ARDE A STELLARIS. 



BITTERN, 



Generic Character. See Ardea Major. 



Synonyms. 



Ardea stellaris. Lin. Syft. 1. p. 239. 21. 



Bittern. Br. Zool. 2. 174. Ib. fol. 711. tab. A. 1. 



Ind. Orn. 2. 680. 18. Lath. Syn, 

 5. p. 57. 17. lb. fupt. p. 234. 

 A/o/tf. Or#. D/#. W. 1. Bewicks 

 Br. Birds, Pt. 2. 57. 



T H E Bittern is in length about thirty inches, in breadth 

 nearly four feet, and it weighs from two pounds twelve 

 ounces to three pounds. Bill flattened on the fides the whole 

 length, it is very ftrong and fharp, the upper mandible curves 

 towards the point ; gape extending beyond the eyes ; irides 

 yellow ; " feathers on the hind-head, neck, and breaft, long 

 and loofe tail fhort, compofed of twelve feathers ; legs 

 and claws very ftrong, the hind claw being nearly two inches 

 long, the centre one is ferrated three fourths of its length on 

 the inner fide. 



The female is fomewhat lefs, and the colours are not fo 

 bright, neither are the feathers on the neck and breaft fo long 

 or loofe as in the male. 



The 



