16 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



ting hen. Gradually she became used to my presence, and dur- 

 ing the latter part of the incubation period, I was able to get 

 some photographs of her in almost natural positions ; in fact 

 she became an ideal subject for photography. The male kept 

 very much out of sight during the incubation period, and I 

 only saw him when he happened to be on the nest at my ap- 

 proach. His soft low notes were often heard, although I could 

 never see him utter his klo-o-o klo-o klo klo klo, dove-like in 

 character, starting low and getting more rapid toward the end. 

 I had often heard the love song of the Least Bittern before, but 

 never until this spring was I sure what bird was the author of 

 these cooing notes. On May 30, I visited the nest late in the 

 afternoon, and found on lifting the female, that one of the eggs 

 was pipped, and the next day three very funny youngsters had 

 made their appearance. The Bittern evidently starts to set as 

 soon as the first egg is laid. I was unable to visit the nest 

 again until June 6, and then found that a great change had 

 come over the young. All five assumed the bittern-hke pose 

 of their parents, and with one accord greeted my approach with 

 with weak croaks, accompanied by wobbly thrusts at my hand. 

 Their efforts in this direction could hardly be felt. Yet their 

 fierce looks were quite awe-inspiring, and would frighten away 

 some enemies. The female Bittern was not in evidence, nor 

 was she seen again. The male bird was on hand and for the 

 first time seemed very much disturbed. He croaked his disap- 

 proval from a nearby bush. I never saw a bird go through so 

 many grotesque contortions and movements. I lifted one of 

 the young from the nest, and he actually looked as if he would 

 twist himself apart. He was evidently unable to stand the mus- 

 cular effort, for he soon quieted down and contented himself by 

 uttering protesting croaks. 



The young bird, now a week old, could cling to a branch by 

 means of its feet, assisted by its wings. It could also very 

 nearly hold itself suspended by placing its bill over a branch. 

 On June 9, when I again visited the nest, it was empty. One 

 dead young bird lay in the ooze beside the nest. It looked 

 like foul-play, and it may be just possible that the other young 

 birds had left the nest, and were scrambling about among the 



