BITTERNS 37 



on horseback, with Falcons attached to the wrists of 

 attendants, and when a Heron was sighted flying high 

 in the air the Falcons were released. The Heron 

 would double and twist in every direction, in order to 

 avoid the terrible claws of the pursuing Falcon, and 

 often gave a good account of itself, but was usually no 

 match for its more active adversary. 



From the Herons we pass to the Bitterns. This 

 bird is remarkable for the wonderful way in which its 

 plumage harmonises with its surroundings, and, as if 

 aware of this, the Bittern seeks safety in moments of 

 danger, not by flight, but by sitting close, with up- 

 stretched neck and beak, among the reeds. When in 

 this attitude, with the bill pointing skywards, the eyes, 

 curiously enough, may be directed forward over its 

 base and toward the observer. The American Bit- 

 tern is similar to the Common European Bittern. 

 Like the Herons, it is a bird that delights in desolate 

 places, in secluded swamps and marshes, from which 

 the curious booming noise it makes is heard at fre- 

 quent intervals during the evening hours. See Plate 

 33, Fig. 194. 



An unusual feature about the Bittern is the wide 

 fringe of long feathers which runs along the throat, 

 and which, when extended, gives the neck a very wide 

 appearance. When depressed, these feathers meet at 

 the back of the neck, which is clothed only in short 

 down. 



In both Herons and Bitterns the middle claw bears 

 along its inner edge a comb-like fringe, while on the 

 breast and thighs are patches of the remarkable feath- 

 ers known as powder-down. These feathers break up 



