[Concord, Massachusetts]
1912.
May 5
(No 3)
[May 5, 1912]

Bittern dealing with small Horned Pout.

she finally dealt with it. After carrying it a distance of
perhaps twenty yards over watery or very boggy ground she came
to a stretch of firm dry turf and stopped there. Placing
it on the ground she struck downward at it with her bill
dozens of times not excitedly or even vigorously but in a
curiously cool and deliberate way, making only one or two
thrusts each minute and pausing after them as if to watch
the effect. Probably this was done for the purpose of killing
the Pout but as far as we could see it did not once show
any signs of life. After a few minutes spent in this way
the Bittern began to lift the fish well above the ground
and to shake it violently always holding it by the head.
We now saw that its whitish throat was bloody and
somewhat lacerated. After one or two shakes the Bittern
would stab it again & again as it lay on the
ground, always, however, deliberately and in what