AMERICAN BITTERN. 149 



the distinguishing mark is a broad patch of glossy 

 greenish-black upon each side of the neck, arising 

 below the auriculars, and passing backwards, so as 

 nearly to meet at the back of the head. This oc- 

 cupies the place of the dark stripe in the European 

 bird, but arises much farther back, and is much 

 broader. The distribution of this bird has been 

 considered as European and American. 



