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a long frost here. Now, thirty years ago it is admitted the 

 species appeared no more frequently than it does at the pre- 

 sent time, when there were a much greater quantity of suitable 

 places for it. Many naturalists are anxious to be supposed to 

 have found out, or to suggest, something new ; hence surmises. 

 Dr. Bree quotes from Yarrell two Little Bitterns, one a young- 

 bird, which was shot on the banks of the Thames in 1828 ; the 

 other, which was only seen, it is stated was in the same plu- 

 mage. Now, will any man undertake to say what state of plu- 

 mage an uncaptured Little Bittern is in when seen on the wing, 

 or even on the ground, at twenty yard off or less ? It is of no 

 importance to me raising the question as to the birds breeding 

 in England ; but, as I before remarked, the only convincing 

 proofs are the nest and eggs, or unfledged young. I cannot be- 

 lieve any wild bird would make a nest unless paired, or lay in- 

 fertile eggs ; and my theory is that the bird is, and always was, 

 a straggler in this country, lost in its migration. Montagu's 

 notice of a female in May, 1808, which he says contained nume- 

 rous eggs in its ovary, some of which were large enough to in- 

 duce a belief that it might have bred if it had not been shot, is 

 more feasible ; still, in spring all female birds that are going to 

 breed appear to have in their ovaries, before they are paired, a 

 cluster of eggs in a forward state, many more than they will lay 

 that season (except in the most exceptional cases, such as being 

 deprived several times of their eggs), and this occurs in birds 

 which have long journeys to take before arriving at their breeding 

 places. I believe the eggs come to maturity very soon indeed 

 after the birds pair. Does anyone suppose that if Little Bitterns 

 were never killed in England they would become commoner than 

 they are? Such a supposition appears to me simply absurd. 

 But even suppose they would become common, if they were 

 never seen what would it signify ? I do not want them killed, 

 and am as sorry as anyone can be to have them or any other bird 

 wantonly destroyed. It is probably owing to the number of eggs 

 coming forward in spring that the Pewit is enabled, on being de- 

 prived of its eggs, to lay again so speedily and to keep laying for 



