286 BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND AND EASTERN NEW YORK 



In April and May, in the early morning, late afternoon, 

 and evening, the Bittern " pumps." Standing in the grass, 

 it utters at intervals a series of two or three notes, of a 

 curious guttural character, resemhling the syllables plum- 

 puddn' or unk'-a-chunk' , either wooden or liquid, accord- 

 ing to the nature of the country between the listener and 

 the bird. The notes sound either like the blows of a 

 mallet on a stake, or like the gurgling of a pump. The 

 Bittern may be cautiously approached when making these 

 sounds ; one can then see the curious movements with 

 which he evidently gulps in air, and hear the click of his 

 bill, which he opens and shuts rapidly before he begins the 

 final delivery of the notes. (See Torrey, " Auk," vol. vi. 

 p.l.) 



If seen in its erect position, the streaks of buff and 

 black on the neck, and the long yellow bill distinguish it. 

 If not startled, it hunches its back, and with bill point- 

 ing downward steals off with slow, cautious steps. When 

 flying, the expanse of brown wings, tipped with black, 

 identifies it. Immature Night Herons in the brown plumage 

 have been mistaken for Bitterns ; but the Bittern, so far as 

 I know, never lights in trees, whereas the Mght Heron 

 regularly does so. 



DUCKS, GEESE, SWANS: ORDER ANSBRES 



DUCKS, GEESE, SWANS : FAMILY ANATIDiB 

 Geese: Subfamily Anseriuse 



Two species of Goose occur in New York and New Eng- 

 land : one is the well-known Canada or Wild Goose, often 

 heard honking overhead, occasionally seen in inland ponds 

 or along the sea-coast ; the other, the Brant, occurs as a 

 migrant along the coast. 



