Birds of Canada. 



79 



GREAT BITTERN. 



Botaurus lentiginosns. The Great Bittern, 

 or Stake Driver. 



The Great Bittern arrives in Canada about the 

 middle of April, and remains until late in Octo- 

 ber. The general color of this bittern is a rich 

 brownish-buff, covered with streaks and mottlings 

 of black, brown, gray, and chestnut. Nests, on 

 marshy ground ; eggs, four or five, pale brown. 

 Its food consists of reptiles and insects. 



Butorides virescens. The Green Heron. 



The Green Heron is eighteen inches long ; 

 above, dark green ; wings and tail, green ; legs, 

 yellow ; belly, ashy-brown ; head, has a crest of 



