I don't know how I ever came to see him; but when I did, he looked so queer that he almost scared me, and I said to the miller, 'Whatever is that ?' [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.