38 AEDEID^E 



Nest. The nest is built on the ground and is composed 

 of reeds and other vegetation ; the eggs are dun-brown 

 in colour, and four to seven constitute the clutch. 



DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 



PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial. The plumage of the 

 American Bittern differs from that of the Common species 

 in the finer and more profuse barring and streaking of the 

 back and wings ; the primaries are uniform greyish-brown. 



Adult female nuptial. Similar in plumage to the male. 



Adult winter, male and female. Similar to the nuptial 

 plumage. 



Immature, male and female. The general tinge is redder 

 and the markings are coarser than in the adult plumage. 



BEAK. Upper segment greenish-black, edged below 

 with yellow, lower segment lemon-yellow. 



FEET. Dull yellowish-green. 



IRIDES. Sulphur-yellow next the pupil, shading ex- 

 teriorly to deep orange, encircled narrowly with black. 



AVERAGE MEASUREMENTS. 



TOTAL LENGTH ... ... ... 24 in. 



WING 11 



BEAK 3 ,, 



TABSO-METATABSUS 3'5 ,, 



EGG 1-9 x 1-45 in. 



Allied Species and Eepresentative Forms. " A specimen 

 of the American Butorides virescens, said to have been 

 shot in Cornwall in October, 1889, was exhibited at the 

 Linnaean Society in April, 1890, by Sir C. Sawle. (Cf. Zool. 

 1890, p. 105 and p. 181.)" (Saunders, Man. Brit. Birds, 

 2nd edit., p. 386.) 



