KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 247 
The immature bird has the head feathered and the plumage grayish on the head and some- 
times grayish white on the body. 
Length, 41; Wing, 18.50; Tarsus, 8.20; Bill, 9.20. 
Ranges throughout Southern United States, wandering occasionally as 
far north as Pennsylvania and New York, and southward to Cuba, Jamaica, 
and South America. This species is common in Florida, where it breeds. 
It builds a large rough nest of sticks, which is placed ina tree. The eggs 
are usually three; they are white, and covered with a chalky deposit. 
SuBoRDER HeEropil. 
Herons, Ecrets, BITTERNS, ETC. 
Famity ARDEID/. Herons, BITTERNS, ETC. 
Supramity BOTAURIN. BirtTerns. 
Genus BOTAURUS Hermann. 
Suscenus BOTAURUS. 
BOTAURUS LENTIGINOSUS (dZontag.). 
American Bittern. 
Upper parts brown; wing coverts edged and mottled with tawny and buff and washed with 
ashy; top of the head and nape slaty with black streak on sides of the upper neck; neck and 
