68 A NATURALIST IN THE MAGDALEN ISLANDS. 



83. BOTAURUS MINOR, Gm. 

 (Bittern.) 



Abundant. While Snipe shooting near Red Cape, I have 

 seen as many as six of them in one afternoon. One can 

 hardly realize the strength which lies in the slender neck 

 of an old Bittern. The long, sharp beak, almost as keen 

 as a knife, is capable of inflicting a severe and painful 

 wound, as I know to my cost, having once incautiously 

 allowed a w^ounded bird to strike my hand. 



I was told a little incident which may illustrate the deadly 

 use this weapon of defence is sometimes put to. One after- 

 noon a gentleman saw a Hawk dart suddenly down into a 

 marsh near his house. Seizing his gun, he ran towards the 

 spot in hopes of obtaining a shot. He continued on until 

 he suddenly came upon the dead bodies of the Haw^k 

 and an old Bittern. The beak of the latter was driven 

 quite through the body of the Hawk, whose talons had 

 crushed out its life, but not before it had been able to 

 avenge itself. 



Breeds. 



