190 BITTERN. 



One species has obtained the appellation of the night- 

 raven, from its flight in the night-time, and from a very 

 singular hoarse noise. 



THE BITTERN. 



The bittern is a bird of the heron kind ; distinguished 

 from all others by its dismal hollow note, of which it is 

 impossible to convey any adequate idea to such as have 

 never heard it: it is not unlike the interrupted bellowing 

 of a bull, but more continued and hollow ; and might be 

 supposed to proceed from some formidable animal, resident 

 at the bottom of deep waters. The bird, however, that 

 utters this terrific noise, which may be heard at the dis- 

 tance of a mile, is not so large as the heron. It has a 

 short pendant crest of a black colour ; and the plumage 

 in general is of a pale dull yellow, spotted and barred with 

 black. 



The bittern is a solitary bird, concealing itself in the 

 sedge by day, and beginning its call before evening, 

 booming six or eight times ; and, after a silence of some 

 minutes, renewing its cries. It is chiefly heard from the 

 commencement of spring till the end of autumn; and 

 however its sound may startle and alarm those who are 

 ignorant whence it proceeds, there is every reason to 

 suppose it the call of courtship, or the expression of plea- 

 sure. The vulgar entertain a notion that it thrusts its bill 

 into a reed, which serves as a pipe to swell its notes above 

 the natural pitch ; and in some parts a tradition prevails, 

 that it immerges its head into the water, and blows in that 

 position with all its strength. 



Though the bittern agrees with the heron tribe in many 

 particulars, in its manners and appetites it is essentially dif- 

 ferent. It is neither so destructive nor so voracious ; is 

 satisfied with frogs, insects, and vegetables ; and is retired 

 and timid in all its habits. The flesh is highly esteemed 

 by some epicures ; for which reason this bird is as eagerly 

 sought for by the fowler, as it is shunned by the simple 

 peasant. 



