560 Allex. Cory's Least Bittern at Ithaca, A". Y. [o'.\ k 



tude was with the nook drawn back and the bill inclined slightly 

 upward in characteristic heron pose. Occasionally, when slightly 

 alarmed, it gradually extended its neck until it was stretched 



upward to its full length, the hill and even the body then assuming 

 an almost vertical position. This was sometimes accomplished by 

 movements so slow that it was difficult to perceive them with the 

 eye. The resulting figure of the bird, as it faced the direction from 

 which the disturbance arose, was nearly as slender as a rush and 

 nearly as inconspicuous. When fully extended, the bittern some- 

 times slowly rotated until it had surveyed all sides with its piercing 

 yellow eyes. With its hill pointed directly upward and its brilliant 

 eyes directed forward past the angle of the mouth, it presented a 

 very odd appearance. If the disturber next approached, the long 

 neck subsided, the body settled, the feathers ruffled, the wings 

 drooped, and the primaries spread until the bird seemed several 

 times its original size. The bill was always held more or less verti- 

 cal, except when directed in vicious jabs toward the observer. If 

 one now continued to approach, the bittern swayed from side to 

 side as though with excitement, its feathers fairly bristling and its 

 diabolical eyes shining. If left alone for a time, it gradually as- 

 sumed a more natural pose. A sudden sound had quite the reverse 

 effect from that of the slight disturbance. Instead of extending 

 its neck, it quickly crouched and drew its feathers very close to the 

 body until it looked but one-half its natural size. The accompany- 

 ing photographs show these poses well, if one allows for an unnat- 

 ural drooping of the wing resulting from a break at the elbow joint. 

 The bittern was kept in a box about eight inches deep, contain- 

 ing a layer of sawdust and a shallow dish of water. In this dish 

 were placed some small fish and tadpoles. Aside from the dis- 

 appearance of one of the minnows while we were out of the room, 

 there were no apparent signs of interest shown by the Bittern in 

 the proffered food. Xor would it at first swallow any of the fish 

 placed in its bill, unless they were directed well down into its 

 throat when they disappeared automatically. On the second day, 

 however, it lost some of its timidity, ami twice it swallowed small 

 fish placed crosswise in its bill. The function of the minute serra- 

 tions on the mandibles was well demonstrated at these times, for 

 the bird showed no difficulty in holding the slippery fish no matter 



