plation of the scene. With all his experience 
in the north wilderness, he deemed this un¬ 
known swamp worthy of much caution and 
hesitating procedure. From Errol swamp 
came the hoot of the Barred Owl, and a | 
Loon in the pond before us answered with 
his wailing cry. But a more welcome sight 
met our gaze, as we saw a Bittern slowly 
flapping his way across the marsh with a | 
frog impaled on his spear-like bill. Lower ; 
and lower he came, and at last settled his 
flight in a bog at the side of the swamp. 
Leaving my companion as a landmark, that 
we might remember our entrance point, I 
started toward the bog, bespattering myself 
with mud and slime in my amphibious exer¬ 
tions. Reaching the edge of the grassy spot 
I proceeded slowly with attentive gaze upon 
the surface. Soon I perceived the top of the 
young swamp grass indicate by its motions the 
passage of some object hidden in its cover, and 
again I saw it repeated, but in a different direc- ; 
tion. As I happened at this time to catch the j 
source from whence the wavy line sprang into 
existence, I was enabled to speedily find the j 
object of my search. Placed upon a heap of 
dry grass and coarse brakes, I found four 
light drab eggs which needed no second per¬ 
son to assure me were eggs of the American 
Bittern, and as I stood in contemplation of the 
pleasing sight, the telltale grass again gave in¬ 
dication of the stealthly approach of the birds, 
and soon I saw the pointed beak and staring 
yellow eyes protruding from their hiding place 
and gazing ruefully at the invader of their 
home; but when I bestirred myself to secure 
my new found treasures, they knew the cur- j 
tain was about to ring down on the last act, 
and the grassy cover informed me that they 
were gone. 
It is needless to say my exertions were 
counted as nothing when compared with the 
experience gained, and when in my Woodcock 
cover, in Southern New England, I stumble up¬ 
on the Bittern, it brings vividly co my mind the 
scene not far from the wooded shores of Um- 
bagog; and my cartridge is witlield for game 
more unworthy. 
Q.&O. XlI.Jan.1837.py f-/j. 
Eggs of the-Mississippi Kite. 
[I have been permitft&Wby Capt. Charles E. 
Bendire to publish the/bllowing letter from 
him, concerning theyegg\ of the Mississippi 
Kite, (Ictinia submrmlea). ^t was not origin¬ 
ally written for Mblication\but its contents ' 
