pfT

4

DUKE

UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

Treasure %gom

THE

NATURAL HISTORY

O F

BIRDS:

With the METHOD of

Bringing up and Managing

THOSE OF THE

SINGING KIND.

BY

R. B R O O K E S, M. D.

Author of the General Fra5lice of Phyjic.

VOL. II.

LONDON,

Printed for J. Newbery, at the Bible ami
Sun, in St. Paul's .Church- Yard,

mdccl:xiii.

RBf{

CONTENTS.

Introduction.

Chap. I. f~\ F rapacious Binls of the ILagh Kindy

V> Page I

11. 0/ Fidtures, 15

in. Of Ha-.vks, , 19

IV. Of lejfer Birds cf the rapnclous Kind,

24
V. Of rapacicui Bird' -rvith Wings jjjortcr
thati the Tail, 27

VL Of Birds of Paradi/e, and tpe Cucko-zv,

33
VII. Of Hern Ozu/s, 44.

VIII. Of comtnon Onvlsy 47

IX. Of ancmalGus Night Birds ^ in La/in
Caprimuh-i, and in Englijh Goat-
Sucker?, 53
X. Of m}ddle-f.%?d?arrots, 5 -;
XL Ofthslargeft Birds of the Parrot Km^,
called Maccnzvs and Cockatoos, 63
XII. O/Brafilian P^n-o// /7/Maregrave, 66

XIII. OfParokeets, • 69

XIV, Of Birds njuith a Jirait^r Billy that are

not able to fly, on account cf the grcal

Bulhi'nefs cf their Bodies y una Sbortnrjs

cf their Wings , 77

XV. Of Bii ds of the Cro-M Kind, 86

XY I. Of Birds of the Pye Kind, ' (.)%

XVII. Of IVocdpechrs, and ether Birds a-'::-..

thereto, lOi

XVIII. Of Woodpecker:, improperly fo called,

I 2!

Iv CONTENTS.

Chap.

XIX. Of Land Birdi that frequent the'Water^

and feed upon Fijh^ 1 27

XX. Of domejlick Fonvls, 134

XXl. Of ijuild Cocks and Hens y 148

XXII. Of Birds of the gallinaceous Kind^ that

fwant the hinder Toe^ 1 7 o

XXIII. Of the fever al Sorts of Pigeons y 1 7 5

XXIV. Of Birds of the rhrujh Kind, 1 88
XXV. Of the federal Sorts of Larks, 208

XXVI. Of Birds of the S^jallciv Kindy 216

XXVII. Offmall Birds, n.vith Jhort and thick

Bills, 221

XXVIII. Of Birds of the Wag-tail Kind, 227

XXIX. Of Birds --ivith black Feet and Billy and

parti-coloured Tails, 3 30

XXX. Of other f mall Birds f not reducible to the

former Claffes, 236

XXXI. Of Birds that frequent the Water, and

do not f'xvim therein, 287

XXXII. Of don: en-footed Fonols, that feed upon

Fijh, Frogs, and Serpents, 293

XXXIII. Of Birds of the Heron Kind, 298

XXXIV. Of don; en-footed Water Fonvls of the mid-

die and lejjer Size, 309

XXXV. Of Water Fo-wls ivith Bills moderately

long, 320

XXXVI. Of clo'ven-footed Water Fonvls, ^ith Jhort

Bills, that live upon InfeSls, 324

XXXVII, Of cloven-footed Water Fowls that fwim

in the Water, 329

XXXVIII. Of cloven-foot d Water Fov:lsy with the

Addition of a Membrane, 334

XXXIX. Of nveb-footed Water FovjIs, nxjith a

narrow Bill, 336

XL. O/iveb-footed Fonvls, with Jhorter Legs,

339
X-^il. Of divers Mews and Gulls, "^j^j

XLII. Of the lejfer Mews and Gulls, with fork-
ed Tails f 361

Chap.

CONTENTS. V

Chap.

XLIII. OfiAjeh-footedFo^vU, -ivifk Bills crooked

at the End, 363

XLIV. Of nx}eh- footed Fonjulsy ivith broad Wings

of the Goofe Kitid, 366

XLV. Of -jjeb-footed Fonvh of the Duck Kind,

374

XLVI. Of tame Ducks y 3P9

XL VII. Of foreign Birds of the Duck Kind, 391

Of the ClafTes of Birds, from the lafl Edition of
Linncsius Syjiema Natum,

Chap. I. O/* Accipitres, ^ 399

II. O/PicjE, 406

TIL Of Anferes, jizo

IV. O/Grallae, 429

V. Of GAVmx, 439

VI. Of Paif^res, 442

a 3 TABLE

( vii )

TABLE

T O T H E

PLATES of BIRDS.

A

Rftic-Bird, Cock, Page 428 Plate in p. 16
Ardic-Bird, Hen, 350 113

Ar(ftic-Diver, or Lumme, 349 24.8

B.

Bulfinch, Hudfon's Bay , Page257
Bee-Eater, Indian, 417

Bulfinch, American, 257

Butcher Bird, Black and White, 31
Buftard, Indian, 173

Bittern, the Hudfon's Bay> 304

Buftard, 170

Bonana Bird, the lefler, 285

C.

CafTowary, P. 83.438

Chatterer of Carolina, 95

Crane, Hooping, 292

Cockatoo, Great, 65

Crane, Numidian, . 291

Cormorant, 344

Cock, Indian, 143

Crane, Balearic, 289

Plate

np.9S
113

113

130
150
158

I-'O

285

Plate in p. 6

146

170

ibid.

289

a 4

D. Duck,

viii TABLE TO

D.

Duck, Great Black, from Hud-

fon's Bay, Page 422 Plate in p. zSg

Dobchick, Horned 348 348

Duck, Hudfon's Bay, 380 367

Duck, Red-billed, Whifding, 381 381

Eagle, Page 6 Plate in p. 6

Eagle, Crowned, 7 7

F.

Francolin, Page 150 Plate in p. 150

Finch, Painted, 453 163

Finch, Red and Blue, Brafilian, 454 239

G.

Grofs Beak, Page 252 Plate in p. 113

Grous, Pin-tailed, 152 128

Grous, long-tailed, of Hudfon's

Bay,

153

ibid.

Guinea Fowl,

,46

146

Grenadier,

'9S

333

Godwit, American,

3H

348

Goofe, Canada,

372

367

Heath-Cock,

Page 153

Plate in p. ^0

Heron, American,

301

146

Hawk, Blue,

30

150

Humming - Bird, or

the Green-

Sparrow,

248

158

Hawk, Ring-tailed,

28

163

Hawk, little Black

and Orange,

Indian,

23

239

I.

Indian Sparrow, yellow headed,

Page 260 Plate in p. M3
Jay, Blue, 97 285

K. King's-

THE PLATES OF BIRDS, ix

K.
King*s-fiflier, American, Page 128 Plate in p. 128
King's -fiiher, Green and Orange, 130 130

Lory, long-tails, Scarlet, Page 59 Plate in p. 59

Laughing Goofe, 373 333

Lory, Scarlet, 58 381

M.

Maccaw, Red and Blue, Page 406 Plate in p. 61

Martin, American, 218 12S

Nut- cracker,

N.

Q.

Pag€ 98 Plate in p. 7

Oflrlch, Page yy Plate in p. 6

Owl, Great Horned fromAthens, 44 50

Owl, Little, 50 50

P.

Penguin, Northern, Page 426 Plate in

Paradife, K. of the greater Bird, 35
Pye, Little Indian, 99

^Parrokeet, brown throated, 407
Parrokeet, red and blue headed, 71
Parrokeet, long tailed, green, 70
Paradife, the great Bird of, 413
Parrot of China, Green and Red, 60
Parrokeet, or American Sparrow, 26 1

Peacock Pheafant, 160

Pheafant, the horned Indian, 158

Partridge, Mountain, 163

Plover, the fpotted, 325

Parrot, Hawk-headed, 61

p. 16

35
35

59

61

95

J'5

i»5

130

163
61

Quail, Chir.efe,

Page 169 Plate in p. 12S
a 5 R. Roller,

X TABLE TO PLATES OF BIRDS.

R.

Roller, Page 95 Plate in p. 95

Red-flart, Indian, 239 239

S.
Starling, Indian, Page 196 Plate in p. 289

Snipe, Pool, 313 313

Swan, wild, 367 367

Toucan, red-beaked, Page 115 Plate in p. 115

Turnftone, from Hodfon's Bay, 327 65

Tringa, red Coot-footed, 397 313

Thrufh, Golden, 195.412 348

Thrufh, brown Indian, 195 381

V.

Vullur, bearded.

Page 16
W.

Plate in p. 16

Wax -Bill,

Page 449

Plate in p. 35

Wood -pecker, Indian,

113

113

Water-wagtail, yellow,

128

128

Wood- pecker, three-toed, no

248

Wood- pecker, Jamaica,

III

285

Water- Hen, little American, 333

333

INTRO-

( xi )

INTRODUCTION.

O F

Birds in General.

AFTER quadrupedes, birds hold the foremof!
rank in nature. Tho' ihey are incapable of
the fame docility with terreftrial animals, and
are lefs imitative of human perfedions, yet they far
furpafs fifhes and infefls, both in the Ilrudure of
their bodies, and their fagacity. As in mechanics the
moll curious machines are generally the moft compli-
cated, fo it is in anatomy: The body of man pre-
fents t.he greateft variety upon diifeftion ; quadru-
pedes, lefs perfedly formed, difcover it in their iim-
plicity of conformation ; the mechanifm of birds is
Hill lefs complex ; fifties have yet fewer organs than
they ; while infeds, more imperfedly than all, feem
to unite the boundaries between animal and vegeta-
ble nature. Of man, the moft perfed animal, there
are but two or three fpecies ; cf quadrupedes, the
kinds are very numerous ; in birds they are ftill
greater ; and in infefts moft of all.

Quadrupedes have fome diftant refemblance, in
their internal ftrufture, with man ; but that of birds
h entirely diffimilar ; this animal feems wholly
formed to inhabit the empty regions of air, in
order that no part of nature might be left untenant-
ed. Their wings, which are their principal inftru-
nients of flight, are formed for this purpofe with
the greateft exaftnefs, and placed at that part of
their body, which beft ferves to poize the whole,
and fupport it, in a fluid that at firft feems fo much
lighter than itfelf. The quills are at once ftiff
and hollow, which gives them the advantage

of

xii INTRODUCTION.

of ftrength and lightnefs; the webs are broad
on one fide and more narrow on the other,
both which contribute to the progreffive motion of
the bird, and the clofenefs of the wing. Thus each
feather takes up a large furface but with inconfi-
dcrablt gravity, fo that when the wing is expanded,
the animal becomes fpecifically lighter than air.
The fmaller feathers with which it is cloathed, are
difpofed one over another in the exadeft order, fo as to
lie clofer in proportion to the rapidity of the flight.
That part of them which is next the fkin is furniffied
with a foft and warm down, and that next the air
with a web on each fide of the fhaft, each fingle
beard of which is itfelf a feather. All birds that fly
much, have their wings placed in the moll proper
part to balance their Bodies in the air ; thofe which
have as much cccafion for fwimming as flying have
their wings placed more forward, and thofe that are
obliged to feek their food by diving, have their legs
fet more backward, and their wings Hill more for-
ward than either of the preceding.

But as this lightnefs of the feathers might fre-
quently be impeded by a fliower of rain, or any other
accidental moifture, by which means the bird might
become an eafy prey to every invader. Nature has
provided an expedient whereby their feathers are %s
impenetrable to the water, as by their ftrudure they
are to the air. All birds in general have a recepta-
cle replenifliedAvith oil, fomething in the fliape of a
teat, and fituated at the extremity of their bodies.
This teat has feveral orifices, and when the bird per-
ceives its feathers to be dry, orexpefls the approach
of rain, it fqueezes this teat with the bill, and flrains
from thence a part of the contained oil, after which,
having drawn its bill fuccelTively over the greateft
part of its feathers, they thus acquire a new luflre,
and become impenetrable to the heavieft rains, for
the water rolls oft' in large dron;!. Such poultry,
however, a.s live for the rnoft part vmder cover, are rot
furniflied with fo 1; rge a ftock of this fluid as thofe
birds that refide in the open air. The feathers of an

hen,

OF BIRDS IN GENERAL. xHi

hen, for inftance, are pervious to every fhower,v/here-
as, on the contrary, fwans, geefe, ducks, and all fuch,
as Nature has diredled to live upon the water, have
their feathers drefTed v/ith oil from the very firll day
of their leaving the fhell. Thus their ftock of this
fluid is equal to their neceffity of its confumption.
Their very flefh contradls a flavour from it, which
renders it in fome fo very rancid as to be utterly un-
fit for food ; however, tho' it injures the flefh, it im-
proves the feathers for all the domellic purpofes to
which they are generally converted.

Every part of their mechanifm, as was before ob-
ferved, feems adapted for the improvement of their
flight; their bones are extremely light and thin, and
their mufcles feeble, except the large peroral muf-
cle, by means of which they move their wings with
fuch eafe and rapidity. This very ftrong mufcle
fills up all that fpace on each fide of the bread bone,
which, tho' fmall in quadrupedes, is in thefe large,
broad, and externally of a very great furface j by
means of this a bird can move its wings with a degree
of itrength, which, when compared to the animaPs
fizc, is almoft incredible. No machines that human
art can contrive are capable of giving fuch force to
fo light an apparatus ; and for this reafon alone the
art of flying muft remain one of thofe perfedlions
which man may defire but can never attain ; fince, as
he increafes the force of his machine he muft increafe
its weight alfo: The tail of birds ferves to counter-
balance the head and neck, guides their flight inftead
of a rudder, and greatly affills them either in their
aicent, or when defcending.

In thefe particulars birds differ from quadrupedes ;
yet of the former as well as the latter fome live upon
the flefh of animals, others upon vegetables, fome
wholly upon land, and others upon water. This di-
verfity arifes in fome meafure from the peculiar for-
mation of each kind, and not unfrequently from the
climate and foil. In, all birds of the eagle, or rapa-
cious kind, which live upon flefh, the beak, talons,
and llomach are peculiarly formed. The oefopha-

gus,

XIV INTRODUCTION.

gus, or gullet, in fuch is found replete with glan-
dulous bodies, which ferve to dilute and macerate
the prey as it pafTes into the ilomach, which is al-
ways very large in proportion to the fize of the bird,
and generally wrap'd round with fat, in order to en-
creafe its warmth and powers of digeftion. ' The
beaks of thefe not only ferve them as inftruments of
fubfillence, but alfo as weapons of defence, being
crooked at the end, and fometimes ferrated at
the edges. The talons are large and extremely te-
nacious, the mufcles which contradl the claw being
infinitely frronger than thofe which expand it. Thus
furnilhed for war, all of this kindfpre&d terror where-
ever they approach. That variety of mufic, which
but a moment before enlivened the grove, at their ap-
pearance irHantly ceafes. All is filent, every order
of lefler birds feeks for fafety either in flight or ob-
■ fcurity, and fome are even found to feek proteftion
from msn, in order to avoid their lefs merciful pur-
fucrs. Itfucceeds, however, happily, that each order
of carnivorous birds feeks for fuch as are nearly of
their ov.n fize. The fparrcw-hawk purfues the .
thrufti, and the falcon the buAard ; Nature has pro-
vided that each fpecies fhall make war only on fuch
as are furnilhed w ith the adequate means of efcape ;
the fmaller birds avoid their purfuers by the extreme
agility rather than the {^'ifu:c{:^ of their flight, and
for their own peculiar enemy they are more than a
match, the fparrow-hawk felUcm fcizing any except
by furprize.

But all their arts of efcape would be vain againft
the extreme rapidity of the falcon, cr the eagle, and
they find fafety only from their minutentfs, as
thefe are found to fly only at greater game. Their
ufual mannerof taking their prey is by mounting into
the air, and, obferving where it lies, to dart down-
ward upon it with amazing fwiftnefs, and ftrike it
dead with the blow. Na'ure, however, has provided
the bird they purfue with fuffic?ent inftincl to endea-
vour ftill to be uppcimoft, fo that both generally in
this contell are found to mount above the view,

and

OFBIRDS IN GENERAL. xv

and the bird which is endowed with the ftrongefl
wing and the mod rapjd flight comes off with con-
queft or fafety.

Granlvorous birds, or Tuch as live upon fruits,
corn, and other vegetables, have their int* (lines diffe-
rently formed from thofe of the rapacious kind.
Their gullet dilates jufl above the breaft-bone, and
forms itfelf into a pouch, or bag, called the crop.
This is replete with falivary glands, which ferve to
moifien and foften the grain and other food which it
contains. Thefe glands are very numerous,. wit*h
longitudinal openings, which fend forth a whitifh and
vifcous fubllance. After the dry food of the bird
has been macerated in the crop for a convenient
time, it then paffes into the abdomen, where, inftead
of a foftmoift ilomach, as in the rapacious kinds, the
food is ground between two pair of mufcles, com>
monly called the gizard, covered on the infide with
a Hony ridgy coat and almoft cartilaginous. Thefe,
rubbing againft each other, are capable of bruiling
and comminuting the hardeft fubftances, their aftion
being often compared to thofe of the grinding teeth
in man and other animals. Thus the organs of di-
geftion in quadrupedes are in a manner reverfed in
birds. Beafts firft grind theirs with their teeth, and
it paffes into the ftomach, where it is macerated and
foftened ; on the contrary, birds of this fort firfl
macerate it in the crop, and then it is ground and
comminuted in the ftomach. They are alfo care-
ful to pick up fand and gravel, and other hard fub-
ftances, not in order to grind the food, as is com-
monly imagined, in the ftomach, but to prevent the
too violent aftion of the oppofite mufcles againft
each other.

Another variety in birds proceeds from the (hape
of their bills and toes, which are always adapted to
the element on which they chiefly reflde. Swans,
geefe, ducks, coots, and fuch other fowls as delight
in the water, have their bills, necks, feet, and fea-
thers wonderfully adapted to that kind of life they
are to lead. The bill in fome is of an extraordinary

lengths

xvi INTRODUCTION.

length, to enable them to fearch for their peculiar
food, which is found only at the bottom of pools,
marfhes, and muddy places; thus in woodcock*
and fnipes, which by fome are fuppofed to feek for
worms in moorifh grounds, but others, with more
likelihood, affirm their food to be a fat undluousfub-
ftance which they fuck out of the earth. The bills
of curliews, and many other fea-fowls, are very long,
in order to enable them to hunt for worms on the fea-
fhore, and to feek after fmall fifh and their fpawn.
But the moft common form of the bill in aquatic fowls
is the broad fpoon bill, as in ducks, geefe, and fwans,
the mechanum of which is at once adapted to con-
tain and take up a greater quantity of water, which
is always fwallowed with their food, and to ikim the
furfaces of ftanding weeds, in pools, which is gene-
rally the food they moft delight in. Nor (Viould it
be forgotten, that, in all thefe, there are nerves
which run to the ends of their bills, fomewhat like
thofe, which in man terminate ac the ends of his
fingers, and which guide and improve his fenfe of
feeling.

Their legs and feet alfo are not lefs adapted to their
peculiar way of living. Some have the leg very long,
to enable them to wade in the water, and they arc
always bare of feathers a good way above the knee,
the toes being feparated fo as the better to enable
them to fink in the mud; but fuch as feek their food
by fwimming, havefhort legs and flat feet with web«
between each toe, which in fwimming they extend
as fi(hes do their fins, and thus impel the water one
way, to advance themfelves in the oppofite direftion.
Their necks alfo are generally long, fo as to reach
the bottom, and fhovel up gravel and other fubftanccf
which they fwallow with their food.

The variety of methods which Nature has taken
to furnifh the globe with creatures perfeflly formed
to indulge all their peculiar appetites, deferves our
wonder ; but wondering is not the way to grow wife.
We (hall find the generality of birds, tho* fo well
fitted for changing place with rapidity and cafe, for

the

OF BIRDS IN GENERAL. xvii

the moft part contented with the places where they
were bred, and by no means exerting their defire, in
proportion to their endowments. The rook, ifundi-
llurbed, would never leave its native wood, the black-
bird Hill frequents its accuftomed hedge, and if ever
they change, it is only from motives of famine or
of fear. There are fome forts, however, called
Birds of Paffage, which remove to warmer or colder
climates, as the air or their peculiar nourifliment in-
vites them. Thus the ftarling in S^eden^ at the ap-
proach of winter, finding fubfillence no longer in that
kingdom, defcends every year into Germany ; and the
hen chaffinches of the fame country are feen every
year to fly thro' Hollatid, m large flocks, to pafs their
jvinter inamilder climate. Others, with a more dar-
ing flight, traverfe the ocean, and undertake voy-
ages that might intimidate even human perfeverance.
Thus quails in the fpring leave the burning heat of
Africa for the milder fun of Europe, and v/hen they
have pafled the fummer with us, fl:eer their flight
back, to enjoy in Egypt the temperate air which they
can no longer iind with us. They often fly in fuch
numbers, that to mariners at fea they appear to co-
ver the fkies like a cloud, and fometimes, wearied by
the length'of their flight, drop down upon deck, an
eafy prey to the fpeftators.

From fome accounts publiflied in the Philofophical
Tranfadtions it would feem, that fwallows do not mi-
grate in the fame manner, but continue torpid all the
winter; but I think the teftimonies in favour of their
migration are more cogent than thofe againll it. All
thofe who have failed to the tropical climates, are
convinced, by every day's experience, that they are
feen flying in large flocks, in order to enjoy near the
Equator a warmer air. But not to enter into a dif-
cuflion of little importance, wild ducks and cranes,
at the approach of winter, generally go in fearch of
milder climates, and aflemble together for that pur-
pofe at a certain time of the year. Nor does this
feem to be the deliberation of a day ; they fometimes
aflemble and part different ways, in order to meet a

fecond

xviii INTRODUCTION.

fecond time ; however, at length, as if the migration
were unanimoufly refolved upon, they rife all at once
a/id decamp in a body. It is not unpleafing to ob-
ferve the order of their flight. They generJly range
themfelves inone large column, orfometimcs forming
two columns, joining in an angle like the letter V,'
while the fowl which makes the point feems to cleave
the air to facilitate the paiTage of thofe which are to
follow. But it continues this laborious employment
only for a certain time, after which, falling back in-
to the rear,' another takes the place. The prodigious
length of their pafTage is furprizing, and how they
fnpport themfelves in the flight ; but the regularity
of their motions is not lefs admirable, and that fpirit
of fociety with which they feem obedient to laws for
the general welfare. Both young and old are always
found at the place of general rendezvous, nor are they
ever at a lofs to take the dired road to their deftined
nations.

Thus there are fome birds which may properly be
called the inhabitants of every part of the earth, but
in general every climate has birds peculiar to itfelf
alone. The feathered inhabitants of the temperate
zone chiefly excell in the mufic of their notes ; thofe
of the torrid zone in the bright and vivid colours of
their plumage ; the frigid zone, on the other hand,
where the feas abound with filh, are flocked with
fowls of the aquatic kind"^ in much greater variety
than are to be found in our parts oi Europe.

In general, every bird reforts to thofe climates
where its food is found in plenty, and always takes
care to hatch its young at thofe places, and in thofe
feafons, where proviflons are in the greatefl: abun-
dance. The large birds, and thofe of the aquatic
kind, chufe places as remote as poflible from man, as
their food is diflerent from that which b cultivated by
human induftry ; fome birds, which have only the fer-
pent to fear, build their nefts in fuch a manner as to
have them depending at the end of a fmall bough, and
the entrance from below ; but the little birds, which
live upon fruits and corn, are found in the greatell

pknty

OFBIRDSINGENERAL. xix

plenty in the mod populous countries, and are too
often unwelcome intruders upon the fruits of human
labours. In making their nelb, therefore, the little
birds ufe every art to conceal them from man, while
the great birds ufe every precaution to render their's
inacceflible to wild beafts, or vermine. The unerring
inftindl which guides every fpecies in contriving the
moll proper habitation for hatching their young, de-
mands our obfervation. In hot tropical climates
nefts of the fame kind are made with lefs art, and of
lefs warm materials, than in the temperate zone, for
the fun in fome meafure afliils the bufinefs of incuba-
tion. In general, however, the,y build them with great
art, and line them with fuch fubllances as keep or
communicate warmth to their eggs. Nothing can
exceed their patience while hatching ; neither the
calls of hunger, nor the near approach of danger
could drive them from the nelt ; and tho' they have
been found fat upon beginning to fit, yet before the
incubation is over the female is ufually wafted to a
fkeleton. -The male ravens and crows, while the
hens are fitting, take care to provide them with food;
while other birds, fuch as pigeons and fparrows,
take their turns, the male relieving the female at
proper intervals. Sometimes, however, the eggs ac-
quire a degree of heat too great for the purpofes of
hatching ; in fuch cafes the hen leaves them to cool
a little, and then returns with her ufual perfeverance
and pleafure. When the young brood comes forth,
nothing can exceed the induftry and the feeming
pride of the parents ; the moll timid becomes courage-
ous in their defence, and provides them with food
proper for their age or kind. Birds of the rapacious
kind become at this feafon more than ordinarily ra-
venous, and thofe of the granivorous forts difcon-
tinue their finging, entirely taken up in procuring
fubfiftence for their young.

Of all birds the ollrich is the greateft, and the
American humming bird the leaft. In thefe the gra-
dations of nature are ftrongly marked, for the oflrich
in fome refpedls approaches the nature of that clafs

of

yx INTRODUCTION.

of animals immediately placed above him, namely
quadrupedes, being covered with hair, and incapable
of flying; while the humming bird, on the other
hand, approaches that of infefts. Thefe extremities
of the fpecies, however, are rather obje£ls of human
curiofity than ufe; it is the middle orders of birds,
which man has taken care to propagate and main-
tain ; thefe largely adminifter to his neceffities and
pleafure, and fome birds are even capable of attach-
ment to the perfen that feeds them. How far they
may be inflrudled by long affiduity, is obvious from
a late inftance of a Canary bird, which was fhewn in
London, and which had been taught to pick up the
letters oii the alphabet at the word of command.
Upon the whole, however, they are inferior to qua-
drupedes in their fagacity ; they are poflefTed of
fewer of thofe powers which look like reafon, and
feem, in all their adlions, rather impelled by inftind
than guided by choice.

T H E

NATURAL HISTORY ♦

O F

BIRDS.

C H A P. I.

Of rapacious Birds; andfirj^-, of the^AGLE hind. .

^^^$3:)^ N E A G L E is remarkable for its fize,
fe^ Y^ which generally exceeds that of all other

f*^ A /^ birds ; and it can -never be tamed like
^ yj Hawks in order to purfue any game. It

S^'^^'^^ is a more majeftic animal than a Vulture,
it « i^ jc wT ^,^^ differs from it in the crookednefs of
its beak. That of a Vulture does not begin immediate-
ly to bend at the root, but two inches from it ; for at
firll it is ftrait, and turns into a hook near the end.

The GOLDEN EAGLE is tlie largert of all this
kind, and the feathers on the body are all of a tawn}',
yellowifli colour; but the tail is brown, and the thighs
and legs are covered with feathers as far as the feet ; and
it v/eighs about twelve pounds. Its length, from the
j)oint of the beak to the end of the tail, is three feet nine
inches, and the breadth is fix feet when the wings arc
extended : The beak is exceedingly f Irong, crooked and
lery fharp : the tongue is round and blunt at the end,
not unlike that of a man : The feathers about the neck
are hard and of a i-uily colour. It has four very large
crooked talons, with \\'hich it feizes its prey p and the
feet are of a yellowilh colour. It feeds upon hares,
rabbits, kids, lambs, and other animals. Some afHrni
it will prey upon young cattle, but this is not certain.

The "Ofprey and the two Golden Eagles difTeded
by the members of tlie Royal Academy at Parisf
were all pretty nearly of tlie fame fize, ihape, and plu-

VOL. ir B maee:

2 THE NATURAL HISTORY
mage ; but the inward parts were fomewhjtt different,
on account of the difference of their fexes. The largeft
Eagle was a female, and was two feet nine inches, from
die extremity of the beak to the end of tlie tail ; but
•the wings, when extended, v/ere feven tcot and a half.
The beak was two inches and a half long, without
comprehending the crooked part, which was three
quarters of an inch in length. The whole head, inclu-
ding the beak, was four inches and a half, and the neck
iive inches and a half. The leg and thigh, to the end
of the claws, was live inches, and the whole body weigh-
ed ten pounds. The whole plumage of the Ofprey was
of a very dark chefnut colour, oralmoft black, except the
lower part of the neck before, and the belly, which were
of a dirty white, with a reddiih grey call. The feet were
fmall in proporticn to the body, and of a bluifh grey;
but the beak was quite black. Of the remaining two
Eagles, One was a male, and the other a female, and they
were fbmewhat fmaller than the former, with a beak black
at the end, and yellow towards the beginning, but blueifli
in the middle. The feet were yellow, covered v^dth
fcales of different fizes ; "but thofe above the toes were
large, and ftood out, efpecially near the extremity ; the
reft being very fmall. 'fhe claws were black, crooked,
^id very large, efpecially on the back toe, where it
was almoft twice as big as the reii.

Tney were of three colours, viz. brov/n cheftnut, red,
xmd white. The top of the head was a mixture of cheft-
nut and red ; the brcaft and beliy were diverfiHed with
w^hite, red, and cheftnut colours ; and the v/ings were
moft cheftnut, v/ith a little red, and lefs white. The Ihafts
of the lar:^c quiils were three quarters of an inch in com-
pafs, and" the feathers of the tail were very brown near
the end, but had a little white neai- the beginning. The
thighs, legs, and upper part of the feet were all co-
vered v.'ith feathers, partly white and partly red ; for
they v/ere red at the end, and white near theii- origin,

Befides the great feathers which covered the body,
there was a very white fine down at their roots of an
inch in length, which fecmed dcfigned to defend thefe
Eagles againft cold. The other feathers that covered
the back and the belly were four or five inches in

length ;

O F B I R D S. i

length.; aiici thofe which covered fhe legs were fix
inches. The feathers which adorned the breafi: and
belly were feven inches long and three broad, and they
were laid one upon another like fcaJes ; but this was in|j
the female ; for in the male they were foft, and lia(f
nothing but a long down on each fide the fhaft, whofe
•fibres were not entangled in each other, as the long
feathers that are ran,ged like fcales. Thefe feathei*s
were double, for at about a quarter of an inch above
the fkin they divided into two parts, one of which was
as long again as the other.

The eye was buried in its orbit, and covered by a
prominence of the b6ne of the forehead, which made a
fort of an eyebrow : It was of a lively yelhDwifh colour,
and fparkled like a topaz. Befides the upper and lov/er
eyelids there was another, which was drawn up to the
great corner of the eye, and when drawn out tcvs ards
-the little comer, it quite covered the homy coat.

The thighs and legs to the beginning of the toes,
were covered with feathers, half of which were white>
and halfreddiJh, that is, every feather was reddifli at
the end, and white at the beginning.

Thefe marks ferve to difcover to what clafs thefe
Eagles belonged, for the two leiTer were judged to be:
Golden Eagles, on account ofihereddifa ends, and as
it v/ere the gilded colour of their feathers ; befides, the
fpots they had on the b^lly and the thighs, in the fhape
of ftars, was a farther confirmation that they were of
this kind. But perhaps it may be thought that thefe
Eagles were too fmali to be of that number, becaufc
they each v/eighed l>ut fix pounds, whereas it is com-
monly faid their weight is ten ; but then it muft be
confidered thefe Eagles were young, as appeared by
tl le white feathers on the wings, the neck, and the tail,
which always change colour when they grow old, and
become of a golden or brown cheftnut colour ; which is
a mark given by Geficf.

Pliny has affirmed, tliat Eagles have no epiploon or
<:aul ; but this is a miflake, for thefe had a membrane
like a bag, in which die inteilines, liver and ftomach
were contained. It had a great deal of fat, and efpe-
ciaiiy on tlie right fide of the ilomach ; for which rea-
B 2 fon

^ THE NATURAL HICTORY
fon it was believed that it had the fame ufe as in land
.animals, namely, that it ferved to keep the flomach
warm j for thofe eipecially that live upon flefh are ob-
ierved to have a great deal of fat. The cefophagus, or

gullet, was on die right iide of tlie wind-pipe, and
orew larger by degrees, till it was ,two inches and a.
naif in diameter. Towards the upper part there was a
glandulous 'body, of the fize of a pea, firmly connected
to the membrane; but it was only found in one of
thefe fubjefts. 'Below the place where the windpipe
divides into two parts, the gullet grew narrower,
and pafied under it j -then it grew bigger to form the
flomach. They were compofed of hard, folid, white
membranes, that had many veiTels on the outfide. The

,-Iower part of the gullet, that formed the crop, was
compofed of fmall glands, of the fize of rape feed;
but they grew lefs and lefs, and at laft they became im-
Jierceptible. TheHomach had a few wrinkles, and

-ioth the crop and this were very large, and proporti-
onable to the voracity of this bird.

The inteilines were fmall, like thofe of all other ani-
mals that aie voracious and live upon flefh ; whereas
thofe that feed upon grafs, and efpecially thofe that
ruminate, are generally four or five times larger. The
male had no ccecum, or blind gut, but the female had
two that were tvvo inches in length. The Haliaetos
or OsPREY had two bags near the fame part, formed
by the coats, in the manner of valves. The ftrait gut
grew fmaller on a fudden near the vent, and afterwards
became a bag, of the fize and fhape of an egg, at
the extremity of which the ureters were inferted. The
wings were very brown, the breaft and tail white ; the
feet bluilh, and entirely covered with fquarc fcales.

The fpleen of the tv/o Golden Eagles was round on
the outfide, and fiat within next the flomach, to which it
was conneded ; it was two thirds of an inch in diame-
ter, and the colour was of a browner red than the li-
ver, which v/as of a very lively red. The veiTels that
it received from the vena porta, and the c?celiac artery,
were thick and varicous. That of the Ofprey was feat-
f d under the right lobe of the liver, and connedled to

the

the third fold, of the gut, by branches of the vena porta-
and of the casliac arter/, as in the two others.

The pancreas of tlie Ofprey was feated as in molt
other birds,, in the firft fold of the^gut ; but it was of.
a very extraordinary fhape ; for it was round at the low-
er end, where it made a fort of ahead,, while the other
part was flat and {nvalh This head was pierced to give
a paflage to the hepatic du£l, that had no communica-
tion with thofe of the pancreas ; from whence it pro-
ceeded to be inferted in the gut. There were three '
pancreatic dufts, two of which were inferted in the
gut between the du«5l of the gall bladder and the hepa-
tic du6l; but the third was inferted above this lad. I'he-
pancreas of the two Golden Eagles was alfo feated very
near the pylorus, but it was connefted to the gut by
a canal fo fine and ihort, that it could hardly be per-
ceived. At the other end it adhered to the fpleen,
which was connedled to the upper part, on the right
fide of the ftomach.

The liver of the two Golden Eagles was much larger
than that of the Ofprey, and in all tlie left lobe vvas tlie
largeil. The gall bladder in all three was very large,
for it was of the fize and fhape of a great cheflnut, and
it was joined to the right lobe of tlie liver only by its
neck, which was a pipe one eighth of an inch in dia-
meter. The cyHic duft proceeded from the bottom
oppolite to the neck, which was joined to the liver in
two different manners ; for in the two Golden Eagles
it hung at the. end -of the right lobe, which was fhcrt-
efl; for which reafon the gall bladder was quite dif-
tindt from the liver: As for the Ofprey, the neck was
connedled to the middle of the hollo v/ part of the right
lobe, as is commo*.

The kidneys of the- two Gclden Eagles were fmall,
they being only two thirds cf an inch in diameter, and
they were round and fiat, and were of a tawny, red-
difh colour. In the Ofprey they were made much in
the fame manner as in the other birds, in which they
are generally in proportion to their fize. The teiHcles
of the male . Royal Eagle, vvere two fmall glandulous
bodies, hardly fo large as a pea, a little fiattilh, and of
a yellowifli flefh colour. The females had the ovary,
3 3 and

^ THE NATURAL HISTORT
and the pipe of the ovary like other birds. Tie tongue
was cartilaginous at the end, and fielliy in the middle,
but at the root there were two hard fpines, like thofe
at the bottom of the head of an arrow. They were
near half an inch in breadth, and an inch and two thirds
in length, from the openiag of the head of the wind-
pipe to the end. The fmall mufcles, that conneded
the windpipe, did not take tlieir rife from the clavicle,
as in moft other birds, but from tjie internal and upper
part of the flernum. The globe of the eye, in the fe-
male, was an inch and a half in diameter ; but that of
the male was a quarter of an inch lefs. The horny
coat of the eye rofe above the reft of the globe, which
was flattifh before, as in other birds ; that of the m.ale
was not trar^lparent, but white and opaque ; but this
was a difeafe The cryilalline humour was above a
third of an inch in breadth, and above a quarter thick,
and it was likewife more convex on the infide than
without. The flelh of the Eagle contains a great deal
of volatile fait and oil, and the ancient phyilcians afcri-
bed a great many \irtues thereto, which the modems
will not allow; but it is very hard to determLie any
thing about it, becaufe the opportunities of making ufe
of it are fo very feldom : However, we are told in the
German Ephemerides, that the gall of an Eagle, took
off the fpots of the homy coat of the eye in a man of
eighty years of age ; and that in a few days the fight
became very good. This gall was mixed with a little
water of eye-blight, and dropped into the eye ; we are
not told how often ; but perhaps it was two or three
times a day, as is common in ufmg medicines of this
kind: The fat is faid to be emollient and refolvent, and
makes a proper liniment to cure hurts of the nerv^es,
and to eafe the pain of the gout ; befides, it difperfes
the fwellings that attend luxations, according to the
iame author ; v/ho likewife affirms it is an excellent re-
medy againft chilblains and chapped hands, proceed-
ing from cold.

A kind of a GOLDEN EAGLE was found in a
wood near the river Derv:ent^ in the Peak in Derby-
fhire^ with a white ring round its tail. They likewife
diftovcred the ncft, one part of which refted upon a

rock;

'Pa^j'c 6

^neyCaJjo

83 .f 3 8

ZPr^ti/^^/y.

O x^ BIRD S\ J

rock, end the other upon two birch- trees. The out-
fide confined of flicks, and it was lined within with
heath. There was only one young Eagle in the neft,,
befides an addle egg ; near it were the carcafes of a.
Lamb, a Hnre, and three Heath-cocks, which in fome
meafure confirms the ftory of a Frerub gentleman, who
ufed to fupply his table, at the time of the year when
Eagles hatched their young., with the prey which they
brought to feed them. This young Eagle was fliaped.
like a Goihawk, and was black on the back, lik* a
Hobby. It weighed as much as a Gccfe, and had
feathers down to its feet, and round the tail was a.
white ring or zone.

The QSPREY may be reckoned among the Eagle
kind, on account of its lize. Some affirm that the
toes of one of the feet have membranes or Avebs be-
tweeJi the toes, like thofe of a Goofe, and that the other
refembles that of ravenous birds ; but this is looked
upon by Mr. Ray as a fable. It is fometimes {&^xi
about our rivers, and often catches ftfh, which are its
prey. See the foregoing Af tides.

The BLACK ^AGLE is twice as big as a Raven,
but lefs than the Golden Eagle : The jaws and eye-
lids are of a darkiih red colour, with few or no fea-
thers upoh them ; and the Eyes are hazel. On the middie-
of the back between the wings there is a large white
^ot, mixed with red feathers, which as it approaches
near the rump, becomes entirely of a darkifh red. The
finall rows of feathers in the wings are like thofe of a
common Buzzard, only there is a dark ftreak runs
crofs the prime feathgrs ; and alfo one that is whitifh,.
which terminates in an afh colour, at the tip of the
wings. The legs are feathered down a little below^
the knees, and the remaining naked part is red, and
the talons are very long. One of thefe that was tame
at Middleborough in Zealand, had a black head, neck,
and breaft j befides a large triangular white fpot, with
a reddifh cafl, in which lafl particular it agrees with,
the above defcription : liowever, there is feme differ-
ence between the feathers of the male and female.

The CROWNED EAGLE is about a third part

lefs than the larger fort of Eagles that are natives of

B 4 Europe v

8 THE NATURAL HISTORY

Ewnpe-y but it appears to be ilrong and bold, lik«
others of this kind. The beak, and the flcin that co-
vers t]ie upper jaw in which tiie noftrils are placed,
are of a dufky colour, and the corners of the mouth
are cleft in pretty deep under the eyes, and are of a
yellov.iih colour. The circles round the pupil of the
eyes are of a reddifli orange colour ; and the fore part
of the head and the fpace round the eyes ai-e covered
with white feathers fpeckled with black : The hinder
part of the head and neck, as well as the back aAd
wings, are of a dark brown, or blackifli colour ; and
the outer edges of the quills are darker tlian the other
feathers of the wings. The ridge in the upper part
of fome of the leiler covert feathers of the wings are
white, and the tail is of a brown colour, barred acrofs
with black : The under fide is of a dark and light afh-
Golour ; and the breaft is of a reddiih brown, with large
tranfverfe fpots on its fides. The belly, and covert
feathers under the tail, are white, fpotted with black,
and the thighs and legs down to the feet are covered
with white feathers, beautifully fpotted with round
black fpots. The feet and claws are very Itrong, the
feet being covered with fcales of a bright orange co-
lour, and the claws are black. It railes the feathers
on the hinder part of the head in the form of a crefl or
crown, from whence it takes its name. It was brought
to London alive from Guinea in Jfricn a few yeais
ago.

Th3 EAGLE WITH A White Tail, of Hudson's
Bay, is about the fize of a Turkey-cock, and has a crov/n,
on its head The neck is Ihoi t, the brcall or llomacli
large, the thighs ftrong, and the wings very long in pro-
portion to the body ; they are of a blackiili colour be-
hind; but more bght on the fides ; and the fiomach
is fpotted with white. The quill feathers on the wings
are black, and the tail is white above and belov/, ex-
cept at the ends of tlie feathers, which are either black,
or brown. The thighs arc covered with feathers of a
brownilh black, among v/hich, in fome places, there
is a \vhite down. The legs are covered with a fort of
a reddilli brown down as far as the feet, on which

there

O F B I R D S. 9

there are four large ftrong toes, three of which arc
placed before, and the other behind ; they are covered
with yellow fcales, and furniflied v.ith extremely ftrong
and Iharp claws, of a jQiining brownilli black.

The WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, in Latin Alb i-
ciLLA b, fo called from the whitenefs of its tail. The
top of the head is of a wliitifh or alh colour, and the
apple of the eye is black, with a beautiful yellow cir-
cle about it. The tail is white, either entirely, or one
half of its length, and is made up of twelve feathers.
The bc::k is hocked, as in other Eagles, and the up^
per part hangs over the lower about three quarters of
an inch. It is thirty-three inches in length f-om the
tip of the beak to the end of the tail, and its bread tli,
when the wings are ftretched out, is fix feet eleven .
inches. One of thefe, that was brough-t to the mar-
ket at Vemcgy weighed eight pounds and a half. It ■
frequents lakes, fens, and marihy places, and feeds
upon Kares, Rabbits, fowb and birdr ; and when
hungry it will devour Snakes, and almoft all ibrts of
reptiles. That defcribed by /!ldroi;andus was much
Icfs, and of a ditFerent colour; and therefore very pro- -
bably v/as not of the fame kind.

The SPOTTED EAGLE, Mr. Ray thinks is the
fame Bird as that called the BALD BUZZARD ; this
is acknowledged by Turner^ who fent the defcription
to Gefnery under the name of the SPOTTED EAGLE, -
However, there is another bird akin to this, taken no-
tice of by A.dro^andui^ which is of the fize of a Dung-
hill-Cock, with a yellov/ fkin at the bottom of the beak,
and the plumage of a ferruginous colour, except at
the end of the wings, towards the belly .j and it is
beautified v/ith many oval fpots. The thighs and legs
are covered with fmall . feathers, even to the very toes,
l"'he feet are yellow ; the upper part of the toes are
covered with a fort of fcales, and the talons are thick .
and crooked.

The CRESTED EAGLE of Brasfl* called by
the natives URUTAURANA, has a head like a common
Eagle, only more flat on the top, where there are two
black feathers, about two inches long, with two fmali
oiiea on each fide, which it can fet up.an end, and let -
B s faU

lo THE NATURAL HISTORY
fall again at pleafure. The beak is black only at the
bai'e, it is of a yellowifh colour, and the feet are yel-
low. The colour of the head, wings, and almoll all
the upper part of the body, is brown ; but the bread,
belly, thighs and legs, even to the very feet, are
white, with a mixture of black feathers. Its cry is
Kepj Kep, like a chicken that has loft the hen. If you
throw a bird to it, whether alive or dead, it catches
it in its talons, and with its beak pulls off the feathers,
;ind then tears it to pieces, and fwallows it, bones and
all. There is another fort of a Crested Eagle,
named by the Mexicans UZQUAUHTLI, which is
very large, and whofe beak is yellow at the root, but
black eliewhere. The feet are pale, the belly a mix-
ture of black and white, and the neck, back and tail
black or brown. It is a very fierce animal, for even if
it is exafperated while tame, it will fiy at the perfon
that dillurbs it. However it may be brought to be
stTf gentle, ^d made ufe of like a Haw.k to catch
fowls.

The Brasillian White-tailed EAGLE, of
Marcg-a-je, i called URUBITINGA by the Brafili.
ans. h is of the Eagle kind, and about as big as a
Goofe of fix months old, having a thick, hooked,
black beak, large fparkling eyes, a great head, yellow
legs and feet, crcoKed, long black talons, large wings,
bread tdil, and covered all over with dulky, blackifh
feathers. The tail is nine inches long, of which fix
are white; and the remaining three black. Mr. Ray
takes it to be a fpecies of the White-tailed Eagle a-
bovemenaoned.

The TLACOQUAUHTLI is of the fize of aGof-
hawk, and of a brown and alh colour. TLA-
QUAUTHLI is another kind oi Mexican ^Vi^t, of a
middle fize, and pi.rt of the body is of a tawny blac-
kifti colour ; buc the lower part is more pale, and of a
fort of a ydlowifn colour ; and likewife the back part
of the head is pale, but the feet are yellow. Mr. Ray
iuipefts it is of tlie buzzard kind.

The HOINE'I LI, or the crooked bird, is of the
fize of a Gofhawk, with a black bill and yellow legs.
The tail is a fpan long, and as much broad. The co-
lour

O X^ B I R D S. II

lour underneath is whitiih mixed with yellow, and
above it is of a blackilli tawny yellow mixed with
white ; the Iris of the Eyes is alio yellow.

The COZCACOAUHTLI is of the fize of a com-
mon Eagle, and the whole body, except the parts
near the breaft, is of a purpliih black, tawny and
ruflet. The wings underneath iiear the root are black,
and the reil is of an afh colour ; but above they have
a mixture of tawny and black, with a parplijli calL.
Their legs are red, and the claws crooked, it has a
*beak like a parrot, white at the end, and triQ reft of a
blood colour. The Iris of the eyes is tawny, the
eye-lids red, and the forehead is of a blood colour, with
folds in the ilcin, which are fcmetimes expanded. The
tail is of an afh colour below, and black above : It
feeds upon Snakes, Mice, and Lizards, and is very
fond of carrion and human excrements. It is endowed'
with an incredible force of flying againft the wind, it
is a Kcxican bird.

The GAR AG AY is of the fize of the Kite, witit
the head and the extremities white. It hies but a lit-
tle way at a time, and it feeds upon, the eggs of
Crocodiles and Tortoifes, which it meets with under the
fand, on the banks of rivers ; for it can fmd them out
by the fmell. It is commonly attended by the hhxi-
can Vulture, in hopes of getting part of the prey 5.
but at other times it is alone.

The EGYPTIAN EAGLE is fomewhat fmaller
than the Golden Eagle, qI which it feems to be a fpe-
cies ; for it differs ver>' little either in colour or fhape,
except in the part between the wings on the back,
which is of a deep green, with a fmali mixture of
cheftnut, or rather it has a chefnut caft. This Eird is
bred in the fouth parts of France and Italy ^ but chief-
ly in Greece ; and frequently rcforts ior its prey to tlie
mountains near the Danube. They feed upon Serpents,
Frogs, Toads and Lizards ; and if John/on fays true,
they will devour Kids, Lambs, Swans and Geefe.

The EALD EAGLE, which is the Percnopteros
of Jldro'vandus, according to him is of three kinds, of
which Mr. Ray fav/ only one, and that was at Venice,
This was rather larger than the common Eagles? bat

had

12 THE NATURAL HISTORY
had no feathers on its head and neck, except a fort of
a down of a whitifh colour may be fo called. The
under part of the beak, and fides of the face about the
eye, are covered with a dnfky coloured down, and the
belly and breafl are of a paiifh cream oolour, fpotted*
with dufky oblong fpots. The upper part of the wings
and back, are of a reddifli brown, but the quill feathers
on the tail are black. The legs, and upper part of
the feet, are of a lead colour, and the talons are blacky,
large and crocked, but not fo much as thofe of the com-
mon Eagle. The beak is ftrait and black for about
half way, but the other part turns into a remarkable
hook, not unlike the common Vulture. On the lower
part of the neck, beneath the down, there is a rough
fort of curled feathers, Handing up above the reft of
the plumage, which have the appearance of very fine
long brifllcs. The nofcrils are covered with a black
skin, and from the beak to the eyes the (kin is quite
naked, and of a bluilh colour. The iris of the eyes
is hazel, and the pupil blacks The legs are covered
with feathers below the knees, and ai'C white on the
in fide ; the middle talon is longer than the reft, and
that on the outfide is connedled to the firft joint of it
by a membrane. The crop hangs down on the breaft
like a- bag, and it always ftands with its wings extend-
ed. There is a fort of liquor, which is continually
dropping from the noftrils, that fome take to be a
diftinguifhing mark of this fort of Eagle. Mr. Ray ob-
lei-ves that it is a lazy fort of a bird, and upon that
^count ought not to be ranked among the Eagle kind,
efpecially as the beak and fhape of the feet differ from
thofe of the common Eagle. Some authors give it the
name of Gypaetos, and feveral Englifn v/ritcrs call
it the VuLTURiNE Eagle,

Mr. Lanv/on, Surveyor- General of North Carolina^
takes notice, of a BALD EAGLE found in that coun-
try, and he obferves it is fo called, becaufe the head
and neck, as far as the. middle, are only covered with
a white down ; and the tail is likesvife as white as
fnow ; which is all the defcription he gives of it.
However, he fiu-ther informs us, that thefe birds breed
continually all the year round j for when the young

Eagles

O F B I R D S. 13

Eagles are jull covered with down, and a fort of white
woolly feathers, the hen Eagle lays again : thefe eggs
are left to be hatched by the warmth of the young ones
that continue in the neil ; fo that the flight of one
brood makes room for the next that are but juft hatch-
ed. Th^y fly very heavily, infomuch that they can-
not overtake their prey like other Eagles ,• but then
they have a fort of fiihing Hawk that attends upon
them, and often fuffers them to take the hih ; v/hich is
the more remarkable, becaufe they fiy fwifter than the
Bald Eagle. They generally attend upon the gunners
in the winter time, and when any birds are killed, they
often come in for their Ih are ; and they are fure of
thofe that are v/ounded, though they can get av/ay
from the gunner. This Eagle v^ill often fteal young
pigs, and carry them. a.live to his neR, which is made
of twigs, flicks andrubbjih. it is large enough tq
fill the body of a cart, and is comnionly full of nally
bones and pieces of carrion, that itiuk mod intole-
rably.

In South- Arr^ erica there is a fort of an Eagle called
by the natives a CONTUR or CONDUR. Seme fay
that their wings, when extended, are twelve feet ia
breadth, and others eighteen : Its talons are thick,
ftrong, and crooked, and it is generally affirmed, that
it will carry off a deer or a large calf. Pvlr. Condomins
has frequently feen them in feveral parts of the moun-
tains of ^iio in Peru, and has obfer/ed them hover-
ing over a flock of flieep, and he thinks they would
have attempted to carry one ofi^, if it had not been for
the fliepherd. It is even pretended, that the Ameri-
cans hold out to it, as a lure, the figure of a child,
made of a very glutinous clay, upon which it defcends
with exceiHve rapidity-, and ftrikes its pounces into it
fo deep, that it cannot after that get away. Lahat ac-
quaints us, that thofe who have feen this animal de-
clare, that the body is as large as that of a flieep, and
that the flefli is tough, and as difagreeable as carrion ,
It never is feen in forells, on account of the extreme
length of its wngs, becaufe it would not have room
to fly ; but it frequents the fea fhore and the banks of
rivers, where it is likely to flieet with^rey.

- ■^'* '^^- Mr.-

14 THE NATURAL HISTORY

Mr. Ray was once of opinion, that the account of
this bird, which he had formerly feen, was entirely
fabulous, till he was alTured of the contrary by Sir
Hans Sloane. Mr. Strong, the mafter of a Ihip, faw,
on the coail of Chili, in the thirty-third degree of South
latitude, a bird fitting upon a high cliff near the
fhore, which fome of the Ihip's company ihot with a
leaden bullet, and killed it. They were greatly fur-
prized when they beheld its magnitude ; for when
the wings were -extended, they meafured thirteen feet.
He enquired of the Spaniards in tliofe parts what it
was called, and they told him a Contur. They
likewife informed him, that it was a very rapacious
bird, and they were always in dread left it thould
carry off their children. One of the quills was two
teet four inches long, and the barrel or hollow part was
ii\ inche^and three quarfers ; and an inch and an half
in circumference. The colour was of a dark brown,
and it weighed three drams and near eighteen grains.
It was taken by the failors to be a kind of a peacock,
on account of its naked head.

Ga-filajh de la Vega declares, tJiat fome of Xkit{(i.
CoxTURS killed by the Spaniards, were fixteen feet in
breadth when the wings were extended ; but he de-
nies that they have talons like an Eagle, and alhrms
that their feet are more like thofe of a cock. However
he owns that their beaks are extremely ftrong, which
enables them to attack horned cattle, and tear them in
pieces. He alfo adds that two of them are iiifficient to
attack and devour a Bull, or a Cow. Their colour i5
a mixture of white and black, and the tail is like a
magpye's. They have a comb on the head fhaped like
a razor, and not toothed like that of a cock. He alfo
adds, that they make fuch a noife with their wings,
when they defcend to the earth, that it is enough to
deafen any one that hears it.

The MANSFENY is a ftrong bird of prey, found
in the Weft-Indies ; and its ihape and plumage are fo
like thofe of an Eagle, that it differs in nothing from
one but in being much le{s ; for it is no larger than a
falcon ; but its talons are twice as large and ftrong.
However, though \\ is A) well anaed> it attacks no-
thing

O F B I R D S. r5

thing but fmall birds that can make no defence. It
likewife devours Serpents and fmall Lizards, and gene-
rally fits upon the highell trees near the houfes. The
flefh is a little black, but the inhabitants of thofe parts
think it very good eating.

CHAP. IT.
0/ VULTURES.

BIRDS of the Vulture kind, differ from Ea-
gles in not having their beak turning immediat-rly
crooked from the root; for it continues ftrait the length
of two inches. They are alfo more lazy than an Ea-
gle, and are fond of carrion, which the Eagles will
not touch. However they will likewife prey upon liv-
ing birds, Kids, Hares and Fawns. Their necks are
almoft naked, and they fly together in flocks. Their
crop hangs down on their breaft like a bag, which was
taken notice of in the Gyp^etos feen at Venice. Like-
wife the female is larger than the male, which dilHn-
guifhes it from all other rapacious birds. A6.d. to this,
that a fpace under the throat, a palm in breadth, is
not covered witli feathers, but a fort of hair not un-
like that of a calf; and that the part under the wings
is cloathed with a fort of fleece ; which circumftance
is peculiar to thefe fort of birds. Their legs, as far as
the feet, are covered with feathers, which BeUn thinks
peculiar to Vultures ; but this is a miftaks.

The AsH-coLOURED VULURE, the White
VULTURE, and the Black VULTURE, differ in
nothing from the general defcription, except only in
their refpedlive colours : The Boetick VULTURE is
lefs than an Eagle, and is of a chellnut colour all over
the body. The quills of the wings are black, and the
feathers on the top of the head are very fnort ; the tail
alfo is ihort, in proportion to the length of the wings :
The legs are covered with feathers as far as the toes,
and are pretty fhort. The neck feathers arc very lonsj
and narrow, like thofe about the necks of dunghiH
cecks.

The

1.6 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The HARE VULTURE, fo called from preying
upon Hares, is Tome what lefs than the Golden Vulture,
and is cf a reddifh black colour, with yellow feet ; the
beak is black and hooked at the end, with a large bo-
dy, broad wings, and a long train. When it is land-
ing or fitting, it rears up its crell like a horn, but
it lies quite clofe to the head when it is flying. It is fix
feet in breadth, and preys upon all forts of birds,.
Hares, Rabbits, Foxes and Fawns. It makes a great
noife with its wings, and builds its neft upon the high-
cit trees in woods, as far from towns and villages as
poffible.

The BEARDED VULTURE is of the fize of an
Eagle, and its length from the tip of the bill to the,
end of the tail is three feet four inches ; but to the end
cf the claws two feet eight inches. The breadth,
when the wings are extended, is feven feet fix inches,
and one of the wings when clofed is two feet four
inches, and the prime quills are more than twenty-
three inches in length.

The bill is of a purplilhi flefh colour, but darker
towards the point; and from that to the corner of the
mouth it is four inches long. The upper chap is hook-
ed at the end, and not all the way, which is the priii-
cipal diftindlion between the Vulture and the Eagle,
From the root of the lower chap there hangs a remarka-
ble tuft of black feathers, and the mouth is blue on the
infide. The eyes are placed juil above the flits of the
mouth, and the circle round the eye is of a bright yel^.
low. Without this there is another circle, which con-
fills of a fine deep red fkin, adhering clofe to the ball
of the eye. The fides and fore-part of the head is
black, v/hich encompaffes the eyes, and ihews them to
advantage. The noilrils are covered with ftifF black
feathers, and behind each eye there is a black line,
which bends upwards, and they both meet on the hin-
der part of the head ; there is alfo a dalh of black from
each corner of the mouth, #hich tends a little down-
wards, in the form of whifkers. The reft of the head,
and the whole neck, are covered with white feathers,
which are fhort on the head, but long, loofe, and
pointed on the neck, like thofe of a cock. The

upper

/^

4'zf

^ean^J^ I a /hi re

O F B r R D S. 17

ttp'per fide of tlie neck, the back, wings and tail
are of a dark colour, between brown and black ;
and the lefTer covert feathers of the wings have dalhes
of bright reddifli brown along the fliaft^, but very nar-
row. The edges of the feathers on the upper fides
are fomewhat lighter than the other parts; and the
greater feathers of the wings and tail have white ihafts.
The middle feathers of the tail are a. little longer than
thofe on the fides, and the infides of the wings are
coloured, as they are without, except that the dafhes
of the Ihafts of the covert feathers are larger and whiter.
The bottoms or roots of all the feathers are v^hite ; and
there is alfo a very thick, foft, white down all over the
body under the feathers ; the under fide of the breaft,
belly, thighs, and coverts under the tail are v/hite, a little
tindured with. a reddifh brown; and the legs are covered
with fhort^ white downy feathers. The feet are of a
lead colour, the claws dulky, and the middle and outer
toes on each foot are joined by a. ftrong {kin. It was
brought from ^anta Cruz, on the coaft of Barbary, and
was defcribed by Mr. Edwards foon after it was dead.

The GOLDEN VULTURE is in many things like
the Gqlpen Eagle,, but is larger in proportion every
-way. From the end of the beak to that of the tail is
four feet and a half, and to the claws end forty-five
inches. The length of the upper chap is ai'moft feven
inches, and the tail tw.enty-feven in length. The low-
er part of the neck, breaft and belly are of a red cOr
lour; but on the tail it is more faint, and deeper near
the head. The feathers are black on the back, and
on the wings and tail of a yeJLowiih brown. The toeS
are of the colour of horn.

The BOETICK VULTURE of Bellonius, is of the
fu:ic colour on the back and wings as the former of
that name, that is cheilnut. The beak is black, and
crooked at the end, and the head and neck, as far as
thi: breajl:, as alfo the middle part of the breaft, are
deilitqle of feathers ; but they are covered v/ith a foft,
fhort, thick white down. They have a flern look with
their eyes, the iiis of which is yellow. On the lower
part of the head, or on the top. of the back, there is
a fet of narrow feathers,, much longer tlian the re^'

whick

r? THE NATURAL HISTORY
which furrounds the neck. This bird was feen in St.
James's Park by Mr. Ray^ but he could not tell from,
whence it was brought.

The BRASIllAN VULTURE, by fome called
Uic MEXICAN VITLTURE, becaufe it is found in
that country as well as in Brafil^ is the Urubu of
Xiarcgra've; other authors mention it by the name of
Tzopiloth; r.nd others again of Aura. Marcgra^e
fays it is of tlie bignefs of a Kite, Xivcenes- of a middle-
iized Eagle, and Mr. Ray of that of a Raven. It has
a long tail, but not fo long as the wings, aad the whole
plumage of the body is black. The head is fmall, and
covered with a wrinkled fkin of divers colours s for on
the left fide below the eye it is yellow, above the eye-
blue, as well as on the top of the head. The remain-
ing, part is rcddifh. The right fide, as well above as
below the eye, is of a faffron colour, as well as near
the top of the head ; but the remaining part is more
lights The beak is pretty long, very crooked, and
covered half way with a faffron coloured fkin, whidH
has a bluifli call. In the middle of the upper part of
the beak there is a wide noftril, with only one hole,
and placed croisways. The extreme part of the beak,
which has no Ikni, is white, and the eyes are almoft of
the colour of a ruby, with a round black pupil: Mr..
Kay affirms that this bird is called by the inhabitants
of Jamaica a Carriom-Crow, and that it has two
pretty large noilrils, and not one as abovementioned.

Labat takes fhem to be a fort of Turkey-cocks, ovlXj
they do not live on corn, fruits, and herbs, but feed
wholly upon carrion. They follow the hunters, efpe-
cially thofe that endeavour to kill beafts for the fake of
the hides ; for thofe people abandon the carcafes, which
would infed the air if it was not for thefe birds. As
foon as they fee one of thefe thus left, they call their
companions together, and fall upon it with the utmoft
greedinefs, devouring it almolt in the twinkling of an
eye, leaving the bones as bare as if the flefh had been
fcraped off with a knife. In general it is a very nafty
bird, for it never attacks any living creature, but feeds
wholly upon dead bodies. In the night time they perch
upon trees, and in the morning they fly from place to

place.

i

O F B I R D a. 19

place, in fearch of carrion ; for which reafon they have
multiplied extremely in thofe places where cattle are
killed by the Spaniai^ds^ only for the fake of their
hides. Mr. Lanvfon calls them TtrRKEY-BuzzARDS,
and fays they are fmall Vultures, which feed on any
dead carcaffes ; that they are about the bignefs of a
fifhing-hawk, and have a very nafty fmell.

CHAP. III.
Of K A W K S.

THE PEREGRINE FALCON has wings fo
long ^s to reach to the end of the tail, and
this is much like that of a Sparrow-hawk. The
beak is of a fine blue colour, except one part of it,
which is of a deep yellow : The feet are of a pale green,
pr between a yellow and a lead colour; the toes are
ilender, the talons large, black, and very fharp. The
breaft, belly and thighs are white, ftreaked with broad
black Ilripes, running tranfverfly. The head is a lit-
tle flat at the top, and of a deep brown colour ; as are
the neck, back and wings. The tail is not of fo deep
a colour, and there are black lines run crofs it, which
fpme call crofe-bars. The legs and feet are of a yellow
colour.

The SAC^E, in Latin Falco Sacer, is larger
than all other falcons, except the Gyr-Falcon. It has
a large round head, a Ihorter beak, a longer body in
proportion, longer wings, a longer tail, and Ihorter
tpes than the Gyr-Falcon. The head is grey, crowa
flat, the eyes black and great, the beak blue, the nof-
trils fmall, the breaft fpotted with hiown, as well as
the back, and the upper i\A^ of the wings. The
thighs aje white within fide, and the tail is long, with
fpots thereon like kidneys. The feet and legs are en-
tirely blije, though in fome they aje whitiih, fpotted
with a little yellow, and their backs are reddilh, in-
clinable to an a{h-coiour. Some authors fay, that
this Falcon is fo ftsong,, that it will encounter birds
muph larger than itfe'if, ajid brin^ them down.

Tnc

20 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The GYR-FALCON, whofe male or tared u-.
•ailed, a Jerk en, exceeds all other falcons in the large-
nefs of its fize, for it approaches nearly to the magni-
tude of an Eagle. The top of the head is flat, and of
an afh-colour, with a llrong, thick, fhort and blue
beak. The back, wings, belly and tail are whitiih^^
but the feathers of the back and wings are'marked with
black fpots, in the fhape of a heart, imitating, in a-
fmall degree, the eyes of a peacocks tail. The tail is
ihortilh, with black fpots that run^tranverfly. The
throat, belly and breaft, are of a pure white. It is a
courageous, fierce, and very bold bird, and attacks
fowls of all forts ; but more particularly Cranes and
Herons.

The MOUNTAIN FALCON is about the fize of
a Gofiiawk, but llrong bodied, with a round head, ex-
cept on the top, where it is a little flattiih, and covered'
with a mixture of black and afti-coloured feathers.
The beak is fhort, llrong and crooked, and near it are
a number of fine llender feathers, like hairs, not com-
monly found in other birds. The throat, as low as
the breaft bone, is fpotted with whitifh or afli-coloured
feathers; and the body in fome places is of a brown,
dappled colour, refembling rully iron, but in others
more black, with fmall fpecks of white. The thighs
are covered with long, black feathers, and the feet are
nearly of the fame colour. It is a very ravenous bird,
and of a very untraftable nature. It is faid to prey up-
on large fowls, fuch as ducks, gee{e and the like.

The FALCON GENTLE differs from the Pere-
grine Falcon in being lefs, with a rounder and lefFer^
head, and a fhorter beak; but the ihape is much the
fame. The head is flattiih on the top, with a thick, ,
bluifh or lead-coloured beak, that bends downward
with a very (harp hook. It has a fine large black eye,.'
encircled round with a fine yellow ring. The upper
part and the fides of the head arc of a dufky brown,
{potted with a fine black. The neck and throat are
larrounded' with a light yellow ring, in fome fenfe re-
ftmSling a~ collar; and on the fides there is a black
line, running from each corner of th^ mouth almoll as
low as the middk of the throat. The, breaft, thighs ■

and

O F B I R D S. 21

:and belly are of a fine yellow gold colour, with fmall
. black ftreaks pointing downward. The wings, back,
.and upper fide of" the tail are of a dufky black, and the
wings, when they are clofed, reach almoil to the end
vof the tail. It preys upon gee(e, ducks, and other
water-fov/ls. This is faid to be the ti-ue Falcon Gen-
. tie, though Mr. Ray affirms that it is fo like the Pere-
grine Falcon, that it can hardly be diflinguiihed from
it, unlefs by good fportfmen.

The HAGGARD FALCON, in Latin Falco
GiBBOsus, isfo called on account of the Ihortnefs of
its neck; jfor the head fcarcely appears above the tips
of the win^s when it lays them on the fides of its back ;
infomuch that it feems to be hunch-backed. This is
fufficient to diftinguiih it from all other falcons, though
fome of our Englijh writers falfely take the Haggard
Falcon and the Peregrine Falcon to be the fame bird.

The WHITE FALCON is of a milk white all over
the body, only there are faint yellowiih fpots, which
are fo veiy light, that they may be eafily miftaken for
-white, unlefs viewed very nearly. However the wings
are of a pure white, without any fpots at all. This
colour is iufficient to diftinguiih it from all other birds
,of the fame kind.

The STONE and TREE FALCON, called by fom«
Xitho-Falco and Dendro-Falco, and by others
Falco Lapidarius, and Arborarius, is of the
-lize between the Peregrine and Haggard Falcon. Gef-
tier has a particular defcription of this bird ; which,
however, Mr. /-iTi/^z^/^^v takes to be a Hobby, hereaf-
ter defcribed.

The TUNIS or BARBARY FALCON is a fpright-
ly, majeftick bird, with a large black beak, and open
yellow noftrils. The eyes are of a fort of blackifh
brown, or dark hazel colour, with fmall yellow circles
round them : The top of the head is of a pale afh-co-
lour, beautifully fpotted with black; and the feathers on
ythe back, fiioulders, and part of the wings, are nearly
the fame colour ; there being fine black fpots intermix-
ed, not much unlike thofe on the top of the head. The
breaft, belly and thighs are more yellowiih, inclining
to white; but the upper part of the breaft is pretty

much

ti THE NATURAL HISTORY

much (haded with blue. There is a large {pot or tw<»
of white on the fecond row of the covert feathers
of the wings. The wings are very long, reaching
when cLfed, almoll to the end of the tail. The tail
is of a bluiih colour, wit-h fix or feven dufky coloured
llreaks running crofs it. Some part of the thighs, and
the under part of the belly, are marked with curious long
black fpots, refembling ermine. The legs and feet are
yellow, and the claws or talons black.

The RED FALCON is fo called, not becaufe the
feathers are all over red, but becaufe the fpots which
are white in others are red and black in this : Howe-
ver they appear red only when it ftretches out its wings.
Mr. Ray doubts whether this is a diilinft Ipecies or
•not.

The RED INDLAN FALCON of Aldro^vandusx
Jle had two of thefe, one of which, that was the larg-
cft, he took to be the female. Tlie top of the head is
broad, and almoll fiat, the beak of an afh-colour, but
more deep on the upper pait, and the Ikin that covers
the bafe of the beak is yellow : From the outward cor-
ner of the eyes there is a long fpot, of the fame colour
with the breaft : The breaft, and the under part of the
body, is almoP. all of a reddilh colour, interfperfed,
elpecially before, with a few afh-coloured fpots. The
oriier, which lie took to be a male was lefs, and the
red colour on the belly and breaft was deeper ; but the
back and upper parts were black.

Tlie CRESTED INDIAN FALCON is of the fize
of a Gofhawk, and die head is flat, black and crciled :
The creft is double, and hangs down on the back pait
of the head. The neck is red, and the breaft and
belly white and black, with tranfverfe lines placed al-
ternately, which are very bright and beautiful. The
iris of the eye is yellow, and the beak of a deep blue,
or rather almoft black, efpecially near the point, for
the bafe is covered with a yellow membrane. The
legs nre covered with feathers down to the feet, which
are yellow, and armed with exceeding black claws.
The edges on the lefTer feathers of the wings are
white, and the tail is ftriped alternately with white and
afh-coloured ftreaks ; tlie other parts ai'e blackifh. One

of

O F B I R I> S. £5

•of thefe was brought to England in the reign of King
H2harles-l\. and it was feen by Mr. Ray in St. James's
Park.

The LANNER, whofe tarcel or male is called
the Lanneret, is diilinguifhed from other birds of
the hawk kind, by having the beak, legs and feet of a
■blue colour. The feathers on the breail are partly
coloured, being a mixture of black and v/hite, with
-black lines, not crofiing the feathers, but drawn long-
ways, down the middle of them, contrary to thdr dif-
pofition in other falcons. The upper part of the bo-
dy is entirely brown, and the under part of the wing*
are marked with fpots, which have fome refemblance
to fmall pieces of money. The eyes are large, en-
circled with a yellow ring, and over them are white
lines, which run round the fore part of the head. It
is a very common bird in France, and flies at all forts
of game, fuch as magpies, quails, partridges, crows,
pigeons, pheafants, ducks, and cranes.

The KOBBY, in Latin Subbuteo, is dirdnguifl-t-
ed from the preceding by its imallnefs, it being only
thirteen inches in length, and tixirty-two in breadth
when the wings are fpread. It has an appendage on
each fide the upper part of the beak, like the Bald
Buzzard, Kellrel, and fome ether birds. The top of
the head is of an alli colour, inclining to black ; and
it has a black {pot running down from the head, by
the temples, to the throat ; as alfo one under each
eye, which extends longways tov/ards the threat. The
eye-lids are yellov.', and the prime feathers in €ach
wing, v/hich are twenty-four in number, and in the
tail twelve, with the legs and feet, are yellow,
and the talons black as jet. Its prey is principally
Jarks, v/hence it is by fome called the L.\rk-Hawk,
Thefe birds, whenever they fee a Hobby are greatly
•terrihcd, infomuch that in order to ihun it, they will fly
into a man's bofom, or into a coach or waggon, as
into an afylum.

The MERLIN is the leafl bird of this kind, it
being not much larger than a Blackbird, and yet it is
very bold and courageous. The beak is blue, and
.th<te is a ring round the neck of a yellowilli white, a

Httlc

34- THE NATURAL HISTORY

little below the head. The back and upper pai-t (jf
the body, are covered with feathers, coloured with
a mixture of ii-on grey, black and blue. The lower
part of the body-is of a ferruginous white, with fpcts of a
darker colour, whicJi run from the head towards the
tiiil, and not tranfverfly. The feathers upon the rump
next the tail are more blue than thofe of the female,
by which, and their bignefs, falconers diitingulh the
fex ; for the females in tliis, as well as in all other
birds of prey, is laiger than the male.

The KESTREL, orSTANNELL, is by fome call-
ed the WINDHOVER, is of the fize of a Pigeon,
being fourteen inches in length, and thirty in breadth
when the wings are extended- The beak is fhort,
jrominent, hooked, and Iharp pointed ; the tongue is
cloven, and the eye-lids yellow, with prominent eye-
brows. The head is of an afh colour, ftreaked with
black lines ; and the upper part of the body, as far as
the rump, is red, with black fpots, on the outermoft
feathers near the points. The under part of the body
is red, >vith black lines running along the length of
the feathers. The wing feathers are twent)'-four in
number, thofe on the tail twelve, and above feven
inches long. The legs and feet are yellow, and the
talons black. It builds its neft in trees, ^nd never lays
more than four eggs at a time. The Keibell ufed to
be tamed formerly and brought up for hawking, like
other birds of the rapacious kind.

CHAP. IV.
Of lejfer BIRDS of the rapacioui kind.

THE COMMON BUZZARD is about thchlg-
nefs of a Pheafant, and it weighs about two
pounds, being in length from the beak to the tail end
twenty inches, and fifty-two in breadth when the wings
are extended. It has a large head, with a broad and
flat crown, and a fliort hooked beak, of a dark blue
colour, but yeHow at the bafej and the tongue is

thick,

O F B I R D S. 25

thick, fleihy and blunt. The colour of the back is of
a rufty black, and Ibmetimes with white Ipots on the
outward feathers of the wings. The bread is of a
yellowifh white, with oblong rufty-coloured fpots on
each feather, not placed tranfvei^y, but according to
the length. It feeds upon mice, moles, and fmall birds ;
but is more particularly a great enemy to rabbits.

The HONEY-BUZZARD differs from the com-
mon fort in the membrane at the bafe of the beak, called
the cere, which is blackiih. The head is of an afh-
colour, -and the iris of the eyes yellow. The feet are
Ihorter and thicker, and the tail longer ; and there is a
black ftripe runs a-crofs the wings and tail. It weighs
about two pounds, and is in length, from the beak to the
end of the tail, twenty three inches, and about fifty-two in
breadth when the wings are extended. This bird runs
i»A'iftly like a hen, and the female, as in other birds of this
kind, is larger than the male. The eggs are of an afh-
coiour, with dark fpots, and it feeds upon infefts and
the voung of wafps.

the BALD-BUZZAZD, called by fome the SEA
EAGLE, differs from the Common Buzzard, in be-
ing white on the back part of the head, whence it has
the name of Bald ; in being bigger both in fize and
weight ; in the length of the wings ; in having the out-
ward toe extremely flexible ; in having angular procelTes
on the upper mandible of the beak, and in living upon
fiih. Jt weighs about three pounds and a half, and is
five feet in breadth when the wings are extended. The
beak is fhort, black, and hooked ; and the tongue
broad and foft, like a man's : the eyes are yellow, the
legs long, and the feet thick snd flrong, of the colour
of verdigreafe : the foles of the feet are roughj to en-
able it, as it's fuppofed, to lay fafter hold of its prey.
It haunts rivers, pools, lakes, and the fea fhore. It
builds upon the ground among the reeds, and lays three
or four large white eggs, of an exad oval figure, but
lefs than hens eggs.

The TURKEY BUZZARD, of Catejby, is a Ht-

tle larger than a Wild-goofe, and the feathers are

partly black and partly light grey; but there is more

C of

i5 THE NATUPvAL HISTORY

of the former than tlie latter ; the beak is thick, crook-
ed and pointed, and the claws are thick and very ihort.
It is faid to be a fort of an Eagle ; and when an ox
lies down in the field to reft, and thefe birds chance to
fee hLm, they fall immediately upon him and devour
him. Sometimes there is an hundred, or upwards, em-
ployed in this work at a time. They have excellent
eyes, and can difcover their prey at a vaft height ; for
they can fee h. when the moft fharp fighted man cannot
perceive the bird.

The MOOR-BUZZARD, though called in Latin
MiLvus, or a Kite, is more properly a Buzzard than,
• a Kite, as it has no forked tail, which is a dillinguilh-
iaig mark of a Kite. The colour on all parts of tlie
body is of arully brown, except on the top of the head,
which is of a whiiifn tawny. On the middle joint of
■the wings, thert is a reddiih clay-coloured fpot, refenv-
bling that on the head ; with dark-coloured dun fea-
thers on the rump : the tail is of a dark yellowilh or
light brown colour, and about eight or nine inches long.
The legs are about five inches, but much llendcrcr than
in other birds of this kind, and the legs and feet are
yellow. The length, from the tip of the beak to the
end of the tail, is a foot and a half, and the breadth,
when the wings are extended, is four feet. The eyes
.are of a middle fize, with an iris of the colour of faffron.
When the wings are folded, they reach to the end of
the tail ; and there are in the wing twenty-four large
feathers, of which the firft is iliorter than the fecond,
and they are all of a darker colour than the other fea-
thers. The legs are covered with feathers a little below
the knee 3 and in general the make of the body is more
long and (lender than that of other birds of prey. It is
c-enerally feen on heaths, and builds its neft in mooriih
or marlhy places.

The RING-TAIL, whofe male is called a HEN-
HARROW, or HEN-HARRIER, becaufe it is an
-enemy to hens. It differs from others of this kind, in
having a white rump or tail, and upright feathers about
die ears, running round the head like a crown.

The KITE, or GLEAD, in Latin Milvus, may
«afily be diHinguilhed from other rapacious birds, in

having

O F B I R D S. 27

having a forked tail. Its weight is about three pounds,
and its length to the end of the tail is twenty-eight
inches, the breadth is fixty-fcur, and the bill two
inches. The head is of a pale alh-cclour, the neck
red, the back dulky or brown, and the lefler rows of
the wing feathers are diverfified with red, black, and
white. The middle feathers of the wings are eleven
inches long, and the outermoft fourteen, of a red colour ;
but the extream feathers are blackifh, with whits tips ;
and the beak is black, with a broad thick tongue. The
legs and feet are yellow, and the talons black ; but
that on the back toe is the largeil. By fpreading its
wings, itfo ballancesitfelf in the air, that it feems to be
immoveable for a confiderable time ; for it then fcarcely
ilirs its wings, or at leaft in not a very perceptible
manner : It glides through the air from place to place,
whence it probably had the name of Glead. Some
fay it is a bird of pailage ; but with us in England it
abides all the year. It is a terrible enemy to Chickens,
and young tame Ducks.

The BRASILIAN KITE, called Caracara,
■and by the Portnguefe G avion, is of the fize of the
common Kite, and has a tail nine inches long. It has
a head like -a Hawk, with a hooked black beak, and
the plumage is tawney, with v/hite and yellow fpecks.
Th^ feet are yellow, with femi-circular, long, Iharp,
black talons; and it ig a dangerous enemy to poultr)^.

CHAP. V.

Of rapacions BIRDS n.i:ith nxhigi Jhorter than the fait*

THE GOSHAWK, called in Latin Accipiter
Palumbarius, is larger than a common Buz-
zard. It differs from the Sparrovv-Kawk in having
the upper part of the body of the feme colour as a
Buzzard, and in being v/hite underneath, with tranf-
verie black lines beautifully waved. The legs and
feet ai-e yellow, the talons black, aiid the beak blue.
C z Tlie

2S THE NATURAL HI-STORY
1 he wings, when clofed, fall much fhort of the end.
of t'iie tail ; and it preys upon not only Partridges and
Pheafants, but larger fowls, fuch as Geefe and Cranes,
and fometimes Rabbits,

The RING-TAILED HAWK is about the fize of a
Crow, and the wing, when clofed, is fourteen inches
long. The legs, from the foot to the knee, are three
inches long, and it refembles the Sparrow-Hawk in the
flendeniefs of its bill, and nearly in its colour ; though
TC is at leafi: four times as big. The bill is of a dark
horn-colour, and the noilirils are covered with a yellow
Ikin, which encompailes the upper and lower chaps,
and extends from the angles of the mouth to the eyes :
this flcin is tlunly befet with black iHiF feathers, and
the bill is hooked as ia other Hawks. The head is of a
dufky or blackiih coJour, with a little white on the
forehead next the bill. The .fore -part of the neck and
liinder-part of the head aie of a clay-colour, mottled
with a duflcy brown ; the upper-part of the neck, back,
and wings, are of a duflcy-brown ; but the edges o£
fome of the middle quills are of an aih-colour. The
inner coverts are fprinkled with fmall brown fpots, and
the inner webs of the quills are faintly barred a- crofs
v/ith niirrov/ dufky lines ; but the rump and covert fea-
thers of the tail are white, which joining to the white
feathers beneath the tail, form a v%'hite ring round it :
the middle feathers of the tail are dufky, and tlie next
on eacli fide of a bluifii afh-cc!our ; but the outermoll
are white, and they are all tranlverily m.ai ked with
eight dufky lines. The brcall, belly, thighs, and
covert feathers under the tail are white, with reddifh
brown fpots tranfverfly waved on the breaft and thighs
in the form of hearts on the belly, and of half moons
on the lower belly and on the coverts under the tail.
The legs and feet are of a gold-colour, and tlic out-
ward toe is joined to the middlemoft with a membrane ;
the claws are black. It is a native of Norf/j J^erica,
and was brought from Hud/on s-bay.

ThcLITTLE BLACK andoRANGE-COLOURED INDI-
AN- HAWK is the fmalleft bird of the Hawk kind, and
has an afh-coloured bill a little inclining to that of flelh :

it

O F B I R D 5. 29

It is covered at the bafe with a yellow (kin, in which the
nofirils are placed : there is a yellow fkin round the eye
which is encompafTed with black feathers ending in lines,
running down each fide of the neck : thefe are again
ercompaiied with white, which pafies over the forehead
at the bale of the bill. The upper ilde of the neck,
back, and thofe of the wings and tail are black, with
a blue and purplilli glofs. The iides of the wings are
alfo black, and tiie inner webs of the great wing fea-
thers, and thofe on the tail are crofs barred with white
and black. The under-fide, from the bill to the tail,
is of a bright orange, though lighter on the breafr.
The legs and feet are of a bright gold- colour, and the
claws are black : it is feathered a little below the knee,
and a membrane connects the middle and outer toe a
little way down. It is a native of Bengal, in the Eaji
Indies.

The SPARROW-HAWK, whofe male is called the
MUSK ET, is of the fize of a Pigeon, being, from
the point of the beak to the tail end, about fourteen
inches ; and the diftance between the tips of the wings,
when extended, is twent)''-fix inches. The Latin name
is AcciPiTER Fringillarius, and its beak is fhorr,
crooked, and blue, except towards the tip, which is
black : the fkin that covers the bafe is of a yellowiOi
green, and the noftrils oblong, with a thick black
tongue a little cloven : the iris of the eyes is yellov>/,
and the brows are fo prominent that they hang over
them like the eaves of a houfe : the crown of the head
i« of a dark brown; and when the wings are clofed,
they fcarce reach to the middle of the tail, which is abou t
fix or feven inches long, confilling of twelve feathers,
with five or fix black crofs bars. The legs are long,
flender, and yellow, the toes long, and the talons black.
The upper-part of the body is brov/n, and on the under-
part there are many tranfverfe lines, and is undulated
with white brown and a dirty red. It lays about five
white eggs, fpotted near the -broad end, with a circle
of blood red fpecks. It is a bold courageous bird for
its bignefs, and is a great enemy to Pigeons, of which
it deftroys many.

C 3 The

30 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The BLUE-HAWK is thirteen inches in length,,
and of the fize of a common Hawk. It is a flim and de-
licate made bird, like the Spar row-Hawk ; the limbs
being long and flender, contrary to the appearance of
many birds of this kind. The beak is black, a little
waved, but not indented on the fides of the upper jaw :
the noftrils are placed in a whitifh fkin, covering the
bafe of the bill above : the circle that furrounds the
pupils of the eyes is of an orange-colour, and the fkin
about the corners of the mouth and the eye-lids is yel-
low ; the head, neck, back, part of the wings and tail,
are of a light bluilh afli-colour, and a whitiih line
pafles from ear to ear under the throat ; and the outer
half of the quill feathers is black, with whitiih tips :
the ridge of the wings, and its inner covert feathers,
are white ; the belly, thighs, rump, covert feathers
under the tail, and the outer feathers of the tail, are
white : the legs are feathered below the koees ; and
both legs and feet are covered v.'ith a fcaly fkin, of 4
bright orange-colour; but the claws are blackiih.

The Greater BUTCHER BIRD, calledin Yorhjhin
and Derhjhire the WERE-ANGEL, is of the fize of
a Black-Bird, and its length, from the point of th«
beak to the end of the tail, is ten inches, and its bread th>
v/hen the wings are extended, is fourteen. Its beak is
black, hooked at the end, and above an inch long,
with an angular excrefcence on each fide : the tongue is
cloven, or forked at the end, and rough ; the noHrils
are round, above which grow itifF black hairs, or briiHes i
and the head, back, and rump, are alh-coioured. The
throat and belly are white, and on each wing are eigh-
teen prime feathers, tipped with white at tlie end. The
tail conliUs of twelve feathers, of which the middlemofl-
are longeft, and the colour is a mixture of black and
white Its legs and feet are black, and it is fometimes
trained up to catch fmail birds. The Latin name is

LaNIUS, or COLLUMO,

The Lesser RiD-BAtitED BUTCHER-BIRD, is fo
called, becaufe the back is icddiili, but the rump is of an
adi-colour, as alfo the head. From the beak there is
a Inroad black Ur,e that runs by the Q^^^i^ and is extend-
ed

O F B I R D S. 21

ed beyond the ears : the throat and breaft are white*
]t is about the fize of a Lark, being feven inches and a
hrJfin length, arKl twelve in breadth. The bill is an
inch long, ftrong, black, and crooked at the end; but
the mouth is- yellow. It has ftiff hairs about the noilriis,
and eighteen quill feathers in each wing ; and in the
tail, which is three inches long, there are twelve fea-
thers. The feet are black, or of a dark blue colour.
This bird is called in YcrkfJjire the FLUSHER.-

The LsssER VARIEGATED BXJTCHEPi-BJRD . This
fpecies wants the black line which runs fi-cm the beak
hy ^!iiQ. eyes; and in Latin it is called, Lnnius jnincr
albis et nigris fdmi-circularihus 'variegatus, that is, the
Lejfer Butcher-bird <variegated idth bluch and1^jhitefem^■'
circular Unei.

The BLACK and white BUTCHER-BIRD is a na-
tive of Surinam i in South' America^ and has a pretty thick
beak near the head, v/hich grows lefs towards the point,
and is of a dulky colour. The upper mandible bends
down a little near the end or tip, ar,d over-hanps the
lower: there is a fmall notch of angle on e^ en fide
the point of the upper mandible ; and the feathers at the
bale of the beak point forward, and partly cover the
nollrils : the plumage all over the head, body, wings,
and tail, is black and white, with tranfverfe bars or
marks : the covert feathers on the infide of the wings
are almoft white, having a very fmall proportion of
black confufedly mixed : the inner webs of the quills
have white fpots, and the infide of them, as well as the
imder-fide of the tail, are almoft as black as the upper.
It has ten feathers in the tail, and the outer-toe of each,
foot adhcfes to the middle one near its bottom, or fetting
on of the foot : the legs, feet, and claws are duficy ;
and each fmgle feather, all over the body, is marked
with feveral tranfverfe bars of black and white.

The Lesser Ash-coloured EUTCHER-EIRD,.
with a white fpot on each fhoulder, which is a fufiicient'
diftinftion from all others ; and it is by fome called the
VVOCD-CHAT. The beaks of all thefe BUTCHER-
BIRDS arc of a middling length and ftrait, except at
ths end which is crooked. They have blackifh whilk-
C 4 ers.

j2 THE NATURAL HISTORY
ers orbrifiles about the beak, and on their upper javx a*,
near the cur\'ature of the b^ak, there are two angular
appendages lying on the lower jaw ; for they have no
cavity hollowed therein to receive them. There are
other varieties among thefe birds j but it is hard to fay
whether they are dillin(fl fpecics or not, efpecially as
there is fo much dif&rence in the colours oi' the male
and feinalc.

Mr. Rtiy ranks two A/V^ Indian birds among this kind^
one of which is called, by Father 7Vr/r^, aPEscHER,
that is, a Fisher. According as T'^-Zr^ himfelf de-
scribes it, it is in fhape and plumage like an Eagle, and
cannot be diilinguiihed from one, unleis in the fize ;
i'or it is no larger than a Falcon : the feathers on the
belly are white, and on the head black : it lives entirely
upon fiih, never offering to meddle with birds of any
kind : it fits upon the branch of a tree, or a point c>f
rock, to watch them ; and when it perceives them on
the top of the water, it darts fwiftly upon them, and
catches them with its claws, and then carries them to
the top of a rock to devour them. Though he never
purfues other birds, yet they never fail to follow him, and
they peck at him till he has changed his place.

The ESMERILLON is another bird mentioned by
"Tfrtre, and taken notice of by Mr. Ray, The F/efic/jcsSl
it Gry, Gry on account of the noife that it makes when
flying ; for it articulates tliofe fyllables diHindlly. It is
about the fize of a Thrufh, and all the feathers on the
back and wings are red, fpotted with black, and
the belly is white, fpotted like ermine : it is armed
with a beak and talons in proportion to its mag-
nitude ; and it lives upon fmall Lizards and Grafhop-
pers that pearch upon the trees : it likewife preys upon
chickens, when juft hatched; but if the hen is aware
of it, Ihe diives it away. The French eat the flelh ;
but, as T'fr/r^ obferves, it is not worth pov/der and fhot.

There are many medicinal virtues attributed to feveral
parts of rapacious birds ; but as they are not fufficiently
confirmed by experience, we fhall pafs them over in
fiicnce.

CHAP.

O F B I R D S. 33

CHAP. VI.
0/ the BIRDS cf PARADISE, av^ CUCKOW.

BIRDS of Paradise were formerly faid to have no
feet ; which was true in one fenfe, becaufe they
are always cut off before they are brought into England.
Bon tins informs us, that Birds of B aradife 2iXt io far from
having no feet, that they have crooked fharp claws,
and are of the rapacious kind, for they fall upon very
fmall birds, tear them in pieces, and devour them.
Neither is it true that they are never to be met with till
they are dead ; for the inhabitants at Ternate, in tiie
Eajl Indies, will fnoot at them, and kill them as they fit
upon trees. They fly backwards and forwards very
fvviftly, like fwallows ; for which reafon, fome have
given them the name of East-Indian Swallows.

They are the mofl beautiful birds in the world, and
are different from all others in the form, and feat of
their feathers. Thofe on the fide of the breaft are very
long and numerous, and extend beyond the tail. Some
of them, but not all, have two quills on their tailn,
deftitute of feathers or down,, and they are extended
much farther than the reil. Aldro-vandus mentions five
forts of thefe, but Clufius and Marcgra<ve take notice of
feveral others.

The Jirji is of the ilze and almoU of the fhape of a
Swallow, and the head fhines with plumage of a clear
gold colour. Between the head and the bill, there is a
kind of a down very thick fet, of the colour of a bright
bluilh green : the feathers of the wings are between
red and black, as well as the rePc of the body ; it has
alfo the two naked quills above-mentioned.

The fecond diifers greatly from the former, for the
tv/o naked quills on the tail exceed the reft by the length
of two palms : the tongue is lonjiih, of a reddilh co-
lour, and fharp at the end, not unlike that of a Magpye : ■
Likevvife, the colour of the feathers differs greatly'froni
the other forts.

The third is remarkable for the extreme length of its

tail 'y it has a crooked bill, and is all over of a white

C 5 colour,

34 THE NATURAL HISTORY
colour, except the neck and belh% which are cheftnut ;
the top of the head is of a dirty brown, which is fucceed-
ed by yellow, and this by green.

The fourth has a very long crooked black bill, and
the feathers on the head, neck, and wings are blackifh :
it has a tuft on the head near the neck, v/hich Hands up
three inches high, and is of a yellow colour, confifting
of hair like briftles.

The Common Bird OF PARADISE of Jldro'vandus,
very nearly refembles the former ; but has no tuft, and
the lower part of the bill is crooked and fmall.

The Bird OF PARADISE of Marcgrwoe is of the
fize of a Swallow, with a fmall head and eyes, a (harp
bill, thick feet, and crooked claws : the feathers about
the bill are filky, being a mixture of green and brown
above, and black below : the top of the neck is of a
gold colour, and underneath a mixture of,'green and
gold : the breail is of a deep brov/n ; and the reft of the
body, wings, and tail, of a beautiful brovvnilh colour:
the long feathers on the fides are of a gold colour near
their riie ; but in the other parts, of a whitifh yellow.
The two quills above-mentioned, for feathers they can
hardly be called, are long and of a gold colour at their
rife ; but crooked tov/ards the end, and of a darkifh
brown.

The GOLDEN Bird of PARADISE is larger than a
Swallow, with a fiat head, and very fmall eyes ; but
the bill is like that of the former : the bafe of the bill
is furrounded with extreamly black filky feathers ; and
the throat, and lower part of the neck, up to the eyes
and cheeks, are covered with filky feathers of a bright
Ihining greeniih gold colour. On the top of the head
there are filky feathers, of a dufky yellow, but they
feel harder to the touch than the former : the neck is
furrounded with Ihort fine feathers, of the colour of
gold, and thofe on the back are of a Ihining yellow
gold colour ; but beneath, they are more faint, and of
a whitifh brown. The wings and tail are brown.

The Bird of PARADISE of Cluftus does not differ
much from the fcnner ; infomuch that Mr. Ray thinks
it ig of the fame fpecies. However, the top of the

head.

JPa^&.^S

44y ^>^^'^JU/^

SS

J

I'tVl^C^JC

OF BIRDS. 3V

^ead, from ^e bill, and as far as the eyes and neck,
are covered ^^ph feathers of a yellow colour on the up-
per part ; bilf.jthey are brown below. Another fort has
its throat covered with feathers of a ihining green co-
lour, and feems to be of the fame fpecies with the firft
of Marcgra've.

The King of the Birds of PARADISE, fo called .
by Clujiui, is the leaft of this kind.. The wings ai-e a
great deal longer than the body, and the bill is white,
and an inch in length : the lower part is covered with
a fort of red filky down, as well as the fore part of the.
head: but the middle part, about the eyes, is full;
of black fpecks ; and the feathers on the neck and-
breaft are of a deep black, and have the refemblance of
filk : the back, wings and tail are all of the fame colour,
that is, of a duflcy yellow : under. the breail there is a .
black ftripe, as broad as a man's little finger, and the
feathers which cover the belly are white ; but near the
wings black. The naked quills are {lender and black,
and at the ends rolled up into a fort of ball : on one
fide of them there are. very fine Ihaggy hairs, and the.u
upper fide is of a Ihining deep green colour 5, but they
are of a dulky yellow underneath.

TheKiNG OF THE Birds ofPARADISS, defcribed
by Mr. Ed<zvardsy differs fi-om the former, for the belly,
thighs, and coverts imder the tail, are white, though
the lower part of the thighs about the knees, are a litde
browniih.

The Pied Bird OF PARADISE, hath a dufkyor
black bill, and flat like that of a Duck ; and at thebafe of
the upper chap there are llifF black hairs : the head and
neck are entirely black, with a crell of loofe llender.
feathers bending backwards. The body, except the
wings, is wholly white: the prime quills, are black,,
except a little whitenefs at the roots, as is what is called .
the baflard wing, which covers the bottom : the quills
next the back are black in the middle,- and white on
the edges, as is the row of feathers immediately above
them: the leiTer covert feathers of the wing are white?
with a very fine dafh of black down on each feather > The
tail is as long as that of a Magpie, and the two middls :

featkera.

36 THE NATURAL HISTORY
feathers are ten inches longer than the reft : the tail
feathers are white, the fhorter of which are tipped
and bordered with a fringe of black : the Ihafts of the
tail feathers are black, except fo much of the long fea-
thers as ihoot beyond the fhorter. The feet are like
thofe of the King's-fifher. It is an Eafl Indian bird.

Seha takes notice of ten different Birds of PARA-
DISE, which were fent to him from different parts of
the Eafilndies. T\\q firji was the BLACK BIRD of
PARADISE, which came from the ifland of Papoe:
all the plumage is as foft as filk to the touch, and of a
fliining blackifh colour, with a purplifh call that feems
to have a mixture of gold. The feathers on the tail
are variegated with green, blue, and red ; and the black
looks as if it had iranfparent gold laid upon it, which
gives this bird a very charming appearance.

The /tcW Bird £»/ PARADISE has likewife a very
beautiful plumage, and the prevailing colour is red mixt
with green, blue, black, pale yellow, and gold colour.
In the tail there are two long feathers, terminating in a
point ; and both wings are painted with green, gold,
and red. The bill is of a beautiful red near the head,
and as large as that of a Parrokeet, but more fharp at
the end. It feems to be of the fame kind with the for-
mer, only the body is larger, and the feathersof the
rail longer. That v/hich was fcnt to Seba, from the
Molucca ifland s, had no wings.

The third Oriental Bird of PARADISE is
very large, of a reddiih colour, and is often brought to
Holland. It has two large quills in the tail half a yard
long, which look like the tatching-end that fhoe-
makers make ufe of in fewing their fhoes, only they
are a little hairy on each fide, and for an inch towards
the extremity there are feathers half an inch broad,
which terminates in a point. The feathers on the back,
and thofe on the wings, are of a bright chcflnut colour ;
and the bill is long, hard, and of the colour of lead. The
head and eyes are fmall, in proportion to the body ;
and the top of the head and neck are of a citron colour:
under the neck the feathers are green, and extreamly
bright, and ihining like an emerald. The covert fea-
thers

O F B I R D S. 37

thers of the wings are long, confiiling of a mixture of
grey, white, yellow, and red ; they proceed from the
under-part of the wings, and have very fine fmall Ihafts,
which uniting from a delicate bundle of feathers, are
the more beautiful in being of different fizes.

i:\izfourth Bird of PARADISE is the hen of the
former, and differs in nothing from it, except in the
two large quills on the rump, which are not feathered
at the ends.

T'iiQ fifth Oriental Bird of PARADISE has the
head and neck adorned with a long magnificent creft,
and are covered with jet-black feathers. The tail is
divided into two very long feathers of a bright reddifh
colour, and the upper-part of the wings and the body
are of the fame colour, but the feathers on the belly arc
of a bright alh-colour ; the legs and feet are of a lead-
colour, and armed with flender crooked fpurs. The
bill is of tlie fame colour with the feet, and is long and
crooked, with a Iharp point.

The fxth is the Royal Bird ^/ PARADISE, (o
called on account of the extream beauty of its colours.
It is the largeft of this kind, but has a imall head, with
a flrait fharp v/hite bill ; and there are fmall feathers,
like hairs, of a deep citron colour, v/hich cover the
head. The whole body above, as well as the neck
and upper-part of the wings, are of a very deep red ;
and the bread is of a Ihining red, terminating in a fringe
by a fort of border, which is Hill more beautiful : each
fide of the bread is covered with fine long feathers of a
bright afh-colour, variegated with a deep grey ; but
their extremities are of the colour of an emerald ; the
other part is white underneath. The tail is of agreyifh
aih-colour, and the end of the wings is of a bright red :
on the rump there are two hairs a quarter of an ell
in length, like thofe on the tail of a horfe, whofe ex-
tremities are terminated with curled feathers of a gree-
nifh colour, and which are a great ornament of this
bird. The feet are large, and armed with long crooked
claws.

ThQfe-jenth Bird <?/* PARADISE has a long Itrait
fharp yellow bill, not unlike that of a Jay : the head
and the fides of the neck are of a moll beautiful iky-

bluej

3S THE NATURAL HIS'TORY

blue ; but the fore-part of the neck, the breaft, the
belly, and the under-fide of the tail, which is very long,
are as white as fnow : the white feathers of the breall
and belly are fhaded and variegated with a Turkey blue,
and the wings and back are of a deep Turky blue, in-
clining to black, but mixed with fmall feathers of a
Iky-blue : the feathers of the tail are of a fnow-white,
and furrounded with a black border ; from the middle
of the tail proceeds two line feathers half a yard long,
with black borders; and at the place where tliey rife, they
are tufted and furnillied with down. Thefe feathers
;ire marked at the edges with a bright blue, and they
are white at the end : their Ihafts are extreamly fine.

The eighth Bird of PARADISE is variegated with
white and black, and is called by the natives of Papoe^
Wag GE HOE. The plumage of the head and neck
is inclining to black, with a bright purple glofs : the
head is fmall, the bill pointed and v/hitilh, and covered
below with black hair : the eyes are full of fire, having
a white ring about them ; and the feathers on the reil
of the body are veiy white, except the two large ones
on the tail, which are half black from their beginning
to the middle, but from the middle to the end they are
entirely white : thefe feathers are very long. The feet
are reddiih, and furnifhed with fmall white claws.

The ninth Bird of PARADISE is chiefly met with
in deferts r.nd uncultivated places, coming feldom in
fight of the inhabitants. The upper-pait of the body
and tail are of a bright bay, the head and breaft are as
black as a Raven, and the upper-part of the wings are
of a gold-colour ; but the belly and breaft are white,
the bill is inclinable to red, and the eyes are fparkling.

The tenth has the head and neck of a gold-colour, as
well as the bill, which is crooked, fliarp at the point,
and adorned with fmall red feathers : the feet and toes
are yellow, the breaft and back are of a pale orange j
but the large feathers of the wings and the tail are of a
reddifti orange.

I had one of thefe Birds of PARADISE in my
own pofleffion, which was twenty inches in length, from
the foxe-part of the bill to the end of the tail feathers,

v/hich

O F B r R D S. 59

which were about fifteen inches long : the upper part
of the bill was an inch and four-tenths in length,
and half way from the head it was of the colour of indi-
go, which was continued on each fide almoft to the end
of the bill ; but the other half of the top was whitifh :
the lower part of the bill was of the fame colour as the
upper, only along the middle of it and the edges there
were white ftreaks : between the bill and the head there
was a kind of black down, which was very thick, and
had exadly the appearance of fine black velvet. It was
but narrov/ on the top, but below it was four-tenths of
an inch in length, and of a triangular Ihape. On the.
top of the head, next to the back, it was of a bright
yellow, butfoon turned to an orange, though not quite
ib lively : the neck was of a bright yellow, and conti-
nued fo to the middle of the back, where it grew
more dusky to the root of the tail, which became mere
dark and almoft of a yeliov/iih chefnut colour : the up^
permoft part of the tail feathers v/as of a pale yellow,'
and thofe under them white and longer than the for-
mer ; for which reafon the hinder part of the tail ap-
peared to be all white. The under part of the neck
next to the black above-mentioned v.as of a bright
lovely green, an inch and iix-tenths of an inch in
length, Ihining like velvet : from thence to the lower
part of the belly was of a reddiih chocolate colour,
which grew lighter as it approached the tail, that here
appeared to be quite diftindt from the whitilh yellow
feathers above, and was v/ell terminated : the upper
half of the bill was a little crooked, and fomewhat longer
than the lower. The eyes and feet were taken away,
fo that there is nothing can be faid of them.

There is another Bird of PARADISE of Ceylon,
in the Eajl Indies, with a very long forked tail, which
is all the defcription that authors have thought proper to
give of it.

The CUCKOW is numbered among the rapacious
birds ; and Aldro-vandus declares, there are two forts of
them, the greater and the leffer, which he was aiTured
of by the fowlers of Bclogna ; however, he acknow-
ledges he never faw the lefs, though he gives figures of

botJi.

40 THE NATURAL HISTORY
both. Thefe agajn are fubdivided into two other fpe-
cies, which only differ with rcgai-d to colour. The firil
of Aldro'vandus differs from ours in the bill, which is
like that of a Rina Dove ; whereas, the bill of ours is
like that of a Thrufh or Black-Bird. Befides the tranf-
verfe lines on the back and belly are broken, but in
the Englijh they are whole and undivided.

The Andalusia n CUCKOW has a long black tail,
and the lower jaw is black, and made a little angular; the
eyes are furrounded with an unequal black ftreak ; and
he has a crown of the colour of lead, a little negligently
placed. The upper part of the body is brown, the
wings fpotted with white, and the lower part is of a
ruddy gold-colour. This bird is taken notice of by Ed-
nvardsy who alfo mentions the Bengal Cuckow, which
is of a bluiib black, \vi:h a yellow beak, and /hort
legs of a dirty yellow. It is called Cackeel by the
natives. There is alio another Bengal Cuckow,
which, from the head to the tail, is variegated with
brown, red, and a(h-colours.

The English CUCKOW, which is the fecond of ^Z-
drc'^>jandus has Icfs claws and biil, and much more weak
than that of ctlier rapacious birds. The charafterilHc
mark; ofa Cuckow, are round nollrils (landing out on the
furface of the bill, which is peculiar to this bird, and
diftinguillies it from all other others hitherto obferved.
Jt is about the fr/,e ofa Pigeon, and is in length, from
the point of the bill to the end of the tail, near twelve
inches. The lower part of the body is of a yellowi(h
colour, with black tranfverie lines under the throat,
and on the top of the breait ; but they are not fo nume-
rous below, nor yet of the felf fame colour ; and on
the bottom of the belly there is none at all. The up-
per part of the body, with tlie head and wings, are
beautifully marked with tawny and black transparent
ftripes, and on the top of the head there are a few
white fpots. The ends of the featFiers on the bottom of
the back and upon the rump are white, and the inner
edpe of the outward part of the wings are painted with
large tranfverfe white fpots. The tail is pretty long,
and tliere are black and tawny Ibreaks tiiat run acrofs

it.

O F B I R D S. 4.'

it, with \vhi::e ipots on the outward edges of the fea-
thers. It is compofed of" eight feathers, whereof the
two in the middle are n^uch the jongcft, and thoie re-
maining on each fide grow regularly Ihorter. The legs
are very fliort, and covered with feathers down to the
feet. The feet are weak and yellovvilhi, and the claws
are nearly of the fame colour. The toes are four in
number, two of which are placed before and two be-
hind, and the more inward of thefe are fhorter, and lefs
than the rell. The mouth is large, and is of a yellow
or faffron colour on the infide. There is another bird
of this kind, called the Indian Cuckow, which is
kept at the Mufsum at Leyden.

This Bird is remarkable for laying its eggs in the
nefts of other birds, fuch as Hedge Sparrows, Finches,
and the like, for it has no neft of its own. It lirit
devours the eggs it finds in the nefls, and then begins
,to lay its own in the room where they are hatch-
ed by the filly bird with a great deal of care, and it
takes the young Cuckow for its own oft'spiing. It is
commonly faid that a Cuckow lives wholly upon eggs,
but this is a miflake ; for thofe that have been opened
have had caterpillars and other infecls found in their
crops. Befides, if it was true that a Cuckow fed upon
nothing but ^ggSy how is it pollible that their young
ones Ihould be nourifhed by the fmall birds that have
hatched them, and bring them up. It is well known
that the Cuckow makes its appearance only at one time
of the year, that is in the fpring ; but what becomes of
it at other feafons is not certainly known. Some fay it
lies hid in hollow trees, and others that it pafles into
warmer climates ; but which of thefe opinions is true
. is very uncertain, as we have no obfervations concern-
ing this affair which can be depended upon. The
CucKOw oi Carolina, is not properly fo called; becaufe
it has not the cry of that bird, though it is of the fame
bignefs and feathers, and devours the eggs of fmall
birds, in the fame manner as the Efiglijh Cuckow. It
is a folitary bird, frequenting the darkeft receffes of
woods and fhady thickets ; but they retire at the ap-
proach of winter. However, Cate/ly affirms, there is

another

42 THE NATURAL HISTORY

another that has the fame cry as that of Europe, and*
tliat the belly is white, and the reft of the body of an
aih-colour, with a long narrow tail.

Linnaiis tells us, that the male and female Cuckow
refemble each other in all things, only the former has
the corners of the mouth yellow, as in young Sparrows ;.
and tliat the head and back arc of an afh-colour, or
whitilh, as well as the neck, without any grey fpots ;
as alfo that the belly is darker : He adds that the fe-
male has brown lines on the fides of the neck, and that
the male has none.

After all, it is certain that there are Cuckows met
with of different colours ; but it is not known whether
tliis is owing or not to the different fexes or kinds.
There has been a Cuckow feen with very fmgular plu-
mage, that is, fpotted like a Sparrow-hawk, which was
a female or hen ; this perhaps has given ground to the
opinion of countiy people in fome places, namely,
that a Cuckow changes to that bird.

Frljch places a Cuckov>'in the rank of Woodpeckers, .
becaufe it feeds upon worms, and becaufe it has two
toes before, and two behind; but Klein obferves, that
there are other birds befides thefe tliat live upon infefts,.
which they catch in trees ; and as for their having two
toes before and two behind it can be no proof, becaufe
Parrots have the fame. The bill or beak differs from
that of a Parrot as well as that of a Woodpecker, which
is made in the fhape of a wedge : Reaumur has been
at the pains to breed feveral Cuckows, and he foon
found that they v/ere fond of flefh ; for they would not
eat bread, or corn, or feeds of any kind. They would
alfo feed upon inre<5ls, and particularly meal-worms and
caterpillars. It was a very difficult matter to teach them to
peck, for he was obliged to feed them for a month after
they were as full grown as old birds of tliis kind : He
is doubtful whether the difference of colours diftingulflies
tlie {tyi^^ ; for fome of thele of the fame age and fame
fi7.e had their backs all of the fame colour, while
others were undulated with one different from the
ground. Some have pretended, that they have found
Cuckows in ftack»of wheat ia the middle of winter,

witV

OF BIRDS. 43-:

v/ith all their feathers pulled off; but this can hard-
ly be true, beeaufe one of the Cuckows would not
feed upon any grain whatfoever, as was juft obfervedj
befides he never fed voluntarily upon flefh at firft, for
it v/as always put into his mouthy but when any meal-
worms or other infers were put into the cage, he would
feize them of his own accord.

One of the greateft curioiities belonging to a Cuckow,
is the large bag or ftomach, that reaches from the breaft-
bone to the vent ; it is partly membranous, and partly muf-
culous, and has a prodigious capacity. Cuckows,from their
appearance, have been taken for birds of prey, and yet
they have neither. the flrength or courage of that kind of
birds ; for on the conti-ary they are naturally weak and
fearful, as appears from their flying from fmall birds
when they are purfued. The fmging of the Cuckow
uftiers in the fpring, which generally continues from
the beginning of Jpri/ to Sc. j^c/^*'sday. It's flight is
low, fhort and interrupted ; for which reafon ome au-
thors pretend that there is a fecret fympathy be-
tween this bird and the Kite, and that he takes ^
Cuckow under his protCi^BrOn, and even takes hiin
on his ihoulders into diflant countries ; but it would
be endlefs to relate all the fables that have been told
of this bird.

The flefii of Cuckows is feldom eaten, beeaufe it
is either very uncommon, or fuppofed to be not ft for
that purpofe ; for even the countiy people themfelves
never taile it : However thofe that have tried affirm
that the young Cuckow is a moft delicate morfel ; be-
fides, the Italiam are very fond of them, though the
Germans will not touch them, which perhaps may ht
owing more to fuperftition than reafon. Some phyfi-
cians have pretended that Cuckows flelh is good for
the epilepfy, the ftone, ague, and the cholick ; but
their opinion is not fupported by any experiments.

There is a bird called ED OLIO at the Cape of
Good Hope, from the noife it makes, for it pronounces
the word Edolio very dilHnftly. For ihape and fize
it exadly refembles a Cuckow, and is frequently (ten

among

44 THE NATURAL HISTORY

among thick bufties and on very high trees. What'
name the Hottentots give it is not known

C H A P. VU.

0/- H O R N --0 Vv^ L S.

HO R N - O W L S are of three kinds, according to
Aldra'vandiu^ and the largeft of them is of th«
fize of a Goofe, or an Eagle. The length, from the top
of the bill to the end of the tail, is about thirty-o?»e inches,
and the breadth oi the wings when extended is three
feet four inches. The horns by which this bird is de-
nominated are nothing but tufts of bla-.k- feathers^
flicking out of the fides of the head, about the ears.
The bill is ihort, black, and hooked, and the legs
feathered down to the very claws, which are hooked
and fliarp, and the eyes are large and ihining. The
throat, breaft, and. middle part of the feathers are
black, with edges partly white and partly yellow ; and
thofe under the wings are red. The covert feathers
of the wings are party-coloured, of a dark afh and
yellow, and the back of the fame colour with the
wings ; the horns are above an inch long, and confifl:
of fix feathers.

The Great Horned OWL, of Athens, is
feventeen inches in height, as meafured when fitting
on its perch. It's bill is pretty much hooked, and its
Bafe is partly covered with fmall greenilli feathers, like
hair, llanding forwards. The bill and talons are of
adufky, or blackifli, or horn-colour. The eyes are of
a fine golden colour, with black pupils, and the face
is fiattifh, and of a whitifh grey, terminated all round hy
lines and fpots, v/hich are almoft black. The horns or
ears are compofed of feathers only, which it can raife
or let fall almoll flat. They are brown on the upper
fide and black beneath ; which blacknefs immediately
above the eyes, and a dufky line are cairied round them,
as if nature had thereby defigned to heighten their bril-
liant

OF BIRD S. 45

Hant luftre. The whole bird is covered wiih Brown
feadierr, variegated with black ; but the brown is
lighter on the brtaft and belly than on the back, and
it aies away into a taint afn-colour on the lower pare
of the belly. The large Ipots on the back and wings
are fome of them traafveiie, and others are drawn
downwards in a brckaji confufed manner: Befides
theie larger Ipots they are ail maiked wiih very minute
tranfverie duiky lines ; and the covert feathers within-
fide the wings are of a light aili-colour, with narrow,
traRfverfe duiky lines. The infides of the quills, and
the under fide of the tail are of an aih-colour, with tranf-
verfe bars, fainter than thofe of the outer fides. The
legs and feet are made as in other owls, and covered to
the ends of the toes with whitiili, foft, downy fea-
thers. Mr. Ed^umrds fays it was brought ^vomA henjy
and was living in Loudon in 1755, being in pOiTeirioa
of Dr. Fathergill.

The ICELAND OWL, of Anderfon, is all over
white, only the iris of the eye is yellow. It flew into
a (hip in the latitude of Iceland, and when they had
fet it on a table they let a'pigeon Hy, which this bird
feized, and -after it had plucked off fome of the fea-
thers, it opened the back, and devoured the heart ; af-
terwards it eat the entrails, and laft of all the fiefh ; but
it iiril: plucked off all the feathers.

A very uncommon Otvl v/as taken at Zurich in S^vif-
fer!and, that had a pointed beak, which was pierced
with tv/o holes like noRrils. The eyes were lai-ge, and
deep in the head, with large eye-lids, and feathers
. round them in a circular form ; on the hinder part behind
the circle the ears were placed, on which there appear-
ed a fort of firings, in the fhape of a half-moon, that
entirely covered the holes of the eai-s. T'he featJiers
were turned back from the cars, that the hearing might
not be impeded : The feathers which ferved for eye-
lafhes were whitifh, and thofe on the ears of a reddifh
yellow; but thofe on the back were of a Iky-blue,
and marked with eyes, like the tail of a Peacock,
though of another colour. The tail and the wings
iiwere of the fame length, and marked with three or
''four grey lines j their bafe was of a pale colour, and all

the

46 THE NATURAL HISTORY
<^he belly was white, except a few black fpots feere aixl
there. The feet and kgs were covered with feathers,
as far as the qlawi-, and there were four toes on each
foot. It w^s'aL>cut half an ell in length, and the
breadth, w.Iien..the. wings were extended, v/as a full
ell ; the head was like that of a comraon Owl, only lefs
in propcntlo

Whevi th a large quantity of fat

was found theri-i ..umach was hard, wrink-

Ted, and covered in it was found a moufe,

jslnloft digefted, ani ;.l_d-bird, with all its feathers.
The pancreas was obJong, and the valve of the pylo-
f us. was veiy large ; below itthere was a confiderable
Brtnch of glands, and the inner coat of the ftomach
parted readily from the reft. The biliary du6l was in-
ferted info the duodenum near that of the pancreas ;
but there v.-as no gall-bladder. There were two blind
gnttf, and the length of the whole inteftinal tube wai
an ell : The extremity cf the inteftines v/as large and
open, Ilk;: a bag : the heart was oblong, and it had
two ftorn.i:hs, and lower was the liver, which confift-
ed of two large lobes ; and on tlie fide appeared ano-
ther round lobe, fupported hy a very flender thread,
which v/as fuppofcd to be the fpleen. It had long tef-
ticies, that l~;ung fi ccly, and were full of a fi'zy fluid.
Under thefe were the kidneys, and the ureters extend-
ed to the largeft extremity of the belly : the tongue
was flefh before, but behind it was hard, and almoft
bony ; the fcuU was fpungy and foft, and there was
thirteen vertebras of the neck, and fix ribs in all, joined
to the breaft bone : the middle toe was formed like ^
few on one fide, as in Herons. This defcription was
inferted in the Ephemerides of the Geunan academy in
i632.

CHAP.

O F B I R D S. 4„

CHAP. VIII
Of the C O MM O ^ OWLS.

THE Common White OWL, Barn OWL, or
or Church OWL, is of the fize of a large pi-
:geon, and weighs eleven ounces and a half; from the
tip of the bill to the end of the tail is fourteen inches,
and its breadth, when the wings are extended, is thir-
ty-feven and a half. The bill, from the end to the
corners of the mouth, is about an inch and a half;
and it is white, and a little crooked at the end. The
tongue is a little forked, the noftrils oblong, and the
eyes and chin are furrounded hy a circle or ring of
Jmall, foft, white plumes, encompaiTed hy others that
are )'ei!ow and more lliif ; it begins at the noftrils on
e?xh fide, and reienibles a woman's veil ; Infomuch that
the eyes r.re as it were funk into a deep cavity, formed
hy the fmall feathers that ftand upright round about
them. The ground of thefe feathers is yellow, that
is, thofe that are feated at the inner angles of the
«yes. The ears are hid with a cover that proceeds from
the fore part of the eyes, and leans backwards ; and
it is crofied in a right line by the inner circle of ibft,
dovvaiy feathers juft mentioned ; the breaft, the belly,
and the under part of the wings are white, and paint-
ed v/ith daik, fquare fpots ; the head, the neck, and
the back, as far as the great feathers of the wing.s,
nre prettily adorned with divers colours, but all the
other feathers are of a bright yellow, only they are va-
-riegated at the end by fmall whit« and black undulated
lines ; befides the webs are compofed of plates that
are black and white alternately ; fome having three
white fpots and as many black, v/hile others have two,
and fometimes one. There are twenty-four large fea-
thers on each wing, the largeft of which are marked
with four brown fpots, and the leiTer only with three ;
but the intermediate fpaces are yello^\-, fprinkled with
blackiih fpecks. The external barbs or webs terminate
m dillind threads that reprefemt tke teeth of a comb ;

Slid

48 THE NATURAL HISTORY

and the wings, when folded up, reach to the end of tnc
tail ; and even beyond it The tail is four inches and
a half long, and ccnlifts of tweh^e nearly equal fea-
thers, of the colour of tlie wings, and they are croflcd
with tour brov/n ipots or llreaks. The inner edges of
the feathers, as well of the tail as wings, are whitilh,
and the legs are covered down to the teet witli a thick
down ; for the tees are only hairy. The claw of the
middle tee is dentated on the iniide, but not fo much
as in Herons. There is only one toe behind, but the
outward toe before may be bent backwards fo as to
refembl^ another hind-toe. The guts are twelve in-
ches long, and there are two appendages refembling
blind guts. The gall bladder is large, and the eggs
are white. The eyes of thefe birds have fomewhat
particular, for that part of it that appears outwardly,
though very large, is nothing but the iris ; infomuch
that the globe of the eye, being taken out whole, re-
fembles a helmet, and the iris, or vifible part, repre-
fents the top ; befides, the eyes are altogether im-
moveable, and the inner fides of the eye-lids are yel-
low ail round about.

Linnaus takes no notice at all of this Owl, wliich
perhaps may be becaufe there are none in Siiceden ; it
is very common in moft parts of Europe, and is ge-
nerally looked upon as a bird of ill omen. However
it is a very harmkfs fowl, and there are fome that
keep them on purpofe to catch mice. It generally
inhabits the moil inacceflible places, particularly old
towers, church-He eples, and ibmetimes in barns. It
makes no neil, but lays its eggs on a bare ftone, that is
fometimes covered witli filth ; they are generally four or
five in number, and very oblong. In the day it con-
tinues in its retreat, fleeping Handing, with the head
turned on one fide, and the bill hid in the feathers.
It will fnore like a man. in the evening it looks out
from time to time, to fee whether it begins to grow
dark : When it is night it comes abroad, flying not
unlike a pigeon. In their holes there are generally found
a -kind of balls, which fome have taken to be dung ;
but this is white and liquid, like that of other birds

of

O F B I R D S. 49

of prey ; and thefe are the remainder of their ali-
ments, and confilt of fkin, hair, feathers and bones,
that feem to be curioufly wrapped up in a fort of
i)ag. They are brought up by thefe Owls when the
fleih is digeiled; for they having a very large throat,
generally fwallow their prey whole, fuch as rats,
mice, andfmall birds ; and the remainder becomes a fort
of ball in the ftomach, which is afterwards thrown up,
as is done by thofe birds*^hat fwallow fifti whole. An
Owl is is very light, confidering its fize, and it ge-
nerally flies according to the courfe of the wind ; but
ib foftly and gently it cannot be heard. He may be
often heard hooting about eleven o'clock at night,
fometimes when it i^ quite dark, and fometimes when
it is flar- light ; but if tlie moon fnincs bright he dot-j
not appear.

The fleili of an Owl is never eaten, tho' fome pretend
the young ones are good food, and that it is very pro-
per for thofe that are threatened with a palfy . We axe
told in the Geniian Ephemerides, that a young man,
affli tied with the palfy for feveral months, was adviied
to dry an Owl in the oven, after the feathei-s were taken
off, the guts tak-en out, and the fleih faked; then it
was reduced to powder, and made into an ointment
with callor, with which he was rubbed for fome time,
and was cured. The powder may be alfo fiken in-
wardly, from a fcruple to a dram in the fame difeafe.
The gall is good to take out fpots of the eyes, and the
fat is emolicnt and refolvcnt, and very proper to
llrengthen the nerves, being ufed as a liniment.

The Common Brown or Ivv OWL, ufually call-
ed the Screech OWL, from the noife tPiat itm.akes.
It difFeri from the former in being of a darker colour,
which is a mixture of tawny and black ; likewife the
-outward feathers -of the wings are above a palm ihorter
■than the third and fourth ; and the fecond is an inch
fhorter than the third ; the fourth and fifth are the long-
eft of all. It is about the fize of a pigeon, though the
feathers make it feem larger, and it »veighs about twelve
ounces and a half. It is fourteen inches in length to
the tail end, and thirty-three in breadth wh^n the

ro THE NATURjyi HJSTORY

wings are extended. A circle' ^bf feathers encompafTes
the eyes and chin, as m the-Bto 0,>I, but not lb high
as that ; and it confifts of a d'&f^ row of feathers, the
ouf.vard of which is variegated 'i^h 'fhite, black and
;red ; bat the inward are white", iHiHglcd with a flaiue
colour. It is a common opirion, v'that v/hen thefe.
birds flutter againft the v/indows of a iick pei-ibn, it i*^
a certain fign of death ; Ivat for what realbn is ver^
hard to fay. Thefe fort of aagunes ai-e dcfpifed by*
men of fenfe, though they are iHll firmly bclie\'ed by
country people, who catinot get over thefc fuperfli-
tions.

The GuEY OWL is like the former, being nearly
•of the fame bignefs, for it weighs eleven ounces and a
.>ialf, and is in length to the tail end fourteen inches,
.and in breadth thirty-five. It difrers from the former
-in being of a grey or afli-coloHr, in having fpcts on the
b!a?.aft and in the colour of the iitward circle of thj
Hood, v.'hichis only tawnvand white.

The HOWLET or MADG-IIOWLET is fo callea
•from the mournful howling noife that it makes. Jt is
3.5 large as a fmall pullet, and about eighteen inches
long to the tail end. The head, back, wings, and ta 1
a.re of an aOi-colonr, fpecklcd with white and black
fpots. It has a large, thic-k, roimd lead, full of fc?"
thers ; and the wings, which are eighteen inches long,
reach to the end of the tail.

The HOWLET of Offi^r is larger than a hen,
and the colour is a mixture of red and black ; and there
are fmall feathers between the eyes, and on the back,
,they are almoft of an afli-toloiir. The legs are whitiih,
with fpots of a livid colour; but it is nnknown in
England.

The Little OWI, is remarkable for its fmallnefs,
•being no bigger than a Black-Bird, in which it differs
from other night-birds of the rapacious kind. It is
<fbmetimes met with in the woods of jdi/Jfria inGermanyt
«nd it has been expofed to fale at Rome.

There ie another bird called the Little OWIo,
which 19 thought to be a native of England, becaufe
two of tifcero came dOwB the chimneys belonging to two

different

y

O F B I RD S. 51

■<SfFcr«>t perfons : the one at Sf. Catherine's, and the
other at Lamheth. The head is round, and large in
proportion, and the fore part of it, or face, is divided
from the hinder part of the head by a line in the form
of a heart. The face is of a whitiHi colour, with Jong-
ifh dufky fpots ; and the bill, placed in the middle of
it, is hooked like thofe of hawks, having a fkin pait-
ly covering the upper mandible, in which the nclbils
are placed. It is of a horn-colour, and a little yel-
lov/ilh at the point. The pupils of the eyes are far-
rounded with yellow, and it hath longifii hairs fpring-
ing from the roots of the bill all round it. The top
and' hinder part of the head are covered with dark
brown feathers, with whitifh marks down their mid-
dles : The back, wings and tail are alfo of a dark
brown, variegated with lighter brov/n and w hite fpots,
•which are round on the iefier coverts of the wing,
longifh on the outer webs of the quills, femilanarand
large between the back, the wings, and the rump.
The dark and light brown croffes the toil alternately
in bars, and the ridge of the wings is white. The in-
ner coverts of the wings are black and wdiite, mixe^
finely together, and the infide of the quills is ef an
aih-colour, with white ft)Ots both on the inner and
outer webs. The under iide of tliis bird is white ircm
the throat to the covert of the tail, and there are large
black fpots on the breail and fide;. Tlie legs and fcK,*t
■<rre covered to the cla vvs with wJiite feather?, that ap-
pear hke hair ; and The claws are iirong, crooked, and
black.

The Smal-l owl of Cutejhy is of a bay-brown
colour, mixed v^ith red, and a white face; but on the
breaft there are feathers edged with white, and on the
i)ack there are five white fpots.

The Br AS I Li AN OWL, called Cabure by Marc-
grat^e, is of fhe fize of a fmall Thruih. and its bill,
and the iris of the eyes are 5'ellow. The legs are ihort,
and covered with feathers, the claws black, the tail
broad, and of the colour of faint umber, waved with
white. The whole upper part of the head, back, and
wings, are likewifc of the fame colour, ipotted with
D 2 " while,

52 THE NATURAL HISTORY

white, and the fpois en the head and neck ai-e veiy
fmall, but larger on the wings ; and the breaft and
belly are white, variegated with Ipo.ts ofii faint umber
colour.

CHAP. JX.

Of ano7nalxts Night-Birds, called in Latin Capri-
MULGi, a7td in Englijh Goat-5uckers.

THE English CAPRIMULGUS, called in
Shrof-J^nre the FERN-OWL, and in Torkjhire.
the CHURN-OWL, from the noife it makes when
flying. It is a very beautiful bird, and both in ihapo
and colour has a greater refeiiiblance to a Cuckow than
an Owl, and is ^x'ry CrdUy diflinguilhed from all other
birds by the rtrudlare of its wings and feet. It is in
length to the tail end between ten and eleven inches,
and has a large head, but much lels in proportion than
that of an OwL It's bill is the leafl: of all biids of the
lame magnitude, and is a litde crooked. The mouth
and fwallow arc very wide, and the legs, though fmall;
are feathered half-way dov/n on the fore-fide, and the
feathers hang down almoft to the toes^ The toes are
joined together from the divarication to the firil joint,
and the inward edge of the middle claw is ferrated as
in herons. It is an anomalous noftumal bird, not
agreeing with any of the rapacious kind, and it is to be
found in the Peak of Derby/hire^ in Torkjhire, Shropjhirt,
and elfewhere. In the crops of thofe that have been
opened there were found feeds and beetles.

Tlie American GOAT-SUCKER, called IB I-
GAW by the Braftlians, and NOITIBIO by the Por-
tuguefe, is of the fize of a Swallow : The head is
broad and flat, and the eyes large, with an oval pu-
pil, and a yellowifh iris. The bill is very fmall, the
mouth large, and the tongue extremely little. The
legs are white and fmall, being jnot half an inch in
length. The upper part of the body is blackifh, in-
teriperfed with white fpots ; and the feathci-s on the

Jowcr

O F B I R D V 53

Fowcr part are a mixture of white and black. There is
a kind of this bird as big as a Horn-Owl.

The GU'JRAGUEREA oi Brafilis of the fize of a
Lark, and the head, eyes, and fhape of the bill are
1-ike the former. Jt has thick briiUes on the fides of
the bill, and the wings are long, but the tail is much
longer, with two feathers of a greater length than
the reft. It is all over of a duiky alh-colour, with
darkifh yellow and white fpots. About the neck
behind the head there is a ring of a dulky gold co-
lour, and the legs are of a tawny aih. Marcgra'-JSy
from whom thefe defcriptions are taken, does not fay
v^hether they are nodurnai birds or net ; though v/ith
regard to their outward appeaj-ancc, they are exaiflly
like Goat-Sucker:, and Swallows. Perhaps they m.igiit
more properly have the name of Swallows, if it were
not for the feet, in which there is no refemblance.

The J.^MAicA GOAT-SUCKER, or Small
WOOD-OWL, may be diftinguiftied from all other
birds of this kind by its noilrils, which are a fort of
pipes, ftanding up about one eighth of an inch above
the furface of the bill. It is a very fmall bird, being
aot above feven inches long from the bill end to the
tail end, and ten in breadth when the wings are ex-
tended. The fhape of the head, mouth, and bill are
like thofe of a common Goat-fucker, and the upper
and lower parts of the body are variegated with red,
white, and black ; but thofe colours are more faint on
tlie wings and tail.

There are a great number of Owls at the Cape of
Good Hope, of the fame fize as thofe in Europe^ but
their feathers are partly red and partly black, mixed
with grey fpots, which render this bird very beauti-
ful, and in which it feems to rcfemble tliat next above.
The Dutch keep many of thefe tame, aiid let tliem rum
about the houfes, becaufe they clear them of mice.

There is an Owl in Carolina, according to Mr.
La^ujfon, of the fize of a middling Goofc, with a pro-
digious head. It makes a frightful hollowing in the
night-time, which has fome refemblance to that of a
man, for which rcafon ftrangers often lofe their way
in the woods, upon a fuppofition that men are not far
D 3 aff.

54 THE NATURAL HISTORY

oiT*. This is dl the deR-ription that is given of them, and
therefore it is impoifibie to fay to what fpecies they
belong. There is likcwife the fame defeft in the account
of tliofe that follow, which however muft not be omit-
ted in this general account of the winged animiils..
They are all Mexican birds, nnd mentioned by llenian-

The Mexican OWL, called CHICHICTLI, is
covered with feathers like thofe of a hen r the feet are
alfo covered with them, and the feathers over all the
body are a mixture of tawny, white, brown and black.

The YOHALTECOTOTL is another Mexican Owl,
cf the fize and colour of a common Owl ; and the
POXAQUA is a kind of a Horn-Owl, but of a diffez;-
cnt ihape from that before defcribed.

The TECOLO TL is another fort of a Horn-Owl^
variegated v»^ith black and brown, and the iris of tlie
eyes are of a gold colour.

The TOLCHIQUATLIhasa blackfhort bill, witK
rough feathers on the legs and feet, and black claws..
The feathers about the bill are white, and the wings
underneath are black, mixed v^^ith a tawny colour, but
a'bove they are a mixture of black, white and tawny,
aad the tail is long. The body is fmall, and the fea.-
thers rekmble ti.ol'e of a hen.

Ihc ITALP'OiPATLI is another fpecies of a
Horned Owl, with a faort biil tarnivi-g upwards, and
the \'\y>Xj 1j cohered with I-rown ar.d aife- coloured fca- .
thero. Tlie iiis of th.^ eyes is of a rcddiih ycilcw^
and Lhere are fjadiers on the feet, with black claws.

The CHICUATLI has a long {lender bill of a ruf^
iet colour, and has yellow crooked ftripes near each
eye. The lower part of the body \i pale, with a
few black feather:, about the neck. 'Hie iris of the
eyes is yellow, and the other parts of die body aie
covered v/ith a mixture of brown, tawny, and alh-co-
lour. It frequents the mountaini, and makes a itrangc
kind of a i>cif«- like taikii^g.

CHAP,

OF BIRD S. 5-5

C H A P. X.
Of miif.iie.fize J PARROTS.
H E PARROT is a bird with a lar^e head, a'

T

haid skull, and a crooked beak, which aflilb it.
in climbing ; for it iirft lays hold on any thing near
it, and then draw s up its body, afterwards fixing its
fcet, and fo on alternately. The tongue is not unlike
that of a man ; for which rt- afon fome pretend it is
more apt to inutate the human voice : The noftrils are
round, and the feet have four toes, two of which ftand <
backwards, and the other two for v/ards, like a Vv"ood-
pecker's. It iikewife turns the greater hind toe back-
wards and forvvardsoccafionally ; and in this they rdemble
Owls. They learn to talk fooner and better than all
©th€f bjrds, and feem to have fome fort of underfland-
ing. They are not bred in cold countries, tiiough
when brought thither they will live in them a conil-
derable time, if taken care of. They are laid to
breed in hollow trees, vi'here they lay two or three eggs
like pigeons; for they have no neils, if wliat Marc-
gra-ve fays be ti'ue; but this is contradicted by other
Authors, particubyly Lery. Candmrnne obieives, that
^e Amerieans on the banks of the river Cy apcc have
tlie art of engraftijig feathers of a diifercnt colour into
the parrot, which they pretend to do, by means of the
blood of certain frogs, which they rub upon the part
the feathers are plucked from : However this amhcw
rather imagines that there is no occafion for fuch appli-
cation, for he thinks that when feathers of one co-
lour are taken out, others that are different will grow
in their room, in the fame manner as the hair of a
black horfe, v/hen hurt, will turn v/hite when it comes
again.

The White crested PARROT is all over white
on the body, and there is a red crell on the head. It
is of the fize of a tame pigeon, and it carries its tail
lifted up. The feet are of a yellowilb colour, by
which it may be diilinguifhed from all other Parrots.
D 4 J\vz

56 THE NATURAL HISTORY
The tongue is brown and blunt like a man*s, and the
eyes are of a dirty yellow colour. The legs and thighs
are Ihort, and they ai-e faid to fly in flocks after breed-
ing time.

The GREEN PARROT is of the fame fize as the
former, and the upper part of the beak is extreamly
black, afterwards bluifti, and then red, but white un-
tlerneath. It is fifteen inches in length, and the head
is a little yellowilh, but the rell: of the body is green.
The back and wings are of a darker colour, and the
uppermoll edge of the wings red. The tail is ftiort,
and the fides below are red, maiked according to the
length with a remarkable fpot ; but on the upper part
they are yellowilh, and the legs and feet are of an a(li-
colour. This bird is very common in England^ and
ibme of them have a circle about the eyes, befides a
procefs on both fides the upper part of the beak, op-
pofite to which is a cavity in the lower part.

The PARROT with a Party-Coloured Beak
or Bill, has the upper part of the upper jaw of a
biuifh green colour, which on the fides is of the co-
lour of oker, and at the extremity is marked with a
tranfverfe white fpot. The lower part of the bill is of
a lead colour, but of a pale yellow in the middle. It
is in length to the end of the tail eighteen inches, and
the top of the head is of a gold colour. The reft of the
body is green, darker on the upper fide, and lighter on the
lov/er. The wings and tail are variegated with green,
violet, dark red, and dirty fcarlet colours . The legs are
Ihort, the feet of a lead colour, and the claws black.

TheGREEN-BLACK-BiLLED PARROT isofabluiHi
green colour at the root of the bill, on the top of the
head, and under the throat: The upper part of the
body is of a deep green, only the fide of the wings
next the body is of a fine fcarlet, as well as the extre-
mities. The lower part is yellow, or of a grcenifli
yellow, and the lower part of the tail is fcarlet.

The White-headed PARROT has the bill and
the part of the head next to it of a white colour. The
throat and edges of the wings are red, and the middle
of the breaft between the thighs is of a dark red. The
hinder part of the head, the neck, the back, the wings

^ and

O F B I R D S. ^j

and the tail are of a deep green, but the breaft and
thighs are of a faint green. This bird might more pro-
perly have been called the Variegathd Parrot, on
account of the feveral colours, which are no lefs than
feven ; however the moft predominant is green.

The Red and Blue PARROT of Aldronjan^ms
has a lefler hill than the former, and it is blackiih: The
head, neck and breaft are blue, and the top of the head
yellov/. The parts about the eyes are whitilh, the
belly green, and the tail yellow. The top of the back
is of a faint blue, and the feathers that cover the wings
of a faint rofe colour. It is nine inches in length
from the end of the beak, to the extremity of the
tail.

The AsH-coLouRED or Bluish PARROT of AU
dro'vandus is of the fize of a tame pigeon, and has a
black bill. The colour o^ the whole body is of an
a(h-colour, the tail red and very fhort, fcarccly reaching
beyond the points of the wings. The eyes are fur"-'
rounded with a bare white f^-in, and it is a native of
Africa , particularly Gtunea, from whence many are
brought, which renders them common in England.

The Scarlet Oriental PARROT, X^ith black
and green 'vjings : It is of a little larger fize than a Black-
feird, and the whole body is fcarlet. The feathers that
cover the wings are green, except the prime, whiich'
are black, and below they are crimfon ; likev>ife the
edge of the wings is yellow. I'he tail is yellow in the
middle, and of a yellow ilh green on the top : There is'
a ring of green feathers above the kuees, and the bill
is yellow, as alfo the iris of the eyes The legs are
Ihort and black, and they are brought to London from
the Eaj}-hidies.

The Black-capped LORY is of the fize of a tur-
tle dove, and has a bill made like other Parrots, of an'
orange colour. There is a dufky fieOi-coloured fkin at
the bafe of the upper chap, and the eyes have a brighf
golden iris; being encompafTed with fpaces of bar?
flcin of an obfcure flefh colour. The whole crov/n of
the head is covered with black feathers, and there is
a bluilli caft on the hinder part The remainder of
the head, the whole neck, back, rump, coverts above

D 5 m

58 THE NATURAL HISTORY
the tail, the breail, fides under the wings, and upper
p;;rts of the thighs, are of a bright fcarlet, except aphit
cf blue behind, between the neck and the back,
which has a little mixture of red, and another on the
lower part of the breail, likewiie mixed with red. The
lower part of the thighs, the lower belly, and tlie co-
verts beneath the tail, are ail of a fine blue. The tail
is alfo blue on the upper fide, though the middlemofl
feathers have fomelhing of a bluifh ihade. The inner
webs of the tail feathers are ytilowilh, which render
the tail yellow beneath. The wings are green on the
upper fides, aiid fome of the middle quills are yellow
on the borders of their webs. The inner webs of the
quills ar^ of a fine yellow, except at the tips, which
are dulky, and tlie covert feathers on the iniide of the
wings are red; but the ridge of the wings is yellowilh.
This is sn Eofi-Indlan bird.

T'hQ /ecohd Black-capped LORY is of the fize
of a blue dove-houfe Pigeon, and has a bill of an
erange colour, hooked at the point : The iris of the
tyts are of a reddiih yellow, and the eyes themlelves are
cnccmpafled with a dufky bare Ikin. The whole crown of
the head is black, with a purple glofs ; and the remain-
der of the head, neck, back, rump, and the whole
under {\dQ, are of a beautiful fcarlet, except a crefcent
of yellow on the breaft, and fome blue feathers on the
thighs, juft above the knees. The wings of the upper
fides are green, and the ridge of the wings is of a fine
blue. The inner webs of all the quills are of a fine
yellow, except at the tip, which are dulky. The tail
feathers are red, only a little inclining to purple at the
tips. The legs and feet are of a lead colour, and the
claws are Urong and blackilh.

The Scarlet LORY is of the fame fize as the
former, and differs principally from it in having the
aown of the head red ; but the upper chap is yellow,
and hangs over the lower. The iriues of the eyes are of
a fine orange, and are placed in fpaces covered with a
hare afli-coioured fkin. The head, neck, body above
and below, and the coverts of the tail are of a very fine
ifariet, except the feathers on the lower part of the
lucck behind, which are tipped with yellow. The
A lower

?%^^ 39

7r<:>i{^ I

O F B I R D S. <r9

lower part of the thighs above the knees is green; but
the upf-er red. The greater quills of the wings are of
a dark green, inclining to blue; and the remainder
that fall over them are of a lighter green. The firft
row of the coverts are of a yellow green, and the lefTer
coverts of a fuller. The ridge of the wings below the
joint is blue, and the firft ten quills have the inner
webs red, alinofl to the tips, which are dufky and
bl^ckilh. The upper fide of the tail is of a fine blue,
only the middle feathers are a little tinftured v/ith
green. The inner webs of the tail feathers are red at
their bottoms, and yellowifh a^ the tips ; and the legs
and feet are of a bluilh, black.

The Long-tailed Scarlet LORY differs from
the former in being fmaller, and in having a longer
and fomewhat pointed tail ; the middle feathers being
an inch and a half longer than thofe on the fides. The
hill is pretty ftrong, and of an orange colour, and
the nollrils are placed rrear together in a dufky fkin,
at the bafe of the upper part cf the bill. There is a
bare Ikin round the eyes of a dufky colour, and the
whole head, neck, body, both above and below, the
fides under the wings j the thighs, and covert feathers
both above and below the tail are of a fine fcarlet ;
but the fore part of the neck and breall is Hghter, with
a little yellow on the edges of the feathers. The
greater and middle quills of the \vings are red tipped
with green ; but the remaining three or four next tlie
back are of a very .fine blue-. The firft row of the co-
verts'of tlie wings are red, tipped with green, and the
IcfTer are v/holfy red, except the top of the v/ing about
the joint, which is gr^en. The feathers on the tail are
a little pointed, ai7d they are all of a duller red than
on the body. The two- outer feathers, and the tips of .
thtre^., are a little tinjTtiired'wdth green, and the legs
and feet arc blackiih. This bird was brought from the
ifiand of Borneo m the IVeJi-Ivdies.

The Red and White PARROT of Aldro^jandui
is of the fize of a Maccaw, being feventeen inches in
length, but the tail is faort. The whole body is of a
duHky white, or rather afh-colour ; and the hinder parts
trf the back, rump, and the whole tail and prime fea-
thers

6o THE NATURAL HISTORY j

thers are of a fcarlet. This is one of thofe Parrots
commonly called Poppin Jays.

The Blue-faced Green PARROT is of the fif.c
of a Pullet ; and the bill is of a horn or a(h-colour, hav-
ing a fpot of orange colour on each fide the upper man-
dible, which is moderately hooked, and has an angle
on each fide. The noilrils are placed on a fkin that
falls a little way over the bill ; and the fore part of the
head or face all round the bill is covered with blue
feathers. The eyes are placed in this blue fpace, and are
furrounded with a narrow bare Ikin, of a fiefh colour.
The circles round the pupils of the eyes are of an
orange-colour, and on the throat, below the blue, is
a plat of red feathers. The hinder part of the head
and neck, the back and covert feathers of the wings,
and the breaft, belly, and thighs are of a pleafant
green, but darker on the back, and lighter on the un-
der fide. The greater wing- feathers or quills are
blue, and thofe following them are blue at their tips,
and red at their bottoms. Theinfides of the quills are
of a light blue, a little inclining to green, and the
tail above is yellow, and its tip for half way ; the re-
mainder of the bottoms of the feathers being of a full
green, and the under fide of a pale yellow green.
Some of the inner webs of the outer feathers are red
towards the bottoms or roots, and the legs, feet, and
claws are of a fiefh-colour, {landing as in others of
the Parrot kind. This bird was defcribed by Mr. Ed-
ivards, from the life, and is the only one of this kind
that he had feen.

The Green and Red PARROT, from China,
is of the fize of a middling hen, and the upper man-
dible of the bill is red at its bafe, and inclining to
yellow at the point, which is pretty much hooked,
and has an angle on each fide. The lower mandible
is black, and the noftrils are placed between the fea-
thers of the head and the bafe of the bill ; there be-
ing no fkin over the bafe, as is common in moft of the
Parrot kind : It is alfo fingular in having the feathers
continued clofe to the eyes. The circles round the
pupils of the eyes are of a bright orange colour, and*
the head, neck, back, covert feathers of the wings, the

breaft,

O F B I R D S. 6i

breaft^ belly, and upper fide of the tail, are ail of a
beautiful deep green. The fides under the wings, and
tlie inner covert feathers of the fame are red ; which
rednefs on the fides appears outv/ardly down the (ides
of the breaft and belly. The greater quills or beam
feathers of the wings are of a fine blue ; as are aifo
thofe of the firilrowof the covert feathers above them.
The edge, or border of the wing above, that falls on
the breaft, is likewife blue. The infide of the quills,
and the under fide of the tail, are of a dark brown or
blackifh colour ; and the tips of the tail feathers, on
the under fide, areof ayellowifh brown. The thighs,
and coverts beneath the tail, are green, and the legs,
feet and claws, are black. The toes are two forwards
and two backwards, as in other Parrots. Mr. Edtvards
takes this bird to be very rare.

The Diminutive Green PARROT o£ Ethiopia,
is of the fize of a Chaffinch. The whole body is green,
but lighter on the belly, and deeper on the back. The
prime feathers of the wings are of a deep green on one
fide, and on the other brown, as well as all the upper
part. The feathers of the tail, where they are fixed
to the rump, areof a yellowilh green, then of a bright
red, afterwards black, and laft of all tinctured .with
green. The head above the bill, and all the covert
feathers of the throat, are of a bright florid red ; and
the bill is thick and ftrong, and of a reddilh colour.
The legs are half an inch in length, and afh-coloured,
and the claws are white and pretty long. When it
feeds it does not hold the meat with one of its feet,
but pulls it to pieces with its biD. The females, when
they grow old, which is very ftrange, will not feed,
unlefs the male firft pulls the meat to pieces, and keeps
it for fome time in his crop.

The Hawk-headed PARROT is of the fize of a
fmall Pigeon, and is remarkable for having a long tail,
in proportion to the body. The bill is duiky, pretty
much hooked, and has Iharp angles on the fide of
the upper chap. The iris of the eyes are hazel, and
round them is a bare (kin of a blackifh colour. The
head is brown, and the feathers thereon are light on
the middle, and dark on the borders. The neck,

breaft >

Gz THE NATURAL HISTORY

brcaft, aud belly are of a reddifh purple, and the fea-
titers upon them aie fringed with a bright blue. The
back, rump, and upper fides of the wings are of a
plcafant gr^:eii ; bat the tips of the greater quills are of
a dark blue. Tli£ upper fide of the tail is alfo green,
except the lide feathers, which are dark blue at the
tips. The thighs, and covert feathers beneath the tail,
are of a lightiih green, and the legs, feet, and clav/s
are of a. dark lead colour. When it is provoked it
i-aifcs the feathers on the neck like a ruff. It is an Ea/i-
Iniiian bird.

The Dusky PARROT is about the flze of a com-
mon blue pigeon, and the upper chap in the middle
part is black, and the ikin at the root is alfo black, or
dulky, and the bale of the bill is yellow, but the re-
mainder to the point is of a fine red. The top of
the head is dulky, or black, and the fides of the head
under the eyes, and the hinder part of the neck, are
grcenifh. The back is dulky, the rump greeniih,
and the tail green on the upper fide ; but the outer
webs ■ of the two outermoft fea^iers are blue. The
throat, for an inch below the bill, is of a fine blue^,
and the breaft, belly, and tiHighs are of a dulky black.
The wings are green, and the innermoft quills next
the back have yellow borders. Upon the v/hole, the
colours are more difagreeable than in other Parrots.
This bird was brought from Neiv- Spain in Atne^-ica.

The White-breasted PARROT is of the fize of
a turtle dove, and the bill has angles on its edges,
with a narrow ikin at the baft; of the upper chap. The
whole is of a dusky flefh-colour ; but lighteit at the
bafe, round the eyes is a flelh-coloured bare skin, and >
the whole crown of the head above the eyes is black.
From the corners of the mouth proceed two longifh .
green fpots, and the throat and fides of the head are
yellow; but the hinder part of the neck becomes gra--
daally orange. The back, rump, and tail are of»:
pleafant green ; and tlie greater feathers of the wing*
have their outer webs blue, but thofe in the middle
are ycllowiHi. The remainder of the quills next the
back arc entirely green, as well as all the covert feathers

above

O F B I R D S. 6j

above them. The breall, from the neck as far as the
legs is white, and the lower belly, and thighs are of
a yellovviih orange. The legs are aih-colour, and
the claws black. This is a M'eji-InJiafi bird,

CHAP. XI.

Of the large jl Birds of the Parrot kind, called
MACKAWS and COCKATOOS.

THE Blue and Yel;.ow MACCAW of AI-
droi.anduSy is of the magnitude of a well-fed ca-
pon, being three feet from the tip of the bill to the
end of the tail. The bill is black and hooked, making
almoft an exadl femicircle, and is three inches in length,
and tv/o inches and a half in thicknefs at the beginning :
The tail is eighteen inches in length, and the legs are
very ihort, v.'hich, with the feet, are of a dulky colour,
and the claws are black. The ikin about the eyes is
variegated with black feathers, and the top of the head
is fiat and green. The neck is as it v/ere furrounded
with a black bracelet, and the lov/er part of the body
is of a fafFron colour ; but the upper is of a beautiiiil
blue.

The Great MACCAW oi Aldronjandus is as large
as the former ; but the bill is Ihorter, the upper man-
dible whereof is white, and the lower black. The
fpace about the eyes and temples is v/hitiih, and the
whole body, part of the wings, and all the tail, are of
a beautiful red, as alfo the inner part of the prime fea-
thers of the wings. The outward parts are of a deep blue,
as well as the under part of the tail near the rump.
The fecond row of the quill feathers are yellow, with
red edges, and as it were marked v/ith a bluilh eye at
the point. The legs are ihoit, and the feet brown.
One of this kind, feen by Mr. Ray at London, had red
wings and tail, variegated with blue and yellow. Two
feathers in the middle of the tail were much longer
than the relt^ and €nd€d mfharp poirkts of a bluilh co-
lour.

The

64 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The MACCAW of Sf. Dcmhgo, and other iilands
in the Wejf- Indies, called Arras by the French, has
the head, neck, belly, and upper part of the back of
a fireyred colour; and the wings are a mixture of yel-
low, blue, and crimfon feathers. The tail is entirely
red, and a foot and a half long. It lives upon feeds
and fruits, and fometimes feeds upon manchineel-ap-
ples, which is a deadly poifon to all other animals.
It h?^ a very fhrill loud cry, efpecially. when flying ;
and thofe who know how to counterfeit its voice will
make it ftop Ihort. The male and the female always
keep together, and they make a hole in a tree for the fe-
male to lay her eggs in, which they only line with a
few feathers. She only lays two eggs, about the fize
thole of a pigeon, and fpotted like a partridge's. The
fle(h is ven>^ hard, and yet is in great efteem among
many, efpecially the French. Some take it to be poi-
fonous, which may be true with regard to thofe that
ha^'^e fed upon manchineel apples.

The ARARACANGA of Marcgra've does not feem
to differ much from the laft but one, only the feathers
on the wings are green halfway, and the other half to-
wards the extremity is blue.

Another author informs us, that this bird is as large
as a raven, with a large head, which is fiat and broad
on the upper part. The eyes are beautiful, and of a sky-
blue, with a black pupil ; the bill is large and crooked,
white above and blaclc underneath. The tongue is like
that of a Parrot, and it feeds in the fame manner, and may
be taught toprcnonnce a few words. The feet are black,
as well as the legs, and are made like thofe of a Parrot.
The head, neck, breaft, belly, the thighs, the under
part of the tail, and beginning of the v/ings, are co-
vered with beautiful red feathers ; but the middle i)f
the wings are green, next which they are blue ; and the
bottom of the back towards the rump, is covered with
blue feathers, mixed with a few that are brown. The
tail is about three inches long.

The ARARAUNA is a BrafilianM.\CQA^ oi the
Ihape of the former, but of a different colour. The
bill is black, and the eyes of a Iky blue, with a black
pupil ; the Ikin about the eyes is marked with black

and

^reti^ C<:>c/:a/r^^^

O F B 1 R D S. 6^

jn\d white fpot?, and the legs and feet are brown : On
the fore-part of the head is a kind of cap, confifting
of green feathers ; but under the throat there is a cir-
cle of black feather^. The fides of the neck, all the
breall, and the lower belly, are covered with yellow
feathers ; but the hinder-part of the head, the neck, the
whole back, and the wings are covered with blue fea-
thers ; only the extremities of the wings are mixed
with yellow, and the tail confifts of long blue and yel-
low feathers : In general all the blue feathers are black
on the infiae.

The MARACANA is fo called by the inhabitants
of Braji/y and is a kind of a Parrot, but larger. The
feathers are all of a bluilh grey, and it makes a noife
like a Parrot : This is all that Marcgra<ve mentions of
this bird, except that it is fond of fruits.

The MARACANA ARARA is a leffer kind of
Ma CCA w, being of the fize of a common Parrot ; It
has a long tail, like a Maccaw, with a bill of the fame
fhape, which is black. The fkin about the eyes is
white, and (potted with black feathers. The head,
neck, and wings are of a deep green, and the top of
the head is more faint and bluiih. The wings and tail
are green above and blue below, with the extremities
of the feathers of a dark blue. At the rife of each
wing there is a red fpot, and another above the bafe of
the bill.

The Greater COCKATOO is of the fize of
a Raven, and has a large flrong bill, with a flcin that
covers the bafe of the upper chap, where the noftrils
are placed. Jt is of a bluiih black, as well as the bill,
and tlie head is large, in proportion to the body. The
eyes are of a dark colour, encompaffcd with a bare (kin
of light alh; and the whole feathers that cover the
head are very long and loofe, efpecially thofe on the
top of the head, which this bird can raife up or let fall
at pleafure. This bird, when angered, not only raifes
the creft, but the feathers on each fide of the head, and
then their under parts appear of a fine fcarlet^ Whea
the crclt is fallen, the red feathers underneath give the
white without a rcddiih call. The whole plumage is
white, tho' tin(^ured with other colours in fome parts »
The tail is fhort, and the feathers of an equal length.

the

65 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The legs and feet are of a lead colour, and tke toe.^
are as in other Parrots : It is an Eaf.-hidiau bird. Theid
is a leiier Cockatoo, which differs little from the great-
er, except in firiC.

I have feen feveral of them, who all cry Cockatoo ve-
ry diftirnflly ; and if any oi^^e {peaks to them they al-
ways anfwer in the fame tone of voice. If you pro-
nounce Cockatoo very loud, they will do the fame ; and
if you only whifper, they vviil do the like.

CHAP. XII.

^f the Brazilian PAPn-ROTS, defcrihed l>y Marc
grave.

THE AJURUCURAU, or the Blue-Tufted
PARROT, has a tuft on its head over the bill
©fa beautiful blue, and the throat, fides of the head,
as well as the trpper part, are covered with a delieatp
yellow. On the extremities of the v/ings there are fea-
rhers which are black for half the length, and the
other half is of a failron colour ; but they are partly blue
at the ends and partly gieen, interfperfed here and
there. The tail is green, but when It fpreads it is
edged with black, red, and blue. The bill i« of 9
du^iky afh-cclour, and the ^cQ.t are of an aih-colourV
bet the circks round the pupil of the eyes are of
a go\d colour. There is another like tlie former,
though differently coloured ; for it has a yellow tuft
mixed v/ith wliitc on the head, and over the eyes on
the throat the feathers are of a bright yellow. Over
tJie bill there is a fpot of fea green.

TheAJARUCURUCA, or the PARROT nvith a
blue tuft, mixed ivith a little black : In tJie middle of
this there is a yellow fpot, and another, on the throat
that is blue. The brcaft, wings, and back are of a
deep green, which is lighter towards the ends of the
wings and on the tail. The extremities of the quill
feathers are a mixture of yellow, red, and indigo.
The upper part of the bill is of an afli-colour,. and black

on the extremities.

The

O F B I R D 5. 67

' The PARAGUA is a black Parrot, with a red
brea'l, back and beliy. The circle that furrounds the
pupil of the eyes is red, and the bill and feet are of a
duiky afa-coiour.

The TAR A BE is a Parrot larger than the former,
with a red head and breait. It is aifo red at the be-
ginning of the wings ; but in other parts it is green*
The bill and feet are of a duf^.y alh-colour.

The AJURUCATINGA, is a Parrot of the fize of
a middling pullet, and of a green colour. The eyes
are red, and about them there is a white fkin, as in
feveral others of this kind. The bill and legs arc
white, and the tail long.

There are Parrots of a leflcr kind taken notice of by
other authors, which ihall be delcribed in this place.

The RING-PARROT of the ancients, fo^ called by
Aldroqjandusj is thirteen inches and a half in length :
The bill is red, the circles about the pupils of the
eyes yellow, and the colour of the whole body is
green, deep above aad pale below. There is a xt^L
ring or circle furrounds the neck, to which, from the
lower part of the bill, there runs a black line. In the
upper part of the outer feathers of the wings there is sk
red fpot.

The leffer Green PARROT is a J^F^Ji-Indlaff bird,
and is of the ftze of a middliag Pigeon. The bill is
wiiiti/b, and has a white fki« at the hs^fe of die bill,
wherein the noiirils are pkeed^ The circles of the eye$t
are of a brigjit gold colour. TJie eyes themsfelves have &
narrow fpace of white skin all round tjiem. The fore-
head is covered with fcarlet feathers, the hinder-part
of the crown with blue, and from the bafe of the low-
er chap there is a roundifh orange-coloured fpot, reach-
ing beneath each eye, and the remainder of the head,
as well as the throat and neck are green. The hinder
part of the back, tlie rump, and upper fide of tlie tail,
are of a dark green ; and the fore-part of the neck,
the bread, belly, and thighs arc of a lighter green.
There are fome other diflindions ; but what has bcea
iiiid is enough to dillinguifli it from all other grcea
Parrots.

Tke

6B THE NATURAL HISTCRT

The Little Green PARROT, fuppofed to be a
native of the M'e/I-In^ies, is of the fize of a fmrJl
pigeon, and tlie wing, when clofed, is fix inches long.
The bill is of a light afn-colour, almoll white at the
bafe, and darkifh at the point. The whole head,
neck and body are green, but more inclining to yel-
low on the throat, brcaft, belly, and thighs. The
greater quills of the wing are of a dusky or black co-
lour, having their outer webs blue almoft to the tips..
Among the firft row of covert feathers is one red,
which falls oyer the bottom of the blue quills. The
inner webs of the tail feathers aYe red, till within an
inch of their tips, and thofe on all other parts are
green.

The Little Green PARROT of JUro'vandusy.
is no bigger than a Thrufh, and has a red bill. The
kgs and feet are of a red or flefh colour, by which,
it is diilinguifliM from all other Parrots. The circle
about the pupil of the eyes is of a faffron colour.

There is another 'Braftllian Green PARROT,
which has a bill of a flefti-colour, except the skin and
the bafe of the upper chap, which is dusky. The fore-
part of the bill quite round the head is dusky ; the
fore-part of the head quite round the bill is fcarlet,
and the eyes of a dark colour, having a bare fpace quite
round them of an afh colour. Partly under and
partly behind each eye there is a roundilh fpot of
fine blue, and the top of the head is of a yellow-
i(h blue. The prime quills of the wings are duf-
ky, and thofe on the middle have their outer webs
blue. T'he ridge of the wings on the upper parts are
yellow, and lower down there are red feathers. The
green feathers on the hinder-part of the neck and back
arc edged with a darkifh purple; The feathers on
the tail, next thofe in the middle, are red, and the
outermoft feather on each frde has its outer web blue.
The inner fide of the tail appears red, becaufe the inner
webs of all the feathers are of that colour. The tips
of the tail are of a fine yellow, and all the other parts
are green, lighter in fome places, and darker in
others.

The

C F B I R D S. 69

The Red and Green PARROT oi Ja^atiy is de-
tcribed by Aldro'vandusy from the painted figure only ;
'but there is another Red and Green Parrot of
the fame author, with a red tail and creil ; but the
other parts are green. In the creft it refembles the
crefted Parrot, which confifts of twdve feathers, fix large
and fix fmall. The circle aoout the pupil of the eye
is red.

The Little PARROT of 5o«//:i/j, is of the fize
of a Lark, with a grey bill and throat. The circle
round the pupil of the eyes is of a filver colour, and it
can raife the feathers on the top of the head like a
crcii. The lower part of the belly, of the neck, the
head, and the tail, are of a bright red j and the breall,
and the lower feathers of the tail, are of a pale rofe co-
lour, which end in a beautiful mixture of green and
white. The wings are chiefly green, intermixed with
a few red feathers, whofe middle parts are variegated
with yellow and rofe colour.

CHAP. XIIL
Of P A R R O K E E T S.

THE Red-Breasted PARROKEET has a till
of a yellowifh white, with a very narrow skin
-over the upper part in which the noftrils are placed.
The upper part of the mandible is moderately hooked,
and the edges on the fides are waved. The feathers
^11 round the bill are blue, and extend a little way
over the crown. The fides of the head, where the
eyes are placed, and the hinder part of the head, are
green. Round the hinder part of the neck there is a
yellow ring, below which the neck is green all round.
The back, rump, and upper fides of the v^Hfngs and
tail, are all of a fine green colour. The breaft is of a
fine reddilh orange colour, and the belly below it,
with the under fides of the wings, are of a dark green,
with a little mixture of red. The thighs, lower belly,
^nd covert feathers under the tail, arc yellow inter-

fperfed

70 THE NATURAL HISTORY

fperfed with green. The under fides of the tail fea-
thers are of a dirty yellow ; and the fmall feathers oh
the ridge near the. joints on the infjde of the wings are
yellow. The covert feathers that fucceed them arc
red, and the infide of all the quills have their tips and
bottoms ofadufky colour ; the inner webs of the long-
■cr quills being yellow in the intermediate fpace, and
thofe of the ihorter quills next the body red. The
legs, feet, and claws are of a dufky or blackiih colour^
and their make and pofition are like thofe of other
■birds of this kind. It was brought from the Eafi-In-
dies^ and is a very beautiful bird.

The LORY PARROKEET is eight inches in
length, and has a bill of a bright orange ; but the iris
of the eyes is of a reddifh orange ; and there is a bare
afn-coloui-ed fkin round the eyes. The crown of the
head is covered with dark feathers with a fine blue
glofs, and behind them there is a crcfcent of fcailet,
with the horns pointing towards the eyes. The ears are
covered with plats of dark blue feathers, behind which
•they are yellow. The fides of the head below the eyes
as well as the throat and the bread, are covered with
fcarlet ; but the feathers on the breaft arc tipped with
a blackiih green. The hinder part of the neck, the
back, wings, and whole under fide of the body, arc
green, except fome mixture of yellow. The feathers
on the middle of the back, and fides of the belly, arc
aJfo tipped with yellow. Some of the quills of the
wings are edged wdth yellow, as well as thofe of the
baftard wing; but the remainder of the wing is en-
tirely green, as are alfo the upper fide of the tail and
its coverts. The feathers are long on the middle, and
ihorten gradually towr.rds the fides. The, tail feathers
on their under fides are red at the bottoms, and of a
ycllowifh green at the tips. The legs, feet and claws
axe of a dark afh-colour. This is an Eaji-lndian
bird.

The LoNG-TAi.LED Green PARROKEET Is
about the fize of a large Thrufh, and has a longer tail
tl^n ordinary in proportion to its bulk. The bill i^
of a flefli-calour, and the iris of the eyes are reddi/h
outwardly, but inclining to afh-colour next the pupil.

The

O F B I R D S. 71

^^Theeyes are furrounded witha bare fiefli-coloured skin,
and the whole plumage is green, with variety of fliades
inclining to other colours. It is a WeJ]-hniiaii bird.

The Red and Blue-head£d PARROKEET is of
the long-tailed kind, and the bill has angles on die
edges of the upper chap. The bill itfelf is whitifli
above, and has darker ihades below. The eyes have
2. yvfllovv or orange iris, and are furrounded with a bare
orange skin. The forehead, from the bill to the mid-
dle of the crown, is red ; but the remainder back-
wards is of a fine blue, which foftens into green on
the hinder part of the head. Tjie quills of the wings,
except a it^' next the back, are tipped Vv'ith a pretty-
deep blue on their outer webs ; but the infides of the
quills nre of a dark alh. The under fide of the tail is
of a dutky green, and all the other parts are green ex-
cept the legs and feet, v/hich are of a whitifh aih-co-
lour, inclining to a flelh. This is .1 l-f eft -Indian bird,
and will fpeak a few words diftinctiy.

The Brown-heahed PARROiCEET has an afn-
coloured bill, and the noftrils are placed in an afh-co-
ioured skin, at the bafe. The eyes have an iris of a
yellowifh hazel colour, and are furrounded with a bare
;Jh-colGured skin. Acrofs the middle of the crown of
the head is a darklih blue bar, half an inch in breadth,
ru.nning from eye to eye. The feathers on the fore-
3iead, the fides of tlie head beneath the eyes, the throat,
and fore fide of the neck, are all of a dusky brown
<:olour ; but the hinder part of the head and neck, the
back, and upper fides of tlie wings and taii, are of^
full pleafant green. The tips of the greater quills are
blue abov« and dus^ky beneath. The ridges of the
wings above their joints, and the inner coverts, are of
a yellowifh green ; and the breall, belly, thighs, and
covert feathers under the tail, are of a light yellowifh
^Teen The legs and feet are of a pale brownilh fielh-
eOioun. This is a Wejl-Indian bird.
^. The RosE-HEADED Ring PARROKEET is teR-
•jjiiches in length, ik)m the bill to the end cf the tail,
whereof the tail is iiVe inches and a half. The upper
;tiandibk (jf the bill is hooked at the point, angled on
iki fides, and is jk>f a buff-colour. The lower inandible

. is

72 THE NATURAL HISTORY

is of a dusky or blackifh colour, and there is a narrow-
dusky skin, which falls over the bafe of the upper part
of the bill, in which the noftrils are placed. The fore
part of the head, and round the eyes, is of a reddiih
rofe colour, wliich on the back part of the head gra-
dually becomes blue. The feathers below the bill are
black for the fpace of an inch ; from which, on each
fide, a black line extends backwards, and going round
the neck, divides the head from the body, which,
with the wings, is wholly green, but darker on the
upper fide, for the under is lighter, and inclining to
yellow. On the upper part of the wing, fome of the
fmalier covert feathers are of a dusky red colour, and
form a large fpot. The inner coverts of the wings are of
a pale yellow green ; and the infide of the quills are
dusky. Some of the outer webs of the quills are of a
lightilli yellow green ; and the tail is compofed of blue
feathers ending in points. Thofe in the middle are
pretty long, and its under fide is of a dusky yellow
colour. The legs, feet, and claws, are of an afh-co-
lour, and its toes Hand as in others of the Parrot kind, '
This curious bird was brought ixom. Bengal in the Bad-
Indies.

The Yellow-faced PARROKEET is nine inches
and a half in length, of which the tail alone is almoil
fix. It is a brisk lively bird, and is capable of being
taught to fpeak. The bill is of an afh-colour, remark-
ably hooked, and angled or waved on the edges ;
the skin in which the noftrils are placed is of the fame
colour. The iris of the eye is of an orange colour,
and there is a bare fpace of a whiiifh skin which en-
compafles the eye. The bafe of the bill all round,
and the fides of the head about the eyes, are covered
with yellow or orange-coloured feathers, deeper or
redder next the bill, and of a lighter yellow the farther
they are backward from it. The middle of the crown
of the head, the hinder part of the neck, the back,
wings, rump, and tail, are all of a full grafs green co-
lour, except the greater quills of the wings, and a few
of their coverts, which are edged on their outer webs
with blue. The fore-part of the neck, the breaft,
belly, thighs, and covert feathers beneath the tail,

ve

O F B I R D S. 7j

are of a lighter and yellowifh green. The lower pait
of the belly is quite yellow, and the inner fides of the
quills, and the under fide of the tail, are of a dulky
greenilh colour. The legs and feet are of an afh- co-
lour, and formed after the ufual manner. It was
brought from the Weft -Indies.

The Golden-crowned PARROKEET, has a
black bill, and the upper mandible is hooked at the
point, having angles on the fides. The narrow fkin at
the bafe of the upper mandible is of a bluiih flefh colour,
and in it the noftrils are placed . Round the eye is a fkin of
the fame colour, without feathers ; and the iris of the eye,
and a plat of leathers from the upper part of the bill,
to the middle of the crown of the head, is of a bright
orange colour. The rell: of the head, the neck, back,
upper fides of the wings and tail are of a full darkifh
green colour. The throat is of a yellowifh green,
tindured with a reddifh brown ; and the breaft, belly,
iides under the wings, fides, and covert feathers under
the tail, are of a light yellowifh green. A few of the
quills, between the longeil and fhortefl next the body,
are blue on the outfide, and thofe on the firfl row of
the covert feathers, which fall on thefe blue quills, are alfo
blue, and together form a bar of blue down the
wings. The infide of the wings, and the under fide of
the tail, are of a pickled olive colour. The legs and
feet are of a reddifh fiefh-colour, and fhaped like others
of the Parrot kind. The fize is rather bigger than a
Black-Bird, and the tail alone is three inches and a
half long. It is fuppofed to be a native o{ Brafil.

The Least Green and Blue PARROKEET is
not much more than three inches and a half in length.
The bill and the fkin at its bafe, wherein the noftrils
are placed, are of a gold colour ; and the upper man-
dible is hooked and waved on the edges. The fkin
round the eyes, the legs, feet and claws, are of a gold
I :■ orange colour ; and the form of the bill and feet
new it to be perfectly of the Parrot kind. The head,
; cck, back, and whole under fide, are of a full grafs
green, except the firfl row of the covfrt feathers above
I the quills, which is of a fine deep blue. The outer
edc^es of the quills, are of a light yellowifh green, and
■V o L. If. E the

74 THE NATURAL HI.STORY

the lower pait of the back, and covert feathers of the
upper part of the tail, are of a sky blue colour. The
infides of the wings are of a greeniih alh-colour, hav-
ing a few fine blue feathers mixed with the lefl'er covert
feathers round the bend or joint of the wing. The
tail is green, bright above, and fainter on the under
fidje. There is no certain account from whence this
bird was brought.

The Little Red- winged PARROKEET, is
about eight inches in length, of which the tail is four
"and a half. The bill is like thofe of other Parrots,
and of a liglit fiefh-colour. The iris of the eye is of
•fo dark a hazel colour that it appears almoll blacky
.and the eye is placed in a plat of bare skin of a whitilh
colour. Immediately beneatli the bill there is a little
fine i'pot of red or fcarlet feathers. The remainder of
the head, and neck, is of a full grafs green colour, as
well as the back, rump, and tail. The great quills
are of a dark green, and all the covert feathers of the
.wings are reddiih, except the fmaller feathers round the
ridges of the wings, which are green. The breaft,
belly, thighs, and covert feathers beneath the tail, are
of a lighter green, and more inclined to yellow than
thoie on the upper fide of the body. The legs p.nd
feet are of a light fleih-colour, and the toes are dif-
pofed as in other Parrots. It is a native of the Eaji-
Indies.

The Little Red-headed PARROKEET, or
GUINEA SPARROW, is about five inches in length,
and the tail is fhort, v.'ith feathers of an equal length.
The bill is of an orange colour, hooked at the point
of the upper mandible ; but there are no angles at the
edges. The noftrils are between the feathers of the
forehead and the bill, which is encompaffed all round,
above and below, with bright red or fcarlet feathers,
that take up all the fore part of the head, w;hich may
be termed the face. The eyes are entirely black, and are
furrounded with narrow fpaces of bare skin, of a light
afh-colour. The hinder part of the head, neck, back,
and upper fides of the wings, are of a fine green ; and
the throat, breaft, belly, and covert feathers under the
tall, arc of a lighter green, with a yellowifli call. The

infides

O F B I R D S. 7j

inndes of the quills of the wings are of a dark afh -co-
lour, as are the tips outwardly. The lefTer covert fea-
thers within the wings are black, and the ridge of the
wing about the joint is blue. The covert feathers on
the upper fide of the tail are green, and the rump is
covered with fine blue feathers. The two middle fea-
thers of the tail are alfo green ; and the remaining,
which are five on each fide, are near the bottoms or
roots green, which is fucceeded with a tranfverfe bar of
a fcariet colour ; after that a narrov/er, which is quite
black ; and laft of all the tips of the feathers are green.
The covert feathers of the tail, above and beneath, are
fo long, that the colours of the tail are not to be (ecn
uniefs it be a little fpread. The legs, feet, and clawii
are of a dusky colour, like thofe of other Parrokcets,
It is a native of Guinea in Africa^ and is pretty weU
known here in Ev gland.

The TUI APUTEJUBA, is of the iize of a fwal-
low, and a native of Brofil. It is aU over green, ex-
cept the bill, which is black, and a yellow circle about
the eyes. There is alio a large fpot on the head, of
an orange colour. There is another of the fame mag-
nitude, and of the fame country, that is all over
gi*een, except the bill, which is black.

The TUITIRICA is the fame colour with the for-
mer, but the green is deeper on the bacj^ and wing.;,
and paler in other parts. The bill is of a fieih-colour,
and the feet are bluiih. This bird is eafiiy tamed,
and will learn to talk. There is another of the fame
colour as the laft but one ; but the tail is fhorter, and
it is of the fize of a Starling.

The JENDAYA is of t£e fize of a Black-BL-d, and
has a black bill and legs. The iris of the eye is of a
gold colour, and the head, neck, and breait are yel-
low ; and the back, wings, and tail are green., with
amixtute of fea colour.

The TUIETE is of the fize of a Lark, and the
whole body and tail are of a faint green : hut the be-
ginning of the wings are of a line blue. The edges
of all the wing feathers are likewife blue, and on the
back, near the root of the tail, there is a blue fpct.
The bill is of a flefli-colour.

E 2 Tie

-jf, THE NATURAL HISTORY

The TLTP ARA is of the bignefs of a Lark, and is
all over of a light green, as the former. The bill is
alfo of a flefh-colour, and the legs are grey ; but the
tail is fhorter. It differs in the fpot on the forehead,
which in this is like a half moon, of a reddilh co-
lour.

The AN AC A is of the bignefs of a Lark, with a
dusky bill, and on the top of the head there are fea-
thers of a liver colour, but about the eyes brown.
The throat is of an afh-colour, and the upper part of
the neck and fides green. The belly is of a brownifh
red, and the back green, with a faint brown fpot,
which is the fame colour as the tail. At the begin-
ning of the wings, there is a fpot or border of a blood
red; the reft of the wings is green, and on the ex-
tremities they are fe a green. The legs on the upper
part are covered with green feathers ; but below they
are afh-coloured, with blackilh claws.

AN I is z.noth.e.v,-Brafilian bird of the Parrokeet kind,
of the fize of a Thrufh, with a long blackifh bill,
which is a little crooked. The feathers are of a deep
grey,., with a fea green and ledpurplifh caft; the large
feathers of the wings arc of a fine bright blue, and the
belly, fides, and the part of the head above the eyes,
are ci a curious yellow. The tail, which is veiy
long, and of a deep grey inclining to black, is varie-
gated in fome places, with green and red, wirh a rich
iLining giofs. This bird delights in mountainous
places, and feeds upon caterpillars, flies, and bee-
tles.

The OyilUBATUI is of tne fize of the Tuipara,
and is yellow all over, except the extremities of the
wings, which are of a dark green. The bill is grey,
and the legs of a carnation or flefh-colour.

Tnere is another PARROKEET, of the flze of a
fmall Thrufh, which is black all over the body, bill,
eyes and feet. It carries its tail ered, which is fix in-
ches long, the bill is bro:id, and about an inch long:
The lower mandible is almoft llrait, but the upper
is of the fhape of a half moon, and flat. The feetand
legs are like thofe of Parrots, and it is very common in

th^

OF BIRDS, 77

the woods. Thefe lall are all natives o{ Brafily and

defcribed by Marcgra<ve.

"T^r^rc" oblerves, that the Parrokeets of the Wejl-
Indian illands are generally green, and near as large as
Magpies, and are always chattering. They fly together in
flocks, and perch upon trees thatarethefulleft of leaves,
as well as of the deepeil green ; infoniuch that they
can hardly be perceived while they are fitting on the
branches. When they are many of them together,
they make a noife almoil loud enough to deafen pafTen-
gers; and if they hear any perfon talk aloud, they will-,
make a ftill greater noife, as if they were determined not
to be outdone. They feed upon the fame things as
Parrots, but the flelh is much more delicate. They
learn to fmg, talk, whillle, and counterfeit the cries
of all forts of animals. Several voyagers afiirm, that
that the Parrots on the coall of Chili in South America
are-fo numerous, that the flocks of. them in the air look
like clouds ; and that they make fuch a hideous noife
that nothing can compare to them.

G H A P, XIV.

CyBiRDS woith a fir alter lilly that are 7iot ahle to fly, on
account of the gre/st.bulk^m/s of their bodies, ar:d Jhort^
nefi of their nMivgs.

THE OaTRICH has the largeft body of all
other birds, except the Emu, .which though
i^ot io tall, is of equal bulk., It is feven feet in height,
irom the top of the head to xsiq ground; and froni
the back to the ■ fame place, it is about four feet ; and
confequently the neck to the top of the head mull; h^
threQ feet long. From the tx>p of the head to the rump,'
when the neck is ftretched out in a right line, it is fix
feet long, and the tail is about a foot. One of the
wings without the feathers, is a foot and a half, and
being ftretched out with the feathers, is three feet.

The Plumage is much thje fame in all OUriches, that

is generally black and white, tho' Ibme of them are grey,

E3 The

78 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The greateft feathers are at the extremities of the
wiii^s and tail, and the largefl arc generally white.
The next row is black and wliite ; and of the fmall
feathers on the back and belly, fome are white, and
others black. There are no feathers on the fides, nor
yet on the thighs, nor under the wing?. The lower
part of the neck, about half way, is covered with ftill
iir.aller feathers than thofe on the belly, and back ;
and of thefe likewife, fbme are black, and others
white.

. All thefe feathers are of the fame kind, and pecu-
liar to the Ostrich ; for other birds havefeveral forts,
fome of which are left and downy, and others hard
and fircng. Oihich-feathers are almoft all as foft as
down ; inlomuch, that tiiey are of no ufe for flying ;
nor yet are they a proper defeiice againft external in-
juries. The wing feathers of other birds have the
webs broader on one fide than the other ; but thofe
of the Oftrich have their fhaft exadly in the middle.
The upper part of the neck and head are covered with
veiy fine, clear, white hair, that fhine like the briilles
of a hog, and in fome places there are fmall tufts of
it, confiiHng of about twelve hairs, and a twelfth part
of an inch in length. All the hairs of a fmgle tuft
have but one root, which is a fmall tube, about the
thicknefs of a little pin.

At the end of each wing there is a kind of a fpur,
almoft like the quill of a Porcupine. They are an inch
long, and about an eighth of an inch thick at the bafe.
They are hollow, and of a horny fubftance. There
are two on each wing, the largeft of which is at the
extremity of the bone of the wing, and the other a
loot lower. The neck feems to be more flender in
proportion to that of other birds, becaufe it is not fur-
nifhed with feathers. The Ikin in this part is of a
livid fle/h colour, which fome improperly would have
to be blue. The bill is fhort and pointed, and is two
inches and a half broad at the beginning; and the
external form of the eye is like that oi' a man. The
upper eye lid if; r.dornedwith cye-la(hes, longer than on
the lid below. Tlie tongue is fmall, verj' iliort, and
<.ompofed of cartilages, ligament*:, and membranes,

inter-

O F B I R D b^ 79

futermlxed with fleihy fibres. In fome it is about an
inch long, and very tldck near the throat : in others it is
but half an inch, being a little forked at the end.
The thighs are very ilefliy and large ; and they are co-
vered with a white fkin, or rather a little reddifh,
and wrinkled in die manner of a net, whofe mefhes
will admit the end of the finger. Some have very fmall
feathers here and there on the thighs ; and others again,
have neither feathers nor wrinkles. What are called
the legs of birds, but are more properly the beginning
of the feet are covered before with large fcales. The
end of the foot is cloven, and has only two very large
tees, which like the leg are covered with fcales. Thefe
toes are unequal, and the largeft, which is inwards, i^J
feven inches, including the claw that is three-fourths
of an inch in length, and almoft as broad. The other
toe is but four inches long, and is without a claw.

At the top of the breaft, under the fidn, the fat is
two inches thick, and on the fore part of the belly it is
as hard as fuet, and about two inches and a half thick
in fome places. The gizzard has two cavities on the
infide, which are divided by an eminence of mufculous
fiefh, v/hich about the middle is two inches thicker
than any where elfe. Outwardly it has the fhape of
the llomach of a man, and is fifteen inches long, and
eight broad. The gizzards of Oftriches, that have been
opened in Europe, have been found full of hay, graft,
barley, beans, bones, and flones, fome of which were as
large as a pullet's egg. The guts are of a different lengthy
in different Oftriches ; for in one they v,'ere fifty feet,
in another forty-two, in a third thirty-three, and in a -
fourth twenty-nine, as the academifts of Paris affure
us. The heart is almoft round, being fix inches long,
from the bafis to the point, and five broad j and the
auricles are fmall, and the ventricles large.

An Ostrich is the moft greedy bird that is known,
for it will devour leather, grafs, bread, hair, or any-
thing elfe that is given him j however he does not di-
geft iron and ftones as fome have pretended, but voids
them whole. In Africa there are feen fuch droves of
them in the defarts, that fome at a diftancc have taken
them for an army of horfe ; there are alfo great num-
E 4 bcrs

So THE NATURAL HISTORY
bers of them in Arabia, and in America ; but thefe laft
are of a difierent kind. They ky very large eggs, they
being above five inches in diameter, and lome of them
v;ill weigh fifteen pounds. They have a very hard
faell, and it has been commonly faid, that they are laid
in the fund, and hatched only by the heat of the fun ;
but this is a miftake, for Kolhen wl\o had feen great
numbers of thtm at the Cape of Good Hope, affirms
they fit on their eggs like other birds, and that the
male and female take it by turns, as he had fre-
quent opportunities of obfei-ving. Some authors likewife
have told us, that Oftriches never come near their young
after they are out of their fhell ; but this likewife is a
mii!ake, as Kdben afTures us ; for the young ones are
Jior able even to walk for feveral days after they are
hatched, during which time the old ones bring them
grafs and are very careful in defending them from
any danger ; infomuch that it is not fafe for any perfon
to come near them at that time. Pliny aiTures us, that
they made great ufe of the feathers in his time to adorn
the helmets and caps of the foldiers ; and this cuftom
continues to this day. In fome countries they are made
into fans for the ladies, and with us they ferve to adorn
the tops of hearfes.

The Ostrich is one of the largeft birds in the
world, for many travellers affirm, they have feen tliofe
that were as tall as a man on horfe-back ; but thofe of
that fize have been feldom, or never feen in England ;
for the talleft have been only feven feet, as was obferved
above. The head and bill fomewhat refemble thofe
of a duck, and the neck may be likened to that of a
fwan, though it is much longer. But in general the
Oflrich may be faid to hold the fame place among birds,
as the Camel does among beafts, and their natural
places of abode are the fame. The wings of an Of-
trich are very ftrong ; but too fhort to enable him ta
rife from the ground ; however they ferve him like
fails, or oars to repel the air, and enable him to run
very fwiftly. He has the legs and thighs of a Hern,
that is in proportion to his bulk j for there is a pro-
digious difference in their iize.

The

O F B I R D S. Si

The flelh of an Oftrich is of no ufe, as an aliment,
at leaft in the moll civilized parts of the world ; but
we are told that the inhabitants of the Defarts of A-
frica are very fond of it, and eat Qftriches as we do
^^^{q and ducks, which, perhaps, may be more owing
to neceffity than choice ; for it muft needs be very hard
of digeftion. However, the brains of Oftriches have
been formerly accounted a great delicacy; infomuch,
that Heliogabalus, Emperor of Romey greatly noted for
his luxury, one day made a feaft, wherein the heads- of
fix hundred Oftriches were ferved up for the fake of
the brains. The eggs are faid to be well tafted, and ex-
tremely nourilhing ; but they are eaten fo feldom, on
the account of their fcarcity, tliat there are no proper
judges of them in thefe parts of the world. The fat
is faid to be emolient and refolvent, and to ftrengthen
the nerv^ous parts ; fome fay it foftens fwellings of th^
fpleen, and ufed as a liniment, eafes the pain of fits
of the gravel.

Mr, Randhy obferves in his dilTedtion of an Oftrich,
that it had two diftinft ventricles or ftomachs, contrary
to the obfervation of the Royal Academy of Paris.
The firft, which is the lowermoft in its natural fituation,
is called by the members of the faid accademy the
trav/, and they fuppofed it to be only a dilatation of
the gullet ; but this was confiderably larger than the
fecond and uppermoft, which v/as mufcular ; it ha4
alfo ftrong mufcular fibres, as well circular as longi^
tudinal ; the duodenum proceeds immediately from the
fecond ventricle.

Both ventricles were diftended beyond their ufual form,
and filled up with a large quantity of ftones, bones,
fticks, grain and other food ; it had probably hindered
the digefcioi), and killed the animal. T'he cawl partly
covered the firft- ventricle, but bore no proportion to
the fize of the animal. The fpleen v/as connecled to
liie right fide of the fecond ventricle, and v/as very
fmall, confidering the bulk of the Oftrich. The glands
of the mefentery were hardly vifible ; but the veins
and arteries were plain to be feen.

The blind g:ats in this fubje<fl, v/ere near three feet
in length, and one inch and two-thirds in diameter;
E 5 they

22 THE NATtJR A L HISTORY
they were faftened to the iiium, and not to the colon>
as the academics aflert. The kidneys were eight in-
ches long, and two broad, and difter from thofe of
other birds, in not being divided into feveral lobes.
The fubilance was foft, unequal, and feemed to be com-
pofed of a great number of glands. The immediate
covering was a very thin membrane, over which there
\^-as one more ilrong and thick ; the colour was a lively
reddilh brown. The academifls affirm, that the two
ureters did not lie upon the furface of the kidneys, as in
other birds, but were contained in the fubilance ; where-
as Mr. RauSy found they did lie upon the furface, and
by the different branches coming from all parts of the
kidney, entered it about its middle, and there formed
a very large pelvis.

»The liver was in the fame cavity with the heart, one
half of which it almoft covered ; and there was no gall
bladder, but there was a biliary du(ft inferted into the
duodenum, about two inches below the pylorus, which
i'eemed to have an immediate communication with the
vena port^e, becaufe by blowing into it this latter was alfo
diflended. The heart and liver were feparated from the
inteftines by a membranous diaphragm. Both the heart
and liver where fufpended by one common mediaftinum,
by the help of its feveral membranes, and eight ftrong
mufclcs on each fide, arifmg from the upper part of the
ribs, going from thence over the lungs, and ending in
a very ftrong tendinous membrane, which is inferted
into the fpine of the back.

The lungs lay under the diaphragm, and its mufcles
in a deep cavity, formed by the five true ribs ; they
were pretty thick about the middle, and exceeding thin
and iharp towards the extremities.

The American OSTRICH, is fomewhat lefs than
the former, which is a native of Africa^ and are more
like an Emu, or Cassowary. They have four toe's
on their feet, three before, and one behind. Their
plumage confirts of grey feathers, expanded on the back,
as far as the tail. The head is like that of a Goofe, and
they are no more able to fiy than the former. Sir John
h^arboroi'gb fays, they are exceeding fhy, and fo fwifi,
that a greyhound can hardly overtake them j that they

feed

OF BIRDS. S3

feed upon grafs, are of a gray colour, and larger than
a great Turkey-cock in England.

The CASSOWARY, or EMU, is a bird, which
next to the Oftrich is the largeft and heavieft of any we
know. It is five ktt and a half long, from the point
of the bill, to the extremity of the claws. The legs
are two feet and a half high, from the belly to the end
of the claws. The head and neck together are a foot
and a half, and the largeft toe, including the claw, is
five inches long. The claw alone of the leafl toe, is
three inches and a half in length. The wing is fo
fmall, that it does not appear, it being hid under the
feathers of the back.

All the feathers are of the fame kind, contrary to
what are feen in birds that fly ; where there are fea-
thers that ferve for flight, and others to cover the fkin.
The feathers in this bird are generally double, having
two long tubes or Ihafts proceeding from another ve|-y
ihort one, which is faftcned to tlie ikin. Thofe that
are double, are always of an unequal length ; for fome
are fourteen inches long, particularly on the rump. The
beards that adorn the item or Ihaft, are from about half
way to the end very long, and as thick as a horfe-hair ;
without being fubdivided into fibres. The flem or
fhaft is flat, Ihining, black, and knotted below ; and
from each knot, there proceeds a beard : likewife, the
beards at the end. of the large feathers are perfeftly
black, and towards the root c^f a gray tawny colour i
fhorter, more foft, and throwing out fine fibres like
down ; fo that there is nothing appears, except the
beards, which are hard and black, becaufe the other
part compofed of down is quite covered. There ai-e
feathers on the head and neck, but they are fo fhort
and tliialy fown, that their fhin appears naked, except
towards the hind part of the head, where they are a
little longer. The feathers which adorn the rump are
extremely thick, but do not difter in other refpefts
from the reft, excepting tiieir being^ longer.

The wings when they are deprived ®f their feathers,
are but three inches long, and the feathers are like
thofe on the other parts of the body. The ends of the
wings are adorned with five prickles of diilerent lengths

and

&4 THE NATURALHISTORY
ar.d thitknefs, which bend like a bow ; and they are hol-
low from the roots to the very points, only they have a
pirh on the inlide, as in the young feathers of other birds.
The longell of thefe prickles is eleven inches, and a
quarter of an inch in diameter at the root, being a lit-
tle thicker there than at the extremity ; but the points
feem to be broken off.

The head appears to be fraall, like that of an Os-
trich, becaufe there are no feathers on it; and on
the top there is a creil three inches high, like to that
of a helmet ; but it does not cover all the top of the
head ; for it begins a little beyond the middle of the
crov/n, and ends at the beginning of the bill. It is
of diftereht colours, for it is blackiih before and be-
hind, and on the fides it is of the colour of bees-wax.
It is not above a quarter of an inch thick at the top,
but at the bafe it is an inch. Its fubftance is very hard,
and of the nature of horn, confilling of feveral plates,
like the horns of an ox.

That part of the bill which anfwers to the upper jaw,
in other animals, is very hard at the edges above ; arid
the {pace between, on each fide, is furnifhed with a
membrane, in v/hich are holes for the noilrils, near the
extremity of the bill, which extremity is like that of a
Turkey-cock. The end of the lower mandible is
Aightly dentated, and the whole is of a grayiih brown, .
except a green fpot on each fide.

There is an internal eye-lid or ilun, which lies to-
ward'; the great cornei of tlife eye, and the lower eye-
lid, v/hich is the largeft, is faniflied with plenty of
l)iack hairs. At the bottom of the upper eye-lid, there
is a row of fmall hairs, and above there is another -row
of black hairs, v/hich look pretty much like an eye-
Liow. The hole of the ear is very large and open,
being only covered with fmall black feathers The fides
of the head, about the eye and ear are blue, except
the middle of th^ lower eye-lid which is white. The
nech is of* a violet colour, inclining to that of flate ;
•uxA behind it is red in feveral places ; but chiefly about
tht middle. Tliefe red fpots are a little higher tlian
the reft, on account of the wrinkles that run obliquely
along tlie neck. About the middle of the neck before,
■4X fh<; rife of tlie large feathers, there are two proceffes,

formed

OF BIRDS. 85

formed by the ikin, which are red and like the wattles
of a Ken, They are an inch an a half long, and three
quarters of an inch broad, being round at the end.
Their colour is like that of the rell of the neck, partly
red, and partly blue.

The fcin which covers the fore part of the breaft,
on which this bird leans and refts, is hard, callous, and
without featliers. The thighs and legs are covered with
feathers, and are extremely thick, ftrong, flrait, and
covered with fcales of feveral fhapes ; but the legs are
thicker a little above the foot, than in any other place.
The toes are likev,'ife covered with fcales, and are but
three in number ; for that which Ihould be behind is
wanting. The claws are of a hard folid fubftance,
black without, and white within.

The guts are four feet eight inches long, and two
in diameter, being all of the fame fize ; but there are
two blind guts, about three inches long. The reft
of the vifcera have nothing Very remarkable, except
the heart, which is very fmall, being but an inch and a
half long, and an inch broad at the bafe. The tongue
is an inch in length, and two-thirds of an inch broad,
and dentated all round like the comb of a Cock. The
globe of the eye is very large, being an inch and a
half in diameter, and the iris is of the colour of a
topaz, much like that of a Lion. It is a native of the
Eaft Indies,

'The FLYING OSTRICH of Senegal, is of the
fize of a Turkey-cock, and has legs and neck like the
true Oftrich, but the head is large and round, with a
thick, lliort, ftrong, bill. The feathers are brown and
wliite, and the wings large and ftrong ; however, it
cannot rife without difficulty ; but when it is up, it flies
very high, and a long while together. The thighs are
covered with feathers, which feem to be glevved to the
ikin ; the feet are very large, divided into tliree toes,
armed with ftrong claws. It lives upon fruits, and
the flefti is a great delicacy. This bird is improperly
called an Ostrich.

The DODO, by fome called the DRONTE, is of
a fize between an Oftrich and a Turkey-Cock ;
and with regard to its rump, wings, and feathers, it
is not unlike an African Oftrich ; but its legs are

fo

86 THE NATURAL HISTORY

fo fliort, it looks like a pigmy when among them. It
has a large head, covered with a membrane, refembling
a hood or cawl, great black eyes, a bending prominent
fat neck, a bill of an extraordinary length, and ftrong;
not flat and broad, but thick, and of a bluifh white,
fharp at the end, and crooked. Its body is fat and
round, covered with foft gray feathers, much like thofe
of an Ofb-ich ; and on each fide, inftead of a large
wing feathers, or quills, it has fmall foft feathered
\\ings of a yellowifh afh-colour. The tail confifts of fiv'e
fmall curled feathers of the fame colour, and the legs
are yellow and fhort, with four long ftrong toes. It
is a flow paced fimple bird, and eafily taken. The
flefh is good and wholefome, and three or four Dodos
are enough to dine one hundred failors. It fwaliows
ftones, and other hard fubftances, by which it appears
to be of the Oft rich kind. It is a native of the E^Ji-
JnMes, and is particularly found in the ifland of Maurice.

CHAP. XV.
Of Birds of the Crow kind,

THE Common CARRION-CROW, in La~
tin CoKviXy is all over black. It weighs about
twenty- two ounces, and its length from the tip of the
bill to the end of the cl.iv/s, is eighteen inches and a
half, and to the end of the tail nineteen inches. The
breadth when the wings are extended, is twenty-fix
inches. It delights to feed upon carrion, and the car-
caffes of dead animals when they begin to putrify. It
fonietimes kills little birds, and will alfofeed upon grain
and all forts of infeds. It build its neft on very high
trees, and lays four or five eggs at a time. They have
a very quick fmcll, infomuch tliat it is difficult to fhoot
them It roofts upon trees, and neither rurs nor leaps,
but walk3, and fome fay it is capable of being taught
to fpeak. The females only fit on the eggs, while the
males take care to fupply them with food.

The RAVEN, in Z^fi//« Corvus, is the largell bird

of this kind, and is all over black, with a ihining bluilh

z cait»

O F B I R D S. 8;

call. It weighs thirty-four ounces, and its length from
the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, is twenty- fix
inches, and its breadth when the wings are fpread, is
forty-eight inches. The hill is long, thick, iharp, and
very black, and the upper part is a little hooked, but
the lower is Ilrait. The tongue is broad, cloven at
the tip, rough and black underneath ; and the pupil
of the eye is furrounded, as it were, with a double cir-
cle, of which the outermoft is of a whitifh afh-colour,
and the innermoft of a brownifh alh-colcur. The nof-
trils are covered with hairs that are a little llifF, and bend
downwards. The belly has a brownilh caft, and the
middle of the back is only fumifhed with down, be-
caufe the long feathers on the fhoulders cover the whole
back. There are twenty quill-feathere on each wing,
on which the firft is ftiorter than the fecond, the fecond
than the third, and the third than the fourth, v/hich is
longer than all the reft. The tail is nine inches long^,
and confifts of twelve feathers, the outermoft of which,
grow infenfibly fhorter than the innermoft. The claws
are crooked and large, efpecially thofe behind ; and the
cuter toe is ty'd to the middlemoft, almoft ais far as the
firft joint. The liver is divided into two lobes, and the
gall-bladder is large ; the guts are forty-three inches in
length, and the appendages which anfv/er to blind guts,
are an inch long. The throat is dilated under the
bill into a kind of a bag, in which this bird carries pro-
vifion for its young ; the ftomach is wrinkled on the m-
lide. It feeds not only upon the flefti of beafts, birds,
and fifti, but alfo upon fruits, and infefts. Likewife
it fets upon, kills and devours birds after the manner of
a Hawk. This bird is found almoft in all countries in
the world, for it can bear any fort of weather. They
build their nefts on high trees, and in old tov/ers, in the
beginning of March, and lay from four, to fix eggs of a
pale greenifti blue, fall of black fpots and lines. Svme
fay it will live forty or fifty years, or longer.

Some keep Ravens tame about their houfes ; but he
is naturally a great thief, for he will fteal fmall fiiver
veflels, and all fort of coin, and hide it in a hole. He
is bold, and will fometimes attack fowls in the court-
yard, and devour them. He flies ver)' heavily ; but to

recom-

^8 THE NATURAL HISTORY

recompenfe that has a very fine fmell, and will fcenl
carrion at a great diftance. Linnaeus obferves, that the
Snjuedes look upon Ravens as facred birds, and no one ever
attempts to kill them. In thefouthpart of-Sw^^ifw they
fly to a great height, when the fky is ferene ; at which
time they have a very fingular cry that may be heard a
great way off. He has a very large throat, and can
cafily bring up the bones he has fwallovved. Ravens
commonly fly by pairs, and when they have got pof-
feilion of a wood, the crows dare not come near it.
We are told by Anderfon, that in the fmall iflands about
Iceland^ and chiefly thofe that are uninhabited, there
is an old couple of Ravens in each, which will not
fuffer any other bird to come near them ; and they will
even attack thofe of their own kind that want to fettle
there. Some affirm, there are white Ravens, which
is no great wonder, fince many Quadrupedes as well
as birds, grow white in fnowy countries.

Ravens contain a great deal of volatile fait and oil ;
but their fleih is not eaten on account of the bad fmell ;
however poor people in fome places, for want of better
food, will eat thofe that are young and tender. Some
pretend the brain is good for the Epilepfy and the
Gout, but we have not experiments fufhcient to efta-
blilh this opinion. Two or three eggs eaten are fai4
to be good for the bloody flux, and that the dung hung
to the neck in a fmall bag, cures coughs and the tooth-
ach : but this fcems very doubtful.

The ROOK is called in Latin Cor nix Frugi-
J.EGA, that is the Fruit-eating Crow. It weighs
fbout nineteen or twenty ounces, and its lengtlj,
firom the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, is
twenty-eight inches, to the end of the claws eighteen
inches, and its breadth, when the wings are iprcad?
is thirty-eight inches. The bill is two inches and a
half long, and is whitifh about the root ; which Mr.
Ray thinks is owing to their rooting in the earth with
their bills in fearch of food, by which they rub off the
feathers on that part. The feathers are black, with a
ihining bluiJh purple glols. Jt is a gregaiious fowl, Re-
lighting in company, for which rcafon many of them
build together on the tops of high trew, which are

called

O F B I R D S. 89

caHed a Rookery. It has no craw, or crop, but in-
Head thereof the gullet below the bill is dilated into
a kind of a bag, wherein it puts the food it brings to
feed its young. The eggs are like Crows, but lefs,
though the fpots are larger, and the male and femaie
fit thereon by turns. It is diftinguiihed from a crow
in haying the root of the bill, as far as the eyes, quite
bare of feathers, where the Ikin appears of a whitilli co-
lour as above ; in having a bill not quite fo black, and
in its being fomewhat larger; and laflly, in that it never
eats carrion or dead flefli. When Rooks build tlieir
nefts, one of the pair always watches while the other
brings materials, to prevent'its being deftroyed -by their
fellow Rooks, if both fhould be abfent at thef?ime
time ; for they would take the materials which v/ere
got together to help to build their own neils. The flelh of
very young ones is pretty good when the Ikins are taken.
oiF; and fome think it is not inferior to that of pigeons.

The RoYSTON CROW, or Ash-coloured
CROW, called by fome the Sea CROW, is in weight
about twenty-tv/o ounces ; and its length, from the tip
of the bill to the end of the tail, is twenty-two inches;
and its breadth, when the wings are fpread, is thirty-
nine inches. The tongue is broad, black, and a little
cloven, and the head and wings have a bluiili glofs.
The breaft, belly, back, and neck are of an alh oij
gray colour. In the fummer time it frequents high
EiUs, where it builds its neft ; and in the winter it de-
fcends into the plains, particularly the heaths near Roy^
Jion, Newomarkety and other parts of Cambridge/hire ; as
alfo in the biihoprick of Durham, about the mouth of
the river Teesy where it is common, efpecially in the
winter. In opening of the ftomach it was found fuU
of wheat, barley, and other grain.

The JACKDAW is lefs than a crow, and the hind-
part of the head, to the middle of the neck, is of a«
afh-colour : the breaft and belly are likewife fomewhat
of an alk-colour, but the reft of the body is black, with
a bluifh glofs. The head is pretty large, which Mr.
Ray takes to be a fign of its being a cunning, ingenious
bird. It weighs nine ounces and a half, and is ia
lengthy from the tip of the bill to the tn.^ of the tail,

thirteen

^c THE NATtJRAL HISTORV

thirteen inches and a half, and the breadth, when the
wings are fpread, is twentj-'-eight inches and a half.
The bill is art inch and a quarter long, and the tongue
is cloven at the end, but it ha:s no- craw or crop, and
yet the ftcmach is mafculoi^s. Tire length of the guts
is twenty-four inches. It lays five or Kx eggs, v/hichr
are lefs p?ler, and have fewer fpots than thofe of a crow.
They breed in England, and in many other Countries
of Europe, delighting to build their ncfts in old towers,
caflles, church-Ileeples, and ilone walls, efpecially if
they are ruinous or defolate. However, they will"
fometimes, but very rarely, build their neih upon
trees. It feeds upon nuts, fruits, feeds, and infeds ;
but their flefh is not thought good enough to eat.

The Purple JACKDAW, according to Catejby,
h> of a purple colour, with a black bill, and the tail'
longer than that of the common Jackdaw, with a fea-
ther in the middle, which is very long. The purple is
fo dark, that at a diftance this bird feems to be all over
black ; but the female or hen is brown.

The CORNISH CHOUGH, in Latin Coracias,
weighs about twelve or thirteen ounces, and is in length,
from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, feven-
teen inches, to the end of the claws fixteen inches,
and its breadth, when the wings are extended, is thir-
ty-three inches and a half Its cry is like that of a
Jackdaw, but more hoarfe, and it is of the fame fhape^
but almofl as large as a crow. Its bill, legs, and feet
are red ; but the feathers all over the body are black.
It is remarkable for the unnfual foftnefs of its voice
when it applies for meat to thofe who commonly feed
and fondle it ; and on the contrary it has a frightfirl
fhriek at the approach of any thing grange. It is
ufually kept about the houfes in Cornwall, where it
grows tame like Ravens or Magpies, and has all the
unluckinels of the latter, flealing and hiding money or
any fliining (hewy things that fall in its way. It is
ver)' apprehenfivc of danger when wild, and builds its
neft upon inacceflible cliiis, and in the middle of tiie
fleepeft rocks. When tamed it is very amufing, do-
cile, regular, and conftant to its hour of meals. It
goes early to rooft, and in bad weather is fond of a

flieltcr,

O F B I R D S. 61

fhclter, and is feldoms to be feen ; but when it is like
to be good weather, it gets to the tops of houfes, or
ilrats along the green hills, in a ftately manner. If
\^T.s thought by A!dro<vandas to be peculiar to the Alps ;
but k has been found in Cre^ey In}a7idy and Wales , as
well as Cornnvall.

The Indian RAVEN is found in the lUlucca
iflands, and particularly Banda, If refembles our
country Ravens in its bill and manner of walking, and
yet it will not feed upon flelh, but is fond of nutmegs,
of which it makes great havcck, to the detriment of the
owners. The head and neck are covered with beau-
tiful blackifh feathers, and the feet and claws are very
llrong : The flefh is very delicate.

The Horned Indian RAVEN, exceeds the com-
mon Raven in fize, and has a horn growing on the up-
per part of its bill, which is ihort, thick, and bends a
little upwards. The bill itfelf, according to- Aldro^oan-
dusj is twenty-eight inches long, and is a little crooked:
It has fpiral wrinkles, not unlike thofe at the bottom
of an ox's horn, which, as pretended, receives an ad-
ditional one every year, intbmuch that by that means
they can tell how old the bird is. The horn itfelf is
three or four inches broad near the root, and both that
and the bill are of a red colour. The breaft, and the
whole body is black, but the tail is greenifh, and the
head of a dark yellow, without feathers. Below the
neck there hangs a fort of a bag, not unlike that of
Turkey cocks. Thefe birds are looked upon as a
great raidty, even in the Eaji-Indiesy and they fell at a
very great price.

The Tufted RAVEN is a Mexican bird, called by
the natives Occolin, is of the fize of a Raven, but
differs from it in having a tuft on its head. The bilt
is likewife fhorter, and the body is variegated with
blue and gold-coloured feathers; but the wings are of
a bright purple, only the extremities of the large fea-
thers are black. It has great llrength in its feet, wings,
and claws.

The Wood RAVEN is a bird tliat frequents forefh,
defart mountains, inaccefTible rocks, and uninhabited
towers. It is of the fize of a common fowl, and wh^i

feen

92 THE NATURAL HISTORY
feen at a diftance appears to be quite black; but near»
efpecially in the fun-iliine, it is greenifii. There is a
tuft which falls behind the head, and the feet are long,
like thole of other fowls, with legs of a dark red co-
lour. The bill is reddifh and long, and very fit for
picking infefts out of the holes of trees, walls, and
rocks. It is fond of graihoppcrs, crickets, fmall
fifh, and frogs. It lays two or three eggs, flies very
high, and die fleili is excellent eating. It is called
in Lorrain Corneille de Mer, that is, the Sea
Crow

The East-Indian CROW has a yellow ftreak of
an uncommon form, that runs from the top of the head
to the eyes ; it is of the colour of a common pigeon,
and the lall quill-feathers of the wings are marked
with a red ftreak in the middle. There are two birds
of this kind, the one great, which has bright yellow
legs and bill ; the leiTer is red, mixed with a little
yellow.

La-wfon aJfHrms, that the flefh of the Carolina crows
is as good meat as a pigeon, for they never feed upoa
any carrion. They are a very great enemy to corn-
fields, and have nearly the cry, and build their nefla
like Rooks.

CHAP. XVI.
0/ Birds of the Pie kind.

TH E MAGPIE weighs ajjovit nine omices, and
is twelve inches in length, from the tip of die
bill to the end of the claws ; and to the end of the tajit
eighteen inches. The bill is an inch and a half long,
and is black, thick, and ilrong ; the upper chap is
crooked and pointed, the tongue forked and blackiih,
like that of a Jay. The fides of the cleft of the pa-
late are rough with hair, and the noftriis are round,
and covered with a fort of milky hair, that is beat^
backwards ; the iris of the eye is of a pale hazel co-
lour. 4Ad there is a yellow fpot on the twinkling mem-
brane;

O F B I R D S. 93

•brane ; the head, the neck, the breaft, the back, the
rump, and the lower belly are black ; but the lower
part of the back and the rump are greenilh ; and the
breaft -and fides are white, as alfo the feathers that
cover the firft joint of the wings. The wings are fmall
in proportion to the fize of the body ; and the tail,
and the large feathers of the wings, are adorned with
very beautiful colours, mixed with green, purple, and
blue ; but this is only on the external barbs or webs.
There are twenty feathers on each wing, of which
the firft is fhorter by half than the fecond, the fecond
than the third, and the third than the fourth ; which,
with the fifth, are the longeft of all : The firft eleven
feathers are white in the middle of the innermoft fide
of the fhaft ; but the external more largely, and the
internal lefs, for the white diminilhes infenlibly, and
terminates at the tenth feather in a fmall fpot. The
tail is compofed of twelve feathers, of a very fmgular
ftruAure, for the two in the middle are the longeft,
being nine inches in length ; thofe that follow next
are Ihorter by an inch ; and all the outermoft are fhort-
er than the innermoft, even to the laft, in the fame
proportion. The two middlemoft are greenifti be-
neath, and blue at the ends. The feet and claws are
black, and the laft joint of the outermoft is united to
that in the middle* The guts are twenty-four inches
long, and the appendages an inch and a half. The
fpleen is oblong, and the gizzard is not very thick ;
there is a gall-bladder, and likewife a crop.

A Magpie is one of thofe birds that will learn to
talk; and many of them will pronounce words very
diftinftiy, infomuch that if you did not fee them you
v/ould think a man was fpeaking. They build their
neftd in trees, with a great deal of art, for the outfwie
confifts of thorns, and is covered with them above
and below, leaving only a hole for their entrance.
They lay five or fix eggs, fometimes feven, but never
more, which are pale and Spotted, and they feed in the
fame manner as the Rlvens. They fall upon fpar-
rows and other fmall birds, and eat them ; fometimes
they will attack and kill a Black-bird.

They

94 THE NATURAL HISTORY

They are ihaped like Ravens, and might be mifta-
icen for a fmall fort o[" thole birds if they iiad no white
about them. Magpies become baid every year in
moulting-time, that is in AuguJ]^ whereas other birds
have their feathers grow again, in proportion as they
fall off. Linnaus places them among the crow kind,
though the feathers are quite different, for their tails
are \'ory long, and tlieir wings iliort. Some fay Mag-
pies will imitate the notes of other birds, which per-
haps may be the reafon why they were at firll kept in
cages. When they have more provifions than they
can eat at a time, they will carefully lay up the re-
mainder till they are hungry again. I'his bird is
common almoil every where, for they have many of
them in Si-vedetiy though there are none in Lapland.
They begin to pair u\ February^ and they lay their
eggs veiy early. Their nefls are very large, and ex-
pofed to e\€ry ones view, and they may be feen a great
way off. It is hard to diilingnilli the cock from the
iieri, the colours aie fo much alike; but the curious
affirm the tongue of the cock is blacker ; however thi»
mark is not infallible.

The fleih of a Magpie contains a great deal of oil,
and volatile ialt ; but it is never eaten, becaufe it is fo
hard and tough ; however they make broth of it in
fom.e places,, v/hich is faid to be very nourilhing ; and
the peafants in fome countries are very fond of thoie
that are young. Some ph) ncians recommend the flelli
againil the Epilepfy, madnefs, and hypocondriack me-
>ancholy ; and in fome difpenfatories there is a Magpie
water, whofe dofe is from an ounce to two in theft
difeafcs ; but we have much better medicines for this
purpofe.

The J A Y, in latin G R a c c u L u s , and Pica
Glandaria, weighs about feven ounces, and is in
length, from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail,
fourteen inches, and to the end of the claws twelve
inches ; likewife the breadth, when the wings are
fpread, is tv/enty-one inches and a half. The feathers
on the top of the head arc a mixture of white and black,
and the back is reddifli, with a bluifh call. But that
which difUnguilhes it from all otliei s of this kind, with

regard

J^^^J^,

^

Sa2/Su//inr/u

rr^nid*:fci

OF BIRD S. r)^

regard to. the colour, are the beautiful feathers at the
bale of the wings, crofled with delightful blue, white,
and black lines, which cover fifteen of the prime fea-
thers. The rump is white, the breaft and belly are of
3. kind of aili-colour, with a fmall mixture of red, and
the tail is of a beautiful black : They are often kept in
cages, and will learn to talk lika Magpies. They
build their nefts in .the thickell part of fhady trees, and
their eggs are of an alh-colour, fpeckled with dark-
.colouredfpots.

The ROLLER is the Garrulus Argentora-
TENS IS of Aldrcvandusy and is covered with beautiful
feathers. The breaft and belly are of a whitiih blue,
and the rump, and the leller covert feathers of tlie
wings, are tindured with a delightful blue. The
head is of a bluifh green, and the prime feathers of the
wings and tail are variegated with blue, black, and
white. This bird may be difunguillied from all others
by a fort of naked tubercles or warts near the eyes ; by
the fliape of its tail, whofe outer feathers on each fide
are longer than the reft, and by its toes, which are
cloven quite to the bottom.

The C H A T T E R E R of Carolina, is about fix
inclies and a half in length, from the tip of the bill
to the end of the tail. The bill is fhort, a little
arched on the top of the upper mandible, and of a
.bhickirti colour; and round its bate are finall black
feathers, which form a bar, reaching beyond the eyes.
This black bar is bordered with vvhite both above and
below the eyes ; and there are long feathers on the top
of the head, which it raifes into a creft, or lets fall at
pleafure. The head and neck are of a reddifh brown
or bay colour, and the breaft is almoft white. The
belly and thighs are of a pale yellow, and the covert
feathers beneath the tail are whitifti, and the back is
of a dark brown. The rump and covert feathers on
the upper fide of the tail, are of a light afh-colour.
The wings, on the upper fide are afh-coloured j lSut
the greater quills are darker than the other feathers,
though the edges of the outer webs are of a light a(h.
The three innermoft quills on each wing next the back,
have their inner webs white to the tips ; and feven or

: eight

96 THE NATURAL HISTORY

eight of the middle quills of each wing have fmall,
oblong fat fubftances hanging to their tips, which are
not unlike red fealing-wax in colour and confiftence.
The tail is of a dark alh-colour, and the tips of the
feathers of a fine golden yellow. The legs, feet, and
claws are black, and made after the ufual manner.
The hens of this fpecies are not fo bright coloured as
the cocks ; and they want the red dregs at the tips
of their wing feathers.

The NUT-HATCH or NUT-GOBBER, is a foot
in length, from the tip of the bill to the end of the
claws, and the breadth, when the wings are extended,
is a foot and nine inches. The bill is near two inches
long, from the point to the corners of the mouth, and
the upper jaw is a little longer than the lower, and the
tongue is fhort and forked. The noftrils are round,
and covered with Ihort hair, and the iris of the eyes is
of the colour of a hazel nut. The head, neck, and
back are of an afli-colour, but the fides, and un-
der part of the wisgs are red. The breaft is of a
pale red, inclining to a cheftnut colour ; and the belly,
and the under part of the tail are covered with red fea-
thers, with whitifh points. There is a black ftreak, "
which reaches from the bill to the neck, and the chin
is white. The firft of the quill-feathers is fhort and
fmall, and thofe next the body are of an alh-coiour,
whereas thofe more outer are dulky ; but the fhafts
are all black. The tail is near five inches long, and
confifts of twelve feathers of the fame length, of which
the middle two are of an afli-colour, and the next two
black, with white points ; but thofe on the outfide
next to them are of an afh-colour. Thofe quite on the
outfide are of the colour of dufky a(h wood, and un-
derneath there is a white fpot or llripe tiiat runs acrois
them ; the other feathers are all black. The legs arc
fhort, and as well as the feet, are of a deep fiefli-co-
lour. The claws are large, crooked, and brown, and
that of the hinder toe is largeft.

The Nut-hatch makes its neft in hollow trees, and

if the hole is too large it flops part of it up with clay.

It not only lives upon infcSts, but on nuts ; and it is

plcafant enough to fee it take one out of its lioard, arKl

I thruft

O F B I R D S. 97

thruft it into a cleft ; and then (landing upon it, it
llrikes it with its bill with great force till it has cloven
the nut, and then eats the kernel.

The Yellow and Black. PIE of Caujly, is a
very docile bird, and has the throat covered with hair.
The head, the lower part of the throat, the bill, the
back, and the t^l are black ; but the top of the head,
the rump, and the belly are )'t;Ilow : the wings are
black, and the feathers which cover the great wings
are bordered v/ith white. The bill is an inch long.

The Blue JAY is fiiaped pretty much like the
common European Jay, except that the tail is longer,
and the feathers of unequal lengths, the middle fea-
thers being longeft. The bill is black, and the nof-
trils are covered with fniall white hairs, reflected for-
wards. The blue feathers on the top of the head are
long, and can be raifed into a creil, or let down at
pleafure. There are black f^aihers round the bafe of
the upper mandible of the bill, v\hich pafs by the cor-
ners of the mouth oa each fide the eyes, and join at the
back pai-t o^ the head beliind the crert, from whence
they bend forward again obliquely on the fides of the
neck, till they meet under the throat, where they be-
come broader, and form a fort of a half moon, with
its horns turned upwards. The fides of the head, and
part of the throat are white, and encompafTed with a
black line j and there is a vv^hite fpot above each eye.
The lower part of the neck behind, and the back,
are of a purplifh blue colour; and the upper fides of
the wings and tail are of a very fxue blue, as well as
the lower part of the back and rump. The tail fea-
thers, except the two mlddlemoft, ^^ tipped v/ith
white, and acrofs them all there are black bars, ex-
cept the outermofl on each fide. The outerruoft of
the great wing feathers or quills are biackifh, faintly
tin£lured with dark blue on the edges. The remainder
of the quills next the back, and the firft row of fea-
thers above them are tipped with white, and barred
acrofs with black in a very elegant manner. The co-
vert feathers v/ithin-fide the wings are blackifii, and
the infide of the quills, and thofe under the fides of
the tail are afh-coloured. The breall, below the black
Vet. //. F maik.

98 THE NATURAL HISTORY
mark, are of a brownilh red, inclining to a rofe-co-
lour, which dies away gradually, and becomes white
towards the belly, which, with the thighs, and covert
feathers under the tail, are of a dufky white. The legs,
feet, and claws are of a dulky brown, and of the com-
mon form. It is a bird of Carolina, in NortI) Jmerica,
and has the fame jetting motion as our Jays, with a
more tuneful cry. The hen is not of fo brigh t a co-
lour, which is the only difference between it and the
male.

The Persian PIE has a whitilh bill, with white
circles round the pupils of the eyes, and the feet are
bluiih. The feathers of the fecond row, the rump,
and the foremoft in the tail, are yellow. This is all
the defcription we have of it, and therefore it is hard
to fay with any certainty to what fpecies of birds it
belongs.

The CARYOCATACTES has a cry like a Mag-
pie, and weighs near fix ounces. Its length, from
the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, is thirteen
inches and a half, and the breadth, when the wings
are fpread, is twenty-two inches and a half. Its bill
is like a magpie's, but blunter, and it is all over the
body, except the head, of a dufky red colour, beau-
tified with triangular white fpots on the tips of the
feathers. The feathers under the tail are milk-white,
and the wing feathers are of a black colour ; but the
outmoft on each fide are three fourths white, and the
tail feathers are black. It is found in the mountaia-
ous parts of Aujiriay on the road from Vienna to Ve-
nice.

The NUT-CRACKER is about the fize of a Jack-
daw, and the wing, when clofed, meafures near feven
inches. The bill, from the point to the angles of the
mouth, is two inches in length, being rather longer in
proportion than in the Pie and Jay kind. It is round-
ed at the tip, when looked at from above, and is of a
black colour. The noftrils are covered with whitifh
feathers, which point forward from the head, and con-
tinue in a white line, from \!^z bafe of the bill to the
eyes on each fide. The feathers all over the head,
1 eck, and body are of a dark brown, a little inclining to

red;

O F B I R D S. 95

red ; and the feathers on the lower fide of the head and
neck, on the breaft and beginning of the back, have
each of them a triangular white fpot at their tips, the
Ihai-per angle pointing upwards. The wings are black,
with triangular white fpots on the lefTer covert feathers
only. The covert feathers on the infide of the wings
are fo deeply tipped with white, that their dufky bot-
toms are almoil hid ; and three or four of the middle
quills of the wings have each a longiih white fpot
about the middle of their inner webs. The tail is com^
pofed of twelve feathers of a black colour, ail of them
having white tips. The outer feathers are a little
fhorter than the middle ones, and the covert feathers
beneath the tail are white. The legs, feet, and claws
are black. This feems to be the Caryocataftes juft dc-
fcribed, though the defcription is different ; which
perhaps may be owing to the greater accuracy of Mr,
Edijoardsy from whom it is taken

The Little Indian PIE has a bill of a black <jr
dulky colour towards the point, but the angles at the
corners of the mouth are orange. The head and neck,
and the middle of the breaft,- the back, rump, and
covert feathers of the wings are of a deep black, with
a fhining glofs, chalngeable from blue to purple. The
quill feathers of the wings, and thofe on the ridge nepet
the breaft, are blacky a little inclining to brown ; but
a few of the middle "Quills are white, as well ^ the
firll row of coverts ne>it^ above. The belly, thighs,
and coverts under the tail «4:e-j;¥Titte, ' and the middle
feathers of the tail are black, and fomewhat longer than
thofe on the fides; the legs and feet are of a dark
brown, and the toes have pretty ftrong claws. Thk
bird is a native oiBevgal in the Eaji-lndies.

The Bengal JAY is larger than t\it Engli/hy and
has an afa-coloured bill. The top of the head is blue,
;.nd the neck and breaft are a mixture of light brown
and red, with a little call of ajeud colour: The wings
and under part of the body and thighs are blue ; but
the upper parts are of a muddy dark green. That part
of the tail next the rump, as well as the extremity,
is of a dark blue j but the middle part is more pade
F 2 and

100 THE NATURAL HISTORY

and blight. The legs and feet are brown, a little in-
cliniiig to yellow, with black open claws.

The Bohemian CHATTERER, or the SILK-
TAIL, is bigger than a Haw-finch, and near as iarge
as a Black-Bird ; the length, from the tip of tlic bill
to the end of the tail, being nine inches, and the
breadth, when the wings are extended, twelve in-
ches, I'he bill is of a deep black, and of the fize of
that of a houfe-fparrow ; and on its head it has a tuft
or crell like the Crerted Lark. The breaft is cheftnut,
the belly afh-coloured, the back cheftnut or bay, the
rump of an alh-colour or dun, and the outward wing
feathers black, marked with delightful fpots. The
/irft fcven of the wing feathers are white, with appen-
dices as red as vcrmilllon, and the fucceeding feathers
are yellow, adorned alfo with (pots. The covert fea-
thers are tipped with white, and the whole tail at the
end is ) ellow. It feeds upon fruits, efpecially grapes,
tnd is a native of l^ohemia.

The Indian Long-tailed PIE of AUroi'atttiuj^
has a red bill and feet, with a blue neck and head, and
a white breaft and belly, with a round white fpot on
4he crown of the head. The back and fticulders aie
very nearly the colour of rufty iron, and from the up-
per part ci the bill as far as the e\'es there arc ieve-
ral fpots, as alfo tranfverfe lines, which run down
to the bottom of the neck, and are about half an inch
diftant from each other, with fpots between. The fea-
thers on the body, and the wing feathers are of a cheftnut-
colour, Iprinkled with black lines here and there ; but
the breaft and belly are white, and the other parts
green.

The Indian Chattering PIE is like the com-
mon Jay, but much lefs.

The PIE of the Caribbee JJlands is a very beau-
tiful bird, it having red legs and a blue neck, with
a white ring round it, and there is a fort of a hood on
its head of a white colour, fpotted and ftriped with
black lines, which extend from tlie bill to the back,
where the feathers are of a tawny colour as far as the
rump, which is quite yellow. It has a large tail, co»-
fifting of eight blue feathers, ftriped wifi white, of

which

O F B I R D S. ici

wKich two are near ten inches longer than the reft.
The fmatl feathers on the wings are tawny, ftriped with
black lines, and the large are coloured with a mLvture
of green and blue ; the belly is entirely white. This
Pie is more timorous than thofe of Europe, infomuch
that they will not allow time for a man to look at
them while they are on the trees. They are often fhot,
but more for the pleafure of beholding them than for
the flefli They make a noile when they fly not uiv-
like the Euro [tan Pies.

The African PIE, found near the Cape of Good
Hopff is of the fize of a Jay, and has a red bill and
feet. The feathers are all black, except a white ring
that goes round the neck. It delights to be on the tops
of iugh rocks and tall trees ; and it is fend of wild al-
jnonds. It may be taught to fpeak as well as a Far-
rot.

The Buff JAY of Madrafs is of the bignefs of a
common Magpie, and the upper part of the tail is
black, except the point, which is yeiiow ; but the lower
part is white, mixed with yellow. There is a black
oblique ftripe round the eyes, and the wings are black,
except at the points, which are yellow, as well as a
{pace about the middle. The other parts are brownilh^
intermixed with dulky reddifh lines.

The Yellow JAY oi Madrafs, differs from the for-
mer in being of a more faint yellow colour. The
breaft, as far as the vent, is marked with oblique
winding lines ; but the wings, and an oval fpot fur*
rounding the eyes, are black. The back and throat
are yellow.

The MoTLED JAY of Madrafs, diifers from the
former in the breaft and back, which are of a motled
colour, and the head and tail are white, which are yel«
low in the former.

The Green JAY of Madrafs, is moftly green,
which is very deep on the back and tail. The tail is
lemarkable for having three points, v/hich are blackifh
at the tips, and the middle tip is the Icngeft.

The Small Blue JAY, is of a more deep blue

on the head and wings than on the tail. The other

F 3 parts

102 THE NATURAL HISTORY
parts are black or aih-colour, except the legs and bill,
which arc reddifh.

The Madrass JAY has fome affinity to the com-
mon Magpie, and there is a crooked white line over
the eyes. The covert feathers of the wings are green,
but yellowiih near the ilems. There is a blue (pot
near tlie bafe of the wings, and the prime feathers, as
well as the tail, are blackifti. The rump is fpotted
with blue, and it is reddiih between the thighs, as
far as the tail.

CHAP. XVII.

q/" WOOD-PECKERS, and other Birds nubicb

ba've affinity thereto^

WOOD-PECKERS, properly fo called, arc
dilHnguifhed from other birds, by their ftrait,
hard, llrong, angular, and fharp bills, very proper to
make holes in trees; by their tongues, which are of a
very great length, and round, with a fharp, ftiff, and
bony tliom at the end, and dented on each fide, with
v/hich they flrike ants, caterpillars, and other infefts..
They can thruil them out to a great length, and put
them into crannies, holes, and clefts of trees, to itab
and bring out the infects that aie lodged witliin ; by
their Ihort and very flrong legs, by theL" toes {landing
tuo forward and two backwards, in the manner of
Parrots ; by their hard ftiff tails bending downwards,
with the ends of the feathers often broken and almoil
bare, which is done by their climbing ; hy feeding on-
ly upon infeds ; by laying white eggs, and lalHy, hy
wanting the blind gut. They build in holes of trees,
which they malvc with their bills, cxadly round, and
they lay fix or feven eggs at a time.

The Great Black WOOD-PECKER weighs
about ten ounces and a half, and its length, from tlie
tip of the bill to the end of the t^l, is eighteen inches
Rnd 4 half, and its breadth, when the wings are ex-
tended

O F B I R D S. !03

tended, is tu'enty-nine inches and a half. The bill is
two inches and a half long, and is ftrong, hard, and
triangular. It can thrult out its tongue a confiderable
way, and draw it in at pleafure. Its whole body is
black, except the crown of the head, and from thence
down to tlie noftrils, which is of a lovely red, or Ver-
million colour.

TheGREEN WOOD-SPITE, or WOOD-PECKER,
caUed alfo the HEYHOE, and RAIN-FOWI,. It is.
called the Rain-Fowl by ourcountiymen, bccaiife when
it makes a greater noife than ordinary, it is fuppofed to
foretcl rain. It weighs near feven ounces, and its
length, from tlie tip of the bill to the end of the claws,
is eleven inches, but to the end of tlie tail, tliirteen
inches. The breadth, when the wings are fpread, is
twenty-one inches and a half, and the bill is two inches
long, which is black, hard, ftrong, and triangular,
ending in a blunt point. The pupil of the eye is black,
and there are two irides, of which the innermoft is
of a reddiih brown, and the outermoft white. The
tongue is very long, when llretched out, and is hard,
bony, and pointed at the end j it is made ufe of to dart
at infcfls, which are catched by this means. The
crown of the head is red, fpotted with black ; and
the eyes are furrounded with black ; but there is
another red fpot on each of the lower jaws. The
throat, breaft, and belly are of a pale greenilh colour,
and the back, neck, and fmall covert feathers of the
wings are green ; the rump is yellow, and aim oft of
tlie colour of ftraw, and under the tail there are
brown, tranfverfe lines. There are nineteen large fea-
thers in each wing, except the firft or outermoft, which
is very fhort. The external webs of the feathers next
the body are green, and the internal bro\vn, variega-
ted with white femicircular Ipots. The internal webs
of the forem.oft feathers are of the fame colour, and
the external brown, fpotted with white. The feathers
that cover the wings underneath the roots of the large
quill feathers of the wings, are of a whitiih green,
with brown tranfvejie lines. The tail is four inches and
a half in length, and confifts of ten ftiff feathers,
crooked at the end ; and they appear to be forked, be-
F 4 caufe

I04 THE NATURAL HISTORY

caufe the fnafcs do not reach to the end of the webs.
The points of two in the middle, and three that fuc-
cccd tahem on each fide are blackiih ; but the other parts
are adorned* with darkifh green tranfverfe fpots or
ftreaks, and they are whitiili underneath. The big-
geft of the two oatemio:!: are blunter than the reft, and
they are variegated with black and dark green fpcts.
The feet are of a whitiih green in general, but in fome
they are of a lead colour; the claws are brown; and
two of the toes are placed before, and two behind.
The lall joints of the fore- toes aie united together.

The gall-bladder is large, and the right tellicle is
round, but the left is oblong, and as exadlly round
as if it had been turned in a lathe. Tliis circumftance
at ilrft was thought to be the effed of chance, till others
of the fame kind v.ere opened, and the fame appear-
ance was found. There are no blind guts nor appen-
dages in their itead ; but in the room thereof the gut
is dilated in the place where they Ihould have been.
The crops are generally found full of ants, and their
eggs ; however this bird feeds alfo upon caterpillars
and other infefts, for which xeafon he alights oftener
upon the ground than others of this kind. The tongue
is fharp at the end, as was before obferved, and is
dentated on each fide ; it pierces its prey with it, as
with a dart, and then draws it into his mouth : This
is done by means of two round griftles, that are con-
nected to a ligament en the top of the head. The
fiefh, or mufculous i'ubltance of the tongue accompa-
nies thefe griftles throughout their progrefs, which is
very long and very curious. It furrounds them like
a iheath, and is contrived in fuch a manner, that it
can move the tongue every way, like the motion of an
earth-worm : But the inner fide of the griftles, at the
root of the tongue, towards the back part of the head,
feme fay, ferves to contradl or drav/ the griftles out-
wards. The ends of the feathers of the tail al-
ways feem to be much worn, becaufe he always refts
upon it in climbing, as other birds do of the fame
kind.

This is the common defcription of this bird, and is
in general very exadl ; but there is a miftake with re-
gard

O F B I R D S. 105

gard to the tongue ; for this, fays Borelh, is not much
above a quarter of an inch long ; befides the body, and
the branches of the os hyoides, which thefe authors
make part of the tongue, ought not to be confidcred
as fuch, according to the bell anatomifts. It confiils
of a fmall very fhort bone, covered with a ihclly fub-
ftance, and it is in the fhape of a pyramid. The bale
is articulated to the fore-end of the os liyoides, which
is in tiie lluipe cf a llyie, about two inches in length,
and not above the twenty-fourth part of an inch in
thicknefs. It is articulated by its farther end to two
honey branches thereof, that are more (lender than its
body ; and each branch is compofed of t\vo boaey
threads, of unequal length, joined together, and meet-
ing at the ends. The thread before is but an inch and
a half long, but that behind is about five, and is united
to a fmall griiHe, by u hich it is terminated, inforauch
that each branch is thrice as long as the body of the
OS hyoides and the tongue joined together. The
branches belong to the os hyoides, and are crooked like
a bow ', whereof the middle occupies the fides of the
neck, and the four extremities pafs under the bill, and
terminate at the bottom of the os hyoides ; their back-
ward extremities pafs over the head, and enter the nofe
at the right fide ; but it muft be obferved, that they
aie not articulated, which contributes greatly to the
motion of the tongue. The os hyoides, and tht fore-
threads of the branches are contained in a Iheath, form-
ed of a membrane that lines the infide of the lower
chap. The extremity of this fheath is united to the
mouth of the fhelly covering of the tongue, aad it
lengthens when the tongue pafies out of the bill, cuid it
Shortens when it returns back. The fhelly covering of
the fmall bone of the tongue is convex above, flat be-
low, and hollow within : It 15 armed on each fide with
fix very fine, tranfparent, inflexible prickles, whofc
extremities are a little turned backwards towards the
throat. This is the inllrument wherewith it feizes it»
prey, and it is affilled by a clammy fluid, that is al-
ways poured out at the end of the lower chap, thiough
two excretory dufts, that proceed from two pyramidal
glands, feated on the inner fide of this part.

F 5 . Nature

»o6 THE NATURAL HISTORY

Nature has beftowcd on the Wood -pecker fevcral
mufcles, to enable him to make ufe of this inftrument,
feme of which belong to the branches of the os hy-
oides, and thefe draw the tongue out of the bill. Others
belong to the iheath that contains the body of the os
hyoides with the fore-threads of its branches, and thefe
draw the tongue back. Befides, the tongue has its
proper mufcles that draw it upwards, downwards, and
to each fide. Each branch of the os hyoides has but a
iingle mufcle, which is as long as the tongue. The
OS hyoides and one of the branches join together.
Thefe tw o mufcles have their rife in the fore and in-
ternal fide of the lower chap. They proceed from be-
fore backwards, and wrap up the hinder thread of the
branches of the os hyoides, and pafling over the head,
they proceed to be inferted at the extremities, in the
place that the abovementioned ligament proceeds from ;
here they unite, and form a third, which is connefted
to the membrane of the nofe. Thefe ligaments are ve-
ry fhort, but they readily ftretch with the fmalleft force,
inforauch that their refiftanc^ may be eafily overcome
by the contraction of the mufcles. Hence it is cafily
conceived, that when they (horten, they draw the hin-
der extremities of the branches of the os hyoides out of
nofe ; and this being done on the fide of their origin,
fhey force the body of the os hyoides, the fore-threads
of the branches, and the tongue, out of the bill ;
which they could not have done, if the branches of the
os hyoides had not been very flexible, and if they had
not been firmly conne6led to the bone of the nofe ; for
though the bows which they defcribe might ftretch,
they could not force the tongue four inches out of the
bill ; but they do it very readily on account of the
free motion of the mufcles, wherein they are contain-
ed as in a channel, and are not articulated with the
bone of the nofe.

There are two other mufcles that ferve to draw In
the tongue, which belong to the fheath that contains
the OS hyoides, and the fore threads of the branches ;
and becaufe their lengthening and fhortening fhould
be equal to thofe of their antagonift mufcles, nature
has taken care to place them in tlie linall cavity be-
2 tween

O F B I R D S. 107

tween the under part of the larynx, and the end of the
bill, that they might make two circumvolutions, con-
trary ways, round the upper parts of the windpipe,
where thefe mufcles have their origin. After this
they crofs behind the larynx, and aftervvai'ds line the
infide of the Iheath to which they are united ; therefore,
as its extremit)' is joined to the mouth of the fhelly
covering of the tongue, it thence happens, that when
they are contrafted, they draw and bring back the
iheath, and confequently the tongue into the bill, by
thrufting back the hinder extremities of the branches
of the OS hyoides in the nofe. The three elalHc liga-
ments before mentioned likewife rer\^e to bring them
back ; for after they have been ftretched by the muf-
cles that draw the tongue out of the bill, they fhorten
again as foon as tlie mufcles are relaxed, and draw the
branches from the os hyoides, to which they are con-
neded, into the nofe. There is alfo a furrow above
the ikull, which, with the skin, forms a channel, that
contains the hinder part of the branches of the os hy-
oides, with their mufcles, and in which thefe parts
have a free motion. This channel hinders the branches
of the OS hyoides from moving either to one fide or the
other, when they are drav/n forward, and alfo obliges
them to keep their places when they are drawn back-
ward.

This account is taken from Borelliy and one may ea-
fily perceive he is millaken, when v/e ccnfider the
length of the tongue, of the os hyoides, and the branches
altogether, and reflect on the origin and the infer ticn of
the mufcles that draw the tongue in and out of the bill :
The whole length of the tongue, thus taken, is at
leall eight inches, of which four are thruft outwards,
and as it takes the fame road backwards and forwards,
the mufcles that adl ought at leaft to lengthen and
fhorten four inches each, and confequently they ought
to be four inches long, becaufe they muft be of fome
length when they are contracted . Thus of the four
chief mufcles that Borelli beftows on the tongue, two
have their rife at the extremity of the lower chap, and
the other t\^'0 at the fore-part of the skull ; and they all
fo«r are iaferted in the middle of the length of thi»

eight

loS THE NATURAL HISTORY

eight inches ; whence it appears they never can have
fuch an effe(^, becaufe then they would not be any
longer than four inches each. Borelli would not have
been of this opinion, if he had obferved that the two muf-
cles that rife from the bill, had run the whole length
of the body and branches of the os hyoides. The mif-
take fcems to arife from his having divided each of
thefe into two, and from not knowing the defign of the
fore- threads of the os hyoides, at the end of which he
places the four hrft mufcles of the tongue, which he has
defcribed. As for thofe that pais round the windpipe,
lie has found out the real ufe.

Thofe that have been moft curious in explaining the
motions of the Wood-pcckcr*s tongue, have confined
themfelves to thofe mufcles that draw it in and out of
the bill ; for which reafon they have made no mention
of the four mufcles proper to the tongue of this bird,
by which it is enabled to move it eveiy way ; that is,
upwards and downwards, and from one fide to the
other. Thefe mufcles take their rife at the fore-part
of the branches of the os hyoides ; that is, two from on#
and two from the other ; and terminate each in a long,
ilender tendon, that embrace the body of the os hy-
oides, and proceed to be infertcd at the bafe of the
fmall bone of the tongue. When all thefe mufcles
aft together, they keep the tongue in a dire6l pofition ;
when thofe above are Ihortened, at the fame time they
draw the tongue upwards ; and when thofe below are
in aibon, they bend it downwards, but when thofe on
one fide a£l together they draw it to that fide. Thefe
are the mufcles that may be properly faid to belong to
the tongue, becaufe the reft, that fen^e to draw it back-
wards and forwards, rather belong to the fheath, and
to the branches of the os hyoides, where they are in-
ferted ; from whence it follows, that the motions of
the tongue in and out of the bill, belong to thefe
parts, and not to the tongue itfelf. 1 have been the
longer upon this article, becaufe it ferves to explain a
moll cunous piece of mechanifin.

Derlam obferves, that the Wood-pecker, and all
other climbing birds, have a hard, ftiarp, ftrong bill>
exceeding proper to make holes in wood ; and that

the

O F B I R D S. icg

the tongue is made ufeof to prick, kill, and draw fmaU
worms and infects out of the bark and wood of trees.
When a Wood-pecker, by its natural fagacity, finds
out a rotten or hollow tree, where there are worms and
other infeds, it immediately repairs to it, refting on
its ih-ong claws, and leaning on the thick feathers of
the tail ; after which it bores the tree with its (harp,
ftrong beak, which done, he thrufls it into the
hole, and fends forth a great cry, with a defign ta
alarm the infers ; for after this they creep hither and thi-
ther, and the Wood-pecker darts out its tongue into the
bodies of thefe fmall animals, and draws them into its
mouth to devour them.

The female or hen exaftly refembles the male, only
the colours are fomewhat paler ; and there is no red-
nefs on the top of the head, as in the male, according
to Fri/c/p ; but he is deceived, for all the young in
the fame neft have always red crowns. The Wood-
^ pecker does not fly direftly forward, but by bounds j
that is, fomedmes abpve and fometimes below a right
line ) notwithftanding which he can fly a great way
without alighting. Frl/ch farther takes notice, that
the Wood-pecker is not endowed with (o long a tongue
for the fake of catching infefts out of trees, but that
he may be enabled to catch ants : He flrft goes to their
nefts, which he pecks, in order to difturb them ; and
when the ants are in motion, he thrufts out his tongue
as far as he can, and when it is covered over with
them, he then draws it into his mouth ; this method
he repeats over and over again, till he is quite {atif-
fied. The fame art is praftifed by the ant-bear, of
which an account has been gi\en in the former volume.
Some authors have affirmed, that tliis bird makes ufe
of its tongue like a gimlet, to bore holes in trees ; but
this is a miiiake, forit is done with his bill ; and thofe
that are curious may often hear the noife of it in large
woods and forefls ; but then the trees muft either be
decayed, or the w-ood muft be foft, like that of beech,
elm, and poplar. Thus in time he can make holes,
as exadly round as a mathematician can do it with a
pair of compares. Starlings, and other birds, often
make ufe of thefe holes to lay their eggs in ; and Bats

fome-

no THE NATURAL HISTORY
fometimes do the fame, as boys have often found to their
great furprize ; for when they fuppofed they were go-
ing to lay hold of young Wood-peckers, they have
found Bats in their room. The Wood-pecker builds no
neft, no more than fome other birds of this kind ; for
the eggs are laid in the hole of a tree, or on rotten wood,
and their number is generally five or fix ; they are oblong,
of a middle fize, and almoft white. Ray obferves that
the tongue, when ftretched out, is of a very great length,
and is bony at the end, and red underneath. The
crown of the head is crimfon, and the throat, breaft,
belly, back, neck, and Icfler row of the covert feathers
of the wings are green. The feet and toes are of a
pale green, and fometimes of a lead colour. This
bird is larger than the reft of this kind, and may be
readily dillinguifhed from others by its magnitude and
green colour.

The Greater Green WOOD-PECKER of 5 J-
loniusy is larger than the common Green Wood-pecker,
and its bill is crooked, contrary to the reft of this kind ;
but the feet are the fiime. They have a great many
fpots on the wings, as in other birds of this kind, the'
ibey are of different colours.

The WOOD-PECKER with Three Toes, of I/;/-
7iaHSf is five inches and a half in length, from the tip
of the bill to the end of the tail ; and ten inches and
a quarter broad, when the wings are extended. The
body is black, and there is a white ftreak, which be-
gins at the root of the bill, and extends on each fide
to the nape of the neck, where it joins, and after-
wards runs down the neck, and along the back, as far
as the tail. The breaft, and the lower belly are white
and black, and the wing feathers are black above,
marked with four or five rov. s of fmall white fpots ;
they are of an a(h-coiour below, where there are feven.
or eight white fpots, which are larger. The tail is
fhort and ftrong, and covered with black feathers,
only the large feathers on each fide arc marked at the
ends with white. The top of the head is of a faf-
fron colour, and the bill is angular, but terminates in
a round point. It has but three toes on each foot, two
before and one behind, in which it differs firom other

Wood^

O F B I R D S. Ill

Wood-peckers. It is found in SiveJen, among the
mountains of Daiacarlia»

The Great WOOD-PECKER o£ Catejbyy has a
bill as white as ivory, with a red creft, and there
is a white llreak which runs from the eye to the
wing ; the bottom of the back is white, as well as the
wings, except the prime feathers, and all the reft of
the body is black.

The Great Black WOOD-PECKER of Catefy,
has a black bill, with a fcarlet tuft on the head, under
which is a black llreak, in a circular form : afterwards
tliere is a white and yellow ftreak, which runs to the
top of the neck, which is traverfed* at the corner of the
bill on each fide with a long fcarlet fpot ; but all the
reft of the body is black.

The Jamaica WOOD-PECKER has a wing, which
when clofed, is five inches long, and the bill, from its
tip to the corners of the mouth, is an inch and a half.
There are nineteen quills in the wing, and eight fea-
thers in the tail ; though UUloughby affirms, that Wood-
peckers have commonly ten feathers in the tail. The
bill is ftrait, Iharp at the point, and black, and it can
thruft out its tongue a good way, which is pointed,
and horny at the end, and proper to ftrike infefls.
The fore-part of the head, all round the bafe of the
bill, and beyond the eyes, is of a yellowifh white ;
but the hinder part of the head and neck is of a fine
fcarlet. The throat and breaft are of a dirty olive,
which gradually becomes reddilh on the belly, with
tranfverie dulky lines on the lower part of it, and on
the thighs. The covert feathers under the tail are
marked with dufky and whitilh tranfverfe broken lines,
and the back, upper fide of the wing, rump, and tail
are black, with narrow, tranfverfe, light brown lines
on the back, which are whiter on the wings, and
broader and white on the rump. The two outer fea-
thers of the tail have white fpots on the outer webs,
and the inner coverts of the wings are dufky and white,
in a fmall tranfverfe mixture. The under fide of the
tail, and the infides of the quills are of a very dark afh-
colour ; but the inner webs of the quills are barred a-
crofs with white. The legs and feet are like thofe of

other

112 THE NATURAL HISTORY

other birds of this kind, and have ftrong claws, all of
a black or dufky colour.

TheGREAT Spotted WOOD-PECKER, or WIT-
WALL, is larger than a Black-bird, and weighs about
three ounces. Its length, from the tip of the bill to
the end of the claws, is eight inches, and to the end of
the tail nine inches and a half. Its bill is one inch and
a quarter long, being ftrait, black, and ending in a
fharp point. The colour in general is black, with
beautiful white Ipots, and in the male there is a ftripe
that reaches to the top of the head, of a fine red ; and
the under part of the tail is tintlured with a bright red
colour : It is of the bignefs of a Black-bird or bigger,
and it feeds upon infefts.

The Lesser Spotted WOOD-SPITE, or HICK-
WALL, is like the former in colour and fhape, but is
much lefs, for it fcarce weighs an ounce ; and its length,
from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, is only
fix inches, and the breadth, when the wings are ex-
tended, is eleven inches. This bird, when it thrufts
its bill into the chink of a tree, makes fuch a noife with
its motion, that the clicking may be heard at a confi-
derable diilance. There is another bird of this kind,
which is lefs than both the former, and has two circles
on all the feathers throughout the body, of which one
is white and the other black. The feet are fmall, but the
claws long, and it is a little lefs than a Houfe fparrow.

The Spotted WOOD-PECKER of 5r.j//, called
IPECU by Marcgra've, is of the fize of a Pigeon, and
its neck is two inches long, the body four, and the tail
four : Likcwife its legs are an inch and a half long,
and its head is covered with feathers of the colour of
Vermillion j and on the top there is a crefl lik.e that of
a dove. The neck above and below is black, but on
both its fides there is a white line, tending downwards.
The wings are black above and white underneath, and
the tail is likewife black. On the belly, and upper
part of the thighs, the feathers are white and black.
The bill is like that of other Wood-peckers, with
which it makes holes in the bark of trees.

The WRY-NECK, in /:«//» J ynx, differs from all the
former in having a flenderer and weaker bill, for which
reafon it makes its nell in hollow and rotten trees :

Like-

^ )i'3

Bvu^Jc^. j

OF BIRDS. uf

Likevvife the tail is iofter and lefs jftift': It alfo turns
its head towards the ihoulders in a ridiculous manner,
from whence it has its name. It is painted with fe-
veral elegant colours, and is a very beautiful bii'd ;
but the fize is not much bigger than a Lark. It weighs
about an ounce, and its length, from the tip of the bill
to the end of the tail, is feven inches and a half ; but
the breadth is eleven inches, when the wings aie ex-
tended. It can raife up the feathers on the head, and
make them appear like a crell ; and the colours are
white, black, red and gray.

The Spotted Indian WOOD-PECKER has a
long, llrait and biackifh bill, ridged on the upper part ;
and the crown of the head, frcm the bill back-
wards, and beyond the eyes, is black, fpeckled with
fmail white ipots ; but the hinder part of the
head is covered, with long, fcarlet feathers, tend-
ing backwards, in the form of a crell. The fides be-
low the eyes are white, and the throat, from the bill to
the middle of the breaft, is confufedly variegated with
large black and white fpots. The hinder part of the
neck is black, and on each fide there runs a white line
down to the wings. The beginning of the back is yel-
low ; but the lower part and rump are of a dull green..
The belly, thighs, and covert feathers beneath the
tail, are white, fprinkled with fpots like half moons.
Some of the outermoil prime quills are black, barred
acrofs with four narrow ftreaks of white ; the remainder
of the quills next the back are of a dull green, as well as-
the covert feathers above them. The baftard wing, or
coverts that fall on the prime quills are black, with a
white bar acrofs them. The lelTer coverts on the up-
per parts of the wii.'gs are of a dark brown, with very
diitinft white fpots. The green coverts betv/een thefe and
the quills are Ipotted with yellow green ; and the tail is
biackifh, with a call of dull green. The feathers are
ftiff, and pointed, as in other Wood-peckers, and the legs,
feet, and claws are of a dufky colour, and the claws are
pretty ftrong. It is a native of Bengal in the EaJ}-In^<ies,.

The Indian WOOD-PECKER is adorned all over
the body with very beautiful feathers; the ciown of
the head, and the mailer feathers of the wings and

tail

114 THE NATURAL HISTORY
tail being of a fine blue colour that furpafTes all de-
Icription. The breall and rump arc of a curious
lively red, and the tips of the wing feathers are of an a(h-
colour, as is all the under fide of the wings ; the bill is
red, as well as the legs and feet, with black claws.

The Hanging WOOD-PECKER is a very curious
bird, and is found in Germany, Italy^ and feme parts
of France, in April and May, The colour of the
whole plumage is blue and green, beautifully inter-
mixed, and the beak is black : There is a black fpot
on each fide between the bill and the eye, and the
large wing feathers of the hen are blackifh, with white
fpots at the end. It builds its neft on tlie extremity of
large high trees, which is very curiouHy contrived to
keep out the wind and rain, there being only a fmall
hole to enter at.

Laivfon informs us, that there are four forts of Wood"
peckers in North- /America, of which one is as big as a
Pigeon, being of a dark brown colour, with a white
crofs on its back. The pupil of the eyes is cncompaffed
with a white circle, and on its head there is a tuft of
beautiful fcarlet colours. Its cry is heard a long way
off, and it flies from one rotten tree to another to get
infe^ls, which is the food whereon it lives.

The fecond fort is of an olive colour, ftriped with
yellow, and it h of the fize of thofe in Eurspe. It
feeds upon worms, as well as other infe£ls.

The tbini is of the fame bignefs as the former, and
has a crimfon head, but no tuft ; and in general the
feathers are variegated with black and white. It is a
great devourer of com and fruit, in which it differs
from other Wood-peckers, and on that account feems
to be improperly claffed by La^fon.

The fourth fpecies is of a mottled colour, fpeckled
with black and white, and is a very beautiful bird.
The cock has a red crown, and is about the iize of an
Engli/h Lark. It feeds upon infefts.

The Br AS I LI AN PIE, commonly known by the
name of Toucan, and by fome ealled the Bill-Bird,
is the moll fingular bird in the world, on account of its
bill. Linna-usy who has reduced all forts of animals to
clafTcs, makes the charafterilHc of this bird to be a

bill

ffj;

^^'^ " f^-rrn anJV{.^y

OF BIRDS. 115

bill as large as the body, with no noftrils, and two fore
and TWO hind toes. He has four kinds of this bird>
namely, The Brasilian PIE with aRKoTAiL:
The Black Pepper-Eater, with a Yellow Tail t
The Black Bill-Bird with a White Tail; and
the Greenish Bill-Bird, with a Black Bill mixed
with Red. Some fay it is a bird of Mexico ; but after the
moft diligent enquiry, we do not find that it ever came
fo far North as the lllhmus of Darien. Lery fays, the
Toucan is of the fize of a Pigeon, and is all over as
black as a crow, except the breaft, which is yellow ;
and that there is another fort, whofe bill is longer than
the whole body, and thick in proportion.

Claude Ahbe'ville affirms, that the bill is from eight
to ten inches long, and near three broad ; that the
breafl is of a yellowifh colour, inclining to orange, and
edged with fcarlet ; but the reft of the belly is white ;
that the back is of a beautiful red, and the wings and
tail black. He alfo tells us, that there is anoSber of
the fame kind, called by the ^wmc/iwj Waycho, of
the fize of a Wood-Pigeon, with a red and yellow
bill, a white breaft, edged with red, black wings, ^
yellow tail, and all the reft of the body of a beautiful
white.

Nieuhoff fays, the Toucan is of the fame fize as
above, with a fafFron- coloured breaft, and a bill red
above and yellow below. Willoughby informs us from
^he'vet, that the bill of the Toucan is almoft as long as
the whole body, it being fix inches long and three
broad, and of very a thin fubftance, like parchment, but
bony, fhining very white, hollow, and capable of re-
ceiving much air ; for which reafon it wants noftrils.
The colour of it is moftly red, and towards the end*
fcarlet. Its neck and wings are black, and his
breaft Ihines with a bright gold colour, but red near
the beginning. The belly and thighs ai-e of a beauti-
ful Vermillion, with a black tail, which is of a beauti-
ful red at the end. Hence it appears there are fe<veral
forts.

The Red-Beaked TOUCAN, fo called by Mr,
Ed-wards, is of the bignefs of a common tame Pigeon,
and fhaped like a Jackdaw, with a large head to fup-

port

»i6 THE NATURAL HISTORY ^

port its monftrous bill. This, from the angles of the
mouth to its point, is fix inches and a half, and its
height or width, in the thickeft part, is a little more
than two. Its thicknefs near the head, is one incli
and a quarter ; and it is a little arched or roundei
along the top of the upper mandible ; the under fide is
alfo round. The upper mandible rotnd its bafe, or
where it joins to the head, and its upper part quite
to the point, is of a bright yellow. Its fides are of a'
fine red or fcarlet colour, and fo is the lower mandible,
except at its bafe, which is purplilli.. The red, both-
on the upper and under chap, is clouded, more or
lefs, in diffsrent parts, with black j fo that the fides of
the lower mandible is quite black. A black lill pafles
almofl round its bill, near the bafe, which feparates
the red from the other colours. Between the head and
the bill there is a bl^ck. line of feparation all round the
bafe of the bill, in the upper part of which the noftrils
are placed, and are almofl covered with feathers. This
has occafioned fome writers to fay it has no noftrils.
Round the eyes on each fide of the head, is a fpace of
bluifh ikin, void of feathers, above which the head is
black, except a white Ipot on each fide, joining to the
bafe of the upper mandible. The hinder part of the
neck, the back, wings, tail, belly, and thighs are
black ; and the under fide of the head, the throat,
and the beginning of the breaft are white : Between
the white on the breaft, and black on the belly, is a
Ipace of red feathers, in the form of anew moon, with
ito points upwards. The covert feathers under the
tail are red, and thofe above it are yellow. The legs,
feet, and claws are of an afti-colour, and the toes ftand
like thofe of Parrots, two before and two behind.
Mr. Ed-wardj delineated this bird partly from one that
was dead at Salter's coffee-houfe in Che/fea, and partly
from a drawing in Sir Hans Shanes mufseum.

The AR ACARI of Brafil is more like a Pie in the
colour of its feathers than a Wood -pecker ; and its bill
is lefs than that of the Toucan, it being only four in-
ches long, an inch and a half broad, and three inches
and a half tliick, where thickeft. It is hollow, and as

light

OF B I R D 'S. 117

light as a fpunge, and the upper mandible in fome is
quite white, in others there is a black line running along
the top of it, according to the length, and the lower
mandible is black. The tongue is four inches long,
very- light, and refembles a feather, which circumftance
Condomine takes notice of in the Toucan juil defcribed.
The neck is as long as that of a Parrot, the body is five
inches, and the tail fix inches long. It has a Ihrill,
loud voice, and cries Aracariy from whence it has its
name. Its feet are like a Wood-pecker*s, which Ihew
it to.be of that kind.

The JACAMACIRI is another Brafdian Bird, of
the fize of a Lark, with a ftrait, fharp-pointed, black
bill, near two inches long ; but the tongue is ihort,
in which it differs from all other Wood-peckers. Its
whole head, neck, wings, back, and tail are green,
mixed with a golden or fire colour, which has a very
great glofs. It has four toes on each foot, two before
and two behind, of which the two outermoft are as
long again as the innermoft The lower part of the
body is of a dufky yellow, and there is a green ring
round the neck.

The CURUCUI of Brafih has the fame difpofition
of the toes as the former, for which reafon it is placed
among the Wood-peckers. It is of the fize of a Mag-
pie, and the bill is ihort, broad, and of the colour of
brimftone. The iris of the eyes is of a gold colour,
and the legs are flicrt, and feathered almofl to the feet.
The whole brcaft, and the lower belly are of a fine
red, and the upper part of the back and tail are of a fliin-
ing green, with a bluilh and fire-coloured glofs. The
edges of the tail are black, and underneath the feathers
are white, elegantly flriped tranfverfly with black. The
wings are of various colours, green at the beginning,
hoary in the middle, and blackifh at the end. With
regard to the colour it is more like a Parrot than a
Magpie.

The GUIRA ACANGATARA of Brafil exaftly
refembles a Wood-pecker in its toes, and has nearly
the fame number of feathers in the tail. It is of the
fize of a Magpie, and the bill is a little crooked, and

of

ii8 THE NATURAL HISTORY

of a duiky yellow. The iris of the eyes is brown J
and the whole head is covered with feathers, which are
brown in the middle, according to the length, near
the ftem, and on the iides they are yellowilh, as in
the creft : On the contrary, the feathers on the neck
and wings are yellow in the middle, and brown on
the fides. The whole belly, back, upper part of the
thighs, and root of the wings, are of a pale yellow
colour; and the tail confiUs of eight feathers. The
lower part of the legs are of a fea green.

The GUIRA-TANGIMA of Brafd, or Ahfri-
CAN HANG-NEST, is remarkable for hanging its
neft on the ends of boughs, from whence it has ita
name. It is of the the fize of a Magpie, with a fmall
head, and a ftrait, (harp, black bill, of an inch in
length. The head, and lower part of the neck, are
of a deep black, but the upper part, at the beginning
of the back, is of a Iky-colour. The tail is black ail
over, and the wings are of a deep black ; but in the
middle, according to the length, tliere is a white Ipot.
The reft of the body is of a fey-colour, and the legs
are bluifh. The neft is of the (hape of a cylinder,
and very artfully compofcd of twigs ; and they are of-
ten feen in great numbers, hanging at the ends of
boughs.

The LONG-TONGUE, of the Cape of Good
HopCy fo called by the Dutch, refembles a Wood-pecker
in having a long (harp tongue, as hard as iron. It is
as fmall at the end as the point of a needle, and when
any one atterapti to lay hold of it, it darts it into the
hands, by way of defence. The feet refemble thofe
of a Nightingale, only they are armed with long
daws. It is of the fize of a Goldfinch, and the fea-
thers under the belly are yellow ; the reft are fpotted.
The flefti has a very delicious tafte, and is very whole-
ibme.

The JUPUJUBA, or JAPU, of Braftl, is of the
fame (hape as the Guiia Tangima, and builds its
neft in the fame manner ; but the tail is a little (horter.
They make their neft of dry grafs, horfe hair, or hogs
briftles, mixed together in form of a narrow cucurbit,
with its alembick. It is near eighteen inches long,

and

O F B I R D S. 119

and from the bottom to two thirds of the height, is
hollow like a purfe ; but the upper fix inches are fo-
lid, and hangs at the very end of a fmall branch of a
tree, by its tip. It is faid tliat fome trees have more
than four hundred nefts of tliefe birds upon them, and
that they hatch three times a year. The body is
covered v/ith black feathers, and in each wing there
is a yellow fpot, an inch in length. The extremity
of the back, and the parts near the vent, are entirely
yellow ; iikewife the tail, on its lower part to the mid-
dle is yellow ; but the remaining part is black. On
the upper part it is wholly black, and thofe on the fides
of it are hollow as far as the middle. The legs and
feet are black, the bill is of the colour of brimllone,
and the iris of the eyes of faphire. It is fuppofed
they make their nefts in the above manner, to prevent
the monkeys from dellroying their eggs and their
young.

There are four other Wood-peckers, of which we
have little elfe than the names. The Indi an WOOD-
PECKER, variegated with white and black, and the
Crested Indian variegated WOOD-PECKER,
are kept in tlie Muf^um at Leyden. The Indian
Hoary WOOD-PECKER is of a green colour ; it is
called by the Inhabitants of Ceylon Pal a Kothaia,
and begins to fmg in the evening without intermiffion.
There is another that is lefs ; and thefe are alfo kept
at the Mufa2um in Leyden.

The Middle-sized Party-coloured WOOD-
PECKER, of Jamaica, is ten inches in length, and
fourteen in breadth, when the wings are extended.
The bill and tongue are like the European , nor is the
tail much different. The head is of a dufky brown,
except its top, which is red, as well as the upper
parts of the neck. The back, wings, and tail are
black, and variegated with white tranfverfe lines.
The throat, breaft, and belly are between an orange
and a brown, and the feet are of a greenifh yellow.
Jt is very common in the woods.

The OLD MAN, or RAIN-BIRD, is from ths
tip of the bill to the end of the tail eighteen inches,
and as much broad when the wings are extended. The

bill

no THE NATURAL HISTORY

bill is above an inch long, a little crooked, loundLTi,
fliarp at the end, black on the upper part, and whitilh
below. The tail is nine inches long, and the head is
covered with delicate, foft, brownifn feathers. The
back and wings are a little lighter, and the tail is
black, except a little white at the ends of the feathers.
The chin and throat are white, and covered with a foft,
filky down. The lower parts are ofareddilh murrey
colour, and the feet are of a bluifh black. They
are to be met with at all times of the year, in the woods,
and among hedges ; and when it makes a greater noife
than ufual, it is fuppofed to foretel rain There is
w.iother Wood-pecker, or Rain-bird, called likewife an
Old-Man, and is very like the former, only the bill
is longer and ftraiter, more flender, and more white.
They are both natives of "Jamaica,

The Three-toed WOOD-PECKER has a bill
ftiaped like others of this kind, of a flelh-colour, and
black at the point. The noftrils are covered with ftiiF
black feathers, growing forwai'ds over them, and the
crown of the head is of a gold colour. The fides of the
head, and the upper part of the neck, the back, and
upper fide of the tail and wings are black ; but from
behind the eyes proceed faintilh white lines, tending
downwards ; and from the corners of the mouth there
are alfo white lines, pafling beneath the eyes. Some
of the black feathers on the hinder part of the head,
the middle of the back, and the rump, have white
tips. Tlie outer quills are fpotted with white ; the
fpots are fmall on the outer webs, and larger on the
inner. The middle quills are black, and thofe next
the back are variegated with black and white. The
inner co\erts of the wings, and the fides of the bo-
dy are variegated with tranfverfe waved lines of
black and white. The legs, feet, and claws are
brown, but what diftinguifhes this bird from all others
of this kind, is its having only three toes, two {land-
ing forward and one backward. It is a native oihlortb
Ammca, and was brought from Hudfon'^ Bay.

CHAf. j

O F B I RD S. izi

CHAP. XVIII.
0/ WOOD-PECKERS, improperly fo called.

THE WALL-CREEPER, or SPIDER-
CATCHER of AldrO'Vandus^ is almoft as big as
a Starling, and has an oblong flender black bill. The
head, neck, and back are of an afh-colour, and the
breall is whitifh. The wings are partly afh-coloured,
and partly red. The tail, which is ihort, the long
feathers on the wings below the back, and the belly
and thighs are black, and fhort like thofe of Wood-
peckers. The toes are long, of which three are placed
before, and the other is in the room of a heel. It is call-
ed the Wall-Creeper becaufe it creeps up walls in the
fame manner as Wood-peckers do trees, and picks in-
fers out of the chinks. They build their nclt in the
holes of trees, and are faid to be found in England,
but they are not common.

The Greater REED SPARROW, is the Junco
of Aldro'vanduiy and is about the fize of a Tiirufli.
The bill is large, dufky, and a little crooked ; and the
mouth is of afafiron colour on the iufide. The throat,
bread, ani belly are white, with a fort of yellownefs
chiefly about the vent. The upper part is of a dark,
yellowilli aih-colour, and over the eyes there is a whit-
ifh line. The fmall feathers which cover the roots of
the prime wing feathers are yellov/ ; and thofe on the
rail are ftiff. This bird is remarkable for the ftrength
of its legs, and keeps conHantly among the reeds,
where it fings very fweetly. The colours do not dif-
fer greatly from the former, only they are a little
more green. The till and feet arc very large in pro-
portion to the body, and it feeds on Beetles and other in-
fers. It is frequently met with among the reeds in the
Lonv Countries.

The ATOTOTL, or the WATER-BIRD of Her.
nandezy is of the bignefs and Ihape of a Sparrow, with
a black bill, and dufky feet. The lower partis white.

Vol. IL G and

122 THE NATURAL HISTORY

and the upper of a dufky white fpotted with black. It
is a little leis than a Red- Start, and is fix Inches in
length, from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail,
and eight inches in breadth, when the wings arc ex-
tended. It frequents ledgy places, and where bull-
rulhes grow.

The CREEPER adheres to the trunks and boughs
of trees, and creeps along them like a Wood -pecker.
It is about the fize of a Wren, with a long ilender
iharp bill, bending down like a bow, by which it is
diftinguiihed from all other birds. The tongue is no
longer than its bill, in which it differs from a Wood-
pecker, but it is hard, ftift* at the point, and iharp
like a goad. The longeft feathers of the tail are
iharp and iliff, as in Pics, and the upper part of the
body is dulky, and whitifli below.

The Black and Yellow CREEPER is a Jamaica
bird, and is four inches in length. It agrees pretty
much with our Creeper, and has a /lender, fharp-point-
ed bill, a little bending down, and black. The head,
neck, throat, back, wings, and tail are black ; and
over each eye there is a white line : The bottoms of
the great quills next the belly are white, and all the
tail feathers, except the two middle ones, are tipped
with white. The breaft, rump, and border of the
wing when it falls on the breaft, are of a fine bright
yellow, a little inclining to a gold colour. The
thighs, lower belly, and covert feathers under the tail
are of a pale yellow, or whitifn colour, and the legs
and feet are dufky or black. Sir Ham Sloan fays the
rlimp above the tail is yellowilh. The legs are half
an inch long,

The Hamburgh CREEPER is about the fizeof a
Sparrow, with a black bill and yellowifh eyes. The
top of the head and neck are fnaded with a reddifh
brown, having a purplifh caft; and there are brown
and white broad ftreaks running acrofs the under part
of the neck and throat ; the breaft and back are of a
light brown, with long dark fpots, and the wings are
of the fame colour, except the laft row of the fcapular
feathers, which are white, and the firft row of the co-
verts,

O F B I R D S. 123

rerts, which are of a fomewhat darker brown. The
lower part of the belly and thighs are white, as well
as the under part of the tail, but the upper part is of
a dark brown, and the middlemoll tail feathers are
confiderably longer than the reft.

The HOOPOE, or HOOP, is three ounces in
weight, and its length, from the tip of the bill to the
end of the tail, is twelve ii.ches and a half, and its breadth
is nineteen inches, when the wings are extended. The
bill is two inches and a half long, being black, fharp,
and fomewhat crooked. The tongue is fmall, and
triangular ; and it is of a duflcy colour, and fomewhat
bigger than that of a Lapwing, but the fhape of the body
is almoft like that of a Plover. The head is adorned
with a moft beautiful creft, two inches high, and con-
fifting of a double row of feathers, reaching from the
bill to the nape of the neck, which it can raife up or
let fall at pleafure. The neck is of a pale red, the
breaft white, with black ftrokes tending downwards.
The tail is four inches and half long, and confiils
of ten black feathers, adorned in the middle with a
crefcent or half moon, whofe top is towards the roots .
of the feathers, and the horns point to the extremi-
ties. There are eighteen large feathers on each wing,
of which the ten nrft are black, with a white tranf-
verfe fpot, above half an inch broad, on the fecond,
third, fourth, fifth, fixth, and feventh; but on the
reft it is more narrow ; likewife on the feven follow-
ing there are four or five white tranf\-erfe ftreaks, and
the edgci, of thefe leaft are a little reddifn : The rump
is white, and the feathers on the fhoulders, that reach
over the back, are variegated with fniall black and
white fpots, as well as the wings. The iris of t]:e
eyes is of a hazel colour, and the lower eye-lid is big-
ger than the upper ; the legs are fhort, and the exter-
nal toe is joined to the middlemoft without the help
of a membrane.

The crops of fome that have been opened, have

been found full of Beetles, which is a proof they li^/e

upon infects. This bird is very common in Germany,

where he is called a Wide-Hoop, and he generally

G 2 Ughte

124 THENATURAL HISTORY

lights on the ground, though fometimes on willow-
trees. Thefe birds have been fometimes feen in Eng-
lamiy though veiy feldom, and particularly in Nor-
thumberland and Surrey. Beton fays, they never ap-
pear in thefe parts, except in fummcr ; and that as foon
as the young ones can fly tliey tranfmigrate to a warmer
climate. The P.elh is negledled in moil places, but
thofe who have tried, affirm, that when this bird is well
roafted, it is as good as a Black-bird. When in its
feathers it feems to be as large as a Pigeon ; but after
they are oft* it is no bigger than a thrulh. Thefe birds
lay their eggs in hollow trees, but they build no neft.
Their cry is hoarfe, and may be heard a great way oft',
which is fomewhat ftrange, becaufe the tongue is ex-
ceedingly fmall : However, what Bdon fays about their
nefts is not true, for they make tliem with human
dung, in the hollow parts of trees, as has been found
by experience. It lays about four or five eggs at a
time ; and many afiirm it fleeps all the winter, and
does not appear abroad till the fpring. Some take the
Hoopoe to be one of the moft beautiful birds in Eu-
rope^ and it may be tamed and fuftered to run about ;
and then it is very pleafant to fee how it will lie before
the fire, ftretching out its wings, and difplaying its
beautiful ere ft. Linnaus affirms, that thefe biids lay
but two eggs at a time ; but moft other authors agree
that they ahvays lay four at leaft, which are oblong,
and fmall in proportion to the ftze of the bird. Some
phyftcians maintain that the flefti is excellent againft
the cholic, and that broth made therewith has actually
cured fome that had been long affli£led with that difeafe ;
but then the bird was ftufted with juniper berries, and
fennel-feeds j to which, perhaps, the cure might be ow-
ing.

The MAN OF WAR BIRD, called a Frigate by
the French, on account of its fwiftnefs, is an anoma-
lous bird, and it is hard to fay to what clafs it be-
longs. The body is of the ftze of a large hen, and
the feathers of the male are as black as thofe of a crow.
The neck is moderately long, the head fmall, the eyes
large and black, and the fight as piercing as that of an
Eagle. The bill is large, black, ftrait, and fix or

feven

OF BIRDS. 125

feven inches long ; but at the end it is bended like a -
hook. The toes are very Ihort, and it has two claws
like thofe of a Vulture, but quite black. The wings
are fo prodigioufly long, that its breadth is feven or
eight feet, when they are extended, which is the
lefs wonder a3 they are fometimes feen eight or nine
hundred miles from the coaft where they are bred.-
It cannot rife from the branches of trees without
great difficulty, but when it is once upon the wing, it
leems to glide along very gently, keeping its wings
extended, almoft without ilirring them. When the
rain is heavy, and the wind high, it rifes above the
clouds, to be out of their reach, getting quite out of
fight ; and yet, as fome fay, though it is never fo high
it can perceive dolphins and flying-filh, which are its
prey ; and then it darts down like lightning, and takes
the fifh as it flies, without wetting its wings in the wa-
ter. The male has a red comb on its head, like a
cock, both above and below the head. The females
are without, but they have white feathers, particularly
under the belly. In a fmall ifland lying in a bay of
GuadaloupBy thefe birds make their nells, in the proper
feafon ; and here they come to take their reft in the
night-time. The oil or fat of thefe birds is faid to be
a Ibvereign remedy for the hip-gout, and for all pains
proceeding from cold humours. Darr.pier fays this bird
is of the Ihape and fize of a kite, that it is of a black
colour, with a red neck, in which laft particular he
diifers from Tertre, from whom this defcription was
taken. It lives upon fiih, and yet never lights on the
water, but foars aloft like a Kite ; and when it fees its
prey it flies down, head foremoll, to the water's furface,
and takes it with its bill, mounting up again immedi-
ately very fwiftly. The wings, he cblerves, are very
Jong, and tlie feet are like thoie of a land-fowl.

The LOGGERHEAD, called by fome the Ash-
COLOURED WOODCOCK with a Great Head, is a
bird of Jamaica, it is fix inches long, and eleven
broad, and has a black bill, near an inch in length,
which is of a flattifli tiiangular figure. The nolhils
are round, and encomrafTed with a fort of black brif-
" G 3 ties.

126 THE NATURAL HISTORY

ties. The tail is two inches and a half long, the
head is large, black on the top, and feems a little crell-
ed. The back is of a light brown or afh-colour, and
the wings and tail are of a dark brown or blackifh ;
and towards the end there are tranfverfe white lines.
It is a fooHfh bird, and never gets away at the ap-
proach of a man, and may be eafily knocked down
with a ftick ; from whence it has got the name of
Loggerhead .

There is another Lo c o e r n E a d, a little bigger than
the former, with a bill three quarters of an inch long,
which is ftrait, iharp, crooked at the end, and has a
little rifmgin the middle of the upper mandible. The
noftrils are round, encompafTed with brifiles, and the
head and back are of a light afh-colour. The wings
and tail are of a dark brown ; and fpotted on the edges
with orange. The chin is hoary, and the belly white.
The feet are brown, and the tail three inches long.

The QUATOTOMOMI, is a fort of a Mexican
Wood-pecker, of the fize of a Hoopoe, and varieg^^
ted with black and brown feathers. The head is
fmall, covered with red feathers, and has alfo a red
crefl, which is black on the upper part, and three inch-
es long. T he bill is white, and the lower mandible is
ihorter than the upper.

There is another fort, which is very large, and call-
ed by the Mexicans Ocononetl; they have both
a broad white ilripe on the fide of the neck, which de-
fcends down to the breaft, and the feet are livid.

The TLAUHQUE CHULTOTOTL, is another
Mexican Wood-pecker, which is larger than a Black-
bird, and has a long black bill, but the lower mandible
is much Ihorter than the upper. The top of the head,
and moil of tlie upper part of the neck are red ; and
the v.ings and back are black, variegated with white
tranfverfe lines ; but below they are all G'^ an afli-co-
lour. It makes holes in the trees, like the Englijh
Wood-pecker.

The KUAUHTOTOPOTLI is as big as a Star-
ling, and of a black colour, fpotted with white, efpe-
cialiy about the tail, the ends of the win^s, and on the

bill

O F B I R D S. 127

bill and belly, which are almoft entirely wliite. It is
ealily tamed, and is often kept in houies.

The OCOCOLIN is of the fize of a Starling, and
is variegated very beautifully v/ith black and yellow ;
but about the back, and on the thighs and belly, it is
of an afli-colour. The bill is long and fnarp.

The QUAUHCHOCHOPITLI is a fmall bird
that bores trees with its beak It is of t]ie fize and
fliape of a Quail, with black or brown feathers, tinftur-
ed v/ith white tranfverfe lines ; but the breail and bel-
ly are red.

The TZIMTZIAN is a bird of the ilze of a Pigeon,
with feathers of various colours, that ferve the natives
of Mexico to weave feveral curious works. The bill is
fhort, crooked, and pale, and the head and neck are
like a pigeon's, but covered with fine greenifli feathers.
The breaft and belly are red, except that part which
is next the tail, which is of a bright blue, mixed with
white. The upper part of the tail is greenilh, and
the lower black. The wings are partly white and
partly blackifh. The iiis of the eyes is yellow, inclin-
ing to red, and the legs and feet are of an afn-colour.
It is found in Me.yuo, near the coaft of the South
Sea.

CHAP. XIX.

O/* Land-Birds, that frequent the V^ hi 2.^ ^ and feed
upon Fish.

THE KINGS-FISHER, in Z^^//zIspida,
is lefs than a Black-bird : The bill is thick,
firong, ftrait, fharp, black, and two inches long :
The v.'hole bird is eleven inches long, from the tip of
the bill to the end of the tail ; and the breadth is ele-
ven inches ; likewife the weight is an ounce and a
•quarter. It is covered with f;:;athcrs of a beautiful co-
lour, and the top of the head is of a greenifli black,
with tranfverfe blue fpots. The back is of a curious
G 4 fhining

128 THE NATURAL HISTORY

fhining faintifh blue, and the breaft, the lower part of
the be41y, the fides, and under the wings, are red.
The middle of the belly is of a pale red, and between
the nortrils and eyes, as alfo beyond the eyes, there are
reddiih fpots, inclining to white. The tail is an inch
^<nd a half long, and the legs are very fliort. The feet
are of a fingular ftrudurc, for the outer toes adhere
to each other by the middle of the three fpaces between
the joints ; and the innermoft by one only. The inner
toe is the leall, and Ihorter by half than that in the
middle. The flomacli is large, and loofe, as in other
carnivorous birds, and has been found full of the fmail
bones and fcales of fifhes. It builds its neft in tlie
holes of the banks of rivers. We are told that the fat
of this bird is red, and that there are often found nine
eg^s in its neft ; tho' Willoughby affirms he found but
iive.

The American KINGS-FISHER, is like the
European, with regard to the general make, and. the
ihape of the bill and feet ; but it has a longer tail in
proportion. The bill is ftrong and blackilh, except
near the lower chap, which joins to the head, where it
ia of. a reddiih flelh-colour. The head is of a bluiih
le^d-colour, and on the crown there are loofe, long,
pointed feathers, that form a fort of a crcft. There
are two white fpots on each fide the head, and the
throat, and under fide of the neck are while, which
forms a fort of a collar, and nearly meets behind the
neck. Below this white the breaft i5 of a lead colour,
as well as tlie whole upper fide. Six or feven of the
prime quills are blackiih, having fm.all white fpots on
the outer webs, which all together form tranfverfe lines
of white. The remainder of the quills outwardly have
white tips, and the inner covert feathers of the wings
are white, with a little mixture of orange colour. The
tail is of a lighter lead-colour, and all the feathers are
tipped and tranfverfly marked with narrow bars of
white. I'he belly, thighs, i.nd covert feathers under
the tail are white. The legs and feet aie of a reddilli
brown, and the claws duli:y. This bird was brought
tiom lludfiini-B^iy.

The

jPa^^ xa S.

or ^nadionrf 68 a^.

J'/'jin£*fc^'

72<f

O F B I R D S. 129

_ The JAGUACATI GUACU of Marcgrai'e, is a-
kin to the King's-fifher, and is of the fize of a Thrufh.
The bill is like that of a Kings-iiiher, but longer by an
inch. The legs are extremely fhort, and the two outer
toes are ihort ; but the third is vaftly Ihorter, and
placed at a greater diftance. The upper part is of the
Ihining colour of rufty iron, and there is a white ring
about the neck, The lower part is white, and near
the eye there is a white fpot.

The Bengal BEE-EATER is of the fize of a
Black-bird, and has a black bill, thick at the bafe,
bending downward, and near two inches long. The
eyes are of a fine red, and there is a black llreak on
each fide of the head, which begins at the corner of
the mouth, and runs beyond the eyes. The bafe of
the upper chap, and under the chin, are covered with
bright, pale, blue feathers ; but the upper part of the
back of the head is of a dufky yellow, as well as the
back and wings, only thefe lait are Ihaded pretty ih'ong-
ly with green. The tips of the quili feathers are
brown, the breail and belly green, and the under part
near the vent of a pale yellow, with a fmall mixture
of green. The outumoll feathers of the tail are varie-
gated with green and yellow, and the two middlemoil
feathers are twice as long as the reft, that is nine inch-
es, and terminate in iharp points of a brown colour.
The legs and feet are like thofe of a King's-fiiher.

The QUURBATOS, or FISHER, is of the fize of a
Sparrov/, and its plumage is finely variegated. It has
a bill as long as the whole body, and is very firong
and fnarp ; it is armed on the infide with fmall teeth,
not unlike thofe of a faw. It fkims in the air, and
on the furface of the water, with prodigious f.viftnefs ;
and there are fuch numbers of them on each fide the
river of Senegal, that fometimes they amount to feveral
millions. Their nells are compofed of earth mixed
with feathers and mofs ; and are fo artfully built they
are proof againft the rain. Le Maire informs us, that
they make their nefts on palm-trees, and at the extre-
mity of the moll {lender branches, where it hangs by
a reed or ftraw of a foot and a half long, at the end of
which the neil appears like a ball in the air,

Gs Tl>e.

1^0 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The BEE-EATER is of the Ihape of a Kings-
Jifher, and of the fize of a Black-bird, or bigger. The
bill is like that of a Kings-iifher, only it bends a lit-
tle more downwards : Likewife the feet are exailly
like thofe of the fame bird. The tongue is flcnder,
and rough towards the end, where it is jagged, as if
it had been torn. The eyes in fome are hazel, and in
others of a beautiful red colour.

The head is large and oblong, and the feathers at
the bafe of the upper chap are white, ihaded with
green and yellow. The back part of the head is in
fome of a deep red, and in others there is a mixture of
green among it. From the corners of the bill along
each fide of the head, there is a black llreak, which
extends beyond the eyes ; and near it, on the under
part of the head, the feathers are of a pale yellow.
The belly, neck, and breaft are of a bluifh green, and
iWe feathers on the fhoulders in fome are blue on the
i»n<ier fide, and in others green, with a mixture of red.
The large wing-feathers are of a colour inclining to
orange, with black tips, intermixed with fome that
are green. The tail is upwards of three inches long,
and confifts of about twelve feathers, the two middle-
moft of which are confiderably longer than the reft,
and end in Iharp points. The colour of the tail va-
ries, for in fome it is green, in others blue, and 6f a
dark brown underneath. It is a native of Bengal in
the Eajl- Indies.

The Little Green and Orange-coloured
KINGS-FiSHER, is five inches in length, from the
tip of the bill to the end of the tail, which is longer in
proportion than the common Kings-fifher. The bill is-
of a duiky colour, except part of the lower cliap, to-
wards the head, which is reddifh. The throat is of an
orange-colour, and it has a mark of the fame colour
running from the bafe of the bill on each fide over the
eyes. The head, hinder part of the neck, the back,
tail, and covert feathers of the wings, are of a fine
jParrot-green colour. It has alfo a bar of the fame
green a-crofs the breafl ; but the fides under the wings,
and the fides of the belly are of a bright, reddifh,

orange

-m y L 1^^^

c^d/a^t'^i^/u^^S^^M9VJ^rd^

— l-W"

Trr.ye/x/<r-

O F B I R D S. 131

orange-colour. The middle of the belly, the thighs,
and the covert feathers under the tail are white. The
tail confiils of twelve feathers, whereof thofe in the
middle are a little longer than the reft ; and the in-
ner webs of the tail feathers are fpotted v/ith white.
The inner coverts and ridges of the wings are of a
light orange, and the quills are dark brown or dulky,
fpotted with a light clay colour on the outer and inner
webs, except a few of the outer quills. The legs and
feet are fmall, and the toes connefted: as in all other
Kings-filhers ; and they are of a fleih-colour.

The KINGS-FISHER of Catejby is about the fize of
a Thrufh, and is the greateft of all thofe with fhort tails :
The head is great, and full of feathers, placed like a
tuft, but without order, and of a blue colour : There
is a white line under the eyes, and a white fpot on the
forehead : The breafl is alfo of the fame colour, but
variegated v^ ith ftreaks of red and blue. The belly
is v/hite, the quill feathers of the wings black, but
white at the ends, and the tail is blue. It has three
toes before, and one behind.

The KINGS-FISHER of the river Gambia, is of
the fize of a Thruili, with a long tail, and the wings
of a fea-green colour. The fmail feathers that cover
the large are purple and blue ; the bill is rtd,, and the
colour of the large feathers of the wings is a dulky
brown.

The Black and V/hite KINGS-FISHER has a
long, tail, a black bill two inches long, a fliort neck, a
longiili head, and the winj^s crofied over the tail.

The Surinam KINGS-FISHER, has a forked tall,
two of whofe feathers are longer than the reft.

The Smyrna KING-FISHER, is three times as
large as the common fort, and has a very long bill,
thick at the bafe, of a red colour, and fiiarp at the
point. The iris of the eyes is white, and the top of
the head, and neck, and lower part of the belly, and
thighs are brown : A broad white ftripe runs crofs the
breaft into the fcapular feathers of the wings ; and the
wings, back, and tail are of a fine dark green j but the
leffs and feet are of a curious red,

• Ths

132 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The Be?fgal KINGS-FISHER is of the fize of a
Thrulli, with a bill thick at the bafe, of a fine fcarlet
colour, and three inches long. It is fharp at the end,
and the iris of the eyes is of a fine yellow. The head,
the upper part of the neck, and back are brown ; the
breaft, throat, and part of the belly white, with five
large brown fpots on each fide. The wings, the lower
part of the back, and the tail are of a fine bluifh green,
except the brown covert feathers of the wings The
legs and toes are Ihort, and of an orange-colour.

The Small Be^igal KINGS-FISHER is of the fize
of the common fort, with a fine fcarlet bill, Ihaped
like the former, and a )'ellow fpot on the forehead,
with one that is white under the throat ; there is likewife
a broad black line that runs from tlie bill quite round
the eyes. The tuft on the head is of a dirty red, be-
i\eath which there is a dark blue line, feparated from
the back by a broad white ftripe. The back and
wings are of a dark blue, the rump or the upper part
of the tail red ; but the under fide of the belly, thighs,
and tail are of a beautiful yellow. The legs and ittt
are inclining to fcarlet.

The MEROPI CONGENER of Al^ro'vandus, is a
bird in {bme particulars like the Bee-eater, but the bo-
dy is a little longer and thicker, and the bill more re-
fem.bles the fhape of a fickle. The head, and lower
part of the belly are yellowifh, and the back of a
cheftnut colour, but near the rump there is a mixture of
green and yellow. It agrees with the Bee-eater in
the fnape of the bill, and the black marks that run on
both fides near the eyes.

Another bird, a-kin to the Bee-cater, is the GUIRA
GUAINUMBI of Brafil: When the feathers are off,,
the body does not exceed the fize of a Thruih ; tho'
when they are on it feems as large as a pigeon. The
bill is black, near two i-nches lon^, and on each fide,
above and below, it is toothed like a iaw. The legs
are fliort and black, and the feet and toes are like thofe
of a Kings-fillier ; but the tail differs greatly from that
of the Kings-filher,for it is very long, and in the middle
there are two (juiils, without webs, except at the extre-

inities>

OF BIRDS. 153

mitles, for two inches in length. All the feathers are
very beautiful, for there is a fort of mitre on the head
compofed of fapphire-coloured feathers, with a black
Ipot in the middle.

There are three or four more kinds of King's-fifhers,
of which authors have given us nothing but their
names: However, there is a Mexican Kings -fifher,
called HoxocANAUATLi by the natives. It does
not differ much from the Englijh, only it has a creil of
a bright blue colour.

The ¥:e.\icun birds of this kind are the TOLCO-
MOCTLY, which is about three fpans long, and has
a white belly and breaft, mottled with brov/n. The
upper part of the wings are mottled with white, brown,
and blue ; and it lives upon lifli.

The AXOGUEN is mottled with yellow, tawny,
and ala-colour, and has a black, iharp bill, eight
inches long, with a neck two fpans long, and a ficin that
hangs \try loofe about the body. The tail is tlii: teen
inches and a half long, and the tliighs are long. Jt is a
Water-fowl, and lives upon fifn ; but Mr. Ray thinks
it does not belong to the tribe of Kings-fifhers.

The QUAPACHTOTOTL, or TAWNY-BIRD,
fo called from the colour of the wings, neck, and head..
The body is eight inches long, and the tail is of the
fame length ; but the bill is of a blackifh blue, and is
long and crooked. The iris of the>yes is white, the
breall of an afh-colour, and the beliy, from thence
as far as the tail is black ; but the tail itfelf is of a
blacki(h tawny. It has a note fomewhat like the
laughing of a man, and is by the inhabitants thought
to be a bird of ill omen.

CHAP.

154 THE NATURAL HISTORY

CHAP. XX.
Of DoMESTicK Fowls.

THIS Sort of birds differ from all other others,
in having a fhort, ftrong bill, a little crooked,
for the picking up of grain. The flomach, called the
Gizzard, confifts of thick mufcles, and the body is
thick, heavy, and fiefhy. The wings are fhort and
concave, for which reafon they are not able to fly far.
They have a very long blind gut, and the flefh is white,
particularly about the breaft, which is peculiar to thefe
fort of fowls. This is a fign of the goodnefs of the
meat, and its being excellent nourifhment. They lay
a great many eggs, and make their nefls on the ground,
becaufe they do not feed their young like other birds.
Thefe are covered with a foft down, follow the hens,
and pick up their food themfeh^es ; and laftly, they de-
light to neftle among the duft.

The Dunghill COCK and HEN are fowls fo
well known, that a very minute dcfcription of them
jaeeds not be made. The upright tail of the Ccck,
Gonfifring of angular feathers ; the flefhy, dentated,.
naked comb on the top of the head ; the wattles that
hang under the chin, and the long fpurs, fufHciently dif-
tinguifh them from all other birds of this kind. He is the
only fowl that crows in the night, or even fmgs, in thefe
parts, except the Nightingale : He begins after midnight,
and never ceafes crowing by fits till after break of day.
The principal feathers of each wing are twenty-fevcn
in number, and the tail confifts of fourteen, which is
peculiar to this bird ; for all others of the fame kind
have eighteen, or fixteen at leaft : The two middlemoft
are very long, and are turned back in the form of a
half-moon.

Hens commonly lay their eggs almoft all the year
about j but they commonly become barren at the age of

three

O F B I R D S. I3r

three or four years. It Is not certain how long thefe.
fovvls will live, tho' (bme affirm it is ten years ; but
as they are generally kept for profit, they are always
kill'd before the utmoft period of their natural lives.
It is well known that Cocks are very couragious
birds, and there is a breed of them generally kept oa
purpofe, in all parts of England, for Cock-fighting ;
tho* it v.ere to be wiflied that tliis cruel cuflom were
laid afide ; not to mention that it would fave great
numbers of familiss from ruin.

It has been affirmed, almoft by all authors, ancient
and modern, that a Lion Hands in dread of a Cock,
and that he can neither bear his fight nor crowing ;
but this is found, to be falfe, for a cock that was put
into a Lion's den, by order of King James, was im-
mediately torn to pieces. It is fomewhat ftrange, and
yet true, that a capon will take care of chickens, call-
them together, and co\'er them with his wings as care-
fully as any hen ; but then there has been fome art ufcd
to bring him to it, for they pluck the feathers off the
breaft, and then iling the naked fkin with nettles, af-
ter which they turn him to chickens, and he is thought
to defire their company in order to eafe his pain :
However, when he has once begun to take to them,
he continues to do the fame ever after.

Aldro'vandus takes notice of nve or fix forts of thefe
fowls i but they are rather varieties than different
kinds ; for all domellic fowls differ much in their co-
lours, and other particularities. It is allowed that va-
rious authors have given figures of the fuppofed different
kinds, but they appear to be abfolutely fictitious, and
made after the fancy of the painter The Cock has a
very piercing fight, and never fails to cry in a parti-
cular manner when he difcovers any bird of prey in
the air, fuch as Buzzards, Kites, Falcons, and
Hawks.

There is a little ^g^ fometimes found in Hens nefts,
no bigger than that of a pigeons, which is commonly
called a Cock's egg, and is pretended by fome, that a
Crocodile has been generated from it ; but this is a
fable ; for fome of them have been kept thirty years,
and have always continued ia the iajne iiate. Thefe

136 THE NATURAL HISTORY

fort of eggs have no yolk, and therefore it is no won-
der they ihould not be prolific ; however they are not
laid by a Cock, but by a hen, as has been found by
experience and ftridl examination ; likevvife the Hens
have been opened that laid them, and they have been
found to have had fome inward diforder.

Some reckon eight different forts of thefe domeftick
fowls, viz. thofe with Long Legs, or Hamburg Fonuls ;
thofe with Short Legs ; Dnxarf Fonx-Is; Friefaftd Foixlsy
that ha've the feathers bent back toivards the head; Ne-
gro Fo<^/s, that are brought from Guinea and Senegal,
that haue a black comb andjkin, black bonesy and ivhite
flefh ; Foivls nxnthont a tail, and enjen a rump ; thefe are
called, in fome parts of England, Rumjkms ; Fonjcls that
ha'veffe toes on each foot, that is, three before and tixo
heh:7id, and Fon.<jh <^\:ithout <vjings, or at ieaft with
thofe fo fhort, that they are of no ufe in flying.

We may judge of all other eggs by thole of the
Hen, in which the yolk and white are readily difiin-
guilhed ; but there is one fort of white that furrounds
the yc^k, and there is a fecond which encompaiTes that ;
there are alfo ligaments that fupport the yolk, near the
center of the ^^%y and two membranes, one of which
furrounds the yolk, and the other the white : Befides
thefe there are a third and fourth that encompafs them
all ; as alfo a fhell that defends the whole. The ufe
of this laft is to enable the hen to lay it without break-
ing, and to defend the chicken from any accident till
it is formed, and ready to come out of the fhell. The
cicatricula, or fmall white fpot that is feen on the
membrane which furrounds the yolk, is the real germ,
that contains the chicken in miniature.

It is almoft impoffible to difcover the changes that
are produced in this germ, from time to time, on ac-
count of the fluids that furround it ; however, this we
are certain of, that the fmall round fpoc that lies on the
membrane of the yolk is always placed near the center
of the egg, and when the hen fits upon it, it is always
fuppofed to rife up to that part next her belly, that it
may be vivified the better ; infomuch that this germ
is never turned upfide down, let the egg be moved how
it will in the well j at leaH this is what the curious

hAve

O F B r R D S. I J7

have afRrmed . The white is thought to ferve inftead
of milk to feed the young, and the yolk to be that
part from whence its growth proceeds. When the bill
3o formed it begins to be weary of its prifon, and at-
tempts to break the ihell, which at iafl: it adually
doet. At firft the belly is quite full of the yolk, which
fer\'es for nourilhment for fome time, tliat is, till it is
able to peck the provifions brought to it by the Cock
and Hen,

The Egyptiansy from whom other nations have learn-
ed feveral arts and fciences, were tlie fiifl wlio knew
how to hatch chickens without the help of a Hen ; and
for this Purpofe they build fpacious ovens, but of a quite
different fort from ours; in thefe they place a great num-
bers of eggs, and by the means of a gentle iire, they
keep them in the fame heat as they would have under
a Hen. Here they remain till the ufual time of hatch-
ing, and by this means they have fometimes above
thirty thoufand chickens at a time, and they are com-
monly fold by the bufhel. If this art was to be prac-
tifed here, it would be no hard matter to determine
the degree of heat by the help of a thermometer ; that
mull be the fame which they have in Hen's neft ; and this
may be done by placing the ball thereof in the middle
of the eggs that are hatching.

It is well known that a Capon is a cailrated Cock,
and the operation is performed to render the flejh
more delicate and fat: it is generally done tov/ards
the end of three months, and that of June is l^iid to
be the bell time, bccaufe then it is neither too cold nor
too hot. They open the lower b^liy, near the placs
where the teilicles are feated, and with the fore-iir.ger
they are drawn out, as gently as pclhble, and then
they few up the wound, and anoint it with u!ifaitcd
butter.

The fleihofa Cock contains a great deal of oil and
volatile fait; but it is not in fuch hi^li eftecm as that
of a Hen, or rather of a Pullet, becaufe it is drier,
not fo well tailed, and is harder of digeflion : However
fome are extreamly fond of the combs, when made into
The broth made with Cocks was always

accounted

138 THE NATURAL HISTORY
accounted extremely good, and the older they are the
better they are for this piirpoie : It is aperient, de-
tergent, nourilhing, reftoracive, and keeps the bod^' a
little open. When the broth is llrong, it is cf great
life to reftore the health after a long difeaie, and is^fuf-
iicient for that purpofe without any thing elfe. Some
pretend the inward fkin of the gizzard, dried in the
lun, and powdered, is a fpecific to Itrengthen the llo-
mach, and to flop vomiting ; the dcfe is from a fcru-
ple to half a dram. Others prefer the windpipe of a
Cock, and affirm the powder of it is excellent againft
incontinence of urine. The gall of a Cock, like that
of moft other animals, is good to take away fpots of
the eyes ; and. the fat is excellent to heal chapped
lips ; to which fome add pains in the ear, and pullules
of the eye.

The flefh of a pullet contains a great deal of oil and
-volatile fait, like the former, and is in very great ufe
as an aliment. It is pedtoral, eafy of digeftion, and
yields good nourifhment. It is very good for thofe-
that are weak, and enfeebled by long difeafes. The
flefh of an old hen is dry, and will not eafily digefl :
In general the flefh of a young Hen, or Pullet, agrees
with all ages and conflitutions ; but it is befl for thofe
that are delicate, and lead fedentary lives ; for labour-
ing people require llronger and more folid food. It is
ufed like that of a Cock to make broths and jellies,
which are very good in confumptions of every kind.
Some have been cured of obftinate coftivenefs by their
ufe, when all other means have failed. The dung of
a Hen has die fame properties as that of a Pigeon, but
much weaker, and fome recommend it againil the
cholick, the jaundice, and fuppreiTion of urine; but
the white part is befl. The dole is half a dram, morn-
ing and evening, for four or five days. Some cut
open a living fowl, and apply it immediately to the
head of patients, in malignant fevers, and in all dif-
eafes of the brain. There are others that pluck off
the feathers from the belly of a living fowl, and ap-
ply it to the region of the heart in malignant fpotted
fevers, upon a fuppofition that it draws out the venom,

and

O F B I R D S. 139

and the rather, becaufe the fowl will immediately die.
I'hey farther direft, that if the difeafe is very malig-
nant, three of them mult be applied, one after ano-
ther.

The eggs, as already obfervTd, confdt of two parts,
the white and the yolk ; this lall contains a great deal
of oil, and a volatile, acid fait: but the white has a Wrong-
er acid, behdc:, which, there are oily parts, and a mo-
derate quantity of phlegm. There is no aliment more
common than the egg^;, and they are equally ufeful in
health and ficknefs. They are cooked in many dif-
ferent manners ; but they are beil fo boiled as not to
becom.e hard : They eafily digeft, are very nourifning,
abate the acrimony of the fluids, appeafe coughs, and
render the voice clear. They are alfo good for the
breath, raife the fpirits, purify the fluids, and ftrength-
en the whofe body. Some fwallow the yolks alone,
negledling the whites ; but this is a bad cuftom, for
they are bell both together.

As to the ufe of eggs in medicine it is very extea.-
five ; for the ihells are very diuretic, cleanfe the kid-
neys, and free them from gravel. The dofe in fine
powder is half a dram ; it is one of the princijpal in-
gredients in a famous medicine againfl the king*s-
evil. The principal ufe of the white is in eye-v/aters,
againfl rednefs, and inflammations of the eyes ; and mix-
ed with bole it is good to heal wounds. The yolk is
anodyne, maturating, digellive, and laxative ; and it
is ufed in glyllers, againil violent cholicks, a tenefmus,
and the bloody flux. The yolk of a new-laid egg,,
beaten up in warm water, with a little fyrup of maiden-
hair, is laid to be an excellent remedy againil coughs,
and is to be taken for three or four nights fuccefTively.
The oil of the yolks, by expreiiion, is good to fcften
the Ikin, and to take away the marks of the fmall-
pox. The thin membrane next the Ihell, is diuretic,
and fome ufe it externally to cure agues : They afhrm,
that when it is wrapped about the little finger, at the
beginning of the fit, it will caufe a great pain, and
fometimes produce a whitlow, which is often followed
with a cure.

A fol-

140 THE NATURAL HISTORY

A foldier, covered all over with a leprofy, was ad-
vifed to take a dram of calcined egg-lhells, morning
and evening, as alfo a purge once every month, which
he did, and was cured in four months time.

Boil an egg hard, take out the yolk, fijl up the
cavity witli white vitriol, and then place it in a cellar,
and it will yield a liquor that is excellent in wo\inds
and ulcers of the eyes.

The flefh of a Ciiicken is beft when they are two
or three months old, and it has pretty much the fame
properties as that of a Pullet; but it is more delicate
and juicy. It may be eaten at all times, and in almoll
all difeafes, as well as by thofe of difr'erent conftituti-
ons ; but chicken- broth, made of a chicken boiled for
three hours, is beft for patients in a fever, v/ho only
require a very light nourifliment ; it is alfo good in
pains of the bowels, and in a vomiting and loofenefs :
However, unlefs a great deal be drank of it, it will
not have any great eft'eft.

The PEACOCK, in Latm Pavo, is remarkable for
its beautiful tail, by which it is dillinguifned from all
other birds in the world. The head and neck, begin-
ning at the breall, are of a deep blue, and the head is
fmall in proportion to the body, on the crown of which
tliere is a tuft, confilHng of fine green iliafts of fea-
thers, with the refemblance of the flowers of lillies at
the top ; but they have a greater refemblance to the foot-
ftalks of plants newly fprung up than feathers ; the
bill is whitiih, and cloven pretty deep. The neck is
long and flender ; the wings towards the back are
black, and towards the belly red. The tail appears to
be double when it is fpread, and tlie Icfier is of a dufky
colour, and does not ftand up like a long one. The
long feathers fpring out of the rump near the vent,
and the fhorter fccm defigned on purpofe to fupport
them. The long feathers of the tail are of a cheflnut
colour, bcautiiled with moft elegant lines, that fhine
like gold ; but the tips are of a very deep green The
eye, of the feathers are party-coloured, of a deep green,
(hininglike achrylbiite, of a gold, and fapphire colour.
They confill of four circles, difierently tinctured ;

the

O F B 1 R D S. 145

the firft is golden, the fecond cheftnut, the third green,
and the fourth or middle blue, almoft of the ihape of
a kidney-bean. The legs are armed with fpurs, like
a Dungiiill-Cock, and the belly, near the flomach,
isofabluilh green. They delight in fpreading their
tails to fliew their beauty j and they are certainly a
moil curious fight.

The PEA-HEN has little variety in its colours, for
the wings, the back, the belly, the thighs, and" the
feet, are all brown, inclining to afh-colour, as well
as the top of the head, and the tuft ; tiiough the top -
of the head has a f^vv greenifh fpots difpei-fed here and
there. The iris of the eyes is of a lead colour, and
the chin is quite white : The feathers on the neck are
green, and undulated, but are white at the extremities
near the brcall.

Peacocks feed upon the fame things as common
fowls ; but they are moft fond of barley. They feem
to have been firll brought into -ff^^c/f from the Ea//-
Indres, where they are common every where. There
are few bii-ds befides this and the Turky-cock, that
have the faculty of extending their tails fomewhat like
a fan ; but it is not true that they fpread them on pur-
pofe ta hide their ill-fhapen legs, as fome have pre-
tended. They lay about five or fix eggs before they
fit, and feldorn mere in thefe parts, whatever they
may do in the Ead-Indies. They do a great deal of
damage in gardens, and will fometimes throw the tiles
from the tops of the houfes, when they are but flightly
laid on. ^hey have an extremely diiagreeable cry,
infomuch that it is a proverb amongft the Italians, that
A Peacock has the plumage of an angel ^ the 'voice of the
de<-oil, and the guts of a thief. It is generally faid Pea-
cocks will live an hundred years, but this is hardly cre-
dible ; nay it may be even doubted whether they will
live twenty-five or thirty, as others pretend. This
bird varies in its colour, for fome are white, and there
are feveral of thele now expofed to fale in the bird-
fhops of London.

It is commonly faid, that the flelh of a Peacock,
when boiled, will never corrupt ; but this cannot be

true.

54-2 THE NATURAL HISTORY
true, though perhaps it may lafl longer than many
others, becaufe it is hard and folid, and if it be care-
fully dried after it is drefied, may continue fweet for
fome time. A Peacock bears the iiril rank among do-
mellick fowls, as the Eagle does among the birds of
prey ; for which reafon the ancients have confecrated
the Eagle to 'Jupiter., and the Peacock to Juno. We
are told, that Alexander the Great was fo taken with
the beauty of this bird, when he firil faw it in India^
that he forbid the killing any of them, under a heavy
punilhment. It delights in high places, for which
reafon it is \try fond of getting on the tops of houfes,
and if they are thatched, it does them a great deal of
mifchief.

The flefli of a Peacock contains a great deal of oil
and volatile frdt ; but it is feldom ufed as an aliment,
becaufe it is hard, dry, and difficult of digeilion ; in-
deed it was formerly brought to the tables of great men,
and ufed in fealts, but then it was more for the fake of of-
tentation than its goodnefs. Perhaps it may be for the
fame reafon, that many extravagant gentlemen in our
time make ufe of Pea-chicks in their entertainments ;
thougli fome affirm they are delicate eating. Some
Phyficians recommend the flefh againfl: fwimming in
the head, and broth made of it for the pleurify, to
promote urine, and to cleanfe the kidneys. The gall is
good to take away fpots of the eyef, as is that of moft
other animals ; but the part that has been moll ufed
is the dung, which fome would have to be a fpccific
in the epilcpfy and vertigo. The dofe of it in powder
13 from a fcruple to a dram.

The Bantam COCK, is of a fmall fize, but
has a great deal of courage, and will light any thing
that comes in his way. He has a reddilh bill, jfine
red eyes, and a curious rofey comb on the crown
of the head. His ears are co^'ered with a tuft of
white feathers, and his neck, and back, with long
frreaming feathers, of a mixture of orange and yellow.
The breaft, and lower part of the belly are black, with
>ong ftiff feathers on the thighs, reaching much be-
low the knees ; and the legs are feathered, as far as
the toes. The tail coafifts of iliiF black feathers,

among

O F B I R D S. 143

among which are two large ones, in the form of a
fickle, that hang over the reft. It was firft brought
from Bantam in the Eaft-Indies, and is now pretty
common in 'England.

The Bantam HEN is very fmall and beautiful,
but the colours frequently vary. The bill is of a
yellowifh horn-colour, and there is a fmall white
comb, with a few white feathers, on the top of the
head. The fkin round the eyes is reddilh, and bare,
and the ears are covered v/ith a brown tuft of feathers ;
but the reft of the body, and the wings and tail are
yellow, mottled with dark brown. The thighs and
legs are feathered like the Cock's.

The Hamburg COCK is a ftately fo\^I, and his
bill is thick at the bafe, but ends in a iharp point.
The eyes are of a fine yellow, encircled round with
dark-coloured feathers, under which there is a tuft of
black ones that cover the ears. It has a rofey comb,
that does not reach half way on the head, the hinder-
part being covered with dark-coloured feathers, in-
clining to black. The throat and gills are much of
the fame colour, with long hackle feathers, of a mix-
ture of orange and red, waving down the neck,
and black at the extremities. The breaft and belly
are of a dark colour, variegated with round black fpots,
and the thighs, and lower part of the belly, are of a
Ihining velvet black The hinder part of the neck,
and the top of the back, are of a daikiih red, and the
tail confifts of fhining black, red, and orange-coloured
feathers. The legs and feet are of the colour of lead,
only their bottom is yellow

The Banda HORNED-COCK, has two tufts of
feathers ftanding upright on the fore-part of the head,
of a very beautiful colour ; but in other things it le-
fembles the common fort.

The East-Indian COCK, is a very beautiful
fowl, and the plumage of the v/hole body confifts of
black, white, green, red, and blue feathers. The
back-part of the head is adorned with a fielhy fub-
ftance, in the ihape of a pyramid, of a blood red co-
lour, and feems to be fcaley. The breaft is mottled

with

14+ THE NA TURAL HISTORY

%with red and green, and the tail is made up of twelve
large flaming feathers, not unlike that of a Peacock.
The comb is double, and the wattles an inch and a
half long.

The Brasilian COCK, called by the natives
QUAN, or GU AN according to Edxvards, has a black
tuft on its head, and its wattles is a Ikin a little reddilh,
furnilhed with black hair on the edges. The plumage
is brov,nifh, variegated with black, gold-colour, blue,
white, and grey. The feet are of a reddifli gold-co-
lour, and the bill is narrow and black.

The TURKEY, calledin /«//« Gallo-Pavo, ex-
pands its tail in the manner of a Peacock. The neck
and head are bare of feathers, being covered with a
red or purplilh fkin, which, when it prides itfelf,
fwells, and is, as it were, blown up to a confiderable
bignefs. It has a certain red flefhy appendix, or worm-
like carbuncle upon the upper-chap of the bill, which
it can lift up and contract, or caufe to flag at pleafure.
The tail is made up of eighteen feathers, and each
wing has twenty-eight prime wing-feathers. The legs
have a fort of rudiments of fpurs, which are very con-
fpicuous, and ihe eggs are larger than thofe of a Hen :
'Vhty are whit* and Ipeckled with dufky yellow fpots,
not unlike freckles on a human face. They are a very
tjefiiy bird, and grow to a very large fize, infomuch
th*at in fome parts of the world they are faid to weigh
iixty pounds ; but in England they feldom weigh above
twenty. The flefh of a hen Turkey is good and fvveet,
and not inferior to that of a Pullet ; but that of a Tur-
key-cock is a little more rynk, and nor quite fo deli-
cate. It is not originally a native oi England -, but was
brought into Europe either from India or Africa. They
are a little tender, and the young are very difficult to
be reared without proper care.

The COMB-BIRD is of the fize of a Turkey-cock,
and is to be met with about the rivers Senegal and Gam-
bia^ in Ajr'ica. The plumage is grey, Itreaked with
black and white, and the wings are \txy large, tho'
he makes but little ufc of them. He walks as gravely
as a Spaniardy holding up his head, which is covered

with

O F B I RD S. us

with a fort of foft hair, about four inches long, which
hangs down on each fide, and is curled at the point, look-
ing as if put in order by a comb ; whence it is named.
The greateft beauty is in the tail, which refembles
that of a Turkey-cock,- The upper part is as black
as jet, and is very brilliant, but the lower is as white
as ivory. They make fans with the feathers.

The North-American TURKEY is a v/ildblrd,
and fomewhat like the common fort, only it is blacker,
and of a greater bulk j for fome of them will weigh
fixty pounds, and one of thirty is very common, when
the feathers are off, and the entrails taken out. The
flocks of thefe are fo large in Carolina, tliat they fome-
times are five hundred in number. Laivfon fays, the
feathers ai-e always of one colour, namely, a dai'k gray,
or brown. They feed upon acorns, huckle-berries,
and many other forts of berries proper to Korth-Avie-
yica. They cannot be brought up tame ; for if the
^ZZ^ are taken and hatched under a hen, they will
yet retain their wild nature, turning wild at lafl ; for
they can never be brought into a houfe to rooft.

the Crested TURKEY-COCK is abdut the fize
of the common fort, and has a large beautiful crown
of feathers, which fpread over the top of the head.
The flefhy part of the head, and that of the neck are
red, intermixed v/ith blue and purple, much in the
fame manner as in other Turkeys. The back, and
upper part of the body, and v.ings are of a yellowiili
dufky brown ; but the breaft, belly, and lower parts,
together with the under fides of the wings are white.
The feathers on the thighs, and lower part of the bel-
ly, are black on tlieir outer edges, and the tail is of a
whitifh colour, v/ith the feathers formed into a fort of
fcoliops in circular rows ; the firft have their ends tip-
ped with black, and the next -with a du&y yellow.
The legs are of a fort of flefh-colour, but the claws ai-e
more dufky, and there is a buihy tuft on the lower
part of the breaft of the cock, like horfc-hair, by
which he is diilinguiihed from 'he hen. This is a
bird of Nen;:-E}}gland \ both Dale iin^ A Ibin z.^rm, thjt
it is a domeflic fowl ; which, if true, it cannot be
the fame as the former.

V 0 L. 11. II The

146 THE NilTURAL HISTORY

The MIl'U, or MUTU, of Braftl, is a kind of a
Phealant ; but as it has a faculty of fpreading its tail,
it is more like a Peacock, or Turky-cock. It is larger
than a Cock, and the feathers all over are black, ex-
cept on the belly, and under the vent, where they are
brown. The liead is co\ ered with a black, fiiky down,
and on the top there are black feathers, fo folded to-
gether that they reprefent a little mitre. It generally
lies flat upon tlie head, but when the bird is angry it
is railed up like a creft. The bill is crooked, an inch
and a half long, and of a carnation colour ; but to-
wards the end it is whitifh. It is a very mild animal,
and delights to perch upon trees like a Peacock.

The Indian HEN of Aldronjandus, is a fort of a
Mitu, for it differs nothing from it except in a blue
pear-like procefs at the beginning or root of the bill.
Mr. Ray is in doubt whether this differs from the former
in fpecies or in the fex.

The Indian COCK of Aldro^andus, called Mi-
tup o r a n g a by Marcgra've, has a bill Icfs high and lefs
crooked than the Mitu, and is black at the extremity ;
but all the other part is covered with a faffron-coloured
fliin, which is of the fame kind about the eyes. The
feathers on the neck and head are of a deep black, and
ihine like filk ; and on the top of the head there are
feathers turned like a fcrew, which mi.ke up a creft
when they are erefted. They are two inches and a
half in length, and two lines and a half in breadth,
and the neck is nine inches long. The reft of the
body is black, with a fmall mixture of green, and
about the vent there are v/hite feathers. I'he legs are
of an afh-colour.

Another Indian COCK of Jldrcvandus , has a tu-
bercle in the fhape of a cherry on the upper mandible
of the bill, in which it difters from the former.

The Guinea HEN, or Pintado, has a round
back, with a tail turned downwards like a partridge ;
but the neck and legs are longer in proportion than in
a partridge. The feet are furnifticd with membranes
or webs like water-fowls. The head is covered with
a kind of cafque, and the whole plumage is black or
dark grey, fpeckled with white fpots. It is of the

iize

/4^

^t^te/tea S^ortn.

2^/

OF BIRDS. 147

fize of a common houre-fowl, and the cafqae on the
middle of the head is of a horny fubilance, and of a
duiky red colour, and it has wattles under the bill,
which do not proceed from the lower chap, as in hens,
but from the upper, and the head is bare of feathers,
but on the upper eye-lids there are long black hairs
that turn upwards. The bill is like that of a common
fowl, but in fome of them, at the root of the bill,
there is a fmall tuft, confilHng o: twelve or fifteen
threads, orre third of an inch in length, and as thick
as a pin, being of the fame fubliance as hogs brillles.
On each fide of the bill there is a bluilh Mn, which
extends towards the eye, and furrounds it ; but be-
comes black in that place. This Ikin forms the eye-
lids, and being lengthened, and becoming double,
form the appendices or wattles of the cheeks. They
have differenc iliape>s in different fubjecls ; for fome are
oval, fome are iquare, and others again triangular.
They are of a red colour in the female, and blue in the
male : Behind the wattles the ears are placed, and are
quite uncovered ; but the aperture is very fmall, per-
haps becaufe there are feathers about them.

The feet are of n gieyilh brown, and co\ ered with
large fcales before ; but behind there is only a rough
Ikin, like Ihagreen leather ; and the hinder toe is
Ihort. The guts are three feet in length, without rec-
koning the two blind gut^, which are connei^lcd by ths
membranes to the mefentery, and the gizzard is like
that of a common fowl. Thefe Guinra hens are faid to
feed together in flocks and they feed their own chickens,
as well as ihcfe belcnguig to o'ther kinds, if they
come in their wav

The WILD HKNof TJarcgrave, called by the Bra-.
fiiians Macijcagua, is of the fize of a common hen,
and has a black bill, a thick body, but no tail. The
heel is round, like that of an Ollrich, and the clawd
.'Lie blunt and grey. The whole head and neck is
ipottcd with duiky yellow and black ; but it is white
under the throat. The brsall, belly, and back arc
of a duffcy afh-colour, and the wings throughout are of
the tclour of umber, waved with black, except the
H z prime

I4S THE NATURAL HISTORY
prime feaihcr^, wjiidi ;irc quite black The feet are Blue,
and it is a very flefhy bird, and runs on the ground ;
but the feet are not improper for the climbing of
trees.

CHAP. XXI.
0/ Wil^ Cocks a;;^ Hens.

THE COCK of the JVoods, or Mountains, is
of the fize of a Peacock, and of the Phea-
fant kind. The neck is nine inches long, and of a
blackifh colour, intermixed with light afli-coloured
fpots. The head is black, the beak Ihoit, broad, and
rifmg high in the middle ; the breall and belly are
black, and the wing-feathers are pretty long, and of
X duficy, blackifli colour. The feathers under the
wings are whitifh, and the thighs are likewife white.
The legs are co\'ered with feathers, down to the toes,
of a dufK-y colour. There are feveral white fpots at
the tail, which fome pretend are more or lefs accord-
ing to the age of the bird. They are natives of fe-
veral parts of Ewopey and particularly of Irelaiid and
Wales ; but there are none in England,

The HEATH-COCK, or Bl.ACK-GAME, or
GROUS, is called by fome the Moor-Hen, and in
the North parts of England the male is rtam-ed the
Black Cock, and the female the Grey He5i. The
male is ^^lack all over, but the female is of the colour
of a Partridge. It is about the fize of a hen, and is
common on the fides of high mountains ; but it fome-
times defcends into the plains, and is to be met with
in lew heaths.

The cock weighs about three pounds, and is in
length, from the tip of the hill to the end of the tail,
twenty-three inches, and the breadth thirty-four in-
ches when the wings arc fpread. The hen is nine-
teen inches long, and thirty-one broad. The cock
is all over black, and the edges of the feathers, ef-
pecially on the neck and back, have a kind of a bluifh

glofs.

OF BIRDS. 149

glofs.- The female is reddifh, with, black tranfverfe
lines, and the bill is black and crooked. It feeds on
the tops of heath, acorns, and the like. The pouts
bear their dams company, when after their full growth,
in the fame m.anner as young Partridges.

The RED GAME, of which the male is called the
GOR-COCK, and MOOR-COCK, and the female
the MOOR-HEN: The young are named GoR-
FowLs, and Pouts, efpecially in the North of Bng.
land. It is half as large again as a Partridge, and the
colour is much like that of a Woodcock, but redder.
It has a fmall head, a narrow body, a Ihortbill, a little
bending, v/ings like common hens, a fhort tail, long
legs, very long toes, and fdes but a little way at a time.
Ii builds its nell upon very low trees and ilirubs, by the
v/ater-fide, and breeds twice or thrice in a fummer.
Its eggs are white, with a greenifn call, and are fpec-
kled with reddilh fpots. It ftrikes with its bill like a
Hen, fits among thick boughs near the water, and
flies with its feet hanging down.

The ATTAGSN of Aldro^^andm, is called a Fran-
col in by the 1 tali am ^ and is of the fizc, and in all
other refpecls like a Pheafant. It has a fliort, black
bill, crocked at the end, and the head is very beau-
tiful, Ijeing adorned with a yellowiih creft, variegated
with black and white ij^ots, and it is placed in the mid-
dle of the crown. 1 he Ikin is naked round the eyes,
and of a fcarlet colour ; and there is a beard under
the throat confifting of very fine feathers. It is found
on the tops of the higheil mountains in Sicily, and the
flelh is extremely good, and eafy of digellion, yield-
ing plenty of nourifhment.

The LAGOPOS of Aldro'vandus, is the WHITE
PARTRIDGE of the Sa^ijoyards : The colour is en-
tirely white, except on the tail, v/hich is blackilh ;
and yet the middle feathers are white. The feet are
covered with feathers to the very nails ; and it agrees
in all things, except the colour, with the Moor-cock,
This likewife is called a Fran col in by the Italians.

The HAZEL-HEN, in Latin Gallina Corolo-

RUM, is called by Gefner Attagen. It is about the

fize of a common Hen, and is fifteen inches in length

PI 3 to

150 THE NATURAL HISTORY

to the end of the tail ; but the breadth is twenty-two
inches, when the wings are extended. The bill is
blackiih, and like that of a common Hen ; and it has
:i naked red {kin upon the eye-brows, like tlie Heath-
Cock ; and the legs before are feathered down half-
way. The belly is all over white, only there are black
fpots in the middle of the feathers, with two or three
tranfverfc ftripes on each. It feeds upon the ^catkins
of hazel nut-trees, from whence it has its name, and
delights in woods and groves ; for it is not a mountain-
ous bird, as feme tl.ink.

The PARTRIDGE of Damascus, fo called by
Be!lQ7:ius^ is lefs than the a(h-coloured Partridge ; and
*,m the back and neck it is of the colour of a Wood-
cock. The wdngs, where they are joined to the body,
are covered with white, dufky yellow, and brown fea-
thers ; but the ten prime feathers are of an afh-colour.
The inner part of the wings, and the belly are white,
it has a broad Ilripe on the breail, confifting of a mix-
ture of red, brown, and yellow. Its legs are fea-
thered like thofe of the white Partridge. The flefh is
veiy delicate, and is in high elleem where thefe birds
arc common.

The FRANCOLIN of theEAST-lNDiES, is found in.
other parts of the World, particularly in the illands of
the Archipelago : It is fomewhat larger tlian our common
Partridge, and the wing, wiien clofed, is fix inches
long. The leg, from the knee to the heel, or foot,
is two inches and a quarter, ajid fiom tlie point of the
bill to the corners of ths mouth is a little above an
inch.

The bill is black,* and fliaped much like that of a
common hen; the noilrils are placed in a little emi-
nence, and the tongue, and the infide of the mouth,
are of a flelh-colour. The iris of the eyes is of a ha-
zel-colour, and the head is covered v/ith black fea-
thers, except a v/hite fpot under each eye, and a little
mixture of red on the crown, with a few fmall fpots
of white, which proceed from the part above the eyes,
and join on the hinder part of the head. The feathers
all round the neck are of a reddilh orange -colour, and

fpeckled

ra4jc . fSO

KyfK:^/i^^^^f^^^

Jhci/^c.

O F B I R D S. T51

fpecbled with fmall round fpots behind, between the
neck and the back. The belly is black, fo is the
breaft, but there are regular, round white fpcts on the
iides. There are alio white fpots on tlie belly and
thighs, but they are more broken, and mixed with a
litiie reddifh colour. The covert feathers under the
tail are entirely of a reddifh orange ; and the back is
covered with feathers that are black in their middles,
and bordered with a reddiih brown. I'hofe on the
fides of the back, which fall partly over the wings,
have the black and brov/n indented into each other.
The wings are dufky, and regularly marked with
round light brov/nifli Ipots : The inf:de of the wings
are of the fame colour as without, but the fpots are
more broken, and running in tranfv'crfe lines. The
lov/er part of the back, and inmjp are covered with fea-
thers, variegated with black and v/hite, in narrow,
tranfverfe lines. The tail feathers arc marked in the
fame manner, except the tips, which, for an inch in
breadth, are wholly black. The legs and feet are co-
vered with red fcales, and three of the four toes . are
connefted, near the bottoms, by membranes. TJie
claws are of a horn-colour, and the legs of the male
are adorned with fpurs.

The KATA of Syrian is about the fr.e of a Par-
tridge, and is in fhape between that and a Pigeon.
The bill is of a light colour, tipped with black, and
is fhort and thick. The legs are v^hite, and covered
with fhort feathers on the fore-part. Three of the
toes Hand forv^^ard, and there is a fmall fpur behind.
Round the eyes, and the fore-part of the neck, ex-
cept beneath the throat, where it is black, the feathers
are of a light colour. The tips are black, and form a
fort of a ring, on the upper part of the breaft, which is
of a cinnamon colour, terminated at the lower part by
a black ring like the former. The belly is white, and
the back, and that part of the wing next to it is of a
moufe colour ; but moft part of the feathers are tipped
with a bright yellow : Likewife the tip of the pinions
is of the fame colour ; but the fhort feathers under it
are broad, and tipped with black, or rather a coffee-
H 4 colour.

1,-2 THE NATURAL HISTORY
colour, having a narrow rim of white at the very ex-
tremity, which appear like ib many half-moons. The
long feathers of the wings are of a moufe colour, and
thoie on the rump are agreeably variegated with black,
white, and yellow. The tail, which is Hiort, like that
of a Pigeon, terminates in two long and very narrow
black feathers or quills, near three inches longer than
the reily and ending in a point.

In the months of Mqy, and y«w, they are to be met
with, in great numbers, about Jlcppoy tho' they are
to be had at other times of the year, but not in fo great
plenty. The flelh is black, hard and dry, infomuch
th?.t the Europeans never eat them, tho' the Turks feed
upon them ytry heartily. They will fcmetimes take
an afs-load of them at a time, with a cafting-net. This
bird feems to refemble the little Pin-tailed Grous ;
cf which in the next article.

The Little Pin-tailed GROUS, is about the
fize of a Partridge, though its fhape is more like that
cf a Dove : The wings, when clofed, meafure eight
■inches, whereas thofe of the grey partridge are only fix :.
The bill is of a brov>'n or horn-colour, darkiih at the
point; and it is made much like that of a common.
Hen The noftrils are at the bafe of the upper chap,
ctofe to the feathers of the forehead. The head is of
an afli-colour ; but on the fides round and under the-
eyes it is tinctured with orange. Above the legs is a
black line, and the throat, from the bill more than an
inch dovs'nward is aifo black, as in a cock-fparrov/.
The lov/er part of the neck before, at the beginning
Oi the breaft, has a fpace of orange, like a half-moon,
bordered above and beneath with narrow, black lines.
The points of this crefcent tend upwards towards the
hinder-part of the neck ; but the remainder of the
breaft and belly, the thighs, fore-part of the itgs, and
under the tail, are covered with whits feathers. The
coverts beneath the tail are mixed with a little black
and reddifli brown ; and the hinder part of the neck,
and back, is covered with brownifh feathers, having
the tips more yellow and light, and the middle parts
ihaded by dufky, tranfverfe lines. The rump, and

upper

O F B I R D S. rn

upper part of the tail, are more regularly marked",
with tranfverfe lines of orange and black. The fide
feathers of the tail are tipped with white, and grow
gr£.dually fliorter to the outermoll on each fide ; tht
two middlemofl being a great deal longer than the
reft, and are very narrow, and of a duricy colour.
The covert feathers of the wing are beautifully varie-
gated with arch lines of an orange and coffee-colour,
their tips being white. - The quills next the back are
of the fame colour with the back, and the reft of the
quills are of a dark afli-colour, becoming gradually
almoft black at their tips. The legs, on their fore-
parts, are covered with white feathers, like hair; but
the feet are bare, and of an alli-colour. The three
forward toes are connected together by fkins at the
bottom ; the back toe is very i'mall,

This bird was brought from Aleppo hy Dr. Rujjel,
from whom we have the defcription of the former.
Mr. Ed-ivards fays it is the fame bird v/hereof he has
given us the figure j but as it differs in feveral re-
fpe^ls from this, there muftbe a miftake in one of the
drawings: Hov/ever, this is certain, th?X Mr. Ed-cvar(h
took it from a bird well preferved, and has exaftly
defcribed the colours ; and if they fhould be the fame,
this account is more accurate than the former ; tho*
we may have poffibly given a fupernumerary article.

The Ruffed HEATH-COCK, or GROUS, is
nearly of a middle fize between a Pheafant and a Par-
tridge ; and the bill is made like a Hen's, being of a
brownifti horn -colour. The feathers bend forward to
the noftrils, which they cover ; and thofe on the crown
are pretty long. Mr. £^ai;«r^j fuppofes, that this bird
can raife them up like a creft, or let them fall at plea-
fure. The feathers on the neck arc long, which it caiY
raife in the form of a ruft", or let them fall £at. Its
head, neck, back, wings, and tail are beautifully va-
riegated with dark and light brown, and a mixture of
black. The end of the tail is alh-coloured, and within
that is a broad tranfverfe bar of black. The under
:fide of the tail is marked and coloured like the upper,
but fainter* The inner covert feathers of the wings
H 5 arC'

154 THE NATURAL HISTORY

are of a light brown and white ; but their infides are of
an arn-colour. The feathers between the back and
wings are orange and black, with white tips. Imme-
diately under the bill the feathers are white, and the
throat is of a bright brown, inclining to orange. The
breait, belly and thighs are white, with a faint tinc-
ture of orange and black ipots, like half-moons, on
the bread and fides. The legs are covered, down to
the feet, with white feathers, which have the appear-
ance of hair. The fore-toes are of a fleih colour, Itand-
ing in the ufual manner ; and they are connedled at
their bottoms, by membranes.

He fpreads his tail like a Turkey-cock, and walks
with a very llately even pace, making a noife fome-
v/hat like a Turkey-cock : But the moft remarkable
circumftance belonging to this biid, is the thumping
with its wings ; for it will Hand upon an old, fallen
tree, and begin the llrokes very gradually, and repeat
them quick, thicker and thicker, till they make a
noife which feems like thunder at a diflance, which
continues for about a minute, ceafes for about feven
minutes, and then begins again. This found may be
lieard at the dillance of half a mile, which gives no-
tice to the hvmters where it may be found. They
exercife tliis thumping in the fpring and iall, at nine
or ten in tlie morning, and four or fi\ e in the after-
noon. Their food is chiefly benies and feeds, and
their flefh is white and delicate. They hatch twelve or
fourteen at a brood, v»'hich keep company till the fol-
lowing fpring. At our fcttlements in North-zlmerica
they give this bird the name of a Pheafant, and it lays
its eggs in a nefl made in leaves, either in the fides of
fallen trees, or the roots of Handing ones. The young
ones leave their nefts as foon as they are hatched, and
Mde themfelves fo artfully among the leaves, that it is
difficult to find them. This bird is particularly fond of
a fort of ivy-berry, which is poifon to feveral other ani-
Uials. Mr. Brooke, of Marj/cindy obferves, that the
above thumping is chiefly made in the fpring, when
they fwell their breafts like a Pouting-Pigeon ; for
which reafon it makes a noife like a drum. This is
jUib CGnfirmed by Lehontan,

The

O F B I R D S. 155:

T\\t North- American Long-tailed GROUS, has a
bill of a dufky colour, fhaped like that of a Hen, and
the head and neck are of a bright reddilh brown, va-
riegated with tranfverfe dufky lines. Above and be-
neath each eye the feathers arc whitiih, and thofe on
the back, wings, and tail, are black in their middle-
parts, and are indented with a bright brown on the
iides ; befides they are tranfverfly marked with black
and brown at their tips. The outer covert-feathers of
the wings, and quill -feathers next the back, are tipped
with white, and the prime quills have white fpots
along their outward webs. The two middle feathers of
the tail are near two inches longer than thofe next
them, and three outermoft feathers on each fide are
white. The breaft from brown gradually becomes
white, as does the belly; and the breaft has black.
Ipots like a half-moon. The legs are covered with a.
fort of hair^s of a whitiih brov/n-colour, tranfverily
vaiiegated with dufky lines. The toes are pcftinatedi
on each fide.. This bird was brought from Hudjons-
Bay..

The Black and Spotted HEATHrCOGK, is of
a middle-fize between a Partridge and a Pheafant ;:
but the tail is longer in proportion than that of a Par-
tridge. The bill is like that of a Hen, of a dark lead-
colour, and tlie noftrils are covered with black fea-
thers.. The fore-part,, and under-fide of the head are
black, and between the corners of the mouth and the
eyes there is a white fpot, and another behind the eyes.
There are white lines run under the eyes, down below
the throat, where they meet. The feathers on the top.
of the head, the neck, back, and coverts of the tail,,
are variegated with black and dufky-brown, as are al-
fo the covert-feathers of the wings. The quills of the
wings are dufky, edged with brown ; and all the fea-
thers of the tail are black, tipped v/ith orange. The
breaft and belly aje black, and fo are the lower belly
and thighs, but mixed with brown and v/hite. The
legs are covered down to the feet with flender brown
feathers, tranfverfly waved with black lines. The
hinder- toe is hid in the feathers. This bird was brought
from Hud/on s-Bay.

Th&

156 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The PHEASANT diiFers in weight according as it is
fat or lean, for there have been cock Pheafants that have
weighed from forty to fifty ounces, and hens thir-
ty - three. From the tip of the bill to the e>id
the tail, is thirty-fix inches, and to the extreniity
of the claws, twenty-four; the breadth, when the
wings are extended, is thirty-three. The bill is
an inch and a quarter, to the comers of the mouth,
and it grows wliite with age. It has a flefhy and tu-
berofe membrane on each fide, at the place where it
joins to the head above, and under which the noftrils
are hid. The iris of the eyes is yellow, and the eyes
themfelves are furrounded with a fcariet colour, fp rink-
led with fmall black fpecks. On the fore-part of the
head, near the bafe of the upper chap, there are black-
ifti feathers, mixed with a ihining purple. The top
of the head, and the upper part of the neck, are ting-
ed with a darkiih green, that fhines like filk. Infome
the top of the head is of a fnining blue, and the head,
itfelf, as well as the upper part of the neck, appears
fometimes blue and fometimes green, according to the
light it is placed in. The elevated feathers on each
fide of the head, over-againil the ears, have been by
fome called horns : There are long blackifh feathers.
coUeded to the lower corners of the ears ; and the
fides of the neck, and throat are of a fhining purple ;
however both the green and purple reaches no farther
than the edges of the feathers ; the other parts being
brownifh on the top of the head, blackifh on the necky
and thoie under the chin, and at the corners of the
mouth ai-e blackifh on the edges with a greenifh caft.
Under the green of the other part of the neck, the
feathers of the breaft, the fhoulders, the middle of the
back, and the fides under the wings have a blackifh,
ground, with edges tinged, of an exquifite colour,,
which appear fometimes black and fometimes purple,
according to the different lights it is placed in. Un-
der the purple there is a tranfverfe fpot or Itreak, of a
ihining, golden colour, and then a fallow colour, that
reaches as far as the black ground, mentioned before ;
however thefe colours are feparated by a narrow, ihin*

OF BIRDS; 157

kg, purple line. Upon the neck the extremity cf the
feathers are tinged with a black fpot, of a paraboliclc
fhape. The Ihafts of all thefe feathers are yellowifh,
and the feathers themfelves marked on the fide of the
fhaft, on the upper part of the neck below, with an
oval Ipot upon the black ground. The feathers on
the (houlders, and thofe that cover the middle of the
back, are variegated wdth the following colours ; that
is, at firft they are yellow on the edges, then there isr
a narrow purple line, afterwards anoilier that is broad-
er, black, and parallel to the exti-emities of the fea-
thers, in which is contained another whitifh line. The
red of the feathers are blackifh as far as the ground ;
and yet there is a fpace in the middle of the back, that
is variegated with brown and black ; and the ihafts of
the feathers are yellow. The feathers on the back,
that follow next, are all tav/ny, with a reddifn call,,
and are without the white fpot jufr mentioned ; they
are longer than the former, and terminated with fmali
filaments ; however, as in the former, in feme lights-
they appear greenifh. The tail, from the middle fea-
tiiers to the root, is eighteen inches long, and re-
fembles an organ ; for the feathers encreafe gradually in.
length on each fide till they come to the longcft in the
middle. The two longell feathers are furrcunded with,
iixteen others, namely, eight on each fide ; and they
are ail of an aih-colour, buttawney on the edges, and.
adorned near the fhafts with blackifii fpots, placed op-
pofite to each other on the long feathers, and they are-
to be feen only on one fide in thofe that are leaft. The
wings, when clofed, are nine inches long, and, when
expanded, eighteen inches ; and their feathers next the
body are variegated with the fame colours as the be-
ginning of the back ; and thofe that follow refemble
the hinder part of the back ; hov/ever thofe on the
iides are like thofe cf the Grey Partridge. The bread,
and the part of the belly about the crop, as well as un-
der the wings, are of the fame colours as the neck, but
net fo blight. Near the vent, and on the thighs, the plu-
mage is of a blackifh tav/ney ; and the legs, the feet
and the toes, as well as the claws, are of the colour of

horn;

1^8 THE NATURAL HISTORY
horn ; only thefe two laft are more brownilh. There
is a membrane that belongs to the toes, that no other
birds have which delight to rowl in the duft, and
yet they are of no ufe for fwimming. There are fpurs
on the legs, fhorter indeed than thofe of a Cock, but
fharp and black. The hen is not fo beautiful as the
cock, fhe being almoil of the colour of a Quail. The
Pheafant delights in woods and forefts, and feeds up-
on acorns, berries, grain, and feeds. They lay eggs
but once a year, which are fometimes twenty in num-
ber : They are difficult to take, uniefs in the winter,
when their footfteps may be traced in the fnow ; and
they are ufually met with among coppices, for they are
fonder of low than tall trees ; however, in the night-
time they rooft upon the latter. There are few Phea-
sants in Denmark^ and none in Snxijfe>land^ likewife there
does not feem to be any in Siveden, becaufe Linnaus
takes no notice of them in his Fauna Suecia. Phea-
fants ufually hide themfelves in rainy feafons, and
they make a great deal of noife in hying, v/hich is very
flov/ ; infbmuch that thofe who ihoot thera have time
enough to t?.k2 thcjr aim. About the middle of March.
they make theirnefts, on the ground, with dry leaves,,
ftraw and grafs, and among the thickefl bufhes. When
Pheafants are kept in places that are Ihut up, they are
apt to negleft their t^^^-, and therefore it is common
to put them under hens, where they continue thirty
days before they are hatched. There are white phea-
fants as well as Peacocks, but they are very uncommon.
The fielh of this bird is accountedvery delicate, and it
yields good nourilhment ; for which reafon it is re-
commended to perfons of he6lical conllitutions, and.
to tiiofe that are recovering from difeafes. Some pre-
tend the flefh is good againll epilepfies and convulfions j
but there are no experiments to fupport this opi-
nion.

The Ho RKED Indian PHEASANT, is a bird for
fize between a Hen and a Turkey, and the fhape is
pretty much like that of a Turkey. The bill is brown
like a Hen's, and the noftrils, fore-parts of the head,
and fpace all round the eyes, are covered with a fort

of

^^^ JJt^

15^

a7'y^^mm/pt^ /^/^^

504.

ZBvfu/ Jo.

O F B I R D S. 159

of blackilh hairs. The top of the head is red, and.
above each eye, tending backwards, there is a horn
of a callous flelhy fubilance, round, blue, and ending
in abiuntiili point. There is a flap of loofe {kin down
the fore -part of the neck, which is of a very fine blue,
with orange fpots thereon. On the outfide of this
flap, down its middle, is another long black {kin,
connected to it by its edge only. The neck and breafl*
are of a deep red, a little inclining to orange, and the
breaft, and lower part of the neck, are fpotted with
white; each fpct being encompalTed with a black
ring. The back, wings, tail, and under fide are of a
yellowifh brown, which gradually foftens and inter-
mixes with the red round the bottom of the neck ; the
vv-hitifh fpots on the back, wings, tail, and belly, are
like pearl drops, the {harp ends being towards the
head. They are all encompafTed with bhck, and the
thighs are brown. The legs and feet are like tliofe of
a Cock, with fpurs thereon.

The CARASOW, or Jmerican PHEASANT, is
by the Creoles called the Mountain-Bird, and by
fome travellers the Lesser Wild-Turkey. The
head and neck are black, refembling velvet, and there
is a high creft of ruffled black feathers, in the form of
a feniicircle, with a white llreak running through the
middle, and parallel to the edges ; this the bird can
raife or let fail at pleafure. The reft of tiie body, ex-
cept the lower part of the cock, is black, and that of
the hen of a dufky brown. The tail is alfo black, ex-
cept four white bars that run acrofs it, near the extre-
mity. The bill is thick in the upper jaw, where there
is a round excrefcence, as big as a hazel-nut ; the eyes
are black, the legs pretty long, and the fize of the bo-
dy not much lefs than the fize of a common Tur-
key. It is eafdy tamed, and the fieih is excellent eat-
ing.

The Red China PHEASANT, is about the fize
of the European, and has a light-coloured brown bill, with.
a yellow iris of the eyes. The feathers on the upper
part of the head are of the fame colour, but there is a
very curious creft, of long fcarlet feathers, hanging

down

i6o THE NATURAL HISTORY

down on the back of the neck, and beautifully varie-
gated with black fcolloped lines. The back is yel-
low, and the fore-part of the neck, breail and belly
are of a fine fcarlet col©ur. The upper covert-fea^
thers of the wings are of a fine dark blue, interfperfed
v.'hh a few black fpors ; but the tirit row of the other
feathers are of a dark yellow, fpotted with brown.

The White China PHEASANT, k of the fize
of the former, with a duflcy yellow bill, from the bafe
of which, along the upper part of the head, there is
a curious crell of black feaxhers, which hang down the
hinder part of the neck. I'he eyes are furrounded
with a ilrcak of white feathers, and that with a iine
fcarlet circle, fpeckled with a dark red : This is
continued from the bill to the hinder part of the
head. The back, neck, and wings are white, in-
teriperfcd with a few dark fpots and fhades ; but the
brea:l, and under part of the belly, are black, as
well as the tliighs, and the feet are fcailet, with
black claws.

The Peacock PHEASANT, according to Edivards-y
is another C6/>?^ bird, which has the upper jaw red,,
and on the feathers that cover the v/ings there are blue
fpots like eyes, and on the tail green ipots, and there
are fpurs on each lee, as in a Cock.

The Brov/n PHEASANT has eyes of a bright
blue, and the wings and tail are of a deep blue. There
is no gicat difference between this and the former, for
which rc-afon this may probably be the hen, as Ed-
ni;ardi tJiinks.

L/z/Avi-w mentions one, that- perhaps may be the cock,
of t]:ie P.ed China Pheafant, and he obferves that it is
ftf the fize of the common fort of Cocks, with a yel-
low creit on the head. The bill is fhort, and there
is a fpace about the eyes without feathers ; the neck is
yeliowiiii ; the breaft, fore-part of the neck, and belly,
are as red as fcarlet ; but the fhoulders are of a bright
green, bordered with black, and the back is yellow.
The rump is adorned with long, fcarlct-coloured fea-
thers, which hang on each fide the tail ; but the
thighs are. of a reddifh xufty colour; the firll feathers'

of

O F B I R D S. i5i

©f the wings are brown, and the fecond blue on the
outilde

The Brasilian PHEASANT, called Jacupem.v
by Marcgrarjey is a little lefs than a common Hen ;
but the tidi is broad, and a foot in length y the legsj
are alio long. The neck is about lev^n inches in
length, and the body, from the neck to the rump, is
nine inches. The plumage is chiefly black, with a
little mixture of brown and white. • It can ereft the
black feathers on the head, in the form of a crei^
which are encompafied with other white ones. The
throat, under the head, for an inch and a half in
length, is naked, and covered with a red fkin. The
lower part of the body, and the latter part of the
wings halfway, are covered with a mixtnre of white
and black feathers ; and the upper part of the legs and
tail are black. The feet are of a fine red ; and it
takes its name from its cry, which is Jacu jacu. This
bird is eafily tamed, and its flefh is very good eaV
ing.

■Tertre fays, there is a bird called a PHEASANT,.
in the Carihbee illands, which is very beautiful, and as
large as a Capon i but is higher mounted on the legs,
and has the feet of a Peacock. The neck is much
longer than that of a Cock, and the bill and head
nearly refemble thofe of a Crow. All the feathers on
the neck and breail are of a Ihining blue, and have as
agreeable a look as thofe of Peacocks. All the back
is of a bx"ownilh grey. The wings and tail, which is
pretty ihort, are wholly black.

When this bird is tamed, it becomes mailer of the
reft of the fowls, driving away the Turkey-cocks,
raid other poultry, with its bill, and fometimes kills
them. They are likewife not afraid of dogs, for tiiey
fometimes will fall upon them, and make them run
away howling. We have an inllance of one that could
not endure to fee a negroe j for it v^^ould continually
peck hi^ legs and feet, fo as often to fetch blood..
1 he flefnis as good as that of the European Pheafants ;
Slid it has a particular cry, pronouncing the word Cut
racara verv diftindly.

The

i62 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The COXOLITLI is of the fize of a Peacock, and
of a brownilh colour. It dxifers from the jacupema,
and yet feems to be a bird of the fame fpecies.

The Common PARTRIDGE, is in length, from the
tip of the bill to the end of the claws, fonrteen inches
and a quaiter ; and twelve and three quarters to the end
of the tail ; and the breadth is twenty when the wings
are extended. The bill is brown at hril, but after-
wards grows whitilh with age, and the iris of the
eyes isyellowilh ; the breail is marked with a reddifh fe-
micircular fpot, in the form of ahorfe-fhoein the male,
bat there is none in the female ; the former weighs four-
teen ounces and a quarter, and the latter thirteen ounces
and a half. There are red excrefcences below the eyes ;
the chin and lides of the head are of a fafFron-coloiir
at iiril:, but afterwards of a bluifh afh-colour, with
black tranfverfe lines as far as the mark of the horfe-
Ihoe ; and under it it changes to a dirty grey or yel-
low. The longeft feathers of the fides have white
(hafts, adorned with a large, red, tranfverfe fpot.
The upper part of the body is variegated with red,
afh-colour, and black. There are twenty-three great
feathers on each v^ning. of which the firll are brown,,
with reddifh or whitifh yellow fpots ; but they are co-
vered with the innermofl feathers, and the longefl on
the flioulders, that have whitifh yellow fhafts. The tail is
three inches and a half long, and confifls of twelve fea-
thers, of which the four middlemofl ^reof the colour of
the body, and the remaining feven on each fide are of a
dirty yellow, and alh-coured at the points. The legs
are naked under the joints, and there is no fign of a
fpur; the feet are greenifh, but grow whitifh with
age; and the toes are tied together with a membrane,
25 in Heath-cocks. The crop is large, and the ftomach
or gizzard is mufculous ; thefe birds have a gall-blad-
der : They feed upon ants, and their eggs, as well as
upon corn and its green leaves ; and in winter they
eat the leaves of wheat ; but tlien the flefh is not in
fuch great efcecm in fummer as in autumn, when they
feed upon corn.

Partridges cannot fly very high, nor do they con-
tinue long in their flight, on account of the weight ®f

their

J'ayc-iS.i'

"ly^a^iyA 28,

jL^//i^:^&ifie/ij?

IhriUt^dc^.

OF BIRD S. f63

their bodies, and the fliortnels of their wings. In
winter they fly in flocks, for their young, which
are fifteen or fixteen, generally keep with the old ones ;
but in the fpring they hy by pairs.

Partridges are of a very hct nature, and in the fpring
the cocks fight with each other on account of the hens.
They are fond of rolling in the dull, and are of a very
fine fmell. They are to be met with in moft parts of
Europe^ and they are taken in nets, or killed v/ithguns.
They delight in places where there are domellick ani-
mals, fuch as horfes, oxen, deer and goats. The
young, as foon as they are hatched run after the hen,
which teaches them to get their living, and covers
them with her wings, like a domeftick fowl. In fpring
and fummer the tefticles of the male are large, but in
winter they are hardly vifible. Partridges, properly
fpeaking, make no neil ; for they are contented to lay
their eggs on the ground, where they find a little ftraw
or hay. The eggs have a pretty hard ihell, of a grey-
ifh colour, with a yellowifh call. This kind never
perches upon trees, whereas thofe that are red do, which,
often prevents their being taken. The flefh of a Par-
tridge is every where in high elleem for its delicate
tafle, and more efpecially when young ; for the fleih
of an old Partridge is hard, dry, and does not eafily
digeft. Some affirm, that roafled Partridges, eaten
with the juice of 5^i;i//V oranges, are good for loofenef-
fes, preceding a relaxation of the guts ; and the blood
and gall heal wounds and ulcers in the eyes. The
feathers, when burnt under the nofe, are good to bring
perfons out of fits.

The Mountain PAPxTRIDGE of Hernandez^
called OcocoLiN, is larger than ours, and has the
bill and feet of a bright red colour. The whole body
is covered with a mixture of brown, pale, and dulky
yellow. The wings underneath are of an afli-colour,
but above they are fpackled with tavvney, white, and
yellow fpots, as alfo on the head and neck.

The Mountain PARTRIDGE of Jamaica, is in
length, from the tip of the bill to the end of tlie tail,
teu inches, and the breadth, when the wings are ex-

tended^

164. THE NATURAL HISTORY

tended, is fixteen. The bill is like a Pigeon's, the
head is fmall, and the tail is two inches lonp-. The
upper part of the body is of a reddiih purple colour,
but the lower part is lighter, and it is whitifh under
the belly. The iris of the eyes is yellow, and the eye-
lids are of a beautiful red. The legs and feet are two
inches long, and red like thofe of Pigeons. It is found
among die mountains, and feeds upon berries. It
builds its nelt in low trees, with twigs placed tranf-
verfly, and lined with hair and cotton, for the better
prefervation of the eggs, and that the young may have
afoftbed.

The Hudsons-Bay PARTRIDGE is not unlike
thofe in England^ as to the Ihape of the head, but their
bills are rather more fnubbed and fhort. Over the eyes
there are fmall red combs, and the make of the body
is much like that of a Pigeon, but a great deal larger.
Their legs are muffled, and they feed, when the fnow
is on the ground, on the buds of poplar. They run
like an Evglijh Partridge, and in the winter feafon there
are flecks of them fecn together. In the fummer they
are pretty much of the colour of our Partridges ; bat
they moult their brown feathers when the winter comes
on, and. have in their Head thofe that are white, only
the larger tail-feathers are tipped with black. Theie
white feathers, except the pinion feathers, and the
large ones of the tail are double, having one growing un-
der the other : That under is lefs than the other,
and more foft and downy ; confeqaently in the winter
they may be faid to have double the number of fmall
feathers to what they have in fummer. They moult
thefe white feathers in the fpring, and refume the brown
againft the fummer feafon, which are all fmgle.
^The White PARTRIDGE of the Alps, is of the
fize and fhape of a Houfe-Pigeon, or fomewhat larger,
and it weighs fourteen ounces. It is about a foot and
three inches long, from tlie tip of the bill to the end
of the tail, and, when the wings are extended, it is
one foot ten inches broad. The bill is fhort, black,
and like that of a Hen, but the upper part is the long-
til, and hangs a little over the lov/er : The noftrils are

covered.

OF BIRDS. 165

covered with fmall feathers, and above each eye, in
I.U3 room of eye-brov/3, there is a wart in the fnape of
a half-moon, of a vermiilion colour, and without fea-
thers. The male may be diilinguiihed from the fe-
male by a black ilreak, which begins at the upper part
• of the bill of the former, paihng beyond the eyes, and
terminating below the ears. Ail the reft of the body
is very white, except the tail. There are twenty-four
large feathers in each wing, and the tail is above a
palm in length, confitling of fixteen feathers, the two
middlemoil of which are white, as well as the external
web of the lail feather on each fide : All the refl of
the feathers ai-e of a blackifli afh-colour, except at the
points, which are white. The legs are covered with
feathers, of a foft texture, to the very end of the toes,
which is the reafon why it is called by fome the Hare-
footed Paitridge. The claws are very long, like thofe
of a hare, and of the colour of lead. The hinder toe
is very fmall, with a large crooked claw. Thefe Par-
tridges are feen on the Alpiy which are covered with fnow
the greateft part of the yeaj.

The PARTRIDGE of Damascus, is lefs than the
common Partridge, and the bill is larger ; but in other
things they are pretty much alike.

The Drasilian PARTRIDGE, called Iambu by
Fifoj is of two kinds ; The firll is lefs than om-s, but
the other is much of the fame fize. The feathers
throughout the whole body are of a dark brown, but
mixed and fpotted with yellow.

The P.ED PARTRIDGE of AUro'vandiUy is the
Greater Red PARTRIDGE of Bellonius ; and it is
twice as large as thofe of our country ; for it is of the
bignefs of a middle fized Hen. It has a red bill and
legs, and is fpotted on the breaft and fides like ours ;
but the head, neck, breafl, and rump are chieiiy of
an afh-colour. The cheeks, under the ^y^^y as far as the
middle of the throat, are white, only at the corner of
the lower chap, there is a fmall red fpot, with a black
ring round the white fpace, which begins at the noftrils,
and proceeds over the eyes. Theregionof the crop is of an
afh-colour, but the breaft below it is of a reddilh yellow.

This

i66 THE NATURAL HISTORY

This bird is a ftranger in England, but is to be met with
in the iflands of" Jerfey and Guernfey, on the coaft of
Normandy ; but then this is of a lefTer fort, and is a mild
bird, and eafily tamed, and they build their nells in
open places, in the month of May^ without cover or
fhelter; at lealt, in the illands of the Archipelago^ where
they are in great plenty. Tcumefort fays, there are ib
many of them in the illand oINavfio^ that the Peafants
are obliged to deilroy their eggs in order to preferve
their corn ; and that the number C)i them generally
amounts to ten or twelve thoufand : However we are
not very certain that this is exaflly the fame as that
now defcribec^.

Tertre affirms, that there are three forts of Par-
tridges in the Carihhee iflands, namely red, black and
grev. However, tho' they are called Partridges by
the inhabitants, he rather takes them to be a fort of
Turtles : He fiiys their fie{h is not fo tender as thofe of
France^ and that they have ftrait bills, and perch up-
on trees. They lay but two eggs at a time, and the
young, when they are hatched, donot leave their nefls,
in the manner of Partridges, but are fed there by the
old ones. Lau:/on obfen'es, that the Partridges of
Carolina are often taken upon trees, and have a v/hiftle
or call quite different from thofe in Engloni. They
are a very beautiful bird, but are great defcroyers of
Peas in the plantations. They are feathered much like
thofe in Europe^ only the cock wants the hcrfe-fhoe on
the breart ; but it has a femicircle over each eye.
They are lefs than the Englijh Partridges, but are much
nner eating.

Labat affures us, that there are two forts of Par-
tridges about the ifiand of Cayenne in South /Unericoy
like thofe of Europe, with red or grey legs ; but they
are murli larger, and perch upon trees.

The QUAIL, in Latin Coturnix, is of the fame
ftiape and colour of a Piirtridge, and does not differ m ich
from it ; but is twice as fmall, being only feven inchts in
length from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail ; but
is fourteen inches broad, when the wings are extended,
'i'he hillj from the tip to the corners of the mouth, is near

an

O F B I R D S. 167

an inch long, and is of a fhape more flat than that of
other birds of the fame kind ; the lower chap is black,
and the upper vvhitilb, inclining to brown, and point-
ed at the end. The iris of the eyes is hazel, and there
is a twinkling membrane : The belly and breaft are of
a dirty white, inclining to yellow, with a reddifh
mixture on the breaft, There is a large long blackilh
ilrcak, that runs downwards, under the lower jaw, and
a whitiih line above tlie eyes, and on the middle of
the head : The head is black, but in fuch a manner
that the fringes of the feathers are reddilh, or aih-co-
loured. The middle part below the neck, and all the
feathers that cover the back, are marked with a whitiih
line, and the reft of the feathers ai'e variegated with
black, and a reddifh afh-colour. Under the wings
there is a long ftreak, that is white in the middle, and
red on the borders, with a mixture of black. The
great wing feathers are brown, variegated with tranf-
verfe bright red lines, and the fmall rows of feathers on
each wing are reddilh. The tail is not quite two in-
ches long, and confills of twelve blackilh feathers, crof-
fed with lines of bright red. The feet are pale, and
covered v/ith a ikin divided into fcales, or rather rings ;
the bottoms of the feet are yellow, and the external
toes are tied together, by a membrane, to that in the
middle, as far as the firft joint. There is a gall-blad-
der, and tefticles confiderably large in proportion to
the" body ; the ftomach or gizzard is mufculous, and
above it the gullet is dilated, in the manner of a crop,
and it is glandulous on the fore part. They are birds
of pafTage, for they cannot bear cold countries ; for
v.'hich reafon, towards the approach of winter, they fiy
into hot countries, and have been feen eroding the Me-
i/ifer?'a?iean in autumn and fpring : Sometimes they
are fo tired as to alight into a ihip. and have been ta-
ken by the Hiilors. Many have thought, that they
hide themfelves in the winter, but this is a miftake.
They begin their flight in the night, riflng up by pairs,
for fear of birds of prey.

The Quail builds its ncft in the ground, and is very
fat in the fummer time : It flies very low, and keeps

its

i68 THE NATURAL HISTORY
its I'eet hanging like water-fowls ; and thej* can run ex-
tremely faft. I'hey feed upon corn; and thofe that
take them ufe a fort of a call termed a Quail-pipe, that
they may catch them more eafiiy : However they are
fometimes taken in nets by the alTiltance of a fetting-
xiog.

The Indian QUAIL of Bontius, is eaiily tamed,
and kept in the manner of common fowls : It is of the
^ze of a Pigeon, and refembles a Quail in colour, but
the bill is a little longer. Its note may be heard by
intervals, much in the fame manner as thtX of a com-
mon Quail ; but it is quite different, being more Hke
that of a Bittern. It is of a very cold nature, and yet
the cocks are greatly add idea to fighting like thofe of
common fowls.

A Quail contains a great deal of volatile fait and oil,
and the fleih has a very delicate taite, efpecially when
it is young, and well fed. It is very nouriihing, and
agrees with all conftitutions, provided it be eaten with
moderation. It is of no ufe in medicine, except to
make emollient brot!is, and to keep the body open ;
though fome pretend the fat will take away fpots of the
eyes.

The Arabian- QUAIL is no where t\(z to be fouad
bat in Arabia Felixy and it is called by the inhabitants
Saleva. It is pretended that thefe birds have no
bones, and that every part of them is eaten; but this
muii needs be a miilake. Dr. Herkelot adds, that this
bird is particular to that part of Arabia called Te?i2€n,
and that it is bigger than a Sparrow and lefs than a Pi-
geon. He affirms, that the bones and tendons are fo
fmall and tender, that this bird is eaten whole, which
is much more probable tlian the former account. It
has a very agreeable long.

The King of QUAILS weighs about five ounces,
and is thirteen or iourteen inches long, from the end
of the bill to the excrcmit)' of the clav/s, and eleven
inches to the end of the tail. It is a foot and a half
broad when the wings are extended ; and the bill is an
inch and a half long. The bottom of the bread and
belly arc white, and on the head there are two black

itreaks ;

O F B I RD S. 169

Hreaks ; the middle of die feathers is of the fame co-
lour, but the upper part of the bill is vvhitilh. The
legs are without feathers below the knee ; and it is
iaid that this bird is a guide to the other Quails. It is
feldom leen in England^ but feems to be the fame
bird as the Rail.

The Bengal QUAIL, is a little bigger than the
European, and the bill is of an alh-colour, but the cor-
ners of the mouth are red, and the ncftrils are large
and oblong. The iris of the eyes is white, and the
top of the head black ,• bat under it there is a yellow
fpace, beyond which there is a black bar that runs
from the corners of the mouth round the back-part of
the head : Below this there iz a white fpace, and the
colour of the breaft, belly, and thighs is yellowilh;
but that part near the tail is ipotted with red. The
hind-part of the head, the back, and the feitheri that
cover the wings are of a yellowiili green; except a
part of it which is of a biuilh green; and the quill-
feathers are black. The legs and feet are of an
rorange-coiour, with claws of a daik dirty red.

The Chinese QUAIL has a black bill, and the
fore-part of the head, breail:, fides, and infides of
tlie wings, a^re of a bluiih afn-colour. TIk belly,
thigJis, and covert-feathers beneath the tail, are of a
dark reodilh orange; and there is a duiky v/hite line
runs along the middle of the belly. The iides of \\\z
-breaH: are Ipotted uitli black, and on the threat, under
•tlie bill, there is a black fpot, fun-ounded with white,
or rather a fpace like a half-moon, and without th.at a
black line, which runs from each corner of die mouth.
Thefe lines join in a black lift on the fore -part of the
neck ; and the hinder part of x^hq head and neck, with
the back, v/ings, and covert furthers of the tail, are
brown. The middle-part of the feadicrs on the back
and rump 15 of a light brown, or orange-colour, with
black lines on each fide, and fome powdering of black
in the intermediate fpaces The wing-fenthers are
alfo irregularly barred with traniVerfe dufxy lines ;
but the legs and feet are like thofe of the common
Quail, of a bright vellow orruige-colcur.

Vol. II. ' I This

i70 THE NATURAL HISTORY

This Quail diilers from ours in being not above half
the fize, in the black marks on its throiit, and in the
rednefs of its under fide. It was brought alive from
China^ where they are faid to be brought up tame,
and they are fought in the fame manner, as Englijh
Cocks ; the Chincje will lay great fums of money on
their heads.

The DAKER-HEN, cr RAIL, weighs about four
ounces and a half, and its length, from the tip of the
bill to the end of the tail is eleven inches and a half j
but to the end of the claws fifteen inches. The breadth
is nineteen inches when the wings are extended; and
the body is narrow, or compreiTed fideways like that
of Water-hens, The breall and belly are white, and
on the head there are two broad black lines, and like-
wife a white line, that runs from the flioulders, as in
the Moor-hen. The back is black, with a mixture of
reddifh alh-colour, and the lefler rows of the wing-
featiiers are of a deep yellow, as alfo the borders of
the prime feathers. The tail is two inches long, and
the hill is lefo than that of a water-fowl, but bigger
than a Quail's The legs and feet are long, and be-
tween a fatrVon-colour and green. It refembles a Quail
in mai y refpeds, and is faid to keep company with one
lortof them. It is a very uncommon bird in England -y
However there arefome in Northumberland and Tork-
Jinre ; but in Ireland it is very common.

> C H A P. XXII.

Of Birds nf the gallinaceous kind^ that n.vant the
hinder Toe,

THE BUSTARD is three feet in length, from
the. tip of the bill to the end of the claws ; but
is not next in fize to an Oftrich, as fome authors have
ailerted. The neck is a foot-long, and the legs a foot and
a half I'he wings are no longer than the legs, when

fhut.

Tof^ tjo

^ZVifc/.

O F B I R D S. !7i

Ihut, but they are four feet in length, if extended, which
however are not proportionable to the reft of the body j
for which reafon they cannot fly but with great difficul-
ty. The plumage is of different colours, for the belly,
thighs, the under part of the tail, and the upper part
of the wings are white ; but the fore-part of the neck,
head, and middle of the top of the v^^ings, are of a
greyilh afh- colour. The hinder part of the neck, the
back, the upper part of tlie wings above, as well as the
upper part of the tail, are red, and crofled with black
fpots, which are long, unequal, and broken. The
extremities of the wings are of a greyifti brown ;- and
all the feathers in general, except the great ones at
the end of the wings, have a down near the ikin, of
a very lively red, inclining to the colour of a rofe,
The bill is grey, but a little more dark than the plu-
mage of the head. It is three inches long from the
eye to the tip, and is nearly of the fame fliape as a
'I'urkey-cock's. The lov/er part of the leg is covered
with imall fcales, with fix angles ; and the toes are co-
vered above with long narrow fcales. They are all
of a grey colour, and covered with a fKin, which rifcs
like the flough of a ferpent. In the room of the hin-
der claw there is callofity, of the fize of a fmall nut.
Th: largeft of the toes are two inches three quarters in
length, and they are furniihed with lai-ge claws, tho*
Ihort, and a little crooked. But what is moft remark*
able of all, they are convex as well belov/ as above.

This bird is bred in feveral parts of Europe^ and par-
ticularly in England^ elpecially on Sol Jmry-'P lain ^
Ne-wmarket, and Royfion-Heaths, in Cainhndgejk'ire and
Suffolk ; for it delights in large open places. The
fleih is in iigh efleem, and perhaps the more fo, be-
caufe it is not very eafy to come at

There are alfo Buftards in France, which frequent
large open plains, particularly near Chalons, where, in
the winter-time, there are great nurabers of them ('zzw
together. There is always one placed as a fentinel,
at fome diflance from the flock, which gives notice to
the reft of any danger. They raife tiiemfelves from
the ground with great difticuity; for they run fome-
I 2 timc^

172 THE NATURAL HISTORY
times a good way, beating their wings before they fly.
They take them with a hook, baited with an apple
or fieih. Sometimes fowlers fhoot them as they lie
concealed behind fome eminence, or on a load of
flraw ; others take them with greyhounds, which of-
ten catch them before they are able to rife. They
make their nefts upon the ground, after hollowing
it a little, and they lay only two eggs at a time. They
lay but once a year, and the eggs are as big as thofe of
afwan,and white, with reddilh fpots at the large end.
The time of laying is in May or /u?7e, and they fit five
weeks upon their eggs. They feed upon frogs, mice,
fmail birds, and different kinds of infects. I'hey live
about fifteen years, and they have a cry like that of a
crow.

With regard to the anatomy, the liver is very- large,
it having been found in fome five inches long ; the fub-
llance is firm, and the colour is of a fine red. The
gall-bladder is hid under the right lobe, and is only
connccccd to the liver by its neck ; it is two inches and
a half long, and an inch broad, and the fhape is oval.
The cyilic duel in fome is fhort, and inferted in the
upper part of the jejunum ; but in others it is longer,
becaufe it fometimes proceeds from the upper part of
the gaii-bladder, near its neck. The hepatic dudl
proceeds nearly from the neck of the gall-bladder,
and is inferted into the jejunum, two inches lower
than the cyiHc. The fubftance of the fpleen i< foft,
and of a reddilh brown; and it is Ihaped like the kid-
ney of quadrupedes : It is five-tenths of an inch in
length, and half an inch in breadth. The pancreas is
hard, and of a palifh red ; bat it is very fmall at the
tail, and very thick at the head, from whence the du<5l
proceeds, which is not half an inch long. It is in-
ferted near the cyflic du6l, and they had all a dif-
tincl entrance. There is no crop, but the gullet is
a little enlarged before it joins the gizzard ; this lail
is about four inches long, and three broad ; and it ap-
pears, before it is open, like that of a domefrick fowl ;
however the flefliy part is very thin, it being net above
one twelfth of art inch in tJwckncfs. The guts arc

four

OF BIRDS. 173

four feet long, without reckoning the two blind guts,
of which that on the right fide is a foot in length,
and that on the left eleven inches. About an inch
from the vent the gut is contrafted, and afterwards
is dilated to a bag big enough to hold an egg. The
two ureters are inferted into this bag. The kid-
neys are three inches long, and are cut deeply into
three lobes, as is common in otiicr birds. Each tef-
ticle is half an inch long, and the hxth part of an inch
broad, it being in Aape like an almond. The tongue
is flelhy on the outfide, and within there is a grille
CDnnected to the tafe of the os hyoides. The fides are
full of a fort of prickles, of a fubftance between a
membrane and agriitle. The heart is two inches and
a half broad, and the flefh cf the right ventricle is al-
moil; half an inch thick towards the bai'e. The globe of
the eye is three quaiters of an inch in diameter, and the
cryftaiine humour a quarter. The fat is only ufed in
medicine, and fome fay it will ftrengthen the nerves,
and eafe the pain of the piles.

The Indian BUSTARD is about twenty/ inches in
length, and is a fiimmer bird in proportion than any
other of this kind. The bill is longer than thofe of
our Englijh Buftards, and of a whitilh colour. The
eyes are large, the iris hazel -coloured, and the eye-
lids of an aih colour. The fides of the head, all
round the eyes, are of a bright brown, but the top Qi
the head, and the whole neck, are covered with black
feathers, hanging a little looie, with narrow points.
The back, rump, and tail are of a bright brown; and
the feathers on the back are black in the middle, with
a fmall powdering of the fame colour in the brown
parts. The tail has tranfverfe black bars, with the like
powdering on the intermediate brown ones. From
the upper part of the back, the brown fpotted with
black pailes quite round the lower part of the neck be-
fore ; and all the covert feathers of the wings are v/hite,
except that the fmaller feathers about the joint or
bend are edged uith black. The quills, cr greater
wing-feathers nearell the back, are browniib, with
black fpots, and the middle quills are white, with
I 3 tranf-

174 THE NATURAL HISTORY

tranfrcrfc h.iv^ and powderings of black. The greater or
outward quills are white on their outer webs, and the
tips gradually become of a dark afh-cclour. The
whole under- fide, from the brown tranfverfe bar on the
breaft to the covert feathers under the tail, is covered
with black feathers. The legs are long, and the toes
fhort in proportion, being void of feathers, a pretty
v/ay Vxhoxe the knees. The toes are only three, all
ftanding forward, as in other birds of this kind ; and
they are covered v.ith f:ales of a white colour ; but the
claws are dufky.

This bird is a native of Bengal in the EaJl-hid'ieSy
where it is called a Churge. We have hitherto had
no account of this bird, except from Mr. Edivards,
who took it from a drawing in the pofTeffion of Doftor
y.ead^ who procured it to be done by a gentleman re-
siding in that country.

The Little BUSTARD is about the bignefs of a
Pheafant, and is called, by Willoughhyy and others, a
Field-Duck. The bill is of a flefh-colour, where it
joins to the head, and is black at the point ; the top
and fides of the head, the hinder part of the neck, the
back, and covert feathers on the v^ings are brown,
with broken irregal?j* foots and marks of black. The
throat, juft beneath the bill, is white, and the fore-
part of the neck is of a lightifh brown, with a dufky
mixture. The covert feathers within-fide the wings,
and the ridges of the wings are white ; and the outer
quills are white at their bottoms, their tips being
black. Thofe next to them are white, v^ith a fmall
mixture of black, and the inner quills next the back
are brown, with tranfverfe black fpots like the back it-
felf. The breaft and fides are v/hite, v.'ith black ipots,
and the belly and thighs are entirely white. The rump,
and covert feathers under the tail are white, with a
little mixture of black. The tail-feathers are brown,
powdered with fmall different fpots, and barred with
tranfverfe black lines. The down under the feathers
is of a rofe-colour, as in the greater Buftard, and the
legs are bare of feathers a little above the knees. It
has only three toes, all of which ftand forwards, and the

legs

O F B I R D S. 175

legs End feet are covered with fcales of a dufky yellow-
The toes are a little conncfted by a fxin, which joins
them at the bottom. This bird was taken in Corn-
nvall, and fhewn before the Royal Society at London,
in 1751. None of them knew what bird it v/as, till,
they fent for Mr. Ednvards, who told them its name.
Jt was not known before that this bird was a native
of England, for former authors have confined it to
France. Mr. Ray has made the iame miilake as Wil-
Icughby, for he calls it Anas Campestris, that is,
the Field-Duck ; though he places it among the
Buftard-kind.

The French FIELD-BUCK, is fo called becaufe
it flies near the ground, as a Duck does near the wa-
ter. It is as large as a Pheafant, but the head is like
thatof a Quail, and the bill like that of a Hen. Thefe
birds are caught like Partridges, and ,they fly near the
ground very fwiftJy, for about two or three hundred
paces, and then light ; they likewife run {q fwiftly
that a man cannot overtake them. It has three toes
on each foot, like a Buftard, and the head, back, and
wings are of a brownifh yellow colour, variegated with
black and white. The breaft, belly, and thighs are
whitifh, and the legs and feet of an alh-colour.
The fleih is in as high efteem as that of a Pheafant,
and it feeds upon corn and infefts.

CHAP. XXIII.

Of the fe-veral forts <?/ P i g e o n s .

TH E dillinguifhing marks of the Pigeon kind, are
the iliape of the body, which is like that of a
Cuckow ; fhort legs ; long wings ; fwi ft flying j a
ilrait, narrow, longilh bill, and a mournful cry. It
lays only two eggs at a time, and breeds often in a
year: It feeds its young with food that it throws
up out of its crop, which is a wife defign of nature,
1 4 " it

\yb THE NATURAL HISTORY

it being there macerated and foftencd that it may be
more eafily digeiled by their young j for Pigeons feed
upon com, puife, and feeds of the hard fort. Like-
wife the feet of Pigeons, at leall as far as has been hi-
therto obferved, are all red, except fome in many dif-
tant parts of the world. The male and female take
their turns in hatching the eggs.

The Common PIGEON, or DOVE, weighs about
thirteen ounces, and is from the tip of the bill to the
end of the tail thirteen inches long, and the wings,
when extended, are twenty- fix inches broad. The bill
is (lender, pointed, longiln, foft, and, as it were,
mealy above the noilrils ; but the other part is brown.
I'he tongue is neither h;u-d nor cloven, but lliarp and
foft, and the iris of the eye is of a yellowifh red ; the
lore-part of the legs is covered with feathers, as far as
the toes, and the feet and toes are red, with black
nails. The head is of a bluilh afh-colour, and the
neck is adorned with variable fhining feathers : The
part over the crop is reddiih, but the reft of the breaft
and belly are of an afh-colour : The lower part of the
back, a little above the rump is white, but afh-colour-
ed near the ihoulders ; the reft is black, with a few
fliades of afh-colour. There are twenty-three large
feathers in each wing, of which the outermoft are
brown, and the others blackifh at firft fight. The
feathers that cover the firft ten large ones of the wings
Jire of a darkilh alh-colour, and the poLats of the reft,
almoft as far as the body, have their inward webs near
the fhaft afh-coloured ; but the outermoft are black.
The under part of the wings, towards the roots of the
great feathers, are very white ; and the tail confifts of
twelve feathers, four inches and a half long ; but thofe
in the middle are a little longer than the reft, and the
tops of all are black : The two outermoft below are
black, and white on the external fide of the fhaft ; the
reft are all afh-coloured, but a little darker above.
The crop is large, and the inteftinal appendages are
very fhort, for they are fcarce a quarter of an inch
long. The female may be known from the male by
having a fhriller cry.

Picieons

O F B I R D S. 177

Pigeons dung is excellent to manure land, and may
be laid upon the ground at all times of the year. They
lay, as was obferved, in general only two white eggs
at a time, one of which produces a male, and the other
a female; though this rule does not always hold. The
females fit on the eggs fifteen compleat days, and after-
wards from three or four o'clock in the afternoon till
nine or ten the next morning; and then the male
takes her place, and fits till four in the afternoon,
while t#ie female feeks for food, and reils herfelf ; and
thus they go on till the young ones are hatched.

The young Pigeons when they are hatched, re-
quire no food for three or four days ; but the female
keeps them warm all that time, leaving them only
a little while to feek for food. After this they are fed
eight or ten days with half-digefted aliment, out of the
crops of the old ones, and this is done t\vo or three
times a day. Then they begin to give them more
folid nourilhment, in proportion to their frrength.
They feed upon feveral forts of grain, bat are particu-
larly fond of peas and vetches. Thofe that have Pi-
geon-houfes need owly find provifions for them while
the ground is covered with fnow, for at other times
they can get their own living. They fly very fwiftly,
and mere efpecially when they are purfued by Hawks
or Kites. They have a piercing fight, and can hear
at a great diilance.

The flelh of Pigeons contains a great deal of oil and
volatile fait, and is in common ufe as aliment, ef-
pecially when young; for it is then tender, juicy, ea-
fy of digeftion, and yields good nourilhment. As for
the medicinal ufe, fometimeo Pigeons are opened alive,
"and applied to the head, in diforders of the brain, as
alfo to the kct in malignant fevers, with ravings, to
make a revullion from the head. They have alfo done
good when applied to the lide, in a Pleurify ; how-
ever this pra(!:tice is much neglected by the moderns.
Pigeons blood, while warm, is faid to mitigate iharp
humours in the eyes, and to heal their wounds nevv^ly
made. Pigeons dung contains a great deal of nitre,
and it is laid to be hot, Gifcuticiit, and refolvent :
I ^ Seme

178 THE N A TU R A L H I S T O R Y

Some have given it in the dropfy, and fits of the gra-
vel ; but then it mull be calcined, made into a lye with
wat^r, and given as common drink. Some again
give it in iiibllance, in the fame diforders, from one
to two fcruples. "When it is applied outwardly to the
fkin for fome time, it burns it, or rather makes it
red.

The Greater Domestick PIGEON is called a
RUNT, and does not lefs var}' in its feathers than the
common fort. They alfo differ in magnitude, for the
largcfl fort almoft equals the fize of a Pullet, and fly
very llowly, but the Icfler are more aftive, and fly
more fwiftly.

The CROPPERS are noted for filling their crop
with wind in a ibange manner, infomuch that it be-
comes bigger than all the reft of the body.

The Broad-tailed SHAKERS are fo called from
having their head and neck continually in motion ; for
they are always moving it backwards and forwards, or ra-
ther different ways : Likewife the number of the tail-fea-
thers are not lefs than twenty fix, and when they v/alk they
caiTy their tails upright, like Hens. There is another
fort of thefe birds called Narrow-tailed SHA-
KERS.

The CARRIERS are about the Aze of a common
PIGEON, or rather lefs, and their colour is of a dark
blue inclining to black. They have eyes like a
Hawk, with a broad circle round them, confifting of a
white, naked, warty, branny fkin. The upper chap of the
billis covered with the fame fort of fungous Ikin, which
reaches from the head beyond the middle. The ufe
of thefe is to carry letters from place to place ; for
when one of thefe Pigeons is in the pofTeflion of a per-
fon who is to fend a letter to the place where it was bred,
he lets it fly, and it will immdediately return home,
tho' never fo far diilant. This ufed to be a great
pra6lice in Syria ; for when any fhip arrived at Scande-
rooti, they immediately let one of thefe Pigeons fly with
a letter, which returned to Aleppo^ where it v/as bred ;
by which means the merchants had notice* of the com-
ing of the fhip : However this praftice is laid afide of
late, but for what reafonis very hard to fay.

2 The

O F B I R D S. 179

The Jacobine PIGEONS, by fome called CAP-
PERS, becauie they have a tuft of feathers on the
back-part of the head, which turns towards the neck
like a Monks cap, or cowl. The bill is fhort, and
the iris of the eyes of a pearl-colour.

The TURBITS have a very Ihort bill, and about
as thick as that of a Redftart ; and the top of the
head is flat ; likewife the feathers on both fides the
breaft are turned backwards.

The SMITERS make a noife with their wings
when they fly like the ftriking of two pieces of board
together.

The Barbary PIGEON is as fmall as a Jacobine
Pigeon, and is of a dark colour, inclining to black ;
the beak is red, as v/ell as the legs and feet, and there
is^a fmall flelhy circle round the eyes, which are of a
very lively colour. There is alfo a tuft of feathers ri-
fing from the back-part of the neck over the top of
the head. Some of this kind are feathered on the legs
and feet, but others not ; and there is fome difference
likewife in the colour ; but thofe that are blackifh are
moil valued.

The Picui PINIMA is a fort of wild Pigeon of
Brofih not much bigger than a Lark. The bill is
like thofe of common Pigeons, and the colour is
brown : the e)-cs are black, with a gold-coloured iris,
and the head, the top of the neck, the fides, the back,
and the wing-feathers are all of an aih-colour, andsre
very long. The tail is longifli, and of a browniih
afh-colour, only there are Ibme v/hite, and black
about the middle ; thofe on the belly are white, with
brown edges, and the legs and feet are of the fame
colour. The flefh is very fat and excellent.

The TUMBLERS are a fmall fcrt of Pigeons and
of divers colours ; they have ftrange fort of motions
when they fly, turning themfelves in the air like a
ball when it is thrown up.

The HELMETS have the head, tail, and prime-
feathers of the wing of a diftinct colour from the rell
of the body.

The LIGHT-HORSEMEN are a baflard fort of
of Pigeons, between a Cropper and a Carrier j info-
much

i8o THE NATURAL HISTORY

much that they partake of botli their natures, as ap-
pears from their warty bills, and blowing up their
crops.

The BASTARD-BILLS are larger than Barbary
Pigeons, but they have a Ihort bill, and red eyes.

The TURNERS are fo called from a tuft which
hangs backward from the top of the head, and which
parts like a horfe's mane, and this diilinguifhes them
from all other forts.

The FINNIKINS are like the former, but lefs.

The MAWMETS are remarkable for their large
eyes, but in other refpeds they are like Barbary Pige-
ons.

The SPOTS, are fo called from a fpot over the
bill, which is of the fame colour as the tail ; and the
body and wings are white.

The TURTLE-DOVE is about twelve inches in
length, from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail,
and the breadth, when the wings are fpread, is twenty-
two inches. The bill is an inch long, of a dufky blue,
and the tail is four inches and a half in length. The
L»-is of the eyes is between red and yellow, and there is
a circle of naked red fkin round the eyes. The head
and back are of a bluiih afli-colour, as in the common
Pigeon ; but the fhoulders and rump are of a dirty
red. The breaft and belly are white, the throat of a
claret-colour, and the wings and tail reddifh, afh- co-
loured, and white ; the feet are likewife red, and the
claws black. About the neck there is a ring of beauti-
ful feathers, whitifh at the point.

The large external feathers of the wings are brown,
thofe in the middle of an alh-colour, and the innermoft
red on the edges ; the feathers of the fecond row are
afn-coloured, and thofe of the leall black ; the tail con-
fills of ten feathers, of which the outermoil on each
fide is white, as v/ell as the external webs near the
f]iaft; for the innermoft are of a blackifli afn -colour ;
but in the follovv'ing the white decreafes gradually, till
it entirely difappears on the tv/o in the middle. Th«
whole tail is four inches and three quarters long; the
tdUcIcs are large, and 'an inch long j the guts are

twenty-

O F B I R D S. i8i

twenty- Ax inches in length, but the appendages are
very Ihort. The crop is large, and the ftomach or
gizzard mufculous ; and the gullet above the ftomach
is dilated into a glandulous bag.

They are birds of paflage, and there are few or none
remain in northern countries, unlefs they are kept in
aviaries, or in cages. Some pretend they lay their eggs
twice a year, and if fo it muil be once with us and once
in the hotter countries, for they breed here in fummer.
They fly in flocks when they come to us, as well as when
they return back, and they delight in open, moun-
tainous, fandy countries ; they alight upon trees, and
make their nefts with fmall (licks, and lay two white
eggs at a time ; but they fometimes come into gar-
dens and orchards in queft of food for their young ones.
They feed upon all forts of grain, but are fondeft of
millet feed. They are fo fond of their mates that
when one dies the other lives in a folitary manner
ever afterwards ; at leaft it is the common opinion ;
but fome will not allow it to be true.

The fleih is accounted good aliment, very nourifh-
ing, and eafy of digeftion ; and therefore it agrees with
all conftitutions. The medicinal ufes are the fame as
thofe of the Pigeon, but fome recommend it as a fpeci-
fie in the bloody flux; but what can the dofe of fix
grains of the extradl do, when the flefh itfelf may be
eaten very freely. The fat is refolvent and emollient,
and is recommended to ftrengthen the nerves, and
againft the gout and rheumatifm, applied ai> a lini-
ment.

The Indian TURTLE o£ Aldro'vundus : The fe-
male is entirely white, except the feet, which are red,
and the bill, that is black. The male is of a light
red, and is of the fame fize as a comrnxon Pigeon ;
likevvife the cry is the fame : The iris of the eyes is
of a reddifn faffron-colour, and there is a narrow black
ring round about the neck.

The Indian TURTLE of Hernandez, called CO-
COTZIN, is a little bigger than a Sparrow, and the
upper part of the body is all over brown, only the
feathers arc all edged with black. The fore-part of

iS2 THE NATURAL HISTORY
the wings are partly black, the reft is of dufky colour.
The end of the tail is tindlured with white and brown
promifcuoufly, and the feathers which cover the lower
part of the body are white, ending in black lines.
The head is fmall, and the bill black. The legs and
feet are like thofe of other Doves, but whitilh, and
they make a noife when flying. It is found in moun-
tainous places, grows very fat, and is good meat, but
fomewhat drier than the fleih of Quails.

The Small Barbadoes TURTLE is of the fize of
a Lark, and is very like the former, if not the fame
bird : Likevvife Mr, Ray fufpecls it not to be different
from the wild PIGEON of Brafil, named Picuipinima
by hlarcgranje ; for it is a little bigger than a Lark,
and has a dufky bijl like a Pigeon. The iris of the
eyes is of a gold-colour, and all the feathers on the
upper pait of the body are of a darkifh aih-colour,
with lunated biackifh edges. The prime feathers of
the wings ibcm to be red when they are flying ; but
the tail is of a duiky afh-colour. The feathers on the
belly are white, with dufky edges in the iliape of a
half-moon ; the feet alfo are white.

The Wild PIGEON, of the ifland of 5/. Ihomas,
is of the fize ai^d ihape of ours ; but the upper chap
of the bill is crocked, and the fcre-part is of a bluilh
white, mixed v/ith yellow, as far as the middle ; and
the hinder-part is of a blood-colour. The iris of the
eyes is blue, and is covered Vvith green feathers in all
parts of the body, like a Parrot. The prime feathers
of the v/ings are of a duiky green ; as alfo the extremity
of the tail. Under the vent and tail the feathers are
yellow ; but the legs ^ and feet are of a beautiful faffron
colour.

The LiviA PIGEON of GeJ'ner is like the common
domeflick kind, but a little lefs. The feathers are every
where of an afli-colour, except at the end of the tail
where they are blackifh. Mr. Ray fufpedts it to be
the fame bird as our Rock Pigeon.

The RING-DOVE, called by fome a QUEEST,
and in the North of England a CUSHAT, differs
from the Common Pigeon in its fize, and in having

white

O F B I R D S. 183

white ipots on both fides the neck. It delights in
woody places, and builds its neft uDon trees.

The STOCK-DOVE, or WOOD-PIGEON, is
larger than a common Pigeon, but the iliape of the body-
is the fame ; nor is the colour much different ; the neck
is covered with feathers of a changeable colour, according
as they are placed in different lights ; they are more
gloffy than any filk whatever, and fometimes appear to
be purple, and fometimes green ; the fore-part of the
breaft and wings are of a purple orclaret colour, and on
both wino-s there is a double black fpot.

The ROCK-PIGEON is very fmall, and of an afh-
colour. It delights to be among rocks by the fea-fide.
The Greateft Mountain Mexican PIGEON,
is of the fame fize as the common, but it is of a pur-
plilli colour, v/ith white Ihoulders, and a red bill and feet.
The Mexican PIGEON, called CEPIOILOTL,
is covered with duiky feathers, except on the breaft and
the extremities of the wings, where they are white or
pale. The iris of the eyes is red.

The TLACAHOILOTL is a kind of white Pigeon,
with a crooked, middle- fized, reddifh bill. ^The
lower part of the body and wings are red ; but the up-
per part is blue.

Ihe YACATOPIL, or SPEAR-BILL, is of the
fize of a wild Pigeon, and has a flender blackifh bill,
four inches long. The colour, all over the body and
wings, is a mixture of white, alh, black, and brown,
but lighter underneath.

The NEXTON is of the fize of a Pigeon, chiefly
of an afh-colour, but the belly and lower part of the
neck is white, and the bill and the feet black.

The NEXTOTOTL is a little lefs than a Pigeon,
of an afh-colour above, and white on the belly and
neck ; but the bill and feet are black.

The OCOTZIMTZCAN is a- beautiful bird, of
the fize of a Pigeon, and has a black bill, two inches
long, with a purple head, breaft and feet; but the
reft of the body is of a greenifh yellow. There is
another bird of the fame name, variegated with white
and afh-colourcd feathers, and has black feet.

The THANOyiQUIZTOTOTL, or the HIS-

SING-

i84 THE NATURAL HISTORY

SING-SPARROW, is as big as a Pigeon, and has a
thick, fharp, black bill. 1 he iris of the eyes is yel-
low, and the wings and tail mottled with black and
white. There is a black ftripe, which runs from the
bill to the breail ; but the fort-part of the wings are
yellow, the feet brown, and the other parts of a pale-
colour.

The QUAXOXOCTOTOTL is about the magni-
tude of a Pigeon, with a large, black, broad bill,
crooked at the end ; and the reft of the body is of a
palifti blue, mottled with gjreen and black.

The MOMOT has a bluifh head, like that of a
Peacock, and the reft of the body is greenilh. The
iris of tlie eyes is red, and the bill blackifh and
crooked, but fharp at the point, and almoft three in-
ches long. There is one feather on the tail longer
than the reft, though Mr. Ray thinks it can hardly
be. Thefe laft with foreign names are Mexican birds.

TheLefl'cr Jamaica PIGEON, called the White
Bellied DOVE, is nine inches in length, and fix-
teen broad. The bill is two thirds of an inch long,
and has a double protuberance at the bafe about the
noftrils. The iris of the eyes is white, and the top
of the head, as well as the under part of the body,
are entirely white, v.^hence it has its name. The up-
per part the neck i? of a changeable colour, which ap-
pears fome times blue and fbmetimes purple ; but the
back and wings are of a dulky purple, with a little
tincture of red. The tail is blue, with a white line at
the end. It is to be met with in 'January, among the
fiivannahs and plain fields, and is accounted good eating.

The Ring -TAILED PIGEON of Jamaica, is fif-
teen inches long and twenty broad, and the bill is three
quarters of an inch in length, with a double protube-
lunce at the bafe about the noftrils. The iris of the
eyes is red, and the tail four or five inches in length.
The body is thick, and the head, neck, and breaft
are covered with purplifh feathers, and the belly with
thofe that are whitifh. The upper part of the neck is
of a greenifh purpk, but changeable according to the
light in which it is placed, and it fliines like filk. The
back and tail are of a palifh blue, except that part

alons:

O F B I R D S. 185

along which there runs a tranfv'erfe Ilripe. The wings
are of a dufey colour.

The Bald-Pate PIGEON of Jamaica, is eleven
inches long and eighteen broad, with a bill half an
inch in length. The bafe of this is red, and protu-
berant ; but below the oblong noftrils white. The
top of the head in the old Pigeons is white, from
whence it has its name. The upper part of the neck
is of a changeable blue, and green, and the whole
body befides is of a dark blue. G'viedo affirms it is
common in Spain, where it grows to a larger fize.

The Leail: TURTLE, with Spotted Wings, is
fuppofed to be the Leaft TURTLE of Barbadoes,
and is only five inches long and eight broad. The
bill is half an inch long, and has fungous warts at the
noflrils : It is crooked, and blackifh at the point, but
yellow at the bafe, or rather of an orange colour. The
iris of the eyes is furrounded with a double circle, of
which one is yellow, and the other red. The top of
the head is blue, and the back of a light brown ; but
the wings and tail are darker. The wings are marked
with blue and purple fpots, and the breaft is of a pale
purple ; but the belly is ftill paler. They generally fit
on the ground, and when they are difperfed, they take
fhort flights like Partridges. They herd together in
flocks.

The EAR-DOVE of Jamaica, is fufpefted to be
the fame as our common Turtle : and it has its name
from a blackifh fpot on each fide of the neck, fome-
what in the ihane of an ear.

The WOOD-PIGEONS, or STOCK-DOVES of
Carolina, are not unlike thofe in England^ only
they have a longer tail, refemblinf^ that of a Parro-
kcet. They are not to be met with among the plan-
tations in the fummer time ; but in hard winters they
make them a vifit, and great flocks of them, come to-
gether : But about an hundred and fifty miles to the wefl:-
ward they may be always found in prodigious num-
bers, and feed upon fmall acorns, wliich grow in plen-
ty in thofe parts. They are generally very fat, and
the flefli is accouijted exceeding good.

Ca'.efi': takes notice of two forls olCaroliiia Pigeons,

the

iB6 THE NATURAL HISTORY

the firft of which is a bird of PafTage, and has a red
Iris of the eyes, with a white bill, and the head, and
upper part of the neck of a dark blue. The brcaft,
belly and throat are of a pale red, and on the neck
above the fhouider, there is a round fpot, that fhines
like gold. The wings are of a dark blue, fpotted with
black ; and the tail is very long and white, only there
is a black feather en the top ; the belly is red, almoft
as far as the tail, and the legs and feet are likewife red.
The other fort has a white head, and a white crown,
and the end of the bill is of a lead-colour, but the
bafe is purple. The fore-part of the head is white,
and the hinder purple ; the iris of the eyes is yellow,
and the neck is of a changeable green, furrounded
with a black ring. The rejft of the body is of a deep
blue; but the legs and feet are red; the end of the
wings, which is about three inches in length, is of a
deep brown.

The Pigeons about the Cape of Good Hope in Africa,
according to Kolben, are of three forts, befides the
common Pigeon, He calls the firft a Mountain
PIGEON, which has greenifh feathers, and a red bill
and feet.

The fecond is the Bush PIGEON, whofe neck is
covered with greenifti feathers ; but the reft are whi:e,
fpeckled with a great number of grey fpots.

The third is the SEA PIGEON, with black fea-
thers, and a red bill and feet.

Tertre obfervcs, that the Stock-Doves or Wood-
Pigeons of the Carihhee Iflands are birds of PafTage, for
they never ftay long m one place. The reafbn, as
he thinks, is that the com is ripe in different places
at different times. They perch upon the higheft trees,
where they build their nefts twice a year, when they
find any grain or fruit proper for them to feed on.
They are fometimes found in fuch vaft plenty, that
great numbers of them are killed and falted againft a
lefs plentiful feafon. They are as fat, and as well
tafled as any Pigeons in Europe^ except when they feed
upon a bitter grain called Acomas.

The Greenland PIGEON is a bird that refem-

bles

O F B I R D S. 187

bles the Sea Pie, except in the bill, which is long-
er, blacker, and flatter on the fides. The eyes are
black, with a yellow iris, and on tiie covert feathers
of each wing there is a white fpot ; but in every other
part it is black. There are twenty-feven feathers on
each wing, and the legs and feet are of a bright
red.

The Portuguese PIGEON is little larger than a
comrrion Turtle, and th,; head, back, breaft and belly
are ofadalky brown; the bill is black, the iris of
the eyes of a faifron-colour, and on the middle of the
neck, on each fide, there are three black lliining fea-
thers, with white points. The feathers of the v/ings
are dufky, and the edges of a deep yellow. At the
root of the wings the feathers are black, with white
edges, and the tail confiils of eleven feathers, of which
tjie cutermoll have their external webs and their points
white. The other feathers are of a daik afh-colour,
with white points ; but the legs and feet are red, and
the claws yellow.

The Chinese PIGEON is about the fize of an
EaJi'Indian Turtle, v/ith the bill of a bluifh alh-co-
lour, and the iris of the eyes of a fine white. The
top of the head and the fpace round the eyes is of an
afh-colour; but the fides of the head are yellow.
The extremities of the feathers on each fide of the
neck are red, .and there are blae feathers above the
rife of the wings. The hinder part of the neck and
back are brown, with the extremities of the feathers
black ; the colour of the feathers on the fhoulders is
more light, and their ends are variegated with white
and black ; the firil and laft covert feathers are black,
with the external edges white; the long feathers of
the wings are black, with white edges, and the breaft
and belly are of a fine pale rofe colour. The tail con-
fifts of twelve feathers, partly duficy and partly bright,
and the legs and feet are red, with black claws.

CHAP.

i88 THE NATURAL HISTORY

CHAP. XXIV.
Cy Birds of the Thrush Kind.

THESE Birds are of a fize between Pigeon?
and Larks, and they have bills of a moderate
length and thicknefs, bending gently downwards ; the
mouth is yellow en the infide, and the tail long; they
feed upon berries and infffts promiicuoufly. .There
are three kinds, namely, THRUSHES, BLACK-
BIRDS, and STARES, or STARLINGS.

The THROSTLE, SONG THRUSH, or MA-
VIS, weighs about tliree ounces, and from the tip
of the bill to the end of the tail, it is nine inches in
length ; the bill is an inch long, and is of a brown
colour, and the tongue appears to be cloven when care-
fully examined ; the mouth is yellow within, the iris
of the eyes is hazel, and the colour, and fpots on the
breaft and belly are like thofe of the following Thrufh ;
that is, the fpots are brown or blackifli, and the breaft
yellow. The upper part of the body is brown, or rather
of an olive colour, with a mixture of red or yellow on
the wings ; the fmall covert feathers of the wings be-
low are of a yellowifh red, and the fmall feathers un-
der the tail are whitifh. There are eighteen large
quill-feathers on each wing, and the tail is three inch-
es and a quarter long, confifting of twelve feathers ;
the legs and feet are of a pale brown, and the bottom
of the feet yellowifh; like wife the Lift joint of the out-
er toe is connected to that in the middle : this bird
has a gall-bladder, but the ftomach, or gizzard, is not
fo mulculous as in other birds of this kind : It feeds
upon infe«Sls and fnails, and continues with us in Eng-r
land'A\ the year; and it builds its neft with mofs and
itraw on the outfide, but lines it within with mud or
clay, and fomctimes cow-dung : It generally lays

five

OF BIRD S. 1%

live or fix eggs, of a kind of a bluifh green colour, and
they are fprinkled here and there with black fpots.
They breed early in the fprlng, for the young are fre-
quently hatched in the beginning of ///>/-//. It alio
feeds upon fome fort of berries ; it fings fweetly in the
fpring, fitting upon trees, and is a folitary bird ; how-
ever it feldom builds its nefl upon high trees, but ra-
ther in hedges. It is fomewhat Hupid, and juay he
eafily taken.

In Sz/e/ta they build their nells in forefts, on branches
of ti-ees, and Ihrubs in Jpri/ and May, and generally
lay four eggs. They fometimes repair thither from
diilant countries ; and there are fo many of them in
the forefls and mountains, that they not only ferve
the inhabitants for prefent food, but they pickle them
in vinegar after they are roalled, in order to preferve
them till the following fummer ; they take them with
fnares of white horfe-hair, baited with berries of the
white forbet tree.

The flelh is in high efteem, it having a delicate
tafce, and fome prefer it to that of all other birds, ef-
pecially if they are caught in the winter feafon. It
is faid to be very nouriihing, eafy of digeiHon, and to
■ftrengthen the Itomach. It agrees very well v/ith ail
conftitutions, and was never obferved to produce any
bad efleft. Some pretend the flefh is good for the
epilepfy, let it be drelTed how it will; but there can
be no great dependance on it as a medicine.

The cock and hen of this kind of Thrufh are fo
like in their feathers, that they cannot he readily dif-
tinguifhed from each other ; however when they are
full feathered, the colour of the back of the cock is
darker than that of the hen, and is more gloify ; be-
fides, the fpots on the bread and belly feem darker as
well as more fhining ; and in old birds this diftinftion
is more plain : However, the cock may be always
known by his fine fmging, which he begins in the
latter end of fummer, when the moulting is over.

The young Thrufhes may be taken when they are
five or fix days old, and they muft be kept warm and
clean, and fed with raw meat, bread, and bruifed

hemp-

I90 THE NATURAL HISTORY

hemp-feed; the meat muft be cut fmall, the bread' a
little wetted, and then mixed together; they fnoiild
be fed every two hours, and the dung fhould be caken
away eveiy time they are fed. When the nefr is very
foul, take them out, and put them in clean frraw ;
when they aie pretty v/ell feathered put them into a
large cage, with two or three perclies, and dry mofs
or ftraw at the bottom : V/hen they, are grown up
they may be fed with any fort of flefh-meat, either
raw, boiled, or roafled, provided it is not fait ; or
by degrees they may be brought to feed entirely upon
bread or hemp-teed ; but bread mix'd with flefh is
beft ; they fnould have water twice a week, to wafli
themfelves, for otherwife they will not thrive.

The Greater THRUSH, MISSEL-BIRD, or
SHRIVE, is not much lefs than a Magpie, it being
the largefl: of all this kind. The bill and feet are of
a brown, inclining to yellow, the claws are black, the
neck and belly adorned with black fpots, like fmall
fcales ; and a very few of them are yellow. The
back and wings are brown, and the openings of the
bill of a pale red, It feeds on the berries of miiletoe,
which pafs through hi^ body whole according to fome,
but others deny it, and aifirm that he carries thefe
berries from one tree to another with his-bill. The
flefli is not in great elleem, becaufe it is faid to be
hard of digefticn.

The FIELDFARE, or FELDEFARE, is a bird of
paffage, and comes over into England in the winter :
It weighs about four ounces, and is in length, from the
tip of the bill to the end of the tail, ten inches and a
half, but its breadth, when the wings are extended,
is feventeen inches. The bill is an inch long, of a
yellov/ilTi colorir, like a Blackbird's, except at the tip,
which is black. The tongue is rough, horny, and
channelled in the middle; and the head, neck, and
rump are of an aih-colour, but the back is reddiHi, as
well as the fhouldcrs and coverts of the wings. The
middle parts of the featliers are black, the throat and
upper part of the bread yellow, fpotted with black in
the middle of each feather j the bottom of the breafi:

and

O F B I R D S. 191

and beliy are white, being not fpotted fo much, and
the tail is four inches and a half long, of a dark blue
or blackiih colour ; but the tips of the outmoft feathers
are white. There is a black fpot on each fide,
which reaches from the bill to the eyes ; they de-
light to feed upon berries of all forts, but chiefly
thofe of Juniper ; and the flefh is accounted very good
eating, and preferable to that of the Thrufh.

The Pied FELDEFARE was accidentally Ihot
among a flock of common Feldefarcs ; the bill is yel-
the head and neck white, fpotted with lead-colour and
black, with a yellow fpot or fpace on the fore-part of
the neck, and upon which there are feveral little dark
fpots and Ihades. The back is of a darkifli brown,
but the rump more pale or lead-coloured ; the middle
of the bread is of a brownifli yellow, interfperfed with
variet)' of tranfverfe black lines. The quill feathers of
the wings are of a dulky colour, with the outmoft
edges white, as well as the edges of the fcapular fea-
thers ; with a few white feathers near the upper part
next tlie back. The belly and thighs are white,
fpotted with black, and the tail and claws are alfo
black ; but the legs and feet are of a dulky brown.

The RED-WIKG, SWINE-PIPE, or WOOD-
THRUSH, is conflderably lefs than the Feldefare,
and its bill is near an inch long, and of a pale duflcy
colour; the iris of the eyes is hazel, with long yel-
lowifh llreaks over the upper part. The colour of
the upper part of the body is very like the Song-
Thrulh, but the breafl: is not quite fo much fpotted,
and the under- fide of the covert feathers of the wings
and the fides of the body underneath them, are of a
more deep red, or orange-colour ; and by this they
may be dillinguilhed from each other ; befides which,
it is obfervable that thefe fly in flocks, which the
Song-Thrufli does not ; the throat and breaft are yel-
lov/ifh, with dulky fpots on fome of the middle parts
of the feathers ; but the belly is more pale, inclining
to white, and the fpots are fmaller. The fides of the
wings are of a cheiinut or reddilh colour, with fome
of Sieir edges and tips v/hite ; the tail is upwards of

three

T92 THE NATURAL HISTORY

three inches long, and the legs and feet are of a pale-co-
lour. It is a bird of padage, and keeps company with
common Feldefares ; for they commonly go and come
together.

The THRUSH of Behn, called MAUVIS by him,
is a fmall bird in comparifon of the common Thruih ;
and is commonly feen in large flocks in the plains of
fome parts of Frar.ce. It would be like the fmall
Thrufh, if it was not lefs, and more yellowifti, with
a colour inclining to orange underneath, and chiefly
at the joints of the wings ; there are alfo orange fpots
on each fide tlie neck, but tlie belly is white ; thefe
Thrufties generally feed upon gripes, and do a great
deal of mifchief in vineyards ; for which reafon the
owners endeavour to deilroy as many as they can.
Some fay they are taken with lime-twigs, in the mid-
dle of fummer, but this mull be a millake, becaufe
they are not to be feen in that feafon, for it never
appears till the time of the vintage in autumn ; be-
jjdes in feme rears there is not one to be feen. Jt is
fuppofed they make their nefts in Bohe^nia^ Hungary^
and the riore northern countries.

The LITORNE is a THRUSH (o called by Be-
Jon, who informs us it is the name given to it by the
Peafants : Some have confounded it with the Greater
Thrufh, but it is not fo big, though larger than the
Song-Thrufli. It i: about the fize of a Black-bird,
and refembles the hen of tliat kind, only the breaft is
yellowifh, fpotted v/itli black, and the belly v/hite ;
the legs and feet are black, and the top of tlie head
is of an alh-colour, as well as the neck and rump. The
back is tawney, and the tail blackilh. The fix prime-
feathers of the wings are much blacker than the reft,
which inclines to a red or tawney ; the bill is fliorter
than that of a Blackbird, and is yellow near the head,
and on the lower chap ; but it is black at the end,
and the under parts of the v/ing are white ; this is
like the Feldefare of Ray, but differs in feveral par-
ticulars, and therefore cannot be the fame bird.

The SOLITARY SPARROW, called in /:«//«
TuRDus RUBER C Y A.Mo C A p IT E, that is, the Red

Thrush

O F B I RD S. 1-3

Thrush with a Blue Head, has a neck, br.ck,
and wings variegated with blue and red ; the breaft,
the lower belly, and the tail arc of a gold-colour, but
the bill and feet are black : Mr. Ednxards takes it to
be of the fame kind v/ith the Solitary Sparrow of Al-
droi:andus ; but Khin a fort of a Song-'I hruili .

HaJ/Hquify gives a defcription of it in the Transac-
tions of Upfalf and thougii he places it among Spar-
rows, he thinks it is ot die Thrufh kind : This bird,
fays he, is of the fize of a Blackbird, and has the
upper chap much longer than the lower ; the ncltrils
are oblong, and placed at the bafe of the bill; the
tongue is membranous, the eyes and the eye-lids
black, but the iris is reddifh; the tail is half the length
of die body, and it has four toes, three before and one
behind, and the claws are femi-circular ; the general
colour is a dark afii. It is found in the iHands of the
ArchipelagOy where it m2.kes its neft asiong leaps of
ftones. It feeds on Infects, fleih, and fmgs very well ;
and m.ay be taught to whiille any tune. It is fold at a
great price at CotijlarAmopk and ^inyrtia. If this de-
fcripdon is right, it cannot be the fiiiie bird ajentioned
by Mr. Ed^^ards.

' The Endrcly Red THRUSH, called by fome the
Red ICTERUS oi Surinam \ Wlt, Ed^-uards is m dcxiht
whether he Ihouid place this bird among the Golden-
headed Titmice, the I'irginian Nightingales, or the
Bokemia7i Jays ; but Mr. Klein afirms it ce. i ainly belongs
to the ThruOi kind.

The Golden-Crowned THRUSH has a bill of
a dufky colour, except at the bafe of the lower cliap,
which is of a iieih-colour ; the top of the head is of a
fine golden colour, and over each eye there is a black
line ; the hinder-part of the neck, the back, the wings,
and the tail, are all of a greenifh brcwn, or olive-co-
lour, but the inner covert of the wings are whitifh :
The infide of the quills, and under-fidc of the tail, are
of an afh- colour, and the throat, brenil: and fides are
white, with longilli black fpots ,dov,n the middle of
th.Q feathers. The middle of the belly, thighs, and
covert feathers under the tail aie wliite, and die Icg?'^

Vol.. II, K and

19+ THE NATURAL HISTORY

and feet are of the ufual make, and of a .yellow i/k
brown colour. 1 his bird was taken at fefa, as Mr^
Ed~jjards informs us, in a voyage to yamaic^j when
the Ihip was becalmed. It feems to be a bird of paf-
fage, and was probably changing its climate when it
vas taken ; this feems to be the more probable, be-
eaufe there aie birds of the fame kind in Venf^lvania.
It builds its neft upon the ground, and'^vays chufes
the fouth-fide of a hill. It makes its li'cfi like a lit-
tle oven, and lines it with drygrafs, laying five white
eggs, fpotted with brown. It is the leail bird of the
Thruih kind yet known.

TheAMERicAN SONG-THRUSH, MOCKING-
BIRD, or NlGHTlNGALi?., is about the fize of an
Englip:> ThrolHe, but longer ; they are of a white
and grey colour, and are held to be the chcrifcers of
Isorth America ; they fmg with a great variety of notes,
and perhaps more than any otlicr bird. In Virginia ^
CaroHnay and other £;;^///^ plantations, they are brought
up in cages, though they often build their nefts near
the houfes in the fruit-trees; they frequently fit on the
chimney-tops in fummer, when there is no fire, and
fmg the whole evening, and molt part of the night.
They feed upon mulberries, and other berries and
fruits, efpecially the mechoacan berry, v/hich is ver/
common in thofe parts.

The Jamaica TtiRUSH is feven inches long and
ten broad ; the bill is an inch in length, itrait, round-
ilh, and of an orange-colour, with a black line at the
tio ; the tail is three inches long, and the upper part
of the body is of a duiky colour, and under the chin
there is a white fpot ; the lower part of the neck and
breafl is lighter, and the belly is white. 1 he legs and
feet are of an orange-colour, and it delights in woody
mountainous places. The flefli is accounted very good
eating.

The Fox-coLOURED THRUSH continues all tlie
year in Carolir.a and Virginia, where it is called the
French MOCKING-BiRD : It is fomewhat larger,
and of a more clumfy fliape than the true Mocking-
Bird, neither does it (mg fo fweetly, though it has a
great variety of notes.
^ The

OF D I R D S. 195

The LITTLE THRUSH weighs about an ounce
xind a half, and has only one fmgle note, like the
winter note of our 5ong-Thrufh. It abides all the
year in CarolirMy but it is feen only in the thickefl
woods and f.vamps. It feeds on holly-berries and
haws ; and it is of a brown colour, except the neck:
and breall:, and a few whitiih llreaks.

The GOLDEN THRUSH is a bird of pa/Tage,
and is found in the fouthcrn parts of Europe in funi-
mer. The bill and circles round the eyes are red, but
the head, neck, body, thighs, upper and under co-
vert feathers of the tail are of a fine yellow. The
upper fides of the wings are black, except the quills
and baRard-wings, which are with all light parts,
tippVi with yellow. The inner ccvert-fcrtihers of the
wings are yellow, and the quills are dufniy within,
but the firft are very fnort. The middle feathers oi'
the tail are black, and tlie fide ones above half-way,
widi tips of a gold-colour; the legs and feet are of a
du&y black.

The GRENADIER is an African bird, brought
from the coafl of Angchiy and has a thick, fhoriiih,
duffcy, black bill, ending in a point, and the fore-
part of the head is black, v/hich colour furrounds the
eyes, and reaches as far as the ears en the fides ti *u\z_
head. The liinder-psrt of the head, and the whole
neck all round is of a bright reddilli ornr.gc, as v/ell
as the lower part of the back and rump. The mid-
dle of the back, and upper fides of the wingo 2ni tail
are of a dirty brown, inciinir^g to black, each feather
being fringed on the edge witJi a lighter brown, wliidh
towards the tips are wholly dufliy. The belly, as fa-
as the legs is black ; but the thighs, lov.-er beily, an J
covert featliers under tlie tail, arc v/.hitiih ; the legs,
feet, and claws are of a whililh fiefn-colour. This
bird has a very difaorceable note, fomcv/hat like the
winding up of a clock.

The Brown Indlian THRUSH, has a bill muck

like a common Thrufh, of a yellow colour, and the

head, whole upper fide, neck, back, Vv^ings, rump, and

tail arc of a dufK-V brown ; bu'c the bi-ciif^, bellv,

' K2 thir:;;..

19^ THE NATURAL HISTORY

thigks, and coverts beneath the tail, are of a lightidi
brown, gradually Riixing with a darker brown on the
fides of tlie neck, and upper part of the breafl. Tlie
feathers of the wing3 have the edges a little lighter than
their middles ; and the middle feathers of the tail are
longer by an inch than thofe on theoutfide. The legs,
toes, and clav^'s are yellow. This bird is a native of
Bengal in the Epjl-lndies.

The Yellow Indian STARLING, has a bill in
fliaoc like that of a common Starling, of a reddifn
brown at the bafe, growing more dufky towards the
point; the iris of the eyes is of a hazel-colour, en-
circled with yellow, and the pupils are black. TKe
forehead, from the bill to the eyes is of a bright yel-
low, and round the eyes the feathers are dulky. The
top, hinder part, and fides of the head und^r the
^y^z^ are black, which at lail lofes itfelf in me yel-
lov/ofthe forehead. The throat, juil below the bill
is whitiih, and the breafl of a light yellow, but the
belly, thighs, and coverts are of a deeper yellow, and
the throat and breaft have long, black, or dufky fpots
down the fhafts of the feathers ; the upper fide of the
neck, back, rump, and coverts on the upper fide of
the tail, are of a fall bright yellow ; but the greater
quills of the wings are dufky, v/ith yellow edges on
their outer webs ; all the covert feathers on the upper
fides are yellow, with duficy ibots in their middles.
The middle feathers of the tail are duilcy, with a yel-
low call, and yellow tips ; and the legs and feet arc
dufky. Tliis bird is a native of Be/igal in the Eajl In-
dies,

The Black ?nd Wnirt Indian STARLING,
has a Iharp pointed bill, pretty thick at the bafe, bow-
ed a litlle downward, and of a yeilov/iih orange; the
forehead, next the bafe of the bill above is v/hite,
which reaches from the bafe of the upper chap, all
round the eyes, forming a v.'lute plat beyond the eye,
from which a narrow white line paffes from eye to eye
round the back part of the head ; but the top of the
head is black, ls well as the throat and neck, with a
grcenifli glofs. The back, rump, wings above, and

th^

OF BIRDS. 197

the tail are blackiih, but the ridge of the wings next
the breall is vvhitifh, and the outer edges of the great
quills are cf a lighter brown than the ether parts.
The row of covert feathers next above the quills have
v/hite tips ; the edge of the outer, and each of the tail
is white, and the breaft, belly, thighs, and covert
feathers beneath the tail ai'e white. A line of brovvn-
ifh white runs on the fides cf the upper part of the
breall, forming a ring round the lower part of the neck
behind ; and the legs and feet are of a reddilh brown.
This bird is a native of Bengal in the Eajl-Indies.

The TAMATIA of i.V^//, is of the fizeof a Lark,
and is full of black fpots, like the Lellcr Thrulh ; the
beliy is white, and the fpots brown, but the throat
and neck are yellowiih ; the bill is long, red, and the
upper chap is longer than the lower ; but it has no
tail : Both the head and bjll are VQxy large in propor-
tion : Jt feems to be a fmgular and anomalous bird,
snd is placed here becaufe the fpots are like thole of a
Thrufn.

The particular nrarks of diflin<5lion of a Thrulh,
are an alh-colour on the back, and a fpotted breaft ;
the colour of a Blackbird is the fame in all parts of the
body, and generally very fimple, but in moil it is
blackijli.

At the Cape of Good Hope, there is a fort cf a Thrulh,
which Kolhen has not thought proper to defcribe :
It is fo called becaufe it delights to i'tcd on the liones
of grapes ; for which reafon they keep about vine-
yards at the time of the vintage. They make their
nefls of the fame materials and in the fame manner as
other Thrufnes, but in fo artificial a manner that the
water cannot penetrate them. It is accounted a deli-
cious morfel.

The STARE, or STARIJNG, is known by its
broad bill, which is flatter than in Thru flies or Black-
birds.

The BLACK-BIRD, or OUZEL, is about the

fize of a Fieldefare, and weighs about four 01 nee; ; the

length, from the tip of the bill to the end of the feet,

is nine inches and a half, and to the end of the tail

K. 3 near

19S THE NATURAL HISTORY

near eleven inches ; the bill is an inch long, and of a
yellowilh fairroR colour ; but in the female the point
and upper part are blackiih; the infide of the mouth
is yellow in both, as well as the circumference of the
eye-lids. There are twenty-eight large feathers in
each wing, of which the fourth is the longcft, and the
tail is four inches and a half long ; it confiiis of twelve
feathers, of equal length, except the lull feathers on.
tach fide, which are a little longer than the reft ; the
feet are black, and the outer and hinder toes are
equal ; the frft is joined to the middlemoll: in its lower
part : the v.hole plumage of the cock is of a coal black,
but the hen is of a brovv-n or dark ruilet colour ; how-
ever when the male is youpg he is rather brov/n than
black, and he has a reddiih creft and a greyiih belly ;
infomuch that when they are fmall the male cannot be
dillinguifned from the female by their colour. The
liver is divided into two lobes, of which the right is
biggeil, and there is a gall bladder ; but the ftomach
or gizzard is not fo muiculous as in other birds of this
kind. The Black-bird fmgs very much, and may be
taught to whiilie any fort of tune, nay even to imitate
a man's voice ; the female lays four or five biuifh eggs,
iprinklcd with brown fpots ; they build their nelts
v,ith a great deal of art, much in the fame manner as
the Song-Thruih, only. they line the plahering on the
infide v.ith fmall bents, hair, and other foft materials.
Upon the j^/Js, and ether high mountains, fome have
been found entirely white. Jt is a folitary bird, and
is fond of being alone ; they delight in thick groves,
and generally make their nells in white- thorn bufhes,
of the height of a man ; the male and female fit on
the eggs by turns, efpeclally in the day time.

The fielh is pretty good eating, but is not fo
delicate or eaiy of digcftion as fome others, efpecially
when they feed upon juniper-berries, ivy-beriies, or
the like, for then it is bitter ; however it agrees with
perfons of all ages and conliitiitions.

I'here are generally four or five young ones In a
neft, which are hatched from eggs of a biuifh green
colour, and full of dark fpots. They may be taken

at

O F B I R D S. 199

at twelve days old, or fooner, for they r.re very hardy,
and may be eafiiy reared, by keeping them clean, and
feeding them v/idi llieep's hearts, and other lean meat,
that is not faked; it mull be cut very fmall, and mix-
ed with a little bread, which is moiitened, efpecially
at iirll ; they Ihould be fed every two hours, efpecially
at firft, but afterwards any fort of freih fiefn-meat will
do, either raw or dreffed, but it v/ill be always bell
to mix it with a little bread. When the neft grows
foul, they Ihould be taken out, and put in a cage or
baiket, upon clean llraw, and when they can feed them-
felves they fiiould be parted.

The Black-bird is generally very healthy ; but if he
Ihould happen to droop, or be out of order, it will be
proper to give him a houie-fpider or two, and a little
cochineal in his water. Thefe birds love to prune
their feathers, and therefore v/hen they are grov^n up
they Ihould have water fet in their cages. They fiiould
always be kept clean, and their food fnould be neither
Hale nor four.

The RING-OUZEI., or AMZEL, Is of the f.ze
of a common Black-bird, or rather larger, being of a
biackilli brown on the upper part ; there is a while
ring, or collar, near an inch broad about the neck,
and of the (hapc of a half moon. Jtis eleven inches in
length, and feveuteen broad, weighing about three
ounces. It frequents rocks and high mountains, and
is found in DerbyJJjire, Torkjhire, and other places in
the North of England.

The ROCK OUZEL is like the former, only it
wants the ring. It is found in the mountainous part of
the ?eak in D.rhyff^ire^ and is red under the throat,
with black fpots. Some take it to be the female of the
Rock Ouzel. It is alfo frequent in fome of the high
mountains in Wales, as alfo on the high hills in Ireland^
particularly PJount Lemfier.

The SOLITARY SPARROW is of the bignefs of
a Blackbird, and of the fame ihape, and not much dif-
ferent in colour : the cock is the moll beautiful, being
all over of a fiiining blue, or bluiili purple, which is
very gloily. It ufually fits alone on the tops of old
K 4 building?.

2CO THE NATURAL HISTORY

buildings,, and roofs of churches, fin ging very fweetly,
elpecialiy in a morning. The hen is of a blackiih alh-
colour, and the under part of the body is beautifully
tinctured with tranfverie afh-coloared black and white
lines, finely waved. The bill is a little larger than
that of a rhrufh, and blackifh ; the legs, feet, and
claws are blnck, and lefs than in birds of the fame kind.

The BLUE-BIRD of Bcllomus, is like a Black-
bird, but a little lefs, and all over blue. It builds its
neils en the tops of mountains, in the iflands of the
Archipelago^ but there are none in France or Italy.

The Indian- MOCKING-BIRD is about the fize
of a common Lark, and has a ftrait, fliarp bill. The
colour all over is blue, and the tail long. Mr. Ray
fafpedts it to be the fame bird as the former.

The WATER-OUZEL, or WATER-CRAKE,
is a little lefs than a Black-bird, and is black on the
back, with a mixture of aili-colour, but the breaft is
white. It delights in watery places, and lives upon
fifn. It is very common in the mountains of Northern-
countries, and particularly in Wales ; tho' the whole
habit of the body and make of the feet denote it be
a land-bird, yet it will fometimes dive under water.

The Brazilian OUZEL of Bellonius, is fo in-
tenfcjy red all over the body, except the tail, which
15 bkck, that it appears more glorious than any bird
of that colour ; the tail is long, the feet and legs black,
■:in<d, the bill iltort, like a fparrows. There is alfo an
£aj} Indian bird, of the fize of tiie Leffer Thrufh,
v/ith an oblong tail, which fecms to be nearly of the
lame kind.

The RosE-coLOURED OUZEL of Aldro'vandus^
called by fowlers the Sf.a-Thrush, is not fpotted
I'ke that of the common fort. It is a little lefs than a
ij lack- bird, and the back, breall, and upper part of
the wiugs, arc of a rofe or carnation colour ^ the head
is crcfled ; the other part of the wings and tail are
Watk; and the bill, where it joins to the head, is
;ilfo black, bat the rell is of a flefii-colcur, and the feet
of that of (liffron. Jt is fccn j&equently in our fields,
an«i delights to be about places where there, is dung.

The Indian OUZEL, with a red-coloured breaft,

is

O F B I R D S. 201

IS of the fize and fhape of a Jackdaw ; the colours on
the upper part of the body is wholly bhick, only the
edges of the feathers near the rump are afh-colourcd,
or v/hitifh ; the breall is red, and the bill like that of a
Black-bird, as is alfo the tail. The Jacapu of
Marcgra've is very like tliis bird, if it is not the very
fame.

The Party-coloured OUZEL of AldronjarJus,
is chiefly of two colours, namely, blackifh, and a yel-
lowilh red ; there is another, a-kin to this, with a red
line near the bill j as alfo a third, which does not
differ much from the former.

The STARE, or STARLING, has a broader and
a flatter bill than that of Thruflies or Black-birds ;
which is three inches and a quarter long, and of a
pale yellow colour, in which it chiefly differs from
them ', for in other refpefts, as v/ell as the fize and
Ihape, it is much the fame. The. tongue is hard,
horny, and cloven, and the legs and feet of a reddifii
yellow ; the ends of the feathers on the neck and back
are yellowifh in the cock, and whitiih in the hen.
In other paits they are blackifli, v.'ith a bluilh or pur-
ple glofs, which feems to be mixed with green, when,
placed in fome lights; the tail is three inches long,
and it lays four or five eggs at a time, which are
lightly tin6lured with a greenifli blue : Large flocks
of them may Be feen together, and they are often in
company with Redwings, and Eieldfares ; they breed
in the holes of old buildings, as well as in trees, and
may be taught to fpeak. It feeds upon infecls only,
and not upon berries,, but it will eatflefli, when it can
come at it..

The Indian STARE has feathers of a darkifli blue
colour, fpeckledwith fpots of an afli-colour, not much
unlike our Stare ; but it has a yellow creft on the hinder
part of the neck near the head, and the head is covered
with black feathers as foft as filk. It may be taught to
fpeak more dilUndly than a Parrot*

The STONE-STARLING, or Greater RED^

START, is equal in bignefs and fhape to a Starling

or Throftle ; for its length, from the tip of the bill

to 'the end of the claws, is nine inches and a half, :md

K 5 iu

202 THE NATURALHISTORY
its breadth fourteen inches, when the wings are ex:-
tendcd ; the bill is above an inch long, broad, and fiat,
and not rifing up in a ridge like that of a Black-bird ;
ths tongue is a little cloven at the end, and the legs
and feet are of a lead-colour ; the tail is three inches -
long, and ,cf a duiky red ; the throat, breaft, belly,
and thighs are variegated with white, black, and yel-
low ; the wings are long, reaching to the end of the
tail, and the head and back are brown, having the
tips of the feathers of an afh-colour ; but the quill fea-
thers of the wings are a blackilh brov/n, with reddifh
tips. It takes the name of Red-ftart from its tail,
and it frequents rocky and mountainous places. It is
often kept in cages as a finging bird, and will learn
to talk pretty diilindly. It is a very common bird in
i/rt/v, as well as in fome parts of Gen/ia^y.

The Red-winged STARLING, is z. North Ame-
rican bird, weighing betvv^een three and four ounces,
and the fhape is like that of a common Starling.
They are all over of a dark grey, almoll blackifh, ex-
cept that part of the wings next the neck, en which there
is a large, roundifh fpace, that reaches to the very
edges; but belov/ there is a broad, yellow (Iripe :
The hen has a lightilh mixture of grey, and the red
on the wings is not {o bright ; thefe birds make their
nells among the reeds, the tops of which they artfully
interv/eave, and fill their nefls under the v.eb, fafe
from the water below and the wet above. They are
great devcurers of com, and may be taught to talk
and fmg.

The PIE that makes a hanging nejiy is a little larger
than a Thrufli, and has a bill like birds of that kind,
only it is thicker and longer, and of a red colour ; th«
feet are of a lead colour, and the wings and tail are
chitfly black ; the cock is beautifully painted all over
the body with a fine yellow, and is not inferior to j^7ne-
rican birds with regard to the elegance and glofs of its
feathers. Itis found in G^-rw^w)- and Italy^ and is like
Thruilies and Black-birds, not only in the fhape of
tl:e bill, but of the whole body, and it feeds like
them.

The

O F B I R D S. 203

The PITANGA GVAC^J oi Marcgra^ve,' is called
BEMTERE by tliv* Portuguefe, It is a South-American
bird, and ot the ilze of a Starling, and has a tliick,
broad pyramidal bill, fharp at the point, and about an
inch long ; the head is flatdiii and broad, and the neck
iliort, elpecially when it is fitting ; the feet are brown,
and the upper part of the body of a browniih black,
but beneath it is yellow. On the neck, near the head,
it has a tuft of a vvhitilh colour, like a mor.k's cowl.
Some of thefe birds have yellow fpots, on the top of the
head.

The ATINGA GUACU MUCU of Marcgran.-e,
is about the lize of a Thrufh, and has a thick head j
the bill is a little crooked, and the colour is a mix-
ture of green and yellow. The feet are of an afh-co-
lour, and the tail nine inches long ; the upper part of
the body, with the wings and tail, are brown, or of the
colour of foot ; the feathers at the end of the tail are.
white, to the length of half an inch, and the lower
partis of an alh- colour. It has long feathers on the
head, which, when raifed, look like two horns.

The MATUITUI of Brafii, is of the fxze of a
Starling, and has a ihort neck and legs ; the biU is
ftrait, iharp, ilrong, and of a red colour ; the upper
part is of a pale brown, fpotted with yellow, and the
tliroat is yellow, but it is white underneath, fpotted
with brown, and the legs are of a dark afn-colcur.

The GUIRA PUNGA o^ BrafJ, is larger than a
Thrufh, and has a bill near the fise of a Pigeon,
it being an inch long, broad, and of a black colour,
and the mouth is wide; the iris of the eyes is bluifh,
and under the throat, and on the lower part of the
neck there are many feathers hanging down, of an inch
long, which are black, and powdered with fieih-co-
lour ; they are in lliape like the end of a fpear ; the
head is of a dark brown, and, the neck, breaft, belly,
back, and upper part of the legs, are covered vyith:
greyilli aih-coloured feathers, mixed with black, ef-
pecially on the back; but tov/ards the tail they are
greeniih. The wings are black, mixed with greenilh,
leaUiers, and the legs are aifo bhck ; the taU is tliree
z inches ■

zo^ TH E N A T U R A L HISTORY

inches long, and this bird has a loud cry, which may
be heard at a great diftance.

1 he GUIRARU is of the fize of a Water-Ouzel,
or rather bigger ; the bill is ftrait, black, and fiattilh,
and the iris of the eyes is of a fapphire colour ; the '
feet are black, and the whole head, neck, bread, and
lower part of the belly are of a whitilh grey ; the
back is of an afh-colour, and the bill, on both fides
the eyes, as far as the hinder part of the head, is
marked with a black oblong fpot ; the wings and
tail are black, and the ends of the feathers of the tajl
are white ; likewife on the upper part it is covered with
white feathers.

The ACOl.CHICHS is a Mexican bird, and call-
ed the Mexican Starling ndth Red ShouUersy by
Heman:^ez.. It is nearly of the fize, colour, and fiiape-
of a Starling, and the flioulders turn red when the bird
grows old. It does a great deal of mifchief in corn-
fields, in which it differs from a Starling ; it will
learn to imitate a human voice, and talk very prettily.
They are called by the Spaniards Commendadores,
on account of their red fhoulders.

The TZANATLTOTOTL of Hernandez, is nine
inches long, being of the fize of a Starling, and has a
thick, afn-ccloured, and fomewhat crocked bill ; the
lower part of the body is reddilh, and the head is
black ; the reft of the body is variegated with black,
white, and yellowiili brown feathers.

The MOCOTOTL, or the bird that feeds upon a
herb called Mocoquitl, is of the fize of a Starling, and'
of a brown colour, which in feme parts is lighter;
the breafl is whitifh, as well as the tail underneath ;
the feet and bill are red, and it is a bird of the finging
kind.

The CHIETOTOTL is of the fize and fhape of a
Song-Thrufh, and of an afh-colcur, except on the
belly and throat, which are whitifh.

I'he TETZONPAN is as big as a Starling, and
is variegated with afh, white, tawney, or black co-
lours.

The XOCHITOTOTL has the belly, bread, and
a great part of th.e tail of a faffion colour, with a lit-
tle

OF BIRDS, 2C5

tic mixture of black; the wings underneath are of an
afh-colour ; but above they are variegated with black
and white ; the reft of the body, with the head is
black. Henmndcz. fays, that this bird, when young,.
is of a yellow colour, and of the fize of a Canary bird.
Id another place he fpeaks of a bird of the fame name,,
which is entirely yellow, marked with a black fpot
on the head, only the tail and wings are variegated,
with black and white. Mr. Ray thinks thefe are all.
the fame fort of birds.

Likewife there is another XOCHITOTOTL, adorn-
ed with veiy lively colours, of the fize and ihape of a--
fparrow; it is variegated with grey, black, white,
and yeilov/ feathers, and builds its neft in fuch a man-
ner as to hang upon the branches of trees.

The TOXCACOZTIC is of the fize and ihape of
a SoRg-Thrufh, but has a yellow neck and breaft,
with a ftripe of the fame colour tha.t runs over the-
forehead.

• The CHIANTOTOTL is of the fize of a Starling,,
with a middle-fized bill, a little crooked, and of aa
afh-colour ; the breaft and belly are whitifh, fpeckled
with brownilh fpots, and the back is variegated with
brownilh and black colours, but the feathers of the
wings are variegated with white and black ; the head
is of an afh-colour, and maiked with a white line
near the eve on each fide.

The NOPALTENCOL is a little larger than a
Stalling, with a long, crooked bill, and the iris of
the eyes is reddiih, but the other parts are of a dufky
and afh-colour.

The CAXAXTOTOTL is a bird entirely covered
with feathers, that are blue and blackifh, and it is a
little longer than a Starling ; the iris of the eyes is
yellow, and the bill longifh, Iharp, and black.

The AHUATOTOTL is of the fize and fhape of
a Starling, but the wings and tail are blue ; the refl
of the body is whitifh, tending to brown.

The PITZMALOTL is of the Starling-kind, and.
alittle above nine inches long, with a broad black bill..

The YAYAUHQPITOTOTL is of the fize of a.
Staining, and is variegated with green, blue, yellow

and

2o5 THE NATURAL HISTORY

and afh colour ; there are two feathers at the end of
the tail longer than the reit, v/hich are naked towards
the roots, and have the ends covered with blue and
black hairs.

The COCHITOTOTL has a flender bill, fliarp
at the end, and a little crooked ; the upper parts arc
covered with a mixture of aih-coloured and black fea-
thers ; but the reft are yeilow, and the feet of an afh-
coiour; this feems to be the iame as the Xochito-
totl

The IZANATL, with regard to the colour, na-
ture, and note, is like a Starling ; it being a ipan long,
from the tip of the bill to the root of the tail ; but to
t]\£ Ciid of the tail it is nine inches ; the feathers are
black, and of a glofs like thofe of a Peacock ; the bill
is three inches long, and black, as are alfo the feet.

TheTEQUJX, QUIACATZANATL, or SALT-
STARLING, fo called becaufe it delights to be near
falt-lakes. It is in fliape, fize and colour very like a.
Starling, only the tail is longer, and the body bigger :
All the feathers, (except thofe that cover the head and
neck, Vv'hich are tawney) are of a fnining black ; they
fly in flocks, and do a great deal of mifchief in corn-
fields.

The TOLOCATZANTL, or Bull-rush STAR-
LING, is like the common fort in fliape and fize, on-
ly it is a little lels ; it is wholly covered with black
feathers, except the head, which is brown.

Ihe TXONIAYAUHI, is of the fize of a Starling,
but the colour is white, and yellow below, and of a
palilh green above : At the rife of the right wing it is
v/hite and yellow ; but the head is partly greeniih and
pale and partly blackilh j likewife the right fide of
neck is black, as well as the bill ; the feet are of a
reddilh white.

The YXAMAZCATL is of the fize of a Starling,
has a bill of a mean fize, a little crooked, and of an
afh-cclour, but the iris of the eyes is blue ; the co-
lour of the feathers is of a dulky green, except the
breaft, which is yellow, and the belly white j the feet
ate of a dulky colour.

The

I

O F B I R D S. 2C7

The ELCOZTOTCTL is of the blgnefs of a
Blackbird, with a yellow breaft and belly, and a black
tail; the v/ings are of a yellov/ifh black, and the upper
part is of an afh-colour ; but the bill is longilh, and
a little black ; the iris of the eyes is yellow, and the
feet of an afli-colour.

_ The CACALOTOTL is of the fame fize as a Star-
ling, and is of a bluilTi black all over the body, with a
black bill and a long tail j the iris of the eyes is of a
reddifli yellow.

The CHILCOQUIPALTOTCTL is as large as a
Elack-bird, and has a bill of a bidfh black, but the
legs are greenifh ; the head is blackilh, the belly and
the breaft pale, and the reft of the body yellow and
green, variegated v/ith white and black.

The CHILTOTOTL is like the former in the bill,
fize, and variety of colours, but the liead is red, and
the feet yellow.

The TLAUHTGTOTL is of the bigncfs of a
riack-bird, and is all over red, except a few black
feathers in the wings.

The XOTI.APECH is lefs than a Thrufh, and is
yellow above, but blue below ; the creft on the head
is yellow, and that part towards the bill is blackifh,
with almoft upright feathers.

The OLOTOTOTI, is of the the fame fize as the
former; and ahr.oft entirely covered v.ith bluifh fea-
thers, or rather like thofe of a Peacock ; but about the
neck they are v/hite and red.

The YACATLIL or BLACK-BILI,, fo called from
its black bill, which is of a finger's breadth, long, thick-
iili at the beginning, and ending in a point ; from
whence it had its Mexican name.

The CEOAN or SNOW-BIRD, is a little larger
than a Scng-Thrulh, and is remarkable for imitating
the human voice. It is yellowifh on the breaft and
belly, and at the rife of the wings ; but at the end of
the tail there is a mixture of afh-coloured feathers ; the
extremities of the wings, and the lower fide of the
tail is of an afh-cclcur; but the whole body above is
of a brownifh black ; the bill is flender, and of a yel-
lowifti colour; as well as the feet.

CHAP.

2o3 THE NATURAL HISTORY

CHAP. XXV.

Of the fenjeral Sorts c/" Larks. J|

BIRDS of the Lark kind may be dlllinguifhed ■
from others by having the hind toe pretty long, ^
and of a brick colour, and by finging when they fly, .•
mounting in the air.

The Common SKY, or FIELD-LARK, is not
much bigger than a Houfe-Sparrow, but has a longer
body, being from the tip of the bill to the end of the
tail fix inches and a quarter long; and the tail it-
felf is three inches, cpnfifting of twelve feathers. It
weighs about an ounce and a half, and the colour is a
mixture of brick and black j for the edges of the fea-
thers are of areddifh afh-colour, and black in the midr-
dle; the upper chap is black, and fometimes of the
colour of horn ; but the lower is whitifh ; the tongue
is hard and forked, and the nollrils round ; the head is
cf an afh-colour, inclining to red, and in the middle
the feathers are black, and are fometimes raifed up like
a creft ; the hinder part of the head is encompaffed
with a greyifh crov/n, that runs from one eye to the
other, but it is not fo plain as in the Wood-Larks ; the
back is of the fame colour, and the head and the chin
is whitifh ; the throat is yellowifh, with brown fpots,
and the fides are of a reddiih yellow ; there are eight
large feathers in each wing, of v/hich four or five of
the firfl are whitifli on the edges, but the others are
reddifh, except thofe next the body, which are greyr
ifh ; the edges of the fmall wing feathers are of a redr
difh afh-colour ; the tail is three inches long, asjultob-
fervcd, and the laft or outermofl feather on each fide
is white, as well on the upper half as on the external
webs near the fhafts, the next are only white on the
outer fide ; the three follov.'ing are black, the middle-
xnoll two have fharp points, the legs and toes are

brown.

O F B I R D S. 2<59

brown, and the claws black, unlefs at their extremi-
ties, where they are whitifh j the outer toe is connect-
ed below to the middlemoft, and the liver is divided
into two lobes, of which the left is much larger than
the right, that it may allow room for the gizzard,
which is flefhy, and very large in proportion to the fize
of the bird.

The male is diftinguiihed from the female by being
more brown, and more particularly by the length of
the heel or hind claw ; for Gejner affirms he lias feen-
them above two inches long ; it is ftrait, becaufe thefe
birds never perch upon trees, for thofe kinds that da
have them a little cjooked ; they delight in mounting
very high towards the fky, and in Eying they always
defcribe circles, fniging at the fame time that they
rife upwards ; thefe fort of Larks are eafily tam.ed
and are kept for the finenefs of their fmging ; they be-
gin to build their nefts in April, in fields fown with
corn, or under tufts of grafs, and they breed twice a
year ; they are feen in pairs in the fpring, but in au-
tumn and winter they fly in fiocks ; the cock only
fings, which is almoil a general rule in birds.

. The fiefh is delicate, it haying a fine tafle, and is
eafy of digeftion v,'hen it is young and fat. As for the
medicinal ufes they are fo trifling they need not be
mentioned.

The young of thefe birds mull be taken when they
are about ten days old, or Iboner, for they quit their
nefts very early ; they mull be put into a fmall baCcet,
with fliort clean hay at the bottom. ; they muH: be kept
very warm, and fed with white bread and milk boiled
to a thick confiftence, which muft be mixed with a
third part of rape feed, that is foaked, boileci, and
bruifed. Some bring them up with fheep's-hearts,
minced very fine ; they muft be kept very clean, and
fed every two hours from morning till night ; in about
a v/eek they may be put into a large carge, with vexy
fhort hay or coarfe bran at the bottom, which mull
be turned or fhifted every day ; they will feed them-
felves in about three weeks time, and then they mult
have bread, hard egg, aud hemp-feed j the t%% muft

be

z o THE NATURAL HISTORY

be chopped very fine, aiid mixed with an equal qunn-
sity of hemp-feed, \vhich laft muil be bruired till they
iire able to crack it themfelves ; tliey fhould have a frelh
grafly turf once or twice a week, and dry gravel ihould
be fifted at the bottom of the cage ; they may have a
little tlefii-meat for change, and in moulting time they
muil: have bread, egg, and hemp-feed every other day.
"When he is ill, he ihould have a little old cheefe, or
a fpider or two lliould be given him, with a blade or two
oi fafiron in his v/atcr : iie may be taken in clap-nets.
The WOOD-LARK, is fix inches and a half in
length, from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail,
und in breadth twelve inches and a half, when the
v/ings are extended : Its weight is about an ounce and
a quarter. It may be diftinguifhed from a common
Lark in having a Icfs and fhorter, but thicker body;
in having the outer feathers of the tail whitilh at the
end; by its note, which is like a Black- bird's ; by a
circle of whitiflii feathers, like a crown, which runs
crofs the head, from one eye the other, and in having
the outward quill feather of the wing much fhorter
than that next unto it : Likewife it perches upon
trees, whereas the Sky-Lark fits upon the ground.
The head and. back are of a brown fort of party-colour,
inclining to black, with a reddifh or light-brown Ihade,
and the middle parts of Ibme of the feathers are fpotted .
with black ; the brealt and belly are of a pale brown,
fpotted v/ith faint black fpots ; but tlie neck is more of
an afh-colour, with a pale wreathed line pairing round
the hinder part of it to each eye ; the feathers of the
wings have fome of their edges white, and others yel-
low, but thofe on their ridges are more of an alh-co-
lour ; the rump is of a light brown or ycllowifh red,
and the tail, which is near two inches long, is of a
dufky or fallow red, with fome of the tips wliite, and
others more inclining to black; the legs and feet
are of a pale flcfli-colour, and the back toe is pretty
long, and the claws dulky ; they breed fooner than
moll birds in this kingdom, for the young are ready to
fly tov/ards the latter end of March ; they build their
nells under fmall tufts of grafs, and fonictimes by the
fidf of a turf as it lies ; the cock may be diilinguifhed

from

OF BIRDS. 2it

from the hen, when in cages, by its ftatelinefs in walk-
ing about, and frequently doubling his call.

Young Wcod-Laiks are very tender birds, and there
are generally four in each neli. It is very difticult to:
briiifi^ them up, and tiierefore they fhould not be taken
out till they are well feathered ; they Ihould be pat iii>
a bafKetvvith hay at the bottom, that they may lye clean
and warm; they fhould be fed with (heep's heart, mixed
with hard boiled egg, a little bread and bruifed hemp-
feed, all chopped together, as fine as polTible, and
made a little moift with clean v/ater.

Thofe birds that are hatched in the fpiing may be
taken in yune or yulyj with a Hawk, and a net of about
eleven or tvv^elve yards long, and three or four broad,
v»'ith a line running through the middle of it ; there
mull be two perfons, one to carry the Hawk, and the
other to take hold of one end of the line. When
you find where the Laiks lye, get as near them as pof-
iible, and then hold up your Hawk on your hand,
making him hover his Vvings. As foon as they per-
ceive him, they will lye very clofe to the ground, then
let one take hold of one end of the line, and the other
of the other end, till you come to the place where they
are, holding up the Hawk as you go along ; by
this means you may readily drav/ the net over them,,
and fo they may be taken. Thefe birds are to ha.
found near gravel-pits, on heaths, and in pafture ground.
At Michaelmas they may be taken with clap-nets, and
thefe are accounted the beft birds, becaufe keeping them
all the v/inter will m.ake them fconer grow tame

They muft be then fed with hemp-feed, bruifed very
fine, mixed v/ith hard egg and grated bread ; there
jnuft be fine red gravel at the bottom of the cage, and
if his meat be fcattered upon it he will eat the fooner ;
the comm.on diet may be like that of the Sky-Lark,
but he muil have no turf in his cage, red gravel being
fufficient. When he is not v,'ell mould, full ct ants
fhould be put therein ; but if this is not to be had,
give him two or three meal-worms or hog-lice every day,
with a little foifron or liquorice in his v^ater. When
he has a fcouring, grate cheefe or chalk among his
meat, as alfo among his gravel. It is a bird in great

efteem

TIT: THE NATURAL HISTORY

«'ileem for its finging, and is by fome preferred to a
Nightingale ; it fmgs in the night, for which rea-
fon it is often miftaken for a Nightingale, in May,
Ju e, and July, eipccially in hot weather, v/hen the
flcy is ferene, but principally \\hen the females are
hatching their eggs.

The WHi IE LARK is found on the mountains of
Lapland, but in the winter comes into ^iiseden : It has
a fhort body and white wings ; but the firft outward
feathers are black, as well as the tail, and the fides are
of a fine white : It never perches upon trees.

The BLACK LARK has a bill of a dufky yellow,
and the iris of the eyes is yellow ; it is all over of
a dulky brown, inclining to black, with a reddifh
cafl, except on the back part of the head, where there
are feathers of a dufky yellow, and on the belly there
are feathers with white edges ; the legs, feet, and
daws are of a dirty yellov/ : This bird is not very com-
mon in Englayid.

The CALATTI is a beautiful bird of Amhoyra,
ef the fame fize as a Lark, and is greatly valued for
its finging ; the head is adorned with a dark-coloured
tuft, inclining to black, but round the eyes, and on
the breafl, the feathers are of a moft delightful Tk-v-
blue ; the back is as black as a raven, variegated with
azure ; the wings are of a flcy-blue, only thofe which
are principally ufed in flying are variegated with
green, 7wky blue, and black ; the hinder part of the
body is of a pale blue, mixed with green, and the
tail, which is very handfome, is of a dark brown-,
terminated with a reddilh grey. Some take this bird
to be a kind of an Ortolan.

The GONAMBUCHO is a common bird at i'wn-
ram, and is of the fhape of a Lark, but it fmgs as fine
as a Nightingale ; the prime feathers of the wings
are white below, and grey abova, with fome mixture
of red ; but the fmall feathers are of a bright grey;
the breaft, and the upper part of the tail are partly
red, and partly yellow, and the head is all over grey,
with a Ihort pointed bill ; they are fond of Indian
corn.

The

O F B I R D S. 213

The TIT-LARK is lefs by one half than the com-
mon Lark, being only fix inches in length, and tea
inches and a quarter in breadtli : It is ot a-more green-
ilh colour than a common Lark, bat not fo beautiful ;
the head is fmall, and the body pretty long and flen-
der ; the iiis of the eyes is hazel, and the top of the
head, and upper part of the body are of a yellowish
green, with a mixture of black and afh-colour ; the
fides of thev/ings a^e of kdulky brown, with the edges
and tops of the feathers fomewhat greenilh, fome of
a pale yellow, and others white ; the breaft is of a pale
dufky colour, fpotted with black, but the belly is
whiter, and free from fpots ; the tail is above two
inches long, and fome of the upper parts of the out-
moll: featliers are white, and others brown, with pale
green edges ; the feet are yellow, and the clawE are
very long, and of a pale dufky colour ; they feed upon
infedls and feeds, like other Larks, but they feuiid
their neils with mofs in low buihes, not far from the
ground, covering them on the inlide with horfe-hair ;
they generally lay five or fix eggs, of a dark brown
colour, and the young are commonly hatched about
the beginning of y^^*?-

The cock is yellower than the hen, efpecially under
the throat, on the breaft, legs, and foles of the feet ;
the young ones may be brought up in the fame manner
as Wood liarks, but it is hardly worth the trouble,
becaufe they may be eahly taken with lime-twigs and
clap-nets ; the ends of their wings at firil mull: be tied
with a thread, to prevent their beating themfelves
againfl: the cage : they mull: be fed in the fame man-
ner as Wood-Larks, and their other management is
much the fame ; and they will fmg in about a week's
time. It perches upon trees, and is a hardy, loner-
lived bird ; its fong is Ihort, and has no great variety,
though fome pretend it is not unlike that of a Canary
bird.

The CRESTED LARK differs from the common
Lark in being bigger in its creft, in its not being of fo
beautiful a colour, in its not riling fo high in the air,
nor in flaying fo long there ; in its not flying in flocks,

aud

-14 THE NATURAL HISTORY

and its frequenting the banks of lakes and rivers.
The creft is compoied of i^ven, eight, and {ometimcs
of ten ^eath^.'rs, which it c?.n eieft, fprcad, or contraft
at pleaiure ; the colour on the back is not fo tine, nor
-fo iuli of ipots, and its tail -is fhorter. The outer parts
of Ibme or the p'uion feathers are of a av.[ity or yd-
lowiih white, but the throat is beautifully fpotted ; the
breail: and bellv are white, oi a yellowiih call, and the
tail is about . s long : Some of the outermoft

feathtrs ci vhite borders, others red, and

others agrtin Liaci;.

The i^l?IT LARlv is hfs than any of the former,
•and has a iknier, i:;. ' biil, of a duiky co-

lour, and about halt a., . y-, i he head, and up-

per parts of the body aic Oi a dulky olive green, as
well ab the wings ; but thel^ are more (haded with
black, and they have a dulky white border on the
two hrll rows of the covert leathers ; the breall and
lower parts of the body are of a pale bi-o\vn, and have
faint large fpots of black. The tail is above two inches
long, and the outermoft feathers are white about
half way, with duf^y cdgQS ; but the others are more
brown, with yellow edges : The feet are of a pale
brov/n, and the claws lon^, as in other Ljirks. Great
numbers of them are takefl by the bird-catchers in
Septi7nber and October,

The Lesser CRESTED LARK, is much lefs than
the common Lark, and the creft is longer in proportion
to the body ; the feet are red, and the colour of the
whole body is more brov/n.

The Lesser FIELD LARK differs from the Tit-
Lark in being a little larger, and not quite fo green j
in having paler feet, and lliorter heels.

The TIT-L^.RK ntjith the note of a GraJJjojper, is
lefs than the fmall Yellow-Bird, and is yellow on the
upper part, and fpeckled with blackilli fpots ; but
below it is of a whitiili yellow : It fits upon a bufh,
carrying his body upright, with an open mouth, and
the wings a little fpread. It fings like a Grafhopper,
but more furill and loud. It has the chief and dillin-
guiftiing mai-k wliich is proper to the Lark kind, that
is in having the claw ©f the hind toe very long.

The

OF BIRDS. 2!5

The SPIPOLETTA, fo called hy the Florcntwes,
Rnd TORDINO by the Venetians^ is lefs than i; Lark,
and has a (lender, Itrait, iharp, and very bla-^k bill ;
the feet are alio black, and tlie claw or tlie hind-toe
is long, like that of a Lark. The colour on the up-
per part of the body is alh, v*4ch a iort of a grecnilli
mixture ; the throat, breaft, aud belly is white in fome,
and in otliers of a beautiful yellow, but the breait in
all ii darker than the throat and belly, and a little
fpotted. It differs f] om other larks in the length of the
heel, and in the black colour of the bill and feet.

The GIAROLAis of the fize of a Lai-k, and has a
red bill ; but it is yellowilh on the infide, and on the
edges of the mouih ; the upper part of the body
refembles that of a Quail, but the hinder part of the
liead, and beginning of the neck, are covered with
feathers, whitiih on the edges, and in the ihape of a
crown, but the belly is white ; the tail is narrow,
hardly a thumb's breadth in length, and confiils of very
narrow feathers ; the feet are of a flefh -colour, the
hinder claws like thofe of a Lark, and it refembles,
almoft in all refpecls, a Wood-Lark, except in the
colour of the feathers

The Larks of Carchnn^ by fome called Rice-
Birds, delight in low meadow-grounds, and have the
like heels as common Larks : The cock's bill is of a
lead colour, the fore-part of the head black, the hin-
der part of the neck of a reddifh yellow, the back next
the head black, lower down grey, the rump white,
and the greateli part of the wings, and the whole tail
black. The legs and feet are brown in botli {Q.)it?.^
the breaftand belly of a pale yellow, and the bill firong
and fharp pointed. Catcjiy obfer/es that the hens come
into Carolina iw Septsrn' e-i to devour rice, and that
both cocks and hens make a fhort vifit together in the
Ipring. It is very fine eating.

The CAT-BIRD, fo called becaufe it makes a noife
exaftly like young cats, and is of the fize of a Lark ;
they have a blacki(h head, and an afh-coloured body,
and will fight a Crow, or any other great bird. It is
a native of Carolina.

CHAP.

2^6 THE NATURAL HISTORY

CHAP. xxvr.

Of Birds of the S w a L l o \v kind.

BIRDS of the Swallow kind are diHinguifhed
from others in having a large head, a fhort bill,
and a wide mouth, that it may catch fxies more readily
when it is upon the wing ; the wings are alfo very
long, and their flight fwift, that they may be able to
follow them more fpeedily ; their feet are fhort and
fmall, becaufe they are never ufcd much for walking ;
and the tail is long and forked, that they may turn and
wind about in the air more eafdy ; the eggs are
white. In the winter, when there are no more flying
infedls in the air, they either hide themfelves, or fly
to other regions.

The Common or Chimney SWALLOW weighs
neiuly an ounce, and is, from the tip of the bill to
the end of the tad feven inches in length ; but the
breadth is twelve inches and a half when the wings
are extended ; the bill is Ihort, flat, black, very broad
at the head, and fliarp pointed, and the feet are fliort
and black : The upper part of the body has a deep
blue, or black, purplifli glofs; and on the fore-part
of the head, and under the chin, there is a whitifli
fpot, v/ith a reddifli iin6lure ; the breall:, belly, and
feathers under the wings are whitifh, with a reddifli
caft ; the tail is very forked, confifts of twelve black
feathers, except two in the middle, and is adorned with
tranfverfe white fpots running in a line ; the tongue is
fliort, broad, andof a ycllowifli colour, as well as the
palate ; but the other parts of the mouth are blackifli.
The eyes are pretty big, furniflied v/ith nidlitating
membranes, and their iris is a hazel colour.

VVillou^hhy informs us, that he has fecn a great num-
ber of thefc birds brought to market at Vahncia in
"^pain, towards the end of Septeznter, Naturalilb are

not

O F B I RD S. 217.

not agreed about what becomes of thefe birds in the
winter, but the above-mentioned author is of opinion,
that they go into hot countries, as Egpt and Ethiopia,
and that they do not hide themfelves in hollow trees, in
holes of rocks, and in old buildings, as fome have fup-
pofed ; but there are feveral relations which contradi<5i:
this: Some affirm they hide themfelves in holes un-
der the ground, joined clofe together, that is, bill
againll bill, and feet againft feet : Some inform us,
they have (Gtn them taken ont of the water, and even
from under the ice in bunches, where they pafs the
winter without motion, except the beating of the heart;
and feveral creditable writers might here have been
mentioned on this occafion : But Frifeh tells u?, that
he has taken feveral Swallows alive, and that he ha.%
tied feveral marks to their claws, and when the fame
Swallows returned he did not perceive the water had
fpoiled them; one of thefe was red thread, made
lb by a water colour only, which muft needs have beea
walhed off if the Swallow had hid itfelf under th&
water. Perhaps fome may wonder how he came to
catch the fame Swallow again, but this will not ap-
pear ftrange, if they confider that Swallows always
return to their old nefts' again, and that they often
build them in chimney-tops. Befides, if Svv'allows
continued in the v/ater in the winter, they could not
breath, for they have have no gills like fifli.

When Swallows make their firft appearance, they
are always in good cafe, and their feathers are frnooth
and regular, which cculd not be if they had been
without food fo long a time, and the water muft furely
have ruffled their feathers. Mr. Reaumur ^ who was
very curious in inquiring into thefe matters, received
feveral accounts, that bundles of Swallows have hoQn
found in quarries, and under the water; and he was
promifed occular demonflration, but none of his cor-
reipondents have beeri able to keep their words. It
has been often feen, that when Swallows have returned
at their ufual time, after a hard winter, many of them
have periihed for want of food, becaufe there were no
infers flying in the air. Thus Reaumur acquaints jis.

Vol. II, L in

2i8 THE NATURAL HISTORY

in the Memoiri of the Academy of Sciences, that the
Swallows which appeared firft: after the long froil in
1740, all died of Hunger: Hence it is plain they al-
ways frequent fuch places where they expedl plenty of
food ; for which reafon they leave us when the infeds
that fly in the air, on which they live, begin to fail.
Every one knows, that the feverer the winter has been,
the later flying infefts appear, becaufe heat always ad-
vances their transformation, and cold retards it ; and
there is no wonder there fliould be fo few in the air in
1740.

The fiefh of Swallows is never eaten in thefe parts
of the world, though it appears, from what has been
faid above, that they make ufe of it as an aliment in
Spain. Some recommend a dram of it, when dried
and reduced to powder, againft the apoplexy, epilep-
fy, and Palfy ; but I would advife no one to depend
upon it for any fuch Purpofe.

The MARTIN is a fmall bird, fix inches in length,
smd ten and a half in breadth when the wings are ex-
tended : The head, neck, back, tail and wings are
of the fame colour with the houfe fwallow, but darker,
and the rump, breall and belly are milk-white : The
tongue is cloven, the feet fmall, the legs ihort, the
claws white, and the feet, to the very claws, are co-
vered with a white down, by which mark alone it is
diftinguifhed from all others of the Swallov/ kind : Be-
sides, the tail is not fo forked, nor are the outer fea-
thers much longer than thofe next to them. It builds
its nefl of a roundifli fliape, like the Houfe-Swallow,
and of the fame materials, but not in chimneys; for
they conIlru6l them on the tops of windows, and un-
der the eaves of houfes : Befides the neil differs from a
Swallow's, in having a hole in the fide ; wliereas that
of a Swallow is open at the top ; likewife it is a little
more oval than that of a Swallow.

The SAND-MARTIN, or SHORE-BIRD, is the
leafl of the Swallow kind, being only Ave inches and
a quarter in length. It has a cloven tongue, and is of
a dufky or moufe-colour, with bare feet, in which it
differs from die former, and in not being white on the

rump.

i

O F B I R D S. 219

rump. It builds in the holes of the banks of rivers,
laying five or fix eggs, and making its nell of llraw,
feathers, and the like.

The BLACK MARTIN, or SWIFT, is the largeft
of the Swallow-kind ; for it is feven inches and a vjuar >
ter long, and fixteen and a half broad when the wings
are extended: The head is large, the mouth exceeding
wide, and the bill very fniall and weak. It has a whi-
tilh fpot under the chin, and the feathers have a fort
of a greenifh call ; 1 he legs are very ihort, and tlie
feet extremely fmall, being of fuch a fmgularilrudlure
that rhe like has not been feen in any other bird. The
toes, which are four in number, are all placed forward,
and the leaft has only one bone, but the reil have three,
contrary to the rule of all other birds, which have no
jnore than two, one of which is very fhort, and the
other long. This bird can hardly raife itfelf from the
ground, on account of the length of its wings, and the
fhortnefs of its feet, for which reafen they generally
light on the tops of churches, towers, and other high
buildings, from which they can fiide oifv/ith eafe.

The American vS WALLOW, called in ^;v// Ta-
per a, flies like a Swallow, and is nearly of "the fame
fize, with a bill not unlike it; the mouth is large, and
opens beyond the eyes ; the upper part of the body is
covered with a mixture of grey and brown feathers,
and the throat and breaft are grey mixed with white,
and tlie belly is white : In fhort it has a great refem-
blance to a: Martin.

The Chinese SWALLOW of Bontius, is of the
ihape of a common Swallow, and in the time of breed-
ing comes out of the inland parts to the rocks on the
fea-fide, where it builds its neil, wliich is a great rari-
ty in Chinuy and accounted delicious eating. It is
made with a certain clammy, glutinous fubflance, which
is colledled from the furface of the fea ; and here it lays
its eggs, and hatches its young. The Chvucje carry on
a great trade in thefe nells, and fell them in feveral
parts of the Eaji-lndies : They are of the fize of a Goofe
^ggj ^^^ of a fubfLance refembling ifinglafs. They
generally di^blve one of thefe nelts in broth, and pre-
L z fer

320 THE NATURAL HISTORY

fer it to all other kinds of fauce whatever. We have
no particular defcription of this bird.

At the Cape of Good Hope there are three forts of
Swallows, the firft of which is black on the head, back
and tail, but the belly is white. The fecond is called a
Swallow of Prey, becaufe they drive the former from
their nefts. All the plumage of the third kind are grey,
and they have their legs and feet covered with pretty
long feathers. They may be feen in this country
throughout the year, but they are very fcarce in the
winter, and numerous in the fumer.

The Purple MARTIN of Catejhy lays its eggs in
holes made on purpofe for them, like Pigeons, and in
calibalhes fixed to long poles. Some call it a Swallow,
but it feems to have no relation to that bird : It is of
a purplifh colour, with a forked tail, and they are very
uieful in courts, from whence they drive the crows.
They leave Virginia and Carolina at the approach of
winter, and return in the fpring.

The American SWALLOW of Cateshy has the
top of the throat of a brownifli black, and the extre-
mities of the feathers of the tail are pointed . They
leave Virginia and Carolina, and return back at the
fame times of the year as the Englifh Swallows. He
thinks they pafs in the winter time to the fouthern
parts, and that this bird is properly the Braftl Swal-
low.

\ The Gre AT S W A L L O W 0/ /^^ Straits of Gib^
r altar y called by fome the Greatest M A R-
T I N or S W I F T, has the upper part of the bo-
dy of the colour of a Kite, mixed with brown :
The throat is white, and the neck is feparated from
the breaft by brown fpots The breaft is whitifh,
inclining to the colour of Earth, and the feet and bill
are black ; and the wings are a little longer than the
tail. Ed-Txards takes it to be a bird of paaage, and
that in the winter time it flies into the hotter parts of
Africa. This bird has never been feen in England,
but there was one brought from Gibraltar, which was
lulled there as it was fitting upon the rock, and this

feems

O F B I R D S. 221

feems to be the only one that ever made its appearance
thereabouts ; and it was thought to have been forced
over by a llorm.

The SEA MARTINS of the Cape of Good Hope have
very Ihort feet, which are covered with feathers to
the very extremity ; however they are feldom feen
unlefs at fea, for which reafon we have not a more par-
ticular defcription of thefe birds.

CHAP. XXVII.
Of Small Birds, iKith fhort and thick bills,

THOSE Birds that have Ihort and thick bills
in proportion to their bignefs, generally perch
upon trees, where they live upon infects, and they
build their nefls in the holes thereof. Some affirm
they will likewife feed upon hempfeed, as well as nut-
kernels ; and that they will make holes in nut-fhells
with their bills. The feet of all are of a lead- co-
lour.

The Great TITMOUSE, or OX-EYE, is near
the bignefs of a Chaffinch, and v/eighs about an ounce.
Its length, from the tip of the bill to the end of the
tail is fix inches, and its breadth, v/hen the wings are
extended, is nine inches. The bill is llrait, black,
and half an inch long, and the tv/o chaps are of th«
fame length : The tongue is broad, ending in four
filaments, and the feet are of a lead colour or blue.
The outward toes are joined part of the way to thof«
in the middle ; the head and the chin are black, and
under the eyes on each fide there is a broad llreak, oy
white fpot, beginning at the bafe of the bill, and paf-
fmg under the eyes to the fides of the neck, with a
white line on the hinder part, which feparates tht
black on the head from the yellovv colour on the neck,
which lafl: reaches as low as the fhoulders and mid-
dle part of the back, where it inclines to a glofTy green.
L 3 ' Tk«

222 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The rump is bluifh, and the breafl, belly and thighs
are yellow, but the lower belly is whitflTi. The quill-
feathers have feme of their tips white, fome blue,
others green, and the covert-feathers, with their white
tips, make a fmall tranfverfe white line upon each
wing. The middle of the hreaft and belly are divided
by a broad black line, which is continued from the
throat to the anus. The tail is about two inches and
a half long, and of a black colour, except on the out-
ward edges, which are blue. Each wing is compoied
of eighteen large feathers, befides the outermoil,
which is iliorteft, and the tail of twelve. It lays five
or fix eggs, in the hole of a hollow tree, and lives four
or five years. It lives upon flying and creeping infedts,
which lall it gets in the holes arid bark of trees ; the
iiefh is eaten by fome in autumn, but it is far from be-
ing inviting.

The COAL-MOUSE, or Black TIT-MOUSE,
has a black head, with a white fpot on the hinder part,
but the back is of a greenilh afh-colour, and the rump
as greener. The outward edges of the prime wing-
feathers are alfo green. It weighs a quarter of an
ounce, and is in length, from the tip of the bill to the
end of the tail, five inches, but the breadth, when the
wings arc extended, is feven. It is diflinguiihed from
all other Titmice by its fmallnefs.

The Marsh TIT-MOUSE, or BLACK-CAP,
weighs about three drams, and is four inches and a
half long, but the breadth is eight inches : The head
is black, the cheeks white, the back greenilh, and
the feet of a lead colour. It differs from the former
in being bigger, in having a greater tail, in wanting
the white fpot on the back of the head, in being whiter
on the lower part of the body, in having the chin lefs
black, and in wanting the white fpots at the ends of
the covert feathers of the wings.

The Blue TIT-MOUSE, or NUN, weighs about
three drams, and is in length, from the tip of the bill
to the end of the tail four inches and a half; but the
breadth is eight inches when the wings are extended ;
the tail is two inches long, and the bill is ftiort, thick,

und

OF B I R I> S. 223

and fharp, with a broad tongue, ending in four fila-
ments. It may be diftinguifhed from the other Tit-
mice, in having a blue head, furrounded with a white
circle ; likewiie there is a black line, that runs from
the bill by the eyes to the back-part of the head. The
back is of a greenifh yellow, and the whole hinder-
part of a yellowiih colour ; but the feet are of a lead
colour, as in the former.

The Long-tailed TIT-MOUSE is white on the
top of the head, with a black neck, and white jaws
and throat. From the bill there runs a broad black
line over the eyes to the hinder part of the head, and
the back, belly, and rump are of a chefnut colour:
But the chief mark by which it is diflinguiihed from
all ethers is the tail, which is like that of a Magpie;
for the outer feathers are ver)' fhort, and the reft grow
gradually longer as far as the middle, where the fea-
thers are longeft of all ; but the whole tail, for the
iize of the bird, is extremely long. The feet are
black, and it lays more eggs than any other fmall bird.
The neft is artificially built with mofs, wooll, feathers,
and down, in the form of a pine-apple, and fix inches
in height ; there is a fmall hole left in the fide, for the
bird to go in and out at, and there have been nine young
ones found in it at a time.

The Bahama TIT-MOUSE o£ Cafes By, has a
pretty long black bill, a little crooked ; and the head,
back, and wings are brown ; there is a white ftreak
that runs from the corner of the bill to the back-part
of the head, and the breaft, and the upper part of the
wings are yellow, with a long tail, brown above, and
of a dirty white below.

The Yellowiih American TIT-MOUSE of
Catesby, has a black bill, and all the upper part of the
body is of a yellowiih green, but it is quite yellow un-
derneath, only it is white near the tail ; the wings ar«
brown, fpotted with white, and the tail is brown,
with two of the upper feathers half white, and th^
legs are [of a dirty v/hite ; but the femiile or hen is
brown.

L4 Tht

224 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The Yellow- THRO A TED TITMOUSE o^ Catesl>y,
lias the bill and back-part of the head black, with the
throat of a lliining yellow, feparated on each fide the
upper part of the head and neck by a black llreak,
"vvh ch begins at the corner of the bill, crofTes the eye,
and advances to the breaft. The hinder-part of the
head, the neck, and back are grey, and the wings
nre of a browniih ?jrey ; the under part of the body is
white in the mlldle, and the fides fpotted with black ;
the tail is black and wliite, tl:e legs and feet brown,
and armed with very long claws, with which it creeps
up trees.

The Yellow TIT-MOUSE ofCateshyh lefs than
n Robin Rcd-breall, and has a thin bill ; the head,
breaft, and belly are of a bright }'eliGW, the back yel-
low and greenifh, and the tail brown, fhaded with yel-
low.

The TIT-MCUSE-CHAFFINCH of Cafeshy, has
*a bill brown above and yellow below, with a blue
head, a green back, yellowish towaids the bottom,
and the wings and tail of a dark blue ; the covert fea-
thers of the wings are fpotced with blue, and the
throat is yellow ; the bread is of a deeper yellow, di-
vided by a dark blue flreak, which begins under the
bill ; the belly is white, the breaft adorned with red
fpots, and the feet of a dark yellow. The female or
hen is black and brown.

The TIT -MOUSE nj^ith a golden-coloured Breaft y
has a black body, a fhort tail, and the back mixed
with purple. "Klein cannot imagine why Edwards places
this bird among the King's-fiihers, and he takes his
figure to be falfe ; for the feet and toes are like thofe
of a Tit-moufe ; the upper part of the head is of a gold
colour, the remainder black, the back purplifli, the
feathers of the legs ^rcd, the bill ftiort and black, a
little crooked at the end, and the feet are brown.

The Bearded TITMOUSE, is fix inches and a
half long, from the tip of the bill to the end of ths
tail, and ten inches and a half broad when the wings
are extended ; the bill is thick, ftiort, and of a yel-
Jowifti colour, and the head is of a dark afti-colour,

with

OF 15 1 K D S. 22^

with a tuft of feathers, that begin at the bafe of the
bill, and are continued beyond the eye, hanging down
the fides of the neck in a peaked, triangular form ;
the back, wings, and upper part of the body are
brown, the breaft and the lower parts of a yellowilh
white, Ihaded with a dufky brown, and the outer fea-
thers on each wing are white, with two remarkable
black fpots on the upper coverts. The tail is brown,
and about two inches long; the hen is more beautiful
than the cock, but not quite fo large ; they are to be
met with in Ltncolnjhire and EJfex.

The Crested TIT-MOUwSE, weighs about two
drams and a half, and is in length, from the tip of the
bill to the end of the tail five inches ; but the breadth,
when the wings are extended, is eight inches ; and
the tail is two inches long ; the top of the head is
black, and there are white edges on the feathers ; the
creft is about an inch in height, which dillinguifhes it
from other birds of this kind.

The WOOD-TITMOUSE has a red fpot on the top
of the head, that is black on each fide ; the wings,
and end of the tail are likewife black, but the reft of
the body is green ; which is more pale on the belly.
Mr. Ray thinks it is the fame bird as the Crefted Tit-
moufe ; but for what reafon he does not fay.
. The Indian TTC-MOX^'^'^ oi AUro'vandus, feems
to be a-kin to the Great Titmoufe, though it has not
the white fpot furrounded with black. It is variegated
with three colours, namely blue, white, and black ;
the top of the head, and all the neck is of a light blue,
but the lower part of the body is white ; the wings
are blue, as alfo the tail, which is equal to the whole
body ; but the covert feathers are of a lighter colour,
and the prime feathers of the wing deeper ; the feet
are very black and fmall, and the iris of the eyes is
yellow.

The Carolina RED-BIRD is as big as a Sky-
Lark, and the bill is thick, ftrong, of a palilh red,
and has a black lift round the bafe. It has a creft on
the head, which it raifes and lets fall at pleafure,
which, with the other parts, is of a fcarlet colour,
L 5 only

■«26 THE NATURAL HISTORY
only the "back and tail are of a dark red ; the hen is
brown, with a tinfture of red on the wings and other
parts ; they fing in cages, and are common in Ame-
rica^ though there are feldom above four of them feen
together ; the bill is fo llrong iis to break the hardell
Ivd'ian corn with eafe .

The North-American RED-BIRD is about the
fize of a Thrulh, and is met with near Hud/on s-Bay ;
the feathers on the back and head are of a crimfon co-
Jour, but the tails and wings are of a lightifh brown,
only there are a few light feathers on the wings ; thofe
on the breaft are crimfon, and thofe on the belly of a
leaden grey colour ; the crimfon feathers on the breaft
are brighter, and more beautiful than thofe on the head
and back ; they feed on what they get from the pop-
lar trees.

The MINOR, a curious JEaft Indian bird, is eleven
or twelve inches long, from the tip of the bill to the
end of the tail, and the breadth, when the wings are
extended, is about eighteen inches ; the bill is of a
fine red, the iris of the eyes of a pale yellowiih colour,
with a broad yellow ftripe running below the eyes
from the back-part of the head ; the upper part
of the body is black, with two or three long white
marks on the outer wing feathers; the under parts
are more dufky, the legs of an orange colour, and the
claws black ; it may be taught to fpeak and fmg
very curioufly.

CHAP.

O F B I R D S. 227

CHAP. XXVIII.
Of Birds of the Wag-tail Bid,

THE Birds of this fort have a very long tail,
which is always in motion, from whence they
have their name ; they delight to be in places where
there is water.

The White WATER- V/AGT AIL weighs about
fix drams, and is in length, from the tip of the bill to the
end of the tail eight inches, but the breadth, when the
wings are extended, is eleven inches ; the bill is (lender,
Jharp-pointed, and black ; and the tongue is cloven, look-
ing as if it were torn ; the iris of the eyes is brownifh,
or hazel-coloured, and there is a large fpot, which
furrcunds the eyes, with another or two underneath it,
on each fide the throat ; the top of the head, and fore-
part of the neck, as well as the upper-part of the back
are black. Some of the tips of the quill-feathers are
white, which form a fmall white line upon the v/ing,
and there is another, which is made by the white edges
of fome of the rows of the covert feathers ; the
lower-part of the breaft and belly is white ; the out-
moft feathers of the tail are mollly white, and the reft
black; the claws ai-e fharp-pointed, pretty long,
and of a duiky or blackifh colour, and the claw of the
hind toe is long, as in a Lark ; the tail is about three
inches long. It delights to be on the banks of rivers,
ponds, and other watery places, where it catches flies
and other infeds that are found there ; tliey build their
nefts in fome places under the eaves of houfes, and in
holes of the walls of old buildings, laying four or five
eggs ; thefe birds are not feen in England in the win-
ter, either for want of proper nourilhment, or becaufe
they cannot bear the cold of the winter ; the flefh has
formerly been greatly recommended againft (he ftone and

^ gravel,

^2$ THENATURAL HISTORY

gravel, and a dram of the powder of the dried fleih
Vv'as a dofe ; but now it is entirely negleded.

ihe Yellow W AT ER - W AG-T A I L has
a lirait, fharp-pointcd, and black bill, except at the
bafe of the lower chap, which inclines to a flefh-co-
lour ; the iris of the eyes is hazel, and the upper fide,
from the head to the tail, is of a dark olive green,
or.ly the tips of the covert feathers of the tail are more
yellow; there is a yellow line paffes from the bafe of
the bill above the eye, and a dulky line from the cor-
ner of the mouth, as it were, through the eye ; the
Jower iide, from the bill to the tail is yellow, except
fome black marks on the throat, and fome fine tranf-
verfe dulky lines, juft above the knees ; the wings and
lail are dulky, or rather black, having their feathers
ledged with a yellowilh white, except fome of the outer
jquiils, which are wholly black ; the two outer fea-
Jthers on each fide of the tail are white, as far as they
appear from under the covert feathers ; the third quill
X)f the wing from the back is as long as the longefl
^uill when the wings are clofed, which is a principal
charafteriftic of the Water-wag-tail kind. The legs
and feet are of a dusky colour, and the claw of the hind
toe is pretty long, nearly refembling thofe of liarks.
WiUoughby fays, it makes its neil upon the ground,
among corn, bents, and ftalks of herbs, covered with
hairs, on which it lays four or five eggs, variegated
with dusky fpots, and lines drawn without any order.
Mr. Ed^joards is the firft who has given a minute de-
fcnption of this bird, though it is very common in
England,

The Grey WATER- WAG-TAIL has a flender
ft rait bill, of a dusky colour, that ends in a point ;
the top and fides of the head, the upper fide of the
neck, and the back are covered with aih-coloured fea-
thers, having a little tindure of greeniih yellow on
their edges. A line of light afti-colour paffes above
the eye, and the throat, from the bill about an inch
downwards, is black. Between this black mark, and
the eyes, on each fide there runs a white line on the
cheeks j but the whole under iide is of a bright yel-
low.

O F B I R D S. 229

low, except a little white on the edges of the breaft,
which falls over part of the wings when they are clo-
fed ; the wings are dusky or blackifh, and the three
Ihorter quills next the back have yellow borders ; but
the greater quills have white at their bottoms, which
are not wholly hid by the covert feathers above them,
but leave a narrow white line acrofs the wirg ; the
two outer feathers on each fide the tail are white, but
all the reft are black ; the tail-feathers are longer
than in other birds of this kind, and are compofed of
twelve feathers ; die third quill from the back, reaches
to the end of the wing when clofed, and the covert
feathers above and beneath the rump are yellow ; the
legs, feet, and claws are of a dusky colour, and they
frequent ftony rivers, and feed upon water infeds ;
the hen differs from the cock in wanting the black
on the throat, and in having the other colours lefs
bright.

The Jamaica WATER-WAG-TAIL, has a taU
near four inches long, with a little head, and a ftrait,
black bill, but it is bluilh near the bafe ; the head
is black, as well as the lower part of the neck, but
the upper part is yellow : Likewife the whole back,
breaft, and lower part of the belly are yellow. The
wings are black, with a white fpot in the middle;
and fo is the tail, but the feet are brown. The length
of the tail, and the colour of the feathers, prevailed
upon Mr. Ray to place it among the Wag-tails, but
whether rightly or not is not certain, becaufe Marc-
gra've fays nothing about the wagging of its tail, nor
yet of the place and manner of feeding.

CHAP.

230 THE NATURAL HISTORY

CHAP. XXIX.

O/ Birds otvVi' black Feet, and Bill, ivith par-
ty-coloured Tails.

TH E FALLOW-SMICH, called in Stifex the
WHEAT-Ex-\R, becaure it frequents the Douuns
in the time of harveft, where it lives upon Beetles and
other infefls, and grows fo fat that it is thought to be
little inferior to an Ortolan. In fome places it is
called the White-tail, from the colour of it rump.
It is a little bigger than a Sparrow, and the head and
tail are of an alh-colour, with a little reddifh mixture ;
The rump above the tail is white, and the whole belly
is tinctured with a light red, but the breall is of a
deeper red. Above the eyes, and to the hinder part
of the head, there is a white line, and another that
is black, which runs below the eyes, from the corners
of the mouth to the ear ; but this is peculiar to the
cocks ; the bill, feet, and claws are black.

The WHEAT-EAR oi JUro'vandus is lefs than the
former, and yet bigger than a Sparrow : All the fea-
thers, except the prime-feathers of tlie wings (which
are black, with yellow edges) are of a reddifh yellow,
but deeper on the back, and lighter on the breaft. Be-
hind the eyes there is an oblong black fpot, almoft
in the Ihape of a half-moon.

The WHIN-CHAT is of the fize of a Water- wag-
tail, and the upper part of the body is of a Murrey-
colour, or reddiih purple, with black fpots placed in
rows ; the belly is whitifh, with a reddiih tinflure,
and the fides, and the top of the breaft are of a reddifh
yellow ; tliere are two remarkable white fpots on each
wing, and this bird may be diftinguiihed from the fol-
lowing in being more beautifully coloured on the up-
per part of the body with feathers in the middle part*
near the Hem, black, with white edges s in having

two

OF BIRDS. 231

two white fpots on each wing ; in the under part of
the tail being white; in having feathers above and
below the tail, which run beyond the middle, hiding
the white part ; and likewife in there beina a white
llripe, which runs from the bill to the back-part of
the head ; the bill, feet, and claws are black.

The STONE-SMICH, or STONE-CHATTER,
is of the fize of a Linnet, with a black head and neck ;
the fides of it are marked with a white fpot, in fuch a
manner that it appears like a ring, and the middle of
the back is covered with black feathers, which are
tawney at the edges. Above the rump there is a
white fpot, and the breaft is tawney or yellowijh red ;
the belly is white, with a little mixture of red, and
there is a white fpot on the back near each wing,
which is the principal mark of diftindion of this bird ;
the bill, feet, and claws are black, and it is found
in the mountainous part of the Peak in Derbyjhire.

The COLD-FINCH, fo called by the Gertnans,
has a white belly, and a yellowifh tawney breall ; the
head and back are tawney, inclining to a greenilh co-
lour, and the covert feathers of the tail are black ; the
prime feathers of the wings are black ; but from the
fifth, and the reft downwards are white ; the bill
is black, flattilh, and almoft triangular; likewife the
feet are black.

The WHITE-THROAT, is of the fize of a Lin-
net, only the body is longer ; the upper part is of a
reddifh alh-colour, but the top of the head is more of
an afh-colour ; the chin or throat is white, from whence
it takes its name ; Lower down it is of a reddiih
white, and the breaft and belly are of a light red ; the
upper part of the bill is blackilh, the lower whitifli,
and the moutli on the infide is yellow.

The FLY-CATCHER is a longifh bird, with an
oblong bill, of a reddiih tawney colour ; the upper
part of the body is a mixture of lead, aih, and yellov/-
iih colours ; but the lower part is white ; the breaft is
fpotted with black, and the wings are of a dirty black,
with a mixture of white ; the legs and feet are bkcldlh.
This bird; though placed in this clafs, does not agree

with

232 THE NATURAL HISTORY

with it in having a black bill, which is one of the cha-
radleriflics ; for which reafon we ihall mention other
Fly-Catchers in this place, defciibed by Mr. Ed-
ivardf.

The Blue FI,Y-CATCHER has a black bill, and
the top of the head, the hinder-part of the neck, the
back, rump, and covert feathers of the wings are blue,
inclining to flate-colour ; the tail, and quill-feathers
of the wings are dusky or blackilh, but the outward
quills are v^hite at the bottom ; the throat and fides
of the head are black, which blacknefs pafTes on each
fide of the neck under the wings ; the bread, belly,
thighs, bnt the covert feathers under the tail are entirely
white ; and the legs and feet are of a dusky brown co-
lour. It is an American bird, and probably one of
paffage ; for that this defcription is taken from was
caught at fea, and fuppofed to be flying to fome other
country.

The Olive-coloured FLY-CATCHER has a
fiender bill, and the point of the upper chap bends
downwards, hanging a little over the lower. It is of
a dusky colour above, and inclining to a flefh-colour
beneath. A dusky line runs from the bill, as it were,
through the eye, and the top of the head, the upper
fide of the neck, and the whole back, wings, and
tail are of a brovvnifh green, or dark olive colour ;
the whole under fide, from the bill to the covert fea-
thers beneath the tail is of a whitifli colour, a lit-
tle clouded with light olive. The inner coverts, and
ridges of the wings are whitifh, but the infide of the
qui 11 -feathers of the wings, and the under-fide of the
tail are afh-coloured, the inner webs of the feathers
being edged with white. The legs and feet are made
as in moft other fmall birds, and are of a blackiih or
dufky colour. This bird was brought from Jamaica,
and is there called Whip-tom-kelly, which words
they fay its note nearly refembles.

The Yellow-rumped FLY-CATCHER has a
flender bill, bending a little downward at its point,
and is of a dusky aih-colour, but a little lighter at the
bafe of the lower chap j the top and fides of the head

round

O F B I R D S. 2J3

round the eyes are of an afli-colour, which gradually
becomes of an olive green on the hinder-part of the
neck and back, which is fprinkled with blackifh
fpots, in the fhape of drop-pearls ; the [thighs, belly,
and covert feathers under the tail are white, but the
wings are of a very dark afh-colour ; the tips of the
firll and fecond rows of the covert feathers are white,
and form two oblique or crooked bars acrofs each
wing J the quills next the back are alfo edged v/ith
black, and the covert feathers on each fide of the wings
are white; the infides of the quills are afh-coloured,
with narrow edges of white on their inner webs ; the
tail-feathers (except the two middlemoll, which are
black) have the middle parts of their inner webs white,
their tips and bottoms being blackifh ; the covert fea-
thers on the upper fide of the tail are black, and the
legs and feet are of a dufky colour, and of the fame
Ihape as in other fmall birds. This bird was brought
from Pennjinjama, and may probably be met with in
the other EngUjh plantations.

The Yellow-tailed FLY-CATCHER has a bill
of a brown colour, which is flat like a Duck's bill :
About the angles of the mouth it has hairs, turning
forward on each fide of the bill, and the top of the
head, and the covert feathers above the tail are afh-
coloured j the hinder part of the neck, the back, and
covert feathers of the wings are of an olive-green, and
the quill-feathers are of a dufky brown, or blackifh,
with an olive caft ; the bottom feathers of the middle
quill being yellow both within and without : The co-
vert feathers on the infide of the wings are of a yel-
lovvifh white, and the tail feathers are yellow, with
dirty brown tips, except the two middle feathers,
which are of a dark brown all over ; the vv^hole under- fide,
from the bill to the tail is whitifli, with faint fhades
of reddifh brown on the fides of the breafl ; the fides un-
der the wings are yellow, and the legs and feet are of
a dufky brown.

The Spoted Yellow FLY-CATCHER has a
bill of a dark brown or dusky colour, and the top of
the head and hinder-part of the neck, back, wings,

and

^34 THENATURAL HISTORY

and tail are cf a dark greenifh olive ; the greater feathers
of the wing and tail are more dufky, and the inner
webs of the lide tail-feathers are white, for half their
length next the tips ; the fecond row of covert-feathers
of the w ings have white rips, which form a white fpot
on the upper-part of each wing : The throat, breaft,
iides, and inner coverts of the wings are yellow, with
fmall black fpots down the middle of the feathers ;
the belly and thiglis are of a fainter yellow, without
fpots, and there are lines of yellow which pafs from
the bill over each eye ; the covert feathers beneath the
tail are white, and the legs and feet are of a dufky
brown.

• The Maryland YELLOW-THROAT feems to
be of the tribe of Fly-catchers, and has a ftrait, {lender,
iharp-pointed bill, of a brown colour ; there are black
feathers round the upper chap of the bill, which pafs
on each fide the head, and tend downwards towards
the neck : In thefe black ipaces the eyes are placed,
and the top of the head is of a reddiih brown. The
back, rump, upper fides of the tail and wings are of
a greenifh olive colour ; and the edges of the wings
and tail feathers are of a lighter yellowilh colour, as
are the tail and wings on the under fides ; the throat
and breaft are of a light yellow, which gradually be-
comes fainter on the belly and tliighs, the covert-fea-
thers being more yellov/ ; the legs and feet are made
as in other fmall birds, and are of a dark flefh-colour.
This bird frequents thickets and low bulhes near
ftreams of water, and low grounds. It leaves Pern-
/yl'vania at the approach of winter, and is fuppofed to
go to a warmer climate.

The Small Black aud White BIRD, is a na-
tive oi Jamaica, and is four inches long from the tip
of the bill to the end of the tail, and feven broad when
the wings are extended. The bill is ftrait, roundifh,
black above, white below, and half an inch long ; the
tail is an inch and a half long, and the upper part
of the body is all over blackifti, variegated with
white lines i the u»der parts are white, mixed with a

little

OF BIRDS. 23^

little black, and the feet are of a greeniih brown, but
the claws are yellowifh.

The WORM-EATER is about five inches long,
and twice as broad ; the bill is Urait, roundifh, Iharp
at the point, half an inch long, and of a pale brown ;
the upper-part is of a light brown, and there are
ftripes of a darker colour near the eyes; the chin
is likewife of a darker colour, and the breaft and
belly are of a blackifh afh-colour, not much unlike
that of our Larks ; fhe legs are an inch and a half
long.

The Crested FLY-CATCHER weighs nearly
an ounce, and has a black and broad bill ; the upper
part of the body is of a muddy green, the neck
and breafc of lead colour, the wings and tail of a red-
difli brown, but the legs and feet are black. It breeds
in Carolina and Vitginiay but retij-es in winter : By
its difagreeable howling noife it feems to be at va-
riance as well as difpleafed with all others.

The Black Cap FLY CATCHER has a broad
and black bill, and the upper part of the head is
of a dulky black ; but the back, wings, and tail are
brown ; the breaft and belly are white, and the legs
and feet black : The head of the cock is of a deeper
black than that of the hen, which is all the differ-
ence between them ; they feed on flies and other
infers, and are k%Vi at Qwolina in the winter.

CHAP.

^36 THE NATURAL HISTORY

CHAP. XXX.

Of other fmall Birds, not reducille to the former

Clafes.

THE STOPAROLA of AlJrtyvandus, is of the
ifize and coiour of a hen Sparrow, only the bo-
dy is longer aad more fiender ; tiie upper part of the
body is of an afti or brovvnifh colour, and there are
black Ipots en the top of the head ; the lower part of
the head is white, only the throat and fides are a lit-
tle reddiih ; the prime feathers of the wings are black-
ifh, but their inner edges are yellow ; the bill is ftrait,
black, broadifli, and flat at the noftrils ; the upper
chap is raifed into an angle, according to its length,
whence the bill feems t© be triangular, and is a little
longer than the lower, with a crooked point ; the
mouth is large, and yellow on the infide, and the feet
are fmall and black : Flies and Beetles have been found
in the ftomach, and it frequents Gardens in England
in the fummer time ; the Bill feems to be proper for
catching of flies ; the young ones are variegated on the
back with white and black fpots.

The N I G H T I N G A L E is the principal of al/
the EngU/h fmging- birds, and is about the bignefs of a
Goldfinch, but has a long body : It weighs about an
ounce, and is in length, from the tip of the bill ta
the end of the tail feven inches, but its brei-itn, when
the wings are extended, is ten inches an<^ a half; the
bill refembles that of a Thrufli, or BUck-bird, but
there is no great variety of colours on the body, nor is
this bird remarkable for its beauty ; the upper parts
are of a faint tawney colour, with a greenifti cafl:, but
the tail is more deep ; the belly is all over white, and
the feathers on the brcail: and throat, as well as
under the wings are darker, mixed with green ; the
bill is blackifli, and the feet of a fleih -colour, but

the

O F B I R D S. 237

the infide of the mouth Is yellow. It breeds in the
month o{ May, and lays four or five tggs, and it chief-
ly fmgs in the night-time, but not cloie to the nell, for
fear of dilcovering it. It haunts Ihady places, quick-
fet hedges, buflies, and fmall groves. There are no par-
ticular marks to dillinguifh the cock from the hen, on-
ly the colours are more lively in the former. A Nigh-
tingale's neft may be found by obferving the place
where the cock iings, for the hen is never far off;
or you may Hick two or three meal-worms on the
thorns near the place mofl frequented by the cock,
and then obferve, when he comes to take them, which
way he carries them, raid by lifleuing you will hear
the young, while the old ones are about feeding
them.

When you have found the neft, if the young ones are
not fledged enough to be taken, you muft not touch
them, for then the old ones will entice them away :
They fhould not be taken till they are almofl as full of
feathers as the old ones ; they will refufe their meat,
but you may open their bills, and give them two or
three fmall bits at a time, and they will foon grow tame
and feed themfelves; they fhould be put, with ths
neft, into a little bafket, which fhould be covered up
warm, and they fhould be fed every two hours. Their
food fhould be fheep's- hearts, or other raw flefh- meat,
chopped very fine, and all the firings, fkins, and fat
taken away ; but it fhould always be mixed with hard
hen's eggs ; they fhould be put in cages like the Nigh-
tingale's back-cage, with a little flraw or dry mofs at
^Jiebottom ; but when they are grown large they fnould
jftave ants mould ; they fhould be kept very clean, like
other fmging-bii-ds, for otherwife they will hav;e the
cramp, and perhaps the claws will drop off. In au-
tumn they will fometimes abftain from their food for
a fortnight, unlefs two or three meal-worms be given
them two or three times a week, or two or three fpiders
in a day ; they mufl likewife have a little faffron in their
water. Figs chopped fmall among their meat, will
help them to recover their flefh. When their legs are
gouty, they fhould be anointed with frefh butter, or

Capon's

258 THE NATURAL HISTORY

Capon's fat three or four days together : If they grow
melancholy put white fugar-candy into their water, and
feed them with fneep's-heart, giving them three or
four meal-worms in a day, and a few ants, with their
eggs ; they fiiould alio have faftron in their wa-
ter.

Thofe birds that are taken before the twenty-third of
Jpr:/y are accounted the beft, becaufe after that tliey
pair with the hens. They ufually haunt woods, cop-
pices, and quickfet hedges, where they may be taken,
with trap-cages, baited with meal-worms ; they ftiould
be placed as near the fpot where they bird fmgs as you
can, and before you iix the trap turn up the earth twice
the breadth of the cage, becaufe they will there look
for food. They are alio taken with lime twigs, placing
them upon the hedge where they ufually fmg ; and
there fhould be meal-worms iluck at proper places to
drav/ them into the fnare. After they ai'e taken, their
■wings ilioold be gently tied witli thread to prevent their
beating themfelves againft the cage. It fhould be firlt
hung in a private place, that he may not be difturbed,
and he fhould be fed every two hours at fartheft with
fheep's-heart and egg minced very fine, mixing it
with meal-woiTns: however his liril: food mull be
worms, ants, caterpillars or flies : You muft take the
bird in your hand, and open his bill with a flick made
thick at one end, giving him the infefts, or four or
£ve bits of food as big as peas ; to entice him to eat,
his common food fhould be mixed with ants, fo that
when he goes to pick the ants, he may pick up fome
of that with it.

The ROBIN RED-BREAST, is fo called from its
red breafl, and is very well known in all parts of Eu-
rope: Jt weighs alxjut half an ounce, and is in length,
from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, fix inches,
but the breadth is nine inches when the wings are ex-
tended ; the upper part of the body is of a greenifk
afh-colour, and the breafl is red, or of a deep orange :
In the fummer time it haunts woods, groves, copfes,
hedges and bufhes ; but in winter it frequents houfes
in fearch of food, and perhaps for the fake of warmth ;

and

Fcu^e .234,

T^U'd^cy

O F B I R D S. 259

and is a very familiar bird. It is generally ken
alone, and makes its neft in thick buihes. It is laid
to lay eggs three times a year, and has Lldom above
five young ones at a time : It is a fong-bird, and fome
are greatly delighted with its note.

The cock may be known from the hen by its breaft,
it being of a deeper colour, and is more extenfive :
Some fay the legs are of a darker colour, and that he
has hairs on each fide the bill ; but be this as it will,
the bright red on the brealt is a mark tliat may be de-
pended upon.

The young ones are hatched in the beginning of
JUay ; and they build their neils in barns or out-houfes,
though fometimes in a bank or hedge ; the young may
be taken when they are ten or twelve days old, and they
mull be kept warm in a little bafket, with hay at the
bottom ; they mult be fed in the fame manner as Larks
and Nightingales, and their meat muft be minced very
fmall, of which they mull have but a little at a time.
When they are put into cages there mull be mofs at
the bottom, and they mull be managed in all refpedts
like a Nightingale. When he is out of order he ftiould-
be cured with meal-worms ; but if he is kept clean
and warm with wholefome food he will have little oc-
calion for them. A little liquorice or faffron in his
water will make him long-winded, and help his fong
very much. When they are brought up from the nell
they may be taught to pipe or whillle finely, but fome
like their own natural fong bell. They are taken with
lime twigs or trap-cages. Very old birds are fullen,
but young ones will fmg in a few days.

The Indian RED-START has a bill dufky at the
bafe, and black at the point ; the top of the head is
covered with long, foft, black feathers, hanging over
behind in the form of a crell ; and under each eye
there is a fcarlet fpot, encompaffed with white on the
lower fide. The throat, breaft, belly and thighs,
are white ; but the fides of the neck and brcall are
black. The hinder part of the neck, back, v/ings,
and tail are of a dark brown, and the ridge of the wing
next the breaft is whitifh ; the feathers about the vent,
and the coverts beneath the tail are of a fine red co-
lour.

240 THE NATURAL JIISTORY

lour, but the legs and feet are of a duflcy black :
It is a native of Bengal in the Eaji- Indies.

The ROBIN RED-BTEAST of Jamaica, is a
bird four inches long, and the head is pretty large in
proportion to its body ; the bill is ftrait, the under
jaw red, and the upper red mixed with brown i the top
of the head, the back, and the wings are green, and
the breall is of a Ihining purplifh red for the breadth
of half an inch ; the lower part of the breaft is green,
and the belly white.

The RED-START has a reddifli breaft, rump,
and tail, and the feathers under the wings are alfo
red, but the bottom of the belly is white ; the head;
neck, and back are of a lead colour, and there is a
remarkable white fpot on the fore-part of the head,
the throat, and cheeks under the eyes are black, and
the bill and feet are black, but the infide of the mouth
is yellow. The hen is a beautiful bird, but is more
of the colour of a Nightingale, and has a red tail, but
fomewhat fainter than the cock's ; this may be always
diilinguiflied from the hen by his black head ; thefe
birds breed in May^ and their young are fit to be
taken towards the latter end of the month, that is
when they are ten days old ; they build their nefts in
the holes of old walls and trees, and their eggs are
like thofe of a hedge fparrow, but of a pale blue, and
not fo big : If they are taken while young they muft
be kept warm, and managed like the Nightingale ;
they will fmg night and day, and will learn to whiftle
and imitate other birds. It is remarkable, that if an
egg be touched, the ncft will be forfaken ; and if the
young ones are meddled with, the old ones will either
'ftar^'e them or throv/ them out of the neft, as JVil-
Icughhy has obierved more than once.

.ildrcvandus and Gefner mention three forts of Red-
Starts, one of which is the fame as that now defcribed;
the f.cond has a reddifh tail, and the tliird, whichis
founc] ab )Ut Sir iburgva Germany y has a blue breall
at the . .p, and of a yellowifh red at the bottom ; the
belly is of an alh-colour, and the legs brown.

Tlie

O F B r R D S. 241

The HEDGE SPARROW is much about the fize
of the common Sparrow, and it has a Aender, long,
black bill, with a horny, cloven tongue, and black at
the tip. The iris of the eyes is hazel, and the ears
ai-e wide ; the colour on the upper part of the body
is a mixture of black and dirty red, and the middle of
the feathers near the flem are blackifli, and of a dirty
red on the other parts. The head and neck are incli-
nable to an alli-colour, with dark fpots ; the lower
part of the back above the rump is grecnilh, without
fpots ; but the lower part of the body is of an alh or
lead colour, only the bottom of the belly is whitilh.
The eggs are of a fine pale blue, or of a fea-green co-
lour, and it fings early in the fpring, having variety of
notes. The hen is more pale on the breail than the
cock, and the colour on tlie back is more bright. They
hatch their young about the latter end of ^/;/7, or the
beginning of May, and they build their neils in low
bulhes, with green mofs, and line them on the infidc
with wool and hair. The hen lays commonly five eggs
and the young ones are ready to be taken near the mid-
dle of May, when they are nine or ten days old ; they
muil be fed with bread and fielh meat, chopped very
fine, and made moift, as for other birds.

The PETTICHAPS, fo called in Torkjhlre, is the
Beccafigo of the Italians: It is of the fize of a Lin-
net, and has a fhort body. The colour of the head,
back, wings and tail are of an afh-colour, inclining to
a brownilh green ; the lower parts are all wliite, or of
a filver colour, except the breaft, which is darker, and
has a yellowifh call. The bill is black, and the feet
bluilh, however there arc in general no remarkable co-
lours on this bird.

The BLACK-CAP, is a fmall bird, and is black on
the top of the head, from whence it derives its name :
the fides of the head, underneath the black, are white,
and the neck grey or alh-coloured, which becomes more
pale and light upon the breail and belly, inclining to
a dufky white, with a yellowiih call. The back and
fides of the wings are of a dulky brown, v/ith a pretty
ftrong fhade of green, Tlie head of the hen is more

Vol. II. M pale.

242 THE NATURAL HISTORY
pale, being not of fo deep a black as that of the cock ;
the tail is forked, and the legs and feet are of the colour
of lead ; but the claws are black.

TheBLACK-CAPPEDMANAKIN,isblackonthetop
of the head and bill ; but the under fide, from the throat
to the tail is white ; a white collar pafles round the lower
part of the neck, and the lefier covert feathers of the
wings, both inner and outer are white. The top and
hinder part of the head is white, as well as the wings,
tail and back. The iniide of the quills, and under fide
of the tail are of a dark afh-colour ; the legs and feet
are of an orange colour, and made like thofe of the
Kings-filher.

The WHITE-CAPPED MANAKIN, has a bill
of a dark brown colour, and the bafe of the upper chap
has a narrow lift of black feathers round it. The top
of the head is white, as far as the eyes ; but all the reil
of the feathers are black ; as are alfo the legs and feet.
Both thefe birds are fuppofed to be natives of South
Jmerica.

The Yellow RED-POLE, has a black, flender,
fharp-pointed bill, and the top of the head is red, from
whence it has its name. The upper fide, from the
head to the tail, is of an olive grt- en ; and the under
fide, from the eyes and bill to the tail, is of a bright
yellow, but the breaft and belly are fpotted with red,
down to the fhafts of the feathers. The wings and
tail are dulky, having all their feathers edged with yel-
low, except fome of the longeft quills, which are
wholly blackifh. The inner covert feathers of the
wings are yellow, and the inner webs of the quills are
dufky, edged with yellow. The under fide of the tail
is yellow, and the legs and feet are of a duflcy flefh co-
lour. It is a very lonely bird, and vifits Pennfyl'vama
in Marchy always keeping in thickets, and feeds upon
infefts, which it finds upon the low bulhes ; for it fel-
dom gets upon high trees. They do not breed in Pen-
fyhajiiay but go farther to the northward.

The American HEDGE-SPARROW is five inches
in length, and has a pretty ftrong bill, iharp at the
point, bowed a little downwards, and black. The

head

O F B I R D S. 243

head and neck are of an alh-colour, a little Inclining to
green, and the back, wings and tail are brown. The
breaft, belly, and thighs are white, clouded with a dafky
colour, and the legs are brown. This bird was brought
from 'Jamaica.

The SPARROW of Paradise, has a ftrongerand
thicker bill than other birds that feed upon feeds, and
the middle feathers of the tail are longer than the fide
feathers, which is not common in bh-ds of this kind.
It is of a whitilh flelh colour, and the noftrils are loft
in the feathers of the forehead. The eyes are of a
dark colour, and the whole head is covered with fear-
let feathers. The upper fide of the neck, back, and
rump, and upper fides of the wings and tail, are of a
darkiih blue arti-colour. The quills, and the iirft and
fecond rows of the coverts of the wings, the tail-fea-
thers, and its overts, are all tipped with white, or light
aih-colour. The breaft and belly are variegated with
black and white, not unlike the fcales of a iifh, but
more broken and confufed. The fides of the belly are
interfperfed with a tinfture ofreddifii brown; and the
thighs, lower bill, and coverts under the tail are white ;
but the legs, feet, and claws are of a fie(h-colour.
This is an African bird, and was brought from An-.
gola.

The GoLDEN-CROWNED WREN, is fo called on
account of its fmalinefs, and has a faifron-coloured fpot»
or rather of a moft beautiful light red on the top of the
crown, v/hich fome call a creft. The head and neck
are of a dark yellovvifh green, and the breaft and belly
are green, which changes to a dull wliitilh colour.
The ftomach, when opened, was found full of infects,
and it fits on the tops of trees, efpecially oaks. It is
to be met with in feveral parts of England.

The Ruby-crowned WREN, is a native of AW^-
America, and particularly Penjyhania. The weight
is equal to that of elevea dry white peas, and it has a
black bill. The head, upper-fide of the neck, back,
and rump are ©f dai-kifh olive green colour, but deeper
on the head and lighter on the rump ; On the top «f
the head there is a fpot of an exceeding fine red, or
M 2 ruby

244 THE NATURAL HISTORY
ruby colour, from whence this bird had its name. The
whole under fide, from the bill to the tail, is of a light-
illi ) eillow or cream colour ; but a little darker on the
throat and breall than on the belly. The covert fea-
thers of the wings are of an olive colour, with cream-
coloured tips, that form two lines acrofs each wing.
The three quills next the back are black or dufky,
with cream-coloured edges; the remainder of the quills
are alfo blackilh, with narrow greenilh yellow edges.
The bottoms of the quills, where the light tips of the
covert feathers fall on them, aie wholly black. The
inner covert feathers of the wings are cream-coloured,
and the ijifide of the quills are of an afli, with narrow
white edges on their inner webs. The tail is black-
ilh, and the feathers are edged with yellowilh green ;
but beneath it is of an afh-colour. The legs, feet and
claws are dufliy. This is a defcription of the cock bird,
but the hen differs nothing from it, except in want-
ing the red fpot on the head.

The Golden-crowned WREN of 'North- Ame-
rica^ differs in nothing from the bird laft defcribed,
but in being lefs, and in having the fpot on the head
longer, and of a yellow orange colour, furrounded
with black. It has alfo a white line, dividing the bafe
of the upper chap of the bill from the black line that
furrounds the yellow fpot. This bird is to be met with
in the E ajl- Indie Sy as well as America,

The Common WREN weighs about three drams,
and is four inches and a half in length, from the tip
of the bill to the end of the tail. The head, neck and
back are of a fort of brown colour; but the back is
variegated with tranfverfe blackilh lines ; the middle
of the breart is of a whitilb colour ; and lower, and on
the fides there are tranfverfe black lines. It carries its
tail ereft, and makes its nell of mofs, and in the fhape
of an ^%%', with a hole on the fide to go in and out
at. It builds in the thatched roofs of barns, ftables,
and the like, as alfo in hedges, and it lays nine or ten
errgs ; nay fome affirm they have- found fixteen in its
Bdf, which, il'truc, is very ftrange, confidering how
imaJl a bird it is to hatch them, a? well as feed the

young

OF BIRDS. 243-

young when hatched. It breeds twice a year, name-
ly in Jpril and JunCy and the young ones may be fed
and brought up like young Nightingales. It tings
VTry prettily, and has a louder note than could be well
imagined.

The Small YELLOW-BIRD, is covered on the
upper parts, except on the wings and tail, with fea-
thers of an aih-coloured green ; but the throat, breait

.and belly are white, with a fmall tindure of green;
elfewhere it is yellow. It delights to be among wil-
low trees, and Ihrubs, where it fings, with a fhrill
note like a Grafhopper, It lays five eggs, fpeckled
with red. Thefe birds vary their colours, fome of
them being of a lighter, and fome of a deeper greeii
or yellow. Some call this bird the GREEN WREN.

The WREN of the Caribbee ijlands in Ajnerica, is
called a Nightingale in thofe parts, it fmgs fo fweet-
ly. It builds its neft in much fuch fort of places as
the Englijh Wren, and feeds upon fmall flies and fpi-
ders. It is a little larger than the common Wren, and
is the more remarkable becaufe the birds in thofe parts
have generally very difagreeable notes. One of thefe
built its neft in a Callabalh, that hung up in a room,

, for three or four years together, it having been undif-

. turbed.

The HUMMING-BIRD is the leaft and prettieft

.of all the birds in the world. There are two forts of
thefe in the Caribbee iflands, of which the leaft is no

. larger than the end of a man's little finger. All the
large feathers on the wings and tail are black, but all
the reft of the body, and under the wings are of
a greenifh brown, with a fine red caft or glofs,
which no filk or velvet can imitate. It has a fmall
creft on its head, green at the bottom, and, as it were,
gilded at the top, which in the fun fparkles and fhines
like a little ftar in the middle of the forehead. The
bill is black, ih'ait, Hender, and of the length of a
fmall pin.

The Larger HUMMING-BIRD is near half as

big as the common Wren, and the wings and tail are

like the former. All the feathers of the back are of a

M 3 £ne

246 THENATURAL HISTORY
-iine blue, but there is no creft or tuft upon the head ;
but to make amends it is covered from the throat half-
way dov/n the belly with changeable crimfon coloured
feathers, that in diff«rent lights change to a variety of
teautiful colours, much like an opal. The heads of both
are finaU, with very little round eyes, as black as
jet.

As foon as the fun is rifen, they flutter about the
flowers, without ever lighting upon them, and thruft
in their tongues, which confiil of two fmall threads, to
the very bottom of the flowers, from whence it is fup-
pofed they get the honey. The nell of thefe birds is arti-
ficially made on the twigs of an orange or citron tree, as
well as on thofe of pomegranates ; and very often in huts,
if they can fend any thing like a very fmall twig in a
proper place. The female is the architeft, while the
male goes in queil of materials wJiich are generally cot-
ton, exceeding fine mofs, and the like. It lays two
«ggs at a time, about the fize of fmall peas, and as
white as fuow, and the male and female flt upon them
aiternately for the fpace of ten or twelve days, at the
«nd of which the ycang ones appear much about the
fizc of a fly. 'I'hefe birds move their wings fo exceed-
ing fwifUy, that their motion cannot be perceived,
and they make a humming noife in flying, like Bees.
Mr. Ray obferves, that they feed upon honey-dew,
and the juice of flowers, which they get from thence with
their long tongues, formed by nature for that purpofe":
However, as they have gizzards, it is not very im-
probable that they fometimes catch very fmall infects.
Some Authors pretend that they always fleep in the
winter time, and lie as if they were half dead ; but this
is not at all probable, for there is no winter where
thefe birds are found, and Marcgra've affirms that there
are plenty of them in the woods at all times of the
year. There ar« feveral other kinds of them, of
which we ftiall give an account as they are defcribed
by diflerent authors

The Long-tailed Black-capped HUMMING-
BIRD, has the longeft tail of any of this kind, which
coniills of two long feathers, of a loofe foft texture.

The/

O F B I R D S. 247

They are the outermoll but one on each fide, and have
each a fliff feather under them, as well as above, the
better to fupport them. The bill is thicker at the bafe
than in moll of this kind, and is pretty long, ending in
a point, which is black : It is a little bending down-
wards, and of a yellow colour. The crown of the
head, and the beginning of the neck behind are black,
with a bluifh glofs, but the throat, breall and belly are
covered with green feathers, inclining to blue, lying
clofe and regular, like the fcales of fifhes, and have
fo fine a furface that they refledl the light like burnifhed
gold. The back is of a yellower green, and not
quite Co fhining ; the wings are of a brownifh purple,
with a bluilh purple call in fome lights. The ridge
of the wings, from the Ihoulder a good way down, is
white, and the tail is dulky.

The GUINAMBI, or Greater HUMMING-
BIRD, is green on the upper part, and fhines with
gold, flame, and yellow colours. The lower part is
whiter, the wings brown, and the tail has a biuilh ap'
pearance, like polifhed Heel,

Another Griater HUMMING-BIRD is coloute^
on the upper part like the former, but the lower ihines
with a greenifh gold colour, and there is a. white ipot
near the vent.

The Lesser HUMMING-BIRD has a very long
forked tail, with a black head and neck, v/hich have a
bluifh glofs. The back and breall are of a greenifh gold
colour, the wings of a liver colour, and the tail is of a
bluifh black, with a white fpot near the vent. They
all fhine and glitter very much, efpecially in the
fun.

The Little HUMMING-BIRD ^vit/j a crocked
Bill., has the upper chap of it black, and the lower yel-
low. The upper parts are of the fame colour with ih^
firfl, but the lower are of a reddifh white, and the tail
is of a blackifh green, but wliite at the end j and tlie
legs are alfo white.

The HUMMING-BIRD n^:^th a Hack Bill, is black

on the lower parts, with a gieenifli glofs ; and it has

a white fpot near the vent. The feath«rs on the upper

M 4 parts

.248 THE NATURAL HISTORY

parts are coloured with a mixture of gold, flame-colour,
and green, and the tail is of a beautiful brown, with a
bluilh glofs.

Another fort is all over of a gold, green, and flame
colour, mixed together, and the wings are blackifli,
the legs quite black, and the tail changeable.

The Green SPARROW, or Green HUMMING-
BIRD, is near four inches long, and eight broad. The
head, in proportson to the fize, ib large, and the bill is
long, broad, and deep like a Duck's bill. The lower
chap is red, and the upper of a reddifli brown, with a
ridge along the top ; but Mr. Ed^vards fays, that the
upper chap is of a dufky brown, and the lower of an
orange colour. The whole under fide, from the bill 10
the end of the tail is of a beautiful lively green. The
throat has a bright red fpot, half an inch in diameter ;
and the brealt, belly, thighs, and covert feathers un-
der the tail are white, a little fhaded with a pale green.
The legs and feet are of a dufky colour, with a reddifh
call:. 'I'he toes are joined, like thofe of the King's-
fiffier.

The AsH-coLOURED HUMMING-BIRD, fo called,
is nearly of the colour of a Sparrow, with a beautiful
glofi, that fhines like a ruby.

Another of the larger fort, has the head, and upper
part of the neck of a ihining red colour, and the throat,
and lower part of the neck looks like polifhed gold.
The lower part of the belly, and the beginning of the
ba. k fcem to be covered with black fliining filk ; but
tl)e remaining part is of a brownifh green. The wings
are brown, and there is a v/hite fpot near the vent.

Anotlier again is of a bright green, with a golden
glofs, onlv the wings are brown.

There 'is ftiU another HUMMING-BIRD, which
Mr. Ed^i:ardi calls the Wh it e-t ailed HUMMING-
BIRD. The bill is long, flender, and bowed a little
dov/nwards, and of a black colour towards the point,
but lighter at the bafe. The head, the hinder part of
the neck, back, the lefler covert of the wings, and the
breall, are of a grccnilh brown colour, which is change-
able, according 10 the different reflexions of the light

to

ra(/i> 24S

^9 r6c o .Jz)ii/£r

Jivtus^diy-

O F B I R D S. 249

to a copper or gold colour. The two middle feathers
of the tail are ot the fame colour, and the remaining
eight are white, except the two outermoil on each fide,
which are a little clouded with a dufky colour at the
tips. It has an horizontal bar, of a light reddilh co-
lour, acrofs the throat ; and the belly and covert fea-
thers under the tail, are of an obfcure whitifh colour.
The wings are of a dark purple both without and with-
in, and the legs and feet are very fmall and whitifh.
Dr. Broivn, in his natural hiftory of Jamaica^ fays,
the Humming-Birds, feed on the neftar of flowers,
which they fip when upon the wing, and pafs from one
blolibm or tree to another with inconceivable agility.

Mr. La-uofon obferves, that there are HUMMING-
BIRDS in Carolina^ which, like Bees, get their living
\iy fucking the honey from flowers \ infomuch that they
will bury themfelves, as it were, in the largefl fort,
where fometimes children will catch them, and keep
them alive, for five or fix days. - He does not mention
any particulars in the colours that have not been al-
ready obferved, but he takes notice that their nefts arc
the moll artificial of any of the winged tribe, and that
they commonly hang upon a fmgle briar, and have a'
finall hole left to go in and out at. He alfo adds, that
the eggs are of the bignefs of Peas, as was obferved
above.

The GREY-FINCH is an Eajl-hdian bird, and is
much of the fame fize, fhape and adtion with our Lin-
net, and like that fings finely. The bill is of a dark
aih-colour, and the eyes are dark or black. There is
a little wliitenefs round tlie bafe of the lower chap of
the bill, which extends itfelf under the eyes. The
breart, belly, and whole under fide are of a very light
bluifh afli-colour, but the top of the head, the upper
fide of the neck,, and back are of a dark afh. 'i'he
rump and. coverts of the upper fides of the tail are of a
\ery light afli, and. the upper fides of the wings and
tail are dufky, only the. edges of the feathers are of a
light afh. The greater quills are dufky at the tips,,
and white at their bottoms, which form a white fpot
on each wing. The legs, feet, and claws are of a dark
fie Ih- colour.

M 5 The.

2S0 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The WAX-BILL, has the middle feathers of the tail
longei than ihofe on the fides, which has never been
obferved in the fniall birds of Europe that feed upon
feeds The bill is of the colour of red fealing-wax,
from whence it is named. There is a long red fpot,
which begins from the corner of the mouth, which is
broad in the middle, and ends in a point, about the
place of the ear. The eye is in the middle of this,
and is black ; the top of the head, the upper fide of
the neck, the back, the upper fides of the wings, and
tail are of a dulky brown. The fides of the head, un-
der the red mark are whitifh, and the breaft becomes
gradually of a light afh-coiour : The fides of the belly,
the belly, thighs, and coverts of the tail are alfo of a
light brownifh alh-colour. The lower part of the
breail and middle of the belly» are finely ftained with a
longifh red fpot, that gradually loofes itfelf in the afh-
colour. All the brown feathers are tranfverfly marked
with fine lines of a darker colour ; and its toes are
dufky, and of the fhape of other fmall birds. This
bird was brought from the Ea^ Indies.-

The GUIRA GUACUBERABA oi Marcgra've, is
of the fize of a Gold finch, and is a bird of Brafily in
^cuth Jmirica. The lower part of the neck, the back,
and the extremity of the belly are of a yellow or Gold
colour^ but the upper part of the head, the neck, and
tJie fore ha^f of the back, with the wings and tail, are
of a light green. Under the throat, as far as the
eyes, tliere is a white fpot or fpace, which is black.
The bill is fmall, ftrait, iharp, and yellow, only on
the upper part is blackifh. The legs and feet are
brown.

The GUIRA COEREBA, of Marcgranje is a Souths
American bird, and of the fize of a Brambling. The
bill is black, (harp, and a little bent downward, and
there is a tuft on the top of the head of a fea-green co-
lour. The reft of the head, and all the lower parts,
and half the back on the hinder part are covered with
blue feathers, inclining to white. There runs a broad
blue line from the beginning of the wings to the back
tranfverfly. The whole upper part of the neck, with

the

O I? fi 1 k 15 S. ^^t

the other part of the back are covered with deep black
liiky feathers. The tail is likewile black, and an inca
and a half long. The wings are large, and yellow
half way, but underneath they are entirely yellow*
The feet are of the colour of cinnabar.

The JAPACANI of Marcgra've, is another bird of
Brajf/, and has an oblong black bill, a little bending
downwards. The eyes are of a gold colour, and the.
head is blackifh, but the reft of the upper parts are a
a mixture of black and umber. The tail is black above
and white underneath, and the lower parts are a mix-
ture of white and yellow, ftreaked with tranfverfe black
lines. The legs are brown.

The TANGARA of Marcgra've, is another bird of
Brafiiy of the fize of a Erambling. The bill is ftrait,
thickilh, and black, and the feet are of a browniih aih-
colour. There is a black fpot on the bafe of the bill,
and the whole head and neck are green* The begin-
ning of the back is furrounded witli black feathers, like a
collar ; but the upper parts of the back are yellow.
The belly is of a fine blue, and the wings are black,
except at the extremities of the fides, where they are,
blue. The beginning of the wings are outwardly
of a fea green colour, and thofe on the ihoulders next
the back are partly yellow. The tail is an inch and a
half long, and confifts of black feathers, only the
extremity of the fide feathers are blue.

There is another fpecies of this bird, of the fize
of a Sparrow, with a fmall dulky yellow broadilh, Iharp
bill. The plumage of the head is of a fine red, but the
reft of the body, with the wings and tail, are of a
ihining black The tail is (hort, and the legs are white
on the upper parts, but on the outward fide there is an
oblong red fpot. The feet are of an alh-colour.

The.QUAUH CHI CHIL is a fmall bird, with a
redhead, a little larger than a Humming-bird. It is
white beneath, and above of a dulky green, with a red
head, and a black bill and feet. This is accounted a
finging bid

The SILK-TAII. is nearly of the fizeof aThrufti, and
has four or fivcq»iHs in the wings that are fn aU> red, and
without webs. There h a broad border on the end

252 TH E N A T U R A L HISTORY

of the tail, thut is as yellow as lemon-peel, but the reft
of the feathers are generally of the colour of wool.
The bill is black, and there is a tuft on the head like
that of the creiled Lark, which falls backwards. The
colour of it ncarcit the bill is of a faint chefnut,
colour, but behind it is afh-coloured, inclining to
brown. It feeds upon fruits, and is very fond of
grapes, though one would have imagined it lived up-
on feeds, from the ihicknefs and Itrength of its
bill.

The GROSS-BEAK, or HAW-FINCH, has a bill
very large in proportion to the fize of the body, from
whence it has its Englip name ; nor is there need of
any other diftindtion to know it from all other birds.
It weighs about an ounce and three quarters, and is
feven inches in length from the tip of the bill to the
end of the tail, but its breadth, when the wings are
extended, are upwards of twehe. The bill is iaid to
meafure about two inches in compafs next the head ;
and it is about three quarters of an inch long, ending
in a very lliarp point. The eyes are afh-coloured, or
grey, and the feathers at the bafe of the bill are of an
orange colour ; but they are black between the eyes.
The reft of the head is of a rufty yellowifh red, with
a border of black feathers encompafling the lower chap.
The neck, and upper part of the back are more red j
but the middle part of fome of the feathers are pale
or whitifh. The fides of the body, the brcaft, and
the rump are of a reddifti alh-colour, but the under
part of the tail is more pale, inclining to white. Some
of the fhafts of the quill-feathers are white, and others
red, with tips of a fine fhining purple or blue, and all
parts of the wings are beautifully interfperfed with va-
riety of ihades and colours. The legs and feet are of
a pale flefh- colour, and the claws are prett)' large and
ftrong. They come into England in very hard winters,
and feed upon haws, hoUy-berries, and the like. They
are fed with hemp and canary feeds.

The Virginian NIGHTINGALE, called by fome
the Red GROSS-BEAK, and in Carolina the RED-
BIRD, is of the fize of a Black-bird, or fom<ivvhat

lefs:

O F B I R D S^ 253

lefs : The bill is of a palifh red colour, and Is very
ftrong and thick. It is furrounded at the bafe with a
black border of feathers, which are extended below the
chin, and end a little beyond the eyes in a blunt
point. The head is large, and there is a tuft, or very
remarkable crell thereon, in the ihape of a pyramid of
fine fcarlet coloured feathers. The back, and fome
part of the wings and tail are of abrowniih red ; but the
reft of the body is of a lovely fcarlet. It can move
its tuft or creft backwards or forwards, as it pleafes.
They have naturally a fweet note, and may be taught
to fmg almoft as well as a Nightingale, from whence it
has its name.

The Gambia GROSS-BEAK, is about the fize of
the Haw- finch, and the bill is large, and broad at the
bafe, ending in a fharp point, and refembling the fi-
gure of a cone. The mouth is very large, and of an
aih-colour on the infide. The pupils of the eyes are
black, furrounded with a white iris, the head and moll
part of the neck are black, which colour ends in a cir-
cular point on the fore-part of the breaft. The reft of
the body, with the wings and tail are of a delight-
ful yellow, Ihadcd with a beautiful green. The legs
and feet are of an afh-colour, with a bluifti glofs. They
are found chiefly near the river Gambia on the coaft of
Gu'uiea'in Africa.

The Purple GROSS-BEAK, is of the fize of a
Sparrow, and over the eyes, on the throat, and near the
vent under the tail there are ftreaks of red ; but all
the reft of the body is of a deep purple. The hen is
brown, with the like red fpots, and it is a native of the
Bahama iflands.

The Spanish or American NIGHTINGALE,
has a long, Iharp black bill on the upper fide, but of a
flefh-colour underneath. The top of the head, upper-
fide of the neck, the back, and upper fides of the wings
and tail are of a dark greenifli brown colour; but the
rump, and borders cf the wing-feathers are of a more
yellowiih green. The under fide, from the bill to the
tail is of a dirty orange, and there runs a dusky line
from above the corners of the mouth through each eye ;

and

254 THE NATURAL HISTORY

and below them, under each eye, there is another dufky
line. From the noftrils there runs lines above the eyes,
and the legs, feet and claws are blackifh.

The Blue African GROSS-BEAK, is of thefize
of our Haw-Finch, and has a ftrong bill, thick at the
bafe, iharp-pointed, and of a lead-clour. The eyes are
of a dark hazel, with a black pupil, and the bill is
encompaiied with black feathers, narrow on the fore-
head, and reaching to the eyes, on the fides : The
head, neck, back, rump, leiTer covert feathers of the
wings, and all the under fide, are of a very fine deep
blue. There is a little creft on the hinder part of the
head, and the quills in the wings, and the row of co-
vert feathers next above them are black ; but thofe next
the back, and the firft row of coverts above them have
blue edges. The tail is black on the upper fide, and
fomewhat lighter belov/; and the legs and feet are
little, weak, and of a black, dark, or lead colour.

The Green GOLDFINCH, was in pofleffion of
the late Prince of Wales, but what country it came from
is uncertain. It is near five inches in length, and has
a bill of a light yellow, thick at the bafe, iharp at the
point, and a very little bending downwards. The
fore-part of the head round the bill as far as the eyes,
is of a fine fcarlet, and the top of the head, and hinder
part of the neck are of an aih-colour, but the back,
rump and wines are of a yellowiih green. The tail
is partly of a dulky colour when fpread, and the fea-
thers have claret-coloured edges ; fo that, when clofed,
it appears red. On the fides of the red on the throat
and below it, the feathers are of a light yellow, which
gradually become white on the bread and belly, and
the green on the fore fide of the neck, and the white
bread: and belly are variegated with tranfverfe dufky
lines. The legs and feet are of a flefh colour.

The American GOLDFINCH, fo called by
Catejby^ is black on the forehead, and al;out the eyes,
with wings of an earthy colour, only their extremi-
ties are of a ftraw colour, and fringed. The tail is
of a yellowifh black, and the other parts yellow.

The GREEN-FJNCH is bigger than a common

Sparrow

OF BIRDS. 255

Sparrow, has a bill like the former, but much lefs, it
being not above half an inch long. The upper chap is
of a duiky colour, the lower more pale and whitifh,
and the head and back are green , but the outmoft
edges of the feathers are grey, with a fort of a chei-
nut-coloured mixtuieon the middle of the back. The
rump is of a fme yellow, but the bread is more pale,
and fhaded with green, and the belly is white. The
feathers upon the wings are a mixture of yellow, green
and afh-colour, and thofc upon the ridge of each wing
are of a beautiful yellow. The tail is about two
inches long, and the middlemoft feathers are quite black,
but thofe on the edges are yellow. It builds in
hedges, and feeds upon the feeds of rapes, thiftles,
and docks, but it is moil fond of hemp-feed. They
generally lay five or fix eggs, of a faint green colour,
ipeckled with fmall reddiih fpots. The young may be
taken at ten days old, and brought up in the fame
manner as Linnets, only obferving to keep them
clean ; however, he is more valued for his beautiful
colours than for his fmging.

The BUIiL-FINCH is of the fize of a common
Sparrow, and has a black, fhort, ftrong bill, and
crooked like a Parrot's, and the tongue is Ihort. The
eyes are of a hazel colour, and the head is large in
proportion to the fize of the body. The breaft is of a
crimfon colour, as well as the jaws and throat, but the
top of the head is of a fine fhining black, as well as the
fides of the bill. Part of the neck, fhoulders, and back
are of a bluifti afh-colour, Ihaded with red, and the
belly and rump are white. Some of the quill feathers
have their outward webs red, and the inner of a fine
glofiy black : Others are black, with dulky edges,
and of a bluilh glofs ; and others again have their out-
ward edges white, which make a fort of a white line,
or crofs-bar upon each wing. The tail is two inches
long, and of a fhining black, and the legs are of a
dulky colour, but the claws are black. It is a very do-
cile, tradable bird, and will learn to whiftle any tune
after a pipe, upon which account they are greatly ef-
teemed.

Bull-

.256 THE NATURAL HISTORY

BuLL-FiNCHEs delight to feed on the buds of fruit-
trees, luch as the apple, pear, and peach ; but as they
only take the blowing buds they do a great deal of da-
mage in gardens, for which reafon the gardeners de-
ilroy at many as they can. I'he cock is of the fame
bignefs as the hen, but has a flatter crown, and much
excels her in the beauty of his feathers. A lovely crim-
fon or fcarlet adorns his breait, and the feathers on
the crown of the head, and thofe that furround the
bill, are of a brighter black. When they arc both feen
together they may readil)' be diilinguilhed, the colours
ot the cock being much brighter than thofe of the hen.
The only method of Pjiowing them while young, is
to pull off a. few feathers from their breaft,. when they
are about three weeks old, and in about ten or
twelve days thofe that come in their room will be of a
a fine red, if a cock ; but thofe of a hen Vv'ill be of a
palilh brown. Bull-finches breed late in the fpring ;
for the young ones are feldom hatched before the mid-
dle of 'Jwie. They build their neits in orchards,
woods, parks, and other places where there arep'cnty
of trees, but their nclb are hard to be found. The
hen lays four or five eggs, of a bluifh colour, and fprink-
led at the biggeft end, with large dark brown and
faint reddifh Ipots.

The young fhould not be taken till they arc pretty
well feathered ; that is, when they are twelve or four-
teen days old. They ihouid be kept very warm and
clean, and be fed every two hours from morning till
night, giving them but a I'ittle at a time. Their meat
mult be rape-feed, foaked in clean water eight or ten
hours, and then fcaldcd, and bruiled ; it muft be
mixed with an equal quantity of white bread, foak-
ed in water, drained, and afterwards boiled thick
with milk. It fhould be frefh every day ; for when
it is four it will do them harm. When they are
ftble to feed themfelves they muft be broken from
their foft meat as foon as poflible ; and then give
them rape and canary feeds, but more of the former
than the latter. If they happen to be fick, put a blade
of faifron into their water. While they are young,

they

O F B I R D S. 257

they mufl often hear the pipe, vvhiftle, or organ, and
then they will foon learn any note.

The American B-ULL-FINCH, called GUIRA
TIRICA in Brafil, is of the fize of a Lark, and has
a thick ilrait bill. The whole head, with the throat,
the lower and middle part of the neck, are of a fine
blood colour, but the back is grey, mixed with black
feathers. The upper part of the bill is brown, but
the lower is of a light carnation, and the legs are of
an afh-colour. The wings and tail are a mixture of
black and grey, and the eyes arebluifli.

The North-American BULL-FINCH, is feven
inches in length, and the fhape of the bill, and the co-
lour of the breaft, are like thofe of our Bull-iinch^
The upper chap is black, arched, and a little longer
than the lower, like that of a Parrot ; and the lower is
of a reddifh flelhcolour next the throat, but the point
is black. The head, throat, breall and rump are
fcarlet, and from the noftrils to the eyes on each fide
runs a blackifh line. The feathers on the hinder-part
of the neck and back are black, tipped with fcarlet,
and the wings are black, but the greater quills next
the back are tipped and bordered with white ; but
thofe next the belly have narrow borders of red. The
firft and fecond rows of the covert feathers are tip-
ped with white, which form two oblique white bars
acrofs each wing. The leiTer coverts of the \vings are
a little fringed with red, and the belly and thighs are
of a light afh-colour. The tail is black above, and
inclining to an alh beneath, and the legs are of a black-
ifh brown.

The Red and Blue BRASILL\N FINCH, has a
bill fhaped like that of a Goldfinch, and of a very fine
fcarlet. The fides of the head all round the eyes,
for a good breadth, are of a fine purple, and the eyes
are of a dark colour ; but the fkin round the eyes is of
a fine fcarlet. Between the bill and the eye is a duiky
line, and the throat next the bill is black. The top
of the head, neck, back, covert feathers of the wings,
the breall and belly as far as the thighs, are of a dark
dufky red, but the quills of the wings are dufkv.

The

258 THENATURAL HISTORY

The lower part of the back, the belly, about the vent,
and the covert feathers of the tail are of a very fine
blue, which foftens into the reddiih on the back and
belly. The tail in black, and the middle feather is
pretty long, but the fide feathers gradually become
ihorter. The legs and feet are of a darkiih flefh-co-
Jour.

The SHELD APPLE, or CROSS-BILL, is not
much unlike a Greenfinch, its plumage being molUy
green, and fometimes yellow ; for it is faid to change
its colour thrice in a year. It weighs about an ounce and
a half, and its bill is black, llrong, thick, and very
hard. The upper and lower chaps crofs each other,
the lower pointing upwards, and the upper downu ards,
in a manner contrary" to what has hitherto been ob-
ferved in any other bird. The iiis of the eyes is of
a ycUowilh hazel colour, the noftrils round, and the
ears large and open. The upper part of the back, and
the under part of the belly, are brown, with a mix-
ture of pale and darker colours. On the upper part of
the head, and fome part of the back, the feathers are
black, with green edges. The breaft and rump are
green, and the edges of the tail feathers are of the
fame colour. Some parts of the belly are white, and
under the chin it has a few grcyifh or alh-coloured fea-
thers. The wings are of a dark brown, only a few of
the feathers are edged with green The feet are of a
dufky flelh colour, and the claws are black. It is a
very voracious bird, and feeds on hemp-feed, and the
kernels of pine-apples. Some fay it can with one or
two flrokes of its bill cleave a pine-apple in two, in
order to come at the kernels. It is fometimes feen in
England in the autumnal feafon ; but it does not build
its neft with us.

The HOUSE SPARROW has a very thick, jflrong
bill, about half an inch long, and the eyes are of a ha-
zel colour. 7'he head is of a dufky alh-colour, with
two fmall white fpots above the eyes, and there is a
broad brown line paffing from them. This bird is Ui
fo univerfally known that it needs no farther defcrip-
tion. It weighs a little more than an ounce, and it

is

O F B I R D S. 259

is fix inches and a half long, from the tip of the bill to
the end of the tail. It feeds upon corn, and often
does a great deal of mifchief in the corn fields. It is
a very lalacious and fhoit-lived bird.

The African SPARROW of 5^^^, is a very beau-
tiful bird, and the plumage on the back, neck and head
is of a reddifh citron colour, but on the breaft it is of
a yellowiih orange; the wings, tail, legs and feet are
of a fine vermillion colour.

The American SPARROW of Siba, was fent
from the ifland of Barhadoes^ and has the back of a cu-
rious black colour, the belly white, the head and
breaft of a fine blue, and the wings and tail of a Ihining
black, with a -purplilh call ; the rump is of a deep
green.

The SPARROW of the Cape of Good Hope, has a
bill of a paiiih brown colour, and not quite fo flrong
as in other birds of this kind : The iris of the eyes is
of a yellowiih white, and the upper part of the body,
with the head and neck, black, which terminates in a
j)oint on the belly, the lower part of which, with the
thighs, and round the fore-part of the wings is white.
The fides of the wings are of a light brown, and fome
of the quill- feathers are black. The colour of the tail
is the fame as the wings, and the legs and feet are of a
du&y brown.

Aldrovandus mentions fixteen forts of Sparrows, of
which we (hall give the difiinguifhing marks :

The Foolish SPARROW of Bononia, is all over
yellow, with red oblong fpots in moil parts, tending
downwards.

The bird a-kin to a Sparrow is reddiih on the upper
parts, and white on the lower, and is fpotted all over
with reddifh oblong fpots, tending downwards.

The Spotted SPARROW, has its feathers varie-
gated with white, black, and yellowiih colours.

The Sparrow called ALBICILLA has a tail of a
whitifti afh-colour, but in all other refpefts it is like
the common Sparrow.

The Illy Ri an SPARROW is larger than a com-
mon Sparrow, but is like it in all other refpe^s. '

The

26o THE NATURAL HISTORY

The RING SPARROW has a larger body and: bill
than the common, and has a white ring under the eyes.

The Little SPARROW that haunts groves' of
wahiut trees, is the leaft of all this fpecies.

The Indian SPARROW has a tail five inches long,
and the prime feathers of the wings are of a deep
black, but the upper parts are purple.

The Long-tailed Indian SPARROW, with a
red bill.

The Long-tailed Indian SPARKOW with a
blue bill.

The Short-tailed Indian SPARROW.

The Short-tailed Italian SPARROW is yel-
lowifh on the upper parts, but lighter below, with a
bill of a deep yellow.

The Yellow-headed Indian SPARROW, has a
whitifh-coloured bill, that is thick and ftrong like the
common Sparrow. The top of the head is of a yellow-
ifli gold-colour, but the neck, back, wings, and tail
are of a dark brown, whofe feathers are edged with a
lighter brown. There is a bar of a dark brown that
runs from the fides of the neck acrofs the breaft, and the
fides of the head beneath the eyes and throat are white.

The belly, thighs, and coverts under the tail are of
a yellowifh white, and the fides of the belly are marked
with faint dufky fpots. The legs and feet are of a flelh-
colour. This bird is a native oi Bengal in the £«/?-
Indes.

The AMADUVAD is an Eaji-In^ian bird, which
they feed with canary-feed. It is nearly of the fame fize
as a Robin-Redbreaft, but the bill refembles that of a
Gold-finch, and is red. The top of the head and
back are brown, and the wings and breall of a dark
colour, variegated with red and white fpots. The tail
is aninch and a half long, the upper part of which is
red, and the under black. The legs and feet are of a
dufky yellow, and the top of the head and back of the
female are of the fame colour, and fo are the wings,
T'he breaft and belly are of a pale yellow, and under
the bill there is a white fpot ; but the tail and legs are
of tlic fame colour as thofe of the male. They gene-
ral! v

O F B I R D S. 261

rally keep the male and female together in the fame
cages.

Catejhy takes notice of five different forts of Spar-
rows tound in America and the Bahama iflands :

The Black SPARROW is of the fizc of a Lark,
with a thick, ihort beak, and the iris of the eyes red.
The head, neck, breall, back and tail are black, but
the wing feathers are edged with white ; the breail and
belly are white in the middle, on the fides and lower
parts ; the upper part of the wings are of a dark red,
and the legs brown.

The Brown SPARROW, with a darker back.

The Small SPARROW, all over brown.

The SNOW SPARROW, with a white bill, breail
and belly ; but the other parts are black, with lead
coloured fpots.

The Little Bahama SPARROW is of the fize of
a Canary Bird, and has the head, neck, and breaft
black, ijut all the other parts of a dirty green.

The Chinese SPARROW is lefs than the common
Houfe- Sparrow, and has a fhort, thick, afh-coloured
neck. The head, neck, breaft, and belly of the cock
are quite black, but the reft of the body, wings, and
tail are of a rufty brown. The upper parts of the body
of the hen are more brown and dulky, and the lower
part of the breaft is inclining to a hair-colour, with
beautiful regular black and white fpots on the fides of
the belly and under the wings : The legs and feet are
of the lame bright colour, inclining to yellow.

The White Lapland SPARROW of Linnaus,
is of the fize of a Lark, and generally weighs about an
ounce ; the bill is Iharp, conical, and black, but to-
wards the bafe often becomes of an alh-colour. The
lower part of the bill is more thick and fhort than the
upper, and bended down towards the bafe -, and the
noftrils are round, and covered with feathers. The
tongue is as fmooth as parchment, with the bafis cut
like an arrow at the two cloven roots ; the orifice of the
throat has teeth on each fide the palate.

The eyes are fmall and black, and the feet pretty
fiiort, and of a dulky colour. The claws are black,

and

262 THE NATURAL HISTORY

and a little crooked, as well as flat and fhai-p at the
edges, but blunt at the end. The claw behind is twice
as long as thofe on the other toes. When the wings are
Ihut they appear white, except on the lower edges of
the extremities, where tliey are black, as well as the
joint of the wings, where there is a fmall fpot of the
lame colour. The quill feathers are fixteen in number,
and to the eighth they are white at the bafe, and black
at the end ; but the iirft is half white and half black.
The tail, wliich is a little forked, is black on the mid-
dle above, and while on the edges, with other variega-
tions of white and black. The head, breail, and neck
of the cock are white, but each feather confidered hy
itfelf is black on the edge, half way from the bafe,
and white to the extremity. The breafl is white, on-
ly the feathers are black at the bafe ; but this colour
in fummer changes to a browniih yellow. The back is
black, but fomeofthe feathers aie of a whiiilli yellow,
white at the end, forming almoil imperceptible cicuds.
The covert feathers of the wings are white above and
below, except towards the bafe, where they are black.
The extremity of the tail is black, without mixture.
The head, breaft, and neck of the hen are of a brown-
ifh yellow ; tbe back is black, llreaked with a brown-
iih yellow, and the black feathers that cover it have
half the outer edges of a yeliowifh brown. The co-
vert feathers of the wings are alfo of a yellouifh browB,
but the quill feathers are moftly black, with their
ends a little tinftured with a browniih yellow. In
the wanter they become wliiter, like many other ani-
mals that live in fnowy countries. Before the depth
of the winter thefe birds defcend into the fiat-countries
of Snx^eden ; and when it is over return back to tlie
mountains of Laplatid 2Lgzin. The flefh is fo good that
many in S'xveden\k2ive millaken it for that of an Ortolan.

The Indian SPARROW without a tail, is red all
over the body, and at the beginning of the wings, but
all the other parts are black.

This Sparrow agrees with the Atnerican called Tige-
TiRANGA, only it has a rump and a tail ; but as the
Indian Ijparrow v/as defcribed by Aldro^vandus^ from a

painting

O F B I R D S. 263

painting only, perhaps the tail might have been plucked
off.

There is another Mian SPARROW, faid to be
without a tail ; but this likevvife was defcribed only
from a painting.

The Mountain SPARROW is of the fize of a
common Houfe- Sparrow, but fomewhat longer, and
the bill is thick aftd ftrong, of an afh-colour. The
circles of the eyes are of a yellowifli white, and the
pupils black. The upper part of the head, the fides,
and fome part of the throat, are of a dufjcy brown,
beautifully mottled with black and white, with a dufky
line furrounding the hinder-part of the head, and a
broad white line palling from the under chap, bending
downward. The back is of a rufty brown, with a few
black ftripes, and the wings are of a deeper colour,
more inclining to red, and the edges of fome of the
covert feathers are white. The tail is of a dark colour,
fprinkled with fmall round white fpots. They are
found in mountainous woody places, but are not very
common.

The Mountain SPARROW, which is found in
the Eaftern part of Germany^ has a black chin, and a
black fpot near the ears on each fide. The head is of
a reddiih brown, and there is a white ring round the
middle of the neck, but in other things it is like the
common Sparrow.

The WOOD-SPAROWof .^/^'Oi;^»ya/,has the top
of the head covered with the colour of rufty iron, inclin-
ing to red, and there is a white fpace about the eyes.
There are alfo blackilh tranfverfe lines, wliich run
along the chin and lower part of the neck.

The CHAFFINCH is a little lefs than a common
Sparrow, and has a pretty long tail. It weighs fome-
what lefs than an ounce, and has a fharp ftrong bill,
white underneath, and dufky near the tip, as well as
on the upper part: The tongue is cloven and rough,
the head bluilh, the back reddiih, with a mixture of
green, and the breaft is red ; but the under parts of
the body is white. The colours are much more ftrong
and lively in the cock than the hen, and fome of the
quill feathers have white webs, with green edges,

ihaded

264 THE NATURAL HISTORY

fhaded with yellow ; and the fmall feathers on the
ridges of the wings are blue, fpotted with white. The
tail is a little above two inches long, and fome of the
feathers have black fhafts, with white on their middle
parts ; and there are others green upon the edges ;
however there is a good deal of variet)' in their co-
lours. It is a briflc, lively, hardy bird, feeding upon
feeds, and builds its neft fometimes in, hedges, and
fometimes in low trees, and makes it ofmofs, lining
the infide with horfe-hair. It generally lays five or
fix eggs, and in fome parts o'l England it is called the
PiED FINCH.

The young of the Chaffinch may betaken, when they
are ten days old, for as they are hardy birds, they may
eafily be brought up ; and they may be bred in the
fame manner as the Goldfinch. They may be taken
in clap-nets in June and July; elpecially the young
flight when they go to drink at their watering-place ;
therefore it is hardly worth while to bring them up
from their neit. Some bird-men blind Chaffinches by
clofmg up their eyes with a wire made almoft red hot ;
but this is a cruel cullom, and does not anfwer the pur-
pofe, efpecially if proper care is not taken of them
other wife.

The BRAMBLE, or BRAMBLING, or MOUN-
TAIN-FINCH : In Tork/hire it is called the SEA-
LARK, and is about the fize of a Lark. The upper
part of the head is of a reddifh brown, or chellnut co-
lour, and the upper part of the neck is reddilh, as well
as the rump and fides, but thefe are of a fainter colour.
The upper part of the body is of a blackilh red, or
rtih-coiour, beautifully mottled; the feathers in the
middle are blackifh, and the fides of a reddifh afh-colour,
but on the tips of the wings, and the bottom of the
back they are more red. The wings are black, with
a large wliite fpot or fpace in the middle. The bill is
yellow, with a blackidi tip, and the feet and claws are
of a deep black. The hinder claw is pretty long,
a"? in Laiks, which mark is fufficient to diftinguifh it
from other birds of this kind. It delights in moun-
tainouf^ countries, and they are common ii> TorhJtAre
in a hard v^-inter.

The

OF BIRDS. 265

The Mountain FINCH of Linncsiis^is not the fanie
bird defcribed before in a different manner ; for he fays
the cock is black above, and the edge of the feathers
irregularly tinged with a dark iron colour ; the belly
is white, and the breaft is of a fort of a gold-colour,
as well as the bafe of the wings on the outfide ; but the
bafe of the wings on the infide are of a fallow or deep
yellow colour. The prime-feathers of the wings are
black, with the outer edges white, and four of theie
feathers, as well as thofe that follow towards the bafe,
are on their external fide half white and half black.
The principal feathers on the tail towards the outfide
are black, but eleven between tliem, on their external
fides towards the bafe, are white. The laft toe is almoft
as long as that in the middle. The hen is brown,
where the ccck is white, and afn^coloured where he is
fallow-coloured : Under the bafe of the wings Ihe is
of a beautiful yellow, and under the vent, of an irre-
gular yellow. The prime feathers of the wings and
tail are of the fame colour as thofe of the male.

The fee ond Tijeparanga of Marcgra^ve^ is of the
iize of a Sparrow, and the feathers over all the body
are of a bluifh afn-colour. The wings are nearly of a
fea-green, and the belly is whitilh. The legs and bill
are of an alh-colour.

The GUIRANHEEMGATU oUdarcgra^e, is of
the bignefs of a Sparrow, and is yellow upon the up-
per part of the head and throat ; but the other parts
beneath the body are of a bright yellow. The coloui*
on the wings is a mixture of greenilh, yellow, and
brown ; and the legs are brown. It fmgs like a Cliaf-
£nch, and may be properly placed among the Spar-
row kind. ,

The SAYACU of Marcgranje, is of the fize of a
Chaffinch, and the colour of the whole body is afh,
mixed with a fea green, and there is a iine glofs on
the back. It has a little bill, v/hich is black, as well
as the eyes.

The GUIREA PEREA of Brafd'i-^ of the fize of a
Lark, and has a fhort, thickifh, blackifh bill. The
upper part of the body, and the lower belly are of a

Vol, II. N dark

266 THE NATURAL HISTORY
dark yellow, and the wings and tail are brown or
biackiih ; but the tail near the extremity is of a Tea-
green on the fides. The feet are of a dark afti-co-
lour.

The TIGEGUACU PAROARA of Marcgra^ve, is
of the fize of a Lark, with a fliort thick brown bill,
white underneath. The upper part of the head, the
throat, and lower part of the neck, are reddifh in the
cock, but yellow in the hen, fpotted with a blood co-
lour. The remaining upper parts are afh-colour, and
the wing and tail feathers are brown, with whitilh
edges. The fides of the neck, and the under part of
the body are white, but the feet are brown.

T\\eMexica?i fmall birds are the xMIACaTOTOTL
or MAIZ-BIRD, fo called becaufe it ufually fits upon
Maiz, which is a Idnd of hdian corn, has a pale belly,
and the wings and tail are of an afh-colour above ; but
tbe reft of the body is black, mixed with a few white
feathers.

.The COCOZTLl, or YELLOW-BIRD, is of the
fize, and has the note of a Gold-finch, and the colour
is of a yellowiih brown.

The QUATOZTLI, is Icfs than a Goldfinch, and
is of a tawney colour, mottled with black ; but the
hirder-part of the body and about the head is pale.

TheTECHlCTLI, or the bird that fcratches it-
felfao-ainft the reeds, is a little lefs than a Goldfinch,
and the upper parts are of a greenilh brown, but whitifii
below. The feet are red, the bill ihort and fliarp,
black above and white underneath.

The TLAPALCHICHI, or RED-SCRATCHER,
IS of the bignefs of a Gold-finch. It is mottled with
a great many beautiful colours, fuch as blue, red,
green and orange. The bill is thickifh, blackifli above
and whitiih underneath.

The COCOCHATL is a little larger than a Gold-
finch, and mottled with yellow, white and brown, with
a remarkable fpot near each eye.

The COCOZTON is of the fize of a Goldfinch,
and is mottled v. ith yellow and blue.

The

O F B I R D S. 267

The TECHITOTLI is of the fize of the former,
but mottled with afh-colour and yellow.

The CACATOTOTL is white underneath, but
above mottled with blacldih and tawney feathers, witk
afh-coloured feet.

The AXOYATOTOTL is of the nze of a Gold-
linch, whitifli underneath, but mottled with tawney
and yellow above. The legs are of a reddilh yellow,
and it has acreft on the head.

The XOMPANTOTOTL is near the fize of the
former, and the feathers ai-e a mixture of v/hite, pur-
ple, and yellow.

The CUITCUITZCATOTOTL is bigger than
the former, and reddifh underneath, but the upper part
of the head is tawney ; the reft of the body is mottled
with blue, white and blackiHi feathers.

The CHILTOTOTL is a little bigger tliana Gold-
finch, and is all over of a reddifti colour, only there is
a mixture of black feathers on the wings, and vvhitifa
ijpots near the eyes ; the bill is fmall and black.

The XIQUIPILTOTOTL is a very fmall bird,
vvhofe feathers are motled with blue and aHi-cGlours,
and there are black fpots on the bill and neck. It is
a finging-bird.

The QUAUHCUrCHIL has a red head, and is
whitifli below, but above of a greenifli tawney ; the
head is adorned with red fcatliers, and the thighs aie
black, as well as the bill and feet.

The TOZACOZTLI, or PALE-THROAT, is
much of the Cze of a Goldfinch, and has feet ofarery
light red; tlie bill is fliort, flender, fharp-pointed,
and black on the upper part, but reddifli below. Tlie
lower parts of the body are yellovvilh, and the upper
arc mottled witli yellow and bluilh colours; tl;e
wings beneath are of an afh-colour, but of a pale
brown above. There is a black ftreak runs from the
bill near each eve, as far as the breaft.

TheCOZTOTL, or YELI.OW-BIRD, is mottled
with brown, black, afli-colom" and yellow. It is a
fiiiging-bird, and is faid to change its colour.

N z I'hcrcj

268 THE NATURAL HISTORY

There is another bird of this name, all over yellow,
marked with a black fpot on the head ; only the tail
and wings are variegated with white and black.

TheTZITZIQUILOTLisof a light brown co-
lour, and Teems to rejoice greatly when the rainy feafon
begins to come on. It has long black feet, a fmall
long neck, and a long black bill.

The TLAGILOTOTOTL, or PAINTED-BIRD,
is beautifully mottled with yellow, red, green, and
purple coloui's ; but the feet are of an afh-colour, and
the iris of the eyes yellow.

The TLAUHTOTOTL, or RED-BIRD, impro-
perly fo called, becaufe it is mettled with the fame co-
lours, and is only a little lefs in the body.

TheCOYOLTOTOTL has a fhort thick bill, and
yellow thighs, with a red belly and breaft ; but the
reft of the body is mottled with a reddifh colour and
black.

The TL APALTOTOTL is near the fize of a Gold-
£nch, with a fiender bill and the iris of the eyes is
yellow J but the wings and tail are of a reddiih black
colour, and the reft of the body crimfon.

The CHACHAVATOTOTL is a little larger than
a Goldfinch, and has brown legs, with a fmall black
bill; but the lower parts are yellow, and the reft
of the body mottled with blue, black, and aih-co-
lours.

The CHICHILTOTOTL is of the fize of the
former, and the lower parts are red j but thofe above
are afti-colcur and black, inclining to a purple, but
the bill is a little fl:iarper and longer than the former.

The XOLOn.APECH is almoft the bignefs of
a Sparrow, red underneath, and brown above.

The CAQUANTOTOTL is of the fame fize as a
Sparrow, and of an alli-colour ; but the end of the
tail is yellow, as well as the extreme feathers of the
tail. There are crimfon filaments hanging on its
head, which is fmall and crefted, and the bill is
little.

The GOLDFINCH is a little lefs than a Houfe
Sparrow, weighing about half an ounce, and its

iengtk

O F B I R D S. 269

length, from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail,
is five inches, and a half; but the breadth, when the
wings are extended, is nine inches ; the bill is white-
ifh, and in the iliape of a cone; and the colour, on
the top of the head is black, but the cheeks are white ;
the hinder part of the head is likewife whitilh. A ring
of curious fcarlet feathers encompafTes the fore-part of
the head, or bafe of the bill. From the eyes to the bill
on each fide a black line is drawn ; the jaws are white,
aud from the top of the head, a broad black line or
ftreak is produced on both fides, almoft to the neck ;
the hinder part of the head is white ; the neck and
fore-part of the back i s of a reddifh brown, or afh-co-
lour, and the rump, breaft, and fides are of the fame
colour, but lighter. The belly is wliite, and the wings
and tail black, but the points of the chief feathers are
white in both. There is a beautiful yellow ftripe,
which runs crofs the wings, and the tail is about two
inches long ; the cock is diftinguifhed from the hen
by the feathers on the ridges of the wings, which are
of a jet black, whereas thofe of the hen are of a dufky
brown. It is a mild gentle bird, and foon grows tame,
and feeds upon thiilles in the winter time.

The Goldfinch begins to build in April, when the
fruit-trees are in blofTom ; the neft is not only very
fmall, but exceeding pretty; the outfide coniifts of
very fine mofs, curioufly interwoven with other foft
materials, and the infide is lined with fine down or
wool : She lays fix or feven white eggs, fpeckled and
marked with a reddifh brown. They build their nefts
in fruit-trees, pretty Jiigh among the branches, but moll
commonly in apple-trees. Sometimes their nefis have
been found in the elder-tree, and fometimes in hedges ;
the young are tender, and therefore fliould not betaken
out of their neils till they are pretty v/ell feathered ;
they fhouid be fed v/ith white bread, foaked in clean
water, afterwards ftrained, and then boiled with a
liitle milk ; to which a little fiour of canary feed
fhouid be added. They fhouid be fed every two
hours, giving them two or three fmall bits only at a
time ; they fhouid begin to be fed about fun-rifing,
N 3 which

270 THE NATURAL HISTORY

which fhouid be continued till fun-fetting ; their food
ihoiild be frelh every day, thaf is, it fhouid never be
(tale or four. In about a month they fhouid have a lit-
tle canary-feed given them with their other meat, and
when they begin to like it, their bread and milk may
be left oA\

If a. young Goldfinch be brought up under a Canary-
Bird, a Wood-Lark, or any other fine fmging-bird,
he will take their long very readily. A cock Gold-
finch, bred from the neft, will couple with a hen Ca-
nary-bird, and their eggs will produce birds between
both kinds j but the young will never breed no more
than a mule, that is generated between an afs and a
mare. It is d long-lived, healthful bird, and is fel-
dom fick, but if he fhouid happen to droop it will
be proper to give him f:i£-ron in his water; and
i^ he has a f coming, a little dry chalk may hz
crumbled in his cnge, or am.ong his feed; or flick
a bit between the wires of the cage, and lay gravel at
the bottom : Or he may have a little thiftle-feed, be-
caafe they delight to feed upon it when wild ; they may-
be found in the great thiftle at the bottom of the white
down. Goldfinches may be taken in JuNCy July, or
Jiugttft ; but the beft time for catching them is about
Miehaelniai. They frequent the fields where thirties
grow, and they are eafily caught ; they are of fo gen-
tle a nature, that they v.'ill both feed and fing very
Icon. Hempfeed v/iil be proper for them at firft, but
in a fhort time they may be brought to feed on canary
{^^6., which is more fit for them than the other.

The COMMON LINNET weighs about an ounce,
and is in length, from the tip of the bill to the end of
the tail fix inches ; but the breadth, when the wings
?.re extended, is ten inches ; the bill is thick, ftrong,
black, and half an inch long, and the tongue is fhort.
Tlie head is variegated with afn-colour and black, and
the back is of a blackifli red; the breafl is whitifh,
and the lower part of the belly about the vent yellow-
ilh; the lower part of the throat is of a beautiful red,
and the edges of its feathers are yellow, or of a yel-
lcv,'iih vzi^. It is kept in cages, and feeds upon Lin-
feed,

O F & I R D S. ^71

ieed, from whence the name is derived j however it
will eat canary-feed, hemp-feed, rape-feed, cole-feed,
;ind the like ; from all which it takes off the hulls.

The cock may be known from the hen by the fea-
thers on his back, which are much browner, and by
the white of his wing ; to examine which, when the
wing-feathers are grown, one of the wings mull be
flretched out, while the body of the bird is held fail
with the other hand ; and then the white muft be ob-
ferved upon three or four feathers ; if it appears clear
and bright, and reaches up to the quills, it is a fure
%n or a cock-bird; for the white in the wing of
the hen is much lefs and fainter. The young ones
are hatched in the beginning of May, and their neils are
commonly built in a thick bufh or -hedge, though they
fometimes may be met with in furze bulhes. There
are four or five young at a time, which may be take n
v/hen they are ten days old, or fooner ; and they will
better learn the fong of any other bird by being brouglit
up from their ncfts ; they mull be kept vtry v/arm,
and be fed every tv/o hours, from fix in the morning
till fix or feven at night ; their meat mufl be prepared
as for a Bullfinch, that is, it mufl be rape-feed foaked
in water eight or ten hours ; then fcalded, ilrained,
bruifed, and mingled with an equal quantity of white
bread, foaked in clean water, then Ilrained, and boil-
ed with a little milk to a thick confidence. It mull be
made frefh every day, becaufe if it be four it will throw
them into a fcouring, and often kill them. When they
begin to feed themfelves fcalded rape -feed muft be let
in their cages to wean them from the bread and milk,
becaufe if they feed too long upon it, it will make tliem
rotten. In a month or fix weeks time they will be able
to crack the feeds, and live entirely upon hard meat.

They have fometimes a fwelling at the end of the
rump, which will make them appeal- melancholy ; when
this is ripe, it mufl be pricked with a needle to let out
the corruption ; then the part mufl be anointed with
frelh butter and Capon's greafe. He mull alfo be fed
with the feeds of lettuce or beet, or melon feeds chop-
ped to pieces, which he v/ill eat very greedily : Like-
N 4 ' ' wife

272 THENATURAL HISTORY
wife a blade of faifron may be put into his water, as
alfo white fugar-candy for a week or more, till the bird
is entirely recovered. But his moft common difeafe is
a fcouring, occafioned by bad feeds. He may be cured
hy melon feeds, chopped in pieces, or lettuce and beet-
feeds bruifed ; likewife liquorice or fafFron muft be put
into his water. But if the fcouring be very dange-
rous, he muft have linfeed at firft, and afterwards
plantain feed ; that is, if it be green ; for otherwife
it will do him no good ; but for want of it the leaves
of the fame herb may be flired very fmall, or he mav
have a little bruifed hemp-feed, with fugar-candy, li-
quorice, or a blade or two of faifron. Chick weed is
likewife good, to v/hich may be added a little chalk.

Linnets may be taken with clap-nets in June, Ju/y,
and j^ugujl ; but flight-birds are moft plentiful in the be-
ginning of Odoher, The nets muft be laid near the
place where they come to drink or feed.

The PAINTED FINCH, is a Vorth American bird,
which wonderfully alters in its colour : In its firft ftate
it refembles a hen Sparrow, in the fecond ftate it is
blue, but the head is of die fineft and deepeft colour. In
the third ftate the feathers become duflcy, edged with
blue on the outfide, and afti-coloured within. The
head and back-part of the neck is blue, and from the
throat to the thighs inclufive it is of a fine fcarlet colour,
as alfo under the rump. The back and fides, as far as
the rump are greenifh, and three or four of the large
outward wing-feathers are of a duflcy purple,

Mr. Catejiy fays, the Painted Finch weighs nine
penny-weight, and breeds in Carolina^ but does not
winter there ; both cocks and hens are nearly of the
fame colour : He took them in their various changes
to be diftindl birds, and adds that the blue linnet weighs
eight penny-weight, and that it never comes into Ca-
rolina, or within fifty leagues of the fea.

The Baltimore BIRD weighs about an ounce,
and is of the fize of a Linnet. It is of a bright gold-
colour on the hinder-part of the body, from the neck to
the tail ; likewife the upper-part of the wing is of the
iame colour; and the head is black, but the reft of the

wing;

O F B I R D S. 273

wing is black and white. It is found in Virginia and
Karylandy and its nell is ufually in the poplar or tulip
trees, fixed to two twigs, at the end of a bough.

The Bastard Baltimore BIRD has a pointed
bill, with a black fpot under it, and the tail and wings
are of a brownilh aih-colour ; all tiie other parts are yel-
low, except the feet, which are blue. The female has
a black head and breaii, with the back half way black,
and a black tail; the lower half of the wings is alfo
black, but the upper half, the bottom of the back,
the breaft, the belly,, and the thighs, are of a dirty
red, and the feet are blue.

The TWITE is in colour and ihape fomewhat like
a Linnet, but is lefs, for which reafon he is called in
France the Little LINNET. He has a very ihort
bill, and the cock has a curious red fpot on the rump,
which the hen has not. He is a very brifk chearful
bird, and is always finging, upon which account he is
ufually hung among other birds, to provoke them to
fmg. They do not breed in Engiand, but come over
from other parts in the winter time, in which feafon
they are caught in the fame manner as Linnets ; they
will feed upon rape and canary feed, but love the lat-
ter beft. It is a common bird in fome parts of France,
and lays eggs like thofe of a Linnet but lefs.

The Greater Red-Headed LINNET, or RED-
POLE, is fomewhat lefs than the former, and has a
bill like that of a Chaffinch ; the crown of the head is
of a red colour, but does not ihine fo much as the
former. The breaft is tinctured with a reddiih colour,
and it weighs about five drams, being in length,
from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail five in-
ches and a half, and in breadth nine inches when the
wings are extended. It is common on the fea coaft. j
It has a pretty chattering fort of a fong, and is qf-
ten kept in cages; and is fed with the fame fort of
feeds as the Linnet and Chaffinch ; the female or
hen, inllead of a red, has a faifron-coloured ipot on the
head.

The Lesser Red-Headed LINNET is lefs than
the former, and the fore-part of the head is remarkable

274 THENATURAL HISTORY
for being of a fhining red colour. It differs from
the former, in being lels, in having a fmaller and (harp-
er bill, in the hen's having the head pretty near the
fame colour as the cock, which is otherwife in the
former ; the feet are blacker, the edges of the tail fea-
thers are narrowifh, and whitifh ; the fecond row of
tlie wing feathers are whitifh, which make a tranfverfe
white line ; and lalHy thefe birds fly together in flocks,
which the former do not.

The Mountain LINNET is twice as big as the
former, and is of the fame colour as the common Lin-
net, only the rump is of a beautiful red fhining co-
lour, and the tail is pretty long : Likewife its fea-
thers, except two in the middle, are white upon the
edges. Its length, from the tip of the bill to the end
of the tail is fix inches and a half, and its bill is fmall
in proportion to its bulk, It is found in the moun-
tains of the Peak in Derbjhire^

The SISKIN, or ABERDEVINE, has a black
head, and the upper part of the body is green, but the
ihafts of the feathers on the back are blackifh The
rump is of a yellowilh green, but the throat and breatt
are paler. The belly is white, and the feathers under
the tail are yellowifh, with oblong brown fpots, run-
r.ing according to the length of thefhafts. The wings
ate marked w/th a tranfverfe fpot or fpace of a yellow-
iih colour, and the two middle feathers of the tail are
black; but thcfe more in the middle are of a beautiful
yellow, with black tops. Thefe birds are freqtiently
feen upon alder-trees; and they i^t^ in the fame manner
as Goldfmches and Linnets.

They do not breed in England, for they come here
in the winter, and leave us in the fpring. It is enfily
taken in the fame manner as Linnets and Goldfinches,
and may be fed like them.

The CANARY BIRD is of the fize of a Titmoufe,
atid has a fhort bill, v/hich is thick at the bafe, and
of a whitifh colour. They are of different colours,
ibme of them being white, mottled with yellow, and
others beautifully (haded with green, both on the fides
of the wings and tails. The breJift, belly, and lower

parts

O F B I R B S. 275

parts of the body of the cock are of a more deep yel-
low than the hen. It more refembles a vSifkin in colour
and fhape than any other EngUJh bird that we know.
It is highly valued for its fmging, having a very fweet
note, which it continues for fome time in one breath,
without intermflion, and raifes it higher and higher
by degrees with great variety : They were originally
brought from tlie Canary Iflands, but they are now
bred in England^ in cag., s, but more efpeciaily in Ger-
many, Some fay that thofe birds that have the fmalleft
bodies and longell tails are the beft.

The fore-part of the head, the throat, the pinion of
the wing and rump of the cock are of a brighter yellov/
than in the hen, which marks will hold good let them
be of what kind they will; the cock is alfo bigger
than the hen, and his carriage is alfo more fprightly
and majeftic, for he will often extend his neck and head
in a very brifk lively manner. The hens ^o not fmg, cr
fo indifferently it does not deferve the the name of ling-
ing. Whenever the cock fmgs his throat may be obferved
to fvvell and play all the vv^hile he is vvarbimg, whereas ■
there is no fuch motion in the hen.

The moft beautiful Canary birds, are thofe that are
of bright lively yellowilh, with jet black fpots; tjie
next is the mealy bird, fo called from the mealy co-
lour of its feathers \ the third fort is the mottled bird,
whofe principal colour is white, which is mottled with
black or brownifh fpots ; but there is a great variety
in their colours, infomuch that a frf;?r/i' author in his
treatife upon Canary birds, reckons no lefs than twenty-
nine different kinds, and their names ?.re given accord-
ing the colour of the feathers ; hov, ever their fongs are
not greatly different.

In chufing thefe birds thofe are beft that" appear
with life and boidnefs. Handing like a Sparrow-hawk^
and are not fubjedl to be frighted st every thing that
ftirs. If his eyes look chearful, and not drowfy, it is
a fign of health, but on the contrary, if he hides his
head under his v/ing, and ftands all of a heap, it
is very certain he is not well. The dung, when a
Canary bird is in health, wi)! be round and hard, with

a fine-

276 THE NATURAL HISTORY
a fine white on the outfide ; but if he bolts his tail like
a Nightingale after he has dunged, or if his dung be
very thin, of a flimy white, without any blacknefs within,
the bird is undoubtedly fick. Their finging muft alfo
be minded, for feme will open with the Nightingale's
notes, and run thro' feveral of them, but end in the
Tit-Lark's fong ; and fome will {mg only like a Tit-
Lark. Others will begin almoftlike a Sky-Lark, and
by a foft melodious turn of voice will fallinto the Nigh-
tingale's note?, chaunting after a very delightful man-
ner : Thefe fort of birds are in univerfal elleem ; the*
fome like thofe that will almoll deafen the hearers ; for
which reafon it will be beft for every one to chufea bird
according to his own fancy

Canary-Birds breed three or four times a year; but
they ufually begin to pair mJpril, and breed in Juve,
and iuguj}. 1 hofe are faid to be the befl breeders that
are produced between the £'«^///^ and French-, but let
ihcm be of what kind they will, they fhould always be
healthy flout birds.

Towards the end of Viarch a cock and a hen fhould
be put together into a fmall cage, where they fliould
remain till they are perfeclly reconciled; towards the
middle of April they fliould be put into a large breeding-
cege, made on purpofe for that ufe, that there may be
room enough for them to fly and exercife themfelves ;
there fhould be two boxes in the cage, for the hen to
tuild in ; becaufe they will fometimes hatch a fecond
brood before the firft are ready to fly, leaving the for-
mer to the care of the cock, which will feed and bring
them up. While the birds are pairing, they fhould
be fed with foft meat ; that is, bread, mawfeed, a lit-
tle fcalded rapefeed, and near a third part of tgg ;
the bread fhould be grated very fine before they are all
well mixed together. When they have young ones,
give them the fame food frefh every day, and let them
have likewifefrefh greens, fuch as cabbage-lettice now
:.nd then, but chickvveed with the feeds more common-
ly. In "^une they may have fliepherd's purfe, and in
July and Augujl plantain. Before they have young they
may have groundfel, with the feed upon it. Thofe

tha

O F B 1 R D S. zjj

that breed a great number of Canary-birds ihould have
a room made fit for that purpofe ; this room fliould be
fo fituated as to let the birds have the benefit of the
morning fun ; and let wire inftead of glafs be in all
the windows, that they may enjoy the advantage of
the refrelliing air ; the floor of the room fhould be kept
clean, and fometimes there fliould be dry gravel or
fand fifted upon it : After the dung is removed, there
fliould be nell boxes in back cages in every convenient
part of the room, which fhould be twice as m^any as there
are birds, that they may have the liberty of choof-
ing a place for their nefls j for fome delight in one
place and feme in another.

There ought to be two windows in the room, one
at each end, and feveral perches at proper diftances for
the birds to fettle upon as they fly backwards and for-
wards. Ifwould not be amiis if there was a tree in
the room, becaufe it will divert the birds, and fome of
them will build their nefl upon it : Eight or ten pair
are fufhcient for a middling room.

A cock bird will take his turn in building the nefl,
fitting upon the eggs, and feeding the young. The
birds muft be furnillied with ftuif for making their
nells, fuch as fine hay, wool, cotton, and hair; they
fhould all be thoroughly dry, and then mixed and tied
together in fuch a manner that the birds may readily
pull out what they want ; and they fhould be hung in a
proper part of the room. They are generally two or
three days in building their nefls, where the hen com-
monly lays four or five eggs, and the young will be
hc:i:ched in fourteen days. When the young birds can
feed themfelves take them away, and put them in
cages. They fhould be caught in a fpare cage, with
foft food therein, taking the other meat away ; the
door may be fhut by a firing faflened thereto, by a me-
thod which is obvious to all ; this method mufl be
repeated till as many as are wanted be caught. Their
meat fhould be the yolk of an egg boiled hard, with
as much fine bread, and a little fcalded rape-feed :
This mufl be bruifed till it becomes fine, and then it
may be mixed with a little mawfeed ; after which

blend

278 THE NATURAL HISTORY
blend all together, and let them have freih every
day.

^ CaRar}'-birds are apt to be diforder'd with colds, or
feeding too much upon greens without feed ; for they
will breed a furfeit. This may be difcovered by blow-
ing up the feathers on tlie belly ; for if it be Iwelled,
tranfparent, and full of fmall red veins, with their
bowels funk do^ii to the extream parts of the body, it
has certainly got this dii'temper. When it is black,
death generally enfues : in this cafe the bird muft be
kept warm, and he fhould have oatmeal among his
feed for three or four cays, with liquorice in his wa-
ter ; but if he is too loofe he fhouid have maw, and
bruifed hemp feed, with faffron in his water, or milk
and bread may be given, with a little maw feed there-
in. You may take millet, hemp, maiz, rape, and
canary feeds, of each as much as will lye lipon a fix-
pence ; let thefe juft boil up, and then boil a new-laid
cg^ till it is hard ; mince it fmall, and then take about
a <juarter of it to put to the feeds when tl^ey are cold ;
to which add as much lettuce feed as any of the other.
This compofidon has had a good effect upon feveral
fick birds : but they ought to drink water two or
three times in the morning before it is given them.

Another diftemper Canary-birds are troubled v/ith
js a little pimple on the rumo, called the pip ; it gene-
rally goes away of itfelf, but when it does not, prick
it when ripe to let out the matter, fqueezing it gently ;
after this take a bit of loaf fugar, moiften it in your
mouth, put it to the fore, and it will heal it.

Another difeafe is a fort of yellow fcab, that appears
about the head and eyes, which fometimes i'well and
are full of matter. They muft be anointed with frefo
butter, lard, or the oil of fweet almonds, for any of
thefe will cure it.

The moulting-time may be knov/n by the bird's ap-
pearing rough, melancholy and fleepy, often putting
his head under his wings ; befides which the bottom
of the cige will be covered with down or fmall fea-
thers. At this time the bird fhould be kept warm,
and fet in the fun, in a fine bright day, provided
there is not much wind : It's food Ihouid be Naples
2 bifcuic

O F B I R D S. 279

bifcuit, bread and egg mixed together, with TafFron in
his water ; as alio bruiied hemp feed, mixed with let«
tuce and maw feed. If the weather is very hot, let
them have liquorice inftead of fafFron ; and their food
Ihould be plantain and lettuce feed.

The SERINUS of Gf>fr, called atT/V^/z?^ theHfR-
NERILL has a back a little reddifh ; but the feathers
on the middle are black. The head is yellowiih, and
the rump of a greenilTi yellov/ ; the breail is of a yellow-
ifli green, and the belly white, but the fides are varie-
gated with black oblong fpots.

The bird called VERZILLINO at Rome, and CI-
TRIL at Vienna, differs from the Serin in having an
afh-coloured neck, the lower part of the face green,
the tail a little forked, and in having no fpots on the
fides. It is very common about Rome.

The LIGURINUS differs from both in having a
little larger body, a longer bill, a black head, a fhort-
er tail, the better half of which is yellow, and in ha-
ving a yellow fpot orfpace on the wings.

The AMADAVADE-BIRD has the bill of a Chaf-
tinch, and the fpurs of a Lark. It is not much bigger
than a crefted wren, and has a red bill, only the up-
per part of the upper chap is black on the top. The
upper part of the body is brown, only upon the rump
it is of a dark red, and the prime feathers of the wings
are black ; as alfo thofe of the tail, which are longer
2T1 the middle, and grow gradually fhorterto the fides.
There are fmall round white fpots en the prime and co-
vert feathers of the wings, and the breaft and belly are
black ; but the feet are v/hite.

The SEA PETRONJA, fo called at Bononin in lia^
!y, may be dilHnguifhed from all other birds, in hav-
ing a beautiful yellow fpot about the middle of the
throat, and a round white fpot on each feather of the
tail a little abbve the point, which are black elfewhere,
except on the edges, that are greenifh. It is known
from a Yellow- Hammer in having a bill much larger,
and more green.

The TEITEI ol Brafd, fo called by Marcgranje,
is of the fize of a Robin Red-breaft, and has a fhort
thick black bill. Tlie upper pait of the body is black,

with

28o THE NATURAL HISTORY

with a purple or bluifh glofs, and the lower is yellow.
It has a yellow fpot at the root of the upper chap, be-
hind the noilrils ; the legs and feet are brown ; the
hen is of a green colour all over.

TheNEGRAL, or Angola LINNET is near five
Inches in length, and its fhape, adion and note agree
v.dth our Linnets. The bill is of a dirty flelh-colour,
and has a border of black feathers quite round its bafe,
which reaches to the eyes on the fides, and a little way
down the throat. Above and below the eyes next the
black feathers there are white fpots. The head, neck,
back, and leffer covert feathers of the wings are of a
brownifh aih, with dufky coloured fpots. The quills
of the wings, and firft row of coverts above them, are
of a dark brown, with narrow yellow edges ; the tail is
alfo of a dark colour, and the feathers tipped with light
grey or white ; the breail, belly, and thighs are of a
dull orange, which grow gradually darker tOvvards the
hinder-part. Th@ rump, and covert feathers of the tail
are of a bright yellow, and the legs and feet are of a
flelh-colour.

The BENQUELINHA is another Angola Linnet,
and is m.uch efteemed for its fmging. It is in Ihape
and colour much like that above, only the fides of the
head are of a light clay colour, and there is a dark line
runs from the bill through the eyes. The top of the
head, the neck below the head, the back, wings, and
tail are of a redder brown than that above, and all the
under fide of a lighter brown, fpotted with a darker.
The rump and coverts of the tail are of a fine yellow j
the quills, the firft and fecond rows of the coverts of
the wings, and the tail feathers are all tipped with
white.

The Blue-Bellied FINCH of Angola, is four
inches and a half in length, and has a bill Ih aped like
that of a Goldfinch, which is of a dirty flelh-colour ; the
top of the head, upper fide of the neck, and the back
and wings are all of an afli-coloured brown, a little
inclining to purple ; the fides of the head, quite round
the eyes, the throat, breaft, belly, rump, tail, and
covert feathers above and below, are all of a fine light
blue or Iky-colour 5 the legs, feet, and claws are

brown.

O F B I R D S. 2S1

brown. It is called bv the Portuguefe AZULIN-
HA.

The Purple FINCH of Catejhy has a white belly,
but the reft of the body is of a deep violet colour, with
a brown tail an inch from the end ; the wings are of
a deeper colour than the body, and the feet are
grey.

The Bahama FINCH of Cfi/^/)-, has a black head,
breaft, and back, with a white ftreak above and below
each eye, befides a yellow fpot u ider the bill ; the
breaft, and the belly are orange, and the upper part of
the neck and rump of a dark red. The wings and
tail are brown, mixed with white, and the feet are of a
lead colour.

The BUNTING is greater than a common Lark,
but not much different in colour, and it weighs about
an ounce and a half. It is in length, from the tip
of the bill to the end of the claws feven inches and a
half, and its breadth, when the wings are extended,
is eleven inches and a half. The bill is large, and
thick, having a hard knob on the upper chap, and the
fides of the lower are higher than ufual, rifing into a
fort of an angle. It is fomething more of a brick colour
than a I.ark, and its chin, breaft, and belly are of a yel-
lowifti white. There are oblong black fpots on the
throat, and the tail is above three inches long, and of
a duflcy red colour. It is fuppofed that it breaks or
bruifes wheat and otlier corn v/ith the knob, but this
perhaps is only imaginary. The legs and claws are of
a dufky colour, and the back claw is crooked and pret-
ty large, like that of a Lark.

The YELLOW-HAMMER is about the fize of a
Chaffinch, or fomewhat bigger, and it v/eighs about ten
drams. It is fix inches and a half in length, from
the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, and has a hard
knob on the infide of the upper chap, as fome fay
to break or bruife the corn whereon it feeds. The
fides of the nether chap are turned inwards, and a
little bent together, like that of the Bunting. The
head is yellowiih, fhaded v/ith green, and fpeckled
with a few brown fpots ; the eyes are of a hazel co-
lour, and the breaft is yellow, mixed v^ ith a reddifh

tindure

282. THE NATURAL HISTORY
tiiK^ure ; the fides of the body underneath the wings
are pretty much of the fame colour, and the throat
and lower part of the belly are yellow ; but fome of
the covert featliers on the neck and fhoulders are
black, with edges of a greeniih red. The quill fea-
thers of the wings have a brown or dufky colour
thereon. Some of the edges are green, and others of a
dirty v/hite. The tail is about three inches long, and
a little forked at the end ; but the edges of forne of the
feathers are green, and fome near the tips are marked
with white fpots ; the feet are of a light brown, and
the claws black. It builds its neft upon the ground,
on the fides of banks or hedges, and is a very common
bird in moil parts of England, In the winter time they
fly in flocks, with Chaifinches, and feed in farmers
yards.

The young are fit to take about the middle of May
when they are ten or twelve days old ; they mufl be
fed with flelh, minced very fine, and prepared as for
other fmail birds ; or the Wood-Lfark's meat may be
given them ; they will alfo eat worms, cut into fmall
bits, v/hich kind of food agrees very well with them.

The REED SPARROW is of the fize of a Chaf-
finch, and has a knob like the former. It weighs about
fix drams ; the length, from the tip of the bill to the
end of the tail is fix inches and a half, and its breadth
ten inches ; it has a fnort black bill, the edges of
v/hich are turned a little inv/ards ; infomuch that the
tongue lies buried in a fmall hollow like a funnel ; the
the head is black, and the neck is furrounded by a
white ring, which points upwards towards the corners
of the mouth ; the covert feathers of the wings and
back are of a reddilh black, or rather a mixture of
both thefe colours ; for the middle parts of the fea-
thers are black, and the outermoll red. The quill-
feathers of the wings are of a dufky colour, with red
edges and tips ; thofe on the ridges of the wings are
bluiih, and the breaft and middle of the belly are of a
dufky white, and there are dark fpots on the breaft ;
the tail is upwards of two inches long, and the mid-
dleniofl feathers are not quite fo long as the refl : Some
pArt of ihcfe feathers are of a dufky colour, and others

black.

O F B I R D S. 283

black. Seme are edged with red, others with white,
and Tome few are fpotted. The legs and feet are of a
blackifh flelh-colour, and the claws are black. The
hen is of a more dufky colour than the cock, and it
feeds upon com and other feeds.

It frequents the reeds by the river fides, where they
breed in nefts, hanging between the reeds ; it is a
chearful merry bird, and fmgs finely, though it is
not ufually kept in cages ; the eggs are like thofe of
the Hedge Sparrow

The REED SPARROW of Kleifj is a fort of a
Thru/h that delights in marfny grounds, and will iing
very finely. It is commonly feen in the Iflands of the
river ViJJuIa, near Dantzick. It makes its neft on
molTy hillocks, near marfhy places ; and v/hile the fe-
male fits on the eggs the male perches on biifhes or
reeds that are near the neft, and never leaves fingrng
from morning till night. The belly is of a dirty white,
with afh-coloured fpots in the fhape of fcales, and the
upper part of the body, as well as the fides are brown ;
the bill is black, and like that of other kinds of Thrufii-
cs J it is a little above an inch long, and above half
an inch from the noftrils to the end of the upper man-
dible ; it 13 a little crooked. From the tip of the bill
to the end of the tail is feven inches and a quarter \ and
the breadth, when the wings are extended, is ten inches
and a quarter ; the length of the tail from the rump,
is three inches, and the infide of the bill feems gild-
ed 'y but the eyes are of the colour of a hazel nut, and
the feet are bluifh, and covered with fcales. Klein
thinks this bird has not been defcribed before by any
author. It is placed here on account of the name.

The CIRL of Aldro^andus is by the Italians called
ZIVOLO, from the word Z/, Zz, v.'hich it frequent-
ly repeats. It is of the fize of a Sparrow, and has a
thick bill, with a knob on the upper chap like the
form.er; the breail and belly are yellowifh, fprinkled
with brown fpots, and the vvhole upper part is of a
brownifh brick colour. The cock is more yellow than
the hen on the head and about the neck. It fits moft-
ly on the ground, and feeds upon feeds.

The

2S4 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The FOOLISH GIRL of Aldro<vandus, is of the
fame fize as the former, and much of the fame fhape;
the upper part of the head, and the whole back are of
the colour of rufty iron, fprinkled with large black
fpots; the lower part of the body is alfoofthe colour
of rufty iron, and the prime feathers of the wings and
tail are blackiih, with edges of the colour of rufty iron.
On the wings there are a few black fpots.

The ORTOI-AN, called by the Venetians TORDI-
NO, is of the fize of a Yellow-Hammer, and ver)' much
lik e it. Its length, from the tip of the bill to the end
of the tail is feven inches, and its breadth, when the
wings are extended, is ten inches and a half; but the
knob on the upper chap, is much lefs than in the
Yellow-Hammer. The bill is fhort, and reddifti in
the cock, and the throat and breaft is of an afti-colour :
the lower parts of the body, as far as the tail are red-
difti, and the rump is of a deep red. The cocks are
red on the breaft, and have a yellow fpot under the
bill; the head is of an afli-coloured green, and the
middle part of the covert feathers of the back are black,
but the outermoft red, or of a greenifti afti-colour. It
differs from a Reed Sparrow in not haunting reedy
places, in being of a more red colour, and in having
no ring abouts its neck ; befides, there is a yellow fpot
under the throat, which the Reed-Sparrow wants. It
is to be met with in Italu and fome parts of France^
and lives upon millet. The flefti is exceeding fat, and
very delicate, for which reafon thefe birds bear a great
price here in England,

Aldro'vandui takes notice of fix bh'ds of this kind,
of which one has the extremities of the prime feathers
of the wings v/hite ; another entirely white ; a third
which is a-kin to an Ortolan, has a yellowifli afti-co-
lourcd head, and the neck is alfo of an afti-colour,
fpotted with black ; but the belly, legs and feet are of
a faftron colour.

The ORTOLAN with a Green Neck, has a red bill
and afli-coloured legs, but the other parts are black :
Another fpecies is of a pale colour all over the body,
except the breaft, and the extremities of the wings,
which are white. The fixth fort is a-kin to the White-
Throat. The

2<f

I O F B I R D S. 2S5

The Summer RED-BIRD has a pretty thick and
ftrong bill, of a yellow colour, but longer than in thof«
birds that crack feeds ; the feathers of the whole bird
are of a beautiful red or fcarlet colour, except the tips
of the greater quills of the wings, which are of a dufky
red. The covert feathers on the infide of the wings are
of a bright red ; and the infide of the quills, as well as
under-fide of the tail are of a reddifh afli-colour. The
legs and feet are of the ufual make, and of a dufky
brownifli colour.

The Little BONANA BIRD is about five inches
in length, and the tail is an inch and a half. The bill is
only one third of an inch long ; but is thick and round-
iih ; the head, in proportion to the body, is large,
and its breadth, when the wings are extended, is nine
inches ; the feet are black, and armed with fharp,
black nails ; the feathers on the back, as far as the tail
are downy, and of a deep blue colour, but the breaft
is of a light blue ; the points of the feathers on the belly
ai-e yellow, and the wings and tail are of a dark blue,
with a greeniih call:. It frequents Bonana trees, from
whence it has its name

The BLACK SPARROW is five inches long, and
eight broad, with a ihort, thick, black, fharp bill,
and the holes of the noftrils are round. The tail is two
inches long, and the plumage in general confills of
blackifh blue feathers, only there are a few fpots above
the eyes, as well as under the chin, and tail of an
orange colour. The feet are long and black, and the
claws ftiort and fharp.

The SAVANNA BIRD is four inches long, and
feven broad, and has a fhort, thick, fharp bill. The
top of the head, and the upper part of the neck and
back are of a dark brown, mixed with whitifh and
ruddy coloured feathers. The lower part of the neck
and breaft are of alightilh brown, tending to the colour
of oker: The belly is white, and the feet are alfo
whitifh ; but the points of the wings are yellow. It
does not perch upon trees, but fits on the ground like
A Lark.

The

286 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The Small Black nnd Orange-Coloured BIRD,
is four inches long, and fix broad, and has a bill a
quarter of an inch long, broad at the bafe. The tail
is an inch and a half in length, and the head and neck
are black, as well as the back, only there is a fmall
tindure of orange. The wings and tail are brown,
with flripes of an orange colour; the breaft and covert
featiiers of the wings are alfo orange ; but the breall
is white and the feet black, and it lives upon ants.

The Bird variegated with Ash-colour, Yellow,
and Brown, is eight inches long, and tv/elve broad.
The bill is fhort, thick, and one third of an inch long,
and the upper part is of a bluifli brown, but the lower
is of a lighter colour. The head is covered with a
hoary colour, and the back is of a ycllowifh brown.
The wings and tail are of a dark brown, ftrcaked with
white lines. The chin is hoary, and the breaft and
belly yellow; but it is white under the tail, and the
feet are bluiih. Thefe five lall birds are natives of
Jamaica.

The Lesser BONANA BIRD is eight inches in
length, from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail,
and its bill is pretty thick towards the head, bending
a little downwards, and is iharp at the point, being
of a dufky or blackiili colour, except at the bafe of the
lower chap, where it is of a flefh-colour. The bill is
furrounded with black feathers, which are very narrow
on the head, but reach to the eyes ou the fides of
the head, and defcend an inch deep on the throat ;
the head, and part of the neck are of a greenifh yel-
low, or olive-colour, and the v/hole body, both above
and beneath, as well as the thighs, and the upper and
under coverts of the tail arc of a fine bright yellow ; the
lefler coverts of the wings, both within and without, are
alfo yellow ; but the row of co\'ert feathers immedi-
ately above the wings are mofl of them white on their
outer webs, forming a white fpace in the middle of the
wings ; the quills are black, except tliree or four of
thofe next the back, which have their outward webs
edged with black. There is a little mixture of black
among the lefler ccverts of the wing near the bend, and
the infide of the quills are of a dark afn-colour, only

the

O F B I R D S. 287

tlie edges of the webs near the roots are lighter. The
tail has twelve black feathers of an equal length, the
middle feathers being longeft ; they ftiorten gradually
to the outer feathers on each fide, and the legs, feet,
and claws are all black.

This bird is a native of Jamaica, and was brought
from thence by Dr. Bro^vn. Thefe birds have hanging-
nefts, which they build Vvith the inward hair of a *ibrt
of niofs or herb called old man's beard, which they care»
fully weave amongft one another, from the utmoU: ex-
tremities of twigs of high trees, in the ihape of a fack ;
in thefe they lay their eggs to avoid the fnakes, mon--
keys, and the like. The neft that was brought from
Jamaica, fays Mr. Edvuards, at firft fight feemed to be
made of horfe-hair.

The Yellow and Black PIE of Sir Har^s Bloatie^
differs from this bird in being a little bigger, in hav-
ing the head wholly black, the bill longer in propor-
tion, and a black bar acrofs the upper part of the back.

CHAP. XX5CI.

Of Birds that frequent /^^ Water, and do not f^im
tL^rein,

THE C B. A N E is a large fowl, weighing
about ten pounds ; and its length, from the
tip of the bill to the end of the tail is near five feet :
it has alfo vcr)' long legs and neck, the latter being
eighteen inches long. The bill is flrait, fharp-pointed,
flat on the fides, of a darkifh green colour, and four
inches long ; the tongue is broad, and horny at the
tip, and the top of the head is rather covered wsth hair
than feathers. On the back-part of the head there is a
naked reddifn fpace, in the fhape of a half-moon, on
which are a few hairs ; and there are two broad white
ftripes, which run from each eye backwards, which
uniting form a triangular afhcoloured fpace on the top

of

x88 THE NATURAL HISTORY

of tAe head, and are continued down to the breaft :
The throat, and fides of the neck are black. The
back, fhoulders, breaft, belly, the thighs, and the
covert feathers of the wings, except thofe on the laft
joint, are entirely of an afn-colour ; the wings are
very larg", and are each compofed of twenty-four
large bl? k feathers, though the lefTer are of a reddifh
black, as »vell as the principal of the fecond row, placed
at the lail: articulation ; the tail is fmall, and Ihort in
proportion to the fize of the bird, and confifts of twelve
afh-coloured feathers, that are black at the end, and
roundilh when they are expanded ; the legs are black,
and clouded for about the fpace of a palm above the
joints ; the toes are black, very long, and the outer
toe is tied by a thick membrane to the lall joint of that
of the middle.

The wind-pipe is of an uncommon conformation,
for it enters very far into the fternum, through a hole
made for that purpofe, where there is a great cavity to
receive it, and being thrice reflefted, goes out agam at
the fame hole, and fo turns down to the lungs. It
frequents the marfny parts of Lincoln and Cambridg/hire,
where there are great flocks of them in the winter fea-
fon. The flefli is well tafted and wholefome, for it
does not feed upon Fifti, but grain and feeds It is
not certain whether this bird breeds in England or
not.

They are generally taken to be birds of paflage,
and they are faid to leave us in September ; this appears
to be very certain, becaufe they were feen to pafs by
Orleans in France, in the middle of the day, in the be-
ginning of O^o^fr, 1753. They flew in flocks, from
fifty to an hundred, and there were feveral thou-
fands of them feen pafling from the North to the South.
There is a plain diftinftion between the male and fe-
male, for the head of the male is reddifh, which the
female is not.

It is very curious to obferve the regularity of the
arrival of thefe birds of pafTage ; for Jedi informs ys,
that in the fields near Pffa in Jtalyy they appeared on
the twentieth oi February ia 1667, on the 24th in

1668,

Ih^e 28 <9

6^^at^^^A.Bu^l

28y

I'nfu^Jc^.

O F B I R D S. 289 .

1668, the feventeenth in 1669, and tlie fifteenth in
1670.

The Indian CRANE is lefs than the former, but
has a longer bill, and is of an alh-coloiir ; the princi-
pal difference is that the top of the head is coxered
with a red rough Ikin, on which there are a few
hairs.

The Brown and Ash-coloured CRANE oi Ame-
rica has a bill four inches long, and the wings, \^ hen
clofed, aie eighteen inches. The bone of the leg, from
the knee to the foot, is feven inches, and the middle
toe above three inches long The bill is made like
that of the Hooping -Crane, and is of a dufky colour,
except the point of the lower chap, which is of a light
flefh-colour. The top of the head, from the bill to
the ear-holes, is covered with a reddifh Ikin, thinly ,
befet with black hairs ; but the fides of the 'head be-
neath the eyes, and the under fide of the throat, arc
white. The hinder-part of the head, and the neck all
round are afh-coloured, v-hich gradually becomes
brown at the beginning of the breaft. The beginning
of the back, and covert feathers of the wing?, are of a
light reddifh brown, with daiker tips. The greater
quills are of a blackilli brcwn, with white fhsftLS and
thcfe that fall next the back are brown, whole points
extend beyond the frime quills, when the wings are
clofed. The tail is of a browniih alh-colour, and the
brcafl changes from brown to an afli-colour, which
reaches to the covert feathers of the tail, where they
are whiciih. The lower part of the back, the rump,
and upper coverts of the tail are of a light alh, and the
legs are bare of feathers above the knees. The legs,
feet, and claws are all black. This bird was brought
from Hudjon's Bay, which it frequents in the fummer
feafon.

The Balearic CRANE belongs to the Peacock
kind, for it has the cry of that bird, and the gcftures are
alike. The fhape of the body is like a Stork, only the
bill is fhorter, not only than that of a Stork, but of
the common Crane. It has a crell on the top of the
head, confifiing of briUles, not unlike thofe of a hog.
Vol. II. O which

290 THE NATURAL HISTORY
which turn ever)' way, and are of the colour of a hedge-
hog ; they are in form of the globe, andfeem bigger
than the head itfelf : On each chap there is a white
line, terminating in one that is red on the upper part.
The leffer quill feathers of the wings are white, but
all the other parts are black. Under the throat there
is a wattle, and the legs are very long. It breeds in
Africa, particularly near the coafl of Cape de Verd, and
feeds upon grafs and feeds.

The JABfRU of Brafd, called NEGRO by the
Dutch J is a fort of a Crane, and is bigger than a Swan ;
the neck is fourteen inches in length, and the bill is
thick, black, and llrait, being a little crooked towards .
the extremity. It is eleven inches long, and two inches
and a half broad, but it has no tongue. In general
the fhape is like that of a Swan, and the neck is almofl;
naked, half of it, as well as the head, being covered
with a black ikin ; but the remaining part is white.

The JAEJRU GUACA of Souil Amuica, has a
large bill, feven inches and a half long ; but it wants a
a tongue, and is a little crooked, turning upwards :
On the top of the head there is a bony crown, whofe
colour is a mixture of white and aih. The head, and
half the neck, v,'hich is ten inches long, is naked,
and covered with a fcaly Ikin. It is of the fize of a
Stork, and has a fhort black tail, and tlie prime fea-
thers of the wings are alfo black, but the other parts
are whiLe. There are long feathers hang down from
the neck, and the legs are very long. Nienhoff' fays
the crown confifts of white and green feathers, that the
-eyes ai-e blrck, and that behind each there are two
great cavities, inftead of ears.

The CARlAl^.IA of Marcgrave is a "Eraftl'mn bird,
of the lize of a Heron, and on the head, near the root
of the bill, there is a crefl of feathers, which are partly
afn-coloured and partly black; the bill is fhort, and of a
daiidHi yellov/ or tawney, and the irides of the eyes are
of a gold colour ; the legs are long, and the v/hole bo-
dy is covered with grey or afh-coloured feathers, waved
in the f;mie manner as in other falcons ; the extremities
of tlie v/ing and tail are waved with brown; dulky,

yellow,

O F B I R D S. 291

ye!low> and grey, and the tail hangs down. The ciy
is like that of aFeacock.

The ANHIMx\ of Marcgran;e is another BraftUaK
bird, of the rapacious kind, and larger than a Swan.
It has a black bill, a little crooked, and the iris of
the eyes is of a gold colour. On the head near the--
bill there is a horn, which it carries erefl, and is two
inches in length, being round and v/hitilh, and bend-
ing a little forwards. The wings are extremely large,
and on the fore part there are two ftrait triangular
horns, which grow from the bones ; the top of ther
head is covered with white and black feathers, and the
throat and upper part of the neck are blackilh ; but the
lower half and the breaft are variegated with white,
black, and afn-coloured feathers. The lower part of
the belly is white, and the back and fides, as well as
tiie tail and wings, are black, except on the edges.

The NuMiaiAN CRANE is called by the French
a Demoiselle, or Lady, becaufe it is fuppofed tor
imitate the gefiures and dances of the Bohemian La-
dies. It does not follow people for the fake of fomc-
what to eat, as other animals do, but to be taken no-
tice of; for when they perceive they are looked up-
on, they never fail to fall a dancing and fmging; in-
fomuch that fome have given it the name of the Buf-
foon Bird. It has appendages at the head three inches
and a half in length, conipoled of white feathers, con-
fifling of fine long fibres, like thofe on the backs of
Herons, near the wings. AH the reft of the plumage
is of a leaden grey colour, except fome large feathers
on the v/ings, which are of a darker grey, and a few-
feathers about the head and neck. Some have plumes
of feathers on the top of the head, erefted like acreft,
and an, inch and a half long. The fides and hinder
part of the head are furniflied with Ihorter feathers than
the reft. From the corner of each eye there is a ftreak
of white feathers that paffes under the appendages,
wliich form the great feathered ears. The fore-part of the
neck is adorned with black feathers, compofed of very
fine, loft, and long fibres ; and they hang down upon
the ftomach, being aboiit nine inches long, and having
a very graceful appearance.

O z This

zgz THE NATURAL HISTORY

This bird is in length, from the tip of the bill to the
end of the claws, three feet and a half; and the bill
itfelf is two inches, being ftrait and pointed. The
neck is fourteen inches, and from the thigh bone to
the extremity of the great toe ten inches ; the eyes are
large, having black eye-lids ; but the internal eye-lid
is white, interfperfed with a great many blood- veflels.
The legs are covered on the fore-fide with large fcales,
near half an inch in length, and one third of an inch
in breadth. The fole of the foot has the appearance of
Ihagreen leather, and the claws are black, but not very
crooked .

The HOOPING-CRANE is in length, from the
tip oif the bill to the end of the claws, five feet {^ven
inches, and the wing, when clofed, is twenty-five
inches long ; the lower bone of the kg, from the knee
to the foot, is eleven inches, and it is bare above the
knees about five inches. The middle toe without the
claw is five inches long, and the bill is fix inches, and
toothed at the point. The noftrils are placed in the
channels in each fide, at about one third part of the
length from the head. Both the chaps are of a yel-
lowifti brown at the ends, and a little dufky in the
middle. The top of the head, and a line from the cor-
ners of the mouth running on each fide under the eyes
are covered with a reddiih Ikin, thinly befet with black
hairs on the hinder part ; but next the bill they are
thicker. Immediately behind the red bald fkin on the
crown there is a triangular black fpot, with one of the
points backwards ; the fides of the head, throat, neck,
whole body and tail are white ; but nine outermofi:
quills of the wings are black, and the tenth white and
black ; and the reft are entirely white. The firft rov^
of covert feathers, as far as they cover the black quills,
are black, and all the remaining covert feathers are
white. The fmall feathers on the membrane that con-
neds the joints of the wings, have a faint tincture of
red ; the outer and middle toes are united by a web
as far as the firft joint ; the legs and feet are covered
with black fcales. This bird was brought from Hu^-
fan'i Bay; but in the Spring they arc feen about the

mouths

O F B I R D S. 293

mouths of rivers in Florida. It feems to be a bird of
paflage.

The Cranes at the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, are
much of the fame fhape, fize, and colour as the Eu-
rrpean, and are to be met with in vaft numbers. They
feed upon grafs, herbs, worms, ferpents, and frogs ;
nnd when they light upon the ground, always fome of
them Hand as fentinels, looking round to fee what
paffes, and give notice to the rell when there is
any danger, which immediately get upon the wing,
and fly away. They alfo keep guard in the night-
time, and then they always Hand upon one leg,
holding a Hone in their right foot, that if they
fliould chance to fall afleep, the falling of the Itone
may wake them. The flefh is black, tough, and not fit
to eat, which makes it plain that they differ greatly
from the European*

CHAP. XXXII.

Of the Cloven footed Fowls, that feed upon Fij'ki
FrogSf and Serpents.

TH E WHITE STORK is fometimes feen on the
fca-fhore in/Englandy but it does not build its
neft in this Ifland. Dr. Rohinfon affirms he has often
feen them fitting on cathedml churches. Jt is larger
than the Common Heron, "but the neck is more fliort
and thick ; the head, neck, and fore-part of the
body and belly are white ; but the rump, and the lov>'er
parts of the wing-feathers are black ; and when the
wings are contrafted, which then hide their very fliort
tailjthey andthe lower pa; » ;f the back appear to be black.
The bill and feet are red, with broad nails like thofe
of a man. It frequently makes a noife with the fnap-
ping of the chaps of its bill, and it feeds upon frogs
and fnails, and is faid to devour ferpents. They are
O- 3 frequently

294 THE NATURAL HISTORY

frequently feen in GenrMny, but before the winter (tii
in, they fly into warmer climates.

According to the Memoirs of the Royal Academy
of Sciences, a Stork is bigger than an Ibis ; but the
Jbis has a longer neck, and legs in proportion to the
body. It is four feet in length, from the tip of the
bill to the end of the feet, and the neck is very thick :
At the lower part the wings are two feet and a half
long, meafuring them from tlie middle of the back to
the extremity ; a third part of the neck is adorned with
feathers fix inches long, near an inch broad, and ter-
minating in points : About the roots there is a thick,
ihining down, and the fmall feathers of which it con-
fifts have a ihaft of the thicknefs of a fmall pin, that
is divided into iifty or fixty others, which are finer than
hairs ; and thefe iinall fhafts are furnilhed on each fide
vvdth fmall fibres, that can fcarcely be feen. The part
round the eye is without feathers, and the Ikin is very
black in this place. The bill is of a pale red, inclining
to flelh-colour, and entirely lirait ; it is pointed at the
end, and not blunt, as in the Jbis; the legs and feet
are red, and the three fore-toes are joined together by
thick ihort Ikins, but only at the beginning. The
fourth toe, which is the hindmoU, is thick and fhort;
and the nails or claws are white, broad, and fhort, not
unlike thofe ''of a man. The gizzard is like thoft
cf other birds that live upon grafs and feeds; and
the glands of the inner coat of the gullet are very thick
and numerous. The gizzard is covered with a great
deal of fat, and is four times more fleHiy than that of
the Ibis, the mufcles being above an inch thick ; the
callous coat on the infide is very hard, of a green
colour, and the guts are about five feet long ; the blind
guts are half an inch long, and a fixth part of an inch
broad. The liver is divided into two lobes, of which
the right is three inches long, and the left only two.
The gall bladder is near an inch long, and a quar-
ter of an inch broad in the middle : It is hanging,
and feparate from the liver, to which it is connected
by a ligament, and two fmall dufts, like roots. The^
pancrea^ is lealed in the firft fold of the d\xi\, is three
inches long, and a third of an iiKh broad, and the

pancreatic

O F B I R D S. 295

pancreatic dudt joins with the hepatic. The fpleen
is very fmall, and the kidneys and ureters are like
thofe of other birds. The tefticles are of the fize oi a
Pigeon's egg, and are placed at the upper part of the
kidneys, on the fide of the great artery. The heart
is about an inch and a half long, near half an inch broad,
and almoil round. The tongue confifts of a carti-
lage, covered with a flelhy, fibrous membrane, and
is ten inches long, and eight broad near the bafe ;
but it is narrow at the end. The globe of the eye is
very large, it being two inches in diameter, and the
cornea is very thick. The cryftalline humour is above
a third of an inch in diameter.

The bones of a Stork confiil of very thin plates, and
are entirely hollow within ; but they are all fo extream-
ly light, that we cannot fufficiently admire how pro-
perly nature has formed them for flight : However they
are complete and llrong, for they are harder than thofe
of quadrupedes, and yet they areastranfparent asglafs.
Storks arc birds of pafTage, but it is hard to fay from
whence they come, or whither they go. When they
withdraw from Europe they all affemble upon a particu-
lar day, and never leave one of their company behinid.
They take their flight in the night, which is the rea-
fon the way they go has been never obferved. How-
ever Be/on aflures us, that they are feen in the winter-
time, in Egypt 1 and other parts of Africa, They ge-
nerally return into Europe in the middle of Marchy and
make their nefts in the tops of houfes and chimnies,
as well as in high trees. The females lay from two
to four eggs, of the fize and colour of thofe of geefe,
and the male and female fit upon them by turns. They
are a month in hatching their young, of which they are
very careful, and will not forfake them upon any ac*.
count. Whenever there is a ftorm, they cover them
carefully with their wings as long as it lafts. Stork^
will walk very boldly in Holland, and the Low Coun-
tries, in the middle of the ftreets, as if they knew none
would hurt them. They are looked upon as fortunate
birds, and if a ftranger fliould chance to kill one he
would be in danger of his life. They are not made
O 4 for

2r,b THE NATURAL HISTORY

tor fwamriing, and yet they frequent valleys, mdtft
meadows, inarihcs, lakes, and ponds ; befidcs ferpents
they feed upon fiili, partxularly eel^ and fmall birds.
They always ftand upon one foot, v/hether fleeping or
waking, and keep their head between their fhoulders :
They generally difapp^ar about the middle of Auguji.

The fielh of this bird was formerly ufed as ali-
ment, and was thought proper to purify the blood,,
and to refiil poifon ; but fmce better remedies
have been difcovered, it has been negleded. It is
hard, tough, difiicult of digelHon, and has a difagree-
able tafte. AH the virtues that have been attributed
to thefe birds are certainly inferior to thofe of hartihorn,
and therefore it is no wonder that no parts of them
are now prefcribed.

The BLACK STORK is of the fame fize as the
former, and has a black neck, back, and wings, with
a greenilh glofs, not unlike the colour of a Cormorant.
Tiie belly, breaft and fides are white, and the bill
green, as well as the legs, which are naked as far as
t f '? knees. It fnaps with its bill like the former, and
i" n 1-ngth, from the tip of the. bill to the end of the
tJ'i, Cix ipans and a half, or as fome fay fix feet and a
haif, and of the fame breadth. It's bill is of the length
of a Roman foot, and its neck a fpan and a half. It is
a very beautiful bird to behold, and frequents fens,
lakes, and the fea fhore, running into the water in
fearch of its prey, and fometimes dives under it.

The American STORK, called by MarcgraiT
MAGUARI, is of the Ihape and fize of the common
Stork, and partly of the fame colour. The feet are
alfo red, like thole of our Stork, and the tail is ihort and
white. The head, neck, and the v/hole body is co-
vered with extremely white feathers, as alfo the wings
at the beginning, but near the back they are black,
uith a fhining greenifh glofs. Tlic bill, from its root
to the middle part, is of a greenifh yellow, but the re-
mainder is of a blueifh alh. It fnaps with its bill, like
the common Stork.

I'he Ef;YpTiAN STORK, generally known by the
name of IBIS, is of th? fize of a Curlew, or little lefs.

O F B I R D S. 297

It is. all over black, and has a head like a Cormorant,
with a bill, where it joins to the head, thicker than a
man's thumb, but it terminates in a (harp point, a lit-
tle crooked, and red in every part. It has a long
neck, and the legs are alio long, like thofe of a He-
ron.

We meet with no accounts of its ever having been
feen out of E^ypt, and there it is faid to be a very ufe-
ful bird, for it deftroys caterpillars, locufts, and fer-
pents ; infomuch that formerly they paid it divine ho-
nours : However, it is not certain whether this is the
fame bird or not that formerly went by that name ;
for Mailht^ Conful of France at Cairo^ fays it is very
hard to determine what the ancient Ibis certainly v\ as ;
becaufe there are Cranes, Storks, Hawks, Kites, and
Falcons that are all equally enemies to ferpents, and de-
vour a vaft number. He farther adds, that in the
month of May, when the winds begin to blow, there
are feveral forts of birds that come down from Upper
Egypt t from when:e they are driven by the rains, in
fearch of a better habitation, and that it is then that
they do the country this great fer\dce. Nor does the
figure of this bird, reprefented on the hieroglyphick
pillars, help us out in this matter : Beiides, Storks and
Cranes are not particular to E^ypt ; nor are they to be
feen there but at certain feaions of the year ; and
though hawks, kites, and falcons keep conftantly in
this country, they cannot be faid to be peculiar to
it, becaufe they are frequently feen elfewhere :
Whereas we are informed by Pliny, that this bird is
particular to E^ypt ; and Dapper affirms it is to be
met with between Rofetta and Alexandria : For thcie
reafons fome are inclined to think that it is the Capon
of Phara(.h fo called, which is a devourerof Serpents.

Thefe birds are of feveral colours, namely, white,
black and white, and black, which laft is of tlie co-
lour Pliny affirms it is to be cf. It is of the Ihr.pe of a
Capon, but larger, and will follow the caravans that
goto Mecca, to feed upon the offial of the animals that
they kill in their journey; but whether this is the true
Ibis or not, we ihall not pretend to determine,

O5 CHAP.

298 THE NATURAL HISTORY

C H A P. XXXIII.

Of Birds of the Heron kind.

HERONS are birds that live upon fifh ; for which
re. fon they have lonf^, iharp, ilrong bills, with
which they iliike thcfe animals. The legs are very
long, that they may uade pretty far into the v/ater,
and the toes are alfo long, particularly the hindmoft,
that they may ftand fteadily in it. The claws are
ftrong, and crooked, and the middle one, from the
innermoft, is notched like a faw, that they may be
enabled to hold fall teh and other flippery fifh. The
certain charafteri/lic of the Heron kind, by which they
may readily be diHinguifhed from all other birds, is
their having a fmgle blind gut, as in Quadrupedes,
whereas moH other birds have it double.

The Common HERON is white at the top of the
head, and has a creft of black feathers, four inches
and a half long, hanging behind it. It weighs about
four pounds, and is four feet in length, from the tip of
the bill to the end of the claws, but from thence to
the end of the tail it is only three feet two inches. The
throat is v/hite, beautifully painted with black fpots,
and the colour of the whole body is a(h, white, black,
and yellow, but the afh is moil prevalent. The fea-
thers on the fhoulders have generally white tips, with
a fort of a black flreak on each fide of the wing. The
quill-feathers are of a dark colour, inclining to black;
bat they are v/hite at the extremities. The lower part
of the belly and thighs have a yellowiih call, and are
v/ithcut any black fpots. The tail is of an afli-colour,
and about fix or feven inches long, and the legs are
greenifh; and bare of feathers above the knees. The
bill is of a greenifli yellow, and it fits v/ith its head in-
clining to one of the fhoulders, living upon filh, and
more "particularly frogs. It alfo feeds upon weeds

that

O F B I R D S. 299

(hat grow in the water, for in opening one of their
ftomachs there was the herb called duck's-meat found
in it.

Thefe birds build their neih in the highell trees,
and there are often feveral at fma'l dillances from each
other ; the eggs are of a palilh green, inclining to blue.
Jt is commonly faid that the fleili of a Heron is a difli
for a King, but for what reafon it is hard to fay ;
though beyond all doubt it is better than that of
a Crane. It is a folitary bird, for they are generally
fingle, as well in the night as in the day, in which
laft time they are commonly in the water. The fat i»
only ufed in medicine, and is faid to be emollient and
refolvent; and fome pretend it gives eafe in pains of the
gout. Some affirm it is good to llrengthen the fi^ht;
and others, that it will cure deafnefs, by introducing
it into the ears.

There is gjiother Ash-coloured HERON of
Aldro'vandiiSy which differs in little or nothing from
the former.

The Lesser. AsK-coLouRED HERON, called by
fome the NIGHT RAVEN, is much lefs than the
former, and has a fhorter neck. The back and the
top of the head are black, the neck of an aih-colour,
and the throat and belly yellowilh. The bill is black,
and there is a white line runs from the eye?-. From the
back part of the head there are three feathers, which
bang backward, and are about fivx inches in length.
The wings and tail are of an afh-colour, and the feet
of a greenifh yellow. It is called the Night-Raven,
becaufe it makes an uncouth noife in the night-time,
like one lirainin^ to vomit.

The Great WHITE HERON weighs about two
pounds and a half, and is La length, from the tip of
the bill to the end of the claws, fojr feet and a half,
but to the end of the tail three feet and a quarter.
J ls breadth, when the wings are extended, is five feet
and a half; and its colour all over is as white as fnov/.
The claw of its rr.iddle toe is notched like a Qxw. Itmay be
diflinguiihed from the Common Heion by its colour; by
iti fize, v/hich is lefs ; by tlie length of itc tail; and by

300 THE NATURAL HISTORY

and by its having no creft. This is fometimes feen in
England.

ihc Lesser White HERON weighs about a
pound ; and is in length from the tip of the bill to
the end of the tail twenty-four inches and a half; but
to the end of the claws, twenty- tv,o inches and a half.
It is entirely white all over, like the former, and it
differs from it in being lefs, and in having a crell.
The bill is black, four inches and a half long, and
fharp at the point. There is another WHITE HE-
RON, ftill fmaller, but more flefhy ; and -the top of
the head and neck are of a faftron colour, as is alfo
the breaft, but more faint. The neck is iikewife Ihorter
in proportion, than in other Herons

The Little White HERON of C^/^/_yhas a red
bill, a little crooked, with a yellow iris of the eyes,
and the feet are green, but the reft of the body is
is white.

^ TheRED-LEGGED HERON, or CIRRIS oiVirgil,
is the Icaft of this kind, and has a fhort neck ; and it
is all over of a faffron colour, inclining to chefnut,
which is deeper underneath, and fainter above. The
tail is fo fmall that it feems to be without one, and the
bill near the head is of a blueilh green colour, but black
towards the point. The legs and feet are of a deep
led.

The HERON, called SGUACCO, has a tuft of
feathers on its head, with a fhort but very flrong bill.
The colour is yellcwilh, approaching to that of rufty,
iron, but the head and the whole neck is yellow, with
a mixture of white and black. The belly is whitifh,
as aTo the tail in fome meafure, and the greateft part
of the wings. The fize is much the fame as the for-
mer

The HERON, called SQUAIOTTA, at Malahergo,
has a yellow bill, blackilh at the point, with a fhort
tail and green feet. The tuft or creft on the head
confifts of thirty feathers, the middlemoft of which are
white, and the outermoft black. On the back there
are the like beautiful feathers of a reddifh colour, with
white roots.

Tbt

O F B I R D S. 301

The SMALL HERON, with a Crooked Bill, is
marked with black fpots on the neck and breaft, as
in the common Heron, but the other parts are of a
whitifh alh-colour ; the upper are more deep. The
thighs are covered with feathers to the knees.

The North-American Ash-coloured H E-
RON is fomewhat bigger than a common Heron,
and diiters from it in being browner on its back, in ha-
ving no white feathers on its forehead, or black fpots
on the fides, below the bottom of the neck. The bill
is ftrait, iharp-pointed, toothed above and below to-
wards the point, and is fix inches long. The upper
chap is channelled and black, and the noflrils are placed
pretty near the head. Between the noftrils and eyes
the Ikin is naked, and of a greeniih yellow. The
lower chap is orange, and the top of the head is wholly
covered with long black feathers, which form a creft
feven or eight inches long. The £des and under- part
of the head is white ; the neck is covered with long,
brown, flender feathers, barred tranfverfly with duiky
on the hinder part. The feathers on the hinder part
are broad, white, and duiky down the middle, being
black on each fid 3, with reddifh brown edges. The back
and upper fides of the wings and tail, are of a brown-
ifh afh, and the fkin which connects the joints of the
wing is covered with dufky feathers, reddifh at the
tips. The breaft is white, fprinkled with longilh
black fpots, mixed with a little reddiili brown. The
thighs are of a reddifh brown, and the belly is white.
The back is covered with afh- coloured down, that is
hid by the long feathers fpringing from the fhoulders .
The legs are fix inches and a half in length, and covered
v^ith dufky fcales. The clav^s are black, and the outer
toes joined to the middle ones a little way by a web.
The toes are longer in proportion than in the Crane
kind.

The Yellov/ish Ash-coloured HERON of
Marfeilles, refembles a Common Heron, except in the
colour, and it has no tuft. The bill and head are very
long, and the neck of an afh-colour. There are black
and brown lines, that run from it |to the breaft, and the

302 THE NATURAL HISTORY

belly is of an aln-colour. The upper part of the tail and
back are red, but the prime feathers of the wings are
black, and the covert feathers of a deep yellow.

The Yellow and Green HERON of Marfeilles
has a bill three inches long, black above and yellow
underneath. The iris of the eyes is white, as well as
part of the neck to the chin ; but the reil of the neck,
the top of the head, the breall, and belly are variega-
ted with brown lines, and the back is black. The
wings are yeilowilh, with black fpots, and the tail is
Ihort, whereof the feathers are white, and have the
appearance of hair ; the thighs are of an afh-colour,
the feet black, and the claws yellow at the end.

The BITTERN is about the fize of the common
Heron, being in length, from the tip of the bill to
the '^•nd of the claws, thirty-eight inches, but to the end
of the tail only twenty-nine inches. The head is fmall
and narrow, or comprefied at the fides, and the crown
of the head is black. The Ikin under the eyes is bare
of feathers, and of a greenifh colour; and the ears are
great and open. The feet are green, and the
toes large and very long, armed with long and flrong
claws ; that of the middle toe being notched on the
inner edge, that it may hold fail flippery fifli, as in the
reft of the Heron kind. The colour of the whole body-
is diveriified with red and black, or rather variegated
with red and black lines. The bill is thick at the bafe,
and by degrees grows iharp at the point. The quill-
feathers of the wings are fhort, much like thofe of the
Common Heron, and the tips of the large feathers are
black, but the lefrc;r rows are more pale. The tail is
very fhort, uni pretty much of the fame colour as the
vvinf-feathcrs ; the legs are long, and bare of feathers
above the knee.

In the North of England it is called the MTRE-
DRUM, from the noifc that it makes, which may be
heard a long way off. Some fay it imitates the bel-
lowing of a Bull; and \n\\ give four, five or fix bombs
at a time. It begins to bellow about the end of Fe-
bruary, and ceafes v/hcn breeding time is over. It lies
concealed among bulrufhes r.nd reeds, and may be
known from all other birds by the noife that it mr.kes.

l^licre

O F B I R D S. 303

There Is a bird of this kind mentioned by Aldro'vandusr
which was fent him from the Morea, that was all of one
colour, only it was of a deeper red above than below.
Thefe birds, in the autumnal feafon, are wont to foar
aloft in the air with a fpiral afcent, fo high as to get out
of fight ; making a particular kind of noife at that time ;
fo that it is hardly pofTible not to take not'ce of it. It
builds its neil in a tuft of rufhes on the ground, where
it ufually lays four or five round eggs of a whitifh co-
lour, with a greenifh caft, and without fpots.

The RED HERON 'eems lobe of a fpurious kind,
between a Heron and a Bittir.n, though it is more like
the former; whence it is called by fome, the Ash-
COLOURED Heron iviih aiedhreajl and Jides. The
back is of a dark aih-colour ; and on the fhoulders there
are red long biillles. The covert feathers of the wings
are reddiih, on the under fide ; but on the thighs they
are of a whitifh red. On both fides the breaft there
are bread red fpaces, in the middle of which, on the
fides of the neck, there is a broad black ftripe. The
bottom of the neck is red ; but in other things it re-
fembles the Common Heron.

The HERON of Erasil, called SOCO, feems to
refemble the Common Heron, in many refpedls. Itis
of the fize of the Lesser Heron, and has a fhort tail;
the head and neck are covered with brown feathers, va-
riegated with black fpots, as is the belly in like man-'
ner ; but under the wings, the feathers are diverlified
with black and white.

The COCOI, of Brasil, has a bill fix inches in
length, and the iris of the eyes is of a gold colour, but
the ikin about the eyes is alh. The throat and the
whole neck are white ; but the top of the head and fides
are blatk, mixed v/ith afh-colour. It has a c eft of the
fame colour, from v/hich two beautiful fea.hers hang
do.va behind, five inches in length, and of a blackilli
afli-colour. The fore-part of the neck, acccrding to the
length, \z fprinkled v/ith black and afli-colourcd fpots.
There are beautiful fmaU long v/hite feathers, hanging
down 0:1 the fore and lower part of the neck, w^^ich are
worn in thofe parts, in men's hats. They are black on

part

3C4 THE NATURAL HISTORY

?art of the back ; but on the remaining part of the
back, wings, and tail, they are of a light aHi-colour.

The Brasilian HERON, with a serrated Bill,
is of the fize of a common duck, or rather bigger; and
the fore part of the bill, both above and below, is dou-
bly notched, being four inches and a half in length.
The iris of the eyes is of a gold colour; and all the up-
per part of the head and neck has pretty long feathers,
of a pale yellow colour, mottled with black. The lower
part of the neck, the breaft, and lower belly, are co-
vered with white feathers, waved with brown ; but the
back and wings are brown, waved with yellow. The
prime feathers of the wings have an equal mixture of
black and afh-colour ; only they are white at the ends.
The feathers on the tail are croffed, tranfverfely, with
white lines.

The GUIRATINGA ofBRAsiL, called GARZA
by the Portuguefe, is of the colour and (hape of a Peli-
can ; and has a ftrait yellow bill, near four inches long.*;
It is covered all over with very white feathers ; and it
differs very little from the European White Heron,
except in bignefs.

The Little BITTERN of Brasil is hardly as
big as a Pigeon, but it has a neck feven inches long,
and at the bafe of the bill the fkin is of the colour of
oker. The upper part of the head is of the colour of
fteel, interfperfed with paleilli brown feathers. The
whole neck, breaft, and belly are covered with white
and afii-colcured f.athers ; but the back is partly black,
and partly of a dark fteel colour, mixed with fome of
the colour of bees-wax. The long feathers of the wings
are greenlfti ; and they have a white fpot at the extre-
mity. The other parts above are beautifully variegated
with fteel, brown, wax, and afh-colours ; and the feet
are of a blofTom-colour. All thefe Brufilian Herons
iiave a long, ftrait, ftiarp bill, yellow below, at the bafe,
or of a yeliowifti green ; and black at the point. The up-
per part of the legs, as far as the middle, are naked;
and the iris of the eyes is of a gold colour, with a ihort
tail, not reaching beyond the wi»g5. ^

The North American BITTERN is Icfs than

the

OF BIRDS. 30,-

the Englifii\ for the wing, when clofed, is not above
twelve inches long, and the bill not quite four. The leg,
from the knee to the foot, is three inches and a "half. It
i5 very much, with regard to colour and make, like our
Bittern ; but may eafily be diftinguilhed from it, by
ccmparing them together.

The Brown BITTERN of Catefiy is fmaller than
a Night-raven ; but the bill is four inches long, black
above, and green underneath. The eyes are large, with
a gold-coloured iris, and the bottom of the body is
blown, with a mixture of white fhining feathers ; the
back' is brown, and the neck white; and on the wings
there are three triangular white fpots. The tail is (hort,
and of a lead-colour ; but the legs are of a yellowilh
green.

The BLACK HERON of Aldron)andus has a neck
much fhorter than the Common Heron, though it re-
fembles it in every thing elfe. The colour is every
where uniform, being blackifh, except on the neck,
where it is encompaffed with a white ring, and the bill
is yellow : but there is a black fpot at the end, as well
above as below.

The Small Ash coloured HERON, with a
creft, is called XOXOUKQUI HOACTLI, in Mexico.
The creft confifts of feven purplilh feathers ; and it has
its name from its cry, which is Hoho. The bill is fer-
rated and black The Least Mexican HERON,
with a very white tail, has a purple bill, yellowifh at
the point ; and the legs are purplilh, but the feet are
pale.

The CRAB HERON is a common bird in the Ca-
ribbee IJlands, of which there are two forts, whofe com-
mon lood is Crabs. The firft differs very little from aa
European Heron, only there is fomething very particu-
lar in this bird ; for they have all on the fkin of the beJIy
four large yellow fpots, which are near an inch broad,
and two long ; and they have the like on their thighs.
Thefe fpots are as bitter as gall, and muft be carefully
taken out after they are killed, or otherwife the fiefn
will be good for nothing ; for they communicate their
bitternefs when they are boiled, in fuch a manner,, that
it ii almofl impoffible to eat them.

The

3o6 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The Second CRAB HERON is a very beautiful
bird, and the body is of a longer fliape than that of other
birds ; and yet the neck is two or three inches longer
than the whole body. The Vvings terminate with the
tail, at.d the legs are long and {lender like thofe of the
Heron, and of a grecniih colour. The head is black,
and on the top of it there is a beautiful tuft of feathers,
of the colour of flate; below which there hang back-
ward two plumes, eight or ten inches in length, that
are veiy fine and flender, and of the colour of flate.
The eyes are large, clear as cryllal, and furrounded with
a circle of the colour of gold. Jn the lower par^ of the
neck there are five or fix elegant white plumes, which
are greatly efteemed by the inhabitants of thofe parts ;
and the more fo, becaufe they are fcarce, for none of
thtfe birds l)ave them e:<ccpt ihey are old. The whole
back is covered \\h\i beautiful feathers, of the colour of
flate, and are net unlike the plumes. Ail the wing-fea«
thers are of the fame ccloar, and the flefh is as good as
that of other Herons.

The Blufish Black HERON, called by fome
the bl?ck and blue GAULDING, is in length a foot
and a half; and has a bill two inches and a half long,
which is covered with a green fkin about the bafe, near
the eyes. It is ftrait, Iharp, and biackilh at the point ;
but the reft is blueifh. It has a creil of long feathers
on the t^.p of.the Iiead j and the neck is fix inches long,
thin of feathers, and of a blueilh black colour, as well
as the reft of the body, except the breaft, belly, and
under the wings, which are more light. The legs are
feven inches long, and covered v/ith greenilh fcales.

The BLUE HERON, is of the fize of the com-
mon fort, and weighs about three pounds; the length,
from the tip of the bill to the end of the toes, is three
feet ; and the bill is quite black, bending a little down-
wai'ds. and a little hooked at the point. There is a
fine creft of feathers on the top of the head, of a fky-
blue colour; the fides of the head, fiom the bill, and
the under part next the eyes, arc white. The covert
and fcapular feathers of the wings are of a pale blue,
but the quill-feathers are black, except the outer edge,
whicii iire blue. The reft of the body is of a blueifli

lead-

j O F B I R D S. 307

lead-colour, and the feet are yellowilli, with very long
toes ; the middle claw is ferrated, and the outermoit
toes are conneded to that in the middle, by a mem-
brane This is a very uncommon biid.

The Small Bli TERN is fourteen inches long,
and twenty bro;;d ; and the bill is i'urroui.ded at the baie,
and aboui ♦■he eyes, with a yellow naked membrane, ex-
tending as far as the noftrils. The biU is two irches
long, and Iharp at the point, the upper chap bein^
black, and the lower yellow. The neck is five inches
long, and in the form of a great S, and pretty ftilF,
The tail is not above an inch long ; and the fearhers on
the top of the herd are brown, riling a little, in the
manner of a tuft. The upper part oi' the neck is of the
fame colour, as well as the back, wings, and tdl, only
there are a fevy whidih and tawney Ipots. - The chin,
lower part of the neck, breaft, and belly are of a light
brown, mixed with whits and ruddy co-ours. The
legs are four inches long, of a dark brown before, and
yellow behind. . : .: . :,

The- PELICAN, or SPGGN-BILL^is'ks xvhite as
a Swan all over the body, and the bill is flat and of a
circular figure near the extremity, where it becomes of
the Ihape of a fpoon ; from whence, this birJ has its
name. It is larger than a Common' Heron, by which
,it may be dillinguifhed from all other birds of this
[kind.

I The PELICAN of the Cape of Good ^ope, cal-
led by the Dufc/y a Serpent Catcher, has a neck
like a Goofe, and a large, long, flrcng bill, termini ting
|at the end like a fo't of a fpoon. 1 he, eyes are grey,
■ and the tail is above fix inciies long. They are very
|comm-on at the Cape of Good Hope, and are a little larger
;than a Gofling; and their coinmon food is Vvorms, frogs,
toads, ferpcnts, and oLher venomous animals, of wliich
they delLroy great numbers. Tliey a'-e luch ufeful birds
that they are feldom or never killed ; befide they are
good for nothing when they are de::d, for the flefli is
never eaten.

Some fay that this is the fame k'nd of bird that is
fo common at //;/.'^?»'s Ba^, which is defcribed to be of

^' . the

;c8 THE NATURAL HISTORY ,^
the fize of a common Goofe. The upper chap is more,
narrow in the middle than at (ach extremity, and it en-
ters into the lower, except at the end, where it grows
broader. The point ot" the bill is red; but the upper
part, as well as the lower, next the head, is yellow.
The bag of one drowned, refembles an ox's bladder, and
is of a prodigious length when this bird is living. The
head, and the hinder part of the neck are covered with
white feathers ; but the body is of a dirty afh-colour, and
the feathers of the wings are black. All the under part
of the body is of a blackifh aih-colour, and the feet are
ftiort, with four toes joined together by a membrane.
The middle toe is longer than the foot itfelf; and
part of the feet are of a dirty yellow, mixed with green,
except the claws, which are black. Thefe birds live
principally upon fifh. There was a Pelican brought from
Egypt, and expofed as a fhow in London, which was
twice as large as a Swan. The bag was fo extremely .
large, that the man who fhewed it, commonly put in •
his head. This bird was alfo-fliewn in Varis, in the'
year 1750.

The POKKO is a fort of a Pelican found upon the
coaft oi Guinea ; though it is a very uncommon and an
Ugly kind of a bird. It is exactly of the fize of a Goofe,
and the wings are extremely long and broad, covered with
dark-coloured feathers; and the feathers underneath, if
they may be fo called, for ihey refemble hair, are
of an afh-colour. Under the neck there is a crop or '
bag, about a fpan long, and as thick as a man's arm,
which looks like a red fkin, and in this it hoards up its
food. The head is pretty long, and there is a red knob .
at the nape of the neck, which is furnifhed with feathers ,
like thofe on the upper part of their body. The head
is very large in proportion, and quire bald, excepting a
few hairs. "J he eyes are large and black ; and the bill
extremely long and thick. Their food is ii(h, -of which
they will fwallow as many as would fuffice four men. It .
is a great lover of rats, and fwallows them whole. It is '
obfervable that this bag, or crop, is much lower than in
other Pelicans ; for which reafon it may be doubted
whether it ought to have that name or not.

The

"-jcf-y*

O F B I R D S. 309

The Mexican PELICAN, called TLAUHQUE-
CHUL, is of the fame kind as the former, and the fea-
thers are all over red, or of a whitifli red ; but the head
is whitilh, and bald, as well as all the neck and part
of the breaft ; and there is a broad black ring which fe-
parates the head from the neck. The bill is broad, made
at the end like a fpoon, and is of an afh-colour.

The Brasilian PELICAN, called AIAIA, and
by the Fortuguefe COLHERADO, is of the fize of a
Goofe. The fhape is like the European, and the fea-
thers are generally white ; only the back and wings are
of a light, Ihining carnation colour. The bill is white.

CHAP. XXXIV.

Of Cloven-Footed Water Foixls, of the middle and
lejjer Size.

TH E CURLEW is a fea-fowl which feeks its
food on the fands, and among the ouze and fait
marfhes near the fea-coaft of England, and other Eu-
ropean countries. Its weight is abdut twenty-feven
ounces ; and its length, from the top of the bill to the
end of the claws, twenty-nine inches ; but, to the end
of the tail, only twenty-three and a half. Its breadth,
when the wings are extended, is three feet four inches,
and its bill near fix inches long, being narrow, a little
crooked, and of a dark brown colour ; but the tongue
is fhort, the legs long, bare, and of a dufky blue, and
there is a thick membrane which reaches to the firll
joint. The colour is diverfified with alh and black, or
it is rather of a grey colour, and its flefh is very deli-
cate.

The LESSER CURLEW, called by fome the
WHIMBREL, is very like the former, the fize only
■excepted, for it weighs only twelve ounces ; and its
length, from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, is
fcventeen inches, but to the end of the claws twenty.

It-s

310 THE NATURAL HISTORY

Its breadth is thirty- three inches and a half, when the
wingb are extend d; and its bill is three inches long.
The top o." the hej'.d is of a dark brown colour, without
fpots; and the back; as far as it is covered with the
wings, is white, in which it differs from the former, and
the whole body is of a darker coloar; but the legs are
greenifli.

The LITTLE CURLEW has a bl?ck bill, a grey
neck and belly, and the back and wings mottled with
white and brown. There a'e three large black feathers
on the wings ; and the feet, below the knees, are of a
dunnilh afh-colonr.

. The STONE CURLEW, is t'iirty-fix inches broad
when the wings a -e extended, and has a firait, fharp
bill, two inches long, bkck towards the noilrils, and
the oiher part yellow j the eye and the edge:: of the lids
are yellow, anJ there is a barefpace unde- each eye, of
a yellowiih green ; but the b-eail, thighs, and I'nder the
'chin are of a yellowifh while ; the middle parts of the
back, head, and neck are black, with bordeis of a red-
difn afh-colour, with tranfverfe white fpots on the quill-
feathers. Some of the oiher w -no-feathers are tipped
with white, infomrch that they appear mottled with
black and white. The tail is about fix inches long, va-
riegated like the w.'ngs, and the legs are long, and of a
yellowifh colour, with fmall black claws. It has no
back toe ; and thofe before are united by a fmall mem-
brane. They a^e found in Norfolk, and have a cry
like a green Plover.

The FASCINELLUS, of Gefper and Aldro^andus,
is very much like a Heron; and the head, neck, back,
breaft, belly, thighs, and rump are of a tawny colour,
and a little darker than that of a date. There is a fpot
in the middle of the back, of adarkifn green, and the
wings and tail are much of the fame colour. The bill
is blackifli, very lorg, and hooked at the end ; and th
feet like wife are bl?.ck^"fli.

The CUR.IACA of Marc^ja^e is a Lrafilian bird,
called MASARINO by the Poriugueje. It is not un-
like a Ci^rlew, but it is of the fize of a Goofe. The
head and neck are covered with white feathers, mixed

witk

:i

O F B I R D S. 311

with yellow ; and about the eyes, from the beginning
of the throat, the fkin is black. The whole body is co-
vered with black feathers, except the back, head, and
belly, which are of a dark afli-colour. The middle of
the wings are whitifh, mottled with gi'ey, as in a Stork;
and the bill is of a brownifn Hame-colour, being crooked,
and fix inches long.

The ACACALOTI, or Water-Raven, ' I's a
Mexican bird, and has a bill bent like a bow, of a blue
colour, and two fpans in length. The head and neck
are covered with brown, white, and green feathers, a
little inclining to yellow, and the lower parts are b own,
mixed with a few red feathers ; but the upper are mot-
tled with purple, blackifh, and fhining green. There
is ^ rough fkin of a greenifh white, an inch in length
from the outer part of the eyes to the bill.

The GUAR A, of Marcgrave, is a Br apian bird
of the fize of a Pel'can. The bill is long and crooked,
like a PoUJli fcymetar ; and the legs are long and {len-
der, of a whitiih grey, as is alfo the bill. The whole
body is covered vv^ith beautiful crimfon feathers ; only
the prime feathers of the wings are black at the ends.
That bird defcribed by Chiftus had a bill and legs of a
colour not unlike yellow oker. When it is firll hatched,
it is blackifii, and acquires the crimfon colour as it
grows older.

The GUARAUNA, of Marcgra'vey is another Bra^
filian bird, with a ftrait bill, only it turns a little down-
wards, and is yellow, with a brown point. It is co-
vered all over with brown feathers, mixed with Tome of
the colour of umber, and the head and neck are fpotted
with v/hite.

The WOODCOCK is a little lefs than a Partridge,
and weighs about eleven or twelve ounces. Its length,
from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, is thirteen
inches and a half; and its breadth, when the wings are
extended, is twenty-fix inches. The bill is flrait, and
three inches long, the upper part falling a little over
the under, at the tip. The back, and all the upper
parts of the body are diverfified with variety of colours ;
fuch as red, black, grey, and afh-colour, which, all toge«
ther, make a very delightful appearance. The back

part

512 THE NATURAL HISTORY
part of the head is inclining to black, mottled with
crofs bars ; and between the eye and the bill, there is a
black line on each fide, which is more reddilh near the
bill J the bread and belly are more grey, with a va-
riety of tranfverfe pale and brown lines. The fides of
the wings are crofled with red bars, intermixed with a
few pale or white feathers. The under parts of th<
wings are a mixture of grey and brown, variegated with
waved lines. The tail is about three inches long, and
the tips of the feathers, on the upper part, are of a
brownifh afh-colour ; but thofe under are white, which
are feen when it raifes its tail. The legs, and feet are
of a dulky pale colour ; and the claws, which are fmall,
are black. The eggs are long, of a pale red, with fpots
and clouds of a deeper colour ; but they are rarely feen
in England, for they feldom breed here ; they being birds
of paffage, coming hither in the autumn, aud leaving us
in the fpring. They frequent woods and woody places,
where there are rivulets and fprings ; and are often found
on the fides of banks, near watry ditches, and amongi
fmall brambles. They feed upon flime, or a fat unduous
humour, which they fuck out of the earth ; for which
purpofe, as Mr. Derham obferves, they have remark-
able nerves, reaching to the end of their bills. The flefh
is accounted a delicacy, and is very well known. It is
faid to be a very filly bird, for which reafon, foolifh pco-
pie are often called Woodcocks. They pair before ihejr
leave Englandy flying two and two together.

The SNIPE, or SNITE, weighs about four ounces ;
and is in length, from the tip of the bill to the end oi
the tail, eleven inches and a half, but to the end of the
claws thirteen inches. The breadth, when the wings
are extended, is fifteen inches and a half, and its bill is
near three inches long. The tongue is fliarp, and there
is a pale red line, which divides the middle of the head
longways ; and parallel to this, on each fide, there is a
black lift over the eyes. It has a white fpot or fpace un-
der the bill. The feathers that grow on the fhoulders
are fo long, that they reach almoll as far as the end of
the tail, and the outward half from the Ihaft is of a
pale red. There are alfo two lines down the back, the
covert feathers of which are dufky, with white tranfverfe

lines;

.ifj

O F B I R D S; 31 J

lines ', and there are white tips on fome of the large
feathers of the wings ; the lefler being mottled with
red, black, and grey, variegated with white and brown
lines. The tail feathers are more red, with black lines
running crofs them, and the bill is black at the tip.
The eyes are of a hazel colour, and the legs of a pale-
ifh green, with pretty long toes, and black claws. It
is a bird of paffage; and yet fome of them ftay with as
all the fummer, building their nefts in moors and
marfhes, and laying four or five eggs. They feed on
the fame Dime as Woodcocks, in moift and fenny
places, by the fides of ditches, rivulets, and pools,
where they are often taken. The flefli is well known
to be good, fweet, and tender.

The GID, JACK-SNIPE, or JUDCOCK, weighs
about two ounces, and is in length, from the tip of the
bill to the end of the tail, eight inches and a half; but
to the end of the claws ten inches. The bill is about
two inches long ; aryi the top of tlie upper chap hangs
a little over the under. The rump is of a blueifh, fhine-
ing, purple colour, but the tips of the feathers ard
white ; and there is a yellowifh border on the fcapula
feathers that cover the back. The middle part is brown
intermixed with red fpots ; and the inner part border is
of a fliining blue. The top of the head is black, with
a broad yellow line pafling above the eyes. The bell/
is white; but the reft of the body is variegated uith
black, brown, white, and pale red ; only fome of the
wing feathers are tipped with white. The legs are
bare above the knees, and of a palilh green ; but the
claws are black. It feeds upon infefts, and hides it-
felf among rulhes and high grafs, not riiing till you arC
juft upon it. For this reaibn it is accounted a foolifh.
bird ; but it is not fo common as the Snipe. The flefh
is very fweet and good ; though fome will have it to be
inferior to that of a Partridge.

The North-American POOL SNIPE, or
WHITE RED-SHANK, has a bill about two inches
long, and the wing, when clofed, is about feven inches.
The bill is black at the point, and orange elfewhere;
but the plumage is all white, except a little pale brown
or dirty white on the b^k, wiiig3, and tail. The legs

Vol. IL P aw*

314 THE NATURAL HISTORY

and feet are of a bright reddllh orange, and the hgs arc
bare above the knees. Mr. Ednjuanh thinks this bird is
the fanie as curs of that name, only turned white by
the feverity of the winter.

The YARWHELP, or YARWIP, is like a Wood-
cock, only it is a little bigger. The head is of a red--
diOi afli colour; but the middle of its feathers is black.
The back is mottled with red and black colours, but the
liiiddle of the feathers is black, with reddith edges. The
breaft is of a dirty white, which, in the male,is painted with
tranfverfe black lines. On the rump there is a white trian-
g^ular fpot, with one of the points turned towards the head.
It frequents fandy ihores, where it feeks its food.

The GOD\VJT, or STONE PLOVER, is not
much unlike a Woodcock, though it is fomewhat big-
ger. It weighs ten or eleven ounces ; and is feventeen
inches and a half from the tip of the bill to the end of
the claws ; but the breadth, when the wings are ex-
tended, is twenty-eight inches and a half. The bill is
longer for its fize than either in the Woodcock or
Snipe. The rump is remaikable for having a white
ring ; and it differs from the former in the colour of
the tail, the feathers of which are variegated, with
tranfverfe white and black fpaces alternately. '"^The
lower part of it, and the outer feathers are white ; but
there are two black ones in the middle. The STONE
CURLEW of Cornn.vall differs from the former, in
having a more fiiort and (lender bill.

The GftFATEit American GODWJT has a bill
four inches long, and the wing when clofed is eight
inches and a half. The bill is ilrait, and pretty llen-
der, and is of a bright yellow halfway next the 'head,
which gradually grows dulky till it becomes black at
the point. The eyes are more diliantfrom the bill than
in other birds ; and there is a dulky fpotted line pafT-
ing from the bill through the eye i but above the eye
there is'a white line; and the fides of the head under
the *:yt^^ and beneath the head, are white. The up-
per parts are mottled with black and dark brown, only
the rump and upper part of the tail are 'brighter,, with
crofs bars. The quills of the wings next the great ones
are orann-e, powdered with fmall bla<ik fpots. The fore

piirt

O F B I R D S. 315

pare of the neck is of a light brown, with fmall black
Ipots, tending downwards ; and the breall is alfo of a
light brown, with fine du(ky tranfverfe lines. The belly
aiui thighs are of a browniili white ; the thighs are naked
a good way above the knees ; and the lega and feet are
covered with du£ky fcales.

The Red-Breasted GODWIT of North- ^pien'ca
is fomevv'hat lefs than the foriTiCr; the bill little more
than three inches long ; and the wing, when clofed, is
(even inches and a half. The bill is long and iirair^ *
and the noftrils are placed near the head. 1 he foint
of the bill is black, then duflcy, and the half next the
head is yellov/. There runs a dulky line from the bill
on each fide through the eyes, and a whitiili line above
them. The fides of the head and throat are white,
with faint dufky fpots ; and the top of the head, the
upper part of the neck, and the back are covered with
dark brown feathers, variegated with black dufky lines.
The rump is white, and the tail of a blackifh brcvn ;
and the feathers are tipped with a whitifli adi. The
quills that fall towards the back are of a reddilh brown
and black ; and the covert feathers, immediately about
the quills, are brown, with white tips. The fmall fea-
thcF.s, near tlie ridge of the wings, are tipped with
white ; and the lower part of the neck, and the breall
and belly are of a reddilh orange, with fmall black
tranf\'erfe lines. The legs are black, and bare of fea-
thers above the knees, and the feet and claws are black.

The White North-American GODWIT is of
the fize of that laft defcribed, only the bill turns up to-
wards its point like that of the Avofetta. The bill is
of an orange colour, but black at the point ; and the
plumage is all over white, except the tail, the greater
quills, and the fmall feathers on the ridge of each wing,
which are of a dirty white. The legs are bare above
the knees, and of a dark brown, as v/ell as the feet and
claws. Mr. E(l<ivar^j thinks this bird becomes white
from the feverity of the American winters, and that it
turns to a brown colour in the fummer; but this is only
a conje6lure.

The SEA-PIE, weighs about half a pound, and has

a ftrair narrow bill sbout three inches long, ending in a

i' 2 iharp

i6 THE NATURAL HISTORY

/harp point. The under chap is fomewhat longer than
the upper ; and the eyes and edges of the lids are of
a fine red. The head and upper part of the body, down
to the middle of the breaft, are black ; but the rell of
the breaft, together with the belly and rump, are white ;
from whence it takes its name. The lower part of the
tail is white, and the upper black ; but the legs and
feet are of a yellowifh red. The middle and the outer-
moft toes are joined together by a membrane ; fo that it
feems to be of a middle nature, between a cloven and a
web-footed water-fowl. It feeds upon limpets ; for the
rooting up of which it feems properly formed. It is a
common bird on the weftern ihores of Ef;gla»d, The
flefh is rank and ill tafted, tho' it feeds upon Ihell-fifh,
which feems a little ftrange to fome.

The Greater ?L0VER of J/dro'vatidus, called by
the Venetians Limosa, has a bill two inches and a half
long, and the upper part of the body is of a grey co-
lour ; but the lower is white, as well as the rump. The
tail is variegated with white and brown lines, running
alternately ; and the legs are very long, of a colour be-
tween green and livid. It has been feen in the bi-
Ihoprick of Durham ; but whether it is in any other
parts of England, or not, is uncertain.

The HIMANTOPUS oi Pliny is white on the low-
er parts, and blackifli on the upper ; and on the upper
part of the neck there are fpots entirely black, tending
downwards. The legs and thighs are of a wonderful
Jength ; but very flender and weak, and the more unfit
to ftand upon, becaufe the feet want the hind toe, and
thofe placed before are Ihort in proportion to the length
of the legs. The bill is black, and above a palm in
length, and the claws are black, but the feet and legs
of a blood colour.

The CHEVALIER in French, in Engli/h the
HORSEMAN, is about the fize of a Pigeon, and is
well fumiihed with feathers. The bill is long, reddifh
near the point, and black towards the bafe ; and the
head and legs are all over black. The neck, back,
and breaft are white ; but the remainder of the upper
parts is black. The wings are blackifh, and have a
white lire run cro/s them, on each fide. It is called

the

O F .B I RD S. 317

the Horfeman, becaufe it ftands high upon its legs,
which has made fome fancy that it looks like one on
horfeback. It frequents meadows, lakes, and the banks
of rivers, wading into the water as high as the thighs.
Its flelh is very delicate, and has a very good fmell ;
but it is not an Englifn bird. It is called CREX, on
the account of its cry, for it often repeats that word.

The RED HORSEMAN, of Belonius, has feet
of a yellowiih red colour ; but the bill is fhorter than
the Greater Plover of Aldro^andm. The head
and neck are of a dark alh colour, and over the eyes
there is a white line. The feathers under the wings aie
of an alh colour, and there are two black fpots on th«
temples on each lide.

The Red-Legged HORSEMAN is fometimes
feen in England^ but very rarely ; and it takes its name
from the colour of its legs. The top of the head and
neck are of a fine light brown -, and the bill is fiendcr,
and near two inches long, of a reddifli colour at the
bafe, and black at the point. The covert feathers, on
the middle of the wings, are black ; but downwards,
within two inches of the end of the tail, they are of a
brown colour, edged with white ; and the legs are pretty
long, with fmall black claws. They aie about fixteen
or eighteen inches long, from the point of the bill to
the end of the claws ; and the breadth, wiien the wings
are extended, are two feet. It v/eighs about half a
pound.

The Mexican Water-Fowls with cloven feet are the
COMALTECATL, which haunts marfhy places, and
is of the fize of a Wood-Pigeon, with red feet, that have
only three long toes. The bill is flender, Iharp, black,
and a palm in length. The feathers in general are
white ; only tlie upper part of the head is black, and
the wings above and beneath are mottled v/ith black.

The CHOCOPITLI refembles a Curlew, and
is a fpan and a half long from the tip of the bill to the
end of the tail. The bill is a palm in length, greenifli
at the bafe, and black at the point. It is covered with
white feathers, only there are fome brown on the wings,
which, with the head and neck, ^are variegated with
white^and black,

P I TU

318 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The CHIQUATLI is of the fize of a Bull-Finch,
h.is a long, Header, tawny bill, and has yellow crooked
ilripes near each eye. 1 he lower parts of the body are
of a pa!e colour ; but there are black feathers among
tliofe of the neck. The upper parts are \ariegated
with tawny, brown, and afli-colours. The eyes arc
black, except the iris, which is of a dufky yellow.

The YACACINTiJ is about twenty-feven inches
in length, v\iih greenilh legs, and a blue head and belly,
inclining to purple ; and the wings are mottled with
tawny and bbck. Th^ eyes are yellow, as well as the
bill ; bac it is a little reddilh at the bafe, and almoil
three inches long. The fore part of the head is like
that of a Coot, of which it feems to be a fpecies.

The YOHUALQUACHILI frequents fait lakes,
and is about the fize of a thrufh. The head is fmall,
the neck long and llender, and the bill long and yel-
low ; the legs are alfo long, with long alh-coloured toes;
bat the clav^s are yellow. Above the bafe of the bill
there is a tuft with three points, of a yellowifh red co-
lour ; and on the fore parts of the wiogs there are two
hooks. Marcgra've takes it to be a fort of a Coot.

ThcXOCHIlECANATL is a frequenter of lakes,
and is a palm and a half in length, without the bill,
which is almofl eight inches long, and three broad, be-
ing notched like a faw, and of a crimfon colour near
the point ; but the other parts are covered with blueilh
and pale feathers. It is faid to change its colours ex-
ceeding often; but this may be doubted. This feems
to be the BraftUan I'oucan, or very like it.

The ACOLIN, or Water Partridge, fo called
on account of its fize, is a bird of a dufky colour, and
has a long bill bending a little down. It runs on the
banks of rivers very fwiftly, but feldom flies. There is
another bird of the fame name, for it can hardly be the
fame, of the fize of a 'J'hrulh, with palifli green feet,
divi^'ed into four long toes. The bill is yellow, flender,
crooked at the end, and long in proportion to the body.
The iris of the eyes is tawny, and the head little.
The lower parts of the body are white, and the lides
fpotted with brown; hut the upper parts, as well as the
tail, which is very ihort, are tawnc), and fpotted with

black ;

O F B I R D S. 319

black ; there are alfo white lines round about every
feather, fpeckled with black. The head is beautifuliy
diverfified with variety of colours, and in the middle
there is a black line, with fome of alh coloar on the
fides, and fmall whitiili fpots ne^r the outer corner of
the eycS. The neck and bieaft are of an afh colour.
Thefe b irds haunt the lake o^ Mexico.

The ACOvOLlN is 2 AUxicaa bird, and is taken
notice of here on the account of the aliinity of its name,
though it is of the Pye kind. The bill is grey and very
fliarp i the breall is of a fine purple, inclining to fcariet;
but the belly and the thighs are blae, and the feet and
claws black ; Iikewife all the reft of the body u as black
as a raven, with a blueifh glofs ; but the extremity of
the feathers of the great wings is dulky and blue.
Some take it to be a fort of Hawk.

The HOACTLf is about the fize of a Hen, being
three fpans in length from the tip of the b;ll to the end
of the tail. The legs are a foot long, and the bill an
inch and one third, and as thick as one's thumb, black
on the top, pale on the (ides, and black and brownifli
below. The eyes are large, the iris ye'iow, and the
eye-lids red. 'i he top of the head is black, with a re-
markable black crelf ; but the neck, bel'y, and the
\vh -le body is white, and the ta 1 of an alh colour, as
w^ll as the upper part of the wings, which have a green-
ifti ca.'l or glofs. 'I he back, i- commonlv covered with
whte feather: ; yet fometimes thc-y are black, with a
greenifh glofs. There ib a white ring roilnd the head,
which is fo broad, that it reache: from the bafe f f the
bill as far a? the eyes. The legs and feet a*e pale, and
it lives upon fi'h, that it catches in the lake of Mexico ;
and ha'^ a very deep cry.

T.he A.VIACOZ'qUE, or Rfddi5*h Neck, is a bird
that frequents marfl^ies,. and is a'iout the (ize of our
turtles. i he feet are cloven, and are of a whi ilh red,
with black claws. I he bill is moderately long, ilendcr
and black, and the iris of the eyes s red. The lower
part ot the breart, belly, and wing'- are vvhite ; but the
tail, which is of a midaie fize, is mottled with tawny
and black, rhcre are two rings on the neck an 4
breaft, near an inch diilant from each other, and of a
P 4 black

320 THE NATURAL HISTORY

black colour. The foremoft runs quite round, but
that behind partly difappears at the top. On each
fide there are two white liripes, of the fame ftze, which
run above the eyes towards the neck. The upper part*
of the body, as well as the tail, are mottled with white,
black, and tawny colours, and the wings with tawny
and brown. It frequents the lake of Mexico, and lives
upon infeds and fmall ii(h. The fiefh is as good as that
of other water-fowls. It makes a very fhriil noife,
coniiderirg the magnitude of its body.

CHAP. XXXV.
Of Water Fonjuls with Bills moderately long,

THE RED-SHANK, or Pool Snipe, has a bill
about two inches long, black towards the point;
but at the bafe of a darkifti red, with a flender Iharp
tongue, and the upper chap crooked towards the tip.
Thesis of the eyes is of a fine yellow; and the upper
part of the neck towards the back, and hinder part
of the head are of a duiky brown, with various
tranfverfe waving lines of a darker colour, and fome
are almoft black ; but the edges of the feathers are
more light. The fore part of the neck is of a much
lighter and paler colour, interfperfed with light tranf-
verfe lines. The feathers on the wings are pretty
much of the fame colour as the back, only their edges
are more pale and light. The bread, belly, and under
parts of the body are white, (haded with black, and
there are feveral remarkable black fpots on the breaft.
The tail is ihort, and brown, with light-coloured ftreaks
running acrofs it ; and the legs and feet are of a fine
orange, and the claws fmall and black. It is of the
fize of a Lapwing, and breeds in marfhes and watery
places ; and when any perfon comes near their nefts,
they fly about like a Lapwing, making a confiderable
noife.

The GAMBETTA, of Aldro'vandus , is a-kin to the
Pool Snipe, and is a little lefs than a Lapwing. The
•pper part of the body is grey, like that of a Curlew,

and

O F B I R D S. 32»

and the feet and legs are long and yellow; but the
<;laws are black. The bill is fhorter than that of a Pool-
Snipe, but of the fame colour. The tail is half a pain*
in length, and is hid by the wings when they are
clofed.

The RUFF is fo called from a collar of long fea»
thers^, which encompafs the neck near the head. The
female, of hen, is termed a Rseoje. The bill is like that
of the former, and the whole bird is of the fame fize,
weighing five ounces. There is a wonderful diverfity
of colours in. the cock, fox there are hardly two painted
alike ; only after they have moulted in the middle of the
fiimmer, there is faid to be an exad refemblance. They
are greatly addifled to fighting each other, and they fel-
dom leave off till one of them is killed. The upper
part of the hen is of an alh colour, variegated with
white and black ; but the under parts are all white.
They breed in the fens of Lincoln fhire^ near Croivland^
and their flefli is accounted fine eating.

The STONE CURLEW is about half a pound
in weight, and is three feet in breadth when the wings
are extended ; the bill is ftrait, iharp- pointed, and near
two inches long, black towards the noftrils ; but the other
part is yellow. The eyes and edges- of the eye-lids are
yellow, and there is a bare naked fpace under the eyes,
©fayellowiih green colour. The breaft, thighs, and
under the chin, are of a yellowifli white ; hut the back,
head, and neck are black in the middle parts, with bor-
ders of a reddilh afh colour, and there are fome tranf-
verfe fpots of white on the quill feathers ; fome of the
wing feathers are tipped with white, fo that they appear
of a fine mixture of black and white.. The feet are yel-
low, and they want the hind toe. The tail is about fix
inches long, variegated like the feathers on the body
and the wings. It is found in Norfolk^ about Thetford,
and has a cry very much like th^t of a Green Plover..
They breed very late in the year, infomuch that there
have been young ones feen towards the latter end of
O^ober, fcarce able to fly.^

The KNOT, fo called by the inhabitants of Lin-
celnjhirey weighs two-ounces and a half, and the head

^

322 THE NATURAL HISTORY

and back are of a brownifh afh colour. There is a
tranfverfe white line diftingulihes the wings, and the bill
is near an inch and a half long. The feet are greenifh,
the clnws black, and the flefh is accounted a great de-
licacy.

The SAND PIPER, To called in nr/f//>^, weighs
about two ounces, and the middle part cf the neck is of
an afh colour ; but the upper furface in ether places is
of a greenifh brown, beautifully variegated with darker
tranfverre lines. The head is paler, and thtre are lines-
on it, running according to the length of the feathers.
The fides, breail, and beily are white; and the top of
the bill is of a brounifn black ; but bt-jow it is whitilh,
and the feet are of a palifh green. It frequents the fea-
Jhore.

The SAND PIPER, o^ Jld'o^andus, h of the fize
of a Black bird, or bigger. The colour of the upper
parts is a brownifh green, Hiining like fi'lk ; and the
feathers on the fhouiders, and the prime feathers on the
wings next the body, as well as the coverts, are fpeckled
with white on the edges. The feathers that lie on the
tail are as white as fnow, and the throat is v/hi:e, /pot-
ted with brown ; but the bread and belly are of a pure:
white. The bill is nr.ar an irch and a half long, f^rait,
flat on the fides, and of a dark green. The feet are of
a dufl-y green, and the claws black. The infide of the
wings arj blackifh, and there are oblique wlr'te lines
that tcinrinste in an obtufe angle at the fliafts of the
feathers, which make a delightful anpcarance.

Ano.hcr SAND PIPER, called by the Italiam^
GiM'O cELiO and Piniroio, has a much blacker
and fliorter bill than the former ; but the body is very
like it, and the feathers not much diiferent, only it is a
little daikcr.

The KOriCNUSSFL is of a reddifh colour, with
brown frot^ on the reck and about tne eyes. The body
is br WM, fpocrcvl with a dirty colour ; and the wings are
t ndured with white fpot^;. The bill and feet are black..
. The x<.V.\:y W.A'l EK H'r.N, cal ed by the Ger-
mam Matkern, is red almofl n'l over, only it is
darker on the back, and fpctted with blick j but lii^hter

in

O F B I R D S. 323

in fame 0^ the wing feathers, and almoft of the colour of
niarle. The belly is of a whitiih red, and the wings
tawny ; and the lower part of the neck is fpeckleid
with'whitih fpots. The bill is blackilh, but not with-
out a reddilh cafl.

The SANDER LING, or CURLWILLET, is a
fmall round-bodied bird, weighing about two ounces,
and has a lender, ftrait, black bill about an inch long,
with a tongue that reaches to its end. The cars are
pretty large, and the noftrils oblonor. The head is
inuU, and the upper pa; t of the body is variegated with
white, black, and afh colours, which have a very beauti-
ful appear^ince. The bslly, and the parts under the
wings, are, if polTible, whiter than Tnow; and when
the wins:? are extended, there is a traniverfe white line
on the upper parrs, occafioneu by the points of the quills
ef the feccnd rank. The tail is about two inches long,
and the leg'^, feet, and claws are black. Ix has on'y
three toes, by which it may be diftinguiQied from other
birds of thii- kind.

The DUNLIN, fo called in the North of Erglan/,
is blackifli on the middle of the belly, and waved with
whi e. All the upper parts are red, and marked with
large black fpots, with a little white. It h of the laze
©f the Jack Snipe,, and has a black bill and feet; and
the hinder toe is very fhort.

The STINT, called in Suffex the Ox Eye, is of the
fjze of a common Lark, or a little bigger, is ofi:he
fhape of the- Snipe, and has a bill like it, but black, and
an inch and a qua:ter long. The feet are brown, or of
a black in green, and the colour on the upper part, ex-
cept the prime feathers of the wing , aiid the firil row
of the covert feathtrs, is a p-ddifh afh colour, with
black fp.-t^ in tbe m-ddle of the wings. In this snd
other bird- of thi> kind the vvings are hng, reaching to
the end oF tlie rail when they are ciofed. Thit part of
the v.'ings which is under the covert fcther.- h white,
and the reft are brown. 1 hey haunt the fci-Oiores and-
fly together in fiocks.

'i he SI IN 1 , of Aldrcv annus, isof the fame colour*

i^ith the former, only it is adorned with a white ta-ip

P 6 v.ith

f^.

324- THE NATURAL HISTORY
with black lines running crofs it. The body is of the
fame fhape, but it differs in the bill, for where it joins to
the head it is thickifh, and grows fmaller gradually to
the point ; likewife the legs are a little longer and more
thick.

CHAP. XXXVI.

Of Cloven-Footed Water-Foivls that live uptm Infers,
'with Jhort Bills.

'T^HE LAPWING, called in the North of Fng-^
J- landz PEE-WIT, from its particular cry, weigh*
about eight ounces, and is thirteen inches and a half in
length from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail ;
but its breadth, when the wings are extended, is twenty-
one inches. There is a creft on the hinder part of the
licad, confiding of about twenty feathers, fome of which
are three or four inches long ; and the top of the head,
above the creft, is of a (hining black ; but the cheeks
are white. The neck, underneath is black, nearly in
the fhape of a half-moon, whofe horns terminate on
each fide of the neck. The breaft and belly are white ;
and the feathers under the tail arc of a bright bay, but
above of a deeper bay j thofe next them are dufky,
and yet fiiine pretty much. The middle of the back,
and the feathers on the fhoulders are of a gloffy green,
with a purple fpot on each fide of the wings. The neck
js of an afh colour, with a mixture of red, and the wings
are white and black ; but the le/Ter covert feathers are
purple, mottled with blue and green. The tail is a
mixture of white and black, and the bill is black, hard,
roundifh, and an inch in length ; but the feet are red-
dilh and long. It builds its neft on the ground, in the
zniddlc of fome field or heath, open and expofed to view;
and it lays four or five eggs of a dirty yellow, fprinkled
with g^eat black fpo.3. The young ones forfake lh«
ncft as foon as they are batched, and follow the old ones

Uke

O F B I R D S. 323

like chickens. This bird, the farther you go from her
neft, the more clamorous fhe is, and keeps a greater
noife ; but the nearer, the quieter, and feems lefs con-
cerned. Some keep them in gardens, in the fummer
time, to clear them of worms and other infedts. In the
winter they fly together in flocks, but are fcattered
about in the fummer.

The GREEN PLOVER is as big, or bigger than
a Lapwing, and weighs about nine ounces. Its length,
from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail is eleven
inches, and its breadth, when the wings are extended,
is twenty-four inches. The plumage on the head, neck„
ftioulders, back, and in general of the whole upper Me
is black, thick fet with yellowifti green fpots ; the
middle part of each feather is black, fpotted with
yellowilh green on the edges ; but the bread is brown,
fpotted with yellowifh green, and the belly white.
The tail is fhort, and of the fame colour as the back ;
and the back toe is wanting, by which it is diftinguifned
from other birds of this kind. The legs are long, bare
above the knee ; ai^d the feet are black. The flefh i»
accounted a great delicacy.

The GREY PLOVER is twelve inches long from
the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, and the breadth^
when the wings are extended, is tvventy-foar inches.
The head and back, and leiTer covert feathers of the
wings are black, with tips of a greenifh grey. The
wings are white and black, and the bill likewife is
black. The chin is white, and the throat marked with
brown oblong lines or fpots, and there are tranfverfe
lines or fpaces on the tail, mottled with white and
black. The flefh is as good as that of the former.

The American SPOTTED PI,OVER is of the
fame fize, make, and proportion with our Green Plo-
ver, and has a black bill bending a little downwards
towards the point. The forehead is white almoft to
the bill, and is parted from it by a line of black feathers.
There is a white line on each fide, that pafl'es above the
eye, and then down on each fide of the neck, which
join before like a collar, parting the neck and breaft.
The under fide of the head and throat above it are
ffhiv^, and the top of the head, hinder part of the neck^

326 THE NATURAL HISTORY
the back, rump, and covert feathers of the wings are of
a dark biown, very beautifully fpottcd \vi h a bright
ydlovA'u orange. The greater quilib of the wings are
of a duficy b!ack, and rhc quiJh next the back, and the
tail featiicrs arc variegated tras.fverfely with black and
brown. 'I he whole under fide is of a deep bla k, ex-
cept a few white fpots on the covert feathers under the
tail. There are only three toes, which iland all for-
ward, and the legs and feet are black.

The C!?An BRING f LOVER of Ca/e/iy, called
by the inhai itant oi Virginia Kill-Deer, is of the
iize of a Snipe with large e)es, furrounded with a red
circle ; the lore part of ihe head is whi:e, the top black,
and the hinder partbrov.n 1 here is a black flreak
which nin^ from the root of the bill, under the eye, to
the back part of the head on each fide There is a large
black ring about the neck, and the bread ano belly are
white; bus the brtafl is traverfed with a black itreak,
which runs from one wing to the other; The
back and wings are brown, and of a deeper colour at
the top. The covert feathers of the tail are of a red-
dilh yellow, and the ether part is black, as well as the
legs. These is no heel, and the thighs are naked.

The DOT 1 ERF.LL is abouc tea inches in length,,
from the tip of the biH to the end of the tail ; and the
breadth i nineteen inches when the wings are extended.
It weighs four ounces, and the bill is an inch long,.
7'he h^ad is vaviegated with white anu black fpots, and
the Ireaft is of a dirty yc;lla\\rfti colour ; but the beily is
white. The back is variegated with alli colour and-
black ; the featteis being i^lack near tiu; (hafts, and afh-
coloured on the edges. The wings are mottled with:
white and black, and the legs are of a dirty greenilh co-
lour.

The Dot tereil is a very foolifh bird, and is taken
in the night by the light of a caiu-le. ii the fowler*
ftrttche-. out an arm, this bud will liretch out a 'wng ;•
if he move.'- a foo', the Dttterell will do the iame; and,
in fhtrt, imitates the lowltr in all it can ; an^i ib io in ent
upon !t,. that it is eajly taken in a net. i hey breed in
Vorjalk r.nd other pares ^i England ; and the folly of tliii'
b>;d hat occaliojied iidy people to;bs called DotterelUi

O F B I R D S. 527

however, tlie fleih is very good and delicate. They
leave the marfhes twice a year, namely, in Jpriizud Au-
guji; and fly in flecks ^o hilly places in quelt of food.
When their ftomachshave been opened, they have been
found full of very fmall beetles, and little fnails.

The TURN-STONE, or Sea Dottereil, is a
Cornjjh bird, frequenting the fea-coaits of that county.
The bill is fcrait, black, and near an inch long, thick
at the bafe, {harp at the point, fomewhat flat, and harder
than that of a Snipe ; the upper part of the body, except
the back, which is white, and the top of the breaft is of
a brown colour ; the middle of the feathers being black,
or of a blackifh purple with afh-coloared edges, or of
a reddifli white. 1 he lower parts, except the breaft,
are as white as fnow; and on the rump there is a large
trsnfverfe black mark. Near the joint of the wings
there is a white fpot, and the lower half of the fea-
thers of the tail are white, bu: the upper black. The
legs are fliort, and of the colour of fa.fron.

The American TURN-STONP: has a firait
fharp-pointed bill, which is a little arched on the under
fide, the better to enable it to turn up Hones and c]od5,
that it may feed on worms, and infers under them..
The bill is black, except at the bafe of the lower chap,
where it is of a fiefh colour. The head is pied with-
white and black, that is, there is a black line pafles over
the forehead from eye to eye, and proceeding to the fore
part of the eyes, forms a large fpot under them, which
runs to the comer of the mouth. There are black lines
proceeding from thefe fpots down the fides of the throat,
and joining there to a black collar that encompafles the
neck behind, and covers the breaft a good way be-
fore, pauing on the fides, under the joints of the wings.
The lower part of the neck is white, and the back is
covered with orange feathers, black,, or dulky in the
middle. 1 he lov\er part of the back is white, below
which is a haif-moon-like pht of black feathers ; but be-
yond theie, the covert feathers on the upper fide of the
tail are white; and thofe on the tail are black tipped
with white. '1 he oucermcft pr'me q 'ills are black,
wixh white. fliafis ; and the ne.<t are black, with white
tips*,- 'i'he fucceeJing are alnvjfl white, and thofe t! at

fill

528 THE NATURAL HISTORY

fall over the ramp are orange and black, as well as the
back. Between the back and wings there is a longifh
plat of white feathers, and the belly and fides are white.
The legs and feet are of a bright orange ; but the claws
are black, and the legs are bare of feathers a little
above the knees.

The SEA LARK is alittle bigger than the Common
Lark, being eight inches and a half long, and the bill
is not an inch long, and of a gold colour below and
black above. The bafe of the bill is furrounded with
a black ring or fpace, which runs from the corners of
the mouth by the eyes, as far as the ears, and acrofs the
middle of the head, where it encircles a fillet or broad
fpace of white, which runs from the inner corner of one
eye to the other. The under part of the throat is white,
and round the neck there runs a fine collar, or double
ring, the upper part of which is white, and the lower
pretty broad and black; the reft of the body is of a dark
afh colour, except the breaft and belly, which are white.
The legs and feet are of a yellow or orange colour, with
black claws, and the tail is two inches long. The back
and leiTer covert feathers of the wings are of an afh
colour, and the wings are black, croffed with a long
tranfverfe line. It builds its neft with grafs, ftraw, and
the ftalks of plants, upon the rocks near the fea, and
lays greenifh eggs fpotted with brown. It makes but
fhort flights, but runs exceeding fv/iftly along the fhorc.
It is common upon moft of the fea-coafts in England,
and is faid to feed upon beetles and fmall infedts.

The First JUNCO of Aldro'vandus is of the fize of
a Sparrow, and has a black, channel'd, hard, and ex-
tremely crooked bill. The 'head, on the top, as well
as the neck and belly, are of a chefnut colour; but the
under part of the neck and breaft are whitiih. Th«
©ther parts of the body are of a blackilh brown.

CHAP.

O F B I R D S. 329

CHAP. XXXVII.
Of Cloven-Footed Fo^hy that fwim in the Water,

THESE fort of birds have a fmall head and a fhort
bill, a little crooked ; and the body is fhortifh,
flender, and flat at the fides. The wings are very
ihort, and like thofe of dunghill cocks. The tail is
ihort, the legs long, and the toes very long. They fly
but a little way at a time.

The Common WATER-HEN, or MOOR-HEN,
is in ihape like a Coot, or fmaller ; for the cock
weighs only fifteen ounces, and the hen twelve. The
length, from the tip of the bill to the end of the claws,
is feventeen inches ; but to the end of the tail thirteen
inches and a half. The breadth, when the wings are
extended, is twenty-two inches and a half, and the
bill is near an inch long. The lower chap, as far as
the corner, is of a whitifli yellow, and then red ; the
upper is not quite To yellow at the extremity ; but from
the noftrils to the bald place on the top of the head, it
is of a deep red. The rednefs, where it ends on the
bill, is as it were covered with bees-wax, which may
be fcraped off. The legs are greenifh, and from the
rife of the wings along the bafe there is a white line,
that runs the whole length to the very extreme feathers »
The back and covert feathers of the wings are of the
colour of rufty iron; but it is black every where
elfe on the upper parts. The breall is of^ a lead
colour, and the belly of an afh ; but under the tail the
feathers are white, which it Ihews by often lifting
up its tail as itfwims. The legs, above the knees, are
marked with a red fpot. It builds its neft upon low
trees and ihrubs by the water-fide, and breeds twice or
thrice in a fummer. The eggs are white with a green-
ifh call, and fpeckled with reddifh fpots. It ftrike*
with its bill like a hen, fits on thick boughs by the water
fide, and flies with its feet hanging down^

^ The

530 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The WATER-RAIL, by fome called a BILCOCK,
or BROOK-OUZEL, is like a Water-Hen, but
lefs ; and it is bigger than a Quail, being of a {lender,
narrow, or compreffed body. Its length, from the tip of
the bill to the end of the tail, is twelve inches ; but to
the end of the claws fixteen inches. The breadth, when
the wings are extended, is fixteen inches, and the head
is fmall, narrow, and comprefTed fideways; and its bill
is two inches long, and is llrait, compreffed fideways,
red, fmooth, and hard; having a black, round, bald
fpot, or naked f^^in, in the forehead, but much lefs than
in the Coot. The plumage and the upper part of the
body is blackifh, mottled with a fort of a dirty yellow,
or olive colour. The chin is white, the throat reddilh,
with a mixture of afh-colour; but the breaft is more of
an afh-colour, and in the middle there is a white fpace.
The feathers are white under the tail as in the former ;
but the principal charadterillick of this bird is, its
having black feathers on the thighs and fides, beauti-
fully variegated with white lines. There is alfo a white
line that runs along the bafe of the wings, as in the
Moor-hen. The tail is fhort and black ; but the edges
of the two middle feathers are red. The feet are of a
fiefh colour, and it runs very fwifily, hiding itfelf about
the banks of rivers. It walks rather than Iwims in the
water, and flies with its feet hanging down.

The WATER-RAIL oi Aldro'va^i^us agrees in moft
things with this bird; but it differs rn the bill, which
is in part yellowifh both above and below, and the neck
and head are blackifli. The'back 2nd upper part of the
wings are of a chefnut colour ; but the legs are greenifh.
Mr. Ray takes it to be a bird of the former kind, becaufe
the legs, in thefe fort of birds, differ in the cocks and
bens.

The Little American WATER-HEN is, in
fhape and colour, fomewhat like 01 r Water-rail, but a
little lefs, and differs from it chiefly in having the bill
but half the length of that of the Rail. This isllrait,
thick at the bafe, and terminates in a point ; and the
noftrils are in grooves near the edges of the upper chap.
The bill is yellow, and encompafTed with black fea-
rers at the bafe. The fides of the head, of the neck,

and

O F B r R B S. 351

aiid the brcaft, are of a blue afn colour; and the top of
the head, hinder part of the neck, back, wings, and
tail are brown, only the middle of the feathers is tinc-
tured with biackiih fpots. The coverts of the wings
are brown; fome of the middle quills have whitifti edges.
Tiie edges of the wings are white, as well as the belly
and thighs, with a faint (hade of brown. The legs and
feet are large in proportion, and of a dull green colour.
The toes are long ; and the middle toe is of an equal
length with the leg below the knee. It is bare of fea-
thers above the knees. Mr. Catejhy has defcribed the
hen of this bird, as Mr. Edvoards thinks ; and this diifert
chiefly from it, in having a blueilb neck and breaft, a
black throat, and a ring round its bill.

The VELVET RUNNER is a remarkable bird,
being finely coloured with black and red, almoft.over
tlie whole body, except the belly, which is white. The
black colour iliines like filk, and the legs are high, and
of adufky colour, with pretty long feet.

The Lesser MOOR-HEN of Aldronjandus is, hf
X\ Italians, called GRINETTA and GILLERDINE.
It is the leaft of all thefe fpecies, and is pretty much of
the fame colour as the Water- Rail, only on the mid-
dle of the back there is a black ilripe fprinkled with
white fpots, and two others near it on the covert feathers
of the wings. On the fpine, or bale of the wings, from
the Hioulders to the outer quill feathers, there is a white
line as in the commonWater-Hen; from which it may be
diflinguiihed, as well as from the Water-Rail, by its
fhiallnefs, and by the Ihortnefs of its bill ; but the
fhape in other refpeds is alike. The length, from the
tip of the bill to the end of the claws, is thirteen inches,
but to the end of the tail nine inches and a half, and it«.
breadth is fixteen inches.

The Oker-coloured WATER-HEN oi Gefncr,
called by the Germans WyNKERNEL,is almoft all over
of a dirty dark greenifh colour ; but the lower parts are
more brown. The head, neck, breaft, and wings are
marked with white points and fpots, and the tail is part
of it white. The bill is partly blackiilij and pardy crim-
fon, but the legs are yellow,

Th^

a32 THE NATURAL HISTORY |

The Brazilian MOOR-HEN, called JACANA*
by Marcgrwve, is of the lize of a Pigeon, with legs of'
a yellowilh green, but the hind toe is of an enormous
length. The tail is Ihort, and the colour on the back,
wings, and belly is green, mottled with black. The
neck and breaft are coloured like the neck of Peacocks ;
but the under part of the tail is white. The bill, from
the beginning to the middle, is of a fine red ; but the
remainder is of a yellowifh green. The head is covered
with a membranaceous tegument of the colour of a
Turkey ftone. There is another Brajilian Water-hen,
named Aguapecaca, which, for fhape and fize,
is like the former ; but the colour of the wings is more
brown, and it wants the tegument or cover on the head ;
but it has a horn on each wing, with which it defends
itfelf.

The third B r a s i l i a n WATER-HEN of Marcgra've
is like the former both in fize and fhape ; but the whole
upper part is brown; except the wings, which
are green, with brown extremities. The lower
parts are alfo brown, and the bill is ftrait, of a faffron
colour, with a reddilTi fkin on the bafe and foreparts of
the head. It has alfo a horn on each wing like the for-
mer, and of a yellow colour.

The fourth Brasili an MOOR-HEN ofMarcgra^vi
is of the fame fhape as the former, with a yellow bill,
and on the forepart of the head, near the bafe of the bill,
there is a red fkinny cover. The whole head, neck,
and fome of the lower parts of the body, are black ; but
the upper, except the wings, are of a reddifh colour, or
light brown. The prime feathers of the wings are of a
fca-green colour, with black extremities ; and the feet
are of an aih-colour. On each wing there is a fmall
little horn, which is very fharp, and of a faffron colour.
The Small Water MOOR-HEN o^ Marcgra've,
called T AMATIA in Brafil, has a large head and eyes,
and a bill two inches long and an inch broad, like a
Duck's, but Iharp at the tip. The upper chap is
blackiih, and the lower yellowifti ; but the feet and
toes, which are long, are of a greeniih yellow. ThQ
head is black, and the reft of the body brown, but
mixed with whitiih feathers on the belly.

Tha

Pa^^.^JS

,^/au^^i^/v

C/?Tyn^a^u{^?'^ y^

IIh?eu^iJcy-

O F B I R D S. 335

The Purple WATER-HEN is all over of a blue-
ifh colour, except the extremity of the middle part of
the tail, which is of a whitifh alh-colour, and the bill
and legs are of a ihining purple. Mr. Ray is in doubt
whether there is fuch a bird in being or not.

The American Purple WATER-HEN crows in
the night time in the manner of a Cock, and is of a
dark purple colour, with fome white feathers intermixed.
The bill is pale at the beginning ; but in young birds
it is red, as well as the bald part about the bill. It is
pretty much like a Coot, and its legs are yellow, in-
clining to green, and the iris of the eyes is alfo yellow.
The flefh is pleafant and well tailed.

The Italian RAIL of Aldro'vandus differs from a
Coot, in being whiter about the wings and on the
eyes. The bill is black, the legs greenilh, and the
webs between the toes not fo cloven ; but there is no
baldnafei»*a»-could be perceived from its pi6lure. The
Ago LIN, or ik/fArzV«« Water Quail, is a kind of Moor*
hen.

The Bengal WATER-RAIL, fo called becaufe it
is a native of that country, is of the fize of an Engitjh
Water-Rail, and has a long yellow bill. There is a
fine white circle round the eyes, which terminates in a
point on the back part of the head. The upper part of
the head is white ; but the fides and the neck are of a
-darkifh brown. Some parts of the back, and the un-
der parts of the body are white ; but fome of the quill-
feathers of the wings are of a fine purple, fpeckled with
orange fpots. The tail is much of the fame colour, but

ery ihort, and the legs and feet are of a greenilh yel-
low, being bare of feathers above the knees, and th«
ciaws are black.

CHAP.

334 1'KE NATURAL HISTORY

CHAP. XXXVJII.

Gf Water-Fowls t^at are Clo'ven-footedy nvith thi
Addiion of a Mefnbrane.

THE Common COOT, or BLACK DIVER,
is larger than the common Water-Hen ; for it
weighs twenty-four ounces, and its length, from the
tip of the bill to the end of the tail, is fixteen inches,
but to the end of the claws twenty-two inches -, like-
wife the breadth, when the wings are extended, is two
feet and a half. The bill is an inch and a half long,
Hiarp at the point, and white, with a fmall tincture of
blue. The feet are blueifli, or of a du Iky green, and
about the joints of the toes there are femicircular mem-
branes, two on the inner toe, three on the middle, and
four on the outer toe; or they may be defcribed thus:
the three fore toes have lateral membranes on each fide
fcalloped ; the inner with two, the middle with three,'
and the outer toe with four fcallops. From the bill,(
^Imoll tp the crown of the head, there is an excrefcence^
or fleihy lobe, bare of feathers, and foft, fraooth, and*
round; hence by fome it is called the Bald Coot.
The colour, all over the body, is very black, and the
head is of a jet black. The breaft and belly are of a-
lead colour ; and its make and ihape refemble a Moor-
Hen. This bird is feldom out of the water, and it'
builds its neft among rufhes, fedges, and reeds, which-
lye in the water. It lays eggs as big as thofe of a Hen.
The Greater SEA COOT of Behmus, called by
the French Diable de Mer, that is, tJieSEA Devil,
is a little larger than the former, and is much like it
in rtiape, only the bald fpot on the head is fomewhat
broader. The colour is fo fine a black all over, that
it feems to have been laid on with a pencil. It has broad
toes like thofe of tie Coumow Coot.

The

O F B I R D S. 355

The Mexican COOT agrees, in all refpe^bs, with
the former, only the colour is difFerent ; for below, as
well as on the head and neck, it is of a purple colour,
and above of a light green, mottled with blue and taw-
ny. The bill is as white as fnow, only near the point
it is yellow.

The COOT of HudfirCs Bay^ mentioned by Mr.
Ed<wardsi has the end of the upper jaw a little crooked,
and the neck is partly of a flelh colour ; but the head is
of an afh-colour. The body is brown above and white
below, and on each wing there is a white fpot ; the legs
are brown.

The Smyrna COOT is of the fize of a Crow, amf
of an a(h-colour, with a narrow Urait bill, which .turns
a little downwards. The forehead is bald, the noftrils
placed in the middle of the bill, which are pretty open and
large. Thejaws are not dentated, but there are fmall
foft teeth in the throat, four behind, three in the mid-
dle, and two forward, placed all in a line* The tongue
is round at the end, membranous, raifed a little at the
bafe, where it is dentated. The feet are but three inches
from the vent, and there are four toes on the feet;
that is, three before and one behind ; but that in the
middle is longer than the reft. The claws are oblong,
a little crooked at the end, and pointed. In the wings
tliere are nine large feathers, the firft of which is fliorter
tlian the following ; but the fecond and third are very
long, and the reil become gradually more fhort. The
tail IS round at the end, and the colour of the neck,
back, ihoulders and tail is black, with a white line
running from the beginning of the fhoulders along the.
edges of the wings. The belly, brtaft, and rump are
of a dark alh-colour, and the wings blackiih above, andi
a light afli-colour below. The bill is black and white, ,
and the feet black. The length of this Coot, when^
the wings are extended, is a foot and an inch j but the
teiU is only two inches long.

CHAP.

336 THE NATURAL HISTORY

CHAP. XXXIX.
Of Web-footed Water-Fowht ivith a ttamiAj BilL

THE AVOSETTA of the Italiam is a bird fre-
quently met with in England, though we cannot
learn its Englijh name. It is called Recurvirostra in
Latin, from its bill, which turns upwards, and is about
the fize of a Pigeon ; but tall, and of a very flender
make. The length, from the tip of the bill to the end
of the tail, is fourteen inches ; and its weight about nine
ounces. The bill is black, flat, and Iharp at the end,
turning a little upward like a hook, and is about four
inches long. It has a fine ftately pace or gait in walk-
ing, and has a round head, black on the top, and a lit-
tle way down the back part of the neck. The body is
entirely white on the under fide, and likewife the back
and covert feathers of the wings are white, and full of
dufky brown fpots. The legs are long, and of a bright
azure colour; but bare of feathers above the knees;
and the claws are black and very fmall. Its back toe is
alfo fmall, and it has a chirping pert note. The feet
are webbed like a Duck.

There is a bird in North Holland, with a bill which
turns up like that of the Avosetta ; but the greateft
part of the neck is red, in which it differs from that
bird.

The ALBATROSS is an j^frican water fowl, and
one of the largeft of this kind. The body is very thick,
•ndthe wings long, they being near ten feet wide when
extended ; die bill is yellowilh, and pretty narrow next
the head, that is narrower than the other part, and it
terminates in a crooked point. The noftrils are very
plain to be feen, and the top of the head is of a bright
brown, inclining to an aih-colour ; but the reft of the
head, neck, breaft, belly, thighs, the under part of
the tail, and the infide of the wings are white. Behind
the deck, and on the fides, there are duiky lines on a

white

I

O F B I R D S. 337

white ground ; and the back is of a dirty brown, varie-
gated with fmall lines, and feme black fpots, or rather
of a lead colour. The rump is of a bright brown, the
tail blueilh, inclining to black, and fo are the wings,
except the quill feathers, which are all entirely black ;
but the upper edges of the wings are white, and the
legs and feet are of a flefh colour. It has three toes on
each foot joined by a membrane.

The FLAMJNGO is a Weji-Indian bird, as large as
a Swan, and has longer legs in proportion, than nwfl
other birds, though they are not thicker than a man's
finger. They are fixteen inches long from the feet to
tJie knee, and from the knee to the body almoft as much.
They are all over red as well as the feet, and it has a
fmall round neck in proportion to its fize, of a yard \x
length. The head is round and fmall, with a large bill
fix or feven inches long, partly red and partly black, and
crooked like a bow, with which it feeks its food at the
bottom of the water, fuch as fea-worms and fmall filh.
When this bird is feen flying in the air, the colour ap-
pears as bright as a burning coal; but it muil be od-
ferved that the young are much lighter than the old, and
that they grow of a deeper red a» they advance in age.
The wings of fome have a 'n:::ture of red, black, uud
white feathers, which fome take to be the cocks.

Thefe birds have fo loud a note, that one not ufed te
it would take it for the found of a trumpet. They are
not very common, and they always frequent fait lakes,
where there are feveral of them together. They keep
their heads almotl always in the water in queft of food, not
much unlike our fwans. They have always one ftands
ccntinel, quite upright, and the neck ftretched out, as
it were looking about. As foon as it perceives any on?,
it founds its tr.mpet to alarm the reft, flying away firll,
and all the reft follow. They fly in order like Cranes,
but v/hen they can be furprized, they are eafily killed,
for the fmalleft wound prevents their flying away.
1 he flelh is excellent, though it has a fiihy fmtU ; and
its tongae is thouglit to be one of the moft delicious
morfcls in the world. They take off the ikin, which
ferves to make muffs ; and it k faid to be good againlt
cold humours, and weaknefs of the ftoniach.

VoL.n, Q^ Tke

338 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The African FLAMINGO is of the fize of «
Swan, but the neck is a great deal longer. This, as
well as the head, is as white as fnow, and its bill is
very large, and furnilhed with fmail iharp teeth. The
upper chap is hooked, and much longer than the low-
er ; which, however, is much more thick and hollow.
The tongue is thick and fat, 2nd exactly fills up the
cavity of the bill. The point of the bill is black ; but
the other part of a deep blue. The wing feathers are
black below, but above they are of a bright red, and
the legs are of an orange colour, twice as long as thofe
of Swans. The feet are like thofe of Geefe. lliefe
birds are very common at the Cape of Good Hope, and in
the day time they keep on the banks of lakes and rivers,
but in the night they retire to the mountains. The
flefh is good and wholefome, and the tongue has the
tafte of marrow.

Dar/:pier, who faw feveral Flamingoes at the Cape
de Verd Iflands, fays, they are much like a Hercn in
Ihape and figure, and of a reddilli colour, and that they
delight to keep together in great companies, and feed in
mud or ponds, or in fuch places where tliere is not much
Avater. They are very fhy, arid therefore it is hard to
fhoot them ; however, he and two more killed fourteen
in one day. They build their neft in Ihallow ponds,
where there is much mud, which they fcrape together,
making little hillocks like fmall iflauds, rifmg out of
the water a foot and a half high ; and at the top, which
is the fmallell part, they make a fort of a pit to lay their
eggs in. When they lay their eggs, or hatch them,
they ftand not on the hillock, but clofe by it, with
their legs on the ground, and in the water, covering
the hollow nefis with their rumps only ; for their legs
are very long, and prevent their fitting conveniently on
their n'eft with their legs under them. They never lay
more than two eggs, and the young ones cannot fly till
they are full grown ; but will run prodigioully fall.
The flelh is lean and black, and yet is very good meat,
and their tongues are large, having a large knob of fat
at their root, which is an excellent bit. When many of
them are fecn together at a confiderable diftance, they
appear like a brick wall, the feathers being of the co-
lour

O F B I R D S. 339

lour of new red bricks. They ftand upright in a row
clofe by each other, unlefs when they are feeding.
The young ones are at firft of a light grey, and as the
wing-feathers fpring out, they grow daiker, and never
come to their right colour, or beautiful fhape, till they
are ten or eleven months old. The chief difference be-
tween thefe two kinds feems to confill in the colour of
the wings ; but whether this will make them two di-
iHnft fpecies or not, we muft leave to the reader ; how-
ever it will not be amifs to obferve, that the American
Flamingo feems to be much taller than the y^r?Vrt«
Ray informs us, that they are fometimes feen in ?>V-
bonne and ?ro<vence in the winter time.

The TROCHiLUS, commonly called the CORRI-
RA, has thelongelt legs of ail web-footed fowls except
the Flamingo and Avosetta. The feathers are of
. feveral colours, and the bill is ftrait, yellow, and black
at the ends. The pupils of the eyes are furrounded with
two circles, one of which is bay, and the other white.
Below, near the belly, it is whitifh, and the tail has two
white feathers, which are black at the extremities ; and
the upper part of the body is of the colour of ruHy iron.

C H A P. XL.

Cy Web -FOOT ED FoixjU ^.dth fnorter legs.

AL L web-footed fowls, except the former, liave
lliort legs, u'hich are covered with feathers to
the lecond joint, and the hinder toes are ihort ; but the
outer before is Ihorter than the inner, and they do not
hold their tails up fo high as other birds.

The PENGUIN is of the fize of a Goose, and the
feathers arefomewhat like hairs, and are of an alh-co-
lour. The wings are very Ihort in proportion to die
body, and the bill is black, but the legs are of a bright
green. They keep in the water all the day, where they
teed upon filh. As they cannot fly, they canndt Ihun
their enemies, except by leaping along, which they do
Q 2 ;-:reL y

3^0 THE NATURAL HISTORY

pretty weli by the help of their fhort wings. However
diis bird is adive upon the water, and leems to
be very f<.ilful in catching its food. When the fun be-
gins to fet, they retire to the rocks near the fea, where
they continue till morning ; at which time they are ea-
fily taken. They build their nells upon the rocks, on
the craggy point, to which thefe birds can get up very
cafdy. Their eggs are very good ; but the flefh has a
fiihy talle, and is never eaten but in cafes of great
neceffity.

This bird is common near the Cape of Good Hope, bdt
as they are found in different parts of the world, it is
very hard to fay whether they are all of the fame fpecies
or not. Dampier fays he has feen them on the coaft of
Nervufoutidlandy all over the South Seasy and at the Cap€
of Good Hope, He fays they are about as big as a Duck,
have feet like them, and feed upon filh. They do not
fly, but flutter, their wings being like thofe of young
Goflings, which they make ufe of inllead of fins in the
water. As to the feathers, he fays they are downy.
Captain Cooke fays, that thofe that he faw at the illand
of Lohoi^ in the South Sea, are near as big as a Goofe,
having -two iins inflead of wings, and fcales under the
belly and on the thigh, with feet like Ducks. Clufus
affirms they are without wings, in the room of which
they have two fmall coriaceous fins hanging down on
their fides like arms, which are, however, covered with
feathers. Others fay that the bill is like that of a Ra-
zor-bill, but longer and broader, being black and flat
on the fides, with feven or eight furrows, or notches,
near the end of the upper chap, and ten in the lower.
There is a white line on each fide the head from the bill
to the eyes, or rather white fpaces, as fome authors de-
fcribe them, which lock at a diflance like fpedlacles. In
fhort, there is fuch various accounts of them in various
writers, that it is highly probable they are of diffe-
rent forts; efpecially as fome affirm that they have
a hind toe, and others that they want it.

The RAZOR-BILL, fo called in the Wefl oi England,
but in CorniAiall the MURRE, is lefs than a common
Duck, though twenty-feven inches in length ; and has
the upper part of the body quite black, but the lower

white.

O F B I R D S. 341

white. The bill is black, comprefTed, narrow, and
tv«/o inches and a hdf in length. The upper chap is
extreamly crooked, channelled, with two furrows, and
fometimes three, which run acrofs ; that next the hcdd,
v/hich almoll crofTes the bill, is white ; and froni each
eye to the corner of die upper chap there is awhite line.
^i'he eggs are larger in proportion than in other bird^,
and they build their nefts in inaccelhble rocks and
broken cliffs. Where they go to pafs the winter is un-
known hitherto. The inner part of the mouth is ot a
fine yellow, the eyes arc hazel, and the legs, feet,
and toes are black. The eggs are fpotted with black.

The GUILLEMOT, or SEA I^EN, called in
York/hire '2l SCOUT, and \\\Cornv:aU a KIDDAW,
is like a Razor Bill, but larger ; and the upper part
of the body is of a blackifh adi-colour. It difiers chief-
ly in the bill, which is almoil three inches long, ftrait,
rcundilh, fharp at the end, and black all over. It fre-
quents and builds its neil in the fam^ places as the
Razor -Bill ; but it is a niore foolilTi bird, and euiily
taken.

The PUFFIN, <o caHcd in Ncrth If ales, hut In
South Wales GULDEN -HiiAD, C DrTLL-NOSr,
and HELEGUG. In the North of England, aboi.t
theriverT*^^, they term it a COULTERNEB, but about
Scarborough a MULLET, and in Cor«T^fl//aPOPE. It
is iefs than the tame Duck, being only twelve inches in
length from the tip of the bill to the end of the claws.
The bill is fhort, broad, and compreiTed fide ways,
contrary to thofe of Ducks ; it is likewife of a triangular
fliape, and ends in a fliarp point ; there are three furrows
therein, one of which is livid, and the other two red.
The feet are yellow, or red, and placed backwards al-
moft level with the belly ; infomuch that this bird feems
to walk perpendicular on its tail. They have no hinder
toe, and the top of the head, neck, back, and tail are
black ', but the bread and belly are white. Their wings
are fmall, being made up of fnort feathers , and yet
they can fly very fwiftly near the furface of the water.
They build no neft, but lay their eggs on the bare
ground, in holes which they dig therein. Sometimes
they make ufe of rabbit-holes, driving the owners out
Q.3 of

342 THE NATURAL HISTORY

of them, and lay but one eggy unlefs it be taken away,
and then they lay another, and fo on to a fifth. It is
as large as a Duck eggy and of a reddiih or Tandy
colour.

The Greenland DOVE, or SEA TURTLE,
is of the fize of a Pigeon, and has a large wliite
Ipot or fpace on the upper part of each wing, and
their under part is alfo white ; but in other places
they are black like thofe of a Coot. The bill is
longer than in the preceding, and is not comprefied on
the fides ; but lliarp and a little crooked, and promi-
nent at the point. It has its name from the noife that it
makes, which is faid to be almoft like that of a Pigeon.
They dive often under water, and continue there a long
while. They do not fly in flocks, but commonly two
and two together. They fly almoft like a Partridge,
fluttering greatly with their wings near the furface of
the fea. i hey build their nefls in the rocks of Green^
land and Spitsbergen ^ which are countries always cover-
ed with fiiow, 'I'hefe three lall birds have but three
toes on each foot.

The PELICAN is, in length, from the tip of the
bill to the end of the tail, five feet, and it weighs near
eighteen pounds ; and fome fay they have met with
thofe that have weighed twenty-five pounds. The bill,
which is hooked like a claw, is, from the tip to the
corners of the mouth, fourteen inches in length ; and
the feathers are almoft like thofe of a Goose, being
whitiih with a reddiili caft. Thofe on the top of the
1 ead are longer than the reft, and ftand up like a crelL
The tail and covert feathers of the wings are of a duiky
aih-colour, as in a Goofe ; but the ends of the quill
ftathers are black, of which there are twenty-eight in
each wing. The upper chap is flat and broad, and the
bilinear the head is of a lead colour; but ycllowilh to-
wards the ^n^. The lower chap is like two long ribs
united at the extremity ; and between them there is a
thick yellow membrane or ftin, which fome call a purfe,
which it can however draw fo clofe up to the bill, that
it is not eafily perceived ; but yet, it may be fo di-
lated as to hold near four gallons of water. It has no
tongue, and the noftrils placed at ihe upper part of

the

O F B I R D S. 343

the bill are round. The legs are bare above the knees,
and it is web-footed, having four toes. But the moil
uncommon circumftance belonging to this .bird is the
bones, which appear to be tranfparent, with many fi-
bres and veins running up and down them throughout
their whole length. Likewife, near the middle of the
ftomach, the wind-pipe is divided into two branches,
which AUronjandus fays v/as never obferved in any oth»r
bird.

The American PELICAN, called by feme the
WATER PELICAN, is like a Go6se in its feet,
body, tail, and wings, and the feathers are of a greenifli
afh-colour. The head is twice as large as that of a
Goofc, but arched, and covered with fhort white fea-
thers, which make this bird appear at a diftance as if it
was bald. Each fide of the head is flat, and there ai-e
two fmall eyes placed deep therein, which have a very
difagreeable look. The bill is above a foot long, two
inches broad, and of a greyifii colour, being fireaked
from one end to the other. The under part of the bill
confifts of two pliable flender bones, which unite at the
end, though they are feparated from each other as far as
the head, on each fide of which they fall one into the
other like a joint, or rather as the mandibles. The
ikin beneath the neck, v/hich is very thick, without
feathers, fupple, and of a grey colour, will ftretch more
than wafh-leather, and is as foft as velvet, and joins to
thefe two fmall bones, ferving as a mouth for the bag
or purfe below it. Tertre pofitively affirms, that this
bag will hold as many filh, as will ferve fix hungry
men for a meal.

As foon as the day appears, they take their flight on
the furface of the water near the fea coaft, till they have
met with a place where there is plenty of fifh. When they
have found one, they rife up a little v/ay in the air, dole
their wings, ftretch out their neck, eredl their bill, and
feem to fall down head foremoft, as if they were dead ;
and this with fuch fuccefs, that, they feldom mifs of
their prey, which they fwallow quite alive, and place
in their bag ; when this is done, they rife up with a
fecming difficulty, and then go to work again; and
0^4 thus

344 THE NATURAL HISTORY

thus they continue iifhing till they have filled their
bag. This done, they retire to the point of Tome
Tock which appears out of the water, and fit there tiU
the evening, without iHrring or moving in the lealh
Then they return to fifh as in the morning ; and after
they have got fufficient, they fiy to fome fmall illand,
which ferves for a retreat, where they fit upon trees,
though they arc web-footed like a Goofe. Their heart
is four times as large as that of a Goofe, and the fiefh
is fo filhy, that no one will touch it when he can gtt
any thing elfe. Their bones are white, fhining, al-
molt tranfparent and hollow; but without marrow.
The original natives make pipes of them, which they
value very much.

father Tachard fpeaks of a fort of this bird in his
vo) age to Siam, He informs us that its length, from
the tip of the bill to the end of the claws, was four feet
ten inches, and tJie breadth, when the wings were ex-
tended, was feven feet and a half. The upper man-
dible had crooked fharp edges, and within it had five
furrow5, of which that in the middle was largefl, and
tc:niii;i:icd in r. point. The lower mandible, to which
ihc bag was joii.ed, was net fo long by a quarter of an
inch > and the bird could extend or contiadl this part
at pleiifure. It confifted of a fielby membrane, full of
a great number of fmall veins, and was twenty-two
inches deep v/hen ftretched out. The greatcxi opening
of tiie bill was a foot and a half, and the feet were
greyiih, webbed like tiicfe of a Goofe, and were eight
inches long. The feathers on the neck were white,
ftiort, ana foft ; but thofe on the hack were grey, with
a mixture cf red. The colour of the wings was a mix-
ture of grey and white, and the prime wing feathers
v.cre black at the pnd ; the belly was white. Under
the crop thtrre are tufts of a fine whitilh grey. The
SiameJ'e make firings for their inllruments of the
bag.

The SOLAND GOOSE is of the fize of a common
GoosK, and has a long ftrait bill, of a dufky alh-
colour, and a liiilc crooked at the point ; and on both
fides the hook there is a fort of an excrefcence like a

tooth.

or BIRDS. 34-5

tooth. The mouth is large, black within, and the
tongue is fmali ; but there ^.re no noilrils. The chaps
are notched like a faw ; and the colour of thefe birds
when old is white all over, except the greater quiU
feathers of the wings, which are blackilli. The wings
are very long, infomuch that when they light on the
ground they have much ado to rife again. '1 iiey breed
in no part of Great Britain except in the frith of
Edinhu'ghy where there is a fmall rocky ifland, called
the Ba/s.

The CORMORANT is about the fize of a Goosr,
and has a very long neck. I'he colour on the upper
part is dulky, with a greenifh ihining glofs ; but the
breaft and belly are whitiih. The bill is like that of a
Shag, being three inches and a half long, and hooked
at the end, but it has little or no tongue. The legs
are ftrong, thick, ve^ry fhort, and the feet, which are
broadj flat, and webbed, have the claw of the middle
toe ferrated or notched on the infide. It builds its
neft on trees, as well as on ^he rocks, near the mouth
of the x'vjQX'Tyne, and in Wales, Jt diirers from the
Shag in the fize, and in having a membrane, or naked
yellowifh Ikin, which covers the bafc of the bill in the
fame manner as in the wild Swan.

The SHAG, called in the North of Erg/arJ a
CRANE, is a little bigger than a tame Duck, and
weighs almoft four pounds. It is in length, from the
tip of the bill to the end of the tail, thirteen inches,
and its breadth is forty-four inches when the wings are
extended. It differs from the former in being much
lefs ; in having the lower parts of a dufky colour ;
whereas, in the Cormorant it is whitiih. I.ikewife,
the number of the feathers in the tail are twelve in the
Shag, but fourteen in the Cormorant; befides,
the fkin at the bafe of the bill is not quite naked, and
the bill itfelf is near four inches long. Jt is found in
Corn^-all near the fea fhore, and about the Jfie of iJafiy
as well as in other places. It builds its neft upon
trees, and the eggs are long and white.

The SULA of Chijins is like the Soland Goose,
only it has a Iharp-pointed bill, and the colour about

0,5 tte

U^ THE NATURAL HtSTORV

the eyes is black ; likewifc the legs are more ilender,
and the feathers in the middle of the tail are black.

The TROPIC BIRD is fo called, becaufe it is no
where found except between the two Tropics. It is
as big as a Pigeon, and is as round and as plump as a
Partridge. The feathers are white in all parts, except
two or three in each wing, which are of a light grey.
The bill is thick, and as long as one's little finger, and
as red as coral, with feet of the fame colour. They
have only two feathers in the tail, about a foot long,
which are fo clofe together, that they are commonly
raiftaken for one. They fly extremely high, and are
feldom feen but at fea ; though they build their nefts in
the uninhabited iflandsof the Weji-Indies, The favages
are very fond of thefe tail feathers, and flick them in their
hair. Some fay thefe feathers are near eighteen inches
long, and that they have feen fome with white legs
and black feet. Likewife Damper affirms their bills
are of a yellowilh colour, and that they are very good
food.

The ANHINGA is a Brafilian bird, and feems to
be a kind of a Sea Coot. It is of thefizeof a Duck,
■with a ftrait Iharp bill, ferrated on each fide like a dou-
ble row of teeth. The neck is fmall, the head little,
and the legs fhort. The colour on the head and
upper part of the neck is of a yellowilh grey j but
below, and under the throat, it is quite grey, and the
reft of the lower parts is of a filver colour. It is co-
vered with brown feathers at the beginning of the back,
which have each an oblong whitilh yellow fpot ; but the.
other part is black. The prime feathers of the wings
are black, and there is one row that are black on one
fxde, and hoary on the other. The legs and feet are of
a dark yellowilh grey colour.

CHAP,

O F B I R D S. 347

CHAP. XLI.

O/' Divers, Mews, and Gulls,

DIVERS, orDUCKERS, in general have f!;rait
narrow fharp bills, little heads, and Imall wings.
The feet arc placed backwards near the tail, that they
may fwim and dive more expeditioufly. The legs are
broad and flat, and the nails broad like thofe of men.
The toes have membranes on their fides, which are
only pretty much extended in fome, but in others they
they are connected together.

The Greater Ash-coloured DIVER^or DUC-
KER has a crell on the head ; and anotlier greater
crefted Diver has not only a creft, but feems to have
horns, confifling of feathers, placed on the top of the
head and upper part of the neck, which are black
above, and ruddy belov/. The chin and fpace about
the eyes is white, and near it there is a reddifti colour.
The breail and belly are whitifh, tinctured with red,
and the wings are brown, except the leffer quill- fea-
thers, which are light. The back is blackifn, mix'ed
with a fli -coloured feathers. There is a Mexican bird,
defcribed by Hemandex, much like this, only there is a
greater creft on the head»

The DIDAPPER, or DIPPER, or DOBCHICK;
or DUCKER, or SMALL LOON, is of the fhape
of a Teal, only it is one third part lefs. It is brown
on the back, on the belly of a filver colour, but the
chin is white. The breait is of a darker colour than
the belly, and when the gi^zzaid was opened, it wis

found

348 THE NATURAL HISTORY

found full of grafs and herbs ; though, as Bellonius in-
forms us, it is fond of fifh. Thefe three Divers have
little or no tail.

The North-American horned DOBCHICK is
of the fize of a Teal, with fmall wings and larce
legs, and feet in proportion to its body. The bill
is an inoh and a quarter long, and the wing when
clofed is fix inches. The bill is fharp -pointed, with
a white tip, and the noftrils are placed in furrows.
There is a bare fldn from the corner of the mouth to
the eye of a red colour, and the head is covered with
long black feathers of a Ihining green glofs. Behind
the head there is a line of long loofe yellowifh
orange feathers, which hang a little downward, and
form a fort of a creft. The hinder part of tfie
back and neck are of a blackifh brown, and the
forepart of the neck and beginning of the bread
are of a reddifli orange, which turns a little white
on the breaft. The whole belly is of a glofTy
white, with a mixture of dirty orange near it. Jt
feems to have no tail, and the legs are placed at
the end of the body; and the thighs are fo bound
Xvithin the flcin that they cannot be moved back-
wards and forwards. The legs are flat and broad,
and the three toes have ftifF webs ; beiides there are
nails on thefe laft like thofe of a man. This bird
was brought from Hudjons Bay.

The Greatest -TAILED DIVER, or LOON,
is of the fize of a Goose ; but the fhape of the
body is longer. The tail is round, the head fmall,
and the colour on the upper part is brown, ©r of
a dark afh^olour, with white fpots, which are thin
on the neck, but more numerous on the back.
All the feathers are marked with two white fpots,
or lines, near the point. The throat, and lower
part of the neck, are hoary, and the breaft and
belly white. One of thefe birds had a black head
and neck, on the middle of which there was a
white ring, near an inch broad, made up of fmall
white fpots. Mr. Ray is apt to think this was the

cock.

3^^

//m-rtran ^Ayrrn^iJ::^

O F B I R D S. 349

cock. They are fometimes feen in England in very
hard winters.

The Newfoundland DIVER, or_LOON, is a
very large bird, for when the wings are extended
they are four feet in breadth. It has a black iharp
bill, v/hite at the point, and near iive inches long.
The head and neck are of a duflcy brown, and there
is a white fpot under its bill, and a white ring
round the neck, below which it is of a greenilh
colour. The prime feathers of each wing are black,
except the outward edges, which are white j the
brealt and belly are much of the fame colour,
and the covert feathers of the wings and back are
irregularly fpotted with white. The outer toe is
near five inches long, there being four in all, and
the feet are webbed like others of this kind. They
have be^n feen chiefly about Neiv/oundlandy where
they live altogether upon fifli.

The Black and White DIVER, with a ftiort
Iharp bill. The bill is ihort, and a little bent ; but
the upper part is all black, except a trantverfe
white line; an^ the chin, throat, and breaft are
white as far as the middle of the belly. It is web-
footed, and has a tail ; but the picture, from whence
this defcription was taken, has no hinder toe.

The Greater DIVER of Aldrcvandus, which is
frequently (tQVi in foreign countries, differs very lit-
tle from the Di DAPPER, except in the fize, which
is twice as big, and therefore it does not want a
particular defcription.

The Arctic K DIVER, called by Wormius a
LUMME, is of the fize of a Duck, and differs
from the greateft tailed Diver, in having more fpots
on the neck, and fewer on the back. Likewife,
there are two fpots on each feather of the former,
but only one in this ; befides, it has a fquare black
fpot under the neck, which is variegated with white
and black feathers, that lun round it like a
girdle.

The

350 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The American ARCTICK BIRD is rather big-
ger than a lame Pigeon, and has a bill comprelTed
Tideways, and hooked at the point, with a nail at
the end cf it, which is feparated from the other part
by a crofs furrow. The top of the head is black-
ifli, and the lides of the head, under the eyes, the
throat, neck all round, and the breaft and belly are
white ; but the legs and lower belly are of a light
alh. The lower part of the neck behind, the whole
back, the wings and the tail are of a darkifli
afh. The fhafts of a few of the outerraoft prime
quills cf the wings are white, and the wings
are very long and narrow when fpread. The tail
feathers are fnortefl: on the fides, and gradually in-
creafe in length to the two middlemoft, which are
vaftly longer, and refemble thofe of the Man of
War Bird. The legs feem to be weak, and are
bare of feathers above the knees, being of a bright
yellow colour. The feet are black, and the three
fjrward toes are webbed as in Ducks. The hinder
toe is very fmall, and the bottom of the feet are
as rough as a fifh-fkin. This bi*d was brought
from Hudfons Bay^ and Mr. Edwards takes it to be
of a dillind fpecies.

The LUMME or LUMB of Captain Marten, has
a longifh bill, which is pretty flrong and crooked;
and the feet are black, with three black toes and
nails ; the legs are alfo black and Hiort. It is
quite black on the upper parts ; but below on the
belly, as far as the neck, it is as white as fnow.
The cry is very unpleafant, nearly refembling that
of a Raven, and it is of the fize of a common
Duck, There have been fmall fifh and prawns found
in their crops, mixed with fandy ftones. They love
their young ones fo well, that they will be killed
rather than leave them ; and they fly in great flocks,
and have pointed wings like fwallows. The upper
part of the bill turns befides the under, as in the
crofs-bill, though not fo much. It is a flefliy bird,
but it is very dry and tough, and therefore not very
agreeable eating.

The

O f B I R D S. 351

The Greatest DIVER of Gefner is larger than
a Goose, and white underneath but afh coloured,
and black above. John/on has feen this bird in Etig-
land'^ and though th^re are no fpots on the back,
he thinks it to be of the fame fpecies as the great-
eji tailed DiVEK.

The RATHSHER or ALDERMAN, fo called by
Captain Marten, is a fort of a Gull or Mew, and
is a very ftately handfome bird. The bill is faarp,
narrow, and thin, and there are only three toes
joined together with a black fkin, for there are
none behind. The legs are not very long; but
they are of a black colour as well as the tyts.
This bird is fo v.'hite, that it cannot be diftinguilhed
from the fnow when it fits upon it ; and the tail
is pretty long and broad, like a fan. The note or
cry is like the word Kar, and it fpreads the wings
and tail out when it flies. It is very fond of fiih,
though it does not much care for wetting its feet ;
and it has been feen to feed on the dung of a
Sea Horse, and will reft upon its body while that
animal is living. This bird is not very Ihy, for a
man may come fo near it as to knock it on the
head with a long ftick.

The DUNG-HUNTER, called by Marten the
STRUNTGAGER, has a bill blunt at the fore-
part, a little crooked and thick. It has but three
claws, which are united by a black membrane or
(kin. The legs are not very long, and the tail, which is
like a fan, has one feather ftanding out longer than the
reft, by which it may be known from all other birds about
Spitsbergen. The top of the head is black as well as the
eyes, and about the neck there is a dark yellowifh
ring or circle. The wings and back are brown,
and the belly white. It is as big as the common
Mew, and flies after that called Kutgegehef,
and torments it fo long, that it voids its dung,
upon which this bird feeds. It alfo feeds upon the
fat of the Whale, and the place where its neft is
built is not very high. Its cry founds like /, ga,
and its flelh is very indifferent eating.

The

352 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The BURG HERM ASTER of Marten has a crooked,
yellow, narrow, thick bill, whofe under chap is fome-
vvhat knobby at the end, infomuch that it looks al-
moil as if it had a cherry in its mouth. The nof-
trils are longilh, and it has a red ring about the
eyes. Jt has but three claws, which are grey, ?.s
are alfo the legs, which are not quite fo long as
ihofe of a Stoik, and yet the body is almoft as big.
The tail is white and broad like a fan, that is,
when it is flying. The wings and back are of a
pale colour ; but the tip of the wings and the whole
body is white. It builds its neft very high in the
clefts of the rocks, and is it commonly fecn upon dead
whales, where it is eafily fhot. It feeds upon the
fat of the whale, and its cry is nearly like that of
a Raven. Jt alfo preys upon young Lambs, catch-
ing them like Hawks. This bird generally flies fm-
fle, unlefs they meet with a dead carcafe of a Sea-
orfe or Whale. It delights in refting on the wa-
ter, but does not dive very much, if at all.

The Great black and white GULL is the
largeft of all this kind ; for it weighs about feventy-fix
ounces ; and its length, from the tip of the bill to
the end of the tail, is two feet two inches; but
its breadth, when the wings are extended, is five
feet feven inches, and its bill is three inches long,
with a knob underneath the lower chap, and is of
a yellow colour, flat on the fides, and a little crook-
ed at the end. There is two fpots on the knob
on each fide, the lower of which is black, and the
upper tindlured with red. The head is large and
white, as well as the neck, breaft, belly, and tail ;
but the middle of the back, and points of the quill-
feathers of the wings are black. The legs and feet
aie white, and the nails are black. One of thefe
birds, when it was opened, had the fifli called a
Sea-fparrow in its Itomach.

The Great Grey GULL weighs about twelve
or fourteen ounces; and is, from the tip of the bill
to the extremity of the tail twenty inches long, and

the

OF BIRDS. 353

the wings, when they are extended, four feet.
The bill is black, and near three inches long,
with the upper jaw fomewhat longer than the un-
der, and bending downwards over it. The lower
has a rifing towards the extremity, and the eyes are
grey ; the noftrils are oblong, the head very large,
and the neck extremely fhort. The upper fide of
the back and neck are grey, intermixed with whitilh
brown ; and the back leathers are black in the mid-
dle, and afti-coloured towards the edges. The
wings feathers are dark brown, mixed with black ;
and the throat, breaft, belly, and Lhighs are white,
as well as the rump, with a few brown ipots inter-
fperfed. The tail is five or fix inches long, and the
outermoft tips of the feathers on the upper fides are
joined by a fort of crofs-bars near two inches broad.
The under part is variegated with a few duiky lines,
and the legs and feet are orange colour, with black
claws.

The Brown GULL is conliderably lefs than the
former, and the bill is an inch and a half long,
black towards the extremity, and the other part of a
horn colour; it is in fliape like the former. The
eyes are fmall, with yellow circles, and the noftrils
oblong ; the head, and all the upper part of the
body and wings, are of a duiky brown, except fome
of the prime feathers of the wings, which are quite
black. The belly and breall are of a lighter colour,
interfperfed with many tranfverfe brown lines. The
tail is black, the legs and feet of a brownilh yellow,
and the claws black. Jlbin fays it has not been de-
fcribcd before.

The IkisH GULL is eighteen inches long, from
the tip of the bill to the end of the claws, and forty-
four broad when the wings are extended. The under
part of the throat is dufky, and fometimes white ;
but the head, except the hinder part, is of an afli-
colour. There is a black fpot behind each eye, and
another large fpot like a half-moon on the hinder
part of the neck, which furrounds it half way. The

feathers

3,-4 THE NATURAL HISTORY
feathers on the back are alh-coloured, and thofe on
the fhoulders are variegated with black fpots. The
rump is white, the tail is five inches long, and con-
fifts of tv.'elve feathers, black at the end ; but the
rcll of the tail is white. The long outer feathers of
the v/mgs are black, except the edges and end,
which are of an afli-colour. The lelTer covert fea-
thers of the wings are variegated with black and afh-
colour, and thofe below are white. The bill is
above two inches long, and the upper jaw is of a
brownilh afh-colour, being Icnger than that below,
and hooked at the extremity ; this lall: is black, and
there is an angular tubercle thereon. The tongue is
white, cloven, and reaches to the end of the bill ;
the eyes are hazel, the ears large, the legs and feet
of a duiky colour, inclining to green, and the hinder
toe is fmall, armed with a Imall claw. Thefe birds
frequent rivers, meadows, and marfhes.

The HERRING-GULL is nearly as large as a
tame Duck, for it weighs about two pounds ; and
is in length, from the tip of the bill to the end of
the tail, twenty-three inches, but to the end of the
claws twenty- five inches ; and its breadth, when the
wings ar^ extended, is four feet fix inches. The bill
is yellow, and of the fize of the former, with an an-
gular prominence on the lower chap, marked with a
large red fpot on each fide. The feet are fometimes
yellow, and fometimes of a flefh-colour ; but the
claws arc black. The head, neck, rump', tail, and
all the lower part of the body is white ; the back,
covert-feathers of the wings, as well as the prime-
feathers, except five of the outermoft, which have a
white fpot, are of a dark alh-colour. It is a very
common bird upon the fea-coaft.

The Common SEA-MALL, or MEW, weighs
about a pound ; and is in length, from the tip of tt.e
bill to the end of the claws, fifteen inches and a half;
and the breadth, when the wings are extended, is
three feet five inches. It is like the former, but
much Icfs, and the protuberance is likewife lefs.

The

OF BIRDS. 355

The feet are of a pale green. Thefe birds fly toge-
ther in flocks, and frequent the meadows, and
banks of the lakes in Che/hire, as well as other
places.

The Cornish TARROCK is about the bignefs
of a Pigeon, and almoft of the fame fliape, only-
it has a larger head. It weighs feven ounces, and
is in length, from the tip of the bill to the end of
the tail, fixteen inches ; but the breadth, when the
wings are extended, is three feet. The lower part
of the body is as white as fnow, and the upper part
of the head and neck is white, only there is a black
fpot near the ears on both fides. The lower part of
the neck is blackifli, and the middle of the back and
fhoulders are of an afli-colour. The tail is white,
only the tips of the feathers are black. The bill is
near an inch long, and black ; and the feet are livid,
Ifut the claws are black. It has the rudiments of a
hinder toe, though the toe itfelf is wanting ; for it is
only a flefliy knob, without a claw, by which mark
it may be dillinguiftied from other birds of this
kind.

The KUTZE-GEHEF of Marten is a beautiful
Mew, and very like this, if not the fame bird. It
has its name from its cry, and has a bill fome-
what bent, v/ith a fmall protuberance or knob on
the under part of it. Its eyes are black, and
there is a red circle about them. It has but three
toes, which are joined together by a black mem-
brane. The legs are alfo black and fnort, and
the tail is fomewhat long and broad like a fan.
The belly is as white as fnow, and the wings and
back are grey, only the tip of the wings is black.
It is about the fize of a common Mew, and
is ca'jght v/ith hooks baited with whale /at, of
which it is fond. It is hunted by the Strunt-
GAGER, that will not leave it till it dungs, which
that bird eats. There is but little meat upon
them, and that is upon the legs and breaft ; for
the wings are nothing but fkin and bone.

The

3^6 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The PEWIT or BLACK-CAP, called at Clrpr
the SEA CROW, is of the lize of a tame Pigeon,
and it weighs about ten ounces. Its length, Irom
the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, is fifteen
inches, and its breadth three feet one inch when the
wings are extended. The bill is of a blood colour,
and about two inches long. 7'he feet are of a dark
blood colour, and the claws are black. The top of
the head is black ; and in fome the whole head and
throat, as far as the luiddle, are of a blackilh afh-
colour. The middle of the back is of an alh-colour,
and the covert-feathers of the wings ; but the brcall,
neck, belly, and tail are white. Though it is a
fea fowl, it is feen frequently in the inland parts,
particularly in Stcfforpjkire. Jt lays four or five
eggs, two inches and a half in length, which v/eigh
about an ounce and half, and are of a dirty green co-
lour. At Norbury in that county, there are great
numbers of them taken every year, and the flefh is
accounted pretty good. In July they are faid to
leave this iiland, and to fly to fome dillant coun-
try.

The ALCATRACE is a fort of a Sea-Mew,
which is met with in the Indian Ocean near the coaft
of Arabia. It is of the fize of a Goofe, of a brown
colour, with a long bill, which ferves for catching
fifh. They build their nefls on the higheft parts of
the fea-fhore, and they fometimes fall into the ihips
that are failing in the Indian Ocean. Some fay their
fleih is almoft as bad as poifon.

The SEA-SWALLOW, with a white head, of
Catejby, is a fort of Mew, which has red eyes, bor-
dered with white, and a fharp bill two inches long.
The fore-part of the head and crown are white,
which grows of a brownifh colour as it approaches
the neck ; all the body is brown, efpecially the
wings, which are of an equal length with the tail ;
above the corner of the bill there is a bhck ftreak,
v/hofe bafe reaches to the eye, and the point to the
bill ; the feet are black and membranous.

The

O F B I R D S. 357

The Lesser MEW, with a black head and red
Dill, of Catejly^ has a bill crooked towards the ex-
tremity, and in the fhape of a fickle j the head is of
a blackiili brown, and the eyes are black, with a
white border all round them. The extremities of
the prime- feathers of the wings are of a blackifli
brown, and thofe of the tail are of an equal length,
but fhorter by two inches than the wing ; the feet
are black and membranous.

The Greater MEW, with an unequal cutting
bill, oi Catefiyy has a bill made like a pair of fci/Tars,
and the lower chap is fhorter by an inch, and more
blunt, for that above is pointed, and three inches
long ; one half of the bill is red ; and the other half,
as far as the point, is black ; but the neck and belly
are white. The hinder part of the head and wings
is black, with fome mixture of white, and the black
part advances as far as the eyes. All the upper part
of the body is black, and the under part white, as
are alfo the other parts, except a feather under the
tail. The legs are fmall, fhort, and red, fumifhed
with a heel, and the feet are membranous. The
wings are as long as the tail, and the fize of this
Mew is equal to that of a Rook.

The Cornish GANNET is of the fize of a tame
Duck, and is in length, from the neck to the rump,
nine inches; the neck itfelf is feven inches, and the
wings are near feventeen inches long. The bill is
llronger, bigger, and fhorter than in other Mews,
of a black colour, and crooked at the end. Near
the noflrils it is covered with a fkin, as in hawks.
The feet are black, and the claws are ftronger than
any other web- footed bird hitherto taken notice of.
The colour of the back is of an iron-grey ; but the
belly, and the other parts underneath, are lighter.
The feathers of the tail, and the prime feathers of
the wings, are black with white bottoms, and it has
all the marks of a bird of prey. It preys not only
upon fifli, but all kinds of fmall birds, and accom-
panies the fhoals of pilchards near the Corni/h fhore,
hovering over them in the air.

TKc

358 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The CATARACTA, or- GANNET of JUrc-
fuandus, is fo exactly like a Wood -Pig eon that it
can hardly be diftinguiihed from it, only the body and
claws are lefs ; but Mr. Ray fuipeds it to be the
fame, and the rather, becaufe the defcription was
only taken from a pidture, which often leads authors
into miilakes.

The Greater ash-coloured GULL of Bah-
Tier is all over the upper parts of a dark afli-
colour, except the greater cjuill-feathers of the
wings, which are blackifh ; the top of the head
is of a dark blackifh green ; but the bill is llrait
and red, and the feet blacki/h.

The Greater White GULL o^ Belonius is as
white as fnow, except a little afh- colour under the
wings, and a black circle round the eyes ; there is
alfo a black fpot on each fide near the cais ; but in
other things it refembles our Pewit.

The Greater GULL oi Aldron:andus is like our
Winter-Mew ; only it differs in the colour of the
bill, iris of the eyes, and feet ; for in this the bill
and feet are yellow. About Strajbourg it is called a
Winder, and Mr. P<ay thinks it is a different bird
from the Winter- Mew.

The CEPPHUS of Aldroimndus is not like a
Gull in any thing, except tlic bill, and the ihape
of the legs and feet ; for in other things it rather
refembles a Duck ; and is in length, from the tip of
the bill to the end of the tail, thirteen inches and a
half. It is covered with plenty of feathers, which
makes it feem a more bulky fowl than it really is.
The bill is of a middle {vlz, of a flefli-colour, rud-
dy on the fides, and black at the point. The iris
of the eyes is whiiifh, and the head, with all the
under parts are covered with white, brown, and yel-
low fpots. The wings are blacki(h, with fome yel-
lowifh feathers at the ends ; the greater tail-feathers
are alfo blackifli, and the legs and thighs greenifh ;
but the feet and membranes between the loes are
brownifh.

The

O F B I RD S. 3:9

The Brasilian GULL, called GUACU GU-
ACU by Marcgrave, is of the fize of a common
Hen, with a long thick yellow bill ; but its throat,
neck, breail, lower belly, and fore-part of the
wings ai-e white. It lays its eggs in the fand,
which are exactly like hen-eggs, and v/ell tailed;
but the flefli of this bird is worth little.

The Cornish WAGEL weighs about twenty-
jtwo ounces, and is in length, from the tip of the
bill to the end of the claws, twenty-one inches ; and
in breadth, when the wings are extended, four feet
five inches, Some call it the great Gr ey Gull,
and its colour, as well above as belov/, is grey, or
variegated with white, aih-colour, and brown, as in
the common Duck. The rump and covert-feathers
of the tail are chiefly white, only there are brown
fpots in the middle. The prime-feathers of the
wings are black, and the tail-feathers are tranfverfe-
ly variegated with whiiiih and black fpaces. Near
the upper part there is a broad black firipe or ring,
above which the ends of the feathers are white. The
bill is near three inches long, and black ; the neck
is Ihort, and the head large, which always turns to-
wards the fhoulders when it Hands or walks. It is a
very common bird about the coall of Cornxcall.

The WINTER- ^3EW, called in Cambridge/hire
the CODDY-MODDY, weighs about feventeen
ounces, and is eighteen inches in length from the tip
of the bill to ths end of the tail; but its breadth,
when the wings are extended, is three feet nine
inches. The head is variegated with white and
brown fpots, and the neck and parts about the crop
are a little brownifh ; but the whole under part is
entirely white. The middle of the back is of an
a(h-colour, and the fcapular feathers are variegated
vmh brown fpots. The rump is white, and the
ends of the tail-feathers are whitilh, fucceeded by a
black fpace an inch and a half broad ; but the re-
jnainiug part is white. The bill is two inches long,
and is of a whitilh brown from the noilrils to the

36o THE NATURAL HISTORY

end ; and there is a prominence or knob on the lowei
chap. The tongue is white, cloven, and reaches t©
the end of the bill. It frequents low Incadows,
lakes, and rivers many miles from the Tea in the
winter-time.

The CUT- WATER of Catejhy \b a fort of a
Gull, and is black from the middle of the head to
the tail ; but the legs and half of the bill are red ;
and the forepart of this laft is black. The bill is
very irregular ; for the under-jaw is near two inches
longer than the upper, and it is as ftrong and kee»
as the blade of a knife.

The Brown TERN is entiFcly white on the
lower parts, and brown on the u^per. The wings
are partly brown, and partly of an alh-colour;
but the head is black, Thefe birds fly together
in flocks.

P H A P.

O F B I R D S. 361

CHAP. XLII.

Of the lejjer Mfiws or Gulls, nvith forked Tails.

THE Sea SWALLOW is five ounces in weight,
and is in length, from the tip of the bill to the
end of the tail, fixteen inches ; but the breadth v% hen
the wings are extended is thirty-two inches. The
body is ilender and longilli, and the tail forked ; from
whence it has the name of a Swallow. All the lower
part except the middle of the breaft, which is fom'e-
what of an aih-colour, is white, as is alfo the rump ;
but the back and upper furface of the wings are of a
dark afh-coiour. The outer feathers of the tail, which
are above fix inches long, are on the outer web of a
darkiih afh-colour. The bill is long, llrait, red,
and black at the end. The feet are alfo red and
fmall, and it is almoft continually upon the wing.
Flocks oi thefe birds are feen together, and they fre-
quent lakes, rivers and meers, as v/ell as the fea fhore.
It lays three or four eggs like thofe of the great Gull;
and in the iiland of CaUey, near the fouth part of
fFaleSi it is called a Spurre ; in fome parts of Engla?:d
a Scray, and in the northern part Terns. The ncife
that they make is like the word Scray, and they make
a terrible din as they Hy.

The Lesser Sea SWALLOW is not To big as a
Black-bird ; but it has the wing, tail, and fwiftnefs
of a Swallow. The bill is red, the top of the head
black, the back and wings of an afh-colour, and the
tail forked, about fix inches long. It preys on filh,
plunging icfelf into the water in catchii g them.

The Scare CROW is of the fize of a Blackbird,
and has long win^s, and fmall fhort legs of a red co-
lour. The head, neck and belly, are black, the
\\inr^s of an alh-colour, ani the tail a little forked.
The cock has a white fpot under the chin ; it has
its name from being extrer. el/ frighted at the fight
ef a man.

Vol. II. R The

S62 THE NATURAL HISTORY

The Black Cloven-footed GULL, with longer
wings, of Aldroi'c.ndusy has the breaft and wings of a
tawny alh-colour ; which lail are very long and black
towaids the points. The tail is fhortiih, and a{h-co-
loured, and it is white near the vent. The toes are
pretty long, and armed with large claws ; but the
legs are (hort, and black ; and the upper part of the
head, neck, and bill, which is longifh, and a little
crooked at the point, are black.

The Cloven-footed GULL, with fhorter wings,
of Aldro'vanduij is of the fize of the former ; that is,
cf the bignefs of a Black-bird ; but the wings are
Ihorter, and the tail, on the contrary, much longer.
It is of an a(h-colour, and the head is black, as well
as the bill, which is flender, and a little turned upr
■wards. The feathers under the tail are whitifh, and
the feet are reddifh and fmall, as in Sparrows. They
have four toes, which have the rudiments of mem-
branes between them. Its length to the rump is nine
inches ; and the tail is a palm long.

The Small Black Cloven-footed SEA SWAL-
LOW is lefs than the former Sea Swallow, and
has a (harp black bill near an inch and a half long.
The head is black, the back and upper furface of the
wings of a dark afh-colour ; but the throat and breafl
are blackifh. The feathers under the belly near the
tail are white, and the tail is forked, having the outer
feathers above three inches long, and thofe in the
middle two inches and a half in length. The outer
on each fide are white, and the reft are of a light afh-
colour. The feet are flender, of a reddifti black, and
the toes cloven part of the way. It has a note, or
cry, much like the Common Sea Swallow.

The Cloven-footed SEA SWALLOW o? John-
Jon is of the fize of a Black-bird, or a little lefs. The
bill is round, flender, fliarp, and black j and the top
of the head is black, with areddilh caft ; but the fides
and under part of the neck are red. The lower parts
are white, the back and v.'ings brown, with ycllowifli
fpots. On the wings there is a tranfverfe white line
running along the ends of the feathers. The wings
jue long, the tail fliort, and (he toes ^re not conneaed

together J

O F B I R D S. 363

logether; but there are fmall membranes on each fide
notched like a faw. This is a iingular kind of a bird,
SLiid feems to be of a middle nature between Coots and
Mews.

Th: NODDY builds its neft among the rocks, and
is reckoned a foolilh kind of a bird : It is about ele-
ven inches in length from the tip of the bill to the
end of the tail ; and the breadtli when the wings are
extended is twenty-iix inches. The bill is about an
inch and a half long, and is ftrait, black and roundifh.
It has two large apertures for noflrils, and the top of
the head is white ; but the reft of the body is of a
dirty brown or reddilh colour, and the legs and feet
arc about two inches long. The toes are connected
with membranes of a dark brown colour. It is not
quite fo big as a Sea Mew, and the feet are like thofe
of a Mallard. Tiiey are met with a great wa}- from
any ihore ; and when they meet fl'ips they will alight
on any part of them, Jmd are ea/i] v taken.

The BOOBY is of the (hape of a Raven, and has
the fame fort of bill. The up^er parts are of a greeniih
brown, the bel'y Vvdiite, and the feet like thofe of
Ducks. There is another fort of thefe birds of the
fame fhape as the former, but larger, and all over
white. Thefe fly about the fnips like the Noddies ;
but are not fo eafily taken as the fort jufl mentioned.
They both prey upon fiihes, which they take as foon
as they appear on the furface of the water.

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C H A P. XLIJI.

Of Weh-footed Fo^ivh, nvith Bills crooked at the Efid,

THE DIOMEDF. bird of JUrovandus and
Gejner is of the fize of a Heu, and has a longilh
neck, and legs of a brown or rark alh-colcur, with a
whitifn belly. The bill is yellow, except at the hook,
which is biackifh. The fnape of the body, and efpe-
cially the wings, refemble thofs of a Mew. Their
R 2 defcriptions

364 THE NATURAL HISTORY
defcriptions of this bird are very imperfed, and
therefore muil: be left for farther enquiry.

The SHEAR-WATER is fo called becaufe it glides
along the furface of the water. It is little lefs than a
Duck; but the head is large as in Mews. The upper part
of the head and back are of a dark brown; but the chin,
thi-oat, and belly are white, and the feet of a flefh
colour. The bill is roundilh, and of a blackifh co-
lour, being hooked at the end like that of a Cormo-
rant. The wings are long, and when folded up reach
to the end of the tail. This, in many things, refem-
bles the Booby f rft mentioned.

The MAIAGUE of BrafiU mentioned by Pifo, is
of thefhape and fize of a Goofe, and the bill is hooked
at the end like that of a Cormorant ; and this bird
agrees with it, in being of a brown or blackiih colour.
The under part of the neck is yellow, and the head is
thick and round. It frequents the mouths of rivers,
v/here they fall into the fea ; but it builds its neft and
lays its eggs on the fhore. It is a fwift bird, and is
both a fwimmcr and a diver.

The English PUFFIN, orMANKS PUFFIN, is
found alfo on the iflandsof 5^/7/)', and is of the fize of a
tame Pigeon. The colour on the upper parts is brown
or black, and on the under white. The bill is nar-
row and black, of the fhape of that of a Lapwing,
and about an inch and a half in length. The upper
chap ia crooked at the point like that of a Cormorant,
i^nd at the bafe there is a bald fkin, in which the nof-
trils are placed. The wings are long, and the tail ig
a palm in length. It builds its ntll in rabbit holes,
where it lays an t^'g. It filhes all c^ay long, and re-
turns to its neft and young one at twilight; but as
foon as it is light in the morning it leaves it again.

The GOOSANDER weighs about four pounds,
and has a broad and flat back. The head and upper
part of the neck are of a Ihinin^ green with a blackifli
caft. The upper part of the body is beautifully va-
riegated with white and black, and the tail is of an
alh-colour ; the lower parts are of a carnation or brick
colour, and the bill is narrow, notched like a faw,
crooked, and about the length of a man's middle

finger.

OF BIRDS, 365

finger, partly black and partly ruddy. The feet arc
of "a fine red colour. Some lay they have a tuft on
the head ; but it is not properly fo called, for the
feathers thereon are only loofer, and rife a little higher
than common.

The Dun DIVER^ or Sparling FOWL. The
cock has feathers on its head that turn a little back-
wardr. like a tuft, which are of a dirty reddifh colour ;
but the chin is white, and the back all over afli-
colour. The lower part of the body is of the colour
of the fea, and the wings in both cock and hen are
fmall, in proportion to the bulk of their bodies ; yet
they can iiy with them very fwiftly on the furface of
the water.

The White NUN is of the fize of a Whirling
Duck, and weighs twenty-four ounces. The top of
the head, the head itfelf^ and the neck are white,
except a fpot under the creft, which is black, i.nd
runs round it, ending in an acute angle, and another
on each fide, which reaches from the corners of the
mouth to the eyes. The creft, or tuft, hangs back-
wards, and the lower part of the body is all white ;
but the b .ck is black, and there is half a double black
ring which defcends from the back towards the throat.
The wings are mottled with black and white, and
the tail is of a blackifh grey. The bill is of an afh
or lead colour, as well as the feet, and the toes are
conneded with a brown membrane.

The Brown-crested DIVER differs from a hen
Goofander in fize, which is much lefs, in being of a
darker colour on the back ; for it is more of a brown
than an afh colour. The creft on the head is oblong,
hanging backward, and there is a white fpot at the
bafe of the wing.

R 3 C H A ?.

366 THE NATURAL HISTORr

CHAP. XLIV.

Of Wei -footed Fc^^Is, nxith hroad Bills, or of the'
Goose Kind,

FOWLS of the Goofe kind are diftlnguifhe<£
from others by the large bulk of their bodies^
by the r long necks, by their broad wings and ample
tails, which terminate in a circular circumference,
and by a white ring about their rumps, by a high
round back, and by their bills, v.'hich are thick at
the bafe and more thin at the tips, and turn more
upward than in Ducks.

The Tame SWAN is much the largeft of all web-
footed fowls, with bro3.d bills, and three toes before^
One that is full grown is twenty pcunds in weight,
and the length from the tip of the bill to the end of
the claws is four feet feven inches ; but to the end of
the tail four feet nine inches. The breadth when the*
v/ings are extended is feven feet eight inches,, and
the whole body is covered with a delicate foft white
plumage ; but when very young they are grey. The
bill is of a lead-colour in thofe of a year old, with a.
round nail at the point, and a round ftreak on each fide
that runs from the noftrils to the head. From the eyes-
to the bill there is anakedtriangular black rpace,whofe
bafeis towards the bill, and the top towards the eyes*.
The bill turns red in thofe that are old : the nail at
the end continues blackifh, and at the bafe there rifes-
a black fielhy lobe or tubercle, which bends forward ;
the middle of the fpace above the eyes continues al-
ways black ; the tongue is rough, with fmall teeth %
the feet are of a lead-colour, and the legs are naked
above the knees. The inner toe is furnifhed out-
wardly with a membrane, the nails are blackifh, the
gizzard has ftrong thick mufclcs, and the guts are
large, and have eight folds.

The larynx does not enter into the flernum, though
it does in the wild Sv/an, and is refledled or returns

back

3^7

// ^V^/ , y/i^an '^ ^y

O F B I R D S. 367

fcack from thence ; but it proceeds diredlly forward
to the lungs. A Swan lives a long time ; but it m ay-
be doubted whether it can be 300 years, as feme af-
firm : however, WHloughby believed it, becaufe, as he
aiTerts, a Goofe will live an hundred. He adds, that
though this had not been found true by ex;erience,
there are feveral reafons that ihould incline us to be-
lieve it ; as for inf-ance, he is the biggeft bird of
this kind ; he has the moft hard and folid fleih ; and
the eggs are longeft in hatching.

A Swan does not feed upon liili, but upon water
plants, thei- roots and feeds ; as alfo upon worms
and freih-water fheil-ffh. The fiefh is more black,
tough, fibrous, and hard of digeilion than that of a
Goofe ; and yet, on account of its fcarcity, it has
been fonietimcs brought to the tables of the nobility ;
but more out of oilentation than any thing elfe. The
female lays five or fix eggs at a time, and is two
months in hatching them.

A Swan lives as well by land as by water ; but he
delights moft in the latter, becaufe he walks very
poorly, but fwims veiy fait. The female lays but
once a year, and that is in the fpring. The ancient
poets have afhrm.ed a Swan fings melodioully before
his death, but this is a fable ; and I am apt to think
his long life is much of the fame caft. Some ufe the
fat of a Swan to foften the Ikin, to take off fpots
from the face, and to eafe the pain of the piles. The
Ikin is recommended againll the rheumatifm, to
llrengthen the nerves, and to recall the natural heat
when apnlied to the flomach.

The Wild SWAN, or ELK, called in fome places
the HOOPER, is lefs than a Tame Swan; for it
weighs no more than fixteen or feventeen pounds. Its
length from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail
is four feet eight inches ; but to the end of the claws
five feet, and is of the fame Ihape with the former ;
but the colour is not quite fo white, for the middle
of the back and the lefTer quill feathers of xkit wing
are of an afn-colour, v/hich are fometimes mixed witS
thofe that are white or brown. The bill at the bafc
is covered with a naked f^in of a beautiful yellow,
R 4 a

368 THE NATURAL HISTORY
and the windpipe enters the breaft in a wonderful
manner, and turns back therein, fomewhat in the
form cf a trumpet ; and the quills are much lefs than
in the Tame Swan.

The Cowled SWAN, called by the Dutch
MALGH-HOGEL, is a bird of the ifland oi Maurice
in the Eaji Indies, and is full as large as a Swan. It
has a thick head, covered with a membrane in the
iorm of a cowl ; and the bill is thick and oblong-,
inclining to a yellow colour on that part near the
head, but the end is black and crooked, and under-
neath it is blue, marked with ayellowilli aili-coloured
fpot. It has but few feathers, and thofe arefhort;
and inftead^ of wings, it has four or five long black
feathers ; likewife in the room of a tail, it has four
cr five curled aih-coloured feathers. The \^^% are
thicker than they are long, and the part next the knee
is covered with fmall black feathers; the lower part
£s well as the feet, are of a yellow colour. It has
four toes on the it^l, three before, which are \trv
long, and one behind, which is Ihort. This bird is
of the OUrich kind ; and, as fome affirm, has as large
a body. It has been defcribed before, under the
name of Dodo; but as the defcriptions don't agree
in every particular, it is not much amifs to let it ftand
here under the name that fome know it by.

^ The Tame GOOSE is M<> than a Swan, and much
bigger than a Duck ; and when one is fstted, it weio-hs
about twelve pounds. Its length is from thirty-five
to thirty-feven inches, and its breadth five feet • that
is, when they are extremely large. The length of the
neck from the tip of the bill to the beginning of the
wings is feventeen inches ; and the bill is three inches
in length. It has a fhorter neck in proportion than a
Swan, and longer than a Duck ; and the colour, as
in other domeftic fowls, is various ; that is fome-
times brown, afh-coloured, or white ; and fometimes
a mixture of brown and white ; but it is moll: com-
mcnly white. The bill and feet are yellow in young
ones ; but when they are grown up they are generally
red. When it i.*; angry it hKfes like a Serpent.

O F B I R D S. 569

A Goofe is amphibious like a Duck, and it will
live both on the land and in the water ; it eats almolt
every thing, but is fondeft of grafs and grain. It
is very heavy, flies but little, nor yet is very Twift of
foot ; however, large droves of them will travel a
great number of miles, being often driven to London
in the fame manner as Turkies. They may be brought
up in any part of the country ; but the bell: place is
near a river, brook, or pond. Tv/o Ganders are fuf-
ficient for fix or feven Geefe, and fome value the grey-
more than the white. A Gcofe will lay eggs three
times in a year, and the number is generally about
ten or twelve. They begin to lay in March, and they
fit thirty days. Hemlock and night-faade are poifon
for Geefe, as r/ell as bitter almonds.

The Wild GOOSE is a large fowl, weighing
about feven pounds, and the wings are very long ; for
when they are extended they mer.fure five feet. The
fhape of the body is like that of the Tame Goofe, nor
does the colour greatly differ ; for the up}>er parts are
of a dark afh-colour or brov/n, and the lower vvhitini,
which grows gradually lighter as far as the tail, where
it is as v,diite as fnow. The covert feathers of the
tail above are likewife white. The bill is black at
the bafe and point, and of a faffron colour in the
middle.

Wild Geefe come into thefe parts after the Cranes
are gone, and continue with us all the winter ; and
they fly in flocks night and day in the form of a tri-
angle in the fame mann r as Cranes and Wild Ducks.-
The fleili of a Goofe is every v/here in eileem ; but
that of the v/ild fort is the beil:, which doubtlei"*
is owing to their exercife. It orght to be eaten mo-
derately, becatife it is not ec;fy of digelUon, and yet it
yields good nouiiiiiment. The youngefl are the bofi:,-
and fome are fond of thof2 that are not full grov/n,
v/hich are commonly called Gs.een Geese. The
fle'li of an old Goofe 'is dry, hard, and yields very
indiiferent nourifliment. The eggs of Geefe are eaten
by the common people ; but they are net near lo
good as thofe of hens. The blood has been counted
an alcxiphariiiic, and has h^ttn faid to correal the
K 1; malignity

370 THE NATURAL HISTORY

malignity of the fluids ; the dofe is from one dram to
two. The fat or greafe is emollient, and loofens the-
belly taken inwardly ; fome anoint the belly of chil-
dren with it for the fame purpofe. Some again account
it good for the palfy, becaufe it is very fubtile and pe-
netrating; but it mufc be ufed 'as a liniment. The-
tongue of Geefe ct)ntains an ammoniacal fait, and is
recommended by fome to attenuate the humours, pro-
mote urine, and more efpeciaily to cure the jaundice f
the dofe of it is a dram in powder.

The BERNACLE, or CLAKIS,.is lefs than a
Tame Goofe, and has a much lefs and Ihorter bill,,
which is black. The chin, cheeks, and part next
the bill aie whitifli, except a black' fh fpot, which
Teaches from the bill to the eyes. The neck, both
above and below, is black as far as the breafl ; and
the lower part of the body is white, with a mixture
of grey ; but the loweft feathers of the thighs, a little-
above the knees, are black as well as the tail. The
wings are very beautiful, being variegated with
tranfverfe llripes of whitifh, black, and afh colours^
The back is mottled with black and alli-colour. It
frequents the fea coarts of Lancajlnre.

The Brent GOOSE weighs about three pounds
and a half, being a little biT;ger than a Duck ; but
the body is of a longer make. The head, neck,,
and upper part of the breall are black ; bet on the
middle of the neck, on both fides, there is a black
line, which looks almoft like a ring. The back is
of a greyilh afli-colour, which becomes more black:
near the tail •. but the feathers next the tail are
whitiili. The bill is like that of the former, and the
feet are blackiih. There have been formerly many
ftrange ftorie^ about the production of this fowl,
which are now knov/n to be nothing but fables, and
therefore no notice will be taken of them. This fowl
is to be met with in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and
other parts, and on the fea fliores of SuJl^x and Hr.mp-
Jhire.

The RAT, or Road GOOSE, is lefs by one half
than a Tame Goofe, and the bill is not quite an inch
long, being black as well as the feet. The top of

the

OF BIRDS. ^yi

the head and part of the neck are blackifh, and the
feathers at the bottom of the bill, throat and breaft,
are brown. The remaining lower parts are white,
and the upper brownifh. The prime feathers of the
wings and of the tail are black ; but feme in this laft,
on each iide, are white. It frequents the Tea coafts of
the biihoprick of Durham^ and other northern parts.

The Spanish GOOSE is of the fame fize as a
Brent Goofe ; but its Ihape and colour are like thofe
of a Tame Goofe. It is thought to be called a Spanijh
Goose, becaufe it is fuppofed to come hither from
Spain,

The Great Black GOOSE, called by fome the
WHILK, vifits us in the beginning of the winter,,
and is generally feen in meadows and pallure grounds,
where it feeds upon grafs.

The Marsh GOOSE, named the Grey LAGG,
is nearly of the fize of a Tame Goofe, and has a
head of a brownifh black, and it is dufKLy to the mid-
dle of the neck. The back is of a darkifli afh-co-
lour; but the wings are blackiih. The rump is
v/hitifh, and the outward feathers of the tail are of
the fame colour. The belly is of an alh-colour, and
grows gradually as white as fnow. The bill from
the head to the middle is black, then purplifh ; but
the tip is black. In the upper chap is only one row
of fmall teeth ; but the tongue is furniihed with a
fmgle row. The feet are purplifh, or of a ilefh co-»
lour, and the claws are almoft white, except that on.
the middle toe, which is moftly blackiih. It weighs
near feven pounds and a half, and they build their
nells in the m.arlhy parts of Torkjhire, and the young
ones are fat in the month of May^ being accounted
delicate eating.

The Swan GOOSE is a ftately large fowl, walk-
ing witli its head and neck in a majeflic manner.
The back is of a dark grey, the belly white, the
throat and breall of a reddifh brown, and the bill is
black, from the root of which proceeds a tubercle
or knob, which is greater as this bird grows older.
There is a white ring between the eyes and the bill,
Aftd the feet are reddifh, as is iikewife^ the bill in fome.

The

J72 THE 'NATURAL HISTORY

The Gambo GOOSE, or Spur-winged GOOSE^
is of the fize and fhape of a Mufco^y Duck ; but the-
feet are long and red. The bill is reddifh, and the
cheeks, chin, and belly whitilh. The back is of a fhining
dark purple colour, and on the head there is a red
caruncle, or wart. But the mark which diftinguiihes
it from all others, is a llrong fpur on the firft joint of
the wings.

The Canada GOOSE is in (hape like our Tame
Goofe, but a little longer. The back is of a brownifh
alh- colour, and the rump black ; but the loweft fea-
thers above the tail are white ; the loweft part of the
tail is alfo whitifh, and the remaining feathers black.
There is a half ring runs from the back part of the
head under the eyes to the chin, and the belly is
white ; but the tail is black, as are alfo the greateft
part of the prime feathers of the wings. The lefTer
and covert feathers are of a browniih afti-colour as in
Geefe, ad the feet are black.

The Mountain GOOSE of Spitsbergen is of the
f.ze of a middling Goofe, and has a bill pretty like that
of a common Goofe. It is a very handfome fowl, ha-
ving delicate fpotted feathers. The Gander has black
and white fpotted feathers ; but the Goofe has feathers
of a colour like thofe of a Partridge. The hinder
toe is broad and fhort, with a fhort nail, and the tail
is like that of a Duck. They fly together in flocks^
and when they fee m.en they hold up their heads, and
make a very long neck. They build their nells in
low iflands with the feathers of their bellies, mixed
with mofs. They lay three or four eggs o' a pale
ereen, fomewhat bigger than Duck eggs. The fielh
j5 very good, either boiled orroafled,. when the fat is
taken ofl"; for that is apt to make people fick.

The Mountain GOOSE of the Cape of Good
Hope is larger than any of the European kind. The
fcathci-^ of the wings, and on the top of the head,
are of a very beautiful iliining green. It comes often
into the valleys, where it feeds on grafs and herbs.
*I'he Water Goose of the fame country is like the
Common Goofe, v/ith regard to colour ; only there
it a brovvnifh liripe, mixed with gree-n, on the back;
fcoth theft are very gcod eating. The

O F B I R D S. j7^

The Blue-winged GOOSE of North Jmerica is
rather lefs th^n a Tame Goofe, and has a bill like it^
and all over red. The head and greateft part of the
neck is white ; the crown yellowiih, and the hinder
part of the neck fpotted with dark brown. The lower
part of the neck all round, as well as breaft and
back, are of a dark brown ; but fomewhat brighter
on the breail. The tail is of a dark browniih afii-
colour, and the belly and thighs are white. The legs
are bare of feathers j uft above the knee, and the three
forward toes are webbed. The back toe is fmall, the
legs and feet red, and the toes black. It was brought
from Hudfoti*s Bay.

The Laughing GOOSE is of the fize of the for-
mer, has a red bill toothed on the edges above and
beneath ; and the tongue is jagged on the fides. The
feathers round the bafe of the upper chap are white,
and the reft of the head and all the neck are brown ►
The back, wings, and tail are of a greyilh brown,
fomewhat lighter on the edges ; but the greater quills
approach to black. The covert feathers on the upper
i'lde of the tail are white, as well as the breaft, belly
and thighs, except fome plats of black fpots on the
belly. The legs and feet are like the former. This
Goofe was brought from Hud/oil's Bay.

The Muscovy GOOSE is a curious large fowl,
weighing thirteen cr fourteen pounds, and is three
feet long from the tip of the bill to the end of the
tail ; but the breadth, when the wings are extended,
is near five feet. The bill is of an orange-colour,
and has a very large tubercle or knob of the fame
colour on the bafe of the upper jaw. The pupil of
the eye is black, with a fine gold-coIoureJ iris, and
underneath the bill there is a large bag. The upper
part of the head and lides of the reck are of a dark
b'-own ; as is alfo the upper part of the back, only
the cuter edges of the feathers are of a lighter colour.
The wings and the reft of the body are white, except
a few dark feathers on the upper i:de of the tail ; the
legs and feet are of a fine orange-colour, w'th black
claws. This defcription belongs to the Gander; and
the Gooie is much like him, only the knob is not (o

large,.

574 THE NATURAL HISTORY
large. The neck, head, and bread are of a dufky
colour, and the upper part of the back, wings, and
thighs are of a dufky brown, inclining to black.
The belly is white, and the legs of the fame colour
as the Ganders. Thefe birds are now bred in Eng*
land, and are fold at a great price.

4t-l-t4-t4-t4-t+t-J-t4-t-l-t4-t4-tint4-t4-tWt4t4-^

CHAP. XLV.
Of Web-fcoted Fo'wh of the Duck Kind,

THESE fowls are known by having large feet, in
proportion to the bulk of their bodies, which
are lefs than thofe of Geefe. The legs are fhorter,
and placed further back ; and the back is broader,
and more flat. The bill is likewife more broad, and
turned a little more upwards : but the ^ea Ducks,
that live in fait waters, have ftill broader bills, and
turning more upwards. The tail is longilh, but not
fharp at the point.

The SHELDRAKE, or Burrough DUCK,
called by fome the BERGANDER, is of a fize be-
tween a Goofe and a Duv^k. The bill is ihort, broad,
red, and a little turned up, and black, except near
the noftrils and at the tip. There is a bunch, or knob,
near the bafe of the upper chap, which is oblong and
flefliy. The head and upper part of the neck are of
a fhining greenifh black colour ; and the reft of the
neck is as wliiLe as fnow. The breall and fhoulders
are of a beautiful tawny, or orange colour, which,
like a ring, furrounds the fore part of the body. The
remaining pari of the breaf: and belly is white, only
there is a black ftripe runs as far as the vent, dividing
the middle ; but behind the vent the feathers are
tawny. The feathers of the back and wings, except
thofe on the laft joint, are white, and the Ihoulder
feathers which lie on the back are black. The tail
feathers are white, with black tips ; and in general,
this bird is beautifully variegated with white, black,
and orange-coloured feathers, Vv-hich make a fine ap-
pearance at a diilance, and diilinguiih it from all

others.

O F B I R D S. 3;r^

others. It frequents the fea fliores of Wales andZ^?/-
cajhircy as well as the eaftern coaft of England.

The greater Red-headed DUCK is as big, or
bigger, than a Tame Duck. The bill is of a blood
colour, and thick near the head ; and the feet are
red, but the membranes which conneft the toes are
black. The head is thick befet with feathers, which
make it feem very large ; and the top of the head is
crowned with very beautiful fdky feathers of a light
reddifh colour, which appear like a crefl:'. The iris of
the eyes is red and the whole neck, ihoulders, breaft,
and belly are black. The fides under the wings are
of a whitifh red, as well as the prime feathers of the
wings on the upper part, with black tips ; but fix next
the body, as alfo the covert feathers, are of an afn-
colour, except thofe on the top of the ridge, which
make a white line.

The CuTHBERT DUCK is bigger than a Tame
Duck, and the Drake is variegated with white and
black. The back is white ; but the tail and prime
feathers of the wings are black, as well as the feet.
The bill is as long as that of a Tame Duck \ but the
end of the u^iper chap is a little crooked. In both
Duck and Drake there are fmall feathers en the fides
of the bill, which make an angle under the noftrils ;
which is peculiar to this kind, for it has not yet been
cbferved in any other. As foon as the young ones are
hatched they run with the old ones into the fea, and
never return back again ; but whither they go is not
known. They are bred no where in Great Britairiy
except in the ifland of Farn,

T\iQ great Black DUCK is bigger than a Tame
Duck, and has a broad fhort bill, which is yellow
on each fide, black in the middle, and red at the tip.
The head and upper part of the neck are of a greenifh
black; but the reft of the bcdy is black, except a
broad tranfverfe line in the middle of the wings, and
a white fpot near the eye on both fides. The legs
r.nd feet are red on the outer fides, but of a citron
colour on the inner, and the webs snd nails are as
black as jet. When thefe have been opened, there
have been found bits of ihelis undigefted as far as

the

376 THE NATURAL HISTORY

the ftrait gut ; but in this laft, they became as fmall
as fand, which is worth taking notice of. This fowl
feems to fly with difficulty, the wings being fmall,
in proportion to the weight of the body ; and it never
rifes higher than two feet above the water. The legs
are very weak, and the feet are more proper for fwim-
ming than flyiiig ; and it is often feen rather to run
than fly upon the water, though it is done very fwiftly*
The fleih is hard and tough, and has a fifhy tafte,
infomuch that the Papijls are allowed to feed upon it
in Lent. There are a great many of thefe Ducks in
the north of Scotland, where they build their nefts,
bringing fo many branches of trees for tliat purpofe,
that thev fupply the inhabitants v/ith fuel.

The 'le£'er Black Duck, called a SCOTER in
Torkjhire, is a little lefs than a Duck, and of a rounder
fhape. The colour of the whole body is every where
brown or black, only the feathers on the chin and
middle of the breaft have a mixture of afh-colour.
The bill about the noflrils is yellowifli ; but elfewhere
black, and the feet are blackilh. The upper chap
above the noftrils, near the forehead, rifes to an enor-
mous fize, and is divided as it were into two but-
tocks, which are diftinguilhed from each other by a
yellow line running betv/een them. This Duck is-
vcrv common in La?ica/hire.

The Scaup DUCK is a little lefs than the Com-
mon Duck, and has a broad blueiih bill. The head
and part of the neck are of a blueilh black, and the
breaft is quite black. The belly is white, with a
tinflure of yellow on the lower part, and about the
vent it is blackifh. Tlie upper part of the back is
dufky, and white in the middle, with brown tranf-
verfe ftripes running along like waves. The wings
are brown, fpotted with white, and there is a white
line runs acrois them. However the colours, cfpe-
cially about the head and neck, are diiterent in dif-
ferent birds of this kind. Ti«e feet, as well as tlie
membranes and nail?, are of a blneifh brown.

The Tufted DUCK is lefs than the Common
Duck, its wei^rht being only two pounds, and the
body is ihort and thick. The bill is. broad ,•> and ot a

p..je

O F B I R D S. 577

pale blue, except at the point, which is black. The
feet are of a dark blueifh colour, and the membranes
that connedl the toes black. The head is of a blackifli
purple, and the tuft, or creft, which is about half an
inch in length, hangs down behind. The colour on
the upper parts of the body, and on the neck and up-
per part of the breaft, is a dark brown, a] moll
black ; and the lower part of the breaft and belly, as
far as the vent, are of a white or filver-colour, and
the middle quill feathers of the wings are as white as
fnow.

The GoLDEN-EYED DUCK IS lefs than a Common
Duck, and has a thick Ihort body, with a thick head
of a dark green colour, or rather of a greenifh purple
inclining to black. There is a large roundiih white
fpot at the corners of the mouth ; for which reafon it
is called by the //^/^^?;j QUATTRIOCCHII ; that
is, the FouR-EYEn DUCK. The iris of the eyes
are of a golden colour, from whence it has its name.
The whole neck, ihoulders, breaft and belly are
white, and between the ihoulders and on the lower
part of the back it is ail over blackilh. The wings
are mottled with white and black, and the tail is-
quite black. The legs are very ihort, and of the
colour of faffron ; but the membranes which conne(^
the toes are brown or blackifh.

The SHOVELER is a little lefs than a Common
Duck, and has an oblong bill as black as jet, which,
is broader near the tip than at the bafe, and is hol-
lowed in the manner of a Ihield, which diftinguiihes
it from other birds of the Duck kind. The legs and
feet are red, and lefs than in other Ducks. The head-
and neck, as far as the middle,, are of a beautiful
blue ; as alfo the lefter rows of the covert feathers of
the wings. The middle covert feathers fhine with a
deep green area or fpace ; but the region of the fto-
mach is whitilh. The reft of the breaft and belly,
as far as the breech, is red ; but under the vent it is
blnckifti. The back is of a brownifh green or blueilh
purple, with a ihining glofs, and the tail is mottled,
with black and white. In general it is a very beau .
tiful bird.

The

373 The natural history

The POCHARD, or great Red-headed WI0^
GEON, is bigger than the Common Widgeon, and ii
more fhort and thick, in proportion to its bulk. The
head and neck are of a deep tawny or reddifti co-
lour ; but the lower part of the neck and top of the
breaft are black. The middle of the breaft is white,
and the lower part mottled wiih brownifh lines. The
middle of the back and covert feathers of the wings
are of an afh-colour, undulated and beautifully
mottled with tranfverfe lines. The whole tail is
blackilh, and the prime feathers of the wings are of
a brownilh afh-colour ; but eleven in the middle
have white tips. The end of the bill is black, theJ
middle blue, and the bafe black. It is very com-
mon on the fea coafls.

The /#r Brown Wild DUCK is of a fize be-
tween a Widgeon and a Teal, and has a dark blue
bill, which is paler on the edges. The tip is round
and black, and the iris of the eyes is of the colour of
ivory. The head is pretty thick, of a ruddy colour,
and there is a fmall white fpot at the corner of the
lower chap. The neck is Ihort, and round the mid-
dle of it there is a brown ring. The upper part of
the body is brown except the prime feathers of the
wings, which are white, with brown tips ; infomuch,
that when the wings are extended they form a broad
tranfverfe white line. The breafl beneath the ring
as far as the Ihoulders is ruddy, which colour reaches
aim oft as far as the wings and near the middle of the
ihoulders. The remaining part of the breall and the
upper part of the belly are whitilh ; but the lower
belly, as far as the vent, is brown. The feathers
under the wings are as white as fnow, and on the
thighs they are long and ruddy. The legs and feet
are blackilh.

T\it greater Wild DUCK tjoith a ruddy head h as
big or bigger than a Widgeon, and has a bill near
two inches long, on the middle part beyond the
noftrils of a dirty yello^. The iris of the eyes is
of a beautiful yellow, and the head of a dirty red.
The neck is of an afh-colour, and darker on the
upper part, being almoil brown or blackilh. There

45

O F B I R D S. 57?

IS a broad white fpot on the middle of each wing,
and the.lower part of the body as far as the tail is
white, with a brown tranfverie line en the breech.
The feet are of a dark yellow, and the membranes
which connect the toes are black ; but the colours in
this and other Ducks vary from each other in divers
individuals.

The Grey-headed DUCK is larger than the
Tame Duck, and has a red bill, black at the point.
The bale of the upper chap is extended into the fore-
head, and is in the fhape of a broad bean on each
fide, by which it may be diftinguifhed from others of
the Duck kind. The feathers are black at the root
of the upper chap and beneath the eyes, or rather
round about it. The top and hinder part of the head
is of a blueifh afh, and its fides beneath the eye are of
a light green. There are alfo black fpots running in
lines from the eye down the fides of the head, and
parting the afh-colour from the green. Next the bafe
of the lower chap the feathers are black, and divide
like a fork, palTing on each fide the throat, which
is white between. The neck and thebreall are white,
and the back of a dark brown, with a purplifh glofs.
The quills of the wing next the prime are of a black
fhining purple, with white tips, that form a line
acrofs the wings. The other parts are brov/n, fome
lighter and fome deeper, only on the middle of the
covert feathers there is a plat of while. The belly is
black, as well as the covert feathers of the tail. On
each fide the tail there is a remarkable white round
fpot ; and the legs and feet are of a dirty red. It is
web-footed, and three of the toes ftand forward ; and
there is a narrow web on each fide of the inner toe.
The back toe is fmall, with a fin on its under fide.
This bird was brought from Hudfc-ns Bay.

The /////.' Brows -AND- WHITE DUCK \% about the
fize of a Teal, and pretty much like it in fhape. The
bill is black, toothed on the edges, and a little hooked
at the point of the upper chap. The feathers round
the bafe on the upper part is white, and the bill it-
felf has two angles pointing to the forehead on each
fide. There is a line of duiky white feathers between

the

j5o THE NATURAL HISTORY
the bill and the eye, which parts the white into fyot^
above and below the line. It has alfo a white fpot
behind each eye, and the remainder of the head is
brown, as well as the neck and beginning of the
brealt; but lighter before. The back, wings, and
tail, are of a darkifh brown ; but the covert feathers
of the wings, are brighter. The breaft from brown
gradually becomes white, tranfverfely mottled with
light brown as far as the thighs ; but the thighs and
lower belly are of a lighter and darker brown, tranf-
verfely mixed with brown lines. The legs and feet
are dufey, with a reddilh call on the fore parts. This
bird was brought from Hudjon^s Bay^

The Broad-billed DUCK nvith yello^v feet is a
little larger than the Shoveler, and has a bill partly
brown and partly yellowifh. The whole body is full
of yellowifh, alh-coloured, or brown fpots, which
are thick and fmall at the head ; but larger and fewer
on the neck, back, rump and tail ; and on the back
they are ftill bigger, and more thick fet. The wings
are brown in the middle, and there is a white line
runs acrofs them ; but behind there is a fquare blue
fpot or fpace, which is fucceeded by another white
line ; the legs are yellow, and the toes are connedled
with a brown membrane. The defcription of this bird
belongs to the Duck, and not to the Drake.

The Swallow-tailed SHELDRAKE is of the
iize of the leiTer Widgeon, and has a fhort turned-
up bill, which is black at the bafe and the tip, but
red in the middle. The head, neck, and fore part of
the breaft, are white ; as alio the fore part of the
back, as far as the fhoulders ; but behind the ears
there is a brownilh tindlure. The reft of the back,
the wings and breaft, to the middle of the belly, are
black ; but the remaining part of the belly is white.
There are long, fliarp, white feathers which hang
down from the flioulders. The tail confifts of fixteen
feathers, of which one on each fide is entirely white,
four in the middle black, two of which are three
inches longer than the reft, and very fharp at the
points. The reft of the feathers are white on the out-
ward

J'a^^ 3S1

^-^

Jh7ci^JC'.

O F B I R D S. 381

ward edge, and on the inner black. Mr. Edijoardi
calls this the Long-tailed DUCK of Hudfon's Bay,

The Whistling DUCK of Jamaica is in length
from the tip of the bill to the middle of the tail about
eighteen inches, and it makes a noife like the whift-
ling of a pipe, from whence it has its name ; but
what is moll Itrange, it fits upon trees, which is very
lingular in thefe kind of birds. It is very common
in this ifland. The bill is like that of the Common
Duck, peftinated on the edges, hooked at the point,
and of a dulky colour. The fides of the head are
brown, and the top black, where the feathers are
long, and point backwards in the form of a creft. The
hinder part of the neck is duiky ; but the under fides
of the head, neck and throat, are white. The neck
is fpeckled with fmall black fpots, and the back and
npper fides of the wings are brown. The greater
quills are dark brown, and the covert feathers of the
wings have black fpots in their middles. The tail is
black, as well as the rump ^nd the feathers that cover
the tail above, which is a little pointed in the middle.
The breall is of a bright reddifh brown fpotted with
black, and mixed with a little white on the lower part.
The belly is white, with a mixture of black on the
fides, and a very little down the middle. The legs
are longer than what is common in the Duck kind,
and they are bare of feathers a little above the knees.
The three forward toes are webbed, and there is like-
wife a lateral web on the fide of the inner toe. The
legs and feet are covered with lead-coloured fcales,
3nd the Back tee is placed fo high as hardly to touch
the ground.

The Red-billed .Whistling DUCK is fome-
wliat lefs than a Common Duck, as v/ell as the for-
mer, and the neck and legs are longer in prop.^rtion.
The bill is alfo ihaped like the former, and is of an
agreeable red colour ; but yellowiih about the noltrils,
and black at the point. The iris of the eyes are of
a dark hazel, and the fides of the head all round the
eyes, and on the throat, are of a lightiih afh. The
crown and hinder part of the head are black, and
the neck, breaft and back, are of a brick colour.

The

11

3S2 THE NATURAL HISTORY t

The greater quills of the wings are black, as well a|
thofe of the baftard wings that cover their bottoms.
The inner quills that fall on the rump are of a dark
brick colour, and the firlt and fecond rows of coverts
next above the quills are white. Next above the
white is a bright orange plat ; but the fmall feathers
on the ridge and joint of the wings are black, as well
as the whole belly, thighs, and tail. The rump and
covert feathers on the upper fide of the tail are alfo
black ; but the legs and feet are of a flefli colour,
with black claws.

The White-bellied DUCK of Jamaica is
twenty inches long, from the tip of the bill to the
end of the tail ; and the breadth, when the wings
are extended, is thirty inches. The bill is black,
near two inches long, and the holes of the noftrils
are round. The tail is three inches long, and the
feathers on the head are mottled with light and dark
brown. The upper part of the neck, the fides under
the wings, and part of the belly, are covered with
brown feathers croiTed with whitifli lines. The back
is more brown and lefs white, and the tail and wings
are of a light brown ; but fome of the fliorter prime
feathers are painted v/ith green, orange and white.
The breafl and a good part of the belly is white, and
the lep;s and feet are of a greenifh brown.

Hitherto wt h.ive been dcfcribing the falt-water
Ducks, and fhall now proceed to thofe that haunt
fre(h-v/ater livers, ponds and marlhes.

The Commcn Wild DUCK, or MALLARD,
weighs from thirty-iix to forty ounces, and has a
greenifh yellov/ bill upwards of two inches long.
The feet are of a faffron colour, nnd the claws brown.
The head and top of t:he'"<sck in the Drake are of a
beautiful grccTi, next wliich is a white ring that is
not ruite circular on the hinder part. The throat,
from "the ring to the breall, is of a chefnut colour,
and that in the middle of the v/itigs is of a (liining
blucifli purplv" and black. The upper part of the body
is of a darlr brown colour fpotted with black, and
the covert fc; thers of the wings have light e.^^cs.
The legs and feet are of a fine orange colour, and

the

I

O F B I R D S. 383

th.e claws black. The female, or Duck, is not fo
beautiful, nor is the head green, neither is there a
ring about the neck; but both the Duck and Drake
are mottled with white, brown, ruddy and blackiHi
colours. Four middle feathers of the tail turn back
in the male. They fly together in flocks in the win-
ter time ; but in the fummer only by pairs. They
build their nefts near the water, among rufhes or
heath, and generally lay twelve or fourteen eggs.
They are common in Lincolnjhire, Norfolk^ the ifle of
Ely, and many other places in this kingdom, where
there are decoys for taking them. At their moulting
time, when they cannot fly, great numbers of them
are taken with nets.

Mr, Clayton informs us, in the Philo/ophical Tranf-
■aSiions, that all birds which have a flat bill, and as it
it were find cut their nourifliment by groping, have
three pair of nerves that extend to their bills ; and
that it is by thefe they diftinguifli with fo much fa-
gacity what is proper tor their food, and what they
ought to rejeft. Thefe nerves are moll vifible in the
bill and head of a Duck, and they are larger than
thofe of a Goofe, or in any other bird yet known ;
for which reafon there is no bird whatever that gropes
more for its food than thofe of the Duck kind.

The GADWALL, or GREY, is bigger than a
. Widgeon, and nearly of the fize of a Duck. It has
a longifli body, and the bill is like that of a Com-
mon Duck, or rather of a Teal. Its fides are of a
faffron colour, and the middle is black ; and the
rump is all over black. The back is brown, and the
edges of the feathers are of a reddifli white. The
chin and cheeks are white, fpeckledwith fmall brown
fpots. The head is of a blueifh black, and the lower
part of the neck, the upper part of the breaft and
Ihoulders, are covered with a plumage beautifully
mottled with white and black, The other part of
the breafl: is white, and the belly is marked with
tranfverfe black fpots or ftripes. The fides are like-
wife variegated very finely with black and white lines.
The tail is fliort ani white, confiiHng of flxteen fea-
jtliprs, two of which in the middle are brown on the

upper

3S4 THE NATURAL HISTORY

upper part. The prime feathers of the wings are
brown, only there is a white fpot in the middle of the
wing, which termihates upwards in a lliining blackilli
pui-ple colour. On the third row of the covert fea-
thers of the wings there are ruddy or reddifh fpots.
It may be diftinguilhed from all other birds of this
kind by three fpots on each wing, one above another,
of different colours ; that is, white, black and ruddy.

The Fly-catching DUCK is fo called, becaufe
it feeds upon Flies that roam on the furface of the
water. It is nearly of the fame fize and Ihape a.%
a Tame Duck, and has a broad faffron-coloured flat
bill. The colour of the feathers almoft all over the
body is a mixture of black, white and tawny, and
the feet are yellow. The membranes which connect
the toes are blackifh. The upper and lower part of
the neck is mottled with the fame colours as the other
parts ; but the top of the head is blackilli, as well as
part of the wings.

The WIDGEON, or WHEWER, or WHIM, is
lefs than a Duck, weighs near a pound and a
half; and is in length, from fhe tip of the bill to
the end of the clavvs, twenty inches. The head and
upper part of the neck are red, fpeckled with blackifh
fpots. The top of the head towards the bill is of a
lighter colour, being of a carnation tinflure, inclining
to a whitilTi yellow, which is a mark whereby this '
bird may be diftinguifhed from all others of this kind.
The upper part of the bread and fides, as far as the
wings, are beautifully tindlured with a claret colour,
and arj full of tranfverfe black lines. The middle
of the back is brown, and the covert feathers of the
wings is black. The fourteen tail feathers are brown,
and on the wings there is an elegant blue fpot. The
bill is of a lead colour, and the nail, or tip of the
bill, black. The feet are of a light brown, with a
bluifii caft. Thefe birds are very common in the fens
of Lincohpire, Cambridgijh'n-e, and other marlhy
places, and it feeds upon weeds that grow in the
water, as well as upon fmall Ihell-fifh.

The Yorkshire WIDGEON is of the fame fize
with the former, but is of a flatter make. The head

and

G F B I R D Sj 385

-and neck are of a pale brown, fpeckled with trian-
gular blackifh fpots, which are very numerous. The
whole body, wings and tail, are of a dark brown ;
but the edges of the extreme feathers are more light,
and fometimes whitifh. The wings are marked with
two white tranfverfe lines, and the fpace between
them is hoary. The breaft and ndes are lighter than
the back, and fpotted with a darker colour. The
belly is as white as fnow, except a few dark fpots
under the tail. The bill and feet are blueifh.

The Sea PHEASANT, or CRACKER, has a
ilender body, and a longifh neck ; but is of the fame
fize as the Common Widgeon. The bill is variegated
with blue and black ; and the head is of the colour
of rully iron, only behind the ears it is tinftured with
purple. From the back part of the head on both
iides a white line begins, which runs towards the
throat. The under part of the body, that is, the
neck, breaft, belly, as far as the vent, is white;
but it is black under the tail. The upper part of
the body is adorned wih beautiful colours ; but the
two middle feathers of the tail are above an inch
longer than the relt, which fufficiently diftinguiih it
from all other water fowls of this kind. It frequents
the fea-coafts of Suffolk, and is found in other parts of
England.

The Common TEAL is the leaft of the Duck
kind, except the Summer Teal. Itweigks about twelve
ounces, and is in length from the tip of the bill to
the end of the claws fifteen inches ; but the breadth,
•when the wings are extended, is twenty-four inches.
The bill is broad, black, and fomewhat turned up
towards the end ; ana the top of the head and upper
part of the neck are of a reddifh colour. From the eyes
on both fides to the back part of the head there is a
dark green ftripe, which is as gloffy as filk. Between
thefe, under the back part of the head, there is a
black fpot ; and under the eyes there is a white line,
which feparates the reddifn colour from the green.
The feathers which cover the lower part of the neck,
the top of the back, and fides under the v/ings, are
beautifully painted with white and black undulated

Vol. JI. S lines

3S6 THE NATURAL HISTORY
lines alternately. The parts about the crop are yeU
lowifti in fome, fpeckled with black fpots like fcales
in a very elegant manner. The breail and belly
are hoary ; but under the rump there is a black fpot,
and the wings are brown with a green fpot in the
middle. The tail confills of fixteen feathers, which
are all brown, and the feet are of a palifh brown ;
but the membrane that connedts the toes is blackilh.
The flefh is the moil delicate of all the Duck kind.

The French TEAL is much lefs than a Duck,
and only appears in the autumn and the winter ; they
are all of the fame colour, only the female are grey
about the neck, and yellowiih under the belly. The
colour is brown on the back, upon the wings, and
under the rump. They have a fhining fpot upon
each wing like Ducks, and a white line underneath,
*vhich proceeds from the extremity of the wings ;
the twelve prime feathers are of the fame colour ;
but the next following are white at the extremities,
and make another white line ; and the other feathers
are black above, and form a black fpot on each fide. "

The Indian TEAL is fmaller than a Duck, and
the upper part of the bill is longer than the lower.
The bill and feet are of a fine red ; but th^ top of
the head, upper part of the neck, and almoft all the
back are cf a yellow colour, as well as the rump,
Avhich is fpotted with large fpots in the fhape of a
half-moon. The under part of the neck, the brfeafl:,
and the belly are white; but the wings have a great
variety of colours, in which the beauty of this bird
confifts ; for the firft feathers on the fhoulders are of
a faint rofe- colour, marked with black fpots in thQ
Ihape of a half-moon ; thofe that follow them are
partly white and partly green ; and the longeft are
^11 adorned with a very fhining blue. The tail is
partly green, and partly blue, and the toes are with-
put nxembranes.

The Summer TEAL is the Icaft of all this kind,
and is in fhape like a Duck ; but it differs in the co-
lour of the wings and belly ; for the wings are with-
out the gloffy feathers, and the belly is more glofTy^
The bill is broad and brown, aiid tJie extremities of

O F B I R D S. 587

the feathers on the back are white. On the wings
there is a line an inch broad, partly black and partly-
green, with white on both fides. In the tail the fea-
thers end in Iharp points, and all the lower part of
the body is of a whitilh yellow ; but on the brealt
and lower part of the belly there are large thick-fct
blackifh fpots. The legs are of a light blue, and
the membrane that conneds the toes is black. It
feeds upon worms, infefts, weeds, roots, and feed^.

The GARGANEY, fo called by the inhabitants
of Milan in Italy, but KERNEL by thofe of Straf-
hurg, exceeds the former in bignefs, weighing
from thirteen to fourteen ounces, and its length from
the tip of the bill to the end of the claws is feven-
teen inches ; but its breadth when the wings are
extended is twenty-eight inches. Its fhape is like
that of the Common Teal, with a black bill fpeckled
with reddilh white. The breaft is varied with black
and dufky waved lines in each feather, and the belly
is of a yellowifn white, but fpotted under the tail.
The back is brown, v. ith a purplifh gbfs, and the
fcapular feathers of the wings are alh-coloured ; but
the reft are of a very beautiful purple v.'ith white
lines in the middle. The quill feathers are brown
with a mixture of ihining green, and feme of them
have white tips. The tail is three inches long, of a
dark brown, and ends in a Iharp point. The mark
Jby which it may be known from other birds of this
. kind, is a broad white line beginning at the inner
corner of the eye, and running over the eyes and ears
almoil to the middle of the neck.

The Lesser Wild DUCK of Schxvcnckf, or the
Weasel-coloured DUCK, has a great lik^nefs to
the Common Teal j but the head is reddiih like that
of a Weafel or Fox.

The Bareary DUCK, or Guinea DUCK, is of
the fize between a Goofe and a Duck, but the legs
are fhort, and the male is larger than the female. The
colour is not always the iame, for there are fome
that are white, others black, and fome of other co-
lours : but it is generally black, variegated with
•ther colours. The bill is fhort, broad, and cropkqd
S 2 j«

-SS THE NATURAL HISTORY

at the end ; and there is a crell or red tubercle betweet
the eyes as large as a cherry, and likewife red about
the eyes, which has the appearance of red leather.
The flefh has a tafte between a Goofe and a Duck.

The Long-legged DUCK has afharp bill, which
is partly red and partly black, and the neck is fur-
rounded with a white circle. The belly is white, the
wings large, and the four laft quills are black all
over ; but thofe in the middle are white, and the refl;
black, but white at the ends. The legs are more
flender and longer than thofe of other Ducks, and
the membranes between the toes are white.

The Black-crested DUCK weighs about two
pounds, and its length from the tip of the bill to
the extremity of the tail is fifteen or fixteen inches ;
but the breadth when the wings are extended is two
feet three inches. The bill is broad, two inches
long, and blue all over except at the tip, which is
black. The noftrils are large, and furrounded with
a fpace quite bare ; the iris of the eyes is of a gold
colour, the ears are fmall, and the top of the head is
of a blackifti purple. There is a creft which hangs
behind the head an inch and a half long ; and the
neck and all the upper part of the body are of a deep
blackilh brown. The wings are fnort, and all the
feathers black, only the four firii quill feathers are
of the fame colour as the body, and the ten follow-
ing are as white as fnow, except their points, which
are black. It has a very ihort tail, confifting of four^
teen black feathers. The lower part of the breaft
and belly are white, and beyond the vent it is
blackilh. The feet are of a dark blue, and the to?s
are long, with black membranes between them.

The Stellated DUCK has its eyes higher
placed than common, and in an oval black fpot.
The head under the eyes is brown, and the bill black
near its root ; but the principal charaderiftic of this
bird is a large white ftar on the back.

The Madagascar DUCK ib larger than a Tame
Duck, with a bill of a yellowifh brown, and the iris
of the eyes of a fine red. The neck and head are
of a dulky green, and the back of a deep purple

mixe4

OF BIRDS. 389

mixed with blue ; the edges of the feathers are red,
and the breail of a deep brown, with the edges of
the outer feathers red ; but the feathers on the fhoul-
ders are green, feme of which have red edges. The
firft row of the covert feathers are of the fame co-
lour, and the fecond green. All the long feathers of
the wings have red edges, and the legs and feet are
of an orange colour,

CHAP. XLVI.
0/ Ta M E D U C K S.

^"^HE Tame DUCK is fo well known that it
fcarce needs defcription. It is lefs than a Goole,
and about the fize of a hen; but has a flatter body,
SL broad back and bill, with fhort legs placed back-
wards. There is a wonderful variety of colours in
thefe fowls, which is common to all thofe of the
domeftic kind. The Drake has upright feathers on
the rump, a little turning towards the head, which
the Duck has not.

The HooK-BiLLED DUCK is extremely like the
Common Wild Duck, and it principally differs in
the bill, which is broad at the tip, and a little longer
than in the Common Duck, bending a little down-
wards ; likewife the head is lefs, and more ilender.
It generally weighs about two pounds, and is two feet
in length from the tip of the bill to the end of the
tail ; but the breadth is three feet when the wings
are extended. The upper part of the neck and head
are of a dark green, with two fmall white fpeckled
lines, one of which runs from the upper part of the
bill over the eye toward the back part of the head ;
and the other from the bill to the lower part of the
eye, round which there is a circle of iine white fea-
thers. The bread, belly, and throat arje white, with
fmall traofvcrfe fpots of a brownilh red running crofs
them ; the fix iirft prime feathers of the wing are
S 3 white.

3fo THE NATURAL HISTORY

white, and the reft of a reddifh brown. The firft
TOW of the covert feathers are blue tipped with white,
and the fecond are brown with white tips ; the fca-
pular feathers of the wings, the fides, and the back
are of a reddifh brown powdered with white fpecks.
The tail is black, and the feathers have white tips,
feme of which turn up or curl towards the back.
The legs and feet are of a fine orange colour.

The MoscovY DUCK is fo called, not becaufe it
u brought from Mofco<vy, but on account of its muflcy
fmell. It is the largeft fowl of the Duck kind,
i'cme of them being as big as a fmall fized Goofe.
The bill is broad, fhort, of a reddifh colour, and a
little hooked at the end. On the upper part between
the noftrils grows a fmall red flefhy excrefcence ; and
the iris of the e)'es is white; but round the eyes
there is a red flefhy fort of fubftance refembling that
en the bill. The upper part of the head and neck
are of a dufky colour, a little mottled with white ;
and the fides of the wings and the back are varie-
gated with red, green, brown, purple, and white ;
but the under part of the body is white, interfperfed
here and there with a few ftnall brown feather's.
The legs ainxl feet are of a pale red, or rather orange
colour. This fuwl has a hoarfe cry, whi^h is fcarce-
ly 1 card unlefs when it is angry. The female is
without that excrefcence on the bill ; but the colour
is much the fame as in the rtiale. Their flefh is ge-
r.erally prefe red to that of the Common Duck.
They lay a great number of eggs, and are excellent
bleeders.

The Tame DUCKS at the Cape of Good Hope are
iDuch larger than a Common Duck, but not fo big
jis a Gocfe ; but in other things they are alike.
They feem to be the fame as the Mrfco-iy Ducks ;
though Kolben has not faid enough to render it cer-
tiun.

C H A I>.

® F BIRDS. 39^

CHAP. XLVII.
Of foreign Birds of the Duck Kind.

THE Brasilian WiLDDUCKisofthefizeof
a Goofe, and has a black bill, with yellow feet.
It is all over black, except the beginning of the
wings, which are white ; however the blackncfs has a
greeniih glofs. The creft or tuft on the top of the
head is black, and there is a wrinkled black excre-
fcence above the bill -, and about the legs the fkin is
black.

The Brasilian V/ild DUCK, called APECA
APOA, is of the fize of a Goofe^eight months.old,
but has the fame Ihape as a Tame Duck, from which
it. diiFers in being larger ; and in having a black bill
crooked at the end, above which is a fiefhy creil,
broad, roundifh, blackilh, and fpotted with white :
the colour of the feet and legs is not red, but of a
brown afli. On the top of the bill there is a hole big
enough to hold a pea, and may be feen on each fide ;
which is in the. room of noilrils. It is very commo.a
on the banks of rivers.

The IPECA GUACU of Brafl \% r Domeflic
DtJCK, and is accounted excellent eating. Thefize
and fhape is between a Goofe and a Duck ; and the
bill from the tip to the middle is yellowifli, and
there is a red fpot on the middle of the head of a
beautiful colour. The whole body from the head to
the tail is white, and the feet are like a Duck's of a
yellov/ifh red. It grows fat equally well on the
land as in ponds.

TheBRAsiLiAN Wild DUCK, called MARECA,
has a bill like a Tame Duck, and is brown ; but at
the root there is a red fpot on each fide. The head
is grey on the upper part, but whitp under the eyes ;
and the whole breall and lower belly is of the colour
©f an oak board, but rather darker, and variegated
S 4 with

3$2 THE NATURAL HISTORV
with black fpecks. The legs and feet are black, and
the tail grey. The wings at the rife are of a greyiib
brown, and the prime feathers are of the fame colour
©n one ficie, and on the other of a light brown ; but
in the middle they are of a fhining green with a black
edge.

Another Brasilia n MARECA is of the fame fize
and Ihape with the former ; but the bill is of a
fhining black. The whole upper fide is of the colour
of umber mixed with brown ; and under the throat
i: is white. Before each eye there is a fmall round
fpot of a whitifh yellow ; and the breaft and belly are
of a dark grey mixed with gold colour ; but the tail
is Mack. The feathers of the wings are brown with
0i greenifh glofs, and in the middle of the wings they
are brown with a moft beautiful green and blue
giofs, and there is alfo a black waved ftripe ; but the
extremity of the prime feathers is entirely white.
The legs and feet are remarkably red ; and when this
fowl is roalled it tinges the hands and linen with a
blood colour.

The Bahama DUCK is lefs than a Tame Duck,
with the head near the upper jaw of a triangular
fhape, and of a gold colour. The infide of the bill
and all the lower part of the neck are white ; but the
hinder part of the head, the breaft and belly, are of
a yellowifh aih-colour, and the wings are brown ;
but the middle is green furrounded with yellow, and.
the extremities black.

The Blue-winged SHOVELLER is an American
bird, and fo called hy Catejhy. It has a bill in the fhape
cf a buckler, and a little crooked before with den-
tatcd edges. The feet are red, and the fmall feathers
th^t cover the wings are blue, terminated with a
white Itreak that runs acrofs them ; and all the other
jparts are brown.

The Summer DUCK, fo called by Catefiy^ is an
American bird, and has a bill which is red in the mid-
dle, and has a black fpot at the end. The iris of the eyes
is yellow with a purple circle, ^nd on the head there
are two long feathers on each fide, which feem to be
di/ided into hairs, and they are blue ajad green with

a purple

OF BIRDS. 393

a purple call, and with a narrow white line. The fea-
thers on the head are of a violet colour, and the
throat white, from which run ftreaks in the Ihape of
a bow on each fide. The breaft is of a fine red
fpotted with white. Near the fniall feathers which
cover the larger, is a broad black ftreak that runs
crofs the back^ but the upper parts of the wings are
of leveral colours. On the rump there are two nar-
row feathers, which are yellow at the edges, and the
{ail is blue and purple ; but the feet are brown and
red on the outfide.

The Chinese TEAL has a green tuft, and the
feathers are of a purple colour. It is very beautifully
variegated, and the feathers near the rump are placed
in a lingular manner.

The Tree DUCK is only met with in Louifiana^ a
part of North Ainerkai and it is {o called, becaufe it
perches on the boughs of trees. The plumage is
extremely fine, and fo changeable on the neck, that no
painter can imitate it. The head is adorned with
a fine tuft of very lively colours, and the eyes are
as red as fire. The natives of the country ufe them
greatly for ornaments.

The American DUCK of Loidfiana is another
bird of that country, and the plumage is almoll: all
white, only there are fome grey feathers ; and on tiie
fides of the head there is red' flefli more lively than
that of a Turkey-Cock. The fiefh of thofe that are
young ij fine and well tafted, but that of the old is of
a muiky fmell.

The CARLO, a bird of Ceylon, always perches upon
trees, and is as large as a Swan, with black feathers.
The legs are ihort, and the head is of a prodigious
fize, with a round bill, and a white fpace on each
fide of the head, which look like two ears. It has a
white comb like that of a Cock, and the cry is like
that of a Duck, which may be heard a mile off.

The METZCANAUHTLI is a Br^//ic^:n fowl of
the fize of a Tame Duck, and much of the fame co*
lour ; but it haunts the lake of Mexico, and was pro-
bably carried over by the Spaniards,

S 5 The

39j^ THE NATURAL HISTORY

The ECATOTOTL, or WIND BIRD, is a little
lefs than a Tame Duck, and has a {lender black
roundirti bill, and bent near the end. The head is
black and crefled, and on the back part of it there
are whitiih ftripes which proceed to the eyes, whofe
iris is white. The wings are afn-coloured under-
neath, but above they are variegated with brown,
black, and white. The feathers are white under-
neath and tawny above, as well as near the thighs.
From the fhape of the bill it ought to be placed ra-
ther among the Divers than the Ducks. The female
h .5 a larger round cieft, which Hands up like a crown,
and is a little whitilh.

The COLCANAUHTLICIOATL is a kind of a
Wild Duck, brown above, and white beneath ; but
the thighs are of a pale reddiih colour. The bill is
black on the upper part, but tawny below and on the
fides.

The YACATEXOTLI is a Wild Pond Duck, of
the fize of a Tame Duck, with a broad bill blueifh
above. The upper part of the body is tawny, and
below of a blackifh filver colour. The wings arc
black above, and afh-coloured underneath.

TheTZONYAYAUHQUI, and YZTACTZO-
NYAYAUHQUI, is of the fize of a Tame Duck,
with a broad bill blueilh above ; but near the tip
there is a white fpot. The feet are alfo blueifh, and
the body is variegated with tawny and white.
The head is thick, of the colour of that of a Pea-
cock, but blacker on the too.

The XALCUANI, or SAND SWALLOWER, is
a little lefs than a Tame Duck, and has a bill livid
above, black below, and pretty broad. The legs are
of a m.oufe-colour, and the upper part of the oody
and wings are variegated with white, green, black,
and brown ; but the lower parts are white. There i$
a green ftripe which runs from the back part of the
head to the eyes ; and the breaft is tawny, and crofTed
with whitifh lines.

The COLCANAUHTLI, or Quail-coloured
DUCK oi Mixicoy is of a middle fize, with a broad
i^kck bill, and tawny feet ; but the reft of the body

is

OF BIRDS. 395

is variegated with white, tawny, black, and alh-
colour.

The NEPAPANTOTOTL has a bill which ends
in a fharp point, in which it differs from the Duck
kind ; but it is variegated with all forts of colours,
which are ufually feenin every fort of 'Duck.

The YZTACTZON YAYAUHCIUI, or
DUCK with a mottled head, has a black bill mo-
derately broad, and the whole body is variegated
with white, black, and aih-colour; only the neck
and head are mottled with purple, white, blue, and
green colours, with a fine fliining glofs. The feet are
red, and feem fitted for fwimming only, not for walk-
ing i for they are placed at the back part of the body,
as in Divers.

The YACAPATLAHOAC, or Broad-eilled
DUCK, is a little lefs than a Tame Duck, and the
feet and bill below are of a paliih red ; but round
about the fides of a tawny red, and at the tip of
a blackilh tawny. The body is every where co-
vered with feathers that look like femi-circles,
made up of tawny, black, and white ; but the belly
is tawny. The wings above are partly white, and,
partly of a Ihining green ; but tae moft prevailing
colour is brown, and they are white underneath.

The TEMPATLAHOAC is of the fize of a
Tame Duck, and has a broad long bill all over black;
but the feet are of a pale red. The neck and head
fliine with green, purple, and black coloured fea-
thers, which have a delicate glofs when the fun fhines^
upon them, and appear of different colours in dif-
ferent li|;hts. The iris of the eyes is p^le, the
bread white, and the reft of the body below tawny.
There are two white fpots near the tail on each fide ;
and the upper parts are painted with femi-circles of
a whitifh tawny without, but within of a greenifh
black. Thebeginnineof the wings are blue, chang-,
ing firft into white, and then into green ; but at the.
extremities the feathers are tawny on one fide, and
of a ihining green on the other.

The

396 TftE NATURAL HISTORY

The OPIPIXAN has a reddifh bill, and the feet
are variegated with tawny and white ; but the reft
of the body is afh-coloured and black.

The QUAPACH CANAUHTLI has a broad bill,
which is blue, as well as the legs. The head, neck,
breaft, and belly arc tawny ; and the tail ihort, con-
filling of white and black feathers. The wings and
back are of a brownifh tawny, variegated with
tranfverfe ftripes.

The Mexican Broad-billed TEAL, called
ATAPALCATL, is of a whitifh and tawny colour,
with an exceeding broad bill ; but the other parts
are like the common Teal.

The CHJLCAN AUHTLI is a kind of a Teal, but
is a little Icfs, and has a broader bill though nar-
rower than in the former. The colour of the body
is all over tav/ny, except the wings, which are mot-
tled with blue, white, and blackifh green.

The XOMOTL is black on the back and wings,
^yith a tawny breail:. When it is angry it raifes the
feathers on its head like a creft. The feathers are (o
beautiful, that the native Mexicans weave them into
their garments.

The Red Coot-footed TRINGA is oneof afpe-
cies of birds diftin^lyclaffed of late. It has a longifh,
flrait, flender bill, of an orange colour, with a
black point, and is broader than it is deep, in the
manner of a Duck's bill. They have a clay-co-
loured line above the eye, and the head, hinder part
^f the neck, and the back are of a reddifh brown or
orange, the middle parts of the feathers being dufky
in fuch a manner, that all the upper p?.rt of this bird
appears fpotted. The greater quills of the wings are
>)lack, and the following are black with white tips^
and narrow edges of the fame colour. The in-
nermoft that fall next the back are dufky, with broad
orange-coloured borders. The firft row of coverts
next above the quills arc blackifh with white tips,
and the le/Ter coverts are of an afh-colour. Th^
lump is white with duflcy fpots, and the tail with'
its covert feathers above are of an orange brown,
4?yflcy in the middle. The under fide is all over of

iidull

OF BIRDS. 357.

a dull red, or' brick colour, and the legs are bare
above the knees. The toes are fcalloped on the fides
with a web that is pretty ftifF, and are in number the
fame as the joints of the toes. They have fmall
claws, and both legs and feet are of a dufky colour
inclining to green. This bird was brought from
Hudfcn's Bay,

The CooT-rooT£D TRINGA has a bill not fo
broad as the former, and it is black, flender, and
terminates in a point. The upper chap is longer
than the lower, and is a little bent downwards.
There is a blackifh line runs from the noftril through
the eye ; but the under fide of the head and throat
is white. There is an orange-coloured line which
runs behind each eye, and down each fide of the
neck, joining on the fore part to the middle of the
neck beneath the white throat. On the top of the head,
hinder part of the neck, all round the lower part of
the neck, back, and coverts of the wings, the fea-
thers are of an afh-colour ; but the greater quills arc
black, and the middles are black with white tips :
the other parts of the back are of a dufky brown.
Between the back and wings there are a few long
feathers edged with orange, and the rump is dufky
and white mixed in tranfverfe lines. The tail is
dufky, and the breaft, belly, and thighs are white.
The legs are bare above the knees, and the legs, feet
and claws are of a lead colour. The toes are fcal-
loped like the former.

The PETEREL is a web-footed bird, with three
toes, and a fpur behind inftead of the fourth. It
feems to be unknown to mofl writers of natural hif-
tory, though the Appendix to WUloughby on Birds has
one called a Stornfinch, which feems to be the fame as
the Peterel. Among voyagers. Dumpier was the firfl
thatv/e know of who has taken notice of it ; he fays,
the Peterel is a bird not unlike a Swallow, but
fmaller, and the tail is fhorter. It is all over black,
except a white fpot on the rump ; and they fly fweep-
ing like Swallows, and very near the water. They
are not often feen in fair weather, for which reafon
the failors call them foul weather birds, and they

think

598 THE NATURAL HISTORY

think they prefage a ftorm when they come about a
fhip, and upon that account they do not love to fee
them. In a florm they will hover clofe under a
fhip's ftern, in the wake of the ihip, v/here the wa-
ter is fmoothe"-, and there as they fly gently they pat
the water alternately with their feet, as if they walked
upon it, though they are Hill upon the wing ; hence
the feamen call them Peterels, in allufion to St. Pe-
terh walking upon the lake of Gennefareth.

Catefoy takes notice of the fame bird, and obferves
that the Stornfinch, or Peterel, is about the fize of a
Chaffinch ; and that the whole bird, except the rump
which is white, is of a dufky brown colour, the back
being fomewhat darker than the belly. The bill is
half an inch long, (lender, brown, and crooked at
the end. By opening the head of thefe birds, he
found that the noftrils confifted of two parallel tubes,
proceeding from within the head, and running half
way among the upper mandible of the bill, forming a
protuberance thereon. The wings extended an inch
beyond the tail ; the legs were flender, and the feet
webbed with a fmall claw on each heel without a toe.
They rove all over the Atlantic Ocean y and are {t^vi.
on the coafts of Armrica as well as on thofe of Europe,
many hundred leagues from each ihore. They ufe
their wings and feet with furprifing celerity ; and the
wings are long, refembling thofe of fwallows, but
they always fly in a direft line. Though the feet are
formed forfwimming, yet they ufe them for running,
which they often do on the furface of the water, but
with the affiftance of their wings.

The

OF BIRDS.

3.99

The Clafles of BIRDS according to Linnaus,

SINCE the foregoing fheets went to the pre fs,
Linnceui has publilhed another edition, that is
tenth, of his work called Syfieina Nature -y but fo en-
larged, that it does not feem to be the fame ; nor can it
properly be faid to be fo, becaufe he has altered his
method with regard to animals. I make no queftion
but the Englijh reader will be glad to fee that part of
it turned into Englijh, relating to the fubje(5l we are
upon, as he is fo celebrated an author. But perhaps
he will wonder that he fays fo little upon every arti-
cle ; for there is not much more than the charac-
teriftic of each bird. Yet the great number of his
readers fhews that his fyftems have given fatisfaftion
to the public. And this I the rather undertake, be-
caufe if it does nothing befides, it will render this vo-
lume more perfedl.

Linnaus has but four general clafles, which are
again fubdivided into a great many others. Thefe
arc, 1. ACCIPITRES. II. PIC^. III. ANSE^
RES. IV. GRALL^E. V. GALLINi£. and
YI. PASSERES.

4tlt4HHt4-t4-t4-t4-tlHt-l-t4Ht4t4-t4-tlt-l-

CHAP. I.

ACCIPITRES.

THE VULTUR has a fir ait beah, nv'tth a
crooked point ; a head n.v it hcyut feathers ; quite
naked before, and a clo-uen tongue.

I. The Greatefi Vultur with a vertical carun-
cle running the length of the head. This is a rare bird,
and to me wholly unknown ; it is a native of Chili^
and by travellers is called Uie Contur. 2. The

Viiltur

40O THE NATURAL HISTORY

l^tiUur with a crefted head is an inhabitant of
Mexico ; the eyes have a niftitating membrane, and
under the crop there are white feathers, which when
angry it lets fall down to its feet. The wings and •
tail are variegated with white and black underneath
like the fkin of a Tiger. He fits ereft, and he raifes
the feathers on the back part of his head in the form
of a crown. It is faid he can cleave a man's IkuU
with one ftroke of his beak. He was feen at Madrid
in the king of Spain's menagerie. Ray calls him the
Crejled Eagle. ^.Tlie Fultur with carunculated noftrils,
and the top of the head and neck naked; but he can
draw his head and neck into a fort of a fheath, made
by the feathery fkin of the lower part of his neck.
He is a Weji-lndian bird, and called by Edivards the
King of the Fulturs. 4. The Dujky Grey Vultur with
black wings and a white beak, is called by Shane
the African Vultur ; but by Ray the Brajiliany or
Mexican Vultur. He inhabits the hot parts ot America,

5. The White Vultur, with a brown back, a bearded
neck, and a purple flefh-coloured bill ; as alfo the
head furrounded with a black line. At the bafe of
the lower jaw there hangs a beard, and the forehead,
as well as the region of the eyes, is black. It is bred
in Africa, and called by Edvuards the Bearded Vultur.

6. The Vultur with black wings and the edge of the
exterior quill feathers of a hoary colour except the
very outcrmoft. The male is entirely white, except the
wings, which are black all over, unlefs the two lirll
feathers, which are hoary ; the female is brown, ex-
cept the four outermoft prime feathers. The beak is
black, with yellow wax, and the noftrils are perpe-
tually running. N, B. What is here called wax is
a fubftance that appears like it, and lies at the root oF
the beak of fome birds. It is a native of Egypt, and
is called by Ray the Bald Eagle, or Vulturine Eagle,

II. FALCO has a crook.d heak^ furnijhed at the bafe
nvith 'wax ; the head is thick-Jet njoith feather Sy and
tbi tongui is cloucn,

1, The

O r B I R D S. ^ci

1. The Falco with yellow wax on the beak, the
legs half covered with feathers, and an aih-coloured
body ftreaked with yellow. It is an inhabitant of
Europe, and is named by Ray the Black Eagle. 2. The
Falco with yellow wax on the beak, feathered legs,
with a body variegated with a brown and ferruginous
colour, as alfo a tail undulated at the bafe with an
afh-colour. It is a bird of Europe, and called by
authors the Golden Eagle. 3. The i^^/firwith yellow
wax, feathered legs, a brown back, and a white
itreak on the tail. It is an inhabitant oi Europe, and
is termed by others the Golden Eagle with a white
ring on the tail. 4. The Falco with feathered legs,
a brown body and a white tail, marked with brown
at the end, and the breaft fprinkled with triangular
fpeckles. He is a bird of Canada, and is called by
Ed-ivards the White-iaiV d Eagle. 5". The Falco with
wax on the beak, a yellow fpace round the eyes, and
yellow feet, with the body of an aih-colour, undulated
v»'ith white, and a white ring round the neck. It is
bred in Sweden. 7. The Fako with wax on the beak,
with a yellow fpace round the eyes, and the feet
yellow underneath ; the back is of a blueilh black,
and the temples are included in a white line. It is a
Bengal bird, aud is named by Ednvards the Little black
end orange-coloured Indian Hanvk. 8. The Falco with
yellow wax on the beak, the prime tail feathers
white, and the intermediate black at the end. It is
called hy Ray t)\Q White-tailed Eagle. 9. The FaUff
with yellow wax on the beak, an afti -coloured body,
with a pale belly marked with oblong red fpots, and
the orbit of the eyes white ; is the Ring-tail of Ray^
and is bred in Europe . 10. The Fako with yellow
wax on the beak, a forked tail, a ferruginous body,
and the head of a lighter colour. This is the Common
Kite. II. The Falco with yellow wax on the beak,
with a very long forked tail, and the body brown
above and white beneath. It is the Forked-tailed
Haivk of Catejhy ; and is an American bird. 12. The
Falco with wax on the beak, yellow legs, an afli-co-
loured body marked with brown fpots, and a tail with
four blackifh ftreaks. It is the Falcon gentle, and is a -

native

402 THE NATURAL HISTORY

native of the Jlps. 13. The Fako with wax on the
beak, yellow feet, brown back, the hinder part of
the neck white, and a pale belly, marked with ob-
long brown fpots. This is the Hobby. 14. The Falcd
with wax on the beak, and yellow legs, a brown
body, and a pale belly with brown fpots. He feeds
upon rabbits and toads, and is called the Commott
Buzzard. 15. The Falco with wax on the beak, and
yellow legs, a red back fpotted with black, and
having longitudinal brown fpots on the breaft ;
as alfo the tail rounded. It inhabits old ftonc
buildings, lives upon fmall birds and mice, and has
a broad black ftreak towards the end of the tail. Its
name is the Kejirel, or Stannel. 16. The Falco with
wax on the beak, and yellow legs, a whitifh brown
body, and the covers of the eyes bony. The upper
part of the body is covered with brown feathers that
are white at the bafe, and the under part is fpotted
with yellow and brown, as are alfo the prime feathers
of the tail. There is a flefhy lobe between the nof-
trils; and when he is angry, or terrified, he blows
up his head to the fize of his body. He is a native
of Surinam. 17. The Fako with wax on the beak,
and yellow legs, with a white fpace round the eyes ;
the body is variegated with white and brown, and
there is a black ring encompafling a white crowq.
The body, on the back, wings, and rump, is
brown; out the neck, throat, breaft, belly, pc.d
under part of the wings, are white. The tail is
marked with yellow and black ftripes ,• and when h«
beholds a man, he feems to laugh. 18. T\i^ Falco
with yellow wax on the beak, a brown head, a red
vertex and belly, with blueifh wings. It is the lejfer
Ha^koi Catefoy, and is 2,n American bird. 19. I'hp
Falco with yellow wax on the beak, a brown body,
whitifh underneath, and a brown tail, marked with
four white ftreaks. It is an American bird, and the
Wood-Pigeon Hanjuk of Catejhy. 20. The Falco with
yellow wax on the beak, though pretty obfcure, blue
legs and beak, and the body marked underneath
with longitudinal black fpots. It is the Merlin of
Ray, and is a native of Eurcpe. 21. The Falco with

wax

OF BIRDS, 4<:t5,

\vzx on tlie beak, and blue legs ; the upper part oi'
the body is brown and underneath white, with the
head w'hitifh. It is the Bald Buzzard o£ Raj, and
lives upon the larger kind of fifh, as well as Wild
Ducks. The left foot is a little palm ated. 22. The
Faico with blue wax on the beak, yellow legs, a
brown body, marked with aih-coloured ftreaks un-
derneath, and the fides of the tail white. It is the
Gyr Falcon of Ray. 23. The FaIco with black wax
on the beak, yellow legs, half naked, the head of
an afh-colour, and having an afh-coloured ftripe on
the tail, which is white at the end. It is the Honey
Buzzard of Ray^ and is a native cf Europe -, it feeds
u^on mice, lizards, and infedts. 24. The Faica
with brown wax, a grey body, and the top of the
head, the throat, the under part of the wings, and
the legs, yellow. It is the Moor Buzzard of Ray,.
and is a bird of Europe. 25. The Falco with black
wax on the beak, that is yellow on the ed,^t, as well
as the legs ; the body is brown, and the prime fea-
thers of the tail are marked with pale ftreaks ; and
there are white fpaces over the eyes. The under part
of the body is entirely white, only it is undulated
with black, and the prime feathers of the tail are
white at the end. It is. the Gojha-wk of Ray, is an
inhabitant of Europe, and an enemy to domeHick
fowls. 26. The Falco with green wax on the beak,
yellow legs, and a white breall undulated with
brown ; the tail is marked with blackifh crofs bars,,
aad it is the Sparro^j-kai.vk of Ray. It is a bird of
Europe, and is an enemy to Pigeons and Sparrows^
but more particularly to Larks.

III. S T R I X has a crooked beak, nxjithout ivax, and
covered luith brijlly feathers at the bafe ; the head
is large, 'vjiih great eyes and ears, and the tongue is
ch^ien.

I. The Strix with an auriculated head, and a
reddifh body, is the Bubo ot Jldro^-vandus, and is aw
inhabitant of Europe. 2. The Strix with an auricu-
lated head, and a whitith body, is an inhabitant of

the

404 THE NATURAL HISTORY
the mountains of Lapland. 3. The ^trix with earsy
and a body of a ferruginous colour above, but of an
a(h-colour below, with five white fpots, is a bird of
America. 4. The Strix with an auriculated head, and
fix brown ftreaks on the white-crefted ears. This is
the Horn Onvl of Ray, and is an inhabitant of Europe.

5. The Strix with an auriculated head, whofe ears
confift of a fingle feather. It is an inhabitant of
Europe. N.B. The ears and auriculated heads are
the fame as the horns, and horned heads, of other
authors J for which reafon they are called Horn Oivls.

6. The Strix with a fmooth head, a ferruginous
body, with the iris of the eyes black, and the prime
feathers of the wings ferrated. It is the Barn Ozvl
of Rayy and an European bird. 7. The Strix with a
fmooth head, a brown body, and the iris of the eyes
yellow. It is a native oi Europe. 8. The Strix with
a fmooth head, and a whitifti body, marked with
fpots in the fhape of half-moons. It is the great
White Onjol of Edwards, and inhabits the northern
parts of Europe and America. 9. The Strix with a
fmooth head, a ferruginous body, and the third quill
feather longer than the reft. It is the I^y Oiul of
Rayy and is a bird of Europe. 10. The Strix with a
imooth head, and the upper part of the body brown,
fpotted with white ; the prime feathers of the tail are
flreaked with white. It is the Hcnvlet of Ray, and is
common in Europe. 1 1 . The Strix with a fmooth
head, and the wings marked with white fpots of five
different fhapes. This is the little O^vl of other au-
thors, and is a native of Europe.

IV. LANIUS -&<3j a pretty Jirait hilly 'with a tooth on
each Jide tonjoards the pointy and a naked bafe j the
tongue feems to be torn.

I. The Lanius with a wedge -like tail, crefted
head, and a reddifh body, undulated with brown and
tawny colours underneath. It is the Crejled Red
Butcher Bird of Edixjardsy and is a native of Bengal.
2. The Lanius with a wedge-like tail, and white fides ;
having the back hoary, and the black wings marked with

a white

O F B I R D S. 405

A white fpot. It is the greater Butcher Bird of other
authors, and is an inhabitant of Europe, 3. The Laniuf
with a wedge-like tail, and a grey back, with four of
the prime feathers of the tail in the middle of the fame
colour, with a lead-coloured beak. It is the middle
Butcher Bird of Ray, and is a native of Europe, 4.
The Lanius with the top of the head black, and a
dufky longitudinal ftreak. It is the Ffy-Catcher of
Catejhy, with a red crown, and is a native of North
Americn, The colour is a dark alh, with a white
belly. 5. The Lanius with a red body, with a mark
like an eye on the wings and tail, which have black
points. It is the Red Bird of Surinam^ mentioned by
Ed-ivards, 6. The Lanius with a lutefcent body, and
the forehead and wings black. The head and neck
are grey above ; but the latter is of a whitifli brick-
colour Deneath, and the back and belly are of a paler
brick-colour. The wings are black, but the firll
prime feathers are white at the bafe, and the fecondary
whiti fn at the point. 7. The Lanius with a tail en-
tire, and the body black above, but white beneath,
and the head of a purple colour. It is the Red-headed
Eaji-lndian bird of Albin. It has a white ftreak on
the forehead and at the bafes of the wings, with a
white fpot on the prime feathers. 8. The Lanius with
a forked tail, and a blueifh black body ; but the ab-
domen is white. It is the Forked-tailed Indian Butcher
Bird of Ed-Lvards. 9. The Lanius with a tail entire,
and the body grey ; as alfo a purple fpace below the
eye, and the anus of a blood colour. The head is
black, the throat white, and the belly whitifh ; the
beak is ftrailer than in the former, and it is emar-
ginated on both fides' within the point. 10. The
Lanius with fecondary wings, whofe points are of the
colour of parchment, and the tail is entire. It is
called the Silii Tail, and by feme the Bohemian Chat-
terer, There is a Carolina Chatterer, mentioned by
Catejhy, found in America, as well as in Europe. Tl^
noftrils are covered with briftles, as in Ravens ; and
<he author is in doubt v/hether this laft bird is truly
jJafTed or not.

CHAP.

4o6 THE NATURAL HISTORY

§\^>t i^y \.0^ L^ fc^ t^ \^y 1^1 1^^ i^ 1.^ 1^1 '.^ t^i l^ 1^1 t^ t^ i^ 1^5 c^ jp
## ♦* #* *# *# ** *# *=* *.# ** #^

v^ i^ 1^1 1^1 1^ i^ <^i i.^ «^i i.^>^ «^i i.6>i *^ \^-i \.0~t v-^ «-^ i.^ t*i «-^. v*^ V

CHAP. 11.

P I C ^.

P I C ^, <2;r ^/W/ nvhich ha-ve the Bill a little
C07nprcjjed and con-vex,

I. PSITTACUS has a crooked billy nviih the upper
mandible nwv cable, and furn'-Jhed nvith nvax ; and
halving the tongue flejhy, blunt, and undi'vided, <vcith
ini'o toes before and t-ivo behind.

I. ' I ^ HE ^^<:/PsiTTAcus With a long tail, and
_|^ the wings blue above, but reddifh beneath,
and naked wrinkled cheeks. The body is of the fize
of a Hen, of a red colour, and the upper mandible
is white above and black beneath, and the lower is
entirely black. The outer wing feathers are blue,
and there are feveral yellow ones among the covert
feathers. The tail is extremely long, in ihe fhape of
a wedge, of which the prime middle feathers are red,
and thofe on the fides blue. It is called the Red-and-
Blue Macca'w, and comes from South America. 2. The
PJittacus with a long tail, blue on the upper part of
the body, v/ith naked cheeks and feathery lines. It
13 named the Blue-and-Yellonjo Macca-iv by Ednvards,
and is a native of South America. The neck, back,
wings and tail, are blue ; but the lower part of the
neck, the breail, belly, and underneath the tail, are
yellow, with a reddifli caii. The belly and throat are
olack, the temples are naked, only they are varie-
gated with fine lines of blueifh black feathers. 3. The
Black Pftttacus with a long tail, naked cheeks, and
the top of the head variegated with afh-colour and
black ; and the tail afh-coloured. 4. The Greets
PJittacus with a long tail, naked cheeks, and red
ihoulders. It is the Green Parrot of Ray, with
the upper edge of the wings reddifh. It is a native
of South America. 5 . The Green PJittacus with a long
green tail, naked cheeks, and the wings and tail blue
ibove, but purpliih underneath ; it i^kn Indian bird.

6, The

O F B I R D S. 4CV7

6. The RedPJittacus with a long tail, and the wings
and feathers green at the points, with a blue fpot on
the wings. It is the Long-tailed Scarlet Lory of Ed-
■nvardsj and comes from ^orwo. 7. l^hc Tello-w PJit'
tacus with a long tail, and the covert feathers of the
wings green ; the tail is forked. It is the Angola Par-
rakeet of Albin. 8. The Green PJittacus with a long
tail, and the head, neck, and cheeks yellow. It is
found in Carolina and Virginia. 9. The Green PJittacus
with a long tail, and a red breall and collar ; but
the throat is red. It is the Collared Parrakeet of Ray*
It is found in China and Bengal, 10. The Green
PJittacus with a long tail, tawny cheeks, and the wings
and tail hoary. It is an Indian Parrakeet. 1 1 . The
Green PJittacus with a long tail, and a red forehead,
with the hinder part of the head and the outer part of
the wings blue. It is of the fize of a thrufli, and
the tail is longer than the body. It is the Red-and-
Blue-headed Parrakeet of Edxvards. 12. The Green
PJittacus with a long tail, and the top of the head and
part of the greater quill feathers blue. It is the
Bronvn-throated Parrakeet oi Ed-wards, and was brought
from the WeJl-Indies. 13. The Green Pfitacus with
a long tail, and red feet and beak ; likewife the tail
feathers are blue at the point. It is the Long^tailed
Green Parrakeet of Ed-vjardsy and comes from America.
14. The Tello-wijh Green PJittacus with a long tail, and
the hinder part of the head and throat red ; but the top
of the head and ears are blue. It is the Lory Parrakeet
of Edivards^ and inhabits America. 15. The Greett
PJittacus with a longifh tail, and the covert feathers
of the wings of a yellovvilh blue; but the tail under-
neath is red. It is the Little Green Parrot of Edivards,
It is of the fize of a Haw-finch, and the tail is in the
fhape of a wedge, but not long. 16. The White PJit-
tacus with a ftiort tail, and a yellow creft that hang«
down. This is the Greater Cockatoo of Edwards, and
comes from China. 17. The Black PJittacus with a
ftiort tail, is the Black Madagajcar Parrot of Ednvards.
18. The Bro-iMniJh PJittacus with a fhort tail and a blue
throat ; as alfo with a green tail and wings, and the
beak and anus red. It is the DuJky Parrot of Ea^ivards.

19. TJic

•4Ci8 THE NATURAL HISTORY

19. The AJh-coloured PJittacus with a fhort tail, and
the rump, wings, and tail red. It is the Red-and-
nfjhite Parrot of Ray, and is of the fize of a Hen*

20. The Hoary PJittacu^s with white temples, and a
ihort red tail. This is the Common Grey Parrot brought
from Guinea, 21 . The Red PJittacus with a fhort tail,
and the cheeks and wings green, and half of the
upper tail feathers blue. It is the Scarlet Lory of Ed-
nvards, and is a bird of JJia. 22. The Red PJittacus
with a fhort tail, and the wings red and black j but
the tail feathers are yellow half way, and green the
remaining half. It is the Red Oriental Parrot of Ra^,
23. The Red PJittacus with a fhort tail, a brown cap
green wings, and blue fhoulders and cheeks. It i;
the fecond Black-Capped Lory of Ednjuardsy and come:
from JJia. 24. The Purple PJittacus with a fhort tail
a black cap, green wings, and the breail, cheeks
and tail blue. It is the/r/i? Black-Capped Lory of Ed-
nvardsy and comes from the Eaji-Indies. 25. Th
PJittacus with a fhort tail, and the head, breafl, and
back blue ; but the belly, rump, and tail, arc green ;'
and the top of the head is yellow. It is the Red-and-
blue Parro. of Ray. 26. The Green PJittacus with J
fhort tail, blue wings, and white forehead, is th<
White-headed Parrot of Ray^ as well as of Edujards
27. The Green PJittacus with a fhort tail, a blue fore-
head, and the flioulders of a blood-colour. It is the
great Green Parrot of Edxvardsy and is brought from
America. The body is green, of the fize ©f a Wood-
Pigeon, and the back is fprinkied with yellow fea-
thers ; but the face is yellow, and the forehead blue.
The top of the head is whitifh, and the prime feathers
of the tail green, of a paler colour at the point. The
firil, fecond, and third, are red underneath ; but the
external fides of the fjrft are blue. The fhoulders are
tawny, or of a blood-colour, and the prime featheis
of the wings are black, with a blue point, but green
on the external fides ; the foremoft fecondary feathers
on the external fide are red towards the bafe, The
beak is black. 28. The Tellouj Short-tailed PJtttaeus
with a corner of the belly, and the prime feathers of
the wings red at the bafe. It is the Parrot of Paradife

of

O F B I R D S. 40^

of Catejhy, and inhabits the ifland of Cuba. zg. The
Green Short-tailed PJittacus, with a urple forehead,
blue over the eyes, and on the throat, with a blood-
coloured back. It inhabit! the EaJ} Indies, and is of
the fizeof a Wood Pigeon. 30. The Green PJittacus
with a fhort tail and a red face, w th blue temples.
It is the Brafilian Green Parrot q^ Edwoards ; but the
green is debafed with yellow. It is red beneath the
bending of the wings, and on the external fide of
two of the tail feathers ; but it is blue on the outer
fide of the prime feathers on the wings and tail. 3 1 .
The Green PJittacus with a fhort tail, and the forehead
and wings marked with a red fpot ; but the top of
the head., and the pvime feathers of the wings are
blue. It is the Lejfer Green Parrot of Ed-xvards, and
<:omes from America, 32. The Green Short-tailed
PJittacus with a brown head, and the neck and breafl
variegated with areddiih violet colour, and tlie prime
feathers of the wings and tail Hue at the points. It
is the Hauok-headed Parrot of Ed^vards, and was
brought from the EaJ^ Indies. 33. The Green Shcrt-^
tailed PJittacus, yellow underneath, with a black cap
and a white breaft. It is the White^breajied Parrakeet
of Ed<wards. 34. The Green Short-tailed PJittacus
with a red neck, is the Common Parrot of Ja;?iaica,
ZCQording to. Shane. 3^. T\iQ Green Short-failed PJit-
tacus with a red forehead, and a dufky tail marked
with a black ftreak, is the Little Green yEthicpic Par-
rot of P.ay, of the fize of a Chaiiinch. 36. The
Green Short-tailed PJittacus with, tl red rump and breaft,
and the top of the head oi a blue colour. It is the
Smailcji Green and Red Parrakeet of Edwoards. It is
Ijrought froni the Eaji-Indies, 37. The Short-tailed
7'ellc<vjifi> Green Parrakeet with a fpot above the
wings and under, and of a blue colour : the prime
covert feathers of the wings are alfo blue. It is of
the fize of a Sparrow, and is an Jfnerican bird.

II. RAMPHASTOS has a monjlrous hollow connjex

beak, Jer rated outcMardl)i, and the nojirils ar^ behind

the ja'ivs ; the tongue, is like a feather, and ihs.e are

tnxio toes before and two behind.

Vol. II. T 1. the

4IO THE NATURAL HISTORY

I. The Ramphastos with a black beak, and an
extremely thick carina, is the Black-beaked Toucan of
South America, z. The Ramphafios with a red beak,
and a white blunted carina, is the Red-beaked Toucan
of South America. 3. The Ramphafios with a red
beak, and a black point, as alfo a compreffed carina,
is another Toucan q{ South America^ called the Brajilian
Pye by Albin. 4. The Rmnphafios vj'nYi a black beak,
and the upper mandible white on the fides, and tri-
lobated at the bafe, called by Ednvards the Toucan or
Brajilian Pye. The upper mandible is trilobated at
the noflrils, which mark is wanting in others of this
kind, and there is a blood-red rtreak upon the belly
!ind rump.

III. BUCEROS has a confvex cultrated large heakf and
a nakid bony gibbous forehead*

I. The BucERos with aflat bony forehead, and
with two horns before. It is called Calao by WiU
Jnghby, and is a bird of China. The body is black,
and of the fize of a hen, but under the breaft, belly
and thighs white. There is a white fpot on the
wing, and the tail is longifli, with ten black prime
feathers, and the outermoft on each fide are white,
snd the feet greenilh. 2. The Buceros with a crooked
horn on the forehead joining to the upper mandible,
which is called the Rhinoceros Bird, and is an inhabi-
tant of the Eafi hidies. It lives upon carrion.

IV. CROTOPHAGA has a comprejfed half O'val
arched beak^ nvith a furro^w on each Jtdey and the edge
of the upper mandible angulated on each Jide ; the
nofirils are open.

1. The Crotophaga with a black bill, is \}^t En-
tirely Black Jackdanjj of Catejby, with the upper man-
dible arched. It is the Aui of Ray, and is found
both in Africa and America, where he lives upon lo-
caft5» Ihere is only one of this kind.

V. CORVUS

G F BIRD S^^ 411

V . CO R VU S y^ai a cdnnjex cultrated Beak , conjered tvith
fetaceous feathers like bri files at the bafcy and the
tongue is grijily and clo'ven.

I. TheB?ack CoRvus withablueifli back, and the
tail a little round d. It is the Ra'ven oi Englijh authors.

2. The Black blueijh C<7ra/«/ with the prime feathers of
the wings acute. It is the Carrion Croiu of Englijh au-
thors, and this as well as the former is an European bird.

3. The Bk:ck Corvus with an afh-coloured forehead, is
the Rock 0^ Englijh authors. 4. H^YiQjJh-coloured Cor'vus
with the head, throat, wings, and tail black ; is the
Royjion Croio of Englijh authors. 5. The Dujky Cor-
'vus with the back part of the head hoary, and the
forehead, wings, and tail black, is the Jackdaiv of
Englijh authors. 6. The Corpus with the top of the
head, wings, and tail blue, and a blue neck. It is
brought from Bengal. 7. The Cor'vus with the co-
vert feathers of the wings blue, with tranfverfe white
and black lines, and the body variegated with a fer-
ruginous colour. It lives upon nuts and acorns, and
is the Jay of Englijh authors. 8. The Cora;us with
the covert feathers of the wings marked with tranf-
verfe black lines, and a blue body with a black collar.
It is the Blue-crejied Jay of Catejby, and is a native of
North America. 9. The Bro^wn Cor'vus fpotted with
white, and the wings and tail black ; the prim.e fea-
thers of the tail are white at the points; but thofc
in the middle feem to be much worn at the points.
It is the CaryocataSles of Ray, and is an European bird
that lives upon nuts. 10. The Ccr-vus variegated
with black and white, and a tail in the (liape of a
wedge. It is the Magpye of Englijh authors, which
builds its neft very artfully, and is an European bird.
II. T\ic Cor'vus variegated with black and white,
and the tail in the (hape of a wedge. The interme-
diate feathers are exceeding long, and the head is
black and crefled. It is the Pied Bird of Faradije of
Ray and Edtvards, and is brought from the Eajl In-
dies. 12. The Cor-vus with an afh-colouied b:.ck,
-\^ith the prime feathers of the tail reddifh, only two

T 2 . • iji

412 THE NATURAL HISTORY
in the middle are of an afti-colour, with a blackilh
llreak. It is the Rock Ouzel of Ray, and is found in
the mountains of Europe.

M. CORACIAS has a cuhraled hill crooked at the
pointy and i.vitJjout feathers at the bafe ; the tongue is

gyijfly and cloven.

I. The Blue Coracias with a red back and
black wings, is the RoHer of Ray and Ed^^ards. It is
an inhabitant of Europe, and lives upon beetles and
frogs. 2. The Blue Coracias with the wings on the
outer edges yellow ; but the female is of a blueifh
black. It is an inhabitant of Ethiopia. It is the
Gr.lkiila o^ Ray, or the Pye that builds a hanging neft,
and the Golden Thrujh of Edvjards ; likewife the Tel-
lo-iv Bird from Bengal in Africa. 3. The Ta^ny Co-
racias with the head, back, and wings black. It is
the ThritJJj of Catejhy variegated with gold colour
and black, and is a bird of America. 4. The Cora-
cias of a yellow tawny colour, with the throat and
the prime covert feathers of the wings, and the ex-
tremities of thofe of the tail black. It is the Gol-
den Bird of Paradife of Edi-vards, and is brought
from the Eaji Indies. 5. The Tello-w Coracias with
the head and prime feathers of the wings black ;
it is the Indian Idcrns of Edivards with a black head,
v^ alio the Pye variegated with black and yellow of
Caiefby.

VII. GRACULA has a con^iex cultrafcd hill naked at
the hrje ; the tongue is not clo'ven, but is flejhj and
jharpijh. It has three iocs before and one behind,

I. The Black Violet-coloured Gracul^
with a white fpot on the wings, and a naked yellov/
Areak on the hinder part of the head. It is the In-
dian Thrujh of Bontius, and the Mi,:or or Mino of Ed-
nvnrds and Alhin, and is brought frrjm the Eaf Indies.
Z. The Black Gracula with the wings blueifh out-
wardly, and a naked circle round the neck. It is of
the iize of a Pye with a black body, and the wings

compofed

OF B I R D S. 413

cdrnpofed of quill feathers, blueifh on the outfidc
without a white fpot. The prime featheis of the
wings are equal, and the head black, with fmall up-
right feathers like velvet. The bill is almoll like
that of a Cuckow, and the noftrils are oval and naked.
The tongue is whole, fleiliy, and fharp ; and there
are three toes before and one behind. It ts a bird
of America. 3. The Greyijh Gracula with blue fnoul-
ders, and the prime feathers of the wings green on
theoutfide. The bill is ihortifh, cultrated, blackifli,
naked at the bale, and vvhitifh underneath. The
wings when folded up are green, but when difplayed
fome black appears ; the tail is rounded and green,
anlefs when opened. It is an American bird. 4. The
Black Gracula with the prime feathers of the vvings
and tail Vs^hite at the point, and the bill yellow .
It is the Chinefs Black Bird of Ed-ioards. 5. The
Black Violet -coloured Gracula with a tail fomewiiat in
the ihape of a wedge ; it is the Purple Jackda-v of
Catejhyy and is a native of North America, 6. The
Blue Green Gracula with a ferruginous belly, and
blood-coloured feet. It is an Egyi'tian bird.

VIII. PARADIS^A has a hill co<vered nvith dcnvtiy
feathers at the bafe^ and the feathers on the fides are

long.

I. Paradis-ea with feathers on the fides longer
than the body, and two long brillly feathers in the
tail. It is the Greater Bird of Paradice of Ednjuards,
and feeds upon large butterflies. 2. The Paradifea
with two long threads at the tail, which are feathery
at the points, and rolled up. It is the King of the
Birds of Paradi/e of Kd^ivards, and is a nativv;^ of the
Eajl Indies.

IX. CUCULUS has a roiindijh hill, fiofrils 'with edges
a little prominent, and a flat undivided tongue fome-
ivhat in the Jhape of an arroiKi.

I. The CucuLus with an equal blackifli tail, fpot-

ted with white, is the Common EngUJh Cuckenjt;, well

T 3 known

414. THE NATURAL HISTORY
tnown forlaying eggs in other birds nefls. 2. The
Cuculus with an equaltail, an eredl creft on the head,
and the prime feathers on the wings red. It is green
tefore, fomewhat violet behind, and there is a white
line above and below the red fpace round the eyes.
It is the Touraco oi Ed=war£isy and comes from Jfrica.
3 . The Cuculus with a wedge-like tail, and a duflcv
])ody of a brick colour underneath, and the cilia rea.
It is the 01dMa?i, or Rain-hird of Ray^ and is bred in
yamaica. He is faid to foretel rain when his cry is
heard more than ufual. 4. The Cuculus with a wedge-
iike tail, his head a little crefted, and a black ftreak
round the eyes. The back is brown, the wings are
fpotted with white, the head is of an alh-colour,
and there is a black line as it were pafTes through the
tyes. It is the Great Spotted Cuckcvj of Edixjardsj and
is found in Africa and the South Parts of Europe. 5.
The Cuculus with a wedge-like tail, and the body
grey, brown, and cloudy ; it is the Bro^vn Spotted In-
dian Cuckoi.v of Edivards. 6. The Cuculus with a
v/edge-like tail, a fhining black body, and a yellow
bill. It is the Black Indian Cuckoiv of Edwards. 7.
The Cuculus with a v/edgc-like tail, and the body a(h-
coloured above but white below, with the lower chap
yellow. It is the Carolina Cucko-jo of Catefoy.

X. JYNX has a round ijh Jharp bill, nvith hollow no/-
trilsj and a long nxorm-like round tongue Jharp at th$
point,

I. TheJvNX, or grey fpotted Cuculus, with the
prime feathers of the tail marked with undulated
ilreaks. It is the Wry-neck of Ray, and is the only
one of this kind.

XI. PICUS has ajlrait hill with federal fides y and like
u wedge at the end; the nojlrils are covered ivith
brifily feathers ; the tongue is round like a wornij ex-
tremely long, Jharp at the pointy on iK'hich there is a

Jort of brijiki that turn backwards*

I. The

G F BIRDS. 4if

I. The Black Picus with a red cap, is the Greatf
black Woodpecker of Ray^ and is a bird of Europe^
though uncommon in England. 2. The Black Picus
with a red creft, and a line on each fide ; the collar
and fecondary feathers of the wings are white. It is
the Great Woodpecker of Catejhy with a white bill, and
comes from America. 3. The Black Picus with a red
creft, and the temples and wings fpotted with white.
It is the Great black Woodpecker of Catefoy with a red
head. 4. The Black Picus, red on the back part of
■the head, and the flioulders fpotted with white. It is
about" the fize of a Swallow, and the Little black Wood-
pecker of Jlbifjy and comes from America. 5. The
Red-headed Woodpecker with black wings and tail, and
a white belly. It is the Red-headed Woodpecker of
Catejhy, and comes from America. 6. The Pici'.s with
a red cap, and hinder part of the head j the back is
ftreaked with black, and the middle prime feathers of
•the tail are white fpotted with black, but the rump is
fpotted with red. It is the Red-bellied Woodpecker of
Catejhy, and is a native of America. 7. The Green
Ttcus with the top of the head red, is the Green Wood-
pecker of Ray, and is a bird of Europe. 8. The Green
Picus with the back part of the head red, the upper
part of the neck black on the outiide, but underneath
before white fpotted with black. It is the Spotted In-
dian Woodpecker of Edivards ; there is a red creft on-
the hind part of the head. 9. The Picus with a fhort
upper chap, is an Indian bird. 10. The Picus varie-
gated with white and black, and having the hinder
part of the rump red. It is the Greater Jpotted Wood-
pecker of Ray^ and is a bird of Europe. 1 1 . The Pi-
cus variegated with white and black, and the rump
and top of the head red. It is the Lejfcr Jpotted
Woodpecker oi Ray, and is a native o^ Europe. 12.
The Picus variegated with white and black, with the
top of the head red, and the rump whitifti. It is the
Little Jpotted Woodpecker of Ray, and is bred in Europe.
1 3. The Woodpecker variegated with black and white,
having three toes, is the Three-toed Woodpecker of Ed-
wards* That of Europe is yellow on the top of the
T 4 head.

4i6 THE NATURAL HISTORY

head, but the American red, and about the anus
whitifh.

XII. SITTA has a fubcultrated conical Jlrait extended
beak, <vjith the upper mandible a little blunty and a

jagged tongue »

1. The European Sitta has the prime feathers
of the tail black, and four on the fides white beneath
the points. It is the Nuthatch, or Niitjobber of Ray,
The ji/nerican Sitta has a black head, and is the Sitta
with a brown head of Catefiy. They both dig out
infe^Tts tliatlie under the bark of trees, perforate nuts
with their bills, and eat the kernels. They build
their nefts in holes of trees, and if they are too large
they flop them up with clay, fo as to leave juft roont
enough to get in. This is the only bird of the kind.

XIII. ALCEDO has a triangular, thick, Jlrait, long
hill, H/jith a fiejhy, <very Jhort fat tongue,

1. The Short-tailed Alcedo, blue above, and
tawny below, is the Cojumon King^ s-jijher of Ray, and
it haunts the fhores of Europe and AJia. 2. The
Short-tailed Alcedo with a blue back, a yellow belly,
and a purple rump and head, with the throat and
oppofite part of the neck white. It is the Bengal
King's-fjher of Albi}:. 3 . The Short-tailed black Alee-
do with a v/hite belly and a ferruginous brcaft. The
bill is ftrong, and longer than the head, and there is
a white fpot before and behind the eyes. The tongue
is very fnort, flefhy, flat and fharp. The body is
black, and the feathers of the head are long. The
prime feathers of the wings are black with white
points, thofe on the outfide are lef^, and the inner
fide of all are fpotted with white. The prime fea-
thers of the wings are twelve in number, of the fame
length, and fpotted on each fide with white. The
throat, breaft, and belly are white, but on the breaft
there is a ferruginous flreak. The legs are very
fliort, and the outer toe is conneded to that in the
middle. 4. The Green, Jhort-tailed Alcsdo with a

blood*

OF BIRDS. 417

blood-coloured throat, and a white belly, is the Gre:n
Sparronvt or Green Humming Bird of Edi^jards, and is
a native of America. 5. The Ferruginous Jhcrt-tailed
Alcedo with v/ings, tail and back green. It is the Great
King* s-Jijher from Gambia of Ed-ivards, and is bred
both in Africa and AJia. -6. The Br ov:n port-tailed
Alcedo J variegated with white, an equal tail marked
with a white line and a broad black ftreak. It is the
Black and --wljite King' s-fijher of Edvjardsy and is found
in Perjia and Egypt. 7. The Alcedo with two very
long feathers in the tail, a blackifli blue body, and
greenifh wings. It is th^ S=vjallotv-tailed King^s-fper
of Edwards f and comes from Surinam.

XIV. MEROPS has a crooked^ flat, carinaled hill,
imth a tongue jagged at the point, and the toes con-
neSled at the lo-iv.eji joint ; hut the hinder toe is diflin£i.

I. The Merops with a ferruginous back, the
belly and tail of a blueifli green, and two of the
prime feathers long. It is the Bee-eater of Ray, is
a European bird, and feeds upon grafhoppers and
bees. 2. The Merops with a ferruginous back, the
belly and wings green, and the throat and tail blue.
It is the Indian Bee-eater of Ed^'ards. 3. The Me-
rops variegated with red and yellow, and underneath
of a reddilh yellow, with two long red tail feathers.
It is a native of America. 4. The Grey Alcedo yel-
low on the region of the anus, and a very long tail.
It is a bird of ^Ethiopia.

XV. UPUPA has an arched, conn)ex,flattifl? beak, nvith
a blunt, triangular, -very fljort tongue.

1. The Crested Variegated Upupa, is the
Hoop or Hoopoe of Ray, and haunts the woods in Eu-
rope. 2. The Upupay^iih two very long feathers in the
tail, is the Crefted Oriental Bird of Paradife of Seba.
3. The Green Upupa v/ith a yellow head, and a mane
on the neck, is the Sn.viJ/erland Monnta-n-IIenrJt of
Albin. 4, The Black Upupa with a red bill and feet,
T 5 ii

4i8 THE NATURAL HISTORY

is the Cormjh Chough of Ray^ and is an Englijh bird, as
well as of Egypt.

XVI. CERTHIA has an arched, Jltnder, and fomem
*ujhat triangular billy njoith a Jharp tongue,

I. The Cert HI A grey on the upper part, and
white underneath, with brown wings, and the fea-
thers marked with a white fpot. It is the Creeper of
Ray, and is a bird of Europe that creeps up trees, and
lays twenty eggs. 2. The Cert hi a grey above, and
white below, with the prime feathers of the wings
brown ; but the outermofl are white at the point. It
is the Little bro-cvn Creeper of Ed<voards, and is a
bird of India. 3. The Blue Certhia with black wings
and tail, is the Blue Creeper of Edwards, and comes
from Surinam. The bill is longer than in the reft of
this fort. 4. The Black and blue Certhia white un-
derneath, with the top of the head, neck, back, and
lump red. It is the Little black 'white and red Indian
Creeper of Edtvards. 5. The Black Certhia with a yel-
low rump and breail, and fpotted above the eyes and
on the wings, and points of the prime feathers of
the tail. It is the Black and yellonu bird of Ray, and
American Hedge Sparrouu of Edijuards,

XVII. TROCHILUS has a /ululated thread-like bill,
that is crooked, and longer than the head; the upper
mandible is a Jheath to the lo'wer, and the tongue is
like a thread dinjided in tnjoo, and tubulous.

I, The Red Croored-billed Trochilus with
blue wings, creiled on the head, and two very long
rp.il feathers. It is the Humming Bird of Seba, with
two very long feathers in the tail. It is a bird of
Mexico. 2-. The Crooked-hilled Trochilus with .1 green
body, blue wings, and black tail, which grows in
the middle extremely long. It is a bird oi jEthicpia.
3. The Crcoked-hilled Trochilus with very long fea-
thers in the middle of the tail, a red body, a brown
head, a golden throat, and a green rump. It is the
Lone-tailed Humming-bird of Edz^ards. It is an Indian

bird,.

O F B I R D S. 419

bird. 4. The Crooked-billed Trockilus with very long
lateral feathers on the tail, a greenifh body, a black
cap, and a brown tail. It is the Long-tailed black-
capped Hummivg-bird of Edwardsy and inhabits Ame-
rica, 5. The Crooked-billed Trockilus with very long
lateral feathers on the tail, with a green cap and tail.
It is the Long-tailed green Humming-bird of Ednvards,
and is found in Jamaica. 6. The Trochilus with a
black tail, and three of the lateral feathers white at
the points, and a red throat. It is the Red-throated
Humming-bird oi Edn^jards, and is bred in America.

7. The Trochilus with the feathers of the tail nearly-
equal, of a tawny golden colour, and with a golden
body and black wings. It is an Eaji -Indian bird.

8. The Crooked-billed Trochilus with the tail feathers
of the fame length, and black above ; the body is
green above, with a blue breall and a black belly. It
is the Black-bellied Ajnerican Huinming-bird ol Edtvards.

9. The Trochilus having the prime feathers of the
tail equal and blue, with a greenifh gold-coloured
body, and the wings of a blackilh blue. It is an In-
dian bird. 10. The Trochilus with the prime fea-
thers of the tail pretty equal, ferruginous at the
point; the body is brown above and white below.
This is taken to be the hen of the Red-throated Hum-
fning-bird by Ednjoards. 1 1 . The Trochilus with a
ferruginous tail, black wings, and a golden body
whitilh underneath. It comes from America. 12.
The Trochilus with the feathers of the tail 'unequal,
and a black body of a gold colour underneath, with
a white anus. It is the Black Humming-bird of
Fri/ch. It is a bird of the EaJi Indies . 13. The
Strait-billed Trcchilus with a black tail, white fides., a
blue head, ^ green back, and a white belly. It is
the White-bellied Humming-bird c^i Edwards, and is an
Indian bird. 14. The Trochilus with the fide fea-
thers of the tail of a violet colour ; the body of .1
brown brick colour, and fpotted. It is the Litik
hroivn Humming-bird of Edwards, and is bred in Su-
rinam. 15, The Trochilus with the ferruginous foa-
thers of the tail nearlv equal, the body of a brick co-
lour, and the belly b).ack.. it ii the Man^o Hummip.p^-

hlrd

420 THE NATURAL HISTORY

bird oi JIhin. 1 6. The Green Jir alt -billed Trochlks
with brown wings, an alh-coloured belly, and a blue-
ifii crelh It is the Crefied Humming-bird oi Edwards,
and is bred in America. ly. The Trochilus with the
lateral feathers of the tail white on the edges, and a
brown (hining body white underneath. It is the
Leaji Hu?nnii7ig-bird of Ed^vards, and the fmalleft yet
known.

^'I^52?^^^cS^^S:'C§Sd^I^<5S5 S.r^fccSSrcS^dOSicgi

CHAP. III.

A N S E R E S.

A N S E R E S have a blunt bill con}ered nuith a thin
Jkiny gibbcus under the bafe^ and ha^oi77g an augmentation
at the ^oint» The tongue is fiejhy and Jomeivhat blunt ,
and the feet are ivebbed and proper for Jkvimming.

I. ANAS has. a lamelious dentated con<vex blunt biU,
nuith a ciliated blunt tongue.

I. ^ I ^HE Anas with a femi-cylindric black bill,
J with yellow wax and a white body. It is
the Wild S-Tvan of Englijh authors, and the other
fcrt called the 7ame Svuan is not unlike it. The
V/ild Swan frequents S--we<len on the lall day of the
thaw, and they catch them with apples in which
there is a hook.. 2. lihc Jnas with a femi-cylindric
bill, gibbous at the bafe. Jtis xh^ S^an Goo/e of Ray
from Guinea, and there is a lefTer of this fort called
the Mcfco^y Gocfe, 3. The Anas with a flat bill, a
comprcfled forehead, and a body variegated with
white. It is the SheH Drake of Ray^ and by others
called the Vulpanfer. It f equents the fea coafts of
Europe. 4. The J^>/«j with acomprefied bill gibbous
at the bafe, a feathery black carina, and a hoary
head. It is the Grey-headed Duck of Edvoards ; but
Linnaeus by miHake calls it the Canada Duck of Ed-
wards. 5. The Blackifi Anas with a white fpot be-

hi'n;tl

OF BIRD S. 421

hind the eyes, and a white line on. the wings. It is
the Black Duck of Ray^ and the Drake is remarkable
for a gibbofity at the bale of the bill. 6. The £"»-
tirely black Anas with the bafe of the bill gibbous, is
the Lejfer black Duck of Ray^ whofe female is brown.
7. The Anas with a femi-cylindric bill, having the
upper part of the body of an afh-colour, but paler
underneath. It is the Wild Goofe of Ray ; and there
IS another Goofe from America fpotted with brown,
which is the Laughing Goofe of Rdnjjards ; the neck of
this is ftreaked, and there is a v. hite ring at the bafe
of the bill. 8. The Grey Anas with a white fore-
head, is the Helfingic G^ofe of Chiftus, and is found in
the north of Europe. 9. The Bronjjn Anas with the
head and neck black, and a white throat, is the Ca-
nada Goofe of Ray and Ed-wards, 10. The Grey Anas
white underneath, with the covert feathers of the
wings and back blueifh on the hind parts. It is the
Blue-njuinged Goofe of Edzvards. 1 1 . The Bro^ojn Anas
with the neck and bread black, and a white collar.
It is the Brent Goofe df Ray, and inhabits the north
of Europe. 12. The Anas with a cylindric bill, and
the wax divided behind, and wrinkled. It is the
Cuthert Duck of Ray, and the Great black and ivhite
Duck of Ed-wards. The feathers are extremely foft,
of very great value, and it is found in the north of
Europe. The Drake is white, but black underneath
and behind ; the female is grey. 13. The Anas with
a naked caruncled face, is the Mofco'vy Duck of Ray^
and is a native of Lidia. 14. The Grey Anas with a
lead-coloured bill, and a tawny fpot on the fides, as
alfo a green yellowiih fpot on the wings. It is the
Bahama Duck of Catefby with a plumbeous bill, and
an orange-coloured fpot. 15. Tht White Duck ^ith.
a black back and wings, and with a blueifh head
white on the hinder part. It is the Little black and
fwhite Duck of Ed-wards, and comes from America,
16. The Anas with the end of the bill broad and
rounded, and with a crooked nail. N. B. What is
ialled the nail feems to be an addition Jluck on at the end
of the bill. It is the Sho'vei.er of Ray and Albin, and
IS found near the fea Ihores of Europe. 17. The Anas

with

4.22 THE NATURAL HISTORY

with a purple fpot on the wings, and the fides varie-
gated with black and white, and the breaft reddifh.
It is the Black^bilkd Duck of Ray with yellow feet,
and inhabits the fea coafts of Europe. 18. The Anas
with a red fpot on the wings, and variegated with
black and white. It is the Flat-billed Duck of Jldro^
•oandus with a black and flat bill, and is called the
Godivalli or Grajy by Willoughby. It is found near
frefh waters in Europe, 19. The Whitijh Anas with
a black back and wings, and the top of the head as
well as below full of filky feathers. It is the Lejfer
Duck of Catejhy with a purple head, and frequents
the fweet waters of North America, 20. The Anas
variegated with black and white, and the head full
of blackifh green feathers, and there is a white fpot
near the mouth. It is the Golden Eye of Ray^ and
frequents the fea coafts of Europe. It dives very much
in fearch of fhell fifh ; the eyes are of a gold or
ihining brafs colour, and the wind-pipe is ventricous.
21. The Broijcn ajh-coloured Ar\as with a white fpot
on the ears and wings. It is the Lejfer Duck of Catejhy
variegated with white and brown, and inhabits North
America. 22. The Black Anas white on the top of
the head and on the nape of the neck, with a black
fpot on the bill behind the noftrils. It is the Great
Black Duck ivom Hudjon^s Bay of Ednvards. 23. The
Anas with the iris of the eyes yellow, with a grey
head and a white collar. It is the Greater auild Duck
of Ray with a reddifh head, and is found on the fea'.
coafts of Europe. 24. The A^:as wi^h a iharpifti tail
black underneath, and the head brown, with a
v/hite forehead. It is the Widgeon of Ray, and inha-
bits the marfhy parts of Europe. 25. The Anas with
an acuminated long tail, black underneath, and a
white line on each fide the back of the head. It is
the Sea P he af ant of Ray, and haunts the fea coafts of
Europe. 26. The Anas with a wedge-like tail, and
long intermediate tail feathers ; the body is grey and
the temples white. It is the Long-tailed Duck from
Hudjon's Bay of Edi-jards, and is feen in Stucden in
the winter time. 27. The Anas with afh-colourcd
wings void of fpots, and a black rump. It is the Red-
he aded-

OF BIRD S. ^tf

headed JVUgeon of Ray^ and frequents the maritime
parts of Europe. 28. The j^nas with a green fpoton
the wings, and a white line over the eyes. It is
the Firji Teal of Mdrovandus, and haunts the frefh
waters of Europe. 29. The Jnas with a green fpot
on the wings, and a white line above and beneath
the eyes. This is the Common Tealof EngUjh authors,
and frequents the frefh waters of Europe. 30. The
BroiAjn Jnas variegated with white and blue, and
with a double line on the ears and temples ; as alfo
a white collar, and a white ftreak on the breaft. It
is the Dujky-Jpotted Duck of Ed^ards^ and inhabits
America. 3 1 . The Grey Anas with white ears, and
the prime feathers of the wings blackiih. It is the
l,ittle hronjon and <vuhite Duck of Ednuards^ and is found
in Canada. 32. The Anas with the wings variegated
with white fpots, and a white line over the eyes,
with the bill and feet of an afh-colour. It is the
Sum?ner Teal of Ray, and frequents the lakes of Eu-
rope. 33. The Grey y/««j with black wings, tail, and
belly ; and the area of the wings marked with taw-
ny and white. It is the Red- billed <vohiJiling Duck of
Ednvardsj and comes from America. 34. The Anas
with the intermediate tail feathers of the Drake
turned back, and the billj^llrait. It is the Common.
Wild Duck of Ray. Befides this there is a Tame Duck
which needs no defcription. It lives upon frogs and
fome forts of infefts. 35. The Anas with the inter-
mediate feathers of the tail turned back,, and a
crooked bill. It is the Hook-billed domejiic Duck of
Ray. 36. The Attas with a hanging crelt, and on
the hinder partof the back on both fides there is a;
crooked, flat, elevated feather. It is the Chinefe
Teal oi Edivardsy and the creft is green and red ; the
bill and feet are red, and the back is brown with blue
fpots. The ereft feathers on the back are red and
blunt. The moft inward quill feather, when the
wings are fhut, has one fide raifed over the back, and
is red and like a fickle before. 37. The Anas with'
a hanging double green creft, variegated with blue
and white. It is the Summer Duck of Catrjly, and is
a native of Nori&. America. The creft is green,

white,

424. THE NATURAL HISTORY

white, and blue, as is likewife the back ; but the
breaft is grey, fpotted with white. 38. The Grey
Anas with a fort of a creil on the head, and the belly
fpotted with white and black. It is the Black-billed
njuhijiling Duck of Ed-xvards, and Shane tells us it
perches upon trees. It is found in America. 39. The
Arias with a hanging creft, a black body, and the
belly fpotted with white . It is the Tufted Duck of
Rajt and is an European\iudi,

II. MERGUS has a denticulated billy that is fubulated
and cyliiidric ^-vith a crooked point,

I. The Mergus with a globous cref! white on
each fide ; the top of the body is brown, and white
underneath. It is the Creft ed Diuer of Catefhy, and
is bred in North America, 2. The Mergus with a
hanging creft, a blackifli blue head, and a white col-
lar. It is the Gcojander of Ray^ and there is another
with a red beaft, called by Edwards the Red-breajied
Goof under, 3. The Mi'rg-«i with a hanging creft, and
a black head. Vvith ferruginous fpots. It is the
Brcnvn-t'ufted Di-uer of Ray, and is an European bird.
4. The Mtf'ous with a hanging creft, black underr-
neath, and with a white body, a black back, and
variegated wings. It is the PFhite Nun of Ray, and
is found in Europe. 5. The Mergus with a fmooth
grey head, with a black fpot on the wings, which are
white forwards and backwards. It is the We7:.el Coote
of Albiny and is a bird of Europe.

III. ALCA has a bill njuithout teeth, nuhich is port,
compreffed, ccn'vex, and often furro<vocd tranf'verfely ;
the loiver mandible is gibbous before the bafe, and the
feet have generally three toes,

I. The Alga with four furrows on the bill, and a
white line on each fide running from the bill to the
eyes. It is the Razor Bill of Kay, and is found near
tlie Northern Ocean of Eurcpe. 2. The Alca with a
comprefted bill farrowed on each fide, and an oval
fpot before each fide of die eyes. It is the Northern,

Penguin

O F B I R D S. 425

penguin Q^ Ednvardsy and is found in the northern
feas. 3. The Jlca with a comprefTed beak and four
furrows ; the orbits of th€ eyes and temples are
white. It is the Puffin of Ray, and is found in the
northern feas. 4. The Alca with a fmooth oblong
bill, and the upper mandible yellow on the edges.
It is the Guillemot, or Sea Hen of Ray, and inhabits
the northern parts of Europe. 5. The Alca with a
fmooth fubulated bill, and a large white fpot on the
wings and belly, and red feet. It is the Greenland
Do've of Ray. 6. The Jlca with a fmooth conical
bill, and a white ftreak on the belly and wings, with
black feet. It is the Small black and ^hite Di'ver
with a fhort iharp bill of Ed^vards,

IV. PROCELLARIA has a fattijh bill ^vithout
teeth, and equal mandibles ; the upper point is booked y
and the lowoer is comprejfed and canaliculafed. The
nojlrils are in a truncated cylinder lying upon the bafe of
the bill ; the feet are palmated, and there is a fpur in-

• Jlead of a hind toe*

I. The Black Procellaria with a white rump
is the Peterel of Ediuards, and is generally upon the
ocean. 2. The Bro^wn Peterel without fpots, and
yellow bill. It is the Great black Peterel of Ed^joardsy
and is found near the Cape of Good Hope. 3 . The
Procellaria variegated with white and brown, is the
White and black /potted Peterel of Edivards, and is met
with near the Cape of Good Hope.

V. DIOMEDEAy^'rtj a f rait bill, and the upper man-
dible crooked at the point, but the loiuer is truncated.
The nojlrils are open, a little prominent, and placed on

the ftdes.

i.DiOMEDEA with pennated Wings, and three toes.
It is the Albatrofs of Ednuards, and is found between
the Tropics, and at the Cape of Good Hope. It flies
very high, and feeds upon flying fifti. It is of the
fize of a Pelican, and has a rounded tail, with an
extremely large bill. 2. The Diotnedea with wings

void

426 THE NATURAL HISTORY
void of quill feathers, and four toes. It is the B lad-
footed .Pengiun of Edivards.

;VI. PELECANUS has a Jirait hill nuithouf teeth,
crooked at the pointy and augmented nxith a nail. The
rtcjirils are linear and obliterated, the face naked, and
four toes joined together ivith 'H)ebs<,

1 . The Pelecanu^ with a throat like a bag, is the
Pelican of Ray ; and there is another Browun Pelican
which is the American Pelican of Edn.vards ; but the
former is a native of ^^. 2. The Pelecanus with a
forked tail, a black body, and the head and belly
Avhite. It is the Man of War of EngliJIy authors, and
the Frigate of the French. It is found almofl every
where near the ihores of America between the Tropics,
3. The Pelecanus with an equal tail, a black body,
and a bill without teeth. It is the Cormorant oi Eng-
lijh authors, is found in Europe, and builds its neft in
high trees. The tail is longer and loofer than in
other water fowls, a. The Pelecanus with a wedge-
like tail, a ferrated bill, and the prime feathers of the
win^s black. Ix. is the Poland Goofe of Ray, and in-
habits Scotland and America. 5. The Pelecanus with
a wedge-like tail, a ferrated bill, and the wings en-
tirely black. It is the Booby of Ray, and is met with
both in the Eaf and Weji Indies. The upper mandi-
ble, towards the bafe, and on the edge, has as it were
2 tooth cut out on each fide. The noftrils are fliut.

VII. THAETHON has a cultrated, Jirait, acuminated
nil, luith a gaping hole behind it. The noftrils are
oblong, and half co<vered nvith a membrane backivardsy
the hinder toes are turned fornuardt

1. ThepHAETHON with two very long feathers in
the tail, a ferrated bill, and a hind toe. It is the TVo-
pic bird of Ray and other authors. It is of the fize of
a Duck, black on the upper part, undulated with
blackiih lines, but there are none beneath. There is
91 blackiih line runs as it were through the eyes, and
the bill is of a blood colour, ^t, and ferrated be*

hind.

OF B I R B :S. 427

jfiind. The feet are pale below, and black above,
arid the fourth toe is fixed to a membrane. The tail
feathers are all white below, and the prime feathers
upon the external fides are black, as well as the fe-
condary above the longitudinal black line; the prime
feathers of the tail are white, and in the fhape of a
wedge, but towards the point they are croffed with a
brown line ; all the feathers on the back are as white
a,s fnow. 2. The Phaethon with wings void of quill
feathers, the bill without teeth, and the hinder foot
diftinft. It is the Penguin with red feet oi Edivardsy
and as it has no quill feathers on the wings it confe-
quently cannot fly.

VIII. COLYMBUS has a fubulated, Jirait, aciuni-
nated bill <without teeth j and the feet behind are in
equilihriiitn,

I. The CoLYMBus with palmated undivided toes,
and the throat of a blackiih purple colour, is the
ArSiic Di'ver oi Ray. He fays likewife it is the Red-
throated Ducker, or Loon of Ednjoards, but it can
hardly be the fame bird. It frequents the lakes in
the northern parts of Europe and America^ and the
throat pf the cock is purpliih, but of the hen black.
It lays tv^o eggs on the jhore, :but cannot walk ; it
makes a noife before a tempeft, and fometimes paiTes
into Gertnany. There is alfo the Great-tailed Dfver
o£ Ray. 2. The Colymhus with cloven lobated ittX.^
a red head, a black collar, and the fecondary quill
feathers white. It is the GreaUr crejted Di-ver of Ray,
and is a bird of Europe. 3 . The Colymbus with lobated
feet, black head, and crefted ears of a ferruginous
colour. It is the Didapperc^ Ray, and the Eared or
Horned Dobchick oi Ed-wards. It frequents the lakes
of Europe and America, and builds a fwimming neft,
4. The Coly?nbus with lobated feet, a brown hody,
and a ftreaked bill. It is the LeJ/er Dobchick of
Catejhy with a vaxieg^ed bill.

IX. LA-

4^8 THE NATURAL HISTORY

IX. LARUS has a ftrait cultrat d bill ^without teeth,
and a declivity to the po.titj and the Lnver i.iandible
is gibbous belonx) the point. The nofirils are linear, but
broader before.

1. The Whitish Larus with a hoary back, and
the tail except the outermoft feathers black, with
three toes. It is the Tarrock, or Jjh-coloured Gull oi
Ray, and is found in the north of Europe. 2. The
White Lams with a hoary back, is the IVhite Gull oi
Jlbin, and is a bird of Europe. 3 . The White Larus
with a black back, is the Black and ivhitc Sea Gull of
Albin, and is found in Europe. 4. The White Larus
with a brown back is an inhabitant of Europe. 5 .
The White Larus with the head and points of the
wing feathers black, but the bill red. It is the
Greater Gull of Catejhy, and is found in America. 6.
The Larus with two intermediate feathers of the tail
exceeding long, and is the Arctic Bird of Raj and Ed-
nvards. It feeds upon what is thrown up by birds
akin to this when put in agitation ; for it cannot pro-
vide for itfelf otherwife.

X. STERNA has a fubulated, ftrait, toothlefs bitt^
luith a Jharp point a little compreffed, and the noJiriU
are linear,

I. The Sterna with a wedge-like tail, a black
body and a whitifti forehead. It is the "Noddy of
Englijh authors, and is found near America. 2. The
Sterna with a forked tail, and the two outward fea-
thers thereof half black and half white. It is the
Sea Sivallo'w of Pay, and is an European bird. 3. The
i'/frw^ with the tail a little forked, a hoary body, the
head and bill black, and the feet red. It is the LeJJer
Sea Sixjallonx) of Ray, and is found in Europe.

XI. RINCHOPS has a ftrait hilU 'with the upper man-
dible Jhorter than the hijuer*

u The

O F B I R D S. 425

I. The Black Rin chops white underneath, and
the bill red at the bafe. It is the Greater Gull with
an unequal bill of Catjby, and is an inhabitant of
America. 2. T\ic BroiAjn Rinchops with a black bill,
is a bird of America.

CHAP. IV.

G R A L L ^.

G R A L L ^ ha've a fuhcylindric bluntijh bill, ijoith
41 jiejhy undi'vided tongue, and the thighs naked above
the knees,

J. PHOENICOPTERUS has a naked crooked bilU and
pahiated feet 'with four toes,

i,' H ^HE Red Phoenicopterus with the prime
Jj feathers of the wings black. It is the Fla^
fningo of Englip authors, and is found in Africa and
America, but very feldom in Europe. There is np
Other bird of this kind.

II. PLATALEA has a fattifi bill, nviih the point di-
lated , orbiculatedy and fat ; it has four toes <which are
half pahiiat-sd.

I. The Plat ALE A with a white body, and the
bill and feet black, is the Spoonbill of Ray, and builds
its neft in trees. It is a bird of Europe. 2. The
Flat ah a with a blood-coloured body is the Brajilian
Spoonbill of Ray, and is found in South America. 3.
The Platal-awiih the upper part of the body brown,
but white beneath, is a bird of Surinam, and of the
iize of a Sparrow.

in. MIC-

430 THE NATURAL HISTORY

III. MICTERIA has a 'very jirait three-cornered upper
mandible of the hilU which is Jharp at the point,
andttcmsa little' upwards \ the lower chap is alfo
triangular and Jharp at the point. The nojlrils are
linear y but it is without a tongue, and there are four
toes.

J. The Mi CT EM A is thfe JahAa-Guatcu of Ray^
and inhabits the hot parts of America. It is white,
of the fize of a Swan, and the wings, and tail arc
of a purplifh black.

IV. TANTALUS has a long, fuhulated, blunt, a lit-
tle arched, and roundijh hill, ivith a naked jugular

Jack, oval nojlrils, and four toes.

I. The Tantalus is the American Pelican of
Catejby, and is an inhabitant of America and AJia.
The legs are long, the thighs half naked, and the
three fore toes only are palmated at the bafe.

V. ARDEA has a Jirait, Jharp, long, Jomenuhnt com"
preffed bill, ivith a furrow that runs from the noj-^
trils towards the point, and four toes.

1. The Ardea with an ereft briftly creft, and the
temples and the two wattles naked. It is the Balearic
or Crowned African Crane oi Edwards. It has a black
head, a yellowifh creft, and white wings,- with the
feathers of the tail of an equal length. 2. The Ar^
dea with white fupercilia that hang down very long
backwards, is the Demoifelle of Edwards, and has a
blueifh alh-coloured body of the fize of a Stork ; the
head and prime feathers of the wings are black.
The eyes are red, ivith an afh-coloured pupil, and be*
hind the eyes on both fides there is a feathery creft,
which turns backwards to a confiderable length, and
of a white colour. The feathers on the forepart of
the neck and breaft are very long and pendulous, and
blackifti. 3. The Ardca with^the fore part of the
head naked and papillous, the body of an afh- colour,

and

O F B I R D S. 43r

and tKe wings of that of brick. It is the Brotun and
ajh'cohured Crane 0^ Edtvardsf and inhabits America^
4. The Ardea with a papillous naked crown of the
head, and the forehead, wings, and hinder part of
the head black ; but the body is of an afh-colour.
It is the Common Crane of Engliftr authors, and is aa
inhabitant of Europe and Africa. 5. The ^r^^^^ with
the top of the head and temples papillous and naked ;
and the forehead, nape of the neck, and prime fea-
thers of the tail black ; but the body white. It
is the Hooping Crane of Ed~jjards, and is bred in Atne-
rica. The under part of the head as far as the lower
chap is red. 6. The Ardea with a naked head and
papillous collar, the body aih-coloured, and the
wings black, is the Create/} Indian Crane of Ednuards^
and behind the eyes there is a little fmall white fpot;
the top of the head alfo is white. 7. The White
Ardea with black wings and a blood-coloured fliin,
is the White Stork of Raj, and inhabits Europe^ AJta,
and Africa. The fkin of the body under the fea-
thers is of a blood-colour ; in the fummer time it
comes into Snveden and Italy. 8. The Black Ardea
with the breaft and belly white, is the Black Stork of
Wtlloughbyy which inhabits the northern parts of Eu-
rope. 9. The Ardea with a three-feathered creft hang-
ing down on the back part of the head, a black back,
and a yellowifh body. It is the Lejfr ajh-coloured
Herovj or Night Ra^jen of Ray, and inhabits the fouth
parts of Europe. The forehead is white about the
bill, and the three feathers of the creft are white,
roundiih, and hang down to the middle of the back.
10. The Ardea with a creft hanging down from the
back part of the head, a blueiih back white under-
neath, and oblong black fpots on the breaft. It is
the Common Heron oi Englijh authors, and is bred in
Europe ; feveral of them build their nefts in high
trees together. 1 1 . The Ardea with a creft on the
back part of the head, an afh-coloured body, red
thighs, and the breaft marked with oblong' black
fpots. It is the AJh^coloured North-American Heron of
Eihvnrdsy and has white temples, with the featliers
on the head long and black, from whence the creft

proceeds.

432 THE NATURAL HISTORY

proceeds. The neck underneath is of a whitiih brick
colour fpotted with brown, and the upper part of the
back is brown. 12. The Ardea with a yellow creft,
a blackifh blue body, and a white temporal ftreak.
It is the Crejied Bittern of Catefiy, and is a native of
North America. 13. The Ardsa with a creft on the
back part of the head, and a blue body, is the Blue
Heron of Catejhy, and is an inhabitant of North A^ne-
rica, 14. The Ardea with a fmall creil on the back
part of the head, a hoary ftreaked back, and the
neck of a ferruginous colour underneath ; the fecon-
dary feathers of the wings are white at the points.
It is a bird of Surinam, whofe top of the head is black,
and there is a creft at the nape of the neck ; the
wings are brown, except the fecondary feathers,
which are white at the points. 15. The Ardea with
a fmall creft on the back part of the head, a green
back, and a reddifh breaft, is the S7nall Bittern of
Bay, and is bred iB America, 16. The Ardea with a
fmoothifh head, and the upper part of the body
marked with brick-coloured fpots ; but it is paler
underneath, and marked with oblong brown ipots.
It is the Common Bittern of Ray, and is an European
bird. 17. The ^r^^^ with a fmooth head, a white
body, and a red bill. It is the White Heron of Bay,
and is bred in Europe. 18. The Ardea with a fmooth
head, a white boay, and a yellowifh bill, with the
point black as well as the legs. It is the Ibis of Kay,
and is a bird of Egypt. 19. The Ardea v/ith a fmooth
head, a white body, and the two outer prime feathers
of the wings brown. It is a bird oi A.nerica, and is
made like the Ibis ; but all the prime feathers of the
wings are brown at the points,

VI. SCOLOPAX has a roundijh blunt hill longer than
the head, and four toes on the feet, the hinder moji if
'Vjhich has federal joints.

I. The ScoLOPAX with an arched bill, red feet,
a blood-red body, and the points of the wing feathers
black. This is the Indian Curleiv, or Red Curle^w of
Bay, and is an inhabitant of .<f/w//V«. 2. The Scolo^

pax

OF BIRDS. 433

fax with an arched bill, red feet, a white body, and
wings green at the points. It is the JVhite Curle-iv of
Catejhyy and is a bird of America, 3. The Scohpax
with an arched bill, red feet, a brown body, and a
tail white at the bafe. It is the Bro^jjn Cufleiv of
Catejby, and is found in America. 4. The Scolopax
with a ftrait bill red at the bafe, fcarlet legs, with
the fecondary feathers of the wings white. It is the
Red-Shank, or Pool-S?iipe of Ray, and is bred in Europe.
5. The Scolopax with an arched bill, blueiih feet, and
wings fpotted with white. It is the Curle^v of Ray,
and is an European bird. 6. The Scolopax with an
arched bill, blueiih legs, and the brown fpots on the
back rhomboidal. It is the Whimbrel of j\ay, and aii
inhabitant of Europe. It is faid to forebode tempeiU
when it flies direiflly upwards, crying loud. 7,
The Scolopax with a ftrait fmooth bill, afh -coloured
feet, covered thighs, and a black ftreak on the fore-
head. It is the Woodcock of Ray, and is a bird of
Europe. It flies in the night backwards and forwards
the fame way. 8. The Scolopax with a ftrait long
bill, brown feet, and the red fecondary feathers of
the wings {potted v/ith black. It is the Greater Ame-
rican Gcd^-it of Edvjards, and is a bird of IJorth A:ne-
rica. The body is grey, the prime feathers of the
winrs brown, and there is a white line over the eyes.
9. The Scolopax with a ftrait bill red at the bafe of
the lower chap, and g eenifti feet. It is the Greater
Plo^jer of Ray, and is bred in Eurcpe. 10. The Sco-
hpax with a ftrait fmooth bill, brown legs, and the
wings marked with a white fpot, and a white rump ;
the nrft four feathers of the wings have no fpots. It
is a bird of Eurcpe. il. The Scolopax with a ftrait
bill tuberculated at the point, brown le^s, and four
brown lines on the forehead. It is the Snipe of Ray^
and an inhabitant of Europe. 12. TIiq Scolcpax w'lm
a bill turned a little back, black legs, and a ftrru-
ginous breaft. It is a bird of Lapland. 13. The Sco-
lopax with a ftrait bill, greeniih It^s, the head and
neck reddifh, and three black feathers of the wings
white at the bafe. It is the Y^r^v^hi^ of Ray, and i»
found in the foutnern parts of Europe. 14. The Sco'
Vol. IL U loptuc

434 THE NATURAL HISTORY
lopax with a ftrait yellowifli bill, brown legs, and
the under part of the body undulated with brown.
It is the Red-hreajisd Godijoit of Ed^ivards, and is found
in North America,

VJI. TRINGA has a roundijh hill of the kngth of the
head, and four toes, cf nx)hich the hindermojl has only
one joint raijedfrom the earth.

I. The Tringa with red feet, and the three la-
teral prime feathers of the wings without fpots.
The face is granulated with flefhy papillae. It is the
Eiiff of Bay^ and is met with in the north parts of
Europe. The cocks are greatly addided to fighting,
2. The 7'r/>7^« with red legs, a hanging creft, and a
black breaft. It is the Lap-xving of Ray^ and an in-
habitant of Europe and Africa. 3. The Trivga with
^. red beak and feet, and a body variegated with yel^
low and alh-colour, but white underneath. It is the
Gamhetta of Ray, and is a bird of Europe. 4. The
7rif:ga with red legs, and a body variegated with
black, white, and a ferruginous colour; but the
breaft and belly are white. It is the Turnfone of Ed-
ntjards from Hucfons Bay, and is found iq^ Europe and
North America. 5. The Tringa with a fubulated bill
bending at the point, with greenilh lobated feet, and
a whitifa bcDy. It is the Coot-focted Tringa of Ed-
rivards, and is found in North America and Lapland i
the bill is exceeding flender, and in Itormy leafbns
feveral cf t^ em Avim together. 6. The Tringa with
a ftrait bill, and lobated brownifh feet ; and a feriu-
£-incus coloured belly. It is the Rcd-Coot-fooied Tringa
of Ed-vcards, and is a bird oi America. 7. The Dujky
JSrick-colcured Tringa with a blackifh breaft, a white
belly, the prime leathers of the tail alh-coioured and
white, and the feet brown. It is of the fize of a
Thrulh, and an inliabitant oi Lapland. 8. The Tringa
with a fpeckled tip of tlie bill, greeniih feet, and
a Ihining brownifh green back. Jt is the Tringa of
Aldro-Ta7idus, and inhabits Eurcpe. 9. The Tringa
with a fmooth bill, livid feet, and an afti-coloured
budy witli black blotches ; but underneath it is white.

It

OF BIRDS. 435

It is the San/:i Piper of Ray, and an European bird.
lo. The Tringa with a fmooth bill, feet inclining to
an alh-colcu.-, and the prime feathers of the wings
ferrated. It is the Knot of hay^ and is found in Eu-
rope^ II. The Tringa with a fmooth bill, greeniili
feet, and the body (potted with white, and a white
breaft. [tis a bird cf Europe. I2. The Tringa v^ith.
a fmooth bill, brown feet and wings, and white on
part of the back ; is found in Europe. 13. The
Tringa with a black bill, gre.nifl: feet, and a grey-
body, white underneath. itisl\\Q Grey Plo-ver o^ Ray,
and inhabits Europe.

VIII. CHARADRIUS has a rGundiJh blunt hill, and
three toes.

I. The Charadrius with the throat, cap and
breall black, a crefl upon the back part of the head,
a brick-coloured back, and black feet. It is the
Black-breajlsd Indian P loader oi Edn^uar as i and is found
in Perjia. 2. The Charadrius with a black breaft, a
blackifh forehead marked with a white ftreak, the
top of the head brown, and the feet yellov-/. It is
the Sea Lark of Kay, and is found on the fiiores of
Europe Z-Vi.^ America. 3. The Bronjjn Charadrius with
the forehead, dorfal colkr, and belly white ; the la-
teral prime tail feathers on both fides white, with
black feet. It is a bird of Egypt. 4. The Chara-
drius with black flreaks onthebieall, neck, forehead^
and cheeks ; and the tail marked with a broa.l black
ftreak, and the feet are pale. It is the Noijy Plo-ver
of Caiejly, and is found in North America. 5. The
Charad.ius with a black pectoral ftreak, white fuper-
cilia, and the white prime feathers of the tail marked
with a black ftreak; the feet are blue. It is a bird
of Egypt. 6. The Charadrius with a ferruginous
brealc, and a ftrait white ftreak on the fuperciiia and
breaft ; the feet are black. It is the Dotterel of Ray,
and is an inhabitant of Europe. The cock is black-
at the pit of the abdomen, but the hen is not. 7. The
Charadrius with a black breaft, a bill gibbous at the
b&fe, and afti-coloured feet. It is the Spotted Plo'ver
U 2 of

^36 THE NATURAL HISTORY

of Ed'-wards^ and is a native of Oeland and Canada^

8. The Charadrhis with afh-colouied feet, and a
black body fpotted with green, but white underneath.
It is the Gree7i Plonjer of Ray^ and inhabits Europe,

9. The Grey Charadrius with two of the prime fea-
thers of the wings black, but white in the middle ;
and the bill is fiiarp, with afh-coloured feet. It is
the Stone Curleiv of Ray^ and is a bird of England,

10. The Charadrius that is black above and white
below, with a b'ack bill longer than the head, an4
very long red feet. It is the Himajitopus of Ray^ a d
inhabits the fouthern parts of Europe. 1 1 . The Cha-
radrius with black wings, breaft, belly and feet, and
the prime feathers of the tail half white ; but th^
fhoulders are fpinous. It is a bird of Egypt. The
fpinous Ihoulders are fmgular.

IX. RECURVIROSTRA has a dcprejfed flat accumi-
nated bill that is turned hacky and pahnated feet y njuith
four toes.

1. The Recurvirostra variegated with black
and white, is the Avo/etta of moll authors, and in-
habits the fouthern parts of Europe.

X. H^MOTOPUS las a comprejjcd hill, nvith an e^uen
tip I ke a wedze, and the feet have three toes ^thout
ivebs.

I. The H-ffiMOTOPus is the Sea Pye of Ray, an4
is found in Europe and the north parts of America^
near the ihore, where it lives upon fhell fifh.

XI. FULICA has a convex bill, nvith the upper 7nan-
dible fornicated over the lovjcr at the edge j the lovjer
mandible is gibbous behind the tip. The forehead is
bald^ and the feet have four toes a little lobated.

I. The FuLiCA with a bald forehead, a black
body, and lobated toes. It is the Coot of Ray, and
an inhabitant of Europe, and feeds upon feeds and
herbs, and runs as well as fwims upon the v/ater.

2. The

O F B I R D S. 437

2. The Fulica with a bald forehead, and toes without
webs. It is the JVater-Heny or Moor-Heny of Ray,
and is found in Europe. 3. The Fulica with a bald
forehead, a violet-coloured body, and toes without
webs, is tht Purple Water-Hen of Ednvardsy and it in-
habits Afia and America. 4. The Fvlica with a carun-
culated forehead, a variegated body, fpinous fhoul-
ders, and toes without webs ; but the nail on the
hinder toe is exceeding long. It is the Spur-^ciitged
Water-Hen of Ed^v^ards, and is an inhabitant of South
America. The nail on the hind toe is lirait, and lon-
ger than a man's finger. The pollex refts upon one
joint, and the wings are green.

XII. RA LLUS has a hill thick at ike hafe, fat and
attenuated on the hack tc-ivards the pointy <^j:here it is
jharp and euen. The fcct havefour toes -ivithout -ive^Sf
and the body is cov:preJ/cd.

I. The Rallus with reddifh ferruginous wings,
is the Daker-Heny or Raily of Ray, and inhabits the
fields, and feeds upon worms. The body is greatly
comprefled, and in the evening and night it repeats
the word Crex very loud. 2. The Rallus with grey
wings fpotted with brown, the hypochondria fpotted
with white, and the bill yellow. It is the Water RaiU
or Brook Ou%ely of Ray^ and is a bird of Europe. 3.
The Rallus that is of a vvhitifh yellow underneath the
body, and the legs fpotted with blue; the toes have
marginated edges. It is the Ajh-cdoured Rail of Klein
nvith the face of a Gull, and is a \yixdLo{ Europe. The
tail is pretty long, which renders the kind doubtfuK
4. The Rallus with a white body, the top of the head
and eyes, the head and neck black, and the wings
nnd back green, with the prime feathers of the wing*
fpotted with red. It is the Bengal JVater-Rail of Ed-
n.vardsy and inhabits Afa. 5. The Gr.:y Rail with »
black forehead, a plumbeous breafl, a yellow bill,
and greenifh feet. It is the American Water-Rail
of Ed-wards.

U 3 XIII. PSO<

438 THE NATURAL HISTORY

XIII. F SOPHIA has a cylindrick, conical Jharpi/k
kill, ivith the upper mandibl: longer than the lonvcr,
and the noftrih a e o^al and open. It is the Macu-
cagua, or" Wild Hen, o/Ray, a^id is found in South
America. It is called the Cracking Bird by fomey

fiom the noije if makes ^uuith its anus.

XIV. OTIS has a hill ^vith the t'pper mandible forni-
cated, and a tcngue clo'ven, and only three toes, n-vhich
are all placed f: r-joards,

I. The Otis with the neck crefted oh each fide,
is the Bijiard of Ray. It is an inhabitant of
Poland, and the caffern parts of England \ the flefh is
in high efteem. 2. The Otis with ered crefted ears,
is the Arabian Bujlard of Ed-Tvards. It is of the co-
lour of a Woodcock above, but whitifh underneath ;
the cars are black, and the tail is marked with a
'brown ftreak. 3. The Otis with a fmooth head and
neck, h xht Field Duck oi Ray, and is chiefly found
in France. 4. The Black Otis with an afh-coloured
'back, and white ears. The cock has a yellow bill
and feet, with the top of the head afh-coloured, and
the external edge of the wings white. The hen is
all over afh-coloured, except the belly and thighs,
which are black. It is an jEthiopian bird.

XV. STRUTHIO has a conical hilly and the 'wings

unft for flying.

I. The St RUTH 10 with only two toes, is the Stru-
thio Ca?nclus of other authors, and in Englijh the O-
flrich. It is an inhabitant of Syria, Arabia, Lybia,
and Africa. It is armed with a fpine under the flioul-
ders, and is the greateft of all birds. 2. The Stru.-
thio with three toes, and the top of the Iiead and
wattles naked. It is the E7ne-vj, or Cajfonvary, of mofl
authors, and is found in Sumatra, Molucca, Banda^ and
other parts oiiYiQEaf Indies. There is a callofity on the
top of the head like a diadem, and there are 2 wattles
hanc^ under the neck -, the neck is naked behind, and
he fights with the nail of his middle toe; the e^gs
are marked with hollow points. 3. The Struthio with

the

O F B I R D S. 43^

the hind toe rounded, and v/ithout a nail, is the A-
merican OJirich of Tlay^ and is an inhabitant of South
America. 4. The Strut hio with four toes, all which
have nails. It is the Dodo of Raj, and is an inhabi-
tant of the EaJ} Indies:

CHAP. V.

GALLING.

^hefe bcnje a convex bllU 'Tjoith the upper fnandihle for-
nicated^ and the edge dilated beyofid the lovL-er. "The
nojirils are haf co^cred-with agrijily conuex meralrane.

I. P A V O has the head co-vered tviih firait feathers,

and thofe on the back are lo7ig.

I. ThePAvo with an upright creft on the head, and
a long tail, is the Peacock oi Englijh authors. It was
brought originally from the illand of Ceykn ir\ thcEaJr
Indies. It is a proud beautiful bird, with the tail feathers
adorned with eyes like gems. Thefe come to perfec-
tion in the third year, and fall oil* in the Dog Days;
the prime feathers of the wings are of a ferruginous
colour. The hen wants the beautiful tail. 2. The
Pavo with a fmooth head and two fpurs, is th^^ Pea-
cock Pheafmit of Edivards, and an inhabitant of China.
The hinder back quills are adorned with eyes, which
fhew that it is of the Peacock kind.

II. Meleagris has a head covered ivith fpungy ca-

runcles^

I. The Meleagris, having a frontal caruncle on.
th-c head, and wi-th a gular creil; the breafcof the
cock is bearded. It is the Ne^v-England Wild Tur kef
of Rc.y ; and is not unlike our Tame Turkey. A.hin
mentions a Crejled Turkey, which is like the former,
in otker refpeds. When the Turkey Cock firuts he
blows up his breaft, fpreads his tail, reia .es the ca-
U 4 runqle.

440 THE NATURAL HISTORY

i-uncle on the forehead, and the naked parts of th<f
face and neck become intenfely red. 2. The Melea-
gris with a creft confi fling of upright feathers, and
the temples are of a violet-colour. Jt is the Brajtlian
PheaJ'ant^ or G.mn, of Ed^-wards^-, and is an inhabf--
tant of South Arieiica. He has the fame fort of red
caruncle as the former, and the creil on the top of
the head confifts of oblong feathers. 3. TYit Melea-
gris with two horns on the head, and the body red,
ipotted with black, among which there are white
jpots. It is the Horned Indian Phcafant of Ediuards^y
and was brought from Bengal. The forehead is black,
and the gular caruncle is blue, variegated with red ;
the two blue horns proceed from behind the eyes.

III. CRAX has the bill covered nxith ^vax at the bafe,
a?jd the feathers that conjer the head turned back.

1. The Black Crax is X.h.tMutUy a kind of Bra-
filian Fheafant, which is an inhabitant of South Ame-
rica, 2. The Red Crax with a blueifh head, is the
Hed Peruvian Hen of Albin.

IV. PHASIANUS has the cheeks co'vered njoith a naked

fmooth Jkin,

I. The Phasianus with a comprefTed rifing taiL
[Here the author only recounts the names of the
feveral dunghill Hens and Cocks, mentioned by
Ray, which having been already taken notice of, in
their proper places, need not be repeated here.] 2^
The Phafianus with a callofity on the top of the head,
and the temples carunculated. This is the Guinea
Hen, ox Pintadoy oi Ray. 3. The Fed Phajia?ius with.
a blue head, is the Common Pheafant of Ray, and is
found in various parts of the world. The flefh is a
difh for princes. 4. The Phafianus with a yellow
crell, a red breall, and the fecondary feathers of the
wino-s blue. This is the Painted Chinefe Pheafant of
£d-wards. 5. The White Phaf anus with a black creft
and btlly. It \s tht Biack-and-^white Chinefe Pheafant
of Edn.uards. 1 he naked temples are red, and the
cxcll of the cock black ; but of the hen grey.

V. TETRAO

O F B I R D S. 44.1

V. TETRAO has naked papilhus fupercilia,

I . The Tetrao with hairy legs, and the external
prime feathers of the wings fhorter than the reit j
the axillae are white. It is the Cock-of-t he-Wood of
Ray, and frequents watery places near pines. 2. The
Tetrao with hairy legs, a forked tail, and the fecon-
dary feathers of the wings white towards the bafe.
It is the H^ath-Cock of Ray ; fo called, bccaufe it de-
lights in heaths. 3. The Tetrao with hairy legs, and
the black prime feathers of the wings tawney at the
points ; there are two white blotches under the eyes.
It is the Black-and-fpotted Heath-Ccck of Edtvardsy
and is an North-American bird. 4. The Tetrao with
feathery legs, white wings, and the prime feathers
of the tail white at the points ; but the intermediate
are white. It is the Lagopus, or White Partridge, of
Ray VivA Ed'zuards. It is found among the.^^^j. This
bird is fo called from having the legs and feet covered
with feathers like hair, which are thouglit to refem-
ble thofe of Hares. It is v/hite in the winter, ex-
cept the prime feathers, and purfues Rabbits that are
among the fnow. 5 . The Tetrao with hairy legs, a
weds^e-like tail, and three of the lateral feathers
of the v/ings white. It is the Long-tailed Grous of
Ed-ivards from Hudjori' s Bay. 6. The Tetrao with
hairy legs, with a kind of baftard wings at the neck.
It is the Lejfer Broivn Grous of Catejiy, with feathers
at the neck imitating wings ; and is an inhabitant of
Virginia. It is called the Pheafant of Penjil^ajila, in
the Phllofophlcal Tranfacilons, 7. The Tetrao with
hairy legs, and the chief feathers of the wings of an
alh-coloar, fpeckled with black, and a black flrcak,
except two in the middle. It is the Ha:^el Hen of
Ray ; fo called, by the Germans. It frequents grcr/es
of hazel-trees, and is an £«r<j/d'^;; bird. 8. The 7^-
trao with a bill and feet of a blood-colour, and a
white throat, furrounded with a black rtreak edp:ed
with white. It is the Rtd Partridge of AUrcvajiduSy
and is found in the fouthern parts of £'z^ro/^. 9. The
Tftrao with naked feet, and a naked red fpot be-
ll 5 Mnd

442 THE NATURAL HISTORY
hind the eyes, a fi^rruginous tail, and abrown breaft.
This is the Corunon Partridge of Enghjh authors, and
is an European bird. Iii feme parts, it lives in ditches
tull of fiiow that are o^en at each end. lo. 'The
Tetrao with naked legs, and a blaclc ftreak above and
below the eyes, with a brown line on the t:p of the
head. It is the Vir^inioji Partridge of Catejhy, il.
The tetrao with naked legs, and the neck fpotted
with black and Vv'hite. It is the American Partridge
of Alhin. In the P.cd Partridg: there are white fpcts
in a black fpace beneath Xa-^q throat tc-wards the breall;
but in this, there are the like on the back part of
the neck, and the feet are not red. 12. The Tetrao
with legs hairy before, and the throat and belly
black, a ferruginous collar, and a wedge-like tail.
It is the F.ancclin of Toumejht, and the Partridge of
Damcfcus, mentioned by Willis, It is an oriental bird.
13. The T'^'/zYro with naked lep;3, a body fpotted with
grey, the f[;aces over the eyes v/hite, and the chief
feathers of the wings marked with a ferruginous half-
moon on the edges. This is iho. ^.ail o( Englijh au-
thors. The ferruginous feathers on the body are
marked v/ith a longitudinal whitiih line. It inhabits
Europe, Afitty and Africa.

CHAP. VI.

P A S S E R E S.

PASSERES have a conical Jharp bill, and oval open
naked nojirils.

I. COLUMBA has ajirait hill defcending toivards the
point, and ohlong ncjlrils half covered vjith a tiunid
fft membrane ; the tongue is tiot cloven.

i.'T^IIE Bluish Columba with the upper part

I of the neck of a Ihining blue, a llreak on

the v,ings, and the point of the tail blackifh. It is

the Stock Dove, or W^ood Pidgem, of Rtiy, and is an

European

O F B I R D S. 443

European bird. [The Com77ion Pigeon is mentioned by
this author, and he defcribes fome of its properties,
which have been taken notice of in their proper
place ; but, when he fays that this bird hatches two
eggs every month, for nine months together, his af-
fertion may be doubted, or at leaft it deferves a far-
ther enquiry. He alfo juft takes notice of the names
bellowed on the different forts by Raj,'^ which having
been mentioned in their proper place, they need not
be repeated here.] 2. The Cohanba with broad watry
wax on the bill, and naked fpaces about the eyes.
Thefe are the Carriers of Ray, and were formerly
made great uie of at Aleppo in Syria, 3. The Dark
Red Columba yellow underneath, with the orbit of
the eyes naked and of a blood-colour. This is the
Mountain Partridge of Ray and Edivards, and is found
in Ja7naica. 4. The Columba with the chief afh-
coloured tail feathers white at the points, and thofe
in the middle brown, with the naked orbit of the eye
blue. It is the Bronvn Indian Dove of Edz^^ards. 5.
The Columba v/ith the chief feathers of the tail a(h-
coloured, and black at the points ; the naked orbits
of the eyes are red It is the Triangular -/pot ted Pid~
geon of Ed^tvardsy and is a bird of Africa. 6. The
■AJh-coloured Columba with the feathers on the wings,
tail and legs, white. 7. The Columba with the chief
tail feathers black backwards, and the prime feathers
of the wings v/hite on the outward edges ; the neck
is white on^both fides. It is the Riv.g-Do^je of EngV.Jh
authors, and is found in Europe and Afia ; they fly in
flocks, and do mifchief in the fields. 8. The Co-
lumba with a blue head, is the Jamaica Turtle-Dc^ve of
Albin. 9. The Blueip Cohrmba v.ith the top of the
head deprefied and white. It is the White-headed Do've^
or Bald-pate^ of Ray. It is found in North America.
10. The Columba with blue naked fpaces about the
eyes, and the iris of the eyes of a tav.ny colour. It
is the Bro~jon Indian Do-ve of Ed-jjards, and is only a
repetition of that at number 4 above. 11. The Co-
hniba with a white tail, a black body, blue wings,
and the back of a (hining green ; the feathers of the
neck are elongated. It is the Nincombar Pigeon of

444 THE NATURAL HISTORY
Alhin. 12. The Colufnba with a long wedge-like tail^
and a purplifli breaft, of Ed-ivards. It is a bird of
pafTage, and winters in Carolina. 13. The Columha.
with a brown back, and the chief feathers of the tail
of the fame colour, with a blood-red belly, and
yellow wings, with the prime feathers black. It is
the China Do've of Albin. 14. The Coluviha with a
purple body, green fhoulders, and white fupercilia..
It is the Grcen-njjinged Dove o{ Ednjcards, and is found
in the Eajl Indies. It has a blueifh cap, with the prime
feathers of the wings black, and the chief feathers
of the tail are black ; but thofe on the fides are of aa
alh-colcur. The flexure of the wings is black, fpotted
with white. 15. The Columha vvith very fmall eredl
feathers difperfed on the back and wings. It is a bird
of Aftica. i6. The Columha with the chief feathers
of the wings white at the points, the back grey, the
breaft of a fleih-colour, and there is a fpot on the fides
of the neck. It is the Turtle Doue of Ray. The au-
thor fays, it is din Eaji- Indian bird. 17. The Columha
yellowifh above, and marked on the neck with a half-
moon. It is the Indian Turtle of Ray. The author
afiirms, that though it is an Indian Turtle, it is the
Common Turtle with us. 18. The Cokmha with the
prime feathers of the wings and tail of a dufky co-
lour, the body purplilh, and the bills and legs yellow^
It is the Lea^ Turtle of Ray ^ with fpotted wings. It
is found in Aniericay between the Tropicks.

11. ALAUDA kasaftraify cylindrich, fuhulated hilly
ivith equal mandihles, uhich gape do^jjn>^ards at the
bafe ; th^ tongue is cloven, and the hinder claiv if
pretty Jiraity and longer than the toe,
1. The Alauda with the two outward chief fea-
thers of the wings white, longitudinally on the out-
kde ; but thofe in the middle are ferruginous on the
inner fide. It is the Sky-Lark of Ray^ and other Englifo.
authors, and is feen every-v/here in the fields. It lifes
up in tlie air almoft perpendicularly, and is caught
with nets, in the autumn, about fun-fet. 2. The
Jh.uda with two of the outward feathers of the wings
white on the owtward edges, and the line of the fu-
percilia

O F R I R D S. 445-

percilia wliite. It is the Tit-Lark of Ray, and fre-
quents the meadows in Europe. 3. The Alauda with
an annular white fillet about the head, is the Wooa-
Lark of Ray, and is an European bird ; they fly in
flocks. 4. The ^/^//rf'^ with the chief feathers on the
wings brown on the lower half, except two in the
middle, which are white, and the throat and breafl
are yellowifh. 5. The Alauda with the chief tail
feathers brown, only half of the outermofl: is white,
and the fecond is white at the end, and in the Oiape
of a wedge ; there is alfo a double whitifh line oa
the wings. It is a bird of S-iveden, and perches on.
the tops of trees. 6. The Alauda with the chief tail
feathers black, except two that are outermoJl, which
have their outer edges white ; the head is crcfted,
and it is the Greater -crejled Lark of EngUjfb^ 2i\x^or^»
It is a bird of Europe. 7. The Alauda with the chief
feathers of the tail brown, only the outward two ar&
obliquely half white. It is the Spinoletta of Ray ',.
{o called, by the Florentines, and it is a bird of Italy,
8. The Alauda with the chief feathers of the wings,
half white, a yellow throat, and a black itreak under
the eyes and an the breafl. It is the Tello^w-throated:
Lark of Catefiy, and is a native of North America,
The body on the upper part is brown, the throat as
far as the breafl yellow, the belly white, and the
peroral tranfverfe flreak black ; there is a black blunt
ftreak behind the aperture of the mouth. 9. The
Alauda yellow underneath the body, with a crooked
black pectoral ftreak, and the three fide feathers of
the tail white. It is the Great Lark of Catejhy, and
an inhabitant o^ America and Africa. It is of the flze
of a Thrufli, and the body is of the colour of a Wood-
cock above, but entirely yellow underneath. There
is a large blackifli fpot in the fliape of a half-mooa'
on the breafl, and the wings are brown, only the fe-
condary feathers are fpotted with brick-colour ; the
tail is rounded, and three cf the lateral feathers are
chiefly white ; the claw of the hinder toe is large,
but more crooked than in the reft of this kind ; the
bill is ftrait, and the upper mandible is roundifli, but
naked at the bafe.

lU. STERNUS

44-6 THE NATURAL HISTORY

III. STERN US has a fuhulateci, deprejfed, angular y
bluntijh billy iMtth the upper mandible entire^ though a
little patent at the edges ; the nojirds are marginated
aboue, and thd tongue is jharp.

I. The Sternus with a yellowiih bill, and a
black bcdy fpotted with white. It is the Stare or
Starling of Englijh authors, and inhabits Europe and
Africa. It lives upon infefts, and builds its neft in
the holes of -rrees. Thefe birds fiy together in flocks.
2. The Telh-jj Stirnus with a brown head, a fpotted
breaft, and brownifli yellow wings. It is the Tellonju
Indian Starling of Edzvards. 3. The Bro-ivn Sternus
with a fpot like an eye, and a white ftreak on the
belly and wings. It is the Black- and-ivhite Indian
Starling. 4. The Black Sternus with a white breaft,
is the Water Ouzel of Englijh authors, and is a bird
of Europe. In the winter time it frequents fprings
and other waters that are not frozen, and devours
water-infe£ls ; for though it is not a web-footed bird,
it will dive to the bottom.

IV. TURDUS has a round cultrated bill, ivith the
upper mandible a little bent at the point ; the nofirils
are naked, and the upper part is half couered 'with a
thin membrane ; the tongue is tern, or rather fit, at
the point.

I. The TuRDus with a brown back, white fpots
on the r.cck, and a yellrwiih bill, is the Mifel Bird
of Raiy and is an inhabitant of Europe. 2. The Turdus
with "the tail feathers black, only the outermoft are
whidlh en the inner edge, and the liead and rump are
hoary. It is the FcJdefare of Englijh authors, and is
a bird of Europe. 3. The Tardus with wings yellowifh
underneath, and three of the lateral tail feathers
white at the points, on both fides. Il is the Red-^ving
of Ray, and an inhabitant of ^.vr£>/f. 4. The Twdus
with the wings ferruginous underneath, and a whitifh.
line on the fupercilia. It is the Throjik, or Song-
^hrujh of Raj, and haunts the woods of Europe. It

makes

OF BIRDS. ' 447

makes its neft with clay, and imitates the Tong of the
Nightingale, 5. The Grey Tardus of a ferruginous
colour underneath, and a white line on the fides of
the head ; the tail is rounded. It is the Brotvyt In-
dia?i Song Thrujh of Edivards. 6. The ferruginous Sof/g
Thrujh oi 'd. lighter colour underneath, and fpotted.
The tail is entirely of the fame colour, and rounded.
It is the Red Thrujh of Catsjhy, and a native of North
A}n£rica. J . The Dark Ajh-coloured Thrujh of a pale
afh-colour underneath, and a whitifli fpot on the
wings. This is the American Song Thrujh, Mocking
Bird, or Virginian Nightingale. It is in high efteem
for its fmging. 8. The Turdus with a brown back,,
and the breail; and fide feathers of the tail whitifli,
with a white flreak on the wings. It is the LeJJer
Mocking Bird of Edivards, and is a native of Ame-
rica. The long tail is rounded, and it fings when it
is high in the air, to the great admiration of the fpec-
tator. 9. The Blueijl Turdus Vs^ith a black Throat,
is the lead-coloured Amer:cc.n Th uj7? of Calejly. lo^
The Turdus with a blueifli head and neck, a ycllowifh
body, a greenifli back, and the wings and tail red-
difli ; there is alfo a crefl; on the head. It is the A-
merican Crejied Flycatcher of Catejly, with a yellow
belly. II. The Flefo-coloured Turdus with a black
head, wings and tail, and a creft on the back of the
head. It is the Rojc-cchured Oux.el of Ray, and is
found in Lapland t^vA Snjoit%erland. 12. The Black
Turdus, with a yellow bill and palpebrse, is the Black
-Bird oi Ray, and ether authors, and delights to be
among trees ; the hen is brown, and fo are the ycung
for the firft year, though they are cocks, and their
bills are black. 13. The Blackijh Turdus with a
white ring and yellowifli bill. It is the Ritig Ouzel
of Ray, and is an European bird. 14. The blue Tur-
dus with black wings and tail, and the belly undu-
lated with afti-coloured black lines. It is the Soli-
tary Sparro^'j of Ray and Ed-ujards, and is an Oriental
'Bird. The cock is blue, the hen afh-coloured, un-
dulated underneath with white and afli coloured lines.
15. The Grey T-urdus white underneath, and marked
with tranfverfe lunated brown lines j the legs are

blueifh.

448 THE NATURAL HISTORY
blueifh. It is the Marjh Song Thrujh of Klein, and
delights to be among reeds in the north of Europe.
The cock fings almoft conftantly in the day-time,
while the hen is hatching her eggs in a neft upon the
ground. i6. The Grcenijh Black Turdus yellowifli
underneath, with white fupercilia. It is the Jfneri-
can Wheat Ear, with a yellow belly, of Catejby.

VI. LOXIA has a conical gibbous billy nvith a forehead
ahnoji bald., and the lo-xver mandibU is a little bended
on the Jides \the nojirils are at the bafe of the billy and
the tongue is undiijided,

1. The LoxiA with a forked bill is the crofs bill
of Englijh authors, and frequents the fir-trees of £«-
rope ; and it takes out the kernels of the fir apples to
feed upon. 2. The Z,oAr/« with a fingle white line on
the wings, and the tail feathers white at the bafe. It
is the Crofs Beak of Engltjh authors, and is found in
the fouthern parts o^ Euope, and feeds upon the ker-
nels of cherry-fiones. 3. The Loxia with a double
white line on the wings, and the tail feathers all
blackifh. It is the Great ej} American Bulfinch of Ed-
fwardsy and frequents pine trees, living upon pine
apples ; it fmgs in the night, and in the winter is met
with in the fouthern parts oi S'weden ; it pafTes by
Vpfc.l towards the end of Otlober : the young- are red,
and the old yellow. 4. The Loxia with black limbs
and the chief feathers of the tail, and wings white back-
wards. It is the Bulfinch of Englijh authors, and is a
native of Europe. The cock is red underneath, and
the hen of a brownifh afh-colour. 5. The Tied Loxia
with a black face, is the Red Ha^- finch of Catejly ;
befides which there is an Indian Crefied Hanv-Jinchy
called by Ray a Virginian Nightingale, and by Seba a
Red Crefied Parrot. It is a native of North America.
6. The Black Loxia with a red head and throat, with
the breaft, belly, and ed;^es of the wings white. It
is the ylmerican Bulfinch of Edwards, and is a native
of Brazil. 7. The Whitijh Lox'ia with a crefted fore-
head, and the rump and ^^t red ; the middle feathers
of the tail are exceeding long. It is a bird of jEthi^

opia^

G F B I R 13 S. 44^

epiay and is the greateft of the kind. The creft of
the cock is red, but of the hen white, and the breaft
of the cock is white, with the tail of an afli-colour,
and two of the feathers twice as long as the reil. 8^
The Red Loxia with black wings is the Mexican Red
Sj)arronv of $eba. g. The Loxia inclining to an afh-
colour, and a purple head, but the breaft is fpotted
with white. It is the Sparrow of Paradife of Edivardsy
and is a bird of Africa. The body is afti-coloured
above, and fpotted with grey, but underneath it is
brown with round white fpots. The wings are brown^
and the prime feathers are grey on the edges > the tail
is black and forked, and the head purple. lo. The
Tello'-w Loxia, with a greeniih back and yellow head*
is an inhabitant of Alia, 1 1 . The Broivn Loxidy
with white temples and a red bill, is the Padda, or
Rice Bird of Edixuirds. It is an inhabitant of AJia
and Ethicpia, and frequents fields of riee. 12. The
Black Loxia with a {jpurious white wing, and the bill
of a flelh colour. It is the Black Chinch of Albin,
and a native of the Eaji Indies, 13. The Ferruginous-
Loxia with a black belly fpotted with white. It is
the GoTjfjry Bird of Edwards, and an inhabitant of the
EaJi Indies. 1 4. The Tawney Loxia, with white tem-
ples and a black tail and breaft, is an EaJi Indian
bird. The body is pf the fize of a White Water Wag-
tail ; andtheihoulders, thighs, region of the anus, and
edges of the tail feathers are grey ; but the temples
are black as far as the wings, and the wings and its
prime feathers, the tail, and breaft are black ; the
head, neck and rump are tawney. 15. The Gref
Loxia white underneath, and the bill and feet of a
blood colour, is an inhabitant of Afta. 16. The
Grey Loxia undulated with brown, with the bill, tem-
ples and breaft red. It is the Wax Bill of Edwards,
and inhabits the Canary Ijlands, as well as America
and Africa. It is of the fize of a Wren, and is grey
above, undulated with yellow ; but under the breaft
it is purple. The tail is rounded and grey, and mark-
ed with a great number of tranfverfe brown lines.
17. The Blue Loxia, with the wings and tail black,
is the Blue Gmfs Beak of Edwjardsj and is a bird of

Angola^

4^:0 THE NATURAL HISTORY

Angela. 1 8. The Black Loxiay with a white line on
the forehead and Temples, is a bird of JJia, The
body is of the fize of a Thmoufe, and is black above,
with a red fhining g\o(s, but white underneath. The
bill is black and gibbous ; and there is a white line
runs from the forehead to the top of the head, as
alfo a white fpot above the lower mandible. The
<i[uill feathers are black, only the prim.e feathers are
white at their forward bafe, which make a wi.ite fpot
on the wings when clofed. The Tail is black and
forked. 19. The Grey Loxia with the forehead, throat,
rump, and fupercilia yellow. It is the Tello-iv-headed
Linnet of Ednxfurds., and is an inhabitant of America,
it is of the fize of a Chaffinch, and there are two afh-
coloured ftreaks < n the covert feathers of the wings.
lo. The Tellomcijh Green Loxia W\l\i the prime feathers
of the wings yellow forward, and four of the fide fea-
thers of the tail yellow at the bafe. It is the Green
Finch of Englijh authors, and is a bird of Europe. 21.
The Greenijh Loxia with the forehead, fupercilia,
breaft and belly yellow. It is an Indian bird, and
has the body of the ihape and fize of a Sifi'tn^ and is
green fpotted with yellow, but underneath it is en-
tirely yellow. The forehead and a line drawn from
thence are yellow, as alfo the temples, but the tail is
blackifh, forked, and white at the point. 22. The
Tcllc^juijh Loxia with a yellow breaft and collar, and
black temples. It is an Indian bird, and has a black
bill, brown feet, a bald forehead, black cheeks, the
breail and collar yellow, the body of a yellowifh
green, and of the fize of a Small Titmoufe. 23. The
Grey Loxia with a yellow cap, whitifh temples and
belly, which lafl is fpotted with brown. It is the
Yello-jo-headed Indian Sparronv of Ed^-wards. 24. The
AJh-coloured Loxia with black wings and tail, and the
throat and anus white. It is an Indian bird, of the
fize, and with the face of a '■Titmoufe, The bill is
black, the throat white, the wings and tail black,
and the region of the anus whitifh. 25. The Bro-vjn
Loxia v/hite underneath, and the quill feathers from
the third to the ninth entirely white at the bafe. It
is an inhabitant of Bengal, 26. The Tello'w Loxia

with

O F B 1 R D S. 451

with a black head is the Hanv -finch of Gambogia,
mentioned by Alhin^ and is alfo found in Guinea^
27. The Hoary Loxia, with brown wings and tail,
and red feet, is the Gre, Finch of Ednjcards^ and an
inhabitant of the Eaji Indies. The margin of the
tail feathers, and the region of the mouth are whit-
iih. 28. The Black Loxia with a white fpot on the
ihoulders. and on two of the external wing feathers.
It is the LeJJer Black Bulfinch of Catcjhy, and is a na-
tive of Scuth America, 29. The Blue Loxia with
brown wings, and a purple flreak at the bafe, is the
Blue Grofs Beak of Catesby, and is found in Ainerica,
50. The Violet-coloured Loxia with the throat, fuper-
cilia and anus red. It is the Purple Grofs Beak of
Catesby, and an inhabitant of America. 31. The
Grey Loxia with the rump and under part of the body
ferruginous, and the fourth, fifth and fixth of the
tail feathers white at the bafe on both fides. It is
a. bird of Surinam^ and a little bigger than a Ra~
<vev j the bill is fhort, thick and bluntifh* 32. The
■ Brc^Mn Loxia red underneath is the Little Bro^n Bul-
finch of Ed-Lvards, and an inhabitant of the EaJi In-
dies. It is of the fize of the Leafi Loxia.

VII. EMBERIZA has a conical bill, and the mandibles
recede from each other dcwnnvards at the baje ; the
lonver mandible has the fides narronved in^ivards^ but
the upper is fill narro<vuer,

1. The ^MBERizA with white wings, but the
prime feathers are outwardly black, as alfo the tail,
except thofe feathers on each fide which are white.
It is the Great Pyed Mountain Finch of Pay, akin to
which is the Sno^ju Bird of Edivards. They inhabit
Lapland, and the parts ^omX. Hi'.dfcn'' % Bay, fitting on
the earth ; in a hard winter they fly into Sweden, at
which time they are white. 2. The Grey Emberiza

. fpotted with black is the Bunting of ^//^////^ authors, and
is a bird of Europe, very much akin to the former. 3.
The Emberiza with black wings ; the firft three black

•featheis on the tail are whitiih on the edges, only the
two lateral are black outwardly. This is the Orto-
lan

452 THE NATURAL rfl^TORY

ian of Eaglip authors, and is a bird of Europe, Th*
orbits of the eye are naked and yellow, and the eyes
themfelves arc funonnded with a naked yellow ring ;
the head underneath is yellow as far as the lower man-
dible. 4. The Emberiza with a blackifh tail, only
the two outward fide feathers are marked on the in-
ner edge with a Jh;irp white fpot. It is tke Tellonv-
hamme/ of Evgliji? AutliOrs, and an European bird ; it
builds its ncft on the ground in meadows, and comes
about houfes in the v% inter. 5. The Grey Emberixa
with a black forehesd and belly, a tavvney neck and
rump, and a black bill. It is the Grenadier of Ed~
n.vardsf and is an Jjf'rican bird. 6. The Emherixa
with a grey back, a' black forehead, and a red bill,
is an Eafi'h:d:an bird. The bill is led and thick,
but not crocked, with the mandibles of an Emberirza.
The forehead is bl-. :k tverv where abofit the bill ;
the head, Dioulders, and wings are variegated with
black and grey fpots, as in a Houfe Sparrcw. The
breal^ and belly are of a whitilh flefh colour, and the
wings and tail are blackilh, only their edges are of
an aih-colour ; the feet are of a flefh colour. 7. The
Bro-vjn Emberiza, with the breaft, throat and fhoul-
ders of a blood colour. It is the Greater Bulfinch of
Edn.K:ards^ and inhabits Jfia arid America. It is of the
fize of a Starlings and the colour above is brown like
a Woodcock-, but of a blood colour underneath. The
bill at the bafe is a little bald, and the quill feathers
are brown, except the iirft and fecond, that are grey-
on their outer margin. The tail feathers are brown,
equal and variegated with paler ftreaks at the points.
8. The Black-Jhining Ember iza is an Indian bird, and
is of a jet black all over, except the upper part,
which is fomev/hat of a blueifh green, and glofly as
in a Ra'ven ; it is of the fize of a Thrujl:). 9. The
Grey-footed Emberiza^ with the points of the tail fea •
thers white, and the hinder part of the back yellow.
It is a bird of AJia^ and of the fize of a Sifiin ; the-
upper part of it is fpotted with brown, but afh-co-
loured underneath. The back under the wings and
towards the tail is yellow, but the covert feathers of
the tail are white. 10. The Grey Ember iza^ with a

yel-

OF BIRDS. 455

yellow face, is an inhabitant of hot countries, and
has a body of the fize of a Sijkiriy and the forehead
and throat are yellow, ii. The AJh-coloured brown
Emberizaj with tawney ' ings, and two very long
feathers in the tail. It is an American bird, and the
Brajilian Finch of Seha. iz. The Brown Ember iza
with a red breaft, and two very long accuminated
feathers in the middle of the tail. It is the Red-
hreajied long-tailed Finch of Edivards^ and is a bird of
Africa. It is chiefly black, but the neck and breaft
are red, and it fheds the long feathers of the tail every
year like a Peacock. 13. The Emberiza with a blue
head, a tawney belly, a green back, and the quill fea-
thers of a brownifli green. It is the Painted Finch of
Edwards, and an inhabitant oi America. The whole
head and neck are blue ; the back, wings, and upper
part of the tail are green, but yellow underneath,
and the forepart of the breaft is tawney. The hen
is blue, with a white belly, and in winter flie be-
comes almoft grey. 14.. The Emberiza with a black
head and breaft, and the wings red, is by fome call-
ed the Sparrpw of the Cape of Good Hope.

VIII. The FRINGILLA has a conical Jirait Jharp bill,
i.TheBrownpRiNGiLLA with a tawney neck, and
white fpots on the wings and hinder part of the back.
It is the Carolina Ortolan of Catejbf, and is a bird of
the illand of Cuba ; only the hens pafs into Carolina
in the autumn. 2. The Fringilla with black limbs, and
the wings white on both fides ; the three firft feathers
of the tail are without fpots, but two of the chief are
X)bliquely fpotted. It is the Chaffinch of Englijh au-
thors, and is a bird of Europe. 3. The F r ingflla y with.
the bafe of the wings underneath of a deep yellow
colour. It is the Bramblinv or Mountain Finch of
Englijh authors^ and is a bird of Europe. 4. The
Brown Fringilla, with a reddifti breaft and flioulders,
and the black wings marked vyith a reddifh fpot.
It is an inhabitant of Sweden. 5. The Fringilla with
a blackilh fpotted head, and a white fpot behind the
eyes. It is the Greater Chaffinch of Albin, and is found
in Lapland. 6. The Fringilla with the limbs, wines,
and tail black, only the outermoft ixom the middle

exter-

454 THE NA4^UR^AX HISTORY

externally white. It is a bird of Sweden. 7. The
Grey Fringilla fpotted with black has a fpace run-
ning from the bill to the fides of the neck black.
It is the Shomburgher, akin to the Lark of Ed-
luards, and is a bird of South America. 8. The
Black Fringilla, with a reddifh elofs, and a reddifh
belly with a white»fpot on the wings, is the American
Black Sparro^v, with red eyes, of Catejby. 9. The
Fringilla, with the quill feathers red forwards, and
the outermoft without any fpots ; the t.o ou!:ermo{l
are white in the middle, as the reft are at the point.
This is the Goldfinch of Englljh authors. 10. The
Fringilla with a red face and tail, the belly undulated
with white and black, and the back green. It is the
Green Goldfinch of Edivards^ and is a Chi7iefe bird. II.
The Fringilla with purple tail feathers, with the hin-
der halves black. \t\^ Xkvt Amadiiuad o^ Albin, and
an inhabitant of the Eaji Indies. The cock is all
over purple ; but the hen is afh-coloured, ex-
cept the bill and tail. 12. The Green Fringilla with
a red head, a yellow collar, and a blue breaft. It
is the Redheaded Green Finch oi Ed-ivards. 13. The
Fringilla all over red, is the Red Flycatcher of Catejby,
and is a bird oi America. i/j.. The Telloi.v' Fringilla ,
with a black forehead and brown wings, is the Ame-.
rican Goldfinch of Catejby. 15. The Fringilla with a
black head, a tawney breaft, and a white ftreak on
the wings and abo/e and below the eyes, is the Ba-
hama Finch of Catejly. 16. The Fringilla with a.
wedge-like tail, a reddifti body, a red bill, and the
temples, rump and belly of a violet colour, is the
Red and Blue Brajilian Finch of Ednjjards. 1 7. The
Green Fringilla^ with the fupercilia, breaft and belly
yellov/, but the prime feathers of the wings are white
on the outer t^^^. It is the Indian Green Finch of
Edwards, and is found in Madera. 18. The Frin-
gilla v.ith a whitifti body and bill, and the prime fea-
thers of the wings and tail grecnilh. This is the
Canary Bird of Englijh authors, and is found in the
Canary Ifiands. 19. The Fringilla with the prime .
feathers of the wings yellow in the middle, and the
fore firft chief tail feathers without fpots ; but they ^

are'

O F B I R D S. 455

are yellow at the bafe, and black at the points. It
is the SlJLin of Englijh authors, and haunts places
where juniper bufties grow. 20. 1 he Brotun Frin>-
gilla, with a flajne-coloured crefl, is the Bronvn Lin--
net of Klein, 2 1 . The Brcnvn Fringilla, with a yeU
lowifh bill, is an European bird, as are alfo the two
former. 22. The Fringilla, with the prime feathers
of the v/ings, and the chief feathers of the tail black,
but white on the edges. It is the Greater Red-headed
Linnet of Ray, and is a bird of Europe. 24. The
Fringilla, with a brown back, and a blue belly and
tail, is the Blue-bellied Finch of Ed-Tvards, and is
found in Africa. 27. The Violet -coloured Fringilla,
with the forehead and under part of the body of a
deep yellow colour ; the back, neck, prime feathers
of the wings, and upper part of the tail are of a blue-
iih black colour j but the forehead, breaft, belly, and
under part of the neck are of a deep yellow. The
bill is exceeding Ihort, triangular, black and crooked
at the point. 26. The Fringilla with the chief fea-
thers of the tail brown, and the two outermoil mark^
ed with a wedge-like fpot ; the body is variegated
with grey and black, and the head is black. It is
the Reed Sp^rronx) of E^iglijh authors, and is a bird of
Europe. 27. The Fringilla with the prime feathers of
the wings and tail brown, the body variegated with
grey and black, and a fmgle white ftreak on the
wings. This is the Houfe Sparroiv of jE"?/^///^ authors,
and is an European bird. 28. The Fringilla with the
prime feathers of the wings and tail brown, the body
variegated with grey and black, and a double white
llreak on the wings. This is the Mouitain Sparronjn
of Ra^, and is a bird of Europe. 29. The Ferrugi^
nous Fringilla, with a black head and a blue bill, is
the Chinefe Sparro^v of Ednvards. 30. The Black
Fringilla, with a white belly, is the American Snoio
Sparrow of Catejby.

iX. rhe MOTACILLA has a fuhulated Jlrait bill,
avith the mandibles nearly equal ; the nojlrils are almoji.
QvaJ, and the tongue is divided at the etid.

The

436 THE NATURAL HISTORY

I. Theafh-colouredreddifhMoTACiLLA. with the
rings of the knees of an afti-colour. It is the Nigh-
lingale of Euglijh authors, and is well known for its
iinging by night very harmonioufly. 2. The Mota-
cilla of a brown greeniih colour above, but tawney
telow, and the line about the eyes black. It is the
American Nightingale of Edwards, and the chief fea-
thers of the tail are yellow at the points. 3. The Mo~
tacilla that is of a brownifli grew above, and has the
covert feathers of the wings white at the joints, with
a blueifh aih-coloured breaft. It is the Hedge Sparron.v
with the Song of a Nightijigale of Frifch^ and is a
bird of Europe. 4. The Broi^vn Brick-coloured Mota-
cilla of a pale brick colour underneath, and the head
f]:otted, is an European bird. 5. The Grey Motacilla,
with an aih-coloured head and a white belly, is the
American Hedge Sparrcivoi E^'vjards. 6. The Moiacilla
brown above, whit€ below, and the chief tail fea-
thers brown, but the thinner outer edge is white. It
is the Hedge Sparronv of Englijh authors, and an inha-
bitant of ^i^/-^^/^. 7. T\\t Greenijh JJh-coloured Mota-
cilia yellowifh underneath, with a whitiih belly and
brown limbs, is the Petty -chaps of Bay, and a native
of Europe. 8. The AJh-coloured Motacilla white be-
neath, and with white fupercilia, is the Salicaria of
Ge/nery and inhabits Europe. 9. The Motacil'a afh-
colourcd above, white below, and which has the firft
tail feather longitudinally half v/hite, and the point
of the fecond white. It is a bird of Europe. 10.
The Motacilla grey above, afh-coloured beluw, and
the ends of the prime feathers of the wings obfolete.
It is a fort of a Night. ngale of Klein ^ and a bird of Eu-
Europe. 1 1 . The Brcn.vn^JJj Motacilla white below,
and the breaft fpotted with afh-co!our. It is the
Hemp Fieedida of Ray^ and is a bird of Europe. 12.
The Mcta.Jla with a bhck breaft, and two of the
tail feathers obliquely white half way on the fides.
It is the Wat.r Wagtail of Englijl} authors, and a
native of Eurcpe. 13. The Motacilla^ a yellow
breaft and belly, and two of the lateral tail fea-
thers obliquely white half way. It is the Telloio
}Vuter M agtail of Hay^ and is a bird of Europe,
■ 14. The

OF BIRDS. 457-

rope. 14. The Green Motacilla yellowilli underneath,
with black wings and two white ftrcaks, is the Green
hidian Fly-catcher of Edwards. 15, The Black Mota-
cilla with a tawney fpot on the brenfl, and on the bafe
of the prime feathers of the wings, and the chief tail
feathers. It is the Small American Red-Jl art of Edn.vards.

16. The Ferruginous Motacilla with a brown fpace
about the eyes, and brovvn wings and tail; the outer-
moil tail feathers are white on the fides. It is ihcRuJ/et'
coloured I'Vhcat- ear cf Edivards, and is a bird of Spain,

17. The 7l/o//7r/7/^ with a hoary back, a white forehead,
and the frreak round the eyes black. This is the Wheat-
ear of Englijh authors . 18. The Blackijh Motacilla with
white fupercilia, and a white Ipot upon the wings, as
alfo a yellowifn throat and breaft. This is the Stone
Chatter of Ray, and is ?.x\ European bird. 1 9, The ^rzV^-
colcured Motacilla afh-coloured underneath, and a dark
cap, is \X\t Black- cap of Efiglijh authors, and is a bird of
Europe. 20. The Grey Motacilla white underneath,
with red temples and rump. It is the hidian Red-Jiart.
of Edivards. 21. T\iZ Black'-thrcatcdMotacilla.\y'\\\\ a.
reddifh belly, and a hoary head and back. This is the
Red-Jiart of Englijh authors, and is common in Europe.

22. The Motacilla with the back and prime feathers of
the wings of an afh- colour; but the belly and. prime
feathers cf the tail are reddilh, except the two outer-
iTjOft, which are of an afh colour. It is an F^r.ropean bird.

23. 7 he Motacilla with the prim.e feather-s of the winp-s:
blackilTi, thofe of the tail red, only the midu'e pair
2re black and reddifh on the edges. 24. The Motacilla
with the breail of a ferruginous colour, marked with.
a blue flreak, and the prime feathers of the wing.s are
duiky, except towards the bafe, where they are ferru-
ginous. This is the Wegfl?cklin of Ray, and other au-
thors, and is a bird of Europe^ living amving the Alps.
25. The Motacilla that is blue on the uprer part, and
entirely rc^ underneath. It is the Rcbin Rcd-hreafi of
Catejhy wW a blue back, and is an inhabitan: of Ber-
muda, and the lower parts of Amertca. 26. The Bli-e
Motacilla, with the belly awi"*back parts reddifii, is the
Red'heUi£.dJ}U^ Bird of Edwards j i.nd is a bird q\ Su-

X rinam.

458 THE NATURAL HISTORY

rinam. 27. The Green Motacilla, with the prime fea-
thers of the wings blackiih,4s theGr^^« Black-cap Fly-
catcher of Eci^vards^ and is an inhabitant of Surinam.
The fame author takes notice of another Green Fly-
fatcher with a blue head. 28. The Grey Motacilla, with
the throat and breaft reddifh, is the Englijh Robin Red-
breafi, and is met with in moft parts o{ Europe. 29. The
Grey Motacilla with wings undulated with black fand
afh- colour. It is the ^-^r^w of £»^///^ authors, and is an
inhabitant of Europe. 30. The Motacilla with the fe-
condary feathers of the wings yellow on the outward
edges, but white in the middle. This is the Golden-
Cronvn crefted Wren of Ray^ and feveral other authors,
and is a bird of Europe, 31. The Greenijh AJh-co-
loured Motacilla, with the prime feathers of the wings
yellowifh underneath, and yellow fupercilia, is the
Wren ivithcut a Crejfy or Green Wren of Ray. It
is an European bird, 32. The Motacilla of a greenifh
afii- colour ahove, and the prime feathers of the
wings tawney ; only the 7th, 8th, and 9th are
white at the points. It is a bird of Europe. 33'. The
Motacilla with a ferrugiiiOus head, and a black fpot
about the eyes ; the prime feathers of the wings and
tail are tawney, and the edges of both are ferrugi-
nous. It is the Leaji Butcher Birdoi Edivards, and is
met with in Poland, Hungary, and Italy. 34. TheGr^
Motacilla, with a black head fpeckled with white, is
of the fize of a Wren, and the back and wings are grey
on the upper part ; the breaft is yellowifh, ftreaked
with black tranverfe lines ; the t?il is tawney, but
pale on the fides. The cock has flefh^coloured lines
on the fore part of the head, but behind fpotted with
white.

JX. The PAR US has a bill without marks or furroxvs ;
but th.'. tongue is truncated, and terminates in brifiles.
1. The Par us with a crelled head, is the crafted
Tit-mou/e of Englijh authors,, and is an inhabitant of
Europe. 2. The t^arus with a black head, white tem-
ples, and the nape of the neck yellow, is the Great
Titmoiife of Ray, and other authors, and is an Euro-
pean bird. 3. 'V'^e Blueip Parus, with the temples,
breaft, and back yellowilh ; but the fides are of a pur-

plirh

O F B I R D S. 459

plifh colour. It is the Great Titmoufe or Ox-eye of Ca-
tejby, and is found in North America. 4. The Parus
with the prime feathers of the wings blueiih, only they
are whitifh on the edges, and the forehead is white
with a blue crown . It is the Blue Titmou/e of Willough-
by, and is a bird of Europe. 5 . The Parus with a black
head, and a{h-coloured back, and the hinder part of
the head and bread white. This is the Coahnoufe of
Ray, and is a bird of Europe. 6. The Black-headed
Parus, with white temples and an a{h-coloured back,
is the MarJhTitmoufe or Black- capoi Ray , and is a bird
of Europe. 7. The Parus with the top of the head
white, and a long body and tail. This is the Long-
tailed Tittnou/e of Ray, and is a bird of Europe. 8. The
Titmou/e with the hoary head, and a long body and
tail, is the Leajl Butcher Bird of Edwards, and is an
European bird. 9. The Black Parus, with the head
white on the top, is an Eajl Indian bird, of the iize
of a Water Wagtail, and the body is entirely black,
but the head is white, and the hairs at the mouth are
Wronger than in birds of the fame kind. 10. The
Black Parus, with reddilh thighs and head, is the
Black Titmou/e with the red head of Ed<ivards, and is
found in South America. 1 1 . The Black Parus with a
red head and breaft, and the prime feathers of the
wings marked on the fore-part with a white fpot. It
is the Black and Red Titmou/e of Ed-wards, and is a
bird o{ America. 12. The Black Parus with a white
bill, and a yellow fpot on the wings and bafe of the
tail. It is a Weft Indian bird.

XL The HIRUNDO has a /mall crooked /ululated bill
dcpre/fcd at the ha/e, and the mouth opens nvide.
I. The HiRUNDO with the prime feathers of the
tail, except two in the middle, mark'd with two white
fpots. Tiiis is the Do ;n eft icSavalloau, which builds
itj neft in chimney tops. It hides itfelf in the water
in the autumn, and appears again in the fpring. 2.
The Hirundo, with all the prime feathers of the tail
marked with a white fpot, is the Chine/c Savalhiv of
Bontius, whofe nefts are accounted a delicate morfel.
3. The Hirundoy with the rime feathers of the tail

unfjpottedj

460 THE NATURAL HISTORY, eifr.
unfpotted, and a blackidi blue back. It is the Mar-
fin or Martlet of the Englijh authors, and makes its
reft under the eaves of houfes, and is a bird of Eu-
rcpe. 4. The Ajh-cohured Hirundo^ with a throat and
belly white, is \\it Sand Martin of Eng/iJ^ authors,
and is met with on the Tandy hills of Europe. 5. The
Blackijh Hiriindo with a white throat, and all the four
toes ftanding forward, is the Black Martin or Sixift
of the Englijh authors, and inhabits the higher parts
of Europe. When it lights on the ground it cannot
rife up again ; and it may be taken with a hook bait-
ed with a grafhopper. 6. The Blackijh Blue Hirundo
with the mouth underneath of a whitiOi afh-colour,
is the Blue Canada S-ivallo%v of Edivards, which is
brought from Hud/en's Bay. 7. The Hirundo, with
the prime feathers of the tail all of a length, but
Tubulated and naked at the ends, is the American
Sivallo^Vi with the fliarp tail of Catejhy, 8. The
Bro-ixin Hirundo with the throat and belly white. It
is the Great eft Martin or Snjoift of Ea-wards, and was
taken in the Streights of Gibraltar.

XII. The C A? KlUVLGVS, has a /mall crooked
fuhulated billy deprejjed at the bafe, and the hairs at
the vK^uthy ivhich it opens 'very imde^ are placed in a
ronw,

1. The Caprimulgus, with the tubes of thenof-
trils hardly vifible, is \.\\g Fern- o^l oi Englijh ^w\)\ox%.
Catejhy and Ednvards take notice of another bird of
this fort, that has a white fpot on the wings and
prime feathers of the tail. It lives upon moths and
nodurnal infe*^?, and makes a round neft of clay
among the rocks. It is a bird of America as well as
Europe. 2. The Caprimulgus, with the tubes of the
noHrils very evident, is the Small fFood Oivl of Sloan,
2nd inhabits the hotter parts of America,

J, N D E X.

INDEX.

ABERDEVINE, 274.
Alauda, with a brown
tail, 445
Alauda, with brown wings,

445
Alcedo, long-tailed, 417
Albatrols, 336, 425
Alcedo, fhort-tailed, 416
Alderman of Martin, 351
Alcatrace, 356
Amaduvad, 279
Amzelj 199
Anhima, 291
Anhinga, 346
Ani of Ray,. 76, 410
Arararauna, a fort of Mac-

caaw, 64
Artick Bird, ^»imr^«, 350,

428
Article Diver, 349, 426
Ardea, with afmall creft, 432
Ardea, with a finooth head

and white body, 43a
Avofetta, 336, 436

B.

Bahama-Finch, 281, 454
Baid-Pate, 185, 443
Bakimore-Bird, 272
Baltimore-Bird, Baftard, 273
Banana-Bird, 285, 286
Baftard-Bills, 180
Bee-eater, 130, 417

Bernacle Goofe, 370
Bee-eater of Bf«^rt//, 129
Bee-eater, Indian, 417
Bee-eater, Birds a-kin thereto,

132
Bergander, 374
Bill-cock, orBrook-Ouzle,3 30
Bill-Bird, 114
Bittern, Brown, 305
Bittern, common, 302, 43s
B'mQVR, North American J 304j^

432
Bittern, Brafiliatiy 304
Bittern, fmall, 307, 43a
Birds of Paradife, 34
Blue-bellied Finch, 280
Blackbird, 147
Blackbird, Chinefe, 413
Black-cap, 222,241, 3565457
Black-and-white Bird of ^a*

maica, 234
Black Cock, 148
Black Game, 148
Bohemian Chatterer, 100
Black-capped Manaken, 242
Booby, 363, 426
Bottle-Nofe, 341
Brambling, 264
Brambling, Mountain, 264,

453

Brafilian Ducks, 391,392,393

Brafilian and Mexican Spar-
rows, 265, 266, 267, 268

Brafilian Moor-Hens or Wa-
ter-Hens, 332

Brafilian Pye, 114

[a] Brafiilaa

il I N D

Brafiiian Finch, red and blue,

Brent Goofe, 370, 4.21
Brook Ouzle, 350, 437
Bulfinch, 255, 448
BulHnch, Ajiurican^ 257, 440
BulHnchjiVi;;-/^' AmericaUyZ 57,

448
Bitlrinch, black, 451
Bulfinch, little brown, 451
Biilfinch, greater, 452
BKie Bird, red-bellied.
Bunting, 281, 451
Burrough Duck, 374
Burgomafter o^ Greenland, 352
Bultard, 170, 438
Buib'j-d, Indian, 173
Buftani, little, 174
Bullard, Arabian, 138
Butcher Bird, alh-coloured, 31
Butcher Bird, great, 30
"Butcher Bird, black - and -

white, 31
Butcher Bird, fmall, 31,405
Kulcher Bird, Luiian, with a

F::lcon's tail, 405
Butcher Bird, red-backed, 30,

410
Buzzard, common, 24
j:Iiizzaid, bald, 25, 403
Buzzaid, moor, 26, 403
Buzzard, hon^y, 25, 403
Buzzaid, 'Tiirkej, 25

C.

Calao, 410. Caraforo, 159
L':ilaftl, a ibrtof Lark, 212
Canary -Bird, 274, 454
Cappers, 179
Cape-Crane, 293
Coirion-Crow, 86, Ccpphu?,

358
Caryocatactes, 98, 411
CalTowaiy, 83, 4w8
("it-Bird, 215

E X.

Chafiinch, 263, 453

Chaffinch, black, 449

Chaiiinch, greater, 453

Charadrius, with black wings,
436

Charadrius, with a black ftreak
on the breaft, 435

Charadrius, brown, 435

Chatterer of Carolina,^ k,, 405

Chatterer, Bohemian, 1 00, 40 5

Chevalier, 316

Chum-Owl, 52

Chough, Cornifn, 90,418

Cirl, 283

Cirl, foolifli, 284

Cock, common, 134

Cocks and Hens, the feveral
forts, 136

Cock, mountain, 148

Cock of the wood, 148

Cock, heath, 148, 441

Cock, Bantavi, 142

Cock, Brafdian, 144

Cock, Hambtirgk, 143

Cock, horned, 143

Cock, Indian, 142

Cockatoo, greater, 65, 407

Cockatoo, lefler, 66

Coddy - moddy, or winter-
mew, 359

Cold-Finch, 231

CoUira, 339

Columha, African, 774

Columba, a{h-coloured, 443

Cole-Moufe, 222

Coot, bald, 334

Coot, common, 384, 436

Coot, lea, 334

Coot, Mexican, 335

Coot, weazle, 424

Coot of Hudfon"s-Baj!, 335

Coo t of Smji na, 355

Coimorant, 345, 426

Corn-Bird, 144

Cornifli-Chough, 90, 418

C jrvus, with a blue neck and
tail, 411 Coulter-

I N D

Coulter-neb, 541
Cozcaoauglitli, a ibrt of eagle,
II

Crackmg-Bird, 438
Ciab-heron, 305, 306
Crane, brown, 430
Crane, common, 287, 4.31
Crane, African^ crowned, or

Baleanck, 289, 4.30
Crane, Indian ^ 289, 431
Crane, red-legged and afh-

coloured, 289, 430
Crane, Numidian, 430
Crane, hooping, 292, 431
Crane, balearick, 289, 430
Crane, negro, 290
Cranes, Brq/ilian, 290
Creeper, red-and --whiK' Indian ,

418
Creeper, common, 122, 418
Creeper, Harnburgk, 122
Creeper, little brown, 418
Cieeper, black - and - yellow,

122, 418
Creeper, blue, 418
Cropper, 178
Crols-biU, 258, 448
Crow, carrion, 86, 411
Crow, Rcyjlony 89,411
Crow, lea, 89, 356
Crow, Madrafsy 92
Cuckow, great ipotted, 414
Cuckow, Indian black, 414
Cuckow, Engli/hy 40, 413
Cuckow, Andalu/ia/ty 40
Cuckow, Indian, 40, 414
Cuckow oi Carolina, 41, 414
Curlew, Hone, 310, 436
Curlew, lell'er, 309
Curlew, little, 310
Curlew, Indian, 432
Curlew, common, 309, 433
Cmwillet, 323
Cut- water of Crt^<?/J ■, 360

E X.

D.

Dacker-hen, 170, 437
Demoifelle, 291,430
Didapper, or Dobclrick, 347,

427
Divers, or Duckers, 347
Diver, afli-coloared, 347
Diver, greatelt - tailed, 348,

427
Diver of Ne'vjfcundland, 349
Diver, black-and-white, 349,

425
Diver, greater, 349
Diver, greateJt, 351
Diver, dun, 365
Diver, brown - crelled, 365,

429
Diver, crefted, of Catefby, 424
Diver, greater crelted, 42 7
Diomede, 363
Dob-chick, 347, 427
Dolj-chick, leller, 427
Dob-chick, horned, 348, 4,27
Dodo, 89, 439
Dotterel, 326, 435
Dotterel, fea, 327
Y)o\t oi China, 187, 444
Dove, brown Indian, 44 j
Dove, Indian, 181, 443
Dove, ear, 145
Dove, Carolina, 185
Dove, Greenland, i%6, 342,

425
Dove of Madrafs, 1 8 1 , 443
Dove, rtock, 183, 185, 442
Dove, turtle, 444
Dove, purpje-ijreafted, 444
Dove, Portugal, 187
Dov^ oi Jamaica, 184
Dove, white-bellied, 1 84
Dove, green-winged, 444
Dove, white-headed, i g^, 443
Duck, tame, 389

Duck,

[a2]

IV I N D

Duck, wild, common, 382,

423
Duck, Barha/y, 38)r
Duck, black, 375, 422
Duck, bunough, 374.
Duck, black-ciefted, 388
Duck, fly-catching, 384.
Duck, cuthbert, 375, 421
Duck, black lelTer, 376, 421
Duck, red-headed, 375, 422
Duck, hook-billed, 389, 425
Duck, golden-eyed, 377, 422
Duck, grey-headed, 379, 420
Duck, Mufco'vian, 390, 424
Duck, French field, 175
Duck, field, 174, 438
Duck of MaJagafcart 388
Duck, icaup, 376
Duck, tufted, 376, 424
Duck, whiftling, 348, 422
Duck, wild, the greater, 378,

422
Duck, wild, brown, 378
Duck, brown-and- white, 377
Duck, broad-billed, 380, 422
Duck, white bellied, 38a
Duck, whiltling, red-billed,

381, 423
D\ick, Guinea^ 387
Duck, kfler wild, 387, 422
Duck, long-legged, 388
Duck, wild Brafilianj 391
Duck oi Baha?nay 392, 421
Duck, tree, 393
Duck, fumnier, 392, 423
Duck, American. 393
Duck, black-and-white, 421
Duck, long- tailed, 422
Duck, dufky fpotted, 42 3
Duckjlittle, brown-and- white,

423
Dung-hunter, 351
Dunlin, 323
Ducker, 347
Ducker or Dobchick, 347
Ducker, ai]i-coloured> 347

E X.

Eagle, black, 7, 401
Eagle, golden, i, 6
Eagle, JEgyptian^ 11
Eagle, white-tailed, 9
Eagle, vulturine, 12, 400
Eagle, fea, 25
Eagle, white-tailed, of Hud'

fons Bayy 8,
Eagle, fpotted, 9
Eagle, crefted, of Bra/ily 9,

400
Eagle, white-tailed, of Brafily

10, 401
Eagle, bald, 11, 12, 400
Eagle, ring-necked, 401
Eagle, crowned, 7
Eagle, golden ring- tailed, 401
Ear- Dove, 185
Emberiza, gi'ey, 452
Emberiza, with a grey back,

4-55.
Emberiza, black fliining, 85a
Emberiza, grey-footed, 45a
Emew, 83, 438
Elk, 367
Eiinerillon, 32

Falcon, crefted, 2a
Falcon, gyr, 20
Falcon, yellow-legged, 40a
Falcon, laughing, 40a
Falcon, haggard, 21
Falcon, Barbary, 21
Falcon, peregrine, 19
Falcon, facre, 19
Falcon, red, 22
Falcon, mountain, 20
Falcon, red Indian^ 24
Falcon, ftone, 21
Falcon, tiee, ai
Falcon, white, zi

Fallow-

I N D

Fallow-fmlch, 130, 457
Fieldfare or Fddefare, 190,

44.6
Feldefare, pyed, 191
Finch, haw, 252, 448
Finch, mountain, 264, 452
Finch, pyed, 264
Finch, green, 254, 450
Finch, gold, 268, 424
Finch, blue-beliied, 454
Finch, painted, 453
Finch, long-taiied, 453
Finch, Brafilian, blue-and-

red, 454
Finch, green Indian, 454
Finnekins, 180
Filher, 32

Y'lihav oi Seriegal, 129
Flycatcher, crefted, 235, 447
Flycatcher, black cap, 235
Flycatcher, 231
Flycatcher, blue, 232
Flycatcher, olive, 232
Flycatcher, yellow - rumped,

232
Flycatcher, yellow fpotted,

233
Flycatcher, red, 454
Flycatcher, red- crowned, 405
Flycatcher, green
Flycatcher, gi'een Indian ^ 457
Flycatcher, yellow-tailed, 233
Flamingo, 337, 429
Flamingo, Africariy 338
Flamingo of the Cape de Verd

iflands, 338
Francolin, Eafi -Indian^ 150
Francolin of the Italians, 149,

442
Frigate, 124
Fringilla, brown, 453
Fringilla with a black tail,

453
Fringilla, brown, with a yel-
low bill, 453

EX. V

Fringilla, brovn, with a red-

iHi headandfhor.IderS}453
Ficedula, hemp, 456
Fringilla, violet-coloured, 45 5

G.

Gadwall or grey, 383, 422,
Gambia Gro(beak, 253
Gambetta, 320, 434
Gannet, 357, 358
Gargaly, 387

Gaulding, black and blue, 306
GaragT.ia, 11
Gid, 313
Giarola, 215
Gieed, 26

Goatfucker, Amsy'ican, 52
Goatiucker, or Fern Osv], 5 a
Goatfucker, BrafUian, 53
Goatfucker of J«/«/2ic^, 53
Godwit, 314

Godwit,^wf nV^« greater, 314
Qolden-eyed Duck, 377
Goldfinch, 268
QoldHnchjAmericanfi ^^.f 454
Goldfinch, green, 254, 454
Gonambucho, 21a
Goofander, 364
Goofe, Canada, 372, 421
Goofe, Heljingicy 422
Goofe, Mountain, 37a
Goofe of Gamhoa, 272
Goofe, fpur- winged, 37Z
Goofe, brent, 370, 421
Goofe, road, 370
Goofe, rat, 370
Goofe, Soland, 344, 426
Goofe, black, 371
Goofe, tame, 368
Goofe, marfh, 371
Goofe, wild, 369, 421
Goofe, blue- winged, 373,441
Goofe, Mufconjy, 373, 420
Goofe, laugliing, 373, 421
Gorgock,
£a 3]

vi I N D

Gorcock, orGor-fowl, 149

Goihawk, 27, 4.03

Gracuia, 41 z

Greyfijich of the Eaji -Indies-,

250
Greenfinch, 254.
Greetiland Dove, 186, 31 z,

425
Gninadier, 195, 452
Grey-gull, great, 35a
(rrolbeack, 252
Grofbeak, red, 252
Grofbeak, purple, 253, 450
Groufe, or Black Game, or

Heathcock, 148
Groufe, or Ruffed Heath

Cock, 153
Groule, little pintailed, 152
Groufe, American^ 153
Grygry, 32
Guara, 311
Guaranna, 311
Guldenhead, 341
Guillem or Guillemot, 341,

325
Gull, black and white, 352,

428
Gull, brown, 353
Gull, heiTing, 354
Gull, grey, great, 353
Gull, inch, 353
Guil, white, 358, 428
Guiregueria, 53
Guinea-hen, 146, 440
Gyr- falcon, 20

H.

Hawfinch, 252, 448
Hawfinch of Cambogia, 451
Hawk, blue, 30
Hav^finch, red, 440
Ha^^ k, wood-pigeon, 402
Hawk, fork tailed, 401
Hawk, lark, 23
llawk, fingtailed, 28

E X.

Hawk, Gofsj 27
Hawk, Indian y 28
Hawk, ipairow, 29
Hawk, Indian orange-co-
coloured, 401
Hazle-hen, 149
Heatlicock, black and fpotted,

i55> 441
Heathcock, 148
Heathcock, ruffed, 153
Hedge-Sparrow, 241, 456
Hedge- Sparrow, Amei-ican,

242, 418
Helegug, 341
Helmets, 170

Hedge-SparroWjwith a Night-
ingale's Song, 456
Hen-Harrier, 26
Hen, water, 329
Hen, moor, 329
Hen, Indian y 146
Hen, water, American^ 330
Hen, Pintado, 146, 440
Hen, Peniuian, 440
Hen, Guinea, 146, 440
Hen, grey, 140
Hen, Bantam, 143
Hen, wild, 146
Hen, hazle, 441
Hen, fea, 341, 425
Herons, Brafdian, 303, 304
Heron, common, 198, 43a
Heron, red, 303
Heron, leffer white, 300
Heron, black, 305
Heron, bluifh black, 306
Heron, fm;dl, 301
Heron, little white, 300
Heron, blue, 306, 432
Heron, yellow and green, of

Marfedles, 301
Heron, white, 299, 432
Heron, red legged, 300
Heron, aOi-coloured, 299,43 1
Heron, North- Amei-ican, 301,

435

Heron,

INDEX.

Heron, yellow and afli-co-
lonred, of Mar/eilles, 301

Himantopus, 316, 436

Hick wall, iiz

Hiffing- Sparrow, 184

Hobby, 23

Hoinetli, lo

Hoopoe, 123, 402, 417

Hori'eman, 316

Horleman, red, 317

Hooper, 367

Hortolan, z8i, 452

Howlet, 50

Humming-Bird, creiled, 420

Humming-Bird, white-bel-
lied, 419

Humming-Bird, black, 419

Humming-Bird, red, 419

Humming-Bird, long tailed,
246, 418

Humming-Bird, green, 248,
417, 419

Humraing-Bird,afh coloured,
34-0 _

Humming-Bird, 245

Humming-Bird, white tailed,
240

Humming-Bird, larger, 245

Humming-Birdjblackcapped,
246, 419

Humming-Birds, great and
little, 247

Humming-Bird, of Seba,4i8

Humming-Bird, leaft, 243

I..

Jabini-guaca, 290, 430
Jackdaw, 89
Jackdaw, purple, 90
Jackdaw of Catejl>y, 410
Jack-Snipe, or Judcock, 313
Jabira oi Brnfil, 290
Jay, common, 94, 211
Jay of Bengal ^ 99
Jay, blue, 97

Jay, buff, 101

Jay of M^i./r^?/}, 102

Jay, yellow, ici

Jay, mottled, loi

Jay, green, loi

Jay, blue linall, 100

Jay, blue creiteJ, 411

Ibis, 296, 431

Ifterus, or/«i/;<27/I<5\erus,4ia

Judcock, 313

Junco, 328

Kata, 151

Keftrtl, 24, 462

Kiddaw, 341

Kill-deer, 326

Kings-iifter of Siirlnamy 131,

Kings-fifher, Brafil'ian^ 129
Kings-fidier of Cutejhy, 312
KingR-filher, common, 127,

416
Kinos-fifher,yY(jr/(6-^;/?mr»3:/?,

128
Kings-fiflier of Smyrjia, 131
Kings-fi flier, llttle,green--and-

orange, 130
Kings-:fillier of Bengal, 132,

410
Kings-filher, black-and-white

.i3i>4i7
Kings-fiftier, fwallow-tailed,

4-17
Kite, 26, 401
Kite, Brajilian, 27
Kernel, 387
Kutze-gelef, 355

Lanneret, or Lanner, 23
Lag, grey, 371
Lapwing, 324, 434
Lark, iky, 208, 444
Lark, lield, the lefs, 214
[ a 4 ] Lark,

tiu I N D

Lark, crefted, 413, 445

Lark, crefted, the lefs, 214

Lark, fea, 264, 328, 425

Lark, Hawk, 23

Lark, Tit, 213, 214, 445

Larks of Carolina, 215

Laik, Wood, 210, 445

Lark, white, 21a

Lark, black, 21a

Lark, yellow-throated, 44.5

Laik, Pipit, 214

Lark, great, of Catejhy, 445

Lams, 428

Li n n et of Angola, 2 j 8

Linnet, yellow-headed, 450

Linnet, comnaon, 278

Linnet, red-headed, 273, 455

Linnet, mountain, 274

Litome, 292

Loggerhead, 125, 126

Loon, greateft, 341

Loon oi Nenvfoundlandf 349

Lory, fcarlet, long-tailed, 59,

407
Lory, fcarlet, 58, 408
Lory,b]ack-capped,57, 58,408
Loxia, whitiih, 448
Loxir, brown, 450
Loxia, grey, 451
Lumme, 350, 427

M.

Maccaw, red-and-blue, 406
Maccaw, blue - and - yellow,

63, 426
Maccaw, BarbadoeSf 64
Maccaw, Brajilian, 64
IVIaccaw, great, 63
Madge-hovvlet, 50
Magpye, 92
Mallard, 381
Alalagnc, Brafilt 264
]Vlan of War-Bird, 124, 426
jNlanaken, biach-and-yellow,

E X.

Martin, American,
Martin, greateft,
Martin, or Martlet, 218
Mai-acana, BrafiUan Maccaw,

Martin, black, or Swift, 215

Manin, fand> 218

Maracanara, 65

Maifn Song-Thrufh, 448

Mavis, 192

Martin, purple, 220

Maumets, 180

Merlin, 234

Mexican Kings-fifhers, 133

Mexican Owls, 454

MexicanBirds,a-kin to Wood-
peckers, 126, 127

Minor, 226

Mire-drum, 141

Miflel-Bird, 190, 446

Mita, or Metu of Brajilf 14^

Mocking-Bird, 194, 447

Mexican Water-Fowl, with
cloven feet, 317, 318, 319

Mexican Ducks, 3 94, 3 9 5> 39^

Mew, winter, 359

Mew, greater, 357

Mew, lefler, 357

Mew, common, 354

I^Iocking-Bird, leffer, 447

Merops, red-and-yellow, 417

Mocking-Bird, French, 194

Mocking-Bird, Indian, 200

Mexican Finches, 250, 251-

Moor-hen, 148, 149

Moor-hen, fmall, 331

Moor-cock, 149
Moor-hen, Brajilian, 333

Moor-hen, water, fmall, 33a

Motacilla, with blackilh

wings,
Motacilla, greenifli afh- co-
loured,
Mortacilla, grey,
Mountain-Bird, 159
Mountain-Iiermit, 417

Motacilia^

I N D

MotacIUa, brick - coloured,

456
Motacilla, aih-coloured, 456
Moicovy-Duck, 390, 424
Mountain-Fmch, 264, 26$
Mullet, 341
JMutu, 440
Mvvgalchan y gralg, 199

N.

Nightingale, z 36, 456
Nightingale, American^ 194

Nightingale, Virginian^ 252,

44-7
Nightingale of ^ii?/-v, 456
Night Raven, 299, 431
Noddy, 363, 428
Nope or Bulfinch, 255
Nun, 222

Nun, white, 365, 424
Nutcracker, 98
Nuthatch, 96, 416
Nutgobber, 96, 416

O.

Olive or Sea Pye, 315, 436

Ofprey, 4

Ortolan, green-necked, 284

Oili-ich, 77, 438

Oftiich, American, 82, 284,

452
Oftrich, flying, 85
Otis, black, 438
Owzle, 197
Owzle, Brafdian, 200
Owzle, ring, 199, 447
Osvzle, rock, 199
Owzle, water, 200, 446
Owzle, Indian, 200
Owzle, role - coloured, 200,

4-4-7
Owl, ivy, 49, 404
©wl, biown or icreech, 49

E X.

IS

Owl, Mexican, 54

Owl, grey, 50

Owl, wood, 53

Owl, horn, 44, 403

Owl, Zurich , 45

Owl, chuich, 47

Owl, little, 50, 404

Owl, Brafilian, 51

Owl, fern, 52

Owl, chum, 52

Owl, barn, white, 47, 404

Owl, finall, of Catejhy, 5 1

Owl, Athenian, 44

Ow\ oi Carolina, 53

Owl, hom, black-winged, 54.

Owl, great brown, 404

Owl, Iceland, 44,

Owl, white, great, 404

Oxe-Eye, 221

Oxe-Eye of Catejby,

Paradife, Bird of, 34
Paradile, king of the birds of,

35
Paradife, Bird of, crefted,

417
Paradife, Bird of, common,

34
Paradife, Bird of, of Mar*

gra<ve, 34
Paradife, Bird of, golden, 34
Paradife, Bird of, of Seba, lo

foils, 36, 37, 38
Paradife, Bird of, pyed, 35,

411
Paradife, Bird of, golden, 34
Paradife, Bird of, greater, 413
Paiadife, Bird of, of Ceylon^

39
Parrokeet, Bengal, 407
Parrokeet of Angola, 407
Parrokeet, leaft, green- and-

blue, 73
Parrokeet, Brajilian, 76

Parroketj

X I N D

PaiTokeet, ring, 71
Parrckeet, golden-crowned, 7 3
PaiTokeet,brown-throat ed407
Parrokeet, gi-een, long- tailed,

70, 407
PajTokeet, red-winged, 74.
PaiTokeet, red-brealted, 69
Parrokeet, black, 4.06
Parrokeet, lowiy, 70, 407
Parrukeet, yellow-faced, 72
Parrokeet, red - and - blue -

heiideJ, 71, 407
Parrokeet, bjown-headeti, 7 1
Parrokeet, red-headed, 74
Parrokeet, whlte-breafted, 409
Parrokeet, red-and-green, very

Irnal], 409
Parrokeet, fhort-talled yellow-

ifn-green, 409
Pairot, grey, 57, 408
Parrot, white-breallcd, 62
Pa.Tot, grf:en, great, 406
Parrot, green, 56, 406
Parrot, green-and-biue-faced,

60
Parrot, white-crefted, 55
parrot, green Indian, 406
Parrot, icarlet, 57, 408
Parrot, Brafilian, 66, Sjy 68,

Parrot, afh-coJoured, 57
Parrot, red-and-green, 60
Parrot, parti-coloured-beaked,
■ 56
Parrot, green, diminutive, 61,

407
Parrot, black, of Madagafcar^

■'-^"' ' 4-07

Pamjft,'^green, with a black

bill, 56
Parrot, black-4iea4e45--5^, 4.08
Parrot, hawk-headed, 61, 409
Parrot, red - and - blue, 57,

408
Parror, duflcy, 62, 409
I'arrot, bluf, 57

E X.

Parrot, red - and - white, 59,

408
Pairot, green, of Carolinat

407
Parrot of Jamaica, 409
Panot, green, fhort - tailed,

409
Parrot, leffer green, 409
Partridge, common, 162
Partridge, white, 149, 164,

441
Partridge of Damafcus, 150,

442
Partridge of /7«;^/7V-i?/7)', 163
Partridge, American, 166, 44a
Partridge, Brajilian, 165
Paitiidge, hare-footed, 442
Partridge, mountain, 163, 443
Partridge, mountain, of Ja^

maica, 163
Piu-tridge, red, 165, 441
Partridge, Virginian, 442
Peacock, common, 140, 439
Pea- hen, 14:

Peacock-Pheafant, 160, 439
Pelican, 367, 426
Pelican, water, 343, 344
Pel -can of Mexico, 309
Pelican of Hudfon's-Bay, 307
Pelican, Cape of Good Hope,

307
Pelican, great, oi Brajil, 309
Pelican, American, 343, 426
Pelican, American, of Catejhy,

430
Peterel, black, great, 397,

Peterel, fpotted white - and -

black, 425
Peterel, 425
Peterel of C'«^<f/J)', 398
Pettichaps, 241, 256
Pewit, 324, 356
Penguin, 339, 340, 415
Penguin, black, greatell, 42 S
Penguin witli red feet, 427

Pheafant^

Pheafant, 156, 440
Pheal'ant, horned Indian, 1 58,

440
Phealant, ^wfnV«/z, 159
Pheafant, brown, 160
Pheafant, Brajilwji, 161, 440
Phealant, red, China, 1 59,

440
Pheafant, -white, of China,

160, 140
Pheafant, Weji-lndian,
Pheafant, lea, 385, 4za
Pigeon, common, 176
Pigeon, domeitick, 178
Pigeon, horfeman, 179
Pigeon, Chinefe, 187
Pigeon, carrier, 178
Pigeon, Portuguefe, 187
Pigeon, "Jacobine, 179
Pigeon, Mexican, 183, 184
Pigeon, Barbarj, 179
F'lgeon of Brajil, 179, i8z
Pigeon of the Cape of Good

Hope, 186
Pigeon, bald-pate, 185
Pigeon of St. Thomas, i8z
Pigeon, rock, 183
Pigeon, wood, 183, 185, 441
Pigeon, triangular ipottcd,

443
Platalea, or Spoon - bill, of

Surinam, 429
Pentado, 146, 440
Plover, baftard, 234, 434
Plover, great, 316, 433
Plovfr, fpotted, 325, 436
plover, green, 325, 436
Plover, chattering, 326
Plover, grey, 325, 435
Plover, Indian, 435
Plover, noify, 435
Pokkoe, 308
Pool-fnipe, 313, 433
Pope, 341
Puifin, 341, 325
Pouts, 141

INDEX.

Puifin, manks, 364

XI

Purple-Finch, 281

Pye, Bn-i/ilian, 114

Pye, JVeJi -Indian, 100

Pye, little Indian, 99

Pye, long-tailed, 100

Pye, chattering, 100

Pye, black-and-yellow, 97

Pye, Perfian, 98

Pye, with a hanging neft,

202, 412
Pye, fea, 315, 436

Quail, 166, 142
Quail, Indian, 168
Quail, Arabian, 168
Quail, Bengal, 169
Qviail, China, 169
Quail, king of, 16 3
Queeli, 1 8a

Rail, 170, 437
Rail, water, 330, 437
Rail, Italian, 303
Rail, water of Bengal, 333
Rail, afh-coloured, 4^7
Rain-Fowl, 103, 414
Rat or Road Goofe, 37»
Rathlher, 351
Raven, 86
Raven, Indian, 91
Raven, night, 299, 431
Raven, tufted, 91
Raven, wood, 191
Razor-Bill, 340, 424
Red Bird of Carolina, 225
Red-Bird, North - American,

226
Redgame, 149
Redpole, 273
Redpole, yellow, 242
Redwing, 191, 446

Redaiank,

xu

INDEX.

Redfliank, 320, 433
Redftart, common, 24.0
Redftart, Imall American y 457
Redftart of Bengal j 239
liedftarr, Indian,
Red-breafted Godwit, 314
Red-headed Eaji- Indian Bird,

Reed-Sparrow, greater, 121
Reed-Sparrow, common, 282,

.283» 455
Ring-Dove, 182, 44S
Rice-Bird, 449
Rhinoceros-Bird, 410
Ring-Oazle, 199, 447
Ring-Tail, 26
Rhincops with a black bill,

409
Robin-red-breaft, 238
Robin- red-breaft of Jamaica^

240
Robin-red-breaft with a blue

back,
Rock-Ouzle, 199, 4iz
Roller, 95, 412
Rook, 88, 411
Rot-KnuiTel, 322
Royfton Crow, 89, 411
Ruff, 321, 434
Runner, 331

S,

Sanderling, 323
Sand-Martin, 218
Sand-Piper, 322, 435
Savanna-Bird, 185
Scaup-Duck, 376
Scoter, 376
Scout, 341
Sea-Crow, 89
Sea-Dotterel, 327
Scolopax, with a ftait fmooth

Bill, 133
Sea-Lark, 328, 435
sea-Mall, 354

Sea-Pheafant, 3X5, 42^

Sea-Pye, 315, 436

Sea- Swallow, 361

Sea-Swallow, oi Catejby, 356

Sea-Swallow, the lefs, 361,
4:^8

Sea- Swallow, cloven - footed,
362

Sea-Swallow, black cloven-
footed, 362

Ser.-Turtle, 342

Sea-Petronia, 279

Serin, oi Gefner, 179

Shagg, 345

Shakers, 178

Sguacco, 300

Sheld-apple, 258

Sheldrake, 378, 380, 420

Sheldrake, Swallow - tailed,
380

Sheer- water, 364

Shomburger, 454

Shoveler, 377, 421

Shrite, 190

Silk-Tail, 251, 405

Siflcln, 3 74 J 455

Sky-Lark, 208, 244

Sitta, brown-headed, 416

Smich-fallow, 230

Smichftone, 231

Smiters, 179

Snipe, 312, 433

Snipe, Jack, 313

Snipe, pool, 313, 433

Snow-Bird, 207

Soland Goofe, 344, 426

Solitary Sparrow, 192, 199,

447
Sparrow, foolifh, 259
Sparrow, common, 258, 455
Sparrow, folitary, 192, 199,

447
Sparrow, black, a6i, 454
Sparrow, ring, 260
Sparrow, little, 260
Sparrow, African, 259

SpaiTOW,,

I N D

Sparrow, yellow-headed, a66
Sparrow, hedge, 24.2, 456
Sparrow of Paradife, 243
Sparrow, reed, 28a, 455
Sparrow, fnow, 261, 455
Sparrow, Lapland^ 261
Sparrow, Chmefe, 261, 455
Sparrow, wood, 263
S>^2.vi-o\v oi Baha?}ia, 261
SpaiTow, Indian y 260, 26a
Sparrow, cape, 259, 453
Sparrow, mountain, 263, 455
Sparrow, Guiney, 74
Sparrow, green, 24S?, 407
Sparrow, Mexican, 449
Spipoletta, a fort of lark, 215,

445

Sparrow-Hawk, 89, 403

Spoon-Bill, 307, 429

Spoon-Bill, Brafilian, 309,
429

Stare or Starling, 198, 446

Starling, yellow, of Bengal,
1^6, 446

Starling, Brnjilian and Mexi-
can, 203, 204, 205, 206

Starling, black - and - white,
207

Starling, red- winged, 202

Stint, 323

Stock-Dove, 183, 185, 44a

Stare, Indian, 201

Stone Chatter, 231

Stone Starling, 101

Stone-Curlew, 310, 321, 436

Stone-Plover, 314

Storm -Finch, 158

Stone-Smich, 231, 457

Stoporola, 236

Stork, black, 296, 431

Stork, Egyptian, 296, 434

Stork, white, 293, 430

Stork, American, 296

Strunkgager, 351

Subbuteo, 23

Swallow, great, 220

E X. xiii

Swallow, common, 216
Swallow, American, 219, 22*
Swallow, fea great, 428
Swallow, lefs, 361, 428
Swallow, Chinefe, 219
Sula, 345

Summer red Bird, 285
Swan, tame, 366, 420
Swan, wild, 367, 420
Swan, cowled, 368
Swan-Goofe, 371, 420
Swift, 219
Swine-Pipe, 191

Tarrock, 355, 428
Tawney Bird, 133
Teal, fummer, 386, 423
Teal, common, 385, 423
Teal, French, 386
Teal, Chinefe, 423
Teal of AldrO'Vandus, 42 3
Teal, Mexican, 396
Tern, brown, 360
Thru<h,brown/Wz<2«,i 9 5,449
Teal, Indian, 380
Thrufli, golden, 95, 412
Thrufti, golden-crowned, 193
Thrufh, fong, 188, 446
Thrufh, fong, greater, 190
Thrufh of G2^(?/Zd', 412,447
Thm(h o£ Belon, 192
Thrufh, red, 193, 447
Thrufh, little, 195
Throftle, 188, 446
Thrufh of Jamaica, 1 94
Titmoufe, Chaffinch, 224.
Titmoufe, yellow, 224
Titmoufe, Indian, 225
Titmoufe, golden - breafted,

229
Titmoufe, blue or nun, aix
Titmoufe, crefled, 225
Titmoufe, great, 221
Titmoufe, black, 222

Titmoufe,

INDEX.

Titmoulc, long-tailed, 123
Titmovih oi' Bahama, 223
Titmoule, bearded, 224.
Titmoxile, American , 223
Titmoule, wood, 225
Titmoule, mailh, 222
Titmoule, black, with a white

Bill,
Titmoufe, black, golden -

headed,
Titlark, 213, 214, 445
Tordino, 215
Tlacoquauhtli, a fort of Eagle,

10
Tlaguauthli,theM^A-/V«>^ Ea-
gle, 10
Toucan, 114
Toucan, red - beaked, 115,

410
Toucan, black-beaked, 410
Toucan, red-beaked with a

black point, 410
Toucan, or Brajilian Pye of

Edix'ardsy 410
Tropic k Bird, 340, 426
Tumblers, 179
Turner?, 179
Turkey, 144
Turkey, Buzzard, 25
Turkey, wild leller, 1 54
Turkey, wild, of Nen.v-Eng-

larJ, 145, 439
Turkey, crellcd, 145, 439
Turnftone, 327
Touraco, 414
l>inga of AUironjanduSy 4-54
IVing, with a fmooth bill,

4-S5
Tring, with a fmooth bill,

long feet and wings, 43 5
Tring, brick-coloured, 434
Tring, coot-footed, 397,443
Tring, red coot-footed, 396,

43 4- ^ .

Turnftone, American, 387,

434-

Trochilus, 339

Trochilus, ciooked - billed,

418
Trochilus with an equal tail,

419
Trochilus, crooked - billed,

with an equal tail, 419
Trochilus with an equal blue

tail, 419
Trochilus, black-tailed, 419
Turtie-Dove, 180, 444
Turtle with Ipotted wings,

185
Turtle, Barbadoes, 182
Turtle, Indian, 181, 444
1 lutle, leaft, 444
Turtle-Dove of Jamaica, 443
Twite, 273

V.

Vulture, 15

Vulture, alh-coloured, 15
Vulture, white, 15
Vulture, chefnut-coloured, 17
Vulture, black, 15
Vulture, boetic, 15, 17
Vulture, king of, 400
Vulture, Mexican, 400
Vulture, golden, 17
Vulture, hare, 16
Vulture, bearded, 16, 400
Vukurine Eagle, 12
Verzillino, 279

W.

Wall-creeper, 121

Wagel, 359

Water- wagtail, white, 227,

456
Water-wagtail, yellow, 128,

456
Water-wagtail, grey, 228
Water-wagtail of ''Ja?naica,

229

Water-wagtail,

I N D

Water- wagtail, yellow-breaft-

ed, 456
Water-Fowls, Mexican, with

cloven feet, 317, 318, 319
Water-Hen, oker - coloured,

331
Water-Hen, red, ^,^^
Water-Hen, ^w^rzV«/v, puq^le,

333> 4-37
Water-Raven, 311
Water-Owzle, 200
Water- Crake, 200
Water-Rail, 330, 437
Water- Hen, common, 329,

437
Water-Hen, fpur-wlnged,437
Weare- Angel, 30
Wheat -Ear or White -Tail,

230J 457
Water-Rail of P^A'p-^/, 333
"Water-Rail, Americany 437
Wheat-Ear, Atnencan, 448
Wax-Bill, 449
Whewer or Whim, 384
Whilk, 371
Whimbrel, 309, 433
AVhin-chat, 230
White -capped Mannnkin, 24*
White -Nun, 365, 424
Wheat-Ear, ruflet - coloured,

457
White-Throat, 231
Wigeon, 384, 422
Wigeon, of York/hire^ 384,

422
Whim, 384,
Whegfleclin, 240
Wild-Duck, 382
Wild-Swan, 367
\V ild-Duck, ruddy - headed,

378
Wild-Buck, brown, 378
Wild-Duck, grey-headed, 379
Whild-Duck, brown - and -

white, 379
Wild-Duck, broad-billed, 380

E X. XV

Wild-Turkey, 439, 449
Wild-Turkey, lelier, 159
Wild-Goole, 367
Wind-hover, 24
Witwall, 112
Woodchat, 31
Woodcock, 3 IT, 433
Wood-Lark, 210, 445
Woodcock, afli-coloured, 25
Woodfpite, leffer, fpotted, 112,

415
Wood-Owl, 53
Woodpecker, 102
Woodpecker, great, of Catejhy,

111,4^5
Woodpecker, great black, 1 1 1 ,

415
Woodpecker, green, 103, 415
Woodpecker, Indian, 113
Woodpecker, fpotted Indian,

ii3> 415
Woodpecker, great fpotted,

112, 415
Woodpecker, great black, I o 2,

415
Woodpecker, lelTer fpotted,

112, 415
Woodpecker, greater green,

no
Woodpecker, little black, 4I5
Woodpecker, with three toes,

lie, 415
Woodpecker, red - headed,

415
Woodpecker, red - bellied.

Woodpecker of Jamaica, 1 1 1
Woodpecker, fpotted, of Bra-

fll, 112

Woodpecker, hanging neft,

114
Woodpecker, North Amej'ican,

114
Worm-eater, 234
Wood-Thrufh, 141
Wren, 244

Wren,

xvi T I^ D E X.

Wren, WeJ} - Indian, ■24.5,
Wren, golden- crowned, 243,

Wren, niby -crowned, 143
Wren, green,
Wiynsck, 112, 414.

y arwhel per Yarwhip, 314,43 7
Yellow-Eird, fmall, 245
Yeliow-Bird of Bengal, 41s
Yello'.vhammer, iSi, 45a
Yeliowthroat, 234

^ "^1^ ^fa.