218 On the Occurrence of some of the Rarer Species of Birds 



ruslies close to the town, on the bank of the river Tone. On hearing 

 it my friend at once left his counter, and took his gun, and in ten 

 minutes returned with a fine Bittern, which is now in his collection. 

 In some seasons they are numerous in suitable places. In the 

 winter of 1875-6 three were killed on our river Avon; one just at 

 the back of the Vicarage, by F. M. E. Jervoise, Esq. ; a second, by 

 the Hon. Duncombe Bouverie; and a third, by Mr. J. Taunton. 

 In the same season five more were procured from the neighbouring 

 river, the Test. Christchurch Harbour is a favorite landing-place 

 for them at their migrations. On one occasion a boy ran in and told 

 one of the gunners that there was a fowl in one of the clumps of 

 rushes fringing the river, and that he had been pelting it with 

 stones but could not make it move; it turned out to be, as he 

 thought, a Bittern, which was soon brought in. Another pair, 

 about the same time, were killed by a gunner right and left as they 

 flew over his head in the evening. In one season, about twelve 

 years ago, they were so numerous that Hart had more than thirty 

 specimens sent in to him from various quarters. And again, in 

 1879, he had ten specimens sent in between December 3rd and 

 December 16th, besides one or two others previously. Its being so 

 seldom seen is easily accounted for by its never willingly showing 

 itself during the daytime ; and also from the extraordinary postures 

 it assumes when hiding in the rushes, so that it looks, even if the 

 eye happens to light upon it, more like a patch of dead rushes than 

 a living bird. It will never take tving unless actually compelled, 

 and will often escape being flushed by a dog, by clutching hold of 

 the rushes with its long claws, and thus drawing itself up beyond 

 reach of danger. 



Arclea Minuta. " Little Bittern .^' Sometimes, doubtless, over- 

 looked from its "littleness." The adult male is a very pretty little 

 bird, showing a beautiful mixture of olive greens and buff. The young 

 bird, however, is entirely different, being streaked and spotted with 

 ochrous browns. I have various notices of its occurrence. Mr. 

 Baker tells me one was killed at Stourton, in 1820, by Jacob Riddick, 

 a gamekeeper of Sir R. C. Hoare, a mature male bird. One very 

 good adult specimen was killed here in the parish by James Butler, 



