ARDEIDzE — THE HERONS — BOTAURUS. 
69 
grayish, and in some even almost obsolete. I cannot determine, however, that this difference is 
sexual or seasonal, or dependent on locality ; it is probably simply an individual variation. 
The Common Bittern of North America has a very extended distribution, and one 
almost co-extensive with the northern continent itself. It is found from Texas to 
the Arctic regions, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and breeds wherever it is 
found. It is generally, but not universally, distributed, and does not occur in regions 
unsuited for its residence. 
Hearne, in his “Journey to the Northern Ocean,” speaks of this bird as being 
common at Fort York (Hudson’s Bay) in summer, but as being seldom met with so 
far north as Churchill River. It is always found frequenting marshes and swampy 
places, as also the banks of such rivers as abound with reeds and long grass. It 
generally feeds on the insects that are bred in the water, and probably on small frogs 
and tadpoles ; and though seldom very fat, is generally considered good eating. It is 
by no means numerous, even at Fort York, nor, in fact, even in the most southern parts 
of the Bay that Hearne visited. Richardson speaks of it as a common bird in the 
marshes and willow thickets of the interior of the Fur Country as far north as the 
58th parallel. Its loud booming note is said exactly to resemble that of the Common 
Bittern of Europe ; this may be heard every summer evening, and also frequently in 
the day. When disturbed or alarmed, it utters a hollow croaking cry. Captain 
Blakiston did not meet with it on the plains of the Saskatchewan, although he was 
told that it was not uncommon in the interior. Mr. Mossay met with it on the coast 
of Hudson’s Bay ; and Mr. Ross cites its range on the Mackenzie River as extending 
even to the Arctic Ocean, where its presence must be very rare. , 
Mr. Boardman informs us that this bird is quite common in the vicinity of 
Calais, where it breeds abundantly. It is usually found on high, or rather on dry, 
ground, where it makes only a very slight nest. The young birds hide in the long 
grass ; and it is not an uncommon occurrence for mowers when at work to take off 
their heads. Mr. W. E. Endicott writes to the “Naturalist” (I. p. 325) that the 
statement that this bird builds in bushes, in the manner of Herons, is not in 
accordance with his experience. He has never met with its nest, either on low trees 
or in bushes. So far as he knows, it does not make any nest at all ; but all the eggs 
that he has ever found have been laid on the bare ground among thick tufts of 
dwarf laurel on the Fowl-meadows that skirt the upper parts of the Neponset River. 
He has never found this bird in communities, and has never been able to discover 
more than a single nest in a field of ten acres, though he has searched diligently. 
That the Bittern, when it nests on the uplands, or on ground constantly dry and 
secure from inundations, may have, as mentioned by Mr. Boardman, a very scanty 
nest, or even no nest at all, as was observed by Mr. Endicott, is probable ; but it is 
not universally true. The Bittern in the West builds almost universally a substantial, 
and sometimes considerably elevated nest, always on the ground; but the portion 
on which the eggs are laid is considerably above the level of the ground. This is 
undoubtedly due to the fact that it is forced to nest in places either naturally swampy, 
or which in rainy seasons are liable to be flooded to the depth of several inches. Ex- 
perience has doubtless taught the bird that the bare earth, or even a scanty supply of 
dry rubbish, is not enough in such localities ; and thus we find it breeding in the 
marshes of Lake Koskonong, in the open ground, never among trees or in bushes, 
and always keeping its eggs as dry as the Least Bittern ; the nest, or, more properly 
speaking, the upper part of the mound on which the eggs are laid, being always dry. 
It is not at all gregarious in the breeding season. 
