Book FunD Founded A.D. 1893 Cooper Union Library
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGY: THE HISTORY WITH A coouwen REPRESENTATION
Of every known Species of
BRITISH BIRDS.
— < BY GEORGE GRAVES; ASSISTED BY SEVERAL EMINENT ORNITHOLOGISTS:
VOL Sik
London: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY STEPHEN COUCHMAN, ‘THROGMORTON-STREET. : AND SOLD BY — |
SHERWOOD, NEELY, AND JONES, PATERNOSTER-ROW,
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1811.
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7 A LTHOUGH the multiplicity of works on
OrnituoLocy, would feem to preclude the necefility of the prefent publication, a very general complaint pre- vails, that among all the modern writers on Britifh
Ornithology, few have taken the neceflary pains to mark
- out the different fpecies; the works of Bewick, Mon-
' tague, and afew others excepted. But even thefe,
however excellent in themfelves, fall fhort of convey- ing a correct idea of the fubjeét treated of; the want of plates in the latter, and of their being coloured in the former, are to be regretted, as the moft laboured de- {cription muft fail of conveying a juft idea of any
fubje& of Natural Hiftory in refpeé to its colours,
Imprefled with this conviétion, and being in poffeffion of a confiderable number of excellent drawings and engravings, made for the late Witt1ram Curtis, who
had a fimilar publication in view, the author, with
} diffidence, fubmits the following pages to the attention
of an enlightened Public, confcious that he has fpared
no exertions to render them worthy of the attentive
| perufal of the admirers of this beautiful and interefting
part of animated nature; at the fame time he folicits the
PR EE ACG Ee the indulgence of the candid reader, on whofe liberality
he relies, that his endeavours will be appreciated accord-
ing to their merit.
The author has placed the generic charatter to the leading Bird in each genus, and the {pecific charaéter immediately preceding the hiftory of the article under confideration. In making the fpecific diftinétions, the — cuitomary prolixity of naming the colours of the different parts has been omitted, as corre€lly coloured figures fuperfede the neceffity, and convey clearer ideas on this fubjea than the moft laboured defcription. Colours are at beft but indifferent guides in diftinguifhing the fpecies, from change of feafon, climate, and food, all having a fhare in inducing a change of colour. The author has deviated therefore from the general practice, giving only as marks of {pecific diftinétion, fuch charac- ters in the bill, legs, or any other parts (not liable to be affected by the above caufes) as will clearly point out the {pecies.
To thofe gentlemen who have liberally offered their private mufeums, to affift the author in this undertaking, he returns his fincere and grateful acknowledgments, affuring them he fhall always entertain the higheft fenfe
of the obligation conferred upon him,
FARR
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Pub. by CG. Graves,Walworty, 1, June Lal.
FAL CO. BU-T EO.
COMMON BUZZARD.
Generic Cuaracter. See. Falco Chryfeatos.
SYNONYMS.
Fartco Burszo,. Lin. Syft. 1. p. 127.
Buzzarp. Br. Zool. 1. 54. tab. 25. Ib. fol. tab. A. jig. 3. Laib. Syn. 1. p. 48. Ib. fupt. p. 146 Mont. Orn. Dit. Bewick's Br. Birds, Pi.
1. PD. 57-
: ‘Va S bird is about twenty-two inches in length, and in ‘breadth fomewhat exceeding four feet. “The prefent {pecies varies much in fize, weighing from two pounds and a half to three and a half. Bill ftrong and much curved, with fre- quently a notch in the upper mandible near the point ; eyes funk, and much duller than in any other fpecies; wings when clofed, extend rather beyond the tail; legs ftrong and very coarfe ; feathers on the thighs long and loofe, and of a coarfer jours than on other parts of the bird: Colours in both {pecies, are very fubject to vary ; the female is rather
larger, and is a much bolder bird than the male.
Of ‘all the hawk tribe, this is the moft indolent and inac- tive, and is feldom feen on wing, ‘except when prefied by hunger or in the breeding feafon; at which time they are fre- quently feen foaring to a prodigious height ; at which time they afcend and defcend in a feries of continued circles ; and
when
“
when defcending they utter a noife timilar to fie purring of acat, but much louder, and which may be heard at a confi-
derable diftance.
The Buzzard forms its neft in the fork of a large tree near the top, it is placed in fuch a fituation, that a bfanch moft generally croffes immediately over it, on which the male- ufually perches during the time of incubation ; they have been: remarked for the attention they fhew towards their’ young, . they feed them for a confiderable time after they are capable of flying. We learn from Ray <¢ that fhould the female be killed during the time of incubation, the male Buzzard takes- charge, and patiently rears the young till they are able to provide for themfelves.”” “The*neft is compofed of fticks, and. is lined with wool, hair, and other foft fubftances 5 they ufually lay two eggs, fometimes a third is found i in the nett, ‘but generally when that is the cafe, one of them proves: addled ; they are white {potted with ruft colour, the {pots are moft numerous at the large end, and the eggs rather, exceed»
in fize thofe of the common hen.
_ Their food: confifts of young hares, rabbits, moles, and: mott of the fmaller fpecies of quadrupeds, alfo-of fuch feathered game as from inability. are unable to elude their purfuit by
flight ; fo cowardly is the. difpofition of the male bird, that it has frequently been known to refign its prey to-the keftrel or {parrow-hawk, which very frequently attack it for the purpofe of procuring a meal; on the failure of other. food, they eat
carrion, reptiles, and the larger {pecies of coleopterous infeéts..
Our figure was coloured and defcription taken from a fine~
fpecimen communicated by ARTHUR Harrison, Ef. ©
w.
FALCO MILVUS.
IY as ae
Generic Cuaracter. See Falco Chryfeatos. SYNONYMS.
Fatco Miivus. Lin. Syfe a. p. 126.12. Ind. Orn. Li peso Kire. Br. Zool. 1.53. Ib. fol. tab. A. 2. Lath. Syn. 1. p. 61.49. Ib. fupt. p. 17. Mont. Ora, Did. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 1. p. 63.
ee E Kire weighs nearly two pounds and a half, and is in length rather more than two feet, and in breadth about five feet ; bill ftrong ; crown of the head rather flat, the feathers on that part have generally a rough appearance ; eyes fierce ; tail long and much forked, the outer feathers frequently ex- eceding twelve inches in length ; legs and claws very ftrong 5 the female differs but little in colour from the male, but rather exceeds it in fize, being fometimes two feet fix inches long,
.and five feet eight inches in breadth.
This fpecies generally inhabits fuch woody places as are in the vicinity of farms, as it chiefly depends on the produce of the farm-yard for fubfiftence ; its food confifts of chickens, young ducks, rabbits, and hares ; on the failure of thefe, it greedily devours carrion, mice, rats, moles, reptiles of all defcription, and even infects; it is con{tantly changing its
refidence
Sn retail ig tclicaunll
refidence except during the breeding feafon, at which time it is very bold, and will often attack a brood of chickens, and will not eafily be difappointed of its prey, frequently fuftain- ing a combat with the hen; it will alfo attack and deftroy young lambs, and fo eagerly is it then engaged in devouring its prey, that inftlances have been known of its being taken by
a fhepherd’s dog when thus employed.
This bird makes its neft early in the fpring, compofed of - fticks, wool, hair, and not unfrequently of pieces of cloth, paper, and any other foft materials it meets with; the female Jays three or four eggs of a pale yellow colour (nearly white) with a few ruft-coloured {pots at the larger end; during the time of incubation, the male birdin the abfence of the female, takes to the neft, and has been known to fit on the eggs for three days without intermiffion. This was occafioned by the female being caught in a fox trap, that had been placed in a rabbit warren ; the trap had caught her by the centre and out- fide toes, which by her continual firuggles for releafe were torn off: on her return to the neft, fhe brought with her a full grown rabbit, which, owing to the injury fhe had received, ihe was unable to tear to pieces ; this the male bird performed for her, and from that time continued to feed her till fome
weeks after their young ones had left the neft.
From the great extent of furface oppofed to the trifling weight of this bird, it is able to fupport itfelf when on wing for a great length of time, and with very trifling exertion, {weeping along with a very graceful motion, which, though flow, is pleafing in its effect, fomewhat refembling the broad {weeps made by an adept in the art of ikating; when the
= Kite
Kite has been at fo great an height as to be {carcely perteivable
by the naked eye, we have known it to utter a hoarfe kind of bleat, which will readily lead the eye to the fpot; at that time fhould a rabbit or any other animal to which it is partial (as food) be ftirring, it clofes its wings, and falls with _ aftonifhing rapidity on its prey ; at the time it is falling it only fans the air with its tail, which but flightly impedes the ra- pidity of its defcent.
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FALCO PEREGRINUS: PEREGRINE FALCON.
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Generic Cuaracrer. See Falco Chryfeatos.
SYNONYMS.
Fatco Prrecrinus. Ind. Orn. 1. p. 33. 72.
Perecrine Fautcon. Br. Zool. 1. 48. tab. 8. Tb fol. tab. A* 5. Lath. Syn 1. p- 73 Ib. fupt p.18. Mont. Orn. Did. vol. 1.
SEE es Css weight of this fpecies when full grown, is from two to three pounds; length about twenty inches; breadth near four feet; bill fhort, very ftrong, and fharp at the point ;. AEP in adult birds, bright yellow ; at different periods of age it varies from green to yellow ; irides yellow in the young bird, changing to dufky as it advances in age; legs {hort and. ftrong ; toes long ; claws {trong and much hooked; the fexes differ but little in colour; the female exceeds confiderably
in fize, but the male is generally the brighteft coloured and the livelieit bird.
The Perecrine Faxrcow (or Duck Hawk, the pro- vincial namie of this fpecies in many parts of this country} is feveral years arriving at its full plumage ; a confiderable difference being obfervable in the two lat changes has induced us to give the prefent figure, as it frequently has been con-
fidered as a diftin@ {pecies when in the prefent ftate.
Our
Our figure was coloured from a very fine fpecimen, com- municated by Mr. Buttocx, who received it from a gentle- man refident near Harwich, who is particularly converfant with the hawk tribe; he took this with feveral others from the neft, and has kept them feveral years ; our bird is in the latt {tate previous to its arriving at the adult plumage. -In a future number will be given a figure of the bird in its highett
ftate of adult plumage.
Thefe birds frequent the rocky parts of our coafts, parti- cularly thofe fpots reforted to by the razor-bill and its affinities, among which they are very deftructive ; Mr. Monracues fays, ‘© We took three young birds from a high cliff, on the coaft of Carmarthenfhire ; by the neft lay above a dozen rooks, crows, and gulls ;” the young birds are very fond of larks, which, when given them, whether dead or alive, they inva- riably feize by the neck with one claw, and ufually pluck: them previous to devouring. It is fometimes found in the interior of this country at a great diftance from the fea: our friend Mr. SamueLt TurNeEr, of Caftor, in Lincolnthire, once took one from out of a fox-trap placed in a warren in his
neighbourhood.
This fpecies ufually builds in the moft inacceffible parts of our cliffs; the neft is formed of {ticks and dry fea-weed ; we
do not remember to have feen the eggs,
This bird was formerly much ufed in falcony, and being a bold and powerful bird was held in great efteem ; it was principally employed for the taking of ducks and other water fowl, from which circumftance it attained the name of Duck
Hawk.
Pub. by G. Graves, Walworth, L March 1811.
-FALCO ESALON.
MERLIN. rex er
Generic Cuaracter. See Falco Chryfetos. SYNONYMS.
Fatco Asaton. Lath. Ind. Ora. 1. p. 49. 119-
Meruiin. Br. Zool. 1.63. Ib. fol. tab. A.12. Lath. Sym. 1. p. 106. 93. 10. fupi. Pp. 29- Mont. Orn. Dit, Bewick's Br. Birds, Pit. P: 79
~ nieces ih
, Tu IS, the fmalleft fpecies of Britifh hawk, is in length about ten inches, and weighs about fix ounces; the female rather exceeds twelve inches in length, and weighs about nine ounces. Bill much hooked ; “irides yellow 5 the two firft quill feathers have the appearance of being cut on the inner webs wings when clofed not fo long as the tail by about ote inch
and a half.
In colour the female differs but little from the male, but iS; readily diftinguifhed by its fuperior fize. Buffon fays this is the only fpecies where the male and female are of the fame fize ; but that this is an error, we were convinced on diffect- ing a pair fhot in OGtober 1810, in the neighbourhood of Cambridge, and from which the above defcriptions were taken; both fexes vary in the number of bars on the tail, but
the tip is invariably white. The
‘The Merlin, though fmall, is not deficient in courage, but will attack partridges, quails, and young hares and rabbits 3 it was formerly ufed in hawking, principally for taking larks, which it pounces, and generally kills at a blow ; it often plucks its prey previous to devouring it, but this prac- tice is not. general, as the pair before mentioned had a large
quantity of feathers and fur in the ftomach, and what was
remarkable, there were two among them that had evidently
belonged to a magpie.
This bird but rarely breeds in this country. Mr. MontTaGue mentions the following inftance: ‘* In the middle of a high ¢lump of heath, upon the moors of Northumberland, we found three young ones about half grown, but no neft ; they were well concealed, and would not have been difcovered but by a fetting dog making a point at them: the eggs are faid to be of a plain chocolate colour, and that an inftance has been
- known of its depofiting them in a deferted crow’s neft.”?
In rapidity of flight, this bird is- rarely furpaffed, fo quick are its movements, that few fmall birds efcape it ; it flies very low, almoft touching the ground, or brufhing the hedges with its wings; it is a migrative fpecies, leaving this country early in fpring, and returning about September or October.
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FALCO TINNUNCULUS (FEMINA.)
FEMALE KESTREL,
In many of the Hawk tribe, the fexes vary fo much in colour, that we purpofe giving figures of each fex of fuch as are remarkably different in this refpect ; in few inftances do the colours differ more than in the prefent. The female Keftrel is in length about fixteen inches, and in breadth near
two feet fix inches, and weighs about fixteen ounces.
This is a more daring bird than the male, and may be often feen in the vicinity ot farm-yards, keeping a watchful eye on — fuch chickens as ftray from the theltering care of the parent, on thefe it pounces with the greateft audacity, and carries them off to its neft; it lays four or five eggs, which are moftly of a reddifh caft, blotched with dark ruft coloured fpots; as the birds advance in age, the eggs become paler coloured, and we have heard of a neft having been found with the eggs nearly
plain.
Their nefts are ufually built in the holes of rocks, or in ruined buildings, and are compofed of fticks lined with wool, hair, and other foft fubftances ; they have fometimes been
known to lay in the deferted neft of the crow or magpic.
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STRIX FLAMMEA.
WHITE OR BARN OWL.
Generic CHaractrer. See Strix Bubo.
SYNONYMS.
Strix FLAMMEA. Lin. Sy/l. 1. p. 133. 8. Ind. Orm 147. 60. 28. Waite Ow. Br. Zool. 1.67. Ib. fol. p. 71. tab. B. Lath. Syn. 1. p. 138. 26. 16. fupt. p. 46. Mont. Orn. Did, Vol. 2. Bewick’s OU Gsaet take fo OO.
pa SE IR ceaaens
‘Lu IS beautiful bird weighs from nine to twelve ounces, is about fourteen inches in length, and nearly three feet in breadth ; bill ftrong and fharp-pointed ; irides very dark; the feathers furrounding the eyes are intermixed with hairs, and have their fhafts projecting beyond the webs, thofe on the body are particularly foft, and on the under parts they have two fhafts proceeding from the fame quill; legs feathered to “the toes, which are very {trong and covered with hairs ; claws ftrong, and much curved, the middle one is ferrated. The colours of both fexes are alike, the female very feldom has any fpots on the breaft, though this marking is not conftant in either fex ; the female rather exceeds in fize, being an inch
longer and feveral inches wider than the male.
The
The Barn Owl, as its name imports, is a pretty conftant refident. in barns or out-buildings, where by devouring the vermin it amply repays the farmer for thelter ; its principal food is mice and {mall birds. Mr. Wutre, in his hiftory of Selbourn, gives the following entertaining account, ‘* We have had ever fince ] can remember, a pair of White Owls, that conttantly breed under the eaves of this church (Selbourn) ; as I have paid good attention to the manner of life of thefe birds. during their feafon of breeding, which lafts the fummer through, the following remarks may not perhaps be unaccept- able: about an hour before funfet {for then the mice begin to run) they fally forth in queft of prey, and hunt all round ‘the hedges of the meadows and {mall enclofures for them, which feems to be their only food. In this irregular country, Wwe can ftand on an eminence and fee them beat the fields over
like a fetting dog, and often drop down in the grafs or corn.
«¢ J have minuted thefe birds with my watch for an hour together, and have found that they return to their neft, the one or the other of them, about once in five minutes ; reflecting at the fame time on the adroitnefs that every animal is poffeffed
of, as far as regards the well-being of itfelf and offspring.
¢¢ But a piece of addrefs, which they fhew when they re- turn loaded, fhould not I think be paffed over in filence. As they take their prey with their claws, fo they carry it in their claws to the neft ; but as the feet are neceflary in their afcent under the tiles, they conftantly perch firft on the roof of the chancel, and fhift the moufe from their claws to their bill, that the feet may be at liberty to take hold of the plate on the wall, as they are rifing under the eaves.” Mr. Monracuer
remarks,
as ee ee
remarks, that “ cats are known to kill, but never to eat the Shrew, which is fuppofed to poffefs fome poifonous quality ; we have, however, taken from the ftomach of one of thefe
birds, no lefs than five.”
During dark and cloudy weather, this fpecies may fre- quently be feen abroad in the day-time, when it preys on {mall birds, previoufly to {wallowing of which, it holds them with one claw, and with its bill crufhes the principal bones, beginning at the head and fhifting its poffeffion till it arrives at the other extremity ; it then generally {wallows them without plucking or feparating ; and ejects the {kin, fur, feathers, and bones, in the form of pellets; large quantities of which may often be found in the places where this bird
breeds. —
It builds in barns or old ruinous buildings, and fometimes in the decayed hollows of trees ; when in a barn the neft is only a hollow in any heap of ftraw or other loofe fubftance ; when it breeds in a tree, the eggs are laid on the foft decayed mould at the bottom of the hole; it lays three or four white eggs
fcarcely fo large, but rounder than thofe of the common hen.
The note of this fpecies is remarkably unpleafant and dif- cordant, being in the fpring a loud harfh {cream, moft gene- rally uttered while on wing; when preffed by hunger, it frequently {queaks in.the manner of the common moufe, which may ferve as a decoy to allure them within its reach ; it alfo utters a loud hiffing noife during the greater part of the night ; when difpleafed or alarmed it {naps its bill with great force. This bird is eafily tamed and foon becomes familiar ; in confinement it will devour moft kinds of animal fubftances, and alfo bread. |
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Lub. by G. Graves, Walworth, May 1811
PARUS MAJOR. GREAT TITMOUS E.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Bill compreffed, ftraight, fhort, and fharp-pointed. Noftrils round, covered by the vebriffea.
Tongue laciniated, points terminating nearly on a line. Toes feparate, hind-one the longeft.
SYNONYMS.
Parus Major. Lin. Syft. 1. PD. 341. 3.
Great Titmouse or Ox-Eyr. Br. Zool. 1. 162. 1b. fol. 113. tab. W. fig. 4. Lath. Sy. 4. 536.1. Mont. Orn. Di. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 1. p. 244.
:
‘Vurs {pecies is in length near fix inches, in breadth about nine inches, and weighs nearly three-quarters of an ounce ; bill fhort, hard, and very ftrong; eyes large and black ; legs
{trong ; claws fharp and much curved, that on the hind-toe “much longer and more curved. The colours of the female are like thofe of the male, except being fomewhat duller, and
in the breeding feafon the breaft and belly incline to cinereous.
The Grear Tirmouse (or Joe Bent) is to be met with in almoft every garden ; its habits and economy are very fimi- lar to thofe of the blue titmoufe, but it is more daring, and will, during the time of incubation, fcarcely fuffer any bird to
approach its neft, it will even attack the magpie, fhould it
it intrude on its territories: we know of an inftance, where a {parrow that chanced to alight in the vicinity of the neft, was killed in an inftant by the male bird; it is more fre- quently obferved to attack {mall birds than any other of our native fpecies, and often robs the nefts of the hedge-fparrow
and red-ftart of the: young..
Tt generally builds a neat compact neft, compofed of mofs, vegetable-down, hair, and feathers; it is placed often in a hole, in a tree, or wall, or in an out-houfe, and we know of its building and rearing its young in the corner of a manger, from which a number of horfes were in the daily habit of feeding; it lays from fix to ten white eggs, fpotted
with ruft colour.
The general note of this bird is little better than a chatter,
but in the {pring it varies ; fometimes uttering a low plaintive
note, interrupted by a very fhrill whiftle, and frequently a harfh kind of jarring noife; thefe varied notes ceafe as the year advances, and when the breeding feafon is over and the
young quit the neft, its note again becomes monotonous,
When in purfuit of the female, the male ere¢ts the feathers on the head and neck; fhould it when thus engaged, meet with one of its own fex, a battle immediately commences, which feldom terminates but with the lofs of life in one of the party ; when this happens, the furvivor falls on the vanquifhed, and pecks out the brains, which is the part they prefer to all
others.
al
A variety is fometimes met with that has a white fpot on
the crown of the head, and a ring of the fame round the neck.
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Lub. by C. Graves, Walworth, L, Jaze. JON.
-PARUS CCERULEUS.
BLUE TITMOUSE.
Generic Cuaracter. See Parus Major. SYNONYMS.
Parus Carurewts. Lin. Syl. 1. p. 341.
Brus Tirmouss, Br. Zool. 1. p. 163. tab, 67. Lath. Syn. 4. Pp» 543. Bewick’s Br. Birdss Pt. 1. p. 246. Mont. Orn. Did?.
‘Ts IS lively little bird is in length rather more than four inches; weighs about five drams and a half; bill ftrong, fharp pointed, very thick at the bafe; eyes large and lively ; legs flender ; toes divided to the bafe, the hinder claw very long; in the female the colours are fomewhat duller than
in the male.
Few of our fmall birds have attracted more attention than the Blue Titmoufe, its delicate colours, active motions, and familiar manners, feem to court particular notice ; it feeds prin=
cipally on fmall infe&ts, to procure which it frequently com-
_ mits confiderable injury to fruit trees, in removing the buds ;
it moftly hangs from the branch, and examines with curious eye the {malleft crevice, and will readily devour the eggs and larve of all kinds of infeéts; nor is it always fatisfied with this
| ; kind
kind of fare, as it will attack fmall birds, patticularly fuch as are weak or difeafed, and difpatches them with its bill, with which it immediately cleaves the fkull, and picks out the brains, but moftly leaves the body for another meal, firft carefully covering it with leaves, or any fubftance that may
be in the way.
The female builds her neft in the holes of trees or walls, fhe forms it of mofs, well lined with feathers, hair, and wool, and lays from fix to eight eggs, fome writers affert they lay from fourteen to twenty ; in thofe we have had an opportunity of examining, we never found more than eight, and moft generally but fix or feven, they are of a clear tranfparent
white, finely {plafhed with bright ruft colour at the larger end.
They are very tenacious of their neft; fhould any one approach it while either of them are fitting, they ereét their feathers, and place themfelves in a pofture of defence, and continue to make a noife fimilar to the hifling of f{nakes,
during the intrufion.
Sats Cattdalis.
Publsha ty G.Groves Watworth Jan 11612,
PARUS CAUDATUS. LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE.
Generic Cuaractrer. See Parus major. SYNONYMS.
Parus caupatus. Lm. Sy. 1. p. 342. 14. Ind. ji Orn. 2. p. 569. 20. Lone-rairep Titmouse. Sr, Zool. 1.166. Lath. Syn. 4. ps 550. Id. fupl. p. 190. Mont. Orn, Dic. Vol. 2. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pi. 1. p. 248.
Tu IS elegant little {pecies is about five inches and a half in length, fix and a half in breadth, and weighs nearly four drams. Bill very fhort; feathers on the head and cheeks rough, and always erect ; irides hazel ; ‘¢ edges of the eye-lids
38
yellow ;” tail very- long, the fecond. feathers from the centre being three inches and a half in length, the middle ones rather fhorter, thofe on the outfide gradually declining, the fhorteft not exceeding an inch and a half; legs and claws ftrong. Colours of ‘the fexes alike, the female exceeds in
weight nearly one dram.
Though numerous in fome parts, the long-tailed is not fo generally difperfed as either the greater, the blue, or the marth Titmoufe, but is moft ufually found in low moift fituations,
that are covered with underwood, and interfperfed with lofty | oaks or elms. In fuch places it builds ; its neft differs from all » the other {pecies with which we are acquainted; it moft generally is placed in the forked branch of a large tree, that overhangs the water, and is compofed of mofs and lichens,
interwoven
» interwoven with wool and feathers ; with the latter it is lined infuch quantities asto completely im-beil the eggs. The exterior of this curious little manfion from the quantity of lichens with which it is formed, fo nearly refembles the bark of the tree whereon it is placed, that it readily e{capes obfervation ; the neft is completely clofed on all fides with the exception of a fmall hole on the lower part. It lays from twelve to eighteen white eggs, {potted with ruft colour at the Jarger end; Mr. Montague obferves, ‘‘ the eggsare lefs than thofe of any other Britith bird, except the golden-crefted wren, weighing about
twelve grains.”
The habits of this fpecies are very fimilartothofe of the blue Titmoufe, and like it is almoft inceflantly in motion, running up and down the branches of trees in fearch of food, which confifts of the {maller {pecies of infects, alfo the larve and eggs of thofe that depofit them in the crevices of the bark ; in the winter they affociate in fmall flocks of from eight to twelve, and fometimes more, and are kept together by their continual chirping ; like their neft their colours affimilate fo nearly with the white mofs, abundant on trees at that feafon of the year,
that was it not for their note it would be difficult to find them.
Owing to the length of tail, its flight is undulating, and irregular, but moft ufually very quick, feeming to pafs through the air like an arrow: Its provincial names ate numerous, and are moft generally given either from the form of its neft or length of tail, as Bottle Tit, Bottle Tom, * Feather Poke, Long-tailed Mag, Long-tailed Pie, Long tailed Capon, Mum Ruffin, Huck Muck, Ragged Robin.
* This is alfo the provincial name in many parts for the neft.
i ¥ % 5
C
‘2 C ial ses TUM (OF UAL
Pub. bv C. Graves, Walworth, L Heb. lei.
CORVUS CORNIX.
HOODED CROW.
Generic Cuaractres. See Corvus Corax.
SyNONYMS.
Corvus Cornix.. Lin, Sy. 1. p. 156. 5
Royston Crow. Aldin’s Birds, 2. fab. 23.
Hooprep Crow. &r. Zool. 1. 77- Laib. Sym 1. p. 374. 5. 1b. fup. p. 77. Mont. Orn. Did. Bewick's Br. Birds, Pt. 1. p. 102.
_—
: "Fue HoopEp Crow is about twenty-two inches in length, and- weighs nearly one pound and a half; bill two inches and a quarter long, furnifhed with very ftrong vibriffe ; legs fcaly. Colours alike in both fexes ; the female moftly
weighs two or three ounces more than the male.
This fpecies is very generally found throughout Great. Britain, and is, we are informed by Pennant, “ the only genuine fpecies of Crow found in the Hebrides, Orkneys, and Shet-
33
lands ;*’ it makes its neft in the fame manner and with the
‘fame kinds of materials as the common crow; it lays fix eggs.
Their principal food is carrion, which they will {cent out at
a very great diftance, the moft putrid 'carcafe is devoured by them with avidity ; they often attack the eyes of young lambs and
and difeafed theep, ‘* and moftly fucceed if the animal is
33
incapable of rifing.”” To the extenfive downs and heaths with with which this country abounds, they refort in vaft numbers, where they feed on grain, worms, and infects, particularly beetles, for which they fearch with the preaten diligence ; may be often feen in company with the common crow, in ploughed fields ; it is a very fhy bird, and will take wing even at the approach of a dog ; on the fea coafts they feed on fmall fhell-ffh, marine infe&ts, and any animal matter thrown up
by the tide.
It was formerly very common in the vicinity of London, particularly about the neighbourhoods of Hoxton and Hackney, |
but is now become rare fo near town.
| '
MMA: Leo Lrorth 18t4 ug 1&8,
Dp
ee es
iat
C
aS
Pith by G.Graves W
(POP UCI
CORVUS GLANDARIUS.
¥ AY.
Generic Cuaractser. See Corvus Corax,
SYNONYMS.
Corvus cranpanrivus. Lin. Syf.1. p.156. 7. Ind. | | Ori, 1.1p. 157. 8S. Jay. Br. Zool. 1. 79.°° Ib. fol. tab. D. Lath. Syn.'1. p. 384.19. Lb. Supti po 79. Mont. Orn. Did. » Vole. Bewick's Br. Birds, Pt 1. p.112.
‘bu E Jay is about fourteen inches in length, twenty-one in breadth, and weighs from fix to feven ounces. Bill ftrong,
the upper mandible has a flight notch near the tip which is
_ much hooked; irides very light blue, approaching to white ;
feathers on the forehead and crown long, and capable of being erected; legs and claws ftrong, the edges of the latter’ are very fharp and projet beyond the under furface. Colours of the fexes alike; in this fpecies the male exceeds in fize, being near an inch longer and weighing about one ounce more than
the female.
This beautiful {pecies of Crow ufually builds in low-trees
or in coppice woods; the neft is compofed of twigs, lined
with fmall fibrous roots and grafs ; it lays five or fix eggs of
a pale
a pale brownifh tint, faintly marked with obfcure blotches of a more dufky brown ; the young keep together in the vicinity of the neft till the enfuing fpring, when they feparate in pairs, | and quit their former haunts for fome more retired f{pot.
The habits of the Jay nearly refemble thofe of the magpie, and like it is held in averfion by the {portfman, as it feems to take pleafure in difappointing his genoa ; for on the approach of any one, it gives an alarm by its loud and reiterated notes that danger is near, and but few animals will venture abroad during the flay of this noify intruder. Its food is various, confifting of grain, fruit, the feeds of mof{t kinds of forreft trees, particularly thofe of the oak and beech, alfo fimall birds, eggs, mice, and when hard prefied it will devour carrion: the hoards of acorns and beech-maft found in the hollows af trees, have frequently been confidered as ftores laid up by this bird (but we believe without any juft ground) as at the feafon when fuch a provifion would be reforted to, the Jay quits its more rétired haunts, and approaches the farm-yard, where it pecks
up what eatables fall in its way.
In confinement, this bird lofes much of its brilliancy of colour ; it foon becomes familiar, and is much given to pil- fering, fecreting pieces of money and trinkets, or any other Small glittering articles ; it is very crafty, and when it con- ceives any one to be in fearch of what it has purloined, it hops from place to place in feeming anxiety for the refult of thefe endeavours ; it will examine every hole and corner, turning up the earth or other loofe fubftances, at the fame time it is leading the inquirer ina contrary direCtion to its hoard,
The
The powers of imitation are very great in the Jay, both in aits wild and domefticated {tates ; the neighing of a horfe, the lowing of cattle, the hooting of an owl, the mewing of a cat, and the bleating of a flock feem to be founds capable of giving it great pleafure, and which it repeats fo accurately, as to de- ceive a perfon who may even he ufed to its notes ; we have been informed, that in the winter it imitates the notes of {mall ‘birds, by which it decoys them within its reach and then pounces; this is far from improbable, as it flies fo heavy, that the generality of {mall birds cafily efcape from it when on wing. ne
ite
=
acts, ili
;:
Be vicaivedians tbe dap quite He
Seley eet ied
op
+ 6: Graves, Wal ore AprDIEl,
Lib,
CORVUS PICA.
CLES CE Ae UT
GENERIC CHARACTER. - See Corvus Corax.
SYNONYMS.
Corvus Pica. Lin. Sy. 1. pe 157. 13.
Macpie or Pianer. Sr. Zool. 1.78. 1b. fol. p. 77. tab. D. 2. Lath. Syn. 1. p. 392. 29. Ib. fupt. p. 80. Mont. Orn. Did. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt, 1. p. 109. |
Tu IS well-known fpecies is near eighteen inches long, 7 and weighs about nine ounces. As we have no other f{pecies with which the prefent can be confounded, and the bird being fo very generally known, any defcription of it may be deemed fuperfluous. The fémale is rather fmaller, and the tail is
. fhorter than in the male. Colours alike in both fexes.
The Macpie is one of the moft beautiful coloured birds this country produces ; when in its wild ftate, its colours are fo vivid and changeable, that they defy every attempt to depifture them; this changeable property is loft in great meafure when the bird is confined.
Few birds are more injurious to the farmer than this, as it feeds on all kinds of young poultry, hares and rabbits, eggs, fith,
fifh, and on any kind of animal fubflance it meets with, whether putrid or frefh ; it attacks young lambs and weakly fheep, the eyes of the latter it firft affails, and like the hooded crow moftly fucceeds if the animal is incapable of rifing ; it is very bold and daring, it will frequently alight on the backs of cattle to fearch fay vermin. On the failure of other food
it eats grain.
To the fportfman it is a continual plague, as it flies from tree to tree, proclaiming to its companions the approach of danger ; if a fox, or any other wild animal paffes within its view, it follows it, and continues uttering its harfh chatter from time to time, and by this, will give fure information which path it may have taken ; almoft all kinds of game take alarm on hearing its note, and will generally keep in fecurity
till its noife has ceafed.
Their neft is formed of fmall branches of the thorn, woven together with the thorns outwards, which is a good proteétion to the young ; the entrance is on the fide, and is only fuffici- ently large to permit a free paflage; the bottom part of the neft is plaiftered with clay, into which it thrufts the coarfe ends of fibrous roots, and fometimes grafs, leaving the finer parts as a lining. They lay fix or feven eggs of a yellowifh white colour blotched with brown ; they lay very early in the
fpring, and begin to build about the firft week in Februaryy.
In Suffex we have been fhewn two kinds of this bird, one called the Tree and the other the Bufh Pie, the former has a longer tail, and is of a wilder difpofition and not able to talk ; they are there efteemed as a diftinct {pecies: we conceive
them to be merely varieties, perhaps only differing in fex or
age,
age, as but few birds become fo docile, or are fo capable of inftruGtion when full grown as when taken young, and when
confined young, they but feldom attain their ufual fize.
When domefticated they are very familiar and mifchievous, frequently fecreting pieces of money, trinkets, and even fpoons; they moftly have fome favourite hiding-place, to which they carry any thing of this kind they can get hold of, alfoany of their food of which they are not inimmediate want ; they readily learn to repeat words, and to imitate founds, which they do with aftonifhing exaGtnefs, fuch as the fetting of a faw, the turning of a knifegrinder’s wheel, and the noife made by moft of our common domeftic quadrupeds ; we have heard it afferted, that they will in their wild ftate imitate the call of fmall birds, to induce them to come within their |
reach, and on which they prey.
Thefe birds are frequently to be feen (in a wild flate) nearly white ; we have known feveral inftances where this deviation from the ufual colour has taken place in confinement ; in one inftance, the bird after being kept in a cage for feveral years, became almoft white, and afterwards regained its common plumage ; we have been informed of a neft taken in Lincoln- fhire that contained feveral young ones, and among them were
two or three entirely white.
Ble:
rN ie jj
HES
4 4 t2 dy !
es
Pub. by C. Graves, Wabvorth, 2, March, 1871.
PICUS VIRIDIS.
GREEN WOOD-PECKER.
Generic Cuaracter. See Picus Martiuss SYNONYMS.
Picus Viripvis. Linz. Syf. 1. p. 175.12. —
Green Woop-Pecxer. Br. Zool. 1. 84. Lath. Sym 2. p. 577. 25. Supt. Pp. 100. Mont. Orn. Dit. Bewick's Br. Birds, Pt. 1. 2. 140.
I+ is in length thirteen and in breadth eighteen inches, and ‘weighs about fix ounces ; bill two inches and a half long, tip wedge-fhaped and very hard; the upper mandible has a nar~ row ridge, extending from the bafe to the tip on the furface ; tongue nearly eight inches long, covered with a thick gluten, capable of retaining {mall infedts, the tip is fharp and horny; and is furnifhed with a number of {tiff refleGted briftles ; fea~ thers on the crown are generally fomewhat erected; toes fhort and ftrong, the claws very ftrong and much curved ; tail feathers very tiff, inclining inwards, and are admirably adapted for fupporting the bird, during its fearch for food. : Colours nearly alike in both fexes; the female is fomewhat fmaller,
and has not the red fpots on the cheeks.
The
HB
The Gréen Wood- Pecker is the moft common df the genus in this country, and may be met with in mott of the woody parts of this ifland, where it is readily difcovered by its dif- cordant note, and alfo by the noife it makes when perforating a tree in queft of food, which confifts entirely of infects, their eggs, and larve; when it difcovers a tree that is decayed, it tries with its bill the different fides till by the found it difcovers the part that requires the leaft labour to perforate, it then pecks it with its wedge-fhaped bill until it arrives at the unfound part, which feldom fails of affording it a plentiful
repatt.
In the ftomach of one (from-which our ficure was coloired) we found the chryfalis of the phalzna coffus (the goat moth) nearly entire; Mr. Montague remarks it has frequently been obferved to {mell of them ; it alfo feeds on beetles and ants, and may often be feen on the ground, infinuating its tongue into the crevices of ant-hills, and drawing out the infects ; it will fometimes make an aperture in the fide of a hill with its bill and feet, and then feeds on the infects and
eggs at leifure;
They ufually lay five or fix eggs in the hollow of a decayed tree, at the depth of two feet or more from the entrance; the eggs vary in colour, being in fome inftances nearly white, and in others greenifh fpotted with black ; the young run about the branches of the tree for a confiderable time before they are able to fly. When flying, their motion is und lulating and very irregular, proceeding forward by fudden jerks; they take
but very fhort flights.
bk
oe
OP UAMEMOA,
ves, Walworth, 1 Cct. TELL.
Pith, by GA
CERTHIA FAMILIARIS. COMMON GREEPER.
Generic CHARACTER. ‘
Bill flender, much curved.
Toes three forward, one backward.
Claws long and much hooked.
Tail confifts of twelve harfh fharp-pointed feathers.
SYNONYMS.
Certura Famiiaris. (Lia, Syf. 1. p. 184.0. Ind. : Orn. 1. Pp. 280. 4. Common Cresrer. Br. Zool. 192. tab. 39. Ib. fol. ae | p. 82. tab. K. Lath. Syn. 2.701. Ib. Supt. p. 126. Mont. Orn. Didi, Vol. 1. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pi. 1. p. 148.
‘Lu E weight of this fpeciés feldom exceeds two drams; it is about five inches in length and nearly feven in breadth ; billlong, flender, and much curved ; irides hazel ; legs fhort ; - elaws very fharp and much hooked; tail long and forked. Colours of both fexes alike, the tail of the female is fhorter ‘and lefs forked.
The CreEper is a very comreon bird with us, frequenting almoft every grove; it builds in holes in trees, frequently behind pieces of loofe decayed bark ; the texture of the nett is
loofe,,
loofe, being formed. of- dry grafs and the fibrous: parts of thie: decayed bark of trees, and lined with feathers; it lays from:
five to feven white eggs, finely freckled with bright rufous
{pots: during the time the female is fitting fhe is conftantly
fed by the male, who is alfo the principal provider to the- young brood; when the. female quits the neft, the male takes:
his {tation as guard, but we do not remember to have feen it’
on the neft ; its note at this feafon is a weak chirp, or rather
fqueak, which it utters in a very flow manner ; as the year
advances it lofes its note, and during autumn and winter it
1s quite filent.
From the facility with which this lively little bird runs: up»
and down thie trunks and branches of trees; it efcapes general
obfervation; the more fo as the inftant it perceives any one to
make a ftand, it runs to the oppofite fide of the tree and will. continue running round as Jong as its motions are watched,, but if the attention appears to be occupied. by other objects,,
it does not feem intimidated by the intrufion, but purfues its.
fearch after ants and other {mall infects, which in fummer con- ftitute the whole of its food ; in winter, it induftrioufly fearches for the eggs and larve of infects, fecreted in the crevices of the bark or among the mofs and lichens that abound on moft trees
at that feafon of the year; it is frequently to be obferved
during a fall of fnow fearching the underfide of the branches,
nor does it feem at all affected by the moft intenfe cold..
Having obferved in the vicinity of the neft fmall pellets compofed of the indigeftible parts of ants and the {maller kinds of beetles, we think it moft probable this fpecies cafts in the
manner of the hawk tribe.
Muy Oc Copa
Pub. by G. Graves, Wabyorth 1 Feb. 1Gil.
.———
UPUPA EPOPS. HOOPOE.,
Generic. CHARACTER.
Bill flender, long, curving downwards at the tip.
Noftrils {mall.
Tongue fhort, triangular. .
Toes three before, the middle one connefted at the bafe to the outer one, hind toe placed nearly ona line with the infide front one, |
SYNONYMS.
Urupa Epoprs. Lin. Syf. 1. p. 183. 1.
Hoopos. Br. Zool. 1. go. tab. 39. Lath. Syn. 2. p. 687. 1. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt 1. p. 146. Mont. Orn. Didi.
«
Tun S beautiful {pecies, the only one of the genus found in Europe, is in length twelve inches, in breadth eighteen, and weighs about four ounces ; bill two inches long, curved, the infide of the lower mandible has a plain furface, from the tip about one-fourth of its length; tongue very fhort, trian- gular, and flightly barbed at the edges; the crown is orna- mented with a creft, confifting of a double row of feathers, which gradually. lengthen from the bafe of the bill to the top of the crown, and then decreafe to the nape of the neck; the . longeft feathers are two inches and a half in length ; it moftly lies flat on the head, but can be raifed or depreffed at pleafure ;
when.
when the creft is elevated the tail feathers are alfo raifed, like thofe of the peacock; it has been feen amufing itfelf by raifing and deprefling the creft and tail very quickly for a long
time together. Colours alike in both fexes.
The Hoopoe is not a common bird, its vifits to this couf- try being very irregular; fome {mall flocks are ufually feen annually in different parts of the kingdom, they. have alfo.been noticed fingly ; within thefe few weeks a flock confifting of fourteen birds, was feen on Blackheath, near Godalming, -
Surrey.
Its principal food is worms and infects, particularly beetles; in diflecting one, eight large beetles nearly entire were found in the ftomach ; they have been known to breed in this coun- try, though the inftances are very rare; the neft is faid to be formed in a hollow tree. Buffon fays, he has found the neft lined with mofs, wool, and feathers, and fuppofes it to lay in the deferted neft of fome other bird; the neft has been remarked to be very filthy and offenfive, probably from the faces of the young, and the remains of their food not being
removed.
Our plate was drawn and engraved by SyDENHAM EpWaRps, fome years ago, and. we have been favoured with a fpecimen to colour from, by our friend WILLIAM |
Buttock, Efq. of the Mufeum, Piccadilly.
>
Lub. by G. Graves, Walweortl, 1, Jan.28 1.
ALCED O IS P IDA. COMMON KING-FISHER. GENERIC CHARACTER.
Bill long, ftraight, thick at the bafe, fharp pointed.
Tongue entire, broad, pointed, very fhort.
Legs very fhort.. _
Toes three forward, one backward, the three lower joints conneéted by a flrong membrane, middle toe ferrated on the under fide.
SYNONYMS. ~
Axucepo Ispipa. Lin. Sy. 1. p. 179. ed. 3-
Kinc-Fisuer. Br. Zool. 1. p. 88. tab. 33. Lath. Syn. 2. p. 626. Bewick’s Britifh Birds, Pt. 2. Dp. 33. Mont. Orn. Dit.
‘Lu E Kinc-Fisuer is one of the moft beautiful of our native birds, is in length about feven inches, breadth near eleven ; owing to the difproportion of the head, which with the bill is nearly half of the whole length, the bird appears very clumfy: bill one inch and a quarter long, the bafe com- mencing immediately under the irides ; legs very fhort, the three front toes connected from the bafe to the laft joint by a very {trong membrane, having the appearance of growing together ; the hinder one is placed in a ftraight line with the infide front one, by which the heel appears deformed (this unufual form of the foot fhews the wonderful refources of
creative
4
creative nature, in giving to each of its productions, the necef- fary means to procure food; the middle toe is notched on the | under fide like a fine faw, by means of which it is enabled to keep a firm hold of its finny prey. Colours nearly alike in both fexes, the bill in the female not fo long as that of
the male by one-third.
It is obferved to fit for houts on a ftone or ftump, by the banks of running ftreams, watching the motions of {mall fith, which, the inftant they approach within its reach, it darts on with amazing velocity, and will remain fome feconds under the water fecuring; it brings its prey alive to land, and beats it to death previous to fwallowing,; it voids the bones whcle,
thickly covered with a vifcous fluid.
The female lays her eggs (fix in number) in the holes vacated by the water-rat or mole, which fhe readily accommodates to her purpofe; plaftering it with its excrement, which hardens as foon as expofed to the air, and entirely prevents the water from penetrating ; it is generally obferved fo near the water’s edge that any rife of the water muft cover the entrance, which frequently occafions the neft to be deftroyed ; and to this circumftance we may attribute the comparative {carcity of the bird, as from the number of eggs it might reafonably be expected to be numerous. The brilliancy of its colours, joined to the quick vibrations of its fhort wings, give it a meteor-like appearance ; in fact when on wing, its motions are fo rapid as to render it almoft impoffible for the
’
eye to follow it to any diftance.
TURDUS VISCIVOROUS. MISSEL THRUSH.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Bill ftraight, the upper mandible flightly curves towards
_ the point, and in fome fpecies has a notch near the tip.
Mouth furnifhed at the fides with a number of ftiffifh
_ briftles.
Tongue jagged at the tip.
Noftrils naked.
Toes three forward, one backward, the middle one con- nected to the outer as far as the firft joint. .
SYNONYMS.
Turpus viscivornous. Lin. Sy. 1. p.291. 1. Ind. Ort. de Pr 326., 1.
Misszer Turusn. yr. Zool. 1. 135. Lb. fol. go. tad. POPC Net Gh OT on Pot. 1. Mont. Orn. Did. Vol. 2. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 1. pe, 124. | tee
ce A ye a
| "Vue length of this {pecies is eleven inches, and its breadth
near eighteen; it weighs about five ounces; bill three fourths of an inch long, upper mandible notched near the point ; irides hazel; legs and claws ftrong, the latter very tharp. The female is rather larger, but correfponds in colour with the
male except being fomewhat duller.
In
In moft parts of this country thefe birds are migratory, vifiting early in {pring and quitting their breeding places as foon as the young are able to provide for themfelves ; their neft is generally built in the fork of a fruit tree, the apple is chiefly preferred, thofe in particular that abound in white mofs, with which their nefts are made, together with dry coarfe grafs and wool, and lined with finer grafs anda few long hairs; they lay five or fix flefh-coloured eggs fpotted
with ferruginous.
During the breeding feafon, the Miffel Thrush is particu- larly tenacious of its refidence. We find in Mr. White’s Hiftory of Selbourn, the following curious circumftance relating thereto. ‘‘’The Miffel Thrufh is while breeding fierce and pugnacious, driving fuch birds as approach its neft to a diftance; the Welth call it Pen y llwyn, the head or mafter of the coppice. He fuffers no Magpie, Jay, or Blackbird to enter the garden where he haunts, and is for the
time a good guard to the new fown legumens.
‘¢ In general he is very fuccefsful in the defence of his family; but once I obferved in my garden, that feveral Mag- pies came determined to ftorm the neft of a Miffel Thruth ; the dams defended their manfion with great vigour and fought refolutely pro aris et facis ; but numbers at laft prevailed, they
tore the neft in pieces, and {wallowed the young alive.”
For ftrength of note this flands foremoft in the lift of Britith Song-Birds, it commences its fong with the year,
being moft generally heard, if the feafon be mild, in the . beginning
beginning of January ; but Mr. Montague fays, ‘it ceafes to fing as foon as the thermometer finks below forty-five degrees” befides its mufical notes it pofleffes one expreflive of anger, that is very loud and grating to the ear, which has occafioned it to be called in fome places Screech’ Thrufh, Holm Screech, &c. it is ufually more vociferous during a ftorm, from which circumftance it has alfo obtained a number of provincial names, fuch as Storm-Cock, Rain-Throftle or Thruth, Throftle- Cock, Holm-Thrufh, and Miffeltoe-Thruth ; it derives the latter from its feeding on the berries of the Miffeltoe, which have. been erroneoufly confidered as neceflary to pafs the digeftive organs of this bird, to make them vegetate: but as Mr. Montague juftly obferves, this is no more neceffary than that corn fhould pafs through thofe of a horfe; that feeds vegetate after pafling through the bodies of both, is well known; but this may be efteemed as one of the methods
nature takes to difperfe the feeds of various plants.
The principal food of this bird is berries of various kinds, infets, and fnails, with the two latter it feeds its young, firft
breaking the fhells of the {nails againft a ftone to get at their contents. |
dltilar os euch 3 ah
oem ck a tid
Ye eS phy: a
ey
Lub, dy 6G. Graves, Walworth, IAug L822,
AMPELIS GARRULUS. BOHEMIAN CHATTERER,
e
Generic CHARACTER.
Bill ftraight, convex, curving towards the point, the upper mandible has a flight notch near the tip.
Noftrils covered by the reflexed briftles.
Toes four, three forward and one backward, the centre one connefted to the outer ‘one at the bafe.
SYNONYMS.
Amprtis Garrutus. Lin. Syft. 1. p. 297. 1. Waxen Cuarrerner. Br. Zool. 1. 112. tab. 48. Ib, fol. 7. tab. 1. C. Are. Zool. 2074 Lath, Syit. 3. Pp. Qi. 1. Po 3. 16 A. Mont. Orn, Didi. Bewick's Br. Birds. Pt. 1. p. 1146
eee. ieee
‘Tu IS beautiful fpecies is in length eight inches, and in * breadth about thirteen inches and a half, and it weighs near three ounces; bill trong, having a fmall notch in the upper mandible near the tip; feathers on the hind head long, of a beautiful filk-like appearance, thefe it ereéts at pleafure, and moft generally during the time it is uttering its note ; each of the fecondary quill feathers have at their extremities, a {mall flat appendage of the moft beautiful fcarlet colour, very fimilar in appearance to red fealing wax, thefe appendages differ from all other animal matter, for on being expofed to the action of
fire
fire they do not emit the fmell common to animal fubftances, but the odour is far from unpleafant, being flightly aromatic 5 the fubftance is brittle, the number variesin different fubjedts, and is not always the fame on both wings, the ufual number is from fix to nine. on the wings; in the colleGtion of A. H. Haworth, Efq. of Chelfea, is a fpecimen that has fome of thefe appendages on the tail. Colours of the fexes are nearly the fame with this exception, the female has white on the wing where the male has yellow, and it is wholly deftitute of the above-named appendages.
In fome years this beautiful bird has been found in many parts of this kingdom, its vifits are very irregular, and they feem only accidental ftragglers that we meet with. About Chriftmas 1803, a number were {hot in the neighbourhood of Camberwell, one of which was brought alive and but flightly hurt, to our friend Mr. T. G. Ingall, of Walworth, but as it would not take any kind of food, it died in a few days 3 from this fpecimen our figure was coloured: its common food is the berries of the mountain afh and fervice, on failure of which, it will take thofe of the privet and hawthorn. Pennant fays thefe birds annually appear in the vicinity of Edinburgh, where they feed on the berries of the mountain afh. They are faid to build in holes in trees.
i
ne fi Bigs
anh Geb ani
Seri Carvirostra ACM (MET UP OHIO.
Pub by 6. Graves, Walworth, 1 Jan.LEll.
——_
LOXIA €URVIROSTRA.
CROSS-BILE,
GeNERIC CHARACTER.
Bill ftrong, thick, and convex. Noftrils {fmall, round.
Tongue truncated.
Toes three before, one behind.
SYNONYMS. .
~ Loxia Curvirostra. Lin, Syl. 1. p. 299. ed. 1.
Cross-Biut or SHet-App e. br. Zool, 1. p. 115. 106.49. Lath, Syn. 3. p. 106. ed. 1 Mont. Orn. Dit. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pi. 1. p. 153-
SE Sa ESE ELL STS
ss I S bird is about feven inches in length, the bill is cenvex, and both mandibles crofs each other at the points; in fome birds the lower mandible is flightly ferrated; the legs are ftrong and feathered below the knee. Both fexes vary in colour in different feafons; the female feldom has any clear red, or orange about her, and is moftly of a dull green colour
blotched with red brown. —
Is found in the Northern diftri@s of Europe, in the moun- tains of Switzerland, and among the Pyrenees and Alps; feeds chiefly on the cones of the pine, the principal vegetable inha-
bitant
bitant of thofe frigid regions ; from whence it migrates to moft of the Northern parts of Europe, Afia, and America; its vifits to this country are very irregular, in fome feafons it has been obferved in large flocks, in others fcarcely a folitary bird is to be met with through the whole kingdom. We noticed feveral in a large fir plantation, near Leath-Hill, Surrey, in 1807. From Montague’s Ornithological Dict- ionary we learn, ‘‘ the female builds as early as January; fhe places her neft under the bare branches of the pine-tree, fixing it with the refinous matter which exudes from that tree, and befmearing it on the cutfide with the fame fubftance, fo that
no rain or {now can penetrate it.”
In fome years thefe birds are very injurious to our apple- orchards, as a flock fometimes alights on a tree foon after day- break, and will entirely ftrip it of its fruit in a fhort time; it is the more diftruCtive as it is only the feeds or kernels that it confumes, to get at which, it cuts or fcrapes away the pulp 5. from this circumftance it derives the common appellation of Shel-Apple.
ZORA
Pub. Feb¥21812,ty Geraves,Walwerth,
LZOXIA COCCOTHRAUSTES.
HAW-GROSBEAK.
Generic Cuaractser. See Loxia curviroltra.
SYNONYMS.
Lox1a Coccoruraustss, Lin. Syft. 1. p. 299. Ind. Ori. 1. ps 871. Ae
Grosptax or Hawrineu. Br. Zool. 119. Ib. fol. 105. tab. U. fig. 1. Ar. Zool. 2. p. 354. tab. C. Lath. Sy. 3. p. 109. 4. £6. fupt. p. 148. Mont. Orn. Didi. Vol. 1. Bewick's Br. Birds, Pt.'1. p. 156.
rat < aE t :
Tu E jength of this fpecies is about feven, and the breadth near thirteen inches; its weight rather exceeds two ounces. Bill three-fourths of an inch long, it ig unufually ftrong, being half an inch thick at its bafe; irides light hazel; the points of moft of the quill feathers are truncated, the tips of the firft four or five are bent fomewhat in the form of the ancient
battle axe ; legs flender; claws ftrong.
The female is fearcely fo bulky, but nearly refembles the male in colour; both fexes vary much in brightnefs and difpofition of colour ; fcarcely two are to be feen that exactly agree in all their markings; but, generally fpeaking, the
colours of the female are not fo lively as thofe of the male.
During
During autunin the Hawfinch vifits this country in fmall flocks, confifting of from fix to twelve birds, but is not nume- rous in any part of England ; fome are annually feen in the marfhes of Hackney and Plaiftow, near London, and we re- member to have feen a flock feeding on the berries of the mountain afh, near Aldborough-Park, Surrey ; whilft feeding, they feemed very reftlefs and were continually twittering ;
they fly heavily and near the ground.
The food of this bird confifts of the berries of the haw- thorn (whence its name) privet, mountain-afh, and fervice ; it is aftonifhing to fee with what facility this bird breaks the fiones to get at the kern@ls; Mr. Montague fays ‘ they break them with as much eafe as other fmall birds break
hemp-feed.”’
«¢ The neft is compofed of dried fibres, intermixed with liver-wort, and lined with finer materials ; the eggs are of a bluifh green, {potted with olive brown, with a few irregular black markings.” Its provincial names are Cherryfinch, Hawfinch, Bull-head, and this with the Crofsbill is in fome parts called Shell-Apple. .
For our fpecimen we are indebted to A. Harrison, Efg.
of Parliament-Street.
P
ie
Pub. by GC Graves, Walworth, 1. april, 161,
Pro tA) POY OR RED LA, Bo © Ne,
GeneERIC Cuaractrer. See Loxia Curvirofira.
SYNONYMS.
Loxia Pyrruura. Lin. Syl. 1. p. 300. 4.
Burrincu. Br. Zool. 1.116. Ib. fol. 106. tab. U. fig. 3,4. Lath. Syn. 2. p. 143. 51. Lb. fupt. p- 152. Mont. Orn. Did. Bewick's Br. Birds, Pt.1. p. 160. )
Tu E Buxrincg is in length fix inches, in breadth about ten inches, and weighs near three-quarters of an ounce ; bill fhort, very {ftrong, the upper mandible is much hooked and is very fharp pointed ; eyes large and black; legs flender ; claws long and curved. Colours very fimilarly difpofed in both fexes ; thofe of the female are much duller; both fexes are very fubje to alter in the colours of their plumage, frequently becoming quite black when kept in confinement, fome nearly white have at different times been feen in this country ; we have lately feen one (that was fhot a fhort time fince in the new foreft, Hants) perfeCtly white; the part on the head that is ufually black, is diftinguifhed by its being of a different fhade of whitenefs, the bill is of a light brown, legsand claws
of the ufual colour.
This fpecies is very common in every part of this country, and is always an unwelcome gueft in gardens or orchards, where it commits great injury by feeding on the flower buds of moft kinds of fruit-trees, alfo on all forts of ftone fruit ; in
the |
the winter its principal food is the berries of the Liguftrum vulgare (the privet), the fruit of the Hawthorn, and moft
other kinds of winter berries.
The note of this bird is particularly foft, and is far from unpleafant, it is fo low that it frequently efcapes obfervation ; when confined it may be taught to whiftle a variety of tunes ; its note is ufually called piping. Birds thus inftru@ed are often imported from Germany, and are fold here at very high prices ; both fexes fing in their native wilds, and may be with
equal facility taught to pipe.
Their neft is moftly found placed in the thickeft part of a black or white thorn buth, it is compofed of fmall twigs and mofs, and is lined with foft dry fibres; they lay four or five blueifh white eggs, fpotted with reddifh purple, chiefly at the large end; the young ones at firft refemble the female in colour, the black on the head is then pale, and they feldom
attain their fall colours till after the end of the fecond month.
When this bird is difturbed it flies but a fhort diftance, and will generally return to the {pot from whence ditturbed, in the courfe of a few minutes ; its motion when flying is undu- lating, and it moft ufually -alights at the bottom of a buth or tree, and hops from twig to twig till it reaches the extreme end of one of the higheft branches, where it fits with its wings a little extended, {waying the branch up and down, during which time it is always finging: the note during the time of
incubation is much ftronger than at other times.
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Lub. by 6. Graves Walworth, L April, 1G.
EMBERIZA CITRINELLA.
YELDPLOW BUNTING.
Generic Cuaracrer. See Emberiza miliaria.
SYNONYMS,
Empgeriza Cirrineiia. - Lin. Syl. 1. p. 309. 5:
Yerrow Buntine. Br. Zool. 119. tab. 50. 16. fol. p.. 112. Lath, Syn g.. p.1 170. Mont. Orn. Dict. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pi. 4. pe aOde
"Lue weight of this fpecies is about one ounce, it is in length near fix inches and a half, and it is about ten inches in breadth. Bill ftrong, the incurved edges of which are very fharp, the knob in the roof of the upper mandible is very ' prominent ; the tongue is bifid and has a few fine hairs at its extreme points; irides dark hazel; tail long and fomewhat forked. The colours of the female are generally much greener, but both fexes vary in colour ; we have feen them
of all fhades, from a bright yellow to green.
The Yettow-Hammer (the name by which this {pecies is moft ufually known) is one of our moft common birds, being met with in almoft every hedge ; it affembles in winter
with
with other {mall birds, in the vicinity of farm yards, to colle@ fcattered grain; they are at that time very fat, and are quite
equal in flavour to larks.
Its neft is ufually placed very low, and is formed of ftraw, fibres, and dry ftalks, lined with grafs and hair ; it lays four or five eggs, generally of a pale blucith purple hue, veined with irregular dark ftreaks, which terminate in an oblong — fpot, that runs in an oppofite direGion to the vein; it is but
feldom that two eggs are feen of the fame colour.
In delicacy of colour few of our indigenous birds furpafs the prefent ; its note is fimple and confifts of a fhrill chirp quickly repeated, and terminated with one fhriller and more piercing ; its maners are familiar, it obtrudes itfelf into notice, and will often accompany a perfon on the road, for a mile or more, making very fhort flights, fo as to keep only a few
yards before.
Lub. by 6. Craves, Walworth, 1, Marc 2GIL
~ FRINGILLA: CARDUELIS.
GOLDFINCH.
Generic Cuaracter. See Fringilla Domeftica.
SYNONYMS.
Frinertra Carpustis. Lin. Syi. 1. p. 318. 7. Gotprinca or Tuistierincs. £7. Zool. 2. 124. Lath. Syn. 3. p. 281. Mont. Orn, Did,
Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 1. p. 182. -
"La TS beautiful fpecies is in length near five inches’; bill conic ; eyesdark hazel; legs flender. Colours nearly fimilar
in both fexes, thofe of the female are fcarcely fo vivid, and
the wing coverts are inclined to brown. ‘The neft is elegantly
conftructed, it is externally formed of mofs, dry grafs, and lichens, and lined with the down of thiftles, hair, and wool ; it ufually lays four or five eggs, of a biueifh white colour,
flightly {potted with dark purple at the largeit end.
The GoupFinen is very common throughout this king-
dom ; its docile difpofition, joined to its melody of note, and
elegance of colours, has long been the caufe of its being kept
in a ftate of confinement, and in forme inflances we may fay of flavery; as it is not unfrequently obliged to draw up water in a bucket from a confiderable depth, and to procure
its
its food from a box, the lid of which it is under the ne- ceffity of fupporting during the time it is feeding. When confined it readily breeds with the canary bird. |
During fevere weather the Goldiinch often reforts to gardens and farm-yards, in queft of fcattered grain, but on the return of mild weather, it quits the vicinity of our habitations for its more ufual haunts; its principal food is the feeds of thiftles, teafels, and the leaves of groundfel ; the young ones for the firft few weeks are fed with fmall caterpillars, to procure a fufficient fupply of which, the parent birds are almoft continually on wing; we have noticed them bufily engaged about tufts of nettles, devouring the caterpillars of the
papilio io (the peacock butterfly).
The plumage of thefe birds often varies in confinement, being frequently met with quite black, or black and white, and fometimes (though lefs frequently) entirely white ; bitds fed conftantly with hemp-feed, are very fubje&t to become black.
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ee
Fan gill SEIS,
Lub, by F Graves, Walworth,L, dug. 1811. t
FRINGILLA LINARIA, LESSER REDPOLE. CNS a]
Generic Cuaracter. See Fringilla Domeftica, SYNONYMS.
Frincinta Linaria. Lin. Sy/. 1. p. 322. 29. Inds Orn. 1. p. 458. 83.
BLAcK-CHINED LINNET OR Reppote. W. Curtis, Pl, 1. Br. Birds.
Lesser RepD-HEADED LinnET on Reppore. br Zool. 132. ¢. 54. Id. fol. 111. Ari. Lool,2. 262. Lath. Syn. 3.p. 305- 75> Supt. p. 167.
Lasser Reprore. Mont. Orn. Ditt. Bewick's Br. Birds, Pi i. p. 191.
Ts E length of this fpecies is about, four inches and a half, breadth eight inches, and it weighs near fivedrams. ‘The Redpole is a very common bird in moft parts of this kingdom, in the winter they are caught in great numbers, particularly in the vicinity of London, where they are known to the bird-catchers by the name of Stone or French Linnet ; they breed in the northern parts of this kingdom, but we have not met with the neft’ near London. Mr. Montague informs us, a neft was received from Dr. Latham that came from Yorkshire ; ‘Sit was made of bents and a little mofs put together with the down of the willow, and warmly lined with the fame down; the egg and neft is {maller than thofe of the Fringilla canabina, of a
light
light bluith green, thickly fprinkled with reddifh {pots, moftly
at the larger end.” Pennant obferves, he has found the neft
on the ftump of an alder, and fays, ‘‘ the bird was fo tenacious |
of her neft, as to fuffer us to take her off with our hand, and we found after we had releafed her fhe would not forfake it.’
It feeds chiefly on the feeds of alder during autumn.
We received the following curious circumftance from Mr,
T. Fofter, Jun. of Clapton; ‘ A {mall bird, I believe the
Fringilla linatia, was brought to me by a man who obferved it to die in the following extraordinary manner. While fitting upon its perch and finging as ufual, it fuddenly began to bleed very profufely from the mouth, and in a few moments after- wards dropped down dead upon the floor of its cage. Upon examination, I found the heart converted into an offeous fub- ftance, of fo hard a texture, that it could fearcely be cut in pieces with a very fharp knife; it was perfeCtly white and
appeared at a diftance like an ill-fhaped egg.
‘¢ The principal of oilification extended fome way along
the great arteries, I did not difcover from the rupture of what veffel the hemorrhage caufing the bird’s death had proceeded, as the neck had been very confiderably contufed fince its death.
‘The bird had conftantly fed upon hemp-feed.”
The note of this bird in its wild ftate is fimple, but when confined it is improved, and being kept with the common linnet or goldfinch it will learn their notes; when in fearch of infeéts, the Redpole runs up and down the branches of trees
in the manner of the blue titmoufe.
Our figures are reduced from the firft plate of thofe executed for the late. William Curtis,
——
+e i “ 7) A; 7 hi
.
w tt Hd Vet cole (2
Published ©
nen Lidie. by Graves Walworth.
FRINGILLA CALEBS. CHAFFINCH.
Generic Caaractsr. See Fringilla domeftica.
SYNONYMS.
Frincinta caLess. Lin. Syft. 1. p. 318. 3. Ind. Orn. 1. Pp. 437- 12.
Cuarrinch. Br. Zool. 1. 125. Ib. fol. 108. tad. 5. fig. 2, 3. Ard. Zool. 2. p. 381. F. Lath. Syn. 9. p. 257.10. Lb. fupt. p. 165. Mont. Or. Dili. Vol. 1. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 1. p. 17%.
‘Lae CuHAFEINCH weighs nearly an ounce, is five inches in length and nine in breadth ; the female ‘is rather {maller, and weighs two drams lefs than the male, her colours are confiderably duller, the upper parts are generally of a dull olive green, the breaft very dufky white ; the white marking
on the wings are alike in both fexes.
Few birds are more generally known than the prefent, as its haunts are generally confined to the vicinity of our habi- tations; it is ufually efteemed a very unwelcome gueft in gardens, feeding on moft kinds of feeds and fruit; it is parti- cularly injurious to our cherry orchards, as it greedily devours "the fruit in-all ftages, ‘from the time it fets till it ripens ; in . winter it aflociates with its affinities in the farm-yard, where
it picks up fuch feed as may ‘be f{cattered by the flail; in {pring
{pring it devours an immenfe number of caterpillars, feeding the young with them and other fmall infeéts till they are able to provide for themfelves ; and thus, perhaps, fully com-
penfate for the injury committed at other feafons.
The neft of this fpecies is worthy of our admiration as a mafter-piece of elegance and neatnefs; in choice of the ma- terials, it is guided by an inftinct wifely beftowed by its all- bountiful Creator, that points out fuch as may tend to its greater fecurity: thus when the. neft is placed in the fork of a branch, or againft the fide of a mofs-grown tree, the exterior of this comfortable little manfion is thickly ftudded with mofs and lichens of a correfponding colour ; when it is built in an ivy-bufh, it is compofed of green mofs, which aflimilating in colour with the furrounding objects, renders it more fecure
‘by being lefs liable to obfervation. The fabric is compofed of mofs, wool, and hair, interwoven with feathers, the foft
parts of which are left projecting from the fide as a lining.
It lays five or fix eggs of a pale purplifh blufh colour, beautifully freckled and ftreaked with dark purple ; the eggs are not all marked alike, fome being nearly covered with the dark colour, whilft others have only a few ftreaks f{paringly diftributed at the larger end. The young keep together till after the firft moult, before which time they are all feathered like the female. |
Chaffinches remain with us throughout the year; butin — fome other parts of Europe the fexes feparate; the females _ at the decline of the year repair fouthward, but the males being more robuft, brave the inclemency of the northern
winters.
winters. Mr. White, in his hiftory of Selbourn, remarks, that flocks of females huve been obferved in that neighbour~ hood about Chriftmas.
The note of the Chaffinch is very fimple, “* it commences about the 26th of January, and continues till the 8th of March ;” at other times both fexes have a call expreffing the word Spink or ‘’wink, names that are beftowed on it in the north of England; befides which it is known in different parts of this kingdom by. the appellations of Bull-Spink, Pink, Scrobby, Beech-Finch, Shell-Apple, Skelly, Horfe- Finch, and Shillea.
yy ae ne a sft ;
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A,
( Vente Ol HUUCHICA,
Lub by 6. Graves, Wabworth, Crt, JEM.
ALAUDA ARVENSIS.
Spl Voted Beh
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Bill flender, ftraight, pointed, curving at the tip.
Noftrils covered with feathers and briftles.
Tongue cloven at the point.
Toes. divided to their bafe. |
Claws fharp, thofe on the hind toe nO long. and {lightly curved.
SYNONYMS.
ALaupa arvensis. Léa. Sy. 1.187. 1. End. Orn. : 2.p.491.1. W. Curtis's Mf. Sxy-Lark. Bro Zool. 1. 136. Id. fol. 93. tab. S. 2. | jigs 7. Lath. Syn, 4. p. 368.4... Moni. Orn. Did. Vol. 1. Bewick’s Pr. Birds, Pt.
4. Ps 194,
‘Tu I Sxy-Larx is in length about feven inches, in breadth near twelve inches, and it weighs in the winter more than two ounces ; bill flender and fharp-pointed ; ; irides Havel : feathers on the crown of the headlong, and erectable at plea- fure ; legs light brown in the young bird, changing to dufky as it advances in age; claws fharp, the hind one very long
and nearly ftraight. Colour of the fexes alike.
"This
This fpecieS is Common’ in’ moft parts of this dodntry, but more abundant in thofe that are cultivated, as arable land ; it builds on the ground, frequently- between two clods of earth ; the neft is compofed of dry grafs and ftalks, and lined with the fame kind of materials, only of a finer texture ; it lays four or five eggs of a dufky whitecolour {potted with brown, in fome places the {pots have the appearance of being run
together ;. the female fitsi about fifteen days; and oftén’ hile two broods in the year; itis verpattentive to itsyoung, trying’
many artifices to entice the incautidus paffénger from its nef
‘when in danger it flutters over the neft, and “by its motions’
gives information to the young of their danger ‘or fecurity ; the young are fed with infe&s and grain, and foon learn to
provide for themfelves.
But few of the. feathered, tribe have greater claims.te our admiration than this delightful warbler, who commences its earol with) the rifing day ;. this is the. only: {pecies’ that is known to fing as it rifes; it at firt but twitters, but as it _ afcends it pours forth its full' ftrains of enchanting melody ; it rifes in an oblique direGtion, and frequently ‘* foars beyond the fhepherd’s fight ;”’ when at it its greateft height, fhould a bird of prey make its appearance, it clofes its wings
and drops like a {tone to the earth at a fhort.diftance from the
neft, fhould the unwelcome intruder, be ftill hovering it lays,
motionlefs, and.its colour affimilating fo. nearly with the earth,,
it is: in this ftate more likely to-efcape the obfervation of its enemy ; when defcending in its ufual manner it comes dowm by repeated falls, fluttering and finging till it-arrives within a fhort diftance of the grounds, when it ismute. Itis generally thought that the fky-lark does not at any time fettle in trees,
but
eT
but this is an error,/as we have repeatedly fhot them from off a bough, where it waits the pafling of infects, which it catches by jumping at them, and then returns to the bough
again in the manner of fome of the fmaller {pecies of larks,
Thefe birds vary but little in their general plumage, fome jnftances occafionally occur of their being found quite white ; put the heel is a criterion by which the {pecies may with cer-
tainty be known.
Qur figure was.executed for the late WiLL1amM CurTIs.
Judy
Dis oe Ye
Ww
a
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PNW is eatipabiene
%
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Pub. by C. Graver, Walworth D1, Siuly 181
MOTACILLA VULGARIS.
COMMON WAGTATE.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Bill flender, very foft, and flightly notched : near the end,
Tongue fringed at the tip,
Legs flender. .
Toes three forward, one behind, the centre one con-
_ netted to the outer one as far as the firft joint; the hind toe and claw long. |
Tail very long.
SYNONYMS.
Mortaciiia vurcaris. W. Curtis, M/s. Moracitia acBa. Lin. Sy. 1. p. 931.11. Lath, - Ind, Orn. 2. p. 501. 1.
Waite Wactait. Br. Zool. 1.142. tab. 55. Id. fol. 4g 104. Lath. Syn. 4. p. 395. 16 Lb. fupt. p. 178. Mont. Orn. Di. Bewick's Br. Birds, Pi. 1. p. 203. CoLLaRED Wacratn, Lath. Syn. 4. Pp. 396.
Vue Common WAGTAIL is in length about feven inches and a half, and in breadth ten inches and a half, and it weighs about three-quarters of an ounce; this bird is too well known to require further defcription. The colours are difpofed alike in both fexes, thofe of the female are confiderably
duller, and the tail of the latter is not fo long by near an inch,
“* In winter they lofe the black on the throat and chin, which at that feafon become white, and in this {tate have been confidered as a variety; but it is a Silane that conftantly takes place at that period of the year, and they regain their
former plumage early in the fpring.”
Its neft is compofed of mofs and dry fibre’, interwoven with wool, and lined with hair and feathers; they lay four or five white eggs, fpotted with various tints of brown; they very nearly refemble in colour thofe of thé cuckdo, which frequently depofits her ege in the neft of this bird ; they are very attentive to their young, and ufe many little arts to divert attention from thé nett, they: are very bold in its defence, and attack the cuckoo, and endeavour to drive her from it ; though they do not feem to difcover the addition in the neft made by this bird, yet they will induftrioufly remove any {mall fubftance that may have been put into the neft ; they ufually build on the ground among ftones, alfo in holes in banks and trees, and we found one this feafon (1811) in the aperture above the handle of a pump that was out of ufe, in
a gravel- -pit between Camberwell and Brixton.
The Wagtail is a lively ative bird, and is very plentiful throughout this country ; it makes partial migrations from the interior to the coaft, as the weather becomes fevere, but we believe never quits this Kingdom ; 3 its, ufual haunts are {hallow pools or ftrearis, where it meets with abundance of infects, which it takes in the manner of the fly-catcher, by jumping at them as they pafs over; it wades in fhallow parts, and is very induftrious in the fearch after thofe {pecies of infeéts that run on the furface of the water ; it alfo frequents new ploughed land, fheep-folds, and cattle-pens, where the infects
are
eicription will appear with the Fiate in tne Jollowing Number.
\
are continually roufed by the motions of thofe animals ; its flight is remarkably undulating, and is confiderably ac- celerated by the continued jerkins of its tail; it makes but fhort flights at one time.
During the breeding feafon it has a very pretty note, by which its retteat is difcovered ; it is one of thofe birds which purfue the hawk tribe, and on the appearance of which it. gives the alarm by loud and repeated fcreams. It is in the habit of rolling in the duft, immediately after which it goes
into the water, and in a few minutes comes out very clean ; it is infefled by an infe@ fimilar to that which attacks the fwallow, and we have no doubt but its rolling in the duft and wathing, affifts in removing it; in diffeCting a Wagtail lately, one of thefe infe&ts crawled on the hand, to which it adhered fo firmly, that we were under the neceflity of ufing the point
of the knife to remove it.
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Sore eee Hh
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Lub. by G. Graves, Walyort/:, 1,
MOTACILLA TROGLODYTES.
COMMON WREN,
Generic Cuaractrer. See Motacilla lufcinia,
SYNONYMS,
Moracitzra Trocropytes. Lin. Syf. 1. p. 337. 46.
Wren. Br. Zool. 1. 154. Lath. Syn. 4. p. 506. No. 143. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pi. 1. p. 235.
Common Wren. Mont. Orn, Didi.
‘Tu IS fpecies is in length from three to four inches, and weighs rather more than a quarter of an ounce; bill near half an inch long, flightly curved ; eyes large and dark ; legs flen- der ; claws large (in proportion to the fize of the bird) and much curved. Colours alike in buth fexes. It lays from eight to fourteen white eggs, delicately marked with red fpots, which are ufually moft numerous at the largeft end, the fpots are not conftant, as we have a neft containing thirteen eggs, nine
of which are fpotted, and the remaining four quite plain.
The Wren is common throughout the kingdom, in winter it frequents gardens, and feeks fhelter in out-buildings; at that feafon it is very familiar, it braves the fevereft weather, and like the golden-crefted wren, is frequently to be heard
finging
finging during a fall of fnow, and generally continues its lively note till late in the evening. It builds in hay-ftacks, trees, and in the fides of banks. Mr. Montague remarks, “«¢ the materials of the neft are generally adapted to the place ; if it is againft the fide of a hay-rick, it is compofed of hay 3 if againft the fide of a tree covered with white mofs, it is made of that material, and with green mofs, if the tree is covered with the fame or ina bank. ‘Thus inftin& direéts it for fecu- rity. ‘The lining is invariably of feathers.
«¢ The Wren does not begin the bottom of the neft firft, which is ufual with moft birds, but firft (as it were) traces the out-line again{t a tree, which is of an oval fhape, and by that means faftens it equally ftrong to all parts, and afterwards
enclofes the fides and top, leaving only a fmall hole near the
top for entrance.”
Its food is chiefly infects, in queft of which it runs up and down the fides of trees or banks, in the manner of the tit- moufe ; it flies but a very fhort diftance at a time, contenting itfelf by flitting about from twig totwig, efcaping obfervation principally by its colours affimilating with the ground it lights on; which may be confidered as a proteCtion wifely difpenfed
by Providence to the weak and moft defencelefs part of his creatures.
VE ltl). | 7
Pub “by GC Graves Walworth Jan 1 12H)
MOTACILLA REGULUS.
GOLDEN-CRSETED WREN.
Generic Cuaracter. See Motacilla Troglodytes. SYNONYMS.
Moracitia Recutus. Lin. Sy. 1. p. 338. Go.pen-CresteD Wren. Br. Zool. 153. Lath. Syn. 4. p. 508. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt.1. p.233. Mout. Oru. Didi. Ea Rcd Ta IS is the fmalleft Britith bird, being in length little more than three inches; weighs about feventy grains: bill flender, {traight, having an inclination upwards ; eyes remark- ably lively ; the feathers on the crown are long, forming a creft of a bright gold colour, which appears brighter by being contrafted with a band of black, pafling from the eyes +to-the extremity of the creft; this band it can ereCt at pleafure, and with it at times nearly obfcures the creft; legs flender; in the female the creft is of a pale yellow, and the colours in general
incline to brown.
| Montague, in his Dictionary of Britifh Birds, fays, ‘‘ the neft is not-made with an opening at the fide, as defcribed , .
by fome , but is in form and elegance like that of the Chaffinch, compofed of green mofs, interwoven with wool, and invari- ably lined with {mall feathers, with which it is fo well bedded as to conceal the eggs. It is fometimes placed againft the body of a tree covered with ivy, but moft times, underneath a thick branch of a fir. The eggs are from feven to ten in number, of a brownifh white, rather darker at the
large end; their weight nine or ten grains.”
This beautiful diminutive fpecies is very-common throughout this kingdom ; it braves our fevereft winters, and may be often obferved fitting on the branch of fome large tree, uttering its fhrill chirp during a fall of fnow: remains with us all the year. Its note is melodious, and is fhriller than that of the
common Wren.
rt ey bie
vt
ae
Blot
Graves, Walworth, L May SEL.
OG:
Pub. by
MOTACILLA RUBICOLA. RE YB REA STS ere Generic Cuaracter. See Motacilla lufcinia. SYNONYMS,
Moracittta Rusicoua. Lin. Syff. 1. p. 937. 45.
Repsreast. Br. Zool. 147. lb. fol. 100. tab. 8. fig. 2. Lath. Syn. 4. p. 442. 38. Mont. Orn. Did. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 1. p. 216.
tlle sees {pecies is in length five inches and a half, and in breadth eight. inches and a half, and it weighs about ten drams; the Redbreaft is too common to require further de=-
{cription. Both fexes are alike in colour.
The REDBREAST builds early in April, and forms its neft ufually in the hollow of an old tree; generally near the ground, it will fometimes build in an out-houfe or in a moffy bank ; it is compofed of mofs, {mall dry ftalks and leaves, and lined with hair; they lay from fix to eight eggs, of an opaque whitifh colour fpotted with light and dark red, the largeft {pots are of the deepeft colour; the young for the firt two or three months are {potted, and may readily pafs for fome. other fpecies ; they do not attain their full plumage till after the firft moult.
At the approach of winter thefe birds forfake the woods, as they no longer contain a fupply of infects, they then repair to our habitations, picking up fuch infects as the garden affords 5 as the weather becomes more fevere, they, by their actions,
feem
feem to implore our further protection ; they advance at firft with great caution, to pick fuch crumbs as may have fallen on the floor, but they foon throw off this referve, and what at firft they obtained by permiffion, they prefently feem to claim as their right; they in fhort foon become troublefome, and are fearcely to be frightened away; . fhould by chance two find their way into the fame room, they immediately begin fighting ; they are at all times of a jealous quarrelfome difpofition, which has oftentimes occa- fioned their captivity. Perfons in the practice of catching thefé birds, place one in a cage, the outlide of which is befmeared with birdlime, and fix the cage in a fituation likely to be feen by the wild birds.; as foon as the prifoner hears the note of another bird it begins tochirp, and the wild robins immediately repair to the fpot and fly on the cage eager for a conteft, the confined one inftigated by the fame paffion, flies to the fide of the cage, and does all in its power to injure its adverfary, who prefently becomes fatigued, owing to its wings being clogged with the birdlime ; the perfon engaged in the purfuit, foon puts an end to the conteft, by taking away the bird now ren-
dered incapable of flying, and the one in confinement is again
ready for action.
In the autumn they keep clofe at the heels of the gar- dener, examining the earth as it is turned over with {crutini- zing eye, for the larva of fmall infe&ts or worms, we have repeatedly obferved them alight on the fhoulder of a perfon engaged in a garden, they will alfo come on being called ; thefe familiar habits have in moft countries given it familiar names, “* about Bornholm it is called Tommi Liden; in Norway, Peter Ronfinad; in Germany, Thomas Geirdner ; and with us Robin Redbreaft or Ruddock.”
yy eal BUPA.
Pub. by G. Graver, Walworth,l, May JEL.
HIRUNDO RUSTICA.
CHIMNEY SWALLOF
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Bill fhort, broad at the bafe, tip curving. Noftrils open.
Tongue fhort, broad, bifid.
Tail forked.
Toes three before, one behind.
SYNONYMS.
Hirunpo Rustica. Lin. Sy/f. 1. p. 349. 1.
Cuimnzy or Common Swatiow. Br. Zool. 1. 168. tab. 58. Ib. fol. 96. Lath, Syn. 4. p. 561. Ib. — fupt. p. 192. Mont. Orn. Ditt. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt..1. p. 256.
‘Tu IS well known fpecies is in length from feven to eight inches, and in peeedidy from twelve to fourteen inches, and weighs about half an ounce ; bill fhort, the point fmall, and a little bending; eyes hazel; tail long and very forked ; legs very flender. Colours alike in both fexes; the outer tail
feathers in the female, are fhorter by about one-fourth than
in the male.
Few birds are better known than the prefent, as it always _ attaches itfelf to the habitations of man, building ufually in chimneys, from which circumftance it has taken its name ; the ngft is compofed of mud, hair, and ftraw, and is invariably lined with feathers; it is curioufly plaiftered together, with an
opening
opening fometimes in the fide and at others in the top, but only fufficiently large to permit a paflage; they lay five or ~ fix white femitranfparent eggs, finely fpeckled with red ; they
often have two broods in the year.
The Swallow vifits this country early in the fpring, fome- times as early as the laft week in March, or the firftin April, if the feafon is mild; fhould the weather prove fevere after their arrival, they frequently difappear, and retire to warm fheltered pools, where if the wind continues eafterly, and is of long duration, hundreds perifh for want, as their food confifts entirely of winged infeGts, which remain in a torpid ftlate during fevere weather, they catch their prey while on wing with aftonifhing dexterity ; when the weather is damp, and the air cloudy, they will frequently follow the courfe of a horfe (and will fly round it with the greateft eafe, though it may be proceeding at full fpeed) for the infe&s that may be roufed by its motion: in moift weather they fly low, and after heavy rains they repair to the margins of {treams, or the fides of ftlagnant pools, where they generally find an ample ftore of food. They fly very near the water, and often dip their wings during flight.
Concerning the migration or difappearance of {wallows, many opinions and conjectures have been hazarded, and many perfons have been fufficiently credulous to believe they retire beneath the water and become torpid; but why it fhould have been thought that thefe birds immerfe themfelves, feems at this day unaccountable, efpecially as we know the fpecific gravity of thefe birds is confiderably lighter than water ; they have been defcribed (previous to their immegrfion) as feizing hold of any kind of ftick or reed, to which a
number
number can attach themfelves, and after uttering a folemn dirge, plunging into an element, which. by nature they, are not gifted with power to exift in, and remain torpid from September till March or April; thus, a body. {pecifically lighter than water, is made to ufeva fubftance ftill lighter than itfelf, to affift it in finking to the bottom.
From accounts received from feveral intelligent navigators, thefe birds have frequently been known to alight on the rigging of their veffels, both about the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, particularly in different parts of the Mediterranean, . We have been informed by a perfon, who annually vifits the ifland of Zante, that thefe birds are feen in immenfe numbers twice in the year on that ifland; their ftay is but fhort, in the {pring about ten or twelve days, and in the autumn only four or five 5 from which place in autumn they purfue their journey fouth- ward, and in the {pring to the northward; we frequently fee them detained here, for fome weeks after their cuftomary time of departure, by adverfe winds ; thofe few which are fometimes obferved after the general migration, perhaps as late as Novem- ber, mutt be confidered either as fo late hatched, as not to be able to perform fo long a journey, or were labouring under fome difeafe or accident which prevented them from joining . their affociates. The length of wing, joined to the fmall bulk of body, render thefe birds far more capable than moft of our migrative fpecies of performing a long journey. In fine fummer weather, they may be feen for fourteen or fixteen hours together almoft continually on the wing, either in pur-
fuit of each other, or of infects.
Swallows are frequently obferved in warm weather, rolling themfelves in the duft, but for what purpofe is doubtful ; they
they are particularly infefted with an infect, in form like the common fheep tick, which we believe often proves fatal to them ; an occurrence of this kind came under the immediate notice of a gentleman refiding in Parliament-Street, who kindly communicated the circumftance to us with the bird: a fwallow was obferved to fall down in the ftreet without any vifible occafion, which he took up, and on clofe exami- nation found a number of the above-named infects attached to its throat and body, fucking in the manner of leaches ; the bird was quite dead, it was very fat, and there was no other
feeming caufe for its death than thefe infects.
This fpecies cafts the undigeftible parts of its food in the fame manner as the hawk tribe, we are not able to fay whether this is common to the genus, but conceive it moft
probably is.
We have had a fand martin fent to us which was fhot on the twentieth of the prefent month (March) and we faw two of the fpecies now before us on the twenty-third, which is
earlier than they ufually appear with us.
ray
es
Nee y
arey,e ROU.
%
PHASIANUS COLCHICUS. (war. @)
RING PHEASANT.
_ Generic CHARACTER:
Bill fhoit, ftrong, convex.
Noftrils cemeve: by an arched procefs. |
Sides of the head covered with a bare granulated fkin. Legs ftrong, ufually furnifhed with a {pur on the infide: Toes connected at their bafe by a ftrong membrane.
SYNONYMS.
PuAstanuscoichicus. Lin Sy. i. p. 270.3. Ind. Orn. 2. 629. ————_——_—_—— Var. B. Ind. Orn. 2. p. 629. 4: -Rine Pueasant. Lath. Syn. 4. p. 715. lo. Supte ps 208.
Common Pueasant: Lath. Syn. 4. p. 712.43 Mont. Orn. Did. Vol. 2. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 1. p. 283.
fine IS beautiful fpecies when full grown is generally three feet in length, and weighs about three pounds ; bill ftrong and fharp ; irides yellow ; the eyes furrounded by a warty fkin of the moft beautiful {carlet colour, which extends nearly over the fides of the head, and is minutely fpeckled with black 5 tail cuniform, compofed of eighteen feathers: the two centre ones are nearly twenty inches long, the others gradually de- creafe in length, the fhorteft being lefs than fix inches 4
legs
legs. ftrong, furnifhed with fpurs, which in old birds are very fharp and nearly an inch long ; toes conneéted at the bafe by 2 ftrong membrane. The fernale is about one third lefs than the male; irides hazel; the fkin on the fides of the head is not fo bright, nor is it fo much extended as inthe male ; tail formed as in the other fex but fhorter. As the female differs confiderably in colour, we fhall give a figure of it in-a future
number.
The Pheafant, though not indigenous, juftly claims a place among Britifh birds, being common in moft parts’ of this Kingdom ; it is lefs abundant-in the northern counties, and is but rarely feen in Scotland; its favourite haunts ate thick woods in the vicinity of corn lands, where it breeds 5 aes folitary bird, feldom being found in companies except in the breeding feafon; the female lays. from. ten. to'fourteen-eggs, © “in a loofe kind of neft, formed of a few dry leaves and vege- tables fcraped together in the midi of a tuft of high grafs, in the moft retired and. unfrequented part of the wood; where ‘in hidden fecurity fhe incubates alone, and does not admit the approaches of the male till the young are excluded; in this fituation they are frequently deftroyed by foxes and martins ; as foon as the young quit the fhell, they follow the hen,.who leads them to ant-hills, near which they continue for two or | three weeks, after which they peck up moft kinds of fmall snfects, feeds, and grain, in confinement the female will lay a great number of eggs, but. feldom hatches them or fits out “her time, as the male will often break in on her retirement and deftroy the eggs ; to prevent which, the eggs are ufually taken away, and placed under a commom hen; when thus hatched, they requiré much attention and a continual fupply of
, of ant eggs, without which, it is fcarcely. pofiible to rear , them.; was it not for the attention thus fhewn by many perfons to’ the keeping up the ftock, this valuable bird would - foon be: loft to: this country, owing to the great.demand! for it at. the tables of. the wealthy; which notwithftanding the penalties of the game laws, offers a great temptation to-the poacher, and the bird being unwary, his {nares are feldom placed without effec.
In the {pring the male may be heard at a diftance, con tinually crowing and flapping its wings; at this feafon its wings are. a little extended, its tail drooping to the ground 5 the fkin on the fides of the head. becomes-more brilliant, and it erets the feathers that covers the auriculars ; in this flate it marches. forth in fearch of the females, around which it _-ftruts much. im the manner of the domeftic cock ; when the - female quits it to perform: the office of incubation, the male often affociates with the poultry in the neighbouring farm- yards, and. will intermix. with the common hen ;. Bewick fays he has known feveral inftlances where they have produced a hybrid breed, but omits to mention. whether this fpurious
breed is prolific.
A very. curious change frequently takes place in the female, who affumes the plumage of the male, and from that time ceafes to lay; this ftrange transformation does not take place at any particular period of age, as we have feen birds of the fecond and third, up to the fixth year, that have thus altered ; ina paper of the late Mr. Joun Hunter, publifhed in the Philofophical Tranfactions for the year 1780, he fays, ‘¢ It is remarked by thofe that are converfant with thefe birds |
when
-when:-wild, that there appeais now and theh a hen Pheafant ‘with the feathers of the cock ; and all they have decided on the fubject is, that this animal does not breed, and that the fpurs and adds ‘¢ that in two of thefe birds which he
3
do not grow ;’ diffected, he found them perfeétly feminine, having both the ovaria and the ovi-duct ;’’ to the latter we can bear teftimony, for on diffecting feveral early in the prefent year (1811) we found in the ovarium of one, a number of {mall feed-like eggs, and others fomewhat enlarged ; the birds were all unufually fat, and had the appeatance of having been fatted, though they were all fhot in a wild ftate; from the above circum: ftance we conceive the change may have taken place owing to
the abfence of the other fex.
Several varieties of this {pecies have at different times been met with in this country, but none of them as far as we can
earn is permanent ; the variety we have figured is known by
_ the name of the Ring Pheafant, was introduced by the late
«Duke of Northumberland, and will moft probably be foon oft as a diftin& bird, asit breeds readily with the prefent bird, and many, if not moft of the birds now met with, have fome appearance of white round the neck: birds of this {pecies ene tirely white, are frequently fee; one of thofe that we faw Jaft fedfon, evidently belonged to the ringed variety, as the ring
“was confpicuous by being of a different fhade of whitenefs.
i “ewer itt eS . * nah apa AK ta taste sat HL ple RUD ina. . sr ' HERG : basins
eo ae ee
Lub. by G. Graves, Walworth L Feb. 18H.
TETRAO PERDIX.
COMMON PARTRIDGE.
Generic Cuaracter. See Tetrao urogallus.
SYNONYMS.
Tetrao Perpix. Lin, Sy. 1. p. 276. 12.
Common Partripvcse. br. Zool. 1. 96. Lath. Sp 4. p. 762. 8. Mont, Orn. Didi.
Partrince. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 1. p. 303-
Ts I S fpecies is in length thirteen inches, and weighs about fifteen ounces; bill hard; the noftrils covered over by a prominent ridge, which projects rather beyond them, ‘having an aperture in the front; eyes partly furrounded by a warty fkin, which is placed principally behind the eye, - and continues nearly half round it; legs fhort, furnifhed with fhort blunt fpurs; the feathers on the body are double, two feathers proceeding from the fame quill ; the inner one, which is much the fmalleft, has two webs projecting from each fide of the fhaft. General colours alike in both fexes ; the female ‘ has
has not for the firft two years, the beautiful chefnut mark in the form of a horfe-fhoe on the breaft, but after that time, it ceafes to be a diftinguifhing character; the bare fkin round the eye may always be depended on, for in the female it is never of that beautiful fcarlet colour, but inclines rather toa
dull crimfon.
Partridges are very common throughout this ifland, but are moft numerous in the cultivated parts; they are but feldom met with at any confiderable diftance from arable land, and are not found in the mountainous parts of the kingdom. Mr. Montague obferves, ‘in Scotland, the Partridge, the Grous, and the Ptarmagan, each have their diftrict ; the firft is only to be found in the glens or vallies, the fecond on the firft hills, and the laft only on the fummits of the higheft mountains, and
it is not often they intrude on each other.”
It is very prolific, laying from twelve to twenty eggs of a pale brown colour, in a hole feratched for the purpofe, loofely lined with dry grafs and leaves; it fets about three weeks, the latter part of the time very clofely, and will fometimes fuffer itfelf to be removed with the eggs, rather than quit them. The young run about‘almoft as foon as hatched, frequently with part of the fhell adhering to them ; the whole brood imme- diately repair to ant-hills, as ants eggs form the principal _ part of the food of the young ones for the firft few weeks : their eggs are often hatched ‘under a common hen, but ' owing to the difficulty of obtaining a fufficient fupply of ants eggs, they are not reared without great trouble ; when full grown they feed on all kinds of grain, and are alfo very partial
to the leaves of turnips. The
» "The Partridge has long been noticed for the great attach- ment it fhews to its young, for the means it ufes to elude purfuit, and to miflead the object intruding on its retirement ; it leads its brood in the manner of the hen, and when arrived at a fpot likely to produce their favourite food, the female - begins fcratching up the earth with its feet, at the fame time pecking up any eatable particles fhe meets with; thefe the does not f{wallow, but places them before the young, and by re- peatedly pecking, endeavours to inftru@ them in the mode they fhould purfue to obtain food; the young ones are not backward in receiving inftruCtion, as in a few hours they may be obferved induftrioufly fearching for themfelves, at a fhort diftance from the parent birds, and from time to time return- ing to them for fhelter and warmth. While thus engaged, fhould their privacy be broken in upon, the male utters a piercing cry and they both take wing, the young brood imme- diately creep under the firft tuft that offers, or more ufually between clods of earth, and there await the return of the old birds, who are occupied in endeavouring to take off the atten- tion of the intruding party from the young to themfelves ; they fly a fhort diftance, feeming to labour under exceffive fatigue or weaknefs, and will fuddenly drop as if quite fpent, and limp along, trailing their wings on the:ground, and affect all the appearance of a wounded bird: during the continuance of thefe exertions, the female ufually withdraws and returns to the relief of the young, which it affembles in an inftant by its call; the male continues the fame artifices for fome time after, to give the femaie an opportunity of making good a retreat, and then by a circuitous rout, haftens to the fpot lately occu- pied by itfelf and brood, and by its cry makes known its return.
In
In winter, they leave the open country, and feek fhelter from the inclemency of the feafon, in coppices under the
leaves of fern, and among brufhwood; at this time they
affemble feveral coveys together, and are extremely fhy;
unlefs by furprife it is almoft impoffible to get within gun .
fhot; at other feafons, if any one will only keep moving about,
they will almoft fuffer themfelves to be trod on, rather than
take wing.
They have been found quite white. The prefent feafon.
thas abounded, in a very unufual manner, with birds affuming white plumage, particularly Pheafants, Partridges, and Woodcocks. .
Ly
,
Pubtisher ty & Groves Walworth Jax128t2,
TETRAO TETRIX.
BLACK GROUS. Se aainmnirmiaiceeitnie oes nace Generic Cuaracter. See Tetrao Urogallus.
SYNONYMS,
Tetrao Tetrix. Lin. Syf. 1. p. 274. 2. Ind. Orn, Pp. 635. 3 Brack Grovus or Game, Bracx-Cocx, Hratu- Cock. Br. Zool. 1. 93. tab. 42. Id. fol. 85. tab. Me jig 15 2 Lath, Syn. 4. p. 733. 3. Lb. fupt. p. 213. Mont. Orn. Di: Vol. 1... Bewick's Br. Birds, Pi. 1.
. . 2 . — S
oe eh
Leneru of thé male. cee two dont breadth about».
’ thirty- four inches, weight generally four pounds. Bill fhort,: and very {trong ; : eyes varying in different lights, from hazel to blue, and frequently feem to have an’ orange caft ; they are furrounded on the upper fide by a bare granulated fearlet fkin, which in the breeding feafon is much dilated, and frequently extends to near the top of the head; beneath the eyes is a dufky white patch, which in old birds is very confpicuous, but:
_ fearcely to be noticed till after the fecond year; tail compofed — of fixteen feathers, the outfide ones of which are the longeft, and curve outward, the tips of thefe are nearly {quare ; legs {trong, and thickly covered with hair-like feathers; toes ferrated,
The
The female, as will be obferved in the plate, differs in colour very confiderably as well as in fize ; its weight is about two pounds four or five ounces; the fize is nearly one third lefs than the male ; the tail alfo differs in form, terminating nearly {quare, | |
This fpecies chiefly frequents diftriéts of this kingdom, affecting the more elevated parts; they are alfo found on the extenfive heaths and moors in the weft of England 5 a few males are fometimes met with in Afhdown-Foreft, Suffex, in the New Foreft, Hampfhire, and in the woods of Lowther, in Weftmoreland. In the autumn they frequently. vifit corn-land, but in the winter they take to the woods and are then very fhy ; their principal food is the tops of heath and birch; our friend Mr. J. Goucn, of Middlefhaw, in Weftmoreland, informs us, r the feeds of the juncus bulbofus, the berries of the empetrum nigrum, and thofe of the rubus chamzemorus, conftitute the favourite food of this fpecies ;” they alfo feed on the berries of the juniper,
and other mountain besries.
The Black Grous is polygamous ; early in the fpring the males perch on the tops of high trees or other elevated f{pots, and by crowing and clapping their wings, give notice to the females, who foon refort ta the f pot, whena battle commences, and the victor takes poffeffion of the females, but has fre- guently to fuftain combats with fuch others of the fex as vilit their retreats; the female lays fix or feven yellowifh white eggs, fpotted with ruft colour, on any dry grafs or. heath, without any appearance of a neft, but moft generally in the mid of a high tuft of heath; the young are
, | feathered
_ feathered like the female till after the firft moult, when the cocks begin to change eolour; but they do not affume their full plumage till after the fecond feafon, and frequently when the eggs have been hatched under the common hen, they do not ever attain their full colour: the young keep together
with the parents till the enfuing {pring.
After the breeding feafon, the males peaceably affociate in confiderable numbers ; when they are eafily decoyed by the poacher into fnares, by imitating the call of the hen; and we have been informed, that as many as fifty have been taken in the fhort fpace of two days by this means, in Yorkfhire. The provincial names of this fpecies are Heath ‘Poult, Heath Cock, Black Cock, Black Game, and the female is in fome parts known by the name of Grey Hen,
We are indebted for our {pecimens to A. Harrison, Efq.
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Pub. Feb X28, ly Graves Walworth.
TETRAO LAGOPUS. PTARMIGAN.
GENERIC CHARACTER. See Tetrao Urogallus.
e | SYNONYMS.
Tetrao Lacopus. Lin. Syft.1. p. 274.4. Ind. Orn. 2. p. 639. 9. PTARMIGAN. Br. Zool. 1. 95. tab. 43. Ib. fol. 86. tab. OM, fig. 4, 5. Arét. Zool. 2. p. 315, D. Lath. Syn. 4. p..741. 10. Mont. Orn. Dit?. Vol. 2. Bewick's Br. Birds, ih. As P2301,
"Tue length of this {pecies is about fifteen, the breadth
twenty-two inches, and it ufually weighs from eighteen to twenty ounces. Bill ftrong ; irides light hazel; legs ftrong, and thickly befet with hair-like feathers to the extremity of the toes ; claws long, having the appearance of pieces of quill protruding from the toes, being concave on the under fide, and terminating in an obtufe point; this form of the claws may affift them in their fearch after food, which very frequently lies beneath the {now ; tail compofed of fixteen black feathers tipped with white, the tail is moft generally hid under the tail coverts. ‘The fexes are not diftinguithable except in the fpring, when the {kin above the eyes in the male
is much dilated, and of a brighter hue than in the-other fex.
White Grous is rarely to be met with but on the high mountainous parts of this country, on the highlands of Scot- Jand,
land, and on the hills of Snowden, in Wales; they abound on all the heathy mountains in the north of Weftmoreland and Cumberland, and like the Black Grous feed on moft kinds
of mountain berries.
It lays ten or twelve dirty white coloured eggs (in fize rather exceeding thofe of the partridge) {potted with brown ;_ it does not make any neft, but depofits the eggs on the bare ground, in fome retired fpot beneath the little tufts of heath
abundant on the parts thefe birds frequent.
The Ptarmigan is not as fhy as any other fpecies of Grous, but will fuffer themfelves to be approached without attempting to e{cape ; ‘* the herdfmen frequently knock them down with {ticks ;’’ the male in the {pring utters a crowing note, which
is not unlike the crow of a young capon,
In the fummer months thefe birds are found with brown mottled feathers, which they are fuppofed to caft at the fall of the year; we have feen a brace killed within the prefent
month that had a confiderable number of coloured feathers on
different parts.
We have received fpecimens from our friends Mr. Harri- son and Mr. Buttock, the one perfectly white except the tail, and the other mottled all over ; in the month of January 1811, we faw a white bird of this genus on the fide of Box- Hill, Surrey, but were not able to approach fufficiently near
to afcertain whether it was the prefent {pecies or a partridge.
Its provincial names are White Grous, Snow Grous, White Game, and White or Snow Partridge.
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Lub.by GC. Graves, Waiwerth. 1, Feb. 1822.
ARDEA MAJOR. COMMON HERON. $e Generic CHARACTER. |
Bill ftraight, compreffed, ftrong, and fharp-pointed. Noftrils linear.
Tongue fharp-pointed.
Eyes, large and piercing, furrounded by a bare {kin. Toes three forward, connetted by a membrane to the
firft joint, the middle one peétinated, hinder toe one- third fhorter than the front ones. —
SYNONYMS.
Arpvea Major. Lin, Sy. 1. p. 236. 12.
Common Heron. Br. Zool. 1793. tab. 61. Lath. Syn. 5. p. 83. 50. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 2. p. 48. Mont. Orn. Ditt.
Ries E Heron is in length about three feet fix inches, and in breadth five feet fix inches, it ufually weighs about three pounds and an half; bill fix inches long, the edges flightly ferrated, it has a flight longitudinal furrow commencing at the bafe, and continuing three-fourths of its length; eyes full ang ‘remarkably fierce, furrounded by a bare fkin of a greenith hue in the male bird,.in the female it is of a lead colour; feathers on the crown and hind-head long and flowing, forming a -
beautiful ‘pendent creft, defcending half way down the neck (in
(in fome birds we have noticed feveral of thefe feathers that reach quite to the back) ; on the under-fide of the neck, the feathers are of the fame loofe flowing kind, and extend quite over the breaft, there are alfo a few {cattered over the back ; legs long, the hinder claw much larger and ftronger than the others; colours in the female rather duller, the feathers forming the creft are wanting, and thofe on the neck are not
fo lone or flowing.
Herons generally build in high trees, the neft is compofed of fticks lined with feathers, wool, dry grafs, and other foft materials ; the eggs are of the fize, but of a greener hue than thofe of the duck; it was formerly confidered as game, and perfons deftroying their eggs were liable to a penalty of twenty fhillings. In the breeding feafon, they congregate in the manner of rooks, and form large focieties ; Heronries, though by no means numerous, are to be met with in feveral of our northern counties, one in particular may be familiar to perfons in the habit of travelling the high North road, where the trees in which many of the nefts are placed, and under which the coaches pafs daily, nearly crofs the road. They are very tena- cious of their breeding-places, and make great refiftance to any kind of intrufion; in thefe focieties fhould any one be found pilfering materials from the neft of another, the offender expofes itfelf to fevere correGtion, not unfrequently to the lofs of life, and to the almoft certain demolition of whatever _it may have colleéted towards its own neff ; notwithftanding this tenacioufnefs with regard to themfelves, they are lefs ceremonious in intruding on the territories of others ; as fhould they by any adverfe circumftance be expelled or deprived of their ancient refidences, they will take poffeffion of any neigh-
bouring
bouring place that fuits their purpofe. BewicK quotes the following curious circumftance relating thereto, which occur- red at Dallam-Tower in Weftmoreland, the feat of Daniel Wilfen, Efg. ‘“* There were two groves adjoining the park, one of which fot many years had been reforted to by a number of Herons, which there built and bred; the other was one of the largeft rookeries in the country. “he two tribes lived together for a long time without any difputes. At length the trees occupied by the Herons, confifting of fome fine old oaks, were cut down in the fpring of 1775, and the young brood perifhed by the fall of the timber. The parent birds imme- diately fet about preparing new habitations, in order to breed again, but as the trees in the neighbourhood of their old nefts were only of late growth and not fufficiently high, to fecure them from the depredations of boys, they determined to effect a fettlement in the rookery. The rooks made an obiftinate refiftance, but after a very violent conteft, in which many of the rooks and fome of their antagonifts loft their lives, the Herons fucceeded in their attempt, built their nefts and reared their young. Next feafon the fame kind of conteft took place, which terminated like the former, fince which they have lived
together in the fame harmony as before their quarrel.”
Thefe birds are very longlived, mention is made of one ftruck by a hawk in Holland fome few years ago, that had a filver plate affixed to one of its legs, importing that the fame bird had been ftriick by one of the Elector of Cologne’s hawks in 1735. Their cry is very loud and harfh, and may frequently be heard when the bird foars beyond our fight, as it utters its feream chiefly when on wing. Except in the breeding feafon its habits are very folitary, it has been frequently feen ftanding
on.
on fome favourite {pot for many hours together, continually turning its head backward and forward, and gazing with a
vacant flare,
It is remarkably voracious, feeds chiefly on fifh, to procure which, it ftands in the water knee-deep quite motionlefs, the fifh, whether impelled by curiofity or attraéted perhaps by the {mell of the bird, will frequently approach in fhoals, and when arrived within its reach, it {trikes at them with unerring aim, the edges of the bill being ferrated enables it to keep fecure hold of the moft flippery fith ; it commits great depredations in our fifh-ponds, as its digeftive powers being unufually ftrong, it is continually feeding ; the inteftinal canal being very fhort and ftraight, it is not a little curious to obferve it when attempting to devour an eel, which will repeatedly pafs through it alive, , the bird when difturbed immediately after {wallowing will take wing, the eel ftill ftruggling for releafe, frequently falls from the bird during its flight, on which the Heron alights and attacks it again; one eel has been noticed to have paffed through inthis way fix times: on the failure of fifh, it devours frogs, mice, water-newts, and the roots of aquatic plants,
alfo the flowers of the Sparganium, or Bur Reed.
Anciently they were held in great eftimation as food, and formed one of the moft favourite difhes at the tables of our
nobles, it was then valued at the fame rate as the peacock
or pheafant.
ARDEA.STELLARIS. BITTERN.
ad Sah Generic Cuoaracrer. See Ardea Major.
SYNONYMS.
ARDEA STELLARIS. Lin. Syff. 1. DP. 239. 216 Bittern. Br. Zool. 2. 174. Ib. fol. 711. tab. A. 1. Ind. Orn. 2. p. 680. 18. Lath. Syn. 5. p. 57. 17. Lb. fupl. ps 234. Mont. Orn. Dit?. Vol. 1. Bewick's Br. Birds, Pt. 2. p. 57. reece | Tu E Birrern is in length about thirty inches, in breadth nearly four feet, and it weighs from two pounds twelve ounces to three pounds. Bill flattened on the fides the whole length, it is very {trong and fharp, the upper mandible curves towards the point; gape extending beyond the eyes ; irides yellow ; ‘ feathers on the hind-head, neck, and breaft, long
33
and loofe ;” tail fhort, compofed of twelve feathers; legs and claws very ftrong, the hind claw being nearly two inches long, the centre one is ferrated three fourths of its length on
the inner fide.
The female is fomewhat lefs, and the colours are not fo bright, neither are the feathers on the neck and breaft fo long or loofe as in the male.
The
The Bittern, though not numerous, is difperfed throagh the whole of this country, its habits are very folitary, feldom ‘more than a pair frequent our moft extenfive marfhes ; this may in fome degree be occafioned by the great quantity of food it confumes; in one diffected in the courfe of the prefent year, the inteftines were completely full, containing the remains of four eels, feveral water-newts, a fhort-tailed field moufe, three frogs, two buds of the water-lily, and fome other vegetable fubftances. It feems particularly attached to its nefting-place, and will return many years in fucceflion to
the fame place to breed.
This fpecies builds in low {wampy places, where there “is plenty of fhelter, fuch as high grafs, rufhes, and other rank herbage; the neft is compofed of a large quantity of long coarfe green vegetables, and is lined with dry fedge and leaves; it lays four or five greenith olive-coloured eggs ; the young are at firft covered with thick matted down, and are affiduoufly attended to till able to provide for. themfelves by their parents, who alternately keep guard over the neft or go in purfuit of the flippery inhabitants of the ftagnant pool, which are the principal food of the young ones ; at this time the whole attention of the old birds feems devoted to feed and protect them; fhould the neft be agstacked by birds of prey, they make defperate refiftance, flying up at their affailant, and then throwing themfelves on their back, oppofe the enemy with their formidable bills and claws, and feldom fail of driving their opponent from the neft: when full grown, they feed on eels, fmall fifh, frogs, mice, moles, the fmaller {pecies of reptiles; and on the failure of thefe, they greedily devour the
roots
roots ‘and feeds-of aquatic plants. While they have young they feem quite devoid of fear, the fportfman nor his dog are not able to make them quit their charge, «* but if wounded, eye them with keen undaunted looks,’ and when clofely preffed, defend themfelves with the greateft vigour to the laft extremity, often infliGing fevere wounds with their bill; they
aim particularly at the eyes, and if approached fufficiently - near without their being too much difabled, frequently make the conqueft dearly purchafed.
As the whole of this tribe make the eye the principal object of aim when wounded, the following melancholy circumftance may ferve to put perfons on their guard, while engaged in the purfuit of any of this genus: in the month of January 1811, a farmer’s man, on going to work in the farm-yard, through which ran a {mall fiream, obferved a common Heron flanding on the fide of the water-courfe, furprifed at the unufual tame- _nefs of the bird, which did not attempt to fly at his approach, and, not thinking of the caufe that detained it, (there having been a very fevere froft that morning) he threw-a large ftick at it, which {truck the legs immediately above the ice and broke them fhort off: overjoyed at his eafy conqueft, he haftened to take pofleflion of his prize, the bird on his near approach drew back its head, and when the man ftooped to take it up, darted its bill quite through the eye, which it completely deftroyed ; the man lingered in the moft excruciating torture but a few
days, and fell a victim to his own imprudence.
In the fpring the Bittern may be difcovered by its note at a great diftance, which it has erroneoufly been fuppofed to make
by
by thrufting its bill into the cavity of a dry reed and blowing therein ; the noife is however made when it is in an ere pofition, and feems to be caufed by the bird’s blowing hard | through its bill, which at that time is nearly clofed ; it is very ioud and not much unlike the noife occafioned by beating on the head of an empty cafk: Goldfmith happily defcribes the haunts and noife of this bird, in his admirable poem, «¢ The Deferted Village :” wring
Along thy glades a folitary guett,
The hollow-founding Bittern guards its neft.
During the breeding feafon, the male bird is faid to afcend fpirally toa great height, when it utters a loud bleating noife ; its notes or calls have been long noticed, and account for fome of its curious provincial names, as Bog-Beater, Bog- Bumper, Mire-Drum, Butter-Bump, Bittour, Bumpy-Crofs, and Bitter-Bum.
Our fpecimen was fhot whilft flying over the river Cam ; the neft was found near the fpot where the bird fell, which
contained four young birds and an addled egg.
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ARDEA GARZETTA. EGRET.
Generic Cuaracter. See Ardea major.
SYNONYMS.
Arpea GarzeTTa. Lin. Syff. 1. p. 237. 13. Ind. Orn. 2. p. 694. 64. Lirtte Eoret. Br. Zool. Appx. tab.7. Lath. Syn. 5. p. 90. 59. Mont. Orn. Dié?. Vol. a. Bewick's Br. Birds, Pt. & p.ib§- ec —— Ta E weight of this fpecies is faid to be about one pound ; its length rather exceeds fixteen, and from the crown of the head to the toes it meafures nearly twenty-two inches; bill fharp ; irides yellow; lore dull green; feathers on the hind part of the head and neck long and flowing, forming a creft ; thofe on the breaft and fhoulders are of a loofe texture, the latter extend beyond the tail; legs and claws {trong in propor-— tion to the fize of the bird, the centre claw is finely ferrated on the inner edge, As this bird muft be confidered as loft to this country, we can only give the defcription of it; with its hiftory we have no acquaintance ; it is faid to build in trees in the manner of the
common heron, and to live on the fame kinds of food.
The Egret is not uncommon in many parts of the European continent, it is alfo met -with in the iflands of Sicily, from
whence
whence its feathers are exported as an article of ornament for the head-dreffes of the Perfians, Turks, and European ladies; if this is the {pecies named in the bill of fare of the famous feaft of Archbifhop Nevil, we may conclude that at that time they were as numerous as larks are at this, there being no fewer than one thoufand in the lift; it is now very rare, only one inftance is mentioned of its being killed in this
country in modern times, ‘‘ and that in the ifle of Anglefea.”
Our plate was taken from a very fine {pecimen in the col- _leGion of Mr. Butiock ; but our draftfman not having-the figure of the common heron with him to regulate the fize
of the drawing, the figure is obvioufly too large and out of proportion with that bird. ngs
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SCOLOPAX ARQUATA. COMMON ; CURLEV.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Bill long, curved.
Noftrils linear.
Tongue fhort, pointed.
Toes conneéted to the firft joint by a ftrong membrane.
SYNONYMS.
Scoropax ArqguatTa. Lin, Syf. 1. p. 242.
Common Cur.tew. Br. Zool. 2. 176. tab. 63. Lath, Syn. 5. p. 119. Bewick's Br. Birds, Pi. 2. p. 63. Mont. Orn. Did,
Tu IS bird varies much in fize, having been found to weigh from twenty to thirty ounces and upwards ; ufual length about two feet ; bill from fix to feven inches long, regularly curved, in fubftance tender, ‘flexible at the point, which terminates abruptly; legs long, and bare of feathers ta half-way up the thigh; toes thick, flat on the under fide, each fide of the claws is furnifhed with a narrow membrancous
edging, Colours of the female rather paler than in the male.
The Curtew isa very common bird, viliting our coafts by thoufands in the cold months, in the {pring it retires to the
extenfive
extenfive moors and lakes in the Northern parts of the king. dom to breed. The female does not make any nett, but lays her eggs (four in number) on a tuft of rufhes or dry grafs ; they are of a pale greenifh olive colour, marked with brown fpots, moft numerous at the large end. The young ones begin to ufe their legs as foon as hatched, but do not Ry till after their firft moulting.
There is confiderable aoc of opinion in regard to the quality of the fleth of this bird, fome authors affert it to be of exquifite flavour, others quite the reverfe; this may be accounted for, by the different kinds of food the bird lives on’; thofe taken inland are of a very fine flavour, whilft thofe
on the fea fhore are rank and fifhy.
In the Ifland of Jerfey, it is a ufual diverfion to fhoot thefe birds by moon-light on the fands, their time of feeding being principally at night; it is not a little remarkable, that the birds taken on that coaft, have not the fame offenfive tafte as
thofe which are found on our fhores.
Pub ty 6. Graves, Walworth, Wov.116n,
SCOLOPAX RUSTICOLA.
WOODCOCK.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Bill ftraight, long, and flender, the upper mandible ex- tending fomewhat beyond the lower.
Noftrils linear, placed in a furrow.
Tongue pointed.
Toes in fome fpecies divided to their bafe, in others — they are conneéted nearly as far as the firft joint.
Hind toe fmall.
SYNONYMS.
Scotopax rusticota. Lin. Sy. 1. p. 249.6. Ind, | Ori. 2. DP. 713. 10. Wooncock. Br. Zool. 2. 178. tab. 65. Ib. fol. 119. Lath, Syn 5. p. 129. 1. Mont. Ora. Di. Vol, 2. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 2. p. 68. |
air Wooncock is about fifteen inches in length, twenty. -feven in breadth, and weighs from twelve to fixteen ounces ; bill three inches long, the upper mandible furrowed nearly its whole length, terminating in a {mall knob ; eyes large, fituated near the top of the head; legs fhort; tail formed of twelve feathers, the two centre ones rather the
longeft. The colours of the female are generally duller.
This
This {pecies varies much in colour and fize; our figure reprefents the ufual colour, but, they are found much deeper, as well as paler coloured, and fometimes quite white; it ge- nerally appears in this country the latter end of September or beginning of O&ober, but is not ufually met with in abundance till towards the end of November ; we noticed three expofed for fale in Leadenhall-Market during the firft week of the prefent month, Odober.
The Woodcock but rarely breeds with us, though now and then fuch an inftance occurs. Mr. Buiiocx has .in his col-. lection.a young one taken in Suffolk ; there were two birds in the neft, but one efcaped; the young are covered. with a thick down or fur, which round the neck is very long and pendant ; at firft fight the young bird has much the appear- ance of a Bittern in minature, as its bill is long in proportion to its fize. “The Woodcock lays four eges of a grey colour, marked with afh coloured.and brown. fpots; thofe we haye, examined from the fame neft are, Very different in their markings, in fees the fpots are fo confluent, that they fliould rather be faid to be blotched with dufky white ; the neft is ufually placed in a thick coppice, immediately op- pofite fome little break, its form and texture is very loofe, it is compofed of dry grafs and fibres, with a few decayed leaves placed at the bottom; the young run as foon as ex- cluded, but the parents continue their attention till they are
quite able to provide for themfelves.
On its firft arrival, this bird remains on the coaft for a day or two to recruit its ftrength, and then returns to its favourite haunts of the preceding year ; when firft roufed its flight is
fome-
fomewhat heavy, but on being again difturbed. it flies with great rapidity to a fhort diftance, making conftantly for the firft break, where it drops, and thenruns. Owing to the fimilarity of colour, this bird ‘is not readily difcovered ‘among the dead leaves and fern at the fall of the year; in very fevere weather, when moft of the little pools are frozen, it becomes much tamer than at other times; at this feafon it frequently quits the interior of the country, and retires to the woody traéts in the weft of England; its food is principally worms and fmall aquatic infects, for the fearch of which its bill is moft admirably adapted, the knob at the tip being fur- nifhed with a number of very minute glands fufceptible of the
fineft feeling.
The flefh of the Woodcock being highly efteemed, it is fought after by the fportfman with the moft perfevering induftry ; they begin to leave this country about,the latter end of March, and from that time till the middle of April, they approach the coafts, and wait the firft fair wind to quit their winter refi- dences; this fpecies is widely difperfed through the whole
‘European continent. They are faid to breed in the woods and forefts of the northern provinces; at the decline of the year they difperfe themfelves over the other parts of Europe ; their migrations are ufually performed during the night, in fmall flocks of from four to fix, moft probably confifting of the parent birds and brood. }
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SCOLOPAX GALLINAGO.
COMMON SNIPE.
Generic Cuaracter. See Scolopax rufticola, ; oe |
SYNONYMS,
Scoropax Gaxriinaco. Lin. Syf. 1. p. 244. 7. Ind. OT eps Fn Ox
Snipe. Br. Zool, 2. 187. tab. 68. Lb. fol. 121. Ara. Zool. 2. 366. Lath. Syn. 5. p. 134- 6. Mont. Orn. Did. Vol. 2. Bewick's Br. Birds, Pt. 2. p. 75.
“Pats well-known fpecies weighs about four ounces, is twelve inches in length, and fixteen in breadth, Bill three inches long, flattened at the bafe, tip rough ; eyes hazel 5 tail compofed of fourteen feathers ; legs flender, varying in colour in different fubje&ts, fome being of a light green, and others of a dark flate colour ; toes long and delicately flender.
The fexes are not difcoverable by their plumage.
The haunts of the Snipe are moft generally in places that are frequently over-flowed with water, or by the fides of running {ftreams, where the ground is fufficiently foft to be. penetrated by its bill; it is a fhy bird, and by no means eafy of approach ; when it conceives itfelf in fecurity, it is conti- nually pacing the ground, at which time its tail is frequently |
moved
moved from fide to fide ; it procures its food, confifting prin- cipally of fmall worms, by thrufting its bill into the moitft ground, the worms being thus difturbed make for the furface,
where they are immediately devoured.
When, alarmed, the Snipe utters a fhrill whiftle, and-rifes with confiderable noife ; it flies with great fwiftnefs, and after having been roufed two or three times it is difficult to get within fhot.
A few of this fpecies breed annually with us, but the bulk of them quit this country. about March or April ; we have never been fo fortunate as to meet with the neft or young, we fhall therefore quote the following account from Mr. Montague: ‘* We have frequently taken the young before they could fly, in the north of England and in Scotland. Near Penryn, in Cornwall, there is a marfh where feveral breed . annually, and where we have have taken their eggs, which are four in number, of an olivaceous colour, blotched and {potted with rufous-brown ; fome with dufky blotches at the
larger end and fome few elfewhere.
«¢ The neft is made of the materials around it, coarfe grafs, and fometimes heath. It is placed on a ftump or dry fpot near a {plafh or fwampy place; the eggs like thofe of the lapwing are placed invariably with their fmaller ends inwards, being much pointed; their weight three drams anda half. In the breeding feafon the Snipe changes its note entirely from that it makes in the winter. “The male will keep on wing for an hour together, mounting like a lark, uttering a fhrill piping
noife,
noife, then defcends with great velocity, making.a bleating found not unlike an old goat, which is repeated alternately round the neft poffefled by the female, efpecially while the is fitting.” i
During fevere weather they will frequently refort to plan- tations of low ever-greens, and will devour the leaves of cabbage or coleworts, and alfo grafs. “The provincial names
are Snite, Mud-Sucker, and Heather-Bleater.
In our plate the engraver has mifpelt the f{pecific name,
which we did not difcover till our impreffion was worked off.
Wt 8 st : . hd EAN.
TRINGA VANELLUS. LAPWING.
eeormet Saas Generic Cuaracter. See Tringa pugnax.
SYNONYMS.
Trinca Vanetuus. Lin. Sy. 1. p. 248. 26
Lapwine or Bastarp Prover. Br. Zool. 2. 190. Ib. fol. 122. tab. C.* fig. 1. Lath. Syn. 5. p- 161. 2. Mont. Orn.. Dit. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 1. p. 318.
tae ne
Tar S fpecies is in length about twelve inches, and in breadth near thirty inches, and weighs eight or nine ounces ; bill about an inch long, the upper mandible is quite flat on the upper furface ; feathers on the hind part of the head, from three to four inches long, forming a creft which inclines up- wards at the tip, thefe feathers are remarkably narrow ; irides dark hazel ; legs flender ; hind toe very fmall ; the down on moft parts of the body is quite black. The female differs but flightly from the male, the colours are fomewhat duller, and the creft is fhorter by one-third. In both fexes the feathers on the body are double.
The Lapwing is very common in moft parts of the king- dom, where it readily makes itfelf known by its cry, which much refembles the word pee-wit, and by which name it is moft generally known; it is a fprightly aGtive bird, and is
almoft
almoft continually in motion, fometimes {porting and bafking in the fun in moift fields or heaths, or forming conomued circles in the air. In autumn they affemble in confiderable numbers on marfhy heaths or commons, and feed on earth- worms and infects ; they are of a reftlefs difpofition, and fel- dom ftay long at one place; they will frequently leave the interior of the country, and feek the fea-fhore ; when they have been on the coafts for a week or two, their flefh has a - very unpleafant bitter flavour, at other times they are gene- rally efteemed; their eggs are confidered as a great delicacy,
and in our London markets. fell for three fhillings a dozen.
It does not make a neft, but depofits its eggs (four in num- ber) on a tuft of dry grafs ; the eggs are of a dark olive colour, {potted with black or very dark brown; its attention to its young has often attra@ted obfervation, and it ufes ftratagem (as already noticed in the partridge) to induce any intruder to leave the vicinity of the eggs or young ; when difturbed it rifes but a little above the head of the intruding party, and: continues
fluttering and {creaming in a tone of diftrefs.
The young are at firft covered with a dark down, mixed. with long white hair; they run almoft as foon as. hatched,. following the parents in fearch of food; they do not attain. their full plumage till towards the end of July, nor the ufe of their wings until the fall of the year, which makes them an. eafy prey to the bald buzzard, which may moft generally.
be feen hovering near their place of refort.
RE, OF aX : tt ; = as Shot . eT a =r SSSSSS SERS ae ve itis \ “7 YM
4 zi . ‘ . -~ Est flavin —
Pub. Marchi2h2.by &. Graves, Walworth.
CHARADRIUS PLUVIALIS: GOLDEN PLOVER.
\
aeRO. eee GeNERIC CHARACTER.
Bill ftraight, rather enlarged towards the tip. Noftrils linear. ‘Toes three forward,
SYNONYMS.
CuarapRivus pLuviatis. Lin. Syl. 1.254.9. Ind, | OFi. 2, Pu GAO.waiae 2. GoLpEN or GREEN Puiover. Jr. Zool. 2. 208. tab, 72. 1b. fol. 128. Aré?. Lool. 2. 399- Lath, Syn. §. p. 193-1. Supt. p. 252. Mont. Orn. Did. Vol. 2. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 1. p. 302.
‘Vus {pecies is about eleven inches in length, twenty- three in breadth, and weighs nearly eight ounces. Bill an inch long, fomewhat {wollen near the tip; the bafe of the gape fquare ; irides hazel. ‘The colours of the female are confiderably lighter than thofe of the male; in the {pring both fexes have the lower part of the breaft black, thefe feathers begin to appear in March, and in May attain perfection; the female ufually lays as foon as the black feathers arrive at
maturity.
The GotpENn PLOVER is found in moft parts of the known world; in this country, they frequent extenfive downs, heaths,
and
atid commons, and in winter they are found on the fea-coaft ; they may frequently be feen fkulking along under warm
funny banks, where there is a {mall water-courfe.
It lays four eggs, moftly on the ground, but fometimes on fome heath or fern, they nearly refemble thofe of the lap- wing ; the young run as foon as they are hatched, and are led by the parents to the fides of pools and rivulets in fearch of worms, which conftitute their principal food; they are covered with a dark down for a confiderable time, and do not ufe their wings till towards the clofe of autumn. The parents are very attentive to the young, and practife many artifices to entice intruders from them, much in the fame manner as already defcribed in the Partridge. The brood keep together till the following fpring.
Tts ufual note is a fhrill whiftle, which is often repeated, but when difturbed with its young, it rifes, and will continue
{creaming while on wing.
Our figure was executed for the late W. Curris.
i
Provincial names, Grey Plover, Whiftling Plover, ang ; Greyling. 7
7.
Lue ("led ,
nee: tke
Lecpphe
>? 2s,
Published March 21822. by 6 Graves Walworth.
COLUMBA PALUMBUS.
RIW EG D0 T F.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Bill weak and flender.
Noftrils placed in a foft protuberance that covers the bafe of the bill. |
Tongue entire.
Toes. * divided to their origin.”
SYNONYMS.
CorumsBa Parumsus. Lin. Syf.1.p. 282. 19. Ind.
| Orn. 2. p. 601. 32. W. Curtiss Mf
Rine-Piczon. ' Br. Zool. 1.102. Ib. fal. 89. tab. O.
Ar. Zool. 2. p. 329. tab B. Lath.
Syn, 4. Pp. 635.29. Id, fupt. p. 198.
Rinc-Dove. Mont. Orn. Di. Vol. 1. Bewicks Br. Birds, Pte 1. p. 292.
Sesser SSD a RC TER SET
Tu I'S {pecies is about eighteen inches in length, in breadth twenty-nine, and its ufual weight is nearly twenty ounces. Bill very foft; irides yellow; legs feathered below the knee ;
the female is rather lefs, but correfponds in colour with the male.
The Wood-Pigeon (as it is ufually called) begins its neft early in the {pring ; it is loofely formed of fmall fticks, and is of fuch a flimfy texture, that the eggs may generally be feen
through
through it; it lays only two eggs, which are white, of an exact oval form, and conftantly produce a male and female; ,
the young are attended to by the parents till able to provide for themfelves.
Thefe birds are very injurious to the farmer, as they devour an amazing quantity of feed and pulfe ; of the latter they are fo particularly fond, that a common mode of taking them is by fteeping a quantity of tares in fome intoxicating mixture, which they greedily devour, and foon become ftupified ; in this {tate great numbers are frequently caught for the fupply of our markets. ‘They alfo feed on beech-maft, acorns, ivy-
berries, the leaves of turnips, and clover.
Ring-Doves are common in moft parts of this country, in winter they affociate in very large flocks ; they are generally fuppofed to migrate, but as we meet with them at all feafons of the year; it is very doubtful whether they make more. than partial migrations from one part of this country to the other. During winter they refort to woods, and rooft on the higheft trees. Frequent endeavours have been made to domeftticate
this {pecies, but without effect. Our figure was executed for the late W. Curris. |
Its provincial “names are Wood-Pigeon, Wood-Cover, Wood-Cufhet, Cufhat, Queft, and Culver. :
Mts OSC tb
Lub. by C. Graves, Walworth. L Feb, Zé.
,
tld
|
HAMATOPUS OSTRALEGUS. PAL D 140 LSPA R ACA CG EPER, a I ees aac CHARACTER.
Bill long, compreffed, channelled.
Noftrils linear.
Tongue triangular, one-third the length of the bill. Toes three, the outer conneéted to the middle one as
far as the firft joint, by a membrane, which com- pletely edges the Gs
Gaile ker.
Hamatorus Ostrarecus. Lin, Sy. 1. p. 257. Sea Pre or Prep Oyster-Catcuer. Br. Zool. 2. 2. 21g. tab. 74, Lath. Syt. 5: Pp. 219. tab. bat Mont. Orn. Didi. : Ovster-Catcurr. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 2. p. 23.
| ++ ~ ita Se Ske E Oyster-Carcuer is in length feventeen inches, breadth two feet fix inches, it weighs from fixteen to twenty- two ounces ; bill ftraight, about three inches long, channelled the whole length, point obtufe; thighs bare of feathers to midway above the knees; the toes have a narrow membraneous edging, which is finely ferrated, and continues rather more
than half an inch up the inner fide of the legs.
Lhe principal food of this bird is oyfters and limpets, which ‘it readily detaches from the rocks with its bill; it will wait by the fide of an oyfter for a long time, watching its opening, » and the inftant the fhells are obferved to feparate, it thrufts in
its
its bill, and makes a meal of the contents: the young ores are eafily tamed, and may be brought up with domeftic poultry ; they are very ufeful in a garden, as they deftroy all kinds of worms, flugs, caterpillars, and fnails, the fhell of the latter they perforate at one ftroke with their bill, and extra&t the animal inaninftant. ‘Their flefh ts exceedingly rank and offenfive to the {mell, it is covered with a thick coat of fat immediately under the fkin; they are very common in our London markets; we prefume they are brought there more as articles of curlofity than food, the flefh being fo remarkably rancid and bitter, we conceive it hardly poffible that any thing fhort of neccffity
could induce any one to eat it.
Thefe birds are conftant inhabitants of the fea-fhore, in the winter they may be feen in fmall flocks, and are then very fhy, they are feldom obferved in pairs except in the breeding feafon ; the female lays four or five eggs of a greenifh colour, {potted with black, in an open dry fituation, generally behind a tuft or ftone, fomewhat above high-water mark; fhe leaves the eggs entirely during the day, but is careful to fit on them clofely at night ; the young run about almoft as foon as hatched.
They prefer wading in fhallow places out of the ftream, but. fhould they be overtaken by the current and get into deep water, they do not attempt to {wim, but will float therein for a confiderable time, amufing themfelves during their voyage, by feeding on any kind of fea-weed that may come within their reach. Like mott pied birds, they are not conftantly marked alike, in fome the wings are nearly white, in others black, and in one inftance, we have feen the hind with fearcely
a white feather about it.
Le, agita f Gills :
p 4
aie 4
€
5 bMalworth, Z, Sent S822.
Pub, by GC, Grave:
RALLUS AQUATICUS. WATER RAIL.
scot NIECES Generic CHARACTER.
Bill rather long, flender, flightly compreffed and incur- vated, |
Noftrils fmall, pervious.
‘Tongue rough at the tip.
Toes long, three forward, one backward, divided to their bafe.
Tail fhort.
SYNONYMS.
Rattus aguvaticus., Lin. Syh 1.p. 262.2. Ind. Orn. 2. PP. 755. 1- ‘Water Rait, Brirtocx, Broox-Ovuzer. Br. Zool. | 2. 214. 1ab. 75. Ib. fol. 130. tab. E. E. Lath. Syn. 5. p.227. 1. Mont. Orn. Did. vol, 2. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 2. p- 28.
Ta 1S fpecies weighs about four ounces and a half, is twelve inches in length, and fixteen in breadth. Bill {lender ; irides reddith ; toes long, flender, and divided to their origin ; tail hort, compofed of twelve feathers. The general colours of both fexes are alike ; the bill in the male is near one third
longer, and is of a redder caft than that of the female.
The Ratt is pretty generally difperfed through this coun- try, particularly in low wet fituations near water courfes, and
in:
in the vicinity of fmall running flreams that are overgrown: with grafs or fedge; where it feeks both food and ihelter; it. runs with fpeed through the thickeft grafs, ‘or on the foft
a
~ilimy mud on the margins of ponds, which eafily fuitain its weight owing to the extent of furface occupied by its toes 5. in fhallow water it wades without {wimming ;. it fwims and. dives with confiderable dexterity , is but rarely roufed to take: wing, as it depends on its legs for efeape from danger ; when: on wing it fies with very great exertion, and only to a thort: diftance, with its lees hanging down, and is then an eafy. mark. for the fportfman; when. running it is continually:
flirting up its tail.
This bird builds among the thickeft tufts of reeds or ruthes 3. the neft is compofed of coarfe grafs, fedge, reeds, and decayed willow leaves, thickly put together; it lays five or fix eggs. ‘© of a fpotlefs white, very fmooth, rather larger than thofe of a blackbird; the fhape is a fhortoval, with both ends nearly alike ;” the young ones begin to provide for themfelves almoft as foon a$ hatched, quitting the parents arid neft in a few hours ;. their principal food is flugs, worms, infects, and {mall fith ; when full grown on the failure of animal, they take vegetable food, fuch as the roots and feeds of aquatic plants ; in the winter feafon.they will fometimes venture upon cultivated land,. particulary turnip fields. It has been confidered a migrative fpecies, but we doubt whether it makes more than partial migrations in fearch of food; we had’ one fent to us at Chriftinas, which had a fhell near an inch and a quarter: loog in its ftomach, from which circumftance we conceive it propable this fpecies reforts to the fea-fhore during fevere.
weather,
i es a)
ty ved mp Pinte =
BeUslnlhGaAd »AT RA.
COMMON COOT.
ara oe EE eas
GreneRic CHARACTER.
Bill fhort, ftrong, the upper mandible having at its bafe a calloffity, which extends up the forehead.
Noftrils pervious, long, narrow.
Toes furrounded by broad f{calloped membranes, which are entire at the edges.
Tail very fhort.
SYNONYMS.
Furica atra. Lin. Sy. 1. p.257.2. Ind. Orn. 2. p- 77> 1 _ Common Coot. Br. Zool. 2. 220. tab. 77. Ib. fol. : . 132. tab. F. Lath. Syn. 5. p. 275. 1. Lb. fupt. p. 259. 1. tab. Ad. and B. Mont. Orn. Diti. vol. 1. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 2. p.127.
ar re AL RTC
Ce IS fpecies is in length eighteeninches, in breadth near two feet, and weighs from two pounds to two pounds and a half ; bill ftrong, the calloffity at its bafe has much the appear- ance of wax, the colour of this part varies with the feafon, in the fpring it is of a pale blufh or rofe colour, but as the
-feafon advances it declines in colour, and is in winter nearly white ; irides hazel ; legs placed far behind; membranes furrounding the toes very tough, and beautifully veined; in birds
birds of the firft year there is fometimes a band of yellow on
the bare {pace above the knee. Colours alike in both fexes.
The Coot is common throughout this country, frequenting moft of the rivers, lakes, and extenfive pools, where it breeds ; its neft is placed among flags or reeds, with the leaves of which, and other coarfe herbage, it is formed; with thefe ‘is frequently woven the ftem of a living plant, which fe- cures it from being carried away by the current. It lays from five to feven eggs of a dirty white colour, finely fprinkled with red {pots, which towards the large end become conflu- ent; the young when firft hatched are of a thapelefs appear- ance; they foon begin to provide for themfelves, but do not quit the parent birds till the approach of winter, often feeking the fhelter and warmth of their wings; the young are frequently caught up by the nioor buzzard and kite, and
numbers alfo fall an eafy prey to the pike and water-rat.
This bird is an expert fwimmer; but makes a very awk- ward figure on land, as it walks with difficulty and not without repeatedly falling, owing to the legs being placed fo far behind; it is not .eafily roufed to take wing, and when it is, flies only a fhort diftance ; if it attempts to fly over land it féems
overcome by fear, and its greateft exertions can {carcely keep it from the ground ; when alarmed it will often almoft bury itfelf in the mud rather than quit its retreat ; in the dufk of evening it may be obferved fkulking along the banks or margins of ponds in fearch of food, which confifts of worms, flugs, {mall
fifh, and the roots of aquatic vegetables.
In the winter they ‘are fometimes brought to our markets, where their appearance is very tempting, owing to the deli-
cate
cate colour of the fkin, which is whiter than moft kinds of poultry, but their flefh has generally a difagreeable fithy
flavour.
From the number of thefé birds that refort to the falt-water inlets on our coafts during winter, it is moft probable that many leave us on the approach of {pring and retire northward to breed ; but that they do not all leave this country is certain, as in moft places to which they refort fome may be feen at
)
all feafons of the year.
+ “i
7 C : * oly 11S PPAPLORD
' Z,
Lub, by C. Graves, Walworth, Lf, Aug. SEL?
COLYMBUS MINOR, LITTLE GREBE.
Generic Cuaracter. See Colymbus criftatus,
SYNONYMS.
Cortymsus Minor. Lim. Syff. 1. p. 591. 20. Popicers Minor. Ind. Orn. 2. p. 784. Q- Litrte Grese. Br. Zool. 2.226. Ib. fol. 194. tab. F. Lath. Syn. 5. p. 289. 10. - Mont. Orn, Dit. vol. 1. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 2. p. 144- |
oo Te EE
‘Tats fpecies is in length about ten inches, in breadth nearly fixteen inches, and weighs fix or feven ounces; bill flender ; irides reddifh; toes fringed with a beautiful femi- tranfparent edging. Colours nearly alike in both fexes, vary-
ing flightly according to age.
The Dabchick or Dobckick is the leaft fpecies, though the moft plentiful in this country, being met with in moit {treams and ponds, particularly fuch as are fedgy; its mo- tions are lively and active, and with care it may be rendered fo _ tame, as to fuffer a perfon accuftomed to feed it, to approach | clofe to and even to take it out of the water ; this, however, is but rare, as it generally is confidered a fhy bird. Its actions in and on the water are particularly graceful; it may fre- guently be feen running on the furface for a confiderable
diftanee
diftance, flapping its wings and chattering, then on a fudden diving and reappearing at the fpot from whence it took its departure; we believe it is almoft invariably the practice of this bird, that, when it dives, it does not, as is common with the duck tribe, continue its way forward, but returns, and"by this mode is énabled to elude its purfuers, ‘who looking for its appearance at a confiderable diftance forward, moft generally lofe the objec of their purfuit ; when alarmed, it dives to the firft tuft of grafs or rufhes, and will remain with only its bill above water for a great length of time ; its fight is very keen, and a perfon withing to fhoot one muft always follow it, for if he fhould be before, the bird will dive the
inftant it perceives the flafh from the gun.
The neft is formed of fo great a quantity of grafs, flags, and other vegetables, that Pennant fuppofed that it fermented, and gave warmth to the eggs; it is woven. together with the leaves and part of the ftem of fome tall aquatic plant, which are bent down to the furface of the water ; and by this method ‘the neft is not. liable to injury from any fudden rife of the water, and is generally fecure from being carried away by the current. [he Dabchick lays five or fix whitith eggs, which are frequently flained by fome of the vegetables with.which oaey are covered; the female does not fit immediately on the eggs, as there ufually is a quantity of rufhes laid over them, that prevents the eggs from being expofed, fhould any fudden accident call the bird off. ‘* They are very frequently de- voured while diving in purfuit of {mall fifh, by pike and trout ;”’
the eggs alfo frequently ato a meal t to the water-rat.
The principal food ae this bird is {mall fifh, aquatic infects, and worms ; in the winter it will live on the roots of fuch
plants
é
plants as grow by the margins of ftreams ; during the breeding feafon, the male bird may frequently be heard to utter a fhrill chatter, the ufual note at other feafons is a whiftle quickly
repeated.
In the autumn they quit their inland retreats, and but few, and thofe late-hatched birds, are to be met with from the middle of Auguft to the end of September, after which they return to their ufual haunts; they are faid at that feafon to frequent the fea-fhores, and to feed on fhrimps. Of this we have no doubt, that, if at that feafon they frequent the fhores of the fea, it is to aflift in deftroying the myriads of marine infects or {mall fhell-fith, brought into life by the heat of fummer, and which, but for their timely aid, in conjunction with other {pecies, impelled by the fame inftin&, might tend to deftroy the due equilibrium between the aqueous and terrene part of animated nature; fuch are the wife precautions obferved by an unerring providence, to prevent an injurious increafe in any of its parts, to the injury or deftrudtion of the
beautiful order of the whole.
This fpecies is. fuppofed to be very long lived, as one pair have been known to refort to the fame fpot for more than twenty years, where they regularly breed ; they feem not to be very eafily made to quit their haunts, as when their nefts have been deftroyed, they have returned time after time to rebuild them ; they neft almoft always on the fame fpot for many years in fucceffion.
Our drawing was made for Witt1am Curtis, who had
a number of thefe birds in a pond, in his late botanic garden, Lambeth Marth.
i. tins “aly a |
mts
ii
Dae re ve ‘ as z ed
ies Sosa ak ti | vl yi
‘ u rite
oe
ai
A tt
ial Dat
Wy
AN NW IK WY i
C
y,
Pub by G. Graves, Walworth, 1, June I817.
be
COLYMBUS TROTLE, FOOLISH GUILLEMOT.
Generic CHARACTER,
Bil flender and fharp-pointed, the upper mandible flightly curving towards the tip, the bafe covered with fhort downy feathers. oftrils linear, placed in a furrow near the bafe.
: N g three before, webbed.
SYNONYMS. °
OLYMBUS cee Lin, Sy, 1. Pp. 220. 2.
Urtia Troite. Lath. Ind, Orn, 2. p. 796. 1.
FooLisH (GuILtemor, Br. Zool. 2.234. Ib. fol. 138. tab, H. 3. Lath. Syn. 6. 2.
. wa aeG. te 1b. Jupl. p. 265.
=z Mont. Orn. Di. Bewick’s
Br, Birds, Pt. 2. p. 161.
‘e IS fpecies weighs about one pound and a half, its length i is near eighteen inches, and its breadth about twenty- feven inches ; bill three inches long, fharp-pointed, the bafe covered with fhort downy feathers; infide of the mouth yel- low ; legs placed very far behind; nails ftrong. Colours alike in both fexes, .
| Thefe birds are very numerous on many parts of our coaft, where they congregate with the razor-bill and puffin ; in their economy they much refemble the latter bird ; they arrive in mild feafons from the middle to the latter end of April, and | fix
fix on their breeding places early in May; ‘their nefts are, compofed of fea-tang, and are placed fo clofe, as frequently, to touch each other ; they are formed on ridges or fhelves the rocks, fometimes near an hundred together; they lay but one large ege, frequently exceeding three inches in lengthy of a greenifh white colour, elegantly marbled with dufky green; the markings and tints are fo various, that fcarcely)
two eggs are to be feem alike.
Pet
During the time of incubation, the male is very attentive fe the female, which but feldom leaves the neft, but is fed by the male with fmall fifth. On their firft arrival, they are V | lean, but foon get into good cafe; they are not eafily difturb or made’ to ‘quit their nefts, but will often permit themfelvel to be taken off the eggs, or knocked on the head without attempting to efcape or refift, which has given them t 4
‘common name of Foolifh Guillemot.
They fwim very deep, owing to their great weight and ft bulk ‘of feathers, thefe are of a filky appearance, gener without webs ; when in the water they are very a¢tive, ai are continually diving. ‘They quit our coaftstowards the of Auguft, and retire northward; a large part of thofe the leave our fhores, do not return to breed ; as the number
coming and leaving do not bear any kind of proportion; thi
_and are then of the fame colour as the parents ;) it is very. vam
that any are feen here after the general departure.
For our {pecimen we are SPE to ieee paails i
Efg. of Parliament. Street,
Se ee
AOLCF UA
(AAT 2b
Pub, by 6. Graves, Wabvorth, 2 Sandell.
RECURVIROSTRA AVOCETTA. AVOCET. |
Generic CHARACTER,
Bill long, flender, tapering to the point, curving upwards. Noftrils narrow, pervious,
Tongue fhort, entire.
Legs long.
Feet palmated to near the extremity of the toes, Back-Toe fmall.
SYNONYMS.
Recurvirostra Avocetta. Lin. Sy. 156. ed. 1.
scoopine Avocet. br, Zool. 2. p. 228. tab. 80. Lath, Sy#, 5. 293. Mont. Orn. Did.
- Avocet, Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 2. p. 147-
Tin 5, the only fpecies of Avocer found in this country, is in length nearly eighteen inches, to the extremity of the toes twenty-two inches, and from tip to tip of the wings thirty,’ weighs twelve to fourteen ounces, bill three inches and a half in length, of a very curious form, “looking” as Bewick aptly obferves ‘not unlike flexible pieces of flat whalebone, curved upwards to the tip ;” thighs bare half-way up. Toes three before, connected by a very ftrong membrane, which is flightly ferrated at the edges, and deeply indented in the centre ; hind toe very fhort.
This bird inhabits the fea fhores of Southern Europe, breeds in moft of our fenny counties ; may frequently be obferved in
the
the dinter in {mall flocks, at the mouths of rivers, in fearcts of worms and marine infects, which they fcoop out of the © mud or fand, at the fame time making a noife with their bills fimilar to that made by ducks, when engaged in the fame purfuit. Latham informs us, ‘‘ they lay two eggs, the fize of thofe of a pigeon, of a cinerous grey, fingularly marked with deep brownith dark patches, of irregular fizes and fhapes,
befides fome under markings of a dufky hue.”
They are very tenacious of their young, will counterfeit lamenefs, and exert themfelves to the utmoft, in endeavouring to divert the attention of an intruder from their neft; when a flock is difturbed, they immediately take wing, ‘‘ {tretching out their necks and extending their legs behind,” and continue ta flutter about the {pectator, in a manner fimilar to the Lap-
wing, uttering at the fame time a yelping cry of twit, twit.
‘Their motions are lively and aétive, feldom remaining for any length of time in the fame {pot : though web-footed they feldom go beyond wading depth; fhould they get into deep water, they feem to make no exertion to {wim, but float for miles without any appearance of fatigue, and reach the fhore
merely by the force of the current,
pi HR TAY a
tub, by C. Graves, Walworth, Ll. April, 162i,
or bc iar ia ae a ig a ge
BOOS UCN,
Generic Cuaractier. See Alca impennis.
SYNONYMS.
ALCOA LAR GITCG As.) Lt Outs ts fi bla A,
Purrin. Br. Zool. 2.2932. Ib. fol. 135. tab. H. Lath. Sya. 5. p. 314. 3. Mont. Orn. Didi. Bewick's SEEDS, Eb, 2p hi Se
er se ce SEE eS merece
Van S fpecies weighs from twelve to fourteen ounces, and is in length about thirteen inches, and in breadth about twenty inches. The bill is of a triangular form with flattened furrowed fides; it meafures at the bafe, from the top of the upper mandible to the underfide of the lower, about one inch and three quarters, and from the bafe to the tip an inch and a half; the bafe of the bill is encafed in a kind of fheath, which is elevated, and has an infinite number of {mall punc- tures on all its parts, which gives it the roughnefs of a file ; the noftrils are placed near the edges of the upper mandible, commencing at the fheath, and extending to the firft furrow ; the furrows vary in number from three to five, in the one from which our defcription was taken, there were but three, the ufual number is four in the upper, and three on the lower
mandible ;
mandible ; the {kin at the corners of the mouth i is shard, and is of a fimilar fubftance to the fheath, it is quite bare of feathers, and forms when the bill is clofed a fmall ftar ; eyes {mall, furrounded by irregular warty protuberances, which above and below the eyes are hard as bone ; tail fhort, it confifts of fixteen feathers ; legs feathered to the knees, the legs (as is common to the genus) are placed fo far behind, that the bird cannot walk without great difficulty and repeatedly falling ; claws ftrong, the infide and outfide ones are much curved, and incline inwards, the middle ones are the longeft but lefs curved, and incline outwards. Colours difpofed alike in both fexes; the bill in the female is about one-third fmaller than that of the male, the colours of the bill vary according to age :
the young for the firft year have but very flight furrows.
The Puffin appears on our coafts fome time in April, but as it is not able to contend with ftorms, its time of arriving is not certain, numbers have frequently been found dead on the fhore after a ftorm ; at its arrival it is generally lean, but in a week or two it becomes very fat; it is met with on all the rocky parts of our coaft ; immediately on its arrival it begins to feek for a proper place to depofit its egg in fecurity ; fhould
he furrounding country be of a light foil, it burrows in the earth to the depth of from fix to eight feet ; it will frequently difpoflefs a rabbit of its burrow to fave itfelf the labour of forming one, its egg is white and is about the fize of thofe of the hen.
Thefe birds leave this country towards the end of Auguft, and though they fhew during the time of rearing their young, a remarkably ftrong attachment to them, they leave all thofe that are not fuficiently ftrong to undertake the journey,
without
without means of procuring proper fuftenance. When the day arrives for them to depart, they aflemble in immenfe numbers on the rocks, from which they are fuppofed to fly for a confider- able diftance, and then to complete their migration on the water ; they ufually fly very near the furface, and are fre- quently obferved to dip their wings in the water, which feems
to {trengthen them in their flight.
Their food principally confifts of fprats and other fmall fifth, and fea-weed; they retain the food intended for the young, till it is partly digefted, and then difgorge it into their mouths ; their bite is very fevere, they take fuch fecure hold, that the moft common way of taking them is by introducing a {tick into their mouths, which they eagerly feize, and will fuffer themfelves to be drawn out with it rather than quit their hold.
The tafk of incubation is performed by both fexes, relieving each other at intervals; as foon as the young one is hatched, the ftrength and courage of the parents feem renewed ; they then bite fo ferocioufly, that few animals will venture to attack them, the cormorant fometimes attempts to feize them, but it meets fuch qa rough reception, that it moftly is forced to quit its prey with the lofs of any part the Puffin may have laid hold on; the young are taken in very confiderable numbers in the ifles of Preifholm and Calf of Man, where they are pickled, and are held in efteem by fome perfons as an
article of food.
On the coaft of Pembrokefhire is a rock to which thefe birds repair in fuch amazing numbers, that it is almoft im- poflible to fet foot on it without treading on them, and when
difturbed,
difturbed, they rife in fuch numbers as to darken the air ; it is called the Heleghoak Stack. Almoft every place to which this bird reforts, has a name peculiar to itfelf; the following are the moft common, Mullet, Heleghoak, Lunda Bouger, Willock, Coulterneb, Knifebill, Gulderhead, Pope, Sea or Welch Parrot, Bottlenofe, and Puffin.
It is not known to what parts thefe birds retire after quit- ting this country, but we prefume by their leaving fo fuddenly, they follow the track of fome fpecies of fifh, which forms a large fhare of their common food, and which leaves our coats at the fame time ; with this fpecies we alfo lofe the Razor- _ bill and Guillimot, whofe habits and food being nearly alike,
are induced perhaps for the fame reafons to leave our fhores.
Since the above account was fent to the prefs, our friend Mr. Buttock has received a firft-year bird, which was found dead on the fhore, near Truro in Cornwall, the latter end of laft month (February 1811) which is near two months earlier than they ufually arrive. Small parties arrive at the different parts to which thefe birds refort, about two or three weeks before the main body make their appearance:; they ftay but a few days, and then leave us, as if they came to fee whether their old breeding-places were in good condi-
tion; thefe parties ufually confift of old birds,
Pub. hy G Graves, Walwort:, 1, Marc, 2811.
‘
eA RU SicCA NUS LF
COMMON GULL.
GENERIC Cuaracrer. See Larus marinus..: -
SYNONYMS.
Larus Canus. Lin, Syf. 1. p. 224. 9. Common Guut, By. Zool. 2. 249, tab. 8g. fol. 2. Lath.
Syn. 6. p. 378. 8. Mont. Orn. Dit. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 2. p. 197-
4 : i
“Lars fpecies is in Jength about feventeen inches, in breadth about three feet, and weighs near fixteen ounces. We feel confiderable difficulty in giving the {pecific characters of this genus; the diftinguifhing marks are fcarcely to be defcribed, as they confift of fuch trifling minutia, that it is only on the aggregate the fpecies can be fixed. ‘The different plumage thefe birds affume at their different periods of age, has occafioned confufion in the works of moft ornithological Writers, in many inftances fpecies have been formed from the fame bird at different ages; the accuracy of our figures we hope will confiderably affift in diftinguifhing the fpecies, as they will be generally coloured from birds of mature
age.
Mr. Montague, to whofe refearches we have fo often referred, has perhaps taken more pains to elucidate this fubject than any other perfon, having kept the different fpecies till they
have
\ have arrived -at maturity, which is feldom in lefs than twe, and often more than three years, and by this means has been able to correct numerous errors that have crept into the
works of moft of the preceding writers.
The prefent {pecies is the moft common of the Gulls on our -coafts, and is to be met with in confiderable numbers on moft parts of our fhores ; they feed on all kinds of animal matter thrown up by the tide, or difcovered floating on the furface of the ocean; filling“up the fame place’on'the flores of the fea, as the carrion crow does in ‘the ‘interior of the land, as no fub- ftance‘is too putrid to afford them a meal; they may be feen in winter affociating with rooks and crows, fearching for worms and infects frequently at a great diftance from the fea ; the whole genus is invariably gluttonous, .frequently taking fo much food as not to be able to fly till they have difgorged part of their repaft, this they readily do upon any. fright; it is not uncommon for them to bring up a large quantity of undigefted
food when flightly wounded.
The neft of the Gull is formed of fea-weed, at the diftance of a few feet from the water, and is moftly placed on a thelving rock; they lay two or three eggs of an olivaceous brown, blotched with red fpots; they are about the fize of -
thofe of a common hen,
This {pecies-is fometimes eaten by’ pérfons refident'on the coaft, and we have heard it defcribed as good food; previous to its being dreffed, it is fkinned and buried in a cloth for
one or two days.
aE pa ee
me
rz: ad
Luh. by G. Graves, Maiworth, L, March TEL.
ANAS NIGRA,
PS OTT eke Ve pea ee
Generte CHaracter, See Anas Cygnus, (ferus);
SYNONYMS.
Anas Nicra. Lin. Sy. iv pr1g6.7s
Scorer or Brack Diver. Br. Zool. 2. 279. lb. fale 253. Lath. Syn. 6. p. 480. 36. Mont. Ora. Difi. Bewick's Br. Birds, Pt. 2. p. 288. go.
‘Vue length of this fpecies is about twenty-one inches, the ‘breadth two feet eight inches, and it weighs about three pounds and a half: bill fhort; iteaes and flattened at the tip, the bafe is furnifhed with a hard protuberance, which projects nearly three-fourths of an inch in height, it is divided in the centré by a deep furrow ; edges of the bill ferrated, the fides of the upper mandible are furrowed near the edges, the furrow is irregular, and has much the appearance of a feam clumfily fewed; the bill is not furnithed with a nail at its extremity, as is common with moft of the genus ; feet large and broad, and placed far behind ; the tail confifts of fixteen fharp-pointed feathers, of which the two middle ones are the longeft. Colour of the female dutky black, intermixed with brown and grey, the bill is formed as in the male, but the protuberance is not fo large, the colour of this knob is fubject to vary ; we have feen it quite red, and
in others green, but this may proceed from difference of age. . - Phe
The Scoter dives with the greateft dexterity, and is ges nerally met with on the fea at a confiderable diftance from fhore, to which it retires only during the breeding feafon, they are at that time found in confiderable numbers off the coait of France, ‘* where they are fold to the Catholics, who eat them on faft-days and in Lent;”’ they are are often taken in the fifhermen‘s nets while diving in queft of food, which chiefly confifts of fmall. fhell-fifh ; in the gizzard of the one our figure was coloured from, we found a quantity of thells re- duced to pieces, alfo fome fmall pieces of glafs ; the flefh was hard, dry, and coarfe, but entirely devoid of any fifhy of
unpleafant tafte.
Of the habits of this fpecies, we have but little know- ledge, as it is of a very fhy difpofition, and inflantly dives at the approach of danger and reappears at a very confiderable diftance ; its flight is heavy and flow ; the:*pofition of its legs (placed fo far behind). muft occafion it to walk. awk- wardly ; we have juft learnt that this bird fometimes breeds in the Calf of Man, near the coaft. of Scotland; of this
we hope fhortly to be able to give further information.
The male of this fpecies is not furnifhed with a labyrinth.
77
8.
Pub. by G. Graves, Walvorth,2, March, 1
ANAS BOSCHAS.
WILD DUCK.
Generic Cuaracrer. See Anas Cygnus, (ferus.)
SYNONYMS:
Anas Boscuas. Lin, Sy, 1. p. 205. 40.
Wiip Duc. Br. Zool. 2. 279. tab. 97. Ib. fol. 175. , Lath. Syn. 6. p. 489. 43. Mont: Orn.
Di, Bewick's Br. Birds, Pt. 2. p. 291.
re ere ESRI
Tu EK Marzarp or Drakz (the male of this {pecies) is in length twenty-three inches, in breadth about three feet, and ~ ‘weighs about two pounds and a half; bill. two inches anda half long, and nearly one inch broad ; irides hazel ; tail formed of twenty pointed feathers, the four middle ones of which
curl up on the back in a beautiful manner,
This elegant fpecies has long been held in great efteem as. an article of food, on which account many different modes have been adopted to enfnare them; the one im general ufe, and which is the moft fuccefsful, is termed a decoy, and is thus defcribed by Pennant in the fecond volume of Britith Zoology, page 594. ‘* The decoy is ufually made where there is a large pond furrounded with wood, and behind it a
" 7 marfhy
marfhy and uncultivated country, where the wild fowl may:
fecurely fleep during the day-time.
<< The decoy confifts of feveral pipes (as they are called) which lead up a narrow ditch, which clofes at laft with a funnel net. Over thefe pipes, which become narrower from the firft entrance, is fixed a continued arch of netting fufpended on hoops. There is ufually a pipe or ditch for almoft every wind that can blow, as the wild fowl are determined by this circumftance which pipe to choofe, and the decoy-man always keeps on the leeward fide of the ducks, to prevent his effluvia from reaching their fagacious hoftrils. Skreens made of reeds are placed.at certain diftances along each pipe in fuch a manner, that it is impoflible for the wild fowl to fee the decoy-man, | before they have pafied towards the end of the pipe where the
net is fixed.
<‘ In the evening when the wild fowl! begin to feed, the decoy rifes, and the noife of fieir wings, in their flight, may be heard at a great diftance. The rifing of the decoy is in Somerfetfhire called rodding. ‘The decoy ducks are fed with hemp-feed, which is rowen in {mall quantities over the fkreens to bring them forward into the pipes, and to allure the wild fowl! to follow. ‘They are fo trained as to lead the way after hearing the whiftle of the decoy-man, and enticed by the hemp-feed, and to dive under water whilft the wild fowl fly on, and are taken in the nets. When they are in fuch a fleepy ftate as not to follow'the decoy-ducks, a {mall dog is made to pafs between the fkreens, which approaching eradually nearer and nearer to the purfe-net, draws the attention of the wild fowl, and makes ‘them advance forward; at length the decoy-man |
appears behind a fkreen, and drives them into the net.
Ps 66 The
_ & Phe general feafon for catching wild fowl in decoys, is from the latter end of Otober to the beginning of February, the legiflature forbids taking them from the iit of June to the 11th of O&tober, under a penalty of five fhillings for every bird deftroyed within that time.
«“‘ The Lincolnthire decoys are commonly let at a certain annual rent, from fifteen to twenty pounds a year ; and there is one in Somerfetfhire that pays thirty pounds. The former contribute principally to fupply the markets in London. Amazing numbers of ducks, widgeons, and teal are taken, by an account of the number caught a few winters paft, in one - feafon ; and in only ten decoys, in the neighbourhood of Wainfleet, it appeared to amount to thirty-one thoufand two hundred, in which are included feveral other fpecies of ducks.” Latham quotes an inftance, where two thoufand fix hundred and forty-fix Mallards were taken in two days near Spalding ; they appeared to be young birds before they were able to fly:
this mode is now prohibited.
As is ufual with moft of this genus, the wild ducks leave this country in the fpring, retiring northward to breed, and return to us at the fall of the year in prodigious numbers, difperfing themfelves over the marfhy waftes in the different parts of this kingdom ; but few remain with us throughout the year, thefe breed in the fens, and their young are not fo fhy as thofe that migrate, and are fuppofed to be the original ftock of our domeftic duck, which has become varied in plumage, as is common with all animals that are domefticated ; they however always retain the curled feathers
on the tail.
The
The variety known by the name of the Rouen Duck, is of the fame fpecies, only of very large growth; we have feen one that weighed upwards of feven pounds, the plumage ‘was nearly like the Mallard, we obferved no other difference, than that the ring round the neck was confiderably larger, and the beautiful chefnut colour on the neck and breaft was mottled with white; this variety retains a large fhare of its wild nature, and often quits its domeftic affociates for its former haunts, where it breeds with the wild ones, and is often
taken with them in the decoys,
eee ee By
Lubh.by G. Graves, Walworth L Febtel.
ANAS TADORNA.
Sat bE LDR A KD.
Generic Cuaracter. See Anas Cygnus, (fers).
, SYNONYMS.
Anas Tapvorna. Lin. Syfl. 1. p. 195. 4- SHieLpRAKE, Br. Zool. 2, 278. Lath. Syn. 6. p. 504s | 51. Mont. Orn. Dif. Bewick's Br. Birds, Pt. 2. p. 306.
/
sis S is rather a larger fpecies than the common mallard ; it is in length about two feet, in breadth three feet fix inches, and weighs. about two pounds and a half; bill three inches long, curving upwards, having’ a {mall protuberance at the bafe, the upper mandible is broad, and grooved at the edges near the tip, the nail in full grown birds curves downward from the tip. The colours in the female are confiderably / duller and generally want that beautiful bronze, fo predomi-
nant on all the dark parts of the male bird.
The SHIELDRAKE is common on many parts of our coafts, in fome places remaining throughout the year; the female makes her neft in a hole or rabbit burrow, and lines it plen- tifully with down from her breaft; fhe lays from twelve to fixteen white eggs, thefe fhe alfo covers with down: during the time of incubation, which is about thirty days, the male bird is particularly afliduous in his attention, keeping a ftrict watch from fome neighbouring eminence; fhould any thing
approach
approach to alarm him, he utters a piercing cry and takes wing; unlefs difturbed, he feldom leaves the vicinity of the neft but when preffed by hunger; when the female leaves to procure food, the male immediately takes her place, and will remain fitting during her abfence ; inftances have been known (where the female has been deftroyed) that the male bird has taken on itfelf the important bufinefs of incubation, and has fucceeded in rearing its offspring.’
Aa
The neft is ufually in the vicinity of falt-water (though they fometimes breed in the fens) to which they lead their young as foon as hatched, frequently conveying them in their bills; fhould any interruption take place during their removal from the neft to the water, the young brood couch down behind the firft tuft or hillock, and the parent birds fly away in different directions, they foon drop, and afford a pleafing fpectacle during the exertion of their wonderful inftinGtive powers, in endeavouring by various artifices to divert the intruder from their neft, much in the fame way as already de- {cribed in the partridge ; when the alarm has fubfided, they return to their offspring, to renew the tender offices of paren-
tal care: the young keep together till after the firft moulting.
Their natural haunts being the fhores of the ocean, they are very reftlefs in confinement ; when dometticated they poffefs fo much of their original fhynefs, that the common mode of detaining them, is by injuring one of their wings; they feed principally on the fmall fry of fith, not fufficiently bold to leave - the fhore, alfo on the fmaller kinds of fhell fith, and fea-weed,
Ge de ;
at
Pub, by G. Graver. Walworth, 1, May L812.
DARA S AC UCT A.
PINTAIL DUCK.
Generic Cuaracter. See Anas Cygnus, (ferus.)
SYNONYMS.
Anas Acura. Lin. Syf. 1. p. 202. 28. Pinrarz. Br. Zool. 2.228. Ib. fol. 156. tab. Q, fig. 8 Fath. Syn. 6. p. 526. 72. Mont. Orn. Dia. Bewick’s Br. Birds, Pt. 2. p. 324.
Vs IS elegant f{pecies weighs about two pounds, it varies in length from twenty-four to thirty-two inches, and in breadth from thirty-four to forty inches; bill flender, about two
inches and a half long, the nail fmall; eyes red; neck long and remarkably flender ; tail confifts of fixteen feathers, the two centre ones extending from three to five inches beyond the others ; feet fmall; hind toes placed on the infide of the legs ; claws fmall; webs very thin, the edges are finely fer- rated. The male is furnifhed with a labyrinth.
Thefe birds do not breed with us, but quit our fhores early in the {pring, and retire northward ; they are found in im- menfe numbers in Hudfon’s Bay, Iceland, and on the coafts - of Ruffia and Siberia, during the fummer feafon ; and they re- appear in this country with the mallard, about the end of
September
September or beginning of October ; they are very frequently — taken in the decoys with other fpecies ; their flefh is of a very fine flavour, and is efteemed by many fuperior to that of the wild duck. |
“The Pintails or Sea Pheafants are not fo fhy as moft others of the genus, they will fuffer any one to approach them without quitting the neighbourhood ;. but when once alarmed, they dive, and will often forfake that part of the coaft for the feafon; on land, their motions are more elegant than thofe of any other fpecies of duck, and when walking they do not waddle as is ufual with moft other fpecies; they ufually appear in this country in fmall flocks, perhaps confifting of the
parent birds and brood.
In fome fpecimens the whole of the under fide is of a cream colour or pale buff, and we have one now before us that has four long feathers in the tail.
‘
(ey aes (emerges)
Eb. by G. Graves, Walworth, July, L812.
ANAS ACUTA (FQEMINA.) FEMALE PIN 2 Ad de.
eee
As the female of this fpecies differs much in colour and fize from the male, we give the accompanying figure. It is not more than half the length of the male, and it weighs about twenty-four ounces ; its form is like, but its neck is confider- ably fhorter than, that of the male; and it has not the two
centre feathers in the tail fo much longer than the others.
Repeated attempts have been made to domefticate this {pecies but without fuccefs; we have not heard of any inftance of
their breeding in confinement.
Both our figures were taken from a painting, executed for the late Witt1am Curris, and now in poffeffion of ArTHUR Harrison, Efq. of Parliament-Street, to whom
we are indebted for this, and many other obliging communi... Cations.
S
“bap aolos nt aie
Soa paso
nm ote ih taild 3 dy ch
fr ncrt ssQno! doa of [ik
Faure be el fait:
lo roligheq ai wot vie Geer! ot
a
ipl : era my ; : spagiaie crunink ate aides
LATIN INDEX is ENGLISH INDEX to the Firft Volume. to the Fir Volume. “ ae te
Falco buteo. * Avocet.
milvus. > ‘Bittern. —— peregrinus. «, Dulfinch.
— fifalon. * Banting, yellow. Strix flammea. 3, Buzzard, common. Parus major. - Chatterer, Bohemian, orWaxen. = coeruleus. ~ Creeper, common, Corvus Cornix. = Coot, glandarius. = Crofs-bill. pica. « Crow, hooded. ! Picus viridis. 3 Curlew, common Certhia familiaris, m Duck, Pintail. Upupa Epops. = female. Alcedo Hpida. . — Wild. Turdus vifcivorus, * Egret. Ampelis garrulus, * Falcon, peregrine. Loxia puny te Na %, Goldfinch. yrrhula. « Grebe, little. : Emberiza citrinella. * Guillemot, foolith, Fringilla carduelis. es Gull, common. linaria. s, Heron, —
re 6990, "oa
Alauda arvenfis.
2 an }° S
rg Ss we
Motacilla vulgaris. s Jay.
rubicula. @ Kingfifher, common.
regulus. # Kite.
troglodytes. & Lapwing. Hirundo rufticas Ss Lark, Sky. Phafianus colchicus. s Magpie. Tetrao Perdix, # Merlin. Ardea major. “ Owl, white or barn.
-ftellaris - # Oyfter-Catcher, Pied. +—~—Garzetta. & Partridge, common. SEL arquata, s Pheafant, ring. rufticola. * Puffin. # 4 Tringa Vanellus. #: Rail, water. Hematopus oftralegus. # Redbreaft. Rallus aquaticus. # Redpole, leffer. Fulica atra. * Scoter. Colymbus minor. Bs Shieldrake. — Troile. Swallow, chimney.
Recurviroftra Avocetta.
eZ
oe te
"a
Titmoufe, great.
x Alca arética. % blue. Larus canus. # Thrufh, miffel. Anas nigra. # Wagtail, common. Bofchas. & Wren, ~—— Tadorna. & golden-cretted. acuta. & Woodcock. foemina. se Woodpecker, green.
*.* The Latin Index will ferve as a guide to the binder in making up the volume, and prevent any miftake in placing the plates; but complete Indexes will not appear till the Work is finifhed. Te
Printed by $. Couchman, Throgmorton-Strect, London.
a ae Sn i teeter basen asain ones ci
: : puintnetimeneete reseed eerie ee ln ete cre niin sen ie ai ey j i y t x Saaenemenetniel