TIic Bitterns. 



'59 



The Little Bittern. 



The Amekican Bittern. 



The Common Bittern. 



if now only known as a winter visitor. It is found in the greater part of Europe and 

 Northern Asia, frequenting swampy districts, and occurring in winter in North-eastern 

 Africa, India, Burma, and China. It is seldom met with in companies, but is 

 generall}" found solitary, or in pairs in its breeding-haunts. Its food consists of fish, 

 small mammalia, frogs, and water insects, and it is remarkable for its booming and 

 resonant note. The nest is made of dry rushes and is placed on the ground in the 

 swampy habitat which it loves. The eggs are from three to five in number, of a 

 brownish-olive colour, slightl}' tinted with green when fresh. They measure from 

 two to two-and-a-half inches in length. 



This species has a plain brown head and rufous tips to tlie 

 primary-coverts and (pulls. The rest of the plumage is waved 

 with buff and black as in the other members of the genus 

 Botditnis. It has been many times procured in the British 

 Islands, and seems not unfrequently to wander on migration 

 from its home in North America. In habits it much resembles our Common Bittern, 

 and its home is in the swamps. The nest is made of dead rushes, either on the 

 ground or on low trees. The eggs are from four to seven in number, and are 

 brownish-olive, measuring from an inch-and-three-ciuarters to two inches in length. 



THE AMEKICAN 



BITTERN. 



{Botanrus 



Unli/^inosHi.) 



