BIRDS FOUND IN BAYOUS AND MARSHES 91 
may be most frequently heard. They are solitary birds, 
each pair nesting alone. Their food consists largely of 
frogs and small fish, which they obtain by still fishing, 
standing motionless for almost any length of time in 
shallow water among rushes. 
The newly hatched Bitterns are particularly homely 
nestlings, with their disproportionately long necks and 
bills. They are fed by regurgitation for at least forty- 
eight hours after hatching. The Bittern’s attempts at 
love-making and brooding are rendered pitifully grotesque 
by the ungainly body of the bird and his queer contor- 
tions. Even in flight he is slovenly and loose-jointed, as 
if his legs were likely to be shaken off from the efforts 
his wings are making. In fishing he sits motionless 
for hours with head drawn back to the shoulders, the 
very picture of discomfort. In fact, under no circum- 
stances does he seem joyous or even moderately happy. 
191. LEAST BITTERN. — Ardetta evils. 
Famity: The Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns. 
Length : 13.00. 
Adult Male: Top of head, back, rump, and tail glossy black ; sides of 
head and neck light buff, deepening to chestnut on nape ; throat and 
fore-neck white, striped with pale straw-color. Under parts pale buff ; 
a dark patch on either side of the breast. 
Adult Female: Similar, with brown in place of black on upper parts. 
Young: Similar to adult female, but coloring more buffy on upper parts. 
Geographical Distribution: Temperate North America, north to the 
British provinces, south to the West Indies and Brazil ; less common 
west of the Rocky Mountains. On the Pacific coast north to Oregon. 
Breeding Range: Breeds locally wherever found. 
Breeding Season: May to August. 
