American Bittern. 311 



of its lack of the strong, rudder-like tail by which the 

 smaller birds guide their quick flights, and uttering its 

 harsh squawks, other individuals within hearing or sight 

 frequently take warning at the alarm of the first bird and 

 arise in the same manner. They then mount to a mod- 

 erate height and soon combine into a flock, sometimes as 

 many as thirty in the flying company, and thus they cir- 

 cle around the outskirts of the swamp for a few minutes, 

 after which they settle one by one in other parts of the 

 lake to continue their feeding and contemplation until 

 they are again disturbed. Thus while they seem to enjoy 

 solitude and live somewhat independently of the others 

 in the swamp, each feeding and resting some distance from 

 his fellows, at times they discover a slight community. 

 However, their communications with one another are like 

 the veritable yea and nay of the scriptural injunction. 



In the typical swamp-lake I usually found the Ameri- 

 can bitterns feeding about one-third the way out into the 

 swamp, beyond the muddy zone and in the shallow water 

 somewhat less than a foot deep. There the water would 

 frequently become turbid with the ooze stirred up in their 

 quest for food. I have surprised them feeding mostly in 

 the afternoons, and they seemed to be more numerous in 

 their resorts tovv^ard night. Other observers assert that 

 they feed chiefly at night. Colonel Gross says : <'They leave 

 their hiding places at the approach of night, and I have 

 occasionally found them searching for food during the 

 day, in cloudy, rainy weather. Their food consists of 

 minnows, field mice, frogs, tadpoles, crawfish, insects, and 

 other small forms of life; and as evidence of their destruc- 

 tive habits I will say that I found in the craw and stomach 

 of one, shot beside a very small pool of water upon over- 

 flowed land, twenty-two sunfish, averaging a little over 

 an inch in length." 



As we continue our acquaintance with the American 

 bittern, we soon become familiar with its heavy, guttural 

 notes, the "booming cry of the bittern." Especially in 

 the mating and nesting period can it be heard issuing from 

 the reedy coverts. The notes have suggested various 

 sounds and syllables to different observers, and have caused 

 corresponding titles to be conferred upon the species by 



