1,56 ARDEID.E. 



be satisfied with the shelter that trees afford, the head of a 

 pollard tree being convenient for that purpose. 



The colouring of the Bittern's feathers, and its habit of 

 standing irnmoveably still when any person approaches the 

 spot where the bird happens to be, aid it very much in hiding 

 from or deceiving the enemy ; and all contribute to make the 

 Bittern appear to be nothing but a dead rush or flag; and 

 the soft feathers also blow about in the most wayward shapes. 

 The position in which the Bittern usually passes the day- 

 time among the flags is very unbecoming : the bird sits 

 squatted on its haunches, with the body erect, the neck, 

 head, and beak pointing straight up in the air ; and when any 

 person walks round the spot where the bird sits, it generally 

 turns itself on its haunches or feet, so as to face the enemy 

 continually, but no other part is moved in the least 

 degree ; thus it allows the intruder to approach very near 

 before it takes w r ing. 



The manner in which the Bittern moves its long neck- 

 is very remarkable : owing to the profusion of loose feathers 

 all down the neck, it is not visible how the long neck is 

 folded up in drawing it close to the body and extending it 

 again immediately. When the neck is drawn close to the 

 body, and the head and beak lie in a horizontal line on its 

 back, the whole bird looks a clumsy thick lump of fea- 

 thers, and it may well startle any one who has never met 

 with a Bittern in a wild state, to see it lengthen itself on a 

 sudden when in the act of flying up. The attitude in which 

 the Bittern shews itself to the most advantage is when it 

 is in a passion, or under great excitement from fear ; under 

 such circumstances it faces the danger with half-open wings, 

 and holds the tip of the beak in readiness for the onset, 

 while the loose plumage of the neck is raised, and the head 

 feathers erected so as to form a perfect circular crest. The 

 eyes of its opponent, whether man or beast, are then the 



