BOTAURUS 91 



Genus X. BOTAURUS. 



Type. 

 Botaurus, Briss., Orn. v, p. 444(1760) B. stellaris. 



Bill rather short and stout, somewhat compressed ; culmen 

 distinctly shorter than the tarsus ; mandibles serrated towards the 

 tips, wings short and rounded, first primary usually the longest ; 

 tail short, of ten feathers only ; tibio-tarsus feathered down to 

 within about three quarters of an inch of the joint ; tarsus con- 

 siderably shorter than the middle toe and claw ; feet large, claws 

 stout and strong, especially that of the hallux, which is sharp and 

 curved, and nearly as long as the hallux itself ; plumage long and 

 lax, mottled yellow and black ; no ornamental plumes. 



FIG. 24. Left foot of Botaurus capensis. x 



Five species of Bitterns, spread all over the temperate and 

 tropical regions of both hemispheres are recognised by Dr. Sharpe. 

 Two species are recorded from Africa, the European Bittern which 

 has been procured in Abyssinia and a closely allied form, confined 

 to South Africa. 



603. Botaurus capensis. Cape Bittern. 



Ardea stellaris capensis, Stiilegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Ardea, p. 48 (1863). 



Botaurus stellaris (nee Linn.), Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 311 (1867) ; 



Barratt, Ibis, 1876, p. 211; Ayrcs, Ibis, 1880, p. 270; Butler, 



