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ALTIUC'IAI. (iKALLAToltKS — IIEIIODIOXKS. 



On Long Jsliind, the Hittcrn is {jt'iu'ially known by tlio nnnu' oi tlic " Indiiin I'ul- 

 1ft," iM'ing n'lmtctl to liavf Itci-n one oT tlic tiivoiitc Itinls of tin- Indiiuis. It is more 

 conuiionly known us the " Look-up," troni its lialtit, when standinj,' on tlu' niarslics. 

 of I'lcviiting its head. It does not move aliout iiiucli Ity day. altliou},'li it is not strictly 

 nocturnal, but is sonictinu's scfii Hyin,i,' low over tlio nu'iidows. in |mrsuit of slioit- 

 tailcd or meadow niicc, which arc frc(iucntly taken whole from its stomach. It also 

 feeds on fish, frogs, lizards, etc. Late in tlu- season its tlesh is lieltl in high esteem. 

 It ean rarely be ])roeured in any great number, and only when the marshes art' over- 

 flowed by unusually high tides. According to (iiraud. it is hunted in boats, nuu'h 

 after the manner adojitcd in the pursuit of the Hail. On ordinary occasions it is a 

 dilKeult bird to Hush. The instant it becomes aware that it has attracted the atten- 

 tion of the fowler, it lowers its head, runs (quickly through the grass, and when again 

 seen, is usually in a ditferent direction from that taken by its pursui'r, whose move- 

 ments it closely watches. When thus jmrsiu'd it seldom exposes more than its head. 

 When wounded it makes a vigorous resistance, erects the feathers on the head and 

 neck, extends its wings, opens its bill, and puts on a tierce exinession. It will attack 

 a dog, or even his master; and when defending itself directs its sharp bill at its 

 assailant's eye. It never associates with any other species of Jleron, and does not 

 apjM'ar fond of the society of its own kind. It is distributed over the nuirshes either 

 singly or in pairs, and is nowliere abundant. 



Mr. ISatty writes that he has taken mice from the stomachs of several; and from 

 one a large field-mouse which had apparently but just been devoured. The mouse 

 was whole, and had been swallowed hcail-tirst. This bird feeds during the day. but 

 is more nocturnal than diurnal in its habits. When wounded it drops its wings, raises 

 the feathers of the neck in a circle around the head, and then strikes out fiercely with 

 its sharp bill. Mr. IJatty has met with individuals about Fire I.sland aa late as the 

 last of Noveml)er. 



It is an autumnal visitant of IJernuida, where, as .Major Wedderlmrn states, it is 

 to bo nu't with in all the marshes from October until ])t'cend)er, and occasionally in 

 March. In some .seasons it is quite rare. In illustration of its omniv(U(nis habits, 

 Mr. Ilurdis mentions that in the stomach of one shot in the IVMubroke Marshes were 

 >'ound an eel six inches long, a mouse, a dragon-fly. a grasshojtper, and a portion of a 

 small g(dilen carp. 



Mr. J)resser found this a common resident siiecies in Southern Texas. Mr. J. A. 

 Allen mentions it as t(d ral>ly common in the Valley of (ireat Salt Lake, in Septem- 

 ber; and Mr. Hidgway constantly found it in all marshy situations in the interior. 

 Specimens were killed in the latter part of Septendicr. in Thousand Spring Valley, 

 in the northeastern ])ortion of Nevada. Mr. Salvin met with it in (Juatemala both at 

 Duenas and at Coban. It is also given by Mr. I{. I'.rowne iu ids list of the birds of 

 Vancouver. According to Wilson, it wa., known ou tiie New .lersey sea-eoa.st as the 

 Ihiuhniloo, in supposed imitation of its lioomiiig cries. Hut neither Wilson. Audubon, 

 nor Nuttall knew anything as to its nesting; and evidently never saw its egg, their 

 deserij)tions of whi(!h are quite i'u'orrcct. 



Wilson states that when come upon smldeiily. it rises with a callow cry, and may 

 then be easily shot ; and .\udubon refers to its liability to be paralyzed with fear 

 when .sin-priscd. so that it may even i)e knocked down with a stick; but Mr. Everett 

 Smith, of Portland, in a ]taper exhiltiting coiuith'te familiarity with the habits of this 

 species, regards these results as less d\ie to the timidity of the Uittern than to its 

 unsuspici(ms and gentle nature. 



Wilson states that this bird has no boonung cry corresjionding with that of the 



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