Common bittern. 



595 



Palcohs always endeavour to rush upon it behind, 

 while it is upon the wing. 



In April the nest is formed among rushes, 

 and almost close to the water, though out of its 

 reach ; it consists merely of an assemblage of 

 broken reeds, &c. : in this the eggs are deposited ; 

 they are from three to five in num.ber, and are of 

 a dull green : the young are hatched in about 

 twenty-five days, and upon their first emerging 

 from the egg are naked, and appear to be nearly 

 all legs and neck : they do not venture abroad till 

 they are about three weeks old : during this time 

 they are fed upon snails, small fish, or frogs. At 

 this period the male makes a singular noise, which 

 is compared to the deep bellowing of a bull, and is 

 continued for about two months : it has another 

 curious noise, which it utters in an evening, after 

 sunset in the autumn, when it soars aloft to an 

 amazing height : it flies but heavily. 



The food of this bird consists of frogs, lizards, 

 mice, and other small animals, as well as fish ; but 

 with all this its flesh is stated to be far from dis- 

 agreeable, and has a great deal the flavour of that 

 of the hare. In the reign of Henry VIII. the 

 Bittern was held in great esteem at the tables of 

 the great, and even now the poulterers value this 

 bird at about half a guinea. 



