AMERICAN BITTEEN. 113 



Its note, a loud booming, is considered to be represented 

 by two of the names applied to it as vernacular ones Mokoho 

 and Dunkadoo. Dr. Richardson says that it may be heard 

 every summer's evening, and also frequently in the day. When 

 disturbed, it utters a hollow, croaking cry, compared by Mr. 

 Cunningham to the tapping of a drum. 



The nest is made in swamps. 



The eggs are described by Hutching as of a uniform dull 

 olivaceous tint. 



Male; length, about two feet three inches; bill, brownish 

 yellow, the upper mandible dark brown along the upper ridge 

 at the point; iris, yellow, over it and from the forehead, before 

 and behind it, is a streak of light yellow brown. Head on 

 the crown, brown, tinged with red; back of the head and 

 neck on the back, brown; nape, bare of feathers; down the 

 side of the neck is a descending streak of black. The loose 

 elongated feathers of the front and sides of the neck down 

 to the breast are brown along the centre, bounded by a 

 darker line, and with broad edges of pale buff. Chin, white; 

 throat, a mixture of white, buff, and dark brown in streaks. 

 Breast, buff, each feather with an elongated patch of brown 

 on its centre, forming zigzag pencillings, but more distant 

 and finer than those on the upper parts. Back, rich brown, 

 the centre of each feather the darkest and most uniform in 

 colour, the edges freckled with darker brown on a ground of 

 yellowish brown. 



The wings have the first three quill feathers nearly equal 

 in length, and the longest in the wing. 'The first quill feather 

 differs in form from the second and third, being remarkably 

 pointed at the end, while the second and third are rounded.' 

 Greater and lesser wing coverts, rich brown, the centre of 

 each feather the darkest, and most uniform in colour; the 

 edges freckled with the darker brown on a ground of yellow 

 brown. Primaries, except the three first, brownish black, tipped 

 with chesnut, which is also freckled with brownish black, the 

 shafts black; secondaries, also brownish black, tipped with 

 chesnut, which is likewise freckled with brownish black, the 

 shafts black; tertiaries, freckled with dark brown, reddish brown, 

 and buff. Tail, almost uniform reddish brown; upper tail 

 coverts, buff, freckled with two shades of brown ; under tail 

 coverts, uniform buff. Legs and toes, greenish brown; claws, 

 darker, approaching to horn-colour; the middle toe pectinated. 



The young are said to be at first black. 



