4o BIRD-OF-PREY—BITTERN | 
of the Australian Region belong —and the precise limits of the 
Family must still be regarded as uncertain (see BOWER-BIRD, 
MANUCODE, and RIFLEMAN-BIRD). 
BIRD-OF-PREY, a phrase in common use, signifying any 
member of the Order AcciPITRES of Linnzus (the SHRIKES being 
generally excepted) or of the RAPTORES of many later systematists. 
BISHOP-BIRD, or BisHop-TANAGER, Latham’s rendering (Gen. 
Synops. ii. p. 226) of the French U’ Evéque, by which a species inhabiting 
Louisiana was, according to Dupratz (Hist. de la Louisiane, ii. p. 140), 
originally called, as stated by Buffon (Hist. Nat. Ois. iv. p. 291). 
Dupratz’s bird was probably the Spiza cyanea of modern ornithology, 
the Indigo-bird or Indigo-Bunting of the English in North America ; 
but Buffon confounded it with his Organiste of Santo Domingo— 
a very different species figured by D’Aubenton (Pl. enl. 809, fig. 1) ; 
while Brisson (Orn. iii. p. 40) had already applied the French 
name (l’Evesque, as he wrote it) to a third species from Brazil, 
which subsequently became the Zanagra episcopus of Linnzus, and 
this seems to be the only one now known (and that to few but 
“ fanciers”) as the “ Bishop-Bird” or “ Bishop-TANAGER ” — the 
colour of its plumage suggesting, as in the original case, the 
appellation. Audubon, himself a Louisianian, makes no mention of 
the name ‘‘ Bishop-Bird”; but says (Bb. Amer. i. p. 96) that it was 
known to his countrymen as the Petit Papebleu. He adds that the 
first settlers called all the Buntings, Finches and “ Orioles” Papes. 
BITTERN (in older English “Bittour,” “Botor,” and “Buttour”) 
cognate with the French butor, and of obscure origin says Dr. 
Murray,! though Belon’s suggestion, made in 1555, connecting it 
with a bird described by Pliny (lib. x. cap. xlii.), which imitates 
the lowing of oxen (bowm), and hence was called fawrus in the 
district of Arelate? (Arles), may be correct; for the bird is the 
Botaurus of some medizval writers, and their name is still kept 
by systematists as that of the genus to which the Bittern belongs. 
Turner, in 1544, gave as an English synonym “ Miredromble” ; 
while ‘‘ Butter-bump ” (corrupted into “ Botley-bump ”) and perhaps 
other uncouth forms have reference to the booming or bellowing 
sound for which this species was famous. 
1 Tt seems, however, not to be connected, as he thinks, with the medieval 
Latin Bitorius for that is generally glossed Wraenna (WREN) or sometimes as 
“‘ Karthlinger” or ‘‘ Yrdling.” It may not signify a bird at all, but a Shrew- 
Mouse—Araneus, in English a ‘‘[w]ranner.” Butio seems also to be meant by 
medieval writers in some cases, and a hopeless confusion has been established 
between that word and Buteo, a Buzzann. 
* According to Rolland (Faun. Pop. France, p. 876) it is known in some parts 
of France as Beuf d'eau, Taureau d’étang, and other names of similar import. 
