56 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
According- to Dr. Coues, “ the food of this bird consists of various 
kinds of small aquatic animals. In its stomach may be found different 
molluscs, craw-fish, frogs, lizards, small snakes and fishes, as well as 
insects. Such prey is captured with great address, by spearing, as the 
bird walks or wades stealthily along. The thrust of the bill is marvel¬ 
ously quick and skilful—more action is displayed on such occasions 
than probably under any other circumstance.”-— Birds of the Northwest. 
Although Bitterns frequently devour fish, I believe they prefer other 
kinds of animal food, especially snakes, frogs and insects. 
The food materials of nine of these birds, which I have examined, are 
given in the following table : 
No. 
Date. 
Locality, 
Food-Materials. 
1 
April 11. 1880, . . . 
Chester county, Pa. 
Beetles and scales of fish. 
2 
April 23, 1880, . . . 
Chester county. Pa. 
Water-snake. 
8 
April 29, 1881, . . . 
Delaware county. Pa., . . 
Cray-fish and frogs. 
4 
Sept. —. 1881. . . . 
Chester county. Pa. 
Beetles and frogs. 
5 
April —, 1882, . . . 
Chester county. Pa. 
Two snakes, each about eighteen inches in length. 
« 
April -. 1882. . . . 
Chester county, Pa. 
Snake and snails. 
7 
Oct. 3. 1883, . . . 
Philadelphia Market, Pa.. 
Grasshoppers and beetles. 
8 
April — . 1885. . . . 
Orange county, Fla. 
Numerous insects. 
9 
April -, 1885, . . . 
Orange county, Fla., . . . 
Cray-fish and remains of fishes. 
Botaurus exilis (Gmel.). 
Least Bittern. 
Description. 
“ Head above and the back dark glossy-green ; upper part of neck, shoulders, 
greater coverts, and outer webs of some tertials, purplish-cinnamon ; a brownish- 
yellow scapular stripe (broadest in female). 
Female with the green of head and back replaced by purplish-chestnut. Iris 
yellow. 
Length, 13 inches; extent, about 17; wing, 4.75; tarsus, 1.60; bill above, 1.75.”— 
Bairds' B. of N. A. 
Habitat .—Temperate North America, from British Provinces to the West Indies 
and Brazil. 
The Least Bittern, the smallest of the herons, I have found in this 
state only as a rather rkre visitant during the spring and fall migrations. 
This species is sometimes, though rarely, observed in Pennsylvania 
during the breeding season. When alarmed they fly generally but a few 
yards and take shelter among the reeds or long grass. Least Bitterns 
are scarcely ever seen exposed, but skulk during the day, and, like the 
preceding species, feed chiefly in the night. 
Mr. Geo. B. Sennett, of Erie, has taken specimens in Crawford and 
Erie counties, where it is said the species breeds occasionally. Dr. John 
W. Detwiller, of Bethlehem, Pa., has found the Least and also the 
American Bitterns breeding here. From personal observation I know 
nothing concerning the nest or eggs of this species. The following in¬ 
teresting remarks relating to nest and eggs of this bird are taken from 
Oliver Davie’s valuable work ( Nests and Eggs of North American 
