EUROPEAN BITTERN. 413 



Length to end of tail 30 inches ; extent of wings 46 ; 

 bill along the ridge 3, along the lower mandible 4 ; wing 

 from flexure 13^ ; tail 4j ; tarsus 3-^- ; hind toe 1|4, its 

 claw 1-j2j ; second toe 2^, its claw 1^ • third toe 3^, its 

 claw 1-j 2 ^-; fourth toe 2-jV, its claw -jV. 



Female. — The female is similar to the male. 



Habits. — The Bittern, which is said to be abundant in 

 most of the marshy districts on the Continent, and to have 

 formerly been plentiful in England, is now of rare occur- 

 rence in any part of Britain, and especially in Scotland, 

 where I have, however, seen many specimens, and even 

 obtained one for dissection. Montagu states that " in the 

 breeding season it is only found in the less frequented reedy 

 marshes and swampy moors well clothed with rushes, where 

 it forms a nest on some tump, by collecting a quantity of 

 sedge or other coarse plants together. It lays four or five 

 eggs of a light olive-green colour, inclining to cinereous. 

 At this season the male makes a singular bellowing noise, 

 vulgarly supposed to be produced by the bird putting his 

 bill into a reed. It is roused with difficulty from its lurking- 

 place, flies heavily, and frequently lights again at a small 

 distance ; so that it becomes an easy prey to the sportsman. 

 We are informed, however, that sometimes it soars to a pro- 

 digious height in the air with a spiral ascent, making at the 

 same time a singular noise. In the winter these birds leave 

 the more mountainous swamps, where it is probable the 

 greater part breed, and become more scattered in the low 

 moist situations ; and in severe weather, are found on the 

 sedgy banks of rivers and streams of water. It is, however, 

 become much more scarce than formerly, since its flesh has 

 been accounted a delicacy; and the poulterers value it at 

 not less than half-a-guinea. The principal food of this bird 

 is small fish, frogs, and insects ; the warty lizard also 

 becomes its prey, as we have found by dissection." 



The booming or bellowing noise emitted by this bird has 

 given rise to a great deal of fanciful conjecture. I have 

 never heard it,*- and cannot pretend to account for it. Mr. 



