158 



HERONS, STORKS, AND IBISES 



tures. Standing erect, however, the Bittern is a bird with a 

 fair length of neck; but its neck seems much too large and 

 heavy for its body. 



Because of the peculiar sound it utters, the Bittern is 

 called the ''Stake-Driver," and "Thunder-Pumper." I never 



AMERICAN BITTERN. 



have heard thunder pumped, but with stake-driving am quite 

 familiar, and must say that I never heard a Bittern give forth 

 a cry that sounded like it. I think also that the "booming" 

 of the Bittern should be taken subject to inspection and ap- 

 proval; for to at least one tympanum there is a wide difference 



