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ANA wor: AME XLI. ws gen ree E pr ua M 
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BITTERNS. 179 
words can express the extreme delicacy and downy softness 
of some of the body feathers, particularly those of the lower 
part of the breast, one of which now before me measures 
3% inches in length, and 37% in breadth. Our species, like 
the European, has a black-lead colored patch on the sides of 
its neck, the feathers of which are very unlike common ones, 
being little more than shafts with parallel hairs arranged 
along their sides. 
I have given no close descriptions of the various species, 
because, though such may serve to identify a bird in the 
hand, they seldom give any vivid idea of an unseen one in 
the bush. As to size I may remark that B. Braziliensis 
is the largest species, and Zebrilus undulatus the smallest, 
standing less than half as high as our bird. 
here is a series of small waders found, one or more spe- 
cies in every country, called "small bittern," “ least bittern," 
etc., which I leave out, because I believe they are much 
nearer the herons, for the following reasons: The bitterns 
are all thickly mottled; the herons are colored in spaces of 
clear color,— so are most of the “little bitterns.” The char- 
acteristic color of the bitterns is brown of different shades; 
of the herons, different shades of ash,—as is the case with 
most of the “little bitterns.” The bittern’s feathers stand 
out so that the bird, particularly about the neck, looks thick 
and even clumsy; the heron’s feathers are so arranged as to 
give an elegant look to the wearer of them,—so are the “little 
bittern’s.” The bittern's egg is of the color I have said; the 
heron’s is of a clear, light green,—so is the "little bittern's." 
In fact the night-herons b a much greater resemblance to 
the bitterns than do the small series we have been speaking 
In conclusion, I would say that I have endeavored to — 
make this article correct throughout, but that it is very likely 
that it has its errors and omissions. I shall be glad to have 
the former corrected, and the latter supplied. 
