884 



SYSTEM A TIC SYNOPSIS. — HERODIONES - HERODII. 



Bill moderately longer than bead, shorter than tarsus, which is sliorter tlian middle toe and 

 claw. Tarsus broadly scutellate in front. No crests or peculiar dorsal plumes ; ueck-feathers 

 long and loose; plumage blended, spotty, and streaky. Neck in part bare behind. Sexes and 

 young alike. Eggs drab. 



B. lentigino'sus. (Lat. lentiginosus, freckled ; lentigo, a freckle. Figs. 617, 618, 619.) 

 American Hittern. Indian Hkn. Stake-driver. Thunder-pumper. Butter-bump. 



Mire -DRUM. Bog -bull. Plu- 

 mage of upper parts singularly 

 freckled with brown of various 

 shades, blackish, tawny, and whit- 

 ish ; neck and under parts ochrey or 

 tawny-white, each feather marked 

 with a brown dark-edged stripe ; 

 throat -line white, with brown 

 streaks. A velvety-black patch on 

 each side of neck above. Crown 

 dull brown, with buff superciliary 

 stripe. Tail brown. Quills green- 

 ish-black, with a glaucous shade, 

 brown-tipped. Iris yellow. Bill 

 pale yellowish, the ridge brownish- 

 black ; a dark brown loi'al stripe. 



Fig. 618. — American Bittern, (From Tenney, after Audubon.) _ i n n - i , 



ijegs dull yellowish-green ; claws 

 brown. Length 23.00-34.00 ! extent 32.00-45.00 ! wing 9.50-13.00 ; bill about 3.00 ; tarsus 

 about 3.50 ; middle toe without claw about the same ; its claw above 1.00. 9 smaller than (J; 



Fig. 019. — American Bittern's Eggs. 



but few birds differ so much in size, independently of sex. Entire temperate North America, 

 N. to 58° or 60°, S. to Central America and West Indies; accidental in Europe. Regularly 

 migratory ; resident in the South. The Bittern is a bird of very marked character. It in- 

 habits bog and brake and wet grassy meadow, singly or in pairs ; has a hoarse gurgling outcry 



