208 EEMIXISCEXCES OF A SPORTS^IAX. 



tack that of the bittern, the old birds being always so 

 vigilant in defence of their offspring. In February and 

 March the males make a deep lowing noise morning and 

 evening, but which ceases after the breeding season. 

 This sound was formerly believed to be made while the 

 bird plunged its bill into the mud, as Thomson observes ; 

 but it appears to be an erroneous opinion that the bittern 

 never eats fish, for Daniel says " that Latham remem- 

 bered to have seen two middle-sized trouts taken per- 

 fectly whole from the stomach of a bittern." In the 

 autumn it may be sometimes seen to ascend to a great 

 height in the air. In soaring thus aloft its movements 

 are spiral, making an unusual cry, different from that 

 which is heard in the spring when put up from amongst 

 the reeds and rushes. As it flies heavily, it is an easy 

 shot, and if only wounded will make a determined de- 

 fence with its bill and claws. When a sportsman goes 

 to pick up a wounded bird, he should be extremely cau- 

 tious how he stoops down, in order to prevent the bird 

 attacking his eyes, whilst lying on his back, to defend 

 himself. A gentleman once wounded a bittern, which 

 fell on the ice, and made such a desperate resistance 

 to his dogs, that he was obliged to kill it with his second 

 barrel. 



In the reign of King Henry the Eighth the flesh of 

 the bittern was considered a great delicacy. The flesh 

 has nothing of the fishy taste of the heron, and is some- 

 what similar, but superior, to that of the hare. 



The price of this bird in a poulterer's shop was about 

 ten shillings ; but as they are now become extremely 

 scarce, I do not think at present they could be had at 

 that price. The hind claw, which is extremely long, was 

 once conceived to be a great preservative of the teeth 



