AMERICAN BITTERN. 
147 
the feet is great, the centre toe exceeding the tarsus 
in length. In a specimen from the Cape of Good 
Hope, the colours appear all more vivid, and the 
dark transverse markings on the sides of the neck 
and cheeks are deeper and more thickly placed, and 
the feathers are there more elongated. No material 
difference, however, exists. 
The American Bittern, Butor lentiginoses, 
Ardea lentiginosa, Montague. — Botaurus mokolio , 
Vieill. — Heron lentigineaux, Temm The Freckled 
Heron or Bittern, American Bittern of British 
authors. — The original British specimen of this Bit- 
tern fell under the observation of Colonel Montague, 
and was killed in Dorsetshire. Since the capture of 
that specimen, a few have been taken, chiefly in 
the southern or south-eastern counties of England, 
and a bird taken in the Isle of Man, the descrip- 
tion of which was communicated to Mr. Yarrell, is 
thought to be also referable to this species. It has 
not yet been found in either Scotland or Ireland. 
Hitherto, this bird has been considered identical 
with the species of America, representing there our 
native bird. The Prince of Canino, however, places 
the A. lentiginosa, Montague, and the American bird 
(under the title of B. minor') opposite, or as repre- 
sentatives in form and markings — the last, of course, 
distinct. "We possess specimens of the American 
bird, but have had no opportunity of comparing it 
with European or British killed specimens, and the 
