200 



THE OOLOGIST. 



try and blow their trumpets as the pro- 

 cession passes. 



We have a very common performer 

 with us in what is known as the Thun- 

 der Pumper, the American Bittern. 

 This odd Heron, which is also known 

 by the names of Indian Hen and Stake- 

 driver, the latter name in allusion to its 

 peculiar notes, is a not rare summer 

 7'esident in our marshes, where it may 

 be found stalking and singing (?) in the 

 nesting season. The ungainly, long- 

 nocked, long-legged bird is a most sin- 

 gular performer and its motions will 

 excite mirth in the observer, while its 

 oddly constructed notes lend an added 

 charm to the noises of the slough. 



As we walk through the long, deep 

 marsh grass we hear sounds, apparent- 

 ly issuing from beneath our foot. The 

 chances are against the discovery of the 

 exact spot, but if the bird is detected 



the movements are watched with inter- 

 est. The bird stops in his wading 

 about and drawing himself up in a 

 heap, like a player in "dot leedle Sher- 

 man pand," begins a wierd series of 

 notes, unlike the notes of any other 

 bird or beast of my acquaintance. The 

 movements are somewhat comparable 

 to the eflfoits of a barn-yard fowl in at- 

 tempting to swallow 'a tidbit too large 

 for its gullet, and ludicrous in the ex- 

 treme. 



These notes are thunderous and re- 

 verberating, and it is in allusion to its 

 sonorous song, together with its move- 

 ments that it is called "Thunder-pump- 

 er," a very good name, for the creature 

 pumps out the sound, so to speak, with 

 each bend of its long neck. 



M. GiBBs, M. D., 



Kalamazoo, Mich. 



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