■^•"^-4:-'-' K^ '•^:^\ '^^a 'S DIV. II. A\^A T ETV BIRDS F£I2^TSI> rbr J Walker . IVUfdc d/id ~Bjol}irison, : I.Ywvi , IMiUc- . Ci)clo-aiie i: c? loiifjmjn .Hurst , Re&s, Orme and Brown ;J i:A-Arch . RJialdwin .■ CadcU k JJaiu-s.- J. Sardine} , J.Ru:hard.wn JJiooTk; J.Matvnum , ,md, J.John^fcn k t".'' . ,: 18U. . . .- BRITISH ZOOLOGY, BY THOMAS PENNANT, Esq. A NEW EDITION. IN FOUR VOLUMES. VOL. n. Class II. BIRDS. Div. II. WATER. LONDON: PRINTED FOR WILKIE AND ROBINSON j J. NUNNj WHITE AND COCHRANE 3 LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN; CADELL AND DAVIES; J. HARDING.5 J. BOOTH 5 J. RICHARDSON; J. MAWMAN j J. AND A. AKCH ; R. BALDWIN; AND J. JOHNSON AND CO. 1812. LIST OF PLATES, VOL. II. Frontispiece. Tame Swan (P. 22 1 ) Plate I. White Spoonbill Pa, ge 3 II. Crane Heron - - - - 7 III. Common H. (Female) > 13 IV. Little Bittern H. - 18 V. White H. . . - - 19 VI. Egret H. ... . 21 VII. Gardenian H. - ~ 27. 401 VIII. Common Curlew - 34 IX. Whimbrel C. - - - - 36 X. Woodcock SnI'PE - 40 Red Shank Sn. . 57 XI. Cinereous God wit Sn. - 50 XII. Red Godwit Sn. - 51 XIII. Common Sn. - - 60 Jack Sn. - - . - 63 XIV. Ruff and Reeve Sandpiper _ 71 XV. GambetSA. . S2 Green Sa. . . . - 86 XVI. Common Sa. - 90 PurreSA. - 94 XVII. Golden Plover - 98 Red Sandpiper - 89 XVIII. Dottrel Plover - 102 Sanderling Pl. - 106 XIX. Pied Oyster-catcher - 112 vi LIST OF PLATES. Plate Page XX. Water Rail - - - - - 114 Crake Gallinule - - - - II9 XXI. Grey Phalarope - - - - 123 Red Ph. ^ . , - - 125 XXII. Common Coot ... - 127 Common Gallinule ... 121 XXIII. Tippet Grebe - . . . 134 Dusky Gr. 136 XXIV. Eared Gr. 135 Black Chin Gr. - - - - 138 XXV. Scooping Avo SET - - -■•'-'• 143 XXVI. Great Auk - - - - -' ' 146 XXVII. Razor Bill A. , - - . 14S Little A. 158 XXVIII. Lesser Guillemot - - - - 162 Black G. (Young) - - - - l63 XXIX. Northern Diver . . . . i65 ImberD. 167 XXX. Red throated D. - - ^ii'-A>i6g Black throated D. - - - - 17O XXXI. Black toed Gull - . - - 178 Common G. (Winter) - - -'-a- 185 XXXIL Arctic G. .... ,''179 XXXIII. Herring G. 181 WagelG. . - ... 182 XXXIV. Common G. ^ - - - - 184 Kittiwake G. - - ?=" r-:'- - 186 XXXV. Common Tern ... . 196 Lesser T. 198 XXXVI. Fulmar Petrel , ... 203 Stormy P. _ . . . _ 2O8 XXXVII. M. and F. Goosander Merganser - 211 XXXVIII. M. and F. Red breasted M. - - 214 XXXIX. Bean Goose 233 Head of White fronted Goose - - 235 XL. Eider Duck and Drake - - - 243 LIST OF PLATES. Plate Page XLI. M. and F. Velvet Duck ... 24? XLII. Scaup D. 251 Bimaculated D. - _ - _ 274 XLIII. Mallard and female Wild D. - - 238 XLIV. Long tailed D. - - - - 268 White throated D. XLV. Red D. 272 Long tailed D. (Variety) - - 268 XLVI. M. and F. Gerganey D. - - - 277 XL VII. Crested Corvorant - - . 284 XLVIIL Gannet C, 286 Vll DIVISION II. WATER BIRDS. VOL. II. B Pi.l VOL 2 P 3 "WHITE SPOOIS-BIXX. CLASS 11. BIRDS. Div. 11. WATER BIRDS. Sect. I. CLOVEN FOOTED. GENUS I. SPOONBILL.- Bill long, flat, and thin ; the end widening into the form of a spoon. ' Nostrils small, placed near the base. ' Tongue small, and pointed. Feet half-webbed. Platalea leucorodia. PI. cor- Platalea Leucorodia. 6??w. Zz«. 1. White, pore albo, gula nigra, occi- 6l3. Faun. Suec. No. l60. pite subcristato. Lath. Ind. La Spatule. Brisson av. v. 352. orn. 667. id. Syn. v. 13. Hisf. cfozj. vii.448. Pl.Enl. Pelecanus seu Platea. Gesner 405. av. C)QQ. Loffel-gans. jScopo/i, No. 115. Albardeola. Aldr. av. iii. 16O. Arct. Zuol. ii. 139. Spoonbill Wil. orn. 288. Rail Syn. av. 102. A FLOCK of these birds migrated into the marshes near Yarmouth, in Norfolk, in April, B 2 Descrip- tion. WHITE SPOONBILL. Class IL 1774*. They inhabit the continent of Europe. In Mr. Rays time, they bred annually in a wood at Sevenhui/s, not remote from Leyde?i: but the wood is now destroyed, and these, with several other species, which formerly frequented the country, are at present become very rare. Mr. Joseph Spar shall of Yarmouth favored me with the following very accurate description : " The length from the end of the beak to the extremity of the middle toe forty inches; breadth of the wings, extended, fifty-two inches; bill, length of the upper mandible seven inches ; of the lower six three-fourths ditto ; breadth of the spoon, near the point, two inches ; ditto of the nether mandible one inch seven-eighths ; breadth of both, in the narrowest part, near the middle, three-fourths of an inch ; a bright orange-color- ed spot, about the breadth of a sixpence, just above the point of the upper mandible, which is a little hooked, or bent downward at its extre- mity. At the angles of the bill, on each cheek, a spot of a bright orange-color ; the skin be- tween the sides of the lower mandible, and ex- tending about three inches downward on the throat or neck, covered with very fine down, * The Spoonbill has now and then been met with on the coast of Devonshire, by Colonel Montagu, and once on the Kentish cod^%iy by Mr. JBoys. J. L. _ ■ . ,s Class II. WHITE SPOONBILL. ^ almost imperceptible, which with the skin on that ' • part, are of a very bright orange-color ; irides of the eyes a bright flame-color, very lively and vivid j the whole bill (except the above spot) of a fine shining black j its upper surface elegantly waved with dotted protuberances ; a depressed line extending from the nostrils (which are three- eighths of an inch long, and situate half an inch below the upper part of the bill) is continued round it about one eighth of an inch from its edge; its substance has something of the ap- pearance of vvhale bone, thin, light, and elastic. Inside of the mouth a dark ash-color, almost black ; the tongue (remarkably singular) being very short, heart shaped, and when drawn back, serving as a valve to close the entrance of the throat, which it seems to do effectually ; when pulled forward has the appearance of a triangu- lar button ; the ears, or auditory apertures, large, and placed an inch behind the angles of the mouth. Plumage of the whole body, wings, and tail white ; on the back part of the head a beautiful crest of white feathers, hanging pen- dent behind the neck 3 their length about five inches ; which, in the living subject, gives it a very beautiful appearance. Weight of the fowl, three days after killedj was three pounds and a half. G WHITE SPOONBILL. Class IL The legs black, their length six inches, and thighs the same ; the latter naked about half their length; toes connected by a small web, extending to the first joint on each. >a^! Tl.H. CRANE, VOL. 2. P. 7. ^ ^^'^^^'ujLuyxa h -ni. Class II. CRANE HERON. GENUS II. HERON. Bill long, strong, and pointed. Nostrils linear. Tongue pointed. Toes connected as far as the first joint by a strong membrane. Ardea. Grus. A. occipite nudo papillose, pileo remigibus- que nigris, corpore cinereo, tectricibus intimis laceris. Lath. Ind. orn. 674. id. Syn. v. 40. id. Sup. ii. 298. Xe Grue. Belon av. 187. Grus. Gesner av. 528. A Crane. Turner. Gru, Grua. Aldr. av. iii. 132. Wil. orn. 274. Raii Syn. av. 95. La Grue. Brisson av. v. 374. Tab. 33. Hist, d'ois. vii. 287- PI- Enl. 769. Kranich. Kram. 345. Kranich. Frisch, ii. 1Q4. Ardea Grus. Gm. Lin. 620. Trana. Faun. Suec. sp. 161. Danis Trane. Brunnich. Br. Zool. 118. Arct. Zool. ii, 154. 1. Crane. X HIS species was placed, in the folio edition of the Zoology., among the British birds, on the authority of Mr. Ray ; who informs us, that in his time, they were found during the winter in large flocks in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire: but on the strictest enquiry we learn, that at present the inhabitants of those counties are scargely acquainted with themj we therefore TION. 1^ CRANE HERON. Class IL conclude, that these birds have forsaken our island. A single bird was killed near Cam- bridge about three years ago, and is the only instance I ever knew of the crane being seen in this island in our time*. They were formerly in high esteem at our tables, for the delicacy of their flesh ; for they feed only on grain, herbs, or insects ; so have nothing of the rankness of the piscivorous birds of this genus. Descrip- The weight of the crane is about ten pounds ; the length six feet ; the bill of a darkish green, four inches long; and a little depressed on the top of the upper mandible ; the top of the head co- vered with black bristles ; the back of the head bald and red, beneath which is an ash-colored spot ; from the eyes, on each side, is a broad white line the whole length of the neck; the fore part as far as the breast is black ; the quil fea- thers are black ; the tail ash-colored, tipt with black ; all the rest of the plumage is ash-colored. The legs are black. No author, except Gesner, takes notice of a large tuft of feathers that spring out of one pi- * Not more than four instances occur within my memory of the Crane having been met with in England: the first at Camlridge ; the second was seen by Mr. Boys, on the Medway j the third also on the Medway, near Burham, in January 1794; the fourth, ' on rather slight authorityj in Cardiganshire. : . . , . . , . - ^ J. L. . Class II. CRANE HERON. nion on each wing; they are unwebbed, and finely curled at the ends, which the birds have power to erect or depress ; when depressed they hang over and cover the tail. Gesner tells us, that these feathers used in his time to be set in gold, and worn as ornaments in caps. Though this species seems to have forsaken these islands at present, yet it was formerly not uncommon, as we find in IVillughhy, p. 52. that there was a penalty of twenty-pence for destroying an egg of this bird j and Turner relates, that he has very often seen their young in our marshes. Marsig/i^ says, that the crane lays two eggs like those of a goose, but of a bluish color, .1. ,,:_ .) - * Hisi. Danuh. v. p. 8. .. - . : , f'' "M'i 10 COMMON HERON. Class II. 2. Common. Ardea cinerea. A. occipite (Male.) crista nigra dependente, cor- pore cinereo, coUo subtus linea fasciaqiie pectorali ni- gris. iMas.) Lalh. Ind. orn. 691, id. Sup. ii. 303. Heron cendre. Belon av. 182. Alia ardea. Gesner av. 21Q. Ardea cinerea major. Aldr. av. iii. 157. Scopoli, No. 117. Common Hevon, or Heron- shaw. fFil. orn. 277- Ardea cinerea major sen pella. Rail Syn. av. 98. Garza cinerizia grossa. Zinan. 113. Le Heron hupe. Brisson av. V. 296. Tab. 35. Htsl.d'ois. vii. 342. PI. Enl. 755. Reyger. Frisch ii. 199. Blauer Rager. Kram. 346. Ardea major. Gm. Lin. 627. Hager. Faun. Suec. sp. 5g. The Herqn. Br. Zool. 11 6. Tal. A. Arct. Zool. ii. 144. (Female.) Ardea. occipite nigro lasvi, dorso cserulescente, subtus albida, pectore maculis ob- longis nigris. (^Femina.) Lath. Lid. orn. 69I. id. Syn. V. 83. Ardea Pella sive cinerea. Ges* ner av. 211. Ardea cinerea tertia. Aid. av. iii. 159. Wil. orn. 279. & Rail Syn. av. 98. Ardea cinerea. Lin. syst. 627. Danis et Norvegis Heyre v. Hegre. Cimhris Skid-Heire Skredheire. Brunnich, 156. Le Heron. Brisson av. v. 292. Tab. 34. PI. Enl. 787. Reyger Frisch, ii. I98. Br. Zool. 116. XHIS bird is remarkably light in proportion to its bulk, scarcely weighing three pounds and a half; the length is three feet two inches ; the breadth five feet four inches. The body is very small, and always lean; and the skin scarcely COMMOiV HEROX^ Tlie Female. VOL. 2. P. 10. Class II. COMMON HERON. U thicker than what is called gold-beater's skin. It must be capable of bearing a long abstinence, as its food, which is fish and .frogs, cannot be readily got at all times. It commits great de- vastation in our ponds ; being unprovided with ' webs to swim, nature has furnished it with very long legs to wade after its prey. It perches and builds on trees, and sometimes in high cliffs over the sea, commonly in company with many others, like rooks. At d^essi Hall near Gosber- ton in Lincolnshire, I have counted above eighty nests in one tree. It makes its nest of sticks, lines it with wool; and lays five or six large eggs of a pale green color. During incubation, • the male passes much of its time perched by the female. They desert their nests during winter, excepting in February, when they re- sort to repair them. It was formerly in this country a bird of game, heron-hawking being so favourite a diversion of our ancestors, that laws were enacted for the preservation of the species, and the person who destroyed their eggs was liable to a penalty of twenty shillings, for each olFence. Not to know the Hawk from the He- Tonshaxv was an old proverb*, taken originally * In after times this proTcrb was absurdly corrupted to. He does not know a hawk from a hand-saw. m COMMON HERON. Class IL from this diversion ; but in course of time serv- ed to express great ignorance in any science.- This bird was formerly much esteemed as a food ; made a favourite dish at great tables, and- was valued at the same rate as a pheasant. It is said to be very long lived ; by Mr. Keyslers account it may exceed sixty years * : and by a recent instance of one that was taken in Hol- land by a hawk belonging to the stadtholder, its longevity is farther confirmed, the bird having a silver plate fastened to one leg, with an inscrip- tion, importing it had been before struck by the ^ elector of Co^^yze"* hawks in 1755. ...Jr it:.«j?«6M Descrip- Xhe male is a most elegant bird ; the weight - about three pounds and a half, the length, three feet three ; the breadth, five feet four. The bill is six inches long, very strong and pointed; the edges thin and rough ; the color dusky above^ yellow beneath; the nostrils linear; the irides of a deep yellow ; the orbits and space between them and the bill covered with a bare greenish skin. The forehead and crown white, the hind part of the head adorned with a loose pendent crest of long black feathers waving with the wind ; the upper part of the neck is of a pure white, . ;- " * Ket/sler's Travels, i. 70. •.:!•::,.:„' •:vb lion. Class II. COMMON HERON. 13 and the coverts of the wmgs of a light grey ; the back clad only with down, covered with the sca- pulars ; the forepart of the neck white spotted with a double row of black ; the feathers are white, long, narrow, unwebbed, falling loose over the breast; the scapulars of the same texture, grey streaked with white. The ridge of the wing white, primaries and bastard wing black ; along the sides beneath the wings is a bed of black feathers, very long, soft, and elegant ; in old times used as egrets for the hair, or ornaments to the caps of knights of the garter; the breast, belly, and thighs white; the last dashed with yellow. The tail consists of twelve short cinereous feathers ; the legs are of a dirty green ; the toes long, the claws short, the inner edge of the middle claw finely ser- rated. The head of the female is grey ; it wants the Female. long crest, having only a short plume of dusky feathers -, the feathers above the breast short ; the scapulars grey and webbed ; the sides grey. This has hitherto been supposed to be a distinct species from the former ; but later observations prove them to be the same. " In England, and the milder climates, this species of heron is stationary, migratory in the 14 BITTERN HERON. Class II. colder according to the season ; is rarely seen far north. Inhabits Africa and Asia in general ; the Cape of Good Hope; Calcutta^ and other parts of India ; and is found in America, from Carolina to Nexv-Yoi^ky J. L. 3. Bittern. Ardea. stellaris. A. capite lae- viusculo, supra testacea ma- culis transversis, subtus pal- lidior maculis oblongis nis- eis. Lath. hid. orn. 680. id. Syn. V. 56. id. Sup. i. 234. id. Sup. ii. 300. Le Butor. Belon av. 1Q2. Brrind, Rordump. Gesner av. 215. The Myredromble. Turner. Trombone, Terrabuso. Aldr. av. iii. lG4. Bittour, Bittern, or Mire- drum. TVil. orn. 282. Rail Syn. av. 100. Botaurus. Le Butor. Brisson av.v.444. tah.SI.Hist.dois. vii. 411. PI. Enl. 789. Garza bionda, o di color d' oro. Zi7ian. 112. Scopoli, No. 125. Rohrtrummel, Mosskuh. Kram. 348. Rohrdommel. Frisch, ii. 205- Ardea stellaris. Gm. Lin. 635. Rordrum. Faun. Suec. sp. 164. Danis Rordrum. Brunnich, 155. Br. Zool. 117. fah. A. 1, Arci. Zool. ii. 152. JLHE bittern is a very retired bird, concealing itself in the midst of reeds and rushes in marshy places. It is with great difficulty provoked to flight, and when on wing has so dull and flag- ging a pace, as to acquire among the Greeks the title of okv^ * or the lazy. It has two kinds - ■ * Arist. hist. an. \05Q. Class II. BITTERN HERON. 15 of notes ; the one croaking, when it is disturb- • ed; the other bellowing, which it commences in the spring and ends in autumn. Mr. JVil- liighby says, that in the latter season it soars into the air with a spiral ascent to a great height, making at the same time a singular noise. From the first observation, we believe this to be the species of heron that Virgil alludes to among the birds that forbode a tempest, In sicco ludunt fulicag ; notasque paludes Deserit, atque altam supra volat Ardea nubem *. For the antients mention three kinds f; the Leucon, or white heron ; the Pellos, supposed to be the common sort; and the Asterias, or bittern ; which seems to have acquired that name from this circumstance of its aspiring " flight, as it were attempting, at certain seasons, the very stars ; though at other times its motion was so dull, as to merit the epithet of lazy. Some commentators have supposed this to have been the Taurus of Pliny ; but as he has expressly declared that to be a small bird, re- markable for imitating the lowing of oxen, we must deny the explanation, and wait for the discovery of the Roman naturalist's animal from * Georg. i. 363. t Arist. hist. an. IOO6. Plin. lib. x. c. 60. 16 BITTERN HERON. Class II. TION. Descrip- some of the literati of Arks, in which neigh- bourhood Pliny says the bird m as found .* In size the bittern is inferior to the heron; the bill is weaker, and only four inches long; the upper mandible a little arched ; the edges of the lower jagged ; the rictus or gape is so wide, that the eyes seem placed in the bill; the irides are, next the pupil yellow, above the yellow they incline to hazel; the ears are large and open. The crown of the head is black; the feathers on the hind part form a sort of short pendent crest ; at each corner of the mouth is a black spot ; the plumage of this bird is of a very pale dull yellow, spotted, barred, or striped with black ; the bastard wing, the greater co- verts of the wings, and the quil feathers are of a bright fen'uginous color, regularly marked with black bars ; the lower belly is of a whitish yellow ; the tail is veiy short, and consists of only ten feathers. The feathers on the breast are very long, and hang loose ; the legs are of a pale green. All the claws are long and slen- der; the inner side of the middle claw finely seiTated to hold its prey the better; its hind claw is remarkably long, and being a supposed preservative for the teeth, is sometimes set in silver, and used as a tooth-pick. -'- * P/ire. Lib. X. c. 42. Class II. BITTERN HERON. 17 It builds its nest with the leaves of water plants Nest. on some dry clump among the reeds, and lays five or six eggs, of a cinereous green color. This bird and the heron are very apt to strike at the fowler's eyes, when only maimed. The food of the bittern is chiefly frogs ; not that it rejects fish, for small trouts have been met with in its stomach. In the reign of Henry YIII. it was held in much esteem at our tables ; and valued at one shilling. Its flesh has much the flavour of that of a hare ; and nothing of the fishiness of that of the heron, ,.w•^f4,^ .^;,,, \^- , ;::::^t>-i\^&?&% " The Bittern is every where less frequent than the heron, though found in both temperate and warmer latitudes, perhaps not very far north. Is said to inhabit the greater part of Africa; and is certainly found on the coast of Bar^bary, at the Cape of Good Hope, and also in India and China, The Amei^ican is smaller, probably a variety of the European species." J. L. ^ VOL. II. 1$ LITTLE BiriERN HERON. Class IL 4. Little. Descrip- tion. Ardea minuta. A. capite Ise- vi, vertice dorso remigibus rectricibusque nigro-vires- centibus, coUo tectricibus alarum abdomineque pal- lida fulvis. (Mas). Lath. . Jjid. orn. 683. id. Syn. v. 65. id. Sup. i. 235. Ardeola (le Blonglos). Bris- S071 av. V. 497. tah. 4:0. Jig. 1. Hist, d'ois. vii. 3^5. PL Enl. 3.23. Ardea vertice dorsoque nigrls, coUo antice et alarum tec- tricibus lutescentibus. (Stau- den Ragerl, Kleine INIoos- skuh.) Kram. 348. Boonk or long Neck. Shaw's Travels, 255. Ardea minuta. Gm. Lin. 646. Kleiner Rohrdommel. Frisch, ii. 206, 207. Edw. av. 275. - ■ Arct. Zool. ii. 154. ■ - XHIS species was shot as it perched on one of the trees in the Qiiaj^i/ or public walks in Shrezvsburij, on the banks of the Severn ; it is frequent in many other parts of Europe, but the only one we ever heard of in England.* The length to the tip of the tail was fifteen inches, to the end of the toe twenty. The bill to the corners of the mouth was two inches and a half long, dusky at the point, the sides yellow, the edge jagged; the bulk of the body not larger than that of a fieldfare. The top of the head, the back, and tail, were black, glossed with an obscure green ; the neck very long, the * Three other instances are mentioned of its being shot in England; one on Bere river, another at Upton, and a third at Lytchet. Is said to be common near Aleppo, and to be found in India, and Nsiv Holland. J. L. Pl.IV. LITTLE BlTTERISr . VOL -2. r. 18. Fi. V. WHITE HEROl!?^. VOL .3. T. 19. Class II. WHITE HERON. ^ 19 forepart of which, the breast and thighs, were of a buff color; the belly and vent-feathers white ; the hind part of the neck bare of fea- thers, but covered with those growing on the side of it ; on the setting on of the w ing was a large chesnut spot; the lesser coverts of a yellowish buff; the larger coverts w^hitish ; the web of that next the back half buff and half black ; the quil feathers black ; the legs and toes dusky; and what is singular in a bird of this genus, the feathers grew down to the knees ; the inside of the middle claw was serrated. For this description, and the drawing, we are indebted to Mr. Plymley. Ardea alba. A. capita Isevi, Ardea Candida, le Heron 5. V/hite, corpore albo, rostro fulvo, blanc. Brisson av. v. 428. pedibus nigris. Lath. Ind. Hist, d'ois. vii. 365. PL orn. 695. id. Syn. v. 9I. Enl. 886. Le Heron blanc. Beloii av. Grosser weisser Rager. Kram. 191. 346. Scopoli, No. 126. Ardea alba. Gesner av. 213, Ardea alba. Gm. Lin. 639. Turner. Faun. Suec. sp. 166. TFil. orn. 27g. Br. Zool. II7. Arct. Zool n. Rail Syn. av. 99. 145. XHIS bird has not fallen within our obser- vation; therefore we must give Mr. W'lllugh- hys account of it. The length to the end of Descrip- TION. c 21 20 WHITE HERON. Class II. the feet is fifty-three inches and a half, to that of the tail only forty ; the breadth sixty inches ; the weight forty ounces. The bill is yellowish ; the naked skin between that and the eyes green ; the edges of the eyelids, and the irides, are of a pale yellow ; the legs are black ; the inner edge of the middle claw serrated, the whole plumage is of a snowy whiteness. This bird is very common in many parts of Europe ; Tur- ner says, that in his time this species bred (though rarely) in the same places with the com- mon sort; but we believe it to be seldom found with us at present,* any more than the following species mentioned by Leland,-\ under the name of Egritfe, in one of the bills of fare in the magnificent feasts of our ances- tors. .• [.■:: -. ' ; ',[;. ,.,;.■:■ -.• , ■' * Dr. Latham informs us that one of this species was killed in Cumberland not many years ago. Ed. f Ldand's Collectanea, vol. \[. - ,. . .. , JI.VE.. T\ G RET . HERON. VOI/ . 5 . F. 21. Class II. EGRET HERON. 21 Ardea Garzetta. A. occipite Ardea alba ininor. Rati Syn. 6. Egret. cristato, corpore albo, rostro av. QQ. nigro, loris pedibusque vi- Dwarf Heron. Barhot, 2Q, rescentibus. Lath. Ind. orn. L' Aigrette. Brissonav.v.43\. 694. id. Syn. v. 90. Hist, d'ois. vii. 372. PL Lesser White Heron. JVil. Enl. QOl. orn. 280. Kleiner Weisser Rager. JTmm. Ardea Garzetta. Gm. Lin. 345. 628. Jrct. Zool. ii. 147. W E once received out of Anglesey, the fea- thers of a bird shot there, which we suspect to be the Egret; this is the only instance perhaps of its being recently found in England. One was shot in Ireland in the year 1793. That it was formerly very frequent here, appears by some of the old bills of fare : in the famous feast of Archbishop Nexiill, we find no less than a thousand Asterides* Egrets or Egrit- tes, as it is differently spelt. Perhaps the esteem they were in as a delicacy during those days, occasioned their extirpation in our islands ; abroad they are still common, especially in the southern parts of Europe, where they appear in flocks. The Egret is a most elegant bird ; it weighs Descrip- about one pound ; the length to the end of the TION. * Godwin de Prcesul. Angl. com. Leland's Collect. EGRET HERON. Class II. tail is twenty-four inches, to that of the legs thirty-two; the bill is slender and black; the space about the eyes naked and green; the irides of a pale yellow ; the head adorned with a beautiful crest, composed of some short, and of two long feathers, hanging backward ; these are upwards of four inches in length; the whole plumage is of a resplendent w^hiteness ; the feathers on the breast, and the scapulars, are very delicate, long, slender, and unweb- bed, hanging in the lightest and loosest man- ner ; the legs are of a dark green color almost black. The scapulars and the crest were for- merly much esteemed as ornaments for caps and head-pieces ; so that aigrette and egrtt came to signify any ornament to a cap, though originally the word was derived from aigre^ a cause de Vaigreur de sa voh\* We never met with this bird or the crane in England, but formed our descriptions from spe- cimens in the elegant cabinet of Doctor Mau- duit in Paris. * Belon av. I95. Class II. NIGHT HERON. 23 Ardea Nycticorax. A. crista occipitis tripenni alba ho- rizontalij dorso nigro, abdo- mine flavescente. (Mas.) Lath. Ind. orn. 67s. id. Syn. V. 52. id. Sup. i. 234. Gm. Lin. 624. Le Bihoreau. Brisson av, v. 493. t. 3g. Hist, d'ois. vii. 435. PL E?iL 758. Rail Syn. av. 99. A. capite laevi fusco corpore 7. Night. fuscescente subtus albo, re- migibns primoribus apice macula alba. {Femina), Lath. Ind. orn. 67S. Ardea grisea. Gm. Lin. 625. Le Heron gris. Brisson av. v. 412. tah. 36. PI. Enl. 759. TFil. orn. 204. Arct.Zool. ii. 151. [THE bill, crown of the head, back and sea- Descrip- TION. pulars of this rare species, are black ; the last broad and long; the forehead, cheeks, neck, and under' side of the body, white ; the wings and tail of a very pale ash color ; the hind part of the head is most specifically distinguished by three very slender white feathers, five inches long, forming a pendent crest ; the legs are of a yellowish green. The length to the tip of the tail is one foot seven inches. The female dif- Female. fers in color so much from the male, that it has been described by Brisson as a distinct species. The head and the upper parts of the body are of a glossy brown, but the latter tinged with grey ; the lower part of the back and the rump are almost grey ; the chin white ; the fore part of the neck grey with yellowish streaks ; the 24 NIGHT HERON. Class IL rest of the under parts grey ; the vent white ; the wings greyish brow^n streaked with yellow- ish white ; some of the greater coverts are tip- ped with white ; the quil feathers the same ; the tail nearly the same ; the legs greyish brown. The first instance recorded of this bird having been found in England was in May, 1782; when one was shot near Londmi, which was preserved in the late Leverian museum. The editor has heard of another having been killed in Suffolk. Ed. " One was killed at Cliefden in Buckingham- shire. It is common in Spaiti and about Gibraltar, but is every where more rare than the Heron. Inhabits China and India; and I have received it from North America, where it extends south as far as Georgia, but is there smaller. It makes its nest both in trees and among the rocks ; and lays three or four white eggs." J. L. JVil. orn. 280. 8. Red La Garzette blanche. Brissen BILLED. av. V. 438. Hist, d'ois. vii. 371. Lin. Tr. ix. 197- Jrct. Zool. ii. 146. ? ■ Class II. RED BILLED HERON. ; 25 Ardea aequinoctialis. i3. A. ca- pite laevi, corpore albo, ver- tice et pectore croceis, lo- ris pedibusque flavo-croceis. Lath. Ind. orn. 697. id. Syn. V. 94. A. Ardea alba tertia Aid. Rail Syn. av. QQ. [THE bill is red, and two inches and three quar- Descrip. ters in length ; the irides yellow ; the whole plu- mage of a snowy whiteness ; the length eighteen inches. Mr. Montagu announces in the Lmridean Transactions, that a female of this species was killed in Devonshire the latter end of October, in the year 1 805, which entitles it, with other incidental visitants, to a place in the British Zoology ; the notice is not attended by any de- scription. Ed. TIOK. 26 SQUACCO HERON. Class II. 9. Squacco. Ardea comata. A. cristata lu- Cancrofagus luteus. Brisson teo rufescens, uropygio cor- av. v. 472. pore subtus alis caudaque Crabier de Mahon. Hist. albis. Lath. Ind. orn. 687- d'ois. vii. 393. PL Enl. id. Syn. v. 74. id. Sup. ii. 348. 302. Squacco. Raii Syn. av. QQ. Gm. Lin. 632. TFil. orn. 281. [ONLY one instance is recorded of this bird having been seen in England, which was shot by Mr. Lambert at Boyton, in IFiitshire, in 1775. Descrip- Its length is eighteen inches. The bill is of a livid red, with a brown tip ; the lo7'U77i greenish ; the irides yellow ; the crown of the head much crested, six of the feathers hanging quite down to the beak ; these are narrow, white margined with black ; the neck and breast pale ferrugi- nous; the feathers on the first very long and loose ; the back ferruginous, inclining to violet, and furnished with long narrow feathers which reach beyond the wings, when they are closed, and fall over them ; the wings, rump, tail, belly, and vent, white ; the tail pretty long ; the legs stout, of a greenish yellow ; the claw of the mid- dle toe serrated within. Ed. " It is met with near Bologna, and is there TIOKT. Class II. GARDENIAN HERON. 27 called Squacco, from whence it has derived its trivial name; is more frequent in the bays of the Caspian sea and the slow streams of the southern desert; and extends to India.'^ J. L, Ardea Gardeni. A. nigricans Gardenian Heron, id. Syn. v. lo. Garde= albo maculata subtus albida 71. NIAN. fusco striata remigibus mar- Gm. Lin. 645. gine apiceque albis cauda Butar tachete ou Ponacre. fusca. Lath. Ind. orn, 685. Brissoti av. v. 462, Hist. Spotted Heron. Lath. Syn. v. dois. vii. 427. PL Enl. . 70. id. Sup. ii. 305. 939. Arct. Zool. ii. 150. [IN Mr, Pemianfs copy of his British Zo- ology, is the following short description of a heron killed near Clief'den, which he saw in the possession of Mr. Ireland, apothecary, at Ox- ford ; it seems evidently the species referred to in the synonyms. " Bill, length three inches; loriim, pale Descrip- green ; irides yellow ; head and neck brown, streaked with white ; throat pure white ; breast feathers and neck dark brown, with broad lines of white ; belly the same ; wings deep brown ; coverts marked with narrow wedge-shaped spots ; primaries with broader, the points each tending upwards ; tail composed of dusky fea- thers of equal length j vent white ; legs dusky ; TION. AFRICAN HERON. Class II. claws shorter than usual in the tribe. Length sixteen inches ?" In the fifth volume of the Linncean Transac- tions, is a notice of a bird of this species having been shot in Oxfordshire^ by John Horatio Dickinson, Esq. ; another was killed in Dorset- shire ; a third near St. Asaph, in Flintshire, in November 1810. Ed. 11. Afri- Ardea caspica. A.cristata cor- CAN. pQfe cinereo, coUo pectore abdomineque ferrugineis. Descrip- TION. gula alba, coUo lineis trlbus nigris. Lath. Ind. orn. 698. id. Sup. i. 237. [TWO only of this species of heron have been observed in England, one of which was shot in Ashdown Park, near Lamhourn, Berkshire, and was preserved in the late Lever ian museum. This bird is inferior in size to the common heron, not exceeding three feet in length. The bill is seven inches long, of a dusky yellow color, blackish at the point; the head and greater part of the neck are pale ferruginous ; the chin and throat white ; the feathers on the head are long and black, forming a kind of crest ; a list of black runs down the back of the neck for two thirds of its length ; a similar list continues from the eye on each side down to the breast; the feathers on the lower part of GARDENIAlSr HEROJST. Vol.1 pM I <.r, |ft 'llll, '■i^-:' '"^ ''' M-C^i-ifith d^l. Class II. AFRICAN HERON. / 20 the neck are long, loose, and of a deep ash color ; the breast ferruginous chesnut ; the back deep ash color ; the quil feathers and tail black ; the belly of a pale ferruginous ash color; the legs of a dull yellow ; the fore part of them, and the toes and claws, black. The African Heron inhabits the country which gives it name, and also Asia ; but Dr. Latham suggests that it may be the Crested purple heron, which is a native of Szvitzerland, in an earlier state of plumage. Ed. so GLOSSY IBIS. Class II. GENUS III. IBIS. Bill long, roundish, incurvated. LoRUM, bare of feathers. Tongue short. • - Feet of four toes, the three foremost connected , at then' base by a web. . . , . . ,r, . 1. Glossy. Tantalus Falcinellus. T. facie nigra, pedibus cseruleis, alis caudaque violaceis, corpore castaneo. Lath. Ind. orn. 707. id. Syn. v. 113. id. Sup. i. 67. Tantalus igneus. T. corpore nigricante cseruleo viridi et vinaceo varlegato nitente, capite colloque nigris pennis albido fimbriatis. Id. Bid. orn. 7O8. id. Syn. v. 115.? Falcinellus. Wil- orn. 2g5. Raii Syn. av. 103. Le Courlis verd. Brisson av. V. 326. Hist, d'ois. vlii. 2g. Le Courlis d'ltalie. PL EnL 819- Gm. Lin. 648- Scopoli, 1. No. 131. Sowerly. Br. Misc. 35. tab. 17. Nat. Misc. tab. 705. Arct. Zool. ii. 162. Descrip- tion". [DR. Latham thus describes a specimen of his Glossy Ibis, shot in Cornwall, and preserved in the late Levei^ian museum. " Length almost two feet. Bill five inches, smooth, roundish, much bent, green, fading to olive when dead ; eyelids brown ; irides olive ; ey€s placed in a white space ; under the chin a Class II. GLOSSY IBIS. 31 small dilatable pouch; head and neck black; the feathers fringed with white ; the rest of the body variegated with blackish blue-green, and is vinaceous, and in general very glossy, hence the bird, on flying, appears gilded when the sun shines upon it; quils green gold, and when closed reach the end of the tail ; wing coverts next the body reddish and blue mixed; the next series, black, red, and green -, the last and quils green gold ; tail the same, glossed in dif- ferent lights with red and violet; legs very long, of a bright green ; claws crooked, black." Our friend, the reverend Hugh Dames, com- municated a drawing* of the same bird to Dr. * The editor subjoins the following note at Mr. Davies's request, though the reader may agree with him in thinking that the mistake into which that able naturalist accidentally fell, does not require so ample an apology. *' As it is and ever has been fully my wish that no mistake, which I may have it in my power to rectify (particularly if such may have originated by my means) shall remain unadj usted j I have, with no very small degree of anxiety, been thinking of a method to make a necessary apology to my friend Dr. Shaw, and the public, for an inaccurate communication which I unfortunately made to him, and which he has inserted in No. igO of the Naturalist'' s Miscellany , respecting the bird which I mistook for a Scolopax of Linnceus, a Numenius of Dr. La- tham ; I beg leave at the same time to do myself the justice of stating how the mistake took place. The subject, from which I made the drawing and took the description, forms a part of the collection of the ingenious Miss Meyrick at Beauma- ris; I did not see the bird till it was converted into a picture. GLOSSY IBIS. Class II. Shaw, which forms the 705th plate of the Natu- ralisfs Miscellany, and has since favoured the editor with the following description : " The color of the whole bird is from a deep dusky to black ; the wings and the coverts reflect, in dif- ferent situations with regard to a strong light and the eye of the beholder, a most pleasing and rich variety of shades of violet, green, ruby, and gold ; the plumage of the head and neck are delicately tipt with white. There is likewise a sort of dull white on the upper part of the neck. The lower mandible of the bill is of a pale flesh color towards the base ; the lo- rum is very narrow, and of the same color with the surrounding plumage. The length of the bird is about two feetj that of the bill five inches ; the legs are very long, and have a cast of strong green." The colors of the specimen, figured by Mr. Sowerby, in the British Miscellany, are much Miss M. tells me it was in a considerably decayed state when she received it. This being the case, and the plumage much deranged, that small distinctive character the lorum, might too easily escape observation. Some time after this, a flock of these birds visited Anglesey, and four or five of them being killed, some of them fell into my hands, when I at once discovered the oversight, and consequent omission in the picture. I now feel much satisfaction in this manner to acknowledge the error and to request the candid forbearance of the public." Hugh Davies. Class II. GLOSSY IBIS. ^ - ^ duller, but there seem no characters sufficiently distinct to entitle it to be considered as a sepa- rate species. Dr. Latham, among his recent liberal communications to the editor, says, " I have described the Tantalus Falcinellus and the T. igneus as distinct species, but now sus- pect them to be one and the same bird, differing in age or sex. They are common in Itali/, and are seen in Indian drawings." Mr. Pennant, in the Arctic Zoology, informs us, on the authority, of Mr. Oedman, that this : species has appeared, of late years, in the isle of Oland, in the Baltic, and begins to form a settlement there and to return annually. Mr. Montagu states, in the Linncean Transac- tions, that the Green Ibis of Latham,* was shot in Devonshire, in September 1 805, and reason- ably doubts whether it was specifically different from the Tantalus igneus, Ed. * Ind. orn. 707, VOL. II. D COMMON CURLEW. Class II. GENUS IV. CURLEW. Bill long, slender, incurvated, blunt. Nostrils linear, placed near the base. Tongue short, sharp pointed. v ^ :• : -X Toes connected as far as the first joint by a strong membrane. o 1. Common. Numenlus Arquata. N. ci- nerascente nigroque varius, pedibus cjErulescentibus, a- lis nigris maculis niveis. Lath. Ind. orn. '710. id. Syn, V. 1 19. id. Sup. i. 242. Le Corlieu. Belon av. 204. Arquata, sive numenius. Ges- ner av. 221. Arcase Torquato. Aldr. av. iii. 169. Wil. orn. 294. Rail Syn. av. 103. Le Courly. Brisson av. v.- 311. Hist, d'ois. viii. I9. PL Enl.SiS. Golsser, Brach-scknepf. Kram. 350. Frisch, ii. 229. Scolopax arquata. Gm. Lin. 655. Faun. Suec. sp. 168. Danis Heel-spove. Regn. Spa- aer. Regn. Spove. Brunnich, 158. Br. Zool. 118. A7ct. Zool. ii. 164. -1-HESE birds frequent our sea coasts and marshes in the winter time in large flocks, walk- ing on the open sands ; feeding on frogs, shells, crabs, and other marine insects : in summer they retire to the mountanous and unfrequented parts of the country, where they pair and breed. Tivm. VOL. 2.7. .14. COMMOjST CTJRLE'VSr. Class II. COMMON CURLEW. - . SiS! Their eggs* are of a pale olive color, marked with irregular but distinct spots of pale brown. Their flesh is very rank and fishy, notwithstand- ing an old English proverb in its favor. Curlews differ much in weight and size ; some Descrip- weighing thirty-seven ounces, others not twenty- ^^°^* two ; the length of the largest to the tip of the tail measures twenty-five inches ; the breadth three feet five inches. The bill is seven inches long ; the head, neck, and coverts of the wings, are of a pale brown ; the middle of each feather black ; r the breast and belly white, marked with narrow oblong black lines ; the back is white, spotted with a few black strokes ; the quil feathers are black, but the inner webs spotted with white ; the tail white, tinged with red and beautifully barred with black; the legs are long, strong, and of a bluish grey color ; the bottoms of the toes flat and broad, to enable it to walk on the soft mud, in search of food. * " The Curlew lays her eggs, generally four In number, among long grass, on a few leaves carelessly drawn together. Tliis species is found every where on the continent of Europe, and extends to Africa and India ; a slight variety of it also in- habits America" J. L. D ^ as WHIMBREL CURLEW. Class II. 2. Whim- BREL. Numenitis Pheeopus. N. ros- tro nigro, pedibus cagrule- scentibus, maculis dorsali- bus fuscis rhomboidalibus, uropygio albo. Lath. Ind. orn. 711. id. Syu. v. 123. Phaeopus alteia, vcl arquata minor. Gesner av. 499. Tarangolo, Girardello. Aldr. av. iii. 180. Wil. orn. 294.. Haii Sy7i. av. 103. Edw av. 307. Scolopax Phaeopus. Gni. Lin. 657. Scopoli, No. 132. Windspole, Spof. Faun. Suec. sp. 169. Kleiner Goisser. Kram. 3.50. Kleine Art Brachvogel or Re- genvogel. Frisch, ii. 225. Le petit Courly, ou le Cour- lieu. Numenins minor. Brisson av. v. 317. tah. 27. Hist, d'ois. viii. 27. PL Enl. 842. Danis Mellum-Spove. Kor- veg. Smaae Spue. Br. 15Q. Br. Zool. 119. Arct. Zool. ii. 164, Descrip- tion. Jl he wLimbrel is much less frequent on our shores than the curlew ; but its haunts, food, and general appearance, are much the same. It is observed to visit the neighborhood of Spalding (where it is called the Curlew knot) in vast flocks in Aprils but continues there no longer than 3Iai/ ; nor is it seen there at any other time of the year : it seems at that season to be on its passage to its breeding place, which I suspect to be among the Highlands of Scot- Icind. The specific difference is the size ; this never exceeding the weight of twelve ounces.* The * The editor is informed by Dr. Latham that it sometimes T-liX ^"OL 2 r 3d AVHIMBREL Class II. WHIMBREL CURLEW. 87 bill is two inches three quarters long, dusky above, red below ; the feathers on the head and neck are brown tinged with red, marked in the middle with an oblong black spot ; the cheeks are of a paler color ; the upper part of the back, the coverts of the wings, the scapulars, and the farthest quil feathers, are of the same color with the neck, but the black spots spread out transversely on each web ; the quil feathers are dusky, their shafts white, and their exterior webs marked A\ith large semicircular white spots. The breast, belly, and lower part of the back, are white ; the coverts of the tail, and the tail itself, are of a very pale whitish brown, , crossed with black bars. The legs and feet are of a dull green, and formed like those of the curlew. I received a specimen from Invercauld, shot on the Grampian Hills, whose length was six- teen inches ; that of the bill two ; the head round, black on the top, divided lengthways by a white line ; the chin white ; the cheeks, neck, breast, weighs fourteen ounces, that its length is seventeen, and its breadth twenty-nine inches ; and that it is seen on the Kentish coast from the 15ih oi April to the first week in May. It is also frequently observed in Gloucestershire, on the lower parts of the Severn, about the same period. Is common on the continent ; and in Spain is brought to market in autumn with the curlew^ and sometimes in greater abundance. Ed. 38 PYGMY CURLEW. Class II. and upper part of the belly, whitish brown, marked with streaks of black pointing down, with narrow streaks on the neck ; broad on the belly; lower belly and vent white; back and coverts of the wings dusky ; the sides of each feather spotted with reddish white ; the lower part of the back white; the rump white barred with black; the tail barred with dusky and white ; the quil feathers black, with large white spots on the inner Avebs, the secondaries have them on both webs s the legs black. 3- Pygmy Numenius pygmaeus. N. fus- albo marginatis. Lath. Ind. Curlew. co ferrugineo alboque varie- orn. 713. id. Syn. v. 127, gatus, corpore subtus uro- id. Sup. i. 2gi. note 0. pygioque albo, remigibns Hays's Sandicich, 850. rectricibusque exterioribus Descrip- [SIZE of a lark. Bill black, bent like that of 'i lOU. the curlew ; the head, back, and coverts of the wings, mixed with brown, ferruginous, and white ; the primaries dusky, edged with white ; the breast, belly, and rump, white ; the tail dusky ; the exterior feathers edged with white ; the legs black. The above description is taken from a specimen brought from Holland. Only one instance* occurs of this rare bird * Another has since been met v.'ith at Greenwich in ^w- sust. J. L. Class II. PYGMY CURLEW. 39 having been observed in England, which was shot near Sandzvich ; and we are informed by Dr. Latham, that it differed from the preceding in the edges of all the feathers, being of a pale ochrous color instead of white. It weighed almost two ounces : its length was eight inches and a half; its extent fifteen inches and a half; its bill one inch and a half long, Ed. 4a WOODCOCK SNIPE. Class IL 1. Wood- cock. GENUS V. SNIPE. Bill long, slender, weak, and strait. Nostrils linear, lodged in a furrow Tongue pointed, slender. Toes divided, back toe very small. Scolopax Rasticola. Sc. casta- neo nigro griseoque varia, subtus rufescens fasciolis ni- gris, fascia capitis nigra, fa- moribus tectis. Lath. Ind. orn. 713. id. Si/n.\. 12Q. La Beccasse. Belon av. 272. Rusticola, seu Perdix rustica major (Grosser schnepff). Gesner av. 501. Aldr. av. iii. 182. TFil. 07-71. 289. Itaii Syn. av. 104. La Becasse. Brisson av. v. 292. Hist, d'ois. vii. 402. PI. Enl. 885. Beccaccia, Acceggia. Zinan. 101. Schniffa. Scopoli, No. 134. Wald schnepf. Kram. 351. Frisch, ii. 226.foem. 22". Scolopax rusticola. G-m. Lin. 660. Morkulla. Faun. Suec. sp. 170. Norvegis Blom-Rokke, Rutte, quihusdam Krog-quist. Da- nis Holt Sneppe. Brunnich, 164. Fauna Scotica. No. 142. Br. Zool. 119. Arct. Zoo], ii. 174. XHESE birds, during summer, are inhabi- tants of the Alps,''' of Norway, Sxveden^ Polish Pmissia, the march of Brandenhu7'g,-\ and the northern parts of Europe : they all retire from * JVil. orn. eqo. f Frisch, ii. 226. •J .X. RED S HAJnK. ( P.57.1 VOL.2.P.4iO. Class II. WOODCOCK SNIPE. ' / 41 those countries the beginning of winter, as soon as the frosts commence, which force them into milder climates, where the ground is open, and adapted to their manner of feeding. The time of their appearance and disappearance in Swe- den, coincides most exactly with that of their arrival in, and their retreat from, Great Bri- tain.* They live on worms and insects, which they search for with their long bills in soft ground and among the mosses in moist woods. Woodcocks generally arrive here in flocks, tak- ing advantage of the night, or a mist: they soon separate ; but before they return to their native haunts, pair. They feed and fly by night ; be- ginning their flight in the evening, and return the same way, or through the same glades to their day retreat. They leave England the lat- ter end of Fehruari), or beginning of March ; not but they have been knov/n to continue here * M. de Geers and Dr. JVaUeiius s letters to myself. ]M. de Geer expresses himself thus : La Becasse {Scolopax rusiicola) part d'ici vers Vautomne, Je ne seals pas an juste dans quel niois. On la trouve ici assez en alonda7ice dans Fete. Elle a coutume an soleil couchunt de faire sa volee en cercle on toujours en rond en Fair revenant toujours dans le meme endroit a pliisieurs reprises, et cest alors qu on pent la iirer a coup de fusil. En hiver on ne wit aucune, elles parteni alors toutes. M. Wallerius gave me this account of them. Scolopaces rusii- cola penes nos nidificant ; sed aiitumnali tempore aheunt, ac ver- nali redeunf. 42 WOODCOCK SNIPE. Class II. accidentally during the summer. In Case-wood, about two miles from Tunbindge, a few breed al- most annually ; the young having been shot there the beginning of ^w^z<5/^, and were as healthy and vigorous as they are with us in the winter, but not so well tasted : a female with egg was shot in that neighborhood in April i the egg was the size of that of a pigeon. They are remarkably tame during incubation; a person who discovered one on its nest, has often stood over, and even stroaked it; notwithstanding which it hatched the young, and in due time disappeared with them. "Woodcocks first appear in Scotland on the eastern coasts, and make their progress from East to West. They do not arrive in Bread- albajie, a central part of the kingdom, till the beginning or middle of November ; nor on the coasts of Nether Lorn, or of Ross-shire, till December or January: they are very rare in the more remote Hebrides, or in the Orknies ; a few stragglers now and then arrive there.^ They are equally scarce in Cathness. I do not recollect that any have been discovered to have bred in North Britain. Their autumnal and vernal appearances on the coast of Suffolk have been most accurately marked by Sir John Cullum, Bar\ who fa- Class II. WOODCOCK SNIPE. . vored me with the following curious ac- count. " From some old and experienced sportsmen, who live on the coast, I collected the following particulars. Woodcocks come over sparingly in the first week oi October, the greater numbers not arrivins: till the months of November and December, and always after sun-set. It is the wind and not the moon that determines the time of their arrival ; and it is probable that this should be the case, as they come hither in quest of food, which fails then in the places they leave. If the wind has favored their flight, their stay on the coast, where they drop, is very short, if any : but if they have been forced to struggle with an adverse gale (such as a ship can hardly make way with) they take a day's rest, to recover their fatigue ; and so greatly has their strength been exhausted, that they have been taken by hand in Soittlmold streets. They arrive not gregarious, but separate and dispersed. When the Redwing appears on the coast in autumn, it is certain the Woodcocks ai^e at hand ; when the Royston crow, they are come. Between the twelftli and twenty-fifth of March they flock towards the coast to be ready for their departure : the first law^ of nature bringing them to us, in autumn; the second WOODCOCK SNIPE. Class II. carrying them from us in spring. If the wind be propitious, they are gone immediately; but if contrary, they are detained in the neighbor- ing woods, or among the ling and furze on the coast. It is in this crisis that the sportsman finds extraordinary diversion : the whole coun- try around echoes Avith the discharge of guns ; even seventeen brace have been killed by one person in a day : but if they are kept any time on the dry heaths, they become so lean, that they are a prey hardly worth pursuing, at lest eating. The instant a fair wind springs up, they seize the opportunity, and where the sportsman has seen hundreds one day, he will not find a single bird the next. As this extraordinary diversion depends on the winds, it must necessarily be precarious ; and it accordingly sometimes hap- pens, that the sportsmen on the coast, for some years together, know not precisely the time of the Woodcocks' departure. They have the same harbingers (the Redwings) in spring, as in au- tumn." In the same manner we know they quit France, Germany, and Italy ; making the north- ern and cold situations their general summer rendezvous. They visit Burgundy the latter end of October, but continue there only four or five weeks; it being a dry country they are Class II. WOODCOCK SNIPE. 45 forced away for want of sustenance by the first frosts. In the winter they are found in vast plenty as far south as Smyrna and Aleppo^, and in the same season in Barbary\, wdiere the Africans call them, the ass of the partridge: and we have been told, that some have appear- ed as far south as Egypt, which are the remotest migrations we can trace them to on that side of the eastern world ; on the other side, they are found very common in Japan'^. The birds that resort into the countries of the Levant, proba- bly come from the desarts of Sibiria or Tar- tar y^, or the cold mountains oi Arinenia^. Our species of woodcock is unknown in North America; a kind^[ is found there that has the general appearance of it; but is scarcely half the size, and wants the bars on the breast and belly. The weight of the woodcock is usually about Descrip- twelve ounces;** the length near fourteen inches; the breadth twenty-six. The bill is three * RusseVs hist. Aleppo, 64. f Shaw's travels, 253. ■ J Kaempfers hist. Japan, i. \2Q. § Bell's travels, i. I98. II The woodcock visits Greece, with the first severe weather. In November, and does not remain later than February. Ed. ^ Tlie little woodcock. Arci. Zool. ii. l65. Latham. Syn. V. 131. Ed. ** I have been credibly Informed that one was killed near • Holywell which reached the weight of twenty ounces. 4^ WOODCOCK SNIPE. Class II. inches long, dusky towards the end, reddish at the base ; the tongue slender, long, sharp, and hard at the point ; the eyes large, and placed near the top of the head, that they may not be injured when the bird thrusts its bill into the ground : from the bill to the eyes is a black line; the forehead is of a reddish ash-color; the crown of the head, the hind part of the neck, the back, the coverts of the wings, and the scapulars, are prettily barred with a fer- ruginous red, black and grey; but on the head the black predominates ; the quil feathers are dusky, indented with red marks. The chin is of a pale yellow; the whole under- side of the body is of a dirty white, marked with numerous transverse lines of a dusky color. The tail consists of twelve feathers, dusky, or black on the one web, and marked with red on the other ; the tips above are ash-colored, below- white ; which, when shooting on the ground was in vogue, \\as the sign by which the fowler dis- covered the birds. The legs and toes are livid ; the latter divided almost to their origin, hav- ing only a very small web between the mid- dle and interior toes, as are those of the two species of snipes found in England. Class 11. GODWIT SNIPE. 47 Scolopax ^gocephala. Sc. ros- Scolopax aegocephala. Gm. 2. Godwit. tro flavo-rubente, pedibus vi- Lin. 667. rescentibus, capite colloque Limosa grisea major. La rufescentibus, remigibus tri- grande Barge grise. Bris- bus nigris basi albis. Lath. son av. v. 272. Tal\ 24. Ind.0rn.7ig. id. Si/n.v. 145. Jig. 2. Hist. dois. vii. 507. Godwit, Yarwhelp, or Yar- PL Enl. 876. wip. Wil. orn. 2Q0. Br. Zool. 120. Tab. B. Arcf. Rail Syn. av. 103. Zool. ii. 169. X HIS species weighs twelve ounces and a half; Descrip- the length is sixteen inches ; the breadth twenty- seven. The bill is four inches long, turns up a little, is black at the end, the rest a pale purple; from the bill to the eye is a broad white stroke ; the feathers of the head, neck, and back, are of a light reddish brown, marked in the middle with a dusky spot; the belly and vent feathers are white; the tail regularly barred with black and white. The six first quil feathers are black; their interior edges of a reddish brown; the legs in some are dusky, in others of a greyish blue ; which perhaps may be owing to a difference of age; the exterior toe is connected as far as the first joint of the middle toe, with a strong ser- rated membrane. The male is distinguished from the female by some black lines on the breast and throat, which in the female are wanting*. * In the two specimens, male and female, in the late Leverian museum, one had a white, the other a pale rufous breast J. L. 48 GODWIT SNIPE. Class II. These birds are taken in the fens, in the same .•'-'■'- season, and in the same manner, with the RufFs and Reeves, and when fattened are esteemed a great delicacy, and sell for half-a-crown, or five shillings, a piece. A stale of the same species is placed in the net. They appear in small flocks on our coast in September, and continue with us the whole winter; they walk on the open sands like the curlew, and feed on insects. M. Brisson has figured this bird very accu- rately, but has given it the synonym of our Greenshanks. Turner suspects this bird to have been the attagen or attagas of the antients. Aristophanes names it in an address to the birds that inhabit the fens ; therefore some commen- tators conclude it to be a w^ater fowl ; though in a line or two after he speaks of those that frequent the beautiful meadows of Marathon. He then describes the bird in very striking terms, under the title of the attagas, the bird zvith painted wings ; and in another place he styles it the spotted attagas^. This alone would be insufficient to prove what species the poet in- tended; we must therefore have recourse to Kttar/c/.S outos licc^ •'J/Jtiv liomko; ycsKkyjcrstoci. Av. 249. 762. Class II. GODWIT SNIPE. 49 Athen(2us, who is particular in his description ot the attagas, and evinces it to be of the partridge tribe. He says it is less than that bird ; that the back is spotted with different colors, some of a pot color, but more red ; that by reason of the shortness of the wino;s and heaviness of the body, it is taken easily by the fowlers. That it rolls in the dust, brings many young, and feeds on seeds. We are sorry to own our small acquaintance with the zoology of Attica, considering the va- rious opportunities our countrymen have had of informing themselves of it. We therefore can- not pronounce, that the attagas still exists on the plains of Marathon ; but we discover it in Samos, an island of Ionia, a country celebrated by the antients for producing the finest kinds ; Inter sapores fertur alituin primus lonicarum gustus dttagenarum, ' " " is the opinion oi IMartial f^ Horace,\ and Pliny,X both speak of it with applause. Tournefort\ has given us the figure of the bird itself, which he found in the marshes of Samos ; whose paint- ed and spotted plumage exactly answers the de- scriptions of Ainstophanes and Athenctus. It * Epig. Lib. xiii. Ep, 6l. f Epod. ii. X Lib. X. c. 48. § Vol/. Vol. i. 311. Ato. ed. VOL. i:. E 50 CINEREOUS GODWIT SNIPE. Class II. is of the partridge* genus, and known to the Italians by the name of Francolino. Those who wish to see it in its proper colors, and to be satisfied how well they agree with the descrip- tions of the antients, need only consult the ^46th plate of the works of our ingenious friend the late Mr. Edzvarck. 3 Cine- Scolopax canescens. Sc. cine- Latli.Jnd.orn.'/2\.id.Syn, REOUS. j-gQ alboque varia, gula pec- v. 145. toreque albis, cauda fasciis Gm. Lin. 668. pectoreque maculls cinereis. 3r. ZooL 4to. ii. 442. taJj. 66. XHIS species was shot near Spalding, and the description communicated to me by the Rev. Doctor Buckworth. Descrip- The bill was two inches and a half long. The head, neck, and back variegated with ash-color and white; the tail slightly barred with cine- . reous. The throat and breast white; the last marked with a few ash-colored spots. The legs long, slender, and ash-colored. This was about the size of the greenshanks ; ap- proaches it nearly in colors ; but the bill was so much thicker, as to form a specific dis- tinction. * Francolin Partridge. Latham Syn. iv. 759. Ed. a. XL. VO'L.2.T.S0. c zis::ktl:kotjs &od\vit. V PI xn: 'VOL. 2. T. 51'. RED GOD^VIT. Class II. RED GODWIT SNIPE. 51 " The cinereous godwit is represented in In- dian drawings." J. L. Scolopax lapponica. Sc. rostro La Barge rousse. Hist, d^ois. 4. Red. flavescente, pedibus nigris, vii. 504. PL Enl. QOO. subtus tola rufo ferruginea. Edwards, tah. 138. Lath. Ind. orn. 7 18. id. Syn. Faun. Suec. sp. 174. V. 142. Gtn. Lin. 667. Br. Zool. add. plates. Limosa rufa. BrissoJi av. v. Arct. Zool. ii. 168. 281. fab. 25. f. 1. XHE red godwit is superior in size to the Descrip- common kind ; the bill is three inches three- quarters long, not quite strait, but a little re- flected upwards ; the lower half black, the up- per yellow ; the head, neck, breast, sides, sca- pulars, and upper part of the back, are of a bright ferruginous color ; the head marked with oblong dusky lines ; the neck is plain ; the breast, sides, scapulars, and back varied with trans- verse black bars, and the edges of the feathers with a pale cinereous brown ; the middle of the belly is white, marked sparingly with similar spots . The lesser coverts of the wings are of a light brown ; the greater tipt with white ; the shafts and lower interior webs of the greater quil feathers are white ; the exterior webs and upper E 2 S3 RED BREASTED SNIPE. Class II. part of the interior black ; the upper half of the secondary feathers are of the same color ; the lower half white ; the coverts, and the lower ^ . part of the feathers of the tail are white; the upper part black ; the white gradually lessening from the outmost feathers on each side ; the legs are black, and four inches long ; and the . thighs above the knees are naked for the space of an inch and three quarters. These birds vary in their colors, some that '. we have seen being very slightly marked with red, or only marbled with it on the breast ; but the reflected form of the bill is ever suflfi- cient to determine the species. This is not very common in England; we have known it to have been shot near Hull ; and have once met with it in a poulterer's shop in London, 5. Red Scolopax noveboracensis. Sc. orn. 723. id. Syn. v. 153. BREASTED nigro cinereo rubroque varia, Gm. Lin. 658. SNIPE. dorso abdomineque albis, Montagu in Lin. Tr. ix. I98. alls cinereisj cauda albo ni- Arct. Zool. ii. 166. groque fasciata. Lath. Lid. Descrip- [THE bill of this species is like that of the "^^^^^ common snipe, and is two inches one eighth in length ; the head, neck, and scapulars, are varied Class II. JADREKA SNIPE. with black, ash-color, and red ; the under side of the neck and breast are ferruginous, thinly spotted with black ; the coverts and secondaries are dark cinereous, the latter tipt with white; the tail barred with dusky and white; the legs dark green ; the middle and outer toe are con- nected by a small web. Its size is that of a common snipe. A small flock of these rare birds appeared on the coast of Devonshire, in the spring of 1803, and were traced as far as Sandwich in Kent. Ed. Scolopax Limosa. ^g. rostro siibrecurvato basi rubro, cor- pore griseo-fusco rufo varie- gate subtus albo, remigibus basi albis, quatuor primis immaculatis, cauda basi alba. Lath. Ind. orn. 7ig. id. Syn. V. 146. Gm. Lin. QQ6. La Barge. Belon. av. 205. The second sort of God wit, the Totaiius of Aldrovand; called at Venice, Vetola. Wil. orn. 293. Fedoa nostra secunda, the Q, Jadreka Stone Plover. Rail Syn. av. snipe. 105. Limosa, la Barge. Brisson av. V. 262. Hist, d'ois. vii. 500. PI. Enl 874. ' . Lesser Godwit. Br. Zool. 120. ih. 4to. ii. 374. Jadreka Snipe. Arct. Zool. ii. 171. i^XR. Ray (for we are not acquainted with Descrip- this species) describes it thus. Its weight is '^^°^- nine ounces; the length to the tail seventeen 54 JADREKA SNIPE. Class II. inches ; to the toes twenty-one ; its breadth twenty-eight. The bill like that of the former ; the chin white, tinged with red ; the neck ash- colored; the head of a deep ash -color, whitish about the eye ; the back of an uniform brownness, not spotted like that of the preceding; the rump encompassed with a white ring; the two middle feathers of the tail black; the outmost, espe- cially on the outside web, white almost to the tips ; in the rest the white part grows less and kss to the middlemost. Besides these, Mr. fVillughby mentions a third species, called in Cornwall, the Stone Cur- lew'^; but describes it no farther than saying it has a shorter and slenderer bill than the preced- * The Stone Curlew is a name given in some parts of Eng^ land to the Whimbrel. A species of snipe vmder that denomi- nation is described by Mr. Pennant^ in the Arctic Zoology, vol. \\. p. 171ji as an inhabitant of Chateaux Bay, in North America. Ed. Class II, GREENSHANK SNIPE. 55 Scolopax Glottis. Sc. griseo- fusca maculis nigricantibus varia, superciliis dorso infimo corporeque subtus albis, rec- tricibus albis fasciis fuscis. Lath. Ind. orn. 720. id. Syn. V. 147. id. Sup. i. 249. Lomosa, et glottis. Gesner av. 519, 520. Piviero. Aldr. av. iii. 207. Greater Plover of Aldrovand. Wil. orn. 298. Rail Syn. av. 106. La Barge variee. Hist. dois. vii 603. Scolopax glottis. Gm. Lin, 664. Glut. Faun. Suec. sp. I71. Pivier Maggiore. Zinan. 102. Norvegis Hoest-Fugl. 167. Brunnich. Tschoket. 5'copoZi, No. 137. Br. Zool. 121. Tab. C. 1. Arct, Zool. ii. 173. 7. Green- shank. XHESE birds appear on our coasts and wet grounds in the winter time, in small flocks. The length to the end of the tail is fourteen Descrip- inches, to that of the toes twenty; the breadth "^^°^' twenty-five. The bill is two inches and a half long; the upper mandible black, strait, and very slender, the lower reflects a little upwards ; the head and upper part of the neck are ash-color- ed, marked with small dusky lines pointing downwards; over each eye passes a white line; the coverts of the wings, the scapulars, and upper part of the back, are of a brownish ash- color; the quil feathers dusky, but the inner webs speckled with Avhite ; the breast, the belly, thighs, and lower part of the back are white; the tail white, marked with undulated dusky 56 GREENSHANK SNIPE. Class II. bars ; the inner coverts of the wings finely cross- ed with double and treble rows of a dusky color. It is a bird of an elegant shape, and small weight in proportion to its dimensions, weigh- ing only six ounces. The legs are very long and slender, bare above two inches higher than the knees. The exterior toe is united to the middle toe, as far as the second joint, by a strong membrane which borders their sides to the very end. •;■ These birds are the Chevaliers au.v pieds verds of the French; as the spotted snipe are the ' • " Chevaliers aiLV pieds rouges. ' '' They are found every where on the Euro- p(j£an continent, and extend to India and China. Some remain in England during the summer. The eggs are said not to be unlike those of the Eed Shank." J. L. Glass II. REDSHANK SNIPE. 5r Scolopax Calidris. Sc. rostro rubro, pedibus cocclneis, corpore cinereo, remigibus secundariis albis. Lath. In.d. orn. 722 id. Syn. v. 150. id. Sup. i. 225. Gallinula erythropus. Gesner av. 504. Totanus Aldr. av. iii- I7I. Redshank, or Pool-srilpe. Wil. orn. 299. Itaii Syn. av. IO7. TotanuSj le Chevalier. Brisson . av. V. 188. Tab. IJ-fg- 1- Hist, d'ois. vii. 513. Scolopax Calidris. Gm. Lin, C64. Sc. Totanus. Faun. Suec. sp. 167. Rothfussler Kram. 353. Kleiner grau-und-weisbunter SandloeufFer ? Frisch, ii. 240. Hoemantopus, magnitudine inter Vanellum et Galli- naginem minorem media. Ray's iti?i. 247. Br. Zuol. 124. Arct. Zool. ii. 172. 8. Red- shank. XHIS species is found on most of our shores; in the winter time it conceals itself in the gut- ters, and is generally found single, or at most in pairs. It weighs five ounces and a half; the length Descrip- is twelve inches; the breadth twenty-one; the bill nearly two inches long, red at the base, black towards the point. The head, hind part of the neck, and scapulars, are of a dusky ash-color, obscurely spotted with black ; the back is white, sprinkled with black spots; the tail elegantly barred with black and white; the cheeks, under side of the neck, and upper part of the breast, are white, streaked downward with dusky lines; 58 RED SHANK SNIPE. Class II. the belly white ; the exterior webs of the quil feathers are dusky ; the legs long, and of a fine bright orange color; the outermost toe con- nected to the middle toe by a small membrane ; the inmost by another still smaller. It breeds in the fens, and marshes ; and flies round its nest when disturbed, making a noise like a lapwing. It lays four eggs, whitish tinged with olive, marked with irregular spots of black chiefly on the thicker end. Var. a. Scolopax cantabrigiensis. Sc. rubro. Lath. Ind. orn. 721. Cambridge. cinereo-fusca subtus alba, id. Syn. v. 146. tectrlcibus alarum rectrici- Qm. Lin. 668. ' : busque nigro fasciatis rostro Cambridge Godwit. Br. Zool. : .; : ,-,j '■" .-' ' ,'': .•;.-., - H- 447- I DISCOVERED this in the collection of the Rev. Mr. Green; it was shot near Cam- '''/': bridge."^ Descrip- It is larger than the common redshank. The head, upper part of the neck, and the back, are * I received a bird from Mr. Bot/s in the month of March supposed to be this, but it proved to be a redshank in the plum- age of the season. J. L. From the above circumstance, considering also the variety of plumage to which the tribe is subject, and that the description of the Cambridge Godwit was taken from a stuffed specimen, we presume it might with propriety be erased from the list of distinct British species. Ed. TION. Class IL SPOTTED SNIPE. 59 of a cinereous brown ; the lesser coverts of the wings brown edged with dull white, and barred with black ; the primaries dusky, whitish on their inner sides ; the secondaries barred with dusky and white ; the under side of the neck and breast of a dirty white ; the belly and vent white ; the tail barred with cinereous and black ; the legs of an orange red. Scolopax. Totanus. Sc. nigri- Le chevalier rouge. Belon av. 9. Spotted. cans maculis albis subtus al- 207- ba, pectore lineolis rectrici- Aldr. av. iii. I7I. bus lateralibus fasciis ni- Rail Syn. av. IO6. gricantibus, pedibus rubris. Le Chevalier rouge. Brisson Lath. Lid. orn. 721. id. av. v. 1Q2. Syn.v.liS. The other Totano. Wll. orn. Cm. Lin. 665. 2Qg. Arct. Zool. ii. 17O. J- HIS species we found in the collection of Taylor White., Esq. In size it is equal to the Descrip- greenshank; the head is of a pale ash color, marked with oblong streaks of black ; the back dusky, varied with triangular spots of white; the coverts of the wings ash colored, spotted in tiie same manner ; the quil feathers dusky ; the breast, belly, and thighs white, the first thinly spotted with black ; the middle feathers of the tail are ash colored ; the side feathers are whit- 60 COMMON SxNIPE. Class II. ish, barred with black ; the legs very long, and of a bright red. [The spotted snipe has been killed in Atigk- sey, and is preserved in the collection of the in- genious ]\liss Meyinck, at Beaumaris. Ed. 10. Com- mon. Scolopax Gallinago. Sc. rostro tuberculato, corpore nigri- cante et fulvo vario subtus albo, frontis lineis fuscis qua- ternis. Lath. Tnd. orn. 713. id. Syn. v. 134. La Beccassine ou Becasseau. Belon av. 215. Gallinago, seu rustlcola mi- nor. Gesner av. 503. Aldr. av. iii. 184. The Snipe, or Snite. Wil. orn. 290. Haii Syn. av. 105. La Beccassine. Brisson av. v. 298. Tab. 26. Jig. 1. Hist, d'ois. vii. 483. PL Enl. 883. Pizzarda, Pizzardella. Zinan. 101. Mooss schnepf, Kram. 352. Frisck, ii. 22g. Scolopax gallinago. Cm. Lin. 662. Horsgjok. Faun. Suec. sp, 173. Capella ccElestis. Klein av. 100. Islandis Myr Snippe. Norvegis Trold Ruke. Cimhris qui- lusd. Hossegioeg. Danis Dobbelt Sneppe, Steea Sneppe. Br. 16O. Kositza. Scopoli, No. 138. Br. Zool. 121. Arct. Zool. ii. 165. XN the winter time snipes are very frequent in all our marshy and wet grounds, where they lie concealed in the rushes, S^c. In the sum- mer they disperse to different parts, and are found in the midst of our highest mountains, as well as our low moors : their nest is made of Fi.xrn. VOL.2 .p. 60. JA.CK 5NIPE. (p. 63) Class II. COMMON SNIPE. 6l dried grass ; they lay four eggs of a dirty olive color, marked with dusky spots ; their young are so often found in England, that we doubt whether they ever entirely leave this island. When they are disturbed much, particularly in the breeding season, they soar to a vast height, making a singular bleating noise, and Avhen they descend, dart down with vast rapidity : it is also amusing to observe the cock (while his mate sits on her eggs) poise himself on his wings, making sometimes a whistling and sometimes a drumming noise. Their food is the same with . that of the woodcock ; their flight very irregular and swift, and attended with a very shrill %. scream. They are most universal birds, found in every quarter of the globe, and in all cli- mates. This species weighs* four ounces ; the length, Descrip- to the end of the tail, is near twelve inches ; the breadth about fourteen. The bill is three inches long, of a dusky color, flat at the end; the head is divided lengthways with two black lines, and three of red, one of the last passing over the middle of the head, and one above each eye ; between the bill and the eyes is a dusky line ; * This is the usual weight, but a snipe was brought to the editor in January, 1811, which weighed more than five ounces. Ed. TION-, 62 GHEAT SNIPE. Class II. the chin is white; the neck is varied with brown and red. The scapulars are beau- tifully striped lengthways with black and yel- low ; the quil feathers are dusky, but the edge of the first is white, as are the tips of the secondary feathers ; the quil feathers next the back are barred with black and pale red ; the breast and belly are white ; the coverts of the tail are long, and almost cover it; they are of a reddish brown color. The tail consists of fourteen feathers j black on their lower part, then crossed with a broad bar of deep orange, another narrow one of black, , - and the ends white, or pale orange. The vent feathers are of a dull yellow ; the legs pale green ; the toes divided to their origin. 11. Great. Scolopax major. Sc. nigroma- Ind. orn. 714. id. Syn, v. , culata supra testacea subtus 133. albida, lineaverticistestacea, Gm. Lin. 663. altera utrinque nigra. Lath. Arci. Zool. ii. \75. XHIS species is rarely found in England.^ A fine specimen, shot in Lancashire, was pre- * I have known this species to be killed in England, six or eight times, and it is probably met with oftener than is imagined, as sportsmen talk of killing snipes occasionally of an extraordi- nary size. J. L. Class II. JACK SNIPE. served in the museum of the late Sir Ashtoii Lever. The weight eight ounces. The head divided lengthways by a testaceous line, bounded on each side by another of black; above and be- neath each eye is another ; the neck and breast of a yellowish white, finely marked with semi- circular lines of black ; the belly, with cordated spots; the sides undulated with black. The coverts of wings, and scapulars testaceous, spotted with black and edged with white ; the primaries dusky ; the tail rust-colored, barred with black ; the legs black ? . --:^ m Descrip- tion. Scolopax. Galllnula. Sc. ros- tro tuberculato, corpore va- riegate, uropygio violaceo vario, pedibus virescentibus, loris fuscis. Lath. Ind. orn. 715. id. Syn. v. 136. Gid, Jacksnipe, and Judcock. Wil. orn. 291. Rail Syn. av. 105. La petite Beccassine. Brisson av. V. 303. tab. 26. fg. 2. Hist, d'ois. vii. 49O. Fl. Enl. 384. Pokerl. Scupoli, No. ISf), Pizzardina. Zinan. lOI. Scolopax gallinula. Gm. Lin. 244. Danis Roer-Sneppe. Brufi' nick, 163. Haar-Sclinepfe, Pudel-Sch- nepfe, Kleinste Schnepfc. Frisch, ii. 231. Br. Zool. 121. Arct. Zool. ii. 166. 12. Jack, XHE haunts and food of this species are the same with those of the common snipe ; it also TION. 64 JACK SNIPE. Class II. feeds on small snails ; is much less frequent among us, and very difficult to be found, lying so close as to hazard being trod on before it will rise : the flight is never distant, and its motion is more sluggish than that of the larger kind. Descrip- Its weight is less than two ounces, inferior by half to that of the snipe ; for which reason the French call them deiLv pour im, we the half snipe. The dimensions bear not the same pro- portion ; the length of the snipe being twelve inches ; this eight and a half. The t>ill is an inch and a half long ; the crown of the head is black, tinged with rust color ; over each eye is a yellow stroke; the neck varied with white, brown, and pale red. The scapular feathers are narrow, very long, brown, and bordered with yellow. The rump a glossy bluish pur- ple; the belly and vent white ; the greater quil feathers dusky; the tail brown, edged with tawny, consisting of twelve pointed feathers;, the legs are of a cinereous green. H -■ Class II. BROWN SNIPE. 65 Scolopax grisea. Sc. cinereo- Lath. Ind. om. 724. id. 13. Brown. fusca nigro nebulosa, alls Syn. v. 154. fuscis, dorso abdomine cau- Gm. Lin, 658. daque albis, uropygio rec- Mont. orn. Diet. tricibusque nigro fasciatis. Brown snipe. Arct. Zool. ii. 167. -, - . ■ ■ ' [THE bill of this species resembles that of the Descrip- common snipe ; from it to each eye extends a white bar; the head, neck, and scapulars, are of a fine uniform cinereous brown, in a very few places marked with black ; the coverts and primaries are dark brown ; the shaft of the first primary feather of the wing white; the seconda- ries are light brown, edged with white ; the back white ; the rump and tail barred with black and white ; the breast mottled with the same ; the belly white ; the legs are of a dark green color ; the middle and outermost toe are connected by a small web. Its size is that of the common snipe. This bird is a native oi America, and only one instance is recorded by Mr. Montagu of its having been seen in England. Ed. VOL. II. Q6 LAPWING SANDPIPER. Class IL GENUS VI. SANDPIPER.* Bill straight, slender, not an inch and a half long. Nostrils small. Tongue slender." ' Toes divided ; generally the two outmost con- nected at the bottom by a small mem- brane. 1. Lapwing. Tringa. Vanellus. Tr. pedibus rubris, crista dependente, pectore nigro. Lath. Ind. orn. 726. id. Syn. v. 16I. Le Vanneau, Dixhult, Pape- chieu. Belon av. 209. 1 Zweiel. Gesner av. 765. Pavonzino. Aldr. av. iii. 202. Pavoncella. Olina. 21. Lapwing, bastard Plover, or Pewit. Wil. orn. 307. Vanellus, le Vanneau. Bris- son av. V. 94. tab. 8. Jig. 1. Hist. dois. viii. 48. PI. Enl. 242. Raii Syn. av. 110. Kiwik. Kram. 353. Frisch, ii. 213. Tringa vanellus. Gm. Lin. 670. Wipa, Kowipa, Blaecka. Faun. Suec. sp. 176. Danis V Ibe, Kivit. Brunnichy 170. Scopoli, No. 141. Br. Zool. 122. Arct. Zool. ii. 186. XHIS elegant species inhabits most of the heaths and marshy grounds of this island. It * This genus, the Tringa of Linnceus, wanting an English name, we have given it that of the Sandpiper; most of the spe- cies being conversant about shores, and their note whistling or piping. Class II. LAPWING SANDPIPER. 6? lays four eggs, making a slight nest with a few bents. The eggs have an olive cast, and are spotted with black. It is worthy of notice, that among water fowl, congenerous birds lay the same number of eggs ; for example, all of this tribe, and those of the plover, lay four a-piece; the puffin genus only one; while the duck tribe, in general, are numerous layers, ' producing from eight to twenty. The young as soon as hatched, run like chickens : the parents shew remarkable solicitude for them, flying with great anxiety and clamour near them, striking at either men or dogs that approach, and often fluttering along the ground like a wounded bird, to a considerable distance from their nest, to elude their pursu- - ' ers ; and to aid the deceit, become more cla- morous when most remote from it : the eggs are held in great esteem for their delicacy, and are sold by the London poulterers for three shillings the dozen. In winter, lapwings unite ' in vast flocks, but at that season they are ex- tremely wild : their flesh is very good, their food being insects and worms. During Oc/'oZ'er and . , November, they are taken in the fens in nets, in the same manner that Ruffs are, but are not preserved for fattening, being killed as soon as caught, ■: ■■:^'.. >.:; ;-,>,., .'W',-, v;:^?;- jj ;; > , j - ' F 21 63 LAPWING SANDPIPER. Class JI. TION. Descrip- Their weight is about eight ounces; the length thirteen inches and a half; the breadth two feet and a half. The bill is black, and lit- tle more than an inch long ; the crown of the head of a shining blackness ; the crest of the same color, consisting of about twenty slender unwebbed feathers of unequal lengths, the longest are four inches ; the cheeks and sides of the neck are white, but beneath each eye is a black line ; the throat and fore part of the neck are black ; the plumage on the hind part mixed with Avhite, ash color, and red ; the back and scapulars are of a most elegant glossy green, and the latter finely varied with purple ; the lesser covert feathers of the wings are of a resplendent black blue and green ; the greater quil feathers black, but the ends of the four first are marked with a white spot; the upper half of the lesser quil feathers are black, the lower white ; those, next the body, of the same colors with the scapulars ; the breast and belly are white ; the vent-feathers and the coverts of the tail orange color. The tail consists of twelve feathers ; the outmost on each side is white, marked on the upper end of the inner web with a dusky spot ; the upper half of all the others are black, tipt with a dirty white ; their lower Class II. GREY SANDPIPER. 69 half is of a pure white ; the legs are red ; the irides hazel. The female is rather less than the male. Merret, in his Pifia.r* says, that there is in Cormvall, a bird related to this; but less than a thrush, having blue feathers, and a long crest. Tringa Squatarola. Tr. rostro nigro, pedibus virescentibus, corpore griseo, subtus albido. Lath. Ind. orn. 729. id. Sijn. V. 168. id. Sup. I. 248. Le pluviergris. Belon av. 202. Pivier montano. Aldr. av. iii. 207. Wil. orn. 300, Rail Syn, av. 111. Tringa Squatarola Gm. Lin. 682. Faun. Suec. sp. 186. Vaiiellus griseus, le Vaniieau gris. Brisson, av. v. 100. tab. 9. Jig. 1. Hist. d!ois. viii. 68. PL Enl. 854. Piviero montano. Zinan. 102. Bornholmis Floyte-Tyten, Dol- ken, Brunnich, 176. Scopoli, No. 145. Br. Zool. 122. Arct. Zool. ii. 182. Grey. VV EIGHS seven ounces; the length to the tip Descrip- of the tail is twelve inches ; the breadth twenty- four. The bill black, about an inch long, strong and thick; the head, back, and coverts of the wings black, edged with greenish ash color, and some white ; the cheeks and throat white, marked with oblong dusky spots ; the belly and thighs white ; the exterior webs of the quil feathers black ; the lower part of the interior webs of * P. 182. 3 YELLOW LEGGED SANDPIPER. Class IL the four first white ; the rump white ; the tail marked with transverse bars of black and white ; the legs are of a dirty green ; the back toe very small. These appear in small flocks in the winter time, but are not very common ; their flesh is very delicate. Var. A. Tringa Squatarola. /S. Tr. ros- Tringa varia. Gm. Lin. 683. tro pedibusque nigris, cor- Le Vanneau varie. Brissonav. pore fusco albo variegato, ab- v. 103. tab. Q.f. 2. PL Enl. domine albo rectricibus fus- 923. CO fasciatis. Lath. Ind. orn. 729. id. Syn. v. 169. [THIS variety is well represented in the Planches EnlmtiinSes : it is found on the coasts of Anglesey and Suffolk, and differs from the grey sandpiper in having the forehead, throat, and rump, white, and the upper tail coverts white edged with grey and pale yellow. Ed. 3. Yellow Tringa flavipes. Sandpiper, Yellowshanks Snipe. Arct. LEGGED. yellow-legged. iWow^cgMorw. Zoo/, ii. 172. diet. App. [THIS addition to the British Zoology was pur- chased in the market at Bath, and is thus de- scribed by Mr. Montagu. Descrip- " Length eleven inches and a half Bill one inch and a half long, black half way from the pi.:sTr'. VOIi.2.T.7l REEVE RUFF Class II. RUFF SANDPIPER. 71 end, base yellow ; irides light hazel ; head and neck cinereous, streaked with dusky ; the up- per parts of the body cinereous brown; the middle of each feather dusky ; wing coverts the same ; beneath the spurious wing a small patch of white ; primary quil feathers dusky, the first w ith a white shaft ; secondaries white half way fi'om their tips; the under parts white; rump the same ; the tail and its upper coverts cinere- ous brown; under tail coverts speckled with dusky ; legs orange yellow." Ed. Tringa pugnax. Tr. rostro pe- dibusque rufis, rectricibus tribus lateralibus immacula- tis, facie papillis granulatis carneis. Lath. Ind. orn. 725. id. Syn. v. I59. Avis pugnax. Aldr. av. iii. 167. JVil. orn. 302. Rail Syn. av. IO7. Krossler. Kram. 352 Tringa pugnax. Gm. Lin. Brushane. Faun. Suec. sp. 4^ Ruff. 175. Le Combattant, ou Paon de mer. Brisson av. v. 240. tab. 22. Hist, d'ois. vii. 521. PL Enl. 305, 306. Danis Bruushane. Brunnich, 168. Streitschnepfe, Rampfhsehn- lein. Frisch, ii. 232, 235. Scopoli, No. 140. Br. Zool. 123. Arct. Zool. ii. 185. XHE males, or Ruffs, assume such a variety of colors in several parts of their plumage, that it is scarcely possible to see two alike ; but the great length of the feathers on the neck, which 72 RUFF SANDPIPER. Class 11. gives name to them, at once distinguishes them Descrip- from all other birds. On the back of their necks is a singular tuft of feathers spreading wide on both sides. These, and the former, in some are black, in others white, yellow, or ferruginous; but this tuft and the ruffs fre- quently differ in colors in the same bird. The $:< v: feathers that bear an uniformity of coloring through each individual of this sex, are the coverts of the wings, which are brown inclining to ash color; the feathers on the breast, which are often black or dusky; the four exterior fea- thers of the tail, which are of a cinereous brown ; and the four middle, which are barred with black and brown ; the bill is black towards the end, red at the base. The legs in all, are yellow. In moulting, they lose the character of the long neck-feathers, nor do they recover it till after their return to the fens the spring following. It is then they regain that ornament, and at the same time a set of small pear shaped yellow pimples break out in great numbers on their face above the bill. The Stags or male birds of the first year want these marks, and have sometimes been mistaken for a new species of Tringa; but they may be easily known by the colors of the coverts of the wings, and the middle feathers of the tail. The older the birds are, Class II. RUFF SANDPIPER. 73 the more numerous the pimples, and the fuller and longer the ruffs. The length of the male to the tip of the tail is one foot, the breadth two ; the length of the Reeve ten inches, the breadth nineteen; the weight of the former when just taken is seven ounces and a half; of the latter only four. The Reeves never change their colors, which Female. are pale brown ; the back spotted with black, slightly edged with white ; the tail brown ; the middle feathers spotted with black ; the breast and belly white; the legs of a pale dull yellow. These birds appear in the fens in the earliest spring, and disappear about Michaelmas. The Reeves lay four eggs in a tuft of grass, the first week in Alay, and sit about a month. The eggs are white, marked with large rusty spots. Fowlers avoid in general taking the females, - not only because they are smaller than the males, but that they may be left to breed. Soon after their arrival, the males begin to /?i//, that is to collect on some dry bank near a splash of water, in expectation of the females, who resort to them. Each male keeps posses- sion of a small piece of ground, which it runs round till the grass is worn quite away, and nothing but a naked circle is left. When a 74 RUFF SANDPIPER. Class II. female lights, the ruffs immediately begin fight- ing. I find a vulgar error, that ruffs must be fed in the dark least they should destroy each other by fighting on admission of light. The truth is, every bird takes its stand in the room as it would in the open fen. If another invades its circle, an attack is made, and a battle ensues. They em- j^ww ploy the same action in fighting as a cock, place their bills to the ground and spread their ruffs. I have set a whole room full in action by making them move their stations ; and after quitting the place, by peeping through a cre- vice, have seen them resume their circles and become pacific. When a fowler discovers one of these hills, he places his net over night, which is of the same kind as those that are called clap or day 72ets, only it is generally single, and is about fourteen yards long and four broad. The fowler resorts to his stand at day break, at the distance of one, two, three, or four huni- dred yards from the nets, according to the time of the season ; for the later it is, the shyer the birds grow. He then makes his first pull, tak- ing those birds that he finds within reach ; after that he places his stuft birds or stales to entice those that are continually traversing the fen. An old fowler told me, he once caught forty- Class II. RUFF SANDPIPER. 75 four birds at the first hawl, and in all six dozen that morning. When the stales are set, seldom more than two or three are taken at a time. A fowler will take forty or fifty dozen in a season. These birds are found in Lincolnshire, the Isle of Ely, and in the east riding of Yorkshire,* where they are taken in nets, and fattened for the table, with bread and milk, hemp seed, and sometimes boiled wheat ; but if expedition is required, sugar is added, which will make them in a fortnight's time a lump of fat : they then sell for two shillings or half a crown a-piece. Judgment is required in taking the proper time for killing them, when they are at the highest pitch of fatness, for if that is neglected, the birds are apt to fall away. The method of killing them is by cutting off their head with a pair of scissars : the quantity of blood that issues is very great, considering the size of the bird. They are dressed like the woodcock, with their intestines ; and, when killed at the critical time, say the Epicures, are reckoned the most delicious of all morsels. * They visit a place called Martin-Mere, in Lancashire, the latter end oi March or beginning of April, but do not continue there above three weeks. KNOT SANDPIPER. Class II. 5. Knot. Descrip- tion. Tringa canutus. Tr. rostro laevi, pedibus cinerascenti- bus, remigibus primoribus serratis, rectrice extima al- ba immaculata. Lath. Ind. orn. 738. id. Syn. v. 187. Wil orn. 302. Rail Syn. av. 108. Edw. av. 276. Le Canut. Brisson av. v. 258. Hist, d'ois. viii. 142. Tringa canutus. Gm. Lin. 679. Faun. Suec. sp. 183. Islandis Sidlingar-KalJ. Nor- vegis Fiaere Pist. Fiaer-Kurv, Fiaer - Muus. Bornholmis, Rytteren. Brunnich, Tringa maritima, 182. Br. Zool. 123. Tab. C. 2. /. 1. Arct. Zool. ii. I78. X HE specimens we had an opportunity of examining, differ a little in colors, both from Mr. TVillughbys description, and from Mr. Edzvards's figure. The forehead, chin, and lower part of the neck in ours were brown, inclining to ash color; the back and scapulars deep brown, edged with ash color ; the coverts of the wings with white, the edges of the lower order deeply so, forming a white bar; the breast, sides, and belly, white; the two first streaked with brown; the coverts of the tail marked with white and dusky spots alternately; the tail ash colored, the outmost feather on each side white; the legs were of a bluish grey; and the toes, as a special mark, divided to the very bottom; the weight four ounces and a half. Class II. KNOT SANDPIPER. 7t These birds, when fattened, are preferred by some to the ruffs themselves. They are taken in great numbers on the coasts of Lincolnshire, in nets such as are employed in taking ruffs ; with two or three dozens of stales of wood painted like the birds, placed within : fourteen dozen have been taken at once. Their season is from the beginning of August to that of No- 'vember. They disappear with the first frosts. Camden"^ says they derive their name from king Canute, Ktiute, or Knout, as he is sometimes called ; probably because they were a favourite dish with that monarch. We know that he kept the feast of the purification of the Virgin Mary with great pomp and magnificence at Ely, and this being one of the fen birds, it is not unlikely but he met with it there. | Shakespeare, in his Othello, speaking of Roderigo (if Mr. Theobald's reading is just) makes the J Knot an emblem of a dupe : ** I have rubb'd this young Knot almost to the sense j '' '■ " And he grows angry." Othello, if' '^ * Camden Brit. g7 1. t Dugdale on embanking, 185. X Modern annotators substitute " quat," a provincial wor4 for " a pimple." Ed. .. ^ . _ ,^ 78 ASH COLORED SANDPIPER. Class H. 6. Ash co- lored. Tringa cinerea. Tr. nigro cinereo alboque lunato va- ria, pectore et abdomine al- bis, tectricibus caudse albo nigroque fasciatis, rectrici- bus margine albo. Lath. Ind. orn. 733. id. St/n. v. 177. Tringa cinerea. Brunnich, or- nith. 53. Tr. cinerea. Gm. Lin. 673. Braun und Welssbunter Sand- IcEuffer? Frisch,\i.237. Br. Zool. 124. Arct. Zool. ii. 179- Descrip- XHIS species weighs five ounces: the length is ten inches ; the breadth nineteen ; the head , is of a brownish ash color, spotted with I black; the whole neck ash color, marked with dusky oblong streaks ; the back and coverts of the wings elegantly varied with concentric semicircles of ash color, black and white ; the coverts of the tail barred with black and white ; the tail ash colored, edged with white ; the breast and bellv of a pure white ; the legs of a greenish black ; the toes bordered with a nar- row membrane finely scolloped. These birds appear on the shores of Flint- shire, in the winter time, in larsje flocks. Class II. SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 79 Tringa macularla Tr. rostro Turdus aquaticus, la Grive 7, Spotted. basi pedibusque incarnatis, d'Eau. Brisson av. v. 255. corpore undique maculato, Hisi. d'ois. viii. 140. superciliis fasciaqiie gemina Tringa macularia. Gm. Lin. alarum albis. Laih. Ind. 672. orn. 734. id. Syn. v. I79. Br. Zool. 124. Arct. Zool. u. Spotted Tringa. Edw. av. 178. 277. X HIS bird is common to Europe and America; according to Mr. Edzvardss figure, it is less than the preceding. The bill is of the same colors with that of the Descrip- Red shank ; the head, upper part of the neck, the back and coverts of the wings, are brown, inclining to olive, and marked with triangular black spots ; above each eye is a white line ; the greater quil feathers are wholly black, the lesser tipt with white ; the middle feathers of the tail are brown ; the side feathers white, marked with dusky lines ; the whole under side, from the neck to tail, is white, marked with dusky spots ; the female has none of these spots, except on the throat ; the legs are of a dusky flesh color. Mr. Edxvards imagines these to be birds of passage; the bird he took his description from was shot in Esse.v. TION. 80 SELNINGER SANDPIPER. Class II. 8. Selnin- Tringa maritima. Tr. griseo Leems. 254. GER. nigroque varia subtus alba, SeaSandpiper. £i«. TV. iv. 22. jiigulocaudaqueobscurlsrec- pi. 1, tricibus lateralibus quatuor Purple Sandpiper. Mont. orn. albo marginatis. Laik. Lid. diet. ? ^ orn. 731. id. Sy7i.v. 173. id. Tringa nigricans. £m. TV. iv. Sup. ii. 312. 40. pi. 2. Brunnich, 182. Arct. Zool. ii. I96. [THE Selninger Sandpiper is thus described by Mr. Pennant in the Arctic Zoology. Descrip- " Above varied with grey and black ; the mid- dle of the back tinged with violet ; forepart of the neck dusky ; lower part of the body white ; four outmost feathers on each side shorter than the rest, and edged with white ; legs yellow." The plumage of Sandpipers varies so much according to age and season, that it is difficult to ascertain the various species with precision, yet there is reason to believe that the above corresponds with the birds discovered by Mr. Markzvich on the coast of Susscv in 1796, and described by him in the fourth volume of the Linnean Transactions. Ed. TION. Class 11. BLACK SANDPIPER. 81 Tringa Lincolniensls. Tr. al- rectricibus duabus interme- g. Black. ba, supra maculis griseis fus- diis toto nigris. Lath. Ind. cisque varia, subtus macu- orn. 734. id. Sup. i.251. lis oblongis fuscis et nigris, -ftj-R. Bolton favored us with a description of this species shot in Lincolmhire. It was the size of a thrush ; the beak short, Descrip^ blunt at the point and dusky ; the nostrils black ; the irides yellow ; the head small and flatted at top ; the color white, most elegantly spotted with grey; the neck, shoulders, and back, mottled in the same manner, but darker, being tinged with brown ; in some lights these parts appeared perfectly black and glossy; the wings were long ; the quil feathers black, crossed near their base with a white line ; the throat, breast, and belly white, with faint brown and black spots of a longish form, irre- gularly dispersed; but on the belly became larger and more round ; the tail short, entirely white, except the two middle feathers, which were black; the legs long and slender, and of reddish brown color.* * Suspected by Mr. Montagu to be the young of his purple Sandpiper, the Selninger of the Arctic Zoology. Ed. VOL. II. , G 82 GAMBET SANDPIPER. Class II. 10. Gambet. Tringa Gambetta. Tr. rostro Raii Syn. av. II7. pedibusque rubris, corpore ji^ldr. av. luteo cinereoque variegato, Totanus ruber. Brisson, v. subtus albo. Lath. Ind. orn. I92. PL EnL 845. Scopoli, 728. id. Sj/7i. V. I&7. No. 142. Tringa Gambetta. Gm. Lin. Tringa variegata. Bninmch^ 248. Faun. Suec. No. I77. No. 181. Gambetta. Wil. orn. 300. Arct. Zool. li. 183. Descrip- xHIS species is of the size of the green- TION. shank : the head, back, and breast, cinereous brown, spotted Mith dull yellow ; the coverts of the wings, scapulars, cinereous, edged with yel- low; the primaries dusky ; the shaft of the first feather white ; belly white ; tail dusky, border- ed with yellow ; legs yellows It has been shot on the coast of Lincoln- shire. [It has also been found in Sussex, Hamp- shire, Caerinarthenshire, and other maritime counties, but is said not to appear far inland. Is migratory, and observed here only in the summer months. Ed. Tl.XV. VOL.2. P. 82. GREEN S^-^lSnOPIPER (r.8&) TION. Class II. TURNSTONE SANDPIPER. 83 Tringa Interpres. ^. Tr. pe- Morlnellus Marlnus. Eaii II.Turn- dibus rubris, rectricibus ui- Syn.av. l\2. stoxe. gricantibus basi albis, cor- La Coulon-chaud, Arenaria. pore griseo, pectore nigro. Brisson av. v. 132. Hist. Lath. Ind. orn. 739. id. d'ois. viii. 130. PL Enl. Syn. V. 190.* 856. Turnstone, or Sea Dottrel. Tringa Morinella. Gm. Lin. TFil. orn. 311. 6/1. Cat. Carol, i. 72. Br. Zool. 125. Arct. Zool. ii. 187. J- HIS species is about the size of a thrush: Descrip-= the bill is an inch in length, a little prominent on the top, very strong, black at the tip, and at the base whitish; the forehead and throat are ash colored ; the head, whole neck, and coverts of the wings, are of a deep brown, edged with a pale reddish brown ; the scapu- lar feathers are of the same color, very long, and cover the back; that and the rump are white; the last marked with a large triangu- lar black spot ; the tail consists of twelve fea- thers, their lower half is white, the upper black, and the tips white ; the quil feathers are dusky, but from the third or fourth the bottoms are white, which continually increases, till from about the nineteenth the feathers are entirely * Dr. Latham considers this as a variety of the Hebridal Sandpiper. Ed. o 2 84 TURNSTONE SANDPIPER. Class II. of that color ; the legs are short and of an orange color. These birds take their name from their me- thod of searching for food, by turning up small stones with their strong bills to get at the in- sects that lurk under them. The bird we took our description from was shot in Shropshire. Mr. Ray observed them flying three or four in company on the coasts of Cormsoall and* Mei' reonethshire : and Sir Thomas Brown of Nor- wich discovered them on the coast of Nor- folk ; communicating the picture of one to Mr. JRtfj/, with the name of Morinellus marinus, or sea dottrel. Var. A. Tringa Interpres. Tr. pedibus Fatm. Siiec.'No. 178. Hebkidal. rubrls, corpore nigro albo Turnstone from ^mc?5ow'5 5a^. ferrugineoque vario pectore Edw. 141. abdomineque albo. Lath. Arenaria, Le Coulon-chaud. Ind. orn. 738. id. Syn. v. Brisson, v. 132. 188. id. Si/p. i. 249. Hebridal Sandpiper. Br.Zool. Tringa interpres. Gm. Lin. 4to. ii. 467. Aid. Zool. 671. ii. 177. XHIS variety is often shot in the north of Scotland^ and its islands ; also in North Anierica. X * The editor is informed by the reverend Hugh Davies, that, in severe weather, when it blows from east or north during the months o£ Fehruari/ or March, they are often seen in flocks of from four or five to a dozen on the Green near Beaumaris. Ed> TION. Class II. EQUESTRIAN SANDPIPER. 85 It is of the size of a thrush : the forehead, Descrip- throat, and belly white ; the breast black ; the neck surrounded with a black collar j from thence another bounds the sides of the neck, and passes over the forehead ; the head and lower part of the neck behind white ; the first streaked with dusky lines ; the back ferruginous, mixed w ith black ; the coverts of the tail white, crossed with a black bar; the tail black, tipt with white ; the coverts of the wings cinereous brown ; the lower order edged with white; the primaries and secondaries black; the ends of the last w^hite ; the tertials ferruginous and black ; the legs rather short, and of a full orange. Tringa equestris. Tr. pedibus Le Chevalier commun. Hisi. 12. Eques= vlrescentibus, dorso fusco (Tois. vii. 511. PL Enl. trian. variOjabdomineuropygioque 844. albo. Lath. Ind. orn. 730. id. Sup. ii. 311. [THIS specieS; first noticed by Dr. Latham in his second supplement, is twelve inches long ; the bill dusky ; the legs* pale grey ; the body above rufous grey, clouded with brown ; the sides of the head, fore part of the neck and breast white, clouded with paler brown ; on the sides of the head are minute specks of the * The legs of five shot near Sandwich, by Mr. Boi/s, in 1800^ were of a pale orange. Ed. -• 86 GREEN SANDPIPER. Class II. same ; the chin, belly, thighs, vent, and rump, white; the two middle tail feathers rufous brown, with black bands ; the others plain pale rufous brown. Ed. 13. Green, Tringa Ochropus. Tr. rostri apice punctato, pedibus vi- rescentibus, dorso fusco-vi- ridi, abdomine rectricibus- que extimis albls. Lath. Ind. orn. 724. id. Sy7i. v. I70. id. Sup. ii. 311. Cinclus. Belon av. 2l6. Gallinae aquaticas secunda spe- cies de nov. adject. Gesner av. 311. Giarolo, Gearoncello. Aldr, av. iii. 185. The Tringa of Aldrovand. Wil. orn. 300. Raii Syn. av. 108. Descrip- tion. Tringa ochropus. Gm. Lin, 251. Weispunotirto SandlaeuflFer. Frisch, ii. 239. Faun. Suec. sp. 180. Le Beccasseau ou Cul-blanc, Tringa. Brisson av. v. I77. tah. iQ. Jig. 1. Hist, d'ois. vii. 534. PL Enl. 843. Danis Horse-Gioeg. Islari' dis Hrossagaukr. Norvegis Skodde Foil, Skod-de- Fugl. Jordgeed. Makkre- Gouk, Roes Jouke. Brun- nich, 183. Br. Zool. 125. Tal. F. 2./. 3. Arct. Zool. ii. 180. XHIS beautiful species is not very common in these kingdoms. The head and hind part of the neck are of a brownish ash color, streak- ed with white; the under part mottled with brown and white; the back, scapulars, and co- verts of the -wings, are of a dusky green, glossy and resplendent as silk, and elegantly marked with small white spots ; the lesser quil feathers of the same colors ; the under sides of the Class II. GREEN SANDPIPER. 87 wings are black, marked with numerous white lines, pointing obliquely from the edges of the feather to the shaft, representing the letter V ; the rump is white ; the tail of the same color ; the first feather plain, the second marked near the end with one black spot, the third and fourth with two, the fifth with three, and the sixth with four.* Except in pairing time, it is a solitary bird : it is never found near the sea ; but frequents rivers, lakes, and other fresh waters. In France it is highly esteemed for its delicate taste; and is taken with limed twigs placed near its haunts. Mr. Fleischer favored us with a bird from ■ Denmai'-k, which, in all respects, resembled this, except that the spots were of a pale rust color. * A specimen, shot in Flintshire, was brought to the editor in August 1811, which resembled the above in most particulars, but the color of the back was of a brownish hue and the spots were rusty ; the bars on the tail were irregular, and the distin- guishing marks on the underside of the wings rather indistinct. The legs were long, and of a pale olivaceous color. Ed. WOOD SANDPIPER. Class II. Var. a. Tringa glareola. Tr. rostro lae- orn. 730. id. Syn. v. 172. . Wood. vi, pedibus virescentibus, Gm. Lin. 677. corpore fusco albo punctate. Wood Sandpiper. Arct. Zool. pectore albido. Laih. Lid. ii. 188. TION. Descrip- [THIS variety is about the size of a stare. Its back is of a dusky color, spotted with white ; the primaries and secondaries dusky ; the last tipt with white ; the breast and belly whitish ; the tail barred with black and white ; the out- most feathers lightest 5 the rump white; the legs of a dirty green. Mr. Mo7itagu supposes this to be a distinct species, and has given a very detailed description of it in his excellent ornithological dictionary ; he observes that the legs are singularly long in pro- portion to the body, and by far superior in length to any species of sandpiper of equal size. Dr. Latham, in his second supplement, is inclined to believe that the Green and Wood sandpipers, the T7^inga Ochropus, and the Trmga Glareola, form only one species. Ed. Class II. RED SANDPIPER. 89 Tringa islandica. Tr. rostro Tringa Islandica. Gm. Lin. 14. Red. pedibusque fuscis, corpore 682. subtus ferrugineo, remigibns Tringa ferruginea Islandis secundariis margine albis. Randbrislanger. Brunnich, Lath. Ind. orn. 737- id. No. 180. Syn. V. 186. Arci. Zool. ii. 182. SCRIP- TION. JtilRDS of this species have appeared in De great flocks on the coast of Esse.v, on the estate of Col. Schutz. The crown of the head spotted with black and ferruginous ; the lower side of the neck, the breast, and belly, of a full ferruginous color; the back marked with black and rust color; the co- verts of the wings ash color ; the legs black ; the bill strong, an inch and a half long; the whole length of the bird ten inches. La Maubeche tachetee. Brisson v. 229 • Var. A. Aberdeen. XHIS was communicated by the late Doctor David Skene of Aberdeen, [and may be consi- dered as a mere variety of the red Sandpiper.] Bill slender and black ; the head, back, lesser Descrip- coverts of the wings, and the scapulars, of a dull ferruginous color, spotted with black; the greater coverts tipt with white ; the quil feathers dusky, edged on the exterior side with white ; the breast reddish brown, mixed with dusky; TION. 90 COMMON SANDPIPER. Class II. the belly and vent white ; the tail cinereous ; the two middle feathers longer than the rest ; the legs black. Size that of the former. 15. Common. Tringa Hypoleucos. Tr. ros- Snappa, Strandsittare. Faun. ^ tro laevi, pedibus cinereis, Suec. sp. 182. corpore cinereo subtus albo. Guinetta, la Guignette. JBn's- Lath. Ind. orn. 734. id. son av. v. 183. tah. l6. Jig. Syn.v. 178. 1. Hist, d'ois. vii. 540. PL Gallinula hypoleucos (Fyster- Enl. 850. lin). Gesner av.dOQ. Norv egis der liWe Myrstlkkeh Aldr. av. iii. 182. Bornholmis Virlen. BruU" Wil. orn. 301. nich, 174. Rail Syn. av. 108. Martin's ScopoU, No. 143. SandlaufFerl. Kram. 353. Br. Zool. 125. Arct. Zool. ii. Tringa hypoleucos. Gm. Lin. 180. 678. This species agrees with the green sand- piper in its manners and haunts, but is more common; its note is louder and more piping Descr:p- than others of this genus. Its weight is about two ounces ; the head is brown, streaked with downward black lines ; the neck is of an ob- scure ash color; the back and coverts of the wings brown, mixed with a glossy green, ele- gantly marked with transverse dusky lines ; over each eye is a white stroke ; the breast and belly are of a pure white ; the quil feathers are brown, the first entirely so, the nine next marked on the inner web with a white spot ; the middle fea- thers of the tail brown, the edges spotted with TION. Pi. XVI. Tl^HJCEfr. ;)4.j VOL.2.T'.t>o SANDPIPER P. 90. ^^•■/-•y Class II. GREENWICH SANDPIPER. 91 black and pale red ; the exterior tipt and bar- red with white ; the legs of a dull pale green. Tringa Grenovlcensis. Tr. crisso uropygiique lateribus l6. Green« corpore supra vario, coUo albis. Lath. Ind. orn, 731. subtus cinereo, abdomine id. Sup. i. 249. [DR, Latham has given a trivial name to this bird from the place where it was killed, and thus describes it as a new species : '' Size of the redshank ; weight near eight Descrip- TION. ounces ; length twelve inches and a half; bill an inch and a half long, black ; crown of the head reddish brown streaked with black ; nape, cheeks, and neck, ash color ; the middle of the feathers dusky down the shaft; lower part of the neck and back black ; the feathers margined on the sides with pale ferruginous, and some of those of the back at the tips also ; chin nearly white; fore part of the neck very pale ash color, as far as the breast, which is of a dusky white ; belly, sides, vent, and upper tail coverts, on each side, and whole of the mider ones, white ; lesser wing coverts ash color, the greater the same, obscurely margined with pale ferru- ginous ; greatest tipped with white 5 under wing coverts pure white; prime quils dusky; the shafts more or less white ; secondaries and sca- pulars nearly the color of the back ; the secon- 9^ DUNLIN SANDPIPER. Class II. daries and primaries differing very little in length ; the lower part of the back, rump, and middle of the tail coverts, ash color; tail a little rounded at the end, brownish ash color, somewhat mottled with brownish near the tips, and fringed near the end with a pale ferrugi- nous; legs dusky olive green, bare an inch above the knee ; the outer and middle toe con- nected at the base." Ed. 17. Dunlin. Tringa alpina. Tr. testaceo- Brisson av. v. SOQ. Hist. fusca, pectose nigricante, dJois. vii. 653. PI. Enl. rectricibus cinereo-albidis, 852. pedibus fuscentibus. Lath. Danis Domsneppe, Ryle. Jnd. orn. 736. id. Syn. v. Brunnich, 167, & 173. \%5. id. Sup.24:g. Kleinste Schnepfe, or Kleinste Wil. orn. 205. Sandloeuffer. Frisch, ii. Raii Syn. av. 109. 241. Tringa alpina. Gm. Lin. 249. Br. Zool. 126. tal.E. I. fg. Faun. Suec. sp.\8l. 2. Arct. Zool. i'l. 181. La Beccassine d'Angleterre. Descrip- XHIS species is at once distinguished from the others by the singularity of its colors. The back, head, and upper part of the neck, are fer- ruginous, marked with large black spots ; the lower part of the neck white, marked with short dusky streaks ; the coverts of the wings ash color; the belly A^hite, marked with large black spots, or with a black crescent pointing towards the thighs; the tail ash colored, the TION. Class II. BROWN SANDPIPER. 93 two middle feathers the darkest ; the legs black ; the toes divided to their origin. In size it is superior to a lark. These birds are found on our sea coasts; but may be reckoned among the more rare kinds. They lay four eggs of a dirty white color, blotched with brown round the thicker end, and marked with a few small spots of the same color on the smaller end. I received the eggs from Denmark; but as I have shot these birds in May, and again in August, on the shores of Flintshire, suppose they breed with us; but I never discovered their nest. They are common on the Yorkshire coasts, and esteemed a great delicacy. Tringa fusca. Tr. pallide fus- bus alarum albido margina- 18. Brown. ca nigro maculata subtus al- tis. Lath. Ind. orn, 733. id. ba, collo antice nigro stria- Syn. Sup. i. 250. to, Cauda cinerea, tectrici- , : ■ XHIS species is in the collection of Mr. Descrip- Tunstal, and is of the size of a jack-snipe. The bill is black ; the head, upper part of the neck, and back, are of a pale brown, spot- ted with black ; the coverts of the wings dusky, edged with dirty white ; the under side of the neck white, streaked with black; the TION. 94 PURRE SANDPIPER. Class II. belly white; the tail cinereous; the legs black.* Bought in the London market. ig. PuRRE. Tringa Cinclus. Tr. rostro The Stint. Wil. orn. 305. pedibusque nigrls, loris al- Stint, in Sussex the Ox-eye. bis corpore uropygioque gri- Rail Syn. av. 1 10. seis fuscisque. Lath. Ind. N. Com. Petr. iv. 428. orn. 735. id. Syn. \. 182. Cinclus. L'Allouette de Mer. L'AllouettedeMer. Belonav. Brisson av. \. 211. tab. \g. 213. fig' 1- Hist. d!ois.\i\. b^S. Cinclus sive Motacilla Mari- PL Enl.85l. tima, Lyssklicker. Gesner Tringa cinclus. Gm. Lin. 251. av. 6l6. Br. Zool. 126. Arct. Zool. ii. Giarolo. Aldr. av. iii. 188. 181. Descrip- XHIS bird weighs about an ounce and a half: the length is seven inches and a half; the extent fourteen inches. The head and hind part of the neck are ash colored, marked with dusky lines; a white stroke divides the bill and eyes; the chin white; the underside of the neck mottled with brown ; the back is of a brownish ash color ; the breast and belly white ; the coverts of the wings and tail a dark brown, edged with light ash color or TION. * Mr. Montagu entertains doubts with respect to this bird be- ing a distinct species, and observes that a young Dunlin killed in July, exactly corresponds with the above, except that the head and back of the neck are of a ferruginous brown. Class II. LITTLE SANDPIPER. 95 white; the greater coverts dusky, tipt with white; the upper part of the quil feathers dusky, the lower white; the two middle fea- thers of the tail dusky, the rest of a pale ash color, edged with white; the legs of a dusky green; the toes divided to their origin. The bill an inch and a half long, slender and black ; the irides dusky. These birds come in prodigious flocks on our sea coasts during the winter : in their flight they perform their evolutions with great regu- larity ; appearing like a white, or a dusky cloud, as they turn their backs or their breasts towards the spectator. They leave our shores in spring, and retire to some unknown place to breed. They were formerly a well known dish at our tables by the name of Stints. Tringa pusilla. Tr. rostro pe- variegato. Lath, Ind. orn. 20. LiTTl,E. dibusque fuscis, corpora sub- 737. id. Syn.v. \M, tus rufescente, rectricibus Montagu orn. diet, App. extimis scapoalbo, uropygio Arct. Zool. ii. 184. A HIS is the lest of the genus, scarcely equal- Dbscrip.. ling a hedge sparrow in size. The head, upper side of the neck, the back, and coverts of the wings are brown, edged with black and pale rusty brown j the breast and belly white ; the TION, TION. 96 LITTLE SANDPIPER. Class II. greater coverts dusky, tipt with white; the primaries and secondaries of the same colors. The tail dusky ; legs black. This specimen was communicated to me by the Rev. Mr. Green, of Trinity College, Caw- bridge ; and was shot near that place m Sep- tember. It is common to North America and Europe."^ Female. [A female of this species shot on the coast of Devonshire in the month of November, dif- fered in some respects. Descrip- *' Its weight M^as six drams ; the length six inches. The bill dusky, slender, rather enlarged at the point, a dusky brown streak extended from it to the eye, and above that an obscure dirty white one ; the forehead, crown of the head, back of the neck, back and scapulars, of a dark cinereous color, dusky down the shafts, except on the neck, which is rather lighter; chin and throat white; fore part of the neck and upper part of the breast-pole cinereous brown ; the lower part, the belly, vent, and under tail coverts, pure white ; the primaries, secondaries, and the greater coverts immedi- ately over them, dusky, very slightly tipped with white ; the primaries edged with white on * A variety of it is seen in Indian drawings. J. L» Class II. LITTLE SANDPIPER. 97 the outer webs, except the two first ; the shaft of the first quil is white, the others dusky brown, spurious wing and smaller coverts near it dusky; the rest of the coverts and tertials cinereous, like the back ; the rump and upper tail coverts dusky ; the feathers slightly tipped with cinere- ous ; the tail cuneiform, composed of twelve feathers, of which the six middle are cinereous, the outer of a pure white ; the legs light olive brown, three quarters of an inch long; the claws black; the outer toe very slightly con- nected at the base to the middle one by a mem- brane."* Ed. * Mont. orn. diet. App, VOL. II. H 93 GOLDEN PLOVER, Class Ih GENtJS VIL PLOVER. Bill strait, not longer than the head. Nostrils linear. Toes : wants the hind toe. 1. Golden. Charadrius pluvialis. Ch. cor- pore nigro viridique macu- lato subtus albido, pedibus cinereis. Lath. Ind. orn. 740. id. Syn. v. IQS. id. Sup. i. 252. Le Pluvier Guillemot. Belon av. 260. Pluvialis. Gesner av. 714. Pivier. Aldr. av. iii. 206. WiL orn. 308. J?aii Syn. au. 111. Brachhennl. Kram. 354. JJechter Brachvogel. Frisch, ii. 217. Charadrius Pluvialis. Gm. Lin. 688. Dalekarlis Akerhona, Lappis Hutti. Faun. Suec. sp. igO. Pluvialis aurea, le Pluvier dore. Brisson av. v. 43. Tab. 4. Jig. 1. Hist, d'ois. viii. 81. PL Enl. g04. PIviero verde. Zinan. 102. Norvegis Akerloe, Cimlris Brok-Fugl. Brunnich, 187- Br. Zool. 128. Arcf. Zool. ii. 190. Descrip- tion. X HIS elegant species is often found on our moors and heaths, in the av inter time, in small flocks. Its weight is nine ounces ; its length eleven inches ; its breadth twenty-four. The bill is short and black ; the feathers on the head, back, and coverts of the wings, are black, beau- tifully spotted on each side with light yellowish %. EL.XVii. VOL. 2. P. 98. RED SAND-PIPER, (p. S9) GOLDEN PLOVER.f P.98 ) Class II. GOLDEN PLOVER. 99 green ; the breast brown, marked with greenish oblong strokes ; the belly white ; the middle feathers of the tail barred with black and yel- lowish green ; the rest with black and brown ; the legs black. We have observed some variety in these birds, but cannot determine whether it is owing to age or sex : we have seen some with black bellies, others with a mixture of black and white ; others with bluish legs, and some with a small claw in the place of the hind toe. They lay four eggs, sharply pointed at the lesser end, of a dirty white color, and irregu- larly marked, especially at the thicker end, with black blotches and spots. They breed on several of our unfrequented mountains ; and are very common on those of the isle of Riim^ and others of the loftier Hehridea. They make a shrill whistling noise; and may be enticed within shot by a skilful imitator of the note. This species, on account of its spots, has been supposed to have been the Pardalis of Aristotle : but his account of the bird makes no mention of that distinction : perhaps he thought that the name implied it. The Ro- mans seem to have been unacquainted with the plover : for the name never once occurs in any of their writings. We derive it from the French h2 100 LONG LEGGED PLOVER. Class II. Pluvier, pource qiion leprendmieux en temps plttvieuji: quen milk autre, saison* e. LoNO Charadrius Himantopus. Ch. itaii Syn. av. 106. Legged. ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^j^^.^^ ^^^^^^ Sihh. Scot. ig. Tah. U. 13. nigro capite longiore, pedi- L'Echasse. Brisson av. v. 33. bus longissimis. Lath. In d. Tah. 3. Jig. 1. Hist, d'ois. orn. 741. id. Syn. v. I95. viii. 114. PL Enl. 878. id. Sup. i. 252. Charadrius himantopus. {hn. Le grand Chevalier d' Italic. Lin. 6qO. BelonPortr. d'Oyseaux, 53. Scopoli, No. 148. Aldr. av. iii. 176. Br. Zool. 128. add. plates* '.Gesnerav. b'iQ. Arct. Zool. ii. IQS. Himantopus. TVil. wn. ^QJ. J- HIS is the most singular of the British birds. The legs are of a length and weakness greatly disproportioned to the body, which is inferior in size to that of the golden plover : this, added to the defect of the back toe, must render its Descrip- paces aukward and infirm. The naked part of the thigh is three inches and a half long; the legs four and a half; these, and the feet, are of a blood red ; the bill is black, above two inches long. The length from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail is thirteen inches ; the breadth from tip to tip of the wing twenty-nine inches ; the forehead, and whole under srde of the body, are TION. Belon Oyseavx. 260. Ca.Ass II. LONG LEGGED PLOVER. mi: white ; the crown of the head, back, and wings, black ; on the hind part of the neck are a few black spots ; the tail is of a greyish white ; the wings when closed extend far beyond it.* These birds are extremely rare in these islands : Sir Robert Sibbald records a brace that were shot in Scotland: another was shot a few years ago on Stanton- Har court common, near 0.vford,'\ and we have seen them often in the cabinets of the curious at Paris, taken on the French coasts. * A good figure of this rare bird, with some excellent obser- vations by the reverend Hugh Davies, and corrections of the error into which some eminent naturalists had fallen relative to the shape of the bill, are given in the third volume of Dr. Shaw's Naturalist's Miscellany. Ed, •f" Mr. White, Fleet Street, had a specimen, shot out of a small flock which were seen on Frenchmen s ponds in Hainp" shire. Ed. 103 DOTTREL PLOVER. Class IL 3. Dottrel, Charadrius Morinellus. Ch. pectore ferrugineo, fascia su- perciliovum pectorisque li- near! alba, pedibus nigris. Lath. Ind. orn. 746. id. Syn. V. 208. Morinellus avis anglica. Ges~ ner av. 6l5. Wil. orn. 309. Rait Syn. av. 111. Camden. Brit. i. 570. Pluvialis minor, sive morinel- lus, le petit Pluvier, ou le Descrip- tion. Guignard. Brisson av.v. 54. Tal. 4. Jig. 2. Hist, d'ois. viii. 87- PI. Enl. 832. Charadrius morinellus. Gm. Lin. 690. Lappis Lahul. Faun. Suec. sp. 188. Caii opiisc. 96. Cimlris Pomerants Fugl. Nor- vegis Bold Tioet. Mindre Akerloe. Brunnich, 185. Br. ZooL 129. D. Arct. Zooh ii. 194. XHE female dottrel, according to Mr. IVil- hfghby, weighs more than four ounces; the male above half an ounce less. The length of the female ten inches ; the breadth nineteen and a half; the male not so large. The bill black, slender, depressed in the middle, and not an inch long; the forehead, top, and back of the head black, the former spotted with white ; a broad white stroke that passes over the eyes, surrounds the whole; the cheeks and throat are white ; the neck is of a cinereous olive color ; the middle of the feathers of the back, and coverts of the wings and tail olive, but their edges of a dull deep yellow ; the quil feathers are brown, with brown shafts, but the exterior PJ.X\TIt. VOL. 2. p. 102. SA]MDERLI]S"G. P.IO6. DOTTEREL. Class II. DOTTREL PLOVER. 10^ side and the shaft of the first feather is white. The tail consists of twelve feathers of a brown olive color, barred near their ends with black, and tipped with white. The breast and sides are of a dull orange color; but immediately above that is a line of white, bounded above with a very narrow one of black. The belly (in the male) is black ; the thighs and vent-feathers white; the legs yellowisli green; the toes dusky. The colors of the female in general are dull- Female. er ; the white over the eye is less ; and the crown of the head is mottled with brown and white ; the white line across the breast is wanting; the belly is mixed with black and white. These birds are found in Cambiidgeshire, Place. Lincolnshire, and Derbyshire ; on Lincoln- heath, and on the moors of Derbyshire, they are migratory, appearing there in small flocks of eight or ten only in the latter end of April, and stay there all May and part of June, dur- ing which time they are very fat, and much esteemed for their delicate flavor. In the months of April and September they are taken on the Wiltshire and 'Berkshire downs : they are also found in the beginning of the former month on the sea side at Meales in Lancashire, and con- tinue there about three weeks, attending the 104 DOTTREL PLOVER. Class IL barley fallows : from thence they remove north- ward to a place called Leyton Haws, and stay there about a fortnight ; but where they breed, or where they reside during winter, we have not been able to discover. They are reckoned very foolish birds, so that a dull fellow is prover- bially called a Dottrel. They were also be- lieved to mimick the action of the fowler; to stretch out a wing when he stretched out an arm, &c. continuing their imitation, regardless of the net that was spreading for them. To this method of taking them, Michael Drayton alludes in his panegyrical verses on Cory ate s Crudities : Most worthy man with thee it is even thus. As men take Dottrels, so hast thou ta'en us j Which as a man his arme or leg doth set. So this fond bird will likewise counterfeit. At present, sportsmen watch the arrival of the Dottrels, and shoot them; the other me- thod having been long disused. Class II. RINGED PLOVER. 105 Charadrius Hiaticula. Ch. griseo-fuscus subtus albus, pectore nigro, fronte nigri- cante fasciola alba, vertice fusco, pedibus luteis. Lath. Ind. orn. 743. id. Syn. v. 201. Charadrius sive hiaticula, Aldr. av. iii. 207- Wll. orn. 310. Rati Syn. av. 112- . Gnesshennl. Kram. 354. Charadrius hiaticula. Gm. Lin, 683. Scopoli, No. 147- Strandpipare, Grylle, Trulls, Lappis Pago. Faun. Suec. sp. 187. Pluvialis torquata minor, le petit Pluvier a collier. Bris~ son av. V. 63. Tah. 5. Jig. 2. Hist, d'ois. viii. 90. PI. EnL 921. Bornholmis Prceste - Krave, Sand - Vrifter. Brunnich, 184. Frisch, ii. 214. Sea Lark. Br. Zool. ii. 383. Arct. Zool. ii. I9I. 4. Ringed, J.T weighs near two ounces. The length is seven inches and a half; the breadth sixteen. The bill is half an inch long ; the upper half orange color ; the lower black ; from it to the eyes is a black line ; the cheeks are of the same color ; the forehead white, bounded by a black band which passes over from eye to eye ; the crown of the head is of a fine light brown ; the upper part of the neck is incircled Math a white collar ; the loM^er part with a black one ; the back and coverts of the wings are of a light brown ; the breast and belly white ; the tail brown, tipt with a darker shade ; the legs yellow. Descrip- tion. 106 SANDERLING PLOVER. Class II. These birds frequent our shores in the sum- mer, but are not numerous. They lay four eggs of a dull whitish color, sparingly sprinkled with black : at the approach of winter they dis- appear.* 5. Sander- Charadrius Calidris. Ch. ros- LING. j.j.^ pedibusque nigris, loris uropygioque subgriseis, cor- pore subtus albo immacula- to. Lath. Ind. orn. 741. id. Syn. V. 197. id. Sup. i. 253. id. Sup. ii. 315. Sanderling, or Curwillet. Jf'il. orn. 303. Rati Syn. av. lOQ. Descrip- Tiosr. Towillee. Borlase hist. Corn- ival. 247. Calidris grisea minor, la pe- tite Maubeche grise. Srisson av.v. 236. Tah. HO. Jig. 2. Hist, d'ois. vii. 532. Charadrius Calidris. Gm. Lin. 681. Br. Zool. 129. add. plates. Arct. Zool. ii. I92. W E have received this species out of Lan- cashire ; but it is found in greater plenty on the Cornish shores, where they fly in flocks. The sanderling weighs little more than one ounce three quarters. Its length is eight inches ; ex- tent fifteen. Its body is of a more slender form than others of the genus. The bill is an * Tlie young of this bird has been described as a distinct spe- cies under the name of the Kentish Plover ; but IMr. Montagu, in the seventh volume of the Linnean Transaptjons, seems clearly to prove their identity. En. Class II. SANDERLING PLOVER. 107 inch long, weak and black ; the head, and hind part of the neck, are ash colored, marked with oblong black streaks ; the back and sca- pulars are of a brownish grey, edged with dirty white; the coverts of the wings, and upper parts of the quil feathers are dusky; the whole under side of the body is white, in some slightly clouded with brown. The tail consists of twelve sharp pointed feathers of a deep ash color ; the legs are black. 108 CREAM COLORED COURSER. Class II. GENUS VIIT. COURSER. Bill rather slender, bent at the tip, pointed. Nostrils ovate. Tongue sharp. Toes : wants the back toe. 1. Cream Cursorius europosus. /3. C. fla- orn. 751. id. Sup. i. 254. vo-rufescens, lateribus capi- tah.llQ. tis gula abdomineque pal- Charadrius gallicus. Gm. Lin. lidioribus, pone oculos ma- 692. cula obscura, remigibus rec- Le Coure-vlte. Hist, d'ois. viii. tricibusque lateralibus ad a- 128. PL Enl. 7Q5. picem nigris. Lath. Lid. [A SPECIMEN of this extremely rare bird was shot near St. Albans, in East Kent, the seat of JVilliam Hammond, Esq. and first described and figured by Dr. Latham, in his supplement to the General Synopsis. It differed in a very slight degree from the Cream colored Plover of that work, which he thus describes : Descrip- " Length ten inches. Bill three quarters of an inch, slender, bent at the top, not unlike that of the Pratincole; plumage in general cream color, palest beneath ; behind the eyes is a patch of black ; through them a pale streak TION. Class II. CREAM COLORED COURSER. 109 passing to the hind head, and dividing the black ; quils black ; tail the same as the upper parts, marked with black near the tip; legs yellowish white." The above, which was killed in France, and that shot in England, were observed to run with great swiftness ; its note was unlike that of any species of Plover. Ep. uo AUSTRIAN PRATINCOLE. Class II. GENUS IX. PRATINCOLE. Bill short, strong, strait, hooked at the end. Nostrils near the base, linear, oblique. Toes long, slender, connected by a membi'ane at the base. Tail forked, consisting of twelve feathers. Austrian. Descrip- tion. Glareola Austriaca. Gl. griseo fusca subtus rufo-alba, linea gulari incurvata nigra, rec- tricibus quatuor exterioribus basi albis. Lath. Ind. orn. 753. id. Syn.v. 222. tah. 85. Hlrundo Pratincola. Gm. Lin. 695. Glareola. Brisson av. v. 141. tah. 12. f. 1. Le perdrix de mer. Hist. dois. vii. 544. PL Enl. 882. Austrian Pratincole. Monta' gu in Lin. Tr. ix. IQQ. [A SOLITARY instance occurs of this cu- rious bird, which seems to unite the Swallow and Teru tribe, having visited Englajid, It was shot in Lancashire. Its size that of a Blackbird. The base of the bill is black, the rest red ; the upper parts of the body are of a greyish brown ; the chin and throat white, surrounded w ith a black line, which begins at the hinder angle of the eye, and bounds the whole of the white j the under parts Class IL AUSTRIAN PRATINCOLE. Hi are rufous grey, growing paler towards the vent ; the upper tail coverts of the same color ; the quils and tail dusky ; the last much forked, and tipped with grey on the inner web; the outer web of the exterior feather white in the whole of its length; the legs and bare space above the knees are blood red. It inhabits Germany, and lives on worms and aquatic insects ; visits France occasionally, and is found eastward from the Caspian sea to the river Irtish, but is not observed to the north oflat. 5S. Ed. lis PIED OYSTER CATCHER. Class II. GENUS X. OYSTER CATCHER. Bill long, compressed, the end cuneated. Nostrils linear. Tongue, a third of the length of the bilL Toes, only three. 1. Pied. Hsematopus ostralegus. H. niger, corpore subtus fascia gulari et alarum uropygio caudaque basi albis. Lath. Ind. orn. 752. id. Syn. v. 219. tah. 84. La Pie, Becasse de mer. Belon av. 203. Haematopus. Gesner av. 548. Aldr. av. ili. I76. Wil. orn. 297- Itaii Syn. av. 105. L'Huitrier, Pie de mer. Bris- son av. V. 38. tah. 3. Jig. 1. Hist. dots. vii. II9. PL Enl. 929. The Oyster Catcher. Cat. Ca- rol, i. 85. Haematopus ostralegus. Gm. Lin. 694. Marspitt, Strandskj ura. Faun. Suec. sp. 192. Pica marina. Caii opusc. 62. N. Com. Petr. iv. 425. Tirma, or Trilichan. Martins voy. St. Kilda. 35. Islandis mas Tialldur, fcemina Tilldra. Feroensihus Kiel- der. NorvegisTitldv .K'leld, Glib, Strand-Skiure. Danis Strand-Skade. Brmmich, I89. Br. Zool. 127. Arct. Zool. ii. 196- oEA Pies are very common on most of our coasts ; feeding on marine insects, oysters, lim- pets, &c. Their bills, which are compressed sideways, and end obtusely, are very fit instru- ments to insinuate between the limpet and the rock those shells adhere to, which they do with m.xcs: voi- ?. T. ai? . OYSTER- C^TCHJBB.. TION. Class II. PIED OYSTER CATCHER. 113 great dexterity to get at the fish. On the coast of France, where the tides recede so far as to leave the beds of oysters bare, these birds feed on them ; forcing the shells open with their bills. They keep in summer time in pairs, lay- ing their eggs on the bare ground ; these are ge- nerally four in number*, of a whitish brown hue, thinly spotted and striped with black; when any person approaches their young, they make a loud and shrill noise. In winter they assem- ble in vast flocks, and are very wild. The weight sixteen ounces ; the length seven- teen inches. The bill is three inches long, com- Descrip- pressed, obtuse at the end, and of a rich orange color : the irides crimson ; the edges of the eye- lids orange ; beneath the lower is a white spot ; the head, neck, scapulars, and coverts of the wings, a fine black; in some the neck is marked with white ; the wings dusky, with a broad trans- verse band of white; the back, breast, belly, and thighs, white ; the tail short, consisting of twelve feathers, the lower half white, the end black; the legs thick and strong; of a dirty flesh color; the middle toe connected to the exterior toe as far as the first joint by a strong membrane; the claws are dusky, short and flat • Dr. Latham says, the ground of the eggs is of a greenish grey color : Mr. Montagu, of aa olivaceous brown. Ed. VOL. II. I 114 WATER RAIL. CXASS II. GENUS XI. RAIL. Bill slender, a little compressed, and slightly ineurvated. Nostrils small. Tongue rough at the end. Tail very short. 1. Water. Rallus aquaticus. R. alis gri- seis fusco maculatis, hypo- chondriis albo maculatis, rostro subtus fulvo. Lath. Ind. orn, 755. id. Syn. v. 227. LeRasIenoir. Melon av. 112. Gallina cinerea (ashhunlin). Gesner av. bl5. Ralla aquatica. Aldr. av. iii. 179- Water-rail, Bilcock, or Brook Ouzel. Wil. or 71. 314. Raii Syn. av. 113. Wasser hennl. Kram. 348. Rallus aquaticus. Gm. Lin, 712- Faun. Suec. sp. 1Q5. Rallus aquaticus, le Rasle d'Eau. Brisson av. 161. tab. 12. Jig. 2. Hist, d'ois. viii. 154. Pl.Enl. 749. Scopoli, No. 135. Norvegis Vand-Rixe. Feroen-' sihus Jord-Koene. Brunnick^ 193. Br. Zool. 130. E. E. JL HE Water Rail has a long slender body with short concave wings. It delights less in flying than running, which it does very swiftly along the edges of brooks covered with bushes : as it runs, every now and then it flirts up its tail ; and Tl . IXK . V'OL,.^.F-n4-, ^WATER-RAIL. CRAKE GALL. TirXXT. vol. 2. p. 12. RED.AKD GREY. PHALAROPE Class II. GREY PHALAROPE. * IS3 Sect. II. FIN-FOOTED BIRDS. GENUS XIII. PHALAROPE. Bill strait and slender. Nostrils minute. \ Body and legs like the Sandpiper. Toes furnished with scalloped membranes. Phalaropus lobatus. Ph. cine- Phil. Trans. Vol 50. 255. 1. Grey. reo-coerulescens subtus albus, Tah. 6. tectricibus alammremigibus Le Phalarope. Brissott av. vi. rectricibusque nigricandbusj 12. Hist. d!ois. viii. 226. margine cinerascente-albis. TringaLobata. Gm. Lin. 674. Lath. Ind. orn. 776. id. Faun. Suec. sp. I'JQ. Syn. V. 272. Brunnich, 17I. Grey Coot footed Tringa. Br. Zool. 126.- E. 1. 3. Arct. Edw. av. 308. Zool. ii. 202. TION. XhIS is about the size of the Purre, weigh- Descrip- ing one ounce. The bill is black, not quite an inch long, flattened on the top, and channeled on each side, the nostrils placed in the chan- nels; the eyes are situated remarkably high in the head; the forehead white; the crown of the head covered with a patch of a dusky hue, spot- ted with white and a pale reddish brown ; the Test of the head, and whole under part of the neck and body, are white ; the upper part of the 124 ' GREY PHALAROPE. Class II. neck of a light grey ; the back and rump a deep dove color, marked with dusky spots ; the edges of the scapulars are dull yellow ; the coverts dusky ; the lower or larger tipt and edged with white ; the eight first quil feathers dusky ; the shafts white ; the lower part of the interior side white ; the smaller quil feathers are tipt with white ; the wings when closed, reach beyond the tail; the feathers on the back are either wholly grey or black, edged on each side with a pale red ; the tail is dusky, edged with ash-co- lor ; the legs are of a lead color ; the toes ex- tremely singular, being edged with scolloped membranes like the coot ; four scollops on the exterior toe, two on the middle, and the same on the interior J each finely serrated on their edges. * This bird was shot in Yorkshire, and com- municated to us by Mr. Edzmrds. " The grey phalarope is very rare in Eng- land; I have only heard of it twice in this coun- try, but in the north of Europe it is not unfre- quent, and is seen among the ice between Asia * The Editor has a drawing, by the ingenious Mrs, Catherine Plymley, from a specimen shot near Longnor, in Shropshire ; the legs and bill of which are of a yellowish color, and the whole plumage much lighter than that of the bird described in the text. Mr. Montagu observed this rare species in Sussex, and has in his collection one killed near Alderton, in Wiltshire. Ed. Class II. RED PHALAROPE. 125 and America: if the same as that referred to m the Philosophical Transactions, is also found on the borders of the Caspian sea." J. L. Phalaropus hyperboreus. Ph. Phalaropus cinereus. Le Pha- 2. Reix. cinereus, subtus uropygio larope cendre. Brisson av. fasciaque alarum albis, pec- vi. 15. Hist, d'ois. viii, 224. tore cinereo, colli lateribus Larus fidipes alter nostras. ferrugineis. (Mas.) Lath. Raii Syn. av. 132. Jnd. orn. 775. id. Syn. v. Cock coot-footed Tringa(raa/e) 270. Edw. 143. Red coot-footed Mr. Johnson's small cloven- Tringa (female) id. 142. footed Gull. TFil. orn. 355. Tringa hyperborea. Gm. Liiu Ray's collection of English 675. words, &c. p. Q2. Arct. Zool. n. 203. JL HIS species was shot on the banks of a fresh Descrxp- * TION. water pool on the isle of Stronsa, May 1769. It is of the size of the Purre. The bill is an inch long, black, very slender, and strait almost to the end which bends downwards; the crown of the head, the hind part of the neck and the coverts of the wings, are of a deep lead color ; the back and scapulars the same, striped with dirty yellow ; the quil feathers dusky ; the shafts white; across the greater coverts is a stripe of white; the chin and throat white; the under part and sides of the neck bright ferruginous ; the breast dark, cinereous -, the belly white ; the 126 RED PHALAROPE. Class II. coverts of the tail barred with black and white ; the tail short, cinereous; the legs and feet black. Mr. Ray saw this species at Brignal in York' shire; Mr. Edwards received the same kind from North Amei^ica, being common to the North oi Europe onA America. [The above is the description of the male. The head, throat, hind neck, back, scapulars, Female, and upper tail coverts of the female, are black, with a rufous margin; a pale rufous brown streak over the eye; the rump white, spotted with dusky ; the under parts from the throat, dusky red ; the wings and tail as in the other sex. This is the red coot footed tringa of Ed- wards, Tab. 142, and is extremely well figured in Mr. Sowerhys British Miscellany, from a specimen procured from the lochs in the island^ of Sanda and North Ro2ialdsha. Ed. Fl.XSE ■VO L. 2.127- :VT 2'2;0. Class II. COMMON COOT. 127 GENUS XIV. COOT. Bill short and thick, with a callus extending up the forehead. Nostrils narrow and pervious. Toes furnished with broad scalloped mem- branes. Fulica atra. F. fronte incar- nata, armillis luteis, cor- pore nigricante. Lath. Ind. ern. 777. id. Syn. v. 275. id. Sup. i. 25Q. id. Sup. ii. 328. La Poulle d'eau. Belon av. 181. Fulica recentiorum. Gesner. av. 390. FoUega, Follata, Fulca. Aldr. av. iii. 39, 42. Wil. orn. 319. Rail Syn. av. II6. La Foulque, ou Morrelle. Brisson av. vl. 23. tal. 2. ^g. I. Hisi.d'ois.\m. 211. Pl.Enl. 197. Folaga, o Polon. Zinan. 108. R,ohr-hennl, Blassl. Kram.357, Weisblaessige grosse Wasser- huhn. Frisch, ii. 208. Fulica atra. Gm. Lin. 702. Blas-klacka. Faun. Suec. sp, 193. Danis Vand-Hoene, Bles- Hoene. Brunnick, igo. Liska. Scopoli, No. 149. Br. Zool. 132. F. Arct. ZooL ii.205. 1. Common. TIOW. JLHESE birds weigh from twenty-four to Descrip- twenty-eight ounces. Their belly is ash-co- lored, and on the ridge of each wing is a line of white; every part besides is of a deep black; the legs are of a yellowish green ; above the knee is a yellow spot. 128 COMMON COOT. Class II. Coots frequent lakes and still rivers; they make their nest among the rushes, with grass, reeds, &c. floating on the water, so as to rise and fall with it. They lay five or six large eggs, of a dirty whitish hue, sprinkled all over with mi- nute deep rust-color spots ; and we have been credibly informed that they will sometimes lay fourteen and more. The young when just hatched are very deformed, and the head mixed with a red coarse down. In winter they often repair to the sea; we have seen the channel near Southampton covered with them; they are often brought to that market, where they are exposed to sale, without their feathers, and scalded like pigs. We once saw at Spalding, m Lincolnshire, a Coot shot near that place which was white, except a few of the feathers in the wings, and about the head, " The Coot extends to India and China, and is also found in North America." J. L. Class II. GREAT COOT. 129 FuHca aterrima. F. fronte alba, armillis rubris, corpore ni- gricante. Lath. Ind. orn. 778. id. Syn. v. 277. Belon av. 182. Fulica aterrima. Gm. Lin. 703. Fulica fuliginosa. Scopoli, 150. 2. Great. Greater Coot. TFil. orn. 320. La grand foulque ou la Ma- croule. Brisson av. vi. 28. Hist, d'ois. viii. 220. J- HIS species differs from the preceding only in its superior size, and the exquisite blackness of the plumage. Discovered in Lancashire and in Scotland. VOL. II. K 130 GREAT CRESTED GREBE. Class II. GENUS XV.* 1. Great CRESTED. Bill Strong, strait, sharp pointed. Tail, none. Legs flat, thin, and serrated behind with a double row of notches. Podiceps crlstatus. P. fuscus subtus albus, capite rufo tu- mido, coUari nigro, remigi- bus secundariis albis. (adul- ta avis.) Lath. Ind. orn. 780. id. Syn. v. 281. P. fuscus subtus albus, gutture fasciculo plumoso utrinque longiore, remigibus secun- dariis albis. (avis Ucmiis.) Lath. Ind. orn. 780. id. Syn. V. 283. Grand Plongeon de riviere. Belon av. 178. Ducchel. Gesner av. 138. Aldr. av. iii. 104. Avis pugnax 8va. Aldr. 169. Greater crested and horned Doucker. JVil. orn. 340. Ash-colored Loon of Dr. Brown, ibid. Raii Syn. av. 124. Plott's hist. Staff. 229. tal. 22. The Cargoose. Charleton ex. 107. Pet. Gaz. I. tab. 43. Jig. 12. Colymbus cristatus. Gm. Lin, 589. Scopoli, No. 99. Faun. Suec. sp. 151. Le Grebe hupe. Brisson av. vi. 38. tab. 4. id. vi. 45. tab. 5. Jig. 1. Hist. d!ois. viii. 233. PL Enl. 944. Smergo, Fisolo marino. Zinan. 107. Danis Topped og Halskraved Dykker, Topped Hav Skioere. Brunnich, 135. Gehoernter Scehahn, Noe- rike. Frisch, ii. 183. Br. Zool. 132. Arct. Zool ii. 208. * The grebes and divers are placed in the same genus, i. e. of Colymbi, by Ray and LinnceUs ; but the difference of the feet, forbade our judicious friend, M. Brisson, from continuing them together ; whose example we have followed. Class II. GREAT CRESTED GREBE. isi X HIS species weighs two pounds and a half. Its Dfscrip- length is twenty-one inches ; the breadth thirty. The bill is two inches and a quarter long; red at the base; black at the point; between the bill and the eyes is a stripe of black naked skin ; the irides are of a fine .pale red ; the tongue is a third-part shorter than the bill, slen- der, hard at the end, and a little divided; on the head is a large dusky crest, separated in the middle. The cheeks and throat are sur- rounded with a long pendent ruff, of a bright tawny color, edged with black; the chin is white; from the bill to the eye is a black line, and above that a white one; the hind part of the neck, and the back are of a sooty hue ; the rump, for it wants a tail, is covered with long soft down. The covert feathers on the second and third joints of the wing, and the under coverts are white ; all the other wing feathers, except the • secondaries, are dusky, those being white ; the breast and belly are of a most beautiful silvery white, glossy as sattin; the plumage under the wings is dusky, blended with tawny; the out- side of the legs, and the bottom of the feet are dusky; the inside of tlie legs, and the toes of a , ; pale green. K 2 132 GREAT CRESTED GREBE. Class II. These birds frequent the Meres of Shropshire and Cheshire, where they breed, and the great East Fen in Lincolnshire, where they are called Gaunts. Their skins are made into lippets, which are sold at as high a price as those that come from Geneva. This species lays four eggs, white, and of the , size of those of a pigeon j the nest is formed of the roots of buckbean, stalks of water lilly, pond weed, and water violet, floating independent among the reeds and flags ; the water penetrates it, and the bird sits and hatches the eggs in that wet condition ; the nest is sometimes blown from among the flags into the middle of the water : in these circumstances, the fable of the Halcyon s nest, iisjluciivaga domus, as Statius expresses it, may in some measure be vindicated. Fluctivagam sic saepe domum, madidosque penates , Halcyone deserta gemit; cum pignora saevus Auster, et algentes rapuit Thetis invida nidos. Thebaid. lib. ix. 360. It is a careful nurse of its young, being ob- served to feed them most assiduously, com- monly with small eels; and when the infant brood are tired, will carry them either on its back or under its wings. This bird preys on fish, and is almost perpetually diving ; it does ClassII. great crested GREBE. 153 not shew much more than the head above water, and is very difficult to be shot, as it darts down on the appearance of the lest danger. It is never seen on land ; and though disturbed ever so often, will not fly farther than the end of the lake. Its skin is out of season about February, losing then its bright color; and in the breeding time its breast is almost bare. The flesh of this bird is excessively rank; but the fat is said to be of great virtue in rheumatic pains, cramps, and paralytic contractions. A grebe taken near Holywell, No*vemher I8th 1 789, was little less than my Greater crest- ed Grebe. On the head was a dusky crest divid- ed into two towards the end; the cheeks, chin, and whole under side were silvery white; the upper, and part of the wings dusky, the latter crossed by a single band of white, and along the ridge was a broad white band ; the tertials were white; under the chin the feathers full, and divided before ; the bill flesh-colored ; the irises bright red; the legs dusky.* *~Brisson av. vi. 38. Tah. 4. Pl.Enl. g44. TIPPET GREBE. Class II. A. Tippet. Podiceps cristatus. P. fuscus subtus albus capite Isevi ma- cula alarum alba. (Pullus annuus.) Lath. Jnd. orn. 781. id. Syn. v. 283. Colymbus major. Gesner av. 138. Aldr. av. iii. 104. Greater Loon, or Arsfoot. TVil. orn. SSQ. Greater Dobchick. Edjv. av, 360. fg. 2. Raii Syn. av. 125. Colymbus, le Grebe. Brisson av. vi. 34. iah. 3. j%. 1. Hist, d'ois. A'iii. 227- PL E7il. 941. Colymbus urinator. Gm. Lin. 223. Scopoli, No. 102. Br. Zool. 133, Descrip- tion. ^ HIS differs from the great crested grebe in being rather less, and wanting the crest and ruff. The sides of the neck are striped down- wards from the head with narrow lines of black and white ; in other respects the colors and marks agree with that bird. This species* has been shot on Kostcrnc Mere in Cheshire; is rather scarce in England^ but is common in the winter time on the lake of Genet^a, where they appear in flocks of ten or twelve ; and are killed for the sake of their beau- tiful skins. The under side of them being drest with the feathers on, are made into muffs and tippets ; each bird sells for about fourteen shil- lings. * Though considered in the preceding edition as a distinct species, it seems evidently the great crested grebe, in an imrpa- ture state of plumage. Ed. P1.XSDI. VOL. 2. P. 154. DXJSKY GREBE. ( T.136 ) Class II. EARED GREBE. 135 Podiceps auritus. P. fusco-ni- Colymbus auritus. Lin. Syst. 2. Earep. gricans subtus albus, capite 223. Scopoli, No. 100. nigro, auribus cristato fer- Norvegis Sav-Orre, Soe-Orre. rugineis. LatJi. Ind. orn. Bornhtlmis Soe-Hoene. Jj- 781. id. Syn. v. 285. /andw Flaueskitt. ^rwranic/t. Eared dobchick. Edw. av. q6. 136. Jig. 2. Br. Zool. 133. Arct. Zool. Le Grebe a Oreilles. Brisson ii. ^08. av. vd. 54. Hist, d'ois. viii. 235. JL HE length of this species to the rump is one De foot ; the extent twenty-two inches. The bill is black, slender, and very slightly recurvatedj the irides crimson; the head and neck are black; the throat spotted with white ; the whole upper side of a blackish brown, except the ridge of the wing about the first joint, and the secondary feathers, which are white; the breast, belly, and inner coverts of the wings are white ; the subaxillary feathers, and some on the side of the rump, ferruginous ; behind the eyes, on each side, is a tuft of long loose rust-colored feathers, hanging backwards ; the legs are of a dusky green. These birds inhabit the fens near Spalding, where they breed. I have seen both male and female, but could not observe any external dif- ference. They make their nest not unlike that SCRIP- TION, 1S6 DUSKY GREBE. Class Hi of the Crested grebe, and lay four or five small white eggs. 3. Dusky. Descrip- tion. Podiceps obscurus. P. fusco- nigricans, subtus albus, ma- cula utrinque inter rostrum et oculum, marginibus ala- rum remigibusque interme- diis candidis. Lath. Ind. orn. 782. id. Syn. v. 286. Colymbus obscurus. Gvi. Lin. 592. The black and white Dob- chick. Edw. av. 96- Jig- 1. Colymbus minor, le petit Grebe. Brisson av. vi. 56. Hist. dots. viii. 232. PL Enl. 942. Colymbus nigricans ? Scopoli, No. 101. Br.Zool. 133. K.l.Arct.Zool. ii. 207. JL HE length from the bill to the rump is eleven inches; the extent of wings twenty. The bill is little more than an inch long; the crown of the head, and whole upper side of the body are dusky ; the inner coverts, the ridge of the wing, and the middle quil feathers white ; the rest of the wing dusky; a bare skin of a fine red color joins the bill to the eye ; the whole under- side from the breast to the rump is a silvery white ; on the thighs are a few black spots. In some the whole neck is ash-colored ; probably they might have been young birds, or different in sex. Inhabits the fens of Lincolnshire. Class II. LITTLE GREBE. 137 Podiceps minor. P. fulvo-fus- cus, corpore subtus macula remigum uropygioque infimo albo-argenteis, collo subtus griseo-fulvo. Lath. Ind. orn. 784. id. Syn. v. 289. Le Castagneux, ou Zoucet. Belon av. 177. Mergulus fluviatilis (Ducche- lin, Arssfuss). Gesner av. 141. Trapazorola arzauolo, Piom- bin. Aldr. av. iii. 105. Didapper, Dipper, Dobchick, small Doucker, Loon, or 4. Little. Arsfoot. Wil. orn. 340. Rait Syn. av. 125. Colymbus fluviatilis, le Grebe de Riviere, ou le Castag- ^ neux. Brisson av. vi. 59. Hist, d'ois. viii. 244. PI. Enl. 905. Colymbus minor. Gm. Lin, 591. Kleiner Seehahn, or Noerike. Frisch, ii. 184. Faun. Suec. sp. 152. Br. Zool. 134. TION. X HE weight of this species is from six to seven Descrip- ounces. The length to the rump ten inches ; to the end of the toes thirteen ; the breadth sixteen. The head is thick set with feathers, those on the cheeks, in old birds, are of a bright bay ; the top of the head, and whole upper side of the body, the neck and breast, are of a deep brown, tinged with red; the greater quil feathers dus- ky ; the interior webs of the lesser white ; the belly is ash-colored, mixed with a silvery white, and some red ; the legs are of a dirty green. The wings of this species, as of all the tribe, are small, and the legs placed far behind; so that they walk with great difficulty, and very seldom fly. They trust their safety to diving, 1.38 BLACK CHIN GREBE. Class It. which they do with great swiftness, and continue long under water. Their food is fish, and water plants. This bird is found in rivers, and other fresh waters ; it forms its nest near their banks, in the water ; but without any fastening, so that it rises and falls as that does. To make its nest it collects an amazing quantity of grass, water- plants, &c. It lays five or six white eggs, and always covers them when it quits the nest. It should seem wonderful how they are hatched, as the water rises through the nest, and keeps them wet ; but the natural warmth of the bird bringing on a fermentation in the vegetables, .. ; which are full a foot thick, makes a hot bed fit for the purpose. 5, Black Podiceps hebrldicus. P. nigri- orn. 785. id. Syn. v. 292. CHIN. cans, gula nigra, jugulo fer- Colymbus hebridicus. Gm. rugineo, aladomine cinereo Lin. 594. _..argenteo vario. Lath. Jnd. Soiverhy. Br. Misc. Tab. 70. CjtR. with a black chin. Fore part of the neck ferruginous j hind part mixed with dusky. Belly cinereous and silver intermixed. Rather larger than the last.* Inhabits 7h^ee, one of the Hebrides. * A pair of Grebes, apparently of this species, were taken with their nest and eggs near Chelsea, and are well figured and de- scribed by Mr. Sowerhy, in his British Miscellany. Ed. TLIKKDZ. VOIi.2.P. :I3S. BliACK CHI]S^ GREBE. EARED GREBE. Class II. RED NECKED GREBE. 139 Podiceps rubricoilis. P. sub- Colymbus rubrlcoUis. Gm. 6. Red cristatus fuscus, gula genis Lin. 592. subcristatus. id. ^ecke . regioneque aurium cineras- 5Q0. centibus, coUo subtus pec- Le Grebe a joues grises, ou le toreque ferrugineo-rubris, soagris. Hisi. d'ois. viii. 2il. abdomine remigibusque se- PI. Enl. Q31. cundariis albis. Lath. Ind. Colymbus Parotis. Mus.Qarl- orn. 783.. id. Syn. v. 288. son. Tab. ix. , ,,f j ^.iui.\.. id. Sup. I. 260. t. 118. Arct. Zool. ii. 2O9. [DR. Latham in the first supplement to his *S^- nopsis, informs us, that four of these very rare birds were taken or killed on the southern coasts of the kingdom, in the year 1786. As his de- scription is more minute than that given by Mr. Pennant in the Arctic Zoology, the editor takes the liberty of borrowing it : '^'^ ^'^''' ^^l^^^^^^^ •-'•■**- Length eighteen inches;' bilV nearly two - inches long ; sides of the base of both mandibles Descrip- for three quarters of an inch, of a fine orange yellow, the rest black; lore brown or black- ish; irides fine orange red; the crown and sides of the head above the eyes nearly black, and the feathers a little elongated ; the hind part of the neck, the back, and wings, dark brown; six of the middle secondaries white, a little mot- tled with dusky at the tips; the two or three next outward ones more or less white near the tips and inner webs ; the chin, sides under the TION. 140 RED NECKED GREBE. Class IL eyes, and fore part of the neck for above half an inch, pale ash-color; the rest of the neck ferruginous chesnut, mottled with dusky; from thence to the vent white, like satin, mottled on the sides with dusky irregular spots ; legs black." In one of the specimens shot near Teign- mouth, " the colors of the head and neck were much blended, and the ferruginous of the neck only just breaking forth." The weight of another was " nineteen ounces and a half; length twen- ty-one inches and a half ; the bill yellow at the base, dusky olive towards the tip; lore dusky; irides pale brown ; head quite smooth ; the ferru- ginous color of the neck much blended with dusky; the white on the under parts, greatly mottled with the same; legs without, duskyj^ within, greenish yellow. Another variety had ^,^. a band of white across the lower part of the neck." Ep. -i V ^ Class JI. SCLAVONIAN GREBE. 141 NIAN. TION. Podiceps cornutus. ^. P. cris- Le petit Grebe cornu. Brisson "^'^^^^Z^^' tatus, collo subtus castaneo, av. vi. 50. Hist. dots. viii. capite colloque supremo nl- 237» gro-virescentlbus, fasciculo Grebe de rEsclavonlc. PI. pone oculos aurantio-rufes- Enl. 404. f. 2. -i-l , cente. Lath. hid. orn. 783. Montagu, orn. diet. - - *j45 id. Syn. v. 288. var. A. Colymbus sive Podiceps minor, Raii Syn. p. igO. ' - [" THE length of this bird is thirteen inches and Descrip- a half J its extent twenty-two inches. The bill, near an inch long, is dusky, lighter at the base of the under mandible, and inclining to pink, the tip horn-color; lore crimson; irides the same, but round the pupil is a circle of white, and the exterior edge of the iris is nearly white. The head is greatly enlarged by the feathers; those on the top are black, tinged with dark green; the cheeks and throat the same; the feathers very long, forming a sort of ruff; from the base of the upper mandible originates a broad bar of dull orange yellow, that passes through the eye to the hind-head, growing gradually broader; these form a tuft on each side, and are some- what erectable, appearing like ears; the fore- head dusky ferruginous; the back of the neck and upper part of the back dark brown, dashed 142 SCLAVONIAN GREBE. Class II. with ferruginous; the back, scapulars, and rump, dusky, faintly edged with cinereous; the wing coverts, and twelve first quil feathers brown; the thirteenth white on the inner web; the ele- ven next all white, except the last, which is brown on the outer web; the chin is black, a little mottled with white ; the under part of the neck, and upper breast running far behind, and down under the wings, bright ferruginous ches- nut; the rest of the under parts glossy satin white; the back part of the thighs ferruginous brown; legs dusky on the outside, pale on the inside; toes pale down their middle, dusky at the edges." r -^ n/ Such is the description given by Mr. Mon- tagUt who rescued it in 1796, at Truro, from the hands of a fisherman, who was about to pick it. Whether it is a distinct species, a va- riety of the Horned*, or even of the Eared grebe, is still uncertain. Ed. -■ * Arct. Zool. ii. 205. , Pl.vCXV TOL2P.14;3. ^^OSET Class II. SCOOPING AVOSET. US Section III. WEB-FOOTED BIRDS, GENUS XVI. AVOSET. Bill long, slender, very thin, depressed, bend- ing upwards. Nostrils narrow, pervious. Tongue short. Legs very long. Toe back very small. Recurvirostra avosetta. R. albo nigroque varia. Lath. Ind. em. 786. id. Syn. v. 293. id. Sup. i. 263. Recurvirostra. Gesner ao. 231. Avosetta, Beccostorto, Becco roella, Spinzago d'acqua. Aldr. av. iii. 114. Wil. or n. 321. Rail Syn. av. II7. The Scooper. Charlton e.v. 102. The crooked Bill. Dales hist. Harwich, 402- Ploft's hist. Staff. 231. Avosetta, L'Avocette. Bris- son, av. vi. 538. Tah. 47. Jig. 2. Hist, d'ois. viii. 466". PI. Enl. 353. Krumbschnabl, Kram. 348. Recurvirostra Avosetta. Gm. Lin. 693. Scopoli, No. 12g. Skarflacka, Alfit. Faun. Suec. sp. 191. Danis Klyde, Loufugl, Fork- eert Regnspove. Br. 188. Br. Zool. 134. Arct. Zool. ii. 213. 1. Scooping. An Avoset that we shot weighed thirteen ounces. Its length to the end of the tail was Dercrip. eighteen inches, to that of the toes twenty -two : the breadth thirty. This bird may at once be 144 SCOOPING AVOSET. Class II. distinguished from all others, by the singular form of its bill ; which is three inches and a half long, slender, compressed, very thin, flexible, and of a substance like whalebone; and contrary to the bills of other birds, is turned up for nearly half its length. The nostrils are narrow and pervious ; the tongue short ; the head very • , round ; that, and half the hind part of the neck black; but above and beneath each eye is a small white spot; the cheeks, and whole under , ■ side of the body from chin to tail, is of a pure white; the back, exterior scapular feathers, the ..:,-;.:>.: coverts on the ridge of the wings, and some of the lesser quil feathers, are of the same color; the other coverts, and the exterior sides and ends of the greater quil feathers, are black; the tail consists of twelve white feathers ; the legs are very long, of a fine pale blue color, and naked far above the knees; the webs dusky, and deeply indented; the back toe extremely small. These birds are frequent in the winter on the shores of this kingdom; m Gloucestershire^ , at the Severn s Mouth; and sometimes on the lakes of Shropshire. We have seen them in consider- .i. .i able numbers in the breeding season near Foss- * Thirty years ago they were not uncommon in that county, but none have been observed for several years past. E0. Class II. SCOOPING AVOSET. 145 dike TVash in Lincolnshire. Like the Lapwing, when disturbed, they flew over our heads, car- rying their necks and long legs quite extended, and made a shrill noise (Ttvit) twice repeated, during the whole time. The country people, for this reason, call them YelperSj and some- times distinguish them by the name of Picarini. They feed on worms and insects that they scoop with their bills out of the sand; their search af- ter food is frequently to be discerned on our shores by alternate semicircular marks in the sand, which shew their progress. They lay two eggs about the size of those of a pigeon, white tinged with green,* and marked with large black spots. * Dr. Latham says, that the eggs are of a cinereous grey, whimsically marked with deep brownish black patches of irre- gular sizes and shapes, besides some undermarkings of a diisky hue. Ed. -H'y^'so fTij-;; cn.i'i '^itati i'::^ VOL. II. I, I4@ GREAT AUK. Class II. GENUS XVII. AUK. Bill strong, thick, compressed. Nostrils linear; placed near the edge of the mandible. Tongue almost as long as the bill. Toes, no back toe. 1. Great. Alca impennis. A. rostro com- presso-ancipiti sulcato, ma- cula ovata utrinque ante ocu- los. Lath. Ind. orn. 7gi. id. Syn. v. 311. Goirfugel. Clusii exot. 367. Penguin. Wormii, 300. Wil. orn. 323. IRaii Syn. av. lip. Edw. av. 147. ■Martins voy. St. Kilda. 27- Avis, Gare dicta. Sih. Scot. iii. 22. Alca major, le grand Pingoin. Brisson av. vi. 85. Tab. 7. Hist, d'ois. ix. 393. PL Enl. 367. Esorokitsok*. Crantz's Greenl. i. 82. Alca impennis. Gm. Lin. 550. Faun. Suec. sp. 140. Islandis Gyr-v Geyrfugl. Not' vegis Fisert, Anglemaage, Penguin, Brillefugl. Brun- nich, 105. Br. Zool. 136. Arct. Zool. ii. 220. According to Mr. Martin, this bird breeds on the isle of St. Kilda; appearing there the beginning of May, and retiring the middle of Jw2e. It lays one egg, which is six inches long, of a white color; some are irregularly marked with purplish lines crossing each other, * Or little wing. ^ M ^ -to Class II. GREAT AUK. 147 others blotched with black and ferruginous about the thicker end : if the egg is taken away, it will not lay another that season. A late writer* in- forms us, that it does not visit that island an- nually, but sometimes keeps away for several years together, and adds, that it lays its egg close to the sea-mark; being incapable, by rea- son of the shortness of its wings, to mount higher. The length of this bird, to the end of its toes, Descrip- is three feet; that of the bill, to the corner of the mouth, four inches and a quarter; part of the up- per mandible is covered with short, black, velvet- like feathers ; it is very strong, compressed and marked with several furrows that tally both above and below; between the eyes and the bill on each side is a large white spot; the rest of the head, the neck, back, tail, and wings, are of a glossy black; the tips of the lesser quil feathers white ; the whole under side of the body white; the legs black. The wings are so small, as to be useless for flight; the length, from the tip of the longest quil feathers to the first joint, being only four inches and a quarter. This bird is observed by seamen never to wander beyond soundings ; and according to its * Macaulay's hist. St. Kilda. p. 156, 148 RAZOR-BILL AUK. Class IL appearance they direct their measures, being then assured that land is not very remote. Thus the modern sailors pay respect to auguries, in the same manner as Ai^istophanes tells us those of Greece did above two thousand years ago. Tl^os^el 'fig as) t'wv o§v]^ujv [/.avtsvofxiyu} its^i tou ifXov, Nyvf ^•^ TfAeT, ^sijxujv ero-h yvv) itKil, >is^Sog s'ffsa'Tai. Aves. 597. From birds, in sailing men instructions take. Now lye in port j now sail and profit make. 2. Razor- Alca torda. A. rostro sulcis BILL. quatuor, linea iitrinque alba a rostro ad oculos. ("Avis adulta.) Lath. Ind. orn. 793. id. Syn. v. 319. id. Sup. i. 264. Razor-bill, Auk, Murre. fill. orn. 325. Rail Syn. av. 11 9. The Falk. Martins voy. St. Kilda. 33. TheMarrot. Sih. hist. Fife, AS. Hdw. av. 358. Jig. 2. Alca, le PIngoin. Brisson av. vi. 89. Tah. 8. Jig. 1. Hist. d'ois. ix. 390. PL Enl. 1003, 1004. Alca torda. Gm. Lin. 551. Tord, Tordmule. Faun. Suec. sp. 139. Norvegis Klub-AIke, Klympe. Islandis Aulka, Klumbr, Klumburnevia, Groenlandis Awarsuk. Danis Alke. Brunnich, 100. Scopoli, No. 94. Br. Zool. 136. Arct. Zool. ii. 221. Descrip- XHESE species weigh twenty-two ounces and a half. The length is about eighteen inches; the breadth twenty-seven. The bill is two inches long, arched, very strong and sharp at the edges ; 1ZL..XXV1L". VOL. 2. r. 148. LITTLE Js.tJK 'p. 158. RAZOR BILL Class II. RAZOR-BILL AUK. ' 149 the color black; the upper mandible is marked with four transverse grooves ; the lower Mdth three, the widest of which is white, and crosses each mandible. The inside of the mouth is of a fine pale yellow; from the eye to the bill is a line of white ; the head, throat, and whole up- per side of the body, are black ; the wings of the same color, except the tips of the lesser quil feathers, which are white; the tail consists of twelve black feathers, and is sharp pointed; the whole under side of the body is white; the legs black. These birds, in company with the Guillemot, £' appear in our seas the beginning of February ; but do not settle on their breeding places till they begin to lay, about the beginning of May. They inhabit the ledges of the highest rocks that impend over the sea, where they form a gro- tesque appearance, sitting close together, and in rows one above the other. They properly lay but one egg apiece, of an extraordinary size for the bulk of the bird, being three inches long; the color of it is a dead white, irregularly spot- ted with ferruginous brown, or most elegantly streaked with lines crossing each other in ail directions; if this egg is destroyed, both the auk and guillemot will lay another; if that is taken, then a third; they make no nest, de- T50 BLACK BILLED AUK. Class IL positing their egg on the bare rock; and though such multitudes lay contiguous, by a wonderful instinct each distinguishes its own. It is also matter of great amazement, that they fix their egg on the smooth rock, with so exact a ba- lance, as to secure it from rolling off; yet should it be removed, and then attempted to be re- placed by the human hand, it is extremely diffi- cult, if not impossible, to find its former equili- brium. The eggs are food to the inhabitants of the coasts they frequent ; which they get with great hazard, being lowered from above by ropes, ' • trusting to the strength of their companions, whose footing is often so unstable that they are forced down the precipice, and perish together. A. Black Alca torda. ^. A. rostro Isevi Brisson av. vi. Q2. Tal. 8. BILLED. compresso unisulcato, cor- Jig. 2. Hist, d'ois. ix. 3q6. pore toto subtus apicibusque Alca Pica. Gm. Lin. 551. remigum posticarum albis. Alca unisulcata. Brunnick, (Junior avis.) Lath. Ind. 102. orn. 793. id. Syn. v. 320. Br. Zool. 137- Arct. ZooL ii. Alca minofj le petit pingoin. 222. DsscRip- J_ HIS weighs only eighteen ounces: the length TION. is fifteen inches and a half; the breadth twenty- five inches. The bill is of the same form with Class IL BLACK BILLED AUK. 151 the auk's, but entirely black. The cheeks, chin, and throat, are white ; in all other respects it agrees with the former species ; we can only ob- serve, that this was shot in the winter, when the common sort have quitted the coasts.* When this bird was killed, it was observed to have about the neck abundance of lice, re- sembling those that infest the human kind, only they were spotted with yellow. The Alca Balthica of Brunnich, No. 115, a variety in all respects like the common kind, only the under side of the neck is white, is some- times found on our coasts. * Mr. Pennant in his ToJir in JVales, seemed convinced, from the observations of the reverend Hugh Davies, that the ' - Black-billed Auk, was no other than the young of the Razor- bill. Y)x. Latham coincides in this opinion j and, in the sixth volume of the Synopsis of Birds, produces many strong argu- ments to confirm the truth of it ; M.X . Montagu '\s, hovi^ever, of ' a different sentiment J and, m\ht Arctic Zoology, M-r. Pennant . has (perhaps inadvertently) given it as a distinct species. Ed. lo'Z PUFFIN AUK. Class II. 3. Puffin. Alca arctica. A. rostro com- presso-ancipiti sulcato sulcis , quatuor, oculorum orbita temporibusque albis, palpe- . bra superiore mucronata. Lath. Ind. orn. 792. id. Syn, V. 314. Puphinus anglicus. Gesner av. 723. Pica marina. Aldr. av. iii. gs. Puffin, Coulterneb, &c. Wil. orn. 325. Raii Syn. av. 120. Edw. av. 358. Jig. 1. The Bowger. Martin's voy. St. Kilda. 34. Fratercula, leMacareux. Bris- son av. vi. 81. Tal. 6. Jig. 1. Hist, d'ois. ix. 358. PL Enl. 275. Caii opusc. QJ. Anas arctica. Clusii Exot. 1 04. Alca arctica. Gm. Lin. 54g. Faun. Suec. sp. 141. . ' ^ Islandis & Norveg. Lunde, hujus pulli Lund Toller. Danis Islandsk Papegoye. Brunnich, 103. See-Papagey, or See-Taucher. Frisch, ii. 1()2. Br. Zool. 135. Arct. Zool. ii. 223. Descrip- tion. J- HIS bird weighs about twelve ounces ; its length is twelve inches ; the breadth from tip to tip of the wings when extended, twenty-one inches. The bill is short, broad at the base, compressed on the sides, and running up to a ridge, triangular and ending in a sharp point ; the base of the upper mandible is strengthened with a white narrow prominent rim full of very minute holes ; the bill is of two colors, the part next the head of a bluish grey, the lower part red ; in the former is one transverse groove or furrow, in the latter three; the size of the bills of these birds varyj those of Priestholm Isle Class II. PUFFIN AUK. 153 are one inch and three quarters long; and the base of the upper mandible one inch broad; but in the birds from the Isle of Man these propor- tions are much less. * The nostrils are very long and narrow ; commence at the above-mentioned rim, terminate at the first groove, and run pa- rallel with the lower edge of the bill. Theirides . are grey, and the edges of the eye-lids of a fine crimson ; on the upper eye-lid is a singular cal- lous substance, grey, and of a triangular form ; on the lower is another of an oblong form; the crown of the head, the whole upper part of the body, tail, and covert feathers of the wings, are black, but in some the feathers of the back are tinged with brown; the quil feathers are of a dusky hue. The cheeks are white, and so full iaaTrkAl! of feathers as to make the head appear very large and almost round ; the chin is of the same color, bounded on each side by a broad bed of grey ; from the corner of each eye is a small separation of the feathers terminating at the back of the head. The neck is encircled with a broad * The form, and the color of the bill varies according to the "age of the bird. These changes are distinctly noticed in Mr. Pennant's Tour in Wales, vol. iii. 40, and in the plate which accompanies it. The observations together with specimens of the bills of this, and the Auk, were communicated by the reve- ' rend Hu^li Davies. Eo. 154 PUFFIN AUK. Class Hi collar of black ; but the whole lower part of the body as far as is under water is white, which is a circumstance in common with most of this genus. The tail is black, composed of sixteen feathers ; the legs are small, of an orange color, and placed so far behind as to disqualify the bird from standing, except quite erect ; resting not only on the foot, but the whole length of the leg; this circumstance attends every one of the genus, but not remarked by any naturalist, except IFormius, who has figured the Penguin with great propriety ; this makes the rise of the puffin from the ground very difficult, and it meets with many falls before it gets on wing; but when that is effected, few birds fly longer or stronger. Manners. These birds frequent the coasts of several parts of Great Britain and Ireland; but no where in greater numbers than Priestholm Isle*, where their flocks may be compared to swarms of bees for multitude. They are migratory ; re- sort to the island annually about the fifth or tenth of April, quit it (almost to a bird) and return twice or thrice before they settle to burrow and prepare for ovation and incubation. They begin to burrow the first week in May ; but some few save themselves that trouble, dislodge the rabbits * Off the coast of ^rtg/«ey. Class II. PUFFIN AUK. 155 from their holes, and take possession of them till their departure from the isle. Those which, form their own burrows, are at that time so in- tent on the work as to suffer themselves to be taken by the hand. This task falls chiefly to the share of the males, for on dissection ten out of twelve so employed proved of that sex. The males also assist in incubation ; for several were found sitting. The first young are hatched the beginning of July, the old ones shew vast affec- tion towards them, and seem totally insensible of danger in the breeding season. If a parent is taken at that time, and suspended by the wings, it will in a sort of despair treat itself most cruelly by biting any part it can reach, and when it is loosed, instead of escaping, will often resort to its unfledged young; this affection ceases at the stated time of migration, which is most punc- tually about the eleventh of ^z/^i^,?^, when they leave such young as cannot fly, to the mercy of the Peregrine Falcon, who watchjes the mouths , ^^ of the holes for the appearance of the little de- serted puffins which forced by hunger are com- pelled to leave their burrows. The Rev. Hugh Davies, of Beaumaris, to whom I am indebted for much of this account, informed me that ,qn the twenty-third of August, so entire was the nair 70 A 156 PUFFIN AUK. ^ Class II. gi-ation, that neither Puffin, Razor-Bill, Guil- lemot, or Tern, was to be seen there. I must add, that they lay only one egg, which differs much in form; some have one end very acute; others have both extremely obtuse; all are white. Their flesh is excessively rank, as they feed on sea weeds and fish, especially Sprats ; but when pickled and preserved with spices, are admired by those who love high eating. Dr. Caius tells us, that in his days the church allowed them in lent, instead offish; he also acquaints us, that they were taken by means of ferrets, ais we do rabbits ; at present they are either dug out, or drawn from their burrows by a hooked stick; they bite extremely hard, and keep such hold on whatsoever they fasten, as not to be easily disengaged. Their noise when taken is very disagreeable, being like the efforts of a dumb person to speak. ;^ 3ofiflBp eis ^gtiuoy m Note OF Sea The notes of all the sea birds are extremely °^^" harsh or inharmonious; we have often rested under the rocks attentive to the various sounds above our heads, which, mixed with the solemn roar of the waves swelling into and retiring from the vast caveras beneath, have produced a fine effect. The sharp voice of the sea gulls, the Class II. PUFFIN AUK. 157 frequent chatter of the guillemots, the loud note of the auks, the scream of the herons, together with the hoarse, deep, periodical croak of the corvorants, which serves as a base to the rest, has often furnished us with a concert, which, joined with the wild scenery that surrounded us, afforded, in a high degree, that species of plea- sure which arises from the novelty, and we may say gloomy grandeur of the entertainment. The winter residence of this genus, and that of the guillemot, is but imperfectly known; it is probable they live at sea, in some more tempe- rate climate, remote from land; forming those multitudes of birds that navigators observe in . ,, many parts of the ocean; they are always found there at certain seasons, retiring only at breed- ing time; repairing to the northern latitudes; and during that period are traced as near the Pole as navigators have penetrated. During winter Razor-bills and Puffins fre- quent the coast of Andalusia, but do not breed there. IW LITTLE AUK. Class IL 4. Little. Alca alle. A. rostro laevi conico, abdomine toto subtus remi- . gumque posticarum apicibus albis, pedibus nigris. Lath. Ind. orn. 795. id. Syn. v. 327- Rotges Martin's Spitzberg. 85. Little black and white Diver. Wil. orn. 343. Mergulus Melanoleucos rostro acuto brevi. Rati Syn. av. 125. JSdw. av. 91. Uria minor, le petit Guille- Descrip- TION. mot. Brisson av. vi. 73. Hist. dois. ix. 354. Alca alle. Gm. Lin. 554. Faun. Suec. sp, 142. Islandis Halkioen, Havdirdell. Norvegis Soe Konge, Soeren Jakob, Perdrikker, Persu- per, Boefiaer, Borrefiser, Hys Thomas. Feroensibus Fulkop. Groenlandis Akpa- liarsok. Brunnich, 106. Gunner tab. 6. Br. Zool. 137. Arct. Zool. ii. 224. X HE bird our description was made from was taken in Lancashire ; its bulk was not superior to that of a blackbird. The bill was convex, short, thick, and strong; its color black; the crown of the head, the hind part of the neck, the back, and the tail black; the v>7ings the same color; but the tips of the lesser quil feathers white; the inner coverts of the wings grey ; the cheeks, throat, and whole under side of the body white; the scapular feathers black and white; the legs and feet covered with dirty greenish white scales ; the webs black. Mr. Edwards has figured a bird that varies very little from this; and has added another, which he imagines differs only in sex j in that, Class II. LITTLE AUK. 159 the head and neck are wholly black; and the inner coverts of the wings barred with a dirty white. We met with the last in the cabinet of Doctor David Skene at Aberdeen; it was shot on the coast north of Slains in the spring of the year. 160 FOOLISH GUILLEMOT. Class II. C.ENUS XVIIT. GUILLEMOT. Bi LI- slender, strong, pointed; the upper man- dible slightly hcMuling towards the end ; the base covered Avith soft short feathers. 'Nostrils lodged in a hollow near the base. Tongue slender, almost the length of the bill. Toes : no back toe. 1. Foolish. Ihia Truilo. IJ. coipore nigro Jfisf. d'ois. ix. 350. PI. pecloie abdomineque iiiveo, Etif. ()03. '' remigibus sccundariis apice Lominia. A'^. C*w. Pflr. iv. albis. Lat/i. Iiid. orii. 7f)(i. 414. id, Syn. vi. 3'Jy. id. Sup. i. Colymbus Troile. Gm. Lin. 265. 585. ''^'*^ <*'' ''' Guillein, Gnillemot, Skout, Faun. Suec. sp. \4(j. ' Kidilaw, Sea-hen. Jf'tl. oru. JsUindis ^ J\'ori'fgis Lomvie, 324. Langivie, Lomrifvie, Stoi- JRaii Si/)i. ai\ I'JO. fugl. Brunmch, 108. ' The Lavy. Mur/in's voy. St. Sca-Taube, or Groenlandis- 1 Kilda, 32. n/u* <* cher Taucher. Friscfi, ii. Edw. av. 35g.Jig. 1. 185. Uria, le Guilleinot. Brisson Jh: ZooL 138. II. 3. Arct. av. vi. 70. Tnl'. (')■ fg. 1. Zoo'l i'l. 220 . Descrii"- I HIS species weighs twenty-four ounces ; the length is seventeen inches ; the brcatlth twenty- seven and a half The bill is three inches long, black, strait, and sharp pointeil ; near the end of the loM er mandible is a small process ; the in- TION. Class II. FOOJJSII GUILLEMO'l'. i6l side of the mouth yellow ; the feathers on the upper part of the bill are short, and soft like velvet; from the ey(i to the hind part of the head is a small division of the feathers. 'I'he head, neek, hack, win^^s, and tail are of a deep mouse color ; the tips of the lesser quil feathers wijite ; the whole under part of the hody is of a pure white ; tlic sides under the wings marked with dusky lines ; immediately above the thighs are some long feathers that curl over them. The legs are dusky. These birds are found in amazing numbers on the high clifi's on several of our coasts, and appear at the same time as the auk. "Jhey are very simple, for, notwithstanding they are shot at, and see tlieir companions killed by them, they will not quit the rock, i^ike the auk, they lay only one egg, which is very large ; its color is green, but of various shades, from a faint to a full sea-green, more or less spotted and streaked with black ; we have rarely known instances of its br;ing perf(;ctly plain. The liev. Mr. Low of Birm assures me, that they conti- nue about the Orknks tlje whole winter. VOL. II. Ji IM LESSER GUILLEMOT. Class 1L A. Lesser. Uria Troile. ^. U. supra ni- Uria Svarbag. gra, subtus genis fasclaque j5/a?zc?f5 Stutnefur, Svartbakur. alarum alba. Xa^/^. Jw(^. orn. Ringuia. Brunnich, 'i>io. 110. 797. id. Syn. vi. 332. Scopoli, No. 103. Colymbus minor. Gin. Lin. Br. Zeol. 138. Arct. ZooL ii. 585. 231. Descrip- XHE weight is nineteen ounces: the length sixteen inches; the breadth twenty-six. The bill two inches and a half long, shaped like that of the preceding species, but weaker. The top of the head, the whole upper part of the body, wings and tail are of a darker color than the former; the cheeks, throat, and all the lower side of the body are white; from the cor- ner of the eye is a dusky stroke, pointing to the hind part of the head ; the tips of the secondary ' feathers white ; the legs are black ; the tail very short, and consists of twelve feathers. These birds frequent the fVelsh coasts in the winter time, but that very rarely; where they breed is unknown to us ; having never observed them on the rocks among the congenerous birds. These and the black-billed auks haunt the Firth of Forth during winter in flocks innumerable, in pursuit of sprats. They are called there Morrots: ttey all retire before spring.* * Dr. Latham does not allow this to be a distinct species, but merely the young of the preceding. Ed. 7 ... ../-. P1.XS_VIII. VOL. 2. p. 162 IL.ESSER GtJILI-.EMOT. BLACK GUIt.LEMOT .(romSTG-fpiGS. KO^S' <3lass II. BLACK GUILLEMOT. 463 Uria Grylle. U. corpore atro, tectricibus alarum albis. Lath. Ind. orn. 797- id. Syn. vi. 332. Greenland-dove, or Sea-turtle. Wil. orn. 326. Haii Syn. av. 121. Rays itin. 183, 192. Feiste. Gunner, fal. 4. Turtur maritimus insulse Bass. Sih. hist. Fife, 46. The Scraber. Martins voy. St. Kilda. 32. Cajour, Pynan. N. Com. Petr. iv. 418. Uria minor nigra, le petit 2. Black. Guillemot noir. Brisson av. vi. 76. Hist, d'ois. ix. 332. Pl.Enl.QM. Colymbus Grylle. Gm. Lin. 584. Faun. Suec. sp. 148. Islandis Teista. Norvegis Tei- ste. Groenlandis Sarpak. Brunnich, 113. Groenlandische Taube. Frisch, ii. 185. Br. Zool. 138. H. 4. Arct. Zool. ii. 229. JL HE length of this species is fourteen inches ; D the breadth twenty-two. The bill is an inch and a half long, strait, slender, and black ; the inside of the mouth red ; on each wing is a large bed of white, which in young birds is spotted ; the tips of the lesser quil feathers, and the inner coverts of the wings, are w^hite; except these, the whole plumage is black. In winter it is said to change to white; and a variety spotted with black and white * is not uncommon in Scotland, and has been killed in Anglesey. The tail con- sists of twelve feathers; the legs are red. This bird is found on the Bass isle in Scot- * The spotted Greenland Dove of Mr. Edwards, plate 50. E.SCRIP- TION. 164 BLACK GUILLEMOT. Class II. land; in the isle of St. Kilda; and, as Mr. Ray imagines, in the Farn islands off the coast of Northumberland; v^e have also seen it on the rocks of Llandudno in Caernarvonshire, and on islets S., W. of Anglesey, near Llanddxvyn, where it breeds. Except at breeding time, it keeps always at sea ; and is very difficult to be shot, diving at the flash of the pan. The Welsh call this bird cas gan longwr, or tlie sailor's hatred, from a notion that its appearance fore- bodes a storm. It visits St. Kudo's in March; makes its nest far under ground, and lays a grey egg, or, as Steller says, whitish spotted with rust, and speckled with ash-color. ,;^>'r'' ••^•*^.^:-^ . /r^: Tl.XXIX. XOKTHERl^sr DIVER . (P. 165j wXWf.,^^ Class II. NORTHERN DIVER. 165 GENUS XIX. DIVER. Bill strong, strait, pointed. Upper mandible longest; edges of each bending in. Nostrils linear. Tongue pointed, long, serrated near the base. Legs thin and flat. Toes, exterior the longest; back toe joined to the interior by a small membrane. Tail short, consisting of twenty feathers. Colymbus glacialis. C. capite Le grand Plongeon tachete. 1. North* colloque nigro-violaceo, fas- Brisson av. v\. 120. Tab. II. ERN. cia gulae cervicisque alba in- Jig. 1. Hist, d'ois. viii. 258. terrupta. Lath. Ind. orn. PL Enl, 952. 799. id. Syn. vi. 337. Colymbus glacialis. Gin. Lin. Clusius's. Wil. orn. 342. 588. Rail Syn. av. 125. JVoroegw Brusen. Groenlandis Mergus maximus Farrensis, Tiulik. Bmnnich, orn. 134. sive Arcticus. Clusii exot. Grosse Halb-Ente, Meer- 102. Noering. Frisch, ii. 185. A. Colymbus maximus stellatus Br. Zool. 13Q. K. 2. Arct. nostras. Sib. hist. Scot. 20. Zool. ii. 232. Tab. 15. xHE length of this species is three feet five Descrie- inches ; its breadth four feet eight. The bill to the corners of the mouth is four inches long, black and strongly formed. The head and neck are of a deep black; the hind part of the latter is im NORTHERN DIVER. Class II. marked with a large semilunar white band ; im- mediately under the throat is another, both marked with black oblong strokes pointing downwards ; the lower part of the neck is of a deep black, glossed with a rich purple ; the whole under side of the body is white; the sides of the breast marked with black lines ; the back, co- verts of the wings, and scapulars, are black, marked with white spots ; those on the scapu- lars are very large, and of a square shape ; two at the end of each feather. The tail is very short, and almost concealed by the coverts, i which are dusky spotted with white; the legs are black. These birds inhabit the northern parts of this island, live chiefly at sea, and feed on fish ; we do not know whether they breed with us, as they do in Norway, which has many birds in common with Scotland, In the last it is called Miir-buachaill, or the Herdsman of the sea, from its bein» so much in that element. Class IL IMBER DIVER. I67 Colymbus Immer. C. corpore Immer. Brunnich, No. I29. 2. Imber. supra nigricante albo undu- Ember Goose. Sihhald Scot. lato subtus toto albo. Lath, 21. Wallace Orkney, 16. Ind. orn. 800. id. Syn. vi. Deles Feroe Isles, 138. 340. Pontoppidan, ii. 80. Colymbus immer. Gm. Lin, LegrandPlongeon. Brmow at'. 588. vi. 105. Tah.x. Hist, d'ois. Gesrae/s greater Doucker. IFiL viii. 251. PI. Enl. 914. orn. 342. Raii Syn. av. Arct. Zool. ii. 232. 126. No. 8. Fluder. Gesner av. 140. This species inhabits the seas about the Ori- ,. nies, but in severe winters visits the southern • ' parts of Gi^eat Brita'm. It lives as much at sea as the former, so that credulity believed that it never quitted the water, and that it hatched its young in a hole formed by nature under the wing for that end. It is superior in size to a goose. The head Descrip- is dusky; the back, coverts of the wings, and tail clouded with lighter and darker shades of the same; the primaries and tail are black; the under side of the neck spotted with dusky ; the breast and belly silvery ; the legs black. The skins of the birds of this genus are un- commonly tough, and in the northern countries have been used as leather. t08 SPECKLED DIVER. Class II. '■>f**^ff1^ 3. Speckled. Colymbusstellatus. C.clnereo- fuscus lineolis albidis varius subtus albus, capite et collo ' superioribus cinereis, pennis ad latera cinereo-albo fim- briatis. Lath. Ind, orn. 800. id. Syn. vi. 341. Greatest speckled Diver, or Loon. Wil. orn. 341. ■Rail Syn, av. 125. Golymbus eaudatus stellatus. N. Com. Petr. iv. 424. C. stellatus. Gm. Lin. 587. Le petit Plongeon. Brisson av. vi. 108. Tah. 10. fg. 2. Hist, d'ois. viii. 254. PI. Enl. 992, Mergus stellatus, Danis Soe- Hane. Brunnich, 130. Br. Zool. 139. K*. Arct. Zool. ii. 233. Descrip- tion. xHIS species weighs two pounds and a half; its length is twenty-seven inches ; its breadth three feet nine. The bill is three inches long, and turns a little upwards ; the mandibles, when closed at the points, do not touch at the sides. The head is of a dusky grey, marked with numerous white spots ; the hind part of the neck of an uniform grey ; the whole upper part of the body, and greater coverts of the wings dusky, speckled with white; the lesser coverts dusky, and plain. The tail consists of about twenty black feathers, in some tipt with white. The cheeks and whole under side of the body are of a fine glossy white ; and the feathers, as in all this genus, which resides almost perpe- tually on the water, are excessively thick, and' close set ; the legs are dusky. :pi.:xxx. VOL. 2. p. 169. RED THILOA-TED DIVER iblj^ck: thb-OJ^ted diver .( P. 170^ Class II. RED THROATED DIVER. 169 These birds frequent our seas, lakes, and rivers in the winter. On the Thames they are called sprat loons, for they attend that ' fish during its continuance in the river. They are subject to vary in the disposition and form of their spots and colors ; some having their necks surrounded with a speckled ring ; in some th^ spots are round, in others oblong. + s- Colymbus septentrionalis. C. Le Plongeon a gorge rouge. 4. J^gn corpore supra nigricante sub- Brisson av.vi. l\\. Tah.'iu throated tiis albo, collo antice ma- Jig. 1. Hisf d'ois. viii. 264. ro.T i cula scutiformi ferruginea. PL Enl. 308. Lath, Ind. orn, 801. id. Islandis & Norvegis Loom v. . Syn. vi. 344. Lumme, Danis Lomm. Edw. av. 97. Brunnick, 132. Gunner. Tab. 2. f. 2. Br. Zool. 140. Arci. Zool. ii. Colymbus septentrionalis. G'iB. 234.. )^.f3Q i^i^-'C ■■ >0!' . I4ii._bOQ^ ,,, ^,,x:: ■ JLHIS species breeds in the northern parts of Scotland, on the borders of the lakes ; but mi- grates southward during winter. It lays two eggs. The sexes do not differ in colors, and are a distinct kind from the black throated, the Lumme oi the No}'Zi}egians. Its shape is more ele- gant than that of the others. The weight is three Descrh- pounds ; the length, to the tail end, two feet ; to ^^°^' that of the toes, two feet four inches; the breadth sTTO BLACK THROATED DIVER. Class II. three feet five inches. The head is small and taper; the bill strait, less strong; and in size about a fourth less than the preceding. The head and chin are of a fine uniform grey ; the hind part of the neck marked with dusky and white lineS;, pointing downwards ; the throat is of a dull red ; the whole upper part of the body, tail and wings of a deep grey almost dusky; but the coverts of the wings, and the back, are marked with a few white spots ; the under side of the body white; the legs dusky. 5. Black Colymbus arcticus. C. capite THROATED. cano, coUo subtus atro-viola- ceo, fascia alba interrnpta. Lath. Ind. orn. 800. id. Syn. vi. 343. Lumme. JVorm. Miis. Brun- nich. No. 133. Northern Doucker. TViL orn. 343. Ttaii Syn. av. 125. La Lumme. Brisson av. vi. 115. Ilist. d'ois. viii. 261. Colymbus arcticus. Gm. Link 587. Faun. Suec. No. 1;')0. Speckled Diver. Edw. 146. Arct. Zool. ii. 234. Descrip- tion. A. SPECIES somewhat larger than the last. The bill is black; the front black; the hind part of the head and neck- cinereous ; the sides of the neck marked with black and white lines pointing downwards; the fore part is of a glossy variable black, purple, and green. The back, scapulars, and coverts of wings are blacky e;.Ass II. BLACK THROATED DIVER. 171 marked the two first with square, the last with round spots of white; the quil feathers are dusky; the breast and belly white; the tail short an4 black ; the legs partly dusky, partly reddish. 172 BLACK BACKED GULL. Class IL GENUS XX. GULL. Bill strong, strait, bending near the end; an angular prominency on the lower man- dible. Nostrils linear. Tongue a little cloven. Body light, wings large. Leg and back toe small, naked above knee. 1. Black Larus marinus. L. albus, dor- Larus marlnus. G^n.Lin.SQS. BACKED. SQ nigro. Lath. Ind. orn. Faun. Suec. sp.\b5. 813. id. Syn. vi. 371. Danis Blaae maage, Norvegis Wil. orn. 344. Svartbag, Havmaase. Brun- Rail Syn. av. 127- nich, 145. Le Goiland noir. Brisson av. Br. Zool. 140. L. Arct. Zool. vi. 158. Hist, d'ois. viii. ii. 242. 405. PL Enl. 990. Descrip- XHE weight of this species is nearly five TION. ^ . . pounds; the length twenty-nine inches; the ' ' breadth five feet nine. The bill is very strong, thick, and almost four inches long; the co- lor a pale yellow, but the lower mandible is marked with a red spot, with a black one in the middle. The irides are yellow ; the edges of the eye-lids orange color ; the head, neck, whole Class II. BLACK BACKED GULL. 173 under side, tail and lower part of the back, are white ; the upper part of the back, and wings, are black ; the quil feathers tipt with Avhite ; the legs of a pale flesh color. This kind inhabits our coasts in small num- bers ; and breeds in the highest cliffs. It feeds not only on fish, but like the Raven, very gree- dily devours carrion. Its egg is very blunt at each end, of a dusky olive color, quite black at the greater end, and the rest of it thinly marked with dusky spots. I have seen on the coast of Anglesey, a bird that agrees in all respects with this except in size, in wanting the black spot on the bill, and in the color of the legs, which in this are of a bright yellow ; the extent of wings is only four feet five ; the length only twentj^-two inches ; the weight one pound and a half This species, or perhaps variety (for I dare not assert which) rambles far from the sea, and has been shot at Bulstrode^ in Middlesex'.^' * This appears to be the Less Black back Gull, described by Mr. Montagu as a distinct species in his Ornithological dictionary, in which he refers, as a synonym, to the Silvery Gull of the Arctic Zoology, but the latter was considered by Mr. Pennant, in the last edition of that work, as " only a Her- ring Gull whitened by extreme age." 174 SKUA GULL. Clajss IL Mr. Montagu gives it the following charac^ ters. " Head, neck, tail, and whole under parts, pure white ; back, scapulars, and wing, dusky black; prime quills dusky, towards their end black ; the point of the first is white with a black tip; the second the same with only a- white spot in the black ; the others very slightlj tipped with white ; two or three of the scapu- lars are also tipped with white; legs yellow; irides pale yellow ; orbits red orange." Ed. ■ 2. Skua* Larus Catarractes. L. grises- cens, retniglbus rectrlcibus- que basi albis, cauda subae- quali- Lath. Ind. orn. 818. id. Syn. vi. 385. id. Sup. ii. 332. Our Cataracta, I suppose the Cornish Gannet. JVil. orn. 348. Mail Syn. av. 128. Cataractes. Sill. Scot. tab. 14. Sea Eagle. Sill. hist. Fife, 46. Le Goeland brun. Brisson cy. vi. 165. Hist, d'ois. viii 408. Pontopp. Norw. ii. 96. Skua Hoirei. Clusii Exot. 368, 369. Larus Cataractes. Gm. Lin. 603. Skua. Brunnich, ornith. 33. Feroensilus Skue. Islandis Skumr. Norvegis'KdiV-O&xn. Brunnich, 125. Brown and ferruginous Gull. Br. Zool. 140. L. 6. Arct. Zool. ii. 247. Descrip- XHE length of this singular Gull is two feet; the extent four feet and a half; the weight three CLass II. SKUA GULL. i^^ pounds. The bill is two inches one fourth long, very much hooked at the end, and very sharp ; the upper mandible covered more than half way with a black cere or skin as in the hawk kind ; the nostrils are placed near the bend, and are pervious. The feathers on the head, neck, back, scapulars, and coverts of the wings, are of a deep brown, marked with rust color, brightest in the male. The shafts of the primaries are white ; the end and exterior side of the first is deep brown ; the ends only of the rest brown, the lower parts on both sides being white ; the secondaries marked in like manner, forming a great bar of white. The breast, belly, and vent, ferruginous, tinged with ash color. The tail, when spread, is circular, of a deep brown, white ^t the root, and w'ith shafts of the same color. The legs are covered with great black scales ; the ta;lons black, strong and crooked ; the inte- rior remarkably so. vcs edbg:: i:sj1j b-uim irs This bird inhabits Norway^ the Verrot isles. History. Shetland, and the noted rock Foula, a little west of them. It is also a native of the South sea. It is the most formidable Gull^ its prey, being not only fish, but what is wonderful in a web-footed bird, all the lesser sort of water fowl, such as teal, &c. Mr. Schroter, a sur- 170 SKUA GULL. Glass IL geon in the Ferroe isles, relates that it likewise preys on ducks, poultry, and even young lambs.* It has all the fierceness of the eagle in defending its young : when the inhabitants of those islands visit the nest, it attacks them with great force, so that they hold a knife erect over their heads, on which the Skua will transfix itself in its fall on the invaders. The Rev. Mr. Low, minister of Birsa, in Orkney, from whom an accurate history of those islands, and of Shetland may be expected, f confirmed to me part of the above. On ap- . proaching the quarters of these birds, they attacked him and his company with most vio- lent blows, and intimidated a bold dog of Mr. Lozu*s in such a manner, as to drive him for protection to his master. The natives are often very rudely treated by them, while they are at- tending their sheep on the hills, and are obliged to guard their heads by holding up their sticks, .y; ' ' on which the birds often kill themselves. Li Fotila it is a privileged bird, because it defends the flocks from the eagle, which it beats and purspes with great fury ; so that even that ra- * Hoier in Clus. exot. 369. Brunnich, 35. ■f This work, for want of due encouragement, was never published. Ed. , ... . Class II. SKUA GULL. 177 pacious bird seldom ventures near its quarters. The natives of Foula on this account levy a fine on any person who destroys one : they deny that it ever injures their flocks or poultry, but imagine it preys on the dung of the Arctic, and other larger gulls, which it persecutes till they mute for fear. ' Mr. Ray and Mr. Smith^ suppose this to be the Cornish Gannet ; but in our account of that bird we shall shew that it is a different species. Mr. Macauly\ mentions a gull that makes great havoke among the eggs and sea-fowl oi St. Kilda ; it is there called Tuliac : his description suits that of the Herring Gull; but we suspect he confounds these two kinds, and has trans- ferred the. manners of this species to the latter. Linnceus involves two species in the article Larus Qatar actes ; this, and the arctic bird of Mr. Edwards, birds of very different characters, ■i ■ir.JSGOd =|blICf bSgali^n- •; -^ ■- ^A^ro^^ VOL. II. Tf 178 BLACK TOED GULL. Class 1L 3. Black Larus crepidatus. L. luteo fus- L'Abbe ou Stercoraire. JBm- TOED. coque varius subtus palli- soti av. vi. 152. tab. 13. y. dior, macula alarum alba. 2. Hist, d'ois. vi'ii. 441. PL Lath. Lid. orn. SIQ. id. Enl.QQl. Syn. vi. 387- id. Sup. i. The Cepphus. Phil. Transact. 268. Vol. Hi. 135. Cepphus. Aldr. av.'ni. 3Q. Catharacta Cepphus, Strand- Wil. orn. 351. hoeg. Brunnich, ornith. 126. Raii Syn. av. 12Q. Arct. ZooL ii. 246. Descrip- X HIS species weighs eleven ounces : its length TION. ... .° . . J' IS fifteen inches ; its breadth thirty-mne. The bill is one inch and a half long, the upper part covered with a brown cere; the nostrils like those of the preceding species, the end black and crooked. The feathers of the forehead come rather low on the bill ; the head and neck are of a dirty white; the hind part of the latter plain, the rest marked with oblong dusky spots. The breast and belly are white, crossed with numerous dusky and yellowish lines ; the fea- thers on the sides and the vent, are barred transversely with black and white; the back, scapulars, coverts of the wings and tail, are black, beautifully edged with white or pale rust color ; the shafts and tips of the quil feathers are white ; the exterior web, and upper half of the interior web black, but the lower part of the PI. VOL.2. P.178. "wnsTTUR aviju. ( p. 18 5 J v.; - Class II. ARCTIC GULL. 179 latter white ; the tail consists of twelve black feathers tipt with white, the two middle of which, are nearly an inch longer than the others : the shafts are white; and the exterior webs of the outmost feather is spotted with rust color. - . The legs are of a bluish lead color ; the lower part of the toes and webs black. A bird of this kind was taken near Oxford^*^ and communicated to the Royal Societ}'^ by the late Dr. Lysons of Gloucester. Larus parasiticus. L. supra ni- L' Abbe a longue queue. Bris- 4. Arctic, ger, coUo pectore et abdo- son av. vi. 155. Hist, d'ois. mine albis, rectricibus dua- viii. 445. PL Enl.762. bus intermediis longissiniis. Larus Parasiticus. Gm. Lin, Lath. Ind. orn. 8I9. id. 6OI. Syn. vi. 889. tah. 99. Swartlasse, Labben, Elof, The Struntjagger, or Duno;- Faun. Suec. sp. \56. hunter. Marten's SpitZ' Brujinich, 127. lerg. 87. Arct. Zool. ii. 246. The Arctic Bird. Edw. av. 148. 149. XHESE birds are very common in the He- brides. 1 saw numbers in Jura, Hay, and Rum, where they breed in the heath; if disturb- ed they fly about like the lapwing, but soon alight. They are also found in the Or/mies, * Another has since been killed near Horsliam in Sussex, and a third in Lancashire. Ed< N 2 185 ARCTIC GULL. Class II. where they appear in May, and retire in Au- gust; and also on the coast of Yorkshire^ where they are known by the name of Feaser. All writers that mention this species agree, that it has the property of pursuing the lesser gulls so long, that they discharge the contents of the maw, and that it catches up and devours what they disgorge before it drops into the water; from which the name ; Lmnczus wittily calling it the Parasite, alluding to its sordid life. Descrip- Its length is twenty-one inches. The bill is ^^°^' dusky, about an inch and a half long, pretty much hooked at the end, but the strait part is covered with a sort of cere. The nostrils are narrow, and placed near the end. In Male, the male, the crown of the head is black ; the back, wings, and tail, dusky; but the lower part of the inner webs of the quil feathers are white; the hind part of the neck, and Avhole under side of the body of the same color; the tail consists of twelve feathers, the two middlemost nearly four inches longer than the others; the legs black, small, and scaly. Female. The female is entirely brown ; but of a much paler color below than above ; the feathers in the middle of the tail only two inches longer than the others. The specimen from which Mr. Edwards took the fisure of his female Class II, HERRING GULL. 381 Arctic bird, had lost those long feathers, so he bas omitted them in the print. j.^.JLinnaus has separated this from its mate, his Larus parasiticus, and made it a synonym to his L. Cataractes, a bird as different from this as any other of the whole genus.* Larus fuscus. L. albus, dorso vi. l62. Hist, d'ois. viii. 5. Herring. fusco, pedibus flavis. Lath. 418. Ind. orn. 815. id. Syn. vi. Larus fuscus. Gm. Lin. 5QQ. 372- Faun. Suec. sp. 154. Burgermeister. Martin's Spitz- Danis Silde-Maage. Islandis herg. 84. Veydebjalla. Brunnich, 142. Herring Gull. JVil. orn. 345. Grosse Staff Moeur. Frisch, Larus cinereus maximus. Rail ii. 218. Syn. av. 127. Br. Zool. 141. Arct. Zool. ii. Le Goiland gris. Brisson av. 242. XHIS gull weighs upwards of thirty ounces; Descrip- the length is twenty-three inches; its breadth fifty-two. The bill yellow, and the lower man- dible marked with an orange colored spot ; the irides straw color; the edges of the eyelids red; the head, neck, and tail white ; the back, and coverts of the wings ash colored ; the upper part of the five first quil feathers are black, marked with a white spot near their end ; the legs are of a pale flesh color. These birds breed * This error has been continued by Gmelin. Ed. 182 WAGEL GULL. Class IL on the ledges of rocks that hang over the sea ; they make a large nest of dead grass, and lay three eggs of a dirty white, spotted with black. The young are ash colored, spotted with brown ; they do not come to their proper color the first year ; this is common to other gulls ; which has greatly multiplied the species among authors, who are inattentive to these particulars. This gull is a great devourer of fish, especially of that from which it takes its name ; it is a con- stant attendant on the nets, and so bold as to seize its prey before the fishermen's faces. (A.) Wagel. Lanis marinns. y. L. albus, tab. 15. Hist, d'ois.vin. 413. dorso cinereo, rectriclbus tab. 33. PL Enl, 266. apice nigris. Lath. Ind.orn. Larus naevius. Gm.Lin.5Q8. 814. id. Syn. Yi. 315. Da??w Graae-Maage. Islandis Great grey Gull, the Cornish Kablabrinkar. Brunnich, Wagel. Wil. orn. 34Q. 150. Raii Syn. av. 130. Brown and White Gull. Br. Le Goiland varie, ou la Gri- Zool. ii. 422. sard. Brisson av. vi. 167. Wagel. Aict. Zool. ii. 243. Descrip- XHESE birds vary much in their size; one we examined weighed three pounds seven ounces ; the length was two feet two inches ; the breadth five feet six; others again did not weigh two pounds and a half. The irides are dusky ; the bill black, and nearly three inches TION. Class II. WAGEL GULL. 183 long. The whole plumage of the head and body, above and below, is a mixture of white, ash color, and brown ; the last color occupies the middle of each feather, and in some birds is pale, in others dark ; the quil feathers are black ; the lower part of the tail is mottled with black and white ; towards the end is a brown black bar, and the tips are white ; the legs are of a dirty white. Some have supposed this to be the young of the preceding species, which (as well as the rest of the gull tribe) scarcely ever attains its true colors till after the first year ; but it must be observed,* that the first colors of the irides, of the quil feathers, and of the tail, are in all birds permanent ; these, as we have remarked, differ in each of these gulls so greatly, as ever to preserve unerring notes of distinction. This species is likewise called by some the Dung Hunter ; for the same reason as the last is styled so. * Mr. Pemiant afterwards altered his opinion, and in the Arctic Zoology, describes the Wagel as only the young of the Herring Gull. The Greater Black backed Gull in its imma- ture state of plumage assumes the same mottled appearance, and is often confounded with it. Ed. 184 COMMON GULL. Class IL lo Bnmrmr h'^ ■ ■ ■ • - 6. Common. Lams canus. L. albus, dorso Common Sea Mall, or Mew. cano, remigibus primori- Raii Syn. av. 127. bus extremitate nigris, quar- La Mouette cendree. Brisson ta et quinta macula aplcis av. vi. 175. tah. 16. Jig. 1. .*« W A "'g"^^* extima extus nigra. Hist, d'ois. viii. 379- ^^• 4^ I^ath. Ind. orn. 815. id. Enl.gYJ. Syn. vi. 378. Gabbiano minore. Zinan. 1 15, Galedor, Crocala, Galetra. Larus canus. Gm. Lin. 5q6. Aldr. av. iii. 34. Scopoli. No. 104. Common Sea Mall. Wil. orn. Br. Zool. 142. Arct. Zool. ii. 345. 245. X HIS is the most numerous of the genus. It breeds on the ledges of the cliffs that impend over the sea; in winter they are found in vast Descrip- flocks on all our shores. They differ a little in size ; one we examined weighed twelve ounces and a half; its length was seventeen inches ; its breadth thirty-six ; the bill yellow ; the head, neck, tail, and whole under side of the body, a pure white ; the back, and coverts of the wings, a pale grey; near the end of the greater quil feathers was a black spot ; the legs a dull white, tinged with green. This kind frequents, during winter, the moist meadows in the inland parts of England, re- mote from the sea. The gelatinous substance, known by the name of Star Shot, or Star Gelly, owes its origin to this bird, or some of the kind ; TION. Pl.^sxrv". VOL. 2.r.l84. KITTI"S\rAKE (p. 186.) COMMOlSr GULL . (p. 18 4) n.iJNOlS Class II. WINTER GULL. 18^ being nothing but the half digested remains of earth-worms, on which these birds feed, and often discharge from their stomachs.* Lams canus. /3. L. cinereus Winter Mew, or Coddy Mod- (A). Win- subtus niveus, capite albo dy. TFil. orn. 330. tek. maculis fuscis vario, collo Raii Syn. av. 130. supra fusco, alis variis rectri- Gavia Hyberna, le Mouette, cibus albis fascia nigra. iaM. d'hiver. Brisson av. vi. Ind. orn. 8l6. id. Syn. vi. 18g. Hist, d'ois. \'m. 437. 384. Br.Zool. 142. [THE common gull in the immature state of Descrip- its plumage has been described by the name of '^^'^^' the Winter Gull under the following characters.] The irides hazel ; the bill two inches long, but *■ ^ ''' the slenderest of any gull, black at the tip, whitish towards the base. The crown of the head, and hind part, and the sides of the neck, white, marked with oblong dusky spots ; the forehead, throat, middle of the breast, belly, and rump, white ; the bade and scapulars of a pale grey, the last spotted with brown; the coverts of the wings of a pale brown, edged with white; the first quil feather black; the succeeding tipt with white; the tail white, cross- * Vide Morton's Nat. Hist. Nor thampt. p. 353.^^ :>«' 186 KITTIWAKE GULL. Class U. ed near the end with a black bar ; the legs of a dirty bluish white. LinncEiis makes this species synonymous with the Larus tridactylus or Tarrock ; but as we have had an opportunity of examining several of each species, and find in all those strong distinctions remarked in our descrip- tions, we must decline assenting to the opinion of that eminent naturalist. 7. KiTTi- Larus tridactylus. L. dorso ca- Ritsa Islandis, incolis Christi- WAKE. nescente, rectricibus albis, ansae, Lille Solvet, Rotter- digito postico mutico. Lath. en. Brunnich, No. 140. Ind, orn. 8I7. id. Syn. vi. Kittiwake. Sihbald's hist. 393. Scotl. 20. Larus Rissa. Gm. Lin. 594. Arct. Zool. ii. 244. Le Goeland cendre. PL Enl. 253. Descrip- X HE length of this species is fourteen inches : the extent three feet two. When arrived at full age, the head, neck, belly, and tail, are of a snowy whiteness ; behind each ear is sometimes a dusky spot ; the back and wings are grey ; the exterior edge of the first quil feather, and tips of the four or five next, are black ; the bill yel- low, tinged with green ; the inside of the mouth TION. Class II. TARROCK GULL. orange; the legs dusky, with only a knob in- stead of the back toe. It inhabits the romantic cliffs of Flamho- rough-head (where it is called Petrel) the Bass Isle, the vast rocks near the Castle of Stains y in the county of Aberdeen, and Priest- holm Isle, The young of these birds are a favourite dish in North Britain, being served up roasted, a little before dinner, in order to provoke the ap- petite; but, from their rank taste and smell, seem much more likely to produce a contrary effect. Larus tridactylus. ^. L. albi- Larus tridactylus. Gm. Lin. (A.) Tar- cans, dorso canescente, rec- 5Qb. rock. tricum apicibus excepto ex- Faun. Suec. 157. sp. timo nigris, pedibus tridac- La Mouette cendree tachetee. tylis. Lath. Ind. orn. 8I7. Brisson av. vi. 185. tab, I7. id Syn. vi. 302. id. Sup. i. Jig. 2. Hist, d'ois. viii. 424. 268. PI. Enl. 387. Gavia cinerea alia. Aldr. av. Tarrock. Br. Zool. 142. Tah. iii. 35. L.3. TFil. orn. 346. Rail Syn. av. 128. [AT an early period of life the Kittiwake has been described as a distinct species under the name of Tarrock ; in that stage] the bill is Descrip- black, short, thick, and strong ; the head large ; 188 TARROCK GULL. Class IL the color of that, the throat, neck, and whole under side, are white ; near each ear, and un- der the throat, is a black spot ; on the hind part of the neck is a black crescent, the horns point- ing to the throat. The back and scapulars are of a bluish grey ; the lesser coverts of the wings dusky, edged with grey ; the larger next to them of the same color ; the rest grey ; the exterior sides, and ends of the four first quil feathers are black ; the tips of the two next black ; all the rest wholly white ; the ten middle feathers of the tail white, tipt with black ; the two outmost quite white ; the legs are of a dusky ash color. In lieu of the back toe, it has only a small pro- tuberance. •'"■ ?^- ,. • ■ ^ -gil> no2s'3-3 §mb33'd 3f5j miB boo .no -ydi t>Ofi .?dtrrs bB'^b. ssrkwt diVR biwoTg ■^iu .. ^er. jqj (ISIale.) Mergus merganser. Gm. Lin. 544. Wrakfogel, Kjorkfogel, Ard, Skraka, Faun. Suec. sp. 135. Peksok, Crantzs Greeiil. i. 80. Islandis Skior-And. Danis Skallesluger. Brunnich, QS, &93. Br. Zool. 147. Tal. N. N.* Arct. Zool. ii. 257- Jl HESE birds frequent our rivers, and other fresh waters, especially in hard winters; they p 2 TION. 212 GOOSANDER MERGANSER. Class IL are great divers, and live on fish. They are never seen in the southern parts of Great Bri- tain during summer, when they retire far north to breed ; but in that season they have been shot in the Hebrides. They are uncommonly rank, and scarcely eatable. Descrip- The male weighs four pounds ; its length is two feet four inches ; the breadth three feet two. The bill is three inches long, narrow^ and finely toothed, or serrated ; the color of that, and the irides, is red. The head is large, and the fea- thers on the hind part long and loose ; the color black, finely glossed with green ; the upper part of the neck the same ; the lower part, and under side of the body of a fine pale yellow^; the upper part of the back, and inner scapulars are black ; the lower part of the back, and the tail are ash colored ; the tail consists of eighteen feathers ; the greater quil feathers are black, the lesser white, some of which are edged with black ; the coverts at the setting on of the wing are black ; the rest white ; the legs of a deep orange-CQlor„ Class II. DUN DIVER MERGANSER. 2lS Mergus Castor. M. cristatus Dundiver or Sparling fowl. Dun Diver. cinereus capite colloque su- Wil. orn. 335. (Female.) premo spadiceis, gula remi- Mergus Castor. ^. 545. gibus intermediis abdomine- Merganser cinereus. Brisson que albis. Lath. Ind. orn. av. vi. 254. tah. 25. 829. id. Syji. vi. 420. id. Le Harle femelle. Hisl. dois. Sup. i. 270. id. Sup. ii. viii. 236. PL Enl. 953. 336. id: Lin. Tr. iv. 122, Mergus Gulo. Scopoli, No. Mergus cirrhatus. Gesner av. 88. 134. Jrci. ZooL ii. 257- XHE Dun Diver*, or female, is less than the male; the head, and upper part of the neck are feiTuginous ; the throat white ; the feathers on the hind part are long, and form a pendent crest ; the back, the coverts of the wings, and the tail are of a deep ash color ; the greater quil feathers are black, the lesser white; the breast, and middle of the belly, are white, tinged with yellow. - ^ We believe that Belon-\ describes this sex * " Mr. Mo7ifagu in his ornithological dictionary, and Dr. Latham in his Synopsis, the first supplement, and in his very cu- rious treatise on the Trachece of birds in the fourth volume of the ~ Linncean Transactions, considers the Dun Diver as a species dis- tinct from the Goosander. In the second supplement, that able naturalist seems to change his opinion, and informs us, " that both sexes for the first season at least, have the appearance of the Dun Diver, which the female retains throughout life, whilst the male gradually gains the beautifully white plumage he is known by." Ed. \ Belon av. 163. 214 RED BREASTED MERGANSER. Class 11. under the title of Bieure oyseaii, and asserts, that it builds its nest on rocks and in trees like the Corvorant. 2. Red breasted. Descrip- tion. Mergus serrator. M. crista de- pendente, pectore rufesceiite variegato, collari albo, rec- tricibus fuscis cinereo varie- gatis. Lath. Ind. orn. SSQ. id. Syn. vi. 423. id. Sup. ii. 337. id. Lin. Tr. iv. 121. tal. \Q.f. 1.2. Anas Longirostra. Gesner av. 133. Aldr. av. iii. 113. The Serula. W'il. orn. 336. Hail Syn. av. 135. Lesser toothed Diver. Mor- ton's Northampf. 429- L'Harlehupe. Brisson av. vi. 237. Hist, d'ois. viii. 273. PI. Enl 207. Braun kopfiger Tilger, Tau- cher. Kram. 343. Mergus serrator. Gm. Lin. 546. Pracka. Faun. Suec. sp. 136. Danis Fisk-And. Brunnich, 96. Br. Zool 147. Arct.Zool. ii. 258. J- HIS species v^^eighs two pounds; the length is one foot nine inches ; the breadth two feet seven. The bill is three inches long, the lower mandible red, the upper dusky; the irides a purplish red ; the head and throat a fine change- able black and green ; on the first is a long pen- dent crest of the same color ; the upper part of the neck, of the breast, and the whole belly white ; the lower part of the breast ferruginous, spotted with black ; the upper part of the back black ; near the setting on of the wings are some white feathers, edged and tipt with black ; the exterior PI .xxxvm. ArOL.2.P.2l4. M.^F. RED-BREASTED GOOSANDER Mgr^jdkM ''.lAH^^^ Class IL RED BREASTED MERGANSER. 215 scapulars black ; the interior white ; the lower part of the back, the coverts of the tail, and feathers on the sides under the wings and over the thighs grey, elegantly marked with ziczag lines of black ; the coverts on the ridge of the wings dusky; then succeeds a broadbar of Avhite; the greater coverts half black, half white ; the secondaries next the quil feathers marked in the same manner ; the rest white, edged on one side with black; the quil feathers dusky; the tail short and brown ; the legs orange-colored. The head and upper part of the neck of the Female. female is of a deep rust color; the crest short; the throat white ; the fore part of the neck and breast marbled with deep ash color ; the belly white ; the great quil feathers dusky ; the lower half of the nearest secondaries black ; the up- per white ; the rest dusky ; the back, scapulars, and tail ash colored; the upper half of the first secondary feathers w^hite; the lower half black ; the others dusky. These birds breed in the northern parts of Great Britain; we have seen them and their young on Loch Man in the county of Ross, and in the isle of liaij. 2]6 SMEW MERGANSER. Class II. 3. Smew. Mergus albellus. M. crista de- pendente, occipite nigro, corpore albo, dorso tempori- busque nigris, alls variegatis. (Mas.) Lath. hid. orn. S3 1 . id. Syn. vi. 428. id. Sup. i. ZTl.id. Sup.u.23%.id.Lin. Tr.'iv. 124.tah.l6.f.3. 4. jMergus albellus. M. capite Isevi griseo, fascia oculari nigra, macula suboculari alba. (Femina.) Lath. Ind. orn. 831. id. Sup. ii. 338. LaPiette. Belonav. 17 1. Mergus rhenanus. Gesner av. 131. Aldr. av. iii. 111. White Nun. JFil. orn. 337. Lough Diver. 338. Rail Syn. av. 135. Mergus albellus. Gm. Lin-di"/, Faun. Suec. sp. 137- Le petit harle hupe ou le Piette. Brisson av. vi. 243. Tah. 24. Jig. 1. & 2. Hist, d'ois. viii. 275. PI. Enl. 449. 4jO. Kram. 344. Kreutz-Ente (Cross-Duck) Frisch, ii. I72. Cimlris Hviid Side. Brunnich, Scopoli, No. 89. Br. Zool. 148. Tal. N. 1. N. 2. Arct. Zool. ii. 201. Descrip- xTS weight is thirty-four ounces ; the length TION. eighteen inches ; the breadth twenty-six. The bill is nearly two inches long, and of a lead co- lor; the head is adorned with a long crest, white above, black beneath; from a little be- yond the eye to the bill, is a large oval black spot, glossed with green ; the head, neck, and whole under side of the body are of a pure white; on the lower part of the neck are two semilunar black lines pointing forward; the inner scapulars, the back, the coverts on the ridge of the wing, and the greater quil feathers are black ; the middle rows of the coverts are Class II. SMEW MERGANSER. 217 white; the next black, tipt with white; the lesser quil feathers the same; the scapulars next the wings white ; the tail deep ash color ; the legs a bluish grey. The female (considered in the last edition as a Female. distinct species, under the name of the Red Headed Smew) weighs fifteen ounces ; the length is one foot four inches ; the breadth ohe foot eleven inches. The bill is of a lead color ; the head slightly crested, and of a rust color ; from beyond the eyes to the bill is an oval black spot ; the cheeks and throat are white ; the hind part of the neck is of a deep grey ; the fore part clouded with a lighter; the belly white; the back and tail are of a dusky ash color ; the legs of a pale ash color. 218 WILD SWAN. Class U. GENUS XXIV. DUCK. Bill strong, flat, or depressed, and commonly furnished at the end with a nail ; the edges divided into sharp lamella. Nostrils small and oval. Tongue broad, edges near the base fringed. Feet ; middle toe the longest. 1. Wild Anas Cygnus. A. rostro semi- Le Cygne sauvage. £rmo« au. Swan. cylindrico atro, cera flavaj \i.2Q2.Tah.2B. Hist.dJois. corporealbo. Lath. Ind. orn. ix. 3. PI Enl. QIS. 833. id. Syn. vi. 433. id. Labod. Scopoli, No. 66. Sup. i. 272. id. Sup. ii. 341. Schwane. Kram. 338. id. Lin. Tr. iv. 105. iah. Anas Cygnus ferus. Gm. Lin. 12. 501. Gesner av. 373. Swan. Faun. Suec. sp. IO7. Wild Swan, Elk, or Hooper. Banis Vild Svane. Cimlris Wil. orn. 356. Snabel-Svane. Brunnich,Q'i. Rail Syn. av. 136. Br. Zool. 149. add. plates. Edw. av. 150. Arct. Zool. ii. 262. -1- HE wild swan frequents our coasts in hard winters in large flocks, but as far as we can in- form ourselves, does not breed in Great Britain. 3Iarti}i * acquaints us, that swans come in Oc- tober, in great numbers to Liiigey, one of the IVestern Isles, and continue there till March, when they retire more northward to breed. A * Descr. JVest. Isles, 71- Class II. WILD SWAN. 219 few continue in Mainland, one of the Orknies, and breed in the little isles of the fresh water lochs ; but the multitude retires at the approach of spring. On that account, swans are there the countryman's almanack ; on their quitting the island, they presage good weather ; on their arrival, they announce bad. These as well as most other water fowl, prefer for the purpose of incubation, those places that are lest frequented by mankind : accordingly we find, that the lakes and forests of the distant Lapland are filled dur- ing summer with myriads of water fowl, which in autumn return to us, and to other more hos- pitable shores.* The length to the end of the toes is five feet ; Descrip- to that of the tail four feet ten inches ; extent of wing seven feet three inches ; weight from thir- teen to sixteen pounds. The lower part of the bill is black; the base of it, and the space between that and the eyes, is covered with a naked yellow skin; the eyelids are bare and yellow ; the whole plumage in old birds is of a pure white ; the down is very soft and thick ; the legs black. * Flora Lapponica, 273. (Euvres de M. de Maupertuis. Tom. iii. p. 141, 17.5. According to the observation of that illustrious writer, the Lapland lakes are filled with the larvw of the Gnat (culex pipiens. Lin. si/st. 602.) or some other insect, that depo- sites its eggs in the water ; which being an agreeable food to water fowl, is another cause of their resort to those deserts. TION. )v zf-ri tr,v irors 0§?>'fo\vH .' . Fiaellgas. Faun. Suec. sp. llQ Schotdsche Gans. Frisch, ii, 189. _ .-:;',, ■ ';; ' ' ^- • Anser breiidinus. Cdii opiisc. 87- Crantzs Greenl. i. 80. Br. Zool. 150. Q. Arcf. Zool ii. 275. XHIS bird weighs about five pounds; the Descrip- length is two feet one inch; the breadth four feet five inches. The bill is black, and only one inch three-eighths long ; the head is small ; the forehead and cheeks white ; from the bill to the eyes is a black line ; the hind part of the head, the whole neck, and upper part of the breast and back, are of a deep black ; the whole under- - side of the body, and coverts of the tail are white; the back, scapulars and coverts of the wings, are beautifully barred with grey, black, and white ; the tail is black ; the legs of the same color, and small. 238 BERNACLE GOOSE. Class II. These birds appear in vast flocks during win- ter, on the north west coasts of this kingdom ; are very shy and wild, but on being taken, grow as familiar as our tame geese in a few days; in JFehruary they quit our shores, and retire as far as Lapland to breed.* V They live to a great age; the Rev. Doctor Duckworth of Spalding had one wdiich was kept in the family above two and thirty years ; but was blind during the two last ; wdiat its age was when first taken is unknown. These are the birds that about two hundred years ago were believed to be generated out of wood, or rather a species of shell that often adheres to the bottoms of ships, or frag- ments of them, and were called Tree- geese. -\ They were also thought by some writers to have been the Chenalopeces of Pliny ; they shoidd have said Chenerotes, for those are the birds, that naturalist said, were found in Britain; but as he has scarcely left us any description of them, it is diflicult to say which species he in- tended. I should imagine it to be the Brent- goose, which is far inferior in size to the wild * Amoen. Acad. vl. 585. Bareni's Voy. \Q. •\ The shell here meant is the lepas anafifera. Br. Zool. iv. 62. tah. 38. f. 9. Lin. syst. 668. Argenville Conch, tab. 7. the animal that inhabits it is furnished with a feathered beard ; which, in a credulous age, was believed to be part of the young bird. Class II. BRENT GOOSE. goose, and very delicate food : in both respects suiting his account of the Chetieros.* mg Anas Bemicla. A. fusca, ca- pite collo pectoreque nigris, collarialbo. Lath. Ind. orn. 844. id. Syn. vi. 467- Les Canes de Mer. Belon av. 166. Aldr. av. iii. 73. Wil. orn. 360. Raii Syn. av. 137- Bernacle. Nat. hist. Ireland. 192. Brenta, le Cravant. Brisson av. vi. 304. tah. 31. Hist. dois. ix. 87. PI- Enl. 342. Anas Bernicla. Gm. Lin. 513. Belgis Rotgans, Calmariensi- hus Pnitgas. Faun. Suec. sp. 115. CiwztTZiRay-v.Rad-Gaas. Nor- vegis Raat-v. Raatne-Gaas. item Goul-v. Gagl. Bricn- 7iich, 52. Baum-Gaus. Frisch, ii. 156. Branta Bernicla. Scopoli, No, 84. Br. Zool. 151. Add, plates. O. Arct. Zool. ii. 274. 7. Brext. TlOIf. JLHIS is inferior in size to the Bernacle goose. Descru The bill is one inch and an half long • the color of that, the head, neck, and upper part of the breast is black ; on each side the slenderest part of the neck is a white spot; the lower part of the breast, the scapulars, and coverts of the wings are ash colored, clouded with a deeper shade; the feathers above and below the tail are white; the tail and quil feathers black ; the legs black. * Anserini generis sunt Chenalopeces : et quibus lautiores, epulas non novit Britannia Chenerotes, fere ansere minores. Lih. X. c. 22. " - ■ 240 BRENT GOOSE. Class II. These birds frequent our coasts in the winter : in Ireland they are called Bernacles, and appear there in great quantities in August, and leave it in March. They feed on a sort of long grass groAving in the water ; preferring the root and a portion of the stalk, which they dive for, bite off and leave the upper part to drive on shore. They abound near Londonderry, Bel- fast, and JVe.vjord, are taken in flight time in nets placed across the rivers, and are much esteemed for their delicacy. These birds migrate to most remote places to lay their eggs. They are found on the little isles on the coast of Greenland* and again ; on those off Spit zber gen, where they were dis- covered on their nests in vast numbers in June Q\, \59Q,^y Barentz.'\ They appear in small flocks in Hoy Sound, in the Ork?iies, but do not continue there ; on the contrary, they winter in flocks of two hundred in Horra Sound, in the Shetlands, and are called there Horra geese. The Rat or Roadgoose, of Mr. Willughby, p. 361, which at times has been known to fre- quent the Tees^ agrees in so many respects with this kind, that we suspect it to be a young bird not come to its full plumage : the only * Faun. Groenl. No. 41. t Dutch Voyages, See. ip. Arct. Zool. ii, 275. Class II. RED BREASTED GOOSE. 241 difference consisting in the feathers next the bill, and on the throat and breast being brown. We have the greater reason to imagine it to be so as Mr. Brunnich informs us that the Danish and Norwegian names for this bird are B.ad- gaas and Raatgaas, which agree with those given it by Mr. JVillughby. Mr. IVillughby, ' Mr. Ray, and M. Brisson very properly de- scribe the Bernacle and Brent as difterent spe- cies, but Linnaeus* makes them synonymous, and describes the true Bernacle as the female of the White fronted goose. Anas ruficollis. A. nigra, collo Anser ruficollis. Pall. Spic. 8. Red rufo, corpore subtus macula vi. 21. tab. 4. breasted. ante oculos strlgaqiie longi- Gm. Lin. 5\l. '^ tudinali colli utrinque albis. Bewick Br. Birds, ii. 289- Lath.Ind.orn %^\.id.Sy'ii. Red breasted Goose. Arct. ■ ' vi.453. Zo<>/. ii. 298. i^f.:i? TIOX. [THE length of this species is one foot ten Descri inches ; the extent three feet ten inches ; the weight three pounds. The bill is short and black ; between its base and the eyes is a great patch of white, bounded by black ; the crown, chin, hind part of the head and neck, back, wings, and tail, are of an intense black ; the * Faun. Suec. \\Q. VOL. IT. R RED BREASTED GOOSE. Class II. sides are marked with a few white spots ; the greater coverts tipt with the same color; the coverts of the tail white ; the lower part and sides of the neck of a bright bay bounded by a narrow line of white ; the breast and lower part of the neck divided from the belly and back by a circle of black and another of white; the legs black. Two or three instances only are recorded of this beautiful species having been observed in England. It is supposed to winter in Persia, and is found to breed from the mouth of the Ob, along the coasts of the Icy sea, as far as the river Lena. Its flesh is highly esteemed and is quite free from any fishy taste. Ed. :,.,,.\ r-u.ju '/.i>fJ:jj^.:^ o>(^} : LlOiAii S'iJi c:'iL;.i.!o^>S: 256 SHIELDRAKE. Class II. 16. Shiel- DRAKE. Anas Tadorna. A. rostro simo, fronte compressa, caplte ni- gro-virescente, corpore albo variegato. Lath. Ind. orn. 854. id. Syn. vi. 504. id. Sup. i. 275. id. Sup. ii. 353. id. Lin. Tr. iv. 117. ' iah. 15. Jig. 8. 9. La Tadorne. Belon av. 172. Anas maritima. Gesner av. 803, 804. Vulpanser Tadorne. Aldr. av. iii. 71,97. Shieldrake, or burrovrgh Duck. PFil. orn. 363. Rail Syn. av. 140. Anas Tadorna. Gm. Lin. 506. Jugas. Faun. Suec. sp. 113. La Tadorne. Brisson av. vi. 344. tab. 33. fg. 2. Hist, d'ois. ix. 205. PL Enl. 53. Bergander Turneri. Chenalo- pex Plinii. Danis Brand-Gaas, Grav- Gaas. Norvegis Ring-Gaas, Fager-Gaas, Ur Gaas, Rod- belte. Feroensilus Hav-Sim- mer. Islandis Avekong. Br. 47. Kracht-Ente. Frisck, ii. I66. Br. Zool. 154. Tal. Q. Arct. Zool. ii. 299. Descrip- tion. X HE male of this elegant species weighs two pounds ten ounces ; the length is two feet ; the breadth three and a half. The bill is of a bright red, and at the base swells into a knob, which is most conspicuous in the spring ; the head and upper part of the neck is of a fine blackish green ; the lower part of the neck white ; the breast, and upper part of the back is surrounded with a broad band of bright orange bay ; the coverts of the wings, and the middle of the back are white ; the nearest sca- pulars black, the others white ; the greater quil feathers are black : the exterior webs of the Class II. SHIELDRAKE. 257 next are a fine green, and those of the three succeeding orange ; the coverts of the tail are white ; the tail itself of the same color, and ex- cept the two outmost feathers tipt with black ; the belly white, divided lengthways by a black line; the legs of a pale flesh color. These birds inhabit the sea coasts, and breed in rabbet holes. When a person attempts to take their young, the old birds shew great ad- dress in diverting his attention from the brood ; they will fly along the ground as if wounded, till the former are got into a place of security, and then return and collect them together. From this instinctive cunning, Turner, with good reason, imagines them to be the chena- lopex* ox fox-goose of the antients : the natives of the Orknies to this day call them the sly goose, from an attribute of that quadruped. They lay fifteen or sixteen eggs, white, and of a roundish shape. In winter they collect in great flocks. Their flesh is very rank and bad. * Plinii, Lib. x. c. 22. VOL, II. 158 MALLARD. Class II. 17. Mal- lard. Anas Boschas. A. cinerea, rec- tricibus intermediis (maris) recurvatis, rostro recto tor- que alba. Lath. Lid. orn. 850. id. Syn. vi. 489- id. Sup. ii. 351. Les Canards et les Canes. Be- lon av. 160. Anas domestica. Gesner av. 113,96. Anas fera torquata minor. Ald7-. av. iii. 83, 85- Common wild Duck and Mal- lard. Common tame Duck. Wil. orn. 371, 380. Rail Syn. av. 145, 150. Le Canard domestique, le Ca- nard sau\'age JBrisson av. vi. 308, 318. Hist, d^ois.ix. 115. PL Enl. 776, 777. Einheimische ent. Stock ent. Kram. 341. Anitra, Anitra salvatica, Ci- sone. Zinan. 105, 106. Anas boschas. Anas domes- tica. Gm. Lin. 538. Gras-and, Blanacke. Faun. Suec. sp. 131. Fera, Norvegis Blaaehals v. Grses-And, aliis Stok-And. Danis Vild-And. Brunnich, 87. Domestica, Danis Tarn- And. Hid. 88. Wilde Ente. Frisch, il. 158. Jcemina. 15Q. Ratza. Scopoli, No. 77. Br. Zool. 155. Arct. Zool. ii. 287- Descrip- X HE mallard usually weighs two pounds and an half : the length is twenty-three inches ; the breadth thirty-five. The bill is of a yellowish green ; the head and neck are of a deep and shining green ; more than half round the lower part of the neck is an incomplete circle of white ; the upper part of the breast is of a purplish red, and the beginning of the back of the same color ; the breast and belly of a pale grey, marked with transverse speckled lines of B Class IL MALLARD. 259 • a dusky hue ; the scapulars white, elegantly bar- red with brown ; the spot on the wing is of a rich purple; the tail consists of twenty-four feathers. What distinguishes the male of this species from all others are the four middle feathers, which are black and strongly curled upwards ; but the females w-ant this mark ; their plum- age is of a pale reddish brown, spotted with black. The legs are of a saffron color. The common tame species of ducks take their Tame origin from these, and may be traced to them by unerring characters. The drakes, howsoever they vary in colors, always retain the curled feathers of the tail; and both sexes the form of the bill of the wild kind. Nature sports in the colors of all domestic animals; and for a wise and useful end, that mankind may the more readily distinguish and clame their re- spective property. Wild ducks pair in the spring, and breed in ail marshy grounds, and lay from ten to sixteen eggs. They abound in Lincolnshire, the great magazine of wild fowl in this kingdom ; where prodigious numbers are taken annually in the decoys. A decoy is generally made where there is a Decoys. large pond surrounded with wood, and beyond that a marshy and uncultivated country : if the piece of water is not thus surrounded, it will be <5 O 2G0 MALLARD. Class IL attended with the noise and other accidents,- which may be expected to frighten the wild fowl from a quiet haunt, where they mean to sleep (during the day-time) in security. If these noises or disturbances are wilful, it hath been held, that an action will lye against the dis- turber. As soon as the evening sets in, the decoy rises (as they term it) and the Avild fowl feed during the night. If the evening is still, the noise of their wings, during their flight, is heard at a very great distance, and is a pleasing, though rather melancholy sound. This risifig of the decoy in the evening, is in Somersetshire called rodding. The decoy ducks are fed with hempseed, which is flung over the skreens in small quanti- ties, to bring them forwards into the pipes, and to allure the wild fowl to follow, as this seed is light enough to float. There are several pipes (as they are called) which lead up a narrow ditch, that closes at last with a funnel net. Over these pipes (which grow narrower from the first entrance) is a con- tinued arch of netting, suspended on hoops. It is necessary to have a pipe or ditch for almost every wind that can blow, as upon this circum- stance it depends which pipe the wild fowl will Class II. MALLARD. 261 take to, and the decoy-man always keeps on the leeward side of the ducks, to prevent his effluvia reaching their sagacious nostrils. Along each pipe, are placed, at certain intervals, skreens made of reeds, which are so situated, that it is impossible the wild fowl should see the decoy-man, before they have passed on towards the end of the pipe, where the purse- net is placed. The inducement to the wild fowl to go up one of these pipes is, because the decoy-ducks, trained to this, lead the way, .. • either after hearing the whistle of the decoy- ' man, or enticed by the hempseed ; the latter - will dive under water, whilst the wild fowl fly on, and are taken in the purse. It often happens, however, that the wild fowl are - in such a state of sleepiness and dozing, that they will not follow the decoy-ducks. Use is then generally made of a dog, who is taught his lesson : he passes backwards and forwards be- tween the reed skreens (in which are little holes, both for the decoy-man to see, and for the little dog to pass through) : this attracts the eye of the wild fowl, who not chusing to be inter- rupted, advance towards this small and con- temptible animal, that they may drive him away. The dog, during this time, by direction of the decoy-man, plays among the skreens of 262 MALLARD. Class IL reeds, nearer and nearer to the purse-net ; till at last, perhaps, the decoy-man appears behind a skreen, and the wild fowl not daring to pass by him in return, nor being able to escape up- wards on account of the net-coverino;, rush on into the purse-net. Sometimes the dog will not attract their attention, if a red handkerchief, or something very singular, is not put about him. The general season for catching fowl in de- coys, is from the latter end of October till Fe- hruary ; the taking of them earlier is prohibited by an act 10. George IL c. 32. which forbids it from Ju7ie 1, to October 1, under the penalty of five shillings for each bird destroyed within that period. The Lincolmhire decoys are commonly set at a certain annual rent, from five pounds to twenty pounds a year : and we have heard of one in Somersetshire that pays thirty. The former contribute principally to supply the markets of London. Amazing; numbers of ducks, wigeons, and teal are talcen : by an ac- count sent us of the number caught, a few win- ters past, in one season, and in only ten decoys, in the neighborhood of JVahifleet, it appeared to amount to thirty-one thousand two hundred, in w^hich are included several other species of Class II. MALLARD. 263 ducks; it is also to be observed, that in the above particular, wigeon and teal are reckoned but as one, and consequently sell but at half the price of the ducks. This quantity makes them so cheap on the spot, that we have been assured several decoy-men would be glad to contract for years to deliver their ducks at Boston for ten-pence the couple. The account of the numbers here mentioned, relates only to those that were sent to the capital. It was customary formerly to have in the fens an annual driving of the young ducks be- fore they took wing. Numbers of people as- sembled, who beat a vast tract, and forced the birds into a net placed at the spot where the sport was to terminate. A hundred and fifty dozens have been taken at once : but this prac- tice being supposed to be detrimental, has been abolished by act of parliament. 'i64 SHOVELER DUCK. Class 1L 18. Sho- VEItER. Anas clypeata. A. rostro ex- tremo dilatato rotundato, ungue incurvo. Lath. Ind. orr.. 856. \d. Syn. vi. 30g. id. Sup. ii. 353. Anas latirostra (ein Breitsch- nabel.) Gesner av. 120. Aldr. av. iii. 94. fFil. orn. 370. Raii Syn. av. 143. Phasianus marinus. Charlton ex. 105. Blue-wing Shoveler (fcem.) Cat. Carol, i. q6. Le Souchet. Brisso7i av. vi. 329. Tab. 32. fg. 1. Hisf. dots. ix. 191. Pl.Enl. 971. Schauffl - ente, Loffl - ente. Kram. 342. Anas clypeata. Gm. Lin. 518. Faun. Suec. sp. II9. Kertluiock* Krantz's Greenl. i. 80. Danis Krop-And. Norvegis Stok-And. Cimhris Leffel- And. Brunnich, 67. 68. Schield - Ente, Loeffel - Ente. Frisch, ii. 161, 162. fcem. 163. Scopoli, No. 70. Br. Zool. 155. Tab. Q. 4. Arct. Zool. ii. 280. DESCRIP- TION. XHIS weighs twenty-two ounces: its length is twenty-one inches. The bill is black, three inches long, spreads near the end to a great breadth, is furnished with a small hook, and the edges of each mandible are pectinated, or sup- plied with thin laminjE, that lock into each other when the mouth is closed. The irides are of a bright yellow ; the head and upper part of the neck of a blackish green ; the lower part of the neck, the breast, and the scapulars, are white ; the back brown ; the coverts of the * i. e. Broad bill. Cl. II. RED BREASTED SHOVELER DUCK. 9,65 wings of a fine sky blue ; those next the quil feathers tipt with white ; the greater quil fea- thers are dusky ; the exterior webs of those in the middle, are of a glossy green. The tail consists of fourteen feathers, the outmost are white, those in the middle black, edged with white ; the belly is of a bay color ; the vent feathers black; the legs red. The female has Female. the same marks in the wings as the male, but the colors are less bright; the rest of the plumage resembles that of the common wild duck. Anas rubens. A . fusca, j ugiiJo Lath. Jnd. orn. 857. id. ig. Red et pec tore rubro-fuscis, spe- Syn.v\.bl2. Breasted 11 ^u n T ■ tir. Shoveler. culo alarum piirpiireo albo Lm. Lin. 5ig. marginato, Cauda brevi alba. ^^ W E are indebted to Mr. Bolton for the de- scription of this bird, who informed us that it was sometimes taken in the decoys in Lincoln- ' ' shh^e. *- •''^ It is the size of a common duck. The bill Descrip- iarge, broad, serrated at the sides, and en- tirely of a bro^vnish yellow color; the head large; the eyes small; the irides yellow; the breast and throat of a reddish brown, the latter paler, but both quite free from any spots ; the TION. 266 PINTAIL DUCK. Class II. back is brown, growing paler towards the sides ; the tips and pinions of the wings grey; the quil feathers brown; the rest of a greyish brown; the speculum or spot purple, edged with white : in the female, the spot is blue, and all the other colors are fainter. The tail is short and white ; the vent feathers of a bright brown, spotted with darker ; the legs short and slender 5 the feet small, of a reddish brown color. 20. Pintail. Anas acuta. A. cauda acumi- nata elongata subtus nigra, occipite utrinque linea alba, dorsocinereoundulato. Lath, hid. orn. 864. id. Syn. vi. 526. id. Sup. ii. 354. Anas caudacuta (ein spitzsch- wantz) Gesner av. 121. Aldr. av. iii. 97. Sea Pheasant, or Cracker. fFih orn. 376. Le Canard a longue queue. Brisson av. vi. 369. tab. 34. Hist. dois. ix. I99. PL Enl. 959. Schwalbenscheif. Kram. 340. Rail Syn. av. 147. Anas acuta. Gm. Lin. 528. Aler, Ahlvogel. Faun. Suec. sp. 126. Fasan-Ente. Frisch, ii. 16O. Brunmch in append. Aglek. Crantz's Greenl. i. 80. Scopoli, No. 73. Br. Zool. 156. Tab. Q. 8. Arct. Zool. ii. 291. Descrip- tion. X HE form of this species is slender, and the neck long : its weight twenty -four ounces ; its length twenty»eight inches; its breadth three feet two inches. The bill is black in the mid- dle, blue on the sides ; the head is ferruginous, Class II. PINTAIL DUCK. ^67 tinged behind the ears with purple ; from be- neath the ears commences a white line, which runs some way down the neck j this line is bounded by black ; the hind part of the neck, the back, and sides are elegantly marked with white and dusky waved lines ; the fore part of the neck, and belly are white; the scapulars striped with black and white; the coverts of the wings ash colored, the lowest tipt with dull orange; the middle quil feathers barred on their outmost webs with green, black, and white ; the exterior feathers of the tail are ash colored, the two middle black, and three inches longer than the others ; the feet of a lead color. The female is of a light brown color, Female. spotted with black. Mr. Hartlib, in the ap- pendix to his Legacy, tells us that these birds are found in great abundance in Connnught in Ireland, in the month of February only, and that they are much esteemed for their delicacy. 268 LONG TAILED DUCK. Class IL 21. Long TAILED. Descrip- tion. Anas glacialis. A. cauda acu- minata elongata, corpore ni- gro subtus albo. {Mas a- dultus.) Lath. Ind.orn. 864. id. Syn. vi. 528. Wil. orn. 364. Rail Syn. av. 145. Long tailed Duck. Edw. av. 280. Le Canard a longue queue d'Islande. Brisson av. vi. 379- Hisi. d'ois. ix. 202. PL Enl. 954. Anas glacialis. Gm. Lin. 528. Norvegis Ungle, Angeltaske V. Troefoerer. Feroensihus Oedel. Islandis Ha-EUa v. Ha-Old. Incolis Christiansoe Gadissen, Klaeshahn Dyk- ker. Brunnich, 75, 76. Scopoli, No. 74. Br. Zool. 156. Tah. Q. 7- Arct. Zool. ii. 291. X HIS is inferior in size to the former. The bill is short, black at the tip and base, orange colored in the middle; the cheeks are of a pale brown ; the hind part of the head, and the neck both before and behind are white ; the sides of the upper part of the neck are marked with a large dusky bar, pointing downwards ; the breast and back are of a deep chocolate color; the scapulars are white, long, narrow, and sharp pointed; the coverts of the wings, and greater quil feathers dusky ; the lesser of a reddish brown; the belly white; the four middle feathers of the tail are black ; and two of them nearly four inches longer than the others, w hich are white ; the legs dusky. These birds PI.SIJF VOL. 2, p. 26 S, LOIS^G TAILEi3 DUCK THROATED Class II. HARLEQUIN DUCK. 269 breed in the most northern parts of the world, and only visit our coasts in the severest win- ters. Anas histrionica. A . fusca al- bo cseruleoque varia, auri- bus, temporibus linea ge- mina, collar! fasciaque pec- torali albis. (Mas.) Lath, Ind. orn. 84g. id. Syn. vi. 485. Gm. Lin. 534. Le Canard a collier. Brisson av. vi. 362. Hist, d'ois. ix. 250. PL Enl. 798. Dusky and spotted duck. Edio. 99- Harlequin Duck. Arct. Zool. ii. 283. Anas histrionica. A. grisea, au- ribus albis remigibus priino- ribus nigricantibus. (Fasm.J Lath. Ind. orn. 84Q. id. Syn. vi. 485. Edw. 157. Cateshy, i. gs. Le Canard brun. Hist, d'ois. ix. 252. PI. Enl. IOO7. La Sarcelle brune et blanche. Hist, d'ois. ix. 287. PL Enl. 799- Anas minuta. Gm. Lin. 534. Anas torquata. il. 514. Soiverly. Br. Misc. Tab. 6. 22. Harle- quin. [THE Harlequin Duck was first announced as Descrip^ a British species by Mr. Montagu in his orni- thological dictionary, and is figured by Mr. Soxverby, to whom a pair had been sent from Scotland by Lord Seaforth, in the second num- ber of his Miscellany. The bill is small and black; between the base of it and the eyes is a great white patch ; the crown of the head is black, bounded by a light rusty line; the cheeks, chin, and neck are black; beneath each eve is a white 270 HARLEQUIN DUCK. Class II. spot, below that a short line of white, point- ing down the neck ; the bottom of the neck on each side is bounded by a transverse line of white, beneath which is another of black ; the breast, back, scapulars, and part of the belly are of a pleasant slate color ; the breast on each side marked with semilunar stripes of white, beginning at the shoulders, and bounded on each side with a stripe of black ; the wings and tail deep ash color ; the rump, above and below, of a full black; the legs black. The Female, female is almost wholly dusky, and is marked at the base of the bill with a white spot, and another behind the ear. The size is that of a Wigeon. Inhabits from Carolina to Greenland, and from the lake Baikal to Kamschatka. In Greenland, it frequents, during summer, the shady districts, and the most rapid rivers; in winter seeks the open sea. It feeds on shell- fish, spawn, and the lari^cE of gnats. Swims and dives admirably, and is very clamorous.* Ed. * Arct. Zool. ii. 284, where the assertion that it " flies high and swiftly" should be expunged. Class II. POCHARD DUCK. 271 Anas ferina. A. cinereo-undu- lato, capite brunneo, fascia pectorali crisso uropygioque nigro. Lath. Ind. orn. 862. id. Syn. vi. 623. id. Sup. ii. 354. La Cane a teste rousse. Belon av. 173. Anas fera fusca, vel media (ein wilte grauwe ente, Rotent.) Gesner av. II6'. Aldr. av. iii. 93. Poller, Pochard, or red headed 23. Pochard. , Wigeon. JVil. orn. 36?. Haii Syn. av. 143. Anas ferina. Gm. Lin. 530. Faun. Suec. sp. 127. Penelope, leMillouin. Brisson av. vi. 384. tah. 35. Jig. 1. Hisi. d'ois. ix. 2l6. PI. Enl. 303. Danis Bran-Nakke. Norvegis Rod-Nakke. Brunnich, 80. Br. ZooL 156. Tal. Q. 5. Jrct. Zool. ii. 284. Descrip- tion. xTS weight is about one pound twelve ounces : its length nineteen inches ; its breadth two feet and a half. The bill is of a deep lead color ; the head and neck of a bright bay ; the breast and part of the back where it joins the neck, are black; the coverts of the wings, the sca- pulars, back, and sides under the wings, of a pale grey, elegantly marked with narrow lines of black; the quil feathers dusky; the belly ash colored and brown; the tail consists of twelve short feathers, of a deep grey color; the legs lead colored; the irides of a bright yellow, tinged with red. The head of the female is of a pale reddish Female brown ; the breast is rather of a deeper color ; 272 RED DUCK. Class II. the coverts of the wings a plain ash color ; the back marked like that of the male ; the belly ash colored. These birds frequent fresh water as well as the sea, and being very delicate eating, are much sought for in the London markets, where they are known by the name of Dun birds. 24. Red. Anas ferruginea. A. fusco-ru- Anas rufa rostro pedibusque fa, abdomine albo, rostro di- cinerels. Faun. Suec. sp. latato pedibusque pallide 47- caeruleis. Lath. Jnd. orn-. Arct. ZooL ii. 304. 866. id. Syn. vi. 526. Descrip- X HE description of this species was sent to us TION. by Mr. Bolton. The weight was twenty ounces. The bill long and flatted, rounded a little at the base, serrated along; the edses of each man- dible, and furnished with a nail at the end of the upper ; the color a pale blue. The head, neck, and whole upper part of the bird of an agreeable reddish brown j the throat, breast, and belly, of the same color, but paler; the legs of a pale blue ; but the webs of the feet black. This species, he informed us, was killed in Lincolnshire. We do not find it mentioned by any writer, except Linnaus, who took his Class II. WIGEON DUCK. i^V.i description from Rudbeck's paintings ; and adds, that it is found, though rarely, in the Sxvedish rivers. Anas Penelope. A. cauda a- cutiviscula, crisso nigro, ca- pita brunneo, fronte alba, dorsocinereoundulato.Z«/fA. Ind. orn. 860. id. Syn. vi. 518. id. Sup. ii. 354. Anas fistularis (ein Pfeifente). Gesner av. 121. Penelope. Aldr. av. iii. Q2. Wigeon, or Whewer. Wil. orn. 375. Hail Syn. av. 146. Anas penelope. Gm. Lin. 527- 25. Wigeox. Wriand. Faufi. Suec. sp. 124, Anas Tistularis, le Canard sif- fleur. Brisson av. vi. SQL tah. 3b. Jig. 2. Hist, d'ois. ix. 169. PL Enl. 825. Eissent mit weisser platten. Kram. 342. Danis Bles-And. Brunnich, 72. Br. Zool. 157. add. plates. Arci. Zool. ii. 302. A HE wigeon weighs near twenty-three ounces : the length is twenty inches ; the breadth two feet three. The bill is lead colored, the end of it black ; the head, and upper part of the neck, are of a bright light bay ; the forehead paler, in some birds almost white ; the plumage of the back, and sides under the wings, are elegantly marked with narrow, black and white undulated lines ; the breast is of a purplish hue, which some- times, though rarely, is marked with round black spots ; the belly white; the vent feathers black; in some specimens the coverts of the wings are almost wholly white 5 in others of a pale brown, VOL, II, T Descrip- tion, 274 BIMACULATED DUCK. Class II. edged with white ; the greater quil feathers are dusky ; the outmost webs of the middle feathers of a fine green, the tips black ; the last are ele- gantly striped with black and white; the two middle feathers of the tail are longer than the others, black and sharp pointed; the rest ash Female, colored ; the legs dusky. The head of the fe- male is of a rusty brown, spotted with black ; the back is of a deep brown, edged with a paler; the tips of the lesser quil feathers white; the belly white. 6. BiMACU- Anas glocltans. A. subcristata maculis nigris, speculo ala- LATED. fusca nigro undata, capite rum viridi albo marginato. viridi, macula ante poneque Lath. Ind. orn. 862. id. Syn. oculos ferruginea, pectore vi. 521. Descrip- JlHE length is twenty inches; the extent twenty-five and a half. The bill is a deep lead color ; the nail black ; the crown of the head brown changeable with green, ending in a streak of brown at the hind part, with a small crest. Between the bill and the eye, and behind each ear is a ferruginous spot ; the first round, the last oblong and large ; the throat is of a fine deep purple ; the rest of the head of a bright green, continued in streaks do^vn the neck ; the breast a light ferruginous brown, spotted with Class II. GADWALL DUCK. 275 black; the hind part of the neck, and back, dark brown waved with black ; the coverts of the wings ash colored ; the lower coverts streaked with rust color ; the scapulars cinereous ; the quil feathers brownish cinereous; the secon- daries of a fine green, ending in a shade of black, and edged with white ; the coverts of the tail a deep changeable green ; the tail consists of twelve feathers, the two middlemost black ; the others brown edged with white ; the belly is dusky, finely granulated; the legs small, and yellow ; the webs dusky. Taken in a decoy in 1771, and conmimu- nicated to me by Edward Poore, Esq. Anas strepera. A. speculo ala- rum rufo nigro albo. Lath. Ind. orn. 85g. id. Syn. vi. 615. id. Sup. 11.353. Anas strepera (ein Leiner). Gesner av. 121. Aldr. av. iil. 97. Gadwall, or Gray. JFil. orn. 374. Raii Syn. av. 145. Le Chipeau. Brisson av. vi. 339. tal. 33. fig. 1. Hist. d'ois. ix. 187- PL Enl. 958. Anas strepera. Gm. Lin. 520. Faun. Suec. sp. 121. Cimlris Knarre-Gaas. Brun- nick, Q 1 . Grave mittel-ente. Frisch, ii. 168. Br. Zool. 157. Tah. Q. 3. Arct. Zool. ii. 303. 27- Gad- wall. X HIS species is rather inferior in size to the D wigeon. The bill is two inches long, black, T 2 ESCRlP- TION. 276 OADWALL DUCK. Class II. ^nd flat ', the head, and upper part of the neck, are of a reddish brown, spotted with black ; the lower part, the breast, the upper part of the back, and scapulars, are beautifully marked with black and white lines ; the belly is of a dirty white; the rump above and below is black; the tail ash colored, edged with white; the coverts on the ridge of the wing are of a pale reddish brown ; those beneath are of a pur- plish red, the lowest of a deep black ; the 1 greater quil feathers are dusky ; the inner web of three of the lesser quil feathers are white, which forms a conspicuous spot ; the legs are Female, orange colored. The breast of the female is of a reddish brown, spotted with black ; the back of the same color ; and though it has the same marks on the wings, they are far inferior in brightness to those of the male. 2? yi.XiyL. VOL. 2. P. 277, GARGANEY, FEMAIiE GARGAIS^JEY. Class II. GARGANEY DUCK. 277 Anas Querquedula. A. ma- cula alarum viridi, linea al- ba supra oculos. Lath. Ind. orn. 8/2. id. Syn. vi. 550. id. Sup. ii. 360. La Sarcelle. Belon av. 175. ^uerquedvila varia. Gesner av. 107. Scavolo, Cercevolo, Garganel- lo, Aldr. av. iii. 89, gO. JFiL orn. 377- Querquedula prima Aldr. Raii Syn. av. 148.* La Sarcelle. Brisson av. vi. 427. tab. 39. Hist, d'ois. ix. 260. PL Enl. 946. Krickantl. Kra7n. 343. Anas Querquedula. Gtn. Lin. 531. Faun. Suec.sp. 128. Kriech-Ente. Frisch, ii. 176. Norvegis Krek-And. Quibusd, Saur-And. Brunnich, 81. Scopoli, No. 75. Br. Zool. 158. Tab. Q. Q. Arct. Zool. ii. 304. Garga- NEY. TION. JL HE length of this species is seventeen inches; Descrip- the extent twenty-eight. The bill is of a deep lead color ; the crown of the head is dusky, marked with oblong streaks ; on the chin is a large black spot ; from the corner of each eye is a long white line, that points to the back of the neck ; the cheeks and the upper part of the neck are of a pale purple, marked with minute ob- * Mr. Ray, in his Syn. av. 147. describes a duck under the name of Phaseas ; in Yorkshire it is called the widgeon : he says, the head and neck are brown, spotted with triangular black marks : the body, wings, and tail, dusky, edged with a paler color : on the wings is a double line of white ; belly white j bill and legs blue. We suspect it to be a young bird of this species, but wait for further information before we can deter- mine it. 278 GARGANEY DUCK. Class II. long lines of white, pointing downwards ; the breast is of a light brown, marked with semicir- cular bars of black; the belly is white; the lower part and vent varied with specks, the bars of a dusky hue ; the coverts of the wings are grey, but the lowest tipt with white ; the first quil feathers are ash colored, the exte- rior webs of those in the middle green ; the scapulars are long and narrow, and elegantly striped with white, ash color, and black ; the tail dusky ; the legs lead color. Female. The female is less than the male ; the crown of the head is black ; the edges of the feathers rust color ; near the bottom of the upper man- dible is a M'hite spot; between the bill and the eye a yellowish spot; beyond the eye a line of white ; beneath that a dusky line, and under that a dirty white one ; the chin and throat are white ; the hind part of the neck, brown ; the fore part streaked with brown and white ; the breast spotted with black and rust color edged with white ; the belly white ; the lesser coverts of the wings a brownish ash-color ; the exterior sides of the greater coverts a fine grey ; those which lie over the secondaries are tipt with white ; the quil feathers are dusky ; the secon- daries tipt with white also edged on their out- ward sides ; the tail consists of fourteen fea- Class II. TEAL DUCK. thers edged on their exterior sides and tipt with white. In many places these birds are called the Summer Teal. Anas Crecca. A. speculo ala- rum viridi, linea alba supra infraque oculos. Lath. Ind. orn. 872. id. Syn. vi. 551. id. Sup. i. 276. id. Sup. ii. 360. Querquedula. Gesner av. IO6. Garganei. Aldr. av. ill. gO. Wil. orn. 377. Rail Syn. av. 147- La petite Sarcelle. Brisson av. vi. 436. tab. 40. Jig. 1. HisL dJois. ix. 265. PL Enl. 947- Rothantl, Pfeiffantl. Kram. 343. Spiegel-Entlein. Frisch. ii. 174. Anas Crecca. Gm. Lin. 532. Arta, Kraecka. Faun. Succ. sp. 129. Cimlris Atteling-And. Nor- vegis Hestelort-And. Danis Communiter Krik - And. Brunnich, 82, 83. Br. Zool. 158. add. plates. Arct. Zool. ii. 305. 29. Teajo. jl he male teal weighs about twelve ounces : Descrip* • • • TION"* the female, nnie ; the length is fourteen inches ; the breadth twenty-three. The bill is black 5 the head, and upper part of the neck, are of a deep bay ; from the bill to the hind part of the head is a broad bar of glossy changeable green, bounded on the lower side by a narrow white line ; the lower part of the neck, the beginning of the back, and the sides under the wings, are elegantly marked with waved lines of black and white ; the breast and belly are of a dirty white i ISO TEAL DUCK. Class II. Female. Summer Teal. the first beautifully spotted with black ; the vent black ; the tail sharp pointed, and dusky ; the coverts of the wings brown ; the greater quil feathers dusky; the exterior webs of the lesser marked with a glossy green spot ; above that another of black, and the tips white ; the irides w^hitish ; the legs dusky. The female is of a brownish ash color, spotted with black ; and has a green spot on the wing like the male. By the description Mr. WiUughby has left of the Summer Teal, p. 378. we suspect that it dif- fers not in the species from the common kind, only in sex. Limictiis^ hath placed it among the birds of his country ; but leaves ^ blank jn the place of its residence ; and hath evidently copied Mr. Willughhys imperfect description of it; and to confirm our suspicion that he has followed the error'j' of our countryman ; we ob- served that a bird sent us from the Baltic sea, under the title of anas ctrcia, the Summer Teal of Limiceus, w^as no other than the female of our teal. * Faun. Suec. sp. 130. f This error is continued in Gmelins edition of Linnceus. Ed. Class II. COMMON CORVORANT. GENUS XXV. CORVORANT.* Bill strong, strait; and either hooked or slop- ing. Nostrils, either totally wanting, or small, and placed in a longitudinal furrow. Face naked. Gullet naked, capable of great distension. Toes, all four webbed. Pelecanus Carbo. P. cauda rotundata, corpore nigro, ca- pite subcristato. Lath. Ind. orn. 886. id. Syn. vi. 593. id. Sup. ii. 363. Mergus Plinii lib. x. c, 33. Le Cormorant. Belonav. l6l. Corvus aquaticus, Carbo aqua- ticus. 136. Phalacrocorax. Gesner av. 683. 350. Aldr. av. ili. 108. The Cormorant. Wil. orn. 329. Raii Syn. av. 122. Pelecanus Carbo. Gm. Lin. 573. N. Com. Petr. iv. 423. Le Cormoran. Brisson av. vl. 511. tab. 45. The Male. Hist, d'ois. vlii. 310. PL Enl. 927. Norvegis Skarv, Strand-Ravn. Danis Aalekrage. Islandis Skarfur. Bninnich, 120, 121. Scharb, or See-Rabe. Frisch, ii. 187. ' Scopoli, No. 98. Br. Zoul. 159. Tab. I. 1. Arct. Zool. ii. SOg. 1. Com- mon-. * The learned Dr. Kay, or Caius, derives the word Corvo- rant, from Corvus varans, from whence corruptly our word Cor' morant. Caii opusc. 99. 282 COMMON CORVORANT. Class II. Descrip- X HAVE weighed a bird of this species that exceeded seven pounds : the length three feet four ; the extent four feet two. The bill is dusky, five inches long, destitute of nostrils ; the base of the lower mandible is covered with a naked yellowish skin, that extends under the chin, and forms a sort of pouch ; a loose skin of the same color reaches from the upper mandible round the eyes, and angles of the mouth ; the head and neck are of a sooty blackness ; but under the chin of the male the feathers are white; and the head in that sex is adorned with a short loose pendent crest ; in some the crest and hind part of the head are streaked with white ; the coverts of the wings, the scapulars, and the back, are of a deep green, edged with black, and glossed with blue; the quil feathers and tail dusky; the last consists of fourteen fea- thers ; the breast and belly black ; in the midst of the last is often a bed of white ; on the thighs of the male is a tuft of white feathers ; the legs are short, strong, and black ; the middle claw serrated on the inside j the irides are of a light ash color. These birds occupy the highest parts of the cliffs that impend over the sea : they make their nests of sticks, sea tang, grass, &c. and lay Class 11. COMMON CORVORANT. 283 six or seven white eggs of an oblong form. In winter they disperse along the shores, and visit fresh waters, where they make great havoke among the fish. They are remarkably vora- cious, having a most sudden digestion, promoted by the infinite quantity of small worms which fill their intestines. The corvorant, even when alive, has the rankest and most disagreeable smell of any bird. Its form is disgusting, its voice hoarse and croaking, and its qualities base : no wonder then that Milton should make Satan personate this bird, to survey undelighted the - beauties of Paradise, and sit devising death on the tree of life.* These birds have been trained to fish like fal- cons to fowl. JVhitelock tells us, that he had a cast of them manned like hawks, and which would come to hand. He took much pleasure in them, and relates, that the best he had was one presented him by Mr. Wood, Master of the Cormorants to Charles I. It is well known ' . I that the Chinese make great use of a congene- rous sort, in fishing, and that not for amuse- ment, but profit.^ * Paradise Lost, Book iv. 1. I94, &c. f Duhaldei. 3l6. The Chinese Con'orant. Lath. Supp. li. 364. Sir G. Staunton s Emlassy to China, ii. p. 388—412. tal, 72. Ed. 284. CRESTED CORVORANT. Class II. 2. Crested. Pelecanus cristatus. P. corpore Faun. Groenl. No. 58. 5rM?r- viridi-nitentesubtusobscuro, 7iich, ornith. No. 123. rostro pedibusque obscuris. Shag. Brit. Zool. ii. 6iO. capite cristate. Laih. Ind. Crested Corvorant. Arct. Zool. cm. 888. id. Syn. vi. 600. ii. 312. Gm. Lin. 575. TION. Descrip- X HE Crested is much inferior in size to the common Corvorant : the length is twenty-seven inches ; the breadth three feet six ; the weight three pounds three quarters. The bill is nar- row, dusky and hooked at the end ; the irides fine green; the head is adorned with a crest two inches long, pointing backward ; the whole plumage of the upper part of this bird is of a fine and very shining green, the edges of the feathers a purplish black; but the lower part of the back, the head, and neck, wholly green; the belly is dusky; the tail consists only of twelve feathers, of a dusky hue, tinged Avith green ; the legs are black, and like those of the corvorant. Both these kinds agree in their manners, and breed in the same places : and, what is very strange in webbed footed birds, will perch and build on trees : both swim with their head quite erect, and are very difficult to be shot ; for, like the Grebes and Divers, as soon as they see the N Class II. SHAG CORVORANT. 285 flash of the gun, they pop under water, and never rise but at a considerable distance. We are indebted for this bird to the late Mr. TVilliam Morris of Holijhead, with whom we had a constant correspondence for several years, receiving from that worthy man and in- telligent naturalist, regular and faithful accounts of the various animals frequenting that vast pro- montory. Pelecanus Graculus. P. cauda of England the Crane. Wil. 3. Shas, rotundata corpore nigro sub- orn. 330. tus fusco, rectricibus duo- Corvus aquaticus minor. Gra- decim, rostroedentulo. Zflif//. cuius palmipes dictus. Raii Ind. orn. 887. id. Syn. vi. Syn. uv. 123. 598. Le petit Cormoran. Brisson Gm. Lin. 574. av. vi. 5l6. Hist, d'ois. viii. Brunnich ornith. No. 121. SIQ. The Shag called in the North Arcf. Zool. ii. 30g. XHE head and neck black, glossed like silk Descrip- with green ; the back and coverts of the wings of the same color edged with purplish black; the belly dusky and dull, the middle part cine- reous ; the tail consists of twelve feathers, dusky glossed with green ; the legs black ; the middle toe serrated. Its length two feet six ; its extent three feet eight inches ; weight four pounds.* TION. * Mr. Montagu considers this as the female, and the preced- ing as the male Shag, and says that they are distinguished from GANNET CORVORANT. Class II. I have seen several of the Shags shot among the Hebrides, but not one was crested. On the authority of the northern naturalists I therefore separate them. 4. Gannet. Pelecanus Bassanus. P. cauda cuneiformi, corpore albo, rostro serrato, remigibus pri- moribus nigris, facie caerulea. Lath. Ind. orn. 8gi. id. Syn. vi. 608. id. Sup. ii. 365, Anser Bassanus sive Scoticus. Gesner av. l63. Aldr. av. 68. Sula. Hoieri Clus. ex. 367- Hector Boeth. 6. Soland Goose. Wil. orn. 328. Rail Syn. av. 122. Itin. igi. 269.279. Silh. hist. Scot. 20. tal\ Q. Silb. hist. Fife. 45. 47. Jaen van Gent. Martin's Spitz- lerg. 97. Solan Goose. Martins voy. St. Kilda. 27. Descript. West. Isles. 281. Macauly's hist. St. Kilda. 133. Sula Bassana, le Fou de Bas- san. Brisson av. vi. 503. tal. 44. Hist, d'ois. viii. 376. PL Enl. 278. Pelecanus Bassanus. Gm. Lin. 577. NorvegisSule, Hav-Sul. BruU' nich, 124. Br. Zool. 160. Arct. Zool ii, 310. Descrip- XHIS Species weighs seven pounds: the lenj^fth TION. . . , is three feet one inch ; the breadth six feet two inches. The bill is six inches long, strait almost to the point, where it inclines downwards, and the sides are irregularly jagged, that it may hold its prey with more security ; about an inch the Corvorant by their inferior w^eight, and the number of fea- thers in the tail ; he adds that they breed on our rocky coasts, and are never known to visit fresh-water rivers, or perch oa trees. Ed. 1 Fi.3ir^Tin. VOL.2 .T.28e. GA^NnSTE. T A . llll ll'l\ii\\>|^M u"' f,' ■ ■ ^ I'lf "Vfr r ll ^» J'' M'Jn,■^r•<^^ ^I'fUK,/ ^, :J/„,;y,,' .Ir Class II. GANNET CORVORANT. 287 from the base of the upper mandible is a sharp process pointing forward ; it has no nostrils, but in their place a long furrow, that reaches almost to the end of the bill ; the w^hole is of a dirty white, tinged with ash color. The tongue is very small, and placed low^ in the mouth; a naked skin of a fine blue surrounds the eyes, W'hich are of a pale yellow, and are full of vi- vacity ; this bird is remarkable for the quick- ness of its sight; Martin tells us that Solan is derived from an Irish word expressive of that quality. From the corner of the mouth is a narrow slip of black bare skin, that ex- tends to the hind part of the head ; beneath the chin is another, that like the pouch of the Pe- lecan, is dilatable, and of size sufficient to con- tain five or six entire herrings ; which, in the breeding season, it carries at once to its mate or young. The neck is very long ; the body flat, and very full of feathers ; the crown of the head, and a small portion on the hind part of the neck is buff colored ; the rest of the plumage is white, the bastard wing and greater quil feather ex- cepted, which are black ; the legs and toes are black; but the fore part of both are marked with a stripe of fine pea green. The tail con- sists of twelve sharp pointed feathers, the mid- dle of which is the longest. , , , ,; 388 GANNET CORVORANT. Class II. .; The young birds, during the first year, differ greatly in color from the old ones; being of a dusky hue, speckled with numerous triangular white spots ; and at that time resemble in colors the speckled Diver. Each bird, if left undi- sturbed, would only lay one egg in the year ; but if that be taken away, it will lay another ; if that is also taken, then a third; but never more that season. A wise provision of nature, to prevent the extinction of the species by acci- dents, and to supply food for the inhabitants of the places where they breed ; their egg is M'hite, and rather less than that of the common Nest. goose : the nest is large, and formed of any thing the bird finds floating on the water, such as grass, sea plants, shavings, &c. These birds frequent the Isle of Ailsa, in the Firth of Clyde; the rocks adjacent to St. Kilda, the • Stack of Souliskef^y, near the Orkneys ; the Ske- lig Isles, off the coast of Kerry, Ireland,^" and the Bass Isle, in the Firth of Edinburgh : the multitudes that inhabit these places are pro- : digious. Dr. Harvey's elegant account of the * This information we owe to that worthy prelate, the late Dr. Pocock, Bishop of Meath ; who' had visited the Skeligs. Mr. Smith, in his histories of Cork and Kerry, confounds this bird with the Gull described by Mr. Willughly; from whom he has evidently borrowed the whole description. "■■*=' «^'U^ vi«>' Class II. GANNET CORVORANT. 289 latter, will serve to give some idea of the num- bers of these, and of the other birds that an- nually migrate to that little spot. " There is a small island, called by the " Scotch, Bass Island, 7iot more than a mile " in circurnference ; the surface is almost wholly " covered during the months of May and June " with nests, eggs, and young birds ; so that it " is scarcely possible to walk zvithout treading " on them : and the flocks of birds inflight are '' so p7vdigious, as to darken the air like clouds; *' and their noise is such, that you can?iotf . " without difficulty, hear your next neighbors • " voice. If you look down upon the sea, from " the top of the precipice, you will see it " on every side covered with infnite numbers of " birds of different kinds, swimming and hunt- " ing for prey: if in sailing round the island " you survey the hanging cliffs, you may see " in every cragg or fissure of the broken i^ocks, " innumerable birds of various sorts and sizes, " 7nore than the stars of heaven when viewed " in a serene flight: f from afar you see " the distajit flocks, either flying to or from " the island, you would imagine them to be a " vast swar^m of bees.''* : . , * Est insula parva, Scott Basse nominant, haud amplius mille passuum circuitu amplitude ejus clauditur. Hujus insidoB YOh, II. U 290 GANNET CORVORANT. Class II. Nor do the rocks of aS*^. Kilda seem to be less frequented by these birds; for Martin assures us, that the inhabitants of that small island consume annually no less than 22,600 young birds of this species, besides an amazing quantity of their eggs ; these being their princi= pal support throughout the year ; they preserve both eggs and fowls in small pyramidal stone buildings, covering them with turf ashes, to preserve them from moisture. This is a dear bought food, earned at the hazard of their lives, either by climbing the most difficult and narrow paths, where (to appearance) they can barely cling, and that too, at an amazing height over the raging sea; or else being lowered down from above, they collect their annual provision, thus hanging in midway air ; placing superficies, mensihus Maio isf Junio nidis ov'is pidlistpie propemo- dum tola insfrata est, adeo ut vix, prce eorum copia pedem libere • p oner e lie eat : tantaque supervolantium turha, ut nuhiiim instar, solem ccelumque aiiftrant : tantusque vociferantium clangor £s? strepitus, ut prope alloquentes vix audias. Si siibjectum mare hide, tanquam ex edita turri &' altissimo prcecipiiio despexeris, idem quoquo versum, infinitis diversorum generum avilus natan- iihusprcedceque inlmmtihus, opei'tiim videas. Si circumnavigando imminetitem clivum suspicere lihuerit ; videas in singulis prcerupti loci crepidinihus iS' recessihus, avium cujuslilet generis (Sf mag- , nitudinis, ordines innumeraliles, pliires sane qicam node, sereno ccelo, stellce conspiciunfur. Si advolantes avolantesque eminus adspexeris, apum profeclo ingens exumen credas, De generat. Animal. Exercit. 11. Class II. GANNET CORVORANT. 2Q1 their whole dependance on the uncertain foot- ing of one person who holds the rope, by which they are suspended at the top of the precipice. The young birds are a favorite dish with the North Britons in general: during the season they are constantly brought from the Bass Isle / to Edinburgh, sold at SOfl'. a-piece, are roasted, and served up a little before dinner as a whet. The Gannets are birds of passage. Their [ first appearance in those islands is in March ; their continuance there till August or Septem- ber, according as the inhabitants take or leave their first egg; but in general, the time of breeding, and that of their departure, seems to coincide with the arrival of the herring, and the migration of that fish (which is their prin- cipal food) out of those seas. It is probable that these birds attend the herring* and pilchard during their whole circuit round the British islands ; the appearance of the former being al- ways esteemed by the fishermen as a sure pre- sage of the approach of the latter. They migrate in quest of food as far south as the mouth of the TaguSy being frequently seen off Lisbon during the month of December, plunging for Sardinia, * Buchanan, in his " View of the Fishery of Great Britain," conjectures that the Gannets which frequent the island of St. Kilda destroy annually one hundred and five millions of her- rings. Ed. u 2 ess. GANNET CORVORANT. Class II. fish resembling, if not the same with, our Pilchard. I have in the month of August observed in Cathness their northern migrations : I have seen them passing the whole day in flocks, • from five to fifteen in each : in calm weather they fly high ; in storms they fly low and near > ' . the shore, but never cross over the land, even Tv^hen a bay with promontories intervenes, but follow, at an equal distance, the course of the bay, and regularly double every cape. I have seen many of the parties make a sort of hah for the sake of fishing : they soared to a vast height, then darting headlong into the sea, made the water foam and spring up with the vio- lence of their descent; after which they pur- sued their route. I enquired whether they ever were observed to return southward in the spring, but was answered in the negative, so it appears that they annually encircle the whole island. They are well known on most of our coasts Name, but not by the name of the Soland-Goose. In Cornwall and in Ireland they are called Gan- nets ; by the TVelsJi, Gan. The excellent Mr. Ray supposed the Cornish Gannet to be a spe- ' cies of large Gull ; a very excusable mistake, for during his six months residence in Corn- Class II. GANNET CORVORANT. QQS XV all, he never had an opportunity of seeing that bird, except flying ; and in the air, it has the appearance of a gull. On that supposition he gave our Skua, p. 174. the title oi Cataracta, a name borrowed from Aristotle,* and which ad- mirably expresses the rapid descent of this bird on its prey. Mr. Moyle first detected this mistake ;t and the Rev. Doctor JVilliam Bor- lase, by presenting us with a fine specimen of this bird, confirms the opinion of Mr. Moyle ; at the same time he favored us with so accu- rate an account of some part of the natural history of this bird, that we shall use the liberty he indulged us with, of adding it to this de- scription. :?WS l,XAr- . i,c *' The Gannet comes on the coasts of Corn- ' wall in the latter end of summer, or begin- ' ning of autumn ; hovering over the shoals of ' pilchards that come down to us through *S'^. ' George's Channel from the northern seas. ' The Gannet seldom comes near the land, but ' is constant to its prey, a sure sign to the ' fishermen that the pilchards are on the coasts ; ' and when the pilchards retire, generally about ' the end of November, the Gannets are seen ' no more. The bird now sent was killed at * Page 1045. f Moyle s Works, i. 424. 294 GANNET CORVORANT. Class II, " Chandour, near Mount-bay, Sept. 30, 1762, " after a long struggle with a water spaniel, " assisted by the boatmen ; for it was strong " and pugnacious. The person who took it *' observed that it had a transparent membrane " under the eye-lid, with which it covered at " pleasure the whole eye, without obscuring " the sight or shutting the eye-lid ; a gracious *' provision for the security of the eyes of so " weighty a creature, whose method of taking " its prey is by darting headlong on it from a ' . " height of a hundred and fifty feet or more " into the water. About four years ago, one *' of these birds flying over Penzance, (a thing " that rarely happens) and seeing some pil- " chards lying on a fir-plank, in a cellar used " for curing fish, darted itself down with such *' violence, that it struck its bill quite through " the board (about an inch and a quarter thick) '• and broke its neck." These birds are sometimes taken at sea by a deception of the like kind. The fishermen fasten a pilchard to a board, and leave it float- ing; which inviting bait decoys the unwary Gannet to its own destruction. ; . ■ In the Cataracta of Juha^ may be found .'y:\- ': /f'.:., * P/mii, lib. X. c. 44. .'.\ .-■j i Class H. GANNET CORVORANT. 295 many characters of this bird : he says, that the bill is toothed, that its eyes are fiery, and that its color is white ; and in the very name is ex- pressed its furious descent on its prey. The rest of his accounts savors of fable. i \: - We are uncertain whether the Gannet breeds in any other parts of Europe besides our own islands ; except (as Mr. Ray suspects) the Sula, ,., f ; > described in Clusius's Ei'otics, which breeds in ••--'- the Ferroe Isles, be the same bird. In America there are two species of birds of this genus, that bear a great resemblance to it in their ge- neral form and their manner of preying. Mr. Catesby has given the figure of the head of one, which he calls the Greater Booby ; his descrip- tion suits that of the young Gannet ; but the angle on the lower mandible made us formerly suspect that it was not the same bird; from some late informations we have been favored with, we find it is common to both countries, and during summer frequents North America. Like the Penguin, it informs navigators of the approach of soundings, who on sight of it drop the plummet. Linncsus classes our bird with the Pelecan ; in the tenth edition of his system, he confounds it with the bird described by Sir Hans Sloane, hist. Jam. vol. i. p. 31. preface^ whose colors differ firom the Gannet in each S96 GANNET CORVORANT. Class II. stage of life : but in his last edition he very properly separates them. We continue it in the same class, under the generical name of Corvorants, as more familiar to the English ear than that of Pelecaii.* (Var.) XHIS variety of the Gannet was sent to me in August 1779, by Hugh Stodart, Esq. of Tregamvy, in Caernarvonshir^e. I do not recollect that it has been observed in Europe since the days of Dr. Hoier, a physician at Bergen, who procured it from the Ferroe Isles, and transmitted it to his friend Clusius. This bird differs from the common Gan- net only in those particulars : in having some of the secondaries feathers black ; and the mid- dle feathers of the tail of the same color : where- as both, in the common sort, are entirely white. * The Gannet is supplied with singular pellucid air-cells ■which connect the skin with the body, giving it a power of in- flation, which materially contributes to its buoyancy in air and water, and enables it to float in the most tempestuous sea in per- fect security, when in pursuit of its prey. Montagu in Memoirs of Wernerian Society. APPENDIX. • } 299 APPENDIX. No. I. ADDITIONS TO THE HISTORY OF THE HORSE. Vol. I. p. 3. X HE representative of this species* is a na- tive of Yemen, in Arabia Feliv ; the property of Horse. the late Lord Grosvenor, taken from a picture in possession of his Lordship, painted by Mr. Stubbs, an artist not less happy in representing animals in their stiller moments, than when agitated by their furious passions ; his matchless paintings of horses will be lasting monuments of the one, and that of the lion and panther of the other. This horse, by its long residence among us, may be said to be naturalised, therefore we hope to be excused for introducing it here, not- withstanding its foreign descent. From its great beauty it may be presumed that it derives its lineage from Monaki Shaduki, of the pure race of horses, pwer than milk.-\ * Vol. i. Plate I. t Vide the Aralian certificate, in a following note, for the meaning of this phrase. " '"' ■• •■^'•'"■i 500 APPENDIX. I. Arabia produces these noble animals in the highest perfection ; first, because they take their origin from the wild unmixed breeds that for- merly were found in the deserts,* which had as little degenerated from their primeval form and powers as the lion, tiger, or any other creature which still remains in a state of nature un- changed by the discipline of man, or harvested provision. The Arabs place their chief delight in this animal ; it is to themf as dear as their family, * Leo Africanus, who wrote in the time o£ Leo X. says, that in his days great numbers of wild horses were found in the Nu- ' , jnidian and Arahian deserts, which were broke for use. He adds, that the trial of their swiftness was made against the Lant, or the Ostrich ; and if they could overtake either of those ani- mals, were valued at a hundred camels. Hisi. Africa, 33Q. f As a proof of this, receive the following lamentation of an Arab, obliged, through poverty, to part with his mare : My eyes, says he, to the animal, my soul, must I he so unfortunate as to have sold thee to so many masters, and not to keep thee myself? I am, poor, my Antelope. You know well enough, my honey ^ I have brought thee up as my child; I never beat nor chid thee ; / made as much of thee as ever I could for my life. God pre- serve thee, my dearest; thou art pretty ; thou art lovely; God de- fend thee from the looks of the envious. To understand the first part of this speech, it must be observed, that it is usual for many Arabs, of the poorer rank, to join in the purchase of a horse, the original owner generally retaining one share. This, as well as most of the other particulars relating to the Arabian horse, are taken from M. D'Ar^ieux's cuiious account of Araf lia, i>. 167, London, 1732. ,;.,. ;oi -jJ - Oiis;... ON THE HORSE. 301 and is indeed part of it : men, women, children, mares, and foals, all lie in one common tent, and they lodge promiscuously without fear of - injury. ,-; This constant intercourse produces a fami- liarity that could not otherwise be effected; and creates a tractability in the horses that could arise only from a regular good usage, little acts of kindness, and a soothing language, which they are accustomed to from their ma- sters : they are quite unacquainted with the spur ; the lest touch with the stirrup sets these ' airy coursers in motion ; they start forward with a fleetness which surpasses that of the Ostrich,* yet they are so well trained as to stop in their most rapid speed by the slightest check of the rider: there are sometimes instances of their being mounted without either bridle or saddle, when they shew such compliance to their rider's will, as to be directed in their course by the mere motion of a switch.')' - ' Paret in obsequiiim lentce. moderamlne *virgcE^ Verbera sunt prcecepta fug(P, sunt >verbera jr(j£na.\ * For an account of Its speed, vide Adanson s voy . 85. f Tavernieis Travels, i. 03. *' X Nemesion Ci/neg. 267. .•■":"'■,,, '.'■-'^ »4:.,,v"i'J- j-'X' 302 APPENDIX. 1. Several things concur to maintain this per- fection in the horses of Arabia, such as the great care the Arabs take in preserving the breed genuine, and by permitting none but stallions of the first form to have access to the mares : this is never done but in the presence of a wit- ness, the secretary of the Emir, or some public officer; he asserts the fact, records the name of the horse, mare, and whole pedigree of each, and these attestations* are carefully pre- * The reader is here presented with an original attestation, some of which M. D'Arvieux says have been preserved for above 600 years in the pubUc records. TAKEN BEFORE ABDORRAMAN, KADI OF ACCA. The Occasion of this present Writing or Instrument is that ' at AccA in the House o? Badi legal establish'd Judge, appear'd in Court Thoinas Usgate the English Consul and with him Sheikh Morad Ehn al Hajj Ahdollah, Sheikh of the County of Sqfad, and the said Consul desir'd from the aforesaid Sheikh proof of the Race of the Grey Horse which he bought of him, and He affirm'd to be Monaki Shaduhi,f but he was not satis- fied with this but desir'd the Testimony of the Arabs, who bred the Horse and knew how he came to Sheikh Morad ; where- upon there appear'd certain Arabs of Repute whose names are undermention'd, who testified and declar'd that the Grey Horse •f These are the Names of the two Breeds of Aral Horses, which are reckoned pure a?id true, and those which are of Loth these Breeds by Father and Mother, are the most nolle and free from Bastardy. ON THE HORSE. 303 served, for on them depends the future price of the foal. The Arabs, whose riches are their horses, take all imaginable care of them ; they have it not in their power to give them grass in their hot climate, except in the spring ; their con- stant food is barley, and that given only in the night, as they are never suffered to eat during the day. In the day-time they are kept saddled at the door of the tent, ready for any excursion their masters may make ; the Arabs being fond which the Consul formerly bought of Sheihh Morad, is Monaki Shaduki of the pure Race of Horses, purer than Milkj-f- and that the Beginning of the Affair was, that Sheikh Saleh, Sheikh of Alsahal, bought him of the Arabs of the Tribe of al Mohamma- dat, and Sheikh Saleh sold him to Sheikh Morad Eln al Hajj Ahdollah, Sheikh of Safad, and Sheikh Morad sold him to the Consul aforesaid, when these Matters appear'd to us, and the Contents were known, the said Gentleman desir'd a Certificate thereof, and Testimony of the Witnesses, whereupon we wrote him this Certificate, for him to keep as a Proof thereof. Dated Friday 28 of the latter Rali in the Year 1135. (i. e. 2Q Januarij 1772.) Witnesses, Sheikh Jumat al Fulihau of the Arals of al Mohammadat. Alt Elm Taleh al Kaahi. Ibrahim his Brother. Mohammed alAdhr a Sheikh Alfarif at. Khamis al Kaabi, . ■ -(• A Proverlial Expression, 304 APPENDIX. I. of the chace, and live by the plundering- of travellers. The horses are never hurt by any servile employ; never injured by heavy bur- thens, or by long journies; enjoy a pure dry air, due exercise, great temperance, and great care. Every horse in Arabia (except those which by way of contempt are called Guidich, or pack horses) has a degree of good qualities superior to those of any other place ; yet it is not to be supposed, but that there are certain parts of that country, which have attained a higher perfec- tion in the art of management than the others. Thus we find by some late information,* that Yemen in Arabia Fellv is at present in great repute for its breed; for the jockies of that part have acquired such a superior name, as to be able to sell their three year old horses for • two or three hundred guineas a-piece, and when they can be prevailed on to part with a favorite stallion, they will not take less for it than fifteen hundred guineas. It is from this counti'y that the great men in India are supplied with horses, for India itself is possessed of a very bad kind ; these noble animals being much neglected there, from the constant use of the Buffalo, not only , in tillage, but even in riding. ' * Wall, on horses, 74. ON THE HORSE. S05 It may be allowed here to give some account of the horses of other countries, which derive their origin, or at lest receive their improve- ment from the Arabian kind, for wheresoever the Saracens spread their victorious arms, they, at the same time, introduced their generous race of horses. <,%i^^ >^-?\^^- J, JEthiopia has with some writers the credit of having originally furnished Arabia with its fine race of horses ; but we believe the reverse, and that they were introduced into that empire by the. Arabian princes, whose lineage to this day fills that throne. The horses of that country . are spirited and strong, and generally of a black color : they are never used in long jour- nies, but only in battle or in the race, for all servile work is done by mules : the Ethiopians never shoe them, for which reason, on passing through stony places, they dismount, and ride on mules, and lead their horses ;| so from this * Taverniers Travels, i. 145. f Ludolph. hist JEthiop, 53. VOL. II. X 306 APPENDIX. I. \ve may collect, that this nation is not less at- tached to these animals than the Arabs. JEgypt has two breeds of horses, one its own, the other Arabian ; the last are most esteemed, and are bought up at a great price, in order to be sent to Constantinople ; but such is the dis- couragement, arising from the tyranny of the government, that the owners often wilfully lame a promising horse,* lest the Beys should like it and force it from them. Barbary owes its fine horses to the same stock, but in general they are far inferior in point of value ; and for the same reason as is given in the last article, the great insecurity of property under the Turkish government. The breed was once very famous : M. D' A7^'meiix-\ says, that when he was there in 1668, he met with a mare that he thought worthy of the stud of his grand Monarque, when in the height of his glory ; but Doctor Shaw informs us, that at present the case is entirely altered.:}: Notwithstanding Spain has been celebrated of old for the swiftness of its horses, yet it must have received great improvement from those • brought over by their conquerors, the Saracens. * Univ. modern hist, quoted from Maillet and Pocock. '. ^ D'Arvieux, 173. X Shaw's Travels, 238. ON THE HORSE. 507 According to Oppian,"^ the Spanish breed had no other merit than that of fleetness, but at pre- sent we know that they have several other fine qualities. To sum up the account of this generous ani- mal, we may observe, that every country that boasts of a fine race of horses, is indebted to Ai^abia, their primaeval seat. No wonder then, that the poetic genius of the author of the book of Job, (who not only lived on the very spot, but even at a time when the animal creation still enjoyed much of its original perfection,) should be able to compose that sublime descrip- tion which has always been the admiration of every person of genuine taste. f ^ * Cyneg. lib. i. v. 284. f Job, ch. xxxix. V. \Q. to 25. X S 308 APPENDIX. II. No. 11^ ON TAKING WOLVES. Vol. I. P. 89. Ex Autographo penes Dec. et Capit. Exon. From Bp. Lyttelton's Collections. JOHAN. comes Moreton omnibus hominibus et amicis suis Francis et Anglicis presentibus et futuris salutem sciatis nos conces." reddi- disse et hac carta mea confirmasse comit. baron, militibus et omnibus libere tenentibus clericis et laicis in Devenescire libertates suas foreste quas habuerunt tempore Henric't Reg. proavi mei tenendas et habendas illis et heredibus suis de me et heredibus meis et nominatim quod habeant arcus et pharetras, et sagittas in terris suis deferendas extra regardum foreste mee, et quod canes sui vel hominum suorum, non sint espaltati extra regardum foreste, et quod ha- beant canes suos et alias libertates, sicut melius et liberius illas habuerunt tempore ejusd. Hen- rici Regis et Reisellos suos, et quod capiant Capreolum, Vulpem, Cattum, Lupum, Lepo- rem, Lutram, ubicunque illam inveniunt extra regardum foreste mee. Et ideo vobis firmiter CHOICE OF HAWKS. . 309 precipio, quod nullus eis, de hiis vel aliis liber- tatibus suis molestiam inferat vel gravamen. Hiis testibus JVill. Marescall. Will, comite Saresbur. Will. com. de Vernon. Steph. Ridell cancellario meo, Will, de Wenn. Hamone de Ffl« loin, Rogero de JSfovoburgo, Ingelram de Pin- coll. Rob. de Moritomari, Waltero Maltrwvers. Rad. Morin, Walt, de Cantelu. Gilberti Moriu et multis aliis. Seal appendant, an armed man on horseback, and on the reverse, a small impression from an antique head — the legend broken. No. III. OF THE CHOICE OF HIS MAJESTY'S HAWKS.^ Vol. I. P. 210. X O all those to whome this present Writinge shall come I Sr. Anthony Pell Knight Maister Faulkner Surveyor and Keeper of his Majesties Hawkes send greetinge, Whereas I am credibly informed that divers persons who doe usuallie bringe Haukes to sell doe commonlye convey them from shipbord and custome bowse before such tyme as I or my servants or deputies have any sight or choise of them for his Majesties use 310 APPENDIX. III. whereby his Highness is not nor hath not lately beene furnished with the number of Hawkes as is most meete, Wherefore theis are in his Ma- jesties name to will charge and commaund you and every of you that shall at any tyme hereafter bringe any Hawkes to sell, That neither you nor any of you nor any others for you or by your appointment doe remove or convey awaye any of your Hawkes whatsoever from shipbord or the custome house untill such tyme as the bearer hereof my welbeloved friend JVilliam Spence Gent, have his first choise for his Ma- jesties service. And that you and every one of you do quietly permitt and suffer the said JFm. Spence the bearer hereof to take his choise and make tryal of such of your Hawkes as he shall thinke meete with a gorge or two of meat before such tyme as his ^iajesties price be paide bee- inge as hereafter followeth, viz for a Faulcon twenty six shillings and eight pence, for a Tas- sell gentle thirteene shillings and four pence, for a Lanner twenty six shillings and eight pence, for a Lannarett thirteene shillings and foure pence, for a Goshawke twentie shillings, for a Tassell of a Gosshawke thirteene shillings and[ foure pence, for a Gerfaulkon thirtie shillings, for a Jerkin thirteen shillings and fourepence,, hereof fayle you not as you will answere. th^ ON COCK-FIGHTING. 311 conti'ary at your perills. Dated the six and twentieth day J anuarie Am\o Domini 1621. This warrant to endure untill the first daye of August next comeinge. No. IV. ON COCK-FIGHTING. Vol. I. P. 371. oOME account of the barbarous custom of Cock-fighting, so frequent, till of late years, a favorite amusement among some of all ranks in this kingdom, will be no improper append- age to the history of our domestic birds. If it can be any apology for so cruel a diver- sion, we may plead that it was in use among the most polite people of antiquity : first invented, in all probability, by the Athenians, and bor- rowed from them by other nations, in particu- lar by the Romans, who introduced it into our islands. At Atheiis was an annual feast, attended with Cock-fighting, instituted by Themistodes in ho- nor of the birds from whose fighting he received an omen of his success against the Pei^sians. He observed, that these birds fought for mere glory; neither for the gods of their country, 3ia APPENDIX. IV. nor tombs of their ancestors, nor yet for their children : * setting before his soldiers every motive to excite their valor, which they had superior to these birds. This festival was stiled A'ASKt^vcvv ayiuv ; and became anniversary. The Cock-pit, or TryXla, was in the theatre where the public games were exhibited, and was in form of a square stage, not round, like the modern pits. The game of Cock-fighting lasted but one day ; for originally it was con- sidered partly as a religious and partly as a political institution. But the custom was soon abused, and Cock- matches grew frequent among private people. The barber Meidias and Callias fought a main ; these gentlemen were, in all probability, also ce- lebrated Cock-feeders, or at least Quail-feeders, being called o^rvyr^ocpoi ; for it is certain that the antients prepared their birds for battle: great sums were layed on the event ; and the LanistcB, or Cockers, frequently totally ruined by their pursuit of the diversion, j" The custom spread soon, as is suspected, from Athens to Pergamns and Troas. In the first were annual Cock-matches : and their neighbours, the Dardanii Troes, seem equally addicted to the diversion, as is evident from * JEUan. Far. Hist. ii. c. 20. f Columella, lib. viii. c. 2. ON COCK-FIGHTING. 313 their coins, which had on them two fighting cocks. On two antient gems, in the collection of Sir JViUiam Hamilton,* are strong memorials of this custom : on one is a Cock, with his head erect, carrying in his bill a palm-branch, in token of victory over another, which is standing before with a drooping head. On the other, are two in the action of fighting, and a mouse above, running away with an ear of corn, the cause of the battle : from both these represent- ations, it is evident that the antients neither trimmed- their Cocks, or cut off their combs and wattles. The race of birds most esteemed by the an- tients, was that of Tanagra, a city of Bceotia, the Isle of Rhodes, Chalcis in Euboea, and the country of Media,'\ They preferred the larger kind, or what we call Shakehags. The hens of Ale.vandf^ia in Egypt, called Movo^o^ot, were high- ly valued for breeding spirited chickens. J From Greece the diversion was carried to Rome; but did not arrive at the height of folly as it did at Athens. The Romans delighting more in quail fightings, as the Chinese do at * Archceologia, vol. iii. tab. ix. t Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. x. c. 21. \ Geoponic. lib. xiv. c. 7. Sm APPENDIX. IV. this time. But we are told, that the fraternal hatred between Bassianus and Geta, sons of the emperor Severits, began when they were boys, from a quarrel they had about their Quails and Cocks.* The Britons had poultry before the arrival of Ccesar, but they owe the barbarous custom of Cocking to the Romans. Yet it does not oc- cur among our writers, till the time of Henry 11. when FitZ'Stephens | mentions it as the school- boys diversion on Carnelevaria, or Shrove-Tues- day. Edzcardlll. disapproved and prohibited Cock-fighting. j: But that barbarous prince Hemy VIII. gave it so much encouragement as to build a theatre, near Whitehall, for that purpose, to this day known by the name of the Cockpit. At length Oliver Crmmvell, in 1654^ by a humane edict, suppressed these disgrace- ful meetings ; which, after his time, revived with full fury : yet it is some consolation, in this profligate age, that whatsoever other follies flourish, this loses credit, and drops (excepting among the dregs of the people) into the utmost disrepute. § * Herodian iii. § 33. f p. 45. % Maitland Lojidun, i. 131. § It will be injastiee not to say, that almost the whole of this is borrowed from the memoir on this subject, by that able an- tiquary the Rev. Mr. Pegge. S&c Archceologia, vol. iii. 132. ON THE SMALL BIRDS OF FLIGHT. ms No. V. ON THE SMALL BIRDS OF FLIGHT ; BY THE HON"* DAINES BARRINGTON. , ±N the suburbs of London (and particularly about Shoreditch) are several weavers and othei" tradesmen, who, during the months of Octohet and March, get their livelihood by an ingeni- ous, and we may say, a scientific method of bird-catching, which is totally unknown in other parts of Great Britain. ' -' The reason of this trade being confined to so small a compass, arises from there being no considerable sale for singing birds except in the metropolis : as the apparatus for this purpose is also heavy, and at the same time must be carried on a man's back, it prevents the bird- eatchers going to above three or four miles distance. This method of bird-catching must have been long practised, as it is brought to a most syste- matical perfection, and is attended with a very considerable expence. The nets are a most ingenious piece of me- 316 APPENDIX. V. chanism, are generally twelve yards and a half long, and two yards and a half wide ; and no one on bare inspection would imagine that a bird (who is so very quick in all its motions) could be catched by the nets flapping over each other, till he becomes eye-witness of the pullers seldom failing. * The wild birds Jli/ (as the bird-catchers term it) chiefly during the month of October, and part of September and November; as the flight in March is much less considerable than that of Michaelmas. It is to be noted also, that the several species of bii^ds of Jiight do not make their appearance precisely at the same time, during tlie months of September, October and No'vember. The Pippet, f for example, begins to fly about Michaelmas, and then the Woodlark, Linnet, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Green- V finch, and other birds of flight succeed; all of which are not easily to be caught, or in any numbers, at any other time, and more parti- cularly the Pippet and the Woodlark. pill 095- * These nets are known in most parts of England by the name of day-nets or clap-nets ; but all we have seen are far in- ferior in their mechanism to those used near London. •f A small species of Lark, but which is inferior to other birds of that Genus in point of song. (See vol. i.p. 484.) ON THE SMALL BIRDS OF FLIGHT. aiT These birds, during the Michaelmas and March flights, are chiefly on the wing from day- break till noon, though there is afterwards a sva^X flight from two till night ; but this how^- ever is so inconsiderable, that the bird-catchers always take up their nets at noon. It may well deserve the attention of the na- turalist whence these periodical flights of certain birds can arise. As the ground, however, is ■ ploughed during the months of October and March for sowing the winter and lent corn, it should seem that they are thus supplied with a great profusion both of seeds and insects, which they cannot so easily procure at any other reason. It may not be improper to mention another circumstance, to be observed during their flit- ting, X)iz. that they fly always against the wind ; hence, there is great contention amongst the bird-catchers who shall gain that point; if (for example) it is westerly, the bird-catcher who lays his nets most to the east, is sure almost of catching every thing, provided his call-birds are good : a gentle wind to the south-west generally produces the best sport. The bird-catcher, who is a substantial man, and hath a proper apparatus for this purpose, generally carries with him five or six linnets (of tm APPENDIX. V. which more are caught than any singing bird) two goldfinches, two greenfinches, one woodlark, one redpoll, a yellowhammer, titlark, and aberda- vine, and perhaps a bullfinch ; these are placed at small distances from the nets in little cages. He hath, besides, what are called Jiur-birds, which are placed within the nets, are raised upon the j^wr,* and gently let down at the time the wild bird approaches them. These gener- ally consist of the linnet, the goldfinch, and the greenfinch, which are secured to the Jlur by what is called a brace ;'\ a contrivance that se- cures the birds without doing any injury to their plumage. It having been found that there is a superi- ority between bird and bird, from the one be- ing more in song than the other; the bird- catchers contrive that their call birds should moult before the usual time. They, therefore, in June or July^ put them into a close box, under two or three folds of blankets, and leave their dung in the cage to raise a greater heat ; * A moveable perch to which the bird is tied, and which the bird-catcher can raise at pleasure, by means of a long string fastened to it. f A sort of bandage, 'formed of a slender silken string that is fastened round the bird's body, and under the wings, in so art- ful a manner as to hinder the bird from being hurt, let it flutter ever so much in the raising. ON THE SMALL BIRDS OF FLIGHT. Sig in which state they continue, being perhaps ex- amined but once a week to have fresh water. As for food, the air is so putrid, that they eat little during the whole state of confinement, whida lasts about a month. The birds fre- quently die under the operation ;* and hence the value of a stopped bird rises greatly. When the bird hath tlius prematurely moult- ed, he is in song, whilst the wild birds ai'e out qfsottg, and his note is louder and more pierc- ing than that of a wild one ; but it is not only in his note he receives an alteration, the plum- age is equally improved. The black and yel- low in the wings of the goldfinch, for example, become deeper and more vivid, together with a most beautiful gloss, which is not to be seen in the wild bird. The bill, which in the latter is iikcAvise black at the end, in the stopped bird becomes white and more tap)er, as do its legs : in short, there is as much difference between a wild and a stopped bird, as there is between a horse which is kept in body cloaths, or at grass. When the bird-catcher hath laid his nets, he * We have been lately informed by an experienced bird- catcher, that he pursues a cooler regimen in stopping his birds, and that he theriefore seldom loses one. 320 APPENDIX. V. disposes of his call-birds at proper intervals. It must be owned, that there is a most mali- cious joy in these call-birds to bring the wild ones into the same state of captivity; which may likewise be observed with regard to the decoy ducks. Their sight and hearing infinitely excels that of the bird-catcher. The instant that the * wild birds are perceived, notice is given by one to the rest of the call-birds, (as it is by the first hound that hits on the scent, to the rest of the pack) after which, follows the same. sort of tu- multuous ecstacy and joy. The call-birds^ while the bird is at a distance, do not sing as a bird does in a chamber ; they invite the wild ones by what the bird-catchers call short jerks, which when the birds are good, may be heard at a great distance. The ascendancy by this call or invitation is so great, that the wild bird is stopped in its course of flight, and if not al- ready acquainted with the nets,t lights boldly within twenty yards of perhaps three or four * It may be also observed, that the moment they see a hawk, they communicate the alarm to each other by a plaintive note j nor will they then_;erA or call though the wild birds are near. \ A bird, acquainted with the nets, is by the bird-catchers termed a sharper, which they endeavour to drive away, as they can have no sport whilst it continues near them. ON THE SMALL BIRDS OF FLIGHT. 3^1 bird-catchers, on a spot which otherwise it would not have taken the least notice of. Nay, it frequently happens, that if half a flock only are caught, the remaining half will immediately afterwards light in the nets, and share the same fate ; and should only one bird escape, that bird Avill suffer itself to be pulled at till it is caught, such a fascinating power have the call-birds. While we are on this subject of the jerking of birds, we cannot omit mentioning, that the bird-catchers frequently lay considerable wagers whose call-bird co-n Jerk the longest, as that de- termines the superiority. They place them op- posite to each other, by an inch of candle, and the bird who Jei^ks the oftenest, before the can- dle is burnt out, wins the wager. We have been informed, that there have been instances of a bird's giving a hundred and seventy jer^^ in a quarter of an hour ; and we have known a linnet, in such a trial, persevere in its emula- tion till it swooned from the perch : thus, as Pliny says of the nightingale, victa morte Jinit S(2pe vitam, spiritu prius deficiente qudm cantu.^ It may be here observed, that birds when near each other, and in sight, seldom JerA: or sing. They either fight, or use short and wheed- * Lib. X. c. 29. VOL. ir. Y 32a APPENDIX. V. ling calls ; i\\ejerki7ig of these call-birds, there^ fore, face to face, is a most extraordinary in- stance of contention for superiority in song. It may be also worthy of observation, that the female of no species of birds ever sings: with birds, it is the reverse of what occurs in human kind : among the feathered tribe, all the cares of life fall to the lot of the tender sex : theirs is the fatigue of incubation ; and the prin- cipal share in nursing the helpless brood : to alleviate these fatigues, and to support her un- der them, nature hath given to the male the song, with all the little blandishments and sooth- ing arts ; these he fondly exerts (even after courtship) on some spray contiguous to the nest, during the time his mate is performing her pa- rental duties. But that she should be silent, is also another wise provision of nature, for her song would discover her nest ; as would a gau- diness of plumage, which, for the same reason, seems to have been denied her. To these we may add a few particulars that fell within our notice during our enquiries among the bird-catchers, such as, that they immediate- ly kill the hens of every species of birds they take, being incapable of singing, as also being inferior in plumage ; the pippets likewise are in- discriminately destroyed, as the cock does not ON THE SMALL BIRDS OF FLIGHT. 323 sing well; they sell the dead bh'ds for three- pence or four-pence a dozen. These small bkds are so good, that we are surprised the luxury of the age neglects so de- licate an acquisition to the table. The modern Italians are fond of small birds, which they eat under the common name of Beccaficos : and the dear rate a Rotnan tragedian paid for one dish of singing birds* is well known. Another particular we learned, in conversa- tion with a London bird-catcher, was the vast price that is sometimes given for a single song bird, which had not learned to whistle tunes. The greatest sum we heard of, was five guineas for a chaffinch, that had a particular and un- ' common note, under which it was intended to train others : and we also heard of five pounds ten shillings being given for a call-bird linnet, A third singular circumstance, which confirms an observation of LinncBus, is, that the male chaffinches fly by themselves, and in the flight precede the females ; but this is not peculiar to the chaffinches. When the titlarks are caught * Maximi tamen insignis est in hac memoria, Clodli JEsopi tragici hisiTwnis patina sexcentis H. S. taxata; in quo posuit aves cantu uliquo, aut humano sermone, vocales. Plin. lib. x. c. 51. The price of this expensive dish was about 6,843/. 10*. according to Arhut/mot's Tables. This seems to have been a wanton caprice, rather than a tribute to epicurism. T. P. Y 2 324 APPENDIX. V. in the beginning of the season, it frequently happens, that forty are taken and not one fe- male among them : and probably the same would be observed with regard to other birds (as has been done with relation to the wheat^ear) if they were attended to. An experienced and intelligent bird-catcher informed us, that such birds as breed twice a year, generally have in their first brood a ma- jority of males, and in their second, of females, which may in part account for the above ob- servation. We must not omit mention of the bulfinch, though it does not properly come under the title t)f a singing bird, or a bird oi flight, as it does not often move farther than from hedge to hedge; yet, as the bird sells well on account of its learning to whistle tunes, and sometimes flies over the fields where the nets are laid ; the bird-catchers have often a call-bird to ensnare it, though most of them can imitate the call with their mouths. It is remarkable with re- gard to this bird, that the female answers the purpose of a call-bird as well as the male, which is not experienced in any other bird taken by the London bird-catchers. It may perhaps surprise, that under this ar- ticle of singing birds, we have not mentioned ON THE SMALL BIRDS OF FLIGHT. 325 the nightingale; which is not a bird oi flight, in the sense the bird-catchers use this term. The nightingale, like the robin, wren, and many other singing birds, only moves from hedge to hedge, and does not take the periodical ^i^A^^ in October and March. The persons who catch these birds, make use of small trap-nets, without call-birds, and are considered as inferior in dig- nity to other bird-catchers, who will not rank with them. The nicfhtinoale being the first of singino; birds, we shall here insert a few particulars re- lating to it, that were transmitted to us since the description of that bird was printed. Its arrival is expected, by the trappers in the neighborhood of London^ the first week in April; at the beginning none but cocks are taken, but in a few days the hens make their appearance, generally by themselves, though sometimes a few males come along with them. The latter are distinguished from the females not only by their superior size, but by a great swelling of their vent, which commences on the first arrival of the hens. They do not build till the middle of Mai/, and generally chuse a quickset, to make their nest in. - If the nightingale is kept in a cage, it often sm APPENDIX. VI. begins to sing about the latter end of November, and continues its song more or less till June. A young Canary bird, linnet, skylark, or ro- bin, (who have never heard any other bird) are said best to learn the note of a nightingale. They are caught in a net-trap ; the bottom of which is surrounded with an iron ring ; the net itself is rather larger than a cabbage net. When the trappers hear or see them, they strew some fresh mould under the place, and bait the trap with a meal-worm from the baker's shop. Ten or a dozen nightingales have been " thus caught in a day. No. VI. EXPERIMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS, BY THE HON. DAINES BARRINGTON; IN A LETTER TO MATHEW MATY, M.D. SEC. R. S. 1773. From the Philosophical Transactions, Vol. LXIII. Dear Sir, As the experiments and observations I mean to lay before the Royal Society relate to the sing- ing of birds, which is a subject that hath never ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. S27 before been scientifically treated of,* it may not be improper to prefix an explanation of some uncommon terms, which I shall be obliged to use, as well as others which I have been ' ■ under a necessity of coining. To chirp is the first sound which a young bird utters, as a cry for food, and is different in all nestlings, if accurately attended to; so that the hearer may distinguish of what species ^ the birds are, though the nest may hang out of his sight and reach. This cry is, as might be expected, very Aveak and querulous ; it is dropped entirely as the bird grows stronger, nor is afterwards inter- mixed with its song, the chirp of a nightingale (for example) being hoarse and disagreeable. To this definition of the chirp, I must add, that it consists of a single sound, repeated at ^ very short intervals, and that it is common to nestlings of both sexes. The call of a bird, is that sound which it is able to make, when about a month old ; it is, in most instances (which I happen to recollect) * Kircher, indeed, in his Musiirgia, hath given us some few passages in the song of the nightingale, as well as the call of a quail and cuckow, which he hath engraved in musical charac- ters. These instances, however, only prove that some birds have in their song, notes which correspond with the intervals of our common scale of the musical octave. . ■ 328 APPENDIX. VI. a repetition of one and the same note; is retain- ed by the bird as long as it lives, and is com- mon, generally, to both the cock and hen.* The next stage in the notes of a bird is term- ed, by the bird-catchers, recording, which word is probably derived from a musical instrument, formerly used in Etigland, called a recorder.f This attempt in the nestling to sing, may be compared to the imperfect endeavour in a child to babble. I have known instances of birds beginning to record when they were not a month ■ pld. This first essay does not seem to have the least rudiments of the future song ; but as the bird grows older and stronger, one may begin to perceive what the nestling is aiming at. Whilst the scholar is thus endeavouring to form his song, when he is once sure of a pas- * For want of terms to distinguish the notes of birds, Bclon applies the verb chantent, or sing, to the goose and crane, as well as the nightingale. " Plusieurs oiseaux chantent la nuit, comme est I'oye, la grue, & le rossignol." Belons Hist, of Birds, p. 50. ■f It seems to have been a species of flute, and was probably used to teach young birds to pipe tunes. Lord Bacon describes this instrument to have been strait, to have had a lesser and greater bore, both above and below, to have required very little breath from the blower, and to have had what he calls a Jipple, or stopper. See his second Century of Experiments^ ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 329 sage, he commonly raises his tone, which he drops again when he is not equal to what he is attempting ; just as a singer raises his voice, when he not only recollects certain parts of a tune with precision, but knows that he can execute them. What the nestling is not thus thoroughly master of, he hurries over, lowering his tone, as if he did not wish to be heard, and could not yet satisfy himself. I have never happened to meet with a pas- sage in any writer, which seems to relate to this stage of singing in a bird, except, perhaps, in the following lines of /5Vf///zw ; '''y ■ is " Nunc volucrum novl ** Questus, incxpertuinque carmen, " Quod tacita statuere bruma." ' ' Siai. Sylv. L. IV. Eel. 5. A young bird commonly continues to record for ten or eleven months, when he is able to exe- cute every part of his song, which afterwards continues fixed, and is scarcely ever altered.* When the bird is thus become perfect in his • The bird called a Twite (See vol. i. p. 467.) by the bird- catchers commordy flies in company with linnets, yet these two species of birds never learn each other's notes, which always continue totally different. • ■ $30 APPENDIX. VI. lesson, he is said to sing his song round, or in all its varieties of passages, which he connects together, and executes without a pause. I M'ould therefore define a bird's song to be a succession of three or more different notes, which are continued without interruption dur- ing the same interval with a musical bar of four crotchets in an adagio movement, or whilst a pendulum swings four seconds. By the first requisite in this definition, I mean to exclude the call of a cuckow, or clucking of a hen,* as they consist of only two notes ; whilst the short bursts of singing birds, contending with each other (called Jerks by the bird-catchers) are equally distinguished from what I term song, by their not continuing for four seconds. As the notes of a cuckow and hen, therefore, though they exceed what I have defined the call of a bird to be, do not amount to its song, I will, for this reason, take the liberty of terming such a succession of two notes as we hear in these birds, the varied call. Having thus settled the meaning of certain words, which I shall be obliged to make use of, * The common hen, when she lays, repeats the same note rery often, and concludes with the sixth above, which she holds for a longer time. ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 331 I shall now proceed to state some general prin- ciples with regard to the singing of birds, which seem to result from the experiments I have been making for several years, and under a great variety of circumstances. Notes in birds are no more innate, than lan- guage is in man, and depend entirely upon the master under which they are bred, as far as their organs will enable them to imitate the sounds which they have frequent opportunities of hearing. Most of the experiments I have made on this subject have been tried with cock linnets, which were fledged and nearly able to leave their nest, on account not only of this bird's docility, and great powers of imitation, but because the cock is easily distinguished from the hen at that €arly period, by the superior whiteness in the wing.* „j, In many other sorts of singing birds the male is not at the age of three weeks so certainly • - known from the female ; and if the pupil turns out to be a hen, " ibiomnis'Orr bib ,t070 jd ■ . " Eifusus labor." * The white reaches alniost to the shaft of the quil feathers, and in the hen does not exceed more than half of that space : it is also of a bfishter hue. " , 332 APPENDIX. VI. The Greek poets made a songster . of the ■n'stti^, whatever animal that may be, and it is remarkable that they observed the female was incapable of singing as well as hen birds : Eir' siiTiv 01 fsffiyss ov>i suSaiiJ^ovs^, Hv "taig yvvai^iv ov S' otiovv -<'4't^' VOL. ir. 2 a 554 APPENDIX. VI. scholar. Every year also now produces greater and greater prodigies upon other instruments, in point of execution. I have before observed, that by attending to a nightingale, as well as a robin which was edu- cated under him, I always found that the notes reducible to our intervals of the octave were precisely the same ; which is another proof that birds sing always in the same key. c In this circumstance, they differ much from tbe human singer ; because they who are not able to sing from tlie notes, often begin a song either above or below the compass of their voice, which they are not thei'efore able to go through with. As birds, however, form the sa;me passages with the same notes, at all times, this mistake of the pitch can never happen in tiiem. Few singers again can continue their own part, whilst the same passages are sung by another in a different key ; or if other passages are played, though they may agree both in har- mony and time. As birds, however, adhere so stedfastly to the same precise notes in the same passages, though they never trouble themselves about what is called time or harmony in music; it ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 35 follows thjat ^ composition may be formed for two piping bulfinches, in two parts, so as to constitute true harmony, tliough either of the birds may happen to begin, or stop, when they please. I iiave therefore procured such an ingenious composition, by a very able musician,* >i'hich I send herewith; and it need scarcely be ob- served, that there cannot possibly be much variety in the part of the second bulfinch. Though several birds have great musical pow ers, yet they seem to have no delicacy of sensations, as the human singer hath; and therefore the very best of them cannot be taught to exceed the insipidity of the upper part of the flute stop of an organ, f which hath : not the modern improvement of a swell. They are easily imposed upon by that most imperfect of all instruments, a bird-call, which ' * Mr. Zeidler, who plays the vlolincello at Covent Garde?i vtjje.atre. "f Lord Bacon mentions, that In the instrument called a regall (which was a species of portable organ) there was a night' ingale stop, in which water was made use oi to produce the ' stronger imitation of this bird's tone. See Cent. II. ejfper. 172. Though this instrument, as well as its nightingale stop, is now disused, I have procured an organ pipe to be jmnjersed pajrtly in water, which, when blown into, hath produced a tp/^e y.ery similar to that of birds. 2 A 2 356 APPENDIX. VI. they often mistake for the notes of their own species. I have before observed, that perhaps no bird may be said to sing which is larger than a black bird, though many of them are taught to speak : the smaller birds, however, have this power of imitation ; though perhaps the larger ones have not organs which may enable them, on the other hand, to sing. We have the following instances of birds be- ing taught to speak, in the time of the Greeks and Romans, upon which we never try the same experiment. Moschus addresses nightingales and swallows which were thus instructed : Moschi Idyl. III. •, Pliny mentions both a cock, thrush, and nightingales, which articulated :* " Habebant & CcEsares juvenes turdum,^ " item luscinias Graeco atque Latino sermone " dociles, prseterea meditantes in diem, & as- " sidue nova loquentes longiore etiam con- " textu." . ^'' * iii.X. c. 21 &42. ■\ Ibid. The other turdus belonged to the Empress Agrip- ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 357 St a fius also tokes notice of some birds speak- ing, which we never attempt to teach in this manner : " Hue doctse stipentur aves, quels nobile fandi *' Jus natura dedit, plangat Phoebeius ales, " Auditasque memor penitus demittere voces *' Sturnus, & Aonio versee certamine picae ; *' Ouique refert jungens jterata vocabula perdix, " Et quae £M^o??io queritur soror orba cubili."* Stat. Sylv. lib. ii. eel. 4. * Amongst the five birds mentioned in these lines of Statius, there are four which are never taught to speak at present, viz. the cock, the nightingale, the common, and the red legged partridge. As I suppose, however, that perdix signifies this last bird, and ' not the common partridge (as it is always translated), it is proper I should here give my reasons why I dissent from others, as also why I conceive that sturnus, in this passage, is not a starling, ' but the common partridge. None of the ancients have described the plumage of the per- dix ; but Aristotle, Ovid, and Pliny, inform us of what mate- rials the nest of this bird is composed, as well as where it is placed. Aristotle says, that the nest is fortified with wood -^-^ and in another chapter, J with thorns and ivood; neither of which are used by the common partridge, which often builds in a country where they cannot be procured. ; On the contrary, M. de Buffon informs us, that the red leg- ged partridge, " se tiennent sur les montagnes qui produisent beaucoup de bruyeres, & de broussaiIles.§ -j- 'EsTrriXvya^oij.eyM \i\r]-j. Lib. V.C.I. 'SN\ach. Stephens xer^ds-Xsmaldng '' ■ a covering of wood, X Lib. IX. c. s. The common partridge, however, makes its nest with hay and straw. § Cm. T. II. p. 433. 558 APPENDIX. VI. As we findj from these citations, that so many different sorts of birds have learned to Ovid, therefore, speaking of the perdix, says, " ponitque in seplbus ova,"* where the common partridge is seldom known to build. Pliny again informs us, " perdices spina & frutice sic mu- " niunt receptaculum, ut contra feras abunde valentur,"f as also in the 52d chapter of his tenth book, that the perdix lay white eggs, which is not true of the common partridge. But there are not wanting other proofs of the conjecture I have here made. Aristotle speaking of this same bird, says, Tojv [xvj inpliy.wj, o< Now, the word, x«>;xa?i?ouo-i is clearly formed from the call of the bird alluded to, which does not at all resemble that of the common partridge. Thus also the author of the Elegy on the Nightingale, who is supposed by some to be Ovid, hath the following line : " Caccahat hinc perdix, hinc gratitat improbus anser." 80 that the call of the bird must have had something very parti- cular, and have answered nearly, to the words x«zxa§/t£< and cac- calat. I find, indeed, that 31. de Buffon contends§ that the ^^p/^ of Aristotle does not mean the common partridge, but the larfa- velle, with regard to which, I shall not enter into any discussion, but only observe, that most of his references are inaccurate, and that he entirely mistakes the materials of which the nest is composed, according to Aristotle's sixth book, .ind first chapter. But the strongest proof that perdix signifies the red legged par- * Ovid. Met, Lib. VIII. 1, 25S. I shall also refer to 1. 237, of the same book : '■' Garrula ramosa prospexit ab ilice perdix :" 35 it is well known that the common partridge never perches upon a tre*. t Lib. X. c. 2-3. I Lib. iv. c. 9- § Orn. T. II. p. 422. ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 359 speak, and as I have shewn that a sparrow may be taught to sing the linnet's note, I scarcely know^ what species to fix upon, that may be considered as incapable of such imitations ; for it is very clear, from several experiments before stated, that the utmost endeavours will not be wanting in the bird, if he is endowed with the proper organs. It can therefore only be settled by educating a bird, under proper circumstances, whether he is thus qualified or not; for if one was only to determine this point by conjecture, one should suppose that a sparrow would not imitate the tridge is, that the Italians to this day call this bird peryiice, and the common sort starna* . - This also now brings me to the proofs, of sturnus in this pas- sage of Statins signifying the common partridge, and not the starling, which I must admit are not so strong as with regard to the import of the word perdix. If my arguments are not there- fore so convincing on this head, the number of birds taught to speak by the Romans, and not by us, must be reduced to three, as the starling is frequently learned to talk in the present times. As I cannot argue from the description of the habits of the sturnus, or the materials of its nest, as in the former instance, I must rest my conjecture (such as it is) on the two birds, almost following each other in these lines of Statins; on the common partridge being called starna to this day by the Italians, and upon the Romans having had otherwise no name for our par- tridge (which is a very common bird in Italy), {[sturnus is sup- posed to signify only a starling. * See Oline, 360 APPENDIX. VI. song of the linnet, nor that a nightingale or par- tridge could be taught to speak. And here it may not be improper to explain what I mean by birds learning to imitate the notes of others, or the human speech. If the birds differ little in shape or size (par- . ' . ticularly of the beak*) the imitation is com- monly so strong that " Mire sagaces falleret hospites " Discrimen obscurum." Horat. * It seems very obvious why the form and size of the beak may be material ; but I liave also observed, that the colour of a bird's bill changes, when in or out of song ; and I am informed, that a cock seldom crows much, but when his comb is red. When most of the finch tribe are coming into song, there is such a gradual change in the colour of their bill ; thus, those of the chaffinch and linnet are then of a very deep blue, which fades away again, when the bird ceases to be in song. This particular should be attended to by the ornithologist, in his description ; because, otherwise, he supposes the colour of the , bill to be permanent, which is by no means so. ^ This alteration, however, rather seems to be the symptom than the cause of a bird's coming into song, or otherwise, and I have never attended to this circumstance in the soft billed birds ' sufficiently, to say whether it holds also with regard to them. A very intelligent bird-catcher, howe\'er, was able to prognos- ticate, for three winters together, when a nightingale, which I kept so long, was coming into song (.though there was no change in the colour of the bill), by the dung's being intermixed with large bloody spots, which before was only of a dead white. This same bird-catcher was also very successful in his pre- scriptions for sick birds, with regard to the ingredients of which he was indeed very mysterious. He said, that as he could not feel their pulse, the circum- ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. s^l for, in such instances, the passages are not only the same, but the tone. Such was the event of the experiment I have before mentioned of the linnet educated under a ' ' "vengolina. * In my experiment, however, of teaching the ' sparrow the notes of the linnet, though the scho- lar imitated the passages of its master, yet the tone of the sparrow had by no means the mel- lowness of the original. The imitation might therefore be, in some measure, compared to the singing of an opera song by a black-guard, when, though the notes may be precisely the same, yet the manner and tone would differ very mach. Thus also the linnet, which I heard repeat the words pretty boy, did not articulate like a parrot, though, at the same time, the words might be clearly distinguished. /:/..;. ; The education I have therefore been speaking of will not give new organs of voice to a bird, stances which he chiefly attended to were their weight, as well as both the consistence and colour of their dung. He always frankly said what he expected from his prescrip- tions, and that if such and such changes did not soon take place, ■ ■ the case was desperate. He frequently also refused to prescribe, if the bird felt too light in the hand, or he thought that there was not sufficient time to bring about an alteration in the dung. * The ^wgo/a Finch. Lath. Syn.ni.oOQ. BuffonHisi.d'ois, iv. 80. Edwards tab. 129. Ep. $6^ APPENDIX. VI. and the instrument itself will not vary, though the notes or passages may be altered almost at pleasure. I tried once an experiment, which might in- deed have possibly made some alteration in the tone of a bird, from what it might have been when the animal was at its full growth, by pro- curing an operator who caponised a young black- bird of about six weeks old ; as it died, however, soon afterwards, and I have never repeated the experiment, I can only conjecture with regard to what might have been the consequences of it. Both* Plmi/ and the London poulterers agree that a capon does not crow, which I should con- ceive to arise from the muscles of the larynx never acquiring the proper degree of strength, which seems to be requisite to the singing of a bird, from Mr. Hunter's dissections. But it will perhaps be asked, why this opera- ' . tion should not improve the notes of a nestling, as much as it is supposed to contribute to the greater perfection of the human voice. To this I answer, that castration by no means insures any such consequence; for the voices of much the greater part of Italian eunuchs are - so indifferent, that they have no means of pro- * Lib. X. c. 21. ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 36; Curing a livelihood but by copying music, and this is one of the reasons why so few composi- tions are published in Italy, as it would starve this refuse of society. But it may be said, that there hath been a Farinelii and a Mctnsoii, whose voices were so distinguishedly superior. To this I again answer, that the Catalogue of such names would be a very shoft one; and that we attribute those effects to castration, which should rather be ascribed to the education of these singers. Castration commonly leaves the humaft voice at the same pitch as when the operation is per- formed ; but the eunuch, from that time, is educated with a view only to his future appear- ance on the opera stage ; he therefore manages his voice to greater advantage, than those who have not so early and constant instruction. Considering the size of many singing birds, it is rather amazing at what a distance their notes may be heard. I think I may venture to say, that a nightin- gale may be very clearly distinguished at more than half a mile, * if the evening is calm. I have * Mons. de Buffon says, that the quadruped which he terms the huarine, may be heard at the distance of a league. Ornith. Tom, I. ■■- ■-., ■.-;-- 364 APPENDIX. VI. also observed the breath of a robin (which ex- erted itself) so condensed in a frosty morning, as to be very visible. To make the comparison, however, with ac- curacy, between the loudness of a bird's and the human voice, a person should be sent to the spot from whence the bird is heard; I should rather conceive that, upon such trial, the night- ingale would be distinguished further than the man. It must have struck every one, that, in pass- ing under a house where the windows are shut, the singing of a bird is easily heard, when, at . the same time, a conversation cannot be so, though an animated one. Most people, who have not attended to the notes of birds, suppose that those of every spe- cies sing exactly the same notes and passages, which is by no means true, though it is admit- ted that there is a general resemblance. Thus the London bird-catchers prefer the song of the Kentish goldfinches, but Essej' chaf- finches ; and when they sell the bird to those who can thus distinguish, inform the buyer that it hath such a note, which is very well under- stood between them. * * These are the names which they give to some of the night- ingale's notes: Sweet, Sweet jug. Jug sweet, Water hulhle, ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 365 Some of the nightingale fanciers also prefer a Surry bird to those of Middlesex. * These differences in the song of birds of the same species cannot perhaps be compared to any thing more apposite, than the varieties of provincial dialects. The nightingale seems to have been fixed upon, almost universally, as the most capital of singing birds, which superiority it certainly may boldly challenge : one reason, however, of this bird's being more attended to than others is, that it sings in the night. 'I' Pipe rattle. Bell pipe. Scroti/, Skeg, Skeg, Skeg, Szvat swat swaty. Whitlow whitlow whitlow^ from some distant affinity to such words. j^.-- i-u^O * Mr. Henshaw informs ns, that nightingales in Denmark are not heard till May, and that their notes are not so sweet or various as with us. Dr. Birch's History of the Royal Society, Vol. III. p. I89. Whilst Mr. Fletcher (who was minister from Queen Elizabeth to Russia) says, that the nightingales in that part of the world have a finer note than ours. See Fletcher s Life, in the Biographia Britannica, I never could believe what is commonly asserted, that the Czar Peter was at a considerable expence to introduce singing birds near Peterslurgh ; because it appears, by the Fauna Sued' ca, that they have in those latitudes most of the same birds with those of England. t The woodlark and reed sparrow sing likewise in the night j and from hence, in the neighborhood of Shrewsbury , the latter hath obtained the name of the willow-nightingale. Nightin- gales, however, and these two other birds, sing also in the day, but are not then distinguished in the general concert. (>'! ^:,'n[ APPENDIX. VI. Hence Shakespeare says, " The nightingale, if she should sing by day, *' When eyery goose is cackling, would be thought " No better a musician than the wren." The song of this bird hath been described, and expatiated upon, by several writers, particularly Pl'my and Strada. As I must own, however, that I cannot affix any precise ideas to either of these celebrated descriptions, and as I once kept a very fine bird of this sort for three years, with very par-- ticular attention to its song; I shall endeavour to do it the best justice I am capable of. In the fir3t place, its tone is infinitely more mellow than that of any other bird, though, at the same time, by a proper exertion of its mu- sical powers, it can be excessively brilliant. When this bird smg it$ song round, in its whole compass, I have observed sixteen differ- ent beginnings and closes, at the same time that the intermediate iv)tes wejre jcommonly varied in their succession with such Judgment, as to pro- duce a most pleasing variety. The bird which approaches nearest to the excellence of the nightingale, in this respect, is the sky lark; but then the tone is infinitely in- ferior in pomt of ipellowness : mo3t other siiig- ing birds have not above four or five changes. ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 367 The next point of superiority in a nightingale is its continuance of song, without a pause, which 1 have observed sometimes not to be less than twenty seconds. Whenever respiration, however, became necessary, it was taken Avith as much judgment as by an opera singer. The skylark again, in this particular, is onlj second to the nightingale. * * I shall here insert a table, by which the comparative merit of the British singing birds may be examined, the idea of which I have borrowed from Mons. de Piles, in his Cours de Peintiire par Principes. I shall not be surprized, however, if, as he sug- gests, many may disagree with me about particular birds, as he supposes they willdo with him, concerning the merits of painters. As I have five columns instead of the four which M. de Piles uses, I make 20 the point of absolute perfection, instead of l6, which is his standard. JNightingale - - - - Skylark - - . - - Woodlark . - - - Titlark Linnet - - - - - Goldfinch - - - - Chaffinch - - - - Greenfinch - - - - Hedge-sparrow - - - Aberdavine (or SisTsin) Redpoll ----- Thrush Blackbird _ - - . Robin ---_.. Wren ------ Reed-sparrow - - . Black-cap, or the Norfolk Mock nightingalef Mellow- Spright- Plaintive Com- ness of ly notes. notes. pass. tone. 10 14 19 19 4 19 4 18 18 4 17 12 12 12 12 12 12 16 12 16 4 19 4 12 4 12 4 8 4 4 4 4 6 , 0 6 4 2 4 0 4 O 4 0 4 4 4 4 4 ; 4 4 1 0 2 6 1<3 ' 12 12 0 12 0 4 0 4 0 o 14 12 12 14 Execu- tion. 19 18 8 12 18 12 8 6 4 4 4 4 o 12 4 14 t B;j<. Zcoi.i. p. 476. 368 Al'PENDIX. VI. And here I must again repeat, that what I describe is from a caged nightingale, because those which we hear in the spring are so rank, that they seldom sing any thing but short and loud jerks, which consequently cannot be com- pared to the notes of a caged bird, as the instru- ment is overstrained. %I must also here observe, that my nightingale was a very capital bird; for some of them are so vastly inferior, that the bird-fanciers will not keep them, branding them with the name of Frenchmen. * "'^^^^^But it is not only in tone and variety that the nightingale excells; the bird also sings (if I may I have made no mention of the bulfinch in this table, which .is commonly considered as a singing bird ; because its wild note, without instructions, is a most jarring and disagreeable noise. . - I have likewise omitted f the redstart (which is called by the French Rossignol de Muraille), as I am not sufficiently acquaint- ed with its song, though it is admired by manyj I should rather conceive, however, with Zinanni, that there is no very extraor- dinary merit in the notes. " "^ The London bird-catchers also sell sometimes the yellow ham- mer, twite and brambling X as singing birds ; but none of these will come within my definition of what may be deemed so, * One should suppose from this, that the nightingale-catcher had heard much of the French music ; which is possibly the case, as some of them live in Spittal-Jields. f II culo ranzo i un ucello, (per quanto dicono) molto canoro, ma io tale non lo stimo. Delle uovaddel nidi, p. 53. X They call this bird a kpte. ON THE SINGIXG OF BIRDS. 369 so express myself) with superior judgement and taste. .'-,.- I have therefore commonly observed, that my nightingale began softly like the ancient orators ; reserving its breath to swell certain notes, which bv this means had a most astonish- ing effect, and which eludes all verbal description. I have indeed taken down certain passages which may be reduced to our musical intervals; but though by these means one may form an idea of some of the notes used, yet it is impos- sible to give their comparative durations in point of musical time, upon which the whole effect must depend. I once procured a very capital player on the flute to execute the notes which Kircher hath engraved in his Aliisurgia, as being used by the nightingale ; when, from want of not being able to settle their respective lengths, it was impos- sible to observe any traces almost of the night- ingale's song. It may not be improper here to consider, whe- ther the nightingale may not have a very formi- dable competitor in the American mocking- bird;* though almost all travellers agree, that * Turdus Amer'icanus minor canorus. Rays Syn. It is called by the Indians, ContlatolU ; which is said to signify four hundred tongues. See 2X%o Cateshy . Mimic Thrush. Ai'ct. ZasL ii. 14. Lath. Syn. iii. 40. VOL. II. 2 B ^370 APPENDIX. VI. the concert in the Europeaji woods is superior to that of the other parts of the globe.* As birds are now annually imported in great numbers from Asia, Africa, and America, I have frequently attended to their notes, both singly »• and in concert, which are certainly not to be compared to those of Europe. Thomson, the poet, (whose observations in natural history are much to be depended upon) makes this superiority in the European birds to be a sort of compensation for their great inferi- ority in point of gaudy plumage. Our goldfinch, however, joins to a very brilliant and pleasing song, a most beautiful variety of colours in its feathers, t as Avell as a most elegant shape. It must be admitted, that foreign birds, when brought to Europe, are often heard to a great disadvantage; as many of them, from their great tameness^ have certainly been brought up by hand, the consequence of which I have al- ready stated from several experiments. The soft-billed birds also cannot be well brouo;ht over, as the succedaneum for insects (their com- * See Rochefort's Hist, des Antilles, T. I. p. 2QQ.—Ph. Tr. Ahr. Vol. III. p. 563.— and Cateshy. •\ I cannot but think, that there would be a demand for these birds in China, as the inhabitants are very sedentary, and bird cages are commonly represented as hanging in their rooms. I have been informed, by a Tyroleze, that his best market for Ca- nary birds was Constantinople. ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 371 mon food) is fresh meat, and particularly the hearts of animals. I have happened, however, to hear the Ame- rican mocking-bird in great perfection at Mess. Vogles and Scott's, in Love- Lane, East cheap. This bird is believed to be still living, and hath been in England these six years. During the space of a minute, he imitated the wood- lark, chaffinch, blackbird, thrush, and sparrow. I was told also, that he would bark like a dog ; so that the bird seems to have no choice in his imitations, though his pipe comes nearest to our nightingale of any bird I have yet met with. With regard to the oricfinal notes, however, of this bird, we are still at a loss ; as this can only be known by those who are accurately ac- quainted with the song of the other American birds. Kalm indeed informs us, that the natural song is excellent;* but this traveller seems not to have been long enough in America to have dis- tinguished what were the genuine notes : with us, mimics do not often succeed but in imi- tations. I have little doubt, however, but that this bird would be fully equal to the song of the nightingale in its whole compass; but then. * Vol. I. p. 219. O p. o ..^ i< ,-( 372 APPENDIX. VI. from the attention which the mocker pays to any other sort of disagreeable noises, these capital notes would be always debased by a bad mixture. We have one* mocking bird in England, which is the skylark ; as, contrary to a general obser- vation I have before made, this bird Avill catch the note of any other which hangs near it; even . . after the skylark note Va fixed. For this reason, the bird-fanciers often place the skylark next one which hath not been long caught, in order, as they term it, to keep the caged skylark honest. The question, indeed, may be asked, w hy the wild skylark, with these powers of imitation, ever adheres to the parental notes; but it must be recollected, that a bird when at liberty is for ever shifting its place, and consequently does not hear the same notes eternally repeated, as when it hangs in a cage near another. In a wild state therefore the skylark adheres to the parental notes ; because the parent cock attends the young ones, and is heard by them for so considerable a time, during which, they pay no '' regard to the song of any other bird. I am a\Aare also, that it may be asked, how- birds originally came by the notes which are peculiar to each species. I\Iy answer, however, * The Sedge Warbler described at page 5 17 of the first volume of this work, is the completest British mocking bird. Ed. ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 373 to this is, that the origin of the notes of birds, together with its gradual progress, is as difficult to be traced, as that of the different languages in nations. The loss of the parent cock at the critical time for instruction hath undoubtedly produced those varieties, which I have before observed are in the song of each species ; because then the nestling hath either attended to the song of some other birds ; or perhaps invented some new notes of its own, w hich are afterwards per- petuated from generation to generation, till simi- lar accidents produce other alterations. The organs of some birds also are probably so defec- tive, that they cannot imitate properly the pa- rental notes, as some men can never articulate as they should do. Such defects in the parent bird must again occasion varieties, because these defects will be continued to their descendants, who (as I before have proved) will only attend to the parental song. Some of these descend- ants also may have imperfect organs; which will again multiply varieties in the song. The truth is, as I have already observed, that scarcely any two birds of the same species have exactly the same notes, if any are accurately attended to, though there is a general resem- blance. 374 APPENDIX. VI. Thus most people see no difference between one sheep and another, when a large flock is be- fore them. The shepherd, however, knows each of them, and can swear to them, if they are lost; as can the Lmcolnslih^e gosherd to each goose. As I now draw towards a conclusion of both my experiments and observations on the singing of birds; it may be possibly asked, what use re- sults either from the trouble or expence which they have cost me; both of which I admit to have been considerable. I will readily ov, n, that no very important ad- - vantages can be derived from them; and yet I shall not decline suggesting what little profit they may possibly be of, though at best they should rather be considered as what Lord Bacon tenxis, expermients of light, than of fruit. In the first place, there is no better method , of investigating the human faculties, than by a comparison with those of animals ; provided we make it without a most ungrateful wish of lower- ing ourselves, in that distinguished situation in which we are placed. Thus we are referred to the ant for an exam- ple of industry and foresight, because it pro- vides a magazine of food for the winter, w^hen this animal is in a state of torpidity during that ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. S75 season; nor are we less willing to suppose the song of birds to be superior to our own musical powers. The notes of many birds are certainly very pleasing, but by no means stand in competition either with the human voice or our worst musi- cal mstruments; not only from want of the striking effects of harmony in many excellent compositions; but because, even when com- pared to our simple melody, expression is want- ing, * without which music is so languid and in- animate. But to return to the uses (such as they are) which may arise from attending to the song of birds, or from the experiments which I have given an account of. The first of these is too much neglected by the naturalist; for, if the bird is not caught, the only means often by which either the sex or the species can be determined is the song. For example, if . . ^ Mons. Adanson had informed us whether the European swallows, which he conceived were to be seen during the winter at Senegal, had the same notes with those of Europe, it would have been going one step further in proof of the facts which he and others so much rely upon. These experiments, however, may be said to * The nightingale, indeed, is perhaps an exception to this general observation. sn APPENDIX. VI. be useful to all those who happen to be pleased with smging birds ; because it is clear, that, by educating a bird under several sorts, we may often make such a mixture, as to improve the notes which they would have learned in a wild state. It results also from the experiment of the linnet being educated under the Vengolina, that we may introduce the notes of Asia, Africa, and Amoica, into our own woods; because, if that linnet had been set at liberty, * the nestlings of the next season Avould have adhered to the Ven- goUna song, who would again transmit it to their descendants. But we may not only improve the notes of birds by a happy mixture, or introduce those , which were never before heard in Great Britain; we may also improve the instrument with which the passages are executed. If, for example, any one is particularly fond of what is called the song of the Canary bird, it would answer well to any such person, if a nest- ling linnet was brought up under a Canary bird, because the notes would be the same, but the in- * I know well, that it is commonly supposed, if you set a caged bird at liberty, it will neither be able to feed itself, nor otherwise - live long, on account of its being persecuted by the wild ones. . There is no foundation, however, for this notion ; and I take it to arise from its affording an excuse for continuing to keep these birds in confinement. ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 377 strument which executes them would be im- proved. We learn also, from these experiments, that nothing is to be expected from a nestling brought up by hand, if he does not receive the proper instruction from the parent cock : much trouble and some cost is therefore thrown away by many persons in endeavouring to rear nestling night- ingales, which, when they are brought up and fed at a very considerable expence, have no song which is worth attending to. If a woodlark, or skylark, was educated, how- ever, under a nightingale, it follows that this charge (which amounts to a shilling per week*) might be in a great measure saved, as well as the trouble of chopping fresh meat every day. A nightingale, again, when kept in a cage, does not live often more than a year or two; nor does he sing more than three or four months; whereas the scholar pitched upon may not only be more vivacious, but will continue in song nine months out of the twelve. I fear, however, that I have already dwelt too much upon these very minute and trifling advantages which may result from my experi- * Olina speaks of a paste which is used in Italy for nightin- gales; but I cannot find that it ever answers with us; perhaps, they bring their nightingales up by hand, and so accustom them from their earliest infancy to such food. 378 APPENDIX. VII. merits and observations; I shall therefore no longer defer subscribing myself, Dear Sir, Your most faithful Humble Servant, Daines Barrington. No. VII. OF THE MIGRATION OF BRITISH BIRDS, Quam muUce glomerantur aves! uhi Jrigidus annus Trans pontum fugat, et terris immittit apricis. Virgil. jLHE migration of birds, is a subject of so cu- rious a nature, that every one who attempts to •write the natural history of animals, ought to look upon it as an essential part of his inquiries, and at the same time should endeavour to assign the cause why some birds prefer certain places for their summer, others for their winter residence. To be qualified for this task, it is necessary that the inquirer should confine himself to one certain tract the whole year; he should be diligent in observing the arrival, and the disap- pearance of birds ; he should commit every ob- servation to paper, and compare them with the remarks of correspondents, on the same subject. ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. S79 that lie on every side of him. He should attend likewise to the weather; and to the abundance or failure of fruits and berries ; as on these acci- dents many curious remarks may be founded. He should cultivate an acquaintance with the gentlemen of the navy, and other sea-faring peo- ple; he should consult their journals, to disco- ver what birds light on their ships, at what sea- sons, in what latitudes, and in what weather, and from what points; and thus trace them in their very course. A comparative view of the writings of those who should embrace this part of natural history, would thi^ow great light on the subject. But it is to be lamented, that none, except two north- ' em naturalists, Mr. Klein and Mr. Ekmarck, have professedly treated on this point. The southern parts of Europe, which may be sup- posed to receive, during winter, many of our land birds, have as yet produced no faunisf to assist the inquiries of the naturalists, which must account for the imperfect knowledge we have of the retreat of many of our birds. We must not omit, however, our acknow- ledgements to two eminent pens that have treat- ed this subject as far as it related to rural oeco- nomy; and, in such a manner, as does honour to their respective countries; we mean Mr. ■:«^ 380 APPENDIX. VII. A lev. Mai. Berger and ]\Ir. Stillingfleet : whom we should not mention a second time, * but to confess the aid we here receive from their faith- ful attention to the subject in question. We wish that any thing we could say, would induce others '\ of our countrymen to follow their example : they need not fear that the matter is exhausted, for every county will furnish new observations; each of which, when compared, will serve to strengthen and confirm the other. Such an amusement is worthy of every one, be- neath none; but would become no order of men better than our clergy, as they are (or ought to be) the best qualified, and the most stationary part of the community; and, as this is a mixed ,.:- ...i species of study (when considered as physico- theology) it is therefore particularly pertinent to ' ^ their profession. A most ingenious friend, whom modesty prevents from putting his name to a work that renders observations of this kind of the utmost facility, has pointed out the way, and . - .. methodized every remark that can occur; the farmer, the sportsman, and the philosopher, will * Vide Preface. t In Mr. Montagus Ornithological Dictionary are many excellent observations on the migration of birds. "Mr. Markuick has also treated the same subject in the first volume of the Lin- nean Transactions, and Mr. Lamlert, in the third, has given some account of those of the feathered tribe which visit Wiltshire. Ed. ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 3S) be led to the choice of materials proper to be in- serted in that useful companion, the Naturalisfs Journal* From the observations of our friends, from ^ those made by ourselves, and from the lights afforded us by preceding writers, we shall, in the brief relation we can pretend to give, pro- : ceed in a generical order, and as far as possible, trace each species of bird to its retreat. A few words will explain the cause of their disappearance in these northern regions; a de- fect of food at certain seasons, or the want of a secure asylum from the persecution of man during the time of courtship, incubation and nutrition. ^r ? ; ■'•■■: in Eagles, and all the ignoble species of this genus Falcoxs. breed in Great Britain; of the proper Falcons^ we only know that which is called the Pere- grine, which builds its nest annually in the rocks oi Llandudno, Caernar^oonshire ; and the Gentil, and the Go^/i^re' A", which breed in ASto^/rtWfi?. We are assured that every species breeds in Owls, England, except the little Oxvl, and shoi^t eared Oxvl. The last breeds in Scotland, and the Ork- ney isles, but migrates into England at the same season as the Woodcocks do. Hawks and owls * Printed for W. Sanhy, Fleet-Street, London, 1767. Price One Shilling and Six-pence. . *i ^. . !; S82 APPENDIX. VII. are birds of prey, and having at all times in this island means of living, are not obliged to quit their quarters. Shrikes. The Flusher, or red back Shrike, and the great Shrike, breed with us ; we have not heard of the other, so suspect that it migrates. Ckows. Of this genus, the Hooded Crow migrates re- gularly with the Woodcock. It inhabits North Britain the whole year : a few ai'e said annually to breed on Dartmoor, in Devonshire. It breeds also in Sweden and Austria, in some of the Swedish provinces it only shifts its quarters, in others it resides throughout the year. I am at a loss for the summer retreat of those which visit us in such numbers in winter, and quit our country in the spring; and for the reason why a ' . bird, whose food is such that it may be found at all seasons in this country, should leave us. I^oLLER. The Roller and Oriole are merely occasional OUIOLE. . . Visitants. Ed. Cuckoo. Disappears early in autumn; the retreat of this and the following bird is quite unknown to us. Wryneck. Is a bird that leavcs us in the winter, and re- visits us in the spring a little earlier than the Cuckoo. If its diet be ants alone, as several assert, the cause of its migration is very evident. Wood PECK- Continue with us the w^hole year; tlieii' food ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. S83 being insects and their larvcB, which lodge them- selves at all times in the bark of trees. Continues here through all seasons. Kingfisher, Resides in this country the whole year. Nuthatch. Is not uncommon on the Continent; it has Bee-eater. twice or thrice been seen in England, in the : v summer months. Ed. Comes to England hut by accident: we once Hoopoe. indeed heai'd of a pair that attempted to make their nest in a meadow at Selborne, Hampshire, but were frightened away by the curiosity of people. It breeds in Germany. Never leaves the country. ': • ■: Creeper. . The whole tribe, except the Quail, lives here Grous, all the year round: that bird either leaves us, or else retires towards the sea-coasts.* The Great and Lesser Bustard inhabits our Bustards. downs and their neighborhood all the year ; the other species is migratory. \ t - -•- Some few of the iim^-^^ore^ breed here ; but PIGEo^^^. ' the multitude that appears in the winter, is so dis proportioned to what continues here the whole year, as to make it certain that the greatest part quit the country in the spring. It is most pro- bable they go to Sweden to breed, and return from thence in autumn; as Mr. Ekmark informs . i - ' us they entirely quit that country before winter, f Multitudes of the . common Kock Doves also » Vide Vol. I. p. 367. of this work, f Aman. Acad. IV. 592. 384 APPENDIX. VII. make the northern retreat, and visit us in win- ter; not but numbers breed in the high cliffs in all parts of this island. We suspect that the Turtle leaves us in winter, at lest changes its place, removing to the southern counties. Stare. Breeds here; possibly several remove to other countries for that purpose, since the produce of those that continue here, seems unequal to the clouds of them that appear in winter. It is not unlikely that many migrate into Sweden, where Mr. Bei^ger observes they return in spring. Thrushes. The Fieldfare and the Redwing breed and pass their summers in Norway, and other cold countries ; their food is berries, w hich abound- ing in our kingdoms, tempts them here in the winter. These two and the Royston crozv, are .- the only land birds that regularly and constantly migrate into England, and do not breed here. Grosbeak. The Haxv and Cross-bUkd Grosbeak come here at such uncertain times, as not to deserve the names of birds of passage ; they breed in Austria, I suspect the Pine Grosbeak breeds in the forests of the Highlands of Scotland. The Buljlnch and Green Grosbeak never quit the island. Chatterer, The Chatterer appears annually about Edin- burgh in flocks during winter; and feeds on the berries of the mountain ash. In South Britain it is an accidental visitant. ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 335 The Haw and Cross-billed Grosbeaks come Grosbeaks. here but seldom; they breed in Austiia. I suspect that the Pine Grosbeak breeds in the forests of the Highlands of Scotland. The other species, with the exception of the rare JVhite-winged Crossbill, breed in England. All the genus inhabits this kincfdom throuo;h- Bdntings. out the year, except the Greater Brambling, which is forced here from the north in very severe seasons. All continue in some parts of these kingdoms. Finches, except the Siskin, which is an irregular visitant, said to come from Russia. The Linnets shift . • their quarters, breeding in one part of this island, and remove with their young to others. All finches feed on the seeds of plants. All of these feed on insects and Morms ; yet Fly- only part of them quit these kmgdoms; though Larks, ' the reason of miration is the same to all. The ' ^^^Zt^^^' O AND Fly-catcher, Nightingale, Black-cap, Petty- Warblers. chaps, Wood, Reed Grasshopper Warblers, JVil- low-wren, Wheat-ear, and White-throat, leave us before winter, while the small and delicate Gol- den-crested Jlren braves our severest frosts. W^e imagine that the migrants of this genus continue longest in Great Britain in the southern coun- 4,.^ '*ivr=' ties, the winter in those parts being later than in those of the north; Mr. StilUngfleet having VOL. II. 2 c 386 APPENDIX. VIL Titmice. Swallows, AND Goat- sucker, observed several Wheal-ear^s in the isle of Pw- beck, on the 1 8th of November. As these birds are incapable of very distant flights, we suspect that Spam, or the south of France^ is their win- ter asylum. Never quit this country ; they feed on insects and their larvcB. Every species disappears at the approach of winter. WATER BIRDS. Of the vast variety of w^ater fowl that fre- quent Great Britain^ it is amazing to reflect how few are known to breed here: the cause which principally urges them to leave this country, seems to be not merely the want of food, but the desire of a secure retreat. Our country is too populous for birds so shy and timid as the bulk of these are : when a great part of our island was a mere waste, a tract of woods and fen ; doubtless many species of birds (which at this time migrate) remained in security throughout the year. Egrets, a species of Heron, now scarcely known in this island, were in former times in prodigious plenty; and the Crane, that has totally forsaken this country, bred fami- liarly in our marshes : their place of incubation, as well as of all other cloven footed water birds ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 38 < (the Heron excepted) being on the ground, and ex- posed to every one : as rural oeconomy increased in this country, these animals were more and more disturbed; at length, by a series of alarms, they were necessitated to seek, during the summer, some lonely safe habitation. On the contrary, those that build or lay in the almost inaccessible rocks which impend over the British seas, breed there still in vast numbers, having little to fear from the approach of mankind: the only dis- turbance they meet with in general, being from ; the desperate attempts of some few to get their CLOVEN FOOTED WATER BIRDS. [The Spoonbill hd.s been seen in yorfolk, in Spooneill. April; and in Devonshire, in the winter months.] The White Heron is an uncommon bird, and Herons. visits us at uncertain seasons ; the common kind and the Bittern never leave us. [The Glossy Ibis, the only species which has Ibis, visited England, was seen in Anglesey, and on the banks of the Thames, in the month of Sep- tember.^ The Curlew breeds sometimes on our moun- Curlews. tains; but, considering the vast flights which . appear in winter, ^^e imagine that the greater p p C) M ^ M 388 APPENDIX. VII. 3N1PES. Sandpipers. Plovers AND Oyster- catcher. part retire to other countries: the TVhimhrel breeds in the Grampian Hills, in the neighbor- hood of Iiwercauld. The Woodcock breeds in the moist woods of Szveden, and other cold countries. Some Snipes breed here, as does the Redshank, but we believe the greatest part retire elsewhere; as do every other species of this genus. The Lapwing continues here the whole year; the Ruff hree^^ here, but retires in winter; the common Sandpiper breeds in this country, and resides here. All the others absent themselves during summer. The long legged Plover and Sanderlifig visit us only in winter; the Dottrel appears in spring and in autumn, yet what is very singular we do not find it breeds in South Britain. The Oyster- catcher lives with us the whole year. The Ringed Plover breeds in Engla?id ; the Golden on the mountains of the North of England, and on the Grampian Hills. We must here remark, that every species of the genera of Curlezos, Woodcocks, Sandpipers and Plovers,^ that forsake us in the spring, * Mr. Ekmarck speaks thus of the retreat of the whole tribe of cloven footed water fowl out of his country (Sweden) at the approach of winter; and Mr. Klein gives much the same account of those of Poland and Prussia. GraUa: (tanquam conjuratae) unanimiter in fugam se conji- ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 389 retire to Sweden, Poland, Pimssia, Norway, and Lapland to breed ; as soon as the young can fly, they return to us again ; because the frosts which set in early in those countries totally deprive them of the means of subsisting ; as the dryness and hardness of the ground, in general, during our summer, prevent them from penetrating the earth with their bills, in search of worms, which are the natural food of these birds. [The Courser and Pratincole are among the Courser. rarest visitants of this island.] rah.ncole, Every species of these two genera continue Rails and with us the whole year; the Crake GalUnule ex- nules" cepted, which is not seen here in winter ; it like- wise continues in Ireland only during the sum- mer months, when they are very numerous, as Mr. Smith tells us in the history of JVaterford, p. 336. Great numbers appear in Anglesey the latter end of May; it is supposed that they pass over from Ireland, the passage between the two islands being but small. As we have instances of these birds lighting on ships in the Channel and the Pay of Biscay, we conjecture their winter quarters to be in Spain, ciunt, ne earum unicam quidem inter nos habltantem invenire possumus. Amceii. Acad. IV. 588. Scolopaces et Glareolce incredibllibus multitudlnibus verno tempore in Polonia et Borussia nidulantur ; appropinquante au- tumno turnnatim evolant. Klein de av. errai. 187- 390 APPENDIX. VII. FIN-FOOTED WATER BIRDS. Phalaro- Visit us but seldom ; their breeding place is Lapland, * and other arctic regions. Coot. Inhabits Gt^eat Britain the whole year. Grebes. The g)^eat cvested Grebe, the black and white Grebe, and little Grebe, breed with us, and never migrate; the others visit us accidentally, and breed in Lapland. WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. AvosET. Breed near Fossdike in Lincolnshire; but quit their quarters, in winter. They are then shot in different parts of the kingdom, which they visit I believe not regularly but acci- dentally. Auks and The Great Auk or Pinguin sometimes breeds in St. Kilda. The Auk, the Guillemot and Puffin, inhabit most of the maritime cliffs of Great Britain, in amazing numbers, during summer. The black Guillemot breeds in the Bass Isle, and in St. Kilda, and sometimes in Llandudno rocks. We are at a loss for the breeding place of the other species ; neither can we be very certain of the winter residence of * Amcen. Acad, IV. 59O. Guille- mots. ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 391 any of them, excepting of the lesser Guillemot and black-billed Auk, which, during winter, visit in vast flocks the Frith of Forth. These chiefly breed in the lakes of Szvedeii Divers. and Lapland, and some in countries nearer the Pole;* but some of thef red throated Divers, the tiorthern and the irnber, may breed in the north of Scotland and its isles. I am uncertain where the black toed Gull Gulls. breeds. The Skua is confined to the Shetland Isles, the Rock Foula, and perhaps Si. Kilda. The Arctic breeds in the Orknies and in the Hebrides. The rest of the tribe breed dispers- edly on all the clifls of Great Britain. The black headed on our fens and lakes. Every species:]: breeds here; but leaves us in Terns. the winter. The Fulmar breeds in the isle of ^S*^. Kilda, Petrels. and continues there the whole year, except Sep- tember and part of October ; the Shearwater . . . ' visits the Isle of Man in April, breeds there, and leaving it in August or the beginning of September, disperses over all parts of the At- lantic Ocean. The Stornifinch is seen at all * Faun. Suec. No. 150. Crantz, Greenl. I. 82. 83. •\- Barry, in his History of the Orkneys, p. 304, says that this species builds on a bank of a lake in Hoy, and in other places. Ed. X The Sandwich Tern may perhaps be an exception. Ed. 392 APPENDIX. VII. distances from land on the same vast watery tract, nor is ever found near shore except by some very rare accident, unless in the breeding season. We found it on some little rocky isles, off the north of Skie. It also breeds in St. Kilda. We also suspect that it nestles on the Blasquet isles off Kerry, and that it is the Gourder of Mr. Smith.* Mergan-- This whole 2;enus is mentioned among the SERS. . . ^ . birds that nil the Lapland lakes during summer. I have seen the young of the Red-breasted in the north of Scotland: a few of these, and perhaps of thcf Goosanders, may breed there. Ducks. Of the numerous species that form this genus, we know of few that breed here ; the Szvan and Goose, the Shield Duck, the Eider Duck, a few Shovelers, Garganies, and Teals, and a very small portion of the wild Ducks. The rest contribute to form that amazing multi- tude of water fowl, that annually repair from most parts of Europe to the woods and lakes of Lapland and other arctic regions, J there * Smith's hist. Kerry, 186. f Goosanders pair in the breeding season and build their nests in the small holms in the loch of ^'i;e?j«z5. Barry Hist, of Ork- neys. 302. Ed, X Barentz found the Bernacles with their nests in great num- bers in Nova Zemhla. Collect- voy. Dutch East-hidm Company, 8vo. 1703. p. 19. Clusius in his Exot. 368. also observes, that ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 393 to perform the functions of incubation and nu- trition in full security. They and their 3^oung quit their retreat in September, and disperse themselves over Europe. With us they make their appearance the beginning of October; cir- culate first round our shores, and when com- pelled by severe frost, betake themselves to our lakes and rivers. Of the web-footed fowl there are some of hardier constitutions than others; these endure the ordinary winters of the more northern countries, but w^hen the cold reigns there with more than common rigor, repair for shelter to these kingdoms: this regulates the - appearance of some of the Diver kind, as also of the wild Swans, the long-tailed Duck, and the different sorts of Goosanders which then visit our coasts. ,> : .. .- The Corvorant and Shag breed on most of Corvo- our high rocks: the Gannet in some of the Scotch isles, and on the coast of Kerry: the the Dutch discovered them on the rocks of that country and in JVaygate Straits. They, as well as the other species of wild Geese, go very far north to breed, as appears from the histories of Gree7iland and Spitzhergen, by Egede and Crantz. These birds seem to make Iceland a resting place, as Horrehow observes, few continue there to breed, but only visit that island in the spring, and after a short stay, retire still further north. The Sivallow tailed Shield Duck breeds in the Icy Sea, and is forced southward only in the very hard winters. Amcen. Acad, IV. 585. RANTS. 394 APPENDIX. VII. two first continue on our shores the whole year. The Gannet disperses itself all round the seas of Great Britain, in pursuit of the Herring and Pilchard, and even as far as the Tagus to prey on the Sardina. But of the numerous species of fowl here enumerated, it may be observed how very few entrust themselves to us in the breeding sea- son ; and what a distant flight they make to perform the first great dictate of nature. There seems to be scarcely any but what we have traced to Lapland, a country of lakes, rivers, swamps and alps,* covered with thick and gloomy forests, that afford shelter during summer to these fowls, which in winter disperse over the greatest part of Europe. In those arctic regions, by reason of the thickness of the -'- woods, the ground remains moist and pene- trable to the Woodcocks, and other slender bill- ed fowl: and for the web-footed birds, f the water affords larvcB innumerable of the tor- * J'/ora i«^/)omca Lectori in Proleg. f A disciple o? Linnceus, speaks thus of their food : Lappania, ubi rictum ex larvis et pupis culicum, altrix paravit numinis munificentia. Amcen. acad. IV. 1. 5. M. de Maupertuis makes the same observation, Ce ruisseau nous conduisit a un lac si rempli de petits grains jaunatres de la grosseur du Mil que toute son eau en etoit teinte. Je pris ces grains pour la Chrysalide de quelque insecte, &c. CEuvres de M. de Maupertuis, III. Il6. ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 395 meriting Gnat. The days there are long; and the beautiful meteorous nights indulge them Avith every opportunity of collecting so minute a food : whilst mankind is very sparingly scat- tered over that vast northern waste. Why then should Linnctus, , the great ex- plorer of these rude deserts, be amazed at the myriads of water fowl that migrated with him out of Lapland? which exceeded in multitudes the army of Xer.ves; covering, for eight whole days and nights, the surface of the river CaUi\ * , - His partial observation as a botanist, would confine their food to the vegetable kingdom, al- most denied to the Lapland waters ; inattentive to a more plenteous table of insect food, m hich the all bountiful Creator had spread for them in the wilderness, f . • • ,: ^ * Flora Lapponica, 273. Amcen. acad. TV. 570. ■f It may be remarked, that the lakes of mountanous rocky countries in general are destitute of plants : few or none are seen on those of Switzerland ; and Linnceus makes the same observa- tion in respect to those of Lapland; having, during his whole tour, discovered only a single specimen of a lemna trisulca, or ivy leaved duck's meat, Flora Lap. JHo. 470. a few of the scirpus lacustris, No. 18. or bullrush ; the alopecurus geniculatus. No. 38. or flote foxtail grass; and the ranunculus aquatilis, No. 234. which are all he enumerates in his Prolegomena to that excel- lent performance. APPENDIX. VIII. No. VIII. EXTRACTS FROM OLD ENGLISH WRITERS RE- LATING TO OUR ANIMALS. j\j.EisrTioisr having been so frequently made, in this work, of the old English feasts, and the species of animals that formed their good cheer; we transcribe from Leland an account of that given at the intronazation of Geoi^geNevell, arch- bishop of York, in the reign of Kdxvard IV. and of the goodly provision made for the same. In wheat, 300 quarters. Of the foules called In ale, - 300 tunne. rees, 200 dozen. Wyne, - 100 tunne. In peacockes. - 104. Of ypocrasse 1 pype. Mallardes and teales, In oxen, - - 104. ' 4000. Wylde Bulles, - 6. In cranes. 204. Muttons, - - 1000. In kyddes. 204. Veales, - - 304. In chyckens, 2000. Porkes, - - 304. Pigeons, 4000. Swannes, - - 400. Conyes, - - 4000. Geese, - - 2000. In bittors, 204. Capons, - - 1000. Heronshawes, 400. Pygges, - - 2000. Fessauntes, - 200. Plovers, - - 400. Partriges, 500. Quales, 100 dozen. Wodcockes, - 400. ANTIENT EXTRACTS. 397 Curie wes, - 100. Coldecustardes baked, Egrittes, - - 1000. 3000. Stagges, buck and Hot pasties of venison, roes, 500 and mo. 1500. Pasties of venison Hot custardes, 2000. colde, 4000. Pykes and breames, Parted dishes of gel- 608. lies, 1000. Porposes and seals, 12. Playne dishes of gel- Spices, sugared deli- lies, 3000. cates, and wafers Colde tartes baked, plentie. 4000. -~:^': '-U Besides the birds in the above list, there are mentioned, in the particular of the courses, * Redshanks, Styntes, Larks and Martynettes rost ; if the last were the same with the martin swallow, our ancestors were as general devour- ers of small birds as the Italians are at present, to whom none come amiss. We must observe, that in the order of the courses it appears, that only the greatest deli- cacies were served up, as we may suppose, to the table where the nobility, gentlemen, and gentlewomen of zvorship were seated ; and those seemed to have been dressed with almost as * Lelands collectanea, vi. 2. ., '.■....,', .i\ * / APPENDIX. VIII. much art and disguise as at present. They had likewise their desert, or, as the term was, sut- teltie; which was in form of dolphins or other animals ; and sometimes recourse M'^as had to the kalendar to embellish the table, and St. Paul, St. Thomas, St. Dunstan, and a whole multitude of angels, prophetes and patriarkes, * were introduced as siittelties to honor the day. As no mention is made among the dishes that composed two of the courses, of the geese, the pygges, the veales, and other more substantial food, those must have been allotted to the franklins and head yeomen in the lower hall : and those most singular provisions, the porposes and scales, indelicate as they may seem at present, in old times were admitted to the best tables : the former, at lest, as we learn from doctor Caius, t who mentions it not only as a common food, but even describes its sauce. A transcript from that curious publication, The Regulations of the Hoiishold of the fifth iiJ^r/ o/" Northumberland, begun in 1512, will be esteemed a very proper appendage to a work of this nature. It will shew not only the birds then in high vogue at the great tables of those days, but also how capricious a thing is taste, * Leland's collectanea, vi. 23. 'f Caii opusc. 113. ANTIENT EXTRACTS. 399 several then of high price being at present ba- nished from our tables ; and others again of un- common rankness much valued by our ancestors. Thus tVegions (I give the spelling of the time) See-pyes, Sholardes, Kyrlewes, Ternes, Cranys, Hearon-sewys, Bytfers, See-gulles and Styntes, were among the delicacies for principal feasts, or his lordship's own mees. Those excellent birds the Teylles were not to be bought except no other could be got. Fesauntes, Bytters, Hearon-sezvys and Kyr- lewes, were valued at the same price, twelve pence each. The other birds admitted to his Lordship's table were Bustardes, Mallardes, IFoodcokes, Wypes, Quayles, Snypes, Pertryges^ Rede- shankes, Beys, Pacokes, Knottes, Dottrells, Larky s and small byrdes. - The great byrdes, for the Lord's mees, for the Chambreleyn and Stewardes 7}2ees may be, as the ingenious editor conjectures, FieldfareSj Thrushes, and the like.* The estimation each species was held in may be known by the following table, to which I have added the modern name, and the refer- ence to it in this work. * P. 104. 424. 400 APPENDIX. VIII. Page. Price. Cranys, the Crane, ii. 7, I6d. Hearon-sexvys, the Heron, — 10, 12d. Mallards, 258, 2d. Teylles, Teal, 279, Id. Woodcock, 40, Id. or Id.J. IVypes, Lapwings, — 66, Id, Sea-gulls, Black-headed Gull, 189, Id. or ld.|-. Styntes, Purrs, — 94, 6d. a dozen. Quails, i. 366, 2d. Snipes, ii. 60, 3d. a dozen. Partridges, i. 365, 2d. Red-shanks, ii. 57, id. Bytten; Bitterns, 14, 12d; Pheasants, i. 372, 12d. Reys, Land Rails,* ii. 119, 2d. Sholardes, Shovelers, — 264, 6d. Kyrlewes, Curlews, — 34, 12d. Peacocks, i. S69, 12d. Sea Pies, ii. 112. Wigeons, 273, Id. * I imagine the Rei/s to be the Land Rail, not the Reeve the female of the Rujf, for that bird seems not to be in vogue in those days. Old Drayton does not even mention it in his long catalogue of birds, but sets a high value upon The Rayle which seldom comes but upon rich men's spits, t t PolyolUon. Canto XXV. JAMAICA NIGHT HERON. 401 Page. Price. Knots, ii. 76, Id. Dotrels, -— . 102, Id. Bustards, i. 376, Terns, ii. 197, 4d. a dozen. Great birds, *' Ditto. Small birds, ISd.adozen. Larks, 12d. for two • '. . dozens. No. IX. GARDENIAN HERON? JAMAICA NIGHT HERON. P. 98. [THE bird mentioned at page 98 of this vo- lume, as having been shot near St. Asaph, is supposed, by the reverend Hugh Dalies, to be the Jamaica Night Heron of Latham Ind. orn, 679' He has favored the editor with the fol- lowing minute description of this rare subject. Ed. " The length of this species is about twenty inches ; the general color of the plumage is a light ash colored brown, variegated wdth white. The feathers on the back, the scapulars, and the coverts of the wings, have a triangular VOL. II. 2 D Descrip- tion. 402 r APPENDIX. IX. white spot at the end of each; in the feathers of the back of the neck, and upwards to the crown of the head, the white mark at the end is lengthened to a stripe. The throat is white, with a few longitudinal light brown lines, and the feathers down the neck and breast, which last are long and pendent, are of the same color, the sides of each being more distinctly marked with a stripe of the brown; the belly and thighs are much of the same color but lighter ; the vent is whit*. The quil-feathers are dusky-ash-colored, tipped with white, and reach nearly to the end of the tail, which is of an uniform ash-colored grey. The bill is dark brown, the lorum and orbits naked and green- ish; irides fine pale yellow. ' It has a short crest somewhat inclining downwards. The legs and feet are a dull green ; the toes very long, the claw of the middle one serrulated on the inside. I think this a species perfectly distinct from the Ardea Nycticora.v, notwithstanding Dr. ^ Latham s mark of doubt. If we may reason from analogy, the specimen from which this description is taken, seems to bear one parti- cular character of a male bird ; in the common Heron the pendent feathers on the breast are not . found on the female subject, and the JAMAICA NIGHT HERON. 40S general plumage of this seems to have little or nothing in common with the female of the A. Nycticorax. This curious and rare species was shot on a tree near St. Asaph in the year 1810, and, in fine preservation, makes one of the subjects in -the collection of — Bambridge, Esq. H. Davies. 2 d2I 404 APPENDIX. X. No. X. A SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN, WITH THE NAMES IN THE ANTIENT BRITISH. LAND BIRDS. G E N U S I. FALCON. 1. Golden Eagle, Eryr melyn. 9>. Black Eagle, Eryr tinwyn. 3. Sea Eagle, Mor-Ei7r. 4. Cinereous, Eryr cynfFonwyn. 5. Osprey, Pysg Eryi': Gwalch y weilgi. 6. Gyrfalcon, Hebog chwyldro. 7. Peregrine Falcon, Hebog tramor, Cam= min. 8. Grey, Hebog Gwalch. *9- Gentil, Hebog mirain. 10. Lanner, Hebog gwlanog. 11. Goshawk, Hebog Marthin, SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT. 405 12. Spotted, ] 3. Rough legged. 14. Kite, 15. Buzzard, 1^. Honey Buzzard, 17. Moor Buzzard, 18. Hen-Harrier. 19. Ringtail, 20. Ash colored Fal- con. 21. Kestrel, ;. 22. Hobby, 23. Sparrow HaAvk, 24. Merlin, - . , Bod mannog. Barcud. Bod teircailL Bod y mel. Bod y gwerni, Barcud glas. Bod tinwyn. Cudyll coch. Hebog yr Hedydd. Gwepia. Corwalch, Llymysten. II. OWL. *1. Eagle, 2. Long eared, 3. Short earedj , 4. White, 5. Tawny, 6. Brown, 7. Little, y Ddylluan fawr. Dylluan gorniog. Dylluan glustiog, Dylluan wen. Dylluan frech. Aderyn y Cyrph. Coeg Ddylluan. APPENDIX. X. III. SHRIKE. : 1. Great, Cigydd mawr. 2. Red backed, Cigydd cefn-goch. 3. Wood chat, ; Cigydd glas. IV. . - '■ CROW. 1. Haven, Cigfran. 2. Carrion, Bran dyddyn. S. Rook, Ydfran. 4. Hooded, ' Bran yr Jwerddon, 5. Magpie, Piogen. 6. Jay, Screch y Coed. 7. Red legged. Bran big goch. 8. Jackdaw, Cogfran. 9. Nutcracker, Aderyn y cnau. t " ' ■ ^' ■ ■ ■ ROLLER. *1. Chattering, . y Rholydd. SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT. 407 VI. • ORIOLE. *1 Golden, • Y Fwyalchen felen. -■ VII. CUCKOO. 1. Common, Cog. VIIL WRYNECK. 1. Wryneck, Gwas y g6g, Gwdd- fdro. IX. WOODPECKER. 1. Green, Cnocell y coed, Delor y derw. 2. Great spotted, Delor fraith. *3. Middle. 408 - \ APPENDIX. X. '^ 4. Lest spotted, Delor fraith beiaf. -fS. Hairy, "f 6. Great black. KINGFISHER. 1, Common. Glas y dorian. . .,: XL NUTHATCH. 1 o Europaean, Delor y enau. XIL BEE-EATER, fl. Common. XIIL HOOPOE. L Common^ Y Goppog. SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT. 409 CREEPER. 1. Familiar, Y Grepianog. XV. G R 0 U S. 1. Wood, Ceiliog coed. 2. Black, Ceiliog du. 3. Red, Ceiliog Mynydd, Jar fynydd. 4. Ptarmigan, Coriar yr Alban. 5. Partridge, Coriar, Petrisen, 6. Quail, Sofliar, Rhine. XVL BUSTARD. 1. Great, '*2!. Lesser, 3. Thick-kneed, Yr araf ehedydd. Araf ehedydd Lleiaf. Y Glin-brafF. 410 APPENDIX. X, 1. Common, 2. Stock. 3. Ring, 4. Turtle, XVII. PIGEON. Colommen. Ysguthan. Colommen fair, Tur- tur. XVIIL STARE. 1. Common, 2. Water ouzel, ^3. Penrith ouzel. Drydwen, Drydwy. Mwyalchen y divir. 1. Missel, 2. Fieldfare, 3. Throstle, 4. Redwing, XIX. THRUSH. Tresglen, Pen y Llwyn, Caseg y ddryccin. Aderyn bronfraith. Soccen yr eira, Y dres- clen g6ch. SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT. 411 3. Blackbird, Mwyalch, Aderyn du. *6. Rose colored. 7. Ring-ouzel, Mwyalchen y graig, , . XX. CHATTERER. 1. Waxen, Sidan-gynffon. XXI. GROSBEAK. " 1 . Haw, GylfinbrafF. *2. Pine. 3. Cross-billed, Gylfingroes. . |4. White-winged. 5. Bulfinch, Y Chwybanydd, ; Rhawn goch. 6. Green, Y Gegid, Llinos werdd. XXIL BUNTING. 1. Common, Bras y ddruttan, Bras 412 ; APPENDIX. X. % Yellow, Llinos felen. tS. Cirl. . '•"' 4. Reed, Golfan y cyrs. 5. Tawny, Golfan rhudd. 6. Snow, Golfan yr eira. 7. Mountain, YrOlfan leiaf. XXIIL FINCH. 1. Gold, Gwas y Sierri. % Chaff, Asgell arian, Wine, 3. Brambling, Bronrhuddyn y my' nvdd. 4. Sparrow, Aderyn y to, Golfan. 5. Tree Sparrow , Golfan y mynydd. 6. Siskin, Y Ddreiniog. 7. Linnet, Llinos. 8. Red-headed, Llinos bengoch. 9. Less red-headed, Llinos bengoch leiaf. 10. Twite, . Llinos fynydd. XXIV. FLY -CATCHER. 1. Spotted, ^ Y Gwybedog. 2. Pied, Clochder y mynydd. SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT. 413 -) iW . \ .... ■■ : XXV. ' ■ V LARK. 1. Sky, Hedydd, Uchedydd. 2. Wood, Hedydd y coed. 3. Tit, Cor Hedydd. t4. Dusky. ■ \ ■ t5. Pipit 6. Field, Hedydd y cae. 7. Red, Hedydd rhudd. "8. Lesser Crested, Hedydd coppog. -i ■ XXVL . WAGTAIL. 1. White^ Brith y fyches, Tin sigl y gwys. 2. Yellow, Brith y fyches felen. 3. Grey, Brith y fyches Iwyd. XXVIL WARBLER. 1. Nightingale, Eos. 414 APPENDIX. X. 2. Redstart, 3. Redbreast, 4. Blackcap, f5. Greater Petty- chaps, 'f6. Lesser Petty- chaps. 7. Hedge, 8. Yellow, -f-p. Wood. 10. Golden -crested, 11. Wren, I'S. Sedge, 13. Grasshopper, 14. Reed. 15. Wheatear, 16. Whin-chat, 17. Stone-chat, 18. White-throat, tl9. Lesser White- throat. *20. Dartford. Rhonell goch. Yr Hobi goch. Rron- goch. Penddu'r brwyn. Y Ffigysog. Llwyd y gwrych. Dryw'r helyg. Sy- widvv. Yswigw, Sywigw. Dryw. Hedydd yr helyg. Gwich hedydd. Tinwyn y cerrig. Clochder yr eithin, Clochder y cerrig. Y gvvddfgwyn. 1. Great, XXVIIL TITMOUSE. Y Benloyn fwyaf. SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT. 415 2. Blue, 3. Cole, 4. Marsh, 5. Longtailed, 6. Bearded, 7. Crested. Y Lleian. Y Benloyn lygliw. Penloyn y cyrs. Y Benloyn gynffonhir. Y Barfog. XXIX. SWALLOW. 1. Chimney, 2. Martin, 3. Sand, 4. Swift, Gwennol, Gwenfol. Marthin Penbwl. Gennol y glennydd. Marthin du. XXX. GOATSUCKER. L Nocturnal, Aderyn y droell, Rhodwr. 416 APPENDIX. X. ; . WATER BIRDS. ^ GENUS I. SPOONBILL. 1. White, .. Y Llydonbig, IL HERON. 1. Crane, Goran. 2. Common, Cryr glas. S. Bittern, Aderyn y bwnn, Bwmp y Gors, 4. Little, Aderyn y bwnn Ueiaf. 5. White, Cryr gwyn. 6. Egret, Cryr coppog Ueiaf, p. Night. -|-8. Redbilled. 'f9' Squacco. -j-lO. Gardenian. -fll, African. SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT. 417 III. IBIS. tl. Glossy. IV. CURLEW. 1. Common, 2. Whimbrel, t3. Pygmy. Gylfinhir. Coeg ylfinhir, V. SNIPE. 1. Woodcock, 2. Godwit, *3. Cinereous, 4. Red, f5. Red breasted, 6. Jadreka. 7. Greenshank, 8. Redshank, * Cambridge. 9. Spotted, VOL. II. Cyffylog. Rhostog. Rhostog llwyd. Rhostog rhudd. Cwttyn dii. Coeswerdd. Coesgoch. Coesgoch mannog. 2 E 418 APPENDIX. X. 10. Common, *11. Great, 12. Jack, tl3. Brown, Ysnittan, y Fyniar, Ysnid. Giach, VI. SANDPIPER. 1. Lapwing, 2. Grey, |3. Yellow-legged. 4. RufF, 5. Knot, 6. Ash colored, 7. Spotted, 1 8. Selninger. 9. Black, 10. Gambet. '^ 1 1 . Turnstone, * Hebridal. flQ. Equestrian. 13. Green, * Wood. 14. Red, * Aberdeen. 15. Common, tl6. Greenwich. 17. Dunlin, Cornchwigl. Cwttyn llwyd. Yr Ymladdgar. Y Cnut. Y Pibydd glas. Y Pibydd mannog. Y Pibydd du mannog. Huttan y m6r. Y Pibydd gwyrdd. Y Pibydd coch. Pibydd y traeth, Pibydd rhuddgoch. , SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT. 419 18. Brown, . Y Pibydd rhudd. 19. Purre, Llygad yr ych. *20. Little, Y Pibydd lleiaf. VII. PLOVER. L Golden, Cwttyn yr aur. 2. Long-legged, Cwttyn hlrgoes* 3. Dottrel, Huttan. 4. Ringed, Mor Hedydd. 5. Sanderling, Llwyd y tywod. VIIL ^COURSER. tl. Cream-colored. IX. PRATINCOLE. tl. Austrian. 2 E 2 420 APPENDIX. X. X, OYSTER CATCHER. 1. Pied, ~ Piogen y m6r. XI. RAIL. , 1. Water, Cwtiar. XII. GALLINULE. 1. 3, Spotted, Dwfriar fannog Crake, Rhegen yr yd. Common, Dwfriar. XIII. PHALAROPE. 1. Grey, Pibydd llwyd llydan- droed. 2. Red, Pibydd coch llydan- droed. SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT. 421 XIV. COOT. 1. Common, Jar ddwfr foel. 2. Great, Jar ddwfr foel fvvyaf. XV. GREBE. 1. Great-crestedj Tippet, 2. Eared, 3. Dusky, 4. Little, 5. Blackchin, f6. Red-necked. |7. Sclavonian. Gwyach gorniog. Gwyach. Tindroed. Gwyach glustiog. Gwyach leiaf Harri gwlych dy big. Gwyach gwddfrhudd. XVL A V O S E T. 1. Scooping, Pig mynawd. AR& APPENDIX. X. XVII. AUK. 1. Great, Carfil mawr. 2. Razor-bill, Carfil, Gwalch y pen- waig. 3. Black-billed, Puffin, Carfil gylfinddu. Pwffingen. 4. Little, Carfil bach. xvm. GUILI.EMOT. 1. Foolish, Lesser, Gwilym. Chwilog. 2. Black, . Gwilym du. Eas gan longwr. XIX. DIVER. 1. 3. 4. 5. Northern, ' Trochydd mawr. Imber, Trochydd. Speckled, ^ Trochydd bach. Red-throated, Trochydd gwddfgoch. Black-throated, Trochydd gwddfdu. SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT. 423 / XX. GULL. 1. , Black-backed, Gwylan gefn-ddu. 2. , Skua, Gwylan frech. 3. Black-toed, Yr Wylan ysgafn. 4. Arctic, Gwylan y Gogledd. 5. Herring, Gwylan benwaig. Wagel, Gwylan rudd a gwyn. 6. Common, Gwylan Iwyd, Hue- can. Winter, Gwylan y gweunydd. 7. Kittiwake. Tarrock, Gwylan gemyw. 8. Black-headed, Yr wylan benddu. t^. Red-legged. fio. Laughing. 11. Brown, Yr wylan fechan. XXL TERN. 1. Common, Y for-wennol fwyaf. Yscraean. 2. Lesser, Y for-wennol leiaf. APPENDIX. X. 3. t4, , Black, , Sandwich. Kamschatkan Yscraean ddu. XXII. ^ PETREL. ' 1. % 3. Fulmar, , Shear- water, . Stormy, Gwylan y graig. Pwffingen Fanaw. Cas gan Longwr. ' ■ ■,'•.' XXIIL MERGANSER. 1. 2. 3, Goosander, Red-breasted, , Smew, Hwyad ddanheddog. Trochydd danheddog. Lleian wen. XXIV. , ■:;: DUCK. 1. 2. *3. 4. 5. 6. Wild Swan, Alarch gwyllt. Tame Swan, Alarch. Grey Lag Goose, Gwydd. Bean Goose, Elcysen. r. White-fronted, Gwydd wyllt. Bernacle,, V Gwyran. SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT. 425 7. Brent Goose, ■fS. Red-breasted. 9. Eider, tlO. King. ' ' 11. Velvet, 12. Scoter, 13. Tufted, 14. Scaup, 15. Golden eye, * Morillon, 16. Shieldrake, 17. Mallard, 18. Shoveler, 19- Red breasted Shoveler, 20. Pintail, 21. Long-tailed, '|"22. Harlequin, 23. Pochard, 24. Red, 25. Wigeon, *26. Bimaculated. 27. Gadwall, 28. Garganey, 29. Teal, Gwyran fanyw. Hwyad fwythblu. Hwyad felfedog. Y for- Hwyad ddu. Hwyad goppog. Llygad arian. Llygad aur. Hwyad benllwyd. Hwyad yr eithin. Hwyad fruith. Cors Hwyad. Garan Hwyad. Hydnwy. Hwyad lydanbig. Hwyad fron-goch ly- danbig, Hwyad gynfFonfain. Hwyad gynffon gwen- nol. Hwyad bengoch. Hwyad frech. Chwiw. Y gors Hwyad Iwyd. Hwyad addfain. Cor Hwyad. Brach Hwyad. 426 APPENDIX. X. XXV. COR VO RANT. 1. Common, Mulfran. M6rfran.j 2. Crested. 3. Shag, Y Fulfran leiaf. » 4. Gannet, Gan. Gans. *^* The birds marked * are not in the octavo edition, I768. Those distinguished by f have been added since the edition of 1776, Ed. CATALOGUE OF EUROPEAN, &c. 427 No. XL : : CATALOGUE OF THE EUROPEAN QUADRUPEDS AND BIRDS, Extra-Britannic. Since the great use of Mr, Ray's Sylloge stirpium Europe a rum ei'tra Britannias has been so fully approved by the travelling Bota- nist, it is thought a similar enumeration of the species of certain classes of the animal kingdom would be equally agreeable and serviceable to the travelling Zoologist. It comprehends the E.vtra-Britannic quadrupeds and birds of Eu- rope, formed from the works of the general naturalists, from the FauncB of different coun- tries, and from my own observations. The arrangement of quadrupeds is according to the order I have adopted in my History of Quadru- peds, that of birds to that of Dr. Latham in his Inde.v Ornithologicus, to which the reader is severally referred. 428 APPENDIX. XL CLASS L QUADRUPEDS. . .. . Hist. Genus. Species. Quad. Place. Ox Wild - - - i. 16 Lithuania, Buffalo - - 28 Italy. Sheep Common - 37 Var. B. Cretan 38 Hungary, Var. I. Fat run: iped 42 Russia. H. Corsican 45 Corsica. ^ Goat Ibex - - - 55 Alps. Antelope Chamois - 72 Alps, Pyrenees. Scythian - 98 Poland, Moldavia. Deer Elk - - - 105 N. of the Baltic. Rein - - - 111 N. of the Baltic. Hog Wild - 140 Germany, France, See. Dog Wolf - 248 Germany, France, &c. Arctic - 255 Lapland. Cat Lynx - 301 Germany, France, &c. Bear Brown - ii. 1 Germany, France, &c. Polar - 5 Within the arctic circle. Glutton - 10 Lapland, Poland. Weesel Sarmatian - 38 Poland, Russia. Genet - 74 Spain. Pilosello - il. France, Spain. Otter Lesser - 80 Poland, N. of Europe. Hare Calling - 111 Eastern Russia. Beaver Castor - 114 Lapland to Languedoc. Porcupine Crested - 122 Italy. Marmot Alpine - 128 Alps, Pyrenees. Bobak - 131 Poland, Russia. Earless - 135 Bohemia, Hungarj-. EXTRA-BRITANNIC QUADRUPEDS. 429 Hist. Genus, Species. Quad. Place. Dormouse Fat - - - ii. 158 France, south. Europe. Garden - - 159 France, south. Europe. Rat Scherman - 182 Alsace. Rustic - - 189 Germany, Russia. Soricine 190 Alsace. Little - - 191 Rvissia. Lemmus 198 Norway, Lapland. Gregarious - 206 Germany and Sweden. . _ Hamster ih. Austria, Silesia. Blind - - 214 Poland, Russia. Talpine 219 Eastern Russia. Shrew Musky 221 Between the Volga and Ika. White toothed 228 Environs of Strasbourg. Square tailed if,. Environs of Strasbourg. ' Carinated ih. Environs of Strasbourg. Unicolor ih. Environs of Strasbourg. Walrus Arctic - - 266 Northern parts. Seal Mediterranean 273 Mediterranean sea. Tortoise-headed 276 On various coasts. Leporine 277 White sea. Harp - - 279 Iceland. White sea. Bat Serotine 317 France. Pipistrella - 318 France, Russia. 430 APPENDIX. XI. CLASS 11. BIRDS. I. RAPACIOUS. Genus. Species. Ind. orn. Culture Cinereous - - 1 Alpine - - 2 Ash-colored ih. Golden - - 3 Maltese - - 5 Black - - 6 Falcon Black eagle - - 10 Bald eagle - - 11 White eagle - - 14 Rough-footed eagle il. Spotted eagle - 15 Lesser white-tailed eagle - - - H. Jean le blanc eagle ih. Dransberg eagle - l6 Russian eagle - 17 Black kite - - 21 Austrian kite - ih. Harpy - - - 25 Sclavonlan - - 26 Marginate - - ih. Collared - - - 23 Long-tailed - - 2g Common - - 30 Iceland - - - 32 Doubtful - - ih. Place. On the highest hills. Southern parts. South, parts, Arragon. Alps. Malta. Sardinia. Various parts. Various parts. Alps and banks of the Rhine. Various parts. Various parts. Various parts. France. Near Goettengen. Russia, Germany. Austria. France, Germany. Sclavonia. Sclavonia. Sweden. Russia. Various parts. Northern regions. Sweden. EUROPEAN EXTRA-BRITANNIC BIRDS. 431 Genus. Species. Ind. . orn. Place. Falcon- Sacre - - - ■ 34 Various parts. Starry - - - • 35 Various parts. White Lanner - 38 Various parts. Bohemian - - 43 Germany. , Ingrian - - - 46 Russia. Stone - - - 47 Various parts. Mountain - - 48 Various parts. Minute - - - 50 Malta. Owl Scandinavian - 53 Lapland. Zorca - - - 56 Italy, Sardinia. -^ Carniolic - il. Carniola. Scops - - - ih. France and other part? Snowy - - - 57 Lapland. Austrian - 61 Carniola ,„i,:*^ ih. ih. Austria. Carniola. '■ vvniie rufous ferriigi - nous - - - 62 Austria near Idria. Solognese - ih. France. Hawk - - - ih. Sweden. Shrike Grey - - - 68 Northern regions. Lesser grey - - 71 Italy. Short-tailed - 76 Hungary. II. PIES. Crow Russian Alpine - - Hermit Cuckoo Great spotted Pisan - - Woodpecker Grej^-headed Three-toed Bee-eater Yellow-headed Creeper Green - - Wall - . -139 Lapland, Russia. - 165 Switzerland. - 166 Switzerland. - 208 Southern parts. -211 Italy. - 236 Norway, Switzerland. - 243 Various parts. - 270 Southern parts. -281 Carniola. - 294 Southern parts. 43£ \ APPENDIX. XI. III. PASSERINE. Genus. Species. Ind. orn. Place. Stare Collared - 323 Carniola, Carinthia. Thrush Reed - - - 334 Various parts. Rock - - - 335 Italy, southern parts. lesser - - 336 Switzerland, Austria. Blue - - - - ih. Italy, Crete. Solitary - - - 345 France, Italy. Grosbeak Northern - 388 Northern regions. Bunting Ortolan - - - 399 Southern parts. Foolish - - - 402 Southern parts. Mustachoe - - 403 France, Provence. Lesbian - - - 404 France, Provence. Lorrain - - - il. France. . - Mihtary - 412 Malta. Brumal - - - 27'. Tyrol. Finch Ring - - - 435 Germany. Foolish Sparrow 436 Italy. ., ,.• v;.. Speckled do. - il. Italy, - White-tailed do. ih. Italy. ' : Short-tailed do. ih. Italy. Dalmatic do. - 437 Dalmatia. Crimson crowned 438 Sweden. Arctic - - - ih. Sweden, Noru-ay. Lapland - - - 440 Northern regions. Snow - - - il. Various parts. Serin - - - 454 Southern parts. Citril - - - ih. Southern parts. Strasburgh - - 460 Environs of Strasborg. Flycatcher Leucomele - - 469 Eastern Russia. Lark Italian - - - 492 Italy. Marsh - - - 495 Germany. Meadow - ih. Various parts. Black - - . 496 Russia. CATALOGUE OF EUROP.EAN, &c. Genus. Species. Ind. orn. Place. Lark Calandre - 496 Italy. Shore - - - 498 Germany, Russia. Crested - - - 499 Various parts. • Undated - 500 France, southern - Testaceous - - il. Gibraltar. Portugal - ih. Portugal. Wagtail Cinereous - 302 Various parts. Yellow-headed - 604 Russia. Warbler Passerine - 508 France, Italy, ;; Black-headed - 509 Sardinia. Moschite - ih. Sardinia. Babbling - ■ - ih. France, Italy. Bog-rush - 510 Various parts. ;. Aquatic - - - ih. Italy. Tethys - - - 512 Italy. "■?■ - K^ Gibraltar - 513 Spain. " -^ Red-tail - ih. France. Rufous - - - 5l6 France, Germany, Epicurean - 517 Various parts. Pig-eater - ■ - ih. Italy. Blue-throated - 521 Various parts. White-breasted 522 Germany, Russia, Strapazina - - 530 Spain, Italy. Provence wheat :- ear - - - 531 France. :, , .■ .;: Spotted wheat-ear 532 France. Titmouse Norway - - - 563 Norway. Azure - - - ih. Russia. Toupet - - 567 Northern regions. Penduline - 568 Poland, Italy. Languedoc - - ih. France. Swallow Rock - - - 576 Carniola. - . , ^. ,_, Crag - - - ih. Southern parts. White bellied - 582 Southern parts. VOL. II. ..■■■-. y ■ -..> . 29 434 APPENDIX. XL IV. GALLINACEOUS, >ih:' J Genus. Species. Ina I. orn. Place. Pigeon Collared turtle - 607 Various parts. Grous White - - - 639 Lapland. Rehusak - - 640 Lapland. Helsingian il. Sweden. Hazel _ - - ib. Germany, Poland. Pin-tailed - - 641 France. Partridge Francoliii - - 644 Spain, Italy. Arragonian 645 Spain. Damascus - - 646 France. Mountain - - lb. Various parts. Greek or red 647 Southern parts* Kakilik - - - 655 Turkey. Gibraltar quail - 656 Spain. Andalusian qiiail ib. Spain. ■o.-M/ V. WATER BIRDS. * WITH CLOVEN FEET. Heron White stork - 676 Various parts. Black stork - 677 Various parts. Collared - 678 Italy about Bologna. Obscure - 679 Sclavonia. Rufous - - - 681 Italy about Bologna. Swabian - zb. Banks of the Danube, Rayed - - - ib. Banks of the Danube. Squaiotte - 686 Italy about Bologna. Chesnut - ib. Silesia. Red-legged - - ib. Italy about Bologna. Castaneous - - 687 Russia. Ferruginous - 688 Russia. CATALOGUE OF EUROPEAN, &c. 435 Genus. ■ Species. Ind. orn. Place. Heron Rufous - - - 692 Germany. Snowy - - 696 Russia. Black - - - 697 Silesia. Crested purple - il. Switzerland. Greater bittern - 698 Italy. Purple - - il. Banks of the Danube. Ibis Black - - - 707 Russia. Snipe Belgic - - 716- Flanders. Dusky - - - 724 Lapland. Terek - - ih. Northern Russia. Sandpiper Greater lapv\ 'ing 726 Italy about Bologna. Swiss - - 728 Russia, France, S\vit= zerland. Waved - - - 732 Denmark and Norway. Uniform - - il. Iceland. Dusky - - il. France, Germany. Freckled - - il. France, Russia. Grisled - - - 733 Various parts. Striated - - - il. Northern regions. Black - - - 738 Banks of the Rhine, Plover Alwargrim - - 742 Northern regions. Gregarious - - 745 Eastern Russia. Spur-winged. A. 748 Russia. Pratincole Spotted - - - 754 Germany. Gallinule Brown - - 771 France. Grinetta - - 772 Italy about Bologna. Speckled - - il. Germany. Yellow legg ed - 773 Germany. Piping - - - il. Germany. Courier Italian - - 787 Italy. ** WITH WEBBED FEET. Flamingo Red - - ■ - - 788 South, parts, Sardinia, Guillemot White - . ■ -798 Holland. Tern Cinereous - - 808 Italy. 2f2 436 APPENDIX. XI. Genus. Species. Ind, orn. Place. Tern Hooded - - - 809 Russia. Gull Little - - 813 Southern Russia. Glaucous - - 814 Sweden, Iceland. Merganser Imperial - - 829 Sardinia. Duck Snow goose - 837 Northern regions. Gulaund - - 843 Iceland. Lapmark - - 859 Denmark, Norway. ; Western - - 866 Sweden. Red crested - - 870 Italy. Iceland - - - 871 Iceland. Sparmaii - - 876 Baltic sea, - Gmelin - - - ih. Russia. Pelican White - • - 882 Danube. INDEX TO THE FIRST AND SECOxXD VOLUMES. 437 ABERDAVINE, vol. i. page 460 Acanthis, what supposed to be, i. 44g JEsopus, his dish of singing birds, ii. 323 AgascEUs, Agasseus, what dogs, i. 73 America, no rats there origi- nally, i. 143 Anacreon, mentions the car- rier pigeon, i. 388 Apodes, of Aristotle, ii. 2QQ Ariosto, his account of the carrier pigeon, i. 387 Aristophanes, mentions the use sailors made of the flight of birds, ii. 148 Ass, i. 15 not originally a native of Britain, i. \Q Asterias, what bird, ii. 15 Attagas or Attagen, what bird, ii. 48 Auk, the greater, or Penguin, vol. ii. page 146 common, or Razor-lill, ii. 148 black-billed, ii. 150 puffin, ii. 152 little, ii. 158 AvosET, ii. 143 B Badger, i. 100 Barley bird or Siskin, i. 460 Barrington, the Honour- able Daines, of the small birds of flight, by, ii. 315 Essay on singing birds by, ii. 326 Bass Isle, number of birds on, ii. 289 Bat Barbastella, i. 183 minute, i. 181 great, i. 179 long-eared, i. 182 horse-shoe, i. 180 common, i. 184 43S INDEX. Bat, a tame one, vol. i. page 186 Bears, once found in Britain, i. 90 Beaver, now extinct, i. 122 Bee-eater, i. 339. Belon, the first traveller who made remarks in natural his- tory, i. 334 Bernacle, li. 237 Bison Scoticus, i. 27 Bittern, ii. 14 the Asterias of the an- tients, ii. 15 the little, ii. 18 Black-bird, i. 411 Black-cap, i. 505 Black-cock, vide Grous. spotted, i. 355 Blood-hound, its use, i. 72 Boadicea, her use of the hare, i. 128 Boar, wild, once found in England, i. 6q Bots, what, i. 13 Brambling, i. 454 Brawn, a dish peculiar to Eng- land, i. 68 Brent goose, ii. 239 Britain, its natural advantages. Preface Bruce, Robert K. of Scotland saved from a wild bull, i. 27 Buck, or fallow-deer, i. 4g. 56 Bulfinch, i. 430 Bulls, wild, i. 25 Bunting, cirl, vol. i. pagft 438 common, i. 435 yellow, i. 437 reed, i. 440 tav>?ny, i. 442 , snow, i. 444 mountain, i. 445 Bustard, great, i. 376 lesser, i. 379 thick-kneed, i. 380 Butcher-bird, vide Shrike lest, vide beard- ed Titmouse Buzzard, bald, or Osprey, i. 214 honey, i. 235 common, i. 232 moor, i. 237 Cagmag, what, ii. 231 Canary bird, i. 469 Capercahe, vide cock of the wood Carrier-pigeon, its uses, i. 386 Cat, domestic, i. 97 its value formerly, i. 98 odd penalty for stealing the Prince's, ib. wild, i. 94 Cataracta or Skua, ii. 174 a name applied to the gannet, ii, 293 INDEX. 439 Cattle, wild still in Britain, vol. i. page 25 Cavalry, British, respectable, i. 4 poor state of in Queen Elizaletlts time, numerous in the time of King Stephen, i. ih. Cepphus, gull, ii. 178 Chaffinch, i. 452 Chariots, scythed, of the Bri- tains, I. 5 Chatterer, %vaxen, i. 418 Cheese, not made by the Bri- tains, i. 22 ChenaJopex, Ii. 257 Chenerofes, il, 238 Chevy Chace, the story not im- probable, i. 51 Childers, a horse, his speed, i. 2 X^va-Ofj.iT'^iS, of Aristotle, i. 449 Churn owl, i. 10 Cloven footed water BIRDS, ii. 3 Coaches, when first used In England, i. 10 Cock, common, or poultry, 1.371 wild only in India, ih. the black or grous, I. 352 Cock, of the wood, vol. i. page 348 Coddy moddy gull, II. 185 Cornish chough, i. 2g4 tarrock, ii. 187 Comix of Virgil, I. 281 Country Gentlemen, the study of natural history recom- mended to, Preface Goldfinch, or pied Flycatch- er, i. 473 Cole Titmouse, I. 535 Coot, common, il. 127 great, ii. 129 Coracles, or leathern boats, I. 29 CoRVORANT, common, 11.281 its voraciousness, II. 283 Satan said by Milton to have assumed the form of this bird, Ii. il. crested, ii. 284 Courser, cream-colored, Ii. 108 Crake, or land rail, II. 1 19 Crane, ii. 7 Creeper, I. 345 Crossbill, i. 425 Crow, i. 279 carrion, I. 281 Royston, or hooded, i. 286 red-legged, i. 294 440 INDEX. Cuckoo, vol. i. page 305 why a name of re- proach, i. 308 Curlew, ii. 34 pygmy, ii. 38 stone, i, 380 CypselU, Phnii, ii. 20g P Decoj's, an account of, ii. 259 Deer, fallow, or buck, i. 49. 56 Didapper, or little grebe, ii. 137 Diver, northern, ii. l65 Imber, ii. 167 speckled, ii. 168 red-throated, ii. 10g black-throated, ii. 17O Divinity, how far natural his- tory may promote the end of. Preface Docking of horses, an absurd custom, i. 12 DoG, i. 70 setting, i. 78 lap, i. 79 shepherd's, i. il. English, in high esteem with the Romans, i. 80 Dormouse, i. 137 Dottrel, ii. 101 Dove, turtle, i. 3g4 Dove, stock, vol. i. page SQG ring, ii 392 Greenland, ii. l63 Duck, ii. 218 wild and tame, ii. 258 Eider, ii. 243 velvet, ii. 247 scoter, ii. 248 red, ii. 272 morillon, or grey head- ed, ii. 254 tufted, ii. 249 scaup, ii. 251 pintail, ii. 266 long tailed, ii. 268 bimaculated, ii. 274 harlequin, ii. 269 king, ii. 246 Ducks, wild, vast drivings for- merly, ii. 263 Dun-bird, the female pochard, ii. 271 Dun-diver, or female goosan- der, ii. 213 or serula, ii. 214 Dunlin, ii. 92 E Eagle cinereous, i. 209 golden, i. 197 ringtail or black, i. 202 sea, i. 205 Eagles carry away children, i. 200 INDEX. 441 Eagles, their longevity, vol. i. page 201 Edgar, king, his advice to the clergy, i. 53 did not extirpate wolves out of Wales, i. 88 Egret, ii. 21 Eider duck, ii. 243 E\s(pa,yrivcc 4^a,Xia oi Straho, 1, 176 Elk, or wild swan, ii. 218 Ember goose, ii. 167 Epops of Ovid, i. 344 Ermine, i. 114 how taken in Lap- land and Siheria, i. 115 Erne, or cinereous eagle, i. 209 F Falcon, ash colored, i. 243 peregrine, i. 218 grey, i. 221 gentil, i. 222 rough-legged, i. 228 spotted, i. 227 Falconry, i. 210 Fallow deer, the spotted, i. 56 deep brown, ih. Fallow smich, or wheat-ear, i. 521 Feather trade, ii. 230 Fern owl, i. 566 Ferret, originally of Africa, i- 107 Ferret will produce with the polecat, vol. i. page 107 Fieldfare, i. 404 Finch, i. 447 Fin-footed birds, ii. 123 Fitchet, i. 105 Flight, small birds of, ii. 315 Flycatcher, spotted, i. 47I pied, i. 473 Fogs, apology for those o£ Bri- tain, i. 22 Fortunate Isles, famous for birds, i. 469 Fox, i. 83 will produce with the dog kind, i. 84 varieties of, i. 87 Fresnoy, his observation, Pre- face. Froissart, his story of a gre- hound, i. 75 Fulmar, its uses in the isle of St. Kilda, ii. 203. G ^adwal or Grey, ii. 275 Gallinule, spotted, ii. II7 crake, ii. 1 19 common, ii. 121 Gambet, ii. 82 Gannet, ii. 286 its uses to the inha- bitants of St. Kil' da, ii. 290 Gannet, Dr. JF. Harvey, his 442 INDEX„ '. elegant account of these birds, vol. ii. page 289 Garganey, ii. 277 Geese, tame^ how often plnck- ed, ii, 230 Goat, i. 42 Welsh, the largest, i. 43 its milk medicinal, i. 45 Goatsucker, i. 566 Godwit, ii. 47 not the Attagas, ii. 48 cinereous, ii. 50 red, ii, 51 the lesser, ii. 53 Golden-eye, ii. 253 Goldfinch, i. 447 not the Acanthis, i. 449 Goosander, ii. 211 Goose, wild, ii. 228 bean, ii. 233 Grey lag, ii. 228 origin of the common tame, ii. 229 brent, ii. 239 rat or road, ii. 240 white-fronted, ii. 235 red-breasted, ii. 241 Goshawk, i. 225 Grebe, tippet, ii. 134 great crested, ii. 130 itsfloatingnest, ii. 132 -V. . t of Geneva, our grebe, ii. 134 ; ' " , eared, ii. 135 Grebe, dusky, vol. ii. page 136 little or dobchick, ii. 137 its singular nest, ii. 138 black-chin, ii. ih. red necked, ii. 13g Sclavonian, ii. 141 Greenfinch, i. 432 Greenshank, ii. 55 Gre-hound, i. 74 Grey-headed duck, ii. 254 Grosbeak, haw, i. 421 pine, i. 433 cross-billed, i. 42* green, i. 432 white winged, i. 428 Grous, wood, i. 347 black, i. 352 red, i. 356 white or Ptarmigan, i. 359 Guillemot, foolish, ii. 160 lesser, ii. 162 black, ii. 1 63 Guinea-hen, i. 372 Gull, black-backed, ii. 172 Skua, ii. 174 ". I t its fierceness, ii. 176 black-toed, ii. 178 arctic, ii. 179 herring, ii. 181 common, ii. 184 wagel, ii. 182 winter, ii. 185. INDEX. 443 Gvhh, Kittiwake, vol. ii, page 186 tarrock, ii. 187 ' '■ black-head, ii. I89 brown, ii. IQS cloven-footed, ii. IQQ Mr. Johnson's, ii. 125 laughing, ii. IQ3 red-legged, ii. 192 Gyrfalcon, i. 217 H Halcyon of the antlents, i. 328 days, what, i. 331 HalicBtos, i. 205 Hare, common, i. 124 varying, i. 129 a food forbidden to the Britons, i. 128 Haw, Grosbeak, i. 421 Hawks, the Welsh, i. 212 subject to change their colors, i. 224 warrant for the King's, ii. 309 Hedge-hog, vide Urchin Hedge-sparrow, i. 509 Hen-harrier, i. 239 Herbert, Lord, his censure of races, i. 8 Heron, common, ii. 10 nests of, numerous in one tree, ii. 11 night, ii. 23 Heron, white, vol. ii. page red-billed, ii. 25 Squacco, ii 26 Gardenian, ii. 27 African, ii. 28 Jamaica night, ii. 401 Himantopus, ii. 100 Hinds, milch, kept by a Coun- tess of Chester, i. 58 Hobby, i. 247 Hog, i. Q5 not an undistinguishing feeder, i. 65 its parts finely adapted to its way of life, i. 67 used as a beast of draught, i. 69 Hoofed QUADRUPEDS, domes- tic, why, i. 1 1 Hoopoe, i. 342 believed by the vul- gar to portend war, i. 344 Hooper, or wild swan, ii. 218 Horns fossil, i. 62 Horse, British, i. 1 Arabian, ii. 300 Persian, ii. 305 JEthiopian and jEgyp- tian, ii. 305, 306 its swiftness, i. 2 strength, i. 4 Spanish, when first in- troduced, i. 6 numbers, i. 9 INDEX. Hoits*, natural history and uses, vol. i. page 10 Hunting, English, very fond of, i. 50 Husbandry or rural ceconomy, how far indebted to Zoolo- gy, Preface Jackdavt^, i. 296 Jacksnipe, ii. 63 James I. his passion for hunt- ing, i. 56 his combat of the lion and British dogs, i. 80 Jay, i. 291 Ibis glossy, ii. 30 Imber, Diver, ii. 167 Kestrel, i. 244 Kingfisher, i. 326 the Halcyon of the antients, i. 328 the mute Hal- cyon of Ari- stotle, i, ih. its nest, i. ih. Kite, i. 229 art of steering taken from, i. 230 Kittiwake, Gull, vol. ii. page 186 Knot, ii. 76 taken in nets, ii. 77 Lagopus, i. 359 altera of Pliny, un- certain what bird, i. 358 Lanner, i. 223 Lanthorns, when invented, i. 29 Lapland, the great rendezvous of water-fowl during sum- mer, ii. 394 Lapwing, ii. 66 taken in nets, ii. 67 Lark, sky, i. 475 wood, i. 479 tit, i. 481 - :' field, i. 484 red, i. 486 lesser crested, i. 487 sea, ii. 105 dusky, i. 482 pipit, i. 484 Latax oi Aristotle, i. 121 Lavelian, a sort of shrew, i. 155 , . ■ Linnet, i. 462 red-headed, i. 464 less red-headed, i. 466 London, quantity of cattle con- sumed there, i. 24 INDEX. 445 Loon, vide Grebe, vol. ii. page 130 Lucan, describes the Coracle, i. 29 Lumme, ii. 169 M ^ - Magpie, i. 289 Mallard, ii. 238 Martin, common, i. 108 pine, i. 110 numerous in North A- merica, i. 1 1 1 Martin (swallow) i. 547 black or swift, i. 550 sand, i. 549 Mastiff, British, trained for war, i. 80 Mastiffs, three overcome a lion, i. ih. Maundeville, Sir John, his ac- count of the carrier pigeon, i. 386 Meleagrides, the Guinea hens, i. 372 Menagery, royal, i. 92 Merganser, ii. 211 red breasted, ii. 214 red headed, ii. 217 MerUn, i. 251 Mew, winter, ii. 185 Migration of swallows, i. 553 Migration of British birds in general, vol. ii. page 378 Milton, his fine image of the skylark, i. 477 elegant description of the nightingale's song, i. 497 his beautiful and natu- ral description of the swan, ii. 222 Missel thrush, i, 401 the largest bird that sings, i. 403 Mole, i. 157 Moor-hen, ii. 121 Moose-deer, horns fossile of a species now unknown, i. 63 Morse, suspected to be British, i. 175 Mouflon, musimon, a sort of sheep, i. 37 Mouse, field, i. 147 meadow, i. 151 common, i. 150 harvest, i. 149 Mule, i. 19 errors in breaking, i. ib. N Nevill, Archbishop, his great feast, ii. 396 Nightingale, i. 494 446 INDEX. Nightingale, Pliny s beautiful description of its song, vol. i. page 499 Norway rat, or brown, i. 142 Nutcracker, i. 298 Nuthatch, i. 336 Oppians description of the bea- gle, i. 74 Oriole, i. 303 Orpheus, his soul said to have transmigrated into the body of a swan, ii. 224 ' ,. . Osprey, i. 214 Otter, i. 117 considered as a fish by the Carthusians, i. 119 sea, of Sir R. Sih- hald, i. 120 Ovid, his account of the bat, i. 185 of the hoo- poe, i. 344 Ouzel, ring, or rock, i. 415 water, i. 398 rose colored, i, 413 Penrith, i. 399 Owl, eagle, i. 234 long-eared, i. 258 short-eared, i. 260 white, i. 263 brown, ic 268 Owl, tawny, vol. i. page 260 little, i. 270 Ox, i. 21 Oystercatcher, ii. 112 Painter, his merit founded on' his knowledge of nature^ Preface Pardalis of Aristotle, ii. 99 Parks, numerous in England, i. 52 Partridge, i. 363 white, or white ; grous, i. 359 Pasturage, richness of the Bri- tish and Irish, i. 22 Peacock, an Indian bird, i. 369 Penguin, the great auk, ii. 146 Penhehogydd, or chief falconer of the JVelsh court, i. 253 Petrel, ir. 203 its faculty of spout- ing oil, ii. 204 stormy, ii. 208 Pettychaps, greater, i. 506 lesser, i. 508 Pewit, or Lapwing, ii. 66 gull, its former value,, ii. 189 Phalarope, grey, ii. 123 red, ii. 125 INDEX. 447 Pheasant, not originally Bri- tish, vol. i. page 372 sea, ii. 266 Pie, sea, ii. 112 Pigeon, common, i. 383 carrier, its uses, i. 386 Pintail duck, ii. 266 Plover, golden, ii. 98 ringed, ii. 105 long-legged, ii. 100 Norfolk, vide Bus- tard, i. 380 Pochard, ii. 271 Poetry, can scarcely exist with- out the aid of natural his- tory. Preface Pole-cat, or Fitchet, i. 105 said to produce with the ferret, i. 107 Poultry, common, introduced by the Phoenicians, i. 371 Pratincole, Austrian, ii.l 10 Procurator Cynegii, what, i. 80 Provisions, what animals used as, by the old E?iglish, ii. 396 Ptarmigan, or white grous, i. 359 ,. , , Puffin, ii. 152 its natural affection, ii. ., 135 antient method of tak- ing, ii. 156 Manks, ii. 206 Purre, ii. 94 Quadrupeds, digitated, vol. i. page 70 hoofed, i. 1 r pinnated, i. 166 winged, i. 179 Quail, i. 366 Ouecst, i. 392 .. . ;; Rabbet, i. 130 its vast fruitfulness, r. 131 Races, account of, i. 7 Rail, water, ii. 114 land, or crake, ii. II9 Rams, great price of, i. 36 Rat, black, i. 140 hrown, or Norway, i. 142 of uncertain origin, i. 143 water, i. 145 catcher, the king's, i. 142 Raven, i. 279 Razor-bill, or auk, ii. 148 great size of its egg, ii. 149 Red-breast, i. 502 endeared to chil- dren by the old song, the hahes in the wood, i. 503 INDEX. Red-game, vide G.ous. Redshank, vol. ii. page 57 Red-start, I. 500 Red-wing. i. 40g fore-runner of wood- cocks, ii. 43 Reed-bunting, i. 440 Ridinger, the engraver, his merit. Preface Ring-dove, i. 392 Ring-ouzel, i. 415 Ring-tail, or black eagle, i. 202 falcon, i. 240 Rock-ouzel, i. 415 Roe-buck, i. 59 Roller, i. 300 Rook, the Corvus of Firgil, i. 283 Itoyston crow, i. 286 Ruff and Reeve, ii. 71 how fattened, • ■ ii. 74 Sanderling, ii. 106 Sand-swallow, i. 54g Sandpiper, ii. QQ grey, ii. 6g ash-colored, ii. 78 ■ • ' brown, ii. 93 ■ ' . spotted, ii. 79 - black, ii. 81 Hehidal, ii. 84 green, ii. 86 Sandpiper, red, vol. ii. page 89 Aberdeen, ii. ih. common, ii. 90 little, ii. 95 ■' ' ■ ■ equestrian, ii. 85 Greenwich, ii. 9I Selninger, ii. 80 wood, ii. 88 yellow-legged, ii. 70 Scare crow, ii. 199 Scaup-duck, ii. 251 . . , Scoter, ii. 248 Sea-fowl, their harsh note, ii. 156 Sea-lark, or ringed plover, ii. 105 pie, or Oystercatcher, ii. 112 Seal, great, i. 166 common, i. 167 once used at great feasts as food, i. 171 how taken in Cathness, i. 172 Serula, ii. 214 Shag, ii. 285 '■ Shaw, Rev. Dr. his euloge, i. 334 Shear water, ii. 206 Sheep, i. 32 of Hirta or St. Kilda, i. 37 trepanning of, 1. 40 Shieldrake, ii. 2b6 possibly the Che- INDEX. 449 ■ nalopex Plinii, vol. ii. page 257 Shovel er, ii. 264 red breasted, ii. 265 Shrew, fetid, i. 153 vi^ater, i. 155 Shrike, great, i. 272 red backed, i. 275 vt^ood-cliat, i. 277 Silius It aliens, his fine de- scription of the swan, ii. 222 his account of the Hal- cyon, i. 332 Silk-tail, i. 418 Singing birds, Essay on, by the Honourable Daines Bar- RINOTON, ii. 326 their great emu- lation, ii. 345 vast power of voice, ih. Siskin, i. 459 Skua gull, ii. 174 Sly goose, the shieldrake, ii. 257 Smew, ii. 2l6 Snipe, ii. 40 common, ii. 60 great, ii. 62 jack, ii. 63 brown, ii. 6o Camhridge, ii. 58 Jadreka, ii. 53 red-breasted, ii. 52 spotted, ii. oQ Soland goose, ii. 286 Spain, probably the winter re- sort of some of our small birds VOL. II. of passage, vol. ii. page 386 Sparrow, i. 456 tree, i. 453 Sparrow hawk, i. 24() Spoon bill, ii. 3 Squirrel, i. 134 Stag, i. 49 where now found wild, i. 54 Irish, formerly small with great horns, i. 55 severe punishment for killing, i. 69 Stare, i. 396 Star shot, or Star gelly, what, ii. 184 Statins, his account of the Halcyoiis nest, ii. 132 Stint, or purre, ii. g4 Stoat, i. 1 14 the ermine, when white, i. 115 Stone, horses subject to, i. 14 Stone chat, i. 526 Stone curlew, i. 380 Stoparola, i. 471 Storm finch, or petrel, ii. 208 Superfcctation, hares said to be subject to, i. 127 Swallow, i. 543 disappearance of, i. 553 found during win- ter in a torpid state, i. 558 sea, vide Tern= Swan, wild, ii. 218 tame, ii. 221 2 G 450 INDEX. Swan, punishment for killing, vol. i. page 98 in high esteem former- ly, ii. 222 sacred to Apollo and the mvises, ii. 224 singing before its death, ii. 226 supposed origin of that fable, ii. ih. Swift, i. 550 Tarrock, ii. 187 ToMrosthenes sends advice of his success in the Olympic games by a pigeon, i. 388 Teal, ii. 279 summer, ii. 280 Tern, common, ii. 196 lesser, ii. I98 black, ii. I99 Kamschatkan, ii. 201 Sandwicli, ii. 200 Theocritus, his account of the Halcyon, i. 330 Thomson, the naturalist's poet, i. 403 Throstle, i. 407 .' ■ Thrush, i. 401 Titlark, i. 481 Titmouse, great, i. 532 blue, i. 534 cole, i. 535 marsh, i. 536 long-tailed, i. 537 bearded, i. 540 crested, i. 542 Tringce, vide Sandpipers. Tufted duck, vol. ii. page 249 Turky, an American bird, i. 375 Turnbull, a surname, whence derived, i. 27 Turnstone, ii. 83 Turtle, i. 394 sea, ii. 163 Twite, i. 467 ■■ U ■.,:-:■■., ' ' Velvet duck, ii. 247 Venison, salted for use, i. 53 Virgil s celebrated simile of the nightingale, i 4^8 Vitilia navigin, what, i. 28 Urchin, i. l63 its great patience un- der torture, i. i65 Urus, i. 27 W Wagcl Cornish, ii. 182 Wagtail, white, i. 489 yellow, i. 49 1 ' grey, I. 492 Warbler, i. 4g4 hedge, i. 509 yellow, i. 5 1 1 Scotch, i. 512 golden-crested, i. '■ 514 sedge, i. 517 grasshopper, i. 518 Dartford, i. 530 reed, i. 520 wood, i. 512 INDEX. 451 Washesseu, a great American deer, vol. I. page 63 Water-ouzel, i. 398 Water-hen, ii. 121 Water-rat, i. 145 Web-footed birds, ii. 143 Weesel, i. 105 common, i. 112 Welsh names of birds, ii. 404 Wheat-ear, i. 521 Whimbrel, ii. 36 Whinchat, i. 525 White-throat, i. 528 lesser, i. 529 W^igeon, ii. 273 Winter mew, ii. 185 Wolf, i. 88 when extirpated, i. ih. not by K. Edgar, i. ih. writ for the taking wolves, &c. Wolf-moneth, i. gO Wolf-shed, i. 90 Wood-chat, i. 277 Woodcock, ii. 40 its migration, ii. 44 Wood-lark, i. 479 Woodpecker, curious struc- ture of, i. 315 green, i. ih- great spotted, i. 319 Woodpecker, middle, vol. i. page 321 lest spotted, i. 322 great black, i, 325 hairy, i. 324 Wood-pigeon, or Ring Pi- geon, i. 392 Woollen manufacture, long neglected, i. 33 its success here what owing to, i. 35 Wool, where the best, i. ih. Wren, i. 5l6 Writ of Edward I. for extir- pating wolves out of Eng- land, i. 89 another for taking of wolves, Src. in De- vonshire, ii. 308 Wryneck, i. 312 fore-runner of the Cuckoo, i. 313, 314 Yellow-hammer, or Bunt- ing, i. 437 Zoology, classical, too much ne- glected by travellers, i. 333 END OF THE SECOND VOLUME. Printed by S. Hamilton, Wejbricige TABLE OF ERRATA.-TOL. I. Page 70. For " Div. II. Section I. Digitated. Teeth cutting," &c. Read, " Div. II. Digitated. Section I. Teeth cutting, &c." 124. Transfer " Genus XII. Hare," from line 2 to line 6, be» fore " Toes five, &c." 176. 1. 4, for " Narhwal," r. " Narwhal." 181. 1. 19, for " of the LinncEan," r, " of the ninth volume of the LinncBan, he." ~ ,".,,, 254. 1. 9, prefix an asterisk to " Eared." Page 262- Note. The editor is informed that the Scops or lesser- eared Owl, has recently been shot in Yorkshire. Ed. 268, 1. 6, for " meat" r. mice. 339. bottom line, for " green; above the top," r. " green above; the top." 476. I. 23, for " This and the wood lark," r. " This, the wood lark and the tit lark." 507. bottom line, for " ]" substitute " Ed." 660. 1. 19, for " nook" r. " noon." The mark ( [ ) distinguishing the additions made by the editor, to be affixed to the paragraphs pp. 181. 183. 241. 243. 246. 368. VOL. II. Page 142. 1. 15, after " description given," add, " of this b'^ 1." 148. 1. 4, from bottom, for " These speciess weigh," ., " This species weighs." 151. Note, 1. 4, for " sixth," r. " fifth." 153. 1. 1, for " varies," r. " vary." 401. 1. 11, 12, for " 98" r. " 28." 396. 1. 8, for " Nevell," r. " Nevill." Omit the stop after Generic name in the references to Latham in Vol. I. at pp. 363. 366, 376- 380. 383. 392- 394. 475. 500. 502. 505. 511 514. 516, 517. 521. 532. 534, 535. 537. 540, Vol. 11. at pp. 7. 10. 14. 59. 63. 66^ P^ IV/\u* -^V' m ■.v^'^^..;*^. % ^s^S*^^ ^ -'U'^A^ '^^1^;^ m ■•Ji: !*>> n-: M. ^.■'' ^..