LEAST BITTERN. 79 



In two instances, I found the nests of the Least Bittern about three 

 feet above the ground, in a thick cluster of smilax and other briary plants. 

 In the first, two nests were placed in the same bush, within a few yards of 

 each other. In the other instance there was only one nest of this bird, 

 but several of the Boat-tailed Grakle, and one of the Green Heron, the 

 occupants of all of which seemed to be on friendly terms. When startled 

 from the nest, the old birds emit a few notes resembling the syllable qua, 

 alight a few yards off, and watch all your movements. If you go towards 

 them, you may sometimes take the female with the hand, but rarely the 

 male, who generally flies off, or makes his way through the woods. Its 

 ordinary cry, however, is a rough croak resembling that , of the Great Blue 

 Heron, but much weaker. 



The flight of this bird is apparently weak by day, for then it seldom 

 removes to a greater distance than a hundred yards at a time, and this, 

 too, only when frightened in a moderate degree, for, if much alarmed, it 

 falls again among the grass in the manner of the Rail ; but in the dusk 

 of the evening and morning I have seen it passing steadily along, at the 

 height of fifty years or more, with the neck retracted, and the legs 

 stretched out behind, in the manner of the larger Herons. On such occa- 

 sions it uttered, at short intervals, its peculiar cry, and continued its 

 flight until out of sight. Several individuals were together, and I ima- 

 gined them to be proceeding in search of breeding-grounds, or on a mi- 

 gratory expedition. When disturbed by day, they fly with extended 

 neck and dangling legs, and are easily shot, as their course is generally 

 direct and their flight slow. When walking, it shoots its head forward 

 at everv step, as if about to thrust its biU into some substance ; and, if 

 you attempt to lay hold of it when disabled, it is apt to inflict a painful 

 wound. 



The food of this bird consists of snails, slugs, tadpoles, or young 

 frogs and water-lizards. In several instances, however, I have found 

 small shrews and field-mice in their stomach. Although more nocturnal 

 than diurnal, it moves a good deal about by day in search of food. About 

 noon, being doubtless much fatigued, they are not unfrequently observed 

 standing erect on one foot, and so soundly asleep as to be easily knocked 

 down or even caught by the hand, if cautiously approached. This very 

 remarkable habit of both our species of Bittern has brought upon them 

 the charge of extreme stupidity, whence the name of Butor given to them 

 by the Creoles of Louisiana. Whether or not this term be appropriate 



