of Ceylon. It appears to be found in suitable localities
throughout Africa, and Mr. E. L. Layard had the eggs
brought to him at Zoetendals Vley in Cape Colony, where
he found the bird in great abundance.
The Bittern is an early breeder, and eggs may be looked
for in March and April. Extensive reed beds, such as still
remain, in spite of drainage, in Holland and other parts of
Europe, are the usual nurseries of this skulking species;
but sometimes it selects the swamps on the margins of
unfrequented lakes. The nest is placed on the ground,
amongst the thickest herbage, and is composed of dried
flags and reeds heaped together. The eggs, usually four in
number, are of a uniform brownish-olive colour, sometimes
of a greenish shade when fresh; average measurements 2T
by 1*5 in. They are probably laid at intervals of several
days, for Lubbock states that in two instances the finders of
nests assured him that of four young in each, two were much
older than the others; and the Editor remarked considerable
differences in the degrees of incubation, in two clutches
which were brought to him. The young are produced in
about twenty-five days ; they are fed by the parents until
fully fledged, and do not quit the nest till they are nearly
able to provide for themselves.
The Bittern usually feeds at night, and is therefore seldom
seen on wfing in the day, but remains with head erect in
thick beds of reeds, or conceals itself among flags, rushes,
or other rank aquatic vegetation, which afford it a solitary
and secure retreat. From such situations it is with difficulty
made to take flight, and when at length obliged to get on
wing, the pace is dull and flagging, and seldom sustained to
any great distance. Vieillot says, that in France it is occasionally
found in woods, and in Spain the Editor has seen
one taking its rest during the heat of the day on a pine-tree.
In the spring, and during the breeding-season, the male
Bittern makes a loud booming or bellowing noise, whence,
probably, the generic term Botaurus wras selected for it;
but when roused at other times, the bird is said to utter a
sharp, harsh cry on rising, not unlike that of a Wild Goose.
The Rev. W. B. Stonehouse, already quoted, says, “ The
Bittern always changes its haunts in the dusk of the evening,
and then, rising in a spiral direction, soars to a vast height.
It flies in the same heavy manner as a Heron, and might be
mistaken for that bird, were it not for the singularly resounding
cry which it utters from time to time while on the wdng;
but this cry is feeble when compared to the hollow booming
noise which it makes during the night time, in the breeding-
season, from its swampy retreats.” When on the ground
wounded, the Bittern will strike at dog or man ; and some
care is necessary, when about to handle one, to avoid a blow
from the point of its sharp beak. If a dog advances upon
one that is not entirely disabled, the bird throws itself on its
back, like a Hawk, and fights with its claws as well as with
its bill; and, owing to the length to which the drawn-in
neck can suddenly be extended, approach is often attended
with danger to the incautious.
In ‘ The Zoologist ’ for 1888 (p. 228) Capt. H. R. Kelham
gives the following description of a migration of this
species:—“ On December 15th last, wdien steaming from
Alexandria to Cairo about sunset, a flock of forty or fifty
large birds appeared slowly flapping towards us. When a
long way off I at first mistook them for Lapwings, but as
they passed close over us I saw they were Bitterns, the
common Botaurus stellaris. I never before saw so many
together, but there was no doubt whatever about the species.
They flew in a Y formation, but every now and then got into
great confusion, as if they had suddenly been fired at.”
In the choice of its food the Bittern is not very particular,
feeding on small mammals, birds, fishes, lizards, and frogs :
in fact anything which can be swallowed whole. In the
stomach of one examined in January, 1826, the Author
found the bones of a pike of considerable size, and the
stomach of another examined in February, 1820, contained
a Water Rail whole, and six small fishes. In the stomachs
of two examined by Mr. Blyth, two dace, the remains of
other fish, and some large coleopterous insects, were found.
The Bittern wTas formerly in some estimation as an article