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HISTORY

OF

BRITISH BIRDS,

THE FIGURES ENGRAVED ON WOOD BY T. BEWICK.

VOL. II.

CONTAINING THE

HISTORY AND DESCSIFTION OF WATER BIRDS,

"••••<l4|||L'«Me^<llllll''>>*B»^lllll>'»*««*<<llll>">«il"

NEWCASTLE:

PRINTED BY EDWARD WALKER, FOR T. BEWICK: SOLD B? HIM, AND
LONGMAN AND REE3, LONDON.

[^Price ISs. in Boardt^\

1804.

AD VER TISEMENT.

1 HE Editor of the second Volume of British Birds,
having noiu brought his luork to a conclusion, hastens to ackno^wledge
his obligations to the Public for the favourable reception of his former
labours ; and to express his thanks to those sportsmen and lovers of
Natural History ^^ who have so liberally contributed to the completion
of this work. When the History of British Birds was first under-
taken, the splendid Museum of the late Marmaduke Tunstall, of Wy-
cliffe, Esq. was obligingly thrown open by his nephew, Francis Sheldon,
Esq.* ivith the kindest offer of the use of its abundant stores. Du-
ring a residence of nearly two months at that little earthly paradise
—the secure asylum of its feathered visitors, which nuere suffered by
the late benevolent owner to pick up their daily pittance unmolested —
drawings were taken from the stuffed specimens of most of the Bri-
tish species, and many of these were afterwards traced and engraven
upon the blocks of wood ; but in the progress of the work, so many
both dead and living specimens of the birds themselves, (to nvhich stuff-
ed subje8s commonly bear only an imperfe£i resemblance) were fur-
nished by the Patrons of the luork, that the necessity of using several of
these drawings was superseded by this more near approach to perfect
nature. In addition to these resources, the voluminous folios of the ce-
lebrated Count de Buffon, containing one thousand and one (Planches
Enluminees) coloured prints of Birds, ^c. were kindly lent to aid the
work, by Michael Bryan, of London, Esq.; these, like an index, were

^ov) Francis Cotutahle) Esq. of Burton Constable, in Holderniss,

a 2

iV ADFERTISEMENT,

constantly at hand to be referred to, and compared with the birds
themsel'ves, nvhich luere from time to time presented to the editors of
both •volumes, and were often of great service, by enabling them to as'
certain the names, and to identify each species, in an examination of
the subjeBs before them, ivhen compared nvith the figures and doubtful
nomenclature of other ornithologists.

Not<withstanding these helps, the figures of several birds are
still (wanting ; but, hocwe-ver the editor regrets the deficiency, he is
twell anvare that it is to be attributed to the difficulties the sportsman
meets ivith in coming at many of the shy inhabitants of the ocean, and
of the pathless misty marsh. The time spent in endeavouring to pro-
cure these desiderata, and other unforeseen obstacles, have checked the
progress of this ivork, and must apologize for the delay of its appear-
ance to so lengthened a period after the History of the Land Birds. Im-
mediately after the publication of that volume, a separation of interests
took place betnveen the editors, and the compilation and completion of
the present ivork devolved upon one alone.* To those vjho have pa-
tronized the History of ^adrupeds, and British Land Birds, this
apology is due : and of the public, to whose tribunal his ivork is no'vj
submitted, the editor begs it may be remembered, that his best endea-
vours have been eicerted in this continuation of the effort to render a
delightful portion of Natural History more interesting and more ge-
nerally knoivn ; and if they, in any degree, accomplish this obje£l, his
labours will not have been bestowed in vain.

THOMAS BEWICK.

Newcastle upon Tyne,!
July 3, 1804. J"

* To the Rev. H. Cotes, -vicar of Bedlington, the editor acknoiuledges lis obliga-
tiens for bis literary correSiions.

^a^^o-^a ^^©^^-a^^-gj^o^

INTRODUCTION

HISTORT OF BRITISH WATER BIRDS.

JLN the preceding volume of Brltlfh Land Birds, the charafters
of that part of the firft great dlvifion of the feathered tribes,
the beautiful tenants of the air, the woods, and the fields, have
been defcribed, and their figures faithfully delineated. Amongft;
thefe w^ere enumerated not only the carnivorous and rapacious
kinds, which, by the accuracy of their fcent, difcover putrid bo-
dies at s. vaft diftance, and thofe which, endowed with piercing
fight, foar aloft in fearch of their living prey, and dart upon it
from an immeafurable height, with the rapidity of an arrow ;
but alfo the various other kinds of land birds, which, although
lefs noticed, are eminently ufeful to man, by clearing the earth
and the atmofphere of myriads of infedls, in every ftage of their
progreffive growth, from the-invifible egg to the period when
they are enabled to flutter on the wing. Thefe, together with
the other branches of this great family, whofe Uves may be faid
t b

VI INTRODUCTION.

to be fpent more innocently than thofe of the rapacious kinds,
all contribute their fervices to man, by clearing the earth of the
feeds of noxious plants, as well as the trees of innumerable de-
ftruftive infe£ls, with which they feed their young, and claim
for themfelves, meanwhile, but a fmall return of the produce of
the fields and gardens, which too often is ungratefully begrudg-
ed them.

Nearly the whole of this amufing group appear to relieve each
other, and are, in fuccefllon, the conftant neighbours, or attend-
ants on the habitations of men. They are the fubtenants of the
cultivated world, and mofl; of them, efpecially thofe that are
granlvorous, may well be termed wild poultry, and are the va-
lued property of the fportfman. Some of thefe alfo, uniting
with others of the foft-billed tribe, form the hufbandman's
cheerful band of chorlfters, whofe comings and goings proclaim
the feafons ; while, by their notes poured forth from every tree,
and vale, and vi^oody glen, they enliven the face of nature. But
having defcrlbed this divifion of birds in the former volume, we
mufl now bid them adieu, with this teftlmony of their ufeful-
nefs — that they are the Induftrious, regulating little meffengers
of Providence, without whofe aCTiftance the plough and the fpade
would often find their labours beffowed in vain ; and, weak as
thefe inftruments may appear, without their aid, inftead of a land
of overflowing plenty, adorned with flowers and fruits, and
trees and woods, In rich luxuriance, and In all their varied beau-
ty, where every grove is made vocal with refponfive pralfes, we
fhould too frequently meet with nothing but the barrennefs, and
the filence, and the drearlnefs of a defert.

XiCavIng thofe denizens * of nature to enjoy their own na-
tive woods, the flielterlng coppice, or extended plain, the taflc
now affigned us is to delineate the figures, and to defcribe the

* " Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they
reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly father feedeth tlietn."
— Sec Man. vi. a6.

INTRODUCTION. VU

charafters of the other two divifions of this numerous family—
the waders and the/ivimmers : thefe are generally found far re-
moved from the cultivated world. In exploring the track which
leads us, ftep by ftep, to an acquaintance with them, we mufi:
travel through reeds and rufhes, with doubtful feet, over the
mofs-covered faithlefs quagmire, amidft oozing rills, and flag-
nant pools. The former divifion of thefe inhabitants of the
marfh are called waa'ers. All the genera, and the different fpe-
cies of this divifion have divided toes : they are apparently fitted
for living on land, but are furnirtied with propenfities and appe-
tites which direft them chiefly to feek their food in moift and
watery places, or on the margins of lakes and rivers, and yet they
avoid thofe depths, where it might feem to be found in the greateft
abundance. Moll of them have long bills, formed to perforate
the foft mud and moill earth, and long legs, bare above the
knees, whereby they are enabled to wade through (hallow waters
in fearch of food, without wetting their plumage. Others have
fhorter legs, feathered down to the knees, and bills of varied
length : whence it may appear that thefe are more limited in
their powers, and pick up only fuch infedls or graffes, feeds or
roots of aquatic plants, as are to be met with near the furfacc
of . the ground, or in fhallow pools ; whilfl others again are
known to plunge into the water, and by partial fwimmings to
extricate themfelves from it, after they have feized their prey,
whether fifhes or infedls. Some of this clafs, in the wareier
and temperate climates, breed and rear their young in the fens,
where they remain throughout the year : others again, but thefe
are few, after the bufinefs of incubation is over, difappear, and
are fuppofed to direct their flight northward ; while others, and
thefe by much the greater number, are known invariably to
leave the north, and to migrate fouthward on the approach of
the winter months, and to return northward in the fpring. It
mufi; be obferved that the fwamps, and inland waters of tempe-
rate climes, are alfo flocked with a numerous fet of inhabitants

b 2

VUX INTRODUCTION.

of the fecond clafs — the ftuimmers. Some of thefe, likcwift,
after having reared their young, migrate much in the fame
way as the nvaders.

The ornithologift, who does not content himfelf with bare
names and appearance, in examining the economy of the vari-
ous kinds of birds, and the ftrufture of their feveral parts, will
find ample room for the exercife of his labours in the moft mi-
nute inveftigation j and although he can fcarcely overlook the
flow, and almoil imperceptible degrees, by which nature has re-
moved one clafs of beings from another, yet in his attempts to
trace the relationftiip, or affinity, which one bears to another, he
will, with his utmoft care, find himfelf at a lofs to afcertain that
precife link in the chain, where the doubtful crofling line is
drawn, and by which the various genera and fpecies are to be
feparated. But, however, after he fhall have examined a few
gradations, upwards or downwards, he will more readily difco-
ver the modes of life which the feveral kinds are deftined to
purfue ; and their ability to perform the various evolutions ne-
ceflary for the procuring of their food in that exaftitude to
which the Author of nature hath formed them. In fome of
thofe which run on the furface of the foft mud, and can occa-
fionally take the water, the indications of their ability for fwim-~
ming are furniflied very fparingly : thefe indications firft appear
in the breadth of the underfides of the toes, with the two outer
toes joined by a fmall web. The fcalloped membranes attached
to the fides of the toes form the next advance ; fome are webbed
to the nails, with deep indentations in the middle, between each
toe ; others have only three toes, all placed forwards, and fully
imited by webbed membranes : fome have the addition of back
toes, either plain, or with webbed appendages to each ; and
others again have the four toes fully webbed together. The
thighs, in the moft expert divers, are placed very far back ; their
legs are almoft as flat and thin as a knife ; and they are enabled
to fold up their toes fp clofely, that the leaft polTible refiflanceis

INTRODUCTION. IX

made while they are drawing them forwards to repeat their
ftrokes in the water. Many of thefe divers are provided inter-
nally with a receptacle, feated about the windpipe, for a ilock of
air, which ferves the purpofe of refpiration, whilft they remain
under water : and the whole of the tribe of fvvimmers have their
feathers bedded upon a foft, clofe, warm down ; and are fur-
nifhed with a natural oil, fupplied from a gland in the rump.
This oil they prefs out with their bills from a kind of nipple, and
with it preen and drefs their plumage, which is thereby render-
ed impenetrable to the water, and, in a great degree, to the
moft extreme cold.

Of the number of thefe birds, both waders and fwlmmers, a
great proportion may not improperly be termed frefli-water
birds, as they rear their young, and fpend the greater part of
their time inland. In this clafs are the Ardea^ Scolopaxi and
Tringa, with divided toes, — the FulicOf Phalaropus, and Podiceps,
with finned feet ; together with others of the web-footed kinds,
chiefly of the genera of the Mergus and Anas, Among thefe
various kinds, fome fpecies are found, which only occafionally
vifit the fea-(hores : others have not been noticed there at all ;
while others are feen there frequently, feeding on the beach :
fome, like little boats, keep within bays and creeks, near the
fhore ; others, meanwhile, adventure into the ocean, and fport
amidft its waves. To particularize thefe, with their various
places of abode, and the times of their migrations, would here
be tedious and unneceflary : they are noticed in the defcription
of each bird.

The northern extremities of the earth feem as if they were fet
apart for the nations of the feathered race, as their peculiar he-
ritage— a poffeffion which they have held coeval with creation.
There, amidfl: lakes and endlefs fwamps, where the human foot
never trod, and where, excepting their own cries, nothing is
heard but the winds, they find an arylum where they can rear
their young in fafety, unmolelled, and furrounded by a profu-

X -INTRODUCTION.

fion of plenty. This ample provifion conCfts chiefly of the lar-
vee of gnats and other infefts, with which the atmofphere muft
be loaded in that region, during the fummer months. The eggs
of thefe infefls depofited in the mud, and hatched by the influ-
ence of the unfetcing fumraer's fun, arife, like exhalations, in
multiplied myriads, and, as we may conceive, afford a never fail-
ing fupply of food to the feathered tribes. An equal abun-
dance of food is alfo provided for the young of thofe kinds
of birds, which feek it from the waters, in the fpawn of fifiies,
or the fmall fry, which fearlefsly fport in their native element,
undifturbed by the angler or the fifherman. In thefe retirements
they remain, or only change their haunts from one lake or mifty
bog to another, to procure food, or to mix with their kind ;
and thus they pafs the long enlightened feafon. As foon as the
fun begins, in fliortened peeps, to quit his horizontal courfe,
the falling fnows, and the hollow blafts foretel the change,
and are the fignals for their departure, — then it is, that the
widely-fpreading winged hoft, having gathered together, in Se-
parate tribes, their plump well-fledged families, direfted by in-
ftindlive knowledge, leave their native wilds, the arftic regions,
that prolific fource, whence thefe multiplied migrators, in flocks
innumerable, and in directions like radii from the centre of a
circle, are poured forth to replenifli the more fouthern quarters
of the globe. In their route, they are impelled forwards, or ftop
(hort, in greater or lelTer numbers, according to the feverity or
mildnefs of the feafon, and are thus more equally diftributed over
the cultivated world ; where man, habituated to confider every
thing in the creation as fubfervient to his ufe, and ever watchful
to feize all within his grafp, makes them feel the full force of his
power. Wherever they fettle under his dominion, thefe pretty
wanderers afford a fupply to the wants of feme, pamper the
luxury of others, and keep the eager fportfman in conftant em-
ployment.

Leaving the lakes and inland watery waftes to purfue his re-

INTRODUCTION. XI

fearches by the brooks and the rivers, in their lengthened courfe
to the efluaries and to the fea, the ornithologift is delighted
with the view of the various clean-feathered inhabitants, feeding
or preening themfelves on the Ihores, fwimming or diving in the
current, or wheeling aloft on the wing. Many of thefe divide
their time between the frefh and the fait waters, and ferve as
aerial guides, to dire6l his fight over the vaft expanfe to other
claffcs of birds that almoft entirely commit themfelves to the
ocean ; and with whofe tribes, at certain feafons, thefe aifociate.
This multifarious hoft, thus affembled in diftinft families, is
fometiraes feen to cover the furface of the water to a vaft extent :
and of all thefe various families, thofe of the ^nas genus, which
keep much at fea, form the raoft confiderable, amounting in the
whole to ninety -eight fpecies, befides varieties, * a number ex-
ceeding that of any other kind. And, when we confider that
each family of this genus is often feen in confiderable flocks,
and add them to thofe which may more properly be called
fea-fowl — beginning with the Alca, and ending with the Pe-
llcanus — confifting of nine diftinft Britifli genera and their fpe-
cies, we fhall find the aggregate far to exceed in number the
whole of the birds that are fupported on the land. Whilft thefe
fifliers, in their flying fquadrons, are viewed from the cliffs and
fhores of the fea, foaring aloft, or refl;ing fecure on the lowering
precipice, the ear is often pierced with their harfla flirill cries,
fcreamed forth in mingled difcord with the roaring of the furgc.
Grating as their cries are, thefe birds are often hailed by the
mariner, as his only pilots, while he is tofled to and fro, amidft
folitary rocks and ifles inhabited only by the fea-fowl.

Although it is not certainly known to what places fome of
thefe kinds retire to breed, yet it is afcertained that the greater

* It Is very probable that many of these varieties, as well perhaps
as others that are accounted distinft species, may be a mixed breed, the
produce of a kind somewhat different ; and that this may also be the
case with the varieties of other genera of birds.

XU INTRODUCTION^

part of them hatch and rear their young on the rocky promonto-
ries and inlets of the fea, and on the innumerable little ifles with
which the extenfive coaft of Norway is ftudded, from its fouth-
ern extremity — the Lindefnefs, or Naze, to the North Cape,
that oppofes itfelf to the Frozen Ocean. The Hebrides, or
Weftern Scottifli Ifles, are alfo well known to be a. principal
rendezvous to fea-fowl, and celebrated as fuch by Thomfon s

" Or where the northern ocean, in vast whirls,
" Boils round the naked melancholy isles
" Of farthest Thule ; and the Atlantic surge
" Pours in among the stormy Hebrides ;
" Who can recount what transmigrations there
" Are annual made ? what nations come and go ?
" And how the living clouds on clouds arise ?
" Infinite wings ! till all the plume-dark air,
" And rude resounding shore are one wild cry."

Other parts of the world — the bleak fhores and ifles of Lapland,
Siberia, Spitzbergen, Nova Zembla, Iceland, Greenland, &c.
with the vaft fweep of the Arttic Zone, are alfo enlivened in
their feafons by fwarms of fea-fowl, which range the intervening
open parts of the feas to the ftiorelefs frozen ocean. There a
barrier is put to further enquiry, beyond which the prying eye
of man mufl; not look, and there his imagination only muft
take the view, to fupply the place of reality. In thefe forlorn
regions of unhnonvahle dreary fpace, this refervoir of froft and
i'now, where firm fields of ice, the accumulations' of centuries
of winters, glazed in Alpine heights above heights, furround the
pole, and concentre the multiplied rigours of extreme cold ;
even here, fo far as human intelligence has been able to pene-
trate, there appears to fubfift an abundance of animalsin the air^
and in the waters : and, perhaps, it may not be carrying con-
jeflure too far, to fuppofe, that every region of the earth, air,
and water, however ungenial the clime may appear to us, is re-
plete with animals, fuited, each kind, to the place affigned to it.

INTRODUCTION. XlU

Certain it is, however, that the deeps of the frozen zone are
the great receptacle whence the finny tribes iflue, in fo wonder-
ful a profufion, to reftock all the watery world of the northern
hemifphere ; and that this immenfe icy protuberance of the
globe, this gathering together, this hoard of congealed waters,
is periodically dimlnifhed by the influence of the unfetting fum-
mer's fun, whofe rays being perpetually, though obliquely, (hed,
during that feafon, on the widely extended rim of the frozen
continent, gradually difTolvc its margin, which Is thus crumbled
into Innumerable floating Ifles, that are driven fouthward to re-
plenifh the feas of warmer climes. *

Amldil thefe drifts of ice, and following this widely fpread-
ing current, teeming with life, the whole hoft of fea-fowl find In
the waters an in^xhaufllble fupply of food : for the great move-
ment, the immenfe fouthward migration of fiflies Is then begun,
and flioal after flioal, probably as the removal of their dark icy
canopy unveils them to the fun, are invited forth, and, guided
by Its light and heat, poured forward in thoufands of myriads,
in multitudes which fet all calculation at defiance. The flocks
of fea birds, for their numbers, bafile the power of figures; -j"
but the fwarms of fifties, as if engendered in the clouds, and
ftiovvered down like the rain, are multiplied In an Incomprehen-
fible degree ; they may indeed be called Infinite, If infinity were
applicable to any thing created. Of all thefe various tribes of
fifties, thus prefling forward on their fouthern route, that of the
Herring is the moft numerous. Clofely embodied in refplendent
columns of many miles in length and breadth, and in depth from
the furface to the bottom of the fea, the flioals of this tribe peace-
fully glide along, and glittering like a huge refledled rainbow,

* The same happens in the southern hemisphere by the melting of
the ice at the south pole.

f A bird may lay ten eggs and hatch them ; but the roe of a herring
is said to contain ten thousand.

XIV IMTRODUGTION.

or Aurora Bofealis, attraft the eyes of all their attendant foes.
Other kind of fifties, in duller garbs, keep alfo together in bo-
dies, but change their movements as may beft fuit their differ-
ent modes of attack or defence, in preying upon, or efcaping from
each other as they pafs along. * All thefe various tribes of fifties,
but particularly that of the Herring, are in their turns encoun-
tered and preyed upon by the whole hofts of fea-fowl, which
continually watch all their motions. Some are feen to hover
over the fhoals of fifhes, and to wheel about in quick and glancing
evolutions, and then to dart down like a falling plummet upon
the feledled objeft, which is gliding near the furface of the wa-
ter, and infliantly to rife, and devour the living vIAIm on the
wing. Others, equally alert and rapid in their purfuit, plunge
and dive after their prey to greater depths ; while the lefs adllve
birds feem content to devour only fuch of the fifties as have been
killed or wounded, and cafl out on the flanks, or left in the rear
of the main body.

In this great, this wonderful emigration of birds and Hfhes,
it is evident that they are amply provided on their way with an
abundance of food, which they derive from each other ; and that
the fhoals of fifhes which the fea-fowl attend, are Impelled fouth-

* " Fishes are the most voracious animals in nature. Many species
prey indiscriminately on every thing digestible that comes in their way,
and devour not only other species of fishes, but even their own. As a
counterbalance to this voracity they are amazingly prolific. Some
bring forth their young alive ; others produce eggs. The viviparous
Blenny brings forth aoo or 300 live fishes at a time. Those which pro-
duce eggs are all much more prolific, and seem to proportion their stock
to the danger of consumption. X,ewenhock affirms that the Cod
spawns above nine millions in a season. The Flounder produces above
one million, and the Mackarel above 500,000. Scarcely one in a hun-
dred of these eggs, however, is supposed to come to maturity : but two
wise purposes are answered by this amazing increase ; it preserves the
species in the midst of numberless enemies, and serves to furnish the
rest with a sustenance adapted to their nature." — Encyel. Britan.

INTRODUCTIOH. XV

ward by mftin^l, aided by currents, for the accoraplifhment of
their mifllon. The birds, alfo, in their progrefs to fulfil the
fame high purpofe, are by thefe enticed forwards, as it were, to
follow the feafons, and to wing their way to the pofts affigned
them in climes adapted to the fulfilling of the great duties of
rearing their young, and of leading them forth to purfue the un-
alterable courfe of nature : and thus they fpend out the varied
year in the fame ceafelefs traverfings on the globe.

Notwithftanding the prodigious multitudes of the inhabitants
of the ocean, which are thus deftroyed by each other, and by
their winged enemies, yet, like a fmall toll, or like a meafure of
fand taken from the beach, there is no vifible diminution of
them ; for although many divifions of the larger kinds, by keep-
ing in the mid-fea deeps, efcape notice, and are difperfed like
the fowl that follow to feed on them ; yet others are mixed
with the fmaller forts, and form part of thofe vaft fhoals which
yearly prefent themfelves to man, fiUing every creek and inlet of
the northern fhores, particularly thofe of the Britifh ifles ; where
this wonderful influx appears as if offered to give employment to
thoufands, and to fupply an inexhauftible fource of commerce :
but this, like other overflowing bounties of Providence, feems
to be too little regarded : the wafle, indeed, in this infliance, is
fufiicient to feed half the human race.

It is a melancholy reflf dlion, that, from man, downwards, to
the fmalleft; living creature, all are found to prey upon and de-
vour each other. The philofophic mind, however, fees this
wafl;e of animal life again and again repaired by frefh fl:ores,
ever ready to fupply the void, and the great work of genera-
tion and defl;ru6ion perpetually going on, and to this difpen-
fatlon of an all-wife Providence, fo interefting to humanity,
bows in awful filence.

In returning from thefe dlgrefilons to the fubjeft of the
prefent enquiry, let the imagination picture to itfelf countlefs
multitudes of birds, wafted, like the clouds, around the globe,

C 2

XVI INTRODUCTION.

which in ceafelefs revolutions turns its convexities to and from
the fun, caufing thereby a perpetual fucceffion of day and night,
fummer and winter, arid thefe migrators wiYL be feen to follow
its courfe, and to traverfe both hemifpheres from pole to pole.
To thofe, who, contemplating this world of wonders, extend their
views beyond the common gropings of mankind, it will appear*
that Nature, ever provident that no part of her empire fliould
be unoccupied, has peopled it with creatures of various kinds,
and filled every corner of it with animation. To follow her into
all her receffes would be an endlefs taflc ; but fo far as thefe have
been explored, every ftep is marked with pleafantnefs : and
while the reflefting mind, habituated to move in its proper
fphere, breaks through the trammels of pride, and removes the
film of ignorance, it foars with clearer views towards perfeftion,
and adores that Infinite Wifdom which appointed and governs
the unerring courfe of all things.

" Thus the men,

" Whom Nature's works can charm, with God himself
•' Hold converse ; grow familiar day by day
" With his conceptions ; acSt upon his plan,
" And form to his the relish of their souls."

Akeniides Pleasures of Imagination^ Book 3i '• 63^

-'•^"^tf™-.^-''^X«r-7,..-<'^>^/«"*«

CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME.

lOil

Page.

1 Sanderling - i

2 Long-legged Plover 4

Of the Oyjler-catcher
I Oyfter-catcher

1 Water Crake

2 Water Rail

I Water Ouzel

I Kingfifher -

Of the Spoonbill
1 Spoonbill

Of the Crane
I Crane

6

7

10
13

16
19

24
25

28
29

Page.

2 Stork - - 32

(y//^^ Heron - - 36

1 Heron - - 37

2 Great White Heron 42

3 Night Heron 43

4 Egret - - 45

5 Bittern - - 47

6 Little Bittern - 5 1

0/" /^<? Curlew

1 Curlew

2 Whimbrel

Of the Snipe

1 Woodcock

2 Great Snipe

3 Cornn:ion Snipe

4 Judqpck

53

54

57

59
60
67

68
73

XVlll

CONTENTS.

Knot

Page.
75

Of the Godw'it - - 77

1 Godwit - - 7^

2 Red Godwit - 8o

3 Cinereous Godwit 83

4 Cambridge Godwit 84

5 Leffer Godwit 85

6 Greenlhank - 86

7 Spotted Redfhank 88

8 Redlhank - 91

Of the Sandpiper - 94

1 Ruff - - 95

2 Shore Sandpiper 99

3 Green Sandpiper 100

4 Gambet - 102

5 Afh-coloured Sand-

piper - 103

6 Common Sandpiper 104

7 Brown Sandpiper 107

8 Greenwich Sand-

piper - - 108

9 Black Sandpiper no

10 Spotted Sandpiper iii

1 1 Red-legged Sand-

piper

12 Red Sandpiper

13 Dunlin

14 Purre

15 Little Stint

"3
116
117
119
122

1 Turnftone

124

Page,
2 Turnftone (mori-

nella) - 126

I Water Hen

128

Of the Coot - 132

1 Coot - - 133

2 Greater Coot - 137

Of the Phalarope - 138

1 Red Phalarope 139

2 Grey Phalarope 140

Of the Grebe - -

142

1 Great-crefted Grebe 145

2 Tippet Grebe -

147

3 Eared Grebe -

149

4 Duflcy Grebe

150

5 Red-necked Grebe

152

6 Little Grebe

154

7 Black-chin Grebe

156

Of the Avofet - -

157

I Avofet - -

158

Of the Auh or Penguin

161

I Great Auk

162

2 Razor-bill

164

3 Black-billed Auk

167

4 Puffin

168

5 Little Auk -

172

CONTENTS.

Xl%

Page.
Of the Guillemot - 174

1 Guillemot - 175

2 Leffer Guillemot 177

3 Black Guillemot 179

4 Spotted Guillemot 1 8 1

Of the Divers - 182

1 Great Northern

Diver - 183

2 Imber - - 185

3 Leffer Imber 187

4 Firft 'Speckled Di-

ver - 189

5 Second Speckled

Diver - 191

6 Red-throated Diver 1 93

7 Black-throated Di-

ver ' - 195

Of the Tern or Sea Sival-

lov) - - 197

1 Common Tern 199

2 Leffer Tern - 201

3 Black Tern - 203

4 Sandwich Tern 204

5 Sterna navia - 207

6 Brown Tern 208

Of the Gull - - 209

1 Black-backed Gull 212

2 Herring Gull 214

3 Wagel - 216

4 Common Gull 218

Page.

5 Winter Gull -

221

6 Black-headed Gull

222

7 Brown-headed Gull 226

8 La Grande mouette

blanche

228

9 Kittiwake

229

10 Tarrock

231

II Skua Gull

233

12 Black-toed Gull

236

13 Arftic Gull -

239

Of the Petrel - -

241

1 Fulmar

243

2 Shearwater

246

3 Stormy Petrel

249

Of the Mergus - 252

1 Goofander - 254

2 Dun-diver - 257

3 Red-breafted Mer-

ganfer - 261

4 Smew - - 264

5 Red-headed Smew 266

6 Lough-diver - 268

' the Anas

270

I Wild Swan -

272

2 Mute Swan

277

3 Swan Goofe

281

4 Canada Goofe

283

5 Egyptian Goofe 287

6 Red-breaited Goofe 289

XX

CONTENTS.

Page.

7 Grey Lag Goofe 292

8 Tame Goofe - 297

9 White fronted

Wild Goofe 305

10 Bean Goofe 306

11 Eernacle - 307

1 2 Brent Goofe - 311

13 Eider Duck - 314

14 Muflc Duck - 320

15 Velvet Duck - 322

16 Scoter - - 324

17 Mallard - - 327

18 Tame Duck - 333

19 Hook-billed Duck 338

20 Scaup Duck - 339

21 Shieldrake - 341

22 Shoveler - - 345

23 Red-breafted Sho-
veler - - 349

Page*

24 Gadvsrall - - 356

25 Wigeon - - 352

26 BimacuJated Duck 355

27 Pochard - - ^^6

28 Ferruginous Duck 359

29 Pintail Duck 360

30 Long-tailed Duck 363

3 1 Golden-eye

32 Morlllon

33 Tufted Duck

34 Garganey -

35 Teal

Of the Pelican

1 Corvorant

2 Crefted Corvorant

3 Shag - -

4 Gannet -

367
371

372
374
376

379
381

388

390

393

i«.»»«»il""ij»«»e«,n"i"li«»««»,ili"i'i'e«e«r,ii'">i>j»»»<i

BRITISH BIRDS.

SANDERLING.

TOWILLEE, OR CURWILLET,
{Charadrlus Calidrist 'Lm>—Maubeche, BufF.)

i HIS bird v/eighs almoft two ounces ; is about
eight inches in length, and fifteen in breadth, from
tip to tip. The bill is an inch long, flender, black
and grooved on the lides nearly from the tip to
the noftril; the brow to the eyes white; the
reft of the head pale afli-colour, mottled in brown
ftreaks from the forehead to the hinder part of the
Vol. II. t A

2 BRITISH BIRDS.

neck, and on each fide of the upper part of the
breaft ; back, fcapulars, and greater coverts, brown-
ifh afh, edged with dull white, and irregularly
marked with dark brown fpots. The pinions,
lefler coverts, and baftard- wings, dark brown ; the
quills, which extend beyond the tail, are of the
fame colour on their exterior webs and points, ex-
cept four of the middle ones, which are white on
the outer webs, forming, when the wing is clofed,
a fharp wedge-fhaped fpot ; inner webs brownifh
alh ; the fecondary quills brown, tipped with white ;
the rump and tail coverts are alfo brown, edged
with dirty white ; the tail feathers brownifh alh,
edged with a lighter colour, the two middle ones
much darker than the reft ; the throat, fore part of
the neck, breaft, belly, thighs and vent are white ;
the toes and legs black, and bare a little above the
knees. This bird is of a flender form, and its plu-
mage has a hoary appearance among the Stints,
with which it aflbciate^ on the fea-fliore, in various
parts of Great-Britain. It wants the hinder toe,
and has, in other refpefts, the look of the Plover
and Dotterel, to which family it belongs.

Latham fays, this bird, like the Purre, and fome
others, varies confiderably, either from age or the
feafon ; for thofe he received in Auguft, had the
upper parts dark afli-coloured, and the feathers
deeply edged with a ferruginous colour ; but others
fent to him in January were of a plain dove-co-

BRITISH BIRDS. 3

loured grey ; they differed alfo in fome other tri-
fling particulars.*

* The fpecimen from which this drawing and defcrlption
were taken, was furnifhed by the Rev. H. Cotes, of Bedling-
ton ; and it is the only one which the author has had an op-
portunity of examining.

A 2

4

BRITISH BIRDS.

, ^^M^.

LONG-LEGGED PLOVER.

LONG-SHANKS, OR LONG-LEG.
[Charadr'ms himantopus, Lin. — L'EchaJfe, Buff.)

Its flender black bill is two inches and a half
long, from the tip of which to the end of the tail,
it meafures only about thirteen inches ; but to the
toes, a foot and a half. The \\dngs are long, mea-
furing, from tip to tip, twenty-nine inches; irides
red ; the crown of the head, back and wings,
of a glofly black ; tail Hght grey, except the two
outfide feathers which are white ; as are all the
other parts of its plumage, except a few dufky fpots
on the back of the neck, Its long, weak and dif-
proportionate legs are of a blood red, and meafure,
from the foot to the upper naked part of the thigh,
about eight inches ; the toes are fhort, and the
outer and middle ones are connected by a mem-*
brane at the bafe.

BRITISH BIRDS. 5

Ornithologlfls mention only a few inftances of
this fmgularly-looking fpecies having been met
with in Great-Britain 5* but it is common in other
countries.

Lathamf fays, " it is common in Egypt, being
found there in the marlhes in Odober ; its food
is faid to confift principally of flies. It is likewife
plentiful about the Salt Lakes, and often feen on
the fhores of the Cafpian Sea, as well as by the
rivers which empty themfelves into it ; and in the
fouthern deferts of Independent Tartary : We have
alfo feen it in Chinefe paintings ; and it is known
at Madras, in the Eafl Indies." It is alfo often met
with in the warmer parts of America ; is fome-
times feen as far north as Connedicut, and alfo in
Jamaica.

* Sir Robert Sibbald makes mention of two that were fliot
in Scotland — Pennant of one that was fliot near Oxford — and
©f five ethers which were fhot in Frincham pond in Surrey.
j- PHny fays it is a native of Egypt.

BRITISH BIRDS.

OF THE OrSTER-CJTCHER,

Its bill is long, comprefled and cuneated at the
end; noftrils linear ; tongue fcarcely a third of the
length of the bill ; toes, three in number, all placed
forwards, the exteriors united to the middle by a
ftrong membrane, as far as the firft joint.

This feparate and fmgle genus of birds, though
no where numerous, is widely difperfed over the
globe, being met with in every country which tra-
vellers have vifited.

BRITISH BIRDS.

OYSTER-CATCHER.

PIED OYSTER-CATCHER, SEA-PIE, OR OLIVE.
\Hamatopus ojlralegusy Lin. — UHutr'ier^ Buff.)

The Oyfter-catcher generally weighs about fix-
teen ounces, meafures feventeen inches in length,
and is two feet eight inches in breadth. The bill is
of a bright fcarlet, about three inches long, wide at
the noftrils, and grooved beyond them nearly half
its length ; thence to the tip it is vertically com-
prelTed on the fides, and ends obtufely : with this
inftrument, which, in its fhape and ftrudture, is pe-
culiar to this bird, it eafily difengages the limpets
from the rocks, and plucks out the oyfters from
their half-opened fhells : on thefe it feeds, as well

8 BRITISH BIRDS*

as on other kinds of fhell-fiih, fea-worms and infers.
The irides are of a lake-coloured red j orbits orangey
under eye-lids white, and (in many fpecimens) a
crefcent-lhaped ftroke of this colour crofles the
throat; the head, neck, upper part of- the back,
fcapulars, leffer coverts of the wings and end of
the tail are black ; the quills, in fome, are of a
dark brown, flriped lefs or more in the middle
and in the inner webs with white ; the fecondary
quills are white towards their bafe, and the unco-
vered points black, narrowly edged with white ; the
breaft, belly, vent, upper half of the tail, lower part
of the back and greater wing coverts are white ;
the legs and feet are of a pale red, fhort and ftrong;
the toes, three in number, are each furrounded
with a meml^aneous edge, and covered with a hard^
fcaly fkin, which enables the bird to climb and
traverfe the rough and iharp Ihell-covered rocks, in
quell of prey, without injury.

Although the Oyfler-catcher is not provided with
powers fitted for an expert fwimmer, yet it does not
fhew any averfion to taking the water, upon which
it may be faid to float rather than fwim. Thefe
birds are the conftant inhabitants of the fea-lhores,
and are feldom found inland. In winter, they af-
femble in flocks, are then fliy and wild ; and are
feen in pairs, only in the breeding-feafon and in the
fummer. The female depofits her eggs in an open
and dry fituation, out of tide mark, ftieltered merely

BRITISH BIRDS. 9

by a tuft of bent grafs, without any other nefl than
the bare fand and fragments of fhells, blown thither
by the wind. She lays four or five eggs of a green-
ifh grey colour, fpotted with black, which fhe leaves
during ths day expofed to the influence of the fun,
and is careful to fit upon them herfelf only during
the night and in bad weather. The young ones
may eafily be tamed, and will affociate with do*
meftic poultry.

Vol. II. t

B

io

BRITISH BIRDS.

WATER CRAKE.

SPOTTED RAIL, LESSER SPOTTED WATER RAIL, SKITTY,
OR SPOTTED GALLINULE.

[Rallus Porzana, Lin. — La Marouettct 'BufF.)

This bird weighs above four ounces, and mea-
fures nearly nine inches in length, and about fifteen
in breadth. The bill is of a greenifh yellow, and not
more than three quarters of an inch long. The top
of the head to the nape is dulky, flightly flreaked
with rufty brown ; a brown and white mottled flripe
paffes from the bill, over and behind the eyes j the
cheeks and throat are of a freckled dull grey. The
neck and breaft are olive, marked with fmall white
fpots ; the fides dufky and olive, crofTed with bars of
•white, and the under parts are a mixture of cinereous

BRITISH BIRDS. II

dirty white and yellow. The colour of the plumage
of all the upper parts is dufky and olive brown,
fpotted, edged, barred or ftreaked with white : the
.fpots on the wing coverts are furrounded with black,
which gives them a ftudded or pearly appearance ;
and the white bars and flreaks on the fcapulars
and tertials form a beautiful contraft to the black
ground of the feathers on thefe parts. The legs
are of a yellowilh green. The Water Crake in its
.figure and general appearance, though much lefs,
is extremely like the Corn Crake or Land Rail ;
but its manners and habits are very different. Its
common abode is in low, fwampy grounds, in
which are pools or ftreamlets, overgrown with wil-
lows, reeds, and rulhes, where it lurks and hides
itfelf with great circumfpeQ:ion : it is wild, foli-
tary, and fhy, and will fwim, dive, or fkulk under
any cover; and fometimes, it is faid, will fuffer
itfelf to be knocked on the head, rather than rife
before the fportfman and his dog. The fpecies
is very fcarce in Great Britain, and from its ex-
treme vigilance it is rarely to be feen. It is fup-
pofed to be migratory here, as well as in France
and Italy, where it is found early in the fpring ; it
is alfo met with in other parts of Europe, but no
where in great numbers. The conformation of its
nefl is curious : it is made of ruflies and other light
buoyant materials, woven and matted together, fo
as to float on, and to rife or fall with the ebbing or

B 2

12

BRITISH BIRDS.

flowing of the water, like a boat; and to prevent
its being fwept away by floods, it is moored or
faflened to the pendant ftalk of one of the reeds,*
by which it is ikreened from the light, and fhelter-
ed from the weather. The female lays from fix to
eight eggs. The young brood do not long require
the foflering care of the mother, but as foon as they
are hatched, the whole of the little black Ihapelefs
family fcramble away from her, take to the water,
feparate from each other, and fhift for themfelves.
The flefh is faid to have a fine and delicate flavour,
and is efteemed by epicures a delicious morfel.

* Adorable is that divine wifdom, and infinite that provi-
dential care, which inftrudls thefe birds thus to fecure the con-
tinuance of their fpecies, and to provide for the fafety of thek
future offspring !

BRITISH BIRDS.

13

''^-.^^^;^" ^-~-

WATER RAIL.

BILCOCK, VELVET RUNNER, OR BROOK OUZEL.
{^Rallus aquatlcus, Lin. — Le Rale d*Eau, BufF.)

This bird, though a diftind genus of itfelf,
has many traits in its character very fimilar to both
the Corn Crake and the Water Crake : it is mi-
gratory, Hke the former, to which it alfo bears fome
refemblance in its lize, in its long fhape, and in
the fiatnefs of its body : its haunts and manner of
Hving are nearly the fame as thofe of the latter ;
but it differs from both in the length of its bill,
and in its plumage. It weighs about four ounces
and a half, and meafures twelve inches in length
and lixteen in breadth. The bill is flightly curved,
and one inch and three quarters long ; the upper
mandible is dulky edged with red; the under

14 BRITISH BIRDS.

reddifh orange ; the irides red. The top of the
head, hinder part of the neck, back, fcapulars, co-
verts of the wings, and tail, are black, edged with
dingy brown. The ridge of the wings is white, the
baftard wing barred with white, the infide barred
with brown and white, and the quills and feconda-
ries duiky. The lide feathers are beautifully croffed
with black and white, and flightly tipped with pale
reddifh brown. The inner fide of the thighs, the
belly, and the vent are pale brown, and in fome
fpecimens, fpecked with blueiih aih. The fides of
the head, chin, fore part of the neck, and breaft,
are of a dark hoary lead colour, flightly tinged with
pale rufous. The tail confifts of twelve fhort black
feathers, edged and tipped with dirty red ; fome
of thofe on the underfide barred with black and
white. The legs which are placed far behind, are
a dull dirty red ; the toes long and without any
conneding membrane. Latham fays *' the eggs
are more than an inch and a half long, of a pale
yellowifli colour, marked all over with dufky brown
fpots, nearly equal in fize, but irregular."

The Water Rail is a fhy and folitary bird. Its
conftant abode is in low wet places, much overgrown
with fedges, reeds, and other coarfe herbage, among
which it finds fhelter, and feeds in hidden fecurity.
It runs, oceafionaily flirting up its tail, through its
trafts with the fame fwiftnefs as the Corn Crake
runs through the meadows and corn-fields, fhews

BRITISH BIRDS. I5

as great an averlion to take flight as that bird, and
has more of the means in its power of difappoint-
ing the fportfman. It generally exhaufts his pa-
tience, and dillrafts and mifleads his dog, by the
length of time to which it can protraQ: its taking
wing ; and it feldom rifes mitil it has croffed every
pool, and run through every avenue within the cir-
cuit of its retreats. It is, however, eafily fhot
when once flulhed, for it flies but indifferently, with
its legs dangling down while on the wing. This
bird is not veiy common in Great Britain, but is
faid to be numerous in the marflies of the northern
countries of Europe, whence, partially and irregular-
ly, it migrates fouthward, even into Africa, during
the feverity of the winter feafon. Buffon fays
*' they pafs Malta in the fpring and autumn," and
to confirm this, adds, " that the Vifcount de Quer-
hoent faw a flight of them at the difl:ance of fifty
leagues from the coafts of Portugal on the 1 7 th of
April, fome of which were fo fatigued that they
fuffered themfelves to be caught by the hand."
The flefli of the Water Rail is not fo generally
efteemed as that of the Land Rail, and yet by many
it is thought rich and delicious eating.

i6

BRITISH BIRDS.

WATER OUZEL.

WATER €ROW, DIPPER, OR WATER PIOT,
{Sturnus Cinclus, Lin. — Le Merle d'Eau, Buff.)

The length of the Water Ouzel is about feven
inches and a half from the point of the beak to the
end of its tail, which is very Ihort, and gives the
bird a thick and flumpy appearance. The mouth
is wide ; the bill black, about three quarters of an
inch long ; the upper mandible rather hollow in
the middle, and bent a little downwards at the
point ; the eye-lids are white, and the irides hazel.
The upper parts of the head and of the neck are
deepilh rully brown ; the back, rump, fcapulars,
wing coverts, belly, vent, and tail are black ; but
each feather on thefe parts is diftindtly edged with
a hoary grey colour. The breaft, fore part of the

BRITISH BIRDS. I7

heck and tfiroat, are of a fnowy white ; and the
black and white on the belly and breaft are fepa-
rated by a rufty brown. The legs and toes are
ihort and ftrong, the fcales pale blue, the hinder
part and joints brown ; the claws are curved, and
the toes are diftindly parted, without any mem-
braneous fubftance between to join them.

This folitary fpecles is removed from the place it
has hitherto holden in all fyflems among the land
birds : it ought not to be claffed any longer with
the Ouzels and Thrulhes, to which it bears no
affinity. Its manners and habits are alfo different
from thofe birds, and are peculiar to itfelf. It is
chiefly found in the high and mountainous parts
of the country, and always by the fides of brooks
and rocky rivers, but particularly where they fall
in cafcades, or run with great rapidity among
ftones and fragments of broken rocks ; there it
may be feen perched on the top of a ftone in the
midfl of the torrent, in a continual dipping motion,
or fhort courtefy often repeated, whilfl it is watch-
ing for its food, which conlifts of fmall fiihes and
infefts. The feathers of this bird, like thofe of the
Duck tribe, are impervious to water, whereby it
is enabled to continue a long time in that fluid
without fuflaining the leafl injury. But the moft
fmgular trait in its character, (and it is well
authenticated) is that of its poflefllng the power of
walking, in quefl of its prey, on the pebbly bot-

VoL II. t C

l8 BRITISH BIRDS.

torn of a river, in the fame way, and with the
fame eafe as if it were on dry land. The female
makes her nefl in the banks of the rivulet, of the
fame kind of materials, and nearly of the fame
form as that of the common Wren; and lays
four or five eggs, which are white, lightly blufhed
with red.

BRITISH BIRDS.

19

KINGFISHER.

{/^Icedo ijpida, TLinn. Le Martln-pecheurf'^xx^.)

This fplendid little bird is of rather a clumfy
fhape, the head being large in proportion to the
fize of the body, and the legs and feet very fmall.
In length it is only feven inches, in breadth eleven;
and its weight is about two ounces and a quarter.
The bill, meafured from the corners of the mouth,
is two inches long, vertically comprefled on the
fides, ftrong, ftraight, and tapering to a fharp
point : the upper mandible is black, fading into a
red colour towards the bafe; the under one, as
well as the infide of the mouth, is of a reddifh
orange : the irides are hazel, incHning to red. A
broad ftripe palfes from the bill over the eye to the

C 2

£0 BRITISH BIRDS.

hinder part of the neck, of a bright orange colour^
but margined on the fide of the mouth, and croff-
ed, below the eye, by a narrow black ftroke, and it
is terminated behind the auriculars with a flanting
wedge-fhaped white fpot. The throat is white ^
the reft of the head, and the wing coverts are of a
deep fhining green, fpotted with bright light blue :
the fcapulars and exterior webs of the quills are of
the fame colour, but without fpots. The middle
of the back, the rump, and the coverts of the tail
are of a moft refplendent azure : the tail, which
confifts of twelve fhort feathers, is of a rich deep
blue, and the whole under part of the body of a
bright orange. The legs and toes are of a red
colour, and are peculiar in their fliape and con-
formation, the three forward toes being unconnedt-
ed from the claws to the firft joints, from whence
they appear as if grown into each other ; and the
inner and hinder ones are placed in a line on the
infide of the foot, whereby the heel is widened^
and feems prefled out.

It is difficult to conceive why ornithologift§
have claffed the Kingfifher with land birds, as its
ha' 'ts and manner of living are wholly confined to
the waters, on the margins of which it will fit for
hours together on a projeding twig, or a ftone ;
at one while fluttering its wings and expofing its
brilliant plumage to the fun ; at another, hovering
in the air, like the Keflril, it waits the moment

BRITISH BIRDS. SI

when it may feize its prey, on which it darts with
almoft unerring certainty : often it remains for fe-
veral feconds under the water, before it has gained
the objed: of its purfuit, then brings up the httle
fifh, which it carries to the land, beats to death,
and fwallows.

The female commonly makes her nePc by the fides
of rivers or brooks, in a hole made by the mole,
or the water-rat : this fhe enlarges or contracts
to fuit her purpofe ; and it is conjectured, from
the difficulty of finding the neft, that frequently
the hole which leads to it is under water.

The author was favoured with a fluffed fpecimen
of this bird, together with its nefl and fix eggs, by
G. V7. Wentworth, of Wolley-Hall, near Wakefield,
efquire. In the compa6tnefs of its form, the nefl
refembled that of the Chaffinch : it was made en-
tirely of fmall fifh bones, cemented together with a
brown glutinous fubflance. The eggs were of a
clear white.

To take notice of the many ftrange and contra-
didory accounts of this bird, as well as of its neft,
tranfmitted to us by the antients,* and to enume-

* Their ntfts are wonderful — of the figure of a ball rather
elevated, with a very narrow mouth ; they look like a large
fponge: they cannot, be cut with a knife, but may.be broken
with a fraart ftroke : they have the appearance of petrified
fea-froth. It is not difcovered of what they are formed ; fomc
|;hink of Prickly-back bones, fince they live upon iifh. Pliny.

22 BRITISH BIRDS.

rate the properties afcribed to it by the fuperftitious
in all ages, would occupy too large a portion of
this work: but the following modern inftance
feems worthy of notice : —

Dr Heyfham of Carlifle, in his Catalogue of
Cumberland Animals, fays, " On the 7th of May
a boy from Upperby brought me a Kingfifher
alive, which he had taken when fitting on her
eggs the night before: from him I received the
following information: — Having often this fpring
obferved thefe birds frequent a bank upon the river
Peteril, he watched them carefully, and faw them
go into a fmall hole in the bank. The hole was
too fmall to admit his hand, but as it was made of
foft mould he eafily enlarged it. It was upwards
of half a yard long, at the end of it the eggs,
which were fix in number, were placed upon the
bare mould, there being not the fmalleft appear-
ance of a neft." If the boy was correct in his re-
lation to Dr Heylham, it may be concluded that
thefe birds fometimes, from neceflity perhaps, build
a neft, and fometimes make the dry mould anfwer
that purpofe.

Arijloth compares the neft to a gourd, and its lubftance and
texture to thefe fea-balls or lumps of interwoven filaments
which are cut with difficulty; but, when dried, become fri-
able.

Milan and Plutarch defcribe it as being made to float on the
placid face of the ocean.

BRITISH BIRDS# 23

Kingfilhers are not fo numerous as might be ex-
pefted from the number of eggs found in their nefts,
owing probably to the young being deftroyed by the
floods, which mull often rife above the level of the
holes where they are bred.

Except in the breeding feafon, this bird is ufual-
ly feen alone, flying near the furface of the water
with the rapidity of an arrow, like a little brilliant
meteor, by which appearance the eye is enabled to
follow its long-continued courfe. Confidering the
fiiortnefs of its wings, the velocity with which it
flies is furprifing.

Omithologifts inform us that Kingfifliers are
found in almofl every part of the globe ; but it
does not appear that more than this one fpecies has
ever been feen in Europe.

24- BRITISH BIRDS.

OF THE SPOONBILL

The bill is broad, long, flat, and thin, the end
widening into a roundifh form not unlike a fpoon 5
the noftrils fmall, and placed near the bafe ; the
tongue fmall and pointed, and the feet femi-pal>
mated.

This genus confifls of only three known fpecies,
and three varieties, and thefe are thinly difperfed
over various parts of the globe. Their common
refidence is on the fea-fhores, or the contiguous
fenny fwamps which are occalionally overflowed
by the tide, or on fuch low marfliy coafts as are
conftantly covered with ftagnant pools of water.
Thefe places they very feldom quit, but they fome-
times are feen by the fides of lakes or rivers in the
interior parts of the country. They feed on various
kinds of little fiflies, and fmall fliell-fifli, which they
fwallow whole, alfo on worms, infefls, frogs, and
the various other inhabitants of the flimy pools,
through which they wade, and fearch the mud with
their curioufly con{lru£ted bills; and fometimes
they eat the weeds, grafles, and roots which grow
in thofe boggy places.

BRITISH BIRDS.

25

SPOONBILL,

OR, WHITE SPOONBILL.
[Plafalea kucorodiat Lin. — La Spatule, Buff.)

The Spoonbill meafures two feet eight inches
in length, and is about the bulk of the common
Heron, but its legs and neck are ihorter. The
whole plumage is white, though fome few have
been noticed with the quills tipped with black.

The bill, which flaps together not unlike two
pieces of leather, is the mofl ftriking feature in this
bird : it is fix inches and a half long, broad and

Vol. n. t D

26 BRITISH BIRDS.

thick at the bafe, and very flat towards the extremity,
where, in fhape, it is widened and rounded like the
mouth of a muflard fpatula. It is rimmed on the
edges with a black border, and terminated with a
fmall downward bent point or nib. The colour of
the bill varies in different birds ; in fome, the little
ridges which wave acrofs the upper bill, are fpotted,
in others ftriped with black or brown, and general-
ly the ground colour of both mandibles is in differ-
ent fhades of deeper or lighter yellow. The infides,
towards the gape of the mouth, near the edges, are
ftudded with fmall hard tubercles or furrowed pro-
minences, and are alfo rough near the extremities of
the bill, which enables thefe birds to hold their flip-
pery prey. A black bare fkin extends from the bill
round the eyes, the irides of which are grey ; the
ikin which covers the gullet is alfo black and bare,
and is capable of great diftention. The feathers
on the hinder part of the head are long and nar-
row, and form a fort of tuft or crefl which falls
behind. The toes are connected near their junc-
tion by webs which reach the fecond joint of the
outer toe and the firft of the inner ones, and flight-
ly border them on each fide to their extremities.
The feet, legs, and bare part of the thighs are co-
vered with a hard and fcaly fkin of a dirty black
colour.

The "White Spoonbill migrates northward in the
fummer, and returns to fouthern climes on the ap-

BRITISH BIRDS.

27

proach of winter, and is met with in all the inter-
mediate low countries, between the Ferro Ifles and
the Cape of Good Hope. It is faid that they were
formerly numerous on the marfhes of Sevenhuys,
near Leyden in Holland. In England they are
rare vifitants: Pennant mentions that a flock of
them migrated into the marlhes near Yarmouth in
April, 1774.

Like the Rooks and the Herons, they build their
nefts on the tops of large trees, lay three or four
eggs, the fize of thofe of a hen, of a white colour
fprinkled with pale red, and are very noify during
the breeding feafon. The inteftines are defcribed
as being very long, and the trachea arteria is like
that of the Crane, and makes a double injlection in
the thorax.

D 2

^8 BRITISH BIRDS,

OF THE CRANE,

The Ghara£ter3 by which this genus is diftin*
guilhed, are a long, ftrong, ftraight, fharp-point-
ed bill, noflrils linear, tongue pointed, the toes
conneQ:ed by a membrane as far as the firft joint,
and the middle claw of fome of the fpecies peC'^
tinated. Their thighs are half naked, and their
legs long, by which, without wetting their plu^
mage, they are enabled to wade deep in the wa-
ter, where they Hand motionlefs awaiting the ap-
proach of the unfufpe£ling finny tribes, and the
moment thefe are within reach, they ftrike them
with their bill, admirably formed for the purpofe,
with the rapidity of a dart. Their body is flender,
and covered with a very thin fkin; their wings,
which are very large and ftrong, contain twenty-four
quills ; and their tails are Ihort. They live moftly
in lakes and fens upon water animals j they alfo oc-
cafionally eat grain and herbage, and they build
their nefts chiefly upon the ground. Their flefh
is favoury.

The Crane differs from the Stork and the He--
ron in the fmgular conformation of the windpipe,
which " entering far into the breaft bone, (which
has a cavity to receive it) and being thrice refle£l-=
ed, goes out again at the fame hole, and fo turns
down to the lungs." * It differs from them alfo in
fome other particulars, both internally and extern
pally.

^ Willoughbyc

BRITISH BIRDS.

29

\^

H

^^\-^m^A

CRANE,

OR, COMMON CRANE.
[Ardea Grus, Lin. — La Grue, BufF.)

The bill Is about four inches long, flralght,
pointed, and compreffed at the fides, of a greenilh
black colour, turning lighter towards the point ;
the tongue is broad and fhort, and horny at the

30 BRITISH BIRDS.

tip. The forehead, to the middle of the crown,
is covered with black hairy down, through which,
if the bird be healthy, the Ikin appears red; behind
this it is nearly bare, and entirely fo for the fpace
of about two inches on the nape of the neck, which
is afh coloured. The fides of the head, behind the
eyes, and the hinder part of the neck are white^
The fpace between the bill and the eyes, the cheeks,
and the fore part of the neck, are of a blackifh afh
colour. The greater wing coverts are alfo black-
ifh, and thofe farthefl from the body, with the baf-
tard wing and quills are quite black : the reft of
its plumage is of a fine waved light afh colour.
From the pinion of each wing fprings an elegant
tuft of loofe feathers, curled at the ends, which fall
gracefully over the tail, in their flexibility, their
pofition, and their texture, refembling the plumes
of the Oftrich. The legs and bare part of the
thighs are black. The Crane meafures, when ex-
tended, from the tip of the bill to the toes, more;
than five feet in length, and weighs nearly ten
pounds ; its gait is ereft, and its figure tall and
flender.

This fpecies is widely fpread, and, in its migra-
tions, performs the boldeft and moft diftant journieSj

'* Marking the trails of air, the clamorous Cranes
** Wheel their due flight, in varied lines defcried ;
«' And each with out-ftretch'd neck his rank maintains
" In marfhall'd order through the ethereal void."

BRITISH BIRDS.

31

In the fummer they fpread themfelves over the
north of Europe and Afia as far as the arftic circle,
and in the winter are met with in the warmer re-
gions of India, Syria, Egypt, &c. and at the Cape
of Good Hope. The courfe of their flight is dif-
covered by the loud noife they make, for they foar
to fuch a height as to be hardly vifible to the naked
eye. Like the Wild-geefe, they form themfelves
into different figures, defcribing a wedge, a trian-
gle, or a circle. It is faid that they formerly vi-
fited the fens and marfhes of this ifland in large
flocks, but they have now entirely forfaken it.

3^

BRITISH BIRDStf

STORK,

OR, WHITE STORK.
{^rdea Ciconiaj Lin. — -La Cigo^ne, BufF.)

The White Stork is fmallei* than the Crane, but
much larger than the Heron : its length, from the
point of the till to the end of the tail is three feet
fix inches ; and its breadth, from tip to tip, above
fix feet. The bill is of a fine red colour, and its
length, from the tip to the corners of the mouth is
feven inches ; the legs and bare part of the thighs
are alfo of the fame colour ; the former below the

BRITISH BIRDS. 33

knees meafure eight inches, and the latter iive.
The plumage is of a bright white, except the
quills, greater coverts, and fome of the fcapulars,
which are black ; the eyes are dark and full, the
orbits bare of feathers, and of a dufky reddifh hue.
The neck is long and arched j the feathers near
the bread, like thofe of the Heron, are long and
pendulous, the fecondary quills are nearly of the
fame length as the primaries, and when the wings
are clofed, they cover its fhort tail. The female
nearly refembles the male in her plumage and ge-
neral appearance : her neft is made of dry flicks,
twigs, and aquatic plants, fometimes on large trees
or the fummits of high rocky cliffs : this, however,
feldom happens, for the Stork prefers the neigh-
bourhood of populous places, where it finds pro-
tection from the inhabitants, who, for ages, have
regarded both the bird and its nefl as facred ; and
commonly place them boxes on the tops of the
houfes wherein to make their nefls, to which they
return after the mofl diftant journies, and every
Stork takes polTeffion of his own box. When thefe
are not provided for them, they build on the tops
of chimnies, fleeples, and lofty ruins*

The Stork lays from two to four eggs, the fize
and colour of thofe of a goofe, and the male and
female fit upon them by turns. They are Angu-
larly attentive to their young, both together never

Vol. II. t E

34 BRITISH BIRDS.

quitting the nefl, which is conftantly watched by
one of them, while the other is feeking for, and
bringing provifions, which the young receive with
a fort of whiftling noife.

The food of the Stork confifts of ferpents, li-
zards, frogs, fmall filh, &c. for which it watches
with a keen eye, on the margins of lakes and pools,
and in fwamps and marfhes. In low countries
abounding with places of this defcription, the Stork
is a welcome vifitant, and always meets a friendly
reception.

In its migrations this bird avoids alike the ex-
tremes of heat and cold : in fummer it is never feen
farther north than Sweden or Ruffia, and in win-
ter it is not known to venture further fouthward
than Egypt, where it is conftantly feen during that
feafon : in the intermediate countries, both in Alia
and Europe, it is common in the temperate feafons
of the year.

Before the Storks take their departure from their
northern fummer refidence, they aflemble in large
flocks, and feem to confer on the plan of their
projected route. Though they are very filent at
other times, on this occafion they make a fmgular
clattering noife with their bills, and all feems buftle
and confultation. It is faid that the firft north
wind is the fignal for their departure, when the
whole body become filent, and move at once, ge-

BRITISH BIRDS.

35

nerally in the night, and, taking an extenfive fpi-
ral courfe, they are foon loft in the air.*

The Stork is now feldom feen in Britain : Wal-
lis, in his hiftory of Northumberland, mentions
one which was killed near Chollerford-bridge, in
the year 1766. Its Ikin was nailed up againft the
wall of the inn at that place, and drew crowds of
people from the adjacent parts to view it. The
foregoing figure was taken from a ftuffed fpecimen
in the WyclifFe mufeum,

* " The Stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times j
and the Turtle and the Crane, and the Swallow obferve the
|ime of their coming." Jeremiah viii, 7.

14 Ikf^

J

6 BRITISH BIRDS.

OF THE HERON.

Some ornithologlfts have feparated this tribe from
the Cranes and the Storks, and from the difference
obfervable in the conformation of their parts, con-
fider them as a diftinft genus : others, preferring
the Linnaean fyftem, clafs the whole together, and
thus make them amount to above eighty diftin£l
fpecies, befides varieties, widely diflributed over va-
rious parts of the globe, all differing in their fize,
figure, and plumage, and with talents adapted to
their various places of refidence, or their peculiar
purfuits. But notwithflanding the difference in the
colours of their plumage and their bills, the man-
ners of all are nearly the fame, as is alfo their cha-
rader, which is fligmatized with cowardice and ra-
pacity, indolence, and yet infatiable hunger : they
are, indeed, exceffively voracious and deflrudive ;
but from the meagre-looking form of their bodies,
to an inaccurate obferver, the greatefl abundance
might feem infufficient for their fupport.

BRITISH BIRDS,

7>1

HERON.

COMMON HERON, HERONSEWGH, OR HERONSHAW-
[^Ardea Major, Lin. — Le Heron hupSy Buff.)

Although the Heron is of a long, lank, auk-
ward fhape, yet its plumage gives it on the whole
an agreeable appearance ; but when ftripped of its
feathers, it looks as if it had been flarved to death.
It feldom weighs more than between three and four
pounds, notwithftanding it meafures about three
feet in length, and in the breadth of its wings,
from tip to tip, above five. The bill is fix inches
long, flraight, pointed, and flrong, and its edges
are thin and llightly ferrated ; the upper mandible

38 BRITISH BIRDS.

is of a yellowifli horn colour, darkeft on the ridge,
the under one yellow. A bare Ikin, of a greenifh
colour, is extended from the beak beyond the eyes,
the irides of which are yellow, and give them a
fierce and piercing afpe£t. The brow and crown
of the head are white, bordered above the eyes by
black lines . which reach the nape of the neck,
where they join a long flowing pendent crell of the
fame colour. The upper part of the neck, in fome,
is white, in others pale alh ; the fore part, lower
down, is fpetted with a double row of black fea-
thers, and thofe which fall over the breafl are
long, loofe, and unwebbed ; the fhoulders and fca-
pular feathers are alfo of the fame Idnd of texture,
of a grey colour, generally ftreaked with white, and
fpread over its down-clothed back. The ridge of
the wing is white, coverts and fecondaries lead co-
lour, baftard wings and quills of a blueifli black,
as are alfo the long foft feathers which take their
rife on the fides under the wings, and, falling
down, meet at their tips, and hide all the under
parts : the latter, next the fkin, are covered with
a thick, matted, dirty white down, except about
the belly and vent, which are almofl bare. The
tail is Ihort, and confifts of twelve feathers of a
cinereous or brownifh lead colour j the legs are
dirty green, long, bare above the knees, and the
middle claw is jagged on the inner edge.

The female has not the long flowing creft, or

BRITISH BIRDS. 39

the long feathers which hang over the breaft of
the male, and her whole plumage is more uniform-
ly dull and obfcure. In the breeding feafon they
congregate in large focieties, and, like the Rooks,
build their nell on trees, with flicks, lined with dri-
ed grafs, wool, and other warm materials. The fe-
male lays from four to fix eggs, of a pale greenilh
blue colour. *

* *' A remarkable circumftance, with refpeft to thefe birds,
occurred not long ago, at Dallam Tower, in Weftmorland, the
feat of Daniel Wilfon, Efq :—

*' There were two groves adjoining to the park : one of
which, for many years, had been reforted to by a number of
Herons, which there built and bred j the other was one of the
largefl rookeries in the country. The two tribes lived together
for a long time without any difputes. At length the trees occu-
pied by the Herons, confifting of fome very fine old oaks, were
cut down in the fpring of 1775, and the young brood periflied
by the fall of the timber. The parent birds immediately fet
about preparing new habitations, in order to breed again ; but,
as the trees in the neighbourhood of their old nefts were only of
a 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 obftinate refiftance ; but,
after a very violent conteft, in the courfe of which many of the
Rooks, and fome of their autagonifts, loft their lives, the He-
rons at laft fucceeded in their attempt, built their nefts, and
brought out their young.

" The next feafon the fame contefts took place, which termi-
nated like the former, by the vi6lory of the Herons. Since that
time peace feems to have been agreed upon between them : the

40 BRITISH BIRDS.

The Heron is defcribed by BufFon as exhibiting
the pifture of wretchednefs, anxiety, and indigenccy
condemned to ftruggle perpetually with mifery and
want, and Jickened by the reftlefs cravings of a
famiflied appetite, &c. However faithful this in-
genious naturaliil may have been in pourtraying
the appearance of the Heron, yet others are not in-
clined to adopt his fentiments in defcribing its habits
and manners, or to agree with him in opinion that
it is one of the mofh wretched of animated beings.
It is probable that it fufFers no more than other
birds, many fpecies of which employ equal atten-
tion in looking for their prey, and it is not un-
likely that the Heron derives pleafure from it in-
ftead of paiii. This bird, however, is of a melan-
choly deportment, a filent and patient creature; and
will, in the mofl fevere weather, fland motionlefs a
long time in the water, fixed to a fpot, in appear-
ance like the flump or root of a tree, waiting for its
prey, which confifls of frogs, water-newts, eels, and
other kinds of filh ; and it is alfo faid that it will
devour field-mice.

The Heron traverfes the country to a great dif-
tance in quell of fome convenient or favourite fifh-
ing fpot, and in its aerial journies foars to a great

Rooks have relinquiflied pofieffion of that part of the grove which-
the Herons occupy ; the Herons confine themfelves to thofc
trees they firft feized upon, and the two fpecies live together in
as much harmony as they did before their quarrel." Heyjhain,

BRITISH BIRDS.

41

height, to which the eye is dire6led by its harfh
cry, uttered from time to time while on the wing.
In flying it draws the head between the flioul-
ders, and the legs ftretched out feem, like the
longer tails of fome birds, to ferve the ofEce of
a rudder. The motion of their wings is heavy and
flagging, and yet they get forward at a greater rate
than would be imagined.

In England Herons were formerly ranked among
the royal game, and protected as fuch by the laws ;
and whoever deftroyed their eggs was liable to a
penalty of twenty fhillings for each offence. He-
ron hawking was at that time a favourite diverfion
among the nobility and gentry of the kingdom, at
whofe tables this bird was a favourite difh, and
was as much efteemed as pheafants and peacocks.

Vol II. t

42 BRITISH BIRDS,

GREAT WHITE HERON.

{^Jrdea alia, Lin. — Le Heron llanc. Buff.)

The great white Heron Is of nearly the fame
bulk as the common Heron, but its legs are long-
er. It has no crefl, and its plumage is wholly
white J its bill yellow, and its legs black.

Its charader and manner of living are the fame
as thofe of the common Heron, and it is found in
the fame countries, though this fpecies is not near-
ly fo numerous. It has rarely been feen in Great
Britain. Pennant, in his Ardic Zoology, fays it is
found in the Ruffian dominions, about the Cafpian
and Black Seas, the lakes of Great Tartary, and the
river Irtifch, and fometimes as far north as latitude
^'l, Latham fays, it is met with at New York, in
America, from June to G£tober ; at different fea-
fons of the year it is found in Jamaica, and in the
Brazils : and our circumnavigators have met with
it at New Zealand.

BRITISH BIRDS.

43

NIGHT HERON.

LESSER ASH-COLOURED HERON, OR NIGHT RAVEN.
{^Ardea nySltcorax, Lin. — Le Bihoreau, Bufx.)

The length of this bird is about twenty inches.
The bill is three inches and three-quarters long,
fiightly arched, llrong, and black, incHning to yel-
low at the bafe ; the Ikin from the beak round the
eyes is bare, and of a greenifli colour ; irides yel-
low. A white line is extended from the beak over
each eye ; a black patch, glolTed with green, covers
the crown of the head and nape of the neck, from
which three long narrow white feathers, tipped with
brown, hang loofe and \yaving : the hinder part of

F 2

44 BRITISH BIRCS.

the neck, coverts of the wings, fides and tail, are
alh-coloured ; throat white, fore part of the neck,
breaft and belly yellowifh white or buff ; the back
black, the legs a greenifli yellow.

The female is nearly of the fame fize as the
male, but Ihe differs confiderably in her plumage,
which is lefs bright and diflinft, being more blend-
ed with clay or dirty white, brown, grey, and rufly
alh-colour, and {he has not the delicate plumes
which flow from the head of the male.

The Night Heron frequents the fea-fhores, rivers,
and inland marfhes, and lives upon crickets, flugs,
frogs, reptiles, and fifh. It remains concealed du-
ring the day, and does not roam abroad until the
approach of night, when it is heard and known by
its rough, harlh, and difagreeable cry, which is by
fome compared to the noife made by a perfon {train-
ing to vomit. Some ornithologifls affirm that the
female builds her neft on trees, others that Ihe
builds it on rocky cliffs : probably both accounts
are right. She lays three or four white eggs.

This fpecies is not numerous, although widely
difperfed over Europe, Afia, and America.

The above figure was taken from a fluffed fpeci-
men in the Wycliffe Mufeum, and is the only one
the author has feen. The bird is indeed very un-
common in this country. Latham mentions one in
the Leverian Mufeum, which was fhot not many
miles from London, in May, 1782.

BRITISH BIRDS.

45

- ^a

EGRET.

{^Ardea Garzette, Lin. — E^reila, Bufi.)

The Egret is one of the fmalleft, as well as the
moll elegant of the Heron tribe : its fhape is deli-
cate, and its plumage as white as fnow ; but what
conflitute its principal beauty are the foft, fiiky, flov/-
ing plumes on the head, breall, and Ihoulders :
they confift of fmgle (lender fhafts, thinly fet with
pairs of fine foft threads, which float on the flight-
eft breath of air. Thofe which arife from the
Ihoulders are extended over the back, and flov/ be-
yond the tail. Thefe plumes were formerly ufed
to decorate the helmets of warriors : they are now
applied to a gentler and better purpofe, in or-

45

BRITISH BIRDS.

namenting the head-drefles of the European ladies,
and the turbans of the Perfians and Turks.

The Egret feldom exceeds a pound and a half
in weight, and rarely a foot and a half in length.
A bare green Ikin is extended from the beak to the
eyes, the irides of which are pale yellow : the bill
and legs are black. Like the common Heron they
perch and build their nefts on trees, and live on
the fame kinds of food.

This fpecies is found in almoft every temperate
and warm climate, and mufl formerly have been
plentiful in Great Britain, if it be the fame bird
as that mentioned by Leland in the lift or bill of
fare prepared for the famous feaft of Archbilhop
Nevil, in which one thoufand of thefe birds were
ferved up. No wonder the fpecies has become
nearly extind in this country !

BRITISH BIRD3.

47

BITTERN.

BOG-BUMPER, BITTER-BUM OR MIRE-DRUM.
{^rdea Stel/aris, Lin. — l,e jButoVy Buff.)

The Bittern is nearly as large as the common
Heron ; its legs are ftronger, body more plump
and flefhy, and its neck is more thickly cloathed
with feathers. The beak is ftrong at the bafe,
ftraight, Iharp on the edges, and gradually tapers
to an acute point ; the upper mandible is brown,
the under inclining to green 5 the mouth is wide.

48 BRITISH BIRDS*

the gape extending beyond the eyes, with a dufky
patch at each angle : the irides are yellow. The
crown of the head is fomev/hat deprelTed, and co-*
vered with long black feathers ; the throat is yel-^
lowifh white, the fides of the neck pale ruft colour,
variegated with black, in fpottedj waved, and nar-
row tranfverfe lines, and on the fore part the
ground colour is whitilli, and the feathers fall down
in lefs broken and darker lengthened flripes. Thefe
neck feathers, which it can raife and deprefs at
pleafure, are long, and loofe, and inclining back-=
ward, cover the neck behind ; thofe below them on
the bread, to the thighs, are ftreaked lengthwife
with black, edged with yellowilh white : the thighs,
belly, and vent are of a dull pale yellow, clouded
with dingy brown. The plumage on the back and
wings is marked with black zigzag lines, bars and
ftreaks, upon a ground fliaded with ruft colour
and yellow. The baflard wings, greater coverts,
and quills are brown, barred with black. The
tail, which confifls only of ten feathers, is very
fliort J the legs are of a pale green, bare a little
above the knees ; the claws, particularly thofe on
the hind toes, are long and fliarp, the middle ones
ferrated.

The female is lefs than the male ; her plumage
is darker, and the feathers on her head, breaft, and
neck are fhorter, and the colours not fo diflindly
marked. She makes an artlefs neft, compofed

BRiTlSH BIRDS* 49

chiefly of the withered flalks and leaves of the high
coarfe herbage, in the midft of whieh it is placed,
and lays from four to fix eggs of a greenifh white
colour.

The Bittern is a fliy folitary bird; it is never
feen on the wing in the day time, but fits, com-
monly with the head erect, hid among the reeds and
rulhes in the marfhes, where it always takes up its
abode, and from whence it will not ftir, unlefs it is
difturbed by the fportfman. When it changes its
haunts, it removes in the dufk of the evening, and
then rifing in a fpiral direction, foars to a vaft
height* It flies in the fame heavy manner ^s the
Heron, and might be miftaken for that bird, were
it not for the fingularly refounding cry which it
utters from time to time while on the wing ; but
this cry is feeble when compared to the hollow
booming nolfe * which it makes during the night
time, in the breeding feafon, from its fwampy re-
treats.

The Bittern, when attacked by the Buzzard, or
other birds of prey, defends itfelf with great cou-
rage, and generally beats oflf fuch aflTailants ; nei-
ther does it betray any fymptoms of fear, when
wounded by the fportfman, but eyes him with a
keen undaunted look, and when driven to extremi-

* " The Bittern booms along the founding marfh,
" Mixt with the cries of Heron and Mallard har/li.'*

Vol. II. t G

s<^

BRITISH BIRDS.

ty, will attack him with the utmoft vigour, wound-
ing his legs, or aiming at his eyes with its fharp
and piercing bill. It was formerly held in much
eftimation at the tables of the great, and is again
recovering its credit as a fafhionable difh.

This bird lives upon the fame water animals as
the Heron, for which it patiently watches, unmov-
ed, for hours together.

BRITISH BIRDS.

51

,, w. -~ov

'r-i ,7P:y,

.^^'^^^ '^I'l'i

i\l

'»*'»-^<^ -rw

LITTLE BITTERN.

{^Ardea mimtta, Lin.-— Z^ Blonglos, BufF.)

This bird, in the bulk of its body, is not much
bigger than the Throflle, meafuring only about fif-
teen inches in length. From the corners of the
mouth, a black ftroke extends acrofs the under
fide of the cheeks ; and a patch of black, glofled
with green and edged with chefnut, covers the
crown of its head. On the back, rump, and fca-
pulars, the feathers are dark brown, edged with
pale rufly-coloured red ; the fides of the neck, and
the breaft, are of the fame colours, but the brown
on the middle of each feather is in narrower flreaks.
The belly is white 5 the hinder part of the neck is

G 2

5^

BRITISH BIRDS.

bare, but the long feathers on the fore part He back
and cover it. The tail is Ihort, and of a black
green colour, edged and tipped with tawney : the
legs dirty green. The Little Bittern has feldoni
been met with in Great Britain.

The above drawing and defcription were taken
from an ill-ftufFed fpecimen in the Wycliffe Mu-
feum.

BRITISH BIRDS. 53

OF THE CURLEW.

The bill is long, equally incurvated, and termi-
nated in a blunt point ; noftrils linear, and longi-
tudinal near the bafe 5 tongue fhort and fharp point-
ed ; and the toes are conneded as far as the firft
joint by a membrane.

With the Curlew, Linnseus begins a numerous
tribe of birds under the generic name of Scolo-
pax, which, in his arrangement, includes all the
Snipes and Godwits, amounting, according to La-
tham, to forty-two fpecies and eight varieties,
fpread over various parts of the world, but no
where very numerous.

Buffon defcribes fifteen fpecies and varieties of
the Curlew, and Latham ten, only two or three of
which are Britilli birds. They feed upon worms
which they pick up on the furface, or with their
bills dig from the foft earth : on thefe they depend
for their principal fupport ; but they alfo devour
the various kinds of infers which fwarm in the
mud, and in the wet boggy grounds, where thefe
t>irds chiefly take up their abode.

54

BRITISH BIRDS.

CURLEW.

(Scolopax arqieata, Lin. — Le Courlis, BuflF.)

The Curlew generally meafures about two feet
in length, and from tip to tip above three feet.
The bill is about feven inches long, of a regular
curve, and tender fubflance at the point, which is
blunt. The upper mandible is black, gradually
foftening into brown towards the bafe; the under
one flelh coloured. The head, neck, upper part
of the back, and wing coverts, are of a pale brown,
the middle of each feather black, edged and deep-
ly indented with pale ruft colour, or light grey.
The breaft, belly, and the lower part of the back
are dull white, the latter thinly fpotted with black.

BRITISH BIRDS. ^^

and the two former with oblong ftrokes more thick-
ly fet, of the fame colour. The quill feathers are
black, the inner webs croffed or fpotted with white:
the tail is barred with black, on a white ground
tinged with red : the legs are bare a little above the
knees, of a blueilh colour, and the toes are thick,
and flat on the underfide.

Thefe birds differ much in fize, as well as in the
different fhades of their plumage ; fome of them
weighing not more than twenty-two ounces, and
others as much as thirty-feven. In the plumage of
fome the white parts are much more diftinft and
clear than in others, which are more uniformly
grey, and tinged with pale brown.

The female is fo nearly like the male, that any
particular defcription of her is unnecelfary : Ihe
makes her nefl upon the ground, in a dry tuft of
ruflies or grafs, of fuch withered materials as are
found near, and lays four eggs of a greenifli call,
fpotted with brown.

The Curlew is met with by travellers in moll
parts of Europe, from Iceland to the Mediterranean
Iflands. In Britain their fummer relidence is upon
the large, heathy, boggy moors, where they breed.
Their food confifls of worms, flies, and infeds,
which they pick out of the foft mofly ground by
the marlhy pools, which are common in fuch places.
In winter they depart to the fea-lide, where they
are feen in great numbers, and then live upon the

s^

BRITISH BIRDS.

worms, marine infeds, and other fifliy fubftailcee
which they pick up on the beach, and among the
loofe rocks and pools left by the retiring tide. The
flefh of the Curlew has been chara£tized by fome
as very good, and of a fine flavour ; by others as
diredly the reverfe : the truth is, that, while they
are in health and feafon, and live on the moors ^
fcarcely any bird can excel them in goodnefs ; but
when they have lived fome time on the fea-lhore^
they acquire a rank and filhy talle.

BRITISH BIRDS,

S7

WHIMBREL.

{^Scohpax PhcEopus, Lin. — Le petite Courlisf BiifF.)

The Whimbrel is only about half the fize of the
Curlew, which it very nearly refembles in jfhape,
the colours of its plumage, and manner of living.
It is about feventeen inches in length, and twenty-
nine in breadth, and weighs about fourteen ounces.
The bill is about three inches long, the upper man-
dible black, the under one pale red. The upper
part of the head is black, divided in the middle of
the crown by a white line from the brow to the
hinder part : between the bill and the eyes there is
a darkilh oblong fpot : the fides of the head, neck,
and breaft, are of a pale brown, marked with ijar-

VoL. II.t ' H

S8

BRITISH BIRDS.

row dark ftreaks pointing downwards : the belly m
of the fame colour, but the dark ftreaks upon it are
larger ; about the vent it is quite white ; the lower
part of the back is alfo white. The rump and tail
feathers are barred with black and white j the fliafts
of the quills are white, the outer webs totally
black, but the inner ones marked with large white
fpots : the fecondary quills are fpotted in the fame*
manner on both the inner and outer webs. The
legs and feet are of the fame ftiape and colour as
thofe of the Curlew.

The Whimbrel is not fo commonly feen on the
fea-lhores of this country as the Curlew ; it is alfo
more retired and wild, afcending to the higheft
mountain heaths in fpring and fummer to feed and
rear its young.

BRITISH BIRDS. 59

OF THE SNIPE.

The bill is long, ftraight, narrow, flexible, and
rather blunt at the tip ; the noftrils are linear, and
lodged in a furrow ; the tongue is pointed and flen-
der ; the toes divided, or very flightly connefted,
and the back toe very fmall.

This divifion of the numerous Scolopax genus of
Linnaeus amounts, according to Latham, to about
twenty fpecies, befides varieties, of which only the
Woodcock, common Snipe, and Judcock, and their
varieties, are accounted Britilh birds.

Pennant has placed the Woodcock after the Cur-
lews as the head of the Godwits and Snipes ;
and others are of opinion that the Knot, from the
fimilarity of its figure to that of the Woodcock,
ought to be clafled in this tribe. In thefe fub-di=
vifions ornithologifls may vary their claffifications
without end. As in a chain doubly fufpended, the
rings of which gradually diminilh towards the mjd-
dle, the leading features of fome particular bird niay
point it out as a head to a tribe ; others from fimila-
rity of fliape, plumage, or habits, will form, by al-
moil imperceptible variations, the conneding links ;
and thofe which may be faid to compofe the curva-
ture of the bottom, by gradations equally minute,
will rife to the laft ring of the other end, which, as
the head of another tribe, will be marked with cha-
racters very different from the firfl.

H2

6o

BRITISH BIRBS.

WOODCOCK.

[Scolopax Rtifticolaj Lin. — La Becajfe^ Buff.)

The Woodcock meafures fourteen inches in
length, and twenty-fix in breadth, and generally
weighs about twelve ounces. The fliape of the
head is remarkable, being rather triangular than
round,* with the eyes placed near the top, and
the ears very forward, nearly on a line with the
corners of the mouth. The upper mandible,
which meafures about three inches, is furrowed
nearly its whole length, and at the tip, it pro-
je£ls beyond, and hangs over the under one,
ending in a kind of knob, which, like thofe of
pthers of the fame genus, is fufceptible of the

BRITISH BIRDS. 6l

fineft feeling, and calculated by that means, aided,
perhaps, by an acute fmell, to find the fmall worms
in the fofit moift grounds, from whence it extracts
them with its fharp-pointed tongue. With the bill it
alfo turns over and tofles the fallen leaves in fearch
of thg infefts which fhelter underneath. The crown
of the head is of an afh colour, the nape and
back part of its neck black, marked with three bars
of rufty red : a black line extends from the cor-
ners of the mouth to- the eyes, the orbits of which
are pale buff; the whole under parts are yellowifh
white, numeroufly barred with dark waved lines.
The tail confifls of twelve feathers, which, like the
quills, are black, and indented acrofs with reddifh
fpots on the edges : the tip is afh-coloured above,
and of a glofly white below. The legs are fliort,
feathered to the knees, and, in fome, are of a blue-
ifh caft, in others, of a fallow flefh colour. The
upper parts of the plumage are fo marbled, fpotted,
barred, flreaked and variegated, that to defcribe
them with accuracy would be difficult and tedious.
The colours, confifling of black, white, grey, alh,
red, brown, rufous and yellow, are fo difpofed in
rows, crolfed and broken at intervals by lines and
marks of different fbapes, that the whole feems to
the eye, at a little diflance, blended together and
confufed, which makes the bird appear exactly like
the withered (talks and leaves of ferns, flicks, mofs
and graffes, which form the back ground of the

62 BRITISH BIRDS.

fcenery by 'which it is fheltered in its moill and fo-
litary retreats. The fportfman only, by being ac-
cuftomed to it, is enabled to difcover it, and his
leading marks are its full dark eye, and glofly fil-
ver-white tipped tail. In plumage the female differs
very little from the male, and, like moft other female
birds, only by being lefs brilliant in her colours.

The flelh of the Woodcock is held in very high
eflimation, and hence it is eagerly fought after by
the fportfman. It is hardly necelfary to notice, that
in cooking it, the entrails are not drawn, but roaft-.
ed within the bird, from whence they drop out with
the gravy upon flices of toafted bread, and are re-
liflied as a delicious kind of fauce.

The Woodcock is migratory, and in different
feafons is faid to inhabit every climate : it leaves
the countries bordering upon the Baltic in the au-
tumn and fetting in of winter, on its route to this
country. They do not come in large flocks, but keep
dropping in upon our fhores fmgly, or fometimes in
pairs, from the beginning of Odober till December.
They mud have the inflinftive precaution of landing
only in the night, or in dark mifly weather, for they
are never feen to arrive ; but are frequently difco-
vered the next morning in any ditch which affords
fhelter, and particularly after the extraordinary fa-
tigue occafioned by the adverfe gales which they of-
ten have to encounter in their aerial voyage. They
do not remain near the fhores to take their reft

BRITISH BIRDS. 6^

longer than a day, but commonly find themfelves
fufficiently recruited in that time to proceed inland,
to the very fame haunts which they left the pre-
ceding feafon. * In temperate weather they retire
to the mofly moors, and high bleak mountainous
parts of the country ; but as foon as the frofl fets
in, and the fnows begin to fall, they return to
lower and warmer fituations, where they meet with
boggy grounds and fprings, and little oozing mof-
fy rills which are rarely frozen, and feek the fhel-
ter of clofe bulhes of holly, furze and brakes in
the woody glens, or hollow dells which are covered
with underwood : there they remain concealed du-
ring the day, and remove to different haunts and
feed only in the night. From the beginning of
March to the end of that month, or fometimes to
the middle of April, they all keep drawing towards
the coafts, and avail themfelves of the firfl fair
wind to return to their native woods : fhould it hap-
pen to continue long to blow adverfely, they are
thereby detained; and as their numbers increafe,

* In the winter of 1797, the gamekeeper of E.M. Pley-
dcU, Efq. of Whatcombe, in Dorfetfliire, brought him a Wood-
cock, which he had caught in a net fet for rabbits, alive and un-
hurt. Mr P. fcratched the date upon a bit of thm brafs, and
bent it round the Woodcock's leg, and let it fly. In Decem-
ber the next year, Mr Pleydell fhot this bird with the brafs
about its leg, in the very fame wood where it had been firft

caught by the gamekeeper (Communicated by Sir John Tre-

"velyant Bart.)

64 BE.ITISH BIRDS.

they are more eafily found and deftroyed by the
mercilefs fportfman.

The female makes her neft on the ground, ge-
nerally at the root or flump of a decayed tree ; it is
carelefsly formed of a few dried fibres and leaves,
upon which Ihe lays four or five eggs, larger than
thofe of a PigeoUj of a rufty grey colour, blotched
and marked with dufky fpots. The young leave
the nefl as foon as they are freed from the fliell, but
the parent birds continue to attend and affifl them
until they can provide for themfelves. Buffon fays
they fometimes take a weak one under their throat,
and convey it more than a thoufand paces.

Latham mentions three varieties of Britifli Wood-
cocks : in the firft, the head is of a pale red^ body
white, and the wings brown ; the fecond is of a
dun, or rather cream colour ', and the third of a
pure white. * Dr Heyfham, in his Catalogue of
Cumberland Animals, mentions his having met
with one, the general colour of which was a fine

* A white Woodcock was feen three fuccefllve winters In
Penrlce wood, near Penrice-Caftle, in Glamorganfliire : it was
repeatedly flufhed and fliot at during that time, in the very fame
place where it was firft difcovered : at laft it was found dead,
with feveral others which had perifhed by the feverity of the
weather, in the winter of 1793. — This account, which was
communicated to the author by Sir John Trevelyari, Bart, on
the authority of the Rev. Dr Hunt, proves not only the exift-
cnce of white Woodcocks, but alfo the truth of the affertion,
that the haunts of this bird are the fame year after year.

BRITISH BIRDS. &§

pale afh, with frequent bars of a very delicate ru-
fous : tail brown, tipped with white ; and the
bill and legs flefh colour. In addition to thefe,
fome other varieties are taken notice of by the late
Marmaduke Tunftall, Efq. of Wycliffe, in his in-
terleaved books on ornithology.

Latham and Pennant affert, that fome Wood*
cocks deviate from the courfe which nature feems
to have taught their fpecies, by remaining through-
out the year, and breeding in this country; and
this aflertion Mr Tunftall corroborates by fuch a
number of well-authenticated inftances, that the
fad is unqueftionable.

When the Woodcock is purfued by the fports-
man, its flight is very rapid, but Ihort, as it drops
behind the firft fuitable fheltering coppice with great
fuddennefs, and in order to elude difcovery, runs
fwiftly off, in queft of fome place where it may hide
itfelf in greater fecurity.

To defcribe the various methods which are prac-
tifed by fowlers to catch this bird, would be tedi-
ous ; but it may not be improper to notice thofe
moft commonly in ufe, and againft which it does
not feem to be equally on its guard as againft the
gun. It is eafily caught in the nets, traps, and
fpringes which are placed in its accuftomed runs or
paths, as its fufpicions are all lulled into fecurity
by the filence of the night ; and it will not fly
or leap over any obftacles which are placed in its

Vol II. t I

66 BRITISH BIRDS.

way, while it is in quell of its food ; therefore, in
thofe places, barriers and avenues formed of fticksj
ftones, &c. are conftru£ted fo as to weir it into the
fatal openings where it is entrapped : in like man-
ner, a low fence made of the tops of broom ftuck
into the ground, acrofs the wet furrow of a field, or
a runner from a fpring which is not frozen, is fuffi-
cient to ftay its progrefs, and to make it feek from
fide to fide for an opening through which it might
pafs, and there it feldom efcapes the noofe that is
fet to fecure it.

At the root of the firfl quill in each wing is a
fmall-pointed narrow feather very elaftic, and much
fought after by painters, by whom it is ufed as a
pencil. A feather of a fimilar kind is found in
the whole of this tribe, and alfo in every one of the
Tringas and Plovers which the author has exa-
mined. The annexed figure reprefents a fcapular
feather of the Woodcock.

BRITISH BIRDS. ^'j

GREAT SNIPE.

{Scolopax Media.)

Latham gives the following defcription of this
bird : — " Size between the Woodcock and Snipe :
weight eight ounces : length lixteen inches : bill
four inches long, and like that of the Woodcock :
crown of the head black, divided down the middle
by a pale ftripe : over and beneath each eye ano-
ther of the fame : the upper parts of the body very
like the Common Snipe : beneath white : the fea-
thers edged with dufky black on the neck, breaft,
and fides ; and thofe of the belly fpotted with the
fame, but the middle of it is plain white : quills
dufky : tail reddifh, the two middle feathers plain,
the others barred with black : legs black." He
adds, " This is a rare fpecies. A fine fpecimen of
it was fhot in Lancaftiire, now in the Leverian Mu-
feum ; faid alfo to have been met with in Kent." *

* The author has feen three fpecimens of a large kind of
Snipe called, by feme fportfmen, from being always found
alone, the Solitary Stiipe. They weighed the fame as the above-
mentioned, but differed in fome flight particulars, meafuring
only twelve Inches in length, and from tip to tip about nine-
teen. The upper parts of the plumage were nearly like thofe
of the Common Snipe : the breaft, fides, belly and vent white,
fpotted, barred, and undulated with black. It is not clearly
afcertained whether this be a diftinft fpecies of Snipe, or whe-
ther it acquires its bulk and change of plumage from age, and
its folitary habits from ceafing to breed.

I 2

6B

BRITISH BIRDS.

COMMON SNIPE.

SNITE, OR HEATHER-BLEATER.
^Scolopax GaUlnago, Lin. — La Becajfmey BufF.)

The common Snipe is generally about four
punces in weight, and meafures twelve inches in
length, and fourteen in breadth. The bill is near-
ly three inches long ; in fome pale brown, in other?
greenifh yellow, rather flat and dark at the tip,
and very fmooth in the living bird ; but it foon be-
comes dimpled like the end of a thimble, after the
bird is dead : the head is divided lengthwife by
three reddifli or rufty v/hite lines, and tvv'o of black;
one of the former paffes along the middle of the
crown, and one above each eye : a darkifh mark
is extended from the corners of the mouth nearly

BRITISH BIRDS. 69

to each eye, and the aurlculars form fpots of the
fame colour : the chin and fore part of the neck
are yellowifh white, the former plain, the lat-
ter fpotted with brown. The fcapulars are elegant-
ly ftriped lengthwife on one web, and barred on
the other with black and yellow: the quills are
dufky, the edge of the primaries, and tips of the
fecondaries, white ; thofe next to the back barred
with black, and pale rufous : the breaft and belly are
white : the tail coverts are of a reddifh brown, and
fo long as to cover the greater part of it : the tail
confifts of fourteen feathers, the webs of which, as
far as they are concealed by the coverts, are dufky,
thence downward, tawney or rufhy orange, and ir-
regularly marked or crolfed with black. The tip
is commonly of a pale reddifh yellow, but in fome
fpecimens nearly white : the legs are pale green. *

The common refidence of the Snipe is in fmall
bogs or wet grounds, where it is almofl con-
flantly digging and nibbling in the foft mud, in
fearch of its food, which confifls chiefly of a very
fmall Idnd of red tranfparent worm, about half
an inch long ; it is faid alfo to eat flugs, and the

* Mr Tunftall mentions a " very curious pied Snipe which
was fliot in Bottley meadow, near Oxford, September 8, 1789,
by a Mr Court : its throat, breaft, back and vrings were beauti-
fully covered or ftreaked with white, and on its forehead was a
liar of the natural colour ; it had alfo a ring round the neck
and the tail, with the tips of the wings of the fame colour."

70 BRITISH BIRDS.

infedts and grubs, of various kinds, which breed in
great abundance in thofe jQimy ftagnant places. In
thefe retreats, when undifturbed, the Snipe walks
leifurely, with its head ered, and at fhort inter-
vals keeps moving the tail. But in this ftate of
tranquillity it is very rarely to be feen, as it is ex-
tremely watchful, and perceives the fportfman or
his dog at a great diftance, and inftantly conceals
itfelf among the variegated withered herbage, fo fi-
milar in appearance to its own plumage, that it is
almofl impoffible to difcover it while fquatted mo-
tionlefs in its feat : it feldom, however, waits the
near approach of any perfon, particularly in open
weather, but commonly fprings, and takes flight at
a diftance beyond the reach of the gun. When
firft difturbed, it utters a kind of feeble whiftle,
and generally flies againft the wind, turning nimbly
in a zigzag diredion for two or three hundred
paces, and fometimes foaring almoft out of fight ;
its note is then fomething like the bleating of a
goat, but this is changed to a fmgular humming or
drumming noife, uttered in its defcent.

From its vigilance and manner of flying, it is one
of the moft diflicult birds to flioot. Some fportfmen
can imitate their cries, and by that means draw them
within reach of their fliot ; others, of a lefs honour-
able defcription, prefer the more certain and lefs la-
borious method of catching them in the night by
a fpringe like that which is ufed for the Woodcock.

BRITISH BIRDS* 7I

The Snipe is migrator}'-, and is met with in all
countries: like the Woodcock, it fhuns the ex-
tremes of heat and cold by keeping upon the bleak
moors in fummer, and feeking the fhelter of the
vallies in winter. In fevere frofts and ftorms of
fnow, driven by the extremity of the weather, they
feek the unfrozen boggy places, runners from
fprings, or any open ftreamlet of water, and they
are fure to be found, often in confiderable num-
bers, in thefe places, where they fometimes fit till
nearly trodden upon before they will take their
flight.

Although it is well known that numbers of Snipes
leave Great Britain in the fpring, and return in the
autumn, yet it is equally well afcertained that many
conflantly remain and breed in various parts of the
country, for their nefts and young ones have been
fo often found as to leave no doubt of this faQ:.
The female makes her nefl in the mofl retired and
inacceffible part of the morafs, generally under the
flump of an alder or willow : it is compofed of
withered grafles and a few feathers : her eggs, four
or five in number, are of an oblong Ihape, and of
a greenifh colour, with rufly fpots : the young ones
run off foon after they are freed from the fhell, but
they are attended by the parent birds until their
bills have acquired a fufEcient firmnefs to enable
them to provide for themfelves.

72

BRITISH BIRDS.

The Snipe is a very fat bird, but its fat does Hot
cloy, and very rarely difagrees even with the weak-
eft flomach. It is much efteemed as a delicious
and well flavoured difh, and is cooked in the fame
manner as the Woodcock.

,->^;ii

BRITISH BIRDSi

73

y^^^

JUDCOCK.

JACK SNIPE, GID, OR JETCOCK.
(Scolopax Gallwulaf Lin. — La petite Becaffine, BufF.)

The Judcock, in its figure and plumage, nearly "
refembles the Commcfn Snipe ; but it is only about
half its weight, feldom exceeding two oiin'ces, of
meafuring more, from the tip of its beak to the end
of its tail, than eight inches and a half: the bill is
black at the tip, and light towards the bafe, and ra-
ther more than an inch and a half in length. A
black ftreak divides the head lengthwife from the
bafe of the bill to the nape of the neck, and ano-
ther, of a yellowifli colour, palTes over each eye to
the hinder part of the head : in the midft of this,
above the eye, is a narrow black flripe running
parallel with the top of the head from the crown to

Vol. II. t K

74

BRITISH BIRDS.

the nape. The neck is white, fpotted with brown
and pale red. The fcapulars and tertials are very
long and beautiful ; on their exterior edges they
are bordered with a flripe of yellow, and the inner
webs are ftreaked and marked with bright ruft co-
lour on a deep brown, or rather bronze ground,
refleding in different lights a fhining purple or
green. The quills are dufky. The rump is of a
gloffy violet or blueilh purple ; the belly and vent
white. The tail confilts of twelve pointed feathers
of a dark brown, edged with ruft colour ; the legs
are of a dirty or dull green.

The Judcock is of nearly the fame charafter as
the Snipe, it feeds upon the fame kinds of food/
lives and breeds in the fame fwamps and marfhes,
and conceals itfelf from the fportfman with as great
circumfpefl:ion, among the rufhes or tufts of coarfe
grafs. It, however, differs in this particular, that
it feldom rifes from its lurking place until it is al-
moft trampled upon, and, when flulhed, does not
fly to fo great a diftance. It is as much efteemed
as the Snipe, and is cooked in the fame manner.

The eggs are not bigger than thofe of a lark j in
other refpeds they are very like thofe of the Snipe*

BRITISH BIRDS,

75

KNOT,

KNUTE, OR KNOUT,
{Tringa Canuius, Lin. — Le Canut, Buff.)

These birds, like others of the fame genus, dif-
fer confiderably from each other in their appear-
ance, in different feafons of the year, as well as
from age and fex. The fpecimen from which the
above drawing was taken, meafured from the point
of the bill to the tip of the tail, eight inches and a
half, the extended wings about fifteen, and it weigh-
ed two ounces eight drachms : the bill was one
inch and three-eighths long, black at the tip, and
dufky, fading into orange towards the bafe j tongue
of nearly the fame length, fharp and horny at the
point ; fides of the head, neck, and breafl, cinere-
ous, edged with afh-coloured grey j the chin white,

K 2

76 BRITISH BIRDS.

and a flroke of the fame colour paffed oyer* each
eye. All the upper parts of the plumage were dark-
ifh brown, but more deep and glofly on the crown
of the head, back and fcapulars, and each feather
was edged with afh or grey : the under parts were
a cream-coloured white, ftreaked or fpotted with
browji on the iides and vent : the greater coverts of
the wings, tipped with white, which formed a bar
^crofs them when extended : the legs reddifti yel-
low, and fhort, not meafuring more than two inches
and one- eighth from the middle toe nail to the
knee ; the thighs feathered very nearly to the knee j
toes divided without any connecting membrane.

This bird is caught in Lincolnfhire and the other
fenny counties, in great numbers, * by nets, into
which it is decoyed by carved wooden figures,
painted to reprefent.itfelf, and placed within them,
much in the fame way as the Ruff. It is alfo fatf
tened for fale, and efleemed by many equal to the
Ruff in the dehcacy of its flavour. The feafon for
taking it is from Augufl to November, after which
the froft compels it to difappear.

This bird is faid to have been a favourite difh
with Canute, Idng of England ; and Camden ob^
ferves, that its name is derived from his — Knute,
or Knout, as he was called, which, in procefs of
time, has been changed to Knot.

* Pennant fays fourteen dozen have been taken at once»

BRITISH BIRDS. 77

OF THE GODWIT,

BuFFON enumerates eight fpecies of this divlfion
of the Scolopax genus, under the name of Barges,
including the foreign kinds ; and Latham makes
out the fame number of different forts, all Britifli.
They are a timid, Ihy, and folitary tribe ; v their
mode of fubfiflence conflrains them to fpend their
lives amidft the fens, fearching for their food in
the mud and wet foil, where they remain during
the day, fhaded and hidden among reeds and rufhes,
in that obfcurity which their timidity makes them
prefer. They feldom remain above a day or two
in the fame place, and it often happens that in the
morning not one is to be found in thofe marflies
where they were numerous the evening before.
They remove in a flock in the night, and, when
there is moonlight, may be feen and heard palling
at a vafl height. Their bills are long and flender,
and, like the common Snipe's, are fmooth and blunt
at the tip : their legs are of various colours, and
long. When purfued by the fportfman, they run
with great fpeed, are very reftlefs, fpring at a great
diftance, and make a fcream as they rife. Their
voice is fomewhat extraordinary, and has been com-
pared to the fmothered bleating of a goat. They
delight in fait marlhes, and are rare in countries
^remote from the fe?i. Their flefh is delicate and
excellent food.

78

BRITISH BIRDS.

GODWIT.

COMMON GODWIT, GODWYN, YARWHELP, OR YARWIP.
{Scolopax csgocephala, Lin. — La grande Barge grtfe^ BuflF.)

The weight of this bird is about twelve ounces ;
length about fixteen inches : the bill is four inches
long, and bent a little upwards, black at the point,
gradually foftening into a pale purple towards the
bafe ; a whitilh ftreak pafles from the bill over each
eye : the head, neck, back, fcapulars, and coverts,
are of a dingy reddifli pale brown, each feather
marked down the middle with a dark fpot. The
fore part of the breafl is ftreaked with black ; the
belly, vent, and tail are v^^hite, the latter regularly
barred with black : the webs of the firft fix quill
feathers are black, edged on the interior fides with

BRITISH BIRDS.

79

reddlfh brown : the legs are in general dark colour-
ed, inclining to a greenilh blue.

The Godwit is met with in various parts of Eu-
rope, Afia, and America : in Great Britain, in the
fpring and fummer, it refides in the fens and marlh-
es, where it rears its young, and feeds upon fmall
worms and infefts. During thefe feafons it only re-
moves from one marfh to another ; but when the
winter fets in with feverity, it feeks the fait marfhes
and the fea-fhore.

The Godwit is much efteemed, by epicures, as a
great delicacy, and fells very high. It is caught in
nets, to which it is allured by z. Jiale^ or fluffed
bird, in the fame manner, and in the fame feafon,
as the Ruffs and Reeves.

8o

BRITISH BIRDS*

RED GODWIT,

OR, RED-BREASTED GODWIT.
{^Scolopax Lapponkaf L.in. — La Barge Rovjfey Buff.)

This bird exceeds the Common Godwit in fize,
and is diftinguilhed from it by the rednefs of its
phimage ; in other refpefts its general appearance
and manner of living are nearly the fame. It mea-
fures eighteen inches in length, and weighs about
twelve ounces. The bill is nearly four inches long,
nightly turned upwards, dark at the tip, and of a
dull yellowilh red towards the bafe. The predomi-
nant colour of the head, upper part of the fhoul-
ders, breait and fides, is a bright ferruginous, or
rufly red j flreaked on the head with brown, and

BRITISH BIRDS. 8 1

on the breaft and fides barred or marbled with
dulky, cinereous, and white ; the neck plain dull
rufty red. The back, fcapulars, greater and leffer
coverts, are alh-coloured brown j on the former
two, fome of the feathers are barred and ftreaked
with black and ruft colour, and edged with pale
reddifh white. The rump is white ; the middle of
the belly, and the vent, the fame, llightly fpotted
with brown : a bar of white is formed acrofs each
wing by the tips of the greater coverts. The ex-
terior webs, and tips of the primary quills, are of
a dark brown colour, and the interior webs are
white towards their bafe. In fome fpecimens the
tail is barred with black, or dark brown, upon a
pale rufous ground j in others it is plain dark
brown, with light tips and edges. The legs are
dufky, and bare a long fpace above the knees. '

Mr Pennant, in his Ardic Zoology, fays, " thefe
birds are found in the north of Europe, and about
the Cafpian Sea, but never in Siberia, or any part
of Northern Afia.'' According to Latham, they
are plentiful in the fens about Hudfon*s Bay, in
America. They are not very common in Great
Britain. It is praifed by thofe who have eaten it
as a very well tailed and delicious bird.

There is reafon to fuppofe that Buifon has de-
fcribed the male and female Red Godwits as two
diftind fpecies. In his Planches Enluminees, the
Barge Rouffe is the female, and the Grande Barge

Vol. II. t L

82

BRITISH BIRDS.

Roujfe, the male, Red Godwit. The colours are
the fame in both, but the feathers of the female
are not fo variegated, clouded and barred, being of
a more uniform rufous, or ruft colour, on the head,
neck, breaft, and belly, and on the upper parts of
a more plain brown. His defcriptions agree with
the foregoing, except that the tail of his Grande
Barge Roufle is plain brown, and that of the fpe-
cimen from which the above drawing was made, is
barred with ruft colour.

The foregoing figure and defcription were taken
from a bird in full plumage, fent to the author by
the Rev. J. Davies, fenior fellow of Trinity Col-
ledge, Cambridge, to whom he is indebted for moft
of the fen birds.

BRITISH BIRDS. 83

CINEREOUS GODWIT.

This fpecies, as well as feveral others of the
fame genus, feems to be very imperfeftly known,
or afcertained: the flight fliades of difference in
their fize and plumage, probably occafioned only
by age or fex, there is caufe to fufpeft may have
led nomenclators, in their over anxiety to add new
fpecies to their numbers, into errors j but, how-
ever this may be, the author will leave the matter
as it ftands at prefent, to be elucidated by fports-
men and ornithologifts ; and as he has never feen
this or the three following kinds, he prefents only
the defcriptions of others. Latham fays it is the
" fize of the Greenfhank. Bill two inches and a
half long, but thicker than in that bird : the head,
neck, and back variegated with afli-colour and
white : tail flightly barred with cinereous : throat
and breafl white ; the lafl marked with a few afti-
coloured fpots : legs long, flender, and afli-colour-
ed." He mentions one as having been fliot near
Spalding, in Lincolnfhire. Pennant fays " it is
about the fize of the Greenfliank, which it nearly
refembles in its colours, but the bill is fo much
thicker, as to form a fpecific diftindion."

84

BRITISH BIRDS.

CAMBRIDGE GODWIT.

*' Larger than the Common Redfhank. Head,
upper part of the neck, and back, cinereous brown :
lefler wing coverts brown, edged \vith dull white,
and barred with black : primaries dufky, whitilh
on their inner fides : fecondaries barred, dulky and
white : underfide of the neck and breaft, dirty-
white: belly and vent, white: tail barred, cine-
reous and black : legs orange : ftiot near Cam-?
bridge." Latha?iu

BRITISH BIRDS. 85

LESSER GODWIT.

SECOND SORT OF GODWIT, OR JADREKA SNIPE.
{^Scolopax limofa, Lin. — La Barge, BufF.)

" Length feventeen inches : weight nine ounces.
Bill near four inches long, dulky, the bafe yellow-
ifh : irides white : the head and neck are cinereous:
cheeks and chin white : back, brown : on the wings,
a line of white : vent and rump, white : two mid-
dle tail feathers, black; the others, white at the
ends, which increafes on the' quter feathers, fo as
the exterior ones are white for nearly the whole
length : legs, dufky. This inhabits Iceland, Green-
land, and Sweden. Migrates in flocks in the fouth
of Ruffia. Seen about Lake Baikal : and is faid
alfo to have been met with in England." Latham,

A«*..

B6

BRITISH BIRDS.

GREENSHANK.

GREEN-SHANKED GODWIT, OR GREEN-LEGGED HORSE-
MAN.

^Scolopax glottis, Lin. — La Barge varlee, BufF.)

The Greenfhankis of a flender and elegant jfhape,
and its weight fmall in proportion to its length and
dimenfions, being only about fix ounces, although
it meafures from the tip of its beak to the end of its
tail fourteen inches, and to the toes twenty; and
from tip to tip of the wings, twenty-five. The bill
is about two inches and a half long, flrait and
ilender, the upper mandible black, the under red-
difh at its bafe. The upper parts of its plumage
are pale brownilh afh-colour, but each feather is
marked down the Ihaft with a gloify bronze brown;
the under parts, and rump, are of a pure white : a

BRITISH BIRDS. 87

whitifh flreak paffes over each eye : the quill fea-
thers are dulky, plain on the outer webs, but the
inner ones are fpeckled with white fpots : the tail is
white, croffed with dark waved bars : the legs are
long, bare about two inches above the knees, and
of a dai'k green colour: the outer toe is con-
nected by a membrane to the middle one as far as
the firfl joint.

This fpecies is not numerous in England, but
they appear in fmall flocks, in the winter feafon, on
the fea-fhores and the adjacent marfhes ; their fum-
mer refidence is in the northern regions of Rulfia,
Siberia, &c. where they are faid to be in great plen-
ty ; they are alfo met with in various parts of both
Afia and America. Their fleih, like all the reft of
this genus, is well-flavoured, and efteemed good
eating.

The above figure and defcription were taken from
a fluffed fpecimen in the WyclifFe Mufeum.

BRITISH BIRDS^

SPOTTED REDSHANK.

RED-LEGGED GODWIT, SPOTTED SNIPE, OR BARKER.
[Scolopax Tofanusi Lin. — Le Chevalier roitgey Buff.)

The length of this bird, from the tip of the bill
to the end of the tail, is twelve inches^ and to the
end of" the toes fourteen inches and a half j its
breadth twenty-one inches and a quarter, and its
weight about five ounces two drachms, avoirdupoife.
The bill is flender, meafures two inches and a half
from the corners of the mouth to the tip, and is,
for half its length, neareft the bafe, red ; the other
part black : irides hazel : the head, neck, breaft,
and belly are fpotted in ftreaks, mottled and barred
with dingy afh-brown and dull white, darker on
the crown and hinder part of the neck : the throaS

BRITISH BIRDS. 89

is white, and lines of the fame colour pafs from
the upper fides of the beak over each eye, from the
corners of which two brown ones are extended to
the noflrils : the ground colour of the fhoulders,
fcapulars, lefler coverts, and tail, is a gloffy olive
brown, — the feathers on all thefe parts are indented
on the edges, more or lefs, with triangular-fhaped
white fpots. The back is white ; the rump barred
with waved lines of afli-coloured brown, and dingy
white : the vent feathers are marked nearly in the
fame manner, but with a greater portion of white :
the tail and coverts are alfo barred with narrow
waved lines, of a dull afli-colour, and, in fome fpe-
cimens, are nearly black and white. Five of the
primary quills are dark brown, tinged with olive ;
the Ihaft of the firfl quill is white ; the next fix
are, in the male, rather deeply tipped with white,
and flightly fpotted and barred with brown : the fe-
condaries, as far as they are uncovered, when the
wings are extended, are of the fame fnowy white-
nefs as the back. The feathers which cover the
upper part of the thighs, and thofe near them, are
biuflied with a reddifh or vinous colour : the legs
are of a deep orange red, and meafure, from the
end of the middle toe nail to the upper bare part
of the thigh, five inches and a half.

A fluffed fpecimen of this elegant-looking bird,
from which the figure and defcription were taken,
was the gift of Mr Rediough, of Ormskirk : ano-

VoLlI. t M

9©

BRITISH BIRDS.

ther of thefe birds, in perfeO; plumage, was fliot by
Mr John Bell, of Alemouth, merchant, in Septem-
ber, 1801 ; it differed from the former in being
more fparingly fpotted with white on the upper
parts, and in its breaft, belly, and the infide of the
wings, being of a fnowy whitenefs, and its fides,
under the wings, more delicately fpotted with pale
brown*

BRITISH BIRDS.

9»

t'^-'/

REDSHANK.

RED-LEGGED HORSEMAN, POOL SNIPE, OR
SAND COCK.

(Scolopax CaRdris, Lin. — Le Chevalier aux Pkds Routes, BufF.)

This bird weighs about five ounces and a half:
its length is twelve inches, and the breadth twenty-
one. The bill, from the tip to the corners of the
mouth, is more than an inch and three-quarters
long, black at the point, and red towards the bafe :
the feathers on the crown of the head are dark
brown, edged with pale rufous ; a light or whitifh
line paffes over, and encircles each eye, from> the
corners of which a dark brown fpot is extended to
the beak : irides hazel : the hinder part of the neck
is obfcurely fpotted with dark brown, on a rufly
afa-coloured ground; the throat and fore part are
Ms '

92 BRITISH BIRDS.

more diflinftly marked or ftreaked with fpots of
the fame colour : on the breaft and belly, which are
white, tinged with afh, the fpots are thinly diftri-
buted, and are fhaped fomething like the heads
of arrows or darts. The general appearance of the
upper parts of the plumage is gloify olive brown ;
fome of the feathers are quite plain, others fpotted
on the edges with dark brown, and thofe on the
flioulders, fcapulars, and tertials are tranfverfely
marked with the fame coloured waved bars, on a
pale rufty ground : the baftard wing and primary
quills are dark brown j the inner webs of the latter
are deeply edged with white, freckled with brown,
and fome of thofe quills next the fecondaries are
elegantly marked, near their tips, with narrow
brown lines, pointed and fhaped to the form of each
feather : fome of the fecondaries are barred in near-
ly the fame manner, others are white : back white :
the tail feathers and coverts are beautifully marked
with alternate bars of dulky and white, the middle
ones nightly tinged with rufl colour : legs red, and
meafure from the end of the toes to the upper bare
part of the thigh, four inches and a half.

This fpecies is of a folitary charafter, being moft-
ly feen alone, or in pairs only. It refides the great-
er part of the year in the fen countries, in the wet
and marlhy grounds, where it breeds and rears its
young. It lays four eggs, whiteifli, tinged with olive,
and marked with irregular fpots of black, chiefly

BRITISH BIRDS. 93

on the thicker end. Pennant and Latham fay, " it
flies round its neft, when diflurbed, maldng a noife
like a Lapwing/* It is not fo common on the fea-
fliores as feveral others of its kindred fpecies.

Ornithologifts differ much in their defcriptions of
the Redfliank, and probably have confounded it
with others of the red-legged tribe, whofe proper
names are yet wanting, or involved in doubt and
uncertainty. Latham, in his fupplement, defcribes
this bird as differing fo much in its fummer and
winter drefs, and in its weight, as to appear to be of
two diftind fpecies. There is reafon to believe that
feveral fpecies of the Scolopax and Tringa genera
which have not yet been taken into the lift of
Britifh birds, appear occafionally in Great Britain,
and that this circumftance, together with the differ-
ence of age and fex, has occalioned much confu-
lion. The figure and defcription of this pretty bird
were taken from a fpecimen fent by the Rev. J.
Davies, of Trinity College, Cambridge : on com-
paring it with that figured in the Planches Enlumi-
nees, under the title of Le Chevalier raye, and the
ftriated Sandpiper of Pennant and Latham, the
difference was fo flight, that there is no doubt of its
being the fame fpecies.

94

BRITISH BIRDS.

OF THE SANDPIPER.

The tongue is flender ; toes divided, or very
nightly conneded at the bafe by a membrane;
hinder toe weak ; their bills are nearly of the fame
form as thofe of the preceding fpecies, but ihort-
er : their haunts and manner of life are alfo very
fimilar. Latham has enumerated thirty-feven fpe-
cies and nine varieties of this genus, feventeen of
which are Britifh, exclufive of thofe which in this
work are placed among the Plovers j but the hifto-
ry and claffification of this genus are involved ii^
much uncertainty.

xV^'i^

BRITISH BIRDS. 95

RUFF.

{Tr'inga Pugnax, Lin. — Le Comballant, Buff.)

The male of this curious fpecles is called the
RufF, and the female the Reeve : they differ mate-
rially in their exterior appearance ; and alfo, what
is remarkable in wild birds, it very rarely happens
that two Ruffs are alike in the colours of their
plumage. * The fingular, wide-fpreading, varie-
gated tuft of feathers which, in the breeding fea-
fon, grows out of their necks, is different in
all. This tuft or ruff, a portion of which ftands
up like ears beliind each eye, is in fome black,

* Buffon fays, that Klien compared above a hundred Rufls
together, and found only two that were Lniilar.

gS BRITISH BIRDS,

in others black and yellow, and in others again
white, ruft colour, or barred with glofly violet,
black and white. They are, however, more nearly
alike in other refpeflis : they meafure about a foot
in length, and two in breadth, and, when firft ta-
ken, weigh about feven ounces and an half 5 the
female feldom exceeds four. The bill is more than
an inch long, black at the tip, and reddifli yellow
towards the bafe ; the irides are hazel : the whole
face is covered with reddilh tubercles, or pimples :
the wing coverts are brownifli afh-colour : the up-
per parts and the bread: are generally marked with
tranfverfe bars, and the fcapulars with roundilh-
Ihaped glofly black fpots, on a rufty-coloured
ground : quills dufky : belly, vent, and tail coverts
white : the tail is brown, the four middle feathers
of it are barred with black : the kgs are yellow.
The male does not acquire the ornament of his
neck till the fecond feafon, and, before that time, is
not eafily diilinguifhed from the female, except by
being larger. After moulting, at the end of June,
he loofes his ruff and the red tubercles on his face,
and from that time until the fpring of the year, he
again, in plumage, looks hke his mate.

Thefe birds leave Great Britain in the winter,
and are then fuppofed to affociate with others of
the Tringa genus, among which they are no long-
er recognized as the Ruff and Reeve. In the fpring,
as foon as they arrive again in England, and take

BRITISH BIRDS. 97

up their abode in the fens where they were bred,
each of the males (of which there appears to be a
much greater number than of females) immediate-
ly fixes upon a particular dry or graffy fpot in the
marfh, about which he runs round and round, un-
til it is trodden bare : to this fpot it appears he
wifhes to invite the female, and waits in expeda-
tion of her taking a joint poflellion, and becoming
an inmate. As foon as a fingle female arrives, and
is heard or obferved by the males, her feeble cry
feems as if it roufed them all to war, for they in-
flantly begin to fight^ and their combats are de-
fcribed as being both defperate and of long conti-
nuance : at the end of the battle Ihe becomes the
prize of the vidor. * It is at the time of thefe battles
that they are caught in the greatefl numbers in the
nets of the fowlers, who watch for that opportuni-
ty : they are alfo, at other times, caught by clap,
or day nets, f and are drawn together by means of

* BufFon fays, " they not only contend with each other in An-
gle rencounter, but they advance to combat in iliarfhalled ranks."

f Thefe nets, which are about fourteen yards long, and four
broad, are fixed by the fowler over night : at day-break in the
morning he reforts to his ftand, at a few hundred yards diftance
from the place, and at a fit opportunity pulls his cord, which
Caufes his net to fall over and fecure the prize. Mr Pennant
fays, an old fowler told him he once caught forty-four birds at
one haul, and, in all, fix dozen that morning : he alfo adds,
that a fowler will take forty or fifty dozen in a feafon. The
females are always fet at liberty.

Vol. II. t N

98 BRITISH BIRDS.

a ftufFed Reeve, or what Is called '^^Jlale bird^ which
is placed in fome fuitable fpot for that purpofe.

The Ruff is highly efteemed as a moft delicious
difh, and is fought after with great eagernefs by the
fowlers who live by catching them and other fen
birds, for the markets of the metropolis, he. Be-
fore they are offered for fale, they are commonly
put up to feed for about a fortnight, and are during
that time fed with boiled wheat, and bread and
milk mixed with hempfeed, to which fugar is
fometimes added : by this mode of treatment they
become very fat, and are often fold as high as two
fhillings and fixpence each. * They are cooked in
the fame manner as the Woodcock.

The female, in the beginning of May, makes
her neft in a dry tuft of grafs, in the fens, and lays
four white eggs, marked with rufly fpots.

Thefe birds are common in the fummer feafon in
the fens of Denmark, Sweden, and Ruffia, and are
alfo found in other more northern regions, even as
far as Iceland.

* In a note comniunicated by the late George Allan, Efq-
ef the Grange, near Darlington, he fays, " I dined at the
George Inn, Coney-ilreet, York, Auguft 18, 1794, (the
race week) where four Ruffs made, one of the difh es at the
table, which, in the bill, were feparately charged fixteen ihil-
lings."

BRITISH BIRDS. 99

SHORE SANDPIPER.

{Trtnga Littoreai luin.'—Le Chevalier varie, BufF.)

Under this name Latham defcribes this bird,
which, it is faid, migrates from Sweden into Eng-
land at the approach of winter. He makes it a va-
riety of the laft fpecies, and fays it does not differ
materially from it, '' The fpots on the back are
ferruginous inftead of white : the fhaft of the firll
quill is white, as in the Green Sandpiper ; and the
fecondaries have white tips : * the legs are brown."
Brunnich mentions a further variety, wherein the
firfl quill has a black fhaft, and the fpots on the
back and wings are lefs ; and obferves, that they
differ in age and fex. f

* Thefe are marks fo common to many of this genus, that
they cannot be confidered as a feature fujEcient to diflinguifli
any particular fpecies.

f Buffon's figure in the Planches Enluminees differs from this
defcription.

N 2

lOO

BRITISH BIRDS.

v>»

n/^"^'"^ \%\^,,Ai^j

GREEN SANDPIPER.

{Trlnga OchropustlAn. — Le Becajfeau^ ou Cul-blanCi Buff.)

This bird meafures about ten inches in length,
to the end of the toes nearly twelve, and weighs
about three ounces and a half: the bill is black,
and an inch and a half long : a pale flreak extends
from it over each eye ; between which and the cor-
ners of the mouth, there is a dulky patch. The
crown- of the head and hinder part of the neck are
of a dingy brownifli afh- colour, in fome fpecimens
narrowly llreaked with white : the throat white :
fore part of the neck mottled or ftreaked with
brown fpots, on a white or pale alh-coloured ground.
The whole upper parts of the plumage are of a
gloffy bronze, or olive brown, elegantly marked on
the edge of each feather with fmall roundifh white
fpots : the quills are without fpots, and are of ^

BRITISH BIRDS. lOi

darker brown : the fecondaries and tertials are very
long : the infide of the wings are dufky, edged with
white grey ; and the infide coverts next the body
are curioufly barred, from the fhaft of each feather
to their edges, with narrow white lines, formed
nearly of the fhape of two fides of a triangle. The
belly, vent, tail coverts, and tail, are white; the
laft broadly barred with black, the middle feathers
having four bars, and thofe next to them decreafing
in the number of bars towards the outfide feathers,
which are quite plain : the legs are green.

This bird is not any where numerous, and is of
a folitary difpofition, feldom more than a pair being
feen together, and that chiefly in the breeding fea-
fon. It is a fcarce bird in England, but is faid to
be more common in the northern parts of the globe,
even as far as Iceland. It is reported that they ne-
ver frequent the fea-fhores, but their places of abode
are commonly on the margins of the lakes in the
interior and mountainous parts of the country.

102 BRITISH BIRDS.

GAMBET.

(Tringa gamhettaf Lin. — La Gamhette, Buff.)

This is the Chevalier Rouge of Briffon, and the
Red-legged Horfeman of Albin. For want of a
fpecimen of this bird, the following defcription is
borrowed from Latham : —

" Size of the Greenfhank : length twelve inches.
Bill of a reddifh colour, with a black tip : the irides
yellowifh green : head, back, and breaft cinereous
brown, fpotted with dull yellow : wing coverts and
fcapulars cinereous, edged with dull yellow : prime
quills dufky ; fhaft of the firft white ; tail dufky,
bordered with yellow : legs yellow. * This inha-
bits England, but is not common : has been fhot
on the coaft of Lincolnfhire. Known in France ;
but is there a rare bird. Has a note not unlike the
whiflle of a Woodcock ; and the flefh is efleemed.
Inhabits Scandinavia and Iceland ; called in the lafl
Stelkr, It has alfo been taken in the frozen fea be-
tween Afia and America.*'

* The figure of this bird, in the Planches Enlurainees of Buf-
fon, is red legged, and alfo differs in plumage from this defcrip-
tion.

BRITISH BIRDS. 103

ASH-COLOURED SANDPIPER.

Tringa Cinerea.

This bird weighs between four and five ounces,
and meafures ten inches in length, and about nine-
teen in breadth. The whole upper parts of the
plumage are of a brownilh afh-colour : the head is
fpotted, and the neck flreaked with dulky lines:
the feathers of the back, fcapulars, and wing co-
verts, are elegantly marked or bordered on their
ridges and tips, with two narrow lines of dull white,
and dark brown. Some fpecimens have black fpots
on the breaft, but moll commonly the whole under
parts are pure white ; the tail is cinereous, edged
with white, and its coverts are barred with black :
legs dirty green ; toes edged with a fine narrow fcal-
lopped membrane.

The Afh-coloured Sandpiper, it is faid, breeds in
the northern parts of both Europe and America.
Pennant fays they appear in vaft flocks on the Ihores
of Flintfhire in the winter feafon ; and Latham, that
they are feen in vaft numbers on the Seal-Iflands,
near Chateaux Bay ; and alfo that they breed and
remain the whole fummer at Hudfon's Bay, where
they are called by the natives Safqua pifqiia niflnjh.

,104

BHITISH BIRDS,

COMMON SANDPIPER.

( Tringa hypohucos, Lin.— Za Gmgnette, Buff. ^

This bird weighs about two ounces, and mea-
fures feven inches and a half in length. The bill is
about an inch long, black at the tip, fading into
pale brown towards the bafe. The head, and hinder
part of the neck, are brownifh afh, ftreaked down-
wards with dark narrow lines : the throat is white,
and a llreak of the fame colour furrounds and is ex-
tended over each eye : the cheeks and auriculars
are ftreaked with brown : the fore part of the neck
to the breaft is white, mottled and ftreaked with
fpots and lines of a brown colour, pointing down-
wards : in fome the breaft is plain white : belly
and vent white. The ground colour of all the up-
per parts of the plumage is afii, blended with glofly

BRITISH BIRDS* I05

olive bronze brown : the coverts, fcapulars, lower
part of the back and tail coverts, are edged with
dull white, and moll elegantly marked with tranf-
verfe dark-coloured narrow waved lines : the firfl
two quills are plain brown j the next nine are mark-
ed on the middle of their inner webs, with white
fpots J the fecondaries are alfo marked in the fame
manner, on both webs, and tipped with white. The
tail confifls of twelve feathers : the four middle ones
are of an olive brown, dark at the tips j thofe next
to them, on each fidcj are much lighter coloured,
mottled with dark brown, and tipped with white ;
the two outfide ones are edged and tipped in the
fame manner, but are barred on their webs with
dark brown : legs pale dull green, faintly blufhed
with red.

This defcription was taken from a perfect bird,
the prefent of the right honourable Lord Charles
Aynfley, of Little-Harle Tower, Northumberland,
in May, 1798. By comparing it with other birds,
and other defcriptions, (no doubt taken with equal
accuracy) the truth of the obfervation fo often
made, that two birds even of the fame fpecies, are
very feldom exa£lly alike, will be proved.

This elegant little bird breeds in this country, but
the fpecies is not numerous, yet they are frequently
feen in pairs during the fummer months ; and are well
known by their clear piping note, by their flight, by
jerking up their tails, and by their manner of run-

Vol. II. t O

io6

BRITISH BIRDS»

ning after their Infed prey on the pebbly margins of
brooks and rivers. The female makes her nefl in a
hole on the ground near their haunts ; her eggs,
commonly five in number, are much mottled and
marked with dark fpots, on a yellowilh ground..
They leave England in the autumn, but whither
they go is not particularly noticed by ornithologifts,.
BuiFon fays they retire far north ; and Pennant and
Latham that they are met with in Siberia and Kamts-
chatca, and are alfo not uncommon in North Ame-
rica.

BRITISH BIRDS.

107

BROWN SANDPIPER.

Fufca.

Pennant defcribes this bird, which, he fays,
was bought in the London market, and preferved
in the colleftion of the late M. Tunflall, Efq. of
Wycllffe : — " Size of a Jackfnipe : the bill is black :
the head, upper part of the neck, and back, are of
a pale brown, fpotted with black : coverts of the
wings dulky, edged with dirty white : underfide of
the neck white, ftreaked with black: the belly
white : tail ciaereous : legs black,"

O 2

I08 BRITISH BIRDS.

GREENWICH SANDPIPER.

Grenovlcenfis.

" Size of the Redfhank : weight nearly eight
ounces : length twelve inches and a half. Bill an
inch and a half long, black : crown of the head
reddifh brown, llreaked with black : nape, cheeks,
and neck, afli-colour; the middle of the feathers
dulky down the fhaft : lower part of the neck and
back black ; the feathers margined on the fides
with pale ferruginous, and fome of thofe of the
back at the tips alfo : chin nearly white : fore part
of the neck very pale afh-colour, as far as the breaft,
which is of a dufky white : belly, fides, vent, and
upper tail coverts on each fide, and the whole of the
under ones, white : leffer wing coverts afh-colour ;
the greater, the fame, obfcurely margined with
pale ferruginous ; greatefl tipped with white ; un-
der wing coverts pure white : prime quills dufky,
the fhafts more or lefs white ; fecondaries and fca-
pulars nearly the colour of the back ; the feconda-
ries and primaries very little differing in length :
the lower part of the back, rump, and middle of
the tail coverts, afh-colour : tail a little rounded at
the end, brownifh afh-colour, fomewhat mottled
with brownifh near the tips, and fringed near to
the end with pale ferruginous : legs dufky olive
green, bare an inch above the knee : the outer and

BRITISH BIRDS.

109

middle toe conneded at the bafe.'* The bird from
which the above defcription was taken, was fhot by
Dr Leith, at Greenwich, on the 5th of Auguft,
1785, and fent to Mr Latham, who confidered it as
a new fpecies.

no BRITISH BIRDS.

BLACK SANDPIPER.

" Size of a Thrufh : the beak Ihort, blunt at
the point, and dufky : noftrils black : the irides yel-
low : the head fmall, and flatted at the top : the co-
lour white, moll elegantly fpotted with grey : the
neck, flioulders, and back mottled in the fame man-
ner, but darker, being tinged with brown ; in fome
lights thefe parts appeared of a perfedb black, and
glofly : the wings were long : the quill-feathers
black, croffed near their bafe with a white line : the
throat, breaft, and belly white, with faint brown
and black fpots of a longifh form, irregularly dif-
perfed ; but on the belly become larger and more
round : the tail Ihort, entirely white, except the
two middle feathers, which are black : legs long
and flender, and of a reddifh brown colour." This
bird was fhot in Lincolnlhire ; and the defcriptioH
communicated to Mr Pennant by Mr Bolton.

BRITISH BIRDS.

Ill

SPOTTED SANDPIPER,

OR SPOTTED TRINGA.
i^Trlnga maculartat Lin.— Z.fl Grive d'eau, Buff.)

This bird meafures about eight inches in length :
the bill is black at the tip, and fades into a reddifh
colour towards the bafe ; a white ftreak is extend-
ed over each eye, and a brownifh patch between
them and the bill : the whole upper part of the plu-
mage is of a gloffy lightifh brown, with green re-
flections : the head and neck are marked with long-
ifii fmall dark fpots : on the back, fcapulars, and
wing coverts the fpots are larger, and of a trian-
gular fhape : the rump is plain : the greater quills
are dufky; fecondaries tipped with white; as are
alfo the greater and leffer coverts, which form tv/o
obHque white lines acrofs the extended wings : the

112

BRITISH BIRDS,

two middle feathers of the tail are greenifh brown ;
the fide ones white, crofled with du{ky lines : the
breaft, belly, and vent are white, but in the female,
fpotted with brown : legs of a dirty flefh-colour.

This fpecies is not common in England. The
fpecimen from which the foregoing figure was
drawn, was fliot in the month of Auguft, on the
bleak moors above Bellingham, in Northumber-
land -f and the author is indebted for it, and many
other favours of the fame kind, at different times,
to Mr John Wingate, of the Weftgate, Newcaflle,

BRITISH BIRDS.

113

RED-LEGGED SANDPIPER.

{Trlnga Erythropus.)

This bird meafures from the tip of the beak to
the end of the tail, ten inches : the bill is an inch
and three-eignths long, black at the tip, and reddiih
towards the bafe : the crown of the head is fpotted
with dark brown, difpofed in ftreaks, and edged
with pale brown and grey : a darkilh patch covers
the fpace between the corners of the mouth and the
eyes : the chin is white ; the brow and cheeks pale
brown, prettily freckled with fmall dark fpots : the
hinder part of the neck is compofed of a mixture of
pale brown, grey and afh, with a few indillinfl:
dulky fpots ; the fore part, and the breafl, are
white, clouded with a dull cinnamon colour, and
fparingly and irregularly marked with black fpots.

Vol. II. f P

114 BRITISH BIRDS.

refleding a purple glofs : the fhoulder and fcapular
feathers are black, edged with pale rufl colour, and
have the fame gloffy refledions as thofe on the
breaft : the tertials are nearly of the fame length as
the quills, and are marked like the firfl annex-
ed figure : the ridges of the wings are a brownifh
afli-colour ; the coverts, back, and rump are near-
ly the fame, but inclining to olive, and the middle
of each feather is of a deeper dufky brown : the pri-
mary quills are deep olive brown : the exterior webs
of thefecondaries are alfo of that colour, but lighter,
edged and tipped with white, and the inner webs
are moflly white towards the bafe : the tail coverts
are glolfy black, edged with pale rufl colour, and
tipped with white ; but in fome of them a flreak of
white pafles from the middle upwards, nearly the
whole length, as in the fecond figure. The tail
feathers are lightiih brown, except the two middle
ones, which are barred with fpots of a darker hue :
the belly and vent are white: legs bare above the
knees, and red as feahng-wax: claws black. The
female is lefs than the male, and her plumage more
dingy and indiftind : an egg taken out of her pre-
vious to fluffing, was furprifingly large, confidering
her bulk, being about the fize of that of a magpie,
of a greenifh white colour, fpotted and blotched
with brown, of a long fhape, and pointed at the
fmaller end.

The foregoing figure and defcription were taken
from a pair, male and female, which were Ihot on

BRITISH BIRDS.

IJ5

Rippengale fen, in Lincolnlhire, on the 14th of
May, 1799, by Major Charles Dilke, of the War-
wickfhlre cavalry, who alfo obligingly pointed out
feveral leading features of thefe birds, in which they
differ materially from the Scolopax Calidris of Lin-
naeus, called here the Redihank or Poolfnipe. He
fays, " this bird is a conftant inhabitant of the fens,
and is known to fportfmen by its fmgular notes,
which are very loud and melodious, and are heard
even when the bird is beyond the reach of fight."
The defcription of this bird, which, it feems, is
common in the fen countries, has been more parti-
cularly attended to, becalife it has not been defcrib-
ed in any of the popular works on ornithology ;
at lead, not fo accurately as to enable a naturalift
to diftinguifh it by the proper name.

il6 BRITISH BIRDS.

RED SANDPIPER.

ABERDEEN SANDPIPER.
{^Tringa Icelandicoy Lin.)

Latham defcribes this bird in the following
manner : — " Length from eight to ten inches : bill
brown, one inch and a half long, and a little bent
downwards : head, hinder part of the neck, and
beginning of the back, dulky, marked with red ;
fore part of the neck and breaft cinereous, mix-
ed with ruft colour, and obfcurely fpotted with
black : leffer wing coverts cinereous : quills dulky :
fecondaries tipped with white : the two middle tail
feathers dulky ; the others cinereous : legs long and
black." The fame author mentions another varie-
ty, which is called by Pennant the Aberdeen Sand-
piper : it has the breaft reddilh brown, mixed with
dulky : belly and vent white : in other refpefts it
is like the Red Sandpiper, of which it is fuppofed
by Latham to be the female, or a young bird. He
adds, " the Red Sandpiper has appeared in great
flocks on the coafts of Eflex : the Aberdeen, in
Scotland. They have alfo been met with on the
coafts of New York, Labrador, and Nootka Sound j
and are alfo found in Iceland. In fummer they fre-
quent the neighbourhood of the Cafpian fea ; and
alfo the river Don. It is perpetually running up
and down on the fandy banks, picking up infers
and fmall worms, on which it feeds."

BRITISH BIRDS.

117

DUNLIN.

{Tringa /llplnaf Lin. — La Brunette^ BufF.)

This bird is nearly of the fize of the Judcock,
and its bill is of the fame fhape, but much fhorter
in proportion to the bulk : it may alfo be eafily dif-
tinguiflied among its affociates, the Purres, Dottrels,
Sander lings, &c. by the rednefs of the upper parts
of its plumage ; the ground colour of which, from
the beak to the rump, is ferruginous, or rufty red ;
but the middle of each feather is black, and the
edges of fome of them are narrowly fringed with
yellowilh white, or alh-coloured grey : in fome fpe-
cimens the lelfer wing coverts are dingy alh-coloured
brown, in others they are of a clear brown, edged
with ferruginous rather deeply : the quills and
greater coverts are dark brown, the latter deeply
tipped with white, which, together with the bafes of

llS BRITISH BIRDS.

the fecondaries, forms an oblique bar acrofs the ex-
tended wings : the primaries, except the firft three,
are edged on the exterior webs with white ; their
Ihafts are alfo moftly white, and each feather is
Iharply pencilled and diflin£tly defined with a light
colour about the tips : a darkifli fpot covers each
fide of the head from the comers of the mouth, and
a pale ftreak paflTes from the bill over each eye : the
throat and fore part of the neck to the breafl, are of
a yellowifh white, mottled with brown fpots: a
dulky crefcent-fhaped patch, the feathers of which
are naiTowly edged with white, covers the breaft,
the horns pointing towards the thighs : * the belly
and vent are white : the middle tail feathers black,
edged with ferruginous ; the others pale afh, edged
with white : legs and thighs black. The female is
rather larger than the male, but in other refped?
refembles him pretty nearly.

The above defcription and figure were taken
from a pair, fent by the Rev. C. Rudfton, of Sand-
hutton, near York, the 2 2d of April, 1799; and
the author has been favoured with numbers of thefe
and others of the fame gems, by the Rev. H. Cotes,
vicar of Bedlington ; not two of which were exact-
ly alike, probably owing to the difference of age or
fex.

■* In feme fpeclmens, fuppofed to be female, this patch was
wanting.

BRITISH BIRDS.

i 19

*v>

t=*,™ir:-

PURRE.

{Tr'mga CincluSy Lin. — L*^louette de Mer^ Buff.)

In the north of England thefe birds are called
Stints, in other parts, the Leaft Snipe, Ox-Bird,
Ox-Eye, Bull's-Eye, Sea-Lark, and Wagtail : they
generally meafure about feven inches and a half
in length, and in breadth about fourteen ; but fome-
times they weigh and meafure rather more. The
bill is black, grooved on the fides of the upper
mandible, and about an inch and a quarter in length :
tongue of nearly the fame^ngth, fharp and hard at
the point : a whitifli line runs from the brow over
each eye, and a brownifh one from the fides of the
mouth to the eyes, and over the cheeks : the fore
part of the neck is pale afh-colour, mottled with
brown : the head, hinder part of the neck, upper
part of the back, and fcapulars, are brownifli afli-
colour, but the middle of the feathers on thefe parts

I20 BRITISH BIRDS.

is dark brown ; hence there is a more or lefs mot-
tled and ftreaked appearance in different birds.
The upper fide of the fcapulars, next the back,
are deep brown, edged with bright ferruginous ;
tertials, rump, and tail coverts nearly the fame :
baftard wing, primary and fecondary quills, deep
brown : leffer coverts brown, edged with yellowifh
white : greater coverts of nearly the fame colour,
but tipped with white : the throat, breaft, belly,
and vent, white : the two middle feathers of the
tail are dufky, the reft afh-coloured : legs, thighs,
and toes black, inclining to green. The female
has not the bright ferruginous edged feathers on
the upper fcapulars, and her whole plumage is more
uniformly of a brownifli alh-colour, mixed with
grey.

The Purre, with others of the fame genus, ap-
pears in great numbers on the fea-fhores, in vari-
ous parts of Great Britain, during the winter fea-
fon : they run nimbly near the edges of the flow-
ing and retiring waves, and are almoft perpetually
wagging their tails, whilft they are, at the fame time
buiily employed in picking up their food, which con-
fifts chiefly of fmall worms and infeds. On tak-
ing flight, they give a kind of fcream, and {kim
along near the furface of the water with great rapi-
dity, as well as with great regularity ; they do not
fly dire6:ly for^vard, but perform their evolutions
in large femicircles, alternately in their fweep ap-

BRITISH BIRDS. 121

preaching the ftiore and the fea, and the curvature
of their courfe is pointed out by the flock's appear*
ing fuddenly and alternately in a dark or in a
fnoWy white colour, as their backs or their bellies
are turned to or from the fpe^lator. *

The Purre leaves this country in the fpring, but
whither it retires to breed is not yet known. It is
faid to be widely difperfed over both Europe and
America.

By the kindnefs of his friends the author has been
furnilhed with many of thefe birds ; and on the
moll minute infpedion, as has before been noticed
in refped of others of this genus, they all differed
in a greater or lefs degree from each other, f

* It is foitiewhat remarkable that birds of different fpecies,
fuch as the Ring-dottrel, Sanderling, &c. which afTociate with
the Purre, Dunhn, &c. fhould underftand the fignal, which,
from their wheeling about altogether with fuch promptitude
and good order, it would appear is given to the whole flock.

f In a variety of this fpecies, obligingly prefented by Geo.
Strickland, Efq. of Ripon, the bill was bent a little downward j,
and the fore part of the neck and the breaft were of a pale red-
difli buff colour : in other refpedts it did not differ materially.

There is reafon to fufpeft that fome ornithologitts have de-
nominated this bird the Dwarf Curlew ; and probably the
Cincle, or L'Alouette de Mer, of Buffon, and the variety of
the Purre, defcribed by Latham, only differ from the fpecimeu
whence the above drawing was taken, in age or fex.

Vol.. II. t Q

122

BRITISH BIRDS.

LITTLE STINT.

LITTLE SANDPIPER, OR LEAST SNIPE.
{Tnnga f>u/i!la, Lin. — La petite Alouette de Mer, BnlTon.)

This bird, the leaft of the Sandpiper tribe, in its
figure and plumage nearly refembles the laft two
kinds. It weighs twelve pennyweights troy, and
meafures in length, extended, from the point of the
beak to the end of the tail, nearly fix inches ; from
tip to tip of its wing, about eleven inches and a
half ; and the bill, to the corners of the mouth, is
five-eighths of an inch. The fdathers on the crown
of the head are black, edged with rufl colour : it
is marked, like moll of the genus, by a light ftreak
over each eye, and a darkifh fpot below and before
them : the throat, fore part of the neck, and belly
are white ; and the breaft is tinged with pale red'.

BRITISH BIRDS.

12'

difli yellow : the fhoulders and fcapulars are black,
edged with white on the exterior webs of each fea-
ther, and on the interior with ruft colour : back
and tail dulky : legs flender, and nearly black.

This figure and defcription were taken from a
bird fhot by Robert Pearfon, Efq. of Newcaftle, on
the loth of September, 1801, the only one the au-
thor has feen. It will be remarked that it differs
from Pennant and Latham's defcriptions, fimply in
the feathers on the upper parts not being edged
with black and pale rufty brown.

Q !!

1 24

BRITISH BIRDS.

TURNSTONE.

SEA DOTTEREL, OR HEBRIDAL SANDPIPER.
[Tringa interpreSf Lin.- — Le Coulon-chaudy BufF. )

This is a plump made, and prettily variegated
bird, and meafures about eight inches and a quarter
in length : the bill is black, ftraight, ftrong, and
not more than an inch in length : the ground colour
of the head and neck is white, with fmall fpots on
the crown and hinder parts ; a black llroke croffes
the forehead to the eyes ; the auriculars are form-
ed by a patch of the fame colour, which, pointing
forward to the corners of the mouth, and falling
down, is fpread over the fides of the breaft, whence
afcends another branch, which, like a band, goes

BRITISH BIRDS.

^25

about the lower part of the neck behind. * The
back, fcapulars, and tertials are black, edged v/ith
rufty red ; leflfer coverts of the wings cinereous
brown; greater coverts black, edged with ferrugi-
nous, and tipped with white : primary and fecon-
dary quills black, the latter white at the ends : the
rump and tail coverts are white, crofled with a
black bar : tail black, tipped with white : the fore
part of the breaft, belly and vent white : thighs fea-
thered nearly to the knees : legs and feet red.

* In fome fpeclmens the lower part of the neck is white.

J 26'

BRITISH BIRDS.

TURNSTONE.

( Tr'inga mor'mellat Lin. — Le Coulon-cJoaud cendrSf BufF. )

This bird is like the preceding fpecies in its fize
and fliape. The bill is fliort, ftrong, thick at the
bafe, and of a dark horn colour, tinged with red :
the crown and hinder part of the head are dufky,
edged with greyiili brown ; the fore part, from the
eyes to the bill, pale brown ; a curved band of the.
latter colour bounds the lower part of the neck,
points forward, and falls down towards the points
of the wings ; between this band and the head, is a
demi-ring of brownifh black, which nearly fur-
rounds the neck, a branch from which flrikes up-
wards to the corners of the mouth, and another
falls down, forming a kind of inverted gorget on
the fore part of the neck, and fides of the breaft ;

BRITISH BIRDS. 1 27

the colour of the throat is white, which tapers to a
point on the fore part of the neck : the upper parts
of the plumage are dufky, edged with rufty or
brownilh red ^ but fome of the fcapulars next to
the wings are partly edged with white : the tertials
are long, and deeply edged and tipped with a fine
pale rufous brown : the ridge of the wings and baf-
tard quills are brownilh black; the lefier coverts
adjoining the ridge, white : primaries and feconda-
ries, black, — ^the bafes of the former, and tips, of
the latter, white ; the greater coverts are alfo deep-
ly tipped with white, which, when the wing is ex-
tended, forms a bar quite acrofs it : the under
parts of the plumage, lower part of the back, and
tail coverts are white, excepting a black patch
which crofTes the rump. The tail confifts of twelve
black feathers, tipped with white, except the two
middle ones, which are entirely black : the legs and
toes are fhort, and of an orange red. The male
excels the female in the beauty of his plumage ; her
pyebald marks are not fo diftind, and her colours
are uniformly more dull and confufed.

Thefe birds frequent the fea Ihores in various
parts of Great Britain, and have obtained their
name from their manner of turning over fmail
ftones in quefl of their prey, which lies concealed
under them.

This fpecies of Turnllone is chiefly confined to
the northern, as is the former to the fouthern parts>
of Great Britain,

128

BRITISH BIRDS.

*...'!?

WATER HEN.

COMMON GALINULE, OR MOOR HEN.
{^Ful'ica chioropus, Lin. — La Poule d'Eau, BufF, )

The weight of this bird varies from ten and a half
to fifteen ounces : the length from the tip of the beak
to the end of the tail is about fourteen inches, the
breadth twenty-tv/o : the bill is rather more than
an inch long, of a greenifh yellow at the tip, and
reddifh towards the bafe, whence a fmgular kind of
horny or membraneous fubftance fhields the fore-
head as far as the eyes : this appendage to the bill
is as red as fealing wax in the breeding feafon ; at
other times it varies o!" fades into a white colour.
The head is fmall and black, except a white fpo£

BRITISH BIRDS. 129

under each eye, the irides of which are red : all
the upper part of the plumage is of a dark ihining
olive green, inclining to brown; the under parts
are of a dark hoary lead colour : vent feathers
black; thofe on the belly and the thighs tipped
with dirty white : the long loofe feathers on the
fides, which hang over the upper part of the thighs,
are black, ftreaked with white: the ridge of the
wing, outfide feathers of the tail, and thofe under-
neath, are white : the upper bare part of the thighs
is red ; from the knees to the toes, the colours
are different fhades, from pale yellow to deep green :
the toes are very long, the middle one meafuring,
to the end of the nail, nearly three inches ; their
underlides are broad, being furnifhed with mem-
braneous edgings their whole length on each fide,
by which the bird is enabled to fwim, and €afily
run over the furface of the flimy mud by the fides
of the waters, where it frequents.

The body of the Water Hen is long and com-
prelTed at the fides, and the legs are placed far be-
hind ; its feathers are thickly fet, or compad, and
are bedded upon down. Like the Water Rail and
Water Crake, it lives concealed, during the day,
among reeds and willows, by the fides of rivers or
rivulets, which it prefers to bogs and flagnant pools :
like thofe birds, it can run over the furface of fuch
waters as are thickly covered with weeds, and it
dives and hides itfelf with equal eafe : like the Wa-

VoL. II. t R

130 BRITISH BIRDS.

ter Crake, it alfo flirts up its tail when running,
and flies with its legs hanging down, but is a better
fwimmer. In the evenings, it creeps, runs, and
flvulks by the margins of the waters, among the roots
of the buflies, ofiers, and long loofe herbage which
over-hang the banks, in queft of its food, which
confiftis of water infefts, fmall fiflies, worms, aqua-
tic plants and feeds. It is likewife granivorous, and,
jf Idlled in September or Oftober, after having had
the advantage of a neighbouring ft:ubble, its flefli is
very good.

The female makes her neft of a large quantity of
withered reeds and ruflies, clofely interwoven, and
is particularly careful to have it placed in a mofl:
retired fpot, clofe by the brink of the waters ; and,
it is faid, fhe never quits it without covering her
eggs with the leaves of the furrounding herbage.
Pennant and Latham fay, fhe builds her nefl: upon
fome low fliump of a tree, or flirub, by the water's
fide : no doubt fhe may fometimes vary the place
pf her nefl:, according as particular circumftances
may command, but flie generally prefers the other
mode of building it. She lays fix or feven eggs at
a time, and commonly has two hatchings in a fea-
fon. The eggs are nearly two inches in length, and
are irregularly and thinly marked with rufl:-colour-
ed fpots on a yellowifli white ground. The young
brood remain but a fliort time in the nefl:, under
the nurturing care of the mother j but as foon as

BRITISH BIRDS. I3I

they are able to crawl out, they take to the water,
and fhift for themfelves.

Although the Water Hen is no where very nu-
merous, yet one fpecies or other of them is met
with in almoft every country in the known world.
It is not yet afcertained whether they ever migrate
from this to other countries, but it is well known
that they make partial flittings from one diflriQ: to
another, and are found in the cold mountainous
trads in fummer, and in lower and warmer fitua-
tions in winter.

On examination of feveral fpecimens of this bird,
in full feather j they were found j like moll birds of
plain plumage, very little different from each other.

R 2

132 BRITISH BIRDS.

OF THE COOT,

Bill ftrong, thick, ffoping to a point ; the bafe
of the upper mandible rifmg far up into the fore-
head : both mandibles of equal length : noftrils in-
clining to oval, narrow, fhort : body comprefled :
wings and tail fliort: toes long, furnifhed with
broad fcalloped membranes between each joint, on
each fide 4 the inner toe has two, the middle three,
and the outer four fcallops : and the hinder toe, one
plain membrane adhering to it its whole length.

The Coot is met with in various parts of Europe,
Afia, and America ; its flelh is of a ftrong marjhy
tafte ; for which, by fome people, it is much liked ;
while others, fpr the fame reafon, hold it in little
cftimation.

BRITISH BIRDS.

133

m^^^^^

COOT,

OR, BALD COOT,

[Fulica airOf Lin. — La Foulque, ou Morrelle^ BufF.)

This bird generally weighs, when in full condi-
tion, about twenty-eight ounces, and meafures fif-
teen inches in length. The bill is of a greenilh
white colour, more than an inch and a quarter
long : a callous white membrane, like that of the
Water Hen, but larger, is fpread over the fore-,
head, which alfo, as in that bird, changes its co-
lour to a pale red in the breeding feafon : irides
red : the upper part of the plumage is black, ex-
cept the outer edges of the v/ings, and a fpot under
each eye, which are white : the under parts are
of a hoary dark alh or lead colour. The Ikin is

134 BRITISH BIRDS.

cloathed with a thick down, and covered with clofe
fine feathers : the thighs are placed far behind, are
flefhy and ftrong, bare, and yellow above the knees :
the legs and toes are commonly of a yellowilh
green, but fometimes of a lead colour.

The Common Coot has fo many traits in its
charafter, and fo many features in its general ap-
pearance like the Rails and Water Hens, that to
place it after them, feems a natural and eafy gra-
dation : Linnaeus and other ornithologifts, however,
defcribe it as of a genus diflind from thofe birds,
and from the waders in general, on account of its
being fin-footed, and its conftant attachment to the
waters, which, indeed, it feldom quits. With it
naturalifts begin the numerous tribe of fwimmers,
and rank it among thofe that are the moll com-
pleatly dependent upon the watery element for their
fupport : it fwims and dives with as much eafe as
almoft any of them ; and alfo, like thofe which fel-
dom venture upon land, it is a bad traveller, and
may be faid not to walk, but to fplafh and waddle
between one pool and another, with a laboured, ill-
balanced, and aukward gait.

Thefe birds, like thofe of the preceding kinds,
fkulk and hide themfelves, during the day, among
rulhes, fedges, and weeds, which grow abundantly
in the loughs and ponds, where they take up their,
conftant abode : they rarely venture abroad, except
in the dulk, and in the nighty in queft of their food^

BRITISH BIRDS. I35

which confifts of the herbage, feeds, infedts, and the
flippery inhabitants of ftagnant waters. It feldom
happens that the fportfman and his dog can force
the Coot to fpring from its retreat ; for it will, in a
manner, bury itfelf in the mud rather than take
wing, and when it is very clofely purfued, and com-
pelled to rife, it does this with much Jtujiering and
apparent difficulty.

This fpecies is met with in Great Britain, at all
feafons of the year, and it is generally believed that
it does not migrate to other countries, but changes
its ftations, and removes in the autumn from the
leifer pools or loughs, where the young have been
reared, to the larger lakes, where flocks aflemble in
the winter. The female commonly builds her neft
in a bufh of ruflies, furrounded by the water ; * it is
compofed of a great quantity of coarfe dried weeds,
well matted together, and lined within with fofter
and finer gralfes : fhe lays from twelve to fifteen
eggs at a time, and commonly hatches twice in a
feafon : her eggs are about the fize of thofe of a
pullet, and are of a pale brownilh white colour,

* A Bald Coot built her neft in Sir William Middleton's
lake, at Belfay, Northumberland, among the ruflies, which were
afterwards loofened by the wind, and, of courfe, the neft was
driven about, and floated upon the furface of the water, in every
direftion ; notwithftanding which, the female continued to fit
as ufual, and brought out her young upoa her moveable habi-
tatioa.

136

BRITISH BIRDS.

fprinkled with numerous fmall dark fpots, which,
at the thicker end, feem as if they had run into
each other, and formed bigger blotches.

As foon as the young quit the jfhell, they plunge
into the water, dive, and fwini about with great eafe ;
but they flill gather together about the mother, and
take fhelter under her wings, and do not entirely
leave her for fome time. They are at firft covered
with footy-coloured down, and are of a fhapelefs
appearance : while they are in this ftate, and before
they have learned, by experience, to fhun their foes,
the Kite, Moor Buzzard, and others of the Hawk
tribe, make dreadful havoc among them j * and this,
notwithftanding the numerous brood, may account
for the fcarcity of the fpecies.

* The Pike is alfo the indifcriminate devourer of the young
of all thefe water birds.

BRITISH BIRDS. I37

GREATER COOT.

{Fulica aterrima, Lin. — La Grande Foulque^ ou la
Macrouki BufF.)

*' This is of a larger fize than the laft, but dif-
fers not in the colour of the plumage, except that
it is blacker. Brijfon diftinguifhes the two by the
colour of the bare part of the forehead, which is in
this white ; and the garters, which are of a deep
red. * This bird is faid to be found in Lancajhire
and Scotland. It fhould feem to be a mere variety
of the former, did not authors join in advancing
the contrary. They are more plentiful on the con-
tinent, being found in RuJJia and the weftern part
of Siberia very common ; and are alfo in plenty at
Sologne and the neighbouring parts, where they call
it Judelle, The people eat them on maigre daysj
and the flelh is much efleemed." Latham.

* *' This can be no diftinftion, as birds differ in the colour
of thefs parts according to the feafon." Latham.

Vol. II. t

138

BRITISH BIRDS.

OF THE PHALAROPE,

Bill flrait and Hender : noflrils minute: body
and legs like the Sandpiper: toes furnilhed with
fcalloped membranes.

BRITISH BIRDS. I39

RED PHALAROPE.

{^Tringa hyperlorea, Lin. — Le Phalarope cendre, BufF.)

The bill is black, {lender, ftrait, about an inch
long, and bent a little downwards at the tip. A
dufky flripe paffes through the eyes to the back part
of the head, where it is joined to a reddifh one
above it, which falls down on the fides of the neck :
the chin and throat are white ; the top of the head,
hinder part of the neck, breaft, and wing coverts
of a lead colour, darkeft on the breaft : the back
and fcapulars are the fame, but ftriped with yellow-
ifh rufty edges : the greater coverts are crolTed with
a white ftripe \ the quills dufky : the tail coverts
are barred with black and white : tail fhort, and of
a cinereous colour : belly white : legs black.

This fpecies is rarely met with in England ; but
it is fald to be pretty common on the Continent.
It is, however, a native of the Arctic regions, and
only migrates fouthward to fhun the long dreary
freezing period of the winter months. In fummer
it returns to breed and rear its young, and has
been met with by voyagers and travellers in Hud-
fon's Bay, Greenland, Spitzbergen, &c. It is feen
in Greenland in April, and is faid to leave it in
September.

S 2

140

BRITISH BIRDS.

GREY PHALAROPE.

COOT-FOOTED TRINGA, OR SCALLOP-TOED
SANDPIPER.

(^Trin^a Lohatci, Lin. — Le Phalarope^ a fejlons dent'iles^ Buff.)

The bill of this bird is nearly an inch long : the
upper mandible is of a dufky horn colour, grooved
on each fide, and flatted near the tip ; the under
one is orange towards the bafe. The eyes are
placed high in the head ; there is a dark patch un-
derneath each, and the fame on the hinder part of
the head and neck. The fhoulder and fcapular fea-
thers are of a fine lead colour, edged with white :
fore part of the head, throat, neck, and bread,
white : the belly is alfo white, but flightly dafh-
ed with pale ruft colour : the greater coverts are
broadly tipped with white, which forms an oblique
bar acrofs 1;he wings, when clofed ; feme of the firft

BRITISH BIRDS. I4I

and fecondary quills are narrowly edged with white :
on the middle of the back the feathers are brown,
edged with bright rufl colour : on the rump there
are feveral feathers of the fame colour, but mixed
with others of white, rufous, and lemon. The
wings are long, and, when clofed, reach beyond
the tail : the primary quills are dufky, the lower
part of their inner fides white ; fecondaries tipped
with white : tail dufky, edged with afh-colour : legs
black. The fcalloped membranes on its toes dif-
fer from thofe of the Red Phalarope, in being fine-
ly ferrated on their edges.

This curious and pretty bird, like the preceding,
is a native of the northern regions of Europe, Afia,
and America, and migrates fouthward in the win-
ter. It has feldom been met with in any part of
the Britilh Illes. Ray, however, faw one at Brig-
nal, in Yorklhire ; and Mr Pennant mentions one
which was fhot in the fame county ; Mr Tunflall
another, {hot at Staveley, in Derbylhire ; — and the
fpecimen from which this drawing and defcription
were taken, was fhot near the city of Chefler, by
Lieutenant-Colonel Dalton, of the 4th regiment of
dragoons, on the 14th of Odober, 1800.

142 BRITISH BIRDS.

OF THE GREBES,

The bills of this genus are compreffed on the
fides, and though not large, are firm and ftrong,
ftraight and fharp-pointed : noftrils linear : a bare
fpace between the bill and the eyes : tongue flight-
ly cloven at the end: body deprelTed: feathers
thickly fet, compad, very fmooth and gloffy : wings
ihort J fcapulars long ; no tail : legs placed far be-
hind, much compreffed, or flattened on the fides,
and ferrated behind with a double row of notches ;
toes furnifhed on each fide with membranes 5 the
inner toes broader than the outer ; the nails broad
and flat.

This genus is ranked by Ray and Linnaeus with
the Diver and Guillemot ; but as the Grebes differ
materially from thofe birds, Briffon, Pennant, and
Latham have feparated them.

The Grebes are almofl continually upon the wa-
ter, where they are remarkable for their agility : at
fea they feem to fport with the waves, through
which they dart with the greateft eafe, and, in
fwimming. Aide along, as it were without any ap-
parent effort, upon the furface, with wonderful velo-
city ; they alfo dive to a great depth in purfuit of
their prey. They frequent frefh water lakes and in-
lets of rivers, as well as the ocean, to which they
are obliged to refort in fevere feafons, when the

BRITISH BIRDS. I43

former are bound up by the ice. No cold or damp
can penetrate their thick clofe plumage, which
looks as it were glazed on the furface, and by
which they are enabled, while they have open wa-
ter," to brave the rigours of the coldeft winter.
They can take wing from the water, or drop from
an eminence, and fly with great fwiftnefs to a con-
fiderable diflance ; but, when they happen to alight
on the land, are very helplefs, for they cannot ei-
ther rife from the flat furface of the ground, or
make much progrefs in walking upon it. On fliore
they fit with the body erefl:, commonly upon the
whole length of their legs, and, in attempting to
regain the water, they aukwardly waddle forward
in the fame pofition ; and if, by any interruption,
they happen to fall on the belly, they fprawl with
their feet, and flap their fliort wings as if they were
wounded, and may eafily be taken by the hand,
for they can make no other defence than by flirik-
ing violently with their fliarp-pointed beak. They
live upon fifli, and, it is faid, alfo upon frefli-water
roots and fea-weeds. They are generally very fat
and heavy in proportion to their fize.

The females generally build their nefts in the holes
of the rocky precipices which overhang the fea-
fliores ; and thofe which breed on lakes, make theirs
of withered reeds and ruflies, &c. and fix it among
the growing fl;alks pf a tuft or buih of fuch like

144

BRITISH BIRDS.

herbage, clofe by the water's edge. They lay from
two to four eggs at one hatching.

The fkins of thefe birds are dreffed with the fea-
thers on, and made into v/arm beautiful tippets and
muffs : the under part only is ufed for this purpofe;
and a fkin of one of the fpecies fells as high as
fourteen {hillings.

BRITISH BIRDS.

145

GREAT-CRESTED GREBE.

GREATER-CRESTED DOUCKER, CARGOOSE, ASH-COLOUR-
ED LOON, OR GAUNT.

{^Colymlus crlJiatuSf Lin. — Le Grebe huppSt BufF.)

This bird is the largeft of the Grebes, weigh-
ing about two pounds and a half, and meafuring
twenty-one inches in length, and thirty in breadth.
The bill is about two inches and a quarter long,
dark at the tip, and red at the bafe : the bare ftripe,
or lore, between the bill and eyes, is, in the breed-
ing feafon, red, afterwards changes to dulky : irides.

Vol. II. t T

146 BRITISH BIRDS.

fine pale crimfon. The head, in adult males, is
furnifhed with a great quantity of feathers, which
form a kind of ruff, furrounding the upper part of
the neck ; thofe on each fide of the head, behind,
are longer than the reft, and ftand out like ears :
this ruff is of a bright ferruginous colour, edged on
the underfide with black. The upper parts of the
plumage are of a footy or moufe-coloured brown ;
the under parts of a gloffy or filvery white : the in-
ner ridge of the wing is white ; the fecondaries of
the fame colour, forming an oblique bar acrofs the
wings, when clofed : the outfide of the legs are
dulky, the infide and toes of a pale green.

This fpecies is common in the fens and lakes in
various parts of England, where they breed and
rear their young. The female conceals her neft
among the flags and reeds which grow in the water,
upon which it is faid to float, and that fhe hatches
her eggs amidft the moifture which ouzes through
it. It is made of various kinds of dried fibres,
llalks and leaves of water plants, and (Pennant fays)
of the roots of bugbane, ftalks of water-lilly, pond-
weed, and water-violet ; and he afferts, that when
it happens to be blown from among the reeds, it
floats about upon the furface of the open water.

Thefe birds are met with in almoft every lake in
the northern parts of Europe, as far as Iceland,
and fouthward to the Mediterranean j they are alfo
found in various parts of America.

BRITISH BIRDS.

147

TIPPET GREBE.

GREATER DOBCHICK, OR GREATER LOON.
{^CoJymhus urinator^ Lin. — La Crebe^ BufF.)

This bird differs from the laft only in being
fomewhat lefs, in having its neck, in moll fpeci-
mens, ftriped downward on the fides with narrow
lines of dufl^:y and white, and in having no creft.

Modem ornithologifls begin to fufpedt, that the
Tippet Grebe is the female of the Great-crefted
Grebe, or a young bird of that fpecies. Latham
fays, " It is with fome reluftance that we pen our
doubts concerning the identity of this, as a fpecies,
at lead as being diflinct from the Great-crefted
Grebe, in contradidion to what foraier authors
have recorded on the fubjed. It is certain that the
laft-named bird varies exceedingly at different pe-

T 2

148 BRITISH BIRDS.

riods of life ; and we are likewife as certain that the
birds which have been pointed out to us as the Ge-
neva Grebes, have been no other than young ones
of the Great-crefted, not having yet attained the
creft ; and whoever will compare Briffon's three
figures of the birds in queftion, will find (the creft
excepted) that they all exadly coincide, allowing
for their different periods of age. We have been
further led into this opinion from the circumftance
of a large flock of them, which appeared in various
parts of the fhores of the Thames, from Gravefend
to Greenwich, laft winter, many of which were kill-
ed, and came under our infpeftion : among them
we found the greatefl variety about the head, from
being perfectly without a crefl, to the mofl com-
plete one, with all the intermediate flages . above-
mentioned.'*

; In the progrefs of this work, the author has been
favoured, by fporting friends, with feveral of thefe
birds, which differed from each other in the man-
ner defcribed by Mr Latham, and induced him to
adopt the opinion of that gentleman concerning
them.

BRITISH BIRDS. I49

EARED GREBE,

OR EARED DOBCHICK.
( Colymhus auritus, Lin. — Le petit Grebe huppSy BufF. )

This bird meafures about twelve inches in length,
and twenty-two from tip to tip of the wings. The
bill is black, inclining to red towards the bafe, ra-
ther {lender, nearly an inch long, and {lightly bent
upwards at the point : lore and irides red : the head
is thickly fet and enlarged with feathers of a footy
black colour, except two large, loofe and fpreading
orange-coloured tufts, which take their rife behind
each eye, flow backward, and nearly meet at their
tips : the neck and upper parts of the plumage are
black, the under parts of a gloffy white : the {ides
a rufty chefnut colour : legs greenifli black. The
male and female are nearly alike, only the latter is
not furnifhed or puffed up about the head with fuch
a quantity of feathers.

This fpecies is not numerous in the Britifh Ifles.
Pennant fays they inhabit and breed in the fens near
Spalding, in Lincolnfliire, and that the female makes
a nefl not unlike that of the Crefted Grebe, and
lays four or five fmall white eggs. The Eared
Grebe is found in the northern regions of Europe,
as far as Iceland, and is alfo met with in fouthern
climates. The circumnavigator Bougainville fays,
it is called the " Diver with Spedacles" in the
Falkland Illands.

150

BRITISH BIRDSk

vV l'''V"/ '

DUSKY GREBE,

GR BLACK AND WHITE DOBCHICK.
{Ni^rkanSf . La petite Grehe^ Buff.)

This fpecles meafures about an Inch lefs in
length, and two in breadth, than the lafl. The
bill is more than an inch long, and of a pale blue
colour, with reddiih edges: lore and orbits red:
irides bright yellow : the upper part of the head,
hinder part of the neck, fcapulars, and rump, are
of a dark.footy, or a moufe-coloured brown : the
feathers on the back are nearly of the fame colour,
but glolTy, and with greyilh edges : the ridge of
the wings and fecondary quills are white, the reft

BRITISH BIRDS, 151

of the Wing dufky. There is a pale fpot before
each eye : the cheeks and throat are white : the fore
part of the neck is light brown ; and the breaft and
belly are white and gloffy like fatin : the thighs and
vent are covered with dirty white downy feathers :
the legs are white behind, dulky on the outer fides,
and pale blue on the inner fides and Ihins : the toes
and webbed membranes are alfo blue on the upper
fides, and dark underneath.

This defcription was taken from a very perfect
bird caught in Sand Hutton Car, near York, on
the 28th of January, 1799, by the Rev. C. Rud-
fton : other fpecimens of this fpecies have differed
In the fhades of their plumage and colour of the
bill : in fome the upper mandible is yellow, from
the noflrils to the corners of the mouth, and the
under one entirely of that colour.

152

BRITISH BIRDS.

RED-NECKED GREBE.

{^Colymlus fulcrijialusy • . Le yougris, Buff.)

This bird meafures from the bill to the rump
feventeen inches, to the end of the toes twenty-
two, and weighs eighteen ounces and three-quarters.
The bill is about two inches long, dulky or horn-
coloured on the ridge and tip, and on the fides of
it, towards the corners of the mouth, of a reddilh
yellow ; the underfide of the lower mandible is al-
fo of the latter colour : lore dulky : irides dark
hazel : the cheeks and throat are of a dirty or grey-
ilh white : the upper part of the head is black,
with a greyifh caft ; and the feathers are lengthen-
ed on each fide on a line with the eyes backward,
fo as to look like a pair of rounded ears ; thefe
it can raife or deprefs at pleafure : the fore part and
fides of the neck are of a dingy brown, mixed
with feathers of a bright rufty red : the upper parts
of the plumage are of a darkifh moufe-coloured
brown, lighteft on the wing coverts, deepeft on the

BRITISH BIRDS. 1 53

fcapulars and rump, and edged with grey on the
fhoulders ; the ^under parts are of a gloffy white,
like fatin, mottled with indiftind brownilh fpots :
primary quills brownilh tawney, with dark-coloured
tips ; fecondaries white : outer fides of the legs duf-
ky, inner fides fallow green : webs of the outer
toes flefh-colour, middle ones redder, and the inner
ones orange.

Pennant fuppofes the Red-neCked Grebe to be
only a variety of the Great-crefled Grebe ; but La-
tham, who had been furnifhed with feveral fpeci-
mens, is of opinion that it is a diftind fpecies. He
defcribes the adult males, in full feather, as having
their necks of an uniform reddilh chefnut ; and the
younger birds, when they have not obtained their
full plumage, to be only partially fpotted on their
necks with that colour.

The foregoing figure and defcription were taken
from a fpecimen, the gift of George Silvertop, of
Minfteracres, Northumberland, Efq. January 1 6th,
1802.

Vol. II. t U

M4

BRITISH BIRDS.

LITTLE GREBE.

DOBCHICK, SMALL DOUCKER, DIPPER, OR DIDAPPER.
(Colyml/us mlnutusy Lin. — Le Caflagneux^ Buff.)

This Is the leaft of the Grebe tribe, weighing
only between fix and feven ounces, and meafuring
to the rump ten inches, to the end of the toes thir-
teen, and about fixteen from tip to tip of the wings.
The bill is fcarcely an inch long, of a dulky reddifh
colour : irides hazel : the head is thickly cloathed
with a downy kind of foft feathers, which it can
puff up to a great fize, or lay down flat at pleafure :
the cheeks are moflly of a bay colour, fading to-
wards the chin and throat into a yellowifli white.
The neck, breaft, and all the upper parts of the
plumage, are of a brown or chefnut colour, ting-
ed with red, lighteft on the rump : the belly is
white, clouded with afh-colour, mixed with red :
thighs and vent grey : greater quills dark brown j
the lelfer white on their inner webs : legs dirty olive
green.

BRITISH BIRDS. 1 55

The Little Grebe is a true aquatic, for it feldom
quits the water, nor ventures beyond the fedgy
margins of the lake where it has taken up its abode.
It is a moll excellent diver, and can remain a long
while under water, in purfuit of its prey, or to Ihun
danger. It is found in almojfl every lake, and
fometimes upon rivers, but feldom goes out to fea.
Its food is of the fame kind, and its habits much
the fame as thofe of the other Grebes.

Ornithologifts and fportfmen defcribe the neft of
this bird as being of a large fize, and compofed of
a very great quantity of grafs and water plants,
at leaft a foot in thicknefs, and fo placed in the
water, that the female hatches her eggs amidft the
continual wet, in which they were firfl laid : and it
is conjeftured that the natural warmth of her body
occafions a fermentation of the herbage, which great-r
ly aids the incubation. She lays from four to fix
eggs, of a yellowifh dull white colour, and is faid
to cover up, or hide them, with the furrounding
leaves, every time Ihe has occafion to ftir abroad.

This fpecies of the Grebe is an inhabitant of both
Europe and America. In feveral fpecimens fur-
nillied by the author's fporting friends, the differ^
ence was very trifling, except that the plumage of
fonie was more dalhed with red than that of others,

U 2

156

BRITISH BIRDS.

BLACK-CHIN GREBE.

This bird is defcribed as being larger than the
laft. " Chin black : fore part of the neck ferru-
ginous ; hinder part mixed with dufky : belly cine-
reous and filver intermixed. Inhabits Tiree, one
of the Hebrides." Latham.

BRITISH BIRDS.

^S7

OF THE 4V0SET,

Bill long, flender, very thin, deprefled, and
bending confiderably upwards : noflrils narrow and
pervious : tongue Ihort : legs very long : feet pal-
mated; the webs deeply indented from the nails
towards their middle : back toe placed high, and
very fmall.

The Avofet is migratory, and is met with in
temperate cHmates, on the Ihores in various parts
of Europe.

I5S

BRITISH BIRDS,

AVOSET.

SCOOPER, CROOKED-BILL, OR YELPER.
{RecurvlroJl:-a A'iiofetta, Lin. — UAvoaUe^ BufF.)

This bird, which is the only Britifh fpecies of
Avofet, does not much exceed the Lapwing in
the bulk of its body ; but, from the length of its
legs, it is much taller. It meafures about eighteen
inches in length, to the end of the toes twenty-two,
and from tip to tip thirty, and weighs from twelve
to fourteen ounces. The bill is black, about three
inches and a half long, and of a fmgular confor-
mation, looking not unlike flexible flat pieces of
whalebone, curved upwards to the tip : the irides
are hazel : the head round, black on the upper

BRITISH BIRDS, 1 59

part to below the nape of the neck : above and be-
neath each eye. In moft fpeclmens, there are fmall
white fpots ; but in the one from which the above
figure was taken, a ftreak of that colour pafled over
each eye towards the hinder part of the head. The
thighs are naked, and, as well as the legs and feet,
are of a fine pale blue colour. The whole plumage
of the Avofet is white. Interfered with black ; and,
like moft of the variegated or pyebald birds, the
patches of thefe colours are not placed exaftly the
fame in every individual ; therefore, as the bird can-
not be miflaken, a more minute defcriptlon is un-
neceffar}'-.

Thefe birds are common in the winter about the
lakes, mouths of rivers, and marines, in the fouth-
ern parts of England ; and they alfemble in large
flocks on the fens, in the breeding feafon. "When
the female Is frightened off her neft, Ihe counter-
feits lamenefs ; and when a flock is difliurbed, they
flv, with their necks fliretched out, and their lees
extended behind, over the head of the fpeftator,
much in the fame way as the Peewit or Lapwing,
maldng a fhrill rioife, and uttering a yelping cry of
twit^ twit, all the time. The places v/here they
have been feeding may be traced out by the femi-
clrcular marks left in the mud or fand by their bills
in fcooping out their food, which confifts of fpawn,
worms, infects, &c. Latham fays, " they lay two
eggs, the fize of thofe of a pigeon, an inch and

i6o

BRITISH BIRDS.

three quarters in length, of a cinereous grey, lin-
gularly marked with deep brownifh dark patches,
of irregular fizes and fliapes, befides fome under
mai'kings of a dulky hue." They keep near the
fhore, wading about, up to the belly in the water,
and fometimes fwimming. In all their motions they
are fmart, lively, and volatile, and do not remain
long flationary in one fpot.

BRITISH BIRDS.

i6i

OF THE AUK, OR PENGUIN.

Bill ftrong, thick, convex, comprefled on the
fides : noftrils linear, placed parallel to the edge of
the bill : tongue almofl as long as the bill : toes,
three in number, all placed forwards.

Vol. II. t

X

1 62

BRITISH BIRDS.

GREAT AUK.

NORTHERN PENGUIN, OR GAIR-FOWL.
i^AIca tmpennls, Lin. — Le Grand Pingoin, BufF.j

The length of this bird, to the end of the toes,
is three feet. The bill is black, and four inches arid
a quarter long ; both mandibles are croifed oblique-
ly with feveral ridges and furrows, which meet at
the edges. Two oval-fliaped white fpots occupy
nearly the whole fpace between the bill and the
eyes : the head, back part of the neck, and all the
upper parts of the body and wings are covered with

BRITISH BIRDS. 163

fliort, foft, glofly black feathers, excepting a white
flroke acrofs the wings, formed by the tips of the
leifer quills : the whole under fide of the body is
white : the wings are very fliort, not exceeding four
inches and a quarter, fforti the tips of the longefh
quill feathers to the firfl; joint: legs black, Ihort,
and placed near the vent.

From the inability of thefe birds to fly or walk,
they are feldom feen out of the water, and it is re-
marked by feamen, that they never wander beyond
foundings. The female lays only one egg, which
fhe depofits and hatches on a ledge clofe to the fea-
mark : it is of a very large fize, being about fix
inches in length, of a white colour, ftreaked with
lines of a purple cafl, and blotched with dark rufty
fpots at the thicker end.

This fpecies is not numerous any where : it in-
habits Norway, Iceland, the Ferro Ifles, Greenland,
and other cold regions of the north, but is feldom
feen on the Britifh fliores.

The Gair-fowi defcribed by Martin, in his voyage
to St Kilda, and account of that ifland, publifhed
in 1698, differs in fome particulars from the fore-
going : he fays, " it is larger than the Solan Goofe,
black, red about the eyes, has a large white fpot
under each eye, a long broad bill j flands ered:,
has fhort wings, cannot fly ; lays one egg, twice
the fize of that of the Solan Goofe, varioufly fpeck-
led with black, green, and dufky fpots."
X 2

BRITISH BIRDS.

RAZOR-BILL.

AUK, MURRE, FALK, MARROT, OR SCOUT.
{^Jlca tarda, Lin. — Le Phigom, Buff.)

The wings of this fpecies are more furniihed
with feathers, and longer in proportion to the fize
of the bird than thofe of the laft ; they meafure,
extended, about twenty-feven inches : the length of
the bird, from bill to tail, is eighteen. The bill is
black, ftrong, curved towards the point, and iharp-
ly edged ; the upper mandible is croffed with four
tranfverfe grooves, and the under one with three,
the broadefl of which is white, and forms a band
acrofs them both : the infide of the mouth is yel-
low : the bafe of the bill is covered with feathers a
great way forward, upon which, on each fide, is
placed a fmgular, narrow, white llreak, which palT-
es to the corner of the eye j another white ftripej

BRITISH BIRDS. 165

or bar, formed by the tips and leffer quills, crofles
each wing obliquely : the upper part of the head,
hinder part of the neck, back, rump, and tail co-
verts are of a foft glofly black, and look fomething
like velvet : the cheeks, chin, and throat are of a
dull footy dark brown : ridge and pinions of the
wing, light brown : coverts and quills dulky : legs
black.

Thefe birds affociate with the Guillemots, and
alfo breed in the fame places. About the begin-
ning of May they take poffeffion of the highefl im-
pending rocks, for the purpofe of incubation, and
upon the ledges of thefe rocks they congregate in
great numbers, fitting clofely together, tier above
tier, and row above row : there they depolit their
fmgle large egg on the bare rock ; and notwith-
ftanding the numbers of them, which are thus as it
were mixed together, yet no confufion takes place^
for each bird knows her own egg, and hatches it
in that fituation.

It has often excited wonder that as the eggs
have no neft or bedding to refl upon, they are not
rolled off into the fea by gales of wind, or upon
being touched by the birds : it is alfo faid, that if
they are removed by the human hand, it is impof-
fible, or at leaft extremely difficult, to replace them
in their former fteady fituation. This i$ accounted
for by fome ornithologifls, who affert that the egg is
fixed to the fpot upon which it is firft laid, by a glu-

1 56

BRITISH BIRDS.

tinous fubflance with which the ftiell is covered, and
which keeps it firmly in its place until the young
is produced. The egg of this Auk is three inches
long, of a greenifli white colour, irregularly mark-
ed with dark fpots. They are gathered, with other
kinds, in great numbers, by the neighbouring in-
habitants, from the rocky promontories in vari-
ous parts of the Britifh iiles, but particularly in
the north, where the men who are accuftomed to
gather thefe eggs, are let down over the precipices
by ropes, which are tied to, or held by, their com-
panions above.

The foregoing figure and defcription were taken
from a fpecimen in perfed plumage, Ihot on Jar-
row-Slake, near the mouth of the Tyne, in May,
by the late Mr Thomas Walton, of Farnacres, to
whofe memory, for many favours of the fame kind,
the author feels a large debt of gratitude.

BRITISH BIRDS. iSj

BLACK-BILLED AUK.

{Alca Pica, Lin. — Le Petit Pingmn, Buff.)

Latham fays^ " This weighs eighteen ounces :
is in length fifteen inches: breadth twenty-four.
The bill is not above half the breadth of the Ra-
zor-bill's, and very little curved, perfectly fmooth
throughout the whole of its furface, except a flight
indentation at the bafe : infide of the mouth of a
pale flefh-colour : the top of the head, taking in
the eyes, part of the neck, the back, wings, and
tail, are black ; on the fides of the neck the black
comes forward fo as almofl to meet on the fore part :
the fides of the head, throat, fore part of the neck,
and all beneath, white : from behind the eye a
dufky black mark tends to the hinder part of the
head, as in the LefTer Guillemot ; the white on the
fides of the head is lefs pure than that on the under
parts : all the fecondary quills are tipped with white ;
and the primaries are of a deeper black than the
others: legs brownifh black." Linnaeus fays the legs
are red, but no other author records it. Latham fur-
ther obferves, " This, from its external marks,
fhould appear to be a different fpecies from the Ra-
zor-bill, but we are pretry certain it is no other than
the young of that bird."

1 68

BRITISH BIRDS.

PUFFIN.

MULLET, COULTERNEB, SEA-PARROT, POPE, OR
WILLOCK.

[^ka ^r8ka, Lin. — Le Macareux, BufF.)

The Puffin weighs about twelve ounces, and
meafures twelve inches in length, and twenty-one
in breadth. Its fingular bill looks not unlike a
kind of fheath flipped over both mandibles, and,
from its appearance, the bird is not improperly-
named Coultemeb, or Knife-bill. At the bafe,
where it is about an inch and a half in depth, it is
rimmed \vith a white callous border, the two cor-
ners of which projed above the brow", and below
the chin. It is about the fame in length, curved
towards the point, comprelTed vertically, very flat,
and tranfverfely furrowed on the fides j the half of

BRITISH BIRDS. 1 69

it adjoining to the head is fmooth, and of a fine lead
coloured blue ; the other part, to the tip, red : the
noftrils are placed in long narrow flits, near the edge
of the bill : the corners of the mouth, when clofed
are curioufly puckered, and form a kind of fmall
ftar, or rofe : the eyes are protected by fmall cal-
lous protuberances, both above and below : the
edges of the eye-lids are crimfon : irides grey : the
chin and cheeks are white, bordered with grey, the
latter much puffed up with feathers, which makes
the head look large and round. From behind the
corner of each eye, the feathers are curioufly fepa-
rated, forming a narrow line, which reaches to the
hinder part of the head : the crown of the head,
hinder part of the neck, and upper part of the plu-
mage are black, and a collar of the fame colour en-
circles the neck : the under parts are white : the
tail confifts of fixteen feathers : the legs are reddifli
orange.

The Puffin, like others of the fame genus, takes
wing with great difficulty, and walks upon the
whole length of the leg and foot, with a wriggling
aukward gait. In tempeiluous weather it takes
fhelter in caverns and holes in the nearefl rocks,
or in thofe made by the rabbit on the beach, among
the bent grafs, in which it fits dofmg, in fnug fe-
curity, till the return of calm weather ; for thefe
birds cannot brave the ftorm, and it is not uncom-
mon, when they have been overtaken by it, to find

Vol. II. t Y

170 BRITISH BIRDS.

them drowned and caft on ihore. Various kinds
of fifh, fuch as fmall crabs, Ihrimps, fprats, and al-
fo fea-weeds, are faid to be the food upon which
they Hve ; but it is evident, from the ftrudure, great
ftrength, and fharpnefs of the bill, that they are fur-
nifhed with powers to crufh and pluck out other
kinds of fhell-fifh, which ornithologifls have not no-
ticed.

The female makes no nefl ; Ihe depofits her lin-
gle whitifh coloured egg upon the bare mould, in
a hole dug out and formed in the ground, by her
mate and herfelf, for that purpofe; or in thofe
which they find ready made by the rabbits, whom
they eafily diflodge. The parent birds are very at-
tentive to their young, which they will defend to
the laft, by feverely biting whatever enemy attempts
to moleft them, and will fuffer themfelves to be ta-
ken rather than defert them : and yet, notwithftand-
ing this uncommon attachment, when the day of
migration comes, the young ones which are not able
to fly are left behind, and moftly perifli of want, or
are deflroyed by birds of prey.

The bite of thefe birds is very fevere : one fent
to the author in a box covered with netting, caught
hold of the finger of a poor man, and brought away
the flefliy part, as if it had been cut out with a knife :
but they may be tamed, and foon become familiar.
They are fed on filh and other animal fubftances.

BRITISH BIRDS. I71

Thefe birds are fpread over various parts of the
northern world, and are met with on almoft all the
rocky cliffs on the coafts of Britain and Ireland,
and on many of the furrounding ifles, in immenfe
numbers. They congregate in flocks of a magni-
tude regulated by the accommodations afforded
them at their breeding places, at which they firfl
alTemble early in April, but do not fettle to prepare
for the bufmefs of incubation till May. They hatch
their young in the beginning of July; from which
time until nearly the middle of Auguft they are em-
ployed in nurturing and rearing their brood : when
this is accomplifhed, the whole alfociated fwarm
leaves the place at once, and purfues its route to
other regions, more fuited to their future exigencies,
there to fpend the remainder of the varied year.

The foregoing figure and defcription were taken
from a perfe6t fpecimen of an old bird, the prefent
of Mrs Cheney, late Mifs Harriot Carr, of Dunflon-
Bank ; and on comparing it with feveral others, it
appeared evident that their bills increafe in fize with
their age.

,^>«f^^

Y 2

172

BRITISH BIRDS.

LITTLE AUK.

LITTLE BLACK AND WHITE DIVER, GREENLAND DOVE,
OR SEA-TURTLE.

{^^Ica alkt Lin. — Le petit GmUemoti BufF.)

This is plump round-lhaped bird, and meafures
about nine inches in length. The bill is black,
fliort, thick, ftrong, and convex; it is feathered
from the corners of the mouth half way forward
towards the point. The crown of the head is flat
and black ; all the upper parts of the plumage are
of the fame colour, excejpt a narrow bar of white,
formed by the tips of the lefler quills acrofs the
wings, and the fcapulars, which are ftreaked down-
wards with the fame: the cheeks and under parts
are white : legs and toes yellowifh ; webs dulky.

BRITISH BIRDS.

^Th

Thefe birds are Inhabitants of Spitzbergen and
Greenland, and are alfo met with at Newfound-
land, where they are called Ice Birds ; but they
are rare vifitants of the Britifh Tiles. That from
which the above figure and defcription were taken,
was caught alive on the Durham coaft, and was^
for a Ihort time, fed with grain.

174 BRITISH BIRDS.

OF THE GUILLEMOT,

The bills of birds of this genus, though of a
flender fhape, are firm, ftrong, and pointed: the
upper mandible flightly bending towards the end :
bafe covered with foft fhort feathers : noftrils lodg-
ed in a hollow near the bafe : tongue flender, al-
moft the length of the bill : thighs placed in the
abdomen : no back toe.

The Guillemots appear to be a flupid race of
birds : they do not, like many other kinds, become
cautious from experience, but fuifer themfelves re-
peatedly to be fhot at, as if they did not know
danger, or care for life ; for notwithflanding they
have feen their aflbciates drop at every fire, they
ftill continue to wheel about in the fame circle, and
to alight again on the fame place whence they were
at firft diflurbed.

Thefe birds are numeroufly fpread over various
parts of the northern world, whence they are driven
by the approach of winter to feek more temperate
climes. At that feafon they arrive on the Britifh
Ihores, where they remain until they have reared
their young.

BRITISH BIRDS.

^7S

GUILLEMOT.

WILLOCK, FOOLISH GUILLEMOT, SKOUT, KIDDAW,
SEA-HEN, LAVY, OR STRANY.

[Colymius Troik, Lin. — Le Guillemot, BufF.)

The Guillemot Is a plump heavy bird in pro-
portion to its fize, weighing about twenty-four
ounces, and meafuring only feventeen inches in
length, and twenty-feven and a half in breadth.
The bill is a blueifh black colour, about two inches
and three-quarters long, from the tip to the cor-
ners of the mouth, the inlide of which is yellow :
both mandibles are flightly notched near their
points : irides hazel : from each eye to the hinder
part of the head, a narrow line is formed by a fin-
gular divifion of the feathers, which here, as well
as on the head and neck, are clofe and fmooth, and
of a dull dufty moufe-colour ; the back, wings, and
tail are nearly the fame, but have a lead-coloured
call : the tips of the lelTer quills, and the breaft.

lyS

BRITISH BIRDS.

belly, and vent, are white : legs dulky and brown :
nails black.

The female lays only one tgg^ which is large in
proportion to her fize, being about three inches in
length : they are not all alike ; thofe of one bird
being of a whitifh ground, and of another, perhaps,
pale blue, or pale fea-green, and all of them are
curioully and irregularly fpotted and ftreaked with
black.

It has been before obferved, that thefe birds alTo-
ciate with, and breed in the fame places as the Ra-
zor-bill, and that they are, in many places, indif-
criminately called Willocks.

BRITISH BIRDS.

177

LESSER GUILLEMOT,
'or marrot.

Ringu'ta.

This fpecies weighs about nineteen ounces, and
meafures in length fixteen inches, and in breadth
twenty-fix. The bill is Ihaped like that of the laft,
and is about two inches and a half long : the ftroke
formed by the divided feathers behind the eye, is
dufky, on a white ground : the cheeks, fore part of
the neck and bread, tips of the fecondary quills,
and the whole of the under parts, are white, except
a few dull fpots on the auriculars, and fome freckles
on the brealt : the front and crown of the head,
back of the neck, and the whole of the upper

Vol. II. t Z

lyS BRITISH BIRDS.

parts, are duiky, inclining to lead-colour : the legs
and feet dufky, blufhed with red.

Some naturalifts fufped that the leffer Guille-
mot is only the young of the foregoing fpecies ;
but this is not yet afcertained, neither is it known
where they breed. They, however, feldom affo-
ciate with the Guillemots that breed on the Britifli
Ihores, which they vifit only during the winter fea-
fon, and almoft all of them retire northward in the
fpring.

The bird from which the above drawing and de-
fcription were taken, was caught alive at Tyne-
mouth, in the latter end of September, 1801 : the
tide had left it in a fituation furrounded by rocks,
upon the flat fand, from which it could not raife
itfelf to take flight. While the drawing was ma-
king, it fat under a table trimming its feathers, and
appeared perfedly at eafe, and not the leafl: alarm-
ed at the peeping curiofity of the children who fur-
rounded it. When this bufmefs was finiflied, it
was taken and fet down upon an open part of the
fliore, where it immediately began to waddle to-
wards the water, with the whole leg and foot ex-
tended on the ground, and as foon as it reached
its beloved element, it flapped its wings, darted
through the furge, dived, and appeared in that
place no more.

BRITISH BIRDS. 179

BLACK GUILLEMOT.

GREENLAND DOVE, SEA-TURTLE, OR TYSTE,
{Colymlus Grylki Lin. — Le petit Guillemot noir, Buff.)

The length of the Black Guillemot is about
fourteen inches, breadth twenty-two, and its weight
fourteen ounces. The bill is black, flender jfhaped,
and pointed ; the upper mandible (lightly bent at
the point : the infide of the mouth red. The whole
plumage is lleek and gloify, and of a footy-coloured
black, excepting a large patch of white on the co-
verts of each wing : its feathers appear all unweb-
bed, and look like filky hair : the legs and feet are
red : claws black. In fome of this fpecies the whole
plumage is black, in others the lelTer quills are tip-
ped with white ; and all thofe that remain in the
northern cHmates are faid to turn white in winter.

Thefe birds are found in great numbers in the
North Sea, in Greenland, Iceland, Spitzbergen,

Z 2

l8o

BRITISH BIRDS.

and the Fero Ifles, and when the winter fets in, they
migrate fouthward along the fhores of Scotland and
England, where fome of them remain and breed.
The nefl is formed in the deep crevices of the rocks
which overhang the fea : the eggs are of a grey co-
lour : fome ornithologifts aflert that the female lays
only one, others that fhe lays two. They commonly
fly in pairs, and fo low that they raife the furface of
the fea by the flapping of their narrow wings.

The Greenlanders eat the flefli of this bird, and
ufe its {kin for cloathing, and the legs as a bait for
their fiftiing lines. Ray, Albin, Willoughby, and
Edwards have named it the Greenland Dove, or Sea
Turtle. In the Orkney Iflands it is called the Tyfte.

The foregoing figure was taken from a drawing
prefented to the author.

BRITISH BIRDS, l8l

SPOTTED GUILLEMOT.

This is a variety of the laft fpecies, which the
author has not feen. It is thus defcribed by La-
tham : — " In this the plumage is in patches of
white and black on the upper parts, and all beneath
white. In Brunnich's bird the belly was fpotted
black and white : he fuppofed it to be a bird of the
firft year."

Latham enumerates feveral other varieties of this
fpecies of birds, but as they have not been obferv-
ed to vifit the Britilh Ifles, they do not come with-
in the fcope of this work. There are, however,
others which are occafionally met with in this coun-
try, but whether the diiferences may not be owing
to age or fex, is not yet afcertained. One of thefe,
prefented in Od:ober, 1802, by the Rev. H. Cotes,
of Bedlington, differed from the lefler Guillemot
in its bill's being much Ihorter, meafuring only
about an inch and a half on the ridge of the upper
mandible, and in having the hinder part of the head
furrounded by a continuation of the white feathers
which cover the cheeks, but mixed with dufky fpots.

152 BRITISH BIRDS.

OF THE DIVERS.

The bills are flrong, ftraight, and pointed : the
upper mandibles the longeft ; the edges of each
bending inwards : noftrils linear, the upper part
divided by a fmall cutaneous appendage : tongue
long, pointed, and ferrated on each fide near the
bafe : thighs placed far backward : legs thin and flat,
and extended horizontally : the toes, four in num-
ber ; the exterior the longeft ; the back one fmall,
and joined to the interior by a thin membrane : tail
fhort, confifting of twenty feathers. Thefe birds
are broad, flat, and long bodied, and fwim in a
fquat polition on the water. Ornithologifts enu-
merate eight fpecies of this genus, fix of which, be-
fides fome doubtful varieties, frequent the Britilh
fliores.

BRITISH BIRDS. 1 83

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER.

LOON, IMBRIM, OR EMBERGOOSE.
{Colymbus glacia/is, Liu. — Ulmbriniy BufF.)

The Great Diver weighs about fixteen pounds j
meafures three feet fix inches in length, and four
feet eight in breadth. The bill is black, four inches
and a half long, and flrongly formed : the head is
of a deep black, gloifed with green and purple re-
flexions : the neck appears as if wrapped obliquely
round with a bandage of the fame colours as the
head ; the feathers in the fpaces between are white,
ftreaked down the middle with narrow black lines ;
the fides of the breafl are marked in the fame man-
ner : the whole of the upper parts are black,^ fpot-
ted with white : the fpots on the fcapulars are the
largeft, and of an oblong fquare fhape, placed in

184 BRITISH BIRDS.

rows, two on the end of each feather : the under
parts are white : quills and tail black. The female
is lefs than the male, and her whole upper plumage
inclines more to brown. Her under parts are of a
dirty white, and the bandages on her neck and the
fpots on her body are not fo diftindt.

This fpecies of the Diver feldom vifits the Bri-
tiili Ihores, except in very fevere winters. In the
fummer feafon it inhabits the north of Europe, and
the Arftic coafts, as far as the river Ob in the Ruf-
fian dominions, and Hudfon's Bay in North Ame-
rica, and is common in the intermediate dreary
countries in the fame latitudes. They feldom quit
the fea, or are feen inland, except at the breeding
feafon, when, for the purpofes of ovation and in-
cubation, they repair to the frefh-water lakes in the
Fero Ifles, Spitzbergen, Iceland, Greenland, 5cc.
on the fhores and fmall iflets of which they make
their nefts and rear their young. The female is
faid to lay only two eggs, which are of a dirty white
or flone colour : when Ihe quits her neft, fhe flies
very high, and on her return darts down upon it
in an oblique direftion.

The natives of fome of the northern countries
drefs or tan the fkins of thefe birds, as well as thofe
of feveral other water-fowls, and make them into
caps, pelices, and other warm garments.

The foregoing figure was taken from a fluffed
ij)ecimen in the Wycliffe Mufeum.

BRITISH BIRDS. 185

IMBER.

GREAT DOUCKER, OR EMBERGOOSE.
(Colymius Immer, Lin. — Le Grand Plongeorii BufF.)

The Imber meafures from the tip of the beak to
the end of the tail nearly three feet, and from tip
to tip of the wings three feet eight inches. The
bill is four inches and a quarter long, and of a dark
horn colour. The upper parts of the plumage are
dark brown, each feather on the back and wings
edged with light brownifh alh : the front and crown
of the head, and hinder part of the neck, are llight-
ly broken with fpots of the fame light brownifh alh-
colour : the cheeks and fides of the neck, to the
breaft, are fpeckled with brown : near to the lower
part of the neck the brown colour fpreads forward
towards the front, which, as well as the throat, is
white : the breafl and" belly are alfo of a gloffy
white : vent mottled with brown. The quills and
tail are dufky, but the feathers on the latter are
edged with dirty white : the legs are of a dark
dingy lead colour. The plumage of the feniale is
lefs diflinft in its colours, being nearly of a dull
brown on the upper parts, and dull white beneath.

This fpecies is of nearly the fame manners and
habits as the lafl : they are both excellent divers
and fifhers, and are inhabitants of the fame north-
ern countries ; but this is oftener met with farther

Vol. II. t A a

l86 BRITISH BIRDS.

fouthward, towards Scotland and its numerous ad^
jacent ifles. It is alfo fpread more abroad in other
countries both in Europe, Afia, and America. *
Latham defcribes it as being common in Switzer-
land, where it is known by the name of Fluder.
He fays " it makes its nefl among the reeds and
flags, and places it in the water ; fo that it is con-
tinually wet, as in fome of the Grebe genus. It
utters a loud flirill cry." He adds that it is " fome-^
times taken twenty yards deep under water, viz.
with a net or iron hook baited with a filh :" and
BulFon alfo afferts, that " it dives to very great
depths, and fwims under water to the diftance of
an hundred paces without afcending to take breath :
a pordon of air included in its dilated wind-pipe
fupplies its refpiration during this interval."

* A fine fpecimen was prefented by Admiral Byron, when
governor of Newfoundland, to Mr Tunilall.

BRITISH BIRDS.

187

LESSER IMBER.

" Bill black and horn-colour, tinged with blue,
three inches long, pointed and flender : noilrils very
near the bafe : tongue pointed : crown of the head,
and back of the neck, moufe colour : irides brown :
fcapulars, back, riimp, tail, and wings, black, edged
with grey : quill feathers black : tail very Ihort and
rounded. The whole under fide of the body, from
the throat to the tail, filvery white, except a brown
bar which croffes the vent : inner coverts of the
wings white : legs remarkably flat, and placed clofe

A a 2

i88

BRITISH BIRDS.

to the tail ; they are black and grey, with a blue
tinge : the feet are very large, webs entire and flefh-
colour. Length two feet one inch, extent of the
wings three feet two inches ; weight three pounds
eight ounces. This bird was fhot on "Windermere
Lake, in Weftmoreland, in December, 1794."

This work is indebted for the above drawing and
defcription, to Geo. Strickland, Efq. of Ripon, who
further adds, — " As this fpecies of the Colymbus
much refembles the Imber in the colour of its plu-
mage, I have given it the name of the Lejfer Imber,
as in weight and fize it is one-third lefs. I have
not met with any defcription of it, and the fpeci-
men now in my poffeffion is the only one I have
feen."

BRITISH BIRDS.

FIRST SPECKLED DIVER.

SPRAT LOON, GREATEST-TAILED DIVER, OR SPECKLES
LOON.

{ColymSus JiellatuS) Lin. — Le petit Plongeon^ BufF.)

This fpecies generally weighs about two pounds
and a half, and fomewhat exceeds two feet in length,
and three and a half in breadth. The bill is three
inches long, of a light colour, and has rather a
cafl upwards : the crown of the head and upper
parts of the body are dulky, inclining to grey ; and,
excepting the hinder part of the neck, lelTer coverts
and quills, which are plain, the reft of the plumage
is fpeckled all over with fmall white fpots ; thofe on
the fcapulars and middle wing-coverts are the iarg-
eft, and marked more diftindtly on the margins of
each feather, near to their tips. The fore part of
the neck is of an afh-colour : cheeks, chin, throat,

190 BRITISH BIRDS.

and under parts, of gloffy white : tail tipped with
white : legs and toes dufky ; webs pale.

The natural habits of the Speckled Diver are
much the fame as thofe of the kinds before de-
fcribed, but it feems ftill more to fhun the rigours
of the north, and remains longer in the temperate
climates. In the winter feafon it keeps its route
fouthward, and is then met with in the Baltic, the
German ocean, and on various parts of the Britifh
fhores. In the fpring it retires northward to the
lakes of the continent, and the iflands within the
Ardllc circle, to breed and rear its young. The
female makes her neft in the grafs, near the edge
of the water, and lays two eggs of a longifh oval
Ihape, larger than thofe of a Hen : they are of a
dingy ftone-colour, fpotted with black.

The foregoing figure was done from a ftuiFed
fpecimen.

BRITISH BIRDS.

191

SECOND SPECKLED DIVER.

The length of this bird, to the end of the tail, is
two feet four inches, and rather more to the end
of the longefl, or outfide toe ; the extended wings
are three feet four inches, from tip to tip ; and it
weighs three pounds and a quarter. The bill, from
the tip to the brow, is two inches and an eighth,
and a little more than three inches to the corners of
the mouth : both mandibles are white, faintly blufli-
ed with a livid or purple caft, except on the ridge
of the upper one, where it is of a dark horn-colour,
fading off lighter towards the tip, which is entirely
white : the irides are of a clear brown. The head
and hinder part of the neck have a hoary dark
alh-coloured appearance, at a little diftance ; but
on a nearer view, the feathers on the crown and
brovv^, which are very fmall, are dark in the middle,
and diftinftly edged with light grey; thofe from
the nape downwards are larger, but the edges are
lefs defined. The fides of the mouth, about the

192 BRITISH BIRDS.

eyes, alfo the cheeks and throat, are white, but are
partially dulled or freckled by a mixture of nume-
rous fmall brownifh afh-coloured fpots : the fore
part of the neck is darkened with clofer fet and
larger fpots, inclining more to brown. All the
upper parts of the plumage are of a deep or black
brown, and except the greater coverts and the quills,
are fpeckled all over with oblong oval white fpots,
placed on the lide of each feather, near the tip.
The whole under fide of the body is white, but
a'offed by a brown bar at the vent. The tail is
brown, very Ihort, and of a rounded or fan Ihape :
the legs on the infides, down the fhins, and on the
edges behind, are white : the middle of the webs,
the two inner toes, and the terminating joint of the
outer one, together with all the nails, are the fame :
all the other parts of the legs and feet are dulky.

A pair of thefe birds were Ihot on the Tyne, at
Newcaftle, in the month of January, by Mr Pollock.
They differed fomewhat from the preceding fpecies,
but very little, excepting in weight, from each other.
This figure and defcription were taken from the
larger. The fmaller, which probably was the fe-
male, weighed only two pounds and a half. Al-
though a particular chapter has been allotted to
thefe birds, the author does not fuppofe them to
be a diftind fpecies from the preceding, which was
probably a very old female.

BRITISH BIRDS.

193

RED-THROATED DIVER.

RED-THROATED LOON, OR RAIN GOOSE.

{Colymlui feptentr'ionalhi Lin. — Le Plongeon a gorge rouge, BufF.)

This bird meafures three feet five inches in
breadth, two feet to the end of the tail, and four
inches more to the end of the toes, and weighs
nearly three pounds. The bill is dark coloured,
and lefs than that of the Speckled Diver : the irides
reddiih : head and fides of the neck bluifh lead
colour : throat rufty red : the hinder part of the
neck from the nape towards the Ihoulders and
fides of the breaft, is flreaked downwards \vith
dufky and white. The upper parts of the plumage
are of a greyifh dufky colour, thinly fprinkled all
over with fmall white fpots, which on the coverts
and fcapulars affume a more flreaked or lengthened
form : the under parts are white : the legs dark,

Vol. II. t Bb

194 BRITISH BIRD^.

with a reddifh tinge. The male and female are
nearly alike in their plumage.

This fpecies inhabits the fame cold countries as
the other Divers, and its manners and habits do not
differ from theirs ; but it is of a more lively cha-
racter, and has a more fprightly appearance than
any of the preceding kinds : alfo, like the reft of
the genus, it is driven, in fevere winters, from the
northern to more fouthern climes. They breed,
and are common in Greenland, Hudfon's Bay, Ice-
land, the Shetland and Orkney Ifles, &c. The fe-
male makes her neft, which is compofed of mofs
and herbage, lined with a little of her own down,
on the very edge of the fhore : fhe lays two eggs,
which are nearly of the lize of thofe of a hen, but
of a longer fhape, and of a dingy bluilh white,
thinly marked with dufcy fpots. They live in pairs
with inconceivable affection, run fwiftly upon the
water, dive immediately, but are very aukward upon
the land, from which they rife with great difficulty.
Their flight, however, when once on the wing, is
both ftrong and fwift : they rife to a great height,
making at intervals a difagreeable croaking, or a
loud howling cry.

BRITISH BIRDS. 195

BLACK-THROATED DIVER.

{Colymlus ^rSicuSf Lin.— Ze Ltimme, ou petit Plongeon de la
mer du Nord^ BufF. )

This bird is fomewhat bigger than the Red-
throated Diver, and differs from it in its plumage ;
but in every other refpe6: they are very much alike.
The fore parts of the head, the throat, and front o^
the neck, are black, changing in different lights to
gloffy purple or green : on the fides of the neck this
long black patch is bordered by a ftripe of black and
white oblong fpots, pointing downwards, and fall-
ing over each fide of the breafl. The hinder part
of the head and neck are afh-coloured : upper parts
of the plumage black, marked on the fcapulars with
fquare white fpots, and on the wing coverts with
fmaller round ones : the under parts are white :
quills dufky ; tail black ; legs dark, and reddifh
on the infide.

The Black-throated Diver, like the preceding, is
common in all the Ardic regions, and but rarely
vifits England. It has the fame difagreeable cries,
which, in both kinds, are believed by the natives of
Norway, the Orkney Ifles, &c. to forebode heavy
rains or bad weather. Their fkins are dreffed, and
made into caps, hoods, &c, and are much efleemed
as a covering for the head and breafl in the rigorous
climates in which they are found, the great thick-
Bb 2

196

BRITISH BIRDS.

nefs of the feathers rendering them very fit for that
purpofe.

By many naturalifts it is thought that this differs
from the former bird in fex only. *

* A bird, fufpefted to be of this fpecies, was caught in the
month of March, in a pool near Dukesfield, Northumberland,
and prefented to the autlior, by Mr Thomas Crawhall : it
wanted the black patch on the throat ; its tail, like the Firft
Grey Speckled Diver's, was tipped with white, and its legs
were marked like thofe of the fecond ; but in meafurement It
exceeded the latter, being two feet two inches from the bill to
the tail.

BRITISH BIRDS. I97

OF THE TERNS, OR SEA SWALLOWS,

Birds of this genus have ftraight, flender-fhaped,
and pointed bills : noflrils linear : tongue flender
and Iharp : their legs are fmall, the webs deeply
fcallopped from the toe ends to the middle, and the
back toe fmall : the wings are very long, and the
tail forked. * Thefe birds continue long on the
wing, and, in their quick and circling evolutions,
they rife and fmk in the air, or glide along near
the furface of the waters, fometimes fnapping at the
infe£ts in their way, or, fuddenly checking their
courfe, darting down upon their finny prey, which
they fwallow in the afcent, v/ithout delaying their
progrefs. Their common refidence is the fea-fhores,
or the mouths of large rivers, whofe courfes, how-
ever, they fometimes traverfe nearly to their rife.
They alfo ^ifit loughs and lakes very diftant from
the ocean, and likewife make excurfions a long
way out to fea. They congregate in large flocks,
but particularly in the breeding feafon, when they
are more than ufually reftlefs, wheeling and re-
doubling their varied flight high in the air, and ut-
tering their loud fcreams in clamorous confufion.
Some of the fpecies are defcribed as breeding on

* In the young of fome fppcics, the tails are nearly even at
the ends.

igB

BRITISH BIRDS,

the fliores, and depofiting their two eggs upon the
bare rock ; others lay three or four eggs in a hole
made in the dry fand ; and fome kinds neftle among
the reeds and rufhes in the marfhy borders of the
lakes which they frequent. The young ones keep
the neft a good while after they have been hatched,
not offering to leave it until their wings have attain-
ed fufEcient length and ftrength to enable them to
fly with eafe and fafety.

One kind or another of thefe birds is met with by
navigators in almoft every part of the world. La-
tham enumerates twenty-three fpecies, befides varie-
ties : five of the former and one of the latter are
]Pritifh.

BRITISH BIRDS.

[99

COMMON TERN.

GREAT TERN, KIRMEW, OR SEA-SWALLOW.
\Sfefna Hirundoj Lin. — La grande Hirondelle'de'merf BufF.)

This bird meafures above fourteen inches in
length, thirty in breadth, and weighs more than
four ounces. The bill is of a crimfon colour, tip-
ped with black, and about two inches and a quarter
in length : the head is capped with a longifh black
patch, which extends over- the eyes, and ends in a
point below the. nape of the neck : the throat,
cheeks, neck, and the whole of the under parts are
white : the tail, which is long, and greatly forked,
is alfo white, except the two outfide feathers, which
are black on their exterior webs ; but in flying,
thefe forks are frequently clofed fo as to look like a
lingle feather. The upper part of the plumage is

200

BRITISH BIRDS.

of a fine pale lead colour : the quills are of a deeper
caft, the outfide ones the darkeft : the legs and feet
red.

The female, it is faid, forms her neft in the mofs
or long coarfe grafs, near the lake, and lays three or
four eggs of a dull olive colour, marked with dif-
ferent fized black fpots at the thicker end : it is
added, that fhe covers them only during the night,
or in the day when it rains : at all other times Ihe
leaves the hatching of them to the heat of the fun.

This clean-looking bird is pretty common in the
fummer months on the fea-coafts, rivers and lakes of
the Britifh Ifles, and is alfo met with in various pjarts
of Europe, Afia, and America. It migrates fouth-
ward to the Mediterranean, and to the Madeira and
Canary Ifles, and northward as far as Spitzbergen
and Greenland.

BRITISH BIRDS. 201

f^.-

LESSER TERN,

OR, LESSER SEA-SWALLOW.
(Sterna minutay Lin. — La petite Hirondelle Je Mer^ BufF.)

The Leffer Tern meafures about eight inches in
length, and nineteen in breadth, and weighs a little
more than two ounces. It looks like the former
fpecies in miniature — is equally, if not more deli-
cately elegant in its plumage and general appear-
ance— and its manners and habits are much the
fame ; but it is not nearly fo numerous, or fo wide-
ly difperfed. It differs from the Common Tem
in having the black patch on its head divided by a
white fpot on the front of its brow, in the tail
being wholly white, and, in proportion to the fize
of the bird, much fhorter or lefs forked, and in
the bill and the feet being more inclined to orange

Vol. II. t Co

202

BRITISH BIRDS.

or yellow* Nothing can exceed the dean, clear,
and glofly whitenefs of its clofe-fet feathers on the
under parts of the body j but the upper plumage is
of a plain yo^^r lead-coloured grey. The egg is an
inch and a half in length, of a dirty yellowifli
brown, daftied all over with reddifh blotches.

This bird is met with in the fummer months
about the Baltic, in fome parts of Ruffia, the river
Irtilh in Siberia, the Black and Cafpian feas, and in
America near New York, &c. In Belon's time
" the fifhermen floated a crofs of wood, in the
middle of which was faftened a fmall fifh for a bait,
with limed twigs ftuck to the four corners, on which
the bird darting, was entangled by the wings."

BRITISH BIRDS. 203

BLACK TERN.

SCARE-CROW, CLOVEN-FOOTED GULL, OR CAR-SWALLOW.
{Sterna JiffipedeSi Lin. — U Epouvautailt BufF.)

This bird meafures about ten Inches in length,
and twenty-four in breadth, and weighs about two
ounces and a half. The bill, head, neck, breaft,
and belly, are a dull black : back, wings, and tail,
a deep alh-colour : vent, and the exterior feather
on each fide of its fharp forked tail, white ; and
in the male there is a white fpot on the throat.
The legs and feet are a dufky red, the webs much
deprefled in the middle.

The Black Tern is of a fize between that of the
laft two. Like them it frequents the fea-lhores in
fummer j but its habits and manners are fomewhat
different : it has a fhriller cry, does not affociate
with them, and feems rather to prefer the rivers,
fens, marfhes, and lakes inland, to the fea. It
breeds and rears its young among the reeds and
rufhes in the former places, and is faid to lay three
or four eggs of a dirty greenjUi colour, fpotted and
encircled about the middle with black. It feeds on
beetles, maggots, and other infefts, as well as on
fmall fifhes ; and, like the reft of the genus, is very
noify, clamorous, and reftlefs. Voyagers and orni-
thologifts fay it is met with in Hudfon's Bay, New-
foundland, and Iceland, and that it is common in
Siberia, and the fait lakes in the defarts of Tartary,

204

BRITISH BIRDS.

SANDWICH TERN.

{^Sandvkencls, Latham.)

A PAIR of thefe birds, male and female, were
fliot on the Fern Wands, on the coaft of Northum-
berland, m July, 1802, from the former of which
this figure was taken. * They meafured two feet
nine inches from tip to tip of the wings : the bills
were tipped with yellow : the black feathers which
capped and adorned their heads were elongated be-
hind, forming a kind of peaked creft, which over-

* Thefe birds, as well as fpecimens of nearly the whole of
the different kinds which breed on the Fern Ifles, were, after
great trouble and riHc, ihot there, exprefsly for the ufe of this
work, by Major Shore and Lieutenant Henry Forller Gibfon,
of the 4th Dragoons : and the author takes this opportunity of
expreffing the high fenfe of gratitude he feels to thofe gentle-
inen, for the facihties they have given to his labours.

BRITISH BIRDS. 205

hung the nape and hmder part of the neck: the
feathers of the fore part of the neck and bread,
when ruffled up, appeared delicately and faintly
blufhed with red. In other refpefts they corre-
fponded fo nearly with Mr Latham's accurate de-
fcription, that to attempt giving any other is need-
lefs. — " Length eighteen inches : bill two inches ;
colour black with the tip horn colour : tongue half
the length of the bill : irides hazel : forehead,
crown, hind head, and fides above the eyes, black :
the reft of the head, neck, under parts of the body
and tail, white; the back and wings pale hoary
lead colour : the firfl five quills hoary black, the
inner webs deeply margined with white ; the fixth
like the others, but much paler ; the reft of the
quills like the back : the tail is forked, the outer
feather fix inches and a quarter in length ; the
vvings reach beyond it : legs and claws black : the
under part of the feet dufky red." " Some fpeci-
mens have the top of the head dotted with white."
" In young birds the upper parts are much clouded
with brown -, and the whole of the top of the head
greatly mixed with white : but this is not peculiar,
as the young of other Tenis with black heads are in
the fame ftate." " It is pretty common on the Suf-
folk and Kentifti coafts in the fummer months,
breeds there in the month of June, is fuppofed to
lay its eggs upon the rocks, and to hatch them
about the middle of July." He adds, " Whether

2o6

BRITISH BIRDS.

thefe birds only vifit us at uncertain feafons, or have
hitherto pafled unnoticed among other Terns, we
know not ; but believe that this has not yet been
recorded as a Britiih fpecies." " They generally
make their appearance in the neighbourhood of
Romney in Kent, about the middle of April, and
take their departure in the beginning of Septem-
ber."

BRITISH BIRDS. 207

Sterna naviaf Lin. — La Gutfette, BufF.

Latham fays this bird is in " length eleven
inches and a half. Bill dufky : back part of the
head and nape black, edged with rufous brown :
the eye half furrounded at the back part with a
black crefcent : the reft of the head, neck, and un-
der parts, white : back and wings of a bluilh brown,
the margins of the feathers paler : the outward part
of the wing more inclined to blue grey : the wings
exceed the tail in length ; the laft very Httle forked :
legs dufky brown." He adds, " This by authors
has been confidered as a fpecies, but is, no doubt,
a young bird merely of the Sandwich Tern."

Buffon gives a figure, and defcribes this bird as
common on the coaft of Picardy, and frequently
feen flying on the rivers Seine and Loire : that it is
of a middle fize between the Greater and Lefl^er
Tern, but differs from them in fome particulars
in its habits and ceconomy, viz : that it feeds
more upon infefts, flies, &c., is not fo clamorous
as the Greater Tern, does not lay its eggs on the
naked fand, but makes its neft in the marfhes with
a few dried herbs, in a tuft of .grafs or mofs, in
fome infulated hillock, and that it fits upon its
eggs clofely (generally three in number) till the
young are hatched.

208

BRITISH BIRDS*

BROWN TERN.

[Sterna nigra^ Lin. Sterna Fufca^ B.ay.—Bro'wn Tern,
Willoughby. Bro'wn Gull^ Pennant.)

" The whole underfide white ; the upper brown ;
the wings partly brown, partly afh-colour: the
head black : the tail not forked. Thefe birds fly
in companies.'*

This fliort and imperfed account is all that or-
nithologifts have been enabled to give of this doubt-
ful fpecies, which has found its way into notice
merely from the communications of Mr Johnfon *
to Mr Ray, copied by the latter into his Synopfis
of Birds, &c.

* Mr R. Johnfon, the correfpondent, friend, and affiftant of
the immortal Ray, was vicar of Brignal in Yorkfhire. He died
there on the 7th of May, 1695, aged 6G years.

BRITISH BIRDS. 209

OF THE GULL,

The bill is ftrong and ftraight, but bent down-
wards at the point : the noftrils are pervious, ob-
long, and narrow, and are placed in the middle ;
the lower mandible has an angular prominence on
the underfide, which tapers towards, and forms its
tip : the tongue is a little cloven. The body is
cloathed with a great quantity of down and feathers,
which, together with the large head and long wings,
give thefe birds an appearance of bulk, without a
proportionate weight. Their legs are fmall, naked
above the knees : feet webbed, and the back toe
detached, and very fmall.

This genus, which fome naturalifts have defcrib-
ed as confiiling of about nineteen fpecies, befides
a few varieties, is numeroully difperfed over every
quarter of the known world, and is met with, at
certain feafons, in fome parts, in fuch multitudes,
that the whole furfac^ of the ground is covered
with their dung ; and their eggs are gathered by
the inhabitants in prodigious quantities. They af-
femble together in a kind of ftraggling mixed
flocks, confiding of various kinds, and greatly en-
liven the beach by their irregular movements, v/hilft
their fhrill cries are deadened by the noife of the
waves, or nearly drowned in the roarings of the
furge. They occafionally take a wide range over

Vol. II. t D d

2IO BRITISH BIRDS.

the ocean, and are met with by navigators many
leagues diflant from the land. Their plumage,
which in each Individual of the fpecies varies with
its age,* is clean and agreeable, but their carriage
and gait are ungraceful, and their character is flig-
matifed as cowardly, cruel, lazy, thievilh, and vo-
racious ; for which reafon they have by fome been
called the vulture of the fea: and it is certain
pthough this trait is not peculiar to them"3 that the
flronger will rob the weaker kinds, and that they
are all greedy and gluttonous, almofl indifcrimi-
nately devouring whatever comes in their way,
whether of frefh or putrid fubftances, until they are
obliged to difgorge their overloaded ftomachs. On
the contrary, they are able to endure hunger a
long while : Buffon mentions one that lived nine
days without tailing food.

Some ornithologifts divide this genus of birds
into two kinds, calling the larger Gulls, and the
leifer Mews, and clafs with the former kind thofe
which meafure eighteen or twenty inches from the
point of the bill to the end of the tail ; and with
the latter all thofe which are of lefs dimenfions.
The larger kinds are not fo common in the warm,
as they are in the cold climates, where they remain
to breed and rear their young, feeding chiefly upon

* Hence the confufion which has arifen among authors and
nomenclators, refpedling this nuraerous tribe of birds,

BRITISH BIRDS.

211

the rotting carcafes of dead whales, &c. which they
find floating on the fea, among the ice, or driven
on fliore by the winds and waves ; and many are
faid to remain in the dreary regions of ice and
fnow during the winter, the extreme feverity of
which does not compel them all to quit their native
climes.

In the temperate and cultivated countries they
occafionally leave the fhores, and make excurfions
inland, tempted probably to fearch for a change of
food, fuch as worms, flugs, &c. and of thefe they
find, for a time, an abundant fupply on the downs
and paftures which they vifit. The jelly-like fub-
ftance which is fometimes met with in the fields,
and known by the name oi Jiar-Jhot, is believed to
be the remains of half-digefted worms, &c. which
they have difcharged from their over-loaded fto^
machs.

Dd 2

2IS

BRITISH BIRDS.

BLACK-BACKED GULL,

OR, GREAT BLACK AND WHITE GULL.
[Larus marinuSf Lin. — Le Goiland noir, Buff.)

This fpecies, which is the largeft of the tribe,
meafures twenty-nine inches in length, and five feet
nine inches in breadth, and weighs nearly five
pounds. The bill is pale yellow, very firm, ftrong,
and thick, and nearly four inches long from the tip
to the corners of the mouth : the projeOiing angle
on the lower mandible is red, or orange, with a
black fpot in the middle, on each fide : the irides
are yellow, and the edges of the eye-lids orange.
The upper part of the back and wings are bl^ick :

BRITISH BIRDS.

213

all the other parts of its plumage, and the tips of
the quills, are white : the legs pale flelh colour.

Gulls of this fpecies are common in the northern
parts of Europe, the rocky ifles of the North Sea,
and in Greenland, but are only thinly fcattered on
the coafts of England, where they,' however, fome-
times remain to breed on the higheft cHffs which
overhang the fea : their eggs are of a round Ihape,
of a dark olive colour, thinly marked with dufky
fpots, and quite black at the thicker end. Their
cry of kac, kac, kac, quickly repeated, is roughly
hoarfe and difagreeable.

Mr Pennant fays, *' I have feen on the coafl of
Anglefea a bird that agrees in all refpefts with this,
except in fize, in wanting the black fpot on the bill,
and in the colour of the legs, which in this are of a
bright yellow : the extent of the wings is only four
feet five : the length only twenty-two inches : the
weight one pound and a half. This fpecies, or
perhaps variety, (for I dare not affert which) rambles
far from the fea, and has been fhot at Bullflrode,
in Middlefex." One of this fort was fhot by Mr
Latham on the Thames, near Dartford, and mea-
fured full two feet in length.

214 BRITISH BIRDS.

HERRING GULL.

{^Larus fufcuSf Lin. — Le Gotland In manteau grh-lrun^ ou le
Bourgmejlrei BufF.)

The weight of this bird exceeds thirty ounces ;
the length is about twenty-three inches, and the
breadth fifty-two. The fpot on the angular knob
of the under mandible is deep orange ; the reft of
the bill yellow : irides pale yellow ; edges of the
eye-lids red. The back and wing coverts are of a
dark bluiih afli-colour : the firfl five quills in mofl
fpecimens are black on the upper parts, and have
each a roundifh white fpot on the outer webs near
the tips ; others are marked differently on the quills :
legs pale flefh colour. The back and wings of
fome of this fpecies, which are fuppofed to be the
young not arrived at full plumage, are afh-colour-
ed, fpotted with brown : the old ones are faid to
turn quite white.

The haunts, manners, and habits, as well as the
general appearance of this Gull, are very fimilar to
thofe of the preceding fpecies, but this is much more
common on the Britilh fliores: they make their
nefls of dry grafs on the projefting ledges of the
rocks, and lay three eggs of a dull whitifh colour,
fpotted with black. They have obtained their name
from purfuing the ihoals of herrings, and preying
upon thofe filh. Filhermen defcribe them as the

BRITISH BIRDS.

215

conflant, bold, intruding attendants on their nets,
from which they find it difficult to drive them away.
This fpecies, like the preceding, is met with in the
cold northern feas, but has been obferved to wan-
der farther into fouthern climates.

Naturalifls are divided in their opinions refped-
ing the Black-backed Gull, the Herring Gull, and
the Wagel : it is by fome fufpeded that they are all
of one fpecies, and that the difference between them
is owing merely to their age and fex. This, as well
as much more refpeding the Gull tribe, remains to
be determined by further invefligation. The Glau-
cous Gull of Pennant and Latham, which they do
not confider as a Britifh bird, called by the Dutch
Burgermeifler, or Burgomafler, and figured in the
Planches Enluminees under the name Goiland
cendree, is alfo one of the number involved in the
fame doubt, and is probably not a fpecies diflindt
from the Herring Gull 5 and Latham has the fame
doubt refpeding the Silvery Gull.

C-^

2l6

.BRITISH BIRDS.

WAGEL.

GREAT GREY GULL, GRISARD, OR BURGO-MASTER.
{Larus nccvius, Lin. — Le Goiland varie ou le Grifardt BufF.)

This Gull is about two feet in length, and five in
breadth, and weighs nearly three pounds ; but the
individuals vary much in their fize, fome of them
being lefs, and others larger than thefe dimenfions.
The bill is black, fcarcely three inches long : the
irides dark blue. The whole plumage is a mixture
of afh-coloured brown and white. The feathers
on the back are dark in the middle, with whitifh
grey edges : the wing coverts nearly the fame, but
more fpottedj and the under parts of the body

BRITISH BIRDS.

217

have a much lighter and more mixed appearance :
the quills are plain black : the middle tail feathers
the fame, but tipped with white, and croffed with a
narrow white bar towards the root or bafe : the fide
feathers are mottled black and white : the legs are
of a dirty white, fometimes blulhed with red.

Mr Pennant treated of the Wagel as a diflinft
fpecies, from an opinion he had formed, " that
the firft colours of the irides, of the quill feathers,
and of the tail, are in all birds permanent." Fur-
ther obfervation, however, caufed him to alter his
mind. Other obfervers fay that this Gull is the
young of the Herring Gull, and that it does not
change its grey plumage until the fourth year.

Vol. II. t

Ee

2l8

BRITISH BIRDS.

COMMON GULL.

COMMON SEA-MALL, OR MEW.
[Larus CanuSf Lin. — La Grande Mouette cmdreCf BuflF.)

The Common Gull generally meafures between
fixteen and feventeen inches in length, thirty-fix,
and fometimes more, in breadth, and weighs about
one pound. The bill is pale yellow, tinged with
green, * and an inch and three-quarters long : irides
hazel : edges of the eye-lids red : the upper part of
the head and cheeks, and the hinder part and fides
of the neck, are flreaked with dulky fpots : the

* Buffon fays, the bluilh bill and feet, always obfervable in
this fpecies, ought to diftinguifli it from every other, in which
the feet are generally of a flefh-colour, more or lefs vermillion
or livid.

BRITISH BIRDS. 219

back, fcapulars, and wings are of a fine pale bluifh
grey : the throat, rump, tail, and all the under
parts are pure white : the firft two quills are black,
with a pretty large white fpot near the tips ; the
next four are tipped with black, and the feconda-
ries largely with white : the legs are greenifli, or a
dirty white. This is nearly the defcription of an
individual fpecimen ; but from the number which
the author has examined, it is certain that thefe
birds vary in the markings of the head, quills, tail,
and in the colour of the bills and feet, hardly two
of them being found exadly alike. Some have the
head quite white ; fome the quills plain black at
the ends; others the tail tipped with black, and
the feet blulhed with red, green, or blue. Their
plumage and look altogether is very clean and
agreeable.

The habits and manners of this fpecies are much
the fame as thofe of the reft of the genus : they are
fpread all over the globe, and are the moft com--
mon and numerous of all the Gulls which frequent
the Britilh Ihores. They breed on the rocky cliffs :
and lay two eggs, nearly of the fize of thofe of a
Hen, of an olive brown colour, marked with dark
reddifh blotches, or irregular fpots. At the mouths
of the larger rivers, they are feen in numbers, pick.)-
ing up the animal fubftances which are caft on fhore,
or come floating down with the ebbing tide : for
this kind of food they watch with a quick eye, and
E e 2

220 BRITISH BIRDS.

it is curious to obferve how fuch as are near the
breakers will mount upon the furface of the water,
and run fplalhing towards the fummit of the wave
to catch the object of their purfuit. This fpecies
alfo, at particular feafons, reforts to the inland parts
of the country to feed upon worms, &c. Some
perfons who live near the fea commonly eat this,
as well as various other kinds of Gulls, which they
defcribe as being good food, when they have under-
gone a certain fweetening procefs before cooking,
fuch as burying them in frelh mould for a day, or
walhing them in vinegar.

BRITISH BIRDS. 221

WINTER GULL.

WINTER MEW, OR CODDY MODDY.
{Larus hybernuSf Lin. — La Mouette d^hyver^ BuiF.)

This generally exceeds the Common Gull in its
weight and admeafurement. The bill is lightilh,
except at the tip, of a flender fhape, and about
two inches long : irides hazel. It is marked with
oblong dufky fpots on the top of the head and
hinder part of the neck : back and fcapulars pale
afh-coloured grey ; but thefe feathers are fpotted
with brown : wing coverts pale brown, edged with
dingy whiter the firfl quill is black, the fix fol-
lowing more or lefs black at the ends ; the others
tipped with white : the tail is croITed with a broad
black bar near the end : all the other parts of the
plumage are white: legs bluifh dirty white. Mr
Pennant alTerts that this is only a young bird, not
a fpecies di{lin£t from the Common Gull ; and he
alfo differs from Linnsus in his opinion that it is
the fame as the harus trida^lyhis, or Tarrock,

222

BRITISH BIRDS.

BLACK-HEADED GULL.

BLACK-CAP, OR PEWIT GULL.

{Larus ridihundusy Lin. — La Mouette rieufe a patios rouges^
Briffon. — La Mouette rieufcy BufF.)

This pretty looking bird meafures fifteen inches
In length, thirty-fix in breadth, and weighs about
two ounces. The bill is of rather a flender make,
and of a full red colour : the irides hazel : edges of
the eye-lids red : head black ; but in fome fpeci-
mens it inclines to a moufe-coloured brown. The
back and wings are of a delicate pale lead, or afh-
colour; the neck, tail, and all the under parts,
pure white. The firfl quills in the fpecimen from
which the above drawing was made, were black on
the outer webs ; thofe next them white, and black

BRITISH BIRDS. 223

towards their tips : others of the quills were partly
afh-coloured, and partly white : the legs red.

The Black-cap Gulls breed on the marfhy edges
of rivers, lakes, and fens in the interior parts of
the country. The female makes her neft among
the reeds and rufhes, of heath or dried grafs, and
lays three or four eggs of an olive brown colour,
blotched over with fpots and flreaks of dull rufty
red. As foon as the young are able to accompany
them, they all retire from thofe places, and return
to the fea.

In former times thefe birds were looked upon as
valuable property, by the owners of fome of the
fens and marflies in this kingdom, who, every
autumn, caufed the little illets or hafts, in thofe
waftes, to be cleared of the reeds and rulhes, in or-
der properly to prepare the fpots for the reception
of the old birds in the fpring, to which places at
that feafon they regularly returned in great flocks
to breed. The young ones were then highly ef-
teemed as excellent eating, and on that account
were caught in great numbers before they were able
to fly. Six or feven men, equipped for this bufi-
nefs, waded through the pools, and with long
flaves drove them to the land, againft nets placed
upon the fliores of thefe hafts, where they were
eafily caught by the hand, and put into pens ready
prepared for their reception. The gentry aflem>j

224 BRITISH BIRDS.

bled from all parts to fee the fpoit. Dr Plot, *
in his natural Hiftory of Staffordihire, publifhed in
1686, gives the above particulars, and fays that in
this manner as many have been caught in one
morning as, when fold at five {hillings per dozen,
(the ufual price at that time) produced the fum of
twelve pounds ten fliillings ; and that in the feveral
drifts on the few fucceeding days of this fport, they
have been taken in fome years in fuch abundance,
that their value, according to the above rate, was
from thirty to fixty pounds — a great fum in thofe
days. Thefe were the See-Gulles of which we read
as being fo plentifully provided at the great feafts of
the ancient nobility and bilhops of this realm. Al-
though the flelh of thefe birds is not now efteemed
a dainty, and they are feldom fought after as an

* Dr Plot defcribes them as coming annually ** to certain
pools in the eftate of the right worfhipful Sir Charles Skrym-
fber, Knight, to build and breed, and to no other eftate but
that of this family, in or near the county, to which they have
belonged ultra homimim memorlam, and never moved from It,
though they have changed their ftation often." What the
Doftor relates of the attachment of thefe birds to the head of
that family, of their removal to another fpot immediately on
his death, and of their returning again with the fame predilec-
tion to his heir, is curious enough, although bordering very
much upon the marvellous. — Willoughby gives nearly the fame
account in his excellent ornithology, publifhed in 1678, and
computes the fale of the birds to amount to twenty-five pounds
per annum. ,

BRITISH BIRDS. 225

article of food, yet in the breeding feafon, where
accommodation and prote6;ion are afforded them,
they ftill regularly refort to the fame old haunts,
which have been occupied by their kind for a long
time paft. * The foregoing figure and defcription
were taken from a fpecimen fhot on Preflwick-Car,
near Newcaflle upon Tyne.

The Larus Atricilla of Linnseus (Laughing Gull
of Catefby, &c.) is by fome naturahfls believed
ro be an old bird of this fpecies, differing from
it only in being rather larger, and in having the
legs black.

* This IS the cafe with the flocks which now breed at Pal-
linsburne, in Northumberland, where they are accounted of
great ufe in clearing the furrounding lands of noxious infefts,
worms, flugs, &c.

Vol. II. t F f

226 BRITISH BIR,DS.

BROWN-HEADED GULL.

RED-LEGGED GULL, OR PICKMIRE.

Four of thefe birds, two males and two females^
were fhot out of a flock on Preflwick-Car, Nor-
thumberland, in the middle of May, by Mr John
Wingate, of Newcaftle, who favoured the author
with a pair : they were of the fame kind as the one
defcribed by Dr Heylham in his Catalogue of Cum-
berland Animals, and communicated by him to Mr
Latham. The bill and feet red ; the edges of the
eye-lids the fame : infide of the mouth reddifh
orange : irides hazel. The female, which was ra-
ther lefs than the male, weighed about feven ounces,
and meafured fourteen inches in length, and thirty-
five in breadth : her head and throat were moufe-
coloured brown, the feathers, in places, very llight-
ly edged or fringed viith white. The plumage on
the head of the male was of the fame colour, but
much more dappled and broken with white. In
both, the neck, throat, and belly were white ; back
and fcapulars of a fine pale blue grey colour : mid-
dle coverts of the wings light brown, edged with
greyilh white ; the exterior webs, and part of the
interior ones of the firit four quills, were black:
tail white, tipped with black : toes Ihort.

Dr Heyfham fays, " It is clear," from his de-
fcription, " that it neither agrees with the Tarrock

BRITISH BIRDS.

227

nor the Pewit, and It could not be a young bird, as
it was killed in June, and the ovary contained eggs."
This reafoning does not appear decifive ; the bird
might be old enough to breed, although not in per-
fect plumage, to which fome fpecies do not attain in
lefs than two or three years : therefore, whether
it really was the young of the Black-headed Gull,
or a diflind fpecies, remains to be determined by
further inveftigation.

The male of the Brown-headed Gull is by fom«
omithologifts called the Kittiwake (the Larus Riffa
of Linnaeus) ; but as there is no end of the con-
jectures, opinions, and doubts refpeding many of
the Gulls, which, from the flighted differences of
plumage, have, in fome inflances, been branched
out into new varieties, in this work the defcriptions
of others have been given in preference to making
alterations, when the author could not with certain-
ty throw any new light upon the fubjed.

Ff 2

228

BRITISH BIRDS.

La Grande Mouette blanche, Belon.

Mr Pennant defcribes this as a variety of the
Black-headed or Pewit Gull j he fays, " It differed
in having the edges of the eye-lids covered with
white foft feathers. The fore part of the head
white ; the fpage round the eyes dulky : from the
corner of each eye is a broad dufky bar, furround-
ing the hind part of the head ; behind that is ano-
ther reaching from ear to ear : the ends, interior
and exterior edges of the three firfl quill feathers,
black ; the ends and interior fides only of the two
next white ; beneath a black bar : the reft, as well
as the fecondaries, afh-colour." " In all other re-
fpe6ls it refembled the Common Pewit Gull.'*
^' The fat was of a deep orange colour."

The above figure was taken from a ftufFed fpe-
^imen in the WyclifFe Mufeum.

BRITISH BIRDS.

229

KITTIWx^KE,

OR, ANNETT.
(^Larus Ri/fa, Linnseus.)

The Kittiwake meafures from fourteen to feven-
teen inches in length, thirty-eight to forty in breadth,
and weighs generally about fourteen ounces. The
bill is of a greenifh yellow : the infide of the mouth
and edges of the eye-lids are orange : irides dark :
the head, neck, under parts and tail, pure white :
back and wings a lead or alh-coloured grey : the ex-
terior edge of the firft quill feather, and the tips of
the next four or five are black : legs dufky : hinder
toe not bigger than a fmall wart. Some fpecimens
of the Kittiwake are defcribed as having the auri-
culars tipped with black.

230

BRITISH BIRDS*

Thefe birds chiefly haunt the rocky promontories
and iflets on the Britifh coafts j they are likewife
widely difperfed over the world, particularly in the
north, and are met with from Newfoundland to
Kamtschatka, as well as in all the intermediate parts,
and as far north as navigators have vifited.

This fpecimen was fliot on one of the Fern iflands
in July, 1803.

''hillh ^^srS ■^ ~^ ^ -^

BRITISH BIRDS. 23 1

TARROCK.

[Laras trlda8yJuSi Lin. — La Mouette cendree tacheteet BufF.)

This bird is fomewhat lefs than the Kittiwake,
The bill is black, fhort, and ftrong : the head, neck,
breaft, belly, and tail are all white, with the excep-
tion of the tips of ten of the middle feathers of the
tail, a fpot on the auriculars, another under the
throat, and a crefcent-fhaped patch on the hinder
part of the neck, all of which are black : the back
and fcapulars are of a bluifli grey : lelTer coverts of
the wings deepifh brown, edged with grey : fome of
the greater covert feathers are of the fame colour, •
and others of plain grey : the outer webs and ends
of the firfl four quills, and the tips of the next two,
are black ; all the reft are wholly white : the legs
are of a dingy alli-colour : the hinder toe, like that
of the Kittiwake, is only a kind of fmall, and appa-
rently ufelefs, protuberance.

The habits and manners of thefe birds are the
fame as thofe of the Kittiwake : they are met with
in the fame countries, and at the fame breeding-
places, from Greenland to Scotland and its ifles.
They leave the fea-fhores in autumn, and fpread
themfelves over the northern ocean, maldng, it is
faid, the floating ifles of ice their chief refting places.
In the fpring they return to the rocky crags to
breed j and in the month of June the female lays

232

BRITISH BIRDS.

two eggs of a dingy greenifh colour, fpotted with
brown : thefe, as well as the flelh of the birds, are
held in great eftimation by the Greenlanders, who
alfo ufe their fkins for caps and garments.

After many doubts and furmifes refpeding the
Tarrock, the prevailing opinion among ornitholo-
gifts is, that it is only the Kittiwake not arrived at
full age and plumage.

A fpecimen of this bird, prefented by Charles
John Brandling, Efq. of Gosforth, had not the black
fpot on the throat. The lefler wing coverts were
very dark brown ; the firft five quills were black on
the outer webs and tips ; the tips of the next two
were marked with a black fpot ; and the two outfide
feathers of the tail were tipped in the fame way.

BRITISH BIRDS.

233

SKUA GULL,

OR BROWN GULL.
(^Larus cafarraSes, Lin. — Le Gotland hruUi BufF.)

This flout Gull is two feet in length, and between,
four and five from tip to tip of the extended wings,
and weighs about three pounds. The bill is dark,
more than two inches long, ftrong, much hooked,
and fharp at the tip ; and, what is fingular, it is
covered to the noftrils with a kind of cere, fome-
thing like that of the Hawk tribe. The whole up-
per plumage is of a deep brown, edged with a dull
ruft colour : the under parts are of the fame colours,
but lighter ; and, in fome birds, the head and throat
are daflied or mixed with alh-grey, and have the
fecondary quills tipped with white : the tail is white
at the root, the Ihafts are of the fame colour, and the

Vol. n. t G g

^^4 BRITISH BIRDS.

webs of deep brown : the legs and toes are covered
with coarfe black fcales ; the claws are ftrong and
hooked, the inner one more fo than the reft.

This fierce fpecies is met with by navigators in
the high latitudes of both hemifpheres, where they
are much more common than in the warm or tem-
perate parts of the globe. In Captain Cook's voy-
ages round the world, they are often mentioned,
and, from their being numerous about the Falkland
Ifles, the feamen called them Port-Egmont Hens.
They are alfo common in Norway, Iceland, the
Shetland and Ferro Ifles, &c. It is faid that they
prey not only upon filh, but alfo upon the lelTer
forts of water-fowl, and even upon young lambs :
this, however, is doubted, and, by fome of the
northern illanders, even denied : they on the con-
trary affert, that thefe birds afford protection to the
flocks, by driving away the Eagle, which they fu-
rioufly attack whenever it comes within their reach,
and on this account they are highly valued. It is,
however, well afcertained that they are uncommon-
ly courageous in defence of their own young, and
that they feize, with the utmoft vengeance, upon
any animal, whether man or beaft, that offers to
difturb their nefts ; and it is faid alfo, that they
fometimes attack the fhepherds even while they are
watching their flocks upon the hills, who are obliged^
in their own defence, to guard their heads, and to
ward off the blows of the alTailants by holding 3,>

BRITISH BIRDS,

^35

pointed flick towards them, againfl which they
fometimes dafli with fuch force as to be killed on
the fpot. In like manner, they who are about to
rob the nefts, hold a knife, or other fharp inftru-
ment, over their heads, upon which the enraged
bird precipitates, and transfixes itfelf. They make
their nefts among the dry grafs, and, when the
young are reared, they difperfe themfelves, com-
monly in pairs, over the ocean.

The feathers of this fpecies, as well as thofe of
other Gulls, are by many people preferred to thofe
of the Goofe ; and in fome parts they are Idlled in
great numbers, merely for the fake of the feathers.
On the Englifli coafts they are not very common :
that from which the foregoing figure was taken,
was fliot near Tynemouth, in the month of Septem-
ber.

Gg 2

n^

BRITISH BIRDS.

BLACK-TOED GULL.

LABBE, DUNG-BIRD, OR BOATSWAIN.
{Larus Crepldatus* — Le Stercorare, BufF.)

This bird meafures fixteen inches and a half In
length, and three feet four inches in breadth, and
weighs eleven ounces. * The bill is of a lead colour,
dark at the point, from which to the brow it is lit-
tle more than an inch in length : the noftrils are
placed near the nail or tip in a kind of cere not
much unhke that of the Skua Gull. ' The whole
upper and under plumage is dark brown, each fea-
ther flightly edged and tipped with ferruginous : the

* This is tKe weight given by Mr Pennant. The fpecimen
from which this figure and defcription were taken weighed only-
eight ounces, but it was very lean. It was fhot on the Dur«
ham coaft, by Mr John Forfter of Newcaftle, the firll of Ofto-
ber, 1800.

BRITISH BIRDS.

^Z1

greater wing coverts, and the firft and fecondary
quills are dufky, and more diftindly tipped with
rufty fpots. The tail confifts of twelve feathers,
the two middle ones longer than the reft ; it is of
the fame colour as the quills, except at the con-
cealed part of its root, which is white. The legs
are flender, and of a lead colour ; the thighs and
part of the joint, and the toes, black : the webs are
of the fame colour, excepting a fmall fpace between
the firft joints of the toes, which is white.

The Black-toed Gull defcribed-by Mr Pennant dif-
fers from this in fome particulars : he fays " the head
and neck are of a dirty white : the hinder part of
the latter plain, the reft marked with oblong dirty
fpots : the breaft and belly are white, croffed with
numerous duiky and yellowifti lines : the feathers
on the fides and vent are barred tranfverfely with
black and white: the back, fcapulars, coverts of
the wings, and tail, are black, beautifully edged
with white or pale ruft-colour : the ftiafts and tips
of the quill feathers are white : the exterior web,
and upper half of the interior web, black ; but the
lower part of the latter white : the tail confifts of
twelve black feathers tipped with white." The
male is faid to be blacker and darker than the
female.

Thefe birds are not common on the Britifh
fhores, nor, although widely difperfed over the face
of the ocean, are they numerous any where. They

238

BRITISH BIRDS.

do not exceed the Leffer Gulls, or Mews, in fize,
yet their greater ferocity enables them to carry into
efFed that continual perfecution which is prompted
by their ravenous appetite. As foon as they per-
ceive that one of the Mews has feized a prey, they
purfue and attack it with the fpeed and vigour of a
Hawk, until the harafled bird, through fatigue or
fear, is compelled to drop or difgorge the objed of
contention, which the purfuer catches in the fall,
commonly before it reaches the water. Diftant ob-
fervers have fuppofed this dropping fubflance to be
the dung of the fugitive, and hence the Black-toed
Gull obtained the name of the Dung-bird.

BRITISH BIRDS. 239

ARCTIC GULL.

FEASER, OR LONG-TAILED LABBE.
{Larus parqft'tcusi Lin. — Le Lahle a longue queue., Buff.)

" THE'length of this fpecies is twenty-one inches :
the bill is dulky, about an inch and a half long,
pretty much hooked at the end, but the flrait part
is covered with a fort of cere. The noftrils are nar-
row, and placed near the end, like the former. In
the male the crown of the head is black : the back,
wings, and tail dulky : but the lower part of the
inner webs of the quill feathers, white : the hind
part of the neck, and the whole under fide of the
body, white : the tail confilts of twelve feathers,
the two middlemofl nearly four inches longer than
the others : the legs black, fmall, and fcaly." —
*' The female is entirely brown ; but of a much
paler colour below than above : the feathers in the
middle of the tail only two inches longer than the
others. Linnaeus has feparated this from its mate,
his Larus. Para/iticus^ and made it a fynonym to
his Lams Catarracles, a bird as different from this
as any other of the whole genus." Pennant,

The habits and manners of this fpecies are the
fame as thofe of the laft. It purfues the fmaller
Gulls for the purpofe of robbing them of their
prey, and hke the other, is called the Dung-bird,
from fmiilar groundlefs notions. It is pretty com*

240

BRITISH BIRDS,

mon in the northern parts of Europe, Afia, and
America. Numbers of them frequent the Hebrides
in the breeding feafon, which is from May till
Auguft. The female makes her nefl of mofs on
the dry graffy tufts in boggy places, and lays two
eggs of an afh-colour, fpotted with black*

BRITISH BIRDS. 241

OF THE PETREL.

The bills of this genus are ftraight, except the
end, which is bent or hooked : the noftrils, for the
mofl part, contained in one tube; but in a few
fpecies they are diflind and feparate. Legs fmall,
and naked above the knees : three toes placed for-
ward, and a fpur behind, inflead of a back toe :
wings very long and flrong.

Thefe birds are the conftant, roving, adventrous
inhabitants of the ocean ; one fpecies or ano-
ther of them is met with by navigators in every
climate, and at the greatefl diftances from land.
They feem to fport with the tempeft, and run on
foot, fwim, or fly at pleafure over the foaming bil-
lows, with amazing velocity. * In flying they ge-
nerally keep fo near to the undulating waters, that
the tips of their wings often beat upon the furface,
and thereby accelerate their progrefs. In calm
weather they float and repofe, as it were, on the
bofom of the ocean. They are feldom feen on
fliore, and when they are, it is only in the breed-
ing feafon, and then merely for the purpofes of in-
cubation. The females depofit their eggs in holes
in the ground, or in the deep hidden caverns and

* Some fpecies of them are known to dive alfo. — Cooi's
Voyages.

Vol. II. I H h

242 BRITISH BIRDS.

recefles of the rocks, where they and their mates,
while employed in rearing their young, are heard
in croaking, clucking converfe, not unlike the un-
varied hollow founds of a number of frogs. They
are accounted a ftupid race of birds, becaufe they
feem fearlefs of danger, and fuffer themfelves to be
fo nearly approached as eafily to be fhot, or even
knocked on the head. In the prefervation of their
young they feem to have only one mode of defence,
and that is the fmgular faculty of fquirting oil from
their bills, with great force, on the face of their
enemy ; by which means they fometimes fucceed in
difconcerting his attempts to rob their nefts. They
fire a remarkably oily fat race of birds.

Ornithologifts have reckoned nineteen fpecies,
and a few varieties, of the Petrel, whofe noftrils
are contained in a fingle tube, — and four fpecies
which have noftrils divided into two tubes. Three
fpecies only of this genus are accounted Britilh
birds.

BRITISH BIRDS.

243

FULMAR,

OR, MALLEMOKE.

^Procellaria glacialh, Lin. — Le Fulmar^ ou Pettel Puffin grit
Mane, BuflF.)

The Fulmar meafures feventeen inches in length,
and weighs about twenty-two ounces. The bill isT
ftrongly formed, and about two inches long ; the
hook or nail of the upper mandible, and the trun-
cated termination or tip of the under one, are yel-
low ; the other parts of it are of a greyifh colour,
and, in fome fpecimens, blufhed with red : the
noftrils are contained in one fheath, divided into
two tubes. The head, neck, all the under parts,
and the tail, are white : back and wing coverts
blue grey: quills dulky blue: legs yellowifh, in-
Hh 2

244 BRITISH BIRDS.

dining more or lefs, in fome fpecimens, to red.
The body is thickly cloathed with feathers upon a
clofe fine down.

This fpecies is much more common in cold, than
in warm or temperate climates : it has been met
with in both the arftic and antarftic regions, in all
parts which navigators have been able to vilit, even
to the foot of thofe impenetrable barriers, the float-
ing iflands and eternal mountains of ice and fnow.

In the northern parts of the world, the natives of
the various coafts and iflands eafily catch thefe
heedlefs birds in great numbers* Pennant, fpeak-
ing of thofe which breed on, 'or inhabit, the Ifle of
St Kilda, fays — " No bird is of fuch ufe to the
iflanders as this : the Fulmar fupplies them with oil
for their lamps, down for their beds, a delicacy for
their tables, a balm for their wounds, and a medi-
cine^for their diftempers." He fays alfo, that it is a
" certain prognofl;icator of the change of the wind :
if it comes to land, no wefl: wind is expefted for
fome time ; and the contrary when it returns and
keeps the fea."

Thefe birds are extremely greedy and gluttonous,
and will devour any floating putrid fubfliances, fuch
as the filth from the fliips, which they fearlefsly fol-
low. They alfo purfue the whales, but particular-
ly the bloody track of thofe which are wounded,
and in fuch great flocks as thereby fometimes to dif-
cover the prize to the fifliers, with whom they ge-

BRITISH BIRDS.

245

nerally fliare ; for when the huge animal is no
longer able to fink, the Fulmars, in multitudes,
alight upon it, and ravenoufly pluck off and devour
lumps of the blubber, until they can hold no more.
The female is f^d to lay only one large white
and very brittle egg, which Ihe hatches about the
middle of June.

246

BRITISH BIRDS.

SHEARWATER.

SKRABE, MANKS PETREL, MANKS PUFFIN, OR LYRE.
{^Procellaria Puffinus, Lin. — Le Fiiffm, BufiF.)

This fpecies meafures in length fifteen inches, and
in breadth thirty-one, and weighs about feventeen
ounces. The bill is about an inch and three-quar-
ters long; the tip black, the other parts yellowr
ilh : the tubular nollrils are not fo prominent as in
others of this genus. The inner coverts of the
wings, and under parts of the body, are white : the
head, tail, thighs, and upper parts, black, tinted
more or lefs with grey : the legs are flattened on
the fides, and weak ; light-coloured, or whitilh on
the fore parts, and dufky behind.

The Shearwater is found in greater or fmaller
numbers in almofl every part of the watery world.

BRITISH BIRDS. 247

in both hemifpheres, and in every climate; but
they are met A:vath in greater abundance in the
north. In the Hebrides, and other illands wth
which the feas of Scotbjid are dotted, thefe birds
are caught by the natives in great numbers, and are
ufed for the fame purpofes as the Fuhnar.

Willoughby, whofe excellent ornithology has
thrown fo much hght on this branch of natural his-
tory, and cleared the paths for fubfequent writers,
gives the follo^wdng account of the coming of thefe
birds to breed in the Ifle of Man : —

" At the fouth end of the Ifle of Man lies a little
iflet, divided from Man by a narrow channel, called
the Calf of Man, on which are no habitations but
only a cottage or two lately built. This iflet is full
of rabbits, which the PufHns coming yearly diflodge,
and build in their burroughs. They lay each but
one egg before they fit, like the Razor-bill and
Guillem, although it be the common perfuafion
that they lay two at a timie, of v»'hich the one is al-
ways addle.^' " The old ones early in the morn-
ing, at break of day, leave their nefts and young,
and the ifland itfelf, and fpend the whole day in
fifliing at fea, never returning or once fetting foot
on the ifland before evening twilight : fo that all
day the ifland is fo quiet and flill from all noife as
if there were not a bird about it.'* He obferves
that they feed the young ones from the contents of
their loaded fliomachs during the night, that they

248 BRITISH BIRDS.

become extremely fat, and are taken and faked
down for keeping, and that the Romifh church
permitted them to be eaten in lent. He adds fur-
ther refpeding the young ones : — ^" When they
come to their growth, they who are intruded by
the lord of the ifland (the Earl of Derby) to draw
them out of the rabbit-holes, that they may the
more readily know and keep account of the num-
ber they take, cut off one foot, and referve it,
which gave occafion to that fable, that the Puffins
are fmgle-footed. They ufually fell them for about
nine-pence the dozen, a very cheap rate."

The above figure was taken from a fluffed fpeci-
men in the WyclifFe Mufeum.

BRITISH BIRDS.

249.

STORMY PETREL.

STORM FINCH, OR LITTLE PETREL.

i^Procelhrla pelagica, 'L'in.~—L*Otfeau de temphe, Buff.)'

' This is the leaft of all the web-footed birds,
trieafuring only about fix inches in length, and thir-
teen in breadth. The bill is half an inch long,
hooked at the tip ; the noftrils tubular. The up-
per parts of the plumage are black, fleek, and glofs-
ed with bluifli reflections : the brow, cheeks, and
under parts, footy brown : the rump, and fome
feathers on the fides of the tail, white : legs llender,
black, and fcarcely an inch and three-quarters in
length, from the knee joint to the end of the toes.

This bird refembles the Chimney Swallow in ge-
neral appearance, in the length of its wings, and in
the fwiftnefs of its flight. It is fometimes met with
by navigators on every part of the ocean, diving,

Vol. II. t li

250 BRITISH BIRDS.

running on foot, or fkimmlng over the furface of
the heavy rolling waves of the moll tempeftuous
fea, quite at eafe, and in fecurity ; and yet it feems
to forefee, and fear the coming ftorm, long before
the feaman can difcover any appearance of its ap-
proach ; and this thefe little fure prognollicators
make known by flocking together under the wake of
the fliip, as if to Ihelter themfelves from it, or to warn
the mariners, and prepare them to guard againft
the danger. They are filent during the day, and
their clamorous piercing voice is heard only in the
night. In the breeding feafon they betake them-
felves to the promontories, where, in the fifsures of
the rocks, they breed and rear their young, which
they condudt to the watery element as foon as they
are able to crawl, and immediately lead them for-
ward to roam, with thernfelves, over the dreary
and tracklefs wafte,

Mr Pennant, on the authority of Brunnich, fays,
that " the inhabitants of the Ferro Ifles make this
bird ferve the purpofes of a candle, by drawing a
wick through the mouth and rump, which being
lighted, the flame is fed by the fat and oil of the
body." Like others of this genus, it fquirts oil
from its bill on the face of its enemy.

Although it has been generally faid that thefe
birds are never feen but at fea, except during the
period of incubation ; yet fome infl:ances occur of
their having been fliot inland. Mr Latham fpeaks

BRITISH BIRDS.

251

of one which was fhot at Sandwich, in Kent, in a
ftorm of wind, among a flock of Hoopoes, in the
month of January,— -of another fhot at Waltham-
ftow, in EflTex, — and of a third which was Idlled
near Oxford. The late M. Tunftal, Efq. of Wy-
cHffe, had one fent to him, which was fhot near
Bakewell, in Derbyfhire -, and the fpecimen from
which the above figure and defcription were taken,
was found dead in a field near Ripon, in Yorkfhire,
and obligingly fent to the author by Lieutenant-
Colonel Dalton, late of the 4th Dragoons. It is
probable that ficknefs, or the extreme violence of
fome hurricane had driven thefe birds fo far from
their natural element.

li 2

252 BRITISH BIRDS,

OF THE MERGUS.

Birds of this genus have roundilh flender bills,
fumilhed at the end with a hard, horny, crooked
nail ; edges of the mandibles very fharply toothed,
or ferrated; noftrils fmall, fubovated and placed
near the middle of the bill : tongue rough, with
hard indented papilla turned backward ; legs fhort ;
feet webbed ; toes long, and the outer ones about
the fame length as the middle : the head is fmall,
but the quantity of foft filky feathers with which it
is furnifhed, and which they can briftle up from
the nape of the neck to the brow, gives it a
large appearance. They are a broad, long-bodied,
and flat-backed kind of birds, and fwim very fquatly
on the water, the body feeming nearly fubmerged,
with only the head and neck clearly feen. They
are excellent divers, remaining a long while under
water, and getting to a great diftance before they
appear again. They fly near the furface of the wa-
ter, and, notwithitanding the fliortnefs of their
wings, with great fwiftnefs, though feldom to any
great diftance. They devour a large quantity of
fifli ', and their pointed, fliarp-toothed, and hooked
bills, are well calculated for holding faft their flip-
pery prey, none of which, when once within their
gripe, can efcape.

BRITISH BIHDS.

253

Latham enumerates fix fpecies and three varieties
of this genus, five of which are accounted Britifh
birds. George Strickland, Efq. of Ripon, to whom
this work is much indebted for fundry communi-
cations, enumerates fix fpecies of this genus, which
are all met with in Great Britain and its adjacent
ifles : the author agrees with him likewife in opi-
nion, that much remains to be done in order to
clear up the doubts in which their hiftory is in-
volved, and by which the clafsification of the dif-
ferent fpecies is confufed : he fays — '^ The genus
Mergus, though only a very fmall tribe of birds,
ftill remains in the greatefl obfcurity, and I have
not yet met with any ornithologifl who has not, in
my opinion, multiplied the number of the fpecies,
by confidering birds of this genus as of different
kinds, when they differed only in fex." His ar-
rangement is as follows :—

Genus Mergus,

Species i. Merganfer . . . Goofander.

2. Cajior Dun-Diver.

3< Serrator ..... Lefs Dun-DIvef.

4. Alhellus ..... Smew.

5. ■ -"- ■■ Lough-Diver.

^. Minutus .... Red-headed Smew.

254

BRITISH BIRDS.

GOOSANDER.

[Mergus Merganfer^ Lin. — UHarle, BuflF.)

The male generally weighs about four pounds,
and meafures in length nearly two feet, and in
breadth three feet two inches. The bill is flender,
and turned a little upwards j it is three inches long
from the hooked nail or tip to the corners of the
mouth, but little more than two inches on the ridge ;
both mandibles are black on the upper and under
parts, and crimfon on the fides ; they are fharply
toothed on the edges, and on the infide of the up-
per, which is narrow, thin, and hard at the tip,
there is a double row of fmaller teeth : the tongue
is furnifhed with a limilar kind of double row, run-
ning along the middle, and edged with a kind of
hairy border : the hrides are commonly of a fine

BRITISH BIRDS. 255

red colour, but In fome dufky. The head is cover-
ed or crowned with a great quantity of feathers,
which, when ere6ted, form a crefl ; at other times
they are laid flatly down, and fall over the nape of
the neck : thefe feathers are of a glofly bottle green
colour ; and the cheeks, throat, and upper fore part
of the neck, dull black : the lower part of the neck,
the breaft, belly, vent, and inner coverts of the
wings are of a beautiful kind of cream colour : the
upper part of the back, and adjoining fcapulars are
a fine glofly black; the others bordering on the
wing, white : the coverts at the fetting on of the
wing, black; the refl: pure white; the fecondaiy
quills are the fame, narrowly edged with black : the
primaries duflcy : the middle of the back and rump
are afli-colour ; from the thighs to the fides of the
tail, waved and freckled with alh and white : the
tail conflfts of eighteen dark bluifh grey feathers :
the legs and feet are deep fcarlet, like fealing-wax.
Willoughby fays — " It hath a huge bony labyrinth
on the windpipe, jufl: above the divarications ; and
the windpipe hath, befides, two fwellings out,
one above another, each refembling a powder-
puff."* It is probable that the whole genus have
a fimilar kind of windpipe, and that the ufe of it
is to contain the air, which the bird refpires while
diving, and remaining long under water.

* The Red-breafted Goofander has the fame.

256 BRITISH BIRDS.

The Goofander is an inhabitant of the cold north-
ern latitudes, and feldom maizes its appearance in
the temperate or more fouthern climates, to which
it is driven only by the inclemency of the weather,
in fevere winters, in fearch of thofe parts of rivers
or lakes which are not bound up by the froft.
It leaves this country early in the fpring, and goes
northward to breed, and is never feen during the
fummer months in any part of England ; but in hard
winters (which the appearance of thefe birds pre-
fages) they are common on the frefh-water pools,
rivers, and fens in the eaft riding of Yorklhire, and
on the fens of Lincolnfhire. Their flelh is by fome
accounted rank and fifhy ; others fay that it is dry
unpleafant food, and, in corroboration of this,
quote the old vulgar proverb, " He who would re-
gale the devil, might ferve him with Merganfer and
Cormorant." The author, in fome inftances, has
found thefe proverbs to be not well founded ; but
never having tailed of this particular fpecies, he
cannot hazard a contrary opinion.

The foregoing defcription was taken from a bird
in full plumage, with which this work was favour-
ed by Robert Pearfon, Efq. of Newcaflle, 2Qth
March, 1800.

BRITISH BIRDS.

257

DUN-DIVER,

OR SPARLING-FOWL.
{^Mergus caflorf lAn.—U Harle cendrSy ou le Blevre, BufF.)

This is of the fame form as the Goofander, but
differs from that bird in its plumage and fize : it
meafures twenty-feven inches in length, and thirty*
five in breadth,— -and, when in good condition,
weighs fometimes between three and four pounds.
The bill, from the tip to the corners of the mouth,
is two inches and a quarter long, of a red colour,
but darker on its ridge ; the hooked horny nail of
the upper mandible is blackifli ; the tip of the under
one white. The head and upper part of the neck
are of a deep chefnut ; the cl*eft, the feathers of
which are foft, very long, and pendent, is of a
deeper Ihade of the fame colour : the chin and up-
per part of the throat are white : the back, fcapu-

VoL. II. t K k

&SS BRITISH BIRDS.

lars, coverts of the wings, rump, and fides of the
body, are of a bluifh afli or lead colour : the fore
part of the neck, breaft, belly, and vent, are yel-
lowifh white : the baftard and primary quills dark
brown : a large white patch or bar is formed on the
middle of the wing, by the tips of the greater co-
verts and the outer webs of fix of the fecondary
quills ; but thofe neareft to the body are of a hoary
dark afh ; the tail, which confills of fourteen fea-
thers, is nearly of the fame colour : the legs are
orange red.

The habits, manners, and haunts of this fpecies
are nearly the fame as thofe of the laft ; but the
Dun-diver is met with in this country in greater
numbers. * They have long been looked upon
and treated of by ornithologifts as the female of
the Goofander; later obfervations, however, have
wrought a change of opinion among the modern in-
veftigators of this branch of natural hiftory, and it is
now generally agreed that the Dun-diver is a dif-
tin£l fpecies. Dr Heyfham, of Carlifle, was proba-
bly the firft who, by diifeftion, removed fome of
the doubts in which this matter was involved :— -in
his Catalogue of Cumberland Animals, f he fays,

* Latham, on the authority of Mr Jackfon, fays they breed
on the iflands of the river Shannon, near Killaloe, in Ireland
and are frequently feen there the whole fummer.

f See additional ornaments to Hutchinfon's Hiftory of
Cumberland.

BRITISH BIRDS. 259

" This has generally been confidered as the female
of the Goofander.'* " The following clrcum-
ftances which have come under my obfervation,
however, render this opinion fomewhat doubtful : —
ift, The Dun-divers are far more numerous than
the Goofanders.; 2d, The Dun-divers are all lefs
than the Goofanders, (the largefl I have feen being
little more than three pounds) but of various fizes,
fome being under two pounds. 3d, The creft of
the Dun-diver is confiderably longer than the creft
(if it can be fo called) of the Goofander. 4th,
Dun-divers have been found, upon diffedlion, to be
males. 5th, The neck of the largeft Dun-diver,
and which has proved to be a male, is nothing like
fo thick as the neck of the Goofander." " On the
26th of December, 1783, I differed a Dun-diver,
which was rather more than three pounds in weight ;
its length was twenty-feven inches, and its breadth
thirty-five inches. It proved to be a male : the
teftes, though flaccid, were very diftin6:, and about
half an inch in length. In the middle of January,
1786, I received two Dun-divers, both of which I
difleded : the firft was a fmall one, about two
pounds in weight ; it proved to be a female 5 the
eggs were very diflind : the fecond was much
larger, and weighed three pounds ; its creft was
longer, and its belly of a fine yellowifti rofe- colour :
it was a male, and the teftes were beginning to
grow turgid. I have diffedeci only one Goofander,
Kk 2

26o BRITISH BIRDS.

and that proved to be a male. Therefore, until a
Goofander be found, upon difTedion, to prove a
female, or two Goofanders to attend the fame neft,
the doubts refpedhig thefe birds cannot be fatisfac-
torily removed."

Although Willoughby defcribes this as the fe-
male Goofander, yet he exprefles his doubts of the
matter, from its being, like that bird, furnifhed
with a kind of large labyrinth, which, he fays, is
to be found in the males only of the Duck tribe,
and whence he conjedures that this is alfo peculiar
to all the males of the Mergi, and that all the fe^
males are without it 5 but he notices one of this fa-
mily (which at Venice is called Cokall) in which
this labyrinth, or enlargement of the windpipe was
wanting. Refpeding the Dun-diver he further ob-
ferves, that " the ftomach of this bird is as it were
a craw and a gizzard joined together. The upper
part, refembling the craw, hath no wrinkles or folds
in its inner membrane, but is only granulated with
fmall papillary glandules, refembling the little pro-
tuberances on the third ventricle of a Beef, called
the manifold, or thofe on the (hell of a Sea-urchin."

The above figure y/as drawn from one in full
plumage and perfedion, for which this work was in-
debted to Robert Pearfon, Efq. of Newcaltle, the
2 8th of February, 1 8 o i .

BRITISH BIRDS.

261

" '''^'%<'H£i/>^'?SS»^-*«'*»

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER.

(^Mergiis ferralor, Lin. — L'Ifarle huppe, BufF.)

This bird meafures one foot nine inches in length,
and two feet feven in breadth, and weighs about
two pounds. The bill, from the tip to the angles
of the mouth, is three inches in length, ilender,
and of a rather roundifh form, and, like thofe of
the reft of this genus, hooked at the tip, and
toothed on the edges : the upper mandible is dark
brown, tinged with green, and edged with red ;
the lower one wholly red : the irides are deep red :
the head, long pendent creft, and upper part of
the neck, are of a glolTy violet black, changing
in different lights to a beautiful gilded green : the
reft of the neck and belly white : the breaft rufty

262 BRITISH BIRDS.

red, fpotted with black on the front, and bordered
on each fide with five or fix white feathers, edged
with black : the upper part of the back, glofly
black ; the lower, the rump, and fides, are pretti-
ly marked with tranfverfe zigzag lines of brown
and pale grey : the ridge of the wings, and adjoin-
ing coverts, are dufky ; the feathers neareft to the
wings are white : the greater coverts, and fome of
the fecondary quills, black and white ; the others,
and the fcapulars, are alfo party-coloured of the
fame hue : the primary quills are black ; fome of
thofe next to the body tipped with white, and others
of them white on the upper half, and black to
their points. The tail is fhort, its colour brown :
the legs and feet are of a deep faffron-coloured red.
Thefe birds, both male and female, are faid to dif-
fer much in their plumage ; fome having more
white on them than others, and fome alfo brighter
colours, and more diftindly marked.

The female (which the author has not feen) is
defcribed as differing from the male in having only
the rudiment of a creft. Mr Pennant fays-—" The
head and upper part of the neck are of a deep
ruft-colour : throat white : fore part of the neck
and breaft marbled wirh deep afh-colour : belly
white : great quill feathers dufky : lower half of
the neareft fecondaries black ; the upper white ;
the reft dufky: back, fcapulars, and tail, afh-co-
loured : the upper half of the fecondary feathers
v^'hite 5 the lower half black 5 the others dufky."

BRITISH BIRDS,

263

In a male of this fpecies which was fhot at Sand-
wich, in Kent, Latham fays — " I obferved that
the feathers which compofe the creft, were fmiply
black J alfo down the middle of the crown, as
well as the fpace before the eye, and beneath the
chin and throat ; but in the reft of the neck the
black had a glofs of green.*' He alfo defcribes it
as having " a curious and large labyrinth," fimi-
lar, it is fuppofed, to thofe of other males of this
genus which have been noticed before.

The Red-breafted Merganfer is not common in
Britain, particularly in the fouthern parts of the
ifland ; but they are met with in great flocks at New-
foundland, Greenland, and Hudfon's Bay, during
the fummer months ; they are found alfo in various
other northern parts of the world, and in the Me-
diterranean fea.

264

BRITISH BIRDS*

SMEW,

OR WHITE NUN.
{^Mergus alhellus^ Lin, — Le petit Hark huppe, on la Ptette, BufF.)

The Smew Is about the fize of a Wigeon : the
bill is nearly two inches long, of a dufky blue
colour, thickeft at the bafe, and tapering into a
more flender and narrow fhape towards the point ;
it is toothed like thofe of the reft of this tribe : the:
irides are dark : on each fide of the head, an oval-
fhaped black patch, glolTed with green, is extended
from the corners of the mouth over the eyes : the
under fide of the creft is black ; the other parts of
the head and neck white : the breaft, belly, and
vent are alfo white, excepting a curved black ftroke^

BRITISH BIRDS. 265

pointing forward from the fhoulders on each fide
of the upper part of the breaft, which, on the low-
er part, has alfo fimilar ftrokes pointing the fame
way : the back, the coverts on the ridge of the
wings, and the primary quills, are black : the fe-
condaries and greater coverts black, tipped with
white : the middle coverts and the fcapulars white :
the fides, under the wings to the tail, are agree-
ably variegated and croiTed with dark waved lines.
The tail confifts of fixteen dark afh-coloured fea-
thers ; the middle ones are about three inches
and a half long, the reft gradually tapering off
fliorter on each fide : the legs and feet are of a
bluifh lead colour. This fpecies is at once diftin-
guifhed from the reft of the Mergi by its black and
white piebald appearance, although the individuals
vary from each other in the proportion and extent
of thofe colours on their plumage.

Vol. II. t LI

2^6 BRITISH BIRDS.

RED-HEADED SMEW,

OR WEESEL COOT.
{Mergui minutusj Lin. — UHarle etoile, BufF.)

This bird meafures fifteen inches and a half In
length, and twenty-four in breadth, and weighs
about fourteen or fifteen ounces. The bill is of a
bluifh lead colour, the tip dulky : the head and
creft are of a reddifli brown, with a dulky fpot be-
tween the bill and the eyes : the cheeks, throat,
belly, fides of the body, and vent, are white : the
middle of the neck is encircled with pale brown ;
the lower part of it, the breaft, and fhoulders, are
clouded with dingy brown and pale grey : the ridge
of the wings, and adjoining lefler coverts are grey j
the middle coverts white ; the greater and the fe-
condary quills, like thofe of the Smew, black, tip-
ped with white ; the primary quills dulky : the back,
fcapulars, rump, and tail, of a deep brownifh afti-
colour : legs and feet dull pale blue.

The Red-headed Smew has long been confider-
ed, by fome ornithologifls, as a diflindl fpecies,
while others have maintained that it is only the fe-
male of the laft ; and this matter is ftill doubtful.
Mr Pennant, in the fupplement to his Ardic Zoo-
logy, fays, it is now found to be the female of the
Smew J Mr Latham is of the fame opinion j — ^but

BRITISH BIRDS.

267

Mr Strickland thinks differently ; he refts his opi-
nion chiefly on the great difproportion in. their
weight : the former, he fays, is two pounds twa
ounces, while this is only about fourteen ounces.

tlsfe4*

LI 2

268 BRITISH BIRDS.

LOUGH-DIVER.

This Is fomewhat lefs than the Smew. " The
head and hinder part of the neck are ruft-coloured ;
the head llightly crefted : back, fcapulars, and tail
dufky : fore part of the neck white : breaft clouded
with grey : on the leffer coverts of the wings a great
bed of white ; on the primaries and greater coverts
two tranfverfe Hnes of white : legs dulky/* In de-
fcriblng this as the female of the Smew, Mr Pen-
nant fays it has " around the eyes a fpot of the
fame colour and form as in the male ;" he afterwards
correds his error in.fuppoling it the female, and
adds — "The bird I thought to be the female, and
called the Lough-diver, is a diftind kind. Mr
Plymley informs me that he differed feveral, and
found males and females without any diftindion of
plumage in either fex."

Having had no opportunity of examining either
of the two birds lafl defcribed, the author has been
obliged to relate merely what others have faid
concerning them, and is at a lofs how to reconcile
their different opinions, not only indeed concerning
thefe, but others of this tribe ; to fome of which no
known females have yet been diftindly attached :
and whilfl it is evident that this is a circumftance
which cannot happen, it is alfo plain that much
further inveftigation is neceflary in order to eluci-

BRITISH BIRDS.

269

date their hiftory. The finilhing hand of fome
fcientific ornithologifl is yet wanting, whofe zeal
and induftry in the purfuit may be rewarded by
the means and opportunities of acquiring fuch in-
formation as may clear up thofe doubts, and remove
thofe difficulties, which have hitherto rendered this
clafs of birds fo imperfedly known.

The Lough-diver, the White Nun, and the Red-
headed Smew feldom vifit this country, except in
very fevere winters, by which they are driven from
their haunts in the northern parts of the world.
Their manners and habits are alike j they alfo dif-
fer little from the reft of the genus, which all live
on fifh of various kinds, which they eagerly hunt
after, both at fea and in the frefh-water lakes, as
neceffity or inclination impels them to vifit the one
or the other.

?-^*5>,M)l

27® BRITISH BIRDS.

OF THE ANAS,

The bill of this genus is flrong, broad, deprefled,
or flat, and commonly furnilhed at the end with a
nail ; the edges of the mandibles divided into la-
millse or teeth : noftrils fmall and oval : tongue
broad, edges near the bafe, fringed : feet webbed y
the middle toe the longeft.

This genus, in which ornithologifts have included
all the Swans, Geefe, and Ducks, amounts, accord-
ing to the lateft enumeration, to ninety-eight fpecies,
and about fourteen varieties ; thirty-three of the
former, and one of the latter, are accounted Britilh
birds.

From the Swan downward to the Teal, they are
all a clean-plumaged beautiful race of birds, and
fome of them exquifitely fo. Thofe which have
been reclaimed from a ftate of nature, and live de-
pendent on man, are extremely ufeful to him : un-
der his protection they breed in great abundance,
and without requiring much of his time or care,
lead their young to the pool almofl as foon as they
are hatched, where they inflantly, with inflindive
perception, begin to fearch for their food, which at
firfl confifts chiefly of weeds, worms, and infe£ts ;
thefe they fift, as it were, from the mud, and for
that purpofe their bills are admirably adapted.
When they are further advanced in life, they pick

BRITISH BIRDS.

271

up the fodden fcattered grain of the farm-yard,
which, but for their affiduous fearchings, would be
loft. To them alfo are allotted the larger quantities
of corn which are fhaken by the winds from the
over-ripened ears in the fields. On this clean and
fimple food they foon become fat, and their flefh is
accounted delicious and nourifliing.

In a wild ftate, birds of various kinds preferve
their original plumage ; but when tamed they foon
begin to vary, and fhew the effects of domeftica-
tion : this is the cafe with the tame Goofe and the
Duck, which differ as much from the wild of their
refpedive kinds, as they do from each other.

272 BRITISH BIRDS*

WILD SWAN.

ELK, HOOPER, OR WHISTLING SWAN.
^Anas Cygnus feruSf Lin. — Le Cygne fawvagey Buff.)

The Wild Swan meafures five feet in length,
and above feven in breadth, and weighs from thir-
teen to fixteen pounds. The bill is three inches
long, of a yellowifh white from the bafe to the
middle, and thence to the tip, black : the bare
fpace from the bill over the eye and eye-lids is
yellow : the whole plumage in adult birds is of a
pure white, and, next to the fkin, they are cloathed
with a thick fine down : the legs are black.

This fpecies generally keeps together in fmall
flocks, or families, except in the pairing feafon, and
at the fetting in of winter. At the latter period
they alTemble in immenfe multitudes, particularly
on the large rivers and lakes of the thinly inhabit-
ed northern parts of Europe, Afia, and America :
but when the extremity of the weather threatens to
become infiipportable, in order to fhun the gather-
ing florm, they Ihape their courfe high in air, in
divided and diminilhed numbers, in fearch of mild-
er climates. In fuch feafons they are moft com-
monly feen in various parts of the Britifh ifles, and
in other more fouthern countries of Europe. The
fame is obferved of them in the North American
ftates. They do not, however, remain longer than

BRITISH BIRDS. 273

till the approacKing of the fpring, when they again
retire northward to the ardic regions to breed. A
few, indeed, drop fhort, and perform that office by
the way, for they are known to breed in fome of
the Hebrides, the Orkney, Shetland, and other
foHtary ifles ; but thefe are hardly worth notice :
the great bodies of them are met with in the large
rivers and lakes near Hudfon's Bay, and thofe of
Kamtfchatka, Lapland, and Iceland. They are faid
to return to the latter place in flocks of about a
hundred at a time in the fpring, and alfo to pour in
upon that ifland from the north, in nearly the fame
manner, on their way fouthward in the autumn.
The young which are bred there remain through-
out the firfl year ; and in Auguft, when they are
in moult, and unable to fly, the natives taking ad-
vantage of this, ftioot, kill them with clubs, and
hunt them down with dogs, by which they are
eafily caught. The flefli is highly efteemed by
them as a delicious food, as are alfo the eggs, which
are gathered in the fpring. The Icelanders, Kamt-
fchatdales, and other natives of the northern world,
drefs their {kins with the down on, few them to-
gether, and make them into garments of various
kinds : the northern American Indians do the fame,
and fometimes weave the down as barbers weave
the cawls for wigs, and then manufacture it into
ornamental drefles for the women of rank, while
-the larger feathers are formed into caps and plumes
Vol. II. t Mm

.2^4 BRITISH BIRDS.

to decorate the heads of their chiefs and warnorsf.
They alfo gather the feathers and down in large
quantities, and barter or fell them to the inhabi-
tants of more civilized nations.

Buffori is of opinion that the Tame Swan has been
derived originally from the wild fpecies ; other natu-
ralifls entertain a contrary opinion, which they form
chiefly on the difference between them in the fmgular
conformation of the windpipe. Willoughby fays,
*' The windpipe of the Wild Swan, after a ftrange
and wonderful manner enters the breaft-bone in a
cavity prepared for it, and is therein reflefted, and
after its egrefs at the divarication is contracted into
a narrow compafs by a broad and bony cartilage,
then being divided into two branches, goes on to
the lungs : thefe branches before they enter the
lungs, are dilated, and as it were fwollen out into
two cavities." Dr Heylham corroborates the above,
and adds, that the Wild Swan, in this particular,
differs not only from the Tame Swan, but alfo
from every other bird. The only obfervable ex-
ternal difference between the two fpecies is in the
markings of the bill, (which are figured in the fub-
joined head) and in the Wild Swan's being of lefs
bulk than the mute or tame kind.

Much has been faid, in ancient times, of the fing-
ing of the Swan, and many beautiful and poetical
defcriptions have been given of its dying fong. —
*' No fidion of natural hiftory, no fable of anti-

BRITISH BIRDS.

i']S

quity, was ever more celebrated, oftener repeated,
or better received : it occupied the foft and lively
imagination of the Greeks j poets, orators, and
even philofophers, adopted it as a truth too pleafmg
to be doubted." " The dull infipid truth," how-
ever, is very diiFerent from fuch amiable and afi
fe£ting fables, for the voice of the Swan, fmgly,
is ihrill, piercing, and harfh, not unhke the found
of a clarionet when blown by a novice in mufic. It
is, however, aflerted by thofe who have heard the
united and varied voices of a numerous affemblage
of them, that they produce a more harmonious ef-
fed, particularly when foftened by the murmur of
the waters.

At the fetting in of frofty weather, the Wild
Swans are faid to aflbciate in prodigious multitudes,
and thus united, to ufe every effort to prevent the
water from freezing: this they accomplilh by the
continual ftir kept up amongft them ; and by con-
ftantly daihing it with their extended wings, they
are enabled to remain as long as it fuits their con-
venience, in fome favourite part of a lake or river
which abounds with their food.

The Swan is veiy properly entitled the peaceful
Monarch of the Lake ; confcious of his fuperior
ftrength, he fears no enemy, nor fuffers any bird,
however powerful, to moleft him ; neither does he
prey upon any one. His vigorous wing is as a
Ihield againft the attacks even of the Eagle, and the
M m 2

376 BRITISH BIRDS.

blows from It are faid to be fo powerful as to ftun
or kill the fierceft of his foes. The Wolf or the
Fox may furprife him in the dark, but their efforts
are vain in the day. His food confifts of the graffes
and weeds, and the feeds and roots of plants which
grow on the margins of the water, and of the my-
riads of infects which fkim over, or float on its fur-
face; alfo occafionally of the flimy inhabitants
within its bofom.

The female makes her neft of the withered leaves
and flalks of reeds and ruflies, and lays commonly
fix or feven thick-ihelled white eggs : fhe is faid to
fit upon them fix weeks before they are hatched.
Both male and female are very attentive to their
young, and will fuffer no enemy to approach them.

BRITISH BIRDS.

^n

MUTE SWAN,

OR TAME SWAN.
{^Anas Gygnus manfuetus^ Lin — Le Cygney BufF. )

The plumage of this fpecies is of the fame fnowy
whitenefs as that of the Wild Swan, and the bird
is covered next the body with the fame kind of fine
clofe down ; but it greatly exceeds the Wild Swan
in lize, weighing about twenty-five pounds, and
meafuring more in the length of the body and ex-
tent of the wings. This alfo differs in being fur-
nifhed with a projefting, c-allous, black tubercle, or

278 BRITISH BIRDS.

knob, on the bafe of the upper mandible, and In the
colour of the bill, which in this is red, with black
edges and tip : the naked fkin between the bill and
the eyes is alfo of the latter colour : in the Wild
Swan this bare fpace is yellow.

The manners and habits are much the fame in
both kinds, particularly when they are in a wild
ftate; for indeed this fpecies cannot properly be
called domefticated ; they are only as it were part-
ly reclaimed from a ftate of nature, and invited by
the friendly and protecting hand of man to decorate
and embeUilh the artificial lakes and pools which
beautify his pleafure grounds. On thefe the Swan
cannot be accounted a captive, for he enjoys all the
fweets of liberty. Placed there, as they are the
largeft of all the Britilh birds, fo are they to the
eye the moft pleafmg and elegant. What in na-
ture can be more beautiful than the grafly- margined
lake, hung round with the varied foliage of the
grove, when contrafted with the pure refplendent
whitenefs of the majeftic Swan, wafted along, with
erefted plumes, by the gentle breeze, — or floating,
reflected on the glalTy furface of the water, while
he throws himfelf into numberlefs graceful atti-
tudes, as if defirous of attrading the admiration
of the fpedator ?

The Swan, although poffeffed of the power to
rule, yet molefts none of the other water-birds,
and is fmgularly fecial and attentive to thofe of

BRITISH BIRDS. 279

his own "family, which he proteds from every in-
fult. While they are employed with the cares of
the young brood, it is not fafe to approach near
them, for they will fly upon any ftranger, whom
they often beat to the ground by repeated blows ;
and they have been known by a ftroke of the wing
to break a man's leg. But, however powerful they
are with their wings, yet a flight blow on the head
will kill them.

The Swan, for ages pafl;, has been protected on
the river Thames as royal property; and it con-
tinues at this day to be accounted felony to fteal
their eggs. " By this means their increafe is fe-
cured, and they prove a delightful ornament to that
noble river." Latham fays, " In the reign of Ed-
ward IV. the efliimation they were held in was fuch,
that no one who poflefled a freehold of lefs than the
clear yearly value of five marks, was permitted
even to keep any.'* In thofe times, hardly a piece
of water was left unoccupied by thefe birds, as well
■on account of the gratification they gave to the eye
of their lordly owners, as that which they alfo af-
forded when they graced the fumptuous board at the
fplendid feafls of that period : but the fafliion of
thofe days is paffed away, and Swans are not near-
ly fo common now as they were formerly, being
by moft people accounted a coarfe kind of food,
and confequently held in little eflimation : but the
Cygnets (fo the young Swans are called) are (till

28o BRITISH BIRDS.

fattened for the table, and are fold very high, com-
monly for a guinea each, and fometimes for more :
hence it may be prefumed they are better food than
is generally imagined.

This fpecies is faid to be found in great numbers
in Ruffia and Siberia, as well as further fouthward,
in a wild flate. They are, without an owner, com-
mon on the river Trent, and on the falt-water inlet
of the fea, near Abbotfbury, in Dorfetfhire : they
are alfo met with on other rivers and lakes in dif-
ferent parts of the Britifh ifles.

It is the generally received opinion that the Swan
lives to a very great age, fome fay a century, and
others have protrafted their lives to three hundred
years ! Strange as this may appear, there are who
credit it : the author, however, does not fcruple to
hazard an opinion, that this over-flretched longe-
vity originates only in traditionary tales, or in idle
unfounded hear-fay ftories ; as no one has yet been
able to fay, with certainty, to what age they attain.

The female makes her neft, concealed among the
rough herbage, near the water's edge : fhe lays
from fix to eight large white eggs, and fits on them
about fix weeks (fome fay eight weeks) before they
are hatched. The young do not acquire their full
plumage till the fecond year.

It is found by experience that the Swan will not
thrive if kept out of the water : confined in a court
yard, he makes an aukward figure, and foon be-
comes dirty, taudry, dull, and fpiritlefs.

BRITISH BIRDS. 281

SWAN GOOSE.

CHINESE, SPANISH, GUINEA, OR CAPE GOOSE.
{^Anas Cynoides, Lin. — L'Oie de Guinee, BufF.)

This fpecies is more than a yard In length, and
is^ of a fize between the Swan and the Common
Goofe : it is diflinguilhed from others of the Goofe
tribe by its upright and ftately deportment, — by
having a large knob on the root of the upper man-
dible, and a Ikin, almoft bare of feathers, hanging
down like a pouch, or a wattle, under the throat :
a white line or fillet is extended from the corners of
the mouth over the front of the brow : the bafe of
the bill is orange : irides reddifh brown : a dark
brown or black ftripe runs down the hinder part
of the neck, from the heM to the back ; the fore
part of the neck, and the breaft, are yellowifh
brown : the back, and all the upper parts, brown-
i{h grey, edged with a lighter colour : the lides,
and the feathers which cover the thighs, are cloud-
ed nearly of the fame colours as the back, and edg-
ed with white ; belly white : legs orange.

It is faid that thefe birds originally were found
in Guinea only : the breed has, however, now be-
come pretty common, and they are widely difperfed,
in a wild as well as a domeflicated ftate, over vari-
ous parts of the world, both in warm and in cold
climates. They are found wild about the lake

Vol. II. t N n

282 BRITISH BIRDS.

Baikal, in the eafl of Siberia, and in Kamtfchat*
ka ; * and they are kept tame in moft parts of the
Ruffian empire,

Thefe Geefe, like others of the tame kind, vary
much both in the colour of the bill, legs, and plu-
mage, as well as in lize ; but they all retain the
knob on the bafe of the upper mandible, and the
pouch or wattle under the gullet. They are kept
by the curious in various parts of England, and are
more noify than the Common Goofe : nothing can
ftir either in the night or in the day without their
founding the alarm, by their hoarfe cacklings and
loud fhrill cries. They breed with the Common
Goofe, and their offspring are as prolific as thofe
of any other Idnd. The female is of a fmaller fize
than the male ; '^ the head, neck, and breaft are
fulvous ; paler on the upper part : the back, wings,
and tail, dull brown, with pale edges : belly white :
in other refpeds they are like the male, but the
knob over the bill is fmaller."

^ Arftic Zoology.

BRITISH BIRDS. 283

CANADA GOOSE,

OR CRAVAT GOOSE.
{^Anas Canadenjls. — UOie a cravate, BufF.)

This is lefs than the Swan-Goofe, but taller and
longer than the Common Goofe, and may be con-
fidered as the conneding link between that fpecies
and the Swan. Their average weight is about nine
pounds, and the length about three feet fix inches.
The bill is black, and two inches and a half long :
irides hazel ; the head and neck are alfo black, with
a crefcent-fhaped white band on the throat, which
tapers off to a point on each fide below the cheeks,
to the hinder part of the head : the whitenefs of
this cravat is heightened by its contraft with the
dark furrounding plumage, and it looks very pret-
ty : this mark alfo diftinguifhes it from others of
the Goofe tribe. All the upper parts of the plu-
mage, the breaft, and a portion of the belly, are of
a dull brown, fometimes mixed with grey : the
lower part of the neck, the belly, vent, and upper
tail coverts, white : quills and tail black : legs dingy
blue.

This is another ufeful fpecies which has been re-
claimed from a ftate of nature, domeflicated and
multiplied in many parts of Europe, particularly in
France and Germany ; and it is not very uncom-
mon in England. It is as familiar, breeds as freely,
N n 2

2»4 BRITISH BIRDfi.

and is In every refped as valuable as the Com-
mon Goofe: it is alio accounted a great ornament
on ponds near gentlemen's feats. BufFon fays —
*' Within thefe few years, many hundreds inhabit-
ed the great canal at Verfailles, where they lived fa-
miliarly with the Swans ; they were oftener on the
graffy margins than in the water. There is at pre-
fent a great number of them on the magnificent
pools that decorate the charming gardens of Chan-
tilly." The wild flock whence thefe birds were
taken are found in the northern parts of America ;
they are one of thofe immenfe families which, when
affoclated with others of the fame genus, are faid,
at certain feafons, to darken the air like a cloud,
and to fpread themfelves over the lakes and fwamps
in innumerable multitudes.

Mr Pennant, in his Arctic Zoology, gives the
following interefting account of the mode of taking
the Canada Goofe in Hudfon's Bay : —

" The Englifli of Hudfon's Bay depend greatly
on Geefe, of thefe and other kinds, for their fup-
port ; and, in favourable years, kill three or four
thoufand, which they fait and barrel. Their arri-
val is impatiently attended ; it is the harbinger of
the fpring, and the month named by the Indians
the Goofe moon. They appear ufually at our fet-
tlements in numbers, about St George's day, O. S.
and fly northward to neftle in fecurity. They pre-
fer iflands to the continent, as further from the

BRITISH BIRDS. 285

haunts of men. Thus Marble Ifland was found, in
Auguft, to fwarm with Swans, Geefe, and Ducks ;
the old ones moulting, and the young at that time
incapable of flying.

" The Englifh fend out their fervants, as well as
Indians, to fhoot thefe birds on their paflage. It is
in vain to purfue them : they therefore form a row
of huts made of boughs, at mufquet-fliot diftance
from each other, and place them in a line acrofs
the vail marlhes of the country. Each hovel, or,
as they are called, Jiand, is occupied by only a An-
gle perfon. Thefe attend the flight of the birds,
and, on their approach, mimic their cackle fo well,
that the Geefe will anfwer, and wheel and come
nearer the fliand. The fportfman keeps motionlefs,
and on his knees, with his gun cocked, the whole
time ; and never fires till he has feen the eyes of
the Geefe. He fires as they are going from him,
then picks up another gun that lies by him, and
difcharges that. The Geefe which he has killed,
he fets up on flicks as if alive, to decoy others ; he
alfo makes artificial birds for the fame purpofe. In
a good day (for they fly in very uncertain and un-
equal numbers) a fingle Indian will kill two hun-
dred. Notwithflianding every fpecies of Goofe has
a different call, yet the Indians are admirable in
their imitation of every one.

" The vernal flight of the Geefe laflis from the
middle of April until the middle of May. Their

s85

BRITISH BIRDS.

firft appearance coincides with the thawing of the
fwamps, when they are very lean. The autumnal,
or the feafon of their return with their young, is
from the middle of Augufl to the middle of Octo-
ber. Thofe which are taken in this latter feafon,
when the frofts ufually begin, are preferved in their
feathers, and left to be frozen for the frefh provi-
lions of the winter flock. The feathers conllitute
an article of commerce, and are fent into Eng-
land."

BRITISH BIRDS,' 287

EGYPTIAN GOOSE.

GANSER, OR GAMBO GOOSE.
{^y^nas MgyptiacOy Lin. — L'Ote d'Egypte^ BufF.)

This beautifully variegated fpecies is nearly of
the fize of the Grey Lag, or common Wild Goofe.
The bill red, about two inches in length, tip black,
and noftrils dulky: eye-lids red, and the irides
pale yellow : the throat, cheeks, and upper part of
the head are white : a rully chefnut-coloured patch
on each fide of the head furrounds the eyes. About
two-thirds of the neck, from the head downwards,
is of a pale reddilh bay colour, darker at the lower
end : a broad deep chefnut-coloured fpot covers the
middle of the breaft : the flioulders and fcapulars
are of a reddilh brown, prettily crolTed with nume-
rous dark waved lines : the wing-coverts are white ;
the greater ones barred near their tips with black :
the fecondary .quills are tinged with reddifh bay,
and bordered with chefnut ; thofe of the primaries
which join them are edged with glofly green, and
the reft of the firft quills are black : the lower part
of the back, the rump, and tail, are black: the
belly is white, but all the other fore parts, and fides
of the body, from the neck to near the vent, are
delicately pencilled with narrow ruft-coloured zig-
zag Hues on a pale alh-grey ground : each wing is
furniihed on the bend with a Ihort blunt fpur. The

288

BRITISH BIRDS.

colours of the female are pretty much the fame as
thofe of the male, but not by any means fo bright
or diftinOily marked.

This kind is common in a wild ftate in Egypt,
at the Cape of Good Hope, and in various parts of
the intermediate territories of Africa, whence they
have been brought into, and domefticated in this
and other civilized countries, and are now an ad-
mired ornament on many pieces of water contiguous
to gentlemen's feats ; but neither the author nor
his correfpondents were able to procure a fpecimen
of this or the two preceding fpecies, for the pur-
pofe of making drawings.

^ M^i

BRITISH birds;

289

RED-BREASTED GOOSE,

OR SIBERIAN GOOSE.
[^Anfer ruficoUis.)

The Red-breafted Goofe meafures above twenty
inches in length, and its extended wings three feet
ten in breadth. The bill is (hort, of a brown co-
lour, with the nail black : irides yellowifli hazel :
the cheeks and brow are dufky, fpeckled with white :
an oval white fpot occupies the fpace between the
bill and the eyes, and is bounded above, on each
fide of the head, by a black line which falls down

Vol. II. t Oo

290 BRITISH BIRDS.

the hinder part of the neck : the chin, throat, crown
of the head, and hinder part of the neck to the
back, are black : two ftripes of white fall down
from behind each eye, on the fides of the neck, and
meet in the middle : the other parts of the neck,
and the upper part of the breaft, are of a deep rufty
red, and the latter is terminated by two narrow
bands of white and black : the back and wings are
dulky ; the greater coverts edged with grey : fides
and lower part of the breaft, black : belly, upper
and under tail coverts, white ; legs dulky.

This beautiful fpecies is a native of Ruflia and
Siberia, whence they migrate fouthward in the
autumn, and return in the fpring : they are faid to
frequent the Cafpian fea, and are fuppofed to winter
in Perlia. They are very rare in this country, on-
ly three of them (fo far as the author's knowledge
extends) having ever been met with in it, andthofe
all by the late M. Tunftall, Efq. of WycHffe, in
Yorkftiire, in whofe valuable mufeum the firft of
thefe birds, in high prefervation, was placed. * It
was fliot near London in the beginning of the hard
froft in the year 1766; and another of them was
about the fame time taken alive near Wycliffe, and
kept there for feveral years in a pond among the
Ducks, where it became quite tame and familiar,
Mr Tunftall informed Mr Latham of thefe particu-

* The foregoing figure waa taken from this fpecimcm

BRITISH BIRDS.

291

lars, and alfo mentioned a third of the fame kind,
which had been fhot in fome other part of the king-
dom. They are faid to be quite free from any fifliy
tafte, and are highly efteemed for the table.

Oo 2

:29s

BRITISH BIRDS.

GREY LAG GOOSE,

OR COMMON WILD GOOSE.
{Anas Anfert Lin. — L*Oie fauvage, BuiF.)

This Wild Goofe generally weighs about tea
pounds, and meafures two feet nine inches in length,
and five in breadth. The bill is thick at the bafe,
tapers towards the tip, and is of a yellowifh red co-
lour, with the nail white : the head and neck are
of a cinereous brown, tinged with dull yellow, and
from the feparations of the feathers, the latter ap-
pears flriped downwards : the upper part of the
plumage is of a deep brown, mixed with alh-grey ;
each feather is lighter on the edges, and the lelTer
coverts are tipped with white : the Ihafts of the pri-

BRITISH BIRDS. 293

mary quills are white, the webs grey, and the tips
black: the fecondaries black, edged with white:
the breaft and belly are croffed and clouded with
dufky and afh on a whitifh ground ; and the tail-
coverts and vent are of a fnowy whitenefs : the
middle feathers of the tail are dulky, tipped with
white ; thofe adjoining more deeply tipped, and the
exterior ones nearly all white : legs pale red.

This fpecies is common in this country, and al-
though large flocks of them, well known to the cu-
rious, in all the various fhapes which they aflume
in their flight, * are feen regularly migrating fouth-
ward in the autumn, and northward in the fpring, f

* The elevated and marfhalled flight of the Wild Geefc
,feems didlated by geometrical inftindl — fhaped like a wedge,
they cut the air with lefs individual exertion ; and it is conjec-
tured, that the change of its form from an inverted V, an A,
an L, or a ftraight line, is occafioned by the kader of the van's
quitting his poft at the point of the angle through fatigue, drop-
ping into the rear, and leaving his place to be occupied by ano-
ther.

f A gentleman in the county of Durham, one morning in
the month of April, obferved a flock of Wild Geefe going
northward, in the line of two objedls whofe difl:ance he knew
to be four miles : he found by his watch the exadl time they
were in flying this difliance ; from which he calculated, that if
they continued to fly at the fame rate for twelve hours, they
would be at the Orkneys by fun-fet, which is twenty-five miles
an hour. But it is not probable that thefe birds ever migrate
from the fens in Cambridgefliire, &c. to the Orkneys, or other

294 BRITISH BIRDS.

yet feveral of them are known to remain and breed
in the fens of LIncolnfhire and Cambridgefhire, and,
it is faid, in various other parts of Great Britain.
Pennant fays they refide in the fens the whole year,
breed there, and hatch about eight or nine young
ones, which are often taken, eafily made tame, and
much more efteemed for the excellent flavour of
their flelh than the domeftic Goofe : he adds, " The
old Geefe which are fliot are plucked and fold in
the market as fine tame ones, and readily bought,
the purchafer being deceived by the fize ; but their
flefli is coarfe." *

This fpecies is widely and numeroufly fpread over
all the various parts of the northern world, whence
fome flocks of them migrate a long way fouthward
in the winter. Latham fays they feem to be gene-
ral inhabitants of the globe, are met with from Lap-
land to the Cape of Good Hope, — arc frequent in
Arabia, Perfia, and China, as well as indigenous to

places where they breed, in one day, or at one flight ; for great
numbers of them arc known to flop for feveral days, both in go-
ing and coming back again, at the mouth of the Tees, Preflwick-
Car, the haughs of the river Till, near Wooler in Northumber-
land, and at fome places in the Merfe in Scotland.

* This is the cafe with all very old Geefe, both tame and
wild ; but the flefh of a middle-aged one of the latter fort, in
the fpring of the year, when the bird is in full feather, Is very
tender, finely flavoured, and nowife like that of the Tame
Goofe either in tafte or colour.

BRITISH BIRDS. 295

Japan,— and on the American continent from Hud-
fon*s Bay to South Carolina : he alfo obferves that
our voyagers have met with them in the Straits of
Magellan, Port Egmont in the Falkland lilands.
Terra del Fuego, and New Holland. There can
be little doubt about the territories afligned to them
for their fummer refidences and breeding places ;
the lakes, fwamps, and dreary moraffes of Siberia,
Lapland, Iceland, and the unfrequented or un-
known northern regions of America feem fet apart
for that purpofe, where, with multitudes of other
kinds, in undifturbed fecurity they rear their young,
and are amply provided with a variety of food, a
large portion of which muft confifl of the larvae of
the gnats which fwarm in thofe parts, and the my-
riads of infeds that are foftered by the unfetting
fun. Pennant fays that thefe Wild Geefe appear in
Hudfon's Bay early in May, as foon as the ice dif-
appears ; — colleQ: in flocks of twenty or thirty, flay
about three weeks, then feparate in pairs, and take
off to breed ; that about the middle of Augufl they
return to the marfhes with their young, and con-
tinue there till September. Some of them are
caught and brought alive to the factories, where
they are fed with corn, and thrive greatly.

Wild Geefe are very deflruftive to the growing
corn in the fields where they happen to halt in their
migratory excurlions. In fome countries they are
caught at thofe feafons in long nets, refembling

2g6 BRITISH BIRDS.

thofe ufed for catching Larks : to thefe nets the
Wild Geefe are decoyed by tame ones placed there
for that purpofe. Many other fchemes are contrived
to take thefe wary birds ; but as they feed only in
the day-time, and betake themfelves to the water at
night, the fowler mull exert his utmofl care and
ingenuity in order to accomplifh his ends : all muft
be planned in the dark, and every trace of fufpi-*
cion removed ; for nothing can exceed the vigilant
circumfpedion and acute ear of the fentinel, who,
placed on fome eminence, with out-ftretched neck,
furveys every thing that moves within the circle of
the centre on which he takes his fland ; and the in-
ftant he founds the alarm, the whole flock betake'
themfelves to flight.

BRITISH BIRDS.

297

TAME GOOSE.

{j^nas /infer, Lin. — L'Oye domeftique, BufF. )

To defcribe the varied plumage and the econo-
my of this well-known valuable domellic fowl, may
feem to many a needlefs tafk ; but to others, un-
acquainted with rural affairs, it may be intereft-
ing.* Their predominant colours are white and
grey, with Ihades of afh, blue, and brown : fome
of them are yellowifh, others dufky, and many
are found to differ very little in appearance from
the wild kind laft defcribed — the original flock
whence, in early times, they were all derived. The
only permanent mark, which all the grey ones flill

* A certain town lady wondered how a Goofe could fuckle
nine Goflings.

^ Vol. il. f P p

igiS BRITISH BIRDS.

retain, like thofe of the wild kind, is the white ring
which furrounds the root of the tail. They are ge-
nerally furnilhed with a fmall tuft on the head ; and
the mofl ufual colour of the males (Gander or Steg)
is pure white : the bills and feet in both males
and females are of an orange red. By ftudied at-
tention in the breeding, two forts of thefe Geefe
have been obtained : the lefs are by many efleem-
ed as being more delicate eating ; the larger are by
others preferred on account of the bountiful ap-
pearance they make upon the feftive board. The
average weight of the latter kind is between nine
and fifteen pounds ; but inftances are not wanting,
where they have been fed to upwards of twenty
pounds : this is, however, to facrifice the flavour of
the food to the fize and appearance of the bird, for
they become difguflingly fat and furfeiting, and the
methods ufed to cram them up are unnatural and
cruel. It is not, however, altogether on account of
their ufe as food that they are valuable ; their fea-
thers, their down, and their quills, * have long

* " An Englifli archer bent his bow,
** Made of a trufty tree, —
•* An arrow of a cloth-yard long,
*' Unto the head, drew he :

** Againft Sir Hugh Montgomery

*' So right his (haft he fet,
*' The grey Goofe wing that was thereon

*' In his heart's blood was wet."

Chev'8' ChACE.

BRITISH BIRDS. 299

been confidered as articles of more importance, and
from which their owners reap more advantages. In
this refped: the poor creatures have not been fpared :
urged by avarice, their inhuman mafters appear to
have afcertained the exadt quantity of plumage of
which they can bear to be robbed, without being
deprived of life. Mr Pennant, in defcribing the
methods ufed in Lincolnfhire, in breeding, rearing,
and plucking Geefe, fays " they are plucked five"
times in the year ; firft at Lady-day for the feathers
and quills : this bufmefs is renewed for the feathers
only, four times more between that and Michael-
mas :" he adds, that he faw the operation perform-
ed even upon Goflings of fix weeks old, from which
the feathers of the tails were plucked ; and that
numbers of the Geefe die when the feafon after-
wards proves cold. But this unfeeling greedy bu-
finefs is not peculiar to one county, for much the
fame is practifed in others. The care and attention
bellowed upon the brood Geefe, while they are en-
gaged in the bufinefs of incubation, in the month of
April, is nearly the fame every where : wicker pens
are provided for them, placed in rows, and tier above
tier, not uncommonly under the fame roOT as their
owner. Some place water and corn near the nefts ;
others drive them to the water twice a-day, and re-
place each female upon her own neft: as foon as fhe
returns. This bufinefs requires the attendance of the
Gozzard (Goofe-herd) a month at leaft, in which
Pp 2

300 BRITISH BIRDS.

time the young are brought forth : as foon after-
wards as the brood are able to waddle along, they
are, together with their dams, driven to the conti-
guous loughs, and fens or marlhes, on whofe grafly-
margined pools they feed and thrive, without re-
quiring any further attendance until the autumn.
To thefe marfhes, which otherwife would be unoc-
cupied, (except by wild birds) and be only ufelefs
watery v/afles, we are principally indebted for fo
great a fupply of the Goofe ; for in almoil every
country where lakes and marfhes abound, the neigh-
bouring inhabitants keep as many as fuit their con-
venience, and in this way immenfe numbers annu-
ally attain to full growth and perfection. But in
no part of the world are fuch numbers reared as in
the fens of Lincolnfliire, where it is faid to be no
uncommon thing for a fmgle perfon to keep a thcu-
fand old Geefe, each of which, on an average, will
bring up feven young ones. So far thofe only are
noticed which may properly be called the larger
flocks, by which particular watery diftrids are
peopled ; and, although their aggregate numbers
are great, yet they form only a part of the large
family : thofe of the farm-yard, taken feparately,
appear as fmall fpecks on a great map ; but when
they are gathered together, and added to thofe
kept by almofl: every cottager throughout the king-
dom, the immenfe whole will appear multiplied in a
ratio almoil incalculable. A great jpart of thofe

BRITISH BIRDS. 30I

which are left to provide for themfelves during the
fummer, in the folitary diftant waters, as well as
thofe which enliven the village green, are put into
the ftubble fields after harveft, to fatten upon the
fcattered grain ; and fome are penned up for this
purpofe, by which they attain to greater bulk ; and
it is hardly neceflary to obferve, that they are then
poured in weekly upon the tables of the luxuii-
ous citizens of every town in the kingdom. But
thefe diftant and divided fupplies feem trifling
when compared with the multitudes which, in the
feafon, are driven in all diredions into the metro-
polis : * the former appear only like the fcanty wa-
terings of the fmall ftreamlet ; the latter like the co-
pious overflowing torrent of a large river. To the
country market towns they are carried in bags and
panniers ; to the great centre of trade they are fent
in droves of many thoufands. f To a ftranger it is
a moft curious fpeftacle to view thefe hifllng, cack-
ling, gabbling, ^ut peaceful armies, with grave de-
portment, waddling along (like other armies) to
certain deftruftion. The drivers are each provided
with a long ftick, at one end of which a red rag is

* In ancient times they were driven in much the fame way,
from the interior of Gaul to Rome.

f In an article which Mr Latham has copied from the St
James's Chronicle of September 2d, 1783, it is noticed, that a
drove of about nine thoufand Geefe pafled through Chelmsford
©n their way to London, from Suffolk.

302 BRITISH BIRDS.

tied as a lafli, and a hook is fixed at the other :
with the former, of which the Geefe feem much
afraid, they are excited forward ; and with the lat-
ter, fuch as attempt to ftray, are caught by the
neck and kept in order ; or if lame, they are put
into an hofpital cart, which ufually follows each
large drove. In this manner they perform their
journies from diftant parts, and are faid to get for-
ward at the rate of eight or ten miles in a day, from
three in the morning till nine at night : thofe which
become fatigued are fed with oats, and the reft with
barley.

It is univerfally believed that the Goofe lives to
a great age, and particular inftances are recorded
by ornithologifts, which confirm the fad: : fome are
mentioned which have been kept feventy years ; and
Willoughby notices one which lived eighty years.
They are, however, feldom permitted to live out
their natural life, being fold with the younger ones
long before they approach that period. The old
ones are called cagmags, and are bought only by
novices in market-making ; for, from their toughs-
nefs, they are utterly unfit for the table.

The Tame Goofe lays from feven to twelve eggs,
and fometimes more : thefe the careful houfewife
divides equally among her brood Geefe, when they
begin to fit. Thofe of her Geefe which lay a fecond
time in the courfe of the fummer, are feldom, if
ever, permitted to have a fecond hatching j but the

BRITISH BIRDS. 303

eggs are ufed for houfehold purpofes. In fome
countries the domeftic Geefe require much lefs care
and attendance than thofe of this country. BufFon,
in his elegant and voluminous Ornithology, in which
nothing is omitted, gives a particular detail of their
hiftory and economy every where : he informs us,
that among the villages of the Coflacks, fubjedl to
Ruffia, on the river Don, the Geefe leave their
homes, in March or April, as foon as the ice breaks
up, and the pairs joining each other, take flight in a
body to the remote northern lakes, where they breed
and conftantly refide during the fummer ; and that
on the beginning of winter, the parent birds, with
their multiplied young progeny, all return, and di-
vide themfelves, every flock alighting at the door of
the refpeftive place to which it belongs.

The Goofe has for many ages been celebrated on
account of its vigilance. The ftory of their faving
Rome by the alarm they gave, when the Gauls
were attempting the capitol, * is well known, and
was probably the firft time of their watchfulnefs
being recorded ; and, on that account, they were
afterwards held in the higheft eftimation by the Ro-
man people. It is certain, that nothing can jflir in
the night, nor the leafl or mod diftant noife be
made, but the Geefe are roufed, and immediately

* As the poet fings — Et fervaturls vigili capitolia voce
Anferibus.

3^4

BRITISH BIRDS.

begin to hold their cackling converfe ; and on the
nearer approach of apprehended danger, they fet
up their more fhrill and clamorous cries. It is on
account of this property that they are efteemed by
many perfons as the moil vigilant of all fentinels,
when placed in particular fituations.

BRITISH BIRDS. 305

WHITE-FRONTED WILD GOOSE,

OR LAUGHING GOOSE.
(^Anas allJfrcns. — L^Oye rieufey EufF.)

This fpecies meafures two feet four inches in
length, and four feet fix in the extended wings,
and weighs about five pounds. The bill is thick at
the bafe, of a yellowifh red colour ; the nail white :
from the bafe of the bill and corners of the mouth,
a white patch is extended over the forehead : the
reft of the head, neck, and upper parts of the plu-
mage are dark brown : the primary and fecondary
quills are of the fame colour, but much darker ; and
the wing coverts are tinged with afli : the bread
and belly are dirty white, fpotted with dullvy : the
tail is of a hoary afti-coloured brown, and furround-
ed, like the Lag Goofe's, with a white ring at the
bafe : the legs yellow.

Thefe birds form a part of thofe vafl tribes
which fwarm about Hudfon*s Bay, and the north of
Europe and. Afia, during the fummer months, and
are but thinly fcattered over the other quarters of
the world. They vifit the fens and marfhy places
in England, in fmall flocks, in the winter months,
and difappear about the beginning of March. It is
faid that they never feed on the corn-fields, but con-
fine themfelves wholly to filch wilds and fwamps as
are conftantly covered with water.

Vol. IL f Q q

306 BRITISH BIRDS.

BEAN GOOSE.

This fpecles differs very little In Its general
appearance from the Grey Lag Goofe, the chief
diftinftion between them being in the bill ; which
in this is fmall, much comprelfed near the end,
whltlfh, and fometimes of a pale red in the mid-
dle, and black at the bafe and nail : the latter
is fhaped fomewhat like a horfe-bean, from which
it has obtained the name of Bean Goofe. The
length of this bird is two feet feven inches ; breadth
four feet eleven ; its weight about fix pounds and a
half. The head and neck are of a cinereous brown
colour, tinged with ferruginous : breaft and belly
dirty white, clouded with cinereous : fides and fca-
pulars dark afh, edged with white : the back of a
plain afh-colour : coverts of the tail white : lefler
coverts of the \vings light grey, nearly white ; the
middle deeper, tipped with white : primaries and
fecondaries grey, tipped with black : feet and legs
faffron colour : claws black.

Thefe birds arrive in the fen counties in the au-
tumn, and take their departure in May. They are
faid to alight In the corn-fields, and to feed much
upon the green wheat, while they remain in Eng-
land. They are reported to breed in great num-
bers in the lile of Lewis, and no doubt on others
of the Hebrides, and alfo at Hudfon's Bay.

BRITISH BIRDS.

2>^7

BERNACLE,

CLAKIS, OR TREE GOOSE.
{Anas Eryihropus, Lin.— Z.a Bernache^ BufF.)

The Bernacle weighs about five pounds, and mea-
fures more than two feet in length, and nearly four
and a half in breadth. The bill, from the tip to
the corners of the mouth, is fcarcely an inch and a
half long, black, and croiTed with a pale reddifli
flreak on each fide : a narrow black line pafles from
the bill to the eyes, the irides of which are brown :
the head is fmall, and as far as the crown, together
with the cheeks and throat, white : the reft of the
head and neck, to the breaft and llioulders, is black.
The upper part of the plumage is prettily marbled
or barred with blue grey, black, and white : the

Qq 2

308 BR.I'riSH BIRDS*

feathers of the back are black, edged with white,
and thofe of the wing coverts and fcapulars, blue
grey, bordered with black near their margins, and
edged with white : the quills black, edged a little
way from the tips with blue grey : the under parts
and tail coverts white : the thighs are marked with
dufky lines or fpots, and are black near the knees :
the tail is black, and five inches and a half long :
the legs and feet dufky, very thick and fhort, and
have a flumpy appearance.

In fevere winters, thefe birds aire not imcommon
in this kingdom, particularly on the northern and
weflern parts, where, however, they remain only a
lliort time, but depart early in the fpring to their
northern wilds, to breed and fpend the fummer.

The hiflory of the Bernacle has been rendered
remarkable by the marvellous accounts which were
in former times related concerning their propaga-
tion, or rather their growth. Almoft all the old
naturalifts, as well ornithologifls as others, alTert
that they were produced from fliells which grew out
of rotten fhip-wrecked timber, and other kinds of
wood and trees which lay under water, in the fea,
and that thefe fhells owed their origin to " fpume
or froth," which in a fhort time, affumed a fun-
gous appearance upon the wood : ethers affirmed
that they were produced from the palms or fruits of
a tree like the willow, which, when ripe, dropped
off into the water, and became alive^ &c. Trea-

BRITISH BIRDS. 309

tifes were written exprefsly on thefe chimerical prin-
ciples, giving a particular defcription of their firft
appearance, progrellive growth, birth, (or final ex-
clufion from the (hell) and of their dropping into
the fea, fwimming about, and becoming perfeftly
feathered birds, &c. Other authors, indeed, lefs
credulous, fufpecled the truth of thefe affertions :
Belon was of the number of thofe who laughed at
the ftoiy in his day j and Willoughby, long after
him, treated fuch incoherent narratives with con-
tempt. It muft excite regret, that fo refpedable,
fo learned, and fo grave an author as Gerard, fhould
not only have believed this wonderful transforma-
tion, but that he fhould have introduced the idle tale
into his invaluable Herbal.* But even to enume-

* See Gerard's Herbal, publifiied in 1597, article — " The
Goofe-tney" which he feems to have referved for the conclufion
of his work, as being the moft; wonderful of all he had to dc-
fcribe. A fmall ifiand called the Pile of Foulders, half a mile
from the main land of Lancafhire, he fays, is the native foil of
*' the Tree bearlvg Geefe," and fo plentiful is the fruit, that a full-
grown bird is fold for three-pence. The honed naturalift, how-
ever, although his belief was fixed, admits that his own perfonal
knowledge was confined to certain Ihells which adhered to a
rotten tree that he dragged from the fea betv/een Dover and
Romney, in fome of which he found " lining things without
forme or fhape ; in others which were neerer come to ripenes,
liuing things that were very naked, in fhape like a birde : ia
others, the birds couered with foft downe, the fhell halfe open,
and the birde readie to fall out, which no doubt v/ere the foules
called Barnakles.'*

3IO

BRITISH BIRDS.

rate thefe authors, or to quote the entertaining parts
of the wild whimfies with which they have embel-
lifhed their deferiptions of thefe birds, would far ex-
ceed the limits of this work, and would only ferve
to prove (were that neceffary) how credulous, not
only the great unthinking mafs, but even the phi-
lofophers once were, and how far it was poffible for
fuch circumftantially told miracles to lay the under-
ftandings of mankind faft afleep. Bartholin difco-
vered that thefe Goofe-bearing conches contained
only a fhell-fifh of a particular kind, a fpecies of
multivalve — the Poujfe-pieds of Wormius and Lobel,
and the Lepas Anatifera of Linnseus.

BRITISH BIRDS.

311

BRENT GOOSE.

(^^nas Berniclay Lin. — Z/e Cravanty BufF.)

This is of nearly the fame fhape, but fomewhat
lefs than the laft, from which it differs in the colour
of its plumage, being moftly of an uniform brown,
the feathers edged with afh : the upper parts, breaft
and neck, are darker than the belly, which is more
mixed and dappled with paler cinereous and grey :
the head and upper half of the neck are black, ex-
cepting a white patch on each fide of the latter, near
the throat : the lower part of the back and rump are
alfo black : the tail coverts above and below, and the
vent, white : tail, quills, and legs dufky : the bill is
dark, rather of a narrow fhape, and only about an
inch and a half long : the irides are light hazel. In

312 BRITISH BIRDS.

the females and the younger birds, the plumage is
not fo diftindly marked, and the white fpots on the
fides of the neck are often mixed with dulky ; but
fuch varyings are difcernible in many other birds,
for it feldom happens that two are found exadly
alike.

The Brent Geefe, Hke other fpecies of the fame
genus, quit the rigours of the north in winter, and
fpread themfelves fouthward in greater or lefs num-
bers, impelled forward, according to the feverity of
the feafon, in fearch of milder climates. They are
then met with on the Britilh Ihores, and fpend the
winter months in the rivers, lakes, and marfhes in
the interior parts, feeding moflly upon the roots,
and alfo on the blades of the long coarfe gralfes and
plants which grow in the water : but indeed their
varied modes of living, as well as their other habits
and propenfities, and their migrations, baitings,
breeding places, &c. do not differ materially from
thofe of the other numerous families of the Wild
Geefe. Buffon gives a detail of the devaftations
which they made, in the hard winters of 1740 and
1765, upon the corn fields, on the coalls of Picar-
dy, in France, where they appeared in fuch im-
menfe fwarnis, that the people were literally raifed
Cen majfe we fuppofe) in order to attempt their ex-
tirpation, which, however, it feems they could not
effe£t, and a change in the weather only, caufed
thefe unwelcome vifitants to depart.

BRITISH BIRDS.

313

The Brent and the Bemacle were formerly, by
fome ornithologifts, looked upon as being of the
fame fpecies ; later obfervers, however, have de-
cided differently, and they are now claffed as dif-
tind kinds. The foregoing figure was drawn from
one Ihot at Axwell-Park, near Newcaftle upon
Tyne. There was a fluffed fpecimen in the Wy-
cliffe Mufeum, which flightly varied in the mark-
ings of the plumage.

Vol. II. t

Rr

3H

BRITISH- BIRDS.

EIDER DUCK.

ST CUTHBERT'S DUCK, OR GREAT BLACK AND
WHITE DUCK.

{^nas molliffima. — U Eider, Buff.)

This wild, but valuable, fpecies is of a fize be-
tween the Goofe and the domeflic Duck, and ap-
pears to be one of the graduated links of the
chain which conneds the two kinds. The full-
grown old males generally meafure about two feet
two inches in length, and two feet eighteen in
breadth, and weigh from fix to above feven pounds.
The head is large ; the middle of the neck fmall,
with the lower part of it fpread out very broad,
fo as to form a hollow between the Ihoulders,
which, while the bird is fitting at eafe, feems as
if fitted to receive its reclining head. The bill

BRITISH BIRDS. 315

is of a dirty yellowifh horn colour, darkifli in
the middle, and meafures, from the tip to the
comers of the mouth, two inches and a half:
the upper mandible is forked in a fmgular manner
towards ieach eye, and is covered with white fea-
thers on the fides, as far forward as the noftrils.
The upper part of the head is of a foft velvet black,
divided behind by a dull white ftroke pointing
downwards : the feathers, from the nape of the
neck to the throat, are long, or puffed out, over-
hanging the upper part of the neck, and look as if
they had been clipped off at the lower ends ; they
have the appearance of pale pea-green velvet Ihag,
with a white line dropping downward from the au-
riculars on each fide. The cheeks, chin, upper part
of the neck, back, and leffer wing coverts, are
white : the fcapulars, and fecondary quills, next the
body, dirty white : baftard wings, and primary
quills, brown ; the fecondaiies and greater coverts
are the fame, but much darker : the lower broad
part of the neck, on the front, to the breaft, is of a
buff colour; but in fome fpecimens tinged with
rufty red : the breaft, belly, vent, rump, and tail
coverts, are of a deep footy black : tail feathers
hoary brown : legs ffiort, and yellow : webs and
nails dufky. The female is nearly of the fame fhape,
though lefs than the male, weighing only between
five and fix pounds ; but her plumage is quite dif-
ferent, the ground colour being of a reddifli brown,
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3l8 BRITISH BIRDS.

able commodity, which is thus annually colleded
in various parts, is uncertain. BufFon mentions one
particular year, in which the Icelandic company fold
as much as amounted to upwards of eight hundred
and fifty pounds fterling. This, however, mufl be
only a fmall portion of the produce, which is all
fold by the hardy natives, to UnS the couches of
the pampered citizens of more polilhed nations.

The great body of thefe birds conflantly refides
in the remote northern, frozen climates, the rigours
of which their thick cloathing well enables them to
bear. They are faid to keep together in flocks in
the open parts of the fea, filhing and diving very
deep in queft of Ihell-fifh and other food, with
which the bottom is covered, and when they have
fatisfied themfelves, they retire to the fhore, whither
they at all times repair for fhelter, on the approach
of a ftorm. Other lefs numerous flocks of the
Eiders branch out, colonize, and breed further
fouthward in both Europe and America : they are
found on the promontories and numerous ifles of
the coafl: of Norway, and on thofe of the northern,
and the Hebrides or weftern ifles of Scotland, and
alfo on the Fern Ifles, on the Northumberland coafl:,
which latter is the only place where they are known
to breed in England, and may be faid to be their
utmofl: fouthern limit in this quarter, although a
few folitary infl:ances of Angle birds being fliot fur-
ther fouthward along the coaft have fometimes hap-

BRITISH BIRDS.

319

pened. Mr Tunftal had a fluffed fpecimen in his
Mufeum, which was fhot in January, at Hartle-
pool, on the Durham coafl. The foregoing figure
and defcription were taken from a perfed bird, in
full plumage, fhot in April, near Holy Ifland.

It is not known that any attempts to domefticate
this fpecies have fucceeded. Such as were made
by the Rev. Dr Thorp, of Ryton, entirely failed
of fuccefs.

320 BRITISH BIRDSi

MUSK DUCK.

MUSCOVY, CAIRO, GUINEA, OR INDIAN DUCK,
[^Anas mofchatusy Lin.— Ze Canard Mufquej BufF.)

This fpecies is lefs than the laft, but much larger
than the Common Duck, meafuring about two feet
in length. The bill is two inches long ; the tip
and noftrils brown ; the other parts of it red, as is
alfo the naked warty Ikin which joins its bafe, and
furrounds the eyes. The crown of the head is
rather tufted or crefled, and black: the cheeks,
throat, and fore part of the neck, white, irregular-
ly marked with black : the belly, from the breaft;
to the thighs, white. The general colour of the
reft of the plumage is deep brown, — darkeft, and
glofled with green on the back, rump, quills, and
tail : the two outfide feathers of the latter, and the
firft three of the former, are white : the legs and
feet are red, fhort, and thick. This is the general
appearance of the Mufk Duck ; but as it is domef-
ticated in almoft every country, it varies very much,
like all other birds in that ftate. In the female,
the bare warty, or carunculated fkin, which is fpread
from the bill over the eyes, is of a much duller red,
and does not cover fo large a portion of the head as
it does in the male : fhe is alfo of a lefs fize.

Ornithologifts are in doubt, as to the country to
which thefe birds originally belonged j it is, how-

BRITISH BIRDS. ^21

ever agreed, that they are natives of the warm cli-
mates. Mr Pennant fays they are met with, wild,
about lake Baikal, in Afia ; Ray, that they are na-
tives of Louifiana; Marcgrave, that they are met
with in Brazil ; and BufFon, that they are found
in the overflowed favannas of Guiana, where they
feed in the day-time upon the wild rice, which
grows there in abundance, and return in the even-
ing to the fea : he adds, " they neflle on the trunks
of rotten trees ; and after the young are hatched,
the mother takes them one after another by the
bill and throws them into the water." It is faid
that great numbers of the young brood are deftroy-
ed by the alligators, which are common in thofe
parts. Thefe birds have obtained the name of
Mulk Duck, from their mulky fmell, which arifes
from the liquor fecreted in the glands on the rump.
They are a thriving and prolific fpecies, and their
flefli, which is high-flavoured, is by many very
much eflieemed. They will aflbciate with the Com^
mon Ducks ; and infliances are not wanting of their
producing a mixed breed.

Vol. II. t S s

32^ BRITISH BIRDS.

VELVET DUCK.

DOUBLE SCOTER, OR GREAT BLACK DUCK.
{^Anas fufcOf Lin. — La grande Macreufe^ BuflF.)

The Velvet Duck is larger than a Mallard, weigh-
ing about three pounds two ounces, and meafuring
above twenty inches in length. The upper mandible
is broad, and flat, and rifes into a kind of black
knob at the bafe : the noflrils are of the fame co-
lour, and ftand out on each fide; the middle, or
ridge, and the nail, are red ; the reft of it is orange
yellow, edged with black. The under mandible is
pale or yellowifli white, edged and fpotted with
black, and tipped with deep yellow : both are
coarfely ferrated. The head is large, the eyes fmall,
with a fpot of white below each ; and the irides are
nearly of the fame colour. AH the reft of the plu«

BRITISH BIRDS. 323

wage, excepting a white ftroke or band which crofles
the clofed wings in an oblique dire61:ion, is of a foft
fmooth footy black, gloffed with a caft of purple on
the head, upper part of the neck, and fhoulders, and
inclining to brown on the fides, belly, and vent :
the outer fides of the legs and toes are of a fine
crimfon colour ; the inner fides deep yellow ; the
webs and nails black ; and the joints of both legs
and toes look as if they were ftained or befpattered
with ink : the tail, confiding of fourteen feathers,
is fhort and pointed. The female is without the
protuberance on the bafe of the bill, and has a
white fpot behind the ears, and her plumage is
more inclined to brown*
f Thefe birds are natives of the northern parts of
the world, where they rear their young, and con-
tinue during the fummer months, but retire fouth-
ward in winter, at which feafon they are met with
in greater or lefs numbers, and according to the fe*
verity of the weather, approach towards the tem-
perate climates of Europe, Afia, and America. In
the latter quarter they are frequently feen as far
fouth as New York, and fpread themfelves in fmall
numbers along the fhores of weltern Europe, as far
as France, where they fometimes appear in com-
pany with the large flocks of Scoters, and are often
caught in the fifhermen's nets with thofe birds ; but
they are feldom met with on the Britifh fhores.
Ss s

324

BRITISH BIRDS*

SCOTER.

BLACK DUCK, OR BLACK DIV£R.
i^Anas Nigra^ Lin. — La Macreufe, BufF.)

^ The Scoter is lefs than the Velvet Duek, weighs
ing generally about two pounds nine ounces, and
meafuring twenty-two inches in length, and thirty^
four in breadth. The bafe of the upper mandible
is raifed up into a Idnd of large knob, divided down-
wards in the middle by a narrow bright or deep
yellow ftripe, which is fpread round the projefting
edges of the noflrils, and extended nearly to the
tip : the reft of the bill is blackj grooved along near
the edges, where it is broad and flat: the under
mandible is alfo black : irides dufl^y. From the
curious conformation and appearance of the bill.

BRITISH BIRDS.

325

(of which a more accurate figilre is fubjoined) this
fpecies cannot eafily be miflaken, although it is faid
that the loiob in fome fpecimens is red ; in that of the
females it is hardly noticeable, and in the younger
males it is of a fmall fize. The eye- lids are yellow,
the irides dark, and the whole of its clofe fmooth
plumage is black, gloffed on the head and neck
with purple. The tail confifts of fixteen Iharp-
pointed feathers, of which the middle are the long-
ed : legs brown. In fome of the young females
the plumage is grey.

In fevere winters the Scoters leave the northern
extremities of the world in immenfe flocks, difperfmg
themfelves fouthward along the Ihores of more tem-
perate climates. They are only fparingly fcattered
on the coafts of England ; but according to BufFon,
they appear in great numbers on the northern coafts
of France, to which they are attracted by beds of a
certain kind of fmall bivalve fhell-fifh, ( vaimeaux )
which abound in thofe parts, and of which they
are very fond, for they are almoft incelTantly diving
in queft of them. Over thefe beds of fhell-fifh, the
fifhermen at low water fpread their long nets, float-
ed or fupported horizontally two or three feet from
the fand : thefe they leave to be covered by the
overflowing tide, which alfo brings the Scoters
prowling along with it, within their accuftomed
diftance from the beach. As foon as the firft of
them perceives the fliells, it inftantly dives, when

326 BRITISH BIRDS.

all the reft follow the example, and numbers are
entangled in the floating mefhes of the net. In this
way it is faid that fometimes twenty or thirty dozen
have been taken in a iingle tide. Thefe birds are
fold to the Roman catholics, who eat them on faft
days and in lent, when their religious ordinances
have forbidden the ufe of all animal food, except
fifh ; but thefe birds, and a few others of the fame
filhy flavour, have been exempted from the inter-
dict, on the fuppolition of their being cold blooded,
and partaking of the nature of fifli.

The Scoters feldom quit the fea, upon which
they are very nimble, and are indefatigable expert
divers ; but they fly heavily, near the furface of the
water, and to no great diftance, and are faid to
walk aukwardly ered on the land.

BRITISH BIRDS.

327

o "■ ~£;'§5'

MALLARD, «

OR COMMON WILD DUCK.
^ {^Anas hofchaSi Lin.— Zf Canard Sauvage^ Buff.)

The Wild Drake weighs from thirty-fix to forty
ounces, and meafures twenty-three inches in length,
and thirty-five in breadth. The bill is of a yellow-
ifh green colour, not very flat, about an inch broad,
and two and a half long, from the corners of the
mouth to the tip of the nail : the head and upper
half of the neck, are of a gloffy deep changeable
green, terminated in the middle of the neck by a
white collar, v/ith which it is nearly encircled : the
lower part of the neck, bread, and fhoulders, are
of a deep vinous chefnut : the covering fcapular
feathers are of a kind of filvery white ; thofe un-
derneath rufous J and both are prettily crolTed with

"3 JS8 BRITISH BIRDSr^

fmall waved threads of brown : wing coverts afh :
quills brown; and between thefe intervenes the
beauty-fpot (common in the Duck tribe) which
croffes the clofed wing in a tranfverfe oblique di-
rection ; it is of a rich gloffy purple, with violet or
green reflections, and bordered by a double ftreak
of black and white. The belly is of a pale grey,
delicately pencilled and croffed with numberlefs nar-
row waved dufl^y lines, which, on the fides and
long feathers that reach over the thighs, are more
ftrongly and diftindtly marked : the upper and un-
der tail-coverts, lower part of the back, and rump,
^■are black ; the latter gloffed with green : the four
middle tail-feathers are alfo black, with purple re-
flections, and, like thofe of the domeftic Drake,
are ftifl[ly curled upwards ; the relt are fliarp-point-
ed, and fade off to the exterior fides, from a brown
to a dull white : legs, toes, and webs red.

The plumage of the female is very different from
that of the male, and partakes of none of his beau-
ties except the fpot on the wings. All the other
parts are plain brown, marked vdth black. — She
makes her nefl, lays from ten to fixteen greeniih
white eggs, and rears her young, generally in the
mofl fequeftered moffes or bogs, far from the haunts
of man, and hidden from his fight among reeds and
rufhes. To her young helplefs unfledged family,
(and they are nearly three months before they can
fly), fhe is a fond, attentive, and watchful parent.

BRITISH BIRDS. 329

carrying or leading them from one pool to another
as her fears or inclinations direO: her ; and fhe is
known in this country to ufe the fame wily flrata-
gems to miflead the fportfman and his dog, as thofe
before noticed refpeding the partridge. *

Like the reft of the Duck tribes, the Mallards, in
prodigious numbers, quit the north at the end of au-
tumn, and migrating fouthward, arrive at the begin-
ning of winter in large flocks, and fpread themfelves
over all the loughs and marfhy waftes in the Bri-
tifh ifles. They pair in the fpring, when the great-
er part of them again retire northward to breed ;
but many ftraggling pairs ftay with us : they, as
well as preceding colonifts of their tribes, remain to
rear their young, who become natives, and con-
tinue with us throughout the year.

Many and various are the contrivances which
have been ufed, in both ancient and modern times,
to catch thefe wild, fhy, and wary birds, and from
the avidity with which the fport is ftill followed, it
is hardly neceflary to obferve how highly they are
efteemed, and what place they hold as a delica-
cy on the table. To defcribe thefe various con-
trivances would fwell out this part of their hiftory
beyond its proper limits, — and Willoughby, Buf-
fon, Pennant, Latham, an4 others, have left little
new to add on this head. It will not be proper,

* Vol. I. page 307.

Vol. II. t T t

330 BRITISH BIRDS.

however, to omit noticing the decoy, which from
its fuperiority over every other method, promifes
to continue long in ufe ; for in that mode the Mal-
lard and other Ducks are taken by thoufands at a
time ; whereas all the other fchemes of lying in
ambufh, fhooting, baited hooks, wading in the wa-
ter with the head covered in a perforated wooden
veffel, or in a calabafh, &c. * are attended with
much watching, toil, and fatigue, and are alfo
comparatively trifling in point of fuccefs.

The decoys now in ufe are formed by cutting
pipes or tapering ditches, widened and deepened as
they approach the water, in various femicircular
direftions, through the fwampy ground, into par-
ticular large pools, which are Iheltered by furround-
ing trees or bufhes, and fituated commonly in
the midft of the folitary marfh. At the narrow
points of thefe ditches, farthefl from the pool, by
which they are filled with water, the fowlers place
their funnel nets : from thefe the ditch is covered

* This method of taking Wild Geefe or Ducks is reprefent-
ed, as well as thofe anciently in ufe, of taking aim oft every kind
of wild animals, in an old folio book, confifting of 105 engrav-
ings, by Collaert and others, from the paintings of Johannes
Stradanus. The wooden veffel which conceals the head of the
fowler, is there reprefented, as it were floating about among the
unfufpefting flocks, while with his hand the dextrous fportf-
man is pulling all thofe within his reach, one after another, by
the legs under water. This method is Hill pradifed in China.

BRITISH BIRDS. 33 1

by a continued arch of netting, fupported by hoops,
to the defired diftance ; and all along both fides,
Ikreens formed of reeds are fet up fo as to pre-
vent the pofTibility of the birds feeing the decoy-
man ; and as thefe birds feed during the night,
all is ready prepared for this fport in the even-
ing. The fowler, then, placed on the leeward
fide, fometimes with the help of his well-trained
dog, but always by that of his better trained tame
Decoy-Ducks, begins the bufinefe of deftrudion.
The latter, direded by his well-known whiftle, or
excited forward by the floating . hempfeed, which
he ftrews occafionally upon the water, entice all the
Wild Ducks after them under the netting ; and
as foon as this is obferved, the man or his dog, as
the fitnefs of opportunity ma)r dired, is from the
rear expofed to the view of the birds, by which they
are fo alarmed that they dare not offer to return,
and are prevented by the nets from efcaping up-
wards : they therefore prefs forward in the utmoll
confufion to the end of the pipe, into the purfe nets
there prepared to receive them, while their treache-
rous guides remain behind in confcious fecurity.
The feafon allowed by ad of parliament for catch-
ing thefe birds in this way, continues only from the
latter end of Odober till February.

Particular fpots or decoys, in the fen countries,
are let to the fowlers at a rent of from five to
thirty pounds per annum; and Pennant inflances
Tt 2

332 BRITISH BIRDS.

a feafon in which thirty-one thoufand two hundred
Ducks, including Teals and Wigeons, were fold in
London only, from ten of thefe decoys near Wain-
fleet, in Lincolnfliire. Formerly, according to Wil-
loughby, the Ducks, while in moult and unable to
fly, were driven by men in boats, fumiflied with long
poles, with which they fplaflied the water between
long nets, fliretched vertically acrofs the pools, in
the ftiape of two fides of a triangle, into lefler nets
placed at the point, and in this way, he fays, four
thoufand were taken at one driving in Deeping-
Fen ; and Latham has quoted an infl:ance of two
thoufand fix hundred and forty-fix being taken in
two days, near Spalding in Lincolnfliire ; but this
manner of catching them while in moult is now
prohibited, *

vBRITISH BIRDS.

m

'' ^'~W ^^-^/? x^ "* "^M -S^ ?J«^ ^^

TAME DUCK.

{^Anas domejl'tca., Lin. — he Canard domejliquei Buff.)

This valuable domeflic owes its origin to the
Mallard, the laft defcribed fpecies, but has long
been reclaimed from a ftate of nature. Many of
them appear in nearly the fame plumage as the
wild ones ; others vary greatly from them, as well
as from each other, and may be faid to be marked
with almoft all colours ; but all the males (Drakes)
ftill retain the unvarying mark of their wild origi-
nal in the curled feathers of the tail. Long do-
meftication has, however, deprived the Tame Duck
of that keen, quick, and fprightly look and fhape
which diflinguifh the Mallard, and fubftituted a
more dull and lefs elegant form and appearance in

334 BRITISH BIRDS.

their ftead. In the "wild ftate they pair, and are
monogamous, but become polygamous when tame.
The Count de BufFon, whofe lively and ingeni-
ous flights of imagination are peculiar to himfelf,
fays — " Man made a double conquell when he
fubdued inhabitants at once of the air and of the
water. Free in both thefe vafl elements, equally
fitted to roam in the regions of the atmofphere, to
glide through the ocean or plunge under its bil-
lows, the aquatic birds feemed deftined by nature
to live for ever remote from our fociety, and from
the limits of our dominion." " Eggs taken from
the reeds and rufhes amidft the water, and fet un-
der an adopted mother, firft produced, in our farm-
yards, wild, fhy, fugitive birds, perpetually roving
and unfettled, and impatient to regain the abodes
of liberty." Thefe, however, after they had bred
and reared their own young in the domeftic afy^
lum, became attached to the fpot; and their de-
fendants, in procefs of time, grew more and more
gentle and tradable, till at laft they appear to have
nearly relinquifhed and forgotten the prerogatives
of the favage ftate, although they ftill retain a
ftrong propenfity to roam abroad, in fearch, no
doubt, of the larger pools, marfhy places, and bogs,
which it is natural to fuppofe they muft prefer to
the beaten, hard, pebbly-covered furface furround-
ing the fcantily watered hamlet : and indeed it is
well known to every obferving good houfewife, that

BRITISH BIRDS. 335

where they are long confined to fuch dry places,
they degenerate in both ftrength and beauty, and
lofe much of the fine flavour of thofe which are
reared in fpots more congenial to their nature.
That thefe, and fuch like watery places, which their
health requires for them to wafli, dive, feed, reft,
and fport in, are not better tenanted by thefe ufe-
ful and pretty birds, is much to be regretted, and
marks flrongly a falling off — a want of induflry *
in thofe females to whofe lot it falls, and whofe
duty it is to contribute their quota of attention to
thefe lelTer but not uninterefling branches of rural
economy. Were this done, and ponds made in
aid of the purpofe in every fuitable contiguous fitu-
ation, there can be no doubt but that a multiplied
flock of Ducklings, to an inconceivable amount,
might be annually reared with a comparatively tri-
fling additional expence ; for the various undif-
tinguifhable animal and vegetable fubftances upon
which they chiefly live, and for which they unceaf-
ingly fearch with their curioufly conftrufted bills,
fifting and feparating every alimentary particle from
the mud, unlefs fed upon by them, are totally loft.
When older, they alfo devour worms, fpawn, wa-
ter infeds, and fometimes frogs and fmall filhes, —
together with the various feeds of bog and water

* ** The thrifty hufwife is aye wecl kend by her fonfy fwarms
o' bonny chucky burdies." Scotch Proverb.

33^ BRITISH BIRDS.

plants, of which they find an abundant fupply
when left to provide for themfelves in thofe wet
places.

When they, with other kinds of fowl, are bufdy
employed in picking up the wafte about the barn
door, they greatly enliven and beautify the rural
fcene.

** A fnug thack houfe, before the door a green :
** Hens on the midding, Ducks in dubs are feen.
** On this fide ftands a barn, on that a byre ;
** A peat-ftack joins, and forms a rural fquare.'*^ *

To this may be added, the no lefs pleafing peep at
the mill and mill-dam, when well furnifhed with
thefe their feathered inhabitants. The village fchool-
boy witnelTes with delight the antic movements of
the bufy fhapelefs little brood, fometimes under the
charge of a foller mother, who with anxious fears
paddles by the brink, and utters her unavailing
cries, while the Ducklings, regardlefs of her warn-
ings, and rejoicing in the element fo well adapted
to their nature, are fplafhing over each other be-
neath the pendent foliage ; or, in eager purfuit,
fnap at their infe6l prey on the furface, or plunge
after them to the bottom : fome meanwhile are feen
perpendicularly fufpended, with the tail only above
water, engaged in the general fearch after food.

* Allan Ramfaj.

BRITISH BIRDS.

ZZ7

Scenes like thefe, harmonized by the clack of
the mill and its munnuring water-fall, afford plea-
fures little known to thofe who have always been
engaged in mere worldly purfuits : but fuch pic-
turefque beauties pafs not unnoticed by the young
naturalift; their charms invite his firft attentions,
and probably bias his inclinations to purfue ftudies
which enlarge and exalt his mind, and can only
end with his life.

^m^

Vol. II. t

Uu

33^ BRITISH BIRDS.

HOOK-BILLED DUCK.

(^nas aduncUf Lin.-— Ze Canard a bee courhe, Briffon.)

The bill of this differs from that of the Mallard
and of the Tame Duck, in being broader, longer,
and in bending more downwards ; but as this bird is
of the fame fpecies, fo in other refpedts it nearly re-
fembles them, and this variation of the bill is pro-
bably only one of thofe accidental fportings of na-
ture, not very uncommon in all domeftic animals ;
every variety of which, each with its original pecu-
liarities, (for like begets like) may eafily be kept up
as long as caprice Ihall feel gratified by continuing
them. Latham fays thefe birds feem only to be
kept in England out of curiofity, but that accord-
ing to the information he received, they are full as
common in Germany as the other fort of Tame
Ducks. He alfo mentions other varieties of the
Mallard. Thofe with copped heads, others want-
ing the webs of their feet, &c. if added to the lift,
would only ferve to miflead the young enquirer ;
and to the experienced ornithologift fuch details are
unneceffary.

BRITISH BIRDS.

339

SCAUP DUCK.

( /^nas MarUaj Lin. )

This fpecies is lefs than the Mallard ; fome of
them, it is faid, weighing only a pound and a half,
while others exceed that weight by eight or nine
ounces, and meafure, when ftretched out, nearly
twenty inches in length, and thirty-two in breadth.
The bill is broad and flat, more than two inches
long, from the corners of the mouth to the tip, and
of a fine pale blue or lead colour, with the nail
black : irides bright deep yellow : the head and
upper half of the neck are black, glofled with
green : the lower part of the latter, and the bread,
are of a fleek plain black: the throat, rump, up-
per and under coverts of the tail, and part of
the thighs, are of the fame colour, but dull, and
more inclining to brown. The tail, when fpread
out, is fan-lhaped, and confiils of fourteen fhort
Uu 2

340 BRITISH BIRDS.

brown feathers : the back, fcapulars, wing-coverts,
and tertials, are varied from white to deeper fhades
of pale afh, and afh-brown, and are prettily mark-
ed with delicately freckled, or more diftindly pencil-
led tranfverfe dark waved lines : the baftard wings,
greater coverts, and the exterior webs of the firfl
two or three primary quills, (the interior webs of
which are brownilh afh) and the tips of all the reft,
are deep brown, more or lefs fprinkled with white,
and croffed with narrow waved white lines : fome
of the primary quills towards the body, are white ;
the bafes of the fecondaries, of the fame colour,
form an oblique bar acrofs the wings, which is
flopped by a fmgle under tertial feather, of plain
brown, with green reflections : the belly is white,
and fhaded oiF towards the vent with the fame
kind of fprinkled and waved lines as thofe fo pre-
dominant on a large portion of the plumage. The
legs are fhort ; toes long, and, as well as the outer
or lateral webs of the inner toes, are of a dirty pale
blue colour ; all the joints and the reft of the webs
are dulky. Thefe birds are faid to vary greatly in
their plumage, as well as fize, but thofe which have
come under the author's obfervation were all near-
ly alike.

The Scaup Duck, like others of the fame genus,
quits the rigours of the dreary north in the winter
months, and in that feafon only is met with, in
fmall numbers, on various parts of the Britilh fliores.

BRITISH BIRDS.

341

SHIELDRAKE.

SHELDRAKE, SKELDRAKE, OR BURROUGH DUCK.
{^Anas tadortia^ Lin. — La Tadorne.)

The male of this prettily marked fpecies is fome-
what larger than the Mallard, meafuring about two
feet in length, three and a half in breadth, and
weighing commonly two pounds ten ounces. The
bill is red, with the nail and noflrils black : the up-
per mandible is broad, flat, and grooved on the
edges towards the point, where it has rather a caft
upwards ; it is alfo depreffed in the middle, and
raifed into a knob or tubercle at the bafe. Thd
head, and upper part of the neck, are of a glofly
dark or bottle green : the lower part of the neck,
to the breaft, is encircled with white, and joined by

34^ BRITISH BIRDS,

a broad band of bright orange bay, which is i|)read
over, and covers the breaft and flioulders. The
back, wing-coverts, rump, upper tail-coverts, and
fides of the belly to the vent, and tail, are white :
a dufky ftripe, tinged with rufous, runs along the
middle from the breaft, the whole length of the
belly: part of the fcapulars next the wings are
black, and thofe next the body white : the baftard
wing, and fome of the firft primary quills, are black;
the exterior webs of the next adjoining ones are
gloffed with gold green, which forms the fpeculum
or beauty-fpot of the wings : this fpot is bounded,
and partly covered by the orange webs of the three
fucceeding quill-feathers, which feparate it from the
fcapulars. The tail is white, but fome of its fea-
thers are tipped with black : the legs pale red.
The female is lefs than the male, and her plumage
is not fo vivid and beautiful. She makes her neft,
and rears her young, under ground, in the rabbit-
holes which are made in the fand-hills near the
fea-fhore : it is chiefly formed of the fine down
plucked from her own breaft : fhe lays from twelve
to fixteen roundifli white eggs, and the incubation
lafts about thirty days. During this time the male,
who is very attentive to his charge, keeps watch
in the day-time on fome adjoining hillock, where he
can fee all around him, and which he quits only
when impelled by hunger, to procure fubfiftence.
The female alfo leaves the neft, for the fame pur-

BRITISH BIRDS. 343

pofe, in the mornings and evenings, at which times
the male takes his turn and fupplies her place. As
foon as the young are hatched, or are able to wad-
dle along, they are conduced, and fometimes car-
ried in the bill, by the parents, to the full tide, upon
which they launch without fear, and are not feen
afterwards out of tide-mark until they are well able
to fly : lulled by the roarings of the flood, they find
themfelves at home amidfl: an ample ftore of their
natural food, which confifl:s of fand-hoppers, fea-
worms, &c. or fmall Ihell-fifli, and the innumera-
ble flioals of the little fry, which have not yet ven-
tured out into the great deep, but are left on the
beach, or tofled to the furface of the water by the
refl;lefs furge.

If this family, in their progrefs from the nefl: to
the fea, happen to be interrupted by any perfon,
the young ones, it is faid, feek the firfl Ihelter, and
fquat clofe down, and the parent birds fly off":
then commences that truly curious fcene, didated
by an infliind analogous to reafon, the fame as has
been already noticed in the Mallard and the Par-
tridge : the tender mother drops, at no great dif-
tance from her helplefs brood, trails herfelf along
the ground, flaps it with her wings, and ?.ppears to
ftruggle as if flie were wounded, in order to attract
attention, and tempt a purfuit after her. Should
thefe wily fchemes, in which flie is alfo aided by her
mate, fucceed, they both return when the danger

344 BRITISH BIRDS.

is over, to their terrified motionlefs little ofFspring,
to renew the tender offices of cherifhing and pro-
tecting them.

Thefe birds are fometimes watched to their holesj
which are dug up to the neft, whence the eggs are
taken, and hatched, and the young reared by a
Tame Duck. In this way many gentlemen, tempt-
ed by the richnefs of their garb, have their ponds
flocked with thefe beautiful birds ; but as they are
of a roving difpofition, and are apt to flray, or to
quit altogether fuch limited fpots, it is generally
found neceffary to pinion or difable a wing to fe-
cure them. The Shieldrake has been known to
breed with the Common Duck ; but it is not well
afcertained whether the hybrids thus produced will
breed again or not.

This fpecies is difperfed, in greater or lefs num-
bers, over the warm, as well as the cold climates,
in various parts of the world : they are met with as
far north as Iceland in the fpring, and in Sweden
and the Orkney Iflands in the winter. Captain
Cook notices them, among other fea-fowl, on the
coafl of Van Deimen's land, and they have been
feen, in great numbers, at the Falkland Iflands.
Although they are not numerous on the Britifh and
the oppofite fhores, yet they are common enough
in the Britifh ifles, where they remain throughout
the year, always in pairs, and occafionally flragglc
away from the fea-coafls to the lakes inland.

BRITISH BIRDS.

345

SHOVELER.

BLUE-WING SHOVELER, KERTLUTOCK, OR BROAD-BILL. '
{^Anas clypeata, Lin. — Le Souchet^ BufF,)

The Shoveler is lefs than the Wild Duck, com-
monly weighing about twenty-two ounces, and mea-
furing twenty-one inches in length. The bill is
black, three inches long, very broad or fpread out,
and rounded hke a fpoon at the end, with the nail
hooked inward and fmall : the infides of the man-
dibles are remarkably well furnilhed with thin pec-
tinated rows, which fit into each other like a weaver's
brake, and through which no dirt can pafs, while
the bird is feparating or fifting the fmall worms and
infedts from amongft the mud, by the edges of the
water, where it is continually fearching for them :

Vol. II. t X X

34^ BRITISH BIRDS.

the irides are of a fine pure yellow ; the head and
upper half of the neck of a dark glofTy changeable
green : the lower part of the neck, breafl, and fca-
pulars, white : the back is brown : belly and fides
chefnut bay ; and the wing coverts of a fine pale
Iky blue, terminated v/ith white tips, which form an
oblique ftripe acrofs the wings, and an upper bor-
der to the beauty-fpot, or fpangle, which is of a
gloffy changeable bronze, or refplendent green, and
alfo divides or croffes the wings in the fame direc-
tion : the greater quills and the tail are dulky, but
ia the latter the outfide feathers, and the edges of
fome of the adjoining ones, are white : a ring of
white alfo encircles the rump and the vent, behind
which the feathers under the tail are black: legs
and feet red. The female is fmaller than the male,
from which fhe alfo differs greatly in the colours of
her plumage, — the coverts and fpangle-fpot on her
wings being lefs brilliant, and the other parts, com-
pofed of white, grey, and rufty, croffed with curved
dulky lines, giving her much the appearance of
the Common Wild Duck. She makes her neft,
lined with withered graffes, on the ground, in
the midft of the largeft tufts of rufhes or coarfe
herbage, in the moft inacceffible part of the flaky
marlh : Ihe lays ten or twelve pale rufly- coloured
eggs ; and as foon as the young are hatched, they
are conduced to the water by the parent birds,
who watch and guard them with the greatefl care.

BRITISH BIRDS. 347

They are at firft very fhapelefs and ugly, for the bill
is then almoft as broad as the body, and feems too
great a weight for the little bird to carr}'. Their
plumage does not acquire its full colours until after
the fecond moult.

It would appear, from the varied defcriptions of
omithologifts, that thefe birds differ much from each
other, both in the colour of the bill, and in the dif-
pofition of the markings of their rich-coloured plu-
mage. All, however, agree in ranking the Shovel-
er among the moft beautiful of the Duck tribe ;
and it is alfo, in the opinion of many, inferior to
none of them in the delicate flavour of its flelh,
which is red, juicy, and tender.

It has not yet been afcertained whether the Sho-
veler breeds in England, where indeed it is a fcarce
bird ; but according to M. Baillon, * they are not
uncommon in France, where they arrive about the
month of February, difperfe in the marfhes, and a
part of them hatch every year. He conjectures that
they advance fouthward, for they are feldom met
with after the firft northerly wind that blows in
March, and he adds, that thofe of them which then
ftay behind do not depart till September. He
alfo remarks that hardly any are ever feen during
the winter, from which he concludes that they ftiun
the approach of cold. They are faid to be met

* The friend and correfpondent of the Count de Buffon.

348

BRITISH BIRDS,

with in Scania and Gothland, and in mofl: parts of
Germany, Ruffia, and Kamtfchatka, — and alfo, in
the winter months, in New York and Carolina, in
America.

This fpecies is of fo wild, fhy, and folitary a dif*.
pofition, that all attempts hitherto made to domef-
ticate them have failed* This work was favoured
with the bird from which the foregoing figure and
defcription were taken, by the author's friends at
Cambridge.

The Anas muf carta of Linnaeus (Le Souchet a
'ventre blanc of Briflbn) differs only from this in
having the belly white, and is confidered merely as
a variety of the fame fpecies.

BRITISH BIRDS. 349

RED-BREASTED SHOVELER.

*' Size of a Common Duck. Bill large, fer-
rated on the fides, and entirely of a brownifh yel-
low colour : head large : eyes fmall : irides yellow :
breafl and throat of a reddilh brown : back brown,
growing paler towards the fides : the tips and pi-
nions of the wings grey : quills brown ; the reft of
a greyifh brown : the fpeculum, or wing-fpot, pur-
ple, edged with white : tail fhort, and white : vent
of a bright brown, fpotted with darker : legs fhort
and flender : feet fmall, and of a reddifh brown co-
lour."

" In the female all the colours are fainter, and
the fpeculum of the wings blue."

" This fpecies is fometimes taken in the decoys
of Lincolnfhire."

35© BRITISH BIRDS,

GADWALL,

OR GRAY.
{^Anas Jlreperuy Lin. — Le Chtpeauj Buff.)

The Gadwall is lefs than the Mallard, meafuring
about nineteen inches in length, and twenty-three
in breadth. The bill is flat, black, and two inches
long, from the tip to the corners of the mouth :
the head, and upper part of the neck, are of a ru-
fous brown colour, lighteft on the throat and
cheeks, and finely fpeckled and dotted all over with
black and brown : the feathers on the lower part of
the neck, breafl, and Ihoulders, look like fcales,
beautifully margined and crolfed with curved black
and white lines : thofe of the back, fcapulars, and
fides, are brown, marked tranfverfely with narrow-
er waved ftreaks of a dufky colour : the belly and
thighs are dingy white, more or lefs fprinkled with
grey: the lower part of the back dark brown:
rump and vent black j and the tail alh, edged with
white. The ridge and lelTer coverts of the wing
are of a pale rufous brown, crofled obliquely by the
beauty-fpot, which is a tri- coloured bar of pur-
plifh red, white, and black : the greater quills are
dulky : legs orange red. The wings of the female
are barred like thofe of the male, but the colours
are of a much duller caft, and her breaft, inftead of
his beautiful markings, is only plain brown, fpotted
with black.

BRITISH BIRDS. 35 1

Birds of this fpecies breed in the defert marlhes
of the north, and remain there throughout the
fpring and fummer. On the approach of winter
they leave the European and Siberian parts of Ruf-
fia, Sweden, &c. and aided by the firfl ftrong
north-eaft wind, commonly make their appearance
about the month of November, on the French,
Britifh, and other more fouthem fhores, where
they remain till the end of February, and then re-
turn to their northern haunts. They are very Ihy
and wary birds, feeding only in the night, and
lurking concealed among the rufhes in the watery
wafte during the day, in which they are feldom
feen on the wing.

Thefe birds Ihew themfelves expert in diving as
well as in fwimming, and often difappoint the fportf-
man in his aim ; for the inftant they fee the flafh of
the pan, they difappear, and dive to a diflant fe-
cure retreat.

352

BRITISH BIRDS.

WIGEON.

WHEWER, WHIM, OR PANELED WHEW.
{^Anas Penelope f Lin. — Le Canard Jlffleur^ BufF.)

This is nearly of the fame fize as the Gadwall,,
weighing generally about twenty-three ounces, and
meafuring nearly twenty inches in length, and two
feet three in breadth. The bill is an inch and a
half long, narrow, and ferrated on the inner edges :
the upper mandible is of a dark lead colour, tipped
with black. The crown of the head, which is very
high and narrow, is of a cream colour, with a
ficnall fpot of the fame under each eye : the reft of
the head, the neck, and the breaft, are bright ru-
fous chefnut, obfcurely freckled on the head with
black fpots, and darkefl on the chin and throat,,
which are tinged with a vinous colour: a band,
compofed of beautifully waved, or indented narrow

BRITISH BIRDS. 353

afli-brown and white lines, feparates the bread and
neck : the back and fcapulars are marked with fi-
milar feathers, as are alfo the fides of the body un-
der the wings, even as low as the thighs, but there
they are paler : the belly to the vent is white : the
ridge of the wing, and adjoining coverts, are duiky
afh-brown : the greater coverts brown, edged with
white, (in fome fpecimens wholly white) and tip-
ped with black, which forms an upper border to the
changeable green beauty-fpot of the wings, which
is alfo bordered on the under fide by another ftripe
formed by the deep velvet black tips of the fecon-
dary quills : the exterior webs of the adjoining
quills are white, and thofe next the back, which are
very long, are of a deep brown, (in fome fpeci-
mens deep black) edged with yellowifh white : the
greater quills are brown : the vent and upper tail
coverts, black. The tail, which confifts of four-
teen feathers, is of a hoary brownifh afli, edged
with yellowifh white ; the two middle ones are fharp-
pointed, darker and longer than the reft. The legs
and toes are of a dirty lead colour, faintly tinged
with green ; the middle of the webs and nails black.
*' The female is brown, the middle of the feathers
deepeft : the fore part of the neck and breaft paler :
fcapulars dark brown, with paler edges : wings and
belly as in the male." The young of both fexes
are grey, and continue in that plain garb till the
month of February, after which a change takes
Vol. II. t Y y

354 BRITISH BIRDS-

place, and the plumage of the male begins to af-
fume its rich colourings, in which, it is faid, he
continues till the end of July, and then again the
feathers become dark and grey, fo that he is hard*
ly to be diftinguifhed from the female. *

Thefe birds quit the defart morafles of the north
on the approach of winter, and as they advance
towards the end of their deftined fouthern journey,
they fpread themfelves along the Ihores, and over
the marlhes and lakes in various parts of the con-
tinent, as well as thofe of the Britiih Ifles j and it
is faid that fome of the flocks advance as far fouth
as Egypt, They remain in thefe parts during the
winter, at the end of which the old birds pair, and
the whole tribe, in full plumage, take their depar-
ture northward about the end of March. While
they remain with us, they frequent the fame places,
and feed in the fame mode as the Mallard, and are
often taken in the decoys along with them and other
kinds of Ducks.

The Wigeons commonly fly, in fmall flocks, du-
ring the night, and may be known from others by
their whiflling note while they are on the wing.
They are eaftly domefticated in places where there
is plenty of water, and are much admired for their
beauty, fprightly look, and bufy frolicfome manners.

* Mr Baillon, from whom thefe remarks are taken, adds,
that the fame changes happen to the Pintail, the Gadwall, and
the Shoveler, and that they are alfo all grey when young.

BRITISH BIRDSi 355

BIMACULATED DUCK. ,

CLUCKING DUCK.
(Anas Glockans.)

•* Length twenty Inches. Bill deep lead co-
lour; -nail black: irides brown: crown brown,
changeable with green, ending in a ftreak of brown
at the hinder part of the head, with a fmall creft :
between the bill and eye, and behind each ear, fer-
ruginous fpots, the firft round, the lafl oblong and
large : throat of a fine deep purple : the reft of the
head bright green, continued in ftreaks down the
neck: breaft a light ferruginous brown, fpotted
with black : hind part of the neck and back dark
brown, waved with black : wing-coverts alh-colour-
cd ; lower coverts ftreaked with ruft-colour : fca-
pulars cinereous : quills the fame, inclined to brown :
fecondaries fine green, ending in a Ihade of black,
edged with white : tail-coverts deep changeable
green : twelve feathers in the tall ; the two mlddle-
moft black, the others brown, edged with white :
belly dulky, finely granulated : legs fmall, yellow :
webs dulky." " Taken in a decoy in England.
Has been met with along the Lena, and about the
lake Baikal. Has a fmgular note, fomewhat like
clucking." Latham,

Yy 2

35(>

BRITISH BIRDS.

POCHARD.

POKER, DUNBIRD, OR GREAT-HEADED WIGEON.
{Anas ferinaf Lin. — Penelope, le MUIoulny BufF.)

The Pochard is nineteen inches in length, and
two feet and a half in breadth, and weighs about
one pound thirteen ounces.- The bill is of a dark
lead colour, with the tip and fides near the nof-
trils, black : irides fine deep yellow. The head and
neck are of a glolTy chefnut, joined to a large fpace
of footy black which covers the breafl, and is fpread
over the fhoulders : the lower part of the back,
rump, tail-coverts, and vent, are alfo black: the
refl of the plumage, both above and below, is
wholly covered with prettily freckled flender dulky
threads, difpofed tranfverfely in clofe-fet zigzag
lines on a pale ground, more or lefs fhaded off with
afh and brown, and deepefl on the wing- coverts.

BRITISH BIRDS. 357

The primary quills are brown, with dulky tips ; the
fecondaries lead colour, tinged with brown, and
flightly tipped with dull white. The tail confifts of
twelve fhort feathers, of a dark brownifh afh, which
have alfo a hoary grey appearance: the legs and
toes are lead colour, fhaded and dafhed with black.

This fpecies is without the beauty-fpot on the
wings, and has altogether a more plain and half-
mourning kind of look than others of this tribe.
The fpecimen from which the above figure was
drawn was fliot at Axwell-Park, in the county of
Durham : the defcription was taken from one ihot
in January near Holy Ifland. The former differed
from the latter in wanting the black on the rump
and vent, and in fome other flight variations in the
Ihadings of its colours.

*' The head of the female is of a pale reddifh
brown : the breafl is of rather a deeper colour : the
coverts of the wings plain afli-colour : the back
marked like that of the male : the belly afh-co-
loured." *

Thefe birds leave the north on the approach of
winter, and migrate fouthward as far, it is faid, as
Egypt in Africa, and Carolina and Louifiana, in
America. They arrive in the marfhes of France
about the end of Odober, in tolerably numerous
flocks J and confiderable numbers of them are

* Pennant.

35^ BRITISH BIRBS,

caught m the fens of Lincoln&ire during the Prin-
ter feafon, and fold m the London markets, where
they and the female Wigeons are indifcriminately
called Dunbn-ds, and are efteemed excellent eating.
It has not yet been difeovered whether any of them
remain to breed in England.

The Pochard is of a plump round fhape, and its
walk is heavy, ungraceful, and waddling j but
when on the wing, they fly with greater rapidity
than the Mallard, and in flocks of from twenty to
forty, commonly in a clofe compa£t body, whereby
they may be eafily diftinguifhed from the triangu-
lar fliaped flocks of the Wild Duck, as well as by
the diflference of the noife of their wings.

The few attempts which have been hitherto made
to domefticate this fpecies have failed of fuccefs.
They do pretty well where they have plenty of wa-
ter, but it is faid that they cannot bear walking
about on hard pebbly grounds.

BRITISH BIRDS.

359

FERRUGINOUS DUCK.

jinat Rutila,

«' Weight twenty ounces. The bill long, and
flatted, rounded a little at the bafe, ferrated along
the edges of each mandible, and fumiflied with a
nail at the end of the upper; colour pale blue:
head, neck, and whole upper part of the bird, an
agreeable reddifh brown : throat, breaft, and belly,
the fame colour, but paler : the legs of a pale blue :
webs black," *' One of this fpecies was killed in
Lincolnfhire. Found in the Swedifli rivers, but
rarely. Mr Pennant has alfo received it from Den-
mark." Latham*

Z^o

BRITISH BIRDS.

PINTAIL DUCK.

SEA PHEASANT, CRACKER, OR WINTER DUCK.
{^Anas acutOi Lin. — Le Canard a longue queue^ Buff.)

This handfome looking bird is twenty-eight
inches in length, and thirty-eight in breadth, and
weighs about twenty-four ounces. The bill is ra-
ther long, black in the middle, and blue on the
edges : the irides reddifh : the head and throat are
of a rufty brown, mottled with fmall dark fpots,
and tinged behind the ears with purple : the nape
and upper part of the neck are dulky, margined by
a narrow white line, which runs down on each fide,
and falling into a broader ftripe of the fame colour,
extends itfelf on the fore part as far as the breaft ^

BRITISH BIRPS. 361

the reft of the neck, the breaft, and the upper part
of the back, are elegantly pencilled with black and
white waved lines : the lower back and fides of the
body are undulated in the fame manner, but with
lines more freckled, lefs diftinft, and paler : the fca-
pulars are long and pointed, each feather black down
the middle, with white edges : the coverts of the
wings are afh-brown, tipped with dull orange : below
thefe the wing is obliquely crofled by the beauty-
fpot of gloffy bronze purple green, with a lower
border of black and white : this fpangle is formed
by the outer webs and tips of the middle quills : the
reft of the quills are dulky. All the tail-feathers
are of a brown afti-colour, with pale edges, except
the two middle ones, which are black, flightly glolT-
cd with green, confiderably longer than the others,
and end in a point : the belly and fides of the vent
are white : * under tail-coverts black : legs and
feet fmall, and of a lead colour. The female is
lefs than the male, and her plumage is of a much
plainer caft, all the upper parts being brown, with
each feather margined more or lefs with white, in-
clining to red or yellow : the greater coverts and
fecondary quills are tipped with cream colour and
white, which form a bar aqrofs the wings. The
fore part of the neck, the breaft, and the belly to

* In fome, the belly and fore part of the neck are of a red-
difh buff, or cream colour.

Vol. II, t Z z

362 BRITISH BIRDS.

the vent, are of a dull white, obfcurely fpotted with
brown. The tail is long and pointed, but the two
middle feathers do not extend themfelves beyond
the reft, like thofe of the male.

Thefe birds do not vifit the temperate and warm
climates in great number^, es^cept in very fevere win-
ters, the great bulk of them dropping fhort, and
remaining during that feafon in various parts of the
Rufllan dominions, Sweden, Norway, &c. and al-
fo in the fame latitudes in both Afia and America.
They are feldom numerous in England, but flocksf
of them are fometimes abundantly fpread along the
ifles and fhores of Scotland and Ireland, and on the
interior lakes of both thofe countries, as well as
thofe of the continent as far fouth as Italy, and in
America as far fouth as New York. They are
efteemed excellent eating.

The Pintail Duck is of a taller or more lengthen-
ed fliape than any of the fpecies, and, in the opini-
on of the Count de BufFon, feems to form the linl^
between the Duck and the Garganey.

BRITISH BIRDS.

3^3

LONG-TAILED DUCIt,

OR SWALLOW-TAILED SHELDRAKE.
(Anas Glacialis, JJn.— -Canard de Miclotit Buff.)

This fpecies Is confiderably lefs than the laft, and
comes more nearly to the fize of the Wigeon. The
bill is fliort, black, and crofled by an orange red
bar between the tip and the noftrils, with both man-
dibles deeply pectinated on the edges. The front
of the head, cheeks, and fides of the neck, are
pale reddifh brown, with an oval-lhaped black and
chefnut patch, placed on the fides behind the auri-
culars ; the reft of the head and neck is white : the
breaft, Ihoulders, back, and lefler wing-coverts, are
of a deep chocolate colour, more or lefs inclining
to black or brown in different birds : the greater
coverts and primary quills dulky j the fecondaries

Zz 2

364 BRITISH BIRDS,

are reddifh brown, and form an oblique bar of that
colour acrofs the wings : the belly, vent, and fca-
pulars are white ; the feathers of the latter long,
narrow, and fharp^pointed : the two middle or
long feathers of the tail, and one on each fide of
them, are black ; the reft white* The legs iand toes
are pale blue ; webs and nails black : the inner toes
and the fmall ones behind are margined by fmall la-
teral webs.

This fpecies is defcribed as varying in the differ-
ent fliades of their plumage. In fome the fpots on
the fides of the upper part of the neck are much
larger and darker, and the two tail feathers are
double the length of thofe of others : their legs are
alfo faid to be fometimes of deeper or lighter fhades
of red.

The Long-tailed Ducks, it is faid, do not in the
winter, like many of the other tribes, entirely
quit their native haunts in the northern extremi-
ties of the world, but confiderable numbers re-
main there, enduring its gloomy rigours j as well as
enjoying the perpetual day, under the influence of
the unfetting fummer*s fun, during the reft of the
thus divided year. Numerous flocks, however,
fpread themfelves fouthward in the winter, from
Greenland and Hudfon's Bay, as far as New York
in America; and from Iceland and Spitzbergen,
over Lapland, the Ruflian dominions, Sweden, Nor-
way, and the Northern parts of the Britifh Ifles in

BRITISH BIRDS. 365

Europe* The fame progrefs of them is obferved in
Afia, where they are met with about Kamtfchatka,
&c. They frequent the lakes in the interior of all
thofe parts as well as the fea-lhores. The flocks
which vifit the Orkney Ifles appear in Odober, and
continue there till April ; and " about fun-fet they
are feen in vaft companies going to and returning
from the ' bays, in which they frequently pafs the
night, making fuch a noife, as in frofty weather
may be heard fome miles." They are rather fcarce
in England, whither they come only in very hard
winters, and even then but in fmall Itraggling par-
ties. They fly fwiftly, but feldom to a great diftance,
making a loud and Angular cry. They are expert
divers, and are fuppofed to live chiefly upon fhell-
fifh.

The female, it is faid, makes her neft among the
grafs near the water, lined, like that of the Eider
Duck, with her own equally valuable down. Her
eggs are of a bluifli white colour, about the flze of
thofe of a Pullet. Latham fays flie lays five ; others
aflert that the number is " feldom fewer than ten,
and often as many as fourteen or fifteen." Some
are of opinion that the latter number may be the
produce of two females, as is faid to be the cafe
with the Eider Duck. When the young are hatch-
ed, the mother carries them to the water in her bill.

Latham defcribes the Anas hye7naUs of Linnaeus
as the female of this fpecies : he fays the bill is the

366

BRITISH BIRDS.

fame : " fides of the head white ; hind head cine-
reous ; the reft of the head, the neck, breaft, and
back, dufky black : the lower part of the breaft
and fcapulars chefnut ; belly white : upper tail co-
verts and wings, much as in the 7nak : legs dulky
reddifh brown." " Some birds of this fex have the
brown feathers edged with ferruginous, others not."
'' I have likewife obferved in fome a white fpot on
each fide of the lower part of the neck." He adds,
that in the females which he had feen, the long
tail-feathers were wanting.

BRITISH BIRDS.

Ti^l

GOLDEN-EYE.

{j^nas clangulat Lin.— Zff Garrof, BufF.)

The weight of this fpecies varies from twenty-fix
ounces to two pounds. The length is nineteen
inches, and the breadth thirty-one. The bill is
bluifh black, fliort, thick, and elevated at the bafe :
the head large, flightly crefted, and black, or ra-
ther of a glofly. bottle green, with violet reflexions :
a large white fpot is placed on the fpace on each
fide between the corners of the mouth and the eyes,
the irides of which are of a golden yellow : the
throat, and a fmall portion of the upper part of the
neck, are of a footy or velvet black ; the lower, to
the flioulders, the breaft, belly, and vent, white;
but fome of the fide feathers, and thofe which co-
ver the thighs, are tipped with black : the fcapu-
lars white and deep black : of the latter colour are

368 BRITISH BIRDS.

alfo the adjoining long tertial feathers, and thofe on
the greater part pf the back : the firjft fourteen pri-
mary quills, with all the outfide edge of the wing,
including the ridge and a portion of the coverts, are
browniih black : the middle part of the wing is
white, croffed by a narrow black ftripe, which is
formed by the tips of the leffer coverts : tail dark
hoary brown : legs fliort, of a reddilh yellow co-
lour, with the webs duiky : the inner and hinder
toes are fumifhed with lateral webs ; on the latter
thefe webs are large and flapped. Willoughby fays
" the windpipe hath a labyrinth at the divarication,
and befides, above fwells out into a belly or puff?
like cavity."

This is the defcription of an individual adult
male, in which, as to the identity of the fcx and
fpecies, no one can be miftaken : but as younger
males have been met with, bearing in every refpe£t
the fame plumage as the old ones, except in hav-
ing no white fpots before the eyes, and other (fup-
pofed) young males have alfo been feen both with
and without thofe white fpots, though with a female-
looking garb, and their bills tipped with orange,
like that of the Morillon ; it is not only uncertain
at what age the Golden^eye attains his full drefs,
but alfo, from the varied appearances, as well in
thefe, as in thofe fuppofed to be females, it is
doubtful whether two diftincl fpecies are not con-
founded in one, and the young of one fpecies de*

BRITISH BIRDS. 369

fcrlbed as the old of another. Willoughby de-
fcribes two fpecies ; the one-, the " fmaller reddifh-
headed Buck," which he at laft fuppofes to be the
female Golden-eye,- — ^and the other the " greater
reddifh-headed Duck," " perchance the fame as the
laft defcribed, or the male thereof.'* Latham con-
fefles himfelf equally at a lofs with Willoughby ;
and as fome of the correfpondents of the author are
of one opinion, and fome of another, in refpeft to
the fex, as well as the fpecies of thefe birds, he
forbears giving defcriptions from other fpecimens,
although accurately taken, becaufe they would not
remove the doubts already entertained, or elucidate
the fubjeft. It may not be improper, however, to
quote Mr Pennant's account of the female Golden-
eye in this place, and that of the Morillon, fent to
this work by George Strickland, Efq. of Ripon,
in the fubfequent account of the latter bird. " The
head of the female is of a deep brown, tinged with
red : the neck grey : breaft and belly white : coverts
and fcapulars dulky and afh-coloured : middle quill-
feathers white ; the others, together with the tail,
black : the legs dulky. * Thefe birds frequent the
frelh water, as well as the fea, being found on the
Shroplhire meres during winter." f

* A bird was fent to the author by the Rev. J. Da vies, of
Trinity College, Cambridge, agreeing . with this defcription,
except in the legs being yellow.

■f Pennant.

Vol. II. t 3 A

Z7^

BRITISH BIRDS.

Thefe birds do not congregate in large flocks,
nor are they numerous on the Britifli fhores, or on
the lakes in the interior. They are late in taking
their departure northward in the fpring, the fpeci-
mens before mentioned being fhot in April. In
their flight they make the air whiftle with the vigor-
ous quick ftrokes of their wings j they are excel-
lent divers, and feldom fet foot on the Ihore, upon
which, it is faid, they walk with great apparent
difficulty, and, except in the breeding feafon, only
repair to it for the purpofe of taldng their repofe.

The attempts which were made by M. Baillon to
domefticate thefe birds, he informs the Count de
BufFon, quite failed of fuccefs.

BRITISH BIRDS, 37!

MORILLON.

{^nas Glaucioitf Lin. — Le Morillon, Buff.)

" Bill brown, orange from the noftrils to the
point, the knob of which is black ; it is an inch and
a half long, rather narrow towards the apex j the nof-
trils are placed very forward : head brown, cheeks
tinged with black : irides ftraw colour : a broad
white circle round the neck, the back part of which
is mottled with brown : breaft, fides of the body,
and fcapular feathers, white, barred with black:
belly white : thighs and vent feathers, brown and
white : inner coverts of the wings brown : back and
coverts of the wings black, mottled with white :
quill feathers and tertials black ; fecondaries white :
tail rounded, and grey : legs and toes yellow
brown, with a greenifh tinge ; webs and claws
black. Length one foot four inches ; breadth two
feet four inches j weight one pound feven ounces."

** The above is a defcription of the male bird;
the female has not the white circle round the neck,
or the yellow on the bill, and has lefs white on the
wings." " I have Ihot this fpecies on Conifton
lake, and on Eaflwaite water, Lancaftiire, in De-
cember,— on Duddon-fands, Cumberland, in April,
— and on a pond near Ripon, Yorkfhire, in Odo-
ber. They are generally feen in fmall flocks, diving

for their food, near the fhore." — Mr Strickland,
3 A 2

37*

BRITISH BIRDS.

TUFTED DUCK.

{Jr.aj fuUguIa, Lin. — Le petit Mortllon, Briffon.)

This is a plump, round, and fhort-fhaped fpecies.
The male is diflinguiflied by a pendent crefl, over-
hanging the nape of the neck, two inches in length.
The weight is about two pounds, length eighteen
inches. The bill is broad, of a dark lead colour ;
the nail black : irides deep orange : the head is
black, gloffed ■uith purple : the neck, breafl, and
all the upper parts, are of a deep brown or black ;
the fcapulars faintly powdered or fprinkled with
light fpots, fo minute as not to be obferved at a
fhort diftance. The wings are crolTed by a narrow
white bar : the belly, fides, and under coverts of
the wings, are of a pure white : the vent white.

BRITISH BIRDS. 373

mixed with dufky. The tail confifts of fourteen
very fhort feathers : the legs are of a dark lead co-
lour ; webs black. The female is of a browner
colour than the male, and has no creft.

The habits, manners, and haunts of this fpecies
are much the fame as thofe of the Golden-eye, and
they return northward about the fame time. La-
tham fays " the French allow thefe birds to be
eaten on maigre days, and in lent ; as they do alfo
the Scoter ; but though the flefli of the latter is
now and then tolerable, that of the Tufted Duck
is feldom otherwife than excellent."

374

BRITISH BIRDS>

GARGANEY.

{Anas querqueduht Lin. — La SarcelU, Buff.)

This fpecies, which is only a little bigger than
the Teal, is clothed with an elegant plumage, and
has altogether a mod agreeable and fprightly look.
It meafures about feventeen inches in length, and
twenty-eight in breadth. The bill is of a dark lead
colour, nearly black : the irides light hazel. From
the crown of the head, over the nape of the neck
downwards, it is of a gloffy brown : chin black :
brow, cheeks, and the upper fore part of the neck,
reddifh chefnut, with vinous refledions, and fprhi-
kled all over with numerous fmall pointed white
lines. A white ftripe palTes over each eye, and
flanting backwards, falls down on each fide of the
neck, the lower part of which, with the bread, is
light brown, pretty clofely croffed with femicircular

BRITISH BIRDS, 375

bai^ of black : the flioulders and back are marked
nearly the fame, but on a darker ground: the
fcapulars are long and narrow, and are ftriped with
afli-colour, black and white. The belly, in fome,
is white, in others pale reddilh yellow ; the lower
part of it, and the vent, mottled with dulky fpots :
the lides are freckled and waved with narrow lines
of afti-coloured brown, more and more diflindly
marked towards the thighs, behind which this feries
of feathers terminates in a ribband ftriped with afh,
black, white, and lead-coloured blue. The coverts
of the wings are of an agreeable bluilh alh, margin-
ed with white : next to this the exterior webs of
the middle quills are glofly green, tipped with
white, and form the beauty-fpot or fpangle of the
wings, to which the white tips make a border t the
primary quills are afh-brown, edged with white:
tail dufky : legs lead colour. — The foregoing figure
and defcription were taken from a male bird in
full and perfedl plumage. This fex is furnifhed
with a labyrinth.

" The female has an obfcure white mark over
each eye ; the reft of the plumage is of a brownifh
afti-colour, not unlike the female Teal ; but the
wing wants the green fpot, which fufficiently diftin-
guilhes thefe birds."

It has not yet been noticed whether any of this
fpecies ever remain to breed in England, where
indeed they are rather a fcarce bird.

37^

BRITISH BIROS.

TEAL,

OR COMMON TEAL.
{Anas crecca, Lin. — La petite Sarcelle.)

This beautiful little Duck feldom exceeds eleven
ounces in weight, or meafures more, ftretched out,
than fourteen inches and a half in length, and twen-
ty-three and a half in breadth. The bill is a dark
lead colour, tipped with black : irides pale hazel :
a glofly bottle-green patch, edged on the upper fide
with pale brown, and beneath with cream-coloured
white, covers each eye, and extends to the nape of
the neck : the reft of the head, and the upper part
of the neck, are of a deep reddifli chefnut, darkeft
on the forehead, and freckled on the chin and about
the eyes with cream-coloured fpots : the hinder part
of the neck, the Ihoulders, part of the fcapulars,
fides under the wings, and lower belly, towards

BRITISH BIRDS. ^ill

the vent, are elegantly pencilled with black, afh-
brown, and white tranfverfe waved lines : the breaft,
greatly refembling the beautifully fpotted appear-
ance of an India fhell, is of a pale brown or reddifh
yellow, and each feather is tipped with a roundifh
heart=fhaped black fpot : the belly is a cream-colour-
ed white: back and rump brown, each feather
edged with a paler colour : vent black : the prima-
ry quills, lefler and greater coverts, are brown j
the laft deeply tipped with white, which forms a bar
acrofs the wings : the firfl fix of the fecondary quills
are of a fine velvet black ; thofe next to them, to-
wards the fcapulars, are of a moft refplendent glofly
green, and both are tipped with white, forming the
divided black and green bar, or beauty-fpot of the
wings. The tail confifts of fourteen feathers, of a
hoary brown colour, with pale edges : the legs and
feet are of a dirty lead colour. The female, which
is lefs than the male, is prettily freckled about the
head and neck with brown and white. She has
not the green patch behind the eyes, but a brown
flreak there which extends itfelf to the nape of the
neck : the crown of the head is dark brown : the
upper mandible yellow on the edges, olive green
on the fides, and olive brown on the ridge j nail
black, and the under bill yellow : breaft, belly, and
vent gloify yellowifh white, fpotted on the latter
parts with brown : the upper plumage is dark
brown, each feather bordered with rufty brown.
Vol. II, t 3 B

373 BRITISH BIRDS.

and edged mth grey : the wings and legs nearly the
fame as thofe of the male.

The Teal Is common in England in the winter
months, but it is uncertain whether or not they re-
main throughout the year to breed, * as is the cafe
in France. The female makes a large neft, com-
pofed of foft dried gralTes, (and, it is faid, the pith
of rufhes) lined with feathers, and cunningly con-
cealed in a hole among the roots of reeds and bull-
rufhes near the edge of the water, and fome alfert
that it refts on the furface of the water fo as to rife
and fall with it. The eggs are of the fize of thofe
of a Pigeon, fix or feven in number, and of a dull
white colour, marked with fmall brownlfh fpots ;
but it appears that they fometimes lay ten or twelve
eggs, for Buffon remarks that that number of
young are feen in clufters on the pools, feeding on
crefles, wild chervil, &c. and no doubt, as they
grow up, they feed, like other Ducks, on the vari-
ous feeds, graffes, and w^ater-plants, as well as up-
on the fmaller animated beings with which all flag-
nant waters are fo abundantly ftored. The Teal is
highly efteemed for the excellent flavour of its flefh :
it is known to breed, and remain throughout the
year in various temperate climates of the world,
and Is met with as far northward as Iceland in the
fummer.

* Dr Heyfliam fays " the Teal is now known to breed
in tlie moffes about Carlifle."

BRITISH BIRDS* 379

OF THE PELICAK

The bill of this genus is long and ftrait ; the end
cither hooked or floping ; the noftrils placed in a
furrow that runs along the fides of the bill, and in
mofl of the fpecies not dlflinguilhable. The face
generally deftitute of feathers, being covered only
with a bare fkin : gullet naked, and capable of great
diflention : body long, heavy, and flat : legs placed
far backward : toes four in number, and all webbed
together.

Latham, following the example of Linnaeus, in^
eludes the Pelican, Man of War bird, Corvorant,
Shag, Gannet, and Booby, in this genus, of which
he enumerates thirty diftinQ; fpecies and two varie-
ties ; four only of this number, and one variety,
are Britifh Birds, In confining the prefent ac-
count to thefe, it is proper to remark that they are
not the inhabitants of this country only, but are
widely difperfed over the globe, being met with in
almoft every climate which navigators have vifited,
whether temperate, hot, or cold. The Gannet only
is migratory : large flocks of this fpecies arrive in
the fpring of the year, and difperfe themfelves in
colonies over the rocky promontories of Scotland
and its ifles, in various parts of which they breed
and rear their young, and as foon as that oflice is
performed, they retire in the autumn to their un-
3B 2

380 BRITISH BIRDS.

known abodes. Their return each feafon points
out alfo that of the fhoals of the herring, which
they hover over, purfue, and chiefly feed upon.
Thefe Ihoals, at that feafon of increafmg warmth,
are poured forth on their fouthern rout, gliding
forward in wide glittering columns of myriads upon
myriads, from the unknown but prolific regions of
the northern pole, Thefe prodigious fhoals, with
their divifions and fubdivifions, in their branched
courfe around the Britifh ifles, are attended by the
Gannet. On our fouthern coafts the Pilchard af-
fords thefe birds another fupply of food, in purfuit
of which they are enticed as far fouthward as the
Mediterranean fea.

The Corvorant and the Shag remain with us
throughout the year, but particularly on our more
northern fhores, upon whofe rocky fhelving preci-
pices they ftation them^lves, and perform the of-
fices of incubation, while ftragglers occafionally
taldng a wider range, with outftretched neck and
vigorous wing fweep along the coafl, and entering
the mouths of the rivers, follow their courfe in
quefl of food, to the lakes inland.

BRITISH BIRDS.

381

CORVORANT.

COLE GOOSE, OR GREAT BLACK CORMORANT,
(^Pelicamis Carboy Lin. — Le Cormorant BufF.)

The weight of this fpecies varies from four to
feven pounds, and the fize from thirty-two inches
to three feet four or five in length, and from four feet
to four feet fix inches in breadth. The bill, to the
corners of the mouth, meafures four inches, and

382 BRITISH BIRDS.

on its ridge two and three-quarters : it is of* a dark
horn colour, and the tip or nail of the upper bill is
much hooked and Iharp : from the bafe of this it is
furrowed on each fide nearly to the tip, without
any vifible appearance of noftrils : the lower bill is
compreffed, and covered about the gape of the
mouth with a naked yellowilh Ikin, extended un-
der the chin and throat, where it hangs loofe, and
forms a kind of pouch, which, together with the
fpringing blades on each fide, forming its rim, is
capable of diftention to a great width, and enables
the bird to fwallow prey apparently too large to be
admitted into its throat : the fkin about the eyes is
alfo naked, and of the fame colour as the pouch :
the eyes, which have a remarkable wild flare, and
are placed near the bill, look like two little green-
ilh glafs globes. The crown of the head, and the
neck, are black : on the hinder part of the former
the feathers appear elongated, and form a fort of
loofe fhort creft. In fome fpecimens the throat is
white, with a kind of ftripe paffing from it upwards
behind each eye ; in others the cheeks and throat
are mixed with brown and white ; and again, in
others the head and neck are flreaked with fcratches
of the latter colour: the middle of the belly is
white, with a patch of the fame colour over each
thigh : all the under parts, however, together with
the back and rump, are commonly of a glolfy blue
black, with green reflexions : the fhoulders, fcapu-

BRJTISH BIRDS. 383

lars, and wIng-coverts, are of a bronze brown, tinged
and glofled with green, and each feather is border-
ed with fhining bluifh black : the fecondary quills
are nearly of the fame colour : the coverts and the
primaries are dulky. The tail confifts of fourteen
ftiff hqfk'j dark feathers, which look as if they
were difcoloured by being dipped in mud or dirty
kennel water : the legs are thick, ftrong, black, and
coarfe, about two inches and a half long, and the
outer toe is more than four in length.

The Corvorant, as before obferved, is found in
every climate. In Greenland, where it is faid they
remain throughout the year, the jugular pouch is
made ufe of by the natives as a bladder to float
their fiftiing darts, after they are thrown : jheir fkins,
which are tough, are ufed for garments, and their
flefh for food j " but the eggs are too fetid to be
eaten even by the Greenlanders." *

Thefe birds ufually affemble in flocks on the
fummits and inacceffible parts of the rocks which
overhang, or are furrounded by the fea, upon which
the female makes her nell of the withered fea-tang,
weeds, fticks, and graffes, which are caft on Ihore
by the waves : Ihe lays four or more greenifh white
eggs of the fize of thofe of a Goofe, but of a longer
fliape. There are writers who aflert that, in fome
parts of the world they build their nefts on trees,

* ArftiG Zoology. Thi? rauft furely nucaa the rotten eggt

384 BRITISH BIRI35,

like the Rook and the Heron; other authors^
ftricken with the fingular conformation of the feet*
and ferrated claw, have a!fcribed properties to them
which they do not poflefs, and believe that they
hold their prey in one foot, while with the other
they pufh forward to the fhore, or carry it thither,
in the fame manner, on the wing : but this feems
mere conjedure, for the feet of this tribe are not
fitted for any fuch purpofe ; they are, like thofe of
all the expert divers, placed far behind, and while
by the pofition of thefe, and the powerful ftrokes
from their broad webs, the bird is enabled to pur*
fue and overtake its flippery prey, the hooked fharp-
edged beak is the only fit inftrument both to catch
and to fecure it ; and there is no need to ufe the
aukward expedient of removing it afterwards to the
foot.

At fea, or on the inland lakes, they make terri-
ble havoc. From the greateft height they drop
down upon the objed of purfuit, dive after it with
the rapidity of a dart, and with an almoft unerring
certainty, feize the vidim ; then emerging, with the
filh acrofs the bill, with a kind of twirl, throw it
up into the air, and, dexteroufly catching it head
foremoft, fwallow it whole.

While at reft on the fhore, commonly on the
ledge of a projecting rock, thefe birds fit more or

* See the cut, page 389.

BRITISH BIRDS. 385

lefs in an ered pofture, and are propped up by the
ftifF feathers of the tail ; and in places where they
have not experienced the fatal efFeds of the gun,
they have been known, however wary at other times,
to fit and receive repeated fhots, without offering to
remove out of the danger. * At other times and
places, while they fit in a dozing and ftupified ftate,
from the effeds of one of their cuftomary furfeits,
they may eafily be taken, by throwing nets over
them, or by putting a noofe around their necks,
which they avoid no further than by flipping the
head from fide to fide as long as they can.

Notwithftanding the natural wildnefs of their dif-
pofition, it feems, according to fome accounts, that
certain fpecies of thefe birds have formerly been
tamed and rendered fubfervient to the purpofes of
man, both in this and in other countries. Among
the Chinefe, it is faid they have frequently been

* Dr Heyfliam relates that, about the year 1759, one of
thefe birds " perched upon the caftle at Carlifle, and foon af-
terwards removed to the cathedral, where it was fitot at upwards
of twenty times without effe6l ; at length a perfon got upon the
cathedral, fired at, and killed it.*' " In another inftance, a
flock of fifteen or twenty perched, at the duflc of evening, in a
tree on the banks of the river Eilc, near Netherby, the feat of
Sir James Graham. A perfon who faw them fettle, fired at
random at them in the dark fix or feven times, without either
killing any or frightening them away : furprifed at this, he came
again, at day light, and killed one, whereupon the reft took
flight."

Vol. II. t 3 C

386 BRITISH BIRDS*

trained to fifh, and that fome filhermen keep many
of them for that purpofe, by which they gain a
livelihood. " A ring placed round the neck hin-
ders the bird from fwallowing ; its natural appetite
joins with the will of its mafter, and it inftantly
dives at the word of command; when unable to
gorge down the fifli it has taken, it returns to the
keeper, who fecures it to himfelf. Sometimes, if
the filh be too big for one to manage, two will aft
in concert, one taking it by the head and the other
by the tail." * In England, according to Willough-
by, t they were hood- winked in the manner of the

* Latham,
f " When they come to the rivers, they take off their hoods,
and having tied a leather thong round the lower part of their
necks, that they may not fvvallow down the fifh they catch, they
throw them into the river. They prefently dive under water,
and there for a time, with wonderful fwiftnefs, they purfue
the fifh, and when they have caught them, they arife prefently
to the top of the water, and preffing the fifh lightly with their
bills, they fwallow them, till each bird hath in this manner fwal-
lowed five or fix fifhes j then their keepers call them to the fifl,
to which they readily fly, and, little by little, one after another,
vomit up all their fifh, a little bruifed with the nip they gave
them with their bills. When they have done fifhing, fetting the
birds on fome high place, they loofe the firing from their necks,
leaving the paffage to the flomach free and open, and for their
reward they throw them part of the prey they have caught, to
each, perchance, one or two fifhes, which they by the way, as
they are falling in the air, will catch moft dexteroufly in their
mo uths. ' ' — Willoughby.

BRITISH BIRDS. 387

Falcons till they were let off to fifh, and a leather
thong was tied round the lower part of their necks,
to prevent them fwallowing the fifh. Whitlock
tells us " that he had a caft of them manned like
Hawks, which would come to hand." He took
much pleafure in them, and relates, that the beft
he had was one prefented to him by Mr Wood,
Mafter of the Corvorants to Charles I.

This tribe feems poffefTed of energies not of an
ordinary kind ; they are of a flern fullen character,
with a remarkably keen penetrating eye and a vi-
gorous body, and their whole deportment carries
along with it the appearance of the wary clrcum-
fped plunderer, the unrelenting tyrant, and the
greedy infatiate glutton, rendered lazy only when
the appetite is palled, and then occafionally puffiijg
forth the fetid fumes of a gorged flomach, vented in
the difagreeable croakings of its hoarfe hollow voice.
Such is their portrait, fuch the chara6ter generally
given of them by ornithologifts, and Milton feems
to have put the finifhing hand to it, by making Sa-
tan perfonate the Corvorant, while he furveys, un-
delighted, the beauties of Paradife. * It ought, how-
ever, to be obferved, that this bird, like other ani-
mals, led only by the cravings of appetite, and di-
rected by inflind, fills the place and purfues the
courfe afligned to it by nature.

* Paradife Loft,- Book iv. 1. 194. — 198,

3C a

388

BRITISH BIRDS.

CRESTED CORVORANT,

The creft is black, and longer than that of the
Great Black Corvorant : the crown of the head,
and nearly the whole neck, are ftreaked downwards
with fcratches of white and dulky : a white gorget
hangs from the cheeks, and covers the chin ; this
is boun'ded behind by a broadifh black fillet, which
partly covers the auriculars, and is extended to the
corner of each eye : a patch of white feathers covers

BRITISH BIRDS. 389

the hinder part of each thigh : the reft of its plu-
mage is the fame as that of the preceding fpecies ;
its charader is alfo fimilar.

It is not yet clearly afcertained whether this is a
variety of the laft, or a diftind fpecies, or whether
it is the Corvorant in the garb of its higheft adult
ftate. Latham inclines to the latter opinion, and
fuppofes the ftreaked head and different markings
of its plumage to be acquired only by age. Buifon,
in his Planches Enluminees, has given its figure as
the Corvorant ; and Pennant, differing from them,
makes it a fpecies of the Shag. Mr Tunftall was
in doubt on this fubjed, but difcovered, by diffec-
tion, that the whitenefs under the chin and on the
thighs is not confined to the males, for one with
thefe marks, which was fent to him out of Holder-
nefs, in Yorklhire, in 1775, was full of eggs. The
above figure was taken from the fpecimen in his
mufeum.

39»

BRITISH BIRDS,

SHAG,

SKART, SCARFE, OR GREEN CORMORANT.
(Pelicanus graculuj, Lin. — Le petit Cormoran ou h Nigaud, Buff.)

The form, the afped altogether, the outward
conformation of all the parts, the character, man-
ners and habits, and the places of abode, of this
fpecies, are nearly like thofe of the Corvorant ; but
they do not aflbciate, and thefe make their nefts on
the rugged flielvy fides and crevices of the rocky
precipices or projedting cliffs "which overhang the
fea, while the others make theirs on the fummits
above them; and thefe are at once diftinguifhed
from the others by the greennefs of the upper, and

BRITISH BIRDS, 39I

brownnefs of the under plumage, and alfo in being
of a much lefs fize ; the largefl Shags weighing
only about four pounds, and meafuring nearly two
feet fix inches in length, and three feet eight in
breadth. The bill is of a more llender make, but
nearly as long as that of the Corvorant ; the head,
in the male, is crefted in the fame manner ; the
middle claw is ferrated ; and its tail, confifting of
twelve ftiff feathers ftained with green, is alfo of the
fame form and hoary or dirty appearance as that of
the Corvorant : the crown of the head, hinder part
of the neck, lower back, and rump, are of a plain
black, or very dark green, Ihining like fattin : the
upper back, or fhoulders, together with the fcapu-
lars and wings, are nearly of the fame colour, but
with a tinge of bronze brown, and each feather is
diftindly edged with purple glofTed black : the un-
der parts are clouded with dufky dirty white and
brown.

The Shag is as greedy and voracious as the Cor-
vorant, and, like that bird, after having over-gorg-
ed its llomach, is often found on fhore in a fleepy
or ftupified ftate ; but when this torpor is over, and
they appear again upon the water, they are then
extremely alert, and are not eafily fhot, for both
kinds dive the inflant they fee the flafli of the gun,
and take care afterwards to keep out of its reach.
In fwimming they carry their head very erect, while
the body feems nearly fubmerged, and from their

392 BRITISH BIRDS.

feathers not being quite impervious to the water^
they do not remain very long upon it at a time,
but are frequently feen flying about, or fitting on
the fhore, flapping the moifl:ure from their wings,
or keeping them for fome time expanded to dry in
the fun and the wind. Notwithftanding the ftrong
and offenfive fmell emitted from the Shags and the
Corvorants, fome infliances are not wanting of their
having been eaten by people in this country, but
before they are cooked, they muft undergo a cer-
tain fweetening procefs, part of which confifts in
their being firft fliinned and drawn, and then wrap-
ped up in a clean cloth, and buried for fome time
in the earth ; after which they are made ready for
eating in various ways, though generally potted like
Moorgame,

^v

BRITISH BIRDS.

393

GANNET.

GAN, SOLAND OR SOLAN GOOSE.
{^Pellcanus bajfanust Lin. — Le Fou de Bajfan, BufF.)

The Gannet is generally about feven pounds in
weight, three feet in length, and fix in breadth.
The bill is of a pale or lead-coloured blue, fix
inches long, a little jagged on the edges, ftrong and
ftraight to the tip, which is inclined a little down-
wards : the upper bill is furnilhed with a diflindt
rib or ridge, running along from the tip nearly to
its bafe, on each fide of which it is furrowed, with-
out any vifible appearance of nofbils : the tongue
is fmall, and placed far within the mouth, all the

Vol. II. t 3D

394 BlimSH BIRDS.

infide of which Is black : a darkifh line pafles from
the brow over the eyes, which are furrounded with
a naked blue fkin, and, like thofe of the Owl, are
fet in the head fo as to look nearly ftraight forward,
and the extreme palenefs of the irides gives them a
keen wild ftare. The gape of the mouth is very
wide, and feems more lengthened by a jQip of naked
black fkin, which is extended on each fide from
the corners beyond the cheeks : thefe features of
its countenance, altogether, give it the appearance
of wearing fpedacles. A loofe black bare dilatable
ikin, capable of great diftention, hung from the
blades of the under bill, and extended over the
throat, ferves it as a pouch to carry provifions to
its mate, or its young. The body is flat and well
cloathed with feathers ; the neck long : the crown
of the head, nape, and, in fome fpecimens, the
hinder part of the neck, are of a buif colour j great-
er quills and baftard wings black, and the reft of
the plumage white. The tail is wedge-fliaped, and
confifts of twelve tapering fharp-pointed feathers,
the middle ones the longeft. The legs and feet are
nearly of the fame colour and conformation as thofe
of the Corvorant, but they are curioufly marked by
a pea-green ftripe, which runs down each fhin, and
branches off along every one of the toes. The male
and female are nearly alike, but the young birds,
during the firft year, appear as if they were of a
diflind fpecies, for their plumage is then of a dufky

BRITISH BIRDS. 395

colour, fpeckled all over v/ith triangular white
fpots.

The female makes her neft in the caverns and
fiflures, or on the ledges of the lov/ering precipice,
as well as on the plain furface of the ground ; it is
formed of a great quantity of withered grafles and
fea-weeds of various kinds, gathered with much la-
bour from the barren foil, * or picked up floating
about upon the water. She lays three eggs, of
a white colour, and fomewhat lefs than thofe of a
Goofe, although ornithologifcs affert that fhe will
lay only one eg^, if left to herfelf undifturbed, and
that when this egg is taken away fhe then lays a

* *' They continue to pluck grafs for their nefls from their
coming In March, till the young fowl is ready to fly, in Auguft
or September, according as the inhabitants take or leave the
firfl: or fecond eggs. It Is remarkable of them that they never
pluck grafs but on windy days." — Mariln. [^It would appear
from this that they are not fo fuccefsful In taking their prey in
boillerous weather as when It Is calm.]

Martin gives an account of the Solan Geefe ftealing the ma-
terials of which they form their nefts, from each other, and de-
fcribes a- battle between two of them in confequence of a theft
of this kind : the one which had robbed the nefl; ?itvf towards
the fea with its load, and returned again as If It had gathered
the fluff from a different quarter ; but the owner, though at a
diflance from his ncft, had obferved the robbery, and waited the
return of the thief, which he attacked with the utmoft fury.
" This bloody battle was fought above our heads, and proved
fatal to the thief, who fell dead fo near our boat, that our men
took him up, and prefently dreffed and eat him."
3D 2

39^ BRITISH BIRDS.

fecond, and in like manner a third, which fhe is
generally permitted to hatch, and rear the young
one. * " The male and female hatch and fifti by
turns ; the filher returns to the nell with five or fix
herrings in its gorget, all entire and undigefted,
which the hatcher pulls out from the throat of its
provider, and fwallows them, making at the fame
time a loud noife."

Thefe birds are common on the coafts of Nor-
way and Iceland, and are faid to be met with in
great numbers about New Holland and New Zea-
land ; they breed alfo on the coafts of Newfound^
land, and migrate fouthward along the American
Ihores as far as South Carolina : they are noticed,
indeed, by navigators, as being met with, dif-
perfed over both hemifpheres, and are probably
one great family fpread over the whole globe ; but
their greateft known rendezvous is the Hebrides
and other folitary rocky ifles of North Britain,
livhere their nefts, in the months of May and June,

* *' The Solan Geefe have always fome of their number that
keep watch in the night time, and if the centinel is furprifed,
(as it often happens) all that flock are taken, one after another ;
but if the centinel be awake at the approach of the creeping
fowlers, and hear a noife, he cries foftly Grog, Grog, at which
the flock do not move ; but if this centinel fee or hear the fowl-
er approaching, he cries foftly Bir, ^/V,' which would feem to
import danger, fince immediately after, all the tribe take wing,
leaving the difappointed fowlers without any profpedt of fuccefa
for that night."

BRITISH BIRDS. 397

are defcribed as fo clofely placed together, that it
is difficult to walk without treading upon fome of
them ; and it is faid that the fwarms of the old
birds are fo prodigious, that when they rife into the
air, they ftun the ear with their noife, and over-
fhadow the ground like the clouds. * At the fmall
ifle of Borea, Martin fays " the heavens were dark-
ened by thofe flying above our heads ; their excre-
ments were in fuch quantity, that they gave a
tindure to the fea, and at the fame time fuUied our
boat and cloaths." Befides this fmall ifle of Bo-
rea, and St Kilda, noticed by Martin, Pennant and
other writers mention the ifle of Ailfa in the Frith
of Clyde ; the Stack of Souliskerry, near the Ork-
neys ; the Skellig Ifles, off the coafl: of Kerry, Ire-
land 5 and the Bafs Ifle, in the Frith of Forth.
This lafl:-mentioned ifle is farmed out at a confider-
able rent for the eggs of the various kinds of w^-
ter-fowl with which it fwarms ; and the produce of
the Solan Geefe forms a large portion of this rent ;
for great numbers of their young ones are taken

* Martin, in his Hiftory of and Voyage to St Kilda, pub-
liflied in 1698, fays " the inhabitants of St Kilda take their
meafures from the flight of thefe fowls, when the heavens are not
clear, as from a fure compafs, experience fhewing that every tribe
pf fowls bend their courfe to their refpeftive quarters, though
out of fight of the ifle ; this appeared clearly in our gradual ad-
vances ; and their motion being compared, did cxadly quadrate
with our compafs,'*

39^ BRITISH BIRDS.

every feafon, and fold in Edinburgh for about
twenty-pence each, where they are efteemed a fa-
vourite difh, being generally roafted, and eaten
before dinner. On the other bleak and bare ifles,
the inhabitants, during a great part of the year,
depend for their fupport upon thefe birds and their
eggs, which are taken in amazing quantities, and
are the principal articles of their food. * From the
nefts placed upon the ground the eggs are eafily
picked up one after another, in great numbers, as
fail as they are laid ; but in robbing the nefts built
in the precipices, chiefly for the fake of the birds,
the bufmefs wears a very different afped : there,
before the dearly earned booty can be fecured, the
adventurous fowler, trained to it from his youth, and
familiarized to the danger, muft firft approach the
brow of the fearful precipice, to view and to trace
his progrefs on the broken pendent rocks beneath
him : over thefe rocks, which (perhaps a hundred
fathoms lower) are daflied by the foaming furge,
he is from a prodigious height about to be fuf-,
pended. After addreffing himfelf in prayer to the

* " They preferve the eggs in flone huts or pyramids, which.
they build for that purpofe, as well as for a ftielter to the fowlers:
in thefe pyramids they cover up the eggs with turf afhes, which,
defend them from the air, drynefs being their only prefervativc,
and moifture their corruption : by this method, it is faid, they
keep them frefh and fit for ufe, for fix, feven, or even for eight
months." — Martin.

BRITISH BIRDS. 399

Supreme Difpofer of events, with a mind prepared
for the arduous talk, he is let down by a rope, either
held faft by his comrades, or fixed into the ground
on the fummit, with his fignal cord, his pole-net,
his pole-hook, &c. and thus equipped, he is enabled,
in his progrefs, either to flop, to afcend or defcend,
as he fees occafion. Sometimes by fwinging him-
felf from one ledge to another, with the help of
his hook, he mounts upwards, and clambers from
place to place ; and, at other opportunities, by
fpringing backwards, he can dart himfelf into the
hollow caverns of the projeQing rock, which he
commonly finds well ftored with the objects of his
purfuit, whence the plunder, chiefly confifling of
the full-grown young birds, is drawn up to the top,
or tofled down to the boat at the bottom, according
to the fituation of concurring circumllances of time
and place. In thefe hollows he takes his reft, and
fometimes remains during the night, efpecially when
they happen to be at fuch vaft and ftupendous
heights. To others of lefs magnitude the fowlers
commonly climb from the bottom, with the help of
their hooked poles only, by which they affift, and
pufli or pull up, each other from hold to hold, and
in this manner traverfe the whole front of the
frightful fear. To a feeling mind the very fight of
this hazardous employment, in whatever way it is
purfued, is painful ; for, indeed, it often happens
that thefe adventurous poor men, in this life-taking

400

BRITISH BIRDS,

mode of obtaining their living, flip their hold, are
precipitated from one projedion to another, with
increafmg velocity, and fall mangled upon the rocks,
or are for ever buried in the abyfs beneath.

PRINTED BY EDW. WALKER,

NEWCASTLE.

FINIS.

r

^i

SfCciAL.

THE GETTY CENTER
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