14 OCCASIONAL NOTES. 



■with it herself, and sung it to sleep; and, no doubt in the mean time, 

 •enjoyed a nap herself, not dreaming, however, of her approaching journey. 



The old Cat is the mother of the "mony-toe Kitten" noticed in the 

 "Naturalist," page 66, vol. iv. And her present little adventurer is posses- 

 sed of four toes more than ordinary. The distance they travelled altogether 

 is something more than eighty miles. 



The Bittern, (Botaurus stellarus.) I saw a very fine male bird of this 

 species, which was shot a few days ago about four miles from here. It 

 was in the water when fired on, and, being only wounded in the wing, 

 tried to escape. A dog went in pursuit, and when he nearly came up, 

 the wounded bird prepared to meet him by spreading his tail feathers, 

 ■opening his wings, arching his neck, gave a "war cry," and then with 

 piercing eyes he glared upon his assailant, who after receiving one thrust 

 from the valiant bird, could not be induced to undergo the infliction of 

 a second, but kept running round, in hopes to find some easier way of 

 attack; but the same '^angry front," and blood-stained mandibles presented 

 themselves to the dog — turning as he turned, and so kept him at bay. 

 However, a second shot ended the scene, and laid prostrate both the dog 

 nnd bird! 



The Bittern is very rarely met with in Somersetshire, and indeed it 

 seems to be getting scarcer in England every year. For in many places 

 where these noble birds used to be plentiful, there is scarcely one of them 

 to be met with at the present day. This melancholy fact for the Orni- 

 thologist — yes, and for every lover of Nature — is becoming more and more 

 appai'ent, and may perhaps be accounted for in two ways. First, the 

 wanton molestation which they receive from the merciless gunner, as a 

 matter of course, must every year thin their already scanty numbers. For 

 as sure as one of them approaches the habitation, or within sight of the 

 watchful (fowler?) a gun is sure to be brought into requisition, and its 

 murderous contents hurled against the stranger, who brooding no evil him- 

 self, anticipates none from others. Poor unsuspicious bird, thy life has paid 

 the forfeit! 



The second great increasing cause of the scarcity of the Bittern, may 

 be attributed to the cultivation and drainage of waste lands. It is well 

 known that whatever parts of the country undergo such changes, are sure 

 to be deserted by the Bittern, although they might have been chosen spots 

 for many years before. But these remarks hold good, not only with the 

 bird in question, but likewise with many of our charming British birds, 

 which are only met with now as "stragglers," and even as such they seldom 

 appear in any part of the country without being a mark for some one 

 to shoot at. Why, it may be asked, is man such an inveterate enemy to 

 these little feathered characters, that make pleasant our rural walks — cheer- 



