508 BRITISH BIRDS. 
shot on the wing—easily hit, and dropping at a touch even of fine 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 resent 
ageression as best he can. 
« The food of this bird consists of various kinds of small aquatic animals. 
In its stomach may be found different molluscs, crawfish, frogs, lizards, 
small snakes, and fishes, as well as insects. Such prey is captured 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- 
stance.” 
Audubon writes * :—“ Although in a particular place, apparently favour- 
able, some dozens of these birds may be found to-day, yet, perhaps, on 
visiting it to-morrow, you will not find one remaining; and districts 
resorted to one season or year, will be found deserted by them the next. 
That they migrate by night, I have always felt assured; but that they are 
altogether nocturnal is rather uncertain, for in more than half a dozen 
instances I have surprised them in the act of procuring food in the middle 
of the day, when the sun was shining brightly. That they are extremely 
timid I well know, for on several occasions, when I have suddenly come 
upon them, they have stood still from mere terror until I have knocked 
them down with an oar or a stick.” 
The notes of this Bittern must be very similar to those of the European 
species. Its love-note Nuttall compares to the syllables ’pump-ai-gah, 
whilst Dr. Coues adopts Mr. Samuels’s rendering of chunk-a-lunk-chunk, 
quank-chunk-a-lunk-chunk, as best expressing its singular cry. He also 
states that in addition to this note its ordinary cry is something like the 
syllable quark or hauk, uttered in a rough, guttural tone; this note is 
uttered when the bird is disturbed in its marshy haunts. The American 
Bittern is said to be a comparatively silent bird, and as it keeps very close, 
may often be passed by unnoticed. ‘The first intimation of its presence 
is usually its startling cry, and the next moment the bird itself sails 
hurriedly above the reeds, to drop down again in a more secluded spot. 
Although the American Bittern appears to be such a common bird, but 
little seems to be known of its nesting-habits, and considerable diversity of 
opinion is expressed concerning them. Some writers, as for instance 
Mz. Samuels, affirm that it breeds in colonies, a dozen pairs often nesting 
within a small area. The observations of other ornithologists show that 
this species is solitary, and that each pair resides in their own part of the 
swamp. Neither do ornithologists agree respecting the position and 
materials of the nest. Some observers say it is built in trees and low 
bushes, and made of coarse grasses, twigs, and leaves ; whilst others assert 
* Orn, Biogr, iv. p. 296. 
4. ihe 
