PLATE CC. 



JJittour, or Bittern. Ray. av. p. ICO. n. 11, 

 Will. Orn. p. 282. t. 50. 52. 

 Lath. Gen. Sijn. 3.1. p. 56. n, 17* 



The common Bittern is an inhabitant of Europe, Afia, and 

 America. 



Its ufual haunts are among reeds in marfhy places : its cuftomarj 

 food confifts of fifties and reptiles, which it fwallows whole. 



About fun-fet the Bittern rifes in the air to a vaft height in a fpiral 

 direction, making a prodigious and very lingular noife ; befides which 

 it emits on fome occafions another found, which has been compared 

 with that of the bellowing of a bull. When attacked by dogs or 

 other animals, it fights with uncommon vigour. Bittern-hawking was 

 in ancient times a very favourite fport. 



The Bittern is about three feet in length. The plumage elegantly 

 varied with ferruginous fpots, difpofed with great regularity in a tranf- 

 verfe manner upon a yellowim buff-coloured ground: the female is 

 rather fmaller, and darker than the male : the bill brown, beneath 

 greenifli : legs and lores green. 



PLATE 



