jgi3 J Barrows, Concealing Action of the Bittern. IN',) 



Apparently l><>th of us discovered the bird at the same instant 

 and involuntarily gave exclamations of surprise thai it had not 

 been seen before, while my companion at once declared that it 

 was within a few feet of the spot where lie had left it when he came 

 to call me. I told him what the bird was and called his attention 

 to the protective coloration and posture; then, as we stood admir- 

 ing the bird and his sublime confidence in his invisibility, a lighl 

 breeze milled the surface of the previously calm water and set 

 the cattail flags rustling and nodding as it passed. Instantly the 

 Bittern began to sway gently from side to side with an undulating 

 motion which was most pronounced in the neck hut was partici- 

 pated in by the body and even the legs. So obvious was the 

 motion that it was impossible to overlook it, yet when the breeze 

 subsided and the flags became motionless the bird stood as rigid 

 as before and left us wondering whether after all our eyes might 

 not have deceived us. 



It occurred to me that the flickering shadows from the swaying 

 Hags might have created the illusion and that the rippling water 

 with its broken reflections possibly made it more complete; but 

 another gentle breeze gave us an opportunity to repeat the observa- 

 tion with both these contingencies in mind and there was no escape 

 from the conclusion that the motion of the Bittern was actual, 

 not (\\w to shadows or reflections, or even to the disturbance of 

 the plumage by the wind itself. The bird stood with its hack to 

 the wind and its face toward us. We were within a dozen yards 

 of it now and could see distinctly every mark of its rich, brown, 

 black and hull' plumage and yet if our eyes were turned away 

 for an instant it was with difficulty that we could pick up the 

 image again, so perfectly did it blend with the surrounding Hags 

 and so accurate was the imitation of their waxing motion. This 

 was repeated again and again, and when after ten or fifteen 

 minutes we went hack to our work, the bird was still standing near 

 the same spot and in the same rigid position although by almost 

 imperceptible steps it had moved a yard or more from its original 

 station. 



During the seven years which have elapsed since this occurrence 

 I have improved every opportunity to watch for a repetition of this 

 action, but thus far in vain. Many times I have had Bitterns 



