164 
ARDEIDiE. 
Cork, written about a century ago, remarks that “ they [bitterns] breed 
in this county in which, however, they now seem to be very scarce. 
In the autumn of 1838 one was shot at Glengaritf. In the winter of 
1840-41 two were killed; one at Youghal (where the species had 
before been met with by Mr. R. Ball), and another near the city of 
Cork. — Kerry. According to Mr. T. B. Neligan of Tralee, as re- 
ported in 1837, they were then exceedingly rare in the county, although 
common not many years before that period. In 1846 Mr. R. Chute 
considered them as “not now to be met with;” but late in the winter 
of 1848-49 one w^as shot there. 
It will have been remarked that, in the winter of 1830-31, 
bitterns were more than commonly frequent in Dublin and the 
neighbouring counties, — in Waterford and perhaps in Down (those 
alluded to by the gamekeeper at Tollymore park, but without cer- 
tainty as to year) ; thus implying an unusual migration to the 
island. In Great Britain we find the same to have occurred. 
Mr. Selby informs us that, in the winter of 1830-31, — ■ 
More than the usual number of bitterns has been killed in 
various parts of the kingdom ; and I am credibly informed that 
no less than ten were exposed for sale in one morning at Bath.'’^ 
Mr. Heysham, writing from Carlisle, states that During the 
months of December, January, and Bebruary last [winter of 
1830-31] no less than eight specimens of the bittern were killed 
in this part of the county. * This is the more remark- 
able, as only a single specimen has been met with in the same 
district for the last ten or twelve years. It would appear, from 
the public journals, that about the same period of the year others 
were killed in Durham, Yorkshire, Devonshire, &c.'’^^ With 
reference to the numbers obtained in England, Sir Win. Jardine 
observed : — In the south of Scotland a similar comparative 
abundance occurred ; several were brought to me in Dumfries- 
shire ; and on a visit to Edinburgh it was found that the bird- 
preservers there had obtained also a more than usual number of 
specimens."’^ 
In the winter of 1844-45 again, they were considered to be 
* Philosophical Magazine, 1832, p. 85. 
