594 
COMMON BITTERJ^. 
short : the legs are pale green ; the toes and claws 
very long, and slender. The female is somewhat 
less, the plumage not quite so bright, and the 
feathers on the neck shorter. 
Bitterns are found in England, and in most 
of the temperate parts of the continent: in the 
colder climates they are migratory, but with U3 
they stay the whole year, but change their position 
in the autumn to the more southern parts. They 
are very cautious birds, residing among the reeds 
and rushes of the most extensive marshes, where 
they lead a solitary life. They continue for whole 
days about the same spot, usually sitting among 
the reeds, with their head erect ; by which means 
they see over their tops without being observed 
by the sportsman. They are very ferocious, and 
when wounded generally make a severe resistance ; 
oftentimes turning on their back, like the rapa- 
cious birds, and fight with both beak and claws : 
this posture they always assume when surprised by 
a dog. Mr. Markwick once shot a Bittern in frosty 
weather ; it fell on the ice, which was just strong 
enough to support the dogs, and they immediately 
rushed forward to attack it ; but being only 
wounded, it defended itself so vigorously, that 
the dogs were compelled to leave it till it was fired 
at a second time, and killed. If attacked by a 
bird of prey, the Bittern, with its sharp beak 
erected, receives the shock on the point, and thus 
compels its enemy to retreat, often wfith a fatal 
wound : it is from this circumstance old Buzzards 
never attempt to attack this bird, and the common 
