CHAPTER X 



THE COMMON AND THE LITTLE BITTERN 



The nest of the Common Bittern is formed of 

 sedges, twigs, and other coarse aquatic tangle, placed 

 on some tussock, or a lot of matted vegetation 

 caused by the reed-flags, docks, and other plants 

 decaying and dropping. It contains as a rule from 

 four to five eggs, of a light olive colour. As this 

 bird only frequents the most lonely and desolate 

 places, the nest, even where they bred in some of 

 the eastern counties, and in one place very close to 

 London, was very seldom met with by those who 

 searched for it. The marsh and fen-dwellers found 

 them, and the birds as well ; Bitterns at half-a-guinea 

 were worth looking for. They fetched this for the 

 table at one time : a friend of mine gave a guinea 

 for one in full breeding plumage, a fine male bird. 

 He hesitated over the price for a moment, but was 

 told he could take it or leave it, as they could easily 

 sell it at that price. As he really wanted one he 

 paid that for it, though quite recently a man I know 

 bouq-ht a fine fellow for five shillintrs. The last 

 authentic eggs, so far as I can learn, were taken 

 at Upton Car, near Acle in Norfolk. 



