Botauras lentiginosus . 
Concord, 
1898. 
June 21. 
Mass. 
While engaged with Pat this afternoon opening a path be¬ 
tween the ditch landing and Parker's landing, I discovered a 
Bittern standing erect and still in the open meadow about 
fifty yards off. It had probably heard out evidently did not 
see me. Bill, neck and body rising among the grass in a per¬ 
fectly straight line and at an inclination of about 45 degree 
formed a curiously close imitation of a weather-beaten and 
leaning stake. The feathers of the body were evidently com¬ 
pressed so that this part did not appear much thicker than 
the neck. The black stripes on the neck helped to make the 
bird inconspicuous by distracting the eye from the outlines 
of the neck and body. 
After standing thus perfectly motionless for several 
minutes Sjhe bird would slowly draw down its neck an dpr ouch ing 
low with the head and neck carried close to the ground would 
move off at a steady and very rapid walk threading its way 
through the rank grass so dexterously as scarce to cause any 
of their tops to tremble. After going ten or fifteen yards 
it would stop and raise its head again. 
Gilbert tells me that he heard the Bitterns pumping 
through last week but they were silent to-day. 
