236 GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



afford the best trap shooting, being strong and swift of wing. This 

 is the only use made of them aUve, although attempts have been 

 made in domesticating and cross-breeding, but with, as we believe, 

 no success. The great mass of Passenger Pigeons breed in com- 

 panies, twenty to thirty nests being found on one tree ; when the 

 squabs are about to leave the nest they make a delicious table oird. 

 Scattered pairs are found breeding in our Eastern and Middle sec- 

 tions. Several other species -of pigeons are found in the United 

 States, but this is the only species which is systematically pursued. 



Botaurus minor, — Bon. Bittern. Indian Hen. Stake-driver. Bog-bull. 



The Bittern is very nearly, if not quite, a game bird. Its flesh 

 is very fair eating, it gives out a strong scent, and often lies well 

 to a dog. Frank Forrester included it among the list of his game 

 birds, and what higher authority can we have than his. We have 

 shot many of these birds when traversing boggy meadows in search 

 of snipe, and have seen a very young and unbroken dog stand on 

 them with the utmost staunchness. They fly slowly and are se- 

 • cured without difficulty by the most ordinary shot. Many are 

 killed during the Rail shooting, being started from their reedy 

 feeding grounds by the sportsman's boat. 



The Bittern is above of a dull brown color streaked and 

 speckled with tawny buff and whitish, neck white becoming pale 

 yellow on breast and belly, each feather with a streak of brown. 

 Chin and throat line white ; a glossy black patch on each side of 

 the neck. Bill dark at tip, yellow at base, legs greenish. Length 

 about twenty-five inches. The Bittern nests on the ground and 

 not in communities as do most herons. Its eggs are four or five 

 in number, in color brownish-drab with a shade of grey. 



Grus amerzcaTuz. —Temm. White Crane. Whooping Crane. 



The Whooping Crane is a bird of the interior, being rarely 

 found on our Eastern seaboard, and never north of the Middle 

 States. It is most abundant in the Mississippi Valley and on the 

 high plains toward the Rocky Mountains. 



Birds of this genus have the g'eneral aspect of the herons, 

 though in fact more nearly related to the rails. Aduhs of our 

 two species may be distinguished from any of the birds of North 



