ARDE A STELLARIS 
BITTERN. 
Generic Character. aS'^^' Ardea Major, 
Synonyms. 
ArDEA STELLARIS. Liu. Sjfi, 239. 21. 
Bittern. Br, ZooL 2. 174. lb, foL jti. tah, j. 
Ind, Orn. 2. 680. 18. Lath.Syn. 
S' P* 57- ^7- f^pt^ p' 234. 
M?;//. Or^. D/^'. Vol, 1. BewkM^ 
Br, Birds^ Ft, 2. 57. 
y [ I N 
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 
