2,20 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



those of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. 

 When disturbed, the sitting bird makes a loud 

 hissing, calculated to induce the belief that a snake 

 is concealed in the hole, a practice which has led to 

 the popular name of ' Snake-bird.' It also erects the 

 feathers of the head, twisting its neck about in a 

 way which is equally characteristic of the above 

 name, and when taken in hand will often feign 

 death." 



The Wryneck is more common in the south-east 

 of Enofland than in the west. I have come across it in 

 Wales, though it is not plentiful. Howard Saunders 

 considers it only a straggler to the north of England, 

 in Scotland it occurs on the east coast on the spring 

 and autumn migrations, and a few have been taken 

 in Ireland. It leaves this country in September for 

 the south. 



CASE 69. 



THE BITTERN. 



Order, He^'-odiones, Family, Ardeidce. 



This is undoubtedly a rare species in the present 

 day, although a century ago it was in suitable 

 localities fairly common as a breeding-species. 



In reofard to its diminution in our islands it is 

 interesting to note some of the causes assigned by 

 various ornithologists. To select three ; Howard 

 Saunders says, " The extensive reed swamps and 

 marshes to which the Bittern resorts during the 



