90 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



190. Botaurus lentiginosus (MONTAG.) [497.] 



American Bittern. 



Hab. Temperate North America, south to Guatemala and the West Indies. 



This noted bird is known by various names, such as Indian Hen, 

 Stake Driver, Bog-bull, and Thunder Pump. It inhabits the entire 

 temperate North America, north to 58 or 60, and breeds chiefly from 

 the Middle districts northward, wintering thence southward. The 

 name last mentioned is occasioned by its hoarse, gurgling cry of alarm. 

 The bird is often spoken of by the poets as the " booming bittern." In 

 the breeding season it has a " love note " that resembles the stroke of 

 a mallet on a stake, chunk-a-hink-chunk, quank-chunk-a-lunk-chunk. 

 The American Bittern never associates with other species of Heron 

 and is not even fond of the society of its own kind. It does not breed 

 in colonies and the nest is difficult to discover. It inhabits almost im- 

 penetrable swampy places : the bog, the reedy marsh, and the tangled 

 brake, where its nest is placed on the ground. The eggs are brown- 

 ish-drab or isabella color, unspotted, elliptical in shape, three to five 

 in number, but generally only three ; size from 1.90 to 2.00 long by 

 about 1.50 broad. 



191. Botaurus exilis (GMEL.) [498.] 



Least Bittern. 



Hab. Temperate North America, from the British Provinces to the West Indies and South America. 



An extremely interesting little bird, of quiet, retiring habits. 

 Breeds throughout its range. In some places as many as a dozen or 

 twenty pairs breed along the grassy shores of a small lake or pond. 

 Like the last it inhabits reedy swamps and marshes where the quag- 

 mire abounds with a luxuriant growth of rushes, which is also the 

 home of the Rails. The nest is placed on the ground or in the midst 

 of the rankest grass, or in a bush. It is often placed on floating bog, 

 and is simply a platform of dead rushes. The bird has many odd 

 habits. When standing on the edge of a stream, with its neck drawn 

 in, it is often taken for a woodcock, the long bill giving it this appear- 

 ance. It appears so stupid at times that it may be caught with the 

 hand. The bird is mostly seen just before or after sunset. In many 

 of the Southern States this species rears two broods in a season, fresh 

 eggs having been obtained in May and in August. In Texas, Mr. 

 Rachford says it nests along the edges of the water courses in May 

 bending down the tops of water grass and platting it into a snug little 

 nest, about two or three feet above the water. Mr. Perry informs me 

 that the Least Bittern in Beaufort county, South Carolina, makes its 

 home in the fresh water ponds and commences to build about the loth 

 of May, fixing the nest in the thick rushes. The eggs of the Least 



