BIRDS MET WITH BY THE WILDFOWLER 325 



AMERICAN BITTERN 

 Botaurus lentiginosus (Montagu) 



This bird is a rare abnormal springs and autumn migrant to 

 the British Islands and inhabits the Nearctic region but not 

 the extreme north. The first specimen, curiously enough, was 

 killed in Dorset, although it is a purely American species. 



It is similar in general coloration of plumage to the 

 Common Bittern, but may be distinguished by its smaller 

 size, darker coloration, and uniformly brown primaries. The 

 bill, legs, and feet are also more slender than those of Botaurus 

 stellaris. The female resembles the male, but is less in size. 

 The young show more rufous in the coloration. 



COMMON HERON 



Ardea cinerea {LinncBus) 



The Common Heron is a resident species in the British 

 Islands, migrating locally in winter. It also inhabits most 

 parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, with the exception of the 

 extreme north of the two former continents. 



The adult male has the upper parts ashy slate colour, 

 under parts white, boldly marked with elongated spots of 

 black. The head is furnished with an occipital crest. The 

 feathers of the back and breast are elongated, and form fine 

 pendant plumes. The female is similar to the male. Im- 

 matures are dull in plumage, and have a short head crest. 

 Length 32-37 in. 



STONE-CURLEW 



CEdicnemus crepitans {Temminck) 



The Stone-Curlew is a summer visitor to this country. It 

 may therefore be called an almost local species, commonest 

 perhaps in Norfolk and Suffolk ; it is found on the downs 



