■''ir.^.^:.s::'.'y. -~. 



I'HE BITTERN. 



The provincinl English names of this bird, such as " Mcro-dnira," and "Bull of the 

 frog," as well us many of its foreign appellations, allude to the bellowing or drumming 

 noise for which it is remarkable. This deep note of the " hollow-sounding bittern " is 

 heard at the breeding season, about February or March. 



As the day declines the bittern leaves his haunts, and rising .spirally, soars to a great 

 height in the twilight. Ordinarily it Hies very heavily, like the heron, uttering from 

 time to time a resounding cry. 



"This, without doubt," says Willughb}-, "is that bird our common people call the 

 night-raven, at whose 'deadly voice' the superstitious wayfarer of the night turned 

 pale and trembled. The common people have a great dread of it, imagining its cry 

 portends no less than their death, or the death of .some of their near relations; for 



liutaunis Stcllaiin. 



