COMMON BITTERN. 163 



beheld one of those marvellous sunsets for which the 

 flat waters of this county have been always celebrated.* 



In the foreground a green belt of reeds and sedges 

 fringed the wide expanse of Wroxham Broad, across 

 whose rippling waters flashed a light pathway as of 

 molten gold ; and as onward and upward the eye sought 

 to trace out that heavenward track to the focus of all 

 its brightness, the limit of human vision was reached in 

 one transplendent halo. Just then, as if to add a 

 further charm to that which in itself appeared perfec- 

 tion, a rainbow of unusual brilliance spanned both 

 broads and river ; its noble arch being only less vividly 

 reflected on the clouds beyond. 



It were vain, indeed, to attempt by pen or palette to 

 depict that glorious sky, but looking far into the vista 

 of orange-tinted clouds, opening out, as it were per- 

 spectively, into untold glories, a strange yearning 

 seemed to possess one's mind, and thoughts, too deep 

 for utterance, were symbolized only in the " ! ho^v 

 heavenly !" of our finite judgment. Yet, already, whilst 

 wrapt in the contemplation of that gorgeous spectacle, a 

 change, gradual though not unfelt, was stealing over the 

 scene, and as the cool greys once again took the place 

 of the rose-colour and the violet, and the orange and 

 crimson became absorbed, one turned, almost with a 

 shudder, to the now cold dark stream, and with a 

 chilling sense of exclusion came a marvelling as to 

 those things which " eye hath not seen nor ear heard," 

 nor the heart of man hath virtue " to conceive." 



Although remaining on board the boat that night, 

 with the hope of hearing its booming notes, the 

 bittern did not gratify me in that respect, and probably, 

 after sunset, took flight to some distant part of the 



* See Walter White's " Eastern England" and Nail's "History 

 of Great Yarmouth." 



Y2 



