LETTERS 



SUPPOSED LITTLE BITTERN IX SHROPSHIRE. 



To the Editors of British Birds. 



Sirs, — For exactly a fortnight — May 14th to 27th, 1913 — 

 ■a mysterious bird was heard, calling from the marshy border of Bettcn 

 Pool, near Shrewsbm-y. Cartwright, the keeper, an observant man, 

 i;vho is familiar with the notes of all the ordinary water-fowl (which 

 Tesort to the pool in considerable variety) reported it to me as soinething 

 •entirely different from any bird-note he had ever heard. I went 

 dowTi there several times, and on one occasion (23rd) was fortunate 

 enough to hear the bird call repeatedly. This was between 9 and 10 

 p.m. The note sounded like " Cuc-cuc-cuc-cuc-gwrr " ; the last 

 syllable drawn out and guttural in tone. The number of "cues" 

 varied from three to five. The call was fairly loud, but the long final 

 note the loudest, so that at a distance this alone would be audible. 

 The bird seldom began till dark, but on two days it began about 8 p.m. 

 It often kept calling intermittently all night long. On the 2oth, 

 •Cartwright and I went with the punt and searched carefully the marshy 

 ■covert where it seemed to stay ; first silently and then trying various 

 stratagems to alarm it and make it take wing. All in vain, however, 

 and the bird finally disappeared without anyone having had even a 

 glimpse of it. The last time it was heard was on the night of May 27th. 

 I have searched all my available ornithological works, and can find 

 only one species that at all answers to the description — the Little 

 Bittern {Ardetta miniiia). I should be glad of suggestions from other 

 •ornithologists, especially any who may have had actual acquaintance 

 with the Little Bittern in other coimtries. I may add that the species 

 is known to have occmTed six times in Shropshire. 



H. E. Forrest. 

 Shrewsbury, June 3rd, 1913. 



[The note of the Little Bittern seems to me to bear a very close 

 resemblance to the noise made by a man driving a pile with a wooden 

 mallet. Generally about three blows seem to be given at short intervals, 

 And then a pause takes place before the noise is renewed. — F.C.R. J.] 



