196 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



inner webs of primaries and both webs of secondaries; throat, sides 

 of neck, and all the under surface tawny-buff, variegated with dark 

 brown, some of the markings zig-zag shape; abdomen and under 

 tail coverts yellowish-buff ; irides yellow ; bill dark brown ; legs and 

 feet i^ale green. Dimensions in nun.: — liength, 760; bill, 69; 

 wing, 350; tail, 112; tarsus, 103. 



Female. — Plumage somewhat duller, but otherwise similar. 



Young. — Differs from the adults in being more uniforml}- 

 yellow ; crown of head and ruff pale smoky-brown ; quills mottled 

 and barred with rufous ; under surface yellowish-buff, distinctly 

 streaked with rufous. 



Ne'st. — The usual situation is in a swamp, when a i:)latform of 

 reeds laid crosswise is built up some few inches above the surface 

 of the water. 



Eggs. — Clutch four to five; oval in shape; texture coarse; sur- 

 face glossy; colour pale olive. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch : — 

 (1) 49 X 36, (2) 50 x 35, (3) 49 x 35.5, (4) 48.5 x 36. 



Breeding Season. — October to December or Januar}-. 



Geographical Distribtdion. — Tasmania and the larger islands in 

 Bass Strait; also Australia in general, Xew Zealand, and New 

 Caledonia. 



Observations. — Although nowhere plentiful, the Bittern is 

 distributed over a wide area in Tasmania, those districts where 

 there are swamps being frequented. Both by night and by day 

 may its hollow, booming notes be heard issuing from the reedy 

 fastnesses of its haunts. As may be expected, its food consists 

 of fish, frogs, aquatic insects, and molluscs. 



Among other places, I have records of this bird from Kelso, 

 Waratah, the country lying between The Tunnel and Lilydale, 

 Noland Bay, lower reaches of the Tamar, Tasman's Peninsula, 

 Gladstone, and Eoss. 



Of the general habits of the Bittern, the late Sir Walter Bullt-r 

 wrote : — 



"It appears to love a solitary life, being always met with 

 singl}^; it remains concealed during the heat of the day, and at 

 eventide startles the ear with its four loud, booming notes, slowly 

 repeated, and resembhng the distant roar of an angry bull. . . . 

 It is interesting to steal up, under cover, and watch this Bittern 

 alternately feeding and reposing in its sedgy haunts. When in a 

 quiescent posture tlie body is nearly erect, the head thrown back 

 and resting on the shoulders, with the beak pointed upwards, and 

 the contracted neck forming a broad curve with the closed ruff 

 depending, the attitude altogether being rather grotesque. The 

 instant, however, any sound causes it alarm, the whole character 

 of the bird is changed; the neck is stretched to its full extent, and 

 every movement betokens caution and vigilance ; unless imme- 

 diately reassured, it spreads its broad wings and raises itself into 

 the air in a rather awkward manner, with the legs dangling down, 



