BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 283 



THE American Bittern (Botaurus lenfiginosus, Montagu) 

 is a rare abnormal spring and autumn migrant to the 

 British Islands, and inhabits the Nearctic Region, but not 

 the extreme north. The adult is similar in general coloura- 

 tion of plumage to the common bittern. It is, however, 

 smaller in size, the vermiculations are much finer, and the 

 primaries, which are uniform slate-brown, are not barred. 

 The bill, legs, and feet are also more slender than those of 

 Botaurus stellaris. Length, about twenty-seven inches. 

 The female resembles the male, but is less in size. The 

 young show more rufous in the colouration. 



COMMON HERON. 



THE Common Heron (Ardea rinerea, Linnseus) is a resident 

 in the British Islands, and is found inhabiting most parts 

 of Europe, Asia, and Africa, with the exception of the 

 extreme north of the two former continents. The adult 

 male has the forehead, crown, sides of head, throat, edge 

 of wings, breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, white; 

 upper parts, mostly ashy-grey, with the elongated feathers 

 lighter grey ; primaries, black ; sides of breast, boldly 

 marked with black; neck, white, streaked in front with 

 blackish; occipital plumes, much elongated and black; 

 irides, yellow; bill, yellow; legs and feet, yellowish-green. 

 Length, about thirty-six inches. The adult female closely 

 resembles male, but the plumage is duller and crest shorter. 

 (P. 284.) 



