In the Neighbourhood of Salisbury. 



219 



the keeper, about 1850-1. This is now in the possession of F. M. 

 E. Jervoise, Esq., at Herriard Park; but is a good deal faded in its 

 plumage. Another specimen — a young bird in its immature garb 

 —was shot by Mr. Haddon, of Taunton, not far from where he 

 procured the larger Bittern mentioned before ; about the same time 

 as the other. One was killed at Heme Court, in April, 1862, by 

 George Bacon, a keeper of Lord Malmesbury's, in whose possession 

 the bird is. A fifth specimen was procured at Wilton, by Mr. C, 

 Parham, on September 8th, 1869. While at Christchurch a good 

 pair were shot on June 15th, 1869, by Cull, a gunner, which are 

 now in Mr. Hart's collection. He is fortunate also to be possessed 

 of another equally good pair, the female of which was shot by Mr. 

 E. Elliot, in May, 1869, while the male bird was killed by Hart 

 himself, at Gargoinge, on Easter Monday, April 22nd, 1878. One 

 day an officer, staying in the neighbourhood, came into Hart's 

 museum, and seeing the Little Bittern amongst his birds, enquired 

 of what species it was, as he had shot one only the day before, and 

 could not make out what bird it was he had killed, Hart replied 

 that if he did not particularly value it he should be happy to give 

 him five guineas for it, if it was a good specimen, as a gentleman 

 wanted one badly for his collection, and had given him an order to 

 get one. But the officer (who was evidently not an ornithologist) 

 had given it to his servant, who had eaten it the night before for 

 his supper, but had not found it, I expect, an over-savoury morsel. 

 It only occurs amongst us in the warmer months, generally in the 

 spring and autumn, as it avoids cold and frost. It is said to be a 

 most pugnacious little fellow ; and twists and contorts itself into 

 the most unnatural positions, so that it often escapes detection, even 

 when surprised in an unsheltered spot. 



Ardea Leniiginosa. " American Bittern." A very rare visitor 

 to our islands indeed, and only occurring at long intervals. Hart 

 has one in his collection, but he cannot give definite information 

 about it : but he believes it came from the Devonshire coast in his 

 father's time. It is in any case a British specimen. One of these 

 birds occurred, however, in the New Forest, as communicated in 

 " The Field" in 1876, which I believe, is quite reliable; and only 



