PLATE LIV. 



This elegant Bittern is rarely met with in this country. The firfl 

 inftance we find on record, on which we can venture to defcribe it, 

 a? a Britifh fpecies, is that of a male fpecimen having been (hot 

 as it perched on one of the trees, in the quarry, or public walks 

 in Shrewjhury, on the banks of the Severn. This account, together 

 with a general defcription and drawing of the bird, was communi- 

 cated by Mr. Plymley of Lagnor, Shropjbire, to Mr. Pennant, who 

 inferted them in the Appendix to his Britifh Zoology # . 



Additional authority is alfo given to this circumflance by Mr, 

 Latham, in the fifth volume of the Synopfis of Birds ; he fays, 

 " another fpecimen was killed in 1773, near Chriji Church in 

 Hamp/hire, nowt in the Mufeum of Mr* Turnftatt" He obferves 

 they have been found frequently in Arabia, but are fcarce in other 

 parts. In France are very rare. 



This bird does not exceed fifteen inches from the bill to the tip of 

 the tail ; it's form is graceful, it's body not larger than that of a thrum. 

 According to Sepp, it lays four eggs, of a white colour, and fize of 

 a blackird's ; the neft is compofed of bits of flicks, with fome flag 

 leaves interfperfed. 



Published in 1776. f 1785, 



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