144 COMMON BITTERN. 



plentiful than others ; the winter of 1830-31, is 

 mentioned, both by Mr. Selby and Mr. Yarrell, as 

 remarkable for the number of specimens which 

 were obtained. In the south of Scotland a similar 

 comparative abundance occurred ; several were 

 brought to me in Dumfries-shire ; and, on a visit to 

 Edinburgh, it was found that the bird preservers 

 there had obtained also a more than usual number 

 of specimens. Since that period, they have not 

 been seen in Scotland, except as stray individuals. 

 In Ireland, they are also occasionally met with. 

 On the continent of Europe, particularly the 

 southern and central parts, in suitable localities, 

 they are not uncommon, and appear to extend far 

 northward, being found in Scandinavia, Russia, 

 and Siberia;* a specimen from the Cape of Good 

 Hope before us does not differ very materially; 

 and it has also been met with in South Africa by 

 Dr. Smith. Japan j" and India J are given to it ; 

 che Dukhun is mentioned by Colonel Sykes, but 

 as a locality \There it occurs rarely. We have re- 

 ceived skins of a Bittern from continental India, 

 very nearly allied to the European birds, but we 

 have hitherto considered them distinct. 



The fact of the Bittern breeding in this countrv 

 takes place also only at uncertain seasons, ana 

 is, perhaps, owing at the time to particular cir- 

 cumstances. It does not occur with any degree of 

 regularity, nor are there any spots where the birds 

 return periodically at the period of incubation 

 * Yarrell. f Temminck, Lieut. Colonel Sykes, 



