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On Long Island, the Green Heron is not so abundant as it is in 

 many places in the interior, though sufficiently common to be 

 known by the cognomen which it universally goes by. and which 

 we cannot here with propriety indite. 



It arrives among us about the middle of April, and frequents 

 low, marshy situations. It hunts by day, and shows a great deal 

 of address in taking its prey. It feeds on frogs, lizards, and va- 

 rious reptiles that inhabit the low boggy grounds. It visits the 

 neighboring mill-ponds and creeks — is a dexterous fisher — and at 

 times darts down after small eels, with which it mounts in the air, 

 amusing itself with dropping and catching them before they reach 

 the water — and from this performance, singular notions respecting 

 its internal oriianization have arisen. 



ARDEA LENTIGINOSA— SWAINSON. 

 AMERICAN BITTERN. 



American Bittern, Arcico minor, Wi'.s. Amor. Orn. 



Ardea minor. Bonap. Svn. 



American Bittern, A idea lentiginosa, Sw. & Rich. 



American liitterii, Null. Man. 



American Bittern, Ardea minor, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Bill from the corner of the mouth to the 

 point about three inches and a half, tapering to a point; both 

 mandibles about equal in length ; the upper black, the lower 

 greenish-yellow; length of tarsi three inches and an eighth; legs 

 ard feet yellowish-green ; the general plumage mottled and streak- 

 ed with yellowish-brown, reddish-brown, and dusky. Adult with 

 the upper part of the head dusky, the feathers on the hind part of 

 the head rather long and loose ; throat white, with a central streak 

 of brown ; forepart of the neck yellowish-brown, margined with 

 dusky and ycllowish-white ; sides of the neck and nape yellowish, 

 or greenish-brown, spotted witli reddisli-brown, a patch of bluish- 

 black on the upper part of the former; upper parts barred and 

 spotted with yellowish-brown, reddish-brown, and dusky ; lower 



