CHAPTER VII. 



rriHOUGH the American Bittern (jBotaurus lentiginosus) 

 -^ very much resembles the European bird in habit, 

 and makes the same booming noise, it is of a dif- 

 ferent species. The plumage is a brownish yellow, 

 mottled with two other shades of brown, and the throat 

 is white, while each side of the neck has a broad stripe 

 of black. The feathers on the front of the neck and 

 breast are very long, and hang loosely, the latter, as 

 well as those of the under parts, are of a buff colour. 

 The top of the head, part of the wing, and the tail are 

 a reddish cinnamon colour, the feathers of the latter 

 being very small. The bill is a dull yellow, and the 

 legs are greenish brown. The female is similar in 

 plumage to the male, and the young are a little paler. 



It is common to all latitudes of North America and 

 extends through the whole of Canada, being especially 

 abundant in the swampy country through which Baptiste 

 Creek runs. The nest is invariably made in solitary 

 swampy spots, and the eggs, of which the number appears 



