[Illustration:  American Bittern.]

“For a minute he couldn’t see anything, and then he said, ’Pshaw! that’s only a Bittern; but I do wish I had my gun.’

“‘Why doesn’t he move?’ said I.  ’Look at the way he holds his head straight up, like a stick.  I’m going round behind him to see what his back looks like.’

“‘He’s a stupid thing, and thinks we don’t see him,’ said the miller.  I walked round and round until I began to get dizzy, but that bird was all front, and all I could see was his striped breast and neck.  Then I saw the miller was laughing.

“‘That bird isn’t as stupid as he looks,’ said he.  ’He turns around just as fast as you walk, so you won’t have a chance to get behind him.’  Then we heard the calf low, and we went away.”

“That was a sight worth seeing, my boy,” said the Doctor; “for it is one of the best proofs that birds understand the value of protection of color.  The Bittern and the old reeds blended their colors together, and by stretching up its neck the bird adapted his shape as much as possible to the straight, stiff lines of the reeds, while by keeping his front parts toward you, the curves of his back were concealed.  You might have passed his hiding-place a hundred times without seeing him.  But come—­let us leave this Heron hotel, and find a way to the lane road.”

The open air seemed doubly sweet and fresh, after the fishy smell of the Heronry.  Dodo stopped under the first shade tree, and begged for her tables.

The Black-crowned Night Heron

(The Night Watchman)

Length about two feet.

Upper parts glossy greenish black in front, but ashy-gray behind and on the neck, wings, and tail; the forehead white, and two slender white plumes sticking out six or eight inches behind the head.

Under parts whitish, including the long throat or front of the whole neck.

Bill black, with greenish bare skin between it and the red eyes; legs yellow.

Sexes alike, but young very different, being grayish-brown above with many white or buff spots, and white below with black streaks.

A Summer Citizen of North America, useful in keeping down frogs and small reptiles, but too untidy to be a pleasant neighbor.

A member of the guild of Wise Watchers.

The American Bittern

(The Stake-Driver Or Thunder-Pumper)

Length from twenty-three to thirty-four inches, which is a very unusual difference in birds of the same species.  Upper parts all freckled with brown, black, and tan color of various shades, as if sun-burnt, with a velvety black patch on each side of the neck, and the longest wing-feathers plain blackish with brown tips; top of head plain brown.

Under parts tawny whitish or pale buff, every feather with a dark streak, and the middle line of feathers along the whole throat white with brown streaks.