THE BITTERN. 317 



itself behind its master's chair, frequently before any of the guests 

 entered. The servants were obliged to watch it carefully, and to 

 defend the provisions by beating it off' with sticks; yet, notwith- 

 standing every precaution, it would frequently snatch off something 

 from the table. It one day purloined a whole boiled fowl, which it 

 swallowed in an instant. This bird used to fly about the island, and 

 roost very high among the silk-cotton trees; from this station, at the 

 distance of two or three miles, it could see when the dinner was car- 

 ried across the court. As soon as this appeared it would dart down, 

 and arrive early enough to enter with some of those who carried in 

 the dishes. 



When sitting, it was observed always to rest itself on the whole 

 length of the hind part of thtf leg. It sometimes stopped in the room 

 for half an hour after dinner; turning its head alternately, as if 

 listening to the conversation. The courage of this bird was not 

 equal to its voracity : for a child eight or ten years of age was able 

 to put it to flight; though it would seem at first to stand on the 

 defensive, by threatening with its enormous bill widely extended, 

 and crying out with a loud, hoarse voice. 



It preyed on small quadrupeds, birds, and reptiles; and though it 

 would destroy poultry, it never dared openly to attack a hen with 

 her young-ones. It had been known to swallow a Cat whole; and 

 a bone of a shin of beef being broken, served it but for two morsels. 



THE SUX BITTERN r . 



The Bittern is not so large as the Common Heron. Its bill also is 

 weaker, and not more than four inches long. The gape, however, is 

 eo wide, that the eyes seem placed in the bill. The crown of the head 

 is black; the feathers on the hind part forming a sort of pendent 

 crest. The plumage is of a pale dull yellow, variously marked with 

 black. Some parts about the wings are of a bright rust color, barred 

 with black. The tail is very short; and the feathers on the breast are 

 long and loose. The legs are of a pale green color; the claws long 

 and slender; and the inside of the middle claw is serrated, for the 

 better holding of its prey. 



This is a very retired bird ; dwelling among the reeds and rushes 

 of extensive marshes, where it leads a solitary life, hid equally from 

 the hunter whom it dreads, and the prey that it watches. It con- 

 tinues for whole days about the same spot, and seems to look for 

 safety only in privacy and inaction. 



In the autumn it changes its abode, always commencing ks journey 

 or change of place at sunset. Its precautions for concealment and 

 security seem directed with great care and circumspection. It usually 

 sits in the reeds with its head erect; by which from its great length 

 of neck, it sees over their tops, without being itself perceived by the 

 sportsman. 



The principal food of the Bittern, during summer, consists of fish 

 and frogs ; but in the autumn these birds resort to the woods in pur 



