THi: HlTTKtiN. 54fi 



exception of sj/>.. and tin- rn-t ...loi,-d thiirhs "f tin- present, they are extremely alike. The 



enmm.'li Heron of KIII..|M i> n ( ,t, |IO\M-M-I. an ililial'it.ml i.f tin- I nil.-<| Stales." Since 

 flu- tiays of Wilson. ii lias IX-.-M as.-. -i taim-d dial th>- Kuro|n-an ll.-ion i. \nhn rimitin 

 is o.vasi.>nall\ a M ri^-liT in this coiintn, and. consequently, i.s .-num. rat. -d with birds 

 of North Am. Ti-a. Tin- lii.-at ll.-nm >\>- i,,,i assume the full plumage during the first 

 season, imr until tin- summer of the >, . , i ! When in complete plumage, tin- sexes an- 

 exact I \ alik. 



The length of this IliTi.n i- f-.ur f<et four inches. from Mil to tail, and to I...HOMI of the 

 ftvt, fiv- f.-i-t four ini-lii-s. The extent of wini:-. -i\ f<-.-t. Tin- l.ill is ci^lit indii-H Icing. 



Tin SNO\VV Ih i;o\ [fhnttt* "iflitU**1ma) i.s in -..iu' reHj^-te more attractive than tin- 

 It is mui-li Miiall.-r, 1-ui i to graceful attitud-. and d-li.-ati\ flowing plumett n-udi-r 

 it exceedingly beautiful, its plumage being wholly whit.-. It is |.ro|-rly a southcni binl, 

 peculiar to America, yet, aa other species, a straggler now and again finds it.s way north wanl, 

 rvi-ii as fa i -a- M:uv<aflblUWtti I' inhabit* Nft'XIfo, \\'.-i llldii-s, an. I C.-nii-il and S.niili 

 America. It reaemblee tin- " Littl.- Egret" of Europe. The plumes and larger size of tin- 

 American binl distinguish it. Liki- most of itw tribe, this Heron pn-fers the s;iH marshes, near 

 it breeding-places, when-, also, it ran quickly reach ita accustomed feeding-grounds. For this 

 reason, it seldom goes far inland. 



The length of this >|H-I j.^ i^ t\\<> feet one inch; ext-nt of wings, three feet two inches. 

 The sexes are alike in size and plumage. 



PEALK'S EUKKT (/>/////>// na*xa r</Vi), called also H-ldisli Kgret, is another species, 

 having in the breeding sesi.son u jmn- white plumage, and at others a re<I-4X)lored one. 



GRKEN HKBON (Bwktrulf* mretcetu). This H.-I..H is found throughout the I'nited Stat-s 

 generally, breetling throughout and wintering in the South. It mnges fnmi Canada West to 

 \ i-ne/.uela and the West Indies. It i.s only noticed in the \V.-si in tin- southern and eastern 

 l-'itioiw of the Missouri n-^ion. 



This binl is a common one in tin- l-li-ii-rn States, but is not frequently s-en, as it frequents 

 tin- ni'.-t Heiaded swamps, ],:-. mautte*, irksn it- nott hvottte r.-i i- i.. i- fmind. 



When akirmed, the Green Heron rises with a hollow, guttural s ( -ri>am ; does not fly far, 

 but usually alights on some old stump, tree, or fi-n<-.-. and looks alx.ut \\ith extended neck, 

 though sometimes this is drawn in so that his head si-ems to n-st uj-.n his bn-a.st. As he walks 

 alom; the fence, or stands ^-.i/.ing at you with outstretched neck, he has the habit of jerking 

 his tail. He sometimes tlies hijrh. with doubled neck and legs exti-iided In-hind, flapping the 

 wings smartly, and travelling with great expedition. During the whole summer, until late in 

 autumn, these birds are si-en in our marshes, but never in winter. 1'nlike many of the Herons, 

 this s|M-cii>s is found in the interior, wherever there is water. It is eighteen inches long, and 

 twenty-five in extent of wing. The prevailing color is green. Few gnmjw of birds have such 

 varied coloration as the Herons. The sexes are alike in marking and -i/<-. 



TIIK BITTERN is now seldom seen in this country, ] tartly because it IM n rare bird and 

 becoming scarcer almost yearly, and partly because its habit* are nocturnal, and it sits all day 

 in the thickest reeds or other aquatic vegetation. The marshy grounds of Essex seem to be 

 the spots most favored by this bird at the present day, although specimens are annually killed 

 in various parts of tin- country. 



In habits and food, the Bittern r.-.-inl.l.-s the heron, except that it feeds by night instead 

 of by day. Like that bird, it uses its long sharp beak as a weapon of offence, and chooses 



lh.-i-\.-of il^ ad\.-rar\ a- th. |^iinr al \\hi--li t..aim. Tie- f>->-t and ]::- Hi a]-.. ].o\\.-rfiil 



weapons, and when disabled from flight, the Bittern will fling itself on its back, and fight 

 desperately with foot and bill. 



The nest of the Bittern is placed on the ground near water, and concealed among the rank 

 VM.O.-W. 



