BITTERN. 155 
BITTERN. 
Boraurus sTeuaris, Linn. 
Pl. XXIL, fig. 2. 
_ Geogr. distr.—Throughout Europe; in Asia as far east as Japan; 
in Africa as far south as the Cape: formerly known to breed in 
England; but if it still does so it is but rarely. 
Food.—Insects, reptiles, and fish. 
Nest.—A tangled heap of dried reeds and flags, with rushes, grass, 
and sometimes a few sticks interlaced, the centre slightly depressed, 
and occasionally lined with the cotton of the reed. 
Position of nest.—Generally amongst broken down reeds in the 
centre of fens and almost inaccessible morasses, sometimes upon 
diminutive islands rising out of dense growths of reeds and rushes. 
Number of eggs.—8-4; rarely 5. 
Time of nidification.—IV-V ; May. 
It is possible that this species, which was at one time 
abundant enough in Great Britain, may still occasionally 
breed in some of the more extensive of our marshes. It is 
still found from time to time in various parts of the 
country, but probably the birds that are seen or shot are 
only chance stragglers. At the same time, as the Bittern is 
a particularly shy species, and but rarely leaves the dense 
cover of the reeds in which it dwells, it is possible that 
more birds may exist in the swampy districts of our islands 
than any one is aware of. 
Hewitson says of its nesting habit :—‘“‘ The Bittern makes 
its nest in the heart of fens and almost impenetrable 
marshy districts; and, according to Dr. Thienemann, is 
careful to raise it beyond the effects of any temporary 
rising of the water, by placing it upon a mass of fallen 
reeds and prostrate rushes. The nest is formed of reeds, 
rushes, and grass, with occasionally a few sticks, slightly 
hollowed for the reception of the eggs, and sometimes lined 
with the cotton of the reed. The eggs are from three to 
five in number; the time of incubation the month of May.” 
—(lll. Eggs Brit. Birds, vol. 11., p. 278.) 
The egg which I have figured is in Mr. Dresser’s collection. 
