36 
BITTERN. 
23. Guttur, the throat. 
24. Gula, the gullet. 
25. JuGULUM, the lower throat. 
26 . Pectus, the breast. 
27 . Epigastrum, the stomach. 
28. Abdomen. 
29 . Hypochondria, the sides of the abdo- 
men. 
30. Venter, the belly. 
31. Crissum, the vent. 
32. Dorsum, the back. 
33. Interscapulum, space between the 
shoulders. 
34. Tergum, the middle of the back. 
35. Uropygium, the rump. 
36. Humeri, the shoulders. 
37 . Flexura, the bend of the wing. 
38. Axilla, the arm-pit. 
39 . Ala, the wing. 
40. Tectrices, the wing coverts. 
41. Tectrices majores, the largest wing 
coverts. 
BITTERN {Ardea stellaris^ Linnjeus.) 
Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 646. — Raii, Syn. p. 100. A, 11. — Will, p. 207. t. 50. 52. — Le 
Butor, p. 411.— Temm. 2. p. 580.— Bittern, Br. Zool. 2. No. 174.— 
Ib. fol. 711. t A. 1. — lTi/L(Angl.) p. 282. — Albin, 1. 1. 68. — Haye's Br. Birds, 
t. 19. — Lath. Syn. 5. p. 56. 17 Ib. Sup. p. 234 Gen. Hist. 9. 97.^ — Ind. 
Orn. 2. p. 680. 18. — Lewin, Br. Birds, 4. t. 146 — Wale. Syn. 2. t. 127. — Pult. 
Cat. Dorset, p. 14 F/em. Br. Anim. p. 95. — Botaurus, Briss. 5. p. 444. 24. t. 37. 
f. 1.— 16. 8vo. 2. p. 327. 
Provincial. — Bittour. Bumpy Coss. Butter Bump. Miredrum, 
Bog Bumper. Bumpie. Bog Bluiter. 
This species is rather less than the common heron ; length about 
two feet and a half. 
The bill is four inches long, of a brown horn colour above ; the lower 
mandible, and base of the upper, greenish ; irides yellow. The feathers 
on the top of the head are black ; those on the hind head, neck, and 
breast, are long and loose ; the plumage, in general, is of a dull pale 
yellow, elegantly variegated with spots, and bars of black ; the greater 
coverts and quill-feathers ferruginous, regularly barred with black ; tail 
short ; legs pale green ; toes and claws very long and slender ; the 
middle claw serrated on the inner edge. The female is rather less, the 
plumage not so bright, and the feathers on the neck not so long and 
flowing in the male. 
The Bittern is by no means a plentiful species. * Latham and Tem- 
minck say it is very common ; and Fleming that it is daily becoming 
more scarce.* In the breeding season it is only found in the less- 
frequented reedy marshes, and swampy moors well clothed with rushes, 
42. Tectrices minores, the smallest wing 
coverts. 
43. Tectrices medi.®, the middle wing 
coverts. 
44. Remiges, the rowers. 
45. Primari.®, the quills. 
46 . Secundari.®, secondaries. 
47 . Cauda, the tail. 
48. Rectrices, the tail feathers, divided 
into 49 , Intermedi.®, the middle, and 50, 
Laterales, the side feathers. 
Crus, the leg, divided into, 
51. Tibia, the thigh, answering to the leg- 
in quadrupeds. 
52. Planta, or Pes, the foot, divided into 
53. Tarsus, the shank, answering to the 
heel in quadrupeds. 
54. Acrotarsium, the shin. 
55. Hallux, the great toe. 
56 . Digiti, the toes. * 
