THE BITTERN. 275 



entirely destitute of covering. They remain about 

 three weeks in the nest, during which time the parents 

 feed them with much assiduity. The length of time 

 that they remain there forms a great contrast with the 

 little plovers, which scamper about and feed themselves 

 almost the instant that they are out of the shell. 



It is a general law of nature that that which is to be 

 subjected to the greatest labour in after life, always 

 receives the greatest nursing. The prey of the 

 plover is obtained without much more exertion than 

 going to the place where it is ; but the bittern has to 

 catch fish and frogs, and water lizards, all of which 

 require a good deal of effort, and could not be obtained 

 by a very young bird. There is, however, none of the 

 grace and elegance which characterize the fishing of 

 the heron in that of the bittern ; its captures are made 

 by stealth, either in the dark, or under cover of the 

 reeds and rushes. 



Except to reptiles, snails, slugs, little fishes, and 

 probably leeches, the bittern is an unoffending bird ; 

 and does not attack even a water mouse. Indeed, its 

 possession is not very well adapted for those small 

 quadrupeds that would have no objection to divide the 

 prey with the bittern, as it is too soft for burrowing. 

 Neither is the bird in great danger from enemies. The 

 eagles do not beat marshes ; the day hawks which kill 

 on the wing, do not often meet with the bittern, as it 

 is generally at rest during the day ; and the moor buz- 

 zards, though they do beat such places, are not fond 

 of pouncing on the bittern unless they can do it in the 

 rear ; and as the bird sits with its head about as high 

 as the reeds in which it is concealed, and scans the 

 whole horizon with the vigilance of a sentinel, it is not 



