THE BITTERN. 273 



instance of our country becoming" a possession for the 

 bittern, and pools of water," though we have a proof 

 as convincing of the truth of that character which 

 Isaiah gives the bird, in the converse of his position. 

 In many parts of England the cry of the bittern is not 

 heard for centuries ; and though it be found in some of 

 the more extended and lonely marshes, it is a rare bird. 

 In those parts of Scotland which lie upon the verge of 

 the mountains, or rather among the miry pools and 

 low heathers, that are usually found upon the second- 

 ary ridges, it is more frequently met with, though it be 

 not a very common inhabitant even there. What may 

 be the case with regard to Ireland we know not : a 

 fauna and flora of that island are sorely wanted ; and 

 it is almost a shame that we have them not. Half the 

 labour that has been wasted upon idle things respecting 

 Ireland might have done both, and though not in the 

 same hands certainly done them well. 



The bittern flits before cultivation ; and, where it is 

 met with, it never approaches the habitation of man, 

 though in situations near its habitation it resorts in the 

 night, or early in the morning, to feed by the pools and 

 streams among the distant fields. It is not very easily 

 seen on those occasions ; indeed, it is not very easily 

 seen any where. During the day it rises very reluct- 

 antly ; and when it is in the air, the twilight has closed 

 a good deal, and it even soars beyond the limits of 

 vision. If it be in the neighbourhood, however, it lets 

 itself be heard, and, like the corn-crake, there are very 

 many persons quite familiar with its voice that have no 

 idea what the bird is like. The bittern is a much 

 shorter and narrower bird than its congener, the heron, 

 but the body is larger in proportion to the whole extent. 



