212 British Birds^ 



even of its nesting here are becoming more and more 

 rare and unusual, and ere long, it is to be feared, this 

 beautifully plumaged bird will be among the things 

 that " have been." Its nest is composed of sticks, 

 reeds, and like matters, built on the ground, at no 

 great distance from the water it frequents, and hid 

 among the plentiful water-growth found at the edges 

 of shallow standing waters. The eggs are three to 

 five in number, of an uniform olive-brown colour. — 

 Fig. % plate VIIL 



AMERICAN BITTERN— (5^/^^n/.y lentiginosiis). 



A bird of rare and most accidental occurrence in 

 England. 



FAMILY II— CICONIIDiE. 



WHITE STORK— (c:/^^^^;^ alba). 



A much too conspicuous object not to be noticed 

 whenever its visits have been paid to our shores. 

 Accordingly, we find it had long been known as a 

 visitor, though the instances of its occurrence in the 

 last generation or two are noticeably less frequent 

 than in former days. As breeding abundantly in 

 Holland, it would be strange if the Stork did not 

 come to us sometimes. 



BLACK STORK— (aV^;^/^ nigra). 



The Black Stork has occurred much more rarely 

 than its white congener. 



