AMERICAN BITTERN. 509 



that the eggs are laid on the bare ground, on a tuft of grass, or at the foot 

 of a bush. The eggs of this bird are similar in colour to those of the 

 Common Bittern, being greyish buflF, sometimes with an olive or a brownish 

 tinge. They are from three to five in number, and vary from 2"1 to 1-9 

 inch in length, and from 1-65 to 1'4 inch in breadth. It is impossible 

 to distinguish with certainty between the eggs of this bird and those of 

 the European Bittern ; the latter may on an average be a little paler and 

 a trifle larger ; but of course the locality, if it can be relied upon, is quite 

 sufficient for identification. It is difficult to believe that the habits of the 

 two species are not equally similar. It is in the highest degree improbable 

 that the American Bittern is a gregarious bird, except during the period of 

 its migrations ; nor is it likely that it ever breeds in colonies or makes its 

 nest in trees, or lays its eggs upon the ground without making any nest. 



The American Bittern bears considerable superficial resemblance to the 

 Common Bittern, but differs from it in being a much smaller bird, with 

 a longer and more slender bill ; the vermiculations on the plumage are 

 much finer, the quills are uniform instead of barred, and the top of the 

 head is brown instead of black ; the gorget also is not so large. The 

 female resembles the male very closely in colour, but is somewhat smaller. 



