80 REMARKS ON THE BITTERNS. 



little Dwarf-bitterns assume the same posture on similar occasions, as noticed by 

 Colonel Montagu, and copied from him by Mr. Selby ; but both these naturalists 

 have fallen into the prevalent error of supposing that this was the attitude of 

 rest. All the actions of the Dwarf-bittern are precisely those of the other, 

 and it runs with the celerity of a Rail. It uses the bill to assist it in clambering 

 — a fact which I have also noticed in the Corn Crake ; and I doubt which of 

 either of these two species could insinuate itself through the narrower crevice. 

 I suspect that the Dwarf-bittern is commoner in Britain than is generally sup- 

 posed, for it is a species extremely liable to escape observation. The few that 

 have been shot have mostly been observed when perched on Willows, on which 

 occasion, at sight of an object of distrust, it will extend horizontally its long 

 neck to the utmost stretch, and in an instant, if your attention be momentarily 

 diverted, retract it suddenly; but it will readily allow of being approached 

 within gunshot, appearing to rely instinctively on its inconspicuousness. The 

 American Dwarf-bittern has been shot from a heronry upon lofty trees, where 

 several different species bred in society ; but both the American and European 

 species would appear most commonly to nidificate on the ground, like the typical 

 Bitterns. 



M. Baillon states, of the large European Bittern, that " during the months 

 of February and March, the males utter, in the morning and evening, a cry 

 which may be compared to the explosion of a large musket. The females run to 

 the sound, sometimes a dozen round one male, the male Bitterns strutting among 

 their mates, and endeavouring to drive off their rivals." This has often been 

 quoted, and the opinion consequently advanced, that the birds of this genus are 

 polygamous. I conceive that M. Baillon must have witnessed a congregating 

 of these birds for the purpose of pairing, such as Audubon describes of the 

 Ardea herodias, and such as many observers have had occasion to notice" in 

 Magpies, and a variety of other species. The European Bittern is no where 

 sufficiently plentiful, in one place, during the season of propagation, nor is there 

 that difference in the proportionate size of the sexes, observable in the Ruffs 

 and other known polygamous birds, to induce the supposition that it is otherwise 

 than monogamous, like the rest of the Ardeidce. It is a species which, from 

 time to time, I have had tolerable opportunities of becoming acquainted with, as 

 I trust the above remarks on it will sufficiently indicate. Next spring, it is 

 probable that the London ornithologists will enjoy a few samples of its music, 

 should the Ornithological Society succeed in keeping these interesting live speci- 

 mens through the cold weather. 

 North Brixton, Surrey, 

 Dec. 8, 1837. 



