29;-) 



" We might expect to find in the wind-pipe some peculiarity to account for such vocal 

 efforts. In such instances as those of the Trumpeter Swan and Whooping Crane the remarkable 

 notes emitted depend evidently upon the peculiarly convoluted structure of the trachea. But 

 ordinarily, little connexion can be traced between quality of voice and tracheal structure. The 

 curious cartilaginous or osseous bulbs at the lower larynx of most Ducks seem to have no 

 influence on the voice. Who would suspect the marvellous musical ability of a Mocking Bird 

 from comparison of its vocal organ with that of a Crow, for instance ? a bird which, anatomically 

 considered, is truly oscine, for all that its croak is so harsh. The conformation of the Bittern's 

 windpipe is not remarkable, according to descriptions ; there is no dilatation into a membranous 

 or gristly tympanum, nor any convolution ; nor is the muscular arrangement remarkable. The 

 calibre of the tube is perhaps greater, proportionally, than is usual in Herons, with laterally 

 compressed walls, narrow rings, and wide spaces ; but, for all that we can discover by examination 

 of the organs, the voice of the Bittern is likely to remain its own secret." 



The nest of the Bittern is placed on the ground, on a tuft of grass, or under a bush in a 

 swampy locality. Mr. Samuels says that it breeds in communities ; but Mr. Endicott doubts 

 this, and says, (according to his experience) " one pair of Bitterns to a bog seems to be the 

 rule. In a place where I have found them there is retired feeding-ground for a thousand — dense 

 cedar swamps extensive enough for as many nests if they only chose to congregate like their 

 sociable cousins the Herons ; and yet two by two they live, their next neighbours nobody knows 

 how far away — not in the same swamp at any rate ; and on the ground, the bare ground, they 

 lay their four or five eggs, among low laurel, tufts of grass, or, as in the case of the first nest I 

 ever found, at the foot of a swamp-huckleberry." Judging from my own experience, I certainly 

 can indorse this statement of Mr. Endicott; and the lumbermen amongst whom I spent two 

 seasons in New Brunswick, several of whom I found to be tolerably accurate observers, all 

 assured me that this Bittern does not breed in communities, but singly. 



Eggs of the American Bittern in my collection, from New Brunswick and Maine, closely 

 assimilate with those of Botaurus stellaris in shape and coloration, but are smaller in size, 

 averaging only about 2-/ - by 1\§ inch. 



Dr. Coues (I. c.) is inclined to adopt a name hitherto unknown for the present species, viz. 

 that given by Bartram in 1791 ; but I cannot at all agree in the propriety of discarding an old 

 and well-known name in favour of one which is, to say the least of it, doubtful. Bartram gives 

 merely a list of the birds met with in his travels, and at p. 293 (no. 138) he includes Artlea 

 mugitans, calling it also " Bitern or Indian Hen," but giving no description whatever. Under 

 these circumstances I prefer to use Montagu's name lentiginoses ; for this author gives both a 

 good description and a plate. 



The specimen figured is the one above described, and was shot by myself at Musquash, 

 New Brunswick. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mils. H. E. Dresser. 



a, 6 ad. Mace's Bay, New Brunswick, April 16th, 1862 (H. E. D.). b, 6 ■ Bullen Marsh, Musquash, N. B., 

 April 18th, 1862 (H. E. D.). c. Calais, Maine, U. S., 1863 (G. A. Boardman). 



In 



