DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF 



NORTH AMSRICA. 



1O1 



small mammals) which are secured by being grasped in the 

 bill. Ciies, harsh and unmusical. 'Young* rwiked when 

 hatched but are soon covered with down ; " helpless and are* 

 fed by regurgitation. 



A. BITTERNS. Botauridae. 



Tail feathers, ten, not stiffened ; no plume-like feathers 

 on head or body ; lower neck behind destitute of feathers, 

 fig. 117. 



a. Striped Bitterns. Botaurus. 



Oesophagus, modified during the breeding season into a 

 sound-producing organ. Sexes, similar. Young, not strik- 

 ingly different. Nests, placed on the grouud, usually in 

 fresh-water bogs ; eggs, 3-6 ; greenish-ash or brown. Never 

 gregarious even when breeding. 



1. AMERICAN BITTERN, B. LKNTIGINOSUS. 28.50; 

 bill, 3.00; above dark brown sprinkled and spotted with yel- 

 lowish ; beneath, and Fig. 117. 



on sides of head and . V 

 neck, pale yellowish %1 

 broadly streaked with 

 yellowish-rufous and 

 dusky ; triangular 

 patch on side of neck, ^ 

 black ; iris, yellow ; 

 bill and feet greenish, 

 fig. 117. Young, sim- 

 ilar but somewhat pal- 

 er. Nestlings, covered 

 with long, yellowish ?; 

 down. Breeds through- 

 out temperate N. A.; T , A, a, 1. 1-20. 



usually nests in inaccessible fresh water bogs but occasion- 

 ally breeds on salt marshes ; migrates south in Oct. ; winters 

 from Fla. southward to Guatemala ; comes north in April. 

 Common. When not breeding frequents alike fresh and salt 



