COMMON BITTERN. 173 
of about six inches, and a roach of five and a half inches 
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 anda 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 Feestes” 
are “to be at xiit- 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 xviijl- vjs- viij4- 
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 natural curiosities may still exist 
in collections, although the virtue has gone out of them, 
and even their use become unknown. 
