Concord, Mass.
1910.
April 18
(No 6)
[April 18, 1910]

Bitterns

black) for in this aspect and at the distance
at which we viewed him (perhaps 200 yards) the
broad ruffs, rising above and reaching well out on both 
sides of the back and shoulders completely masked
everything at their rear while the head and the
shortened neck were carried so low that they were
seen against the breast and have added nothing
to visable area of dark plumage. When he was
moving away from us in the same crouching
attitude the ruffs looked exactly like two
white wings nearly as broad as those of a domestic
pigeon - but less long - attached to either side of
his back just above the shoulders. When we
had a side view of him the outline of the
ruffs was completely lost but there seemed
to be a band of white as broad as ones hand