330 THE BITTERN'S FEET. [CHAP. vn. 



(on account of the mud) pieces of water, called " Broads." 

 They are fringed with beds of reeds and rushes, and the 

 distinction of lake and land at their margin is but 

 ambiguously defined. For the sake of the litter which 

 the rank herbage of their banks and shallows afford 

 for cattle, they are annually mowed by men in boats 

 (not boots], who cany off their aquatic hay-harvest in 

 barges instead of waggons. 



Here we have the home of the Bittern, and after 

 our description the reader will not be surprised that its 

 nest and young should so seldom be found ; for many 

 of these marshy coverts are impenetrable to boats, and 

 the deep muddy bottom prevents all search by wading. 

 A winged sportsman would be the only one likely to 

 succeed. Itself is enabled to walk on the treacherous 

 morass by feet and claws of a peculiar construction. 

 Had the Bittern feet like the Emeu and the Ostrich, 



Foot of Bittern one fourth natural size. 



or even like the Stork, it would sink, and become inex- 

 tricably bog-foundered in haunts to which it trusts for 

 safety ; but by means of the long claws which stretch out 

 from its spreading toes, it is enabled to tread securely on 

 the floating platform of reeds and rushes. 



