NATURAL HISTORY. 



285 



The sitting bird looks up with jetty eye, 

 And waves her head in terror to and fro, 

 Speckled and vein'd with various shades of brown." CLARE. 



abound in the haunts of the bird. The spurs on the wings are 

 effective weapons against these reptiles, the horny appendages 

 of the beak assisting also in their destruction. 



913. Why are herons furnished with wings which appear to 

 be too cumbersome for their slight bodies ? 



Because those vast hollow wings are necessary in carrying 

 burdens, such as large fishes and the like, with which they would 

 be dragged to the earth were it not for the resisting force thus 

 provided. 



914. Why is so little known of the habits of the bittern ? 



Because it is a bird that loves seclusion, and fixes its haunts in 

 wild and desolate places. No temptation will bring it upon 

 cultivated or improved lands as a permanent resident ; and when 

 the scarcity of winter forces it from the upland, it comes down 

 reluctantly and stealthily, and seeks those streams and banks 

 which are the rudest and least frequented. 



915. Even when not upon the nest, the bittern squats among the rushes, or other 



tall stems, during the greater 

 part of the day. The mode of 

 squatting is rather peculiar, 

 and may he understood from 

 the accompanying figure. The 

 neck, when the head is in this 

 posture, is raised, and the 

 point of the bill directed 

 upwards, the body and legs 

 being at the same time in 

 such a position that a violent 

 thrust may be given by the 

 bill, if necessary ; and, as the 

 neck is powerful, and, at the 

 same time, readily moveable 

 in such a manner as to secure 

 the whole body from attack, 

 there are few birds of prey 

 that would venture to descend 

 upon the bittern in this posi- 

 tion, even if they should 

 see it. 



