ARDEIDJE. 193 



a large flight visited Cornwall at that time. Several were shot near Plymouth in 

 December 1878 and Januarv 1879. In December 1870 one was killed in the parish 

 of Modburv and four near Xingsbridge. In December 1889 three wei-e killed in North 

 !l)evoa. In November and December 1890 and January 1891 at least a dozen were 

 shot at Slapton Ley (W. Toll, in lift.), and in January 1891 several occurred at Totnes 

 (R. P. N., in lift.). Dr. E. Moore mentions two .specimens obtained on the Exein May 

 (Trans. Plyni. Inst. ISoO, p. 324) ; Mr. R. Gumming obtained one near Exeter in March 

 1849 ; one occurred near CuUompton early in March 1890 ; and one, recorded as a 

 "Little Bittern," was shot near Monk Okehampton in June 1889 (Zool. 1890, pp. 105, 

 185). With the above exceptions the Bittern has been obtained only in the mouths of 

 November, December, January, and February. The principal localities wliere it has 

 occurred in Devon are the Tawton marshes above Barnstaple, Brauuton Marsh, and 

 the vallej' of the Taw ; the marslies of the Culm, Exe, and Clyst ; Torcrois, Siajiton, 

 and other Leys near Kingsbridge; the neigiibourhood of Plyuiouth and the valley of 

 the Tamar. 



The Bittern does not appear to have been any more plentiful in Polwhele's time in 

 this county than it is at present. 



American Bittern. Bofaurus lentiyimsus (Mont.). 



[This was the Freckled Heron of Montagu.] 



An accidental visitor of extremelj^ rare occurrence. 



As its name imports, this is a common species in North America, from 

 which continent stragglers have occasionally found their way to this 

 country. It is a matter of surprise that a bird which is not remarkable 

 for any power of wing — indeed, the Bitterns are, for the most part, heavy 

 and awkward fliers — should be able successfully to accomplish so great 

 an aerial journey ; and we can only suppose that the few that have reached 

 England and the Continent must have, while on their way, alighted with 

 outstretched wings upon the surface of the water to rest, as other birds of 

 equally feeble fliglit have been detected in doing. But we believe that 

 all stragglers to this country from America travel as far as j)ossible by an 

 overland route, reaching us across Northern Asia and Europe, so that the 

 distances they would have to accomplish over water would not be exces- 

 sive. It is impossible that any American Bitterns could cross the wide 

 Atlantic unless they were passengers on tlic rigging of somesliip. Not all 

 the soi-disaiit American Bitterns reported as having been obtained in tliis 

 country can ]je accepted as genuine, for some, upon examination by com- 

 petent ornithologists, have resolved themselves into small examples of 

 female Common Bitterns. But it may confidently be said that the resem- 

 blance between the two species is but sliglit. Not only is the American 

 Bittern a smaller bird, but it wants tlic decided hood of the Common Bittern, 

 and the adults possess j)atches of light-yellow feathers upon the cliecks 

 behind the eyes, while a broad black line runs from tlie gape down eillier 

 side of tlie neck; and an unmistakable distinction i.s ])rovided b}' tlie 

 primary feathers of the wings, whicli, in the American ]5ittern, jire in all 

 stages of plumagi! uniform l)rownisli black, tbe same feathers in the Common 

 ]{i!tern being distinctly barred with rufous. We had the ])leasure of 

 exiiminitig in the tlesh an undi)ubtc(l Devonshire s])ecinien of the Aineric.ni 

 ]iittern shortly after it had been shot on some nioorlanrl near I'arracoinlic, 

 on Lord Fortescue's estate. This was towards tlie end (^f ()< toher IbTo. 



O 



