BOTAURUS STELLARIS. 465 
Nycticorax pris au mois de juin, 1846”; but in spite of that it is 
evidently the egg of the Common Bittern. It is very likely that the 
natives should cheat him intentionally or by accident. 
[From M. Favier’s manuscript account of the Birds of Tangier {p. 129) 
(given by Colonel Irby to the University Museum of Zoology) it would seem 
that he knew the Bittern only asa bird of double passage near that town; but 
Colonel Irhy has added in a note that “Some Bitterns remain to nest in the 
lakes near Rabat, as I have seen eggs obtained near there.” ] 
§ 5240. One.——Wilstone Reservoir, Hertfordshire, 1849. 
From Mr. James Williams, ot Tring, 1853. 
This is one of four eggs which were taken in the year 1849 (or 
possibly 1850) in the great reed-beds bordering the above-named 
reservoir. The keeper, by name Norris, shot one of the birds and 
took the eggs to his master, the Reverend James Williams 
[cf. § 1553], who rents the shooting of the place of the Canal 
Company. Mr. Henry Harpur Crewe heard of the circumstance 
at the time and subsequently mentioned it to me. Soon after they 
were taken and blown, Mr. Williams let them all fall, but I have 
succeeded in mending them all. Mr. Alfred Crewe was staying 
with his grandfather in the immediate neighbourhood at the time 
the nest was found. This egg was kindly given to me by Mr. Williams 
in return for the mending of the rest. Two pairs of Pochards bred 
at the same place the year after. Mr. Crewe has one from a nest of 
seven eggs. ‘Teals also breed there. 
[By some mischance the late Mr. Clark-Kennedy (Birds of Berkshire and 
Buckinghamshire, p. 188, and Zoologist, 1868, p. 1256) attributed this nest to 
the wrong parish and county—Drayton-Beauchamp in Buckinghamshire ; 
but the error is not serious, as Wilstone is contiguous, and, though belonging 
to Hertfordshire, is almost surrounded by Buckinghamshire. } 
§ 5241. Two.—Holland. From Mr. Green, 185]. 
Mr. Green had five or six, and Dr. Frere told me there were some 
in Leadenhall Market this year. 
§ 5242. One.—Hbolland, April 1852. From Mr. Green. 
On the 30th of April I saw three Bitterns’ eggs, unblown, which 
Mr. Green had lately received from the other side of the water. 
PART IV. Ok 
