BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 17 



lines, approximating to a point thus, > : in both cases the van is led 

 by an old gander, who, every now and then, pipes his well known 

 konk, as if to ask how they come on ; and the honk of 4 Alps well ' is 

 generally returned by some of the party. Their course is in a straight 

 line, with the exception of the undulations of their flight. When be- 

 wildered in foggy weather, they appear sometimes to be in great dis- 

 tress, flying about in an irregular manner, and for a considerable time 

 over the same quarter, making a great clamor. On these occasions, 

 should they approach the earth and alight which they sometimes do 

 to rest and recollect themselves the only hospitality they meet with 

 is death and destruction from a whole neighborhood already in arms 

 for their ruin." 



The food of this species consists chiefly of vegetable materials, such 

 as cereals, the seeds, roots and other portions of plants. 



ORDER HERODIONES. HERONS, ETC. 



SUBORDER HERODIL HERONS, EGRETS, BITTERNS. 



FAMILY ARDEID.5S. HERONS, BITTERNS. 



SUBFAMILY BOTAURIK3J. BITTERNS. 



GENUS BOTAURTJS. HERMANN. 



190. Botaurus lentiginosus (MONTAG). 



American Bittern. 



DESCRIPTION. {Plate 5.) 



Brownish-yellow, finely mottled and varied with dark-brown and brownish-red ; 

 a broad black stripe on each side the neck, starting behind the ear ; iris yellow. 

 Length, 26.50 inches; wing, 11 ; tarsus, 3.60; bill, above, 2.75 inches. 

 Hab. Temperate North America, south to Guatemala and the West Indies. 



The Bittern or Green-legged Crane, as this species is locally de- 

 nominated, is readily distinguished from other birds of the family by 

 its brownish-yellow plumage, greenish-colored legs and large size. 

 Although this bird is given by certain writers as a summer resident 

 in eastern Pennsylvania, I have observed it as a spring and fall mi- 

 grant, moderately abundant. In this locality these birds are never 

 found in flocks ; commonly only solitary individuals are seen frequent- 

 ing chiefly the thick swampy districts about meadows and rivers. 

 During the daylight Bitterns conceal themselves in the long grasses, 

 weeds, bushes, etc., growing about swamps. They migrate and feed 

 during the night. 

 2 BIRDS. 



