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Bird - Lore 



pend upon it, on one of these many bogs, but a few inches above the level 

 of the water, on a mere handful of dry marsh grass, are the four to six 

 brownish -drab colored eggs. 



About ten years ago, before I was interested in photography, I found a 

 nest whose mistress was so persistent that only after I had pushed her from 

 the nest with my gun did she deem it expedient to leave her home at my 



, mercy. During the seven years 

 that I have used a camera, I 

 have searched the Bittern's 

 breeding-grounds in vain for a 

 like opportunity to make pho- 

 tographs of this odd yet very 

 interesting inhabitant of our 

 marshes. Each year I have 

 found several nests, all being 

 in places, however, where 

 approach in anything like a 

 noiseless manner was an im- 

 possibility, and I have failed to 

 get a single exposure at an 

 adult bird, until last year. 



One day, when 1 was re- 

 turning from a trip with my 

 camera, I met a farmer who, 

 knowing I was a bird photog- 

 rapher, imparted the news 

 that he could show me a Mud- 

 hen's nest. I gladly promised 

 to be on the spot early next 

 day. Upon my arrival, he con- 

 ducted me to the nest, which 

 he had accidentally found in 

 going for a drink to a spring 

 near by. The nest was situated 

 in a swampy spot in a small 

 piece of woods adjoining his cornfield. There were only four eggs in it at 

 that time. I made photograph number one*of it, and arranged with my 

 farmer friend to keep watch and let me know when the eggs commenced 

 hatching. 



One evening, several weeks later, his son came to me with this infor- 

 mation: "Dad says she's hatchin'." Next morning I was again on the 

 ground, and approached the nest very cautiously ; sure enough she was at 

 home, and I hastily made photograph number two. While preparing to take 



AMERICAN BITTERN BROODING YOUNG 



