68 BIRD STUDIES WITH A CAMERA 
wounded Least Bittern (Ardetta involucris, a near 
relative of our bird) in the marshes of La Plata, 
where a bird at his feet, in the same position as the 
one before me, was discovered only after careful 
search, and which, to the naturalist’s amazement, 
slowly revolved as he walked around it, with the 
presumable object 
of keeping its pro- 
tectively colored 
breast turned 
toward him. 
My bird, how- 
ever, Was among 
fresh reeds, and 
while one can not 
doubt the effec- 
tiveness of its at- 
titude and color, 
when seen among 
dead reeds or 
grasses, neither 
were of value 
among its green 
34. Least Bittern on nest mimicking its sur- surroundings. 
eee With the light 
on the wrong side and the reeds swaying violently 
in the wind, we essayed to picture the bird, and the 
best of several attempts made under these adverse 
conditions are here given. 
Covering my hand with my cap I held it toward 
her, when, convinced that her little trick had failed, 
she adopted new tactics, and struck at me with force 
and rapidity, which made me thankful that my hand 
