184. A HANDBOOK OF EUROPEAN BIRDS. 
Genus BOTAURUS. 
BITTERN. 
Botaurus stellaris (Zzuz.) 
Adult: Crown uniform glossy-black, upper parts generally 
buff, irregularly vermiculated and otherwise marked with dark 
Srown or blackish, more boldly so on upper back and scapu- 
lars ; zezngs blackish, barred with chestnut ; under parts buff, 
streaked on throat with chestnut and elsewhere streaked or 
vermiculated with dark brown; on either side of chin and 
upper throat a broad blackish streak ; bill greenish-yellow, 
brown towards tip above ; legs and feet greenish ; irides brown. 
Length 25 to 28 inches ; culmen 2°8; wing 11°75 to12°5 ; tail 
4°25; tarsus 3°65. 
Immature Birds: Closely resemble adults. 
Distribution: Found throughout most of the Eastern 
Hemisphere, excepting in the extreme north. 
Habitat: Densely overgrown marshy places, very retiring 
in habits, feeding at night. 
Family CICONIIDZ. 
Genus CICONIA. 
WHITE STORK. 
Ciconia alba PAechst. 
Adult: Greater wizg-coverts, primaries, secondaries and 
scapulars black; rest of plumage white; bill, legs and feet 
coral-red ; bare skin round eye black; irides brown. Length 
40 to 44 inches ;culmen 7°5 ; wing 22°5 to 24; tailg; tarsus 8'9. 
Immature Birds: Black on the wings duller than in 
adult, bill blackish, legs and feet dull red. Bi 
Distribution: Breeds in Central and Southern Europe 
and Africa, ranging as far north as Southern Sweden, and as 
far east as Turkestan, migrating southward in autumn. Of 
casual occurrence in Great Britain. Winters chiefly in South 
Africa. 
Habitat: Open marshy country, frequenting also towns 
and villages. 
