BITTERNS. 201 



in Oct., winters from Fla. southward to 

 Guatemala; north in April. Common, breed- 

 ing habits solitary. Nests, placed on ground 

 in iriaccessable fresh water bogs or occasion- 

 ally in salt marshes; eggs 3-6 green-ash or 

 brown, when alarmed the bittern often 

 squats in grass or will even enter water 

 leaving the bill only exposed; at other times 

 will stand motionless with neck perpen- 

 dicular and bill pointing upward, then re- 

 sembles a stake. Cries, when startled, harsh 

 and sharp. In May and June the singular 

 punk-a-pog notes are given. Flight, direct 

 and rather swift with quick wing-beats. 



153. LEAST BITTERN. 



Small, 13; male; top of head, back and 

 tail greenish black; sides of head, sides of 

 neck, upper wing coverts, and beneath, 

 yellow-buff, fig. 146. Female, with back 

 brown. Bill and feet always yellow. Tem- 

 perate N. A. breeding from Mass, (where it 

 uncommon) to Fla.; winters from Fla. to 

 Brazil. Eggs 3-4, pale greenish 



