508 BRITISH BIRDS. 



shot on the wing—easily hit, and dropping at a touch even of fine shot. 

 When wingedj he croaks painfully as he drops, and no sooner does he 

 touch the ground than he gathers himself in defensive attitude to resent 

 aggression as best he can. 



" The food of this bird consists of various kinds of small aquatic animals. 

 In its stomach may be found different molluscs, crawfish, frogs, lizards, 

 small snakes, and fishes, as well as insects. Such prey is captured with 

 great address by spearing, as the bird walks or wades stealthily along. 

 The thrust of the bill is marvellously quick and skilful — more action 

 is displayed on such occasions than probably under any other circum- 

 stance." 



Audubon writes * : — " Although in a particular place, apparently favour- 

 able, some dozens of these birds may be found to-day, yet, perhaps, on 

 visiting it to-morrow, you will not find one remaining ; and districts 

 resorted to one season or year, will be found deserted by them the next. 

 That they migrate by night, I have always felt assured ; but that they are 

 altogether nocturnal is rather uncertain, for in more than half a dozen 

 instances I have surprised them in the act of procuring food in the middle 

 of the day, when the sun was shining brightly. That they are extremely 

 timid I well know, for on several occasions, when I have suddenly come 

 upon them, they have stood still from mere terror until I have knocked 

 them down with an oar or a stick." 



The notes of this Bittern must be very similar to those of the European 

 species. Its love-note Nuttall compares to the syllables 'pump-au-gah, 

 whilst Dr. Coues adopts Mr. Samuels's rendering of chunk-a-lunk-chunk, 

 quank-chunk-a-lunk-chunk, as best expressing its singular cry. He also 

 states that in addition to this note its ordinary cry is something like the 

 syllable quark or hauk, uttered in a rough, guttural tone; this note is 

 uttered when the bird is disturbed in its marshy haunts. The American 

 Bittern is said to be a comparatively silent bird, and as it keeps very close, 

 may often be passed by unnoticed. The first intimation of its presence 

 is usually its startling cry, and the next moment the bird itself sails 

 hurriedly above the reeds, to drop down again in a more secluded spot. 



Although the American Bittern appears to be such a common bird, but 

 little seems to be known of its nesting-habits, and considerable diversity of 

 opinion is expressed concerning them. Some writers, as for instance 

 Mr. Samuels, affirm that it breeds in colonies, a dozen pairs often nesting 

 within a small area. The observations of other ornithologists show that 

 this species is solitary, and that each pair resides in their own part of the 

 swamp. Neither do ornithologists agree respecting the position and 

 materials of the nest. Some observers say it is built in trees and low 

 bushes, and made of coarse grasses, twigs, and leaves ; whilst others assert 



* Om._Biogr. iy. p. 296. 



