46 Aiiiii;ii),n. 



DistriliHtiuu. — Oueensland, New Soutli Wales, X'ictoria, South Australia, Western Australia, 

 Tasmania. 



Ti'^V XCEPTING the northern and north-western portions of Australia the Bittern is f,'enerally 

 I A distributed in favourable situations over nearly the whole of the island continent, its 

 ran^'e also extending to Tasmania and New Zealand. It chiefly frequents rush-covered swamps 

 and marshes, and the reedy margins of rivers, creeks and lagoons, and is usually met with 

 singly or in pairs. In common with other species of Bittern fre(]uenting Australia, when 

 discovered it has the curious habit of standing stiff and erect, with the bill thrown back, or 

 pointed into the air in a line with the body. Nocturnal in habits, and uttering its deep booming 

 at night, the latter has often been mistaken for the bellowing of a bull, and so closely does it 

 resemble the cries of this animal, that I have known experienced bushmen to have been deceived 

 by the resemblance when they have first heard it. Among the number is Mr. S. Robinson, who 

 has spent many years on Buckiinguy Station, near Nyngan, New South Wales. While staying 

 at an overseer's house there one night, the cries of a pair of Bitterns led him to believe for the 

 time that some cattle had strayed into the paddock, until his friend undeceived him, and led 

 hnn the following morning to a rush and reed covered swamp. Here a Bittern was soon flushed, 

 and a little later another, while close at hand Mr. Robinson was fortunate enough to find its nest 

 in the rushes containing five eggs, the Iiird as usual assuming its upright and rigid attitude. 



In New South Wales the Bittern still haunts the neighbourhood of Sydney, being more 

 frequently met with in the rush enclosed swamps in the neighbourhood of Botany and Cook River, 

 and also in the upper parts of Narrabeen Lake. Fish, frogs and a(iuatic insects form its usual 

 food, the stomach of one examined, procured by the late Mr. Henry Newcombe at Lachlan 

 Swamp, Botany, containing several small more or less perfect examples of the acclimatised 

 Golden Carp. The older the birds are the darker they become on the upper parts, the feathers 

 of the back and scapulars showing very little traces of the pale ochreous yellow freckles on their 

 margins. Young birds may at all times be distinguished by their smaller size, by the richer 

 and larger extent of buff or rufous-bull freckles or markings, both on the upper and under surface, 

 and are altogether more conspicuously and richly marlced than when fully adult. 



.Mr. George Savidge wrote me as follows from Copmanhurst : — "The Bittern (Botiuwus 

 pariloptilus) is confined chiefly to the larger swamps below Grafton, where I have frequently 

 seen and heard it. I have also seen it on rare occasions in the neighbourhood of Copmanhurst, 

 but it has ne\er nested here to my knowledge." 



Mr. Joseph Gabriel sends the fjllowing note from Victoria: — "During my visit to the 

 Murray River I found two nests of the Bittern (IJntdiinis pceciloptilus) containing five eggs. The 

 nests are beautifully constructed, short pieces of rushes laid across and across, being slightly 

 interlaced and concave. The bed of the nest is about twelve inches above the water surface, 

 width fourteen or fifteen inches, while the points of the reeds Typlia an<;usiifolin in one place, 

 and Aniiido pIii'tiL;ii!itis in the other, meet above, forming a dome-like canopy, and giving the 

 nest a snug and comfortable appearance." 



From Melbourne, \'ictoria, Mr. G. A. Keartland wrote me : — " The Bittern (Botnimis 

 paciloptihis) is truly a swamp dweller. I never saw one at any distance from water, unless on 

 its way to a fresh feeding ground. They are nocturnal birds, but if disturbed during the day 

 are quite able to take care of themselves. They breed amongst rushes or Polygonum swamps. 

 When sitting on eggs the female often remains with her head thrown back and her h\\\ pointing 

 upwards." 



Mr. Edwin .\shby sends me the following note from Blackwood, South .Australia : — " Boianrus 

 pcecUoptilns is very common in the reeds of the River Murray, so much so that it is known 

 locally as the " Murray Bull," from its strange booming note resembling the bellow of a bull." 



