62 THE COMMON BITTERN. 



of Duns. In October 1882 Mr. Andrew Brotherston, bird- 

 stuffer, Kelso, informed me that a Bittern was seen and 

 heard at Lithtillum or Ferneyrig Bog, about 1874, by Mr. 

 W. Paterson, gamekeeper to Sir John Marjoribanks of Lees, 

 Bart. 



There can be little doubt that in ancient times, long 

 before the days of agricultural improvement and drainage, 

 while as yet the Merse was covered with bogs and morasses 

 which are now drained, the Bittern was found in every dis- 

 trict of the county ; l and it may be well supposed that King 

 James iv., who frequently resorted to Bathgate Bog 2 to fly 

 his Falcons at the Bittern there, would not fail to take an 

 opportunity of trying their mettle at this noble quarry in 

 some of the Berwickshire marshes, when he visited Lauder 3 

 and Hume Castle 4 with his falconers. 



The bird was in olden times esteemed as a luxury for 

 the table, and ranked with the Heron. 5 It was formerly 

 comparatively plentiful in the fen districts of England, 

 where it bred. It still visits many parts of that country, 

 and occasionally Scotland, on migration during the winter 

 months, especially in severe seasons. The latest recorded 

 instance of its nest being found in Great Britain was at 

 Upton, in Norfolk, on the 30th of March 1868. 6 



The Bittern is very shy and retiring in its habits, 

 hiding in thick reed beds during the day, and generally 

 leaving these only by night or when accidentally disturbed. 

 Seebohm says : " Its flight is slow, steady, and silent, and, 



1 See The Haigs of Bemersyde, by John Russell, Advocate, 1881. 



2 See Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, 1473-1498, Preface, 

 p. cclii. 



3 The King "raide to Lauder to the halkin" on the 4th of January 1489. 

 Ibid. p. 127. 



* The King went to Hume Castle, apparently on a hawking expedition, with 

 Hannay and Alexander Law, falconers, on the 19th of November 1496, and 

 remained there ten days. Ibid. p. 306. 



Birds of Norfolk, Stevenson, vol. ii. p. 173. 



6 Van-ell's British Birds, fourth edition, vol. iv. (1884-85), p. 209, 



