Bittern

1911

Bittern, a genus of wading birds, belonging to the family Ardeidae, comprising several species closely appied to the herons, from which they differ chiefly in their shorter neck, the back of which is covered with down, and the front with long feathers, which can be raised at pleasure. They are solitary birds, frequenting countries possessing extensive swamps and marchy grounds, remaining at rest by day, concealed among the reeds and bushes of their haunts, and seeking their food, which consists of fish, reptiles, insects, and small quadrupeds, in the twilight. The common bittern (Botauris stellaris) is nearly as large as the heron, and is widely distributed over the eastern hemisphere.
Source: Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, Vol. 4, Page 14

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