AMERICAN BITTERN, MARSH HEN, OR 

 STAKE DRIVER 



Upper parts brownish-buflf spotted with black and brown ; 

 black streak on either side of the neck ; thrdat white ; neck and 

 under parts buff streaked with brown; legs long and yellow. 

 Length, twenty-seven inches. 



Nest in a swamp or reedy marsh, on the ground, made 

 of coarse grasses and weeds. Eggs, three to five, brpwnish- 

 drab, 1.90 x 1.40 inches. 



The American Bittern winters in the Southern States and 

 comes north in April spreading over the Middle States and 

 Southern Canada. It is found wherever there are broad 

 marshes or swamps along the lakes and rivers. In these 

 places it is best able to obtain its food, which consists of crabs, 

 frogs, lizards, fish and snakes. Here it lives and rears its 

 young. In October it returns to the South- 



When in its haunts this bird may often be seen in one of 

 two striking attitudes. It may be standing on one foot in the 

 water among the sedges with its head resting upon its breast, 

 apparently asleep, or it may be alert with head and body erect 

 and both feet on the ground, yet so still as to seem lifeless. In 

 either case, however, it is fully awake and ready to fly in a 

 moment. Preferring to remain well concealed during the day- 

 time, it alights again after a short flight whenever disturbed. 



At the approach of night it comes out of its hiding place 

 to search for food. Then it may be seen several miles from 

 its haunts. Flying slowly over the water at such times with 

 its long legs dangling behind, it is a very a-iVkward bird. 



Another interesting characteristic of this bird is its habit 



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