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BRITISH BIRDS:

KEY LIST.

BY

LlEUT.-COLONEL L. HOWARD IRBY, F.L.S.,

AUTHOR OP ' ORNITHOLOGY OF THE STRAITS OF GIBRALTAR.'

SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED.

LONDON:

R. H. POKIER, 18 PRINCES STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE. W.

1892.

D

All rights reserved.

BIOLOGY
LIBRARY

or

RITISH BIRDS

KEY LIST.

BY

LlEUT.-COLONEL L HOWARD iRBY, F.L.S.,

AUTHOR 0? ' ORNITHOLOGY OF THE STRAITS OF

SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND ENLAROKDi - '

LONDON:

R. H. POUTER, 18 PRINCES STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE, W.

1892.

All rights reserved.

BIOLOGY

LIBRARY

G

ALE RE I FLAM MAM.

PRINTED BY TAYLOK AND FRANCIS,
RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.

INTRODUCTION.

THIS attempt at a " Key List " of British Birds is not intended
for scientific ornithologists, but for those who have only a slight
knowledge of birds, so as to enable them to determine a species
without having to search through bulky volumes.

Of course, such a list must be, to a great extent (as all Natural
History works are), a compilation ; but the writer has examined
and compared specimens of all the species.

Every endeavour has been made to avoid technical and scientific
terms and to be as concise as possible.

American land-birds included in " British " lists have been
omitted; others might with propriety be struck out — such as
specimens escaped from captivity, or included without sufficient
inquiry as to their authenticity.

With slight modifications, the nomenclature and arrangement
of the ' Ibis ' List have been followed.

Measurements of length are given, but only as an attempt to
show the proportionate size of a species. In the writer's opinion
measurements are not of much service, especially as hardly any
two persons measure a bird in the same manner.

Unless otherwise stated, the sexes are alike in plumage, and
the remarks refer to adults in summer plumage.

A species is called " resident " when it is found in the country
throughout the year, but there is no doubt that even among resi-
dents there is a partial migration.

iv IffTEODTJCTION.

From " spring to autumn " signifies that the species is a regular
migrant and breeds in some parts of the British Islands.

Habitat or geographical range of the rarer birds is given in the
margin.

Of the 376 species included in this list some 132 are resi-
dents : about 52 are migrants, which breed, or have bred, in the
British Islands; some of these, such as Chiffchaff, Quail, Land-B/ail,
&c., rarely remain throughout the winter, — making the number of
nesting species about 184.

Regular winter visitors number about 37.
Northern stragglers number 23.
American stragglers are 23 in number.

The remainder are stragglers from the South and East, many
having only occurred once.

Diagrams are given showing the names of the different parts of
a bird.

KEY LIST

OF

BRITISH BIRDS.

,

Order PASSERES. Family TURD I D£J.

Subfamily TUBDIN.E. Young spotted.

1. MISTLE-THRUSH. Turdus viscivorus, Linnaeus. Resident *.
Axillaries white ; a white patch on end of inner web of two outer tail-

A L/ieathers on each side.

Young. Spotted with buff and black on head and back. Length
11 inches.

2. SoxG-THRUSH. Turdus musicus, Linnaeus. Resident.

( Axillaries huffish yellow ; eye-stripe scarcely developed.

Young. Spotted ; the feathers of upper surface with pale centres.
After first moult young resembles adult, but has pale ends to the wing-
coverts. Length 9 inches.

3. KEDWING. Turdus iliacus, Linnaeus. Autumn to spring.

**' Axillaries chestnut-red; well-defined whitish streak over eye, reaching
to nape. Length 8f inches.

4. FIELDFARE. Turdus pilaris, Linnaeus. Autumn to spring.
iA Axillaries white ; rump slate-grey. Length 10 inches.

Note. — Neither Redwings nor Fieldfares have yet been proved to breed in the
British Isles.

. 5. BLACK-THROATED THRUSH. Turdus atrigularis, Temminck. Two N. Asia,
(Occurrences : Sussex, 1868, and Perthshire, 1879. wintering in

Axillaries grey, with a shade of chestnut. ,

Adult male. Throat and breast black ; belly whitish ; back greyish

brown.

Female. Throat white, streaked and spotted with black. Length

9| inches.

* See remarks on " Residents " in the Introduction.

B

TURBID jE.

E. Asia.

N. Asia,
wintering in
S. Asia, Java,
and Sumat

S. Europe,
wintering in
Africa. <y
lp

C. Asia,
N.E. Africa,
passing S. in
winter.

BLAt5KEi&it. \ JTurdus merula, Linnaeus. Resident.

: ^ Bbfk :: bill orange-yellow, y

e. Brownish -black or reddish brown : bill brown.
Young. Like female, but more spotted ; the male with blackish bill.
Length 10 inches.

7. RiNG-OuzEL. Turdus torquatus, Linnaeus. Spring to autumn * ;
breeding in hilly districts ; occasionally remaining throughout the year.

Male. Uniform brownish black, with ivhite crescent on chest.
Female. Lighter; crescent narrower, washed with brown.
Young. Spotted. Length 11 inches.

8. WHITE'S THETJSH. Geodchla varia (Pallas). Eare winter straggler.

General colour above olive-brown, each feather with a crescent-shaped
black band across the end. Axillaries with the basal half white, rest
black; white band across the underpart of the wing. Fourteen tail-
feathers. Length 12| inches.

[SIBERIAN THRUSH. Geodchla sibirica (Pallas). One specimen, said
to be from Surrey, 1860 (F. Bond). ;

Axillaries white, with slaty-grey tips. Tail of twelve feathers.

Male. General colour slate-grey; with conspicuous white eye-stripe
reaching to nape.

Female. General colour above olive-brown ; below with brown curved
marks ; eye-stripe buff. Length 9 inches.]

9. ROCK-THRUSH. Monticola saceatilis (Linnaeus). One occurrence :
Herts, 1843.

Tail chestnut, two centre feathers darker than others ; axillaries and
lower parts chestnut.

Male. Head and neck blue ; centre of back nearly white.
Female. Brown, mottled. Length 7| inches.

10. WHEATEA.R. Saxicola cenanthe, Linnaaus. Spring to autumn.

Axillaries white, with dark centres.

Male. Above pale slate-grey ; below white ; ear-coverts black.

Female. Above dull brown ; below buff; ear-coverts dark brown.

Young. Like the female, but spotted with dark markings on feathers
above and below.

Both sexes in autumn are alike, resembling female in spring, but have
buff margins to all the feathers.

(Rump white, as with all the Wheatears in this list.)

11. ISABELLIKE WHEATEAR. Saxicola isabellina, Riippoll. Once :
Nov. 1887, Cumberland.

Sexes alike, above sandy or dull brown, somewhat like the female of
S. cenanthe. Axillaries and under wing-coverts ivhite. Terminal half of
tail black, rest white : the two centre feathers with more black than the
others.

* " Spring to autumn," see remarks in the Introduction.

TURDID.E. 6

12. DESERT WHEATEAR. Saxicola deserti, Riippell. Two occurrences : N.E. Africa, '
[{^Scotland, Nov. 1880; Yorkshire, Oct. 1885. S.W.Asia. ^

Terminal half of tail black, rest white ; axillaries black, with white
tips.

Male. Back, crown, and scapulars uniform buff; chin and throat black.
Length 5| inches.

13. WESTERN BLACK-THROATED WHEATEAR. Saxicola stapazina, s-w- Europe, /
fl Yieillot. One occurrence in Lancashire, May 1875. ^teringTn

Axillaries black; two-thirds of two centre tail-feathers black with W.Africa. ^
the basal third white, the others white tipped with black.

Male. Crown, back, rump, breast, and belly white, suffused with buff
on back and breast. Chin and upper throat Hack. Length 5| inches.

14. WHINCHAT. Pratincola rubetra (Linnaeus). Spring to autumn.
Male. Chest orange-rufous ; white line over eye from bill to nape ;

basal half of tail white,.rest black.

Female. Like male, but paler.

Young. Like old female, but more spotted, with white tips to the
feathers. Length 5 inches.

15. STONECHAT. Pratincola rubicola (Linnaeus). Resident.

Male. Head, chin, and throat black; breast orange-chestnut; upper
tail-coverts whitish, spotted with black. Tail blackish brown ; outer web
of outside feathers edged with buff.

Female. Upper tail-coverts reddish brown ; lower parts rufous.

Young. Spotted. Length 5| inches.

16. EEDSTART. Rutlcilla phoenicurus (Linnaeus). Sylvan. Spring to
autumn in Great Britain ; Ireland, breeds in co. Wicklow.

Rump and tail chestnut ; axillaries chestnut, or rufous.

Male in spring. Black line in front of the white forehead ; chin,
throat, and sides of neck black ; back grey ; centre of belly nearly white.

Female. Above dull brown ; underparts paler ; breast shaded with
chestnut and white.

Male in autumn much as adult female.

Young. Spotted. Length 5| inches.

17. BLACK EEDSTART. EuticiUa titys (Scopoli). Not uncommon in
autumn and winter on rocky coasts of S. W. of England ; elsewhere a
straggler.

Tail and rump chestnut-red ; two centre tail-feathers dark ; axillaries
black, or greyish black.

Male. Cheeks, throat, and breast black ; primaries and secondaries
edged on outer webs with white ; centre of belly nearly white.

Female and young male. Above entirely sooty brown ; uuderparts
nearly as dark as the upper. Length 5| inches.

f.

4 TUEDID.E.

Europe, chiefly 18. RED-SPOTTED BLUETHEOAT. Ruticilla suecica (Linnaeus). Irre
N. of the Baltic gujar migrant, not yet noticed in Ireland.

wintering in Tail brown, with basal two-thirds of all but two centre feathers

N Africa and chestnut.

^ Male. Chestnut spot in centre of the blue throat.

Female and young male. Below buffish white ; a dark band across throat,
with occasionally faint marks of blue and chestnut. Length 6 inches.

The more southern White-spotted form, R. cyanecula, has been doubt-
fully recorded as British ; the only difference between it and R. suecica
& is that in the former the adult male has a white instead of a chestnut
spot. Entirely blue-throated individuals are known as R. ivolfi.

19. ROBIN. Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus). Resident.
"X Chin, throat, and breast orange-chestnut.

Young in first plumage mottled, each feather orange-buff tipped with
black. Length o| inches.

20. NIGHTINGALE. Daulias luscinia (Linnaeus). Sylvan. Spring to
autumn, south and east of an imaginary line drawn through and in-
cluding East Devon, Glamorganshire, Brecon, Herefordshire, Shropshire,
Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and South Yorkshire.

General colour russet-brown above ; upper tail-coverts and tail chest-
nut-brown ; underparts buffish white.

First primary longer than primary-coverts.

Young in first plumage spotted like a Robin. Length 6| inches.

Subfamily ACCENTORIN^E.

21. HEDGE-SPAEEOW. Accentor modularis (Linnaeus). Resident.

Above reddish brown, streaked with blackish brown ; chin, throat, and
breast bluish grey ; belly whitish.

Young. Streaked above and below; no grey or white. Length
5 1 inches.

High mountains 22. ALPINE AccENTOE. Accentor collaris (Scopoli). Very rare strag-
of Europe and gler to England.

Chin and throat dull white, with black spot on each feather ; wing-
coverts tipped with white ; tail dark brown, with pale buff tips. Length
7 inches.

Subfamily SYLVIIN^E.

23. WHITETHEOAT. Sylvia cinerea, Bechstein. Sylvan. Spring to
autumn.

^ Back reddish brown ; legs pale broivn ; chin and throat much whiter

than the rest of the underparts ; quills and wing-coverts edged with pale
rufous ; iris reddish brown. Length 5^ inches.

TUBJHDJK. 5

24. LESSEE WHITETHROAT. Sylvia curruca (Linnaeus). Sylvan.
» / Spring to autumn, as far north as the south of Scotland, and has re-
*^cently occurred in Ireland.

Head and back bluish grey, back suffused with brown ; legs lead-colour •
iris yellowish white. Length 5| inches.

25. GARDEN- WARBLER. Sylvia horteiisis, Bechstein. Sylvan. Spring
.*7 to autumn.

L* i

General colour above and tail olive-brown ; underparts greyish white.
Head same colour as back ; axillaries and under wing-coverts buff' ; chin

(and throat not whiter than rest of underparts. Length 5J inches.
26. BLACKCAP. Sylvia atricapilla (Linnaeus). Sylvan. Spring to *. « ,
^autumn. /

General colour above ashy brown ; chin and throat bluish grey ; tail
without any white.

Male. Head black. Length 5| inches.
Female. Head rufous. Length 6J inches.

27. WESTERN ORPHEAN WARBLER. Sylvia orphea, Temminck. / /""
Sylvan. Two records in England, neither of them satisfactory. / J

Male. General colour above ashy grey ; chin, throat, and underparts
white ; outer pair of tail-feathers w ith outer web ivhite, inner web brown ;
next pair white only at tips ; head black.

Female. Like male, but the head only slightly darker than back.
Length 6^ inches.

28. BARRED WARBLER. Sylvia nisoria (Bechstein). Sylvan. Scarce S. Sweden,
Q straggler on migration. Not yet noticed in Ireland. winterin^m

Male. General colour above brownish grey ; underparts whitish, with E. Africa. /
transverse dark-brown bars ; the thighs also barred, as are the upper and /

under tail-coverts ; iris light yellow.

Female. Like male, but less barred. Length 6| inches.

29. DARTFORD or FTJRZE WARBLER. Sylvia undata (Boddaert). Re- /

» f.sident south of the Thames, rarely north of that river ; not in Scotland LJ—>

r*QY Ireland. Local, in gorse-districts only.

Upper parts blackish brown ; throat, breast, and sides chestnut-brown ;
feathers of chin and throat tipped with white ; tail long and graduated,
half the length of the bird ; eyelids and iris red in adults, yellow in
young. Length 5 inches.

30. WESTERN Eurous WARBLER. Aedon galactodes (Temminck). S.W.Europe,

f Three occurrences : Sussex, Sept. 1854 ; Devon, Sept. 1859, Oct. 1879. N- Africa> f

wintering: fur-
Upper parts pale chestnut-brown. Tail long and graduated ; the two ther south.

centre feathers rich reddish buff ; the others reddish buff, except the ends,
which are black, tipped with white. Length 7 inches.

)\ f

6

TTTRDID^E.

C. & S. Europe,
wintering in
Africa.

C. & S. Europe,
wintering in
Africa.

31. GREAT REED- WARBLER. Aerocephalus turdoides (Meyer). Very
rare straggler to England.

Upper parts and tail olive-brown, below pale buff ; centre of belly
whitish ; tail graduated and long; legs pale brown. Length 8 inches.
Nest interwoven with and suspended between reeds.

32. REED-WARBLER. Aerocephalus streperus (Yieillot). Spring to
autumn in England; not authenticated in Scotland; unknown as yet in
Ireland.

Upper parts olive-brown ; below pale buff; both distinctly suffused
with rufous, most so on rump and upper tail-coverts ; legs and feet
slaty brown. Length 5§ inches.

Nest interwoven with and suspended between reeds or twigs, gene-
rally overhanging or near water.

33. MARSH- WARBLER. Aerocephalus palustris (Bech stein). Locally
in south of England. Spring to autumn.

As last, but upper parts olive- greenish without any rufous tinge ; legs
and feet pale brown. £J,

Nests in drier places than the Reed- Warbler, though near water ; thet
song and eggs also differ from those of that bird.

C. & S. Europe,
wintering in
Africa.

if

34. SEDGE- WARBLER. Aerocephalus phragmitis (Bechstein). Spring
to autumn.

Upper parts brown, each feather having a dark centre ; crown blackish
brown, streaked with lighter brown ; broad buffish-white eye-stripe.

Young. More yellow ; a few dusky streaks on chest. Length
4|-5 inches.

35. AQUATIC WARBLER. Aerocephalus aquaticus (J. F. Gmelin).
Three occurrences : Sussex, Kent, Leicestershire.

Much as last, but is yellower in tint of plumage and has two broad
dark bands along the crown, with conspicuous pale line down the centre
of crown.

36. GRASSHOPPER WARBLER.
to autumn.

Locustella ncevia (Boddaert). Spring

Above olive-brown, obscurely spotted on back, " like a Lark." Tail
brown, indistinctly marked with transverse bars of darker brown.
Young. Feathers on throat with dark centres. Length 5| inches.

C. & S. Europe,
wintering in
Africa.

37. SAYI'S WARBLER. Locustella luscinioides (Savi). Formerly only
in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire ; last record in 1856.

Above uniform russet-brown : chin whitish ; underparts light brown.
Tail slightly cuneiform, indistinctly barred with dark brown. Length
6 inches.

Only found in sedgy marshes. Nest built entirely of sedges.

38. YELLOW TEEE-WAEBLEE. Hypolais icterina (Yieillot). Sylvan. Europe,
Yery rare straggler to England and Ireland, yet common across the wintering m
Channel (e. g. near Boulogne).

Above olive-green ; below greenish yellow ; lores yellow ; secondaries
broadly margined with huffish white. Legs bluish grey. Length 5^ inches.

39. YELLOW-BEOWED WAEB'LEE. Phylloscopus superciliosus (J. F. N.Asia,
Gmelin). Svlvan. Eare straggler on migration to England and Scot- wintering m
land ; once in Ireland, Oct. 14, 1890.

General colour above olive-green ; two greenish-yellow bars across each
wing ; a pale line on crown of head ; white or yellow eye-stripe from
base of bill to nape. Length 4 inches.

Jlf 40. CHIFFCHAFF. Phylloscopus rufus (Bechstein). Sylvan. Spring
to autumn.

Smaller than next, and duller in plumage. Legs nearly black. Length
4f inches.

Earliest spring migrant. Nest domed and lined with feathers.

ft^. 41. WILLOW- WABBLEE. Phylloscopus trochilus (Linnaeus). Sylvan.
! Spring to autumn.

Much as last, but larger and brighter. Legs light brown. Length
5 inches. »

Nest as above.

i 42. WOOD-WAEBLEB. Phylloscopus siUlatrix (Bechstein). Sylvan.
Spring to autumn.

Distinct light streak from base of bill over eye to crown ; white belly,
contrasting with yellow breast and throat. Length 5| inches.
Nest domed, but not lined with feathers.

Subfamily EEGULIN2E. Arboreal. Each nostril covered
by a single stiff feather.

43. GOLD-CBESTED WEEN. Regulus cristatus, K. L. Koch.

Male. General colour above olive-green, a black streak on each side of
the orange-coloured crown.

Female. Less bright than male. Length 3| inches.
Smallest of British birds.

44. FIBE-CEESTED WEEN. Regulus ignicapillus (C. L. Brehm).
Europe. Scarce straggler.

Male. Much as last, but whitish streak over the eye, and a third
black streak through eye to the olive-green nape; crown flame-coloured.
Female. Less bright than male. Length 4 inches.

PAEID S.

PARID-3B. Arboreal.

45. LONG-TAILED TIT. Acredula caudata (Linnaeus). Eesident.

Male. Entire head white. In the British race (named A. rosea) both
sexes have the crown black with white stripe down the centre. Inter-
mediate forms occur.

Female. Crown white with dusky lateral stripe.

Adults. Eyelids orange-red, yellow in young. Length 5| inches
including tail 3|.

46. GREAT TIT. Parus major, Linnaeus. Eesident.

l^lf Male. Crown bluish black ; cheeks white ; black stripe along the
middle of the greenish-yellow breast and belly.

Female. Similar, but black stripe below not so extended. Length 6
inches.

47. BLUE TIT. Parus cceruleus, Linnaeus. Eesident.
C** Crown and wing-coverts azure-blue. Length 4| inches.

48. COAL TIT. Parus ater, Linnaeus. Eesident/

Head black ; nape and cheeks white ; wing-coverts tipped with white,
forming two bars on the wing ; back bluish grey in winter. Length 4J
inches. The Coal Tit found in British Islands is also separated as
P. britannicus because the back is brownish in winter, in summer plumage
there is scarcely any distinction ; intermediate forms occur.

49. MARSH-TIT. Parus palustris, Linnaeus. Eesident, as far north
« £ as the Forth.

Back greyish brown; crown, chin, throat, and nape glossy black.
Length 4| inches.

Europe. 50. CRESTED TIT. Parus cristatus, Linnaeus. Eesident only in the

pine-forests of Central Scotland.

fc^l General colour greyish brown; throat black; crown dull black, all

the feathers tipped and edged with white, and the hinder feathers long
and pointed, forming a conspicuous crest. Length 4| inches.

PANUEID^E.

51. BEARDED SEEDLING. Panurus biarmicus (Linnaeus). Eesident,
~ but very local ; only found among reed-beds.

Tail fawn-coloured, about three inches long, graduated, and slightly •
curving downwards.

Male. Bill yellow; head grey; black moustachial stripe. General
colour above tawny buff.

female. Paler : no moustachial stripe ; head fawn-colour.

Young. Like female, but head and back slightly striped with black.
Length 6 inches.

rl

> '

SITTIDJE.— OEIOLID.E. 9

SITTIDJE.

52. NUTHATCH. Sitta ccesia, Wolf. Arboreal. Eesident in England ;
very rare in Scotland ; not yet in Ireland.

Bill longer than head. Above slaty grey ; throat whitish ; rest of
underparts cinnamon-buff, lightest next the throat; legs dull brown.
Length 5| inches.

CERTHIIDJE.

53. TBEE-CEEEPEE. Certhiafamiliaris, Linnaeus. Arboreal. Eesident.
w Bill slender, curved downwards, and pointed. Above brown, spotted

with paler brown ; below white. Tail graduated or cuneiform, reddish
brown, with stiff points. Length 5 inches.

54. WALL-CEEEPEE. Tichodroma muraria (Linnaeus). Twice : Nor- Mountains of
folk, 1792 ; Lancashire, 1872. A rock-haunting bird. {j. ^^ope.

General colour slate-grey ; all the primaries, except the first three, Abyssinia. /*
crimson on the basal half of the outer web; throat black in summer,
white in winter ; bill as in last, but longer in proportion. Length 6
inches.

TROGLODYTID£2.

55. WEEN. Troglodytes parvulus *, K. L. Koch. Eesident.

Above reddish brown ; breast whitish brown ; tail closely barred
with black, and much more rufous 'than back. Hind toe as long or
longer than middle toe. Length 4 inches.

CINCLIDJE.

*t; 56. DIPPEE, or WATEE-OUZEL. Cinclus aquaticus, Bechstein.
Eesident.

Head and upper parts dark brown ; throat and chest white ; flanks

grey ; breast chestnut-rufous ; belly black. Length 7 inches.
^ The northern or mountain race (ca\\e^C._melanoffastefy~?
I chestnut on the breast, occasionally visits the East of En

two forms completely intergrade.

OEIOLID^E. Sylvan.

57. GOLDEX OEIOLE. Oriolus galbula, Linnaeus. Spring to autumn,
but rarely allowed to breed.

t A Male. Head and general colour golden yellow. Black spot between s/W. Asia,"
ycrimson eye and dull red bill ; wings black, with yellow tips to second- wintering in
aries. Tail : outer feathers with more than terminal half yellow.

Female. Greenish yellow above ; outer tail-feathers tipped with
yellow.

* Unfortunately the Wren found on St. Kilcla has been, without sufficient cause,
described as a distinct species, T. hirtensis ; consequently it has been almost if not quite
exterminated by collectors.

10

. — CORYID^E.

Young. Greenish yellow above : below whitish tinged with yellow ;
breast slightly streaked with brown ; the black parts of adult male
replaced by greenish brown. Length 9 inches.

S.E. Europe,
Asia Minor,
Central Asia,
wintering in
India.

58. STAELING.
in winter.

STUENID^l.

Sturnus vulgaris, Linnaeus.

Eesident : vast arrivals „

Male. Black, with purple and green gloss, small buff tips to feathers
above. Head, throat, and breast with green gloss.

Female. Similar to male, but less brightly marked.

In winter, all the feathers of upper parts tipped with buff, those below "
tipped with whitish.

Young in first plumage. Uniform greyish brown ; throat dull white ;
lower parts clouded with white. Length 8^ inches.

59. EOSE-COLOTJRED STARLING. Pastor roseus (Linnaeus). Straggler,
spring to autumn.

Male. Head black, with crest of pointed and elongated feathers ; back,
scapulars, rump, breast, sides, and belly rosy pink ; wings, tail, and
thighs black ; bill rose-coloured, black at base.

Female. Crest smaller and less bright.

Young. Crest absent ; colour greyish brown, where rosy in adults.
Length 8| inches.

COEVIDJE.

60. RED-BILLED CHOUGH. Pyrrhocoraoc graculus (LinnaBus). Very
local : on rocky coasts.

Jet-black, with steel gloss : the curved bill, eyelids, legs, and feet red.
Length 14—17 inches.

(The Alpine Chough, P. alpinus, with a shorter and yellow bill, has
been recorded from Oxfordshire ; doubtless escaped.)

N. & C. Europe, 61. .NUTCRACKER.
Siberia, China, Rare straggler.

Nucifraga caryocatactes (Linnaeus). Arboreal.

Japan.

Head dark brown ; general colour clove-brown, most of the feathers
of breast, sides, aud underparts spotted with a triangular white mark.
Eump and upper tail-coverts uniform brown. Tail blackish, tipped
with white. Length 14 inches.

Inhabits pine-forests, often where Pinus cembra is found.

62. JAY. Garrulus glandarius (Linnaeus).
north as vicinity of Oban ; local in Ireland.
Throat white ; crown with black streaks

Sylvan. Eesident, as far

feathers of forehead and
crown edged with white ; back vinaceous ; outer web of wing-coverts
barred with blue and black, inner web black ; tail often barred slightly
at the basal end in the same manner as the outer web of wing- coverts
(this is not the result of age, birds in first plumage occasionally being
so marked) ; iris pale blue. Length 14 inches.

. — LAVIID.X.

11

» 63. MAGPIE. Pica rustica (Scopoli). Sylvan. Resident.

Long graduated iridescent green tail ; rump greyish white. Length
16-18 inches, tail 10-11.

64. JACKDAW. Corvus monedula, Linnaeus. Resident.

Black ; ear-coverts, nape, and sides of neck grey ; belly leaden black.

Young. Little or no grey on nape. Length 14 inches.

65. RAVEN. Corvus corax, Linnaeus.
Largest of British Passeres.
General colour glossy steel-black ;

slightly cuneate.

Length 24 inches.

Resident.

throat-feathers pointed ; tail

66. CARRIOX-CROW. Corvus corone, Linnaeus. Resident.

> Black, with metallic gloss ; nostrils covered with bristly feathers ;
base of body-feathers whitish. Length 18-19 inches.

67. HOODED CROW. Corvus cornix, Linnaeus. Resident in Scotland
and Ireland ; in England a winter visitor.

Head, throat, wings, thighs, and tail-feathers black ; the rest of
plumage dull grey. Length 18-19 inches.

68. ROOK. Corvus frugilegus, Linnaeus. Sylvan. Resident.
^ Black, with blue gloss.

Adults. With bare scurfy skin on forehead, lores, and throat.

Young in first plumage have these parts feathered, and resemble
young Carrion-Crows, but the bases to the body-feathers are grey and
the bill is slender. Length 18-20 inches.

It)

L A N 1 1 D 2E . Sylvan. Young barred below.

69. GREAT GREY SHRIKE. Lanius excubitor, Linnaeus. Autumn to
spring.

Forehead white. Above bluish grey, below white. Tail graduated,
the four centre feathers black, the next tipped with white, the white
gradually increasing in the others until the outside feathers are nearly
white. Two white bars on the wing when folded. The race with only
one bar on wing (called Lanius major) has a more northern habitat, and
visits in England in winter. Length 9 inches.

Europe.

70. LESSER GREY SHRIKE. Lanius minor, J. F. Gmelin. Four
occurrences : Scilly Is., 1851 ; Norfolk, 1869, 1875; Devon, 1876.

First primary very short, less than one third of second ; tail even.

Male. Above grey ; forehead and feathers from bill,
ear-coverts, black ; breast and flanks with a roseate blush. Wing-bar
white.

Female. Less black on fore part of head.

Young. Has only black round and behind eye. Length 8-9 inches.

C. & S. Europe,
except
Peninsula,
Asia Minor,

round eye to — ^

12

LANIIDJ3. — MUSCICAPID^;.

Asia Minor
and Europe
from Baltic,
wintering- in
Africa.

71. KED-BACKED SHRIKE, or " BUTCHER-BIRD." Lanius collurio, Lin-
naeus. Spring to autumn, rare in Scotland — one occurrence in Ireland.

Male. Scapulars dull brick-red, uniform with the back ; crown, hind
neck, and rump grey ; chin white ; breast with roseate tinge.

Female. Above brownish grey ; tail brownish red. Underparts white ;
sides of neck, breast, and flanks barred with brown.

Young. Above reddish brown ; below pale brown ; above and below-
barred with blackish brown. Length 7J-8 inches.

72. WOODCHAT SHRIKE. Lanius pomeranus, Sparrrnan. Hare strag-
gler on migration, but not to Scotland or Ireland.

Male. Forehead black ; centre of crown and nape chestnut ; scapulars
white, forming a large white patch on each side ; rump and underparts
while ; white alar bar, or speculum, formed by the white outer web of
base of primaries.

Female. Like the male, but markings ill-defined and not so bright.

Young. Much like young of last, but lighter. Scapulars and rump
paler; plumage vermiculated with dark brown. Length 7| inches.

Arctic Europe,
Asia, and
N.W. America.

AMPELID^l.

73. WAXWING. Ampelis garrulus, Linnaeus. Irregularly in severe
winters ; sometimes in great numbers, but not of late years.

Male. General colour brownish grey ; long erectile crest ; black band
from nostrils to nape ; chin and throat black. Tail short,, tipped with
ydlow ; under tail-coverts deep chestnut. Secondaries tipped with small
scarlet wax-like ends; some of the tail-feathers rarely thus tipped.

Female. Like male, but with fewer wax tips on wings, none on tail.
Length 8 inches.

(.0

MUSCICAPID-ffi. Nostrils more or less covered
by bristly hairs.

74. SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. Muscicapa grisola, Linnaeus. Spring to
autumn.

Ashy brown above ; forehead lighter than head, which is mottled
with streaks of darker brown; breast white, with brown streaks;
axillaries fawn-coloured.

Young. Spotted. Length 5| inches.

75. PIED FLYCATCHER. Muscicapa atricapilla, Linnaeus. Sylvan.
Spring to autumn ; very local breeder ; has visited Ireland.

Male in spring. Above black, except white forehead and white wing-
bar ; axillaries and underparts white ; quills brownish black. Tail
black, three outer feathers on each side having two-thirds of the outer
web from the base white.

Female, male in winter, and young. Above brownish grey ; under-
parts dirty white. Tail as in male, but duller. Length 5 inches.

MUSC1CAPLCLE. FHINGILLID^E. 13

76. RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER. Muscicapa parva, Bechstein. Rare C. & S.E. j ^
straggler to England and once to Ireland on migration. w^Sia

Tail blackish brown ; the base of all, except the two centre feathers, wintering in
more or less white.

Male. General colour above ashy brown. Throat and upper breast
orange-red.

Female and male in winter plumage have the throat dull buff. Length
5 inches.

Spring to autumn. Wings
with nine visible primaries.

77. SWALLOW. Hirundo rustica, Linnaeus.

> Head, back, and rump steel-blue. Throat and forehead chestnut-red,
with complete blue-black band across the lower part of the throat;
underparts buff to creamy white. Tail strongly forked; two outer
feathers greatly prolonged. Length 8^ inches.

78. MARTIN. Chelidon urbica (Linnaeus). ^\
I Rump white ; under surface pure white ; tail much forked ; toes

feathered. Length 4| inches.

79. SAND-MARTIN. Cotile riparia (Linnseus).

o Above mouse-coloured ; underparts white, except greyish band

between chest and throat. Minute tuft of feathers just above hind toe.

Young. Feathers above edged with huffish white. Length 4 j inches.

FRINGrILLID-33. Wings with nine visible primaries.

80. GREENFINCH. Ligurinus chloris (Linnaeus). Sylvan. Resident.

Adult male. General colour above olive-yellow, shaded with ashy
grey ; crown more ashy than back ; axillaries bright yellow ; primaries
edged with bright yellow reaching to the shaft ; tail black at ends,
yellow at the base ; outer tail-feathers yellow at base of both webs.

In winter. Browner.

Female. Browner than male ; primaries only margined with yellow ;
outer tail-feathers edged with yellow on outer web only.

Young male. Like female, but has primaries and tail as in adult male.
Length 6 inches.

? 81. HAWFINCH. Coccothraustes vulgaris, Pallas. Sylvan. Resident.

Bill very large. Fifth and next four primaries shaped like a bill- I /

hook. / r\

Adult male. General colour above chestnut-brown ; crown reddish / • *s
brown, lightest on forehead ; hind neck grey ; black patch on chin :
larger wing-coverts tipped with white ; sides of body and flanks
vinaceous brown ; bill bluish ; iris greyish white.

Female. Head ashy brown ; secondaries edged with bluish grey ;
flanks as in male.

14

In winter. Bill fleshy white.

Young. Spotted, no grey at back of neck or black patch on chin ; lower
breast and flanks spotted and barred with brown ; iris brown. Length
7 inches.

/ 82. GOLDFINCH. Carduelis elegans, Stephens. Resident, but de-

I ]f 2^ fe> creasing.

Bill nearly conical, sharp-pointed.

Adult. General colour above ruddy brown. Forehead, upper throat,
and cheeks crimson ; hinder crown and sides of neck Hack ; outer web
of basal half of primaries, except the first, and the larger wing-coverts,
brilliant yellow.

Young. Mottled, no red or black on head, that part being greyish
brown. Length 5 inches.

83. SISKIN. Carduelis spinus (Linnaeus). Arboreal. Occasionally
breeds in England, regularly in Scotland and Ireland.

Adult male. Above yellowish green ; cheeks, throat, and breast bright
yellow ; flanks streaked with black ; crown and small patch on chin
black ; tail blackish, all but the two centre feathers yellow at the base.

Female. !No black on head or chin; throat uniform dull white.
Length 4| inches.

C, & S. Europe, 84. SEEIN FINCH. Serinus Tiortidanus, K. L. Koch. Sylvan. Very
Asia Minor, rare straggler to England ; importation suspected.

^ Bill conical, short, stout and blunt.

Adult male. General colour above pale brown, each feather edged
with yellow, and streaked with black on the centre ; crown like the
back ; forehead, nape, eye-stripe, throat, and breast yellow ; flanks
streaked with black.

Female. Like male, but duller ; throat, breast, and flanks streaked
with dark brown. Length 4| inches.

85. HOUSE-SPAEEOW. Passer domesticus (Linnaeus). Resident.

Adult male. Crown, nape, and rump asliy grey, with a chestnut streak
I it til on each side of head ; throat black ; ear-coverts white ; general colour
*" above chestnut, streaked with black on back.

Female. Lacks black throat of male ; above dingy brown, streaked
with black ; pale eye-stripe ; rump ashy brown.

Young. Like female, but can always be known by the yellowish skin
at angle of gape. Length 6 inches.

Iv to-

86. TEEE-SPAEEOW. Passer montanus (Linnaeus). Resident.

Sexes alike. Smaller than' last. Always nests in holes of trees, thatch,
and buildings.

Adult. Crown and nape uniform vinaceous chestnut ; throat black ;
ear-coverts ashy white, with black patch on lower part ; rump ashy
brown.

Young. Duller, but show indistinctly markings of adults. Length
5 1 inches.

FBINGLGLIDJE. 15

87. CHAFFINCH. Fringilla coelebs, Linnaeus. Resident.

I Adult male. Forehead black ; head slate-grey ; back rufous ; ear-
coverts and underparts vinous red ; rump olive-green. Two white bars
on wing.

Male in winter. Duller, the slate-grey feathers having brown tips, and
the white on wings is tinged with yellow.

Female. Head and back ashy brown ; below pale brown ; rump yellow-
ish green. — In winter is browner, and the white on the wings has yellow
tinge. Length 6 inches.

88. BRAMBLING. Fringilla montifringilla, Linnaeus. Autumn to
spring.

Rump white, intermixed with black ; axillaries and smaller inner wing-
coverts pale yellow.

Male in summer. Head and upper back blue-black ; throat and chest
orange ; flanks spotted with black ; bill bluish.

Male in winter. Black parts edged with buff; throat duller, shaded
with sandy buff ; bill yellow.

Female. Head and upper back dark brown ; rest of plumage much
as male in winter, but less bright. Length 6i inches.

89. LINNET. Acanthis cannabina (Linnaeus). Resident.

Adult male. General colour above reddish brown ; forehead and breast
rich crimson ; rump paler than back ; wing-coverts uniform chestnut-
brown, like the back, without white edging ; throat whitish. In winter
the red colour is obscured by pale edgings to breast-feathers, which
wear off.

Female. Has no red on head or breast : sides of face dark ashy, like
the head ; bill dusky.

Young. Like female, but spotted. Length 5|-6 inches.

p, 90. MEALY REDPOLL. Acanthis linaria (Linnaeus). Autumn to
(spring.

Adult male in summer. Above light brown, streaked with blackish
brown ; fore crown carmine ; chin black • throat and breast pink ; rump
ashy white, tinged with crimson and streaked with brown ; wing-coverts
tipped with whitish, forming a double wing-bar.

Female. Like male, but only red on the head. In winter the rump
is whitish, and the throat and breast are fringed with ashy-white tips.
Length 5 inches. The northern race called A. holboellit larger T

"very much larger bill/' is stated to have occurreoTm England (Sharpe,
Cat. Birds British Museum, vol. xii. p. 250).

91. LESSER REDPOLL. Acanthis rufescens (Vieillot). Resident.

f\ Similar to last, but smaller and more rufous, the rump dusky brown,
and the bands on wing reddish buff. Length 4| inches.

92. TWITE, or ; MOUNTAIN-LINNET. Acanthis favirostris (Linnaeus).
^ Breeds from Derbyshire northwards ; a winter visitor to the south.

* No red on forehead or breast ; bill yellow in adults ; dusky in young.

16

FRINGILLID^E.

Adult male. Above ruddy brown, feathers streaked with black down
the centre, those on the back with pale margins ; rump purplish red ;
throat and fore neck clear reddish brown, the latter streaked with dark
brown ; axillaries reddish brown, with black centres.

Female. Like male, but lighter and without the rosy rump, which is
uniform with the back. Length 5-5| inches.

93. SCARLET GROSBEAK. PyrrJiula erythrina, Pallas. Two occur-
rences : Sussex, 1869 ; Middlesex, 1870.

Wings shorter than tail.

Adult male. General colour rosy or crimson ; head crimson ; rump
brighter than back.

Female. General colour above olive-brown ; feathers with dusky
centres ; rump same colour as back ; middle and greater wing-coverts
tipped with yellowish white, forming a double wing-bar ; throat dull
white streaked with brown. Length 5| inches.

94. BULLFINCH. Pyrrhula europcea, Vieillot. Sylvan. Resident.
Wing longer than tail. Nostrils completely hidden by bristly plume-
lets. Rump white.

Male. Head and chin black ; ear-coverts, throat, breast, and belly
vermilion ; nape and back ash-grey.

Female. Head black ; nape and back greyish brown ; below pale brown.

Young. Mottled ; less bright than female ; rump washed with brown.
Length 6 inches.

95. PINE-GROSBEAK. Pyrrhula enucleator (Linnseus). Arboreal.
Only one or two genuine occurrences, and those perhaps introduced.

Adult male. Head, neck, back, rump, and breast crimson ; axillaries ,
ashy grey.

Female. No rosy colour ; head olive-yellow ; general colour above
ashy ; feathers of back with dusky streaks ; axillaries ashy grey, edged
with whitish. Length 8-9 inches.

96. CROSSBILL. Loxia curvirostra, Linnaeus. Local, and breeding
very early in season, chiefly where pine-trees occur. Arboreal.

Points of bill crossing each other.

Adult male. General colour red, brightest on rump ; but sometimes ;
breeds in yellow plumage of female, very faintly streaked with red in a
few places.

Female. Olive-yellow where red in male, brightest on rump.

Young. Like female, but streaked above and below with dark brown.
Length 6 inches.

The so-called Parrot Crossbill (L. pityopsittacus} is a Northern form of
the Common Crossbill, with the bill very much stouter, and is usually a
larger bird.

17

97. TWO-BAEEED CROSSBILL. Loxia bifosciata (C. L. Brehm). Rare
straggler in winter. Arboreal.

Adult male. General colour above pale scarlet, underparts rosy.
Middle wing-coverts white, with dusky bases ; greater coverts blackish,
tipped with white, forming a second wing-bar.

Female. Olive-yellow where red in male. Length 6 inches.

The American race, L. leucoptera, said to have occurred in this country,
resembles the European form, except that the scapulars are darker.

98. BLACK-HEADED BUNTING. Emberiza melanocephala, Scopoli. S.E. Europe,
Three occurrences (females and young birds) : Sussex, 1868 ; Notts, Asiajttinor,
1884 ; and Scotland, 1887.

Male. Head and ear- coverts black ; back and rump chestnut ; chin
and underparts bright yellow.

Female and young. Head brown, streaked with black ; back and rump
pale chestnut, washed with yellow ; under tail-coverts yellow. Length
6-7 inches.

99. COBN-BUNTING. Emberiza miliaria, LinnaBus. Resident.

Sexes alike. General colour greyish brown, streaked with dark X^"
brown ; light eyebrow ; tail brown, with edges and tips of buffy white,
no other colours in plumage. Length 7 inches.

100. YELLOW HAMMEB. Emberiza citrinella, LinnaBtis. Resident.

, Male in summer. Head lemon-yellow ; back rufous, streaked with dark *

T brown ; ruuip chestnut ; under surface yellow. /

In winter. Head marked with brown, and generally less bright. /L

Female. Head less yellow, crown streaked with black ; throat and
breast striped with blackish. Length 6^-7 inches.

101. CIBL BUNTING. Emberiza cirlus, Linna3us. Resident in south
^ of England ; has occurred three times in Scotland ; not authenticated

in Ireland.

Least wing-coverts olive-green ; rump olive-brown.

Male. Chin, throat, and line from bill through eye to nape black ;
eyebrow yellow ; yellow crescent under the black throat ; upper chest
dull olive, bordered below by chestnut ; belly dull yellow.

Female. Much like female of Yellow Hammer, but wanting the yellow
colouring.

In winter, colours of male less bright, the black parts obscured by light
margins. Length 6 inches.

J

102. BEANDT'S SIBEEIAN BUNTING. Emberiza cioides, Brandt. Once
, reported from Yorkshire (' Ibis,' 1889, p. 293).

f Adult male. General colour above chestnut, each feather streaked with
black ; band of chestnut across breast ; crown and ear-coverts chestnut ;
lores black. Length 6 inches.
Female. Paler.

c

33

18

FEJNGILLID^E.

Europe,

Asia Minor, and
W. Siberia,
wintering in
Africa and
India.

N. Europe
and Asia,
wintering in
S. China and
Japan.

it

N. Kussia
and Siberia,
wintering in
China, India,
and Burma.

yV 10
\ '

•i

Winter. As in other Buntings, the bright markings are obscured by
pale margins to the feathers. Females and young males have the crown
streaked with black.

103. OETOLAN. Emberiza hortulana, Linnaeus. Straggler on migra-
tion.

Male. General colour above pale reddish brown ; head greenish olive ;
cheeks, throat, and axillaries pale yellow ; neck arid chest greenish olive ;
rest below cinnamon ; bill reddish brown.

Female. Paler than male ; lower throat streaked with brown. Length
6 inches.

104. RUSTIC BUNTING. Emberiza rustica, Pallas. Three occurrences :
Sussex, Yorkshire, Middlesex.

Male in spring. Crown and sides of head black ; streaks on flanks and
breast chestnut ; broad white stripe over eye ; above chestnut streaked
with black ; rump and band across chest chestnut ; belly white.

Female. Head and upper parts brown, streaked with blackish ; rump
tinged with rufous. Length 5-5 1 inches.

105. LITTLE BUNTING. Emberiza pusilla, Pallas. One record :
Brighton, 1864.

Male in spring. Centre of crown vinous chestnut, with black band on
each side ; eye-stripe, lores, sides of face, and throat vinous chestnut.

Female. Like male, but not so richly coloured on throat.

Young. Throat white, no chestnut on breast or flanks. Length
4| inches.

106. REED-BUNTING. Emberiza schceniclus, Linnaeus. Resident.
Male in spring. Bead and throat black-, cheeks white; eye-stripe

white collar from bill round nape ; rump bluish grey ; lesser
wing-coverts chestnut.

In autumn the black is hidden by rufous edgings, and the white by
sandy brown edgings.

Female. Head and ear-coverts reddish brown streaked with black,;
breast and flanks white, streaked with blackish. Outside web of second
tail-feather white. Length 6 inches.

107. SNOW-BUNTING. Plectroplienax nivalis (Linnaeus). Chiefly
autumn to spring, but a few pairs breed on mountains in N. of Scotland.

Tail : six centre feathers black, fringed externally and round tip with
white ; three outer pairs white, with black at end of outer web ; claw of
hind toe elongated, but not longer than hind toe.

Male in summer. Head, neck, and under surface white ; above black ;
wing-coverts white ; bill black.

Female. Dark brown and white ; secondaries white.

Male and female in winter. Crown reddish brown ; feathers on upper
parts broadly edged with reddish brown ; bill yellowish with dark tip.
Length 6^-7 inches.

7

FRINGILLIDJE. — MOTACILLID./E. 19

108. LAPLAND BUNTING. Calcarius lapponicus (Linnaeus). Irregular Arctic, winter-
i straggler, autumn to spring. g*g of

Hind claw nearly straight, longer than hind toe. Tail brown, outer
feathers mostly white.

Adult male in summer. General colour above black ; broad white
streak from eye to breast ; throat black ; hind neck and sides of neck
bright rufous.

In autumn. The black and rufous parts are concealed by pale edges to
feathers.

Female. Crown blackish, with light edgings ; huffish eyebrow ; nape
duller than in male ; throat buffy white.

In winter. General colour greyish brown; light eye-stripe; throat
and flanks marked with dark brown. Length 6| inches.

MOTACILLID2E. Wings with nine (visible) primaries.

109. WHITE WAGTAIL. Motacilla alba, Linnaeus. Spring to autumn ;
- * has bred in England, and doubtless is often overlooked.

Male. Crown, nape, throat, and breast black ; back from nape ash-
grey ; front and sides of head white.

Female. Like the male.

In winter. Resembles the next (M. lugubris\ but has lighter back.

Young. Undistinguishable from the young of the next. Length 7-
7 \ inches.

""^ 110. PIED W^AGTAIL. Motacilla lugubris, Temminck. Chiefly spring
' *lo autumn, but many resident.

Male in spring. Crown, nape, back, chin, and throat black, the latter
uniting with the black on the back and nape ; forehead and sides of the CJ

head white.

Female. Like male, but has the back slaty grey, with blackish feathers
here and there.

Both sexes in winter have the back ash-grey ; chin and throat
white ; back of the head and nape black, with a black crescent on front
of neck.

Young. In first plumage have entire head ash-grey ; face washed with
yellow ; the black crescent on front neck gradually developing from a
small spot to a full crescent. Length 7-7 J inches.

^ 111. GREY WAGTAIL. Motacilla melanope, Pallas. Eesident in hilly (ft
and rocky districts ; elsewhere autumn to spring.

Under tail-coverts brighter yellow than belly.

Male in summer. Above bluish grey ; wrhite eye-stripe ; rump and
upper tail-coverts greenish yellow ; underparts yellow ; throat black.

Female. Resembles the male, but has the throat white, or white with
very rarely a few black feathers.

Young. Above tinged with brown ; throat and eyebrow buff.

In winter. Both sexes are alike, having a white throat. Length 7-7 1
inches, tail about 3|.

c2

20

MOTACILLIDJE.

Continental 112. BLUE-HEADED YELLOW WAGTAIL. Motacitta flava, Linnaeus.

Europe, winter- Spring to autumn.

E^Siberia10*' Male. Above yellowish green ; underparts, except white throat, bright

Alaska, winter-! yellow ; broad white stripe over eye from bill to nape ; head, nape, and
ing in Java ^L ear-coverts blue-grey.

Female. Head brownish and duller in colour. Length 6-6| inches.

and Celebes

N. Europe and 113. GREY-HEADED YELLOW WAGTAIL. Motacilla borealis, Sundevall. ^
Asia, wintering yery rare on migration.

in ATT»IP.Q. a.nn »

Like the preceding, but has no eye-stripe, and only the chin is ivhite.

in Africa and
India. . * '

51

Arctic Europe,
wintering in
China, India,
and N. Africa.

114. YELLOW WAGTAIL.
autumn.

Motacilla rail (Bonaparte). Spring to

Male. Head canary-yellow ; upper parts olive-green ; nape yellowish
green ; all underparts, eye-stripe, and axillaries bright yellow.

Female. Eye-stripe buff ; plumage much less brilliant.

Young. Eye-stripe and underparts huffish white, with no yellow except
a tinge on lower belly. Length 6| inches.

115. TREE-PIPIT. Anthus trivialis (Linnaeus),
not recorded from Ireland.

Spring to autumn

Above clear brown, distinctly streaked with dusky ; spots on breast
small ; flanks streaked with black, like the breast ; middle and greater
wing -coverts tipped with white, forming a double wing-bar ; light part
of outer tail-feather white or smoky white ; axillaries sandy buff. Hind
claw curved, shorter than hind toe. Length 6^ inches.

116. MEADOW-PIPIT. Anthus pratensis (Linu^us). Resident.

Head and upper parts olive-brown, mottled with black centres ; rump
uniform ; throat, chest, and flanks streaked with black ; light pattern of
tail-feathers white ; axillaries edged with olive-yellow. Hind claw nearly
straight, longer than hind toe. Length 5^ inches.

117. RED-THROATED PIPIT. Anthus cervinus (Pallas). Two occur-
rences : Sussex and Kent, in spring.

Male in spring. Much resembles last, but has eye-stripe, cheeks,
throat, and breast deep vinous red.

Female. Only the throat vinous.

In winter the difference between the two species is hardly distin-
guishable ; but it is said that in this species the rump is spotted like the
back, and the under tail-coverts have dark centres. Length 5| inches.

118. RoCK-PiPiT. Anthus obscurus (Latham). Resident on rocky
sea-coasts in summer ; also on mud-flats in winter.

Axillaries and light pattern on outer tail-feathers smoky brown. Hind
claw much curved, and equal in length to hind toe.

Males in spring have a rosy tinge on breast, chiefly southern birds.
Length 6| inches.

MOTACILLIDJ3. ALAUDID^.

21

'

119. WATER-PIPIT. Anthus spipoletta (Linnaeus). Very rare, on S. & C. Europe,
migration, in S. England. Asia Minor,

Persia, winter-
White eye-stripe ; below pale rosy ; chest uniform, without streaks, ing in Africa.

Light pattern of outer tail-feathers white. Hind claw long and
straightened.

Young. "[Indistinguishable in plumage from those of A. obscurus.
Length 6| inches.

120. TAWNT PIPIT. Anthus campeslris (Linnaeus). Irregular migrant
to S. and E. England.

General colour of upper surface dull greyish brown, darker on centre
of feathers ; broad buffy-white eyebrow ; throat whitish ; underparts
uniform pale buff; wing-coverts edged with pale buff, varying much in
depth of colour; light pattern of outer tail-feathers white. Hind claw
stout and slightly curved, about equal in length to hind toe. Length
6|-7 inches.

121. RICHARD'S PIPIT. Anthus richardi, Vieillot. Straggler to
England ; once in Scotland ; not yet recorded from Ireland.

Largest of British Pipits. Above dark brown, with sandy-buff edges to
feathers ; throat and breast streaked ; axillaries sandy rufous ; light
pattern of outer tail-feathers white. Hind claw long and nearly straight.
Leg about 1J inches long. Length 7| inches.

S. & C. Europe,
Asia Minor,
E. Siberia,
wintering in ,
Africa and
India.

C. & E. Asia,
wintering in
S. China,
Burma, Ceylon,
Europe, and
N. Africa.

N. Africa.

ALAUDID2E. Wings with nine or more visible primaries.

122. SKY-LARK. Alauda arvetisis, Linnaeus. Resident.

Breast spotted. Outer tail-feathers white, except inner edge of inner
web ; next pair white only on outer web. Hind claw long and straight.
Bastard primary very small. Length 7| inches.

123. CRESTED LARK. Alauda cristata, Linnaeus. A very rare straggler, Europe to
even to the South of England, although so common on the Continent only J- China
twenty-two miles off.

General ground-colour varies much from greyish brown to huffish
brown. Conspicuous occipital crest; axillaries buff; outer web of outer
tail-feathers buff. Length 6| inches.

124. WOOD-LARK. Alauda arborea, Linnaeus. Resident in Great
Britain up to Stirlingshire, but very local ; also in Ireland.

Light streak over eye ; primary-coverts tipped with white, showing
small white spot on closed wing. First primary long, third primary
longest. Tail short; outer feather greyish white at end, and outer
\veb bordered with white, next three tipped with triangular white spots ;
hind claw curved. Length 6 inches.

22

ALAUDID.E.— CYPSELID^E.

S. Europe and
Asia Minor,
wintering in
Africa and
India.

Asiatic Eussia,
wintering in
S.E. Kussia,
Turkey, and
Asia Minor*

// ' ^

Arctic and sub-
Arctic regions,
wintering
south.

if

Eare

125. SHOUT-TOED LARK. Alauda brachydactyla, Leisler.
straggler on migration : as yet only to England.

Below buffish white ; no spots on underparts ; but sometimes a streak
or two and brownish patch on each side of upper breast. Outer tail-
feathers buffish white, except the brown basal half of inner web ; the
next feather has outer web with buffish white edging. Front claws very
short and curved ; hind claw straight and rather elongated. Length 5|
inches.

126. WHITE-WINGED LARK. Alauda sibirica, J. F. Ginelin. One
record : Sussex, 1869.

Bill short and stout, arched above. Head rufous ; secondaries white,
brown at the base ; outer tail-feathers white. Length 7 inches.

127. SHORE-LARK. Otocorys alpestris (Linnaeus). Of irregular
appearance in autumn and winte'r on sea-coast. Sometimes in large
numbers on the E. coast of Great Britain ; not yet recorded from Ireland.

Hind claw long and nearly straight.

Adult male. Tuft of long erectile black feathers on each side of head
above eye ; front of crown, patch from bill to below eye, and lower
throat black; forehead, eye- stripe, chin, and throat yellowish white;
tail black, except two centre feathers, which are brown, and the two
outer feathers margined on outer web with white. Lengtli 7 inches.

Female. Less black on crown.

Female and young male have no black ear-tuft, and young females no
yellow on forehead.

In ivinter. Black parts are not so distinct, and there is more yellow on
light parts of head and neck.

Order PICARI-3B. Family CYPSELID^J.

Tail of ten feathers.

128. SWIFT. Oypselus apus (Linnaeus). Spring to autumn.

General colour blackish brown, except small whitish chin-patch ; four
toes all directed forwards. Length 7| inches.

Mmor / Oypselus melba (Linnaeus). Migratory visitor.

India, ' \V V Above greyish brown ; chin and belly white, with baud of greyish
ering in}^ brown across upper breast ; toes as in last. Length 8jf inches.

C. & S. Europe, U 129. ALPI-NE SWIFT.

Asia Minor. /

andT " ''

wintering

Ceylon and

S. Africa.

E. Asia,
wintering as
far south as
Australian
region.

Two

V

130. SPINE-TAILED SWIFT. Acanthyllis caudacuta (Latham)
records, both in July : Essex, 1846 ; Hants, 1879.

Head glossy green ; forehead and throat white ; spiny shaft on each
tail-feather protruding beyond the web ; rump and back brown ; centre
of back dirty white. Three toes in front and one behind. Length 8£
inches.

CAPRIMTJLGID.E. PICID^E. 23

CAPRIMULGID^l.

Mouth very wide, extending behind the eyes : tail of ten feathers ; claw
of middle toe serrated on the inner edge.

3131. NIGHTJAR, or " GOATSUCKER." Caprimulgus europceus^ Linnaeus.
Spring to autumn. i\ *}

Male. White spot near end of inner web of three first primaries of
each wing, and the two outer tail-feathers on each side tipped with
white.

Female. Like male, but without the white marks on wings and tail.
Length 10| inches.

132. RUFOUS -NAPED NIGHTJAR. Caprimulgus ruficollis, Temminck. S. Spain and
One record : Northumberland, 1856. N.W. Africa,

J' . wintering

Much resembles the last, but larger, with rufous nape and more further southj
ruddy chin.

Sexes alilce, both male and female having white spots on wings and
tail. Length nearly 12 inches.

x- 133. ISABELLINE NIGHTJAR. Caprimulgus cegyptius, Lichtenstein. S.W. Asia,
> One record : Notts, 1883. N-E> Africa.

Sexes alike. General colour mottled sandy grey ; basal and outer
part of inner webs of primaries white ; no white spots on wings or tail.
Length 10| inches. f/j k

P I C I D JE . Two toes in front, two behind.

Subfamily PICIN^. Tail-feathers stiff and pointed : nostrils
covered with bristles.

134. GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER. Dendrocopus major (Linnaeus).
Resident in England ; now only a visitor in Scotland ; rare in Ireland. , /

Black and white ; scapulars white ; back and rump black ; under tail- /C
coverts scarlet ; iris red.
Male. Nape scarlet.
Female. No red on head or nape.
Young. Crown of head red. Length 9J inches.

135. BARRED or LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER. Dendrocopus minor
(Linnaeus). Resident in England ; very rare in Scotland and Ireland. i ..

Black and white ; middle of back white, barred with black. / (J

Male. Crown of head scarlet. Female. No red on head.

Young. Like adults, but markings less defined. Length 5| inches.

24

. — MEROPIDJ3.

136. GREEN WOODPECKER. Gecinus viridis (Linnaeus). Resident
in England ; seldom, if ever, in Scotland ; very rarely in Ireland.

General colour greenish. Iris white.
Male. Crown scarlet ; moustachial stripe red.
Female. Less red on crown ; moustachial stripe black.
Young. Head grey, tipped with scarlet ; breast barred with greyish
black. Length 13-14 inches.

Subfamily IYNGIN2E. Nostrils partly covered by a membrane.
137. WRYNECK. lywec torquilla, Linnaeus. Spring to autumn.

General colour greyish brown, vermiculated with blackish ; below
dull white ; throat and breast tinged with buff and crossed with blackish
bars. Tail soft and rounded ; with six blackish bars ; the outer feather
on each side so extremely short as to give the appearance of only ten
feathers. Length 7 inches.

ALCEDINID^].

Alcedo ispida, Linnaeus.

Resident, or partially

138. KINGFISHER.
migratory.

Male. Above greenish blue ; middle of back, rump, and upper tail-
coverts cobalt- blue; throat and patch on each side of neck white; lores
black ; rest below rich chestnut ; bill black. Length 7| inches.

Female. Lower mandible reddish at base.

139. ROLLER.
migration.

CORACIID^l.

Coracias garrula, Linnaeus.

Irregular visitor on

Back, scapulars, and tertials cinnamon-brown ; inner web of end of j
primaries blackish brown. Neck, throat, breast, and underparts bluish ; I
rest green or purplish green. Length 13 inches.

MEROPIDJEl

Merops apiaster, Linnaeus.

Rare straggler on

140. BEE-EATER.
migration.

Bill long, pointed, slightly curved downwards ; iris red. Forehead
white next bill, then a bluish tinge ; crown rich chestnut ; chin and
throat rich yellow, bordered below by a black line. Tail green, long ;
two centre feathers an inch longer than others. Length 10-11 inches.

NOTE. — The Blue-tailed Bee-eater, M crops philippinus, has been once
recorded, but importation may be suspected. Tail blue. Rather larger
than last.

25

UPUPID-E. Sylvan.

141. HOOPOE. Upupa epops, Linnaeus. Spring to autumn; occa-
sionally breeds in England, and would do so annually if not shot on
its arrival in spring.

Bill long, thin, slightly arched and pointed. Erectile rich buff crest,
tipped with black ; the hind feathers of the crest with white before the
black tips. Tail black, of ten feathers, with broad white bar across the
lower part. Length 10-12 inches.

7

CUCULID2E. Tail of ten feathers ; two toes in
front, two behind.

142. CUCKOO. Cuculus canorus, Linnaeus. Spring to autumn.

^ Male. Above bluish grey ; chin and neck ash-grey ; below white,
¥ barred with black. Tail greyish black, graduated, slightly spotted and
tipped with white ; iris, eyelids, legs, and feet yellow.

Female. Like male, but usually with slight rufous tinge on breast.
Females much less numerous than males.

Young. Upper surface and tail clove-brown, barred with pale brown,
feathers tipped with white ; white spot on nape ; iris brown. Length
14 inches.

143. GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO. Coccystes glandarius (Linnaeus). Two
occurrences : Galway, 1842, and Northumberland, 1870.

Adults. Crested.

S. Spain,
Asia Minor,

Head and nape bluish grey ; rest of upper parts wintering- in /
greyish brown ; wings, scapulars, and tail, except two centre feathers, S. Africa,
tipped with white ; underparts white. Sexes alike.

Young. Basal two-thirds of primaries chestnut ; head blackish brown,
without any crest. Length 15-16 inches.

Order STEIGES.

Family

144. WHITE or BAEN-OWL*. Strix flammea, Linnaeus. Eesident.

Facial disk complete and large ; tuftless ; skin covering orifico of ear
(operculum) large.

Above pale orange-buff, speckled with grey and spotted with black
and white ; underparts and facial disk white, but these parts vary, the
former being sometimes marked with black specks, and both are
occasionally of a complete buff colour. Iris black. Toes without
feathers, covered with a few bristles ; middle claw serrated. Length
14 inches.

* This Owl, most useful to man, can be preserved and increased by fixing an old
cask (about 18-gallon size) in a tree. The barrel should be placed on its side and have
a hole cut in the upper part of the head for the Owls to enter ; care must be taken
that Jackdaws do not take possession.

26

STRIGID^E.

N. & C. Europe
and Siberia.

Arctic.

N. Europe and
Asia.

C. & S. Europe,
Asia Minor,
wintering in
Africa.

145. LONG-EARED OWL. Asio otus (Linnaeus). Sylvan. Resident.

Facial disk complete; ear-tufts very long, equal to hind toe and '
claw; operculurn semicircular; iris orange. General colour orange--!
buff ; above mottled with blackish brown, below streaked and faintly
barred with brown. Length 14 inches.

146. SHORT-EARED OWL. Asio accipitrinus (Pallas). Not sylvan.
Autumn to spring ; but breeds in a few marshy or moorland localities. "\

Disk and operculuin like last ; ear-tufts very short.
Above tawny, each feather with dark brown down the centre ; below/
buff, streaked with blackish brown ; iris yellow.

Length 14-16| inches.

147. TAWNY or BROWN OWL. Syrnium aluco (Linnaeus). Sylvan.
Resident in Great Britain ; not yet observed in Ireland.

Facial disk complete ; no tufts ; operculum large ; toes feathered ;
iris blackish.

Two phases of the plumage occur: the grey and rufous. Length
18-19 inches.

148. TENGMALM'S OWL. Nyctala tengmalmi (J. F. Gmelin). Rare
wanderer to England ; twice in Scotland : not yet in Ireland.

Disk nearly complete ; tuftless ; ears with operculum, of unequal
size on either side, i. e. not symmetrical ; toes feathered to the claws.

Above brown, spotted on the head and blotched on the back with
white ; below greyish white, spotted and barred with rufous brown ;
tail brown, crossed with five white bars.

Length 9-10 inches.

149. SNOWY OWL. Nyctea scandiaca (Linnaeus). Winter straggler to
Great Britain and Ireland, chiefly to the northern districts.

Facial disk incomplete ; no operculum ; tufts above eyes rarely
visible ; feet covered to the claws with long feathers.

White, or white with blackish-brown spots or bars, varyiDg much in
number of these markings ; younger birds most marked ; iris yellow.
Length 21-26 inches.

150. HAWK-OWL. Surnia ulula (Linnaeus). Very rare straggler.

Facial disk nearly obsolete; tuftless; no operculum.

Above dark brown, spotted with white ; underparts with numerous
small narrow dark-brown bars. Tail long and graduated, narrowly
barred and tipped with white. Feet feathered to the claws ; iris light
yellow. Length 14 inches.

The American form, S. funerea, which has chiefly occurred, has
broad chestnut bars on the breast and belly.

151. SCOPS OWL. Scops giu (Scopoli). Sylvan. Rare straggler on
migration to England and Ireland ; doubtfully in Scotland.

Facial disk incomplete above eyes ; tufted ; no operculum. General
colour grey, with minute marks of brown and spots of dark brown.
Legs feathered ; toes bare. Iris yellow. Length 8^-10 inches.

. FALCONIDJE.

27

152. EAGLE-OWL. Bubo ignavus, T. Forster. Very rare wanderer ; Europe,
not yet noticed in Ireland. *• j^ca'

Facial disk incomplete above eyes ; tufts very large ; no operculum. N. China,

General colour above blackish, mottled with tawny yellow. Toes so Japan.

thickly feathered that the last joint is hidden. Iris orange-yellow.

Length 26-27 inches.

153. LITTLE OWL. Carine noctua (Scopoli). Eare straggler; not Europe,
recorded from Scotland or Ireland. Probably many of the records are Asia Minor,
those of escaped or turned-out specimens.

Facial disk ill-defined ; tuftless ; no operculum.

Above greyish brown, spotted with white; below white, much
streaked with brown ; iris yellow ; toes without feathers, but covered
with bristles. Length 7 5-8 inches.

N. Africa.

Order ACCIPITEES. Family VULTURI

k^r 154. GEIFFON VTJLTUEE. Gyps fulvus (J. F. Gmelin). A young
'/bird obtained near Cork in 1843.

General colour ashy fulvous ; head and neck covered with whitish
down ; ruff of white down. Primaries and tail blackish.

Young. E/uff of tawny lanceolate feathers. Length 40 inches.

155. EGYPTIAN YFLTFEE. Neophron percnopterus (Linnaeus). Twice
^obtained in England.

Adults. "Whitish, primaries black ; fore part of head and neck bare of
feathers and yellow.

Young. Dark brown ; front of head and neck dirty grey. Length
25 inches.

S. Europe,
N.Africa ^

S. Europe,
N. Africa,
wintering in
S. Africa.

(FALCONID^l.
156. MAESH-HAEEIEE. Circus ceruginosus (Linnaeus). At one time
resident in England and Ireland, but now almost exterminated ; very
rare in Scotland.

Outer web of fifth primary notched ; tail uniform above.

Adult male. Head creamy white, streaked with blackish brown ; wing-
coverts, secondaries, tertials, and tail ash-grey. (This plumage rarely
occurs in this country.)

Female. Head huffish or creamy white, streaked with blackish brown ;
creamy white margin on shoulders of wings. General colour dark
! brown ; below chocolate-brown ; tail brown.

Young of the year. Dark brown ; head chocolate-brown. In the

next plumage the head, chin, and throat vary from, rufous to creamy

white, more or less streaked with blackish brown ; but in first plumage

some are said occasionally to have the head creamy white. Length

! 21-23 inches.

28 EALCONIDJE.

157. HEN-HARRIER. Circus cyaneus (Linnaeus). Resident, but fast
decreasing.

Outer web of fifth primary notched.

Adult male. Pale slate-grey above ; throat and chest bluish ash ;
upper tail-coverts and underparts below centre of breast white.

Female. Above brown ; hind neck streaked with whitish ; below
whitish brown ; breast streaked with dark brown ; tail brown, with five
bands of darker brown.

Young. Like female, but marked with rufous on back ; and the bars
on the tail are rufous. Length 21| inches.

158. MONTAGU'S HARRIER. Circus cineraceus (Montagu). Spring to
tt f autumn ; occasionally allowed to nest.

i

Outer web of fifth primary entire. Notch on inner web of the first

and outer web of the second primary an inch beyond the tip of the ^
primary-coverts.

Adult male. Above bluish grey ; throat and chest ashy grey. Axil-
laries, flanks, belly, and thighs white, with rufous streaks. One black
band across secondaries visible when wings are closed.

Female. Above brown ; below buffy white, striped with russet.

Young. General colour dark chocolate - brown, lightest below.
Length 18-19 inches.

159. COMMON BUZZARD. Buteo vulgaris, Leach. Be,<=ident, but fast
decreasing.

Varies so much in plumage as to defy description. Legs and toes
short, and bare of feathers ; legs about 3 inches long.

Very old birds are sometimes very dark bluish black above, and only
slightly marked with light markings on breast.

Adults. Tail brown, barred with twelve or thirteen bands of darker
brown.

Young. Upper breast white, with only a few spots ; throat brown,
with narrow white streaks ; tail ashy brown, crossed with ten bars of
darker brown. Length 20-23 inches.

160. BOUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD. Buteo lagopus* (J. F. Grmelin).
"Winter visitor.

Varies in plumage nearly as much as Common Buzzard.

Legs covered with feathers in front to the toes, as in true Eagles.

Adults. Crown whitish or buffv white, with brown patches on each
feather ; above deep brown, marked with white and rufous : basal two-
thirds of tail white, remainder brown, and a broad black band tipped
with white.

Young. Less white in plumage ; the underparts striped, and the tail
has more brown on it. When flying overhead the wings appear light-
coloured, with one dark patch on each wing. Length 23-26 inches.

* Records of this bird having bred in England are utterly untrustworthy

FALCoifnxs;. 29

161. SPOTTED EAGLE. Aquila ncevia (J. F. Gmelin). Eare straggler. C. & E. Europe,

General colour dark reddish brown. Tail nearly uniform brown N.Africa,
above ; legs feathered in front to the toes.

Young. Wing-coverts and scapulars with large oval tips of white or
'brownish white. Length 26 inches.

162. GOLDEX EAGLE. Aquila chrysaetus (Linnaeus). Resident in
^ the Highlands and in Ireland, but nearly destroyed in the latter country
** by poison ; seldom visits England.

Legs feathered in front to the toes, the last joints of which only are
covered by three large scales (Aquila). General colour dark brown ; nape
aud hind neck light brown ; thighs uniform dark brown ; tail with one
greyish bar on under surface.

Young. Basal half of tail white ; base of body-feathers white.
Length 32-36 inches.

t-f 163. WHITE-TAILED or SEA-EAGLE. Haliaetus albicilla (LinuaBus).
> I /Still resident in N. of Scotland and Ireland, on rocky sea-coasts, but
' nearly exterminated. Immature migrants from the Continent are not
infrequent in England, and are often recorded as * Golden ' Eagles.

Lower half of leg bare of feathers ; that and the toes covered in front £ fit
with large scales.

Adult. Bill and iris light yellow ; head and neck much lighter than
back ; tail white.

Young. Bill blackish ; iris brown ; tail whitish, much mottled with
greyish brown.

Length 28-34 inches.

&. 164. GOSHAWK. Astur palumbarius (LinnaBUs). Sylvan. Casual visitor. Europe,

Above ashy brown ; thin white line above ear-coverts ; below white, ^^ l
& thickly barred with ashy brown ; tail ashy brown, with four broad bars
of darker brown ; iris yellow.

Young. Above brown ; below and under wing-coverts light buff,
streaked with blackish brown ; tail brown, with five bands of darker J/^.
brown ; iris pearly white.

Length : male 19, female 23-24 inches.

(The American Goshawk, Astur atricapillus, has occurred twice, but
was probably imported ; it resembles the above, but has the underparts
closely and irregularly freckled or marbled with ashy brown, not barred.)

i

165. SPAEEOW-HAWK. Accipiter nisus (Linna3us). Sylvan. Eesident.

! Toes rather slender ; the middle toe very much longer than the
others.

Adult male. Above slate-blue ; nape mottled with white ; cheeks and
ear-coverts bright rufous ; below white, barred with bright rufous ; iris
orange. Length 1.2 inches.

Female. When very old rarely assumes the same plumage, but very
few survive in this country to attain it ; the adult females usually have
the breast barred with greyish brown, with a reddish patch of downy
feathers on the flanks. Much larger than males. Length 15 inches.

30

FALCONID^E.

Europe,
wintering in
S. Africa and
Madagascar.

Greenland to
Alaska.

I v

Iceland,
S. Greenland.

Young. Above brown ; nape mottled with white ; feathers of back
edged with rufous brown ; below white, barred with rufous brown ; iris
pale yellow.

166. RED KITE. Milvus ictinus, Savigny. Sylvan. Resident, but
now nearly extinct, and very local.

General colour rufous. Tail rufous and much forked ; legs short ;
iris yellow. Length 24 inches.

167. BLACK KITE. Milvus migrans (Boddaert). One occurrence :
Northumberland, May 1866.

Above dark brown, below rufous brown ; bill black. Head and
throat whitish, with black stripes. Tail brown, not much forked.
Length 22 inches.

168. HONEY-BUZZARD. Pernis apivorus (Linnasus). Sylvan. Spring
to autumn. Has bred from New Forest to as far north as Aberdeen-
shire.

Lores or spaces between eyes and bill covered with feathers ; legs
finely reticulated all round. (Pernis.)

Adult male. Head ash-grey ; above brown ; below white, the chest
barred and spotted with brown.

Adult female. Like male, but has not the grey head.

Young. Head whitish ; upper parts brown, marked with white ; below
white, streaked with brown.

A dark or melanistic form also occurs, in which the underparts are
uniform brown, the young birds being striated with blackish brown.

Length 22-25 inches.

169. GREENLAND FALCON. Falco candicans, J. F. Gmelin. Irregular
winter visitor.

General colour white, more or less marked with blackish brown or
brown ; no bars on the flanks ; bill yelloivish iuhi1e at all ages ; cere,
legs, and feet yellow in adults, bluish in the young, as also in the
Iceland and Gyr Falcons. Length 20-23 inches,

170. ICELAND FALCON. Falco islandus, J. F. Gmelin. Irregular
winter visitor : rarer than the preceding.

Norway,
Sweden.

1 1 IY Adult. General colour above brownish grey, each feather barred and
JO. Hipped with white ; flanks barred-, bill dark at all ages. Feathers of
crown, sides of head, and nape white, with dark lead-coloured and
rather broad shaft-marks. The light bars across the wing-coverts
become white in very old examples, but in F. gijrfalco are pale grey.
Length 22-24 inches.

171. GYR-FALCON. Falco gyrfalco, Linnaeus. Recorded once or
twice in England, and has doubtless been often mistaken for the pre-
ceding.

Adult. Feathers on crown of head entirely dark lead-colour, with no
white edgings except on the feathers just above the eye and ear-coverts.

31

The ear-coverts and feathers on the nape have less white about them
than in F. islandus. This is especially true of the upper portion of the
ear-coverts and the central part of the nape. A dark lead-coloured
moustache present in most, hut not quite in all ; this is absent in
F. islandus. These differences are partially developed in birds of the
second year, but in the first year the two races are not distinguishable
by plumage. Length 20-21 inches.

Adult. Above bluish grey, paler on rump, barred with a darker tint.
Crown, cheeks, ear-coverts, and short moustachial band blackish ; below

white, with a buffy tinge on the breast, spotted on the throat and upper i fj

breast, and barred on the lower breast with blackish ; cere, eyelids, and / /,
legs yellow. '

Young. Above brown, with buff margins to feathers ; below whitish,
with dark brown streaks ; tail irregularly barred, tipped with whitish
buff ; cere, eyelids, and legs blue.

Length 15-20 inches.

173. HOBBY. Falco subbuteo, Linnaeus. May to September, in
^wooded districts only : rare in Scotland and Ireland.

•" Adult. Above bluish black, with black moustachial stripe ; throat and
breast white, occasionally tinged with buff, the breast striped with
black ; thighs and vent rusty red.

Young. Buff edgings to feathers of back ; thighs and vent only very
slightly rufous. Very long wings. Length 12-14 inches.

V- 1 i

174. MERLIN. Falco cesalon, Tunstall. Resident. Breeding on
moorlands, chiefly from Derbyshire northwards.

Adult male. Above slaty blue, with black shaft to each feather ; nape
rufous ; throat white ; underparts rufous, streaked with blackish brown ;
tail blue-grey, the end broadly banded with black and tipped with white.
Length 10 inches.

Female. Very rarely lives to acquire the same plumage as the adult
male : — in this country usually resembles young male, being above dark
reddish brown, margined with light brown ; nape whitish, spotted with
buff ; underparts white, broadly streaked with brown ; tail brown,
crossed with narrow bands of lighter brown and tipped with white.
Length 12 inches.

175. RED-FOOTED- FALCON. Falco vespertinus, Linnaeus. Rare wan- E.Europe,
derer on migration ; chiefly to England. wi?*e^?g in

Claws yellowish white.

Adult male. Uniform lead-grey, except reddish-chestnut thighs, vent,
and under tail-coverts ; legs and feet red.

Female. Above ash-grey, barred with bluish black ; head and nape
rufous ; below uniform dull chestnut.

Young. Like female, but head, nape, and underparts streaked with
brown; outside tail-feather with both webs barred. Length 11-12
inches.

32 FALCONID^. — PELECANID^.

176. KESTEEL. Falco tinnunculus, Linnaeus. Resident or partially
migratory.

Adult male. Head, neck, lower back, rump, and tail blue-grey, the
latter tipped with white on a broad black band ; back pale chestnut,
with small black spots.

Female and young. Above entirely rufous, banded with black ; tail
rufous, with black bands and tipped with a broad black band. Old
females occasionally partially assume male plumage, being marked with
blue on rump and tail. Length 13-15 inches.

177. LESSER KESTEEL. Falco cenchris, Naumann. Four occur-
rences: Yorkshire, 1867; Kent, 1877; co. Dublin and Scilly Is., 1891.

Adult male. Much resembles Common Kestrel, but is smaller, and has
the back uniform pale chestnut ivithout any spots.
Female. Much as female of last.
Length 1 2| inches. Claws ivhite.

178. OSPEEY. Pandion haliaetus (Linnaeus). Spring to autumn.
Owing to preservation, a pair or two still breed in the Highlands, t
arriving about 3rd of April. Never known to nest in Ireland. t,

Adult. Above brown : below white, except brown on breast.

Young. Pale margins to feathers above : tail distinctly barred.

Cere blue. Legs and feet blue, very finely reticulated (or covered
with minute scales) and prickly underneath : legs very short, about
2^ inches long ; outer toe reversible ; claws long, much curved, and very
sharp. Length 23 inches.

Order S TE G A N 0 PODE S.

Family PELECANIDJE. Feet entirely webbed or all
four toes connected by webs.

179. COEMOEANT. Phalacrocoraoc carlo (Linnaeus). Resident .

\JtJL V Tail of /(mrte«n feathers.

v^ Adult. General colour above purplish black. In spring slender white 4

plumes on head and neck and white patch on thighs. These white ^
marks are lost after breeding-season is over. Length 36 inches.
Young. Brown above, whitish below.

180. SHAG, or GEEEN COEMOEANT. Phalacrocoracc graculus (Linnaeus).
. * <\^ Resident on rocky, caverned coasts.

Tail of twelve feathers. /

Adult. General colour shiny blackish green without any ivhite. In
early spring a crest curled forwards on front of head. Length 27 inches.
Young. Brown above, whitish below.

^i 181. GANNET. Sula bassana (Linnaeus). Resident.

Ij^L -^ Adult. Head and neck buffi sh white ; the rest white, except the black

primaries and primary -co verts ; tail long and wedge-shaped.

ARDEIDJE.

33

Young. Head, neck, and upper plumage blackish brown, spotted with
white ; below white, very thickly covered with blackish-brown spots,
but vary much. Length 30 inches.

1

Order HERODIONES, Family ARD El D^l.

182. COMMON HERON. Ardea cinerea, Linnaeus. Resident.

Male. General colour ashy grey ; crown white ; crest and nape black ;
hind neck pale grey ; sides of breast black.

Female. Crest less developed and plumage duller.

Young. Crown ashy ; sides of breast striped with black ; no plumes
on back. Length 36 inches.

183. PURPLE HERON. Ardea purpurea, Linnaeus. Straggler to
England on migration ; once in Scotland ; once in Ireland.

Adult. Crown and crest black, with purple sheen ; back, wings, and
tail dark slate-grey ; plumes on back pale chestnut ; under wing-coverts
chestnut ; thighs rufous buff ; breast rich maroon-red.

Young. General colour above rusty red ; below brownish white.
Lengtl/30-32 inches.

184. GREAT WHITE HERON. Ardea alba, Linnaeus. Very rare
straggler to Great Britain ; not observed in Ireland.

Entirely white ; bill and iris yellow ; legs and feet black.
In summer. Has bill black and many very long filamented plumes on
back. Length 36-42 inches.

185. LITTLE EGRET. Ardea garzetta, Linnaeus. One authentic record :
Devon, 1870.

Entirely white ; bill and legs black ; iris yellow.

In summer. Has long filamentous plumes on back, and two or three
long feathers pendent from crown. Length 20 inches.

Europe,

N. Africa, Asia,

passing S. in

winter.

C. & S.E.
Europe, Asia,
Africa.

S. Europe,
Asia, Japan,
and Ceylon, to
N. Australia,
Africa.

Ardea lubulcus, Audouin. s. Spain,

Africa.

186. BTJFF-BACKED or CATTLE HERON.
One occurrence : Devon, 1805.

In summer. Crown, nape, feathers hanging from lower neck, and
plumes on back reddish buff ; these feathers are elongated and hair-like,
especially on the .back ; rest of plumage white ; bill reddish at base,
yellow at tip ; iris rich pink, with golden ring round pupil.

In winter. Entirely white, except a patch of reddish buff on head ;
bill and iris yellow. Length 18 inches.

187. SQUACCO HERON. Ardea ralloides, Scopoli.
England on migration ; rarely to Scotland or Ireland.

Straggler to S. Europe,
Asia Minor,

Head light buff, with crest of from eight to ten elongated, narrow, wintering in
pointed white feathers, bordered at the sides with black ; plumes on S. Africa,
back dark reddish brown to light buff, long and hair-like ; wings, rump,
tail, and lower parts, except the buff leathers pendent from neck, white ;
bill leaden blue at base, black at tip. Length 18 inches.

34

AEDEID^l. — CICOl^IID^E.

N. America
and Antilles.

\O

*

Europe in
summer.
Asia, Africa,
N. & S. Ame-
rica.

Europe,
W. Asia,
wintering in
Africa.

[188. GEEEN HEEOF. Butorides virescens (Linnaeus). One occur-
rence in Cornwall, possibly an escaped bird. (Ibis, 1890, p. 386.)

Crown, scapulars, wing-coverts, and inner secondaries glossy dark green ;
neck purplish chestnut ; axillaries purplish grey. Length 16 inches.]

189. NIGHT-HERON. Nycticorax griseus (Linnaeus). Not uncommon
on migration.

Crown, nape, and back brownish black, with green gloss ; wings and
tail ash-grey. Crest usually of three, but rarely of as many as six long,
narrow, white feathers pendent from nape; legs yellow; bill black;
iris red. Females less brightly coloured.

Young. Without crest ; above dark brown, spotted with white ;
below dull white, striped with dark brown. Length 21-24 inches.

190. LITTLE BITTEEN. Ardetta minuta (Linnaeus). Spring to
autumn. Recorded as having bred in Norfolk.

Male. Crown, nape, back, tail, wing-quills, and upper surface of bill
black, with greenish gloss ; underparts buff ; lower neck-feathers elon-
gated ; feathers of upper breast blackish brown, margined with buff ;
iris yellow.

Female. Crown blackish ; above chestnut-brown, margined with buff ;
primaries dark brown.

Legs greenish yellow ; tail of ten feathers. Length 12 inches.

191. BITTEEN. Botaurus stellaris (Linnaeus). Formerly resident,
but now chiefly a winter visitor.

Crown and nape black ; general colour buff ; a large ruff on front of
neck ; the back irregularly marked with black ; primaries chestnut,
barred with blackish ; tail of ten feathers. Length 28-29 inches.

192. AMEEIOAN BITTEEN. Botaurus lentiginoeus (Montagu). More
than twenty occurrences in Great Britain and Ireland.

Much resembles last, but smaller ; bill more slender ; plumage above
finely vermiculated ; primaries uniform blackish brown, not barred.
Length 27 inches.

CICONIID^J.

Europe, Africa, 193. WHITE STOEK. Ciconia alba, Bechstein. Irregular visitor on

W. & C. Asia, migration, and was so, according to record, even 350 years ago.

passing S. in. ,„, ., . . , . , ,

winter. ,(T White, except primaries, secondaries, scapulars, large wing-coverts,

and bare space round eye, which are black. Bill and legs red. Length
42 inches.

194. BLACK STOEK. Ciconia nigra (Linnaeus). Scarce wanderer on
migration, not observed in Scotland or Ireland.

Head, neck, and upper parts blackish with metallic gloss ; only breast
and underparts white. Bill, legs, and bare space round eye red ; irides
reddish brown.

Young. Dark parts brownish black without gloss ; bill and legs olive-
green ; feathers of head and neck tipped with buffy white. Length
39-40 inches.

N. America to
as far S. in
winter as
Guatemala, i ^

Europe, Asia,
Africa.

PLATALEID^J. — ANATID^). 35

PLATALEID^l.

r 195. WHITE SPOONBILL. Platalealeucorodia,Liim&\is. On migration, Europe and l>
> mostly in S.E. of England, where it formerly bred. N- Asia» win-f /

White ; lower neck and the short bushy crest tinged with yellow ; bill N. Africa,

black at base, yellow and broadly flattened at the end ; chin bare and India, and

yellow ; iris dull red. Length 32-36 inches. Ce7lon-

Young. Without crest or yellow skin ; bill blackish ; iris black.

IBIDIDJE.

196. GLOSSY IBIS. Plegadis falcinellus (Linnaeus). Irregularly on Europe and

migration. Asia> passing

S. in winter.

Bill long, curved down (as in Curlew) ; face bare ; general colour
chestnut-brown ; the back much glossed with green and purple ; legs
greenish grey. Length 22 inches.

[ Order ODONTOGLOSS JE.

Family P HCENICOPTERID m.

197. FLAMINGO. Phcenicoptems roseus, Pallas. Four occurrences, s. Europe,

f possibly escapes. S. Asia, Africa.

Bill bent down in the middle ; general colour rosy white ; primaries
black ; rest of wings, both above and below, deep rosy pink ; the very
long legs and webbed feet pink. Length 60-70 inches.

r]

Order ANSEKES. Family ANATID^J.

198. GREY-LAG GOOSE. Anser tinereus, Meyer. Breeds in north of
nd and Hebrides, wandering southward from autumn to spring.

Rump and wing-coverts ashy grey ; bill flesh-colour ; nail white ', legs
and feet flesh-coloured.

Adult. White round base of bill ; breast with a few black marks.
Length 35 inches.

199. WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. Anser albifrons, Scopoli. Visitor,
late in autumn to spring.

Much smaller than preceding ; bill orange-yellow ; nail white ; legs
and feet oranc/e-yettow. I »

Adults. White round base of bill ; much marked with black on breast, / \J
most so in male.

Young. Without black on breast, and in first plumage without white
round bill ; bill and feet paler than in adult, and nail of bill brownish
black, pale at the tip. Length 27 inches.

A smaller race, with markings more defined, is known as the Lesser
White-fronted Goose, A. eryihropus, and a young bird of this race was
obtained in Northumberland, September 16th, 1886.

D2

36

ANATID.&.

200. BEAN-GOOSE. Anser segetum (J. F. Gmelin). Autumn to

^ v V spring-

(\f(, No black on breast ; bill blackish brown, nail black ; legs and feet

orange-yellow. Length 34 inches.

201. PINK-FOOTED GOOSE. Anser brachyrhynchus, Baillon. Autumn
%% «I*S to spring, chiefly in E. of England ; not yet obtained in Ireland.

y"l^ Much as last, but smaller ; nail of bill Hack • legs and feet flesh-

colour. Length 28 inches.

N.W.America. 202. SNOW GOOSE. Chen hyperboreus (Pallas). First obtained in
Ireland in 1871, and since noticed several times.

.. » /J^ Adults. White ; primaries black ; bill, legs, and feet red.

IrtA" Young. Head, neck, back, and breast pale slate-grey ; scapulars and

wing-coverts darker with pale edges, otherwise white; bill blackish.
Length 23 inches.

203. BEENT GOOSE. Bernicla brenta (Pallas). Winter visitor on
k 1^7 sea-coasts in Gt. Britain, chiefly on the east side.

l/*^ Head, neck, and throat black, with a small white patch on each side

of neck. Length 23-24 inches.

204. BEENACLE GOOSE. Bernicla leucopsis (Bechstein). Winter
visitor on sea-coasts in Gt. Britain, chiefly on the west side.

Head, neck, and throat black ; front and sides of head and upper throat
white ; black mark between eye and bill. Length 25 inches.

205. E-ED-BEEASTED GOOSE. Bernicla ruficollis (Pallas). Very rare
winter straggler. Not observed in Ireland.

Fore part of chest and sides of neck brick-red ; white patch between
eye and bill. Length 22 inches.

206. MUTE SWAN. Cygnus olor (J. F. Gmelin). Chiefly semi-dornesti-
cated bird. Winter visitor.

Adults. White ; bill yellow, with black tubercle above nostrils *.
Young. Greyish brown ; bill lead-coloured. Length 60 inches.

M&,

207. WHOOPEE SWAN. Cygnus musieus, Bechstein. Winter visitor.

White ; bill, basal part to below nostrils yellow, the rest black.
Young. Gre)ish brown; bill flesh-colour. Length 60 inches.

208. BEWICK'S SWAN. Cygnus bewicJci, Tarrell. Irregular w. v.

Much smaller than last ; bill, basal part, but not below nostrils, yellow,
the rest black, and the ridge of upper mandible black throughout its
length.

Young. As in preceding species. Length 46-50 inches.

* The so-called " Polish Swan " is now generally admitted to be a mere variety
of the Mute Swan, which sometimes has white cygnets.

ANATIDJE. 37

209. SHELD-DRAKE. Tadorna cornuta (S. G. Grnelin). Eesident.

Male. Head and neck green, below that a white collar, with a broad
chestnut band, covering the breast ; wing-coverts white ; wing-spot
or speculum, formed by colours of the outer webs of the secondaries,
green ; fleshy knob on base of upper mandible ; bill red ; legs and feet
pink.

Female. Smaller than male ; less bright markings, and no knob on bill.
Length 25-26 inches.

210. EUDDT SHELD-DRAKE. Tadorna casarca (Linnaeus). Of rare Mediterranean
occurrence ; introduction may be suspected. region, S. Rus-

General colour rufous buff; crown light buff; wing-coverts white;
wing-spot green ; bill, legs, and feet blackish.

Sexes alike, except that male has a blackish ring round neck. Length
25 inches.

211. "WILD DUCK (MALLARD, male). Anas boscas, Linnaeus.
I Eesident. Sexes differ in plumage.

"Wing-spot purple ; tail of sixteen feathers ; bill rather longer than
head.

Male. Head and neck green ; four central tail-coverts black, lengthened
and curled upwards.

Female. General colour brown.

Male in summer. Eesembles female. Length 21 inches.

/ /
/ j

212. GADWALL. Anas strepera, Linnaeus. Chiefly autumn to spring,
H^ut now breeds in Norfolk, and doubtless elsewhere.

Wing-spot white; bill shorter than head, and narrowing slightly
towards tip. General colour grey.
Male. Chestnut on shoulder of wing.
Female. Brown and grey. Length 20 inches.

^ 213. SHOYELER. Spatula clypeata (Linnaeus). Eesident.

Bill broadly dilated at the end, being twice as broad near the tip as
at the base ; wing-spot green.

Male. Head and neck green ; shoulders pale blue ; iris yellow. / {

Female. Dark brown.

Male in summer. Eesembles the female. Length 20 inches.

fc 214. PINTAIL. Dafila acuta (Linnaeus). Autumn to spring ; occa-
sionally nesting in Ireland. / '

Tail graduated, of sixteen feathers, two centre feathers much elongated /
in male, slightly so in female ; wing-spot dark green, glossed with copper ;
bill as Ions: as head.

Male. Head, cheeks, chin, sides of neck, and upper neck in front rich
dark brown ; two centre tail-feathers black.

Female. Brown above, greyish white below. Length 24-28 inches.

38

215. TEAL. Querquedula crecca (Linnaeus). Eesident.

Wing-spot black and green ; tail of sixteen feathers.

Male. Head and neck chestnut, with broad green stripe from eye down
sides of neck, margined on sides of head with buff.

Female. Above dark brown, feathers edged with grey ; below whitish.
Length 13-15 inches.

216. AMERICAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL. Querquedula carolinensis
(J. F. Gmelin). Three records : Hants ; Yorkshire, 1858 ; Devon, 1879.

Male. Very like last, but has uniform slate-grey scapulars and broad
white crescent on each side of breast in front of shoulder.
Female. Not to be distinguished from that of Q. crecca.

217. AMERICAN BLUE-WINGED TEAL. Querquedula discors (Linnaeus).
One occurrence in Dumfriesshire, 1858.

American representative of our Garganey.

Both sexes. Wing-spot green ; shoulder brilliant light blue.

Male. White crescentic patch in front of eye.

218. GARGANEY, or SUMMER TEAL. Querquedula circia (Linna3us).
Spring to autumn on east side ; rare in Ireland.

Male. Wing-spot green, between two bars of white ; wing-coverts er
shoulders bluish grey ; neck and breast dark brown, with pale brown
crescent-shaped bands.

Female. Much as female of Q. crecca, but without green metallic
speculum; shoulders with very slight grey tinge. Length 15-16
inches.

219. WIGEON. Mareca penelope (Linnaeus),
but a number breed in north of Scotland.

Chiefly autumn to spring,

Tail of fourteen feathers ; bill shorter than head.

Male. Forehead and crown huffish white ; wing-coverts white ; back
white finely vermiculated with black ; wing-spot green.

Female. Above brown and greyish brown ; head and neck mottled
with light brown and blackish brown ; shoulders of wings greyish white ;
wing-spot greyish.

Males in summer lose the whitish crown, and to a certain extent
resemble the females. Length 20 inches.

220. AMERICAN WIGEON. Mareca americana (J. F. Gmelin). One
from Leadenhall Market in 1837-8.

Much like last, but larger, and male with green stripe on side of head,
from eye to neck ; head and neck whitish, with black specks.
Female. Head and neck yellowish white, speckled with black.

221. BED-CRESTED
straggler.

POCHARD. Fuligula rufila (Pallas). Scarce

S. Europe,
N. Africa,

tering'in India. Wing-spot white ; tail of fourteen feathers, as in next four species.

v \Jt J Male. Head and upper neck reddish chestnut ; feathers on crown

A2TATID.E. 39

forming an erectile crest ; back yellowish brown ; lower neck, breast, and
belly black ; bill and legs vermilion ; iris red.

Female. Crown dark brown without crest ; cheeks, neck, and sides of
throat light grey ; bill and legs reddish brown. Length 21 inches.

u 222. POCHARD, or " DUX-BIBD." Fuligula ferina (Linnaeus). Chiefly I ^)
\ ^autumn to spring, but breeds in a few localities. /

Wing-spot grey; bill black, longer than head, broad band of blue
across the middle.

Male. Head and neck chestnut-red ; breast and upper back black ;
back and scapulars white, finely vermiculated with black ; iris red.

Female. Markings as in male, but with dull brown head and neck :
dark brown breast and upper back. Length 17-19 inches.

r

I . Africa, 1
. iawinte:

n

223. WHITE-EYED POCHAED. Fuligula nyroca (Giildenstadt). Casual C. & S. Europe,
visitor in cold winters. N- Africa, Asia,

S. m winter.
Wing-spot white ; tail short, of fourteen feathers, much graduated ;

bill lead-coloured, longer than head.

Male. Head, neck, and general colour above chestnut-brown ; under-
parts greyish white ; iris white.

Female. Marked as male, but duller ; iris dull white. Length 15-17
inches.

224. TUFTED DUCK. Fuligula cristata (Leach). Chiefly from autumn
to spring, but breeds in a good many localities.

Wing-spot white.

Male. Head and neck glossy purplish black, with an occipital crest or
tuft ; breast, belly, sides, flanks, and speculum white ; the rest of plumage
black ; iris yellow.

Female. Crest smaller ; brown where black in the male ; underparts
brownish white. Length 17 inches.

225. SCAUP. Fuligula marila (Linnaeus). Autumn to spring. Northern.
Wing-spot ivliite ; bill very broad, about as long as head.

Male. Head, neck, upper breast, rump, and under tail-coverts black,
with green gloss ; back and scapulars white, broadly vermiculated with
black ; belly white ; iris straw-yellow.

Female and young male. White band round base of bill, broadest in
female ; head and neck dark brown, as are all the parts which are black
in the male. Length 18 inches.

226. G-OLDEKEYE. Clangula glaucion (Linnaeus). Autumn to spring. Sub-arctic or

Bill much shorter than head ; tail of sixteen feathers, as in next.

Male. Head and neck
lengthened; small white spot at base
spot white.

Female and young male. Head and neck ash-brown ; no white spot on
head ; wing-spot white, divided by a black line. Length 16-19 inches.

ead ; tail of sixteen feathers, as in next.
glossy green ; feathers on crown slightly ^/
ot at* base of bill; scapulars white; wing-

40

AFATID2E.

\J\

227. BFFFEL-HEADED GoLDENEYE. Clangula albeola (Linnaeus). Pour
occurrences in Gt. Britain at long intervals. i

"Wing-spot as in last.

Male. Head and throat glossy bluish black ; large white patch form-**
ing an erectile crest behind round nape ; scapulars white ; wing-spot
white.

Female. Head and neck ash-brown, with same white patch on head.
Length 14-15 inches.

228. LONG-TAILED DUCK, or " CALLOO." Harelda glacialis (Linnaeus).
Autumn to spring ; doubtless breeds sparingly in the Shetlands.

Tail of fourteen feathers ; bill much shorter than head, slightly nar-
rowing and rounded towards the tip ; axillaries brown.

Male in summer. Forehead, fore crown, and sides of head sooty grey ;
space round eye whitish ; throat, neck, and breast black ; back black,
margined with rufous.

Male in winter. Scapulars white ; rump black. Two centre tail-feathers
black, and about five inches longer than the rest, which are white. Length
17 inches.

Female, summer. Greyer than in winter.

Female., winter. Crown and chin dark brown ; sides of head dull
white, patch on each side of neck dark brown ; tail not elongated.
Length 16 inches.

229. HARLEQUIN DTJCK. Cosmonetta histrionica (Linnaeus). Very
rarely in winter.

Bill much shorter than head, and Goose-shaped ; a small lobe on each
side of the mandible ; tail much graduated.

Male. General colour dull blue ; head and neck blackish blue ; rusty
red stripe from eye to nape, with white line above ; flanks chestnut-
red ; white marks across breast. Wing-spot purple. Length 17 inches.

Female. General colour brown above ; below whitish ; white patch on
forehead, and white spot behind eye. Wing-spot bluish black. Length
14 inches.

230. STELLEE'S EIDER. Somateria stelleri (Pallas). Two occurrences :
Norfolk, Feb. 1830 ; Yorkshire, August 1845. \

Male. Head and back of neck white ; line across forehead, spot
between bill and eye, and patch on nape green. Wing-spot purple
between two white bars.

Female. General colour rufous brown, crossed with short black bars
below ; wing-spot bluish black. Length 18-20 inches.

231. KING EIDER. Somateria spectabilis (Linnaeus),
winter.

Rarely, in

Arctic

America,

Greenland.

Y\ Central line of feathers on the upper mandible running down to
. Jl. *> nostrils.

Male. Crown bluish grey, sides of head below eye pale green ; black
stripe on throat, meeting at chin ; scapulars black.

ANATID.E. 41

Female. Brown ; feathers on back marked with dark brown. Length
24 inches.
«>

~ 232. COMMON EIDER. Somateria mollissima (Linnaeus). Eesident ~ /} '
from Coquet Island northwards. Not breeding on Irish coasts.

Central line of feathers on upper mandible only reaching halfway to
nostrils.

Male. Crown of head black ; nape green ; scapulars and inner secon-
daries white.

Female. As in King Eider, but darker. Length 25 inches.

Sfc 233. SCOTER, or BLACK DUCK. (Edemia nigra (Linnaeus). Chiefly
autumn to spring, but a few breed in north of Scotland.

Adult male. Entirely black ; bill black, with centre of tipper man-
dible yellow, and a knob at the base.

Female. Sooty brown ; chin and throat whitish ; side of head greyish
white ; bill without knob.

Young. Cheeks, chin, sides, and front of neck dull greyish white ;
belly speckled with brown and white. Length 21 inches.

5 234. VELVET SCOTER. (Edemia fusca (Linna3us). Autumn to spring.

Adult male. Velvet-black, except the large wing-spot, eyelid, and patch
below eye, which are white ; iris yellowish white.

Female. Blackish brown, but with white wing-spot. Length 21
inches.

* 235. SURF-SCOTER. (Edemia perspicillata (Linnaeus). Autumn to N. America,
/spring. /? /

Adult male. Black ; white patch on nape and white patch on fore- <J f
head ; legs and feet orange-red.

Female. Brownish black ; white patch only on nape. Length 21
inches.

The following — Mergansers, or " Saw-bills " — have the bill slender and
straight, its edges with strong saw-like teeth pointing backwards.

; 236. GOOSANDER. Mergus merganser, Linnaeus. Chiefly on fresh
water from autumn to spring, but a few breed in Scotland.

Male. Head and upper neck glossy metallic black, slightly crested ;
lower neck and underparts white ; rump and tail ashy grey ; bill blood-
red, and, as in next two, longer than head ; iris red.

Female. Head and upper neck light chestnut, crested ; above slate-
grey ; below white ; wing-spot white.

Young. Like female, but without crest. Length 26 inches.

; 237. EED-BREASTED MERGANSER. Mergus serrator, Linnaeus. Eesident
"*in Scotland and Ireland; elsewhere from autumn to spring.

Male. Head and neck glossy metallic black ; crest of narrow elon-
gated black feathers ; white collar on neck, showing much when flying ;

42 ANATID^. — COLUMBIA.

rump white, with wavy black lines ; tail uniform brown ; bill vermilion ;
legs orange ; iris red.

Female and young. Like those of preceding species, but much smaller,
and head darker, black bar across wing-spot. Length 22-24 inches.

N. America. 238. HOODED MERGANSER. Mergus cucullatus, Linnaeus. Very rare

straggler, chiefly to Ireland.

Male. Head and neck black, with an erectile rounded crest ; the back
part white, with a black edge forming a hatchet-shaped mark with the
edge outwards ; legs dull red. Length 19 inches.

Female and young male. Head, neck, back, and wings dark brown ;
crown reddish brown ; feathers elongated. Length 17| inches.

.

I 1

3?

239. SMEW. Mergus albellus, Linnaeus. In winter months.

Male. Bill shorter than head. Black, grey, and white. Head and neck
white ; black stripe through eye to nape ; slightly crested ; rump ash-

gre-y*

Female. Head and nape chestnut, crested ; above slate-grey ; black
patch from bill to eye ; rump greyish black.

Young male. Like female, but has no black patch between eye and
bill. Length 14-17 inches.

Order C 0 L U HI B .33 . Family COLUMBID.E.

240. EiNG-DovE, or WOOD-PIGEON. Columba palumbus, Linnaeus.
Eesident.

Adult. White on outer wing-coverts ; white patch on each side of
neck.

Young. Without white patch on neck. Length 16-17 inches.

241. STOCK-DOVE. Columba oenas, Linnaeus. Eesident, breeding in
holes in trees and cliffs both on coast and inland, and in rabbit-

\\f UO

Adult. Sides of neck with metallic green patch ; axillaries grey.
Young. Without patch on neck. Length 13 inches.

242. EocK-DovE. Columba livia, J. F. Gmelin. In caves, on sea-
coasts, and also in ruined buildings; chiefly in Scotland and Ireland.
Very rare on the coasts of England.

Lower back and rump white ; two conspicuous black bands across the
wings ; axillaries white. Length 13 inches.

ll/

243. TURTLE-DOVE. Turtur communis, Selby. Spring to autumn.

Head, nape, rump, and outer wing-coverts bluish ash ; under tail-
coverts white; collar-patch of four rows of black feathers tipped with
white on each side of neck ; tail graduated, two centre feathers brown,
the rest slate-grey, the ends and outside web of outer pair \vhite.

Young. Without neck-patch. Length 11 \ inches.

COLUMBID^E. — TETRAONID^E. 43

244. EASTERN TURTLE-DOVE. Turtur orientalis, Gray. Young bird
reported once from Yorkshire (P. Z. S. 1890, p. 361).

Eastern representative of last and rather larger, darker ; collar-patch
and tail ashy, where white in Common Turtle-Dove. Length 13 inches.

Order PTEROCLETES. Family PTEEOCLIDJE.

245. THREE-TOED SAND-GROUSE. Syrrhaptes paradoxus (Pallas). Steppes of
Not recorded till 1859. Yast flights in 1863, and again in 1888, J^jjjJ^
when, and in 1889, a few pair bred.

Legs and toes feathered to the claws ; no hind toe. Length 16J-20 T

inches.

Male. On breast whitish band margined with black ; two centre tail-
feathers 3| inches longer than the others.

Female. Blackish band on throat ; tail-feathers shorter ; above more
marked with black than male.

Order GAL LIN 2E. Family TETRAONIDJE.

246. CAPEECAILLIE. Tetrao urogallus, Linnaeus. Exterminated in
eighteenth century ; re-introduced in 1837, to Scotland, and now common

Ltin fir-woods, especially in Perthshire.

Male. General colour dark slaty grey ; breast glossed with green.
Length 36 inches.

Female. Much like Grey-hen, but larger. Length 26 inches.

247. BLACK GROUSE. Tetrao tetrix, Linnaeus. Resident in Great
^Britain ; not indigenous in Ireland.

« Black-cock, male. Axillaries, under wing- and tail-coverts, and bar
across wing white ; rest of plumage glossy black ; outer tail-feathers
curving outwards. Length 22 inches.

Grey-hen, female. General colour chestnut and buff, barred and
marked with black. Length 15 inches.

f 248. RED GROUSE. Lac/opus scoticus (Latham). Resident : peculiar
to the British Islands.

Primaries dark brown ; tail of sixteen feathers, as in next.
Male. Dark brown, with large scarlet wattle above eyes.
Female. Lighter and smaller, with very small wattles. Length
14-15 inches.

249. PTARMIGAN. Lagopus mutus (Montin). Resident on high
mountains in Scotland.

Primaries white, with black shafts.

Male in summer. Black above, finely marked with brown and white
on lower back and rump ; wings and underparts white ; scarlet wattle
above eyes.

44 PHASIAKLDvE. —

Female in summer. Above buff, barred and closely marked with black
lines and white tips to feathers.

Autumn. Above slate-grey, finely marked with black ; head and neck
marked with rufous brown.

Winter. Entirely white, except the black tail with white tips ; the
male only having black between eye and bill, and black stripe behind
eye. Length 15 inches.

PHASIANIDJE.

250. PHEASANT. Phasianus colchicus (Linnaeus). Resident.

/|r v) " The pure P. colchicus, without white ring, is seldom seen now, as the
i^l Chinese P. torquatus has interbred.

251. PARTRIDGE. Perdix cinerea, Latham. Resident.

Adult. First primary rounded at end ; legs bluish grey.
/ \f £lr- Young. First primary sharp at the end ; legs light brown.

Female. Both old and young have feathers of wing-coverts darker
than in male, and barred with buff on each side of the web. Length
12| inches.

^ 252. RED-LEGGED PAETEIDGE. Caccabis rufa (Linnaeus). Resident ;

J/ 63 chiefly in the east and south of England. Introduced about 1770, and
gradually spreading.

Sexes alike, except that male has knobs or blunt spurs on legs. Black
gorget or collar from bill through eyes, enclosing a white throat ; dirty
white below this collar, spotted and streaked with black ; bill, eyelids,
and legs red ; tail chestnut, of fourteen feathers. Length 14 inches.

253. QUAIL. Goturnix communis, Bonnaterre. Spring to autumn ;
. (j^- rare in winter.

General colour buff, marked much as Partridge above.

Male. Chin and throat blackish.

Female. Chin and throat buff; larger than male. Length 7 inches.

Order PTJLICAEI-ZE. Family RALLIDJE.

254. CORN-CRAKE, or LAND-RAIL. Crex pratensis, Bechstein. Spring
to autumn, rarely in winter.

General colour above brownish buff, each feather on back with a
black centre ; axillaries chestnut ; bill shorter than head— as in the three
following species. Length 10 1 inches.

. 255. SPOTTED CRAKE. Porzana maruetta (Leach). Spring to autumn.

\\T *\\& General colour above olive-brown ; each feather on back with blackish

centre, and spotted with white ; axillaries barred with white ; breast
spotted. Length 8£ inches.

RALLID^I. — GRUID^!. 45

256. BAILLON'S CRAKE. Porzana bailloni (Vieillot). Rare. Spring Europe,

to autumn. Has nested in Eastern counties. Africa, rj

S.Asia, 7^4

Above dark reddish brown, marked with black ; cheeks, throat, and
breast slaty blue ; flanks black, barred with white ; more white streaks
and spots on back than in next species ; under wing-coverts mottled
with whitish.

Young. Chin and throat white ; breast and belly buff. Length
7 inches.

257. LITTLE CRAKE. Porzana parva (Scopoli). Scarce. Spring to Europe, Persia,
autumn. Sind. /\

Much like last, but larger, and with flanks slate-grey ; white spots only
on centre of back ; under wing- coverts uniform. Length 8 inches.

258. WATER-RAIL. Rallus aquaticus, Linnaeus. Resident.

Bill reddish at base, longer than the head, and slender.

Above brown, blotched with black ; below slaty blue ; axillaries,
belly, and flanks black, barred with white; legs and feet brown.
Length 10 inches.

259. MOORHEN, or WATERHEN. Gallinula chloropus (Linnaeus).
Resident.

General colour above olive-brown, below greyish black ; scarlet frontal
plate in adult, greenish brown in the young ; legs and feet greenish.
Length 13 inches.

260. COOT. Fulica atra, Linnaeus. Resident.

Front toes with rounded lobes. ^9

General colour slaty black ; secondaries tipped with white, forming *^ /

a wing-bar ; broad white shield on forehead ; legs bluish grey ; iris

crimson. Length 16 inches.

Order ALECTORIDES. Family GEUIDJE.

261. CBANE. Grus communis, Bechstein. Rare straggler. Europe and
General colour slate-grey ; tertials bluish black, forming elongated Jj^*^ •

plumes. 8. Europe, / 4

Adults with a red warty patch on crown. In young this is absent, N.Africa, / /
and the grey feathers on back are mixed with brown. Length 48 inches. and s- Asia- '

262. DEMOISELLE CRAKE. Grus virgo (Linnaeus). Recorded from g Europe)
the Orkneys. N.Africa' and

General colour bluish grey, sides of the head, throat, neck, the Jj^gj.*' in /'

lengthened pointed feathers on upper breast, and quill-feathers black ; c. & S. Africa

from each eye a tuft of lengthened white feathers extending backwards, and India.
Length 30 inches.

46

OTIDIDJE. — CHAEADEIID2E.

Europe, rarely
in N. Africa,
Central Asia.

t"!

S. & C. Europe,
N. Africa.

S.W. Asia to
N. India.

OTIDIDJE.

(No hind toe.)

263. GREAT BUSTAED. Otis tarda^ Linnaeus. Extinct as a resident
since about 1838 : now an irregular visitor.

Male. Head bluish grey ; general colour above reddish buff, with black
bands on each feather ; wings white or greyish, except the dark pri-
maries ; tuft of long bristly white feathers from base of bill ; band of
rich chestnut across breast, with grey band underneath, below this
white.

Female and young male. Without bristles on throat or band on chest,
and back more banded with black. Length : male 45 inches, female 36.

264. LITTLE BUSTAED. Otis tetrax, Linnaeus. Eare visitor: chiefly
to England in autumn.

Male in spring till August. General colour above sandy brown ; throat
and cheeks bluish black, with two white gorget-marks across.

Adult male. Back vermiculated with black, but otherwise in winter
resembles the female.

Female. Back spotted or blotched with black on sandy-brown ground-
colour ; underparts white ; iris golden yellow. Length 16-17 inches.

265. INDIAN HOUBAEA BUSTAED. Otis macqueeni, J. E. Gray. One
occurrence in Lincolnshire, 1847 ; several in Belgium, &c.

Male. Above finely vermiculated with black on a light buff ground ;
crest of white feathers tipped with black ; black ruff on sides of neck,
with a few pied and white feathers on the lower part ; tail with three
bluish bars.

Female. Like male, but crest and ruff smaller. Length 28-30 inches.

S. Europe and
N. Africa,
wintering in
S. Africa.

Order LIMIC OL-33. Family GLAREOLID^.

266. PEATINCOLE. Glareola pratincola (Linna3us). Irregular straggler
on migration.

Axillaries chestnut-red ; tail much forked.

Above dull brown ; rump and tail-coverts white ; throat buff, bordered
by a black line meeting at the gape, forming a bridle or collar; wings
very long, about 7J inches. Length 9-10 inches.

(Hind toe absent in most species.)

267. THICK-KNEE, or STONE-CUELEW. (Edicnemus scolopaac (S. G.
Gmelin). Spring to autumn ; some remain in Devon and Cornwall
through the winter.

Two obscure white bands across (extended) wings ; breast streaked ;

CHARADRIIDjE. 47

chin and throat white ; tail rather long and graduated ; bill yellow ;
terminal half black ; legs yellow ; iris very large and yellow. Length
16 inches.

268. CREAM-COLOURED COURSER. Cursorius gallicus ( J. F. Gmelin). N. Africa, ^ \
An irregular, but not very rare straggler to England ; once to S. Scotland ; Canaries,

not recorded from Ireland. Persia*'

General colour sandy buff; primaries and primary-coverts black; Punjab,
axillaries black ; bill as long as head, slightly curved ; legs greyish
white. Length 9|-10 inches.

269. GOLDEX PLOYER. Charadrius pluvialis, Linnaeus. Resident.

Male in spring. Above blackish, spotted with yellow ; chin, throat, / *)

\ breast, and belly black *.

Female. Less black below, being mottled with white feathers.
In winter. Below white, chest and flanks marked with brown.
Axillaries white. Length 9 inches.

270. ASIATIC GOLDEX PLOVER. Charadrius fulvus, J. F. Gmelin. Siberia to in

rare or seldom recognized straggler. winter as far

as New Zea-
Axillaries smoky grey ; otherwise as last, but slightly smaller. land.

271. GREY PLOYER. Squatarola helvetica (Linnaeus). Autumn to
spring.

J) Axillaries Hack ; small hind toe present.

Li spring. Above white, barred with black ; underparts black, or black
marked with white.

In winter marked much as Golden Plover, but the yellow spots of that
species are replaced by white, young birds only being marked with a few
yellow spots. Length 10-12 inches.

272. DOTTEREL. Eudromias morinellas (Linnaeus). Spring to autumn.
, Mountains of Cumberland and Westmoreland, and of Scotland ; else-
where only on passage in spring and autumn.

Axillaries greyish. Crown nearly black with white lines below, all
round above eyes to bill ; chin and throat white ; upper breast chestnut-
red; belly black.

Females brighter than males. Length 9 inches. / (

273. RINGED PLOVER. ^Egialitis hiaticula (Linnaeus). Resident.

.. Above hair-brown : forehead white ; fore crown black, reaching to
I and below eyes on each side, and to base of bill and ear-coverts ; throat
white, forming a complete ring, below this a broad black band round
breast ; both these collars narrowing to a line round nape ; rest of under-
parts white ; eyelids, legs, and feet orange ; basal half of bill yellow,
rest black.

* I have seen birds with black markings beginning to show as early as 7th January,
and remaining as late as 20th September.

l!

4b CHAEADEIID^E.

Females have the collars less clearly defined.

Young brown where black in adults ; bill black ; legs brown. Length
7-7 £ inches.

Individuals belonging to a small race have often been recorded as the
next species.

274. LITTLE RINGED PLOYEE. JEgialitis curonica (S. P. Gmelin). An
extremely rare straggler, though common not far off on the Continent.

Resembles last, but much smaller, is a more inland bird, and has shaft
of first primary white ; eyelids golden yellow ; legs and feet pale brown.
Length 6J inches.

275. CASPIAN PLOYEE. JEgialitis asiatica (Pallas). One occurrence :
Great Yarmouth (P. Z. S. 1890, p. 461).

Lores pure white ; legs pale clayey yellow ; axillaries white.

Male in summer. Above hair-brown ; forehead, throat, lores, stripe
above eye, and underparts white ; lower throat and breast with band of
chestnut, bordered below with black.

Female. Paler ; breast-band nearly colour of back.

Male in winter. Like female in summer, but breast-band paler and
indistinct.

276. KENTISH PLOYEE. JEgialitis cantiana (Latham). . Spring to
autumn ; breeding in Kent, Sussex, and Channel Islands.

Bill and legs black.

Male. Above hair-brown ; forehead white, black patch on fore crown ;
rest of crown and nape buff : black line through eye from bill to ear-
coverts ; a black patch on each side of breast, not forming a collar ; rest
of underparts white.

Female. No black on fore crown, but that and crown uniform with
the back ; the patch on each side of breast same colour as back. Length
6| inches.

277. KILLDEEE PLOVEE*. ^Egialitis vocifera (Linnaeus). Two
occurrences: Hants, 1857; Scilly Is., Jan. 1885. (

Two black bands across chest ; rump and upper tail-coverts chestnut- ^
buff; tail rather long and wedge-shaped. Length 10 inches.

278. PEEWIT, LAPWING, or GEEEN PLOVEE. Vanellus vulgaris, Bech-
stein. Resident.

Hind toe present and well developed.

A bove glossy green ; crown, throat, and breast black; crest of long
slender black feathers ; upper and under tail-coverts rufous ; legs flesh-
coloured.

Young. Crest short ; feathers above with buff edges ; legs dark brawn.
Length 13 inches.

* Properly " Killdee," from the note (Audubon).

CHABADBLTIXaB. — SCOLOPACTD.E.

279. SOCIABLE LAPWING. Vanellus gregarius (Pallas). One (imma-
ture) record : Lancashire, 1860. Ceylon, ^Arabia,

Secondaries entirely white; shortest primaries black on the outer N.E.Africa.
webs and white on the inner webs ; hind toe present. Length 13 inches.

Adult. Crown black, bordered below by a broad white stripe above eye
to nape ; belly black, bordered below with chestnut to the vent.

Young. Crown dark brown ; band from forehead to nape buffish
white ; breast white, marked with dark brown.

280. OTSTEB-CATCHEB. Hcematopus ostralegus, Linnaeus. Eesident.

No hind toe ; bill yellow, longer than head. 7 *1

Plumage black and white ; head, neck, scapulars, and terminal half of / ^TS.

tail black ; rump, upper tail-coverts, and axillaries white ; legs pink ; /

eyelids crimson. Length 16 inches.

281. TTJBNSTONE. Strepsilas interpres (Linnaeus). Autumn to spring ;
not yet detected breeding in British Isles.

Hind toe present ; bill black, strong, straight, and pointed, shorter
than head ; chin and throat pure white.

In spring. Back and wings marked with chestnut and black ; lower
back and rump white, the latter crossed by a black band ; legs and feet
orange-red.

In winter, chestnut colour absent ; legs pale red. Length 9| inches.

SCOLOPACIDJE.

282. AVOCET. Recurvirostra avocetta, Linnaeus. Formerly bred in . /^
S. and E. of England, now only occurs on migration.

Bill black, curved upwards and pointed.

White, except crown to below eye, hind neck, primaries, and some of
the inner secondaries and wing-coverts, which are black ; legs and the
partially webbed feet light blue ; iris red.

Young. Crown and hind neck brown. Length 18 inches.

283. BLACK-WINGED STILT. Himantopus candidus, Bonnaterre. Ir- S. Europe and
regular wanderer on migration. Asia, to in »

~ Bill black, twice as long as head, slender, straight, and pointed ; hind S. Africa. /
v toe absent ; nape, upper hind neck, wings, and back black ; underparts
white ; legs pale pink, about 4| inches long.

Old males have pure white heads. Length 13 inches.

284. GrBEY PHALABOIE. Phalaropus fulicarius (Linnaeus). Of irregular
appearance late in autumn to spring. Sometimes in great numbers in

f autumn.

Front toes as in next species lobed, like a Coot.
Bill short and wide ; tail graduated.
In summer. Below chestnut.

In winter. Forehead and crown white; grey nape, white wing-bar;
below white. Length 8 inches.

50

SCOLOPACID^E.

\T

285. RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. Phalaropus hyperboreus (Linnaeus).
Spring to autumn, a few nesting in some parts of N. Scotland. One
record from Ireland in winter.

Bill short, about an inch long, thin, and tapering to a point ; inside of x
upper mandible smooth, not laminated as in most Scolopacidse. (/

Females larger than males, and brighter.

In spring. Chin and throat white ; bright rufous patch on each side of
neck extending almost across the throat.

In winter. Crown brown ; scapulars blackish, each feather edged with
brownish buff. Length 7 inches.

. 286. WOODCOCK. Scolopax rusticula, Linnaeus. Resident : large
accession in winter.

Feathers on breast barred ; sixteen tail-feathers with silvery-white
tips on underside ; greyish tips above. Length 13 inches.

287. GREAT or SOLITARY SNIPE. Gallinago major (J. E. Grmelin).
On passage in spring and autumn, seldom later than September.

Belly barred to the vent ; sixteen tail-feathers, lower half of the four -
outside pairs white in adults, white with brown bar in young. Length
11 1 inches.

288. COMMON SNIPE. Gallinago coelestis (Frenzel). Resident. ^> i

[ \\ Axillaries white, barred with blackish grey; tail-feathers fourteen.
if l Length 10 J inches. " Sabine's Snipe " is merely a dark variety.

289. JACK SNIPE. Gallinago gallinula (Linnaeus). Autumn to spring.

Purple gloss on back ; axillaries white ; tail-feathers twelve, centre
pair longer than the rest. Length 7^- inches. Never known to breed
in British Islands.

N.America, 290. RED-BREASTED SsiPE. Macrorhamphus griseus (J. F. Gmelin).

wintering in yerv rare straggler, generally in autumn.

Cllili- Bill Snipe-like, about 2| inches long ; front toes webbed at base, most

: ~ L so between middle and outer toes ; shaft of first primary pure white.
Y » \ Rufous below in summer (when not seen in British Islands) ; white

in winter, when the general colour above is ash-grey ; lower back white ;

rump white, barred with black. Length 8| inches.

Scandinavia, 291. BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER. Limicola platyrhyncha (Temmiuck).

N. Russia, Rare visitor on migration ; not yet in Scotland.

Egypt, S. Asia, Bill much longer than head, nearly as broad as high at the base, very 5
Philippines, fat an(J wide up to the tip, with blunt rounded points. Very little or
and Mada- nQ w]1j|e on secondaries and upper tail-coverts ; legs greenish black.
s s ' *L 0 Winter. Ashy grey above, each feather with a dark centre Length
l 6 inches.

SCOLOPACIDJE. 51

292. SANDERLING. Calidris arenaria (Linnaeus). Autumn to spring. Arctic breeder-

\f Legs and bill black; bill as long as head and straight ; no hind toe.

In spring. Upper parts rufous and black ; head, throat, and upper
breast rufous, marked with black.

In winter. Grey above, white below ; rump ashy grey ; as long as the
head. Length 8 inches.

293. CURLEW-SANDPIPER. Tringa subarquata, Giildenstadt. On passage E. Arctic
£ in spring and autumn. breeder.

Bill curved downwards ; rump white.

In spring. General colour dark reddish chestnut, marked above with
blackish.

In autumn. General colour grey above ; below white. Length 7 inches.
!N"o authentic eggs of this species are known.

294. KNOT. Tringa canutus, Linnaeus. Autumn to spring. W. Arctic

' Bill black, quite straight, longer than head.

Plumage changes much as in last, but the red is not so dark ; rump
and upper tail-coverts whitish, barred with blackish ; legs and feet black.
Length 10 inches.

Young. Feathers on back bordered with dark bars, tipped with buffy
white ; below tinged with buff ; legs and feet yellowish green.

Authentic eggs of the Knot are unknown.

295. DUNLIN. Tringa alpinq, Linnaeus. Resident : large accessions
in cold weather.

Bill very slightly bent down towards thft tip and longer than head ;
bill, legs, and feet black.

Summer. Belly black; general colour above reddish brown, marked
with black.

Winter. Belly white. General colour above ashy grey. Length 8
inches.

296. PURPLE SANDPIPER. Tringa striata, Linnaeus. Autumn to Sub-arctic.
• spring ; not yet proved to breed in British Islands.

Bill as in Dunlin, but base dull yellow.

Ramp and upper tail-coverts nearly black, with a purplish tinge ;
seventh to ninth secondaries nearly white ; legs rather short and dull
yellow. Length 8 inches.

Young have feathers above with white margins.

297. TEMMINCK'S STINT. Tringa temmincki, Leisler. Irregular visitor u . Europe )
f on migration. and Asia, \J {

& Bill straight ; legs and feet greenish brown. Africa and

Outer tail-feathers pure white. Length 5| inches. India.

298. LITTLE STINT. Tringa minuta, Leisler. On passage in spring N.E. Europe

> and autumn. Asia, wintering

Plumage above much as in Dunlin both in summer and winter, but /

bill quite straight. /£

Outer tail-feathers ashy brown ; legs and feet black. Length 6 inches.

E2

52

SCOLOPACIDJE.

Arctic America,

wintering

south.

N. America,
wintering as
far south as
Patagonia.

V

Arctic America,
wintering in
S. America and
Falkland
Islands.

V-

Arctic
America,
wintering in
S. America.

299. AMERICAN STINT. Tringa minutilla, Vieillot. Two occurrences :
Cornwall, 1853 ; Devon, 1869.

Outer tail-feathers grey ; legs and feet pale brown. Length 6 inches.

300. PECTORAL SANDPIPER. Tringa maculata, Vieillot. The most
frequent of wanderers from America.

Above brownish black, each feather edged with reddish brown ; rump
and upper tail-coverts blackish; wing-coverts blackish grey, margined
with light grey. Central tail-feathers uniform blackish, and about a
quarter of an inch longer than the next ones. Legs and feet yellowish -
green. Length 8| inches.

, 301. BONAPARTE'S SANDPIPER. Tringa fuscicollis, Vieillot. A much
rarer straggler than the above.

Rump and upper tail-coverts white, streaked with blackish brown ; legs
and feet brown ; bill straight and as short as head. Length 7 J inches.

302. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. Tryngites rufescens ( Vieillot). Rare
straggler.

Bill shorter than head, slightly curved down.

General colour dark buff ; under surface of wings buff, marbled with
black and white ; axillaries white ; tail graduated, two centre feathers
black, the rest buff, marbled with black and white ; legs buff. Length
7 inches.

Uplands of
N. America,
wintering in
S. America.

303. RCTF. Machetes pugnax (Linnaeus). Formerly bred in E. of
England, now chiefly on migration from spring to autumn.

RUFF, male ; REEVE, female.

Axillaries white, no white on primaries, secondaries, or central upper
tail-coverts; outside tail-feathers mottled; bill straight, as long as
head.

Male in spring. With a ruff of various shades from black to pure
white and chestnut.

Female, and male in winter. Without ruff. Legs yellowish brown.
Length : male 12| inches, female 10|.

304. BARTRAM'S SANDPIPER. Bartramia longicauda (Bechstein).
Rare straggler.

Much resembles Reeve, but has quills and tail-feathers barred with
black. Wings not reaching to end of tail.

Axillaries ivhite, barred with dark brown ; under wing-coverts barred
with black and white; tail rather long and graduated. Length 12
inches.

305. GREEN SANDPIPER. Totanus ochropus (Linnaeus). Occurs
during all months; most rarely in June, most commonly in August.
Not yet detected breeding in the British Islands ; on Continent lays in
old nests on trees.

Bill straight, longer than head, as in next seven species.

SCOLOPACID.E. 53

Above greenish brown, with minute white spots ; below white ; rump
and outer tail-feathers on each side white ; axillaries brownish black,
with narrow white bars ; legs dark green. Length 9| inches.

306. SOLITAEY SANDPIPEE. Totanus solitarius (Wilson). Three N.America,
# occurrences : Clyde ('Ibis/ 1870) ; Cornwall, 1882 and 1885. wintering i

Much as last, but no white on rump ; axillaries evenly barred with
brown and white, no traces of bars on primaries. Length 9| inches.

307. WOOD-SAITOPIPER. Totanus glareola (J. F. Gmelin). On
I passage in spring and autumn ; once found breeding in Northumberland
[ by J. Hancock in 1853.

Above greenish brown, each feather margined with buffy-white spots ;
upper tail-coverts white ; axillaries white, sometimes with a few dusky
bars ; legs pale olive, 1 j inches long. Length 7| inches.

-. 308. YELLOWSHA-N-K. Totanus flavipes (J. F. Gmelin). Two occur- N. America, *
^ rences : Notts and Cornwall. wintering in *<

S. America.^,/

Axillaries white, slightly marked with brown ; legs bright yellow, £,

about 2 inches long. Length 10| inches.

309. COMMON SAKDPIPER. Totanus Jiypoleucus (Linnaeus). Spring
*~ to autumn.

Above greenish brown ; axillaries white ; secondaries brown, with
white bases and tips. Length 7| inches.

310. BEDSHAKK. Totanus calidris (Linnaeus). Resident.

y Secondaries, axillaries, and upper tail-coverts white ; legs and feet red J
in adults, yellowish in young. Length 10-11 inches.

311. DUSKY BEDSHANK. Totanus fuscus (Linnaeus). On passage in
spring and autumn.

Larger than last ; secondaries white, barred with grey ; upper tail-
coverts white, barred with blackish brown ; legs red. Length 12 inches.

312. GEEENSHANK. Totanus canescens (J. F. Gmelin). Breeds in
N. Scotland ; found elsewhere in autumn and in spring ; seldom in

2- winter, except in West of Ireland.

Secondaries uniform grey ; bill black, longer than head, and slightly
turned upwards ; legs olive-green.

In breeding-season has blackish marks on back and black spots on
flanks, most developed in the female. Length 13-14 inches.

i 313. BAE-TAILED GOD WIT. Limosa lapponica (Linnaeus). Autumn
••:> to spring.

Bill as in next species very long. L —

Bump nearly white ; axillaries barred with black and white ; tail
barred in spring and in young birds ; adults in winter have tail ash-
grey, marbled at the base, long tail-coverts barred.

«•*

54 SCOLOPACID^E. — LAELD.ffi.

Female Godwits much larger than males.
In summer. Below pale red, darker in male.

In winter. Below white, above greyish brown; feathers with dark
shaft-streaks. Length 15-16 inches.

- 314. BLACK-TAILED GTODWIT. Limosa belgica (J. F. Gmelin). For-

^ merly bred in the east of England ; now only occurs on migration.

Larger than last; upper tail-coverts white: tail black, with white
base ; white bar across wing ; axillaries white, but sometimes barred «-
with brown.

In summer. Breast reddish, belly white, barred with blackish brown.

In winter. Ashy brown above, below greyish white. Length 16-20
inches.

.si

315. CUELEW. Numenius arquata (Linnaeus). Eesident.

Bill as in next two species, very long and curved downwards.

Crown pale brown, regularly streaked with dark brown ; axillaries
white, barred with dark brown ; rump paler than back. Length 21-26
inches.

316. WHIMBEEL, or "MAY-BIED." Numenius pliceopus (Linuseus).
On passage in spring and autumn ; a few breed on some of the islands
in the north of Scotland.

V * Crown dark brown, with pale streak along the top ; in some young

birds this streak is almost obsolete and the brown on head has a glossy
sheen ; axillaries white, barred more or less with brown. Length 16-
18 inches.

Arctic w CQ 317. ESKIMO WHIMBEEL. Numenius borealis (J. E. Forster). Eare
America, V * J straggler. ^

far^outh. as Smaller than last, pale stripe on crown, no white on rump ; axillaries

Patagonia. chestnut, barred with brown ; back of legs covered with hexagonal
reticulations. Length 14 inches.

Order GAVI-S3. Family LARID^l.

Subfamily STEEOTN^E. Legs and feet small and weak ;
bill as long as or longer than head.

Europe, 318. BLACK TEEN. Hyd,rochelidon nigra (Linnaeus). Formerly bred

America*' *n ^e east °^ -^n^an(l '•> now ornJ on migration. (

Head, neck, breast, and belly black ; vent and under tail-coverts
\^\, ' white ; under wing-coverts pale grey ; rest of plumage slate-grey ; bill

black ; legs reddish brown. Length 10 inches.

Autumn. Forehead, throat, and nape white ; below barred with white.

S.& C.Europe, 319. WHITE-WINGED BLACK TEEN. HydrocheUdonleucoptera(Sc}iinz).
Africa, Irregular visitor on migration.

W i Asici. «c

Ceylon, Head, neck, underparts, and under wing-coverts black ; vent, tail, and

N.Zealand. tail-coverts white; bill dark red ; legs scarlet. Length 9| inches.

LARID.E. 55

320. WHISKEEED TEEN. Hydrochelidon hybrida (Pallas). Very rare. S.Europe,
5? Forehead, crown, and nape black ; chin and sides of neck white ;

belly very dark brown, almost black ; rest of plumage grey or white ;
under wing-coverts white ; bill dark red; legs vermilion. Length 11^
inches.

321. GULL-BILLED TEEN. Sterna anglica, Montagu. Eare wand- Europe, Asia,

/ erer ; only to England. Africa, jj *

** Head and bill black ; lower mandible slightly angulated or " Gull-
billed " ; tail bluish grey. Length 13-14 inches.

322. CASPIAN TEEN. Sterna caspia, Pallas. Eare visitor, to England Europe, Asia, ^

i Australia, « <

r~onlv- N. America, ,O

The largest of the Terns. Mexico.

Head black ; tail white ; bill red, dark at tip ; legs black. Length
19-21 inches.

/ 323. SANDWICH TEEN. Sterna cantiaca, J. F. Gmelin. Spring to **

L autumn. Breeds as far north as the mouth of the Findhorn.

The next in size of the British Terns.

Head black ; tail white ; bill black, with yellow tip ; legs black.
Length 15 inches.

*7 324. EOSEATE TEEN. Sterna dougalli, Montagu. Spring to autumn.
/ Earely nests.

A very slender Tern.

Uuderparts tinged with roseate ; primaries with white inner margins
to the tips; tail deeply forked, about 9 inches long, outer feathers 6
inches longer than central; bill black, red at base; legs vermilion.
Length 15-17 inches.

325. AECTIC TEEN. Sterna macrura, Naumann. Spring to autumn.
Breeds much further north than next species, and as far south as
Humber in Great Britain and Kerry in Ireland.

Crown black ; below as grey as the back. First primary with the
grey stripe along the shaft of the inner web no broader than the outer
web; bill and legs coral-red; legs shorter than in next. Length 15
inches.

326. COMMON TEEN. Sterna fluviatilis, Naumann. Spring to autumn.
Has bred as far north as Sutherland.

Crown black, below white.

First primary with the grey stripe along the shaft of the inner web
twice as broad as the outer web ; bill and legs coral-red ; bill blackish
at tip. Length 14 inches.

327. LITTLE TEEN. Sterna minuta, Linna3us. Spring to autumn.
Has bred as far north as Aberdeenshire.

Crown black ; forehead white ; rump and tail white ; bill yellow ;
legs bright orange. Length 8| inches.
Smallest British Tern.

56 LAEID^E.

Tropical; As- 328. SOOTY TEEN. Sterna fuliginosa, 3. F. Gmelin. Three occur-
cension Island, rences, 1869, 1882, 1885, all in England.

IHL »' Crown and sides of head black ; forehead white; above nearly black,
below white ; tail much forked ; feet webbed to ends of toes. Length
16 inches.

Tropical. 329. LESSEE SOOTY TEEN. /Sterna ancesiheta, Scopoli. One record :

mouth of Thames, 1875.

1.1 \t*> Smaller than preceding, paler above ; nape white ; web between outer
and middle toe not reaching to the claw of the middle toe. Length 14
inches.

Tropical. 330. NODDY TEEN. Anous stolidus (Linnaeus). Two records : Wex-

ford, 1830.

) 3 General colour dark brown ; forehead and crown grey ; throat lead-
gre7 > tail long and graduated. Length 14 1 inches.

Subfamily LAKIN./E. Legs and feet large and strong ; bill
shorter than head.

Arctic America 331. SABINE'S GULL. Xema sabinii (Joseph Sabine). Irregular
to Peru in straggler. Young not infrequent ; adults very rare.

Tail forked.
13 inches.

| J In Adult, spring. Head dark grey, with black line underneath. Length

' 1 ?t TripVios

Arctic. / 332. WEDGE-TAILED G-ULL. Rhodostethia rosea, Macgillivray. One

£- / (7 record: Yorkshire.

hi f ' 9 Tail long and graduated. Head rose-colour ; black collar round

middle of neck ; bill black ; legs and feet vermilion. Length 14 inches.
Eggs unknown.

N. Russia to 333. LITTLE GULL. Larus minutus, Pallas. Autumn to spring,

Mediterranean sometimes in numbers.

in winter. _. . _T . . ,

Spring. Head black,

*• f8 Winter. Head white, with a few dusky spots.
\y[ Young. Head brownish, marked with black and grey.

Smallest Gull, length of wing under 9^ inches. Length 10-11 inches.

Arctic 334. BONAPAETE'S GULL. Larus Philadelphia, Ord. Eare straggler.

wintering in Head greyish black ; bill black, -rathe* slender ; legs red ; outer web

Florida and of first primary black, white or pale grey margins to inner webs of two
California. t*j outer primaries, broad black ends to first six. Length 14-15 inches.

335. BEOWN-HEADED GULL. Larus ridibundus, Linnaeus. Eesident.

Head sooty brown from about March 1st to August 1st.

Winter. Head white, with grey patch behind eye.

Young. Marked above with brown, and, as in all Hack-headed Gulls,
has blackish bar at end of tail.

Primaries white, with black tips, edged on the inner web with black
and usually on the outer web. Length 15-16 inches.

*j
/

J

LAELDJ3. 57

336. MEDITEEEANEAI* BLACK-HEADED GULL *. Larus melanocephalus, E- Mediter-
pNatterer. Eecorded from Yarmouth, Dec. 1886.

Bill stouter than last.

In summer. Head jet-black.

Adults. Primaries white, except the first, which has the outer web
margined with black.

Young. Outer webs and shafts of first five primaries dark brown, outside
of inner web of third primary white. Length 15 inches.

337. GEEAT BLACK-HEADED G-ULL. Larus ichihyaetus, Pallas. One Egypt, Caspian

/ occurrence : Exmouth, June 1859. to Bed Sea,

India. /) t

Bill orange-yellow, crossed near end with black bar ; head, throat, I/

and nape black; small white mark above and below eye. Length 29
inches.

338. COMMON G-ULL. Larus canus, Linnaeus. Resident ; not known

Tto breed south of the Sol way in Great Britain, but nests in West of 9) *.
Ireland.

In spring. Head and neck white ; mantle pale grey ; bill and legs
greenish yellow ; former yellow at point. t

In winter. Head and neck streaked and spotted with brown ; legs pale
brown.

Young. Head, neck, and underparts white, mottled with light brown ;
tail with black band at end. Primaries black or dark brown, with white
spots at the end or next the end. Length 18 inches.

339. HEEELT^G-GULL. Larus argentatuSj J. F. Gmelin. Eesident.
Head and neck white ; mantle pale grey ; legs and feet flesh-colour.
Young. Feathers above brown, with pale edges ; tail barred with brown ; j£j%

underparts white, streaked with brown. Length 22-24 inches.

340. LESSEE BLACK-BACKED GULL. Larus fuscus, Linnaeus. Eesident. ^ ^?

f Head and neck white ; mantle slaty black ; legs and feet yellow ; pri- /__
maries nearly uniform dark brown.

Young. Like last. Length 21-23 inches.

341. GEEAT BLACK-BACKED GTULL. Larus marinus, Linnaeus.
Eesident.

Eesembles last, but larger. Legs and feet flesh-colour ; distinct wedge
on third and fourth primaries.

Young. Like last. Length 26-33 inches.

&

342. GLAUCOUS GULL. Larus glaucus, O. Fabricius. Winter visitor. Arctic.

Adult. Entirely white, except grey mantle ; head and neck streaked ~ ^
"with ash-grey in winter.

Young. Dull white, mottled with pale brown ; primaries greyish
white ; for a short time before assuming adult plumage the mantle is
entirely white. Length 26-33 inches.

* Eggs obtained in the S.W. of Spain, and stated to belong to this species, appear to
have been those of the Gull-billed Tern, Sterna anglica.

58

LARIDJE.

Arctic.

Arctic.

343. ICELAND GULL. Larus leucopterus, Faber. Winter straggler.

Like last, but smaller ; wings relatively much longer, being nearly
as long as those of last.

Young. As in Glaucous Gull. Length 22 inches.

344. KITTIWAKE.
Nests on rocks.

Rissa tridactyla (Linnaeus). Partially resident.

Hind toe absent or rudimentary.

In summer. Head, neck, and tail pure white ; bill greenish yellow.
In winter. Head and neck slate-grey.

Young. Bill black ; brown feathers on back ; tail with black band at
end. Length 15 inches.

345. IVORY GULL. Pagophila eburnea (Phipps). Rare, in winter.

Entirely white ; legs black ; tail rather long and slightly graduated ;
hind toe connected with leg by a web.

Young. Black spots on wings, tips of quills, and tail-feathers ; still
younger birds have black spots also on back. Length 16-18 inches.

Sub-arctic.

Arctic, to

N. Australia in

winter.

\fl

82° N., to

N. Zealand in'

winter.

Subfamily STEECOBABIIN^. BOBBER-GULLS.

Base of upper mandible covered with a cere or skin, and hooked at
the point.

346. GREAT SKUA. Stercorarius catarrliactes (Linnaeus). Breeds in
Shetlands, where it is now protected.

General colour above dark brown ; below lighter brown ; axillaries
dark brown ; primaries blackish brown, bases white, forming a well-
marked band. Tail dark brown, white at the base, but this is hidden by
the coverts ; two centre feathers very slightly longer than the others.
Length 24-25 inches, leg 2J-3 j.

347. TWIST-TAILED or POMATORHIFE SKUA. Stercorarius pomato-
rhinus (Temminck). Autumn to spring.

Two forms or races are found, both dark brown above. The dark
form as dark below as above ; the light form white below, barred on
flanks and tail-coverts with dark brown, white on the throat, tinged
with golden yellow, and sometimes extending round nape.

Centre tail-feathers *4 inches longer than the others, and twisted
upwards.

Young. Above dark brown ; below paler, with buff margins to the
feathers ; tail brown, two centre feathers only very slightly longer than
the others. Length 21 inches, leg 2.

348. BIOHARDSOX'S SKUA. Stercorarius crepidatus (J. F. Gmelin).
Breeds on one or two places on the mainland and on some of the islands
of N. of Scotland.

Two forms or races are found.

LABIDJE. — ALCIDjE. 59

Dark race. Adult uniform sooty brown, to which the name Richard-
sons is strictly applied ; but the name Arctic, also employed, is a misnomer,
as this bird breeds and also migrates further south than any of the other
northern Skuas.

Light race. Adult nearly as those of next species, but two centre tail-
feathers only 3 inches longer than the others. Legs black.

Young. Sooty brown ; paler below ; centre tail-feathers little longer
than the others.

All primaries with white shafts.

Length, including centre tail-feathers, about 20 inches.

/" 349. LONG-TAILED or BUFFOX'S SKUA. Stercorarius parasiticus Arctic, to
'(Linnaeus). Irregularly, autumu to spring. 40°N.in

Adult. Crown black ; above brownish grey ; below white ; sides of wmter<
neck white, tinged with yellow ; legs slate-grey. Two central tail- /} ^
feathers about 9 inches.louger than the others.

Young. Sooty brown ; flanks and tail-coverts with buff margins ; ^
centre tail-feathers little longer than the others.

First two primaries with white shafts, but it is said that the nostrils of
Buffon's Skua are nearer the frontal feathers than the tip of the bill —
in Richardson's Skua the contrary being the case.

Length, including central tail-feathers, 22| inches.

Order P YGOPODES. Family ALCID.E.

?GKEAT AUK. Alca impennis, Linnaeus. Extinct : last British
erkarvimckn ~\ RQA. • la of. -Prifcnnm ivir>r»Wl 1 ft/14.

GEEAT AUK.
specimen, 1834;

Alca impennis, Linnaeus,
last foreign record, 1844.

Extinct : last British

/ 350. RAZOBBILL. Alca torda, Linnaeus. Resident.
9 Bill black, straight, large, much decurved towards point, with curved
white line across centre on each side ; upper mandible hooked, with
three grooves across.

In summer. Above black, with green gloss ; secondaries tipped with
white, forming a band ; narrow white streak from base of upper mandi-
ble to eye ; below white, but chin and throat blackish.

In winter. Green gloss above nearly absent ; chin, throat, and sides
of head white; in young birds bill less developed. Length 17 inches.

351, COMMON GUILLEMOT. Uria troiU (Linnaeus). Resident.

Bill blackish, straight and pointed.

In summer. Head, neck, and upper surface dark brown ; below white.

In winter. Throat and sides of head white. Length 18 inches.

The Ringed Guillemot is a race or variety, with a white ring round
the eye and a white line running backwards therefrom.

It

60 ALCID^E. — COLYMBID^E.

Arctic, ft 352. THICK-BILLED or BRTTIOTCH'S GUILLEMOT. Uria bruennichi, E.
\ <J / Sabine. Eecorded on somewhat slight evidence.

i. (? Larger and darker than last, and with shorter and stouter bill, base of
the upper mandible whitish.

353. BLACK GUILLEMOT. Uria grylle (Linnaeus). Eesident : breeds
; on Isle of Man, Scotch and Irish coasts.

Legs, feet, and inside of mouth vermilion.

• * (ff In summer. Black, middle and great wing-coverts, basal half of inner
yl web of primaries, under wing-coverts, and axillaries white ; wing-coverts

with hidden black bases.

In winter. Head and nape white, speckled with black ; back, scapulars.
and upper tail-coverts black, barred with white ; rump and underparts
white ; wings and tail black; bill black, red at base. Length 14 inches.

Arctic. 354. LITTLE AUK. Meryulus alle (Linnaeus). In winter.

Bill black, shorter than head, thick, broader than high at base.
y, 7^ In summer. Above black, except ends of secondaries and sides of
m scapulars, which are margined with white ; small white spot over eye ;

chin, throat, and fore neck black ; rest below white.

In winter. The same ; but chin, throat, and fore neck are white.
Length 8| inches.

«*
vf „/

355. PUFFIN. Fratercula arctica (Linnaeus). Eesident.

Bill shorter than head, higher than long; both mandibles arched
(and in summer grooved across with orange).

Above black ; forehead and crown greyish brown ; black ring round
white throat ; below white ; axillaries brown ; legs orange.

In ivinter the bill is smaller and without brighter colour, the base of
the bill being shed in autumn. Length 12 inches.

COLYMBID^E.

(Females smaller than males.)

356. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. Golymbus glacialis, Linnaeus. Chiefly
I \L autumn to spring ; occurs in the Shetlands in summer.

i.^ Adult : spring. Head and neck black, with purple gloss ; a band of!

white stripes on throat, below which is another band of white stripes ;
bill black ; iris red.

Winter. Above uniform blackish brown, more or less spotted with
white; below white. Length 30-33 inches.

Arctic, 357. WHITE-BILLED NORTHERN DIVER. Colymbus adamsi, G. E.

Gray. Scarce or overlooked straggler.

I. *} Eesembles Great Northern Diver, but is larger. Adults have yellowish-

yli white bill, upper mandible slightly curved up, and the white spots on

back larger.

COLYMBID.&. — PODICIPEDID.E. 61

b 358. BLACK-THEOATED DIYEE. Colymbus arcticus, Linnaeus. Breeds
locally in N. of Scotland, migrating southward in winter.

Adult : spring. Chin and throat black, with a purple gloss, divided by
a patch of white with black lines ; iris red.

Winter. Like last, but smaller. Length 25 inches.

359. RED-THEOATED DiYEE. Colymbus septentrionalis, Linnaeus. / Q
7 Breeds in N. of Scotland and Ireland.

Adult : spring. Throat grey, with lower part chestnut-red.
Winter. Above ashy grey, speckled and spotted with white, most so
in the young ; underparts white. Length 21-23 inches.

PODICIPEDIDJE. Feet with lobes; no true tail.

360. GEEAT CRESTED GEEBE. Podicipes cristatus (Linnaeus),
v Resident.

Male : summer. Crown and tufts black ; tippet round face chestnut,
with black edges.

Female. Rather smaller ; crest and tippet not so much developed.

In luinter these ornaments are scarcely present in the adult male, less
so in the female, and absent in the young; all have white eye-stripe.
Length 20-24 inches.

f 361. RED-NECKED GEEBE. Podicipes griseigena (Boddaert). Autumn
to spring.

In summer. Crown, nape, back of neck black ; chin and throat grey ;
neck in front chestnut-red ; no tippet ; bill black, base of bill yellow.
In winter. Keck in front grey ; no eye-stripe. Length 16| inches.

362. LESSEE CEESTED or SLAVONIAN GEEBE. Podicipes auritus
) (Linnaeus). Autumn to spring ; not known to breed in British
Islands.

Bill straight.

In summer. With tuft of lengthened chestnut feathers on each side
of head from bill to nape : crown, forehead, chin, and ruff or tippet
black ; neck and flanks chestnut.

In winter. As in last. Length 13 inches.

,» 363. BLACK-NECKED or EAEED GEEBE. Podicipes nigricollis, C. L. f\ L
Brehm. Autumn to spring. Jl J

Bill slightly curved upwards ; inner four primaries white throughout.

In summer. Head and neck black, with a stripe from eye to nape of
lengthened golden reddish feathers.

In winter. Resembles last in plumage, except the white on primaries.
Lensrth 12 inches.

62

PODICIPEDID^. — PROCELLARIIDJE.

364. DABCHICK, or LITTLE GREBE. Podicipes fluviatilis (Tunstall).
[Resident : even breeds regularly in St. James's Park, arriving there in
spring and leaving late in autumn.

In summer. Chin black ; cheeks, sides, and front of neck reddish
chestnut.

In winter. Chin white, the reddish chestnut of neck replaced by
brown ; iris brown. Length 8-9 inches.

N.& S.Atlantic,
Tdciflc, New
Zealand.

Order TUBINAEES.

Family PROCELL A RIID^J.

(Nostrils in a tube.)

365. FULMAR. Fulmarus glacialis (LinnsBus). Resident, breeding on
some islands of N. Scotland.

Head, neck, and underparts white ; the rest grey.
A grey race occurs, with entire plumage ashy brown ; back and
wings darker. Length 19 inches.

366. CAPPED PETREL. CEstrelata hcesitata (Kuhl). One occurrence
in Norfolk, in 1850.

Head, crown, nape, back, and wings dark brown ; rump, upper tail-
coverts, forehead, and underparts white ; tail graduated. Length
16 inches.

367. COLLARED PETREL. CEstrelata torquata, John Macgillivray.
Reported to have occurred on "Welsh coast (' Ibis,' 1891, p. 411).

" Above light grey ; face, cheeks, and chin white ; crown, back of
head, and neck sooty brown," but varies greatly in depth of colour.
Length 12 inches.

368. GREAT SHEARWATER. Puffinus major, F. Faber. Irregular.

Head to below eye and nape dark brown, forming a distinct cap ;
back of neck whitish, feathers tipped with brown ; cheeks, chin, throat,
sides of neck, and breast white ; centre of belly brownish ; back, wing-
coverts, and rump dark brown, feathers tipped with light greyish;
lower part of upper tail-coverts white ; tail dark brown ; axillaries
white, tipped with light brown. Length 18-19 inches.

369. SOOTY SHEARWATER. Puffinus griscus ( J. F. Gmelin). Straggler.
Underparts uniform brown. Length 17-18 inches.

370. MANX SHEARWATER. Puffinus anc/lorum (Temminck). Resident.

Head, back, wings, and tail blackish brown ; breast white ; rest of
underparts dark smoky grey ; bill and legs bluish grey. Length 13- "
14 inches, wing 9|.

PROCELLARIID^!. 63

371. DUSKY SHEARWATER. Puffinus obscurus (J. F. Gmelin). Two Atlantic,
occurrences : Kerry Coast, 1853 ; Suffolk, 1858. w- Indies.

Smaller than Manx Shearwater. Above black ; underparts pure
white ; axillaries white. Length 11 inches.

372. WHITE-FACED or FRIGATE-PETREL. Pelagodroma marina N.Zealand, "I*
(Latham). Eeported, once, from Lancashire Coast, Nov. 1890 ('Ibis/ S. Pacific. ^J-
1891, p. 602). ^j

Forehead, face, line over eye and below pure white ; above slate-
colour ; upper tail-coverts light ; legs and feet black, webs yellow.
Length 9 inches.

373. BULWER'S PETREL. Bulweria columbina (Moquin-Tandon). One Canaries,
^occurrence : Yorkshire, 1837.

Uniform brownish black ; tail long and wedge-shaped. Length Islands.
10| inches.

- 374. STORM-PETREL. Procellaria pelagica, Linnaeus. R-esident.

•^ Above slaty black ; upper tail-coverts and sides of vent white ;
below darker ; tail slightly rounded ; legs and feet black. Length ^"
5 1 inches. Smallest web-footed bird.

375. FORK-TAILED PETREL. Procellaria leucorrhoa, Vieillot. Resident, N. Atlantic,
f breeding in Hebrides, and Blasquets, Co. Kerry.

Slate-black above, darker below ; upper tail-coverts white ; tail long,
deeply forked. Length 7^ inches.

/ 376. LONG-LEGGED or WILSON'S PETREL. Oceanites oceanicus (Kuhl). Atlantic,
fe> Scarce straggler. ler^uelei

Sooty black, darkest below ; upper tail-coverts and sides of vent Island.
white ; tail almost square ; hind toe absent.

Legs 1 1 inches long and slender, covered with large scales ; toes
black, with the centre of tbe webs yellow. Length 7| inches.

INDEX.

[The figures denote the sequence-numbers, not pages.]

Accentors, 21, 22.
Alpine Accentor, 22/

„ Swift, 129.
American Bittern, 192.

Blue-winged Teal, 217.

Goshawk, 164.

Green- winged Teal, 216.

Stint, 299.

Wigeon, 220.
Aquatic Warbler, 35.
Arctic Skua, 348.
„ Tern, 325.
Asiatic Golden Plover, 270.
Auks, 350, 354.
Avocet, 282.

Baillon's Crake, 256.
Barn-Owl, 144.
Barred Warbler, 28.

„ Woodpecker, 135.
Bar-tailed Godwit, 313.
Bartram's Sandpiper, 304.
Bean-Goose, 200.
Bearded Eeedling, 51.
Bee-eater, 140.
Bernacle Goose, 204.
Bewick's Swan, 208.
Bitterns, 190-192.
Blackbird, 6.
Blackcap, 26.
Black Duck, 233.

„ Grouse, 247.

„ Guillemot, 353.

„ Kite, 167.

„ Kedstart, 17.

„ Stork, 194.

„ Tern, 318.

„ -headed Bunting, 98.

„ -necked Grebe, 363.

„ -tailed Godwit, 314.

„ -throated Diver, 358.
„ Thrush, 5.

Wheatear, Western, 13.

„ -winged Stilt, 283.
Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail, 112.

Blue-tailed Bee-eater, 140.
Bluethroat, Red-spotted, 18.
Blue Tit, 47.
Bonaparte's Gull, 334.

Sandpiper, 301.
Brambling, 88.

Brandt's Siberian Bunting, 102.
Brent Goose, 203.
Broad-billed Sandpiper, 291.
Brown Owl, 147.

„ -headed Gull, 335.
Briinnich's Guillemot, 352.
Buff-backed Heron, 186.

„ -breasted Sandpiper, 302.
Buffel-headed Goldeneye, 227-
Buffon's Skua, 349.
Bullfinch, 94.
Bulwer's Petrel, 373.
Buntings, 98-108.
Bustards, 263-265.
Butcher-bird, 71.
Buzzards, 159, 160.

Calloo, 40.
Capercaillie, 246.
Capped Petrel, 366.
Carrion-Cruw, 66.
Caspian Plover, 275.

Tern, 322.
Cattle Heron, 186.
Chaffinch, 87.
Chiffchaff, 40.
Chough, Red-billed, 60.
Cirl Bunting, 101.
Coal Tit, 48.
Collared Petrel, 367.
Common Buzzard, 159.

Eider, 232.

Guillemot, 351.

Gull, 338.

Heron, 182.

Sandpiper, 309.

Snipe, 288.

Tern, 326.
Coot 260.

INDEX.

Cormorant, 179.
Corn-Bunting, 99.
„ -Crake, 254.

Courser, Cream-coloured, 268.
Crakes, 254-257.
Crane, 261.

Creana- coloured Courser, 268.
Creepers, 53, 54.
Crested Lark, 123.

„ Tit, 50.
Crossbill, 96.
Crows, 66, 67.
Cuckoo, 142.
Curlew, 315.

„ -Sandpiper, 293.

Dabchick, 364.
Dartford Warbler, 29.
Demoiselle Crane, 262.
Desert Wheatear, 12.
Dipper, 56.
Divers, 356-359.
Dotterel, 272.
Doves, 240-244.
Ducks, 209-235.
Dun-bird, 222.
Dunlin, 295.
Dusky Eedshank, 311.
„ Shearwater, 371.

Eagles, 161-163.
Eagle-Owl, 152.
Eared Grebe, 363.
Eastern Turtle-Dove, 244.
Egret, Little, 185.
Egyptian Vulture, 155.
Eiders, 230-232.
Eskimo Whimbrel, 317.

Falcons, 169-177. '
Fieldfare, 4.
Finches, 80-92.
Fire-crested Wren, 44.
Flamingo, 197.
Flycatchers, 74-76.
Fork-tailed Petrel, 375.
Frigate-Petrel, 372.
Fulmar, 365.
Furze- Warbler, 29.

Gadwall, 212.
Gannet, 181.
Garden-Warbler, 25.
Garganey, 218.
Geese, 198-205.
Glaucous Gull, 342.
Glossy Ibis, 196.
Goatsucker, 131.
Godwits, 313, 314.
Gold-crested Wren, 43.
Goldeneye, 226.
Golden Eagle, 162.
„ Oriole, 57.'

Golden Plover, 269.
Goldfinch, 82.
Goosander, 236.
Goshawk, 164.
Grasshopper Warbler, 36.
Great Auk, 350.

„ Black-backed Gull, 341.

„ Black-headed Gull, 337.

„ Bustard, 263.

„ Crested Grebe, 360.

„ Grey Shrike, 69.

„ Northern Diver, 356.

„ Reed- Warbler, 31.

„ Shearwater, 368.

„ Skua, 346.

„ Snipe, 287.

„ Spotted Cuckoo, 143.

„ Woodpecker, 134.

„ Tit, 46.

„ White Heron, 184.
Grebes, 360-364.
Green Cormorant, 180.

„ Heron, 188.

„ Plover, 278.

„ Sandpiper, 305.

„ Woodpecker, 136.
Greenfinch, 80.
Greenland Falcon, 169.
Green shank, 312.
Grey Phalarope, 284.

„ Plover, 271.

., Wagtail, 111.

„ -headed Yellow Wagtail, 113.

,, -lag Goose, 198.
Griffon Vulture, 154.
Grosbeak, Scarlet, 93.
Grouse, 247, 248.
Guillemots, 351-353.
Gulls, 331-345.
Gull-billed Tern, 321.
Gyr-Falcon, 171.

Harlequin Duck, 229.
Harriers, 156-158.
Hawfinch, 81.
Hawk-Owl, 150.
Hawks, 164, 165.
Hedge-Sparrow, 21.
Hen-Harrier, 157.
Herons, 182-189.
Herring-Gull, 339.
Hobby, 173.
Honey-Buzzard, 168.
Hooded Crow, 67.

„ Merganser, 238.
Hoopoe, 141.

Houbara Bustard, Indian, 265.
House-Sparrow, 85.

Ibis, Glossy, 196.
Iceland Falcon, 170.

„ Gull, 343.
Indian Houbara Bustard, 265.

INDEX.

67

Isabelline Nightjar, 133.
Wheatear, 11.
Ivory Gull, 345.

Jackdaw, 64.
Jack Snipe, 289.
Jay, 62.

Kentish Plover, 276.
Kestrel, 176.
Killdeer Plover, 277.
King Eider, 231.
Kingfisher, 138.
Kites, 166, 167. .
Kittiwake, 344.
Knot, 294.

Land-Rail, 254.

Lapland Bunting, 108.

Lapwings, 278, 279. .

Larks, 122-127.

Lesser Black-backed Gull, 340.

„ Crested Grebe, 362.

„ Grey Shrike, 70.

., Kestrel, 177.

„ Redpoll, 91.

„ Sooty Tern, 329.

„ Spotted Woodpecker, 135.

<„ White-fronted Goose, 199.

„ Whitethroat, 24.
Linnet, 89.
Little Auk, 354.

„ Bittern, 190.

„ Bunting, 105.

„ Bustard, 264.

„ Crake, 257.

„ Egret, 185.

„ Grebe, 364.

„ Gull, 333.

„ Owl, 153.

„ Ringed Plover, 274.

„ Stint, 298.

„ Tern, 327.
Long-eared Owl, 145.

„ -legged Petrel, 376.

„ -tailed Duck, 228.
Skua, 349.
„ Tit, 45.

Magpie, 63.
Mallard, 211.
Manx Shearwater, 370.
Marsh -Harrier, 156.

„ -Tit, 49.

„ -Warbler, 33.
Martin, 78.
May-bird, 316.
Meadow-Pipit, 116.
Mealy Redpoll, 90.

Mediterranean Black-headed Gull, 336.
Mergansers, 237, 238.
Merlin, 174.
Mistle-Thrush, 1.

Montagu's Harrier, 158.
Moorhen, 259.
Mountain-Linnet, 92.
Mute Swan, 206.

Night-Heron, 189.
Nightingale, 20.
Nightjar, 131.
Noddy Tern, 330.
Nutcracker, 61.
Nuthatch, 52.

Oriole, Golden, 57.

Orphean Warbler, Western, 27.

Ortolan, 103.

Osprey, 178.

Ouzel, Ring, 7.

„ Water, 56.
Owls, 144-153.
Oyster-catcher, 280.

Partridge, 251.
Pectoral Sandpiper, 300.
Peewit, 278.
Peregrine Falcon, 172.
Petrels, 366-376.
Phalaropes, 284, 285.
Pheasant, 250.
Pied Flycatcher, 75.

„ Wagtail, 110.
Pine-Grosbeak, 95.
Pink-footed Goose, 201.
Pintail, 214.
Pipits, 115-121.
Plovers, 269-278.
Pochards, 221, 222.
Polish Swan, 206.
Pomatorhine Skua, 347.
Pratincole, 266.
Ptarmigan, 249.
Puffin, 355.
Purple Heron, 183.
„ Sandpiper, 296.

Quail, 253.

Raven, 65.
Razorbill, 350.
Red Grouse, 248.

„ Kite, 166.

„ -backed Shrike, 71.

„ -billed Chough, 60.

„ -breasted Flycatcher, 76.

„ „ Goose, 205.

Merganser, 237.
Snipe, 290.

„ -crested Pochard,j221.

„ -footed Falcon, 175.

„ -legged Partridge, 252.

„ -necked Grebe, 361.

„ „ Phalarope, 285.

„ -spotted Bluethroat, 18.

„ -throated Diver, 359.

68

INDEX.

Bed-throated Pipit, 117.
Redpolls, 90, 91.
Redshank, 310, 311.
Redstart, 16.
Redwing, 3.
Reed-Bunting, 106.

„ -Warblers, 31, 32.
Reeye, 303.
Richard's Pipit, 121.
Richardson's Skua, 348.
Ring-Dove, 240.

„ -Ouzel, 7.
Ringed Guillemot, 351.

Plover, 273.
Robin, 19.
Rock-Dove, 242.

„ -Pipit, 118.

„ -Thrush, 9.
Roller, 139.
Rook, 68.
Roseate Tern, 324.
Rose-coloured Starling, 59.
Rough-legged Buzzard, 160.
Ruddy Sheld-drake, 210.
Ruff, 303.
Rufous Warbler, Western, 30.

„ -naped Nightjar, 132.
Rustic Bunting, 104.

Sabine's Gull, 331.
Sanderling, 292.
Sand-Grouse, Three-toed, 245.
Sand-Martin, 79.
Sandpipers, 291-309.
Sandwich Tern, 323.
Savi's Warbler, 37.
Scarlet Grosbeak, 93.
Scaup, 225.
Scops Owl, 151.
Scoters, 233-235.
Sea-Eagle, 163.
Sedge- Warbler, 34.
Serin Finch, 84.
Shag, 180.

Shearwaters, 368-371.
Sheld-drakes, 209, 210.
Shore-Lark, 127.
Short-eared Owl, 146.

„ -toed Lark, 125.
Shoveler, 213.
Shrikes, 69-72.
Siberian Bunting, 102.

Thrush, Sa.
Siskin, 83.
Skuas, 346-349.
Sky-Lark, 122.
Slavonian Grebe, 362.
Smew, 239.
Snipe, 287-290.
Snow-Bunting, 107.

„ -Goose, 202.
Snowy Owl, 149.
Sociable Lapwing, 279.

Solitary Sandpiper, 306.

Snipe, 287.
Song-Thrush, 2.
Sooty Shearwater, 369.

„ Tern, 328.
Sparrow, Hedge, 21.
„ House, 85.

-Hawk, 165.
Spine-tailed Swift, 130.
Spoonbill, White, 195.
Spotted Crake, 255.
„ Eagle, 161.

Flycatcher, 74.
Squacco Heron, 187.
Starling, 58.
Steller's Eider, 230.
Stilt, 283.
Stints, 297-299.
Stock-Dove, 241.
Stonechat, 15.
Stone-Curlew, 267.
Storks, 193, 194.
Storm-Petrel, 374.
Summer Teal, 218.
Surf-Scoter, 235.
Swallow, 77.
Swans, 206-208.
Swift, 128.

Tawny Owl, 147.
„ Pipit, 120.
Teal, 215.

Temminck's Stint, 297.
Tengmalm's Owl, 148.
Terns, 318-330.
Thick-billed Guillemot, 352.
Thick-knee, 267.
Three-toed Sand-Grouse, 245.
Thrushes, 1-20.
Tits, 45-50.
Tree-creeper, 53.

„ -Pipit, 115.

„ -Sparrow, 86.
Tufted Duck, 224.
Turnstone, 281.
Turtle-Dove, 243.
Twist-tailed Skua, 347.
Twite, 92.
Two-barred Crossbill, 97.

Velvet Scoter, 234.
Vultures, 154, 155.

Wagtails, 109-114.
Wall-creeper, 54.
Warblers, 23-42.
Waterhen, 259.
Water-Ouzel, 56.

„ -Pipit, 119.

„ -Rail, 258.
Waxwing, 73.
Wedge-tailed Gull, 332.
Western Black-throated Wheatear, 13.

INDEX. 69

Wheatears, 10-13. Wigeon, 219.

Whimbrel, 316, 317. Wild Duck, 211.

Wh nchat, 14. Willow- Warbler, 41.

Wh skered Tern, 320. Wilson's Petrel, 376.

Wh te Heron, Great, 184. Woodchat Shrike, 72.

Owl, 144. Woodcock, 286.

Spoonbill, 195. Wood-Lark, 124.

Stork, 193. Woodpeckers, 134-136.

Wagtail, 109. Wood-Pigeon, 240.
-billed Northern Direr, 357. „ -Sandpiper, 307.

-eyed Pochard, 223. „ -Warbler, 42.

-faced Petrel, 372. Wren, 55.

-fronted Goose, 199. Wryneck, 137.
-tailed Eagle, 163.

-winged Black Tern, 319. Yellow Hammer, 100.

„ Lark, 126. „ Tree-Warbler, 38.

White's Thrush, 8. „ Wagtail, 114.

Whitethroat, 23. „ -browed Warbler, 39.

Whooper Swan, 207. Yellowshank, 308.

Printed by TAYLOB and FKA>TCIS, Bed Lion Court, Fleet Street.

Irby.L

British birds

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