50 
ARDEA VIRESCENS. 
reptiles shrink into the mire on the least alarm, and tie 
not raise up their heads again to the surface without 
tile most cautious circumspection. The bittern, fi.viiigf 
his penetrating eye on the spot where they disappear<*d» 
approaches with slow stealing step, laying liis feet su 
gently and silently on the ground, as not to be heard Of 
felt; and, when arrived within reach, stands fixed, and 
bending forwards, until the first glimpse of the frog’s 
head makes its appearance, when, with a stroke instan- 
taneous as lighining, he seizes it in his bill, heats it to 
death, and feasts on it at his leisure. 
_ This mode of life, requiring little fatigue u here game 
IS so plenty, as is generally the case in all our niaRheSt 
must be particularly pleasing to the bird, and also very 
interesting, from the continual exercise of cunning and 
ingenuity necessary to circurayent its prey. Some of 
the naturalists of Europe, however, iu their superior 
wisdom, think very difterently ; and one can scarce!}' 
letrain from smiling at the absurdity of those irriterSi 
who declare, that the lives of this ivhole class of birds 
are rendered miserahlc by toil and hunger ; their very 
appearance, according to Butfon, presenting the imag« 
of .suffering anxiety and indigence.* 
When alarmed, the green bittern rises with a hollow' 
guttural scream ; does not tly far, but usually alight-* 
on some old stump, tree, or fence adjoining, and looki* 
about lyith extended neck ; though, somefime.s, this i* 
drawn in so, that his head seems to rest on his breast- 
As he walks along the fence, or stands gazine- at yoi*. 
with outstretched neck, he has the frequent habit 
jetting the tail. lie sometimes flies high, with doubled 
neck, and legs extended behind. Happing the wimT' 
smartly, and travelling with great expedition. Ho ds 
the least shy of all our herons; and, perhaps, the mo.i‘ 
numerous and generally dispersed, being found far i» 
the interior, as well as along our salt marshes ; and 
every wlieie. about the muddy shores of our mill poud®» 
creeks, and large rivers. 
Histmre N^aturelle des Oiseaux^ tome xxii, p. ;J43, 
