AMERICAN BITTERN. 299 
those on the neck being directed obliquely backwards. Wings rather 
short, broad, convex ; primaries broad, rounded, the first pointed, 
shorter than the third, which is slightly exceeded by the second, the 
rest slowly graduated ; secondaries very broad, rounded, the inner 
elongated so as slightly to exceed the primaries when the wing is 
closed. Tail very short, rounded, of ten feathers. 
Bill dull yellowish-green, the ridge of the upper mandible brownish- 
black, of a lighter tint toward the base. Bare space before the eye 
brown ; eyelids greenish-yellow ; iris reddish-yellow. Feet dull yel- 
lowish-green ; claws wood-brown. Upper part of the head brownish- 
grey ; a streak of pale buff over the eye to behind the ear; a dusky 
streak from the posterior angle of the eye; the cheek and an oblique 
band to the middle of the neck light brownish-yellow ; beneath which 
is a dusky brown line from the base of the lower mandible, continuous 
with a gradually enlarged band of black, which runs along the side of 
the neck ; the upper parts yellowish-brown, patched, mottled, freckled, 
and barred with dark brown ; alula, primary coverts, and most of the 
quills, deep bluish-grey, approaching to black; the tips of all these 
feathers light reddish-brown, dotted with bluish-grey. The fore part 
of the neck white above, yellowish-white beneath, the throat with a 
middle longitudinal line of yellowish-brown spots ; on the rest of the 
neck each feather with a light brown central mark edged with darker, 
the rest of the lower parts dull yellowish-white, most of the feathers 
marked like those on the neck. 
Length to end of tail 27 inches, to end of wings 264, to carpal 
joint 17, to end of claws 323; extent of wings 45; wing from flexure 
131; tail 42; bill along the ridge 33, along the edge of lower mandible 
41; breadth of mouth 1; depth of bill at base 2; bare part of tibia 1; 
tarsus 32; hind toe 13, its claw 14; middle toe 32; its claw 1; outer 
toe 23, its claw 4; inner toe 2}, its claw 3. Weight 1 lb. 7 oz. 
Female. Plate CCCXXXVII. Fig. 2. 
The Female resembles the male, but is somewhat smaller with the 
colours duller. 
Length to end of tail 26} inches, to end of wings 254, to end of 
claws 272; extent of wings 423; wing from flexure 12}. Weight 1 lb. 
3 OZ. 
