70 ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. 



On Long Island, the Bittern is generally known by the name of the " Indian Pul- 

 let," being reputed to have been one of the favorite birds of the Indians. It is more 

 commonly known as the " Look-up," from its habit, when standing on the marshes, 

 of elevating its head. It does not move about much by day, although it is not strictly 

 nocturnal, but is sometimes seen flying low over the meadows, in pursuit of short- 

 tailed or meadow mice, which are frequently taken whole from its stomach. It also 

 feeds on fish, frogs, lizards, etc. Late in the season its flesh is held in high esteem. 

 It can rarely be procured in any great number, and only when the marshes are over- 

 flowed by unusually high tides. According to GiraM, it is hunted in boats, much 

 after the manner adopted in the pursuit of the Bail. On ordinary occasions it is a 

 difficult bird to flush. 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 different direction from that taken by its pursuer, whose move- 

 ments it closely watches. "When thus pursued 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 fierce expression. 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 Heron, and does not 

 appear fond of the society of its own kind. It is distributed over the marshes either 

 singly or in pairs, and is nowhere abundant. 



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

 one a large field-mouse which had ax^parently but just been devoured. The mouse 

 was whole, and had been swallowed head-first. 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 tlie neck in a circle around the head, and tlien strikes out fiercely with 

 its sharp bill. Mr. Batty has met with individuals about Fire Island as late as the 

 last of November. 



It is an autumnal visitant of Bermuda, where, as Major Wedderburn states, it is 

 to be met with in all the marshes from October until December, and occasionally in 

 March. In some seasons it is quite rare. In illustration of its omnivorous habits, 

 Mr. Hurdis mentions tliat in the stomach of one shot in the Pembroke Marshes were 

 found an eel six inches long, a mouse, a dragon-fly, a grasshopper, and a portion of a 

 small golden carp. 



Mr. Dresser found this a common resident species in Southern Texas. Mr. J. A. 

 Allen mentions it as tolerably common in the Valley of Great Salt Lake, in Septem- 

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

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

 in the northeastern portion of Nevada. Mr. Salvin met with it in Guatenmla both at 

 Duenas and at Coban. It is also given by IMr. R. Browne in his list of the birds of 

 Vancouver. According to Wilson, it was known on the New Jersey sea-coast as the 

 Dunkadoo, in supposed imitation of its booming cries. But neither Wilson, Audubon, 

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

 descriptions of which are quite incorrect. 



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

 then be easily shot ; and Audubon refers to its lialiility to be paralyzed with fear 

 when surprised, so that it may even lie knoclccd down with a stick ; but IMr. Everett 

 Smith, of Portland, in a paper exhibiting complete familiarity with the habits of this 

 species, regards these results as less due to the timidity of the Bittern than to its 

 unsuspicious and gentle nature. 



Wilson states that this bird has no booming cry corresponding with that of the 



