076 THE BITTERN. 



While engaged in its search for food, the Heron stands on the water's edge mostly 

 with its feet or foot immersed, and there remains still as if carved out of wood, with its 

 neck retracted, arid its head resting between the shoulders. In this attitude its sober 

 plumage and total stillness render it very inconspicuous, and as it mostly prefers to stand 

 under the shadow of a tree, bush, or bank, it cannot be seen except by a practised eye, in 

 spite of its large size. The back view of the bird while thus standing partakes largely of 

 the ludicrous, and reminds the observer of a large jargonelle pear with a long stalk stuck 

 in the ground. Sometimes it likes to squat on its bent legs, the feet being pushed out in 

 front, and the knees, or rather ankles, bent under its body. It generally suns itself in this 

 position, partially spreading the wings and slightly shaking them. Usually it sits with 

 the head resting on the shoulders ; hut if alarmed at any unexpected sound, it shuts 

 its wings, stretches its neck to its utmost extent, and then presents a most singular 

 aspect. 



The flight of the Heron is grand and stately, for the wings are long and wide, and 

 in spite of the long neck and counterbalancing legs, the bird moves through the air 

 with a noble and rapid flight. It is curious to see a Heron pass directly overhead. The 

 head, body, and legs, are held in a line, stiff and immovable, and the gently waving wings 

 carry the bird through the air with a rapidity that soems the effect of magic. 



The long beak of the Heron is very sharp and dagger-like, and can be used with 

 terrible force as an offensive weapon. The bird instinctively aims its blow at the eye of 

 its adversary, and if incautiously handled is sure to deliver a stroke quick as lightning at 

 the captor's eye. There seems to be some attraction in the eye, for a gentleman who 

 turned a tame Heron into an aviary where five owls were kept, found next day that the 

 Heron had totally blinded four owls and only left the fifth with a single eye. Even the 

 game-cock can make nothing of the Heron, as has been seen in a short battle that raged 

 between those birds. The cock made his first fly very boldly, but not being used to such 

 long-legged foes, missed his stroke. Returning to the attack, he was met by a blow from 

 the Heron which astonished him to such a degree that he declined further combat and 

 ever afterwards avoided so unpleasant an antagonist. The beak of a species of Heron set 

 upon a stick is used by some savage tribes as a spear. 



The nest of the Heron is almost invariably built upon some elevated spot, mostly the 

 top of a large tree, but sometimes on rocks near the coast. It is a large and rather clumsy 

 looking edifice, made of sticks and lined with wool. The eggs are from four to five in 

 number, and their colour is pale green. 



The general colour of the Heron is delicate grey on the upper surface of the body, 

 with the exception of the primaries, which are black, and the tail, which is deep slaty grey. 

 The head is very light grey, and the beautiful long plume is dark slaty blue. The throat 

 and neck are white, covered along the front with dasiies of dark blue-grey, and at the 

 junction of the neck with the breast the white feathers are much elongated, forming a 

 pendent tuft. The breast and abdomen are greyish white covered with black streaks. 

 The total length of the bird is about three feet. On the inside of the middle claw of 

 each foot the horny substance is developed into a sort of shallow-toothed comb, the use- 

 of which is very problematical. This peculiarity runs through the genus, and several 

 objects have been assigned to it, combing the plumage being the favourite theory, but 

 clearly untenable on account of the shortness of the teeth. 



The BITTERN is now seldom seen in this country, partly because it is a rare bird and 

 becoming scarcer almost yearly, and partly because its habits are nocturnal, and it sits all 

 day in the thickest reeds or other aquatic vegetation. The marshy grounds of Essex 

 seem to be the spots most favoured by this bird at the present day, although specimens 

 are annually killed in various parts of the country. 



In habits and food, the Bittern resembles the heron, except that it feeds by night 

 instead of by day. Like that bird it uses its long sharp beak as a weapon of offence, and 

 chooses the eye of its adversary as the point at which to aim. The feet and legs are also 

 powerful weapons, and when disabled from flight, the Bittern will fling itself on its back, 

 and fight desperately with foot and bill. 



