262 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xm. 



of the broken pieces of Stirpus lacustris has already been 

 described, and good photographs published. 



These youngsters as usual, varied in size, the largest being 

 probably eight days and the smallest not more than two days 

 old ; indeed, the halves of the shell from which it had emerged 

 were still lying on the nest. They were very much " alive," 

 and when they heard footsteps approaching, became quite 

 vociferous, but quieted down on perceiving that no food was 

 forthcoming. To an onlooker their mouths seemed quite 

 prodigious when opened to the fullest extent, so no wonder 

 Bitterns are capable of bolting a fish three inches long when 

 little more than a week old. This singular distension of the 

 mandibles is shown in a photograph by Miss Turner — 

 it gets less as they get older. Fear lest the old birds 

 should desert prevented very close examination of the nest, 

 but we did not fail to remark the young one's big feet 

 and legs, which seem very much out of proportion to 

 their meagre, attenuated bodies ; we took note also of the 

 tint of the skin, which was yellowish-pink. The eyes, which 

 protrude rather unduly, may be called greyish-hazel, varying 

 in some lights to yellow, but nothing is more difficult than to 

 describe irides in living birds. In an adult Bittern they are 

 normally yellow, but I have seen one in which they were red. 

 I can testify to the eagerness of the larger nestlings which 

 prevents the youngest of the family from always getting his 

 share of the food, and consequently Miss Turner is of opinion 

 that it rather often comes to grief. This, however, is a fate 

 which befalls many birds that one could name. 



The down with which these young Bitterns were clothed 

 was long, soft, and tan-coloured ; the chin and fore-neck were 

 almost bare, and there were patches of uncovered skin. The 

 legs, feet and cere I should call pale bluish, but the hue 

 intensifies apparently, or varies as the Bittern gets older. 

 As long as we remained near the nest the old bird kept about, 

 but Bitterns are wary. The food given to the young is 

 varied, sometimes it is a frog, sometimes an eel, but in the 

 case of the nestlings here described, we afterwards ascertained 

 that a part of it had consisted of water-beetles and marsh- 

 gnats. If the gape be abnormally large so is the gullet, the 

 one corresponds to the other. A full-grown Bittern would be 

 able to swallow a water-rat, I should say, and the process of 

 digestion is speedy. 



Garganey {Anas querquedula) . 

 Dr. Long tells me that he saw some Garganeys on one of 

 the Broads on April 7th, but none came my way. A Norwich 



