291 



breed in almost any portion of its range, but nests preferably towards the north." To this I may 

 add that I found it common and resident in Texas. It occurs also in Mexico ; and Mr. Salvin 

 records it (Ibis, 1860, p. 194) from Vera Paz and (Ibis, 1866, p. 196) from Duefias and Coban, 

 in Guatemala. According to Mr. E. von Martens (J. f. O. 1859, p. 219) it is to be met with in 

 Bermuda " in every swamp from October to December, and occasionally as late as March ;" 

 Albrecht records it from Jamaica; and Dr. Gundlach says (J. f. O. 1856, p. 346) that it is "not 

 uncommon in Cuba from October to April, but never remains there to breed." 



In habits the present species much resembles our common European Bittern. Like that 

 bird it is a shy, solitary species, whose habits are not easy to observe. I not unfrequently met 

 with it in New Brunswick, where I used to find it on the swampy margins of the small lakes far 

 in the forests ; but I never saw more than one or two on the same lake. I have usually flushed 

 them when tramping through the reeds, when they rise heavily and flap off as quickly as they can. 

 Once only, as 1 was creeping cautiously along in quest of a Duck I had caught sight of on the 

 water, do I recollect seeing one standing motionless as if asleep, apparently not having perceived 

 me ; but the next moment he started off uttering a loud croak of surprise. The best account 

 of its habits I have read is that by Dr. Elliott Coues (B. of N.W. p. 527), which I transcribe as 

 follows: — "This Bittern, as has been said, is essentially 'wild, shy, and solitary.' We oftener 

 start one from his lonely vigils in the bog, than find several or even a pair together, excepting 

 in the breeding-season. No doubt he enjoys life after his own fashion; but his notions of 

 happiness are peculiar. He prefers solitude, and leads the eccentric life of a recluse, ' forgetting 

 the world, and by the world forgot.' To see him at his ordinary occupation, one might fancy 

 him shouldering some heavy responsibility, oppressed with a secret, or labouring in the solution 

 of a problem of vital consequence. He stands motionless, with his head drawn in upon his 

 shoulders, and half-closed eyes, in profound meditation, or steps about in a devious way, with an 

 absent-minded air; for greater seclusion, he will even hide in a thick brush-clump for hours 

 together. Startled in his retreat whilst his thinking-cap is on, he seems dazed, like one suddenly 

 aroused from a deep sleep ; but as soon as he collects his wits, remembering unpleasantly that 

 the outside world exists, he shows common sense enough to beat a hasty retreat from a scene of 

 altogether too much action for him. Some such traits have doubtless led to the belief that he 

 is chiefly a nocturnal bird ; but such is not the case. He may migrate by night ; but so does the 

 Killdeer, and the Bobolink, and many other birds not in the least nocturnal. Nor is the Bittern 

 either lazy or stupid, as some may suppose. He is simply what we call a shady character — one 

 of those non-committal creatures whom we may invest, if we please, with various attributes, and 

 perhaps consider very deep, without sufficient reason — the fact being that we make the mystery 

 about him. There is nothing remarkable in the fact that he prefers his own company and 

 dislikes to be bored. He lives in the bog, where he finds plenty to eat that he likes best, and is 

 satisfied to be simply let alone. 



" When the Bittern is disturbed at his meditation, he gives a vigorous spring, croaks at the 

 moment in a manner highly expressive of his disgust, and flies off as fast as he can, though in 

 rather a loose, lumbering way. For some distance he flaps heavily with dangling legs and out- 

 stretched neck; but when settled on his course he proceeds more smoothly, with regularly 

 measured wing-beats, the head drawn in closely, and the legs stretched straight out behind 



