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THE
BIRDS OF EUROPE
BY
JOHN GOULD, F.LS., &.
IN FIVE VOLUMES.
Oat
RAPTORES.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY RICHARD AND JOHN E. TAYLOR, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, 20 BROAD STREET, GOLDEN SQUARE.
1837.
TO
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
THE EARL OF DERBY,
PRESIDENT,
AND
THE NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN
FORMING
THE COUNCIL OF
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
FAVOURED by your kind permission, tt ts with feelings of mingled
gratitude and pleasure, natural to one so long connected with the Socrety over which you
preside, that I dedicate to you ths Work on “Tue Birps oF Evroret, and I have the
honour to subscribe myself,
My Lords and Gentlemen,
Your most obedient and obliged Servant,
JOHN GOULD.
ioe
Hii
POR Ee ACC,
~
FT tias been frequently remarked that the productions of distant countries have received a much
larger share of attention than those objects by which we are more immediately surrounded ;
and it is certainly true, that while numerous and costly illustrations have made us acquainted
with the Ornithology of most other parts of the world, the Birds of Europe, in which we are,
or ought to be, most interested, have not received that degree of attention which they naturally
demand. The present work has been undertaken to supply this deficiency, and I cannot but
feel highly gratified that a number of concurring circumstances have enabled me to carry my
intentions into effect with comparative facility, and I hope to the entire satisfaction of the
whole of the Subscribers ; this I am induced to believe is the case from the patronage with
which the work has been honoured since its commencement.
My reasons for undertaking a work comprising the ornithology of ae whole of Europe are
sufficiently obvious: in the first place no publication of a similar kind had been completed,
although several had been commenced ; and secondly, a work exclusively confined to the British
Fauna would never be perfect for any length of time, owing to the frequent accession of other
species from various European localities; besides which I was desirous of rendering my work
interesting to the continental ornithologists as well as to those of our own country. I have used
my best exertions to render it as perfect as possible up to the present time, for which purpose I
have visited nearly all the continental collections with the view of examining personally every
bird before figuring it; but should additional species reward the zeal and ardour with which
natural history is now cultivated (which I doubt not will be the case), I propose to publish
them from time to time in the form of a Supplement, and by this means keep the work as
nearly complete as possible. I have omitted a few of the species enumerated in the lists of
wih
vi PREFACE.
continental authors, in consequence either of my never having met with specimens of the
birds ; or because I am doubtful as to the propriety of their being separated from other known
species™.
In my arrangement of the species I have followed with some very slight modifications the
views of Mr. Vigors, which are now so generally adopted in this country. In the subdivision
of the genera | have perhaps gone further than most other ornithologists, but at the same time
I feel convinced that these subdivisions are naturally indicated ; that they tend to facilitate the
studies of the naturalist; and that some of the groups might have been still further divided with
propriety. In a few instances the characters of some of the minor sub-genera have been inad-
vertently omitted; but this omission will not be found of any material consequence. ‘The
generic characters accompanying Totanus hypoleucus should be cancelled, as they have been
previously given with Totanus fuscus. Iam also aware that some other trifling errors have
occurred, but I trust they will be looked upon with leniency when it is taken into consideration
that the work has been commenced and completed in the short space of five years amidst
numerous other avocations.
It would argue a want of gratitude in me were I to omit acknowledging the facilities
which the Council of the Zoological Society have afforded me in this undertaking, and their
kindness in permitting me to dedicate the work to them. I also conceive that I am considerably
indebted for the success of my publication to the more general diffusion of a taste for natural
history, towards which that admirable Society has so largely and successfully contributed, and to
which in a great measure must be attributed the favourable reception which works of Natural
History now so universally meet with; and I am also deeply indebted to the Council for the
liberality with which I have at all times been allowed to avail myself of the treasures contained
in the Society's Museum. ‘To the national establishment, the British Museum, I am similarly
* Viz.—Corvus leucopheus, a variety of Corvus corax.
spermologus, a variety of Corvus monedula ?
Alauda Dupontii (Certhilauda bifasciata ?).
Kollyii.
Emberiza provincialis.
Fringilla incerta.
borealis.
Hemipodius lunatus, synonymous with Hem. tachydromus ; and
Larus capistratus.
PREFACE. Vil
indebted, and would here beg to express my thanks to its officers for the many attentions I
have received from them. From most of the public Museums of the Continent I have
received much assistance. To M.Temminck, Director of the Royal Museum at Leyden, so
well known for his valuable works on Natural History, I beg to offer my most grateful
acknowledgments for the assistance he has afforded me, without which my work would neces-
sarily have been long delayed, and in fact could never have been brought to that complete state
in which Jam happy to say it now’ stands: sogreat indeed has been the liberality of this
eminent /naturalist, that he has even confided new species to my care, and allowed me to Goa
and describe them in my work: before including them in his own; and_his liberality will, I
déubt not, be duly appreciated by the scientific public. ..In Professor Lichtenstein of Berlin
I have met with another kind and liberal friend, to whom Iam indebted: for the use of several
of the rarer European Birds, among which were some \of the original specimens. collected
by the celebrated Pallas. ‘To M. Schreibers‘and.-MM. Natterer of Vienna I am also under
great obligations, as well as to the gentlemen connected with the collections of Paris and
Frankfort, who readily afforded me every assistance I required. To the collection of the
Baron Feldegg of Frankfort I have had free access, and to this gentleman I am indebted for the
use of many rarities, and of some species entirely new to science. To William Yarrell, Esq.,
I shall ever feel deeply grateful, for the judicious and kind assistance which he has at all times
rendered me, and for the use of many valuable specimens from his excellent collection. My
ever lamented friend, E. T. Bennett, Esq., was at all times much interested in my publications ;
I am therefore proud to add my grateful testimony to his varied talents and kind and amiable
conduct upon every occasion; and of the numerous individuals honoured by his friendship
there is none who more sincerely deplores his untimely decease than myself. To the Earl of
Derby, the Honourable W. T. T. Fiennes, Sir William Jardine, Bart., N. A. Vigors, Esq., W.
H. Rudston Read, Esq., T. B. L. Baker, Esq., J. J. Audubon, Esq., Captain S. E. Cook, A.
Waterhouse, Esq., of Liverpool, Dr. De Jersey, E. H. Reynard, Esq., and to several other
gentlemen my thanks are likewise due, for the warm interest which they have at all times
taken in the present work. Neither must the valuable assistance afforded me by Mr. Martin
of the Zoological Society be forgotten. In conclusion I would beg leave to return my grateful
thanks to the whole of the Subscribers for the support with which they have been pleased to
favour me.
vill PREFACE.
Perhaps I may be allowed to add, that not only by far the greater number of the Platesof
this work, but all those of my “ Century of Birds,” of the “ Monograph of the Trogons,” and at
least three fourths of the “Monograph of the Toucans” have been drawn and lithographed by
Mrs. Gould, from sketches and designs by myself always taken from nature. The. remainder
of the drawings have. been made by Mr. Lear, whose abilities. as an artist are so generally
acknowledged that any comments of my own are unnecessary. — With the opportunities’ still in
my power I should consider myself to blame were I not to continue in. the course I have
hitherto pursued in the study and illustration of subjects in ornithology ; and it is my intention,
so long as permitted, steadily to use my humble efforts to advance this delightful branch. of
natural science. My thanks are due to Mr. Bayfield, under whose direction the: whole of the
Plates have been carefully and accurately coloured, and in fact too much praise cannot be
accorded to the unceasing attention with which he has at all times afforded his assistance. The:
plates have been printed by Mr. Hullmandel, and the letter-press by Mr. R. Taylor; and.these:
portions of the work have I trust been satisfactorily executed.
August 1, 1837.
JOHN GOULD.
- INTRODUCTION.
lr we examine the geographical situation of the British Islands in relation to continental Europe,
we cannot but perceive the advantages offered, as a point of observation to the naturalist, wherein
to study, among other interesting facts connected with the habits of the feathered race indigenous
in our portion of the globe, the periodical migrations undertaken by so many species, the time of
their arrival and retreat from our shores, together with the ends to be answered both by their
visit and departure. As regards temperature, no less than relative situation, are these islands
favourable for a series of such observations: we need scarcely say that, placed to the westward
of Europe, they occupy a medium station between the extremes of heat and cold: no portion
indeed of the European continent advances within the line of the intertropics; still, however,
the southern shores of Spain, Italy, and Turkey in Europe, together with the minor islands of
the Grecian Archipelago, participate so nearly in the temperature of the hotter portions of the
globe as to present us with many natural productions whose congenial habitat is exclusively
beneath a sultry sky. But the summer heat of England never rises above a moderate degree of
‘temperature, and the severities of winter are mild in proportion ; on the other hand, if we visit
the extreme north of the European continent, we there find a climate, the severities of which
in winter are extreme, while the summer, though hot while it lasts, endures but for a short
period.
We will not attempt to discuss the subject of the universal law of migration further than
to observe that its immediate intention is the well-being of such species as would be deprived of
their natural food were they to remain stationary in any given locality ; in addition to which it
is essential in another point of view, inasmuch as by its operation there is secured both a
x INTRODUCTION.
temperature congenial to the young, and an abundant supply of food suitable for their
nourishment; we here allude more particularly to our summer visitants which have left the
climate of Africa, too hot to be borne in summer, but well adapted for their winter retreat. A
reverse of these circumstances takes place among our winter visitors; the high polar latitudes
are their summer residence; but on the setting in of the cold in those regions the supply of
food necessarily fails them, and this, with the extreme rigour of the climate, forces them to
sojourn for a while in more temperate latitudes; hence while the Swallow, the Cuckoo, the
Nightingale, many species of soft-billed Warblers, and numerous others visit us in spring from
the south, for the purpose of nidification, and leave us on the approach of winter; the Fieldfare,
the Redwing, the Woodcock, and various aquatic birds find a winter asylum with us, and depart
again in spring to make room for a new succession of visitors. Independently, however, of the
numerous migratory birds which are only temporary residents, a large number of species per-
manently remain in our latitudes ; yet strange to say, of many of these the number is greatly
augmented, especially during winter, by accessions from the north, among which latter are
some of the smallest and most delicate of their race; we may mention the Golden-crested Wren
as an example in point. Instances are not wanting of the arrival of multitudes of this species
on our shores, but in such a state of exhaustion as to be almost powerless. In the case of the
Lark and the Thrush, which also visit us in great numbers, the performance of a flight across
the German Ocean does not much surprise us; but when we examine this little bird, which is
by no means adapted for long-sustained aerial progression, we are at a loss to conceive how such
a migration could have been performed. It is, however, only one amongst the many wonders
of nature which are continually forced upon the attention of the naturalist.
So much has already been written on the structural adaptation of birds to their respective
habits, and on their periodical changes of plumage, that we may be readily excused if we
omit any detail connected with these points, more especially as they rather belong to the
physiology of the feathered race, than to the natural history of the species of one quarter of the
globe.
While the strictly tropical climates of the world abound with species infinitely diversified
in form, and often adorned with the richest hues, the Birds of Europe are not only far
DSI
INTRODUCTION, xh
less specifically numerous, but with the exception of a very few, arrayed also in the most
sombre livery, an inferiority however amply compensated by their superiority of song.
| At the present time the Fauna of Europe may be fairly stated to contain four hundred and
sixty-two species, of which three hundred and ten may be regarded as British ; of the latter
number about one hundred and seventy are permanent residents in our islands ; eighty-five are
summer birds of passage, visiting us from the south ; and forty-five from the north make our
shores their winter residence.
In our arrangement we have classed and subdivided the groups (as nearly as may be) after
the plan proposed by Mr. Vigors. They form five volumes, the first of which comprises
the whole of the birds of the Raptorial Order, an order containing, as implied by the name,
the sanguinary and ferocious of the feathered race, among which are included not only the large
tyrants of the air, the Eagles, the Falcons, the Owls, &c., which make living animals their prey ;
but also the Vultures, which gorge upon any loathsome carrion that chance throws in their
way.
Our second and third volumes comprise the species contained in the second order, termed
Insessores, or perching birds ; an extensive order, in which are included birds varying in their
powers of flight and in their habits no less than in their food; some, like the Swallow, taking
their insect prey on the wing, others pursuing it among the branches of trees and_ thickets ;
others feed indifferently upon insects, their larvae, and upon grain; and others, eminently
arboreal, (such as the Woodpeckers) search for their food among the crevices of the bark of
trees, for which purpose they are expressly and beautifully organized.
To these succeed the Rasorial and Grallatorial Orders, both of which are included in our
fourth volume. The Pigeons, at the head of the Rasores, as their perching habits indicate,
naturally lead from the last order to the more typical of the Gallinacez, which are well repre-
sented by the Pheasant, Partridge, and Grouse, whose food and habits it is unnecessary to
describe ; and from thence to the Grallatores, represented by the Cranes, Herons, Storks, Sand-
pipers and Gallinules. The first of these, the Cranes, which are more granivorous in their habits,
xii INTRODUCTION.
may be regarded as exhibiting some degree of affinity to the previous order, while at the same
time they distinctly lead through a succession of forms, such as the Spoonbills, Storks, Herons
and Gallinules, to the true water birds, to which in their aquatic habits the Gallinules very
beautifully approximate.
Our fifth volume contains the birds of the Natatorial Order, or swimming birds, which are
represented by the Ducks, Grebes, Divers, Auks, Pelicans and Gulls; the aerial representative
of one of these latter groups, viz. the Tachypetes, or Frigate Bird, among the Pelicans, exhibits
several traits of resemblance to the Raptores, or birds of prey.
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Beresford, the Right Hon. Lord George, F.H.S., F° .2.9. Charles-
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Currer, Miss. Gargrave, Skipton, Yorkshire.
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Suffolk. ;
Malcolm, N., Esq., F.Z.S. Duntroon Castle ; Poltalloch House,
Argyllshire ; and Lamb Abbey, Kent.
Mann, J., Esq. Birmingham.
Martin, W., Esq., F.L.S., &c.
Massena, The Prince. Paris.
Maxwell, P. C., Esq. Hotham House, Market Weighton, Yorkshire.
Meteyard, H. W., Esq. Pump Court, Temple.
Mexborough, the Right Hon. the Earl of, F.Z.S. Dover-street ;
and Methley Park, Ferrybridge, Yorkshire.
Miland, Mr. Chapel-street, Belgrave-square.
Mills, J., Esq., F.Z.S. Clayberry Hail, Woodford Bridge, Essex.
Milton, the Right Hon. the Viscountess. Milton, Northamptonshire.
Moore, M.S., M.D., F.H.S., F.Z.S., M.R.I. Maddox-street, Ha-
nover-square.
Moore, W., Esq., F.Z.S. Grimes-hill, Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmore-
land. .
Morgan, O., Esq., F.H.S., M.R.L., F.Z.S. Pall-Mail.
Morland, W. A., Esq., F.H.S., F.Z.S. Court Lodge, Lamberhurst,
Sussex.
Mosley, O., Esq., F.Z.S. Cumberland-terrace, Regent’s-park ; and
Rolleston Hall, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
Noel, Colonel. Wellingore, Sleaford, Lincolnshire.
Ogle, the Rev. J. S., FE.H.S., F.Z.S. Kirkley, Northumberland.
Ord, J. P., Esq. Edge-hill, Derbyshire.
Orford, the Right Hon. the Earl of, M.A., &c.
Aylsham, Norfolk.
Ouseley, the Right Hon. Sir Gore, Bart., G.C.H., F.R.S., F.A.S.,
F.H.S., F.Z.S. Upper Grosvenor-street ;, and Woolmers, Hat-
field, Hertfordshire.
Oxley, C. C., Esq. Ripon, Yorkshire.
Palmer, S., M.D. Birmingham.
Parker, R. T., Esq., F.H.S., F.Z.S. Cuerdon Hall, Preston, Lan-
cashire.
Perkins, F. O., Esq., F.Z.S. Addison-road, Kensington, Middle-
sex; and Chipstead-place, Seven Oaks, Kent.
Perkins, H., Esq., F.L.S., F.H.S., F.G.S., F.Z.S. Springfield, Sur-
TCYe
Phelps, the Rev. H. D. Snodland Rectory, West Malling, Kent.
Phillipps, C. M., Esq., M.P., F.HLS., F.Z.S8. Piccadilly ; and Ga-
rendon-park, Leicestershire.
Pigott, J. H. S., Esq. F.A.S., F.Z.S. Brockley Hall, Somersetshire.
Plunkett, J., Esq., F.Z.S. St. Maurice, Beauvais, France.
Poulett, the Right Hon. the Dowager Countess. Piccadilly ; and
Poulett Lodge, Twickenham, Middlesex.
Hammersmith.
Wolterton-park,
Preston, Mrs. Moreby Hall, York.
Prickett, R., Esq., M.R.L., F.Z.S. Hlarley-street, Cavendish-square ;
Octon Lodge, Sledmere, Yorkshire; and Upton Cottage, Brouae
stairs, Kent.
Pye, H. A., Esq. Louth, Lincolnshire.
Radcliffe Library, The. Ozford.
Read, the Rev. T. F. Rudston, M.A. The Rectory, Full Sutton,
near York,
Read, W. H. Rudston, Esq., M.A., F.L.S., F.H.S., F.Z.S. Union
Club; and Hayton, near Pocklington, Yorkshire.
Reeves, J., Hsq., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.H.S., F.Z.S. Clapham, Surrey.
Reynard, E. H., Esq., F.Z.S. Sunderland-wick-, Driffield, Yorkshire.
Robarts, A. W., Esq., M.P. Hiil-strect, Berkeley-square ; and
Fitzroy Farm, Highgate.
Rolle, the Right Hon. Lady. Upper Grosvenor-street ; Stevenstone,
Torrington ; Bicton, Exeter; and Bovey, Axminster, Devon-
shire. i
Rous, the Hon. T. South-street, Park-lane.
Salvin, B. J., Esq. Burn Hall, Durham.
Sandbach, H. R., Esq. Woodlands, Aighurth, Liverpool.
Scarborough, the Right Hon. the Dowager Countess of. Port-
man-square. ‘fi
Sibthorp, the Rev. H. W., F.Z.S. Washingborough, Lincolnshire.
Skaife, J., Esq. Blackburn, Lancashire.
South, J. F., Esq., F.L.S., F.G.S., F.Z.8. Adelaide-terrace, Lon-
don-bridge.
Southampton, the Right Hon. Lord, ¥F.Z.S. Carlton-cardens ;
and Whittlebury, Northamptonshire. "
Spencer, the Right Hon. Karl, F.A.S., M.R.L, F.Z.S. Spencer
House, St. James’s-place ; Wiseton Hall, Bawtry, Yorkshire ;
and Althorpe, Northamptonshire.
Staniforth, the Rev. T. The Rectory, Bolton by Bolland, Clitheroe,
Lancashire.
Strickland, A., Esq. Bridlington Quay, Yorkshire.
Sturt, Captain C., 39th Regt., F.L.S., F.R.G.S.
Suffield, the Right Hon. the Dowager Lady.
and Blickling-park, Aylsham, Norfolk.
Sulivan, L., Esq., F.H.S., F.Z.S., Dep. Sec. at War. War Office ;
and Broom House, Fulham, Middlesex.
Sutherland, His Grace the Duke of, M.A., F.Z.S. Stafford House,
St. James's ; Dunrobin Castle, Sutherlandshire ; and Trentham
Hall, Yorkshire.
Taylor, Lieut.-General Sir Herbert, G.C.B., F.H.S., F.Z.S. St.
Katherine's Lodge, Regent’s-park.
Temminck, Monsieur, C. J. Chevalier de ordre du Lion Neer-
landais; Directeur du Musée Royal des Pays-bas; Membre
de l'Institut, des Académies de Stockholm et de Bonn; des
Sociétés Royales de Medecine et de Chirurgie, Linnéenne et
Zoologique de Londres; des Sociétés Impériales de Moscou et
de celle des Naturalistes d’ Utrecht, de Groningue, de Leiden,
de Paris, Lausanne, Lille, Frankfort, Mayence, Halle, Mar-
bourg, Wurzbourg, Heidelberg, Stockholm, Hanau, Batavia,
Philadelphia, et Cap de Bonne Espérance.
Teylerian Library, The. Haarlam.
Thompson, P. B., Esq., M.P., F.Z.S. Berkeley-square; and Escrick:
Fail, Barlby, Yorkshire.
Thurlow, the Rev. T., F.Z.S. Saville-row; Baynard’s-park, Guild-
Jord, Surrey ; and Boxford Rectory, Suffolk.
Tinné, J. A., Esq. Liverpool.
Trevelyan, Sir John, Bart., F.H.S., F.Z.S. Wallington, Newcastle-
upon-Tyne, Northumberland ; and Nettlecombe, Somersetshire.
Upton, the Hon. H.M., F.Z.S. Whitehall-place.
Upton, T., Esq. Ashton Court, Bristol. ‘
Vienna, Messrs. Rohrmann and Schwiegerd for the Imperial Li-
Berkeley-square ;
Leyden.
brary of.
Walker, G., Esq. Nether Green, Eastwood, Nottinghamshire.
Walker, I., Esq. Southgate, Middlesex.
Walker, T., Esq. Ravenfield Hall, Rotherham, Yorkshire.
Wall, C. B., Esq., M.A., F.R.S., F.A.S., F.ELS., M.R.L, F.Z.S.,
Berkeley-square ; and Norman Court, Stockbridge, Hampshire.
Warde, C. T., Esq. Welcombe House, Stratford-on-Avon, War-
wickshire ; and Westover, Isle of Wight.
Waterhouse, A., Esq. Old Hall-street, Liverpool.
Webb, Colonel, F.H.S., F.Z.S. Adwell, Tetsworth, Oxon.
Wells, W., Esq., F.H.S., F.Z.S. Redleaf, Tonbridge, Kent.
Wernerian Natural History Society of Edinburgh, The.
Wheeler, J. R., Esq., F.Z.S. Oakingham, Berkshire.
Wheble, J., Esq., F.H.S., F.Z.S. Woodly Lodge, Reading, Berksh.
Wilson, E., Esq. Abboi’s Hall, Kendal, Westmoreland. ;
Winn, C., Esq., F.H.S., F.Z.S. Nostell Priory, Wragby, Yorkshire.
Wollaston, the Rev. F.H., F.Z.S. Rowling, Wingham, Kent.
Wollaston, Miss. Clapham Common, Surrey.
Wyndham, Captain, R.N. Bramley House, Guildford, Surrey.
Yarborough, the Right Hon. the Earl of, F.H.S., M.R.L, F.Z.S.
Arlington-street, Piccadilly ; Brocklesby, Brigg, Lincolnshire ;
and Appuldercombe-park, Isle of Wight.
*Yarrell, W., Esq., F.L.S., Sec. Z.S. Ryder-street, St. James's.
Zoological Society of London, ‘The.
'
GENERAL LIST OF PLATES.
Norr.—As the arrangement of the Plates during the course of publication was found to be impracticable, the Numbers here given will refer to the Plates when arranged
and the work may be quoted by them. ;
Griffon Vulture .
Cinereous Vulture
Egyptian Neophron
Bearded Vulture or Lem-
mer-geyer
Imperial Eagle .
Golden Eagle
Bonelli’s Eagle .
Spotted Eagle
Booted Eagle
Sea Eagle . :
White-headed Kagle .
Osprey. :
Short-toed Eagle
Common Buzzard
Rough-legged Buzzard
Honey Buzzard .
Goshawk .
Sparrow Hawk .
Jer Falcon
Lanner Falcon .
Peregrine Falcon
Hobby
Red-footed Falcon _
Merlin ,
Lead-coloured Falcon.
o
European Goatsucker .
Red-collared Goatsucker
Swift
’ White-bellied Swift
Chimney Swallow
Rufous Swallow .
Rock Martin
Martin
Sand Martin
Bee Eater .
Roller ;
Kingsfisher : , :
Black and White Kingsfisher
Pied Flycatcher . :
White-collared Flycatcher .
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Spotted Flycatcher
Great Shrike
Great Grey Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Red-backed Shrike
Woodchat.
Golden Oriole .
VOLUME I.
“RAPTORES.
Vultur fulvus, Linn. 1 Kestrel
cinereus, Linn. . 2” || Lesser Kestrel .
Neophron Percnopterus, Savig. 3] Kite.
Black Kite
Gypaétus barbatus, Storr. 4|| Swallow-tailed Kite
Aquila Imperialis, Briss. 5 Black-winged Kite
chrysaéta, Briss. 6” || Marsh Harrier .
Bonelli 7| Hen Harrier
nevia, Meyer. 8“ || Pallid Harrier
pennata, Steph. . g” | Ash-coloured Harrier .
Halizétus albicilla, Selby. 10 Barn Owl . : :
leucocephalus, Savig. 11 Great Horned or Eagle Owl.
Pandion halizétus, Savig. 12” || Eastern Great Horned Owl .
Circaétus brachydactylus, Vieill. 13 | Long-eared Owl.
. Buteo vulgaris, Bechst. . 14” || Short-eared Owl.
i Lagopus, Flem. . 15“|| Scops-eared Owl
Pernis apivorus, Cuwv. 16 “|| Great Cinereous Owl.
Astur palumbarius, Bechst. 17 “|| Snowy Owl
Accipiter fringillarius, Ray. . 18” || Ural Owl .
Falco Islandicus, Lath. 19° | Hawk Owl
Lanarius, Linn. . 20” Barred Owl ;
—— Peregrinus, Linn. 21” || Tawny or Wood Owl.
—— subbuteo, Linn. . 22’ Little Owl.
—— rufipes, Bechst. 23° | Tengmalm’s Owl
—— Adsalon, Temm. . 24 || Sparrow Owl
— concolor, Temm. . 25 “|
VOLUME ILI.
INSESSORES.
Caprimulgus Europeus, Linn. 51 || Fieldfare .
— ruficollis, Temm. . 52” | Missel Thrush .
Cypselus murarius, Temm. z: 53 Song Thrush
alpinus, Temm. ; Redwing .
Hirundo rustica, Linn. . 54|| Naumann’s Thrush
rufula, Temm. 55 | Pallid Thrush
——— rupestris, Linn. 56 “|| White’s Thrush .
nea, Ib, = 57 “|| Siberian Thrush
—riparia, Linn. . 58” || Water Ouzel 3
Merops Apiaster, Linn. 59 Black-bellied Water Ouzel .
Coracias garrulus, Linn. 60 || Pallas’s Water Ouzel .
Alcedo Ispida, Lann. 61 Rock Thrush
rudis, Linn. 62° Blue Thrush
Black Ouzel, or Blackbird .
Ring Ouzel
Migratory Ouzel
Black-throated Thrush
Muscicapa luctuosa, Temm.
— albiccllis, Temm. .
parva, Bechst.
grisola, Linn.
Collurio Excubitor, Vig.
meridionalis, Vig.
— minor, Vig.
Lanius Collurio, Linn. .
rufus, Briss.
Oriolus galbula, Linn. .
Merula vulgaris, Ray. .
torquata, Briss.
migratoria, Swains. .
Turdus atrogularis, Temm.
Black Wheatear
Pied Wheatear .
Wheatear .
Russet Wheatear
Black-eared Wheatear
Whinchat .
Stonechat .
Redstart
Black Redstart .
Blue-throated Warbler
Robin
Alpine Accentor
Hedge Accentor
Mountain Accentor
Falco Tinnunculus, Linn.
Tinnunculoides, Natt. .
Milvus vulgaris, Flem. .
ater . :
Nauclerus furcatus, Vig.
Elanus melanopterus, Leach.
Circus rufus, Briss.
cyaneus, Meyer. .
pallidus, Sykes. .
cineraceus, Meyer.
Strix flammea, Linn.
Bubo maximus, Sibb.
Ascalaphus, Savig.
Otus vulgaris, lem.
Brachyotus, Cuv. .
Scops Aldrovandi, Will. & Ray.
Surnia cinerea
Nyctea, Dum.
Uralensis, Dum. .
funerea, Dum.
Ulula nebulosa, Cuv.
Syrnium Aluco, Savg..
Noctua nudipes, Nils. .
2? Tengmalmi, Selby.
passerina .
Turdus pilaris, Lann.
— viscivorus, Linn.
——— musicus, Linn. .
Tliacus, Linn.
Naumannii, Temm.
pallidus, Pall. .
— _ Whitei, Eyton. .
— Sibericus, Pall.
Cinclus aquaticus, Bechst.
melanogaster, Brehm.
Pallasii, Temm.
Petrocincla saxatilis, Vig.
cyanea, Vig.
Saxicola cachinnans, Temm. .
leucomela, Temm.
——— (Enanthe, Bechst.
stapazina, Temm.
aurita, Temm.
rubetra, Bechst.
rubicola, Bechst.
Pheenicura ruticilla, Swains. .
— tithys, Jard. & Selb.
Erythaca rubecula, Swazns. .
Accentor alpinus, Bechst.
modularis, Cuv.
montanellus, Temm.
—— Suecica, Jard. & Selb. .
99
. 100%
101
Reed Locustelle .
Brake Locustelle
Willow Locustelle
Creeping Locustelle
Great Sedge Warbler
Olive-tree Salicaria
Reed Wren
Marsh Warbler .
Sedge Warbler .
Moustached Warbler .
Aquatic Warbler
Rufous Sedge Warbler
Fantail Warbler
Cetti’s Warbler .
Silky Warbler
Nightingale
Thrush Nightingale
Gorget Warbler
Orpheus Warbler
Black-cap .
Garden Warbler
Riippell’s Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Sub-alpine Warbler
Common White-throat
Lesser White-throat .
Spectacle Warbler
Great Tit .
Sombre Tit
Siberian Tit
Toupet Tit
Azure Tit .
Blue Tit
Cole Tit
Marsh Tit .
Crested Tit
Long-tailed Tit .
Bearded Tit, or Reed Bird .
Penduline Tit
Waxen Chatterer
Black Lark
Calandra Lark .
Short-toed Lark
Shore Lark
Crested Lark
Sky Lark .
Wood Lark
Bifasciated Lark
Lark-heeled Bunting .
Snow Bunting .
Common Bunting
Black-headed Bunting
Yellow Bunting.
Yellow-breasted Bunting
Cirl Bunting
Ortolan Bunting
Rustic Bunting .
Lesbian Bunting
Meadow Bunting
Pine Bunting
Cretzschmar’s Bunting
Marsh Bunting .
Reed Bunting
GENERAL LIST OF PLATES.
Locustella fluviatilis.
—— avicula, Ray.
luscinoides. .
certhiola.
Salicaria Turdoides, Selb.
Olivetorum, Strickl.
——— arundinacea, Selby.
— palustris. :
— Phragmitis, Selb. .
—— melanopogon.
———— aquatica.
——— galactotes.
cisticola.
2 Cetti.
— ? sericea.
Philomela luscinia, Swains.
Turdoides, Blyth. .
Calliope Lathamii.
Curruca Orphea.
atricapilla, Bechst.
hortensis, Bechst.
Ruppellii. 5
— melanocephala, Lath.
—-— leucopogon.
cinerea, Bechst.
garrula, Bechst.
conspicillata.
. 102%
: 103”
. 104%
Marmora’s Warbler
Barred Warbler .
Dartford Warbler
Wren
Willow Wren
Chiff-chaff
Wood Wren :
Yellow Willow Wren.
Melodious Willow Wren
Natterer’s Warbler
Richard’s Pipit .
Meadow Pipit
Tawny Pipit
Rock or Shore Pipit .
Tree Pipit .
Red-throated Pipit
Pied Wagtail :
White-winged Wagtail
White Wagtail .
Yellow-headed Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail .
Grey-headed Wagtail .
Grey Wagtail
Fire-crested Wren
Golden-crested Wren .
Dalmatian Regulus
VOLUME III.
INSESSORES.
Parus major, Linn. 50; Common Sparrow
lugubris, Natt. 151! Tree Sparrow
—— Sibericus, Gmel. Spanish Sparrow
— bicolor, Lunn. . 152” || * Alpine Sparrow .
— cyanus, Pall. . 153 Doubtful Sparrow
— cceruleus, Jinn. . . 154! Chaffinch . :
—— ater, Linn. . 155° Mountain or Bramble Finch
—— palustris, Linn. Snow Finch
—— cristatus, Linn. al om Winter Finch ;
caudatus, Linn. . ; 5 US Common or Brown Linnet .
Calamophilus biarmicus, Leach. . 158° Mountain Linnet, or Twite.
AKgithalus pendulinus, Vig. . 5 1S) Mealy Redpole .
Bombycivora garrula, Temm. 5 1G0 Lesser Redpole .
Alauda Tartarica, Pall. aeloile Serin Finch
Calandra, Pail. 62) Goldfinch .
brachydactyla, Temm. . 163” || Siskin, or Aberdevine.
alpestris, Linn. . 164° Citril Finch
cristata, Linn. . . 165”|| Hawfinch .
arvensis, Linn. . 166 Green Grosbeak
arborea, Linn. . 5 6H Parrot Crossbill .
Certhilauda bifasciata. . . 168%|) Common Crossbill
Plectrophanes Lapponica, Selb. . 169” | White-winged Crossbill
-nivalis, Meyer. . 170 Pine Grosbeak .
Emberiza miliaria, Linn. . 171” || Siberian Grosbeak
melanocephala, Scop. . 172 Scarlet Grosbeak
citrinella, Linn. . 173 || Rosy Grosbeak .
— aureola, Pall. . 174% || Vinous Grosbeak
Cirlus, Linn. . 175%] Bullfinch .
hortulana, Linn. . 176° | Starling .
— rustica, Pail. .177“%| Sardinian Starling
Lesbia. . 178! Rose-coloured Pastor .
cia, Linn. ; LOE Nutcracker
pithyornus, Pall. . . 180%} Jay
—— cesia, Cretz. . 181” || Siberian Jay
palustris, Savi. . 182") Magpie . : .
schceniculus, Linn. . 183¥ Azure-winged Magpie
Curruca Sarda.
nisoria.
Melizophilus provincialis, Leach. .
Troglodytes Europzus, Ouv.
Sylvia trochilus, Gel.
rufa, Lath .
sibilatrix, Bechst.
Icterina, Vieill. .
—— Hippolais, Temm.
Nattereri, Temm.
Anthus Richardi, Vieill.
— pratensis, Bechst.
rufescens, Temm.
aquaticus, Bechst.
—— arboreus, Bechst.
rufogularis, Temm.
Motacilla Yarrellii.
—— lugubris, Pail.
alba, Linn.
citreola, Pail.
flava, Ray.
neglecta, Gould.
— Boarula, Lath.
Regulus ignicapillus, Cuwv.
vulgaris, Cuv. .
——— modestus.
Pyrgita domestica, Cuv.
montana, Cuv.
——— Hispaniolensis, Owv. .
Cisalpina, Cuv.
petronia. .
Fringilla Celebs, Linn.
montifringilla, Linn.
——— nivalis, Linn. .
? hyemalis.
Linaria Cannabina, Swains. .
montana, Ray. .
canescens.
minor, Ray.
Serinus flavescens.
Carduelis elegans, Steph.
spinus, Steph.
— citrinella.
Coccothraustes vulgaris, Briss.
— chloris, Flem.
Loxia pityopsittacus, Bechst.
curvirostra, Linn.
leucoptera, Gmel.
Corythus enucleator, Cuv.
longicauda. :
Erythrospiza erythrina, Bon.
— rosea.
githaginea.
Pyrrhula vulgaris, Temm.
-Sturnus vulgaris, Linn.
unicolor, Marm.
Pastor roseus, Temm.
Nucifraga caryocatactes, Briss.
Garrulus glandarius, Briss. .
infaustus, Temm.
Pica caudata, Ray.
— cyanea, Wagl.
j
Alpine Chough .
Chough
Raven
Carrion Crow
Hooded Crow
Jackdaw
Rook : ; 3 ;
Great Black Woodpecker .
Green Woodpecker
Grey-headed Green Wood-
pecker : : ,
White-rumped Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Wood Pigeon
Stock Dove
Rock Dove
Turtle Dove
Common Pheasant
Capercailzie, or Cock of the
Wood.
Hybrid Grouse .
Black Grouse 3
Hazel Grouse, or Gelinotte
Red Grouse l
Common Ptarmigan .
Rock Ptarmigan
Willow Ptarmigan
Short-toed Ptarmigan
Common Crane
White Crane
Numidian Demoiselle
Common Heron
Purple Heron
Squacco Heron .
Great Egret
Little Egret
Rufous-backed Egret
Common Night Heron
Common Bittern
Freckled Bittern
Little Bittern
White Stork
Black Stork
Maguari Stork .
Spoonbill .
Common Flamingo
Thick-kneed Bustard
Long-legged Plover
Grey Plover
Lapwing . é :
Keptuschka Lapwing
Spur-winged Plover
Golden Plover .
Dottrell
Ring Dottrell
Little Ring Dottrell
Kentish Plover .
Red-chested Dottrell .
Oyster Catcher .
GENERAL LIST OF PLATES:
Pyrrhocorax Pyrrhocorax, Temm. .
Fregilus graculus, Cuv.
Corvus corax, Linn.
corone, Linn.
— cornix, Linn.
monedula, Linn.
frugilegus, Linn.
Picus martius, Linn.
viridis, Linn.
eanus, Gmel.
leuconotus, Bechst.
—— major, Linn.
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Picus medius, Linn.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker _
Three-toed Woodpecker
Wryneck .
Common Nuthatch
Dalmatian Nuthatch .
Asiatic Nuthatch
Common Creeper
Hoopoe
Wall Creeper
Common Cuckoo
Great Spotted Cuckoo
American Cuckoo
VOLUME IV.
RASORES:
Columba palumbus, Linn. . 243 | Sand Grouse
——— Ginas, Lann. . . 244. Pintailed Sand Grouse
livia, Linn. . 245 | European Francolin .
Turtur, Linn. . . 246° Red-legged Partridge .
Phasianus Colchicus, Linn. . . 247 Barbary Partridge
| Greek Partridge
Tetrao Urogallus, Linn. . 248” ,| Common Partridge
hybridus, Sparrm. . 249” | Quail
Tetrix, Linn. pe Aa) Andalusian Turnix
Bonasia Europea. > Pl 4 Collared Pratincole
Lagopus Scoticus, Lath. . 252 ”|| Cream-coloured Courser
mutus, Leach. 253 lI Great Bustard .
——— rupestris, Leach. , 254™|| Ruffed Bustard .
Saliceti, Swains, . 255 | Little Bustard .
——— brachydactylus. . 256%]
GRALLATORES.
Grus cinerea, Bechst. . 270%,|| Glossy Ibis
leucogeranus, Temm. a2 i Common Curlew
Anthropoides Virgo, Vieill. . . 272” | Whimbrel :
Ardea cinerea, Lath. . 273° || Slender-billed Curlew
purpurea, Linn. . 274” || Black-tailed Godwit .
comata, Pall. 5 2S Bar-tailed Godwit
alba, Linn. . 276° Terek Godwit
garzetta, Linn. . . 277" || Avocet :
russata, Wagl. . 278” || Spotted Redshank
Nycticorax Europzus, Steph. oy Redshank . .
Botaurus stellaris, Steph. . 280! Semipalmated Sandpiper
lentiginosus, Steph. . 281“ Greenshank .
minutus, Selby. . 282 | Bartram’s Sandpiper .
Ciconia alba, Bellon. . 2831 Marsh Sandpiper
nigra, Bellon. . . 284 vl Green Sandpiper
Maguari, Temm. . 285 || Wood Sandpiper
Platalea leucorodia, Linn. . 286! Common Sandpiper
Phcenicopterus ruber, Linn. . . 287” || Spotted Sandpiper
Ckdicnemus crepitans, Temm. - 288 “|| Turnstone.
Himantopus melanopterus, Meyer. 289° || Woodcock
Squatarola cinerea, Cuv. . 290 Great Snipe
Vanellus cristatus, Meyer. = 201s Sabine’s Snipe .
— Keptuschka, Temm. . 292” | Common Snipe.
Pluvianus spinosus. . 293° || Jack Snipe
Charadrius pluvialis, Linn. - 298" Grey Snipe
morinellus, Linn. EOS - Knot
hiaticula, Linn. . . 296! Ruff. : : ;
minor, Meyer. Py Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Cantianus, Linn. . 298 ‘|| Pectoral Sandpiper
——— pyrrhothorax, Temm. . 299“|| Pygmy Curlew .
Heematopus Ostralegus, Linn. . 800% || Dunlin, or Purre
minor, Linn.
Apternus tridactylus, Swains.
Yunx torquilla, Linn.
Sitta Europea, Linn.
Syriaca, Ehrenb. .
Asiatica, Temm. .
Certhia familiaris, Linn.
Upupa epops, Linn.
Tichodroma pheenicoptera, Temm. .
Cuculus Canorus, Linn.
glandarius, Linn.
Coccyzus Americanus, Vieill.
Pterocles arenarius, Temm.
setarius, Temm.
Francolinus vulgaris, Briss. .
Perdix rubra, Ray.
—— petrosa, Lath.
saxatilis, Meyer.
—— cinerea, Lath.
Coturnix dactylisonans, Meyer.
Hemipodius tachydromus, Temm. .
Glareola torquata, Briss.
Cursorius Isabellinus, Meyer.
Otis Tarda, Linn.
— Houbara, Linn.
— tetrax, Linn. .
Ibis Falcinellus, Temm.
Numenius arquata, Lath.
Phzeopus, Lath.
tenuirostris, Savi.
Limosa melanura, Leisi.
rufa, Briss.
Terek, Temm. .
Recurvirostra Avocetta, Linn.
Totanus fuscus, Leisl. .
calidris, Bechst.
semipalmatus, Temm.
glottis, Bechst.
Bartramius, Temm. .
stagnatilis, Bechst.
ochropus, Temm.
Glareola, Temm.
Hypoleucus, Temm. .
macularius, Temm.
Strepsilas collaris, Temm.
Scolopax rusticola, Linn.
major, Linn. .
—— Sabini, Vig. .
— Gallinago, Linn.
Gallinula, Linn.
Macroramphus griseus, Leach
Calidris Canutus, Briss. & Cuv.
Machetes pugnax, Cuv.
Tringa rufescens, Vieill.
pectoralis, Bonap.
.
subarquata, Temm.
variabilis, Meyer.
Schinz’s Sandpiper .
Broad-billed Tringa .
Little Sandpiper
Temminck’s Tringa .
Purple Sandpiper
Sanderling :
Red-necked Phalarope
Grey Phalarope.
Snow Goose é
Grey Lag Wild Goose
Bean Goose i
White-fronted Goose .
Bernicle Goose .
Red-breasted Goose .
Brent Goose
Egyptian Goose
Domestic Swan ‘
Whistling Swan, or Hooper
Bewick’s Swan .
Common Shieldrake .
Ruddy Shieldrake
Widgeon .
Shoveller Duck
— Common Wild Duck .
Common Teal .
Bimaculated Teal
Gargany Teal
Pintail Duck
Gadwall ;
Red-headed Pochard .
White-eyed, or Castaneous
Duck
Red-crested Duck
Tufted Duck
Scaup Pochard .
Western Duck .
Marbled Duck .
Eider Duck
King Duck
Surf Scoter
Velvet Scoter
Black Scoter
Golden Eye
Barrow’s Duck .
Harlequin Duck
Long-tailed Duck
White-headed Duck .
Goosander ; Ff
Red-breasted Merganser. .
Hooded Merganser
Smew : :
Great-crested Grebe .
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe .
Eared Grebe 3
Little Grebe, or Dabchick .
Northern Diver
Black-throated Diver
Red-throated Diver
Foolish Guillemot
Bridled Guillemot
GENERAL LIS DO Tk ak WBS
Tringa Schinzii, Bonap. . 330 Coot
platyrhyncha, Temm. . . 331 Water Rail :
minuta, Leisl. . 332 Hyacinthine Porphyrio
Temminckii, Lest. . 883" || Land Rail.
maritima, Brunn. . 884” | Common Gallinule
Arenaria Calidris, Meyer. . 8385” || Spotted Crake .
Phalaropus hyperboreus, Lath. . 336° Baillon’s Crake .
platyrhynchus, Temm.. 337% || Little Crake
VOLUME YV.
NATATORES.
Anser hyperboreus, Pall. . 346 Brunnich’s Guillemot
ferus, Steph. . 347° | Black Guillemot
——-segetum, Steph. . 348% || Great Auk
albifrons, Steph. . 349” || Razor-billed Auk
leucopsis, Bechst. . 350%] Little Auk
—- ruficollis, Pail. . 351” Puffin
Brenta, Flem. . 352° Northern Puffin
Chenalopex Egyptiaca, Steph. . 353/] Pelican
Cygnus mansuetus, Gel. . 354 Dalmatian Pelican
ferus, Ray. . 355” || Common Cormorant .
Bewicki, Yarr. . 856“|| Black Cormorant
Tadorna vulpanser, Flem. . 357” || Little Cormorant
—— trutila, Steph. . : 3584 Shag, or Green Cormorant.
Mareca Penelope, Selby. . 359” | Desmarest’s Cormorant
Rhynchaspis clypeata, Steph. . 860%] Solan Gannet
Anas Boschas, Linn. i . 861” || Black-tailed Gannet .
Querquedula Crecca, Steph. . . 862° | Caspian Tern
glocitans, Vig. . . 363” || Sandwich Tern .
circia, Steph. . 364 || Gull-billed Tern
Dafila caudacuta, Leach. g BOy Common Tern .
Chauliodes strepera, Swains. . 3866 Roseate Tern
Fuligula ferina, Steph. . . 367”) Arctic Tern
Little Tern
——leucophthalma, Steph. . 368 Noddy Tern
——— rufina, Steph. 369\ Black Tern !
— cristata, Steph. 370 “|| White-winged Tern .
marila, Steph. 371” || Moustache Tern
——— Dispar, Steph. 372” | Laughing Gull . ~
marmorata. 373 Black-winged Gull
Somateria mollissima, Leach. 3/4 * Black-headed Gull
spectabilis, Leach. 375° || Little Gull
Oidemia perspicillata, Flem. . 376 Sabine’s Gull
fusca, Flem. 377° || Great Black-backed Gull
nigra, Flem. 378” || Lesser Black-backed Gull .
Clangula vulgaris, Leach. 379 ‘|| Glaucous Gull .
Barrovii, Sw. & Rich. 380” | Iceland Gull
histrionica, Leach. . 381° Herring Gull
Harelda glacialis, Leach. 382 ' Kittiwake Gull .
Undina leucocephala._ . 383” | Ivory Gull
Mergus Merganser, Linn. 384' Common Gull .
— serrator, Linn. . 385° Audouin’s Gull .
cucullatus, Linn. 386 | Skua
albellus, Linn. 387 * Pomarine Gull .
Podiceps cristatus, Lath. 388 * Richardson’s Lestris .
rubricollis, Lath. 389 * Parasitic Gull
cornutus, Lath. 390° Manks Shearwater
——— auritus, Lath. 391 Dusky Shearwater
minor, Lath. . 392 Cinereous Shearwater
Colymbus glacialis, Linn. 393 "| Fulmar Petrel
— arcticus, Linn. 394” Fork-tailed Storm Petrel
septentrionalis, Linn. 395% Common Storm Petrel
Uria Troile, Linn. 396° Bulwer’s Petrel .
lacrymans, Lapyl. 397
Fulica atra, Linn. .
Rallus aquaticus, Linn.
Porphyrio hyacinthinus, Temm.
Gallinula crex, Lath.
— chloropus, Lath.
Zapornia porzana
Baillonii, Leach.
——— pusilla, Steph.
Uria Brunnichii, Sab. °
—— Grylle, Lath.
Alca impennis, Linn.
—— Torda, Linn.
Mergulus alle, Bon.
Mormon Fratercula, Temm. .
——— glacialis, Leach.
Pelecanus Onocrotalus, Linn.
crispus, Meld.
Phalacrocorax Carbo, Steph.
Graculus, Briss.
———_——— pygmeus, Steph.
Desmarestii. .
Sula Bassana, Briss.
melanura, Temm.
Sterna Caspia, Pail.
-— cantiaca, Gmel.
——— Anglica, Mont.
Hirundo, Linn.
——— Dougallii, Mont.
——— Arctica, Temm.
——— minuta, Linn. .
stolida, Linn.
Viralva nigra, Leach.
leucoptera, Leach.
leucopareia, Steph.
Xema ridibunda, Boje. .
—— atricilla.
—— melanocephala, Boje.
—— minuta, Boje.
—— Sabinii, Leach.
Larus marinus, Linn.
fuscus, Linn.
—— glaucus, Brunn.
Islandicus, Edm.
argentatus, Brunn.
—— Rissa, Linn.
—— eburneus, Gmel. .
canus, Linn.
Audouinii, Temm.
Lestris catarractes, Temm.
Pomarinus, Temm. .
Richardsonii, Swans. -
Parasiticus, II.
Puffinus Anglorum, Ray.
obscurus.
cinereus, Steph.
Procellaria glacialis, Linn.
Thalassidroma Leachii.
— pelagica, Selby.
——? Bulwerii.
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. 440
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LIST OF PLATES.
VOLUME I.
Nors.—As the arrangement of the Plates during the course of publication was found to be impracticable, the Numbers
here given will refer to the Plates when arranged, and the work may be quoted by them.
RAPTORES.
Griffon Vulture Vultur fulvus, Linn. 1
Cinereous Vulture . cinereus, Linn. 2
Egyptian Neophron 3 Neophron Percnopterus, Savig. 3
Bearded Vulture or Leemmer-geyer Gypaetus barbatus, Storr. 4
Imperial Eagle Aquila Imperialis, Briss. 5
Golden Eagle . chrysaéta, Briss. 6
Bonelli’s Eagle Bonelli 7
Spotted Eagle neevia, Meyer. 8
Booted Eagle . -—— pennata, Steph. 9
Sea Eagle : Halizetus albicilla, Selby. 10
White-headed Eagle leucocephalus, Savig. 11
Osprey . : Pandion halizétus, Savig. 12
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus brachydactylus, Vieill. 13
Common Buzzard Buteo vulgaris, Bechst. 14
Rough-legged Buzzard Lagopus, Flem. 15
Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus, Cuwv. 16
Goshawk Astur palumbarius, Bechst. ez
Sparrow Hawk Accipiter fringillarius, Ray. 18
Jer Falcon Falco Islandicus, Lath. 19
Lanner Falcon ‘Lanarius, Linn. 20
Peregrine Falcon —— Peregrinus, Linn. 21
Hobby : —— subbuteo, Linn. 22
Red-footed Falcon . —— rufipes, Bechst. 23
Merlin ; — Alsalon, Tem. 24
Lead-coloured Falcon — concolor, Temm. 25
Kestrel . — Tinnunculus, Linn. 26
Lesser Kestrel — Tinnunculoides, Natt. 27
Kite Milvus vulgaris, Flem. 28
Black Kite ater ; 29
Swallow-tailed Kite Nauclerus furcatus, Vig. . 30
Black-winged Kite . Elanus melanopterus, Leach. 31
Marsh Harrier Circus rufus, Briss. 32
Hen Harrier cyaneus, Meyer 33
Pallid Harrier ——— pallidus, Sykes. 34
Ash-coloured Harrier cineraceus, Meyer. 35
Barn Owl : Strix flammea, Linn. 36
Great Horned or Eagle Owl Bubo maximus, Sido. 37
Eastern Great Horned Owl Ascalaphus, Savig. . 38
Long-eared Owl Otus vulgaris, Flem. ; 39
Short-eared Owl Brachyotus, Cuv. . x 40
Scops-eared Owl Scops Aldrovandi, Will. & Ray. 41
Great Cinereous Owl Surnia cinerea : : 42
Snowy Owl Nyctea, Dum. 43
Ural Owl Uralensis, Dum. . 44
Hawk Owl funerea, Dum. 45
Barred Owl Ulula nebulosa, Cuww. 46
Tawny or Wood Owl Syrnium Aluco, Savig. 47
Little Owl Noctua nudipes, Nils. 48
Tengmalm’s Owl ? Tengmalmi, Selby. . 49
Sparrow Owl . passerina 50
re
oy
GRIFFON. VULTURE.
Vulture fulvus. /Z7x2,/
DravnioomLite b on Stone ty J be £, Coulda: SLinted by ¢Hudtmunded:
Genus VULTUR, Linn.
Gen. Cuar. Beak strong, thick and deep, base covered with a cere ; upper mandible straight
until it reaches the point, where it is hooked abruptly ; under mandible straight, rounded
and becoming narrower towards the point. Head naked or covered with short down ;
nostrils naked and pierced diagonally at the cere. Feet very strong, furnished with nails
slightly hooked; the middle toe very long and united at the base to the external toe.
Wings long ; first quill-feather short, the fourth the longest.
GRIFFON VULTURE.
Vultur fulvus, Lenn.
Le Vautour Griffon.
Pre-EMINENT for size and strength, the Vultures exceed all other birds whose powers of wing are adequate
to sustain continued flight. They are a race peculiar to hot climates, and their food consists of putrid animal
substances, for the removal of which (where indeed a quick removal is called for,) they seem expressly ap-
pointed. Their flight is wonderfully rapid and graceful, and they are led by some faculty, not yet fully
understood, (but most probably by the sense of smell,) from astonishing distances, and an elevation in the
atmosphere beyond the reach of human sight, to their foetid repast. In a tribe of birds thus characterized the
Griffon Vulture is\one of the most conspicuous, particularly among those individuals who inhabit. the older
continent.
The present species takes a wide range, inhabiting, in considerable abundance, Spain, Turkey, and the
whole of the southern portion of Europe, as well as the northern portions of Africa; they also occur in the
mountainous parts of the northern and central countries, but we are not aware of its having ever been seen in
a wild state in the British Islands.
Like the rest of its family, except when pressed by the utmost necessity it never preys on living animals,
but prefers carrion and putrid substances, and when fed to repletion is easily made captive. There is nothing,
however, of ferocity or wildness in the disposition of this bird, as in that of the Eagle ; hence in captivity
it becomes gentle and domestic : its principal enjoyment consists in the gratification of its appetite, and that
accomplished it seems perfectly contented.
It breeds among the most inaccessible precipices ; its eggs are of a dull greyish-white slightly marked with
spots of a pale reddish colour.
In the adult bird the head and neck are covered with short white downy feathers ; the lower part of the
neck is surrounded with a ruff of long slender feathers of the same colour or slightly tinged with red ; on the
breast there is also a space covered with white down; the whole of the upper and under surfaces, except the
quill- and tail-feathers, which are blackish-brown, are of a fulvous grey, the belly having a slight tinge of
rufous ; beak bluish yellow; cere darker ; irides hazel; feet light brown: total length about four feet. The
male is, as usual with other rapacious birds, smaller than the female.
Young birds differ considerably from the adults; the downy feathers of the head and neck being dirty
white varied with brown, and the rest of the plumage of a very light yellowish colour, interspersed with large
markings of white or grey.
Our Plate represents an adult in perfect plumage.
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CINE REUS VULTURE.
Vultur crmereus, (Zzzm/.
Drawn row Neturedon Sine by Sb. coutd, Landed by i Hiitmanad
CINEREOUS VULTURE.
Vultur cinereus, Lenn.
Le Vautour noir.
Tuts, the largest of the European Vultures, offers to our notice, by the partially bare neck, open ears, curved
claws and powerful beak, a deviation from the true or more typical Vultures as restricted by modern authors,
the true Vultures having claws less curved, and a beak more lengthened and feeble, characters which
render them unable to seize and carry off living prey. This striking feature was not passed over by the
discriminating eye of Mr. Bennett while engaged in describing the Vultur auricularis of Daudin, a species
inhabiting Southern Africa, which in general form and structure strictly resembles the one under consideration.
In ‘The Gardens and Menagerie of the Zoological Society delineated,” that gentleman intimates that in his
opinion the bird he has described, from a fine living example in the Society’s Gardens, would be found ‘to
possess characters sufficiently prominent and different from the rest of the Vultures to form the type of a
new genus. Although the Cinereous Vulture has not that longitudinal fold of the skin which is “so
prominent a feature in the Vultur auricularis, still we should regard that more as a specific character than as
having any influence over its natural economy; and we fully concur in Mr. Bennett’s views in considering a
further subdivision of the family to be necessary. The two birds in question, with the Vitur pondicerianus as
a type, would constitute a very natural division. We refrain ourselves from assigning a generic name, or
from entering more fully into the subject, as we are aware that M. Temminck is at this moment paying
strict attention to this highly interesting family; and we have no doubt that with his discerning views and
profound knowledge of Ornithology, he has long ere this observed the characters alluded to.
The European habitat of the Cimereous Vulture is the vast forests of Hungary, the mountainous districts
of the Tyrol, the Swiss Alps, the Pyrenees, and the middle of Spain and Italy; it is seen also occasionally
in other places.
M. Temminck states that its food consists of dead and putrid animals, never living ones, of which it is much
afraid, even the smallest appearing to excite fear ; but Bechstein informs us that “ in winter it is chiefly seen
in the plains, where it attacks sheep, hares, goats, and even deer. ‘The farmers suffer severely from this bird,
as it will frequently pick out the eyes of sheep ; but as it is not a very shy species, it gives the huntsman some
advantage, added to his being well paid for shooting so destructive an enemy.”—(Latham’s General History of
Birds, vol. i. p. 23.)
Of its nidification and eggs nothing is known.
The whole of the plumage is of a dark chocolate brown, each feather being a little lighter on the edges ;
the head and upper part of the neck are covered with down, which, with a kind of beard under the throat, is
of the same colour as the plumage ; the basal half of the mandibles, the bare space on the front and sides of
the neck, the tarsi, and the toes, are of a blueish flesh colour ; the points of the mandibles and the claws black ;
irides dark brown.
We have figured an adult male, about one third of the natural size.
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ay
EGYPTIAN NEOPEUR ON.
Z Lear del ot bitiog.
Neophron Perenopterus ; (Sazg:/. PR eRe
Genus NEOPHRON.
Gen. Cuar. Beak elongated, slender, straight, the upper mandible covered with a cere for
half its length, and with a distinct hooked dertrum or tip, the lower mandible curving
downwards at the point. Noséri/s longitudinal, lateral, directed forwards, and placed
near the culmen of the bill. Anterior part of the head, and the face naked. The neck
covered with acuminated feathers. Legs of mean strength and length. Tarsz reticulated.
Feet with four toes, three before, and one behind ; the front toes united at the base.
EGYPTIAN NEOPHRON.
Neophron perenopterus, Sav.
Le Catharte alimoche.
OF the family of Vulturide, which is so extensively spread over the hotter portions of nearly every part of
the globe, the present is the only species which has ever been taken in England; and of this fact, only a
solitary instance is on record. It appears that the example alluded to was killed near Kilve in Somersetshire,
in the month of October 1825, and is now in the possession of the Rev. A. Matthew of the same place.
When first discovered, it was feeding upon the body of a dead sheep, with the flesh of which it was so
gorged, as to be either incapable of flight, or, at all events, unwilling to exert itself sufficiently to effect its
escape; it was therefore shot with little difficulty. Another bird, apparently of the same species, was at the
same time observed in the neighbourhood, but escaped its pursuers. The circumstance of this example
coming so far north, must be attributed entirely to accident, its native habitat being exclusively the southern
provinces of Europe and the adjoining districts of Asia and Africa.
The traveller who visits Gibraltar, the adjacent parts of Spain, the islands of the Mediterranean, Turkey,
and the northern coasts of Africa, cannot fail to have his attention attracted by this remarkable bird, one of
the smallest of the Vudturide, which is there often found associating in flocks. Like the rest of its family,
it is one of Nature’s scavengers, being ever on the search for carrion and putrid offal, upon which it greedily
feeds, seldom if ever attacking living prey.
The sexes, when adult, offer no difference in their characters or the colouring of their plumage; the young
birds, on the contrary, in which state was the individual noticed as being taken in this country, offer striking
contrasts. These decided opposites of colouring we have illustrated in our figures. We need scarcely
remark that the young acquire their mature plumage by gradual changes, the completion of which takes two
or three years; hence it arises that birds in all grades, from the dark plumage of youth to the snowy white
of maturity, are continually to be met with.
It is said to build its nest in the most inaccessible parts of rocks: of its eggs nothing is correctly ascer-
tained.
The adults have the face and cere naked, and of a fine yellow; the whole of the plumage is pure white,
with the exception of the greater quill-feathers, which are black ; the plumes of the occiput are long and
narrow ; the beak yellow, with a black horny tip; the tarsi and toes yellow; nails black ; irides hazel.
The young bird of the first year has the whole of the plumage of a dark chocolate brown ; the elongated
feathers of the neck, as well as those situated on the shoulders and upper part of the back, are tipped with
yellowish white ; the cere and naked part of the face dull yellow; tarsi and feet of a dull livid yellow.
The Plate represents an adult, and a young bird of the first year, nearly half their natural size.
in” 1sjadiiel te
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maviiviacd,
Tat luo pak E 4
: Mie ‘l 7 F ; de ee ad
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other fehinalles
PD miaadt
BEARDED VULTURE OR L&MMER GEYER.
Gyp aétus barbatus, /SZor7/
LDraunifromlife de on Stone by T&E. Could, i / | Leiniteds by CLeadlenanded
a
He.
Genus GYPAETUS, Storr.
Grn. Cuar. Beak straight, its base covered with setaceous feathers tending forward, rounded
above; the under mandible furnished at the base with a fasciculus of stiff and elongated
feathers. Cere clothed with feathers.. Tarsz short, feathered.
BEARDED VULTURE or LOEMMER-GEYER.
Gypaetus barbatus: Storr.
Le Gypaete barbu.
OrnitTuovoersts have had no little difficulty to contend with in clearing up the confusion which the numerous
synonyms of this bird have occasioned ; in fact, as far as our observations have extended, there is but one
species comprehended in the present genus,~a genus distinguished by characters which place it intermediate
between the Vultures and Eagles. The descriptions of Bruce the African traveller, and of the writers on
Indian Ornithology, are all referrible to this species, whose habitat appears to extend to a certain range of
elevation over the vast continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa. We have ourselves received it from the
Himalaya, where it was discovered in very considerable abundance. In Europe it is confined to the highest
ranges of mountains, such as the Alps and Pyrenees, but more especially those of the Tyrol and Hungary.
The habits and manners of the Loemmer-geyer, also point out its true situation in nature to be intermediate
between the Vultures and Eagles; and Authors have, according to their respective views, referred it to each
of these groups. The first who pointed out its true situation was the eminent naturalist Storr, who advanced
it to a genus with the expressive name of Gypaétus, i.e. Vulture Eagle. The genus thus established has
become now, with justice, universally adopted. Unlike the typical Vultures, which are distinguished by their
bare necks, indicative of their propensity for feeding on carrion, the Loemmer-geyer has the neck thickly
covered with feathers, resembling those of the true Eagles, with which it also accords in its bold and predatory
habits ; pouncing with violent impetuosity on animals exceeding itself in size: hence the young Chamois, the
Wild Goat, the Mountain Hare, and various species of birds find in it a formidable and ferocious enemy.
Having seized its prey, the Loemmer-geyer devours it upon the spot, the straight form of their talons disabling
them from carrying it to a distance. It refuses flesh in a state of putrefaction unless sharply pressed by
hunger; hence Nature has limited this species as to numbers, while on the other hand to the Vultures, who
are destined to clear the earth of animal matter in a state of decomposition, and thus render the utmost
service to man in the countries where they abound, she has given an almost illimitable increase.
M. Temminck informs us that it incubates on the summits of precipitous and inaccessible rocks, making no
nest, but laying two eggs, on the naked surface, of a white colour marked with blotches of brown.
The adult birds offer no sexual differences of plumage, and less of size than is usual among rapacious birds.
The head and upper part of the neck are of a dull white; a black line extends from the base of the beak
and passes above the eyes ; another beginning behind the eyes occupies the ear-coverts ; the beard is black ;
the lower part of the neck, the breast and under parts are of an orange-red; the upper surface of a dark
greyish brown, the centre of each feather having a white longitudinal line ; the quill- and tail-feathers grey
with white shafts ; tail long and graduated ; tarsi, beak, and nails black ; irides orange.
The young of the year have the head and neck dull brown ; the under parts dark grey with spots of white ;
the upper parts blackish, with lighter spots; the irides brown, and feet olive. In this state it has been called
Vultur neger.
We have figured an adult male one third its natural size.
ae iti arth eo ee bets s RE: AULA
PIMA. ARI Geta? Alacer aiosorI: liv DYESTOF Cpayye
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IMPERIAL BAGLE.
Aquila Imperialis.
Drawn from Nature & on Stonety 7&2 Cod. Lrunted by C. Falimandel:
Genus AQUILA, Briss.
Gin. Cuan. Bill straight at the base, strong, much hooked at the point, compressed, the sides
inclining upwards and forming a narrow culmen; the tomia of the upper mandibles having
a faint obtuse lobe situated behind the commencement of the hook. Nostrils oval, lateral,
placed transversely in the cereous part of the bill; space between the nostrils and eye
thinly covered with radiating hairs. Wings ample; the fourth and fifth quill-feathers the
longest. Tarsz thickly clothed with feathers to the toes, which are rather short, and united
by a membrane at the base. Claws very strong, hooked, and very sharp, grooved beneath ;
those on the outer and hind toes the largest.
IMPERIAL EAGLE.
Aquila Imperialis, Bross.
L’Aigle Imperial.
Tur range of habitat occupied by this noble species in Europe is far more limited than that of its congener the
Golden Eagle, which it closely resembles in its form, habits, and manners, being in fact exclusively confined
to the eastern portions of the Continent, where it is abundant, particularly in Hungary, Dalmatia, and ‘Turkey.
In its adult state it may be readily distinguished from the Golden Eagle by the large white marks which are
situated on the scapularies. It is said to give a preference to the extensive forests of mountain districts,
rarely frequenting those of the plains. It always builds, says M. Temminck, eitber in the mountain forests or
on high rocks, the female laying two or three eggs, of a dull white. The young in the plumage of the first
and second year differ from the adult in having the upper part of a rufous brown, varied with large blotches
of light red, and in having the scapularies merely terminated with white instead of being wholly of that
colour; tail ash-coloured, spotted towards the extremity with brown, and terminating in rufous ; back of the
neck and all the under surface light buff, the feathers of the breast and belly bordered with bright red; beak
dark ash ; irides brown; tarsi olive. ;
In the adult the feathers on the crown of the head and back of the neck are of a lanceolate form, and of
a rufous tinge bordered with a brighter tint; all the under surface of a deep blackish brown, with the
exception of the belly, which is yellowish red; the upper surface is of dark glossy brown; several of the
scapularies of a pure white; tail deep ash-colour irregularly banded with black, each feather having a large
black bar near its extremity, which is yellowish white ; irides light yellow ; cere and tarsi yellow.
The Plate represents an adult and a young bird one third of the natural size.
a,
thy
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GOLDEN BAGLE.
Aquila chrysaeta ; (47/5 /
GOLDEN EAGLE.
Aquila chrysaeta, Brass.
L’Aigle Royal.
Or the two large Eagles which make the British Isles a permanent residence, the present noble species,
although rather inferior in point of size, is more rapacious and sanguinary in its habits, feeding more exclu-
sively on prey acquired by its own exertions, fawns, lambs, hares, rabbits and large birds being its usual
victims : the Sea Eagle, on the contrary, feeds chiefly upon fish, large sea birds, and, not unfrequently, putrid
carcases ; its habitat is consequently the mountains and craggy rocks along the sea shore, while the Golden
Kagle frequents in preference the inland parts of the country, resorting to large forests and secluded situations.
The Golden Eagle appears formerly to have been by no means an uncommon bird in the British Isles ; but
the increase of population and the cultivation of the land have driven it to the remoter portions of the king-
dom, and it is now only to be found, and that but sparingly, among the highlands of the North, the wilder
parts of Ireland, and occasionally in Wales: and although the romantic lakes and hills of Westmoreland and
Cumberland, the rocky parts of Derbyshire, and the barren districts of Cornwall, were not long since among
the number of its breeding-places, it is now seldom, if ever, to be found there, a bird of its size and habits
not only exciting the attention, but the hostility also of the inhabitants of the surrounding districts. On the
Continent it is more abundant, particularly in the northern and hilly countries, as Norway, Sweden and some
parts of Russia: it is also found, but in less abundance, in Germany and France, and still less frequently in Italy
or further southwards.
In the cleft of some inaccessible rock, or, as M. Temminck states, on the tops of the tallest trees of the
forest, the Golden Eagle constructs its eyrie, and brings up its young, feeding them with the yet quivering
flesh of the prey, whose remains are found scattered in abundance around. The eggs are two in number,
sometimes three, of a dull white stained with dull red.
The young and adult of this noble bird exhibit marked differences of plumage, a circumstance which led the
older writers on Ornithology to make in this instance, as in some others, two species out of one, an error
which has been but lately corrected ; and we have yet much to learn respecting the laws which regulate
these changes, so remarkable in this ferocious tribe. ;
The Ring-tailed Eagle, then, is but the immature stage of the Golden Eagle, nor is the full plumage attained
but by slow degrees, two or three years being required for bringing the markings to their stationary character.
When in full plumage, the feathers on the head and occiput are lancet-shaped, and of a rich gilded brown;
the rest of the body is of a dull brown approaching to chocolate brown, the feathers of the inner side of the
thighs and tarsi being lighter; tail greyish brown with transverse bands of blackish brown, with which
colour it is tipped ; beak horn colour ; irides brown ; and tarsi yellow. Length three feet, the female being
from four to six inches longer.
The immature birds, till the commencement of the third year, have the whole of the plumage of a reddish
brown, with the under tail-coverts, inner side of the thighs and tarsi nearly white; the tail white for three
parts of its length, (whence the synonym of Ring-tailed Eagle,) the tip being brown. In proportion as the
young bird advances, the colours become richer and deeper, the white of the tail contracts, and bars begin to
appear. ‘The third year is that of the assumption of perfect plumage.
The figures are a young and an adult, about one third of their natural size.
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BONELLI’S EAGLE.
Aquila Bonelli.
PAN C Ole eo GE. (Loman)
Drain from Nedaruke on stone by J&L Contd, Lrinted ty C Fielimandd,
BONELLI’S EAGLE.
Aquila Bonelli.
L’Aigle Bonelli.
M. Temmincx was, we believe, the first to make known this elegant species of Eagle as an occasional visitant
in Europe. The number of examples which have come under our notice within the last few years induce us
to believe it to be much more common than is generally suspected ; it is, however, more particularly an African
species, though its range appears to be extensive, as it may be frequently met with in collections from India.
Several living specimens have at various times been received by the Zoological Society, and appeared to bear
confinement equally well with others of the same genus. All these, we may observe, were received from
Africa, and it is from one of them that our figure is taken; and from the circumstance of its having been an
inhabitant of the menagerie for at least two or three years, we may reasonably conclude that it has nearly
attained its adult colouring. There appears to be no other species of the group that exhibits so many and
varied changes as the present bird, and in fact specimens are to be found of all shades, from a uniform tint of
rich fulvous over the under surface to white or nearly so, with merely the centre of the feather striped with
dark brown, and even much lighter than the birds represented in our Plate. M.Temminck having described
these changes with considerable minuteness, we take the liberty of subjoining his description in full.
Adult male. ‘‘ Upper surface brown, more or less deep, without any well-defined markings ; under surface
rust red, more or less bright, the shaft of all the feathers dark brown; tail uniform ash colour or slightly
reddish with a terminal band of brown, or marked with distant brown bands ; cere and toes yellow ; irides
nut brown; total length two feet.”
Adult female. << Upper surface blackish brown ; cheeks, throat, front and sides of the neck rust red, marked
with small brown stripes along the stem of each feather; the remainder of the under surface of a duller rust
red, each feather having a large longitudinal brown stripe, with the shaft black ; similar markings appear on
the feathers of the tarsus; inferior wing-coverts black ; base of the primaries and secondaries deep grey
marbled with black ; tips of the primaries entirely black ; tail pure ash, faintly banded or nearly uniform ; all
the quills with a large blackish band near the tip, which is more or less whitish; beak black at the tip, and
greenish towards the base; toes yellowish ; total length from two feet to two feet six inches.
“A specimen probably younger presented the following appearances : head, neck, back, scapularies and
wings ash brown, marked along the shafts with blackish brown; all the great coverts, scapularies, and quills
marked at intervals with very large black bands disposed in zigzags; the primaries and secondaries white, on
the interior webs rayed with blackish bands ; all the tail-feathers are ash brown above with nine or ten trans-
verse bands, the intervening spaces being twice as wide as the bands ; all these feathers are terminated with
golden red more or less bright ; beneath, the tail is whitish with a tint of red, and faint indications of trans-
verse bands ; front of the neck and chest clear red, with the stems of the feathers brown ; thighs, feathers on
the tarsus, abdomen, and under tail-coverts dirty white clouded with red and without spots.
We have figured an adult male about two thirds of the natural size.
er
Ob Ag ott Hes
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pe
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SPOTTED EAGL
Aquila nevia; //Leyer/
Fa
Fi, Leww ddA, trinited ty C Zod
SPOTTED EAGLE.
Aquila nzvius, Meyer.
L’Aigle criard.
Turs small but true Eagle receives its specific name from the spotted markings which characterize the
species in its youthful dress. During the first year this feature is much more conspicuous than in the speci-
men from which our figure was taken, and which was in its second or third year. When in its permanent
state of plumage, which is not attained till the fourth or fifth year, these markings become nearly effaced, the
whole of the plumage being then of a uniform rich shining brown. In many of its habits and manners it
closely resembles the Golden Eagle, and others of its genus, though in size it is far inferior to that noble bird.
It is sparingly dispersed throughout Germany, the Pyrenees, and Russia; and from the circumstance of indi-
viduals having been received from India, we may naturally conclude that those found in Europe are only a
scattered few, dwelling in the extreme limits of their true habitat. According to M. Temminck it is common
in Africa, and especially in Egypt ; hence we may infer that its range is throughout the south-eastern portions
of the Old World.
It builds in high trees, and the eggs are said to be two in number, of a light colour thinly blotched with
reddish brown.
Its food consists of small quadrupeds and birds ; it is also well known that it feeds, particularly during the
summer, upon the larger kinds of insects which abound in its native regions. We are not aware that any
of the other true Eagles live upon this kind of prey, though we know it to be the case with many of the
smaller genuine Falcons.
The female, although not differing in colour, has the same relative superiority in size over the male as in
the Falconide generally.
In the adult, the whole of the plumage is of a fine rich glossy brown; the primaries black ; the cere and
toes yellow; bill black ; irides brown.
The Plate represents a bird in the plumage of the second year, three fourths of the natural size.
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BOOTED EAGLE.
Aquila pennata;/ph/
Lramyran Nature & on Stone by Th LZ. Contd, trented by C Fudimended
BOOTED EAGLE.
Aquila pennata, S¢eph.
L’Aigle botte.
Tue Aquila pennata may be regarded as the smallest of the true Eagles, and one of the most beautiful of its
tribe ; a casual glance would, however, almost lead to confound it with the Buzzards, and especially with that
group which is feathered to the toes: it is smaller in size than any European species of Buzzard, nevertheless
when we examine its beak, strong tarsus, and powerful claws, together with the long lanceolate feathers on the
top of the head and neck, the great breadth and power of the shoulders, and the shortness of the tail, we at
once recognise the characteristic features of the genuine Eagles. The eastern portions of Europe and the
adjacent districts of Asia constitute its native habitat, whence it migrates annually as far as Austria, Moravia,
and the eastern parts of Germany. A fine specimen of the male of this species, which was killed in the
Austrian territories, was placed at our disposal by Baron de Feldegg, and of this bird our plate is a careful
representation. In an interesting collection lately received by the Zoological Society from Trebizond, we
observed a fine example of this species in a younger and consequently in a somewhat different state of plumage
from that which we have figured, which is fully adult.
Its food consists of small quadrupeds, birds, and insects. M. Temminck informs us that it builds its nest
in Hungary, near the Carpathian mountains. Its eggs are not known.
The adult has the top of the head light yellowish brown, each feather being lanceolate in form and having a
dash of dark brown; the middle of the back and upper surface dark greyish brown ; at the insertion of the
wings is a patch, consisting of eight or ten feathers, of a pure white; a broad stripe of light yellowish brown
extends from the shoulders across the wing to the secondaries, which with the quills are deep blackish brown ;
tail deep greyish brown, each feather having a lighter tip; under surface white, with the exception of the chest,
which has the stem of each feather slightly dashed with brown ; cere and claws yellow ; irides hazel.
The young differs from the adult in having narrow transverse bars of sandy yellow across the breast and
thighs.
The figure is of the natural size.
4
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SEA BEAGLE.
Haheetus albicilla; /-Selby/.
la bth a tithe L by C Lidd
VA tC WAhOg Lrinted ty C Fidimoan
Genus HALIAETUS.
Gen. Cuar. Beak elongated, strong, straight at the base, curved in a regular are in advance
of the cere to the tip, and forming a deep hook ; cudmen broad, and rather flattened ;
tomza of the upper mandible slightly prominent behind the commencement of the hook.
Nostrils large, placed transversely in the cere, and of a lunated shape. Wings ample, the
fourth quill-feather the longest. Legs having the tarsi half feathered; the front of the
naked part scutellated, and the sides and back reticulated. Toes divided to their origin ;
the outer one versatile. Claws strong, hooked, and grooved beneath; the claw of the hind
toe larger than that of the inner toe, which, again, exceeds that of the middle and outer toes.
SEA EAGLE.
Haliaetus albicilla, Savzgny.
L’Aigle pygargue.
Science is indebted to the observation of Mr. Selby for a knowledge of the fact that the Cinereous and Sea
Eagles of the older writers are identical species, differing only in the respective stages of plumage, which
depend solely upon age. The fact thus ascertained by experiment had been in some measure anticipated both
by Cuvier and Temminck, but wanted that direct proof which rearing the birds from youth and preserving
them to maturity could alone furnish.
It is the most common of the European Eagles, and perhaps the most widely dispersed. In the British
Islands it frequently occurs along the rocky shores of England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland and the adjacent
islands, and many pairs are known annually to breed in different parts of the three last-named countries.
The appetite for fish which this noble bird possesses leads it to give the preference to the margin of the sea,
the shores of rivers and large lakes. Aquatic birds, small mammalia, such as hares, lambs, fawns, &c., and,
when pressed by hunger, even carrion also, may be reckoned among the articles forming its diet; but like all
the rapacious birds, especially the Eagles, it is capable of sustaining life for a considerable period when food
cannot be obtained. Although not so alert and sprightly as the Golden Kagle, it is nevertheless vigorous and
resolute, its powers of flight enabling it to soar with great majesty and ease through the upper regions of
the air, whence it often precipitates itself upon its prey, or any intruder near its nest, with great force and
velocity. Its range over Europe, although extensive, is limited to the more northern portions, particularly
the rocky coast of Norway and Sweden, as well as that of Russia, Germany, Holland, and France. In the
absence of bold precipitous rocks, which form its favourite place of nidification, it accommodates itself to the
circumstances of the locality, constructing its nest on the top of the largest tree of the forest, bordering
inland seas and lakes. The eggs are white, and two in number.
Three or four years at least are required to complete the state of plumage represented by the bird in the
foreground of our Plate, which is that of maturity, a period characterized by the white tail, and the bright
straw yellow-coloured bill.
The sexes offer little or no difference in their plumage at the corresponding periods of their age.
The adults have the bill and cere bright straw yellow; irides reddish brown; the whole head and neck
are of a pale ashy brown, the feathers being long and pointed; the rest of the plumage is of a dark greyish
brown, more intense on the upper surface ; the tail pure white ; tarsi and toes yellow.
The young have the beak and tail blackish brown, and the general plumage of a deep brown, the feathers
of the head and neck being somewhat lighter than the rest.
The Plate represents an adult and a young bird of the first year, about one third of the natural size.
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WHITE HEADED BAGLE.
Haheetas leucocephalus; /Savegny/
LZ. Leow del ct thay. Lrtid ly CO Finllnanded
WHITE-HEADED EAGLE.
Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Savigny.
L’Aigle a téte blanche.
Ir is not until very recently that the confusion which had existed in the instance of the Golden Eagle (gen.
Aquila), as well as in that of the Sea Eagle, and of the present species (gen. Halieétus), has by patient
observation been satisfactorily cleared away. This confusion arose from the striking difference in the plumage
of the immature bird from that which characterizes it in an adult condition. Hence it was that the White-
headed or Bald Eagle (as it is called by Wilson), has been universally confounded with the Sea Eagle (H. albi-
cilla), a species which appears to be exclusively European. It must, indeed, be confessed that the immature
birds of both species very closely resemble each other ; but we believe that distinguishing characters are not
wanting even at this period, though perhaps not very apparent upon a superficial examination; the tail, for
example, is longer in the White-headed Eagle, and the plumage is less regularly varied with brown.
Sir W. Jardine, in his notes on Wilson’s description of this species, observes, that having had both the
White-headed and the Sea Eagle in his possession for several years, he has observed their respective manners
to be also different, the White-headed being “‘ more active and restless in disposition,” ‘‘ constantly in motion,”
and incessantly uttering ‘its shrill barking cry.” It is also more fierce and untameable.
The adult of the present species cannot be mistaken, but the white of the head and tail is not acquired in
its full purity till the third year. The first moult gives a mingling of ash colour, white, and obscure brown ;
the second increases the ratio of white; the third completes the transition from the dull greyish brown of
the first year.
Sir W. Jardine observes, that in captivity from three to five years are required to effect a thorough change.
This beautiful Eagle is a native of the temperate and northern regions of both continents, but is much more
common in America, where it is adopted as the national standard of the United States. ‘‘ Formed,” says
Wilson, “by nature for braving the severest cold ; feeding equally on the produce of the sea and of the land ;
possessing powers of flight capable of outstripping even the tempests themselves ; unawed by anything but man;
and from the ethereal heights to which he soars looking abroad at one glance on an immeasurable expanse of
forests, fields, lakes, and ocean deep below him; he appears indifferent to the little localities of change of
seasons, as in a few minutes he can pass from summer to winter, from the lower to the higher regions of
the atmosphere, the abode of eternal cold, and thence descend at will to the torrid or the arctic regions of
the earth.”
Though preying indiscriminately on every kind of animal, especially small mammalia, and not even refusing
carrion when pressed by hunger, the White-headed Eagle gives the decided preference to fish. Not that he
obtains his prey by his own exertions asa fisher, or at least very seldom, and then only in the shallows ; he
watches the labours of the Osprey, and forces that industrious fisher to give up his booty. Wilson’s spirited
description of the contest has been often quoted; nor is the sketch by Audubon of this bird’s ferocious attack
upon the Wild Swan less replete with descriptive energy. The favourite localities of the White-headed Eagle
are the borders of lakes, the rocky margins of the larger rivers, and especially the precipitous shores of the
ocean.
The nest is generally placed in the topmost branches of lofty trees, often in the centre of a morass or swamp,
and is formed of a mass of sticks, sods, grass, &c. It is increased by fresh layers annually, being repaired
and used year after year until it becomes of such magnitude as to be observable at a great distance. ‘The
young are fed with fish, which often lie scattered in a putrid state round the tree, infecting the air for a con-
siderable distance. The young are at first covered with a cream-coloured cottony down, which gradually
gives place to the greyish brown feathers of the first year.
The adult plumage is as follows: head, upper part of the neck, and the tail, pure white ; body of a deep
chocolate brown; beak, cere, and tarsi, whitish yellow ; irides almost white.
We have figured an adult male and an immature bird one third the size of nature.
OSPREY.
Pandion haheetus; / Sang.)
tone by &
Genus PANDION.
Gen. Cuar. Beak short, strong, rounded and broad, cutting edge nearly straight. Nostrils
oblong-oval, placed obliquely. Wings long; the second and third quill-feathers the
longest. Legs strong and muscular; tarsi short, covered with scales. Toes free, nearly
equal in length ; outer toe reversible; all armed with strong curved and sharp claws;
under surface of the toes rough and covered with small pointed scales.
OSPREY.
Pandion halizetus, Sav.
Le Balbuzard.
Tuere is no species of the great family of Fadconide whose range of habitat is so universal as that of the
Osprey; and there certainly is none to whose habits attaches more interest than to those of this noble bird.
While some of its race prey upon quadrupeds, and others upon the feathered tribes, the Osprey gains his
subsistence almost exclusively from the waters, the scaly tenants of that element constituting its food: hence
it is observed, that the countries in which he takes up his abode must be at least temperate, since it is evident
that if the waters be frozen, he would be compelled by necessity to seek a more congenial climate. Such is
evidently the case ; and hence the Osprey is everywhere migratory, visiting the northern latitudes only during
the months of spring and summer. In Europe this bird is but thinly dispersed; but to counterbalance this
it is found in every portion of it, at least where wide rivers, lakes and arms of the sea offer it the necessary
supply of food. The British Isles are not so much frequented as other parts of Europe ; and when one of these
birds dces make its appearance, its magnitude and peculiar actions call forth the attacks of so many assailants,
that it is either quickly destroyed or driven to seek a safer asylum elsewhere. Indeed it can hardly be said
to be a welcome visiter, since it makes the greatest havoc among the stock of fish-ponds and -rivers, not
readily leaving if once established where its prey abounds.
In some parts of America the Osprey is very common, especially in the United States, where it makes its
appearance on the return of spring: hence it is a welcome visiter, since its arrival betokens the opening of
the rivers and the return of the hordes of fish. Here along the borders of mighty streams, undisturbed
and unmolested save by the Bald Eagle, its professed enemy, it builds its nest in tall trees, constructing it of
sticks and turf, so as to form a large mass, on the edges of which other small birds congregate and nidify
without the slightest injury : in fact, the Osprey, or Fish-Hawk, is a quiet bird, with little ferocity or daring in
his temperament. His manner of taking his prey is very remarkable: hovering for a time on wide-spread
wings over the water, he then sails about, intently gazing on the element beneath. The moment a fish appears,
down he plunges like an arrow, almost disappearing beneath the water, but rising in a moment, with the
victim grasped in his strong and incurved talons : throwing the spray from his burnished plumage, he soars
aloft, and hastens to his nest to share the spoil with his young, or feast upon it at leisure. Often, however, is
the Osprey robbed of his prize. We have alluded to the Bald or White-headed Eagle as his foe, who frequently
chases him when loaded with his booty, which he is forced to relinquish to his stronger opponent. The
spirited narrative of the contest between these two birds—the one to retain, the other to obtain, the booty—
in Wilson’s American Ornithology, is probably familiar to all our readers; if not, we recommend them to
peruse it. The eggs are generally three, of a dull white, blotched with dark red or yellow brown.
In the adult state of plumage, the whole of the upper surface is of a rich glossy brown ; the top and sides
of the head are mingled white and brown, and a brown line passes from behind the eye to the shoulder ; the
throat, chest and underparts are white slightly dashed with a few lines of rusty brown; tail barred ; cere
and nostrils light brown; tarsi blueish lead colour ; irides yellowish orange. |
The young are distinguished by the feathers of the upper surface being edged with whitish, and the chest
being almost wholly of a pale brown.
We have figured an adult and a young bird about half the natural size.
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SHORT-TOED EAGLE.
Grcaétus brachydactylus;/ Veet)
LE Lear dd tlith: - Srinted by C Pallmanded: :
Genus CIRCAETUS, Ficeiil.
Gen. Cuar. Beak robust, convex, compressed laterally; the upper mandible with its edges
straight, and the point crooked ; the inferior blunt at its tip. Nos¢rz/s oval and transverse.
Tarst naked, reticulated, elongated, and thick. Toes short, the outer two united at their
base by a web; the lateral and hind toes nearly equal; nails short and strongly curved.
Wings long, the third quill-feather the longest; the first shorter than the sixth.
SHORT-TOED EAGLE.
Circaetus brachydactylus, Vell.
L’Aigle jean le blanc.
In the present Eagle is exhibited one of those links which in the family Fudconide are so numerous and so
clearly appreciable, uniting group to group by intermediate forms so nicely balanced as to embody in them-
selves the main characters of the more typical genera between which they are interposed. In the ‘‘ Régne
Animal” of the Baron Cuvier, that great naturalist judiciously observes that the genus Circaétus holds an in-
termediate place between the fishing-eagles (Haligétus), the ospreys (Pandion), and the true buzzards (Buteo) ;
and he adds that it has the wings of the eagles and buzzards, with the reticulated tarsi of the ospreys.
Of all the eagles and buzzards none appear to have a wider range than the Short-toed Eagle. Its European
localities, according to M. Temminck, are principally Germany and Switzerland: in France it occurs occasion-
ally ; but in Holland and the British Islands it has never been seen. It is also dispersed nearly through the
whole of Africa and India, countries peculiarly favourable to it, in as much as its food consists principally of
snakes and reptiles, which especially abound in the hotter portions of the globe. In the nature of its food and
in the elongation of its tarsi we cannot fail to trace a marked approximation to the true Harriers, which, it
is well known, are inveterate destroyers of every kind of reptile.
Like most of the Malconide, the Short-toed Eagle undergoes a succession of changes before it attains a
permanent state of plumage. The colouring is so well detailed by M. Temminck that it is useless to attempt
any addition. He states that the young have the upper parts of a deep brown, but that the base of each
feather is of a pure white, the throat, breast, and belly being of a reddish brown, little or not at all blotched
with white ; the bars on the tail almost imperceptible ; the beak bluish ; the tarsi greyish white.
The colouring of the adult male is as follows :
The head is very large; below the eye is a space clothed with white downy feathers ; the top of the head,
cheeks, throat, breast, and belly are white, variegated by a few blotches of light brown ; shoulders and wing-
coverts brown, the base of every feather being white ; tail square at the end, of a greyish brown barred with
brown of a deeper tint, and white underneath; tarsi long, and, as well as the toes, of a light bluish grey ;
beak black; cere bluish ; irides yellow.
The female is distinguished by having less white in her plumage, and by having the head, neck, and breast
more thickly blotched.
Our Plate represents a bird in a state intermediate between youth and maturity, in which, as may be ob-
served, the flanks and thighs are transversely barred with brown: the figure is about one third less than the
natural size.
ny ra ty
4
COMMON BUZZARD.
Buteo vulgaris ; “Zechs¢/
L Leer del & lithog: / ' Lamied ty C udimanddé:
Genus BUTEO.
Gen. Cuar. Beak rather weak, bending from the base, sides compressed, widening from the
base, where the culmen is broad and flat; under mandible shallow, with the tip obliquely
truncated. Cere large. Nostri/s pyriform. Wings long and ample, the third or fourth
quill-feather being the longest, the first four having their inner webs deeply notched, the
third, fourth, and fifth having their outer webs deeply notched. Tarsi short, naked or
feathered to the toes. Toes rather short, the front ones united at the base. Claws strong
but not much hooked.
COMMON BUZZARD.
Buteo vulgaris, Bechst.
La Buse.
Unuixe the true Falcons, whose vigorous flight and aérial disposition place them at the head of the Raptorial
birds, or the spirited and bold short-winged birds of the genera Astur and. Accipiter, the species of the present
genus, though possessed of considerable bodily powers, are sluggish, timid, and inactive; still they are
admirably adapted by nature to fill the office for which they are designed in the ceconomy of the creation.
Slowly soaring on buoyant wings, the Common Buzzard surveys the earth beneath in search of the smaller
mammalia and reptiles which constitute its food, and upon which they pounce with a rapid and noiseless
descent ; nor does it disdain, when pressed by hunger, to partake of carrion, or such offal as chance throws
in its way. Such may be regarded as the character of the Buzzard, which is an inhabitant of all the wooded
districts of the British Islands, more particularly those of the southern districts. It is still more abundant in
France, Holland, and all the temperate parts of Europe, being everywhere stationary.
To illustrate all the changes which this bird undergoes, and which are, indeed, characteristic of the
Buzzards in general, would far exceed the space allotted to each subject of the present work; we have
therefore given a figure of the bird in that state which is most common to the species: it is these changes
that have led to a great multiplication of the species, and to no little confusion, in the works of the older
ornithologists.
Its nest is constructed of sticks in the densest part of the wood, and it sometimes takes up with the
deserted nests of Crows, Pies, &c. The eggs are two or three in number, of a dirty white colour, slightly
spotted with reddish brown.
From our own experience, we are enabled to say, that the birds of one year old are much lighter in their
plumage, particularly on the under surface, than those of the succeeding year, and may be easily recognised
by their having the upper portions of their plumage, which is of a very dark brown with violet reflections,
edged on each feather with a light yellowish white margin. The next year they become still darker, the back
and breast assuming an almost uniform tinge of the same colour, being irregularly broken with transverse
bars of yellowish white: the tail is also darker, particularly towards its base, which is generally white or
whitish in the bird of the year. In the very advanced stage the colouring is still more uniform, of a pale
cinereous brown, with faint indications of an occipital crest, which is represented by two or three feathers
more elongated than the rest, and of a darker colour ; the cere and legs lemon yellow ; irides hazel.
The Plate represents an adult bird about two thirds of the natural size.
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ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD.
Buteo Lagopus ; (lene/
\
L lewrded eb hth ; Lrintod by C Zalinandel
ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD.
Buteo Lagopus, Mem.
La Buse pattué.
Tue Rough-legged Buzzard enjoys a much more extensive range of habitat than the preceding species (Buteo
eulgaris), which is strictly confined to the Old World, while the bird here represented is dispersed over
nearly the whole of the Arctic Circle. A beautiful figure of this bird will be found in the ‘Fauna Boreali-
Americana’ of Messrs. Swainson and Richardson, which upon examination will prove, beyond a doubt, its identity
with the specimens killed in Europe. Its residence in the northernmost parts of America does not appear to
be permanent, for Dr. Richardson informs us that it retires southwards in October to winter upon the banks
of the Delaware and Schuylkill, returning again to the north early in spring. ‘‘ A pair of these birds,” says
this gentleman, “‘ were seen at their nest, built of sticks, in a lofty tree, standing on a low, moist, . alluvial
point of land almost encircled by a bend of the Saskatchewan. They sailed round the spot in a wide circle,
occasionally settling on the top of the tree, but were too wary to allow us to come within gunshot.”
The Rough-legged Buzzard is abundant over the whole of the North of Europe, but is more thinly dispersed
over its temperate and warmer parts. It is not a permanent resident in any of the British Isles, but visits
them periodically, being in some seasons tolerably abundant, while in others it is scarce. During its stay it
commits great depredation in the rabbit warrens, in the neighbourhood of which it may generally be fouud ;
it also preys upon rats, hamsters, moles, lizards, frogs, and, according to Mr. Selby, wild ducks and other
birds. <‘‘ In the winter of 1815,” says this gentleman, ‘‘ Northumberland was visited by some of these birds,
and several opportunities were afforded me of inspecting both living and dead specimens. Those which came
under examination closely resembled each other as to colour and markings, though some individuals were
darker along the belly than others; and the quantity of white upon the upper half of the tail was not always
of equal breadth. Two of these birds, from having’ attached themselves to a neighbouring marsh, passed
under my frequent observation. ‘Their flight was smooth but slow, and not unlike that of the Common
Buzzard, and they seldom continued for any length of time on the wing. They preyed upon wild ducks
and other birds, which they pounced upon the ground ; and it would appear that mice and frogs must have
constituted a great part of their food, as the remains of both were found in the stomachs of those that were
killed.”
The plumed tarsi of this species at once distinguish it from its near ally the Common Buzzard, to which it
assimilates in its general contour, as well as in many of its actions, and its general economy.
The nest, according to M. Temminck, is built in lofty trees; the eggs, which are four in number, being
white spotted with reddish brown.
Like the common species this bird undergoes a variety of changes between youth and maturity. The sexes
are alike in plumage.
Adults have the head, neck, and throat yellowish white, with narrow streaks of brown; back and wing-
coverts brown, with paler edges ; lower part of the inner webs of the quills white ; upper tail-coverts and
base of the tail white, the remainder being brown crossed with bands of the same colour, but of a darker
tint; breast yellowish white with large spots of brown; under surface brown; thighs yellowish white, with
brown arrow-shaped spots ; tarsi clothed with feathers of a yellowish white, with a few small brown specks ;
bill bluish black, darkest at the tip; cere and irides bright yellow ; toes reddish yellow ; claws black.
The Plate represents an adult male about two thirds of the natural size.
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HONEY BUZZARD.
Pernis apivorus; /Ge/
Lrown from Naiare ke, On stontly Th, Good
Lranted by C Fintan:
Genus PERNIS, Cuv.
Gen. Cuar. Bill slender, weak, bending gradually from the base to the tip ; cutting margin
nearly straight ; cere occupying half the length of the bill; under mandible sloping gra-
dually to the tip. Nosérz/s long, narrow, placed very obliquely in the cere and opening
forwards: lores thickly covered with small soft tiled feathers. Wings long and ample;
first feather shorter than the sixth, and the third and fourth the longest in the wing ; inner
webs of the first four notched, and the outer webs of the third, fourth, and fifth sinuated.
Tail long and slightly rounded. Legs, tarsal half feathered, lower or naked part reticu-
lated. Toes rather slender, the inner and outer ones of nearly equal length, the anterior
joints of all scutellated. Claws weak, slightly hooked, with the inner edge of the middle
one dilated.
HONEY BUZZARD.
Pernis apivorus, Cw.
La Buse Bondrée.
Tue Honey Buzzard, which is the type of Cuvier’s genus Pernis, is much more sparingly diffused over the
continent of Europe than the Common Buzzard (Buteo vulgaris), from which it differs in possessing a more
feeble and softer bill, which is wider in the gape, and in having shorter and less powerful tarsi and toes, the
claws of which are straighter and less retractile: it may also be easily distinguished from the members of the
genus Buteo by the small and closely set feathers which cover the space between the bill and the eye, which
space in all the rest of the Falconide is either bare or thinly covered with fine hairs or bristles.
We have good reason to believe that the Honey Buzzard is far more abundant in the British Islands than
is generally suspected, several instances having come to our knowledge, not only of its capture, but also of its
breeding in this country. Its flight is easy and graceful, and, like its near ally the Buteo vulgaris, its great
size readily attracts the notice of the keeper and sportsman, to whom it soon becomes a prey when it takes
up its abode in our woods or parks. The range of this bird is not confined to Europe alone, as is proved by
our having frequently observed it in collections from India.
— Its favourite food appears to be insects, wasps, bees, and their larve, to which are added lizards, small birds,
mice, and moles.
It is subject to a number of changes in the colouring of its plumage, some individuals being of a uniform
dark bronzy brown, while others have the head, neck, and under surface almost white with broad transverse
bars of brown: this latter state is considered to characterize the young bird.
It builds in lofty trees, constructing a nest of twigs lined with wool and other soft materials ; the eggs are
small, of a yellowish white marked with numerous spots of reddish brown.
Crown of the head brown tinged with bluish; upper surface brown of various tints edged with yellowish
brown ; throat yellowish white with a few brown streaks on the shafts of the feathers ; under surface yel-
lowish white, with triangular spots and bars of chestnut ; tail dark brown, with three bars of blackish brown ;
bill bluish black ; cere greenish ; irides yellow ; tarsi and feet yellow ; claws black.
There being no difference in the colouring of the sexes, we have figured a bird in the plumage of its first
year.
7
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GOS HAW K
Astur Palumbarius, (/Zehs/
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Genus ASTUR.
Gen. Cuar. Beak short, bending from the base, compressed ; upper mandible festooned on its
cutting margin. Vostrdls oval, opening obliquely forwards. Wings short, when closed
reaching only one-half the length of the tail; fourth quill-feather the longest; inner
webs of the first five deeply notched. Legs covered in front with broad scales; middle
toe much longer than the lateral ones, which are equal; hind toe strong; claws curved,
strong and sharp. .
GOSHAWK.
Astur palumbarius, Bechst.
L Autour.
Tur Falco palumbarius of Linneus, the Astur palumbarius of the present day, may be regarded as the most
noble and typical species of its genus,—a genus separated from the Falcons by the absence of the true
dentation of the mandibles, and by possessing a short and more rounded form of wings, together with a
slender and less robust body ; and distinguished from the genus Accipiter by its short and powerful tarsus,
and by the diminished length of the middle toe, which, from its length, in the latter genus forms so
conspicuous a character. j |
The genus seems somewhat extensively distributed, both in the Old and New World: from India in
particular we know of several interesting examples ; while at the same time America is not deficient in birds
of this form, the well-known Astur atricapillus of the northern portion of that country being the nearest
representative of our species, and until lately confounded with it.
The Astur palumbarius is found in considerable abundance in all the wooded districts of Central Europe,
though in the present day of very rare occurrence in our own island. M. '‘Temminck informs us that it is
also equally scarce in Holland.
This elegant and noble bird minutely resembles in its general habits our well-known Sparrow Hawk, and
is not excelled im spirit or daring by the noblest of the Falcons. Its manner of taking its prey, however,
appears to us exceedingly different. Pursuing it with assiduity, undaunted courage sand perseverance, it does
not stoop upon it like a Falcon, but glides after its victim, in a line, with the utmost velocity. It was anciently
much esteemed in falconry, and its mode of taking its prey is more successful than that of the Falcon, although
it does not exhibit those aérial evolutions which are so much admired in the Jerfalcon. The Goshawk was
especially used for taking hares and partridges,—game which do not call into play the Falcon’s peculiar mode
of flight. |
The male and female offer the same disproportionate difference in size as the Sparrow Hawk, and the
former has the transverse markings finer and more distinct. The colouring of the two sexes is otherwise
closely similar. The young, in the first and second year, possess, instead of the transverse bars on the
breast, large oblong dashes of brown, upon a ground of white tinged with rufous.
In the adult, the whole of the upper surface is of a dull blueish grey, the under surface white with
transverse somewhat zigzag bars of black, and wavy lines of the same colour across the shaft of each feather ;
the tail ash-coloured above, with four or five bars of blackish brown; irides and feet fine yellow.
The Plate represents a female in full plumage, and a young bird in its immature stage about three fourths
of the natural size.
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SPARROW HAWK.
\capiter fringillarms , (Aay/.
Falco msus; /Zznw,/
Prnied iy 6 ullmandel:
SPARROW HAWK.
Accipiter fringillarius, Ray.
L’Epervier.
Or the smaller European birds of prey the Sparrow Hawk is one of the most bold and intrepid, and, unlike
many of the true Falcons of its own size, which live in a great measure upon insects, it preys almost exclusively
upon the birds of the Passerine order, but it does not hesitate to attack those of a larger size, and proves a
destructive enemy to Pigeons, Partridges, and’ young poultry ;—hence it is one of those predatory tyrants
which are peculiarly obnoxious among the preserves of game, especially during the breeding season. It is
often seen (pressed no doubt by the necessity of providing for its young,) hovering about the borders of
the wood, or lurking in the hedge-row, and ever and anon pouncing upon some unfortunate victim which has
arrested its attention. Quick-eyed and rapid, it darts upon its quarry like an arrow, and pursues it with
unrelenting pertinacity, undaunted even by the presence of man, in whom the terrified fugitive has been often
known to trust for a chance of safety in the desperate emergency; and many instances are on record of the
Lark and Pigeon rushing into houses through open windows, followed by the intrepid foe. The flight of the
Sparrow Hawk, though distinguishable for celerity, is not of that soaring character which we observe in the
true Falcons ; instead of descending upon its prey from aloft, and striking it down, or if missing the stroke,
mounting again and repeating a similar assault, it darts at it without rising to any altitude, and follows up
the chase till enabled to effect its capture. This peculiarity in its flight will at once distinguish it from the
Kestrel,—a bird more common, and in a state of nature often mistaken for it.
The Sparrow Hawk is universally, although but moderately distributed throughout the whole of Europe as
well as in the adjacent continents of Asia and Africa. The great disparity in size and dissimilarity in colour-
ing between the male and female are among the most remarkable peculiarities connected with the present
species. ‘The young also exhibit a decided contrast in their plumage to the adults. These differences we
shall endeavour to explain in our descriptions of each.
The adult female is in length fourteen inches ; the whole of the upper surface is of a dark greyish brown ;
but the feathers of the shoulders, if examined, are found to be barred with broad dashes of white, the end only
being of the colour which appears generally ; on the back of the neck there is a large white patch, each
feather being slightly tipped with brown; an obscure stripe of white surmounts the eye ; the throat is white
with small longitudinal specks ; the breast and underparts are also white with beautiful transverse bars; the
tail is brown like the back, and crossed with four bands of a darker colour ; cere yellowish green ; irides and
tarsi yellow.
With markings like those of the female, the male has the upper surface of a dark blueish ash colour, but
the throat and under parts are rufous, exhibiting the longitudinal specks and transverse bars as in the female,
but more obscure ; the cere, irides and tarsi as in the female; in length scarcely twelve inches.
The young male has the head and back of the neck, which is destitute of the white patch, of a reddish
colour blotched with brown ; the feathers of the back and wings are edged with reddish; the scapulars are
marked with large spots of white; the under surface yellowish white, transversely barred with reddish ; cere
greenish yellow ; irides greyish ash ; tarsi livid.
The Sparrow Hawk frequents wooded and mountainous districts, where it makes great havoc among quails,
larks, and small birds in general; small quadrupeds and lizards also form part of its diet.
It builds its nest in trees; the eggs being generally four in number, of a dull blueish white marked with
angular red blotches. .
Our Plate represents a male and female of this elegant little Hawk in their adult plumage, somewhat less
than the natural size.
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- JER FALCON.
Falcolslandicus, /Ladh/
Drawnthom rity be ov Stone by J be E Goabd. rinted by CLiaiman aed:
Genus FALCO.
Gen. Cuar. Beak short, thick, strong, curved from the base ; upper mandible with a prominent
acute tooth. Nostri/s rounded. Tarsi stout, short. Toes long, strong, armed with curved
and sharp claws. Wangs long, pointed, the first and third feathers long and equal, but
shorter than the second feather, which is the longest.
JHR-FALCON.
Falco Islandicus, Lath.
Le Faucon gerfaut.
Tue Jer-falcon may be considered the type of the true Falcons, pre-eminent as it is in all the characters and
attributes which distinguish the most noble of the birds of prey. It is a native of most of the Northern parts
of Europe, and occasionally visits the Orkney and Shetland Isles. It was seen by Captain Sabine on the west
coast of Greenland, and according to Dr. Richardson is a constant resident in the Hudson’s Bay territories,
where it is known by the name of the speckled Partridge Hawk, and Wanderer, and where it subsists by
destroying Plovers, Ptarmigan, Ducks and Geese.
The falconers who visit this country almost every season with their trained Peregrine Falcons for sale, all
agree in declaring that the Jer-falcon which they obtain constantly from Norway, is a different bird from that
which they consider the true Falcon of Iceland. They say that these two Falcons differ in the comparative
length of their wings in reference to the tail ; the Iceland Falcon is, to them, a much more valuable, as well
as a much more rare species ; that they require a different system of training, as well as of general manage-
ment. They describe the Iceland Falcon as a bird of higher courage than the Jer-falcon, of a more rapid and
bolder flight, and that he can be flown successfully at Jarger game. His gyrations are said to be wider, his
mount higher, and his stoop to the quarry more impetuous, grand, and imposing ; and a well-trained specimen
commands in consequence a much larger price. One of these falconers observed, that the Iceland Falcons he
had trained, were, to the number of Norway Jer-falcons, but as oue to twenty; another, from his own ex-
perience, considered them as still more rare. The question, Are there two species ? has occurred to systematic
writers in Ornithology; but we doubt whether the specimens contained in our various collections will afford
sufficient data to make the separation.
In the adult bird, the prevailing colour of the plumage is white, barred over the upper parts of the body,
wings and tail with narrow dark bands; top of the head streaked with dusky lines ; all the under pacts pure
white ; heak blueish black ; cere yellow ; irides dark hazel ; tarsus and toes bright yellow. In very old males,
the plumage is almost entirely white. Females have much more brown colour disposed over the upper parts,
and young birds of the year have scarcely any white; the prevailing colour of their plumage is a uniform
brownish ash ; some of the feathers of the upper parts of the body, wings and tail varied by being tipped or
barred with dingy white ; top of the head, and under surface of the body marked with longitudinal patches
of brown; cheeks light brown; throat white.
The Jer-falcon breeds in the highest aud most inaccessible rocks, and, according to Dr. Fleming, lays from
three to five spotted eggs, of the size of those of a Ptarmigan. ‘The old birds “defend their nest and young
with great courage.
The figure in the forepart of our Plate was taken from a fine example of this bird, presented to the Zoo-
logical Society by the Earl of Cawdor, which was shot on His Lordship’s estate, Stackpole Court, Pembroke-
shire, and was strongly suspected of having carried on successful warfare among some pheasants. The
figure behind is that of a young bird.
In his memoir on the Birds of Greenland, Captain Sabine observes, that ‘‘ the progress of this bird from
youth, when it is quite brown, to the almost perfect whiteness of its maturity, forms a succession of changes,
in which each individual feather gradually loses a portion of its brown, as the white edging on the margin
increases in breadth from year to year; this has been the cause of the variety of synonyms authors in general
refer to;” and, we may add, will also explain the various changes that occur during the life of this bird,
between the two periods which we have represented by the subjects chosen for our Plate.
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LANNER FALCON.
Falco lanarius, (Lom) ‘
Lroniad by C intimandel:
LANNER FALCON.
Falco lanarius, Lenn.
Le Faucon lanier.
Tue native habitat of this rare bird are the eastern portions of Europe and the adjacent parts of Asia and
Africa. It rarely passes further westward than the central parts of the European continent ; it is scarcely
ever seen in France or Holland ; and never visits Great Britain. So extremely rare it is that we are unable to
refer our readers to any collection in this country, either public or private, in which an example of this fine
Falcon may be seen. We are much indebted to our highly valued friend M. ‘Temminck for the loan of the
two fine specimens from which our figures are taken.
In point of affinity the Lanner is directly intermediate between the Gyr-falcon and the Peregrine, the adult
female being nearly, if not quite, equal in size to the male Gyr-falcon, while the male is of the usually dimi-
nutive size common to the true Falcons. In colouring it differs very considerably from either of the above-
mentioned species, never possessing the strongly barred plumage of black and white which characterizes the
Gyr-falcon, nor the transverse markings which are found on the breast of the Peregrine. While at Vienna
we had an opportunity of observing a fine living specimen in the Royal Menagerie at Schoenbrunn: as far as
we could perceive it did not evince any peculiarity of manner to distinguish it from the Gyr-falcon or the
Peregrine ; it appeared perfectly content and docile in captivity, although it is known to be extremely bold
and daring in capturing its prey when in a state of nature. If we may judge from the general appearance
of this bird, its strong bill, powerful body, and pointed wings, we should say that no one of its congeners
is better adapted for the purpose of Falconry. .
The adult has the crown of the head reddish brown, longitudinally marked with streaks of dark brown ;
over the eye a mark of yellowish white, which extends to the occiput ; all the upper surface of a deep brown
tinged with ash, each feather being bordered with reddish brown ; a narrow line of brown from the base of
the bill beneath the ear-coverts, which are yellowish white ; all the under surface yellowish white, each feather
having lanceolate marks of dark brown; the tail brown transversely barred with a darker colour; the cere
and legs yellow; and the irides brown.
The young of the year differs from the adult in having the cere and legs blue instead of yellow ; in having
the breast much more strongly marked with brown ; and in having the whole of the upper surface of a darker
tint.
The Plate represents an adult male and a young bird rather less than the natural size.
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PEREGRINE FALCON.
Falco peregrinus ; (Lomm/
ZL. Lear heh, Trinted by C ailmoande:
PEREGRINE FALCON.
Falco Peregrinus, Lenn.
Le Faucon pélerin.
Equatty typical with the Jerfalcon and Lanner, the Peregrine, although less in size, possesses the character-
istic boldness and ferocity of the genus. Being plentiful throughout the northern and middle portions of the
Old World, it has at all times been abundantly employed in falconry, and still continues to be used by the few
who continue a practice now almost obsolete. Whether we are to consider the Peregrine of North America
and the extreme southern point of that vast continent, as well as that which is met with in New Holland, and
other islands of the Pacific, as specifically identical with our European bird, is a point on which naturalists are
not unanimously agreed ; for ourselves, we consider that there exists the same difference, at least, between the
Magellanic birds and those killed in Europe as between the Barn Owls of these two portions of the world, or
as between the Goshawk of North America and that of Germany: the same observation equally applies to the
New Holland species. But whether these differences, which are always appreciable by the experienced natu-
ralists, are to be regarded as indicative of specific distinctions, or as varieties only dependent upon climate or
other causes, is a subject which admits of much controversy; we ourselves are inclined to consider that
these differences in birds closely allied are not at all times dependent upon extraneous causes, more especially
where the differences are not in the tint of the colouring, but consists of a diversity in the shape and disposi-
tion of the markings; still, however, if it could be ascertained that birds, differing as do the Magellanic and
European Peregrines, would breed with each other, and produce a fertile offspring, we should then be con-
strained to regard them as simple but permanent varieties.
In England this beautiful Falcon remains the whole year round : it appears to give preference to the bold
rocky cliffs that border the sea, in the most inaccessible parts of which it builds its eyrie, generally laying
four eggs, of a uniform dark red colour. The young, from the time of being fledged to their full maturity,
which is not attained until four or five years have elapsed, undergo a series of changes, so remarkable as to
have caused a list of numerous synonyms and no little degree of confusion: the persevering observations of
modern naturalists have, however, cleared up the confusion, and rectified the mistaken views with which the
works of the older writers abound; still one circumstance has attended this modern investigation, which
shows how difficult it is to avoid error, even in the closest scrutiny ; we allude to the fact of several writers
having contended that the Lanner, a species perfectly distinct from the Peregrine, was in fact nothing but the
young of the latter: this also is now found to be a mistake, and we trust that our Plates of the two species
will still more clearly illustrate the subject. We need scarcely comment on the rapidity of flight in which this
species so much excels, nor upon its destruction of various kinds of game, water fowl, particularly ducks,
teal, &c.
The sexes differ considerably in size, the male being much the smallest, and in general more blue on the
upper surface.
The adults have the bill lead colour, becoming black at the tip; cere, naked skin round the eyes, and the
feet yellow; whole of the upper surface bluish lead colour, approaching to black on the head and cheeks, the
feathers of the back and wings being barred with a deeper tint; quills brownish black, the inner webs barred
with white ; tail barred with bands of black and grey, the tips white ; throat and breast yellowish white ; under
surface white with a tinge of rufous, and regularly barred with transverse lines of black.
The young of the year differ in having the whole of the upper surface brown, each feather being margined
with a lighter colouring ; the breast and under surface light fawn brown, with oblong longitudinal dashes of
blackish brown; tail brown, with bands of a darker colour; cere and legs greenish yellow; irides the same
as in the adult, deep hazel approaching to black.
The Plate represents an adult and a young bird, of the natural size.
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HOBBY.
Falco subbuteo; /Zzxz.//
L by C Etimande,
HOBBY.
Falco subbuteo, Lenn.
Le Faucon hobereau.
Tue Hobby, although possessing all the typical characteristics of the genus Fadco, is nevertheless wanting
in that determined spirit and energy which distinguishes, not only the large, but also many of the smaller
species of its race,—for example, the Merlin, which boldly attacks and kills birds far larger than itself, while
the Hobby, which is a miniature representation of the Peregrine Falcon, (a bird noted for its daring and
rapacious habits,) subsists in a great measure on insects, which it takes on the wing, and for the capture of
which its rapid flight gives it great facility: nevertheless, it also attacks the smaller kinds of birds, especially
Larks, among which it makes great havoc; and has been even trained, though not without difficulty, to fly at
Quails and Partridges. ‘The Hobby has a wide range throughout Europe, where it appears to be universally
migratory, passing southwards with the approach of winter. In our island it arrives in spring, and departs
in the month of October, and, with the exception of the Kestrel and Sparrowhawk, is one of the commonest
of our smaller birds of prey. It frequents in preference wooded districts, near the margins of rivers, along
which it may be observed to glide, rapidly darting from its perch in pursuit of dragon flies and the larger
coleoptera. Its nest is built in trees, and, according to M. Temminck, sometimes even in bushes of moderate
size : it is said occasionally to usurp the nest of the Crow,—a circumstance in which it agrees with many of
its congeners. The eggs are three in number, of a dull white mottled with reddish brown.
Among the true Falcons, no bird presents less sexual difference either in size or colour. The male, in
its adult plumage, has the upper surface of a deep blackish blue; the throat white with a black moustache
passing from beneath the eye and stretching downwards to the sides of the neck ; the lower parts whitish
with longitudinal dashes ; the thighs and lower tail-coverts reddish ; the tail obscurely barred with black ; the
beak lead colour; the cere, eyelids and feet yellow ; and the irides brown. Length fourteen inches.
The female is but little larger than the male, and the young soon assume the markings of the old birds ;
but the tints are duller, and the feathers are strongly edged with rufous, which prevails especially over the
head ; the longitudinal dashes of the under parts are brown, the ground colour inclining to light reddish
yellow ; the cere and tarsi yellowish green.
The Plate represents an adult male and female of the natural size.
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RED FOOTED FALCON.
Falco rufipes. (Zechst/
LDranntromLite ton Stone by StL, Could Lrunted oy C. Filimanded
RED-FOOTED FALCON.
Falco rufipes, Bechstein.
Le Faucon a pieds rouges.
Tus small but true Falcon is one of the most elegant of the European species, and has lately become an
object of still greater interest to the British ornithologist, from the circumstance of five or six examples
having been recently taken in this country.
In the fourth volume of Loudon’s Magazine of Natural History, page 116, Mr. Yarrell has recorded, that
in the month of May 1880, three specimens of this Falcon were observed together at Horning in Norfolk.—
Fortunately all three birds were obtained, and proved to be an adult female and two young males, in different
states of plumage. A fourth specimen, a female, has been shot in Holkham Park.
A notice has since been read at the Linnean Society from Mr. Foljambe, of the capture of a male in York-
shire ; and a female lived nearly two years in the Gardens of the Zoological Society in the Regent’s Park. From
some of these examples, and from others in the collections of private friends, to which we have constant
access, we have had ample opportunities of examining the many very interesting changes of plumage which
occur in both sexes during their progress from youth to maturity.
The upper figure in our Plate represents an adult female. M. Temminck in his Manuel, page 33, describes
this bird as having the upper part of the head marked with dark longitudinal streaks. Our specimen, from
which the figure in the Plate was coloured, has the head of one uniform tint, without streak, but with a dark
circle round the eye ; and the female killed in Norfolk, of which we have seen a drawing, resembles our own
bird exactly. Both these examples are considered to be adult. ‘The immature female has the head streaked
with dusky lines, which it retains through the second year; but it appears certain, from specimens before us,
that these markings are lost at an advanced age. The feathers of the back and wing-coverts are then blueish-
black, edged with lighter blue. The plumage of the other parts of the adult female is sufficiently portrayed
in our figure. The young female has the top of the head brown, with dusky streaks ; throat and ear-coverts
white; eyes encircled with black: it has also a small black moustache extending from the eye downwards ;
the sides of the neck, breast, and all the under parts yellowish-white, with brown longitudinal streaks on the
breast and abdomen ; upper parts brown, the feathers edged with reddish-brown ; tail with numerous alternate
bars of brown and reddish-white, the tips white. Young male birds appear first in plumage similar to that of
the female, changing at their moult to alight blueish-grey, and subsequently assuming the dark lead-colour so
conspicuous on the head, back, and wings of the adult male bird represented by our lower figure. The thighs,
vent and under tail-coverts are deep ferruginous ; cere, orbits and feet orange-red ; claws yellow-brown, darker
at the tips. The fine adult male specimen from which our figure was coloured is in Mr. Yarrell’s collection.
The general uniformity in the colour of the males, contrasted with the pleasing variety of the females, is one
of the most striking characteristics of this species, which is common over the greater part of the North of
Europe; but of its habits or nidification little is recorded. Meyer, who has examined the stomachs of these
birds, found in them only the remains of large coleoptera.
Our bird is the Orange-legged Hobby and Ingrian Falcon of Dr. Latham, so named from its inhabiting the
province of Ingria in Russia, where it is called Kodez; it is also the Falco vespertinus of Gmelin. The adult
male appears to have been unknown to Buffon as a distinct species, and is figured in the Planches enluminées
of that Naturalist, No. 431, under the name of ‘a singular variety of the Hobby.”
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MERLIN.
Falco esalon: //emn/
Lrinted by C Zudimonadel,
MERLIN.
Falco salon, Temm.
ieabenconsbancullont
Auruouces the Merlin is the least of the European birds of prey, still it possesses all the features which
characterize the most typical of its genus. Its undaunted courage and power of rapid flight embolden it
to attack birds far superior to itself in weight and magnitude ; hence, when hawking was a favourite pastime
with our ancestors, the Merlin was trained to the pursuit of partridges, woodcocks, snipes and larks ; and so
determined is its spirit, and so certain its aim, that it has not unfrequently been known to strike a partridge
dead, from a covey, with a single blow. Its flight is so low, that while skimming across large fallow or barren
grounds, it often appears to touch the earth with its wings. In the southern parts of the British Isles, it is
only a winter visiter, arriving at the departure of the Hobby; but Mr. Selby has fully proved that in the
northern parts it is stationary, and, unlike the Falcons in general, incubates on the ground, constructing a
nest among the heather. ‘‘ The number of the eggs,” says Mr. Selby, who has discovered their nests in these
situations in Northumberland, ‘‘is from three to five, of a blueish white, marked with brown spots, principally
disposed at the larger end.”
The advanced state of ornithological science, as it regards the changes in plumage of our native birds,
enables us to affirm that the Stone Falcon (Falco Lithofaleo, Auct.) is none other than the male Merlin in its
advanced stage of plumage, the bird undergoing changes in this particular which characterize more or less
the whole of the Falconde. The uniform dark tints of the adult are not fully attained before the third year.
The Merlin is extensively spread over the countries of Europe; but M. Temminck informs us that it is
scarce in Holland, though it appears, from the accounts of other authors, to be met with in Germany in
winter. As regards its nidification, the above-mentioned naturalist differs materially from Mr. Selby in the
situation he assigns to it for the purpose of breeding, which he states to be trees, or the clefts of rocks :
the truth perhaps may be, that in different countries it may choose different localities, according as oppor-
tunities may favour it.
In the adult male the bill is blueish ; the crown of the head, back and wing-coverts blueish grey, the stems
of each feather being black ; primaries black ; tail blueish grey with four bars of black, and a broad band of
the same colour near the end; tip white; throat and upper part of the chest white; cheeks and all the
under parts buff orange, with broad oblong blackish spots ; cere, legs and orbits yellow ; irides brown.
The female somewhat exceeds her mate in size ; and although she never attains the rich colouring of the
male as figured in the accompanying Plate, approximates very closely to it at a very advanced age. The
generality of individuals taken have the plumage similar in colour and markings to the upper bird, which
represents a male in immature plumage.
The female and young birds have the top of the head of an obscure brown marked with oblong spots of
black ; stripe over the eye white ; upper surface and scapulars brown, tinged with grey, each feather being
spotted and edged with brown; quills blackish brown, obscurely spotted with brown; under wing-coverts
rufous with white spots; throat white; breast and under surface pale brown marked with longitudinal spots
as in the male, but broader and less distinct ; tail obscure brown with five or six rufous bars and tipped with
white ; cere, orbits and tarsi yellow ; irides brown.
The Plate represents two males, one the old bird, the other a young bird of the first year, with which the
female, except when very old, agrees in plumage.
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LEAD-COLOURED FALCON.
Falco concolor; (Zmm/
Lrawn from Nake ton stone wilh Goad. | J Lain bok by C Faces. Add
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LEAD-COLOURED FALCON.
Falco concolor, Temm.
Le Faucon concolore.
Tuts species appears to be dispersed over the whole of Northern Africa, being abundant in Abyssinia and on
the banks of the Nile; it is also said to occur on the western portions of that continent, at least M. Lesson
in his ‘Traité d’Ornithologie’ states its habitat to be “le Sénégal, la Barbarie, PEgypte, PArabie.” That a
bird of this kind should cross the Mediterranean and visit the continent of Europe is not surprising, and we
learn from M. Temminck that such is really the case ; it is therefore entitled to a place in our work.
The accompanying figure was taken from what we conceive to be an adult male; its structure is in every
respect similar to that of the typical Falcons, and from the lengthened form of its wing and the general tone
of its colouring, it is nearly allied to the Hobby (Falco Subduteo) ; it may however be at once distinguished
not only from that, but from every other species of the true Falcons, by its uniform lead-coloured plumage,
whence its specific appellation.
Although no facts are on record as to its mode of life, we may reasonably conclude that insects and small
birds constitute its principal subsistence, and that in its general economy it closely assimilates to the Hobby.
With the exception of the primaries, which are blackish brown, the entire plumage of the Palco concolor is
of a uniform leaden grey, with the shaft of each feather darker ; cere and feet yellow ; bill and claws black.
Our figure is of the natural size.
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Faleo tnnunculus; (Zzze20/
Drawn on Stone ty GLhear. Co a Lrntea y CFinlinundd,
KESTREL.
Falco tinnunculus, Lenn.
Le Faucon cresserelle.
Tuts indigenous Falcon is by far the most common species of those inhabiting Europe, over the whole of
which continent it is universally diffused, as well as in those portions of Asia and Africa which are either
immediately connected with or otherwise opposed to its shores; the whole of the northern parts of the
latter country affording it a natural habitat.
Although we believe that the Falco tinnunculus has not been discovered in America, still that extensive
continent has produced several species whose form and colouring unite them to the Kestrels of the Old World,
and, as we before stated in the description of the Lesser Kestrel (2’a/co tinnunculoides), they appear to form
one of the most natural groups in the family of Palconide.
The Kestrel may be daily observed making its graceful flights over fields and barren grounds in search of
its natural food, which consists of mice, frogs, small birds and insects, while in pursuit of which its atten-
_ tion is often suddenly arrested, and poising itself in the air, which it fans with its long and pointed wings, it
suddenly pounces down upon its victim with the utmost impetuosity, and may be frequently seen rising from
the ground with its prey firmly fixed in its talons, and flying off to some retired situation to devour it, or, if
in the season of incubation, conveying it to its young.
The male at the age of three years, when it is in full plumage, is adorned with the most delicate and sober
colours, added to which it possesses a perfect symmetrical contour of body,—circumstances unquestionably
ranking it as one of the most beautiful species of its genus. The female after the first moult undergoes no
change ; and the young males until after the age of two years are not distinguishable from her: this is the
cause that so large a proportion of the birds bear the plumage just referred to, since but comparatively few
survive the second year of their existence.
The birds of this division are of a more feeble character and less courageous disposition than the nobler
groups of the Falconde ; and, though easily tamed, cannot be used in the chase with sufficient certainty, not-
withstanding the assertion of authors that they were formerly trained to the capture of Snipes and Partridges.
They frequently take possession of the deserted nest of a Crow or Magpie for the purpose of incubation, yet it is
far from uncommon for them to deposit their eggs on the bare surface of a ledge of rocks :—these eggs are
from four to six in number, of a reddish brown colour with darker speckles or blotches, varying considerably in
intensity. The young, like most of the nestlings of the hawks, are for the first month entirely clothed with a
white down.
In the adult male, the bill, the tail (with the exception of a bar of black near the extremity of its feathers
which terminate in white), the rump, and the fore-part of the head are of a fine blueish grey ; the back and
wing-coverts of a reddish fawn colour, each feather having at its extremity an arrow-shaped spot of black ;
primaries dark brown, their edges lighter ; breast, belly and thighs of a pale cream-colour tinged with brown,
and sprinkled on the breast with brown spots of a linear form, but assuming a rounder shape on the lower
part of the body.
In the female, the whole of the upper parts and tail are of a browner hue than those of the male, each
feather having several bars of a dark brown, and the tail likewise barred with brown, but terminating with a
black band and white tips as in the male; the primaries are also brown with paler edges ; the whole of the
other parts resemble the male.
The Plate represents a male and female about three fourths of their natural size.
ESSER KES TIRIL.
Falco tumunculoides. (. Vater/
Fidimande:
=—
LESSER KESTREL.
Falco Tinnunculoides, Natter.
La Cresserellette.
Tuis elegant little Falcon, although closely allied to the Common Kestrel, is to be distinguished from that
species by its smaller size, its greater length of wing, the white colour of the nails, and the entire absence of
markings on the back :—the female, however, agrees so closely in plumage with the female of Falco
Tinnunculus, that we have not considered it necessary to introduce a figure of her into our Plate, which
represents the adult male. Notwithstanding, she still retains the characteristics of the species: viz. inferiority
of size, length of wing, and white nails ; circumstances by which she may at once be identified. As far as
we have been able to ascertain, this bird has not been discovered in the British Islands, but is common in
the southern parts of continental Europe, especially Spain, Italy, and the South of France, frequenting rocky
and mountainous districts as well as lofty spires, church steeples, and ruins, selecting such situations for its
breeding places ;—the female (which rather exceeds the male in size) generally laying four eggs, very much
resembling those of the Kestrel.
Although we cannot doubt that small mammalia and birds form part of the food of this species, still
we have reason to know that it subsists in a great measure on the larger coleopterous and hymenopterous
insects, which it takes on the wing, darting at them with great quickness and precision of aim.
In some of its characters, and especially its lengthened wing, which reaches the extremity of the tail, the
Falco Tinnunculoides approaches the typical form of the genus more nearly than our Kestrel; yet in both
species we perceive a departure from those strongly marked features which pre-eminently distinguish the
more noble of the group ;—~. e. a less muscular form of body, a beak the tooth of which is more rounded and
less acute, tarsi less robust, talons less curved and weaker, in union with a disposition more timid and an
appetite less blood-thirsty ; characters which proclaim a grade below that of their more daring congeners.
It is not the intention of the Author of this work to enter into an analysis of existing genera, or to establish
new ones; nevertheless, he may be allowed to suggest an inquiry to those who are more particularly engaged
in systematic arrangements ;—viz. whether there be not room for a further removal of this bird, and those
in evident relationship to it, from the more typical species which compose the Genus Fa/co; naturalists having
availed themselves of less prominent characters in the formation of genera, (Astur and Accwiter, for instance, )
between which there is the closest affinity. On the contrary, there is between the group which we now
refer to, and the Falcons par eacellence, a well-marked distinction in habits, disposition, style of colouring, and
food,—sufficient, we think, to constitute a clear ground of separation. This proposed group would contain
at least three well-marked species of the Old Continent ; viz. the present bird, the Common Kestrel, and
the Falco rupicolus; to which may be added the Palco sparverius of Latham, and several other species of
America and its adjacent islands.
In size the F. Tinnunculvides is inferior to the Kestrel, the total length of the male being eleven inches.
The wings reach to the extreme tip of the tail, which is rounded; the top of the head, occiput, and
sides of the neck are of a fine uniform ash-colour; the whole of the upper surface, with the exception of
some of the larger wing-coverts, the secondaries, quills and rump of a brownish red without any markings,
the latter being of a blueish ash-colour, as is the tail also, which is crossed with a black band, and at its
extremity tipped with white. The inferior surface is of a clear brown red, thinly sprinkled with small black
dashes and longitudinal marks.
Beak blueish ; cere and space round the eyes yellow ; feet yellow ; nails white.
Young males of the year differ little from the adult female.
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Genus MILVUS.
Gun. Cuar. Bill of moderate strength, nearly straight at the base, rapidly incurved in front
of the cere to the tip, which forms an acute hook; cere short. Nostrils oval, rather
obliquely placed in the cere. Wings very long; the first feather short; the fourth the
longest; the first five having their inner webs notched. Tazl long and forked. Legs with
the tarsi very short, feathered below the joint; the naked frontal part scutellated. Toes
rather short, the outer united at its base to the middle one. Claws long and strong,
moderately incurved, with the inner edge of the middle one thin and dilated.
KITE.
Milvus vulgaris, lem.
Le Milan royal.
Tus elegant species, although generally diffused over the British Islands, is much less common than
formerly ; indeed the destroying hand of the gamekeeper has completely extirpated it in many of the inland
counties, particularly such as are but thinly wooded. The only retreats wherein the Kite now finds an
asylum are larger woods and forests of denser growth, in whose impervious recesses itself and its brood are
effectually shrouded from observation. The districts where the Kite may be most frequently observed at the
present period, are the more uncultivated portions of Wales and the adjoining counties, as well as the wild
tracts of rocky moorlands in both the northern and southern parts of the island. Throughout the continent
of Europe it appears to have a wider range,—except in Holland, in consequence of a scarcity of large woods
and uninhabited wilds. While on the wing performing its aérial evolutions, nothing can excel the ease and
grace with which the Kite sails along surveying the earth below, its flight generally consisting of widely
extended circles, during the performance of which the wings appear to be entirely motionless, the tail
acting as a rudder to guide its course ; in this manner it ofttimes soars to so great a height as to be almost
imperceptible. Its prey, which consists of mice, rats, leverets, young gallinaceous birds, ducks, reptiles,
fishes, and insects, is sought for while it is soaring in the air at a moderate distance from the ground, and
is taken by a woop so noiseless and rapid, that little or no warning is given of its approach ; in this way it
sometimes commits great havoc among the young broods of poultry, pheasants, partridges, &c.
In general form and colouring of plumage the sexes bear a close resemblance, nor do the young birds
undergo any very decided change from youth to maturity.
The process of incubation is commenced early in the spring. The nest is constructed of sticks lined with
wool and hair; and is situated in the thickest part of the forest: the eggs are generally three or four in
number, of a greyish white, more or less distinctly speckled with reddish brown.
The head and neck are clothed with narrow pointed feathers of greyish white, each having a central dash
of dark brown; the whole of the upper surface is bright ferruginous brown, each feather having its centre
blackish brown; tail and thighs rich rufous brown; under surface brownish white, with dark longitudinal
blotches ; bill dark brown ; cere and tarsi bright yellow ; irides straw yellow.
The Plate represents an adult in full plumage about three fourths of the natural size.
“AY
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BLACK KITE.
Milyvus ater
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BLACK KITE.
Milvus ater.
Le Milan noir ou parasite.
Tuts species, which may at all times be distinguished from the Common Kite of England (Aiious vulgaris,
Flem.) by the darker colour of its plumage and by the numerous longitudinal stripes on the head and neck, is
dispersed in considerable numbers over the southern portions of Germany, the whole of France, Switzerland,
and the European countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. No instance is on record of its having paid a
migratory visit to the British Islands ; still, judging from its extraordinary powers of flight, and from the
wandering habits of the generality of the Malconide, it is not improbable that it may have penetrated so
far west as our island, and have been mistaken for the common species: we throw out this hint in order to
induce British ornithologists generally, and particularly those who reside in the southern parts of England, to
investigate this subject whenever an opportunity offers.
The range of the Black Kite eastward appears to be very great, as we have seen examples of it in several
collections from India, particularly the Himalaya mountains ; it is also equally abundant in Northern Africa.
We have observed this species in a state of nature and in confinement both in Germany and France ; it
bore so strict a resemblance in its manners to the common species, that the addition of a second description
is totally unnecessary.
It incubates on trees, and lays three or four yellowish white eggs very thickly spotted with brown.
The sexes are alike in plumage, and the young when a year old resemble the parents.
Bill black ; cere, feet, and legs yellow; irides silvery yellow; head and neck longitudinally striped with
brown and greyish white ; all the upper parts deep brown; under surface reddish brown with a longitudinal
stripe of a darker tint down the centre of each feather; primaries blackish brown; tail slightly forked and of
a dark grey brown, transversely rayed with darker brown.
The Plate represents an adult bird about two thirds of the natural size.
Si ee
4
sai2e RRR NCIS
SWALLOW TAILED KITE.
Nauclerus furcatus; /Mig//
Drivin from Nekuwry & om Stone by J te EGouk,
Genus NAUCLERUS, Vig.
Gen. Cuar. Bill small, weak, considerably hooked, with a small and nearly obsolete festoon
in the middle. Orbzts and sides of the head thinly provided with feathers. Wings very
long; the first and second quill-feathers internally emarginate towards the trp. Tail very
long, and deeply forked. ars very short, not longer than the hind toe and claw;
plumed half way in front, the remaining portions covered with angulated scales. Toes
short; the two lateral almost equal, the hinder nearly equal to the inner. Claws grooved
beneath. .
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE.
Nauclerus furcatus, Vigors.
La Milan de la Caroline.
Two examples of this elegant bird having been taken in this country, the first in Argyleshire, the second in
Yorkshire, we have considered that it is entitled to be included among the Birds of Europe, and have ac-
cordingly given it a place here. We also agree with Mr. Vigors and Mr. Swainson that this bird requires to
be separated generically from those of the genus Elanus of Savigny.
For a correct knowledge of the habits and manners of this handsome bird we are indebted to the ornitho-
logists of the United States of America, in different parts of which at particular seasons of the year it
appears to be very abundant. In the history of this species by Wilson and Mr. Audubon, many interesting
details will be found, and as one or the other of these works are in the hands of every lover of nature and
ornithology, we shall avail ourselves of the less perfectly known History of the Birds of the United States and
Canada by Mr. Nuttall, who says, “‘ ‘This beautiful Kite breeds and passes the summer in the warmer parts of
the United States, and is also probably resident in all tropical and temperate America, migrating into the
southern as well as the northern hemisphere. In-the former, according to Vieillot, it is found in Peru, and as far
as Buenos Ayres ; and though it is extremely rare to meet with this species as far as the latitude of 40 degrees
in the Atlantic States, yet, tempted by the abundance of the fruitful valley of the Mississippi, individuals
have been seen along that river as far as the Falls of St. Anthony, in the 44th degree of north latitude.”
‘They appear in the United States about the close of April or beginning of May, and are very numerous
in the Mississippi territory, twenty or thirty being sometimes visible at the same time, often collecting locusts
and other large insects, which they are said to feed on from their claws while flying ; at other times also
seizing upon the nests of locusts and wasps, and, like the Honey Buzzard, devouring both the insects and
their larvee. Snakes and lizards are their common food in all parts of America. In the month of October
they begin to retire to the south, at which season Mr. Bartram observed them in great numbers assembled
in Florida, soaring steadily at great elevations for several days in succession, and slowly passing towards
their winter quarters along the Gulf of Mexico.”
The flight of this bird is described as being smooth and graceful in the extreme, and it remains on wing
nearly the whole of the day, roosting at night in high trees. The nest is usually placed among the top
branches of the tallest oak or pine, and is formed of sticks, intermixed with moss and grass, lined with a few
feathers. ‘The eggs are from four to six in number, of a greenish white, with a few irregular blotches of dark
brown at the large end. The young birds are at first covered with white down.
In the adult bird the beak is bluish black, the cere of a lighter blue, the irides dark; the whole of the
head, neck, breast, and under surface of the wings, sides of the body, thighs and under tail-coverts pure
white; the back, wings, primaries, secondaries, upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers black, with a purple
metallic lustre, the tertials black on the outer webs, but patched with pure white on the inner; tail very
deeply forked ; legs and toes greenish blue; claws faded orange brown,
We have figured the bird of the natural size.
pines
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roy Wate & on Stone ty 7&£. Could.
BLACK-WINGED KITE.
Elanus melanopterus (Steph)
Genus ELANUS, Savig.
Gey. Cuar. Bill weak, of mean length, compressed, nearly straight at the base, the tip hooked.
Wings long, with the second feathers generally the longest, the first and second having
their inner web strongly notched. Taz/ long, more or less forked. Turs? short, feathered
for half their length, and the naked part reticulated. Claws strong and incurved ; the
under surface in some species partly rounded.
BLACK-WINGED KITE.
5
Elanus melanopterus, Leach.
LElanion blane.
Wuen we consider the wide range of this beautiful species, scattered as it is over all the temperate and
warmer portions of the Old World, it is a matter of no surprise that its capture has of late years been so
frequent in Europe. It is abundantly dispersed along the banks of the Nile, and in fact the whole of Africa
and India is inhabited by it; neither do specimens from Java and New Holland present any specific differ-
ences from those taken in Europe. In all probability no part of Europe affords it a permanent residence.
Spain, Italy, and the Grecian Islands are the portions of our quarter of the globe most frequented by the
Black-winged Kite; instances are, however, on record of its having been captured in the middle of Germany :
it must therefore, like many other species, be regarded merely as an irregular visitor which has crossed the
Mediterranean from the opposite shores of Africa. From the great length of its wings, together with its
short and feathered tarsi, we are led to infer that it is capable of rapid and powerful flight, and that like its
allies in America it possesses the power of remaining suspended in the air for a great length of time.
Its food consists principally of insects, chiefly captured in the air, to which are sparingly added lizards,
frogs, snakes, and birds.
The sexes are very much alike in colour, but the female is said to be rather larger than her mate.
The young of the first autumn may be distinguished from the adults by their having the back strongly tinged
with brown, and the end of each feather encircled with buffy white; the sides of the chest brown, and the
feathers on the breast streaked down the centre with dark brown.
The adult has the head and the whole of the back of a fine grey; the centre of the wings black; the
primaries and secondaries greyish brown, with lighter grey edges; the shoulders of the wings, throat, all the
under surface, and tail pure white; cere and toes yellow; bill and claws black ; irides orange.
We have figured an adult and a young bird of the natural size.
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EAI SW IAL JA S SW TAL
Genus CIRCUS, Briss.
Grn. Coar. Bill bending from the base, weak, much compressed, and forming a narrow
rounded culmen ; tomia of the upper mandible exhibiting a very small sinuation near the
middle of the bill; under mandible shallow and rounded at the point. _Nostri/s rather
large; broadly oval; nearly concealed by the reflected and upward curving hairs of the
lores. Head surrounded by a ruff of stiffish tiled feathers. Wings long, the fourth fea-
ther barely exceeding the third, but being the longest in the wing; first four having their
inner webs notched ; the third, fourth, and fifth having the outer webs sinuated. Tail
long, slightly rounded. Tarsz long, slender, feathered in front for a short distance below
the joints, the naked part scutellated. Toes of mean length, rather slender, middle toe
the longest, outer toe rather exceeding the inner, and joined at the base to the middle one
by a membrane, third toe shortest. Claws moderately incurved and very short, those of
the inner and hind toes the largest.
MARSH HARRIER.
Circus rufus, Bross.
Le Busard Harpaye ou de Marais.
Tue size of this bird renders it so conspicuous that it cannot fail to attract attention wherever it appears;
it is consequently most probable that the greater number of those which are seen in our island are not native-
bred specimens, but have wandered from the adjacent continent ; and we are confirmed in this opinion by the
circumstance of most of the birds which have been shot being in the youthful or immature state of plumage:
we know also that young birds are in the habit of wandering greater distances from their birthplace than
adults. So great, indeed, are the chances against their attaining a state of mature plumage in our island,
that we do not recollect a single instance of a specimen in the plumage of the bird figured in our Plate, having
been killed here: that it is many years in attaming this plumage is very evident, and it is equally certain that it
breeds while yet in the deep chocolate-coloured plumage by which it is distinguished during the first and
several succeeding years. It will be seen that when it has attained the perfect livery, the wings and tail
have assumed that delicate grey so characteristic of the Harriers in general, while the feathers of the re-
maining parts of the body are not only of a different tint, but are also of a different form, being more or less
lanceolate instead of round. Although we are not able to state it as a fact, yet we are inclined to believe that
it is the male only which possesses the beautiful grey colouring alluded to above. Even in its youthful state
the young of this bird exhibit considerable differences of colouring, some being of a uniform chocolate brown,
while others have the crown of the head, cheeks, and shoulders of a rich buff.
The Marsh Harrier appears to enjoy a wide extent of habitat, being found in the low marshy districts of
Europe, Africa, and a great portion of Asia; as is proved by our having received it in collections from the
Himalaya mountains. Like the rest of the Harriers its flight is buoyant and sweeping, but generally at a
low elevation: it traverses over the moors and marshes in search of its prey, which consists of frogs, lizards,
mice, insects, and even fish.
The nest is placed on the ground among low bushes or reeds, generally near the edge of the water: the
eggs are four in number, white and rounded.
We take our description of the adult bird from the ‘“‘ Manuel” of M. Temminck.
Head, neck, and breast of a yellowish white, with numerous longitudinal dashes of brown occupying the
centre of each feather; scapularies and wing-feathers reddish brown; quills white at the base, and black for
the remainder of their length ; secondaries and tail-feathers of an ashy grey ; whole of the under surface light
rufous marked with yellowish blotches; beak black; cere greenish yellow; irides reddish yellow ; tarsi
yellow. .
The young of the year has the plumage of a very strong chocolate brown; the wing-coverts, the quills, and
the tail-feathers tipped with brownish yellow; the top of the head, occiput, and throat more or less pale;
irides blackish brown.
The Plate represents an adult and a young bird about three fourths of the natural size.
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HEN-HARRIER.
Circus cyaneus, Meyer.
Le Busard St. Martin.
Ir is to be regretted that this delicately plumaged Hawk, which a few years ago was common in our
island, is now so scarce as rarely to admit of its being observed in a state of nature. Like many of its con-
geners, much mischief has been laid to its charge ; and without even for a moment attempting to balance the
good which it effects by destroying hundreds of snakes, lizards, and mice in the course of a single year,
with the injury it does by preying on a limited number of leverets and other young game, which are only
open to its attacks for the period of a few weeks, its ruthless destruction is diligently persevered in by
the gamekeeper and sportsman without the least consideration ; in fact, so rapidly have many of our native
Falcone decreased within these few years, that there is but little doubt many species once numerous will
ere long be entirely extirpated.
This fine Harrier enjoys an extensive range of habitat independently of Europe, over the whole of which,
wherever situations favourable to its residence occur, it is found in greater or less abundance: it also
inhabits similar situations over the greater part of Africa and India. A species nearly allied, if not abso-
lutely identical, exists in the northern portions of the American continent.
The flight of the Hen-Harrier while in quest of its prey is strikingly peculiar, and is altogether different
from that of the birds of every other group of the Falconide ; it is light and buoyant, but performed at no
great elevation from the ground, which it quarters with the utmost regularity, traversing a certain extent of
country and returning nearly to the same place at a given time for many days together. Thus skimming
along with noiseless wings, it strongly reminds us of one of the Owls, and it pounces down upon its prey
with unerring precision; this, as we have before stated, consists principally of mice, leverets, lizards, snakes,
frogs, and unfledged birds, never daring to contend with large birds, or quadrupeds of even moderate size.
In this country the localities to which the Hen-Harrier is almost exclusively limited, are wide heathy
moorlands, extensive wastes, and furze-covered commons, to which may be added low marshes, flat lands,
bordering lakes, and morasses. In these wild and solitary situations it incubates and rears its young, its nest
being placed on the ground, among the tufted herbage most prevalent on the spot; the eggs resembling
those of the Owl, but larger, only being of a dull dirty white without any spots.
The difference between the male and female is so remarkable, as at no distant date to have led to the
supposition that each sex was a distinct species ; an error, the correction of which is due to our talented
ornithologist Colonel Montagu. This is now so clearly understood as not to need any especial remark ; we
would, however, observe that this extraordinary feature is exhibited in most of the species of the genus
Circus, a genus almost universally dispersed over the globe.
The young birds of both sexes for the first two years are precisely alike in their colouring, which differs
but little from that of the adult female, and it is this circumstance which militated against the idea of the
Hen-Harrier and the Ringtail being identically the same.
It is only after the second year that the male begins to assume the delicate silvery grey which in the state
of maturity pervades the whole of the upper surface.
We give the details of the colouring as follow :
The adult male has the head, neck, chest, and whole of the upper surface, with the exception of the rump
and the two outer tail-feathers on each side,—which are white, the latter having a fine transverse band of
greyish brown,—of a fine blueish silvery grey; quills black ; under surface white, with a few faint blotches of
brown disposed in the centre of a great part of the feathers ; legs, upper part of the cere, and irides brown.
The female has the whole of the upper surface chocolate brown, the feathers of the head, and back of the
neck bordered with reddish sandy yellow ; the ear-coverts deep brown; the marginal feathers of the face
short and stiff, of a sandy yellow with deep brown shafts; whole of the under surface reddish yellow, with
longitudinal dashes of brown ; the tail barred alternately with bands of light and deep umbre brown ; legs
and upper part of the cere yellow; irides hazel.
The Plate represents a male and female of the natural size.
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PALLID HARRIER.
Circus pallidus, Sykes.
For the knowledge of the occurrence of this species of Harrier in Europe we are indebted to M. Temminck,
who has transmitted for our use a fine male, which he states was killed on the banks of the Rhine. This bird,
the Circus pallidus of Colonel Sykes, is abundantly dispersed over a great portion of India, but up to the year
1832 remained uncharacterized, in consequence of its having been considered as identical with the Circus
cyaneus. The differences, however, which exist between those closely allied species were then clearly pointed
out by Colonel Sykes in his Catalogue of the Birds of the Dukhun; and as these differences have been well
defined by that gentleman in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London for April 1832, we prefer to
make use of his own words: ‘ This bird has usually been considered the Circ. cyaneus of Europe; but it
differs in the shade of its plumage (male and female); in the back-head of the male not being white spotted
with pale brown ; in the absence of dusky streaks on the breast ; in the rump and upper tail-coverts being white
barred with brown ash ; in the inner webs of four of the tail-feathers not being white; and in the bars of the
under tail being seven instead of four. The female resembles the female of Cire. cyaneus, but the plumage
is two shades lighter, the tail is barred with six broad fuscous bars instead of four, and the tail-feathers are
much more pointed. The remains of six lizards were found in the stomach of one bird. I never saw these
birds perch on trees. They frequent the open stony plains only. The sexes were never seen together.”
To this we may add that we have compared the specimen sent to us by M. Temminck with others from
India, that not the slightest difference exists between them, and that the barred upper tail-coverts and paler
colouring of this species will readily distinguish it from the Cire. cyaneus. .
Since the above was written we have seen as many as eight or ten specimens in one collection, the whole
of which were killed in Spain, from which we are led to infer that it is there a common species, and that in
all probability it also abounds throughout the northern portions of Africa.
Head and all the upper surface pale grey very slightly tinged with brown ; upper tail-coverts white, spotted
or rather barred with pale brown; quills white at the base passing into deep brown at their extremities, and
margined externally with greyish; tail pale grey, the outer feathers becoming nearly white ; the whole crossed
with six fuscous bars, which are most conspicuous on the outer feathers, where they assume a rufous tint; bill
blue; cere and legs yellow; irides greenish yellow.
We have figured the bird of the natural size.
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ASH-COLOURED HARRIER.
Circus cineraceus, Meyer.
Le Busard Montagu.
Tur present elegant bird excels its congener the Hen-Harrier in the relative admeasurement of its wings
and tail, and though less robust, is even more elegant in its proportions. In habits and manners, and the
localities it frequents, there is little difference between them, a circumstance which, together with its
colouring, was the cause of its being so long considered as identical with that species. Its distinguishing
characters consist in the elongated wings, across which extends a conspicuous band of black in the male; the
rich chestnut dashes on the under surface, and bars of the same colour on the outer tail-feathers. The
female is scarcely to be distinguished from the female of the other species, except by the elongated wings and
the general slenderness of the body. The discovery of this bird as a distinct species is due to Colonel Mon-
tagu, in whose writings we have a detailed account of its specific differences, together with considerable
information respecting its general manners and history.
The Ash-coloured Harrier a few years back was deemed a bird of great rarity, nat | is now fully as common
as its relative the Hen-Harrier. Mr. Selby informs us that he has taken it in Northumberland, where it
breeds upon the moors and open lands: the southern districts of England, however, appear to be its
favourite residence. We have ourselves received numerous examples from the fens of Cambridgeshire and
Lincolnshire. On the Continent it appears almost universally distributed, especially in the eastern and
southern provinces.
Its food consists of small mammalia, such as moles, rats, mice, and young hares, to which are added
snakes, lizards, frogs, &c.
Its place of nidification is on the ground, among rushes, furze, or any low brushwood suited to its purpose.
Its flight is peculiarly buoyant, and perhaps exceeds in rapidity and lightness that of any other European
Harrier.
The sexes offer the same distinctions of colouring that we see in the Hen-Harrier, but we find the young
for the first six months of their existence to be more uniform in their colouring, the plumage being less
variegated by spots or dashes.
The male has the head, neck, whole of the upper surface, and middle tail-feathers blueish grey ; a distinct
band of black crosses the middle of the wing; quill-feathers black ; outer tail-feathers white, barred with
chestnut and tipped with grey ; under surface alee with regular longitudinal dashes of rich chestnut; bill
black ; cere, irides, and tarsi fine yellow.
The female has the whole of the upper surface of a deep chocolate brown ; the top of the head lighter
than the rest of the body ; each feather with its centre of a deeper tint, so as to give it a spotted appearance ;
around the eye is an obscure circle of dull white ; ear-coverts rich brown; under surface light reddish brown,
with longitudinal dashes of a deeper colour: these’ in the young of both sexes are scarcely to be discerned ;
tail brown, the outer feathers lighter, and exhibiting bars of deep umber; cere, irides, and tarsi as in the
male. |
The Plate represents a male and female of the natural size.
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c
Strix flamme
Le
5 A 77, >
Yt CAROLE
Genus STRIX.
Gen. Cuar. Beak straight at the base, the tip arched, and hooked; cutting margin of
the upper mandible nearly straight; under mandible sloping to the point, and doubly
notched. Nostrals oval, obliquely placed on the anterior ridge of the cere ; facial disk large,
complete. Wengs long and ample; the second quill-feather the longest in the wing, the
first but little shorter, equal to the third, and slightly notched on its inner web near the
tip. Legs with tarsi long and slender, clothed with downy feathers; toes thinly covered
with hairs ; claws long, sharp, moderately curved, and all more or less grooved beneath.
\
BARN OWL.
Strix flammea, Linn.
La Chouette effraie.
Waerner our well-known Barn Owl be identical with those found in almost every portion of the globe,
notwithstanding their slight variations or differences of plumage, we have not been able satisfactorily to
determine ; and it yet remains a question whether the Owls so nearly resembling the present, from the United
States, South America and its adjacent islands, together with others from Africa, India and New Holland, be
merely varieties depending upon climate, food and a.combination of circumstances, or, on the contrary, radically
distinct, each constituting a different species.
The genus Sériv as limited by modern authors, and taking this bird as its type, possesses, besides the
varieties above alluded to, many which must certainly be considered as truly distinct species. Of these we
have seen several from New Holland, one from India, and one from the West Indian Islands. It is a genus
at once distinguished from all other genera of the family of Strzg7de by the elongated bill, the loose and
downy texture of the plumage, and by the beautiful style of colouring which pervades the upper surface of the
body.
The Strzv flammea is spread over the whole of Europe, and appears to be everywhere stationary, at least
such is the case in our own island, where they inhabit barns, ruins, church-towers and hollow trees, remaining
concealed all day, but issuing at the approach of evening, when they prowl, on light and noiseless wing, in
search of their prey, night being the time when the species of this genus exert their powers and display their
destructive energies. Dazzled by the light of day, for which their powers of vision are not adapted, they
remain motionless and inanimate in their retreats, shading their eyes with the thin membranous veil which
they possess for the purpose of drawing over the pupils. To observe them in this state, we should not
suppose them endowed with that energy and quickness of action which they display at night, when, intent
upon their search, they skim over the meadows with every sense alive to the object of their pursuit: so
rapidly, indeed, do they pounce upon their victims, that even the little active mouse is seized before aware
of its approaching fate. Although mice form the principal part of their subsistence, it is nevertheless
certain that they sometimes prey upon young birds, rats and leverets ; and instances have been known of their
committing depredations among the finned inhabitants of lakes and ponds.
In the plumage of these interesting birds there exists considerable variety, some individuals being fawn-
coloured on the upper and under surface, spotted and dashed with dark grey, while others are purely white
on the under surface; and others again white on the same part, with minute spots of grey. So far as we
have been able to judge from dissection, the individuals killed in this country with pure white breasts, as
represented in the Plate, are invariably adult males, the females and young males having the breast more or
less speckled, and the edge of the facial disk tinged with fawn colour.
The Strix flammea incubates in holes of trees, old buildings, and similar situations, generally ete three
or four nearly round white eggs
The young, for a considerable period, are covered with a thick coating of white down, and their retreat is
always found to contain vast quantities of pellets or castings, consisting of the indigestible parts of their food.
The Plate represents an adult male of the natural size.
ret ONE merit 4 wvteitit| bhi "ivi i igh h ay, ag
“SL ERAT ie ripe a} ia: wii
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nif Hiv
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. | . rm i i ‘ if aes uy 4 Neale J
j nyt 10 m7 ale as rl | haa At ‘
> Hl ee Dit a bhhh is Lh bays a. totethl r aihe rae Sel ee
’ ey ae el ;
a . . ' "T PTtei kee lines whl rivets pei :
: SAGOTE 5 4 ‘sti .} "
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: ‘ ” os ay . t :
4 " i ii plidatay 24h Th ‘ Ss are
; trite j vsent 4 Wie a “she bel a Tae B
Y bhindaa ail et Hi ERA Wk Ao ia
reo whe Went ati ly walt nth td “ee yi pe
MAY bd els in hates =, waves Sa 3 = Ma
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We ‘te ating is et Mpeg Tails Hie why ini) hil
EAGLE OWL.
Bubo maximus /-S746ala/
LDrann on Stone by L Lew. 4 ] Lrinded by C Budimeindel,
/
Genus BUBO.
Gen. Cuar. Bill short, strong, curved and compressed at the point. Nostrils pierced in the
cere, large, oval, or rounded. Head furnished with tufts of feathers. Wings rather short,
concave, third and fourth quill-feathers generally the longest. Legs and toes covered
with feathers, outer toe reversible ; claws long, curved and sharp.
GREAT-HORNED oR EAGLE OWL.
Bubo maximus, Szbbald.
Le Hibou Grand-duc.
Amone the species of this singular race belonging to Europe, the Great-horned or Eagle Owl holds the first
place in point of size and in majesty of appearance; nor is it inferior, or if so, but slightly, to any known
species from other parts of the world. It forms a typical example of the genus Budo, a group distinguished
by a tuft of elongated feathers above each eye, usually denominated ears, though, as may be seen, these
plumes have no connexion whatever with the true organs of hearing.
The present division, as well as one or two others, the species of which possess bright yellow-coloured
irides, appears to enjoy the power of vision to a greater extent either in dull daylight or by the bright light
of the moon; and even during sunshine they are by no means so confused and distressed as their allies
contained in the restricted genus Strix, possessing eyes, the pupils of which, capable of prodigious enlargement,
adapt them more exclusively to the dusk of evening or the sombre darkness of night. The true habitat of
this noble species is the more northern portions of Europe: M. Temminck states, that it is so extensively
spread as to occur at the Cape of Good Hope. We have ourselves seen it in collections from China; and
Dr. Latham adds, that it is found at Kamschatka as well as in the northernmost parts of America. Granting,
however, that it is diffused thus extensively, still its true habitat appears to be among the large forests of the
wild and desolate regions of Norway, and the parallel latitudes of Sweden and Russia. It is less common in
Germany and Switzerland, and of rare occurrence in France and England; still, from the frequent captures
of it that have been made in the British Islands, it may be classed among our birds, especially as it seems to be
deterred from settling among us more by the want of secluded and unmolested retreats than by an uncon-
geniality of climate. The Great-horned Owl may likewise be considered as one of the most powerful of its
race, boldly preying upon the largest game. Perched upon some branch, and obscured by the shadows of
evening, it marks its ill-fated quarry,—the fawn reposing among the fern,—the hare nibbling the grass,—
the grouse couching among the heath ;—silently and rapidly down it pounces, strikes its talons into its victim,
and commences the work of destruction. Less noble game, such as moles, rats, and lizards, may be also
ranked among its articles of food.
This fine bird chooses the clefts of rocks, or the hollows of decayed trees of antique growth, for the purpose
of nidification, laying three eggs of a rounded shape and white colour.
The female is larger than her mate, and her colours are more bright.
The upper surface of the body is a mingled blending of brown and yellow, with zigzag lines and bars ;
below the ground colour is yellow, with black longitudinal dashes on the chest, and fine transverse irregular
bars over the whole of the rest of the plumage ; irides bright fiery orange ; beak and_nails black. Length
nearly two feet.
We are indebted to the Hon. Daniel Finch for an example of this fine Owl for illustration in this Work.
Our figure is about three fourths of the natural size.
etre
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KAS TIE IRIN GIRGAT JLORNE ID OW.
Bubo Ascalaphus.
LE Lear dh c& wth Printed ty C Liedimande.,
EASTERN GREAT HORNED OWL.
Bubo Ascalaphus.
Le Hibou Ascalaphus.
Tuts fine species of horned Owl would appear to represent in the temperate portions of Asia and Africa, the
Bubo maximus of Norway, Russia, &c. ; and if we mistake not the Otus (Bubo) Bengalensis of our ‘‘ Century
of Birds” must rank as synonymous with the present species. In Europe the eastern and southern portions
appear to be the only parts visited by the Bubo Ascalaphus, M. Temminck giving Sicily and Sardinia as places
in which it has been observed.
Of the habits and manners of this species nothing has been placed on record, nor are we able to afford any
information on the subject. Specimens have been sent to the Zoological Society by Sir Thomas Reade from
Tunis, and a single individual formed a part of the collection made during the late expedition to the Euphrates.
Feathers of the facial disk buffy white terminated with black ; crown of the head dark brown, each feather
irregularly edged and terminated with buffy white; feathers surrounding the neck deep buff, becoming paler
at the tip, and with an irregular mark of dark brown down the centre ; the remainder of the upper surface,
wings and tail dark brown, irregularly blotched with reddish buff, pale buff and lighter brown ; all the under
surface deep buff, the feathers on the centre of the abdomen being much paler and crossed with several fine
and irregular bars of brown at their extremities; feathers of the legs deep buff, becoming much paler on the
front of the tarsi and on the toes; bill and claws black.
We have figured an adult male nearly of the natural size, from a specimen forwarded to us by M. Tem-
minck.
Cbs a
Saha
td ep TEs
a4 ary.
LONG BARE D OWL. :
Strix otus, (Zin)
Otus vulgaris: //@m./
Lan piiw Vatired on bie by
Ot CLT UA ELC,
U
Genus OTUS.
Gen. Cuan. Bill bending, and forming an elliptic curve, the cere covering the basal ridge for
nearly half the length of the bill; cutting margin of the upper mandible straight, the
under one having the tip obliquely truncated and notched. Nosérils oval, obliquely
placed. _ Fascial disc of moderate size and complete. Conch of the ear extending from
the outer angle of the eye to behind the limb of the lower jaw, the opening defended by
a flap or operculum. Head furnished with egrets. Wings long; the second quill-feather
the longest. Tazl even, and scarcely showing any concavity beneath. Legs and toes
feathered to the insertion of the claws. Toes rather short; the outer one reversible.
Claws moderately curved, long, and very sharp ; rounded beneath, except the middle one,
which is grooved, and with a sharp inner edge.
LONG-EARED OWL.
Strix otus, Lenn.
Otus vulgaris, Mem.
Le Hibou moyenduc.
Tux habits of this Owl lead it to frequent thick woods, in the depths of which it lives retired from observation,
concealing itself during the day amongst the foliage of the holly and ivy-clad trees, whence it emerges at the
approach of evening in quest of food ; and dissection confirms the opinion that small mammalia, such as mice,
moles, and rats form its principal subsistence ; in fact, as regards food, it agrees closely with the others of its
tribe. Most of the woody districts, especially in the northern portions of England, and in Scotland, are the chief
localities wherein it may be found in our own islands; it is, however, by no means so common as the Tawny
Owl, which generally frequents the same situations. It has a wide range over the continent of Europe. The
same species, and one so closely allied to it as to render it difficult to say whether it can be fairly separated,
is found in the United States and the northern regions of America as far as the sixtieth degree of latitude.
Unlike the Tawny and Barn Owls, which breed in hollow trees, the present species evinces a partiality for
the deserted nests of the Crow, Raven and Magpie for the purpose of nidification : it lays about four white
eggs ; the young are covered with a full coat of white down, which lasts for a considerable time, and
disappears gradually as the feathers advance.
The sexes offer little or no external difference either in size or in the colour of the plumage.
The head is ornamented with two egrets, consisting each of several feathers of a pale yellow colour at the
edges, with broad central dashes of black ; the whole of the upper surface is of a tawny yellow clouded with
grey, each feather having its centre black, and the whole being checquered with zigzag bars and dots of brown
and black ; the under surface is pale tawny with longitudinal dashes of black ; tail barred ; facial dise light
grey, clouded with tawny brown ; irides orange; beak black.
Our Plate represents a male of the natural size.
‘ Ay Pas ane
ye Ed
i a Poa Ria Ne Pati rh
CONC Wa OT
Osan ae
PPR mit beak
ab OY tah:
Beis Bec pions PUTT
ata oboue om
ran) mr
7 Ba ‘ “
NAY NEE
URI MEY |
Hal
ian
ae
ii
Chie
vag
4,
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reel
ais)
‘
ty
SHORT-EARED OWL.
Stix Brachyotos; (Ziz/
Otus Brachyotos;(Cay./
Drawn y fron Nakare & om Stony by J&L Coat, Lrinted by C Fakimandel.
|
SHORT-EARED OWL.
Strix brachyotos, Lath.
Otus Brachyotos, Cwv.
La Hibou brachyote.
Tue Short-eared Owl is so universally dispersed as to render it probable that it may be observed over the
whole of the four continents, with the exception of the-high northern regions. We have ourselves been
enabled to compare specimens of this species from the Straits of Magellan, Brazil, and North America, with
others from every part of Africa and India, all of which were so strictly similar in their markings and size
that it was impossible to distinguish them. :
Unlike the rest of its tribe, which habitually reside among trees and rocks, the Short-eared Owl reposes on
the ground, and prefers extensive moors and marshes to thickly wooded districts. Although it is sparingly
dispersed during summer over the northern parts of England and Scotland, in which localities it is known to
breed, still it must be regarded as a migratory bird both in the British Islands and the greater portion of the
Continent. In Holland it is particularly abundant during the months of September and October, about which
period it makes its annual migration to England, where it arrives in companies of from five to twenty or
thirty in number, and gradually disperses over the marshes and extensive fields of turnips which border the
whole of our eastern coast. Its flight is strong and vigorous, and from its diurnal habits it may be frequently
observed, particularly in gloomy weather, on the wing at midday, hunting for small birds, mice, frogs, &c.,
which constitute its principal food.
When in a state of repose, it secretes itself on the ground, either in a tuft of long grass, heath, or among
the thickest part of the turnips, and it is seldom roused from this retreat until closely approached. It is
to be regretted that these secluded and retiring habits tend much to its own destruction by the facility
with which it is discovered by the gunner with the assistance of his pointer, which will generally point on
scenting it.
In a note in his valuable edition of Wilson’s American Ornithology, Sir William Jardine informs us that he
has found the nest of this bird on the extensive moors at the head of Dryfe (a small rivulet in Dumfriesshire),
that the eggs are five in number, and that the “nest is formed upon the ground among the heath, the bottom
of the nest scraped until the fresh earth appears, on which the eggs are placed, without any lining or other
accessory covering. When approaching the nest or young, the old birds fly and hover round, uttering a
small shrill cry, and snappiug with their bills. The young are barely able to fly by the 12th of August, and
appear to leave the nest some time before they are able to rise from the ground. I have taken them, on that
great day to sportsmen, squatted on the heath like young black game, at no great distance from each other,
and always attended by the parent birds.”
Feathers covering the nostrils brownish white, with black shafts; circle immediately around the eyes
blackish brown ; remainder of the facial disk yellowish brown, mottled with blackish brown; circle of small
feathers behind the facial disk mottled with tawny white, blackish brown, and white, except opposite to the
orifice of the ear, where they are wholly blackish brown; on each side of the forehead four or five feathers
somewhat longer than the rest, which are erected and depressed at pleasure; head, back, and wing-coverts
dark brown, deeply edged with tawny brown; quills pale reddish brown, with several broad bars of dark
brown on their outer webs; the inner webs are also barred, but not so numerously or so regularly as the
outer; the tips of all ending in ashy grey; fore part of the neck and breast buff orange, each feather
streaked down the centre with dark brown; under surface pale yellowish brown, with dark brown shafts ;
tarsi and toes dull yellowish white free from spots, the feathers assuming a hairy appearance on the toes ;
claws blackish grey ; bill blueish black ; irides gamboge yellow.
The Plate represents an adult male of the natural size.
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‘s 4 ie UP ee D Soh SURES Pe eer bee ghee i. ia MEST “Chu que asa CARTE SRS aby pogo: unl pols.
Zz + “i . =h - : @ mr Se.
Le * ait aa (linkages oe 1 -7bayctacine-om diag teh atid Gite dun eclak done aa 1 IE ide
SCOPS-EAR
ED OWlL.
Scops Aldrovandi;/(Mid@and Lay.) |
Lyran UV Naive & on Stine by J&L. Could: Printed by C Filimnanied
Genus SCOPS.
Gren. Cuan. Bell curved from the base; the upper ridge of the culmen flattened; the cere
short. NVostrils round, placed in front of the cere. Facial disc small, and incomplete
above the eyes; auditory conch small, and without an operculum ; forehead with egrets or
tufts. Wings long, the third feather the longest. Taz/ even or slightly rounded, concave
beneath. Legs rather long. Tarsi feathered to the toes, which have their upper joints
reticulated, and the anterior ones scutellated. Claws sharp, moderately curved, and
partially grooved beneath. Plumage soft and downy.
SCOPS-EARED OWL.
Scops Aldrovandi, Will. and Ray.
Le Petit Duc.
Tux range of this beautiful little Owl is so extensive, that few of the larger species are more widely distributed.
Independently of its existence throughout most of the countries of Europe, it is found both in Africa and Asia ;
and individuals from China have come under our notice, differing in no respect from specimens killed in our
own island. Its occurrence here is, however, extremely rare in comparison to adjacent parts. It is abundant
in France, Switzerland, and all the southern and eastern portions of Europe: in Holland and the north-
western portion of the Continent it is almost as rare as it is in England.
In Europe it appears to be strictly migratory, arriving late in spring, when moths and the larger coleopterous
insects, upon which it principally subsists, abound ; but in the hotter portions of the Old World, where such
insects are always abundant, numbers of these birds are stationary throughout the whole of the year: to these,
its most common food, are added birds, mice, and other small animals. In its manners it is principally
nocturnal, issuing forth from its hiding-place on the approach of twilight, in chase of those insects which are
also roused from their state of repose to activity at the same time. In confinement it is docile and contented,
and especially interesting from its minute size and the elegance of its markings.
It breeds in the holes of decayed trees, clefts of rocks, and old buildings, the eggs being four or five in
number, of a pure white. .
The sexes offer little or no variations of colour; indeed the female so exactly resembles the male as not to
be distinguished except by dissection.
The general colour is grey blended with brown ; and freckled with minute markings of black, relieved by
bold longitudinal dashes down the centre of most of the feathers ; the head is ornamented with egrets capable
of being elevated and depressed at will; a few black dashes encircle the disc of the face ; the quills are barred
alternately with rich brown and yellowish grey ; irides and feet brilliant yellow.
The Plate represents an adult bird of the natural size.
Levee Pe wie
Tay, Veh
- oe
eacuavre
vive aati
i :
~Athein
ici? “sey fh aber\greene.
F ak fil
Tae 297 Oe aire: os
eo]
£ Leow ded:
a ae
GREAT CINEREOUS OWL.
Strix Lappomica; Ae./
cinerea; (Gmel/
Surmia cinerea.
Lrunked by C Hadlmandet.
a i
Genus SURNIA, Dum.
Gen. Cuar. Beak short, arched. Disc of the head small and incomplete. Ears small, oval.
Egrets none. Legs very plumose. Tail elongated wedge-shaped.
GREAT CINEREOUS OWL.
Strix Lapponica, Retz.
Strix cinerea, Gym.
Surnia cinerea.
Tose who would wish to visit the haunts of this noble species of Owl, one of the very finest of its race, must
leave the abodes of civilization and penetrate into the dreary regions of the arctic circle, where nature wears
her rudest and wildest dress, for it is an inhabitant of that portion of both continents ; and although solitary
individuals now and then make their appearance in Lapland, Norway, and Russia, yet it would appear that
the northern parts of America are its true habitat, as in that truly scientific work the ‘‘ Fauna Boreali-
Americana,” by Messrs. Swainson and Richardson, the latter gentleman informs us that ‘It is by no means
a rare bird in the fur-countries, being an inhabitant of all the woody districts lying between lake Superior and
latitudes 67° or 68°, and between Hudson’s Bay and the Pacific. It is common on the borders of the Great
Bear Lake; and there and in the higher parallels of latitude it must pursue its prey, during the summer
months, by daylight. It keeps, however, within the woods, and does not frequent the barren grounds like
the Snowy Owl, nor is it so often met with in broad daylight as the Hawk Owl, but hunts principally when
the sun is low; indeed it is only at such times, when the recesses of the woods are deeply shadowed, that the
American hare and the murine animals, on which the Cinereous Owl chiefly preys, come forth to feed.”
Through the great intercourse which the Hudson’s Bay Company has with the polar countries of America,
this bird is more common, perhaps, in the cabinets of London than in those of any part of the Continent ;
we are not, however, aware that there is in London any other European specimen than the one from which
our figure is taken, and which was kindly entrusted to our care for that purpose by our obliging friend the
Baron de Feldegg of Frankfort.
To the countries above mentioned as the habitat of this species, we may add the extensive region reaching
across the north of Siberia from Russia to Kamtchatka, which we may regard as the nursery from whence
those individuals have strayed which have been killed in various parts of Europe. Of these instances
M. Temminck mentions a specimen in the cabinet of Vienna and one in his own collection, both of which
are females, and a male in the Museum of Paris, which was placed there by M. Paikul, a Swede; the latter,
he states, measures twenty inches, and the one in his own collection two feet eight inches, being an admeasure-
ment larger than that of the female of Bubo maximus.
Of its nidification we have no further information than that communicated by Dr. Richardson in the work
above quoted ; in which he informs us that he discovered a nest ‘‘on the top of a lofty balsam poplar, built
of sticks, and lined with feathers. It contained three young, which were covered with a whitish down.”
The sexes differ in size considerably, but in their markings are so similar that the description of one will
serve for both.
The face is grey barred with concentric circles of brown; the whole of the upper surface, wings, and tail
are grey, marked with bars and zigzag interlineations of blackish brown; the under parts are lighter than the
upper, with longitudinal dashes and obscure bars of brown, especially on the thighs and flanks; beak yellow
at the tip; tarsi feathered to the claws, and of the same colour as the under surface; claws black ; irides
bright yellow.
The Plate represents an adult male about three fourths of the natural size.
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SNOWY OWL.
LZ Leon det a bitiv.
Brincteds by C Hallenamdel,
Strix Nyctea; Law/
Surma Nyctea Zea
SNOWY OWL.
Strix Nyctea, Lenn.
Surnia Nyctea, Dum.
La Chouette Harfang.
Tux recorded instances of the capture of this noble Owl within the British Islands no longer leave a doubt as
to the propriety of giving it a place in our Fauna; its visits are, however, extremely uncertain, and generally
occur at very lengthened intervals. Mr. Selby informs us that he has in his possession two very fine speci-
mens, male and female, which were killed near Rothbury, in Northumberland, in the latter part of January
1823, during the severe snow-storm that was so generally felt throughout the North of England and Scotland
at that period.
The arctic regions constitute the true habitat and native place of abode of the Snowy Owl, from the severi-
ties of which climate it retreats when, on the approach of extraordinarily severe weather, the various small
animals upon which it preys have either removed southward or sought shelter beneath the encrusted frozen
snow. It would appear that its migrations are extended further south on the American continent than in the
Old World, where it is seldom observed so far as Holland and France: it is sometimes found in the North of
Germany, more frequently in Russia, Sweden, and Norway, and occasionally in the Feroe, Shetland, and
Orkney Islands. It is one of the most robust and powerful of its race: its food consists of alpine hares,
rabbits, rats, lemmings, and grouse; and even the wary fox has been known to fall a victim to its attacks.
The indefatigable Wilson informs us that it is a dexterous fisher, pouncing upon its finny prey and securing
it by an instantaneous stroke of its foot; and Dr. Richardson states in the second volume of the Fauna
Boreali-Americana, that he has seen it pursue the American hare, making repeated strokes at the animal
with its foot. It hunts in the day; and, indeed, unless it could do so, it would be unfit to pass the summer
within the arctic circle. When seen on the barren grounds it was generally squatting on the earth, and if
put up, it alighted again after a short flight ; but was always so wary as to be approached with great difficulty.
In the woody districts it showed less caution, and, according to Hearne, has been known to watch the
Grouse-shooters a whole day for the purpose of sharing in the spoil.‘ On such occasions it perches on a high
tree, and when a bird is shot, skims down and carries it off before the sportsman can get near it.”
It appears to affect different situations for the purpose of nidification, sometimes choosing the ledges of pre-
cipitous rocks, and at others, according to Dr. Richardson, making “‘ its nest on the ground and layimg three or
four white eggs, of which two only are in general hatched. In winter, when this Owl is fat, the Indians and
White residents in the fur-countries esteem it to be good eating. Its flesh is delicately white.”
The Snowy Owl is subject to considerable variations of plumage in the first three or four years of its
existence, and during this period it is characterized by a plumage more or less strongly barred with brown,
which markings become more indistinct as the bird advances in age, and they disappear entirely in old males,
leaving them of a pure white. As is the case with most of the Raprorzat birds, the female is considerably
larger than her mate, but in other respects is not distinguishable.
In the adult male the plumage is wholly white ; the irides fine yellow; the bill and claws black, the former
being nearly covered by bristly feathers projecting from its base, and the latter, which are long and very sharp,
being nearly concealed by the long hairy feathers that clothe the legs and toes. The head, compared with
those of other Owls, is small in proportion to the size of the bird.
Our Plate represents an adult and a bird of the second year, about one third less than the natural size.
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URAL OWL.
Surnia Uralensis.
LDravnpron Noteure dom Stone by #L Could. Linked by C Fiadimandel
URAL OWL.
Surnia Uralensis, Dum.
Strix Uralensis, Zann.
Le Hibou de lOural.
Tuer obscure and almost untraversed regions which this fine Owl habitually frequents must be deemed not only
the cause of its great scarcity, but also of the little that is known respecting its habits and manners. Although
the large size and the remarkable development of the facial disk of this bird readily distinguish it from the
more typical species of the present genus, nevertheless we have inserted it in this place, believing that in
general habits and manners it will be found to agree in a great measure with the other species of the genus.
The Ural Owl is a native of the northern regions of Lapland and Siberia; it is also found, but very sparingly,
in the North of Sweden and Norway. In Hungary and Livonia, according to M. Temminck, it is somewhat
more abundant; we must, however, regard it as one of the rarest of the European Owls, our own specimen
being, we believe, the only one in England, nor does it occur in many of the largest collections on the Conti-
nent. Though a native of the arctic circle in the Old World, it does not appear to have been hitherto discovered
in the parallel latitudes of America, and we have every reason to believe it to be a stranger to that continent.
Like the rest of the larger owls its food consists of small mammalia, such as leverets, rats, and mice, and
not unfrequently the Ptarmigan and other birds.
It is said to construct its nest in the holes of trees, and to lay two white eggs.
The sexes are alike in plumage, but the young of the year differ in having the ground colouring of a pale
greyish brown; the upper parts irregularly spotted with brown and light red, varied with blotches of white ;
the wings and tail barred with grey, and the whole of the under parts longitudinally streaked and blotched with
brown.
The adults have the whole of the face greyish white, the rim of the facial disk consisting of white feathers
spotted with black ; the whole of the upper surface longitudinally blotched with brown and white; the under
surface dusky white, every feather having a brown streak down the centre; the wings and tail barred with
brown and yellowish white, the latter being of considerable length and remarkably graduated; beak yellow ;
tarsi covered with greyish white hairs; nails brown; irides brownish yellow.
The Plate represents a male rather less than the natural size, the adult bird being two feet in length.
HAWK OWL.
Surnia funerea; (Lumen)
Strix funerea; /Gmel,/.
Drew Natwre & or Stone by Th LZ. Could: Srinked by C Fadimandee:
HAWK OWL.
Surnia funerea, Dumeril.
Strix funerea, Gmel.
Le Chouette caparacoch.
Or the European examples of the genus Swrnia, a genus established by M. Dumeril for the reception of
such of the Owls as approach the Falconide in habits, manners, and general structure, the Hawk Owl,
although the least, is nevertheless one of the most typical. It possesses an almost unlimited range of habitat
throughout the northern and arctic regions of both continents, and is not unfrequently seen in Germany
and even France. No example, however, is on record of its having been seen in the British Islands, which
is rather remarkable, considering that the Snowy Owl, its most nearly allied relative, has been so frequently
captured within the British dominions. Like that fine species, the Hawk Owl is endowed with the faculty of
seeing its prey, if not in the bright light of day, at least during dull weather and long before sun-set in the
evening, and from this circumstance, which has led to its being considered as a feeder by day, in connexion
with its structure, it may be regarded, together with the rest of its genus, as forming the passage between
the Harriers on the one hand, and the true nocturnal Owls on the other.
Its food consists of rats, mice, birds, and insects.
According to the best information we can obtain, it builds in trees, and lays two white eggs.
The sexes differ in no respect except a trifle in size, and in the intensity of the markings.
The forehead is thickly dotted with white and brown, the facial disc is greyish white, partly encircled by
a crescent-shaped band of black, which passes over the ears; the upper surface is irregularly blotched with
brown and white, the latter colour predominating on the shoulders; the wings are brown, irregularly barred
with white ; the whole of the under surface is greyish white, barred with transverse rays of brown, the shaft
of each feather being also brown ; tail brown, barred with white ; tarsi greyish white ; toes yellow ; irides bright
yellow.
The Plate represents an adult male of the natural size.
BARRED OWL. 3 ;
Strix nebulosa, /Zemm/
Ulula (Cun)
L Leow deb et ith: Lrunted by CZvilimandel,
Genus ULULA.
Gen. Coar. Bll nearly straight at the base, the tip hooked, with a rounded culmen, cutting
margin of the upper mandible having a small lobe or sinuation near the middle. Facial
disk large and complete ; auditory conch rather large, and defended by an operculum.
Wings short, rounded, concave ; the first quill-feather very short; the fourth the longest
in the wing, with the third and fifth nearly equal to it. Tail reaching beyond the closed
wings, rounded, bent, and concave beneath. Legs having the tarsi plumed, and the toes
more or less so. Claws moderately curved, long, short, all more or less grooved beneath.
BARRED OWL.
Strix nebulosa, Jizan.
Ulula nebulosa, Cuv.
La Chouette nébuleuse.
In the regions of the Old World the Barred Owl scarcely ever extends its migrations further south than Norway,
Sweden, and Russia, in which countries it is so sparingly distributed as rather to be regarded as an accidental
visitor than a native species. The northern and temperate portions of America appear to be its true habitat,
for it is dispersed over the whole of the United States, where, Mr. Audubon informs us, its peculiar cry of
Whah, whah, whah-aa, may be heard towards evening proceeding from every part of the forest. According to
this diligent observer of nature, the flight of the Barred Owl is smooth, light, and noiseless, and capable of
being greatly protracted. Mr. Audubon further remarks that its powers of vision during the day seem to be
of an equivocal character, he having seen one alight. on the back of a cow, which it left so suddenly, on the
animal moving, as to leave no doubt in his mind that the Owl had mistaken the object upon which it had
perched for something else: at other times he has observed that the approach of the Grey Squirrel intimi-
dated it, if one of these animals accidentally jumped on the branch close to where it was sitting, although the
Barred Owl destroys numbers of this species of Squirrel during the twilight. It is a well-known fact that
the eyes of those Owls whose habits are strictly nocturnal differ both in colour and construction from those
which feed partially by day, or rather whose greatest powers of vision are developed in the twilight and
during dark and gloomy days. Had we not been acquainted with the habits of this bird and the colour of its
eyes, we should probably have assigned it a place among the Owls forming the genus Surnia, to which division
it bears a strong resemblance both in the colour of its plumage and in its general contour. The noiseless
flight of the Barred Owl may be attributed to the peculiar nature of its plumage, which, like that of all other
nocturnal species, is extremely soft and yielding, enabling it to steal quickly upon its victim without exciting
observation or alarm.
Its food consists of young hares and rabbits, mice, small birds, frogs, lizards, &c.
Its eggs are deposited in the holes of decayed trees or the deserted nests of Crows and Hawks ; they are
round, of a pure white, and from four to six in number.
The male and female differ somewhat in size, the males being the smallest ; and they are also subject to con-
siderable varieties of plumage, some specimens, particularly those found in Europe, being of a very dark colour,
while others are very light.
The plumage of the generality of specimens may be thus described :
The face light ash encircled with lines of brown ; the upper part of the plumage, together with the quills
and tail, is of a brownish grey, transversely rayed with white and yellowish bars; the front of the neck and
chest transversely barred with greyish ash and yellowish white markings ; the lower part of the breast and
flanks yellowish grey with longitudinal stripes of brown; feet and toes covered with short grey feathers; beak
yellow ; irides blackish brown.
The Plate represents an adult male, rather less than the natural size.
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TAWNY OR WOOD OWL.
- Strix aluco. /Zznz-/
| Surmia—__- /Dum/
Drawn yr Life dm Stame by Th 2. Could, trond by © a lomaraee : ~
TAWNY or WOOD OWL.
Strix Aluco, Lznn.
Syrnium Aluco, Savigny.
La Chouette hulotte.
We have followed Baron Cuvier in adopting, or at least in adding to our names of this bird, the generic
appellation of Savigny, who separated this species from the more typical Owls on account of the short and
curved beak, the large size of the facial disk, and the toes feathered to the claws.
This bird measures from fourteen to fifteen inches in length, and with the exception of the Barn Owl is the
most common of the British species. It is to be found generally throughout most of the well-wooded districts
of Great Britain, and inhabits in abundance the large forests of the European continent. According to
M. Temminck it is rather a rare bird in Holland.
In this country the Tawny Owl takes up its abode in woods and old plantations, preferring such as are
thickly set with holly and firs, and well grown over with ivy. Here it remains quiet and secluded during the
day, but at nightfall becomes clamorous and hoots aloud. In the breeding season it searches for a hole in a
tree, or in default of finding such a convenience takes possession of the deserted nest of a Hawk or Crow,
in which its eggs are deposited. These are of large size, measuring 14 inch in length by 14 inch in width,
equally rounded at both ends and perfectly white. The females begin to sit as soon as they have laid their
first egg, and the young for a considerable time after exclusion are a shapeless mass of grey down. The
parent birds attend their young brood with great assiduity, and supply them plentifully with mice, shrews,
moles, and the young of various other mammalia of larger size.
The beak in this species of Owl is yellowish white, short and curved; irides dark blue; the feathers
forming the facial disk light brown ; the feathers surrounding the disk marked with numerous dark spots;
head, neck and back reddish yellow brown, spotted and streaked with dark brown in the direction of the
shaft of each feather ; on the scapulars and wing-coverts are large white spots forming conspicuous rows ;
under surface reddish white with brown bars ; wing- and tail-feathers reddish brown, barred with very dark
brown, under sides reddish ash, with lighter-coloured bars, outer edges of the quill primaries beautifully
serrated; legs and toes covered with short downy feathers of reddish grey, with brown specks. Claws nearly.
black, long, curved and sharp. The females when compared with the males are larger in size and darker in
colour, approaching to deep red brown. By mistake the word Surnia instead of Syrnium was printed on our
Plate.
We have figured a bird of the natural size.
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LITTLE OWL.
Strix nudipes, (Vdsson/
Noctua nudipes;/(Nihc/.
E Lear Ae ehivth,
Printed by C Zulimandedlr
LITTLE OWL.
Strix nudipes, WVelsson.
Noctua nudipes, Mzhz.
La Chouette chevéche.
Tue Striv passerina of Linneeus, of which Acadica is a synonym, is the title of a very different bird from the
one here figured; and, although most modern naturalists from some unaccountable cause have assigned the
term passerina to the present species, as if it were that which Linneus so designated, we have thought
it necessary, in justice to truth, to correct this misnomer by restoring the old name of nudes given to it
by Nilsson. |
The Little Owl must be considered one of the rarest of our occasional visitors ; its presence appearing to
depend entirely upon accidental circumstances. It is plentifully distributed over the whole of the temperate
portions of Europe. M. Temminck states that it is abundant in Holland and Germany, but that it is never
seen in high northern latitudes.
We cannot undertake to say whether the Little Owl is to be classed among the migratory birds of its race,
as we are not in possession of any details of its habits and manners. It appears, however, to display all the
characteristics of the genus to which it belongs, preying in the dusk of the evening and during twilight on
mice, moles, small birds, and large insects. Having had an opportunity of observing it in captivity, we are
enabled to state that its conduct under such circumstances is precisely similar to that of other species when in
a similar situation. During the day it sits in almost motionless repose, occasionally snapping with its bill,
when disturbed, but resuming its quiet position as soon as the annoyance ceases: on the approach of evening
it becomes lively and alert, and by its animated manners betrays its anxiety for food and liberty. Its eggs,
which are four or five in number, are deposited sometimes in the holes of trees, but more frequently in old
walls and ruined towers.
The sexes are alike in plumage, and the young attain at an early period the adult colouring.
The upper parts are of a brownish grey marked with large irregular blotches of white, the feathers on the
top of the head being regularly spotted with yellowish white; throat white, separated by a brown belt from
the chest ; a white circle surrounds the eye; the whole of the under parts dusky white, irregularly clouded
and blotched with brown; tail brown, barred with yellowish brown; bill and feet yellowish straw colour ;
irides straw yellow.
The Plate represents an adult of the natural size.
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TENGMALMS OWlh.
| Strix Tengmalmi, /Giel /
Noctua Tengmalmi, /5e/6./
LE Lear ded t bith: Printed by C Eaiimandd:
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TENGMALM’S OWL.
Strix Tengmalmi, Gmel.
Noctua Tengmalmi, Se/by.
La Chouette Tengmalm.
Iw all probability this little Owl extends its range over the whole of the Arctic Circle, in which inhospitable
region it appears to represent the Noctua nudipes, a species inhabiting more temperate parts, and with which
it has more than once been confounded. The Noctua Tengmalmi is abundant in Russia and Norway ; it is
also found, but more rarely, in Germany and France, and it has been captured two or three times in the
British Islands. Mr. Selby mentions one example in particular, which was killed near Morpeth in Northum-
berland in 1812, and forms a part of that gentleman’s collection. In the ‘ Fauna Boreali-Americana’
Dr. Richardson states his belief * that it inhabits all the woody country from Great Slave Lake to the United
States. On the banks of the Saskatchewan it is so common that its voice is heard almost every night by the
traveller wherever he selects his bivouac. Its cry in the night is a single melancholy note, repeated at in-
tervals of a minute or two; and it is one of the superstitious practices of the Indians to whistle when they
hear it. If the bird is silent when thus challenged, the speedy death of the inquirer is augured ; hence its
Cree appellation of Death-bird.
When it is disturbed or accidentally wanders abroad by day, it is so dazzled by the sun that it becomes
stupid, and may be easily taken with the hand.
It is said to build a nest of grass, in holes or clefts about half way up a pine-tree, and to lay two eggs, in
the month of May.
The sexes are alike in plumage.
Facial disk greyish white mingled with black, except that portion immediately before and behind the eye,
where it is wholly black; crown, nape, and back part of the neck pale brown spotted with white, those on
the latter part being the largest, and surrounded with darker brown; back, wing-coverts, and scapularies
pale brown spotted with white, the spots on the mantle being nearly concealed by the tips of the feathers ;
quills pale brown, having on their exterior webs a few oval spots of white forming imperfect bars ; the extre-
mities of the outer web of the first quill reverted, of the second for half its length, and of the third only a
small portion near the tip; tail pale brown crossed by five rows of white spots, giving it the appearance of
being barred ; under surface white slightly tinged with buff; tarsi and toes thickly clothed with soft hair-like
feathers of a buff colour ; bill and irides bright yellow ; claws black.
The Plate represents an adult male of the natural size.
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ath nit ated, PG: ny Bery opps “ Cott *aepih fe i hey rin 8 Tb Ventura PG mieten. & 7 ;
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a it : oh beg As oett are t yiloaie wt ty 9 ;
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r eH afi to “cgi nild ith Ty sLiteyisiey Ya itt gat often EW, 10 ‘abuefi aif ao sbirivecubay bea) qe Ae OTe Ai i
rian ait oan Hagens anime, Natde te afte v4 (nigh viet: aw +Horas ViSAT NO QAM jaws ala lh ae. «)
, a, re ae ee ; es . ey
» vikeo brite st to bid elteeel aay tivel neh Tee pene 4th ts friiorit Hiv dork antl “Pode aden aa teh get tals Ss ia
. ei cooiristyp salt i erin) hots sinhee Wr aot Hi ao bovatvie rrrceh afiicy Tind ¢ qt ost ney Mauboy inne rf a
fit drole afoul. ) hifd evar : Madd jive Aounit dhiisila gsi cedure sabia -¢ i eed Ai : an oe
, plash) svat Sela ( idgtal Sobrit lata [dy sci Tink a ten, ater ve
"aba vitivte st Dl by ooltvant atiah, uf aleeaag a batelé TLS
Pres A ace daly, 7 : :
j ; : “
SPARROW OWL.
Strrx palserina, “Zev. /
Noctua (Miho),
Dravnsrom Lye & on Stone by J be £: Gould. Lrended ty C Lulimanded:
SPARROW OWL.
Strix passerina, Lenn.
S. acadica, Gmel.
Noctua passerina, Mihi.
La Chouette chevéchette.
We only follow the opinions and example of several of the best naturalists of the European continent in
considering this very minute Owl, the Chevéchette of M. Temminck’s Manuel @ Ornithologie, p. 96, as the
true passerina of Linneus, who, in the 12th edition of the Systema Nature, p. 133, says of this bird,
“‘ magnitudo passeris.” It measures but little more than six inches in length; we have therefore called it, in
reference to its diminutive size, the Sparrow Owl, intending to distinguish it from the Sérev passerina of
authors, the Chevéche of M. Temminck, p. 92, which measures nine inches in length, and to which another
specific name has been given.
The Sparrow Owl is an inhabitant of Livonia and of the northern regions generally, seldom venturing
farther south than the colder parts of Germany, where it is only seen in large forests, and has not, that we
are aware, been taken in any part of the British Islands ; nor is it, we believe, ever found in America.
All the upper parts of the head and body are of dark greyish brown, varied with spots of white ; the under
parts white, with longitudinal patches of brown; on the flanks, the brown spots have a direction across the
feathers ; throat and sides of the neck almost white ; the tail, the feathers of which are rather long, exhibits
four narrow white bands ; the feet are feathered to the extremities of the toes ; the beak and irides yellow.
The female is rather darker in the general tone of her colour, inclining to chocolate brown, and the white
spots are less brilliant. She lays two white eggs; the nest is made in a hole of a tree in the forest, or
occupies an aperture of a rock.
The ordinary food of this species consists of mice, coleopterous insects, and large moths.
We have figured a bird of the natural size.
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