THE COMMON BITTERN. 415 



egg in Norfolk has been thought worthy of being recorded 

 in the transactions of the Linnean Society; and even the 

 appearance of a bird at any season finds its way into the 

 provincial newspapers or the magazines devoted to natural 

 history. Stuffed specimens are, however, to be seen in 

 most collections, where its form and plumage may be 

 studied, though its habits can only be learnt, at least in 

 England, from the accounts furnished by naturalists of a 

 past generation. 



The Bittern is a bird of wide geographical range, as it 

 resorts, more or less, to all countries of Europe and Asia. 

 Specimens are said to differ much in size, some being as 

 large as the Heron, others considerably less ; but there is 

 no reason to suppose that they are of different species, a 

 similar variation having been observed in other birds, as 

 in the Curlew, for example, of which I have had in my 

 possession at once four or five specimens all of different 

 dimensions. 



Willughby says that the Bittern builds its nest on the 

 ground, and lays five eggs, which are white, tinged with 

 ash or green. The old bird, if wounded, defends itself in 

 the same way as the Heron. 



THE AMERICAN BITTERN. 



BOTAURUS LENTIGINOSUS. 



Back and scapulars chocolate-brown, with purple reflections, the edges of the 

 feathers paler ; under plumage ochre-yellow streaked with chestnut ; bill 

 greenish yellow, dusky above ; legs greenish. Length twenty-three inches. 

 Eggs ash-green. 



A RARE visitor in these islands, but of common occurrence 

 in North America. In habits, note, and food, it seems to 

 differ in no material respect from the European species. 



