THE LEAST BITTERN 



{Ardetta exilis. , 



Among our water and marsh birds being stretched out behind it and its 

 scarcely one is of greater interest than neck doubled back upon its back. Like 

 the saucy little Least Bittern. With his the rail it endeavors to hide among the 

 small, mottled body and big neck he sedges and rushes when danger is near, 

 looks at you from among a distant and the color and shape of its body aids 

 clump of cattails, as though asking what not a little in protecting it, by causing 

 right you had to disturb him in his quiet it to become inconspicuous among the 

 and secluded nook. His constant com- dead and dried leaves and stalks of the 

 panions are the red-winged blackbirds previous year's growth of vegetation, 

 and the marsh wrens, and occasionally The Least Bittern builds its nest in 

 the long-legged rails. Indeed, so close- secluded spots on the borders of ponds 

 ly does this bird resemble the rail in and lakes where the rushes, sedges and 

 size and general color, that one is easily cattails form good places for conceal- 

 deceived when it is seen from a dis- ment. The nest is flat and is composed 

 tance, especially if it is in the act of of dead material gathered from the near- 

 climbing up the cattails as does the by reeds. The nest is generally built 

 rail. near the ground but it is not infrequent- 

 Like its larger relative, the American ly constructed at a height of three feet 

 bittern, as well as other members of from the ground in a thick cluster of 

 the heron order, this species spends smilax and other briary plants, as men- 

 much time walking slowly along in shal- tioned by Audubon. In many localities 

 low water, in search of food, its head the nest is built at from a few inches 

 and neck being thrown forward at every to a foot or more above the ground or 

 step, appearing as though it was going water, and attached to the stems of cat- 

 to stop something with its long, sharp tails. Sedges and pickerel weed are 

 bill. The herons are notably thin in also used in constructing the nest which 

 body, but this diminutive member of the is neither handsome nor durable. The 

 order is so thin that it will easily pass eggs number from three to five to the 

 through a space less than- an inch and set and measure an inch and a quarter 

 a half in width. The astonishment with by about two inches. They are elliptical 

 which the young taxidermist or orni- in form and are white with a delicate 

 thologist views the very small skinned tinge of green. The nesting season va- 

 body of the herons in comparison with ries in different localities. Nests may 

 their appearance when alive, is an ex- be found with eggs in late May or early 

 perience long remembered. June. It is said that two broods are 

 The food of the Least Bittern is va- raised yearly as sets of eggs have been 

 ried, including mollusks, frogs, lizards found as late as July or early August, 

 and small shrews and mice; tadpoles The male is said to assist in incubating 

 are considered a dainty morsel. Insects the eggs. The note of the Least Bittern 

 are also said to form a part of the diet is an unmusical qua not unlike the rest 

 of this bird. The Least Bittern is said of the herons. 



to be more nocturnal than diurnal in This diminutive creature makes up in 



habit. Its flights during the day are spirit what it lacks in size. A wounded 



short, low and generally undertaken individual with a broken wing was cap- 

 only when frightened by some enemy, .tured sometime ago and it would thrust 



At night, especially at dusk? its flight its long bill savagely at any one who 



is more conspicuous, is undertaken came near or at anything that was 



rather high above the marsh and re- placed near it, its bright little eyes blaz- 



sembles that of the herons,'^ its long legs ing with anger. Even this small bird 



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