CHAPTER X 



THE COMMON AND THE LITTLE BITTERN 



The nest of the Common Bittern is formed of 



sedges, twigs, and other coarse aquatic tangle, placed 



on some tussock, or a lot of matted vegetation 



caused by the reed-flags, docks, and other plants 



decaying and dropping. It contains as a rule from 



four to five eggs, of a light olive colour. As this 



bird only frequents the most lonely and desolate 



places, the nest, even where they bred in some of 



the eastern counties, and in one place very close to 



London, was very seldom met with by those who 



searched for it. The marsh and fen-dwellers found 



them, and the birds as well ; Bitterns at half-a-guinea 



were worth looking for. They fetched this for the 



table at one time : a friend of mine gave a guinea 



for one in full breeding plumage, a fine male bird. 



He hesitated over the price for a moment, but was 



told he could take It or leave it, as they could easily 



sell It at that price. As he really wanted one he 



paid that for It, though quite recently a man I know 



bought a fine fellow for five shillings. The last 



authentic eggs, so far as I can learn, were taken 



at Upton Car, near Acle in Norfolk. 



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