Cuass II. BITTERN HERON. 
It builds its nest with the leaves of water plants 
on some dry clump among the reeds, and lays 
five or six eggs, of a cinereous green color. This 
bird and the heron are very apt to strike at the 
fowler’s eyes, when only maimed. The food of 
the bittern is chiefly frogs; not that it rejects 
fish, for small trouts have been met with in its 
stomach. In the reign of Henry VIII. it was 
held in much esteem at our tables ; and valued 
at one shilling. Its flesh has much the flavour 
of that of a hare ; and nothing of the fishiness of 
that of the heron. 
“The Bittern is every where less frequent 
than the heron, though found in both temperate 
and warmer latitudes, perhaps not very far north. 
Is said to inhabit the greater part of Africa ; 
and is certainly found on the coast of Barbary, 
at the Cape of Good Hope, and also in India and 
China. 'The American is smaller, probably a 
variety of the European species.” J. L. 
VOL. ile Cc 
Nest. 
17 
