398 GRALLATORES. 



generic term, is supposed to refer to its deep-toned, bull-like 

 voice. 



The COMMON BITTERN, B. stellaris, (Lat. starry,) was well 

 known to the ancients. It is referred to by Aristotle under the 

 name of Asterias ; in the palmy days of falconry it was much 

 sought for. It is not daunted when wounded, and therefore it 

 was the duty of the falconer to plunge the Bittern's bill into the 

 ground to prevent injury to the hawk ; both the falcon and the 

 falconer were sometimes endangered by the sharp beak of their 

 victim. In the time of Henry VIII., of England, its flesh was in 

 high esteem ; when the bird is well fed it resembles that of a 

 hare, and is not rank or fishy like that of the associate birds. 

 The long claw of this bird's hind toe is prized as a tooth-pick, 

 and in the olden time it was thought to have the property of pre- 

 serving the teeth. The Common Bittern is crested and about 

 two feet and a half in length, being smaller than the Common 

 Heron. The general color of the plumage is dull pale yellow, 

 varied with spots and bars of black. 



The AMERICAN BITTERN, B. lentiginosus, (Lat. freckled,) or 

 Ardea minor, is not quite so large as the Common Bittern. It is 

 familiarly known by the names Poke, Indian-Hen, Indian-Pul- 

 let, &c., and migrates over most parts of the U. S. The color 

 is a rusty yellow, mottled and sprinkled with deep brown. 



The SMALL BITTERN, A. exilis, (Lat. small or slender,) is sub- 

 crested and only eleven inches in length ; of a chestnut color 

 above, but whitish beneath. It ranges from Mexico to 45o N. L. 



The COMMON BOAT BILL, Cancroma cochlearia, (Lat snail- 

 shells or spoons,) approaches in form quite closely to the Heron, 

 except in the bill, which is not unlike the bowls of two spoons 

 placed one upon the other, with the rims in contact. It perches 

 on trees by the side of rivers, where it lives on fish, and not on 

 crabs, as the name Cancroma indicates, though Linnaeus sup- 

 posed it to feed on crabs and so named it. Latham says : " We 

 are certain fish is its most common, if not only food." This bird 

 is native to South America. 



STORKS. 



The Storks, Ciconia, are not so aquatic as the other birds of 

 the family, but are among the largest. They build their nests 

 on turrets, steeples, and chimneys, each pair, after wintering in 

 Africa, returning to the same place in the spring. Their bills 

 are very long and straight, resembling a lengthened cone. They 

 live in marshes, and feed principally on reptiles, frogs, and their 



