THE HERONS, BITTERNS, AND STORKS. 229 



that, however interesting to the naturalist, mean ruin to 

 the stockowner. When threatened by an eagle or other 

 danger, the bittern does not, like the heron, rely solely on 

 the sharpness of its bill, but throws itself, so eye-witnesses 

 relate, on its back, and strikes out desperately with its 

 claws as well. The bill is not less powerful than that 

 of the heron, though the latter bird is, when winged, by 

 no means to be approached without caution. 



t American Bitteryi. — A winter straggler to these islands. 

 It is a slighter bird than the last, and lacks the black bars 

 on the wings. 



3. Storks. 



White Stork. — An irregular spring visitor to the eastern 

 counties, which has never stayed to breed. Has also 

 been recorded rarely in Scotland and Ireland. 



Black Stork. — A still rarer visitor to the southern and 

 eastern counties, not up to the present recorded from 

 Scotland or Ireland. 



4. The Ibis. 



Glossy Ibis. — A rare autumn visitor to the south of 

 England, with long curved bill and glossy plumage. It 

 has also occurred in most other parts of the country, and, 

 very rarely, in Scotland and Ireland. It was formerly 

 known as the "black curlew." 



5. Spoonbill. 



The Spoonbill, formerly breeding (seventeenth century) 

 in this country, is now only a straggler to the eastern and 

 southern counties, Norfolk and Cornwall being favourite 

 haunts. It has found its way to the Scottish isles, but 

 only a few have been seen in Ireland, chiefly in the 

 extreme south. It was also known as the "shoveller." 

 The plumage is white and yellow, and the bird is said to 

 have a remarkable mode of feeding, by immersing its bill 

 in the mud under water and walking round and round. 



