BITTERN. GRALLATORES. BOTAURUS. 33 



nearly to the confines of Asia ; and it is most abundant in 

 such countries as are intersected by water, or possess extensive 

 swamps or marshy woods. In the colder countries of Europe 

 it is regularly migratory, but it is permanently resident in 

 the warmer parts of the continent. Its internal anatomy 

 exhibits nothing very particular. The annulary cartilages 

 of the windpipe are not entire, but semicircular ; the other 

 part being supplied by a thin soft membrane ; and, like 

 many other kinds belonging to this family, it has but one cae- 

 cal appendage, about half an inch in length. From the re- 

 searches of Dr BARROW on the arterial system of birds, it 

 appears that Messrs MECHEL and NITZSCH are in error in 

 describing the two common carotid arteries of this bird as 

 uniting into a single trunk, as, in fact, they only appear to 

 do so from the close adhesion that takes place where the one 

 passes behind the other. 



PLATE 8. Represents the Bittern in a position in which it 

 does not seem to have been previously figured, but one 

 always assumed when at rest, or when seeking its prey 

 amongst reeds or long herbage. In this posture the 

 neck is bent in the form of a flattened letter S, with the 

 head resting nearly between the shoulders. The long 

 side-feathers of the neck are thus brought together, and 

 form a close and compact covering, leaving none of the 

 bare or downy part exposed, which latter must be the 

 case, if the bird kept the neck in the state of extension 

 in which it is usually depicted. This position of the 

 head is also the most advantageous for the ready cap- 

 ture of its prey, as it is always prepared to dart its bill 

 forward, like a javelin from its poise, the moment that 

 the desired object is within its reach. The present 

 figure is of the natural size. 

 The crown of the head is black, glossed with bronzed General 

 green ; the feathers of the occiput are margined with 

 cream-yellow, and rayed with black. From the angle 



VOL. II. C 



