BIRDS OF THE SALT MAESHES 



spicuously on each side of the breast while 

 the gallant cock-bird struts before the hen. 



Another interesting trait possessed by the 

 bittern is its power of concealment. This is 

 due partly to the streaked brown and pale 

 buff plumage which matches admirably the 

 dead tufts of grass, but chiefly to the motion- 

 less and un-bird-like posture, with upward 

 pointing bill, assumed by the bird. It is some- 

 times almost impossible to point out a bird 

 in this position that one has been fortunate 

 enough to see, to another who has not seen it, 

 so perfect is the protection afforded by the 

 colors and the posture. I once started a bit- 

 tern from the black-grass region of the marsh 

 on a June day, and soon after realized that 

 four objects that I had supposed were the 

 stakes of a dilapidated gunner's blind were, 

 in reality, the outstretched necks of four 

 young bitterns. When closely approached 

 they abandoned this method of deception, 

 snapped their bills loudly in anger, erected 

 the feathers of their necks, spread their fee- 

 ble pin-feathered wings and, emitting faint 

 hissing snarls, sprang defiantly at me. Their 

 deserted nest was near at hand, a thin, flat 

 platform of dry grasses. The assumption of 



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