168 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 
with all the feathers, and occasionally an entire rat. 
It died in the severe winter of 1847; it was presumed 
from cramp, but from its unsociable nature was but 
little regretted. “During the calm summer nights,” 
writes Mr. Jecks, “I was frequently awoke with its 
very peculiar cry or boom; this call was continuéd for 
about two months, June and July, and nearly all 
night—‘ boom’! ‘boom’ !—in a loud yet pleasant tone. 
Some owls that were confined near him also did now 
and then to the moon complain, on which occasions 
the bittern would swell its voice to its utmost power, 
trying to drown their more feeble cries.”’ 
In Mr. Gurney’s collection are three nestling bit- 
terns, which were purchased by him of Mr. Knight, 
of Norwich, either in 1847 or 1848. Mr. Knight 
received them in the flesh, and when recently stuffed 
they passed into Mr. Gurney’s possession. I cannot 
now ascertain the exact locality from whence these 
birds were taken; but it was either Surlingham or 
Ranworth, the latter being by far the most likely. 
The Rev. J. Burroughes who, as an old sportsman 
in this county, has had much experience in marsh- 
shooting, assures me that he has killed many bitterns 
in his time, both in the early autumn and in winter, 
and has also seen their eggs from various localities. 
Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear likewise speak of receiv- 
ing the eggs of this species from marshes in Norfolk. 
William Hewitt, of Hoveton, informs me that he once 
found a bittern’s nest, many years ago, when searching 
for leaches in the moist bottoms of the coot’s nests, 
and in the bittern’s nest he likewise found three.* On 
one occasion he surprised a bittern in a reed bush, 
in the very act of booming, with its head and neck 
* T once took a leach from the stomach of a bittern, which 
lived in water for some time afterwards. 
