Bird Study in a Nebraska Swamp 65 



English walnut. In its quick passage from the parent to the 

 young it was not possible to determine much as to its nature 

 except to discern an occasional frog's leg. When last noted 

 they were still being fed by regurgitation. It would be inter- 

 esting to know how long this method of feeding is continued 

 but we were unable to follow the fortunes of this Bittern 

 family any further. 



An observation made in 1910 may be of some interest in 

 this connection. While a piece of wild hay was being cut, 

 a nest of this species was uncovered and four of the five 

 young were killed before the team could be stopped. A small 

 patch of hay was left standing about the nest and the young 

 one placed in it. At this time he was fully feathered out 

 but was unable to fly. The next day the parent was noted 

 flying into the patch of hay without anything in her beak. 

 After she left I walked over and approached the young one, 

 who immediately started to run. Seeing that he could not 

 escape he stopped and disgorged the contents of his stomach. 

 An examination showed one garter snake about sixteen inches 

 long, a meadow mouse and three cra;yfish, all partially 

 digested. This observation seemed to prove that at this age 

 the young were still being fed by regurgitation. 



During the time the nest was under observation, a number 

 of interesting facts were noted in connection with behavior. 

 One thing which struck us very forcibly was the apparent 

 readiness of the parent to abandon the young at the approach 

 of any person. She made no attempt to defend them but 

 stalked stealthily away at any slight noise or movement. 

 This made it necessary to sit absolutely motionless in the 

 boat while she was at the nest and as she frequently remained 

 for an hour or more it became decidedly uncomfortable. Any 

 slight movement would cause the boat to tip and at this she 

 was gone in a flash. Several times she approached to within 

 a few feet of the nest and was frightened away by some 

 slight motion of the blind. On these occasions she generally 

 remained away for from three to four hours. This is not 

 always true of the Bitterns as I have liad them remain on 

 the nest and almost allow me to touch tliem and have had 



