56 LOST AND VANISHING BIRDS 



. These were the swamps and bogs and fenlands, 

 and the drainage of these was one of the principal 

 causes of the bird's extermination in our land. 

 Possibly the esteem in which it formerly used to 

 be held as a table delicacy may also have been 

 responsible for its decrease, together with the 

 improvements in and increase of firearms. As 

 might naturally be expected, the Bittern lingered 

 long in the Fen districts — the last eggs being taken 

 in Norfolk in 1868. It is also said that a young 

 bird was caught in the Broad district so recently 

 as 1886, but whether it was bred there is not 

 absolutely certain. The bird also continued to 

 breed in Ireland down to the early part of the 

 nineteenth century, but now it is only known as a 

 winter visitor, as it is elsewhere. The Bittern has 

 a wide distribution outside the British Islands, 

 being found in all suitable localities throughout 

 Europe, Asia, and Africa. It does not penetrate 

 very far north, being unknown in Norway, and 

 only visiting Sweden up to the 60th parallel. In 

 Russia it is found up to latitude 62° ; in Asia 

 apparently not beyond latitude 57°.^ To Europe 



^ Seebohm obtained a skin in the valley of the Yenisei in 

 latitude 64°, but the evidence is not conclusive that the bird was 

 obtained there. 



