GREEN HERON. 
r,i 
The green bittern begins to build about the 20th of 
; sometimes in single ])airs, in swampy woods ; 
o> ten ill companies; and not unfrcquently in a kind of 
■Association with the qua birds, or night herons. The 
Rest is iixed among the branches of the trees ; is 
constructed ndiolly of small sticks, lined with finer 
A"'‘gs, and is of considerable size, though loosely put 
together. The female lays four eggs, of the common 
oblong form, and of a pale light blue colour. The 
J’onng do not leave the nest until able to fly; and, 
or the first season, at least, are destitute of the long- 
pointed plumage on the back ; the lower jiarts are also 
Rghter, and th"! white on the throat broader. During 
:.*6 whole summer, and until late in autumn, these 
oirds are seen in our meadows and marshes, but never 
cmain during winter in any pai-t of the United States. 
The green bittern is eighteen inches long, and twenty- 
"te inehgg in extent; bill, black, lighter below, .and 
>ellow at the base ; chin, .and narrow streak down the 
woat, yellowish white; neck, dark vinaceous red; 
‘Ock, covered with very long, tapering, pointed feathers, 
0- hoary green, shafted with n hitc, on a dark green 
Rronud; the hind part of the neck is destitute of 
P umage, that it may be the more conveniently drawn 
0 Over the breast, but is covered with the long feather.s 
the throat and sides of the neck, that enclose it 
I ** ’ ^'i'lgs and tail, dark glos.sy green, tipt and 
jP^Rcced with yellowish white; legs and feet, yellow, 
RSed before with green, the skin of these thick and 
'“''Rkle ; belly, ashy brown ; irides, bright orange ; 
j cstcd head, very dark glossy green. The female, as 
particularly observed, in numerous instances, 
of H * RA nothing, as to colour, from the male ; neither 
,, .JCAAi receive the long feathers on the b.ack during 
c first season. 
there is one circumstance attending this bird, uhich, 
* cecoUcct, .at first surprised me. On shooting and 
.^^PP'AfiAng one, I carried it some distance by the legs, 
'aiich were at first yellow ; but on reaching home, I 
P«rceivcd, to my surprise, that they were red. On 
