Plate Number: I 78Ardea Stellaris Americana: The Brown Bittern This is somewhat less than our English Bittern. The Bill is four Inches long; the End and upper-part of it black, the under-part green. The Eyes are large, having Gold-colour'd Irides, environ'd with a green Skin. The whole Body is brown, with a Mixture of white Feathers; the Back being darker. The Breast and Belly more white. Most of the large Wing-Feathers are white at the Ends. The Tail is short and of a Lead-Colour. The Legs and Feet are of a yellowish Green. The outer and middle Toe are joined by a Membrane. The interior Side of the middle Toe is serrated. These Birds frequent fresh Rivers and Ponds in the upper Parts of the Country, remote from the Sea. |