. . WADING BIRDS 95 The sexes have similar plumage, but the female issmaller than her mate. BITTERN The Bittern ranges throughout temperate North Amer-ica and winters from Virginia south. One of the most familiar marsh birds, it is known undermany aliases, such as thunderpump, Indian hen, stakedriver, and bull goose. This interesting creature is not agame bird, but because of its sluggish nature is often thevictim of the ruthless hunter. To escape detection, bitternsassume a pose extending the head and neck skyward, thusresembling a
. . WADING BIRDS 95 The sexes have similar plumage, but the female issmaller than her mate. BITTERN The Bittern ranges throughout temperate North Amer-ica and winters from Virginia south. One of the most familiar marsh birds, it is known undermany aliases, such as thunderpump, Indian hen, stakedriver, and bull goose. This interesting creature is not agame bird, but because of its sluggish nature is often thevictim of the ruthless hunter. To escape detection, bitternsassume a pose extending the head and neck skyward, thusresembling a stump with a dead sprout at the side. Bitternsstand motionless for hours in shallow water, until some fish,frog, or reptile comes within striking distance. This bird breeds commonly throughout the East andJNIiddle West, from New York, Illinois, and Iowa north-ward. The nests are usually composed of dead reeds andrushes, a mere platform with little or no cavity. From threeto six eggs are laid, and the period of incubation is twenty-one days. During the mating s
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectnaturalhistory, booky
