596 



FRECKLED BITTERN* 

 (Botaurus lentiginosus.) 



Bo. suhcristatus mriegatus, supra fusco-purpureuSf sultus pallide 

 rujb-purpureus, coUo antice dilute Jlavo maculis longitudinalibus 

 spadiceis notate, guld alba, vertice Juscn. 



Slightly crested variegated Bittern, above of a purple-brown j 

 beneath pale reddish purple ; the fore-part of the neck dull 

 yellow, longitudinally spotted wdth chesnut the throat white > 

 the top of the head brown. 



Ardea lentiginosa. Mont. Orn, Diet, Sup. — Leach. Cat. Brit, 

 Mus. p. 33. 



Le Butor de la Baye d' Hud son. Buff. Ois. 7. 430. ? 

 American Bittern. Wills. Amer. Orn. 8. 35. Ixv.y. 3. > 



The Freckled Heron of Montagu, which is de- 

 posited in the British Museum, does not appear 

 to be referrible to any of the described species, 

 unless it be the young of some of the obscure 

 individuals included in this genus. I shall de- 

 scribe it in Montagu's own words. " The length 

 is about twenty-three inches : beak two inches 

 and three quarters long, to the feathers on the 

 forehead ; rather slender, and both mandibles 

 equally turned to form the point ; the upper part 

 of the superior mandible dusky ; sides and lower 

 mandible greenish yellow : the head is very small ; 

 the crown is chocolate^brown, shaded to a dull 

 yellow at the nape, where the feathers are much 

 elongated : the chin and throat white, with a row 

 of brown feathers down the middle : at the base of 



