ABDEIDiB. BIEDS. ARDEIDffl. CXCi 
ing, while it was flying towards Nahant from a 
“ 'J’hese birds,” says Wilson, “we are informed, visit 
breeding-place in the forests of Lynn. It was proba- 
the Severn, at Hudson’s Bay, about the beginning of 
bly on its way to fisli for an evening meal. Wilson 
June, make their nest in swamps, laying four curi- 
describes them as arriving in Pennsylvania early in 
ous green eggs among the long grass. 'I’he young 
April, and immediately taking possession of their for- 
are said to be at first black. 'I'liese birds, when dis- 
mer breeding-place, which is usually the most soli- 
turbed, rise with a hollow Tcwa! and are then easily 
tary and deeply-shaded of a cedar-swamp. Groves 
shot down, as they fly heavily. Like other night 
of swamp-oak, in retired and inundated places, are 
birds, their sight is most acute during the evening 
also sometimes chosen ; and the males not unl're- 
twilight ; but their hearing is, at all times, exquisite.” 
quently select tall woods on the banks of the river 
The American Bittern is twenty-seven inches long. 
to roost in during the day. These last regularly 
and three feet four inches in alar e.xtent ; the bill is 
direct their course, about the beginning of evening 
four inches long, the upper mandible black, the lower 
twilight, towards the marshes, uttering in a hoarse and 
greenish-yellow. Mr. Samuels says of this bird : 
hollow tone the sound qua! which by some has been 
“ It breeds in communities, sometimes as many as a 
compared to the retching of a person attempting to 
dozen pairs meeting within an area of a few rods. 
vomit. At this hour all the nurseries in the swamp 
The nests are placed on low bushes or on tufts of 
are emptied of their inhabitants, who disperse about 
gi-ass, sometimes in low, thickly-wooded trees, and 
the marshes and along the ditches and river-shore, in 
are composed of coarse grasses, twigs, and a few 
quest of food. Some of these breeding-places have 
leaves. I know of no other place in New England 
been occupied every spring and summer from time 
where these birds breed in such abundance as in 
immemorial, by from eighty to an hundred pairs. 
the neighborhood of Richardson’s Lakes, in Maine. 
In places where the poles have been cut down, the 
’J'here, in some of the tangled, boggy, almost impen- 
birds have merely moved to an adjoining quarter. 
etrable swamps, these birds have several heronies. 
When much pushed and annoyed, they are known to 
which they have inhabited for years. 'I’he Bittern, 
move in a body to some unknown locality. The 
as has been said, is essentially wild, shy and solitary. 
nests are built entirely of sticks, sometimes several 
One is oftener started from the bog than several, or 
in one tree. On entering a swamp occupied by one 
even a pair. He stands motionless, with his head 
of these breeding places, the noise of old and young 
upon his shoulders, and half-closed eyes, in profound 
would almost induce one to suppose that two or 
meditation, or steps about in devious ways, with an 
three hundred Indians were choking or throttling 
absent-minded air. For greater seclusion, he will 
each other. The instant an intruder is discovered. 
often hide in a thick bush-clump for hours. Startled 
the whole rise in the air in silence, and remove to the 
in his retreat, while his thinking-cap is on, he seems 
tops of the trees, in another part of the woods, while 
dazed, like one suddenly aroused from a deep sleep; 
parties of from eight to ten make occasional circuits 
but as soon as he collects his wits— remembering un- 
over head, to see what is going on. When the young 
pleasantly that the outside world exists — he shows 
are able, they climb to the highest parts of the trees. 
common sense enough to beat a hasty retreat from a 
Though it is probable that they do not see well by 
scene of altogether too much action for him. Some 
day, yet their hearing is exquisite. Curiously enough. 
such traits have led to the belief that he is a noctur- 
the sexes are alike in plumage, both having the beau- 
nal bird, but such is not the case. He may migrate 
til'ul plumes and rich coloration. 'I'he length of the 
by night, but so does the Killdeer and the Bobolink, 
Night Heron is two feet four inches, and four feet in 
and many other birds not in the least nocturnal. 
extent of wing ; the bill is black, and four inches and 
Nor is he lazy or stupid, as is supposed. He is sim- 
a quarter long ; the eye is large, the iris of a deep 
ply what we may call a shady character — one of those 
blood-red. The food of the Night Heron is small 
non-committal characters which we may invest, if we 
fish chiefly, which it takes at night. 
please, with various attributes, and perhaps consider 
YELLOW-CKOWNED NIGHT HERON {N. violaceus) . 
very deep, without sufficient i-eason ; the fact being 
— A southern species, quite common in the Gulf 
that we make the mystery about him. He lives in 
States, but seldom seen above Pennsylvania. It is 
the bog, where he finds plenty to eat, and simply 
about the size of the preceding. 
wishes to be let alone. When the Bittern is dis- 
AMERICAN BITTERN {Botaurus minor). — 'I’his 
turbed in his meditations, he gives a vigorous spring. 
bird may be found in all parts of temperate North 
croaks at the moment in a manner highly expressive 
America, and south as far as Guatemala. 'J'hough 
of his disgust, and flies off as far as he can, though 
not numerous, it is yet common to all our sea and 
in rather a loose, lumbering way. For some distance 
river niarshes, where it feeds only during the night. 
he flaps heavily, with dangling legs and outstretched 
It is called in some regions the Indian Hen. On the 
neck ; but when settled on his course, he proceeds 
sea-coast of New Jersey it is called the Uunkadoo — 
more smoothly, with regular, measured wing-beats. 
a word probably derived from its note or call. It has 
the head drawn in closely and the legs stretched out 
none of the booming sound which characterizes the 
behind together like a rudder.” 
English species, but utters at times a low guttural 
LEAST BITTERN [Ardetta exilis). — 'I’his bird is 
note while in the midst of the reeds. 'J'his circuin- 
found in the United States and British Provinces, 
stance, with the difference of marking, sufficiently 
breeding throughout the country, and wintering in the 
prove that they are distinct, although hitherto the 
south. It is found in Cuba, Jamaica and in Central 
Euroj)ean has been considered a mere variety of this. 
America, and though generally distributed, it is no- 
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