouldering some heavy 

 responsibility, oppressed with a secret, or laboring iu the solution of a 

 problem of vital consequence. He stands motionless, with his head 

 drawn in upon his shoulders, and half-closed eyes, in profound medita- 

 tion, or steps about in a devious way, with an absent-minded air ; for 

 .greater seclusion, he will even hide in a thick brush-clump for hours 

 together. Startled iu his retreat whilst his thinking-cap is on, beseems 

 dazed, like one suddenly aroused from a (\eep sleep ; but as soon as he 

 collects his wits, remembering uni)leasantly that the outside world 

 exists, he shows common sense enough to beat a hasty retreat from a 

 scene of altogether too much action for him. Some such traits have 

 doubtless led to the belief that he is chiefly a nocturnal bird ; but such 

 is not the case. He may migrate by night, but so does the Killdeer, 

 and the Bobolink, and many other birds not in the least nocturnal. 

 Nor is the Bittern either lazy or stupid, as some may suppose. He is 

 simply what we call a shady character — one of those non-com uiittal 

 creatures whom Ave may invest, if we i^lease, with various attributes, 

 and perhaps consider very deep, without sufficient reason ; the fact 

 being, th.at we make the mystery about him. There is nothing remark- 

 able in the fact that he i)refers his own company, and dislikes to be 

 bored. He lives in the bog, where he finds jilenty to eat that he likes 

 best, and is satisfied to be simply let alone. 



When the Bittern is disturbed at his meditation, he gives a vigorous 

 spring, croaks at the moment in a manner highly expressive of his dis- 

 gust, and flies off as fast as he can, though iu rather a loose, lumbering 

 way. For some distance he flaps heavily with dangling legs and out- 

 stretched neck ; but when settled on his course he proceeds more 

 smoothly, with regular measured wing-beats, the head drawn in closely 

 and the legs stretched straight out behind together, like a rudder. He 

 is very easily shot on the wing — easily hit, and dropping at a touch 

 even of fine shot. When winged, he croaks painfully as he drops, and 

 no sooner does he touch the ground than he gathers himself in defen- 

 sive attitude to resent aggression as best he can. He fights well, and 

 Avitli more spirit and determination than he might be expected to show — 

 like many other quiet inoffensive creatures when quite sure they have 

 a grievance and are pushed to desi)eration. He has a very ugly way of 

 pointing his resistance with (]uick thrusts of his si)ear-like bill, capable 

 of inflicting no slight wound on an incautious hand. But it avails 

 little ; a ki;Ic from a cowhide boot, or a thump with the butt of a gun, 

 generally decides the uneipuil CDUtest. 



The food of this bird consists of various kinds of small aquatic 

 animals. In its stomach may be found different mollusccs, crawfish, 

 ii'ogs, lizards, snmll siiiikes and fishes, as well as insects. Such i)rey is 

 cai)tured with great address, by spearing, as the bird walks or wades 

 stealthily along. The thrust of the bill is marvellously quick and skil- 



