154 ARDEID.E. 



GRALLATORES. ARDElDAi. 



PLATE CLXVIII. 



BITTERN. 



ARPEA STELLARIS. 



The Bittern is a very well-known species in Great Britain, 

 and is found in most parts of the temperate zones : in 

 Europe it is most plentiful in the countries of Turkey and 

 Greece, in Galicia, Hungary, Italy, and Spain ; it is com- 

 mon in France, and frequent in Holland. The bird remains 

 sometimes through the winter with us ; but this is not often 

 the case, and we consider it therefore as a migratory species 

 retiring southward in September and October, and returning 

 to us in March and April. It appears as if the Bittern 

 migrates singly, and generally during the night, for its well- 

 known call-note may frequently be heard on a still autumn 

 evening, and sufficiently repeated to enable the hearer to 

 judge in what direction the bird travels, and whether there is 

 more than one on the wing. 



The places to which the Bittern generally resorts are ex- 

 tensive swamps, covered with water plants of the larger kinds, 

 or osier plantations, provided they are not much frequented 

 by mankind. It happens very rarely that the Bittern is seen 

 in any open spot, so as to be exposed to view, but the taller 

 flags and rushes are its favourite haunts, among which it 

 stands, squats^ or walks about. Although the Bittern may 

 prefer bogs to dry land, we know of several instances where 



