( 5$ ) 



O R D. I. G E N. II. HERO N. 



SPE. IV. BITTERN. 



PI. i47- 



Ardea Stellaris. Lin. Syft. I. p. 239. 

 Le Butor, Brif. Orn. V. p. 444. 



This bird is fomewhat lefs than the heron, in length two feet and half, and 

 weighs twenty-four ounces. The bill is greenifh, and the mouth opens very 

 wide : the eyes are yellow : the crown of the head is black, and the feathers on 

 the hind part form a fort of pendent creft : at each corner of the mouth is a 

 black fpot : the plumage is beautifully variegated with rufty yellow, marked 

 with ftreaks and zigzag lines of black, interfperfed with bars of the fame: the 

 feathers of the neck are long, loofe, and waving : the legs are pale green : the 

 middle claw is finely ferrated ; the hind claw, remarkably long. 



The female is fmaller than the male, lefs brilliant in colour, and the feathers 

 on the head not fo long and loofe. 



The bittern is an inhabitant of our marines, out of which it is rarely feen. 

 It has two kinds of notes ; the one croaking when it is disturbed ; the other 

 loud and difagreeable, not altogether unlike the bellowing of a bull, but louder 

 and more hollow. Its food is chiefly frogs, mice, and reptiles : it likewife eats 

 fiih. Some reckon the flefh very good meat. It makes its neft in places 

 where reeds and rufhes grow ; and lays, on a bed of rufhes, four or five eggs, 

 ©fa greenifh afh-colour; for which fee PI, XXXIV. Fig. 1. 



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