BITTERN. 503 
BOTAURUS STELLARIS, 
BITTERN. 
(PratE 39.) 
Ardea botaurus, Briss. Orn. v. p. 444, pl. xxxvii. fig. 1 (1760). 
Ardea stellaris, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 239 (1766); et auctorum plurimorum— 
Latham, Temminck, Naumann, (Bonaparte), (Dresser), &e. 
Botaurus stellaris (Linn.), Steph. Shaw's Gen. Zool. xi. p. 593 (1819). 
Botaurus lacustris, } me 
Bee oe aman dennis Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 596 (1831), 
Nycticorax stellaris (Linn.), Hempr. et Ehr. Symb. Phys. Aves, fol. m (1832 . 
Butor stellaris (Zinn.), Swains. Classif. B. ii. p. 854 (1837). 
Ardea stellaris capensis, Schlegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Ardee, p. 48 (1863), 
The Bittern is occasionally found in all parts of the British Islands, and 
may probably still breed in some of our largest marshes, especially in 
Treland and Scotland, but can scarcely be regarded as more than an acci- 
dental straggler on migration. It was probably at one time a common 
resident in this country. 
The Bittern breeds from the Atlantic to the Pacific; but its range does 
not extend very far north. It has not occurred in Norway; but in South 
Sweden it is found up to lat. 59°, and has been shot there as late as 
November. In West Russia it is a summer visitor as far north as lat. 
62° ; but in East Russia and the valley of the Obb it has not been found 
north of lat. 57°. In the valley of the Yenesay I obtained a skin in lat. 
64°, said to have been shot in that district. It is a summer visitor to 
Lake Baikal, throughout the valley of the Amoor, and East Mongolia. 
It is found throughout China and Japan. It is a resident in the Azores, 
and occurs accidentally on the Canaries and Madeira. It is a resident 
throughout Africa in all suitable localities, as far south as the Cape Colony. 
It is a summer visitor to Europe south of the Baltic; but on the northern 
shores of the Mediterranean it is principally known as passing through on 
migration, though a few remain to breed and a few are seen during 
the winter. It is a resident in Palestine and Asia Minor, breeds in South 
Russia, Persia, and Turkestan, Northern and Central India, and has 
occurred in Burma. 
Of the habits of the Bittern a great deal has been written, but very little 
has been observed. The mystery which attaches to a bird so skulking in 
its nature that comparatively few ornithologists have ever seen it alive, but 
which makes its presence known by its extraordinary note, causes it to be 
regarded with peculiar interest. In this country it has become very rare, 
