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portions of Italy, and has been found nesting in Lombardy and the Venetian district ; in Sicily it 

 is resident throughout the year ; and in Sardinia it is very abundant in winter. 



Mr. C. A. "Wright, who has sent specimens from Malta, says (Ibis, 1864, p. 143) that one 

 " now and then hears of one being shot, and it is certainly a rare bird. One was killed at the 

 Marsa in March 1859, another in the spring of 1860, and another in December following. 

 Another was brought to me in October 1863." A specimen sent to me by Mr. Wright was 

 killed in December 1871 ; and Captain Feilden informs me that one was killed on the 7th, a 

 second on the 10th, and a third on the 27th March 1874, but that he has not observed it there 

 during the autumn migration. I have specimens from Albania ; and Lord Lilford writes (Ibis, 

 1860, p. 347) that it is " common in Epirus from October till May. Its abundance or scarcity 

 seems to depend on the severity of the weather. I do not think the Bittern breeds in Epirus, at 

 all events not in those parts of that province with which I have any acquaintance ; but it is fonnd 

 throughout the year in some of the marshes of Albania and Dalmatia." Both Lindermayer and 

 Von der Miihle speak of it as occurring in Greece ; and the former says that it remains a few 

 weeks during the spring passage, and passes north to breed, being rare on the autumn migration ; 

 but the latter states that it is resident in Greece. It is not uncommon in Southern Germany ; 

 and Dr. Anton Fritsch writes (J. f. O. 1871, p. 391) that it " breeds on the larger lakes of 

 Bohemia, near Frauenberg and Kopidleno ; in autumn it becomes numerous in some seasons." 

 It is said to be numerous in the marshes near the Danube, especially in Hungaiy ; and Messrs. 

 Elwes and Buckley found it near Constantinople. Professor von Nordmann states that it is 

 found all round the shores of the Black Sea, where it remains throughout the winter. Regarding 

 its occurrence between here and North Africa I find but little on record, except that Canon 

 Tristram met with it in Palestine ; but it doubtless occurs in suitable localities. It is found in 

 Africa, and, Captain Shelley writes (B. of Egypt, p. 271), is " very plentiful in Lower Egypt and 

 the Fayoom, but less common in other parts of Egypt and Nubia." Petherick obtained it at 

 Kordofan, and Lefebvre at Adowa in Abyssinia, in October. In North-west Africa it is, Loche 

 writes, tolerably common, and some few remain throughout the year ; and Mr. O. Salvin states 

 (Ibis, 1859, p. 359) a few pairs inhabit the marsh of Zana, where they breed. It is also found as 

 far south as the Cape colony. Mr. J. H. Gurney has kindly sent to me for examination a pair 

 of Bitterns from the Transvaal, which I find absolutely identical with our European bird. 

 Schlegel says (I. c.) that the South- African bird is smaller; but I have a female from Smyrna 

 which is, if any thing, a trifle less than the female sent by Mr. Gurney. Mr. E. L. Layard, in 

 his work on the birds of South Africa, says (p. 311) that " the Bittern is occasionally found in a 

 few favoured localities, even in the neighbourhood of Capetown; and I am told it breeds in 

 Verloren Vley. At Zoetendals Vley I found it in great abundance ; and early in the morning, 

 or during the evening twilight, their booming call resounded from every part of the lake. 

 Mr. Hugo, of Fransch Hoek, brought me a pair of eggs, unfortunately both broken, which he 

 states are of this bird." Mr. Godman records it from the Azores, where, he says, it inhabits the 

 eastern and central groups; Mr. E. A. Zuchold speaks of it (J. f. O. 1855, p. 52) as being a 

 migrant to Madeira; and Dr. C. Bolle (J. f. O. 1855, p. 176) states that it has been killed in 

 the Canaries. 



To the eastward it ranges as far as Japan. Mr. Blanford did not obtain it in Persia ; but 



