DELAWARE VALLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 17 



bushes, although none were seen. The dead bird had feathers 

 just breaking from their sheaths. 



Meanwhile the young birds in the button-bush nest had hatch- 

 ed on June 8. On June 10, I went away on a trip, and left 

 the Bitterns in the care of Mr. J. Fletcher Street, who photo- 

 graphed the young on that date. On the following Saturday, 

 June 17, when he again approached the nest to take pictures, 

 he found it empty, but was quite certain that he saw something, 

 probably a young bird, leave the nest as he approached. 



This fact, coupled with my observations, would seem to in- 

 dicate that the young Bitterns left the nest when about ten days 

 old, and before they were able to fly. 



