gG Allen's naturalist's library. 



gentleman who shot it about thirteen years ago, and it has been 

 met with in nearly all our southern and western counties, as 

 well as in Scotland and Ireland. 



Range outside the British Islands. — The American Bittern breeds 

 over the greater part of North America from Canada to Texas, 

 and has even been found as far north as the Arctic Ocean 

 and on the Mackenzie River. It winters in Central America 

 and the West Indies. It has never occurred on the Conti- 

 nent of Europe, but one example was procured in Guernsey 

 in October, 1870. 



Hatits. — These are very similar to those of our Common 

 Bittern, and in the breeding-season it has a peculiar note, like 

 po?jip-a2i-gdr. It is also called "Stake" or "Post-driver," from 

 Its note resembling the noise made by driving a stake in 

 boggy soil. Another rendering by Mr. Samuels is chuiik-a- 

 lunk-chunk, qiia7ik-chunk-a-linik-chu7ik. Dr. Coues writes : — 

 " When the Bittern is disturbed at his meditations, he gives 

 a vigorous spring, croaks at the moment in a manner highly 

 expressive of his disgust, and flies off as fast as he can, though 

 in a rather loose, lumbering way. For some distance he flaps 

 heavily with dangling legs and outstretched neck ; but when 

 settled on his course he proceeds more smoothly, with regular 

 measured wing-beats, the head drawn in closely, and the legs 

 stretched straight out behind together, like a rudder. He is 

 very easily shot on the wing — easily hit, and drops at a touch 

 even of fine dust-shot. When winged, he croaks painfully as 

 he drops, and no sooner does he touch the ground than he 

 gathers himself in defensive attitude to resist aggression as best 

 he can. 



" The food of this bird consists of various kinds of small 

 aquatic animals. In its stomach may be found various mol- 

 luscs, crawfish, frogs, lizards, small snakes and fishes, as well as 

 insects. Such prey is caught with great address by spearing, 

 as the bird walks or wades stealthily along. The thrust of the 

 bill is marvellously quick and skilful — more action is displayed 

 on such occasions than probably under any other circum- 

 stances." 



Nest. — Of dead rushes^ QH the ground or in trees at a slight 

 elevation. 



