BOAT-BILLED HERON. 
301 
inferior size and more slender limbs, but likewise by the uniformly lead-brown hue 
of the primary quills of the wings. 
The common bittern, like so many members of the present family, has a wide 
geographical distribution, extending all over Europe as far north as latitude 60°, 
and even to 64 u on the Yenisei, in Asia, and ranging eastwards through Central 
Asia to China and Japan. It also occurs in Persia and Northern and Central 
India, as well as in Burma; and likewise ranges over the whole of Africa, in 
localities suited to its habits. The New World species is found over the greater 
part of North America. The bittern is essentially a bird of the swamps, 
among the reeds and bulrushes of which it either skulks in the rail-like manner 
shown in the central figure of our illustration, or stands erect, as depicted 
in the background, when it presents a strange resemblance to a pointed 
stump. When disturbed in the day among a bed of reeds, it generally rises 
within easy shot, and after flapping lazily along for a short distance, once 
more takes to covert. While on the wing, it utters a resounding cry, replaced 
during the breeding-season by the hollow boom, from which the bird derives 
its name; and in its evening flights the bittern is said to soar in circles to 
vast heights. The breeding-season in Europe commences in March and April; 
and the nest, which is formed of a mass of reeds and flags, is placed either in 
thick covert, or on the marge of a swamp. The four eggs are olive-brown in 
colour, but may be tinged with green when fresh laid. Among our ancestors the 
bittern was regarded as a favourite dish; and in Landseer’s well-known picture a 
bittern figures among the offering sent to the abbot of Bolton Abbey. Instead of 
booming, the American species during the breeding-season utters a cry which has 
been compared to the sound produced by hitting a stake with a mallet. Writing 
of the American bird, Dr. Coues observes that “ when the bittern is disturbed at his 
meditation, he gives a vigorous spring, croaks at the moment in a manner highly 
suggestive of his displeasure, and flies off as fast as he can, though in rather a 
loose, lumbering way. For some distance he flaps heavily with dangling legs and 
outstretched neck; but when settled on his course he proceeds more smoothly, 
with regular, measured wing-beats, the head drawn in closely, and the legs stretched 
out behind together like a rudder. He is very easily shot on the wing, dropping 
at a touch of even fine shot. When winged, he croaks painfully as he drops, and 
no sooner does he touch the ground than he gathers himself in defensive attitude 
to resent aggression as best he can. He fights well, and with more spirit and 
determination than he might be expected to show. He has a very ugly way of 
pointing his resistance with quick thrusts of his spear-like bill, capable of inflicting 
no slip’llt wound on an incautious hand. The food of this bird consists of various 
O 
kinds of small aquatic animals. In its stomach may be found molluscs, crayfish, 
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 being marvellously quick and skilful. It may be added that 
in America as well as in the Old World bitterns are to a certain extent migratory. 
Boat Billed The mem ^ e1 ' the family to which it will be necessary 
Heron. to allude is the remarkable boat-billed heron (Canchroma cochlearia) 
of South America, which, while agreeing with the other representatives of 
