The Argentine Little Bittern 279 



instead of being carried obliquely, were also pointing up. 

 There was not, from his feet to the tip of his beak, a per- 

 ceptible curve or inequality, but the whole was the figure, 

 the exact counterpart, of a straight tapering rush, the loose 

 plumage arranged to fill inequalities, and the wings pressed 

 into the hollow sides, making it impossible to see where the 



The Argentine Little Bittern {ArJctta inz'olu.-ru). 



body ended and the neck began, or to distinguish head 

 from neck or beak from head. This was, of course, a front 

 view ; and the entire under surface of the bird was thus 

 displayed, all of a uniform dull yellow, like that of a faded 

 rush. I regarded the bird wonderingh^ for some time ; but 

 not the least motion did it make. I thought it was wounded 

 or paralyzed with fear, and, placing my hand on the point of 



