THE STORK FAMILY 159 



between a real "boom" and the alleged "boom" of the 

 Bittern. 



This bird inhabits sloughs and marshes of tall, rank grass, 

 in which it hides most successfully by standing very erect, and 

 pointing its beak toward the zenith. It feeds chiefly upon 

 frogs, small snakes, lizards and crawfish. 



The Least Bittern ^ is the smallest member of the Heron 

 Order — a queer little brownish-yellow and black creature, 

 duly mottled of course, with a sparrow-like body, and a wide, 

 flat neck several sizes too large for the body of the bird. On 

 the whole, it is a pretty little creature, associated by habit 

 with the long-billed marsh wren, the rail, and the red-winged 

 blackbird. 



THE STORK FAMILY 



Ciconiidae 



The real Storks are found only in the Old World; but the 

 Wood Ibis^ is a member of the Stork Family, and he looks it. 

 He is a big, burly, bald-headed, good-natured bird, standing 

 31 inches high. No matter what goes on around him, he is 

 as solemn as an owl. Although large enough to do much 

 damage to birds smaller than himself, he associates with her- 

 ons, ducks, geese and ibises of all sizes, without the slight- 

 est desire to harm any of them, or even to rule them. In a 

 large bird, capable of much mischief, such perpetual good 

 temper is worthy of note. 



When this bird is adult and clean, its plumage is pure white, 

 and it is a noteworthy member of any feathered community. 



1 Ar-det'ta ex-i'lis. Length, 13 inches. 



2 Tan'ta-lus loc-u-la'tor. Average length, 38 inches. 



