6 



in New Orleans. It has also been found occa- 

 sionally in this country, a few specimens having 

 been shot at different times ; one in Devonshire in 

 1 804 ; which, with other birds of Colonel Montagu's, 

 was presented to the British Museum. It makes 

 its nest in swamps, and lays four eggs, an inch and 

 a half in length, of a broad oval shape, rather 

 pointed at the smaller end, and of a uniform cine- 

 reous green colour. 



BITTEKN, COMMON. 



ABDEA STELLAETS, Lin. 



This bird, which is similar in size and habits to 

 the common Heron, was formerly plentifully dis- 

 tributed over this country, among the extensive 

 marshes and waste lands ; but since these began 

 to be reclaimed by the introduction of an improved 

 system of cultivation, the Bittern may be considered 

 only an occasional visitant at uncertain periods. 

 It is a shy, solitary bird, never seen on the wing by 

 day except when disturbed, but generally sitting 

 erect among the reeds and rushes in swampy situa- 

 tions. When it changes its haunts, which it does 

 in the dusk of the evening, it makes a loud boom- 

 ing noise, more particularly in the breeding season. 

 In handling a wounded Bittern it requires some 

 care to prevent a severe blow on the face from its 

 sharply-pointed bill. If it is not quite disabled, it 



