198 SHOOTING THE HERON. 



one of the most exciting winter sports to be had in 

 Great Britain. 



Foremost among fen birds stands the Bittern, 

 a frequenter of lonesome places and wild regions, 

 whose race seems fast wearing away, as far as relates 

 to these islands. His chief abode now is in the 

 bogs and mountain swamps of Ireland. To find him 

 is the difficult point for the shooter ; when met with 

 he is, generally, an easy prey. His flight is heavy 

 and slow, save when very suddenly flushed, when he 

 will soar perpendicularly, and with considerable rapi- 

 dity. When shooting with a double gun, on raising 

 a bittern which thus towers, we would recommend 

 one barrel being given to him on the instant; the 

 second may be sent after him when he has begun to 

 gyrate. If you bring down a bittern, and he is only 

 winged, or slightly hit, bear in mind, that he is at 

 such times very dangerous to approach : you will, 

 therefore, take such precautions to destroy it as may 

 least injure its plumage; for \ve count upon your 

 intention to preserve it, stuffed, as a memorial of no 

 very common exploit. 



SHOOTING THE HERON. 



As the days of hawking are now over or, at least, 

 on their very last legs it may be lawful to draw 

 trigger upon this bird ; a practice long, among sports- 



