COMMON BITTERN. 173 



of about six inclies, and a roacli of five and a lialf inclies 

 in length, with the debris of water beetles (Notonecta) 

 and Dytiscus marginalis, with their wing-cases complete. 

 Another example, killed in December, 1865, contained a 

 perch seven and a half inches long, and various small 

 fragments of the common reed, swallowed, no doubt, 

 accidentally when killing the fish ; and an extremely 

 fine bird from Ludham, sold in our fishmarket in 

 October, of the same year, weighed three pounds and 

 a half, but had an eel twelve and a half inches long in 

 its gullet. Mr. Lubbock mentions one which was shot 

 with a water-rail whole in its stomach. 



Under the old name of " bittour " this species is but 

 once entered in the L'Estrange accounts, and is there 

 specially mentioned as "kylled wt ye crosbowe," but 

 there is no reference to it as affording sport for the 

 falconer in those days, although, according to Messrs. 

 Brodrick and Salvin, it was a very favourite quarry for 

 heronhawks when formerly abundant. As an article for 

 the table it ranked with the heron in the olden time ; 

 indeed to my taste it is infinitely superior, having more 

 of the true wild fowl flavour, and may, therefore, as 

 Sir Thomas Browne hath it, "be esteemed the better 

 dish." In the Northumberland Household Book, " Byt- 

 ters for my Lordes owne Mees at Principal Peestes" 

 are " to be at xii<i- a pece so they be good," being the 

 same price as pheasants in those days ; and at the 

 Kertlinge festivities, in the Lord North accounts, five 

 dozen and ten " Bitters " are entered at xviij^^- vjs. viij<i- 

 A curious superstition with reference to this bird is thus 

 mentioned by Willughby : " Its hind claw is remarkably 

 long, and being a supposed preservative for the teeth, 

 is some times set in silver and used as a tooth pick." 

 Probably some of these natm'al curiosities may still exist 

 in collections, although the virtue has gone out of them, 

 and even their use become unknown. 



