THE BITTERN 



{botaurus stellar is) 



nnHE Bittern is another species that visits us 

 -*- more or less irregularly on migration, but 

 one which is unfortunately lost to our indigenous 

 avifauna for ever. We do not for a moment 

 believe that these odd birds which reach us will 

 ever attempt to settle in the British Islands as 

 permanent residents. The old race of indigenous 

 Bitterns has passed away. These we have every 

 reason to believe were sedentary ; whilst those 

 that visit us to-day do so to winter in our islands 

 only, just as is the case with so many other species, 

 some individuals of which, however, are indigenous 

 and breed with us, as, for instance, the Starling, 

 the Snow Bunting, the Song Thrush, and the 

 Goldcrest. Now, we think it may be taken as one 

 of the primary conditions of avine dispersal, that 

 species do not increase their range with a winter 

 movement, or attempt to colonise for breeding 



