BRITISH BIRDS. 
49 
chiefly of the withered ftalks and leaves of the high 
coarfe herbage, in the midft of which it is placed, 
and lays from four to fix eggs of a greenifh white 
colour. 
The Bittern is a fliy folitary bird ; it is never 
feen on the wing in the day time, but fits, com- 
monly with the head cred:, hid among the reeds and 
ruflies in the marflies, where it always takes up its 
abode, and from whence it will not ftir, unlefs it is 
difturbed by the fportfman. When it changes its 
haunts, it removes in the dulk of the evening, and 
then rifing in a fpiral direction, foars to a vaft 
height. It flies in the fame heavy manner as the 
Heron, and might be miilaken for that bird, were 
it not for the Angularly refounding cry which it 
utters from time to time while on the wing ; but 
this cry is feeble when compared to the hollow 
booming noife * which it makes during the night 
time, in the breeding feafon, from its fwampy re- 
treats. 
The Bittern, when attacked by the Buzzard, or 
other birds of prey, defends itfelf with great cou- 
rage, and generally beats off fuch aflfailants; nei- 
ther does it betray any fymptoms of fear, when 
wounded by the fportfman, but eyes him with a 
keen undaunted look, and when driven to extremi- 
* ‘‘ The Bittern booms along the founding marfli, 
“ Mixt with the cries of Heron and Mallard harlli.’^ 
VoL. II. t 
G 
