198 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



Cjir 35itttnr. 



^ ^ T is a fact well known that the 

 '' ' ' birds of this family, when they 

 are attacked, frequently deprive 

 '^^~ their assailants of eye-sight. If 



j wounded, they will allow a dog to ap- 

 ^ proach, and then, although apparently 

 insensible, will, in an instant, with unerring 

 aim, dart at its eyes with a force, rapidity, 

 and certainty, which it is almost impossible to 

 guard against. " We remember a gentleman," 

 says a writer on the habits of this bird, " who 

 narrowly escaped. He had, as he thought, 

 killed a bittern, and deposited it in a large 

 pocket of his shooting-jacket, when fortunately, 

 as he was walking on, happening to feel some- 

 thing pushing itself between his arm and side, 

 he, just in time to save his eye, caught sight of 

 the beak of the bittern, which had only been 



