BIRDS FOUND IN BAYOUS AND MARSHES 91 



may be most frequently heard. They are solitary birds, 

 each pair nesting alone. Their food consists largely of 

 frogs and small fish, which they obtain by still fishiug, 

 standing motionless for almost any length of time in 

 shallow water among rushes. 



The newly hatched Bitterns are particularly homely 

 nestlings, with their disproportionately long necks and 

 bills. They are fed by regurgitation for at least forty- 

 eight hours after hatching. The Bittern's attempts at 

 love-making and brooding are rendered pitifully grotesque 

 by the ungainly body of the bird and his queer contor- 

 tions. Even in flight he is slovenly and loose-jointed, as 

 if his legs were likely to be shaken off from the efforts 

 his wings are making. In fishing he sits motionless 

 for hours with head drawn back to the shoulders, the 

 very picture of discomfort. In fact, under no circum- 

 stances does he seem joyous or even moderately happy. 



191. LEAST BITTERN. — Ixobrychus exilis. 



Family : The Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns. 



Length: 13.00. 



Adult Male : Top of head, back, rump, and tail glossy blank ; sides of 

 bead and neck light buff, deepening to chestnut on nape ; throat and 

 fore-neck white, striped with pale straw-color. Under parts pale buff ; 

 a dark patch on either side of the breast.- 



Adult Female: Similar, with brown in place of black on upper parts. 



Young : Similar to adult female, but coloring more buffy on upper parts. 



Geographical Distribution : Temperate North America, north to the 

 British provinces, south to the West Indies and Brazil ; less common 

 west of the Rocky Mountains. On the Pacific coast north to Oregon. 



Breeding Range : Breeds locally wherever found. 



Breeding Season : May to August. 



