FEN-BIRD SHOOTING. 10a 



loiider, and is heard at a mile distance, as if issuing from some for- 

 midable being that resided ^ at the bottom of the waters. This is 

 ' the bittern, whose windpipe is fitted to produce the sound for 

 wliich it is remarkable ; the lower part of it dividing into the lungs 

 being supplied with a thin loose membrane, that can be filled with 

 a large body of air, and exploded at pleasure. These bellowing ex- 

 plosions are chiefly heard from the beginning of the spring to the 

 end of autumn, and are the usual calls during the pairin°' season. 

 From the loudness and solemnity of the note, many have heen led 

 to suppose that the bird made use of some external instrument to 

 produce it, and that so small a body could never eject such a quan- 

 tity of tone. The common people are of opinion that it thrusts its 

 bill into a reed, which serves as a pipe for swelhng the note above 

 its natural pitch, while others imagine that the bittern puts its head 

 mider water, and then, by_ blo^ving violently, prodaces its boomings. 

 The fact is, that the bird is sufficiently provided by nature for this 

 call, and it is often heard where there are neither reeds nor water 

 to assist its sonorous invitations. It hides in the sedges by day, 

 and begins its call in the evening, booming six ^ or eight times, and 

 then discontinumg for eight or ten minutes, it renews the same 

 somid. In Scotland, the sound of the bittern is so very common 

 that every child is familiar with it, though the bu'ds, from being 

 shy, are not often seen. The poet Thomson seems to have had a 

 very erroneous opinion of the manner in which the bird produces 

 the noise, when he says : — 



" So that scarce 



The bittern knows his time with bill engulfed. 



To shake the sounding marsh," 

 On the contrary, I have repeatedly remarked that the bittern 

 usually booms while flying high in the air ; its lofty spiral flight 

 is, indeed, a matter of common remark — 



" Swift as the bittern soars on spiral w'mg"—So2itJiey. 

 A line which, I may remark, is not very ornithological, inasmuch as 

 neither the bittern nor any other kuid of bird has spiral wings. 

 Southey, however, seems to have been well acquainted with the 

 boom of the bittern — 



" At evening, o*er the swampy plain. 



The bittern's boom came far," 

 The shooting of the bittern can scarcely be called a sport or 

 amusement, as their numbers are but limited, and they are seldom 

 sought for as especial objects of game. They are easily shot. 

 They rise heavily on the wing, and move forward in a slow and 

 deliberate pace, and are, therefore, a good mark for the fowler, _ We 

 have seen them, however, rise rapidly, and with sphal m^otions, 

 and when this is the case they are not very readily shot. A double 

 gun is of advantage in seeldng for this shy bird. When wounded 

 it fights hard, and when driven to extremity will attack a man with 

 vigour, and the most undaunted courage, striking his legs with its 

 bill, and even in some cases aiming a blow at his head. This bkd 



