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C.F. MAUDE,
RECTORY,
PURWASH.

BRITISH OOLOGY ;

BEING

ILLUSTRATIONS

OF THE

EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS,

WITH lecia OF EACH SPECIES,

AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE,
DRAWN AND COLOURED FROM NATURE:

ACCOMPANIED BY

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE MATERIALS AND SITUATION OF THEIR NESTS,
NUMBER OF EGGS, &c.

BY WILLIAM C. HEWITSON.

VOR. -L

«« Some to the holly-hedge,
Nestling repair, and to the thicket some ;
Some to the rude protection of the thorn
Commit their feeble offspring: The cleft tree
Offers its kind concealment to a few,
Their food its insects, and its moss their nests.
Others apart far in the grassy dale,
Or roughening waste, their humble texture weave.
But most in woodland solitudes delight,
In unfrequented glooms, or shaggy banks,
Steep, and divided by a babbling brook,”

nn een E EEE EERE

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE:

PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR,

BY CHARLES EMPSON, 32, COLLINGWOOD STREET.

getipn see Hoke ib bbislive HITE

A AATIUSERE: HA HAE OF

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ro
‘ THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY
OF
NORTHUMBERLAND, DURHAM, AND NEWCASTLE
UPON TYNE,

AND TO

EACH OF ITS MORE ARDENT MEMBERS ESPECIALLY,

AMONGST WHOM

THE AUTHOR HAS THE PLEASURE OF ENUMERATING

MANY FRIENDS,

THIS VOLUME OF BRITISH OOLOGY

IS DEDICATED.

HOCRI TAR ITAK at)

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oa avieninay, ice eka AIA

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SUBSCRIBERS’ NAMES.

Bryan Abbs, Esq., Cleadon House, near Sunderland.

John Adamson, Esq., F.L.S., F. A. S., Newcastle.

E. Aked, Esq., Hebden Bridge, Halifax, Yorkshire.
Matthew Anderson, Esq., Jesmond Cottage, near Newcastle.
Mrs. Anderson, Jesmond House, near Newcastle.

George Clayton Atkinson, Esq., Newcastle.

James Atkinson, Esq., York.

Richard Atkinson, Esq., Liverpool.

John James Audubon, Esq., F. R.S., F. LS.

John Ayer, Esq., Heslington, near York.

Sir Henry Browne, K. C. B., Bronwylfa, Wales.

Edward Backhouse., Jun., Esq., Sunderland.

Jonathan Backhouse, Esq., Polam Hill, Darlington, Durham.

William Backhouse, Jun., Esq., Newcastle.

Addison John Creswell Baker, Esq., Creswell House, Northum-
berland.

Rev. Thomas Baker, Whitburn, Durham.

Robert Barclay, Esq., Leyton, Essex.

T. A. Beck, Esq., Esthwaite Lodge, Cumberland.

Mrs. Bell, Woolsington Hall, near Newcastle.

John Bell, Esq., Thirsk, Yorkshire.

Thomas Bell, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S., 17, New Broad
Street, London.

Richard Sparling Berry, Esq., Bolton Lodge, near Lancaster.

Charles William Bigge, Esq., Linden House, Northumberlanu.

Henry Birkbeck, Esq., Norwich.

J. Blythe, Esq., Naturalists’ Museum, Clyde Street, Glasgow.

W., Blythe, Esq., Burnham, Norfolk.

John Bockett, Esq., Clapham Common, near London.

Captain Bowen, R. N., Warringtree, Essex.

George W. Braikenridge, Esq., F. S. A., F.G.S., Brislington, near
Bristol.

Mrs. Brandling, Shotton Hall, Durham.

vi LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

Charles John Brandling, Esq., Middleton Lodge, Yorkshire.
John Brandling, Esq., Kenton Lodge, Northumberland.
Rev. R. H. Brandling, Gosforth House, near Newcastle.
William Henry Brockett, Esq., Newcastle.

William Burrell, Esq., Broome Park, Northumberland.

Sir George Crewe, Bart., Caulk Abbey, Derbyshire.

Lady Crewe, Ditto

Cambridge Philosophical Society.

Ralph Carr, Esq., Dunston Hill, near Newcastle, 2 Copies.
Abel Chapman, Esq., Woodford, near London.

Miss E. H. Chapman, Newcastle.

Frederick Chapman, Esq., Whitley, near Newcastle.

John Chapman, Esq., West Jesmond, near Newcastle.
William Chapman, Esq., Newcastle.

W. H. Charlton, Esq., Hesleyside, Northumberland.
Henry H. Cheek, Esq.

Anthony Clapham, Esq., Benwell Grove, near Newcastle.
J. C. Clarke, Esq., Kinnersley Castle, Herefordshire.
James Graham Clarke, Esq., Fenham Hall, near Newcastle.
William Clark, Esq., Belford House, Northumberland.

W. B. Clark, Esq. Ditto,

Miss Jane Clayton, Newcastle.

Charles Colville, Esq., Duffield Hall, Derbyshire. ©

Charles Conway, Esq., Pontihydyrum Works, near Newport.
Thomas Cookson, Esq., Hermitage, Durham.

John Cooper, Esq., Bungay.

Miss Craster, Craster House, Northumberland.

D. W. Crompton, Esq., F. L. §., London.

Right Hon. Earl Durham, Lambton Castle, Durham.
Lady Dundas, Beechwood, near Edinburgh.

Miss D. M. Dale, Newcastle.

Henry Dale, Esq., North Shields.

John Davidson, Esq., Ridley Hall, Northumberland.
Dixon Dixon, Esq., Benton West House, near Newcastle.
Henry Doubleday, Esq., Epping.

Henry Dover, Esq.

John Drayson, Esq., Pattishall House, near Towcester.

Anthony Easterby, Esq., Carville Hall, neat Newcastle.

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Vil

John Elton, Esq., Redland, near Bristol.
Mr. Charles Empson, Newcastle.

Hon. W. Twisleton Fiennes, F. L. S., F. H:S., Belvidere, Dartford,
Kent.

Mrs. Farrer, John’s Street, Berkeley Square, London.

A. Fenwick, Esq., Bishopwearmouth, Durham.

Thomas Fenwick, Esq., South Hill, Durham.

Mrs. Fitzheugh, 3, Stanhope Street, London.

F. M. Flintoff, Esq.

Benjamin Flounders, Esq., Yarm, Yorkshire.

George Foljambe, Esq., Osberton Plane, Retford.

George Townsend Fox, Esq., F. L. S., Durham.

Rey. John Fox, D. D., Provost of Queen’s College, Oxford.

Rey. William Darwin Fox, Epperstone, near Nottingham.

Mrs. Fuller, Holcombe Cottage, Surrey.

Right Hon. Earl Grey, Howick, Northumberland.

Mrs. Galton, Lymington, Hampshire.

Rev. Thomas Gibson, Tyrril Lodge, near Penrith, Cumberland.

John Bevans Giles, Esq., London.

Rey. Thomas Gisborne, M. A., F. L. S., Durham.

Miss Godart, Newcastle.

Mrs. Godfrey, Old Hall, Essex.

John Gould, Esq., A.L.S., 19, Broad Street, Golden Square,
London, 7 Copies.

John Hatfield Gossip, Esq., Hatfield Hall, near Doncaster.

John Gray, Jun., Esq., Wheatfield House, near Bolton-le-Moors.

John Edward Gray, Esq., F. R.S., British Museum.

Miss Grey, Castle Eden, Durham.

Mrs. Gurney, Norwich, 2 Copies.

Miss Gurney, Northrepps Cottage, Cromer.

Joseph John Gurney, Esq., Norwich.

Tansley Hall, Esq., Ely, Cambridge.

Mr. Albany Hancock, Newcastle.

Mr. John Hancock, Newcastle.

Major-General Sir Thos. Hardwicke, F. R. S., F.L. S., M. Asiat.
Soc., Lodge, South Lambeth.

Thomas Emmerson Headlam, Esq., M.D.

George Helsham, Esq., Woodbridge, Suffolk.

Henry Hewitson, Esq., Seaton Burn House, near Newcastle.

Mrs. Hewitson, Do., 2 Copies.

Vill LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS

Joshua Hewitson, Esq., Heckley House, Northumberland.

Middleton Hewitson, Esq., Newcastle, 2 Copies.

Mr. Middleton Hewitson, Junr., Kirkby Stephen, Westmorland.

John Hey, Esq., Leeds,’ Yorkshire.

T. C. Heysham, Esq., Carlisle.

John Hodgson, Esq., M. P., Elswick House, near Newcastle.

Rev. J. Holmes, Gaudy Hall, Norfolk.

Arthur Todd Holroyd, Esq., M. D., Harley Street, Cavendish
Square, London.

_W. J. Hooker, Esq., L.L.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., F. A. S., F. H.S.,

Regius Professor, Glasgow University.

C. Hurt, Jun., Esq., Woxworth, Derbyshire.

Mrs. Hutchinson, Sheriff Hill Cottage, near Newcastle.

William Hutton, Esq., F.G.S., Newcastle.

Sir William Jardine, Bart., F.R.S., Ed. F.L.S., Applegarth,
Dunfries-shire.

Edward James, Esq., Deckham Hall, near Newcastle.

P. F. De Jersey, Esq., M. D., F.L.S., Romford.

Benjamin Johnson, Esq., North Elswick, near Newcastle.

Mrs. Kensington, New Bridge Street, London.

Miss Kerrich.

Edward Kerrich, Esq., Elmer, near Leatherhead, Surrey.
John Kerrich, Esq., Geldston Hall, Norfolk.

Rey. W. J. Kerrich, Paulsperry, 2 Copies.

Hon. Mrs. Liddell, Eslington House, Northumberland.

Joseph C. Lamb, Esq., Ryton House, near Newcastle.

John Lambert, Esq., Alnwick, Northumberland.

Richard Lambert, Esq., Newbrough House, Northumberland.

Miss Laslie, Newcastle.

M. De Cardonnel Lawson, Esq., Acton House, Northumberland.

Mr. Benjamin Leadbeater, F.L.S., 19, Brewer Street, Golden
Square, London.

W. A. Leighton, Esq., Leighton Ville, Shrewsbury.

R. Leyland, Esq., Halifax, Yorkshire.

Robert Losh, Esq., Jesmond Grove, near Newcastle.

F. Lumley, Esq., Tickhill Castle, near Bawtry, Yorkshire.

Lady Milner, Nun. Appleton, near York.

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. ix

Manchester Natural History Society.

Mrs. Markham.

William Marshall, Esq., Newton Kyme, Yorkshire.

John Martin, Esq., F. L. S., London.

Jacob Maude, Esq., Selaby Park, Durham.

John Morgan, Esq., F. L.S.,7, Broad Street Buildings, London.
Thomas Meynell, Jun., Esq., Fryerage, Yarm, Yorkshire.

Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society.
Norfolk and Norwich Institution.
Thomas Norris, Esq., Redvales, near Bury, Lancashire.

Mrs. Ormston, Newcastle.
C. C. Oxley, Esq., Ripon, Yorkshire.

Shirley Palmer, M. D., Birmingham.

Rev. Thomas Pearson, M. A., Fellow of Queen’s College, Oxford.
Joseph Pease, Esq., M. P., South End, Darlington, Durham.
Miss Peters, Newcastle.

Miss Pratt, Sedlescomb Rectory, Battle, Sussex.

Rev. J. D. J. Preston, Askam, near York.

Lady Ridley, Blagdon Hall, near Newcastle.

The Radcliffe Library, Oxford.

John Ramsay, Esq., M.D., Newcastle.

William H. Rudston Read, Esq., Frickley Hall, near Doncaster.
Mrs. Richmond, Ravensworth, near Newcastle.

Right Hon. Lord Stanley, F. L.S., and F.H.S., President of the
Linnzan and Zoological Societies.

John D. Salmon, Esq., Stoke Ferry, Norfolk.

Bryan John Salvin, Esq., Burn Hall, near Durham.

William Thomas Salvin, Esq.. Croxdale Park, near Durham.

R.B. Sanderson, Esq., West Jesmond, near Newcastle.

George Selby, Esq., Middleton Hall, Northumberland.

Prideaux John Selby, Esq., F. L.S., Twizell House, Northumberland.

James Smith, Esq., Rector of the Grammar School of Banff, Scotland.

J. F. South, Esq., F.L.S., 12, St. Thomas’ Street, Southwark,
London.

John Spedding, Esq., Newcastle.

Mr. Joseph Standish, 40, Kennington Lane, Lambeth, London.

x LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

George Stephenson, Esq., Liverpool.

Mrs. Steuart, Ewhurst, near Guilford, Surrey.

_ William Stokoe, Esq., Hexham, Northumberland.
N.C. Strickland, Esq., Lincoln College, Oxford.

Rev. George Thackeray, D. D., Provost of King’s College, Cam-
bridge, 69, Wimpole Street, London.

Rev. George Townsend, M. A., Durham.

Walter Calverly Trevelyan, Esq., Wallington Hall, Northumberland

Miss Tulip, Brunton House, near Newcastle.

Samuel Tuke, Esq., York.

Dawson Turner, Esq, M.A., F.R.S., F.A.S., and F.H.S.,
M. R. I. A., Yarmouth.

J. R. Turner, Esq-, Manchester.

Rev: William Turner, Newcastle.

Rev. Frederick Vane, M. A., Fellow of Queen’s College, Oxford.
N. A. Vigors, Esq. M.P., F.R.S.,. F.L.S., and F’G.S.
Secretary to the Zoological Society, London.

Mr. William Wailes, Newcastle.

George Walker, Esq., East Wood, Nottingham.

Simeon Warner, Esq-, Blackheath.

Godfrey Wentworth, Esq., Wooley Park, near Wakefield, Yorkshire

Rev. Robert Meadows White, M.A., Fellow of Magdalen Col-
lege, Oxford.

Mrs. Whittear, Norwich.

Allan Wilkie, Esq., Glen Allen, Northumberland.

Mr. Williamson, Scarborough.

Mr. R. R. Wingate, Newcastle.

Henry Witham, Esq., F.G.S., Lartington, Yorkshire.

W. Wood, Esq., F.R.S., F. L.S., Strand, London, 2 Copies.

Rev. Jacob George Wrench, D.C. L., F.S.A., Salehurst Vicar-
age, Sussex.

John Bowes Wright, Esq., Newcastle.

William Yarrell, Esq., F. L.S., London.

York Subscription Library.
Yorkshire Philosophical Society.

C.F. MAUDE,
RECTORY,
BURWASH.

INTRODUCTION.

AN anxious wish to add a portion, however humble, to-
wards the illustration of those glorious works from which I
have myself derived such abundant pleasure, together with a
desire to impart to others a portion of that pleasure, led to the
production of the present work; and however deficient in its
accomplishment, should it be the means of turning the atten-
tion of any one to this, or any other branch of Natural His-
tory, my object will have been fully gained ; and I shall have
the happiness of knowing, that I have been partly the means
of adding many a bright hour to their lives; feeling, as I do,
firmly convinced, that next to those pleasures to be derived
from religion, and the discharge of its various duties, there is
no pursuit so calculated to impart pure sensations of pleasure,
and to elevate the mind. There is not a pursuit which diffuses
the same serenity over the feelings, which soothes us in the
hour of trouble, and which, when other pleasures flit away,
continues to afford undiminished enjoyment to the last. For
my own part, that taste for Natural History which I have

enjoyed from the earliest recollection, has proved to me an
inestimable blessing. ‘To its influence I owe all the brighter
hours of my life; whether, in the full enjoyment of health and
happiness, I have trod the green fields, in the joyous spring,
delighted with the early flowers, and the first song of the
Sky Lark; or have wandered as a school-boy through the
woods, “ to pull the flower so gay ;” or in the autumn of the
year have traversed the heathery mountains, purpled o’er
with blossoms, to watch the flight of the Moor Bird, and
listen to the busy hum of a thousand bees; that taste has
brightened every beautiful object in nature, and added a zest
to every pleasure.

If, on the other hand, any of the ills of life have been my
lot; if {I have been “afflicted with any sorrow,” then, in-
deed, have I felt its influence alleviating every cause of un-
happiness.

It is with a satisfaction unalloyed by any unpleasant feel-
ings, that the lover of nature looks back upon and retraces in
his memory the many happy hours which he has spent in the
pursuit of his favourite object. Never shall I forget the first
dawning of a love for nature upon my mind, as its various
beautiful objects came crowding upon my notice—“ wonders
yet to me;” nor that strange feeling of delight which I have
experienced from the capture of some long-chased butterfly,
or the discovery of the nest of some then unknown bird.

However unimportant in itself the branch of Natural His-
tory which I have attempted to imitate, the beautiful and
varied objects which compose it, are amongst the first to ex-

cite the imagination, and call forth in boyhood those feelings,

that love for nature, which is inherent in us all. And I would
ask, who is there, however the cares or the pleasures of life
may have blunted those earlier feelings, who has not one day
derived pleasurable emotions from their contemplation, and
who does not remember those joyous times when, at the first
breaking loose from school, he has hied him to the wood and
the hedge-row, in search of his painted prize?

Few can have failed to notice that wonderful and all-ab-
sorbing feeling of anxiety, that utter disregard of self, which,
during the breeding season, produces so remarkable a change
in the nature of many of our birds: converting that wariness
for which they are at other times remarkable, into the most
heedless disregard of danger.

Numerous anecdotes are related of the devotedness of the
Partridge, and other species of birds, in the protection of their
young.

The Misletoe Thrush, usually so shy, seeks the immediate
neighbourhood of our houses, during the season of incubation,
rearing its young ones within sight of our windows, and
spreading terror amongst the rest of the feathered race, by its
pugnacious persecution of all intruders. A Kestel Hawk,
belonging to a gentleman in Derby, whilst quietly seated
upon an apple-tree, unconscious of harm, having excited the
suspicions of a Misletoe Thrush, which had its nest near,
received its death-blow from its bill, at a single pounce.

I have before noticed the assiduity with which the Eider
Duck covers its eggs; and I have since had a further oppor-
tunity of admiring it. Upon one of the Norwegian islands we

visited, where they are very numerous, we were accompanied

by the keeper of the island, who seemed to have a personal
and familiar acquaintance with each of his flock, pointing
them out to us, and even stroking them on the back.

Many of the smaller birds will allow themselves to be taken
in the hand, rather than leave their nests. Some have been
even known, upon having their young ones taken from them,
to follow them into captivity.

The obstinate perseverance with which the Blue Titmouse
continues to rebuild its nest, although it has been time after
time destroyed, is very remarkable ; and still more so the per-
tinacity with which it continues to sit its eggs, in defiance of
all intrusion; and to retain possession of the hole in which
they were placed, sometimes for days after they have been
taken from it.

I am not prepared to argue the point, whether or not the
ovarium of a bird is supplied, at its first creation, with the
germs of all those eggs which it is to lay through life. Against
this opinion may be stated, the number of eggs laid by the
common Fowl, and other birds, in a state of domestication;
but these are not fair examples, as they may have been ren-
dered thus prolific, either by the mode of life to which we
have subjected them, or by some peculiar organization. I
have often observed upon the coast of those extensive breed-
ing places of the sea birds, where the eggs are constantly
plundered, numbers of the various species of Gulls, Oyster
Catchers, and Sandpipers, which, though quite matured, were
yet in flocks, and unemployed. These might be birds the
ovariums of which were exhausted. Notwithstanding the

numerous accounts we hear of the fecundity of some of our

smaller birds, I am much inclined to think that their powers
of incubation are limited, and that the usual number of eggs
only, (which it is allotted them to lay,) are sufficiently de-
veloped to be brought to maturity at one time. ‘Those birds,
however, (which under ordinary circumstances would only
breed once in a year,) have nevertheless, if deprived of their
eggs, the power of producing, a short time afterwards, a second
and even a third set ; but usually diminished in their numbers,
as well as in their size.

That the colouring of birds’ eggs is an animal matter, and
dependent upon the health of the bird, there can be little
doubt. The day previous to their being produced, and after
the shell has become hard, they are, in those birds which I
have examined, pure white; a large proportion of the colour
is also easily rubbed off, for some time after they are laid.
Thus we find in their eggs the same want of colour, which is
also occasionally observable in the feathers of white varieties
of birds. Fear, or any thing which may affect the animal
functions, exerts its influence upon the colour also. The eggs
of birds which I have captured on their nests, during the time
that they were laying, and kept in close confinement, have
thus been deprived of much of their colour.

The colour of eggs, as well as their size, is dependent upon
the age of the bird; and during a few years after which it has
first become capable of production, they increase in size and
intensity of colour, till its arrival at full maturity.

That the varied and beautiful hues which adorn the eggs of
birds, are given them by the God of nature, as a protection

from their enemies, by resembling the various surfaces upon

which they are deposited, (as stated by M. Gloger, a German
naturalist,) taken as a general rule, I am by no means ready
to admit. On the other hand, I think I am prepared to show,
that such precautions would be for the most part unnecessary
and superfluous; and we never find nature thus wasting
her resources.

By far the most numerous class of birds are those which
build in trees or bushes, and at an elevation from the ground;
and the nest (which then forms the object of search and de-
tection) being once discovered, further precaution to conceal
the eggs would be of no avail; and on this account we find
such an instinctive anxiety amongst the feathered race to
conceal and protect the homes of their future offspring.
I could quote a number of instances, any of which are suffi-
cient to excite our wonder and admiration. Who has ever
discovered the nest of the Common Wren, concealed and
buried as it is amongst the same material of which it is itself
constructed, without a feeling of pleasure and surprise? I
have frequently seen it let into the hollow of some moss-clad
stump, or so nicely woven into the side of a clover stack,
when, had it not been for the small round hote of entrance,
discovery would have been perfectly evaded.

The nest of the Chaffinch is little less worthy of remark ;
built upon the branch of some tree clothed with lichens, it is
covered with the same material. I have before mentioned a
beautiful instance, with regard to the Chaffinch; but as it
illustrates so admirably that anxiety which birds evince for
the concealment of their nests, I will repeat it here. A Chaf-

finch had built its nest in my father’s garden, in Newcastle ;

and being unable, amongst the smoke and dirt of a town, to
procure the white lichens which in its own green fields it had
been accustomed to do, it substituted in their place small
pieces of white paper. Those birds which, from the large
size of their nests, are prevented from thus concealing them,
have recourse to other means of protection. The Hawk, the
Crow, and the Magpie, place theirs in places difficult of ac-
cess; the nest of the latter being defended besides by a roof
of thorns, which are not easily penetrated.

That there are several instances in which the eggs of birds
are admirably adapted to and closely resemble in colour the
ground upon which they are deposited, I have frequently
found, much to my annoyance, when in search of them; and
these are just the instances where such protection is most
necessary, and where contrasting colours would lead to their
detection ; and amongst those birds which make little or no
nest, depositing their eggs, for the most part, upon the bare
ground, or the shingle of the sea beach, and leaving them un-
covered on the least alarm. Of these are the Ring Dotterel,
Oyster Catcher, the Sandpipers, Peewit, and the Terns, espe-
cially the Lesser. Amongst the other ground builders, their
protection consists in the careful and constant assiduity with
which they are covered by the parent bird; and more so in
the adaptation of their feathers than their eggs, to the sur-
rounding surface; as the dull and very similar colouring of
the females of nearly all the Duck tribe, of the hen Pheasant,
and the Grey Hen, (Tetrao tetrix,) so strongly as they
are contrasted too with the brighter colours of their mates,

(which do not assist in incubation,) will illustrate most

admirably. Were I to mention those birds, the eggs of which
do not bear any resemblance to the surface on which they are
deposited, I should have to enumerate much the greater por-
tion of our British Birds. Who will say that there is any
resemblance whatever in colour, between the clear blue eggs
of the Thrush, and the mud-lined interior of its nest? Neither
do the bright blue eggs of the Hedge Sparrow bear much
more resemblance to the nest. What likeness do the eggs of
the Swans, the Geese, the Harriers, and the numerous species
of Ducks, (all white, or nearly so) bear to the ground upon
which they are placed? and why, if their colours are intended
for their concealment, are eggs so entirely different in that
respect, placed in situations perfectly alike ?

It may be asked, for what purpose then are these beautiful
colours lavished so abundantly? For the same purpose for
which they adorn the plumes of the Humming-bird, or the
wing of the resplendent butterfly—to gladden our eyes, “'To
minister delight to man, to beautify the earth.” And thus it
is that the eggs of nearly all those birds (the Owl, Kingfisher,
Bee-eater, Roller, Nuthatch, and the Woodpeckers,) which
conceal them in holes, are white, because in such situations
colour would be displayed to no purpose.

The number of eggs laid by various tribes of birds, as, well
as the different genera of the same family, vary much. ‘The
more typical species of these are, however, for the most part
nearly alike in this respect. In every instance we shall find
the same beneficent influence acting for our welfare; increas-
ing rapidly, by the number of their eggs, those species which
are of the greatest use to us, and bestowing upon those

intended for our more immediate benefit, a most wonderful
power of ovo-production; and at the same time curtailing in
their numbers those species which, in their greater increase,
would soon become injurious to us. Most of the Rasores,
which, as game, form so agreeable an addition to our table, as
well as the Duck tribe, lay numerous eggs. The Warblers
and the various species of Titmice, which render us such
essential service, in the destruction of the numerous insects
which would otherwise become a nuisance, are unusually
prolific.

In their relative sizes, the eggs of birds differ in a remark-
able degree from each other, as | have shown, when describing
those of the Guillemot; and this will be seen by the compari-
son of afew species. The Guillemot and the Raven are them-
selves of about equal size ; their eggs differ as ten to one. The
Snipe and the Blackbird differ but slightly in weight; their
eggs remarkably. The egg of the Curlew is six or eight times
as large as that of the Rook; the birds are of about the same
size. The eggs of the Guillemot are as big as those of an
Eagle; whilst those of the Snipe equal the eggs of the Par-
tridge and the Pigeon. The reason of this great disparity in
size is, however, obvious: the eggs of all those birds which
quit the nest soon after they are hatched, and which are con-
sequently more fully developed at their birth, are very large,
and yet so admirably formed to occupy the least possible
space, that the Snipe has no more difficulty in covering its
eggs, though apparently so disproportionate, than the ‘Thrush
or the Blackbird.

As I have elsewhere remarked, much useful and highly

interesting information might be gained towards the classifi-
cation of birds, by paying some attention to their eggs; and
it is very gratifying to find, in thus regarding them, that, with
the exception of a few instances, were we to take the eggs of
our British birds as our only guide, we should arrive at the
best and most approved arrangement of the different genera.
All those new genera which have been lately adopted, are
clearly indicated in the difference of their eggs, and in none
more than in those of the Snow Bunting and the Bearded
Titmouse ; the former of which was associated with the genus
Emberiza, the latter with that of Parus; the very great simi-
larity which the eggs of each of these genera (Emberiza and
Parus) bear to each other, at once pointing out the intruders.
T would not, however, have any one place too implicit reliance
on their eggs, for the arrangement of the birds. There are
puzzling instances in which, by so doing, we should be led
into error, and be tempted to place apart from each other the
eggs of the Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, the Common and
Tythis Redstarts, and to separate those of the Common and
Misletoe ‘Thrush from the rest of the genus, the Swallow
from the Martin and the Swift, the Little Bittern from the
more common species, and the Woodcock from the Snipe;
and placing too much reliance upon those minute differences
which serve so beautifully to connect and represent neigh-
bouring genera, we should be led into a similar mistake with
regard to the eggs of the Pied Wagtail, the Grasshopper
Warbler, the Wood Wren, and the Wheatear.

The generic characters of eggs are in some cases as dis-

tinctly marked in contour and in colour as are the birds

themselves. Any one would immediately recognize the close
affinity which those of the different species of Crows bear to
each other, as also those of the Owls, the Ducks, the Divers,
the Buntings, the Titmice, the Sea Gulls, and the Terns,
(greatly as the latter differ individually). In shape, the eggs
of the Grebes are very peculiar, as are those of the more
typical waders. This affinity is not confined to genera only,
but may be traced, more or less, in most of the families, and
is very remarkable throughout the Scolopacidx, in colour,
shape, and number. The eggs are, with one exception only,
much pointed at the smaller end, and are invariably four in
number.

There is too, in many genera, a beautiful analogical resem-
blance with others nearly allied to them. The Eagles and
Hawk tribe (nearly all of which breed aloft,) approach in their
habits of breeding on the ground and the colour of their eggs,
by the genus Circus, that section of the Owls which is the
most Hawk-like, the species of which (departing from the
habits of the rest of the family) breed also upon the ground.
The eggs of the following genera, Corvus, Fregilus, Pica, and
Garrulus, are all closely allied, as are those of the Roller,
Merops, and Alcedo.

Eggs are subject to much variety, and are not without those
apparent discrepancies which beset the study of other branches
of. Natural History, and which are only to be reconciled by
oft-repeated observation, and by combining with their study a
knowledge of the nests in which they are found. And thus,
as regards the different species of a genus, although the eggs

of some of the Thrushes usually bear but slight resemblance

to each other, we shall find upon a closer acquaintance with
them, that there are other connecting links. The nests of all
the species are much alike, each being strongly cemented with
clay ; and much as the eggs of the Common Thrush and the
Blackbird appear to differ at first sight, they nevertheless run
imperceptibly into each other, in some of their varieties. I
have seen eggs of both species, of a clear spotless blue. My
friend Mr. Doubleday, one year found several nests of the
Blackbird, at Epping, in one locality, the eggs of which were
all of this description; a variety perpetuated, probably, through
the several individuals of one family. No one who has seen
the nests of the Swallow and the House Martin, (resembling
each other as much as they differ from those of all other
genera,) will need to be told that they are closely allied, much
as the eggs differ in colour.

With regard to birds of the same species, although the
eges of most of them are subject to more or less variety, some
are constant, or nearly so, in their colouring, whilst others
display an almost unceasing variety. Amongst the former,
are those chiefly of one colour, to which may be added a few
others, which seldom vary much. These are the Kite, Golden
Oriole, Lesser Whitethroat, the various species of Titmice,
Reed Bunting, Goldfinch, and Black Grouse.

The eggs, on the other hand, which are subject to the
greatest variety, are those of the Water Birds, the Gulls,
Terns, Guillemots, &c.; and of the land birds, the Red Grouse,
the Rook and Carrion Crow, Yellow Bunting, and House
Sparrow, and above all, the Tree Pipit. There is, notwith-

standing, in all these a character, by which a little experience

will for the most part enable us to determine the species ; and
though we might not readily believe the eggs of the Tree Pipit
to belong to the same species, we shall have no difficulty in
referring them to the right genus.

In places where those materials are to be met with which
instinct has taught individuals of the same species of bird to
make use of in the construction of their nests, we shall usually
find the same adopted. I know of no other bird which seems
so much to consult its own taste in this respect, as the Com-
mon Wren. The materials of its nest are as different as the
situations in which it is placed. It may be found built en-
tirely of clover, and in places where moss is abundant; its
interior is also formed according to the taste of the owner,
and is as often found without any lining at all, as it is thickly
lined with feathers.

There are many instances in which circumstances have led
to a deviation from the usual habit. Those Eagles and Hooded
Crows inhabiting the Shetland Islands, which would build
their nests of sticks, were such materials to be had, are there
compelled to substitute the larger species of sea weed. A
Carrion Crow which resorted to the Fern Islands to breed, for
the same reason, (the absence of sticks) made its nest in a
hole in the ground, surrounding it, to give it sufficient depth,
with a wall of sods.

There are a few deviations from the usual instinct, which,
not being influenced by local causes, are very remarkable ;
and in no instance which has come under my notice, more so
than in the nest of a Blackbird, sent me by my friend, the
Rey. W. D. Fox, which is lined with black hair, instead of

its usual composition, dry grass; the same circumstance
having occurred several years in succession.

With regard to the situation of their nests, birds seem to be
left much more at the disposal of their own choice, and adapt
them with surprising skill, to places apparently most unsuit-
able. Some species, leaving their natural mode of life, and
their own wild haunts, have adapted their habits to our own,
and being to a certain extent domesticated, have become our
confiding friends and delightful companions. For us the
Swift, the Martin, and the Swallow, once the inhabitants of
the inland rocks and lonely sea cliffs of our coast, are now
the voluntary inmates of our dwellings, cheering us with their
cheerful notes and elegant motions. The shy Hawk, the wily
Raven, and the midnight Owl, leaving their native woods,
have built their nests in the towers and steeples of our towns
and cities. The Magpies too, which with us are so suspicious
of wrong, build their nests under the eaves of the Norwegian
cottages. Numerous instances might be given, in which birds
have chosen the most strange and singular situations for their
nests, adapting them as though reason was their guide. The
most remarkable on record is that of the Rooks, which, for
ten successive years, built their nest upon the vane at the top
of the Newcastle Exchange, revolving with every change of
wind. The House Sparrow, the nest of which, when built in
trees, is large and carefully arched over, dispenses with the
labour of constructing its own roof, by placing it under the
eaves of our dwellings.

I am unwilling to close the present work, and to take leave

of my subscribers generally, without expressing my thanks for

the kind feeling which they have evinced towards me, and
more especially those who have so greatly contributed to
the following pages :—to William Yarrell, J. D. Hoy, Henry
Doubleday, J. D. Salmon, the Rev. W. D. Fox, P. J. Selby,
and J. Hancock, I would express the best thanks this ac-
knowledgment can convey. ‘To some of those subscribers,
(endowed with a kindred feeling for the beauties of nature,)
whose friendship I greatly value, I shall ever look with plea-
sure on these illustrations, as having formed the medium of
introduction.

Of many defects I am very sensible, and have to regret -
errors into which I have fallen, from my inattention to modern
nomenclature. Previous to the commencement of the work,
every leisure hour had been spent in the fields; and my at-
tachment to the confined system of Linnzus, then led to its
adoption ; in my progress, however, as the necessity of a more
extended arrangement became apparent, it has been gradually
adopted.

This has led to a want of unison on the whole, which I
much regret ; but which I have endeavoured, in part, to obvi-
ate, by an index, containing the modern names, where previ-
ously omitted. For the length of time which has elapsed
since the first commencement of the work, my best apology is
the number of rare and hitherto unknown eggs, which the ex-
ertions of those ardent in the pursuit of Natural History have
enabled me to figure. I have still, however, to regret the
omission of the eggs of numerous species, which are yet
desiderata to the cabinets of this country, part of which I

trust at some future period to procure.

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INTRODUCTION.

I HAVE much pleasure in being able to add fifteen new
eggs to those of 229 species before figured.

For these I am altogether indebted to the kindness of
those friends, whose assiduity in the pursuit of Natural
History has enabled them to add so many rarities to their
collections: to them I must again tender my best thanks,
which I do most sincerely, for the liberality and kindness
with which they have transmitted to me from a distance,
things so fragile, and at the same time so rare and difficult
to obtain.

Since the publication of the former part of my work, I
have—with all those who may take an interest in the sub-
ject—to lament the death of Mr. Hoy, who was one of our
most arduous and indefatigable collectors, and to whose ex-
ertions—as the oft-repeated mention of his name through-
out its pages will testify—my work has owed so much.

I am sorry that with regard to the eggs now figured —
with the exception of that of the Redwing—I have no in-
formation to offer from personal observation. They are
most of them eggs of birds which have never yet been de-
tected breeding in this country.

For the little I have given I am indebted to the pages of
others, and chiefly to those of Mr. Yarrell’s book, which
is a rich store of our ornithological knowledge up to the
present day.

Finding from the complaints of some of the subscribers
to my work, to whom the scientific names of our birds are
not familiar, that I have committed an oversight in not
giving an index of their English names, I have now added
one, which may be pasted into the respective volumes.

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ORDER I.—RAPTORES, OR BIRDS OF PREY.

No. of Plate.

XXVI.
XLV.

CXLVI.

LXII.
XXVII.
CXXII.
CXXVIII.
XXIV.
CXXXII.
CXVII.
CXL.
LXXXVI.

LXXXIl.
LXXVIU.

xX.
VI.

CVII.
CXXXVI.

—_——cooer

SYSTEMATIC INDEX.

VOL. I.

FAMILY, FALCONID2.

Eggs round or nearly so ; from three to five in number.

Nomenclature used in British Oology.

Falco chryscetos
Falco albicilla
Falco haliceetus
Falco Islandicus
Falco peregrinus
Falco tinnunculus
Falco subbuteo
Falco esalon
Falco nisus

Falco palumbarius
Milvus vulgaris
Pernis apivorus
Buteo vulgaris
Circus ezruginosus
Circus cineracius
Circus cyaneus

Nomenclature to be substituted.

Aquila chryseeta
albicilla
Pandion haliceetus

Accipiter fringillarius

Astur palumbarius

Circus hyemalis

FAMILY, STRIGIDA,

Strix otus

Strix brachyotus
Strix flammea
Strix stridula
Strix bubo

Strix scops
Strix Tegmalmi
Strix passerina

Otus vulgaris
— brachyotus

Ulula stridula
Bubo maximus
Scops Aldrovandi
Noctua Tegmalmi
passerina

ORDER II.—INCESSORES, OR PERCHING BIRDS.

TRIBE, DENTIROSTRES.—FAMILY, LA NIADZ.

Eggs nearly always four or five in number.—Sometimes numerous.

No. of Plate.

CVIII.
II.

LVI.

LXXxIl.
XII.

XXiIi.

XC.

CX.

LXX.

XLII.

CXVI.
CXLVII.

CXVIII.
CXV.
LXXXVII.
LXXVI.
CXXXIIl.
LXXXI.

CV.

{

—S—

mae eer to a ts Ot eh se

Nomenclature used in British Oology.

Nomenclature to be substituted.

Lanius excubitor
- rufus
collurio

FAMILY, MERULIDA.

Turdus musicus
viscivorus
merula
pilaris
torquatus
Cinclus aquaticus
Oriclus galbula

FAMILY, SYLVIADE.

Saxicola rubicola
tubetra
cenanthe

Philomela luscinia

Erythaca rubecula

Pheenicura ruticilla

tythis

Suecica

Salicaria arundinacea
phragmitis
locustella

Curruca hortensis

———— atricapilla
sylviella
cinerea

Melizophilus provincialis

Sylvia hippolais

——— sibilatrix

trochilus

Regulus auricapillus

ignicapillus ‘

Parus coeruleus

palustris

caudatus
cristatus
major

ater

biarmicus

Accentor modularis
alpinus

Sylvia rufa

Bonen

Calamophilus biarmicus

No. of Plate. Nomenclature used in British Ooloyy. Nomenclature to be substituted.
Motacilla alba Motacilla Yarrellii

LIX. ———— boarula
. flava

CXXXV. — neglecta
Anthus aquaticus

ESVIL. { pratensis

CXIV. arboreus

FAMILY, MUSCICAPIDA.

VIII. { Muscicapa luctuosa
; grisola

TRIBE, CONIROSTRES.—FAMILY, CORVIDZ.

LXIX. Corvus corax
XCI. corone
XCVIL. cornix
LXXxI. — frugilegus
XLIV. monedula
LXV. Pica caudata
Fregilus graculus
CXxII. { Garrulus glandarius

FAMILY, STURNID.

IX. Sturnus vulgaris

FAMILY, FRINGILLIDZ.

CXXXIV. Loxia curvirostra
Pyrrhula vulgaris
ALI. { Coccothraustes vulgaris
XVI { Fringilla chloris Coccothraustes chloris
i ceelebs
CXXXVII. Carduelis elegans
Linaria cannabina
XCVI. montana
: minor
XLL { Passer domesticus
montanus
Emberiza miliaria
Ill. ———- citrinella
— schoenicuius
CXXVI. hortulana
XI { cirlus
‘ nivalis Plectrophanes nivalis
CXXXIX,. { Alauda arvensis
arborea

TRIBE, SCANSORES.—EAMILY, PICIDZ.

No. of Plate. Nomenclature used in British Oology.
Picus major
XCV — viridis
c — minor
Yunx torquilla

FAMILY, CERTHIADZ.

Sitta europea
aS Certhia familiaris
CLIV. Troglodytes europceus

FAMILY, CUCULID.

LV. Cuculus canorus
CXLIX. Coccyzus Americanus

TRIBE, TENUIROSTRES.

CXI. Upupa epops

TRIBE, FISSIROSTRES.— FAMILY, MEROPID.

CXIiIl. Coracias garrula
X. Merops apiaster

FAMILY, HALCYONID.

X. Alcedo ispida

FAMILY, HIRUNDINIDZ.

XXI. Hirundo rustica
——_——. urbica

XIV. 1 ———— riparia
Cypselus murarius

FAMILY, CAPRIMULGIDZ.

XXX. Caprimulgus ceuropeus

VOL. I.

Index to thé English Names of Birds in the order in which they are

PLATEFe

26 Golden Eagle
45 White-tailed Eagle
146 Osprey
— Gyr Falcon
62 Peregrine Falcon
27 Kestril
122 Hobby
128 Merlin
24 Sparrow Hawk
132 Goshawk
117 Kite
140 Honey Buzzard
86 Common Buzzard
82 Moor Buzzard
— Ash-coloured Harrier
78. Hen Harrier
20. Long-eared Owl
— Short-eared Owl
7 White Owl
- Wood Owl
107 Eagle Owl
— Scops-eared Owl
— Tengmalm’s Owl
- 136 Little Owl
108 Great Shrike
— Wood Chat
2 Red-backed Shrike
6 Thrush
- Blackbird
- Missel Thrush
58 Fieldfare
— Ring Ouzel
72 Water Ouzel
13 Golden Oriole
22 Stone Chat
— Whin Chat
— White Rump
90 Nightingale
— Redbreast
110 Redstart {start
-. Tythis or Black Red-

arranged

PLATE.
110 Blue-throated Red-
start
70 Reed Warbler
— Sedge Warbler
— Grasshopper Warbler
42 Greater Pettychaps
— Black-cap
— Lesser White-throat
116 White-throat
147 Dartford Warbler
118 Chiff-chaff
— Yellow Willow Wren
115 Willow Wren
87 Golden-crested Wren
— Fire-crested Wren
76 Blue Titmouse
—- Marsh Titmouse
— Long-tailed Titmouse
133 Crested Titmouse
81 Greater Titmouse
— Cole Titmouuse
— Bearded Titmouse
105 Hedge Sparrow
— Alpine Accentor
59 Pied Wagtail
— Grey Wagtail
— Yellow Wagtail
134 Grey-headed Yellow
Wagtail
68 Rock Lark
— Tit Lark
114 Tree Pipit
8 Pied Flycatcher
- Spotted Flycatcher
69 Raven
91 Carrion Crow
97 Hooded Crow
71 Rook
44 Jackdaw
65 Magpie
112 Cornish Chough

PLATE.
9 Starling

135 Crossbill
43 Grosbeak
16 Green Linnet
— Chaflinch

137 Goldfinch
96 Grey Linnet
— Mountain Linnet
— Lesser Redpole
41 House Sparrow
— Tree Sparrow
3 Yellow Bunting
- Common Bunting
- Black-headed Bunt-

ing

126 Ortolan Bunting
11 Cirl Bunting

— Snow Bunting
139 Sky Lark

— Wood Lark

95 Green Woodpecker
— Great Spotted Wooil-

pecker
— Lesser Spotted Wood-
pecker

— Wryneck

49 Nuthatch

— Creeper

154 Common Wren

55 Cuckoo

149 American Cuckoo
111 Hoopoe
113 Roller

10 Kingfisher

— Bee-eater

21 Swallow

14 Martin

— Sand Martin

— Swift

30 Night Hawk

Draw om Stone bu W Cats or

XXV

Snatea: ty CBallmandal

XXVIL.
FALCO CHRYS#TOS. (x1yw.)

GoLpEN EaGue.

Tus noble bird is now very rare in Britain, and will,
I fear, with many of the same persecuted tribe, ere long
become extinct; it breeds in the Highlands of Scotland, in
Orkney, and in Shetland; and, though I traversed the whole
of the latter group of islands, and spent six weeks amongst
them, I could only hear of three or four eyries belonging to
our two species of eagles, and could only ascertain with cer-
tainty that one of them was the breeding place of the Golden
Kagle: this was in the cliffs of Foula (perhaps the finest in
the British empire), and at an elevation of about 1,100 feet
above the sea, being then 100 feet from the summit, and seem-
ing from the almost perpendicular surface of the rock to bid
defiance to the approach of anything not endowed with wings ;
but even to this dizzy height the hardy natives had climbed
and borne away the young ones. The Eagle begins to breed
in March or early in April, returning to the same cliffs for
many years together, and choosing those which are the least
accessible ; it makes a nest of great size, composed of a quan-
tity of sticks, and lined with softer materials, roots, straw,
dry grass, and wool. In Shetland, where there are no sticks
to be met with, there being no wood growing upon the islands,
it has recourse to the long root-like pieces of sea-weed, of
which to form the outer part of its nest. I have not been
able to ascertain with certainty the number of eggs which it
lays, but would, from what I have heard, suppose that two is
the most common number, though, it is said, to lay three or
four: in the nest mentioned above there were only two young
ones, and these, the old birds would, I think, find quite a suffi-
cient charge for which to provide food. Mr. Salmon,

however, mentions a nest in Orkney, from which three young
were taken. The egg from which the accompanying plate
is drawn, was kindly sent for that purpose by P. J. Selby,
Ksq., of Twizell House; it was the first egg laid by the
bird, though he has had it for many years in confinement,
I was at first unwilling to figure it, knowing that eggs
produced under such circumstances very frequently differ
greatly from those laid in a state of nature; but upon com-
paring it with one in the British Museum, I find that they
are similar. Iam also greatly indebted to John Blackwall,
Esq., of Crumpsall Hall, near Manchester, for a drawing made
from one likewise laid by a bird in confinement ; it is rather
less, with the spots lighter and more generally disposed than
the one in the Plate, which may be considered rather brighter
in colour, and more strongly marked than common.

‘
\
=a
+
*
|
mS
f
4
4
.
Draws on Stone by Wi 0. Hewstson. Pritted bu TE, Bil NaaCE

XLV.
FALCO ALBICILLA. (xryv.)

Wuiltet-TAILeD Eac ie, Sea Face.

The Sea Eagle is more numerous than the Golden Eagle
and breeds like it in the most inaccessible rocks of Orkney,
Shetland, and the Highlands of Scotland. Latham also men-
tions an instance of its breeding in the north of England, near
Keswick, in Cumberland, communicated to him by Dr. Hey-
sham. The nest is usually formed of a large quantity of sticks,
but in Shetland, where no such materials are to be met with,
they have substituted in their place those long foot-stalks of the
larger sea-weeds, by which they are attached to the rocks ;
and so pliable are these, and so well do they seem to answer the
purpose, that I should much doubt whether a Shetland Eagle,
having his choice of both, would ever have recourse to the more
commonly used material ; the nest is lined with dry grass, wool,
and any such soft substance; the eggs are two, and sometimes
three, or probably even four in number. The few specimens
which I have examined are either altogether spotless or like
the plate very faintly marked. I think it most probable
that some will be found much more boldly spotted.

bya soe WAI ds oad a el |
awe etaenleO ta, edyot slifieexonai eon: add ot dt, ol eh |
VO saaste onli: stalin” -bsrahies®. to sic std
snot Denlgath te Hiroe act rik gaibooid ett, sosnihe
‘got er +e cold of hataaiacrancnos chaalindlinnt 7
- pilotta to: tna “ip oyial 0 26 hocsrot yYlawens af sae ad
gilt ioant| a atl of 010 daivatans dou on stoi baal
(silt 0 wilfade-tock gaol: avodl? aaelq sii ed itch

4 cg wlaor ot af Bgdoathy ota yall. doisive: 4d abssve.
galt rorrcenms oF 989 ail ob Hew op beta Bal san I
aignk, iaelted@ podind w idnob iio blo

‘\gilil 10 cepltagy sadsogotle, xed mo-hooictaxs oxad td
“| sleriong tame if, Aoidd’ T ‘-boadtann “etnias ‘ior. 9
ame tate ans @ ortoent Home inwod bi ald ontd

oy Pe ny : -
ad nike pa eve ie
Pats of 5%

CXLYL.

Drawn on Stone py VC lewitsan Day e Hagne Latif? to the Queen.

CXLVI.
FALCO HALIGQETUS.

OsPREY, FISH Hawk.

SPECIMENS of the eggs of the Osprey, kindly sent me
from the collections of Sir William Jardine and Mr. Yarrell,
although very similar in colour, differ considerably in shape ;
one of them possessing the roundness which marks the eggs
of the Raptores, whilst the other is considerably more
lengthened, and of a form, which would appear from Wilson,
to be characteristic of this species. A note, accompanying
the specimen from Sir W. Jardine, states, that it was pro-
cured from Loch Menteith in Perthshire, a favourite station
with the bird. Mr. Selby mentions his having seen the
Osprey on Loch Awe, “ where an eyrie is annually esta-
blished upon the ruins of a castle near the southern extremity
of the lake, and another in a similar situation nearly opposite
the egress of the river Awe.” For a further account of this
species, now so rarely to be observed at home, I have had
recourse to the faithful descriptions of Wilson, whose oppor-
tunities of observing it were so frequent.

“ The nest of the Fish-Hawk is usually built on the top
of a dead or decaying tree, sometimes not more than fifteen,
often upwards of fifty feet from the ground. It has been re-
marked by the people of the sea coast, that the most thriving
tree will die in a few years after being taken possession of by
the fish-hawk. This is attributed to the fish oil, and to the
excrements of the bird, but is more probably occasioned by
the large heap of wet salt materials of which the nest is
composed. In my late excursion to the sea shore, I ascend-
ed to several of these nests that had been built in from year
to year, and found them constructed as follows : —Externally,
large sticks from half an inch to an inch and a half in diame-

ter, and two or three feet in length, piled to the height of
four or five fect, and from two to three feet in breadth ; these
were intermixed with corn-stalks, sea-weed, pieces of wet
turf, in large quantities, and lined with dry sea-grass; the
whole forming a mass observable at half a mile’s distance,
and large enough to fill a cart. About the first of May, the
female begins to lay her eggs, which are commonly three in
number, sometimes only two, rarely four.”—Fig. 1.

FALCO ISLANDICUS. (LATHAM.)
GYR FALCON.

Two eggs of this rare bird are in the collection of Mr.
Yarrell, by whom they have been kindly forwarded to me.
They are the only specimens I have heard of, with the
exception of one in the museum at Leyden, a drawing of
which was, with the greatest kindness, sent me by Professor
Temminck, through the instrumentality of Mr. Hoy.

The Jer Falcon breeds in rocks, in those countries, which
are rendered difficult of access, from the severity of their
climate.

We were not so fortunate as to meet with it in Norway,
although we were told, that had our time permitted, we might
have done so, by penetrating, for some days’ journey, into
that part of the country which was covered with snow.

So “ee A ie \ e Ag 4 a
AS Wings Sit eae
fic le OR ai
“. tie hg _) “ .

Pd Pea RL oe
hs “Oe 2 ae ‘

LXIL.

on. Stone hy W.C.Hewitson

LXIT.
FALCO PEREGRINUS. (x1yy.)

PEREGRINE FALCON.

Tue Peregrine Falcon is, I fear, like the rest of this no-
ble tribe of birds, daily drawing nearer to its total extinction
in this country. It is now only to be met with in those
places which are inaccessible to, or unvisited by, its extermi-
nating enemy, the gamekeeper, Its resort during the breed-
ing season is in those lofty and steep rocks which occur most
frequently upon the sea coast, upon the ledges of which it
makes but a slight nest, of a few sticks or coarse grass, and
lays four or five eggs, resembling those represented in the
plate, differing only from the figures’ there given, in being
sometimes rather smaller and of a lighter colour.

For the egg drawn at Fig. 1, a variety showing more of
the light ground-colour than is often seen, I am indebted to
the Hon. Mrs. Liddell; the other was very kindly sent me
by James Smith, Esq., rector of the Grammar School of
Banff, together with one very much lighter, and having all
the appearance of having been laid before it had received its
final colouring. These were taken, towards the end of April,
from the fine cliffs which bound the Murray Firth, there
being no nest whatever.

The Rev. W. D. Fox informs me, that a pair of these
birds have frequented the rocks of the Isle of Wight, and
although annually plundered of their eggs, or young ones,
have, for many successive years, returned to the same spot ;
and, what is more remarkable, although one of the sexes has
been sometimes shot, the remaining bird has never failed to
bring with it a mate the following spring.

oth ae ,
teest nina teh a

y
o* BVA

MENTS ia ni ee i (fai

veie , 5 dale é fabs ei Giese es: Cems eRe: 7

Miho A enpliol: GER Re Wiad. set

"7! 2 " > ¢
; Be (ek GARY Ai elie Se RTA tore Feige:
' bia ; Q 1f 2? ‘ } 2
Witt igeet 2 ye

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pt hie ede rd ; bs The

ght TL , a ee

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j is ftait. i Tey hie ee

EE '
Teall Vat morte fe evant AE, hee oR
6 . ba tial A Et Hike bh ¥ bar: Exeeah

ae rene HEE Oy Gad ia

thn Labi: opt Ta aT

es i a gel Hie onthgit tie As ros ais
. re Tigw! vey that > Pili eal hs

ian

‘ern eh aPE “i ibe A bret: tye att

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2 Rare nt iyi er Hehe hi oe a

bas Paes 1.4 ™ i py stele 9; wr teach
} | is va Fini uied 4 4 a;

al
*

KXVII

band

Proniad. be ¢

* Eewiksor:.

Fram on Stones by W

XXVIT.

FALCO TINNUNCULUS. (11yv.)

KeEstTRIL.

Few opportunities occur of observing the habits of this
tribe of birds during the time of their nidification, from their
shy and retired dispositions, and from the places of their re-
sort being usually remote and inaccessible. The Kestril is,
however, one of our commonest species, and is, in conse-
quence, much more frequently met with than any of the
others; it builds in rocks and precipices, making a slight
nest of sticks, sometimes lined with dry grass and wool ; it
is placed upon a ledge or in the crevice of the rock ; it breeds,
likewise, in old ruins, either on the top or in some hole left
by the falling of the stones. Mr. Selby has known it under
the failure of more favourable situations, to breed in the de-
serted nest of a Crow or Magpie. Its usual time of incu-
bation is towards the end of April or beginning of May. It
lays four or five beautiful eggs, differing considerably in the
intensity of their rich colouring. Fig. 1 is the most com-
mon; Fig. 2, a variety very much resembling the eggs of the
Hobby, which I have seen, and also some of those of the
Merlin.

ae va A
ere ine
oe

45, c

“— ph ease a ’ 7 3 oY
7

gilt! ty atin ook rd. ae gat Let awe Pear
| ih fines Rb anges Reeth td iio! d one
a ane? Carte Res ange cheats Linknied

‘, ; omy bus a atte ¥ "eae SP he 11 f es As PRT SL SAP

Pi taet Bee

h: rh sh tes ey tiptaes2n) Bei\ A ea 4310:

or. re cd ¥ Aiea dort WEI eies soseert sags .
Wise 7 3 wee. eM = wien Lite. 223 Pri eh oes ‘

= 45h Kei v fen t 5 $ sgt.’ =
743 ail iM b ves j 4? cat; t0h pes '
5 tf } ie iMsi7iy .# i le FOL T id
. a a *; f ‘
F Pe * fy i f *> | waren (a 4 *4 hes i] ete % 5 ey ; Ss / 5 ler wort j

4 i toa es ae sichetOity sa ttl hits es ig
ramos itu ot} es Ei

ny. shite O49" fy + onildty fT
sAd i wind? to) anion Orin

se :
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wil
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2 ey ae .

CAXIL.

Drawn. on Strme by ¥ rey,
avn on. Stmme by WC. Wewits on. Day ScHaghe Jath**>+o the King

CXXII.

FALCO SUBBUTEO. (Lrinv.)

Hospy.

Tuts beautiful species of Hawk is I believe rare,
throughout this country, and as far as my own observation
goes, is more common in Yorkshire than elsewhere ; not
having however, had an opportunity of seeing much of
its habits, I avail myself of the information of Mr. Hoy.

The Hobby is a late breeder, seldom having eggs before
the first week in June. It very rarely, if ever, builds its own
nest, but takes possession of that of a Crow or Magpie, pre-
ferring those which are placed near the tops of high trees :
its usual number of eggs is three, sometimes, however, only
two; Mr. Hoy tells me, he has never met with more than
three ; they are not subject to vary much, all the specimens
which I have seen, with the exception of Fig 2, being very
similar to Fig. 1 of the plate; they resemble closely some
eggs of the Kestrel, but are more regularly marked, and less
suffused with colour. Fig. 2, though of very rare occurrence,
is given to show a light coloured variety, to which the eggs
of some other species of Hawks are subject; those of the
Kestrel, Merlin, Sparrow-Hawk, &c.

The Hobby, though it may be met with breeding in large
woods, seems very partial to isolated groves of fir or other
trees, situated in an open country, where it can not only pur-
sue with advantage the feathered tribe, but also capture vast
numbers of coleopterous and other insects, upon which it
feeds very much. I have once seen the nest of the Hobby
upon a ledge of rock on the face of a perpendicular cliff, in a
situation similar to that frequently occupied by the Kestrel.

1p, yh alias ' this i ey ny rial ; a
ey onl oll io moiety of, 40h, te Vote tat inal Tg
it ce hey iti bil adil bo Neel end & toed
eh hat eblited sare: xa eR ly ilivaah grat, 1D adear fi ite
Beats | sete hy 3 re te , Q Wi jae! Ce Sar | jakadll
saerid if yal ey enna: ot nate ] ping) an apcsiohey
hig sowed ents psi at tye Aw
fake Pre “ih eve of i sere Me rot eared y i” orn aaah 4

f ie

tet!
wich write oii ile isaiacescalys ah Vode son ona

ut | oy, ye at 8 a9 Dy puntata adi ibiiat of ingond

etn aha Ds es a fynals lebgle A < athe ad te 63 ay ati es
’ i Natal fini: fre dias, sabia ‘arp AL, haball lab eed i

1 Tee,

gander pnd), ore ie abt get LG RIE. .000 ay ditty
i i wi ah es DA ee DH't ‘prorlny: 19) f Teel a
b ; a fa! ith hod tie ate Abii "ey" bout Ws (% <i
hi Bn oo. Hie! ieahge mie) |
| gma” att aaa ‘dive 14x mi tyit ty ha roth aes
Una. Wiltg! 30 4th, Worl canon? “ipnload | ub baited aay ;
AME Lo erage velsina host ead 16 aaubve i BF cna, weeny AM ai i
ey Sean vrsihi 4 gata sw ait frovsipedtvnst avis yan ete
ae ay gone a artgont sag ana iu | ng 1a

Bi teh nie. Yo tear we waa OA oad Toto '

aa Bln Rp oh ato na 9 ho doe leg

‘i

“i re ree Me Pe
Wy / ys i " A ey nit

CKXVIL .

yS + CF Sa n ao
mn Stome by W.C Hewits an Day kHaghe Lith * tothe Ting:

CXXVIIT.
FALCO -ESALON. (TemMo.)

MERLIN.

Tue eggs of the Merlin, as far as any notice occurs of
their detection in this country, have been found deposited
upon the heath of the extensive moors of the North.
TVemminck however says, that the Merlin breeds in trees, and
this I think is most likely the case, in those districts which
abound in wood. The eggs too, are like those of the tree, or
rock-building Hawks. Whilst in Norway, we had the eggs of
a Hawk brought to us, which had been taken from a tree, and
which, I have not the least doubt, were those of the Merlin,
corresponding exactly with Fig. 1 of the Plate, both in size
and colour, being less than those of the Kestrel, to which
they bear the nearest resemblance. We also noticed a pair
of these birds, in a thick part of the forest, which, during
our stay in their neighbourhood, evinced all that solicitude,
which birds do on your approach to their nests.

The eggs are four or five in number, and are usually very
similar to Fig. 1 of the Plate, but sometimes less suffused
with colour throughout. Fig. 2 is a scarce and very beautiful
variety, for which I am indebted to the collection of Mr. John
Hancock, of Newcastle. Fig. 3is also rarely to be met with.

The variety mentioned by Mr. Selby, “ bluish white

marked with brown spots, principally at the larger end,” I
have never seen.

Ye. “agtr990 earn i whe on m a e iP 9 fy: to a88 1
potierqly otc det Volt + ane ’ aif a 18 by b

Bey
‘

beg. Srit fo: co BAAN Brig oF ast ; he th aff a8
bad dint its ‘esond ihe BE: wel tai ; pe oh oft

r dated aphiet” “ihe. ‘hes Pat nat anh) vhsihis sac ia te ani

1 soothed boowdtt 9 i eh 0d aguo ad T
Na oa ak Bad 9 7 asia: ckiatit 4

fadsly ost 2" eqgoak ct adi wie Lido liege Sa sho a

raitto Nh aft to: sagas Se june aptdacl, 3 “a ah sites vt Ti
| toni cb aly 292s te ait We here me ER on
Nott ie |

since bys: pitoar. rat léfie

yids Moldy age tae here beg 3 shy . as | sei

tiatoa gnc May Tyo de oY rad rarerclithy coves cinch, i

a two? ton Oe afin

w,*4 «

5 ie
CRA

wr, ‘ Havine gag dovetioneia jn}.
| Goa true "Pay Tart: iyeqion, ai
it g¥) Ue he itioglf {eaey ait ‘ y ft
Aan, | mre ‘yf zi orn © @: phic War
| i A ebjitale Wi | i, |
‘ ‘i, LM bah ‘a ae lh agit eas r

Drawn on Stone ty WC Hewson

eR VG

XXIV.
FALCO NISUS. (tryvy.)

SPARROW-HAWK.

The Sparrow-hawk breeds in rocky precipices and trees,
taking possession of the deserted nest of a Crow or Magpie ;
whether or not it occasionally builds one for itself, I cannot,
from my own experience, state. Mr. Selby says it does, “in
low trees or thorn bushes, forming a shallow and flat nest,
composed of slender twigs, and very similar to that of the
Ring Dove, but rather larger.” It lays four or five eggs,
usually with the blotches of Figure 1 at the larger end,
though they are frequently reversed, being upon the smaller
end more often, in this species, than any I know ; this may
be owing to the roundness of the eggs, it being difficult in
some specimens to distinguish one end from the other; the
spotting of Fig. 2 is less frequent. Ihave some, upon which
the markings are very faint.

| vnett bis. roalgs 4
a : siqgsMl 10 wo i") ok
secure, I Absa: 46¥ otto. xh ,
mm? (ood Jt aca Mae, rie i .
eon Soft hirn’ wolladle a Selsaxoh gofeard Sadak a
‘okt Ao ied) ob anbieata (er fits agiws solusta ta
RD gvik 1d; 102 eeu My «veal satint tude ¢
PBio- earl lt tof ontiigh't to gadetohi- arlg pies
Paellona odd soqu gaiod . hetero fiasapat ota: xa
ae eld 2 wood L yas aad) goloace lh sme 4
at seoitily guied si 203%, oft to monhuuor sdb 63) 3
ods iteilio gid mor bea sno. daivonitub: of e119 119% w
doidtie ie amor stad bdmoppat veal a 2 ves ho y
ee , tule MS ah Gh Hate

CXXXII.
FALCO PALUMBARLUS.

GOSHAWK.

Mr. Low in his Fauna Orcadensis, says, that the Goshawk
is rather common there, breeding in the rocks of the
sea-coast.

Whatever may have been its numbers then, it is not now
to be met with, either in Orkney, or the adjacent isles of
Shetland. The Peregrine Falcon may sometimes be seen
there, and I strongly suspect that it is the Goshawk of
Mr. Low.

The Goshawk breeds in the forests of Holland, Germany,
and various parts of the Continent, and Mr. Hoy informs me,
builds its own nest, and if undisturbed in its possession, will
frequently occupy it for several years, making the necessary
repairs.

It is placed in some high tree, on the outskirts of the forest,
and is rarely found in the interior, except in those parts
which are open and free from timber. The eggs are three or
four, and are frequently hatched by the middle of May, they
are described by Mr. Selby “as marked with spots and
streaks of reddish brown.” That this is frequently the case,
I have no doubt; the specimen from which the drawing was
made, and the only one which I have had an opportunity of

seeing, is without any marking. It is from the collection of
Mr. Yarrell.

om fh sete) ‘¢

i ly wake

tay Oe

ia BvOgs ittve fombsatt «ae '* coer A veh: be < )

Scag nd? on gine - catty oli fae wa
; al ge a ‘nlp ae

i aha if ug 79% ree Bh aaa is
pists vik ant hb RCR Nears Robi’. save ih want 4
Teer at MS: pesl bg, ai saci ai a

bas a) mie iit ai iowit Py
at girsicititd, qott ATE bet Haein) nbie ts alr ©
ine GDA ate’ ite Shedd Mien: t¢ fpinis: Seven eet
eanenos ott ae Roce biype 1a! sal si upesen
dasa wifk’to ail as jie oti) saat ott rir ti ae i
Abana. vacull a gz, Apeal ax ott at: bow ves
ip witdt 9. gage ol Aodicit «tort ont bin sg? on
(on ‘apht to sihbae ad} vd ladsintt rent oh la wa
ORI? out fteaerpiortt ar hill with) “at ereeved. duiittien a .
amy with rent! od Boiule deer cSgfhr any: Sit : 4d eit ¢ re

i) Hinshaya wh but aradl Pieter ooo ¥fnte ort fai
he stnitsotioe sl agit it; aalhae qo sired ior ae

CXVIL .

On. Stane by WC Henits on Day {Haghe Lithts tothe King.

CXVII.
MILVUS VULGARIS. (F LEM.)

KItE or GLEAD.

Tue Kite appears to be from choice rather local, whether
so or not, it is now, in England, confined to a few of the
larger woods and the wilder districts of Westmoreland:
it is not uncommon in some parts of Wales and Scotland,
and according to Mr. Selby, is plentiful in Aberdeenshire
—it occurs in the vicinity of Loch Katterine, and I have
seen it soaring aloft above the beautiful banks of Loch Awe.
The nest, which is built in extensive woods, is placed in the
fork of a large tree, and is composed of sticks, lined with
wool, fur, and other soft materials.

The eggs which it will be seen by the plate, resemble
those of the Common Buzzard, are not, (as far as I have had
an opportunity of seeing them,) subject to much variety ;
one in the collection of the Rev. W. D. Fox, is singularly
spotted with minute dots and waved linear marks: they are

commonly three in number, and Mr. Selby tells us are some-
times spotless.

Ne hae { '
i r
7 ’ y | BA
Lon A 7 i

haba (i | anh hi ahi Bae

t
'
; : sine ink bl +h '
ia ee ee’ mah © aT
1 ." au 1
f 1 ‘4 Mer
ee 4
; a ;
; i
* v hs -
” 1

| awit we eae ieee ei cat bal Oh te
ry oil AY, wort Ay: ‘ Bsaitsio? .! Py gaye ie re wo hd
eit). Caen tern uta tpeeteh catits oi ‘ut ny
Ah ibabliose haw alate, ‘Hm arehee Sa ai er,
‘ tidnuqabiios’ fy, ist fut Airaid ah, dt aN St He
“qe, £ Hick Aavigihost Cae by aintoee bh,
i weak f yeh Ne kisah fist LF ¢ sit soda » yore
GRE at DAIs ft) Ai Maa heyne avhigal Lath if! wl, ‘ .
SS A es bik Ne it pag! ‘mtd ot io yo. ak HAE: ast
: Ki ie es Vow. ie oat Tg dene cot dy fica
7 FGA of finoadn nite set 4h mae? 4d. Mi Ab dike. :

| fed avadh ED | eh aa) yng i Prasat! movi et
gia “esd ai tdohdiva eesti ijt ae ta: git hong
i HA Bt 0, SD HE 29h. at Te soi) rete iy ae
: oer esti bi # egaheltb Ada era 3 aholt : oobtvocbild (Asi, ba
Ae) gute oan, vu etin'4 ql ld hae, pdit Htt fre x fs
ty i * | i; be.
SRS ih
‘ ‘a Vv
‘ ; | u;
i dai

CXL.
PERNIS APIVORUS. (Cuvier.)

Honey Buzzarp.

A MUCH greater proportion of this species, have of late
years been noticed as visitors of our Island, than had been, for
some time previously, recorded.

Many have occurred in various parts of England, and
amongst several instances of its appearance in Northumber-
land, my friend Mr. John Hancock obtained a fine fresh
specimen, picked up dead upon the sea shore.

It seems however to have been more numerous years ago.
Willoughby mentions its nest, and White thus refers to one
at Selborne. “ A pair of Honey Buzzards built them a large
shallow nest, composed of twigs, and lined with dead beechen
leaves, upon a tall slender beech, near the middle of Selborne
Hanger, in the summer of 1780. In the middle of the month
of June, a bold boy climbed the tree and brought down the
egg, the only one in the nest, which had been sat upon for
some time, and contained the embryo of a young bird.”

The Honey Buzzard breeds in lofty trees, apparently
preferring those which are beech.

The eggs are two or three, and judging from specimens
I have seen, forwarded to me from the cabinets of my kind
friends Mr. Yarrell, and Mr, Doubleday, are coloured in a way
which, though at once showing their relationship to others of
the family, is nevertheless very peculiar and characteristic of
this species. The arrangement of the colouring is much
more artificial in its appearance than of any other egg I
know, and being profusely supplied, is in some specimens
either smeared over the surface or rubbed off.

a ina O}. Hane ote aie
Nt Plane TUM nash ss robt

atat to awa! wckapne Veh: i mri Kole 14} ote
TOE cect feanal seereins fa F ante lo aussi pa a Donut ae
Oxs a nest etirotving 4 7
beta uaingest Ws ate wetting, git Ne, yin: ‘a Fi
~toulttgatie A xh aa thin lige alt ty acta icine t
doe ‘beni, 9 bat (al, davaurall Tnefis hs a Di paw

. a pane ast reali tunel: ath

is) Ee aU BYTOT ake Pichi had >" nie oan
Ha of eraler, aqiib! Haw. W840i Kid wedi ati mitt may os)
‘ agiek a sitet (Gud ebnignh® oa, Riv Wary £ we,
nettoosd hash dayebenit bea seyret to neengucet aa
Sacra AW athfiher ants hur af yoo whorls Mess “ f .

“ad ie ee wid Sai ovit. gl) be adeit od Biidrae wt
tol ptoqs he teount Baul dgieber drow odd te ae Yeon
Bote. + "Wid witty 5 Yo ertdate atte Dauint nay: ‘Pite .
chines rscyeq wont vito! wi ebro, fry vu Aone La
Wl a? ae pre oi sith “dao

enbinivede eat gainbni bas ent, tir (peed Sie ae ee
band yen te shinidan Gd? toi) ook oF Sobral,
“gir @ tt dwruglordss, syoboidwoGk 1h base, sipceaie at
to wegddto ot qittaciopiolst nas i! body. $4ae ie yaw i pt

Ao! sttebesionmads fied alloy, uo", exolodfia von af MMe .
ton “al yteisyro Poe, adi Ver, bec sgueneteas ga
Lae edly ve toh ad} s wrctariereqgs alk: at inial
eserves -aatoe ae af disilyque tatoue sued? ham
ey (elo ay 10) gneiss ads 970 .

Jathz*+p
y ke Haghe Lith=>to tne.
Day x Hage

XVI.

LXXXVI.

BU'TEO VULGARIS. (ruem.)

Common BuzzaArp.

Tue Common Buzzard is now, like all our larger birds of
prey, driven to seek shelter in a few of the more extensive
woods, far from which it is rarely seen ; its nest is built in
trees, of sticks, lined with a quantity of wool, fur, and such
like materials ; its eggs, which are three or four in number,
vary much according to the age of the bird, being sometimes
entirely spotless. The beautifully marked one, here figured,
is from the collection of Mr. R. R. Wingate, who had the
eggs brought him from the same place for some years, and,
no doubt, the produce of the same bird ; the first year they
were white, or nearly so, the second, slightly marked with a
dirty indistinct yellowish-brown, increasing each year in in-
tensity, till they assumed the beautiful colouring of the
Plate ; the spots are mostly larger and lighter, and the sur-
face of the egg is smeared here and there with indistinct co-
louring.

Bh ade : |
*) ane y :
tr i
d A. AO Pei
fae }
x Ac:
he “. ’ Vik
nN
ee abrid 2p! ‘ col won at arnt
svieialz4- : he a os ee “a
wi Sain Sate . ia — “i a

* olin ai te it SAA 2 doldie a 18
eamniboee gaisd efrtid yf Ww ig id: oe
« hiputeait iad sco! Heal asies +HioWee: ad tes
Aykb bad ob alayelt? Kk 1 to cirri
Gas jes09¢ acti. wi ‘asad, satsa okt auortt stiit. 4s
8 yet TOE fetal eal i i baidt amine ad 10 Hee

ca Wi AS ad wt wth aliases condia dinate
_9d¥ to: gnixuolos 1shionad: id hammuety

( <n od? hits ro felg it hick eyrial viteorr ons a

a Crepes sp adive hut aly Ror bona Sue if

‘ oe y fe ne
a me Va ed pa
. AN o*.

= a
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LXYXXIL

Deane hy W.C Hevitson day kHaghe Ladi to heling.
ae ¥ »

LXXAXILI.

CIRCUS GERUGINOSUS. (Larn.)
Moor Bozzarp, Marsu Harrier.

MonracugE, in describing, the eggs of the Marsh Harrier,
says, that they are ‘perfectly white, without any spot ;”
Latham, on the contrary, in his description of the same spe-
cies, that they “‘ are spotted with brown.”

These assertions, when applied to the particular specimens
of the eggs which each of the parties may themselves have
seen, are, I doubt not, perfectly correct. Mr. Selby, how-
ever, takes a more general and decided ground, and contra-
dicting the statement in the Index Ornithologicus of Latham,
says, that they are ‘‘ white, and not spotted.”

With both of the two former of these descriptions, taking
them, as I have done, to refer only to particular specimens of
the eggs of the same species, I have no difficulty in agreeing,
but regret that I cannot do so with that of Mr. Selby also.
The eggs of the Moor Buzzard, although for the most part
white, are sometimes also spotted and smeared with brown,
in the same manner as those of the Hen Harrier. I have
not, therefore, thought it necessary to give a figure of the
spotted variety.

This species and the Common Buzzard approximate most
beautifully as far as relates to their breeding, and connect
the two genera. The Common Buzzard, as I have before
shown, breeds in trees ; its eggs are usually spotted, rarely
quite white. The eggs of the Marsh Harrier are most com-
monly white, but sometimes spotted ; it almost always breeds
on the ground, but will sometimes (assuming the habits of
the Common Buzzard) breed in the fork of a large tree in
which place Montague says he has himself found it ; in such
a situation the nest would, as he describes it, be formed of

sticks, and such like materials. In the Fen countries (its
common resort), the nest is composed of so large a quantity of
flags, reeds, and sedges, as to raise it a foot or a foot and a
half above the ground. The eggs are usually four, sometimes,

though not often, five: the time of incubation early in May.
—Plate LX XXII, Fig. 1.

CIRCUS CINERACEUS. (monracue.)

AsH-coLouRED Harrirr, AsH-coLOURED FALcon.

For authentic and, therefore, valuable specimens of the eggs
of the Ash-coloured Harrier, I am again under obligation to
my kind friend, the Rev. W. D. Fox. These were procured
for him by Mr. David Baker,* of Melbourne ; and that there
might be no possible doubt of their identity, the old birds
were trapped upon the nest.

The Ash-coloured Harrier breeds in the fens of Cambridge-
shire, and, though once more abundant than has been sup-
posed, is now becoming rare and exceedingly difficult to
procure. The nest, which is placed upon the ground, is more
slight than those of the other two Harriers, and is composed,
like them, of flags, sedge, and rushes. The eggs are usually
four or five in number; the nest, from which specimens are
now in my cabinet, contained six; the only instance Mr. Baker
has ever met with. They are of a clear white, distinctly
tinted with light blue, and are never (to the best of my in-
formation) spotted.—Fig. 2. The time of incubation like the
last.

* David Baker lives at Melbourne, near Royston; he is a good bird-
stuffer, and a most respectable man, and, having an accurate knowledge of

the birds of the Fen countries, the greatest reliance may be placed in him
ta procure those of his own neighbourhood.

u ne oe

ie #EN9

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.

hem
+

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7

ae)
.
+ Ys
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-
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Vt «ee A
a ye
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u "> 4%
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vd

»ieRa = 4th’? tothe Kno
y WO. Hevrirsox. Day KPaphetath’ > tothe Ainge

LXNXVIILI.
CIRCUS CYANEUS. (riem.)

Hen Harrier.

Tue Hen Harrier breeds in the marshy districts of this
country, chiefly in the fens of Cambridgeshire ; the nest is
placed upon the ground, from which it is raised by a conside-
rable quantity of flags, sedge, and reeds ; the eggs are four
or five in number; and though, perhaps, most frequently of
a bluish-white, are yet very often marked with light spots
of yellowish brown, mixed with a purplish hue, and in some
' instances, as shown in the second Figure of the Plate, with
deeper and more distinctly defined spots of brown. The
eggs of the three species of Harrier may be readily known
from others nearly allied to them, by the fine greenish blue
of the inside, which may be seen upon holding them up to the
light. ‘lo Mr. Heysham I am indebted for specimens from
the neighbourhood of Carlisle ; and to the Rev. W. D. Fox,
for others from the fens of Cambridgeshire.

‘4 iis, oy ‘ the ae uf i : Hi ; F
este Age ; eo hae A
fae Pas ar seed a Wise ee Bats
caer (ny, BONA TE BK
way ws hen q a Sn aiyy A Come ee es
_* ey a Weg RRL Nea Bait

af.
ree

et booee add 7a |
~obieivo et 4
wat sui, "eu “ott Tiboie Bax siahion ‘ane we
te ytasupyd toni wepichiary guadt bas setae pl
Phin 506 ditw hetwm gota vou be red
pete at bis oueel itpileeriney & dive baxiere ‘corrond datwe
give steal orl) to: ying th Sinton ad’ at aves, at a
oAT word. Té Hoge hoaftety Utonitiib arpa
award vlibite ad qt taba 7 earage nih
arimene rt dainivong ath ot vif cont of hoilla Yfinim
gO) qe stadY guthidd hog age wif yank dotda 9b
* stort ecesetinage wl hisidabst aia L etenclagoH * Ae e
tail “.. we voi wild Od Baik” ; daibieD to hinosks oeiiRh
ee 5) te east ott coi

née

+
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nev
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on Stone! wy WC ewkeow

XX.
STRIX OTUS. (11yy.)

LonG-EARED OWL.

Tue Long-eared Owl is one of our earliest breeders, lay-
ing its eggs frequently in March ; these it deposits in the de-
serted nest of a Crow or Magpie; they are four or five in
number, and of a glossy white—Fig. 1. The young ones
remain a long time in the nest before they are able to fly.

STRIX BRACHYOTOS. (satTHam.)
SHORT-EARED Ow, Hawk Ow.

Tue Short-eared Owl, departing from the habits of the
rest of the genus, nestles upon the ground on moors and other
waste lands. Though they for the most part retire farther
north to breed, yet a few of them remain upon the Northum-
berland moors, where Mr. Charlton, of Hesleyside, informs
me, he has frequently found their eggs amongst the heath in
his own neighbourhood. Mr. R. R. Wingate has also met
with the young on the same moors before they were able to
fly, Their eggs are four or five in number as at Fig. 2;
for the egg there drawn, I am indebted to the kindness of
Mr. Yarrell.

The Rev. Geo. Low, in his Fauna Orcadensis says, that
this Owl is very frequent on the hill of Hoy, where it builds
its nest amongst the heath; and is so impudent in breeding
time, as to take up chickens from the door, and chase pigeons
in day-light. In a nest which he found, were the remains
of a moor-fowl and two plovers; it was placed in a large
heath bush, made without any art, and intolerably feetid.

ae tri +0 boas Res scndk zsiqycht wo word ange J

ee Sls han, bad Iwoodttine obits lel i
>.

ay ee
a , a
pee ” Ni 2. Prag, &
ohio t
v : (i >
4 oD a te
7 . i ao eyed! oP wav aac habe 2
“4 4, b
‘ ‘
» 3 . a +
P < ’
7 is " .
Pie a
* ary )
- 5
ae ee a
——— a .)
RE ie
PA! ids be i es
a4
‘ “3
es
’ P 4 x
> >> *, f
Ly j
ie! \ e
>
a mot

tet Mont Sica 10 Ses tint
oboe a adivogoh ai aeotht ‘gdottele uk ik Din

se ve ee “yeorpal oly i en

Gases.) iaorru net ‘ae i
<t@O- WAH ne ams aaengneh |

st Yo Bien anit ‘aay 3 yatttequb dwO bel
orto bie eoserno finsowg ads soqu esfesn euasy 9
radio) vtiter Sing teomn old: x0t Yod’ dguotT |
-camdtio4 ot soqu- diame: ored3 to wat p ior sbagrd ©
acciotai obitalao EH to ottiat? VM sod enoonn |
nk dised olt tegnomea soge ied? finuol ‘finoupadt ep at as
font oels eml otagni WT A. al boodwodidgian 1
0) sida view yod! sided ctoom ontez odi co yunoe ott
RgiE ts en dai ai vit 10. wich is agp sind TY
Yo wonbaid odt od fot sta I steely ). Seale Bu?
| sane eee.
an seat siasvabna, Oe ail a fumad ee) val
elpbissc! i ‘gtodw gE ‘lo Hil odd ! tae press) ae vise. at Ive
yiibaoid’ a saobarquad oe ei bus. aaa BAY ocome Sa
enompiperets bas too ort mat « 1 i qu sdet of
entinse ed) ois favol of deittir ton ool oily
axel % (i hesalq ase si 7 exavoly ‘owl bas [eels

—
4
i,

Bat:

PS jee )

vee et
ae,’ /

ee ee eet Ne
Se ae

7 5
PLATH Vil. “2h / ;
: ab
Ww
- PF “*
Drawn ov Storw by WC Himitson J Frnteel by @ Sudimrandee
we
be ee is

VII.

STRIX FLAMMEA. (u1yv.)

Barn Ownr, Wurre Owr, Howxer, Cuurcn Own, or
Screecu Ow.

Tue Owls trouble themselves with very little preparation
for the position of their eggs. As far as I am acquainted with
them, they cannot be said to make any nest

The White Owl breeds in old ruins, under the eaves and
in the steeples of churches, in deserted dove-cotes, in barns
and in hollow trees, and lays from three to five eggs, as re-
presented in the accompanying plate, Fig. 1.

STRIX STRIDULA. (ever.)

Woop or Brown Owt, Jenny Hower, Tawny Ow.

Tue Wood Owl lays its eggs (three or four in number) in
the holes of rocks and trees, and sometimes takes possession
of the old nest of a Crow or Magpie, in which to deposit
them.

Unlike most of birds, she begins to sit when the first egg
is laid ; it is hatched, in consequence, some days before the
last: Plate VII., Fig. 2.

INERSITY OF ILLINOIS
7 LIBRARY.

By:
oie Ga Fete) ainva ae

i. P | : SH
ae? a ident pe uO avis wae
eg AO) ugar? aie

Ute . bag Ole seq sindhgat date nal aT. ¢
P ) f dtiw Bataigipoa ont I an ast JA. Fa? ntads ” + nsithea ng t
| | Wake e deat {Ha a ios of tone. i t,o Hit,
“fag ean seth soho watie blo ss ah yh be nil oy ae

aera, of’ a9i0 asvalt bratyonyls cf oo ly "io soled
“ante Y tee vit ot aondd 1s vt hei 2am 2 walled,

i taal ; ‘ aN A
A ie Le it stat guignedtin aoa 4b ok &
iho \ ¢ oe : ' 7
“he. a
} ae: 5 d etc \
. Yee : i “3 Py ;
Ux : 1 i ih
oh Get:

Am
=
ee
pone
a
—"
“>
‘ ‘ ple
bal n
a ~
or y
i: 8
— eh ?
~
=
wet
Pag
-*

i i Mena sea Mabadro EL Ad ee wii ou be ao. mn

; al d Gendas ‘a ti wet alas) aie eifaral lwo
it ae “ ofiamoq sodas earisisnoe bth ode) Dan .2tode, dy

: eet, ay hide al ah aad 19 wor) a ty deve
: 5

L y" 3a2 te ohh silt 3
Pyar. ih

of utiged aide’ .slvsidl Yor teat
Gah 9 ir ousted val OA 2903 eens

ca! %. Tose < +) om,
Q ' . ' " ’ As
WS eee , nat’ ae.
it t i ie . | er oo
ay Thee mt Bi aa ' y vi a

a“ ¥° 4 tor i pry’ pred ‘4k

Drawn on StmebyW.C Hewits an.

CVII.

STRIX BUBO. (LINN.)

EAGLE OWL, GREAT EARED OWL.

THERE is a strong and perfect similarity in the eggs of
the different species of Owls, which we would scarcely ex-
pect to find in birds differing from each other so much in
the place of their breeding. The eggs of those species which
are deposited in the hollows of old trees and deserted ruins,
and those which are found on the bare sod, exposed to the
broad light of day and the pelting storm, are alike without
colour.

The Eagle Owl breeds in the north of Europe, laying its
eggs, which are two or three in number, upon the bleak and
unsheltered summit of some lofty mountain. In such situa-
tions Linnezus found its eggs in Norway; it was not, how-
ever, our luck to be alike successful, although we traversed
in their search the pine-crested mountain ridges, the rocky
precipices, and the snow-clad heights of that most glorious
and magnificent country. In one instance only we had the
gratification of seeing one of these noble birds at large, as it
topped the heathery summit of the hill which we were climb-
ing, and was lost to our anxious gaze.

STRIX SCOPS. (LINN.)

Scorps EARED OWL.

THIS very minute and beautiful species of Owl is excluded
by Mr. Gould, from the list of our British birds, although it
has undoubtedly (in more than one instance) been captured
in this country. On/the Continent, in some parts of France
and Italy, it is not uncommon, and lays its eggs, which are
four or five in number, in the holes of trees. Fig. 2.

STRIX TENGMALMI. (GMEL.)

TENGMALM’S OWL.

ALL the information which we have with regard to the
breeding of this Owl is comprised. in the quotation which I
have borrowed from the work of Mr. Selby. In Europe it is
widely distributed through the northern and eastern parts,
being found in Sweden, Russia, Norway, and part of Ger-
many, inhabiting the thick and extensive pine forests. In
North America, according to Dr. Richardson, it has a wide
range, embracing all the woody country from the Great Slave
Lake to the United States. It breeds in the holes or clefts
of trees, and lays two eggs. Fig. 3.

Dravnon Stone hy W.C Hevitson. Day &Haghe Lath? to the kme¢.

CXXXVI.
STRIX PASSERINA. (LiNy.)

LitrLe Owl..

So little is at present known regarding the habits of the
different species of Owls, which are only periodical and rare
visitors to our shores, that I feel much indebted to Mr. Hoy
for the following information regarding the present species,
as well as for specimens of its eggs.

The Little Owl is like the rest of the family, an early
breeder. It not unfrequently makes its nest in the holes of
trees ; old ruins, however, and the towers of churches, are its
favourite resort.

It appears to be of a quarrelsome disposition, two pairs
being rarely met with as near neighbours, during the breeding
season. The male commences hooting in January, if the
weather is mild, and may be heard at intervals during the
night, throughout the whole season.

The eggs are generally four, sometimes five, and vary a
little in size, as well as in contour.

The Little Owl makes no nest, although an accumulation
of rubbish, arising from its castings, may be frequently
found in the hole, which is often made use of, for a long
time previous to incubation.

i + | AMIGOS ae an (is w om

a Viton pai + acd, ats eyoritgasy | ai owl 9 athe ;
wah = wit ly ged shan aaito « doide git owl i

le } *

‘i la ign ad¥ scdhtane0 awe fink tek:
vw Lycee fie nibotsony ia ow dd: hint whe h te fol ‘
yout at ot pistobai aerice fwd 1 lel aonb
we vt aps Ai oi? PREPS gi. gothada tes uate

is Aya bale 14 pasting
YRS BR Hinnal’ ee Sau gilt iia ue Jaeha D

a arabe te at fede afl eodiat cio: pos |
ast we vive to ay ou) yl baa .% ronal Aaaee ‘
sting and ‘arot tiedighih' oi sissiabarenniy & fee iad
yertharrd!. atte aires prinichityion yes Rh ‘rin iin
ads Li ean ak peaitoad eboeastl tne shalt 4
_ ot yurh alarentat ie fvnae sh waite aged” en

| _aosanon oboetel seh deie

mV Bunn. vl attain dal event yfavaipg ay

seivtha tetintsp 308 “100 dpaodi la aod ou eaent bao g

foebaeil 4 144d ne?

Ou Stome by WC Hewitson

CVIIL.

Day KHaghe litt to the Kmg

CVILI.

LANIUS EXCUBITOR. (LINN.)

GREAT SHRIKE, BUTCHER BIRD.

THE eggs of the three species of Shrike, differing as they
do greatly from those of other birds, bear a very close and
beautiful resemblance to each other.

Like the Red Backed Shrike this species builds its nest in
thick bushes and high hedges; it is large, and composed of
umbelliferous plants, roots, moss, and wool, lined with finer
roots and dry grass. The eggs are four or five, and it is said,
sometimes six or seven in number. ‘Those which I have
seen differ but slightly from each other in colour and mark-
ings, and do not present the very beautifully spotted varieties
of the eggs of the Red Backed Shrike.

To the liberality of my friend, Mr. H. Doubleday, I am
indebted for specimens of the eggs of this and the following
species ; also for the loan of others to Mr. Yarrell, and Mr.
Scales, of Norfolk.

LANIUS RUFUS. (Briss.)

WooDcHAT.

The right of the Woodchat to a place in the list of the
birds of our islands, though considered by many as doubtful,
is however established upon good authority, as mentioned by
Mr. Selby. Of its nidification we have no satisfactory ac-
count. The eggs which I have seen bear a near resemblance
to each other. To Mr. Leadbeater I am indebted for the
specimen from which my drawing is made. Plate CVIII.
Fig. 2.

wth mate ns

oe Py

oo .. ti paren
mse’ ft ltd faesats in@ oa
is ‘nelle ema et ¥ saybod dylth: brie
“wou dice heal foow: ban BRON atiirs abil ro wk
isa at de His een 40 wot gta a_go yf) evap tt
Coup J datte neddladdninie ot case nf HO aid
tects bow wwolao WF addi dow amg xh oly aud
itor Ber dba seSlastia ay aie att Yraeaing Rak oh Hi
a ' Get rit he ad wail if frodl adi? 6 age
Wo opal sidtrots ATA bir ye ib qf or vf
sae adh. Die aids to as gA3 "to accothisaigect ft) Gea
WM fien.: lien; aif, oo! ds ale. do at oth ‘it: ante.

i OS? See a of Bs
(Se maninlge telat ie 4 he
ASR On rs sta
Paha eit Gea) ava it aisense
STW Cie ae te waHa00.8 es ye

n,
Bip nh

Lee

roth) 16 ms ath A A beat 8 ny OO ort! we id )
Llidiob as yaa 4 biwubiawas duno? .abediag sa |
. ws bonobicont an idtodion hooy iroges hodetldiites 18 '

va ‘cwolgaeiine ott pred’ ‘ae, HoWAIADic xi 10 —
‘goguidiyraat naar “nets ie aad soni ont, Iideide agg att. }
ofl aor halctabat’ (ee. H salwadbiaat AM ol si

“TLL nel ‘sbi ‘al ghiwarb doishy aie

a3 ay

~ aay
a
“~te

Drawen one Stone by VC. Hemisen .

II.

LANIUS COLLURIO. (11NN.)

Rep-Backep Suriker, or Butcuer Biro.

TuE nest of this bird is generally built in a thorn hedge or
bush; it is large, and composed of coarse materials: the
outside is formed of the stalks of umbelliferous plants,
succeeded by moss and fine grass, with a small portion of
wool, and is lined with tender roots, interspersed with a few
hairs ; the eggs, four or five in number, are beautifully varied
in colour and marking, as shown in the accompanying plate.
I possess one with the spots round the narrow end.

The name given to this bird is very appropriate; its
butchering propensities have been doubted by some ; I once,
however, had the opportunity of being a witness to them.
Seeing one busy in a hedge, I found, upon approaching it, a
small bird (on which it had been operating,) firmly fixed
upon so blunt a thorn that it must have required consider-
able force: its head was torn off, and the body entirely
plucked.

i.) bel ite 6 cal ihiied ek is 99 al i hail oe i
‘ed: vatanstody vetuey Yo badoq inion bis = tia f
nee eons felons * ‘ated rc boa

hae a iitinnaad ota Nabaan a ni sal ath ‘1
e ” my eal Baiymaqaroyon add: ant rw iyl ei Tpke
ye Aye ‘senreteege at babu wtoct od binge

Fn ily © ati cotphagigesa » tor a " nie aid OFF wea
BAe). mle: h 4 guna it Batdoo nord avec anit
ee gel ot nanativ & yniad: to’ wimudioqgo ada

. a mite tea atichoooayga Skip sfamat I coahrorl ne

> are “baa. hiieh a (edninaveae inne bad ay did :

“ay pate ‘geval Ynetuin: bi Yon aiid, 4 nae ‘ .
a Sy’ nl) fips Fe sig emer Twn $

: es]
.

L
pte hs i rs
> ete he 7

ae : p
en a
tr ; :
r ca, a,
dd Sued a Sei

Drawn onStone by WC Aewvbsor .

V1.
~TURDIS MUSICUS. (a1yy.)

Turusu, Turosrite, Grey Birp, &c.

Tue nest of the Thrush is composed of moss and dry grass,
with the addition of a few sticks, straw, and roots, cemented
together in the inside by a composition of clay and rotten
wood. With Mr. Jennings, I am much inclined to think, that
cow-dung is rarely if ever used; he also excludes clay, and
says, “* I am led to this conclusion by the lightness of the
nest ; the Blackbird’s is much heavier, in consequence of
being clayed,” ‘This may be very easily accounted for. The
plaster used by the Blackbird is in much greater quantities,
and is of mud only, and is scarcely ever quite dry. That
used by the Thrush, on the other hand, is in small quantities,
is exposed to the atmosphere and the absorption of the rot-
ten wood, and becomes so perfectly hard and dry as to be
water-tight. I have known the bird deterred several days
from laying its eggs, in consequence of the nest being half
full of water. I this spring found some that had particles of
reeds and thistle-down in lieu of wood.

The situations chosen to contain these materials are ex-
tremely variable. Thick bushes, evergreens, dead fences, tall
whins, brambles, wall-fruit trees, &c. In the latter, I have
seen one against a house, close under the window of the
second story.

The Thrush breeds early in April, laying four, sometimes
five eggs, usually spotted with black; rarely with reddish
brown, inclining to purple. Fig. 1.

TURDUS MERULA. (1yvy.)

BLACKBIRD.

Time of incubation, and situation of its nest, similar to
the last. It is found sometimes very openly exposed. I
have met with it in thorn hedges, occasionally on the top of

a naked stake fence, or summit of a stone wall, in evergreens,
in a heap of dead sticks, and even within a few inches of the
ground, on the stump of a pollard tree. It is formed chiefly
of grass, and a few dry sticks, roots, and leaves, bound to-
gether with mud, which it uses in a much greater quantity
than the Thrush. It is then completed by a lining of fine
grass, upon which she lays four or five eggs. Fig. 3, shews
the usual colouring ; fig. 2, a variety: there are also many
intermediate ones.

TURDUS VISCIVORUS. (a1nv.)

Misset Turusu, Storm Cock, &c.

Tue Missel Thrush, otherwise a very shy bird, becomes
more familiar in the spring ; it approaches our orchards and
gardens, building its nest (which resembles that of the Black-
bird) about the middle of March, in fruit trees, generally at
the first divarication of the branches ; it builds also, perhaps
as frequently, in plantations, in firs, oaks, &c., ten or fifteen
feet above the ground. I know no bird that seems (in some
instances) to have so little idea of concealment as the Missel
Thrush ; it is sometimes scarcely possible to pass by its nest
without discovering it. It is formed of large quantities of
straw, matting, wool, and grass, which are frequently left
hanging down on all sides, as though the nest had been tora
to pieces ; a little moss is sometimes used, it is then cemented
with mud, and afterwards thickly lined with fine dry grass.
I have seen a nest of this bird, the foundation of which was
mud, strongly cemented to, and nearly encircling the branches
between which it was placed.

The female lays four or five eggs, varying a good deal in
the ground-colour, from a greenish to a red tint. When sit-
ting, she defends them most resolutely. I know an instance
of one flying at a man’s face, when disturbed. Plate VI.
Fig. 4.

et ee ae

« = iain oth
Mae bale
fA oh ¥ si

Drawn on Store &.

WO Flere sar

LVIIL.
TURDUS PILARIS. (x1wy.)

FIeLDFARE.

Tue great difficulty of obtaining the eggs of those British:
birds which resort to other countries to breed, had determined
me to pay a visit for that purpose to the north of Norway.—
It was, therefore, with peculiar interest that I watched the
prolonged stay of the Fieldfare in our own country, weeks
after the Blackbirds and Thrushes had commenced nidifica-
tion. It was not until the end of April that the last of them
took their departure from our island. In a few days after-
wards, on the 14th of May, we enjoyed the pleasure of again
seeing them in their own wild native woods, engaged so soon
after their arrival, in all the bustle of preparation for the pro-
duction of other colonies, to visit us in future winters. We
had, during a long ramble through those almost impassable
woods, met with many nests of a previous summer, which we
supposed must have been once tenanted by the birds of which
we were in search; and after having climbed many a tree to
no purpose, were returning home disappointed, when our
attention was attracted by the harsh cries of several birds,
which we at first supposed must be Shrikes, but which after-
wards proved to be Fieldfares, anxiously watching over their
newly established dwellings, we were soon delighted by the
discovery of several of their nests, and were surprised to find
them (so contrary to the habits of other species of tne genus
Turdus, with which we are acquainted) breeding in society.
Their nests were at various heights from the ground, from
four to thirty, or forty feet or upwards, mixed with old ones
of the preceding year; they were, for the most part, placed
against the trunk of the spruce fir, some were, however,
at a considerable distance from it, upon the upper surface and
towards the smaller end of the thicker branches; they resem-

ble most nearly those of the Ring Ouzel ; the outside is com-
posed of sticks, and coarse grass and weeds gathered wet, mat-
ted together with a small quantity of clay, and lined with a
thick bed of fine dry grass ; none of them yet contained more
than three eggs, although we afterwards found that five was
more commonly the number than four, and that even six was
very frequent; they are very similar to those of the Black-
bird, and even more so to the Ring Ouzel ; indeed, so closely
do the eggs of the three species resemble each other, that a
drawing of any one might apply tothe whole. Fig. 1, of the
Plate, shows the commonest variety of the egg of the Field-
fare; it is also often found like Fig. 2; Fig. 3, a variety of the
Ring Ouzel ; Fig. 4, its most frequent colouring. The Field-
fare is the most abundant bird in Norway, and is generally
diffused over that part which we visited, building, as above
noticed, in society, 200 nests, or more, being frequently
within a very small space.

TURDUS TORQUATUS..: (aryv.)

Rine Ovze.

Tuer Ring Ouzel breeds in most of our wild mountain dis-
tricts, at a distance from human habitation ; its nest is very
similar to that of the Blackbird, being outwardly composed
of coarse grasses, with a slight layer of clay, and thickly lined
with fine dry grass; it is most usually built upon a ledge of
rock ; the eggs are four or five in number, and as shown in the
plate, resemble very nearly those of the Fieldfare and Black-
bird. I have never known the eggs of the Blackbird assume the
markings of Figs. 2 and. 4, this being the only specific dif-
ference between the eggs of the three species.—Figs. 1 and 3
may apply alike to all.

« te
ee al N 74€ ’ dt A ‘a ory
aes ; eh Aye

} . A, c ‘ ” '
Bate ae 0 2 :

oe ae ae |): Nate ae: ria Yr atonal
ri i, ¢ c

er aa, (4 hehe
Ce ma y 1 ‘ nf - Aa
i "ig Vé ate fyi ‘y 5 a se BS
ee ee oh web “a a: aia) api Mes
ot Ta ei ee
ne op 7/9 yt Ae 1 Tegra T4iA

ayy "Sige a a. en

ake ny a, ho ets Tee ee Ser Naa’
ath if ts CF pate ae xiss “ne
AF A GR! ey a é Ve 7
‘77 it tare, Vo tee vent te! ¥ ;
p ie i” ) OF Use PN cy oo Ce a a:
oO je ? . a we ’ ‘ r
Ne OPA Radel: 4 ARIE 1-4 SO ne, a
en eens | bee cy a ee eae ins
F NeAay Bi Ante Pr bis
ii phe Ra *
P a + se or} m ¢
, Ate * :
ME TG salts
, ¢
: ow
by ae AS.
ane. ‘
a a?
‘ 4
}
2 4
, ; eA ? . ‘
en ;
a _ ne : an 5 a ve s
aren oe ca’ Wil aka’ nia aN a a
tes)

Bos Sh imtud ok ie TAR he ie ase

4 Oy, Be ars, fakes ei, ris at Pe os i ope a eat 5
EEE NBR, Nie. ce By es cea Nee ai
§ tate nite PRM Kae. Sh

PS HAI mt ae ols as ye a hi a ae
x. Bey SRO es | de “sh ee ab yh beg anid

> Se his i ee a Od) Ge hey

ALD Tuy f rw Nd 4 uit ‘ roy a ee, Yo

Lo "4. ‘i Poi "pags ‘e { fis" us a : ww ial oss

RSMEANS 0 Grp eM E
“t BAIN

;
“
‘
rg
- -

(ingot hale a Bi a ET ae
; Geli’ en ay, tS) Wa iN sy bathe 2 ee A;

“es |

es es ret ete bie ips
/ roe kw), ae i s <=P.¥ poe
Drawn on Stone by W.C. Hewits on.

aha) (LSM
‘ i sae 4 r 1
A ‘
¢ ‘ > ag 2 ,

LXXII.
CINCLUS AQUATICUS.

Water Crow, Warer Ouzet, Dirrer.

In nidification, as well as in general appearance, the Water
Ouzel approaches very closely to our Common Wren. ‘This
active little bird seems to prefer those mountain streams, the
currents of which are rapid and often broken ; there it may
at all times be seen, either passing rapidly along the water,
or seated upon some rock warbling its sweet notes, when all
around it is cold and ice-bound ; it begins to prepare its nest
early in the month of April, It is, as above-mentioned, si-
milar to that of the Common Wren; like it—it is com-
posed of an abundance of moss, interspersed with a few
straws, and is covered with a dome, leaving merely a hole for
the entrance of the bird; this is, too, at the lower part (as I
have seldom failed to notice in the nest of the Wren), neatly
smoothed down, and kept straight by a few strong grass
stalks ; it is not so deep inside as other nests of similar for-
mation, being very thickly lined with a large quantity of dead
leaves of the beech and oak, chiefly the latter, with a few
straws and flags; it is, for the most part, placed either against
the bank of the river, or the moss-grown surface of some rock.
My friend, Mr. Benjamin Johnson, informs me, that he has
known of one for many years, in succession, built upon the
rafters in one of the salmon fish locks upon the river Tyne ;
the eggs are four or five in number, being, when unblown,
of a delicate blush-colour. I once surprised a nest of young
Water Crows, which, although they could scarcely fly, in-
stantly took to the water, down the stream of which they were
hurried with such rapidity that I supposed it impossible that
any of them could weather it; they did so, however, and
landed safely far below.

olen WA. ott’ iota % eins ai ene 2 .

Dune eae tiie int Yao 0 hi oil
oh “ate aa inte , oD abl winigses it root |
vin Meer coddont ote bong Diy iadetae idihttae te
0 va bier shuld apala Migs. wuieset 4 eid. poe
ihe “walter Heh buereri rare syst heb ane wokit SO iene
er uth roy nie AS byes th? At sasiont e vt Hane le ’
Me ‘eigeaet roe bid ant tb ; Seah bg ci
ote ch Seeds A: gel ‘ me ae ST ¥ ae tee fuel 4
j “ert ps Sr bhita Nis ltt eae “t te rr alo
‘ge igh sg laaeiant uitvonh Wario) ©, he. hosted:

TL Wa) fan, vse deve Sam: ng’ Med 3 ai 9 cht
ima Carine re} Ww tea th BE sil bixt tat .
Ty svete wa i eh “uit: Ee Ss, (4
«hit nasties lov te: i yoelio, as atheck yet’ og Seits:
op Trionll 9 serlunncifa sige w ditve boril wveaiclt ree ee
agate a ative odak, ‘alt aphoilala sdliben, sso she setae aid
bi i ia ay A El og tnt ohh AHS (RE bs
al nove ‘aetne “to sagbis data mameaniy cls 75 \nainith om +o it
end oak sinil) Aon eeevorbinl oe peewee oelie
od esgic jhivucl oie Ri earano'e cLdegen ant why ¥
2 bray re corn be “Mee vagal Hei girlies wpe i tee
“ene igs oak) geil cada sth) wit to ea oe b 38

i ytdsontt 39 ‘Hae. a Posing q woliia, deat(d 4}

ae: A acfrsrepee biden: yal i} itis (hy Bad abe a; 3 .

eye “thet dtd ey i ee eee PA Oto

"7 Saad, ohhh Simendygys’ 4 frnaoayeyia! Mbndd, vSthicjors pea

- bee emia oe Bil ne ‘if “loco blwos ie by

i bs eae! AVERT Tae A
ha he r Con} 2) bie, N¢ Wie i
wees be Sil ‘ i 't yf, ’ ‘

a h

Deon or Stone by W' C Lewes on Eronied iy CHdimandw.

XIII.
ORIOLUS GALBULA. (11yv.)

GOLDEN ORIOLE.

Tue Golden Oriole, though an occasional visitor, does not
breed in this country. It is, however, abundant in France,
and various parts of the Continent, all the year. I have not
myself seen it in its usual haunts, and shall, therefore, give
the following description from Shaw’s Zoology, which is the
most minute, and with which other authors agree; the sub-
stance of which is as follows :—‘‘ The Golden Oriole is re-
markable for constructing its nest upon a different principle
from those of the generality of European birds, supporting it
only by the edge or rim, so that it bears the appearance of a
shallow purse or basket. It generally builds in high trees,
but places the nest in rather a low part of the tree, upon the
forked extremity of some slender branch. It is formed of
straws, grasses, or other vegetable fibres proper for the pur-
pose, thickened with the stems of finer grasses, intermixed
with mosses and lichens, and lined with finer materials, as
the silk bags of chrysalides of moths, the egg-bags of spiders,
feathers, &c. The number of eggs is four or five—Plate 13.

i ‘ F hie
Niven vk
iy h

(ania) A LOE 9) coe

dort edoh cetinhy fantlqndio, rn

oad. nt doohdsidda serra wod et day KIT

‘ ‘#\' Bie ear’ i “iy om = |
jor ora ¥ inayat Ula aon tine) 864 ae es tany 6 @ 0

Sa | Poe a eee ere ao fae , ot eh cee
- spice bw Hive iis ih ( : vA pene

} pee 48} saovga erode radio doicive ditw, beng

y Seaearea at unblOW aA Mas colle on. nk bitw Te rontnig
l Plan a4 Pre 4 at Ne
er / 4 La ’ ty Tat Ae] | tiay TOE di

be gee od § # at it et 1a my ‘3
cateniet lo valowes9, OAL TO on S00 ae

@ lo asta |
vt dist oth cit

* 7 f)

geld sooty, ert min

to borer? ab oT

wate 911) 10) neal a 'TE fits

‘ haiti renal ; i oMait wile tt rare i # ot: op She
” Nia
Dh an plats oxen “agent bine hanil -f on “ye le
meahign 1 jo: edethigns: of) ed boat af ig "a
ie eats
hay AY atal'T- . an? ft ta wok ab ey beth He ACRE’

iets

Dhani on Stone by WC Hewson. r

XXII.

SAXICOLA RUBICOLA. (secusr.)

STONE-CHAT.

Tue Stone-chat is much less common than either of the
following species, it breeds, too, in places less frequented, on
whinny commons and heaths; the nest is placed on the
ground, at the bottom of a whin, or other bush, or amongst
the heath; it is composed principally of grass, with a small
quantity of moss, hair, and a few feathers ; the eggs are five,
or more commonly six, in number, sometimes, though rarely,
seven; they are readily distinguished from those of the
Whin-chat, being much less blue, and more closely sprinkled
throughout with light reddish-brown. It breeds in May or
June ; it is, however, very difficult to mention any particular
date for the time of nidification of our smaller birds, as indivi-
duals of the same species are frequently either building their
nests, laying their eggs, sitting them, or feeding their young
ones at the same time.—Plate X XII., Fig. 1.

SAXICOLA RUBETRA. (secusr.)
Wuin-cHaTt, GRAss-CHAT.

Neary all our ornithologists have described the eggs of
the Whin-chat as being of a pure and spotless blue colour,
but they have evidently not examined many, or they would
not have come to a conclusion so generally erroneous. It is
quite true, that, in many instances, it is the case, the eggs out
of the same nest being frequently both spotted and spotless ;
yet, out of nearly two hundred of the eggs which I have seen,
the larger proportion were spotted, most of them as distinctly

as Fig. 3, of the accompanying Plate, whilst one in my col-
lection, taken by myself, bears the unusually strong marking
of Fig. 2.—They are almost invariably six in number; the
nest is most commonly built upon the ground in meadows and
rough pastures, where it is snugly and beautifully concealed,
and sheltered under a tuft of grass, or beneath a whin bush,
sometimes in the bush (when thick), at a slight elevation from
the ground ; it is composed outwardly of the stalks of plants
and grass, with a small portion of moss, and is lined with finer
grass ; like the nests of most birds that build upon the ground,
it is loosely put together, and is not easily carried away
whole. ‘Time of incubation about May or June.

SAXICOLA G2INANTHE. (secusv.)
Wurtt Rump, WHEAT-EAR.

Tue places chosen by the White-rump for nidification are
various, it will sometimes place its nest upon the ground,
under the shelter of a sod or stone, at others, in a deserted
rabbit-warren, in a stone quarry or gravel pit, or in a chink
in a wall; I have also found it in a sand-bank, at the mouth
of a hole perforated by the Sand Martin. The nest is made
of the finest grasses, mixed throughout with small pieces of
wool and moss, feathers and hair, the outside being nearly as
fine as the lining. The eggs are five or six in number, and
very elegantly formed.—Figure 4 of the Plate.

‘
\
a ‘
ar
+; oo. i

Drawn dy W.C.Hewits om. Day kighe Tate + therm.

XC.

PHILOMELA LUSCINIA. (SWALNS.)

NIGHTINGALE.

Or the delicious song of the Nightingale, we, in the North
of England, are unfortunately deprived. Doncaster has long
been considered by Ornithologists as its Northern limit: I
have, however, the pleasure of extending its boundary line a
little further. It has been heard several times within four or
five miles of York, and has also been once or twice taken in
traps in that neighbourhood. In the South of England, in
many parts of which it is very abundant, it is nevertheless
somewhat partially and whimsically distributed ; according to
Mr. Neville Wood,* it has never been met with in any part of
North Wales, nor does it occur further West than Somerset-
shire: he remarks, “ The reason of this is by no means well
explained; and indeed it would seem to be perfectly arbitrary,
as some of the counties which are not favoured by its melody
are remarkable for balminess of climate, and softness of air ;
nor can it be the coldness of climate in the Northern counties,
that prevents its visiting these, as ‘it is found in much more
Northern latitudes in other countries.”

The Nightingale makes its nest, like the Robin Redbreast,
upon the ground, amongst the roots of trees, or upon a hedge
bank: its base is composed of loose herbage, rushes, and dry
leaves ; the nest itself is a compact matting of leaves—princi-
pally oak,—rushes, and grass, lined with a thin covering of
fine grass. The eggs are four or five, sometimes six, in num-
ber; they are commonly of a pure and spotless drab, some-
times, however, distinctly freckled all over with a darker
colouring.—Plate XC. Figs. 1 and 2.

* See an interesting paper by him, in No. 12 of the Analyst.

ERYTHACA RUBECULA. (SwaALns.)

REDBREAST, ROBIN.

THE Robin Redbreast is one of those few birds, which,
escaping the destroying and persecuting hand of man, is rather
an object of his protection. It becomes early a favourite
with us, and one of the most pleasing nursery tales of our
childhood teaches us to look at it with interest and affectionate
regard. ‘This kind feeling towards it seems to have established
a mutual confidence between us, and no bird is on such fami-
liar terms with us, and well it repays all our kindness. It is
our companion, and cheers us with its song alike in the gloom
as in the sunshine of the year; and in the Autumn, when the
dark days of Winter are approaching, and the gay visitors of
our Summer months have taken their departure, when the
butterfly has ceased its flight, and the leaves are falling around
us,—then it is that the Redbreast, taking up its station close
to our dwellings, and amongst the noise and bustle of our
towns, cheers us the day long with its sweet and simple song.
Whether it is in imagination only, I know not, but to me the
note of the Robin has, in the Autumn of the year, a tone of
melanchely in it, peculiarly in accordance with the feelings,
and differing from the joyous carol of the gayer months.
Alighting close upon your threshold, and evidently courting
your acquaintance, the Robin must be to every one an object
of interest.

“* Half afraid, he first
Against the window beats; then brisk alights
On the warm hearth ; then, hopping o’er the floor,
Eyes all the smiling family askance,
And pecks, and starts, and wonders where he is ;
Till more familiar grown, the table crumbs
Attract his slender feet.”

The Redbreast was the friend of Burns, sharing alike with
other animals those kind feelings, with which he regarded
every object of the creation, and calling forth some of his
beautiful lines. For many winters a Redbreast used to take
up its quarters for the night, in a room in which I slept,
coming to the window for admission at night, and making
signs of impatience to be let out in the morning. Its nest is
composed of moss, dried grass, and leaves, lined with hair, and
sometimes a few feathers; it is placed in a broken woody
bank, often by the side of some slightly frequented country
lane, where it is sheltered by the overhanging brushwood,—
also, not unfrequently in a hole of an old ruin, or garden wall.
Mr. Selby mentions having known several instances, in which
its nest occupied the inside of a watering-pot. During the late
Summer, a pair of Redbreasts had their nest in some ivy
against a garden wall, which the owner was about to remove;
but, being at the same time unwilling to disturb them, he took
the nest and eggs, and placed them in a neighbouring bush ;
and, much to his satisfaction, soon had the pleasure of seeing
the old one reseated upon her eggs.

The eggs are mostly four or five, sometimes six, and even
seven, in number; they are commonly freckled all over like the
one in the plate, sometimes more sparingly so, and encircled
with a zone of spots near the larger end: the variety figured
is one that rarely occurs. Figs. 3 and 4.

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CX.
PHOENICURA RUTICILLA. (SWALNs.,)

RepstTart, REDTAIL, FIRETAIL.

THE Redstart is amongst the most familiar of our summer
visitants, frequenting our towns and villages, and building its
nest in some hole in the garden wall, or the hollow of some
tree. There its oft repeated and monotonous cry may be
heard throughout the day, uttered in a tone so melancholy,
and with such apparent anxiety and distress, that one is led
to expect some cat prowling near; and such is too frequently
the case, and numerous are the broods of this and others of
our friends, which fall an easy prey to this enemy of their race.

The nest of the Redstart is composed chiefly of moss, and
is lined with hair and feathers. In two nests, sent me by my
kind friend, the Rev. W. D. Fox, the difference was so great,
that I will describe them separately.

One taken from a hole in a tree, was formed of moss, grass,
and a few dry leaves, lined with a quantity of wool, mixed
with fine grass and hair.

The other, from a wall, was chiefly of dry grass, moss, and
wool, with finer grasses and hair towards the inside, and lined
with a profusion of white feathers. The eggs, which are from
five to eight in number, are smaller than those of the Hedge
Sparrow ; of a more slender and delicate form ; and are usu-
ally of a lighter blue. Fig. 1.

PHCGENICURA TITHYS. (Jarp. ann SELBY.)
TYTHYS REDSTART.

OF the habits of the Tythis Redstart we know but little;
it has only of late been added to the list of our British Birds,
and appears to be nowhere frequent on the Continent. It is
said to breed in the holes of rocks, walls, and trees, and to lay
five or six eggs. These are of a purer and more perfect white
than any other egg which I have seen. Fig.2. To the libe-
rality of Mr. Doubleday I am indebted for a specimen of this
rare egg; as well as to Mr. Yarrell, for the loan of one from
which to draw.

A fine male specimen of the Tythis Redstart was shot there,
on the 19th of December last, during the formation of the
Clifton Zoological Gardens. It was in company with some
Stonechats, and was fat and in good condition.

PHCEANICURA SUECICA. (SE:iBy.)

BLUE-THROATED REDSTART.

THE only specimen of this beautiful bird which has been
noticed in this country, was killed on the Town Moor of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and is now amongst the other rarities
of their rich museum. Acerbi mentions his having found
several of the nests, with eggs of this bird, on the banks of
the river Jeres, at the head of the Gulf of Bothnia. It is also
an inhabitant of some parts of Norway. In that portion of
the country which we traversed, it is rare, and only once
afforded us the satisfaction of seeing it, and then under cir-
cumstances which I can never think of without pleasure.

We were descending the steep and wooded side of one of
the numerous islands with which the Norwegian coast is so
thickly studded. It was after midnight; and the sun, which
we had just seen set in glory above the horizon, was now,
with its rising beams, diffusing an additional warmth over the
face of nature, and adding a lustre to every beautiful and
magnificent object around us. Nature, which during the short
delicious summer of these regions, seems scarcely to allow
time for slumber or repose, was thus early in activity. The
bee came humming past us, and the Blue-throated Redstart
was in motion amongst the low brushwood.

Although in other respects it is more closely allied to the
Redstarts, with which it is now associated, yet in the little
which we had an opportunity of seeing of its habits, it very
much resembles the species of the genus Curruca in its hiding,
skulking manner. It is said to breed in the holes of trees, and
to lay six eggs. To the kindness of my friend Mr. Doubleday,
I am indebted for a specimen of this rare egg also.

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Day KHaghe Lith? to the King.

Drawn oi Stone by W.C.Hemtson .

LXX.
SALICARIA ARUNDINACEA. (serpy.

Reepv Warster, Reep Wren.

Tne Reed Warbler has never (that I am aware of) been
mef with in the north of England ; and in the south it appears
to be local; it is, however, rather abundant in the counties
of Kent and Sussex.

To my friend, Mr. Doubleday, of Epping, I am indebted
for the eggs, together with a most beautiful nest of this bird.
It was built, as they usually are, amongst reeds, by four of
which it was supported, and to which it is firmly attached.
Mr. Bolton mentions one which was in a low hazel, and Mr.
Sweet found another in the low side branches of a poplar ;
I should think, however, that such instances are of rare oc-
currence. In the nest of the Reed Warbler we have an
example of the wonderful adaptation of the habits and in-
stincts of animals to the situations in which nature has placed
them. Built, as the nest of this bird is, high upon reeds,
which are are agitated by every breeze that blows, the eggs
would be in continual danger of rolling out, if the little archi-
tect did not make its habitation less in diameter, and deeper,
in proportion, than those of birds which have not this danger
to contend with, and so effectually is this evil prevented, that
although, as observed by Montague, the reeds in which it is
placed are often bowed by the wind to the very surface of the
' water, yet the eggs remain secure. They are four or five in
number, and in the few which I have seen vary but slightly.
The nest is composed almost entirely of the flowering tops of
reeds, finer towards its centre; the outside is bound round
and kept firm by long grass mixed with wool, by which it
is also attached to the reeds.—Plate LXX., Fig. 1.

; a oR Nye aee
BSP AE errs Barer: :

sala a ied eg
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odd cebyergeaiy, abe

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+ | weihior; wgyya saskt, vei liv wevligs
on ass eéaicouotangciatixe Sienna, tai
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wd ocd Laan gaiclt Sy gyipthe qoute a »
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, ; f Resse tis, sho. . Mada # reared tks Cine. pty e fiae',\
_ oe ee mans Tn PA Pata uh Ay: ‘bee 5,

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hahie * ie hy wre figs ie GOS Ai aes haga g

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fs / he be Nat Lasgih ok Ba 4 stage ages eT} tates re ea a 5
ayy é ths iy ah ua ane helio, ae ist » a ? it phrasal
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Drown on Stone ty WC Hemtsow. Printed by ¢.uldmande,

XLII.
CURRUCA HORTENSIS. (rLemrne.)

GREATER Perrycuars, GREATER FauverrE, GARDEN
WARBLER.

Tue Garden Warbler builds its nest about the end of May
or beginning of June, in bushy woods, amongst brambles and
every species of low tangled brushwood ; in our gardens and
pleasure-grounds, in evergreens, and other thick shrubs.

It is formed outwardly of umbelliferous plants, becoming
finer towards the inside, and mixed with the stalks and some
flowering heads of grasses, together with very fine roots, and
a few hairs. The eggs are four or five in number, and differ
very considerably in their appearance ; sometimes as in Fig.
1, so closely resembling those of the Blackcap that it is quite
impossible to distinguish the two species; at other times ap-
pearing in the more distinct and beautiful markings of Fig. 2,
kindly sent me by the Rev. W. D. Fox, and approaching very
closely to the eggs of the Lesser Whitethroat. There are
many intermediate varieties; some with the clear colouring
of Fig. 2, and having the blotches of neutral tint and dark
brown, but smaller and more regularly spread over the sur-
face; some likewise differ considerably in their proportionate
length.

Though you may examine this bird when upon the nest
it isextremely difficult to get a good view of it afterwards ; it
drops instantly into the thick herbage below, and conceals it-
self most effectually.

| oily eet

h ‘<a hiding ‘wa, Pita viet hy re none cov ‘O48 :
othe eg sna ibd sould deatll to: emia’, fata vetoed .
ye tuvdtiw bloo le, wae | te

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ih iy. Salesiiere hing ‘yoianally hs, abated ann

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Puan Cea Pe ato Oy i Mf,

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haw wags! ‘hate ddecen ipl it (hina sisdt od §

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On Stone by W.C Hewits mm. Day Ha ghe Lith".

CXVI.
CURRUCA CINEREA. (BECcHST.)

WHITETHROAT.

WHILST the eggs of the rest of the genus Curruca bear
a near resemblance to each other, especially in some of
their varieties, those of the present species differ much, not
only from them but likewise from the eggs of all other birds ;
having a character which is peculiar to themselves, and
which in the numbers I have seen could not be mistaken;
neither do they present any remarkable varieties, Fig. 2 being
the most distinct which I have met with. ‘The nest of the
Whitethroat, though apparently slight and comfortless, is
composed of materials so light and at the same time so
strong, that it is much more compact and firm than some of
the more substantial looking structures of the Fringillide, &c.
It is composed of umbelliferous plants, mixed with spiders’
webs and bits of wool, and is generally lined with black
horse-hair. It is usually placed in low bushes, brambles, and
nettles. The eggs are four or five, and sometimes six; of the
last number I have met with several instances.

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inet ‘oi vocal

in Bio oder at Ulatoritay ¢ illo
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saul to taaie od" dite fsire ovack Th otiby nats
i f aioe: pea tvighhotos Sri: sehaila ylusiagea diya,

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ad abilligainl yifh Yee abun iotrater yirhlook {aiterstadiia a
ae Tenwbicge : aie Healey hele assvshilfacttussd ‘ta: bowticte —
bay toald: itty bauil yflovedry at ne, loow e ‘atid B

Fic ‘uotdad coorehens ch wak at basal thlaasrets at ee,
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CXUVIL .

Ove em

CXLVII.

MELIZOPHILUS PROVINCIALIS. (LEACH.)

DARTFORD WARBLER.

THE Dartford Warbler is one of those birds which, although
not unfrequent in a few localities, is nevertheless very difficult
to procure.

I am not aware that its eggs are in any of the London col-
lections, not having been able to procure them, until supplied
with specimens by Henry Burney, Esq. who took them near
Oxford, after shooting the female from the nest, which was
closely concealed in a thick covering of furze, and was a good
deal like that of the Whitethroat, being composed of umbel-
liferous plants, and a small proportion of moss. The eggs are
four or five in number; and, as it will be seen by the plate,
bear considerable resemblance to those of the Whitethroat.

h 1) bites Huy
it} ORR cy Pat |
ra * * 4
tae ae ie ails ty hg

tate wi hy, ty: ‘ettioony od atta ay) 164 “mt
ian tel UI Hoh. ‘arti pat ‘ Wit Load ‘aoe
ite tatit lant) th retud | sth

Be Book eae Tint ye a ae (hy aatith iad
‘s(aetten yo boeken rrp) als intel iia ARN i nd, ‘aa

Gye: igh \) aly )eHaoete MM Ap Ose tnt Mi bpp cl

a
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Mit} iy
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On Stime hy W.C Hewitson. Day kBaghe Lith tothe Keng

CXVIII.
SYLVIA HIPPOLAIS. (Laru.)

CHIFF CHAFF.

However monotonous the voice of the Chiff-Chaff may
sound when mingled with the rich melody of the various
Warblers, there is a time at which it brings with it a
delightful welcome, when its cheerful sound bursts upon
the ear as the first notice of the arrival of our feathered
friends, at a time when the primrose and the violet are first
rearing their beautiful forms upon the earth—to tell us that
the woods will soon be green, and that the cold joyless
winter will again give place to the delights of summer.

The Chiff-Chaff comes to us before the insects have left
their winter hiding-places, when there is not a green leaf
to cover its graceful form.

Its arrival usually takes place in March, and Mr. Neville
Wood informs me, that he has heard its note as early as the
5th of February. Montague likewise mentions January
and February as its earliest appearance.

It breeds towards the end of May, or beginning of June,
and considering the abundance of the species, it is not easy
to account for the difficulty in procuring its eggs. Amongst
the numbers of nests of the Willow Wren, which I have
found at various times, I have never met with more than two
or three of those of the Chiff-Chaff; many of my corres-
pondents to whom I have applied to procure me some of the
eggs, in hopes of meeting with varieties, have expressed to
me the same difficulty.

The nest is very similar to that of the Willow Wren, being
composed of dried grass, dead leaves, and moss, lined pro-
fusely with feathers ; its situation is, however, usually some-

what different, and although sometimes in places similar to
those occupied by that of the Willow Wren, the nest of the
Chiff-Chaff differs from it in being mostly raised above the
ground in a low bush. I once found one in some ivy against
a garden wall, and at about two feet above the ground. The
eggs are usually seven; a good deal like those of the Willow
Wren ; the spots are however, much darker, and of a purple
colour. Fig. 1 of the Plate.

SYLVIA SIBILATRIX. (BEcust.)

YELLOW WILLOW WREN.—Woop WREN.

THE Yellow Willow Wren is much more rare than the two
allied species; its haunts are different. Whilst the other
species are met with in every thicket and closely tangled
copse, the Yellow Willow Wren frequents woods of a longer
growth, and cleared of the thicker brushwood. The nest
(which I have found as difficult to procure as those of the
Chiff-Chaff,) is placed upon the ground, in woods, under a tuft
of grass; it is like those of the other species of the genus,
arched over at the top; it is too, composed of moss, dried
grass, and dead leaves, but differs from them in being lined
with fine grass and hair, instead of feathers.

The eggs which are usually seven, are generally similar to
Fig. 3 of the Plate. I possess one which is rather like those
of the Chiff-Chaff, sparingly marked, but with larger spots.
I have also seen a nest of seven, all of the beautiful variety
Fig. 2.

*
iva ay! a wily” a

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f f adi yy, Ce ; : 7 ae on Ore igs
' i ‘ nS t Th NY ‘aR Ws bag, ar? " att
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sd CXV.

SYLVIA TROCHYLUS. (LATH.)

WILLOW WREN, YELLOW WREN.

DEAR to me as are each of the sweet birds of summer,
there is not one the return of which I have yearly witnessed
with so much pleasure; and however more highly the rich
melody of some of the other warblers may be prized, there is
a simplicity and a sweet cadence about the note of the Wil-
low Wren, which I prefer to all of them, and which never
fails to impart the most pleasurable sensations. It is a feeling
which none but the lover of nature can at all appreciate ; and,
however difficult for others to understand, I know that some
of the chief enjoyments of my life have emanated from these
“ delightful visitants of spring:” and I feel a regard for each
of them, as the amusing companions of many a solitary walk.
The Willow Wren is one of the most abundant of the war-
blers, and almost every wood and copse is enlivened by its
beautiful form and graceful motions.

“* Thou fairy bird, how I love to trace
The rapid flight of thy tiny race ;
For the wild bee does not wave its wing
More lightly than thine, thou fairy thing.”

It is too an inhabitant of more northern countries; and I
shall not readily forget the delight I experienced, on hearing
its soft sweet note whilst seated within the Arctic Circle,
upon one of the bleak isles of Norway.

The Willow Wren builds its nest upon the ground, some-
times in the midst of woods when not very thick, but more
commonly near their margin, or in any grassy bank where
brushwood occurs. In shape it resembles that of the Common
Wren, being arched over, with the entrance at one side; it is
however much more fragile, and not easily removed entire,

being composed of grass and moss, with dead leaves, warmly
lined with feathers. Of the eggs I have seen but the two
varieties figured ; they are of about equal occurrence.

Mr. Neville Wood, in his British Song-Birds, quotes a
letter from Dr. Liverpool describing the readiness with which
the Willow Wren becomes sociable. To this I can add a most
interesting instance. To ascertain, beyond the possibility of
doubt, the identity of the two varieties of eggs figured, I had
captured on their nests several of the birds. Amongst these
was one which I carried home and confined during the night
in a large box; and such was its tameness that when I took it
out the following morning, and would have set it at liberty,
it seemed to have no wish to leave my hand, and would hop
about the table where I was sitting, picking up flies which I
caught for it.

In the autumn, previous to their departure, the Willow Wrens
frequent our orchards and gardens, where they may be seen
busily picking insects from the pea straw and other vegetables ;
the young ones easily distinguished by their brighter colouring
of yellow. At the time at which I write this, August 14, they
may be heard amongst the extensive cider orchards of Somer-
setshire, warbling their farewell song, but in a tone far differ-
ent from that of their first glad visit in the spring, and so
subdued that it is scarcely audible.

Hewitson. .

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LXXXVII.
REGULUS AURICAPILLUS. (sexny.)

Go.tpEN Crestep WReEN.

Tus, the least of all our British birds, is very generally
dispersed throughout the island, and may be met with from
the most northerly part of Scotland to the southern extre-
mity of England; we likewise saw it whilst traversing the
pine forests of Norway. In activity and habits, when in
search of insects, it resembles much the various species of Tit-
mice, and may be seen like them suspended from the branches
of trees, and in all those beautiful and graceful attitudes so
peculiar to the tribe; its chief resort is in fir plantations,
and its nest is usually placed in a tree of that species ; it is
most commonly suspended beneath the sheltering branch of a
spruce fir, attached to some of the slender drooping twigs, at
other times built upon its upper surface ; I have seen it, also,
but rarely, placed against. the trunk of the tree, upon the
hase of a diverging branch, and at an elevation of from twelve
to twenty feet above the ground ; it is composed of the soft-
est species of mosses, interwoven with wool, a few grasses,
dead leaves, and spiders’ webs ; with the latter it is fastened
to the twigs, and is lined with a quantity of feathers, those
of the smaller birds being carefully selected for the purpose ;
its eggs vary from seven to eight, which is the number most
frequent, to ten, or even eleven ; their commonest colour being
that of Fig. 1; for specimens of the pretty variety accom-
panying it I am indebted to the Rev. W. D. Fox, of Derby-
shire, who meets with it breeding abundantly in his own
neighbourhood, indeed I have never seen it so numerous else-
where as it is in that county.

TROGLODYTES EUROPGUS. (cuvrer.)

Common Wren, Kirry Wren.

Tue nest of the Wren is of an oval form, arched over and
protected on every side; it is a most beautiful specimen of
strength, warmth, and neatness, and so compact is it, and
closely interwoven, that one in my collection might be kicked
about the floor without at all disarranging or disuniting those
minute particles of moss, of which it was first formed ; it is
usually constructed of green mosses, and from its close resem-
blance to the situation in which it is placed is admirably pro-
tected from discovery ; this is most commonly against the
moss-grown side of a rock, a bank, or an old tree, in the de-
cayed side of which the nest is formed, and were it not for the
small hole of entrance, would be regarded only as a portion
of the tree; I have sometimes found the nest covered outside
with dry ferns, and have not unfrequently met with it against
the side of a clover stack, constructed entirely of the clover,
and becoming a piece of the stack itself, and were it not for
the flight of the bird from the spot, it would have run no risk
of detection. No bird is so jealous of discovery or intrusion.
Amongst a great number of nests which I have found in the
progress of building, I have never known one proceeded with
after having been discovered and touched. It is impossible to
_ thrust the finger into the tiny entrance without disarranging
the neatness and beautiful symmetry of its form ; this I have
found has, in every instance, caused its abandonment by the
owner, and may readily account for the numbers of unfinished
nests which we used at school to call ‘ cocks’ nests,’ suppos-
ing that they were built by the male bird for its own sai
cular abode.

The Wren is a hardy solitary little bird, and may be seen

in some of our bleakest and most unsheltered districts ; we
saw it on some of the most sterile heaths of Shetland, the
only support for its nest being the bank of some mountain
gully, its only shelter the overhanging sod.

Notwithstanding the number of eggs which the Wren has
been stated by some Ornithologists to lay, I have never suc-
ceeded in finding more than eight, and seldom more than se-
ven in the same nest ; they are not usually so much spotted
as Fig. 3, and are often white, or nearly so.

Ornithologists differ as to the lining of the nest of the
Wren, some maintaining that it is thickly lined with feathers,
whilst others deny that it has any in its composition. I have
found it both ways, but cannot, from recollection, say which
most frequently.

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me fi dial ict Ch wedi woes Ny fit Wns pa rll 4
, * y ki be | i py ts aatiity; oy ar nah with ie hi
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LXXVI.
PARUS CASRULEUS. § (x1yy.)

Buve Trrmovusr, Biuecar, Tomrir, Bituy-BITER.

Tue Titmice, the eggs of three species of which are figured
in the annexed plate, are amongst the most familiar of our
feathered friends; they are with us the year through, and
when our other truant visitors have forsaken us for brighter
skies, draw nearer to our dwellings, closely prying into every
corner, and clearing our fruit trees of innumerable insects,
affording us constant amusement by .their unceasing gaiety
and activity, and by their ever varying and elegant attitudes ;
they are the mountebanks of the feathered race ; every hour
of their little lives is spent in constant usefulness, and for our
benefit, notwithstanding which, they are by many considered
as a nuisance, and no pains spared to destroy them; there
are parishes, even in which a price is set upon their heads,
and paid for their destruction, under a delusion, which I am
happy to say is, with many such absurdities, speedily vanish-
ing. Why they are thus persecuted, it is difficult to guess ;
I much doubt whether their great services are accompanied
with any harm to us; their progress in a garden may ap-
pear to the owner to be strewed with buds, the future hopes
of his industry ; these are, however, but the infected part of
his trees, and have been carefully examined and pulled to
pieces by these little birds to destroy the lurking enemy
within, which, if permitted to multiply unchecked, would
soon defoliate his trees.

The Blue Titmouse, by far the most numerous of the race,
and to which what I have said chiefly refers, is a most ob-
stinate little fellow; and when he has once taken possession
of a hole for his nest, will bravely defend it, not only against
the inroads of other birds, but against our intrusion ; no

means, save a forcible ejection with the hand, will induce him
to leave it, against the entrance of which he will fight fiercely,
making at the same time a singular hissing noise. Amongst
many most interesting instances, confirmatory of the fact,
the two following are kindly furnished me by T. C. Hey-
sham, Esq. :—‘‘ A few years ago, when upon an Entomologi-
cal excursion, wishing to examine the decayed stump of a
tree which was broken to pieces for that purpose, and the
fragments dispersed to a considerable distance by a severe
blow, a Blue Titmouse was found sitting upon fourteen eggs
in a small cavity of the root ; notwithstanding the above se-
vere shock, it remained immoveable till forcibly taken off the
nest.”

*‘ Karly this spring, a pair had taken possession of a hole
in a tree where the Pied Flycatcher had regularly built for
the last four years, and being anxious it should continue to do
so, the nest and eggs were removed, the latter to the number
of sixteen; in defiance of all these annoyances, the female
still kept possession of the hole, where I saw it repeatedly af-
terwards, for several weeks, sitting upon the bare wood. I
have myself known one continue building its nest, for many
days together, under the handle of a pump, although its la-
bours were daily destroyed by its action. The Blue Titmouse
builds its nest of grass, moss, hair, and feathers ; it is placed,
for the most part, in holes of trees and old walls; the eggs
are from seven to eighteen in number ; I believe sometimes
even more. I have always been accustomed to receive with
jealousy and caution any of those reports in which most of
bird-nesters seem so much to delight, regarding the great
number of eggs laid by some of our smaller birds, never hay-
ing myself met with a nest containing more than eight or
nine eggs: it is, however, a curious fact, that the Blue Tit-
mouse will lay twice that number, as in the instance given by
Mr. Heysham. I have one, from authority upon which I
can place dependence, in which the nest contained eighteen

eggs; they are white, minutely marked with reddish or yel-
lowish dots, most towards the larger end, and occasionally
forming a circle round it.—Plate LX XVI., Fig. 1.

PARUS PALUSTRIS. (x1yy.)

Marsan Tirmouse.

Tue Marsh Titmouse breeds in holes of trees, taking con-
siderable pains in hollowing out a suitable cavity for its nest ;
it is made with more care than that of the preceding, and is
formed of moss, grass, and the soft down of the willow, with
which it is also lined. I am not aware that the eggs exceed
seven or eight in number; I have never found more ; they
frequently resemble those of the Blue Tit very closely ; the
spots are, however, usually larger, and the form rounded and
more like eggs of the Willow Wren.—Fig. 2.

PARUS CAUDATUS. (11nv.)

Lone-raAiLep Trrmovuse, Borriz Trr, &ce.

ApmrraB_e and strikingly wonderful, as are the complicated
and beautiful constructions of the bright birds of other climes,
there are none more surpassingly so than that of the Long-
tailed Titmouse ; it is in everyway perfect as the safeguard
of the tiny beings that are to be reared under its protecting
roof, and fostered by its warmth ; covered in, and defended
as it is against every wind that blows, except at the small

hole of entrance of the parent bird; it is formed, too, of the
softest materials ; its exterior is of moss, twisted together
throughout with wool and the nests of spiders, and covered
over, outside (as the nest of the Chaffinch), with pieces of
white lichen; its inside is so thickly lined with feathers, as
to obtain for it, in some parts, the name of featherpoke.—
With all its capabilities, I have never been able to detect
‘‘ the hole behind for its tail to come through,” mentioned by
Mr. Selby. The Long-tailed Titmouse is by no means com-
mon; I have never met with it so often as to destroy the no-
velty and interest which its appearance never fails to excite ;
they are most sociable little beings, and except during the
breeding season are very rarely seen alone ; united, during the
winter months, they may be seen in families passing from
hedge to hedge, and flitting after each other in such rapid
and uninterrupted flight, as though their little aerial bodies
were sustained by the breath of heaven alone. With the ex-
ception of the Golden-Crested Wren, the eggs of the Long-
tailed Titmouse are smaller than those of any other British
bird ; they are from seven to sixteen in number ; the spots
are sometimes scarcely visible,—Fig. 3. Upon finding the
nest of almost every bird, we may predict, with tolerable cer-
tainty, the number of eggs it will contain (provided the bird

has begun to sit); but with the Blue and Long-tailed Tit-
- mouse, it is far different. There is a strange uncertainty in
the number of their eggs; I have found each with seven eggs
only, and hard sitting; the nest is placed commonly in some -
thick bush, or on the bough of a tree. I have seen it in the
latter situation, so closely resembling a part of the tree, that
had it not been that my attention was attracted to the spot
by the repeated flight of the birds in that direction, I should
never have discovered it, nor did I even then till I had
watched one of them enter it.

It is an early breeder, and is frequently sitting on its eggs
towards the end of April.

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Draw andiauny WE eitson.
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CXXXIIL.
PARUS CRISTATUS.

CresTED 'TITMOUSE.

Tue Crested Titmouse is said to have been met with in
the pine forests of Scotland, where however, the recent
researches which have been made in the hopes of finding it,
have proved ineffectual.

Dr. Latham, first records it as a British species, from a
specimen sent him from the neighbourhood of Glenmore,
and Mr. Selby, quoting the information of Sir Wm. Jardine,
states, that it is met with near Glasgow.

It breeds according to Temminck, in the holes of trees
and rocks, and sometimes in the deserted nest of a squirrel.
The eggs which closely resemble those of the other Titmice,
are said to be eight or ten in number; the one figured in the
Plate was kindly lent for that purpose by my friend Mr.
Yarrell.

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a geri 1 anit “eel ot atioiue ¢ inert ov daid
fay ‘a rea bi Aste
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erie Ye ih haneserd galt ith mamnbtaneoes O te
goin! T wot (an ‘tes gaorl yal fuargnet ‘lou y hotel i
gtit thd Leergit samo arth: d vinchs of Oa aT eis) 40: ‘alga 4
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LXXXT.

Om Stone by WC Hewitson. Dag tHaghe Lith*® to the King.

LXXXI.
PARUS MAJOR. (11Ny.)

GREATER TrrmousE, Ox-ryeE.

Tue Greater Titmouse breeds in the holes of trees; its
nest is of moss and feathers, with some hair ; its eggs are,
however, sometimes laid upon the fine particles of the rotten
wood alone; they are from seven to eleven in number, and
are, as I stated, when speaking of that bird, exceedingly si-
milar to those of the Nuthatch.—Figs. 1 and 2.

PARUS ATER. (1yy.)

Coxe Trrmovse.

TxeE Cole Titmouse also breeds in the holes of trees, usu-
ally at a less elevation from the ground than the other spe-
cies, sometimes in cavities which occur amongst the exposed
roots; or, as mentioned by Mr. Selby, in the entrance of a
mouse-hole ; the nest is of moss, wool, hair, and feathers, and
the eggs from six to eight in number.—Fig. 3.

PARUS BIARMICUS. (a1ny.)

BEARDED TrTMOUSE.

Tue Bearded Titmouse is so sparingly dispersed through
this country, being confined chiefly to a few of our fenny
counties, Norfolk, Suffolk, Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire,
and Lincolnshire, that very little has been known of its ha-
bits and nidification till of late years. Not having myself
had an opportunity of seeing it in its native haunts, I have
copied the following account by J. D. Hoy, Esq., from the
pages of Loudon’s Magazine, Vol. III., Page 328 :—“ The
borders of the large pieces of fresh water in Norfolk, called
Broads, particularly Hickling and Horsey Broads, are the fa-
vourite places of resort of this bird ; indeed it is to be met
with in that neighbourhood wherever there are reeds in any
quantity with fenny land adjoining. I have found them nu-
merous during the breeding season on the skirts of Whittle-
sea; and they are not uncommon in the Fenny district of
Lincolnshire. It begins building in the end of April. The
nest is composed on the outside with the dead leaves of the
reed and sedge, intermixed with a few pieces of grass, and in-
variably lined with the top of the reed, somewhat in the man-
ner of the nest of the Reed Wren (S. Arundinacea), but not
so compact in the interior ; it is generally placed in a tuft
of coarse grass or rushes near the ground, on the margin of
the dikes in the fen; also sometimes fixed among the reeds
that are broken down, but never suspended between the
stems; the eggs vary in number from four to six, rarely se-
ven.—Fig. 4.

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Drawn an.Stone by WC Hewitson

Day RHagheLith™ totheKing

CV.

ACCENTOR MODULARIS. (Cvuv.)

HeEpDGE AccCENTOR, HEDGE SPARROW.

ALTHOUGH plain in its attire, and ungifted with much
power of song, the Hedge Sparrow has many claims to re-
commend it to our notice. Like the Robin Redbreast it is
always resident with us: and, though without the delightful
and engaging familiarity of our favourite, its quiet, unobtru-
sive habits, and its simple song, heard alone or accompanied
only by the sweeter notes of the Redbreast, or the harsher
tones of the Wren, at a time too when all nature is wrapt in
the melancholy garb of winter, and the full concert of the grove
is hushed, render its companionship peculiarly acceptable.

The Hedge Sparrow is one of our earliest breeders, and
begins to lay its eggs in March, or early in April; its nest is
most commonly placed in a thick low hedge, sometimes in an
evergreen, a whin bush, or in the ivy against a wall. It is
composed of pieces of stick, coarse grass, moss, and bits of
wool, lined with hair. I remember once finding a nest which
was built in a whin bush, composed almost entirely of dry
grass. Twice I have seen a nest with eggs in it, and so
imperfectly finished that the thorns were sticking through
the inside; this is the only bird’s nest in which I have
ever met with a similar instance. The eggs are four or five
in number.

ACCENTOR ALPINUS. (Becust.)

ALPINE ACCENTOR.

THE Alpine Warbler has gained a place amongst our
British birds, having been once killed in this country. Ac-
cording to Mr. Selby, “it is an inhabitant of the mountainous
regions of Europe, and particularly affects those districts
which are of an abrupt and rocky character. Upon the
Swiss Alps it is very common, and may be always seen by
travellers in the environs of the convent upon Mount St.
Bernard. In summer it ascends to very elevated stations,
where it breeds in holes and under ledges of the rocks, laying
four or five eggs.”

They are similar to those of our common Hedge Sparrow,
being larger and of the same beautiful greenish blue, but
somewhat more intense in colour.

To the rich collection of Mr. Yarrell I have again had
recourse for the accompanying figure.

” FLarvt ls oi

rar

LA,

Avinted by (0&8 & Ez Mitchell,

LIX.
MOTACILLA ALBA. (1yy.)

Prep Waerait, Warer Waoral.

Tue Pied Wagtail builds its nest in the holes of walls,
bridges, and in the broken banks of rivers, upon the ground ;
it is composed of roots and grasses, lined with finer roots and
hair ; its eggs are from four to five in number, sometimes of
the contour of the one figured in the Plate, frequently much
more rounded, and resembling in shape those of the other
species; they are, also, occasionally more strongly marked,
often with spots of a deep brown.

MOTACILLA BOARULA. (11Nv.)

Grey Wacral.

Tue nest and situation in which it is placed, so nearly resem-
ble those of the Pied Wagtail, that a separate description is
unnecessary; it is, perhaps, more compact and more frequently
placed upon the ground. This Wagtail is much the rarest
species of the three. I possess eggs from Mr. Heysham, of
Carlisle, and also (together with a nest beautifully lined with
white hair) from Mr. Leyland, of Halifax, where, he informs
me he meets with them every year; the eggs are, in number,
four or five.—Fig. 2.

MOTACILLA FLAVA. (ayy.

YeELLow Waeralt.

Tue eggs of the Yellow Wagtail, as will be seen by the
Plate, very closely resemble those of the Grey Wagtail, so
much so, that either of the figures may be considered as
varieties of the other; those of the Yellow Wagtail often as-
suming the colouring of Fig. 2; whilst those of the Grey
Wagtail are frequently of the deeper hue of Fig. 3; the
nests resemble nearly those of the other two species ; the eggs
are, in number, four or five; but I have known them lay as
many as six.

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CXXXV.
LOXIA CURVIROSTRA. (Liny.)

CROSSBILL.

I am not aware of any instance in which the Crossbill has
been detected breeding in this country, except the one which
the liberality of Arthur Strickland, Esq. enables me to record.
The nest and eggs of this species were taken from a larch fir
near his residence at Boynton, near Burlington, in Yorkshire,
during the summer of 1829. The nest is mace of sticks loosely
put together, and crossed in a similar manner to that of the
Ring Dove, mixed with white lichens, and very like the more
clumsily built nests of the Hawfinch. Mr. Selby is of
opinion, that the Crossbill breeds with the earliest spring, or
even in winter, having killed several in this country early in
June, which showed plainly from the denuded state of their
breasts, that they had been engaged in incubation some time
previous to their arrival. Those which we saw whilst in
Norway, in May and June, were always in flocks, and had
either not commenced or else had done breeding.

andl! lider naff tobibi tailed ¢ith ee
doidve sees wits Nera AyHtsitios ade ent eee:
Brisas of ope acifenanyy pant, Baeal.t Tea) i uit Mg,
“pit istigi i Pec ee Trt te aie be i
aeokio Se Melgeibyaey: tie ctor ke, arial
tfaerrok wid obaiy ake eae ofl elit ‘Me i 7 be
wd ey ally. of romhtaar abut, ot oti bacrissie “inng ai
‘ikooete of oilil ry Digs Across! oy iA we Faiiricke:
Wet edled hl Vatorieglt: afd te Abana ti uf
te erties higihyay jth ibe ne, adysaned Iie) ahs ti
isi iss Ytewion éhdt int Levvvae baltia wa en rs
todd. atin Dodiinrsty gels stir ilntioky bowel
Set eaioe moledirint ttt boxeyeny sioad bad ‘tt Ma

tt deliley. seta ow: ob: ibe oa Lawpein:
had heen ad: rath, ny pani 9 ‘roy bo mat than: oud
wily sc goed: Bind oaks 0 owe

LXViil.

4
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Diawn on Stone by W.C Hewits on. Day & Haghe Lith? to the &
s gne. » the Mnng,

LXVIII.

ANTHUS AQUATICUS. (secnsr.)

Rock Lark.

Tne Rock Lark is, I believe, confined almost entirely to
the sea-coast, upon some parts of which it is very abundant ;
it makes its nest upon the ground, or upon ledges of the
rock bounding the sea-beach. I have frequently found them
upon the Fern and Coquet islands, and once met with one

snugly sheltered in the centre of a heap of dry sea-weed which
lay upon the sandy shore ; it is composed entirely of fine dry
grass, and though beautifully firm, and sufficiently compact
in its proper place, very soon falls to pieces when removed ;
the eggs are four or five, rarely six, in number, and possess a
character of roundness peculiar to the species; some of the
varieties, though never very far removed from that drawn at
Fig. 1, differ from it considerably in their general hue, as-
similating more nearly to the browner colouring of the eggs

of the Skylark.

ANTHUS PRATENSIS. (11yv.)

Tit Lark.

Tue eggs of the 'Tit Lark are less subject to variety than
those of the other species, not often differing from the deep
sombre hue of Fig. 1, except in the intensity of tints; some
are less deeply freckled throughout, whilst others are marked
with a distinct ring of darker colour round the larger end ;
Fig. 2 is, however, a most remarkable variety, though of very

rare occurrence. ‘The Tit Lark builds its nest in meadows and
pastures, and on open heathy moors, where it abounds ; it is,
like that of the Rock Lark, composed entirely of dry grass ;
the eggs are four or five, rarely six, in number.

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Day KHaghe litp.
On Stor e by WC Hewtson ay kHag.

CXIV.

ANTHUS ARBOREUS. (BECHST.)

TREE PIprr.

Or the Land Birds there is no species the eggs of which
present so many or such distinct varieties, as those of the
Tree Pipit. Of the most prominent of these for contrast, and
for their beauty and richness of colouring, I have done my
best to give a tolerable representation in the plate. Of Fig. 1
I have seen but few specimens. Fig. 2 is the most common,
with another variety resembling it in the same closely freckled
appearance ; but of a different and darker colour, and very
neatly like, in that respect, the eggs of the Meadow
Pipit, or Tit Lark, from which they are however easily dis-
tinguished by their greater size and more rounded form.
Fig. 3, and the richly coloured variety Fig. 4, are of about
equal. occurrence. With the exception of Fig. 1, I possess
all the other varieties in abundance, taken whilst at school ;
and had there been another species of bird to which they
could belong, their great difference would have rendered their
identity doubtful. I have, however, for some years taken
particular pains to establish all of these varieties beyond a
doubt, having caught the bird upon them, and also received
specimens of each from my friend Mr. Doubleday, taken in
the same way.

In woody countries the Tree Pipit is very abundant, and
in none more so than in Devonshire, Somersetshire, and some
parts of Cumberland ; differing in this its choice from the
very closely assimilated species, the Tit Lark, which, though
itmay be met with in the more cultivated districts, is far
more abundant on the open heaths, where it is followed by
the Cuckoo. ‘The nest of the Tree Pipit is composed chiefly
of dry grass, mixed with moss, lined with finer grasses, and

sometimes a few hairs. It is placed upon the ground, and is
rarely far distant from trees, being frequently found in the ~
heart of woods and plantations, by the side of a drive or
foot-path. Mr. Neville Wood, in his book of British Song-
Birds, mentions an instance (the only one of which I have
heard) of its having been found in a low bush.

The favourite resort of the Tree Pipit is a grassy bank on
the margin of a wood, especially if ornamented by a few
trees, on the branches of which it delights to perch.

Drawn on Stone by WC Hewttsow.

VIII.
MUSCICAPA LUCTUOSA. § (vEmMm.)

Prep FiycarcHer.

Tus species, though rarely met with in other parts of
England, arrives annually in Cumberland and Westmorland,
where it breeds in very considerable numbers. It is here,
however, quite local; and though I have seen it in plenty
enlivening the beautiful banks of the rivers Eamont and Low-
ther, and upon the Eden, at Edenhall, yet, in a trip through
the Lakes, I never met with it, except on the woody borders
of Ullswater.

To a friend of mine, Mr. John Gibson, who resides at
Tyrril, near Penrith, who has for some years observed the
habits of this bird, I am indebted for the following informa-
tion, accompanied with the nests and eggs :—

The Pied Flycatcher builds its nest about the end of May
and beginning of June, in the holes of trees, walls, and bridges,
and appears particularly partial to the neighbourhood of a
stream of water. The hole chosen is generally too small to
admit the hand, and the nest rarely at the depth of more than
four or five inches; it is slight, and composed of small quan-
tities of dried grass and straws, lined with very fine grass and
hairs, with occasionally a few dead leaves. It usually lays from
four to six eggs; but Mr. Heysham, who meets with it near
Carlisle, and has published some interesting papers relative to
its nidification, &c., informs me that the Pied Flycatcher fre-
quently lays seven or eight eggs, several instances of each hav-
ing come under his observation during the last spring (1831) ;
that the eggs also differ considerably in size and conforma-
tion, those contained in one nest that he took being unusually
small, nearly oval, and almost white ; he has found the nest
two successive years in the stump of a felled tree.

Bewick mentions an instance of a nest and young of this
bird having been found in Axwell Park, near Newcastle-on-
Tyne. Bolton also met with them in the West Riding of
Yorkshire, and other straggling notices are given of its appear-
ance; but Cumberland and Westmorland are its favourite
resort. Fig. 1.

MUSCICAPA GRISOLA. (x1yv.)

SrorreD FiycatcHEer, Bream-Brrp, &c.

—

Buixips about the middle of June, in very various situa-
tions—in walls and bridges, where a stone or brick has been
pulled out, in stumps of trees in holes that are pretty open,
on the branches and amongst the roots of trees overhanging
a river, upon the boughs of wall-fruit trees, and in many other
such places.

Its nest is formed of small twigs, roots, and moss, inter-
woven with spider’s webs, and is lined with hair and feathers.

It lays four or five eggs, resembling Plate VIII., Figures 2
and 3.

Se ie

Hat

yan
aM,

Klatt re

LXITX .

Drawn on Stme by W.C .Hewitson. Day kKHaghe li th*S Lo the King

LXIX.

CORVUS CORAX. (1yNvy.)

RAVEN.

Tue Raven, which, a few years ago, used to breed in old
ruins, and even in some of our church steeples, is now only
to be met with far removed from man’s dwelling place, lead-
ing a solitary and persecuted life; it is, in consequence, one
of the shyest and most wary birds in this country. In Nor-
way, on the contrary (as I have before noticed with regard
to the Magpie), where persecution is unknown, they so
abound, that we at one time counted as many as eighteen to-
gether ; there they are pert and confident, and would frequently
remain quietly seated till we had passed them at the distance
of a few yards.

The Raven breeds in the most wild and inaccessible dis-
tricts which this country affords, building its nest upon ledges
of steep and lofty cliffs; it is large, and composed of sticks
matted together with mud, and lined with a quantity of roots,
wool, and the fur of animals: it is one of the earliest breed-
ers amongst our feathered tribes, and frequently rears its
young ones under some of our most inclement skies ; its eggs
are four or five in number. For a fine series of specimens
from which those figured in the plate are selected, I am in-
debted to Charles-Whaley Spurgeon, Esq., of Lynn, Norfolk.
Fig. 1,is the most characteristic of the species, although va-
rieties resembling Fig. 2 are by no means unfrequent.

onalvi edt ta ude peeniet had ay ne onan sal

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ae ae th Genet mt aa @ ait patie ¥

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i Hache Lith? ’tothe King,

XCI.

CORVUS CORONE. (LINN.)

CARRION Crow, CorBy Crow, BLACK-NEB, &c.

THE Corby Crow has of late been a subject of discussion
with Ornithologists; Mr. Rennie maintaining that it is in the
habit of covering its eggs with the lining of its nest during its
absence, which Mr. Waterton denies. I would be unwilling
to contradict the statement of any one, unless with positive
proof to the contrary, allowing that there may be chance de-
viations from a general habit, and one of such deviations I
take the instance mentioned by Mr. Rennie, to be. I know
not whether he is in the habit of climbing, and, having looked
into a crow’s nest, describes what he has himself seen.

Mr. Waterton is truly an out-of-door naturalist, and few
Ornithologists enjoy such an opportunity of observing the
habits of birds; living, as he does upon his own property, on
which all the persecuted feathered race find a refuge and a
home, there remain alike unmolested, and under his pro-
tection, the Hawk, the Owl, and the Crow; he is no copyist,
and gives his facts from his own personal observation. It
has long been a propensity with me, (and one from which I have
derived much pleasure,) to look into every bird’s nest that comes
within my reach; and, to gratify this propensity, I have rarely
passed the nest of a Magpie, or Crow, without becoming ac-
quainted with their contents. I have thus climbed to some
dozens of Crows’ nests, but never yet met with one, the eggs
of which were covered.

The Crow builds its nest in trees, sometimes in a thick fir ;
it is built of sticks, strongly cemented together with clay ; it is
then lined with roots, and afterwards with a large quantity of
wool, pieces of fur, and any other soft material, often two or
three inches thick. The eggs are four or five in number, and
though very much resembling those of the Rook, are mostly

larger: this is not always, however, the case; they vary much,
as the plate will shew. Fig. 1 is not unusual; Fig. 2, with
other dark vaieties, of various shades of colour, is the most
common ; Fig. 3 aremarkable one; I took two of this singular
variety from a nest, together with one which was as deeply
coloured as Fig. 2. In 1832, a pair of these birds took a sin-
gular fancy into their heads; deserting the habits of their
forefathers, and the society of their species, they repaired to
one of the Fern Islands to breed, apparently thus subjecting
themselves to very great inconvenience. Contrary to their
usual habits, they built their nest upon the ground (there
being no trees upon the islands); this was of most curious
construction, and instead of sticks, of which it is always
formed, and which the neighbourhood would not supply, the
outside of the nest was formed of small pieces of turf, neatly
laid upon each other, and formed into a compact wall; this
was lined with the usual quantity of wool, which was all
brought from the main-land, at the distance of four or five
miles,

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S , oa
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XCVIT

y KILaghe

DTAawy oF

XCVII.

CORVUS CORNIX.

HoopEp Crow, Norway Crow.

THE Hooded Crow leaves the shores of England during
the spring of the year (no breeding place, that I am aware of,
existing on the English coast) and retires further north for
the purposes of incubation. It is then tolerably abundant in
Scotland, and is dispersed sparingly through the Orkney and
Shetland Islands. It seems to accommodate itself with per-
fect indifference with regard to the situation of its nest. In
Scotland it is found, according to Selby, in trees, rocks, and
precipices on the sea shore. In Shetland, where trees do not
exist, and it would be almost as difficult to find a stick, it
builds its nest upon the cliffs or single rocks, which rise above
the ocean, and resorts to the same substitute as the eagles,
forming it of the long and very flexible branches of the larger
sea weeds, lining it with quantities of dry grass, wool, hair,
and any other soft material.

In Norway, they inhabit here and there the boundless
forests, but never at a distance from the sea; arising probably
from their partiality to shell fish. On one of the islands, at
sea, we found a solitary pair of Hooded Crows, which had
established their nest in the rock, in the very camp of their
enemies, the Sea Gulls, which took every possible opportunity
of annoying them, and upon our driving one of them from the
nest, persecuted it without mercy. One of the eggs was
hatched, another just chipped. We wished much to obtain
the shell without causing the death of the young one, and in
order to accomplish this, my friend, Mr. John Hancock, per-
formed the accouchment most admirably with a lancet, and
left the young Crow sprawling uninjured at the bottom of
the nest.

The eggs are four or five in number, and do not differ from
those of the Corby Crow, or Rook, unless in size, the average
being, I think, somewhat less than those of the former, and
larger than those of the latter. In colouring too, they approach
more closely to those of the Rook.

These latter observations are not established upon the
examination of as many eggs as I would have wished, and are
therefore given with diffidence.

WAS og tg |

JEAN

on Stame by WC Hewitsm

LXXL.

LXXI.
CORVUS FRUGILEGUS. (L1Ny.)

Reox.

Tere are few scenes in nature which present a more
lively and unceasing interest than a rookery. With the ear-
liest dawn of spring the Rook returns to those family trees
which have probably been in the possession of its forefathers
for ceaturies. Immediately on its arrival all is turmoil and
confusion, and many a fight takes place ere a mutual under-
standing is established, and each remains in undisputed pos-
session of its own particular bough; many attacks are made
by the stronger on the nests of the weaker party, whose foun-
dation is often pulled in pieces to furnish materials for the con-
struction of the nests of the victors.

The Rooks commonly begin to build in March, though
they may be seen on a bright day carrying an occasional stick
for a month before; it is at this early season of the year,
when most of the feathered tribes are yet under the influence
of winter, that the joyous caw of the Rook is heard with so
much pleasure, and its oft repeated visits to each tree in its
neighbourhood in search of those twigs most adapted to its
wants, add such an interest to their yet leafless branches ;
most of trees furnish contributions in their turn, but the elm
seems the favourite ; the extremities of its branches are easily
broken off, and are fine and pliable. I have often watched
this industrious bird for hours, and have many times seen it,
when carrying too large a stick, fairly borne away by the
wind, and after a fruitless struggle be obliged to let it fall—
Rooks seems greatly to prefer those trees which are lofty, and
near some dwelling ; however, at times, they deviate rather
whimsically from theirusual habits. There are several instances
of their building in trees of a lower growth, as in the case of

was haminai freavrnis !
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XLIV.

frerted 4 WE &H. Mitchel.

XLIV.
CORVUS MONEDULA. (t1yv.)

JACKDAW.

Tue Jackdaw builds its nest in many opposite situations ;
most commonly in holes in old ruins, in lofty church steeples,
being very numerous in our cathedrals; also in cliffs and
precipices, and sometimes in the holes of decayed trees. In
addition to these localities, a most curious circumstance is
mentioned by White in his History of Selborne, of a race of
these birds that took it into their heads to breed in the holes
of a Rabbit warren. The nest is composed of sticks, lined
with wool, dry grass, and such like materials ; the eggs are
from four to six in number; those in the plate being the
most opposite varieties which I have seen in a series of seve-
ral dozens. The Jackdaw begins to breed in April.

fn js Nee te salad ail} “i sauna: he Bs
: vel ooaphassiirods auoitra féore poitilavl’. seit |
fo 790% Bho Hy colt, wv toler all oF oH A By
Oo) healed add. at hosid ob elnad'siods. ote tt dod: raed, t tig
AriT. basil’ Pott To bosomemés at, feo ad T coats
ene dpoo oid; tabraiooy sail diva bore etary: |
4. > (edt gaied’ etal add nk sont’: ngdiya ab xi
-va0 Io dokega a ab aaiye aeed TL toidy, Sabatino |
| Highs ft fers! ot ‘ei sieht ee :

Meith

LXV.

uwn on Stame by W.CHewitson. DaykHaghelath™

LXV.

PICA CAUDATA. (nray.)

Maaprre, PIANE?.

Tunis elegant and well known bird is another of those which
are in this country doomed to the most exterminating de-
struction, because they exercise those instincts which are im-
planted in them by the God of Nature. It has become (in
consequence of its persecuted life, and contrary to its dispo-
sition) one of the shyest birds we meet with ; a little of its
nature will, however, even here, prevail in its selection of
those trees for its nest, which are near some human dwelling.
In Norway, a country where it meets with nothing but kind-
ness, it is upon the most familiar terms with the natives. In
the town of Drontheim, it builds its nest under the eaves of
their warehouses, and on the churches, upon the roofs of
which, and the surrounding tombstones, a dozen of them may
be seen at one time.

In the country, and even upon the islands adjacent to the
coast, we scarcely saw a single house without two or more of
these lively birds, under the very eaves of which they com-
monly build their nests, or in some stunted tree close by,
where the nests are piled upon each other for many feet in
depth, the accumulation of the undisturbed and quiet posses-
sion of many years. We were always much pleased with the
kind feeling evinced by the inhabitants towards the feathered
race ; in some of their houses holes are cut for the admission
of the Starling ; against others pieces of wood are nailed to
support the nest of the House Martin. At Christmas, too,
sheaves of corn are placed on the roofs of their houses, that
their feathered friends may join in the general festivity of the
season. It is, in consequence of this, that the Magpie walks
into the houses with pert confidence. In no instance did we

see one in the forests far from man’s dwelling place ; on the
contrary, its appearance was always a sure and welcome sign
of our vicinity to some house.

The Magpie builds its nest, for the most part, in trees,
sometimes in thorn bushes and hedges, at a few feet only from
the ground. Some have supposed, I think without any suffi-
cient reason, that those choosing the latter situation were a
distinct species; the formation of the nest, and the colour of
the eggs, are alike in both. In firmness of texture, and strength
of construction, no piece of arehiteeture, of like materials,
can at all vie with the nest of the Magpie; its outside is of
thorns, arched over, and so compactly put together, that it is
by no means an easy matter to force an entrance for the hand,
except at the proper door way ; it is so thickly cemented at
the bottom, and plastered inside with clay, that when placed
at the top of a high tree, shot will scarcely penetrate it ; the
lining is composed of fine roots; the eggs are six or seven,
rarely eight, in number, and differ in the diffusion of colour,
with many intermediate between Figs. 1 and 2 of the Plate ;
some have the spots large and distinct.

. vem

yt ime hye

LAT ‘aa
ms pa

| Bessie Pes Wo
Rae! "Se inal bal ig
Ae ary. 9 Mb Mg)
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Day k Haghe Lith** to the King

C Hewrts

On Stone by Vy

CXII.
FREGILUS GRACULUS. (Cvuv.)

CoRNISH CHOUGH. RED-LEGGED CRow.

To the persevering kindness of the Rev. W. D. Fox, I am
indebted for the egg from which the accompanying drawing
is made, together with the nest in which it was taken, with
four others. The Red-legged Crow is tolerably frequent
around the British islands. It abounds on the Isle of Man;
is said to breed on some of the Western Isles of Scotland; is
met with sparingly near Berwick-on-Tweed, and on the coasts
of Devonshire and Cornwall. Mr. Fox has also observed
them on all the steep rocks and promontories of the Isle of
Wight, and on the nobie cliffs of the Isle of Purbeck, in
Dorsetshire. It is likewise found on most of the rocky shores
of North and South Wales.

It is, notwithstanding its pretty general distribution, a matter
of great difficulty to procure its eggs; and it was not till after
some years of fruitless endeavour, that Mr. Fox succeeded in
obtaining them. This, he tells me, is owing to the “ excessive
caution the birds employ in selecting their places of nidifica-
tion. These are always on the face of the steep cliff, and in
general in clefts, far in; the passage to which turns at right
angles frequently, so that you cannot reach the nest, or even
see it.” He adds, “I obtained a young one, which I much
regretted losing, as he promised to be very clever, and attached
to me. He followed me very well, and seemed to have all the
cunning of the Magpie.” Montague mentions an instance of
a pair of Choughs, which bred for many years in the ruins of
Crow Castle, in the vale of Llangollen. And Temminck says,
that they breed on trees, though rarely.

The nest is composed outwardly of sticks, succeeded by a
quantity of roots and dry grass, lined with very fine roots,
grass, and wool. If I may judge from the specimens of the
eggs which I have seen, they differ but slightly from Fig. 1,
of the plate.

GARRULUS GLANDARIUS.

JAY.

THE harsh cry of the Jay, “ discordant heard alone,” if not
disagreeable, is, to myself at least, unaccompanied with any
of those delightful sensations which the wild wood note of
every other bird never ceases to impart. I speak in ignorance
of the more agreeable notes mentioned by Montague, never
having heard any other than the loud, peevish, quarrelsome
sort of cry which it mostly utters. The Jay is at all times a
very shy bird, and difficult to approach. It hides during the
breeding season in the thickest and least frequented parts of
our woods; and builds its nest upon the bough of a low tree.
It is formed of sticks, lined with fine roots; and is in some
instances very compactly put together.

The eggs are from four to six in number, and differ con-
siderably; but as, from their size, they cannot easily be
mistaken for those of any other bird, I have not thought it
necessary to figure any varieties. ‘They are frequently much
darker, as well as considerably lighter than the plate; are
sometimes of a greener colouring; and not unfrequently en-
circled towards the larger end with a distinct ring of darker
spots: in some instances, this ring is near the smaller end.

eee aren ie
° “yy 4 ; a : 4

4 as hae m

. Lrason om Stomu by WC Bowitson :

a ‘
st
aa"
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repo Th
; ee SO ee aM * 5%

IX.
STURNUS VULGARIS. (11yy.)

STARLING oR STARE, CHEP-STARLING, Xe.

Tue Starling is too well known to need much description.
It is an early breeder, and repairs to its accustomed haunts
at the end of March or beginning of April, to commence ni-
dification. It builds its nest of dried grass, in the holes of
trees, church-steeples, ruins, old walls, and in cliffs by the
sea-coast, and not unfrequently in dove-cotes, and is, in con-
sequence, accused of sucking the Pigeon’s eggs. Whether
this is the case, I am not able to say, but Montague very
much doubts the fact. The female lays four or five eggs, dif-
fering sometimes a little in size.

hina cs bao Bo
! \ 4 Me ?
; Coty Rin Sraomarteryn y ara yh ae. oy
‘eiuad acest qe, ae ak ede fins ar
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7 gAY ed AUD ook, Bon linge, ho veeatir S Hi
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Bet) ia" oinerl dogk OF sepia we oaegiT ae gaihite to 5 |
A AS dtiyal aM deb ogne of, cifidin, tone ented Er Sak
; Cee elt aa”, ari a weet ofeaatink wht perk
RP oy bs canes aOet ad aftlib \
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CXXXYV .

Drawn on.Stone hy W.C. Hewitson. Day kHaghe Tith** tothe King.

CXXXIV.
MOTACILLA NEGLECTA. (GouLp.)

GreY HEADED YELLOW WAGTAIL.

Since the marks of difference which distinguish this
species from the Common Yellow Wagtail, with which we
are so familiar, were first pointed out by Mr. Gould, it has
been added to the list of our British Birds.

The first specimen which was noticed in this country, was
killed by my friend Mr. Doubleday; others have since
occurred in various parts, two of which are recorded in the
Magazine of Zoology and Botany, one killed near Newcastle-
upon-Tyne, the other in Suffolk, by Mr. Hoy, to whose
kindness I am indebted for a nest and a series of the eggs,
collected by him whilst on the Continent, (from which the
most prominent varieties are selected for the Plate,) and also
for the information following.

“The M. Neglecta arrives about the middle of April, and is
then seen following the plough in search of insects. It
differs from the Yellow Wagtail in its breeding places ;
whilst our species most commonly makes its nest in dry
situations in corn fields, the Continental species prefers
low, wet lands, placing its nest upon the ground in marshes,
by the side of ditches in meadows, on the borders of
inland pools and meres, and often on the boggy parts of
heaths.”

To the correctness of these observations I can bear
witness. Whenever we observed them whilst in Norway,
though not then aware that the species which we were noticing,
was distinct from that which we had been accustomed to see

at home, they were upon marshes so wet and bogey, that it was
with difficulty we could explore them. Of these, my friend
Mr. John Hancock shot one, for future examination, which
proves to be the M. Neglecta. We did not, however, notice
any difference in its habits, as mentioned by Mr. N. C.
Strickland.

The nest is formed of coarse grass, and those mosses
which grow in wet situations, strengthened by pieces of
strong heath, and lined with fine grass and roots, moss and
hair. The eggs, which are four or five in number, are rarely
so much coloured as the darkest figure of the Plate.

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XLII.

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COCCOTHRAUSTES VULGARIS. (srisson.)

GROSBEAK.

Tus bird has before been said to breed in this country,
but the instances are very rare, if not altogether doubtful.
Mr. Doubleday, of Epping, has for some years suspected
that it must breed in the neighbouring forest, having occa-
sionally seen the bird, and likewisé some eggs of a species
unknown to him, and has, by his assiduity during the summer
of the present year, established this very interesting fact by
finding several of their nests and eggs: to his kindness and
liberality (which will in various instances contribute to the
value of this work,) I am indebted for the nest and eggs of
this rare bird, together with the following information. It
breeds in May and June; in some instances in bushy trees
at the height of five or six feet, and in others near the top
of firs, at an elevation of twenty or thirty feet; the nest
is remarkably shallow and carelessly put together, being
scarcely deeper than that of the Ring Dove; in materials it
resembles that of the Bullfinch, but is by no means to be
compared to it in neatness and compactness of construction ;
it is chiefly formed of sticks, interspersed with pieces of white
lichens from the bark of trees, and is loosely lined with roots :
the eggs are from four to six in number, varying as shown in
Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed Plate.

PYRRHULA VULGARIS. (srisson.)

Tue Buiurincnu.

Tue Bullfinch is seldom seen during the summer months,
except in the thickest woods and copses, commonly choosing ~
a black-thorn bush for the reception of its nest; I have
rarely seen it in any other situation, though it is also built
upon the flat branches of yew and fir trees. It is composed
of moss and roots, lined with wool and hair, much resembling
that of the Green Linnet, but differing from it in being
formed upon a platform of sticks, in which it resembles the
Grosbeak ; it lays four or five eggs, much like those of the
Linnet, but having a blue ground colour. The Bullfinch
breeds in May and June.

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XVI. a
FRINGILLA CHLORIS. (remm.)

GreEN Linnet, Green-F incu.

Few birds breed more abundantly in this country than the
Green Linnet. Its nest is loosely put together on the out-
side, which is composed of small twigs, roots, moss, and wool,
becoming finer and more firm as the structure advances, and
is thickly lined with wool, very fine roots and grass, hair, and
a few feathers. It may be found in almost every tall hedge,
in thorn bushes, in evergreens, in hollies, in ivy against trees
and walls, and, in one instance, I have met with it upon a
pollard apple tree. It is most commonly at an elevation of
five or six feet or more, very rarely lower. The eggs are
four or five, differing but slightly, as in Figures 1 and 2 of
the annexed plate.

Birds in a state of nature rarely lay those half-grown mis-
shappen eggs which our common fowls frequently do, but
there are odd ones occasionally found. I have one from the
nest of the Green Linnet, not more than half the usual size,
and quite white.

FRINGILLA CELEBS. (x1v.)

CHAFFINCH, SKELLY, SHELL-APPLE, ScoBBy, Pick-A-TREE, &c.

Lixe the above, this is a common and well-known bird,
the nest of which must have been admired by every one de-
riving any pleasure from the observation of the beautiful and
wonderful contrivances of birds in the formation of their nests.

Few birds can compete with the Chaffinch in the neatness,
symmetry, and elegant arrangement of the materials of its
nest. They are principally moss, so worked and matted toge-
ther with wool, that it is no easy matter to pull it into pieces
as small as those of which it was first formed. In the inside
is a very thick lining of dry grass, wool, feathers, thistle-down
and hair, and, in fact, any soft material that can be met with,

admirably smooth and even. Its beauties do not end here;
the outside is equally worthy of admiration. It is covered
with the grey and yellow lichens, picked from the bark of
trees, forming a pretty contrast with the green moss, and
apparently ornamented according to the taste of the little
architect, and bound round the outside with the stalks of
umbelliferous plants or grasses. To these lichens the Chaf-
finch seems to be particularly partial, and we can attribute
this partiality to nothing but an unerring instinct guiding it
in the choice of that which shall best conceal its abode from
the sight of its enemies, by its resemblance to the tree upon
which its nest is built, which tree is frequently clothed with
the same lichens. I have never found its nest without a co-
vering of this sort, or something to substitute it.

I was particularly struck with one, now in my possession,
which was built upon a branch of a large willow, in a situa-
tion near which no lichens grew, which has white paper torn
into small pieces by the bird, and with great ingenuity fixed
to the outside in lieu of them. Mr. Rennie mentions several
like instances; he says—‘‘ I have found the nest webs of
spiders, bundled up into little tufts, and stuck in similarly to
lichens; and in the cotton factories at Catrine, in Ayrshire,
I have seen many Chaffinch’s nests stuck over in the same
manner with small tufts of cotton wool.”

The Chaffinch builds in very many different situations,
preferring old moss-grown apple trees, white thorn bushes,
and crab trees. ‘There are, however, few trees upon the
branches of which its nest is not sometimes found; occasion-
ally upon the flat bough of a spruce fir, in hollies, and often
in hedges, contrary to the opinion of Mr. Jennings, who
says, they “rarely or never” are found in the latter situation.
I once found one on the top of a stake fence. ‘The nest is
small in comparison with that of most other little birds, be-
ing usually only one inch and three-fourths in diameter inside.
It contains four or five eggs, mostly like Fig. 3 of the plate,
sometimes varying as Fig. 4. I have the eggs from one nest
so much like those of the Bullfinch, that I should have con-
sidered them such, had I not seen the old bird upon them.

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Drarmon Stone hy WC Hewitson.
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CXXXVII.
CARDUELIS ELEGANS. (STEPHENS.)

GOLDFINCH.

I HAVE no where seen the Goldfinch so abundant as it is
in the Midland Counties of Derby, Nottingham, and Leices-
ter, where it is universally known by the absurd name of
Proud Tailor.

Most of the gardens and orchards which surround the
various villages and farm houses, are their resort during the
summer months.

The favourite position for their nest, in such situations, is
similar to that chosen by the Chaffinch, the bough of an
apple, or of a pear tree; when in the neighbouring inclo-
sures, that of alow elm. It is also frequently built in ever-
greens. The eggs from which the accompanying drawing is
made, were selected from a nest containing the unusual
number of six, which was built at the top of a lofty laurel,
in the garden of my friend Mr. F. Simpson, who had for
weeks (during the long and protracted spring,) previous to the
discovery of the nest, noticed the constant resort of the birds
to that particular tree, upon which they seem to have fixed
their choice, on their first arrival in the neighbourhood.

The nest was of beautiful construction, and reminded me
much (surrounded as it was by the leaves of the laurel,) of
those diminutive homes of the Humming Bird, which are fre-
quently brought to this country, circled by evergreen leaves.

The nest is very small and is sometimes a good deal like
that of the Chaffinch in neatness of outline, although
without its compactness of form; it contains also a much

greater proportion of moss in its formation, ‘The outer part
is of moss and roots, closely intermixed and twisted together
with wool, and ornamented outside with lichens, it is thickly
lined with the soft seed of Willows and thistles mixed
with the down of feathers, and a few hairs.

The eggs, which are mostly four or five, vary very little,
and are much like those of the different species of Linnet.

Drawn oo. Stone hy W.C Hewits on Day kKHagheTith™* to the Kg.

XCVI.

LINARIA CANNABINA. (SWAILNS.)

GREY LINNET, BROWN LINNET.

Ir has long been a matter of doubt, whether or not there are
two species of Grey Linnets. The difference I have observed
in the size of the nest and eggs, has often led me to think that
there are. Those nests which I have found in hedges, and in
situations similar to those chosen by the Green Grosbeak, are
generally larger, as well as the eggs in them, than those which
I have taken in whins. The Grey Linnet builds its nest in
hedges and furze ; it is composed of small sticks and stalks of
plants, mixed with moss, roots, and wool, and is lined with
hair and feathers, with sometimes a mixture of thistle or willow
down. The eggs are four or five, not unfrequently six in num-
ber. Plate XCVI. Figs. 1 and 2.

LINARIA MONTANA. (Ray.)
MOUNTAIN LINNET OR TWITE.

THE Mountain Linnet frequents, during the breeding sea-
son, the mountainous heathy districts of England and Scot-
land; I have also met with it in the Shetland islands. Its
nest, which is composed of heath and dry grass, lined with
wool, fine roots, hair, and feathers, is placed either in some
whin bush, or amongst the tall heather, and contains from
four to six eggs, differing only from those of the Grey Linnet
in being somewhat smaller. Fig. 3.

LINARIA MINOR. (Ray.)

LESSER REDPOLE.

In the position of its nest, the Lesser Redpole differs con-
siderably from either of the preceding species ; it is placed in
situations much less sheltered, being usually found, like the
nest of the Chaflfinch, upon the bough of a low tree, or single
thorn, bordering the margins of mountain woods, sometimes in
a tall hedge, upon the branches of the crab-tree. It is of
elegant construction, being formed of stalks of plants, roots,
mosses, and dry grass, with hair towards the inside, and beau-
tifully lined with the white catkins of the willow, equalling the
finest cotton-wool. I have found the nest, however, without
any of the last mentioned material; hair, fine grasses, and
feathers being substituted in its stead. The eggs are four or
five in number: the time of incubation, June. Fig. 4.

ALI.

Drom on Stone by WoC Heweesow. Fronted. by CG Hulimonded,

XLI.

PASSER DOMESTICUS. (srisson.)

# House Sparrow.

Or all our birds none is better known than the saucy,
meddlesome Sparrow. It is more generally spread through-
out the British islands than any other bird, and is to be
met with wherever man has fixed his dwelling place ;*
it is of a less amiable disposition than any of our feathered
tribe, obtruding itself into the abodes of other birds during
their absence, and, with the greatest impudence, keeping
possession of them, and driving away the rightful owner.
I have many a time observed them basking in idleness day
after day upon the roof of a house, watching the progress
of the House Martin in the construction of its nest, and no
sooner has this little friend of man (with the greatest anxiety
and industry) completed that home in which its daily toil was
to have been repaid by the pleasures of bringing up its family,
than they pounce down and forcibly possess themselves of it.
I have noticed several pairs of Martins constantly toiling for
a whole summer, building nest after nest to no purpose ; and
though I have taken part with these helpless birds, and
ejected the old sparrow and its eggs, yet they have failed to
establish themselves. The Sparrow adapts the form of its
nest with singular readiness to the very opposite situations
in which it breeds: it is commonly placed in the spouts of
houses, in holes of old walls and buildings, and is then very

loosely put together; they also frequently take up their
‘abode in and iam the nests of Rooks and Magpies,
- :

. * My friend Mr. Atkinson tells me, as an exception to this, that there are
no Sparrows in the Hebrides.

and what is most curious, in a bird at other times too idle to
make any nest at all, it very frequently constructs one in
firs and other thickly-foliaged trees of a very large size,
arched over at the top, and leaving only a small hole for
entrance; it is composed of a quantity of straw and hay,
and is thickly lined with feathers; it lays four or five,
sometimes six eggs, very much varying in colour: those in
the Plate, Figures 1 and 2, are selected as the most frequent;
they are sometimes quite white, at others very slightly spotted:
I have seen one much resembling the eggs of the Skylark in
colour.

PASSER MONTANUS. (arisson.)

TREE SPARROW.

Tue Tree Sparrow is by no means so rare a bird as it
has been generally considered by Ornithologists. It breeds
abundantly in Yorkshire, Northumberland, and Derbyshire,
and no doubt throughout the country. To the kindness of
the Rev. W. D. Fox, of Osmaston Hall, near Derby, I am
indebted for the eggs here figured, together with varieties
of the eggs of this and of several of our small birds: he has,
during the last summer, found many nests of the ‘Tree Spar-
row in which the eggs were generally freckled throughout,
resembling Figure 3 of the Plate, but of various shades of
brown, with the beautiful variety at Figure 4 occasionally
amongst them. ‘They build in holes of high trees and of
low pollard willows; their nest is much like that of our
common Sparrow, being formed of dry grass lined with
feathers, and contains four or five eggs; the time of breed-
ing is May and June.

Dravire ow Stone oy WC Lewrvisor

LI.

EMBERIZA MILIARIA. (11NN.)

Common Buntinc, Corn Buntine, Buntine Lark.

Tue Common Bunting, perhaps better known by the name
of Bunting Lark, builds its loosely constructed nest on or near
the ground, sometimes in briers, but more commonly in a
clump of grass and occasionally at the root of a low shrub ; the
outside is composed of straw or small sticks, the remainder
of dry grass, becoming finer towards the lining, which is
sometimes completed by a few fine roots or hairs. The eggs
are four or five in number, and generally resembling fig. 2 of
the accompanying plate. Fig. | is a variety.

EMBERIZA CITRINELLA. (11NN.)

Yettow Buntinc, YELLow Hamner, YELLow Yow Ley,
or Gop SPINK.

THE situation and materials of the nest of the Yellow
Hammer are similar to the preceding; it is also frequently
found on a hedge-dyke, and has sometimes a particle of moss
in its composition. The eggs are from three to five in
number, and vary considerably in shape. Fig. 4 represents
the usual form and marking; fig. 3 a variety. I have one
varying the reverse way, being much longer than fig. 4.

The female sits very closely, and is not easily driven from
her eggs.

EMBERIZA SCHANICULUS. (u1Nn.)

Reep Sparrow, BLACKHEADED BunTiNnG, BLAck Cap.
>) ]

THERE are very different opinions with regard to the nidi-
fication of this bird. Some authors in describing the
situation of its nest have, no doubt, confounded it with
the Sedge Warbler, (Sylvia Phragmites,) as noticed by
Mr. Selby and the Rev. L. Jenyns. It generally builds its
nest in a clump of grass or low bush, preferring a marshy
situation. That it does, sometimes, choose a more elevated
site, placing it between reeds, above the water, I am quite
certain: the instances may be rare, as noticed by Mr. Bolton
in his Harmonia Ruralis; I have, however, found one in
that situation, more than two feet above the water, supported
by the common reed. The nest is composed of the stalks
of various plants, some moss, and ‘is lined with hairs. The
eggs are four or five, varying only in the depth of colour,
fig. 5 and 6. They very much resemble the eggs of the
Chaffinch in marking, but are darker.

CXXYVI.

Ou Stune by WC Hewitson. Day &Haghe Lith*® to the King.

CXXVI.
EMBERIZA HORTULANA.

ORTOLAN BUNTING.

In Italy, Germany, and various parts of the Continent, the
Ortolan Bunting is an abundant species. I am fortunate in
being able to give some account of it from an eye-witness
of its habits. The liberality of Mr. Hoy has also furnished
me with the nests and several beautiful varieties of the eggs,
from which the figures are drawn; each the representative
of a different nest. The Ortolan Bunting begins to build
early in May; it places its nest almost invariably in the
corn, preferring rye to other kinds; indeed it is partial to
light sandy soils, where rye is much cultivated. The
nest is placed in some little hollow in the ground, in the
manner of that of the Skylark; it is formed of dry grass
and roots, thickly lined towards the interior with very fine
roots ; in some the inside is finished with a few hairs. The
eggs are four or five, sometimes, though rarely, six in number.
As will be seen by the plate, they resemble a good deal
those of the Yellow and Black-headed Buntings. Mr. Hoy
adds, “ I have never found them breeding except amongst
corn. The male is almost incessant in his monotonous song
during the pairing season: it much resembles others of the
tribe, having some resemblance to that of the Cirl as well as
the Reed Bunting.”

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XI.
EMBERIZA CIRLUS. (t1yv.)

Cirut Buntinea.

Tue Cirl Bunting was first discovered in this country by
Colonel Montague ; and as I have never seen its nest, I shall
copy his own words. He says—‘‘ We first discovered this
species near Kingsbridge, in 1800; they are indigenous to
Devonshire, but seem to be confined to the southern parts of
that county, contiguous to the coast, having found them ex-
tending as far as Teignmouth, at both of which places we
found their nests, but have never observed them far inland.
It generally builds in furze, or some low bush ; the nest is
composed of dry stalks, roots, and a little moss, lined with
long hair, and fibrous roots ; the eggs are 4 or 5 in number.”

EMBERIZA NIVALIS. (11nv.)

Snow Buntine, Tawny Buntine, Snow Frakes, &e.

Tue Snow Bunting has never been known to breed in this
country, but only visits us during the winter, and repairs to
more northerly regions to propagate its species. Pennant says
that they breed in Greenland ; they were also met with in
several of the places visited by Captain Parry in his northern
voyages. Captain Lyon found them on Melville Island, and
describes their nests as being “‘ placed in the crevices of rocks,
or amongst loose stones, and constructed of dried grass, neatly
lined with white deer’s hair.” Lieutenant Ross likewise de-
scribes one which was found at the Whale Fish Islands early
in July, formed of dried grass, and lined with feathers, which
were covered with a fine white down. They lay six or seven

eggs.

Though the same species generally chooses nearly the same
situation for its nest, no certain dependence can be placed
upon the fact; and of this a curious instance has occurred to
me, since describing, in a former number, the nest, &c. of
the Yellow Hammer, a bird which generally breeds near the
ground, but, contrary to its usual habit, I found a nest and
eggs in a fir tree, at an elevation of about six feet—strongly
exemplifying a remark made to me by Mr. Yarrell, that as
the Buntings become more nearly allied to the Larks by the
length of their hind claws, so they likewise resemble them in
their habit of building on the ground. Of this, the Common
Bunting (Emberiza miliaria) and Snow Bunting, both of which
have the claw produced, are instances ; the former very rarely,
the latter I believe never, raising its nest above the ground.

The kindness of Mr. Yarrell has enabled me to figure the
two rare eggs in the accompanying plate, together with many
others which will occur throughout: the work, some of which
could only be obtained from his rich cabinet, the contents of
which he has with the greatest liberality offered for my use.

CXXXTX

Day & Haghe Loth®Sto the King

CXXXIX.
ALAUDA ARVENSIS. (Liny.)

Sky Lark.

Tue eggs of the Sky Lark, though not quite so remark-
able as those of the Tree Pipit for extreme variableness in
their colouring, are subject to great variety. I am not
satisfied that those in the Plate (although chosen from a
large series of specimens) will illustrate to the eyes of others
those which they have been used to look upon as the most
characteristic of the species. I have found it more difficult
than in any other drawing, to select those which I consider
the most prevalent. Fig. 1 is frequent as is Fig. 2 with
many shades of the same greenish colouring. There are
varieties much lighter, and less closely freckled than either,
but I have never before met with one which so closely
resembles the eggs of the Woodlark, as Fig. 3; another
from the same nest, is lighter, with the markings smaller,
and a good deal like some eggs of the Pied Wagtail.

The eggs of the Sky Lark differ much in shape; some are
long and pointed at the smaller end, and in form, similar to
the eggs of the Waders, whilst others are short and broad.
Specimens from the collection of Mr. Doubleday, though
slightly coloured elsewhere, are circled near the larger end
with a continuous zone of deep brown.

The nest is made almost entirely of dried grasses, finer
towards the inside, mixed with a few roots; it is placed
upon the ground, and may be found in almost every situation
which the country affords—the grassy meadow, the corn
field, the open pasture, and on the bare sod of the ploughed

land; it may also be met with amongst the long tufts of
grass which abound in lands partially boggy, and in newly
made plantations. The Sky Lark breeds earlier, but I have
mostly found its eggs in May or June; they are from three
to five, very often not exceeding three.

ALAUDA ARBOREA.

Woop Lark.

UnTiL very lately the egg of the Woodlark has been
known by few, and has been represented in most collec-
tions by that beautiful variety of the egg of the Tree Pipit,
which is drawn in Plate C XIV. Fig. 4 of this work. In my
various inquiries for the eggs, I was unable to obtain them,
and until supplied with a beautiful series of varieties by my
kind correspondent, Mr. Hoy, I had never seen them.
I have since received a nest and eggs from Mr. Doubleday,
taken in Epping Forest.

The difficulty of procuring its eggs, may be accounted for,
by the value which is set upon the young birds, and the
eagerness with which they are sought in order to rear them
for the cage.

The Woodlark, though not a rare bird, being met with in
most of the southern counties, is, I believe, nowhere
numerous. It has been frequently taken by the bird-catchers,
within a few miles of York, and is not unfrequent in various
parts of Derbyshire. It is partial to newly enclosed lands,
and to light, heathy districts, and makes its nest for the most
part, on those bare pastures which usually surround them,
especially if trees or plantations are near at hand.

The nest, which is formed of coarse grass and roots,
mixed occasionally with moss, and the skeletons of decayed
leaves, lined with the same materials, though finer, together
with a few hairs, is placed in a tussock of grass, sometimes
at the foot of a scrubby bush. Mr. N. Wood mentions an
instance, in which he found one upon the stump of a felled

tree. Mr. Hoy informs me, that he has found the eggs early
in March, in mild seasons, and as late as the end of July;
they are four or five, and usually resemble either Fig. 4 or 5
of the Plate, but without the beautiful blotches of Fig. 5,
which are of rare occurrence. I have some that are larger
than either figure, and less clearly spotted. These eggs,
though, for the most part, showing but slight resemblance to
those of the Sky Lark, are, nevertheless, admirably repre-
sented by the eggs of that species, as a reference to Fig. 3
will sufficiently indicate.

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XCV.

PICUS VIRIDIS. (Linn.)

GREEN WOoOODPECKER.

THE Green Woodpecker very soon discovers its neigh-
bourhood, by its loud and very singular cry ; this is the more
remarkable in rainy weather. The loud, joyous, laughing
note, which it then utters, has often reconciled me to a wet
jacket. It builds its nest in the trunks of trees, frequently at
a considerable height above the ground. In Norway, where
the churches are chiefly of wood, we observed a Green Wood-
pecker, which had chosen for its nest the elevated situation
of the spire, in the side of which it had, most irreverently,
bored its hole.

The hole of entrance is frequently so small, that the eggs
are accessible only after the long and laborious use of the axe.
They are four or five in number, and are laid upon the fine
particles of the rotten wood, which remain at the bottom of
the hole; they are of a pure white, and so glossy that they
have the appearance of having been varnished. The Green
Woodpecker begins to sit early in May. Fig. 2.

PICUS MAJOR. (LINN.)

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

THE Great Spotted Woodpecker is surely either a rare bird
in this country, or one which most effectually evades the
D

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XLIX.
SITTA EUROPAEA. (11Nn.)

NurHATcH.

The Nuthatch breeds like the Woodpeckers—in holes of
trees, the entrance to which is most admirably protected and
contracted by a plaster of clay till it is just sufficiently large
to admit the ingress of the bird; this it defends against its
enemies with the greatest courage, making a hissing noise
like the Blue Titmouse when attacked. The nest consists of
a few dry leaves, with sometimes a little grass; its eggs are
from five to seven in number, and, as seen at Figure 2 of the
plate, generally so closely resembling those of the Greater
Titmouse that it is exceedingly difficult, if not sometimes im-
possible, to distinguish them. Figure 1 is a variety seldom
met with.

CERTHIA FAMILIARIS. (x1yvy.)
CREEPER.

The eggs of the Creeper resemble almost as closely those of
the Blue and Marsh Titmouse, particularly the latter, as the
eggsof the Nuthatch do those of the Greater Titmouse; they are,
however, usually rather longer in proportion to their breadth,
and have the spots more concentrated at the larger end. Of
these, Figure 3 is arepresentation. There are other varieties
which differ in shape as well as in the arrangement of the spots,
being rounder and freckled all over; if mixed with eggs of the
Titmice, and even with some of those of the Willow Wren,
it would be very uncertain work to attempt to separate them.
The Creeper builds in holes of trees, in such places as those

out of which a branch has been torn, or where the bark pro-
trudes from the tree leaving sufficient room behind it. ‘The nest
is formed of dry grass and bits of moss, lined with feathers,
and very loosely put together; the eggs are from six to nine

in number.

ie Nas? ty ae
om, Saal Se

Beek,
\y i
Na en
i

CLIV.

TROGLODYTES EUROPGSUS. (CuviER.)

COMMON WREN. Kitry WREN.

THE nest of the Wren is of an oval form, arched over, and
protected on every side. It is a most beautiful specimen of
strength, warmth, and neatness; and so compact and closely
interwoven, that one in my collection might be kicked about
the floor, without disarranging or disuniting those minute par-
ticles of moss of which it was first formed. It is usually con-
structed of green mosses, and from its close resemblance to
the situation in which it is placed, is admirably protected from
discovery: this is most commonly against the moss-grown
side of a rock, a bank, or an old tree, in the decayed side of
which the nest is formed; and were it not for the small hole
of entrance, would be regarded as only a portion of the tree.
I have found it in the middle of a furze or whin bush, and
constructed chiefly of dry grass; sometimes covered outside
with ferns; and not unfrequently against the side of a
clover stack, formed entirely of the clover, and becoming a
piece of the stack itself; and were it not for the flight of the
bird from the spot, it would have run no risk of detection.
No bird is so jealous of discovery or intrusion, as the Wren.
Amongst a great number of nests which I have found in the
progress of building, I have never known one proceeded with,
afier having been once discovered and touched ; it being quite
impossible to thrust the finger into the tiny entrance, without
disarranging the neatness and beautiful symmetry of its form.
This I have always found to cause its abandonment by the
owner; and may readily account for the number of unfinished
nests, which we used at school to call “ cocks’ nests,” sup-
posing that they were built by the male bird, for its own
particular abode.

When incubation is proceeded with, and the eggs have

been sitten upon for some time, the Wren, like all other birds,
becomes much more attached to them, and is not then so
easily driven to forsake them. The Rev. W. D. Fox has
communicated to me a remarkable instance of this attachment,
in one which would suffer its nest to be taken in the hand and
examined, remaining the while quietly seated on its eggs.

The Wren is a hardy solitary little bird, and may be seen
in some of our bleakest and most unsheltered districts. We
saw it on some of the most sterile heaths of Shetland; the
only support for its nest being the bank of some mountain
gully; its only shelter the overhanging sod.

Notwithstanding the number of eggs which the Wren has
been stated by Ornithologists and others to lay, I have never
succeeded in finding more than eight, and seldom more than
seven, in the same nest. ‘They are sometimes much less
spotted than either of the figures, and are not unfrequently
quite white.

Ornithologists differ much as to the inside of the nest of the
Wren ; some maintaining that it is thickly lined with feathers,
whilst others deny that it has any inits composition. I have
found it both with and without such lining; but cannot from
recollection say which most frequently.

Jui

fz Mitchie
CLs

LV.

CUCULUS CANORUS. (1iny.)

Cuckoo.

So much is already known of the singular and apparently
unnatural way in which the Cuckoo deserts its egg after lay-
ing it in the nest, and leaving it to the care of another bird,
that not having myself had an opportunity of making any
original observations, I have thought it unnecessary to re-
peat what has been already so much better written by others.
I should have been exceedingly gratified could I have settled
two very interesting points which yet remain undetermined,
viz., what number of eggs the Cuckoo lays in one season,
and whether or not it ever carries its egg (after having laid
it) to the nest of another bird. Mr. Williamson, of Scarbo-
rough, informs me that he has found its egg in the nest of a
Rock Lark, close under the projecting shelf of a rock, and in
a situation where he considers it impossible for the Cuckoo
to have deposited it in any other way. Though not myself in-
clined in favour of this supposition, yet there is something
that renders it highly probable. Unless the Cuckoo is thus
able to transport its eggs after having laid them, numbers
must be dropped to no purpose, when at the point of laying
them it is unable to find the nest of another bird in which to
leave them. Le Vaillant, in his account of his travels in
Africa, mentions having, in many instances, shot a species
of Cuckoo in the act of thus transporting its own egg in its
mouth. The eggs of the Cuckoo are found in the nests of
several species of small birds. It, however, seems instinctively
to prefer those, the eggs of which most nearly resemble its
own. Amongst these are the several species of Lark, the
Pied Wagtail, and the Grasshopper Warbler ; it most fre-
quently, however, makes choice of that of the Titlark, which

is common on those open heaths, its favourite resort. The
egg, which is remarkable for its small size, is thus, together
with its colour, most admirably fitted for the deception which
it is intended to practise. Though very similar in some in-
stances to those of the Skylark, there is a character about it
peculiar to itself, by which it may be readily known ; its shape
is more oval; it is, also, in most instances, marked with mi-
nute black dots. To Mr. Blackwall, I am indebted for several
specimens, from which the above figures are selected. They
are rarely so dark as Fig. 1 ; and usually rather more so than
Fig. 2.

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Drawn im Stone by WC Hewitson.

CXL A.

Day KBaghe Lith? tothe Queen..

CXLIX.

COCCYZUS AMERICANUS. (BoNAP.)
AMERICAN CUCKOO.

Upon the authority of Mr. Gould, I have figured the egg
of the American Cuckoo, furnished me from the collection of
Mr. Yarrell. Mr. Gould states that it has been four times
taken within the British Islands, twice in Ireland, once in
Wales, and in Cornwall.

I copy the following from Wilson’s American Ornithology.

“The singular, I will not say unnatural, conduct of the
European Cuckoo, (Cuculus canorus) which never constructs
a nest for itself, is so universally known, that the whole tribe
of Cuckoos have, by some inconsiderate people, been stigma-
tized as destitute of all parental care and affection.

Without attempting to account for this remarkable habit of
the European species, I will only remark, that the bird now
before us builds its own nest, hatches its own eggs, and rears
its own young.

Early in May they begin to pair, when obstinate battles
take place amongst the males. About the tenth of the month
they begin building. The nest is usually fixed among the
horizontal branches of an apple-tree; sometimes in a solitary
thorn, crab, or cedar, in some retired part of the woods. It is
constructed with little art, and scarcely any concavity, of
small sticks and twigs, intermixed with green weeds and
blossoms of the common maple. On this almost flat bed, the
eggs, usually three or four in number, are placed. While the
female is sitting, the male is usually not far distant, and gives
the alarm by his notes, when any person is approaching.

The female sits so close, that you may almost reach her
with your hand, and then precipitates herself to the ground,
feigning lameness, to draw you from the spot; fluttering,
trailing her wings, and tumbling over, in the manner of the
Partridge, and many other species.”

Ne
ey

Dini Seas NC aera

CXL.
UPUPA EPOS. (LINN.)

Hoopoe.

THE best account of the summer habits of the Hoopoe
which I have seen, is by Mr. E. H. Greenhow, in the seventh
volume of Loudon’s Magazine, which [I will here take the
liberty of transcribing in his own words :—“ On the Bordeaux
side of the Garonne, and near the city, are large spaces of
marshy ground, intersected by broad ditches and creeks, ter-
minating in the river, where, from the advantage derived from
the water, many poplars and willows are planted, for the sake
of the twigs, which are much used for tying vines. ‘These
trees, being topped at about ten or twelve feet from the
ground, so as to induce them to sprout much, become very
thick, and in the course of a few years gradually decaying at
the centre, are attacked by numerous tribes of insects. In
these retired places, which are frequented only by a few cow-
herds and country people, the Hoopoe, which is a very shy
bird, may be frequently observed examining the rotten wood,
and feeding on the insects with which it abounds. The
Hoopoe flies low and seldom, unless when disturbed ; its food
being so abundant as to require little search. It remains the
whole year, and breeds in a hollow willow, about the end of
May, laying two eggs. The young come out in June.”
Instances are given, which render it probable that the Hoopoe
would breed in this country, if permitted, on its next periodi-
cal visit, to remain unmolested. Montague mentions a pair
which began a nest in Hampshire; and Mr. Blyth says, that
other two frequented a garden in the neighbourhood of
Tooting, Surrey, in 1833.

“yey eeooed Monn iuorge of dnc abit ot

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Patt obrogkads Ps fie Vis gto ww aid cd aides :
to sons syinl ote We as iss boas orien) oat,
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pe ‘Bovieb gystantbs odd csort corisish i Cent} ab
sadagi ot} et chodinaly anus! eirattiu han éeciqucy | aaiC, (1s
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to. hae odlt tod wollte wollod o ai abox te Sinn jue
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“ihohed izoa alt.ao Dationop Ye dtouer othy at heard
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taps.

CXIII1.

CORACIAS GARRULA.. (LINN.)

ROLLER.

THE Roller is one of those few occasional visitants of the
British Islands, the brilliancy of whose plumage at once tells
us that it has but little right to a place in our catalogue.

The few instances of its occurrence with us have been
chiefly in the North of Britain. It is common in the forests
of Germany, and not unfrequent in other parts of the north of
Europe. It is said to breed in the holes of decayed trees,
laying from four to seven eggs; these bear a close resem-
blance to those of the Bee-eater and Kingfisher, in the round-
ness of their contour, and the glossy varnished appearance of
the shell.

or G3

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waoifioys anf yh aslo adh af Sand off Stim. ci f a
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Dravnn on Stave by WC Hewitson: Frnt ty CHulinvanded

X.
ALCEDO ISPIDA. (x1yv.)

KINGFISHER. :

Tus splendid bird breeds sparingly in the sand banks of
many of our rivers, in a hole at the depth of two or three feet,
in which it lays six or seven eggs, sometimes upon a collection
of small fish bones, but I think more commonly on the bare
sand. From the many absurd and exaggerated accounts given
of the nest of this bird, Colonel Montague was induced to
pay particular attention to its habits, and gives the following
very accurate and interesting particulars, perfectly agreeing
with my own observations :—‘* The hole chosen to breed in
is always ascending ; at the end is scooped a hollow, at the
bottom of which is a quantity of small fish bones, nearly half
an inch thick, mixed in with the earth. This is undoubtedly
the castings of the parent birds, and not the young, for we
have found it even before they have eggs. The hole in which
_ they breed is by no means fouled by the castings; but before
the young are able to fly, it becomes extremely foetid by the
feeces of the brood, which is of a watery nature, and cannot
be carried away by the parent birds, as is common with most
of the smaller species ; in defect of which, instinct has taught
them to have the entrance to their habitation ascending, by
which means the filthy matter runs off, and may frequently
be seen on the outside.”

MEROPS APIASTER. (xrv.)

Bre-EaAter.

Tue Bee-Eater is only an occasional visiter of this island,
but breeds on various parts of the Continent, in holes in the

sandy banks of rivers, in manner much like the Kingfisher,
and lays from five to seven eggs.

The egg from which the accompanying drawing was made
is in the collection of William Yarrell, Esq., and was given
him by Baron Laugier, who said that it was taken out of a
hole perforated four feet deep in the bank of a river.

The alliance between the Kingfisher and Bee-eater, shown
in their formation, is much more striking in their habits ;
their mode of breeding is the same ; their eggs are also per-
fectly alike, each having a bright glossiness peculiar to them.

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XX.

Trew on Stone ty WC Hewison. Fratted by CRulmanded

XXI.
HIRUNDO RUSTICA. (i1yy.)

CHIMNEY, oR Barn SWALLow.

Or all the feathered tribes that enliven our summer months
by their visit, none is so interesting, so truly harmless, none
so useful as the Swallow ; were it not for its friendly aid in the
daily destruction of millions of insects, they would become an
insupportable nuisance, our atmosphere would be choked with
them, and, no doubt, many of the vegetable productions of
nature almost exterminated by them. Is it in return for all
these services that they are made the mark of the fowling-
piece, that hundreds of them are destroyed (as though a noi-
some thing) for amusement, and from mere wantoness? Pity
it is that some superstitious dread is not, in imagination, at-
tached to the destruction of these delightful visitants of spring,
and that they are not regarded almost as sacred, like the
Ibis of old, the Stork of Holland, the Purple Martin, of the
United States, or even as the Robin Redbreast, of our own
country.

No emblem of the returning summer brings with it the
same delightful feelings and recollections as the Swallow ; it
came to us last year, after a long and tedious winter, as the
harbinger of more sunny skies, it will come again, and on
its arrival all nature will again begin to look green and gay ;
wherever we go, in town or country, this cheerful and most
elegant of birds is our companion, in one instant crossing our
path, and in the next coming to meet us, sweeping “ over
our fields and rivers, and through our very streets, from morn-
ing to night, that the light of heaven itself, the sky, the
trees, or any other common objects of nature, are not better
known than the Swallows.”

The Swallow makes its nest in our chimneys, in barns,

out-houses, and sheds, fixing it upon the cross beams, and
against those that support the roof, occasionally also in the
shaft of a deserted coal-pit. I have seen the nest of one
against a door which was daily opened, many times, and yet
the poor bird continued to sit till the nest was shaken down
and destroyed, and even built a second time and shared the same
fate. White mentions a curious instance of one that made its
nest on the wings and body of an Owl that happened by acci-
dent to hang dead from the rafter of a barn, and afterwards
in a large conch shell which was put in the same place; the
Owl being taken down and placed in Sir Ashton Lever’s mu-
seum. The nest is similar to that of the House Martin,
with the exception of its being open at the top; it is made
of the same materials, mud and clay, rendered more adhesive
by mixing with it small pieces of straw; it is lined with dry
grass and feathers, and contains four or five eggs, varying as
shown in the annexed Plate, the first figure being the most
common.

sa “at

4 fe +

Draw ow Stone by W: C Hanitsen.

XIV.

HIRUNDO URBICA. (u1yv.)

Martin, House Martin, on Winpow SWALLow.

Tur Martin builds its nest (as every one is aware) under
the eaves of our houses and at the corner of our windows,
occasionally also against cliffs overhanging the sea. Some
particular property in the surface seems to be requisite in
order to establish a firm foundation, which is, I think, most
readily obtained against a house that is rough-cast : it will,
in some situations, make numerous beginnings, which are
again and again abandoned ere it fixes upon its site.

The nest is composed of mud, rendered more adhesive by
mixing with it small pieces of straw; and, as observed by
White, in his History of Selborne, it is provident enough not
to advance its work too fast, but by building only in the
morning, gives it sufficient time to harden, lest, while soft,
its own weight pull it down. The morning is certainly the
usual hour of working, but an interesting exception is related
in Loudon’s Magazine of Natural History, by Mr. Couch,
who says, “‘ I have known them neglect a fine morning, and
carry on the work through the afternoon, from no other ap-
parent reason than the facility of procuring mortar at that
period from a small distance, in a place which in the morn-
ing was covered with the tide.” That the bird has the power
of adding some glutinous moisture to the clay, I think there
is no doubt, as it is conveyed not in its bill, but within its
mouth. ‘ This,” says Mr. Rennie, “ will be evident to any
person who will take the trouble of picking up a little mud
from the same place where the swallows collect it, and trying
to make it adhere to a wall, as they do in their nests.” The
lining is fine grass and feathers, and no sooner has it com-
pleted its snug little house, than the saucy pert old sparrow

CYPSELUS MURARIUS. (trmm.)

Swirt, Brack Martin, Screrecu, Devixine, &c.

Time of nidification towards the end of May, and as the
young do not come out till they are able to fly strongly, and
are slow in arriving at maturity, it is the latter part of July
before they make their appearance: it has, in consequence,
only one brood in the year. I have no hesitation in saying,
that the Swift makes no nest, but occupies that of the Sparrow.
Though very closely observed, it has never been seen carry-
ing any sort of material for that purpose. It usually brings
forth its young in holes of old ruins, towers, and steeples, some-
times under the tiles of churches and houses, and in lime-kilns.
White says—“ In this village (Selborne) some pairs frequent
the lowest and meanest cottages ;” and farther adds, “* we re-
member but one instance where they breed out of buildings,
and that is, in the sides of a deep chalk-pit.” In addition to
this, I have seen them inhabiting cliffs by the sea side. A
correspondent of Loudon’s Magazine, observing a number of
Swifts at a distance of thirty miles from any place where it
was likely they should breed, upon making inquiry, discovered
that they were occupying for that purpose the holes in trees
perforated by the Woodpecker. The Swift lays three or four

eggs.

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Draw on Stone by WC Hearison. ‘Prnteds iv alanvanded.

XXX.
CAPRIMULGUS EUROPAEUS. (xryy.)

Niext Hawk, Nicur Jar, Fern Own, &c.

Tue Night Hawk is most common in those open and
moorland tracts of country immediately surrounding a more
cultivated and woody district. In such situations it deposits
its eggs without any nest whatever, amongst heath, fern, and
long grass, or in a slight hole upon the bare ground, never
far from the neighbourhood of woods, to which it seems very
partial; its eggs being also frequently found in open grassy
spaces, and drives occurring in the midst of them; they are
two in number, very beautifully mottled, and, in some in-
stances, very closely resembling marble; their shape is also
peculiar, being nearly a perfect oval.

Many errors have occurred respecting this bird, it having
been frequently mistaken for the Cuckoo. Though the young
Cuckoo bears some resemblance to the Night Hawk, yet it
would be a very difficult matter to confound the two birds in
a state of maturity, the one being very light, and almost of
an uniform ash-colour, the other very dark, and richly co-
loured throughout. Yet this mistake has been fallen into by
the Rev. Mr. Stafford, and also by the Rev. Mr. Wilmot, of
Derbyshire, who, in a letter to Dr. Darwin, evidently and
most undoubtedly, describes the nest of the Night Jar as that
of the Cuckoo, though he approached so near as to observe
her some time, and almost to touch her before she rose from
the nest.

The American species of this genus, of which Wilson has
given such interesting descriptions, all closely resemble ours
in their mode of breeding.

In Audubon’s Ornithological Biography, a most singular
account is given of a bird of this genus, the Caprimulgus

Carolinensis. Being well assured that this bird must have
some means of removing its eggs when discovered, and being
determined to ascertain in what way it was effected, he says,
** T made up my mind to institute a strict investigation of the
matter,” and gives the following curious particulars :—

‘¢ When either the male or female (for each sits alternately)
has discovered that the eggs have been touched, it ruffles its
feathers and appears extremely dejected for a minute or two;
after which it emits a low murmuring cry, scarcely audible
to me as I lay concealed at a distance of not more than
twenty yards. At this time I have seen the other parent
reach the spot, flying so low over the ground that I thought
its little feet must have touched it as it skimmed along ; and,
after a few low notes, and some gesticulations, all indicative
of great distress, take an egg in its large mouth, the other
bird doing the same, when they would fly off together, skim-
ming closely over the ground until they disappeared amongst
the trees; should a person refrain from touching the eggs,
the bird returns to them and sits as before.”

Our Night Jar breeds in June; and, as it may possibly
resort to the same means of evading disturbance by removing
its eggs, I have copied the above account, hoping that it may
lead some one to watch its habits.

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Full text of "British oology : being illustrations of the eggs of British birds, with figures of each species, as far as practicable, drawn and coloured from nature : accompanied by descriptions of the materials and situation of their nests, number of eggs, &c."

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