HERONS. 263 



Eittour, was probably derived from its voice, 

 which, uttered as the bird rises spirally to a vast 

 height in the dusk of evening, is thought to re- 

 semble the deep-toned bellowing of a bull. The 

 names which are given to the species, in some of 

 the rural districts of England, such as Bull of 

 the bog, Mire-drum, &c., refer to this booming 

 sound. 



The Bittern is a bird of much beauty; the 

 ground-colour of its plumage is bright buff, 

 marked with innumerable streaks, freckles, and 

 crescents of black; the crown is black, with 

 green and purple glosses. The plumage of the 

 neck can be thrown forward, and made to assume 

 the appearance of a thick ruff. The legs and feet 

 are grass-green. 



In former years the Bittern was common through- 

 out Great Britain, but owing to the increase of 

 cultivation, the reclaiming of waste-lands, and the 

 drainage of marshes, it has gradually become less 

 frequently met with, and may now be classed 

 among the" rare British birds. Yet, from cir- 

 cumstances unexplained, it is even now, in some 

 years, comparatively numerous in favourable lo- 

 calities, where, perhaps, for several seasons be- 

 fore and after, not a specimen is to be seen. Its 

 occurrence is therefore considered as an event of 

 sufficient interest to be recorded. The winters 

 of 1830-31, 1831-32, and 1837-38, were remark- 

 able for the number of specimens that were pro- 

 cured. Instances of the breeding of this species 

 are rare in England. 



On the continent of Europe, however, the Bit- 

 tern appears much more common ; nor is it con- 

 fined to this quarter of the world ; for specimens, 



