58 THE COMMON BITTERN. 



Vast numbers of Wild Ducks and water- fowl of many- 

 kinds found a plentiful supply of food in the pools and 

 marshes of the Mire, and shelter as well as safe breeding 

 quarters in its almost impenetrable reed beds. On the 

 swamps the Black-headed Gulls {Larus ridibundus) bred in 

 colonies, and enlivened the scene by hovering in noisy 

 circling flocks over their nests, their large spotted eggs 

 being much prized by the herd boys who loitered on the 

 neighbouring banks in charge of the stock which grazed in 

 the drier parts of the bog. In the mornings and evenings 

 the Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) could be seen passing 

 slowly over the rushes, and quartering the wet meadow 

 land like a well-trained setter, in search of prey to carry 

 to its nest of hungry young in the thickest part of some 

 neighbouring reed bed. As evening advanced many sounds 

 fell upon the ear — the peculiar humming of the Snipe as the 

 bird descended on tremulous pinions from soaring at an 

 immense height to its home amongst the tussocky grass 

 and rushes ; the continual " Crek, crek, crek," of numerous 

 Landrails {Grcx pratcnsis) along the grassy edges of the 

 marsh ; and the chattering song of the Sedge Warbler 

 (Acroccphalus schcenohccnus) amongst the low thick clumps 

 of alder and grey willow bushes ; whilst, later on, at night- 

 fall, the loud " Quack, quack," of the Wild Duck, the harsh 

 scream of the Heron, and the boom of the Bittern resounded 

 through the air. In winter, after floods of rain, and when 

 heavy snow melted, the whole Mire often presented the 

 appearance of a far-extending loch, and thousands of wild- 

 fowl were then seen frequenting its waters. Such was the 

 state of Billie Mire down to the end of last century. 



The accompanying plan shows the western part of the 

 Mire, stretching from the march between the lands of 

 Blanerne and Billie to the road between Auchencrow and 

 Berwick, as it was in 1759 ; and the eastern part, extending 



