RETURN OF THE BITTERN. 93 



to begin with, I was too excited to hold him, and he 

 could not be tucked under my arm because of sundry 

 fierce thrusts upwards which he made with his bill. We 

 had for the moment lost our " sense of direction," but 

 guided by the sunset glow we stumbled on and soon hit 

 our trail and emerged triumphant. After stowing the 

 bird safely away for the night, by alternate rowing, 

 cycling, and rowing we returned home, finally reaching 

 my house-boat at about 10.15. I changed into dry 

 clothes, and in spite of considerable anxiety, slept soundly 

 till 2 a.m. 



We started away again at 3 o'clock, this time provided 

 with wading-boots, cameras, and other necessaries — as 

 much as two bicycles could possibly carry. By 4 a.m. 

 I had the young Bittern once more in my arms, safe and 

 sound. When I put liim on the ground he stalked off 

 in a solemn, and what was intended to be a very dignified, 

 manner, but in reality he appeared very ludicrous, for 

 with big green legs and splayed feet, drooping wings and 

 head held high in the air, he looked Hke a tall, gaunt old 

 woman masquerading in bird's attire (Plate 2). But 

 when put back into his natural surroundings, one saw 

 how this seemingly ludicrous attitude was an instinctive 

 pose — tending to self-preservation, and rendering him 

 more or less inconspicuous. 



It seems curious that so big a bird should be able to 

 support itself on the slender reed-stems, but we had to 

 a great extent been guided to the vicinity of the 

 young by the bent and broken reeds, many of them 

 withered and dying, but unmistakable evidence of the 

 Bitterns' whereabouts. 



The young bird emitted a curious bubbling note ; this 

 can easily be imitated by blowing through a straw into 

 a glass of water, and is quite distinct from the hoarse 

 call-note of the adult bird, which is not unlike that of the 

 Great Crested Grebe, but shorter and sharper. 



Having finished photographing the young Bittern, we 

 hunted round after the nest, but being anxious for the 



