142 
LITTLE BITTERN. 
with ease from the floor to the top of the curtains, 
by means of their feet and claws. The nest of the 
American species is also described as placed on 
the ground, or a few inches above it, attached to 
the stems of reeds, and, in one or two instances, 
in bushes about three feet from the ground.* 
In the adult state of this bird, the crown and 
upper parts are black, richly glossed with green ; 
the cheeks, neck, and wing-coverts, pale sienna- 
yellow, the under parts of a redder or browner 
tint, dashed with brown upon the flanks; the 
bill and legs are of a dark yellow, the former 
generally brightest, the legs feathered down to 
the tarsal joint. The young are without the dark 
glossy mantle, and have the feathers there brown, 
margined with a paler shade. The lower plumage 
and sides of the neck are yellowish-brown, on the 
sides of the neck occasionally streaked with white, 
and on the flanks with brown ; the bill, legs, and 
feet, are of a greenish-brown. 
Butok. — Antiquorum. — Generic characters. — Bill 
lengthened, compressed, and strong at the base, 
angle of the maxilla placed far forward ; nostrils 
placed in a deep furrow, and partly covered 
with a membrane ; legs proportionally short 
and strong, tibhe partially bare, feet much 
developed, toes long and slender, claws long, 
slightly bent, that of the middle toe serrated ; 
Audubon, iii„ pp. 77 to 80. 
