262 IN BIRD- LAND 



Country folk used to have an erroneous notion that 

 the Bittern, when " booming," thrust its beak into a 

 reed, which served as a kind of trumpet to swell the 

 sound. Others would say that it put its head under 

 water and blew with all its might, and so produced 

 its " boom," the sound being so strange that it has 

 given rise to many superstitious notions among 

 the ignorant and credulous. In the days of 

 falconry the Bittern was strictly preserved, as it 

 afforded very good sport, but which too often 

 resulted in the death or wounding of the falcon 

 employed. 



The interesting Ruffs are not now to be seen in 

 spring " sparring " with their beaks for the possession 

 of the Reeves the name given to the hen of this 

 species. Very many more birds might be mentioned 

 which have almost disappeared. 



As an illustration of life in the Eastern Counties 

 in the early part of the present century, I borrow 

 the following interesting passage from " Observa- 

 tions on the Fauna of Norfolk," by the late Rev. 

 Richard Lubbock : 

 % 



" When I first visited the Broads, I found here 

 and there an occupant, squatted down, as the 

 Americans would call it, on the verge of a pool, 

 who relied almost entirely on shooting and fishing 



