American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus: an historic first for Essex
Common Bitterns in the Museum collection from the outset.
It was misidentified, being accepted as a female Bittern into the Museum by 1835, but was not
formally identified until about 1891 by Henry Seebohm. There is no evidence of it being bought
from another collection or museum or other party. There is even a reference to American Bittern
being 'DESIDERATA' (desired), when the specimen was already in the Museum's collection.
Conclusion
An American Bittern was shot in Wenden, Essex, in spring 1826. Details of the exact date and
procurer are unknown. The specimen was probably soon after mounted by William Travis/Travers,
a local taxidermist working at the Menagerie at Audley End House. The circumstantial evidence
strongly suggests that the specimen was shot and stuffed in 1826;
• Joseph Clarke's Bittern label referenced "One shot at Wenden in 1826. in Museum. " The
reference to a Crossbill on the "Travers & Incidents" itemised, taxidermy label (E) ties up
with the one shot in 1826 quoted by Christy (1890) and Joseph Clarke's Crossbill label
"about 1825 ". The reference to the first week of March in Christy (1890) for the Crossbill
tics in with the American Bittern's plumage and moult (see Appendix A).
• The £1 0 0 cost and Jabez Gibson (JG) are corroborated in the Scientific Order (A) and
Valuations (B) of the Museum's first Catalogue for 1832-35 and the "Travers & Incidents"
itemised, taxidermy label (E).
• All other Bittern specimens (mounted or skins) acquired by the Museum are accounted for,
so there is no confusion between the Wenden specimens donated by Jabez Gibson
and W. Davis (see Appendix B).
By the time Saffron Walden Museum opened in 1835, Jabez Gibson had presented the specimen to
the Saffron Walden Natural History Society for the Museum collection. It was accepted as a female
Bittern. It was nearly 50 years later before Christy in 1883 suspected the identification was incorrect.
It is thought his book published in 1890 prompted Henry Seebohm to visit the Museum c. 1891 and
to confirm the identification.
The details of the Museum's birds were published in response to a letter in the parish magazine in
which a local man asked what delights were in the Museum (Maynard 1892). George N. Maynard,
the Curator, published a series of articles starting in 1891, in the local paper, the critical one being on
7th April 1892.
No fraud is suspected and there is no confusion with other Bitterns donated to the Museum.
Our research at the Museum has also confirmed that:
• The text on the labels (C) in the Museum's first Catalogue of 1832-35 has been proven to be
compiled by Joseph Clarke and used by Christy (1890), reference 24.
• Robert Miller Christy re-catalogued the Museum's bird specimens in May 1883.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 19 (2002)
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