Least Bittern 199 



as though a small portion of the denser rush clump had quietly moved upward 

 into view. And then, as I gazed, the motion of the reeds ceased and the object 

 blended with the reed stalks and disappeared. Puzzled and curious, I waited, 

 but nothing more happened. Laying my fishing-pole on the lily-pads, I picked 

 up the paddle and slowly and cautiously pushed the boat forward. Not until 

 the prow of the boat came to a stop within 5 feet of the spot I was so intently 

 watching were my eyes able to again outline the yellowish brown mass whose 

 movements I had watched a few moments before. Grasping the stem of a stal- 

 wart reed, with body erect and long bill pointed skyward, there stood a bird, 

 silent and motionless as the rushes around it. Can any bird of the wilderness, 

 by remaining motionless, be better hidden in its surroundings than the Least 

 Bittern? If so, I have yet to meet it. After watching my neighbor for a minute, 

 or two, I slowly arose and started toward the front end of the boat. At this, 

 the bird lowered its head and, with one bound, sprang from its hiding. The 

 instant for flight had come; the light yellow eyes gazing at me from either 

 side of its upturned bill had told it that its deception had been discovered,that 

 a probable enemy was fast approaching. 



With dangling legs and labored beating of wings the bird flew over the reeds, 

 much as young birds fly, and, looking at it for the first time, one might expect 

 it to fall from sheer weakness. However, the flight soon became stronger, and, 

 stretching its legs out straight behind, it was soon going with ease and at a 

 fairly rapid rate. Three hundred yards away it dropped from sight among the 

 rushes and was seen no more. 



Turning to look again at the cluster of rushes from which the bird had 

 flown, I discovered its nest — a large, double handful of rush leaves and water 

 grasses, perhaps eight inches across the top. It was held in place by the surround- 

 ing rushes and was supported by a mass of the previous year's growth that had 

 died and were bent down. In the slightly depressed top lay four pale blue eggs 

 about an inch and a quarter in length. No wonder the bird wanted to hide, 

 perhaps feeling that when it flew its treasures might be revealed. Later in the 

 day I again visited the nest and found the bird at home, or, as I have always 

 believed, the mate of the one that was there in the morning, for its behavior 

 was totally different. As I approached, instead of raising its bill as if in silent 

 supplication to heaven, and 'freezing' as still and rigid as the rushes about it, 

 it merely squatted low, spreading its wings as if to shield the nest from view. 

 With the feathers of its neck raised and head drawn back in a threatening 

 attitude, it showed clearly its anxiety and willingness to strike if the intruder 

 upon its solitary domain should approach too closely. That it was quite cap- 

 able of doing this was quickly shown when, upon reaching out my hand, that 

 sharp and strong beak made a vicious stroke which, had the blow gone home, 

 would most assuredly have drawn blood. 



Sixteen days are required for the eggs of the Least Bittern to hatch, but 

 long before this period had passed my duties had taken me elsewhere, and I 



