142 LITTLE BITTERN. 



with ease from the floor to the top of the curtains, 

 by means of their feet and claws. The nest of the 

 American species is also described as placed on 

 the ground, or a few inches above it, attached to 

 the stems of reeds, and, in one or two instances, 

 in bushes about three feet from the ground.* 



In the adult state of this bird, the crown and 

 upper parts are black, richly glossed with green ; 

 the cheeks, neck, and wing-coverts, pale sienna- 

 yellow, the under parts of a redder or browner 

 tint, dashed with brown upon the flanks; the 

 bill and legs are of a dark yellow, the former 

 generally brightest, the legs feathered down to 

 the tarsal joint. The young are without the dark 

 glossy mantle, and have the feathers there brown, 

 margined with a paler shade. The lower plumage 

 and sides of the neck are yellowish-brown, on the 

 sides of the neck occasionally streaked with white, 

 and on the flanks with brown ; the bill, legs, and 

 feet, are of a greenish-brown. 



BUTOR. Antiquorum. Generic characters. Bill 

 lengthened, compressed, and strong at the base, 

 angle of the maxilla placed far forward ; nostrils 

 placed in a deep furrow, and partly covered 

 with a membrane; legs proportionally short 

 and strong, tibias partially bare, feet much 

 developed, toes long and slender, claws long, 

 slightly bent, that of the middle toe serrated ; 



* Audubon, iii., pp. 77 to 80. 



