158 ARDEID.E. 



often in a slow and lengthened strain, and has a very unplea- 

 sant sound. When the Bittern flies it utters the harsh 

 croaking call of craw, craw, but only during the night. 



It is a fruitless attempt to tame a Bittern, whether cap- 

 tured old or young; although, with great care, a bird obtained 

 young may live for a few years in confinement. 



The Bittern feeds in a natural state principally on fish, 

 frogs, beetles, mice, and young water-fowl, and also on small 

 birds that come within its reach. Among other prey the Bit- 

 tern consumes numbers of leeches, snakes, and worms. 



The Bittern breeds among the rushes and deposits from 

 three to five eggs in a nest that is placed upon dry rushes 

 a little above the ground, or above the surface of the water. 

 The female only attends to the incubation, while the male 

 waits upon her and carries her food, and regales her with 

 his awkward notes. The young brood do not require the 

 aid of the parents long, and, as soon as they are able to take 

 care of themselves, the parent birds leave the spot where the 

 young were hatched, and the young disappear soon after, and 

 each bird takes apparently its own road, most probably south- 

 ward. 



The Bittern measures about thirty inches in length ; the 

 wing, from the carpus to the tip, about thirteen inches and 

 three-quarters ; the tail nearly five inches ; the beak mea- 

 sures three inches from the forehead to the tip. The legs 

 are thick and short in proportion, the toes very pliable ; the 

 tarsi four inches long ; the middle toe four inches and three- 

 quarters, including the long claw. 



The colouring of the feathers is as follows : — Top of the head 

 black, with green reflections ; the entire plumage ochre and 

 sienna yellow, with the exception of the chin, which is white. 

 The feathers of the head, neck, back, rump, and tail are 

 most beautifully pencilled with black ; the sides of the neck 

 and under parts spotted with the same colour ; the centres of 



