COMMON BITTERN. 479 



another examined in February 1820, contained a Water Rail 

 wliole, and six small fishes. In the stomachs of two examin- 

 ed by Mr. Blyth, two dace, the remains of other fish, and 

 some large coleopterous insects were found. 



The specimen from which the representation of the Bittern 

 here given was taken, was killed some years ago in Denny 

 Bog, in the New Forest, and the bird was sent me by my 

 friend Major Gilbert of Bartley, near Lyndhurst. Mr. An- 

 derson says, that Manton Common and Twigmoor, near 

 Brigg, were favourite localities for the Bittern in Lincoln- 

 shire. It is sometimes killed in Scotland. Mr. Thompson 

 says some few breed in the most extensive bogs in Ireland, 

 and are occasionally met with elsewhere, but becoming gra- 

 dually more scarce. 



The Bittern visits Denmark, and Scandinavia generally, 

 during summer ; and, according to Pennant, is found in Rus- 

 sia and in Siberia, as far north as the river Lena. Southward 

 the Bittern is found generally over the European continent, 

 inhabiting Spain, Provence, and Italy. It is found in Bar- 

 bary ; and Dr. A. Smith brought specimens from South 

 Africa. The Zoological Society have received specimens 

 sent by Keith Abbott, Esq. from Trebizond, and the Rus- 

 sian naturalists, who went with the expedition to the Cauca- 

 sian range of mountains, found the Bittern inhabiting the 

 countries between the Black and the Caspian Seas. Pennant 

 says it is found in India and in China. Colonel Sykes says 

 it is rare in the Dukhun ; but that the species is identical 

 with the European bird ; and M. Temminck includes our 

 Bittern in his Catalogue of the Birds of Japan. 



The beak is greenish yellow, the upper mandible varied 

 with dark horn colour towards the point ; the lore green ; the 

 irides yellow ; the top of the head black, tinged with bronze 

 green ; the occipital feathers varied with transverse bars of 

 black and pale buff; all the upper surface of the body pale 



