The American Bittern. 35 



The female is similar to the male, and so are the young, though more reddish, 

 and with coarser freckling. 



The American Bittern has a very wide distribution in North America, 

 inhabiting every suitable locality on the Continent, as far south as Guatemala, 

 and extending also into the Indian Islands. In winter, however, it migrates to still 

 more southern latitudes ; and in summer it finds its way into Alaska and Greenland, 

 and even to the shores of the Arctic Ocean. 



The localities which this species affects are river banks, marshes, and swamps, 

 where there are dense willow brakes, or abundance of reeds and long grass. It 

 builds on the ground, in similar situations to those selected by its European 

 congener, the nest consisting generally of a substantial heap of grass or decayed 

 rubbish. It is, however, often quite scanty, and frequently there is none at all. 

 It may build also occasionally on low trees. Its eggs, which number from four 

 to seven, are so similar to thdse of Botaurus stellaris that they could not, if mixed 

 together, be separated out by the most expert oologist with certainty. 



The American Bittern is not gregarious, nor does it associate either with its 

 own kind or other species of Ardeidce. It keeps closely to the covert of the reeds 

 or brakes, rarely exposing itself during the day, except it be suddenly intruded 

 upon, when it takes wing with an abrupt hoarse croak, dropping as soon as possible 

 again into their friendly protection. It feeds during the day, generally in its 

 concealment ; but coming out more into the open in the evening, although not 

 truly a nocturnal bird. 



The food of the American Bittern consists of small fishes, insects, mice, and 

 all small aquatic creatures. Its flesh is considered excellent, and the bird is 

 hunted for the market. " On ordinary occasions," Dr. Baird says, " it is a difficult 

 bird to flush. The instant it becomes aware that it has attracted the attention of 

 the fowler, it covers its head, runs quickly through the grass, and when again 

 seen, is usually in a different direction from that taken by its pursuer, whose 

 movements it closely watches. When thus pursued it seldom exposes more than 

 its head. When wounded it makes a vigorous resistance, erects the feathers on its 

 head and neck, and extends its wings, opens its bill, and puts on a fierce expression. 

 It will attack a dog, or even its master; and when defending itself, directs its 

 sharp bill at the assailant's eye." 



The call of the American Bittern differs considerably from the " booming " of 

 its European relative. It is a curious note, often described as a hoarse croaking, 

 as if " the bird's throat were filled with water " ; others hear it as a resonant cry, 

 from which its name of " Bog-bull " is doubtless derived ; others again describe it 

 as a " dunk-a-dunk " sound, heard chiefly during the mating season, from which 



