106 
BITTERN - . 
back of the head varied with cross bars of black and pale 
buff, the latter colour on the tip, itself again minutely edged 
with black; sides of the head, brownish buff. Neck on the 
sides, brownish buff, with narrow transverse lines of dark 
brown; the feathers are lengthened and fold over the back 
part, which is only covered with thick down; they are also 
capable of being set forward, and then assume the appear¬ 
ance of a ruff; neck on the back, and the nape, rich 
brownish buff, irregularly marked with black and dark reddish 
brown. Chin, pale buff white; throat on the centre,' pale 
brown; the breast has the feathers blackish brown in their 
centres, broadly margined with buff, the lower part buff 
with narrow and some wider streaks of dark brown. Back, 
yellowish brown buff on the centres of the feathers, forming 
streaks, the outside edges black. 
The wings have the four first feathers of about the same 
length, and, at the same time, the longest in the wing; 
primaries, mottled with greyish or brownish black and chesnut 
brown, darker red than on the body. Tail, reddish brown, 
darker red than on the body, variegated with black; it is 
composed of ten feathers and is very short. The legs, which 
are thick, short, and feathered down to within half an inch 
or three quarters of an inch of the knee, are as the toes— 
pale green; the latter are very pliable. The claws, which 
are very long and sharp, pale horn-colour, the middle one 
pectinated. 
The female differs in no essential respect from the male. 
The same remark applies to the young of the year. At 
first they are covered with an orange yellow down. 
