92 WATER BIRDS 
Nest : A platform of marsh grass or rushes ; placed on a floating bog or 
slough. 
Eggs: 3 to 5; light olive. Size 1.23 X 0.98. 
THe Least Bittern, or Little Green Heron, as it is 
sometimes called, is a smaller and much shyer bird than 
the American bittern. It is found nesting in small 
colonies in the edge of swamps; its nest 1s a mere 
crushed-down platform of rushes, and itself so exact an 
imitation of its surroundings as to be practically invisible 
to the naked eye. On the approach of danger it becomes 
rigid, with head and bill extended straight up, in mim- 
icry of a reed, thus rendering its discovery much more 
difficult. If discovered and flushed from the water-side, 
it straddles off through the weeds by grasping them on 
either side with its feet, producing a comical effect of 
walking on stilts. It looks back often to see whether 
it is being pursued. If approached from the land side, 
it takes wing with loud squawks of terror, and flies low 
but swiftly through the open channels of the marsh to a 
tree if there be one near. It is frequently found roosting 
in trees in the early morning or evening, in groups of 
six or more, after the breeding season is over. During 
the breeding season its call is a soft dove-like note, 
repeated over and over in a sort of undertone, as if it 
were intended for the ear of its mate alone. 
Oe > 
