594 



COMMON BITTERN. 



short : the legs are pale green : the toes and claw^ 

 very long, and slender. The female is somewhat 

 less, the plumage not quite so bright, and the 

 feathers on the neck shorter. 



Bitterns are found in England, and in most 

 of the temperate parts of the continent: in the 

 colder climates they are migratory, but with us 

 they stay the whole year, but change their position 

 in the autumn to the more southern parts. They 

 are very cautious birds, residing among the reeds 

 and rushes of the most extensive marshes, where 

 they lead a solitary life. They continue for whole 

 days about the same spot, usually sitting among 

 the reeds, with their head erect ; by which means 

 they see over their tops without being observed 

 by the sportsman. They are very ferocious, and 

 when wounded generally make a severe resistance ; 

 oftentimes turning on their back, like the rapa- 

 cious birds, and fight with both beak and claws : 

 this posture they always assume when surprised by 

 a dog. Mr. Markwick once shot a Bittern in frosty 

 weather ; it fell on the ice, which was just strong 

 enough to support the dogs, and they immediately 

 rushed forward to attack it ; but being only 

 wounded, it defended itself so vigorously, that 

 the dogs were compelled to leave it till it was fired 

 at a second time, and killed. If attacked by a 

 bird of prey, the Bittern, with its sharp beak 

 erected, receives the shock on the point, and thus 

 compels its enemy to retreat, often with a fatal 

 wound : it is from this circumstance old Buzzards 

 never attempt to attack this bird, and the common 



