ve mentioned, the Bittern booms forth its hollow sound in all

alities abo

lependently of the European loca : a : - a

tl oe tries of the Old World north of the equator, wherever suitable situations occur; in India it is
1e countries

+t has also been received from China and Japan ; and that it enjoys a still wider
ther parts of Asia and from Africa. But it has not yet been discovered
an allied species, the Botaurus lentiginosus.

as common as it is with us ;
range is proved by examples from o io oe
i rica, 1 ace in the untry being occup!

7 Pa ihe eee i ce ‘are solitary, and, being a night-feeding bird; it remains
reeds and long herbage of its marshy haunts. In this state it gene-
rally sits closely squatted, with the neck bent so that the head rests between nue we me thing
dosing and digesting the meal of the previous night, it will frequently Toy itself to nearly trodden
upon before it will take wing or endeavour to escape; and even when ce it Se dlom a to any consi-
derable distance. When wounded or surprised and unable to escape, It tleronuls itself ee vigour; and, as
it always aims at the eyes of its enemy with its strong and sharp-pointed bill, a con ea degree of
caution must be used in capturing it. When attacked by a dog, it throws itself upon its back, like the Owls
and other raptorial birds, and strikes with its claws as well as with its bill; and in dns manner mM will keep
the most resolute dog at bay, as the infliction of a stroke or two of the latter spear-like weapon is commonly
sufficient to keep him afterwards at a respectful distance. The Bittern Dee to afford ee sport in
falconry; for when flown at, it immediately begins to soar, rising in spiral circles, and endeavouring to keep
above its enemy. Should this manceuvre fail, it then prepares for the descent of the Hawk, by setting its

quiet during the day, concealed in the

sharp bill perpendicularly upwards, upon which its impetuous antagonist frequently transfixes itself, or is so
severely wounded as to be obliged to give up a second attack. The bellowing or booming noise of the
Bittern is confined to the pairing-season, which commences in February or the beginning of March. At
this time, on the approach of twilight, it leaves its place of resort during the day, and, rising in a spiral
direction, soars to a very great height, uttering at intervals the peculiar cry that in former days was heard
with superstitious dread. It also makes the bellowing noise when on the ground, to assist in the production
of which extraordinary note it was supposed to thrust its bill into the hollow of a reed—an idea not at all
probable, and unsupported by any confirmatory evidence.

“The nest of the Bittern is generally placed very near the water, among the thickest reeds or long
herbage, and is composed of a large mass of reeds, sticks, &c., containing four or five eggs of a pale
asparagus-green colour, from which, in the course of twenty-five or twenty-six days, the young are produced.
These, as may be supposed, are at first very shapeless, being naked, and the neck, head, and legs appearing
quite out of proportion to the other parts of the body. They are fed by the parents till fully fledged, and
do not quit the nest until nearly able to provide for themselves. The food of the Bittern consists of water-
insects, reptiles, fish, and small mammalia, particularly moles, mice, and shrews. Young birds are also
frequently devoured ; and Sir William Jardine informs me that he once took a whole Water-Rail out of
the stomach of a Bittern,—a fact, however, not extraordinary, when we consider that the gape of this bird
is very wide, and will stretch to a great extent, the commissure of the bill reaching behind the line of the
eyes, and the cesophagus being through its whole length capable of much distention. The Bittern, in
earlier times, was greatly esteemed as a luxury for the table, and even now it brings a good price when
exposed for sale. The flesh is dark-coloured, but not coarse in texture, and the flavour partakes of that
of the Hare, combined with the peculiar taste of what are usually termed ‘ Wild Fowl.’ ”

Dr. Latham states that the booming noise is supposed to a
inflated with air and exploded at pleasure ;
exhibits no peculiarity. That it is produced b

rise from a loose membrane, which can be
but Mr. Selby states that the internal anatomy of the bird
en” y ae inflation of the throat I am certain; for we may me
‘ year witness the action, and the utterance of the peculiar sounds, in an allied
species of Bittern now in the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London.

The Plate represents an adult and four young ones, of the size of life. For the opportunity of figuring
the latter, I am indebted to the kindness of A. W. Crichton Ksq