Birds of Indiana. 



649 



c\ Bill long and slender, at least five times as long as its depth at base. 



Ardea. 34 

 C-. Bill rather short and thick, four times as long as depth at base or less. 



Nycticorax. 35 



Subfamily BOTAURINJ^. Bhterns. 



32. Genus BOTAURUS Heermann. 



a^. Size, large; sexes alike; young similar. 



b^. Wing over 9.50; body variegated with various shades of brown. 



B. lentiginosus (Montag.). 63 



'^63. (190). Botaurus lentiginosus (Montag.). 



American Bittern. 



American Bittern. 



Plumage of upper parts, singularly freckled with brown of various 

 shades, blackish, tawny, and whitish; neck and under parts, ochery or 

 tawny-white, each feather marked with a brown, dark-edged stripe; 

 the throat line, white, with brown streaks; a velvety-black patch on 

 each side of the neck above; crown, dull brown, with buff superciliary 

 stripe; tail, brown; quills, greenish-black, with a glaucous shade, brown 

 tipped; bill, black and yellowish; legs, greenish; soles, yellow. 



Length, 24.00-34.00; wing, 9.80-12.00; bill, 2.50-3.20; tarsus, 3.10- 

 3.85. 



Range. — Temperate North America north to Hudson Bay. Breeds 

 chiefly north of the latitude of the mouth of the Ohio River to 

 about 60°. Winters from south Indiana and Illinois to Gautemala and 

 West Indies. 



Nest, in swampy places on the ground. Eggs, 3-5; brownish-drab; 

 about 2.00 by 1.50. 



