1232 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



its abbreviated tail by trailing its legs out behind. At 

 close range, however, it is seen to be very different for, 

 although it is not very green, it is certainly not black 



A BITTERN ROOST 



The Bittern pulls together the tops of the reeds with his long toes, gives 

 them a twist and makes a comfortable bed on which to sleep above the 

 water. 



like a crow. Its crown and wings are greenish but its 

 conspicuous neck and breast are largely chestnut and its 

 back is bluish gray. 



The little green heron differs from others of the true 

 herons by leading a more solitary existence, seldom more 

 than a single pair nesting in one clump of alders or 



willows. When 

 f r i g h tened or 

 upon taking 

 wing, the green 

 heron usually 

 utters a rather 

 harsh "skeow" 

 and its vocal 

 powers, even 

 during the nest- 

 ing season, are 

 never much 

 more musical. 



The next best 

 known species of 

 heron is the 

 great blue heron, 

 in some districts 

 m i s named the 

 "crane." It is 



PkotoorapH „y Verii BuruU *"? mUCh ^ 



er than the 



AN AMERICAN BITTERN "NOT AT HOME" 



green heron, 



When she does not wish callers she assumes ( j. , 



this position and usually goes unseen. Standing aDOUt 



But 



LOOKS LIKE A BITTERN 



an immature Black-Crowned 

 Heron. 



Night 



four feet high and having a wing expanse of about six 

 feet, even greater than that of an eagle. Its general color 

 is grayish, lighter on the head and neck, with a black 

 belly and a black 

 stripe t h r ough 

 the head. It 

 nests in colonies 

 in the larger 

 swamps, usually 

 in the tops of the 

 tallest trees, one 

 tree often con- 

 taining from five 

 to ten nests. The 

 tops of the trees 

 are usually kill- 

 ed by the excre- 

 ment of the birds 

 but the herons 

 continue to use 

 the same trees 

 as long as they 

 will hold their 

 nests. In some 

 of the treeless regions of the west, the great blue herons 

 nest on the ground in the marshes or in bushes on islands. 

 The herons are 

 powerful flyers, 

 traveling with 

 measured beats 

 of the wings and 

 occasionally sail- 

 ing so that they 

 are able to feed 

 many miles 

 from their nest- 

 ing grounds. 

 When the young 

 are ready to fly 

 in late July or 

 August, they 

 scatter to all 

 parts of the 

 country wher- 

 ever there is a 

 good feed ing 

 ground. At such 

 times they are 

 unsuspicious and 

 many are killed 

 by the amateur 

 marksman for, 

 u n f o rtunately, 

 even in such pro- 

 gressive states as 

 New York, they 

 are not given 

 protection by BIRD OR BROKEN reed? 



law. This is be- ^' ,e *-east Bittern assumes this position when 



alarmed and usually escapes detection. 



