5(J2 
BOTAURUS. BITTERN. 
Generic Character. 
Rostrum capite longius vel ca- 
pitis longitucline, validum, 
altiusquamlatunijlateratim 
valde compressum; man- 
dibula superiorc incurva. 
Nares laterales in sulco sitae, 
membrana semiclausae. 
Orh'iUs nudae. 
Collum brevius, crassum, an- 
trorsum pennis elongatis 
vestitum, postice lanugine 
tectum. 
Pedes graciles, tetradactyli ; 
digiti exteriores basi mein- 
branii connexi ; 7inguis me- 
dius margine interno dila- 
tatus, pectinatus. 
Botaurus. Briss. 
Ardea. Linn., Gmel. 
Beak as long, or longer than 
the head, strong, higher 
than broad, greatly com- 
pressed laterally, the upper 
mandible curved. 
Nostrils lateral, placed in a 
furrow, and partly closed 
by a membrane. 
Orbits naked. 
Neck short, thick ; in front 
clothed with elongated fea- 
thers, behind covered with 
down. 
Legs slender, four-toed ; the 
outer toes connected by a 
membrane at the base ; the 
middle claw with its inner 
edge dilated and pectinated. 
i. HE Bitterns are distinguished from the Herons 
by the superior thickness of the neck, which in 
these is very amply clothed with downy elongated 
feathers, which the bird has the faculty of elevating 
at pleasure : their plumage is generally either 
spotted or striped : they resemble the Herons in 
their principal habits, residing in marshy situations, 
and feeding upon aquatic animals. 
