40 BIRD- OF- PRE Y— BITTERN 



of the Australian Region belong — and the precise limits of the 

 Family must still be regarded as uncertain (see Bo^yER-BmD, 

 Manucode, and Rifleman-bird). 



BIRD -OF -PREY, a phrase in common use, signifying any 

 member of the Order AcciPiTKES of Linnajus (the Shrikes being 

 generally excepted) or of the Raptores of many later systematists. 



BISHOP-BIRD, or Bishop-Tanager, Latham's rendering {Gen. 

 Synops. ii. p. 226) of the French V^Teqne,hy which a species inhabiting 

 Louisiana was, according to Dupratz {Hist, de la Louisiane, ii. p. 140), 

 originally called, as stated by Buffon (Hist. Nat. Ois. iv. p. 291). 

 Dupratz's bird was probably the S2nza cyanea of modern ornithology, 

 the Indigo-bird or Indigo-Bunting of the English in North Amei'ica ; 

 but Buffon confounded it with his Orgarmte of Santo Domingo — 

 a very different species figured by D'Aubenton {PI. enl. 809, fig. 1 ) ; 

 while Brisson {Orn. iii. p. 40) had already applied the French 

 name {I'Evesque, as he wrote it) to a third species from Brazil, 

 which subsequently became the Tanagra .ejoiscojyus of Linnaeus, and 

 this seems to be the only one now knoAvn (and that to few but 

 "fanciers") as the "Bishop-Bird" or " Bishop-TANAGER " — the 

 colour of its plumage suggesting, as in the original case, the 

 appellation. Audubon, himself a Louisianian, makes no mention of 

 the name "Bishop-Bird"; but says {B. Amer. iii. p. 96) that it was 

 known to his countrymen as the Petit PapeUeu. He adds that the 

 first settlers called all the Buntings, Finches and " Orioles" Papes. 



•■a"' 



BITTERN (in older English "Bittour," "Botor," and "Buttour") 

 cognate with the French Putor, and of obscure origin says Dr. 

 Murray,^ though Belon's suggestion, made in 1555, connecting it 

 with a bird described by Pliny (lib. x. cap. xlii.), which imitates 

 the lowing of oxen {bourn), and hence was called taurus in the 

 district of Arelate " (Aries), may be correct ; for the bird is the 

 Botaurus of some mediseval writers, and their name is still kept 

 by systematists as that of the genus to Avhich the Bittern belongs. 

 Turner, in 1544, gave as an English synonym " Miredromble " ; 

 while "Butter-bump " (corrupted into " Botley-bump ") and perhaps 

 other uncouth forms have reference to the booming or bellowing 

 sound for which this species Avas famous. 



^ It seems, however, not to be connected, as he thinks, with the mediaeval 

 Latin Bitorius for that is generally glossed JFrmima (Wren) or sometimes as 

 " Earth linger " or " Yrdling." It may not signify a bird at all, but a Shrew- 

 Mouse — Arancus, in English a "[\v]ranner." Butio seems also to be meant by 

 mediieval writers in some cases, and a hopeless confusion has been established 

 between that word and Butco, a BrzzAKD. 



" According to Rolland {Faun. Pop. France, p. 376) it is known in some parts 

 of France as Bmuf d'eau, Taureau d'6tang, and other names of similar import. 



