340 THE HERON 



Another remarkable feature about the bittern, or rather the 

 species of the genus Botaurm and Ardetta, is found in the feathering of 

 the neck, the whole of the back of which is clothed simply by loose, 

 downy feathers, and this unprotected region is generally covered by 

 conspicuously long, loose, erectile feathers which clothe the sides of 

 the neck. These, usually, are drawn downwards and backwards, to 

 meet in the mid-dorsal line, and so shield this down-covered area. 

 But on occasion these elongated feathers can be drawn outwards, so 

 as to form a pair of great lateral shields, whose purpose must be 

 discussed later. Finally, the bittern has a pectinated claw on the 

 middle toe, as have so many other birds, and enormous feet. As to 

 the purpose of the pectinated claw we are absolutely ignorant, though 

 not a few wild guesses have been made ; the huge feet, it is clear, are 

 of considerable service in grasping reed-stems several at a time and 

 also when wading in shallow water where the bottom is formed of the 

 loose debris of aquatic vegetation, whereon walking would be impossible 

 but for the spread of the long, lithe toes. The bittern, by the way, is 

 a relatively much shorter legged bird than the heron, wherefrom it is 

 clear much shallower water must be fished, and this fits well with 

 what we know of its haunts and feeding-grounds the recesses of vast 

 reed-beds rather than the margins of the open water which they 

 surround. 



There are two other peculiarities of the bittern which must be 

 considered here. The first of these concerns the quite extraordinary 

 booming sounds produced, night and day, between January and June. 

 From time immemorial these have been what we may term the most 

 conspicuous features of this most inconspicuous of birds ; for even in 

 the days of its plenty it was known to hosts of the fen-dwellers, and to 

 most of those who affected a knowledge of natural history, only by 

 that strange cry which reverberated over the tops of the graceful 

 swaying reeds during the early months of the year. The bird itself 

 was never seen save by a few, and none knew how these strange 

 sounds were produced. Even to-day we cannot say whether they are 



