AMERICAN BITTERN. 93 
The Bittern, or Stake Driver, is a summer resident of 
our larger marshes, arriving early in Apri] and remaining 
American Bittern, Until October. Though by no means 
Botaurus lentiginoews, common, its notes are so loud and re- 
Riots Vil, markable that even a single calling 
bird is more likely to attract attention than many smaller 
abundant species. Under favorable circumstances these 
notes may be heard for at least three fourths of a mile. 
They are of two kinds. One is described as the “ pump- 
ing” call, and is generally written pémp-er-lunk, pamp- 
er-lunk, pamp-er-lunk, while the other is deceptively like 
the sound produced by driving a stake in the mud. Mr. 
Bradford Torrey, one of the few ornithologists who has 
observed the bird while it was uttering these singular 
cries, tells us (The Auk, vi, 1889, p. 1) that they are 
attended by violent, convulsive movements of the head 
and neck, which suggest the contortions of a seasick 
person, but that the bird’s bill is neither immersed in 
water nor plunged in the mud, as has been popularly 
supposed. 
CRANES, RAILS, ETC. ORDER PALUDICOLZE) 
Ratts and Coots. (Famity RaLuips#) 
Rams are marsh-inhabiting birds, more often heard 
than seen. They are very reluctant to take wing, and 
when pursued seek safety by running or hiding rather 
than by flying. When flushed, they go but a short dis- 
tance, and with dangling legs soon drop back into the 
grasses. 
Of the one hundred and eighty members of this 
family, fourteen inhabit North America and eight visit 
the northeastern United States. Only three or four of 
these, however, are abundant, the most numerous and 
