THE LEAST BITTERN. 



(5 THROUGHOUT the whole of 



4 I temperate North America and 

 OJ I tropical America to Brazil, 

 -^ this, the smallest of the Bittern 

 family, is a well-known bird, but being 

 a nocturnal species, inhabiting the 

 almost inaccessible swamps and boggy 

 lands that are covered with a dense 

 growth of canes, reeds, and rushes, it 

 is seldom met with. Mr. Davis calls 

 it an extremely interesting little bird, 

 of quiet, retiring habits. In some 

 places as many as a dozen or twenty 

 pairs breed along the grassy shores of 

 a small lake or pond. 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. 



This 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 appearance. It is so 

 stupid at times that it may be caught 

 with the hand. 



The Least Bittern is usually seen 

 just before or after sunset. When 

 startled it utters a low gua, and in day- 

 light flies but a short distance, in a 

 weak, uncertain manner, but at dusk 

 it flaps along on strong easy wing, 

 with neck drawn in and legs extended. 



The eggs of this species are usually 

 from two to six in number, and of a 

 pale bluish or greenish white. If 

 approached while on the nest, the 

 female generally steps quietly to one 

 side, but if suddenly surprised, takes 

 to flight. 



The Least Bittern is known by 

 many local names. In Jamaica it is 

 called Tortoise-shell Bird and Minute 

 Bittern, and in many localities Little 

 Bittern. 



"All Nature is a unit in herself, 



Yet but a part of a far greater whole. 



Little by little you may teach your child 



To know her ways and live in harmony 



With her; and then, in turn, help him through her 



To find those verities within himself, 



Of which all outward things are but the type. 



So when he passes from your sheltering care 



To walk the ways of men, his soul shall be 



Knit to all things that are, and still most free ; 



And of him shall be writ at last this word 



'At peace with nature, with himself, and God.' " 



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