578 ARDEIDvE. 



Pheasants among the high banks, between the broad 

 ditches of some rich water meadows, about half a mile 

 distant from the river Froome, this bird rose, and he shot 

 it. The flight was said to be rather rapid, and the bird 

 made a noise something like the tap on a drum, which in- 

 duced him to believe it was the Common Bittern, and as 

 such he sent it to Colonel George, of Penryn, in Cornwall, 

 who was at that time making a collection of birds. The 

 specimen was quite fresh when it arrived at Penryn, where 

 it was preserved ; but the sex was not noted. When 

 Colonel George disposed of his collection, this bird was 

 bought for Colonel Montagu, and was afterwards, with 

 his other birds, transferred to the British Museum, where 

 this example is still preserved. 



Dr. Edward Moore, in his Catalogue of the Wading 

 Birds of Devonshire,* besides referring to Montagu's bird, 

 says, " I have been so fortunate as to obtain a specimen, 

 shot at Mothecombe, near Plymouth, December 22, 1829." 



From Mr. J. R. Wallace, of Douglas, in the Isle of 

 Man, who possesses a considerable collection of preserved 

 birds, and other subjects in Natural History, I have also 

 received a letter, stating that a bird, which was believed 

 to be the Freckled Heron of Montagu, had been killed on 

 that island very recently. 



At the end of October, 1844, Sir William Jardine sent 

 me word that a specimen of the American Bittern had 

 been killed on the moor near his residence in Dumfriesshire, 

 during the preceding week, and was preserved in his col- 

 lection. Mr. Gould was on a visit at Jardine Hall at the 

 time. This is probably the first example shot in Scotland. 



A specimen has been killed at Fleetwood ; and J. H. 

 Gurney, Esq. has recorded another instance of this species 

 having been killed at Yarmouth. 



* Magazine of Natural History, vol. x. p. 320. 



