137 ; BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Subfamily BOTAUBJN^.— The Bitterns. 



Genus BOTAURUS Hermann. 



Botaurus Heemann, Tabl. Affln. Anim. 1783, 135. Type, Ardea stellaris Linn. 



Gen. Char. Tail-feathers ten, very short and soft; outer toe shorter than inner; claws 

 lengthened, slightly curved. 



Two really distinct genera are comprised in the so-called 

 genus Botaurus, as above denned, but in order to be consistent 

 in the classification and nomenclature of this work we are 

 compelled to follow the A. O. D. Check List and call them 

 subgenera. They may be distinguished by the following char- 

 acters: 



a. 1 Size large (wing more than 9.50 inches); sexes alike in coloration, and young not ob- 

 viously different in color from adults Botaurus. 



a. a Size very small (wing less than 6.00 inches); sexes more or less different in color, 

 (in North American species, at least), and young obviously different from 

 adults Ardetta. 



Subgenus Botaurus Hermann. 



Botaurus Hermann. Tabl. Affln. Anim. 1783, 135. Type, Ardea stellaris Linn. 

 Butor Swains. Classif. B. ii, 1837, 354. Same type. 



Gen. Char. Medium-sized, or rather large, Herons, with the plumage much mottled 

 or striped with different shades of brown and ochraceous (the plumage essentially the 

 same in both sexes and at all seasons); the plumage, particularly of the lower neck in front, 

 exceedingly soft and full, and destitute of any ornamental plumes; the bill comparatively 

 small and short (shorter than the middle toe); the tibiae almost completely feathered, and 

 the claws very long and but slightly curved. Tail, of ten short, soft feathers, slightly 

 rounded or nearly even. 



Bill gradually tapering from the base to the point, the upper outline more convex than 

 the lower, the gonys very slightly convex and gently ascending, the lower edge of the max- 

 illary rami perfectly straight; mental apex extending forward about half-way from the 

 centre of the eye to the point of the bill, and slightly in advance of the anterior end of the 

 nostril; malar apex falling far short of that of the frontal feathers. Toes very long, the 

 middle one considerably exceeding the bill and almost equaling the tarsus ; inner toe decid- 

 edly longer than the outer; hallux about half the middle toe; claws very long (that of the 

 hallux nearly equal to its digit), and but slightly curved; bare portion of the tibia shorter 

 than the hallux. Tarsi with large regular scutellse in front. 



