36 ARDEIDA 
1842. In the early part of the last century this species 
was resident in Ulster, Munster and Connaught (Ussher). 
In the olden days the Bittern was very common in the 
Kast Anglian Fens; like the Heron it was esteemed a great 
delicacy, indeed a luxury for the Royal table, consequently 
this bird and its eggs were protected by law. 
Geographical distribution. —'The Bittern breeds in 
Southern Europe, Asia as far east as Japan, and North 
Africa, including the islands off the west coast. In spring 
it migrates as far north as lat. 60° in Europe and Western 
Asia. 
DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 
PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial.—Top of head and nape 
of neck, black; primaries and wing-coverts, barred with 
black and reddish-brown ; ground-colour of the rest of the 
plumage, buff, barred and vermiculated with black; neck- 
feathers elongated, forming an erectile frill. 
Adult female nuptial.—Similar in plumage to the male. 
Adult winter, male and female.—Similar to the nuptial 
plumage. 
Immature, male and jfemale.—Primaries and wing- 
coverts, brownish. 
Brak. Greenish-yellow. 
Fret. Bright green; toes, very long. 
Iripes. Yellow. 
AVERAGE MEASUREMENTS. 
TOTAL LENGTH ... ne Se, 120 aan, 
WING ae te aa seen. oli Sy 
BEAK ms. cA, ban ies ets. 
TARSO-METATARSUS ee ser KOT ah 
Hee An a a, seo. Ol Sous bame 
Allied Species and Representative Forms.—B. capensis 
is the South African representative. 
