The adult is buff, irregularly barred and streaked all over with black, except on the head, which is pure black. Sexes and young are alike in plumage. Length 28 in.; wing 13 in. THE AMERICAN BITTERN Botaurus lentiginosus (Montagu) This bird was, curiously enough, first described from a specimen killed in Dorset. It is a purely American species but a good many examples have been taken in all parts of the United Kingdom. It may be distinguished from the preceding species by its smaller size, darker coloration, and uniformly brown primaries. Length 24 in.; wing 11 in. THE WHITE STORK Ciconia alba, Bechstein It is curious that a bird so common and well protected on the Continent should not be of more general occurrence in these islands. It can only be considered a rare straggler, most of the examples having been seen in spring. [Illustration: BITTERN _Botaurus stellaris_] The whole plumage is white, except the quills, which are black. Legs and bill crimson. Length 40 in.; wing 23 in. THE BLACK STORK Ciconia nigra (Linnæus) Some fourteen examples in all of this fine bird have been procured in England. It breeds in Sweden, Denmark and East Germany and thence eastwards in Central and Southern Russia. Like the White Stork, it is a migrant, wintering in Africa. The whole of the plumage is black, with metallic reflections, except the lower breast and vent, which are white. Length 38 in.; wing 21 in. THE GLOSSY IBIS Plegadis falcinellus (Linnæus) In the southern and eastern parts of England this species used to be well known as an autumn migrant, but of late years it has become decidedly scarcer. It breeds commonly in the marismas of Spain and the marshes of the Danube. The head, neck, and under parts are a deep coppery brown; back, wings, and tail glossy brownish black. The bill is long and shaped like that of a Curlew. The sexes and young are alike in plumage. Length 22 in.; wing 10·75 in. THE SPOONBILL Platalea leucorodia, Linnæus This species used formerly to breed in several localities in England, but these have long been deserted. It, however, still occurs on migration, and a few annually visit the Norfolk Broads in spring, where, as they are now strictly protected, it is to be hoped that they may once again be induced to nest. It still nests in Holland, but in other districts where it used to occur it seems to have died out as a breeding species, and is now restricted to more southern localities, such as the south of Spain, the Danube, and the Black Sea.