THE AMERICAN BITTERN. 

 (Botaurus lentiginosus.) 



The American Bittern is a common 

 summer resident here. It makes its 

 nest in the high grass, in the marshes 

 and edges of ponds, where it is not often 

 disturbed. The nests are very hard to 

 find as they are well concealed and look 

 so much like their surroundings. The 

 bird too, is very tame and will not leave 

 its nest until nearly trodden upon. 



The nest is a pile of dry grass and 

 sedges, and is built on the ground or 

 fastened in a bunch of rushes over water. 



The eggs are three to rive in number. 

 They are of a dull, drab, color and meas- 

 ure 1.95x1.50. They are deposited 

 from the middle of May to the middle of 

 Juno. The earliest I have found a nest 

 was the eleventh of May. 



During the breeding season the bird 

 makes a peculiar gurgling, pumping 

 sound which gives it the name of "Thun- 

 der Pumper." Its most common name 

 is "Shitepoke". 



Its food consists principally of frogs 

 and snakes. It seems to be particularly 

 fond of the latter, and is often seen with 

 one hanging from its bill. 



The Bittern often falls a victim to the 

 sportsman on account of its habit of sit- 

 ting in the grass until nearly stepped on. 

 His rising at this time, generally brings 

 the hunter's gun to his shoulder and 

 rather than pull it down and swallow his 

 auger he pulls a trigger and there is on e 

 less of Botaurus lentiginosus. 



John V. Ckone, 

 Marathone, Iowa. 



I have seven Confederate Muster 

 and Pay rolls to exchange (singly 

 or lot) for best offer of eggs in sets 

 with data. J. W. P. Smithwick, 

 Sans Souci, N. C. 



The following are all hrst-class skins. ■ 

 Send stamp for list. 



Tufted Titmouse, 15 cents 



Chewink, 15 " 



Meadowlark, 20 " 



Purple Grackle, 25 u 



Red-headed Woodpecker, 25 " 



Spotted Sandpiper, 25 " 



American Woodcock, 75 " 

 Address, 



«§C. B. C0X,t§ 



Cherry Grove, - Ohio. 



MORRIS, - - ILLINOIS. 



— Dealer in — 

 Mazon Creek Fossils, Wholesale and 

 Retail. Sample by mail, 25 cents. Fine 

 specimen polished Mexican Rieolite, 

 something new, by mail, from 50 cents 

 to $2.00. Polished Brazilian Agates, 25c. 

 to $1.50. Trilobites, 25c. to 50c. Geodes, 

 10c. to $1.00. Arrow and Spear points, 5c. 

 to 50c. Celts and Aes, 40 cents to $1.00. 



BIRDS' EGGS! 



INDIAN RELICS, 

 Minerals, Fossils, 



Confederate Money and Curios. 

 ^S^List for stamp. ~^ 



F. M. Kiime, Knoxville, la. 



Chas. J^. WoPthen, 



"NATURALIST AMD TAXIDERMIST* 



Ami Dealer in 



Bird and Mammal Skins, 



WARSAW, ILLINOIS. 



Large stock of Native, and the hand- 

 somest of Tropical Bird Skins on hand. 

 Rare species a specialty. Enclose stamp 

 with inquiries. 



