Concord, Mass.
1910.
April 17
(No 4)
[April 17, 1910]

edge of our boat canal directly opposite, I secured
my opera glass and by its aid quickly convinced
myself that despite their unusual motions and
the conspicuous white on their backs they could be
nothing other than Bitterns.
Bitterns
with white
plumage
  I was now joined by Miss E. R. Simmons
Miss Alice Eastwood (the California botanist) and
my assistant Mr. R. A. Gilbert, all of whom became
at once deeply interested in the birds which were
now standing erect by the canal about twenty
yards apart. Suddenly both rose and flew
straight at one another, meeting in the air at
a height of eight or ten feet above the marsh.
It was difficult to see just what happened at
this precise instant but we all agreed that
the birds came together with the full force of 

Bitterns fighting