THE BITTERN 57 



the Bittern is principally known as a summer 

 visitor, though some few birds winter on the 

 northern shores of the Mediterranean. 



The habits of a bird of such a secretive nature 

 as the Bittern are very difficult to observe or 

 understand, and little surprise can be felt at the 

 amount of mystery and superstition that has 

 surrounded them. The bird's haunts are also most 

 difficult of access, being by preference the vast 

 reed beds and swamps. Although apparently 

 migrating in companies, at other times the Bittern 

 is a remarkably solitary bird, and one that delights 

 to skulk amongst the cover, taking wing with 

 reluctance, and depending largely for safety upon 

 the resemblance of its brown pencilled plumage to 

 the vegetation in which it is hiding. The Bittern 

 is apparently more nocturnal in its habits than 

 its allies the Herons, and during the pairing season 

 its singular awe-inspiring cry or " boom," peculiar 

 to the male, is heard at intervals all through 

 the night — a weird, indescribable double call 

 said to be produced as the bird inhales and 

 exhales its breath and stands with neck out- 

 stretched and bill pointing upwards to the sky. 

 So curious is the sound, that the country-folk used 

 to say the bird produced it by blowing into a 



