COMMON BITTERN. 165 



if furtlier confirmation of their identity were wanting, 

 we have the fact, that a young bird, caught alive in the 

 very same locality, on the 25th of May, was purchased 

 by Mr. Cole, a bird preserver, in Norwich, on the 28th, 

 and sold by him a few days later to Mr. F. Bell, jun., 

 of the Bracondale nursery. From a comparison of the 

 above dates, there can scarcely be a doubt, I think, that 

 this nestling, which, when first seen by my friend Mr. 

 Southwell, on the 10th of June, appeared about a month 

 old, was the result of a more successful attempt on the 

 part of the same old birds to rear their offspring. When 

 captured it was partly in the down, but on the 10th of 

 June, Mr. Southwell found the wing feathers well formed 

 and about half gi'own, only a patch of down remaining 

 at the back of the head. Owing to my absence from 

 Norwich, I was unable to visit this most interesting 

 bird until the 26th of June, when all traces of down 

 had disappeared, and a slight crest was perceptible about 

 the head, but the quills of the primaries still exhibited 

 a very juvenile appearance. It appeared to be in 

 good health, and fed heartily on small birds and fish, 

 young frogs, raw meat, and worms ;* in fact seemed not 

 at all particular as to its diet. Before strangers it was 

 extremely shy, endeavouring to hide behind any object 

 in its cage, and when in action, from its stealthy 

 movements and outstretched neck, resembled some 



* Sir Thomas Browne mentions one " kept in a garden for 

 two years," whicli was fed on " fish, mice, and frogs ; in default 

 whereof, making a scrape for sparrows and small birds, the bitour 

 made shift to maintain herself upon them." In like manner in 

 " British Birds in their Haunts," by the Rev. C. A. Johns, a captive 

 heron is described as perching on an old carriage wheel in the 

 corner of a court yard, and lying in wait for sparrows and martins. 

 On one occasion it was seen to pierce a martin as it flew past, and 

 having plunged its prey several times in a water-trough, swallow 

 it entire. 



