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5c  JN[E3T3 


Rev.  CA^fo^l  ATKiNfsor^.D.C.L 


.<Y-i'^    ' 


BRITISH  BIRDS,  THEIR  EGGS 
AND  NESTS 


^  CtNTlJAL  PARK,  "^ 
-       NEW  YORK.       ^. 


PLATE  I. 


1.  GoMea  tagie.  2.  Osprey.  3.  Peregrine  Falc  -n. 

6.  Kestrel.  7.  Sparrow  Hawk. 


jy.  5.  Merlin. 


,^  r>  '        BRITISH 

BIRDS'  EGGS  AND  NESTS 

POPULARLY    DESCRIBED 


REVISED  AND  RE-EDITED 
BY 

Rev.  canon  ATKINSON,  D.C.L. 

AUTHOR  OF 

WALKS  AND  TALKS,"  "  PLAY  HOURS  AND  HALF  HOLIDAYS,"  "  SKETCHES  IN  NATURAL 

HISTORY,"  "  THE  CLEVELAND  GLOSSARY,"   "  THE  HISTORY  OF  CLEVELAND," 

"forty  years  IN  A  MOORLAND  PARISH,"  "  MEMORIALS  OF 

OLD  WHITBY,"   <5r-C.  «S-"C. 


ILLUSTRATED  BY  W,  S.  COLEMAN 


LONDON 
GEORGE  ROUTLEDGE  AND  SONS,  Limited 

BROADWAY,    LUDGATE    HILL 
1898 


.OA-i^  ^i 


PREFACE  TO  ORIGINAL  EDITION ' 


The  object  proposed  in  this  volume  is,  in  the  first 
place,  to  present  our  young  readers  with  a  complete 
and  systematic  list  of  our  British  birds: — the  word 
British  being  taken  to  mean  such  as,  being  truly  wild 
birds,  either  inhabit  Britain  throughout  the  year ; 
visit  Britain  statedly  for  longer  or  shorter  periods  of 
each  year ;  or  have  been  proved  to  reach  the  shores  of 
Britain  two  or  three  times,  or  oftener,  under  the 
pressure  of  any  incidental  circumstances  whatever. 

In  the  next  place,  the  attempt  has  been  made  to  dis- 
tinguish at  once  between  the  rare  or  casual  visitors, 
and  such  as  are  really  denizens  of  the  land,  whether 
for  a  few  weeks  or  months  annually  or  by  unbroken 
habitation. 

But  the  principal  object  and  intention  of  the  book 
is  to  present  accurate  and  trustworthy  accounts  of  the 
Nests  and  Nesting-sites,  the  Eggs,  and  any  ascertained 

1  The  Editor  thinks  it  better  to  reproduce  these  portions  of  the 
oiiginal  book  as  they  were  written  nearly  thirty-five  years  ago, 
partly  because  they  are  important  parts  of  tho  volume  of  which  tlie 
present  is  simply  a  New  Edition,  and  partly  because  what  in  them 
v/aa  worth  printing  tlicu  is  worth  printing  still.  Where  moditica- 
fcioD,  more  or  less  noticeable,  is  called  for,  attention  will  be  directed 
to  tlio  circumstances  iu  notes  or  othorwi^e. 

V 


vi  Preface  to  Original  Edition. 

nesting  or  breeding-season  peculiarities  of  every  un- 
doubtedly British-breeding  species.  And  the  author's 
difficulty  has  often  been,  out  of  the  large  mass  of 
available  materials  at  his  command,  acquired  by 
personal  observation  or  from  the  reading  and  notes  of 
many  years,  to  select  what  might  be  instructive,  in- 
teresting, or  amusing,  without  burdening  the  book 
with  unnecessary  details,  or  encroaching  too  much  on 
the  allotted  space. 

The  principle  adopted  in  the  illustrations  has  been 
to  omit  all  representations  of  eggs  either  white  or 
nearly  white  in  colour,  in  order  to  husband  space  for 
the  admission  of  a  greater  number  of  those  char- 
acterised by  varied  colours  and  markings.  On  the 
same  ground,  although  it  was  earnestly  desired  by  the 
artist  to  give  more  than  one  representation  of  some  of 
the  very  marked  variations  occurring  in  the  eggs  of 
several  species,  he  has  been  compelled  to  content  him- 
self with  selecting  and  figuring  the  most  typical  or 
normal  forms  in  all  such  cases.  All  the  illustrations 
given  have  been  carefully  drawn  from  unquestionable 
specimens,  and  Mr.  Coleman  desires  to  acknowledge 
in  this  place  the  assistance  which,  in  this  matter,  has 
been  afforded  him  by  that  excellent  and  accurate 
practical  naturalist,  Mr.  F.  Bond. 

An  Appendix  is  subjoined,  in  which  a  notice  will  be 
found  of  the  habits  of  nidification,  the  nest  and  eggs 
of  several  birds,  which,  though  regular  inhabitants  of 
Britain  or  some  part  of  it,  for  a  given  portion  of  each 
year,  still  retire  to  foreign  and  distant  localities  for 
the  purpose  of  nest-making  and  rearing  their  young. 

Finally,  an  attempt  has  been  made  to  exhibit  at  one 


Preface  to  Original  Editioiu  vii 

j'^lance,  and  in  a  very  condensed  and  S3^^tcmatic  form, 
as  mucli  information  as  possible  touching  the  nest,  its 
customary  site  and  materials,  and  also  the  eggs,  their 
number,  colour,  and  markings,  and  any  noteworthy 
breeding  peculiarities  of  each  separate  British-breed- 
ing species.  It  is  hoped  this  attempt,  somewhat  novel 
as  it  is,  and  almost  inevitably  imperfect  as  it  must  be 
in  too  many  respects,  will  not  be  regarded  as  alto- 
gether unacceptable  by  the  youthful  nest-hunter  and 
egg-collector. 

The  author  has  only  to  observe,  in  conclusion  that 
he  has  scarcely  thought  it  necessary  in  the  majority 
of  instances  to  notice  the  common  and  well  recognised 
fact  that  any  particular  species  under  notice,  in  common 
with  many  or  most  of  our  common  British  birds,  rears 
two  broods,  or  even  more,  in  the  course  of  the  isummer. 
Neither  has  he  thought  it  requisite  to  attempt  to 
define  the  average  season  for  the  commencement  of 
nidification  in  the  case  of  this  or  that  species  as  they 
came  succes.^ively  under  review. 


INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTERS 


TO   THE 


ORIGINAL   EDITION, 


CHAPTER  I. 


The  object  with  which  this  book  is  written  is  that  it 
may  be  interesting  and  useful  to  young  egg-collectors. 
It  is  not  easy  to  make  a  book,  which  is  to  be  devoted 
to  such  details  as  the  length  and  breadth,  and  shades 
and  markings  of  some  two  or  three  hundred  different 
eggs,  either  interesting,  or  even  barely  readable.  But 
there  is  no  necessity  that  a  book  of  British  Birds'  Eo-o-s 
and  Nests  should  be  devoted  to  merely  such  details  as 
those.  For  my  own  part,  I  do  not  tind  it  easy  alto- 
gether to  dissociate  the  eggs  laid  from  the  bird  which 
lays  them  ;  and  when  I  see  a  beautiful  nest  I  can 
hardly  help  being  led  to  think  something  about  the 
builder,  its  means,  objects,  powers,  instincts  and  in- 
telligence. And  I  don't  see  why  a  book  about  ego's 
and  nests  should  not  follow  the  direction  given  by 
those  same  objects  to  my  thoughts,  and  the  thouohts 


2  British  BirdSy 

of  hundreds  and  thousands  of  other  men  besides  me, 
and  I  am  sure  too  of  hundreds  and  thousands  of  bo3^s 
and  girls  as  well.  I  am  as  sure  as  if  I  could  see  into 
the  minds  of  the  young  nest-hunter  generally,  that 
when  he  finds  one  day  the  wonderfully  neat  and 
beautiful  Chaffinch's  or  Goldfinch's  or  Crested  Wren's 
nest,  and  the  next,  lights  upon  some  littering  Jack- 
daw's nest,  or  some  inartistic,  careless-seeming  Jay's 
or  Ring-dove's,  that  the  wide,  wonderful  contrast  and 
diflference  sets  him  thinking  —  What  is  the  reason 
of  this  strange  dissimilarity  ?  Is  one  of  these  birds 
really  less  clever  than  the  other  ?  Did  God  make  one 
of  them  a  careless,  disorderly,  unthrifty  bird,  while 
the  other  He  made  such  a  wonderfully  neat  and 
dexterous  and  contriving  one  ? 

And  I  am  equally  sure  that  a  little  measure  of 
observation  and  thought  will  be  enough  to  show  the 
young  inquirer  not  only  that  the  Great  Maker  of 
birds  and  Giver  of  their  instincts  and  understandings 
and  capacities  has  not  left  some  of  His  creatures  im- 
perfect in  some  of  their  qualifications  and  endowments, 
but  that  the  very  contrasts  and  unlikenesses  which 
first  set  him  on  questioning  at  all,  all  teach  one  great 
lesson  and  illustrate  one  great  truth, — namely  this, 
"  O  Lord,  how  manifold  are  Thy  works  !  "  and  to  add 
the  inquiry  suggested  by  what  follows  the  words 
quoted, — "  Hast  Thou  not  in  wisdom  made  them  all  ? " 

Perhaps  an  Egg-book  might  be  so  written  as  to 
help  such  thought  and  observation  as  is  here  sup- 
posed, and  now  and  then,  besides,  to  suggest  explana- 
tions or  lead  to  investigation  or  communicate  a 
knowledge  of  facts  such  as   to  illustrate   and  make 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  3 

clear,  and  even  entertaining  or  amusing,  the  every- 
day incidents  and  facts  which  fall  commonly  enough 
beneath  the  notice  of  the  moderately  sharp-eyed  and 
observant  nest-huntcr. 

The  difficulty  of  making  such  a  oook  useful  to  the 
systematic  collector  of  eggs,  however  young,  is  not 
nearly  as  great  as  that  of  making  it  interesting  to  the 
many,  who,  though  not  inspired  with  the  ambition  of 
owning  a  real  grand  cabinet,  and  of  arranging  its 
manifold  drawers  with  neatly  ordered  and  ticketed 
egg-cards,  are  yet  sensible  of  a  real  pleasure  and 
enjoyment  in  noticing  the  nests  and  eggs  of  their 
numerous  "feathered  friends,"  and  in  identifying 
such  as  may  chance  to  be  less  familiarly  known  than 
the  majority  of  those  met  with  under  ordinary  cir- 
cumstances. Faithful  description  and  accurate 
representation  are  clearly  within  our  reach,  and  such 
description  and  representation  are  sufficient  in  nine- 
teen cases  out  of  twenty  for  the  purposes  of  identi- 
fication in  all  instances  of  usual  occurrence. 

The  cases  in  which  identification  is  difficult  are  of 
two  or  three  kinds.  Sometimes  the  difficulty  arises 
from  the  near  resemblance  of  the  eggs  laid  by  differ- 
ent allied  species,  sometimes  from  the  wide  dis- 
crepancies in  the  markings  and  especially  in  the 
shadings  or  tints  of  eggs  laid  by  the  same  species ; 
but  much  more  frequently  from  the  doubtful  eggs 
being  met  with  apart  from  the  containing  nests,  or 
from  want  of  proper  or  sufficiently  accurate  observa- 
tion of  the  nests  at  the  moment  of  discovery.  The 
young  egg-fancier  should  always  recollect  that  the 
fashion  and  materials  and  site  of  the  nest,  taken  in 


4  British  Birds, 

connection  with  the  eggs,  will  almost  always,  with  the 
aid  of  a  tolerably  accurate  and  well  illustrated  Book 
of  Eggs,  enable  him  to  decide  without  hesitation  as 
to  the  real  owner  of  the  nests  and  eggs  in  question  ; 
while  there  are  very  many  eggs,  such  as  the  Common 
Wren's,  those  of  one  or  more  of  the  Tom-tits,  the 
Lesser  Willow  Wren,  etc.,  of  which  specimens  may  be 
found  so  nearly  resembling  one  another  in  shade  and 
size  and  spots,  that  it  requires  a  very  nice  and 
experienced  eye  to  allot  the  several  eggs  to  their 
certain  origin.  In  such  a  case  as  this,  recourse  must 
be  had  to  some  kind  and  experienced  oologist. 

A  few  words  on  another  subject.  The  author  has 
been  gravely  taken  to  task  by  some  of  his  conscien- 
tious friends,  for  delineating  in  one  or  two  of  his 
former  books  the  pleasures  and  excitements  of  egg- 
hunting,  or  the  satisfaction  of  trying  to  form  a 
methodical  collection.  He  has  been  more  than  once 
asked — "Do  you  really  mean  to  encourage  boys  in 
robbing  birds'  nests  ?  Can  you  defend  such  a  practice 
from  the  charge  of  cruelty  ?  " 

If  I  thought  there  was  any  real  or  necessary  con- 
nection between  a  love  of  egg-hunting — yes,  and  egg- 
collecting,  too, — and  cruelty,  I  would  not  say  another 
word  for  it  or  about  it.  But  I  am  sure  that  the  real 
lover  of  birds  and  their  nests  and  eggs  is  not  the  boy 
who  is  chargeable  with  those  torn  and  ruined  nests — 
"  destroyed "  as  they  may  well  be  styled — which 
grieve  one  as  he  walks  along  the  lanes  and  hedge 
sides.  If  the  nest  is  taken,  or  rudely  and  roughly 
handled,  or  the  eggs  all  plundered,  there  is  cruelty : 
for  in  the  one  case,  the  poor  parent-birds  are  warned 


Thtir  Eggs  and  Nests.  5 

by  their  instinct,  if  not  their  intelligence,  to  forsake 
their  treasured  charge  ;  in  the  other,  they  suffer  from 
pitiless  robbery  of  what  they  most  care  for.  But  if 
the  parent-bird  be  not  rudely  and  repeatedly  driven 
from  her  nest, — if  the  nest  be  not  pulled  out  of  shape, 
or  the  containing  bushes  or  environing  shelter  be  not 
wilfully  or  carelessly  disturbed — if  two  or  three  eggs 
are  still  left  for  her  to  incubate,  there  is,  so  far  as 
human  observation  can  reach,  no  pain,  or  concern,  or 
uneasiness,  to  the  little  owners  from  the  abstraction  of 
one  ^^g  or  more  ;  and,  therefore,  of  course,  no  cruelty 
in  the  abstraction.  The  legitimate  pursuit  of  sport  in 
the  stubbles  and  turnip  fields,  or  on  the  open  moor, 
does  not  differ  more  widely  from  the  cruel  proceedings 
of  the  cold-blooded,  hard-hearted  slaughter  of  his 
dozens  of  Rock  birds  (many  of  which  are  always  left  to 
die  lingeringly  and  miserably),  than  the  object  or 
manner  of  action  of  the  true  lover  of  birds  and  their 
ways  and  nests  and  eggs,  from  the  ruthless  destruc- 
tion of  every  nest  and  its  contents  which  may  happen 
to  be  met  with  by  some  young  loutish  country 
savage. 

Again,  a  few  words  more,  and  this  time  about 
classification.  I  should  like,  if  such  a  course  were 
profitable,  or  even  practicable,  to  make  just  such  a 
classification  as  an  active,  sharp-eyed,  observant,  per- 
severing nest-hunter  would,  as  it  were,  find  ready 
made  for  him,  by  the  results  of  his  rambles  and  in- 
vestigations and  discoveries ;  that  is  to  say,  to  group 
the  birds  and  their  eggs  according  to  their  frequent 
occurrence,  their  comparative,  but  still  not  positive, 
infrequency,   or    their    downright    rarity.      By    this 


6  BritisJi  Birdsy 

means,  and  the  subdivisions  which  would  be  suggested 
by  an  enumeration  of  the  most  usual  sites  of  the 
several  nests,  an  interesting,  and  at  least  partially 
instructive  as  well  as  practical  system  of  classification 
would  be  devised.  But  I  am  afraid  such  a  system 
would  not  have  much  to  recommend  it  besides  its 
novelty  and  interest,  and  practical  hints  "where  to 
look  for  this  bird's  nest  or  the  other's  ;  and  how  to 
look  so  as  to  find."  One  great  disadvantage  would  be 
that  such  classification,  so  called,  would  have  the  effect 
of  breaking  up  groups  which  nature  has  put  together. 
There  is,  generally  speaking,  what  may  be  called  a 
great  family-likeness  between  the  eggs  of  the  various 
species  of  any  given  genus,  or  kind  of  birds.  Take 
the  Buntings,  for  instance :  anyone  who  is  familiar 
with  the  common  Yellow  Hammer's  ^gg  would  at 
once  guess  at  the  eggs  of  either  of  the  other  species  as 
belonging  to  a  Bunting ;  and  the  same  of  the  Titmice, 
Linnets,  Thrushes,  Crows,  and  so  on  without  end. 

So  that,  although  it  may  seem  at  first  sight  that 
scientific  classification  is  hard  and  troublesome  and 
half  unnecessary,  and  may  often  prompt  the  question 
in  the  boy-collector's  mind,  Why  wouldn't  it  do  just 
as  well  to  write  down  the  English  names  on  the  cards 
and  in  my  catalogue,  and  arrange  them  all  my  own 
way  ? — still  it  should  be  remembered  that  such  classi- 
fication after  all  is  far  from  arbitrary,  and  on  the 
contrary,  and  as  far  as  it  is  really  good,  only  follows 
out  the  teachings  or  guidings  of  nature.  And  this 
quite  independently  of  the  trouble  which  is  saved  by 
it  to  anyone  who  wishes  to  co-nsult  books  of  reference, 
and  still   more  to  examine  large  and  well-arranged 


Their  Eccs  cind  Nests. 


"^xb 


collections  of  cge^s,  whether  for  his  own  direct  instruc- 
tion, or  merely  in  search  of  interesting  pastime.  If  a 
boy  only  knows  that  a  Reed  Sparrow  is  called  a  Reed 
Sparrow  or  a  Black-headed  Bunting,  and  he  wanted  to 
find  the  Reed  Sparrow's  eggs  in  a  well-stocked  collec- 
tion, he  might  be  half  an  hour  before  he  hit  upon  what 
he  wanted ;  but  if  he  knew  that  the  generic  name  of 
the  Bunting  was  Einberiza^  and  the  specific  name  of 
the  Reed  Sparrow,  ScJicenichcs  he  would  be  able  to 
pitch  upon  his  quarry  in  half  a  minute.  Besides  all 
which,  no  one  was  ever  the  worse  for  learning  habits 
of  orderly  and  systematic  arrangement,  even  though 
he  had  to  pay  the  price  of  doing  a  little  puzzling 
head-achy  work,  and  had  to  bother  himself  with  a 
good  many  ugly-looking,  ill-sounding,  jaw-cracking 
words,  such  as  Coccothraustes,  Troglodytes,  Platy- 
rhynca,  Phalacrocorax,  and  the  like. 

It  is  proposed  in  this  little  book  to  adopt  a  classifi- 
cation w^hich  seems  to  meet  with  very  general 
acceptance  or  acquiescence,  and  principally  for  that 
reason ; — that,  namely,  which  was  employed  by  the 
late  Mr.  Yarrell.  This  classification  depends  on  the 
system  which  divides  all  birds  whatever  into  five 
great  classes,^  viz : — 

^  It  will  possibly  be  thought  by  some  of  my  readers — and  I  must 
admit  that  I  have  again  and  again  debated  the  consideration  with 
myself — that  it  was  scarcely  necessary,  perhaps  desirable,  to  suffer 
this  and  what  follows  to  reappear  in  a  new  Edition.  On  the  wiiole, 
I  thought  it  was  ;  because  it  will  at  least  serve  to  direct  attention 
to  the  greatness  of  tlie  changes  consequent  on  more  careful  and  more 
scientific  investigation  which  have  been  introduceJ  during  the  period 
which  has  elapsed  since  the  first  appearance  of  this  little  hook. 
These  will  in  this  way  l>c  caused  to  appear  less  abrupt  and  startling, 
and  the  reader  to  be  better  prepared  for  them,  when  he  cornea  to  the 


8  British  Birds, 

I.  Raptores Prey-catchers. 

II.  Insessores Perchers. 

III.  Rasores Scratch ers. 

IV.  Grallatores   ....  Waders. 
V.  Natatores     ....  Swimmers. 

Each  of  these  classes,  or  *'  Orders,"  as  they  are 
technically  called,  is  again  divided  either  into  distinct 
Families,  or  (at  least  in  some  cases)  into  Sub-classes, 
or  Groups ;  these  Groups  being  then  further  sub- 
divided into  families.  Again,  these  Families  are  made 
up  of  more  or  fewer  genera^  and  each  genus  of  more  or 
fewer  species.  These  species^  so  many  of  them  as  com- 
pose any  particular  genus,  all  differ  from  one  another 
more  or  less,  but  yet  have  a  strong  general  resem- 
blance, or  (what  may  familiarly  be  called)  strong- 
family  likeness  to  each  other. 

The  general  scheme  or,  as  I  may  almost  call  it,  the 
skeleton  of  our  classification,  will  therefore  stand 
thus : — 

ORDER  I— RAPTORES. 

Family      I.    Vidttiridcs^      .    .     Vulture-kind. 
II.  FalconidcB     .     .     .     Falcon-kind. 
III.  Strigidce ....     Owl-kind. 

more  modern  arrangement  vhich  will  be  found  at  the  close  of  the 
Introduction  to  the  present  Edition. 

1  VuUto'idce,  Falconidce,  and  the  other  similar  names  of  Families, 
are,  most  of  them,  Latin  words,  with  Greek  forms  or  terminations. 
The  true  or  real  meaning  of  any  one  of  them  would  be,  that  the 
birds  in  the  Family  so  named  are  the  children,  or  descendants,  of  the 
bird  or  birds  whose  name  is  used — thus,  Vulturidcn,  sons  of  a  Vulture 
or  Vultures — which,  of  course,  is  nonsense,  as  the  words  are  applied. 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests. 


ORDER  IL— INSESSORES. 


Group  1. — DentirostI' 

Family       I  Laniadce  .     . 

1 1.  MuscicapidcB 

J II.  MenilidcE 

IV.  Sylviadce^ 

V.  ParidcB    . 

VI.  Ampelidcc 

VII.  MotacillidcB 

VIII.  Anthidce . 


!•>:  (Tooth-Billed). 

Butcher-bird-kind. 

Flycatcher-kind. 

Thrush-kind. 

Wood-bird-kind. 

Titmouse-kind. 

Waxwinf^-kind. 

Wagtail-kind. 

Anthus-kind. 


Family 


Group  2. — Conirostres  (Cone-Billed). 


I. 

AlaiididcB     . 

.     .     Lark-kind. 

II. 

EmberizidcB . 

.     .     Bunting-kind. 

III. 

FringillidcB  . 

.     .     Finch-kind. 

IV. 

Stiirnidcs     . 

.     .     Starling-kind. 

V. 

CorvidcB  .     . 

.     .     Crow-kind. 

What  is  mtoAit  by  the  use  of  the  words  in  question  is  that  the  birds 
grouped  together  in  any  one  Family,  all  participate  in  some  likeness 
of  kind— are,  so  to  speak,  *'  connections  "  of  each  other,  or  that  there 
is  a  sort  of  kinship  among  them.  This  I  have  tried  to  convey  in  the 
annexed  translation.  It  ought  to  be  observed  also  that  the  bird 
whose  name  is  given  to  the  entire  Family  is  selected  for  such  pur- 
pose as  possessing  the  characteristic  qualities  or  peculiarities  of  tlic 
Family  in  question,  or,  at  least,  most  of  them,  in  the  strongest  and 
most  marked  degree.  [The  reader  sliould,  on  this  point,  consult  the 
Introduction  to  the  present  edition.] 

1  Sylviachp,  I  have  translated  WoofJ -bird-kind,  because  SyJvkt 
means  something  connected  with  wood,  if  it  means  anything.  Sylvia 
is  taken,  in  bird-nomenclature,  to  denote  a  Warbler  ;  and  it  may  be 
said,  that  most  of  those  birds  which  come  under  this  division  arc 
Warblers  in  some  sense,  and  are,  in  some  degree  or  other,  of  sylvan 
habits  ;  at  least  if  we  give  to  the  word  "sylvan"  some  latitude  of 
meaning. 


10 


British  Birds, 


Group  3. — Scansores  (Climbers). 

Family       I.  Piddle.   ....     AVoodpecker-kind. 
II.  CertJiiadcB    .     .     .     Creeper-kind. 


III.   CuciUidcB. 


Cuckoo-kind. 


Group  4. — Fissirostres  (Cleft-Billhd). 

Family       I.  Meropidce    .     .  .  Bee-eater- kind. 

II.  Halcyonidce .     .  .  Kingfisher-kind. 

III.  HirundinidcB    .  .  Swallow-kind. 

IV.  CaprimulgidcE  .  .  Goatsucker-kind. 


ORDER  III.— RASORES  (SCRATCHERS). 

Family      I.  ColumbidcB  . 

.     .     Dove-kind. 

II.  Phasianidce . 

.     .     Pheasant-kind. 

III.   Tetrao7iid(B  . 

.     .     Grouse-kind. 

IV.  Struthionidcs 

.     .     Ostrich-kind. 

ORDER  IV.— GRALLATORES  (WADERS). 

Family       I.  Charadriidcs 

.     .     Plover-kind. 

II.  Gniidce    .     . 

.     .     Crane-kind. 

III.  ArdeidcB  .     . 

.     .     Heron-kind. 

IV.  ScolopacidcB  . 

.     .     Woodcock-kind. 

V.  Ra/iidc^  .     . 

.     .     Rail-kind. 

VI.  LobipedidcB  . 

.     .     Lobed-foot-kind 

ORDER  v.— NATATO 

RES  (SWIMMERS). 

Family      I.  Anaiidce .    . 

.     .     Duck-kind. 

II.  ColymbidcB  . 

.     .     Diver-kind. 

III.  Alcad(E    .     . 

.     .     Auk-kind. 

IV.  PelccmiidcB  . 

.     .     Pelican-kind. 

V.  Laridce    .     . 

.     .     Gull-kind. 

TJieir  Eggs  and  N'csts.  II 

Such  being  the  skeleton  of  our  classification,  the 
details  necessary  for  the  completion  of  the  entire 
system  or  frame  will  be  most  conveniently  given  as 
we  proceed  to  notice  in  detail  the  various  Orders,  their 
component  Families  and  subordinate  members. 


12  British  Birds ^ 


CHAPTER  II. 

Any  one  "who  is  conversant  with  Yarrell's  admirable 
"  British  Birds,"  will  most  likely  have  noticed  that 
that  author  gives  in  almost  every  case  very  precise 
measurements  of  the  eggs  of  each  particular  species 
of  bird  described.  And  it  might,  at  first  sight,  seem 
to  be  so  necessary  to  give  such  measurements  that 
one  would  very  likely  feel  half  inclined  to  pronounce 
a  book  of  birds'  eggs  very  imperfect,  which  omitted 
all  notice  of  dimensions.  But  the  fact  is,  such 
measurements  are,  in  so  very  many  different  instances, 
altogether  fallacious  and  likely  to  mislead.  Thus 
Mr.  Yarrell's  measurements  of  the  Blackbird's  egg 
are,  "  the  length  one  inch,  two  lines  ;  the  breadth  ten 
lines."  That  is  no  doubt  a  good  average  or  approxi- 
mate measurement,  but  I  have  Blackbirds'  eggs  before 
me  which  vary  between  half  a  line,  or  ^t  of  an  inch, 
less,  and  a  line,  or  yV  of  an  inch,  more  in  length,  and 
between  half  a  line  more  or  less,  in  breadth.  Again, 
I  have  two  Starlings'  eggs  on  my  table,  both  taken 
from  the  same  pigeon-cote  in  Essex  ;  one  of  which  is 
\-l-^  inch  long  by  \\  inch  broad ;  the  other  l/o  inch 
long,  and  \%  inch  broad  ;  while  to  the  eye  the  latter  is 
not  much  more  than  half  as  large  as  the  former. 
Moreover,  Mr.  Yarrell's  measurements  for  this  bird's 
eggs  are  precisely  the  same  as  for  those  of  the  Black- 


TJieir  Eggs  and  Nests.  1 3 

bird,  and  not  only  not  tallying  with  those  of  cither  of 
my  e^^gs,  but  not  even  presenting  a  near  approach  to 
the  medium  dimensions. 

Great  numbers  of  similar  instances  might  be  ad- 
duced, and  in  connection  with  the  very  commonest 
birds.  Even  eggs  from  the  same  nest  may  continually 
be  met  with,  presenting  great  disparity  in  bulk ;  one 
in  the  number  being  frequently  so  small  in  compari- 
son with  the  others,  as  invariably  to  set  one  thinking 
it  must  have  been  the  last  laid,  and  that  a  partial 
failure  of  egg-producing  power  in  the  mother-bird 
must  be  the  explanation  of  the  phenomenon. 

It  seems  scarcely  open  to  question  that  the  physical 
condition  of  the  parent-bird  must  exercise  a  great 
influence  over  its  egg-producing  capacity.  Its  powers 
may  be  impaired  by  age,  by  the  effects  of  recent 
injury  or  sickness,  by  a  partial  failure  of  some  neces- 
sary element  of  food,  by  undue  pressure  on  the  egg- 
producing  organs,  such  as  must  occur  by  the  loss  of 
one  or  more  early  layings.  Indeed  all  these  causes  are 
well  known  to  interfere  with  the  reproductive  energies 
of  animals  at  large,  and  it  is  a  thoroughly  ascertained 
fact  that  both  the  first  and  the  last  act  most  strongly 
in  the  case  of  many  birds.  The  comparative  size  of 
birds'  eggs,  therefore,  seems  to  me  a  matter  to  which 
it  is  unnecessary,  if  not  inexpedient,  to  direct  the  young 
collector's  attention  ;  in  any  other  way,  at  least,  than 
as  to  a  matter  of  curious  observation  and  contrast. 
As  a  means  of  identification  it  fails  completely,  and  is 
only  adverted  to  here  for  the  purpose  of  obviating  a 
portion  of  the  perplexity  which  may  often  occur  in 
practice  to  the  youthful  egg-fancier  from  the  differ- 


14  Brit  is  Ji  Birds  ^ 

ence  in  size  between  diiferent  specimens  of  what  are 
in  reality  eggs  of  tiie  same  species  of  birds,  but  seem 
to  him,  from  their  discrepancy  of  dimensions,  not 
possibly  so. 

Again,  the  colour  and  markings  of  many  different 
species  of  eggs  are  found  to  admit  of  great  variation. 
The  most  familiar  and  striking  instance  is  in  the  case  of 
the  Guillemot;  but  one  more  within  the  reach  of  every 
nest-hunter  is  presented  by  the  eggs  of  the  Blackbird. 
Sometimes  the  spots  on  them  are  very  minute  and 
multitudinous  ;  almost  confluent  from  their  number 
and  minuteness  ;  sometimes  large  and  well-defined 
and  permitting  the  ground-shade  of  the  shell  to  be 
very  apparent;  sometimes  reddish  in  colour,  closely 
approaching  the  shade  of  those  on  the  Ring  Ousel's 
eo^o',  and  sometimes  brown  in  hue,  with  no  reddish 
tinge  at  all ;  and  sometimes  they  disappear  altogether, 
or  very  nearly,  and  leave  the  ^gg  with  a  strong 
resemblance  to  the  little-spotted  Thrush's  ^gg?-  To 
such  an  extent  is  this  the  case,  that  a  year  or  two 
since  I  was  misled  into  assuming  that  four  eggs 
which  I  found  in  a  nest  with  all  the  characters  of  a 
Blackbird's  nest,  must  most  certainly,  from  their 
colour  and  markings,  be  assigned  to  a  Thrush  original 
and  not  to  a  Blackbird.  Other  familiar  instances  of 
the  same  kind  may  be  noticed  as  met  with  in  the 
House  Sparrow,  the  Tree  Pipit,  the  Sky  Lark,  the 
Yellow  Hammer,  one  or  more  of  the  Hawks,  etc. 

In  the  fabric  and  materials  of  nests,  again,  as  con- 
structed by  birds  of  the  same  species,  much  dissimi- 
larity, under  peculiar  circumstances,  will  be  found  to 
1  Yarrell,  i.  204.     Ilewitson,  i.  G3. 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  15 

prevail.  But  really  not  more  than  might  have  been 
looked  for  beforehand,  if  it  were  not  that,  in  our 
usual  way  of  thinking  about  birds  and  other  animals, 
we  lay  so  much  stress  upon  Instinct,  and  do  not  so 
much  as  admit  to  our  notice  the  possibility  that  many 
of  their  actions  may  be  prompted  by  a  measure  of 
intelligence,  and  not  simply  an  unconsidering,  un- 
reasoning influence,  which  we  term  their  Instinctive 
endowment.  No  doubt  Instinct  teaches  them  both  to 
build  and  how  to  build  their  nests,  and  what  materi- 
als are  the  most  suitable,  and  the  sites  that  are  most 
eligible.  But  it  is  scarcely  Instinct  which  sets  the 
Eagle  and  the  Crow,  when  their  abode  is  in  a  place 
that  does  not  furnish  the  sticks  they  commonly  or 
instinctively  use  for  building  their  nests,  to  adopt 
instead  of  sticks  the  sea- weed  stems  which  their  home 
does  produce.  And  so  too  of  the  House  Sparrow, 
which,  if  it  selects  a  tree  or  ivy  for  its  site,  builds  a 
huge  domed  or  well  covered-in  nest,  but  only  lines  the 
bottom  of  the  hole  in  thatch,  or  a  wall,  with  abundant 
feathers  or  hair  or  straw.  The  Wren,  again,  which 
usually  builds  its  nest  so  that  it  may  easily  be 
removed  entire  and  compact,  may  be  found  to  avail 
itself  of  such  a  site  for  its  nest,  that  it  may  be  built 
on  the  principle  of  application — like  the  Martin's  to 
the  wall  beneath  the  eaves — so  that,  when  taken  from 
its  site,  it  shall  appear  to  have  had  a  segment  com- 
pletely cut  out  or  sliced  off  from  it. 

The  adaptation  of  materials  to  site  also,  so  as  to 
secure  a  greater  degree  of  concealment  by  making  the 
intrusive  structure  assimilate  in  external  fabric  and 
hue   to  the  surrounding   objects,  is   well    worthy  of 


1 6  British  Birds, 

receiving  attention,  as  supplying  not  only  fresh  sources 
of  seeming  unlikeness  in  nests  of  the  same  species  of 
birds,  but  also  fresh  instances  of  the  little  feathered 
architect's  wonderful  adaptive  intelligence. 

The  question, — Why  are  birds'  eggs,  in  so  many 
cases,  so  variously  and  beautifully  ornamented  ? 
Why  are  their  hues  and  markings  made  so  attractive 
to  look  at  ?  has  often  been  asked,  and  two  or  three 
different  answers  or  modes  of  answer  have  been  sug- 
gested. I  have  seen  the  idea  started  that  the  design 
of  such  various  colouring  and  marking  is  intended  to 
facilitate  concealment,  by  the  adaptation  of  the 
general  hue  of  the  ^gg  to  that  of  the  recipient  or 
supporting  substances.  The  theory  is  at  least  original 
and  amusing ;  but  unfortunately  less  happy  than 
when  applied  to  the  plumage  of  the  birds  themselves 
which  lay  the  eggs.  It  is  no  easy  thing  to  detect  a 
Partridge  as  she  sits,  lifeless-seeming,  amid  other 
objects  not  more  still  than  herself,  and  presenting  no 
great  contrast  in  colour  to  her  feathers :  but  there  is 
no  difficulty  in  seeing  her  eggs  as  they  lie  in  the  nest, 
And  so  well  aware  is  she  of  the  fact,  that  she  always 
covers  her  eggs  with  some  convenient  and  suitable 
material — last  year's  oak  leaves,  for  example — when 
leaving  her  nest  deliberately,  or  not  under  the  im- 
pulses of  alarm.  The  Hedge  Sparrow's  eggs  again,  or 
any  other  blue  ^gg,  how  can  they  be  supposed  to 
become  less  conspicuous  by  their  colour  when  reposing 
in  some  earth-brown  or  hay-coloured  nest-cup  ? 

If  it  had  been  said  that  the  Golden  Plover's  eggs, 
the  Peewit's,  the  Snipe's,  the  Norfolk  Plover's — not  to 
name  many  others  of  which  the  same  might  be  alleged 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  \y 

— were  of  such  <:;eneral  luio,  so  shaded  and  so  marked 
as  to  be  anything  but  conspicuous,  as  to  be  indeed 
well  calculated  to  escape  any  but  a  most  scrutinising 
notice,  in  the  apologies  for  nests  which  usually  con- 
tain them,  the  entire  truth  of  the  remark  would  have 
appealed  to  every  nest-finder's  experience  and  assent  : 
but  it  will  not  do  so  in  any  other  form. 

It  is  impossible  to  lay  down  any  rule  for  the  colours 
of  eggs  in  connection  with  the  places,  or  nature  of  the 
places,  in  which  they  are  laid.  White  eggs  are  not 
laid  in  nests  built  in  dark  holes  as  a  rule— indeed, 
very  much  the  contrary  ;  witness  the  Dove's  eggs, 
and  so  many  of  those  of  the  Duck  tribe ;  nor  are 
dark-coloured  eggs  invariably  found  to  be  laid  where 
exposed  to  the  greatest  amount  of  broad  daylight. 
There  seems  to  be  no  rule  in  the  matter. 

Again,  another  answer  to  the  question  just  noticed 
is.  Eggs  were  made  so  beautiful,  and  so  various  in 
their  beauty,  to  gratify  and  gladden  man's  eye.  I  don't 
dispute  the  fact  that  the  beautiful  shape,  and  the 
beautiful  tints,  and  the  beautiful  markings  do  gratify 
and  gladden  the  human  eye  and  human  heart  too.  I 
know  they  do,  and  in  thousands  of  cases,  and  with  a 
great,  pure  pleasure.  But  that  is  a  very  different 
thing  from  saying  that  God  made  them  so  for  no 
other  reason,  or  even  for  that  purpose  as  a  principal 
reason.  How  m.any  thousands  of  eggs,  for  ten  that 
are  seen  by  man,  escape  all  human  notice  whatever ! 
How  many  millions  upon  millions  in  the  old-world 
times  before  there  were  men  to  see  them,  must  have 
had  their  fair  colours,  and  delicate  symmetry,  and 
harmonious  intermingling   of   hues,   for   no    purpose 


1 8  British  Birds, 

whatever  according  to  this  view !  No,  no.  Nature 
should  not  be  read  so.  God  made  the  Beasts  of  the 
Field,  and  the  Birds  of  the  Air,  and  the  Fishes  of  the 
Sea,  and  the  Insects,  and  the  Shells,  and  the  Trees, 
and  Herbs,  and  Flowers,  all,  as  a  rule,  wonderfully, 
gloriously,  harmoniously  beautiful,  because  He  is  a 
God  of  order,  and  beauty,  and  harmony  ;  because  it 
would  have  been  inconsistent  with  His  own  Beinsf 
with  the  necessary  purposes  of  such  a  Being,  with  the 
declared  objects  of  such  a  Being  in  Creation,  not  to 
have  made  all  "  very  good ;  "  and  the  same  reason 
which  accounts  for  the  beauty  of  the  myriad  flowers 
"  born  to  blush  unseen,"  for  that  of  the  innumerable 
shells  and  insects  of  past  days  and  the  present  day, 
for  that  of  the  glorious  birds  of  Tropic  lands,  is  all 
that  we  want  in  the  way  of  explanation  of  the 
symmetry  and  beauty  of  the  bird's  ^gg.  God  made 
it  as  well  as  all  other  things  "  very  good." 

Something  more  to  the  point  for  the  practical  egg- 
hunter,  and  even  although  he  may  be  not  very 
juvenile,  is  to  recommend  the  practice  of  jotting  down 
notes  of  any  peculiarity  of  either  nest  or  eggs  or  be- 
haviour of  parent  birds,  in  any  supposable  case  that 
may  be  a  little  unusual.  Such  notes  are  always  in- 
teresting and  very  often  useful  at  some  long  subse- 
quent period  ;  useful  in  themselves,  and  useful  too  as 
commenting  on  or  else  illustrated  by,  the  similar 
memoranda  of  other  observers.  Besides,  in  what  is 
put  down  upon  paper  w^hile  the  incident  is  still  fresh, 
and  the  memory  of  it  not  interfered  with  by  other  and 
new^er  matters  of  strong  interest,  the  record  is  sure 
to  be  accurate ;    while  mere  recollection  at   a   later 


Their  Eggs  a?id  N'ests'.  19 

date  is  about  sure  to  be  insutticient  or  untrust- 
wortll3^ 

Perhaps  the  boy-collector  too  may  not  tliink  a  few 
sentences  about  blowing  and  drying  and  mounting  his 
egg-treasures  either  tiresome  or  unnecessary.  As  a 
rule,  let  the  egg  intended  to  be  kept  be  blown  and 
dried  as  soon  as  possible.  There  are  several  reasons 
for  this  piece  of  advice.  The  light  shells  travel  more 
safely  than  the  full  Qgg ;  the  Qgg  shells  do  not  suffer 
detriment  from  lying  overlooked,  with  their  contents 
rotting  within,  as  often  happens  with  the  collector  of 
uncareful  and  unprecise  habits ;  they  are  put  into  a 
state  of  comparative  readiness  for  prompt  and  complete 
preparation  and  arrangement ;  and  though  last  not 
least,  a  good,  useful,  methodical  habit  is  encouraged  in 
the  collector  himself. 

There  are  several  ways  of  blowing  an  egg  and  going 
through  the  preparatory  stages  of  fitting  it  to  take  its 
place  in  a  collection.  There  are  also  instruments  for 
extracting  the  contents  of  the  shell  so  as  to  obviate 
the  necessity  of  making  more  than  one  hole.  I  don't 
think  they  are  likely  to  be  of  much  use  to  a  mere  boy.^ 
I  am  sure  they  would  be  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  and 
I  don't  think  that  the  end  gained  would  repay  the 

1  If,  however,  the  boy  has  or  acquires  them,  the  following  note  is 
useful : — "  The  simplest  and  best  way  of  blowing  eggs  is  to  drill  a 
hole  in  one  side  (not  at  the  ends),  then  taking  the  egg,  hole  down- 
wards, between  the  finger  and  thumb  of  the  left  hand,  place  the 
blowpipe  point  just  outside  the  hole,  and  blow  into  the  egg  ;  this 
will  force  out  the  contents.  When  this  is  done,  blow  a  little  clean 
water  into  the  egg,  and  shake  it  well ;  then  remove  the  water  in  the 
same  way  as  above,  and  allow  the  egg  to  dry  hole  downwards  on 
blotting  paper;  it  will  then  be  quite  clean."  Tliis  note  was  ap- 
pended to  the  first  Edition. 


20  British  Birds^ 

trouble  and  care  expended.  I  have  always  found  a 
small  hole,  only  just  lar^e  enough  to  admit  the  passage 
of  sufficient  air  to  expel  the  contents,  made  very  care- 
fully and  neatly  at  the  small  end,  and  a  larger  one 
about  half-way  between  the  great  end  and  the  line  of 
greatest  diameter,  which  need  not  be  more  than  a  line 
in  breadth  for  the  very  largest  eggs  (if  not  "  hard- 
sat")  quite  sufficient  for  my  purpose,  and  not  objec- 
tionable on  the  score  of  disfiguring  the  shell ;  for  by 
mounting  the  ^^^  with  the  larger  or  vent  hole  down- 
wards— the  smaller  hole  being  practically  invisible  in 
a  great  number  of  instances,  at  least  until  looked  for — 
it  appears  to  be  altogether  entire  and  perfect. 

Any  tolerably  strong  pin  will  do  for  the  purpose 
with  small  eggs.  For  the  larger  and  harder  shells 
something  more  efficient  will  be  required.  A  hard 
steel  instrument  fashioned  like  a  "  glover's  needle  " — 
that  is  with  the  penetrating  end  furnished  with  three 
edges  all  lost  in  the  point — is  as  good  as  anything 
that  could  be  devised,  and  by  having  two  or  three  of 
diflerent  sizes,  every  case  of  necessity  would  be  pro- 
vided for.  The  sharp-pointed  pen-blade  may  be  em- 
ployed, but  great  care  is  necessary  lest,  when  the 
perforation  is  just  efiected,  the  instrument  should  slip 
a  little  farther  in  than  was  intended,  and  an  ugly 
fragment  of  shell  be  wrenched  out. 

When  the  ^gg  is  thoroughly  blown,  it  is  advisable 
to  draw  up  a  little  clean  water  into  it  by  the  process 
of  immersing  the  vent-hole  and  sucking  or  drawing 
in  the  air  from  the  shell  with  the  mouth  through  the 
other — just  reversing  the  late  process  of  "blowing," 
in  short.     The  shell,  when   half-full,  should  be  well 


'TJieir  Eggs  mid  Nests.  21 

shaken,  and  the  water  then  expelled  as  the  legitimate 
contents  had  been  :  a  very  gentle  puff  will  suffice  for 
this.  Repeat  the  process  two  or  three  times,  or  until 
the  water  comes  out  as  clear  as  it  went  in  ;  then  dry 
the  e^g  as  well  as  you  can  by  blowing  through  it  at 
intervals,  after  it  has  been  so  held  that  the  moisture 
on  the  inside  may  all  trickle  down  towards  the  vent- 
hole  ;  after  which  it  may  be  set  up  for  some  hours 
in  an  airy,  but  not  sunny,  place  to  dry  thoroughly. 
Some  collectors  varnish  their  eggs.  A  little  of  the 
white  of  the  egg  itself  is  all-sufficient,  and  that  should 
not  be  applied  unless  the  Qgg  is  perfectly  clean,  which 
is  by  no  means  the  case  with  the  eggs  of  many  ground- 
building  birds  when  taken  from  the  nest.  I  have 
taken  Dabchicks'  eggs  also  so  completely  muddied  all 
over,  that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  get  them  clean. 
One,met  with  on  one  of  the  Essex  marshes  a  year  or  two 
since,  which  was  the  only  one  yet  laid  and  apparently 
not  a  day  old,  was  so  engrained  with  dirt  or  mud  that 
it  defied  all  efforts  to  restore  it  to  its  pristine  white- 
ness. In  the  case  of  an  originally  white  eg^,  such 
efforts  at  cleansing  will  not  do  much  harm;  in  the 
case  of  an  egg  strongly  marked  with  deep  colours,  it 
is  a  difterent  matter.  The  efforts  to  remove  the  clay 
or  dirt  imparted  by  the  feet  of  the  parent  bird  may 
succeed  in  removing  the  stains  in  question,  but  may 
also  very  likely  remove  some  of  the  tints  or  stronger 
colouring  too.  It  must  be  remembered  that  the 
deeper  colours  of  many  eggs  are  not  "fast,"  at  all 
events  when  they  have  not  been  long  laid,  and  that 
attempts  at  cleansing,  more  vigorous  than  judicious, 
may  easily  produce  an  undesired  result. 


22  British  Birds,  their  Eggs  and  Nests. 

If  the  vent-hole  is  necessarily  made  large,  tliere  is 
no  objection  to  placing  a  piece  of  thin  or  gauze  paper, 
wetted  with  the  varnish  or  white  of  the  ^gg,  so  as  to 
cover  the  entire  orifice,  and  so  exclude  dust  or  other 
intrusive  substances.  As  to  mounting  the  eggs,  and 
labelling  for  insertion  in  the  collection,  much  depends 
on  taste.  An  ordinary  "  printer's  "  card  is  as  good  for 
the  purpose  as  anything,  and  a  little  very  strong  gum- 
water  is  the  onl}^  other  requisite.  A  little  attention 
to  placing  the  eggs  sj^mmetrically  and  neatly,  and  the 
use  of  a  few  gun- wads  or  halfpence  or  small  wooden 
wedges,  to  retain  the  eggs  when  accurately  set  in  their 
true  position,  until  the  gum  has  had  time  to  harden, 
are  matters  which  will  almost  surely  suggest  them- 
selves to  any  youthful  egg-fancier  who  is  only  toler- 
ably given  to  admire  the  "  simplex  immditiis."  As  for 
labels,  they  may  either  be  neatly  written,  or  procured, 
at  a  very  slight  cost,  printed  on  purpose  for  such 
application.  [See  the  remarks  on  the  "  Ibis  "  list  in 
the  Introduction  which  follows.] 


INTRODUCTION 

TO   THE 

NEW  AND  REVISED  EDITION. 


Thirty-five  years  ago  the  author  did  not  regard  the 
writing  of  introductory  chapters  to  the  Original 
Edition  of  the  present  book  either  difficult  or  accom- 
panied with  risk.  But  the  writing  of  an  introduction 
to  a  New  and  Revised  Edition,  under  the  circum- 
stances of  the  present  time,  is  by  no  means  so  easy  a 
task  or  one  to  be  lightly  undertaken.  Then,  it  was 
all  comparatively  plain  sailing,  with  no  hidden  rocks 
ahead,  or  risk  of  running  upon  hazardous  quicksands. 
But  now,  there  are  breakers  ahead  in  the  diversity  of 
conflicting  views  as  to  divers  matters  closely  con- 
nected with  ornithological  questions  ;  and,  apart  from 
the  shoals  of  error  which  it  may  require  the  nicest 
steering  to  avoid,  it  is  only  too  certain  that  there  is 
no  chart  laid  down  of  sufficient  accuracy  to  save  the 
course  of  the  craft  from  being  interfered  with  by  the 
influence  of  divers  currents  of  diffiiring  and  discordant 
views  and  opinions. 

23 


24  British  Birds, 

It  is  quite  true  that,  within  the  interval  of  time  just 
adverted  to,  vast  and  most  interesting  additions  have 
been  made  to  our  knowledge  about  birds,  and  matters 
connected  with  them ;  their  habits,  their  haunts,  their 
life-history,  and  especially  the  general  run  of  facts 
connected  with  their  nests  and  eggs,  their  places  of 
nidification  and  all  other  circumstances  of  interest  to 
the  egg-collector. 

But,  recognising  in  the  fullest  manner  that  this  is 
so,  it  is,  at  the  least,  equally  open  to  recognition  that, 
notwithstanding  the  acquisition  of  a  certain  very  large 
amount  of  positive  information  and  knowledge  on 
these  and  such-like  topics,  there  is  still  a  vast  array  of 
ornithological  matters  remaining  under  debate,  which, 
moreover,  are  discussed  with  the  usual  amount  of 
warmth  and  mutual  "  agreement"  still  "  to  differ." 

But  interesting  as  all  such  discussions  may  be  and 
are  to  the  scientific  student  and  observer,  it  scarcely 
follows  that  it  would  prove  to  be  of  interest  to  the 
commencing  bird-naturalist  or  the  boy  nest-hunter 
and  egg-collector.  And  what  the  editor  of  this  "New 
and  Revised  "  issue  of  his  book  has  especially  to  think 
of  is  that  the  readers  he  has  to  desire  as  well  as  to 
write  and  provide  for,  must  mainly  belong  to  a  class 
who  are  not,  as  yet,  at  least,  either  scientific  or  deeply 
read,  whether  as  biid-observers  or  ornithological 
students.  The  time  may  come  when  they  will  be  both. 
But  in  the  meantime,  it  seems  to  be  an  object  to  be 
aimed  at  by  the  editor  of  this  new  edition  of  a  book, 
merely  elementary  (the  kindly  reception  of  which  by 
many  past  generations  of  nest-hunters  and  egg- 
collectors   has    greatly   gratified   the   author),    while 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  25 

steering  clear  of  uninteresting,  perhaps  unnecessary 
technicalities,  to  be  equally  careful  alike  to  admit 
nothing  such  as  to  discourage  the  attempt  after  more 
accurate  knowledge,  and,  on  the  other  hand,  by  no 
means  to  omit  to  notice  anything  that  may  possibly 
serve  to  assist  all  such  as  desire,  or  may  be  aspire  to, 
fuller  and  completer  knowledge. 

With  such  views,  then,  the  reviser  might,  and  most 
likely  would,  make  a  great  mistake  if  he  burdened  the 
few  pages  available  to  him  for  fresh  matter  with  dis- 
quisitions as  to  the  superiority  of  this  or  that  system 
of  arrangement  over  some  other  or  others ;  or  the  pre- 
ferableness  of  this  or  that  classified  list  of  genera  and 
species,  orders,  families,  and  sub-families  over  this  or 
that  other.  The  misfortune  is — and  it  really  is  a 
great  misfortune  to  very  many  juvenile  enquirers 
about  "  our  feathered  friends " — that  there  are  so 
many  differences  or  divergences  or  contentions  as 
those  above  alluded  to.  It  will  be  our  endeavour  to 
keep  as  clear  of  them  all  as  one  possibly  can  in  a  book 
of  this  sort. 

Still,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to  the  very  being  of 
the  book  itself,  that  there  should  be  some  preference 
shown,  inasmuch  as  without  it  there  could  be  no 
attempt  made  at  arrangement  or  classification  of  any 
sort  or  degree  whatever.  In  the  Original  Edition  the 
author  took  the  then  recent  work  by  the  late  Mr. 
Yarrell — a  book  welcomed  with  the  liveliest  and 
heartiest  recognition  by  all  the  ornithological  world — 
as  liis  standard  book  or  book  of  reference.  In  the  inter- 
val between  the  completed  publication  of  the  original 
edition  of  Yarrcli's  work  ^iud  the  present  time,  that 


26  BritisJi  BirdSy 

book  has  passed  through  three  other  editions.  Of 
these  "  the  second  and  third  editions,"  as  the  editor  of 
the  first  two  vohimes  of  the  fourth  edition  says  in  his 
"  Prospectus,"  "  with  the  exception  of  some  few,  though 
not  unimportant,  additions  and  alterations,  were,  as  a 
whole,  mere  reprints  of  the  first,  which  appeared  some 
thirty"' — now  more  than  forty — "years  ago."  But 
the  same  cannot  be  said  of  the  fourth  and  last  edition ; 
and,  least  of  all,  can  it  be  said  of  the  third  and  fourth 
volumes  thereof.  Certain  systematic  changes  were 
made,  as  well  as  alterations  rather  than  merely 
additions,  in  the  first  two  volumes  (for  the  original 
three  volumes  had  been  expanded  into  four  in  the 
latest  issue),  such  as  might  be  looked  upon  as  satisfac- 
torily established.  But  the  editorship  of  this  new 
edition  expired  when  it  was  half  way  through,  and  at 
the  close  of  the  second  volume — the  last  edited  by 
Professor  Newton — he  writes  as  follows : — "  I  am  not 
responsible  for  anything  that  may  follow  by  another 
editor." 

This  was  in  1882  ;  and  the  changes  that  have  been 
made  under  the  direction  of  "  another  editor  "  are  very 
great ;  and  it  may  be  added  that  there  is,  if  not  an 
universal,  still  a  very  considerable  consensus  of  opinion 
that  the  systematic  changes  and  alterations  adverted 
to  are  such  as  may  be  regarded  as  in  the  main  satis- 
factorily established.  But,  still,  there  is  no  question 
possible  but  that  they  have  introduced  a  very  marked 
incongruity  between  the  systematic  arrangement 
adopted  in  the  former  editions,  and  even  in  the  former 
half  of  the  fourth  edition  itself,  and  that  exhibited  in 
the  later  and  concluding  moiety  of  the  same. 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  2J 

Thus,  Mr.  Yarrell  iiimself  be£(ins  with  the  order 
Raptorcs,  an  arrangement  followed  in  all  the  three 
earlier  editions,  and  by  Professor  Newton  in  the 
commencing  volume  of  the  fourth.  But  the  newer 
systems  put  the  Passeres  (or  as  it  is  in  some  lists 
Pico-Passcres)  as  the  first  order ;  and  it  is  unnecessary 
to  dwell  upon  the  almost  utter  subversion  of  Mr. 
Yarrell's  classification  that  is  occasioned  by  this 
change  alone.  Only  it  is  very  far  indeed  from 
standing  alone.  It  is  but  the  first  of  a  series  of 
changes  which  may  almost  be  characterised  as 
startling. 

Unhappily,  there  is  not  complete  accordance,  nor 
too  striking  an  approach  to  it,  among  those  who 
depart  from  the  older  arrangement ;  and  the  present 
writer  feels  that  the  best  he  can  do  for  the  readers, 
for  whom  the  present  book  is  principally  designed,  is 
to  mark  the  difierences  of  System,  Classification, 
Nomenclature,  and  so  forth,  in  such  a  way  as  shall 
tend  the  least  to  confuse  the  young  reader's  mind,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  make  it  evident  that  many  matters 
are  still  left  for  further  and  fuller  enquiry  ;  taking, 
however,  every  care  to  avoid  interference  with  the  main 
object  of  such  a  book  as  this — which  ought  to  be  of 
course,  and  is  intended  to  be,  to  render  help  to  the 
young  nest-hunter  and  egg-collector  ;  to  help  him,  in 
fact,  to  classify  the  results  of  tlie  prizes  he  gains  and 
discoveries  he  makes,  as  well  as,  perhaps,  in  the 
desire  to  compare  the  collection  he  compiles  with 
other  and  larger  and  more  complete  and  well-arranged 
collections  within  his  reach  whenever  such  an  op})or- 
tunity  may  happen  to  oiicr  itscif. 


2S  British  Birds ^ 

Such  an  object  as  this  renders  unnecessary,  even  if 
it  does  not  exclude  as  mistaken  and  misplaced,  any 
attempt  at  scientific  disquisition  as  to  the  differences 
cr  divergences  just  now  referred  to ;  but  perhaps  it 
apologises,  even  if  it  does  not  call,  for  some  notice  of 
another  topic  not  altogether  unconnected.  I  mean, 
the  resort  to  some  list  or  key-list,  some  catalogue,  or 
summary,  or  systematic  sketch  of  the  orders,  genera, 
and  species  of  British  birds.  The  writer  has  several 
before  him  as  he  pens  these  lines.  One  by  Mr.  Henry 
Seebohm ;  another  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Howard 
Irby,  for  instance.  Then  there  is  the  "  Ibis  "  List, 
which  is  the  list  compiled  for  the  British  Ornitho- 
logical Union,  besides  some  others  of  more  or  less 
considerable  standing.  Then  again,  there  are  the  lists 
one  can  make  for  oneself  by  copying  from  some  such 
book  as  Saunders'  "  Manual  of  British  Birds,"  or  from 
the  earlier  pages  of  the  several  volumes  of  the  last 
edition  of  Yarrell's  "  History  of  British  Birds,"  so 
largely  referred  to  above.  All  of  these,  however,  will 
be  found  to  differ  more  or  less  in  divers  matters  ;  such, 
for  instance,  as  the  number  of  birds  whose  names 
should  be  admitted  into  the  list  of  British  birds ;  or 
the  arrangement  proposed  or  followed ;  or  the  nature 
of  the  nomenclature  adopted.  Among  more  than  one 
of  the  drawbacks  thus  enumerated,  Mr.  Seebohm's  list 
has  certainly  this  advantage,  that,  besides  giving  a 
most  valuable  summary  of  the  geographical  distribu- 
tion of  each  British  bird,  it  is  also  arranged  for 
"  Labels  of  Collections  of  British  Birds  or  Eggs."  The 
name  of  each  separate  species,  together  with  the  in- 
forD:iation  about  it,  is  printed  on  one  side  of  the  paper 


That-  Eggs  and  Nests.  29 

only,  so  that  the  list  can  easily  be  cut  up  into  separate 
slips  as  desired. 

There  is,  however,  one  special  advantage  attaching 
itself  to  the  "Ibis"  List.  I  mean  that  it  mves  the 
various  sj^nonyms  that  have  been  proposed  (and  by 
different  authorities  accepted)  by  scientific  systema- 
tists  for  our  various  British  birds.  To  mve  an  in- 
stance  of  what  I  mean  : — Take  the  well-known  bird 
called  the  Bullfinch.  In  different  systems  it  is  called 
Loxia  PyrrJiula,  PyrrJiula  Eitropoca,  PyrrJmla  Vul- 
garis, PyrrJiula  Rubicilla,  and  PyrrJmla  Pileata. 
Here  are  five  scientific  "  aliases  "  for  one  familiar  bird. 
The  Lesser  Redpoll  and  the  Mealy  Piedpoll  each  have 
six  such  "  aliases,"  and  the  Common  Guillemot  is  so 
very  far  from  being  ordinarily  "  respectable,"  that  it 
has  a  list  of  seven  scientific  "  aliases  "  belonging  to  it. 
Of  course  all  this  is,  to  an  outsider,  very  absurd;^ 
while  to  a  would-be  learner  it  is  very  perplexing. 
The  "  Ibis  "  List  tables  all  these  aliases,  as  I  have 
called  them — "  synonyms  "  the  learned  call  them — 
and  they  may  be  seen  and  scanned  at  one  glance. 

"  The  nesting-places,"  says  Mr.  Headley  ("  Structure 
and  Life  of  Birds,"  p.  348),  "  the  nesting-places  of  all 
the  British  migrants  except  one,  the  Curlew  Sand- 
piper, have  been  found,  thanks  chiefly  to  the  energy 

1  It  is,  however,  intensified,  and  in  a  much  more  serious  degree, 
in  the  list  of  synonyms  (or  as  I  have  called  them  "  aliases")  given  in 
Mr.  Henry  Seebohm's  **  History  of  British  Birds,"  refixed  to  the 
letterpress  belonging  to  the  description  of  cacn  several  species. 
Thus  the  very  familiar  English  bird,  the  ChifTchaff,  has  no  less  than 
twenty-seven  scientific  synonyms  printed  below  its  Englisli  (or 
common)  name.  And  for  tlie  purpose  of  this  illustration,  I  opened 
on  it  by  the  merest  hazard. 


30  British  Birds, 

of  our  English  ornithologists.  Our  summer  visitants 
have  been  seen  and  recognised  in  their  South  African 
winter  resorts  by  English  travellers."  That  is  quite 
true,  but  it  is  not  much  more  to  our  special  object  and 
purpose — which  is  mainly  limited  to  British-breeding 
birds — than  a  detailed  notice  of  the  differences  and 
vagaries  of  opinion  as  to  the  purely  scientific  matters 
of  Structure  and  System  to  which  reference  has  been 
made  in  the  nearly  preceding  paragraphs.  Our 
business  certainly  lies  with  the  birds  which  build 
nests  and  lay  their  eggs  in  England — at  least  in 
Britain — and  more  especially  with  those  which  are 
most  commonly  met  with. 

But  from  time  to  time  the  nest  and  eggs  of  a  bird 
that  breeds  but  rarely  among  us  are  met  with,  and 
some  notice  of  such  bird  is  called  for ;  as  also  of  the 
helps  and  facilities  which  are  afforded,  in  other  books, 
towards  the  identification  of  such  birds,  and  their 
allocation  among  the  order,  or  group,  or  family  they 
belong  to. 

With  this  view,  I  append  here  a  sketch  of  the 
systematic  arrangement  adopted  in  the  last  edition  of 
Yarrell's  "  British  Birds "  ;  and  to  the  subsequent 
letterpress  will  be  added  notices  of  some  of  the 
members  of  the  several  groups  therein  specified,  or 
such  additional  nesting  notes  as  may  seem  to  have 
either  some  approach  to  novelty,  or  else  some  attrac- 
tiveness or  helpfulness  for  the  juvenile  nest-hunter 
and  collector  of  eggs ;  who,  though  not  a  scientific 
ornithologist  at  present,  may  easily  be  a  real  lover  of 
birds  and  their  ways  and  belongings  now,  and  grow 
up   in   increasing   regard   and    admiration   both    for 


TJieir  Eggs  a/id  Nests. 


31 


themselves  and  the  wonderful  objects  of  study  their 
history  reveals. 

A  comparison  of  the  scheme  -which  follows  with 
that  which  is  left  standing  in  the  "  Introductory 
Chapter  to  the  Original  Edition  "  may  be  not  alto- 
gether without  profit  to  one  who  desires  really  to 
study  the  general  subject.  The  orders,  it  will  be 
noticed,  are  altered,  and  both  in  name  and  constitu- 
tion, and  the  same  as  to  groups  or  sub-orders.  The 
same  as  to  families  and  sub-families  ;  and  again,  the 
same  as  to  the  genera  constituting  these  latter 
divisions.  But  it  is  hoped  that  neither  what  is  left, 
nor  what  is  substituted  for  the  old,  will  be  such  as  to 
interfere  with  the  utility  and  interest  of  the  book  to 
the  rising  ornithologist. 

ORDER.— ACCIPITRES. 

Family       I.    VulturidcE  .     .     (2  members  or  species.) 
II.  Falcojiidce    .     .     .     .     (22  members.) 
III.  StrigidcB      ....     (10         „         ) 


ORDER.— PASSERES, 


Family      I.  Laniadce 

II.  Miiscicapidcd 

HI.   Oriolidcs .     . 

IV.   CinclidcE.     . 

V.  Ixidce      .     . 

VI.   Tiirdidcs 

VII.  SylviadcB     . 

VIII.   rroglodytidiC 

IX.  CertJiiadte    . 

X.  Sittidcs   .     . 


(  4  members.) 
(3  „  ) 
(  1  member.  ) 
(  1  „  ) 
(1  „  ) 
(  9  members.) 
(30  „  ) 
(  1  member.  ) 

(1  „  ) 
( 1     ,.     ) 


32 

British  Birds 

XI. 

FaridcB  .... 

(  6  members.) 

XII. 

Panurido!    .     .     . 

(  1  member.  ) 

XIII. 

AmpelidcB    .     .     . 

(1         ,,        ) 

XIV. 

Motacillidce .     .     . 

(11  members.) 

XV. 

Alaiididce    .     .     . 

(6         „        ) 

XVI. 

EviberizidcE     .     . 

(10         „        ) 

XVII. 

F7'ingillidcB .     .     . 

(20         „        ) 

XVIII. 

Icteridce  .... 

.     (  1  member.  ) 

XIX. 

SUirnidcB     .     .     , 

(  2  members.) 

XX. 

Co7'vidcs  .... 

(9         „        ) 

XXI. 

HirmidinidcE   .     . 
ORDER.— PICAE 

(4         .        ) 
AM. 

Family      I. 

CypselidcB    .     .     . 

(  2  members.) 

II. 

Caprimtdgidcs  .     . 

.     (  1  member.  ) 

III. 

Cuculidce.     .     .     . 

(  3  members.) 

IV. 

UpupidcB     .     .     . 

(  1  member.  ) 

V. 

Coracidce     .     .     . 

(1     „    ) 

VI. 

MeropidcB    .     .     . 

(1     .,    ) 

VII. 

AlcedinidcE .     .     . 

(  2  members.) 

VIII. 

Picidcs    .... 

(4        „        ) 

ORDER.— COLUMBiE. 
Family      I.  Columbidce  .    .    .    .     (  5  members.) 

ORDER.— PTEROCLETES. 
Family       I.  Pteroclidce  .     .     .     .     (  1  member.  ) 

ORDER.— GALLING. 

Tetraonidcs .     .     .     .     (  4  members.) 


Family      I 

II.  Phasia7iidce 


(  4 


TJieir  Eggs  and  Nests.  33 

ORDER.— HEMIPODII. 
FA>[iLY       I.   Turnicidce  .     .     .     .     (  1  member.  ) 

ORDER.— FULICARI^. 
Family      I.  RalHdcB (7  members.) 

ORDER.— ALECTORIDES. 

Family       I.  GmidcB (1  member.  ) 

II.  Otididce (3  members.) 

ORDER.— LIMICOLiE. 

Family       I.  CEdicnemidcc  .  ,  .  (  1  member.  ) 

II.   GlareolidcB  .     .  .  .  (  1         „         ) 

III.  Charadriidcc    .  .  .  (10  members.) 

IV.  ScolopacidcB .     .  .  .  (3G         „        ) 

ORDER.— GAVI^. 
Family       I.  Laridce (30  members.) 

ORDER.— TUBINARES. 

Family       I.  Procellariidcu  .     .     .     (  9  members) 
II.   OceanitidcB  .     .     .     »     (  1  member.  ) 

ORDER.— PYGOPODES. 

Family      I.  Alcidce (7  members.) 

II.   CoIyj?ibidcB  .     .     .     .     (  3         „        ) 
III.  PodicipcdidcB    .     .     .     (  5         „         ) 

ORDER.— STEGANOPODES. 

Family      I.  Pelecanidce .     .     .     .     (  3  members.) 

c 


34  British  Birds,  their  Eggs  and  Nests. 

ORDER.— HERODIONES. 

Family       I.  Ardeidce (10  members.) 

II.   Ciconiidce    .     .     .     »     (  2         „        ) 

III.  IbididcB   .,...(  1  member.  ) 

IV.  PlataleidcB  .     .     o     .     (  1         „        ) 

ORDER.— ODONTOGLOSS.E. 
Family       I.  Pha^nicopteridce  .     .    (  1  member.  ) 

ORDER.— ANSERES. 
Family       I.  Anatidce     ....    (44  members.) 


BRITISH  BIRDS, 
THEIR  EGGS  AND  NESTS. 


In  the  following  pages  I  shall  endeavour,  as  far  as  my 
subject  will  permit,  to  avoid  mere  dry  and  uninterest- 
ing detail.  It  is,  of  course,  quite  inconsistent  with  the 
nature  of  the  book  to  omit  matter-of-fact  descriptions 
altogether,  or  even  in  any  very  great  degree ;  but  an 
effort  will  be  made  to  relieve  the  whole  from  wearing 

o 

the  appearance  of  a  catalogue  in  disguise,  and  to  give 
it  as  much  of  a  life-like  practical  character  as  possible. 
How  many  incidents  in  a  school-boy's  life  are  con- 
nected, in  his  memory,  with  some  nesting  expedition, 
some  recollection  of  perhaps  an  accidental  discovery 
of  a  nest  and  eggs  he  had  never  seen  before,  or  pos- 
sibly wished  and  tried  to  find,  but  always  wished  and 
tried  in  vain.  Such  experiences  are  always  pleasant 
and  interesting  in  their  detail  to  the  real  lover  of 
birds  and  their  belongings  ;  and  often  almost  as  much 
so  when  detailed  by  others  as  when  reproduced  in  his 
own  recollections  of  former  days,  and  their  hopes,  and 
plans,  and  successes,  and  disappointments,  each  often 
renewed,  or  often  repeated  under  some  varying  form 
Why,  then,  should  not  such  matters  stand  here  and 
there  in  these  pages  ? 

35 


36  British  Birds,  their  Eggs  and  Nests. 

Our  plan,  therefore,  will  be  to  omit  all  special 
notice  of  the  nests  and  eggs  of  so-called  "  British 
Birds,"  whose  only  claim  to  the  designation  lies  in 
their  having  been  met  with  once  or  twice,  or  even 
some  half-dozen  times  in  the  British  Isles :  to  omit  it, 
that  is,  in  the  body  of  the  book,  and  to  give  such 
reference  or  description  of  at  least  the  more  interest- 
ing species  and  their  eggs,  as  space  may  allow,  in  an 
Appendix.  Accounts  will  be,  however,  given  of  the 
habits  of  nidification  and  the  eggs  of  all  unquestion- 
ably British  birds,  even  although  their  breeding 
habitat  be  in  another  country,  or  most  rarely  and 
exceptionally  within  the  compass  of  the  British 
seas  ;  such  birds,  for  instance,  as  the  Fieldfare,  the 
Redwing,  the  Snow  Bunting,  and  others,  besides 
several  of  the  Anatidcs.  We  begin,  therefore,  with 
our  first  Order. 


ORDER.— ACCIPITRES. 


FAMILY  I.— VULTURIDyS. 

Two  members  of  this  Family,  classed  by  some 
naturalists  as  belonging  to  the  ssune  gentis,  by  others 
as  species  of  two  different  genera,  have  been  met  with 
in  Britain  ;  but  I  believe  one  of  them,  the  first-named 
below,  only  once,  the  other  only  twice  or  three  times. 
They  are  only  mentioned  here  as  showing  the  justifi- 
cation there  is  for  claiming  the  family  of  Vidturidcs 
as  being  in  anywise  exemplified  in  birds  belonging  to 
the  British  Isles.   • 


TJieir  Eggs  and  Nests.  37 

GRIFFON  VULTURE— (6'//i";A/r7^^  formerly, 

Vultiir  fiilvus). 

EGYPTIAN  VULTURE— (A7"^^///r^>^  pzrcnopterus). 


FAMILY  II.-  FALCONID^. 

There  are  several  species  belonging  to  this  family 
of  sufficiently  common  occurrence  even  still  in  these 
days  of  game  preservers,  gamekeepers,  and  vermin- 
killers. 

Time  was,  and  not  so  long  since  either,  when  many 
even  of  those  most  rare  now  were  familiarily  met 
with  in  almost  all  parts  of  the  country  ;  and  Eagles 
and  the  Kite  and  several  of  the  larger  and  more  con- 
spicuous Falcons  and  Hawks  were  not  yet  become  so 
much  like  Black  Swans,  as  the}"  are  now  in  so  many 
English  and  even  Scottish  counties. 

These  birds  differ,  with  a  marked  distinction,  from 
those  belonging  to  the  Vulture-kind  ;  and  as  much  in 
habits  and  food  and  power  of  wing,  as  in  appearance, 
formation,  bill  and  claws,  and  other  matters,  such  as 
the  scientific  naturalist  notices  for  the  purpose  of 
enabling  himself  and  others  to  distinguish  between 
family  and  family,  genus  and  genus,  species  and 
species. 

Thus,  the  Vulture's  foou  is  usually  carrion,  the  flesh 
of  animals  killed  by  other  agency  than  their  own,  and 
in  numberless  instances  in  a  state  of  putridity  more 
or  less  complete. 

The  food  of  the  Falcon  tribe  generally  consists  of 
the  flesh  of  creatures  taken  and  killed  by  themselves 


38  British  Birds, 

I  say  generally  ; — not  invariably.  The  Eagles  in  a 
state  of  nature  do  not  disdain  to  gorge  themselves  on 
the  flesh  of  a  dead  sheep,  for  instance,  although  they 
have  had  no  hand — or  rather  beak  and  claw — in  the 
death.  Still  the  rule  is,  and  admitting  not  many 
exceptions  when  the  whole  family  is  considered,  that 
the  Falconidse  hunt  for,  or  surprise,  and  slay  their 
prey  for  themselves.  And  very  intent  on  this  busi- 
ness are  they  oftentimes,  when  engaged  in  discussing 
the  meal  which  their  craft,  or  still  vigilance,  or  fierce 
impetuous  speed  and  dash  has  secured  for  them. 
Often,  too,  not  a  little  sleepy  and  heavy  are  they  after 
having  been  lucky  enough  to  secure  a  large  prey,  and 
greedy  enough  to  stuff  themselves  full  with  it. 

The  bird  which  stands  at  the  head  of  the  family 
and  alike  deserves  and  does  credit  to  his  rank  is  the 

GOLDEN  EAGLE— (^^?///^  chvysaetos). 

It  seems  almost  too  tame  to  talk  of  an  "  Eagle's 
nest,"  and  we  seem  almost  to  feel  as  if  different  words 
might  well  be  applied  to  the  nursery-structure  of  the 
King  of  Birds,  and  that  of  the  tiny  Tom-tit  or  the 
Wren.  So,  independently  of  the  old  meaning  of  the 
word  eyry  ^  which  makes  it  so  suitable  as  applied  to 
the  egg-home  of  the  grand  kingly  birds,  called  Eagles, 

1  Probably  from  Saxon  er/^e  (.7  sounded  like  y)  "an  egg."  The 
modern  English  form  of  the  word  would  be  eggery  therefore; 
the  old  English  form  eyry  or  eyrie.  Chaucer  (about  1400)  wrote  ey  for 
"egg."  Professor  Skeat,  however,  does  not  approve  of  tlie  derivation 
from  the  Saxon,  which  would  make  the  word  equivalent  to  eggery. 
He  would  refer  it  rather  to  the  Icelandic  arahrddr,  meaning  "an 
eyrie,  an  eagle's  nest"  ;  Icel.  ari,  "an  eagle"  ;  hreidry  "a  wreath," 
"a  bird's  liest." 


Their  Egos  aiid  Nests.  39 

we  feel  a  sort  of  satisfaction  in  limiting  the  use  of  the 
word  eyry  to  the  Eagle's  nest  alone. 

No  easy  matter  is  it  always  to  cultivate  a  visiting 
acquaintance  with  an  Eagle.  His  home  is  not  in  a 
place  easy  of  access  to  any  but  himself,  or  those  like 
himself,  up-borne  on  wings.  On  rock  platforms  (not 
too  scanty  in  size),  in  mountainous  districts,  and 
guarded  by  rugged,  stern,  precipitous  rock-walls, 
utterly  forbidding,  in  almost  every  case,  access  by 
human  members  from  below,  and  not  often  to  be 
safely  reached  from  above,  the  great  pile  which  forms 
the  nest  is  usually  built.  Sometimes,  but  very  rarely 
by  comparison,  it  may  be  found  on  some  large,  possibly 
shattered,  forest-trunk  amid  some  wild,  seldom- 
approached  scene  of  loneliness  or  desolation.  It  is 
four  to  five  feet  in  diameter,  made  of  sticks  of  no 
mean  size  and  length,  sometimes  lined  with  softer 
materials,  sometimes  not;  the  new  or  more  recently 
constructed  nest  placed  upon  those  of  last  year  and 
other  preceding  years  ;  and  it  would  require  a  willing 
and  able  labourer  to  clear  it  thoroughly  away,  and  no 
slight  touch  of  the  quality  of  the  gate-bearing  Jewish 
hero  in  the  juvenile  nest-seeker  who  might  aspire  to 
carry  off  such  a  trophy  of  his  nesting  exploits.  The 
site  chosen  for  the  nest-pile  too  is  almost  invariably 
one  which  commands  a  wide,  unhindered  look-out; 
partly,  it  is  likely,  under  the  influence  of  the  strong 
instinct  of  vigilance  in  self-preservation,  partly  also 
for  the  advantages  offered  by  such  a  dwelling-place 
towards  the  detection  of  a  distant  prey. 

The  number  of  eggs  deposited  is  usually  two,  some- 
times three.      They  are  commonly  of  a  dull  whitish 


40  British  Birds, 

ground,  mottled  or  marbled  nearly  or  quite  all  over 
with  a  sort  of  rusty  hue. 

The  young  ones,  while  yet  too  young  to  leave  the 
nest,  are  amply  catered  for  by  their  parents.  Lists 
are  sometimes  given  of  the  spoils,  feathered  and  four- 
footed,  found  in  what  may  be  styled  the  Eagle's  larder 
— Black  Game,  Moor  Game,  Partridges,  Hares,  Rabbits, 
Lambs,  young  Roes,  and  so  on,  to  an  amount  that 
would  seem  hardly  credible  to  one  not  conversant  with 
the  Eagle's  power  of  vision  and  mighty  sweep  of  wing. 
Indeed  there  is  a  story  told  of  a  man  in  Ireland  who 
got  a  fair  provision  for  his  family  in  a  season  of 
scarcity  by  no  other  effort  than  was  requisite  in 
plundering  an  Eagle's  nest  of  the  food  brought  in  by 
the  parent  birds  for  their  young.  He  is  said  also  to 
liave  prolonged  the  season  of  supply  by  preventing 
the  young  ones  from  flying,  by  clipping  their  wings  as 
tlie  feathers  grew.  Instances  have  been  known  where 
the  prey  seized  was  human.  Professor  Wilson  tells  a 
touching  story,  in  a  touching  way,  of  an  incident  of 
the  kind,  in  which  the  infant  was  seized  as  it  lay  and 
slept  where  its  mother  had  placed  it,  while  herself 
busy  not  far  off  in  the  harvest  field,  and  carried  off  by 
the  strong  bird  to  its  eyry.  The  poor  mother,  frantic 
with  her  loss,  blind  to  everything  but  the  thought  and 
effort  for  the  recovery  of  her  babe,  safely  scaled  the 
precipice,  high  up  on  which  the  nest  was  placed — 
though  no  man,  however  skilful  and  expert  as  a  crags- 
man, had  ever  dared  attempt  the  ascent — found  her 
babe  alive  and  unhurt,  and  smiling  in  her  face,  de- 
scended again — a  more  perilous  feat  still — in  safety ; 
and  once  more  on  level  ground  at  the  foot,  swooned 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  41 

helplessly  away.  The  Eagles  did  not  attack  her  in 
reality,  though  their  fierce  menaces  made  the  spectators 
tremble.  Our  boy  readers  if  ever  they  found  an 
Eagle's  nest,  which  is  not  likel}^,  might  well  need  the 
protection  of  a  good  strong  cudgel,  fearlessly  and  skil- 
fully wielded,  before  they  succeeded  in  possessing 
themselves  of  one  of  its  eggs. — Fig.  1,  plate  I. 

SPOTTED  EAGLE— (^^?///^  nccvia). 
Met  with  in  Britain  once  or  twice  only. 

WHITE-TAILED  Y.KGi:E.—{Haliaetus  albicilla). 

Called  also  Erne,  Cinereous  Eagle,  Sea  Eagle. — This 
species — a  member  of  another  ge?ms^  however — like 
the  last,  breeds  amid  high,  almost  inaccessible  rocks, 
in  the  mountainous  solitudes  of  Scotland,  and  some  of 
the  northernmost  British  Islands.  The  nest  resembles 
the  Golden  Eagle's,  but  is  often  more  cushioned — 
one  can  hardly  say  lined,  when  there  is  scarcely  any 
cavity  or  depression  to  receive  the  eggs  —  more 
cushioned  with  soft  material,  such  as  heather  or  sea- 
weed. This  Eagle  seldom  lays  more  than  two  eggs, 
which  in  ground-colour  are  like  the  Golden  Eagle's 
but  not  often  noticeably  marked  with  red. 

The  White-tailed  Eagle  is  much  more  frequently 
seen  south  of  the  Border  than  the  Golden  Eagle.  In 
fact,  a  year  rarely  passes  without  some  record  of  the 
occurrence  of  this  fine  bird  in  more  than  one  county 
of  England,  and  those  by  no  means  always  the  most 
nortlierly.  On  the  rabbit  warrens  of  Norfolk  and 
Sufiblk  they  used  frequently  to  be  met  with,  and  it 


42  British  Birds^ 

not  seldom  happens  that  two  are  seen  toorether — 
perhaps  the  young  from  the  same  nest  driven  forth  by 
their  stern  parents  to  seek  their  own  living  in  the 
wide  world. 

The  male  Eagle  of  this  species  is  known,  like  the 
male  of  many  other  kinds  of  birds,  to  take  his  turn 
with  his  mate  in  incubating  their  eggs.  It  would 
seem  difficult  for  the  observer  to  be  mistaken  in  this 
fact ;  for  the  male  bird,  as  is  the  case  in  the  other 
families  of  the  Falconidae  generally,  is  very  distinctly 
smaller  than  the  female — to  the  actual  extent  indeed 
of  not  much  less  than  one-third  of  the  entire  size. 

We  come  next  to  a  raptorial  bird,  whose  food  is 
procured  mainly  from  the  water, — namely,  the 

OSPREY— fPc7;/^/^;z  haliaetiis). 

The  Osprey,  or  Fishing  Hawk,  or  Mullet  Hawk,  or 
Eagle  Fisher,^  builds  its  nest  sometimes  on  a  tree, 
sometimes  on  some  part  of  an  ancient  and  deserted 
building — always  on  the  highest  part,  a  turret  or 
chimney,  for  instance — and  sometimes  on  a  rock  or 
precipitous  scar.  But  a  very  favourite  and  almost 
characteristic  site — speaking  of  the  bird  only  as  a 
British  bird — is  on  some  low  insular  rock  in  a  wild 
mountain  loch  in  Scotland.  I  extract  a  very  striking 
description  from  "  St.  John's  Tour  in  Sutherland  " : 
"  The  nest  was  placed  in  a  most  curious  situation. 
About  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  shore,  there 
rose  from  the  deep  water  a  solitary  rock,  about  ten 
feet  high,  shaped  like  a  broken  sugar-loaf  or  trun- 

^  A  translation  of  the  Gaelic  name  of  the  bird. 


TJieir  Eggs  a7id  Nesis.  43 

cated  cone.  On  the  summit  of  this  was  the  nest,  a 
pile  of  sticks  of  very  great  depth,  evidently  the  ac- 
cumulation of  many  breeding  seasons,  as  the  Osprey 
returns  year  after  year  to  the  same  nest.  How  this 
heap  of  sticks  withstood  the  winter  gales  without 
being  blown  at  once  into  the  water,  puzzled  me.  .  .  . 
The  female  Osprey  allowed  our  boat  to  approach 
within  two  hundred  yards  or  so,  and  then,  leaving  her 
nest,  sailed  upwards  wdth  a  circling  flight,  till  she 
joined  her  mate  high  above  us. 

"  Having  reached  the  rock,  and  with  some  difficulty 
ascended  to  the  nest,  our  disappointment  may  be  im- 
agined when  we  found  it  empty.  From  the  old  bird 
having  remained  on  so  long,  we  had  made  sure  of 
finding  eggs  in  it.  The  nest  itself,  however,  was  in- 
teresting to  me,  perched  as  it  was  on  the  very  summit 
of  the  rock,  and  composed  of  large  sticks,^  every  one 
of  which  must  have  been  a  heavy  burden  for  a  bird  of 
the  size  of  the  Osprey. 

"  In  the  centre  of  the  pile  of  sticks  was  a  cup-shaped 
hollow,  the  size  of  a  boy's  cap,  lined  with  moss  and 
dead  grass,  and  apparently  quite  ready  to  receive 
eggs."  "  In  another  nest,"  says  the  same  author, 
elsewhere,  "  we  found  two  beautiful  eggs,  of  a  round- 
ish shape  :  the  colour  white,  with  numerous  spots  and 
marks  of  a  fine  rich  red  brown." — Fig.  2,  plate  I. 

The  Osprey  is  met  with  from  time  to  time  in  al- 
most all  parts  of  the  kingdom,  but  more  especially 
along  the  east  coast ;  but  it  is  known  to  breed  no- 
where in  England  now.     In  America,  it  is  met  witli  in 

1  .Some  of  the  sticks — or  rather  branches — employed,  are  said  to 
have  been  1^  inch  in  diameter. 


44  British  Birds, 

considerable  numbers,  formino^,  as  it  were,  a  large 
colony  during  the  breeding  season  ;  of  course,  in  the 
vicinity  of  some  ample  and  convenient  fishing 
station. 

We  come  next  to  the  Falcons,  distinguished  from 
the  rest  of  the  Hawks  by,  among  other  things,  their 
long  and  pointed  wings,  and  their  vehement  and 
rapid  flight  and  dash  in  pursuing  and  seizing  their 
quarry.     First  we  notice  the 

GREENLAND  FALCON— (i^^/^^   Candicaris ; 
formerly,  Grcenlandiciis). 

Also  called  Jer  Falcon  or  Gyr  Falcon. 

ICELAND  FALCON— (/^^/^^  Islandicus). 

Neither  of  these  birds  breed  in  Britain,  and  they 
are  only  occasional  and  somewhat  rare  visitants. 
Whatever  notice  can  be  afibrded  to  them,  will  be  met 
with  in  the  Appendix. 

PEREGRINE  'FKLCO^—{Falco  peregrinus). 

There  was  a  time  at  which  this  bird  was  abundant 
enough  in  our  island.  It  still  breeds  in  many  parts 
of  both  England  and  Scotland,  though  much  more 
commonly  in  the  latter  country.  But  in  the  feudal 
times  there  would  have  been  no  diflSculty  to  the  young 
egg-collector — if  such  beings  existed  then — in  meeting 
with  the  nest  of  the  Peregrine,  in  districts  suitable  to 
their  breeding  habits  and  requirements.  Although 
some  consideration,  it  is  true,  might  have  been  ad- 
visable previously  to  appropriating  the  contents  of  the 


TJicir  Eggs  and  Nests.  45 

said  nest  for  cabinet  purposes.  The  nght  hand  of  the 
fortunate  collector  would  have  been  the  penalty-  in 
those  days  of  strict  "  game  laws."  So  stringent,  in- 
deed, were  the  provisions  for  preserving  the  Peregrine, 
that  the  customary  breeding  haunt  of  a  pair  was 
placed  under  the  especial  care  of  the  occupiers  of  the 
land  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  and  they  were  made 
responsible,  by  the  terms  of  their  tenure,  for  the  safe 
keeping  of  the  noble  birds  and  their  offspring.  One 
such  site  is  in  Goathland,  on  the  line  of  the  Pickerinsr 
and  Whitby  Railway  ;  and  it  is  an  interesting  fact  in 
the  nesting  habits  of  the  Peregrine,  that  until  within 
a  recent  period  (and  it  is  believed  at  the  present  time 
also).  Killing-nab  Scar  has  always  been  a  site  of  that 
Falcon's  nidification.^  Many  of  its  breeding  places, 
perhaps  like  others  in  the  interior,  known  time  out  of 
mind  by  some  name  derived  from  the  circumstance  of 
their  being  thus  appropriated,  such  as  Falcon-scar, 
Hawk-scar,  Eagle-cliff,  are  among  the  tallest  and  least 
accessible  rocks  both  in  the  interior  and  on  the  sea 
coast.  The  nest  itself  is  placed  on  some  projection, 
possibly  within  some  fissure,  and  is  made  of  sticks,  or 
seaweed  from  the  coast,  and  is  lined  with  some  hair, 
on  which,  for  the  hollow  is  not  deep,  the  eggs  repose. 
These  are  from  two  to  four  in  number,  often  vary  a 
good  deal  in  size  (probably  according  to  the  age  of  the 
laying  bird),  and  not  less  in  the  markings  and  mottlings 
which  pervade  the  entire  surface.     A  reference  to  the 

1  It  has  bred  iu  this  vicinity  more  than  once  within  the  last  half 
score  years.  I  have  had  the  details  of  more  than  one  or  two  in- 
stances (two  in  the  parisli  of  Fylingdalcs)  sent  me  only  three  or  four 
years  ago. 


46  Briiish  BirdSy 

engra\nncf  will  give  a  better  idea  of  the  colour  and 
appearance  of  this  beautiful  egg,  than  any  description. 
Indeed,  description  of  many — of  most — eggs  fails  al- 
together in  conveying  an  adequate  idea  of  what  they 
are  like. 

These  birds  were  greatly  prized  in  the  middle  ages 
on  account  of  their  fitness  for  the  highly-esteemed 
pursuit  of  Falconry ;  and  their  power  of  wing  and 
magnificent  flight  are  in  themselves  matters  of  great 
interest,  quite  independently  of  the  excitement  of  the 
chase.  The  female,  from  her  much  greater  size  and 
strength,  was  emphatically  "  the  Falcon  "  ;  the  male, 
called  the  Tercel  or  Tiercelj  being  more  frequently 
flown  at  much  smaller  game,  as  Partridges.  A  Falcon 
flight — although  the  science  is  no  longer  systemati- 
cally cultivated  as  it  used  to  be  at  Didlington  and 
elsewhere — may  still,  however,  be  seen,  from  time  to 
time,  by  the  fortunately-placed  observer,  both  Hawk 
and  quarry  being  feroe  natura.  Some  luckless  Gull, 
or  Guillemot,  or  Rock  Dove  is  selected  by  the  strong 
freebooter  and  carried  off  from  amid  the  passing 
multitudes  with  a  fierce,  rushing  dash ;  and  if  there 
are  young  to  be  sustained,  the  onset  and  sweep  may 
possibly  be  seen  once  and  again. — Fig.  3,  plate  /. 

Wd^Wi—{Falco  siLbhiteo), 

This  beautiful  and  active  little  Hawk — a  sort  of 
"  miniature  Peregrine,"  Mr.  Yarrell  calls  it — is  not  a 
permanent  inhabitant  of  our  country.  Visiting  our 
shores  in  April,  it  leaves  us  again  before  winter.  It 
usually  selects  a  high  tree  to  nest  in,  very  often  ap- 
propriating the  old  year's  or  deserted  nest  of  some 


TJicir  Eggs  and  Nests.  47 

otlier  bird — Hawk,  or  Magpie,  or  Crow — to  be  its 
bridal  home.  It  lays  two  or  three  (very  rarely  four) 
eorgs,  beautiful,  as  all  the  Falcons'  eggs  are,  and  leav- 
ing no  doubt  as  to  their  Falcon  origin  to  anj^one 
who  is  able  even  to  tell  "a  Hawk  from  a  Heron- 
sheugh."  They  are  of  a  nearly  uniform  pale  dull  red 
in  ground-colour,  thickly  spotted  and  mottled  with 
shades  of  deeper  red.  Larks  and  other  small  birds 
are  taken — often  after  lengthened  chases — but,  besides 
its  feathered  prey,  the  Hobby,  doubtless,  destroys 
large  numbers  of  beetles  and  other  insects  of  any  con- 
siderable size. — Fig.  4,  plate  I. 

RED-FOOTED  ¥KLCO^~(Falco  vespertinus  ; 
formerly,  rufipes). 

Also  Orange-legged  Hobby,  Red-legged  Falcon. — 
Only  a  rare  visitant.  Breeds  in  Eastern  Europe  and 
Western  Siberia  (Seebohm). 

MERLIN— (/^^/^^  cssalon). 

Also  Stone  Falcon,  Blue  Hawk. — This  beautiful 
bird  makes  its  nest,  in  moorland  districts  at  least, 
almost  invariably  on  the  ground ;  though  it  is  rather 
a  piece  of  flattery  to  say  that  it  makes  a  nest  at  all. 
A  little  hollow  in  the  ground,  and  that  usually  not 
too  conspicuous  by  the  absence  of  ling  in  its  vicinity, 
with  scarcely  any  lining,  receives  the  eggs,  three  to 
five  in  number,  and  characterised  by  the  reddish  hue 
and  spottings  which  seem  to  garnish  the  eggs  of 
almost  all  the  true  Falcona.  The  nest  is  said  to  bo 
sometimes  built  in  a  tree,  and  then,  from  Mr.  Double- 


48  British  Birds^ 

day's  account,  seems  to  be  made  of  sticks,  and  lined 
with  wool.  The  Merlin,  or  Blue  Hawk,  as  it  is 
usually  called  here,  has  no  longer,  as  it  used  to  have, 
its  stated  nesting-places  on  our  Danby  moors.  Still, 
it  is  not  extinct.  It  is  a  very  bold  and  active  Hawk. 
— Fig  5,  plate  I. 

K  ESTREL— (i^^/^^  tinminculus). 

Also  Windhover,  Creshawk,  Hoverhawk,  Stannel 
or  Stannelhawk ; — query  Stand-gale,  as  Montagu 
writes  one  of  its  provincial  names  Stone-gall.  Wind- 
hover certainly  suggests  the  meaning  of  Stand-gale, 
and  that  word  would  be  easily  shortened  into  Stannel. 

Who  has  not  heard  the  sharp,  ringing,  half -laugh- 
ing cry  of  the  Kestrel  ?  What  nest-hunter  has  not 
often  been  warned  by  that  well-known  sound,  as  he 
came  near  some  scarp  of  rocks,  wood-beset,  well 
qualified  to  furnish  some  ledge  or  crevice  to  hold  the 
loosely-compacted  structure  of  sticks  and  wool  which 
does  duty  for  this  dainty-looking  Hawk's  nest  ?  Yes; 
and  have  not  more  than  one  or  two  of  us  taken  the 
young,  and  reared  them  to  be  our  pets,  and  taken  no 
little  pleasure  in  their  beauty  and  personal  pride  and 
preening  cares  ?  Often,  too,  in  a  tree,  may  the  nest 
be  found,  and  not  seldom  will  it  prove  to  have  been 
not  built  by  the  Kestrels  themselves,  but  found — per- 
haps as  many  other  things  are  often  said  to  be  that 
certainly  were  never  "  lost "  before  they  were  "  found" 

ready-made  to  their  wants  by  some  luckless  Crow 

or  Magpie.  And  what  nesting  school-boy,  too,  does 
not  know  the  four  or  five  eggs — one  of  them  often  so 
much  less  than  the  rest — which  are  to  be  found  in  the 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  49 

nest  ?  Sometimes  red  all  over,  closely  spotted  with 
deeper  red  ;  sometimes  blotched  rather  tlian  spotted, 
and  with  large  blotches;  sometimes  with  a  lighter 
ground-colour,  but  always  tinged  with  red,  though 
otherwise  not  so  unlike  the  Sparrow  Hawk's  as  not  to 
remind  one  of  that  bird's  eggs.  I  like  to  see,  and  I 
like  to  hear  the  Kestrel,  though  it  is  no  dainty  song 
he  sings.  I  like  to  see  him  fly  so  stately  and  steadily 
along,  and  then  pause  and  hover — his  wings  this 
moment  moving  rapidly,  then  as  he  sails  off,  seeming 
to  be  as  moveless  as  his  body — and  next  he  rounds 
to  so  beautifully,  and,  after  a  moment's  balancing, 
drops  to  the  ground  with  swift,  but  so  evenly  regu- 
lated an  impulse,  and  securing  his  mouse,  sails  off  to 
feed  his  expectant  young  ones.  Mice  seem  to  form  a 
favourite,  if  not  staple,  article  of  their  food  ;  but  they 
are  not  exclusive  in  their  diet.  An  occasional  small 
bird,  hosts  of  coleoptera  or  beetle-kind,  cock-chafers 
in  their  season,  grubs,  and  even  worms,  are  known  to 
be  readily  eaten  by  them.  As  intimated  above,  the 
species  is  everywhere  familiar,  and  is  alike  too 
beautiful  and  too  useful  to  be  so  wantonly  killed  as 
it  too  often  is. — Fig.  6,  plaic  I. 

QO^'RK\YK—{Asiiir  paluvibariiis). 
We  do  not  often  see  the  Goshawk  in  any  part  of 
the  kingdom,  and  very  rarely  indeed,  except  in  some 
parts  of  Scotland  and  in  Orkney.  It,  like  the 
Peregrine,  was  in  much  request  for  the  sport  of 
Hawking :  only,  as  its  manner  of  flight  was  difl^erent 
from  that  of  the  Falcon,  it  was  used  for  the  pursuit 
of  different  species  of  game  from  the  latter.     Probably 


50  British  BirdSy 

this  really  originated  in  the  impulses  of  the  Goshawk's 
own  instinct,  which  leads  it  to  attack  Hares  and 
Eabbits,  or  birds  which,  like  the  Partridge  and 
Grouse,  never  voluntarily  fly  at  any  great  height 
above  the  level  of  the  ground.  One  curious  habit  of 
this  bird  is  that  of  waiting  patiently  until  some  bird, 
which  it  has  driven  to  covert,  leaves  its  shelter,  when 
the  pursuit — after  a  pause  of  perhaps  long  duration — 
is  immediately  resumed,  and  probably  carried  to  its 
purposed  result.  Most  of  the  other  Hawks,  when 
baffled  in  the  way  noticed,  very  speedily  relinquish 
all  apparent  thought  or  recollection  of  the  escaped 
creature,  and  proceed  to  seek  for  a  fresh  quarry.  It 
builds  its  nest  on  some  high  tree  ;  only  the  tree 
selected  is  never  found  in  the  inner  and  deep 
parts  of  the  wood  and  forest.  Like  many  other  birds, 
both  predatory  and  other,  it  will  often  return  to  the 
same  nest,  adding  whatever  repairs  may  be  required, 
for  several  successive  years.  It  lays  three  or  four 
eggs,  of  a  pale  faint  blue,  quite  untinged  with  any 
other  colour. 

SPARROW  ^k^^—{Accipiter  niszis). 
Sometimes  called  Pigeon  Hawk. — Another  short- 
winged  hawk,  as  the  last  named  also  was,  but  vastly 
more  common  and  familiarly  know^n.  Some  of  the 
Falcons  already  named  may  be  fitly  called  bold,  or 
fearless;  the  Sparrow  Hawk  may  be  pronounced 
audacious,  or  impudent.  If  you  hear  some  careful, 
Martha-like  housewife  of  a  hen  skirling  and  fussing, 
in  dire  alarm,  her  terrified  chicks  the  while  seeking 
any  possible  shelter,  you  may  be  almost  certain  that 


TJieir  Eggs  and  A^ests.  51 

the  gliding  form  you  caught  a  glance  of  rounding  the 
corner  of  the  barn  and  making  a  rapid,  but  by  no 
means  noisy,  stoop  among  the  young  poultry  of 
various  kinds  in  lively  attendance  on  their  mothers, — 
you  may  be  tolerably  sure  that  the  intruder  was  a 
Sparrow  Hawk,  and  that  some  hapless  Dove  or 
Chicken  has  lost  the  number  of  its  mess.  Not  that 
he  does  not  like  wild  game  as  well  as  tame  poultry. 
Mr.  Selby  mentions  one  nest,  containing  five  youno- 
ones,  in  or  close  to  which  was  found  a  Peewit,  two 
Blackbirds,  a  Thrush,  and  two  Greenfinches,  all  fresh, 
and  half  plucked.  The  Sparrow  Hawk  is  believed 
seldom  to  give  itself  the  trouble  of  building  a  nest  for 
itself.  Some  old  or  deserted  nest  of  the  Crow  or 
Magpie,  particularly  the  former,  and  whether  in  a 
fork  of  the  tree  or  high  among  its  top,  usually  serves 
its  turn  ;  and  in  this,  very  slightly  re[)aired  if  at  all, 
the  mother  bird  lays  four  or  five  eggs,  of  a  palu 
blueisli  white,  abundantly  and  most  variably  blotched 
with  dark  red  brown.  In  some  few  eu'gs  this  darker 
colour  is  more  sparingly  bestowed ;  but  they  are  not 
frequent,  and,  usually,  the  red  is  more  or  less  con- 
fluent about  some  part  of  the  Qgg — either  end  or 
the  middle — more  rarely  dispersed  in  very  distinct 
spots. — Fig.  7,  plate  I. 

KITE — Milvus  iclinus ;  formerly,  M.  vulgaris. 

Glead,  Glade,  Gled,  Fork-tailed  Kite  or  Glead, 
Puttock,  Crotchet-tailed  Puttock. 

One  very  rarely  sees  a  Kite  nowadays  in  our  custom- 
ary field  ramblings  and  observings,  or,  indeed,  any- 
where ;  though,  to  be  sure,  some  one  did  write  word 


52  British  Birds, 

many  years  ago  to  the  "  Zoologist,"  that  he  had  seen  one 
sailing  overhead  as  he  walked  the  streets  of  London. 
Perhaps  any  but  rather  resolute  nest-hunters  might 
say,  if  they  knew  the  reception  sometimes  accorded 
by  a  Kite  to  a  would-be  plunderer  of  its  nest,  "  Well, 
the  loss  is  not  without  its  compensation."  For  the 
Kite  fights  fiercely  for  its  eggs  or  young :  and  has 
been  known  to  inflict  damage  of  both  dress  and 
person  on  a  boy  attempting  to  plunder  its  nest.  It  is  a 
noble-looking  bird;  but  not  distinguished,  as  the  Falcons 
are,  for  any  very  remarkable  degree  of  boldness  or 
courage.  A  fussy  old  hen  has  been  known  to  frighten 
one  from  his  purposed  foray  on  her  chickens,  and  he 
used  of  old  to  be  chased  (for  sport,  of  course)  by  a 
species  of  Falcon  "  to  the  manner "  trained.  The 
nest,  usually  found  high  up  in  a  high  tree  in  thick 
wood  or  forest,  is  made  of  sticks,  and  lined  with  any 
softer  material  found  handy,  and  contains  two  or 
three  eggs  of  a  dirty  white  colour,  with  a  few  spots 
or  blotchings  of  dull  red.  They  cater  liberally  enough 
for  their  young,  no  less  than  twenty-two  Moles  having 
been  found  in  one  nest. — Fig.  1,  plate  IL 

BLACK  KITE — {Milvus  migrans  ;  otherwise,  ater). 
Accidental  visitor. 

SWALLOW-TAILED  -KYY^^{Nauclerus  furcatus). 
Very  rare  accidental  visitor. 

COMMON  BUZZARD— (52^/r^  vulgaris). 
Puttock. — I  well  remember  as  a  schoolboy  in  Essex 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  53 

that  the  nests  of  the  Puttock,  as  the  Buzzard  was  in- 
variably called  in  that  district,  were  more  frequently 
found  by  us  than  those  of  any  other  wood-building 
Hawk ;  and  many  a  hatch  of  young  Puttocks  it  fell  to 
my  lot  to  see  brought  within  the  old  school  gates. 
Whether  the  Buzzard  is  equally  abundant  there  now 
I  cannot  tell.  It  seems  to  me  that  not  only  Hawks, 
but  very  many  of  the  smaller  birds  as  well,  are  much 
less  numerous  now  than  in  the  days  of  my  boyhood ; 
and  I  have  heard  other  nest-lovers  make  the  same 
remark. 

In  rocky  countries  the  Buzzard  sometimes  builds 
her  nest  on  precipices,  or  steep  banks  ;  but  generally, 
in  our  own  country,  some  fork  in  a  tree  supplies  either 
the  site  for  the  intended  nest,  or  possibly  the  nest 
itself ;  for,  like  several  other  of  the  Hawks  already 
noticed,  the  Buzzard  seems  to  think  there  is  a  deal  of 
sound  sense  in  the  saying,  "  Foolish  birds  build  fine 
nests  for  wise  Hawks  to  live  in  them,"  and  acts 
accordingly.  The  eggs  are  from  two  to  four  in 
number,  of  considerable  size,  and  some  of  them  ap- 
proaching very  nearly  in  general  look  and  colour  to 
the  Kite's  ctg^.  It  just  as  frequently  seems  to  wait 
until  its  prey  comes  to  it,  as  trouble  itself  to  go  far  in 
search  of  it.  It  is  rather  a  sluggard  and  a  coward,  to 
have  so  much  the  air  of  a  fine-looking  bird  about  it. — 
Fig.  %  plate  11. 

ROUGH-LEGGED  BUZZARD— (Z?///.^^  lagopus). 

Not  to  say  a  rare  bird,  but  still,  by  no  means  a 
common  bird  in  any  division  of  the  kingdom. 


54  British  Birds, 

HONEY  BUZZARD— (/'^r/^/j:  apivorus). 

This  never  was  an  abundant  species  in  this  country, 
and  instances  of  its  nesting  with  us  are  very  rare.  I 
well  remember,  however,  when  White's  "  Natural 
History  of  Selborne  "  first  fell  into  my  boyish  hands, 
how  his  history  of  the  lucky  bird's-nesting  boy,  who 
climbed  the  "  tall,  slender  Birch-tree,"  "  on  the  steep 
and  dizzy  situation,  near  the  middle  of  Selborne 
Hanger,"  and  brought  down  the  only  egg  in  the  nest, 
and  that  "  hard  set,"  impressed  itself  on  my  attention 
and  memory.  The  nest  was  a  shallow  one,  composed 
of  sticks,  and  lined  with  dead  leaves  of  the  beech. 
The  number  of  eggs — an  illustration  of  which  is  given 
— seldom  exceeds  two. — Fig.  3,  plate  II. 

MABSH  HAKRIER — {Circus  ceruginosus  ; 
formerly,  C.  rufiis). 

Moor  Buzzard,  Bald  Buzzard,  Marsh  Hawk,  Harpy, 
White-headed  Harpy,  Puttock,  Duck  Hawk. — One 
would  hardly  expect  to  find  that  a  bird,  with  such  a 
string  of  aliases  to  its  name,  could  enjoy  a  very  whole- 
some reputation.  However,  he's  no  worse  than  his 
fellows  of  the  Hawk  family,  and  not  so  bad  as  some 
of  them.  Probably  the  name  of  Harrier,  given  to  this 
and  one  or  two  of  the  Hawks  next  named,  is  derived 
from  their  method  of  beating  or  quartering  the  ground, 
when  in  search  of  prey,  putting  one  in  mind  of  the 
evolutions  of  the  hound  similarly  engaged.  The 
Marsh  Harrier  or  Moor  Buzzard  (or  Bald  Buzzard,  as 
I  used  to  hear  it  called  in  Essex)  builds  its  nest  of 
flags  or  rushes — sometimes  sticks  or  twigs — on  the 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  55 

^onnd,  amid  the  grass  at  the  l)ottom  of  a  furze  or 
other  bush  ;  occasionaUy  low  in  the  bush  itself ;  and 
aojain,  in  a  tuft  of  reeds  or  rushes  sufficient  to  serve 
the  purposes  of  concealment.  In  it  it  deposits  three 
or  four  eggs,  white,  or  with  only  a  tinge  of  milk-blue 
about  them.  It  feeds  itself  and  its  young  with  young 
water-birds,  if  it  can  meet  with  them — and  its  name 
suggests  the  idea  that  young  water-birds  may  be  met 
with  where  itself  is  found — or  young  rabbits  or  birds  ; 
a  few  mice  and  small  rats  doubtless  not  coming  in  as 
altogether  unworthy  of  notice  to  such  hungry  cus- 
tomers as  four  young  "  Harpies." 

HEN-HARRIER— (OVa/j-  cyancus). 

I  don't  give  a  list  of  country  or  local  names  here,  as 
usual,  because  I  wish  to  draw  my  reader's  attention 
to  the  fact,  that  the  different  names'  applied  to  the 
same  species  of  Hawk  are,  in  several  cases,  partly  at- 
tributable to  the  differences  in  size,  and  especially  in 
plumage,  dependent  on  sex  and  age  in  the  cases  in 
question.  This  is  quite  the  case  with  the  Harriers 
generally,  and  particularly  with  the  bird  now  under 
notice.  There  is  a  remarkable  difference  in  colour 
between  the  male  and  female  when  adult,  and  a  like- 
ness when  the  former  is  immature  and  the  latter  an 
old  bird.  Thus,  the  old  male  is  mainly  blue,  the 
female  brown  ;  so  he  is  often  called  the  Blue  Hawk, 
or  Dove  Hawk,  and  she  the  Ringtail.  Like  those  of 
the  Marsh  Harrier,  the  eggs  of  the  Hen-Harrier  are 
white,  and  are  placed  in  a  nest  of  small  sticks  and 
long,  coarse  grasses,  built  upon  the  ground,  four  or 
five    in   number,  and   not    often    varying   from    the 


56  British  Birds, 

uniform  tint  of  the  ground  colour  by  the  addition  of 
a  few  reddish-coloured  spots  or  speckles.  Its  dis- 
tinctive English  name — //"^/^-Harrier,  seems  to  be  due 
to  the  fact,  that,  like  the  sick  and  repentant  old  Fox, 
it  appears  often  to  consider  "  a  chicken  might  suit  me 
too,"  and  acts  accordingly.  But,  from  its  habits  of 
regularly  working  over  stubbles  and  other  haunts  of 
the  Partridge  and  other  like  birds,  there  is  little  doubt 
that  it  varies  its  diet  with  a  little  game  occasionally. 

MONTAGU'S  HARRIER— (aVr//^  cineraceus). 

Ash-coloured  Harrier. — This  bird,  for  which  Yarrell 
proposed  the  name  assigned,  is  by  no  means  of  frequent 
occurrence  in  this  country,  and  is  scarcely  likely  to 
be  met  with  by  many  of  our  young  readers.  The 
nest,  like  those  of  the  other  two  species  of  Circus  just 
named,  is  usually  on  the  ground,  often  not  far  from 
gorse  or  whin-bushes ;  and  the  eggs,  four  or  five  in 
number,  are  like  those  of  its  congeners  in  general 
colour  and  appearance.  With  this  bird  our  list  of 
Falconidae  closes. 


FAMILY  in.— STRIGID^. 

When  I  was  a  boy  I  remember — only  those  goings- 
back  to  school  were  a  sad  hindrance — trying  or  help- 
ing to  make  a  collection  not  of  birds'  eggs  exactly, 
but  of  birds'  "merry-thoughts."  Did  our  young 
readers  ever  see  such  a  collection,  or  think  of  it  ? 
Perhaps  the  answer  will  be  "  No  ; — and  if  we  had, 
what  would  it  have  to  do  with  a  book  about  birds' 
eggs  ? "     I  will  try  and  show  that  I  have  a  purpose 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  57 

in  mentioning  birds'  merry-thoughts,  and  that  it  may 
have  something  to  do  with  such  a  book  as  this,  and 
its  subject. 

We  have  already  agreed  that  classification  is  a  use- 
ful and  necessary  thing ;  that  nature  herself  leads  us 
to  it,  and  shows  us  how  to  fashion  and  contrive  it ; 
nay,  that  the  very  eggs  of  birds  are,  speaking  gener- 
ally, such  in  their  shape  and  markings  as  often  to 
suggest  the  formation  of  a  group  out  of  such  and  such 
different  species  producing  them.  But  the  merry- 
thoughts and  the  bones  they  are  immediately  connected 
with,  the  keel-like  breast-bone  and  the  side  and  wing 
bones,^  will  be  found  to  do  the  same  thing,  with 
respect  to  the  collection  of  three  or  four  (or  more) 
such  groups  of  birds,  as  I  have  just  called  them,  into 
what  is  termed  a  Family.  Thus,  if  our  readers  could 
get  the  opportunity  of  looking  at  the  merry-thoughts 
and  breast-bones  of  half-a-dozen  different  Hawks,  they 
would  find,  with  a  degree  of  variation,  according  to 
the  various  species  selected,  a  very  obvious  and 
striking  correspondence  or  resemblance.  The  breast- 
bone, in  every  case,  would  show  great  depth  of  keel 
and  strength  of  substance  ;  and  the  merry-thoughts 
would  be  seen  to  be  firm  and  strong,  and  of  great  or 
considerable  substance.  Next,  if  the  corresponding 
bones  of  about  the  same  number  of  birds  of  the  Owl- 
kind  {SirigidcB)  were  taken  and  compared  with  those 

1 1  don't  give  the  scientific  names  of  these  bones,  for  obvious 
reasons.  A  very  excellent  book  on  "  The  Structure  and  Life  of 
Birds,"  by  Mr.  F.  W.  Headley,  of  Haileybury  College,  has  lately 
been  published,  which  cannot  but  be  helpful  to  any  student  of  birds. 
(Macniillan  &  Co.) 


58  British  Birds y 

of  the  Falcon-kind  just  spoken  about,  while  the 
mutual  resemblance  of  the  Owl-kind  bones  was  seen 
to  be  quite  as  great  and  obvious  as  in  the  case  of  the 
Hawks,  the  difference  between  the  said  bones  of  the 
Owls  and  those  of  the  Hawks  would  be  altogether 
strange  and  half  startling,  from  its  greatness  and 
suddenness.  The  deep  keel  and  the  strong  substance 
of  the  breast-bone  in  the  Hawk  has  given  place  to  a 
shallow  keel  and  weak  walls  in  the  Owl,  while  the 
curved,  strong,  broad,  solid  merry-thought  has  become 
a  fork  with  thin,  straight,  weak,  yielding  shanks.  So 
great  and  plain  is  the  difference  that  any  sharp  in- 
telligent boy  could  almost  directly  pick  out  for  him- 
self all  the  Hawk  bones,  and  all  the  Owl  bones,  and 
put  them  in  their  several  groups.  And  if  he  did,  I 
think  he  would  say  to  himself,  and  perhaps  to  some 
other  person,  as  soon  as  he  met  with  one  likely  to  be 
able  to  answer  him,  What  does  this  difference  in  these 
bones  of  these  birds  of  different  Families  mean  ? — In 
plain  words,  it  means  difference  in  powers  of  flight. 
Any  of  our  school-boy  readers  who  wanted  to  prise 
his  strong  school-box  open,  because  he  had  lost  his 
key,  would  not  take  his  pen-knife  for  the  purpose ; 
because  he  would  think  it  foolish  to  use  so  weak  an 
instrument  for  so  strong  an  effort.  A  great  strong 
chisel  would  be  much  more  likely  to  serve  his  pur- 
pose. And  so  is  the  work  of  God's  hand.  If  a  long, 
strong  wing  has  to  be  moved  rapidly,  and  even 
vehemently,  the  motion,  like  all  animal  motion,  must 
be  given  by  muscles.  But  the  muscles  must  be  fixed 
to  what  they  are  intended  to  move,  or  they  cannot 
act  on  it ;  and  they  must  be  fixed  at  some  other  point 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  59 

also,  or  they  wonld  waste  their  power  on  nothino-,  in- 
stead of  impartino^  motion.  And,  of  course,  the 
stronger  they  are,  the  stronger  must  what  they  are 
fixed  to  be,  and  the  larger  also  to  admit  of  more  and 
more  strength.  Well,  the  muscles  that  move  the 
bird's  wing  are  affixed  at  their  other  extremities  to 
the  breast-bone  and  merry-thought,  and  hence  the 
size  and  strength  of  these  bones  in  the  Falcon-kind 
with  their  vigorous,  impetuous  flight  and  sweep  of 
wing ;  and  the  comparative  insignificance  and  weak- 
ness of  the  same  parts  in  the  slow-flying,  noiseless- 
winged  Owlet.  If  our  young  friends  are  disposed  to 
add,  in  their  collection  of  birds'  eggs,  the  so-called 
merry-thought  of  each  separate  bird  to  the  eggs  laid 
by  that  bird,  they  will  be  helped  to  learn  an  interest- 
ing and  instructive  lesson  in  elementary  anatomy. 
And  such  a  collection  may  be,  to  a  great  extent,  made 
without  much  trouble,  by  almost  every  one  who  has 
the  ordinary  facilities  of  a  residence  in  the  country  at 
his  command. 

Having  said  so  much  to  show  how  even  the  most 
simple  and  obvious  and  familiar  diff*erences  in  the 
bone  structure  of  birds  suggests,  or,  if  not,  confirms 
the  principle  of  classification  of  birds,  and  therefore  of 
their  eggs,  let  us  now  go  on  to  notice  our  quaint 
"  feathered  friends,"  the  Owls,  and  especially  our 
more  familiar  acquaintance  among  them.  There  are 
other  things  belonging  fco  the  Owl  family,  which  our 
intelligent  young  friend  just  named  would  have  just 
as  little  trouble  in  picking  out  from  a  heap  of  similar 
objects,  as  in  the  case  of  the  bones.  I  mean  the  eggs. 
The  same  character,  however  much  they  vary  iu  size 


6o  British  Birds, 

— and  they  do  vary  vastly  in  size — is  common  to 
every  one  of  the  eggs.  They  are  all  white  ;  they  are 
all  very  slightly  oval,  or  very  nearly  round,  and  you 
cannot  tell  which  is  meant  to  be  the  big  end,  and 
which  the  little.  Of  course,  this  being  the  case,  it 
would  be  of  very  little  use  to  take  up  the  small  space 
available  for  illustration  in  this  book,  with  representa- 
tions of  Owls'  eggs ;  and  for  the  same  reason,  as  little 
as  possible  will  be  said  in  the  way  of  description. 
Any  Owl's  eggs  which  are  likely  to  come  under  the 
notice  of  the  school-boy  nest-hunter  will  tell  him  a 
good  deal  about  their  origin,  by  their  size  and  the 
place  they  are  found  in  ;  and  the  best  picture  and  de- 
scription possible  would  not  be  able  to  teach  him  half 
as  much. 

Just  as  the  bones,  noticed  a  page  or  two  back, 
would  be  found  to  show  that  there  was  a  sort  of  ap- 
proach to  something  like  a  noticeable  connection 
between  the  Harriers  and  the  Owls,  so  the  eggs  of  the 
former  seem  to  hint  at  something  of  the  same  kind. 
The  merry-thought  and  breast-bone  of  the  Harriers 
are  vastly  less  strong  and  solid  than  those  of  the  true 
Falcons ;  and,  so  to  speak,  intermediate  in  such  re- 
spects between  these  and  those  of  the  truest  Owl, 
while  the  eggs  are  colourless  or  nearly  so,  and  so 
approach  again  to  the  Owl  type. 

TAWNY  OWL — {Strix  aliico;  formerly,  Syr7iium 
striduld). 

Brown  Owl,  Wood  Owl,  Hoot  Owl,  Ivy  Owl,  Jenny 
Howlet. — This  is  the  bird  whose  well-known  and,  as 
I  think,  musical  note,  is  so  often  heard  at  night  in 


Their  Es'C's  and  Nests,  6l 


-'0>Cj 


woorled  countries,  in  the  c^enuine  "  tu-whit-to-who-o- 
0-0,"  or  "  hoot."  The  Barn  Owl  is  the  Screech  Owl 
proper,  though  not,  in  my  experience,  very  much  ad- 
dicted to  indulge  in  her  unpleasant  song.  I  very 
seldom  used  to  hear  a  downright  good  screech  in  those 
old  days.  The  Brown  Owl  makes  its  nest — at  least, 
lays  its  eggs — in  some  hollow  tree,  usually  in  a  wood 
or  near  one.  Sometimes  a  few  feathers  or  a  little 
moss  may  receive  the  eggs,  often  only  the  decayed 
wood.  I  have  heard  of  the  nest  of  this  bird  in  other 
positions  ;  ^.^.,  in  a  deserted  Crow's  nest,  or  a  hole  in 
a  rocky  bank.  But  the  hollow  tree  is  the  rule.  The 
eggs  are  three  or  four  in  number,  and  larger  than  the 
Barn  Owl's,  being  about  1|§  inch  long,  by  Ih  inch 
broad.  The  old  birds  have  two  or  three  notes  besides 
the  hoot ;  one  being  a  short,  rather  sharp  cluck,  often 
repeated.  The  young  ones,  after  they  fly,  depend  a 
good  deal  on  their  parents'  exertions  for  food,  which 
consists  of  young  Rabbits,  Hares,  now  and  then  birds 
of  sorts.  Rats,  Mice,  etc.  I  once  saw  a  young  Brown 
Owl,  apparently  waiting  for  its  food  to  be  brought, 
and  sitting  very  still  on  the  topmost  bough  of  a  tall 
tree,  almost  knocked  off  his  perch  by  the  whizzing 
flight  of  a  Wild  Duck.  The  Owl  ducked  his  head,  or 
I  thought  the  Duck  would  have  actually  struck  him, 
so  near  was  the  encounter.  Another,  a  young  Brown 
Owl  of  my  acquaintance  was  decorated  by  its  young 
lady  owner  with  a  red  knitted  hood.  This  was  not 
forthcoming  one  day.  But  the  next  it  reappeared. 
The  bird  had  swallowed  it,  and  it  was  found  among 
its  castings. 


62  British  Birds^ 

TENGMALM'S  O'^l^—^Nyctala  Tengmalmi ; 
formerly,  Noctua  Teiiginalmi\ 

LONG-EARED  0^\^—{Asio  otus ;  formerly, 
Otus  vulgaris). 

Met  with,  though  not  very  abundantly,  in  most 
parts  of  England.  Its  haunt  during  the  day-time  is 
in  ivy  bushes,  or  other  retreats  affording  security  from 
the  access  of  much  light;  its  nest  is  most  frequently  an 
appropriated  old  nest  of  the  Crow  or  Magpie  ;  per- 
haps even  what  was  once  the  breeding-home  of  the 
Squirrel ;  and  in  it  are  laid  four  or  five  eggs  \\\  inch 
long,  by  1^\  inch  broad.  It  seeks  its  prey  after  sun- 
set ;  and  as  birds  of  various  kinds  are  known  to  form 
part  of  its  food,  it  seems  almost  certain  that  they  must 
be  taken  as  they  sit  at  roost.  What  sad  bug-a-boos 
Horned  Owls  must  be  made  to  offending  juveniles  in 
little-bird  nurseries. 

SHORT-EARED  OWL— (^j-/^  accipitrinus  ; 
formerly,  Otus  brachyotus). 

Woodcock  Owl,  Short-horned  Howie t.  Mouse  Hawk, 
Hawk  Owl. — It  breeds  with  us,  and  not  uncommonly; 
and  many  seem  to  come  over  in  the  autumn,  and  they 
are  then  frequently  seen  in  a  stubble,  or  otherwise 
roused  by  the  sportsman.  Its  nest  is  sometimes  on 
the  ground,  and  perhaps  even  in  a  rabbit-burrow. 
The  eggs  are  three  in  number,  and  scarcely  differ  the 
least  in  size  from  those  of  the  bird  last  named. 
Young  Grouse  and  other  birds  breeding  about  the 
moors  are  abundantly  supplied  by  the  parent  Owls  to 


TJieir  Eggs  and  Nests,  63 

their  young  when  the  nest  chances  to  have  been  made 
in  such  a  locality,  and  the  old  ones  are  very  jealous  of 
seeing  their  progeny  too  nearly  approached,  and  ex- 
pose themselves  almost  as  fearlessly  on  such  occasions 
as  either  Partridge  or  Grouse.  Their  local  name  of 
Hawk  Owl  is  derived  from  the  circumstance  that  they 
pursue  their  prey — regularly  "  hawking  "  for  it — dur- 
ing the  day-time,  and  even  in  the  brightest  sunshine. 
They  are  so  bold  during  the  breeding  time  on  some 
moors  in  this  northern  part  of  Yorkshire  that  they 
attack  and  intimidate  the  shepherd's  dogs ;  so  much  so 
that  they  are  not  very  ready  to  go  about  their  work. 
I  have  the  following  record  of  one  shot  ofi'  her  nest  in 
April,  1894,  near  Bolton  Gill,  Wensleydale.  The  nest 
was  in  the  open,  and  made  of  dead  grass.  It  contained 
eight  eggs ;  besides  which  there  were  three  more 
nearly  ready  for  extrusion.  Also  there  were  fourteen 
or  fifteen  other  miniature  ova  in  the  body. 

EAGLE  OWL — {Bubo  ignavus  ;  formerly, 
B.  maxiimcs). 

This  noble  bird,  the  largest  in  our  list  of  British 
Owls,  is  so  occasionally  and  iriegularly  seen  in  Britain, 
that  it  can  scarcely  claim  lengthened  notice  at  our 
hands. 

SCOPS  EARED  OWl.— {Scops  Aldrovandi), 

Almost  as  rare  as  the  preceding,  and  one  of  the 
smallest  of  its  family.  From  notes  in  my  possession 
it  seems  to  have  a  kind  of  ventriloquial  power,  such 
that,  although  the  bird  is  roosting  quite  quietly,  its 
cry  appears  to  come  from  different  quarters,  so  as  to 


64  British  Birds, 

make  the  listener  imagine  that  it  is  uttered  in  the 
course  of  a  circling  flight. 

LITTLE  OWL — {Carijie  noctua ;  formerly, 
Noctua  passerind). 

Little  Night  Owl,  Sparrow  Owl. — A  very  occasional 
visitant. 

SNOWY  0^\.—{NyctcaSca?idiaca;  formerly, 
Suriiia  nycted). 

A  beautiful  bird,  of  very  rare  occurrence. 

HAWK  0\\l^—[SiLr7iia funered). 
Canada  Owl. — More  rare  than  the  last. 

BARN  OWL — {Aluco  flafnmeus  ;  formerly 
Strzx  flam  med). 

White  Owl,  Yellow  Owl,  Screech  Owl,  Gilly 
Howlet,  Howlet,  Madge  Howlet,  Church  Owl,  Hissing 
Owl. — This  common  and  useful  bird  breeds  by  pre- 
ference in  some  building  or  part  of  one ;  a  church 
tower,  dove-cot,  ruined  mansion,  or  castle,  and  the 
like.  My  most  familiar  boy-acquaintance,  however, 
was  with  the  nesting  place  and  habits  of  a  pair  which 
nested  for  many  consecutive  years  in  a  slight  hollow 
in  the  crown  of  a  large  pollard  elm  tree  in  my  father's 
church-yard  at  Great  Wigborough,  in  Essex.  There 
were  usually  three  or  four  young  ones  year  by  year, 
often  with  perceptible  differences  of  growth  among 
them.  Indeed  it  is  well  known  that  this  Owl  and  the 
Short-eared  Owl,  and  probably  others  as  well,  lay  their 


Tiieir  Eggs  and  Xests.  65 

eggs  in  instalments,  as  it  were,  and  when  the  first 
batch  of  two  or  three  is  about  hatching  or  nearly  so, 
others  are  deposited  in  addition,  and  thus  hatched  in 
their  turn  almost  as  much  by  their  brothers  and  sisters 
as  by  their  mother.  Quainter,  orraver,  odder,  stranger, 
more  irresistibly  comic  creatures  than  these  young 
Owls  I  never  saw ;  and  the  hissing  and  snoring,  and 
peering  looks  at  the  spectator,  and  strange  antic  con- 
tortions I  heard  and  saw,  baffle  all  attempts  at  descrip- 
tion. The  entertainment,  for  such  it  was  most  truly, 
usually  began  some  little  time  before  sunset,  about 
which  time  the  old  birds  might  be  seen  commencing 
their  labours  of  purveying  food  for  Masters  and  Misses 
Howlet.  At  intervals  of  from  seven  to  ten  minutes, 
one  or  other  of  them  came  to  the  nest  with  a  prey, 
and  I  could  always  tell  by  the  sounds  and  gestures  of 
the  young  Owls  when  the  old  one  was  approaching. 
How  they  knew  I  could  not  tell ;  it  was  not  by  sight, 
and  I  could  hear  no  sound  myself;  but  know  they  did 
most  certainly.  Mice,  slugs,  sometimes  a  large  insect 
apparently,  or  a  small  bird,  very  rarely  a  Mole,  or  Rat 
of  no  large  dimensions,  were  brought  in  continuous 
succession,  and  in  the  claw,  not  with  the  bill.  When 
the  animal  was  of  small  dimensions,  the  old  Owl  flitted 
off  again  with  scarcely  any  pause  at  the  nest.  If  a 
large  one,  it  seemed  by  the  time  which  elapsed,  and 
the  sounds  which  became  audible — most  vehement 
snorings  and  hissings — that  partition  had  to  be  made, 
and  that  the  said  partition  was  a  matter  of  the  greatest 
interest  to  the  parties  concerned.  I  cannot  affirm 
positively  that  the  old  Owls  prosecuted  their  most 
successful  hunting  all  through  the  night  j  but  I  believe 


66  British  Birds, 

they  did,  and  I  have  seen  them  still  at  work  in  the 
morning  long  after  sun-rise,  once  as  late  as  between 
eight  and  nine  in  the  morning  in  the  height  of  summer. 
As  the  inmates  of  a  dove-cot,  they  are  on  very  excellent 
terms  with  the  proper  dwellers  therein,  although  from 
the  known  habits  of  other  Owls,  the  human  owners  of 
the  dove-cot  are  apt  to  assume,  most  groundlessly  and 
unjustly,  that  they  are  sure  to  destroy  the  young 
Pigeons.  I  don't  believe,  however,  that  if  all  the 
rejected  pellets  of  bones,  fur,  feathers,  etc.,  from  all  the 
Barn  Owls  in  the  kingdom  could  be  examined,  that 
any  trace  of  Pigeon,  old  or  young,  would  be  discovered; 
and  that  farmer  is  a  foolish  farmer  who  either  destroys 
a  Barn  Owl  himself  or  suffers  any  one  else,  whom  he 
could  prevent,  to  destroy  one.  They  are  perfectly 
harmless,  exceedingly  useful,  and  strangely  interesting 
to  the  observer.  I  may  add  that  since  I  began  to 
write  these  lines,  I  am  told  that  the  self-same  tree  is 
still  occupied  by  a  pair  of  the  self-same  Owls,  and  has 
continued  to  be  from  the  days  of  my  boyish  recollec- 
tions— a  period  of  more  than  thirty  years.^  The 
young  of  this  and  the  Tawny  Owl  are  very  bold, 
resolute  little  creatures,  if  taken  when  rather  more 
than  half -grown.  They  will  throw  themselves  on  their 
backs,  and  defend  themselves  pertinaciously  with  bill 
and  claw  against  any  foe,  or  supposed  foe,  human  or 
other.  The  Barn  Owl  has  been  known  to  take  fish  by 
plunging  upon  it  in  the  water.  The  eggs  are  about 
\\  inch  long  by  1^  broad. 

1  And  that  is  now  more  than  30  years  ao;o. 


TJicir  Eggs  and  Nests.  Gy 

We  arrive  now  at  the  second  Order. 
ORDER.— PASSERES. 
FAMILY  I.— LANIAD7E. 

GREAT  GREY  SHRIKE— (Zrt;^n/j  exaibitor). 

Greater  Butcher  Bird,  Ash-coloured  Shrike,  Cinere- 
ous Shrike,  Grey  Shrike. — This  bird  is  an  occasional 
visitor  only,  and  has  very  rarely  been  seen  in  the 
breedincr  season.  No  authentic  instance  of  its  nestinsf 
with  us  is  known. 

LESSER  GREY  SHRIKE— (Z«;^//^j  minor). 

A  rare  and  accidental  visitor  to  England.  It  breeds 
in  Southern  Europe  and  North  Africa. 

RED-BACKED  SHRIKE— (Z^«2«.y  collurid). 
Lesser  Butcher  Bird,  Flusher,  Murdering-pie,  Jack 
Baker,  etc. — The  male  of  this  species  is  a  beautiful 
bird,  with  his  bright  chesnut  back  and  lively  air. 
They  spend  only  a  part  of  the  year  with  us,  but  that 
part  involves  the  period  of  nesting.  The  nest  is 
usually  rather  high  up  in  a  strong,  thick  bush,  large- 
sized  for  the  bird,  cup-shaped,  and  made  of  coarse 
withered  herbage  externally,  with  rather  finer 
materials  within,  and  lined  with  hair  or  some  sucli 
substance.  The  eggs  are  four  or  five  in  number, 
varying  much  in  colour  and  marks.  The  ground- 
shade  varies,  and  so  do  the  markings ;  the  latter, 
however,  being  usually  found  thicker  and  darker  in 
a   zone   or   baud   encircling   some   part   of    the   ^^g. 


6S  British  Birds, 

Description  is  quite  inadequate  to  convey  any  idea  of 
these  variations.  The  bird  deserves  its  name,  for  it 
"  slauixhters  "  small  birds,  as  well  as  other  animals, 
and  hangs  up  the  carcases  in  regular  shambles.  It  is 
wonderful  how  the  frogs,  beetles,  caterpillars,  cock- 
chafers, birds,  etc.,  which  form  its  food,  are  fixed  so 
very  firmly  and  tenaciously  upon  the  strong  thorny 
point. — Figs.  4,  5,  plate  II. 

WOODCHAT  SHRIKE— (Z^;2/2^i-  rufus). 

Only  a  rare   and   occasional  visitant.      Breeds  in 
Central  and  South  Europe  and  North  Africa. 


FAMILY  II.— MUSCICAPIDiE. 

SPOTTED  FLYCATCHER— (iI/?^.y^/V^/^  grisola\ 

Beam-bird,  Bee-bird,  Rafter-bird,  Post-bird,  Wall- 
bird,  Cherry-chopper,  Cherry-sucker,  Cobweb-bird. — 
Many  of  these  names  are  taken  from  the  familiar 
site  of  its  nest,  or  from  some  of  its  habits  in  taking 
food.  It  will  return  to  the  same  post,  after  a  short 
excursion  to  seize  an  insect,  ten  or  a  dozen  times  in 
succession  ;  and  it  will  build  its  nest  on  a  wall,  on  the 
end  of  a  rafter  or  beam,  on  a  rake-head,  in  a  trained 
wall-tree — in  fact,  in  almost  every  conceivable  place. 
The  nest  varies  in  material  and  structure,  almost  as 
much  as  in  its  site.  Moss,  old  and  new,  bents,  straws, 
twigs,  hairs,  feathers,  all  are  used.  It  is  an  amusing 
little  bird,^  and  pays  many  feeding  visits  to  its  young, 

1  '*  It  is  always  pleasant  to  watch,  and  its  nest  is  easy  to  find. 
One  pair  had  the  audacity  to  build  in  the  wall  of  tiie  village  school 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  69 

as  is  the  case  with  all  insect-feeding  birrls.  The  ep^c^'s 
are  four  or  five  in  number,  of  dull  white,  tino^ed  with 
blue,  and  spotted  with  faint  red.  It  only  visits  us  to 
breed  here. — Fig.  G,  plate  II. 

RED-BREASTED  FLYCATCHER— (J//^jaV^/a 
pa7'va). 

Accidental  winter  visitor. 

PIED  Y'LYCkTQKEK—^Muscicapa  airicapilla). 

Coldfinch. — A  rare  bird  in  some  localities,  and  not 
an  abundant  one  in  any.  The  nest  is  loosely  made  of 
small  roots,  bents,  grass,  moss,  hair,  or  some  such 
materia],  in  a  hole,  usually  in  pollard  trees,  or  such 
as  have  decayed  from  natural  causes,  but  sometimes 
also  in  a  hole  in  a  wall  or  other  building.  In  it  may 
be  found  four  to  eight  eggs  of  a  uniform  light  blue 
colour. — Fig.  7,  plate  II. 


FAMILY  ILL— ORIOLIDJ^. 

GOLDEN  ORIOLE— ((9;7'^///i-  galbula). 
Only  an  occasional  summer  visitor. 


Another  pair  placed  their  nest  on  the  sun-dial  in  a  gentleman's 
garden,  as  kite  as  mid-July."  ("A  Year  with  the  Birds,"  p.  130.)  A 
book  whicli  migiit  well  be  in  every  bird  lover's  bookcase.  Mr. 
Wardo  Fowler  is  the  author. 


70  British  Birds, 

FAMILY  IV.— CINCLID^. 

COMMON  T)\YY'm.—{Cinclus  aquaiicus). 
Water  Ousel,  Brook  Ousel,  Water  Crow,  Water 
Piet,  Bessy-ducker. — I  may  as  well  own  that  I  am  a 
little  bit  "  fond  "  about  the  Dipper.  I  dearly  love  to 
see  him  and  hear  him  in  my  rambles  by  our  mountain 
becks.  So  lively,  cheery,  and  jolly,  even  in  the  cold 
winter  day,  when  the  mere  look  of  the  chilly,  shiver- 
ing stream  makes  one  feel  goose-skinny.  There  he 
sits  at  the  water  edge,  and  sings  like  a  Robin  a  little 
tipsy,  and  then  in  he  tumbles,  in  a  rollicking  sort  of 
way,  as  you  become  a  little  too  inquisitive,  and  emerg- 
ing a  few  yards  farther  down,  takes  wing,  and  darts 
off  with  his  Kingfisher-like  flight.  One  nest  some 
lads  belonging  to  my  family  found  here,  was  a 
feather-bed  sort  of  structure  of  moss  and  a  few 
feathers,  filling  up  a  six-inch  square  hole  in  the 
masonry  of  a  bridge  in  which  one  of  the  scaffold 
rafters  of  the  workmen  had  been  inserted,  there  being 
a  small,  round  hole  left  in  the  exposed  side  for  exit 
and  ingress.  Others  may  be  seen  in  cavities  in  a  rock 
by  the  water-side  ;  and  one  I  heard  of,  if  my  memory 
is  correct,  in  Berwickshire,  was  built  amid  the  stone- 
work of  a  water-lead  for  conducting  the  waste  water 
away  from  a  mill,  and  in  such  a  position  that  the 
water  in  its  fall  projected  itself  beyond  the  nest,  and 
formed  a  kind  of  arch  above  it.  The  old  birds  in 
going  into  or  leaving  their  nest  had  actually  to  pass 
in  either  from  the  side  or  through  the  interstices  of 
the  small  cascade.  The  eggs  are  five  or  six  in 
number,  and  perfectly,  purely  white.     A  sad  enemy 


TJicir  Eggs  and  Nests.  71 

to  fish  spawn  my  little  white-breasted  friend  is  said 
to  be,  but  the  fact  is  much  questioned.  I  never  yet 
cared  to  shoot  one,  I  love  them  so  well.  When  there 
are  half-a-dozen  small  but  very  hunp^ry  Dipper-mouths 
to  be  fed,  I  fear  much  consumption  of  fishes'  food,  if 
not  fishes'  eggs,  takes  place.  It  is  able  to  walk, 
though  with  much  effort,  under  water,  as  well  as  dive 
and  swim  ;  and  I  have  often  seen  them,  on  coming  to 
the  surface  in  a  quiet  pool,  remain  perfectly  quiescent 
and  floating  for  several  seconds. — Fig,  8,  plate  II. 


FAMILY  v.— IXIDiE. 

GOLD-VENTED  THRUSH— (/>^;^^;/^///j  capensis). 
Has  occurred  in  Ireland. 


FAMILY  YL— TURDlDiE. 

WHITE'S    THRUSH— (r?^r^2/j    varius ;     formerly, 
T.  whitei). 

Accidental  winter  visitor.  I  once  saw  one  here, 
and  had  it  under  view  for  a  space  of  many  minutes, 
at  a  distance  of  only  a  few  yards,  and  with  a  pair  of 
excellent  field-glasses  at  my  eyes.  It  was  on  a 
Sunday,  and  so  was  not  molested. 

MISSEL  OR   MISTLE  THRUSH— ( r/^;^^«j 

viscivorus^. 

Misseltoe  or  Mistletoe  Thrush,  Missel-bird,  Storm- 


72  British  Birds y 

cock,  Screech  Thrusli,  Holm  Thrush,  Holm  Screech. — 
A  handsome  bird  and  an  early  builder.  The  Missel 
Thrush  seems  to  lay  aside  some  of  its  wildness  in  the 
breeding  season,  and  draws  near  the  dwellings  of 
men.  Its  nest  may  continually  be  found  in  a  garden 
or  orchard  close  to  a  house,  and  in  the  thick  fork  of 
an  apple  or  other  fruit  tree,  often  only  a  few  feet 
from  the  ground.  Woe  be  to  the  Cat  who  comes  near 
the  nest !  Such  a  storm  of  violent  abuse  and  loud- 
tongued  birds'  Billingsgate  as  is  poured  on  her  de- 
voted head  !  Nor  does  the  human  intruder  escape 
quite  w^ithout  a  telling  of  it,  or  what  my  Yorkshire 
friends  term  *'  a  calling."  \i  a  Missel  Thrush  is  very 
abusive  with  you,  be  sure  his  nest  is  not  far  off.  It  is 
a  large  structure,  of  much  such  materials  and  design 
as  the  Blackbird's,  but  often  bound  round  and  round 
with  long  rushes  or  roots,  or  other  material  sufficiently 
lengthy  and  pliable.  I  have  seen  tailor's  listing, 
bast  matting,  and  even  discarded  tape,  used  for  the 
purpose.  The  eggs,  four  or  five  in  general,  often  vary 
much  in  colouring  and  marks  ;  but  are  in  general  of  a 
whitish  ground-colour,  lightly  tinged  with  green  (or 
perhaps  faint  red),  and  well  spotted  with  red-brown. 
—Fig.  ^,  plate  11. 

SONG  'I'R'^T^'^'R—^Turdusmiisicus). 

Common  Thrush,  Throstle,  Mavis.  —  Every  one 
knows  this  sweet  songster,  and  could  point  out  its  pet 
stone  with  its  little  accumulation  of  shattered  snail 
shells,  which,  when  whole,  had  been  brought  there  by 
the  knowing  Thrush  and  hammered  against  the  well- 
fixed  anvil  until  they  gave  way.     Everybody  knows 


Their  Eggs  a)ui  Nests.  ^'3 

his  persevering  song,  begun  at  day-(Ia^Yn  in  early 
February,  and  persevered  in  for  months  of  the  sprinc;* 
and  early  summer.  Every  one  knows  its  trim,  neatly- 
plastered  nest,  with  its  warm,  solid  coating  of  grass 
and  bents  and  roots  and  such  like  materials.  And 
every  body,  too,  knows  the  four  or  five  fair  blue  eggs 
with  their  tidy  black  spots,  which  now  and  then,  how- 
ever, can  hardly  be  seen  at  all.  Every  body  also 
knows  how  fussy  the  old  mother  Thrush  is  the  day 
her  brood  quit  their  nest ;  and  how,  if  you  catch  one 
of  her  awkward,  ill-flying,  soon-tired  squad  of  young 
ones,  she  will  follow  you  with  much  objurgation  and 
no  little  plaintive  entreaty  that  "  a  great  fellow  like 
you,  who  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  yourself  for  frighten- 
ing a  poor  little  fluttering  creature  like  that,  will  put 
it  down  again  soon,  and  not  hurt  it,  and  be  a  dear, 
good  man, — now  do,  won't  you  ?  "  I  have  met  with  its 
nest  twice  within  the  last  three  years  built  in  among 
the  unmortared  stones  of  the  ordinary  "  dry-stone 
walls  "  of  this  country. — Fig.  10^  plate  11. 

REDWING— (r^/r^^j  iliacus). 

Like  the  Fieldfare,  frequent  in  winter;  but  breeds 
in  another  country. 

FIELDFARE— ( Turdus  pilaris), 

Felfit,  Felty-fare,  Blue-back,  Jack-bird. — A  very 
common  winter  visitor,  and  staying  sometimes  as 
late  as  20th  May.  But  they  do  not  breed  with  us ; 
and  as  space  is  not  too  abundant,  any  notice  which 
can  be  afforded  of  this  bird's  nesting  habits  must  be 
put  in  the  Appendix,  if  found  possible. 


74  British  Bi^'ds^ 

BLACK-THROATED   THRUSH— ( r?/r^//j 
atrigularis). 

It   has   only   occurred   three   or   four    times   as   a 
casual  visitor. 

BLACKBIRD— (T/zr^^/^  menila). 

Black  Ousel,  Amzel,  Ousel,  also  pronounced  some- 
times in  North  Yorkshire,  so  as  to  sound  like  Ussel 
or  Oossel.  Merle  in  Shakespeare. — The  Blackbird's 
tawny  bill  and  sable  plumage  and  sweet  mellow  song 
—would  one  like  it  as  well  if  he  were  as  lavish  of  it 
as  the  Thrush  ?  Who  does  not  welcome  and  love 
him  ?  And  to  a  very  youthful  nest-hunter  what  a 
deserving  bird  the  Blackbird  is.  Making  his  nest 
usually  in  such  places  and  so  that  detection  is  not  at 
all  a  matter  of  course,  and  yet  not  altogether  beyond 
the  discernment  of  inexperienced  eyes.  The  discovery 
of  our  first  Blackbird's  nest  is  always  felt  to  be  a  sort 
of  achievement,  and  one  to  be  spoken  of  with  reason- 
able self-approbation  too.  In  the  hedge,  at  the 
bottom  of  the  hedge,  on  the  stump,  behind  the  stump, 
below  the  stump,  an  excrescence  on  the  side  of  the 
ragged  old  tree,  in  a  wall  tree,  in  an  evergreen  or 
other  thick  bush— how  often  have  we  found  the  nest 
in  these  and  such  like  places.  Once  we  found  one 
which  we  set  down  as  made  by  the  untidiest  Black- 
bird that  ever  lived.  It  was  in  a  thorn  hedge  thick 
and  high,  and  a  great  rough  structure.  But  a  lock  of 
wool,  a  big  one,  had  been  unmanageable  and  had 
cauo-ht  on  the  thorns,  and  the  feathered  architect 
could  do  nothing  with  it,  and  there  it  hung  out  of  the 


TJieir  Eggs  and  Nests.  ^5 

nest-wall  a  thick  tangle,  two  or  three  inches  lon^,  and 
making  the  nest  as  conspicuous  as  if  a  flag  had  been 
stuck  just  above  it.  How  the  eggs  vary  in  shade, 
markings,  size,  etc.,  I  have  already  noticed  at  a  former 
page,  and  I  am  fearful  of  absorbing  too  much  of  my 
space  by  adding  more. — Fig.  \\, plate  II. 

RING  O^J^Y.'L—{T^lrd'us  torquatns). 

Ring  Thrush,  Moor  Blackbird,  Mountain  Blackbird, 
Tor  Ousel,  Rock  Ousel,  Ring  Blackbird.  —  A  bold 
abusive  freebooter  in  our  gardens  in  North  Yorkshire, 
and  other  similar  localities.  He's  a  beautiful  bird,  and 
a  wary,  except  when  seduced  by  strawberries  and  red 
currants.  His  wild  and  not  unmusical  note,  though  it 
might  sound  harsh  in  a  trim  garden  in  Kent  or  Essex, 
and  to  an  ear  not  attuned  to  moorland  sounds,  is 
always  as  welcome  to  me  as  the  gentle  twitter  of  the 
Swallow.  I  like  to  hear  his  attempts  at  song,  re- 
minding the  listener  of  the  Missel-bird's  early  spring 
music.  And  I  like  to  hear  his  wilder,  grating  call- 
note,  which  is  the  usual  warning  the  ornithologist  has 
that  the  Moor  Blackbird  has  returned  for  the  season. 
His  nest  is  very  like  the  Blackbird's  in  design  and 
general  structure.  An  inner  lining  of  bents  and  fine 
ling,  a  wall  of  clay,  and  an  outer  husk  of  moss,  ling, 
and  such  like  moorland  matters.  It  is  not  strongly 
or  compactly  formed,  and  makes  a  great  litter  if  kept 
a  day  or  two  and  subject  to  be  handled  or  moved, 
however  carefully.  It  is  always  built  on,  or  near  the 
ground,  on  the  wild  moor ;  and  I  once  trod  the 
feathers  out  of  the  wing  of  a  sitting  hen,  on  whom  and 
her   nest   I  nearly  jumped  in  leaping  a  gully.     The 


7  6  British  Birds ^ 

eggs  are  usually  four  or  five  in  number,  and  remind 
you  of  the  Blackbird's  eggs  in  their  general  appear- 
ance ;  but  the  blotchings  or  markings  are  redder,  and 
often  much  larger  or  more  pronounced  than  in  the 
case  of  the  Blackbird.  Their  eggs,  too,  vary  generally 
in  size,  even  in  the  same  nest.  Out  of  the  contents  of 
two  nests  I  had  brought  to  me  a  year  or  two  since,  no 
two  seemed  to  agree  exactly  in  dimensions. — Fig.  12, 
plate  II. 

ROCK  THRUSH-^(J/^;^/2V«/^  saxatilis). 
Of  most  rare  occurrence. 


FAMILY  VII.  SYLYIADiE. 

ALPINE  k.Q>Q;^^l:QiK— {Accentor  collaris ;  formerly, 
Alpinus). 

Met  with  two  or  three  times  in  Britain. 

HEDGE  ^VKK^QT^— {Accentor  modularis). 

Hedge  Warbler,  Shuffle-wing,  Dunnock,  Hempie. — 
I  cannot  call  it  Hedge  Accentor,  with  all  my  respect 
for  Mr.  Yarrell.  It  was  Hedge  Sparrow  in  my  child- 
hood and  youth,  and  Hedge  Sparrow  to  me  it  will  be 
called  to  the  end  of  the  chapter.  I  could  no  more 
wantonly  kill  a  Hedge  Sparrow,  in  my  sparrow- 
killing  days,  than  a  Robin  ;  and  now,  when  I  hear  his 
low,  sweet  pipe,  and  see  his  wings  quivered  as  he  hops 
on  the  ground,  or  from  spray  to  spray,  not  knowing  I 
am  noticing  him,  he  seems  as  dear  to  me  as  ever.  The 
mossy  nest,  with  its  intermixture  of  fine  roots  and 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests,  yy 

hair,  may  be  found  weeks  before  leaves  are  thought  of, 
on  the  bank-side  or  low  in  the  hedge,  and  little  con- 
cealed ;  and  the  four  or  five  beautiful  blue  eggs  in  it 
become  familiar  to  every  nest-seeker  among  his  very 
earliest  acquisitions. — Fig.  \?>,  plate  II. 

ROBIN — {Erythacus  rnbecula). 

Redbreast,  Robin  Redbreast,  Ruddock,  Robinet, 
Bob-Robin. — I  remember  throwing  a  stone  at  a  Robin 
when  a  very  little  boy,  and  to  my  consternation  and 
utter  grief,  no  less  than  to  my  surprise,  killing  it.  I 
"  felt  bad  "  about  it — as  our  American  friends  say — 
and  thought  I  was  as  wicked  as  the  Sparrow  of  bow 
and  arrow  memory.  It  seems  to  be,  or  to  have  been, 
a  common  feeling  among  boys,  and  is  embodied  in  the 
old  lines : — 

*'  The  Robin  and  the  Wren 
Are  God's  Cock  and  Hen." 

How  beautiful  the  Robin's  eggs  are  when  just  laid ; 
and  how  they  lose  their  peculiar  pinky  loveliness 
from  being  blown.  A  hundred  different  places,  too, 
the  little  bird  selects  for  the  site  of  its  nest ;  often 
being  such,  moreover,  as  to  illustrate  their  confiding 
fearlessness,  as  much  as  the  result  in  them  of  the 
pressure  of  winter  cold  and  hunger.  In  the  tilt  of  a 
wagon  ;  in  a  steam  boat ;  in  a  room  of  the  cottage ; 
near  a  blacksmith's  forge ;  in  the  constantly-used 
garden-shed,  as  well  as  in  the  ivy  or  evergreen  bush  ; 
or  on  the  bank,  or  in  the  hedge  ;  or  in  a  hole  in  the 
old  ruin  or  bank  or  house-wall :  all  places  seem  to 
Buit  it  alike.      The  eggs  are  five  or  six,  sometimes 


78  British  Birds, 

seven ;  and  the  shell  is  white,  more  or  less  freckled 
with  light  red. — Fig.  14,  plate  IL 

NIGHTINGALE — {Daidias  luscinia  ;  formerly, 
Philo7nela  luscinia). 

This  sweetest  of  the  English  warblers  has  but  a 
limited  range.  In  Essex^  Suffolk,  and  Cambridge- 
shire, I  used  to  hear  it  abundantly  ;  but  of  late  years, 
as  a  resident  in  Yorkshire,  its  note  has  become  strange 
in  my  ears.  Shy  and  vigilant  in  its  habits,  it  does 
not  willingly  expose  itself  to  observation,  and  its 
haunts  are  so  thick  that  discovery  of  its  nest  is  not 
always  easy.  It  seems  often  an  untidy  structure,  but 
according  to  my  observation  not  usually  built  on  the 
ground,  as  Mr.  Yarrell  states.  I  have  found  it  in  a 
thick  thorn  hedge  or  bush,  and  in  shrubs  in  the 
garden,  made  of  twigs,  straw,  grass,  and  especially  old 
oak  leaves,  and  with  only  a  jagged  margin.  The  eggs, 
four  and  sometimes  five  of  them,  are  of  "  an  uniform 
olive-brown  colour,"  and  from  the  time  they  are  laid, 
the  bird  only  sings  occasionally.  After  they  are 
hatched,  never. — Fig.  b,  plate  III. 

BLUE-THROAT— (i^?///a7/^  Suecica  ;  formerly, 
PhcBuicura  Suecica). 

Blue-throated  Robin,  Blue-throated  Redstart,  Blue- 
breast. — Only  of  very  rare  occurrence. 

REDSTART— (i??///^*//^  phcenicurus ;  formerly, 

Phcenicura  ruticilla). 
Firetail,  Fireflirt,   Brantail,  Redtail.— The  male  is 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  our  small  birds,  and  I 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  79 

wish  I  could  think  it  as  abundant  with  us  as  it  used 
to  be.  The  nest  is  loosely  constructed  of  moss,  with  a 
few  small  straws  or  bents  sometimes,  and  hair  and 
feathers  inside,  and  almost  invariably  is  placed  in  a 
hole,  it  may  be  in  a  hollowish  tree,  or  a  wall,  or  even 
in  a  bank ;  and  here,  where  dry-stone  walls  abound, 
its  choice  of  nesting-places  is  inexhaustible.  Very 
watchful  are  the  old  birds  over  the  eggs,  and  very 
fussy  and  noisy  when  the  eggs  have  yielded  their 
living  contents,  and  yet  very  careful  too.  I  knew 
there  was  a  nest  the  year  before  last  (1860)  not  far 
from  my  garden  gate ;  but  it  was  not  till  I  hid  my- 
self most  carefully  and  patiently  behind  the  door,  that 
I  made  myself  master  of  the  vigilant  little  sentinel's 
secret.  It  lays  four  or  five,  and,  occasionally,  six  eggs, 
of  a  pale  uniform  blue  colour,  perhaps  tinged  with  a 
faint  green  shade.  They  are  almost  as  pretty  as  the 
Hedge-Sparrow's. — Fig.  lo,  plate  IL 

BLACK  REDSTART— (ie?///«7/^  Tithys  ;  formerly, 
Phoeniciira  Tithys). 

Tithys  Redstart,  Black  Redtail. — It  has  been  met 
with  in  Britain  perhaps  half  a  dozen  times,  or  indeed 
more. 

STONE-CHAT— (5^A7V^A7  r///;?W^). 

Stone -chatter.  Stone -clink.  Stone -smick,  Stone- 
chack.  Stone-smith,  Moor-titling,  Chickstone,  Black- 
cap.— A  very  common  bird  in  many  districts,  and 
from  his  habits  much  more  familiarly  and  commonly 
known  and  noticed  than  other  birds  equally,  or  even 
more,   abundant,    but    of    less    obtrusive,   or    quieter 


So  British  Birds, 

habits.  Flitting  about  from  bush  to  bush,  and  seat- 
inor  himself  pertly  on  the  top  spra}^  there  he  sits  and 
"  chats  "  or  "  clinks  "  till  the  passenger  comes  too  near, 
and  then  off  he  flies,  to  perch  again  a  few  yards 
further  and  repeat  the  same  performance.  The  nest, 
sometimes  very  neat  and  well-constructed,  of  moss  and 
benty  grass,  and  lined  with  hair,  feathers,  fine  grass- 
stalks,  etc.,  is  often  quite  on  the  ground  and  with  no 
bush  near  ;  sometimes  at  the  foot  of  a  low  bush,  or  in 
the  bush  itself,  but  very  near  the  ground.  The  eggs 
are  five  or  six,  of  a  pale  blue  ground,  very  sparingly 
freckled  with  dull  reddish  brown,  and  chiefly  near 
the  large  end.  The  nest  is  often  hard  to  find,  and 
especially  when  built  among  longish  herbage,  or  in  or 
near  a  whin-bush. — Fig.  1Q>, plate  11. 

\Nm.l^'OYLA!Y—{SaxicoIa  rubetra). 

Grass -chat,  Furze-chat. — Many  of  the  birds  last- 
named  pass  the  winter  in  England ;  but  only  a  few  of 
the  Whin-chats.  This  is  never  so  abundant  a  species 
as  the  last,  and  though  with  some  similar  habits,  it 
has  no  urgent  inclination  to  force  us  to  notice  it  by 
the  incessant  repetition  of  its  note.  The  nest  strongly 
resembles  that  of  the  Stone-chat.  It  is  also  usually 
placed  on  the  ground,  and  is  fully  as  hard  to  find  as 
that  bird's.  The  eggs,  five  or  six  of  them,  are  of  a 
uniform  bluish  green,  very  slightly  speckled  or 
marked  with  dull  VQ^.—Fig.  VI,  plate  II. 

WHEAT-EAR— (5^;r2V^/^  cenanthe). 
Fallow-chat,  White-rump,  White-tail,  Fallow-smick, 
Fallow-finch,  Chacker,   Chackbird,  Clodhopper,  with 


Their  Eccs  and  Nests.  8i 


'o>i^ 


some  other  quainter  names  still,  which  I  have  noted 
down,  and  yet  another  or  two  common  to  the  Wheat- 
ear  and  the  Stone-chat,  such  as  Stone-chacker. — A 
common  enough  bird  here,  and  with  some  of  the  more 
obvious  habits  of  the  Stone-chat.  It  perches  on  the 
stone  walls  as  one  approaches  it,  and  flirts  its  tail  and 
chacks,  and  then  diving  below  the  wall  on  the  far 
side,  re-appears  again  ten  or  twelve  yards  lower,  and 
acts  as  before  ;  and  so  on  for  a  hundred  yards  or 
more.  The  stone  walls  in  our  district  and  the  large 
heaps  of  stones,  removed  in  reclaiming  parts  of  the 
moor,  and  flung  promiscuously  together  anywhere  to 
be  out  of  the  way,  afford  them  capital  breeding  places. 
In  other  countries  old  walls,  or  holes  in  the  sides  of 
pits  or  excavations,  serve  their  purpose.  The  nest 
is  not  very  artistic  or  well-finished,  and  is  formed  of 
many  dift'erent  materials — bents,  feathers,  dry  roots, 
fur;  in  short,  any  waste  matters  which  may  have 
come  in  the  way  of  the  builders.  The  eggs  are  five 
or  six  in  number,  and  of  a  pale  blue  colour,  not  so  dark 
as  those  of  the  Hedge  Sparrow.  It  is  said  that  people 
accustomed  to  the  habits  of  the  AMieat-ear  are  able  to 
find  its  nest  without  difliculty,  from  the  occurrence  of 
certain  noticeable  signs  in  its  neighbourhood. — Fig.  1, 
plate  III. 

RUFOUS  WARBLER— (^^'^;/  galactodes). 

Only  two  or  three  instances  of  its  occurrence  in  this 
country. 

ICTERINE  WARBLER— (//jA'/^/V  ieterina). 
Only  observed  in  Britain  two  or  three  times.     Very 

F 


82  British  BirdSy 

possibly  associated  with  the  Willow  Wrens,  and  so 

overlooked. 

GREAT  REED  WARBLER -(^^r^^^//2^/;/.y 
turdoides). 

An  accidental  visitor  in  this  country. 

REED  '^ KB.'^'LY.V.—^Acrocephalus  streperus  ; 
formerly,  Salicaria  arimdinaced). 

Reed  Wren,  Night  Warbler. — Almost  as  zealous  a 
songster  as  the  Sedge  Warbler.  There  are  few  hours 
in  the  twenty-four  when  its  voice  may  not  be  heard 
about  its  accustomed  haunts ;  namely,  willow  and 
reed  beds,  and  particularly  the  latter.  The  nest  is, 
perhaps,  the  deepest  made  by  any  English  bird,  and 
quite  a  long  inverted  cone  in  shape.  It  is  aflSxed  to, 
or  rather  built  so  as  to  include  three  or  four  reeds,  or 
more.  So  that,  however  the  wind  blows,  it  is  quite 
fast,  while  its  great  depth  prevents  the  eggs  falling 
out,  even  if  the  reeds  be  blown  almost  level.  The 
bird  has  been  seen  still  sitting  when  the  violent  gusts 
forced  the  nest  down  almost  to  the  water  level.  The 
nest  is  made  of  long  grass  and  the  seed-stalks  of  the 
reed,  and  lined  with  wool  or  the  like.  Four  or  five 
eggs  of  a  greenish-white  colour,  marked  in  spots  and 
dashes  of  green  and  pale  brown,  are  usually  laid. — 
Fig.  ^,  plate  III. 

SEDGE  ^ KK^'LW.—^Acrocephalus  schcenobcenus  ; 
formerly,  Salicaria  phragmitis). 

This  everlasting  little  songster  is  more  common  than 
the  bird  last  named,  and  almost  every  boy  knows  its 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  83 

peculiar  chiding  note.  Many  a  lad,  too,  knows  that 
by  shyinpr  a  stone  in  near  its  haunt,  its  notes  may  be 
elioited  almost  any  hour  in  the  night  or  day.  I  think 
I  have  heard  it  singinor  on  all  through  the  night,  and 
notwithstanding  the  absence  of  any  pretence  at  day- 
light. Its  nest  is  usually  placed  near  the  ground,  in 
the  vicinity  of  more  or  less  water,  and  is  supported, 
as  well  as  concealed,  by  the  coarse  herbage.  Made  of 
coarse  grass  stalks  externally,  and  lined  with  finer 
ones  and  hair,  sometimes  with  a  foundation  of  moss, 
five  or  six  eggs  are  deposited  in  its  cup-shaped  hollow, 
of  a  pale  brown  colour,  a  little  mottled  with  darker 
brown. — Fig.  ^6,  plate  III. 

AQUATIC  \N KKE'LE.'K—iAcrocepkalus  aquaticus). 

Only  recorded  as  visiting  England  two  or  three 
times. 


GRASSHOPPER  WARBLER— (y^r^^r^//^^/^/^ 

ncevius;  formerly,  Salicaria  locustella). 

A  summer  visitor,  of  shy  and  retired  habits,  and 
very  vigilant.  Its  note,  very  shrill  and  constantly  re- 
peated, reminding  one  of  the  Cricket  or  Grasshopper's 
note,  gains  it  its  name.  The  nest  is  hard  to  find,  and 
unless  the  bird  be  very  closely  watched,  it  may  baftle 
a  good  observer.  It  is  placed  in  spots  matted  and 
overhung  with  growth  of  grass  or  other  herbage  and 
bushes  ;  is  cup-shaped,  made  of  coarse  dry  grass,  with 
finer  within  ;  and  contains  sometimes  as  many  as 
seven  eggs,  of  a  pale  pinky-white  colour,  freckled  with 
spots  of  a  darker  shade  of  red. — Fig.  'I,  plate  III, 


84  British  Birds^ 

SAVI'S  ^ K:^Y,'L^^—{Acrocephahis  licscinioides  ; 
formerly,  Salicaria  luscinioides). 

Not  of  sufficiently  common  occurrence  to  demand 
lengthened  notice  here. 

DARTFORD  ^ KK^'LY.'^—^Melizophilus  undatus  ; 
formerly,  M.  provincialis). 

A  bird  which  is  scarcely  known  except  on  some  of 
the  furze-growing  commons  of  the  South,  especially 
Kent  and  Surrey.  The  nest  is  of  dry  grass-stalks, 
loosely  put  together  and  tied  with  wool,  and  sparingly 
lined  with  other  fine  and  dry  vegetable  substances. 
"  The  eggs,"  we  read  in  Yarrell,  "  are  somewhat  similar 
to  those  of  the  White-throat,  but  rather  less  ;  and  like 
them,  are  tinged  with  green.  They  are  speckled  all 
over  with  olive-brown  and  cinereous  on  a  greenish 
white  ground  ;  the  markings  becoming  more  dense 
and  forming  a  zone  at  the  large  end." — Fig.  13,  plate 
III. 

WHITE-THROAT  i—(^y^7^  nifa;  formerly, 
Curruca  cinered), 

Nettle-creeper. — Another  pleasant  singer,  but  with 
occasional  harsher  notes,  and  a  chiding  one,  not  un- 
like the  Sedgebird's,  when  uneasy  or  irritated.  This 
is  the  usual  Hay-chat  of  the  country  lads,  and  fully 
as  often  called  the  Nettle-creeper ;  the  former  name 
being  due  to  the  fabric  of  its  nest,  the  latter  to  its 
habite  of  twining  in  and  out  of  the  leaves  and  coarse 
herbage  which  abound  among  its  haunts.     Little  de- 

^  Called  *'The  Greater  White-throat"  in  the  last  edition  of 
Yarroll. 


Their  Eggs  mid  A^ests.  85 

scription  of  the  nest  is  needed,  except  that  it  seems 
slighter,  and  is  thinner  at  the  sides  than  those  of  the 
Blackcap  and  Garden  Warbler,  but  still  it  is  not  less 
compact.  The  eggs  vary  a  good  deal  in  appearance, 
but  there  is  still  such  a  family  likeness  among  them 
that  they  are  easily  recognisable  by  most  egg-fanciers. 
Green,  in  different  shades,  is  the  predominating  colour. 
—Fig.  S,  plate  III 

LESSER  WHITE-THROAT— (5;//77^  curruca  ; 
formerly,  Curruca  sylviel/a). 

Not  so  common  a  bird  nearly,  as  the  last,  and  rising 
higher  in  the  bushes  and  shrubberies  it  frequents  than 
it.  It  sings  low  and  pleasantly  when  you  are  near 
enough  to  hear  it,  and  very  incessantly,  but  its  more 
frequently  heard  notes  are  rather  harsh.  The  nest, 
found  among  low  bushes  and  brambles,  is  like  the 
White-throat's,  and  the  four  or  five  eggs  laid  in  it  are 
white,  speckled,  most  at  the  large  end,  with  ash  or 
light  brown. — Fig,  9,  plate  III. 

GARDEN  WARBLER— (5ji'/^/^  salicaria  ;  formerly, 
Curruca  ho  r tens  is). 

Pettychaps,  Greater  Pettychaps. — Inferior  to  the 
Blackcap  in  song,  as  the  Blackcap  is  inferior  to  the 
Nightingale,  only  not  at  so  great  a  distance.  Still  it 
is  a  sweet  songster.  It  comes  to  us  to  breed,  and 
frequents  thick  hedges  and  the  covert  afforded  by 
our  shrubberies  and  pleasure-plantings  in  gardens. 
The  nest,  like  the  Blackcap's  in  materials  and  detail, 
of  dry  grass- stalks  or  bents  loosely  twined,  but  bound 
together  with   wool,  etc.,   and    lined   with    hair   and 


B6  British  Birds, 

fibrous  roots,  may  be  found  among  rank  growth  of 
various  herbage,  or  in  a  bush,  or  in  a  row  of  rodded 
peas.  The  usual  four  or  five  eggs  are  of  muddled- 
white,  stained  and  spotted  with  greenish  brown, 
lighter  or  darker. — Fig.  ^,  plate  III. 

BLACKCAP — {Sylvia  atricapilla  ;   formerly, 
Curruca  atricapilla). 

Blackcap  Warbler. — This  bird,  with  several  others, 
has  a  local  or  country  name  in  common,  derivable,  I 
believe,  from  the  structure  of  the  nest.  I  mean  Hay- 
jack  or  Hay-chat  ;  but  it  is,  I  think,  much  less  fre- 
quently distinguished  by  that  name  than  the  birds 
just  referred  to.  The  country-boy's  name  for  one  of 
these  must  always  be  distrusted,  as  is  the  case  also 
with  his  designation  of  other  common,  but  much  more 
dissimilar  birds.  Thus,  not  to  mention  other  instances, 
the  Blackcap  proper,  the  Greater  Tom-tit  and  the 
Stone-chat  are  all  called  Blackcap.  The  Blackcap 
Warbler  comes  to  us  in  spring  and  builds  in  our 
gardens  and  shrubberies  as  frequently  as  in  wilder 
resorts,  but  always  in  places  where  there  is  thick 
foliage  and  plentiful  means  of  concealment.  It  is  a 
very  shy  bird,  and  very  unwilling  to  be  gazed  at.  If 
it  sees  you  watching  it,  you  soon  lose  sight  of  it  as  it 
hops  and  twists  from  spray  to  spray  into  the  inner 
and  shadiest  recesses  of  its  haunt.  Its  nest,  too,  is 
studiously  concealed,  and  Mr.  Yarrell  says  it  will 
leave  two  or  three  just-commenced  nests  in  succession 
on  light  grounds  of  suspicion  that  it  has  been  noticed 
in  its  labours.  The  nest  is  a  benty,  and,  saving  for 
the   ties  of   wool   or   cobweb,  a   slightly  compacted 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  87 

edifice,  lined  witli  hair  and  fine  fibres,  and  contains 
four  or  fiv^e  e^gs  of  varying  colour  aiid  mottlings — 
white,  greenish,  or  tinged  witli  a  ]^eculiar  shade  of 
faint  red,  being  the  ground-colour,  with  markings  of  a 
reddish  brown. — Fig.  C,  plate  III. 

ORPHEAN  WARBLER— (5;'/e7^  Orphea). 
Very  rarely  noticed  in  this  country. 

WOOD  ^^Y.^—{PhyUoscopus  sibilatrix ;  formerly, 
Sylvia  sibilatrix). 

Wood  Warbler,  Yellow  Wren. — This  bird  was  longr 
confounded  with  the  Willow  Wren,  to  be  named  next 
It  comes  to  us  for  the  summer,  the  males  (as  is  the 
case  with  so  many  of  the  Warblers)  coming  first  by 
several  days.  It  is  abundant  enough  in  some  well- 
wooded  parts  of  the  kingdom,  and  its  song  is  only 
called  such  by  courtesy.  It  builds  a  domed  nest ;  that 
is  one  covered  in  above,  and  with  a  side  entrance  ;  on 
the  ground  amid  grass  or  weeds.  It  is  made  of  grass, 
dead  leaves,  moss,  and  lined  with  hair  and  soft  grass. 
The  eggs  are  six  in  number,  white,  and  very  much 
speckled  and  spotted  with  dark  red-purple. — Fig.  10, 
plate  III. 

WILLOW  ^V.Y.^—{PJiylloseopus  trocJiilus ;  formerly, 
Sylvia  iroc/iiljis). 

Willow  Warbler,  Yellow  Wren,  Scotch  Wren,  Hay- 
bird,  Huckmuck,  Ground  Wren. — A  well  known  little 
bird  to  the  observant.     It  sings  "  a  soft  and  pleasing  " 


SB  British  Birds, 

song,  and  is  a  lively  little  fellow,  in  incessant  motion. 
Very  restless  and  uneasy  too,  when  you  are  near  its 
nest,  and  particularly  if  the  young  are  hatched.  The 
nest  is  domed  externally  like  the  one  last  named,  but 
always  lined  with  feathers,  which  the  last  never  is. 
It  is  built  on  a  bank  or  bankside,  among  grass  or 
other  herbage,  and  contains  five  to  seven  eggs,  white, 
with  many  small  speckles  of  red,  not  very  dark. 
There  is  an  instance  on  record,  in  which  this  bird  did 
not  leave  its  nest  though  it  had  been  bodily  removed 
from  its  site  on  the  ground,  and  even  before  any  eggs 
were  laid  or  the  nest  itself  completed — one  of  the 
most  remarkable  cases  of  the  kind  known. — Fig.  11, 
plate  III. 

QBlY¥C]lk¥¥—{Phylloscopus  collybita  ;  formerly, 
Sylvia  hippolais). 

Lesser  Pettychaps,  Least  Willow  Wren. — An  "early 
bird  "  this  is  in  coming  to  us  in  spring-time,  and  able 
and  willing  enough  to  take  its  substitute  for  the 
"  early  worm."  The  two  syllables  of  its  name,  differ- 
ently accented,  form  its  song.  Its  nest  is  like  that  of 
the  Willow  Wren,  with  the  addition  of  a  few  dead 
leaves  outside,  and  abundance  of  feathers  inside,  and 
is  also  placed  on  (or  very  near)  the  ground  on  a 
hedgebank.  The  Chiffchaff  lays  six  eggs,  white,  with 
specks  of  dark  purplish-red. — Fig.  12,  plate  III. 

YELLOW-BROWED  y^KKB-LK^—iPhylloscopus 
stipe7'ciliosiis). 

Very  rare  and  accidental  as  a  visitor. 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  89 

GOLD- CRESTED  ^YJ^'\5\J5^—{^Regulus  cri status). 

Gold -crest,  Gold  -  crested  Wren,  Golden  -  crested 
Warbler,  Gold-crowned  Kinglet. — One  of  the  smallest 
of  our  native  birds,  and  possessing  a  '•  soft  and  pleas- 
ing song."  Its  nest — one  of  the  very  most  beautiful 
of  all  our  English  nests — is  often  built  below  the 
branch  of  a  spruce  fir-tree  and  near  the  end  of  the 
bough,  being  suspended  to  two  or  more  of  the  spread- 
ing side-boughs.  I  have  found  it  built  below  another 
and  larger  bird's  nest.  The  side  boughs  just  named  are 
often  woven  in  with  the  moss  and  wool  of  the  nest,  and 
then  tb.ere  is  a  lining  of  feathers  ;  spiders'  webs  too  are 
used  to  compact  the  structure.  Seven  or  eight  eggs  are 
laid,  which  vary  remarkably,  in  different  nests,  in  both 
ground-sbade  and  markings.  Some  remind  one  of 
the  usual  Robin's  o^gg  in  both,  though  the  spots  are 
much  finer.  Others  are  pale  white,  with  yellowish- 
brown  (latber  than  red)  speckles. — Fig.  \^, plate  III. 

FIRE-CRESTED  REGULUS— (i^^-^^?///^^  ignicapillus. 

Much  less  common  than  the  last,  though  very  likely 
often  confounded  with  it  from  its  great  general 
resemblance.  Its  nest  is  like  its  gold-crowned  rela- 
tion's, and  the  eggs  seem  to  resemble  the  variety  fir.'st 
described  in  the  above  notice  of  that  bird. 


FAMILY  VIII.— TROGLODYTID.E. 

WREN — {Troglodytes parvuliis ;  formerly,  T.  vulgaris) 
Jenny    Wren,   Kitty    Wren,    Titty    Wren,   Cutty 


go  British  Birds, 

Wren. — A  kind  of  natural  pet  with  every  one.  I 
scarcely  ever  remember  to  iiave  spoken  of  the  Wren, 
or  heard  others  speak  of  it,  without  some  gentle, 
loving  epithet  applied  to  its  name.  Tlie  provincial 
names  quoted  are  instances  of  what  I  mean,  and  how 
often  the  words  "  poor,"  "  little/'  "  tiny,"  and  even 
"  dear,"  are  joined  to  the  prefixes  of  Jenny,  or  Kitty, 
or  Titty.  Its  little  song,  its  seeming  incapacity  to 
bear  the  rude  buffets  of  storm  and  cold,  its  quiet 
peculiar  movements,  all  tend  to  commend  it  to  our 
kindly  notice.  And  then  the  beautiful  nest  it  makes 
— such  a  great  pile  for  such  a  tiny  builder — and  so 
compact  and  warm  and  wonderfully  concealed  by  the 
use  of  the  nicest  adaptations  of  materials  and  design 
to  the  site  selected, — this  makes  us  almost  respectfully 
admire,  in  addition  to  our  love.  I  have  found  it  on 
the  moss-covered  bank,  on  the  moss-covered  trunk  of 
a  tree,  in  thatch,  in  a  haulm  wall ;  but  wherever  it  is 
found,  the  adjacent  substances  are  made  to  help  tho 
concealment.  One  would  think  that  when  strength 
and  ability,  seemingly  so  inadequate,  had  been  so 
heavily  tasked  as  is  implied  in  the  construction  of 
such  a  nest,  the  little  birds  would  not  be  likely  to 
leave  it,  especially  with  the  building  of  another  in 
immediate  prospect.  But  I  have  not  found  it  so 
in  practice.  A  very  trifling  enlargement  of  the  single 
orifice,  or  straining  of  the  fabric  in  the  effort  to  send 
the  finger  to  the  bottom  of  the  nest,  is  quite  sufficient 
to  cause  the  nest  to  be  deserted  ;  especially  if  the 
Wrens  owning  it  have  once  or  more  been  disturbed 
when  in  it,  or  very  near  it.  When  the  young  ones 
are  hatched,  the  case  is  altered.     The  eggs  are  often 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  9 1 

from  six  to  nine  or  ten  in  number,  and  I  have  heard 
of  even  more.  They  are  white,  with  almost  always  a 
few  pale  red  spots  about  them.  The  male  is  said  to 
feed  the  female  during  the  period  of  closest  incuba- 
tion. Many  other  birds  certainly  have  the  same 
habit,  even  when  the  mate  has  left  the  nest  just  to 
stretch  her  wings,  as  it  were.  I  have  seen  the 
Common  Linnet  do  this. — Fig.  Yl,  plate  IV. 


FAMILY  IX.— CERTHIADiE. 

CREEPER— ((r-?;'////^  familiaris). 

Tree-creeper,  Tree-climber. — A  shy,  gentle-seeming 
little  bird,  shunning  observation,  and,  with  the  rest  of 
its  neighbours  in  our  catalogue,  possessing  a  singular 
facility  of  quietly  and  rapidly  shifting  its  place  on 
the  trunk  or  limb  of  a  tree,  so  as  always  to  interpose 
an  eflScient  screen  between  its  own  minute  body  and 
the  eye  of  any  passer-by.  Its  claws,  sharp  and  long 
and  curved,  aided  by  its  long  and  pointed  tail-feathers, 
are  its  chief  machinery  in  these  facile  motions.  It 
builds  its  nest,  generally  speaking,  in  a  hole  in  a  tree, 
with  only  a  very  minute  aperture.  Sometimes,  though 
I  think  rarely,  the  nest  is  outside  the  tree,  but 
screened  from  observation  by  some  casual  dislodge- 
ment  of  the  bark,  or  in  some  similar  way.  It  is  made 
of  dry  gra^s,  small  twigs,  shreds  of  moss,  with  a 
lining  of  feathers.  It  is  very  hard  to  distinguish 
between  the  eggs  of  the  Creeper,  which  number  from 
six  to  nine,  and  those  of  the  Blue  Titmouse  and  the 


93  Bj'itish  Birds, 

Willow  Wren,  not  to  mention  one  or  two  other  small 
birds.  The  illustration  will  give  a  better  idea  of  the 
Qgg  than  many  lines  of  description. — Fig  IQ,  plate  IV, 


FAMILY  X.— SITTIDiE. 

NUT-HATCH— (5///^  Europoed). 

Nut-jobber,  Wood-cracker. — A  very  beautiful  bird  to 
my  eye,  with  his  bright  slate-coloured  back,  and  orange 
breast,  and  black  bill ;  and  a  very  great  pet  in  former 
days.  I  had  a  pair  which  had  never  known  a  day  of 
constraint,  but  which,  by  patient  feeding,  and  care  to 
make  them  fearless  of  me,  became  so  tame  as  almost 
to  take  food  from  my  hand  ;  to  take  it  readily  when 
I  jerked  it  a  foot  or  two  into  the  air.  And  they 
would  always  come  to  my  signal  for  them — a  few 
blows  on  the  tree  at  which  I  fed  them.  But  they 
never  suffered  their  young  to  come  to  the  feast  I 
provided,  and  always  absented  themselves  for  about  a 
month  at  the  breeding  time.  The  nest  is,  I  believe, 
always  made  in  the  hole  of  a  tree,  and  if  the  aperture 
to  the  hollow  is  too  large,  the  bird  is  apt  to  lessen  it 
by  the  application  of  a  sort  of  mud-plaster  to  some 
portions  of  the  edge.  The  nest  is  rather  a  contrast 
to  that  of  the  little  Wren  just  now  named,  being  little 
more  than  a  loose  heap  of  moss,  small  twigs,  and  chips 
of  bark  and  wood.  The  eofcrs  are  five  or  six  and  some- 
times,  it  is  said,  seven  in  number,  white,  with  some 
pale  red  spots.  Many  of  them  are  very  like  the 
Larger  Titmouse's. — Fig.  V^,  plate  IV, 


TJicir  Eggs  and  Nests,  93 

FAMILY  XI.— PARID^E. 

GREAT  TITMOUSE— (P.zr?^^  major). 

Great  Tit,  Oxeye,  Blackcap,  Great  Blackheaded 
Tom-tit,  Pick-cheese. — It  might  also  be  called,  and  I 
believe  is  in  one  district,  the  Saw-sharpener,  for  its 
note  certainly  puts  one  in  mind  of  that  agreeable 
musical  operation.  The  Tom-tits  are  familiar  to  all 
of  us,  and  "  impudent "  is  one  of  the  epithets  we  most 
usually  apply  to  the  whole  tribe.  Most  of  them  breed 
in  some  hollow  place  or  hole.  The  nest  of  the  Great 
Tit  is  formed  of  moss,  with  a  feather  lininof,  and  is 
sometimes  placed  in  a  hole  in  a  wall ;  sometimes  in 
some  appropriate  recess  in  a  hollow  tree.  Like  the 
other  Tits,  it  lays  many  eggs,  occasionally  from  six  to 
nine.  They  are  white,  of  fair  size,  and  well  spotted 
as  well  as  speckled  with  a  decided  shade  of  red. 
There  is  an  easily  recognised  resemblance  between  tlie 
eggs  of  all  the  Tom-tit  family. — Fig.  16,  plate  III. 

BLUE  TITMOUSE— (/'^r/zj  avruicns). 
Tom-tit,  Blue  Tom-tit,  Nun,  Bluecap,  Blue-bonnet, 
Billy-biter,  Hickwall,  Blue  Mope. — One  of  the  most 
impudent  of  an  impudent  lot.  A  pair  had  built  their 
nest  in  a  crevice  between  the  lintel  and  stone-work  of 
my  coach-house,  and  my  children  from  their  nursery 
window  observed  it.  For  their  amusement  I  ^rot  a 
ladder  and  looked  in.  The  bold  little  matron  could 
not  be  induced  to  leave  the  hole,  but  spit  and  hissed 
like  a  regular  vixen,  and  tried  to  make  herself  as  big 
as  two  by  ruilling  up  her  feathers,  so  as  to  Irighten 


94  British  Bifds, 

the  owners  of  tlie  ugly  faces,  as  she  would  think,  she 
saw  at  her  door.  Often,  too,  have  I  been  bitten 
sharply  by  one  I  had  laid  hold  of.  Almost  any  hole 
in  any  object  will  do  for  the  nest-site.  Even  a  bottle, 
a  wooden  box,  a  pump-barrel,  a  queer-shaped  cavity 
in  an  old  tree  only  big  enough  to  admit  such  a  small 
creature,  all  are  made  available,  and  I  knew  of  one  in 
a  private  letter-box,  into  which  letters  and  post- 
packets  were  daily  dropped.  The  nest  is  voluminous, 
of  moss,  hair,  and  feathers ;  and  the  eggs  are  almost 
endless.  From  six  up  to  twelve  or  thirteen  is  of 
common  occurrence.  Mr.  Hewitson  mentions  one 
case  of  eighteen  eggs  !  They  are  white,  and  spotted 
with  pale  red.  The  journeys  of  the  old  birds  to  and 
from  the  nest  when  supplying  their  large  family  with 
food  are  literally  innumerable;  and  the  number  of 
small  caterpillars,  grubs,  plant-lice,  and  the  like, 
destroyed  by  these  indefatigable  caterers,  must  be 
simply  astonishing.  I  think  the  pair  just  now  referred 
to  made  at  least  one  visit  to  the  nest  every  two  minutes 
throughout  the  day.  The  climbing,  clinging  habits  of 
this  and  other  Tom-tits  are  very  amusing;  and  in 
former  days  I  made  them  dance  on  the  slack-rope  for 
my  amusement  and  my  friends'.  I  strung  a  nut  or 
two  on  a  piece  of  strong  thread,  and  tied  the  two  ex- 
tremities to  a  tree  and  a  nail  in  a  wall  near  the  window, 
respectively.  This  plan  gave  me  many  lengthened 
opportunities  for  watching  their  ways.  I  have  also 
seen  them  stripping  off  the  loose  bark  from  pine- 
planks  and  picking  out  the  fine  fat  grubs  which  eat 
their  way  between  the  wood  and  the  bark. — Fig,  16, 
plate  III. 


TJicir  Eggs  and  Nests.  95 

COLE  TITMOUSE— (P.?;7/j  ater). 

Colemouse,  Coal- head,  Cole  Titmouse. — A  hardy 
little  bird,  of  no  rare  occurrence  in  any  part  of  the 
kingdom.  Incessantly  active,  and  frequently  associat- 
ing with  other  small  birds,  it  prosecutes  a  restless 
search  for  the  small  insects  and  seeds  which  form  its 
food.  Its  nest,  of  moss  and  wool  and  hair,  is  placed 
in  a  hole  in  a  tree,  sometimes  very  near  the  ground ; 
sometimes  even  in  a  hole  in  the  ground  which  has 
been  made  by  some  small  quadruped.  Like  the  other 
Tits,  if  necessary  it  will  enlarge  a  hole  in  a  tree  which 
it  finds  already  such  as  nearly  to  suit  its  requirements. 
Six  to  eight  eggs  are  laid,  white,  and  spotted  with 
faint  red. 

MARSH  TITMOUSE— (P^r;/j  palustris). 

Coal-head,  Blackcap,  Willow-biter. — A  plentiful 
species  in  places ;  but  as  its  name  intimates,  with  a 
preference  for  districts  with  the  peculiar  low  growth 
of  bush  and  willow  found  in  low  fenny  countries.  It 
makes  its  nest  in  old  willows  and  the  low  stunted 
trunks  of  pollard  trees,  and  will  labour  hard  to  make 
a  nearly  suitable  hole  quite  serviceable.  It  is  said  to 
carry  the  chips  it  makes  quite  away  to  some  distance. 
The  nest  is  better  built  than  those  of  the  Tits  hitherto 
named,  of  moss  and  wool ;  and  the  number  of  eggs 
varies  from  five  or  six  to  eight  or  even  ten.  They  are 
of  the  usual  Tom- tit  type,  white,  spotted  with  red. 

CRESTED  TITMOUSE— (P.?;-//.?  cristaius). 

As  rare  with  us  as  the  last  two  Titmice  arc 
common. 


g6  British  BirdSy 

LONG-TAILED    TITMOUSE- (^6T^^?//^    caudata; 
formerly,  Parus  caudatiis). 

Long-tailed  Mag,  Mum-rufEn,  Bottle-tit,  Bottle-Tom, 
Long-tailed  Capon,  Long-tail  Pie,  Caper  Long-tail, 
Oven-builder,  Poke-pudding,  Mufflin,  etc.  etc. — The 
beautiful,  even  wonderful  nest  of  this  little  bird  must 
be  well  known  to  almost  all  nest-fanciers — oval,  of 
great  size  compared  with  the  tiny  architect ;  built, 
too,  entirely  by  the  female,  wondrously  compacted 
with  moss  and  wool,  and  "  sparkling  with  lichens " 
affixed  to  the  outside,  it  affords  access  by  one  hole 
only,  on  the  upper  part  of  one  side,  to  the  inside,  most 
warmly  lined  with  feathers.  So  thoroughly  is  it 
secured  to  the  sticks  which  support  it,  that  it  is 
scarcely  possible  to  obtain  an  entire  one  without 
cutting  the  sticks  for  removal  also.  The  eggs  are 
often  ten  in  number,  and  sometimes  one  or  two  more, 
white,  and  very  slightly  specked  with  red,  if  at  all. 
What  the  little  bird  does  with  her  long  tail  when 
sitting,  is  a  marvel.^  The  young,  when  able  to  fly, 
keep  much  together  and  with  their  parents  ;  and 
often,  when  at  rest,  sit  very  close  together  on  one 
branch,  so  as  to  present  a  doubtful-looking  feathery 
lump  to  the  observer's  eye. — Fig.  VI ^  plate  III. 

1  It  is  said  that  the  hen's  long  tail  is  cocked  forward  over  her  back 
as  she  tits,  tvnd  that  it  projects  through  the  hole  in  the  nest  above 
her  bill. 


Tlieir  E^gs  mid  Nests.  97 

FAMILY  XIL— PANURID.E. 

BEARDED  TITMOUSE— (P^««r/^j  biovmicus  ; 
formerl}^  Parus  biannicus). 

The  male  of  this  species  is,  indeed,  a  beautiful  bird. 
They  are  met  with  in  sufficient  abundance  in  many 
districts  in  England,  e.g.,  about  the  Norfolk  Broads, 
the  Meres  in  adjacent  counties,  as  well  as  in  Surrey 
and  Middlesex.  Until  lately,  from  the  fenny  nature 
of  the  soil  of  their  habitat,  they  have  been  less  ob- 
served than  any  other  birds  ;  but  now  their  habits 
are  much  better  known.  Their  nest  is  often  made  of 
various  finer  sedges  and  the  dead  flaor-like  leaves  of 
the  reed  with  a  little  grass,  and  lined  with  the  seed- 
down  of  the  reed.  Sometimes  almost  on  the  ground, 
sometimes  raised  a  little  above  it  in  a  tuft  of  grass  or 
reeds,  on  the  margin  of  a  ditch  or  other  water,  it  con- 
tains four  to  six  eggs,  not  so  large  as  those  of  the 
Greater  Titmouse,  and  of  usual  Titmouse  colour  and 
markings. — Fig.  1^,  plate  III. 


FAMILY  XIIL— AMPELID/E. 

BOHEMIAN  WAXWING— (yi;;/M>  garrulus  ; 
formerly,  Boinby cilia  garriila.) 

Waxen  Chatterer,  Chatterer,  Bohemian  Chatterer. 
— Less  rare  as  a  visitor  than  some  other  British 
birds ;  but  still  only  a  vi.^itor. 


98  British  Birds, 

FAMILY  XIY.— MOTACILLID^. 

PIED  ^ kOr^kYL—i^Motacilla  lugubris  ;  formerly, 
M.  alba). 

White  Wagtail,  Black  and  White  Wagtail,  Dish- 
washer, Wash  tail,  Nanny  Wash  tail. — I  think  we,  all 
of  us,  know  this  familiar  and  very  graceful  bird,  and 
like  to  see  its  active  run  and  short  flight  taken  for 
the  purpose  of  capturing  an  insect.  We  have  often 
been  amused,  too,  at  seeing  perhaps  a  whole  family  of 
young  ones  running  among  the  legs  of  the  cows  near 
the  water,  and  taking  a  fly  now  from  the  belly  or 
flank  of  the  great  animal,  and  then  from  its  leg  or  the 
ground.  The  nest  is  made  of  grass,  bents,  dead  roots, 
moss,  and  is  sometimes  found  in  a  hole  in  the  rude 
wall  of  an  old  shed  or  the  side  of  a  haulm  wall  or  pile 
of  furze,  or  in  a  hole  in  a  bank ;  sometimes  on  the 
outside  of  a  heap  of  sticks,  or  in  thatch,  or  upon  the 
end  of  a  haystack,  and  other  analogous  places.  Mr. 
Warde  Fowler  mentions  nests  as  made  in  stacks  of 
coal  piled  up  near  a  railway  siding,  and  in  creepers 
high  up  on  the  walls  of  college  buildings  in  Oxford. 
Four  or  five  eggs  are  customarily  found  in  it,  white, 
and  speckled  with  cinereous  spots  and  lines,  being 
often  such  as  to  resemble  one  variety  of  the  varying 
eggs  of  the  House  Sparrow. — Fig,  1^ opiate  III. 

WHITE  \NAGTMh—{Moiacilia  alba). 

*'  A  rare  straggler  in  the  South  of  England,  and  in 
Ireland."     ("  Ibis  "  List  of  British  Birds.) 


TJieir  Eggs  ayid  Nests.  99 

GREY  '^ kQ^k\h—{MotaciUa  suhJmrea;   formerly, 
M.  boarula). 

Less  plentiful  than  the  Pied  Wagtail,  equally  ele- 
gant and  more  beautiful,  this  little  bird  resembles  the 
other  in  its  ways  and  habits.  Its  nest  is  placed  on 
the  ground  at  no  great  distance  from  water,  which  has 
many  attractions  for  it,  as  well  as  for  the  common 
"Nanny  Washtail."  The  materials  and  general 
structure  are,  in  the  main,  the  same  as  in  the  last  case; 
feathers  and  wool  being  introduced  as  a  lining.  There 
are  often  five  or  six  eggs  in  it,  of  a  faint  white  ground- 
colour, mottled  and  streaked  with  very  light  brown,  a 
few  streaks  being  sometimes  of  a  darker  tint. — Fig,  20, 
plate  III. 

BLUE-HEADED  WAGTAIL— (y]/^to///^  flava ; 
formerly,  M.  7ieglecta). 

Called  Grey-headed  Wagtail  in  the  earlier  editions 
of  Yarrell.  Met  with  but  a  iaw  times  in  all  in 
Britain. 

YELLOW  \NA.011ML—{Motacina  Rail ;  formerly, 
M.  flavd). 

Ray's  Wagtail,  Cow-bird. — A  summer  visitor,  and, 
of  course,  making  its  nest  with  us.  It  builds  on  the 
ground,  in  cornfields  or  fallows ;  sometimes  on  a  stump 
of  a  tree  level  with  the  ground,  or  on  a  bank  of  earth 
overhanging  water,  or  in  a  hole  in  a  wall  in  the  same 
vicinity.  The  said  nest  is  made  of  moss,  roots,  dry 
grass,  and  lined  with  the  same,  only  finer,  and  a  little 
hair.  Four  to  six  eggs  are  laid,  which,  Mr.  Yarrell 
says,  "are  not  unlike  those   of  the  Sedge   Warbler, 


100  British  Birds, 

only  rather  larger,  whitish  in  colour,  mottled  nearly 
all  over  with  yellow-brown  and  ash-brown." 

TREE  VlVlT—{A7it/ms  trivialis ;  formerly,^. 
arboretis.) 

Pipit  Lark,  Field  Titling,  Field  Lark,  Tree  Lark, 
Grasshopper  Lark. — No  long  time  elapses  after  the 
spring  arrival  of  the  Tree  Pipit  before  he  makes  his 
presence  observable  by  indulging  in  his  peculiar  mode 
of  recommending  his  song,  not  unpleasant  in  itself,  to 
our  notice.  Seated  on  the  topmost  twig  of  a  tree  or 
high  bush,  he  sings  a  while,  and  then  up  he  goes  with 
fluttering  wing,  singing  all  the  while,  and  also  while 
descending  from  his  greatest  height  on  outstretched 
wing  to  the  twig  he  started  from.  The  nest  is  always 
on  the  ground,  and  not  far  from  a  hedge,  or  under  a 
low  bush,  and  is  found  also  in  woods  or  nurseries  not 
far  from  the  edge  of  a  drive  or  glade.  It  is  made  of 
moss  and  fibres  and  grass,  lined  with  finer  grass  and  a 
little  hair.  The  eggs  vary  inconceivably  in  tint  and 
marks,  and  entirely  baffle  description.  Some  are 
purple-red,  others  yellowish-white  in  ground,  clouded 
and  spotted  almost  all  over  with  different  shades  of 
greyish-brown. — Figs.  22,  23,  plate  III. 

MEADOW  VlVlT—{A7zthus  pratensis). 

Titlark,  Pipit  Lark,  Meadow  Titling,  Moor  Tit  or 
Titling,  Heather  Lintie,  Moss-Cheeper,  Ling  bird, 
Meadow  Lark. — A  very  common  bird  here,  both  in 
the  enclosed  lands  and  especially  on  the  moors.  It  is 
amusing  to  observe  how  they  sometimes  wind  their 
way  among  the  ling  or  heather,  instead  of  flying  from 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  loi 

the  place  at  wliich  they  have  alighted.  Its  nest  is 
always  on  the  ground,  sometimes  in  the  middle  of  a 
grass  or  corn  Held,  sometimes  nearer  the  hedge,  but 
always  so  placed  as  to  be  very  well  if  not  very  closely 
concealed.  One  I  found  accidentally  on  the  moor  was 
in  the  side  of  a  cavity  left  by  the  extraction  of  a  huge 
surface  block  of  stone,  in  a  kind  of  small  hollow  or 
recess,  and  completely  covered  in  by  earth  and  ling. 
In  addition  to  its  five  proper  eggs,  this  nest  contained 
a  Cuckoo's  Qgg.  The  nest  is  made  of  bents,  lined 
with  the  same  and  some  hairs.  The  eggs  are  from 
four  to  six,  and  vary  in  colour,  Mr.  Yarrell's  descrip- 
tion is,  "  Of  a  reddish-brown  colour,  mottled  over  with 
darker  brown."  The  red  is  hardly  discoverable,  if  at 
all,  in  some  I  have,  and  I  should  have  said  "  dusky 
brown."— /'/V  1\,  plate  III. 

WATER  Y\V\T—{Anthus  spipoletta). 

"  A  very  rare  straggler  in  Great  Britain."     ("  Ibis  " 
List.) 

ROCK  VlYVY—iAntJms  ohscnms ;  formerly, 
A.  petros2(s). 
Dusky  Lark,  Rock  Lark,  Field  Lark,  Sea  Titling, 
Sea  Lintie.  This  bird,  it  seems,  was  long  confounded 
with  the  others  named  a  little  above.  It  is  seldom 
met  far  inland,  and  is  not  always  found  near  rocks, 
notwithstanding  its  name.  It  is  a  ground-builder, 
and  where  there  are  rocks  handy,  the  nest  is  very 
likely  to  be  on  their  ledges,  if  only  a  little  grass  or 
the  like  grows  there.     It  is  composed  of  various  dry 


I02  British  Birds ^ 

grasses,  and  contains  four  or  five  eggs  of  a  greenish 
cast,  and  mottled  with  dusky  brown  or  dark  cinereous 
markings. 

TAWNY  VY^YYl-^iAntJms  campestris). 
An  occasional  straggler  to  our  coasts. 

RICHARD'S  YlYYl—{Anthus  Ricardi). 

An  occasional  visitor  to  our  shores ;  a  good  many 
instances  in  all  having  been  met  with. 


FAMILY  XV.— ALAUDIDiE. 

SHORE   LARK — {Otocorys  alpesiris  ;    formerly, 
A  laud  a  alpestris). 

Only  a  very  few  of  these  birds  have  been  met  with 
in  Britain. 

SKY  LARK — {Alauda  arvensis). 

Lark,  Field  Lark,  Laverock. — Very  few  words  of 
description  are  requisite  in  the  case  of  this  every- 
where familiar  and  favourite  songster.  Up  in  the 
sky,  and  soaring  still,  he  pours  out  his  joyous  strains, 
suggesting  to  us  much  more  forcibly  than  any  other 
bird  does  in  its  song  the  thought  that  it  is  offering 
praise  and  thanks  to  the  Lord  of  Creation :  so  that 
the  thought  in  the  old  Shakespearian  song, 

*'  Hark  !  Haik  !  the  Lark  at  Heaven's  gate  sings," 

seems  by  no  means  fanciful  to  us.     Once,  many  years 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests,  103 

nufo,  I  was  speaking  the  solemn  words,  "  dust  to  dust, 
ashes  to  ashes,"  over  a  dead  parishioner,  followei],  as 
they  soon  are,  by  the  telling  of  our  "  sure  and  certain 
hope  of  a  joyful  resurrection,"  when  a  Sky  Lark,  right 
over  our  heads,  broke  out  into  his  sweet,  simple,  thank- 
ful, hopeful,  joyous  melody,  and  by  it  spoke  to  more 
sad  hearts  than  one  in  that  silent  company.  Up,  up, 
to  the  sky  was  his  pathway,  and  the  song  and  the 
soaring  both  said  that  a  "joyful  resurrection"  was 
no  "  cunningly  devised  fable." 

The  Sky  Lark's  nest  is  always  on  the  ground,  often 
near  the  edge  of  a  furrow,  sometimes  near  a  little 
grassy  unevenness  of  the  surface,  sometimes,  even, 
cunningly  concealed  in  a  dry  grassy  grip  by  the  side 
of  a  field  at  the  foot  of  a  low  hedge-bank.  It  is  but 
a  slifrht  and  inartificial  structure  of  bents,  lined  with 
finer  grasses  anrl  a  few  fibrous  roots.  The  eggs,  which 
I  never  knew  to  exceed  five  in  number,  vary  as  much 
in  general  colour  and  markings  as  the  Tree  Pipit's, 
and  quite  baftle  verbal  description.  I  once  found 
three  in  a  nest,  altogether  dusky  in  general  Iiue,  and 
so  dark  that  I  can  hardly  use  the  word  brown  in 
describing  the  shade  ;  while  generally  "  dark  grey " 
and  "  ash  brown  "  will  succeed  in  conveying  an  idea 
of  the  mottlings  characterising  the  ^gg.  Besides 
which,  by  no  means  a  small  proportion  of  a  large 
collection  of  Sky  Lark's  eggs  will  always  be  found  to 
show  a  prevailing  tinge  of  green  in  the  surface 
colouring.  The  Lark  is  a  very  faithful  mother,  and 
will  not  easily  be  induced  to  leave  her  nest ;  and  even 
when  the  nest  has  become  quite  untenable  any  longer, 
from  any  cause,  the  parent  birds  have  been  known  to 


I04  British  Birds, 

move  both  eggs  and  young  to  a  safer  place,  by  grasping^ 
them  with  the  long  prehensile  claws  of  their  feet. — 
Fig.  1^,  plate  III. 

WOOD  'hKK^—^Alatida  arbor ca\ 

The  Sky  Lark  is  seen  everywhere ;  on  the  moors 
here  in  small  parties,  on  the  Saltings  in  Essex  and 
other  southern  counties,  in  our  meadows  and  corn- 
fields all  over  the  kingdom.  The  Wood  Lark,  on  the 
other  hand,  is  strictly  local,  though  sufficiently  abund- 
ant where  it  does  occur.  I  knew  in  one  case,  where 
a  shot  was  fired  at  a  lot  of  Larks  in  the  snow,  that 
out  of  five  or  six  which  were  killed,  all  but  one  proved 
to  be  Wood  Larks.  So  local  is  it,  that  though  I  have 
been  a  resident  in  Essex,  Suflfolk,  Cambridgeshire, 
Herefordshire,  Berwickshire,  and  Yorkshire,  as  well 
as  a  visitor  in  other  counties,  I  have  never  lived 
among  or  near  its  haunts,  saving  only  in  the  western- 
most county  named.  The  nest  is  formed  on  the 
ground,  usually  well  concealed  by  grass  or  a  neigh- 
bouring scrubby  bush,  and  is  composed  of  dry  grass  and 
moss,  and  lined  with  fibres  and  a  few  hairs.  The 
eggs  are  four  or  five  in  number,  of  a  lighter  ground- 
colour (but  scarcely  less  in  size)  than  those  of  the  Sky 
Lark,  vary  very  little  comparatively  in  their  general 
appearance,  and  often  in  addition  to  the  ash-brown  or 
greenish  hue  of  the  superficial  f  recklings  and  mottlings, 
are  marked  by  the  presence  of  a  few  wine-red  blotches. 
The  young  are  much  sought  for  to  keep  in  cages,  as 
they  soon  begin  to  sing  very  freely.  The  song  of  the 
Wood  Lark  in  a  state  of  nature  is  one  of  the  sweetest 


TJiciy  Eggs  and  Nests.  105 

in  some  respects,  with  which  I  am  acquainted. — Fig. 
"Ih,  plate  III. 

SHORT-TOED  \jk^'K—{CaIandrella  brachydactyla ; 
formerly,  Alan  da  bracJiyda-ctyla\ 

A  bird  much  resembhng  the  Wood  Lark  in  appear- 
ance, but  of  very  casual  occurrence. 

WHITE-WINGED  l.KK}L—{Melanocorypha  Sibirica). 
Hardly  seen  more  than  once  or  twice  in  Britain. 


FAMILY  XVL— EMBERIZIDiE. 

LAPLAND  ^J51^T\^Q^—{_Plectrophanes  Lapponica). 

Has  been  met  with  in  Britain,  but  on  very  few 
occasions. 

SNOW  BUNTING— (P/^^/r^/'//^;/^i-  nivalis). 

Tawny  Bunting,  Mountain  Bunting,  Snow-flake  or 
-fleck. — Only  a  winter  visitor  in  this  country,  tliough 
often  coming  in  not  very  scanty  numbers.  I  have 
frequently  seen  them  on  our  North  Yorkshire  moors, 
and  have  heard  of  them  as  seen  in  flocks  of  large 
dimensions.  One  informant  told  me  he  had  seen  as 
many  as  two  hundred  together.  It  breeds  in  countries 
very  far  to  the  North,  and,  like  other  indigenes  of  the 
North,  is  subject  to  considerable  variations  in  colour 
according  to  season.  So  much  so,  that  the  bird,  which 
used   to   be   called    Tawny  Bunting   '\i\  its   summer 


lo6  British  Birds y 

plumage,  was  re-christened  by  the  name  of  Snow 
Bunting,  to  suit  its  winter  dress,  while  the  young  bird 
was  called  by  the  name  of  Mountain  Bunting. 

REED  BUNTING— (£'w^m>^  schceniclus). 

Reed  Sparrow,  Water  Sparrow,  Mountain  Sparrow, 
Black-headed  Bunting,  Black-bonnet.  —  Not  a  rare 
bird  anywhere  in  England,  I  believe,  where  water  is 
not  rare ;  and  very  conspicuous  from  the  dark  head 
and  bright  plumage  of  the  male.  On  the  Essex 
marshes  it  is  common  enough,  and  so  it  is  in  the 
marshy  or  ill-drained  meadows  of  other  counties.  Mr. 
Yarrell  says  the  "nest  is  generally  placed  on  the 
ground,  among  coarse  long  grass  or  rushes,  at  the  foot 
of  a  thorn,  or  on  the  side  of  a  canal  bank."  The  last 
I  found  was  among,  and  supported  by,  the  sedges 
growing  at  the  side  of  a  marsh- ditch  in  Essex,  and  not 
less  than  ten  or  twelve  inches  from  the  bank — a  site 
which  I  believe  is  not  an  unusual  one.  It  is  made  of 
grasses,  fragments  of  rushes,  stalks  of  different  plants, 
and  lined  sometimes  with  reed-down,  or  finer  grasses 
and  a  little  moss.  I  dislodged  the  male  bird  from  the 
nest  just  named,  and  the  eggs  were  perfectly  warm  to 
the  touch.  They  would  have  been  hatched  in  a  few 
days.  It  was  thus  proved  that  the  male  Reed  Bunting 
takes  his  share  in  sitting,  and  the  position  of  the  nest 
among  green  and  growing  sedges  adds  one  more  fact 
to  what  is  known  of  its  nidification.  The  eggs  are 
four  or  five  in  number,  of  a  pale  reddish-brown  colour, 
streaked  and  spotted  with  dark  brown  of  a  rich  purple 
plate  IV. 


TJieir  Eggs  and  Nests.  107 

RUSTIC  BUNTING— (i^;;/^rr/>^  pustka). 
Has  occurred  in  England  too  or  three  times  only. 

LITTLE  BUNTING— (iiw^^r/^^  pusilld). 
Equally  rare  and  accidental  with  its  predecessor 

BUNTING,  COMMON  BUNTING— (£";;/^^r/^^ 

viiliaria). 
Corn  Bunting,  Ebb. — The  name  of  this  bird  shows 
that  it  is  not  by  any  means  rare  in  perhaps  most  of 
our  country  districts.  It  often  utters  its  not  very 
musical  cry  seated  on  a  tall  spray  in  a  hedge,  and 
sometimes  while  flying  along.  The  nest  is  always 
made  very  near  the  ground,  if  not  actually  on  it, 
usually  among  stunted  bushes  or  coarse  herbage.  It 
is  made  of  roots,  bents  or  coarser  materials  yet,  and 
lined  with  hair.  The  Bunting  lays  four  or  five  eggs, 
of  a  kind  of  stained-white  ground,  suggesting  the  idea 
that  a  vinous-red  stain  has  been  imperfectly  washed 
off,  and  blotched  and  streaked  and  speckled,  in  the 
characteristic  Bunting  style,  with  shades  of  purplish 
brown,  some  of  them  rather  dark.  Though  called 
Corn  Bunting,  it  may  be  found  where  corn-fields  are 
not  abundant.  I  once  met  with  a  nest  at  the  foot  of 
St.  Abb's  Head.— T^zV  \, plate  IV, 

YELLOW  HAMMER— (i?;;2^m>^  citrinella). 
Yellow  Bunting,  Yellow  Yowley,  Gold-spink,  Yellow 
Yeldring,    Yellow   Yoldring,   or   Yeorling,   Yeldrock, 
Yellow  Yite,  Yoit,  etc. — I  used  to  hear  in  Berwickshire, 
that 

•'The  Brock,  the  Toad,  and  the  Yellow  Yeorling, 
(jiet  a  diap  o'  the  JJeil's  bluid  ilka  May  nioruiug." 


lo8  British  Birds, 

I  wonder  what  they  all  do  with  it,  and  how  the  plenti- 
ful bleeding  affects  the  patient.  For  there  is  certainly 
no  lack  of  Yellow  Hammers  all  over  the  country ;  and 
if  one  looks  at  the  long  strings  of  blown  birds'  eggs 
festooned  at  cottage  doors,  or  hung  over  the  cottage 
or  farm-house  mantelpiece,  the  trophies  of  some  young 
nest-taking  hopeful  dwelling  there,  after  the  Black- 
birds' and  Thrushes'  eggs,  the  most  abundant  are  almost 
always  those  of  the  Yellow  Hammer.  We  all  know 
his  rich  plumage  and  somewhat  plaintive  song,  which, 
in  my  school-boy  days,  used  to  be  Englished  into  "  A 
very,  very  little  bit  of  bread  and  n-o-o  c-h-e-e-e-s-e  ! " 
It  does  not  spare  materials  when  engaged  in  building 
its  nest.  Dead  grass,  small  sticks  and  moss,  a  few 
feathers  and  plentiful  hair  to  form  the  lining,  are  ready 
enough  in  our  fields  for  its  use,  and  the  structure  com- 
pacted with  them  is  placed  usually  in  a  low,  thick 
bush  on  a  hedge-bank,  well  concealed,  and  but  little 
raised  above  the  soil.  Sometimes  I  have  found  it  in 
a  rough  grass-field,  amid  tufts  of  rushes  and  other 
such-like  growth.  Sometimes  even  in  a  wall-tree,  as 
in  my  own  garden  last  year ;  or  in  an  evergreen  shrub, 
also  in  my  garden  a  year  or  two  since.  But  the  hedge- 
side  is  the  rule.  The  eggs,  three  to  five  in  number, 
and  often  very  round  in  shape,  vary  considerably  in 
individual  cases,  but  never  so  much  as  to  leave  the 
accustomed  eye  in  a  moment's  doubt  as  to  what  bird 
the  ^gg  belongs  to.  Of  a  white  ground-colour,  scarcely 
tinged  at  all  with  vinous  red,  or  perhaps  much  suffused, 
all  of  them  are  streaked  and  veined  and  spotted  with 
dark  brown  with  a  shade  of  red  in  it.  They  are 
beautiful  eggs  to  my  QyQ.—Fig.  ^,  plate  IV, 


TJieir  Eggs  mid  Nests.  1 09 

CIRL  BUNTING— (£";;/^£'r/,:-^  cirlus). 

French  Yellow  Hammer,  Black-throated  Yellow 
Hammer. — A  bird  long  overlooked  by  our  native 
ornithologists,  and  perhaps  more  frequently  occurring 
than  is  even  yet  suspected.  Still  it  is  by  no  means  a 
common  bird, — though  identified  as  occurring  in,  per- 
haps, most  of  the  southern  counties.  The  Rev.  Orpen 
Morris,  from  whose  work  on  British  Birds  and  Eggs  I 
have  taken  the  two  provincial  names  given  above,  says, 
"  the  nest  is  placed  in  furze  or  low  bushes,  and  is 
usually  made  of  dry  stalks  of  grass  and  a  little  moss, 
lined  with  hair  and  small  roots.  Some  are  wholly 
without  moss  or  hair  .  .  .  the  small  roots  constituting 
the  lining.  The  eggs  are  four  or  five  in  number,  of  a 
dull,  bluish  white,  streaked  and  speckled  with  dark 
brown.  They  vary  much  in  colour  and  markings." — 
Fig.  ^,  plate  IV, 

ORTOLAN  BUNTING— (i5'w^m>^  hortidana). 

Ortolan,  Green-headed  Bunting. — Merely  an  occa- 
sional visitor  nesting  in  Denmark,  Sweden,  Norway, 
and  Lapland. 

BLACK-HEADED  BUNTING— (^«.r/z>^ 
melanocephala). 

Its  occurrence  reported  once  only  in  England. 


no  British  Birds, 

FAMILY  XYIL— FRINGILLID^. 

CRKFYmCK—^Fringilla  ccelebs). 

Spink,  Pink,  Twink,  Skelly,  Shelly,  Shell-apple, 
Scobby,  Shilfa,  Buckfinch,  Horsefinch,  Copperfinch, 
Whitefinch,  Beechfinch,  Wet-bird. — One  of  our  most 
beautiful  birds  is  the  male  of  this  species — one  of  quite 
the  most  beautiful  of  our  English  nests  is  its  nest.  It 
would  be  a  shame  if  he,  with  his  gay  dress  and  handsome 
appearance,  were  the  bachelor  he  is  called  in  his  Latin 
name.  It  is,  however,  only  at  one  period  of  the  year 
that  the  sexes  in  the  Chaffinch  tribe  (as  in  many  other 
kinds  of  birds)  separate.  The  song  of  the  Chaffinch, 
though  not  of  great  compass  or  variety,  is  very  cheery 
and  sweet,  and  very  different  from  his  melancholy 
cry  of  "  Weet,  weet,"  which  many  country  people 
take  as  a  prognostication  of  rain  ; — whence  his  local 
name  of  Wet-bird.  The  nest,  always  in  a  tree-fork  or 
bush  or  hedge,  always  firmly  and  securely  built  in, 
always  contrived  and  fashioned  with  a  wonderful 
compactness,  neatness  and  beauty,  is  formed  of  mosses, 
with  various-shaded  lichens  on  the  surface,  and  lined 
with  wool  and  hair  and  feathers,  the  last  two  being 
the  finishing  substances.  I  never  knew  more  than  five 
eggs  to  be  laid,  oftener  four,  of  a  peculiar  winey-red 
dun,  spotted  and  streaked — and  most  near  the  large 
end — with  a  rich,  dark  Sienna  brown.  I  once  found 
a  nest  in  which  all  the  eggs  were  of  nearly  a  uniform 
creamy  white,  a  little  suffused  with  vinous  reil.  The 
eggs  in  their  comeliness  befit  the  nest,  and  the  nest  is 
worthy  of   the  bird.      The  female   is,  however,  the 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests,  1 1 1 

principal,  if  not  tiie  sole,  architect  and  builder. — Fig.  5, 
plate  IV. 

BRAMBLING  OR  MOUNTAIN  FINCH— 

{Fri7igi!la  viontifringilb.i). 

Brambling,  Bramble  Finch,  Lulean  Finch.— Only  a 
winter  visitor  to  our  shores,  but  still  pretty  generally 
diffused  throughout  the  kingdom  at  that  season, 
though  never  perhaps,  strictly  speaking,  anything  like 
a  common  bird  anywhere.  It  has  been  known  to  breed 
in  Scotland. 

TREE  SPARROW— (P^ji-^;-  moiitamis). 

Mountain  Sparrow. — This  species  has  undoubtedly 
been  long  and  continually  confounded  with  the 
Common  or  House  Sparrow-  And  even  yet  it  has  not 
been  satisfactorily  proved  to  have  occurred  in  very 
many  counties  in  England.  Further  observation  may 
do  more  yet  in  identifying  the  Tree  Sparrow  and  de- 
fining its  localities.  It  nests  in  holes  in  pollard  or 
other  trees,  or  in  thatch,  in  company  with  other  Spar- 
rows of  the  common  species,  but  in  this  case  always 
in  holes  entered  from  the  outside,  not  from  the  inside 
of  the  roof  of  the  building.  Sometimes  it  has  been  as- 
certained to  breed  in  nests  made  within  deserted  nests 
of  a  Magpie,  or  some  such  bird.  The  nest,  like  that 
of  the  Common  Sparrow,  is  formed  of  dry  grass  or 
hay,  or  fine  straw,  and  abundantly  lined  with  feathers 
of  all  sorts.  The  eggs,  four  or  five  in  general,  are 
distinctly  less  than  those  of  the  House  Sparrow,  and 
with  more  decided  brown  in  the  markings  on  the 
ground-colour  of  soiled  white. — Fig.  (j,  plate  IV. 


112  British  Birds, 

HOUSE  SPAKROW— (P^j^^r  domesticus). 
Sparrow,  Common  Sparrow. — He  may  well  be  called 
the  Common  Sparrow,  for  we  find  him  alike  in  the 
town  and  the  country,  in  the  field  and  in  the  garden, 
by  the  road-side  hovel  or  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
great  mansion.  And  whether  he  be  sooty  and  black 
with  the  smoke  of  mid-London,  or  with  his  colours 
pure  and  unsmirched  and  bright  as  in  the  clear  breezy 
village,  he  is  still  always  the  same  pert,  forward  crea- 
ture, whose  name  has  passed  almost  into  a  proverb 
for  bold  familiarity.  Ubiquitous  as  he  is  by  habit 
and  system,  his  nest  is  found  in  sites  almost  as  various 
and  as  numerous  as  the  places  of  his  residence. 
Under  the  tiles  or  eaves  of  buildings,  in  the  thatch- 
edges  of  a  barn,  in  holes  in  the  interior  of  a  thatch- 
roof,  in  water-pipes  and  receivers  for  eaves-gutters,  in 
holes  in  walls  or  old  buildings,  in  ivy  clothing  either 
a  wall  or  a  tree,  in  fir  trees,  in  wall-trees,  especially  if 
large  and  high,  below  Rooks'  nests,  in  deserted  nests 
of  large  birds, — frequent  in  all  these  sites,  it  seems 
difficult  to  say  where  it  may  not  be  found.  Often, 
too,  it  becomes  a  mass  of  straw  and  dry  grass  and 
lavish  feather-lining,  big  enough  to  fill  a  man's  hat  of 
large  size.  The  eggs  are  very  various  in  the  intensity 
of  their  surface  markings.  They  are  white,  speckled 
and  spotted  and  streaked  with  ash  colour  and  dusky 
brown,  some  so  slightly  as  to  be  pale  grey,  others  so 
profusely  as  to  be  very  dark  "pepper  and  salt." 
They  vary  in  number  from  four  to  six.  Whenever 
the  nest  is  built  in  a  situation  naturally  open  at  top, 
it  is  domed  over  by  the  little  constructor, — Fig.  7, 
plate  IV. 


Their  Es^qs  and  Nests.  1 1 


'oi> 


HAWFINCH— ( Coccothraustes  vulgaris). 

Common  Grosbeak,  Haw  Grosbeak. — A  bird  which 
seems  to  occur  less  sparingly  in  our  island  than  was 
supposed.  For  long  it  was  taken  to  be  merely  a 
winter  visitor.  It  is  not  uncommon  about  Epping 
Forest,  and  has  been  found  nearer  London,  and  in 
many  of  the  Southern  counties.  It  has  bred  frequently 
of  late  years  in  this  county  (York).  Mr.  Doubleday  has 
given  a  good  account  of  its  habits  generally,  as  well 
as  of  its  nest  and  eggs.  It  seems  to  have  no  peculiar 
situation  for  its  nest  preferred  to  all  others,  but  builds 
indiscriminately  in  trees  or  bushes,  and  at  various 
heights  from  the  ground.  The  nest  is  said  to  be  made 
of  twigs,  "  with  fibrous  roots  and  grey  lichens  laid  flat 
on  them  ; "  the  whole  structure  being  such  as  to  re- 
mind one  of  the  Ring  Dove's  flat  platform  of  a  nest. 
The  eggs  "  vary  from  four  to  six,  and  are  of  a  pale 
olive-green,  spotted  with  black,  and  streaked  with 
dusky  grey."  Mr.  Doubleday  adds,  that  some  are 
much  less  marked  than  others.  A  few,  indeed,  with 
no  marks  at  all  on  the  green  ground-colour. — Fig.  9, 
plate  I V. 

GREENFINCH— ((f^r^^//^r^;/j/£:j  cJiloris). 

Green  Grosbeak,  Green  Linnet,  Green  Bird.— A 
sufficiently  common  species,  and  often  seen  in  winter, 
on  stubbles  which  aflurd  a  sufticiency  of  the  seed-con- 
stituents of  its  food,  in  large  flocks.  Neither  does  it 
yield  an  insignificant  portion  of  the  ^^g  spoils  of  the 
country-boy.  The  nest  is  usually  built  in  a  hedge, 
and  it  dearly  loves  a  thick  massive  thorn  hedge  for 
tlie  })urpose.     In  one  such,  bordering  an  orchard  in 

H 


114  British  Birds ^ 

Essex,  of  perhaps  seventy  or  eighty  yards  long,  I 
found  one  day  a  dozen  or  more  of  Greenfinches'  nests, 
almost  all  with  eggs  in.  The  nest  is,  however,  not 
seldom  to  be  met  with  in  an  evergreen  or  other  bush 
in  the  garden ;  sometimes  in  a  fir  tree,  and  again 
in  a  fruit  or  ornamental  tree.  The  materials 
employed  are  roots,  moss,  grass,  with  a  lining 
of  the  same,  only  finer,  and  plentiful  hair.  I  have 
often  noticed  the  presence  of  a  kind  of  scrubby  scales 
about  the  interior  of  one  of  their  nests.  The  eggs  are 
four,  five,  or  six  in  number,  and  vary  much  in  size 
and  but  little  in  general  appearance.  They  are  white, 
suff'used  with  a  bluish  tinge,  and  with  reddish  or 
purple  spots  and  streaks,  intermingled  with  some  of  a 
darker  shade. — Fig.  8,  plate  IV. 

SERIN — {^Serinus  hortulanus). 

This  is  a  rare  bird,  having  occurred  in  only  a  very 
few  localities. 

GOLDFINCH— (r^r^?^f//i-  elegans). 

Thistle-Finch,  Gold-spink,  Grey  Kate,  or  Pate  (the 
young),  Proud  Tailor,  Goldie,  King  Harry  Redcap. — 
This  beautiful  little  bird  is,  I  fear,  one  of  those  which 
are  much  less  common  in  many  districts  than  used  to 
be  the  case  in  my  younger  days.  It  is  much  sought 
after  for  keeping  in  cages,  and  is  caught  for  that 
purpose  in  numbers  by  the  professional  bird-catchers. 
It  builds  a  beautifully  neat  and  pretty  nest ;  some- 
times in  a  bush  or  evergreen,  often  in  the  fork  of  an 
apple  or  other  fruit-tree,  and  more  rarely  in  a  hedge. 
It  is  formed  of  moss,  fir-needles,  green  bents,  wool, 


Their  Eggs  a?id  Nesfs.  1 1 5 

thistle-down,  willow-down,  feathers,  hairs,  etc.,  accord- 
ing to  the  choice  atlbrded  by  the  locality  of  the  nest. 
The  eggs  are  four  or  five  in  number,  are  bluish  white 
or  pale  grey,  spotted  with  greyish  putple  and  red 
brown,  and  sometimes  a  little  streaked  with  the 
same. — Fig.  10,  plate  IV. 

SISKIN — (  Cardiielis  spimis). 

Aberdevine. — Only  a  winter  visitor;  and  though 
not  very  uncommon  at  that  season  in  many  parts  of 
Britain,  yet  it  has  been  known  to  nest  with  us  so  very 
rarely  that  it  seems  scarcely  requisite  to  give  any 
account  of  either  nest  or  eggs  in  this  place. 

MEALY  '^YJ)YO\A^—{Linota  linaria ;  formerly, 
L.  canescens). 

Only  a  winter  visitor  to  this  country,  and  in  vary- 
ing numbers  in  different  years.  Many  were  obtained 
in  one  or  two  of  the  counties  adjoining  the  Metropolis 
many  years  since ;  but  no  instance,  I  believe,  is  known 
of  its  remaining  with  us  to  breed. 

LESSER  REDPOLL— (Zz;/^/".?  linavia). 

Common  Redpoll,  Lesser  Red-headed  Finch,  Rose 
Linnet. — This  is  a  winter  visitor  to  the  southern 
counties  of  England;  but  remains  all  the  year  round  in 
Scotland  and  some  parts  of  north  England.  The  nest 
seems  to  be  built  in  some  situation  not  too  hifrh  above 
the  ground ;  for  instance,  in  a  bush  or  stunted  tree  ; 
and  is  made  of  moss  and  bents,  and  like  some  of  those 
of  the  Common  Linnet,  with  willow-down  and  the 
like.     There  are  usually  four  or  five  eggs  deposited  iii 


Ii6  British  Birds, 

it,  their  colour  "  pale  bluish  green,  spotted  with 
orange-brown,  and  principally  at  the  larger  end." 
The  ground-colour  seems  to  vary  to  greenish-grey, 
and  the  spots  to  become  more  of  a  reddish  tinge. 
(See  Mr.  Warde  Fowler's  "  Year  with  the  Birds,"  pp. 
23,  24,  for  very  interesting  notes  on  these  birds.) — 
Fig.  \%  plate  IV. 

LINNET — {^Linota  cannabind). 

Common  Linnet,  Grey  Linnet,  Red  Linnet,  Brown 
Linnet,  Whin  Linnet,  Linnet  Finch,  Red-headed  Finch, 
Greater  Redpoll,  Rose  Linnet,  Lint-white,  Lintie. — No 
wonder  school-boys  and  country  boys  had,  and  have, 
three  or  four  different  names  for  this  one  bird  (accord- 
ing to  the  differences  of  plumage  due  to  age,  sex,  or 
season),  when  even  naturalists  made  two  species  of  it. 
The  male  in  his  full  plumage,  with  red  poll  and  rose 
breast  and  bright  brown  plumage,  is  a  handsome  bird, 
and,  compared  with  the  female  or  the  young,  a  very 
"  fine  bird  "  indeed.  It  is  common  enough  in  most 
districts,  and  pretty  sure  to  be  met  with  where  there 
is  much  furze.  The  nest  is  frequently  to  be  found  in 
the  midst  of  thick  furze  covers ;  but  like  Mr.  Hewit- 
son,  I  have  found  it  commonly  in  thickish  thorn- 
hedges,  and  very  often  in  small  and  single  furze 
bushes.  It  is  made  of  small  twigs  and  bents  and 
moss,  and  often  lined  with  a  copious  cushion  of  wool 
merely  ;  at  other  times,  with  some  hair  and  vegetable 
down.  The  eggs  vary  greatly  in  size,  as  well  as  in 
colour  and  markings,  but  usually  they  are  of  a  pale 
bluish-white  ground,  speckled  with  red  of  different 


Their  Eggs  atui  Xcsis.  1 17 

shades,  brown  to   purple.     They  are  four,  five,  and 
sometimes  six  in  number. — Fig.  11, plate  IV. 

T^YY^—{Linota  fiavirostra  ;  formerl}-,  L. 
niontiuni). 

Mountain  Linnet,  Twite  Finch,  Heather  Lintie. — 
A  bird  seldom,  if  ever,  seen  much  south  of  the 
Humber.  It  is  known  to  breed  in  Yorkshire  and  the 
northern  English  counties  as  well  as  in  Scotland,  the 
Hebrides,  etc.  As  its  occasional  name  leads  one  to  infer, 
it  is  usually  found  in  the  neighbourhood  of  hill  or  fell. 
The  nest  is  built  on  the  ground,  among  the  short 
benty  grass  of  the  hill-side,  or  the  dwarf  ling  of 
similar  localities,  or  even  among  longer  heather,  and 
is  made  of  the  materials  aiforded  by  such  herbage, 
and  moss,  and  lined  with  fibrous  roots,  wool  and  hair. 
The  eggs  vary  from  four  to  six  in  number,  are  almost 
white,  with  the  faintest  blue  or  green  tinge,  spotted 
with  red,  brown  or  dark  purple,  with  sometimes  a 
few  streaks  of  a  lighter  red  tinge — Fig.  V^,  plate  IV. 

BULLFINCH— (/>rr/^?^/rt  Eiiropa:a  ;   formerly, 
P.  vulgaris). 

Olph,  Alp,  Hoop,  Ked  Hoop,  Nope. — One  of  our 
really  handsome  birds,  and  as  familiar  to  many  of  us 
as  other  and  even  commoner  birds,  by  his  frequent 
occupancy  of  a  cage.  "  Piping  Bullfinches  "  are  not 
very  unusual  even  in  this  country.  The  Bullfinch  is 
also  one  of  those  birds  who  have  long  been  laid  under 
proscription,  for  the  mischief  he  is  assumed  to  do  to 
the  buds  of  fruit  trees.  Like  as  rewards  used  to  be 
customarily  paid  in  hosts  of  places  out  of  the  Parish 


Ii8  British  Birds, 

funds  for  the  heads  of  Sparrows,  Tom-tits,  etc.,  so  has 
it  been,  on  a  lesser  scale,  with  our  present  birds,  and 
I  cannot  help  thinking  sometimes  unjustly.  No 
doubt  the  "  Olph  "  commits  sad  apparent  havock  on 
the  blossom-buds  ;  but  I  suspect  the  blossom-buds 
damaged  by  him  (as  it  seems)  would,  many  of  them, 
never  have  come  to  anything  if  no  Bullfinch  had  ever 
been  near  them.  There  was  a  grub  in  each  of  them, 
and  that  grub  would  have  destroyed  the  bud  quite  as 
effectually,  if  not  quite  as  summarily,  as  the  bird 
which  extracted  it  from  what  was  alike  its  hiding- 
place  and  scene  of  active  ravage  and  consumption.^ 
Unlike  the  Ring  Dove  and  Missel  Thrush,  and  a  few 
other  birds,  which  are  usually  very  wild  and  shy, 
but  at  breeding  time  lay  aside  their  wildness  and 
distrust,  and  come  to  the  close  neighbourhood  of 
human  habitations  to  nest,  the  Bullfinch,  in  spring, 
leaves  our  gardens  and  orchards,  and  resorts  to  the 
woods  and  wilds.  The  nest  is  made  of  twigs  and  roots 
and  moss,  rather  loosely  constructed,  and  lined  with 
wool  and  hair,  and  is  most  commonly  placed  in  a  good 
thick  bush  of  considerable  height  and  size ;  sometimes 
on  a  fir  or  other  tree.  The  hen-bird  lays  four  or  five 
eggs  of  a  pale  greenish  blue,  streaked  and  spotted 
with  purple-red,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end, — Fig.  14, 
plate  IV, 

SCARLET  GROSBEAK— (/>;'r^2^/^  erythrind). 
Quite  a  casual  or  accidental  visitor. 

1  But  see  the  remarks  on  this  topic  in  the  second  vohime  of  the 
latest  edition  of  Yaritjli,  pp.  lb 7,  lo8. 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  119 

PINE  GROSBEAK— (/>r;'//?//rt:  enucleator). 

Pine  Bullfinch,  Common  Hawfinch. — Only  a  very 
rare  visitor  in  our  islands. 

QVS)'^'^Wi\A^—{Loxiacurvirostra), 

This  is  a  bird  which  deserves  a  little  notice  at  our 
hands  on  two  or  three  grounds.  In  its  plumafj^e  it 
varies  more,  according  to  sex  or  age,  than  perhaps  any 
other  English  bird  in  a  state  of  nature.  It  is  indeed 
subject  to  almost  startling  dissimilarity.  The  peculiar 
shape  and  action  of  the  bill  is  also  notew^orthy,  and 
the  strength  of  the  muscles  which  move  the  mandibles 
may  be  judged  of  by  the  powerful  effect  produced  in 
starting  the  scales  of  the  strongest  fir-cones.  Again, 
it  has  been  repeatedly  met  with  in  this  country  in 
large  numbers  ;  and  not  only  so,  but  at  such  seasons 
as  to  render  it  almost  positive  that  it  must  have 
nested,  or  be  nesting  here :  nay  even  females  which 
were  obtained,  showed,  by  the  state  of  their  plumage, 
that  they  must  have  been  so  engaged  :  and  yet  until 
comparatively  recently,  no  authentic  i)bservation  has 
been  recorded  of  the  actual  occurrence  of  its  nest  and 
eggs.  It  is  now  well  known  to  have  bred  in  eight  or 
nine  different  English  counties.  The  nest  is  made  of 
twigs  below,  with  grassy  bents  upon  such  foundation, 
bound  toofether  with  wool  and  lined  with  hair.  The 
eggs  seem  to  vary  much  in  colour,  showing  a  sensible 
degree  of  resemblance  to  those  of  the  Greenfinch,  but 
with  a  generally  warmer  tint,  and  spots  of  a  much 
more  decided  or  dark  red  shade, — Fig.  \h, plate  IV. 


I20  British  Birds, 

PARROT  CROSSBILL— (Z^;i;/^  pityopsittacus). 

It  has  occurred  in  a  few  instances,  but  is  much  too 
rare  to  be  noticed  by  us  at  length  ;  and,  indeed,  the 
same  may  be  said  of  the  two  birds  next  named. 

TWO-BARRED  CROSSBILL— (Zd?,t7^  bifasciata). 

WHITE-WINGED  CROSSBILL— (Z^.r/^  leucoptera; 
formerly,  L.  falcirostrd). 


FAMILY  XVIIL— ICTERIDiE. 
RED-WINGED   STARLING  —  (^^^/^z^^f  phceniceus) 
Several   specimens,    questionably  wild,   have   been 
met  with. 


FAMILY  XIX.— STURNIDiE. 

STARLING— (5///r?z?/j-  vulgaris). 

Common  Starling,  Stare,  Sheep-stare,  Solitary 
Thrush,  Brown  Starling. — The  two  last  of  these 
names  used  to  be  applied  to  the  young  of  the  Starling. 
Few  cases  of  more  brilliant  plumage  are  met  with  in 
our  English  birds  than  in  the  instance  of  the  male  of 
the  Common  Starling.  The  metallic  glow  and  play 
of  colours  in  the  feathers  of  his  head,  neck,  and  back 
is  very  beautiful.  It  is  a  very  abundant  bird,  and  it 
is  supposed  by  some  that  there  are  some  peculiarities 
in  its  breeding  habits.  I  mean  that  I  have  heard  it 
asserted  that  the  male  is  a  polygamist,  or  rather 
perhaps   a  bigamist.     I  never   saw  anything  within 


TJicir  Eggs  and  Nests,  121 

my  own  scope  of  observation  which  led  mc  to  suspect 
it,  but  rather  to  hold  the  received  belief  that  the 
Starlin:^  pairs  exactly  as  most  other  birds  do.  They 
are  exceedingly  pertinacious  in  adhering  to  their 
choice  of  a  place  for  nesting  in.  I  knew  one  case  in 
which,  from  the  inconvenient  nature  of  the  nest-sito 
selected,  one  of  the  birds  was  shot.  In  a  very  short 
space  the  survivor  had  paired  again,  and  the  gun 
again  dissolved  the  union.  The  whole  process  was 
repeated  five  or  six  times,  and  the  Starlings  bred  at 
last  in  the  place  chosen  by  the  original  pair.  The 
nest  is  found  in  a  great  variety  of  situations, — in  the 
bowl  of  a  water  pipe  from  the  eaves  of  a  house,  in  a 
dove-cot,  in  holes  in  trees,  below  the  nests  in  a 
rookery,  in  holes  in  old  buildings  or  more  recent 
masonry,  between  the  slates  and  underdrawing  of  a 
roof,  in  holes  in  steep  high  rocks,  in  chimneys  of 
houses,  and  the  like.  It  is  made,  without  stint  of 
materials,  of  straw,  roots,  grass,  and  a  plentiful  lining 
of  feathers.  The  eggs,  four  to  six  in  number,  vary 
strangely  in  size  but  not  in  colour,  which  is  of  a  uni- 
form pale  blue.  In  some  districts  where  the  Starling 
abounds,  they  collect  in  huge  flocks,  the  young  with 
the  parents,  and  may  be  seen,  when  on  the  wing,  like 
a  cloud,  from  a  great  distance. — Fig.  1, plate  J'. 

ROSE-COLOURED  STARLING— (/^^^i•/^r  rosaL'^). 

Rose-coloured    Ouzel    or    Pastor. — Merely  an    acci- 
dental visitor  to  our  shores. 


122  British  Birds y 

FAMILY  XX.— CORVIDiE. 

CHOUGH — {Pyrrhocorax  gracidus  ;  formerly, 
Fregilus  graculus.) 

Cornish  Chough,  Red-legged  Crow,  Cornish  Daw, 
Cornwall  Kae,  Market-jew  Crow,  ChaukDaw,  Hermit 
Crow,  Cliff  Daw,  etc. — A  bird  which  occurs  more 
sparingly  than  it  used  to  do.  Its  abiding  and  build- 
ing place  is  among  the  steep  rocks  which  line  so  many 
parts  of  the  British  coasts.  In  the  Isle  of  Wight,  in 
Man,  on  the  Cornish  shores,  at  Flamborough,  in 
Berwickshire  near  St.  Abb's  Head,  it  is  still  (or  was 
till  lately,  I860,)  known  to  breed.  "  This  bird,"  says  Mr. 
Yarrell,  "  makes  a  nest  of  sticks  lined  with  wool  and 
hair,  in  the  cavities  of  high  cliffs,  or  in  old  castles,  or 
church  towers  near  the  sea ;  laying  four  or  five  eggs 
of  a  yellowish-white  colour,  spotted  with  ash-grey  and 
light  hxo^ny— Fig  2,  plate  V, 

RAVEN — {Corvus  cor  ax). 

Corbie,  Corbie  Crow,  Great  Corbie  Crow. — I  dare 
say  the  acquaintance  of  many  of  us  with  this  fine 
bird  is  limited  to  an  introduction  to  some  tame  or  pet 
Raven.  In  this  district,  where,  1  believe,  these  birds 
abounded  a  little  more  than  half  a  century  since — the 
rocky  cliffs  of  our  moorland  solitudes  being  so  well 
suited  to  their  habits, — I  do  not  know  that  I  have 
seen  or  heard  one  for  the  last  thirty-five  or  forty 
years.  Persecuted  by  the  gamekeeper,  sought  after 
for  domestication,  or  their  eggs  taken  for  sale  to  the 
collector,  they  are  becoming  very  rare  in  many  a  part 
of  the  country  where  not  long  since  they  were  fre- 


TJuir  Eggs  and  Nests.  123 

quently  seen.  They  build  sometimes  on  old  ruins  or 
craggy  precipices,  but  oftener  in  a  tree,  piling  nest  after 
nest  in  successive  years  upon  the  same  bough,  whence 
the  chosen  tree  soon  comes  to  be  called  the  "  Raven- 
tree."  One  such  accumulation  of  nests  I  knew,  as  a 
boy,  in  Essex,  and  after  a  stiff  climb  succeeded  in 
reaching  it.  I  did  it  in  jeopardy,  however,  for  the 
Ravens  were  very  bold,  and  every  moment  I  expected 
they  would  assail  me,  in  spite  of  the  short  bludgeon  I 
had  suspended  to  my  wrist.  The  appearance  below 
the  nest  of  the  farmer  in  whose  fields  the  Raven-tree 
grew,  decided  the  question — perhaps  he  frightened  the 
Ravens  as  well  as  threatened  me  ;  perhaps  they  knew 
he  came  as  their  protector — anyhow  I  did  not  get  my 
6g&>  although  I  had  actually  had  it  in  my  hand.  The 
nest  is  a  great  pile  of  sticks,  lined  with  wool  and  roots 
and  felts  of  hair,  and  often  has  four  or  five  eggs  laid 
in  it,  of  a  light  green  ground-shade,  blotched  and 
spotted  with  browns  of  varying  depth  of  colour,  but 
some  of  them  very  dark. — Fig.  ^,  plate  V. 

BLACK  C^O'^—iCorviis  coroiie). 

Carrion  Crow,  Corbie  Crow,  Flesh  Crow,  Gor  Crow, 
Midden  Crow,  Black-neb,  Hoodie. — Another  bird  not 
nearly  so  common  as  it  used  to  be,  even  within  my 
own  recollection — and  no  wonder  ;  for  he  is  a  strong, 
fierce  bird  (Mr.  Waterton  calls  him  his  "  Warrior 
bird  "),  and  a  young  and  weakly  lamb,  a  young  Hare 
or  Rabbit,  a  wounded  or  frightened  Partridge  has 
little  or  no  chance  with  him.  I  knew  a  case  many 
years  since  of  a  Crow  attacking  a  Partridge  and  driv- 
ing it  to  cover  in  a  hedge,  where  it  lay  so  terrified  and 


124  British  Birds ^ 

exhausted  as  to  suffer  itself  to  be  picked  up  by  a 
spectator.  I  knew  another  instance,  also  many  years 
ago,  in  which  the  Crow  attacked  a  young  Rabbit. 
The  old  doe  came  to  the  assistance  of  her  young  one, 
and  the  battle  was  well  contested,  but  the  Crow  was 
the  victor,  and  carried  off  the  spoil.  Paired  once, 
these  birds,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Raven,  are  paired  for 
good.  The  nest  is  placed  in  a  main  fork  of  a  large 
tree,  and  is  made  of  sticks  and  twigs,  with  abundant 
cushioning  of  wool  and  hair.  It  is  believed  not  to 
build  a  new  nest  every  year.  It  lays  four  or  five 
eggs,  varying  much  in  the  depth  of  the  tint  of  the 
greenish  ground-colour,  and  generally  well  mottled 
and  blotched  and  spotted  with  greenish  ash  colour 
and  bright  brown.  The  parents  seem  to  expel  their 
young  from  the  immediate  precincts  of  their  own 
abode  very  soon  after  they  are  able  to  provide  for 
themselves  ;  as  is  the  case  with  the  Raven  also. — Fig. 
i^,  plate  V, 

GREY  (:My^—{Corvus  comix). 

Royston  Crow,  Dun  Crow,  Norway  Crow,  Kentish 
Crow,  Hooded  Crow,  Grey-backed  Crow,  Bunting 
Crow,  Scare-crow,  Hoodie. — Even  a  fiercer  and  more 
mischievous  bird  than  the  Carrion  Crow.  It  has  been 
very  seldom  known  to  breed  in  England,^  though 
coming  in  great  abundance  from  its  more  northern 
haunts   before   the  access  of  winter.     In  north  and 

1  Both  of  these  statements  must  be  taken  with  the  qualification 
that  it  is  by  no  means  an  ascertained  fact  that  the  Carrion  Crow  and 
the  Grey  Crow  form  two  distinct  species.  It  is  held  by  many  orni- 
tliologists  that  they  do  not.  Certainly  they  interbreed  with  one 
another. 


Their  Eggs  ajid  N'ests.  125 

west  Scotland,  tlie  Hebrides  and  Orkneys,  it  breeds  in 
large  numbers,  and  rewards  for  its  destruction  have 
been  customarily  paid  to  within  a  recent  period ;  if, 
indeed,  they  have  altogether  ceased  yet.  They  place 
their  nests  among  rocks,  in  the  rifts  or  on  ledges. 
These  are  built  of  ling,  sticks,  roots,  stalks  of  plants, 
seaweed,  and  lined  with  wool  and  hair.  There  are 
usually  four  or  live  eggs,  not  differing  very  materially 
in  colouring  from  those  cf  the  Common  Crow. — Fig.  5, 
plate  V. 

ROOK — {Corvus  frugilegus). 

Crow. — Ever^^one  must  be  acquainted  with  the 
Rook  and  its  nesting  manners  and  habits.  Even  the 
dwellers  in  great  cities  have  sometimes  had  this  bird 
domiciled  among  them  for  the  breeding  season,  and 
many  places  in  London  are  signalised  by  the  presence 
of  a  Rook's  nest,  or  several,  in  very  unlikely  situations. 
In  the  country  some  of  the  most  familiar  sights  and 
sounds  are  those  aflbrded  by  the  Rookery,  or  by  the 
huge  assemblages  of  Rooks  about  the  fields  or  wing- 
ing their  morning  or  evening  flight  in  quest  of  food, 
or  in  return  to  their  domiciles.  Most  of  us  too  have 
heard  of  Rook  courts  of  justice,  and  tlie  sentences 
awarded  against  the  wrongful  spoilers  of  a  neighbour  s 
nest,  as  well  as  the  battles  to  resist  such  an  invasion. 
It  is  certainly  a  remarkable  instinct  which,  to  so  great 
a  degree,  forbids  birds  building  in  communities  to 
plunder  the  building  materials  placed  on  the  adjoin- 
ing bough  or  ledge,  and  no  wonder  that  instinct  has 
provided  a  remedy  for  what  must  be  looked  upon, 
when   it  occurs  to  any  extent,  as  a  somewhat  un- 


126  British  Birds y 

natural  offence.  The  Rook  resorts  to  the  same  nest 
year  after  year,  merely  making  such  repairs  as  a 
year's  wear  and  tear  from  wind  and  rain  and  accident 
have  rendered  necessary.  When  the  nest  is  ready, 
four  or  five  eggs  are  deposited,  of  a  greenish  ground- 
colour more  or  less  intense  in  shade,  plentifully 
mottled  and  blotched  with  darker  and  varying  shades 
of  brownish  green.  Many  of  the  eggs  strongly  re- 
semble those  of  the  Crow,  while  others  are  much  more 
like  those  of  the  Jackdaw.  As  in  the  case  of  the 
Bullfinch,  the  Rook  is  often  blamed  for  doing  mischief 
which  was  really  done  by  the  creature  which  formed 
the  real  object  of  search  to  the  supposed  offender. 
The  wire  worm  and  the  grub  of  the  cockchafer  do  in- 
finite damage  in  grass  or  corn-fields  by  eating  off  the 
roots  of  the  plants  in  question.  The  Rook  pulls  up 
these  ruined  plants  and  eats  the  offending  larvae.  The 
farmer  or  superficial  observer  only  sees  the  dead  grass 
or  corn  plant,  and  foolishly  accuses  the  Rook,  and 
persecutes  him,  though  in  reality  a  f jiend  and  bene- 
factor, to  the  death.  Not  but  what  the  Rook  does 
mischief  at  times  ;  for  I  have  often  seen  newly  sown 
corn-fields  black  with  them,  and  have  been  continually 
a  witness  to  the  very  extensive  damage  done  to  the 
potato  crop  just  when  the  young  tubers  were  in  most 
active  growth  and  most  susceptible  of  harm.  Still,  a 
few  precautions  will  suffice  to  protect  both  corn-field 
and  potato-crop  during  the  brief  space  while  protec- 
tion is  necessary,  and  the  balance  of  good  done  is  so 
greatly  on  the  predominating  side,  that  the  Rook  may 
well  continue  to  be  protected.  Rook  shooting  has 
charms  for  many.     For  myself  I  seem  to  see  cruelty 


Their  Eggs  arid  Nests.  127 

so  conspicuous  about  the  whole  process,  that  I  can- 
not conceive  in  what  the  pleasure  consists. — Fig.  6, 
plate  V. 


JACKDAW  1 — {Corvus  monediila\ 

Daw,  Kae,  Jack. — The  chattering  Jackdaw  is  as 
fauiiliar  as  a  "  household  word  "  to  us,  and  when  one 
visits  an  extensive  colony  of  Jackdaws  in  the  nesting 
season,  he  is  apt  to  be  enabled  to  form  a  good  estimate 
of  the  amount  of  chatter  a  few  score  Jackdaws  can 
contribute.  They  breed  in  many  places  in  the  im- 
mediate neighbourhood  of  my  residence  in  very  con- 
siderable numbers,  in  the  holes  and  crevices  which 
abound  among  craggy  rocks  and  precipices  that  rise 
high  above  steep  wooded  banks.  Besides,  they  build 
in  ruinous  buildings,  in  church  towers  or  pigeon- 
houses,  in  little-used  chimneys,  in  holes  in  modern 
masonry,  even  in  deserted  chambers.  The  pile  of 
materials  amassed  is  simply  wonderful,  and  really 
they  are  sometimes  so  laid  together  as  if  intended  to 
serve  no  other  purpose  but  to  lengthen  out  the  nest- 
pile  for  a  builder's  amusement.  Sticks  and  wool  are 
the  substances  usually  employed,  and  the  eggs  laid 
vary,  as  to  number,  between  three  and  six.  They  are 
of  a  pale  bluish-white,  well  spotted  with  ash  colour, 
light  brown  and  dark  brown. — Fig.  7,  plate  V, 


1  111  tlic  last  edition  of  Yarrell's  Birds  this  bird  is  called  the  "Daw," 
and  the  following  one  the ' '  Pie. "  I  have  known  the  two  birds  all  my 
life  long  as  the  "  Jackdaw  "  and  the  "  Magpie,"  and  for  nie,  as  for 
most  field  uaturalista,  ao  they  will  remain. 


128  British  Birds^ 

MAGPIE — {Pica  riistica  ;  formerly,  P. 
caudata.) 

Pyet,  Pianet,  Madge,  Mag. — A  very  wary,  crafty, 
shy  bird  the  wild  Magpie  is.  A  very  bold,  impudent, 
thievish  rascal  the  domesticated  Mag  as  certainly 
proves  himself.  Shy  and  wary  as  these  birds  are  in 
a  state  of  nature,  no  bird  whatever  seems  to  affect 
concealment  less  in  the  fashion  and  structure  and 
position  of  its  nest.  Placed  high  up  among  the 
smaller  branches  of  a  tallish  tree,  or  perhaps  in  the 
upper  part  of  a  strong,  thick,  high  bush  in  a  hedge  or 
standing  lonely  in  a  field  or  park,  nothing  can  well  be 
more  conspicuous  than  the  massy  Magpie's  nest,  with 
its  large  though  light  dome  of  thorny  sticks  and  twigs. 
I  used  to  be  assured  as  a  schoolboy  that  there  were 
two  sorts  or  varieties  of  Magpies,  distinguished  by 
the  comparative  length  of  their  tails  and  the  site  of 
their  nests: — the  alleged  short-tailed  one  was  called 
the  Bush  Magpie  ;  the  other  the  Tree  Magpie.  It  is 
almost  idle  to  say  no  such  variety  or  distinction 
really  exists.  The  materials  of  the  nest  are  chiefly 
sticks,  plastered  with  earth  inside,  and  lined  with 
roots  and  hair.  There  are  often  as  many  as  six  or 
seven  eggs  laid  in  it,  pale  bluish-white  in  colour, 
spotted  all  over,  and  abundantly  so  in  general,  with 
(^rey  and  greenish  brown  of  more  than  one  shade. — 
Fig.  Z,  plate  V. 

JAY — {Garruhis  glandaTius). 

Jay-pie,  Jay-piet. — The    Jay's   peculiar   screeching 
note  is  perhaps  more  familiar  to  many  ears  than  the 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests,  129 

bird  itself  to  the  eyes  corresponding  to  the  said  ears. 
It  is  a  shy  bird,  seldom  seen  far  from  its  haunts  in 
woods  and  copses,  though  when  seen,  it  is  noticeable 
enough  from  a  certain  peculiarity  in  its  flight,  due  to  a 
sort  of  fluttering  use  or  motion  of  its  wings.  It  is  easily 
domesticated,  and  becomes  a  tame  and  amusing  pet. 
The  nest  is  very  often  extremely  rude  and  inartificial, 
almost  as  much  so  as  the  Ring  Dove's.  It  is  placed  in 
the  upper  part  of  a  lofty  bush  in  a  wood,  or  on  some 
one  of  the  lateral  branches  of  a  tree  where  the  height 
from  the  ground  is  considerable  ;  is  made  of  sticks  and 
lined  with  roots  ;  the  cavity  containing  the  eggs  often 
seeming  to  be  not  very  considerable.  Now  and  then 
a  nest  is  met  with  carefully  and  strongly  compacted, 
and  sufficiently  cup-shaped.  The  Jay  lays  five  or  six 
eggs  of  a  faint  shade  of  dusky  green  for  ground 
colour,  closely  and  thickly  freckled  all  over  with 
light  brown. — Fig.  9,  plate  V. 

^JJT-CRACKER-^(Nud/raga  carfocatactes). 

A  bird  which  has  probably  been  met  with  less  than 
a  score  of  times  in  all  in  this  country. 


FAMILY  XXI.— HIRUNDINIDiE. 

S\Y ALLOW— (Hirundo  rustica). 

Common  Swallow,  House  Swallow,  Chimney  Swallow, 
Barn  Swallow. — One  of  the  most  welcome  of  all  our 


130  British  Birds, 

spring  visitors ;  and  so  frequently  coming  back,  the 
self-same  pair  of  birds  apparently,  to  the  self-same 
nest,  that  they  seem  to  be  almost  like  members  of  the 
family  returning  from  a  temporary  absence.  The 
common  name,  Chimney  Swallow,  is,  however,  rather 
a  misnomer.  No  doubt  they  build  in  chimneys  freely 
and  frequently,  but  in  many  districts  the  chimney  is 
quite  untenanted  by  any  Swallows,  while  the  open 
roofs  of  sheds  and  barns,  the  under  side  of  bridges 
sufficiently  flat  and  uneven  to  afford  the  necessary 
support,  disused  shafts  of  mines,  and  the  like,  and  even 
parts  of  unused  rooms,  or  articles  of  furniture  in  such 
rooms,  are  resorted  to.  These  nests  are  very  con- 
siderably different  from  those  of  the  Martin  (to  be 
noticed  next),  inasmuch  as  they  are  always  completely 
open  above,  being  so  built  that  there  is  a  sensible 
space  between  the  greater  portion  of  the  edge  of  the 
plaster- work  of  the  nest,  and  the  roof  or  other  surface 
above;  while  in  the  case  of  the  Martin's  nest,  it  is 
always  built  so  as  to  be  closed  above  by  the  eaves  or 
other  ledge  to  which  it  is  affixed,  requiring  a  gap  or 
lip — so  to  speak — to  be  left  in  the  wall  to  afford  in- 
gress and  egress  to  the  owners.  The  nest,  in  either 
case,  is  built  with  many  pellets  of  soft  tenacious  earth, 
wrought  into  form  with  bits  of  straw  or  grass,  and 
afterwards  lined  with  feathers.  It  is  observable  that 
no  more  work  at  the  nest  is  done  in  a  day  than  will 
readily  harden  enough  to  bear  the  requisite  additions 
of  materials  above  when  the  time  comes  for  making 
them.  There  are  usually  four,  five,  or  six  eggs  laid ; 
white,  speckled  and  spotted  with  deep  red,  and  a 
liMiter  duller  shade. — Fig;  20,  plate  IV. 


TJicir  Eggs  and  N'esis.  131 

MARTIN — {C/ielido?i  urbica  ;  formerly,  Hirundo 
urhicd). 

Martlet,  Martin  Swallow,  House  Martin,  Window 
Martin,  Eaves  Swallow,  Window  Swallow. — This  fami- 
liar little  bird,  whose  cheeping  note  in  the  nests  above 
our  chamber  windows  is  one  of  the  sounds  we  should 
sorely  miss,  frequents  the  dwellings  of  men  quite  as  much 
as,  I  think  more  than,  the  Swallow.  Every  one  knows 
where  to  look  for  the  Martin's  nest,  and  many  a  house 
can  we  all  call  to  mind  which  seems,  from  some 
peculiarity  in  its  site  or  external  fashion,  to  be  par- 
ticularly affected  by  these  birds — and  certainly,  in 
most  cases,  the  inmates  of  the  house  take  much  care 
to  save  their  confiding  feathered  friends  from  dis- 
turbance. In  many  places,  however,  the  Martin  forms 
large  nesting  colonies,  which  take  possession  of  a 
series  of  overhanging  ledges  on  some  steep  rocky  face, 
and  there  build  their  nests  in  great  numbers.  In 
Berwickshire,  on  the  banks  of  the  Whiteadder,  I  knew 
of  such  a  colony,  and  others  elsewhere :  the  principal 
ones,  however,  being  on  the  rock-bound  coast  between 
St.  Abb's  Head  and  Burnmouth.  Hundreds  of  these 
birds  nested  in  several  different  places  upon  those 
lofty  precipices.^  No  description  of  the  nest  itself — 
beyond  what  was  said  in  the  notice  of  the  Swallow — 
seems  requisite.  The  number  of  eggs,  which  are  per- 
fectly white,  seems  seldom  to  exceed  six. 

1  Of  course  Martina  and  Swallows  were  in  being  long  before  man, 
and  necessarily,  therefore,  before  man's  buildings.  These  birds, 
then,  must  have  had  their  building-site  when  neither  chimney,  barn, 
nor  eaves  were  in  existence.  In  the  face  of  this  fact  "Chimney 
Swallow,"  "Eaves  Swallow,"  and  the  like  are,  as  names,  only 
partially  justitlable. 


132  British  Birds, 

SAND  MARTIN— (6>///^  riparia  ;  formerly,  Hirundo 
riparia). 

Bank  Martin,  Pit  Martin,  Sand  Swallow,  Bank 
Swallow,  River  Swallow. — This  delicate  little  visitor 
comes  to  us  in  the  spring,  often  very  early,  from 
Africa,  as  do  also  the  two  others  of  the  genus  just 
named.  Where  it  does  occur — and  it  is  generally 
diffused — it  is  often  seen  in  very  large  numbers.  A 
ballast  pit  at  Fingringhoe,  in  Essex,  used  to  be  occu- 
pied by  the  most  numerous  colony  I  was  acquainted 
with ;  and  a  site  afforded  by  the  surface  beds  of 
sand  and  soil  above  a  steep  scarp  of  rock  on  Tweed- 
bank,  nearly  opposite  Norham  Castle,  used  to  accom- 
modate another  colony.  Some  of  the  holes  are  bored 
to  a  very  great  depth.  I  have  enlarged  the  orifice  of 
many  till  it  would  admit  my  whole  shoulder,  and 
have  then  been  unable  to  reach  the  termination  of  the 
gallery.  Others  are  much  shorter,  and  admitting  of 
more  easy  access  to  the  nest.  The  female  will,  not- 
withstanding the  noise  and  violence  attending  the 
enlargement  of  the  aperture  of  her  nest-hole,  sit 
resolutely  on,  and  allow  herself  to  be  taken  in  hand 
with  scarcely  a  struggle  or  sign  of  resistance — even  of 
life,  sometimes.  One  I  took  thus  many  years  since 
lay  in  my  open  hand  for  a  minute  or  more,  and  then 
at  last  flew  only  leisurely  away.  A  little  loose,  soft 
straw,  with  some  feathers,  serves  to  receive  the  eggs, 
which  are  four  to  six  in  number,  often  much  elongated 
in  shape,  of  the  most  delicate  white,  and  beautifully 
pink  from  the  thinness  of  the  shell,  before  they  are 
blown. 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  133 

PURPLE    MARTIN— (Pr^^/^  purpurea  ;     formerly, 
Hirundo  purpurea). 

^i^   'ican    Purple    Martin. — Only    a    very    casual 
visitor 


ORDER.— PICARI^. 
FAMILY  I— CYPSELID^. 

SWIFT— ((5//j-^///j'  apus). 

Deviling,  Black  Martin,  Screech,  Screech  Martin, 
Shriek  Owl,  Screamer,  Squeaker,  Skeer-  or  Skir-devil, 
Cran. — I  should  think  no  one  who  has  once  seen  this 
bird  on  the  wing,  and  noticed  its  rapid,  peculiar,  power- 
ful, long- winged,  whirling  flight,  or  heard  its  remark- 
able scream,  would  ever  be  likely  to  mistake  when  he 
saw  it  again.  It  is  most  frequently  seen  at  no  great  dis- 
tance from  some  old  tower  of  castle  or  church,  or  such 
like  building,  although  at  times  it  seems  to  range  far 
in  search  of  food.  It  makes  its  nest  of  pieces  of  soft 
straw,  bents  or  grass  or  hay  and  feathers,  and  usually 
in  holes  in  the  buildings  aforesaid,  or  between  the  tiles 
and  under-roof  of  houses ;  and  the  nest  once  made  is 
supposed  to  be  used  for  many  years  in  succession  by 
the  same  pair  of  birds.  It  sometimes  seems  as  if  it 
had  been  cemented  together  in  some  way.  The  Swift 
often  lays  only  two  eggs,  but  has  been  known  to  pro- 
duce three,  and  even  four.  They  are  quite  white, 
and  rather  large  for  the  size  of  the  bird. 


134  British  Birds y 

ALPINE  ^\NIET—{Cypselus  melba ;   formerly, 
C.  Alpimis). 

White-bellied  Swift. — A  bird  which  is  known  to 
have  visited  us  on  some  half  dozen  occasions  or  so. 


FAMILY  II.— CAPRIMULGIDiE. 

NIGHT- J  All — ( Caprimulgiis  EuropcBits). 

Night  Hawk,  Goat-sucker,  Dor  Hawk,  Fern  Ovvl, 
Night  Crow,  Jar  Owl,  Churn  Owl,  Wheel-bird,  Eve- 
churr,  Night-churr,  Puckeridge. — Far  more  familiar  to 
many  of  the  comparatively  few  among  country  dwellers 
who  notice  such  matters,  is  the  Night-jar  by  sound  than 
by  sight.  Coming  from  its  retirement  but  very  little  and 
very  reluctantly  by  day,  and  only  pursuing  its  prey 
towards  and  during  twilight,  it  is  not  by  any  means 
an  obtrusive  bird  ;  as  little  so,  indeed,  as  any  one  of 
the  Owls.  But  its  loud  churring  or  jarring  note,  as  it 
wheels  round  a  tree  or  clump  of  trees,  is,  often  enough, 
heard  by  many  a  one  to  whom  its  form  and  size  and 
plumage  are  nearly  or  utterly  strange.  It  is  perhaps 
most  frequently  met  with  where  patches  of  furze  and 
fern  on  open  commons,  not  too  far  from  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  plantations,  occur.  The  Night-jar  can 
hardly  be  said  to  make  a  nest ;  but  lays  two  eggs  in  any 
slight  natural  depression  of  the  ground  which  she  can 
find  sufficiently  near  a  bush  or  clump  of  whins  to  be 
at  least  partly  concealed  by  it.  The  eggs  are  very 
oval  in  shape,  and  very  beautifully  mottled  and 
clouded   and   veined   with   varying    tints   of    bluish 


TJicir  Eggs  and  Nests.  135 

lead-colour  and  brown,  on  a  whitish  ground. — Fig,  1, 
plate  VI. 


FAMILY  III.-CUCULID^. 

Q^^QYJdO—^Cuculus  canorus). 

Gowk. — "  Have  you  heard  the  Cuckoo  yet  ? "  How 
often  that  question  is  asked  by  one's  friends  or  neigh- 
bours in  the  country.  Hearing  the  first  Cuckoo  and 
seeing  the  first  Swallow  are  always  events  to  true 
lovers  of  country  scenes  and  objects  and  sounds.  But 
what  a  strange  instinct  it  is  which  forbids  our  Cuckoo 
to  build  a  nest,  and  instructs  it  to  lay  its  ^gg — at  least 
to  place  it — in  some  other  bird's  nest,  and  that  bird 
usually  not  one-fifth  its  own  size  !  A  Blackbird's  nest 
is  sometimes  selected  to  receive  the  deposit,  but  very 
rarely  compared  with  the  Hedge  Sparrow's,  the 
Lark's,  the  Meadow  Pipit's,  the  Water  Wagtail's,  or  the 
Chaffinch's.  How  many  eggs  are  laid  by  a  single 
Cuckoo  in  a  season,  is,  I  think,  not  ascertained.  It  is, 
however,  a  very  rare  circumstance  to  find  more  than 
one  Cuckoo's  ^gg  in  any  given  nest,  and  then  open  to 
great  doubt  if  both  were  placed  there  by  the  same 
Cuckoo.  It  has  been  a  matter  of  dispute  how  the 
^gg  is  actually  deposited  in  the  nest  selected  ;  whether 
"laid"  in,  or  placed  in— after  being  dropped  on  the 
ground,  suppose — by  the  bill  or  claws.  I  found  one 
in  the  Meadow  Pipit's  nest  mentioned  above  (p.  101), 
where  the  position  and  site  of  the  nest  were  such  as 
to  leave  no  doubt  whatever  in  my  mind  that  the  ^gg 


136  British  Birds^ 

could  not  possibly  have  been  "  laid  "  in  tlie  nest ;  and 
must  almost  certainly  have  been  inserted  by  the  aid 
of  the  bill.  How  the  Cuckoo  found  such  a  nest  at  all 
was  a  marvel  to  me.  As  is  more  than  suspected  by 
some  enquirers  and  observers,  the  Cuckoo  must  watch 
for  its  opportunities.  The  eggs  are  very  small  com- 
pared with  the  size  of  the  bird  which  produces  them, 
and  strongly  resemble  some  of  the  darker  and  more 
closely  freckled  specimens  of  the  House  Sparrow's 
^cs'  ^^^  ^^^  rather  larger  in  size  ;  while  Mr.  Double- 
day  says  some  of  them  resemble  those  of  the  Pied 
Wagtail— i^^;^.  \^,  plate  IV, 

GREAT  SPOTTED  QJSQ^OO—iCoccystes 
glandarius). 

Of  the  rarest  occurrence. 

YELLOW-BILLED  CUCKOO— (r^^O^^^^ 

A  inericanus), 

A  rare  visitor  only. 


FAMILY  IV.— UPUPID^. 

B.OOVO^—{Upupa  epops). 

A  casual  visitor  only,  but  still  not  so  rare  that 
specimens  are  not  obtained  almost  every  year.  In 
fact,  the  whole  appearance  of  the  bird  is  so  very 
striking,  that  it  is  scarcely  possible  such  a  visitor 
should  pass  without  notice.  It  breeds  in  several 
European  countries. 


Their  Eggs  mid  Nests.  137 

FAMILY  v.— CORACIDiE. 

ROLLER — {Coracias  garrula). 
Garrulous  Roller. — Very  rarely  met  with  in  Eng- 


land. 


FAMILY  VL— MEROPIDiE. 

BEE-EATER— (i^/^r^/j  apiaster). 
An  African  bird,  which  strays  occasionally  so  far 
to  the  North  as  to  reach  Britain,  and  be  claimed  as  a 
British  bird. 


FAMILY  VIL— ALCEDINID^. 

KINGFISHER— (^/r^^(?  ispidd). 

Beyond  doubt,  as  far  as  exceeding  brilliancy  of 
plumage  goes,  the  most  beautiful  of  our  indigenous 
birds.  I  have  never  seen  it  in  any  part  of  the  king- 
dom a  numerous  bird,  though  in  my  fishing  and  other 
excursions  in  Suffolk,  Essex,  Norfolk,  and  Hereford- 
shire, I  used  to  see  many  pairs ;  each,  however, 
domiciled  at  some  distance  from  its  nearest  neighbours. 
In  the  district  of  North  Yorkshire  I  am  best  ac- 
quainted with  I  have  rarely  seen  it.  Its  straight, 
arrow-like,  speeding  fiight  is  sure  to  be  remembered, 
when  once  seen,  and  so  is  the  odour  inseparable  from 
its  nest  hole  or  other  stated  haunt.  A  hole,  sloping 
upwards,  in  the  bank  of  the  water  it  most  frequents, 
whether  pond,  stream,  marsh,  ditch,  or  large  river,  is 


138  British  Birds, 

usually  chosen  to  receive  the  nest,  which  is  often  a 
foot  and  a  half,  or  two  feet  from  the  entrance ;  but 
sometimes  the  bird  has  been  known  to  resort  to  a  hole 
at  some  distance  from  any  water.  The  nest,  so  called, 
seems  to  be  constituted  of  small  fish-bones,  ejected 
from  the  Kingfisher's  stomach,  and  the  dry  soil  of  the 
hole ;  while  the  eggs  deposited  in  it  are  five  or  six  in 
number,  very  round  in  form,  beautifully  white  when 
blown,  though,  from  the  thinness  of  the  shell,  seeming 
to  have  a  pink  hue  before  the  removal  of  the  yolk. 

BELTED  KINGFISHER— (ary/^  Alcyon), 
Two  occurrences  only  recorded. 


FAMILY  VIII.— PICID^. 

GREEN  WOODPECKER— ((9^rn2?/j  viridis ; 
formerly,  Picus  viridis). 

Wood-spite,  Rain-fowl,  Rain-bird,  Hew-hole,  Yaffle, 
Whet-ile,  Wood  wall.  Wit  wall,  Popinjay,  Awl-bird, 
Eaqual,  Pick-a-tree,  Yappingale,  etc. — I  observe  Mr. 
Morris  spells  the  name  I  have  written  Eaqual  in  the 
form  Ecle>  I  have  no  idea  of  the  origin  or  etymology 
of  either  form,  but  I  have  given  these  names  generally 
in  the  thought  that  they  may  be  helpful  to  some,  and 
interesting  to  other  young  egg-collectors.  The  Green 
Woodpecker  is  the  most  common,  and  much  the  best 
known  of  all  our  English  Woodpeckers.  Besides 
beino"  a  very  handsome  bird,  its  organisation  (as  is 

1  It  is  probably  a  phonetic  variant  of  Hickwall,  and  equivalent  to 
Woodwall,  Witwall,  Whetile,  etc. 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  139 

indeed  the  case  with  all  the  tribe)  is  so  beautifully- 
adapted  to  its  mode  of  life,  as  to  merit  a  brief  notice 
at  our  hands.  Its  strong^  prehensile  feet  and  claws, 
two  toes  being  directed  forward  and  two  backwards, 
fit  it  not  only  for  moving  in  all  directions,  and  with 
wonderful  readiness  and  ease  in  any  direction  what- 
ever, about  the  trunk  or  limbs  of  a  tree,  but  also  for 
grasping  the  surface  with  great  tenacity  when  neces- 
sity arises  for  applying  its  strong  bill  to  penetrating 
or  dislodging  either  bark  or  portions  of  the  wood 
itself.  When  thus  occupied,  the  tail  comes  into  use, 
and  the  bones  at  the  lower  extremity  of  the  skeleton 
are  so  formed  as  to  enable  the  stiff,  pointed  tail- 
feathers  to  be  applied  to  the  tree  in  such  a  way  as  to 
strengthen  the  purchase  already  obtained  by  the  firm 
foot-hold.  Add  to  all  this  the  length  of  the  tongue, 
its  great  extensibility,  specially  provided  for  by  a 
peculiar  arrangement  of  muscles,  together  with  the 
structure  of  the  tongue  itself — remarkable  for  its 
sharp,  horny  tip  and  barb-like  bristles  on  either  side 
near  the  point — and  we  have  one  of  Nature's  most 
beautiful  accommodations  of  means  to  the  intended 
end  which  can  well  be  offered  to  our  notice.  The 
undulating  flight  and  laugh-like  cry  of  the  Green 
Woodpecker  used  to  be  more  common  than  they  seem 
to  be  now,  and  the  great  multiplicity  of  provincial 
names  seems  to  show  that  once  it  must  have  been  an 
exceedingly  common  bird.  I  have  rarely  seen  or 
heard  it  here  :  and  no  wonder.  For  where  once  there 
were  miles  of  forest,  now  we  have  scarcely  100  acres 
of  wood  in  the  whole  district.  This  Woodpecker's  cry 
is  loudly   and  frequently  uttered   before  impendiDo* 


140  British  Birds ^ 

rain ;  whence  one  of  its  common  or  by-names.  It 
breeds  in  holes  in  trees,  which  it  often  excavates  in 
part  or  enlarges  to  suit  its  wants.  It  makes  no  nest, 
but  deposits  its  eggs,  four  to  seven  in  number,  and 
perfectly  white,  on  a  bed  of  the  soft  decayed  wood  of 
the  tree.  The  eggs  average  rather  over  1^  inch  in 
length,  by  about  f  inch  broad.  No  illustration  being 
possible,  in  our  space,  of  purely  white  eggs,  I  think  it 
better  to  append  their  measurements. 

GREAT   SPOTTED  ^OQiY)YM^'K^^—{Dendrocopus 

major  ;  formerly,  Picus  major). 

Pied  Woodpecker,  French-pie,  Wood-pie,  Whitwall, 
Great  Black  and  White  Woodpecker,  Wood-nacker. — 
A  not  very  uncommon  bird  in  some  localities,  and 
very  rare  in  others  nowadays.  It  is  less  likely,  too, 
to  betray  its  presence  by  its  note  than  the  Green 
Woodpecker,  and  is  so  shy  and  so  capable  of  conceal- 
ing itself,  or  keeping  the  trunk  of  a  tree  always 
between  itself  and  any  prying  observer,  tbat  doubtless 
it  is  deemed  to  be  more  rare  than  it  really  is.  It 
seems  to  prefer  the  vicinity  of  woods,  but  may  be  seen 
occasionally  where  woods  do  not  abound,  and  some- 
times even  it  resorts  to  places  where  abundance  of  old 
posts  or  decaying  tree-trunks  lead  it  to  expect  a 
plentiful  repast.  It  breeds  in  holes  in  trees,  making 
no  nest,  and  laying  its  four  or  five  eggs  on  just  such 
a  bed  as  its  green  namesake.  The  female  is  very 
averse  to  leaving  her  eggs,  and  shows  almost  as  much 
pertinacity  as  a  Tom-tit  in  abiding  by  them.  They  are 
1  inch  long  by  J  inch  broad. 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  141 

LESSER  SPOTTED  WOODPECKER— (Z>^«^r^^^/«x 
minor  ;  formerly,  Pious  minor). 

Barred  Woodpecker,  Hick-wall,  Little  Black  and 
White  Woodpecker,  Crank-bird. — A  pretty  little  bird, 
very  shy,  very  active,  very  able  to  keep  itself  out  of 
sight,  and  so,  hardly  noticed  by  one  in  a  hundred  of 
those  whom  Miss  Edgeworth  would  class  as  more  or 
less  nearly  connected  with  the  widely-spread  family  of 
"  No-eyes."  It  is  said  to  prefer  large  woods  of  beech ; 
and  like  the  other  Woodpeckers,  makes  no  nest,  but 
places  its  eggs  in  a  hollow  tree,  accessible  by  only  a 
small  hole,  the  means  of  access  being  often  at  a  con- 
siderable distance  from  the  eggs  laid  below.  The  eggs 
of  this  little  bird  are  four  or  five  in  number,  purely 
white,  though  seeming  to  be  suffused  with  a  delicate 
pink  hue  before  they  are  blown,  which  arises  from 
the  transparency  of  the  shell.  They  are  about  |  inch 
long  by  rather  more  than  \  inch  broad. 

WRYNECK— (7?^;/^  torqnilla). 

Cuckoo's-raate,  Emmet-hunter,  Snake-bird,  Long- 
tongue. — A  dear  little  bird  is  the  Wryneck,  with  his 
cheery  spring-announcing  cry.  We  willingly  pardon 
its  want  of  melody  for  its  associations.  The  marvel- 
lous rapidity  with  which  its  tongue  is  darted  out  and 
retracted,  enabling  it  by  the  aid  of  the  glutinous 
secretion  with  which  its  end  is  furnished  to  secure  an 
Ant  at  every  action,  is  highly  interesting  as  illustrat- 
ing another  of  the  wonderful  and  beautiful  adaptations 
provided  by  the  Author  of  Creation.  The  Wryneck 
makes  scarcely  any  nest  (if  any),  but  lays  its  eggs  on 


142  British  Birds, 

the  fragments  of  decayed  wood  which  lino  a  hole  in  a 
tree.  They  are  from  six  to  ten  in  number,  and  white 
and  glossy,  and  about  the  same  size  as  those  of  the 
Barred  Woodpecker.  The  old  bird  is  singularly  un- 
willing to  leave  her  eggs  under  any  intrusion,  and 
tries  by  such  means  as  hissing  sharply,  elevating  her 
crest  and  contorting  her  neck,  to  intimidate  or  deter 
the  intruder. 


OKDEK.— COLUMBiE. 
FAMILY.— COLUMBIDiE. 

RING  V^O'^Y.—ijOolumba  palumbus). 

Wood  Pigeon,  King  Pigeon,  Cushat,  Cushie  Doo, 
Queest. — This,  the  first  bird  in  the  new  Order  of 
Columbae,  is  tolerably  well  known  to  every  one  the 
least  acquainted  with  ordinary  country  scenes  and 
objects.  A  fine,  handsome  bird,  met  with  everywhere 
throughout  the  country,  and,  in  many  parts  of  it, 
seen  in  very  large  flocks  in  the  winter-time ;  sure  to 
attract  attention,  also,  as  we  walk  through  the  wood, 
by  the  loud  ringing  clap  of  his  wings  as  he  takes 
flight;  and  all  this  independently  of  his  plaintive 
murmur  in  the  breeding  season,  sounding  very  sweet 
and  mellow  as  heard  from  a  little  distance — the  Wood 
Pigeon,  or  Queest,  or  Cushat,  as  he  is  named  in 
different  districts,  is  as  prominent  among  wild  birds  as 
the  parson  of  the  parish  among  his  parishioners.  The 
young  birds  are  frequently  taken  from  the  nest  and 
reared  by   hand;    and   the   bold,   fearless,   confiding 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  143 

familiarity  of  such  pets,  considering  their  extreme 
native  shyness  and  wildness,  is  remarkable.  The 
Ring  Dove  makes  its  rude  platform  nest  of  sticks, 
with  a  cushion  of  roots  to  receive  the  eggs,  in  bushes 
standing  singly  or  in  hedges  or  woods,  in  pollard 
trees,  in  holly  or  other  thick  trees,  in  evergreens  in 
gardens  and  the  like;  and  nothing  is  more  common 
than  to  see  the  parent  birds  frequenting  the  garden 
and  close  vicinity  of  a  country  house,  almost  as  tamely 
as  if  they  were  a  pair  of  common  or  house  Pigeons. 
The  eggs  seem  to  be  invariably  very  oval  in  shape, 
and  purely  white.  They  are  1|-  inch  long,  by  \  inch 
broad. 

STOCK  ViOy^—{Columha  cenas). 

Stock  Pigeon,  Wood  Pigeon,  Wood  Dove. — This 
Dove  is  not  only,  generally  speaking,  much  less 
abundant  throughout  the  country  than  the  Ring 
Dove,  but  very  often,  it  would  seem,  confounded  with 
it  by  casual  observers,  who  only  notice  the  several 
birds  from  a  distance,  or  on  the  wing.  They  frequent 
the  same  roosting-places,  and  often  feed  in  the  same 
field,  though  probably  on  different  species  of  food.  I 
have  shot  birds  of  both  species  at  the  same  discharge 
of  the  gun,  and  have  noticed  the  different  matters 
which  had  supplied  their  meals  of  the  day, — Holly- 
berries,  in  the  case  of  the  Ring  Dove ;  wild  mustard- 
seed,  in  the  other.  The  Stock  Dove  is,  however, 
immediately  and  easily  distinguishable  from  the  Ring 
Dove,  by  its  lesser  size,  a  slight  difference  in  colour, 
and  the  entire  absence  of  the  "  ring  "  of  white  feathers 
on  the  neck.     Its  nest  is  placed  sometimes  on  pollard 


144  British  Birds ^ 

trees,  sometimes  in  open  holes  or  hollows  in  old  trees ; 
and  very  commonly,  in  some  districts,  either  on  the 
ground  below  thick  furze-bushes,  or  in  deserted 
rabbit-burrows,  two  or  three  feet  distant  from  the 
entrance.  The  nest  is  very  slight,  consisting  merely 
of  a  few  twigs  or  roots.  The  eggs  are  two  in  number, 
pure  white,  about  or  rather  exceeding  \\  inch  in 
length,  by  IJ  inch  in  breadth. 

ROCK  'DO'^^—iCohimha  livia). 
Wild  Pigeon,  Rock  Pigeon,  Wild  Dove,  Doo, 
Rockier. — This  pigeon  has  usually,  until  not  long 
since,  been  confused  with  the  Stock  Dove.  But  their 
plumage  is  unlike,  their  voice  unlike,  and  especially 
their  habits  and  living  and  breeding  haunts  ^  unlike. 
It  is  believed  with  some  certainty  that  the  Rock  Dove 
is  the  real  origin  of  the  Domestic  Pigeon,  and  certainly 
any  one  who  has  seen  the  large  flights  of  Domestic 
Pigeons  turned  wild,  which  frequent  the  caverns  in 
the  rock-bound  coast  near  St.  Abb's  Head  and  similar 
localities,  living  with,  flying  with,  feeding  with,  and 
nesting  with  the  undoubted  wild  Rockier,  can  enter- 
tain but  very  small  doubts  on  the  subject.  The  Rock 
Dove  makes  a  loose  nest  of  twigs  and  plant-stems  and 

1  This  is  subject  to  some  qualiScations.  Both  species  breed  in  this 
neighbourhood,  and  both  nest  in  holes  or  rifts  among  the  sandstone 
cliffs  of  the  country.  I  have  again  and  again  seen  the  Rock  Dove 
leave  such  nesting-sites,  and  again  and  again  recognised  the  Stock 
Dove  in  the  same  locality.  Twice  within  the  last  two  or  three  years 
I  have  come  upon  birds  of  one  or  the  other  species  (which  I  could 
not  positively  identify,  but  believe  to  have  been  the  Rock  Dove) 
feeding  on  the  bilberry  fruit,  and  in  close  company  with  numerous 
Ring  Ousels. 


Thci}'  Eggs  and  Nests.  145 

dry  grass ;  very  often  far  back  in  holes  and  crevices 
of  the  rock  ;  and  lays  two  white  eggs,  with  a  much 
better  defined  "  big  end  "  and  "  little  end  "  than  in  tlie 
case  of  the  two  Pigeons  last  named. 

TURTLE  DOVE — {Turtur  communis;  formerly, 

Coluinba  Uirttir). 

Turtle,  Common  Turtle,  Ring-necked  Turtle,  Wrekin 
Dove. — Only  a  summer  visitor  and  not  a  regular 
inhabitant,  like  its  three  predecessors.  It  is  long 
since,  living  where  I  do,  I  have  heard  its  sweet, 
plaintive  note.  No  one  but  one  who  loves  birds  and 
their  ways  can  tell  how  real  a  deprivation  it  is  to  live 
for  years  out  of  sound  of  the  sweet  and  familiar  voices 
of  such  as  are  only  local:  the  Nightingale  for  instance, 
the  Turtle,  and  many  others.  The  male  Turtle  Dove 
is  a  very  handsome  bird,  but  much  shier  and  more 
retiring  at  breeding-time  than  the  Ring  Dove.  The 
nest  is  a  light  platform  of  sticks,  easily  permitting 
the  sky  to  be  seen  through  it  from  below,  and  usually 
placed  high  up  in  a  holly,  a  thick  bush  in  a  wood,  in 
the  branches  of  a  fir,  or  the  lesser  fork  of  some  limb 
of  an  oak  or  other  forest  tree.  As  with  the  other 
Doves,  the  eggs  are  two  in  number,  quite  white,  about 
\\  inch  long,  by  f  broad. 

PASSENGER  Y\<^YJdl^—{Ectopistes  migratorius). 

Every  bird-loving  boy,  beyond  doubt,  has  heard  of 
this  Pigeon  and  the  inconceivable  vastness  of  the 
flocks  in  which  they  pass  from  one  distant  district  to 
another  in  America.  Here  it  is  only  a  casual  visitor, 
and  can  lawfully  lay  claim  to  none  of  our  limited  space. 

K 


146  British  Birds y 

ORDER.— PTEROCLETES. 

FAMILY.— PTEROCLIDiE. 

SAND  ^'K0'\5^'^—{Surrhaptes  paradoxus). 
It  has  appeared  in  large  numbers  on  two  or  three 
occasions. 


ORDER.— GALLINiE. 
FAMILY  L— TETRAONID^. 

CAPERCAILLIE— (r^/m^  urogallus). 

Cock  of  the  Woods,  Wood  Grouse,  Cock  of  the 
Mountain,  Great  Grouse,  Capercailzie,  Capercally. — 
An  indigenous  inhabitant  of  this  country,  but  one 
which  had  become,  or  was  becoming,  extinct,  a  few 
years  ago.  Now  it  is  becoming  comparatively  abun- 
dant again  on  the  estates  of  several  large  and  noble 
owners,  principally  in  Scotland.  It  is  indeed  a  very 
noble  bird,  and  well  worthy  the  care  and  attention 
and  expense  which  have  been  devoted  to  the  attempt 
to  re-establish  it.  The  female  makes  her  nest  on  the 
ground,  and  lays  from  six  to  ten  or  twelve  eggs.  These 
are  of  a  pale  reddish-yellow  brown,  spotted  all  over 
with  two  shades  of  darker  orange  brown. — Fig.  3, 
plate  VL 

BLACK  GROUSE— (r^/r«^  tetrix). 
Black  Cock,  Black  Game,  Heath  Cock,  Heath  Poult, 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  147 

and  the  female,  Grey  Hen,  sometimes  Brown  Hen.— 
Still  found  in  some  districts  out  of  the  north  of 
England,  where  wild  and  hilly  forest  still  remains,  but 
of  much  more  frequent  occurrence  in  more  northerly 
localities.  In  fact,  the  gradual  and  very  complete  de- 
molition of  the  last  remains  of  what  were  once  very 
extensive  forests  has  completely  banished  the  Black 
Grouse  from  places  where  it  used  to  be  common  with- 
in the  memory  of  living  men.  It  is  a  very  handsome 
bird,  and  like  the  Capercailly  and  the  Pheasant,  does 
not  pair.  The  hen  makes  a  very  slight  nest  on  the 
ground,  and  lays  in  it  seven  to  nine  or  ten  eggs,  of  a 
somewhat  less  warm  ground-shade  than  those  last 
named,  but  with  larger  and  brighter-coloured  spots 
and  blotches. — Fig.  ^,  plate  VI. 

RED  GROUSE— (Z^^^/?^j-  Scoticus). 
Red  Ptarmigan,  Red  Game,  Moor  Game,  Muir-fowl, 
Moor-bird. — A  beautiful  bird  indeed,  and  peculiar  to 
the  British  Islands.  The  Grouse  moors,  however,  are 
mainly  confined  to  the  northern  counties  of  England 
and  Scotland.  In  the  district  in  which  this  is  written 
the  Grouse  may  be  truly  said  to  abound,  and  I  hear 
them  continually  from  my  garden  or  open  window.^ 
These  birds  do  pair,  and  pair  very  early  indeed  more- 
over. I  have  frequently  seen  them  in  pairs  before  the 
season  for  killing  them — which  expires  on  December 
10 — is  fully  out.  If  the  weather  becomes  severe  this 
union  often  seems  to  be  annulled ;  but  I  don't  think  it 
is  in  reality.     In  the  earlier  spring,  when  the  pairing 

1  For  a  detailed  series  of  observations  on  the  habits,  etc. ,  of  the 
Grouse,  see  '*  Sketches  in  Natural  History,"  RoutleUge  &  Co. 


148  British  Birds, 

is  becoming  general,  many  fierce  battles  among  the 
males  may  be  seen  going  on,  and  very  resolute  and 
lengthened  and  circuitous  flights  of  one  in  pursuit  of 
another  occur.  The  nest  is  very  slight,  of  ling  and 
bents  chiefly,  and  usually  well  concealed  in  a  tuft  of 
heather.  From  six  or  seven  up  to  twelve  or  fifteen 
eggs  are  said  to  be  laid,  but  I  should  say  that  the 
highest  average,  judging  from  the  number  of  young 
birds  in  a  brood,  very  rarely  much  exceeds  eight  or 
nine.  The  eggs  are  very  beautiful  and  richly  coloured, 
but  vary  exceedingly  in  both  ground-colour  and  mark- 
ings, even  those  found  in  the  same  nest.  Some  are  of 
a  yellowish  shade,  and  others  of  a  blood-stain  red, 
mottled  and  blotched  with  rich  umber  brown,  and  the 
paler  ones  with  shades  of  light  brown. — Fig.  h,  plate 
VI. 

PTARMIGAN — {J.agopus  mutits  ;  formerly, 
L,  vulgaris^. 

White  Grouse,  Rock  Grouse,  White  Game. — Only 
found  now  among  the  rocky  tops  of  the  highest  hills 
and  mountains  in  the  centre  and  north  of  Scotland. 
It  is  the  smallest  species  of  Grouse  in  Britain,  and  its 
plumage  varies  greatly  with  the  season,  becoming 
nearly  pure  white  in  winter.  It  lays  seven  to  ten 
eggs ;  frequentl  yon  the  bare  stones.  They  are  of  a 
yellowish  ground-colour,  blotched  and  spotted  (slightly 
so  as  compared  with  the  eggs  of  the  Red  Grouse)  with 
rich  dark  brown. 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  i^g 

FAMILY  II— PHASTANIDJS. 

VUEASA^T—^F/iasmnus  Colchicus). 

I  dare  say  "  a  good  few  "  of  our  readers  if  they  were 
asked  "  Do  you  know  the  Pheasant  ? "  might  answer, 
"  Yes,  very  well.  We  had  some  for  dinner,  such  and 
such  a  day."  And  I  have  no  doubt  the  acquaintance 
was  satisfactory  enough — at  least  to  one  of  the 
parties.  The  Pheasant  does  not  pair,  and  on  the  pre- 
served estates  in  Norfolk  and  Cambridgeshire  I  have 
frequently  seen  in  the  spring  large  groups  of  Cock 
Pheasants  collected  and  consorting  together  without 
the  intermixture  of  a  single  hen.  In  a  vast  many 
places  now  an  artificial  system  of  Pheasant-breeding 
is  adopted,  three  or  four  hens  with  one  male  being 
turned  into  a  large  paled  "  apartment,"  well  netted  in, 
the  whole  establishment  comprising  many  such  apart- 
ments. Each  hen  lays  double  or  treble  the  number  of 
eggs  she  would  if  suffered  to  run  wild,  and  these  are 
collected  daily  and  placed  under  heus  ready  to  sit  as 
soon  as  a  sufficient  number  is  got  together.  In  this 
way  twice  or  three  times  the  number  of  young  ones 
is  secured  from  one  hen  as  compared  with  her  own 
greatest  success  in  bringing  oflf  a  brood  in  the  woods. 
In  her  wild  state,  the  Pheasant  makes  scarcely  any 
nest,  on  the  ground,  and  lays  ten  or  twelve  eggs,  of  a 
uniform  pale  olive-brown  shade.  Not  only  are  cases 
in  which  two  Pheasants  lay  in  the  same  nest  of  by  no 
means  unfrequent  occurrence,  but  others  even,  in  which 
Pheasants'  eggs  have  been  iound  in  Partridges'  nests. 
Many  instances  are  on  record  of  tlie  Pheasant  inter- 
breeding with  other  birds,  such  as  the  Guinea  Fowl, 


150  British  Birds, 

the  Black  Grouse,  and  the  Common  Fowl.  The  cross 
last  named  is  by  no  means  uncommon,  and  a  remark- 
ably fine  male  specimen  of  the  produce  of  a  Cock 
Pheasant  and  Speckled  Hen  occurred  here  (one  of  four 
birds  which  were  hatched)  a  few  years  since.  The 
Pheasant's  tail  and  head  and  general  shape  as  well  as 
fashion  of  feathers  (with  access  of  size)  were  united 
to  the  shades  and  markings  of  the  plumage  of  the 
mother.  The  bird  in  question  was  so  inveterate  in 
his  visits  to  the  neighbouring  farm-yards  in  order  to 
challenge  the  cocks  who  dwelt  there,  and  so  sure  to 
kill  them  outright,  or  maim  or  maul  them  so  severely 
that  they  had  to  be  killed,  that  it  became  necessary 
to  put  him  out  of  the  way  himself,  and  his  present 
(1860)  memorial  is  his  remarkably  well-stuffed  skin. 
—Fig.  %  plate  VI. 

COMMON  PARTRIDGE— (/'^^^/;t;  cinered). 

Much  too  familiar  a  bird  by  appearance,  voice  and 
flavour  to  require  any  very  lengthened  notice  from 
us.  The  Partridge  pairs  pretty  early — by  the  end  of 
January  often — and  once  paired  they  never  separate 
again  throughout  the  season.  At  pairing  time  the 
cocks  fight  fiercely,  and  I  have  sometimes  seen,  and 
even  in  my  garden  here,  three  or  four  engaged  in  the 
conflict,  with  another,  probably  the  female  "  apple  of 
discord,"  sitting  quietly  by  the  while.  I  have  seen 
the  male,  too,  in  the  evening,  when  summoning  his 
newly-married  wife,  stand  on  the  top  of  one  of  our 
stone  walls  and  call  repeatedly.  The  nest  is  made  on 
the  ground  in  a  field  of  grass  or  corn,  or  on  a  dry 
hedge  bank,  or  at  the  foot  of  a  wall  among  the  long 


TJicir  Eggs  and  Nests.  1 5  i 

grass,  and  consists  of  little  but  a  slight  depression  in 
the  ground,  with  a  few  dead  leaves  and  bents.  The 
number  of  eggs  varies  between  eight  or  ten,  and 
twenty.  But  it  is  no  uncommon  thing  for  two  Par- 
tridges to  lay  in  the  same  nest,  and  an  instance  came 
to  my  knowledge  a  good  many  years  since,  in  which  a 
Red-legged  Partridge  had  laid  several  eggs  in  a 
Common  Partridge's  nest.  When  two  birds  lay  to- 
gether thus,  the  covey  sometimes  amounts  to  thirty  or 
thirty-five  birds.  I  knew  one  instance  of  forty,  about 
thirty  years  since.  The  male  Partridge  is  known  to 
help  his  mate,  when  the  hatch  is  drawing  on,  by 
sitting  at  her  side  and  covering  some  of  the  eggs. 
When  there  are  two  layings  in  the  same  nest,  it  is  an 
interesting  question  whether  the  two  hens  sit  to- 
gether, or  the  original  owner  of  the  nest  is  simply 
assisted  by  her  mate.  The  young  birds  are  able  to 
run  and  "  fend  for  themselves  "  almost  as  soon  as  they 
are  hatched.  The  eggs  are  of  a  uniform  pale  olive- 
brown  hue. — Fig.  Q,  plate  VI. 

RED-LEGGED  VKKTRIDG^— {Caeca b lis  rttfa  ; 
formerly,  Perdix  riifa). 

French  Partridge,  Guernsey  Partridge. — A  much 
more  striking  bird  in  appearance  than  the  Common 
Partridge,  and  said  also  to  be  a  powerful  enemy  to  it. 
Certainly,  in  districts  where  it  has  been  encouraged 
and  preserved,  it  seems  to  have  prevailed  to  the  com- 
parative exclusion  of  the  indigenous  species.  It  is 
supposed  to  have  been  first  introduced  about  the  time 
of  Charles  II.  For  long  it  seems  to  have  increased 
and  spread  but  very  slowly,  but  now  there  are  many 


152  British  Birds, 

districts  of  the  south  where  it  is  exceedingly  abundant. 
These  birds  form  a  slight  nest  of  dry  bents  and  leaves 
upon  the  ground,  amid  some  growing  crop  of  grass  or 
corn.  Instances,  however,  have  been  asserted  in  which 
the  nest  was  a  good  deal  elevated  above  the  ground, 
as  on  the  top  of  a  stack.  The  eggs,  very  hard-shelled, 
are  from  ten  to  fifteen  or  sixteen  in  number,  of  a 
cream  colour,  well  spotted  with  small  speckles  of 
reddish  or  cinnamon  brown. — Fig.  7,  plate  VI. 

QUAIL — {Coturnix  comrminis  ;  formerly, 
C.  vulgaris^. 

The  Quail  is  believed,  in  some  rare  instances,  to 
stay  with  us  all  the  year,  but  is  usually  only  a 
summer  visitant,  not  coming  in  any  great  numbers. 
In  some  countries  its  migratory  hosts  are  so  great  that 
one  hundred  thousand  are  said  to  have  been  taken  in 
a  day.  In  its  appearance,  the  Quail  strongly  reminds 
one  of  the  Partridge,  and  suggests  the  idea  that  itself 
is  only  a  diminutive  bird  of  that  species.  It  has  been 
said  that  they  do  not  pair,  still  they  have  been  re- 
peatedly seen  in  apparent  pairs.  And  one  couple 
which  haunted  my  garden  and  the  neighbouring  fields 
for  many  days  could  only  have  been  regarded  as  having 
"  paired,"  and  their  nests  are  met  with  in  many  parts 
of  the  kingdom.  Two  years  since  it  was  believed  that 
at  least  two  broods  were  reared  on  certain  lands  in 
Moorsholm,  in  North  Yorkshire.  A  small  depression 
in  the  ground  is  made,  or  found,  and  loosely  lined  with 
bits  of  grass  and  dry  stalks.  Seven  to  ten,  or  possibly 
yet  more  Qg^^,  are  laid,  presenting  much  variety  of 
appearance,   but   usually   of  a   faint   cream-coloured 


TJieir  Eggs  and  Nests.  153 

ground,  mottled  and  clouded  in  some  cases  with  red 
brown,  and  in  others  spotted  with  dark  brown  spots, 
some  of  considerable  size. — Fig.  8,  plate  VI 


ORDER.— HEMIPODIL 

FAMILY.— TURNICIDiE. 

ANDALUSIAN  HEMIPODE— (r?/r;2^:r  sylvatica  ; 
formerly,  Hciiiipodms  tachydroviiis). 

Some  three  or  four  examples  have  been  met  with 
in  Britain. 


ORDER.  — FU  Lie  ARIiE. 

FAMILY.— RALLID^. 

LAND-RAIL — (  Crex  prat  en  sis) . 
Corn  Crake,  Meadow  Crake,  Dakerhen. — This  bird 
is  found  in  most  parts  of  the  kingdom,  though  for  the 
most  part  in  no  great  abundance  anywhere,  in  the 
earlier  months  of  the  autumn.  In  most  of  the  northern 
parts  it  breeds  annually,  but  I  do  not  remember  ever 
hearing  its  breeding  note  while  I  was  a  dweller  in  the 
district  endjracnig  what  are  usually  called  the  eastern 
counties.  Nor  yet  in  Herefordshire.  But  the  note  in 
question  has  been  sufficiently  familiar  to  me  for  the 
last  lifty  years,  and  here  in  North  Yorksliire  I  hear 


154  British  Birds, 

it  on  all  sides  of  me,  at  all  hours,  I  may  say,  of  both 
day  and  night.  For  two  or  three  years  in  succession 
a  pair  took  possession  of  a  small  plantation  of  young 
fir  trees  bordering  my  garden  lawn  on  the  north,  and 
only  separated  from  it  by  a  deep  ditch  with  a  run  of 
water  at  the  bottom.  Long  after  the  union  seemed  to 
have  been  formed  the  peculiar  note  was  kept  up,  and 
I  used  to  see  both  birds  within  a  few  feet  of  each 
other  during  its  continuance.  Scarcely  a  day  passed 
during  their  sojourn  of  eight  or  ten  days  in  and  about 
the  plantation  but  excursions  were  taken  into  the 
garden,  frequently  extending  to  the  terrace  beneath 
my  dining-room  window,  where  sundry  very  inquir- 
ing and  interested  glances — not  to  say  stares — were 
exchanged  between  the  visitors  and  myself  and  divers 
members  of  my  family.  The  visitors  seemed  very 
little  disturbed  at  our  notice  as  long  as  we  remained 
quite  still  and  silent,  but  any  movement  on  our  part 
led  to  immediate  retreat  on  the  Corn  Crakes.  Its 
movements  were  desultory  or  in  jerks,  so  to  speak. 
The  bird  would  run  ten  or  twelve  paces  in  an  attitude 
and  with  a  speed  which  left  one  in  doubt  for  a  moment 
whether  it  were  not  some  small  quadruped  Then  it 
would  skulk  amid  taller  herbage,  or  under  the  shrubs 
of  a  raised  bed,  in  beneath  a  rhododendron  bush.  A 
minute  after  it  would  be  seen  with  its  head  and  whole 
body  erect,  and  the  neck  so  out-stretched  that  if  the 
bird  had  been  hung  up  by  its  head  it  could  not  have 
been  much  more  elongated.  This  was  the  invariable 
position  or  attitude  assumed  when  interchanging 
looks  with  the  occupants  of  the  window.  My  own 
impression   was   that   these    journeys   or   excursions 


TJieir  Eggs  and  Nests.  155 

(which  I  knew  extended  into  the  gi'ass-field  beyond 
the  orarden,  and  into  a  field  over  the  road  at  the  back 
of  the  plantation)  were  simply  made  for  the  purpose 
of  inspection,  and  with  a  view  to  the  selection  of  a 
place  for  nesting — and  that,  pending  this  interesting 
investigation,  the  fir  trees  and  herbage  beneath  afforded 
an  ample  covert.  As  far  as  I  could  ascertain,  the 
place  actually  selected  by  them  for  the  purpose  was 
in  the  field — a  corn-field — just  beyond  that  which  lay 
adjacent  to  the  garden.  The  Corn  Crake  makes  a 
loose  nest  of  dry  herbage  and  stalks  and  grass  ;  and  I 
think  almost  always  among  growing  herbage — grass, 
clover,  or  corn.  The  hen  lays  seven  or  eight  eggs, 
sometimes  even  ten,  and  sits  very  close  upon  them. 
They  are  whitish  in  ground,  sufiused  with  a  reddish 
tinge,  and  spotted  and  speckled  with  brownish-red 
and  purplish-grey. — Fig.  4,  plate  IX. 

SPOTTED  Q^kY.'^—iPorzana  viaruetta ;  formerly, 
Crex  porza7ia). 

A  summer  visitor,  as  the  Land-Rail  is,  to  our  shores. 
It  is  rare,  however,  compared  with  the  Land -Rail,  and 
with  more  predilection  for  the  vicinity  of  water. 
Like  all  the  other  Rails  it  conceals  itself  very  closely, 
and  from  the  form  of  its  body  and  power  of  leg  runs 
with  great  speed  and  equal  facility,  even  among  what 
seems  to  be  and  is  very  thick  covert.  It  is  known  to 
breed  in  Norfolk  and  in  Cambridgeshire,  in  Yorkshire, 
Durham,  and  Northumberland  ;  and  it  may  do  also  in 
other  localities  as  well.  The  nest,  made  on  the 
ground  in  wet  marshes,  is  "  formed  on  the  outside," 
says  Mr.  Yarrell,  *'with  coarse  aquatic  plants,  lined 


156  British  Birds, 

with  finer  materials  within/'  From  seven  to  ten  eggs 
appears  to  be  the  number  laid,  and  they  vary  very 
much  in  their  ground-colour,  between  a  pale  brown- 
ish-dun and  a  slightly  yellow-white,  the  spots  or 
blotches  being  of  a  reddish  brown  of  some  intensity. — 
Fig.  h,  plate  IX. 

LITTLE  Q^hK^—{Porzana  parva;  formerly, 
Crex  pusilld). 

Olivaceous  Gallinule,  Little  Gallinule.  —  Strictly 
speaking,  still  a  rare  bird  in  this  countryr 

BAILLON'S  C:;KKKY.—{Porzana  Baillonit ; 
formerly,  Crex  Baillonit). 

More  rare  than  the  last,  and,  perhaps,  occasionally 
confused  with  it. 

WATER-RAIL— (ie«//^.r  aquations). 

Bilcock,  Skiddycock,  Runner,  Brook-runner,  Velvet- 
runner. — One  of  the  very  shiest  of  our  British  birds, 
and  thus  seeming  to  be  much  more  rare  than  it  really 
is.  I  have  seen  it  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  though 
it  is,  I  am  well  aware,  less  tolerant  of  cold  than  many 
others  of  our  winter-staying  birds.  Its  motions  on 
the  bank  of  a  stream,  when  suddenly  disturbed,  are 
much  more  like  those  of  a  Water  Rat  than  a  bird.  It 
])reeds  with  some  degree  of  commonness  in  several  of 
the  southern  counties.  I  obtained  two  nests  from 
the  estate  in  Norfolk  elsewhere  mentioned  in  these 
pages,  at  the  same  time  with  the  Woodcock's  eggs, 
and  was  informed  that  it  bred  regularly  there.     I  had 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  157 

reason  also  to  know  that  it  bred  at  ToUeshunt  D'Arcy, 
in  Essex.  The  nest  is  made  often  in  an  osier  ground 
or  among  thick  water  plants,  and  composed  of  differ- 
ent kinds  of  aquatic  herbage.  The  eggs  are  from  six 
to  nine  or  ten  in  number,  and  seldom  quite  white  in 
hue ;  usually  they  are  much  more  like  pale  or  faded 
specimens  of  the  Land-Rail's  eggs,  the  spots  being  both 
fewer  and  fainter — Fig.  Q,  plate  IX. 

MOOR  ^Y.^—{Galli7tula  chloropus). 

Water  Hen,  Gallinule,  Moat  Hen,  Marsh  Hen. — 
Few  nest  hunters,  however  young,  but  know  the  nest 
and  eggs  of  this  very  common  bird.  I  have  in  many 
cases  seen  it  almost  domesticated,  and  constantly 
taking  its  food  among  domestic  fowls,  and  sometimes 
even  almost  from  the  hands  of  human  creatures.  Its 
nest  is  made  in  somewhat  various  places.  I  have 
seen  it  amid  the  sedges  growing  in  the  water  near  the 
edge  of  a  marsh-ditch  or  the  like,  on  dry  tussock y 
tumns  near  a  sheet  of  water,  amono^  the  herbaoje  and 
willow  stubs  not  far  from  the  same  mere,  built  upon 
masses  of  fallen  but  not  decayed  bulrushes  and  flags, 
at  the  edge  of  a  pond,  on  a  bough  projecting  several 
feet  horizontally  from  the  bank  over  and  resting 
upon  (or  partly  in)  the  water  of  a  running  stream, 
nay,  even  in  a  branch  or  top  of  a  thick  tree,  or  among 
the  ivy  which  mantled  its  trunk  and  wreathed  its 
branches.  In  it  are  laid  six,  seven,  or  eight  eggs,  of  a 
reddish-white  colour,  sparingly  speckled  and  spotted 
with  reddish-brown.  The  eggs  have  been  known  to 
be  removed  by  the  parent  birds  under  circumstances 
of  peril  awaiting  them — from  a  Hood,  for  instance — 


158  British  Birds. 

and  hatched  in  some  new  locality.  Instances  also 
have  been  recorded  in  which  a  supplementary  nest 
has  been  constructed  by  the  female  parent  to  receive 
a  part  of  her  brood,  when  they  were  too  numerous 
and  had  grown  too  large  to  be  accommodated  by  their 
original  nest-home  at  night. — Fig.  7,  plate  IX. 

COOT— {Fjilica  atra). 

Bald  Coot. — A  common  bird  enough  in  many  parts 
of  the  kingdom,  and  in  former  days,  I  have  sometimes 
seen  them  in  straggling  flocks  of  several  hundreds  or 
thousands  along  the  tide- way  on  the  Essex  coasts. 
With  its  white  oval  spot  on  the  forehead,  and  per- 
fectly black  plumage,  it  is  a  sufficiently  noticeable 
bird.  It  seems  to  be  much  more  at  home  on  the 
water  than  on  land  ;  but,  like  the  Moor  Hen,  can  and 
does  move  with  very  considerable  ease  and  speed  on 
the  latter.  The  Coot  makes  a  large  and  very  strong 
and  compact  nest,  making  or  finding  a  firm  founda- 
tion for  it  below  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  heaping 
up  and  twisting  in  dry  flags  and  bulrushes  and  pieces 
of  reed,  until  some  of  the  nests  are  sufficiently  firm 
and  stable  to  support  a  considerable  weight.  The 
eggs  laid  are  usually  seven  or  eight,  and  up  to  ten ; 
though  even  twelve  or  fourteen  have  been  mentioned 
as  sometimes  found.  They  are  of  a  dingy  stone- 
colour,  speckled  and  spotted  with  dark  brown. — Fig. 
8,  plate  IX. 


TJicir  Eggs  and  Nests.  1 59 

ORDER.— ALECTORIDES. 
FAMILY  I— GRUIDiE. 

CRANE— ((7;-?^ J-  cincrea). 

A  couple  of  centuries  since  it  is  not  improbable  the 
Crane  may  have — at  least,  occasionally — bred  in  this 
country ;  but  now  it  is  become  a  very  rare  and  casual 
visitor. 


FAMILY  II.— OTIDID^. 

GREAT  BUSTARD— (6'/z>  tarda). 
This  noble  bird,  once  abundant  enough  on  our  wide 
plains  and  wolds  in  England,  is  now,  I  fear,  almost 
extinct  among  us,  as  so  far  as  I  am  aware  no  very 
recent^  capture  of  it  has  been  announced.  It  used, 
before  the  gun  became  so  common  and  so  fatal  to 
birds  of  much  interest  to  the  ornithologist  or  others,  to 
be  customarily  pursued  with  greyhounds.  These  birds 
do  not  pair,  and  their  nest  is  said  to  be  a  mere  natural 
saucer-shaped  hole  in  the  bare  ground.  The  eggs  are 
seldom  more  than  two,  or  at  most  three,  in  number, 
and  are  of  an  olive-green  ground,  blotched  and  spotted 
with  two  or  three  shades  of  brown,  lighter  and 
darker. 

LITTLE  BUSTARD— ((9//^  tctrax). 
Only  a  casual  and  not  a  summer  visitor. 

1  Since  this  was  written,  several  instances  have  occurred,  detailed 
notices  of  which  are  given  in  the  last  edition  of  Yarrcll  (iii.,  p.  207). 


i6o  British  Birds, 

MACQUEEN'S  BUSTARD— (aV^  Macqueeni). 

Only  one  occurrence  as  far  as  I  know.     Accidental 
even  in  Europe. 


ORDER.— LIMICOLiE. 
FAMILY  I.— GSDICNEMID^. 

STONE  QX^^l^'^—iCEdicnemus  crepitans). 

Great  Plover,  Norfolk  Plover,  Whistling  Plover, 
Stone  Plover,  Thick-knee. — The  Stone  Curlew  is  a 
summer  visitor,  and  strictly  a  local  one.  The  Nightin- 
gale, for  instance,  is  very  much  more  extensively 
diffused  than  the  bird  just  named.  It  was  found  abun- 
dantly enough  on  the  wide  sandy  plains  of  Norfolk, 
and  I  used  (1840)  to  hear  it  very  commonly  in  the 
fields  a  few  miles  to  the  north-west  of  Bury  St. 
Edmunds.  Besides  the  counties  just  named,  it  is  met 
with  in  parts  of  Essex  and  Kent,  in  Hampshire,  and 
Cambridgeshire,  and  two  or  three  others.  Its  peculiar 
shrill  cry  or  whistle,  once  heard,  is  not  likely  to  be 
forgotten.  The  female  lays  two  eggs  on  the  bare 
ground,  among  white-coated  flints  and  stones.  An 
idea  of  their  ground-colour  may  be  given  by  the 
mention  of  what  the  painters  call  stone-colour,  in  pale 
shades,  and  this  is  streaked  and  spotted,  or  marbled 
with  dark  brown. — Fig.  1,  plate  VIL 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  i6r 

FAMILY  II.— GLAREOLIDy^^ 

PRATINCOLE— ((9.  pratincola  ;  formerly, 
Glareola  (orquala.) 

Collared  Pratincole,  Austrian  Pratincole. — A  bird  of 
sufficiently  rare  occurrence  in  this  country,  and  re- 
markable as  having  caused  some  degree  of  perplexity 
and  dispute  among  naturalists  as  to  the  position  it 
should  occupy  in  the  general  system  or  classification 
of  the  bird  family.  Mr,  Yarrell  (in  whose  first  edition 
it  appears  at  the  head  of  the  Rail  family)  says — "  The 
Pratincole  has  been  arranged  by  some  authors  with 
the  Swallows,  by  others  near  the  Rails ;  but  I  believe, 
with  Mr.  Selby,  that  it  ought  to  be  included  in  the 
family  of  the  Plovers,  and  had  I  known  its  Plover- 
like habits  and  eggs  sooner,  I  should  have  arranged 
it  between  Cursorius  and  Charadrius."  To  this  Mr. 
Hewitson  adds — "Besides  the  similarity  of  their 
habits,  the  fact  of  this  species  laying  four  eggs  is  a 
further  link  to  connect  it  with  the  Charadriidfe."  It 
is,  however,  much  too  rare — besides  being  known  not 
to  breed  in  Britain — to  have  any  claim  on  our  limited 
space  for  description  of  its  nest  or  eggs. 


FAMILY  III.— CHARADRIIDiE. 

CREAM-COLOURED   QO\Wx'S>E^— {Cursorius 
Isabellinus). 

A  very  rare  bird  indeed 


1 62  British  Birds, 

DOTTEREL — {Eudrojuius   viorinelhis  ;    formerly, 
Charadrius  morinellus). 

Dottrel  or  Dotterel  Plover,  Foolish  Dottrel. — Tliis 
is  a  summer  visitor  to  our  country,  and  in  many 
localities  where  it  used  to  be  abundant,  or  at  least 
common,  it  is  now  rare  or  almost  unknown.  This  is 
the  case  on  parts,  at  least,  of  the  Yorkshire  Wolds,  as 
well  as  in  the  Lake  district.  They  are  sought  after 
by  the  fly-fisher  and  by  the  ornithologist  and  by  the 
epicure,  and  from  their  exceedingly  simple  and  un- 
suspicious habits  they  fall  easy  victims  before  the 
fowling-piece  of  modern  days.  The  female  makes  no 
nest,  but  lays  her  customary  three  eggs  in  a  slight 
cavity  on  the  ground  near  high  mountain  tops,  where 
some  tall-growing  moss  or  other  mountain  herbage 
facilitates  concealment.  The  eggs  are  of  an  olivaceous 
hue,  spotted  plentifully  with  very  dark  brown  or 
brownish-black. 

RINGED  PLOVER— (^^/<«////.y  hiaticula;  formerly, 
Charadrius  hiaticula). 

Ringed  or  Ring  Dottrel. — A  very  pretty  shore-bird, 
of  interesting  habits,  and  not  infrequent,  especially  in 
winter,  on  many  parts  of  the  British  coast.  In  quiet 
parts,  where  large  expanses  of  sand  or  shingle,  or  even 
mud,  are  left  by  the  receding  tide,  it  may  be  seen  in 
numbers.  It  seems  to  make  no  nest: — the  eggs  are 
laid  on  the  sand,  and  often  at  a  very  considerable  dis- 
tance from  the  sea ;  as,  for  instance,  on  the  warrens 
in  Norfolk  and  Suffolk.  They  are  four  in  number, 
very  large   in   proportion   to   the   size   of   the  bird, 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  163 

possessing  the  peculiar  pointed  shape  of  the  eggs  of 
the  entire  class  of  birds  we  are  now  among,  and  of  a 
warm  cream-colour,  spotted  and  streaked  with  black. 
The  parent  birds  try  hard  to  lead  the  casual  intruder 
away  from  the  vicinity  of  their  young. — Fig.  '6,  plate 
VIL 

LITTLE  RINGED  PLOVER— (^^'^/zV/V  curonica  ; 
formerly,  Charadrius  minor). 

A  very  rare  British  bird. 

KENTISH  PLOVER— {^^^/^//V/j  Cantiana ; 
formerly,  Charadrius  Cantianus). 

Seldom  obtained  very  far  from  the  southern  coasts 
of  England,  and  not  appearing  to  be  a  very  plentiful 
bird  even  there.  In  habits  it  strongly  resembles  the 
Ring  Plover  just  named.  The  female  makes  no  nest, 
but  lays  her  four  eggs  in  a  slight  hollow  on  sand  or 
shingle ;  which  strongly  resemble  some  of  the  lighter- 
coloured  examples  of  the  eggs  of  the  last-named 
species. — Fig.  ^,  plate  VII. 

GOLDEN  VhO^^'R— {Charadrius pluvialis). 

Yellow  Plover,  Green  Plover,  Whistling  Plover. — 
It  has  sometimes  been  an  object  to  me  to  obtain  speci- 
mens of  this  bird  in  its  breeding-plumage,  and  it  is 
scarcely  possible  to  imagine  a  stronger  contrast  than 
that  presented  by  the  male  in  his  May  dross  and  six 
or  eight  months  later.  All  the  glossy  black  of  neck 
and  breast  has  entirely  disappeared  long  before  the 
latter  period.     I  have  occasionally  seen  a  single  pair 


164  British  Birds, 

or  two,  very  early  in  the  year,  separating  themselves 
from  the  great  flock  of  some  scores  ;  and  in  the  female 
of  one  such  pair  which  I  shot  some  few  years  since 
(the  next  shot  killing  five  out  of  a  very  large  flock,  at 
no  great  distance),  I  found  an  ^gg  quite  ready  for  ex- 
trusion, and  which,  from  the  depth  of  its  colouring, 
would  probably  have  been  laid  in  the  course  of  a  few 
hours  at  most.  The  hen-bird  makes  a  very  slight 
nest,  and  lays  just  four  eggs  in  it,  seldom  either  more 
or  less.  They  are  of  a  large  size  for  the  bird,  of  a  fair 
stone-colour,  well  blotched  and  spotted  with  very  dark 
or  blackish  brown.  After  sitting  eight  or  ten  days 
the  bird  becomes  very  reluctant  to  leave  her  nest,  and 
will  suffer  herself  to  be  almost  trodden  on  rather. 
The  young  ones,  awkward-looking,  mottled  yellow 
and  brown  puff-balls  on  stilts,  run  fast  and  well  soon 
after  they  are  hatched,  and  do  not  speedily  acquire 
the  use  of  those  wings  which,  after  a  time,  are  to  be 
so  strong  and  swift.  Very  jealous,  too,  are  the 
parents  as  long  as  their  young  are  only  runners,  and 
very  plaintive  is  their  incessant  piping  if  you  or  your 
dog  approach  too  near  their  place  of  concealment. — 
Fig.  %  plate  VII. 

GREY  V'LO\^'R—{Sqiiataroia  Helvetica;  formerly, 
5,  cinerea). 
A  bird  which  has  never  been  ascertained  to  breed 
in  England,  although  specimens  in  the  dark-breasted 
May  plumage  have  been  seen  in  the  London  markets, 
and  observed  by  Mr.  Selby  in  the  Fame  Islands  in 
June.  It  is  not  uncommon  as  a  winter  visitor,  though 
even  then  nothing  like  so  rmmerous  as  the  Golden 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  165 

Plover  in  its  winter  visits  to  districts  in  which  it  does 
not  breed.  The  eggs  are  said  to  be  in  colour  "  oil  green, 
spotted  with  different  shades  of  umber  brown,  the 
spots  crowded  and  confluent  round  the  obtuse  end." 

LAPWING — (  Vanellus  viilgaj-is  ;  formerly, 
V.  cr  is  tat  us). 

Pewit  or  Peewit,  Te-wit,  Teu-fit,  Green  Plover, 
Bastard  Plover,  Green  Lapwing,  Crested  Lapwing. — 
Another  of  those  birds  which  are  familiar  to  almost 
everyone  who  is  not  a  mere  casual  visitor  to  the 
country,  or  quite  deaf  and  blind  to  its  commonest 
sounds  and  sights.  It  is  a  very  universally  diffused 
bird,  even  in  those  districts  where  it  does  not  statedly 
breed.  It  nests  not  only  on  commons  and  heaths  and 
the  w^ide  moor,  but  in  the  fields  and  inclosures ;  and 
round  my  present  residence  I  have  many  yearly  evi- 
dences that  there  are  half-a-dozen  nests  within  the 
limits  of  a  short  half-mile  which  intervenes  between 
me  and  the  moors.  The  female  constructs  scarcely 
any  nest,  properly  so  called,  but  makes,  or  more  likely 
avails  herself  of  a  ready-made,  slight  cavity  on  the 
surface  of  the  ground,  with  a  sufficiency  of  some  kind 
of  herbage  to  serve  as  covert.  The  female's  habits  in 
connection  with  the  nest  and  eggs  are  different  from 
the  male's.  She  slips  off  on  the  approach  of  a  visitor, 
and  runs  very  silently  and  quietly  away  to  some  dis- 
tance before  taking  wing  ;  he  hastens  up  on  rapid, 
sounding,  whirling  wing,  and  cries  and  dashes  and 
wheels  above  and  around  the  cause  of  alarm  in  a  very 
remarkable  manner.  The  Peewit  lays  four  eggs,  of 
large  size  and  acutely  pointed  at  the  lesser  end,  and 


1 66  British  Birds ^ 

like  so  many  others  of  the  class,  often  arranged  so  as 
to  occupy  the  least  possible  space,  by  having  their 
points  all  turned  inward.  They  are  of  a  darkish 
olive-dun  ground,  abundantly  blotched  and  spotted 
with  brown  and  black.  These  eggs  are  much  sought 
after  as  delicacies  for  the  table.  They  are  boiled  hard 
and  served  cold,  and  when  the  shell  is  removed  they 
have  quite  a  jelly-like  appearance.  But  few  of  the 
eggs,  however,  sold  in  the  market  as  "  plovers'  eggs," 
are  sometimes  recognised  by  the  oologist  as  having 
been  laid  by  the  Lapwing. — Fig.  5,  plate  VII. 

TURNSTONE— (5/r^/.f//^i-  interpres). 

Hebridal  Sandpiper. — Found  on  many  parts  of  our 
coast  either  in  small  parties,  or  one  or  two  together, 
from  September  all  through  the  winter.  In  the 
spring  it  leaves  us  to  go  to  the  north  for  breeding 
objects,  but  it  has  never  yet  been  fully  proved  to  have 
nested  within  the  limits  of  the  British  Islands.  We 
cannot  therefore  notice  its  nest  and  eggs  in  this  place. 

OYSTER-CATCHER— (/2^^;;^«/^/^7/j  ostralegus). 

Pied  Oyster  -  catcher,  Shelder,  Sea -Pie,  Olive. — A 
very  beautiful  and  well-known  dweller  on  our  sea- 
coasts,  and  wonderfully  provided  by  nature,  too,  with 
a  suitable  instrument  for  purveying  its  destined  food. 
The  bill  of  the  Oyster-catcher  is  one  of  those  natural 
objects  which  form  each  a  study  in  themselves.  Wo«^ 
be  to  the  oyster  or  mussel,  however  powerful  its 
mechanism  for  closing  its  valves,  if  once  the  Oyster- 
catcher  has  found  means  to  insert  that  natural  weapon 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  167 

of  his.  Flattened  sideways,  and  liard  and  strong  as  so 
much  bone,  its  efficacy  is  so  great  that  there  can  be 
scarcely  a  struggle  for  life  on  the  part  of  the  shell-fish. 
This  bird  runs  well,  and  is  even  said  to  dive  and  swim 
with  facility.  I  never  saw  this,  though  I  have  had 
them  under  my  observation  for  hours  together  in 
former  days.  But  I  knew  their  shrill,  rattling  whistle, 
and  their  short  uneasy  flights,  and  restless  paddlings 
up  and  down  upon  the  ooze,  ^vhen  I  have  been  among 
their  haunts,  well ; — and  many  a  nest  it  used  to  be  my 
lot  to  discover  on  some  parts  of  some  of  the  Essex  Salt- 
ings. The  eggs,  usually  three  or  four  in  number,  are 
laid  on  the  bare  ground,  sometimes  in  slight  holes 
amid  the  Salting  herbage  above  high-water  mark  ;  or 
where  there  is  shingle,  in  some  cavity  among  its 
higher  and  coarser  layers.  They  are  cream-coloured, 
of  varying  shades  of  w^armth,  and  blotched  and 
spotted,  or  spotted  and  strongly  streaked  with  very 
dark  brown  and  some  few  touches  of  a  lighter  hue. — 
Fig,  G,  piaU  VI L 


FAMILY     IV.— SCOLOPACID^. 

AVOCET — {Reciirvirostra  avocctta). 

Butterflip,  Scooper,  Yeli)er,  Cobbler's  Awl,  Crooked- 
bill,  Cobbler's-Awl  Duck. — Fast  verging  on  extinc- 
tion. In  Sir  Thomas  Browne's  time,  it  was  not  at  all 
uncommon ;  but  of  late  years  seldom  recorded  as 
having  been  "  obtained  "  or  met  with.  If  only  people 
weren't  so  fond  of  "  obtaining"  our  rare  birds.  But 
nowadays,  when  every  third  person  has  a  gun,  the 


1 68  British  Birds ^ 

appearance  of  a  "  rare  bird  "  is  enough  to  set  half  a 
village  off  in  pursuit,  and  the  great  object  of  hundreds 
throughout  the  country  seems  just  to  be  to  destroy 
the  casual  feathered  visitor,  however  interesting  it 
may  be,  or  whatever  claims  it  might  seem  to  possess 
on  our  hospitality.  The  Avocet's  bill  and  plumage 
are  enough  to  point  it  out  for  slaughter,  and  so, 
slaughtered  it  has  been.  It  used  to  breed  in  Sussex 
and  Norfolk.  "  The  nest  is  said  to  be  a  small  hole  in 
the  drier  parts  of  extensive  marshes.  The  eggs  are 
said  to  be  only  two  in  number,  of  a  clay-coloured 
brown,  spotted  and  speckled  with  black." 

BLACK- WINGED  ^T\\Jl—{Hinia7ttopiis  candidus ; 
formerly,  H.  melanopterus). 

Long-legged  Plover,  Long-Legs,  Long-Shanks,  Stilt 
Plover. — Not  so  very  uncommon  as  a  visitor  :  but  still, 
strictly  speaking,  only  accidental  in  its  appearance  here. 

GREY  VYLKLAROV¥.—{Phalaropus  fulicariits  ; 
formerly,  P.  lobaius). 

Red  Phalarope. — Supposed,  some  half  century 
since,  to  be  exceedingly  rare  in  this  country,  but 
now  known  to  visit  our  shores  in  small  numbers, 
perhaps  annually,  on  their  way  to  their  winter  place 
of  sojourning.  Like  the  Coot,  they  are  lobe-footed, 
and  very  capable  swimmers. 

RED-NECKED  PHALAROPE— (P//^/^;'^//^j 

hyperboreus). 

Red  Phalarope. — More  rare  than  the  last-named  in 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  169 

England,  thimgli  occurring,  occasionally,  somewhat 
more  abundantly  in  some  of  the  northern  Scotch 
Islands. 

WOODCOCK— (5r^^/^^  riistieold). 

One  of  our  most  universally  recognised  "birds  of 
passage,"  coming  to  us  sometimes  in  the  autumn 
(always,  at  least,  beginning  to  arrive  in  October),  and 
leaving  us  again  in  the  spring.  Still  no  season  passes 
in  which  many  pairs  do  not  remain  to  breed,  and  that, 
too,  in  many  different  parts  of  the  kingdom.  It  was 
an  object  to  me  some  tifty  years  ago  to  obtain  eggs 
of  the  Woodcock,  and  I  applied  to  a  person  in  Norfolk, 
who  had  not  any  difficulty  in  procuring  for  me  eggs 
from  the  gamekeeper  of  a  neighbouring  estate  out  of 
two  different  nests  which  had  been  deserted  by  their 
owners.  My  friend  added  the  information,  that 
scarcely  a  year  passed  in  which  one  nest  or  more  of 
Woodcocks  was  not  known  of  on  the  estate  in  ques- 
tion. Their  nests  are  not  uncommon  in  some  parts  of 
Galloway.  The  nest,  a  very  loose  one,  is  made  of 
dead  leaves  and  the  like,  bracken  leaves  appearing  to 
be  commonly  used  for  the  purpose.  The  eggs  are 
usually  about  four  in  number,  and  want  the  peculiar 
pointed  shape  common  to  almost  all  the  other  birds  of 
the  Order.  They  are  of  a  dirty  yellowish-white,  a 
good  deal  blotched  and  spotted  with  two  or  three 
shades  of  pale  brown  and  purplish-grey.  The  old 
bird  is  known  to  transport  her  young,  if  occasion 
demands,  from  one  place  to  another.  She  has  been 
seen  doing  so  repeatedly,  and  by  good  observers, 
generally  making  use  of  both  feet  for  the  purpose, 


170  British  Birds ^ 

sometimes  one  only  ;  and,  it  is  said,  using  her  beak 
sometimes  for  the  same  purpose. — Fig.  1,  plate  IX, 

GREAT  '^'m^Y,—{Gallinago  major ;  formerly, 
S  CO  lop  ax  major). 

Solitary  Snipe,  Double  Snipe. — Often  taken,  no 
doubt,  by  many  a  sportsman  in  former  days  to  be  a 
very  large  specimen  of  the  Common  Snipe,  than 
which  no  bird  with  which  I  am  well  acquainted 
seems  to  vary  more  in  size.  On  the  wing  it  does  not 
look  much  larger  than  the  Common  Snipe,  and  is 
seldom  seen  except  alone,  or  at  most  two  in  company. 
It  breeds  in  high  northern  localities,  and  never  with 
us,  and  no  notice,  therefore,  of  its  nesting  habits  is 
permissible  in  this  place. 

COMMON  ^'^lV^—{Gallinago  Ccelestis ;  formerly, 
Scolopax  gallinagd). 

Whole  Snipe,  Suite,  Heather-bleater. — Although 
this  snipe,  like  the  Woodcock,  retires  to  northern 
latitudes  to  breed,  yet  there  are  few  districts  in 
Britain  suitable  to  its  habits  in  which  it  is  not  known 
to  breed  in  greater  or  less  numbers.  And  it  is  a  bird, 
moreover,  which  is  quite  sure  to  make  it  very  dis- 
tinctly known  that  it  has  a  nest  and  eggs  somewhere 
near,  if  only  any  human  visitor  appears  on  the  scene. 
I  refer  to  the  very  peculiar  note  or  sound  emitted  by 
the  male,  always  while  he  is  on  the  wing  high  in  the 
air,  and  always  accompanied  with  a  very  remarkable 
action  of  his  wings  and  curving  descent  in  his  flight. 
This  sound  or  note — for  it  is  not  absolutely  certain,  I 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  171 

think,  how  it  is  produced — is  variously  called  hum- 
ming, bleating,  drumming,  buzzing.  To  me,  the  first 
time  I  heard  it,  and  before  I  knew  to  what  oricjin  to 
assign  it,  the  impression  produced  was  precisely  that 
of  the  sound  made  by  a  large  Bee,  entangled  in  some 
particular  place  and  unable  to  extricate  itself ;  and  I 
remember  spending  some  minutes  in  trying  to  discover 
the  supposed  insect.  The  eggs  are  usually  four,  placed 
in  a  very  slight  and  inartificial  nest  on  the  ground 
near  some  tuft  of  rushes  or  other  water-herbage. 
They  are  of  a  greenish-olive  hue,  blotched  and  spotted 
with  two  or  three  shades  of  brown,  the  deepest  being 
very  dark.  The  old  ones  are  said  to  be  very  jealous 
and  careful  of  their  young.  Many  couples  are  often 
killed  on  the  moors  in  this  district  on  or  just  after  the 
12th  of  August.— i^/^f.  %  plate  IX, 

JACK  SNIPE. — {Gallinago gallimda  ;  formerly, 
S  CO  I  op  ax  gal  tin  tild) . 

Judcock,  Half  Snipe — A  little  bird,  very  often  seen 
quite  late  in  the  spring,  but  no  specimen  of  whose  egg 
undoubtedly  laid  in  Britain  lias,  as  far  as  I  know,  ever 
yet  been  produced.  It  may  breed  here,  in  some  few 
instances,  but  none  such  are  yet  ascertained.  No 
notice  of  its  eggs  can  consequently  be  inserted  here. 

RED-BREASTED  Sl::^lPE—{illacrora7np/ms  griseus). 
"  A  very  rare  straggler." 

BROAD-BILLED  SANDPIPER— (A /;;//V^/^ 

platyrhynca  ;  formerly,  Tringa  platyr/iynca). 

Of  very  rare  occurrence. 


172  British  Birds y 

PECTORAL  SANDPIPER— (T-r/^^^  macidaia; 
formerly,  T.  pectoralis). 

Not  so  rare  as  the  last. 

BONAPARTE'S  SANDPIPER— ( 7V/^^^  fuscicollis  ; 
formerly,  T.  ScJdnzii). 

Very  rarely  met  with. 

J)'\]'^\A^—{Tringa  Alpina ;  formerly,  T.  variabilis). 
Dunlin  Sandpiper,  Purre,  Churr,  Stint,  Oxbird,  Sea 
Snipe,  Least  Snipe,  Sea  Lark.  —  Perhaps  the  very 
commonest  and  best  known,  as  well  as  incomparably 
the  most  abundant  of  all  our  small  shore  birds,  and 
yet  the  one  about  which  heaps  of  scientific  mistakes 
have  been  made.  The  male  has  a  conspicuous  wedding- 
dress,  which  he  duly  puts  on  in  the  spring,  and  once 
it  was  on  he  was  christened  Tringa  Alpina,  the  Dunlin. 
Then  in  the  autumn  and  winter,  having  divested  him- 
self alike  of  his  summer  dress  and  all  property  or 
concern  in  wife  and  children,  he  was  named  anew 
Tringa  Cincliis,  the  Purre.  On  its  being  satisfactorily 
ascertained  that  the  only  real  difference  between 
Dunlin  and  Purre  was  that  of  a  few  feathers,  and 
those  chiefly  on  the  breast,  and  dependent  simply  on 
season,  the  new  name  at  the  head  of  this  notice  was 
suggested  and  willingly  adopted  as  altogether  a  fit 
one.  The  Dunlin,  always  called  Oxbird  where  my 
boyhood  was  spent,  and  often  seen  there  in  flocks  of 
not  simply  hundreds,  but  thousands,  and  many 
thousands,  in  the  autumn  and  winter,  goes  to  the  far 
north  to  breed,  though  some  of  their  hosts  stay  in  the 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  173 

north  of  Scotland,  the  Hebrides,  Orkneys  and  other 
islands  near.  Their  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground, 
among  long  grass  and  ling,  and  alwa^^s  contain  four 
eggs.  Mr.  Hewitson  says  : — "  In  beauty  of  colouring 
and  elegance  of  form  the  eggs  of  the  Dunlin  are  un- 
rivalled. The  ground-colour  is  sometimes  of  a  clear 
light  green,  richly  spotted  with  light  brown ;  some- 
times the  ground-colour  is  of  a  bluish-white."  The 
hen  will  suffer  herself  to  be  removed  from  her  nest  by 
the  hand  rather  than  leave  her  eggs. — Fig.  3,  plate  IX, 


LITTLE  ^Tmi;:—{Tringa  mimita\ 

Not  to  be  described  altogether  as  a  rare  little  bird, 
for  it  seems  to  be  met  with  sometimes  in  autumn  on 
the  southern  and  eastern  coasts  in  some  numbers,  and 
even  in  flocks  of  twenty  or  thirty  together.  They  are 
often  seen  in  company  with  the  Dunlin  or  other  small 
shore-birds.  Much  more  is  known  about  their  breed- 
ing places  or  habits  than  used  to  be  the  case.  It  breeds 
in  Siberia,  and  other  northern  localities. 

AMERICAN  ^TmT—{Tringa  minutella). 
Twice  met  with  in  England. 

TEMMINCK'S  ^Tl^T—{Tringa  TemmincHi). 

Less  even  than  the  Little  Stint,  and  much  more  rare  ; 
besides  which  it  frequents  fresh  waters  rather  than  the 
sea-shore.  No  very  great  number  of  them,  however, 
has  been  met  with  in  England. 


174  British  Birds ^ 

CURLEW  SANDPIPER— (T^^^Vz^^  subarquata). 

This  little  bird  was  till  lately  considered  to  be  a 
very  rare  and  occasional  visitor.  But  it  is  very  likely 
to  have  been  confused  with  the  Dunlin,  or  other  small 
shore-birds,  and  is  now  supposed  even  to  breed 
occasionally  in  our  country.  During  autumn  it 
is  sometimes  seen  in  small  groups  or  flocks. 
"  M.  Temminck  says  this  bird  breeds  occasionally  in 
Holland,  and  that  the  eggs  are  yellowish-white,  spotted 
with  dark  brown." 

PURPLE  ^K^T>VI?l^'R—{Tri?iga  striata ; 
formerly,  T.  maritima). 

Selninger  Sandpiper,  Black  Sandpiper. — Not  a 
very  numerous  species,  but  by  no  means  infrequent  on 
the  British  coasts.  Very  few,  however,  are  seen  except 
in  winter  and  early  spring,  the  far  greater  part  resort- 
ing to  some  place  far  in  the  north  to  nest.  Still  it 
seems  almost  certain  that  a  few  breed  with  us  in  North 
England  and  Scotland  It  lays  four  eggs  of  "a 
yellowish-grey  colour,  varied  with  small  irregular  spots 
of  pale  brown,  thick  at  the  obtuse  end,  rarer  at  the 
other." 

K^0T—{Tri7iga  Canuius). 

Camden  says  this  bird  derived  its  name  from  the 
Danish  King  Knut  or  Cnut  (generally  written  Canute, 
but  not  properly  pronounced  so),  probably  because  he 
was  very  fond  of  eating  them.  A  very  poor  piece  of 
etymology  I  should  almost  think.  It  is  not  uncom- 
monly met  with  in  autumn  on  several  parts  of  our 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  175 

coasts,  and  as  far  as  I  have  seen  is  b}'  no  means  diffi- 
cult to  approach.  But  its  breeding-place  is  very  much 
more  to  the  north  than  any  portion  of  the  British 
Islands  extends.  The  male  in  his  nuptial  dress  is  a 
very  much  gayer  gentleman  than  after  his  annual 
honeymoon  is  over. 

SANDERLING— (r^/Z-^r/j  areitarid). 

Common  Sanderling,  Sanderling  Plover. — A  by  no 
means  unusual  visitant  to  most  parts  of  our  coasts, 
and  sometimes  met  with  also  at  the  edge  of  large 
pieces  of  fresh  water,  but  never  known  hitherto  to 
have  bred  with  us.  It  is  found  associating  most  com- 
monly, though  in  small  parties  for  the  most  part,  with 
the  Dunlin,  and  other  similar  shore-haunting  birds. 

RUFF— (  Machetes  pugnax). 

Female,  Reeve. — Time  was,  and  not  nearly  a  century 
ago  either,  when  one  fenman  could  take  six  dozen  of 
these  birds  in  a  single  day.  Now,  I  fear,  he  would 
scarcely  get  that  number  in  several  years.  The  Ruff 
is,  however,  still  known  to  breed  annually  in  some 
parts  of  Lincolnshire  and  Norfolk.  The  variety  of 
plumage,  no  less  than  the  very  remarkable  ruff  or 
feathery  appendage  about  the  neck  of  the  male  in 
the  breeding  season,  is  quite  sufficient  to  make  this  a 
very  conspicuous  bird  among  our  truly  native  birds. 
Scarcely  any  two  males  in  an  assemblage  of  some 
dozens  can,  in  some  cases,  be  picked  out  as  possessing 
exactly  the  same  plumage.  The  breeding  habits,  or 
some  of  them,  observed   in    this  bird  are  also  very 


176  British  Birds ^ 

characteristic.  His  Latin  name,  as  given  above,  simply 
means  "  pugnacious  warrior,"  and  verily  he  is  as 
thorough  a  lover  of  battle  as  any  knight-errant  of  the 
Middle  Ages,  or  fierce  Northern  sea-rover  of  four  or 
five  centuries  earlier.  They  do  not  pair,  and  therefore 
fight  for  the  possession  of  the  females,  and  they  used 
to  have  spots,  known  to  the  fenmen  by  the  name  of 
Hills,  which  were  as  much  the  scenes  of  universal 
challenge  and  battle  as  ever  the  stated  "  lists  "  of  the 
old  days  of  tournament  or  playing  at  battle.  This 
habit  of  theirs  facilitated  the  process  of  capture  very 
materially,  and  by  means  of  a  peculiar  kind  of  net, 
duly  arranged  before  the  day  began  to  dawn,  the 
fowler  was  enabled  to  capture  all,  or  almost  all,  who 
had  been  attracted  by  their  peculiar  instincts  to  the 
vicinity  of  any  given  "  hill."  The  Keeves  lay  each  her 
four  eggs,  which  vary  in  colour  from  olive-green  to  a 
yellowish  stone-colour,  and  are  spotted  and  blotched 
with  "  liver-colour  "  and  rich  brown. 

BUFF-BREASTED  SANDPIPER— ( rrj/;^^//^.? 
rufesce?is  ;  formerly,  Tringa  rufescens). 

It  has  occurred  perhaps  some  half-dozen  times. 

BARTRAM'S  SANDPIPER— (^^r/;-^^/^  longi- 
Cauda;  formerly,  Totanus  Bartramia). 

A  rare  straggler  to  our  coasts. 

COMMON  SANDPIPER— (rd?/^;/2/^  hypoleuca). 

Summer    Snipe,    Willy    Wicket,    Sand   Lark. — A 
pretty  little  bird  enough,  and  seeming  to  be  pretty 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  177 

extensively  diffused,  tliouG;h  not  a  numerous  species 
anywhere.  It  is  commonly  seen  rannin<^  briskly 
along  by  the  water  edge  of  streams  or  lakes,  or  per- 
haps flitting  along  as  disturbed  by  your  sudden 
invasion  of  its  haunt.  Unlike  the  Dipper,  which  may 
constantly  be  seen  sitting  quite  still  near  the  edge  of 
the  stream,  the  Summer  Snipe  is  always  in  motion. 
It  makes  a  very  rude  nest  of  dry  grass  in  some  hole 
in  a  bank  not  far  from  water,  where  the  shelter  and 
concealment  of  sufficient  herbage  is  available,  and 
lays  in  it  four  eggs,  which  vary  often  in  colour  and 
spots,  but  are  usually  of  a  yellowish-white,  with 
blotches  and  spots  of  deep  brown  or  ordinary  brown. 
The  eggs  are  sometimes  laid  on  the  bare  ground 
among  shingle  or  collections  of  small  pebbles. — Fig.  5, 
plate  ^VIIL 

SPOTTED  SANDPIPER— (r^/^??;/^  viaadarius). 

A  visitor,  but  one  of  the  rarest  and  most  casual  of 
all  our  feathered  visitors. 

GREEN  SANDPIPER— (r^/^7/7/j-  ochrop^is). 

It  is  supposed  that  a  few  of  these  birds  may  remain 
with  us  to  breed ;  but  far  the  greater  part  of  those 
which  are  customarily  seen  about  the  sides  of  our 
smaller  streams  and  ditches  and  canals,  are  known  to 
return  far  to  the  north  to  produce  their  eggs  and 
young.  I  believe  no  authenticated  instances  of  its 
nesting  with  us  are  known,  but  a  few  very  young 
birds  have  been  met  with  under  circumstances  which 
seemed  to  leave  uo  doubt  that  they  must  have  been 

M 


1/8  British  Birds, 

hatched  in  the  neighbourhood.  The  nest  is  said  to 
be  placed  "  on  a  bank,  or  among  grass,  on  the  side  of 
a  stream,"  and  the  eggs,  four  in  number,  to  be  of  a 
greenish  ground-colour,  spotted  with  different  shades 
of  brown,  light  and  dark,  and  with  gray. 

WOOD  SANDPIPER— (r^/^;?2/j-  glarcold). 

This  Sandpiper  resembles  the  last  in  some  degree, 
and  the  two  have  been  sometimes  looked  upon  as 
varieties  of  the  same  species.  It  is  not  by  any  means 
a  frequently  occurring  visitor,  though  it  seems  to  be 
admitted  that  it  is  more  than  probable  it  sometimes 
breeds  in  this  country.  Mr.  Hoy's  account  of  its 
habits  and  nesting  peculiarities,  as  observed  by  him- 
self in  Dutch  Brabant,  is  quoted  at  length  by  both 
Mr.  Yarrell  and  Mr.  Hewitson.  He  says,  "  The  nest 
is  generally  placed  at  a  short  distance  from  the  water, 
among  stunted  heath,  or  scrubby  plants  of  the  Bog- 
Myrtle,  or  among  coarse  grass  and  rushes.  It  is 
placed  in  a  hollow,  and  formed  of  dry  grass  and  other 
plants.  The  eggs  are  four  in  number.  They  are 
pointed  in  shape,  of  a  pale  greenish  white,  spotted 
and  speckled,  particularly  over  the  broad  end,  with 
dark  reddish  brown." 

COMMON  REDSHANK— (r^/^w?/.?  calidris). 
Redshank    Sandpiper,    Teuke,    Pool    Snipe,   Sand 
Cock,   Red-legged  Horseman,  Red-legged  Sandpiper. 

One  of  the  most  familiar  of  all  our  birds  to  me  in 

my  youth.  Many  long  days  have  I  spent  amid  their 
haunts  on  the  Essex  Saltings.     Their  nests  are  very 


TJicir  Eggs  and  Nests,  179 

slii:^htly  constructed  of  a  few  bits  of  grass  amidst  a 
tuft  of  herbage,  or  in  a  small  hole  or  cavity  which  is 
sheltered  by  some  of  the  taller-growing  marine  plants. 
The  eggs  are  usually  four  in  number,  occasionally  but 
two  or  three,  of  a  cream-colour  (sometimes  dashed 
with  a  somewhat  warmer  hue)  spotted  and  speckled 
with  dark  brown.  The  spots  are  less  and  more 
numerous  than  in  the  case  of  the  Peewit's  e^cs:.  In 
the  case  of  the  last  nest  I  found,  now  many  years 
since,  the  old  bird  suffered  me  to  walk  within 
a  yard  of  her  before  taking  flight.  When  the  young- 
are  newly  hatched  the  parent  birds  betray  excessive 
jealousy  and  anxiety  at  the  approach  of  either  man 
or  dog  to  their  resort.  They  have  sometimes  come 
and  settled  on  the  ground  within  two  or  three  paces 
of  me,  and,  at  others,  flown  so  directly  towards  me,  as 
to  suggest  the  possible  intention  of  attacking  me, 
piping  most  plaintively  and  incessantly  the  while. 
This  conduct  is  designated  by  the  term  "  mobbing," 
on  the  Essex  marshes. — Fig.  ^^  plate  VIII. 

SPOTTED  REDSHANK— Cr^/^«7^j:  fusais). 
Spotted  Snipe,  Dusky  Sandpiper,  Black-headed 
Snipe.  —  A  bird'  which  varies  much  in  plumage 
according  to  season,  being  almost  black  in  the 
summer — but  only  an  occasional  visitor,  and  scarcely 
anything  known  certainly  of  its  ne.st  or  breeding 
habits. 

YELLOW-SHANKED  SANDPIPER— ( Toianus 
flavipes). 

Exceedingly  rare. 


I  So  British  Birds. 

GREENSHANK— (  Totayius  glottis). 

Cinereous  Godwit,  Green-legged  Horseman. — I  used 
to  meet  with  it  occasionally  in  the  early  autumn  on 
the  Essex  Saltings,  and  remember  thinking  I  had  got 
a  prize  the  first  time  I  shot  one,  and  noticed  its 
slightly  upturned  bill.  It  is  only  rare  as  a  species, 
and  not  known  positively  to  breed  anywhere  much 
south  of  the  Hebrides.  The  nest  is  said  to  be  like 
that  of  the  Golden  Plover  or  Lapwing,  consisting 
only  of  a  few  blades  of  grass  or  sprigs  of  ling,  placed 
in  a  hollow  in  the  soil.  The  eggs — like  so  very  many 
of  those  characterised  by  the  pyriform  shape  peculiar 
to  the  Grallatores — are  placed  with  their  pointed  ends 
together  in  the  middle,  and  are  of  a  pale  yellowish- 
green  colour,  spotted  all  over  irregularly  with  dark 
brown  with  intermingled  blotches  of  light  purplish- 
grey  ;  the  spots  and  blotches  being  more  numerous  at 
the  larger  end. 

BLACK-TAILED    GODWIT— (Z/w^5^   cEgocephala ; 
formerly,  L,  nielanurd). 

Red-Godwit  Snipe,  Jadreka  Snipe,  Red  Godwit, 
Yarwhelp,  Yarwhip,  Shrieker. — Another  of  those 
birds  which  two  or  three  generations  back  were  ex- 
ceedingly more  abundant  than  now ;  proportionately 
esteemed,  too,  as  an  article  of  delicate  fare  in  the  days 
of  its  frequency,  now  little  heard  of,  or  perhaps 
thought  of.  But  our  forefathers  thought  many 
things  of  the  eatable  sort  good,  which  their  descend- 
ants of  1896  had  rather  not  sit  down  to.  I  rather 
think  my  young  readers  might  not  eat  Porpoise  or 


Their  Eggs  ajid  Ncsis.  i8i 

Heron  cither,  with  any  great  relish,  not  to  speak  of 
other  matters  about  equally,  or  more  questionably, 
"  good  eating."  Both  this  species  of  Godwit  and  the 
one  to  be  mentioned  next  are  subject,  like  the  Golden 
Plover,  the  Gray  Plover,  the  Spotted  Redshank,  and 
many  others  yet  to  be  named,  to  very  great  and  strik- 
ing changes  of  plumage  in  the  breeding  season.  At 
all  times  tbey  are  handsome  birds.  The  Black- 
tailed  Godwit  is  hardly  believed  to  breed  still  in 
England.  The  nest  is  found  in  marshy  places,  made 
of  dry  grass  and  the  like,  and  more  or  less  concealed 
by  the  coarse  growths  peculiar  to  such  places.  The 
eggs  vary  in  both  size  and  colours,  but  are  usually  of 
a  greenish  olive- brown,  marbled  and  blotched  with 
darker  brown ;  and,  as  usual  in  this  class  of  birds,  are 
generally  four  in  number. 

BAR-TAi±^ii:D  GODWIT— (Z/;;^^^^  Lapponica ; 
formerly,  L.  riifa). 

Common  Godwit,  Grey  Godwit,  Red  Godwit,  God- 
wit Snipe,  Red-breasted  Snipe. — Of  much  the  same 
habits  as  the  last,  and  not  remaining  in  this  country 
to  breed,  and  consequently  occurring  much  more 
frequently  in  winter  than  in  spring:  not  at  all  in 
summer.  As  not  nesting  with  us,  no  space  can  be 
conceded  here  for  a  notice  of  its  eggs  and  nest. 

CURLEW— (yy/zw^-wzV/j  arquata). 

Whaup. — As  common  a  bird  as  almost  any  along 
the  whole  of  the  British  coasts.  Sometimes  singly 
and  sometimes  in  groups  of  eight  or  ten,  it  may  be 


1 82  British  Birds, 

seen  along  the  line  of  oozy  shores  or  the  sandy  flats 
which  are  laid  bare  by  the  recedinj^  tide.  When  the 
water  is  sufficiently  high  to  cover  all  its  feeding 
grounds,  it  betakes  itself  to  some  higher  ground  in 
the  vicinity,  to  rest  during  those  hours  of  inactivity 
in  food-search.  When  removing  from  one  place,  or 
one  part  of  the  coast  to  another,  it  usually  flies  in  long 
lines,  which,  however,  scarcely  maintain  the  same 
degree  of  accuracy  as  in  the  case  of  W^ild  Geese  or 
other  line-flying  wild  fowl.  On  the  arrival  of  spring 
the  Curlews  leave  the  coast  and  retire  to  their  breeding 
haunts  in  the  hills  of  the  extreme  north  of  England, 
the  highest  moorlands  of  Scotland,  and  other  similar 
places  in  more  northerly  latitudes  yet.  It  is  very 
abundant  on  the  North  Yorkshire  moors.  Near 
Aysgarth  and  Bolton  I  have  often  seen  from  ten  to 
twenty  flying  and  settling  quite  near  an  intruder  on 
their  breeding  haunts.  Its  note  once  heard  is  suffi- 
ciently noticeable  to  be  easily  recognised  on  any 
future  occasion.  It  makes  a  very  careless  or  rude 
nest,  and  lays  four  eggs,  which  vary  a  good  deal  in  the 
depth  of  the  ground-colour  and  the  amount  of  their 
spots.  It  is  pale  greenish  dun,  varying  to  olive- 
green,  and  spotted  with  darker  shades  of  green  and 
dark  brown. — Fig.  3,  plate  VI I L 

\^WiM'B'KFli—{Numenzusphceopus). 

Whimbrel  Curlew,  Curlew  Jack,  Curlew  Knot,  Half 
Curlew,  Jack  Curlew,  Stone  Curlew,  Tang  Whaap. — 
No  wonder  it  has  the  name  of  Half  Curlew,  for  it 
does  most  strongly  resemble  a  diminutive  Curlew  in 
its  plumage,  shape,  fashion  of  bill,  haunts,  and  many 


Their  Eggs  and  Ncsis.  1 83 

of  its  habits.  It  is  seen,  in  no  great  nnmhers,  on 
many  of  our  coasts  in  winter  ;  but  I  have  met  with  it 
in  former  years  on  the  Essex  Saltings  only  in  the  early 
spring  and  previous  to  its  retirement  to  the  north  to 
breed.  It  is  difficult  to  assert  positively  that  it  fre- 
quents any  part  of  the  main  British  Island  for  that 
purpose  ;  but  it  is  known  to  nest  in  both  Orkney  and 
Shetland.  The  nest  is  said  by  Dr.  Fleming  to  be 
placed  in  exposed  parts  of  a  moor.  The  eggs  are  four 
in  number,  and,  though  very  much  less  in  size,  still 
very  much  like  the  darker  varieties  of  the  Curlew's 
eggs.  The  Whimbrel  is  probably  a  fast  decreasing 
species. 

ESQ'^IMAUX  CURLEW— (A^«;;/£';?z?/j'  horcalis). 
"  A  rare  straggler  in  the  British  Islands."     ("  Ibis  " 
List.) 


ORDER.— GAA^IiE. 

FAMILY— LARID^. 

BLACK  T^VC^—{Hydrochclidon  nigra  ;  formerly, 
Sterna  nigra). 

Blue  Darr. — These  birds  show  considerable  varieties 
in  plumage,  according  to  sex  and  ago.  They  used  to 
be  very  much  more  numerous  than  they  now  are, 
many  of  their  favourite  haunts  having  been  drained 
or  otherwise  broken  up.  Still  it  is  not  uncommon, 
even  yet,  in  some  parts  of  the  fenny  districts — al- 
though other  Terns  build  in  the  close  vicinity  of  the 


184  British  Birds, 

sea,  and  in  dry  sites.  The  Black  Tern,  however, 
selects  marshy  places  and  often  builds  in  very  wet 
spots,  making  a  nest  of  flags  and  grass.  The  eggs  are 
sometimes  four  in  number,  this  being  the  only  Tern 
which  lays  more  than  three.  They  vary  much  in 
colour  and  markings,  some  being  of  a  palish  green, 
others  of  a  brownish  yellow,  or  dull  buff,  but  all 
spotted  and  blotched  with  deep  brown. — Fig.  6, 
plate  XL 

WHITE-WINGED   BLACK  '^Y.^l^—^Hydrochelidon 
leucoptera ;  formerly,  Sterna  leucopterd), 
"A  rare  straggler." 

WHISKERED  'Y^^'^—{Hydrochelidon  hyhrida  ; 

formerly,  Sterna  leucopareid). 
Like  the  last. 

GULL-BILLED  HW^^— {Sterna  Anglica). 

Of  more  frequent  occurrence  than  either  of  the 
two  last;  and  especially  in  Norfolk. 

CASPIAN  T^-K^— {Sterna  Caspia). 

It  may  be  remarked  in  connection  with  the  birds 
we  are  now  among,  that  the  Grebes,  Divers,  Cormor- 
ants are  all  gifted  with  wonderful  powers  of  diving ; 
the  Gulls  and  Terns  are  incapable  of  diving  an  inch. 
The  latter,  buoyant  and  sitting  as  lightly  on  the  water 
as  a  cork ;  the  former  deep-sunken  in  the  water,  and 
seeming  to  require  almost  an  effort  to  support  them- 
selves on  the  surface  at  alL     The  contrast  is  certainly 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  185 

sufficiently  striking,  without  taking  into  account  that 
the  one  group  has  immense  power  of  flight,  and 
exercises  it;  and  the  others  seem  to  have  little  in- 
clination to  use  their  wings  at  all  more  than  is 
absolutely  necessary.  The  handsome  and  large  Tern 
specially  under  notice  does  not  breed  in  this  country^ 
but  is  known  to  inhabit  the  coast  of  some  parts  of  the 
European  continent,  at  no  great  distance  from  our  own 
shores. 

SANDWICH  TERN— (5/^r«^  Canliaca). 

This  bird  has  been  noticed  as  breeding  in  several 
different  localities  on  our  southern  coasts,  and  it  is 
known  to  frequent  both  Coquet  Island  and  one  or 
more  of  the  Fame  Islands  for  the  same  purpose ;  as 
also  several  parts  of  Scotland.  It  lays  three  or  four 
eggs  in  a  hole,  or  rather  cavity,  either  scratched  or 
found  ready-made  in  the  neighbourhood  of  plants  or 
herbage  sufficient  to  afford  some  covert.  The  colour 
of  the  eggs  varies  from  yellowish  white  to  a  buffy 
stone-colour,  and  they  are  thickly  spotted  with  neutral 
tint,  chestnut,  and  deep  rich  brown.  There  is,  indeed, 
considerable  variation  in  the  colourinor  of  the  ecrizs, 
but  all  are  very  beautiful. — Figs.  1,  1,  plate  XL 

ROSEATE  TERN— (5/^r««  Dougallii). 

This  bird  is  known  to  be  a  regular  but  not 
abundant  summer  visitor.  Unlike  many  of  our  re- 
cognised British  Birds,  it  seems  rather  to  increase  in 
numbers  than  to  diminish.  They  associate  with 
other  and  infinitely  more  common  species,  and  closer 


1 86  British  Birds ^ 

observation  only  has  distinguished  between  them  and 
their  eggs  and  those  of  their  more  numerous  associ- 
ates. The  62:2:3  of  the  Roseate  Tern  are  two  or  three 
in  number,  and  vary  among  themselves  to  some  small 
extent.  They  are  usually  of  a  light  yellowish  stone- 
colour,  spotted  and  speckled  with  dark-grey  and  dark- 
brown. 

COMMON  Tm.'^~{Sterna  fluviaiilis  ;  formerly, 
5.  Jdrundo). 

Sea  Swallow,  Tarney  or  Pictarney,  Tarrock,  Pirr, 
Gull-teazer,  etc.  —  Although  distinguished  by  the 
epithet  of  Common,  this  Tern  is  really  not  much 
more  numerous,  and  in  that  sense  common,  than  one 
or  two  other  species  with  which  it  customarily  con- 
sorts. It  is  very  generally  diffused,  however,  and  in 
that  sense  is  common.  It  usually  builds  on  the  ground 
in  marshy  localities  near  large  sheets  of  water,  or  on 
islands  low  and  flat  not  far  from  the  sea.  Sometimes, 
though  more  rarely,  it  builds  upon  low  rocks  or 
slightly  elevated  sand-banks.  They  lay  two  or  three 
eggs,  and  are  exceedingly  and  noisily  restless  and  un- 
easy when  they,  or  especially  their  young,  are  too 
nearly  approached.  Their  eggs  vary  a  good  deal,  but 
most  of  them  are  of  a  medium  stone-colour,  blotched 
and  spotted  with  ash-grey  and  dark  red-brown.  The 
buoyancy  and  power  of  flight  exhibited  by  these 
birds  is  very  observable. — Fig.  Z,  plate  XI. 

ARCTIC  TERN— (5/rr;2^  macrura  ;  formerly, 
S.  arcticd). 

This  Tern,  until  a  comparatively  recent  period,  was 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests,  187 

confounded  with  the  Common  Tern,  but  a  clear  specific 
difference  was  pointed  out  by  M.  Temminck,  and  it  is 
now  acknowledpred  that,  in  many  of  the  more 
northerly  localities  especially,  it  is  a  much  more 
numerous  species  than  the  Common  Tern.  It  breeds 
plentifully  in  Shetland,  Orkney,  and  some  parts  of  the 
Hebrides,  and  in  great  numbers  on  Coquet  Island  and 
one  or  more  of  the  Fames.  It  lays  two  or  three  eggs, 
which  are  exceedingly  like  those  of  the  Common  Tern, 
and  vary  in  the  same  proportion.  Some  have  a 
greenish  shade,  and  others  rather  a  pronounced  buff, 
spotted  and  blotched  as  in  the  case  of  those  of  the 
last-named  species. — Fig.  4,  plate  XL 


LESSER  TW.'^— {Sterna  ininuta). 

Lesser  Sea  Swallow,  Little  Tern. — A  pretty — almost 
a  delicate — little  bird,  and  not  infrequent  on  such 
parts  of  our  coasts  as  are  adapted  to  its  habits.  It 
seems  to  prefer  sand  or  shingle-banks  or  surfaces,  and 
lays  its  two  or  three  eggs  in  any  small  cavity  which 
4t  may  be  lucky  enough  to  find  in  the  selected  place. 
It  is  perfectly  surprising  in  many  cases  how  closely 
the  eggs  laid  resemble  the  stones  and  gravel  among 
which  they  are  laid.  They  are  palish  stone-colour, 
speckled  and  spotted  with  ash-grey  and  dark  brown. 
—Fig.  ^,  plate  XL 


SOOTY  TY.Vx^— {Sterna  fuliginosa). 
It  has  been  met  with  two  or  three  times. 


1 88  British  Birds, 

NODDY  TERN — {^Anous  stolidus  ;  formerly,  Sterna 
stolidd). 

A  bird  of  only  rare  and  casual  occurrence. 

SABINE'S  GULL — {Zenia  Sabinii  ;  formerly,  Larus 
Sabini). 

This,  the  first  of  the  Gulls  which  falls  under  our 
notice,  is  only  a  rare  visitor. 

CUNEATE-TAILED  GJJ'LL—{Rhodostethia  rosed). 
A  very  rare  bird. 

BONAPARTEAN  QTJIA.— {Larus  Philadelphia). 
Like  the  last. 

LITTLE  GULL— (Z^^«j  minutus). 

Not  only  the  least  English  Gull,  but  the  least  of  all 
the  Gulls,  and  a  very  pretty-looking  little  bird.  It  is, 
however,  only  a  visitor,  though  known,  of  late  years, 
as  putting  in  a  more  frequent  appearance  than  had 
been  before  noticed.  f 

BLACK-HEADED  GULL— (Z«r^/j  ridibundus). 

Brown-headed  Gull,  Red-legged  Gull,  Laughing 
Gull,  Pewit  Gull,  Black-cap,  Sea  Crow,  Hooded  Mew. 
— This  is  a  very  numerous,  and,  at  least  at  some 
periods  of  the  year,  a  very  generally  diffused  species. 
At  the  breeding  time,  although  a  few  pairs  may  be 
met  with  in  an  infinite  number  of  localities,  the  great 
bulk  of  the  species  seems  to  collect  at  a  few  chosen 
places.     One  such  place,  in  which  they  used  to  breed 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  189 

in  thousands,  is  on  Scoulton  Mere,  in  Norfolk  ;  an- 
other at  Pallinsburn,  in  Northumberland  ;  and  a  third, 
in  Lincolnshire,  not  far  from  Brigg.  They  have, 
within  the  last  few  years,  bred  in  some*  numbers  at 
Lockerdam,  near  Bolton  Castle,  in  Wensieydale.  The 
nests  are  made  of  sedges,  grass,  and  the  flowering 
part  of  the  reed,  and  are  not  very  deeply  cup-shaped. 
The  bird  lays  three  eggs,  and  there  is  a  very  great 
degree  of  variation  between  them  in  respect  of  colour 
and  markings ;  the  ground  colour  being  sometimes  of 
a  light  blue  or  yellow,  and  sometimes  green,  or  red,  or 
brown.  Some,  too,  are  thickly  covered  with  spots, 
and  others  scarcely  marked  with  a  single  speckle  or 
spot.  In  more  than  one  of  their  great  breeding-places 
the  right  of  gathering  the  eggs  was  rented,  and  some- 
times upwards  of  a  thousand  eggs  collected  in  a  single 
day.  When  the  first  laying  of  eggs  is  taken,  a  second 
batch,  and  even  a  third,  is  produced  ;  but  in  each 
successive  instance,  the  eggs  become  less.  They  are 
used  as  the  Pewit's  eggs  are,  and  al.^o  for  culinary 
purposes. — Fig.  ^,  plate  XL 

THE  GREAT  BLACK-HEADED  GULL— (Z^r/^^ 

ichthycutus). 

One  or  two  specimens  only. 

COMMON  GVh-L—{Lartis  canus). 

Winter  Mew,  Sea  Mew,  Sea  Mall  or  Maw,  Sea  Gull, 
Sea  Cob,  Cob. — This  Gull  is,  on  the  whole,  sufficiently 
general  and  well  known  on  all  parts  of  our  coast  to 
merit  the  ])refix  of  Common,  which  is  usually  applied 
to  it      For  though  it  is  essentially  a  sea-bird,  yet 


190  British  Birds, 

during  some  weeks  in  the  spring,  it  may  frequently  be 
seen  in  the  new-ploughed  or  sowed  fields  at  some 
miles'  distance  from  the  salt  water.  Its  nest  may 
sometimes  be  found  on  marshes  or  low  flat  islands, 
such  as  are  not  rare  in  some  of  our  southern  estuaries, 
while  in  other  districts  it  breeds  on  high  rocks.  In 
either  case,  the  nest  is  a  structure  of  considerable  size, 
formed  of  sea-weed  and  grass,  and  the  female  deposits 
two  or  three  eggs  in  it,  which  are  a  good  deal  varied 
in  appearance :  "  Some,"  says  Mr.  Hewitson,  "  with  a 
ground  colour  of  light  blue,  or  straw  colour,  others 
green  or  brown  ;  some  a  good  deal  like  eggs  of  the 
Oyster-catcher,  others  covered  all  over  with  minute 
spots."  Some,  moreover,  are  sufficiently  well  blotched 
and  spotted  with  ash  colour  and  dark  brown ;  others 
well  streaked  with  the  brown,  but  with  only  a  few 
spots  of  the  grey  colour. — Fig,  2,  plate  XI L 

HERRING  GULL— (Z«;'z/i-  argentatus). 

A  very  numerous  species  in  many  different  parts  of 
the  kingdom,  where  rocky  coasts  sufficiently  high  and 
precipitous  are  met  with.  I  have  seen  it  abundantly 
at  Flamborough  Head  and  St.  Abb's  Head,  and  in 
smaller  numbers  on  many  parts  of  the  Yorkshire 
coast  north  of  Flamborough,  as  well  as  in  others 
not  distant  from  St.  Abb's.  Here  we  see  it  on  the 
ploughed  lands  very  abundantly  in  early  spring.  The 
earliest  date  for  their  appearance  this  year  (1 896)  was 
February  21st.  I  heard  them  also  on  February  26th ; 
and  I  have  heard  them  again  as  late  as  three  days  ago, 
or  May  26th.  It  usually  selects  for  the  site  of  its  nest  a 
flat  ledge  or  other  rock-surface  towards  the  upper  part 


Their  Eggs  mid  Nests.  191 

of  the  cliff,  but  will  sometimes  build  on  a  low  rock  or 
grassy  island.  The  nest  is  like  that  of  the  last  species, 
but  even  larger,  and  usually  contains  three  eggs. 
These  so  strongly  resemble  those  of  the  Lesser  Black- 
back  as  to  make  it  very  difficult  to  distinguish  be- 
tween the  one  and  the  other.  Mr.  Hewitson  says  the 
only  means  of  distinction  available  even  to  an  ex- 
perienced eye  seems  to  depend  on  the  somewhat  greater 
size  of  the  Herring  Gull's  ^^^%,  and  the  larger  and 
more  confluent  character  of  the  blotches  of  surface 
colour. — Fig.  4,  plate  XIL 

LESSER  BLACK-BACKED  GULL— (Z^r/^^  fusciis). 

Yellow-legged  Gull. — This  Gull  is  seen  in  sufficient 
numbers,  and  all  the  year  round,  on  many  parts  of 
the  British  coasts,  and  in  the  south  as  well  as  the 
north.  It  almost  exclusively  prefers  localities  to  breed 
in  which  are  characterised  by  the  presence  of  rocky 
cliffs,  but  yet  makes  a  nest  of  some  considerable 
thickness — even  when  placed  on  the  grassy  summit 
of  some  rocky  island — "  of  grass  loosely  bundled  to- 
gether in  large  pieces,  and  placed  in  some  slight 
depression  or  hollow  of  the  rock."  Its  nests  are 
intermingled,  in  several  places,  with  those  of  the 
Herring  Gull  ;  in  many  places  greatly  exceeding  those 
of  the  latter,  in  others  as  greatly  inferior,  in  number. 
Tlie  eggs  (two  or  three  in  number)  vary  greatly  in 
colouring, — from  a  warm  stone-colour,  through  shades 
of  brown,  to  })ale  green  or  light  olive-green.  The 
spots  and  blotches  vary  too,  and  vary  greatly,  in 
number,  size,  position,  and  intensity ;  neutral-tint, 
chestnut  brown,  and  dark  brown  being  all  met  with, 


192  British  Birds, 

and  sometimes  in  the  same  specimen, — Fig.  Z^  plate 
XII, 

GREAT   BLACK-BACKED   GJJLL—(Larus 
7nari?22is). 

Black-back,  Cob,  Great  Black-and-white  Gull — By 
no  means  a  numerous  species,  and  not  affecting  society 
as  so  many  of  the  other  Gulls  do.  It  breeds,  in  some 
cases,  on  the  Marsh  or  Salting-spaces  met  with  so 
abundantly  on  some  of  the  southern  and  eastern 
shores ;  but  more  commonly  on  rocky  parts  of  the 
coast.  Thus,  it  breeds  very  abundantly  on  the  Orkney 
and  Shetland  Islands.  The  nest  is  made  of  a  large 
quantity  of  dry  grass  simply  thrown  together.  The 
eggs  are  three  in  number,  often  bearing  a  great 
resemblance  to  those  of  the  two  species  last  named, 
but  usually  distinguishable  by  the  larger  masses  of 
surface  colouring,  and  by  some  superiority  in  size. 
The  Black-back's  eggs  are  much  esteemed  as  articles 
of  food,  or  for  cooking  purposes  generally.  The  yolk 
is  very  deep  and  rich-coloured,  and  the  white  colour- 
less or  transparent.  Each  female  will  lay  three  sets 
of  eggs ;  the  first  two  sets  being,  in  some  cases, 
customarily  taken,  and  the  last  left  for  her  to  hatch. 

GLAUCOUS  GJJLL— {Lams  o-iaucus). 

Large  White-winged  Gull,  Burgomaster. — A  Gull 
equally  large  with  the  last  (one  of  which,  shot  by 
myself,  exceeded  six  feet  from  the  tip  of  one  wing  to 
that  of  the  other);  but  one  of  merely  casual  occurrence 
as  a  British  bird. 


TJicir  Ei^gs  and  Nests,  193 

ICELAND  GULL — {Larus  leucoptertis  ;  formerly,  L, 
Is/andicics). 

Lesser  White-winged  Gull. — A  bird  which  has  been 
obtained  in  this  country  from  time  to  time,  but  in 
cases  of  no  great  frequency. 

KITTIWAKE— (i?/>i-^   tridactyla  ;   formerly,  Larus 
iridactylus). 

Tarrock,  Anne  t. — A  very  common  rock-breeding  Gull, 
met  with  on  almost  all  parts  of  our  coasts,  and  nesting 
in  great  numbers  in  many  different  localities.  Flam- 
borough  Head,  St.  Abb's  Head,  the  Bass,  more  than 
one  of  the  Fame  Islands,  are  such  places.  It  places 
its  nest  of  sea-weed  high  up  on  the  face  of  some  rocky 
steep  on  a  narrow  ledge,  and  deposits  therein,  for  the 
most  part,  three  eggs.  These  differ  much  in  colour 
and  in  the  amount  and  position  of  the  spots ;  some 
are  stone-coloured,  some  tinged  with  an  olive  shade, 
and  some  with  a  bluish  cast.  The  spots  and  blotches 
are  of  ash-grey  and  two  or  three  shades  of  brown, 
chestnut  to  umber. —  Fig.  \,  plate  XI I. 

IVORY  Q\^\Aj—{Pagophela  eburnea ;  formerly 

Lanis  eburneus), 
Snow-bira. — A  bird  of  very  raiO  occurrence. 

GREAT  OR  COMMON  '^YJ5L—{Stcrcorarins  catar- 
rhactcs  ;  formerly,  Lestris  catarrhactes). 

Skua  Gull,  Brown  Gull,  Bonxie. — Wo  pass  here 
into  a  somewhat  different  class  of  birds.  The  Skua  is 
as  bold  and  insolent  as  most  of  the  Gulls  arc  timid 
and  retiring.      In   many  instances  these   birds  do   not 


194  British  Birds, 

take  the  trouble  to  fish  for  themselves,  but,  watching 
the  fishing  operations  of  the  Gull,  seize  their  oppor- 
tunity of  assailing  a  successful  fisher,  and  compel  him 
to  disgorge  his  prey.  The  Common  Skua  has  only  a 
very  limited  breeding-range  in  Britain,  not  being 
known  to  nest  out  of  Shetland,  and  to  have  but  three 
places  for  nidification  there.  So  resolute  and  daring 
are  they  when  they  have  young  to  defend,  they  do 
not  scruple  to  attack  the  eagle,  and  a  pair  have  been 
known  to  beat  the  strong,  proud  marauder  effectually 
off.  The  Skua  makes  a  large  nest  of  moor-growing 
moss,  and  takes  some  pains  in  its  construction.  It  is 
placed  among  the  heath  and  moss  of  a  hilly  island. 
The  eggs  are  two  in  number,  and  vary  much  in 
colour;  according  to  locality,  it  would  almost  seem. 
Some  are  dusky  olive-brown,  others  with  a  much 
greener  hue,  and  they  are  blotched  with  darker 
brown,  and  a  few  spots  of  rust  colour. 

POMAKINE  SKUA — {Stercorarius  pomatorhinus  ; 
formerly,  Lestris  pomarinus). 

Merely  a  casual  visitor,  although  more  frequently 
noticed  of  late  years  than  before  ornithology  became 
so  favourite  a  study. 

RICHARDSON'S    OR    ARCTIC    SKUA— (6"^^;-^^^- 
arius  crepidaius ;   formerly,  Lestris  Richardsonii). 

Arctic  Gull,  Black-toed  Gull. — This  species  is  the 
most  numerous  of  all  those  who  visit  this  country.  It 
breeds  in  the  Hebrides,  in  the  Orkneys  and  in  Shet- 
land, and  numerously  enougli  in  the  two  localities  last 
named.     The  female  has  been  observed  to  make  use 


TJicir  Ei!;gs  and  Nests.  195 

of  the  same  artifices  as  the  Partridge  and  the  Grouse 
to  decoy  an  intrusive  dog  or  man  away  from  its  nest 
or  young.  The  nest  is  built  of  moss  or  ling,  on  some 
elevated  knoll  amid  marshy  ground,  or  on  the  moor, 
and  contains  two  eggs.  These  are  of  a  greenish  olive- 
brown  colour,  spotted  with  dark  brown.  This  Skua 
not  only  restlessly  and  pitilessly  persecutes  the  Kitti- 
wake  and  other  Gulls  in  order  to  obtain  its  own  food 
from  them  at  second-hand,  but  also  makes  free  with 
their  eggs  for  the  same  purpose  in  a  very  marauder- 
like fashion. — Fig.  5,  plate  XI I. 

LONG-TAILED  OR  BUFFON'S  SKUA— (S/^r^^r- 
arms  parasiticus  ;  formerly,  Lestris  Buffonii). 
Mr.  Yarrell  distinguishes  between  this  bird  and  the 
true  L.  parasiticus,  and  consequently  adopts  the 
scientific  name  I  have  now  given.  This  Skua  can 
only  be  considered  a  rare  and  accidental  visitor. 


ORDER.— TUBINARES. 
FAMILY.— PROCELLARIID^. 

FULMAR  PETREL— (/^///7;^^r/^j  glacialis ;  formerly, 
Procellaria  glacialis). 

Fulmar,  Northern  Fulmar. — The  Fulmar  breeds  in 
incredible  numbers  at  St.  Kilda,  but  is  rarely  met 
with,  even  in  winter,  about  the  southern  coasts  of 
England.  Both  old  birds  and  tlieir  young  on  being 
touched  eject  a  considerable  quantity  of  clear  oil, 
which,   however,   is   by   no   means   of   an   agreeable 


ig6  British  Birds ^ 

odour ;  and  probably  from  this  cause  the  nest,  youn^ 
birds,  and  even  the  rock  on  which  they  are  placed, 
stink  almost  intolerably.  The  nest  is  very  slight,  if 
any,  and  the  bird  lays  her  single  white  ^^g  in  little  ex- 
cavations, and  lightly  lined,  on  such  shelves  on  the  face 
of  high  precipitous  rocks  as  are  surfaced  with  a  little 
grass  or  sward.  The  ^^g  varies  in  length  from  a 
little  over  1\  inches  to  8  inches. 

CAPPED  VYIYV.YAj—{CEstrelata  hcEsitata), 
Of  almost  unique  occurrence. 

GREAT  SHEARWATER— (P2#;^//^  major). 

Cinereous  Shearwater,  Dusky  Shearwater. — A  bird 
which  has  not  been  very  frequently  recorded  as  met 
with  on  the  British  seas,  but  still  one  of  occasional 
occurrence. 

SOOTY  SHEARWATER— (/'^/^/z^/j  griseus). 

MANX  SHEARWATER— (P^^^^^j:  Anglorum), 

Shearwater  Petrel,  Manx  Puffin. — This  is  a  regular 
seafaring  little  bird,  and  perhaps  would  hardly  ever 
care  to  come  to  land  if  it  were  not  for  the  need  of 
something  solid  for  its  eggs  to  repose  upon.  It  usually 
frequents  islands  well-washed  by  the  sea  and  not 
much  frequented  by  men.  It  used  to  be  very  abund- 
ant on  the  Calf  of  Man,  but  is  never  seen  there  now. 
In  one  of  the  Scilly  Islands  it  breeds  in  some 
numbers  still,  and  on  St.  Kilda,  the  Western  Isles, 
Orkney  and  Shetland.     The  nest  is  made  deep  down 


TJicir  Eggs  and  A^csts.  igy 

in  a  hole  in  some  wild  and  half  inaccessible  part  of 
the  islands  frequented,  and  in  it  one  egg  of  exceed- 
ing whiteness  is  laid,  and  remarkable  for  the  fine 
texture  of  the  shell  and  the  musky  scent  of  the  entire 
Qgg.     It  is  about  2^  inches  long  by  If  broad. 

DUSKY  SHEARWATER— (/^?/^;^/^^  obscums). 
A  rare  straggler. 

BULWER'S   PETREL-(5///et/6^n^   columbina ; 

formerly,  TJialassidroma  Bidwerii). 
A  Petrel  of  sufficiently  rare  occurrence. 

FORK-TAILED  PETREL— (0^;;/^r/^^r^^  lencorrhoa  ; 
formerly,  Thalassidro7Ha  Leachii). 

Breeds  at  St.  Kilda,  and  an  occasional  straggler  on 
the  British  coasts. 

STORM   PETREL— (Pr^r^//^r/^  pelagica  ;   formerly, 
TJialassidroma  procellaria). 

Mother  Carey's  Chicken. — This  is  said  to  be  the 
smallest  web-footed  bird  known.  It  never  comes  to 
the  shore  except  at  the  breeding-season,  and  only 
seeks  comparative  shelter  under  the  pressure  of  very 
heavy  weather.  It  breeds  in  the  Scilly  Islands,  some 
of  the  islands  on  the  Irish  coast,  and  abundantly  on 
St.  Kilda,  the  Orkneys  and  Shetland.  They  breed  in 
holes  in  a  cliff,  or  under  large-sized  stones,  which, 
from  their  great  size  and  accumulation  of  boulders 
and  large  shingle  about  them,  afford  many  deep 
recesses   well    suited   to   the   wants   of    the   nesting 


198  British  Birds, 

Petrel.  Like  tlie  Manx  Shearwater,  tlicy  are  by  no 
means  silent  in  their  nest-holes,  but  make  themselves 
distinctly  audible  to  the  j^assenger  above.  They  lay 
one  white  Q,gg,  a  little  exceeding  1  inch  long,  by  | 
broad. 


FAMILY  IL— OCEANITIDyE. 

WILSON'S   VYH'^'KL—^Oceanites   Oceanicus ; 

formerly,  Thalassidroma  Wilsonii), 
Equally  rare  with  the  bird  last-named. 


ORDER.— PYGOPODES. 

FAMILY  L— ALCID^. 
RAZOR-BILL— (y^/^^  tordd). 

Razor-bill  Auk,  Black-billed  Auk,  Murre,  Marrot. — 
It  may  almost  be  said  that  wherever  the  Guillemot  is 
met  with  the  Razor-bill  is  sure  not  to  be  far  distant. 
They  have  their  habits,  their  food,  their  haunts,  even 
to  a  great  degree  their  general  appearance,  in  common. 
There  is,  however  a  great  difference  both  in  the  shape 
and  size  and  also  in  the  colouring  of  the  single  ^gg 
laid  by  the  Razor-bill,  from  that  of  the  Willock.  It 
is  less  in  proportion,  less  elongated,  wants  the  infinite 
diversity  of  colouring  which  characterises  the  ^gg  of 
the  latter,  the  ground-colour  being  always  whitish  or 
white  tinged  with  some  light  buffy  shade,  and  the 
spots  and  blotches,  which  are  sufficiently  abundant, 
are  some  of  a  reddish  or  chestnut  brown,  others  of  a 
very  deep  rich  brown. — Fig.  ^,  plate  X, 


TJicir  Eggs  and  Nests.  199 

GREAT  KV\^—{Alca  impennis). 

Gair-Fowl. — Not  merely  an  exceedingly  rare  British 
bird,  but  extinct  as  a  British  species.  While  yet  in  ex- 
istence it  was  said  scarcely  ever  to  leave  the  water,  and 
it  laid  its  one  large  Q^g  almost  close  to  high-water 
mark.  These  eggs  are  white  in  ground,  or  sometimes 
soiled  or  slightly  yellowish  white,  blotched  and 
streaked,  most  at  the  larger  end,  with  black.  They 
somewhat  resemble  the  Guillemot's  Q^^g  in  shape,  but 
are  rather  less  elongated.  The  value  of  these  eggs  is 
almost  fabulous,  sixty  guineas  ^  having  been  given  foi- 
a  couple  of  them.  I  had  to  thank  the  late  Mr. 
Champley,  C.E.,  of  Scarborough,  for  most  kindly  send- 
ing me  an  engraving  of  a  Great  Auk's  egg  in  his 
possession,  as  well  as  for  offering  me  access  to  his  ad- 
mirable collection  of  eggs,  numbering  upwards  of 
8,000  specimens. 

COMMON  GUILLEMOT— (6^;/^  troile). 

Foolish  Guillemot,  Willock,  Tinkershere,  Tarrock, 
Scout,  Sea  Hen,  LIurre,  Lavy. — It  is  remarkable  in 
several  particulars  connected  with  its  breeding  peculi- 
arities. It  makes  no  nest,  and  lays  but  one  Qgg,  but 
that  an  egg  of  huge  dimensions  as  contrasted  with  the 
size  of  the  bird  itself ;  besides  which,  it  is  almost 
impossible,  out  of  a  collection  of  many  scores,  to  pick 
out  half  a  dozen  that  are  j^recisely  alike,  either  in 
ground-colour  or  general  markings.  The  eggs  are 
laid  on  the  ledges  of  rocky  precipices  overhanging  the 
sea,  on  various  parts  of  the  British  coasts.     I  have 

^  Morria'a  *'  Dritish  Ijirda.'' 


200  British  Birds, 

frequently  seen  the  Willocks  under  the  impulse  of  a 
sudden  alarm — for  instance  the  firing  of  a  gun  in  the 
close  vicinity  of  their  egg-bestrown  ledges — fly  off  in 
very  large  numbers  and  with  every  symptom  of  pre- 
cipitation. But  no  e^g  is  ever  dislodged ;  a  circum- 
stance which  some  have  sought  to  account  for  on  the 
supposition  that  they  must  be  cemented  to  the  rock  ! 
The  explanation  really  is,  it  would  seem,  that  the 
shape  of  the  Qgg  is  such  that,  instead  of  rolling  oflP  in 
any  direction,  as  a  ball  would  do  on  being  sufficiently 
moved,  they  simply  turn  round  and  round  within  the 
length  of  their  own  axis.  It  would  serve  but  little 
purpose  to  attempt  a  description  of  the  Guillemot's 
egg.  They  are  of  all  shades,  from  nearly  or  quite 
white  to  a  dark  green,  some  profusely  spotted  and 
blotched  and  streaked  with  dark  colours,  others  very 
slightly  so  or  scarcely  at  all.  Unfortunately  the  egg 
is  so  large  that  but  two  illustrations  can  be  given  in 
the  limited  space  available  to  us. — Figs.  1,  2,  plate  X. 

BRUNNICH'S  GUILLEMOT— (^r/^  Brunnichii). 

Thick-billed  Guillemot. — Easily  distinguished  by 
an  experienced  eye  from  the  last,  but  a  bird  of  which, 
perhaps,  it  can  scarcely  be  said  that  it  has  been 
actually  ascertained  to  breed  anywhere  within  the 
limits  of  the  British  Isles.  The  eggs  are  described  as 
varying  from  those  of  the  Common  Guillemot  in  their 
greater  roundness  ;  they  are  less  long  in  proportion  to 
their  thickness  than  the  others,  but  seem  to  run 
through  the  same  endless  variations  of  ground- 
colour. 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  201 

RINGED  GUILLEMOT— (6^r/^  lacrymans). 

Bridled  Guillemot. — There  has  heen  .some  doubt 
whether  this  bird  is  to  be  considered  a  distinct  species, 
or  merely  a  variety  of  the  Common  Guillemot.  It  is 
now  hardly  admitted  as  a  good  species.  It  occurs  in 
company  with  the  other  Guillemot  on  various  parts 
of  our  coasts,  and  in  Wales  is  said  to  be  equally 
numerous  with  it.  The  eprgs  are  scarcely  distinguish- 
able from  those  of  the  other  two  species  already  named, 
and  exhibit  precisely  similar  characteristics. 

BLACK  GUILLEMOT— (^;7^^^0^//^). 

Tyste,  Scraber,  Greenland  Dove,  Sea  Turtle. — 
Sensibly  less  in  size  than  the  Common  Guillemot,  and 
not  found  commonly  on  our  more  southerly  coasts. 
Shetland,  the  Orkneys  and  Western  Isles  are  all 
frequented  by  them,  and  their  quick  and  lively 
motions  are  pleasant  enough  to  witness.  These  birds 
lay  two  eggs  each  instead  of  one,  in  holes  or  crevices 
of  precipitous  rocks,  and  at  some  distance  from  the 
aperture  ;  sometimes,  where  no  such  nest-sites  are 
available,  on  the  bare  ground,  under  or  between  frag- 
ments of  rock  or  large  stones.  They  are  most 
commonly  white,  more  or  less  tinged  with  blue, 
speckled,  spotted,  and  blotched  or  marbled  with  chest- 
nut brown,  very  dark  brown  and  a  kind  of  neutral 
imi.—Fig.  Z,  plate  X, 

LITTLE  K^3\\.—{Merg7dus  allc  ;  formerly,  M, 
vielanolcucos). 

I   have  rarely  seen  any  bird,  much   more  a  very 


202  British  BirdSy 

small  bird  like  this,  whose  whole  air  and  deportment 
conveyed  to  me  more  completely  the  idea  of  entire  in- 
dependence. Only  under  the  pressure  of  severe  storms 
or  long  continued  hard  weather  do  they  leave  the 
deep  sea  in  order  to  seek  the  comparative  shelter  of 
some  land-sheltered  bay  or  reach.  It  breeds  on  the 
Faroe  Isles  and  in  Iceland,  but  not  in  Britain. 

V\]¥¥I^~{Frateraila  arcticd). 

Sea  Parrot,  Coulterneb,  Tammy  Norie. — This  is, 
one  may  safely  say,  the  quaintest-looking  of  all  the 
host  of  our  English  birds.  The  young  Owl  is  gro- 
tesque enough,  but  more  by  reason  of  its  deliberate, 
solemn-seeming,  and  yet  laughable  movements ;  but 
the  Puffin,  with  its  upright  attitude  and  huge  ribbed 
and  painted  beak — reminding  one  somewhat  strongly 
of  the  highly-coloured  pasteboard  noses  of  preposterous 
shape  and  dimensions  which,  at  some  seasons,  decorate 
the  windows  of  the  toy-shop — strikes  us  as  more 
laughably  singular  yet.  They  breed  abundantly  about 
many  of  our  rocky  coasts  in  all  parts  of  the  kingdom, 
depositing  their  one  ^gg — a  large  one,  again,  in  pro- 
portion to  the  size  of  the  bird — sometimes  in  crannies 
or  rifts  in  the  surface  of  the  cliff,  often  very  far  back ; 
at  other  times  in  rabbit-burrows  where  such  excava- 
tions are  to  be  met  with  sufficiently  near  the  coast  and 
otherwise  suitable  to  the  wants  of  the  bird.  It  does 
not  follow  that  because  the  Puffin  occupies  the  hole, 
that  the  rabbit  had  forsaken  it  or  even  given  it  up 
*'  for  a  consideration."  On  the  contrary  the  Puffin  is 
quite  ready  and  equally  able  to  seize  on  and  continue 
to  occupy  the  desired  home  by  force  of  arms.     In 


Their  Eggs  and  Ncsfs.  203 

other  cases  they  dig  their  own  holes,  and  often  exca- 
vate them  to  the  depth  of  two  or  three  feet.  The  eggs 
are  nearly  white  before  they  become  soiled — that  is, 
spotted  and  marbled  with  a  tinge  of  ash  colour. 


FAMILY  II.— COLYMBIDiE. 

GREAT  NORTHERN  Vil^Y.^—{Colymhus  glacialis). 

Greatest  Speckled  Diver,  Great  Doucker,  Immer, 
Iinmer  Diver. — This  magnificent  bird — I  shot  one,  in 
full  plumage,  several  years  since,  which  weighed  nearly 
thirteen  pounds — is  usually  found  at  some  distance 
from  the  coast,  except  during  that  part  of  the  year 
which  is  devoted  to  the  work  of  propagation.  There 
seems  good  reason  to  think  some  of  them  may  breed 
in  some  of  the  most  northerly  British  Islands,  but  no 
authentic  history  of  its  ever  having  been  known  to 
do  so,  is,  I  believe,  extant. 

BLACK-THROATED   DIVER— (r^/j;;//;;/^  arcticus), 

Lumme,  Northern  Doucker,  Speckled  Loon. — The 
rarest  of  the  three  Divers  known  in  our  seas.  It  is, 
liowever,  described  as  breeding  in  several  of  the  lakes 
of  Sutherlandshire.  It  makes  no  nest,  but  lays  its 
two  eg^'S  on  the  bare  ground,  at  no  great  distance 
from  the  water-edge.  These  are  in  some  instances  of 
a  light  shade  of  chocolate-brown,  others  having  more 
of  an  olive-brown  tinge  about  them,  and  sparingly 
spotted  with  black. 


204  British  Birds, 

RED-THROATED  J)lNY.-R—{Colv7nbus 
septentrioiialis). 

Rain  Goose,  Cobble,  Sprat-borer,  Spratoon,  Speckled 
Diver. — The  commonest  and  the  smallest  of  the  Divers, 
and  varying  greatly  in  its  plumage,  according  to  age 
and  season.  It  breeds  on  the  Scottish  mainland,  in 
Shetland,  in  the  Hebrides,  and  until  lately,  in  the 
Orkneys.  The  eggs  are  said  to  be  always  deposited 
very  near  the  water's  edge.  They  are  two  in  number, 
of  a  greenish-brown  colour,  spotted  with  very  dark 
brown,  but,  as  Mr.  Yarrell  states,  when  the  ^gg  has 
been  long  sat  upon,  the  brown  ground-colour  is  apt  to 
assume  a  chestnut,  or  dark  reddish-brown  tint. 


FAMILY  III.— PODICIPEDIDiE. 

GREAT  CRESTED  Q:KW>Y.—{Podiceps  cristatus). 

Cargoose,  Loon,  Greater  Loon,  Tippet  Grebe. — The 
family  of  Grebes  to  be  noticed  now  are  to  be  looked 
upon  as  principally,  but  not  exclusively,  frequenting 
the  fresh  water.  The  bird  now  under  notice  remains 
almost  all  the  year  on  the  large  sheets  of  water  which 
it  inhabits  in  Wales,  Shropshire,  Norfolk,  and  Lincoln- 
shire. Like  the  rest  of  the  Grebes,  it  is  little  able  to 
walk,  and  not  much  disposed  to  fly,  but  possessing 
marvellous  capacity  and  power  of  diving.  Its  nest  is 
made  of  a  large  heap  of  half  rotten  water  weeds,  but 
little  raised  above  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  always 
soaked  with  wet.  On  this  likely-seeming  place  for 
duly  addling  every  egg  deposited,  three,  four,  or  five 


TJieir  Eggs  and  Nests.  205 

eggs  are  laid,  which  are  ahnost  white  when  newly 
dropped,  but  soon  become  so  stained  from  constant 
contact  with  wet  and  decaying  vegetable  substances 
as  to  be  any  colour  rather  than  white.  They  are 
about  2^  inches  long,  by  IJ  broad.  The  eggs,  in  the 
absence  of  the  parent  bird,  are  usually  found  covered 
with  portions  of  some  water  vegetable;  and  the  owner, 
on  being  disturbed  on  her  nest,  always  dives  away 
from  it.  The  first  lessons  of  the  young  Loon  in  diving 
are  taken  beneath  the  literal  "  shelter  of  their  mother's 


RED-NECKED  (^'K^^Y.—iPodiceps  rubricolHs). 

Not  80  common  as  the  Grebe  last  named,  and  more 
frequently  met  with  on  salt  water,  though  not  usually 
far  from  some  estuary  or  inland  arm  of  the  sea.  It 
is  not  known  to  have  bred  in  this  country. 

SCLAVONIAN  GREBE— (P^^/V^/^  auriius  ; 
formerly,  P.  covfiuiiis). 

Dusky  Grebe,  Horned  Grebe. — Rather  a  rare  bird 
in  the  summer,  and  not  common  at  any  period  of  the 
year  ;  nor  has  it  ever  been  known  to  breed  with  us. 

EARED  G^'E'EE—iPodiceps  nigricollis ;  formerly, 
P.  auriius). 

The  rarest  of  all  the  Grebes.  It  occurs,  however, 
from  time  to  time,  and  I  knew  of  one  instance  in 
Essex  some  sixty-live  years  ago  in  which  one  of  these 
birds  was  taken  from  a  Water  Rat's  hole  into  which 
it  had  been  seen  to  creep  for  shelter. 


2o6  British  Birds, 

LITTLE  GVx'EEY:—{Podiccps  fluviatilis ;  formerly,  P* 
viinor). 
Dabchick  or  Dobchick,  Didapper,  Small  Ducker, 
Black-cliin  Grebe. — A  very  common  and  very  inter- 
esting little  bird,  and  yet,  in  spite  of  its  frequency 
and  familiarity,  blessed  with  two  scientific  names, 
originating  (as  in  the  case  of  the  Dunlin)  in  differ 
ences  of  plumage,  depending  on  age  or  season.  It  is 
difficult  to  say  where  it  is  not  to  be  met  with  in 
spring,  provided  only  there  be  what  the  Americans 
call  a  sufficient  "  water-privilege,"  neither  too  shallow 
nor  too  rapid,  for  its  requirements.  As  expert  a  diver 
as  any  of  those  hitherto  named,  it  seldom  resorts  to 
the  use  of  its  wings,  except  just  at  the  time  when 
birds'  love-making  goes  on.  Then  the  male  (at  least) 
may  be  seen  working  his  short  wings  most  vigorously 
and  rapidly,  uttering  his  rattling  cry  as  he  circles  over 
and  about  the  mere  on  which  he  has  "  squatted  "  for 
the  season.  The  nest  is  a  heap  of  water  weeds  only 
just  flush  with  the  surface,  and  always  steeping  wet. 
The  eggs  are  four,  five  or  six  in  number,  perfectly 
white  when  laid,  but  soon  ceasinsf  to  be  clean-lookinof, 
for  they  grow  more  dingy  day  by  day,  until  on  some 
waters  they  become  completely  mud-coloured,  on 
others,  assume  a  hue  which  I  can  compare  to  nothing 
but  old  blood  stains  on  some  dirty  surface.  I  am 
quite  convinced  that  in  some  cases  at  least  this  dis- 
colouration is  intentional  on  the  part  of  the  parent 
bird,  though  in  others  it  may  be  simply  due  to  the 
action  of  the  juices  of  fresh  or  decaying  vegetable  sub- 
stances. I  never  yet,  though  I  have  seen  some  dozens 
of  nests,  found  the  eggs  left  uncovered  by  the  owner 


TJieir  Eggs  a?id  lYcs/s.  207 

save  only  in  one  instance,  in  which  only  one  eg^f  had 
been  laid.  The  vveeds  used  as  a  covering  were,  more- 
over, in  the  majority  of  instances,  fresh,  and  evidently 
procured  by  the  Dabchick  in  virtue  of  her  skill  in 
diving.  The  young  birds  swim  and  dive  almost  im- 
mediately they  are  hatched,  and  are  very  persevering 
little  skulkers  if  disturbed  on  their  breeding  waters. 


ORDER  — STEGANOPODES. 
FAMILY.— PELECANIDiE. 

COMMON  COmiOUA:NT—(P/ia/acrocorax  carbo). 
Crested  Cormorant,  Corvorant,  Great  Black  Cor- 
morant, Cole  Goose,  Skart. — Wherever  there  are  any 
traces  of  a  rocky  coast  about  our  island,  there  the 
Cormorant  is  pretty  sure  to  be  found,  so  that  he  may 
very  well  be  described  as  a  common  bird.  Where  the 
rocky  coast  is  not  only  extensive,  but  not  liable  to 
much  disturbance  from  human  intrusion,  these  birds 
abound,  and  may  be  seen  in  numbers  and  observed  to 
anyone's  heart's  content.  They  build  their  nests, 
which  are  of  ample  size,  with  sticks,  sea-weed  and 
coarse  herbage  of  any  obtainable  sort,  on  ledges  of  the 
precipices  ;  and  many  nests  are  usually  formed  in  the 
near  neighbourhood  of  each  other.  They  are  much 
disposed  also  to  select  as  the  situation  for  their  nests  a 
rocky  islet  with  cliffy  sides,  and  woe  to  the  nose  of 
anyone  who  approaches  such  an  island  rock  from  the 
leeward  side.  What  from  the  nature  of  their  food 
and  thu  abundance  of  their  excrement,  an  intolerably 


208  British  Birds, 

fetid  odour  always  prevails  about  their  breeding-place. 
The  eggs  vary  in  number  from  four  to  six,  and  are 
almost  entirely  covered  over  with  a  white  chalky  in* 
crustation,  which,  however,  admits  of  easy  removal  by 
a  knife  or  similar  means,  leaving  a  shell  of  a  bluish- 
green  colour  apparent. 

SHAG — {Phalacrocorax  cristatus). 

Green  Cormorant,  Crested  Cormorant,  Crested  Shag. 
— A  smaller  bird  than  the  last,  but  easily  distinguish- 
able by  that  and  its  prevailing  green  colour.  As  to 
habits  and  haunts,  the  differences  are  not  great.  The 
Shags  are  said  to  breed  lower  down  on  the  rocks  than 
the  Cormorant,  and  the  nests  are  principally  composed 
of  sea-weed  and  grasses.  The  eggs  are  three  to  five 
in  number,  and  covered  with  the  same  incrustation  as 
those  of  the  Cormorant,  and  equally  removable. 
White  at  first,  they  soon  become  as  soiled  and  stained 
as  those  of  the  Grebes. 

GANNET— (5^/^  Bassand). 

Solan  Goose. — Common  enough  in  certain  localities, 
though  the^  localities  in  which  they  occur  vary  with 
the  season.  When  the  breeding  time  comes  round, 
they  congregate  in  hosts  of  many  thousands  at  some 
half-dozen  different  stations,  particularly  affected  by 
them,  on  different  parts  of  our  coasts.  During  the 
breeding  season  if,  or  where,  unmolested,  they  become 
exceedingly  tame,  and  will  even  suffer  themselves  to 
be  touched.  They  make  their  nests  of  a  large  mass 
of  sea-weed  and  dry  grass,  on  rather  than  in  which 
they  lay  each  one  single  ^g^^  of  no  very  considerable 


TJicir  Eggs  and  Nests.  209 

size.  This,  when  firsfc  laid,  is  white  or  bluisli- white 
(the  colour  being  due  to  an  incrustation  similar  to  that 
of  the  Cormorant's  ^g^,  but  soon  becomes  soiled  and 
stained. 


ORDER.— HERODIOXES. 

FAMILY  I.— ARDEID^. 

COMMON  HERON— (^r^/^,z  cinercd). 
Hern,  Heronshaw,  Heronseugh. — It  would  have 
been  no  light  matter  once  to  have  molested  a  Heron. 
Those  birds  were  "  preserved  "  with  a  strictness  we 
scarcely  can  imagine  even  in  these  days  of  game-pre- 
serves. They  were  the  peculiar  game  of  royal  and 
noble  personages.  Now,  however,  the  case  is  widely 
different,  and  probably  not  one  Heron  in  a  hundred 
can  now  be  met  with  as  compared  with  the  days  of 
falconry.  It  is  a  strange  odd  sight  to  see  a  Heron 
balancing  himself  on  the  topmost  twig  of  some  fir- 
tree,  and  succeeding  after  a  few  uneasy  motions  of 
body  and  wings  in  poising  himself.  The  Heron  some- 
times breeds  on  precipitous  rocks,  but  much  more 
commonly  on  trees, — generally  trees  of  large  size,  and 
commonly  oaks  or  firs.  It  is  not  a  solitary  builder, 
but  like  the  Rook  forms  a  community,  and  frequents 
the  same  tree  or  clump  of  trees  through  successive 
years  for  many  generations.  Each  nest  is  of  large 
size,  and  composed  of  sticks  with  a  lining  of  wool. 
Four  or  five  eggs  are  usually  deposited,  of  an  uniform 
pale  green  colour.     A  few  nests  are  said  to  have  been 

o 


210  British  Birds, 

met  with  on  the  ground  and  even  in  a  laurel. — Fig.  1, 
plate  VIIL 

PURPLE  HERON— (^r^m  pttrpurcd). 

A  few  instances  only  of  the  occurrence  of  this  bird 
in  Britain  have  been  recorded. 

GREAT  WHITE  HERON— (^r^^^  alba). 

White  Heron,  Great  Egret. — A  rarer  and  more 
accidental  visitor  than  even  the  bird  last  named. 

LITTLE  YJ^'KYll—{Ardea garzetta). 

Egret,  Egret  Heron,  Little  Egret  Heron. — There  is 
good  reason  to  believe  that  this  bird  may  once,  at  a 
remote  period,  have  been  sufficiently  common,  or  even 
abundant  in  England.  Now,  however,  it  is  of  exceed- 
ingly rare  occurrence  anywhere  within  the  British 
seas. 

BUFF-BACKED  HERON— (/^r^^  abtibulcus; 
formerly,  A.  russaia). 

Red-billed  Heron,  Rufous-backed  Egret,  Little 
White  Heron  (the  young). — An  exceedingly  rare  bird, 
with  as  scanty  claim  as  not  a  few  others  to  be  con- 
sidered British  at  all. 

SQUACCO  HERON— (^r^^^  ralloides). 

BufF-coloured  Egret. — A  bird  which  has  been  met 
with  in  several  of  the  counties  in  the  southern  half 
of  England,  and  I  believe  more  or  less  frequently  in 
some  of  them.  Still  it  is  but  a  visitor,  and,  com- 
paratively with  many  other  not  very  common  birds,  a 


TJuir  Eggs  and  Nests.  2 1 1 

rare  one ;  and,  as  certainly  not  breeding  in  our  island, 
possessing  no  claim  upon  us  for  lengthened  notice 
here. 

NIGHT  ^Wi^fd'^—iNycticorax  griscus ;  formerly, 
N.  Gardeni). 

Gardenian  Heron,  Spotted  Heron,  Night  Raven. — 
This  bird  claims  to  be  a  British  bird,  inasmuch  as 
upwards  of  a  dozen  specimens  have  been  met  with 
here.  But  it  does  not  breed  with  us,  if  indeed 
commonly  at  all  in  Europe. 

LITTLE  BITTERN— (^r^^//.z  minuta;  formerly, 
Botaurus  inifiutiis). 

It  would  seem  that  this  bird  is  to  be  looked  upon 
rather  as  a  summer  visitor  to  us;  and  Mr.  Yarrell  says  of 
it,  "  Some,  if  not  prevented,  would  probably  have  bred 
in  this  country."  Still,  although  the  grounds  for  this 
o])inion  seem  valid  and  conclusive,  no  actual  instance 
of  nidification  here  has  ever  been  ascertained. 

COMMON  BITT^'K^— {Botaurus  stellaris). 

Mire  Drum,  Butter-bump,  Bog-bumper,  Bittour, 
Bumpy-coss,  BuU-of-the-Bog,  Bog-blutter,  Bog- 
jumper. — Clearances  and  drainage,  and  the  onward 
strides  of  agriculture,  and  the  gun,  and  the  pursuit  of 
specimen-hunters  and  collectors,  have  made  this  a  rare 
species  almost  everywhere.  It  was  common  enough  a 
century  or  two  since;  and  many  a  fertile  cornfield, 
which  then  was  a  seemingly  hopeless  marsh  and  bog, 
has  resounded  far  and  wide  with  the  deep,  booming, 
bellowing  cry  of   the   Bittern.      Recorded   instances 


212  British  Birds^ 

even  of  its  nesting  here  are  becoming  more  and  more 
rare  and  unusual,  and  ere  long,  it  is  to  be  feared,  this 
beautifully  plumaged  bird  will  be  among  the  things 
that  "  have  been."  Its  nest  is  composed  of  sticks, 
reeds,  and  like  matters,  built  on  the  ground,  at  no 
great  distance  from  the  water  it  frequents,  and  hid 
among  the  plentiful  water-growth  found  at  the  edges 
of  shallow  standing  waters.  The  eggs  are  three  to 
five  in  number,  of  an  uniform  olive-brown  colour. — 
Fig.  %  plate  VIIL 

AMERICAN  BITTERN— (5^/^^n/.y  lentiginosiis). 

A  bird  of  rare  and  most  accidental  occurrence  in 
England. 


FAMILY  II— CICONIIDiE. 

WHITE  STORK— (c:/^^^^;^  alba). 

A  much  too  conspicuous  object  not  to  be  noticed 
whenever  its  visits  have  been  paid  to  our  shores. 
Accordingly,  we  find  it  had  long  been  known  as  a 
visitor,  though  the  instances  of  its  occurrence  in  the 
last  generation  or  two  are  noticeably  less  frequent 
than  in  former  days.  As  breeding  abundantly  in 
Holland,  it  would  be  strange  if  the  Stork  did  not 
come  to  us  sometimes. 

BLACK  STORK— (aV^;^/^  nigra). 

The  Black  Stork  has  occurred  much  more  rarely 
than  its  white  congener. 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  213 

FAMILY  III— IBIDID^. 

GLOSSY  \V>Y^—{Plegadis  falcifiellus;  formerly, 
Ibis  falcincllus). 

This  visitor  has  been  met  with  in  lato  years,  even 
in  some  numbers.  There  was  one  about  the  moors  in 
this  district  thirty-four  or  thirty-five  years  since,  which 
I  saw  myself  and  heard  of  as  seen  in  the  same  neigh- 
bourhood by  others ;  and  about  the  same  time  I 
noticed  that  birds  of  the  same  species  had  been 
observed  in  several  other  parts  of  Yorkshire  and 
elsewhere.  Still  it  is  only  a  visitor,  and  a  casual 
one. 


FAMILY  IV.— PLATALEID.^. 

WHITE  SPOON-BILL— (P/^/^/^'a  leucorodia). 

A  bird  which  is  said  to  have  bred  in  former  days  in 
our  country,  but  whicli  has  certainly  become,  for  a 
long  time  past,  a  mere  visitor,  and  not  a  frequent  one. 


ORDER.— ODONTOGLOSS^. 
FAMILY.— PH<J^:N  ICOPTERID  JE 

FLAMINGO — {Phocnicopterus  roseus). 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  at  least  three  occurrences 
of  this  remarkable  bird  in  our  country  have  been  re- 
corded. 


214  British  Birds, 

ORDER— ANSERES. 
FAMILY  I.— ANATID^. 

GREY-LAG  GOOSE— (^;/^^r  ferus). 

Grey-legged  Goose,  Grey  Goose,  Wild  Goose. — It  is 
not  proposed  to  give  any  illustrations  whatever  of  the 
eggs  of  the  Wild-fowl — the  Geese,  Swans,  Ducks,  and 
Diving  Ducks — inasmuch  as  they  are  not  only  of  large 
size,  and  would  usurp  much  space  to  the  absolute  ex- 
clusion of  many  others  of  much  interest  and  urgently 
demanding  pictorial  illustration,  but,  also,  are  charac- 
terised by  so  much  sameness  or  general  uniformity  of 
colour  ; — for  they  vary  only,  in  that  respect,  about  as 
much  as  the  eggs  of  the  common  Fowl  and  common 
Duck  do.  A  w^ry  large  proportion  of  them,  moreover, 
never  by  any  chance  breed  in  any  portion  of  the 
British  Islands,  but  resort  to  distant  and  very  northerly 
localities  for  that  purpose.  The  first  on  our  list,  the 
Common  Grey,  or  Wild,  Goose,  is  an  instance  in  point. 
It  is  believed  once  to  have  been  a  regular  inhabitant, 
and  to  have  bred  abundantly  in  the  fenny  districts 
which  then  prevailed  over  many  parts  of  the  kingdom, 
not  at  all  near  or  connected  with  what  is  yet  called 
"the  fen  country."  But  now  it  is  comparatively  a 
rare  bird  at  any  season  of  the  year,  and  nests  no 
nearer  to  us  than  some  of  the  isles  and  coasts  of 
Scandinavia. 

WHITE-FRONTED  GOOSE— (^^^i'^;'  albifrons). 
Laughing  Goose. — A  regular  winter  visitor,  and  not 


TJicir  Eggs  and  Nests.  215 

ill  any  very  scanty  numbers.  One  of  my  very  worst 
discomfitures  in  my  early  sporting-days  took  place  in 
connection  with  a  Hock  of  these  birds.  There  were 
seven  or  eight  of  them  which  flew  deliberately  right 
on  towards  my  father  and  myself  till  they  were  within 
twenty-five  yards  of  us,  and  then  they  doubled  up  into 
a  confused  clump,  and  I  was  already  counting  the 
slain  when  my  gun  missed  fire.  My  father's  did  not, 
and  gave  us  the  opportunity  of  identifying  the  species. 
It  breeds  in  Scotland  and  other  countries  far  to  the 
north. 


BEAN  Q^OO'^Y.—[Anser  segetum). 

Like  the  last,  and  in  common  with  the  Goose  next 
to  be  mentioned,  indiscriminately  known  by  the  name 
of  Wild  Goose.  Unlike  the  last,  however,  it  is  ascer- 
tained to  breed  in  small  numbers  on  some  of  the  large 
lakes  in  the  north  of  Scotland,  and  in  the  islands  of 
Lewis  and  Harris.  Besides  which,  a  nesting  locality 
of  this  species  in  Westmoreland  is  named.  The  nests, 
in  some  instances,  are  hid  in  very  tall  ling,  and  the 
eggs  are  from  five  to  seven  in  number.  In  size  they 
are  a  little  under  3^  inches  long  by  2 A  broad. 

riNK-FOOTED  GOOSE— (yl;/j-.7'  hrachyrhyncus). 

A  smaller  bird  than  the  last,  but  otherwise  bearing 
a  very  strong  resemblance  to  it ;  so  much  so,  that  it 
appears  more  than  probable  it  has  often  been  assumed 
to  bo  a  young  or  small  s])ecimcn  of  the  former  species. 
It  is,  however,  of  comparatively  rare  occurrence. 


2l6  British  Birds, 

SNOW  GOOSE— (6^//^;^  hyperhoreus). 

Of  rare  occurrence,  and,  it  is  believed,  in  Ireland 
only. 

RED-BREASTED  GOOSE— (5^r;7/<r/^  ruficollis  ; 
formerly,  Aiiser  ruficollis). 

A  very  rare  species,  and  one  of  vrhich  but  little  is 
known  as  to  history  or  habits. 

BERNICLE  (^OO'^'^—iBernida  leucopsis  ; 
formerly,  Anser  leucopsis). 

Another  winter  visitor ;  often  appearing  in  great 
flocks,  but  always  retiring  to  the  north  again  to  breed. 
It  is  supposed  to  frequent  the  shores  of  the  White  Sea 
especially  for  such  purpose. 

BRENT  Q^OO'^Y.—Bernicla  brent  a  ;  formerly, 
Anser  brent  a). 

Black  Goose,  Ware  Goose. — By  far  the  most  numerous 
of  all  the  geese  which  visit  our  shores  in  winter,  as  it 
is  also  the  least.  I  have  seen  it  in  inconceivable 
numbers  on  the  Essex  coast  in  hard  winters,  and  the 
numbers  reported  to  have  been  killed  at  one  discharge 
of  a  heavy  punt-gun  seem  simply  incredible.  In  the 
very  hard  and  long-continued  winter  of  1837-38, 1  saw 
the  ice,  which,  in  broken  fragments  of  four  or  five  feet 
square  by  three  or  four  inches  thick,  covered  the 
whole  estuary  of  the  Blackwater  at  Tollesbury  (a  space 
of  very  considerable  width),  black  with  them  during 
highwater.  The  expression  made  use  of  by  one  of  thf*- 
sea  faring  men  of  the  neighbourhood  was,  "  There  are 


TJicir  Ei^gs  and  Nests.  217 

acres  of*  *em."  Still  of  all  their  vast  numbers  none 
remain  to  breed,  and  no  great  proportion  of  them  are 
known  to  breed  in  Europe, 

CANADA  GOOSE — {Bernicla  Canadensis  ;  formerly, 

A  user  Canadensis). 

Cravat  Goose. — Many  of  these  remarkably  fine  birds 
are  kept  on  ornamental  waters  in  many  different  parts 
of  the  kingdom  ;  and  these  have  been  known  some- 
times (aided  by  a  storm,  perhaps,  or  some  unusual 
occurrence)  to  make  their  escape.  Many  of  the  sup- 
posed wild  birds  shot,  or  otherwise  taken,  have  been 
accounted  for  on  the  supposition  that  they  are  such 
escaped  birds.  However,  it  would  seem  almost  certain 
that  considerable  flights  of  really  wild  Cravat  Geese 
do  occasionally  visit  this  country,  and  even  that  some 
pair  or  two  of  them  may  occasionally  stay  to  breed. 
The  eggs  are  six  to  nine  in  number,  of  very  large  size, 
and  white. 

EGYPTIAN  Q.OO'^Y.—{Chcnalopex  A'.gyptiaca; 
formerly,  Anser  Egyptiacus\ 

As  rare  and  not  less  exceptional  than  the  last  ;  as 
the  few  that  have  occurred  may  have  escaped  from 
confinement. 

SPUR-WINGED  (^00'^Y.—{PIectropterus  Gamhcnsis; 
formerly,  Anser  Gambensis). 
Gambo  Goose. — An  accidental  visitor  indeed. 

WHOOPER— ( Cyg7ius  ferns). 
Wild  Swan,  Whistling  Swan,  Elk. — Of  sufijciently 


2i8  British  Birds ^ 

common  occurrence  on  the  British  coasts,  and  par- 
ticularly in  hard  winters.  Few  birds  vary  much 
more  in  size  and  weight  than  do  these.  A  young  bird 
of  the  year  may  weigh  only  twelve  or  thirteen  pounds; 
the  older  and  more  full-grown  specimens,  twenty  or 
twenty-one.     They  breed  very  far  to  the  north. 

BEWICK'S  ^"^ K^—{Cygnus  Bewickii), 

A  smaller  bird  than  the  Whooper,  and  of  very 
much  rarer  occurrence.  Still  it  is  an  ascertained 
species,  and  visits  us  frequently,  if  not  annually,  in 
some  numbers. 

MUTE  '^y^ k^—{Cygnus  olor). 

The  Common  tame  Swan  of  our  ornamental  waters. 
— They  are  found  wild  in  many,  if  not  all,  the 
northern  countries  of  Europe.  It  is  too  well  known 
by  everyone  to  require  detailed  notice  here. 

POLISH  SWAN — {Cygnus  immtitabilis). 

A  bird  of  very  rare  occurrence  in  a  wild  state,  and 
deriving  its  Latin  name  from  the  circumstance  that 
its  plumage  undergoes  no  change  in  colour  at  any 
period  of  its  age.  It  is  always  white.  The  cygnets 
of  the  other  swans  are,  on  the  contrary,  grey  or 
dusky-coloured  for  a  lengthened  period,  and  only 
become  white  on  their  reaching  maturity. 

RUDDY  ^BlKLD^kKE.—{Tador72acasarca; 
formerly,  T.  rutild). 

A  bird  of  exceedingly  rare  occurrence. 


TJicir  Eg^s  and  Nests.  219 

COMMON  SHIELDRAKE  {Tadorna  cornuta  ; 
formerly,  T.  vulpaiiscr). 

Burrow  Duck,  Skel  Goose,  Bar  Goose. — One  of  the 
most  extremely  beautiful  of  all  our  wild  fowl,  or  even  of 
those  which  for  their  beauty  are  selected  to  be  orna- 
mental accessions  to  the  waters  of  the  park  or  pleasure- 
ground.  Its  plumage  is  so  beautiful  and  clear  and 
brilliant,  and  its  attitude  in  repose  so  graceful,  one 
cannot  but  admire  it  greatly.  It  breeds  not  un- 
commonly on  many  sandy  parts  of  our  coasts,  occupy- 
ing the  deep  rabbit- burrows,  which  are  found  in  what 
are  called  the  "sand-hills,"'  to  place  its  nest  in.  The 
nest  is  one  really  made  of  bents  and  dry  stalks,  and 
lined  or  cushioned  with  down  liberally  plucked  from 
the  builder's  own  breast.  The  number  of  euro's  laid 
varies  between  eight  or  nine  and  twelve  or  fourteen. 
They  are  nearly  or  quite  white,  about  2J  inches  long 
by  nearly  2  in  breadth.  I  have  known  instances  in 
which  the  eggs  obtained  from  one  of  their  nests  have 
been  hatched  under  a  common  Hen.  The  young 
seemed  to  accustom  themselves  to  their  life  of  restraint 
tolerably  well,  but  never  showed  any  disposition  to 
pair  or  breed.  Probably  it  might  be  because  no  suit- 
able hole  for  a  nest  was  within  their  reach.  The 
male  of  this  species  is  known  to  assist  the  female  in 
the  labours  and  constraint  of  incubation. 

WILD  DUCK  or  MALLARD— (yi;/.75  hoschas). 

By  far  the  most  common  of  all  our  wild  fowl  among 
the  Ducks,  but  lessening,  year  by  year,  in  the  numbers 
which   visit  us.     Within  my  own  recollection  many 


220  British  Birds ^ 

Decoys  on  the  Essex  coast  were  worked  constantly 
and  successfully,  which  for  many  years  now  have 
been  dismantled  and  unused.  I  well  remember,  when 
I  was  a  lad  of  ten  or  twelve,  being  at  a  house  in 
Tolleshunt  D'Arcy,  on  the  farm  belonging  to  which 
was  an  active  Decoy,  and  seeing  the  birds  which  had 
been  taken  in  the  course  of  one  morning.  The 
numbers  were  so  great  that  many  of  the  undermost 
Ducks,  where  the  great  accumulation  had  taken  place 
at  the  end  of  the  "pipe,"  had  died  of  pressure  and 
suffocation,  and  some  even  were  sensibly  flattened  by 
the  superincumbent  weight  of  their  fellows.  The 
multiplication  of  shooters  on  shore  and  afloat  has 
sensibly  tended  to  lessen  the  numbers  of  the  Wild 
Duck ;  while  drainage  on  a  large  scale  in  many  a 
district  the  country  through,  has  materially  lessened 
the  number  of  their  haunts.  Still  a  very  considerable 
number  remain  to  breed,  and  a  Wild  Duck's  nest  in 
many  parts  of  the  kingdom  is  no  rarity.  The  nest  is 
made  of  grass,  lined  and  interwoven  with  down.  It  is 
customarily  placed  on  dry  ground  on  the  margin  of 
water,  among  reeds  and  bulrushes,  or  the  like  ;  but 
may  often  be  found  at  some  distance  from  water,  and 
in  places  so  unlikely  for  the  purpose  as  on  the  open 
moor,  or  in  a  tree  top,  or  in  the  lofty  deserted  nest 
of  a  crow.  The  eggs  are  from  nine  to  twelve  in 
number,  sometimes,  however,  exceeding  the  latter 
limit,  of  a  greenish-white  colour,  and  about  1\  inches 
long  by  IJ  broad.  It  is  long  before  the  young  Wild 
Ducks  fly  well  enough  to  leave  their  native  reed  beds 
or  similar  shelter,  and,  in  the  state  preceding  that  of 
actual  power  to  fly  away,  they  are  called  Flappers. 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  221 

GADWALL— C^l;/^j-  streperd). 

Rodge,  Grey  Duck. — A  Duclc  which  occurs  in  no 
very  great  numbers  at  any  time  ;  mostly  about  the 
end  of  the  winter,  or  in  spring  ;  and  is  not  known  to 
breed  commonly  in  any  part  of  Europe. 

SHOVELLER— (5/^////^  clypeata  ;  iovm^vXy ,  Anas 
clypeata). 

Blue-winged  Shoveller,  Broad-bill. — A  very  beauti- 
fully plumaged  bird  indeed.  But  gaily  feathered  as 
he  is,  and  brilliant  as  is  a  part,  at  least,  of  the  plumage 
of  all  the  male  Ducks  during  a  certain  portion  of  the 
year,  yet  it  is  remarkable  that  they  all  undergo  a 
change  in  this  respect  about  the  breeding  time,  just 
the  reverse  of  that  which  takes  place  in  the  males  of 
so  many  other  birds  at  the  same  season.  They  become 
more  brilliant,  or  their  colours  deeper  or  richer 
then  : — the  male  Ducks  duskier,  plainer  coloured,  more 
like  the  female  in  her  more  unobtrusive  hues.  The 
Shoveller's  bill  is  very  remarkable,  and,  as  I  said  of 
the  Oyster-catcher's,  a  study  for  all  who  admire  the 
works  of  Creation.  It  merits  our  notice  for  its  adapta- 
tion to  its  purposes,  in  a  direction  just  opposite  to 
that  which  characterises  the  bill  of  the  bird  ju.st 
named.  Dilated  at  the  sides  so  as  almost  to  look 
awkward,  it  is  furnished  with  a  large  series  of  very 
sensitive  laminae  or  plates,  such  that  the  minute  ob- 
jects which  form  a  considerable  portion  of  the  birds' 
food  may  be  instantly  detected  by  the  sense  of  touch, 
and  retained.  It  used  to  breed  very  commonly  in 
many  parts  of   the  kingdom,  Norfolk   and  the  Fen 


222  British  Birds^ 

district  for  instance,  as  well  as  in  Romney  Marsh  and 
other  places  more  in  the  south  of  the  island.  At 
present  it  has  become  comparatively  rare.  Tlie  nest 
is  made  of  fine  grass,  and  the  eggs  are  eventually  en- 
veloped in  down  procured  from  the  bird's  own  breast. 
The  eggs  may  be  from  eight  to  twelve  in  number* 
white,  tinged  with  a  greenish-dun  shade,  and  about 
2  inches  long  by  IJ  broad. 

PINTAIL  WC}QK—{Dafila  acuta;  formerly, 

Anas  aaitci). 

Cracker,  Winter  Duck. — An  early  visitor  to  our 
shores  when  winter  has  once  urged  the  wild  fowl 
hosts  to  leave  their  northern  nesting-places.  It  is 
not,  however,  a  numerous  bird  with  us,  but  abounds 
in  many  of  the  northernmost  countries  of  Europe. 

TEAL — {Querquedida  crecca ;  ioxvu^xXy ^  Anas  creccd). 

A  very  pretty  little  Duck,  and  the  least  of  all  our 
winter  visitors  of  that  species.  It  is  of  common 
occurrence,  but  not  met  with  in  any  great  numbers. 
It  breeds  abundantly  in  Norway  and  Sweden,  and 
especially  in  Lapland,  whither  the  great  bulk  of  our 
winter  friends  retire  on  the  approach  of  the  northern 
summer;  still,  pairs  often  remain  throughout  the 
summer  in  various  parts  of  our  country  to  nest  and  reai" 
their  young.  When  I  was  a  boy  I  heard  of  nests,  al- 
most annually,  on  some  of  the  marshes  I  knew  most 
familiarly;  and  I  have  known  of  many  broods 
hatched  and  reared  on  these  North  Riding  moors. 
The  Teal   builds   a  nest  of   abundance  of   different 


TJicir  Eggs  and  Nests.  223 

vepretable  substances,  varying  according  to  the  locality 
and  its  productions,  and  lines  it  with  down  and 
feathers,  the  concealment  afforded  by  the  neighbouring 
herbage  being  carefully  adopted.  Eight  to  ten  or 
twelve  eggs  are  laid,  of  a  buff^^-white,  IJ  inch  long  by 
rather  over  1\  broad. 

GARGANEY — {Qiierqiiedida  circia  ;   formerly, 
A  nas  qiierquedidd). 

Summer  Duck,  Summer  Teal,  Pied  Wiggon — This 
is  a  somewhat  rare  bird,  and  is  seen  sometimes  in  late 
autumn,  but  more  usually  in  the  spring.  It  has  been 
known  to  breed  in  this  country,  though  by  no  means 
commonly  or  frequently.  It  is  said  to  make  a  nest 
among  reeds  of  dry  grass,  rushes  and  down,  and  the 
number  of  eggs  deposited  to  run  from  eight  or  nine  to 
twelve,  or  even  more.  They  are  of  a  distinct  but  pale 
buff  colour,  IJ  inch  long  by  IJ  broad. 

WIGEON — {Marcea  Penelope  ;  formerly.  Anas 
Penelope). 

Whewer,  Whim. — Mr.  Waterton  has  recorded  an 
observation  on  the  habits  of  this  Duck,  whicli  is  uf 
great  interest.  Whereas,  all  the  birds  of  the  Duck- 
kind  which  we  have  hitherto  named  are  night-feeders, 
the  Wigeon  obtains  its  food  by  day,  "  and  that  food 
is  grass."  The  great  body  of  our  winter  visitors  of 
this  species  retire  to  the  north  to  breed  about  the  end 
of  March,  or  April  ;  but  a  few  have  been  ascertained 
to  remain  for  that  purpose  in  north  Scotland.  A  nest, 
found  on  Loch  Laighal  in  Sutherlandshire,  was ''  placed 
in  the  midst  of  a  clump  of  grass,  and  was  made  of 


224  British  Birds, 

decayed  rushes  and  reeds,  with  a  lining  of  the  birds' 
own  down.  The  eggs  were  smaller  than  those  of  tb.e 
Wild  Duck,  and  of  a  rich  cream- white  colour."  Tiie 
number  of  eggs  laid  varies  between  five  and  eight  or 
nine;  the  length,  2J  inches  by  1^  in  breadth. 

AMERICAN  ^V^YJd'^—^Marcea  Americana; 
formerly,  Anas  Aniericatia). 

Of  entirely  rare  and  accidental  occurrence. 

RED-CRESTED  VOGRKK'D—(Fnlignla  riifina). 
Red-crested  Whistling  Duck. — A  rare  winter  visitor. 

VO^MKKD—^Fuliguia  ferind). 

Dunbird,  Red-headed  Wigeon,  Red-headed  Poker, 
Duncur. — A  winter  visitor,  and  in  very  considerable 
numbers  in  districts  where  the  presence  of  inland 
waters  to  a  sufficient  extent  enables  them  to  follow 
out  their  natural  habits.  It  is  almost  impossible,  from 
their  great  quickness  and  skill  in  diving,  to  take  them 
with  the  other  ''Fowl"  in  the  Decoy,  and  they  are 
therefore  captured  by  a  peculiar  arrangement  of  nets 
affixed  to  poles  so  heavily  weighted  at  one  end  as  on 
being  liberated  to  elevate  the  net  in  such  a  way  as  to 
intercept  the  flight  of  the  birds,  as  soon  as  they  are 
fairly  on  wing.  The  Dunbird  does  not  now  breed  in 
this  country. 

FERRUGINOUS  Vi^^Q^—iFidigtda  nyroca). 
Somewhat  resembling  the  Pochard  in  general  hue, 
but  smaller,  and  in  respect  of  the  numbers  in  which  it 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  225 

has  been  met  with  in  this  country,  comparatively  a 
very  rare  visitor. 

SCAUP  DUCK— (i^////;^///^  viarila). 

Spoon-bill  Duck. — A  •winter  visitor,  and  not  an 
unusual  one,  although  its  numbers  are  never  such  as 
to  commend  it  to  notice  in  the  same  way  as  the  Wild 
Duck,  the  Dunbird,  the  Wigeon,  and  some  others.  It 
breeds  commonly  in  Iceland,  but  never  in  Britain. 

TUFTED  DUCK— (i^z^//;^///^  cristatd). 

Another  constant  winter  visitor,  and  as  well  or 
better  known  than  the  Scaup.  Like  the  Scaup  Duck 
it  usually  prefers  oozy  or  muddy  estuaries  and  their 
customary  accompaniments.  But  I  have  met  with  it 
here  in  the  narrow,  rapid  trout-stream  which  runs 
through  this  part  of  the  country,  and  at  a  distance  of 
not  less  than  nine  or  ten  miles  from  the  sea.  It  breeds 
sparingly  in  Holland  and  in  more  northerly  countries. 

GOLDEN  YXY.—{Clangiila  glaucion  ;  formerly, 
Fuligiila  clangida). 

Brown-headed  Duck,  Grey-headed  Duck,  Pied 
Wigeon,  Golden-eyed  Wigeon,  Duck,  or  Toal,  Morillon, 
Ilattlewings. — As  well  known  and  as  connnon  as  per- 
haps either  the  Scaup  or  the  Tufted  Duck,  but  known 
by  different  names  according  to  the  state  of  plumage 
depending  on  sex  and  age,  females  and  young  birds 
being  much  more  common  than  adult  males.  As  not 
known  to  breed  in  England,  no  notice  of  nest  or  e^^o-s 
can  bo  iuhcrted  here.      In  the  Appendix,  however,  a 


226  British  Birds, 

very  interesting  notice  of  one  of  its  habits  connected 
with  its  breeding  time  will  be  inserted. 

BUFFEL-HEADED  W:5Q>K—{Clangula  albeola  ; 
formerly,  Ftiligula  albeola). 

A  visitor,  but  a  very  rare  one,  to  our  shores  in 
winter. 

LONG-TAILED  J)XJCl^—{Harelda  glacialis  ; 
formerly,  Fidigula  glacialis). 

Another  bird  which,  like  the  two  last,  is  sufficiently 
well  known  without  being  exceedingly  or  indeed  in 
the  least  degree  numerous.  It  is,  in  fact,  a  rather  rare 
and  very  beautiful  Duck,  and  is  remarkable  for  the 
great  variations  of  plumage  to  which  it  is  liable, 
according  to  differences  of  age,  sex,  and  season.  It 
breeds  abundantly  in  Norway  and  Denmark,  and 
much  more  so  in  purely  Arctic  regions. 

HARLEQUIN  Vi\^Qi^—{Cosmonetta  hisirionica ; 
formerly,  Fuligida  hisirionica). 

Another  very  beautiful  bird,  and  most  peculiarly 
marked.  So  much  so  as  to  remind  its  sponsors,  as  it 
appears,  of  the  artistic  effects  produced  by  the  custom- 
ary pictorial  adornment  of  our  facetious  friend  Harle- 
quin's face.  A  rarer  bird,  however,  thai?,  even  the 
Long-tailed  Duck  last  named. 

EIDER  jy\JCK.—{So7nateria  mollissima). 
St.   Cuthbert's   Duck. — We   have  now  arrived  at 


TJicir  Eggs  and  lYrsts.  227 

another  section  of  the  Duck  family.  Those  hitherto 
named  all  frequent  the  fresh  waters,  and  chiefly  affect 
those  that  are  of  no  great  extent  or  depth.  These, 
the  first  of  which  we  have  just  named,  frequent  the 
sea  or,  in  a  few  instances,  the  deepest  parts  of  large 
freshwater  lakes.  The  Eider  Duck,  well  known  to 
most  of  us  by  name,  to  some  of  us  by  sight,  breeds  in 
some  marshes  on  the  Fame  Islands,  and  in  many 
of  the  islands  on  the  coast  of  Scotland.  The  nests  are 
])rincipally  composed,  on  a  foundation  of  sea-weed  or 
grass,  of  the  beautiful  light  elastic  down,  commonly 
known  as  Eider-down  ;  and  if  the  first  is  plundered, 
a  second,  and  even  a  third  are  formed ;  but  the  down 
decreases  in  quality  and  quantity  in  each  successive 
instance.  The  first  accumulation  is  so  large  and 
springy  as  quite  to  conceal  the  eggs  contained,  which 
are  usually  five  in  number,  and  are  of  a  light-green 
colour,  about  three  inches  long  by  two  wide.  The 
lining  of  one  nest,  admitting  of  easy  compression  by 
the  hand,  is  described  by  iMr.  Hewitson  as  capable, 
when  fully  expanded,  of  filling  a  man's  hat. 


KING  EWER— (SojnaUrm  spectabilis) 

King  Duck.— A  much  rarer  bird  than  the  last,  in- 
deed occurring  only  very  casually.  It  has  been  known 
to  breed  in  one  of  the  Orkney  Islands,  while  Iceland, 
Nova  Zembla,  Spitzbergen,  and  like  localities,  are  the 
great  breeding  haunts  of  the  species.  The  nests  are 
made  on  the  ground,  and  contain  five  eggs,  very 
closely  resembling  the  Eider  Duck's.  exce])t  in  size. 
They  arc  rather  less. 


228  British  Birds, 

STELLER'S  EIDER  OR  WESTERN  DUCK— 

{Somateria    Stelleri ;    formerly,   Polysticta   Stelleri). 

Exceedingly  rare  in  Britain,  and  not  much  less  so, 
it  seems,  in  Europe  generally. 

COMMON  SCOTER— ((S'^^;/2/^  nigra). 

Scoter,  Black  Scoter,  Black  Duck,  Black  Diver. — 
This  dusky-coloured  Duck  is  seen  in  considerable 
numbers  on  various  parts  of  our  coasts  in  winter,  and 
always  swimming  and  diving  in  what  may  be  called 
"  loose  order,"  like  the  Coots  rather  than  any  of  the 
true  Ducks.  It  does  not,  however,  ever  stay  to  breed 
with  us,  and  can  have  no  further  notice  here. 

VELVET  ^Q;OT'm.—{CEdemia  fused). 

Velvet  Duck. — A  winter  visitor,  and  rare  on  our 
south  coasts.  More  common  in  the  far  north  of 
Britain. 

SURF  ^Q>OTE:^—{CEdemia perspicillatd). 

A  bird  of  very  rare,  and,  perhaps  also  it  may  be 
added,  very  local  occurrence. 

GOOSANDER — {Mergns  merganser). 

Dun  Diver,  Sparling  Fowl,  Jacksaw,  Saw-bill. — A 
few  of  these  birds  also  remain  to  breed  in  Britain, 
though  by  far  the  most  retire  to  the  north  of  Europe 
for  that  purpose.  Its  nests  are  common  both  in  the 
Orkney  Islands  and  the  Hebrides.  They  are  large, 
made  of  dry  grass  and  roots,  and  lined  with  the  down 
of  the  female,  and  placed  amid  bushes  or  stones,  or  in 


Their  Eggs  and  Nests.  229 

some  cavity  afforded  by  an  old  tree.  The  eggs  rarely 
exceed  six  or  seven,  not  varying  much  in  shade  from 
those  of  the  next  species,  and  are  2J  inches  in  length 
by  nearly  1|  in  breadth. 

RED-BREASTED  MERGANSER— (i^^r^«.r  serrator). 

Red-breasted  Goosander. — This  handsome  bird  is 
an  undoubted  denizen  of  our  country  during  the 
breeding  season,  but  in  no  great  numbers  in  any  year 
or  district.  It  breeds  in  Ireland,  on  islands  in  several 
of  the  loughs ;  also  in  the  Hebrides  and  other 
Scottish  islands.  The  nest  is  made  of  long  grass  or 
moss,  small  roots,  dry  water-herbage,  mixed  and  lined 
with  the  bird's  own  down,  doubtless  added  to  as  in- 
cubation proceeds.  It  is  often  placed  at  the  foot  of  a 
tree,  if  there  be  one  on  the  islet  selected.  The  eggs 
are  six  to  nine  in  number,  of  a  pale  buff  or  fawn 
colour.     They  are  2 J  inches  long  by  If  broad. 

^llW^—^Mergus  albellus). 

"White  Xun,  Red-headed  Smew  (for  young),  Smee, 
Lough  Diver,  White-headed  Goosander,  White  Mer- 
ganser.— The  Smew  is  perhaps  quite  the  most  common 
of  the  entire  family ;  but  they  are  very  wary  and 
difficult  to  approach.  Tiiey  are  not  known  to  breed 
in  any  part  of  the  United  Kingdom. 

HOODED  MERGANSER— (J/^^^z/i:  cucullatus). 

A  rare  and  accidental  visitor  to  this  country,  and 
indeed  to  the  European  continent.  As  far  as  is 
known,  it  makes  its  nest  in  the  hollow  of  trees. 


APPENDIX 


Oun  object  in  adding  this  Appendix  is  simply  a  wish  to  make  the 
book  more  complete  by  adding  notices,  more  or  less  detailed,  ©f  the 
nests  and  eggs  and  any  interesting  breeding-season  pectiliarities  of 
birds  recognised  as  really  well  entitled  to  the  name  of  British  Birds, 
but  not  happening  to  remain  within  the  limits  of  Britain  to  breed. 
The  first  bird  of  the  kind  in  our  complete  list  is — * 


GREENLAND  FALCON, 
The  equivalent  to  Mr.  Yarrell's  Gyr  Falcon. 


ICELAND  FALCON. 

These  two  species  are  now,  I  believe,  looked  upon  as  established, 
but  the  differences  between  them  are  not  excessively  striking,  except 
it  be  to  a  scientific  naturalist.  Mr.  Hewitson  has  figured  an  egg  of 
the  Iceland  Falcon  which  he  believes  may  have  lost  some  of  its 
colour.  It  was  taken  from  a  nest  made  with  sticks  and  roots,  lined 
with  wool,  which  once  perhaps  was  the  nest  of  a  Raven.  The  nest 
in  question  was  in  a  cliff,  and  had  the  remains  of  many  sorts  of  birds 

1  If  any  reader  desires  to  know  more  about  the  breeding  habits  of  the  birds  not 
mentioned  in  this  Appendix,  the  "  Ibis  "  List  named  in  the  text  above  in  several 
places  will  give  him  ready  means  of  acquiring  the  inforraatiou  desired. 

22  J 


232  Appendix. 

— Whimbrels,  Golden  Plovers,  Guillemots,  Ducks — strewed  round 
it.  The  egg  is  of  a  buffy  red  colour,  mottled  and  speckled — very 
thickly  in  places— with  deeper  red. 


SNOWY  OWL. 

Sufficiently  often  met  with  in  North  Britain  (and  even  occurring 
sometimes  in  England)  to  merit  a  short  notice  here.  It  inhabits 
Sweden,  Norway,  Lapland,  and  the  greater  part  of  Northern  Europe. 
These  birds  are  accustomed  to  take  their  prey  by  daylight,  and  seem, 
from  the  accounts  received,  to  be  in  the  habit  of  ''bolting"  their 
food,  when  not  very  large,  whole.  It  makes  its  nest  on  the  ground, 
and  lays  in  it  three  or  four  white  eggs. 


GREAT  GREY  SHRIKE. 

This  bird  is  met  with  in  Denmark  and  other  northern  countries  of 
Western  Europe,  and  also  in  Russia,  Germany,  and  France.  It  is 
said  to  frequent  woods  and  forests,  and  to  build  upon  trees  at  some 
distance  from  the  ground,  as  well  as  in  thick  bushes  and  hedges. 
The  nest  is  made  of  roots,  moss,  wool,  and  dry  stalks,  lined  with 
dry  grass  and  root-fibres.  The  eggs  are  four  to  seven  in  number, 
and  though  they  vary  a  good  deal  in  colour,  they  always  illustrate 
the  peculiar  tendency  of  the  eggs  of  the  Shrikes  to  show  a  sort  of 
zone  or  girdle,  due  to  the  agglomeration  of  the  spots  about  some 
part  of  the  circumference.  They  are  yellowish  or  greyish  white, 
and  the  spots  of  grey  and  light  brown. 


FIELDFARE. 

I  have  sometimes  seen  this  favourite  game-bird  of  the  school-boy 
here  as  early  as  the  latter  part  of  September,  and  I  have  frequently 
noticed  them  feeding  in  hundreds  on  the  holly  berries  which  abound 


Appendix,  233 

\v\.  more  than  one  part  of  this  district.  They  must  breed  very  late 
in  the  year,  from  the  late  period  of  their  departure  hence,  and  the 
distance  of  the  countries  to  which  many  of  them  resort  for  that  pur- 
pose. It  breeds  very  abundantly  in  Norway,  and  also  in  Sweden, 
Russia,  and  Siberia,  not  to  mention  other  and  more  southerly 
countries  in  Europe.  Their  nests,  in  Norway,  are  usually  built 
against  the  trunk  of  the  spruce-fir,  and  at  very  variable  heights  from 
the  ground.  They  are  said  to  be  very  like  those  of  the  Ring  Ousel, 
except  that  small  twigs  are  added  to  the  outside  structure.  The 
eggs  are  from  three  to  five,  and  are  very  like  those  of  the  Ring 
Ousel,  but  with  somewhat  more  red  about  them.  The  Fieldfare 
seems  to  prefer  breeding  in  numerous  groups  or  colonies,  two  or 
three  hundred  nests  being  frequently  seen  within  a  rather  limited 
space. 

REDWING. 

This  winter  visitor  has  been  known  to  breed  occasionally,  but  yet 
only  very  exceptionally,  in  this  country.  A  nest  was  brought  to  mo 
many  summers  since,  which, from  its  construction,  the  size  and  colour- 
ing of  the  eggs,  and  especially  from  the  description  of  the  bird 
which  my  informant  saw  leaving  the  nest,  I  have  little  doubt  was  a 
Redwing.  It  breeds  abundantly  in  Sweden,  and  in  lesser  numbers 
in  Norway,  and  is  described  as  being  a  very  sweet  singer,  as  heard 
among  the  forest  solitudes  of  the  latter  country.  Its  nest  is  very 
similar  to  those  of  the  Blackbird,  Ring  Ousel,  and  Fieldfare,  in 
materials  and  structure.  The  eggs  are  four  to  six  in  number,  and 
very  similar,  allowing  for  a  little  inferiority  in  size,  to  those  of  the 
Fieldfare,  and  to  very  red  specimens  of  the  Ring  Ousel's.  A  nest, 
with  the  parent  birds,  was  kept  for  years  at  Kildale  Hall,  in  the 
North  Riding.     It  was  found  in  the  parish. 


SNOW  BUNTING. 
This  bird  resorts  in  the  breeding  season  to  the  "  Arctic  regions 


234  Appendix. 

and  the  Islands  of  the  Polar  Sea."  Mr.  Yarrell  says,  **The  nest  is 
composed  of  dry  grass,  neatly  lined  with  deers  hair  and  a  few 
feathers,  and  is  generally  fixed  in  a  crevice  of  a  rock,  or  in  a  loose 
pile  of  timber  or  stones.  The  eggs  are  a  greenish  white,  with  a 
circle  of  irregular  umber-bro^vn  spots  round  the  thick  end,  and 
numerous  blotches  of  subdued  lavender  purple." 


MOUNTAIN  FINCH. 

This  Finch  is  occasionally  met  with  in  sufficient  numbers  to  be 
deserving  of  a  short  notice  here.  It  seems  to  breed  in  Denmark, 
Norway,  and  Lapland,  and  it  is  at  least  possible  that  a  few  pairs 
may,  from  time  to  time,  stay  to  nest  with  us.  It  is  said  to  build  in 
fir-trees,  though  from  Mr.  Hewitson's  account,  the  nests  are  by  no 
means  easy  to  find.  The  following  is  an  account  of  a  nest  made  by 
a  pair  in  an  aviary  at  Beccles  in  Suffolk  : — **  The  nest  was  deep,  the 
walls  thick,  a  large  quantity  of  materials  employed  for  the  founda- 
tion, which  was  worked  among  the  stalks  of  the  ivy-leaves.  It  was 
composed  of  moss,  wool,  and  dry  grass  ;  and  lined  with  hair."  The 
general  appearance  of  the  eggs  is  one  of  resemblance  to  those  of  the 
Chaffinch ;  the  spots,  however,  seeming  to  bo  fewer,  smaller,  and 
less  decided. 


SISKIN. 

This  little  bird  has  been  known  in  several  instances  to  breed  with 
us  in  its  natural  wild  condition,  but  its  nesting-home  is  in  Russia, 
Germany,  and  North- Western  Europe.  It  has  been  ascertained  to 
build  in  furze  bushes,  and  also  close  to  the  trunk  of  a  fir-tree,  where 
a  projecting  bough  afforded  support  for  the  structure.  The  nest  is 
composed  of  similar  materials  to  the  Chaffinch's,  and  the  eggs  present 
a  good  deal  of  resemblance  to  those  of  the  Goldfinch,  with  a  little 
inferiority  iu  size. 


Appendix,  235 

TURNSTONE. 

This  very  handsomely  plumaged  bird  inhabits  the  countries 
bordering  on  the  Baltic,  as  also  Greenland  and  other  localities  far  to 
tlie  nortli.  Mr.  Hewitson  gives  a  most  interesting  account  of  his 
discovery  of  its  nest  in  Norway: — "We  had  visited  numerous 
islands  with  little  encouragement, and  were  about  to  land  upon  a  flat 
rock,  when  our  attention  was  attracted  by  the  singular  cry  of  a 
Turnstone.  We  remained  in  the  boat  a  short  time  until  we  had 
watched  it  behind  a  tuft  of  grass,  near  which,  after  a  minute  search, 
we  succeeded  in  finding  the  nest.  It  was  placed  against  a  ledge  of 
the  rock,  and  consisted  of  nothing  more  than  the  dropping  leaves  of 
the  Juniper  bush,  imder  a  creeping  branch  of  which  the  eggs,  four 
in  number,  were  snugly  concealed  and  sheltered."  Several  other 
nests  were  also  found  in  the  course  of  further  researches,  which, 
however,  were  required  to  be  both  close  and  systematic.  The  eggs 
are  of  an  olive-green  colour,  spotted  and  streaked  with  different 
shades  of  red-brown,  and  all  having  a  beautiful  tint  of  purple  or 
crimson,  seen  in  few  other  eggs." 


SANDERLING. 

It  breeds  in  Greenland,  Labrador  and  other  Arctic  countries.  It 
makes  its  neat  on  marshy  grounds,  of  grass,  and  lays  four  **  dusky- 
coloured  eggs,  spotted  with  black."  But  little  seems  to  be  known 
of  either  the  nidification  or  the  eggs  of  this  species,  as  no  figure  is 
given  by  cither  Mr.  llcwitsou  or  in  the  Rev.  0.  Morris's  book. 


HOOPER. 

Occasionally  met  with  during  the  breeding  season  in  Iceland,  and 
more  commonly  in  Lapland.  They  are  described  as  inhabiting  the 
most  remote  and  inaccessible  lakes  and  morasses  in  forest  districts. 


2$6  Appendix. 

The  nest  is  made  of  any  coarse  water  herbage  which  is  suitable  and 
at  the  same  time  accessible.  It  is  large,  and  raised  some  inches 
above  the  surface  of  the  supporting  soil.  The  eggs  are  believed  to 
be  from  three  or  four  to  seven  in  number,  and  are  usually  of  a  pale 
brownish  white  colour,  extending  to  about  4  inches  long  by  2| 
broad. 


PINTAIL. 

This  Duck  breeds  in  Iceland,  and  commonly  in  Lapland  and  some 
of  the  districts  about  the  Gulf  of  Bothnia.  It  builds,  like  most 
others  of  its  kind,  among  the  thick  herbage  commonly  growing  near 
the  edge  of  pieces  of  fresh  water  ;  the  nest  being  made  of  the  same, 
but  dry,  and  lined  with  down.  The  eggs  are  six  to  eight  or  nine  in 
number,  and  are  of  a  light  greenish-white  colour,  and  about  the  same 
size  as  those  of  the  Wild  Duck  proper. 


VELVET  SCOTER. 

This  Sea  Duck  is  found  in  Russia,  Norway,  the  Faroe  Islands,  and 
also  in  Iceland,  Mr.  Audubon's  account  of  its  nest  and  eggs  is  as 
follows  : — "  The  nests  are  placed  within  a  few  feet  of  the  borders  of 
small  lakes,  a  mile  or  two  from  the  sea,  and  usually  under  the  low 
boughs  of  the  bushes,  of  the  twigs  of  which,  with  mosses  and  vari- 
ous plants  matted  together,  they  are  formed.  They  are  large  and 
almost  flat,  several  inches  thick,  with  some  feathers  of  the  female, 
but  no  down,  imder  the  eggs,  which  are  usually  six  in  number, 
2|  inches  in  length,  by  1|  in  breadth,  of  an  uniform  pale  cream 
colour,  tinged  with  green.'* 


COMMON  SCOTER. 
It  breeds,  but  not  very  numerously,  in  Iceland  ;  but  is  seen  nest- 


Appendix,  237 

ing  in  company  with  the  Velvet  Scoter,  in  Scandinavia,  rather  more 
commonly.  It  makes  a  nest  of  any  available  vegetable  substance, 
such  as  grasses,  twigs,  leaves,  dry  stalks;  it  is  lined  with  down,  and 
placed  under  the  partial  cover  or  concealment  afforded  by  low 
shrubs  or  other  plants.  The  eggs  are  six  or  seven  to  ten  in  number, 
of  a  pale  buff  colour  slightly  tinged  with  green,  2^  inches  long  by  1| 
broad.  After  the  eggs  are  laid,  the  males  assemble  in  large  flocks 
and  draw  towards  the  coast. 


POCHARD. 

Tlie  breeding  haunt  of  this  bird  seems  to  be  more  to  the  eastward 
than  that  of  the  majority  of  those  hitherto  named.  It  is  said  to  be 
abundant  in  Russia  and  in  the  North  of  Germany,  and  is  very 
commonly  found  in  the  fur  countries  in  America  during  the 
breeding  season.  A  few  also  breed  on  the  borders  of  the  Meres 
in  Holland.  The  nest  is  similar  in  site  and  materials  to  those  of 
the  Wild  Duck  and  other  Ducks,  and  the  eggs  sometimes  reach 
the  number  of  twelve.  They  are  of  a  greenish  buff  colour,  2 
inches  in  length,  by  If  in  breadth.  The  Pochard  was  dis- 
covered, several  years  since,  as  breeding  about  the  Mere  at  Scar- 
borough, and  has  also  been  stated  to  nest  occasionally  in  ouo  or 
two  places  in  Norfolk. 


SCAUP  DUCK. 

This  Duck  has  also  been  known  as  breeding  very  incidentally  in 
this  country,  but  its  almost  unbroken  habit  is  to  return  to  such 
countries  as  Iceland,  the  swampy  lake-district  north  of  the  Gulf  of 
Bothnia,  and  some  parts  of  Norway,  for  nesting  purposes.  It  some- 
times makes  its  nest  in  what  may  be  almost  called  the  usual  site  for 
the  nests  of  Ducks,  and  sometimes  upon  the  stones  and  shingle  at 
the  edge  of  sheets  of  fresh  water.  The  nest  is  very  thin  ami  slightly 
formed,  but  well  lined  with  down,  and  the  eggs  sctui  to  be  six, 


238  Appendix. 

seven,  or  eight  in  number.     They  are  of  a  pale  buff  colour,  and 
sensibly  less  in  size  than  those  of  the  Pochard  last  named. 


TUFTED  DUCK. 

This  little  Duck  is  known  to  breed  near  the  head  of  the  Bothnian 
Gulf,  as  well  as  in  other  parts  of  Sweden,  and  in  Lapland  and 
Russia.  A  few  pairs  also  are  seen  nesting  in  Holland.  It  makes  a 
very  slight  nest  of  grasses  and  the  like.  The  eggs  are  seven  or 
eight  to  ten  in  number,  very  similar  in  shade  to  those  of  the  Scaup 
Duck  last  mentioned,  but  much  less  in  size,  being  only  a  little  over 
2  inches  long,  by  less  than  1^  in  breadth. 


LONG-TAILED  DUCK. 

It  is  known  to  breed  in  Iceland,  and  believed  to  do  so  in  Norway. 
It  makes  its  nest  among  low  brushwood  and  the  herbage  usual  at  or 
near  the  margin  of  fresh  water.  A  few  stems  of  grass  form  the  sub- 
structure, on  which  is  placed  a  plentiful  lining  of  down.  The  eggs 
are  from  six  to  twelve  in  number.  They  are  of  yellowish-white, 
just  tinged  with  green,  and  nearly  1\  inches  long  by  \\  in  breadth. 


GOLDEN  EYE. 

This  Duck  seems  to  prefer  wooded  or  forest  districts  for  nesting 
iu.  It  breeds  in  Lapland,  Sweden,  and  Norway,  and  has  such  a 
strong  liking  for  a  hole  in  a  tree  to  nest  in,  that  if  suitable  boxes 
with  an  adequate  entrance-hole  are  placed  on  the  trees  growing  on 
the  banks  of  streams  or  lakes  frequented  by  them,  their  eggs  are 
sure  to  be  deposited  therein,  to  the  great  profit  of  those  who  sus- 
pend the  boxes.  Of  course  when  it  is  known  that  a  Duck  hatches 
its  young  iu  a  hole  in  a  tree,  the  question  must  suggest  itself — as  it 


Appendix.  239 

did  to  the  original  observer  in  tlic  case  of  the  Wild  Duck's  nest  on  a 
pollard,  or  in  a  fir  tree — How  can  the  young  ducks  ever  be  got 
down  safely,  and,  still  more,  finally  launched  on  their  prcper  ele- 
ment ?  An  observed  habit  of  the  Golden  Eye  answers  this  question. 
A  Lapp  clergyman  saw  the  parent  bird  conveying  its  young,  to  the 
number  of  five  or  more,  but  one  at  a  time,  from  the  nest  to  tlie 
water,  and  he  was  at  last  able  to  "  make  out  that  the  young  bird 
was  held  under  the  bill,  but  supported  by  the  neck  of  the  parent." 
The  eggs  of  the  Golden  Eye  are  said  to  be  ten  or  twelve  or  even 
more  in  number,  and  of  a  brighter  colour  than  is  usual  with  the 
eggs  of  the  Duck  tribe,  being  of  a  rather  decided  greei.  colour. 


SMEW. 

But  little  that  is  quite  authentic  seems  to  be  knov/n  of  the  nesting 
habits  of  this  little  Duck ;  nor  is  it  certainly  ascertained  where  its 
chief  numbers  retire  to  breed.  The  eggs  are  said  to  be  eight  or  ten 
in  number,  or  even  more  than  that,  and  to  be  of  a  yellowish-white 
colour. 

GREAT  NORTHERN  DIVER. 

This  bird  breeds  on  the  Faroe  Islands,  and  on  some  of  the  lakes  in 
Iceland ;  as  also  on  some  of  the  islands  of  Fiumark.  Spitzbergen 
and  Greenland  are  also  named  as  the  breeding  resort  of  many  of 
these  Divers.  They  lay,  it  is  supposed,  two  eggs  each,  though  in 
some  observed  instances  only  one  was  to  bo  seen.  Mr.  Audubon 
Bays  that  three  are  sometimes  laid.  They  are  of  a  dark  olive-brown, 
with  a  few  spots  of  dark  umber  brown,  and  are  of  considerable  size. 


LITTLE  AUK. 

This  little  wave-dweller  has  its  nesting  hon  0  in  countries  far  more 
to  the  North  than  ours.     It  abounds  on  soiiij  parts  of  the  Green- 


240  Appendix, 

lar.d  shores,  and  it  is  also  met  with,  but  much  more  sparingly,  in 
Iceland.  It  makes  no  nest,  but  lays  its  one  egg  on  the  ground 
amongst  or  possibly  beneath  the  large  rock-masses  which  encumber 
the  shore  after  falling  from  the  overhanging  cliffs  and  precipices. 
The  parent  birds  are  exceedingly  averse  to  leave  their  egg  when 
incubation  has  commenced,  and  like  some  other  species  already 
mentioned,  will  rather  suffer  themselves  to  be  removed  by  the  hand. 
The  egg  is  white,  lightly  tinged  with  blue,  a  little  spotted  and  veined 
with  rust  colour. 


INDEX 


Abbreviated  names  for  Jackdaw 
and  Magpie,  127n 

Accentor,  Alpine,  76 
Andalusian  Hemipode,  153 
Association    of    eggs    with    the 

birds  that  lay  them,  1 
Auk,  Great,  199 

—  Little,  201,  239 
Avocet,  167 

Bee-eater,  137 
Bittern,  American,  212 

—  Common,  211 

—  Little,  211 
Blackbird,  74 

—  Moor,  75 
Blackcap,  86 

Blowing  birds'  eggs,  19-22 
Blue-throat,  78 
Brambling,  111 
Bullfinch,  117 
Bunting,  Black-headed,  109 

—  Cirl,  109 

—  Common,  107 

—  Little,  107 

—  Ortolan,  109 

—  Reed,  106 

—  Rustic,  107 

—  Snow,  105,  233 
Bustard,  (ireat,  159 

—  Little,  159 

—  Macquecn's,  IGO 
Buzzard,  Common,  52 

—  Honey,  54 

—  Moor  or  Bald,  6 1 

—  Rough -legged,  53 


Capercaillie,  146 

Chaffinch,  110 

Chough,  122 

Classification  of  eggs,  5 

Classification  of  birds,  5-7,  31-34 

Coot,  158 

Cormorant,  207 

Courser,  Cream-coloured,  IGl 

Crake,  Baillon's,  156 

—  Little,  156 

—  Spotted,  155 
Crane,  159 
Creeper,  91 
Crossbill,  119 

—  Parrot,  120 

—  Two-barred,  120 

—  White -winged,  120 
Crow,  Black,  123 

—  Grey,  124 
Cuckoo,  135 

—  Great-spotted,  130 

—  Yellow-billed,  136 
Curlew,  181 

—  Esquimaux,  183 

—  Stone,  160 

Diflferences  between  Falcons  and 
Vultures,  37 

Differing  systems  of  classifica- 
tion and  arrangement,  24, 
25 

iJipper,  Common,  70 

Diver,  Black-throated,  203 

—  Great  Northern,  203,  230 

—  Red -throated,  204 
Dotterel,  162 


24 


242 


Index. 


Dove,  Ring,  U2 

—  Rock,  144 

—  Stock,  143 

—  Turtle,  145 

Duck,  BufTel-headed,  226 

—  Ferruginous,  224 
— ■  Harlequin,  220 

—  Long-tailed,  226,  238 

—  Pintail,  222,  236 

—  Scaup,  225,  237 

—  Steller's  Eider   or  Western, 

228 

—  Tufted,  225,  238 

Eagle,  Golden,  38 

—  Spotted,  41 

—  White-tailed,  41 
Egret,  Little,  210 
Eider  Duck,  226 
_  King,  227 

Falcon,  Greenland,  Gyr  or  Jer, 
44,  231 

—  Iceland,  44,  231 

—  Peregrine,  44 

—  Red-footed,  47 

Family  resemblance  among  birds' 

eggs,  14 
Fieldfare,  71,  232 
Flamingo,  213 
Flycatcher,  Pied,  69 

—  Red-breasted,  69 

—  Spotted,  68 

Gad  wall,  221 
Garganey,  223 
Godwit,  Bar-tailed,  181 

—  Black-tailed,  180 
Golden-eye,  225,  238 
Goldfinch,  114 
Goosander,  228 
Goose,  Bean,  215 

—  Bernicle,  216 

—  Brent,  216 

—  Canada,  217 

—  Egyptian,  217 

—  Grey-lag,  214 

—  Pink-footed,  215 

—  Red-breasted,  216 


Goose,  Snow,  216 

—  Spur-winged,  217 

—  White-fronted,  214- 
Goshawk,  49 
Grebe,  Eared,  205 

—  Great  Crested,  204 

—  Little,  206 

—  Red-necked,  205 

—  Sclavonian,  205 
Greenfinch,  113 
Greenshank,  180 
Grosbeak,  Pine,  119 

—  Scarlet,  118 
Grouse,  Black,  146 

—  Red,  147 
Guillemot,  Black,  201 

—  Briinnich's,  200 

—  Common,  199 

—  Cuneate-tailed,  188 

—  Ringed,  201 

Gull,  Black-headed,  188 

—  Bonapartean,  188 

—  Common,  189 

—  Glaucous,  192 

—  Great  Black-backed,  191 

—  Great  Black-headed,  189 

—  Herring,  190 

—  Iceland,  193 

—  Ivory,  193 

—  Lesser  Black-backed,  19i 

—  Little,  188 

Harrier,  Hen,  55 

—  Marsh,  54 

—  Montagu's,  56 
Hawfinch,  113 
Hedge  Sparrow,  76 
Heron,  Buff-backed,  210 

—  Common,  209 

—  Great  White,  210 

—  Night,  211 

—  Purple,  210 

—  Squacco,  210 
Hobby,  46 
Hoopoe,  136 

Ibis,  Glopsy,  213 
Identification  of  eggs,  3 

—  Difficulties  attending,  4 


Index 


2.13 


Intelligenco  and  Instinct,  Con- 
trast between,  15 

Jackdaw,  127 
Jay,  128 

Kestrel,  48 
Kingfisher,  137 

—  Belted,  133 
Kite,  51 

—  Black,  52 

—  Swallow-tailed,  52 
Kittiwake,  193 
Knot,  174 

Labels  for  arranging  birds'  eggs, 

28 
Land-rail,  153 
Lapwing,  165 
Lark,  Shore,  102 

—  Short-toed,  105 

—  White-winged,  105 

—  Wood,  104 
Linnet,  116 

Magpie,  128 
Martin,  131 

—  Purple,  133 

—  Sand,  132 
Measurements  of  birds'  eggs,  12 

et  seq. 
Merganser,  Hooded,  220 

—  Red-breasted,  229 
Merlin,  47 
Merrythoughts    of    birds,    their 

connection  with  flight,  57-liO 
Moor  Hen,  157 
Mountain  Finch,  111,  234 

Nesting-places  of   British   birds 

mostly  known,  29 
Nightingale,  78 
Night-jar,  134 
Nut-cracker,  129 
Nuthatch,  92 

Oriole,  Golden,  GO 
Ornamental  colouring  of   birds' 
eggs,  IG  et  seq. 


Osprey,  42 
Ousel,  Ring,  75 
Owls,  57 -GO 
Owl,  Barn,  64 

—  Eagle,  63 

—  Hawk,  64 

—  Little,  64 

—  Long-eared,  62 

—  -  Scops  Eared,  63 

—  Short-eared,  62 

—  Snowy,  64,  232 

—  Tawny,  60 

—  Tengmalm's,  62 

Partridge,  Common,  150 

—  Red-legged,  151 
Petrel,  Capped,  196 

—  Fulmar,  195 
Phalarope,  Grey,  168 

—  Red-necked,  168 
Pheasant,  149 
Pigeon,  Passenger,  145 
Pipit,  Meadow,  100 

—  Richards',  102 

—  Rock,  101 

—  Tawny,  102 

—  Tree,  100 

—  Water,  101 

Plentiful  provision  made  for 
Eagles'  and  Hawks'  nest- 
lings, 40-51 

Plover,  Golden,  103 

—  Grey,  164 

—  Kentish,  163 

—  Little  Ringed,  163 

—  Ringed,  162 
Pochard,  224,  237 

—  Red-crested,  224 
Ptarmigan,  148 
Puffin,  202 

Quail,  152 

Rail,  Land,  153 

—  Water,  156 
Raven,  122 
Ra/.orbill,  198 
Redpole,  Mealy,  115 

—  Lesser,  115 


244 


Index. 


Redshank,  Common,  178 
Redshank,  Spotted,  179 
Redstart,  78 

—  Black,  78 
Redwing,  73,  233 
Regains,  Fire-crested,  89 

—  Gold-crested,  89 
Robin,  77 
Roller,  137 
Rook,  125 

Ruff,  175 

Sand  Grouse,  146 
Sanderling,  175,  235 
Sandpiper,  Bartram's,  178 

—  Bonaparte's,  172 

—  Broad-billed,  171 

—  Buff-breasted,  176 

—  Common,  176 

—  Curlew,  174 

—  Green,  177 

—  Pectoral,  172 

—  Purple,  174 

—  Wood,  178 

—  Yellow-shanked,  178 
Scoter,  Common,  228,  236 

—  Surf,  228 

—  Velvet,  228,  236 
Serin,  114 

Shag,  208 

Shearwater,  Bulwer's,  197 

—  Dusky,  197 

—  Fork-tailed,  197 

—  Great,  196 

—  Manx,  196 

—  Sooty,  196 

—  Storm,  197 

—  Wilson's,  197 
Shieldrake,  Common,  219 

—  Ruddy,  218 
Shoveller,  221 

Shrike,  Great  Grey,  67,  232 

—  Lesser,  67 

—  Red-backed,  67 

—  Wood  chat,  68 
Siskin,  115,  234 

Skua,  Great  or  Common,  193 

—  Long-tailed  or  Buffon's,  195 

—  Richardson's  or  Arctic,  194 


Skua,  Pomarine,  194 
Sky  Lark,  102 
Smew,  229,  239 
Snipe,  Common,  170 

—  Great,  170 

—  Jack,  171 

—  Red-breasted,  171 
Sparrow  Hawk,  50 
Sparrow,  House,  112 

—  Tree,  111 
Spoonbill,  White,  213 
Starling,  120 

—  Red-winged,  120 

—  Rose-coloured,  121 
Stilt,  Black-winged,  168 
Stint,  American,  173 

—  Little,  173 

—  Temminck's,  173 
Stone-chat,  79 
Stork,  Black,  212 

—  White,  212 
Swallow,  129 
Swift,  133 

—  Alpine,  134 
Swan,  Bewick's,  218 

—  Mute,  218 

—  Polish,  218 

Teal,  222 

Tern,  Arctic,  186 

—  Black,  1S3 

—  Caspian,  184 

—  Common,  186 

—  Gull-billed,  184 

—  Lesser,  187 

—  Noddy,  188 

—  Roseate,  185 

—  Sandwich,  185 

—  Sooty,  187 

—  Whiskered,  184 

—  White-winged,  184 
Thrush,  Black-throated,  74 

—  Gold-vented,  71 

—  Missel,  71 

—  Rock,  76 

—  Song,  72 

—  White's,  71 
Titmouse,  Bearded,  97 

—  Blue,  93 


Index. 


245 


Titmouse,  Cole,  95 

—  Created,  95 

—  Great,  93 

—  Long-tailed,  96 

—  Marsh,  95 
Turnstone,  166,  235 
Twite,  117 

Varying    names    for    the    same 

bird,  29  tt  seq. 
Vulture,  Egyptian,  37 

—  Griffon,  37 

Wagtail,  Blue-headed,  99 

—  Grey,  99 

—  Pied,  98 

—  White,  98 

—  Yellow,  99 
Warbler,  Aquatic,  83 

—  Dartford,  84 

—  Garden,  85 

—  Grasshopper,  83 

—  Great  Reed,  82 

—  Icterine,  81 

—  Orphean,  87 

—  Reed.  82 


Warbler,  Rufous,  81 
Wagtail,  Savi's,  84 

—  Sedge,  82 

—  Yellow-browed,  88 
Water  Rail,  156 
Waxwing,  Bohemian,  87 
Wheatear,  80 
Whimbrel,  182 
Whinchat,  80 
Whitethroat,  84 

—  Lesser,  85 
Whooper,  217,  235 
Wigeon,  223 

—  American,  224 
Woodcock,  169 
Woodpecker,  Green,  133 

—  Great  Spotted,  140 

—  Lesser  Spotted,  141 
Wren,  89 

—  Fire-crested,  89 

—  Gold-crested,  89 

—  Willow,  87 

—  Wood,  87 
Wryneck,  141 

Yellow  Hammer,  107 


Piinttdby  Cowan  b*  Co.,  LimiUtf,  Perth. 


PLATE  II. 


].  Kite.    2   Common  Buzzard.    3    Honey  Huzzard.    4— 5.  Butcher-bird.    8.  Spotted  Fh catcher. 

T.  i'ied  FIjcitcher.       8.  Dipper.       9.  .Missel  Thrush.       10.  Sonjc  Thrush.       11.  Blackbird. 

12.  Ri  «  OuzeL       13.  Hedge  Sparrow.       14.  Robin.         15.  Redstart.       18.  blonechat- 

17.  Whiiichat. 


PLATE  III 


n^ 


• 


.-^^  •' 


1.  WhMteir.    J.  Grasshov-.t.   \\  „:,..:.    5.  SeJire  WarlU.-.    i.  IL-.l  Wi.-:.er.    i.  X.^iii-i:^-*!*. 

'\.  ll:io<  Cap.    7.  GfcTvien  \V*rbl*r.    S.  WhiWthroal.    9.  Le*»er  Whilethro»t.    10.  Wood  Wivn- 

11.  Wil.ow  Wren.       It  Chiff  Chaff.       13   P*rtford  Warbler.       14.  Ovld-crest        li.  Great  Til. 

1ft.  Blue  Til.       ir.  Lons-Uil  Tit.       IS.  Bearded  Tie       19.  Pied  Wagtail.       JO.  Grey  Wj^aiL 

:i.  Meadow  Pipit.       fi  23.  Tne  Pipit.       i4.  Skvlark.       £&.  Wood  Lark. 


PLATR  IV. 


9 


Mm 


1.  Common  Iiuntin|)r.        2.  Ulnck-lieade  1  Huiitiiiif.         3.  Yellow-hammer.       4.  Ciil  Biiniii.if. 

6.  Chaffinch,    a.  Tree  Sparrow.    7.  House  Sparrow.    8.  Oreenflcicli.    e.  Hawfinch.    10.  Gol..fiiica. 

11.  Linnet.     12.  Redpole.     13.  Twite.     14.  lUillfinch.     15.  Crossbill.     16.  Creepi-r.     l".  Wren. 

IS.  Nuthatch.       19.  Cuckoo.       ':u   Swallow. 


PLATK  V. 


L  Starling.       2.  Chough.       S.  liaven.       4.  Carrion  Crow.       6.  Koyston  Crow.       a.  Rook. 
7.  Jackdaw.  S.  MAffi  ie.  9.  Joy- 


I'LATK  VI. 


1.  N'mht-Jir.       5.  I'hea-ant.       3.  Capercailzie.       4.  Ulack   Jr...^. .        ,.  iioi  Lirous 
a.  Partridge.       7.  Ked-leKKCd  Partridge.       8.  yuail. 


PLATE  VII. 


1.  SK.neCurle^v.       J.  Golden  Plover.       .1  Hin>rea  Plover.       4.  Kentish  Plover.       5.  Lapwlu?. 
6.  Oyster-Calclier. 


PLATE  VnL 


I    li<TVA.       i.  Bi»f«ro.       *. 


Sto49i>«c       C  >i 


PLATE  IX. 


.■^^■^ 


^"♦■•^■''•■••..••■■^*'4'.^ 


•   '» 


f4-'^ 


i' ; . . .  2^.  •  ?  -"  -  V  > .  -  "^^  J. : 


-1  w  m. 


smt 


B7     /.*f  ■-,■•>> 


^ 


1.  Woodcock.       8.  Common  Snipo.       3.  Dunlin.       4.  Land  Rail.       5.  Spotted  Crake. 
e.  Water. Kail.       7.  Moorhen.       3.  Coot. 


PLATE  X. 


Ll-Cfl 


t.  BUek  Gu  ll«ino«.  ♦   R*xorbtU. 


PLATK  Xr. 


1,2.  Sandwich  Tern.      3.  Comnun  Tern.      4.  Arctic  T^rn.      5.  Leaser  Tern.      0.  Black  Tcm. 
7.  Ulack-healeJ  Gull. 


PLATE  XII. 


'••5;    ♦n'    v  >    .*:^*<t^ 


Xis^^ 


L  Kittiwake.       2.  Common  Gull.       8.  Lesser  Black  backed  Gull.       i.  llernnK  GulL 
5.  BichardsonU  Skua. 


AMNH    LIBRARY 


100105045