2238 THE BUSTARDS, THICKNEES, AND CRANES 



neck, and a peculiar transversely-striped coloration of white, brown, and black. 

 The head and neck are black, with a brown streak above the eye, and another run- 

 ning backward from the angle of the beak to the neck; the chin and throat are 

 white; the feathers of the back and scapular region are black striped with rusty red; 

 the bastard wing and wing coverts are black and white; the feathers of the neck 

 barred with brown and black; those of the under parts yellowish or brownish white; 

 the quills clear gray, mottled with white and black and barred with brown; while 

 the tail feathers are similarly colored, but distinguished by the broad bands of black 

 passing posteriorly into brown. The iris is red, the beak waxy yellow, and the leg 

 straw colored. This bird, which has not been inaptly compared to a large, broad- 

 winged butterfly when in flight, always frequents the wooded banks of rivers, and 

 is especially common on the Orinoco. Frequently solitary, although occasionally 

 seen in pairs, the sun bittern derives its name from its habit of basking in sunny 

 spots, where it delights to spread out its plumage. Its food consists of flies and 

 other insects, which are sought on the ground and low herbage; the bird at such 

 times being in constant motion, with its head darting here and there, and but sel- 

 dom taking to flight. In capturing insects it suddenly darts out its head with 

 lightning-like rapidity, and scarcely ever fails in its aim. The nest is usually placed 

 in a tree, at a distance of a few feet from the ground; the eggs being two in number, 

 and of a grayish color, with blotches and specks of reddish. 



