AMERICAN BITTERN. 14? 



the feet is great, the centre toe exceeding the tarsns 

 in length. In a specimen from the Cape of Good 

 Hope, the colours appear all more vivid, and the 

 dark transverse markings on the sides of the neck 

 and cheeks are deeper and more thickly placed, and 

 the feathers are there more elongated. No material 

 difference, however, exists. 



THE AMERICAN BITTERN, BUTOR LENTIGINOSUS, 

 ARDEA LENTIGINOSA, Montague. Botaurus mokoho^ 

 VieilL Heron lentigmeaux, Temm. The Freckled 

 Heron or Bittern, American Bittern of British 

 authors. The original British specimen of this Bit- 

 tern fell under the observation of Colonel Montague, 

 and was killed in Dorsetshire. Since the capture of 

 that specimen, a few have been taken, chiefly in 

 the southern or south-eastern counties of England, 

 and a bird taken in the Isle of Man, the descrip- 

 tion of which was communicated to Mr. Yarrell, is 

 thought to be also referable to this species. It has 

 not yet been found in either Scotland or Ireland. 

 Hitherto, this bird has been considered identical 

 with the species of America, representing there our 

 native bird. The Prince of Canino, however, places 

 the A. lentiginosa, Montague, and the American bird 

 (under the title of B. minor) opposite, or as repre- 

 sentatives in form and markings the last, of course, 

 distinct. We possess specimens of the American 

 bird, but have had no opportunity of comparing it 

 with European or British killed specimens, and the 



