598 



FRECKLED BITTERN. 



light part ; the tertials correspond with the lower 

 order of scapulars, which have their margins ches- 

 nut, with small dusky lines and spots : the tail is 

 short, and in colour similar to the tertials : the 

 wings when closed do not reach to the end of the 

 tail : the legs are three inches and three quarters 

 in length, from the heel to the knee : the toes long 

 and slender ; the middle one, including the claw, 

 (which is three quarters of an inch in length, and 

 pectinated on the inner side,) is as long as the 

 leg : the claws are not much hooked, but the hind 

 one most so, and by far the longest ; their colour 

 dusky brown : the colour of the legs and bare 

 space above the knees, (which last is about an 

 inch,) appears to have been greenish." 



This bird was shot by Mr. Cunningham in Dor- 

 setshire, in the autumn of 1 804. It was observed 

 by him in the marshy meadows about one mile 

 from the river Froome, whilst in pursuit of Phea- 

 sants, and upon its rising from the ground it 

 uttered a loud noise, like the tap on a drum : its 

 flight was rather rapid. 



This has a great affinity to (if not the same as) 

 the American Bittern of Wilson, 



t 



