AMERICAN BITTERN. 105 



Nest, among the reeds, built of dead and withered reeds, attached to the 

 living ones, well and firmly built, not far above the water. 



The eggs of the Glossy Ibis measure from 1-90 by 1-45 to 2-10 by 1-50, 

 and are of a dull greenish -blue color, without markings. The number usually 

 deposited is believed to be three. 



About the end of May, 1857, Mr. John Bates, whose farm adjoins 

 the creek near the Hamilton waterworks, saw two tired-looking birds 

 which he took to be curlews, circling round with the evident inten- 

 tion of alighting near the creek. Mr. Bates' gun was always in 

 order, and none in the neighborhood at that time knew better than 

 he how to use it. In a few minutes he picked up a pair of Glossy 

 Ibises, the only birds of the kind which have been observed in 

 Ontario. This pair, which subsequently came into my possession, 

 were male and female in fine adult plumage. They are not common 

 anywhere on the American continent. Wilson knew nothing of the 

 species, nor was it known to naturalists till after his death. 



This bird is widely distributed and well known in Europe, and 

 has also been observed in Africa. A few breed in the West Indies, 

 and also in the more southern parts of the eastern United )States, 

 but the habitat is local, and the numbers small. In the west is a 

 closely allied species, named the White-faced Glossy Ibis, which is 

 very common along the coast of California to Oregon. 



Suborder HERODII. Herons, Egrets, Bitterns, etc. 



Family ARDEID^. Herons, Bitterns, etc. 



Subfamily BOTAURIN^. Bitterns. 



Genus BOTAURUS Hermann. 



Subgenus BOTAURUS. 



BOTAURUS LENTIGINOSUS (Montag.). 



70. American Bittern. (190) 



Plumage of upper part, singularly freckled with brown of various shades, 

 blackish, tawny and whitish; neck and, under parts, ochrey or ta wny- white ; 

 each feather marked with a brown dark-edged stripe ; the throat line, white, 

 with brown streaks ; a velvety-black patch on each side of the neck above ; 

 crown, dull brown, with buff superciliary stripe ; tail, brown ; quills, greenish- 

 black, with a glaucous shade, brown tipped ; bill, black and yellowish ; legs, 

 greenish; soles, yellow. Length, 23-28; wing, 10-13; tail, 4i ; bill, about 3; 

 tarsus, about 3i. 



