The American Bittern. 
Tlie well-known American Bittern is a 
common summer resident in western New 
York, and may be found breeding along slug¬ 
gish streams, ponds, and swamps often in largo 
numbers. 
In this locality the Bittern is generally 
known as “Stake-driver” or “Thunder Pump,” 
receiving its names from the peculiar noises 
made by the bird which at times resemble 
that of driving stakes, then again that of 
pumping. 
A tract of low land known as the Touwanda 
Swamp, lying along the line between the coun¬ 
ties of Orleans and Genesee, seems to he a 
favorite nesting place for this bird. 
During tho breeding season the male may 
be heard from morning till night at frequent 
intervals, his “ pumping ” making the swamps 
ring, and it may be heard a long distance. 
The Bittern arrives in this locality during 
the first week in April, and stays until late in 
the fall. 
The Bitterns, like the Herons, get their food 
in the vicinity of water, and are seldom seen 
to alight in fields far away from a creek. 
Their food consists mostly of frogs, toads, 
and small minnows which they are experts 
at catching. 
The American and the Least Bittern both 
breed here, hut owing to the retiring habits of 
the latter it is seldom seen, but, however, the 
former is far the more common. The time of 
the breeding of this bird seems to he very 
indefinite, as fresh eggs may be found from 
tho latter part of April until late in June. 
The nest of the Bittern is generally hard to 
find, being placed in tall, rank grass which 
covers the ground and hides the nest. The 
nest is seldom placed elsewhere than upon low 
ground that is covered with water part of the 
year, although they sometimes build in open 
fields after the grass has grown to a good 
height. When found in low places the nests 
are placed on the ground or upon decaying 
vegetation lying in shallow water. 
The nest is made of coarse, dry grass and 
weeds that are dragged together by the birds, 
and lined with finer material of the same kind. 
Sometimes the grass and weeds overhanging 
the nest are drawn together above it, 
completely hiding the nest and eggs. 
The# eggs are four or five in number, gener¬ 
ally fi .ve, and of a uniform drab in color. As 
soon ; is the eggs are hatched, the parent birds, 
occupy t]}eir tiirje in carrying food for their 
young, and they will fiy from morning until 
night, from some pond or creek to the nest 
with food. 
During incubation the female will not leave 
the nest until nearly trodden upon, making it 
a rather difficult task to find the nest by 
Hushing tho bird. 
The number of Bitterns that breed here 
depends largely upon the season. During a 
wet season, especially in May, they breed in 
large numbers in the Tonwanda Swamp, hut 
if tho season be dry and hot their numbers are 
greatly dimimished. 
Two years ago I found my first Bittern’s 
nest. While wandering about on a marsh, I 
chanced to stop within a few feet of the nest, 
and as I did not see the bird she did not offer 
to fly,hut to my “good luck” when I started I 
went towards the nest and she tlew off. I 
examined closely the surroundings of the nest 
and found signs which I thought would aid 
me in finding another nest. 
The next year, while crossing the same 
marsh, I saw signs similar to those around my 
first nest. I began hunting at once and soon 
found the nest a few rods' from the place 
where I first noticed the presence of the birds. 
Both these nests contained five eggs each. 
Elmer J. Gillett. 
Barre Centre, New York. 
[My experience leads me to believe that these 
eggs are very commonly a set. J. 1 • h.] 
0.& O.Vol.17. June, 1892 " 
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Botaurus lentiginosus. American Bittern.—B reeds commonly in 
Mountain Birds., ,, , ,, , 
. suitable places throughout these mountains. It was esaecially abundant 
or Arisona^t Mormon Lake, wherejt finds a most congenial home. earDe > Auk, Vll. Jan. 1890 p 47. 
53. The American Bittern, Botaurus minor (Gm.). By Everett Smith. 
Ibid., XI, p. 283. — A detailed account of its habits, as observed by the 
writer, at various localities in New Hampshire, Maine, New Brunswick, 
and Nova Scotia. ^hia&SO x-'islct 
1944 . Topographical Oology. By Frank H. Nutter. 'The Oologists , 
Exchange; Vol. I, No. 4 , April, 1888 .—Buieo pennsylvanicus, Accipiter 
cooperi , Botaurus lentiginosus . 
342 . American Bittern. By Guy C. Rich. Ibid ., VI, p. 77- A- s ^ Qp 
observed at Saratoga, N. Y. 
497- A 
Naturalist, 
many-named Bird [Botaurus lentiginosus h By T F To,1.1 
_I b id., XVII, pp. 43 i. 43- -Reference to its vafious vernacular name," 
