BITTERN. 159 



most of the feathers of the upper parts are stained with rust- 

 colour, strongest on the outer webs of the primaries. The 

 beak is yellow horn-colour ; the orbits and lore greenish ; 

 the iris yellow ; the legs grass green, the claws horn-colour. 

 The male and female are much alike : the young nestlings 

 are at first covered with an orange yellow down. 

 The egg figured 168 is that of the Bittern. 



