3 °° 
HERONS, STORES, AND IBISES. 
metatarsus; while the toes are very unequal length, and the first unusually 
elongated. Owing to the equality in length of the first three quills, the somewhat 
elongated winsrs are rounded at their extremities. There is but little difference 
iD O .... 
between the plumage of the young and mature birds. Although inferior m size to 
the heron, from which it differs markedly in its much shorter and thicker neck, 
larger and plumeless head, and shorter beak, the bittern is a decidedly striking 
bird; and its mottled plumage of buff, brown, and black, is adapted to harmonise 
with the dead stalks of the reeds and flags among which it habitually skulks. As 
COMMON BITTERN IN ITS VARIOUS POSTURES (£ liat. size). 
regards coloration, the crown of the head is black with a tinge of bronzy green, 
the elongated feathers at the back of the head and nape being barred with black 
and buff*; the remainder of the body-plumage is characterised by having a huffish 
ground variously marked with reddish brown and blackish brown flecks, bars, and 
streaks, with a dark stripe from behind the angle of the beak and another down 
the front of the throat. The primaries are mingled greyish black and chestnut, 
and the tail-feathers reddish brown with black markings. The beak is greenish 
yellow, tending to horn-colour at the tip, the lore green, the iris yellow, and the 
leg and foot green with pale horn-coloured claws. In length a male bittern may 
vary from 28 to 30 inches. The American bittern (B. lentiginosus), which is an 
accidental visitor to Britain, differs from the common species, not only by its 
