BITTERN 447 



trived to reach this country, I have suggested {loc. 

 cit.) that it might have come off from the shore at 

 twilight (Bitterns, like Herons, are crepuscular in 

 their habits), and may have perched on the rigging 

 of some vessel which may have shortly weighed 

 anchor and carried it out of sight of the coast. On 

 nearing land after crossing the Atlantic it would 

 take wing as soon as it perceived the shore. An 

 obvious objection to this theory is that in such 

 circumstances it could eat nothing for eight days. 

 But Bitterns, like Herons, have great powers of 

 fasting. An American Bittern, which was captured 

 alive and uninjured, lived in the possession of 

 Dr. Shufeldt for twelve days without eating or 

 drinking, and then died. It is of interest to note 

 that the lower the position a bird occupies in the 

 system, the longer it can exist without food ; in this 

 respect approaching its reptilian kin. Lizards, for 

 example, will often live for many weeks without 

 taking food or water. 



AMERICAN BITTERN. Botaurus lentiginosus (Mont.). 

 Length, 28 in. ; bill, 3 in. ; wing, 10-5 in. ; tarsus, 

 8-5 in. 



Hab. North and Central America, occurrinaf occasion- 

 ally in Europe. 



One, Piddletown, Dorsetshire, autumn 1804: Montagfu, 



" Orn. Diet." Type in British Museum. 

 One, Mothecombe, near Plymouth, Dec. 22, 1829 : Moore, 



"Cat. Birds Devon," Mag. Nat. Hist., 1837, p. 320. 



This specimen cannot now be found, Dr. Moore's 



collection having been sold and dispersed ; but the 



