CO CORD, 
A'' ' 
1910 
Remarkable 
behavior 
of American 
Qlttero 
The marsh on the south side of the river, directly 
opposite '-all ®a Hill, looks at present almost as smooth 
and verdant as a well-kept lawn* It was all mown over 
late last summer and,bavin; been free from flood-water 
for upwards of a month past, is now covered, everywhere with 
young grass three or four inches in height. Although this 
affords no cover for birds much larger than a Snipe, the 
marsh has been frequented much of late by bitterns. At 
morning a:id evening I have heard them pumping’ there or 
have seen them flying to and fro or standing erect with 
heads and necks stretched up, on the w tch for danger, but 
previous to to-day have paid but little attention to them. 
Two which I saw this morning, however, presented 
such a strange appearance and acted in ;uch a remarkable 
manner that I w tched them for half-an-hour or more with 
absorbing Interest. When I first noticed them, they were 
on the further margin of the little permanent lagoon where 
the Red-wings breed so numerously, moving past It eastward 
almost,a# if not quite as fast as a man habitually walks 
on smooth, firm ground, on© following directly behind the 
other at a distance of fifteen or twenty yards. Thus they 
advanced not only rapidly but also very evenly, with a 
smooth, gliding motion which reminded me of that of 
Gallinaceous birds and was very un-herdn-like. 
