68 A NATURALIST IN THE MAGDALEN ISLANDS. 
83. BOTAURUS MINOR, Gm. 
(BITTERN.) 
Abundant. While Snipe shooting near Red Cape, I have 
seen as many as six of them in one afternoon. One can 
hardly realize the strength which lies in the slender neck 
of an old Bittern. The long, sharp beak, almost as keen 
as a knife, is capable of inflicting a severe and painful 
wound, as I know to my cost, having once incautiously 
allowed a wounded bird to strike my hand. 
I was told a little incident which may illustrate the deadly 
use this weapon of defence is sometimes put to. One after- 
noon a gentleman saw a Hawk dart suddenly down into a 
marsh near his house. Seizing his gun, he ran towards the 
spot in hopes of obtaining a shot. He continued on until 
he suddenly came upon the dead bodies of the Hawk 
and an old Bittern. The beak of the latter was driven 
quite through the body of the Hawk, whose talons had 
crushed out its life, but not before it had been able to 
avenge itself. 
Breeds. 
