BIRDS OF KANSAS 115 



with ornamental plumes. Lower part of the neck, back or scapulars frequently 

 with ornamental plumes. Plumage generally handsome and variegated. Two 

 to three pairs of powder-down tracts. Other characters variable." 



SUBFAMILY BOTAUKIJS^E. BITTERNS. 



"Outer toe decidedly shorter than the inner. Claws long, slender, slightly 

 curved. Two pairs only of powder-down tracts. Rectrices very short, soft, 

 only ten in number." 



GENUS BOTAURUS HERMANN. 



"Medium-sized or rather large Herons, with the plumage much mottled or 

 striped with different shades of brown and ochraceous (the plumage essentially 

 the same in both sexes and at all seasons); the plumage, particularly of the 

 lower neck in front, exceedingly soft and full, and destitute of any ornamental 

 plumes; the bill comparatively small and short (shorter than the middle toe); 

 the tibia almost completely feathered, and the claws very long and but slightly 

 curved. Tail of ten short, soft feathers, slightly rounded or nearly even. 



"Bill gradually tapering from the base to the point, the upper outline more 

 convex than the lower, the gonys very slightly convex and gently ascending, the 

 lower edge of the maxillary rami perfectly straight; mental apex extending for- 

 ward about half way from the center of the eye to the point of the bill, and 

 slightly in advance of the anterior end of the nostril; malar apex falling far 

 short of that of the frontal feathers. Toes very long, the middle one consid- 

 erably exceeding the bill and almost equal to the tarsus; inner toe decidedly 

 longer than the outer; hallux about half the middle toe; claws very long (that 

 of the hallux nearly equal to its digit), and but slightly curved; bare portion of 

 the tibia shorter than the hallux. Tarsi with large, regular scutella? in front. 



"Only two American species are known, both very distinct." 



SUBGENTJS BOTAURUS. 



Size large (wing more than 9.50); sexes alike in coloration, and young not 

 obviously different from adults. (Ridgway.') 



Botaurus lentiginosus (MONTAG.). 



AMERICAN BITTERN. 

 PLATE Yin. 



Summer resident; common. Arrive the last of April to first 

 of May; begin laying about the 20th of May; remaining occa- 

 sionally until late in the fall. 



B. 492. R. 497. C. 666. G. 231, 51. U. 190. 



HABITAT. The whole of temperate and tropical North 

 America, south to Guatemala, West Indies and Bermudas. 



SP. CHAE. "Adult: Ground color of the plumage ochraceous buff ; but this 

 densely mottled and finely sprinkled above with reddish brown and blackish, 

 the latter color prevailing on the dorsal and scapular regions, where the feath- 

 ers have lighter edges, the buff prevailing on the wing coverts, where the varie- 



