ORDER GRALL.i:. 493 



reared in the nest for twenty days longer. Their first feathers 

 are red, like those of the old. The father and mother defend 

 them vigorously against the buzzards; and to repel the attacks 

 directed against themselves by birds of prey, they await 

 their approach in a standing posture, and soon force them to 

 retire by violent blows of the pointed bill. When a bittern 

 is wounded by a fowler, the latter should approach with 

 great caution, for the bird will direct the strokes of his bill 

 against the eyes, and even the boots cannot secure the legs 

 from his assaults. 



The flesh of the bittern is only eatable when the skin is 

 removed. If the latter be left, it will communicate, in the 

 cooking, to the entire body the strong marshy odour with 

 which it is impregnated. 



Bitterns are tolerably plentiful in all countries intersected 

 by water, and are found every where, where there are 

 marshes, sufficiently large to serve them for a retreat. They 

 are by no means rare in France, in England, and in Switzer- 

 land. They are also found in Silesia, in Denmark, and in 

 Sweden. But as tranquil waters are necessary for them, and 

 as they do not seem to seek out springs, long-pi'otracted frost 

 must be a season of exile for them from their favourite haunts 

 in the more northern regions. 



The Night Heron (Ardea Nycticorax) has no relation 

 with the raven, though its Latin denomination of Night 

 Baveti M'Ould seem to indicate that it had. This name has 

 been given to it in consequence of the hoarse and lugubrious 

 croaking which it utters during the night. According to 

 Belon, its old French appellation, roupeau, is derived from 

 its supposed habit of nestling in rocks. 



This bird, which equally frequents the sea-coast, the banks 

 of rivers, and of lakes, and the marshes covered with reeds, 

 &c., is more common in the south than in the north of 

 Europe. But it is every where more rare than the common 

 heron. The same species is also found in North America, 



