124 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



The rage for reclaiming waste lands, and steam- 

 power being applied for draining, have given the 

 Bittern notice to quit ; he has taken the hint and 

 gone. These birds would breed here again if folks 

 would let them, but the high prices paid for them 

 living or dead prevents it. The birds that do visit 

 us generally arrive with easterly winds from the 

 coast of Holland. 



Bumble, Miredrum, Bitter-bum, Bog-bumper, and 

 Butter-bump — the bogle of Tennyson's northern 

 farmer — by all these names and a few more is the 

 Bittern called, according to localities. 



In our native marshes they called them "yaller 

 French Herns" ; some who affected natural history 

 a little called them Bittern Herns. They noticed 

 most of them about, the old marsh-folks have told 

 me, " times and often when we fit (fought) with 

 old Boney an' his frog-eatin' Frenchers ! " What 

 this had to do with the bird's appearing in unusual 

 numbers I have never found out. Our folks cer- 

 tainly "fit," for plenty of good old muskets were to 

 be found on the flats ; I used one of them when I 

 was there ; ball or shot they would carry equally 

 well, and they bore any amount of rough wear and 

 tear. I have used fine fowling-pieces in my time, 

 but it was a musket that I knocked about with when 

 I splashed over the flats with that prince of dyke- 

 leapers, my friend Baulk. He knew more about 

 "yaller Herns" — "Jipes" as he called them — than 

 any man on our marshes, the " lookers " included. 

 The marsh-men of the old type that I spring from are 



