American Bittern 263 



creek, cackling rails hide in the sedges behind 

 it, red-winged blackbirds flute above the 

 phalanxes of rushes on its banks : but the bit- 

 tern makes more noise, especially toward even- 

 ing, than all the other inhabitants of the swampy- 

 meadows except the frogs, whose voices he 

 forever silences when he can. Frogs, legs and 

 all, are his favourite delicacy. 



