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AMERICAN BITTERN.
FRECKLED HERON. MOKOHO BITTERN. DCNKADOO.
Ardui minor, WILSON.
Itntiginosa, MONTAGU. LEACH.
" Mokoho, VlEI.LOT.
" stellaris, var., LATHAM.
Botaurus frtti Fludsonis, BRISSON.
Buior Americana, SWAIXSON.
Ardea—A Heron. Minor—Lesser.
THE native country of this species of Bittern is indicated by its
name. It belongs to the whole of North America, and occurs in
plenty in the Fur Countries, regions which for true sporting are to be
preferred to any others in the world, even to the jungles of sultry India,
or the vast and rarely-trodden wilds of the distant interior of -Southern
Africa.
Of these birds Mr. Yarrell speaks of oue as having been met with
in the Isle of Man; one in Cornwall; one in Hampshire, near
Christchurcli, in 1836; oue in Devonshire, shot at Mothecombe, near
Plymouth, December 2:2nd., 1829; and one, the specimen recorded by
Montagu, shot by a Mr. Cunningham, in the parish of Piddletown, or
Puddletown, near the River Froome, in the county of Dorset, in the
autumn of 1804. In Norfolk one also killed at Yarmouth, in the
autumn of 1817, as recorded in the 'Zoologist,' page 1965.
In Ireland one was obtained at Wexford at the end of December,
1803; also one near Armagh. In Scotland one shot at Cathcr-ou-Wheel,
near Wick, by T. S. B. Lmes, Esq., of Thrumster House, near Golspie.
These Bitterns arc sold in the markets of New Orleans as an article
of food, though of inferior estimation, to make gombo soup, a composition
of the " cuisinier,' with which I am not acquainted. When fat,
however, they are said by Wilson to be excellent eating.
The flight is said to be rather rapid.
I t feeds on fish and frogs.