American Bittern 
263 
creek, cackling rails hide in the sedges behind 
it, red-winged blackbirds flute above the 
phalanxes of rushes on its banks : but the bit- 
tern makes more noise, especially toward even- 
ing, than all the other inhabitants of the swampy 
meadows except the frogs, whose voices he 
forever silences when he can. Frogs, legs and 
all, are his favourite delicacy. 
