298 A DESCRIPTION OF 
Receives the latent death ; down plumb she falls, 
Bounding from earth, and with her trickling gore 
Defiles her gaudy plumage. See, alas ! 
The falconer in despair, his favourite bird 
Dead at his feet ; as of his dearest friend, 
He weeps her fate ; he meditates revenge, 
He storms, he foams, he gives a loose to rage : 
Nor wants he long the means ; the Hern fatigued, 
Borne down by numbers, yields, and prone on earth 
He drops : his cruel foes wheeling around 
Insult at will. SOMERYILLE. 
THE BITTERN (Ardca stellarius,) 
Is not quite so large as the common heron ; its head is 
