THE

BRITISH ZOOLOGY.

I •

V 0 ••i'

CLASS I. QUADRUPEDS.

II. BIRDS.

Publilhed under the Infpe£tion of the

Cymmrodorion Society,

INSTITUTED FOR THE

Promoting Ufeful Charities, and the Knowledge of
Nature, among the Defcendants of the

ANCIENT BRITONS.

ILLUSTRATED WITH

One Hundred and Seven Copper Plates.

LONDON:

*

Printed by J. and J. MARCH, on Tower-Hill, for the Society:
And Sold for the Benefit of the BRITISH Charity-School on

Clerkenwell-Green. M,DCC,LXVI.

Sr 7 J

To the King’s Moft Excellent Majefty.

Moft Gracious Sovereign,

P ERMIT us, your very loyal and dutiful Subjects, the Prefidents
and Council of the Society of CYMMRODORION, to
lay before y0U r Majefty, this our firft Effort, towards fulfilling the end
of our Inftitution: that of promoting natural Knowledge, and ufeful

Charities, among this Part of your Majefty’s Subjects, the Ancient
Britons.

%

As you are gracioufly pleafed, to mingle with the heavier Cares of
Government an Attention to the polite Arts; we humbly prefume to
offer to your Royal Protection, this yet unattempted Labor, this
national Work; a Natural Hiftory of the Quad r up e d s and Birds
of Great-Britain and Ireland.

The one great Object of this Hiftory, is to promote the Glory of
the Almighty, by demonftrating his Wifdom in the Works of the

Creation; the other, to relieve the Indigent, the Orphan, the Deferted
of our own Country: To whom then, can we with equal Propriety
addrefs ourfelves for Protection, than to a Prince whole Life is not
lefs diftinguilhed by his Piety towards his Creator , than by his Tender-

nefs towards thofe whom the

Almighty hath given him in Charge.

Indulge then, Moft Gracious Sovereign, this our Ambition; the
greateft we can hope for, next to that of being efteemed,

Your MAJESTY’S,

Moft Loyal, and

Moft devoted Subjects,

i

PREFACE

A T a time, when the liucly

of natural hiftory feems to
revive in Europe, and the
pens of feveral illuftrious
foreigners have been employed in enumerat¬
ing the productions of their refpe&ive coun¬
tries, we are unwilling that our own illand
Ihould remain mlenfible to its particular ad¬
vantages $ we are defirous of diverting the
aftonilhment of our countrymen at the gifts
of nature bellowed on other kingdoms, to a
contemplation of thofe with which (at left)
with equal bounty Ihe has enriched our own*

A judicious Foreigner has well remarked,
that an Englilhman is excufable Ihould he be
ignorant of the papal hiftory, where it does
not relate to Great-Britain ; but inexcufable
Ihould he negleCl inquiries into the origin of
parlements, the limitation of the royal pre¬
rogative, and the gradual deviation from the
feodal to the prelent lyftem of government.

i »■» ♦ *

The obfervation is certainly juft, and the
application appears too obvious to be pointed
out y yet the generality of mankind can reft
contented with ignorance of their native foil,
while a raffion for novelty attracts them to
a superficial examination of the wonders of
Mexicoy or Japan $ but thefe Ihould be told,
tnat liidi a pallion is a lure criterion of a
weak judgment : utility, truth and certainty,

ihould alone be the point at which fcience
ihould aim; and what knowledge can be
more ufef'ul than of thofe objects with which
we are moil intimately connected? and where
can we reafon with greater certainty than in
our own country ? where a conftant recourfe
may be had to every object: but thefe, and
many other arguments for examining into the
produilions of our own country, may here be
waved, as the admirable LINNjSUS has
dilplayed them at large in an oration * which
for mafterly reafoning, and happy ingenuity,
may vie with the bell compofitions.

Yet, as that Gentleman has, in the fame
trail, pubhlhed an eulogium on Sweden-, and
as an incitement to his countrymen to apply
themfclves to the iludy of nature, enumerated
the natural productions of that Kingdom;
we ihall here attempt a parallel, and" point
out to the Britijh reader, his native riches;
many of which were probably unknown to
him, or at the bell ilightly regarded.

Do the heights of Torfburg, or Swucku af¬
ford more inflruilion to the natural® than
the mountains of Skiddaw or Snowdon? whole
fides are covered with a rich variety of un¬
common vegetables, while their bowels are
replete with the moll ufeful minerals : The
Derbyjhtre hills, abounding in all the magni¬
ficence of caves and cliffs; the mountains of

Kerryy

* Am£en ’ acad * tom * P- 4 09. StiIJingfleet’s Swdijb tra6fc.

tr. i.

Kerry, and that furprizing harbour the Suiters
of Buchan * may well be oppofed to the
rocks of Blackulla , or the caverns of Skiula.
Sweden can no where produce a parallel to
that happy combination of grandeur and beau¬
ty in Kefwick f vale, or Killarny J lake ; nor
can Europe ihew a natural wonder equal to
the Giant's Caujeway in the north of Ireland.

The excellence and number of our fprings

►

(whether medicinal or incrufting) are well
known to common inquirers.

Our minerals are as great in quantity, as
rich in quality : of gold, indeed we cannot pro¬
duce many fpecimens, yet fufficient to (hew
that it is found in this ifland §} but lilver is
found in great abundance in our lead ores,
and veins of native filver in the copper ores
of Muckrus , on the lake of Killarny. The
haematites iron ores of Cumberland, and the
beautiful columnar iron ores of the foreft of
Dean, are fufficient to difplay our riches in
that ufeful commodity. No country produces
greater quantity of tin than Cornwall and
that county, and feveral others in the north
have been long noted for their inexhauftible
veins of copper , nor lefs eminent are the
lead mines of Derhyjhire , Cardiganjhire and
Flintjhire , which have been worked for ages,
yet ffiew no fign of the decline of their {lores.

» * * § ... ,

In all thefe, nature fports with great lux-
uriancy j the cryflallized lead ore of ‘Tralee**,
the fibrous lead ore of Pipperary ; the lami¬
nated lead ore of Lord Hoptoad's mines } the
cryftalized tins, and the figured ores of Zink

* Between Aberdeen and Peterhead.

«-j- In Cumberland.

+ In the County of Kerry.

§ That our country produces gold, appears in Mr. Borlafe 's ex¬
cellent hiftory of Cornwall, p. 214. fo late as the year 1753 feveral
pieces were found in what the miners call Jlream tin ; one fpeci-
men was as thick as a goofe quill; others weighed to the value of
feventeen {hillings, twenty feven {hillings; and another even to
the value of three guineas.

** In the County of Kerry.

are equally noted for their elegance, fcarcity,
and richnefs.

The ore of Zink , or Lapis Calaminaris , is
found in vaft quantities in the counties of
Somerfet and Flint , while black lead or wadd ,
a fubftance fcarce known in other kingdoms,
abounds in the mountains of Cumberland.

*

To the Swedijh Petroleum , we may oppofe
the Well at Pitchford\ and St .Catherine's well
near Ldenburgh 5 our amber and our jet,
together with our inexhauftible ftrata of
coal found in fo many parts of this kingdom,
will, in the article of bitumens, give us the
fuperiority over thefe fo much boafted pro¬
ductions of Sweden.

To avoid a tedious enumeration, we ffiall
only mention our wonderful mines of rock
fait $ our allum, and our vitriol works ; our
various marbles, alabafters, and ftones; our
moft excellent clays and earths * ; all which
articles, and many more unnoticed here, might
have furniffied us with an ample field for
panegyric,

Our botanical productions are not lefs
abundant; but the works of Mr. Ray , which
have lately been much enlarged and methodi¬
zed, according to the Linntean lyftem, by the
ingenious Mr. Hudfon , in his Flora Anglic a,
are a fufficient difplay of our vegetable riches.

j * - r *

Our Zoology would be a copious lubjeCt
to enlarge on, but the work in hand reftrains
us from anticipating our readers curiofity. We

might

* If the inquifitive reader is defirous of a farther account of
the number and excellence of our fubterraneous produftions, we
refer him to the learned Dr. Woodward's catalogue of the Englijh
Fojfils , London 1729, particularly to p. 5.

might expatiate on the clouds of Soland geefe
on the Bafs ijland\ or of Puffins on that of
Prieftholme : on our filh, and other marine ani¬
mals ; on our infeCts, and the various other
fenfitive productions of this kingdom ; but we
forbear a parade of ufelefs declamation, and
only add, as few countries receive more ad¬
vantages from their natural breed of quadru¬
peds, unmixed with any ravenous creatures, fo
few can boaft a greater variety of birds, whe¬
ther local, or migratory.

This is a general view of the natural hifto-
ry of our own country ; why then ftiould we
negleCt inquiry into the various benefits that
refult from thefe inftances of the wifdom of
our Creator, which his divine munificence has
fo liberally, and fo immediately placed before
us ? Such a negleCt is certainly highly to be
blamed, for (to exprefs ourfelves in the words
of an eminent writer) ££ the Creator did not
« beftow fo much curiofity, and workmanfhip
u upon his creatures, to be looked on with a
“ carelefs incurious eye, efpecially to have them
« flighted or contemned; but to be admired
“ by the rational part of the world, to mag-
“ nify his own power to all the world, and
“ the ao-es thereof: and fince the works of
“ the creation are all of them fo many de-
“ monftrations of the infinite wifdom and
“ power of God, they may ferve to us, as fo
<c many arguments, exciting us to a conftant
“ fear of the Deity, and a fteady and hearty

<£ obedience to all his laws”. %

* * • ?

Much might be added to this fubjeCt, if
confidered in a theological light; but fince
the writings of Boyle , Ray , and Derham,
fully prove that the ftudy of natural hiftory
enforces the theory of religion and practice
of morality, we had better refer inquiry to
their works in general, than mangle them by

imperfeCt quotations.

*• *

* Dirhams Phyf. theol.book XI.c. 2.4.

To exalt our veneration towards the Al¬
mighty, then is the principal end of this fub-
blime fcience ; and next to that, the various
benefits refulting from it to human fociety de-
ferve our ferious confideration.

To give an obvious inftance : what won¬
derful changes have been made in human af-
fairs by the difcovery of an oblcure mineral.
The antients, ignorant of the application of
the magnet, timidly attempted a meer coaft-
ing navigation ; while we, better informed of
the ufes of it, traverfe the wideft oceans, and
by the difcovery of the new world, have layed
open to fcience, an inexhauftible fund of matter.

The rife and progrefs of medicine, kept
pace with the advancement of this ufeful ftu¬
dy ; and tho’ neceflity was the parent of the
mechanic arts, yet they alfo throve, and grew
to maturity, under the fame influence.

Many more inftances might be added to
this brief view of the utility of natural know¬
ledge ; but we fhall only give fome of its ufes
in the polite arts, which have hitherto been
too little acquainted with it.

As to painting in particular, its ufes are very
extenfive : the permanency of colors depends
on the goodnefs of the pigments; but the
various animal, vegetable, and foflil fubftances,
(out of which they are made) can only be
known by repeated trials ; yet the greateft
artifts have failed in this refpeCt : the ftiadows
of the divine Raphael have acquired an uni¬
form blacknefs, which obfcures the luftre of the
fineft productions of his pencil, while the paint¬
ings of Holbein, Durer^nd the V ? netian-fchool\
(who were admirably ikilled in the knowledge
of pigments) ftill exift in their primitive frefti-
nefs.

But

But thefe advantages are fmall, compared
to thofe derived from the knowlege of nature
in the ideal part: painting is an imitation of
nature; now, who can imitate without con-
fulting the original ? but to come to what is
more particularly the objedf of our inquiries ;
animal and vegetable life are the effence of
lanfcape, and often are fecondary objects in
hiftorical paintings. Correct defign is enough
for the fculptor; but the painter fhould know
their different connections, manner of living,
and places of abode, or he will fall into mani-
feft abfurdities : the authority of Frefnoy will
ferve to confirm our opinion.

Plurimus inde labor tabulas imitando juvabit
Egregias, operumque typos, fed plura docebit
Natura ante oculos praefens, nam firraat et auget
Vim genii, ex illaque artem experientia complet.*

Defcriptive poetry is ftill more indebted to na¬
tural knowlege, than either painting or fculp-
ture : the poet has the whole creation for his
range ; nor can his. art exift without borrow¬
ing metaphors, allufions, or defcriptions from
the face of nature, which is the only fund of
great ideas. The depths of the feas, the in¬
ternal caverns of the earth, and the planetary
fyftem are out of the painter’s reach ; but can

*

fupply the poet with the fublimeft conceptions:
nor is the knowlege of animals and vegetables
lefs requifite, while his creative pen adds life
and motion to every objeCL

From hence it will be eafily inferred, that an
acquaintance with the works of nature is equal¬
ly neceffary to form a genuine and correct
tafte for either of the above mentioned arts.
Tafte is no more than a quick fenfibility of ima¬
gination refined by judgement, and corre&ed

* De arte graph, lin. 537,

by experience; but experience is another
term for knowlege *, and to judge of natural
images, we mult acquire the fame knowlege,
and by the fame means as the painter, the

poet, or the fculptor.

% *

Thus far natural hiftory in general feems
connected with the polite arts ; but were we
to defcend into all its particular ufes in common
life, we fhould infallibly exceed the bounds
of a preface : it will be therefore neceffary to

confine our inquiries to the invefligation of a

.

fingle part of the material world, which few
are fo ignorant as not to know is divided into

c?

the animal, vegetable, and foffil kingdoms.

Vaft would be the extent of the inquiries
into each of thefe ; but tho’ ambition may
tempt us to aim at the height of fcience, yet,
a little experience will open to our views the
immenfe trades of natural knowlege, and we
fhall find we can only inveftigate a fingle pro-
vince, fo as to fpeak with truth and certain¬
ty ; without which there can be no real know-
lege,

For thefe reafons, a partial examination of
this fcience is all that a confiderate mind will
aim at; and furely a confiderate mind will give
the preference to the molt exalted fubjedf of it.

‘V

Zoology is the nobleft part of natural hifto¬
ry, as it comprehends all fenfitive beings, from
reafpning man, through every fpecies of animal
life, till it defcends to that point where fenfe
is wholly extindt, and vegetation commences :
and certainly none will deny, that life, and
voluntary motion are fuperior to a meer vege¬
tating principle, or the more inactive ftate of
the foffil kingdom. Should

* See the eflay on the origin of our ideas of the fublime and
beautiful.

<

— v.-~—

u J I TO " - • ** rmm * " ■ 1 - 1 * » ■

Should we follow the train of refle&ibns,
which naturally arife from the contemplation
of animals, they would fwell this preface into
a \ olume : and fhould we only mention the
various ufes of Bntifh animals in common life,
yet the obje&s are not to be numbered. The
knowlege of Dicctetics is a neceffary branch
oi medicine, as by a proper attention to that
article, an obftmate diftemper may be eradi¬
cated, when other remedies have failed ; but
this can never be attained, without the ftudy
of Zoology, which aflifts us greatly in learning
the different qualities of animal food ; and
how far a difference of nutriment may contri¬
bute to alter the qualities of a difeafe.

Cloathing is effential, not only to oiir com¬
fort, but fiibflftance ; and the number of our
manufactures, relative to this Angle article, de¬
mand our care for their extenfion and improve¬
ment; elpecially as the maintenance of thoii-
fands depends on thefe important branches of
commerce; yet thefe may be improved, by
difeovering new properties in animals; or by
the farther cultivation of thofe already difeo-
vered. The feience of Zoology is requifite for
each of thefe; and if we reflect but a little on
the unwearied diligence of our rivals the French
we Ihould attend to every After art that may
any ways preferve our fuperiority in manu¬
factures and commerce.

Domeftic oeconomy is an object of equal
eonfequence ; and the author * of the calendar
of Flora has eftabliftied the ufes of Zoology
in this particular, with undeniable evidence.
This excellent writer has united a happy in¬
vention, with the moft folid judgment, and
certainly merits thehigheftapplaufe, as a friend
of human kind. Our ingenious countryman,

Alex. Mai. Berger.

Mr. St tiling fleet, has purfued the fame plan;
with good fuccefs; and as far as his time would
permit, has equalled the original; and mani-
feftly proved the utility of the projecft, in a
learned difeourfe preflxed to his Work.4

If then Zoology can fuggeft fo many hints
towards enlarging and improving our manu¬
factures and agriculture; we ftiall not think
our time mifapplied, in offering to the publick;
the NATURAL HISTORY of the %***-
peds and Birds of GREAT-BRITAIN and
IRELAND. This compilation had its pecu¬
liar difficulties; but the labor of travelling thro’
a dry airangement of the ftibject, was very fre¬
quently alleviated by the beautiful fubje&s we
met with in our prdgrefs: befides, we own with
pleafure that we have been greatly aided by the
lovers of natural hiftory, and hope for the
continuance of the feme inftructive communi¬
cations ; that by collecting and digefting thefe
materials, we may not only complete the prefent
work, but poflibly trace the Britifti Zoology
thro’ the remaining clafles.

In the profecution of this plan, we ftiall, to
avoid the perplexity arifing from forming a new
fyftem, adopt that of the ineftimable Mr. Ray,
who advanced the ftudy of nature far beyond
all that went before him; and whofe abilities,
integrity, and mildnefs, were no lefs an orna¬
ment to the human Ipecies in general, than to
his own country in particular : yet, as this ex¬
cellent man, was in a manner the founder of
fyftematic Zoology, fo later difeoveries have
made a few improvements on his labors :
where ever then he is miftaken in the arrange¬
ment of animals, we ftiall follow the fyftem of
M. Briflon ; whofe merit, as a naturalift, is
not yet known; or at left, not fufficiently ac-
knowleged among us. J \y r e

+ Swedilh trafts, tranflated from the amaen. Acad. 2d Edition.

+. Animal. Paris 1756.410. Ornithologie, contenant

la divifion des oyfeaux, &c. Paris 1760, 1762, 6 tom. 4to.

We have, in our deferiptions, wholly omit¬
ted the anatomy of animals; as that part,
unlefs executed with the greateft {kill, would
be no fmall blemilh to the reft of this per¬
formance ; but the reader may judge of the
extent of our plan, by the following heads :
the character of the genus (hall firft be given :
then the fpecific name : the fynonyms from
different authors; and the genera in which
thofe authors have placed the animal. The
names {hall be given in feveral European lan¬
guages ; and we {hall conclude with a brief,
but fufficient defcription, adding at the fame
time, the various ufes, and natural hiftory of
each individual.

If this plan fucceeds, in promoting the
knowlege of nature in this kingdom, we {hall
think ourfelves amply rewarded. Could our
exhortations avail, we {hould recommend this
ftudy moft earneftly to every country gentle
man. To thofe of an aiftive turn, we might
fay, that fo pleafing and ufeful an employment
would relieve the tcedium arifing from a fame-
nefs of diverfions ; every object would pro¬
duce fome new obfervation, and while they
might feem only to gratify themfelves with a
prefent indulgence, they would be laying up
a fund of ufeful knowlege ; they would find
their ideas infenfibly enlarged, till they com¬
prehended the whole of domeftic ceconomy,
and the wife order of Providence.

To thofe of a fedentary difpofition, this
ftudy would not only prove agreeable, but fa-
lutary : a retired mind is with difficulty drawn
from his book, to partake of the neceffary en¬
joyments of air and exercife; and even when
thus compelled, he profits lefs by it than men
of an illiberal education : but this inconveni¬
ence would be remedied, could we induce him
to obferve and reliffi the wonders of nature;
aided by philofophy, he would find in the woods
and fields a feries of objefts, that would give to
exercife charms unknown to him before; and
enraptured with the fcene, will be ready to
exclame with the poet.

On every thorn, delightful wifdom grows 5

In every rill, a fweet inftrucfion flows.

Thus would he learn from all he faw, to
love his Creator for his goodnefs ; to repofe
an implicit confidence in his wifdom ; and to
revere his awful Omnipotence. We {hall dwell
no longer on this fubjeft, than to draw this
important conclufion; that health of body, and
a chearful contentment of mind, are the gene¬
ral effects of thefe amufements. The latter
is produced by a contemplation of an all-wife
Providence ; as conftant and regular exercife
is the beft prefervative ot the former.

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C L A S S I.

*

quadruped s.

Div. I. Hoofed Quadrupeds.

t 4 •

II. Digitated Quadrupeds.

G E N E R A.

Div. I.

8 i

Quadrupeds with hoofs, confifting of only one piece; fix cutting
teeth in each jaw

"Horns bending out laterally - . j

Horns twilled lpirally, and pointing outwards - L
Horns bending backwards - - _ j

Upright branched horns, annually deciduous - 1
Cloven hoofs 5 no horns j cutting teeth in each jaw ’N

Cloven hoofs, no
cutting teeth in
the upper jaw.

the

Horfe

Page

I.

the

Ox

7-

the

Sheep

10.

the

Goat

J 3*

the

Stag

J S*

the

Hog

19.

Div. II.

Div. II.

Two cutting teeth in
each jaw.

long ears - - -

» # <*

Four toes before, five behind ; tufted ears;
long tail, covered with long hairs difpofedl XIV. the Squirrel
horizontally - - - - -J

Four toes before, five behind 5 naked ears; long! xy the Dormoufe 4 -

44

tail, covered with hair difpofed circularly. '
Four toes before, five behind : long taper

naked tail. -

XVI. the Rat

46

. XVII. the Hedgehog 51

Five toes before, five behind ; a long fnout
body covered with fpines. -

Five toes before, five behind ; the fore feet
very broad ; the hind feet very fmall; a long I XVIII. the Mole
fnout; no external ears ; (hort tail.

Five toes before, five behind; long fnout;
loner tail - - -

5 2

XIX. the Shrewmoufe 54

Five toes on the fore feet, connedted by thin
broad membranes, extending to the hind
legs, and from them to the tail. A flying
quadruped - - -

XX. the Bat

55

* This chara£ter is invariably obferved in the wild animals of this genus ; but in the domeftic fpecies, nature feems to fport; fometimes
omitting the fifth toe behind, often forming it imperfedt, and often furnifhing the animal with it. For a farther account of the ofteology of
this part, we refer the reader to the works of Melf. Buffon and Daubenton ; who (in fpite of their contempt of method, and a little Angu¬
larity in fpeculative points) ought, if envy would permit, to hold the fir ft place among the modern Zoologifts.

/

Five toes before, four behind : (harp claws')

Page

lodged in a (heath that may be exerted or \

VII.

the Cat

at

drawn in at pleafure : a round vifage. - -J

*

*

Five toes before, four behind* : thick blunted!
claws : a produced vifage - - - -j

VIII.

the Dog

23

Five divided toes before, the fame behind : a‘

Six cutting teeth, and

tranfverfe orifice between the tail and the anus.

IX.

the Badger

30

two canine teeth or {
fangs in each jaw.

Five toes before, the fame behind ; each con- ‘
needed by a ftrong broad membrane -

! x -

*

the Otter

32 -

V

Five toes on each foot, all palmated ; the fore

legs buried deep in the fkin; the hind legs

XI.

the Seal

34

placed quite backwards : no external ears.

1 r

9 ' * .

Five divided toes on each foot, fhort legs, fharp
pointed vifage, long (lender body

I XII.

the Weefel

37

^Five toes before, four behind; a (hort tail,

XIII.

•

the Hare

4 1

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.—-

EXPLANATION of the References in this CLASS

Jib.

Jmcen. acad.
Borlafe Corn .
Briffon quad.
Buffon

Nat* hift. of Birds, by Eleazar Jlbin , 3 voL 4 t0 ' London, 1738,

Caroli Linnari amaenitates academics. 6 tom. 8 vo - Lugd. Bat. et Holmise, 1749,

Nat. hift. of Cornwall, by William Borlafe , A. M. fol. London, 1758.

Regnum animale in clafles IX. diftributum. 4 t0 - Parisiis, 1756.

Hiftoire naturelle, generale et particuliere, avec la defcription du Cabinet du Roy. 1 % tom A} 0 -
a Pans, 1749, &c. J J ^

Joannis Caii Britanni opufcula* a S. Jebb edita. 8 Vo Lortdini, iyig.

Camden’s Britannia, publilhed by Bilhop Gibfon , 2 vol. folio, z d - edition, London, 1753.

Gualten Charletoni exercitationes de differentiis &c animalium, fol. Londini, 1677.

Nat. hift. of Birds and other rare and undefcribed animals, by George Edwards, 7 vol. 4 to - London
T 743? ’

Caroli Linnaei Fauna Suerica. fiftens animalia Suecim Regni. Lugd. Bat. 1746.

Conrad. Gefneri Hiftoria quadrupedum. fol. Frankfort, 1603.

Itinerarium Cambria, aucftore Sil. Giraldo Cambrenfe cum annot. Poveli. fol. Londini, 1585.
Catalogue of the rarities belonging to the Royal Society, by Dr. N. Grew , fol. London', 168c.
bred. Hafielquiftii Iter Palseftinum. 8 V<J- Holmise, 1757.

Nat hift. of Iceland, by N. Horrebow, tranflated from the Danifti, fol. London, 1758.

Johanms Jonftom, M D. Hiftoria naturaiis, 2 tom fol. Amftelodami, 1657,

lac. Iheod. Klein quadrupedum difpofitio, brevifque, hift. nat. 4 to - Lipfke, 1751.

Caroli Linnari Syftema Nature, edit. 10. reformata. 8 V0 - Holmire, 1758.

Pinax rerum naturalium Britannicarum, authore Chriftoph. Merret, i2 m0, Londini, 1667

A work wrote in German, containing loo colored plates of various animals, with the fkeleton of
each, by John-Damel Meyer, Miniature painter, at Nurenberg, a vol. fol 1748

Morton Northampt, Natural hiftory of Northamptonlhire, by J. Morton, A.M. fol. London, 1 7 j 2 .

Pint. nat. hift, Plinii hiftoria naturaiis, cum notis Harduini, 2 tom. fol Paris, 1723.

Natura!|ii^ry^of^Nonvay,bytlie^nght reverend Erich Pontoppidan, Bilhop of Bergen, tranflated

Raii fynopfis methodica anim. quadrupedum et ferpentini generis, 8 V0, Londini, 1693
Alberti Seba. rerum naturalium thefaurus, 3 tom. fol. Amftelodami, 1734, & Cm

Prodromus hiftoria. naturaiis Scotia,au&ore Roberti Sibbaldo. M.D. eq. aur. fol. Edenburgi.1684.
Natural and civil hiftory of the county of Kerry, 8 vo - Dublin, 1756.

Mufeum Wormianum, fol. Amftelodami, 1655.

Caii opufc.
Camden.

Charlton ex-.

Edw.

Faun. fuec.
Gefner quad.
Girald. CambreUs *
Grew's MuJ.
Haffelquift's it in.
Edor. Ice.

Jonflon nat Hift.
Klein quad.

Lin. fyft.

Merret pinax.
Meyer's an.

Pontoppidan.

Raii fyn. quad.
Seb. mus.

Sib. Scot.
Smith's Kerry.
Worm. mus.

E

R R

A

T

A.

Page

Col

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fie

read

Page

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12

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havock

havoke •f.

37

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borroughing

burrowing

3 6

them

it

39

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18

fined:

finefs

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the Note 216

217

42

Note

Quadrupedum

Quadrupedes

26

1

X

fomething

fomething elfe

45

2

19

Lerot

Loir , Lerot, or great, Q>c.

2

H

leaft

left.

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fubunda

fubnuda

39

egregrios

egregios

55

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feven

nine

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1

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Dogs

Dog

5 6

f

2 5

nine

feven

33 47

1

8

borroughs

burrows

64

2

3

Female

Male

+ Havoke is derived from the Welfh havog • in which the c has no power.

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CLASS I.

* * Sr

Q U A D RUPEDS.

Div. I. HOOFED QUADRUPEDS

GENUS I. The HORSE.

SPECIES I. The HORSE.

Ratifyn. quad. 62.
Merret. pinax. 166.
Gefn. quad. 404.
Klein, quad. 4.
Buffbn. Tom. 4, 258.

Equus auriculis brevibus ere&is.

Brijfon quad. 100.

Eq. Caballus. Lin. fyfi. 73.

Eq. cauda undique fetofa. Faun.
Suec. 34.

HORSE

M A RE GELDING

NAMES

Britijh ,

March, CeHyl

Cafeg -

French ,

Cheval - - -

Cavale, Jument

Italian ,

Cavallo ~

Cavalla

Spanijh ,

Cavallo - - -

Y egua - -

Portug.

Cavallo - - -

Egoa - - -

Germany

Pferdt - - -

Stut, Motfch -

Dutchy

Paerdt, Hengft -

Meri, Merre -

Swedijhy

Haft - - -

Stood, Horfs -

Difpaiddfarch
Cheval ongre

T H E breed of Horfes in Great -

Britain is as mixed as that of
its inhabitants: The frequent
introduction of foreign Horfes
has given us a variety, that no (ingle country
can boaft of: moft other kingdoms produce

only one kind, while ours, by a judicious
mixture of the feveral fpecies, by the happy
difference of our foils, and by our fuperior
(kill in management, may triumph over the
reft of Europe , in having brought each quality
of this noble animal to the highcft perfeCticn.

In

2

0 UADRUPEDS. [ClafsI.

In the annals of Newmarket, may be found
inftances of horfes that have litterally out-
ftripped the wind, as the celebrated M. Con -
damine has lately fhewn in his remarks* on
thofe of Great-Britain. Childers j“ is an ama¬
zing inftance of rapidity, his fpeed having
been more than once exerted equal, to 8 2
feet in a lecond, or near a mile in a minute:
The fame horfe has alfo run the round courfe
at Newmarket , (which is about 400 yards lels
than 4 miles) in fix minutes and forty feconds 5
in which ^cafe his fleetnefs is to that of the
fwifteft Bark, as four to three.

Horles of this kind, derive their origin from
Arabia ; the feat of the pureft, and mod: ge¬
nerous breed.

The lpecies ufed in hunting, is a happy
combination of the former with others fuperior
in ftrength, but inferior in point of fpeed and
lineage, a union of both is neceffary ; for the
fatigues of the chace muft be fupported by the
fpirit of the one, as well as by the vigor of
the other.

No country can bring a parallel to the
ftrength and fize of our horfes deftined for
the draught , or to the aCtivity and ftrength
united of thofe that form our cavalry.

In our capital there are inftances of {ingle
horfes that are able to draw on a plain, for
a fmall fpace, the weight of three tuns ; but
could with eafe, and for a continuance draw
half that weight {. The pack-horfes of Tork-
Jhire, employed in conveying the manufacture
of that country, to the moft remote parts of
the kingdom, ufually carry a burden of 420

• &

* In his tour to Italy.

f M. Condamine illuftrates his remarks with the horfe, Starling-,
but the report of his fpeed being doubtful, we chufe to inftance
the fpeed of Childers , as indifputable and univerfally known.

. t Hollingjhead makes it a matter of boaft, that in his time,
five horfes could draw with eafc for a long journey 30001b,

pounds 5 and that indifferently over the
higheft hills of the north, -as well as the moft
level roads $ but the moft remarkable proof
of the ftrength of our Britijh horles, is to be
drawn from that of our mill-horfes : fome of
thefe will carry at one load thirteen meafures,
which at a moderate computation of jo !
pounds each, will amount to 91 o $ a weight
fuperior to that which the leffer variety of
camels will bear: this will appear lefs lurpriz-
ing, as thefe horfes are by degrees accuftomed
to the weight $ and the diftance they travel
no greater than to and from the adjacent
hamlets.

Our cavalry in the late campaigns, gave
frequent proofs of their fuperiority over thofe
of our Allies, as well as thofe of the French $
the battle of JVarburg is a memorable inftance
of their ftrength and a&ivity : the enemy was
broke through by the impetuous charge of
our fquadrons 5 while the German horfes,
from their great weight, and ina&ive make,
were unable to fecond our efforts ; though
thofe troops were a&uated by the nobieft
ardor.

The prefent cavalry of this ill and only fup-
ports its antient glory ; it was eminent in the
earlieft times: our fcythed ^chariots, and the
a&ivity f and good difcipline of our horfes,
even ftruck terror into Cafar* s legions : it is
now impoffible to trace out this lpecies 5 for
thofe which exift among the indigene of Great
Britain , fuch as the little horles of JFales and
Cornwall the hobbies of Irelandy and the fhel-
ties of Scotlandy though admirably well adapt¬
ed to the ufes of thole countries, could never
have been equal to the work of war. Thole

we

* Pomp. Mela, lib. c. 8.*

f Coefar. Com. lib. 4. Strabo, lib. 4.

Clals I. ]

3

<* V

QUADRUPED a

we employ for that purpofe, or for the draught,
are an off-fpring of the German or Flemijh
breed, meliorated by our foil, and a judicious
culture.

The increafe of our inhabitants, and the
extent of our manufactures, together with the
negleCt of internal navigation to convey thole
manufactures, multiplied the number of our
horles: an excels of wealth, before unknown
in thefe lllands, increafed the luxury of car¬
riages, and added to the neceffity of an ex¬
traordinary culture of thefe animals : their
high reputation abroad, has alfo made them a
branch of commerce, and proved another
caule of their vail increafe.

the horfe, and the other domeftic animals $
and left very little for after writers to add*
We may obferve, that this moft noble and ufe-
ful quadruped is endowed with every quality
that can make it fubfervient to the ufes of
mankind; and thole qualities appear in a more
exalted, or in a lefs degree, in proportion to
our various neceffities*

Undaunted courage, added to a docility half
reafoning, is given to fome, which fits them
for military fervices. The fpirit and emula¬
tion fo apparent in others, furnilh us with that
fpecies, which is admirably adapted for the
courfe} or, the more noble and generous
pleafure of the chace.

As no kingdom can boaft of parallel cir-
cumftances, fo none can vie with us in the
number of thele noble quadrupeds } it would
be extremely difficult to guefs at the exaCt
amount of them, or to form a periodical ac¬
count of their increafe. We find that in the
beginning of queen Elizabeth's reign * the
whole kingdom could not fupply two thou-
fand horfes to form our cavalry : and even in
the year 1588, when the nation was in the
moft imminent danger from the Spanijh in-
vafion, all the cavalry which the nation
could then furnilh amounted only to 3000 j
but fuch is their prefent increafe, that in the
late war, the number employed was 133575 }
and fuch is our improvement in the breed of
horfes, that moft of thofe which are ufed in
our waggons and carriages f of different kinds,
might be applied to the fame purpofe: of
thole, our capital alone employs near 22,000.

The learned M. Buffon, has almoft ex-
haufted the fubjedf of the natural hiftory of

* Vide Sir Edw. Harwood's memorial. Harleian Mifc. vol.4.255.
f It may alfo be obferved, that the ufe of coaches was not in¬
troduced into England till the year 1564.

Patience and perfeverance appear ftrongly
in that moft ufeful kind deftined to bear the
burdens we impofe on them } or are employed
in the llavery of the draught.

Though endowed with vaft ftrength, and
great powers, they very rarely exert either to
their mafters prejudice } but on the contrary,
will endure fatigues, even to death, for our
benefit. Providence has implanted in them a
benevolent dilpofition, and a fear of the hu¬
man race, together with a certain confeioufe
nels of the fervices we can render them. Moft
of the hoofed quadrupeds are domeftic, be-
caufe neceffity compels them to feek our pro¬
tection : Wild beafts are provided with feet
and claws, adapted to the forming dens and
retreats from the inclemency of the weather *
but the former, deftitute of thefe advantages

tD y

are obliged to run to us for artificial ffielter,
and harvefted provifion 5 as nature, in thefe
climates, does not throughout the year fupply
them with neceffary food.

But

I !

quadrupeds.

[ Clafs I.

But dill, many of our tame animals muft
by accident endure the rigor of the feafon :
to prevent which inconvenience their feet (for
the extremities fuffer firft by cold) are pro-
tedded by ftrong hoofs of a horny fub(lance.

The tail too is guarded with long bulhy
hair that prote&s it in both extremes of wea¬
ther , during the rammer it ferves by its pli¬
ancy and agility, to brufli off the fwarms of
infeas, which are perpetually attempting ei¬
ther to (ling them, or to depofit their eggs in
the reclum , the fame length of hair contri¬
butes to guard them from the cold m winter.

Thus is the horfe provided againft the two
greateft evils he is (ubjedl to from tne feaions .
his natural difeafes are few; but our ill ufage,
or neglea, or what is very frequent our over
care of him, bring on a numerous train, which
are often fatal. Among the diftempers he is
naturally fubjea to, are the worms, the bots,
and the (lone: the fpecies of worms that infeft
him are the luwbrici, and aj'caridcs , ootn
thefe refemble thofe found in human bodies,
only larger: the bots are the eructc, or
caterpillars of the oeftrus, or gad-fly: thefe
are found both in the reElum , and in the fto-
mach, and when in the latter bring on convul-
fions, that often terminate in death,

*

The (lone is a difeafe the horfe is not fre¬
quently fubjedl to j yet we have feen two ex¬
amples of it, the one in a horfe near High-
wycombe, that voided fixteen calculi , each of
an inch and a half diameter; the other was of
a (lone taken out of the bladder of a hone,
and depofited in the cabinet of the late Dr.
Mead', weighing eleven ounces. Thefe (lones
are formed of feveral crufts, each very fmooth
and gloffy ; their form triangular ; but their
edges rounded, as if by collifion againft each

other.

The all-wife Creator hath finely limited
the feveral fervices of domeftic animals to¬
wards the human race } and ordered that the
parts of fuch, which in their lives have been
the mod ufeful, (hould after death contribute
the left to our benefit. The only ufes that
the exuviae of the horfe can be applied to,
are for collars, traces, and other parts of the
harnefs ; and thus, even after death, he pre-
ferves fome analogy with his former employ.
The hair of the mane is of ufe L in making
wigs 5 of the tail in making the bottoms of
chairs, floor-cloths, and cords ; and to the
angler in making lines.

SPECIES

5

ClafsI.] QUADRUPEDS.

SPECIES II.

The ASS.

Ran fyn. quad. 63.
Gefn. quad. 5.

Klein, quad. 6.
Buffon. Tom. 4, 404.

Equus Auriculis longis flaccidis,
juba brevi. BriJJon quad. 102.

Equus afinus. Lin. fyft. 73:

Eq. caudae extremitate fetola cruce
nigra fuper humeros. FaunSuec. 35

Britijh , A fyn, fern* afeii
French , Ane, f aneffe
Italian , Afino, miccio. f miccia
Spanijh , Afno, Borrico. f Borriea

NAMES./

Portug. Alho. Burro, f Afna, Burra
German , Efel
Dutch , Eezel
Swedijh y Afna

HIS animal, tho* now fo com¬
mon in all parts of thefe iflands,
was not introduced among us, till
after the reign of queen Elizabeth. Hoi
lingjloead informs us, that in his time, u our
lande did yeelde no ajfed\ We are not cer¬
tain of the time they were firft imported}
probably it was in the fucceeding reign, when
our intercourfe with Spain was renewed } in
which country this animal was greatly ufed,
and where the breed is in great perfection.

The afs is originally a native of Arabia ,
and other parts of the Eajl: a warm climate
produces the largeft and the belt, their fize
and fpirit declining in proportion as they ad¬
vance into colder regions : the migration of
thefe heafts has been very flow} we fee how
recent their arrival is in Great-Britain : in
Sweden * they are even at prefent a fort of
rarity, nor does it appear by the laft hiftory

of Norway f that they have yet reached that
country. They are at prefent naturalized in
this kino-dom : our climate and foil feems to
agree with them; the breed is fpread thro’
all parts; and their utility is more and more
experienced. x

They are now introduced into many fervices
that were before allotted to horfes} which will
prove of the utmoft ufe in faving thofe noble
animals for worthier purpofes. Many of our
richeft mines are in fituations almoft inaccef-
fible to horfes} but where thefe fure footed
creatures may be employed to advantage, in
conveying our mineral treafures to their re-
fpedive marts} we may add too, that fince
our horfes are become a confiderable article of
commerce, and bring annually great fums into
thefe kingdoms} the cultivation of an animal
that will in many cafes fupply the place of the
former, and enable us to enlarge our exports,
certainly merits our attention. The

•f- Pontoppidan’s rlat. hiftory of Norway.

* Habitat in magnatum prcedi'n rari'us. Faun fuec. 35.

6

Q U A D R U

The qualities of this animal are fo well
known, that we need not expatiate on them ;
its patience and perfeverance under labor,
and its indifference in refpeCt to food, need
not be mentioned ; any weed or thiftle con-

P E D S. [ Clafs I.

i

tents it: if it gives the preference to any
vegetable, it is to the Plantane ; for which
we have often feen it neglect every other herb
in the pafture.

The M

Mulus, Rail fyn, quad. 64.
Gefner quad. 702.

Afinus biformis Klein quad. 6 .
Charlton ex. 4.

Britijh , Mul, F<em. Mules
French , Mulet
Italian , Mula
Spanijhy Mulo

fT y HIS ufeful and hardy animal is
the offspring of the horfe and afs,
or afs and mare ; thofe produced
between the two laft are efteemed the beft, as
the mule is obferved to partake lefs of the
male than the female parent; not but they
almoft always inherit in fome degree the obfti-
nacy of the parent afs, tho’ it mult be con-
feffed that this vice is heightened by their be¬
ing injudicioufly broke; inftead of mild ufage,
which generally corrects the worfe qualities,
the mule is treated with cruelty from the firft;
and is fo habituated to blows, that it is never
mounted or loaded without expectation of ill
treatment; fo that the unhappy animal either
prepares to retaliate, or in the terror of bad
ufage becomes invincibly retrograde. Could
we prevail on our countrymen to confider
this animal in the light its ufeful qualities
merit; and pay due attention to its breaking,
they might with fuccefs form it for the faddle,

U L E.

» '.a • .• * 1 , .

Equus auriculis longis, juba brevi.
Brijfton quad. 103.

Equus mulus, Lin. fyft. 73.

Faun. fuec. ,35,

^ Portug. Mula

German , Multhier, Mulefel
Dutch , Muyl
Swedijh , Mulafna

the draught, or the burden. The fize and
ftrength of our breed is at prefent fo improved
by the importation of the Spanijh male afles,
that we (hall foon have numbers that may be
adapted to each of thofe ufes. Perfons of the
firft quality in Spain are drawn by them ; for
one of which (as Mr. Clark informs us * )
fifty or fixty guineas is no uncommon price ;
nor is it furprizing, if we confider how far
they excel the horfe in draught, in a mount-
anous country; the mule being able to tread
fecurely where the former can hardly ftand.

This brief account may be clofed with the
general obfervation, that neither mules nor the
fpurious offspring of any other animal gene¬
rate any farther; all thefe productions may
be looked on as monfters; therefore nature, to
preferve the original fpecies of animals entire
and pure, wifely flops in the firft inftance the
powers of propagation. GENUS

NAMES

J

* Letters on the Syanijh nation.

Clais I. ]

QUADRUPEDS.

I -■■■■—

GENUS II. The O X-

SPECIES I. The O X.

Rail Jyn. quad. 70 *

Merret. pinax. 166.

Gefti. quad. 25. 26. 92.

Taurus domefticus. Klein,
quad. 1 o.

Charlton, ex. 8.

/ BULL

Britijh , Tarw - -

French , Taureau-
Italian , Toro- -
Spanijh , Toro -
Portug. Touro -
German , Stier -
Dutch , Stier - -

Swedijh , Tiur - -

Names

\

E climate of Great-Britain is
above all others productive of the
greatefl: variety and abundance of
Wholefome vegetables, which, to crown our
happinefs, are almofl equally diffufed thro’ all
its parts: this general fertility is owing to thofe
clouded Ikies, which foreigners miftakenly
urge as a reproach on our country; but let us
chearfully endure a temporary gloom, which
cloaths not only our meadows but our hills
with the richeft verdure. To this we owe the
number, variety, and excellence of our cattle,
the richnefs of our dairies, and innumerable
other advantages. Ctefar (the earlieft writer

Bos cornibus levibus teretibus,
furfum reflexis. Brijfon quad.
78 -

Bos taurus. Lin. fyfl. 71.

Bos cornibus teretibus flexis.
Faun fuec. 44.

COW

O X

CALF

Buwch -

f

- - Ych, Eidion-

- Llo - -

Vache

- - Bseuf - - -

- Veau - -

Vacca

- - Bue -

- Vitello -

Vaca - -

- - Buey -

- Ternera -

Vaca

- - Boy -

- Vitela -

Kue - -

- - Ochs - - -

- Kalb - -

Koe -

- - Os - - -

- Kalff - -

1

1

O

- - Noot- -

- Kalff - -

v ho defcribes this ifland of Great-Britain)
fpeaks of the numbers of our cattle, and adds
that we neglected tillage, but lived on milk
and flelh *. Strabo takes notice of our plenty
of milk, but fays we were ignorant of the art
of making cheefe **. Mela informs us, that
the wealth of the Britains con filled in cattle :
and in his account of Ireland reports that fuch
was the richnefs of the paflures in that king¬
dom, that the cattle would even burfl if they
were fuffered to feed in them long at a time J.

This preference of pafturage to tillage was
delivered down from our Britijh anceftors to

much

* Lib. 5,

** Lib. 4.

1 Adeo luxuriofa herbis non laetls modo fed etiam dulcibus, ut
fe exigua parte diei pecora impleant, ut nifi pabulo prohibeantur,
diutius pafta difliliant.

8

QUADRUPEDS.

[ Clafs I.

much later times; and continued equally pre¬
valent during the whole period of our feodal
government: the chieftain, whofe power and
fafety depended on the promptnefs of his vaf-
fals to execute his commands, found it his in-
tereft to encourage thofe employments that
favoured that difpofition; the vaflal, who made
it his glory to fly at the firfl: call to the ftand-
ard of his chieftain, was fure to prefer that
employ, which might be tranfa&ed by his fa¬
mily with equal fuccefs during his abfence.
Tillage would require an attendance in¬
compatible with the fervices he owed the
Baron, while the former occupation not only
gave leifure for thofe duties, but furnilhed the
hofpitable board of his Lord with ample pro¬
vision, of which the vaflal was equal partaker.
The reliques of the larder of the elder Spencer
are evident proofs of the plenty of cattle in
his days y for after his winter provifions may
have been fuppofed to have been moftly con-
fumed, there were found, fo late as the month
of May in fait, the carcaflfes of not fewer than
80 beeves, 600 bacons, and 600 muttonsf.
The accounts of the feveral great feafts in
after times, afford amazing inftances of the
quantity of cattle that were confumed in them.
This was owing partly to the continued attach¬
ment of the people to grazing^ j partly to the
preference, that the Englifh at all times gave
to animal food. The quantity of cattle that
appear from the lateft calculation to have been
confumed in our metropolis, is a fufficient argu¬
ment of the vaft plenty of thefe times $ par¬
ticularly when we confider the great advance¬
ment of tillage, and the numberlefs variety of

•f- Hume’s hiftoryof England 2. 153.

$ Polid. Vergil Hift. Angl. I. 5. who wrote in the time of
Henry the 8 th. fays Angli plures pecuarii quam ar at ores.

provifions, unknown to pad ages, that are now
introduced into thefe kingdoms from all parts
of the world.

Our breed of horned cattle, has in general
been fo much improved by a foreign mixture,
that it is difficult to point out the original
kind of thefe iflands. Thole which may be
fuppofed to have been purely Britijh are far
inferior in fize to thofe on the northern part
of the European continent: The cattle of the
highlands of Scotland are exceeding fmall, and
many of them males as well as females are
hornlefs : The TEeljh runts are much larger:
The black cattle of Cornwall are of the fame
fize with thejaft. The large Ipecies that is
now cultivated thro’ moll parts of Great -
Britain are either entirely of foreign extrac¬
tion ; or our own improved by a crofs with
the foreign kind. The Lincolnjldre kind
derive their fize from the Holftein breed y and
the large hornlefs cattle that are bred in fome
parts of England came originally from Poland,

As to the wild cattle of Scotland\ which
Jonfton mentions under the name of Bifon
Scoticus , and defcribes as having the mane of
a lion, and being entirely white,** The breed
is now extin£f; nor is there to be found at
prefent in any part of thefe kingdoms a wild
breed of any fort of cattle, analogous to th§
domeftic kinds.

The ox is the only horned animal in thefe
iflands that will apply his ftrength to the fer-
vice of mankind. It is now generally allow¬
ed, that in many cafes oxen are more profit¬
able in the draught than horfes - y their food,

harnefs,

*f" _That inquifitive and accurate hiftorian Maitland furnifhes
us with this table of the quantity of cattle that were confumed in
London above 30 years ago, when that city was far lefs populous
than it is at prefent.

Beeves 98,244. Pigs 52,000.

Calves 194,760. Sheep and]

Jdogs 186,932. Lambs \ 7 ll A 2 Zy

f* JonJlon. nat. hift. I. 37.

J

QUADRUPEDS.

9

harnefs, and fhoes being cheaper, and lhould
they be lamed or grow old, an old working
beaft will be as good meat, and fatten as well
as a young one.f

There is fcaree any part of this animal with¬
out its ufe. ‘The blood, fat, marrow, hide,
hair, horns, hoofs, milk, creme, butted, cheefe,
whey, urine, liver, gall, ipleen, bones, and
dung, have each their particular ufe in manu¬
factures, commerce and medicine.

The fkin has been of general ufe in all ages.

The antient Britains before they knew a bet-

*

ter method, built their boats of ofiers, and
covered them with the hides of bulls ; which
ferved for fhort coafting voyages.* When
tanned and curried, they ferve for boots, fhoes,
and many other conveniencies of life. Vellum
is made of calve fkins ; and gold beaters fkin
is made of a thin vellum, or the finer part of
the oxes guts. The hair mixed with lime is
a neceffary article in building. Of the horns
are made combs, boxes, handles for knives,
and drinking veffels j and when foftened by
water, obeys the manufacturer’s hand, and
is beat into pellucid laminae for the tides of
lanthorns.

a

In medicine they are employed as alexiphar-
mics, or antidotes againft poifon, the plague,
or fmall pox. They have been dignified with

■f- Mortimer's husbandry I. 171.

* Vitilibus navigiis, coriis circumfutis navigare. Flirt, nat. hift.
Lib. 4. c. x 6.

the title of englifh Bezoar j and have been
found to anfwer the end of the oriental kind :
The chips of the hoofs, and parings of the
raw hides, ferve to make carpenters glue.

The bones are ufed by mechanics, where
ivory is too expenfive; by which the common
people are ferved with many neat convenien¬
cies at an eafy rate. From the tibia and
carpus bones is procured an oil much ufed by
coach-makers and others in dreffing and clean¬
ing harnefs, and all trappings belonging to
a coach; and the bones calcined, afford a
fit matter for tells for the ufe of the refiner in
the fmelting; trade.

The blood is ufed as an excellent manure
for fruit trees *. And in the bafis of that
fine color, the PruJJian blue.

The fat, tallow, and fuet, furnifh us with
light; and are alfo ufed to prsecipitate the fait
that is drawn from briny fprings. The gall,
liver, fpleen and urine, have alfo their place
in the materia medica .

The ufes of butter, cheefe, creme and milk,
in domeflic oeconomy, and the excellence of
the latter, in furnifhing a palatable nutriment
for moft people, whofe organs of digeflion are
weaken’d, are too obvious to be infilled on.

C

* Evelyn's Phi!, difc. of Earth, p. 319.

GENUS

1

QUADRUPEDS. [ clafs I.

genus

SPECIES

III. The SHEEP.
I. The S H E E P.

Rail fyn. quad. 73.

Gefn. quad. 771.

Ovis aries. ovis anglica mutica
cauda fcrotoque ad genua pen-
dulis. Lin.JyJi. 70,

Ovis cornibus compreffis lunatis.
Faun Suec. 43.

Aries, &c. Klein, quad.

Aries laniger cauda rotunda brevi.
Brijfon quad. 74.

Buffon. 5. I. Tab. I, 2.

MALE.

NAMES ;

Britijh , Hwrdd, Maharen

French , Belier
Italian , Montonc
Spanijh , Carnero
Portug. Caneiro
German , Wider
Dutch , Ram

Swedijh , Wadur

female.

Dafad

Brebis

Pecora

Oveja

Ovelha

Scbaff

Schaep

Faar

LAMB.

Oen

Agneau

Agnello

Cordero

Cordeiro

Lamb

Lam

Lamb

I T does not appear from any of the early
writers, that the breed of this animal was
cultivated among the B r itams $ the in¬
habitants of the inland parts of this ifland
either went entirely naked, or were only
clothed with (kins. Thofe who lived on the
fea coafts, and were the moft civilized, affeCted
the manners of the Gauls, and wore like them
a fort of garments made of coarfe wool, called
Brach<e. Thefe they probably had from
Gaul , there not being the lead traces of
manufactures among the Britains in the hido*
ries of thofe times.

This negligence may be eafily accounted
for, in an uncivilized nation whofe wants were
few, and thofe eafily fatisfied; but what is

more furprizing, when after a long period we
had cultivated a breed of fheep, whofe fleeces
were fuperior to thofe of other countries ; we
dill negleCted to promote a woollen manufac¬
ture at home. That valuable branch of bufi-
nefs lay for a confiderable time in foreign
hands $ and we were obliged to import the
cloth manufactured from our own materials.
There feems indeed to have been many una¬
vailing efforts made by our monarchs to pre-
ferve both the wool and the manufacture of it
among ourfelves : Henry the fecond, by a
patent granted to the weavers in London ,
direCted that if any cloth was found made of
a mixture of Spanifh wool, it Ihould be burnt
by the mayor : * yet fo little did the weaving
bufinefs advance, that Edward the third was

obliged

* Slew 4. 19 .

Clafs I. ]

ii

0 U A D R U P E D S.

obliged to permit the importation of foreign
cloth in the beginning of his reign ; but foon
after by encouraging foreign artificers to fettle
in England\ and inftruCt the natives in their
trade, the manufacture increafed fo greatly as
to enable him to prohibit the wear of foreign
cloth. Yet to fhew the uncommercial genius of
the people, the effeCts of this prohibition were
checked by another law, as prejudicial to trade
as the former was falutary ; this was an aCt
of the fame reign, againfl exporting woollen
goods manufactured at home, under heavy
penalties ; while the exportation of wool was
not only allowed but encouraged. This over-
fight was not foon rectified, for it appears that
on the alliance that Edward the fourth made
with the King of Arragon , he prefented the
latter with fome ewes and rams of the Cotef-
voold kind ; which is a proof of their excel¬
lency, fince they were thought acceptable to
a monarch, whofe dominions were fo noted for
the finefs of their fleeces. *

In the firft year of Richard the third, and
in the two fucceeding reigns, our woollen
manufactures received fome improvements $ j*
but the grand rife of all its profperity is to be
dated from the reign of Queen Elizabeth ,
when the tyranny of the Duke of Alva in the
Netherlands drove numbers of artificers for
refuge into this country 5 who were the
founders of that immenfe manufacture we
carry on at prefent. We have ftrong induce¬
ments to be more particular on the modern
Hate of our woollen manufacturesj but we
defifl, from a fear of digreffing too far; our
enquiries muft be limited to points that have
a more immediate, reference to the ftudy of
Zoology.

No country is better fupplied with mate¬
rials, and thofe adapted to every fpecies of

* JR apt n I. 605. in the note.

•f* In that of Richard , two yard cloths were firft made. In that
of Henry the 8th, an Italian taught us the ufe of the diftaff. Kerfies
were alio firft made in England about that time.

the clothing bufinefs, than Great-Britain ;
and tho’ the fheep of thefe iflands afford
fleeces of different degrees of goodnefs, yet
there are not any but what may be ufed in
fome branch of it. Herefordjhire , Devon -
Jhire y and Cotejwold-dovons are noted for pro*
ducing fheep with remarkably fine fleeces j
the Lincolnjhtre and IV'arwickfhire kind, which
are very large, exceed any for the quantity
and goodnefs of their wool. The former
county yields the largefl fheep in thefe iflands,
where it is no uncommon thing to give twenty-
five guineas for a ram. Suffolk alfo breeds a
very valuable kind. The fleeces of the nor*
them parts of this kingdom are inferior in
finefs to thofe of the fouth; but ftill are of
great value in different branches of our manu¬
factures* The Eorkjhire hills furnifh the
looms of that county with large quantities of
wool; and that which is taken from the neck
and fhoulders, is ufed (mixed with Spanijh
wool) in fome of their finefl cloths.

Wales yields but a coarfe wool ; yet is of
more extenfive ufe than the finefl Segovian
fleeces 5 for rich and poor,, age and youth,
health and infirmities, all confefs the univerfal
benefit of the flannel manufacture.

The fheep of Ireland vary like thofe of
Great-Britain . Thofe of the fouth and eaft
being large, and their flefh rank. Thofe of
the north, and the mountanous parts fmall,
and their flefh fweet. The fleeces in the
fame manner differ in degrees of value.

<D

Scotland breeds a fmall kind, and their

fleeces are coarfe. Sibbald (after Boethius)

{peaks of a breed in the ifle of Rona , covered

with blue wool; of another kind in the ifle

of Hirta , larger than the biggeft he goat,

with tails hanging almoft to the ground, and

horns

12

[ Clafs I.

quadrupeds.

horns as thick, and longer than thofeof an ox*.
He mentions another kind, which are clothed
with a mixture of wool and hair$ and of a
fourth fpecies, whole flelh and fleeces are yel¬
low, and their teeth of the color of gold;
but the truth of thefe relations is doubtful,
as no other writer has mentioned them, except
the credulous Boethius .

Befides the fleece, there is fcarce any part
of this animal but what is ufeful to mankind ;
the flelh is a delicate and wholefome food; the
fkin drefled, forms different parts of our ap¬
parel $ and is ufed for covers of books. The
entrails properly prepared ; and twilled, ferve
for firings for various mulical inllruments.
The bones calcined (like other bones in ge¬
neral) form materials for tells for the refiner.
The milk is thicker than that of cows ; and
confequently yields a greater quantity of but¬
ter and cheefe ; and in fome places is fo rich,
that it will not produce the cheefe without a
mixture of water to make it part from the
whey. The dung is a remarkable rich manure;
infomuch that the folding of Iheep is become
too ufeful a branch of hulbandry for the
farmer to negleft. To conclude, whether we
confider the advantages that refult from this
animal to individuals in particular, or to thefe
kingdoms in general, we may with Columella
confider this in one fenfe, as the firll of the
domellic animals. Poft majores quadrupedes
ovilli pecoris fecunda ratio eft ; quoe prima
fit ft ad ut Hit at is magnitudinem ref eras. Nam
id prcecipue contra frigor is violent iam prctegit ,
corporibufque noftris liberaliora prtfbet vela -
min a ; et etiam elegantium menfas jucundis et
numerofts da pi bus exornat j - .

The fheep, as to its nature, is a moll in¬
nocent mild and fimple animal; and confcious

* Gmelin dcfcribes an animal he found in Siberia , that in many
particulars agrees with this ; he calls it Rupicapra cornubus arieti-
nis ; Linnaeus ftyles it Capra arnnon . Syft. 70. and Gefner p. 934.
imagines it to be the Mujimon of the antients; the horns of the
Siberian animal are two yards long, their weight above thirty
pounds. As we have fuch good authority for the adual exiftence
of fuch a quadruped, we may venture to give credit to Boethius s
account, that the fame kind was once found in Uirta.

•j- De re rujlica, lib. 7. c. 2.

of its own defencelefs flate, remarkably timid:
If attacked when attended by its lamb, it will
make fome Ihew of defence, by llamping with
its feet and pulhing with its head; it is a
gregarious animal, is fond of any jingling
noile, for which reafon the leader of the flock
has in many places a bell hung round its neck,
which the others will conllantly follow ; it is
fubjedl to many difeafes : fome arife from in¬
fers which depofite their eggs in different
parts of the animal; others are caufed by their
being kept in wet pallures ; for as the Iheep
requires but little drink, it is naturally fond
of a dry foil. The dropfy, vertigo (the
pendro of the wellh) the pthifick, jaundice,
and worms in the liver f annually make great
havock among our flocks : For the firll diff-
eafe, the Ihepherd finds a remedy by turning
the infedled into fields of broom ; which plant
has been alfo found to be very efficacious in
the fame diforder among the human fpecies.

The Iheep is alfo infelled by different forts
of infedls ; like the horfe it has its peculiar

Oeftrus or Gadfly , which depofits its eggs
above the nofe in the frontal finufes ; when
thofe turn into maggots they become excefiive
painful, and caufe thofe violent agitations that
we fo often fee the animal in. The French
fhepherds make a common pra&ice of eafing
the Iheep, by trepanning and taking out the
maggot; this pradlice is fometimes ufed by
the Englijh Ihepherds, but not always with
the fame fuccefs : Befides thefe infedls, the
Iheep is troubled with a kind of tick and
loufe, which magpies and llarlings contribute
to eafe them of, by lighting on its back, and
picking the infedls off.

GENUS

•f Fafciola hepatica Lin.fijl. 64S.

Clafs I. ]

QUADRUPEDS.

*3

GENUS IV.
SPECIES I.

The GOA T.
The GOA T.

Raii jyn. quad. 77.

Meyer's an. 1* Tab ♦ 68*
Charlton ex. 9*

Klein quad. 15.

Gefn. quad. 266. 268.

Buffon. Tom, 5. 59. Tab. 8. 9*

Hircus cornibus interius cultra-
tis, exterius rotundatis, infra
carinatis, arcuatis. Brijfon
quad. 62.

Capra Hircus^ Lin.JyJl. 68.

Capra cornibus carinatis arcuatis,
Faun Suec . 42.

NAMES

/ MALE.

FEMALE.

KID.

Britifh , Bwch

Gafr

Mynn

French , Bouc

Chevre

Chevreau

Italian , Becco

Capra

Capretto

Spanijh, Gabron

Cabra

Cabrito

Portug. Cabram

Cabra

Cabrito

German^ Bock

Geifz

Bocklin

Dutchy Bocke

Gheyte

Boexken

\SwediJhy Bock

Geet

Kiidh

t is the moft local of any

tho’ a (kin of bad hue, and fo yellow as to

of our domeftic animals, confining
itfelf to the mountanous parts of

baffle the barbers fkill to bleach, will not fetch
above eighteen-pence, or two (hillings.

thefe iflands: his moft beloved food is the
tops of the boughs, or the tender bark of
young trees } on which account he is (o pre¬
judicial to plantations, that it would be im¬
prudent to draw him from his native rocks.

The fuet of the goat is in great efteem, as
well as the hair. Many of the inhabitants of
Caernarvonjhire fuffer thefe animals to run
wild on the rocks during winter as well as
(ummer} and kill them in October , for the

This quadruped contributes in various in-
ftances to the neceffities of human life; not
only as food, but as phyfick; not only by
cloathing, but ornamenting fome parts of the
human frame} the whiteft wigs are made of
its hair j for which purpofe that of the he-
goat is moft in requeft 5 the whiteft and
cleareft is feleaed from that which grows on
the haunches, where it is longeft and ihickeft;
a good fkin well haired is fold for a guinea j

fake of their fat; either by (hooting them
with bullets, or running them down with dogs
like deer. The goats killed for this purpofe,
are about four or five years old. Their fuet
will make candles, almoft as elegant as thofe
made of fpermaceti; and accordingly brings
a much greater price in the market than other
tallow : Nor are the horns without their ufe;
the country people making of them excel¬
lent handles for tucks and penknives. The

D (kin

quadrupeds.

[ Clafs I

fkin is peculiarly well adapted for the glove
manufaftory, efpecially that of the kid :
Abroad it is dreffed and made into ftockings,
bed ticks, holders,* bed hangings, Iheets, and
even fhirts. In the army it covers the horfe-
man’s arms, and carries the foot foldiers pro-
vifions. As it takes a dye better than any
other fkin ; it was formerly much ufed for
hangings in the houfes of people of fortune;
being fufceptible of the richeft colors, and
when flowered and ornamented with gold and
filver, became an elegant and fuperb xurmture.

The fleih is of great ufe to the inhabitants
of the country where it refides y and affords
them a cheap and plentiful provifion in the
winter months, when the kids are brought to
market. The haunches of the goat are fre¬
quently falted and dried, and fupply all the
ufes of bacon: This by the natives is called
Coch yr wden , or hung Venifori.

The meat of a fplayed goat of fix or feven
years old, (which is called Hyfr) is reckoned
the befl y being generally very fweet and fat.
This makes an excellent party ; goes under
the name of rock venifon, and is little inferior
to that of the deer. Thus nature provides
even on the tops of high and craggy moun¬
tains, not only neceffaries, but delicacies for
the inhabitants.

The milk of the goat is fweet, nourifhing
and medicinal; it is an excellent fuccedaneum
for affes milk y and has (with a tea-fpoonful
of hartlhorn drank warm in bed in the morn¬
ing, and at four o’Clock in the afternoon, and
repeated for fome time) been a cure for phti-
flcal people, before they were gone too far.
In fome of the mountanous parts of Scotland
and Ireland , the milk is made into whey y
which has done wonders in this and other
cafes, where coolers and reftoratives are ne-

* Bolfters made of the hair of this animal were in nfe in the
days of Saul-, as appears from J. Samuel, c. 19. v. 13.

ceffary: and to many of thofe places, there is a
great refort of patients of all ranks, as there
is in England to the fpaws or Bath. It is not
furprizing that the milk of this animal is fo
falutary, as it brouzes only on the tops, tendrils
and flowers of the mountain ftirubs, and me¬
dicinal herbs y rejecting the groffer parts.
The blood of the he-goat dried, is a great-
recipe in fome families for the pleurify and
inflammatory diforders. *

Cheefe made of goats milk, is much valued
in fome of our mountanous countries, when
kept to proper age y but has a peculiar tafte
and flavour.

The rutting feafon of thefe animals, is from
the beginning of September to November y at
that time the males drive whole flocks of the
females continually from place to place, and
fill the whole atmofphere around them with
their ftrong and ungrateful odor y which
though as difagreeable as afla fsetida itfelf, yet
maybe conducive to prevent many diftempers,
and to cure nervous and hyfterical ones.
Horfes are imagined to be much refreihed
with it y on which account many perfons keep
a he-goat in their ftuds or ftables.

Goats go with young four months and a
half, and bring forth from the latter end of
February to the latter end of April : Having
only two dugs they have generally but two
young ones, and fometimes three y and in
good warm paftures there have been inftances
tho’ rare, of their bringing four at a time :
Both young and old are affedfed by the wea¬
ther : a rainy feafon makes them thin y a dry
funny one makes them fat and blythe : Their
exceffive venery prevents longevity, for they '
feldom live above eleven or twelve years.

Thefe animals with amazing fwiftnefs and
fafety, climb up the moft rugged rocks, and

afeend

* This remedy is taken notice of even by Dr. Mead in his monifa
tnedica p. 35. under the article plenritis.

quadrupeds.

Clafs I. ]

afcend the moft dangerous places : They carl
ftand unmoved on the higheft precipices, and
fo ballance their center of gravity, as to fix
themfelves in fuch fituations with fecurity and
firmnefs; fo that we feldom hear of their fal-

ling, or breaking their necks. When two are
yoked together, as is frequently pra&ifed *
they will, as if by confent, take large and
hazardous leaps j yet fb well time their mutu¬
al efforts, as rarely to mifcarry in the attempt.

GENUS V. The STAG.

SPECIES L The STAG, or RED DEER.

Red Deer, Stag or Hart. Cervus-.
Rati jyn. quad. 84.

Char It. ex. 11.

Meyer's an. Tab. 22*

Gefner quad. 326.

Grew's Mufeum , 21.

Bujffon. Tom. 6. 63. Tab. 9, 10.

( STAG

Britijh , Carw
French , Cerf
Italian , Cervid
Spanijh , Ciervo
Portug. Cervo
German , Hirtz, Hirfch
Dutch , Hert
Swedijh> Hiort, Kronhiort
V

SPECIES II.

Fallow deer, or buck; cervus
platyceros. Rati jyn. quad. 85.

Dama vulgaris. Gefner quad. 307.

Meyer s an. Tom. 1. Tab. 71.

Bujjbn.Tom.6) i6i.Tab. 27, 28.

Cervus cornuum unica et altiore

Cervus cornibus teretibus ad late-
ra incurvis. Brijfon quad. 74.

Cervus elaphus Lin.Jyft. 67.

C. cornibus ramofis teretibus in-

curvatis.

Faun , fuec . 38.

C. nobilis.

Klein quad \ 23.

HIND

YOUNG, or CALF

Ewig

Elain

Biche

Faon

Cervia

Cierva

Cerva

Hint

Hinde kalh

Hinde

Hind

The B U

C K.

fummitate palmata. Brijfon
quad. 91.

Cervus dama. Cervus cornibus
ramofis compreffis.- fummita-
tibus palmatis. Lin. fyjt. 67.

Faun. fuec. 40.

Cervus palmatus. Klein, quad. 25.

BUCK

NAMES

16

QUAD

R U P E D S.

[ Clafs I.

names

■ f BUCK

DOE

FAWN

Britijh , Hydd

Hyddes

Elain

French , Dain

Daine

Faon

Italian , Daino

Cerbiatto

Spanijh , Gamo, corza

9

Venadito

Portug. Corza

Veado

German , Damhirfch

Dutch, Deyn

f

Swedijh, Dof, Dofhiort

A T firft, thefe two animals had this
whole illand for their range ; they
, J^ncw no other limits th<in thst of
the ocean ; nor confelfed any particular maf-
ter. When the Saxons had eftabliihed them-
felves in the Heptarchy , they were referved
by each fovereign for his own particular di-
verfion: Hunting and war in thofe uncivilized
ages were the only employ of the great ; their
a&ive, but uncultivated minds being fufeep-
tible of no pleafures but thofe of a violent
kind, fuch as gave exercife to their bodies,
and prevented the pain of thinking.

But as the Saxon kings only appropriated
thofe lands to the ufe of forefts which were
unoccupied 5 fo no individuals received any
injury 5 but when the conqueft had fettled the
Norman line on the throne, this paffion for
the chace was carried to an excefs, which in¬
volved every civil right in a general rum ; it
even fuperfeded the confideration of religion
in a fuperftitious age: the village communities,
nay, even the moll facred edifices were turned
into one vaft wafte, to make room for animals :
the objects of a lawlefs tyrant’s pleafure.
The new foreft in Hampshire is too trite an
inftance to be dwelt on 2 fanguinary laws
were enaaed to preferve the game 5 and in
*he reigns of William Rufus , and Henry the

firft, it was lefs criminal to deftroy one of the
human fpecies than a beaft of chace. Thus
it continued while the Norman line filled the
throne m , but when the Saxon line was re-
ftored under Henry the fecond, the rigor of
the foreft laws was immediately foftened.

When our Barons begun to form a power,
they clamed a vaft, but more limited traa for
a diverfion that the Englijh were always
fond of: They were very jealous of any en¬
croachments on their refpeaive bounds, which
were often the caufe of deadly feuds ; fuch a
one gave caufe to the fatal day of Chevy -
chace , a fad tho’recorded only in a ballad, is
not the lefs authentic.

1

When property became happily more di¬
vided by the relaxation of the feodal tenures,
thefe e irt e«frv>e hunting grounds became lefs
extenfive ; and as tillage and hufbandry in-
creafed, the beafts of chace were obliged to
give way to others more ufeful to the com¬
munity. Thofe vaft tracks of land, before
dedicated to hunting, were then contra&ed;
and in proportion as the ufeful arts gained
ground, either loft their original deftination,
or gave rife to the invention of Parks . Liberty
and the arts feem coeval, for when once the
latter got footing, the former prote&ed the
labors of the induftrious from being ruined

by

quadrupeds.

Clafs I. ]

by the licentioufnefs of the fportfman, or be¬
ing devoured by the obje&s of his diverfion ;
for this reafori, the fubjedfs of a delpotic go¬
vernment ftill experience the inconveniences
of vaft waftes, and forefts, the terrors of the
neighboring hufbandmeri*; while in our well
regulated monarchy, very few cliaces remain :
we ftill indulge ourfelves in the generous
pleafure of hunting; but confine the deer kind
to Parks ; of which England boafts of more
than any other kingdom in Europe. Our
equal laws allow every man his pleafure; but
confine them in fuch bounds, as prevent them
from being injurious to the meaneft of the
community.

The flag and buck agree in their nature ;
which is fo univerfally known as to render
any account of it Unneceflary : the firft is
become Ids common than it was formerly;
its exceflive vitioufnefs during the rutting
Feafori; and the badnefs of its flefh induce moft
people to part with the fpecies. Stags are ftill

> , ;

found wild in the mountains of Kerry in Ire ~
land\ and add greatly to the magnificence of
the romantic fcenery of the lake of Killarny.

The ufes ofthele animals are alnioft fimilar;
the fkin of the buck and doe is fufficiently
known to every one; and the horns of the ftag
are of great ule in mechanics; they* as Well as
the horns of the reft of the deer kind, being
exceflively compaa, folid, hard and weighty;
3 nd make excellent handled for couteaus^
knives, and feveral other utenfils. They abound
in that fait, which is the bafis of the fpirit of
Hartjhorn ; and the remains (after the falts are
extraaed) being calcined, become a valuable
aftringent in fluxes, which is known by the
name of burnt Hartjhorn: Befides thefe ufes
in mechanics and Medicine, there is an in-
ftance in Giraldus Camhrenfis , of a countefs of
Chejler , who kept milch hindes, and made
cheele of their milk; fome of which fhe pre-
fented to archbilhop Baldwin , in his itinerary
thro’ Whales , in the year 1188.“{*.

* In Germany the peafants are often obliged to watch their
grounds the whole night, to preferve the fences and torn from
being deftroyed by the deer.

"f Girald. camb. Itin. p. 216.

SPECIES

E

[ Clafs I.

quadrupeds.

SPECIES III. The ROEBUCK.

RaiiJyn. quad. 89*

Camd. Brit. 2. 771.

Meyer's anim. 2. Tab* 73-
Capreolus, Sib , [cot. part 3. 9,
Caprea capreolus. Dorcas* Ge[
ner. quad. 296,

Merretpinax. i66«

\

Britijh , Iwrch,/^. lyrchell
French , Chevreuil

> IN

Italian , Capriolo

Spanijh r Zorlito, Cabronzillo months

Cervus cornibus teretibus erectis.
Brijfon quad, 89.

Buffon , Tom. 6. 298. Tab. 32, 33.

Cervus minimus, Klein quad, 24.

Cervus capreolus, L/;?. jyfi. 79.

C, cornibus ramofis teretibus e-
reftis, lummitate bifida, Faun,
fuec. 41,

' Portug. Cabra montes.

German , Reechbock. f<em, Reechgeifs
^ Dutch , Rhee
Swedijh. Radiur, Rabock

T H E roebuck prefers a mountanous
woody country to a plain one; was
formerly very common in Whales ,
In the north of England\ and in Scotland ;
but at prefent the fpecies no longer exifts in
any part of Great-Britain , except in the
Scottijh Highlands , where they abound.

tipped with afti color; the ears are long, their
infides of a pale yellow, and coverd with long
hair, the fpaces bordering on the eyes and

mouth are black.

1 . *

The cheft, belly and legs, and the infide of
the thighs, are of a yellowifh white, the rump
is of a pure white ; the tail is very fhort.

This is the left of the deer kind, being only
three foot four inches long, and two foot two
inches high: The horns are eight inches long,
upright, round, and divided into only three
branches; their lower part is fulcated length¬
ways, and extremely rugged; of this part
is made handles for couteaus, knives, c .

The body is covered with very long hair, well
adapted to the rigor of the highland air; the
lower part of each hair is afh color ; near the
ends is a narrow bar of black, and the points
are yellow i The hairs on the face are black.

The make of the roebuck is very elegant,
and formed for agility : thefe animals do not
keep in herds like other deer, but only in fa¬
milies ; they bring two fawns at a time, which
the female is obliged to conceal from the buck
while they are very young. The flefh of
thefe creatures is reckoned a delicate food.

In the old IFelJh laws, a roebuck was va¬
lued at the fame price as a (he goat: a ftag
at the price of an ox ; and a fallow deer was
efteemed equal to that of a cow; or, as fome
fay, a he-goat.

GENUS

■ >:

V - -

'

,T . 1

-

. *

'

■

*

■

*

• V

*

1

'

u -

"V

.

’

■I: r, .

:

' - ■

.

'

,

w *.

? I

*

* >'

V

■/.

k V»'. ■

' V- «

tin

_ *

■

r

- -

♦ * "

.•

.

1 . :

19

ClafsI.] QUADRUPEDS.

GENUS VI. The H O G.
SPECIES I. The H O G

Ran fyn. quad. 92*

Gefner quad. 872.

Charlton ex. 14.

Sus caudatus auriculis obiongis
acutis cauda piiota. Briffbn
quad. 106.

NAmes

/ BOAR

Britijh, Baedd
French , Verrat
Italian , • Verro

t »■ <

SpanijJdy Berraco
Portug.

German , i£ber
Dutch , Beer

V.

Buff bn. Tontt 5. 994 Tab. 6 . 17.

Klein, quad. 25.

Sus fcrofa Lin. fyft. 49.

Sus dortb antice fetofo, cauda pi-
lota, Faun. fuec. 36.

s 0 w

HOG

Hwch

Mochyn

Truye

Pore

Porca

Porco

Puerca

PuercO

Porca

Porco

-/

Sauw

Barg

Soch

Verkin

Swiirt

A CCOkDING to common ap¬
pearances, the hog is certainly
the molt impure and filthy of all
quadrupeds I we fiiould however reflect that
filthinefs is an idea merely relative to our-
felves; but we form a partial judgement from
our own fenfations, and overlook that wife
maxim of providence, that every part of the
creation fhould have its rcfpeciive inhabitants.
By this oeconomy oi nature, the earth is ne¬
ver overftocked, nor any part of the creation
ufelefs. This obfervation may be exemplified
in the animal before us ; the hog alone de-
vouring what is the refufe of all the reft, and

contributing iiot only to remove what would
be a nufance to the human race $ but alfo
converting the moft naufeous offals into the
richelt nutriment: for this reafon its ftomach
is capacious, and its gluttony exceffive; not
that its palate is infenfible to the difference
of eatables : for where it finds variety, it will
reject the worfl with as diftinguifhing a tafte
as other quadrupeds*. In the orchards of
peach-trees in North-America, where hogs
have plenty of delicious food, it is obferved
that they will reje£I the fruit that has lain but
a few hours on the ground, and continue on
the watch for along time for a frefh wind fall.

This

* The ingenious author of the Ran Suecicus, has proved this
beyond contradiction, having with great induftry drawn up tables
of the number of vegetables, which each domeftic animal chutes,
or rejects : and it is found that the hog eats but 72, and refufes
171 plants, Amcen. Acad. 2. p. 262.

20

QUADRUPEDS.

This animal has (not unaptly) been compar¬
ed to a mifer, who is ufelefs and rapacious in
his life 5 but on his death becomes of public
ufe, by the very effe&s of his fordid manners.
The hog during life does not render the left
fervice to mankind, except in removing that
filth which other animals reject: his more
than common brutality, urges him to devour
even his own off-fpring. All other domeftic
quadrupeds {hew fome degree of refpe£t to
mankind} and even a fort of tendernefs for
us in our helplefs years ; but this animal will
devour infants, whenever it has opportunity.

The parts of this animal are finely adapted
to its way of life : as its method of feeding
is by turning up the earth with its nofe for
roots of different kinds ; fo nature has given
it a more prone form than other animals $ a
ftrong brawny neck $ eyes fmall, and placed
high in the head ; a long fnout, nofe callous
and tough, and a quick fenfe of fuelling to
trace out its food. Its inteftines have a
ftrong refemblance to thofe of the human
fpecies \ a circumftance that fhould mortify
our pride. The external form of its body
is very unweildy, yet by the ftrength of its
tendons, the wild boar (which is only a
variety of the common kind) is enabled to fly

[ Clafs I-

from the hunters with amazing agility : the
back toe on the feet of this animal prevents
its flipping while it defcends declivities, and
muft be of Angular ufe when purfued : yet
notwithftanding its powers of motion, it is by
nature, ftupid, ina&ive, and drowfy ; much
inclined to increafe in fat, which is difpoied in
a different manner from other animals, and
forms a regular coat over the whole body.
It is reftlefs at a change of weather, and in
certain high winds is fo agitated as to run vio¬
lently, fcreaming horribly at the fame time : it
is fond of wallowing in the dirt, either to cool
its furfeited body, or to deftroy the lice, ticks,
and other infers with which it is infefted. Its
difeafes generally arife from intemperance \
meafles, impoftumes, and fcrophulous com¬
plaints are reckoned among them.

t

Linn^us oblerves that its flelh is a whole-
fome food for athletic conftitutions, or thofe
that ufe much exercife 5 but bad for thofe
that lead a fedentary life, it is tho’ of moft
univerfal ufe * : and furnilhes numberlefs ma¬
terials for epicurifm. The lard is of great
ufe in medicine, being an ingredient in feveral
forts of plaifters, either pure, or in the form
of pomatum $ and the briftles are formed in¬
to brufties of feveral kinds.

* The flefh of the hog is an article of the firft importance to
a naval and commercial nation, as it takes fait better than any
Other kind, and confequently is able of being preferved longer.

Div. II.

OUADRUP EDS.

21

Clafs I. ]

4h

Div.II. DIGITATED QUADRUPEDS.
GENUS VII. The CAT.
SPECIES I. The DOMESTIC CAT

Felis domeftica feu catus. Rail
Jyn. quad. 170.

Charlton ex. 20.

Meyer's an. 1 Tab. 15.

Gefner quad. 317.

Briffon quad. 264.

Buff on. Tom. 6. 3. Tab. 2.

Felis catus. Lin.fyft. 42.

Felis cauda elongata auribus
aequalibus. Faun.fuec,. 3.

Britijh , Cath, mafc G wreath
French , Chat
Italian , Gatto
Spanijh , Gato

NAMES

T HIS animal is fo well known as to
make a defeription of it unneceflary.
It is a ufeful, but deceitful domeftic;
a£tive, neat, fedate, intent on its prey. When
pleafed purres and moves its tail: when angry
fpits, hiffes, and ftrikes with its foot. When
walking, it draws in its claws: it drinks little;
is fond of fifh : its urine is corrofive: it buries
its dung: it walhes his face with its fore-foot,
(Linnecus fays at the approach of a ftorm) the
female is remarkably falacious; a piteous, fqual-
ing, jarring lover. Its eyes fhine in the night:
its hair when rubbed in the dark emits fire :
it is even proverbially tenacious of life: always
lights on its feet: is fond of perfumes; Marum ,
Cat-mint , valerian , See. *.

Our anceftors feemed to have had a high
fenfe of the utility of this animal. That ex-

* Vide. Lin.fyft .

Portug. Gato
German , Katz
Dutch , Katte
Swedijh. Katta

cellent Prince Hoel dda , xxuwtt tne (Jood \
did not think it beneath him (among his laws
relating to the Prices, &c. of animals*.) to
include that of the cat 3 and to deferibe the
qualities it ought to have. The price of a
kitling before it could fee, was to be a penny ;
till it caught a moufe two-pence; when it
commenced moufer four-pence. It was re¬
quired befides, that it fhould be perfect in its
fenfes of hearing and feeing; be a good moufer 5
have the claws whole, and be a good nurfe:
but if it failed in any of thefe qualities, the
feller was to forfeit to the buyer the third-
part of its value. If any one ftole or killed
the cat that guarded the Prince’s granary, he
was to forfeit a milch ewe, its fleece and lamb;
or as much wheat as when poured on the cat
fufpended by its tail (the head touching the
floor) would form a heap high enough to co-

F

* Wotton’s Leges Wallicoe. p. 247, 248.

ver

22

QUADRUPEDS.

[ Clafs I.

ver the tip of the former. This laft quotation
is not only curious, as being an evidence of the
limplicity of antient manners, but it almoft
proves to a demonftration that cats are not
aborigines of thefe iflands } or known to the
earlieft inhabitants. The large prices fet on

them, (if we confider the high value of fpe-
cies at that time f) and the great care taken
of the improvement and breed of an animal
that multiplies fo fall, are almoft certain proofs
of their being little known at that period.

f Howell dda died in the year 948, after a reign of thirty-three
years over South Wales, and eight years over all Wales.

The W I LD CAT.

Felis pilis ex fufco flavicante, et
albido variegatis veftita, cauda
annulis alternatim nigris et ex
fordide albo flavicantibus cincta.
Briffbn quad. 265.

Baffin, Tom. 6. 20. Tab. 1.
Morton Horthampt. 443.

Gefner. quad. 325.

Catus fylveftris ferus vel feralis
eques arborum. Klein, quad. 75.

Britijh , Cath goed
French , Chat Sauvage
Italian ,

Spanijh , Gato Montis

v NAMES-'

Portug.

German,VFMQ katze. Boumrutter
Dutch ,

Swedijh ,

HIS animal does not differ fpeci-
I fically from the tame cat; the latter
—being originally of the fame kind ;
but altered in color, and in fome other trifling
accidents, as are common to animals reclamed
from the woods and domefticated.

The cat in its favage ftate is three or four
times as large as the houfe cat; the head
larger ; and the face flatter. The teeth and
claws, tremendous, its mufcles very ftrong j
as being formed for rapine; the tail is of a
moderate length, but very thick and flat,
marked with alternate bars of black and white,
the end always black : the hips, and hind
part of the lower joints of the legs, are always
black: the fur is very foft and fine: the general
color of thefe animals is of a yellowifh white,

mixed with a deep grey: thefe colors, tho’
they appear at firft fight confufedly blended
together, yet on a clofe infpedfion will be found
to be difpofed like the ftreaks on the fkin of
the tiger, pointing from the back downwards,
rifing from a black lift that runs from the
head alone the middle of the back to the tail.

This animal may be called th & Britijh tiger;
it is the fierceft, and moft deftnftftive beaft we
have; making dreadful havoke among our
poultry, lambs, and kids. It inhabits the
moft mountanous and woody parts of thefe
iflands, living moftly in trees, and feeding only
by night. It multiplies as faft as our common
cats ; and often the females of the latter will
quit their domeftic mates, and return home
pregnant by the former.

They

-s

Clafs I. ] .QUA

They are taken either in traps, or by {hoot¬
ing : in the latter cafe it is very dangerous,
only to wound them ; for if they are, will
attack the perfon who injured them, and have
ftrength enough to be no defpicable enemy.
Wild cats were formerly reckoned among the

R U P E D S.

beafts of chace; as appears by a charter of
Richard the fecond, to the abbot of Peter¬
borough , giving him leave to hunt the hare,
fox, and wild cat: and in much earlier times
it was alfo the object of the fportlman’s di-
verfion.

Felemque minacem.
Arboris in trunco longis prasfigere telis
Nemejiani Cynegeticon L. 55.

GENUS VIII. The DOG.

SPECIES I..The DOG.

Rail Jyn. quad. 175.

Charlton ex. 26.

Merret pinax. 168.

Gefner quad. 160, 249, 250.

Canis domefticus. BriJJon quad.

2 35 *

Britijh , Ci, f<em. Gaft
French , Chien
Italian , Cane
Spanifh, Perro j

D R. Caius, an Englijh phylician, who
flouriftied in the reign of queen Eliza¬
beth , has left among feveral other tra£ts re¬
lating to natural hiftory, one wrote exprefsly
on the fpecies of Britijh dogs: they were
wrote for the ufe of his learned friend Gefner ;
with whom he kept a ftri£t correfpondence 9

and whofe death he laments in a very elegant
and pathetic manner

Buffon. Tom. 5. p. 185.

Klein quad. 63.

Canis familiaris. Lin. fyft ■ 39*

Canis cauda recurva. Faun fuec.

12 .

" Portug. Cam
German , Hund

\

Dutch, Hont
- Swedifh , Hund

Befides a brief account of the variety of
dogs then exifting in this country, he has ad-
ed a fyftematic table of them : his method is
fo judicious, that we fhall make ufe of the
fame ; explain it by a brief account of each
kind ; and point out thofe that are no lono-er
in ule among us.

The

N AM E S

24

QUADRUPEDS. [ Clafs I.

SYNOPSIS of BRITISH DOGS.

Cf>

*73

C5

cn

g

5 —I

<D

CJ

<u

bC

cS

o

a

o

H

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V W)

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U

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o

< 4-1

o

co

o

CO

(-1

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O

- CO
6 £

V ^ O
V H-1 r T3

Terrier
Hounds Harrier

f

i

t

f

i

Blood hound

Gaze hound
Grey hound
Leviner, or Lyemmer
Tumbler

Spaniel

Setter

Water fpaniel, or finder

Spaniel gentle, or comforter

Shepherd’s dog
MaftifF, or ban dog

CO

Tj

U*

bn

c

o

Wappe

Turnfpit

Dancer

The firft variety is tht'Terrar/us, ox'Terrier ,
which takes its name from its fubterraneous
employ ; being a fmall kind of hound, ufed
to force the fox, or other beafts of prey, out
of their holes $ (and in former times) rabbets

out of their burroughs into nets.

. ..... -• - * \

The Leverarius , or Harrier , is a fpecies
well known at prefent; it derives its name
from its ufe, that of hunting the hare ; but
under this head may be placed the fox hound,
which is only a ftronger and fleeter variety,
applied to a different chace. *

* Prince Griffith ap Conan (who begun his reign in the year
1079) divided hunting into three kinds : the firft and nobleft fort
was the Helfa ddolef, which is hunting for the melody of the cry,
or notes of the pack : The fecond fort .was the Helfa gyfarthfa , or
hunting when the animal flood at bay: The laft kind was the
helfa gyffredin , i. e. common hunting which was no more than
the right anyperfon had, who happened accidentally to car," in
at the death of the game, to clame a fhare.

The Sanguinarius , or Bloodhound\ was a
dog of great ufe, and in high efteem with our
anceftors : its employ was to recover any
game that had efcaped wounded from the
hunter $ or been killed and Hole out of the
foreft. He was remarkable for the acutenefs
of its fmell, tracing the loft beaft by the blood
it had fpilt; from whence the name is derived:
This fpecies could, with the utmoft certainty,
difcover the thief by following his footfteps,
let the diftance of his flight be ever fo great;
and thro’ the moft fecret and thickeft coverts :
nor would it ceafe its purfuit, till it had taken

the

Clafs I.]

QUADRUPEDS.

2 S

the felon. The bloodhound was in great re-
queft on the confines of England and Scotland ;
where the borderers were continually preying
on the herds and flocks of their neighbors.

The next divifion of this fpecies of dogs,
comprehends thofe that hunt by the eye; and
whofe fuccefs depends either upon the quick-
nefs of their fight, their fwiftnefs, or their
fubtility.

The Agafceus , or Gazehound, was the firft:
it chaced indifferently the fox, hare* or buck.
It would fele£t from the herd the fatteft and
faireft deer j purfue it by the eye ; and if loft
for a time, recover it again by its lingular di-
ftinguifhing faculty; and fhould the bead re¬
join the herd, this dog would fix unerringly on
the fame. This fpecies is now loft, or at left
unknown to us.

It muft be obierved that the Agafteus of
Dr. Cains, is a very different fpecies from
the Agajfeus of Oppian ; which he defcribes
as being a fmall kind of dog, peculiar to
Great-Britain ; and then goes on with thefe
words $

rvgovja.<rugKOTUTGV XacrioTfixov, o[4[Acc.<ri vojQsg*

Curvum j macilentum , hispidum oculis pigrum.

what he adds afterwards, ftill marks the diffe¬
rence more ftrongly ,

p/j/ecnS ocZts pccXifoc, 'srcc/e^oKo; eqlv <zyoc<T(nvq
Naribus autem longe prceftantijftitnus eft agajfeus.

From Oppian"s whole defcription, it is plain
he meant our Beagle.f

The next kind is the Leporarius , or Gre-
hound. Dr. Cams informs us, that it takes

f Opp. Cyneg. lib. i Jin. 473. 4 7 6 - Nemefianus alfo celebrates

oui dog , divifa Britannia mittit.

Veloces, noftrique orbis venantibus aptos

its name quodpracipui gradus fit inter canes ;
the firft in rank among dogs ; that it was
formerly efteemed fo, appears from the foreft
laws of king Canute j who enacfted, that no
one under the degree of a gentleman fhould
prefume to keep a gre-hound j and ftill more
ftrongly from an old IVeljh faying j JVrth ei
Walch, ei Farch , a"i Filgi , yr adwaenir Bon -
heddig: Which fignifies, that you may

know a gentleman by his_hawk,his horfe and

gre-hound k

%

Froijfart relates a fa (ft not much to the
credit of the fidelity of this fpecies : when that
unhappy Prince Richard the fecond was taken
in Flint caftle, his favorite gre-hound imme-
diately deferted him, and fawned on his rival
Bolingbroke 5 as if he underftood, and forefaw
the misfortunes of the former.*

The third fpecies is the Levinarius , or Lo-
rarius ; the Leviner or Lyemmer : the firft
name is derived from the lightnefs of the
kind j the other from the old word Lyemme ,
a thong: this fpecies being ufed to be led in
a thong, and flipped at the game. Our au¬
thor fays, that this dog was a kind that hunt¬
ed both by fcent and fight $ and in the form
of its body obferved a medium between the
hound, and the gre-hound. This probably is
the kind now known to us by the name of the
Irijh gre-hound.

The Vertagus , or Tumbler, is a fourth fpe¬
cies j which toke its prey by meer fubtility,
depending neither on the fagacity of its nofe,
nor its fwiftnefs: if it came into a warren, it
neither barked, or ran on the rabbets ; but by
a feeming negle& of them, or attention to

fome-

* Froiffart. Lib. 4.

2,6

[ Clafs I.

QUADRUPEDS.

fomething, deceived the obje& till it got with¬
in reach, fo as to take it by a fudden fpring.
This dog was lefs than the hound; more
fcraggy, and had prickt up ears; and by Dr.
Caius* s defcription feems to anfwer to the mo¬
dern lurcher.

The third divifion of the more generous
dogs, comprehends thofe which were ufed in
fowling, firft; the Hifpaniolus or fpaniel: from
the name it may be fuppofed, that we were
indebted to Spain for this breed, there were
two varieties of this kind ; the firft ufed in
hawking, to fpring the game, which are the

lame with our ftarters.

The other variety was ufed only for the net,
and was called Index , or the fetter; a kind well
known at prefent. This kingdom has long
been remarkable for producing excellent dogs
of this fort, particular care having been taken
to preferve the breed in the utmoft purity.
They are ftill diftinguifhed by the name of
Englijh fpaniels ; fo that notwithftanding the
derivation of the name, it is probable they are
natives of Great-Britain. The Pointer, which is
a dog of foreign extraction, was unknown to
our anceftors.

The Aquatic us , or Fynder,was another fpe¬
cies ufed in fowling; was the fame as our water
fpaniel; and was ufed to find or recover the
game that was fhot.

The MelitauS) or Fotor ; the fpaniel gentle
or comforter of Dr. Caius (the modern lap
dog) was the laft of this divifion. The Mai -
tefe little dogs were as much efteemed by the
fine ladies of paft times, as thofe of Bologna
are among the modern. Old Hollingjhead is
ridiculoufly fevere on the fair of his days, for

their exceffive paffion for thefe little animals ;
which is fufficient to prove it was in his time
*f* a novelty.

The fecond grand divifion of dogs compre¬
hends the Ruflici ; or thofe that were ufed in
the country.

The firft fpecies is the Pajloralis , or fhep-
herd’s dog ; which is the fame that is ufed at
prefent, either in guarding our flocks, or in
driving herds of cattle. This kind is fo well
trained for thofe purpofes,as to attend to every
part of the herd be it ever fo large ; confine
them to the road, and force in every ftraggler
without doing it the leaft injury.

The next is the Villaticus , or Catenarius ;
the maftiff or bande dog; a fpecies of great
fize and ftrength, and whofe barking is moft
tremendoufly loud. Caius tells us that three
of thefe were reckoned a match for a bear ;
and four for a lion. The Englijh bull dog
feems to belong to this fpecies, and probably
is the dog our author mentions under the title
of Laniarius. Great-Britain was fo noted for
its maftives, that the Roman Emperors ap¬
pointed an officer in this ifland with the title
of Procurator Cynegii , * whofe foie bufinefs
was to breed, and tranfmit from hence to the
Amphitheater , fuch as would prove equal to
the combats of the place.

Magfiaque taurorum fra&uri colla Britanni**

Gratius fpeaks in high terms of the excel¬
lency of the Britijh dogs,

atque ipfos libeat penetrare Brita?wos ?

O quanta eft merces et quantum impendia fupra !

Si non ad fpeciem mentiturofque decores

Protinus: hasc una eft catulis ja&ura Britannis.

Ad Magnum cum venit opus , promendaque <virtus y

Et vocat extremo praxeps dijcrimine mavors y

Non tunc egregrios tantum admirere molojfos . X

Strabo

•j- In the reign of Queen Elizabeth .

* Camd . Brit . in Hampjhire.

** Claudian de laudeJUlicbonis. Lib. 3. Lin , 301.

J Gratii Cynegetieon. Lin . 175.

Clafe I. ]

27

DRUPEDS.

QUA

Strabo tells us, that the maftives of Britain
were trained for war, and were ufed by the
Gauls in their battles f; and it is certain a
well trained maftiff might be of confiderable
ufe in diftreffing fuch half armed and irregu¬
lar combatants as the adverfaries of the Gauls
feem generally to have been before the Ro¬
mans conquered them.

The laft divifion is that of the Degeneres ,
6 r Curs. The firft of thefe was the TPappe,
a name derived from its note : its only ufe
was to alarm the family, by barking, if any
perfon approached the houfe. Of this clafs
was the V ? rfator , or turnfpit ; and laftly the
Saltator , or dancing dog ; or fuch as was
taught variety of tricks, and carried about by
idle people as a fhew. Thefe Degeneres were
of no certain fhape, being mungrels, or mix¬
tures of all kinds of dogs.

* * !'

We Ihould now, according to our plan, after
enumerating the feveral varieties of Britijh
dogs, give its general natural hiftory, but the
great Linnaeus has performed it with fo accu¬
rate and mafterly a hand, that we ftiall adopt
his fenfe, tranflating his very words (when¬
ever we may) with litteral exaCtnefs.

■f- Strabo. Lib. 4.

cc The dog eats flelh, and farinaceous vege-
“ tables, but not greens : its ftomach digefts
“ bones : it ufes the tops of grafs as a vomit.
“ It voids its exerements on a ftone: the album
“ grsecum is one of the greateft encouragers
“ of putrefaction. It laps up its drink with its
“ tongue : it voids its urine fideways, by lift*
“ ing up one of its hind legs ; and is molt
cc diuretic in the company of a ftrange dog.
££ Odor at anum alterius : its fcent is moft ex-
cc quifite, when its nofe is moift : it treads
££ lightly on its toes $ fcarce ever fweats 5 but
cc when hot lolls out its tongue. It generally
cc walks frequently round the place it intends
cc to lye down on : its fenfe of hearing is very
<£ quick when afleep : it dreams. Prods rix-
tc antibus crudelis: catulit cum variis : mordet
C( ilia illos : cohceret copula junctus : it goes
cc with young fixty-three days ; and common-
<£ ly brings from four to eight at a time : the
££ male puppies refemble the dog, the female
££ the bitch. It is the moft faithful of all
££ animals : it is very docible : hates ftrange
££ dogs : will fnap at a ftone thrown at
££ it: will howl at certain mufical notes :
££ all (except the S. American kind) will bark
£C at ftrangers : dogs are reje&ed by the Ma -
<£ hometam

SPECIES

V

28

quadrupeds

Clafs I. ]

SPECIES II. The FOX.

.Vulpes. Raii fyn. quad. 177.

Morton Northampt. 444.

Meyer's an. 1 Tab. 36.

Canis fulvus, pilis cinereis inter-
mixtis. BriJJbn quad. 239.

Baffin. Tom. 7. 75. Tab. 6.

Gefner quad. 966.

Vulpes auctorum. Haffelquift Itin.
191.

Canis vulpes. Lin. JyJi. 40.
Canis cauda recta. Faun, fuec. 14:
Vulpes vulgaris. Klein quad. 71.

Britijh, Llwynog,/<««. Llwynoges
French , Renard
Italian , Volpe
Spanijh , Rapofa

> NAMES

Portug. Rapoza
German , Fuchs
* Dutch, Vos

> * • r

Swedijh. Raff

E fox is a crafty, lively, and
libidinous animal, and will almoft
as readily engender with the wolf,
dog, or any congenerous beafts, as with its
own fpecies. It fleeps much in the day, but
is in motion the whole night in fearch of prey.
It will feed on flelh of. any kind, but its fa¬
vorite food is lambs, rabbets, hares, poultry,

and feathered game. It will, when urged by

0

hunger, eat carrots and infers; and thofe that
live near the fea-coafts, will for want of other
food, eat crabs, fhrimps, or fhell filh. In
France and Italy , it does incredible damage
in the vineyards, by feeding on the grapes, of
which it is very fond. The fox is a great
deftroyer of rats, and field mice } and like the
cat, will play with them a confiderable time,
before it puts them to death.

When the fox has acquired a larger prey
than it can devour at once, it never begins to

feed till the reft is fecured, which it does with
great addrefs. It digs holes in different places,
returns to the fpot where it had left the booty 5
and (fuppofing a whole flock of poultry to
have been its prey) will bring them one by
one, and thruft them in with its nofe, and then
conceal them by ramming the loofe earth on
them, till the calls of hunger incite him to pay
them another vifit.

Of all animals the fox has the moft figni-
ficant eye, by which it expreffes every paflion
of love, fear, hatred, &c. It is remarkably
playful, but like all other favage creatures
half reclamed, will on the left offence bite thofe
it is moft familiar with.

It is a great admirer of its bufhy tail, with
which it frequently amufes and exercifes itfelf
by running in circles to catch it; and in cold
weather wraps it round its nofe.

The

Clafs I. ] QUADRUPEDS.

The fmell of this animal in general is very
ftrong, but that of the urine is moll remark¬
ably fetid. This feems fo offenfive even to
itfelf, that it will take the trouble of digging
a hole in the ground^ ftretching its body at
full length over it, and there, after depofiting
its water, cover it over with the earth, as the
cat does its dung. The fmell is fo diftaftful,
that it has often proved the means of the fox's
efcape from the dogs, who have fo ftrong an
averlion to the filthy effluvia , as to avoid en-
countring the animal it came from. It is faid
that the fox makes ufe of its urine as an ex¬
pedient to force the cleanly badger from its
habitation : whether that is the means is ra¬
ther doubtful y but that the fox makes ufe of
the badger’s hole is certain : not thro’ want of
ability to form its own retreat $ but to fave
itfelf forne trouble : for after the expulfion of
the firft inhabitant, the fox improves, as well
as enlarges it confiderably, adding feveral
chambers; and providently making feveral
entrances to fecure a retreat from every
quarter. In warm weather it will quit its
habitation for the fake of balking in the fun,
or to enjoy the frelh air; but then it rarely is
expofed, but chufes fome thick brake, and
generally of gorfe, that it may reft fecure
from furprize. Crows, magpies, and other
birds, who confider the fox as their common
enemy, will often, by their notes of anger,
point out its retreat.

This animal is common in all parts of Great -
Britain , and fo well known as not to require
a defcription.

There are three varieties of foxes found in
the mountanous parts of thefe illands, which
differ a little in form, but not in color, from
each other. Thefe are diftinguilhed in JValeSy
by as many different names. The Milgi or
greyhoundfox , is the largeft, talleft, and bold-
eft ; and will attack a grown Iheep or wether :
the mafliff fox is lefs, but more ftrongly built:
the Corgi, or cat fox , is the left, and lurks
about hedges, out-houfes, &c. and is the moft
pernicious of the three to the feathered tribe.
Foxes will fometimes breed twice in a year,
and bring five or fix at a litter: their num¬
bers would foon become intolerable, if they
were not profcribed animals, having a certain
reward fet on their heads.

-t

The wolf was formerly very common in
theft kingdoms: after many vain attempts to
extirpate them, king Edgar effe&ed it j in
England\ by commuting the punilhment for
certain crimes into the acceptance of a certain
number of wolfs tongues from each criminal :
in TV'aleSy by converting the tribute of gold
and filver into an annual tribute of 300 wolves
heads.* They infefted Ireland for many ages
after their extin&ion in England, as there
are accounts of fome being found there, as
late as the reign of queen Elizabeth .

* In antient times, an outlaw was called Wolffhead , as being
out of the protedlion of the laws ; profcribed, and permitted to be
killed like that deftrutlive beaft. In Atheljlan’s reign, wolves
abounded fo in Torkfhire, that a retreat was built at Flixton , in
that county, to defendpajfengers from the wolves, that they might not
be devoured by them. Camden. Brit. 902.

The fame writer alfo tells us, that certain perfons held land, at
Wormhill in Derbyflrire , by the duty of hunting and taking the
wolves that infefted that county j whence they were ftiled Wolve-
hunt.

GENUS

h

H

3°

QUADRUPEDS.

[ Clafs I.

GENUS IX. The BADGER.

S P E C I E S I. The BADGER.

Badger, Brock, Gray Pate, Taxus
five meles. Ran Jyn. quad. 185.

Meyer's an. 1. Tab. 31.

Sib. Scot 11.

Meles pilis ex fordide albo et nigro
variegatis veftita capite taeniis
alternatim albis et nigris vari-
egato. Brijfon quad. 253.

Buffbn. Tom. 7. Tab. 7. p. 104.

Gefner. quad. 686.

Urfiis meles. Urfiis cauda conco-
lore, corpore fupra cinereo,
fubtus nigro, fafcia longitudin-
ali per oculos aurelque nigra,
Lin. Jyft. 48,

Coati cauda brevi. Klein, quad.qq,.

Meles unguibus anticis longifiimis
Faunfuec, 15.

NAMES

J

r Portug. Texugo
German) Tacks
P)utch , Das
l Swedijh) Graf Suin

Britijhy Pryf Llwyd. Pryf penfrith
French , Taiffon
Italian , Taffo
Spanijh , Texon

T H O’ the badger is a beafl of great
ftrength, and is furnifhed with
ftrong teeth, as if formed for ra¬
pine, yet is found to be an animal perfectly
inoffenfive; roots, fruits, grafs, infers and
frogs are its food ; it is charged with deftroy-
ing lambs and rabbets ; but on enquiry, there
feems to be no other reafon to think it a beaft
of prey, than from the analogy there is be¬
tween its teeth and thofe of carnivorous ani¬
mals. Nature denied the badger the fpeed
and activity requilite to efcape its enemies, fa
hath fupplied it with fuch weapons of offence
that fcarce any creature would hazard the
attacking him; few animals defend them-
felves better, or bite harder : when purfued ?
they foon come to bay, and fight with great

obflinacy. It is an indolent animal, and
fieeps much, for which reafon it is always
found very fat. It borroughs under ground,
like the fox; and forms feveral different ap-
partments, tho’ with only one entrance. It
confines itfeff to its hole during the whole
day, and only feeds at night; it is fo cleanly
an animal as never to obey the calls of nature
Jn its appartments; but goes out for that pur^
pofe : it breeds only once in a year, and brings
four or five at a time.

The ufual length of the badger, is two feet
four inches, exclufive of the tail, which is
only four inches long. The eyes are very
fmall: the ears fhort and rounded : the neck
is fhort: the whole fhape of the body clumfy

and

Clafs I. ]

QUADRUPEDS.

3i

and thick: which being covered with long

7 ZD tD

coarfe hairs like briftles, makes it appear ftill
more auk ward;

The nofe, chin, lower Tides of the cheeks,
and the middle of the forehead, are white :
each ear and eye is inclofed in a pyramidal
bed of black ; the bale of which inclofes the
ear 5 the point extends beyond the eye to the
nofe : the hairs on the body are of three
colors the bottoms are of a dirty yellowifh
white ; the middle black ; the ends alh co¬
lored, or grey , from whence the proverb, As
grey as a badger. The hairs which cover
the tail are very long, and of the fame colors
with thofe of the body : the throat and under
parts of the body are black : the legs and
feet are of the fame color, are very fhort,
ftrong and thick : each foot is divided into
five toes *y thofe on the fore feet are armed
with long claws, well adapted for digging \ in
* Walking the badger treads on its whole heel,
like the bear; which brings the belly very

near the ground. Immediately beloW the
tail, between that and the anus, is a narrow
tranfverfe orifice, which opens into a kind of
pouch, from whence exudes a white fubftance
of a very fsetid fmdl; this feems peculiar to
thfe badger and the Hyanti.

Naturalifts once diftinguifhed the badger,
by the names of the Twine badger, and the
dog badger; from the fuppofed refemblance
of their heads to thofe animals, and fo divided
them into two fpecies : but the mod accurate
obfervers have been able to difcover only one
kind \ that, whofe head and nofe refemble
thofe of the dog.

Badgers are hunted in the winter nights,
for their flelh and their Ikin: the hind quar¬
ters may be made into hams, not inferior in
goodnefs to the bell bacon 5 the (kin, when
drefled with the hair on, is ufed for piftol fur¬
niture ; the hair is frequently ufed for mak¬
ing brulhes to foften (hades in painting 5 which
are called fweetening tools.

GENUS

*

3 2

QUADRUPEDS. Clafs I. ]

GENUS X.
SPECIES I.

The otter. Raii fin. quad. 187.
Grezv's muf. 16.

Morton Northampt. 444.

Sib. Scot. 10.

Gefner quad. 687.

Lutra caftanei coloris. Brijfion
quad. 277.

The O T T E R.

The OTTER.

Buffon. Torn.']. 134. Tab. 11.
Muftela lutra. Lin. fifit. 45.
Pont op. Norzv. 2. 27.

Lutra digitis omnibus sequalibus.
Faun.fiuec. 10.

Lodria. Lontra

NAMES

German , Otter. Filch Otter
Dutch, Otter

Britijh, Dyfrgi
French , Lontre
Italian , Lodra.

Spanifhy Nuftria

m H E uifual length of this animal is
three feet three inches, including
the tail,which is fixteen inches long.

The head and nofe are broad and flat, the
neck Ihort, and equal in thicknefs to the head :
the body long : the tail broad at the bafe,
tapers off to a point at the end, and is the
whole way comprefled horizontally. The
eyes are very fmall, and placed nearer the
nofe than is ufual in quadrupeds : the ears
are extremely Ihort, and their orifice narrow :
the opening of the mouth is fmall, the lips
mufcular, and capable of being brought very
clofe together : the nofe and corners of the
mouth are furnifhed with very long whilkers ;
fo that the whole appearance of the otter is
fomething terrible. The legs are very Ihort,
but remarkably ftrong, broad and mufcular;
the joints are articulated fo loofely, that the

Swedijh. Utter

3 - * '

animal is capable of turning them quite back,
and bringing them on a line with the body,
fo as to perform the office of fins. Each
foot is furniffied with five toes, connected
by ftrong broad webs, like thofe of water
fowl. Thus nature in every article has had
attention to the way of life lhe had alloted
to an animal, whofe food is fiffi; and whole
haunts muft neceflarily be about waters.

The color of the otter is entirely a deep
brown, except two fmall fpots of white on
each fide the nofe, and another under the
chin. The Ikin of this animal is very valu¬
able, if killed in the winter; and is greatly
ufed in cold countries for lining cloaths : but
in England it is only ufed for covers for
piftol furniture. The belt furs of this kind
come from the northern part of Europe.

The

l

33

Clafs I. ] QUADRUPEDS.

The otter fwims and dites with great ce¬
lerity, and is very deftruCtive to fifti: in ri¬
vers it is always oblerved to fwim againft the
ftream, to meet its prey. In very hard wea¬
ther, when its natural fort of food fails, it
will kill lambs and poultry.

It fhews great fagacity in forming its ha¬
bitation : it borroughs under ground on the
banks of fome river or lake; and always
makes the entrance of its hole under water £
works upwards to the furface of the earth,
and there makes a minute orifice for the ad-
miffion of air : it is further oblerved, that this
animal, the more effectually to conceal its re¬
treat, contrives to make even this little air
hole in the middle of fome thick bufh.

C '< * *■ *

The otter brings four or five young at a
time : as it frequents ponds near gentlemen’s
houfes, there have been inffances of litters be¬
ing found in cellars, finks, and other drains.

Sir Robert Sibbald , in his hiftory of Fife ,
mentions a Sea Otter , which he fays differs
from the common fort, in being larger, and
having a rougher coat; but probably it does
not differ fpecifically from the kind that fre¬
quents frefh waters.

Beavers, which are alfo amphibious ani¬
mals, were formerly found in Great-Britain ;
but the breed has been extirpated many ages
ago; the lateft account we have of them, is in
Giraldus Cainbrenfs who travelled through
Wales in n88 : he gives a brief hiftory of
their manners ; and adds, that in his time they
were found only in the river Feivi ; two or
three lakes in that principality, ftill bear the
name of Llynyr afangc , or the beaver lake ;
which is a further proof, that thefe animals
were found in different parts of it f.

Girald. Cattib . itin . p, jjS* lytq.

•f Raii fyn. quad. 213.

GENUS

.

i

GENUS XI. The SEAL.
SPECIES I. The SEAL.

Seal, Soile, or Sea-calf] Phoca,
feu vitulus marinus. Ran Jyn.
quad. 189.

Sea-calf] Phil, tranfacl. N 0 469.

Tab. 1.

Smith's Kerry, 84, 364.

Borlafe Cormv. 284 .

Worm. muf. 289.

Horr. Icel. 88.

Pont op. Norzv. 2. 125.

Brijfon quad. 230.

Phoca vitulina. Lin. Jyft. 38.
Phoca. Klein quad. 93.

Phoca dentibus caninis te&is.
Faun.fuec. it.

Britijh , Moelrhon.
French , Veau marin
Italian , Vechiomarino
Spanijhy Lobo marino

NAMES

Portug.

German , Meer wolff, Meer hund
Dutch. Zee kalf
Swedijh , Sial

H E common length of the feals
taken on the Britijh coafts, is from
five to fix feet*.

The fubje& that we toke our defeription
from, was a young one , fo allowance muft be
made for the proportions of the meafure-
ments of thofe that have attained their full
fize. Its length from the end of the nofe, to
the end of the hind feet, was two feet nine
inches : to the end of the tail, two feet three
inches : the head was feven inches long : the
tail two and a half: the fore legs were deeply
immerfed in the fkin of the body: what ap¬
peared out, was only eight inches long : the
breadth of the fore feet, when extended, was

f

three inches and a half: the hind legs were
placed in fuch a manner as to point diredfcly
backwards : and were ten inches long : each
hind foot, when extended,’ was nine inches

* Sir R. Sibbald fays, that on the coaft of Angus , fome are found
as large as oxen.

* « v I. * «

and a half broad : every foot was divided in¬
to five toes y and each of thole connected by

a ftrong and broad web, covered on both fides
with Ihort hair.

The toes were furnilhed with ftrong claws,
well adapted to affift the animal in climbing
the rocks it balked on : the claws on the hind
feet were about an inch long, llender, and

ftrait y except at the ends, which were a lit*?
tie incurvated.

The circumference of the body in the
thickeft part, which was near the Ihoulders,
was one foot ten inches ; but near the hind
legs, where it was narroweft, it meafured on¬
ly twelve inches.

The head and nofe were broad and flat,
like thofe of the otter; the neck Ihort and
thick 5 the eyes large and black , it had no

exter-

Itf 0!

8 .

Xllill

dbj

life

iws,

)ing

lind

and

lit*

he

C\

QUADRUPEDS.

35

Clafs I. ]

external ears, but in lieu of them, two fmall
orifices : the noftrils were oblong : on each
fide the nofe were feveral long (lift* hairs ; and
above each eye, were a few of the fame kind.

The form of the tongue of this animal is
fo fingular, that were other notes wanting,
that alone would diftinguilh it from all other
quadrupeds ; being forked, or flit at the end.

The whole animal was covered with (hort
hair, very clolely fet together : the color of
that on the head and feet was dufky : on the
body dulky, fpotted irregularly with white :
on the back the dulky color predominated ;
on the belly the white.

The leal is common on moft of the rocky
fhores of Great-Britain and Ireland , efpecially
on the northern coafts : in Thales it frequents
the coafts of Caernarvonjhire , and Anglefey .

We muft acknowledge the great obligations
our fociety lies under to the reverend Mr.
Farrington of Dinas , in the former county,
for feveral learned communications ; but in
particular for the natural hiftory of this ani¬
mal, which we ftiall give the public in his
own words.

4 The feals are natives of our coafts ; and
4 are found moft frequently between Lleyn in
4 Caernarvonjhire , and the northern parts of
4 Anglefey : they are feen often towards Car-
c rcg y moelrhon , to the weft of Bardfey , or
6 ynys Enlli ; and the Skerries, commonly
4 called in the Brit if0 language Tnys y moel-
4 rhoniaid, or feal ifland. The Latin name
c of this amphibious animal is Phoca , from
4 the Greek ^xv, vox ; for, being purfued, and
4 in danger of being taken, they make a loud
4 and hideous noife : the vulgar name of this

4 creature is fea calf; and on that account, the
4 male is called the bull, and the female the
4 cow; but the Celtic appellative is Moelrhon ,
4 from the word Moel\ bald, or without ears,
4 and Rhon , a (pear or lance.

4 They are excellent fwimmers, and ready
4 divers, and are very bold when in the fea;

4 fwimming carelefsly enough about boats:

4 their dens or lodgments, are in hollow
4 rocks, or caverns, near the fea; but out of
4 the reach of the tide : in the fummer they
4 will come out of the water, to balk or fleep
4 in the fun, on the top of large ftones, or
4 (hivers of rocks : and that is the opportu-
4 nity our countrymen take of (hooting them;

4 if they chance to efcape, they haften towards
4 their proper element, flinging ftones and dirt
4 behind them, as they fcramble along ; at the
4 fame time exprefling their fears by piteous
4 moans; but if they happen to be overtaken,

4 they will make a vigorous defence with their
4 feet and teeth, till they are killed. They are
4 taken for the fake of their (kins, and for the
4 oyl their fat yeilds : the former fell for
4 four (hillings, or four and fix-pence apiece;

4 which, when drefled, is very ufeful in cover-
4 ing trunks, making waiftcoats, (hot pouches,

4 and feveral other conveniencies. The flefti
4 of thefe animals, and even of porpoifes,

4 formerly found a place at the tables of the
4 great; as appears from the bill of fare of
4 that vaft feaft that archbifliop Novell gave
4 in the reign of Edward the fourth, in which
4 is feen, that feveral were provided on the
4 occafion.* They couple about April , on
4 large rocks, or fmall iflands, not remote
4 from the fhore; and bring forth in thofe
4 vaft caverns that are frequent on our coafts ;

4 they commonly bring two at a time, which

4 in

* Iceland's colleffanea.

[ Clafs I.

quadruped s .

< in their infant ftate, are covered with a
e whitifh down, or woolly fubftance.

The natural hiftory of this animal, may be
farther elucidated, by the following extracts
from a letter of the reverend Wiv.Borlafe , to a
member of our fociety, dated OBober the

24th, 1763.

c The feals are feen in the greateft plenty
c on the (hores of Cornwall , in the months of
4 May, June , and July .

6 They are of different fizes, fome as large
c as a moderate cow, and from that down-
4 wards to a fmall calf.

4 They feed on mod: forts of fifh which they
4 can mafter, and are feen fearching for their
4 prey near fhore; where the whiffling fifh,

4 wraws, and polacks refort.

4 They are very fwift in their proper depth
4 of water, dive like a {hot, and in a trice rife
4 at fifty yards diftance ; fo that weaker fifh
4 cannot avoid their tyranny, except in fhallow
4 water : a perfon of the parifh of Sennan , faw
4 not long fince a feal in purfuit of a mullet
4 (that ftrong and fwift fifh:) the feal turned
4 it too and fro’ in deep water, as a gre hound
4 does a hare : the mullet at laft found it had
4 no way to efcape, but by running into fhoal
4 water : the feal purfued ; and the former to
4 get more finely out of danger, threw ltfelf
4 on its fide, by which means it darted into
4 fhoaler water than it could have fwam in with
4 the depth of its paunch and fins, and fo ef-
* caped.

4 The feal brings her young about the be*
4 ginning of autumn j our fifhermen have

4 feen two fucking their dam at the fame time,
c as fhe flood in the fea in a perpendicular

4 pofition’.

4 Their head in fwimming is always above
4 water, more fo than that of a dog.

4 They deep on rocks furrounded by the
4 fea, or on the lefs acceffible parts of our cliffs,

4 left dry by the ebb of the tide \ and if diff
4 turbed by any thing, take care to tumble
4 over the rocks into the fea. They are ex-
4 tremely watchful, and never fleep long with-
4 out moving} feldom longer than a minute ^

4 then raife their heads, and if they hear or
4 fee nothing more than ordinary, lie down
4 again, and fo on, raifing their heads a little,

4 and reclining them alternately, in about a
4 minute’s time. Nature feems to have given
4 them this precaution, as being unprovided
4 with auricles, or external ears ; and confe-
4 quently not hearing very quick, nor from
4 any great diftancev

In Sir R. SibbahPs hiftory of Scotland , we
find an account of another fpecies of the feal
kind, which is copied from Boethius. The
animal he mentions is the fea-horfe, or Morfe :
as this vaft creature is found in the Norwegian
feas, we think it not improbable but that it
may have appeared on the Scottijh coafts ;
but having no better authority for it, than
what is above mentioned, we dare not give it
a place in a Britijh Zoology. The teeth of
that animal, are as white and hard as ivory j
but whether the 4ivory bits, which

Strabo j* mentions among the articles of the
Britiflj commerce, were made of them, or the
tooth of the Narhwal)\s not at this time eafy tq
be determined.

f Strabo Lib. 4. . p. 200. (-D.)

Clafs I. ]

QUADRUPEDS.

37

GENUS XII. The W E E S E L.

SPECIES I.

Polecat or Fitchet. Raii. fyn.
quad. 199.

Meyer’s an. 2. Tab. 6.
Charlton ex. 20.

Gefner quad.. 767. .

Muftela pilis in exortu ex cinereo
albidis, colore nigricante termi-

The POLECAT.

natis, oris circumferentia alba.
Brijfon quad. 249.

Buffon Tom. 7. 199. Tab. 23.
Muftela putorius. Lin. Jyft. 46.
Muftela fbetida. Klein quad. 63.
Muftela flavefcente nigricans, ore
albo, collari flavefcente. Faun.
• fuec. 8. . .

Britijh , Ffwlbard
French , Putoir
Italian , Foetta, Puzolo
Spanijhy Putoro

NAMES <

Portug.

German , UtiE ulk. Buntfing
Dutch , Bonfer
Swedijh , I Her

r~\ |"^\h E length of this animal, is about
feventeen inches,exclufive of the tail $
that of the tail fix. The fhape of
this animal in particular, as well as of the whole
genus, is long and {lender; the nofe fharp-
pointed, and the legs fhort : in fine, admira¬
bly formed for infinuating itfelf into the fmali-
eft holes and paflages, in fearch of prey : it is
a very nimble and a&ive race, runs very faft,
will creep up the fides of walls with great
agility, and fprings with vaft force : in rim¬
ing, the belly feems to touch the ground : in
preparing to jump, it arches its back, which
alfifts it greatly in that action.

The ears are fhort, rounded and tipt with
white : the circumference of the mouth, that
is to fay, the ends of the lower and upper
mandibles are white : the head, legs and
thighs, are wholly of a deep chocolate color,
almoft black. The fides are covered with
hairs of two colors ; the longer are of a
blackifh hue, like the other parts 5 the Ihort-
er are of a full tawny color.

The toes are long, and feparated to the
very origin : the tail is covered with pretty
long hair. 1

The polecat is very deftru&ive to young
game of all kinds ; and to poultry : they
generally refide in woods, or thick brakes ;
burroughing under ground, forming a {hallow
retreat, about two yards in length; which
commonly ends, for its fecurity, among the
roots of fome large trees : in the winter it
frequents houfes, and makes a common prac¬
tice of robbing the dairy of the milk : it alfo
makes great havoke in warrens.

It will breed five or fix at a time 5 warreners
will fometimes permit a crofs between this
animal and the ferret \ for the latter, by long
confinement, will abate its favage nature; and
become lefs eager after rabbets,and confequent-
ly lefs ufeful. The ferret agrees with the
polecat in many refpe£ts, particularly in its
thirft after the blood of rabbets : they readily
couple, and the produce of the Hie ferret is im-

K proved :

3 8

QUADRUPEDS.

[ Clafs I.

proved: it may be added, that the latter comes
originally from Africa, and is only cultivated
in Great-Britain.

Tho’ the fmell of the polecat, when alive,

is rank and difagreeable, even to a proverb;
yet the fkin is dreft with the hair on, and ufed
as other furs for tippets, &c. and is alfo fent
abroad to line cloaths.

SPECIES II. The MARTIN.

The Martin and Martlet. Rail.

fyn. quad. 200.

Meyer’s an. 2. Tab. 4.

Marten, or Martern. Charlton
exer. 20.

Gefner quad. 764.

Muftela pilis in exortu albidis
caftaneo colore terminatis ve-

ftita, gutture albo. Briffon
quad. 346.

Bitffon. Tom. 7. Tab.

Muftela martes. Lin. fyfl. 46.
M. Martes. Klein, quad. 64.
M. fulvo nigricans gula pallida,
Faun. fuec. 7.

Britiflj , Bela graig
French , Fouine
Italian , Foina, Fouina
Spanijh , Marta, Gibellina

NAME S <

j

Portug.

German , Huhfs marder, ftein marder
Dutch , Marter
Swedijh , Mard

•* v

~ 3 HIS is the moll beautiful of the

.... * •- "• * t ; ; *• .* u * y - - *

Britijh beafts of prey : its head is

. • ■ ■ - ^ *■.*•« * . •

fmall, and elegantly formed : its
eyes lively: and all its motions fhew great
grace, as well as agility: when taken young,
it is eafily tamed, is extremely playful, and is
in conftant good humour : nature will recur,
if it gets loofe ; for it will immediately take
advantage of its liberty, and retire to its pro¬
per haunts.

The martin is about eighteen inches long ;
the tail ten, or, if the meafurement be taken to
the end of the hair at the point, tw r elve inches.

The ears are broad, rounded and open:
the back, fides, and tail, are covered with a
fine thick down, and with long hair intermix¬
ed : the bottom of the down is afh colored,
the ends of a reddilh brown : the long hairs
are of a bright chefnut color : the head is

brown, with fome flight caft of red : the legs
and upper fide of the feet are of a chocolate
color: the palms, or under fides are covered
with thick down like that on the body: the
feet are broad : the claws white, large and

I

lharp ; well adapted for climbing trees,
which in this country is their conftant re-
fidence. The throat and breaft are white :
the belly of the fame color with the back, but
rather paler: the hair on the tail is very long;
efpecially at the end, where it appears much
thicker than near the origin of it: the hair in
that part is alfo darker.

The fkin and excrements of this animal,have
a fine mufky fcent; and are entirely free of
that ranknefs which diftinguifhes the other
fpeciesof this genus; the fkin is a valuable fur;
and much ufed in linings to the gowns of

O O

magiftrates.

SPECIES

wmmm

* .

-

- i ,

-

.. * *- - : . *-

m

4 ’

• ' .♦» Vv' .

* :

'

'

■

- ■ ST - »- -

>

- s '>;* .

• * .

■ ' ' "

-

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< ", .

*

. . V . ,

...

■ „

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■

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;• - v'. V '

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i.

39

Glafs I

QUADRUPEDS.

SPECIES III. The Yellow Breaded MARTIN.

Martes abietum. Raii.jyn. quad.
200 .

Meyer’s an. 2. Tab. 5.

Martes fylveftris; Gefner quad.

765-

Muftela pilis in exortu ex cinereo
albidis caftaneo colore ter-
minatis veftita, gutture flavo.
Rrijjon quad. 247.

Ruffin. Tom. 7. 186. Tab. 22.

NAMES

Portug.

German , Feld-marder, wild-marder
Dutch , Marter

Britijhy Bela goed s

French y Marte

Italiany Marta, Martura, Martora,
Martorello

Spanijhy Marta

HIS fpecies is found in Great-
Britain y but is much lefs common
in England than the former ; it is
fometimes taken in the counties of Merioneth
and Caernarvon j where it is diftinguilhed
from the other kind, by the name of bela
goedy as being fuppofed to live entirely in the
woods. Tho’ this is fo rare in thefe parts,
yet in Scotland it is the only kind } where it

Szvedijhy

\

inhabits the fir forefts : building its neft at
the top of the trees*. It loves a cold climate,
and is found in much greater numbers in the
north of EuropCy than in the other parts.

The principal differences between this and
the former kind, confift in the fize, this being
lefs : the bread: too is yellow; the color of
the body much darker, and the fur in general
greatly fuperior in fined, beauty and value.

* Vide Sibbald’s hift. Scot, part 2. lib. 3. p. n.

SPECIE'S IV.

The Weafel or Weefel. Muftela
vulgaris: in Torkjbire, the
Fitchet or Foumart. Raii.jyn.
quad. 195.

Girald. cambrens. 149.

The whitred. Sib. Scot. 11.

The W E E S E L.

Muftela fupra rutila infra alba.

Briffion quad. 242.

Baffin. Tom. 7. 225. Tab. 29.
Gefner quad- 753.

Muftela vulgaris. Klein quad. 62•

Britijhy Bronwen
Frenchy Belette

Italiany Donnola, Ballottula, Benula
Spanijhy Comadreia

T HIS fpecies is the lead: of the weefel
kind, the length of the head and
body not exceeding fix, or at mod:

r Germany Wifel
Dutch y Wefel
Swedijhy Veda
Portug. Doninha

L

feven inches. The tail is only two inches and
a half long, and ends in a point: the ears are
large ; and the lower parts of them are dou¬
bled in. 'phe

> N A M E S <

Clafs I.

QUADRUPEDS.

The whole upper part of the body, the head,
tail, legs, and feet are of a very pale tawny
brown. The whole under fide of the body
from the chin to the tail is white.

This, like the reft of the kind, is very de¬
finitive to young birds, poultry, and young
rabbets $ and are belides great devourers of
eggs. It does not eat its prey on the place,
but after killing it, by one bite near the head,
carries it off to its young, or its retreat. It
is a remarkably ative animal, and will run
up the fides of walls with fuch facility, that

fcarce any place is fecure from it $ and its
body is fo fmall, that there is fcarce any hole
but what is pervious to it. This fpecies is
much more domeftic than the others fre¬
quenting outhoufes, barns, and grainanes
where, to make as it were fome atonement for
its depredations among our tame fowl, it foon
clears its haunts from rats and mice, being
infinitely more an enemy to them than the
cat itfelf. It brings five or fix young at a
time : its fkin and excrements are moft in¬
tolerably fetid.

SPECIES V.

JFhen brown , the STOAT.
JFhen white , the ERMINE.

Muftela Candida, animal ermine
un aRaii Jyn. quad- 198.

Mort. Northampt. 442.

Meyer’s an. a. Tab. 23, 24.

Muftela hieme alba, asftate fupra
rutila infra alba, caudae apice
nigro. Brijfon quad. 243.

Buffon. 7, 240. Tab- 29. Fig- 2.

Tab. 31. Fig. 1.

Gefner quad. 753.

Muftela erminea. M plantis fiffis,
caudae apice atro. Lin.fyft.
46. Faun. fuec. 9.

Pontop- Norway. Part- 2. p. 25.

German , Hermelin
Smdijlo , Hermelin, Lekatt

Britijh , Carlwm
French , Hermine, Rofelet
Italian , Armellino
Spa nip, Armino, Armelina.

AMES

Dutch , Armnn
Portug ,

H E length of the float to the ori¬
gin of the tail, is ten inches : that
of the tail is five inches and a half.
The colors bear fo near a refemblance to
thofe of the weefel, as to caufe them to be
confounded together by the generality of
common obfervers ; the weefel being ufually
miftaken for a fmall float: but thefe animals

have evident and invariable fpecific differences,
by which they may be eafily known. Firft,
by the fize; the weefel being ever lefs than the
float $ fecondly, the tail of the latter is al¬
ways tipt with black, is longer in proportion
to the bulk of the animal, and more hairy ;
whereas the tail of the weefel is fhorter, and
of the fame color with the body : thirdly.

)

1

e

i

i

)

>

t

m

mgmai

■

*

i

. •• I

•. ...

-

.: > -

%

i

.

/

I

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*

' *

!> ill

1111

\

■V

*

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u

:> v : 'v -

QUADRUPEDS.

4 1

Clafs I. ]

the edges of the feats, and the ends of
the toes in this animal, are of a yellowifn
white. It may be added, that the float haunts
woods, hedges and meadows; efpecially where
there are brooks, whofe fides are covered with
fmall bufhes ; and fometimes (but lefs fre¬
quently than the weefel) inhabits barns, and
other buildings.

In the moil northern parts of Europe thefe
animals regularly change their color in winter;
and become totally white, except the end of
the tail, which continues invariably black.
The fkins and tails are a very valuable article
of commerce in Norway, Lapland , Rujfia , and
other cold countries ; where they are found
in prodigious numbers. The float is fome¬
times found white in Great-Britain , but not
frequently; and then it is called a white weefel.

That animal is alfo found white ; but may be
eafily diflinguifhed from the other in the er¬
mine flate, by the tail, which in the weefel is
of a light tawny brown.

The natural hiflory of this creature is much
the fame with that of the weefel, its food be¬
ing birds, rabbets, mice, &c. its agility the
fime, and its fcent equally foetid : it is much
more common in England than that animal.

Sir Robert Sib bald mentions an animal,
which he fays is common in Caithnefs , called
there Eavellan: by his defcription it feems to
belong to this genus. He fays it lives in the
water, has the head of the weefel, and refem-
bles that creature in color: and that its breath
is prejudicial to cattle. Sib. hifl. Jcot . n.

GENUS XIII. The HARE.
SPECIES I. The HARE.

The Hare. Rad Jyn. quad. 204.
White Hare. Mort. Northampt-

. 445 -

Sib. Scot. 11.

Meyer's an. 2. Tab. 32.

Gefner quad. 605.

Lepus caudatus ex cinereo rufiis.
Brijfon quad. 138-

Bujfon. Tom. 6 . 246. Tab■ 38.

Lepus timidus. Lin. Jyfl. 57.

Lepus cauda abrupta pupillis.

atris. Faun. fuec. 19.

Lepus vulgaris cinereus. Klein
quad. 51.

Plin.nat.hift. Lib. 8. c. 55.

Britijh , Yfgyfarnog, Ceinach
French , Lievre
Italian , Lepre, Lievora
Spanijh , Liebre

'NAMES

.

Portug. Lebre
German , Has, Haas
" Dutch , Hafe
Swedijh y Hare

o enter on a minute defcription of
fo well known an animal, would be
to abufe the reader’s patience ; yet
to negledl pointing out the admirable contriv¬

ance of its feveral properties and parts, would
be fruflrating the chief defign of this work :
that of pointing out the divine wifdom in the
animal world.

QUADRUPEDS.

[Clafs I.

Being a weak and moft defencelefs creature;
it is endued, in a very didinguifhed degree,
with that preferving paffion, fear : this makes
it perpetually attentive to every alarm, and
keeps it always lean.

To enable it to receive the mod didant
notices of danger, it is provided with very
long ears, which (like the tubes made ufe of
by the deaf) convey to it the remoted founds.

Its eyes are very large and prominent, a-

i

dapted to receive the rays of light, on all fides.

To affid it to efcape its purfuers, by a fpeedy
flight, the hind legs are formed remarkably
long, and furnifhed with ftrong mufcles : their
length give the hare Angular advantages over
its enemies in afcending deep places ; and fo
fenfible is the animal of this, as always to
make towards the riflng ground when darted.

The various dratagems and doubles it
ufes, when hunted, are fo well known to every
fportfman, as not to deferve mention ; except
to awaken their attention to thofe faculties
nature has endowed it with ; which ferve at
the fame time to encreafe their amufement, as
well as to prevent the animal’s dedru&ion.

It very rarely leaves its form or feat in the
day; but in the night takes a circuit in fearch
of food, always returning thro’ the fame
meufes, or pafles.

The color approaches very near to that of
the ground ; which fecures it more effectually
from the fight of men, and of beads and birds
of prey. Providence has been fo careful in
refpeCt to the prefervation of the fpecies of
animals, as to caule in northern countries thefe
as well as many others to change color, and
become white at the beginning of winter ; to
render them lefs confpicuous amidd the fnow.

Accidental indances of white hares, are met
with in Great-Britain.

Its food is entirely vegetable; and it does
great injury to nurferies of young trees, by
eating the bark off: it is particularly fond of
pinks, and partly.

The hare never pairs ; but in the rutting
feafbn, which begins in February , the male
purfues and difcovers the female, by the faga-
city of its nofe. The female goes with young
one month, brings ufually two young at a
time ; fometimes three, and very rarely four.
Sir Thomas Brown , in his treatife on vulgar
errors,* aflerts the doCtrine of fuperfsetation ;
i. e. a conception upon conception, or an im¬
provement on the flrd fruit before the fecond
is excluded ; and he brings this animal as an
indance ; aflerting, from his own cbfervation,
that after the flrd cad there remain fucceflive
conceptions, and other younglings very imma¬
ture, and far from the term of their exclufion ;
but as the hare breeds very frequently in the
year, there is no neceflity of having recourfe
to this accident* *to account for their numbers.

Flares are very fubjeCt to fleas; Linnaeus
tells us, that the Dalecarlia,ns make a fort of
cloth of the fur called Jilt ; which, by attraCt-
ing thofe infers, preferves the wearer from
their troublefome attacks j~.

The hair of this creature forms a great
article in the hat manufacture ; and as this
country cannot fupply a diffident number, vad
quantities are annually imported from RuJJia .

The hare was reckoned a great delicacy a-
mong the Romans ; J The Britains , on the

contrary, thought it wrong even to tade it * j~.
* P. 118.

** For a farther account of this do£trine, we refer the curious
reader to M. Buftoris works, vol. 6.p, 252. 279, &c.

-j~ Faun. juec. 19.

- t Inter aves turdus, fi quid me judice verum eft :

Interquadrupedw gloria prima Lepus eft. Martial. 13. 92.
*-j- Leporem et gallinam et anferem guftare fas non putant.
Ccejar. Com. Lib. 5.

Clafs I. ]

QUADRUPEDS.

43

SPECIES II. The RABBET.

The Rabbet, or Cony. Raii fin.
quad' 204.

Meyer's an. 1. Tab. 83.

Gefiner quad. 362.

Lepus caudatus, obfcure cinereus.
Brifion quad. 140.

Bufion Tom. 6. 303. Tab. 50,51.
Lepus cuniculus. Lin. fifi. 58.
Lepus cauda breviffima papillis
rubris. Faun, fiuec. 20.
Cuniculus terram fodiens. Klein
quad. 52.

Britijh , Cwningen
French , Lapin
Italian , Coniglio
Spanijh , Conejo

NAMES

j

Portua. Coelho

o

German , Kunigle, Kunele, Kunlein
Dutch , Koniin
Swedijh , Kanin

T is well obferved by Pliny , that nature
c hath fhewed great kindnefs, in caufing

I •

c thofe things to be moft prolific, that
‘ are the moft harmlefs and the propereft for
‘ our food. *

This excellent obfervation of his, cannot be
better illuftrated than in fhewing the great
fruitfulnefs of this animal $ as it far exceeds
that proof, brought by the ingenious author
of the oeconomy of nature, in fupport of the
fame quotation. The inftance he produces is
the pigeon $ whofe increafe, from one pair,
may in four years amount to 14,760 j* : but
rabbets will breed feven times a year, and
bring eight young ones each time : on a

fuppofition this happens regularly, during
four years, their numbers will amount to
1,274,840.

By this account, we might juftly apprehend
being over ftocked with thefe animals, if they
had not a large number of enemies which pre¬
vents the too great increafe : not only men,
but hawks, and beafts of prey, make dreadful
havoke among the fpecies. Notwithftanding
thefe different enemies, we are told by Pliny ,
and Strabo , that they once proved fo great a
nufance to the inhabitants of the Balearic
illands, that they were obliged to implore the
affiftanceof a military force from th e Romans,
in the time of Auguftus , in order to extirpate
them. %%

* Benigna circa hoc natura, innocua et efculenta animalia foe- ** Plin, lib. 8. c. 55. Strabo, lib. 3.

cunda generavit. Lib. 8. c. 55.

4 Videfwedifh eflays, tranflated by Mr .Stillingfleet ed. ift, p. 75.

GENUS

44

QUADRUPEDS.

[ Clafs I.

GENUS XIV. The SQUIRREL.
SPECIES I. The SQUIRREL.

Rail fyn. quad. 214.

Meyer's an. 1. Tab. 97.

Gefner quad. 845.

Sciurus rufus, quandoque grifeo
admixto. Brijfon quad. 150.
Buffon. Tom. 7. 258. Tab. 32.
Sciuris auriculis apice barbatis,

palmis 4-dadtylis plantis 5-dac-
tylis. Lin. Jyjt. 63.

Sciura palmis fobs faliens. Faun.

fuec . 31.

Sc. vulgaris rubicundus. Klein
quad. 5 3.

Britijh, Gwiwair
French , Ecureuil

Italian , Scoiattolo, Schiarro, Schiratto
Spanifhy Harda, Hardilla, Efquilo

.NAMES

F I ''N H E fquirrel derives its name from

I the form of its tail, a a (hade
-L a tail, as ferving this little

animal for an umbrella. That part is long
enough to cover the whole body, and is
clothed with long hairs, dilpofed on each fide
horizontally, which gives it a great breadth.
Thefe ferve a double purpofe, when ere&ed,
they prove a lecure protection from the in¬
juries of heat or cold ; when extended, they
are very inftrumental in promoting thofe vaft
leaps the fquirrel takes from tree to tree. On
the authority of Klein and Linn ecus , we may
add a third application of the form of the tail:
thefe naturalifts tell us that when the fquirrel
is difpofed to crofs a river, a piece of bark is
the boat, the tail the fail.

This animal is remarkably neat, lively,

. • ■ *

a&ive, and provident, never leaves its food to
chance; but fecures in fome hollow tree, a vaft
magazine of nuts for winter provifion. In

‘ Portug. Ciuro

German , Eychorn, Eichmermlia

Dutch , Inckhoornken

Swedijh) Ikorn, grafkin
1

the fummer it feeds on the buds, and young
(hoots; and is particularly fond of thofe of
the fir and pine, and alfo of the young cones.
It makes its neft of mofs or dry leaves, be¬
tween the fork of two branches; and brings
four or five young at a time. Squirrels are i n
heat early in the fpring, when it is very di¬
verting to fee the female feigning an efcape
from the purfuit of two or three males, to ob-
ferve the various proofs they give of their
agility, which is then exerted in full force.

The color of the whole head, body, tail,
and legs of this animal, is a bright reddifh
brown : the belly and breaft white : in fome
parts of IFlies there is a variety of the fquir¬
rel kind, with a creme colored tail : the ears
are very beautifully ornamented with long
tufts of hair, of a deeper color than thofe on
the body : the eyes are large, black and live¬
ly : the fore teeth ftrong, lharp, and well a-
dapted to its food; the legs are (hort and

mufcular :

QUADRUPEDS.

45

Oafs I. ]

mufcular : the toes long, and divided to their
origin; the nails ftrong and fharp; in fhort, in
all refpe&s fitted for climbing, or clinging to
the fmalleft boughs : on the fore-feet it has
only four toes, with a claw in the place of the
thumb or interior toe : on the hind feet there
are five toes.

When it eats or dreffes itfelf, it fits eredf,
covering the body with its tail, and making
ufe of the fore-legs as hands. It is obferved,
that the gullet of this animal is very narrow,
to prevent it from difgorging its food, in de¬
fending of trees, or in down-leaps.

GENUS XV. The DORMOUSE.
SPECIES I. The lefferDORMOUSE.

Mus avellanarum minor. The

Dormoufe or Sleeper. Ran

fyn. quad. 220.

The Dormoufe. Edzv. 266.
Gefner quad. 162.

Glis fupra rufus infra albicante.

Briffon quad. 162.

Bujf'on. Tom. 8. 193. Tab. 26.
Mus avellanarius. Lin. JyjL 6 2.
Mus cauda longa pilofa corpore
rufo gula albicante. Faun,
fuec. 32.

Britifhy
French ,
Italian ,

5

Pathew

Mufcardin, Croquenoix,Rat-dor

Mofcardino

iNAMES

Liron

j

r Portug.

German ,
< Dutch ,
Swedijhy

.

Relmuys, Vleer muys
Skoo-fmus

^ H I S animal agrees with the fquir-
rel in its food, refidence, and fome
of its actions; on firft fight it

bears a general refemblance of the latter; but
on a clofer infpedfion, fuch a difference may
be difcovered in its feveral parts, as vindicates
M. Brijfon , for forming a diftin& genus of
the Dormice, or Glires. Thefe want the fifth
claw on the interior fide of their fore feet; nor
are their ears adorned with thofe elegant tufts
of hair that diflinguifh the fquirrel kind: their
tail is fo covered with hair, as to appear per¬
fectly round ; while that of the fquirrel ap¬
pears flat. Thefe diftin&ions prevale in the

t

other fpecies, fuch as the Lerot , great dor¬
moufe, &c.

Dormice inhabite woods, or very thick
hedges ; forming their nefts in the hollow of
fome low tree, or near the bottom of a clofe
fhrub : as they want much of the fprightlinefs
of the fquirrel, they never afpire to the tops of
trees; or, like the former, attempt to bound
from fpray to fpray : like the fquirrel they
form little magazines of nuts, &c, for winter
provifion; and take their food in the fame
manner, and fame upright action. The con-
fumption of their hoard during the rigor of
the feafon is but fmall: for they fleep moft

M part

4 6 QUADRUPEDS. [ Clafs I.

part of the time ; retiring into their holes at
the firft approach of winter, roll themfelves
up, and lie almofl: torpid the greateft part of
that gloomy feafon. In that fpace, they fome-
times experience a fhort revival, in a warm
funny day; when they take a little food, and
then relapfe into their former ftate.

The fize of the dormoufe, is equal to that
of a moufe ; but has a plumper appearance,
and the nofe is more blunt; the eyes are
large, black, and prominent; the ears broad,
rounded, thin, and femi-tranfparent: the fore^
feet are furnifhed with four toes ; the hind

feet with five; but the interior toes of the
hind feet are deftitute of nails : the tail is a-
bout two inches and a half long, clolely co¬
vered on every fide with hair : the head, back,
fides, belly, and tail, are of a tawny red co¬
lor ; the throat white.

Thefe animals feldom appear far from their
retreats; or in any open place; for which
reafon they feem lefs common in England than
they really are. They make their nefts of
grafs, mofs, and dead leaves; and bring ufually
three or four young at a time.

GENUS XVI. The RAT.
SPECIES I. The common RAT.

Mus domefticus major, feuRattus.

Rail fyn. quad. 217.

Meyer's an. 2. Tab. 83.

Gefner quad. 731.

Mus cauda longiffima obfcure ci-
nereus. Brijfon quad. 168.
Buffon. Tom. 7- p. 278. Tab • 36.

Mus rattus. Lin. JyJi 63.

Mus cauda longa fubunda corpore
fufco cinerelcente. Faun. fuec.
: 28.

Mus Rattus, mus ciftrinarius.
Klein quad. 57.

Britijh , Llygoden ffrengig
French , Rat
Italian , Ratto, Sorcio
Spanijh , Raton, Rata

» r . '

Portug. Rato

>N A M E S

German y Ratz
* Dutch, Rotte
Swedijhy Rotta

^""1 ^ ^ E rat is the moft pernicious of
any of our lefier quadrupeds : our
meat, corn, paper, cloaths, furni¬
ture, in Ihort every conveniency of life is a
prey to this deftru&ive creature : nor does it
confine itfelf to thefe ; but will make equal
havoke among our poultry, rabbets, or young
game. Unfortunately for us it is a domeftic
animal, always refiding in houfes, barns, or

grainaries; and nature has furnifhed it with
fore-teeth, of fuch ftrength, as enable it to
force its way through the hardeft wood, or
oldeft morter. It makes a lodge, either for
its days refidence, or for a neft for its young,
near a chimny ; and improves the warmth of
it, by forming there a magazine of wool, bits
of cloth, hay or ftraw. It breeds frequently
in the year, and brings about fix or feven

young

quadrupeds.

47

the former. The Norway rat has alfo greatly

Clafs I. ]

young at a time : the fpecies increafe fo faft,
as to over-ftock their abode ; which often
forces them, thro’ deficiency of food, to devour
one another: this unnatural difpofition happily
prevents even the human race from becoming
a prey to them; not but that there are in-
ftances of their gnawing the extremities of '
infants, in their fleep.

The greateft enemy the rats have, is the
weefel; which makes infinitely more havoke
among them than the cat; for the weefel is
not only endowed with fuperior agility ; but,
from the form of its body, can purfue them
thro’ all their retreats that are impervious to

leftened their numbers, and in many places
almoft extirpated them : this will apologize
for a brief defcription of an animal once fo
well known. Its length from the nofe to the
origin of the tail, is feven inches : the tail is
near eight inches long : the nofe is fharp
pointed, and furnifhed with long whifkers: the
coior 01 the head and whole upper part of the
body, is a deep iron grey, bordering on black;
the belly is of dirty cinereous hue ; the legs
are of dufky color, and almoft naked : the
fore-feet want the thumb or interior toe, hav¬
ing only in its place a claw : the hind-feet
are furnifhed with five toes.

Mus fyIveftris,Rat de bois. Briffon
quad. 170.

Surmulot. Buffbn Tom. 8. 206.
Tab. 27.

Mus norvegicus. Klein quad. 56.

H I S is a very large fpecies; thicker,
and of a ftronger make than the
common rat: the length from the
end of the nofe to the beginning of the tail,
is nine inches ; the length of the tail the
fame ; the ufual weight eleven ounces : the
ears refemble thofe of the rat: the eyes large
and black : the color of the head and whole
upper part of the body is a light brown, mixed
with tawny and afh color: the end of the
nofe, the throat and belly, are of a dirty
white, inclining to grey : the feet and legs
almoft bare; and of a dirty, pale, f eft-color:
the beginning of the tail is of the fame color

as the back 5 the reft of the tail is covered
with minute dufky fcales, mixed with a few
hairs.

Mus ex norvegia. Seb. Mus. Tom.

2. 64. Tab. 63.

Forreft or Wood Rat- Pontop.
Hift- Norway . Part 2-28.

This is the fpecies well known in this king¬
dom under the name of the Norway rat ; be¬
ing fuppofed to have been imported from that
country, about forty years ago. It has quite
extirpated the common rat, wherever it ha's
taken its refidence ; and it is to be feared that
we fhall fcarce find any benefit by the change;
the Norway rat having the fame difpofition,
with greater abilities of doing mifchief, than
the common kind. This fpecies burroughs,
like the water rat, in the banks of rivers, ponds
and ditches ; it takes the water very readily;
and fwims, and dives with great celerity : like
the black fpecies it preys on rabbets, poultry,
and all kind of game ; and on grain and
fruits. It increafes moft amazingly faft, pro¬
ducing from fourteen to eighteen young at a

time.

48

quadrupeds.

Clafs I.

time. Its bite is not only fevere, but danger¬
ous ; the wound being immediately attended
with a great fwelling, and is a long time in
healing. Thefe rats are fo bold, as fome-
times to turn on thofe that purfue them, and
fallen on the flick or hand of fuch as offer to

ftrike them.

M. Briffon defcribes this fame animal twice
under different names, p. 170. under the title
of le rat de boh ; and again, p. 173* tinder
that of le rat de norvege. M. Buff on flyles it
le Surmulot 5 as refembling the mulcts, or
field mice, in many refpedls } but exceeding
them in bulk.

SPECIES

The WATER RAT.

Mus major aquaticus, feu Rattus
aquaticus. Raii jyn. quad' 217,

Sorex aquaticus. Charlton ex. 25.

Meyer's an- 2. ah. 84.

Mus cauda longa pilis fupra ex
nigro etfiavefcente mixtis, in¬
fra cinereis veftitus. Brijffcn
quad. 175.

Buffon Tom. 7. 348. Tab. 43.

Mus amphibius. Mus cauda elon-
gata pilofa plantis palmatis.
Lin. fyft. 61.

Caftor cauda lineari tereti. Faun.
Juec. 25.

Mus aquatilis. Klein quad. 57.

Britijh, Llygoden y dwfr
French , Rat d’eau
Italian , Sorgo morgange
Spanifh ,

> NAMES -

IN NM U S, from the external
appearance of this animal, has in
one of his fyflems placed it in the
fame genus with the beaver. The form of
the head, the fhortnefs of the ears, and the
thicknefs of the fur, and the places it haunts,
vindicate in fome degree the opinion that great
naturahfl was at that time of 5 but the form
of the tail is fo different from that of the
beaver, as to oblige him to reftore the water
rat to the clafs he found it, in the fyflem of
our illuflrious countryman Ray.

The water rat never frequents houfes; but
is always found on the banks of rivers, ditches
and ponds, where it burroughs and breeds.
It feeds on fmall fifh, or the fry of greater $ on

r Por tug.

German , Waffer mufz, W. Ratz
Dutch , Water rotte
1 'ifh , Watn. rotta

frogs, infedts, and fometimes on roots; it
has a fiftiy tafle 5 and in fome countries is
eaten. M. Buffon informing us that the pea-
fants in France eat it on maigre days.

It fwims and dives admirably well, and con¬
tinues long under water, tho’ the toes are di¬
vided like thofe of the common rat; not con¬
nected by membranes, as Mr. Ray imagined ,
and as Linnaeus, and other writers relate after
him.

The male weighs about nine ounces 5 the
length feven inches from the end of the nofe
to the tail; the tail five inches : on each foot
are five toes, the inner toe of the fore-foot is
very fmall; the firft joint of the latter is very

flexible, which mu ft aflift it greatly in fwim-

ming

.

♦> • >r •

- - ’

1 v- --

- . » ■ - - - *

t*

'

'

•

.

i

.

.

,

’

.

'

» v

'4

■r -

■V*.

' *,v

' %■ -

■

*

<r-

Clafs I. ] QUADRUPEDS. 49

ming, and forming its retreat. The head is
large, the ears fmall, and fcarce appear thro’
the hair : the nofe blunt, and the eyes little :
the teeth large, ftrong and yellow : the head
and body are covered with thick and pretty
long hairs, chiefly black ^ but mixed with

fome of a reddifh hue : the belly is of an iron
grey: the tail is covered with ftiort black hairs,
the tip of it with white hairs.

A female that we opened had fix young
ones in it;

SPECIES IV. The long tailed FIE LD MOUS E-

Mus domefticus medius* Ratifyn *
quad. 218.

Mus cauda longa fupra e fiifco
flavefcens infra ex albo cinere-
fcens. Briffon quad. 174*

Buffon. Tom. 7. 325. Tab. 41.

Britijh , Llygoden ganolig, Llygoden] ^ A
y maes }

Mus fylvaticus. M. cauda longa,
palmis tetradactylis, plantis
pentada&ylis, corpore grifeo
pilis nigris abdomine albo. Lin.
fyft. 62.

Faun Juec. 30;

[French , Mulot.

ES

HIS meafures from the nofe end
H to the letting on of the tail, four
inches and a half: the tail is four
inches long : the eyes are black, large and
full: the ears prominent: the head and upper
part of the body, is of a yellowifli brown,
mixed with fome duiky hairs: the bread is
of an ochre color; the reft of the under
fide is white : the tail is covered with ftiort

hair.

Thefe animals are found only in fields and
wardens : in fome places they are called bean
mice, from the havoke they make among
beans when firft fown. They feed alfo on
nuts, acorns, and corn : forming in their bur¬
roughs vaft magazines of winter provifion.

Sape exiguus mus.

Sub tcrris pofuitque domos atque horrea fecit.

Virgil. Georg. 1. I. 181 •

Do&or Derham takes notice of this won¬
derful fagacity of theirs, in providing againft
that feafon when they would find a defeat of
food abroad : but they provide alfo for other
animals: the hog comes in for a ftiare $ and
the great damage we fuftain in our fields, by
their rooting up the ground, is chiefly owing
to their fearch after the concealed hoard of
the field mice.

They generally make the neft for their
young very near the furface, and often in a
thick tuft of grafs $ they bring from feven to
ten at a time.

N

SPECIES

QUADRUPEDS.

[Clafs I

5°

SPECIES V. The fhort tailed FIELD MOUSE.

Mus agreftis capite grandi brachi-
urus. Raiijyn. quad* 218.
Mus cauda brcvi pilis c nigncantc
et fordide luteo mixtis in dorfo

et faturate cinereis in ventre
veftitis. Brtffon quad. 176.
Buff on Tom. 7. 369. Tab. 47.
Klein quad. 57. No. 50.

Britijh, Llygoden gwtta’r maes
Italian , CampagnoJi

NAME S \ ^' renc ^ ) ‘ > P et ^ champs, Le

^HE length of this fpecies, from the
nofe to the tail, is about fix inches}
the tail only an inch and a half; the
head is very large : the eyes prominent : the
ears quite hid in the fur: the whole upper
part of the body, is of a ferruginous color,
mixed with black ; the under fide of a deep
alh color: the tail is covered with Ihort hair,
ending with a little bulh, about a quarter of
an inch long.

campagnol

This animal makes its neft in moiffc mea¬
dows, and brings eight young at a time ; it
has a ftrong affedfion for them: one that was
feduced into a wire trap, by placing its brood
in it, was fo intent on foftering them, that it
appeared quite regardlefs of its captivity. The
manner of this creature much refembles the
laft fpecies : like it, this refides under-ground,
and lives on nuts, acorns, but particularly on
corn : it differs from the former in the place
of its abode $ feldom infefhng gardens.

SPECIES VI. The common MOUSE.

Mus domefticus vulgaris feu
minor. Rail fyn. quad. 218.

Seb. Mufeum. I. Tab • 11 r. f. 6 . its
Ikeleton. Tab. 31.

Gefner quad. 714.

Mus cauda longiffima, obfcure ci-
nereus, ventre lubalbefcente,
Briffbn quad. 169.

Britijh , Llygoden
French , Souris

^ 1 HIS timid, cautious, a&ive, little
j| animal, is too well known to require

a defcription 5 it is entirely dome-
ftic, being never found in fields; or, as M.
Buffon obferves, in any countries uninhabited
by mankind : it breeds very frequently in the
year, and brings fix or feven young at a time.

Buffon. Toni . 7- 309. 7 ab. 39.
Mus mufculus. M. cauda elongata,
palmis tetradaftyjis^plantis pen-
tada&ylis. Lin. Jyft. 62.

Faun. fuec. 31.

Mus minor, Mufculus vulgaris.
Klein quad ’ 57.

j" Portug. Ratinho
German , Mufz
Hutch , Muys
Swedijh , Mus

This fpecies is often found of a pure white,
in which ftate it makes a moft beautiful ap¬
pearance $ the fine full eye appearing to great
advantage, amidfl the fnowy color of the fur.
The root of white hellebore and Jiaves acre ,
powdered and mixed with meal, is a certain
poifon to them. GENUS

Italian , Topo, forice
Spanijh , Raton

names

Clafs I. ]

QUADRUPED S.

5i

GENUS XVII. The HEDGE HOG.
SPECIES I The HEDGE HOG, or URCHIN.

Echinus fc. erinaceus terreftris.

Rail fyn quad. 231.

Meyer's an. I. Tab. 95, 96.

Sib. Scot • 11 .

Erinaceus parvus noftras. Sel>
Mus. I. p. 78. Tab. 49. f. i, 2.
Erinaceus auriculis ereftis. Bnjfon
quad. 181.

f —| \ H E ufual length of this animal,

I exclufive of the tail, is ten inches :
the tail is little more than an inch
long ; but fo concealed by the fpines as fcarce
to be vifible. The form of the nofe, is like

. f: • * —- . * ‘ £ 'l

that of the hog \ the upper mandible being
much longer than the lower; and the end flat :
the noftrils are narrow, terminated on each fide
by a thin loofe flap : the color of the nofe is
dulky; it is cover’d by a few fcattered hairs :
the upper part of the head, the fides, and the
rump, are clothed with ftrong ftiff hairs, ap¬
proaching the nature of briftles, of a yellow-
ifh and cinereous hue.

The legs are fhort, of a dufky color, and
almoft bare : the toes on each foot are five in
number, long and feparated the whole way :
the thumb or interior toe, is much fhorter
than the others : the claws long, but weak :
the whole upper part of the body and fides,
are clofely covered with ftrong fpines, of an
inch in length, and very fharp pointed : their
lower part is white, the middle black, the
points white. The eyes are fmall and placed

Buffon Tom. 8. 28. Tab. 6.
Echinus terreftris. Gefner quad.
368. -o

Erinaceus europseus. Lin.fyft • 5 2.
Erinaceus ipinofus auriculatus.
Faun. fuec. 16.

Acanthion vulgaris noftras- Klein
quad. 66-

f Portug . Ourizo
German, Eigel
Dutch , Egel
Swedijh , Igelhot

high in the head : the ears are round, pretty
large and naked. The mouth is fmall, but
well furnilhed with teeth : in each jaw are
two lharp pointed cutting teeth : in the upper
jaw are on each fide four tuihes, and five
grinders : in the lower jaws on each fide are
three tufhes, pointing obliquely forward j and
beyond thofe, four grinders. Mr. Brijfon ,
from whofe obfervations this account of the
teeth has been taken, has given a very accu¬
rate figure of the jaws and teeth, p. 295.

The hedge hog is a nocturnal animal, keep¬
ing retired in the day} but is in motion the
whole night, in fearch of food. It generally
refides in fmall thickets, in hedges, or in
ditches covered with bullies $ lying well
wrapped up, in mofs, grafs, or leaves: its
food is roots, fruits, worms, and infers : it
lies under the undeferved reproach of fucking
cattle, and hurting their udders 5 but the
fmallnefs of its mouth renders that impoftible.

It is a mild, helplefs, and patient animal $
and would be liable to injury from every ene¬
my.

Britiflj , Draenog, Draen y coed
French , Herifton
Italian , Riccio
Spanifh , Erizo

>N A M E S<

5 2

[ Clafs I.

quadrupeds.

my, had not providence guarded it with a
ftrong covering ; and a power of rolling itfelf
into a ball; by that means fecuring the de-
fencelefs parts. The barbarity of anatomifts
furnifhes us with an amazing inftance of its

V,)

patience \ one that was difte£led alive, and
whole feet were nailed down to the tablej
endured that, and every ftroke of the opera¬
tor’s knife, without even one groan. *

* Clavis terebrari fibi pedes et difcindi vifcera patientiffime fe-
rebat; omnes culm idu fine gemitu plufquam fpartana nobilitate
concoquens. Borrich in Bias. deEcbino. Derham. Phyf. Tbeol. 240.

GENUS XVIII. The MOLE.
SPECIES I. The MOLE.

The Mole, Mold-Warp, or Want.

Rail fyn. quad. 236.

Spotted Mole. Edw. 268.

Meyer's an. I. Tab. 2.

Talpa alba noftras. Seb. Mus. I.

p. 61. Tab. 32. £ 1,

Sib. Scot. 11.

Gefiler quad. 931.

Talpa caudata nigricans pedibus

Britijh, Gwadd, Twrch daear 1

French , Taupe i N A

Italian , Talpa |

Spanijh , Topo

anticis et pofticis pentadadylis.
Brififon quad. 279.

Buff on. 8- 81. Tab. 12.

Talpa europaeus. T. caudata,
pedibus pentadactylis. Lin.

fiyft. 52.

Faun. fuec. 17*

Talpa. Klein quad. 60*

Portug. Toupeira
German , Mulwerf
5 5 " Dutch , Mol

Swedifh , Mulvad, Surk

T HERE are many animals in which
the divine wifdom may be more
agreably illuftrated, yet the uni¬
formity of its attention to every article of the
creation,even the moft contemptible, by adapts
ing the parts to its deftined courfe of life, ap¬
pears more evident in the mole than in any

other animal.

the ufe as well as form of hands 5 to Icoop
out the earth, to form its habitation, or to
purfue its prey. Had they been longer, the
falling in of the earth would have prevented
the quick repetition of its ftrokes in working,
or have impeded its courfe : the oblique po¬
rtion of the fore-feet, has alfo this advantage,
that it flings all the loofe foil behind the ani¬
mal.

A fubterraneous abode being allotted to it,
the feeming defefts of feveral of its parts, va-
nifh; which, inftead of appearing maimed, or
unfinifhed, exhibit a moft ftriking proof of the
htnefs of their contrivance,

The breadth, ftrength, and fhortnefs of the
fore-feet, which are inclined fideways, anfwer

The form of the body is not lefs admirably
contrived for its way of life : the fore part is
thick and very mufcular, giving great ftrength
to the a£tion of the fore-feet; enabling it to
dig its way with amazing force and rapidity,
either to purfue its prey, or elude the fearch of

the moft aaive enemy. The form of its hind

parts

53

QUADRUPEDS.

Clafs I. ]

parts which are fmall and taper, enables it to
pafs with great facility thro’ the earth, that
the fore-feet had flung behind ; for had each
part of the body been of equal thicknefs, its
flight would have been impeded, and its fe-
curity precarious.

The flnallnefs of the eyes (which gave oc-
cafion to the antients to deny it the fenfe of
fight *.) is to this animal a peculiar happinefs :
a fmall degree of viflon, is fufficient for an
animal ever defined to live under ground: had
thefe organs been larger, they would have
been perpetually liable to injuries, by the earth
falling into them; but nature, to prevent that
inconvenience, hath not only made them very
fmall, but alfo covered them very clofely w ith
fur. Anatomifts mention (befides thefe) a
third very wonderful contrivance for their fe-
curity ; and inform us that each eye is fur-
niflied with a certain mufcle, by which the
animal has power of withdrawing or exerting
them, according to its exigencies.

To make amends for the dimnefs of its
fight, the mole is amply recompenced, by the
great perfection of two other fenfes, thofe of
hearing and of fmelling : the firfh gives it no¬
tice of the moft diftant approach of danger :
the other, which is equally exquifite, directs it
in the midft of darknefs, to its food : the nofe
alfo, being very long and Render, is w ell form¬
ed for thrufting into fmall holes, in fearch of
the worms and infers that inhabite them.
Thefe gifts may with reafon be faid to com-
penfate the defeCt of fight, as they fupply
in this animal all its wants, and all the pur-
pofes of that fenfe. Thus amply fupplied as
it is, with every neceflary accommodation of
life ; we muft avoid aflenting to that grofs
obfervation of M. Buffon , and only refer the

reader to the note, where he may find the
very words of that author ; and compare
them with thofe of our illufrrious country¬
man, Mr. Ray. %

The mole breeds in the fpring, and brings
lour or five young at a time : it makes its
nefl of mofs, and that always under the largeft
hillock, a little below the furface of the
ground. The mole is obferved to be mod;
adfive, and to call; up moll earth, immediately
before rain: and in the winter before a thaw;
becaufe at thofe times the worms and infeCh
begin to be in motion, and approach the fur-
face : on the contrary, in very dry weather
this animal feldom or never forms any hillocks,
as it penetrates deep after its prey, which at
fuch feafons retires far into the ground. ' The
mole fliews great art in (kinning a worm,which
it always does before it eats it; flopping the
fkin from end to end, and fqueezing out ail
the contents of the body.

Thefe animals do incredible damage in aar-

£> t)

dens, and meadows; by loofening the roots of
plants, flowers, grafs, corn, &c. Mortimer
fays, that the roots of Palma chrifti and white
hciiebore ) made into a pafle, and laid ip their
holes, will deflroy them. They feem not to
have any enemies among other animals, ex¬
cept in ScQtlattd^ where (if we may depend on
Sir Robert Sibbald ) there is a kind of moufe,
with a black back, that deflroys moles ~j\

The formation of this animal, is fa truly
wonderful that however well known it may
feem, we fhould have illuftrated this deferip-

O

* La taupe fans etre aveugle, a les yeux ft petits, ft converts
qu elle ne peut faire grand ufage du fens de la vue : en dedommage-
ment la nature hi a dome avec magnificence l'ufage du fixieme fens , & c .

Mr. Ray nv.kes the latter obfervation ; but forms frond it a
conclufion much more folid and moral. Tejles maximos, parafii-
tas amplfiimas , novum corpus feminale ab bis diverfum et fipara-

tum - —penem ctiam facile omnium , ni Jailor , animalium lon-

gijjmum ex quibus cclligere efi maximum pree reliquis omnibus
anmahbus voluptatem in coitu, hoc abjcSium et vile animalculum
percipere, ut habeant quod ipfi invideant, .qui in boefufrentas vitce
Jure delicias collocant. Railfyn quad. 238, 239.

•f Sib. Hfi. Scot, part 3. p. 12.

* Aut oculis capti fodere cubilia talpse. Virg. Georg. 1.

54

quadrupeds.

[ Clafs I.

tion with a plate, had not the ingenious Mr.
'Edwards prevented us, by his accurate and
beautiful etching of a fpotted mole. Sometimes
we have been obliged to engrave the fame fub-
jefts with that excellent naturalift ; for it is
very difficult for writers, whofe fubjefts are

nearly limilar, to fleer quite clear of each o-
ther : this acknowledgement we think due to
the merit of Nlr. Edwards , whole beautiful,
lively, and correct deligns, are only equalled
by his accurate and faithful defcriptions.

GENUS XIX. The SHREW MOUSE.
SPECIES I. The SHREW MOUSE.

Shrew, Shrew Moufe, or hardy
Shrew. Rati fyu. quad. 243*

Gojiicr quad. 74 * 7 * ~

Mus araneus fupra ex fufco ruxus

infra albicans Rrijfon quad. 178.

Buff'on. Tom. 8. 57. Tab. 10.

Britifo-, Llygoden goch,Chwiftlen,Llyg
French , Mufaraigne
Italian , Toporagno
Spanijh , Murganho

Sorex araneus- S. cauda corpore
longiore. Lin. fyfi. 53.

Faun. fuec. 33.

Mus araneus roftro productiore.
Klein quad. 58,

NAMES

Portug .

German , Spitzmufs. Zifsmufs. Muger.
| Dutch ,

Swedi/h, Nabbmus

H E length of this little animal,
from the end of the nofe to the
origin of the tail is two inches and
a half: that of the tail, near one inch and a

half: the nofe is very long and Render; and

the upper mandible is much longer than the
lower : the ears are ffiort, and rounded : the
eyes are very fmall; and like thofe of the
mole, almoft concealed in the hair. The co¬
lor of the head, and upper part of the body,
is of a browniffi dulky red : the belly of a
dirty white: the tail is covered with ffiort
dulky hairs : the legs are very ffiort : the
hind legs are placed very far back ; the feet
are divided into five diftincf toes,

The teeth are twenty-eight in number; and
of fo lingular a form, as to engage the atten¬
tion of moll naturalifts. Gefner is of opinion.

that nature feems to have formed, in this ani¬
mal, teeth of mixed ffiape, between thofe of
mice and ferpents : the two upper fore-teeth
are very ffiarp, and on each lide of them grows
a minute procefs, fcarce vifible,except on a near
infpe&ion : the other teeth are placed clofe to¬
gether, are very fmall, and feem fcarce fe - ?
parated.

The ffirew moufe inhabites old walls, heaps
of ftones, or holes in the earth : is frequently
found near out-buildings, hay-ricks, dung¬
hills, and neceffiary houfes : it lives on infedls,
corn, and any filth ; and has been obferved
rooting like a hog in the laft named places:
either from its food, or its nature, it has a
ftrong difagreable fmeli; infomuch that the
cat will kill it, yet refufes to eat it. It is faid
to bring four or five young at a time.

i. ■

QUADRUPEDS.

GENUS XX. The B A T.

SPECIES I. The Short eared BAT

Bat, Flitter, or Flutter Moufe;

Rail fyn. quad. 243.

Short eared Englijh Bat. Edzv. av.

aoi. £ 2.

Seb. Mus. I.

The Rear Moufe. Charlton ex. 80.
Meyer's an. I. Tab. 3.

Gefner av. 766. ,

Velpertilio murini coloris, pedi-

bus omnibus pentadaftylis.
Briffon quad. 224.

La chauve fouris. Buffort. Tom. 8.
113. Tab■ 16.

Velpertilio murinus. Linfyft. 22.
V. caudatus nalb oreque fimplici.

Faun.fuec. 18-
V. major. Klein quad. 61.
Velpertilio. Plinii. Lib. io, 6. 61.

Britijh , Yftlum

French , Chauve fouris

%

Italian , Nottola. Notula. Sporteglione.
Vifpiftrello. Vilpiftrello.

Spanijh , Murcielago, Morciegalo

NAMES

/Por tug. Morcego
German , Speckrflanfs, Fladermufs
Dutch , Vledermuys
Szvedijh , Laderlap. Fladermus

^ H I S fingular animal was placed by
Pliny> Gefner , Aldrovandus , and
fome other naturalifts, among the
birds : they did not confider, that it want¬
ed every chara&er of that order of animals ;

except the power of flying : if the irregular.

uncertain, and jerking motion ^ of the bat in
the air, can merit the name of flight. No
birds whatfoever are furniflied with teeth, or
bring forth their young alive, and fuckle
them : were other notes wanting, thefe would

je fufficient to determine that the bat is a
madruped.

The fpecies now defcribed, is the larger of
the two kinds found in England ; and the
moft common : the ufual length of it, is
about two inches and a half: the extent of
the fore-legs feven inches.

* The figure of this Bat is borrowed from Seta’s mufeum.

+ The Englilh fynonym of this animal, Flitter, or Flutter moufe,
is very expreflive of its action, in the air.

The members that are dlually called the
wings, are nothing more than the four interior
toes of the fore feet, produced to a great
length, and conne&ed by a thin membrane $
which extends alfo to the hind legs; and from
them to the tail: the firft toe is quite loofe,
and ferves as a heel, when the bat walks ; or
as a hook, when it would adhere to any thing;
as is exprefled in the figure. The hind feet
are difengaged from the membrane, and di¬
vided into five toes, furnifhed with pretty
ftrong claws. The membranes are of a duiky
color: the body is covered with fhort fur, of
a moufe color, tinged with red. The eyes are
very fmall: the ears like thofe of the moufe.

This fpecies of bat is very common in Eng¬
land: it makes its firft appearance early in
the fummer, and begins its flight in the dulk
of the evening : it principally frequents the
fides of woods, glades, and Ihady walks ; and

is

5 I * * * * 6

[Clafs I.

.

QUADRUPEDS.

is alfo frequently obferved to fkim along the
furface of pieces of water, in quell of gnats
and infers : thefe are not its only food ; for
it will eat meat of any kind that it happens to
find hanging up, in a larder.

The bat brings only two young at a time;
which it fuckles from two teats placed on the
breall, like thofe of the human race : for this
reafon, Linnaeus has clalfed this animal in the
fame order with mankind; and has honored
both, with the common title of Primates , or

chiefs of the creation.

Towards the latter end of dimmer, the bat
retires into caves, ruined buildings, the roofs

of houfes, or hollow trees ; where it remains
the whole winter, in a Hate of ina£iion ; fuf-
pended by the hind feet, and clofely wrapped
up in the membranes of the fore-feet.

The voice of the bat is fomewhat like
that of the moufe ; but very low, and weak.
Ovid takes notice both of that, and the deri¬
vation of its latin name.

Lucemque perofe
Node volant, feroque tenent a vefpere nomen.

minimam pro corpore vocem
emittunt peraguntque levi ftridore querelas.

Met. lib. 4. 10.

SPECIES II. The Long eared BAT.

Edzv. av. 201. f. 3.
yllb. 3. Tab. 1 ox.

La petite chauve fouris de notre
pays. BriJJon quad. 226.
L’oreillar Buffon. Tom. 8. 118.
127. Tab. 17. £ 1.

I S fpecies is much inferior in

fize to the former : the length be¬

ing only an inch and three-quarters;

and the extent of the fore-legs nine inches.

The principal didin6lion, between this and

the common kind, is the ears ; which in this

Vefpertilio auritus. Lin. fyft- 32;
V. caudatus, nafo oreque limpii-
ci, auriculis duplicatis, capite
majoribus. Ibid.

are above an inch long, very thin, and almod
tranfparent: within each of thele is a lefler
ear, or at lead a membrane refembling one
which, as Mr. Edwards obferves, may pof-
fible ferve as a valve to clofe the larger, in the
fleeping date of this animal.

CLASS II.

/

s

L

[ 57 ]

A

S

S

n

B I

R

D

S.

Div. I. Land Birds.

II. Water Birds.

E

N

R

Div. I.

I. Hawks

II. Owls

Strono* hooked bills and claws : the bafe of the former covered") Genus
with a naked fkin or cere : the firft joint of the middle toe
connected to that of the outmoft by a membrane - - - -

Strong hooked bills, no cere: the outmoft toe capable of be¬
ing turned back, and doing the office of a hind toe -
Strong bills hooked at the end, no cere : the outmoft toe clofely'
connected to the middle toe as far as the firft joint -
Strait ftrone bills ; noftrils covered with briftles reflected down :

outmoft toe clofely connected to the middle toe as far as thel IV. Crows

firft joint - ..

Strong,ftrait,angular bills; long cylindric tongue :
ten ft iff feathers in the tail -

Page

61

70

III. Butcher birds 73

75

Toes difpofed
two forwards/
two backwards

V.Woodpeckers 78

Weak fmooth bill; long cylindric tongue : ten
flexible feathers in the tail -

Bill a little bent; Ihort tongue : ten feathers in
the tail - ~

. VI. Wryneck 80

VII. Cuckoo 80

\

Strait

• f

\ ■ . w

c

Div. I.

Genus Page

Strait triangular bill : fhort tongue, horny at the end and jagged VIII. Nuthatch 81

Strait ftrong bill: tongue fhort and lharp pointed : three lower'
joints of the outmofl toe clofely conne&ed to the middle toe.

Weak (lender hooked bill: twelve feathers in the tail

Slender hooked bill : ten feathers in the tail: very fhort tri¬
angular tongue -.-

<3 o

Bill flightly bent: twelve feathers in the tail: tongue cloven at'

the end - -------

i ’ •

Short arched bills : outmofl and inner toes conne&ed to the firft
joint of the middle toe by a fmall membrane -

IX. Kingfifher 82

X. Creeper 82

XI. Hoopoe

S3

, XII. Chough

S3

XIII. Grous

84

Strong bill a little incurvated : no back toe -

- XIV. Buflarcf 87

Weak ftrait bills ; noftrils lodged in a tuberous naked (kin : toes

divided to their origin -

XV. Pigeons

88

Strait bills a little bending at the point: outmofl toe adhering as
far as the firfl joint to the middle toe ,

.XVI.Thrufhes 90

Strait bill, a little compreffed

- XVII. Stare

93

/Weak bills : very long claw to the hind toe - XVIII. Larks 93

Short weak bills 5 very wide mouths : fmall weak
legs * - - -e * “

XIX. Swallows 96

Slender weak bills : fhort claw to the back toe XX. Slender billed

birds 98

Small birds - Very ftrong thick bills - - XXL Grofbeaks 105

Strong conic bills « - s> w ,

Conic bills, with a hard knob in the roof of the'j
upper mandible - - -

XXII. Finches 108

XXIII. Buntingsm

' Short ftrong bills 3 tongue terminated with briftles XXIV. Titmice 113

Div.

[ 59 ]

Div. II. WATER BIRDS.

Sect. I. With cloven feet.

II. With finned feet.

III. With webbed feet.

Very long legs and necks : ftrait, ftrong,
Slender, long, and incurvated bills
Slender, long, and ftrait bills
Short, (lender, and ftrait bills -
Strait bills : no back toe - -

Short (lender bill, (lightly incurvated -
Short thick bills 5 the bafe of the upper

I.

Genus Page

and (harp pointed bills I. Herons 116

II. Curlews 118
_ III. Woodcocks 119

. IV. Sandpipers 122

- V. Plovers 127
* - - VI. Water rail 130

mandible produced for

.VII.Water hens 130

fome fpace up the forehead -

II.

ftiort thick bills: toes furnilhed on their fides with broad (cal-

*

loped membranes - "

Strait lharp pointed bills : toes furnilhed on their fides with broad

plain membranes -

TIL

VIII. Coots 132

IX. Grebes 132

Long, flender, and comprefled bill turned upwards

No back toe -

Strong, ftrait, (harp pointed bills ' "

Strong bills hooked at the end 5 an angular knob on the lower

mandible : narrow oblong noftrils - ' * ' “

Strait, (lender, (harp pointed bills : forked tails -
Strong bills hooked at the end ; tubular noftrils : (harp procefs

inftead of the back toe -

Long (lender bills hooked at the ends, and the edges furnilhed
with numerous fmall teeth
Flat broad bills -

Each of the four toes conne&ed by a web -

X. Avofetta 134

XI. Auks 135

XII. Divers

XIII. Gulls

139

140

- XIV. Terns 144

■XV. Petrels 145

XVI. Goofanders 147

XVII. Ducks 149
XVIII Corvorants 159

[ 6o ]

EXPLANATION of the References in this CLASS.

Wil. orn.

Raii fyn. av.

Dale's hift. Harwich.
Catesby Carol.

Sib. hift. Fife.

Martin's hift. weft.ifles.
Martin's voy. St. Kilda,
Brijfon av.

Klein. Stem.

Brunnich ornith.

Gefner av.

Clufii exot.

The ornithology of Mr. Francis Willoughby; published by Mr. Ray. London, 1 678, fob

Raii fynopfis methodica avium et pifcium. London, 1713, 8 vo

Hiftory, &c. of Harwich and Dover Court, by Samuel Dale. London, 1730, f

Natural hift. of Carolina and the Bahama Iflands, by Mark Catefby. London, 1731, See. 2vol. fob

Hiftory of the Sheriffdoms of Fife and Kinrofs, by Sir Robert Sibbald. Edenburgh, 1710, fob

Defcription of the weftern iflands of Scotland, by Mr. Martin. i A ' edition, London, 1716, 8 vo

Voyage to St. Kilda, by M. Martin. 4 th ' edition, London, 1733, 8 V0

Ornithologie, ou methode contenant la divifion des oyfeaux, &c. ouvrage enrichi de figures. 6 torrj.
4 ° Paris, 1760, &c.

I. Theod. Klein (lemmata avium 40 tabulis seneis ornata. Lipfiae, 1759, 4 t0
M. Tb. Bmnichii ornitbologia borealis. Copenhagen, 1764, 8 vo
Gefner de avium natura. Francofurdi, 1585, fob
Caroli Clufii exoticorum, libri ip. Antverpise, 1605, fob

For the other references the reader is defired to confult the explanation of thofe belonging to Clafs I.

E

R

R

A

T A

Ptg e

Col. Line

Jor

read

Preface i

2

Skiddaw

Cumberland

74

backt

back’d

110

2

pil

peel

x 11

or a

form a

1 ‘3

2

.V

III

118

I

5 11

3 11

123

2

Roderego

Roderigo

13 6

I

4

one

two

142

2 laft

line

nor retire

nor return

x 47

1

Scrula

Serula

!-

\

\

\

\

6 .

I

. .

••I ji I II I

1 |

-a 1 Mi 1

‘

- - '

i ; •■in

if !'• ■ ||i

%

mi

^ %V1

| ill

!■! : :K||]j|

i i iB IJ l

1

r

,

*

■

*

■

-

*

■ .

to i

: W

%

[ <5i ]

CLASS II.

BIRDS.

-- — .g - - - - ■■ — r- ■ ■ ■ ■ l ■ ' - ■' " ' M ~ "T 1 '■it 1 " h " B

DIV. I. Land Birds.

GENUS I. Hawks.

SPECIES I. The Golden Eagle. Tab. A.

The Golden Eagle. JVil. orn. 58.
Aquila aurea,feu fiilva. Raiifyn. av. 6.

T HIS Ipecies is found in the mountanous
parts of Ireland \ where it breeds in the
loftieft cliffs: it lays three, and fome-
times four eggs, of which feldom more
than two are prolific ; providence denying a large
increafe to rapacious birds *, becaufe they are
noxious to mankind ; but gracioufly bellows an
almoft boundlefs one on fuch as are of ufe to us.
This kind of eagle fometimes migrates into Caer-
narvonjhire , and there are inftances, tho’ rare, of
their having bred in the Snowdon hills: from

<D

whence fome writers give that tradl the name of
Creigiaifr eryrau , or the eagle rocks ; others that
of Creigiau' r eira , or the fnowy rocks : the latter
feems the more natural epithet ; it being more
reafonable to imagine that thofe mountains,
like Nip hates in Armenia , and Imaus %% in Tar*
tary , derived their name from the circumflance of
being covered with fnow, which is fure to befall
them near the half of every year, than from the
accidental appearance of a bird on them, once only
in feveral years.

The golden eagle weighs about twelve pounds;
its length is three feet; the extent of its wings

* Tuv yocpL']/b)v\)'X t Lov oXiyorcKcc 'sravjct Arift. hift. an,

** Imaus -incolarum lingua nivofum fignificante. PUn, lib. 6 . c. 21.

Aquila Chrylaetos. Lin. JyJt. 38.
BriJJon av. 1. 431.

feven feet four inches £ the bill is three inches
long, and of a deep blue color; the cere is yellow :
the irides of a hazel color : the fight and fenfe of
fmelling are very acute : her eyes behold afar
off f: the head and neck are cloathed with narrow
(harp pointed feathers, and of a deep brown color,
bordered with tawny; but thofe on the crown
of the head, in very old birds turn grey. The
whole body, above as well as beneath, is of a dark
brown; and the feathers on the back, are finely
clouded with a deeper fhaae of the fame : the
wings, when clos’d, reach to the end of the tail :
the quill feathers are of a chocolate color, the
lhafts white: the tail is of a deep brown, irregu¬
larly barred and blotched with an obfcure afh co¬
lor : the legs are yellow, fhort, and very ftrong,
being three inches in circumference, and are
feathered to the very feet: the toes are covered
with large fcales, and armed with moll formidable
claws, the middle of which are two inches long.

The eagles in general are very deftru£live to
fawns, lambs, kids, and all kind of game ; parti¬
cularly in the breeding feafon, when they bring

vaft quantity of prey to their young. Smith ,

P in

f J°b- 39. 27. Where the natural hiftory of the eagle is finely
drawn up.

/

6 2

B

D

S.

H '

I

[ Clafs. II.

in his hiftory of Kerry , relates that a poor man in
that county got a comfortable fiibfiftence for his
family, during a fummer of famine, out of an
eagle’s neft, by robbing the eaglets of the food
the old ones brought, whofe attendance he pro¬
tracted beyond the natural time, by clipping the
wings and retarding the flight of the former. It
is very unfafe to leave infants by themfelves in pla-
ces where eagles frequent 5 there being inftances

in Scotland * of two being carried off by them,
but fortunately,

Illaefum timidis unguibus htefit onus,

for the theft was difcovered in time, and the chil¬
dren reftored unhurt out of the eagles nefts, to the
affrighted parents. In order to extirpate thefe
pernicious birds, there is a law in the Orkney ifles,
which entitles any perfon that kills an eagle to an
hen out of every houfe in the parifh, in which it
c was killed f .

* Martin’s Hift. Weft ern TJles, 299. Sib. Hi ft. Sect. 14.
f Cambderis Brit.l. 1474. The impreffion of an eagle and child on the
coin of the IJle of Man, was probably owing to fome accident of this
kind.

SPECIES II. The Ringtail Eagle.

W - * • ^ ; *♦ ’ ‘ *- .... , ,

Golden Eagle, with a white ring White tailed eagle. Edw. 1.

about its tail. IVil. orn. 59. Falco fulvus. Lin. fyft. 88.

Rail fyn. av. 6. Briffon av. I. 420.

HIS bird is common to the northern
parts of Europe and America 3 that
figured by Mr. Edwards , differing only
in fome white fpots on the breaft, from
our fpecies. It is equal in fize to the precedent:
the bill is of a blackifh horn color3 the cere
yellow 3 the whole body is of a deep brown,
{lightly tinged with ruft color 3 but what makes
a long defeription of this kind unneceffary, is the
remarkable band of white on the upper part of
the tail 3 the end only, being of a deep brown
which charaCIer it maintains thro’ every ftage of
life, and in all countries where it is found. The
legs are feathered to the feet: the toes yellow,
the claws black. Mr. JVilloughly gives the follow-,
ing very curious account of the neft of this
fpecies.

‘ In the year of our Lord 1668, in the wood-
< lands near the river Derwent , in the Peak of
* DerbyfhirCy was found an eagle’s neft made of
« great fticks, reft ing one end on the edge of a

c rock, the other on two birch trees 5 upon which
c was a layer of rufhes, and over them a layer of
c heath, and upon the heath rufhes again 3 upon
4 which lay one young one, and an addle egg 3 and
c by them a lamb, a hare, and three heath poults.
‘ The neft was about two yards fquare, and had
‘ no hollow in it. The young eagle was black as
4 a hobby, of the fhape of a gofhawk, of almoft
4 the weight of a goofe, rough footed, or feathered
4 down to the foot 3 having a white ring about

4 the tail. WiL orn. 21.

•» ’

The antients believed, that the pebble, com¬
monly called the JEtites , or eagle ftone, was
formed in the eagle’s neft 3 and that the eggs
could not be hatched without its affiftance.
Many abfurd ftories have been raifed about this
foflil, which (as it bears but an imaginary relation
to the eagle) muft be omitted in a zoologic work*f\

f If the readers curiofity fhould be excited, we hope it will foon be
gratified, by the fequel of Mr. Daco/ias hiftory of foffils. The judge¬
ment, accuracy, and indefatigable attention of that writer, are fo well
known to the learned world, that we may juftly expect, in the courfe
of his woj-k, a particular account of this Angular production.

SPECIES

\

BIRDS.

SPECIES III

Sea Eagle, or Ofprey. JVil. orn. 59 *
Rail fyn. av. 7.

Dale Harw. 396.

Martin's Hift. Weft. Ifles. p. 70.

HIS fpecies is found in Ireland \ and
feveral parts of Great-Britain ; the
fpecimen we took our defcription from,
was fhot in the county of Galway ; Mr.
Willoughby tells us there was an aery of them in
JVhinfield-parky JVeftmoreland ; and the eagle
foaring in the air, with a cat in its talons, which
Barlow drew from the very fa& which he faw in
Scotland f, is of this kind. No writer fmce
Clufius has defcribed the fea eagle : tho’ no un¬
common fpecies, it feems at prefent to be but little
known ; being generally confounded with the
golden eagle, to which it bears fome refemblance.
The colors of the head, neck and body, are the
fame with the latter ; but much lighter, the
tawny part in this praedominating: in fize it is
far fuperior : the bill is larger, more hooked, and
more arched; underneath grow feveral ihort but
ftrong hairs or briftles, forming a fort of beard.
The interior fides, and the tips of the feathers of

'«j~ Mr. Walpole's catalogue of engravtrs, p. 49. who adds, that the cat’s
refiftance brought both animals to the ground, where Barlow took
them up.

SPECIES IV.

Bald Buzzard. 011 . orn . 69.

B. Buzzard, or Sea Eagle. Raii Jyn.

av. 16.

Filhing Hawk. Catesby Carol. I.

Tab. 2.

M R* Bay places this bird among the
hawks, inftead of the eagles, on a
fuppofition that Mr. Willoughby had
exceeded in his account of its weight; but as

63

The Sea Eagle.

Haliaeetos. Sib. Scot. 14.

Aquila offifraga. Briffon av. I. 437.
Pirn. Lib. 10.

the tail, are of a deep brown ; the exterior fides,
ferruginous. The legs are yellow, ftrong, and
thick ; and feathered but little below the knees ;
which is an invariable fpecific difference between
this and our firft fpecies. This nakednefs of the
legs is befides no fmall convenience to a bird who
preys among the waters. The claws are of a deep
andlhining black, exceeding large and ftrong, and
hooked into a perfect femicircle.

All writers agree, that this eagle feeds princi¬
pally on fiffi; which it takes as they are fwimming
near the furface *, by darting itfelf down on
them ; not by diving, or fwimming, as feveral
authors have invented, who furnifti it for that
purpofe with one web foot to fwim with; and
another divided foot to take its prey with. Pliny ,
with his ufual elegance, defcribes the manner of
its fifhing. Super eft halia'etos , clarijjimd oculo -
rum acie , librans ex alto fefe^ vifoque in mari pifce ,
prone eps in eo mens , et difcujjis peSlore aquis rapiens .

* Martin fpeaking of what he calls the great eagles in the weftern ifles,
fays, that they'fatten their talons in the back of fifh, commonly of
falmon, which are often above the Water, or on the furface.

Ofprey. Plate A. I.

Haliaetus feu aquila marina. Briffon
av. I. 440. Tab. 34.

Falco Haliaetus. Lin. jyfl. 91.

Falco cyanopus. Klein ftem. Tab. 8.
Haliaetus. Caii opufc. 85.

Gefn. av. 804, 198.

we had an opportunity of confirming the words of
the latter, from one of this fpecies juft taken, we
here reftore it to the aquiline rank, under the

name of the ofprey: that was the name it was

known

known by in England above one hundred and
fixty years ago \ as appears by Doctor Kay or
Cains's defcription of it, who alfo calls it an eagle.

This bird haunts rivers, lakes, and the fea
ihores. It builds its neft on the ground among
reeds, and lays three or four white eggs of an
elliptical form; rather lefs than thofe of a hen.
It feeds chiefly on fiih J, taking them in the fame
manner as the fea eagle does, not by fwimming;
its feet being formed like thofe of other birds of
prey, for the left foot is not the left palmated, as
the illuftrious Linnaeus conjectures j\ The bird
fio-ured in this work was a female, its weight was
fixty-two ounces : the length twenty-three inches :
the breadth five feet four inches : the wing when
clofed reached beyond the end of the tail: that, as
in all the hawk kind, confifted of twelve feathers ;
the two middle feathers were dufky : the others
barred alternately with a deep brown and white :
the quill feathers of the wings were black : the
fecondary feathers and the coverts were dufky, the
former having their interior webs varied with black
and white. The inner coverts white fpotted with
brown. The figure exhibits the marks of the reft
of the plumage. The legs were very fhort and
ftrong: their length being only two inches and
a quarter y their circumference two inches : their
color a pale blue : the outward toe turns eafily
backward, and what merits attention, the claw be¬
longing to it is larger than that qf the inner toe;
in which it differs from all other birds of prey*
but feems peculiarly neceffary to this kind, for the
better fecuring its flippery prey : the roughnefs of
the foies of the feet contributes to the fame end.

j Turner fays it preys alfo on coots and other water fowl. Vide Gefn.
av . 198.

q. Pes fmiftcr fubpalmatus. Lin.fyjl. 91. No. 21.

R D S. [Clafs II

The difference in weight and other trifling parti¬
culars, makes us imagine that the bird Mr.
Willoughby faw was a female 5 as the females of all
the hawk kind, are larger, ftronger, and fiercer
than the males ; the defence of their young, and
the providing them food, refting chiefly on them.

Thefe are the only fpecies of eagles, that we
can with any certainty pronounce to be Britijh.
Scotland is faid to produce fome other kinds y
whofe names we fhall mention, with a brief de-
feription to aflift future enquirers to elucidate this
doubtful part of our ornithology ; for that rea-
fon we fhall purfue the fame method at the end
of every genus 3 giving, from the natural hiftorians
of our own country, a lift of congenerous birds,
whofe clame to a place in this work is any ways
diiputable.

Sibbald mentions the Melainaetos f, or the black
eagle, fo called from the great darknefs of its plu¬
mage : Martin deferibes the fame fpecies*, which
he fays is a fmall kind, but very deftru&ive to
deer; it will feize the deer between the horns,
and by conftantly beating it about the eyes with
its wings, foon makes a prey of the harraffed ani¬
mal. The fame writers alfo fpeak of a fecond kind
of eagle : Martin fays it is of a large fize, and
grey color, and that it is a great deftroyer of
lambs, fheep, and fawns : Sibbald feems to mean
the fame fpecies under the name of Pygargus
hinnulariuSy or the Erne y but the accounts of
both thefe authors are too obfeure for us to deter¬
mine, whether it be the Pygarg or Hinnularia
of Mr. Willoughby**.

Hiji. Weji. JJles 37, 70.

■rj- Hi ft. Scot. 14.

** p. 61.

-

a

m

n

Clafs II.]

BIRDS. 65

The F A L C O N.

ALCONRY was the principal amufe-
H ent of our anceRors : a perfon of pro¬
perty fcarce Birred out without his hawk
on his hand, and all the inlignia of his diverfion
about him : it was a (port appropriated to men of
eRate; and moft fevere laws were ena&ed againft
any that infringed their privileges; or Bole or
deBroyed birds of chafe, or their eggs. In the 34 th
of Edward III d , it was made felony to Beal a
hawk : to take its eggs, even in a perfon’s own
ground, was punifliable with imprifonment for a
year and a day ; befides a fine at the king’s plea*
lure : in queen Elizabeth's reign the imprifonment
was reduced to three months $ but the offender

was to find fecurity for his good behaviour for

*

feven years, or lie in prifon till he did. Such

was the enviable Bate of the times In old England:
during the whole day our gentry were given to
the fowls of the air, and the beaBs of the field :
in the evening they celebrated their exploits with
the moR abandoned and brutal fottifhnefs : at the

Our anceRors made ufe of feveral kinds of na¬
tive hawks j but we are very doubtful whether
their fpecies Bill exiR in thefe iflands. That pe¬
netrating and faithful naturaliR Mr. Ray, has left
us only the bare name of a falcon in his lift of the
Englijh birds, without mentioning the fpecies:
our own enquiries have not been attended with
any great fuccefs ; our difcoveries only amount¬
ing to one kind, to be defcribed hereafter; but
even that does not feem to have been noted among
the Britiflo birds by any of our countrymen. The
Falcon, Gofhawk, Lanner, Sacre, Falcon gentle,
and the Gyrfalcon J are mentioned as natives,
both in our old game laws, and by feveral of our
naturaliRs. Camden * alfo conjectures the fpe¬
cies of which Henry the II d was fo fondf; and
which was found in Penbrokejloire to have been
the peregrine Falcon ; but as we do not find their
names in Mr. Ray's lift, which is our authority
for things not feen by ourfelves, we fhall forbear
troubling the reader with uncertain accounts.

fame time the inferior rank of people, by the moB
unjuR and arbitrary laws, were liable to capital
punifhments, to fines, and lofs of liberty, for de-
Broying the moB noxious of the feathered tribe.

t Bum’s JuJlice. Carew's hiji. Cornwall , 25. Sib. hijl. Scot. 14.
Me r refs pinax 170. T

* P- 7 id -—f Ciraid. Cambrenjis 156.— Scotland, the Weflern IJles, the
Orkneys , and the IJle of Man , have been much celebrated for their fine
breed of Hawks; and that Llandudno in Caernarvonflrire, was famous for
its Falcons, is evident from a Letter extant in Gloddaitb Library, from
the Lord Treafurer Burleigh, to an anceftor of Sir Roger Mojlyn ; in
which his Lordfhip thanks him for his Prefent of a fine caft of Hawks
taken on thofe Rocks, which belong to that Family.

SPECIES V. The Grey Falcon.

An Falco. Lin. Faun, fuec. Sp. 60 ?

T H I S kind was Biot near Halifax 1762,
and the following account tranfmitted
to the fociety by Mr. Bolton of IVorly
dough. This bird was about the fize of a raven :
the bill was Brong, Riort, much hooked, and of a
bluifh color : the cere, and edges of the eye-lids
yellow : the irides red : the head was fmall, flatted
at the top - 7 the fore part of a deep brown 5 the
hind part white : the fides of the head and throat
were cream colored : the belly white, marked with

oblong black fpots : the hind part of the neck,
and the back, were of a deep grey : the wings
were very long, and when clofe reached beyond
the train : the firR of the quil feathers were black,
v ith a white tip } the others were of a bluifh grey,
and their inner webs irregularly fpotted with
white : the tail was long, and wedge fliaped 5 the
two middle feathers being the longeR, and were
plain, (the color not mentioned) the reR fpotted :
TThe le & s were long, naked and yellow.

SPECIES

66

B I R D S.

SPECIES VI. The Kite. Plate A2.

[Clafs II.

The Kite, or Glead. Wil. orn. 74.
Rati fyn. av. 17.

Milvus regalis. Brijfon av. I. 414.

Tab. 33.

T H E kite generally breeds in large fo-
refts, or wooded mountanous countries :
it lays two, or at moft three eggs;
which, like thofe of all other birds of prey, are
much rounded, and very blunt at the (mailer end ;
they are white of color, and fpotted with a dirty
yellow: its motion in the air diftinguifhes it from all
other birds; being fo finooth and even, as to be
fcarce perceptible ; fometimes it will remain quite
motionlefs for a confiderable fpace; at others glides
thro’ the Iky, without the left apparent a&ion of
its wings : from thence is derived the old name of
Glead, or Glede, from the Saxon Glida. Lord
Bacon obferves, that when kites fly high, it por¬
tends fair and dry weather. Some have fuppofed
thefe to be birds of paffage ; but in England they
certainly continue the whole year.

The tail of this kind is fufficient to diftinguifh
it from all other Britijh birds of prey, being fork¬
ed. Pliny thinks that the invention of the rud¬
der arofe from the obfervation men made or the
various motions of that part, when the kite was

Falco milvus. Lin. fyft . 89.
Milvus. Plinii Lib . 10. c. 10.
Gefner av. 610.

fleering through the air*j*. Certain it is that the
moft ufeful arts were originally copied from ani¬
mals ; however we may now have improved upon
them. Still in thofe nations which are in a ftate of
nature,fitch as the Samoieds and Efquimaux ; their
dwellings are inferior to thofe of the beavers,
which thofe fcarce human beings but poorly copy.

This bird is fa faithfully reprefented in the
plate, that we fhall not tire the reader’s patience
with any farther defcription of it than what re¬
lates to the weight and meafurements* : The firft
is about forty-four ounces : the length twenty-
feven inches : the breadth five feet one inch. In
the progrefs of this work, which has little more
merit than what is derived from the artifts fkill 5
we fhall avoid giving a minute defcription of the
fubjedfs figured, except in the few cafes where the
artifts have been lefs happy in their reprefenta-
tions; or elfe to fupply the want of a plate, when
the latter was thought unneceffary.

plidem videntur artem gubernandi docuiflb caudse flexibus. Lib .i o. c. 10,
* In weighing our fubjecfs, we make ufe of avoirdupoife weight.
The length of the bird is taken from the tip of the bill to the end of
the tail: the breadth fignifies the fpace from tip to tip of the wings in
their full extent.

SPECIES VII. The Common Buzzard. Plate A. 3.

The common Buzzard, or Puttock.

Wil. orn . 70.

Raii fyn. av. 16.

/r —I S bird is the commoneft of the
hawk kind we have m England. It
§ breeds in large woods, and ufually

builds on an old crow’s neft, which it enlarges and
lines with wool, and other foft materials : it lays
two or three eggs, which are fometimes wholly
white} fometimes fpotted with yellow. The
cock buzzard will hatch and bring up their young.

Falco buteo. Lin. fyft. 90.

Brijfon av. I. 406.

Gefner av. 46.

if the hen is killed *. The young confort with
the old ones for fome little time after they quit
the neft $ which is not ufual with birds of prey,

who always drive away their brood as foon as
they can fly. This fpecies is very fluggifh, and
inactive ; and is much lefs in motion than other
hawks, remaining perched on the fame bough for
the moft part of the day, and is found at moft

* Rays Letters 352.

times

s' 7 > . - , - S cj •

* .

- ' - - .

I

Clafs II.] B I

times near the fame place* It feeds on birds,
rabbets, moles, and mice; it will alfo eat frogs,
earth-worms, and infetfts. This bird is fubje& to
fome variety in its colors : we have feen fome
whofe breaft and belly were brown, and only
marked crofs the craw with a large white crefcent:
the figure very accurately reprefents the front
view of its ufual appearance j the back of the
head and neck, and the coverts of the wings, are
of a deep brown, edged with a pale ruft color :
the fcapular feathers brown; but white towards

R D S.

their roots: the middle of the back is covered only
with a thick white down: the ends of the quil fea¬
thers are dufky : their lower exterior fides afh co¬
lored : their interior fides blotched with darker and
lighter fhades of the fame: the tail is barred with
black and afh color: the bar next the very tip is
black, and the broadeft of all; the tip itfelf of a
dulky white. The irides are white tinged with red.
The weight of this fpecies is thirty-two ounces: the
length twenty-two inches ; the breadth fifty two.

SPECIES VIII. The Honey Buzzard. Plate A 4.

Honey Buzzard. IVil. orn. 72.

Rail Jyn. av. 16.

H E weight of this fpecies is thirty
ounces : the length twenty-three in¬
ches : the breadth fifty-two: the bill
and cere are black ; the latter much wrinkled :
the irides of a fine yellow : the crown of the head
afh colored : the neck, back, fcapulars, and covert
feathers of the wings, are of a deep brown : the
quil feathers barred with afh color and brown :
the breafl: and belly are of a dirty white, finely
marked with fpots of a yellowifh brown : the tail is
long, of a dull brown color, marked with three

Falco apivorus Lin. fyft. 91.
Brijfon av. I. 410.

broad dufky bars; between each of which are two or
three of the fame color but narrower : the legs are
fhort,ftrong,and thick : the claws large, and black.

4 •

Mr. Willoughby informs us, that this bird
builds its nefts with fmall twigs, which it covers
with wool; that its eggs are cinereous, marked
with darker fpots: as he found the combs of

wafps in the neft, he gave this fpecies the name
of the honey buzzard : he adds that it feeds on
the erucx of thofe infers, on frogs, lizards,
and that it runs very fwiftly like a hen.

SPECIES IX. The Moor Buzzard. Plate A 5.

Moor Buzzard. JVil. orn. 75.

Rail jyn . av. 17.

T HIS fpecies frequents moors, marfhy
places, and heaths $ it never foars 1 ike
other hawks y but commonly fits on the
ground, or on fmall bufhes : it makes its neft in
the midft of a tuft of grafs or rufhes ; we, have
found three young ones in it, but never happened
to meet with the eggs : it is a very fierce and vora¬
cious bird, and is a great deftroyer of rabbets,
young wild ducks, and other water fowl.

Its ufual weight is twenty ounces : the length
twenty-one inches: the breadth four feet three
inches : the bill is black, cere yellow $ irides of

Circus paluftris. Brijfon av. I. 401.
Falco aeruginofus. Lin, JyJt. 91.

« j * *

the fame color: the whole bird, the head excepted,
is of a chocolate brown, tinged with ruft color :
on the head is a large yellowifh fpot $ we have
feen fome birds of this kind with their head and

« • i

chin entirely white $ the others again have a
whitiih fpot on the coverts of their wings ; but
thefe are only to be deemed varieties $ the fio-ure
reprefents the ufual colors of the fpecies, which

requires no long defcription; the uniform color

■

of its plumage, and the great length and flen-
dernefs of its legs, diftinguilhes it from all other
hawks. SPECIES

68

BIRDS.

[Clafs II.

SPECIES X- The Hen-harrier, the Male. Plate A 6.

The Ringtail, the Female. Plate A. 7.

Falco torquatus. Briffbn av. 1 . 3 4 5.
Falco pygargus. Lin.fyfi. 89.
Gefner av. 48.

JVil orn. 72.

Rail fyn. av. 17.

Blue Hawk. Edzv. 225.

| male? or the hen-harrier, weighs
about twelve ounces : the length is

_ feventeen inches; the breadth three

feet three inches : the bill is black : cere, 11 ides,
and edges of the eye-lids yellow : the head, neck,
back, and coverts of the wings, are of a bluiflt
grey : the back of the head white, fpotted with a
pale brown : the b tea ft, belly, and thighs, are
white : the former marked with a few frnall dulky
ftreaks : the fcapular feathers are ot a deep grey,
inclining to dulky: the two middle feathers of the
tail are entirely grey , the others only on their
exterior webs ; the interior being white, marked
with fome dulky bars: the legs are yellow, long
and (lender.

The female weighs fixteen ounces ; is twenty
inches long; and three feet nine inches broad : on

the hind part of the head, round the ears to the
chin, is a wreath of Ihort ftiff feathers of a dulky
hue, tipt with a reddilh white : on the top of the
head, and the cheeks, the feathers are dulky, bor~
dered with ruft color; undereach eye is a white
fpot : the back is dulky ; the rump white, with
oblong yellowilh fpots on each lhaft; the tail is
long, and marked with alternate bars of dulky and
tawny; of which the dulky bars are the broadeft;
the bread and belly are of a yellowilh brown, with
a call of red, and marked with oblong dulky fpots;
the legs in color and lhape referable thofe of the
male. Thefe birds fly very low, Ikimming the
furface of the ground; and are very deftru£tive to
our young poultry; they lay four eggs, befmeared
over with red, a little white appearing here and
there.

SPECIES XI. The Keftril. A 8.

%

Fig. 1. The Male. Fig. 2. The Female.

The Keftril, Stannel, Stonegall,

Windhover. Wil. orn . 84.

Raii fyn. av- 16 .

Briffbn av- 1 - 393-

T H E male of this beautiful fpecies weighs
only fix ounces and a half: its length
is fourteen inches ; the breadth two
feet three inches ; its colors at once diltinguilh it
from all other hawks : the crown of the head,
and the greater part of the tail, are of a fine light
grey ; the lower end of the latter is marked with
a broad black bar •• the tip is white: the back
and coverts of the wings are of a purplifh red.

Falco tinnunculus. Lin.Jyfi. 90.
Gefner av- 54.

Plinii lib. 10. c. 37.

elegantly fpotted with black: the interior fides of
the quil feathers are dulky, deeply indented with
white.

The female weighs eleven ounces : the color
of the back and wings are far lefs bright than thofe
of the male: it differs too in the colors of the
head and tail; the former being of a pale reddilh

brown, ftreaked with black ; the latter of the fame

color.

'

. *

V

-

-- \

*

r. .

...

4-V

.

‘ - * •

■ V. - V '• '• ; •: - • -

V ■

Jr

r - V - -

*

*

'

f

r. - - ' \ .

.. . : ~

• -

■

.

if.

> fi

>

i.

I; ?

L :;

r •'

■ "

•Clafs II.] B

color, marked with numerous tranfverfe black
bars : the breaft is of a dirty yellowifh white}
and the middle of each feather has an oblong
dulky ftreak, pointing downwards.

The keftril breeds in the hollows of trees, in

the holes of high rocks, towers and ruined builds
ings : it lays four eggs, of the fame color with

I R D S* 69

thofe of the preceding fpecies : its food is field
mice, fmall birds, and infers ; which it will dif-
cover at a great diftance. This is the hawk that
we fo frequently fee in the air fixed in one place,
and as it were fanning it with its wings ; at which

time it is watching for its prey. When Falconry

'1

was in ufe in Great-Britain , this kind was trained
for catching fmall birds and young partridges.

SPECIES XIL The Hobby. Plate A 9.

The Hobby. JVil. orn. 83.

Rail Jyn. av. 15.

Dendro-falcOi Brijfon av- I- 375.

T I S bird was alfo ufed in the humbler
kind of falconry ; particularly in what
was called daring of larks : the hawk
was call off; the larks aware of their moft in¬
veterate enemy, are fixed to the ground thro’ fear 5
which makes them a ready prey to the fowler, by
drawing a net over them. Mr. Willoughby fays
that the hobby is a bird of paflage $ but that it
breeds in England, The male weighs feveii
ounces : the length is one foot; the breadth two
feet three inches : the crown of the head, and
back are of a deep bluifh black : the hind part of

Falco fubbuteo Lin. fyjl. 89.
Gefher av. 75. fcem .

the head is marked with two pale yellow fpots :
the coverts of the wings are of the fame color
with the back, but llightly edged with ruft color:
the interior webs of the fecondary and quil fea¬
thers, are varied with oval tranfverfe reddifh fpots:
the two middle feathers of the tail are entirely of
a deep dove color , the others are barred on their
interior fides with ruft color, and tipt with a dirty
white. The fpots on the breaft of the female are
of a higher color than thofe of the male: it is
greatly fuperior in fize, its legs have a tinge of
green, in other refpe&s it refembles the former.

SPECIES XIII. The Sparrow Hawk. Plate A 1 o. The Male.

JVil. orn. 86.

Rail Jyn. av. i8„
Brijffbn av. I. 310*

Plate A 11. The Female.

Falco nil us. Lin. fyft. 92.

Gefner av. 51.

■^HE difference between the fize of the
male and female fparrow hawks, is more
difproportionate than in moft other birds
of prey; the former fometimes fcarce weighing five
ounces, the latter nine ounces : the length of the
male is about twelve inches, the breadth twenty-
three : the female is fifteen inches long $ in
breadth twenty-fix.

The back, head, coverts of the wings, and tail
in the male, are of a deep brown, edged with a
rufty red: the quil feathers are dulky, barred with
black on their exterior webs, and fpotted with
white on the lower part of their inner webs : the
tail is of a deep afh color marked with five broad
black bars, the tip white : the breaft and belly are
of a whitiilv yellow, adorned with tranfverfe weaved

R bars

7°

BIRDS.

[Clafs II.

bars of a deep brown color : the cere, irides, and
legs yellow. The colors of the female differ from
thofe of the male : the head is of a deep brown ;
the back, and coverts of the wings, are dufky
mixed with dove color ; the coverts of the tail of
a brighter dove color ; the waved lines that crofs
the breaft, are more numerous than thofe on that
of the male j and the breaft itfelf of a purer white.

This is the moft pernicious hawk we have ; and
makes great havoke among pigeons, as well as
partridges. It builds in hollow trees, and large
ruins, and in high rocks; lays four white eggs,
encircled near the blunter end with red fpecks.
Mr, Willoughby places this among the fhort-wing¬
ed hawks ; or fuch whofe wings, when clofed, fall
{hort of the end of the tail.

SPECIES XIV. The Merlin. Plate A. 12.

Wit. orn. 85.

Rati jyn. av. 15.

f H E merlin weighs near five ounces and

a half: its length is twelve inches, its
breadth twenty-five. The bill is of a
bluifh lead color : the cere of a lemon color:
the irides very dark, almoft black : the head is
ferruginous, and each feather is marked with a
bluifh black ftreak along the fhaft: the back and
wings are of a deep bluifh afh color, adorned with

ferruginous ftreaks and fpots, and edged with the

*

fame : the quil feathers are almoft black, marked
w ith reddifti fpots : the under coverts of the wings
brown,beautifully marked with round white fpots:
the tail is five inches long, crofted with alternate
bars of dufky and reddifti clay color : on fome of

Brijfon av, I. 382.
yEfalon. Gefner av. 44.

the feathers of the fame bird are thirteen, on fome
fifteen : the breaft and belly are of a yellowifh
white, marked with oblong brown fpots pointing
downwards : the legs yellow: the wings when
clofed reach within an inch and a half of the end
of the tail. This and the preceding kind were
often trained for hawking : and this fpecies, fmall
as it is, was inferior to none in point of fpirit: it
was ufed for taking partridges, which it would kill
by a Angle ftroke on the neck. The merlin flies

* » f <. ** .

low, and is often feen along roads fides, fkimming
from one fide of the hedges to the other, in
fearch of prey.

G E N U S II. OWLS.

* Eared Owls.

SPECIES I. The Long Eared Owl. Plate B 4. Fig- 1.

The horn owl. TVil. orn. ioo.
Rail Jyn. av. 25.

No&ua aurita. Sib. Scot. 14.

^ HIS fpecies is found, tho’ not fre¬
quently, in the north of England , in
- a - Chejhire and in Wales: the weight of
the female, according to Mr. Willoughby , (for we

Afio. Brijfon av. I. 486.
Strix otus, Lin.fyfi. 92-

never had opportunity of weighing it ) is ten
ounces : the length fourteen inches and a half:
the breadth three feet four inches : the irides are
of a bright yellow. This bird is fo ftrongly

charac-*

>

LU /u(c f ^ w»

Clafs II.]

BIRDS.

7i

chara&erifed by its horns or ears, as to make any
farther defcription unneceffary. Thofe fingular
feathers diftinguifhing it at once from all others of

this genus in Great-Britain : each ear confifts of
fix feathers, of the form and colors that are ex-
preffed in the print*

SPECIES

II. The fhort Eared Owl. Plate B 3. and
Plate B 4. Fig. 2.

H E horns of this fpecies are very fmall,
and each confifts of only a fingle feather $
thefe it can raife or deprefs at pleafure;
and in a dead bird they are with difficulty difco-
vered. This kind is fcarcer than the former; but
like it is found in the mountanous wooded parts
of our ifland : both are folitary birds, avoiding
inhabited places. Thefe fpecies may be called
long winged owls ; the wings when clofed reach¬
ing beyond the end of the tail; whereas in the
common kinds, they fall fhort of it. The length
of the fhort eared owl is thirteen inches and a half:
the head is fmall and hawk-like : the bill is
-dufky : the circle of feathers that immediately
furrounds the eyes is black : the larger circle
white, terminated with tawny : the feathers on
the head, back, and coverts of the wings are brown
edged with pale dull yellow : the breaft and belly

are of the fame color, marked with a few lono-
narrow ftreaks of brown pointing downwards: the
thighs, legs,and toes are covered with plain yellow
feathers : the quil-feathers are dusky, barred with
red : the tail is of a very deep brown, adorned on
each fide the fhaft of each feather with a yellow
circle which contains a brown fpot: the tip of the
tail is white.

Befides thefe two fpecies of horned owls, we
may add the great horn owl of Sir R. Sibbald , p.
15. found, according to his account, in the Ork¬
neys : the great eagle owl has been once fhot in
Torkjhire ; but w r e cannot, from thefe two in-
ftances, determine whether they are natives of
this kingdom, or only accidental wanderers out of
Scandinavia . I his fhort eared fpecies we believe
to be nondefcript.

** Owls with fmooth Heads.
SPECIES HI. The White Owl. Plate B.

Common barn, white, or church
owl, Howlet, madge Howlet.
Gillihowter. IVil. orn. 104.

T HIS fpecies is almoft domeftic : in¬
habiting, for the greateft part of the
year, barns, haylofts, and other out-
houfes ; and is as ufeful in clearing thofe places

from mice, as the congenial cat : towards twi-

>

light it quits its perch, and takes a regular circuit
round the fields ; fkimming along the ground in
queft of field mice, and then returns to its ufual

Rail fyn. av. 25.

Aluco. Brijfon av. I. 503.

Strix aluco. Lin.JyJi . 93.

refidence: in the breeding feafon it takes to the
woods.

The elegant plumage of this bird makes a-
mends for the uncouthnefs of its form : a circle
of foft white feathers furround the eyes. The
upper part of the body, the coverts and fecondary
feathers of the wings are of a fine pale yellow :

on

birds.

\

72

on each fide the (hafts are two grey and two white
fpots placed alternate : the exterior fides of the
quil feathers are yellow; the interior white, mark¬
ed on each fide with four black fpots : the lower
fide of the body is wholly white : the interior fides
of the feathers of the tail are white 1 the exterior

[Clafs II.

marked with fome obfcure duiky bars: the legs
are feathered to the feet: the feet are covered with
fhort hairs : the edge of the middle claw is fer-
rated : the ufual weight of this fpecies is eleven
ounces : its length fourteen inches: its breadth
three feet.

SPECIES IV. The Tawny Owl. Plate B. 3

Common brown or ivy owl. tVil,
orn. 102.

Rail jyn. av. 25*

r | ->H E female of this fpecies weighs

nineteen ounces: the length is fourteen

inches: the breadth two feet eight
inches : the irides are duiky : the ears in this, as
in all owls, very large ; and their fenfe of hear¬
ing very exquifite. The color of this kind is
fufficient to diftinguilh it from every other : that
of the back, head, coverts of the wings, and on
the fcapular feathers, being a fine tawny red, ele-
o-antly fpotted and powdered with black or duiky

Strix. Brijfon av. I. 500.

Strix ftridula. Lin. fyft • 93 -
Ulula. Gefner av. 773.

fpots of various lizes : on the coverts of the wings>
and on the fcapulars, are feveral large white fpots :
the coverts of the tail is tawny, and quite free
from any marks : the tail is varioufly blotched,
barred and fpotted with pale red and black ; in
the two middle feathers the red predominates :
the bread: and belly are yellowiih, mixed with
white, and marked with narrow black drokes
pointing downwards : the legs are covered with
feathers down to the toes.

SPECIES V. The Brown Owl. Plate B. 1

The grey owl. Wit. orn. 103.

Rail Jyn. av. 26.

A S the names this and the precedent
fpecies bear, do by no means fuit their
colors, we have taken the liberty of
changing them to others more congruous. Both
thefe kinds agree entirely in their marks; and
differ only in the colors ; in this the head, wings
and back are of a deep brown, fpotted with black
in the fame manner as the former : the coverts
of the wings and the fcapulars are adorned with
fimilar white fpots : the exterior edges of the
four firft quil feathers in both are ferrated: the
bread: in this is of a very pale alh color mixed

Strix ulula. Lin. fyji. 93,

with tawny, and marked with oblong jagged fpots?
the feet too are feathered down to the very claws:
the circle round the face is afh-colored, fpotted
with brown. Both thefe fpecies inhabit woods,
where they refide the whole day ; in the night
they are very clamorous ; approach our dwellings;
and will frequently enter pigeon houfes, and make
great havoke in them. Thefe breed in hollow
trees, or ruined edifices; lay four eggs of an
elliptic form, and of a whitifh colqr.

SPECIES

^iii

■mMMM

I, .

lK otu ,oimr

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*

^ . •*

** *

'* '" r

W. -

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'

%

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( W- :

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.

■ * ' . '

- i -. f ,

. *.

'

'

• . V -

v

-

■

' * - V

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.

—

■ ... - -J , ■ :

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CpxaJ (tuhhl f Oc//c0

I Ci

lit

ti

Clafs II. ] BIRDS.

SPECIES VI. The little Owl. Plate B. 5.

Little owl. IVil. orn. 105 ?

Raii fyn. av. 26 ?

Edzv. 228.

T HIS elegant fpecies is very rare ill
England $ it is fometimes found in
Yorkjloire , Flintjhire , and alfo near
London: in lize it fcarcely exceeds a thrufh, tho’
the fullnefs of its plumage makes it appear larger :
the irides are of a bright yellow: the bill of a
paler color: the feathers that encircle the face
are white, tipt with black: the head brown fpotted
with white : the back, and coverts of the wings

* <D

are of a deep olive brown; the latter fpotted with
white : on the bread: is a mixture of white and

Noclua minor. BriJJon av. I. 514.

Strix pafferina. Lin.fyft. 93.

Noclua. Gefner av. 620-
La chivetta. Olina 65.

brown: the belly is white, marked with a few
brown fpots : the tail is of the fame color with
the back : in one fubje£l we faw, each feather w r as
barred with w r hite ; in another, each was adorned
with circular white fpots, placed oppofite one an¬
other on both fides the lhaft: the legs and feet
are covered with feathers down to the claws.
The Italians made ufe of this owl to decoy
fmall birds to the limed twig: the method of
which is exhibited in Olina’’s uccelliera , p. 65.

GENUS III. Butcher Birds.
SPECIES I. Great afh colored Butcher Bird. Plate C.

Greater Butcher Bird, or Mattagefe;
in the North of England, Wieran-
gle. IVil. orn. 87.

Raii fyn. av- 18.

Butcher-bird, murdering - bird cr

HIS bird weighs three ounces ; its
length is ten inches : its breadth four¬
teen : its bill is one inch long, hooked
at the end ; the upper mandible furnilhed with a
(harp procefs ; the mufcles that move the bill are
very thick and flrong ; which makes the head
very large. The colors of the plumage, and
their difpofition, are truly reprefented in the plate.
This fpecies preys on fmall birds and infecls 5 the
method of killing its prey is very fingular ; and
its manner of devouring it not lefs extraordinary :
fmall birds it will feize by the throat and flran-
gle* ; which probably is the reafon the Germans

fkreek. Mer. Pinax. 170.

Night jar. Mort, Northampt. 424.
Lanius cinereus. BriJJon av. 2. 141.
Lanius excubiton Lin. fyjt. 94.
Lanius cinereus. Gefner av. 579.

call this bird Warchangel , or the fuffocating angel.
When it has killed the prey, whether it be birds
or infers, it fixes them on fome thorn, and when
thus fpitted pulls them to pieces with its bill : on
this account the Germans call it Ehorntraer and
Ihornfreker. We have feen them, when confined
in a cage, treat their food in much the fame man¬
ner, flicking it againfl the wires before they would
devour it. Mr. Edwards very juftly imagines that
as nature has not given thefe birds flrength fuf-
ficient to tear their prey to pieces with their feet,
as the hawks do, they are obliged to have recourfe
to this artifice.

S SPECIES

* Ed. Gl. 3, 233.

74 BIRDS. [Clafs II.

SPECIES II. The red backt Butcher Bird. Plate C. I.

Leffer Butcher-bird, called in Tork-
Jhire Flulher. JVil. orn- 88. fp. 2.

The male. 89. fp. 3. the female.
Ran Jyn. av. 18.

4

T H E male weighs two ounces; the fe¬
male two ounces two drams. The

length of the former is feven inches
and a half; the breadth eleven inches. The bill
refembles that of the preceding fpecies ; the head
and lower part of the back are of a fine light grey:
acrofs the eyes from the bill runs a broad black
ftroke ; the upper part of the back and coverts
of the wings are of a bright ferruginous color;
the bread:, belly and fides are of an elegant bloflom
color ; the irides are hazel; in the female the

Mort. Northampt. 424.

Brijfon av. 2. 151.

Lanius collurio. Lin.Jyft. 94.

Faun. fuec. 27. Tab. 2. f, 81.

ffroke acrofs the eyes is of a reddifh brown ; the
head of a dull ruft color mixed with grey ; the
bread:, belly and fides of a dirty white marked with
femicircular dufky lines; the tail is of a deep
brown, the outward feather on each fide excepted,
whole exterior webs are white. The middle
figure in the plate exhibits the male ; the lower
the female.

Thefe birds build their neds in low bulhes, and
lay fix eggs of a white color; but encircled at
the bigger end with a ring of brownifli red.

SPECIES III. The Wood-chat.

JVil. orn. 89. fp. 4.

Rail fyn. av. 19. ip. 6.

T H I S is one of the few Britijh birds
that have efcaped our notice ; therefore
we are obliged to recur to Mr. 7 F 7 /-
loughby for its defcription. “This had a white
“ fpot on each fhoulder ; the bottoms of the nine

Lanius rufus. Brijfon av. 2. 147.

outmod beam feathers were whits; above the
“ bill was a crofs black line ; the head of a pale
“red; the back, firft red, then alh colored:
“ under the throat were tranfverfe dulky lines;
“ elfe the whole underfide was of a dirty white.

SPECIES I V. The led Butcher-bird.

Edzv av. 5 5.

Bearded Titmoufe. Vlb. av. I. Tab. 48

'T' HIS final! fpecies is found in the
mirfhes near London: we have allb
feen it near Gloucefter. It is of the
fame lhape as the long-tailed titmoufe ; but rather
larger. The bill is diort, drong and very con¬
vex, of a yellow color : the head is of a fine
grey ; on each fide the bill beneath the eye is a
long triangular tuft of black feathers; the chin

Paras Barbaras. Brijfon av. 3. 567.
Paras biarmicus- Lin. fyji.

and throat are white : the middle of the bread
delh colored ; the fides, thighs and vent feathers
of a pale orange : the hind part of the neck, and
the bacK are of an orange bay : the fecondary fea¬
thers of the wings are black edged with orange :
tne quil feathers dufky on their exterior, white on
their interior fides : the lefi'er quil feathers tipt
with orange. The tail is two inches three quar¬
ters

Glafs II.]

BIRDS.

ters long: the two middle feathers of the tail are
longeft, the others gradually Ihorten on each fide :
the outmoft of which are of a deep orange color.
The legs are black.

<D

The female wants the black mark on each
cheek, and the fine flefh color on the bread;:

the crown of the head is of a brownifh ruft color
fpotted with black ; the outmoft feathers of the
tail are black tipt with white. Thefe birds have
all the characters of the butcher-bird; fo, after
the opinion of Mr. Edwards , we place them in
that genus.

GENUS IV, CROWS.

SPECIES I.

fVil. orn. 12i.

Rail fyn. av. 39.

BriJJon av. 2. 8.

f If ^ HIS fpecies weighs three pounds,
i its length is two feet two inches : its
breadth four feet ; the bill is ftrong
and thick ; and the upper mandible convex.
The color of the whole bird is black, finely
glolfed with a rich blue ; the belly excepted,
which is dufky.

Ravens build in trees, and lay five or fix eggs
of a pale green color marked with fmall brownifh
fpots. They frequent in numbers the neighbour¬
hood of great towns ; and are held in the fame

The Raven.

Corvus corax.
Geft’cr av. 334.

Lin.fyft. 105.

fort of veneration as the vultures are in Egypt *,
and for the fame reafon ; for devouring the car-
caffes, and filth that would otherwife prove a nu-
fance. A vulgar refpeCt is alfo paid to the raven,
as being the bird appointed by heaven to feed the
prophet Elijah , when he fed from the rage of
Ahab j. The raven is a very docil bird, may
be taught to fpeak, and fetch and carry. In clear
weather they fly in pairs a great height, making
a deep loud noife, different from the common
croaking. Their fcent is remarkably good ; and
their life prolonged to a great fpace.

* Hajfelquift. it in. 23.

-f 1 Kings 17.

SPECIES

JVil orn. 122.

Rail fyn. av. 39.

Brijfon av. 12.

H E crow in the form of its body and
1 bill agrees with the raven j alfo in its

-S- food, which is carrion and other filth.

It will alfo eat grain and infeCls; and like the
raven will pick out the eyes of young lambs when
juft dropped : for which reafon it was formerly
diftinoruifhed from the rook, which feed entirely on

O

grain and infers, by the name of the gor or gore-
crow j thus Bcnjohnfon in his Fox y aci i.fcene 2.

II. The Crow.

Corvus corone. Lin. Jyft. 105.
Cornix. Gefner av. 320.

Vulture, Kite,

Raven and gor-crow, all my birds of prey.

It lays the fame number of eggs as the Raven,
and of the ftme color : both thefe birds are often
found white or pied ; an accident that befalls
black birds more frequently than any others.
The crow weighs about twenty ounces. Its
length eighteen inches : its breadth two feet two
inches. SPECIES

7

I R

SPECIES III. The

[Clafs II

Wit. orn. 123.

Rail fyn. av. 39.
Briffon av. 2. 16.
Corvus frugilegus.

Lin. fyft. 105

HIS differs from the crow in the form
of its bill; which is ftraiter, (lender-
er and weaker; a ftrong-bill being un-
necefiary to a bird that feeds only on grain and
infers. The noftrils, chin, and Tides of the
mouth are white and bared of feathers, by often
thrufting the bill into the ground in fearch of the
erne# of the Dor-beetle J, the rook then, m-
ftead of being profcribed, fhould be treated as
the farmer’s friend } as it clears his grounds from
caterpillars, that do incredible damage by eating

; + Scarabasus melolantha. Lin. fyft. 351 . Ltffel 2. tab. 1. Lif.Gtfd.265.

Spermologus, feu frugilega. Caii
opufc. 100.

Cornix frugivora. Gefner av. 332.

the roots of the corn. Rooks are fociable birds,
living in vaft flocks $ crows only go in pairs.
They begin to build their nefts in March ; one
bringing materials, while the other watches the
neft, left it fhould be plundered by its brethren :
they lay the fame number of eggs as the crow,
and of the fame color, but lefs. After the breed¬
ing feafon rooks forfake their neft-trees, and for
fome time go and rooft elfewhere, but return to
them in Auguft : and in October repair their

nefts *.

% Calendar of Flora .

SPECIES IV. The Royfton Crow. Plate D.

Wil. orn. 124.

Raii fyn. av. 19 -
Martin’s Weft. Ifles. 376.

1HE bill of this fpecies agrees in Ihape
with that of the rook ; to which it
bears great fimilitude in its manners 5
lying in flocks, and feeding on infedfs. In Great
Britain it is a bird of paffage : vifiting us in the
leginning of winter, and leaving us with the
voodcocks. They are found in the inland as well
is maritime parts of our country ; in the latter
hey feed on crabs and fhelfifh. They breed in
Sueden , and build in trees, commonly in alders ;
md lay four eggs J. The weight of this fpecies

f Fauna Suecica , 30.

Briffon av. 2. 19.

Corvus cornix. Lin. fyft. 105.
Cornix varia. Gefner av. 322,

is twenty-two ounces : the length twenty-two in¬
ches ; the breadth twenty-three. The head, un-
derfide of the neck, and wings are black glofled
over with a fine blue : the breaft, belly, back, and
upper part of the neck, are of a pale afh color :
the irides hazel: the legs black, and weaker than
thofe of the rook. The bottom of the toes are
very broad and flat to enable them to walk wdth->
out finking on marfhy and muddy grounds, where
they are converfant. We do not know that they
breed in any of the Brzt/ft ifles, except Shetland 5
being the only fort of crow found there.

SPECIES

77

Clafs IL ] - BIRDS.

SPECIES V. The Magpie. Plate D. 2.

The Magpie,or Pianet JVil.orn. 127.
Rail fyn. av. 41.

Briffon 2. 35.

T H E great beauty of this very common
bird is fo little attended to, that we
may be excufed recommending it to the
attention of the public by the means of the
pencil of a celebrated artift, rather than our own
pen. We fhall only obferve that the colors of this
bird : its black, its white, its green, and purple,
are at left equal to thofe that adorn the plumage
of any other. It bears a great refemblance to the
butcher-bird in its bill, which has a lharp procefs
near the end of the upper mandible ; in the ftiort-

CorvusPica. Lin. Jyft. 106.

Pica varia et caudata. Gefner av. 69.

nefs of its wings, and the form of the tail, each
feather fhortening from the two middlemoft: it
agrees alfo in its food ; which are worms, infects,
and fmali birds. It will deftroy young chickens :
it is a crafty, reftlefs, noify bird : it builds its neft
with great art, covering it entirely with thorns,
except one fmali hole for admittance : and lays
fix or feven eggs of a pale green color fpotted
with brown. The magpie weighs near nine ounces:
the length is eighteen inches $ the breadth only
twenty-four.

SPECIES VI.

JVil. orn. 130.

Rail fyn. av. 41 •

Garrulus. Briffon av. 2. 47,

! ^ HIS beautiful bird weighs between

fix and feven ounces: its length is thir-
JL. teen inches : the breadth twenty-one.
The irides are white : the fecondary feathers or
the wmgs are adorned with bars of a rich glofiy
blue, black and white difpofed tranfverfely, which
diftinguilhes it from all other Britiflo birds. It
lays five or fix eggs of a dull white, mottled very
obfcurely with pale brown. I he young follow

The Jay. Plate D.

V *

Corvus glandarius. Lin. Jyft. 106.
Pica glandaria. Gefner av. 700.

their parents till the fpring ; in the fummer they
are very injurious to gardens, being great de-
vourers of peafe and cherries : in the autumn and
winter they feed on acorns, from whence the latin
name. Dr. Kramer * obferves, that they will
kill fmali birds. Jays are very docil, and may be
brought to imitate the human voice : their native
note is very loud and difagreable.

* Kram. elench. 335* /

SPECIES VII. The Chatterer. Plate G i.

Bohemian chatterer. JVil orn. 133.
Silk tail. Ran fyn. av. 85.

Ray's letters , 198. 200.

^ H E critical Faunijl * may poffibly
I cenfure us for admitting a native of

JH . Germany into a BritijJo zoology } but

as we can plead the extreme beauty of this bird,

* Faunifti, are writers on the animals of particular countries: fuch
is Linnceu r, as author of the hiftory of the Swedijh animals, to which he
gave the title of Fauna Suecica \ either from one of the names of Cybtle y
who under that charafcter was faid to favour ail living cr:atures.

Phil, trans. No. 175*

Lanius garrulus. Lin-Jyft. 95.
Garrulus Bohemicus .Gefnerav. 703.

and that it does fometimes (tho’ very rarely) vifit
the northern parts of England in large flocks, we
hope to be excufed introducing it here. The
fubjedt we toke the drawing from, was killed on
Flam borough moor , Torkjldre. Its creft; its
fine yellow marks on the wings and tail \ and

T above

78 B I R

a bove all thole lingular fcarlct wax like appen¬
dages to fome of the feathers of the wings, are
fufficient to diftinguiih it from all other birds.
Writers who have had better opportunities of ex-

SPECIES VIII

mi. orn. 125.

Rail fyn. av. 40.

Briffon av. 24.

H E jack-daw weighs nine ounces : the
length thirteen inches : the breadth
twenty-eight. The head is large in
proportion to its body; which Mr. miloughby
fays argues him to be ingenious and crafty. 1 he
irides are white : the forehead is black : the hind
part of the head alh colored ; the bread: and
belly of the fame color, but more obfcure : the

D S. [Clafs II.

amining this fpecies than we have, fay that the
male has feven of thefe appendages, the female
only five f ; that they live in the woods, and
feed on juniper and other berries J.

^ Brunniche s crnith. Boreal.

+ Kramer: Elencb. An. Aujlrice .

The Jack-daw.

Corvus monedula Lin. fyft. 106.
Gracculus, feu monedula. Gefner
av . 521.

reft of the plumage is black, (lightly glofled with
blue : the feet and bill black. It is a docil lo¬
quacious bird.

Jack-daws breed in fteeples, old caftles, and in
high rocks; laying five or fix eggs: are gre¬
garious birds ; and feed on infers, grain, and

<D

feeds f.

4- xhe caryocataftes, Wtl. orn. J 32, a bird of this genus, was fhot
near Moftyn , Flintjhire, \n Otfobcr , 1753 j fuppofed to have ftraggled
from Germany, where they are common.

GENUS V- WOODPECKERS.

SPECIES I. The Green Woodpecker. Plate E.

Green woodpecker, or woodfpite ;
called alfo the rain fowd, high hoe,
and hewhole. ml. orn. 135.

Raii fyn. av. 42.

H E wifdom of providence in the ad¬
mirable contrivance of the fitnefs of
the parts of animals to their refpe&ive
nature, cannot be better illuftrated than from this
genus : which we {hall give from the obfervations
of our illuftrious countryman Mr. Ray *.

Thefe birds feed entirely on infe&s : and their
principal a&ion is that of climbing up and down
the bodies of boughs of trees : for the firft purpofe
they are provided with a long {lender tongue,

Brijfon av . 4. 9*

Ficus viridis. Lin . fyft . 113.

GiralcL Cambrens . 191.

Gefner av. 710.

armed with a {harp honey end barbed on each fide,
which by the means of a curious apparatus of
mufcles j they can exert at pleafure, darting it to
a great length into the clifts of the bark, tranf-
fixino- and drawing out the infe&s that lurk there.

They make their nefts in the hollows of trees :
in order therefore to force their way to thofe ca¬
vities, their bills are formed ftrong, very hard,
and wedge-like at the end ; and, as Dr. Derhatti
obferves, a neat ridge runs along the top, as if
an artift had defigned it for ftrength and beauty.

Their

* Ray on the creation, p. 143,.

■f Phil. tram. Martins abridg . III. p. 183' P^ ate 3 -

Clafs II.] B I

Their legs are fhort, but ftrong; their thighs
very mufcular : their toes difpofed, two back¬
wards, two forward : the feathers of the tail are
very ft iff; fharp pointed and bending downwards.
The three firft circumftances do admirably con¬
cur to enable them to run up and down the fides
of trees with great fecurity ; and the ftrength of
the tail fupports them firmly when they continue
long in one place, either where they find plenty
of food $ or while they are forming an accefs to
the inferior part of the timber. This form of
the tail makes their flight very awkward, as it
inclines their body down; and forces them to fly

R D S. 79

with lhort and frequent jerks when they would
afcend or even keep in a line.

This tribe lay five or fix eggs of a beautiful
femitranfparent white. This fpecies weighs fix
ounces and a half. Its length is thirteen inches ;
the breadth twenty and a half. The fize and
green color diftinguifhes it from the other kinds :
the female differs from the male, by not having
that fine fcarlet fpot on each fide the bill. This
fpecies feeds often on the ground, which the
others rarely do.

SPECIES II. The greater fpotted Woodpecker. Plate E.

Greater fpotted woodpecker, or
Witwal. IVil. orn. 137.

Raii Jyn. av. 43 -

Brijfon av. 4. 34.

Picus major. Lin. Jyft. 114.

Picus varius,feualbus. Gefnerav. 709.

HIS fpecies weighs two ounces three
quarters 5 the length is nine inches:
the breadth is fixteen. The bird that
is figured is the male. The female wants that

beautiful crimfon fpot on the head, in other re-
fpeCts the colors of both agree. The fpecies is
much more uncommon than the preceding ; and
keeps altogether in the woods.

SPECIES III. The leffer

LefTer fpotted Woodpecker, or Hick-
wall. Wil. orn. 138.

Rail Jyn. av. 43.

rpi h e male of this fpecies is exhibited
I in the plate : the female wanting the
JaL crimfon mark on the crown of the head.

This fpecies is the left of the genus, fcarce
weighing an ounce: the length is fix inches ;

the breadth eleven. It has all the characters

*

fpotted Woodpecker. Plate E.

Brijfon av. 4. 41.

Picus minor. Lin. Jyf 1 114.

Gefner av. 7 ° 9 *

and actions of the greater kind but is much
feldomer met with. Befides thefe, we are credibly
informed that the Pic varie of M. Brijfon , and
the Picus tnedius of Linntfus is found in Lan-
cajhire.

GENUS

8 o

BIRD S. [Clafs II.

GENUS VI. The Wryneck.

SPECIES I. The Wryneck. Plate F.

The wryneck. IVil. orn. 1 38.

Ran fyn. av. 44.

Torquilla. Brijfon av. 4. 4. Tab. 1.

*yT

Fig. 1.

A T U R E, by the elegance of its
pencilling the colors of this bird,
hath made ample amends for their
want of fplendor. Its plumage is marked with
the plained kinds. A lift of black and ferrugin¬
ous ftrokes divides the top of the head and back.
The {ides of the head and neck are afh colored
beautifully traverfed with fine lines of black and
reddifh brown. The quil feathers are dufky, but
each web is marked with ruft colored ipots. The
chin and bread are of a light yellowilh brown,
adorned with fharp painted bars of black. The
tail confifts of ten feathers, broad at their ends
and weak j of a pale afh color, powdered with
black and red, and marked with four equidiftant
bars of black. The tongue is long and cylin-
dric ; for the fame ufe as that of the woodpecker.
The toes are alfo difpofed the fame way. The bill

The emmet hunter. Charlton ex. 93.
Jynx torquilla. Fin. fyft. 112.
Jynx. Gefner av. 573 -

is fhort, weak and a little arcuate. T he lrides are
of a yellowifh hazel.

The wryneck we believe to be a bird of paf-
fage , appearing here in the fpring before the cuc¬
koo. The Weljb confider it as the forerunner
or fervant of that bird, and call it Gwasy gog ,
or the cuckoo’s attendant : the Swedes regard it
in the fame light *. The food of thefe birds
is the fame with that of the woodpecker. Its
weight is one ounce and a quarter : the length
feven inches} the breadth eleven. It takes its
name from a manner it has of turning its head
back to the fhouiders 5 efpecially when terrified :
it has alfo the faculty of eredfing the feathers of
the head like thofe of the jay. It lays five white
em*s, with fo thin a fhell that the yolk may be
feen through it.

* Jynx hieme non apparet, vere autem remigrans, cuculi, poll quatu-
ordecein dies, adventum ruricolis annuntiat. Amcen. acad. 4. 584.

GENUS VIL The Cuckoo.

* f . ■* ■* ' m m . t m * * * » ” ■ *

P EG I E S I. The Cuckoo, Plate G. The Male.

JVil. orn . 97.

Rail fyn.av. 23.

Brijfon av. 105.

H I S fingular bird appears in our coun¬
try early in the fpring, and makes
the fhorteft ftay with us of any bird
of paffage \ it is compelled here, as Mr.

Plate G. 1. The Female.

Cuculus canorus. Lin. fyft. no.
Cuculus. Gefner av. 362.

Stillingfleet obferves, by that conftitution of
the air which caufes the fig-tree to put forth
its fruit j% From the coincidence of the firft

appearance of the {ummer birds of paflage* and

the

•f- Calendar of Flora, vide Preface throughout.

D S.

81

Clafs II.] B I R

the leafing and fruiting of certain plants; this in-
genious writer would eftablifh a natural calendar
in our rural oeconomy ; to inftru£l us in the time
of fowing our moft ufeful feeds* or of doing fuch
work as depends on a certain temperament of the
air. As the fallibility of human calendars need
not be infilled on, we mull recommend to our
countrymen fome attention to thefe feathered
guides, who come heaven-taught, and point out
the true commencement of the feafon*; their
food being the infers of thofe feafons they con¬
tinue with usi

The cuckoo is filent for fome little time after
his arrival: his note is a call to love, and ufed
only by the male, who fits perched generally on
fome dead tree, or bare bough, and repeats his
fong, Which he loles as foon as the amorous
feafon is over. In a trap, which we placed on a
tree frequented by cuckoos, we caught not fewer
than five male birds in one feafon ; his note
is fo uniform, that his name in all languages
feems to have been derived from it; and in all
Other countries it is ufed in the fame reproach¬
ful fenfe.

'* In Sweden, which is a much colder climate than our own, the cuckoo
does not appear fo early by near a month.

the plain fong cuckoo grey,
whofe note full many a man doth mark,
and dares not anfwer nay. Shakefpear.

The reproach feems to arife from this bird mak¬
ing ufe of the bed or nell of another to depofit
its eggs in; leaving the care of its young to a
wrong parent. A water-wagtail, or hedge-fpar-
row is generally the nurfe of the young cuckoos $
who, if they happen to be hatched at the fame
time with the genuine off-fpring, foon deftroy
them, by overlaying them, as their growth is fooii
fo fuperior. This want in the cuckoo of the
common attention other birds have to their
young; feems to arife from fome defe£t in its
make, that difables it from incubation 5 but what
that is, we confefs ourfelves ignorant, referring
the enquiry to fome fkilful anatomift.

The weight of the cuckoo is a little more than
five ounces ; the length is fourteen inches} the
breadth twenty-five ; the colors of both male and
female are very faithfully given in the plates.
We need only add, that the interior fides of the
quil feathers are marked with large oval white
jfpots ; that the irides are yellow ; and tho’ it
never is obferved to run up the bodies of trees ?
the toes are difpofed like thofe of the woodpecker.

GENUS VIII. The NUTHATCH.
SPECIES I. The Nuthatch. Plate H.

The Nuthatch, or nut jobber. JVil.

orn. 142.

Railfyn. av. 47.

The Woodcracker. Plotfs hift .

Oxf. 175.

T H E nuthatch weighs near an ounce ;

its length is five inches three-quarters ;

breadth nine inches ; the bill is ftrong
and ftrait, about three-quarters of an inch long ;
the irides hazel; the crown of the head, back,

Sitta. Brijfon av. 3. 588. Tab. 29.
fig- 3 -

Sitta europsea. Lin. Jyft. 115.,

Picus cinereus ? feu fitta. Gefner av.

711.

and coverts of the wings are of a fine bluilh grey :

a black ftroke pafles over the eye from the mouth :

the breaft and belly are of a dull orange color ;

the quil-feathers are dulky ; the wings underneath

are marked with two fpots, one white at the root

V of

82

B I R

of the exterior quite ; the other black at the joint
of the baftard wing; the tail confifts of twelve
feathers ; the two middle are grey ; the two ex¬
terior feathers tipt with grey, then fucceeds a
tranfverfe white fpot; beneath that the reft is
black 5 the legs are of a pale yellow $ the back
toe very ftrong, and the claws large.

This bird runs up and down the bodies of trees,
like the woodpecker tribe ; and feeds not only on
infers, but nut kernels ; it is a pretty fight, fays
Mr. Willoughby , to fee her fetch a nut out of her
hoard, place it faft in a chink, and then ftanding

GENUS IX. The
SPECIES I. The

JVil. orn■ 146.

Rail fyn. av. 48.

Brijfon av. 4. 471.

w—^HIS bird weighs an ounce and a quarter:
l its length is feven inches } its breadth
1 eleven: its lhape is very clumfy, the
head and bill being very large, and the legs difpro-
portionably fmall : the bill is two inches long \ the
upper mandible black, the lower yellow : the lri-
des are red : the colors of this bird atone for its
inelegant form : the crown of the head, and the
coverts of the wings are of a deep blackilh green,
fpotted with bright azure : the fcapular feathers,
and coverts of the tail are alfo of a moft refplen-
dent azure : the whole underfide of the body is

D S. [Clafs II.

above it with its head downwards, ftriking it with
all its force, breaks the fhell, and catches up the
kernel : it breeds in the hollows of trees ; if the
entrance to its neft be too large, it flops up part
of it with clay, leaving only room enough for ad-
miffion : in autumn it begins to make a chatter¬
ing noife, being filent for the greateft part of the
year. Doclor Plott tells us, that this bird, by
putting its bill into a crack in the bough of a tree,
can make fuch a violent found as if it was rend¬
ing afunder, fo that the noife may be heard at
left twelve fcore yards.

KINGFISHER.

Kingfifher. Plate I.

Alcedo ifpida. Lin. fyfi. 115,

Ifpida. Gefner av. 571,

orange colored ; a broad mark of the fame pafies

ZD '

from the bill beyond the eyes ; beyond that is a
large white fpot; the tail confifts of twelve fea-
thers of a rich deep blue : the feot are of a red-
difh yellow: the three lower joints of the out-
moft toe adhere to the middle toe i the inner toe
adheres to it by one joint.

The kingfifher frequents the banks of rivers,
and feeds on fifh ; it makes its neft in holes in
the fides of the cliffs, which it fcoops to the depth
of three feet; and lays from five to nine eggs *,
of a moft beautiful femi-tranfparent white.

* Gefner fays he found nine young in one neft.

GENUS X. The CREEPER,
SPECIES I. The Creeper. Plate K.

JVil. orn. 144.

Raii fyn. av. 47.

The oxeye creper. Charlton ex. 93 -

r

yHE creeper weighs only five drams :
and next to the crefted wren is the left
of the Britifi birds: the manner it has

Brijfon 3. 603.

Certhia familiaris, Lin.Jyfi. 118.

Certhia. Gefner av. 251.

of ruffling its feathers, and their length give it a

much larger appearance than is real. The length

of this bird is five inches and a half: the breadth

feve n

'• • J

- -

■ . ' ■;

■ ^

. ^. --

'•*» a.

-

.v-

‘ • ’

.

c- * :

‘t r ~ — ' ;£ *■ 1

■ rv^v:.-

• - > V. .1

jj- »

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►

V • Tit

• <|S

f,: v, '3Wi

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efsaH

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V

Clafs II- ] B I

feven and a half: the bill is hooked like a fickle s
the irides hazel: the legs {lender : the toes and
claws very long, to enable it to creep up and down
the bodies of trees in fearch of infers, which are
its food: it breeds in hollow trees $ and lays
fometimes twenty eggs : the head and upper part
of the neck are brown, ftreaked with black : the
rump is tawny : the coverts of the wings are va-

R D S. 83

negated with brown and black : the quil-feathers
dufky, tipt with white, and edged and barred with
tawny marks : the breaft and belly are of a filvery
white : the tail is very long, and confifts of twelve
ftiff feathers; notwithftanding Mr. Willoughby ,
and other ornithologifts give it but ten : they are
of a tawny hue, and the interior ends of each flops
off to a point.

GENUS XL The H O O P O E.
SPECIES I. The Hoopoe. Plate L.

The Hoop,or hoopoe. Wil. orn. 145.
Rail fyn. av. 48.

The dung bird. Charlton ex. 98.

Tab. 99.

Plott. oxf. 177.

Edzv. 345.

I H I S bird may be readily diftinguifhed
* from all others that vifit thefe iflands by
its beautiful creft, which it can eredt or
deprefs at pleafiire : it weighs three ounces : its
length is twelve inches : its breadth nineteen :
the bill is two inches and a half long, {lender,
and incurvated : the tongue triangular, fmall, and

placed low in the mouth: the irides are hazel :

* «

the tail confifts of only ten feathers.

\

According to Linnaeus it may take its name

Briffon av. II. 455. Tab. 43.

Upupa epops. Lin. fyfi. 117.
Upupa ; arquata ftercoraria; gallus
lutofus. Klein Stem. av. 24. Tab.

2 5 *

Upupa. Gefner av. 776.

from its note*, which has a found fimilar to the
word ; or it may be derived from the French hup -
p e j ° r crefted : it breeds in hollow trees, and lays
two afh colored eggs : it feeds on infedfs j the
antients believed that it made its neft of human
excrement : the country people in Sweden look
on the appearance of this bird as a prefage of war j
and formerly the vulgar in our country efteemed
it a forerunner of fome calamity : it vifits thefe
iflands frequently ; but not at Rated feafons, nei¬
ther does it breed with us.

* Faun.fuec. 2d ed. 37 .

GENUS XII. The CHOUGH.
SPECIES I. The Cornifh chough. Plate L*.

Wil. orn. 126.

Raii fyn. av. 40.

The Killegrew. Charlton ex. 75 -
Cornwall Kae. Sib. fcot. 15.

Borlafe Cormv. 249.' Tab. 24.
Camden vol. I. 14.

HIS fpecies is but thinly fcattered over
the northern world : no mention is
made of it by any of the Faunifts ;

Coracia. Briffon av. II. 4. Tab. 1.
Upupa pyrrhocorax. Lin-fyft. 118.
Monedula pyrrhocorax. Hajfelquift
it in. 238.

Pyrrhocorax graculus faxatilis. Gef¬
ner av. 522, 527.

nor do we find it in other parts of Europe , ex¬
cept England^ and the Alpsf. In Afa , the ifland
of Candia produces itj. In Africa , JEgypt:

which

-j~ Plin. nat. hijt. lib. 10. C. 48. Briffon II. 5. + Belon. olf. 17.

V'

84 B I R

which laft place it vifits towards the end of the in¬
undations of the Nile*. Except AEgypt it affedls
mountanous, and rocky fituations ; and builds its
neft in high cliffs, or ruined towers, and lays four
or five eggs white fpotted with a dirty yellow. It
feeds on infers, arid alfo on new fown corn : they
commonly fly high, make a fhriller noife than the
jackdaw, and may be taught to fpeak. It is a
bird of an elegant (lender make, adlive, reftlefs,
and thieving; much taken with glitter, and fo
meddling as not to be traded where things of
confequence lie. It is very apt to catch up bits

of liohted flicks : fo that there are inflances of
& J

* Hajfelquifls itin. 240.

D S. [Clafs 11.

houfes being fet on fire by its means; which is the
reafon that Camden calls it incendiaria avis. Se¬
veral of the TNeljh and Cornijh families bear this
bird in their coat of arms. It is found in Corn¬
wall , Flintjhire , Caernarvonjhire , and Anglefey , in
the cliffs and caflles along the fhores.

Its weight is thirteen ounces ; the breadth thir¬
ty-three inches : the length fixteen : its color is
wholly black, beautifully gloffed over with blue
and purple : the legs and bill are of a bright orange
inclining to red, the tongue almofl as long as the
bill, and a little cloven : the claws large, hooked
and black.

GENUS XIII. The G R O U S.

* With legs feathered to the feet: broad fcarlet eye-brows.

t ■ * *

X. ' * J $ '

** With naked legs-

: *

SPECIES I. The Cock of the Wood. Plate M.

The Hen of the Wood. Plate M*.

Cock of the mountain, or wood-
JVil orn. 172.

Rail fyn. av. 53 -

Capricalca. Sib- Scot. 16. Tab. 14,
18.

Urogallus major (the male.) Gefner
av. 490.

rr^ HIS fpecies is found in no other part
of Great-Britain than the northern
highlands of Scotland ; and even there
not frequently. We believe that the breed is ex-
tin£l in Ireland\ where it was formerly found ; it
inhabits wooded and mountanous countries ; in
particular forefls of pines, birch-trees, and junipers;
feeding on the tops of the former, and berries of
the latter ; which often infe£ls the flefh with fuch
a tafte$ as to render it fcarce eatable. It lays from
fix to eight eggs.

Briffon av. I. 182.

Grygallus major (the female.) Gef¬
ner av. 495.

Tetrao urogallus. Lin.Jyfl. 159,
Pontop. 2. 1 o 1.

Klein. Stem. Tab. 27,

The length of the cock is two feet eight in¬
ches ; the breadth three feet ten inches; its weight
fometimes fourteen pounds; the female is much
lefs, its length being only twenty-fix inches; its
breadth only forty-one. A defcription of thefe is
needlefs, their great fize at once diftinguilhes them
from all others of the genus.*

SPECIES

’ - ■*'’ i ^ j 1

* We are obliged to Gefner and Willoughby for the meafurements and
weights of thefe biyds, having feen only dried fpecimens of them.

"v.

p?A*r--

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C . t. .....

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r* >

r

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3 .

JSSfo

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o /ffiVft

r-v.

cset. ar.^ytousej

Clafs II.]

BIRDS.

SPECIES II. The Black Cock. Plate Mi-

Its Female. Plate M. 2.

Heath-cock, black game, or grous.

JVil. orn. 173.

Ran Jyn. av. 5 3.

Urogallus minor . (the male.) Gefner
av. 493.

G If 1HESE birds, like the former, are
fond of wooded and mountanous fitu-
ations ; they feed on bilberries, and
other mountain fruits j and in the winter on the
tops of the heath. They are often found in
woods; this and the preceding fpecies perching
like the pheafant; in the fummer they frequently
deicend from the hills to feed on corn: they ne¬
ver pair; but in the fpring the male gets upon
fome eminence, crows and claps his wings* ; on
which fignal all the females within hearing refort
to him : the hen lays feldom more than fix or fe-
ven eggs. The young males quit their mother in
the beginning of winter; and keep in flocks of
feven or eight till fpring , during that time they
inhabit the woods : they are very quarrelfbme,

* The ruffed Heathcock of America , a bird of this genus, does the
fame. Edw. Gl. p. 80.

BriJJon av. I. 186.

Grygallus minor (the female.) Gef¬
ner av. 496.

Tetrao tetrix. Lin. fyft. 15 9.

and will fight together like game cocks , and at
that time are fo inattentive to their own fafety,
that it has often happened that two or three have
been killed at one {hot.

An old black cock will weigh near four pounds ;
its length is one foot ten inches 5 its breadth two
feet nine: the hen weighs little more than two
pounds y its length one foot fix inches; its
breadth two feet fix : the tail of this fpecies is
forked , that of the male greatly fo; that of the
female in a lefs degree : the legs of this and the
preceding kind are feathered only to the feet :
they both inhabit woods in the winter j therefore
nature hath not given them the fame kind pro-
te&ion againfl the cold, as fhe has the grous and
ptarmigan, who muff undergo all the rigor of the
feafon beneath the fnow, or on the bare ground.

SPECIES III. The Grous. Plate M 3. The Male.

Red game, Gorcock, or Moor-cock,
JVil. orn . 177.

RaiiJyn. av. 54 ,

T H E male weighed nineteen ounces :

its length was fifteen inches and a half;
the breadth twenty-fix: the female
weighed only fixteen ounces ; the colors of the
latter differ in fome particulars from thofe of the
male, being in general paler and duller : the fear-
let fkin above the eye is lefs prominent, and not

Moor-cock, or Moor-fowl. Sib. foot.

16.

Attagen. Rrijfon av. I. 209.

fringed; the black fpots on the back are not fo
large, or confpicuous : the breaft and belly are
fpotted with white , the tips of fome of the co¬
verts and fecondary feathers of the wings are
white ; the under coverts in both fexes are white
mixed with a few dufky feathers ; the baftard

wings in both male and female are black.

X

V

Thefe

86

[Clafs II.

BIRD S.

Thefe birds pair in the fpring, and lay from fix tops of the hills, are fcarce ever found on the

to ten eggs : the young brood or packs follow
the hen the whole fummer; in the winter they
join in flocks of forty or fifty, and become re¬
markably fhy and wild : they always keep on the

fides, and never defcend into the vallies ; their
food is the mountain berries, and the tops of
heath-

SPECIES IV. The Ptarmigan. Plates M4. M5.

White game, erroneouily called the
white Partridge. JVil. orn. 176.
Rail jyn. av. 55.

The Ptarmigan. Sib. feat. 16.

Bonafa fcotica. Brijfon av. I. 199.

Tab. 22. Fig. 1. *

Lagopus, Plum lib. 10. c. 48.

f' I ,m \ H I S bird is well defcribed by Mr.

JVilloughby , under the name of the
white game. Linnwus takes no no¬
tice of it , and Mr. Brijfon j~ joins it with the
white partridge of Mr. Edwards , plate 72. but
thefe two birds differ greatly ; the former being
above twice the fize of the Ptarmigan ; and the
color of its fummer plumage quite different ; that
of Mr. Edwards's bird being marked with large
fpots of white, and dull orange ; that of the Ptar¬
migan is of a pale brown, motled with fmall dufky
fpots , both agree in their winter drefs, being in-
tirely white, except as follows : in the male a
black line occurs between the bill and the eyes ;
the fhaft of the feven firft quil feathers are black :
the tail of the Ptarmigan confifts of fixteen fea¬
thers y the two middle of which are afh-colored,
motled with black, and tipt with white ; the two
next black {lightly marked with white at their
ends, the reft wholly black ; the feathers incum-

* This is no other than our Ptarmigan in its complete fummer
drefs. -f Tom. I. p. 2 16.

bent on the tail white, and almoft reach the end
of it. The plate M 5. exhibits a motly variety
of the Ptarmigany at a period it had not quite af-
fumed its fummer drefs : for this figure, and that
of the fcaup duck we are obliged to our worthy
countryman (by defcent) Mr. Edwards , who ge-
neroufiy dedicated thefe laft efforts of his genius,
to the fervice of the charity fchool.

Thefe birds are found in this kingdom in the
fcottifh Highlands only : their weight is near four¬
teen ounces , their length thirteen inches three-
quarters ; their breadth twenty-three : Thefe birds
are called by Pliny Lagopiy their feet being cloath-
ed with feathers to the claws, as the hare’s are with
fur : the nails are long, broad and hollow : the
firft circumftance guards them from the rigor of
the winter ; the latter enables them to form a
lodge under the fnow, where they lie in heaps to
protect themfelves from the cold.

\ . ' . , j-' , . _ ,

SPECIES V. The Partridge. Plate M 5.

JVil. orn■ 166.

Rail fyn. av. 57.

Brijfon av. I. 219.

Perdix. Gefner av. 669.

f 1 H I S bird and its nature is fo well

known, that it will be unneceffary to
detain the readers with any defcription
of it: all writers agree, that its paflion for vene-
ry exceeds that of any bird of the genus $ fhould

%

the readers curiofity be excited to fee a more par¬
ticular account, we beg leave to refer them to
thofe authors who have recorded this part of its
natural hiftory*.

SPECIES

* Pliny lib. 10. c. 23. Wil orn. 168. Edw.preface Gleanings part 2.

. sui-Ssr:

s.

87

Clafs II.]

bir d

SPECIES

JVil. orn. 169 .

Rail fyn. av. 58.

Briffon av. I. 247.

VI. The Quail. Plate M 6.

Tetrao coturnix. Lin. fyft. 161.
Gefner av. 334.

Q UAILS are found iri moil parts of
Great-Britain but not in any quan¬
tity : they are birds of paffage $ fome
entirely quitting our ifland, others fhifting their
quarters. A gentleman, to whom this work lies
under great obligations for his frequent affiflanee*
has alfured us, that thele birds migrate out of the
neighboring inland counties, into the hundreds
of EJfex , in October , and continue there all the
winter : if froft or fnow drive them out of the
ftubble fields and marlhes, they retreat to the
fea-fide; fhelter themfelves among the weeds, and
live upon what they can pick up from the algos.
See. between high and low water mark. Our
friend remarks, that the time of their appearance
in EJfex , coincides with that of their leavincr the
inland counties.

Thefe birds are much lefs prolific than the
partridge, feldom laying more than fix or feven
eggs ; are very eafily taken, and may be enticed
any where by a call.

Eiftula dulce canit voludrem dum decipit auceps.

/ -

They are birds of great fpirit ; infomuch that
quail fighting among the Athenians was as great

an entertainment as cock fighting is in this coun¬
try. The antients never eat this bird, fuppofing
them to have been unwholefeme, as they were
laid to feed on Hellebore *.

To the birds of this genus we fhould add the
whole tribe of domeftic land fowl, fuch as Pea-
cocks, Pheafants, Sec. but thele cannot clame
even an European origin. The ifles of the Eajl
Indies gave us Peacocks **, and our common Poul¬
try f Pheafants were firft derived from the
banks of the Phafis f f, a river of Colchis. Gui¬
nea hens, the fuppofed AIdeag rides of the anti¬
ents, came from Africa and we are obliged
to the difeoverers of North America for Aur-
kies Jf. None of thefe are found in a wild hate
m thefe kingdoms; but all are cultivated among
11s : the common Poultry indeed have been long
naturalized, as Caspar informs us they were one of
the forbidden foods of the Old Britains.

* Cotilrmcibus, venem lenien gratiffimus cibus, quam ob caufam eas
damnavere menfe. Plin.lib. 10. c. 23.

** Knoxs hi fi- Ce )' lcn - 2 8. f Dampiers voy. I. 392. LordAnfons voy.^oa
ff Argiva prirnum funi tranfportata carina,

ante mihi notum nil, nifi Phafis, erat. Martial lib. 13 . Epig. 72.

} Bofinan's hi ft. Guinea 248. Roy ages des Du Marchais 3. 323.

t+ I lir ftes, the commoneft wild lowl of America , are faid to have been
hill: introduced into England , in the reign of Henry VIII.

GENUS
SPECIES 1.

JVil. orn. 178.

Raii fyn. av. 58 .

Edzv. Tab. 73, 74.

XIV. The BUSTARD.

The Bullard. Plate N. The Male.

Brijfon av. 5.

Otis tarda. Lin. fyft. 134.
OtiSjVelBiftarda. Gefner av. 484,486

T H E buftard is the largeft of the Rritijh
land fowl \ the male at a medium

weighing twenty-five pounds $ there
are inftances of fome very old ones weighing
twenty-feven. The breadth nine feet; the length

near four. Befides the fize and difference of co¬
lor ; the male is diftinguifhed from the female by
a tuft of feathers about five inches lono- on each
fide the lower mandible.

The

88

B I R

✓

The female is about half the fize of the male :
the crown of the head is of a deep orange travel¬
ed with black lines ; the reft of the head is
brown. The lower part of the forefide of the
neck is afli colored : in other refpeels it refembles
the male, only the colors of the back and wings
are far more dull.

Thefe birds inhabit moft of the open countries
of the South and Eaft parts of this ifland, from
Dorfetftoire , as far as Merch and Lothian m
Scotland *. They are exceeding fhy, and diffi¬
cult to be ffiot; run very faft, and when on the
wing can fly, tho’ (lowly, many miles without
refting. It is faid that they take flight with diffi¬
culty, and are fometimes run down with gre-
hounds. They keep near their old haunts, fel-
dom wandering above twenty or thirty miles.
Their food is corn and other vegetables, and
thofe large earth-worms that appear in great
quantities on the Downs , before fun-riflng in the
fummer. Thefe are replete with moifture, an-
fwer the purpofe of liquids, and enable them to

* Sib. Scot. 16.

D S. [Glals II.

live long without drinking on thole extenfive and
dry Tra&s. Befides this, nature hath given the
males an admirable magazine for their fecurity
again ft drought, being a pouch f, whofe en¬
trance lies immediately under the tongue, and
which is capable of holding near feven quarts ;
and this they probably fill with water, to fup-
ply the hen when fitting, or the young before
they can fly. Bullards lay only two eggs, of
the fize of thofe of a goole, of a pale olive
brown, marked with fpots of a darker color ;
they make no neft, only fcrape a hole in the
ground. In autumn they are (in Wilt {hire) ge¬
nerally found in large turnep fields near the
Downs, and in flocks of fifty or more.

To this bird we may add the little Bullard of
Mr . Edwards ) tab. 251. The Canne petiere of
the French , Wil. orn . 179. one of which was ffiot
in Cornwai 1751. this being the only one that
we have heard of in this kingdom, and probably
a ftrayed bird, it mull be denied a place in this
work.

q. The world is obliged to the late Dr. Douglas for this difcovery;
and to Mr. Edwards for communicating it.

GENUS XV. PIGEONS.
SPECIES I. The Common Pigeon

Common wild Dove ? or Pigeon.
JVil. orn . 180. and the (lock Dove^
or Wood Pigeon. 185.

Rail fyn , av. 59, 62.

INNJEUS very judicioufly ob-
ferves, that the tame pigeon with all its
varieties arifes from only one fpecies ;
the Stock Dove. Its characters in the Hate
neareft that of its origin, is a deep bluiffi alh co¬
lor ; the bread is dallied with a fine changeable
green and purple } its wings marked with two
black bars, one on the coverts of the wings the

Columba domeftica. Brijfon av. I.

68. Columba Livia. 82. 1
Columba Oenas. Lin. fyft. 162.
Columba vulgaris. Gefner av. 279.

other on the quil-feathers. The back is white,
and the tail barred near the end with black. In
the wild Hate it breeds in holes of rocks, and
hollows of trees, for which reafon fome writers
ftile it columba cavernalis * in oppofition to the
Ring Dove, which makes its neft on the boughs
of trees. Nature ever preferves fome agreement

in

* The Columba faxatilis, or rock pigeon, that is frequent on moft of
our cliffs, is only a variety of the wild pigeon.

io mu

1 yi

_/M/( a?ill yfuw>

n

/ /V /j /

Clafs II.] B

in the manners, characters, arid colors of birds
reclamed from their wild Hate. This fpecies of
pigeon foon takes to build iri artificial cavities^
and from the temptation of a ready provifion be¬
come eafily domefticated. The drakes of the
tame duck, however they may vary in color, ever
retain the mark of their origin from our Englijh
mallard, by the two curled feathers of the tail:
and the tame goofe betrays its defcent from the

I R D S.

Wild kind, by the invariable wKitenefs of its rump,
which they always retairi in both ftates.

The nature of pigeons is to be gregarious $ td
lay only two eggs 5 to breed many times in the
year * 5 to bill iri their cdurtlhip; for the male
and female to fit by turns, and alfo to feed their
young ; to call their provifion out of their craw
into the young ones mouths 5 and to have a note
mournful, or plaintive*

* So quick is their produce, that the Author of the Oeeonomy of nature
obferves, that in the fpace of four years, 14,760 may come from a fingle
pair. Siillingjleet’s trails. 75.

SPECIES II. The Ring-dove. Plate O.

Ring - dove, Queeft, or Culhat.

IViL orn . 185*

Raii fyn. av. 62.

T HIS fpecies forms its ncft of a few
dry Hicks in the boughs of trees: at¬
tempts have been made to domefticate
them, by hatching their eggs under the common
pigeon in dove-houfes ; but as foon as they could
fly, they always toke to their proper haunts. In
the beginning of the winter they aflemble in great

SPECIES III. The

The Turtle-dove. IVil orn. 183.?

Rail fyn. av. 61.?

Columba area oculorum nuda coc-

H I S fpecies is found in Buckingham -
1 ] Jhire, Glouceflerfhire, Shropfhire and in
the Weft of England. They are Ihy
and retired birds, breeding in thick woods, ge¬
nerally of oak: we believe that they refide in
Buckinghamjhire during the breeding feafon, mi¬
grating into the other countries in autumn. The
bird we defcribe was (hot at Pitchford y Shropjhire ,
by a gentleman in that neighborhood, to whom
this work is under infinite obligations, for fome
excellent obfervations; and feveral elegant pro¬
ductions of his pencil Thefe birds differ in

Rrifjbn av. I. 89.

blumba palumbus„ Lin. Jyft. 163.
lumbus. Gefner av. 31 o.

ocks, and leave off cooing; which they begin in
March , when they pair. The ring-dove is the
largeft pigeon we have; and may be at once di-
ftinguifhed from all others, as well by the fize, as
the white mark on the hind part of the neck. Its
weight is about twenty ounces : its length eight-
teen inches : its breadth thirty.

Turtle. Plate O i.

cinea laevi, collo poftice femicir-
culo nigro. Kramer Elench. 359.

fize, this weighing only three ounces and a half;
another that was killed in Gloucefterjhire weighed
fix. The length of that figured, was ten inches
and a half, its breadth eighteen. The irides were
of a fine yellow: a beautiful crimfon circle encom-
paffed the eyelids. The chin and forehead were
whitilh : the top of the head alh-colored mixed
with olive : the back alh-colored, bordered with
olive brown : the fcapulars and coverts chefnut
colored, fpotted with black: the quil feathers
were of a duiky brown, the tips and outward edges
of a yellowifh brown : the breafi: was of a light

y purplifh

* All this Gentleman’s defigns are marked thus

I

«

m

- :VV

9°

birds.

[(Ms. II.

purplifc red, having the verge of each feather yel¬
low ; the belly white : the fides, and inner coverts
of the wings bluilh. The tail was three inches
and a half long; the two middlemoft feathers
were of a dulky brown ; the others black with
white tipsthe end and exterior fide of the out-
moft feathers wholly white.

hind part of the neck : which Mr. Willoughby
and other writers give it: except that it entirely
agrees with the Auftrian kind, defcribed by Dr.
Kramer ; as the former has given but an itnper-
fe a account of it, we have been more particular
in our defcription than the goodnefs of the figure
would otherwife have required.

This fpecimen wanted the black fpot on the

GENUS XVI. THRUSHES.

SPECIES I. The Miffel-bird* Plate P. Fig i.

Miffel-bird, or Shrite. IVil. orn. 187.
Raii Jyn. av. 64.

Miffeltoe-thrulh, or Shreitch. Charl¬
ton ex. 89.

Turdus major. Briffon av. II. 200.
Turdus vifcivorus. Gefner av, 759.
Lin.fyft. 168.

r'T~T H I S is diftinguifhed from all of the
kind by its fuperior fize ; weighing near
five ounces. Its length is eleven in¬
ches : its breadth flxteen and a half : in colois it
very much refembles that well known bird tne
Throftle j and differs materially only in thefe
particulars, viz. The fpots on the breaft are larger $
the inner coverts of the wings in tms are white, in
the Throftle yellow 5 and the feathers beyond
the vent of the miftel bird are of buff color, thole
of the other white.

Thefe birds build their nefts in bufhes, or on
the fide of fome tree, generally an afh, and lay

four or five eggs : their note of anger or fear is
very harfh, between a chatter and a fkreek } from
whence fome of its Fnglijh names : its fong tho
is very fine, which it begins in the fpring, fitting
on the fummit of a high tree. It feeds on infedfs,
holly and mifteltoe berries ; the IFeljh call it Pen
y llwyn , or the mafter of the bufh ; as it will
drive all the leffer fpecies of thrufhes from it. The
antients believed that the mijfeltoe (the balls of
bird-lime) could not be propagated but by the
berries that had paft thro’ the body of this bird ;
and on that is founded the proverb of Furdus ma¬
lum fibi cacat .

SPECIES II. The Fieldfare. Plate P. 2. Fig. 3.

JVil. orn. 188.

Raii fyn. av. 64.

Brijfon av. 2. 214.

fHIS bird paffes the fummer in the
northern parts of Europe ; alfo in lower
Auftria *. It breeds in the largeft

Turdus pilaris. Gefner av. 753*
Lin.fyft. 168.

trees 5 7 feeds on berries of all kinds, and is very

* deneb. 361 • •f* Faupi. faec . 78,

fond of thofe of the juniper. Fieldfares vifit our
iflands in great flocks about Michaelmas , and leave
us the latter end of February , or the beginning of
March. We fufpedl that the birds that migrate

here,

TV

7

VLU6

W /&/£■

Clafs II. ] B I R

here, come from Norway , &c. forced by the ex-
ceflive rigor of the feafon in thofe cold regions; as
we find that they winter as well as breed in Pruffia^
Jiuftrk J, and the moderate climates.

Thefe birds weigh generally about four ounces;
their length is ten inches, their breadth feventeem
The head is alh colored inclining to olive, and

| Klein, bijl. av. 178.

d s.

fpotted with black ; the back and coverts of the
wings of a fine deep cheftnut; the rump afh co¬
lored : the tail is black ; the lower parts of the
two middlemoft feathers, and the interior upper
fides of the outmoft feathers excepted ; the firft
being afh colored, the latter white. The legs are
black; the talons very ftrong.

SPECIES III. The Throftle. Plate P. Fig. 2,

Mavis, Throftle, or Song thrufh.

Wil. orn. 188.

Rail Jyn. av. 64.

Turdus minor. BriJJon av. 2, 205.

T HIS fpecies weighs three ounces; its
length is nine inches,its breadth thirteen
and a half, for a farther defeription, the
reader is referred to that of the firft kind. The
throftle is the fineft of our finging birds, not only
for the fweetnefs and variety of its notes, but for
long continuance of its harmony ; for it obliges us

Turdus minor alter. Gefnerav. 762.
Turdus muficus. Lin.JyJl. 169.

Turdus in altiflimis. Klein Jlem. av.
Tab. 13.

with its fong for near three parts of the year, like
the miflel bird ; it delivers its mufic from the top
of fome high tree; but to form its neft defeends
to fome low bufh or thicket: the neft is made of
earth, mofs, and ftraws, and the infide is curiouf-
ly plaiftered with clay. It lays five or fix eggs,
of a pale bluifh green, marked with dufky fpots.

SPECIES IV. The Redwing. Plate! 2. Fig. 2.

Redwing,Swinepipe, or Wind thrufh
Wil. orn.

Rail fyn. av. 54.

Briffon av. II. 208, Tab. 20. Fig.
Turdus minor. Gefner av. 761.
Turdus iliacus. Lin- fyft- 168.

f i ^ H E S E birds appear in Great-Britain
a few days before the fieldfare; they
JL come in vaft flocks, and from the fame
countries as the latter. With us they have only
a difagreeable piping note; but in Sweden during
the fpring they fing very finely, perching on the
top of fome tree among the forefts of maples.

They build their nefts in hedges, and lay fix blu-
ilh green eggs Ipotted with black *,

They have a very near refemblance to the
Throftle ; but are lefs, only weighing two ounces
and a quarter : their colors are much the fame ;
only the fides under the wings and the inner co¬
verts in this are of a reddifh orange; in the
Throftle yellow.

* Faun. J'uec. 79.

SPECIES

92

BIRDS.

#

SPECIES V. The Blackbird.

[Clafs II.

JVtL orn. 190.

Rail Jyn. av. < 55 -
Brijfon av. II. 227.

TH I S very common bird requires no
defcription: it is very folitary , fre¬
quents hedges and thickets, in which it
builds earlier than any other bird : the neft is
formed of mofs, dead grafs, fibres, &c. lined or
plaiftered with clay, and that again covered with
hay or finall ftraw. It lays four or five eggs of a

Merula. Gejner av. 6 02.

Turdus merula. Lin. fyji. 170.

bluifh green color, marked with irregular dufky
fpots. The note of the male is extremely fine,
but too loud for any place except the woods : it
begins to fing early in the fpring, continues its
mufic part of the fummer, defifts in the moulting
feafon 'j but refumes it for fome time in the firft
winter months.

SPECIES IV. The Ring-ouzel. Plate P. 1. Fig. 1.

Wil. orn. 194. Rock or Mountain-
ouzel 195.

Rail Jyn . av. 65.

Mwyalchen y graig, Camden
Brit. 795.

^HE ring^oazel inhabites the mounta-
nous parts of thefe iflands; and are
found in fmall flocks of five or fix.
In fize they are (uperior to the black bird : their
length is eleven inches ; their breadth feventeen.
The bill in fome is wholly black, in others the
upper half is yellow : on each fide the mouth are
a few briftles : the head and whole upper part of
the body are dufky, edged with pale brown : the
quil feathers, and the tail are black. The coverts

Morton Northampt. 425.

Brijfon av. II. 235.

Merula torquata. Gefner. av. 607.
Turdus torquatus. Lin. fyji. 170.

of the wings, the upper part of the breaft, and
the belly are dufky, flightly edged with afh color.
The middle of the breaft is adorned with a white
crefcent, the horns of which point to the hind
part of the neck. In fome birds this is of a pure
white, in others of a dirty hue. In the females
and in young birds this mark is wanting, which
gave occafion to fome naturalifts to form two
fpecies of them.

SPECIES VII. The Water-ouzel. Plate P. 1. Fig. 2.

Merula aquatica. Gefner av. 608.
Sturnus cinclus. Lin. Jyf 168.

The water-ouzel, or water crake.

Wil orn. 149-
Raii fyn. av. 66-

HIS bird frequents fmall brooks, par¬
ticularly thole with fteep banks, or
that run thro’ a rocky country. It is
of a very retired nature, and is never feen but

Angle, or with its mate. It breeds in holes in
the banks, and lays five white eggs adorned with
a fine blufh of red. It feeds on infers and fmall
fifh; and as Mr. Willoughby obferves, tho’ not

web-

4

t

-

Clafs II.] B I

web-footed, will dart itfelf after them quite under
water. The neft is conftru£led in a curious manner,
of hay and fibres of roots, and lined with dead oak
leaves, having a portico, or grand entrance made
with green mofs.

Its weight is two ounces and a half: the length
feven inches one quarter: the breadth eleven :
the bill is narrow, and compreffed fideways : the
eyelids are white : the head, cheeks, and hind
part of the neck are dufky, mixed with ruft co¬
lor : the back, coverts of the wings, and of the

R D S. 93

tail alfo dufky, edged with bluifh afh color : the
throat and breaft white : the belly ferruginous,
vent feathers a deep afh-color : the legs are of a
pale blue before, black behind : the tail fhort and
black, which it often flirts up, as it is fitting.

Thefe are all the birds of this genus that can
clame a place in this work. The rofe colored
ouzel. TViL orn. 194. Edw . 20. a foreign bird,
has been fhot at Norwood near London ; for its
hiftory we refer our readers to the authors we cite.

GENUS XVII. The STARE.

SPECIES I. The

Stare, or Starling. Wil. orn. 196.
Raii fyn. av. 67.

BriJJon av. II. 439.

T H O’ this very common bird is fo well
known as not to require any defcription,
yet it merits a figure, on two accounts ;
firft, for the great beauty of its varied refplendent
plumage 5 and again, as it is the only one of its
genus: to point out to our countrymen the beauty
as well as fpecifc differences of the animals, be¬
ing one end of this work. The flare breeds in
hollow trees, eaves of houfes, towers, ruins, cliffs,

Stare. Plate P. 2. Fig 1.

Sturnus. Gefner av. 746.

Sturnus vulgaris. Lin. fyft. 167.

and often in high rocks over the fea, fuch as thofe
of the IJle of Weight. It lays four or five eggs,
of a pale greenifh afh color ; and makes its neft of
ftraw, fmall fibres of roots, and the like. In
winter flares affemble in vaft flocks, they feed on
worms and infers. Their flefh is fo remarkable
bitter as to be fcarce eatable ; they are very docil
birds $ and may be taught to fpeak.

GENUS XVIII. LARKS.
SPECIES I.

Common field lark, or fkylark.

lVil. orn. 203.

Rail Jyn. av. 69.

Brifon av. III. 335 *

T H I S is the only bird that lings as he
flies; railing its note as it fears, and
lowering it till it quite dies away as it
defeends. It will often foar to that height that we
are charmed with the mufic when we lofe fight
of the fongfter. It continues its harmony feveral

The Skylark.

Alauda fine crifta. Gefner av. 7 8.
Alauda arvenfis. Lin. fyft. 165.
Alauda coelipeta. Klein\ fern. Tab.
15. f. 1.

months, beginning early in the fpring, on pairing.
In the winter they affemble in vaft flocks, grow
very fat, and are taken in great numbers for our
tables. They build their neft on the ground,
beneath fome clod ; forming it of hay, dry fibres,
&c. and lay four or five eggs.

Z SPECIES

94

BIRDS.

[Clafs. II.

SPECIES

TVil. orn. 204.

Rail Jyn. av, 69,

II. The Wood-lark. Plate 0 - Fig- 3-

Briffon av. Ill, 340. Tab. 20, Fig, 1.
Alauda arborea. Lin. JyJi. 166,

rp h 1 s bird is inferior in fize to the fky
I lark ; the colors are paler, and its note
JL lefs fonorovis, tho’ not lefs fweet. Thefe
and the following characters,which Mr. JVilloughby
points out, may ferve at once to diftinguifh it from
the common kind : that it whiffles like the black¬
bird : it perches on trees : the head is furround-
ed with a whitifh coronet of feathers, reaching

from eye to eye. The firft feather of the wing

is fhorter than the fecond ; in the common lark
it is near equal. The outmoft feathers of the

[ail nave wnire tips, i ne woouiaric will ling in
the night. It builds on the ground, in the fame
manner as the former; but the fpecies is not near

fo numerous,

SPECIES HI. The

JVil. orn . 206.

Rail Jyn . av. 69 ,

F |jj ^ HIS bird is found frequently in low
I marfhy grounds: like other larks it
builds its neft among the grafs,and lays
five or fi$ eggs. Like the woodlark it fits on
trees; but has no harmony in its note, which is
fhort and twittering. Its length is five inches and
a half: the breadth nine inches: the bill is black:
the back and head is of a greemfh brown, fpotted
with black ; the throat and lower part of the belly
are white : the breaft yellow, marked with oblong

Tit-lark. Plate Q. Fig. 6 .

Plate P i. F/g 3,

Brijfon av. III. 343.

Alauda pratenfis. Lin. Jyfi. 166.

fpots of black : the tail is dufky • the exterior
feather is varied by a bar of white, which runs a-
crofs the end and takes in the whole outmoft web.
The fubjecl figured in plate P. i. is a variety
with dufky legs, (hot on the rpcks on the cpaft of
Qaernarvonjhire: befides this, Mr. JVilloughby
makes mention of another variety, which he calls
the lejfer field-lark ; fuperior in fize to this, lefs
green, having paler feet than the tit-lark, and
fhorter fpurs. This we have feen in Shropfhire.

SPECIES \\

Edzv . 297,

^ H I S bird Mr. Edwards difcovered in
the neighborhood of London. By his
ngure it feems of the fize of the laft
fpecies. The head, hind part of the neck, and
back are qf 3 dufky brown : a blackifh line pafTes.
thro’ each eye j above that is a clay colored one.
i he wings and tail are of a dark brown; the ex¬
terior feathers of the latter wholly white ; thq

The Red-lark.

Brijfon av. Suppl. 94.

tips of the two next on each fide alfo white : the
under fide from bill to tail of a reddilh brown,
marked with dulky fpots : the legs are of a dark
brown : the hind claw (horter than that of the
common lark. When the wings are gathered up,
the third quil from the body reaches to its tip,
which is a conftant character of the water wag¬
tail genus. SPF.riF S

a

?'k a. rti/'z*

e }//?/ fnartuv

y' u ' v

-

/

birds

SPECIES V. The leffer Crefted Lark.

IViL orn . 209*

Rail Jyn. av. 69.

T HIS fpecies we find in Mr. Ray's
hiftory of Englijh birds; who fays it is
found in Forkjhire, but gives us only
this brief defcription of it, from Aldrovandus *
it is like the greater crefted lark, but much lefs,
and not fo brown 5 that it hath a confiderable

Alauda criftata minor. BrlJJbn av .
III. 361.

tuft on its head for the fmallnefs of its body; and
that its legs are red. We never faw this kind;
but by Mr. Bolton's lift of Torkjhire birds, which
he favoured the fociety with, we are informed it
is in plenty in that country.

SPECIES VI. The Grafshopper Lark. Plate Q- Fig. 5

Tit-lark that fings like a grafshopper.
IVil. orn. 209.

Alauda minima locuftae voce.
Locufiella D. Johnfon.

1 | \ HIS bird we received out of Shrop .

/hire : it is the fame with that Mr. Ray

defcribes as having the note of the
grafshopper, but louder and ftirilier. When it
fings it fits on the higheft branch of a bufh, with
its mouth open and ftrait up, and its wings dif-
heveled. This bird is reprefented as large as life.
The bill is very (lender, of a dufky color : the
head, and whole upper part of the body is of a

Rail Jyn * av. 70*

Ray's letters . 108.

Alauda fepiaria. Brijfon av . III. 347

greenilh brown, fpotted with black : the quil fea¬
thers dufky, edged with an olive brown; the tail
is very long,compofed of twelve (harp pointed fea-*
thers ; the two middlemoft are the loneeft, the
others on each fide grow gradually (horter. The
under fide of the body is of a dull yellowilh white,
darkeft about the breaft : the legs are of a dirty
white : the hind claw Ihorter, and more crooked,
than is ufual in the lark kind.

SPECIES VII. The Willow Lark. Plate Q. Fig. 4.

fig ^ HIS fpecies has exadfly the fame
acftions and note with the preceding
“““ bird. It annually vifits fome willow
hedges near a pool in TFhiteford parifh, Flint -
fljire y where it continues the whole fummer. It
is inferior in fize to the laft. The head, back,
and coverts of the wings are of a yellowilh brown
marked with dulky fpots : the quil feathers are

dulky, their exterior edges of a dirty yellow:
over each eye from the bill palfes a whitifh ftroke.
The chin and throat are white : the whole under
fide of the body is of a dull yellowilh white :
the tail is of a dark brown : the legs are of a yel¬
lowilh brown : the back claw like that of the
preceding bird.

GENUS

9 6

birds.

[ Clafs II.

GENUS XIX. SWALLOWS
SPECIES I. The Houfe Swallow.

Houfe or chimney Swallow.

orn. 2X2.

Rail fyn. av. 71.

mi.

HIS fpecies appears in Great-Britain
near twenty days before the martin, or
any other of the fwallow tribe. They

leave us the latter end of September ; and for a
few days previous to their departure, they af-
femble in vaft flocks on houfe tops, churches,
and even trees, from whence they take their flight.
It is now known that fwallows take their winter

*' V*

quarters in Senegal\ and poflibly they may be
found along the whole Morocco fhore. We are
indebted to M. Adanfon * for this difcovery, who
firft obferved them in the month of OSiober , after
their migration out of Europe , on the Ihores of
that kingdom : but whether it was this fpecies
axone, or all the European kinds, he is filent,

* Voyage to Senegal, p. 121.

Briffon av- II. 486.

Hirundo domeftica. Gejner av. 548.
Hirundo rullica. Lin. fyft. 191.

The houfe fwallow is diftinguilhed from all
others by the fuperior forkinefs of its tail, and by
the red fpot on the forehead, and under the chin.
Its food is the fame with the others of its kind,
infe&s \ for the taking of which in their fwiftefl:
flight, nature hath admirably contrived their fe-
veral parts ; their mouths are very wide to take
in flies, &c. in their quickeft motion ; their wings
are long, and adapted for diftant and continual
flio-ht: and their tails are forked, to enable them
to turn the readier in purfuit of their prey. This
fpecies builds in chimneys, and makes its nefl: of
clay, leaving the top quite open.

SPECIES II. The Martin Plate Q. Fig. 2

Martin, martlet, or martinet- Wil
orn. 213.

Rail Jyn. av. 71.

T H E martin is inferior in flze to the
former, and its tail much lefs forked.
The head and upper part of the body,
except the rump, is black glofled with blue : the
bread, belly and rump are white : the feet are co¬
vered with a fliqrt white down. This is the lecond
of the fwallow kind that appears in our country,

Brijjbn av. II. 490.

Hirundo fylveftris. Gefner av. 564.
Hirundo urbica. Lin. fyfi^ 192.

It builds under the eaves of houles, with the lame
materials, and in the lame form as the houfe Iwal-
low, only its nefl: is covered above, having only
a fmall hole for admittance. We have allb feen
this Ipecies build againft the lides of high cliffs
pver the fea,

SPECIES

amm

Clafs II.]

Bird s

SPECIES III. The Sand Martin. Plate Q. Fig . i.

Sand martin;, or fhore bird. JVil,

orn. 213.

Rail Jyn. av. 71.

BriJJon av. II. 506.

HI S is the left of the genus that
frequents Great-Britain. The head
and whole upper part of the body are
moufe colored : the throat white, encircled with
a moufe colored ring : the belly white : the feet
fmooth and black.

SPECIES

Hirundo riparia, feu Drepanis.
Gefner av. 565.

Hirundo riparia. Lim fyft. 192.

This builds in holes in fand pits, and in the
banks of rivers. It makes its neft of hay, ftraw*
&c. and lines it with feathers : it lays five or fix

feggs, which are white, as are all thofe of this
tribe.

IV. The Swift.

Black martin, or fwift. Jt r il.

orn. 214.

Raii Jyn. av. 72.

HIS fpecies is the largeft of our fwal-
lows; but the weight is moft difpro-

portionately fmall to its extent of wing
of arty bird ; the former being fcarce one ounce,
the latter eighteen inches. The length near eight.
The feet of this bird are fo fmall that the action
of walking and of rifmg from the ground is ex¬
tremely difficult; fo that nature hath made it full
amends by furnifhing it with ample means for an
eafy and continual flight. It is more on the wing
than other fwallows, its flight is more rapid, and
that attended with a ffirill fcream. It refts by

Briffon av. II. 514.

Apus. Gefner av. 166.

Hirundo apus. Lin. fyft. 192.

dinging againft fome wall,or other apt body j from
whence Klein ftyies this fpecies Hirundo muraria .
It breeds under the eaves of houfes, in fteeples,
and other lofty buildings. It is entirely of a footy
color, only the chin is marked with a white fpot.
The feet are of a particular ftrudure, all the toes
ftanding forward ; the left confifts of only one
bone ; the others of an equal number, viz. two
each ; in which they differ from thofe of all other
birds. This appears in our country about the
fame time as the fand martin.

SPECIES V. The Goatfucker. Plate R. The Male.

R 1. The Female.

Fern owl, goat owl, or goatfucker.
IVil. orn. 107.

Raii Jyn. av. 26.

Dorrhawk,accipitercantharophagus.

Charlton ex. 79 - _

BriJJon av . II. 270. Tab. 44.

L E 1 JV, with much propriety and
judgment, hath placed this bird in the
fwallow tribe ; and ftyies it, a /wallow

with an undivided tail. It has moft of the cha-

Caprimulgus. Gefner av. 241.
Caprimulgus europaeus. Lin. fyft.

193°

Hirundo cauda asquabili. H. capri-
mulga. Klein, biff. av. 81. Fig. 1.

X

ra&ers of this genus, fuch as a very fmall bill, vaft
mouth, and fmall legs. It is alfo a bird of paffage,
ao-rees in its food with this genus, and its manner
of taking it, and differs only in the hours of its

A a preynig;

98 BIRDS. [Clafs II.

preying5 this flying by night: fo with juflice it
may be flyled a noSlurnal fwallow. It feeds on

o

moths, gnats, and dorrs, or chaffers ; from whence
Charlton calls it the Dorr-hawk. The goat-
fucker makes but a fhort flay with us ; not ap¬
pearing here till the latter end of May, and retir¬
ing about the middle of Auguft. It is common in
the wooded and mountanous parts of Great-Bri -
tain ; begins its flight towards evening ; and while
on wing makes a loud and fmgular noife, fo much
refembling that of a large fpinning wheel that the
Wei ft: call this bird Aderyn y droell, or the wheel
bird. This noife being made only in its flight,
we may fuppofe it to be caufed by the refinance
of the air againft the hollow of its vaflly extend¬
ed mouth and throat : for it flies with both open
to take its prey. When perched, its note is no
more than a fmall fqueak, repeated four or five
times together. It lays its eggs on the bare

ground : we have been told that they lay only
two or three.

The male is diflinguifhed from the female by
an oval white fpot near the end of each of the
three firfl quil feathers : and another on the two
outmofl feathers of the tail. The color of the
whole plumage is alfo much more ferruginous.
Their weight is only two ounces and a half.
Their length ten inches and a half: their breadth
twenty-two. The bill is fcarce one third of an
inch long : the gape of the bill, when opened, is
near two inches from tip to tip: that of the mouth
from corner to corner one inch three quarters :
the tongue is very fmall, and placed low in the
mouth : the noflrils are a little tubular, and pro¬
minent ; the legs fmall, fcaly and feathered below
the knees. The middle toe connedled to thofe
on each fide by a fmall membrane reaching to the
firfl joint : the claw of the middle toe is broad,
thin, and ferrated.

\ - , k

GENUS XX- Slender Billed Small Birds

* Thofe with tails of one color,
** Thofe with particolored tails.

*

SPECIES I. The Hedge Sparrow.

JViL orn. 215.

Rail Jyn. av. 79.

HIS bird weighs twelve drams. Its
head is of a deep brown, mixed with

/ 4

afh color, the cheeks marked with ob^
long fpots of dirty white: the back and coverts
of the wings are dufky, edged with reddifh brown:
the quil feathers and tail dufky: the rump brown,
tinged with green : the throat and bread: are of a
dull afh color : the belly of a dirty white : the
fides, thighs, and vent feathers are of a pale taw-*
ny brown ; the legs; of a dull flefh colof.

Curruca fepiaria. Brijfon av , m. 394.
Cunuca Ehotce, Gejhcr av. 371.

This bird frequents low hedges, efpecially thofe
of gardens. It makes its neft in fome fmall bufh,
and lays four or five eggs of a fine pale blue color.
1 he male has a fhort but very fweet note during
a very fmall fpace in the fpring. Linnaeus feems
not to have been acquainted with this fpecies: the
bird which he fuppofes to be our hedge fparrow,
and defcribes under the title of Motacilla curruca,
differs in colors of plumage as well as eo-o-s.

SPECIES

* Faun. fuec. 247 ,

Clafs II.]

99

BIRDS
SPECIES II.

Beccafigo, or fig eater. Wil. orn. 216.

Rail fyn. av. 79-

Curruca. Brijfon av. 111 , 372 .

T HIS fpecies being unknown to us, we
mud borrow its defcription from Mr.
Willoughby. In fize it is fcarce fo big
as a linnet. The head, neck, back, wings and
tail, from afh color, or dufky, incline to green :
the quil feathers moufe-color, edged with green.

The Petty-chaps.

Ficedula. Gefner av. 385?
Motacilla hippolais. Lin. fyfi. 185.

The inner coverts of the wings are yellow : the
belly is of a filvery white; the bread darker,
tinged with yellow: the in fide of the mouth red :
the legs bluifh, or of a lead color. This bird is
found in Yorkfhire ; from whence it was fent to
Mr. W^illoughby^ by his friend Mr. Jeffop.

Fly-catcher. Plate P. 2. Fig. 4.

SPECIES III. The

A finall bird without a name, like
the Stopparola of Aldrovand.
Wil. orn. 217.

H E fly-catcher is a bird of paffage, ap¬
pears in the fpring, breeds with us, and
retires in Augujl. It builds its ned on
the fides of trees, towards the middle : Morton
fays in the corners of walls where fpiders weave
their webs. We have feen them followed by four
or five young, but never faw their eggs. When
the young can fly the old ones withdraw with them
into thick woods, where they frolick among the
top*branches; dropping from the boughs frequent¬
ly quite perpendicular on the flies that fport be¬
neath, and rife again in the fame direction. They

Rail fyn. av. 77.

The cobweb. Morton Northampt.

426.

feed alfo on cherries, of which they feem very
fond.

The head is large, of a brownifh hue fpotted
obfcurely with black : the back of a moufe color:
the wings and tail dufky; the interior edges of the
quil feathers edged with pale yellow : the bread
and bellv white; the fhafts of the feathers on the

j 7

former dufky ; the throat and fides under the
wings are dafhed with red : the bill is very broad
at the bafe, and is ridged in the middle ; the in-
fide of the mouth is yellow : the legs and feet
fhort and black.

SPECIES IV. The Redftart. Plate S. Fig. 6. The Male.

IVil orn. 218.

Raii fin. av. 78.

Ruticilla. Briffon av. HI- 403.

HIS alfo appears among us only in the
fpring and dimmer. It makes its ned
in hollow trees, and holes in walls and
other buildings; which it forms with mofs on the
outfide, and lines with hair and feathers. It lays
four or five eggs, very like thofe of the hedge-

Fig. 7 . The Female.

Ruticilla, five Phoenicurus. Gefner
av. 731.

Motacilla Phoenicurus- Lin-fyft. 186.

ft

fparrow ; but rather paler, and more taper at the
leffer end. This bird is fo remarkably fhy, that it
will forfake its ned if the eggs are only touched.
It has a very fine foft note ; but being a fullen
bird, is with difficulty kept alive in confinement.

SPECIES

IOO

birds.

[Clafs II.

SPECIES V

Robin red-breaft, or Ruddock.

IVih orn . 219.

RailJyn. av. 78. •

^ H I S familiar bird requires no defcrip-
tion. Tho’ it is fo very petulant that
it is at conftant war with its own tribe ;
yet it is remarkably fociable with mankind : in the
winter it frequently makes one of the family; and
takes refuge from the inclemency of the feafon
even by our fire fides. Thompfon * has prettily
defcribed the annual vifits of this gueft. The
great beauty of that celebrated poet confifts in his
elegant and juft defcriptions of the oeconomy of
animals; and the happy ufe f he hath made of
natural knowledge, in descriptive poetry, {bines
thro almoft every page of his Seafons. The af-

* In his feafons vide Winter , line 246. f Vide our Preface.

The Red-breaft.

Briffon av. III. 418.

Rubecula. Gejner av. 7 30.

Motacilla rubecula. Lin. fyft. 188.

fetftion this bird has for mankind, is alfo recorded
in that antient ballad. The babes in the wood ;
a compofition of a moft beautiful and pathetic
fimplicity. It is the firft tryal of our humanity :
the child that refrains from tears on hearing that
read, gives but a bad prefage of the tendernefs of
his future fenfations.

In the fpring this bird retires to breed in the
thickeft covers, or the moft concealed holes of
walls and other buildings. Its fong is remarkably
fine and foft; and the more to be valued, as we
enjoy it the greateft part of the winter, and early
in the fpring.

SPECIES VI.

JVil.orn. 220.

Rail Jyn. av. 78.

BriJJbn av. III. 397.

W~^\ H E nightingale takes its name from
night, and the Saxon word galan to fing;
expreftive of the time of its harmony.
In fize it is equal to the redftart ; but longer bo¬
died, and more elegantly made. The colors are
very plain. The head and back are of a pale

tawny daflied with olive: the tail is of a deep s
tawny red : the throat and breaft from afii-color
incline to green ; the lower belly almoft white ;
the exterior webs of the quil feathers are tawny \
the interior of brownifli afti-color : the irides are
hazel: the legs and feet a deep afti-color.

This bird, the moft famed of the feathered
tribe, for the variety, length and fweetnefs of its

The Nightingale.

Lufcinia. Gefner av. 59 2>

Motacilla lufcinia. Lin. fyft. 184,

notes; vifits Great-Britain the beginning of
April, and leaves us in Auguft. It is a fpecies
that does not fpread itfelf over the ifland. It is
not found in North VTales \ or in any of the
Englifh counties north of it, except Torkjhire ,
where they are met with in great plenty about
DoncaJler. Sibbald places them in his lift of
Scotch birds ; but Mr. Jonfton * denies that they
have the fame harmony as thofe of Italy. Pof-
fibly they may be found in that part of our ifland,
as they vifit Sweden , f a much more inhofpitable
climate. With us they frequent thick hedges,
and low coppices; and generally keep in the mid¬
dle of the bulb, fo that they are very rarely feen.
Mr. TVilloughby informs us that they make their
neft in May, of the leaves of trees, ftraws and

* JonJlpn hift. nat. av. 89, -j- Fauna fuec. 88. mofs j

IOI

Clafs II.] BIRDS.

mofs; and that they feldom ling near their neft,
for fear of difcovering it: he alfo obferves, they
delight in no high trees, except the oak. Pliny
* has defcribed the warbling notes of this bird,
with an elegance that befpeaks an exquifite fen-
fibility of tafte; but tho’ his expreffions deferve

* Lib. io. c. 29.

to be ftudied by every lover of nature, we (hall
forbear to quote what may be found in molt other
writers on this fubjebt. Another reafbn for the
omiflion is, that in fbme of the circumftances he
mentions, he is more to be admired for his viva¬
city than for ftri& philofophical reafoning.

S P E C I E S VII. The Blackcap. Plate S. Fig. 5. The Male-

Wil.orn. 226.

Curruca atricapilla. Briffon av.
III. 380.

Rail fyn. av. 79.

Atricapilla. Gefner av. 371,384,
Motacilla atricapilla. Lin.fyft. 187

rjiHis bird is among the fmalleft of this
tribe, fcarce weighing half an ounce.
The crown of the head in the male is
black : the back and coverts of the wings are of
a greyilh green: the quil feathers and tail dufky,
edged with dull green : the breaft and upper part
of the belly are of a pale afh color : the vent fea¬

thers whitifh: the legs of a lead color. The
female is diftinguifhed from the male by the fpot
on the head, which in that is of a dull ruft-color.
The black-cap is a bird of paflage, leaving us be¬
fore winter. It fings very finely ; and on that ac¬
count is called in Norfolk the mock-nightingale

•f- Calendar of Flora, p. 26.

SPECIES VIII. The Golden crefted Wren. Plate S. Fig. 3.

Wil. orn. 227.
Rail fyn. av. 79.
Edzv. av. 254.

Calendula. Briffon av. III. 579.
Regulus. Gefner av. 727.
Motacilla regulus. Lin.fyft. 188.

^ H I S is the left of the Britijh birds,
weighing only feventy-fix grains. It
may readily be diftinguilhed from all
other birds ; not only by its fize, but by the
beautiful fcarlet mark on the head, bounded on

each fide by a fine yellow line. It frequents
woods, and is found principally in oak trees.
Tho’ fo fmall a bird it indures our winters, for
we have frequently feen it later than Chriftmas.

SPECIES IX. The Willow-wren. Plate S. Fig. 2.

Little yellowilh bird. Wit. orn. 228.
Rail fyn. av. 80.

Edzv. av. 278.

^ H E willow-wren frequents large moift
woods, and places where thofe trees
abound $ from which it takes its name.
Its weight is about two drams. The color of the

Afilus. Brijfon av. III. 479.

Trochilus* Gefner av. 7 2 6.

Motacilla trochilus. Lin.fyft. 188*

whole upper part of the body is a dufky green :
the wings and tail are brown, edged with yellowifh
green : above each eye is a yellowifh ftroke: the
breaft, belly, and thighs vary in their color in

B b different

102

bird

s.

different birds; in fome are of a bright yellow,
in others it fades almoft into white. It builds in
hollows in the fides of ditches, making its nefi: in
the form of an egg ; with a large hole at the
top, as an entrance : the outfide is compofed of

SPECIES

Wil. orn. 229.

Rail fyn. av. 80.

Reguius. Rriffon av. III. 425.

f- T^H E wren may be placed among the
I fined of our fmging birds, tho’ its note
is of no long continuance ; only during
the breeding feafon. It makes its neft in a very
curious manner; of an oval ffiape, very deep,
with a fmall hole in the middle for egrefs and rq-
grefs : the external material is mofs, within it is

[Clafs II.

mofs and hay, the infide lined with foft feathers.
It lays commonly feven white eggs, marked with
numerous fmall ruft-colored fpots. It has a low
plaintive note; and is perpetually creeping up and
down the bodies and boughs of trees.

Paffer troglodytes. Gefner av. 651,
Motacilla troglodytes. Lin-fyft. 188.

lined with hair and feathers. It lays from ten to
- fourteen eggs ; and as often brings up as many
young; which, as Mr. Ray obferves, may be
ranked among thofe daily miracles that we take
no notice of; that it fhould feed fuch a number
without paffing over one, and that too in utter
darknefs.

X. The Wren.

SPECIES XL The Wheat-ear.

Wheat-ear, fallow-imich, white-tail.

IVil orn. 233.

Rail fyn. av. 75.

f H E wheat-ear vifits us about the mid^

die of March ; we have obferved that
the females arrive about a fortnight be¬
fore the male. They frequent warrens, downs,
and the edges of hills, efpecially thofe that are
fenced with ftone walls. They breed in the lat¬
ter, and in old rabbet burroughs: they grow very
fat in autumn, and are efteemed a delicacy. In
Sujfex they are taken by the fhepherds in great

numbers, in fnares made of horfe hair, placed

'■ *

under a long turf; being very timid birds, the
motion of a cloud, or the appearance of a hawk
will drive them for ffielter into thofe traps, and fo

Oenanthe. Gefner ay. 629.
Motacilla oenanthe. Lin. fyfl. 186.
Vitiflora. Briffon av. III. 449.

they are taken. The head and back of the male
are of a light grey tinged with red : over each eye
is a white line; beneath that is a broad black
ftroke, paffing acrofs each eye to the hind part of
the head : the rump and lower half of the tail
are white; the upper half black : the under fide
of the body is white tinged with yellow ; on the
neck it inclines to red: the quil feathers are black
edged with reddiffi brown. The colors of the
female are more dull: it wants that black ftrokq
crofs the eyes, and the bar of white on the tail is
narrower. Thefe birds difappear in September .

SPECIES

£/U_ /o to a x*

Clafs II.]

B

SPECIES

mn. orn. 234.

Rubetra major, five rubicola.
Brijfon av. III. 432. Tab. 24.
Fig. 1. the Male.

I R D S.

XII. The Whin-chat.

Raii fyn. av. 76.

Rubetra. Gefner av. 729.
Motacilla rubetra. Lin. fyft. 186.

^ H ^ H I S is alfo a bird of paftage : but
I we are not certain whether it quits this

ifland, but are rather inclined to think
it only fhifts its quarters. The head and back
are of a pale reddilh brown, regularly fpotted with
black : over each eye is a narrow white ftroke,
beneath that is a broad bed of black, which ex¬
tend from the bill to the hind part of the head :
the breaft is of a reddifh yellow : the belly paler:
the quil feathers are brown, edged with a yellow-

ilh brown : the upper part of the wing is marked
with two white fpots : the lower part of the tail
is white, the two middle feathers excepted, which
are wolly black: the upper part of the others are
of the fame color. The colors of the female are
far lefs agreeable: in lieu of the white and black
marks on the cheeks, is one broad pale brown one :
and the white on the wings is in far lefs quantity
than that of the male.

SPECIES XIII.

Stone-ftnich, ftone-chatter, or moor-
titling. mi. orn. 235.

Raii fyn. av. 7 6 .

H E entire migration of this bird is
alfo doubtful. With us it is common
on gorfy grounds; it is a reftlefs and
noify bird, and perches frequently on fome bulb,
chattering inceffantly. The head, neck, and
throat are black ; but on both (ides the latter is
marked with a white bar, fo that it appears on
firft fight to be encircled with white : the feathers
on the back are black edged with tawny: the
lower part of the back juft above the rump is
white : the end and exterior fide of the two out-

The Stone-chatter.

Rubetra. Brijfon av. III. 428. Tab.
23. Fig. 1. The Male.

moft feathers of the tail are of a pale ruft-color,
the reft are bl&ck i the breaft is oF a, deep reddifti
yellow; the belly of a lighter hue : the quil fea¬
thers are dufky edged with dull red ; thofe next
the body are marked with a white fpot near their
bottoms : the coverts of the wings are adorned
with another. The head of the female is ferru¬
ginous fpotted with black 5 and the colors in ge¬
neral lefs vivid. In both fexes the legs are black $
which alfo is the character of the two preceding
fpecies, as well as that next to be defcribed.

SPECIES XIV. The Coldfinch. Plate S. Fig. 1. The Male.

JVil. orn. 236.

Raii fyn. av. 77.

H E colors of the male are well ex-
preffed in the plate ; but the out-line
is faulty, being much too large. Mr.
Edwards has very elegantly expreffed both fexes.

Edw. av. 30.

Rubetra anglicana .Brijfon av. III.43 <*•

The female differs from the male in thefe particu¬
lars. The head, whole part of the body, and the
coverts of the wings are of a dull brown color :
it wants the white fpot in the forehead ; and

w the

io4

BIRDS.

[Clafs II.

the feathers of the wings, which are black in the
cock are dulky in the hen : the white parts alfo
are lefs, and not fo pure in the latter. This fpe-

cies is not very common in this ifland ; but is
fometimes found in Derbyfhire, Shropjhire, and

Flint {hire,

SPECIES XV. The White-throat, Plate S. Fig. 4.

IVil orn. 236.

Rail fyn. av, 77.

T HIS frequents our gardens in the
fummer time ; in the winter it leaves
us. It builds in low bulhes near the
ground, making its neft externally of the tender
(talks of herbs and dry ftraw ; the middle part
of fine bents and foft grafs, the infide of hair.
It lays five eggs of a whitilh green color, fpnnk-
led with black fpots*. The head of this bird is

Parus einereus. Brijfon av. Ill- 549,
Motacilla fylvia ? Lin. fyft , 185.

of a brownilh alh-color, the throat white: the
bread and belly white tinged with red ; (in the
female wholly white:) the back, and coverts of
the wings ferruginous : the quil feathers dulky,
edged with reddilh brown; the tail the fame ;
except the upper part of the interior fide and
whole exterior fide of the outmoft feather, which
are white : the legs are of a yellowilh brown.

V V. i *

* WiL orn .

SPECIES XVI. The White Water-wagtail.

fVil orn. 237.

Rail fyn. av. 75 *

Brijfon av. III. 4 * 51 «

¥

f —B—HIS bird frequents the fides of ponds,
I and fmall dreams; and feeds on in-

.1_ f e as and worms, as do all the red of

this genus. Mr. Willoughby judly obferves, that
this fpecies Ihifts its quarters in the winter;
moving from the north to the fouth of England,
during that feafon. In fpring and autumn, it is
a condant attendant of the plough, for the fake
of the worms thrown up by that indrument.
The head, back, and upper and lower fide of the

Motacilla alba. Gefner av. 618,

M- alba. Lin. fyft. 187.

neck as far as the bread, are black : in fome the
chin is white, and the throat marked with a
black crelcent: the bread and belly are white :
the quil feathers are dulky: the coverts black
tipt and edged with white. The tail is very
long, and always in motion. The exterior fea¬
ther on each fide is white: the lower part of the
inner web excepted, which is dulky; the others
black : the bill, infide of the mouth, and the
legs, are black. The back claw very long.

Clafs II.]

birds.

SPECIES XVII. The Yellow Water-wagtail

JVil. orn. 238.

Rail Jyn. av. 75,

Edw. av. 258, The male.

Mp H E male is a bird of great beauty i
i the bread:, belly, thighs, and vent fea-

thers, being of a mod: vivid and lovely
yellow : the throat is marked with fome larc/e
black fpots : above the eye is a bright yellow
line ; beneath that, from the bill crofs the eye
is another of a dulky hue ; and beneath the eye
is a third of the fame color: the head, and whole
upper part of the body, is of an olive green,which
brightens in the coverts of the tail: the quil fea-

Motacilla verna. Brijfon av. III. 468s
Motacilla flava. Gejner av. 618.
Motacilla flava. Lin. fyfl. 185.

thers are dulky: the coverts of the wings olive
colored, but the lower row is dulky tipt with yel-
lowilh white : the outmoft feather of the tail
white j the others black, as in the former. The
colors of the female are far more obfcure than
thole of the male : it wants alfo thofe black fpots
on the throat. It makes its neft on the ground,
in corn fields : the outfide is compofed of de¬
cayed Hems of plants, and fmall fibrous roots;
the infide is lined with hair: it lays five eggs.

SPECIES XVIII.

JVil. orn. 238.

Rail fyn. av. 75.

Edw. av. 259. The male.

THE top of the head, upper part of
the neck, and the back of this fpecies
- 3 - are alh-colored ; flightly edged with
yellowilh green: the fpace round each eye is
alh-colored : beneath and above which is a line
of white : in the male, the chin and throat are
black : the feathers incumbent on the tail are
yellow: the tail is longer, in proportion to its

The Grey Water-wagtail.

Motacila flava. Brijfon av. III. 471.
Tab. 23. Fig. 3. The male.

, f I

fize, than that of the other kinds: the two ex¬
terior feathers are white , the reft black : the
bread, and whole under fide of the body are
yellow : the quil feathers are dulky j thofe next
the back edged with yellow. The colors of the
female are ufually more obfcure ; and the black
fpot on the throat is wanting in that fex.

GENUS XXL Grofbeaks.

SPECIES I. The Grofbeak. Plate U. Fig. 1. The male.

Grolbeak,orHawfinch. JVil. orn. 244.
Rail fyn. av. 85.

Charlton ex. 91.

Edzv. av. 188. The male.

H E bird we have figured was Ihot in
Shropjhire : they vifit us only in hard
winters, and are not regularly migrant.
They feed on berries j and even on the kernels of

Coccothrauftes. Gefner av. 276.
Brijfon av. III. 219.

Loxia coccothrauftes. Lin.fyft. 171.

the ftrono-eft ftones, fuch as thofe of cherries and

tD J

almonds, which they crack with the greateft fa¬
cility : their bills are well adapted to that work,
being remarkably thick and ftrong. Mr. JVil-

C c loughby

io 6

BIRDS.

[Clafs II.

loughby tells us, they are common in Germany and
Italy ; that in the fummef they live in woods, and
breed in hollow trees, laying five or fix eggs ;
but in the winter they come down into the plains.

The hawfinch weighs near two ounces : its
length is feven inches ; the breadth thirteen : the
bill and legs are of a flefh color. The great par¬
ticularity of this bird, and what diftinguifhes it

from all others, is the form of the ends of the
middle quit feathers ; which Mr. Edward ’ s juftly
compares to the figure of fome of the antient
battle-axes: thefe feathers are gloffed over with
a rich blue; but are lefs confpicuous in the female:
the head in that fex is of dull olive tinged with
brown 5 it 3.I10 w&nts the bl&ck. fpot under the

chin.

SPECIES II. The Crofsbill. Plate U. Fig. 2. The male.

Shell-apple, or crofs-bill. Wit.

orn. 248.

Rail fyn. av. 86.

Charlton ex. 77.

T here are two varieties of this bird :

Mr. Edwards has very accurately figu¬
red the lefter kind, which we have ieen
frequently: the other is very rare. We received
a male and female out of Shropfhire , which were
fuperior in fize to the former, the bill remarkably
thick and fhort, more encurvated than that of the
common kind, and the ends more blunt, Thefe
birds, like the former, are inconftant vifitants or
this ifland : in Germany and Switzerland % they
inhabite the pine forefts, and breed in thofe trees
fo early as the months of January and February.
They feed on the feeds of the cones of pines and

* Ge/ner 59. Kramer Eknch. 365.

Edzv. av. 303.

Loxia, Gefner av. 591.

Brijfon av. III. 329. Tab. 17. Fig . 3.
Loxia curviroftra, Lin. fyft . 171.

firs ; and are very dexterous in fealing them, for
which purpofe the crofs ftrudrure of the lower
mandible of their bill is admirably adapted : they
feed alfo on hemp feed, and the pips or kernels
of apples, and are faid to divide an apple with
one ftroke of the bill to get at the contents. It
is an undoubted fa St that thefe birds change their
colors ; or rather the fhades of their colors: that
is, the males which are red, vary at certain feafons
to deep red, to orange, or to a fort of a yellow :
the females which are green, alter to different
varieties of the fame color.

SPECIES III. The Bulfinch. Plate U. Fig. 3. The male.

Bulfinch, alp, or nope. Wit. orn. 247.
Rail fyn. av. 86.

Brijfon av. III. 308,

T H E wild note of this bird is not in the
left mufical; but when tame becomes
remarkably docil, and may be taught
any tune after a pipe ; or to whiffle any notes in

Fig. 4. The female,

Rubicilla, five pyrrhula. Gefner
av. 733.

Loxia pyrrhula. Lin. fyft. 171.

* - »

the jufteft manner: it feldom forgets what it has
learned. A gentleman in Lancajhire , had one
that could whiffle feveral tunes ; and was fo well
difeiplined, that it would come at call, perch on its

mafter’s

th

lie

fen

Tb

U

Pall

by the

d

n

low

the

the

littl

H

lea

BIRD

107

»

Clafs II.]

mafter’s fhoulders, and at command go thro’ a
various and difficult leflon. It is alfo faid they
may be taught to fpeak.

The male is diftinguiffied from the female by
the ffiperior blacknefs of its crown, and by the
rich crimfon that adorns the bread:: that of the
female being of dirty buff color. In the fpring

S.

thefe birds frequent our gardens, and are very de-
ftru&ive to our fruit trees, by eating the tender
buds. They breed about the latter end of May,
or beginning of June , and are feldom feen at
that time near houfes, as they chufe fome very re¬
tired place to breed in. Thefe birds are fome*
times wholly black.

SPECIES IV.

The houfe-lparrow. WiL orn . 249*
Raii fyn. av. 86.

Paffer* Gefner av. 643-

H E fparrow is fo well known, as to
make any defcription needlefs : we lhall
only fay, that the male is diftinguiffied
from the female by a black fpot under the chin ;
by the crown of the head, and the cheeks being
affi-colored, and by the fuperior brightnefs of the
feathers on the back. Sparrows are proverbially
falacious : they breed early in the fpring, make

The Sparrow.

Briffon av. III. 72.

Fringilla domeftica. Lin. JyJl. 183.

their nefts under the eaves of houfes, in holes of
walls, and very often in the nefts of the martin,
after expelling the owner. Linnaeus tells us,
that this infult does not pafs unrevenged $ the
injured martin affembles its companions, and by
their affiftance plaifter up the entrance with dirt 5
then fly away twittering * for very joy, and leave
the invader to periffi miferably.

* A volant ovantes. Vide Faun, fuec. 99. 2d. Edition.

SPECIES V. The Greenfinch. Plate U. Fig. 5.

Wit orn. 246.

Raii fyn. av. 85.

Chloris. Gefner av. 258.

T H E head and back of this bird are of
a yellowifti green ; the edges of the
feathers are grey ; the rump more yel¬
low : the breaft is yellow; the lower belly white :
the edges of the outmoft quil feathers are yellow,
the next green, the fartheft grey : the tail is a
little forked 1 the two middle feathers are wholly
dulky: the exterior webs of the four outmoft
feathers on both fides the tail are yellow. Thefe

Briffon av. m. 190.

Loxia chloris. Lin. fyft. 174.

birds are very common in this ifland : they make
their neft in hedges; the outfide is compofed
of hay or ftubble, the middle part of mofs, the
infide of feathers, wool, and hair. They lay
five or fix eggs of a pale green color, marked with
blood colored fpots. Their native note has no¬
thing mufical in it; but a late writer on finging
birds fays, they may be taught to pipe or whiftle
in imitation of other birds.

SPECIES

io8

BIRD

S.

[Clafs II.

G EN U S XXII. FINCHES,

SPECIES l. The

Gold-finch, or thiftle-finch. Wit.

orn. 256.

Raii Jyn. av. 89.

HIS is the moft beautiful of our fmall
birds ; but fo common as to make any
defcription of it impertinent. The fea¬
thers on the ridge of the wings in the male are
of the deepeft black, thofe of the female are of
a deep afh-color. Their note is very fweet, and
they are much efteemed on that account, as well

. Plate V. Fig i.

Carduelis. Gefner av. 242.

Brijfon av. HI. 53 -

Frmgilla carduelis. Lin. fyft. 180.

as for their great docility. Towards winter they
affemble in flocks, and feed on feeds of different
kinds, particularly thofe of the thiftle. Its neft
is very elegantly formed of fine mofs, liverworts,
and bents on the outfide ; lined with down, wool
and hair. It lays five white eggs, marked with
deep purple fpots on the upper end.

SPECIES II. The Chaffinch. Plate V. Fig. 2. The male.

3. The female.

JVil. orn. 253. '

Rail Jyn. av. 88.

Fringilla. Gefner av. 337.

^ HIS fpecies entertains us agreeably
with its fong very early in the year ;
- but towards the latter end of fummer
afliimes a chirping note : both fexes continue
with us the whole year. What is very fingular
in Sweden , the females quit that country in Sep¬
tember ^ migrating in flocks into Holland , leaving

Brijfon av. 148.

Fringilla coelebs. Lin. fyft. 179.
Faun. fuec. N°. 232.

their mates behind : in the fpring they return *,
their neft is almoft as elegantly conftrudled as that
of the goldfinch, and of much the fame materials,
only the infide has the addition of fome large fea¬
thers. They lay four or five eggs, of dull white;
color, tinged and fpotted with deep purple.

* Amcen. acad. IL 42. IV. 595.

'■ .

•.V.

M

* * - * . f

SPECIES III. The

Bramble,or brambling. tVd.orn. 254.
Mountain-finch. Raii jyn. av. 88.
Montifringilla montana. Gefner av,
388 ?

Brambling. Plate V. Fig. 4.

Brijfon av. in. 155.

F ringilla montifringilla. Lin. fyft. 179,
Faun. fuec. N°. 233.

\ H I S bird is not very common in thefe

1 v « j

iflands ; and is chiefly found in the
hilly parts. It is fuperior in fize to the
chaffinch : the top of the head is of a gloffy black

flightly edged with a yellowifh brown : the fea¬
thers of the back are of the fame colors, but the
edges more deeply bordered with brown: the
chin, throat and breaft are of an orano-e color ;

Cfiafii : jC,:

c/’<n-

. Wit/;;.-, ,'.vf/

ft fie-rdt-WW

Clafs It]

BIRDS.

the quil feathers are dulky; but their exterior
fides edged with yellow ; the feathers immediately
incumbent on them are of a deep black, tipt with
orange : the tail is a little forked : the exterior

web of the outmoft feather is white, the others
black, except the two middle, which are edged
and tipt with alh-color.

SPECIES IV,

TVil orn. 252.

Raii fyih av. 87.

Edw. av. 269.

H E crown and hind part of the head
is of a rally red. The throat is marked
with a large black fpot: beneath each
ear is another. The fpace beneath the eyes, and
the whole under fide of the body are white ;
the hind part of the neck is encircled with white :
the borders of the feathers of the back are ferru¬
ginous, their middle black : the covert feathers
of the wings are ferruginous edged with white 5
the row beneath them are marked in the fame
manner : the tail is dulky edged with a brownilh

SPECIES

TVil. orn. 261.

Raii Jyn. av. 91.

Briffon av. III. 65.

If ~T~ E are unacquainted with this bird ;
% / %/ therefore mull abridge Mr. JVil-
* * loughby's account of it. The head

is black: the neck and back are green ; but the
fhafts on the latter are black : the rump is of a
greenilh yellow : the throat and breall the fame :
the belly white: the vent feathers yellowilh, mark¬
ed with oblong dulky fpots in their middle : the
pinion quil is dulky edged with green : the out¬
ward webs of the nine next quil feathers are
green j the green part is widened by degrees in

The Mountain Sparrow.

PafTerinus. Gejner av. 656.

Palter montanus. Brijftm av. III. 79.
Fringilla montana. Lin. fy ft. 183.

alh-color : the bill is black ; the lees flelh-
colored.

We are obliged to Mr. Edwards for this de-
fcription, who firft difcovered them to be natives
of Torkfhire. A bird, which he fuppofes to be
the female, agreed in moll particulars with the
male, but wants the black fpot on the throat and
beneath the ears; and the edges of the tail fea¬
thers are of a lighter hue.

cD

V. The Siskin.

Acanthis, Ipinus, ligurinus. Gefner
av. 1.

Fringilla fpinus. Lin. ftyft. 181.

every feather, till in the laft it takes up half the
length : from the tenth almoll the lower half of
each feather is yellow, the upper black : the ex¬
terior coverts of the wings are black : the two
middle feathers of the tail are black ; the reft
above half way are of a molt lovely yellow,
with black tips. The colors of the female are
paler : her throat and fides are white fpotted with
brown : the head and back are of a greenilh alh-
color, marked alfo with brown.

D d

Mr.

no

BIRDS.

Clais II.

Mr. Willoughby tells us, that this is a fong
bird : that in Sujfex it is called the barly-bird ,
becaufe it comes to them in barly feed time. We
are informed that it vifits thefe iflands at very
uncertain times, like the grofbeak, See. It is
frequently to be met with in the bird (hops in

London ; and is known there by the name of
the Aberdavine . Dr. Kramer * informs us, that
this bird conceals its neft with art j tho’ there
are infinite numbers of young birds in the woods,
on the banks of the Danube , that feem juft to
have taken flight, yet no one could difeover it.

* Kramer Elench. 366.

SPECIES VI. The Linnet.

JVil. orn. 258.
Rail Jyn. av, 90.

Rriffon av . III. 131.
Linaria. Gefner av. 590 ?

d E feathers on the head of this fpe-
cies, are black edged with afi-color;
thofe of the back, black bordered with
reddifh brown : the bottom of the throat is of
a fine red : the bread: white: the vent feathers
yellowifti: the quil feathers are black; their
exterior edges whitifh, the interior ferruginous :
the tail is a little forked, of a brown color,

edged with white ; the two middle feathers ex-

O 7

cepted, which are bordered with dull red.

/

Thefe birds are much efteemed for their long :
they feed on feeds of different kinds, which
they pil before they eat : the feed of the
Linum or flax is their favorite food ; from
whence the name of the Linnet tribe.

SPECIES VII. The

JVil. orn. 260.

Rail fyn. av. 91.

Briffon av. III. 135.

greater red-headed Linnet.

Linaria rubra. Gefner av. 591.
Fringilla cannabina. Lin. fyfi. 182.

HIS bird is lefs than the former:
on the crown of the head is a blood-
colored fpot : the breaft is tinged with
the fame : the head and neck are of a brownifh
alh-color : the back, fcapular feathers, and co¬
verts of the wings are of a reddifh brown :
the firft quil feather is entirely black ; the
exterior edges of the eight following are white,

which forms a bar of that color on the wing,
even when clofed. The tail, like that of the
former, is forked, of a deep brown color edged
with a dirty white. The female wants the red
mark on the head and breaft ; the back is lefs
red, and the breaft is of a dirty yellow, ftreaked
with dufky lines. Thefe birds are frequently on
our fea coafts.

SPECIE S

Clafs II.]

SPECIES VIII.

mi . orn. 260.

Rail Jyn. av. 91*

Fringilla linaria. Lin. fyft. 182.

birds.

The leffer red-headed Linnet.

hi

Linaria rubra minor. Briffon av,
HI* 138*

T H I S is the left of the linnets. Its
forehead is ornamented with a rich
fhining fpot, of a purplilh red * the
breaffc is of the fame color, but not fo bright:
the belly is white : the quil feathers and thole

of the tail are dulky, bordered with dirty white.
T he fpot on the forehead of the female is of a
fL ron color. Thele birds fly in flocks, and
are alfo found on our fea coafts.

SPECIES IX.

TVil. orn. 261.

Raii fyn. av. 91 *

Linaria montana, Linaria minima.

H 1 s is an inhabitant of the hilly
parts of our country, as Mr. WiU
loughby informs us; for it has not
been our fortune to meet with it. He fays it
is twice the fize of the laft fpecies: that the
color of the head and back is the fame with
that of the common linnet : that the feathers
on the throat and breaft are black edged with

The Mountain Linnet.

Briffon av. III. 142, 145.
Linaria fera faxatilis. Klein, hill. av.
93 *

w hite: the rump is of a rich fcarlet or orange
tawny-color. The edges of the middle quil
feathers are white, as are the tips of thofe of the
fecond row : the two middle feathers of the
tail are of a uniform dufky-color ; the others
edged with white. We believe this bird to be
the fame with that which is called the Twite.

GENUS XXIII. BUNTINGS.
SPECIES I. The Bunting. Plate W. Fig. 7.

Wil. orn. 267.

Raii fyn, av. 93.

Cyncbramus. Briffon av. III. 292.
Emberiza alba. Gefner av. 6 54 -

H E bill of this bird, and the other
fpecies of this genus, is Angularly
conftru£ted; the Ades of the upper
mandible or a fharp angle, bending inwards
towards the lower; and in the roof of the
former is a hard knob, adapted to bruife corn
or other hard feeds. The throat, breaft and
belly are of a yellowilh white : the head and

Emberiza Calandra. Lin. fyft. 176.
Korn Larkor. Lin. it. /can. 292.
Tah. 4.

upper part of the body of a pale brown ; each
marked with oblong black fpots ; towards the
rump the fpots grow fainter. The quil feathers
are dulky, their exterior edges of a pale yellow.
The tail is a little forked, of a dulky hue, tinged
with red : the legs are of a pale yellow. This
we believe to be a bird of paflage; at left in
A 7 ’ orth-wales, it appears only in the fummer.

SPECIES

I 12

B

I

R D S.

[Clafs II.

SPECIES II.

JVil. orn. 268.

Rail fyn. av. 93.

Briffon av. 258.

f m HIS being the commoneft of our
fmall birds, merits not defcription. It
makes a large flat neft on the ground,
near or under a bufti or hedge ; the materials

The Yellow-hammer.

Emberiza flava. Gefner av. 653.
Emberiza citrinella. Lin. fyft. 177.

are mofs, dried roots and horfe hair interwoven.
It lays fix eggs of a white color, veined with a
dark purple.

SPECIES III. The Reed Sparrow. Plate W.
Fig. 1. The female. Fig. 2. The male.

mi . orn. 269.

Rail fyn. av. 93 -
The nettle-monger. Morton
Northampt . 428.

H E reed fparrow inhabites marfhy
places ; moll commonly among reeds ;
from which it takes its name. It
forms a neft of decayed rufhes, fine bents and
hairs; and lays four or five eggs, of a dirty
white, marked with irregular purplifh veins,
efpecially on the larger end. It is a bird much
admired for its long.

In the male, the head, chin and throat are
black ; at each corner of the mouth cqmmen,
ces a white ring, which encircles the head. The

Hortulanus arundinaceus. Briffon
av. III. 274.

Schoeniclus. Gefner av. 573, 652.
Fringilla fchceniclus. Lin.fyfl. 182.

whole under fide of the body is white. The
back, coverts of the wings, and the fcapular
feathers are black, deeply bordered with red.
The two middle feathers of the tail are of the
fame colors; the three next black. The ex¬
terior web, and part of the interior of the out^
moft feather is white. The head of the female
is ruft-colored, fpotted with black ; it wants the
white ring round the neck; but in moft other re-
fjpe<fts refefnbles the male.

SPECIES IV. The greater Brambling. Plate X. Fig. 6 .

Great pied mountain finch, or
brambling. JVil. orn. 255.

Rail fyn. av. 88.

Hortulanus nivalis, Briffon av. III.

285.

H E figure reprefents this bird of its
natural fize, and of the colors it a ft
fumes when in its proper plumage.
Sometimes in this, but always in the Ar&ic coun*

Snow-bird. Edzu. av. 126.

Avis ignota a Piperino miffa. Gefner
av. 798.

Emberiza nivalis, Lin. fyft. 176.
Faun, fuec. N°. 227,

tries; the whole bird, except the back, ends of
the quil feathers, and the four middle feathers
of the tail, is white : thofe parts being with us
partly tawny, partly black; in the northern

regions

Clafs II.] B I

regions generally black or dulky* In England
they are miftaken for white larks, as they have a
long back claw, like the lark kind. Thefe birds
inhabite all the northern parts of the world, even
as far as the rigorous climate of Greenland and
Spitzbergen ; where very few land fowl are found*

R D S. 113

In fevere winters, they are forced by the cold into
this country; but we do not find that they breed
here : we feldom fee them wholly white 5 but
Linnaeus tells us that in Lapland, See. in the
winter, they affume the color of the fnow, from
whence their name.

■■ ■ .— . . 1 "" ||1 . . . — .... 1 . M ■ ■

SPECIES V. The leffer Brambling.

Lefler mountain-finch,or brambling.

Wil. orn. 2 55 *

E are obliged to borrow the fol-
lowing defeription from the ac-
count of Mr. Johnfon tranfmitted
to Mr* Ray ; having never feen the bird. Mr.
Ray fufpe&ed that it was only a variety of the
former, but Mr. Morton , having frequent oppor¬
tunity of examining this fpecies, proves it to be a

diftinft kind.

According to Mr. Johnfon, its bill is fhort,
thick and ftrong 5 black at the point, the reft
yellow. The forehead is of a dark cheftnut j
the hind part of the head and cheeks of a lighter;

Morton Northampt. 423# Tab. 13.

Fig* 3-

the hind part of the neck, and the back are afh-
colored ; the latter more fpotted with black \ the
throat is white: the breaft and belly waved with
flame color ; at the fetting on of the wing grey ;
the five firft feathers are of a blackiih brown, the
reft white with the point of each dafli’d with
brown : the three outmoft feathers of the tail are
white ; the reft dark brown j the feet black $ the
hind claw as low again as any of the reft. The
breaft of the female is of a darker color than that
of the male. This fpecies, by the above-men¬
tioned writers account, is found in Torkjhire and
NorthamptonfJjire.

GENUS XXIV. TITMICE.

SPECIES I. The green Titmoufe. Plate W. Fig. 4.

Great titmoufe, or ox-eye. Wil. orn.

240.

Rail fyn . av. 7 3.

Lin.fyft. 189.

T HIS fpecies fometimes vifits our gar¬
dens j but chiefly inhabites woods,
where it builds in hollow trees, laying
about ten eggs. This, and the whole tribe feed
on infe&s, which they find in the bark of trees;
in the fpring they do a great deal of mifchief in
the fruit garden, by picking off the tender buds.

Parus major. Gefner av. 640.

Parus major, feu Fringillago. Briffon
av. V. 539.

Like wood-peckers they are perpetually running
up and down the bodies of trees in queft of food.
The head and throat of this fpecies are blackj the
cheeks white ; the back, and coverts of the wings
green ; the belly of a yellowilh green, divided
in the middle by a bed of black, which extends
to the vent; the rump is of a bluifli grey

Ee SPECIES

BIRDS.

[Glafs II

SPECIES II. The blue Titmoufe. Plate W. Fig. 5.

Blue titmoufe,or nun, JVil. orn, 242, Parus coeruleus. Gefner av. 641,
Raii fyn. av. 74, Lin. fyjt. 190,

Brijfon av. III. 544.

T HIS beautiful bird is fo well known, holes of walls ; and lays about twelve or fourteen

as to make any defcription needlefs. eggs. The f ema l e is of the fame color as the

It frequents our gardens, in which it male ; only they are lefs bright, particularly the

does great injury to our fruit trees, It breeds in blue on the head.

SPECIES III. The Colemoufe.

JVil orn. 241.

Raii fyn. av. 73 -

Par us ater. Gefner av. 641.

T H E head of the cole^moufe is black,
marked on the hind part with a white
fpot; the back is of a greenilh grey;
the rump more green; the tail and wings dufky;
the exterior fides of the quil feathers edged with

Parus atricapillus, Brijfon av. Ill,

55 1 -

Lin. fyft. 190.

green ; the coverts of the wings are of a dulky
green; the loweft tipt with white. For a farther
account we beg leave to refer to the next defcrip^
tion.

SPECIES IV, The Marfh Titmoufe. Plate W. Fig. 3.

Marfh titmoufe, or black-cap, JVil,
orn.

Raii fyn. av. 73.

HIS fpecies is called by Gefner the
marfh tit-moufe; becaufe it frequents
wet places. With us they inhabite
woods, with the laft kind ; and feldom infeft our
gardens,

Mr. Willoughby obferves that this bird differs
from the former in thefe particulars, ift, that it
is bigger: 2d, that it wants the white fpot on the
head: 3d, it has a larger tail: 4th, its under

Brijfon av. MI. 555 -

Parus paluftris. Gefner av. 641.

Lin. fyft. 190.

fide is white : 5th, it has lefs black under the
chin : 6th, it wants the white fpot on the coverts
of the wings. This laft diftin&ion does not hold
in general, as the fubje£fc we have figured, had
thofe fpots ; yet wanted that on the hind part of
the head. So notwithftanding thefe differences,
we fufpe£t this to be only a variety of the former,
or another fex,‘

SPECIES

Clafs II.]] B I R D S. ii“

SPECIES V. The Long-tailed Titmoufe. Plate W. Fig. 6 .

Wil. orn. 242.

Raii fyn. av. 74.

Parus caudatus. Gefner av. 642.

HIS fpecies is figured of its juft fize.
It has great affinity to the butcher-bird,
the bill being more convex than that
of the tit-moufe kind; the bafe is befet with
fhort hairs: the tail is compofed of feathers of
unequal lengths : the legs are black. We ffiall

not detain the reader with a farther defcription,
as the colors are faithfully given in the plate.

It makes its neft with admirable fkill and ele-

Parus longicaudus. Brijjon av. III.
. 57 *-

Lin. fyfi. 190.

gance; of an oval fhape, and about eight inches
deep; near the upper end is a hole for admiffion:

the external materials are modes and lichens, cu-
rioufly interwoven; within it is lined very warmly
with a thick bed of feathers : it lays about ten
eggs. The young follow the parents the whole
winter; and from the flimnefs of their bodies, and
great length of tail, appear while flying like fo
many darts cutting the air.

[ n6 ]

\ ■ 1 ' ■

Div. II. WATER FOWLS.

SECTION L

II.

S E C T I
genus I.

SPECIES I. The

Common heron, or heronlhaw.

Wil. orn. 277.

Rail fyn. av. 98. ^

Ardea cinerea. Lin. Jyfi • 1 44 *

T H I S bird is remarkably light in pro¬
portion to its bulk, lcarce weighing
three pounds and a half: the length is
three feet two inches ; the breadth five feet four
inches. The body is very fmall, and always lean;
and the Ikin fcarce thicker than what is called
gold-beater’s (kin. It muft be capable of bearing
a long abftinence, as its food, which is fifti and
frogs, cannot be readily got at all times. It com¬
mits great devaluation in our ponds; out being
unprovided with webs to fwim, nature has iur-
nilhed it with very long legs to wade alter its
prey. It perches and builds in trees, and fome-
times in high cliffs over the fea. It was formerly

With Cloven Feet.

With Webbed Feet. j;

♦

ONI.

HERONS.

HERON. Plate 8.

Ardea criftata. Brijfon av. V. 396.

! Tab . 35 .

Ardea Pella, five cinerea. Gejner
av. 211 .

in this country a bird of game, heron-hawking
being fo favorite a diverfion of our anceftors, that
laws were enabled for the prefervation of the
fpecies, and the perfon who deftroyed their eggs
was liable to a penalty of twenty {hillings, for
each offence. Not to know the Hawk from the
Heronjhaw was an old proverb, * taken originally
from this diverfion ; but in courfe of time' ferved
to exprefs great ignorance in any fcience. This
bird was formerly much efteemed as a food; and
made a favorite dilh at great tables. It is laid to
be very long lived ; by Mr. Keyfler's account it
may exceed fixty years. **

* Afterwards this proverb was abfurdly corrupted to. He does not
know a Hawk from a Hand-Jaw.

** Keyjlers travels. Vol. 1. p. 70.

SPECIES

BIRDS.

Clafs II.]

1J 7

S P E C I E S II. The Bittern. Plate a. i.

Bittour, bittern, or mire-drum.
fVil. orn. 282.

Botaurus. Brijfon av. V. 444.
Tab. 37.

Rail Jyn. av. 100.

Ardea itellaris, Lin. JyJt. \ 44.
Gefner av. 215.

^HE bittern is a very retired bird, con¬
cealing itfelf in the midft of reeds and

rufhes in marfliy places. It is with
great difficulty provoked to flight, and when on
wing has fo dull and flagging a pace, as to acquire
among the Greeks the title of o/j& or the lazy.
It has two kinds of notes; the one croaking,
when it is difturbed : the other bellowing, which
it commences in the fpring and ends in autumn.
Mr. Willoughby fays that in the latter feafon it
foars into the air with a fpiral afcent to a great
height, making at the fame time a lingular noife.
It builds its neft with the leaves of water plants
on lome dry clump among the reeds, and lays five
or fix eggs, of a cinereous green color. The

food of the bittern is chiefly frogs; its flelh has
much the flavour of the hare; and nothing of
the filhinefs of that of the heron. The edges of
the bill is jagged ; the inner fide of the middle
claw finely ferrated to hold its prey the better ;
its hind claw is remarkably long, and being a
fuppofed prefervative for the teeth, is fometimes
fet in filver and ufed as a tooth pick. Befides
this common fpecies, Mr. Edwards mentions a
fmall one of the fize of a lapwing, fliot near
Shrewfbury. He adds no more than that the
crown of the head was black : as this anfwers the
Description of a kind frequent in Switzerland and
Auftria f, we imagine it to be a ftrayed bird
from thofe parts.

* Kramer Elench. arum . Aujiria, 348.

SPECIES III.

Wi 1 . orn. 279.

Raii fyn. av. 99.

Ardea Candida. Brijfon av. V. 428.

HIS bird has not fell within our ob-
fervation $ therefore we mu ft give Mr.
Willoughby's account of it. The length
to the end of the feet is fifty-three inches and a
half, to that of the tail only forty 5 the breadth
fixty inches 5 the weight forty ounces.

The bill is yellowifh 5 the naked fkin between
that and the eyes green ; the edges of the eye¬
lids, and the irides are of a pale yellow; the legs

The great white Heron.

Ardea alba. Lin. Jyft. 144.

Gefner av. 213.

are black ; the inner edge of the middle claw fer-
rated : the whole plumage is of a fnowy white-
nefs. This bird is very common in many parts of
Europe y but we believe very rarely found with
us, any more than the fmall fpecies of crefted
white heron mentioned by Leland , under the
name of Egritte , in one of the bills of fare in the
magnificent feaft of our anceftors *.

* Leland’s collettanea vol- 6. L’Aigrette. Brijfon av. V. 431.

Ff SPECIES

BIRDS. [Clafsli

SPECIES IV. The Crane.

JVtl. or 11. 274.

Rail fyn. av. 95 -

BriJJon av, V. 374. Tab. 33.

T HIS fpecies we place among the Britiflj
birds, on the authority of Mr. Ray ;
who informs us that in his time they
were found during the winter in large flocks in
Lincolnshire and Cambridgefhire i at prefent the
inhabitants of thofe counties feem unacquainted
with them. They were formerly in high efteem
at our tables, for the delicacy of their flefh \ for
they feed only on grain, herbs, or infers $ fo
have nothing of the ranknels of the pifcivorqus
birds of this genus.

Its weight is about ten pounds } the length fix
feet; the bill of a darkilh green, four inches long j
the top of the head covered with black briftles j
the back of the head bald and red, beneath which
is an afti-colored fpot : from the eyes the whole

Ardea grus. Lin, fyft. 141.

Grus, Gefner av, 528.

length of the neck on each fide is a broad white
line : the fore part as far as the breaft is black ;
the quil feathers are black ; the tail afti-colored
tipt with black : all the reft of the plumage is
afti-colored. No author except Gefner takes no¬
tice of a large tuft of feathers that fpring out of
one pinion on each wing: thefe are unwebbed
and finely curled at the ends, which the birds have
power to ere.bb or deprefs; when deprefled they
hang over and cover the tail. Tho this fpeciea
very rarely frequents thele lflands at preient, yet
it was formerly a native, as we find in Willoughby ,
p. 52. that there was a penalty of twenty-pence
for deftroying an egg of this bird ; and Turner J
relates that he has very often feen their young in
our marlhes.

t JpudGefnerum. 530.

GENUS II, CURLEWS.

SPECIES I.

JVil orn - 294,

Raii Jyn 9 av. 103*

Numenius. Brijfon av. V* 51 i f

—H E S E birds frequent our fea coafts
and marlhes, in the winter time, in
L large flocks, walking on the open fands \
feeding on ihells, frogs, crabs, and other marine
infe&s: in fummer they retire to the mountanous
and unfrequented parts of the country, where
they pair and breed. Their flelh is very rank
and filhy, notwithftanding an old englilh proverb

in its favour.

The Curlew.

Scolopax arquata, Lin. fyft. 145.
Arquata, five numenius. Gefner
av. 221.

Curlews differ much in weight and fize; fome
weighing thirty-leven ounces, others not twenty-
two : the length of the largeft to the tip of the
tail twenty-three inches ; the breadth three feet
three inches j the bill is fix inches long : the head,
neck, and coverts of the wings are of a pale
brown } the middle of each feather black j the
breaft and belly white, marked with narrow oblong
black lines : the back is white, fpotted with a

few

Clafs IL] B I R

few black ftrokes : the quil feathers are black,
but the inner webs fpotted with white : the tail
white, tinged with red and beautifully barred
with black; the legs are long, ftrong, and of a

D S, 119

bluifh grey color : the bottoms of the toes flat
and broad, to enable it to walk on the fbft mud,,
in fearch of food.

SPECIES II

JVil. orn. 294.

Rail fyn. av. 103 .

Edzo. av. 307 .

Scolopax Phieopus. Lin. fyft. 146.

T H E whimbrel is much lefs frequent on
our fhores than the curlew; but its
haunts, food, and general appearance
fs much the fame : the fpecific difference is the
iize $ this never exceeding the weight of twelve
ounces; the marks in both agree perfectly, except

GENUS III.
SPECIES I.

WtL orn. 289.

Raii fyn. av. 104*

Rrijjbn av. V. 292,

T HESE birds during fummef are in¬
habitants of the Alps , * of Norway,
Sweden f and the northern parts of
Europe : they all retire from thofe countries the
beginning of winter, ns foon as the frefts com¬
mence ; which force them into milder climates,
where the ground is open, and adapted 1.0 theii
tnanner of feeding. They live On worms, which
they fearch for with their long bills in foft ground
and moift woods. Woodcocks generally arrive
here in flocks, taking advantage of the night, or
a mi ft : they foon feparate ; but before they re¬
turn to their native haunts, pair. They feed and
fly by night; beginning their flight in the even-

* Wil om. 290. -f M. de Geer's and Dottor Wallcrius's letters to ons
of the editors.

The Whimbrel,

Numenius minor. Briffon av. V.
317. Tab. 27.

Phaeopus altera, vel arquata minor.
Gefner av. 499.

that the belly and breaft in this are perfectly
white; the colors are paler: the edges of the
feathers in the whimbrel being of a very light
brown ; the middle of a deep brown, in fome
duiky : the legs and feet of a dull green.

WOODCOCKS.

The Woodcock.

Scolopax rufticola. Lin. fyft. 146.
Rufticola, feu Perdix ruftica major.
Gefner av. 501,

ing; and return the fame way, or thro’ the fame
glades to their day retreat. They leave England
the latter end of February , or beginning of
March ; by accident fome have been found to
breed here : a few years ago two young ones
beino found in Cornwal. In the fame manner
we know they quit France , Germany and Italy ;
makincr the northern and cold fituations their ge-
neral fummer rendezvous. In the winter they are
found in vaft plenty as far fouth as Smyrna and
Aleppo , * and in the fame feafon in Barbary f,

which are the remoteft migrations we can trace

(

them to.

* Bufel’s hiji. Aleppo, p. 64. -f- Shaw’s travels p. 253.

SPECIES

120

BIRDS.

[Clafs II.

SPECIES II. The Godwit. Plate Jg,

Godwit, yarwhelp, or yarwip. Wit.
orn. 290.

H I S fpecies weighs twelve ounces and
a half j the length is fixteen inches $
the breadth twenty-feven; the bill is
four inches long, black at the end, the reft a pale
purple ; from the bill to the eye is a broad white
ftroke ; the feathers of the head, neck and back,
are of a licrht reddifh brown, marked in the mid-
die with a dufky fpot: the belly and vent feathers
white : the tail regularly barred with black and
white : the fix firft quil feathers are black 5 their
interior edges of a reddifh brown : the legs in
feme are dulky, in others of a greyifh blue j

Rail fyn. av. 105.

Scolopax segocephala. Lin. fyft. 147.

which perhaps may be owing to different ages j
the exterior toe is conne&ed as far as the firft
joint of the middle toe, with a ftrong ferrated
membrane. The male is diftinguifhed from the
female by fome black lines on the breaft and
throat j which in the female are wanting.

T Thefe birds appear in fmall flocks on our coafts
in September , and continue with us the whole
winter , they walk on the open fands like, the
curlew j and feed on infedfs.

The leffer Godwit.

SPECIES III.

The fecond fort of godwit, the
Totanus of Aldrovand ; called at
Venice , Vetola. PVil. orn. 293,

Fedoa noftra fecunda, the ftone
Plover, Raiifyn. av. 105.
Limofa, Briffon av. V. 262.

M R. Ray (for we are not acquainted
with this fpecies) defcribes it thus,
Its weight is nine ounces ; the length
to the tail feventeen inches $ to the toes twenty-
one \ its breadth twenty-eight: the bill like that
of the former : the chin white, tinged with red i
the neck afh-colored ; the head of a deep afti-
color, whitifh about the eye; the back of a
uniform brownefs, not fpotted like that of the
preceding : the rump encompafled with a white

ring : the two middle feathers of the tail black :
the outmoft, efpecially on the outfide web, white
almoft to the tips y in the reft the white part was
lefs and lefs to the middlemoft.

Befides thefe, Mr. Willoughby mentions a third
fpecies, called in Cormsoal the Stone Curlew y but
defcribes it no farther than faying it has a fhorter
and flenderer bill than the preceding.

SPECIES

it ages j
firft

fated
fa the
fa and

t

tal black:

web,faite

tepjrt"®

s s0

%'j but

(hot®

i

«n

1 iWv

Mm

i--: a

p

i

• i

A ' 2 ?

r _/>rown

MIU

ze rtt

?3 Co'chu-it

T'/l/laied Jail

O

'• ..-V ' -.

• ■

ii

(

1

Clafs II. ] BIRDS.

12 I

S P E C I E S IV. The

Greater Plover of Aldrovand. Wik
orn. 298.

Limofa grifea major. Brijfon av. V,
272. Tab. 24. f. 2.

| ^ H E S E birds are not fo common as
the former: appearing on our ccafls
^ and wet grounds in the winter time in
fmall flocks. The figure reprefents it of the na¬
tural dimenfions, and with great exadhnefs of co¬
loring. It is a bird of an elegant fhape, and fmall
weight in proportion to its dimenfions, weighing
only fix ounces. The exterior toe is united to
the middle toe, as far as the fecond joint, by a

green Shank. Plate € 1.

Raii fyn. av. 106.

Limofa, et glottis. Gefner av. 519,

520.

Scolopax glottisi Lin. fyft. 146.

ftrono; membrane which borders their fides to
the very end.

Thefe birds are the Chevaliers aux pieds verds
of the French. There is another fpecies, varie¬
ty, or fex, (it not being certain which) with red
legs one of which Albin calls the red legged
horfeman , and fays was fhot on our fhores.

* The other Totano. Wil. orn . 299.

■i

SPECIES

The Snipe, or Snite. JKil. orn.

29a

Raii fyn. av. 105.

Gallinago. Brijfon av. Vi 298. Tab.

26. Fig. 1.

f“”T| IS common bird needs no defcription.

In the winter time fnipes are very fre-
quent in all our marfhy and wet grounds,
where they lie concealed in the rufheS, Sfc. In
the hammer they difperfe to different parts, and
are found in the midfi: of our higheft mountains,
as well as our low moors ; their nefl: is made of
dried grafs ; they lay four eggs of a dirty olive
color, marked with dufky fpots 5 their young are

V. The Snipe.

Gallinago, feu rufticola minor.
Gefner av. 503.

Scolopax gallinago. Lin. fyft. 147.
Capella coeleftis. Klein av. 100.

fo often found in England* that we doubt whe-

Co J

ther they ever, entirely leave this ifland. When
they are difturbed much, particularly in the breed¬
ing feafon, they foar to a vail height, making a
fingular bleating noife } and when they defcend,
dart down with vaA rapidity : their food is the
fame with that of the woodcock ; their flight ve¬
ry irregular and fwift, and attended with a fhriil
fcream.

SPECIES VI. The Jackfnipe.

Gid, jackfnipe, and Judcock. JVil.

orn . 291*

Raii fyn . av . 105.

H E haunts and food of this fpecies are

i

the fame with thofe of the former. It

is much lefs frequent among us, and

very difficult to be found, lying fo cloie as to ha~

Gallinago minor. Brijfon av. V.
303. Tab. 26. Fig. 2.

zard being trod on, before it will rife : The flight
is never diflant, and its motion is more iluo-orjfh
than that of the larger kind.

Its

122

B

I

R

D S.

Its weight is lefs than two ounces, inferior by
half to that of the fnipe; for which reafon
the French call them deux pour un , we the half
fnipe. The dimenfions bear not the fame pro¬
portion 5 the length of the fnipe being thirteen
inches ; this ten. The crown of the head is
black, tinged with ruft color : over each eve is

[Clafs II.

a yellow ftroke; the neck varied with white
brown and pale red. The fcapular feathers nar¬
row, brown, bordered with yellow. The rump
a glofiy bluifh purple : the belly white; the
greater quil feathers dufky : the tail feathers
brown, edged with tawny : the legs of an afh-
colored green.

GENUS IV. SANDPIPERS. 1
SPECIES I. The Lapwing. Plate £ *■

Lapwing, baftard plover, or Pewit.
tVil. orn. 307.

Vanelius. Brijfon 'av.. V. 94. Tab.

8. Fig. 1 .

HIS elegant fpecies inhabites mod of the
heaths and marfhy grounds of this if?
land. It lays three or four eggs, mak¬
ing a flight neft with a few bents. The young

O O J O

as foon as hatched, run like chickens : the pa?
rents fliew remarkable follicitude for them, flying
with great anxiety and clamour near them, link¬
ing at either men or dogs that approach, and of¬
ten flutter along the ground like a wounded bird,
to a confiderable dillance from their neft, to elude
their purfuers $ and to aid the deceit, become
more clamorous when moft remote from it : the

Rati fyn. av. 11 o.

Tonga vanelius. Lin. fyft. 148.
Gefner av. 7 6 5 *

eggs are held in great efteem for their delicacy.
In winter, lapwings join in vaft flocks ; but at

ft - . V

that feafon are very wild : their flefli is very good,
their food being infedfs and worms : their weight
is about eight ounces: the figure expreftes the
fize. The female is rather lefs, and wants that
brown mark on the end of the tail.

Merret , in his Pinax y p. 182. fays, that there
is in Cornwal a bird related to this; but lefs than
a thrufli, having blue feathers, and a long creft.

+ This Genus, the fringet of Lmnczus , wanting an Englijh name, we
have given it that of the Sandpipers; moft of the fpecies being conver-
fant about ftiores ; and their note whiftling or piping.

SPECIES II. The grey Plover.

JVil. orn. 309.

Rail fyn. av. 111.

Tringa fquatorola. Lin. fyft. 149.

T weighs feven ounces: the length to the tip
of the tail is twelve inches : the breadth
■J 3 L twenty-four : the bill black, about an inch
long ; the head, back, and coverts of the wings

Vannellus grifeus. Brijfon av. V.
100. Tab. 9. Fig. 1.

t . y W

black, edged with greenilh afh-color, and fome
white. The cheeks and throat white, marked
with oblong dufky fpots : the belly and thighs
white : the exterior webs of the quil feathers

black,

9

%

07&X-/&T

r r *7

du/icrj

O'

t/f'JjJ to 7 7 C->

/9

c r cc42rt/)<y?er'

CiafsIL] B I

black : the lower part of the interior webs of the
four firft white : the rump white : the tail mark¬
ed with tranfverfe bars of black and white : the
legs of a dirty green : the back toe very fmall.

R D S. 123

Thefe appear in fmall flocks in the winter time,
but are not very common : their flefli is very
delicate.

SPECIES III. The Ruffe, Plate C

JViL orn. 302.

Rail fyn. av. 107.

Tringa pugnax. Lin. Jyft. 148.

H E males, or Ruffes , aflume fuch va¬
riety of colors, that it is fcarce poflible
to fee two alike ; but the great length
of the feathers on the neck, that gives name to
them, at once diftinguilhes thefe from all other
birds. In moulting, they lofe for a while this
character, but a fet of fmall pimples, which at
that feafon break out above the bill, forms ano¬
ther. The Reeves , or females, are faid never to
change their colors $ which are brown, fpotted

Pugnax. Brijfon av. V. 240. Bab.
22. Male and Female.

in fome parts with white, or afh-color : they are
lefs than the males, which weigh between five and
fix ounces. Thefe birds are found in Lincoln -
Jhire, and in the eaft riding of Torkjhire , where
they are taken, and fattened for the table, with
bread and milk. The Ruffes are fo addidled to
fighting, that the feeders are obliged to fhut them
in a dark room, or they would never defifl: till
they had killed one another. %

* Wil. orn. 303 .

4

SPECIES IV.

The Knot. Plate C 2. Fig. 1.

fVil. orn. 302.

Rati fyn. av. io8<

Edzv. av. 276.

Canutus. Brijfon av. V. 258.

T~~\ H E fpecimens that we had opportunity
of examining, differ a little in colors,
both from Mr .Willoughby'’s defcription,
and from Mr. Edwards' 1 s figure : the forehead,
chin, and lower part of the neck in ours were
brown, inclining to afh-color : the back and fca-
pulars deep brown, edged with afh-color : the
coverts of the wings with white, the edges of the
lower order deeply fo, forming a white bar : the
bread, fides, and belly white 3 the two firft ftreak-
ed with brown : the toes (as a fpecial mark) di-

Tringa canutus. Lin. Jyft. 149.

Tringa maritima. Brunnich. ornith.

54 -

vided to the very bottom : the weight four ounces
and a half.

Thefe birds frequent our coafts in the winter ;
and are much efteemed. Camden * fays they
derive their name from King Canute , Knute , or
Knout , as he is fometimes called j probably becaufe
they were a favored difh with that monarch.
Shakefpear in his Othello , fpcaking of Roderego ?
makes the Knot an emblem of a dupe.

“ I have rubb’d this young Knot almoft to thefenfe ;

“ And he grows angry.

Othello .

* Camden Brit. 971 .

124

BIRDS. [Clafs II.

SPECIES V. The afli-colored Sandpiper. Plate £ i. Fig. i.

Tringa cinerea. Brunnich ornith. 5 3.

T H I S fpecies weighs five ounces : the
length is ten inches : the breadth
nineteen : the head is of a brownifh
alh-color, fpotted with black : the whole neck
alh-color, marked with dulky oblong dreaks :
the back and coverts of the wings elegantly va¬
ried with, concentric^ femicircles of aih-color,
black and white : the coverts of the tail barred

with black and white : the tail alh-colored, edged
with white : the bread; and belly of a pure white :
the legs of a greenilh black : the toes bordered
with a narrow membrane, finely fcolioped.

Thefe birds appear on the Ihores of Flintjhire ,
in the winter time, in large flocks.

SPECIES VI. The Redfnank.

Redfhank, or Pool-fnipe. Wil. orn.

299.

Rail fyn. av. 107.

Totanus. BriJJon av. V. 188. Tab.
17. Fig. 1.

Gallinula erythropus. Gejner av.
504.

Hoemantopus, magnitudine inter
Vanellum et Gallinaginem mi-
norem media. Ray’s itin. 247.

HIS fpecies is found on mod: of our
ihores : in the winter time it conceals
itfelf in the gutters ; and is generally
found Angle, or at mod in pair.

It weighs five ounces and a half: the length
is twelve inches : the breadth twenty-one : the
bill near two inches long, red at the bafe, black
towards the point. The head, hind part of the
neck, and fcapulars are of a dulky a Hi-colour,

obfcurely fpotted with black : the back is white,
fprinkled with black fpots : the tail elegantly bar¬
red with black and white : the cheeks, under¬
lie of the neck and upper part of the bread are
white, dreaked downward with dulky lines : the
belly white : the exterior webs of the quil fea¬
thers are dulky : the legs long, and of a fine
bright orange color. It breeds, as Mr. Ray ob-
ferves, in the marlhes ; and flies round its ned
when didurbed, making a noife like a Lapwing.

SPECIES VII.

Spotted Tringa. Edzv. av. 277.

T HIS bird is common to Europe and
America , according to Mr. Edwards's
figure it is lefs than the preceding. The
bill is of the fame colors with that of the red-

The fpotted Sandpiper.

T urdus aquaticus. Brijfon av. v.255.

fhank : the head, upper part of the neck, the
back, and coverts of the wings, are brown inclin¬
ing to olive, and marked with triangular black
fpots ; above each eye is a white line: the greater

, quil

BIRDS,

quil feathers are wholly black, the lefler tipt with
white : the middle feathers of the tail are brown :
the fide feathers white, marked with dulky lines :
the whole under fide, from neck to tail, is white
marked with dufky fpots : the female has none of

- T - ■- r-^.—■ r-

SPECIES VIII. The

Turnftone, or fea dottrel. Wih
orn. 311.

thefe fpots except on the throat: the legs of a
duiky flelh colot, & Ir. Edwards imagines thefe
to be birds of paflage; the bird he toke one of
his defcriptions from was ftiot in Effex.

Turnftone. Plate Fig. 2.

Rail Jyn. av. 11 2.

Arenaria. BriJJon av . V. 132. -

T HIS bird is figured of its natural fize,
and of fuch exa£t coloring as to make

any defcription unneceflary : the form
of the bill, which turns a little up, is a character
fufficient to diftinguilh it from others of the genus.
The fpecimen this was drawn from, Was (hot in

Shropjhire. Mr. Ray obferved them flying three
or four in company on the coafts of Cornwal and
Merionethjhire : and Sir ’Thomas Brown of Norwich
difcovered them on the coaft of Norfolk , com¬
municating the picture of one to Mr. Ray , with
the name of Morinellus mar inns , or fea dottrel.

SPECIES IX. The green Sandpiper. Plate € 2. Fig. 3.

The Tringa of Aldrovand. fVil.

orn. 300.

Rail jyn. av. 108.

T ringa ochropus. Lin. fyjl 149.

Tringa. BriJJon av. V. 177. Tab.
16. Fig. 1.

Ochropus medius. Gefner av. 511.

T HIS beautiful fpecies is of the fize re-
prefented in the plate. The head and
hind part of the neck are of a brownifh
alh-color, ftreaked with white; the under part
motled with brown and white : the back, fcapu-
lars, and covert of the wings are of a duiky green,
glolfy and refplendent as filk, and elegantly mark¬
ed with fmall white fpots : the leftef quil feathers
of the fame colors : the under fides of the wings

SPECIES

Wil. orn. 361.

Raii Jyn. av. 108.

Tringa hypoleucos. Lin. Jyft. 149 *

T HIS fpecies agrees with the former in
its manners and haunts $ but is more
common : its note is louder and more
piping than others of this genus. Its weight is

are black, marked with numerous white lihes,
pointing obliquely from the edges of the feather
to the fhaft, reprefenting the letter V. Thefe
alone form a fufficient character of this fpecies.

Except in pairing time, it is a folitary bird : it
is never found near the fea 5 but frequents rivers,
lakes, and other frelh waters. In France it is
highly efteemed for its delicate tafte ; and is ta¬
ken with limed twigs placed near its haunts.

^

. The Sandpiper.

Guinetta. BriJJon av.T. 183. Tab.
16. Fig. 1.

Gallinula hypoleucos. Gejner av. 509.

about two ounces : the head is brown, ftreaked
with downward black lines ; the neck an obfcure
alh-color : the back and covert of the wings
brown, mixed with a glofly green, elegantly mark-

H h ed

126

BIRDS.

[Clafs II.

ed with tranfverfe dulky lines : over each eye is
a white ftroke : the bread and belly are of a pure
white : the quil feathers are brown, the firft en¬
tirely fo, the nine next marked on the inner web

with a white fpot : the middle feathers of the
tail brown ; the exterior tipt with white: the legs
of a dull pale green,

SPECIES XI. The Dunlin. Plate £ 1. Fig. 2.

Gallinago anglicana. Briffon av. V,
3°o.

IVil. orn. 205.

Rail fyn. av. I0 9 -
Tringa alpina. Lin. fyjt. 149.

T HIS fpeciesis at once diftinguilhed from
the others by the Angularity of its co¬
lors. The back, head, and upper part
cf the neck are ferruginous, marked with large
black fpots : the coverts of the wings alh-color :

the belly white, marked with a black crefcent,
pointing towards the thighs. The figure ex-
prefles its fize. Thefe birds are found on fea-
coafts ; but may be reckoned among the more
rare kinds.

SPECIES

The Stint. Wil. orn. 305.

Stint, in Suffex the Ox-eye. Rail
fyn. av. 11 o.

^ H I S bird is inferior in fize to the for¬
mer. The head and hind part of the
neck are alh-colored,marked with dulky
lines : a white ftroke divides the bill and eyes :
the chin white : underfide of the neck mottled
with brown ' the breaft and belly white : the co¬
verts of the wings alh-colored, edged with red-
diih white ; in fome with dulky brown : the ^up¬
per part of the quil feathers dulky, the lower
white : the two middle feathers of the tail dulky^
the reft of a pale brown, edged with white . the

SPECIES XIII. The Scollop

Grey Coot-footed Tringa. Edw.
av. 308.

Phil. TranfaSl. vol. 50. i

R. Edwards obliged us with the fpe-
cimen this was drawn from* but being
dried and decayed, fame parts are not
colored with the fidelity we could wilh : the defec-

XII. The Purre.

Cinclus. BriJJon av. V. 211.
19. Fig. 1,

legs of a dulky green. The bill an inch and a half
long, llender and black.

Thefe birds come in prodigious flocks on our
fea-coafts during the winter : in their flight they
perform their evolutions with great regularity ;
appearing like a white, or like a dulky cloud, as
they turn their backs or their breafts towards you.
They leave our Ihores in Ipring, and retire to fome
unknown place to breed.

toe Sandpiper. Plate <£ 1. Fig. 3,

Phalaropus. Brijpmav. VI. 12.
Tringa lobata. Brunnich. ornith. 51,

tive parts are the legs, back and wings ; the firft
being of a lead color $ the edges of the feathers of
the latter not fo deeply marked with yellow; the
other parts are exadh Two notes diftinguilhes

this

*

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.

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i •

*

.

■Sk

5

J

-

V *

,

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.

,

.

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■

SlanS

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'

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this

HIV

bird

01
def'
0
itifp
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Larusfi
the cod

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t

pla

fpo

wai

oui

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em

at<

H

P

r

Clafs II.] B I

this fpecies : the diftance of the eyes from the
bill, and the fine fcolloped membrane, with pec¬
tinated edges, that border the toes. This is a rare
bird in England ; but is more common in Den¬
mark and Norway. This fubje£t was fhot in
Yorkshire. Mr. Willoughby, p. 355. defcribes un¬
der the name of Mr. John/on's cloven-footed
GulP, another (hot in the fame county, which we
fufpeft differs only in fex : he fays it was fome-

* Vide Mr. Ray’s cat. of Englijb Birds and Fifhes, 1674, p. 92.
Larus fidipes alter noftras, D. Johnfon. Railfyn. av. 132. compare alfo*
the cock coot-footed Tringa. Edw. av. 143.

R D S. I2J

What lefs than a black-bird: the crown of the
head black, or dark red : fides, and underfide of
the neck red : belly, and whole underfide white :
back and! wings brown, marked with yellowifh
fpots } a tranfverfe white line on the wings: fcol¬
loped membranes on the toes. This alfo is a
northern birdf, which ftrengthens our opinion
that both of thefe were erratic, and vary only in
fex.

*j- Tringa lobata. Fauna fuec. edit. 1761. N°. 179. Tho’ thcK
differ in fome of their colors, yet each maintain certain common marks
that may denote them to be the fame fpecies.

GENUS V. PLOVERS.

SPECIES I. The

Wil. orn. 297.

Rail fyn. av. 105. ‘

Oftralega. Briffon av. V. 38* dab,

3. Fig. 1.

Gefner av. 548.

—\ H IS bird is figured of its natural fize.

its weight fixteen ounces : the colors
L are very exactly reprefented in the
plate. We may only obferve, that the white
fpot beneath the cheeks is in many birds wholly
wanting. Sea Pies are very common on moll of
our coafts ; feeding on marine infeas, limpets,&c.
Their bills, which are comprelfed fideways, and
end obtufely, are very fit inftruments to infinu-
ate between the limpet and the rock thofe ihells

Sea Pie. Plate Hi 2.

Hoematopus oftralegus. Lin. fifit.

’ I 5 2 *

Pica marina. Caii opufic. 62.
Tirma, or Triiichan. Martin’s

voy. St. Kilda. 35.

adhere to 5 which they do with great dexterity
to get at the fifh. On the coaft of France, where
the tides recede fo far as to leave the beds of
oyflers bare, thefe birds feed on them 5 forcing
the ihells open with their bills. They keep in
fummer time in pairs, laying their eggs on the
bare ground : when any one approaches their
young, they make a loud and thrill noife. In win¬
ter they aflemble in vaft flocks, and are very wild.

SPECIES II. The

The Stone Curlew. Wil. orn. 306.
Rail fin. av. 108.

Pluvialis major. Brijfow av . V. 76.
Tab. 7- Fig. 1.

H E weight of this fpecies is eighteen
ounces. The figure reprefents its fize.
The head is remarkably round : the
fpace beneath the eyes is bare of feathers, and of a

Norfolk Plover. Plate |3 i.

Charadrius oedicnemus. Lin. fiyft.
151.

Charadrius. Gefiner av. 256.

yellowifh green : the irides yellow: the feathers
of the head, neck, back, and fcapulars, and co¬
verts of the wings are black, edged deeply with
pale reddifh brown : the belly and thighs are of

128

BIRDS. [Clafsn.

a pure white .* the two firft quil feathers are black,
marked on the middle of each web with a large
white fpot. The tail confifts of twelve feathers;
the tips of the two utmoft are black, beneath is
a broad white bar, the remaining part barred with
white and dulky brown : in the next feathers the
white lefiens ; in the middle it almoft difappears,
changing it to a pale reddiih brown, mottled with
a darker : the legs are of a fine yellow : the toes
very fhort, bordered with a ftrong membrane:
the knees thick, as if fwelled; from whence the

name of Oedicnemus ; This bird is not very
common in England : it is found fometimes on
Shirewoodforeft , but in greateft plenty in Nor¬
folk ; where from a fimilarity of colors to the
Curlew, it is there called the flone Curlew. It
breeds in rabbit borroughs, and is faid to lay two
eggs, of a copper color, fpotted with a darker red.
It is a nodlurnal bird, and makes a whiffling noife.
Its food is worms and caterpillars. Gefner fays
it will catch mice.

SPECIES III.

JVil. orn. 308.

Rail fyn. av. 111,

Charadrius Pluvialis. Lin. JyJt, 151 ,

T HIS elegant fpecies is often found on
our moors and heaths, in the winter
time, in fmall flocks. Its weight is nine
ounces : its length eleven inches : its breadth
twenty four: the bill is fhort and black : the
feathers on the head, back, and coverts of the

The green Plover.

Pluvialis aurea. Briffon av. V. a?*
Tab. 4. Fig. 1.

Pluvialis. Gefner av. 714.

wings are black, beautifully fpotted on each fide
with light green : the breaft brown, marked with
greenlfli oblong ftrokes : the belly white : the
middle feathers of the tail barred with black and
yellowifh green : the reft with black and brown :
the legs black.

SPECIES IV. The long legged Plover.

us. JVil. orn. 297.
iv . 106.

•JN * -

Sibb. Scot. 19. Tab. xi ? 13.

Brifjon av. V. 33. Tab. 3. Fig. I,

\ H I S is the moft lingular of the Bri-
tifi birds; the legs are of a length,
and weaknefs greatly difproportioned to
the body, which is inferior in fize to that of the
green Plover: this added to the defedt of the back
toe,muft render its paces aukward and infirm. The
naked part of the thigh is three inches and a half
long; the legs four and a half : thefe, and the
feet of a blood red : the bill is black, above two
inches long. The length from its tip to the end
of the tail is thirteen inches : the breadth from

Charadrius himantopus. Lin. fyft.
151.

Gefner av. 546.

tip to tip of the wing twenty-nine inches : the
forehead, and whole under fide of the body are
white : the crown of the head, back, and wings
black : on the hind part of the neck are a few
black fpots : the tail is of a greyifh white: the
wings when clofed extend far beyond it. Thefe
birds are extremely rare in thefe iflands : Sir Ro¬
bert Sibbald records a brace that were fhot in
Scotland: we have feen them often in the cabi¬
nets of the curious at Paris, taken on the French
coafts. SPECIES

-V-

y "VWbiiimi r -

.

~Jh< JnnciirLnij

9 adl

'OU'hHb$r

birds.

SPECIES V. The Dottrel. Plate J§. The male.

Charadrius morinellus. Lin. Jyft .

Wil. orn. 309.

Rail Jyn. av. 111.

Camden. Brit. I. 570,

Pluvialis minor, five morinellus.
Brijfon av. V. 54. Tab. 4. Fig. 2 ?

150.

Caii opufc. 96.

Morinellus avis anglica. Gefner av,
615.

E female dottrel, according to Mr.
Willoughby , weighs more than four

ounces $ the male above half an ounce
lefs. The length of the female ten inches ; the
breadth nineteen and a half; the male not fo
large. The colors in both fexes agree, except
that the female wants that black mark on the
belly.

Thefe birds are found in Cambridge and Lin

O

i colnjhire ; in the county of Derby they are mi¬
gratory, appearing there on the moors only in the
months of April and May ; during which time
they are much efteemed for their delicate flavour.
They are reckoned a very foolilh bird, fo that a
dull fellow is proverbially called a Dottrel, They

* . Vt

were alfo believed to mimick the a&ion of the
fowler ; to ftretch out a wing when he ftretched
out an arm, Sec. continuing their imitation, re-
gardlefs of the net that was fpreading for them.

SPECIES VI. The Sea Lark.

Wil, orn. 310.

Ran Jyn. av. 112.

Charadrius hiaticula. Lin. fyfi. 150.

T weighs near two ounces. The length is
feven inches and a half $ the breadth fixteen 5

the bill is half an inch long; the upper half
orano-e color; the lower black : from it to the
eyes is a black line 5 the cheeks are of the fame
color ; the forehead white, bounded by a black
band that pafles over from eye to eye ; the crown
of the head is of a fine light brown $ the upper
part of the neck is incircled with a white collar \

Pluvialis torquata minor. Brijfon av.
V. 63. Tab. 5. Fig. 2.

the lower part with a black one ; the back and
coverts of the wings of a light brown ; the bread
and belly white 5 the tail brown, tipt with a
darker (hade ; the legs yellow.

Thefe birds frequent our fhores in the fummer.
They lay four eggs : at approach of winter they
difappear.

SPECIES VII.

Sanderling, or curwillet. JVil. orn.

3°3*

Raii Jyn. av. 109.

W E have received this fpecies out

of Lancajhire'1 but it is found
in greater plenty on the Cornijh
(bores, where they fly in flocks. The fanderling

The Sanderling.

Towillee. Borlafe hift. Cornzval. 247.
Calidris grifea minor. Brijfon av. V.
236. Tab. 20. Fig. 2.

weighs little more than one ounce three quarters.
Its length is eight inches ; extent fiveteen. Its
body is of a more (lender form than others of the
genus. The bill is an inch long, weak and black.

I i The

birds.

13°

The head, and hind part of the neck are afh-color-
ed, marked with oblong black breaks; the back
and fcapulars are of a brownifh grey, edged with
dirty white ; the coverts of the wings, and upper
parts of the quil feathers dufky : the whole under

GENUS VI

SPECIES I.

Water-rail, Bilcock, or Brook ouzel.

JVil. orn. 314-
Rail fyn. av. 1 13.

Rallus aquaticus. Lin. fyft. \ 53.

T H E water rail is a bird of a long {len¬
der body, with fhort concave wings. It
delights lefs in flying than running ;
which it does very fwiftly along the edges of
brooks covered with bulhes : as it runs, every
now and then flirts up its tail; and in flying
hangs down its legs : actions it has in common
with the water hen.

Its weight is four ounces and a hah. The

<D

leno-th to the end of the tail twelve inches : the

£d

breadth fixteen. The bill is flender, flightly m-
curvated, one inch three quarters long : the upper

[Clafs II.

fide of the body is white ; in fome flightly clouded
with brown. The tail confifts of twelve (harp
pointed feathers of a deep afh-colorj the legs are
black.

The RAIL.

The Water Rail.

Rallus aquaticus. Briffon av. V. 151.

Tab. 12 . Fig. 1.

Gallina cinerea. Gefner av. 515 ?

colored : the irides red : the head, hind part of
the neck, the back, and coverts of the wings and
tail are black, edged with an olive brownj the
bafe of the wins; is white : the throat, bread:, and
upper part of the belly are alh-colored : the fides
under the wings finely varied with black and white
bars. The tail is very Ihort, confifts of twelve
black feathers ; the ends of the two middle tipt
with ruft-color. The legs are placed far behind,
and are of a dufky fiefh color. The toes very long,
and divided to their very origin ; though the feet
are not webbed, it takes the water; but as Mr.
Ray obferves, rather runs on it, than fwims.

mandible black, edged with red ; the lower orange____

GENUS VII. WATER HENS.
SPECIES I. The Small fpotted Water Hen. Plate L* 1.

JVil. orn. fp. 8. p. 3x6.

Rati fyn. av. 115. fp. 7.

Gallinula ochra. Gefner av. 513.

HIS fpecies is not very frequent in
Great-Britain. It inhabites the fides of
fmall ftreams, concealing itfelf among
the bufties. Its length is nine inches : its breadth
fifteen : its weight four ounces five drams. The
head is brown, fpotted with black : the neck a

Rallus aquat. minor, five maruetta.
Brijfon av. V. 155, Tab. 13. Fig. 1.

deep olive, fpotted with white $ from the bill be¬
yond the eyes is a broad grey bar : the feathers
of the back are black next their fhafts, then olive
colored, and edged with white : the fcapulars are
olive, finely marked with two fmall white fpots on

each web : the legs of a yellowifh green.

SPECIES

/

■ii

'/y aillou Imx''

] a\ Jau luoio

a

Ciafs II.] BIRDS. 131

SPECIES II. The Land Rail.

Rail, or Daker hen. JVil. orn. 170.
Raii fyn. av. 58.

Rallus geniftarum. Brijfon av. V.
159. fab. 13. Fig. 2.

T HIS fpecies has been fuppofed by fome
to be the fame with the water rail, and

that it differs only by a change of color

* ► * • . •••

at a certain feafon of the year : this error is ow¬
ing to inattention to their characters and nature,
both which differ entirely. The bill of this fpe¬
cies is fhort, ftrong, and thick \ formed exaCtly
like that of the water hen, and makes a generi-
cal diftinCtion. It never frequents watery places,
but is always found among corn, grafs, broom, or
furze. It quits this kingdom before winter ; but
the water rail endures our fharpeft feafons. They
agree in their averfion to flight} but truft their
fafety to their fwiftnefs of foot, and feldom are
Iprung but with great difficulty. The land rail

Rallus crex. Lin. fyft. 153.
Ortygometra. Crex. Gejher av.

361, 362.

lays from twelve to twenty eggs, of a dull white
color, marked with a few yellow fpots ; notwith-
ftanding this, they are not very numerous in this
kingdom. Their note is fingular, refembling the
word Crex often repeated. They are in greateft
plenty in Anglefea , where they appear about the
20th of May, fuppofed to pafs over from Ire¬
land, where they abound. On their arrival they
are thin, weighing only fix ounces but before
they leave the ifland weigh above eight. The
feathers on the crown of the head, hind part or
the neck, and the back, are black, edged with bay
color : the coverts of the wings the fame color ;
but not fpotted : the tail is fhort, and of a deep
bay: the belly white: the legs afh-colored.

SPECIES III. The Common Water Hen. Plate % 1.

Common water-hen, or moor-hen.

JVil. orn . 312.

Rail fyn . av. 112.

T H E male of this fpecies weighs about
fifteen ounces. Its length to the end
of the tail fourteen inches : the breadth
twenty-two. The colors of the plumage in the
female, are much lefs brilliant than that of the
male : in fize it is alfo inferior. Mr. Willoughby
in his defeription takes no notice of the beautiful
olive glofs of the plumage of thefe birds j nor
that the bill affumes a fuller and brighter red in
the courting feafon : his natural hiftory of it in
other refpe£ts is fo very ample, that we fhall pre-
fent it to the reader, almoft in his own words.

Gallinula. Brijfon av. VI. 3. Tab. 1.
Fulica chloropus. Lin. fyft. 152.
Ein waflerhen. Gefner av. 501.

It gets its food on graffy banks, and borders near
frefh waters, and in the very waters, if they be
weedy. It builds upon low trees, and fhrubs by
the water-fide \ breeding twice or thrice in the
fummer \ and when the young are grown up,
drives them away, to fhift for themfelves. They
lay feven eggs of a dirty white color, thinly fpot¬
ted with ruft color. It ftrikes with its bill like a
hen and in the fpnng has a fhnll call. We may
obferve, that the bottoms f of its toes are fo very
flat and broad (to enable it to fwim) that it feems
the bird that conne&s the cloven-footed aquatics
with the next tribe ; the fin toed.

SECTION

1 3 2

BIRDS.

[Clafs II

E C T I O N II. Finned footed Birds *

GENUS VIII. The COO T.

SPECIES I. The Coot. Plate If.

JVil. orii. 319 .

Rail fyn. av. 116.

Brijfon av. VI. 23. Tab. 2. Fig. 1.

^II E S E birds weigh from twenty-four
to twenty-eight ounces. The figure
reprefents their ufual fize: their belly
is afh-colored ; and on each wing is a fpot of
white : every part befides is of a deep black : the
legs are of a yellowifh green : above the knee is a
yellow fpot.

Coots frequent lakes and flill rivers : they make
their neft among the rufhes, with grafs, reeds,
floating on the water, fo as to rife and fall with
it. They lay five or fix large eggs, of a dirty

Fulica atra. Lin. Jyfi. 152.

Fulica recentiorum. Gejner av. 3 90.

whitifh hue, fprinkled over with minute deep ruft
color fpots. In winter they often repair to the
fea : we have feen the channel near Southampton
covered with them; they are often brought 'to
that market, where they are expofed to fale, with¬
out their feathers, and fcalded like pigs. Authors
mention ** another fpecies of coot, which is
larger and of a fuller black than this; we believe
it is found in Lancajhire , having feen the head
and feet of one fhot in that county of a fize far
fuperior to thofe of the common kind.

** Greater coot. Wit. orn. 320. La Macroule. Brijfon av. VI. 28,
Tab. 2. Fig. 2.

GENUS IX. GREBES
SPECIES I. Great crefted Grebe. Plate It

Greater crefted and horned Doucker,
U r il. orn. 340,

A fti-colored Loon of Dr. Brown
ibid? Raii fyn. av. 124.

Plotfs hift. Staff. 229. Tab. 22.
The cargoofe. Charleton ex. 107.

t

Colymbus criftatus. Lin. fyft. 135,
Gefner av. 138.

Colymbus criftatus. Brifon av. VI.

38. Tab. 4. et Colymbus cor-
nutus. 45, Tab. 5. Fig. 1.

11 s fp ecies weighs two pounds. Its
length is twenty-one inches: the breadth
thirty : the bill is two inches one fourth
long y red at the bafe ; black at the point. On
the head is a large dufky crefl. The cheeks and
throat are furrounded with a long pendent ruff,
pf a bright tawny color ; the chin is white ; from

the. bill to the eye is a black line, and above that
a white one: the hind part of the neck, and the
back are of a footy hue ; the rump, for it wants
a tail, is covered with long foft down 5 the fea¬
thers on the ridge of the wing are white : all the
other wing feathers, except the leffer quil feathers
are dufky, thofe being white : the breaft and belly

* The reader is deiired to fupply an omiffion p. 114. thus,

SECTION I. With cloven feet.

II. With finned feet.

1U. With webbed feet.

9*

ClafsII.] B I R

are of a moft beautiful filvery white,gloffy as fattin,
and equal in elegance to thofe of the Grebe of
Geneva ; and might be applied to the fame ufes :
the legs are of a duiky hue. Thefe birds fre-

D S. 133

quent the lakes of Shropshire and Chejhire , where
they breed. Their eggs are white, and of an
oblong form. Thefe, like all the genus, are
great divers, and live on fifti.

SPECIES

Greater Loon, or Arsfoot. ? JVil.
orn. 339.

Greater Dobchick. Edw. av. 3604
Fig. 2.

b>

HIS differs from the preceding in be¬
ing rather lefs, and in wanting the creft

and ruff, which adorns the head of the
former: in all other refpe&s the marks agree,
and the fame deferiptions may ferve for both.
This fpecies is fcarce in England: but common

II. The Grebe.

-I

Ran fyn. av. 125.

Colymbus. Brijfon av. VI. 34. Tab.

3. Fig. 1.

Gefner av. 138.

in the winter time on the lake of Geneva. They
appear there in flocks of ten or twelve : and are

killed for the fake of their beautiful (kins. The

>

under fide of them being drefl: with the feathers
on, are made into muffs and tippets $ each bird
fells for about fourteen Ihillings.

SPECIES III.

Eared Dobchick. Edw. av. 96.
Brijfon av. VI. 54.

R. Edwards defcribes this fpecies from
one taken near London ; the head
and neck are black ; the throat fpot-
ted with white : the whole upper fide of a black-
ilh brown, except the ridge of the wing about the
firff joint, and tips of the middle quil feathers,
\vhich are white : the bread, belly and inner coverts

The lefler crefted Grebe.

Colymbus auritus. Lin. fyfl. 135.

of the wings are white : between the dark on the
upper fide, and white on the lower, is a mixture
of rufi: colored feathers. Behind the eyes, on each
fide, is a tuft of long loofe feathers, hanging back¬
wards. The irides are red : the legs of a dirty

SPECIES IV. The white and dusky Grebe. 'Plate 1 .

The black and white Dobchick.
Edzv. av. 96 ?

U R defcription and drawing is taken
from a fluffed fldn 5 which obliges us
to borrow part of the former from Mr.
Edwards , who has given a more elegant figure of

Colymbus minor. Brijfon av. VI.

56.

the fame bird. In fize it was equal to a teal.
The bill was little more than an inch long. The
crown of the head, and whole upper fide of the
body dufky: the inner coverts, the ridge of the

K k wing

O

I

B I R

wing, and the middle quil feathers were white :
the reft of the wing dulky. In Mr. Edwards ’s
bird, a bare (kin of a fine red color joined the
bill to the eye : the whole under fide from the

S.

[Clafs II.

chin to the rump was white : on the thighs were
a few black fpots. In our bird, the whole neck
was afh-colored : fo probably it might have been
a young bird, or different in fex.

SPECIES V. The little Grebe. Plate jf i.

Didapper, dipper, dobchick, finall
doucker, loon, or arsfoot. Wit.
orn. 340.

Rail fyn. av. 125.

T H E weight of this fpecies is from fix
to feven ounces. The length to the
rump ten inches : to the end of the toes
thirteen : the breadth fixteen. The head is thick
fet with feathers, thofe on the cheeks, in old birds
are of a bright bay : the top of the head, and
whole upper fide of the body, the neck and breaft,
are of a deep brown, tinged with red : the greater
quil feathers dufky; the interior webs of the lefler
white : the belly is afh-colored, mixed with a fil-
very white, and fome red : the legs of a dirty
green. The wings of this fpecies, as of all the

others are frnall, and the legs placed far behind :

*

fo that they walk with great difficulty ; and very
feldom fly. They truft their fafety to diving j

Colvmbus fluviatilis. Briffon av.

VI. 59 - ’

Mergulus fluviatilis. Gefner av. 141.

*>_ ’ t '

which they do with great fwiftnefs, and continue
Iono - under water. Their food is fifh, and water
plants. This bird is found in rivers, and other
freffi waters. It forms its neft near their banks,
in the water; but without any faftning, fo that
it rifes and falls as that does. To make its neft
it colle&s an amazing quantity of grafs, water-
plants, &c. It lays five or fix white eggs ; and al¬
ways covers them when it quits the neft. It
ffiould feem wonderful how they are hatched, as
the water rifes through the neft, and keeps them
wet} but the natural warmth of the bird bringing
on a fermentation in the vegetables, which are full
afoot thick, makes a hot bed fit for the purpofe.

CTION

Webbed footed Birds.

GENUS X. The AVOSETTA.
SPECIES I. The Avofetta. Plate £.

JVil. orn . 321.

Raii fyn . av. 117.

The fcooper. Charlton ex. 102.

The crooked bill. Dale s hift. Har¬
wich. 402.

T HIS bird may at once be diftinguiffied
from all others, by the fingular form
of its bill y which is three inches and
a half long, (lender, comprefled very thin, flexible,

Plotfshift. Staff. 231.

Avofetta. Briffon av. VI. 538. Tab.

47 *. Fi S- 2 -

Recurviroftra avofetta. Lin. Jyfi.

151-

and of a fubftance like whalebone ; and contrary
to the bills of other birds, is turned up for near
half its length. The tongue is ffiort: the head
very round : that, and half the hind part of the

neck

-

r

mzssmsi

y j yaill$\xPW>K

' fM

r ' r 1

-

. ■,,

■

r- ’ V ,r~

135

Clafs II.] B

neck black : the cheeks, and whole under fide of
the body from chin to tail is of a pure white :
the back, exterior fcapular feathers, the coverts
on the ridge of the wings, and fome of the lefler
quil feathers, are of the faille color ; the other
coverts, and the exterior fides and ends of the
greater quil feathers, are black : the tail confids
of twelve white feathers : the legs are very long,

I R D S.

of a fine blue color, and naked far above the
knees : the webs dufky, and deeply indented :
the back toe extremely fmall.

Thefe birds are frequent in the winter on the
eadern fhores of this kingdom : in GloucefterJhire y
at the Severn's Mouth ; and fometimes on the
lakes of Shropjhire .

GENUS XI. AUKS.

* Thofe with thick bills.

** Thofe with flender bills.

SPECIES I. The Puffin. Plate

Puffin, Couiterneb, &c. Wit. orti.

3 2 S*

Rail Jyn. av. 120.

Edzv. av. 358. Fig. 1.

The Bowger. Martin's voy. St.

Kit da . 34.

. -

f j| H E puffin weighs twelve ounces. Its
length is twelve inches : its breadth

twenty one. Above the eye is a hard
grey triangular fubdance ; beneath is another of
an oblong form : the edges of the eye-lids are
crimfon. The legs are placed fo far behind, as
to difqualify it from (landing, except quite ere£l:
reding not only on the foot, but the whole length
of the leg : this circumdance attends every one
of the genus, but not remarked by any naturalid,
except IV : irmiu r , who has figured the Penguin , a
bird of this genus, with great propriety : this
makes the rife of the Puffin from the ground
very difficult, and it meets with many falls before
it gets on wing ; but when that is effected, few
birds fly longer or dronger.

Thefe birds frequent the coads of feveral parts
of Great-Britain and Ireland 5 but no place in

Fratercula. Brijfon av. VI. 81. Tab.
. 6 . Fig. 1.

Puphinus anglicus. Gefner av. 725.
Caii opufc. 97.

Anas arctica. Clufii Fxot. 104.
Alca arctica. Fin. Jyft. 130.

greater numbers than Prieft holme ijle *, where
their flocks may be compared to fwarms of bees
for multitude. Thefe are birds of paflage $ re¬
fort thither in April\ and difpoffieffing the rabbits
of their holes, occupy them till Auguft , when
they all difappear. They lay but one egg ; and
of the fize of that of a hen.

Their fleffi is exceffive rank, as they feed on
fea weeds and fiffi, efpecially Sprats ; but when
pickled and preferved with fpices, are admired by
thofe who love high eating. Dr. Caius tells us,

o o ’

*• V

that in his Days the church allowed them in lent,
indead of fifli : he alfo acquaints us that they
were taken by means of ferrets, as we do rabbits :
at prefent they are either dug out, or drawn from
their borroughs by a hooked dick : they bite ex¬
tremely hard, and keep fuch fad hold on whatfo-

ever

** Off the coaft of Anglejea.

BIRDS.

136

ever they fatten, as not to be eafily difengaged.
Their noife, when taken, is very difagreable ;
being like the efforts of a dumb perfon to fpeak.

The winter refidence of this whole genus (one
fpecies excepted) is unknown : it is probably they

SPECIES II

Penguin wormii. Wil. orn. 323.

Rail fyn. av. 119.

Edzv. av. 147.

Martin's voy. St. Kilda. 27.

Avis, Gare dicta. Sib. Scot. III. 22 ?

Ccording to Mr. Martin, this bird
breeds on the ifle of St. Kilda , ap¬
pearing there the beginning of May,
and retiring the middle of June. He fays it lays
one egg, fpotted black, green and dark ; and if
that egg is taken away, it will not lay another
that feafon. A later writer * informs us, that
it does not vifit that ifland annually, but fome-
times keeps away for feveral years together ; and
adds, that it lays its egg clofe to the fea mark ,
being incapable, by reafon of the ftiortnefs of its
wings, to mount higher. The length of this
bird, to the end of its toes, is three feet; the bill,
to the corner of the mouth, four inches and a

* Macaulay s hi ft. St. Kilda . p. 156.

SPECIES

Razor-bill, auk, murre. Wil. orn.
3 2 3 -

Rati fyn. av. 119.

The Falk. Martins voy. St. Kilda.
33 -

HESE fpecies weigh twenty-two ounces
and a half. The length about eighteen

inches : the breadth twenty-feven. The
bill is two inches long, arched, very ftrong and
(harp at the edges ; the color black : the upper

[Clafs II.

may live on the fea, in fome more temperate cli¬
mate, remote from land; forming thofe multi¬
tudes of birds that navigators obferve in many
parts of the ocean : which are always found there
at certain feafons, retiring only at breeding time.

* " t

The Penguin.

Alca major. Briffon av. VI. 85,
fab. 7.

Alca impennis. Lin. fyft. 130.

Goirfugel. Clufti exot. 367.

quarter ; part of the upper mandible is covered
with ftiort, black, velvet like feathers } it is very
ftrong, comprefled and marked with feveral fur¬
rows that tally both above and below : between
the eyes and the bill on each fide is a large white
lpot : the reft of the head, the neck, back, tail
and wings, are of a gloffy black : the tips of the
lefler quil feathers white : the whole under fide of
the body white : the legs black. The wings of
this bird are fo fmall, as to be ufelefs for flight:
the length, from the tip of the longeft quil fea¬
thers to the firft joint, being only four inches and
a quarter.

III. The Auk.

Edzv. av. 358. Fig. 2.

Alca, Brijfon av . VI. 89. Tab. 8*
Fig. 1,

Alca torda, Lin. Jyft. 130.

r —

mandible is marked with four tranfverfe grooves ,
the lower with three; the wideft of which is white,
and crofles each mandible. The infideof the mouth
is of a fine pale yellow: from the eye to the bill
is a line of white : the head, throat, and whole

upper

,

■

V.*

V

I.

>-

.

'

. •-

* *

lies;

*

tf

'

-

: ? - r.

* - .. <

V

;

■*

- • : . ,c . . - , ' .. «■ -•••

. .v J - - ; - a ' - ■" .

. r - —r — —

- ■ - • - :

■

. - • ' ' ' ' . ' , • ;

- - v - * r. .4 -

< • i.

■

• ■>- - - ' . . .

1

• • ~ ■

Clafs II] ' B

upper fide of the body, are black ; the wings of
the fame color, except the tips of the leffer quil
feathers, which are white: the tail confifts of
twelve black feathers, and is {harp pointed : the
whole under fide of the body is white : the legs
black.

Thefe birds, in company with the Guillemot j
appear in our feas the beginning of February ;
but do not fettle on their breeding places till they
begin to lay, about the beginning of May. They
inhabite the ledges of the higheft rocks that im¬
pend over the fea, where they form a grotefque
appearance ; fitting clofe together, and in rows
one above the other. They properly lay but one
egg a piece, of an extraordinary fize for the bulk

SPECIES IV. The black billed Auk. Plate H 1 .

Alca minor, Brijfon civ* VI. 92. Tab. 8. Fig. 2.

white ; in all other refpe&s it agrees with the
former fpecies ; fo that we doubt whether this is
any more than a variety: we can only obferve,
that this was fhot in the winter; when the com¬
mon fort have quitted the coafts.

SPECIES V. The little Auk. Plate Jfy. 4. the upper Figure.

Edzv . av. 91.

Uria minor. Brijfon av. VI. 7 3.
Alca alle. Lin. fyft. 131 -

under .fide of the body white : the fcapular fea¬
thers black and white : the legs and feet cover’d
with dirty greenilh white {bales \ the webs black.

Mr. Edwards has figured a bird that varies
very little from this: and has added another,
which he imagines differs only in fex : in that,
the head and neck are wholly black ; and the in¬
ner coverts of the wings are barred with a dirty
white.

L 1

Little black and white Diver. JVll.

orn 343. ; 1 ■ ’

Rati fyn. av._ 125.

IE fubjecl our drawing was made from,

■ » ** # * -

was taken in Lancajhire ; its bulk was

not fupenor to tbat of a blackbird.
The bill convex, fhort, thick, and ftrong ; its co¬
lor black. That of the crown of the head, the
hind part of the neck, the back, and the tail black ;
the wings the fame color; but the tips of the
leffer quil feathers white : the inner coverts of
the wings grey : the cheeks, throat, and whole

HIS weighs only eighteen ounces: the
length fifteen inches and a half: the
breadth twenty-five inches. The bill
is of the fame form with the Auk’s, but is entire¬
ly black. The cheeks, chin, and throat are

I R D S. 137

of the bird, being three inches long : it is either
white, or of a pale fea green, irregularly fpotted
with black : if this egg is deftroyed, both the
aiik and guillemot will lay another; if that is
taken, then a third : they make no neft, depofit-

ing their egg on the bare rock : and tho’ fuch

# ^

multitudes lay contiguous, by a wonderful inftindl
each diftinguifhes its own. The eggs are food to
the inhabitants of the coafts they frequent; which
they get with great hazard ; being lowered from
above by ropes, trailing to the ftrength of their
companions, whofe footing is often fo unftable
that they are forced down the precipice, and
perifh together.

SPECIES

'

138 B I R

m

SPECIES VI. The

Guillem, Guillemot, Skout, Kiddaw,
Sea-hen. Wil. orn. 324.

Raii fyn. av. 120.

The Lavy. Martin's voy. St. Kilda.

3 2>

HIS fpecies weighs twenty-four oun¬
ces : the length feventeen inches : the
breadth twenty-feven and a half: the
bill is three inches long 5 black, ftrait, and (harp
pointed : near the end of the lower mandible is a
fmall procels j the mlide of the mouth yellow:
the feathers on the upper part of the bill are fhort,
and foft like velvet: from the eye to the hind
part of the head is a fmall divifion of the feathers.

The head, neck, back, wings, and tail are of a
deep moufe color; the tips of the lefter quil fea-

D S. [Clafs II.

Guillemot. Plate 3.

Edzv. av. 359. Fig. i.

Uria. Brijjon av. VI. 70. Tab. 6.
Fig. 1.

Alca. Lomvia. Lin. [yft. 130.

thers white : the whole under fide of the body
is of a pure white : the legs dufky.

Thefe birds are found in amazing numbers on
the hio-h cliffs on feveral of our coafts, and appear
at the fame time as the auk. They are very
Ample birds; for notwithftanding they are (hot at,
and fee their companions killed by them, they
will not quit the rock. Like the auk, they lay
only one egg, which is very large ; fome are of
a fine pale blue, others white, fpotted, or moft
elegantly ftreaked with lines crofting each other
in all diredfions.

SPECIES VII.

r I ^ H E weight is nineteen ounces : the
length fixteen inches : the breadth
twenty-fix. The bill two inches and
a half long, fhaped like the Guillemots, but
weaker. The top of the head, the whole upper
part of the body, wings and tail are of the fame
color with the former : the cheeks, throat, and all
the lower fide of the body are white: from the

The leffer Guillemot.

corner of the eye is a dufky ftroke, pointing to
■ the hind part of the head : the legs are dufky :
the tail very fhort, and confifts of twelve feathers.

Thefe birds frequent our coafts in the winter

time ; but that very rarely : where they breed is

unknown to us : havino- never obferved them on
* 7 £>

the rocks among the congenerous birds.

SPECIES VIII. The black Guillemot. Plate 4*

Greenland-dove, or Sea-turtle. JVil.

orn. 326.

Raii fyn. av. 121 .

Ray's it in. 183^ 192.

^HE length of this fpecies is fourteen
inches : the breadth twenty-two : the
bill is an inch and a half long ; ftrait,
flender, and black $ the infide of the mouth red :

The Scraber, Martin's voy . St.
Kilda. 32.

Uria minor nigra. Rrijfonav.Xl.76.
Alca grylle. Lin. Jyft. 130.

on each wing is a large bed of white, which in
young birds is fpotted : the tips of the Idler quil
feathers, and the inner coverts of the wings, are
white : except thefe, the whole plumage is black.

In

-■

r

139

Clafs II.] B I

In winter it is faid to change to white. The tail
confifts of twelve feathers : the legs are red.

Thefe birds are found on the Bafs-ifle in
Scotland j in the ifle of St. Kilda ; and, as Mr.

D S.

Ray imagines, in the Farn-iflands off the coaft of
Northumberland. It vifits St. Kilda’’s in March:
makes it neft far under ground ; and lays a grey
egg : it is never feen but in the night ; being all
day either on its neft or fifhing.

Q E N U S XII. DIVERS.
SPECIES I. The great Northern Diver. Plate 1 $ 2.

Clufius’s IVil. orn. 342.

Raii fyn. av. 125.

Mergus maximus Farrenfis, five Arc*
ticus. Clufius exot. 102.

*

f~~Tj T H E length of this fpecies is three feet
H five inches : its breadth four feet eight:
the bill to the corners of the mouth four
inches long ; black, and ftrongly made. The
head and neck are of a deep black : the hind part
of the latter is marked with a large femilunar
white band : immediately under the throat is an¬
other ; both marked with black oblong ftrokes
pointing down : the lower part of the neck is of
h deep black, globed with a rich purple : the
whole under fide of the body is white : the fides

* * * • ' n

of the bread marked with black lines : the back.

Colymbus maximus ftellatus noftras.

Sib. hift. Scot. 20. Tab. 15.
Mergus major noevius. Briffon av.
VI. 120. Tab. 11. Fig. 1.

coverts of the wings, and fcapulars, are black,
marked with white fpots : thofe on the fcapulars
are very large, and of a fquare lhape ; two at the
end of each feather. The tail is very iliort, and
almoft concealed by the coverts, which are dufky
fpotted with white : the legs are black. Thefe
birds inhabite the northern parts of this ifland,
live chiefly at fea, and feed on fifh : we do not
know whether they breed with us, as they do in
■Norway ; which has many birds in common with
Scotland.

SPECIES II. The grey fpeckled Diver. Plate % *.

Greateft fpeckled Diver, or Loon.

Wit. orn. 341.

Raii fyn. av. 125.

H I S fpecies weighs two pounds and a
half: its length twentv-feven inches :

(D J

its breadth three feet nine. The bill
three inches long, and turns a little upwards 5 the
mandibles, when clofed at the points, do not
touch at the fides. The head is of a dufky grey,
marked with numerous white fpots: the hind
part of the neck a uniform grey : the whole up¬
per part of the body, and greater coverts of the
wings dufky, fpeckled with white : the lefier co¬
verts dufky, and plain. The tail confifts of about

Mergus minor. Briffon av. VI. io8*

Tab. 10. Fig. 2.

■

®. *

» ft*

twenty black feathers ; in feme tipt with white.
The cheeks, and whole under fide of the body of
a fine gloffy white : and the feathers as in all this
genus, which refides almoft perpetually on the
water, are exceffively thick, and clofe fet : the
legs are dufky.

Thefe birds frequent our feas and lakes in the

winter. They are fubjedf to vary in the difpofition

and form of their foots and colors : fome bavino-

1 £)

their necks furrounded with a fpeckled ring : in
fome the fpots are round, in others oblong.

S PEG IES

BIRDS.

140

SPECIES III.

Northern Doucker. Wit. orn. 343.
Rail fyn. av. 125.

Edzv. av. ’97, 146.

Lumme. tVbrmii mus. 304.

Species whole native country we (ufpe£t
to be Norway ; but having received

it from Lancajhire we give it a place
here. Its fhape is more elegant than that of the
others. The head fmall and taper : the bill
Rrait, and lefs ftrong : the fize about a fourth
left than the preceding. The head and chin are
of a fine uniform grey: the hind part of the
neck marked with dufky and white lines, pointing

[Clafs II.

The red necked Diver.

*■ ► 0 ■ ■ ' \

Colymbus ar&icus. Lin. fy ft. 133 ?

Mergus gutture rubro —■ gutture
nigro. Briffon av. VI. 111,& 1 15.
Tab. 11. Fig. x.

downwards : the fore part of the neck a dull
red : the whole upper part of the body, tail and
wings, of the fame colors and marks with the
former : the underfide of the body white : the
legs dulky. The fp ecies with a black fpot on the
neck is fuppofed to difier only in fex from this.
It is the Lumme of the Norwegians ; is faid to
breed on the fides of the lakes in the Northern
parts of Europe , and to lay two eggs.

GENUS XIII. GULLS.
SPECIES I. The great black and white Gull. Plate 2

TVil. orn. 344.

Raii fyn. av. 127.

T h e weight of this fpecies is near five
pounds: the length twenty-nine inches:

the breadth five feet nine. The bill is
very ftrong and thick, and almoft four inches
long; the color a pale yellow ; but the lower
mandible is marked with a red fpot, with a black
one in the middle. The irides yellow : the edges
of the eye-lids orange color : the head, neck,
whole under fide, tail, and lower part of the
back, are white : the upper part of the back, and

Larus niger. Briffon av. VI. 158.
Larus marinus. Lin. jyft. 136,

wings, are black ; the quil feathers tipt with
white : the legs of a pale flefh color.

This kind inhabites our coafts in fmall num¬
bers ; and breeds in the higheft cliffs. It feeds

not only on fifh; but like the Raven, very gree¬
dily devours carrion. Its egg is very blunt at
each end; of a dufky olive color, quite black at
the greater end ; and the reft of it thinly marked
with dufky fpots.

SPECIES II. The brown and ferruginous Gull. Plate £ 6.

Our CataraSla, I luppofe the Cornifh
Gannet. ITU. orn « 348 ,

Raii fyn . av. 128.

Catamites. Sibb. Scot ,. Tab* 14 ,

H I s is the moft formidable of the
gull kind: its prey being not only fifh,
but all the lefler forts of water fowl,
fuch as teal, &c. The ftrength of the bill and

Sea Eagle. Sibb, hift. Fife. 4 6.
Stercorarius ? Briffon av. VI. 150.
Skua Hoieri, Clujii Exot. 368, 369.
Skua. Brunnich. ornith. 33.

daws is fuperior to that of any other of the genus;
the former is two inches one fourth long, very
much hooked at the end, and very fharp ; the
upper mandible is covered more than half way

with

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with a black cere or (kin, as in the hawk kind ;
the noftrils are placed obliquely near the end, and
are pervious : the legs are covered with large
black fcales, the claws ftrong, fharp and crooked,
thofe of the inner toes remarkably fo. The fea¬
thers on the head, neck, breaft, and whole upper
fide of the body and wings, are of a very deep
brown, marked with ruft color in their middle :
the upper part of the quii feathers are dufky,
the lower parts and the fhafts white : the tail
confifts of twelve feathers white at their roots,
and dufky all above ; the inner coverts of the

I R D S. 141

wings deep brown, the breaft, belly, and vent
feathers, mixed with afh-color and red. This
bird belongs to Scotland and the North of Eng¬
land. What Mr. Ray, and Mr. Smith * fuppofe
to be the Cornijh Gannet , we {hall fhew in another
place to be a different bird. Mr. Macatdy f men¬
tions a gull that makes great havoke among the
eggs and fea fowl of St. Kilda ; it is there called
Stuliac : his defcription fuits that of the herring
Gull; but we fufpe£f he confounds thefe two
kinds, and has transferred the manners of this
fpecies to the latter.

* Hijl. Kerry, f Hiji. St. Kilda. p. 158.

SPECIES III.

JVil. orn. 345.

Rail fyn. av. 127.

HIS gull weighs upwards of thirty
ounces : the length twenty-three in¬
ches ; its breadth fifty-two. The bill
yellow, and the lower mandible marked with an
orange colored fpot: the irides ftraw color : the
edges of the eye-lids red : the head, neck, and
tail, white : the back, and covert of the wings, afh-
colored : the upper part of the five firft quil fea¬
thers are black, 1 larked with a white fpot near
their end : the legs of a pale flefh-color. Thefe
birds breed on the ledges of rocks that hang over

The Herring Gull.

Larus grifeus. Brijfon av. VI. 162.
Lams fufcus. Lin. Jyft. 136.

the fea : they make a large neft of dead grafs,
and lay three eggs, of a dirty white, fpotted with
black. The young are afh-colored; fpotted with
brown ; they do not come to their proper color
the firft year: this is common to other gulls ;
which has greatly multiplied the fpecies among
authors, who are inattentive to thefe particulars.
This gull is a great devourer of fifh, efpecially of
that from which it takes its name : it is a conftant
attendant on the nets, and fo bold as to feize its
prey before the fifhermens faces.

SPECIES IV. The brown and white Gull.

Great grey gull, the cornifh wagel.

JVil. orn. 349.

Raii fyn. av. 130.

^HE bird we examined, weighed thirty-
two ounces : the length was one foot
eleven inches $ the breadth four feet
eight: the bill black, and near three inches long.
The whole plumage of the head and body, above
and below, is a mixture of white, afh-color, and

brown : the laft color occupies the middle of each
feather ; and in Tome birds is pale, in others dark :
the quil feathers black : the lower part of the tail

Larus varius. Brijfon av. VI. 167.
Lab. 15.

is mottled with black and white ; towards the end
is a brown black bar, and the tips are white : the
legs are of a dirty white.

This fpecies is called by fome the Dung hunter ;

%

being faid to purfue the leffer gulls fo long till
they mute for fear; and that it catches up and
devours the excrements before they drop into the
water.

M m

SPECIES

BIRDS. [Clafs II.

SPECIES V. The Winter Mew. Plate E 2 .

Winter mew, or coddy moddy.
Wil. orn . 350.

f || ^ H E S E weigh from fourteen to feven-

teen ounces : the length eighteen in-

ches ; the breadth three feet nine. The
irides are hazel : the bill two inches long, but the
fiendered of any gull \ it is black at the tip,
whitilh towards the bafe. The crown of the head,
and hind part, and (ides of the neck, are white,
marked with oblong dulky fpots ; the forehead,
throat, middle of the bread, belly and rump, are
white ; the back, and fcapulars are of a pale
grey; the lad fpotted with brown , the coverts
of the wings are of a pale brown, edged with
white ; the fird' quil feather is black 5 the fuc^

Rail fyn. av. 130.

Gavia hyberna. Brijfon av. VI. 189.

ceeding are tipt with white : the tail is white,
eroded near the end with a black bar; the legs
of a dirty white.

This kind frequents, during winter, the moid
meadows in the inland parts of England\ remote
from the fea. The gelatinous fubdance, known
by the name of Star foot, or Star Geliy , owes its
origin to this bird, or fome of the kind \ being
nothing but the half digeded remains of earth¬
worms, on which thefe birds feed, and often did
charge from their domachs.*

* Vide Mortons Nat . Hijl. Northampt . p. 353.

SPECIES VI,

Common fea mall. Wil. orn. 345.
Common fea mall, or mew. Rail
fyn. av. 127.

I \ HIS , is the mod numerous of the ge¬
nus. It breeds on the ledges of the

cliffs that impend over the fea : in win^
ter they are found in vad flocks on all our (bores,
They differ a little in fize ; one we examined
weighed twelve ounces and a half: its length

The Common Gull.

Gavia cinerea. ? Brijfon av. VI. 175.

Tab. 16. Fig. 1.

Larus canus. Lin. Jyft. 136.

was feventeen inches : its breadth thirty-fix ; the
bill yellow : the head, neck, tail, and whole un¬
der fide of the body, a pure white : the back,
and coverts of the wings, a pale grey : near the

end of the greater quil feathers was a black fpot:
the legs a dull white, tinged with green.

SPECIES VII

Wil. orn . 346.

Raii fyn. av. 128.

Larus trida&ylus. Lin. fyft. 136.

T H E length is fourteen inches; the
breadth three feet: the weight only

feven ounces. The bill is black, {hort,
thick, and drong, the head large : the color of

The Tarrock. Plate £ 3.

Gavia cinerea nsevia. Brijfon av. VL
185. Tab. 17. Fig. 2.

that, the throat, neck, and whole under fide are
white : near each ear, and under the throat, is a
black fpot: on the hind part of the neck is a
black ^credent, the horns pointing to the throat :

the

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Clafs II.]

BIRDS.

the back, and fcapuiars are of a bluilh grey : the
leficr coverts of the wings, dufky, edged with
grey ; the larger next to them, of the fame co¬
lor ; the reft grey : the exterior fides, and ends
of the four firft quil feathers are black : the tips
of the two next black; all the reft wholly white :

the ten middle feathers of the tail white, tipt
with black; the two outmoft quite white : the
legs of a dulky aih-color. In lieu of the back
toe, it has only a fmall protuberance, which is a
certain character of this kind.

SPECIES VIII The Pewit Gull. Plate £ 5.

Pewit, or black cap; fea crow; mire
crow. t'Vil. orn. 347.

Rail fyn. av. 128.

Pewit. Plott. hi ft. Staff. 231.

Puit. Fuller’s Brit, worthies 318.

p —1[ \ H ESE birds breed in vaft numbers,

in the ifiands of certain pools in the
county of Stafford ; and, as Doclor

Gaviaridibunda Phoenicopos. Briffon
av. VI. 196.

Larus atricilla. ? Lin. fyft. 136.
Cepphus Turneri. Gefner av. 249.

.*-■

on his death, they never fail to fhift their quar¬
ters for a certain time.

Fuller tells us, in another on the Effex ihores.
They are birds of paflage ; refort there in the
fpring ; and after the breeding feafon difperfe to
the fea coafts : they make their neft on the
ground, with rallies, dead grafs, and the like ;
and lay from four to fx eggs, of a dirty olive
color, marked with black. The young were
formerly highly efteemed, and numbers were
annually taken, and fattened for the table. Plott
gives a wonderful account of their attachment to
the lord of the (oil they inhabite 5 mfomuch that

The notes of thefe gulls diftinguiih them from
any others; being like a hoarfe laugh. Their
weight is about ten ounces : their length fifteen
inches $ their breadth thirty-feven. Their bills
and legs are of a fanguine red : the heads and
throats black or duiky : neck, and all the under
fide of the body, and the tail, a pure white : back,
and wings aih-colored : tip, and exterior edge of
the firft quil feather black ; the reft of that fea¬
ther white ; and the next to that tipt with black,
and marked with the fame on the inner web.

SPECIES IX. The fmall brown Gull.

The brown Tern. J'Vil. orn. 352.

Rail fyn . av. 131. 9

R. Ray has left us the following ob-
fcure account of this bird ; commu¬
nicated to him by Mr. Johnfon , a
Torkjhire Gentleman. “ The whole under-fide is
white 5 the upper brown : the wings partly
brown, partly afh-color: the head blacx . the

CC

i c

tail not forked : thefe birds fly in companies.”
Befides this, Sibbald has left us the name and
figure of a gull that breeds in the Bafs ifle ; he
calls it Kittiwake , and adds, that it is the fize of
a pigeon, and as good meat as a partridge*.

u

* Sib. hijl . Scot. 20. Tab. 1 6. Fig. 2. Hijl. Fife 44.

GENUS

mmm

. ■ -

H4

BIRDS.

[Clafs II.

GENUS XIV. T E R N S. J
SPECIES I. The greater Tern. Plate JL*.

The fea {wallow. tVil. orn. 352.
Sterna major. Briffon av. VI. 203.
Tab . 19. Fig. 1.

T HIS kind weighs four ounces, one
quarter : the length is fourteen inches ;

the breadth thirty : the tail and feet are
of a fine crimfon; the former tipt with black,
flrait, flendtr, and fharp pointed : the crown, and
hind part of the head, black : the throat, and
whole under nde of the body, white : the upper
part, and the coverts of the wings, a fine pale
grey : the tail confifts of twelve feathers j the
exterior edges of the three outmoft are grey, the
reft white : the exterior, on each fide, is two iq-

Raii fyn. av. 131.

Sterna hirundo. Lin. Jyft. 137.
Sterna. Gefner av. 586.

ches longer than the others : in flying, the bird
frequently clofes them together, fo as to make
them appear one flender feather. Thefe birds
frequent the fea fhores, banks of lakes and rivers :
they feed on fmall fifh, and water infers ; hover¬
ing over the water, and fuddenly darting into it,
to catch up their prey. They breed among fmall
tufts of rufhes \ and lay three or four eggs, of a
dull olive color, fpotted with black. All the birds
of this genus are very clamorous.

t A name thefe birds $re known by in the North of England-, and
which we fubftitute inftead of the old compound one of Sea Swallow
which was given them on account of their forked tails.

SPECIES II. The Idler Tern. Plate £2.

Leffer lea fwallow. JVil. orn. 353.
Sterna minor. Briffon av. VI. 206.
Tab. 19. Fig. 2.

T H E manners, haunts, and food of this
are the fame with the former : but the

fpecies is more numerous. The weight
is only two ounces, five grains : the length eight
inches and a half j the breadth nineteen and a
half. The bill is yellow, tipt with black: the
forehead and cheeks white : from the eyes to the
bill is a black line : the top of the head, and hind
part black : the breaft, and under fide of the bo¬
dy, cloathed with feathers fo clofely fet together.

Rail Jyn. av. 131.

Laras pifcator, Gefner av. 537,
Fig. 588.

and of fuch an exquifite rich a glofs, and fb fine a
white, that no fatin can be compared to it: the
back, and wings of a pale grey: the tail fhort,
lefs forked than that of the former, and white: the
legs yellow : the irides dufky. Thefe two fpe¬
cies are very delicate, and feem unable to bear the
inclemency of the weather, on our fhores*, during
winter : for we obferve they quit their breeding
places at the approach of it $ nor retire till fpring.

* North Wales. •

SPECIES

Clafs II.]

BIRDS.

HS

SPECIES IB. The black Tern

l*i.

Rail fyn. av. 131. idem 132*

The fcare crow ? JVil. orn. 353.
Our black cloven-footed Gull.
Idem. 354.

Sterna nigra. Brijfon av. VI. 2 11.
Tab. 20. Fig. 1.

T his is of a middle fize, between thd
firft and fecond fpecies. The head,
neck, breaft, and belly, as far as t
V ent, are black ; beyond is white : the male has
a white fpot under its chin ; the back and wings
are of a deep afh-color: the tail is Ihort, and
forked ; the exterior feather on each fide is white ;

Sterna nigra. Lin* fyfl, 137*

Larus niger. Gefner av. 588. Fig.

589-

the others afh-colored: the lens and feet of a
dufky red. Mr. Ray calls this a clovenTooted
gull ; as the webs are deprefled in the middle,
and form a crefcent. Thefe birds frequent frefh
waters, and breed on their banks, among the
reeds.

GENUS XV.
SPECIES I. The

Wil. orn. 395.

Fulmar. Martin's vojt. St. Kilda .

30. Defer, weft, ijles 283.

Fulmer. Macauly's hift, St. Kilda.

* 45 *

Haffneft. Clufii. exot. 368.

^ H I S fpecies inhabites the ille of St.
Kilda: makes its appearance there in
November , and continues the whole

year, except September and OClober ; it lays a
large, white, and very brittle egg \ and the young
are hatched the middle of June, No bird is of
equal ufe to the iflanders as this : the Fulmar fup-
plies them with oil for their lamps, down for their
beds, a delicacy for their tables; a balm for their
wounds, and a medicine for their diftempers. The
whole genus of Petrels have a peculiar faculty
of fpouting from their bills, to a confiderable dift-
ance, a large quantity of pure oyl} which they
do, by way of defence, into the face of any that
attempts to take them : % fo that they are, for
the fake of this panaccea y feized by furprize ; as

* In the General Advertifer^ for June , 1761, is the following remaik-
able Account from the Jjle of Mull* A Gentleman of the Name of
Campbell , being fowling among the Rocks, and having mounted a Lad¬
der to take fome Birds out of their Holes 5 vvas fo fui prized, by one of
thefe Species fpurting a Quantity of Oil in his Face, that he quitted his
hold, fell down, and perilhed.

PETRELS.

Fulmar. Plate jfltl 2.

Procellaria cinerea. Brijfon av. VI.

143. Tab. 12. Fig. 2.
Procellaria glacialis. Brunnich or-
nith. 29.

The mallemucke. Marten s voy.
Spitzberg. engl. edit. 93.

this oil is fubfervient to the above-mentioned

medical ufes. Martin tells us, it has been ufed in

London and Fdenburgh with fuccefs, in Rheuma¬
tic cafes.

The fize of this bird is reprefented in the plate.

The noftrils are compofed of two large tubes,

lodged in one iheath ; the head, neck, whole

under fide of the body, and tail, are white 5 the

back, and coverts of the wings afh-colored; the

quil feathers dufky; the legs yellowifh. In lieu

of a back toe, it has only a fort of fpur, or fharp

ftrait nail. Thefe birds feed on the blubber or

fat of whales, &c. which, being foon convertible

into oil, fupplies them conftantly with means of

defence 5 as well as provifion for their young,

which they call up into their mouths.

Nn SPECIES

146

B I R

SPECIES II. The

Manks Puffin. Wit. orn. 333.

Rail fyn. av. 134 -
Shearwater. idem. 133.

JVil. orn . 334.

D S. [Clafs II.

Manks Petrel. Plate

Patines de oviedo ? Rail fyn.av. 191.
Edw. av. 359.

Puffinus. Brijfon av. VI. 131. Tab.
12. Fig. 1. is a variety of it.

Ta

H IS fpecies is about the fize of the
common gull; the bill is an inch and
three quarters long 5 the noftrils tu¬
bular, but not very prominent: the head, and
whole upper fide of the body, wings, tail, and
thighs, are of a footy blacknefs ; the under fide
from chin to tail, and inner coverts of the wings,
white ; the legs weak, and comprefled fide ways;
dulky behind, whitilh before.

Thefe birds are found in the Calf of Man:
and, as Mr. Ray fuppofes, in the Scilly-iftes : they
refort to the former in February $ take a fhort

pofieftion of the rabbet borroughs, and then dif-
appear till April : they lay one egg ; and the
young are fit to take the beginning of Auguft ;
when great numbers are killed by the perfon who
farms the ifie : they are falted, and barrelled , and
when ufed are boiled, and eat with potatoes.
During the day they keep at fea, fifhing; and
towards evening return to their young ; whom
they feed, by difcharging the contents of their
ftomachs into their mouths ; which by that time
is turned into oil. They quit the ifle the latter
end of Auguft , or beginning of September.

S P E C I E S III. The little Petrel. Plate £ 5.

The ftorm-finck. IdTd. orn. 395.
Small petrel. Edzv. av. go.

Borlafe CornwaJ. 247. Tab. 29.

The gourder. Smiths hijt. Kerry

18 6.

Affilag, Martin's voy. St. Kilda 34.

r“T |—\ HIS bird is about the fize of the houfer <
fwallow ; but the wings are of a much
greater length. The whole bird is
black, except the coverts of the tail, and vent fea¬
thers, which are white : the bill is hooked at the
end 5 the noftrils tubular : the legs (lender, and
long. It has the fame faculty of fpouting oil from
its bill, as the other fpecies \ and Mr. Brun -
nich tells us, that the inhabitants of the Ferroe
ifles make candles of it. Except in breeding time
it is always at fea ; and is feen all over the vaft
Atlantic ocean, at the greateft diftance from land ;

Sib. hift. Fife 48.

Prccellaria. Brijfon av. VI. 140.

Tab. 13. Fig. 1.

Procellaria pelagica. Lin. fyft. 131.
Clufti exot. 368.

Brunnich ornith. Boreal. 29.

it prefages bad weather, and cautions the feamen
of the approach of a tempeft, by coliedfing under
the ftern of the ftiips : it braves the utmoft fury
of the ftorm, fometimes fkimming with incredible
velocity along the hollows of the waves, fome¬
times on the fummits : Clufius makes it the Camil¬
la of the fea.

Vel mare per medium fludtu fulpenla tumenti
Ferret iter, celeres nec tingeret oequore plantas.

Thefe birds are the Cypfelli of Pliny , which he
places among the Apodes of Ariftotle 5 not be-
caufe they wanted feet, but were K caovofa, or had

ufelefs

- . I

!

.

.

.v *■

,

.

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.

*-* ' -■ .

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■ *v -

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rV

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bu

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wd

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aie(( Ji'ulp

Clafs II.] B I R

ufelefs ones ; an attribute he gives to thefe fpe-
cies, on a fuppofition they were almoft always on
wing. Hardouin, a critick quite unbilled in na¬
tural hiftory, imagines them to be martins, the
Cypfelli of Ariftatle *; but a little attention to
the text of each of thole antient naturalifts, is
fufficient to evince that they are very different

* Lib. 9. c. 38. edit. Scaliger. p. 1067.

D S.

147

birds ; the latter very accurately defcribes the
characters of that fpecies of fwallow ; while Pli¬
ny exprefles the very manner of life of our Petrel.

Nidificant in fcopulis. hse funt qure toio marl
cernuntur: nec unquam tam longo naves, tamque
continuo curfu recedunt a terra, ut non circum-
volitent eas Apodes. lib. 10. c. 39.

GENUS
S P E G I E S I

XVI. GOOSANDERS.

The Goofander. Plate f&Be Male,

T the Female.

Goofander. IVil. orn. 335.
Dun-diver, or fparling-fowl. Ibid.
Merganfer. Briffon av. VI. 231.
Tab. 22.

¥ || H E S E birds frequent our rivers, and

1 other frefh waters, efpecially in hard
•vL* winters j they are great divers, and live
on fifh. The male weighs four pounds : its length
is two feet four inches $ the breadth three feet
two. The bill is three inches long, narrow, and
finely toothed, or furrated : the color of that, and
the irides is red. The head is large, and the fea¬
thers on the hind part long and loofe : the color
black, finely gloffed with green : the upper part
of the neck the fame : the lower part, and under
fide of the body of a fine pale yellow : the upper
part of the back, and inner fcapulars are black :
the lower part of the back, and the tail are afh-

Raii Jyn. av. 134.

Mergus merganfer, Lin. Jyft. 129.
Mergus cirrhatus (foem.) Gefner av.
134- merganfer 135.

colored : the tail confifts of eighteen feathers : the
greater quil feathers are black, the lefTer white,
fome of which are edged with black : the coverts
at the fetting on of the wing are black ; the red
white : the legs of a deep orange color.

The dun Diver , or female, is lefs than the
male: the head, and upper part of the neck are
ferruginous ; the throat white: the feathers on
the hind part are long* and form a pendent cred :
the back, the coverts of the wings, and the tail
are of a deep afh-color : the greater quil feathers
are black, the lefTer white : the bread, and middle
of the belly are white, tinged with yellow.

SPECIES II.

The Scrula. JVil. orn. 336.

Raii Jyn. av. 1 35 -

Lefler toothed Diver. Morton North -
ampt. 429.

HIS fpecies weighs two pounds : the
length is one foot nine inches ; the
breadth two feet (even : the bill is
:hree inches long, the lower mandible red; the

The lefler Dun Diver.

Merganfer criftatus. ? Brijfon av.
VI. 237,

Mergus ferrator. Lin. jyft. \ 29.

upper dufky : the irides a purplifh red : the head,
and upper part of the neck of a deep rud color ;
the former adorned with a pendent cred : the
throat white : the fore part of the neck and the

bread

[ClafsII

B I R

bread: are marbled with deep aih-color : the belly
is white : the greater quil feathers are black ; the
lefier have their upper halves white : the coverts
on the ridge of the wing are aih-color ; the next
are white; and the lowed tipt with black : the
back, fcapulars, and tail are aih-colored. Mr.
Brijfon defcribes this as the female of the red

D S.

breafted Goofander. Edw. av. 95. Mr. Willough¬
by too fufpe&s that its male reprefents fome bird
limilar to the Goofander : as the former is fre¬
quent in the Baltic fea*, the fpecies we defcribe
may prove only its female} and, as is fometimes
the cafe with other birds, the female only mi¬
grates.

* Brunnicb. ornith. 23 .

S P E C I E S III. The Smew. Plate 0 i.

White Nun. WtL orn . 337 -
Lough Diver. 338.

Raii fyn . av , I 3 S-

Mergus albellus. Lin. fyft. 129.

I T S weight is thirty-four ounces ; the length
eighteen inches; the breadth twenty-fix.
The bill is near two inches long, and of a lead
color : the head is adorned with a long creft,
white above, black beneath : from a little beyond
the eye to the bill, is a large oval black fpot,
globed with green ; the head, neck, and whole
under fide of the body are of a pure white 5 on
the lower part of the neck are two femilunar black
lines pointing forward; the inner fcapulars, the
back, the coverts on the ridge of the wing, and
the greater quil feathers are black 5 the middle

Merganfer criftatus minor. Brijfon
av. VI. 243. Tab. 24. Fig. 1 & 2.
Mergus rhenanus. Gefner av. I 3 i-

rows of coverts are white ; the next black, tipt
with white ; the leiler quil feathers the fame ; the
fcapulars next the wings white: the tail deep
aih-color : the legs a bluiih grey.

The female, or lough Diver , is lefs than the
male. The marks in the wings are the fame in
both fexes : the back, the fcapulars, and the tail
are duiky : the head, and hind part of the neck
ferruginous : chin, and fore part of the neck
white : the bread: clouded with grey ; the belly
white : the legs duiky.

SPECIES IV. The red headed Smew. Plate 2.

The weefel coot. sllb. av. i. p. 84,
Tab. 88.

Mergus minutus ? Tin. fyft. 129.

Merganfer ftellatus ? Brijfon av. VI.
252.

HIS bird weighs fifteen ounces : the
lencrth is one foot four inches ; the
breadth one foot eleven inches : the
bill is of a lead color : the head is ilightly crefted,

and of a ruft color : from beyond the eyes to the
bill is an oval black fpot : the cheeks and throat
are white : the hind part of the neck is of a deep
grey : the fore part clouded with a lighter : the

belly white : the back and tail are of a duiky aih-
color : the legs of a pale aih-color : the wings

have exactly the fame marks and colors with the

fmew \ and as the fpaces between the eyes and

bill are marked with a fimilar fpot in both : if

authors did not agree to make the lough diver

the female of that bird, we fhould fuppofe this to
be it.

SPECIES

Clafs II.

149

G E
S P E

Wild fwan, elk, or
orn. 356.

Rail Jyn. av. 136.
Edw. av. 150.

BIRDS.

N U S XVII.

DUCKS.

C I E S I.

The Wild Swan.

hooper. JVil.

Cygnus ferus. Briffon av. VI.

Tab. 28.

Anas cygnus ferus. Lin. fyft.

Gefner av. 373. ?

292.

122 .

r I H E wild fwan frequents our coafts in
hard winters in large flocks, but as far

as we can inform ourfelves does not
breed in Great-Britain. Martin * acquaints us,
that fwans come in OBober in great numbers to
Lin gey , one of the wejlern ifles ; and continue
there till March , when they retire more north to
breed. Thefe, as well as moft other water fowl,
prefer for that purpofe thofe places that are left
frequented by mankind i accordingly we find that
the lakes and forefts of the diftant Lapland are
filled during fummer with myriads of water fowl,
and there fwans, geefe, the duck tribe, goofanders,

* Defer . 'weft, ijles 71.

divers, See. pafs that feafon; but in autumn return
to us, and to other more hofpitable (bores f.

This fpecies is lefs than the tame fwan. The
lower part of the bill is black ; the bafe of it and
the fpace between that and the eyes is covered
with a naked yellow fkin ; the eyelids are bare
and yellow : the whole plumage in old birds is of
a pure white ; the down is very foft and thick :
the legs dufky. The cry of this kind is very
loud, and may be heard at a great diftance, from
which it is fometimes called the hooper.

•f Flora Lapponica 273. Ouvres de M. de Maupertuis. tom. 3. p. 141,
175. according to the obfervation of that illuftrious writer, the Lapland
lakes are filled with the chryfalides of fome infeff (the Knat, culex pipiens.
Lin.fyfl. 602.) which being an agreeable food to water fowl, is another
taufe of their refort to thofe deferts.

SPECIES II. The Tame Swan.

IVil. orn. 355.

Rail fyn. av. 136.
Edw. av. 150.

Plot/s hift. Staff. 228.

I

r~|T“^ H i S is the largeft of the Britijh birds;

it is diftinguifhed externally from the
-SL wild fwan ; firft by its fize, being much
larger : and fecondly by the bill, which in this is
red, and the tip and fides black ; and the fkin
between the eyes and bill is of the fame color .
over the bafe of the upper mandible pioje£fs a
black callous knob : the whole plumage in old
birds is white ; in young ones afli-colored ; the

Briffon av. VI. 288.

Anas cygnus manfuetus. Lin. fyft.
122.

Gefner av. 371.

legs dufky : but DoBor Ploit mentions a variety
found on the Trent near Buge/y, with red legs.
The fwan lays feven or eight eggs, and is near
two months in hatching : it feeds on water plants,
infers and (hells. In former times it was ferved
up at every great feaft as a dilh of ftate, when the
eleo-ance of the table was meafured by the fize
and quantity of the good cheer.

O o

SPECIES

B I

[Glafs II.

R D

SPECIES III. The Goofe.

Tame goofe, common wild goofe.

Wil. orn. 358. fp. 1,2.

Rail fyn. av. 136. fp. 3, 4.

Brijfon av. V). 262, 265.

"™^HE goofe, in its wild date always retains
the fame marks : the whole upper part
is afh-colored, or brown a little clouded:
the bread and belly are of a dirty white : the vent
feathers, and thofe incumbent on the tail are of a
pure white : the quil feathers and the tail are
dulky; the latter edged with white : the middle
of the bill is red ; the end and bafe black :
the leas faffron color. In the tame ftate, geefe
as well as other domeftic animals vary almoft in¬
finitely in their marks; but thefe birds ever retain
the white ring round their tail, a fign of their o-
rigin from the wild kind : they are faid to be very
long lived. Mr. ll^illoughby gives an example of
one that attained eighty years. The wild fpecies

Anus anfer manfuetus—ferus. Lin.

m i -3-

Gefner av. 142, 158.

breed in fens and other retired places : in the be¬
ginning of winter they light and feed on corn
grounds : they fly a great heighth, and preferve
great regularity in their motions, fometimes form¬
ing a drait line ; at others affuming the fhape of
a wedge, which facilitates their progrefs ; for they
cut the air the readier in that form than if they
flew pelmell. Befides this fpecies, DoSlor Lifter*
mentions three others: iff. the marjh-goofe , or
grey leg ; which appears to be no other than our
wild goofe. 2d. the fmallfpanifto goofe , which in
color refembles the common goofe, but is no larger
than the brent goofe. 3d. the great black goofe ,
or whilk. To thefe we may add another, that
feems only a variety, which is

* Raii fyn. av. 138.

The white fronted Wild goofe.

Plate <$

The laughing goofe. Edw. av. 153.
Anas erythropus. Lin. fyft. 123.

T j§ \ H I S is found very frequently in the
winter, in the marfhes of Chejhire. The
weight is about five pounds : the length
twenty-eight inches ; the breadth four feet and
a half: the bill is of a reddifh yellow : the fore¬
head white : the crown of the head is of a deep
cinereous brown : the upper part of the bread of

SPECIES IV.

Anas feptentrionalis fylveftris.
Brijfon av. VI. 269.

a light afh-color, clouded with a deeper : the
belly is white, marked with large black fpots : the
coverts of the wings are grey, edged with brown :
the feathers above and below the tail white : the
tail black, edged with white; the legs orange
color.

The Bernacle.

Bernacle^ or Clakis. TVil. orn\

Rail fyn. av. 137.

Sibb. hi ft . Scot. 21.

GerardS Herbal 1587.

HIS bird weighs about five pounds;
the length is two feet one inch; the

breadth four feet five inches; the bill
is black, and only one inch three-eights long ;

Briffon av. VI. 300.

Anfer brendinus. Caiiopufc. 87.
Brenta, vel Bernicla. Gefner av.
109, no.

the head is fmall; the forehead and cheeks white ;
from the bill to the eyes is a black line ; the hind
part of the head, the whole neck, and upper part
of the bread and back are of a deep black; the

whole

Clafs II. ]

bird s.

151

whole under fide of the body, and coverts of the
tail are white 3 the back, fcapulars and coverts of
the wings, are beautifully barred with grey, black,
and white 5 the tail is black 3 the legs of the
fame color, and fmall.

Thefe birds appear in vaft flocks during winter,
on the north weft coafts of this kingdom : are
very fhy and wild 3 but on being taken, grow
as familiar as our tame geefe in a few days.
Thefe are the birds that about two hundred years

ago were believed to be generated out of wood,
or rather a fpecies of fhell that is often found
flicking to the bottoms of fhips, or fragments of
them3 and were called Tree-geefe Thefe
were alfo thought by fbme writers to have been
the Chenalopeces of Pliny: they fhould have faid
Chenerotes 3 for thole were the birds that naturalift
faid were found in Britain 5 but as he has fcarce
lert us any defcnption of them, it is impoffible to
determine what fpecies he intended **

* The fhell here meant is the lepas anatifera. Lin.fyjl. 668. Ar%m-
vtl e Conch. Tab. 7. the animal that inhabites it is furnifhed with a fea¬
thered beard 3 which, in a credulous age, was believed to be part of the
young bird.

** Anferini generis funt Chenalopeces: et quibus lantiores er
non novit Britannia Chenerotes , fereanfere minores. Lib . 10, c

SPECIES V. The Brent Goofe.

IV)l. orn. 360.

Rail fyn. av. i 37.

Bernacle. Nat. hift. Ireland 192 .

1 s is inferior in fize to the former :
the bill is one inch and an half lone ;
the color of that, the head, neck, and
upper part of the breaft is black 3 on each fide
the flendereft part of the neck is a white fpot 3
the lower part of the breaft, the fcapulars, and
coverts of the wines are afn-colored, clouded
with a deeper fhade 3 the feathers above and be¬
low the tail are white 5 the tail and quil feathers
black 3 the legs black.

Thefe birds frequent our coafts in the winter :
in Ireland they are called Bernacles , and appear
in great quantities in Auguft , and leave it in

Brenta. Brijfon av. VI. 304. Tab. 31.
Anas Bernicla. Lin. fyft. 1 24.

March. They feed on a fort of long graft
growing in the water 3 preferring the root and
fbme part above it, which they dive for, bite off
and leave the upper part to drive on fhore. They
abound near Londonderry, B elf aft > and Wexford 5
and are taken in flight time in nets placed a-croft
the rivers 3 and are much efteemed for their de¬
licacy. The Rat or Road-goofe , of Mr. Wil¬
loughby, agrees in fo many refpedls with this
kind, that we fufpedf it to be only a young bird
not come to full feathers : the only difference
confifting in the feathers next the bill, and on the
throat and breaft being brown.

t P 3 61 -

SPECIES

i5 2

B I R

SPECIES VI.

pjRormiuss eider, or feft feathered
duck; the Cuthbert duck, JVil.

orn. 362.

Raii fyn. av. 141.

Great black and white duck, Eazv.

av. 98.

Eider anas. Sib. Scot. 21,

—^ HIS ufeful fpecies is found in the
weftern ijles of Scotland ,and on theiw#
ijles j * ** but in greater numbers in iW-
Iceland, and Greenland: from whence avail
quantity of the down, known by the name of
Eider or Edder, which thefe birds furnifh, is an¬
nually imported : its remarkably light, elaftic,
and warm qualities, make it highly efteemed as
a fluffing for coverlets, by fuch whom age or in¬
firm hies render unable to fupport the weight of

common blankets. This down is produced from
the breafl of the bird in the breeding feafon. It
lavs its eggs among the Hones ox plants, near
the ffiore ; and prepares a foft bed for them, by
plucking the down from its own breafl j the na¬
tives watch the opportunity, and take away both
eggs and nefl : the duck lays again, and repeats
the feathering of its breafl: if ffie is robbed after
that, ffie will Hill lay $ but the drakes muft fupply
the down, as her flock is now exhaufted : but

D s . [Clafsll

The Eider Duck.

The Colk. Martin's defcription of
the weftern ijles 25*

Anfer lanuginofus. Briffon av. VI.

294. Tab. 29. Fig. 30.

Anas molliffima. Lin. Jyft. 124.
Pontop. hift. Norway. II. 70.

Hot. hift. Icel. 65.

if the eggs are taken a third time, fne wholly
deferts the place.

This kind is double the fize of the common
duck : its bill is black; the feathers of the fore¬
head and cheeks advance far into the bafe, fo as
to form two very ffiarp angles : the forehead is of
a full velvet black : from the bill to the hind part
of the head is a broad black bar, palling a-crofs
the eyes on each fide: on the hind part of the
neck, juft beneath the ends of thefe bars, is a pea
green mark, that looks liker a flam i the crown
of the head, the neck, back, and coverts of the
wrings are white $ the lower part of the breafl,
the belly, tail, and quil feathers, and legs are
black : the female is entirely of a reddifh brown,

barred with black : the greater or laft row of co¬
verts of the wings, and the lefler row of quil fea¬
thers are tipt with white ; the tail is dufky.

* Ray s it in, 183.

** It lays five or fix eggs as
color.

large as thofe of a goofe, and qf a green

SPECIES VII.

The black duck. JVil. orn. 363,
Raii fyn. av. 14 1 •

Dales hift. Harwich 4 °5-

^HE male of this fpecies, according to
Mr. Willoughby , (for we have feen only
the female) is larger than the tame
duck. The bill is broad and fhort * yellow on

The Velvet Duck.

Anas niger major. Briffon av. VI,
423-

Anas fufca. Lin. fyft. 123.

the fides, black in the middle, and the hook red :
the head, and part of the neck is black tinged

with green : behind each ear is a white fpot; and
in each wing is a white feather : all the reft of

the

.

, '. • - *

*

■■ w

——

Clafs II. ] B

the plumage is of a fine black, and of the foft and
delicate appearance of velvet: the legs and feet
are red ; the webs black : the female is entirely
of a deep brown color; the marks behind each

I R D S. 153

ear and bn the wings excepted : the bill is of the
fame colors with that of the male 5 but wants the
protuberance at the bafe of it, which Linnaeus
gives the male. %

* Faun. fuec. laji edit. 39.

SPECIES VIII. The Scoter. Plate <© 6

Black diver, or Scoter. JVil. orn.

3 66 .

Ran fyn. av. 141.

La macreufe. Ray's Letters 161.

Date's hift. Harwich. 405.

Briffon av. VI. 420. Tab. 38. Fig. 2.
Anas nigra. Lin. fyft. 123.

\ H I S fpecies weighs two pounds nine
ounces: the length is twenty-two in-

ches $ the breadth thirty-four : the
middle of the bill is of a fine yellow, r the reft is
black : both male and female wants the hook at
the end } but on the bafe of the bill of the former
is a large knob, divided by a fiflure in the middle.
The tail confifts of fixteen fharp pointed feathers,

of which the middle are the longeft. The color
of the whole plumage is black, that of the head
and neck gloffed over with purple : the legs are
black. This bird is allowed in the romijh church
to be eaten in Lent , and is the macreufe of the
French. It is a great diver, faid to live almoft
conftantly at fea, and to be taken in nets placed
under water.

SPECIES IX. The tufted Duck. Plate 6.

JV'd. orn. 365.

Rail fyn. av. 142.

Straufs endt. Gefner av. 107,

HIS fcarce weighs two pounds : the
length is fifteen inches and a half: the
bill is of abluifh grey, the hook black.
The head is adorned with a thick, but fhort pen¬
dent creft. The belly, lefter quil feathers, and un-

Glauchim minus. Briffon av. VI.

411. Tab. 27. Fig. 1.

Anas fuligula. Lin. fyft. 123.

der coverts of the wings are of a pure white : the
reft of the plumage is black, varied about the
head with purple : the tail is very fhort: the
legs of a bluifh grey ; the webs black. The female
wants the creft.

SPECIES X. The Scaup Duck.

mi. orn. 3 6 5 -
Rail fyn. av. 142.

Anas mariia. Faun. fuec. 39.

F —|—^ H IS we defcribed from a ftult (kin
I very well preferved *. It feemed left
Jee. than the common duck. The bill was
broad, fiat, and of a greyilh blue color: the head

* When this happens we have recourfe to Mi. Willoughby for
weight and meafurements, whenever he hath noted them.

Glaucium minus ftriatum. Briffon
av. VI. 416.

and neck black gloffed with green : the breaft
black : the back, the coverts of the wings, and
the fcapulars finely marked with numerous narrow
tranfverfe bars of black and gre\: the greater

P p quil

J 54

BIRDS.

, r Clafs II.

L

i

\

*

■ .‘set

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■ V

quil feathers are dufky : the lefler white, tipt with
black : the belly is white : the tail and feathers,
both above and below is black ; the thighs barred
with dufky and white ftrokes : the legs dufky
Mr. Willoughby acquaints us, that thefe birds

take their name from feeding on fcaup , or broken
{hell fifh : he obferves too, they differ infinitely
in colors ; fo that in a flock of forty or fifty there
are not two alike.

SPECIES XI. The Golden Eye.

x

TVil. orn. 368.

Rail fyn. av. 142.

Brijfon av. VI. 416. Tab. 37. Fig. 2.

VH I S fpecies weighs two pounds : the
length is nineteen inches; the breadth

thirty-one. The bill is black, ftiort,
and broad at the bafe : the head is large, of a

de.:p black glofled with green : at each corner of

*

the mouth is a large white fpot: the irides are of
a bright yellow: the upper part of the neck is
of the fame color with that of the head: the

■ ■ * .4

breaft and whole under fide of the body are white;
the fcapulars black and white : the back, tail,
and the coverts on the ridge of the wing black :

Anas clangula. Lin. Jyft. 125.
Gefner av. 119.

the fourteen firft quil feathers, and the four laft
are black ; the feven middlemoft white, as are
the coverts immediately above them : the legs of
an orange color. The head of the female * * is of
a deep brown, tinged with red : the neck grey ;
breaft and belly white: coverts and fcapulars dufky
and afh-colored : middle quil feathers white; the
others together with the tail black ; the legs
dufky. Thefe birds frequent frefh water, as well
as the fea; being found on the Shropjhire meres
during winter.

* The fmaller red headed duck. Will orn. 369. Rati fyn. av. 143.

SPECIES XII. The Shieldrake. Plate

Shieldrake, or burrough duck. JVih
orn. 363.

Rail fyn. av. 140.

Anas tadorna. Lin. Jyft. 122.

^HE male of this elegant fpecies weighs
two pounds ten ounces; the length is

two feet; the breadth three and a half.
The bill is of a bright red, and at the bafe fwells
into a knob, which is moft confpicuous in the
fpring ; the head and upper part of the neck is
of a fine blackifh green; the lower part of the neck
white ; the breaft, and upper part of the back is
furrounded with a broad band of bright orange
bay; the coverts of the wings, and the middle
of the back are white; the fcapulars black; the

Tadorna. Briffon av. VI. 344. Tab.
33. Fig. 2.

Anas maritima. Gefner av. 803, 804.

greater quil feathers are black ; the exterior web s
of the next are of a fine green, and thofe of the
laft orange; the poverts of the tail are white ;
the tail itfelf of the fame color, and except the
two outmoft feathers tipt with black ; the belly
white, divided lengthways by a black line; the
legs of a pale flefh color. Thefe birds inhabite the
fea coafts, and breed in rabbet holes. They lay
fifteen or fixteen eggs, white, and of a roundifh
fhape. In winter they collect in great flocks.
Their flefh is very rank and bad,

SPECIES

I

casMfes:

Clafs II.]

birds.

SPECIES Xlll. The Mallard

Goramon wild duck and mallard*
Common tame duck. IVil. orn.

37 b 3 So -

Anas fera. Anas domeftica. Brijfon
av. VI. 308, 318.

F the extreme commonefs of this well known
bird did not render a defcription unnecefiary ;
^ the form of the four middle feathers of the
tail in the male would diftinguifh that from all
others of this genus 5 thefe are curled and turn
up towards the back; the female wants this
mark; her plumage is of a reddifti brown, fpotted
in the middle of each feather with black : the
bill in both fexes is of a greeniftt yellow, very
Fat and broad The common tame fpecies of
ducks take their origin from thefe, and may be
traced to it by unerring chambers. The drakes,

Rail fyn. av. 145, 150.

Anas bofchas. Anas domeftica. Lin.
fyfi. 127.

Anas fera torquata minor. Anas
domeftica. Gefner av. 112,96.

howfoever they vary in colors, always retain
the curled feathers of the tail : and both fexes
the form of the bill of the wild kind. Nature
fports in the colors of all domeftic animals ; and
for a wife and ufeful end; that mankind may
the more readily diftinguifh and clame their re-
fpe<ftive property. Wild ducks pair in the fpring,
and breed in all marfhy grounds, and lay from ten
to fixteen eggs. They abound in Lincolnfoire ,
the great magazine of wild fowl in this kingdom ;
whofe prodigious numbers are taken annually in
the decoys.

SPECIES XIV. The Shoveler. Plate 0 4.

PIT. orn. 370.

Rail fyn. av. 143 -

Phafianus marinus. Charlton ex. 105.

HIS weighs twenty-two ounces : its
length twenty-one inches. The bill is
L black, three inches long, fpreads near
the end to a great breadth; is furniftied with a
fmali hook, and the edges of each mandible
are pe<ftinated, or fupphed with thin laminae,
that lock into each other when the mouth is
clofed. The irides are of a bright yellow : the
head,and upper part of the neck of a blackifh
• green : the lower part of the neck, the breaft,
and the fcapulars are white: the back brown:

Brijfon av. VI. 329. Tab. 32. Fig. 1.
Anas clypeata Lin. Jyjr. 142.

Anas lataroftra. Gefner av. 120.

the coverts of the wings of a fine Fey blue; thofe
next the quil feathers tipt with white: the greater
quil feathers are dufky; the exterior webs of
thofe in the middle, are of a glofty green. The
tail confifts of fourteen feathers $ the outmoft are
white ; thofe in the middle black, edged with
white : the belly is of a bay color : the vent fea¬
thers black : the legs red. The female has the
fame marks in the wings as the male, but the co¬
lors are lefs bright: the reft of the plumage re-

fembles that of the common wild duck.

v *

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SPECIES

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[Clafs II.

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BIRDS.

S P E C I E S XV. The Pintail Duck. Plate 8

r

I

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Sea pheaiant,or cracke x.Wil. orn. 376.
Anas longicauda. BriJJon av. VI.
369. Tab. 34.

^HE form of this fpecies is {lender, and
the neck long : its weight twenty-four

ounces : its length twenty-eight inches;
its breadth one yard two inches. The bill is
black in the middle, blue on the fides : the head
is ferruginous, tinged behind the ears with purple;
from beneath the ears commences a white line,
which runs fome way down the neck \ this line
is bounded by black : the hind part of the neck,
the back, and fides are elegantly marked with
white and dufky lines : the fore part of the neck,
and belly are white : the fcapulars ftriped with

Rail Jyn. av. I 47 *

Anas acuta. Lin. fyft - 12 6.

Gefner av. 121.

black and white : the coverts of the wings afh-
colored ; the loweft tipt with dull orange : the
middle quil feathers barred on their outmoft webs
with green, black and white : the exterior feathers
of the tail are afh-colored : the two middle black,
and three inches longer than the others : the feet
of a lead color. The female is of a light brown
color, fpotted with black. Mr. Hartlib r in the
appendix to his Legacy , tells us that thofe birds
are found in great abundance in Connaught in
Ireland\ in the month of February only 5 and that
they are much pfleemed for their delicacy.

SPECIES XVI. The Swallow tail’d Shieldrake. Plate 13 7

Anas longicauda Iflandica. Rrijfon
av. VI. 379.

Anas hiemalis. Lin.Jyf. 126.

JVil. orn. 364.

Raii Jyn. av. 145.

Long tailed duck. Edzv. av. 280.,

H I S is inferior in fize to the former.
The bill is (hort, black at the tip and
bafe, orange color’d in the middle ;
the cheeks are of a pale brown : the hind part of
the head, and the neck both before and behind
are white j the fides of the upper part of the
neck are marked with a large dufky bar, pointing
downwards j the breaft and back are of a deep
chocolate color j the fcapulars are white, long,

narrow, and {harp pointed. The coverts of the
wings, and greater quil feathers dufky; the lefter
of a reddifh brown : the belly white 5 the four
middle feathers of the tail are black j and near
four inches longer than the others, which are
white : the legs dufky. Thefe birds breed in
Norway , and other northern countries, and in
very hard winters vifit our coafts.

SPECIES XVII.

Poker, pochard, or red headed wi-
geon. IVil. orn. 367,

Rail fyn. av. 143.

Anas ferina. Lin. fyjt. 126,

T S weight is about one pound twelve ounr
ces ; its length nineteen inches j its breadth
two feet and a half. The bill is of a deep
lead color : the head and neck are pf a bright bay

The Pochard. Plate 5.

Penelope. Brijfon av. VI. 384. Tab.
35 - Fig. 1.

Anas fera fufca, vel media. Gefner
av. 116,

color : the breaft, and part of the back where it
joins the neck are black : the coverts of the

wings, the fcapulars, back and fides under the
wings are of a pale grey, elegantly marked with

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Clafs II.]

birds.

I ry

narrow lines of black : the quil feathers dulky :
the belly alh-colored and brown : the tail confifts
of twelve Ihort feathers, of a deep grey color :
the legs lead colored : the irides of a bright yel¬
low, tinged with red. The head of the female is

of a pale reddiih brown : the bread; is rather of a
deeper color : the coverts of the wings a plain
a fit-color: the back marked like that of the male :
the belly afh-colored. Thefe birds frequent frefh
water as well as the fea.

SPECIES XVIII. The Wigeon.

Wigeon, or whewer. Wil. orn. 375.
Rail fyn. av. 146.

Anas penelope. Lin. Jyfl. 126.

^HE wigeon weighs near twenty-three
ounces : the length is twenty inches;
the breadth two feet three. The bill

is lead colored : the head, and upper part of the
neck is of a bright light bay; the forehead paler,
in fome almoft white : the lower part of the neck
is furrounded with a circle of feathers, marked

with fmall black and white undulated bars : the
plumage of the back, and fides under the wings
are colored in the fame manner : the bread: is of
a light purplifh hue : the belly white : the vent
feathers black. In fome birds the coverts of the

Gefner av. 121.

Anas fiftularis. Brijfon av. VI. 391.
Tab. 35. Fig. 2.

wings are almoft wholly white; in others of a pale
brown, edged with white : the greater quil fea¬
thers are dufky ; the outmoft webs of the middle
feathers of a fine green, the tips black $ the lafl
are elegantly diriped with black and white. The
two middle feathers of the tail are longer than
the others, black and (harp pointed $ the red: afh-
colored : the legs dufky. The head of the fe¬
male is of a rufty brown, fpotted with black ; the
back is of a deep brown edged with a paler : the
tips of the lefler quil feathers white : the belly
white.

SPECIES XIX. The Gad wall. Plate 3

Gadwall, or Gray. JVd. orn. 374.
Rail fyn. av. 145 *

Brijfon av. VI. 339. Tab. 33. Fig. 1

wr~\ H I S fpecies is rather inferior in fize
to the wigeon. The bill is two inches

<D

long, black, and flat j the head, and
upper part of the neck are of a reddifh brown
fpotted with black \ the lower part, tne bread,
the upper part of the back, and the fcapmars aie
beautifully marked with black and white lines j
the belly is of a dirty white j the rump above
and below is black ; the tail afh-colored, edged
with white \ the coverts on the ridge of the wing

Anas ftrepera. Lin . fyft. 125.
Gefner av . 121.

are of a pale reddifh brown ; thofe beneath are of
a purplifh red, the lowed of a deep black j the
greater quil feathers are dusky; the inner web of
three of the lefler quil feathers are white ; which
forms a confpicuous fpot j the legs are orange
colored. The bread of the female is of a reddifh
brown, fpotted with black ; the back of the fame
color j and tho’ it has the fame marks on the
wings, they are far inferior in brightnefs to thofe
of the male.

Qa

SPECIES

158

BIRDS.

fClafs II.

SPECIES XX.

JViL orn. 377.

Raiifyn.av. 148.

Querquedula varia, Gefner av. 107.

r HIS fpecies is of a fize between the

1 wigeon and teak The bill is of a deep
lead color ; the crown of the head is
dufky, marked with oblong ftreaks ; on the chin
is a large black fpot : from the corner of each
eye is a long white line, that points to the back
of the neck : the cheeks, and upper part of the
neck, are of a pale purple, marked with minute
oblong lines of white, pointing downwards ; the
bread: is of a light brown, marked with femicir-
cular bars of black : the belly is white; the lower
part and vent varied with fpecks, and bars of a

The Garganey. Plate © o.

Querquedula. Brijfon av. VI. 427.

Tab. 39.

Querquedula. Lin, fyft. 126.

dufky hue ; the coverts of the wings are grey;
but the lowed are tipt with white ; the fird quil
feathers are afh-colored; the exterior webs of
thofe in the middle green ; the fcapulars are long
and narrow, and elegantly driped with white, afh-
color, and black ; the tail dufky : the legs lead
color. The head of the female is fpotted with
brown, dufky and afh-color : the fpace round the
eyes dark : the bread marked with white, dufky,
and orange : the coverts of the wings, and the
fcapulars are of a brownifh afh-color.

SPECIES

ITil. orn. 377.

Rail Jyn. av, 147.

Querquedula. Gefner av. 106,

H E teal weighs about twelve ounces .♦
the length is fiveteen inches; the breadth
twenty-eight. The bill is black: the

head, and upper part of the neck are of a deep
bay: from the bill to the hind part of the head
is a broad bar of glofTy changeable green, bounded
on the lower fide by a narrow white line : the
lower part of the neck, the beginning of the
back, and the fides under the wings, are elegantly
marked with waved lines of black and white : the
bread and belly ar,e of a dirty white; the vent
black : the tail fharp pointed, and dufky: the co¬
verts of the wings brown : the greater quil fea¬

thers dufky; the exterior webs of the lefler marked
with a glody green fpot; above that another of
black, and the tips white : the irides whitifh : the
legs dusky. The female is of a brownifh afh-

XXI. The Teal.

Querquedula minor. Brijfon av.VI,
43d. Tab, 40. Fig. x.
Anascrecca. Lin. fyft. 126.

color, fpotted with black ; and has a green fpot

on the wing like the male. By the defcription

Mr. Willoughby has left of the fummer teal p.

378- we fufpeft that it differs not in fpecies from

the common kind, only in fex. Linnxus hath

placed it among the birds of his country; * but

leaves a blank in the place of its refidence ; and

hath evidently copied Mr. miloughbfs imperfect

defcription of it: and to confirm our fufpicion that

he has followed the error of our countryman, we

cbfcrved that a bird fent us from the Baltic fea,

under the title of anas circia, the fummer teal of

Linnet, was no other than the female of our

teal. Befides thefe fpecies of ducks, we have been

informed that the Glaucion, and a brown duck

with a white fpot in the wings, are fometimes feen
in Lincolnfhire.

9 Fauna Suecica, 2d. edit. 46.

G E N U S

■ wg g y a j

■H

Clafs II.]

bird s.

G.E N U S XVIII. The CORVORANT.

*59

*

S P E C I E S I. The Corvorant. Plate 3 i. The Female.

The cormorants TVtl.

orn. 329.

_'n. av% 122.

Pelecanus carbo. Lim jyftk 133.

H IS fpecies weighs four pounds. The
length is thirty-two inches; the breadth

near four feet. The bill is dulky, three
inches and a half long, and deftitute of noftrils •
the bale of the lower mandible is covered with a
naked yellowilh (kin, that extends under the chin,
and forms a fort of pouch : a loofe (kin of the fame
color reaches from the upper mandible round the
eyes, and angles of the mouth : the head and neck
are of a footy blacknefs; but under the chin of
the male, the feathers are white : the coverts of
the wings, the fcapuiars, and the back, are of a
deep green, edged with black, and gloffed with
blue : the quil feathers and tail dulky ; the laft
confifts of fourteen feathers: the belly dulky,
with a whitilh bed in the midft of it: on the
thighs of the male is a tuft of white feathers :
the legs are Ihort, ftrong, and black ; the middle

SPECIES

The lhag, called in the North of Eng¬
land the crane. JVil. orn. 330.
Corvus aquaticus minor. Graculus
palmipes dictus. Rail fyn. av. 123.

H E fhag is much inferior in fize to the
corvoranti the length is twenty-feven

inches ; the breadth three feet fix. The
bill is four inches long, and more (lender than
that of the preceding : the head is adorned with
a creft two inches long, pointing backward : the
whole plumage of the upper part of this bird is
of a fine and very Ihining green, the edges of the
feathers a purplilh black ; but the lower part of
the back is wholly green : the belly is dusky : the
tail confifts of only twelve feathers, of a dusky

Phalacrocorax. Briffon av. VI. 511
Tab\ 45* The

claw ferrated on the infide : the irides are of a
light alh-color. Thefe birds occupy the higheft
parts of the cliffs that impend over the fea : they
make their nefts of fticks, fea tang, grafs. See.

and lay fix or feven white eggs of an oblong form.
In winter they difperfe along the ftiores, and vifit
the frefh waters, where they make great havoke
among the fifth They are remarkably voracious,
having a moft fudden digeftion, promoted by the
infinite quantity of fmall worms that fill their in-
teftines. The corvorant has the rankeft and moft
difagreeable fmell of any bird, even when alive.
Its form is difagreeable,its voice hoarfe and croak¬
ing, and its qualities bale. No wonder then that
Milton Ihould make fatan perfonate this bird, to
T ur ve$ undelighted the beauties of Paradife 5 and
Jit devijing deaths on the tree of life.*^

VnrJT Iea T d Dr l ^ ° r derives the word Orvaram from

€ 7* pTZ S r?T r h ; ence ; COrm P tl y OUr word Cormorant. Caiiotufc on
** Paradife loft, took 4. Ime 194, & c . ^ J

II. The Shag.

Phalacrocorax minor. Rriffon av.
VI. 516.

Phalacrocorax criftatus. Rrunnich.
ornith. 31.

hue, tinged with green ; the legs are black, and
like thofe of the corvorant. Both thefe Ipecies
agree in their manners, and breed in the fame

places : and, what is very ftrange in webbed foot¬
ed birds, will perch and build in trees Both fwim
with their heads quite ere£t, and are very difficult
to be (hot; for, like the Grebes and Divers, as foon
as they fee the flafli of the gun pan, they pop un¬
der water, and never rife but at a confiderabie
diftance.

SPECIES

4

1

i6o

BIRDS

[Clafs II

SPECIES III. The Gannet. Plate 3

Soland goofe. IViL orn. 3 2 S.

Rail fyn. av. 122 .

Sib. hi ft. Scot. 20 . Tab. 9 .

Sib. hift. Fife 45? 47 * „ .

Solan goofe. Adantin s voy. St. Kilda.

27 .

H I S fpecies weighs four pounds and a
quarter : the length is three feet one
inch ; the breadth lix feet two inches.
The bill is fix inches long, ftrait almoft to the
point where it inclines down ; and the lides are
irregularly jagged, that it may hold its prey with
more fecurity : about an inch from the bafe of thy
upper mandible is a fharp procefs pointing for¬
ward : it has no noftrils 5 but in their place a long
furrow, that reaches almoft to the end of the bill:
the whole is of a dirty white, tinged with afh-
color. The tongue is very fmall, and placed low
in the mouth : a naked (kin of a fine blue fur-
rounds the eyes, which are of a pale yellow, and
are full of vivacity : this bird is remarkable for the
quicknefs of its fight; Martin tells us that Solan
is derived from an Irijh word expreffive of that

quality.

From the corner of the mouth is a narrow flip
of black bare fkin, that extends to the hind part
of the head : beneath the chin is another, that
like the pouch of the Pelecan , is dilatable,
and of fize fufficient to contain five or fix entire
herrings ; which, in the breeding feafon, it carries
at once to its mate or young.

The neck is very long : the body flat, and very
full of feathers : the crown of the head, and a
fmall fpace on the hind part of the neck is bufF
colored : the reft of the plumage is white ; the

Defcript. weft . ftes 281.

Macauly* s hift. St. Kilda 133.

Sola Baffana. Brijfon av. VI. 503.
Tab. 44.

Pelecanus Baffanus, Lin. fyft. 133.

baftard wing and greater quil feathers excepted,
which are black; the legs and toes are black;
but the fore part of both are marked with a ftnpe
of fine pea green. The tail confifts of twelve
fharp pointed feathers, the middle of which is the
longeft.

The young birds, during the firft year, differ
greatly in color from the old ones; being of adufky
hue, fpeckled with numerous triangular white
fpots ; and at that time referable in colors the
fpeckled Diver. Each bird,if left undifturbed,would
only lay one egg in the year; but if that is taken
away, they will lay another ; if that is alfo taken,
then a third ; but never more that feafon. A wife
provifion of nature, to prevent the extinction
of the fpecies by accidents, and to fupply food
for the inhabitants of the places where they breed ;
their egg is white, and rather lefs than that of the
common goofe. Thefe birds frequent the ife of
Ailfa , in the Firth of Clyde ; the rocks adjacent
to St. Kilda , a fmall ifle near the Orkneys ; the
Skelig ifles , off the coafts of Kerry , Ireland , * and
the Bafs ifle , in the firth of Edinburgh : the mul¬
titudes that inhabite thefe places are prodigious.
Dr. Harvey's elegant account of the latter, will
ferve tp give fome idea of the numbers of thefe,
and of the other birds that annually migrate to
that little fpot.

u There is a fmall ifland called by the Scotch
u Bafs ifland, not more than a mile in circumfe¬

rence ;

* This information we owe to that worthy prelate, the late Dr.
Pocock, Bifhop of Meath } who had vifited the Skeligs. Mr. Smith , in
his hiftories of Cork and Kerry , confounds this bird with the Gull de-
feribed by Mr. Willoughby ; from whom he has evidently borrowed the
whole defeription.

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Clafs II.] B 1

££ ference: the fur face is almofl wholly covered
<£ during the months of May and June with nefts,

CC an ^ y oun g hmds ; fo that it is fcarcely
<£ pojfhle to walk without treading on them : and
££ the flocks of birds in flighty are fo prodigious as
<£ to darken the air like clouds ; and their noife is
cc fuch that you cannot without difliculty hear your
t£ next neighbour's voice. If you look down upon
<c the fea, from the top of the precipice, you will
t£ fee it on every fide covered with infinite numbers
££ of b irds of different kinds, fwimming and hunt-
tc i n P> f or their prey : if in failing round the ifiand
t£ you furvey the hanging cliffs,you may fee in every
<£ cragg or fiffure of the broken rocks, innumerable
C£ birds G f various forts and fizes, more than the
t£ ftars of heaven when viewed in a ferene night:
u if from afar you fee the diftant flocks, either
“ flying too or from the ifiand, you would imagine
t£ them to be a vaft fwarm of bees

Nor do the rocks of St. Kilda feem to be lefs
frequented by thefe birds ; for Martin allures us,
that the inhabitants of that fmall ifiand confume
annually no lefs than 2.2,600 young birds of this
fpecies, befides an amazing quantity of their eggs ;
thefe being their principal fupport throughout the
year; they preferve both eggs and fowl in fmall
pyramidal ftone buildings, covering them with
turf afhes, to preferve them from moifture. This
is a dear-bought food, earned at the hazard of
their lives, either by climbing the mo ft difficult
and narrow paths, where (to appearance) they can
barely cling, and that too, at an amazing height
over a ramno- fea : or elfe being lowered down
from above, they collect their annual provifion,
thus hanging in midway air ; placing their w 7 hole
dependance on the uncertain footing of one per-
fon who holds the rope, by which they are fuf-
pended at the top of the precipice.

The Garnets are birds of paflage. Their firft
appearance in thole lflands is in ]\darch ; their

R D S. i6t

continuance there till Augufl or September , accord¬
ing as the inhabitants take or leave their firft egg;
but in general the time of breeding,and that of their
departure feems to coincide with the arrival of the
herring, and the migration of that fifh (which is
their principal food) out of thofe feas. It is pro¬
bable that thefe birds attend the herring and pil¬
chard during their whole circuit round the Britifh
iflands; the appearance of the former being al¬
ways efteemed by the fifhermen as a fure prefage
of the approach of the latter.

They are well known on moft of our coafts; but
hot by the name of the SolandGoofe. In Cornwal
and in Ireland they are called Gannets ; by the
IVelfh Gan. The excellent Mr. Ray fuppofed the
Cornifh Gannet to be a fpecies of large Gull; a
very excufable miftake, for during his fix months
refidence in Cornwal, he never had an opportunity
of feeing that bird, except flying; and in the air
it has the appearance of a Gull. Mr. Moyle firft
dete&ed the miftake; *and this year the Rev. Mr.
Rorlafe, by prefenting us with a fine fpecimen of
this bird, confirms the opinion of Mr. Moyle ; at
the fame time he favoured us with fo accurate an
account of fome part of the natural hiftory of this
bird, that we fhall ufe the liberty he indulged us
with, of adding it to this defcription.

££ The Gannet comes on the coafts of Cornwal
u in the latter end of fummer, or beginning of
<£ autumn ; hovering over the flioals of pilchards
u that come down to us through St. George's
cc channel from the northern feas. The Gannet
£< feldom comes near the land, but is conftant to
<£ its prey, a fure fign to the fifhermen that the
<£ pilchards are on the coafts ; and when the pil-
<£ chards retire, generally about the end of No-
££ vember , the Gannets are feen no more. The
££ bird now fent was killed at Chandour near
<£ Mountfbay. Sept. 30, 1762,after a long ftruggle
<£ with a water-fpaniel, aflifted by the boatmen ;
££ for it was ftrong and pugnacious. The perfon

R r u who

* De generate animal, exercit. II.

Moyle's Works t I, 424.

BIRDS.

L

162

“ who took it obferved, that it had a tranfparent
£t membrane under the eyelid, with which it co-
££ vered at pleafure the whole eye, without ob-
<c fcuring the fight or (hutting the eyelid ; a gra-
£c cious provifion for the fecurity o( the eyes of

fo weighty a creature, whofe method of tak-
4t ing its prey is by darting headlong on it from
“ a height of a hundred and fifty feet or more
££ into the water. About four years ago one of
££ thefe birds flying over Penzance , (a thing that
££ rarely happens) and feeing fome pilchards lying
££ on a fir-plank, in a cellar ufed for curing fdh,
££ darted itfelf down with fuch violence, that it
££ ftruck its bill quite through the board (about
££ an inch and a quarter thick) and broke its
££ neck.”

Thefe birds are fometimes taken at fea by a
deception of the like kind : The fifhermen faften
a pilchard to a board, and leave it floating ; which
inviting bait decoys the unwary Gannet to its own
defir u£lion.

A S

Clafs II.

We are uncertain whether the Gannet is found
in any other part of Europe befides our own
iflands ; except (as Mr. Ray fufpe£ls, the Su/a ,
defcribed in Cluftuf s Exotics , which breeds in the
Ferroe 'iVlts, be the fame bird. In America there
are two fpecies of birds of this genus, that bear
a great refemblance to it in their general form,
and their manner of preying. Mr. Catejby has
given the figure of the head of one, which he
calls the Greater Booby ; his defcription fuits that
of the young Gannet ; but the angle on the
lower mandible is a fpecific difference, that forbids
our pronouncing it to be the fame. Einnieus
very properly claffes our Britift) bird with the
Pelecan ; but, in his fynonyms, confounds it with
the bird defcribed by Sir Hans Sloane , hift. Jam.
vol. i. p. 31. preface . whofe colors differ from
the Gannet in each ftage of life. We continue
it in the fame clafs, under the generical name of
Corvorants , as more familiar to the Englijh ear
than that of Pelecan ,

FINIS.

INDEX.

A

Page

Alp, vide Bulfincii

Afs

5

Auk

136

•-black-billed

137

-little

•

137

Avofetta

*34

B

Badger

3 °

Barley bird, vide Silkiii

Bat, fhort eared, and long 55, 56

Beaver

33

Bernacle

150

Bittern

**7

Black-bird

92

Black-cap

ibr

Brambling

108

-greater and leffer t ii,

**3

Brent Goofe, vide G

Buck

*5

Bulfinch

106

Bunting

I I I

Buftard

87

Butcher-bird great

73

-red backed

74

left

74

Buzzard, bald, vide ofprey

■-honey

67

-common

66

-moor

67

c

Cat tame and wild 21

, 22

Catarada

140

Chaffinch

108

Chatterer

77

Chenerotes

* 5 *

Cornifh chough

83

-tarrock, vide T

Churn owl, vide Goatfucker

Cock, common, or poultry

87

•-the black

85

■-of the wood

84

Coddy moddy

142

Coldfinch

103

Colemoufe

I 14

Coot

132

Corvorant

*59

Crane

I l8

Creeper

82

Crofs bill

106

Crow

75

- Royfton

76

Cuckoo

80

Curlew

1 x 8

--Stone

127

Cvpfelli

146

D

Didapper, vide Grebe

Divers

*39

Dogs

2 3

Dormoufe

45

Dottrel

129

Dove, Turtle

89

-Greenland

138

Ducks

149

- Eider

152

——- Tufted

*53

- Scaup

*53

Dunlin

126

E

Eagles

Page
61, See.

Eider duck, vide D.

Elk, vide Swan

Ermine

40

F

Falconry, and Falcons

65

Fallow fmich

102

Fern owl, vide Goatfticker

Ferret

37

Fieldfare

90

Ely-catcher

99

Fox

28

Fulmar

*45

G

Gadwal, of Grey

*57

Gannet

160

Garganey

*58

Goat

*3

Goatfuckef

97

Godwit

120

Golden-eye

*54

Goldfinch

108

Goofe

150

* -the Brent

*5*

-the rat or road

* 5 *

Goofander

*47

Grebes

132, &c.

Green-finch

IO7

Green-fhanks

121

Grofbeak

*°5

Grous

85

Guillemot

138

Guiney Heii

87

Gulls

140

-cloven footed

*45

H

Hare

41

Hawfinch

*65

Hedge hog

5 *

Hedge fparrow, vide S

Hen harrier

68

Herons

i 16

Hobby

69

Hog

*9

Hoopoe

83

Hooper, vide Swan

Horfe

1

I

Jackdaw

78

J a y

77

Jackfnipe

12l

K

Keftril

68

KingfifhCr

82

Kite

66

Knot

123

L

Lapwing

122

Larks

93, &c.

-Sea

129

Linnets

IIO> III

M

Magpie

77

Martin ^beaft)

38, 39

Martin (bird)

96

-——Sand

97

Page

Merlin

70

Mice

49 > 5 °

Miflel bird

90

Mole

5 2

Moor heii

* 3 *

Morfc

3 6

Mule

6

N

Nightingale

ICO

Norfolk Plover, vide P

Norway Rat, vide R

Nuthatch

8i

O

Ofprey

63

Otter

3 2

Ouzel, ring

92

—— rock

92

-water

0 i
✓

Owls, eared or horned

76

-white

7 *

——- brown

72

--tawny

72

—— little

73

Ox

7

P

Partridge

86

Peacock

87

Penguin

136

PettichapS

99

Petrels

*45

Pewit Gull

*43

Pheafant

87

———Sea

Pie, Sea

*5 6

127

Pigeons

88

Plover, green

128

grey

122

■ greater

I 21

-long legged

128

— Norfolk

127

Pole-cat

37

Pochard

*56

Ptarmigan

86

Puffin

*35

— Manks

146

Purre

126

Q,

Quail

87

Queeft

89

R

Rabbet

43

Rail, land

* 3 *

-water

130

Rats

46

. . -Norway

47

Raven

75

Razor-bill

136.

Red-game

85

Red-fhank

124

Red-wing

9 *

Red-ftart

99

Reed-fparrow

102

Ring-dove

89

Ring-ouzel, vide O

Ring-tail

68

Robin red-breaft

IOO

Roebuck

18

Rook

76

Royfton crow, vide C

Ruff and Reeve

*23

s

Page

Sand Martin, vide M

Sanderling

129

Sandpipers

124, &c.

Scarecrow

*45

Scaup Duck, vide D

Scoter

*53

Seal

34

Shag

*59

Shearwater

146

Sheep

IO

Shieldrake

*54

-Swallow tailed 156

Shoveler

*55

Shrew-moufe

54

Sifkin

IO9

Smeiv

148

-red-headed

148

Snipes

121

Soland-goofe

160

Sparrow

I07

-hedge

98

-mountain

I09

-hawk

69

Squirrel

44

Stag

*5

Stare

93

Stoat

4 °

Stone-chatter

*03

Storm-finch

146

Swallow

96

-Sea, vide Terns

Swan, tame

*49

— wild

*49

Swift

97

T

Tarrock

X42

Teal

*58

Terns

144

Throftle

9 *

Thrufh

9 *

Titmice

113, &c.

Tufted duck, vide D

Turky

87

Turnftone

* 2 5

Turtle

89

w

Wagtails

104, &c.

Water ouzel, vide O

Water hens

130

Weefel

39

Wheat-ear

102

Whimbrel

*19

Whin-chat

103

White-throat

104

Winter mew

I42

Wigeon

*57

Wolf

29

Wood-cock

i *9

Wood-peckers

78, &c.

Wood-pigeon

89

W ood-chat

74

Wren

102

-Willow

IOI

-golden crefted

IOI

Wryneck

8q

Genus

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

X.

XI.

XII.

XIII.

XIV.

XV.

XVI.

XVII.

xviii.

XIX.

XX,

A CATALOGUE of the BRITISH BI

Golden Eagle
Ringtail Eagle
Sea Eagle
Ofprey
Grey Falcon
Kite

Common Buzzard
Honey Buzzard
Moor Buzzard
Henharrier
Kelli il
Hobby

Sparrow Hawk
Merlin

Long-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

White Owl

Tawny Owl

Brown Owl

Little Owl

Great Butcher-bird

Red-back’d Butcher-bird

W oodchat

Left Butcher-bird

Raven

Crow

Rook

Royfton Crow
Magpie

Jay

Chatterer

Jackdaw

Green Woodpecker

Greater fpotted Woodpecker

Lefter fpotted Wood-pecker

Wryneck

Cuckoo

Nut-hatch

Kingfifher

Creeper

Hoopoe

Cornifh Chough

Cock of the Wood

Black-cock

Grous

Ptarmigan

Partridge

Quail

Buftard

Common Pigeon

Ring-dove

Turtle

Miffel-bird

Fieldfare

Throftle

Redwing

Black-bird

Ring-ouzel

Water-ouzel

Stare

Sky-lark

Wood-lark

Tit-lark

Red-lark

Lefter crefted-lark

Gralshopper-lark

Willow-lark

Houfe Swallow

Martin

Sand Martin

Swift

Goatfucker

Iledge-fparrow

Pettichaps

Fly-catcher

Redftart

Red bread:

Nightingale

Black-cap

Golden-crefted Wren

Willow Wren

Wren

Wheat-ear

Whin-chat

Stcne-chatter

Cold-finch

White-throat

White Water-wagtail

LAND BIRDS.

BRITISH.

FRENCH.

ITALIAN.

Yr Eryr melyn

L'aigle dore

Aquila. Aguglia

Eryr tinwyn

L’aigle

Eryr mavvr y mor. Mor Eryr

Grand Aigle de mer

Anguifta barbata

Eryr y mor. Pyfg Eryr

L’aigle de mer

Anguilla piombino

Hebog. Gwalch

Barcud

Le Milan royal

Milvio. Nibbio

Bod teircaill

La Bufe

Poyana. Buzza

Bod y mel

La Bondree

Bod y gwerni

Le Bufard de Marais

Bod tinwyn

Le Faucon a collier

Cudyll coch. Ceinllef goch

La Crefferelle

Canibello. Trill arello

Hebog yr Hedydd .

Le Hobreau

Earello

Pilan

L* Epervier

Sparviero

Corwalch

L’ Emerillon

Smerlo

Dylluan gorniog

Le moyen Due. Le Hibou

Duco cornuto

Dylluan gluftiog

Dvlluan wen

Le petit Chathuant

Dylluan frech

Le Chathuant

Dylluan rudd. Aderynycyrph
Coeg Ddylluan

La Cheveche

La Chivetta

Y Cigydd mawr

La Pie Griefche grife

Regeftola

Y Cigydd cefngoch

L’Ecorcheur

Falconello

Y Cigydd glas

La Pie Griefche roufle

Y Cigydd bach. Y Barfog.

Le Mouftache

Cigfran

Le Corbeau

Corvo

Bran dyddyn. Bran dyfyn

La Corneille

Cornice. Cornacchia

Y dfran

La Corn, moiftoneufe

Bran yr Iwerddon

La Corn, mantelee

Mulacchia

Piogen. Y Bi.

La Pie

Gazzola. Ficha.

Piogen y coed

Le Geay

Ghiandaia

Sidan gynffon

Le Jafeur de Boheme

Galletto del Bofco

Cogfran

Le Choucas

Ciagula. Tatula

Cnoccell y coed. Delor y derw

Le Pic verd

Pico verde

Y Ddelor fraith

Le grand Pic varie

Cul roffo

Delor fraith leiaf

Le petit Pic varie

Pipra

Y Pengam. Gwas y Gog

Le Torcol

Tortocollo

Cog

Le Coucou

Cucco

Delor y cnau

Le Torchepot

Pico. Ziolo

Glas y dorian

Le Martin Pefcheur

Uccello Pefcatore

Y Grepianog

Le Grimpereau

Y Goppog

La hupe, ou Puput

Bubbola. Galleto di Marzo

Bran big-coch

Le Choucas rouge

Spelvier. 7 'accola ,

Ceiliog coed

Le Coque des Bruyeres

Gallo cedrone. G. Alpeftre

Ceiliog da. Grugiar

-a queue fourchue

Fafan negro

Ceiliog mynydd. Iar Fynydd

La Gelinotte hupee

Coriar yr Alban

La Gelinotte d’Ecofle

Petrifen. Coriar

La Perdrix grife

Perdice. Pernice

Sofliar

La Caille

Qiiaglia

Yr Araf ehedydd

L’ Outarde

Starda

Colomen

Le Pigeon domeftique

Columbo

Yfguthan

Le Pigeon ramier

Torquato

Colomen Fair. Turtur

La Tourterelle

Tortora

Y Drefglen. Pen y llwyn. Crecer

La groffe Grive

Tc rdo. Gardenna

Cafeg y ddryccin

La Letourne, ou Tourdelle

Malvizo

Ceiliog bronfraith

La petite Grive

Tordo Mezzano

Y Drelglen goch. Soccen yr eira

Le Mauvis

Tordo Saflelo

Yr Aderyndu CeiliogMwyalch

Le Merle

Merla

Mwyalchen y graig

Le Merle a Collier

Merulo alpeftro

Mwyalchen y dwfr

Le Merle d’Eau

Lerlichirollo

Drudwen Drudwy. Y Drydws

L’Etourneau

Storno

Hedydd. Uchedydd

L’ Allouette

Lodola

Hedydd y coed. Efgudogyll

Le Cujelier

Coeg Hedydd. Cor Hedydd

L’Al. de Prez. LaFarloufe

Lodola di Prato

Hedydd coch

Hedydd cribog

La petite Al. hupee

Lodola campagnola

Gwich Hedydd

L’Al. de Buiffon

Hedydd yr helyg

Gwennol. Gwenfol

L’Hirondelle de cheminee

Rondina. Cefila

Marthin

Le Martinet a cul blanc.

Rondina fyNatico

Gwennol y glennydd

LTIirondelle de rivage

Dardanello

Marthin du

Le Martinet

Da,rdano. Barbarotte

Aderyn y droell. Y Rhodwr

I.eTete chevre.Crapaud-volant

Cajcabotto

Llwyd y gwrych

La Pafie-bufe

Paffere fylvatica

Y Ffigyfog

La Fauvette

Beccafigo

Y Gwybedog

Rhawngoch. Rhonell goch

Le Rofiignol de Muraille

Culroffo

Yr Flobi goch. Bron-goch

La rouge gorge

Petti roflo. Pecchietto

Eos

Le Rofignol

Rufignuolo

Penddu’r brwyn

Le Fauvette a Tete noire *

Capinera. Capo negro

Yfwigw. Sywidw

Le Poul, ou Souci

Fior rancio

Dryw’r helyg

Le Pouillot, ou Chantre

R eat in

Dryw

Le Roitelet

R eatino. Regillo

Y Gynffonwen

Lecul-blanc, Vitrec,ouMoteux

Culo bianco

Clochder yr eithin

Le grand Traquet, ou leTarier

Montanello

Clochder y cerrig

Le Traquet

Barada

Clochder y mynydd

Le Traquet d’Angleterre

Y Gwddfgwyn

La melange cendree

Brith y Fuches. Tinfigl y gwys

La Lavandiere

Ballarina. Codatremola

* The foreign Europea

n names are borrowed from M. Br

ijons ornithology.

VVa

GERMAN.

Adler

Bein-brecher
Filch adler

Wy , Weiher
Bufz-hart
Maus-Falcke
Waffer F'alcke

fulfil

Sr# 0 '!

(jrefliif

Siftic

Linnet

Create

Ter

Wannen Waeher
Baum falcke
Sperber

MirJe. Smirlin
Orheuwel

Greater

| Idler P
d Great T

Kirch Eule. Perl Eule
Stock Eule

Kutz. Schaffiek
Klein Warchangel,

Rap. Rave

Kraee

Roech

Nabel Kraee
Aelfter

Haer. Nufs heher
Zinzerelle
Tub grave Dohle
Grun Specht.

Bundt Specht.

Kleiner Bundt fpecht

Wind-halfz

Kuckuck

Mey fpecht. Nufs-haecker

Mari-1

Lona-ta

Eittera

tsiie

Curlew

Woodcock

Godwit

ItlrGodwi

Cretnlliank

Snipe

Eis-vogel

Rinnen Klaeber
Wied-hopf
Stein Tulen
Or-han 1

Brom-han. Birk-han

'] Lipin;

City Plover

Mur-han ?

Valid huhn. Reb-huhn
Wachtel

Trapp. Acker Ti'app.
Taube

Ringel Taube
Turtel

Droftel. Schnarre
Krametz vogel. Tremer
Sing Droftel

Wein Droftel. Roth-droftel
Schwartz amfel
Ring-amfel Berg-amfel
W after- amzel
Staar. Sprehe
Lerch. Feld-lerch

Blank

lirnlbat

GraSandpi

Ssafiper

Dcnlin

Hop-toe $;
Sea Pie

ovei

fa Lark
'iritrling
" J ttr Rail

Wiefen-lercht

Coper

Piep-lerche

Haus Schwalbe
Leim Schwalbe. Berg Schwalbe
Sand Schwalbe. Erd-fchwalbe
Spyr-lchwalbe

Geifz meilcher.Nacht-fchwalbe
Brann fleckige graf-mucke

LwniaaW;

Sereda!

^teanddi

LttleGrebc

Wetta

Auk

Rot-ftert. Wein-vogel
Roth-kehlein
Nachtigall
Grafz muckle
Ochfen engle

Schnee Koenig

Flugen Staecherle

kittle Auk

Call,

jftfNortl

Jintcker
jtcat black
J ow n aud
SgG»
f, r ° Wn and

Nm.

Lo >titnon i
hriock

Genus

XXI.

XXII.

XXIII.

XXIV.

I.

31 .

'III.

IV.

/

V.

Vi.

VII;

VIII.

IX.

X.

XI;

XII.

XIII. I

BRITISH.

FRENC II.

ITALIAN

Yellow Water-wagtail

Brith y Fuches felen

Le Bergeronette du Printemps

Grey Water-wagtail

Brith y Fuches iwyd

La Bergeronette Jaune

Grofbeak

Gylfinbraff

Le Grof-bec

Frifone

Crofs-bill

Gylfingroes

Le Bec-croi(e

Bulfinch

Y Chwibanydd

Le Bouvreul

Cifolotto

Sparrow

Aderyn y to

Le Moineau franc

Paffera

Green-finch

Llinos werdd. Y Gegid

Le Verdier

Greun-finck

Goldfinch

Gwas y Sierri. Peneuryn

Le Chardonneret

Cardello. Carduelo

Chaffinch

Bronrhuddyn

Le Pingon

Franguello

Brambling

Bronrhuddyn y mynydd

Le Pinion d’ Ardennes

Fringuello montanino

Mountain Sparrow

Golfan y mynydd .

Le Moneau de Montagrie

Paffera montanara

Sifkin

Y Ddreiniog

Le Tarin

Lugaro. Lugarino

Linnet

Llinos

La Linotte

Fanello

Greater red-headed Linnet

Llinos bengoch fwyaf

La grande Liii. de vignes

Fanello marino

Leffer red-headed Linnet

Llinos bengoch leiaf

La petite Lin. de vignes

Finnet

Mountain Linnet

Llinos Fynydd.Chwibanogl y liiynydd

Le Cabaret. Le L. de montagne

Fanello della marea

Bunting

Bras y Ddruttan. Bras yr yd.

Le Proyer

Strillozo

Yellow-hammer

Llinos felen. Melynog.

Le Bruant

Zivolo

Reed Sparrow

Golfan y cyrs

L’ortolan de Rofeaux

Greater Brambling

Leffer Brambling

Golfan yr eira

Yr Olfan leiaf

L’ortolan de Neige

Great Titmoufe

Y Beriloyn fwyaf

La Charbonniere

Parifola. Orbefind

Blue Titmoufe

Y Lleian. Llvgoden y derw

La Mefange bleue

Parazolino

Cole-moufe

Y Benloyn lygliw

La Mefange a tete noire

Paronzino

Marfh-Titmoufe

Penloyn y cyrs

La Mefange de marais

Long-tailed Titmoufe

Y Lleian gynffonhir

La Mefange a longue queue

WATER BIRDS.

Heron

Bittern

Great white Heron

Crane

Curlew

Whimbrel

Woodcock

Godwit

Leffer Godwit

Greenfhank

Snipe

jackfnipe

Lapwing

Grey Plover

Ruffe

Knot

Afh-colored Sandpiper

Redfhank

Spotted Sandpiper

Turn done

Green Sandpiper

Sandpiper

Dunlin

Purre

Scallop-toe Sandpiper
Sea Pie

Norfolk Plover
Green Plover
l ong legged Plover
Dottrel
Sea Lark
Sanderling
Water Rail

Small Spotted Water-hen
Land Rail

Common Water-hen
Coot

Great defied Grebe
Grebe

Leffer defied Grebe

White and dulky Grebe

L ittle Grebe

Avofetta

Puffin

Penguin

Auk

Black-billed Auk

Little Auk

Guillemot

Leffer Guillemot

Black Guillemot

Great Northern Diver

Grey Speckled Diver

Red-necke i Diver

Great black and white Gun

Brown and ferruginous Gull

Herring Gull

Brown and white Gull

Winter Mew

Common Gull

Tarrock

Cryr glas
Aderyn y bwii
Cryr gwyn
Garan
Gylfinhir
Coeg Ylfinhir
Cyffylog
Rhoflog
Cwttyn Du
Coefwerdd
Yfnid. Yfnittan
Giach

Corniccyll. Cornchwigt.
Cwtiaid lhvydion
Yr Ymladdgar

Y Cnut

Y Pibydd glas
Coefgoch

Y Pibydd manndgi
Huttan y mor

Y Pibydd gwyrdd
Pibydd y traeth

Y Pibydd rhuddgoch
Llygad yr Ych

Y Pibydd llydandroed
Piogen y mor

Y Glinbraff
Cwtiaid yr Aur
Cwtiaid hirgoes
Huttan

Mor Hedydd
Llvvyd y tywod

Cwtiar. YFronwtn. Rhegeft y dwfr

Corddyfriar fannog

Rhegen y rhych. RhegenyrYd.

Dyfriar

Iar ddwfr foel

Gwyach gorniog. Tindroed

Gwyach. Dowciar.Wil y wawch

Gwyach gluftiog

Gwyach leiaf

Harri gwlych dy big

Pig my navvy d

Pwffingen

Y Fer-afgell

Carfil. Gwalch y Penwaig
Carfil gylftnddu

Y Carfil bach
Gwilym
Chwilog
Gwilym du

Y Trochydd mawr
Trochydd bach

Y Trochydd gwddfgoch
Gwyian ddu a gwyn
Gwylan frech
Gwyian Benwaig
Gwylan rudd a gwytl
Gwyian y gweunydd
Gwylan Iwyd. Huccan
Gwylan Gernyw

Le Heron
Le Butor
Le Heron blanc
La Grue
Le Courly
Le petit Courly
Le Becaffe

La Barge
La grande B. grife
La Becaffine
La petite Becaffne
Le Varineau
Le Vanneau grife
Le Combattant
Le Canut

Le Chevalier
La Grived’Eau
Le Coulon-chaud
Le Becafleau : ou Cul-blanc
La Guignette
La Becaffine d’Angleterre
L’ Allouette de Mer
Le Phalarone
Le Huitrier. Pie de mer
Le gr. Pluvier. Courly deTerre
Le Pluvier dore
L’ Echaffe

Le petit Pluvier. Le Guignard
Le p. PI a collier
La petite maubeche grife
Le Rafled’Eau
La Marouette
Le Rafle de Genet
La Poule d’Eau
La Foulque ; ou Morelle
La Grebe hupee
La Grebe

La Grebe a Oreilles
La petite Grebe

LaGr de la Riviere: ou laCaftagneux
L’ Avocette
La Macareux
Le grand Pingoin
Le Pingoin
Le petit Pingoin
Le petit Guillemot
Le Guillemot

Le petit Guil. noir
Le gr. Plongeon tachete
Le petit Plongeon
Le Plongeon a gorge rouge
Le Goiland noir

Le Goiland grife
Le Grifard
La Mouette d’ Hyver
La Mouette cendree
LaM. cendree tachete

Airon
T rumbotto
Garza bianca
Gru. Grua
Toranato. Arcafe
Tarangolo
Becaffa

Vetola

Limofa

Pizzerdella

Paoncello

Giarola

Coruz. Carlotte
Piviero

Merla aquicolo grande

Porzana
Girardin
Re di Quaglie

Folega

Sperga. Lurar.
Fifaneile. Compita

Spinzago d’ Acqua

Gavia. Martinazzo

Galetra, Galedor

GERMAN.

Gelbruflige bach-fteltze
Gaelbe waffer fleltze
Stein-byffer Kirfch-fchnellef
Krutz-vogel. Krentz-fchnabel
Blut-fincke

Hans Spelling. Spatz. Spar

Verdone. Caranto

Diflel-finck. Stiglitz

Finck. Buch-finck

Berg-fink. Gegler

Berg-fperling

Zifing. Grune Hanfling

Schoeflzlin. Lyn-fink

Blut-hanffing

Roth plattige Hanfling

Mitter

Grave -ariimer. Knufl
Goll'-ammer. Grunzling _
Rohr-ammer. Rohr-fperling
Schnee-vogel

Grofle meifs

Pimpel-meifs. Meel-meifs

Kol-meifs

Afch-meifs

Lang Schwenzige-meifs

Reiger

Rols-dumpf Mofs-ochs
Weiffer. Reiger
Kran. Kranich
Brach-vogel
Regen vogel
Schnepff

Meer-hount
Grafs Schnepff

Gyvitt

Hans-teuffel

Rot-bein. Rot-Feuffel

Stein-gaellyl

Fyfterlin

Stein-bicker

Triel. Griel
Pulvier

Froembder vogel

Samet-hounte
W ynkernel

Schryk. Wachtel Koenig

Rohtblafchen

Waffer-houn

Deucchel

Schwartze deucchel

Frembder waffer vogel

Genus

XIV.

XV.

XVI.

XVII.

XVIII

BRITISH.

F R E N C H.

ITALIAN.

0

Pewitt Guil

Small brown Gull

YrWylan benddu. Bran ymor
Yr Wylan fechan

La M. rieufe a pattes rouges

Greater Tern

Y For wennol fawr. Yfgraean

La gr. Hirondelle de mer

LefTer Tern

Y For wennol bach

La petite H. de mer

Black Tern

Yfgraean ddu

L’ Epouvantail

Fulmar

Gwylan y graig

Le Petrel cendre

Manks Petrel

Pwffingen Fanaw

Le Puffin

Artenna

Little Petrel

Cas gan longwr. Gwalch gweilgi

Le Petrel

Goofander

LefTer dun Diver

Hwyad ddanheddog

Troehydd danheddog

L’Harle

Smew

Y Lleian wen

La Piette

Red-headed Smew

Y Lleian bengoch

L’ Harle etoile

Wild Swan

Alarch gwyllt. Alarch llwyd

Le Cygne fauvage

Tame Swan

Alarch

Le Cygne

Cigno

Goofe

Gwydd

I/oye

Oca

White fronted Wild Goofe

Gwydd wyllt

L’oye fauvage du Nord

Bernacle

Gwyrain. Barnacl

La Bernache

Brent Goo^

Barnacl Fanyw

Le Cravant

Eider Duck

Hwyad Fwythblu

L’oye a duvet

Velvet Duck

Hwyad felfedog

La Grande Macreufe

Scoter

Y Forhwyad ddu

La Macreufe

Tufted Duck

Hwyad goppog

Le petit Morillon

Capo Negro

Scaup Duck

LIygad armn

1 e petit M. raye

Golden-eye

Llygad aur

Le Garrot

Quattr’ Occhii

Shieldrake

Llwyad yr eithin.'Hwyad fraith

La Tadorne

Mallard

Garan hwyad. Cors hwyad.

Le Canard Sauvage

Anitra fylvatica. Cefone

Shoveler

Hwyad lydanbig

Le Souchet

Pintail Duck

Swallow tail’d Shieldrake

Hwyad gynffonfain

Hwyad gynffon gwennol

Le Canard a longue queue

Codo Lancea

Pochard

Hwyad bengoch

Le Millouin

Collo roffo

VV igeon

Chwiwiaid

Le Canard fiffleur

Gadwal

Y Gors hwyad lwyd

Le Chipeau

Gargany

Hwyad addfain

La Sarcelle

Garganello

Teal

Crach hwyad. Cor hwyad

La petit Sarcelle

Gan net

Gan

Le ton de Baffin

Corvorant

Mulfran. Morfran

Le Cormoran

Corvo marino

Shag )

Y Fulfran leiaf

Le petit Cormoran

GERMAN.

Rotkoep fifchter

See Schwalbe
Fifcherlin

Brand-vogel, Mey-vogel
See fferd

Meer rach. Weltfch-Eent

Wyffe-Nonn
Yfentle. Wyfle merch

Schwan

Ganfs

Baum-ganfs. Rott-ganfs
Eyder-ente

Voll-enten. Rufgen
Kobel endte

Berg-endten. Fifch-treiber

Wild-endte

Breit-fchnabel

Rot-halfs. Rotd-endte
Schmey. Pfeit-endte
Schnarr-endte
Mittel-endte

Solend Ganfs
Scharb

A

A L L Souls College Library, Oxon.

James Petit Andrews, Efq; Berks.
Right Reverend Dr. Newcome, Bifhop
of St. Alaph.

Sir Edward Aftly, Bart.

Sir John St. Aubin, Bart, M.P.

B

His P oyal Highnefs thePrince of Brunf-
wick

Right Honourable Lord Baltimore
Mrs. Ball, Chefter.

Rig it Reverend Dr. Egerton, Bifhop of
Bangor

M Bal'an, Printfeller, Paris, 2 Sets
Sign, ha Hi. Bologna,

M. Varenne de Beoft, Paris
Gafaer Beels, Efq; Amfterdam
Thomas Bennett, Efq;

Hugh Bethel Efq ; Yorkfhire
A Ron Biuckborne, Efqj
John Black borne, Efq;

Sir Edward Blackett, Bart.

John Biayney, Efq; Montgomeryfhire
Richard Wilbraham Rootle, Efq; M.P
2 Sets

Reverend William Borlafe, Cornwal
Sir Griff. Boynton, Bart. Yorkfhire
Owen Salufbury Brereton, Efq; 2 Sets
M. Briffon, Paris

Eight Honourable Lord Willoughby de
Broke

Pufey Brook, Efq ; Chefter
M. de Buffon, Paris ,

Right Honourable Earl pf Bute

c

Right Honourable Lord Clive
Mr. Peter Collinfon, London
William Conftable, Efq; Yorkfhire
Mr. William Cook, Bookfeller, London
oir Richard Corbett, Bart, Shropfhire
Cymmrpdorion Society

ENCOURA GERS to this Undertaking.

D

M. Davidts, Bookfeller, Paris
John Davies, Efq ; Denbyfhire

--Dehainy, Efq;

Paul de Demidoffe, Efq; Ruffia
James Dickfon, Efq; London
Jonathan Difney, Efq; Lincoln
William Dixon, Efq;

Dean of Downe

E

Mr. George Edwards, College pf Phy-
ficians

John Ellis, E*'q; Jamaica
Dr. England, Dorfetfhire

F

Reverend Mr. Falconer, Litchfield
^homas Falconer, Efq; Chefter
Reverend Mr. Farringtop, Caernarvon-
fhire

Chriftian Fleifcher, Copenhagen, 2 Sets
Dr. John Fothergill, London

G

Reverend Mr. Green, Yorkfhire
John Grimftpn, Efq; Yorkfhire
Dr. Gronovius, Leyden

H

Mr. Haultier, Painter, Chefter
John Hill, Efq; Yorkfhire
Owen Holland, Efq; Conway
Timothy Hollis, Efq; London
Mr. William Hudfon, F.R. 8 . London
William Hulton, Efq; Lancafhire
Dr. Hunter, London

I

Jefus College Library, Oxon.

Mrs. Inge, StafFordfhire
Mr Jolliffe, Bookfeller, London

K *

Mr. Thomas Knowlton
Dr. Kramer, Vienna
Thomas Kyffin, Efq; Caernarvonfhire
Roger Kynafton,- Efq;

L

Mr. Lanton, Bookfeller, Chefter
Right Honourable Lord Leigh
Alton Lever, Efq;

John Gideon Loten, Efq ; London
Dr, Lyfons, Gloucefter
Manchefter Library

M

Mr. John Major, Engraver, London
William Marfhal, Efq; Lincolnfhire
Right Reverend Dr. Pocock, Bifhop of
Meath, deceafed. •

Owen Meyrick, Efq; M.P. Anglefey

Right Honourable Lord Middleton,
deceafed

Mr. John Millan, Bookfeller, London
Richard Morris, Efq- Navy-Office
Mr.William Morris, Holyhead,deceafed
Reverend Mr. Morton, Shropfhire
Sir Roger Moftyn, Bart. M. P. 2 Sets
Reverend Mr. Roger Moftyn

o

Dr. Oeder, Copenhagen

P

Paul Panton, Efq ; Flintfhire
Marquis de Paulmy, Paris
Thomas Pennant,Efq ; Flintfhire, iaSets
William Pennington, Efq;

Right Honourable Lord Petre
Mr. Jofeph Plymley, Shropfhire
William Portman, Efq; Dorfetfhire
Richard Parry Price, Efq; Flintfhire

William St. Quintin, Efq; Yorkfhire

R

Mr. John Ray, Leyden
His Grace the Duke of Richmond
Reverend Mr. Roberts, Denbyfhire
His Grace the Duke of Roxburgh

s

Henry Seymer,Efq ; Dorfetfhire
William Fane Sharpe, Efq; M.P.London

—-Spencer, F.fq ; Yorkfhire

RightHonourable Countefs of Stamford
Reverend Mr. Stillingfleet
Humphrey Sturt, Efq; M.P. Dorfetfhire

T

Captain John Thomas, London
Count de Thott, Copenhagen
Thomas Tindal, Efq;

Thomas Tofield, Efq; Yorkfhire
John Tomlinfon, Efq; London
Dr. Trew, Nurenberg
Dr. Tylfton
Mifs Tylftons, Chefter

V

William Vaughan, Efq; M.P. Merio-
nethfhire

Mr. Richard Varlo, Portfmouth

w

Honourable Horatio Walpole, M.P.

Mr. Walters, Bookfeller, London
Lady Waters

Philip CarteretWebb.Efq; M.P.London
Mr. White, Bookfeller, London
Ralph Willet, Efq; Dorfetfhire
Rev. Mr. Williams, of Fron, Flintfhire

- Worth, Efq ; Norfolk

William Wright, Efq; Chefhire
Pierce Wynn, Efq; Denbighfhire

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