a McGILL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 7 oRARY eS § M°GILL UNIVERSITY. MV? sf _ ——— - A E i dyegats act es, aes LnBrerlesese secs. ; é Kae, Se yt era er rn ae rer re rr re enn ee — er ey RR Oy re ee OT y i. d-aaaeienanene ) > m } + _ £ on ' *» ed { + } ‘ A - ja * ’ ‘< ’ ‘ 71 a = of * . - 7 . . ! bt * 0 - ‘ al af 4 : / @ 4 - ; : » | : 4 , . | 7 : ——— : { ‘ 4 A — : a ; se aii aa ; j 1" 7 } ’ i) —_—_—_—— SS ———— = A HISTORY OF BRITISH BIRDS: THE FIGURES ENGRAVED ON WOOD BY T. BEWICK. en VOL, I. CONTAINING THE HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF LAND BIRDS. = TO te ROD y he ee et 7? ~—~~—nunmmmagey 7. 1S 5 18 Bre @O Riss! S OCS sin i 2 SP, * — Ss — — OGG, IP -2@8o jn een tr atta) — ~*~ TD OO Tl PE isi owe “uit beett. te oe: Sepa — ~< NEWCASTLE: PRINTED BY SOL. HODGSON, FOR BEILBY & BEWICK: SOLD BY THEM; AND c. G. & J. ROBINSON, LONDON, ae, — a F 4 { ‘ Pie EF * 5s et ee di ~~ =" =" — a Se =. — = ee I ee ell ll > Reeth =e “> & s S2 PREFACE. To thofe who attentively confider the fubje@ of Natural Hif- tory, as difplayed in the animal creation, it will appear, that though much has been done to explore the intricate paths of Nature, and follow her through all her various windings, much yet remains to be done before the great ceconomy is completely developed. Notwithftanding the laborious and not unfuccefs- ful inquiries of ingenious men in all ages, the fubjeG is far from being exhaufted. Syftems have been formed and explo- ded, and new ones have appeared in their ftead; but, like fke- letons injudicioufly put together, they give but an imperfect idea of that order and fymmetry to which they are intended to be fubfervient: They have their ufe, but it is the fkilful prac- titioner who is chiefly enabled to profit by them; to the lefs informed they appear obfcure and perplexing, and too frequent- ly deter him from the great object of his purfuit. To inveftigate, with any tolerable degree of fuccefs, the more retired and diftant parts of the animal ceconomy, is a tafk of no {mal} difficulty. An inquiry fo defireable and fo eminently ufe- ful would require the united efforts of many to give it the de- fired fuecefs. Men of leifure, of all defcriptions, refiding in the country, could f{carcely find a more delightful employment than ‘ 22304 iv PREFACE. in attempting to elucidate, from their ovn obfervations, the ¥a- rious branches of Natural Hiftory, and communicating them to others.. Something like a fociety in each county, for the ig a variety of thefe obfervations, as well as would be estremely ufeful and ne- purpofe of colleétu for general correfpondence, ceflary : Much might be expected from a combination of this kind extending through every part of tle kingdom; a general mode of communication might be therby eftablifhed, in order to afcertain the changes which are contiually taking place, par- ticularly among the feathered tribes ; tle times of their appear- ing and difappearing would be carefully noted ; the differences of age, fex, food, &c. would claim a patticular degree of atten- would be the means of corre€ing a number of errors tion, and orks of fone of the moft eminent which have crept into the w ornithologifts, and of avoiding the coifufion arifing from an over-anxious defire of encreafing the nunbers of each particular kind: But it is referved, perhaps, for times of greater tranquil lity, when the human mind, undifturbed by public calamities, fhall find leifure to employ itfelf, without interruption, in the purfuit of thofe objects which enlarge its powers and give dig- nity to its exertions, to carry ‘nto the hilleft effe& a plan for in- velligations of this fort. In this refpe&t no author has been nore fuccefsful than the celebrated Count de Buffon :—Defpiing the reftraints which methodical arrangements generally impofe, he ranges at large through the various walks of Nature,and defcribes her with a brilliancy of colouring which the mot lively imagination only could fuggeft. It muft, however, be dlowed, that in many in- ftances, that ingenious philofopher has overftepped the bounds of Nature, and, in giving the reins to hisown luxuriant fancy, has been too frequently hurried into the wild paths of conjeCture and romance. The late Mr White, of Selborne, has added much to the general ftock of knowedge on this delightful fubject, by attentively and faithfully reording whatever fell un- der his own obfervations, and by lileral communications to others. PREFACE. v As far as we could, confiftently with the plan laid down in the following work, we have confulted, and we truit with fome advantage, the works of thefe and other Naturalifts. In the arrangement of the various claffes, as well as in the defcriptive part, we have taken as ou guide our ingenious countryman, Mr Pennant, to whofe elegart and ufeful labours the world is in- debted for a fund of the moft rational entertainment, and who will be remembered by every lover of Nature as long as her works have power to cham. ‘The communications with which we have been favoured by thofe gentlemen who were fo good as to notice our growing work, have been generally acknowledged in their proper place ; it semains only that we be permitted to infert this teftimony of our grateful fenfe of them. In a few inftances we ave ventured to depart from the ufual method of claffification ; by placing the hard-billed birds, or thofe which live chiefly on feeds, next to thofe of the Pie kind, there feems to be a more regular gradation downwards, a few anomalous birds, fuch as the Cuckoo, Hoopoe, Nuthatch, &c. only intervening: The feft-billed birds, or thofe which fubfitt chiefly on worms, infeéts, and fuch like, are by this means pla- ced all together, beginning with thofe of the Lark kind. To this we muft obferve, that, by dividing the various families of birds into two grand divilions, viz. Land and Water, a number of tribes have thereby been included among the latter, which can no otherwife be denominated Water Birds than as they oc- cafionally feek their food in moitft places, by {mall {ftreamlets, or on the fea-fhore ; fuch asthe Curlew, Woodcock, Snipe, Sand- piper, and many others. Thefe, with fuch as do not commit themfelves wholly to the waters, are thrown into a feparate di- vifion, under the denomiration of Waders. To thefe we have ventured to remove the Kingfifher, and the Water Ouzel; the former lives entirely on fih, is conftantly found on the margins of ftill waters, and may with greater propriety be denominated a Water Bird than many which come under that defcription ; nnection with thofe birds among a3 the latter feems to have vi PREFACE. which it is ufually claffed, its bufinefs being wholly among rae pid running ftreams, in which it chiefly delights, and from whence it derives its fupport. This work, of which the firft volume is all that is now offer- ed to the public, will contain an account of all the various tribes of birds either conftantly refiding in, or occafionally vifiting, our ifland, accompanied with reprefentations of almoft every fpecies, faithfully drawn from Nature, and engraven on wood. It may be proper to obferve, that while one of the Editors of this work was engaged in preparing the engravings, the compi- lation of the defcriptions was undertaken by the other, fubje&, however, to the correCtions of his friend, whofe habits had led him to a mote intimate acquaintance with this branch of Natu- ral Hiftory : The Compiler, therefore, is anfwerable for the de- fects which may be found in this part of the undertaking, con- cerning which he has little to fay, but that it was the produc- tion of thofe hours which could be fpared from a laborious em- ployment, and on that account he hopes the feveyity of critt- cifm will be fpared, and that it will be received with that in- dulgence which has been already experienced on a former oc- cafion. Newcastle vron Tyne, September, 1797. Lig | . » qs PAPER |p west . - & » ~ > 1 OM os el > —— §, ‘ i 4 ? I * I, f ne , Sm. ral u i fh na" } a 4 Seyi e ty : (Eo. aie @- 8 S- 6 INTRODUCTION. ; erent 2a Pir, Cane MH ts veo or IN no part of the animal creation are the wifdom, the good- nefs, and the bounty of Providence difplayed in a more lively manner than in the ftru€ture, formation, and various endow- ments of the feathered tribe. The fymmetry and elegance dil- coverable in their outward appearance, although highly pleafing to the fight, are yet of much greater importance when confider- ed with refpe&t to their peculiar habits and modes of living, to which they are eminentlysfigbfervient. viii INTRODUCTION. Inftead of the large head and formidable jaws, the deep capa> cious cheft, the brawny fhoulders, and finewy legs of the qua- drupeds, we obferve the pointed beak, the long and pliant neck, the gently {welling fhoulder, the expanfive wings, the tapering tail, the light and bony feet ; all which are wifely calculated to affift and accelerate their motion through the yielding air. Eve- ry part of their frame is formed for lightnefs and buoyancy ; their bodies are covered with a foft and delicate plumage, fo dif- pofed as to proteé them from the intenfe cold of the atmofphere through which they pafs; their wings are made of the lighteft materials, and yet the force with which they ftrike the air with them is fo great as to impel their bodies forward with aftonith- ing rapidity, whilft the tail ferves the purpofe of a rudder to di- rect them to the different objects of their purfuit. The internal itru€ture of birds is no lefs nicely adapted to the fame wife and ufeful purpofes ; all their bones are light and thin, and all the mufcles, except thofe which are appropriated to the purpofe of moving the wings, are extremely delicate and light; the lungs are placed clofe to the back-bone and ribs, the air en- tering into them by a communication from the windpipe, paf- fes through and is conveyed into a number of membranous cells which lie upon the fides of the pericardium, and communicate with thofe of the fternum. In fome birds thefe cells are con- tinued down the wings, and extend even to the pinions, thigh bones, and other parts of the body, which can be filled and dif- tended with air at the pleafure of the animal. The extreme fingularity of this almoft univerfal diffufion of air through the bodies of birds naturally excited a ftrong defire to difcover the intention of Nature in producing a conformation fo extraordinary. The ingenious Mr Hunter imagined that it might be intended to affift the animal in the a@ of flying, by increafing its bulk and ftrength without adding to its weight, This opinion was corroborated by confidering, that the feathers of birds, and particularly thofe of the wings, contain a great quantity of air. In oppofition toythi Ofttich, which does not fly, is : he informs us, that the slefs provided with air e INTRODUCTION. ix cells difperfed through its body ; that the Woodcock, and fome other flying birds, are not fo liberally fupplied with thefe cells ; yet, he elfewhere obferves, that it may be laid down asa general rule, that in birds of the higheft and longeft flights, as Eagles, this extenfion or diffufion of air is carried further than in o- thers; and, with regard to the Oftrich, though it is deprived of the power of flying, it runs with amazing rapidity, and confe- quently requires fimilar refources of air. It feems therefore to be proved, evidently, that this general diffufion of air through the-bodies of birds is of infinite ufe to them, net only in their Jong and laborious flights, but likewife in preventing their re{pi- ration from being ftopped or interrupted by the rapidity of their motion through a refifting medium. Were it poflible for man to move with the fwiftnefs of a Swallow, the a€tual refiftance of the air, as he is not provided with internal refervoirs fimilar to thofe of birds, would foon fuffocate him.* Birds may be diltinguifhed, like quadrupeds, into two kinds or claffes, granivorous and carnivorous ; like quadrupeds too, there are fome that hold a middle nature, and partake of both. Granivorous birds are furnifhed with larger inteftines, and pro- portionally longer than thofe of the carnivorous kinds. Their food, which confifts of grain of various kinds, is conveyed whole and entire into the firft ftomach or craw, where it undergoes a partial dilution by a liquor fecreted from glands {pread over its furface; it is then received into another fpecies of ftomach, where it is further diluted; after which it is tranfmitted into the gizzard, or true ftomach, confifting of two very flrong muif- eles covered externally with a tendinous fubftance, and lined with a thick membrane of prodigious power and ftrength ; in this place the food is completely triturated, and rendered fit for the operation of the galtric juices. The extraordinary powers * May not this univerfal diffufion of air through the bodies of birds ae- count for the fuperior heat of this clafs of animals? The feparation of oxy- gen from refpirable air, and its mixture with the blood, by means of the lungs, being fuppofed by the ingenious Dr Crawford to be the efficient caufe of animal heat. x INTRODUCTION. of the gizzard in comminuting the food, fo as to prepare it for digeftion, would exceed all credibility, were they not fupported by incontrovertible facts founded upon experiments. In order to afcertain the ftrength of thefe ftomachs, the ingenious Spa- lanzani made the following curious and very interefling experi- ments :—Tin tubes, full of grain, were forced into the flomachs of Turkies, and after remaining twenty hours, were found to be broken, compreffed, and diftorted in the moft irregular manner.* In proceeding further, the fame author relates, that the ftomach of a Cock, in the fpace of twenty-four hours, broke off the an- gles of a piece of rough jagged glafs, and upon examining the gizzard, no wound or laceration appeared. ‘Twelve ftrong nee- dles were firmly fixed in a ball of lead, the points of which pro- jected about a quarter of an inch from the furface ; thus armed, it was covered with a cafe of paper, and forced down the throat of a Turkey; the bird retained it a day and a half, without fhewing the leaft fymptom of uneafinefs; the points of all the needles were broken off clofe to the furface of the ball, except two or three, of which the ftumps projeéted a little. The fame author relates another experiment, feemingly ftill more cruel : He fixed twelve {mall lancets, very fharp, in a fimilar ball of lead, which was given in the fame manner to a Turkey-cock, and left eight hours in the ftomach; at the expiration of which the organ was opened, but nothing appeared except the naked ball, the twelve lancets having been broken to pieces, the fto- mach remaining perfe€tly found and entire. From thefe curi- ous and well-attefted fats we may conclude, that the {tones fo often found in the flomachs of many of the feathered tribe are highly ufeful in comminuting the grain and other hard fubftan- ces which conftitute their food. ‘* The ftones,”’ fays the cele- brated Dr Hunter, ¢ affift in grinding down the grain, and, by feparating its parts, allow the gaftric juices to come more rea- dily into conta with it.” Thus far the conclufion ccincides with the experiments which have been juft related. We may * Spalanzani’s Differtation, vol. 1, page 12. INTRODUCTION. xi abferve ftill farther, that the ftones thus taken into the ftomachs of birds are feldom known to pafs with the feces, but being ground down and feparated by the powerful action of the giz- zard, are mixed with the food, and, no doubt, contribute very much to the health as well as nutriment of the animal. Granivorous birds partake much of the nature and difpofition of herbivorous quadrupeds. In both, the number of their fto- machs, the length and capacity of their inteftines, and the qua- lity of their food, are very fimilar; they are likewife both dif- tinguifhed by the gentlenefs of their tempers and manners: Contented with the feeds of plants, with fruits, infects, and worms, their chief attention is direted to procuring food, hatch- ing and rearing their offspring, and avoiding the {nares of men, and the attacks of birds of prey and other rapacious animals. They are a mild and gentle race, and are in general fo tractable as ealily to be domefticated. Man, ever attentive and watchful to every thing conducive to his intereft, has not failed to avail himfelf of thefe difpofitions, and has judicioufly felected, from the numbers which every way furround him, thofe which are moft prolific, and confequently the moft profitable: Of thefe the Hen, the Goofe, the Turkey, and the Duck are the moft confiderable, and form an inexhauftible ftore of rich, whole- fome, and nutritious food. Carnivorous birds are diftinguifhed by thofe endowments and powers with which they are furnifhed by Nature for the purpofe of procuring their food: They are provided with wings of great length, the mufcles which move them being proportionally large and ftrong, whereby they are enabled to keep long upon the wing in fearch of their prey; they are armed with ftrong hook- ed bills, fharp and formidable claws ; they have alfo large heads, fhort necks, ftrong and brawny thighs, and a fight fo acute and piercing, as to enable them to view their prey from immeafure- able heights in the air, upon which they dart with inconceive- able {wiftnefs and undeviating aim; their ftomachs are {maller than thofe of the granivorous kinds, and their inteftines are much fhorter. The analogy between the ftru€ture of rapacious xii INTRODUCTION. birds and carnivorous quadrupeds is obvious; both of them are provided with weapons which indicate deftruétion and ra- pine, their manners are fierce and unfocial, anc they fetdotm herd together in flocks like the inoffenfive gran:vorous tribes. When not on the wing, rapacious birds retire to :he tops of fe- gueftered rocks, or the depths of extenfive forefs, where they conceal themfelves in fullen and gloomy folitude. Thofe which feed on carrion are endowed with a fenfe of fmelling fo exquifite, as to enable them to fcent dead and putrid carca‘es at aftonifh- ing diftances. Befide thefe great divifions of birds into granivorous and ra- pacious kinds, there are numerous other tribes, to whom Nature has given fuitable organs, adapted to their pecular habits and modes of living. Like amphibious animals, a gieat variety of birds live chiefly in the water, and feed on fifhes, infects, and other aquatic productions: To enable them to fwim and dive in queft of food, their toes are connected by brozcd membranes or webs, with which they ftrike the water, and are driven for- ward with great force. The feas, the lakes, and rivers abound with innumerable fwarms of birds of various kinds, all which find an abundant fupply in the immeafurable ftores with which the watery world is every where flocked. ‘There are other tribes of aquatic birds, frequenting marfhy places and the mar- gins of lakes and rivers, which feem to partake of a middle na- ture between thofe which live wholly on land, and thofe which are entirely occupied in waters: Some of thefe feed on fithes and reptiles ; others derive nourifhment by thruftng their long bills into foft and muddy fubftances, where they find worms, the eggs of infects, and other nutritious matter ; they do not fwim, but wade in queft of food, for which purpole Nature has provided them with long legs, bare of feathers even above the knees; their toes are not connected by webs, like thofe of the fwimmers, but are only partially furnifhed with membranaceous appendages, which are juft fufficient to fupport them on the foft and doubtful ground which they are accuftomed to frequent :— Moft of thefe kinds have very long necks and bills, to enable INTRODUCTION. xili shem to fearch for and find their concealed food. To thefe tribes belong the Crane, the Heron, the Bittern, the Stork, the Spoonbill, the Woodcock, the Snipe, and many others. Without the means of conveying themfelves with great {wift- nefs from one place to another, birds could not eafily fubfiftt: The food which Nature has fo bountifully provided for them is fo ir- regularly diftributed, that they are obliged to take long journies to diftant parts in order to gain the neceffary fupplies ; at one time it is given in great abundance; at another it is adminifter- ed with a very {paring hand; and this is one caufe of thofe mi- grations fo peculiar to the feathered tribe. Befides the want of food, there are two other caules. of migration, viz. the want of a proper temperature of air, and a convenient fituation for the great work of breeding and rearing their young. Such birds as migrate to great diftances are alone denominated birds of paf- fages but mot birds are, in fome meafure, birds of paflage, al- though they do not migrate to places remote from their former habitations. At particular times of the year moft birds remove from one country to another, or from the more inland diftnicts toward the fhores: The times of thefe migrations or flittings are obferved with the moft aftonifhing order and punctuality ; but the fecrecy of their departure and the fuddennefs of theit" re-appearance have involved the fubject of migration in general in great difficulties. Much of this difficulty arifes from our not being able to account for the means of fubfiftence during the long flights of many of thofe birds, which are obliged to crofs immenfe tra&ts of water before they arrive at the places of their deftination: Accuftomed to meafure diftances by the fpeed of thofe animals with which we are well acquainted, we are. apt to overlook the fuperior velocity with which birds are carried forward in the air, and the eafe with which they continue their exertions for a much longer time than can be done by the ftrongeft quadruped. Our fwiftet horfes are fuppofed to goat the rate of a mile in fomewhat lefs than two minutes, and we have one inftance on record of a horfe being tried, which went at the rate of near- ‘ : : 4 iF q : : 1 xiv INTRODUCTION. ly a mile in one minute, but that was only for the fmall {pace of a fecond of time.* In this and fimilar inftances we find, that an uncommon degree of exertion was attended with its ufual confequences, debility, and a total want of power to continue it to the fame extent; but the cafe is very different with birds, their motions are not impeded by the fame caufes, they glide through the air with a quicknefs fuperior to that of the {wifteft quadruped, and they can continue on the wing with the fame {peed for a confiderable length of time. Now, if we can fup- pofe a bird to go at the rate of only half a mile in a minute, for the {pace of twenty-four hours, it will have gone over, in that time, an extent of more than feven hundred miles, which is fuf- ficient to account for almoft the longeft migration; but if aid- ed by a favourable current of air, there is reafon to fuppofe that the fame journey may be performed in a much fhorter fpace of time. To thefe obfervations we may add, that the fight of birds is peculiarly quick and piercing ; and from the advantage they poffefs in being raifed to confiderable heights in the air, which is well known to be the cafe with the Stork, Bittern, and other kinds of birds, they are enabled, with a fagacity pe- culiar to inftinétive knowledge, to difcover the route they are to take, from the appearance of the atmofphere, the clouds, the direction of the winds, and other caufes; fo that, without having recourfe to improbable modes, it is eafy to conceive, from the velocity of their fpeed alone, that moft birds may tranfport themfelves to countries laying at great diftances, and acrofs vatt tracts of ocean. The following obfervations from-Catefby are very applicable, and will conclude our remarks on this head: ‘* The manner of “¢ their journeyings may vary according as the ftruCture of their “* bodies enables them to fupport themfelves in the air. Birds ‘¢ with fhort wings, fuch as the Redftart, Black-cap, &c. may ‘¢ pafs by gradual and flower movements; and there feems no ** neceflity for a precipitate paffage, as every day affords an in- * See Hiftory of Quadrupeds, page 6, 3d edition. INTRODUCTION. x¥ ‘6 creafe of warmth, and a continuance of food. It 1s probable ‘¢ thefe itinerants may perform their journey in the night-time, ‘¢ in order to avoid ravenous birds, and other dangers which <¢ day-light may expofe them to. The flight of the {maller ‘¢ birds of paflage acrofs the feas has, by many, been confidered <¢ as wonderful, and efpecially with regard to thofe with fhort ‘¢ wings, among which Quails feem by their ftructure little a- ‘¢ dapted for long flights; nor are they ever feen to continue “¢ on the wing for any length of time, and yet their ability for ¢ fuch flights cannot be doubted. The coming of thefe birds ‘¢ is certain and regular from every year’s experience, but the ‘¢ caufe and manner of their departure have not always been fo ‘¢ happily accounted for; in fhort, all we know of the matter ‘6 ends in this obfervation;—that Providence has created a « great variety of birds and other animals with conftitutions ‘¢ and inclinations adapted to their feveral wants and neceflitics, <¢ ag well as to the different degrees of heat and cold in the fe- <¢ veral climates of the world, whereby no country is deftitute ‘¢ of inhabitants, and has given them appetites for the produc- <¢ tions of thofe countries whofe temperature is fuited to their «¢ nature, as well as knowledge and ability to feek and find ¢¢ them out.” The migration of the Swallow tribe has been noticed by al- moft every writer on the natural hiftory of birds, and various opinions have been formed refpeéting their difappearance, and the ftate in which they fubfift during that interval. Some Na- turalifts fuppofe that they do not leave this ifland at the end of autumn, but that they lie in a torpid ftate, till the beginning of fummer, in the banks of rivers, in the hollows of decayed trees, in holes and crevices of old buildings, in fand banks, and the like: Some have even afferted that Swallows pafs the winter im- merfed in the waters of lakes and rivers, where they have been found in clufters, mouth to mouth, wing to wing, foot to foot, and that they retire to thefe places in autumn, and creep down the reeds to their fubaqueous retreats. In fupport of this opi- nion, Mr Klein very gravely afferts, on the credit of fome coun- xvi . INTRODUCTION. trymen, that Swallows fometimes affembled in numbers, cling- ing to a reed till it broke, and funk with them to the basiaats that their immerfion was preceded by a fong or dirges which lafted more than a quarter of an hour ; fometimes they laid hold of a firaw with their bills, and plunged down in fociety ; and that others formed a large mafs, by clinging together by the feet, and in this manner committing themfelves to the deep. It re» quires no great depth of reafoning to refute fuch palpable abfur- dities, or to fhew the phyfical impoflibility of a body, f{pecifical- ly lighter than water, employing another body lighter than it- felf for the purpofe of ‘mmerfion: But, admitting the pofhibi- lity of this curious mode of immerfion, it is by no means proba- ble that Swallows, or any other animal, in a torpid ftate, can ex- ift for any length of time in an element to which they have ne- ver been acouftomed,and are befides. totally unprovided. by Na~ ture with organs fuited to fuch a mode of fubfiftence. The celebrated Mr John Hunter informs us, ‘ that he had diffe&ted many Swallows, but found nothing in them different from other birds as to the organs of refpiration ;” and therefore concludes that it is highly abfurd to fappofe, that terreftrial ani- mals can remain any long time under water without drowning. It muft not however be denied, that Swallows have been fome- times found in a torpid ftate during the winter months ; but fuch inftances are by no means common, and will not fupport the in- ference, that, if any of them can furvive the winter in that ftate, the whole fpecies is preferved in the fame manner.* That other * There are various inftances on record, which bear the ftrongeft marks of veracity, of Swallows having been taken out of water, and of their having been fo far recovered by warmth as to exhibit evident figns of life, fo as even to fly about for a thort fpace of time. But whilft we admit the fact, we are not inclined to allow the conclufion generally drawn from it, viz. that Swallows, at the time of their difappearance, fre- quently immerfe themfelves in feas, lakes, and rivers, and at the proper feafon emerge and re-afflume the ordinary functions of life and anima- tion; for, it fhould be obferved, that in thofe inftances, which have been the beft authenticated, [See Forfter’s Tranflation of Kalm’s Travels into North America, p. 140—note.] it appears, that the Swallows fo taken up INTRODUCTION, xvij birds have been found in a torpid ftate may be inferred from the following curious fa&, which was communicated to us by a gentleman who faw the bird, and had the account from the perfon who found it. A few years ago, a young Cuckoo was found in the thickeft part of a clofe whin bufh; when ta- ken up it prefently difcovered figns of life, but was quite de- ftitute of feathers; being kept warm, and carefully fed, it grew and recovered its coat of feathers: In the fpring follow- ing it made its efcape, and in flying acrofs the river Tyne it gave its ufual call. We have obferved a fingle Swallow fo late as the latter end of O&obers Mr White, in his Natural Hil- tory of Selborne, mentions having feen a Houfe Martin flying about in November, long after the general migration had taken place. Many more inftances might be given of fuch late ap- pearances, which, added to the well-authenticated accounts of Swallows having been actually found ina torpid flate, leave us no room to doubt, that fuch young birds as have been late hatched, and confequently not ftrong enough to undertake a long voyage to the coaft of Africa, are left behind, and re- main concealed in hiding places till the return of {pring : On the other hand, that actual migrations of the Swallow tribes do take place, has been fully proved from a variety of well-attefted were generally found entangled amongft reeds and ruthes, by the fides, or in the fhallowgf parts of the lakes or rivers where they happened to be difcovered, and that having been brought to life fo far as to fly about, they all of them died in a few hours after. From the facts thus ftated we would infer, that at the time of the difappearance of Swallows, the reedy grounds by the fides of rivers and ftanding waters are generally dry, and that thefe birds, efpecially the later hatchings, which frequent {uch places for the fake of food, retire to them at the proper feafon, and lodge themfelves among the roots, or in the thickeft parts of the rank grafs which grows there; that during their ftate of torpidity they are liable to be covered with water, from the rains which follow, and are fometimes wafhed into the deeper parts of the lake or river where they have been accidentally taken up; and that probably the tranfient figns of life which they have difcovered on fuch occafions, have given rife to a varicty of vague and improbable accounts of their immerfion, Kc, h xviii INTRODUCTION. faéts, thoft of which have been taken from the obfervations of navigators who have been eye-witneffes of their flights, and whofe fhips have fometimes afforded a refting-place to the weary travellers. To the many on record we fhall add the following, which we received from a very fenfible mafter of a veffel, who, whilft he was failing early in the fpring between the iflands of Minor- ca and Majorca, faw great numbers of Swallows flying north- ward, many of whom alighted on the rigging of the fhip in the evening, but difappeared before morning. After all our in- quiries into this branch of natural economy, much yet remains to be known, and we may conclude, in the words of the inge- nious Mr White, * that whilft we obferve with delight with ‘¢ how much ardour and punétuality thofe little birds. obey “‘ the ftrong impulfe towards migration or hiding, imprinted ** on their minds by their great Creator, it is with no {mall de- “¢ gree of mortification that we reflec, that after all our pains ** and inquiries, we are not yet quite certain to what regions “* they do migrate, and are ftill farther embarrafled to find that ** fome do not actually migrate at all. ** Amtulive birds! fay where your hid retreat, “* When the froft rages, and the tempefts beat ; ** Whence your return, by fuch nice inftin& ae ** When Spring, {weet feafon, lifts het bloomy head? ** Such baffled fearches mock man’s prying pride, “ The GOD of NATURE is your fecret guide!” Molt birds, at certain feafons, live together in pairs; the union is formed in the fpring, and generally continues whilft the united efforts of both are neceflary in forming their tem- ‘porary habitations, and in rearing and maintaining their off- {pring. Eagles and other birds of prey continue their attach- ment for a much longer time, and fometimes for life. The nefts of birds are conftru@ted with fuch exquifite art, as to ex- ceed the utmoft ‘exertion of human ingenuity to imitate them, Their mode of building, the materials they make ufe of, as well ag the fituations they felect, are as various as the different kinds INTRODUCTION, Six of birds, and are all admirably adapted to their feveral wants and neceffities. Birds of the fame fpecies, whatever region of the globe they inhabit, colleét the fame materials, arrange them in the fame manner, and make choice of fimilar fituations for fixing the places of their temporary abodes. To defcribe minutely the different kinds of nefts, the various fubftances of which they are compofed, and the judicious choice of fituations, would fwell this part of our work much beyond its due bounds. Every part of the world furnifhes materials for the aerial archi- tects; leaves and {mall twigs, roots and dried grafs, mixed with clay, ferve for the external; whilft mofs, wool, fine hair, and the fofteft animal and vegetable downs, form the warm internal part of thefe commodious dwellings. The following beautiful lines from Thomfon are highly defcriptive of the bufy fcene which takes place during the time of nidification. ec a Some to the holly hedge ‘* Neftling repair, and to the thicket fome;”” &c. &c.* After the bufinefs of incubation is over, and the young are fuf- ficiently able to provide for themfelves, the nels are always abandoned by the parents, excepting thofe of the Eagle kind. The various gifts and endowments which the great Author of Nature has fo liberally beftowed upon his creatures in general, demand, in a peculiar manner, the attention of the curious Naturalift; amongft the feathered tribe in particular there 1s much room, in this refpeét, for minute and attentive inveftiga- tion. In purfuing our inquiries into that fyftem of ceconomyy by which every part of Nature is upheld and preferved, we are ftruck with wonder in obferving the havock and deftruction which every where prevail throughout the various orders of be- ings inhabiting the earth. Our humanity is interefted in that law of Nature, which devotes to deftruétion myriads of creatures to fupport and continue the exiftence of others ; but, although * See Thomfon’s Seafons—Spring. bz XX INTRODUCTION. 4 ° 5 | fi vane 70 , be a yf Nira, it 18 not allowed us to unravel the myfterious w orkings of Na ] ; ta ~ » | | »~ 2A foc ,o ‘- ak a ture through all her parts, 01 unfold her deep defigns, we are, neverthelefs, ftrongly led to the confideration of the means by oO 4 which individuals, as well as fpecies, are preferved and multiplied. The weak are frequently enabled to elude the purfuits of the ftrong, by flight or ftratagem ; fome are fcreened from the pur- fuit of their enemies, by an arrangement of colours happily affi- milated to the places which they moft frequent, and where they find either food or repofe; thus the Wryneck is {carcely to be diftinguifhed from the bark of the tree on which it feeds, or the Snipe from the foft and mofly ground by the {prings of water which it frequents ; the Great Plover finds its greateft fecurity in ftony places, to which its colours are fo nicely adapted, that the moft exact obferver may be very eafily deceived. The attentive Ornithologift will not fail to difcover numerous inftances of this kind, fuch as the Partridge, Plover, Quail, &c. Some are indebted to the brilliancy of their colours as the means of alluring their prey ; of this the Kingfifher is a remarkable in- {ftance, and deferves to be particularly noticed. This beautiful bird has been obferved, in fome fequeltered places, near the edge of a rivulet, expofing the vivid colours of its breaft to the full rays of the fun, and fluttering with expanded wings over the {mooth furface of the water; the fifth, attracted by the bright- nefs and fplendour of the appearance, are detained whilft the wily bird darts down upon them with unerring certainty. We do not fay that the mode of taking fith by torch-light has been derived from this praifed by the Kingfither, but every one mutt be flruck by the fimilarity of the means, Others, again, derive the fame advantage from the fimplicity of their exterior appearance; of this the Heron will ferve as an example. He may frequently be feen ftanding motionlefs by the edge of a piece of water, waiting patiently the approach of his prey, which he never fails to feize-as foon as it comes within reach of his long neck; he then reaffumes his former pofition, and con- tinues to wait with the fame patient attention as before. Moft of the fmaller birds are fupported, efpecially when INTRODUCTION. xxi young, by a profufion of caterpillars, {mall worms, and infeéis, with which every part of the vegetable world abounds ; which 18 by this means preferved from total deftruGtion, contrary to the commonly received opinion, that birds, particularly Sparrows, do much mifchief in deftroying the labours of the gardener and the hufbandman. It has been obferved, ** that a fingle pair of Sparrows, during the time they are feeding their young, will deftroy about four thoufand caterpillars weekly ; they likewife feed their young with butterflies and other winged infects, each of which, if not deftroyed in this manner, would be produétive of feveral hundreds of caterpillars.”? Swallows are almoft con- tinually upon the wing, and in their curious winding flights de- {troy immenfe quantities of flies and other infects which are con- tinually floating in the air, and which, if not deftroyed by thefe birds, would render it unfit for the purpofes of life and health. That ative little bird, the Tomtit, which has generally been fuppofed hoftile to the young and tender buds which appear in the {pring, when attentively obferved, may be feen running up and down amongft the branches, and picking the fmall worms which are concealed in the bloffoms, and which would effectual- ly deftroy the fruit. As the feafon advances, various other {mall birds, fuch as the Redbreaft, Wren, Winter Fauvette or Hedge-{parrow, Whitethroat, Redftart, &c. are all engaged in the fame ufeful work, and may be obferved examining every leaf, and feeding upon the infects which they find beneath them. —-Thefe are a few intlances of that fuperintending providential care, which is continually exerted in preferving the various ranks and orders of beings in the fcale of animated Nature; and al- though it is permitted that myriads of individuals fhould every moment be deftroyed, not a fingle fpecies is loft, but every link of the great chain remains unbroken Great Britain produces a more abundant variety of birds than moft northern countries, owing to the various condition of our lands, from the higheft flate of cultivation to that of the wildeft, moft mountainous, and woody. The great quantities ° b 3 me . Vist ta = 3 a = —— ne 5 we ewe so . oe << ae = ar zxil INTRODUCTION. of berries and other kinds of fruit produced in our hedges, heaths, and plantations, bring fmall birds in great numbers, and Our fhores, and the numerous little iflands adjacent to them, afford fhelter and protection to birds of prey in confequence : an infinite variety of almoft all kinds of water fowl. To enu- merate the various kinds of birds that vifit this ifland annually will not, we prefume, be unacceptable to our readers, nor im- The following are fele&ted chiefly from Mr White’s Natural Hiftory of Selborne, and are arranged nearly in the order of their appearing. proper in this part of our w ow AM AWN -« g JO It i2 13 14 15 16 Corncrake or Land Rail, 17 18 a, Wryneck, - - - - Smalleft Willow Wren, Houfe Swallow, - - Mar titis Ares ee Sand Martin, - - - Black-cap, - t ' ’ Nightingale, - - - Cuckooy: << 6% eS Middle Willow Wren, White-throat, - - - Medhart. His 6s. Great Plover or Stone Curlew, Grafshopper Lark, - URN PIO a Sacra ne Leffler Reed Sparrow, Largeft Willow Wren, Fern Owl, 0 oO Flycatcher, .- - « ork. Middle of March Latter end of ditto Middle of April Ibid Ibid Ibid Beginning of April Middle of ditto Ibid Ibid Ibid End of March Middle of April Latter end of ditto End of April Latter end of May Middle of ditto.* Mott of the foft-billed birds feed on infects, and not on grain or feeds, and therefore ufually retire before winter : ; but the fol- lowing, though they eat infeéts, remain with us during the whole year, viz. The Redbreaft, Winter Fauvette, and Wren, * This is the lateft fummer bird of paflage, INTRODUCTION, “xiii which frequent out-houfes and gardens, and eat f{piders, {mall worms, crumbs, &c. The Pied, the Yellow, and the Grey Wagtail, which frequent the heads of fprings, where the waters feldom freeze, and feed on the aurelie of infects u- fually depofited there : Befides thefe, the Whinchat, the Stonechatter, and the Golden-crefted Wren, are feen with us during the winter; the latter, though the leaft of all the Bri- tith birds, is very hardy, and can endure the utmoft feverity of our winters. The White rump, though not common, fometimes ftays the winter with us.—Of the winter birds of paflage, the following are the principal, viz. 1 The Redwing or Wind Thrufh. 2 The Fieldfare.—f[ Both thefe arrive in great numbers about Michaelmas, and depart about the end of February, or begin- ning of March. ] 3 The Hooded or Sea Crow vifits us in the beginning of winter, and departs with the Woodcock. 4. The Woodcock appears about Michaelmas, and liens us about the beginning of March, 5 Snipes are confidered by Mr White as birds of paflage, though he acknowledges that they frequently breed with us. Mr Pennant remarks, that their young are fo frequently found in Britain, that it may be doubted whether they ever entirely leave this ifland. 6 The Judcock or Jack Snipe. 7 The Wood Pigeon: Of the precife time of its arrival we are not quite certain, but fuppofe it may be fome time in April, as we have feen them in the north at that time. 8 The Wild Swan -frequents the coafts of this ifland in large flocks, but is not fuppofed to breed with us: It has been chiefly met with in the northern parts, and is faid to arrive at Lingey, one of the Hebrides, in O&ober, and remains there till March, when it retires more northward to breed. g The Wild Goofe paffes fouthward in October, and re- turns northward in April. b 4 xxiv INTRODUCTION. With regard to the Duck kind in general, they are moftly birds of paflage. Mr Pennant obferves, ** Of the numerous ‘* nutrition in full fecurity. They and their young quit their re- ** fpecies that form this genus, we know of no more than five | *¢ that breed here, viz. the Tame Swan, the Tame Goofe, the { rT. Shield Duck, the Eider Duck, and a very {mall number of i} “© the Wild Ducks: The reft contribute to form that amazing ¢ eign of water fowl that annually repair from moft parts H ‘ *¢ of Europe to the woods and lakes of Lapland and other arc- “¢ tic regions, there to perform the funGtions of incubation and i ‘¢ treats in September, and See themfelves over Europe. 1; ** With us they make their appearance in the beginning” of 4 * — (t ee : ’ Pm — 7 1 ** October, circulate firft round our fhores, and, when compel- ‘¢ led by fevere froft, betake themfelves to our lakes and ** vers.’’-—In winter the Bernacles and Brent Geefe appear in valt flocks on the north-weft coaft of Britain, and leave us in february, when they migrate as far as Lay pland, Greenland, or 7 oe a a? Spitzberge ne The Solon Geefe or Gannets are birds of paflage; their firft | . appearance is ia March, and they continue till Auguft or Sep- iH tember. The Long-legged Plover and Sande tling vifit us in ih winter only ; and it is wort! ry of remark, that every fpecies of lt the Curlews, Woodcocks, Sandpipers, and Plovers, which for- | fake us in the {pring, retire to Sweden, Poland, Pruffia, Nor- I way, and Lapland to breed, and return to us as foon as the young are able to fly; the frofts, which fet in early in thofe countries, depriving is them tota lly of fubfiftence. Befides thefe, there is a great variety of birds which perform partial migrations, or flittings, from one part of the country to another. During hard winters, when the furface of the earth is covered with fnow, many birds, fuch as Larks, Snipes, &c, withdraw from the inland parts of the country towards the fea-fhores in queft of food 1; others, as the Wren, the Redbreatt, and a variety of {mall birds, quit the fields, and approach the pep: of men. The Bohemian Chatterer, the Grofbeak, and the Crofsbill, are only occafional vilitors, and obferve no ee ee Pee Senso INTRODUCTION, xX¥ regular times in making their appearance: Great numbers of the former were taken in the county of Northumberland the latter end of the years 1789 and 1790, before which they had not been obferved fo far fouth as that county, and fince that time have never been feen there. The ages of birds are various, and do not feem to bear the fame proportion to the time of acquiring their growth as has been remarked with regard to quadrupeds. Mott birds acquire their full dimenfions in a few months, and are capable of propa- gation the firft fummer after they are hatched. In proportion to the fize of their bodies, birds are much more vivacious, and live longer, than either man or quadrupeds: Notwithftanding the difficulties which arife in afcertaining the ages of birds, there are inftances of great longevity in many of them. Geefe and Swans have been known to attain the age of one hundred or upwards; Ravens are very long-lived birds, and are faid fometimes to exceed a century; Eagles are fuppofed to arrive at a great age; Pigeons are known to live more than twenty years; and even Linnets and other {mall birds have been kept in cages from fifteen to twenty years. To the pra€tical Ornithologift there arifes a confiderable gra- tification in being able to difcern the diftinguifhing characters of birds as they appear at a diftance, whether at reft, or during their flight; for not only every fpecies has fomething peculiar to itfelf, but each genus has its own appropriate marks, upon which a judicious obferver may difcriminate with almoft uner- ring certainty. Of thefe, the various modes of flight afford the moft certain and obvious means of diltinétion, and fhould be noted with the moft careful attention. From the bold and lofty flight of the Eagle, to the fhort and fudden fittings of the Sparrow or the Wren, there is an ample field for the curious inveftigator of Nature, on which he may dwell with inexpref- fible delight, tracin nations which every where prefent themfelves to his view. The g the various movements of the feathered notes, or, as it may with more propriety be called, the language, of birds, whereby they are enabled to exprefs, in no inconfider- xxvi INTRODUCTION. able degree, their various paffions, wants, and feelings, muft be particularly noticed :* The great power of their voice, by which they can communicate their fentiments and intentions to each other, and by that means are able to aét by mutual concert, ad- ded to that of the wing, by which they can remove from place to place with inconceivable celerity and difpatch, is peculiar to the feathered tribes; it gives them a decided fuperiority over every {pecies of quadrupeds, and affords them the greateft means of fafety from thofe attacks to which their weaknefs would otherwife expofe them. The focial inftin& among birds is pe- culiarly lively and interefting, and likewife proves an effectual means of prefervation from the various arts which are made ufe of to circumvent and deftroy them. Individuals may _perith, and the {pecies may fuffer a diminution of its numbers; but its inftinéts, habits, and ceconomy remain entire, * White’s Selborne. 9 SAS 5 == \ SD iar ay at —_ i) ‘A Page. Page. Birds of Prey > 1 | Of the Owl - : 43 The Falcon tribe - 2 1 Great-eared Owl 45 1 Golden Eagle - 5 2 Long-eared Owl 46 2 Ringtailed Eagle - 3 Short-eared Owl 48 s: Whise-tiled Kagle> 9] 4.2 ee ee 4 Sea Eagle 5 +s 5 White Owl - 51 5 Ofprey x of oe 6 Tawny Owl ~ 9 -§3 6 Common Buzzard = 15 7 Little Owl e 54 4” Honey Buzzard 17 8 Moor Buzzard 19 9 Kite : 21 | Of the Shrike + - 56 10 Gofhawk . 23 1 Great afh-coloured 11 Sparrowhawk 27 Shrike . 58 12 Jer-Falcon - 26 z Red-backed Shrike 60 33 Gentil-Falcon 30 3 Woodchat - 61 14 Lanner - - 32 15 Hen Harrier - 33 16 Ringtal - - 35 | Birds of the Pie kind 63 17 Keftril - > 36 1 Raven - - 66 18 Hobby - - 39 2 Carrion Crow - 68 19 Merlin - - 4! 3 Hooded Crow - 69 CONTENTS. XxXViil Page. Page. _" 3 } . -_ “y) 2A > I2¢ 4 Rook bat om a1 | Of the Grofbeak 9 “O15 )1 . 13 5 Jackdaw ° 73 1 Crofsbill 3 6 Magpie. - 75 | 2 Grofbeak eae >: ‘ >) : oe 7 Red-legged Crow m7 3 Pine Grofbeak 135 ’ Sn ve en L P . 8 Nutcracker ‘ "9 4 Green Grofbeak 136 fe > 9 Jay : . 80 5 Bullfinch : 138 10 Chatterer , 83 tt Roller q 3 85 | r2 Starling ; 88 | Of the Bunting 140 Rofe-coloured Ouzel 91 r Bunting ee = Rung Ouzel : 92 2 Yellow Bunting 143 . “ | = : " Black Ouzel - 94} 3 Black-headed Bun- Miffel Thrufh on: ting tw ‘ee Fieldfare . 98 4 Snow Bunting 148 ry. A Cease ina Phroitle §. . £00 5 Tawny Bunting 150 Redwing ‘ 102 Cuckoo . » 804 4 . nar - 7 vw W ryneck ° t ] I Of the Finch Py ° 153 1 Houfe Sparrow 154 2 Mountain Sparrow 158 The Woodpeckers - 1t4{ 3 Chaflinch , 160 1 “Green Woodpecker 116 4. Mountain Finch 163 2 Greater {potted § Goldfinch 165 Woodpecker 118 6 Sifkin ‘ « 167 3 Middle fpotted Woodpecker 119 Sanne 8 171 4 Leffler fpotted Wood- g Greater Redpole 173 pecker ; 120 | 10 Leffler Redpole . 174 ~J Canary Finch . 1 69 Nuthatch . t2! Hoopoe . . 123 Creeper ; 125 | Of the Lark . .) 146 1 Skylark ° i78 te mem ce 2 Fieldlark ., ; 180 Of the Paferine order 127 3 Grafshopper Lark i) CO —, CONTENTS. Xxx +a 3 RRs Page. | £ ave > | © 4 Wood Lark « 183 | -Of the Titmoufe » ~. 235 gs Titlark .« + 185 1 Greater Titmoufe 237 2 Blue Titmoufe . 239 Bes TEs oi 3 Cole Titmoufe . 241 Of the Wagtail ° 187 4 Marth Titmoufe 242 1 Pied Wagtal . 188 | 5 Long-tailed Tit- 2 Grey Wagtail 190 | moufe . + 243 3 Yellow Wagtail 191 6 Bearded Titmoufe 246 Of the Flycatchers ~. 193 | Of the Savatlow : 248 1 Pied Flycatcher 195 | 1 Chimney Swallow 252 2 Spotted Flycatcher 196{ # Martin . oc a> | 3 Sand Martin a eee 3 | 4 Swit eee wa Of the Warblers ; 198 | Night-Jar ; 262 1 Nightingale. 199 2 Dartford Warbler 203 3 Redbreatt ‘ 204 | Of the Dove kind . 265 4 Redftatt . . 208 1 Wild Pigeon . .267 5 Fauvette . . 209 z Ring Dove . 27° 6 Leffler Fauvette 212 3 Turtle Dove +. 272 » Winter Fauvette 213 | 8 Reed Fauvette . 215 | g Blackcap . ~ 217 | Of the Gallinaceous kind 274 10 Whitethroat . 219 1 Domettic Cock 276 it Yellow Willow Wren220 2 Pheafant ; 282 12 Willow Wren 222 a Torkey <5 286 13 Leaft Willow Wren 223 4 Peacock ° 289 14 Golden-crefted Wren 224 5 Pintado . ». 293 15 Wren. . 227 6 Wood Groufe . 295 16 White-rump . 229 ” Black Groufe . 298 17 Whinchat . . 231 8 Red Groufe . 301 18 Stonechat : 233 g White Groufe . 303 LxxX CONTENTS. Page. | Page. 10 Partridge 305 | Great Plove ae 11 Quail : - g08 |. 2 Pee-wit. . i Waa 12 Corncrake . 311 | 3 Golden Plover 329 13 Great Buttard 314} 4 Gray Plover . 331 14. Little Buftard . 318 : s Dotterel ..»:.%. 4 392 | © Ring Dotterel 334 Of the Plover 320 | = WE ne tee SSS An am aie { , vi ME WOR AYN tag ane ”” ite HISTORY OF BRITISH BIRDS. VOL. I. OR So 6 FP Cab BORA MC dE CE BRITISH BIRDS. Lp yore nmin CCC Dea ORnuit! CoeeSnnMGaeNne® BIRDS OF PREY: R.apacious birds, or thofe which fubfift chiefly on flefh, are much lefs numerous than ravenous quadrupeds ; and it feems wifely provided by na- ture, that their powers fhould be equally confined and limited as their numbers; for if, to the rapid flight and penetrating eye of the Eagle, were join- ed the ftrength and voracious appetite of the Lion, the Tiger, or the Glutton, no aftifice could evade the. one, and no {peed could efcape the other. The characters of birds of the ravenous kind are particularly ftrong, and eafily to be diftinguifh- ed; the formidable talons, the large head, the {trong and crooked beak, indicate their ability for rapine and carnage; their difpofitions are fierce, and their nature untractable ; unfociable and cruel, they avoid the haunts of civilization, and retire to the moft. melancholy and wild recefles of nature, where they can enjoy, in gloomy folitude, the ef- feéts of their depredatory excurfions.' The fierce- els of their nature extends even to their young, B i 2 BRITISH BIRDS- which they drive from the neft at a very early period; the difficulty of procuring a conftant fup- ply of food for them fometimes overcomes the feelings of parental affection; and they have been known to deftroy them in the fury of difappointed hunger. Different from all other kinds, the fe- male of birds of prey is larger and ftronger than the male: naturalifts have puzzled themfelves to aflign the reafon of this extraordinary property, but the final caufe at leaft is obvious :—The care of rearing her young being folely intrufted to the female, nature has furnifhed her with more ample powers to provide for her own wants and thofe of her offspring. This formidable tribe conftitutes the firft order among the genera of birds. Thofe of our own country confift only of two kinds, viz. the Falcon and the Owl,.We {hall begin with the former. THE FALCON TRIBE. Te numerous families of which this kind is compofed, are found in almoft every part of the world, from the frigid to the torrid zone; they are divided into various clafles or tribes, confift- ing of Eagles, Kites, Buzzards, Hawks, &c. and are readily known by the following diftinguifhing characterittics : The bill is ftrong, fharp, and much hooked, and is furnithed with a naked fin or cere fituated at BRITISH BIRDS. J the bafe, in which are placed the noftrils; the head and neck are well clothed with feathers, which fufficiently *diftinguifh it from every one of the vulture kind; the legs and feet are icaly, claws large and ftrong, much hooked, and very iharp: Birds of this fpecies are alfo diftinguifhed by their undaunted courage, and great aétivity. Buffon, {peaking of the Eagle, compares it with the Lion, and afcribes to it the magnanimity, the jtrength, and the forbearance of that noble quadru- ped. ‘The Eagle defpifes {mall animals, and dif- regards their infults; he feldom devours the whole of his prey, but, like the Lion, leaves the fragments to other animals; though famifhed with hunger, he difdains to feed on carrion. The eyes of the Eagle have the glare of thofe of the Lion, and are nearly of the fame colour; the claws are of the fame fhape, and the cry of both is powerful and terrible; deftined for war and plunder, they are equally fierce, bold, and untractable. Such is the relemblance which that ingenious and fanciful wri- ter has pictured of thefe two noble animals; the characters of both are ftriking and prominent, and hence the Eagle is faid to extend his domi- nion over the birds, as the Lion over the quadru- peds. The fame writer alfo obferves, that in a ftate of nature, the Eagle never engages in a folitary chace but when the female is confined to her eggs or her B 2 a 2 Seats es 4 BRITISH BIRDS. young: at this feafon the return of the fmaller birds affords plenty of prey, and he can with eafe provide for the fuftenance of himfelf and his mate: at o- ther times they unite their exertions, and are al- ways feen clofe together, or at a fhort diftance from each other. ‘Thofe who have an opportunity of obferving their motions, fay, that the one beats the bufhes, whilft the other, perched on an emi- nence, watches the efcape of the prey. They of- ten foar out of the reach of human fight; and not- withftanding the immenfe diftance, their cry is ftill heard, and then refembles the barking of a {mall dog. ‘Though a voracious bird, the Eagle can en- dure the want of fuftenance for a long time. A common Eagle, caught in a fox trap, is faid to have pafled five whole weeks without the leaft food, and did not appear fenfibly weakened. till towards the laft week, after which a period was put to its exiftence. ——- —= ——— i f H I f x SO at ae ia vas COpEet Mids seh LA BRITISH BIRDS. KSA os Hat ah ANN Anesth nN : \ wk \ int aN SERN BSSQQ ATA Ti, is \y WN IN NY INS We NX SS ain we “ SJ Ne MY \ Ww Mh NAAN Se he »\ i tine \\ Ni \\\ : iy na Nie AUN SS Wow . ' | Se . y . SN Bi ‘he . ¢ SSS "ih * th “ SS S ~~ iN UN Xs Ay WS Y A\e THE GOLDEN EAGLE, (Falco Chryfetcs, Linnzus.—Le grand Aigle, Buffon.) It meafures, from Is the largeft of the genus the point of the bill to the extremity of the to B 3 oi 6 BRITISH BIRDS. upwards of three feet; and in breadth, from wing to wing, above eight; and weighs from fixteen to eighteen pounds. The male is fmaller, and does not weigh more than twelve pounds. The bill is Of a deep blue colour; the cere yellow ; the eyes are large, deep funk, and covered by a2 projecting brow; the iris is of a fine bright yel- low, and fparkles with uncommon luftre. The general colour is deep brown, mixed with tawny on the head and neck; the quills are chocolate, with white fhafts; the tail is black, {potted with ath We colour; the legs are yellow, and feathered down to | the toes, which are very fcaly ; the claws are re- markably large; the middle one is two inches in Hd length.—This noble bird is found in various parts of Europe ; it abounds moft in the warmer regions, and has feldom been met with farther north than the fifty-fifth degree of latitude. It is known to breed in the mountainous parts of Ireland; it lays SSeS eS SS ee = = = er eee re ele ~ - Gib 4 SA Ae + renee ee SS -eaee ? three, and fometimes four eggs, of which it feldom happens that more than two are prolific. Mr Pen. nant fays there are inftances, though rare, of their having bred in Snowdon Hills. Mr Wallis, in his Natural Hiftory of N orthumberland, fays, it former- ly had its aery on the higheft and fteepeft part of Cheviot. In the beginning of January, 1736, a very large one was fhot near Warkworth, which meafured, from point to point of its wings, eleven feet and a quarter, — a : = 7 ——— = = ae ~ a == ~ ae : = = ——---— ———EeEEee — ~ 7 - é“ — = a ; one am = < = _ i i en = = = et +e « = : : —— —— = : | = BRITISH BIRDSe 7 THE RINGTAILED EAGLE. (Falco Fulvus. Lin.—L’ Aigle Commun. Buff.) Tus is the common Eagle of Buffon, and, ac- cording to that author, includes two varieties, the brown and the black Eagle; they are both of the B 4 Ee g BRITISH BIRDS. fame brown colour, diftinguifhed only by a deep. er fhade; and are nearly of the fame fize. In both, the upper part of the head and neck is mixed with ruit colour, and the bafe of the larger feathers marked with white; the bill is of a dark horn co. lour, the cere of a bright yellow, the iris hazel, and between the bill and the eye there is a naked {kin of a dirty brown colour; the legs are feathered to the toes, which are yellow, and the claws black ; the tail is diftinguifhed by a white ring, which co- vers about two thirds of its length; the remaining part is black. The Ringtailed Eagle is more numerous and diffufed than the Golden Eagle, and prefers more northern climates. It is found in France, Ger- many, Switzerland, Great Britain, and in America as far north as Hudfon’s Bay. a eo FF as ee —— — et ee —,- oo ee ae Se SSS 7 Se eee BRITISH BIRDS» 9 A a a a = a VE gl ae he y ay eit Big Bh oN . 7 *. . * > 4 5 ° * ues ¢ a4 "re ser4i sh LE, snremmnca lene gy, ahi PRES © Bui 4a Tics THE WHITE-TAILED EAGLE. i GREAT ERNE—CINEREOUS EAGLE. ‘ ° > ° (Falco Albiulla, Lin.—-Le grand Pygargue, Buti.) . — =~ = — a — = — ~=z —=— LT Se ee = = a ~aeae Some sn eS Ba Rime rs ee ws Se- ae - ee Se 2 neem o sneer oth ~ = [Io BRITISH BIRDS. Or this there appear to be three varieties, which differ chiefly in fize, and confift of the following: the great Erne, or Cinereous Eagle, of Latham and Pennant; the {mall Erne, or leffer White-tailed Eagle; and the White-headed Erne, or Bald Eagle. The two firft are diftinguifhed only by their fize, and the laft by the whitenefs of its head and neck, The white-tailed Eagle is inferior in fize to the Golden Eagle; the beak, cere, and eyes are of a pale yellow; the fpace between the beak and the eye is of a blueifh colour, and thinly covered with hair; the fides of the head and neck are of a pale ath colour, mixed with reddifh brown; the general colour of the plumage is brown, dark- eft on the upper part of the head, neck, and back; the quill feathers are very dark; the breaft is ir- regularly marked with white fpots; the tail is white; the Iegs, which are of a bright yellow, are feathered a little below the knees; the claws are black. This bird inhabits all the northern parts of Europe, and is found in Scotland and Many parts of Great-Britain; it is equal in {trength and vi- gour to the common Eagle, but more furious ; and is faid to drive its young ones from the neft, after having fed them only a very fhort time, It has commonly two or three young, and builds its neft upon lofty trees. mee a BRITISH BIRDS. if HI at i i THE SEA EAGLE, (Falco Ofifragus, Lin.—L’Orfraie, Buff.) Tuts bird is nearly as large as the Golden Eagle, meafuring in length three feet and a half, but its expanded wings do not reach above feven feet. 12 BRITISH BIRDS, Its bill is large, much hooked, and of a blueifh .colour; its eye is yellow; a row of {trong briltly feathers hangs down from its under bill next to its throat, from whence it has been termed the’ beard- ed Eagle; the top of the head and back part of the neck are dark brown, inclining to black; the feathers on the back are variegated by a lighter brown, with dark edges; the fcapulars are pale brown, the edges nearly white; the breaft and belly whitifh, with irregular fpots of brown; the tail feathers are dark brown; the outer edges of the exterior feathers whitifh; the quill feathers and thighs are dufky; the legs and feet yellow; the claws, which are large, and form a compleat femicircle, are of a fhining black. It is found in various parts of Europe and America; it is faid to lay only two eggs during the whole year, and frequently produces only one young one; it is a SS S—EaeT eS eee == ee ee an SSS sss anaes le ee ~ = however widely difperfed, and was met with at Botany Ifland by Captain Cook. It lives chiefly on fifth; its ufual haunts are by the fea-fhore; it alfo frequents the borders of large lakes.and ri- vers; and is faid to fee fo diftin&tly in the dark, as to be able to purfue and catch its prey during the night. The ftory of the Eagle, brought to the ground after a fevere confli&@ with a cat which it had feized and taken up into the air with its ta- lons, is very remarkable. Mr Barlow, who was an eye-witnels of the fact, made a drawing of it, which he afterwards engraved, Pn 3s o = — —-— _ = = =p aS —— a = oe - + > , ¥ : rei 2 i et itatitet alate tateteter > aoe — <= —s = — -_---- — _ = — = ere —_-— Se = — a . = < - = Spores - yy — ss ie —He- = ee ee 14 BRITISH BIRDS. tends down the fides of the neck toward the wing; the upper part of the body is brown; the two middle feathers of the tail are brown, the others are marked on the inner webs with alternate bars of brown and white; the legs are very fhort and thick, being only two inches and a quarter long, and two inches in circumference ; they are of a pale blue colour; the claws black; the outer toe is larger than the inner one, and turns eafily back- ward, by which means this bird can more readily fecure its flippery prey. Button obferves that the Ofprey is the moft nu- merous of the large birds of prey, and is fcattered over the extent of Europe, from Sweden to Greece, and that it is found even in Egypt and Nigritia. Its haunts are on the fea fhore, and on the bor- ders of rivers and lakes; its principal food is fith; it darts upon its prey with great rapidity, and with undeviating aim. The Italians compare its de- {cent upon the water to a piece of lead falling up- on that element, and diftinguifh it by the name of Auguifta Piumbina, or the Leaden Eagle. It builds its neft on the ground, among reeds, and lays three or four eggs, of an elliptical form, ra- ther lefs than thofe of a hen. The Carolina and Cayenne Ofpreys are varieties of this {pecies. BRITISH BIRDS- 15 THE COMMON BUZZARD: (Falco Buteo, Lin —La Bufe, Buff.) M. Burrow diftinguifhes the Kites and the Buz- zards from the Eagles and Hawks by their habits and difpofitions, which he compares to thofe of the Vultures, and places them after thofe birds. Though pofleffed of ftrength, agility, and weapons to defend themfelves, they are cowardly, inattive, and flothful; they will fly before a Sparrow-hawk, and when overtaken will fuffer themfelves to be } : : i i} 1 at ibe 7 { —— ae : a> StS = = 16 BRITISH BIRDS. beaten, and even brought to the ground without tefiftance. The Buzzard is about twenty inches in length, and in breadth four feet and a half; its bill is of a lead colour; eyes pale yellow ; the upper parts of the body are of a dufky brown colour; the wings and tail are marked with bars of a darker hue ; the upper parts pale, variegated with a light red- difh brown; the legs are yellow; claws black. This well-known bird is of a fedentary and indo- lent difpofition ; it continues for many hours per- ched upon a tree or eminence, from whence it darts upon the game that comes within its reach; it feeds on birds, {mall quadrupeds, reptiles, and infects ; its neft is conftru&ted with {mall branches, lined in the infide with wool, and other foft mate- rials; it lays two or three eggs, of a whitith co- lour, fpotted with yellow; it feeds and tends its young with great afliduity. Ray affirms, that if the female be killed during-the time of incubation, the male Buzzard takes the charge of them, and pa- tiently rears the young till they are able to pro- vide for themfelves. Birds of this {pecies are fub- ject to greater variations than moft other birds, icarcely two ‘being alike; fome are entirely white, of others the head only is white, and Others again are mottled with brown and white. We were favoured with one of thefe birds by John Trevelyan, Efq. of Wallington, in the county of Northumberland, by whom it was. fhot in the BRITISH BIRDS, 17 act of devouring its prey, which confifted of a par- tridge it had juft killed: The flefh was entirely feparated from the bones, which, with the legs and wings, were afterwards difcovered laying at a {mall diftance from the place where it had been fhot. THE HONEY BUZZARD. (Falco Apivorus, Lin.—La Bondree, Buff.) Is as large as the Buzzard, meafuring twen- ty-two inches in length; its wings extend above C i8 BRITISH BIRDS. four feet; its bill is black, and rather longer than that of the Buzzard; its eyes are yellow; its head is large and flat, and of an afh colour; upper parts of the body dark brown; the under parts white, fpotted or barred with rufty brown on the breaft and belly; tail brown, marked with three broad duiky bars, between each of which are two or three of the fame colour, but narrower; the legs are ftout and fhort, of a dull yellow colour; claws black. ‘This bird builds its neft fimilar to that of the Buzzard, and of the fame materials; its eggs are of an afh colour, with {mall brown fpots: It fometimes takes pofleflion of the nefts of other birds, and feeds its young with wafps and other in- fefts; it is fond of field mice, frogs, lizards, and infects: it does not foar like the Kite, but flies low from tree to tree, or from butfh to bufh: It is found in all the northern parts of Europe, and in the open parts of Ruffia and Siberia, but is not fo common in England as the Buzzard. Buffon obferves, that it is frequently caught in the winter, when it is fat and delicious eating. BRITISH BIRDS. 19 MOOR BUZZARD. DUCK HAWK, OR WHITE-HEADED HARPY. (Falco ZEruginofus, Lin.—Le Bufard, Buff ) Lenctru above twenty-one inches; the bill is black; cere and eyes yellow; the whole crown of the head is of a yellowifh white, lightly tinged with brown; the throat is ofa light ruft colour ; the reft of the plumage is of a reddifh brown, with pale edges ; the greater wing coverts tipped with white; the legs are yellow; claws black. Our figure and Ci 2 es aig ee ae = = p> ser - it fi i) | *, ar iy) th, if it HE v fi 20 BRITISH BIRDS. defcription are taken from a very fine living bird fent us by John Silvertop, Efg. of Minifter-Acres, in the county of Northumberland, which very nearly agreed with that figured in the Planches Enluminees. Birds of this kind vary much—in fome the crown and back part of the head are yel- low; and in one deicribed by Mr Latham, the whole bird was uniformly of a chocolate brown, with a tinge of ruft colour. It preys on rabbits, young wild ducks, and other water fowl, and like. wile feeds on fifh, frogs, reptiles, and even infe@ts: Its haunts are in hedges and bufhes near pools, marthes, and rivers, that abound with fifth; it builds its neft a little above the furface of the ground, or in hillocks covered with thick herbage; the female lays three or four eggs, of a whitith colour, irregularly fprinkled with dufky {pots :— Though fmaller, it is more a€tive and bolder than the Common Buzzard; and when purfued, it meets its antagonift, and makes a vigorous defence. RRITISH BIRDS, z f THE KITE. PUTTOK, FORK-TAILED KYTE, OR GLEAD. (Falco Milous, Lin.—Le Milan Royal, Buif.) Tuts bird is eafily diftinguifhed from the Buz- zard by its forked tail, which is its peculiar and diftinguifhing feature : Its length is about two feet ; its bill is of a horn colour, furnifhed with briftles at its bale; its eyes and cere are yellow; the fea- thers on the head and neck are Jong and narrow, of a hoary colour, ftreaked with brown down the middle of each; the body is of a reddifh brown co- lour, the margin of each feather being pale; the C 3 = SS ee Se SS eee co eer Se — ee f ne = = Bo ae -_ = - = - : = SR ee “a <<< i ES ee 22 BRITISH BIRDS. quills are dark brown; the legs yellow; and the claws black. It is common in England, and con- tinues with us the whole year: It is found in va- rious parts of Europe, in very northern latitudes, from whence before winter it retires towards E- gypt in great numbers; it is faid to breed there, and return in April to Europe, where it breeds a fecond time, contrary to the nature of rapacious birds in general. The female lays two or three eggs of a whitifh colour, {potted with pale yellow, and of a roundifh form. ‘Though the Kite weighs fomewhat lefs than three pounds, the extent of its wings is more than five feet; its flight is rapid, and it foars very high in the air, frequently beyond the reach of our fight,—yet at this diftance it perceives its food diftinétly, and defcends upon its prey with irrefiftible force; its attacks are confined to fmall animals and birds ; it is particularly fond of young chickens, but the fury of their mother is generally fuficient to drive away the robber. BRITISH BIRDS,» 23 lS Ne eo ee ae =" — a ee " Palate fn ta 'r.s ee. Sainte N Tete", ————— THE GOSHAWK. (Falco Palumbarius, Lin.—L’ Autour, Buff.) Tus bird is fomewhat longer than the Buzzard, but flenderer and more beautiful; its length is one foot ten inches; its bill-is blue, tipped with black ; cere green; eyes yellow; over each eye there is a whitifh line; the head and all the upper parts of the body are of a deep brown colour, each fide of the neck being irregularly marked with white ; the breaft and belly are white, with a number of wavy lines or bars of black; the tail is long, of an afh C4 = - —T Se ee ¥ = = > 24 BRITISH BIRDS. colour, and croffled with four or five dufky bars; the legs are yellow, and the claws black; the wings are much fhorter than the tail. M. de Buf: fon, who brought up two young birds of this kind, = a Se re ~ >< io , a =z <5 == —— = A He 2 eS Me = aos Sad a male and a female, makes the following obferva- tions: ‘hat the Gofhawk, before it has fhed its fea- thers, that is, in its firft year, is marked on the i} {i 8| i 14} f breaft and belly with longitudinal brown fpots; hut after it has had two moultings they difappear, and their place is occupied by tranfverfe bars, which continue during the reft of its life: He obferves further, that though the male was much fmaller than the female, it was fairer and more vicious: The Gofhawk feeds on mice and fmall birds, and eagerly devours raw flefh; it plucks the birds very neatly, and tears them into pieces before it eats them, but fwallows the pieces entire ; and frequent- ly dilgorges the hair rolled up in {mall pellets. The Gofhawk is found in France and Germany; itis not very common in this country, but is more frequent in Scotland; it is likewife common in North America, Ruffia, and Siberia: In Chinefe Tartary there is a variety which is mottled with brown and yellow. They are faid to be ufed by the Emperor of China in his {porting excurfions, when he is ufually attended by his grand falconer, and a thoufand of inferior rank. Every bird has a filver plate faftened to its foot, with the name of the falconer who had the charge of it, that in cafe it fhould be loft it may be reftored to the proper eo =e — SS — a *7ee™ se-, « ; ' } 4 : | : | hhh { Hy ! : | \ i tii ie ‘ 1 { | mi, 4d im) * | ' | , " ‘ { r wv r J +) et} Net | Pn » 7 * : | | | } cue 7 4 : 3 ‘ 4 f j a - . ant ‘ MA e, et We +) rl * a < ‘ 7 a oe “ —opermmniedaemiinens Ss Kee: ma ine > SS SS eee ne ee es —— , - - eS ——— < SoS a ae Be BRITISH BIRDS, 25 perfon; but if he fhould not be found, the bird is delivered to another officer called the guardian of loft birds, who, to make his fituation known, ere¢ts his ftandard in a confpicuous place among the ar- my of hunters. In former times the cuftom of carrying a hawk on the hand was confined to men of high diftinétion, fo that it was a laying among the Welth, “* you may know a gentleman by his hawk, horfe, and greyhound.” Even the ladies in thofe times were partakers of this gallant {port, and have been reprefented in {culpture with hawks on their hands. At prefent this noble diverfion is wholly laid afide in this country; the advanced ftate of agriculture which every where prevails, and the confequent improvement and inclofure of lands, would but ill accord with the purfuits of the falconer, who requires a large and extenfive range of country, where he may purfue his game without moleftation to himfelf, or injury to his neighbour. The expence which attended this fport was very confiderable, which confined it to princes and men of the higheft rank, In the time of James I. Sir Thomas Monfon is faid to have given a thouland pounds for a caft of hawks. In the reign of Ed- ward III, it was made felony to fteal a hawk; to take its eggs, even in a perfon’s own ground, was punifhable with imprifonment for a year and a day, together with a fine at the king’s pleafure. Such was the pleafure our anceftors took in this royal fport, and fuch were the means by which they en- 26 BRITISH BIRDS; deavoured to fecure it.—Befides the bird juft de- {cribed, there are many other kinds which were formerly in high eftimation for the fports of the field; thefe were principally the Jer-Falcon, the Falcon, the Lanner, the Sacre, the Hobby, the Keftril, and the Merlin: Thefe are called the long- winged hawks, and are diftinguifhed from the Gofhawk, the Sparrowhawk, the Kite, and the Buzzard, which are of fhorter wing, flower in their motions, more indolent, and lefs courageous than the others, So aes ee = Se tiegtel> --— —_ > a SS - = er ee tiie ester tee = Mh : ee a - - a — —_—— —— a 7 ye rer we aoe eum * wot aseu € — ic - = > Spa aad — = a — a oe = ——— es =———-— == I= ae ome eta? ~ . : ee ee = = — 5 — — Se : = a oe NS A - awe sf > x os oe ? 5 — - - — - — tine _ ee eens a Ses SS ee == eS = ee ee Ses — 7 = “a , on . . na “ ~ . . > . ~ = ae a F ts Sine Se ania a — : ee — | = —— = > a v. ol + a oe, BSS BRITISH BIRDS. 31 there were as many varieties of the Falcon as of the Pigeon, the Hen, and other domeitic birds. In this way new fpecies have been introduced, and va- rieties multiplied without end: An over-anxious defire of noting all the minute differences exifting in this part of the works of nature has fometimes led the too curious inquirer into unneceflary dif- tinctions, and has been the means of introducing confufion and irregularity into the fyftems of orni- thologifts. Our countryman, Latham, makes twelve varieties of the common Falcon, of which one is a young Falcon, or yearling—another is the Haggard, or old Falcon—whillt others differ only in fome uneflential point, arifing from age, fex, or climate. . Buffon, however, reduces the whole to two kinds—the Gentil, which he fuppofes to be the fame with the common Falcon, differing only in feafon ;. and the Peregrine, or Paflenger Falcon, This laft is rarely met with in Britain, and confe- quently is but little known with us: It is about the fize of the common Falcon; its bill is blue, black at the point; cere and irides yellow; the up- per parts of the body are elegantly marked with bars of blue and black; the breaft is of a yel- lowifh white, marked with a few fmall dufky lines ; the belly, thighs, and vent of a greyith white, crofled with dufky bands; the quills are dufky, {potted with white; the tail is finely barred with blue and black; the legs are yellow; the claws black. ay lo Pate thle ta tete ts teats state & ts ts ae Gia 2a yea + SSS igo ey a ‘e , e '- iy < = ae — —— — = as = * = as _- - = = = —. = - re 2 SEG PRS. a See 35 Se ae se ean? oe : = == —s 2 => > a = - gee = - ~ 7 uj he hil 1 aa i) iy Hii ) a TH : t iy a 32 BRITISH BIRDS. THE LANNER. (Falco Lanarius, Lin.—Le Lanier, Buff.) Tus bird is fomewhat lefs than the Buzzard: its bill is blue; cere inclining to green; eyes yel- low; the feathers on the upper parts of the body are brown, with pale edges ; above each eye there is a white line, which runs towards the hind part of the head, and beneath it is a black ftreak point- ing downwards towards the neck; the throat is white; the breaft ofa dull yellow, marked with brown {pots ; thighs and vent the fame ; the quill feathers are dufky, marked on the inner webs with oval {pots, of a ruft colour; the tail is fpotted in the fame manner; the legs are fhort and ftrong, and of a blueifh colour. The Lanner is not com- mon in England; it breeds in Ireland, and is found im various parts of Europe: It derives its name from its mode of tearing its prey into fmall pieces with its bill. = ye ea Ay Pn ea Oa 3S oe ptt: Sh j Ne ap ih it : = . = , a aT > ; ree sas . ‘ ceapeaanapiagaiaabtae ‘ ona Oe gt ata 5 a = 2 ~r Ie vering in the air, and fanning with its wings by a gentle motion, or wheeling flowly round, at the fame time watching for its prey, on which it thoots like an arrow. It was formerly ufed in Great Bri- tain for catching {mall birds and young Partridges, PR: PB) bi hi i 4 Pita | BRITISH BIRDS. 39 it THE HOBBY, (Falco Subbuteo, Lin.—Le Hobreau, Buff.) Tue lenoth of the male is twelve inches; breadth about two feet; the bill is blue; cere and orbits of the eyes yellow ; the irides orange; over each eye there is a light coloured ftreak ; the top of the head, coverts of the wings, and back, are of a dark brown, in fome edged with ruft colour ; ‘the hind part of the neck is marked with two pale yel- low fpots ; a black mark extends from behind each eye, forming almoft a creicent, and extending downwards on the neck; the breaft and belly are D4 40 BRITISH BIRDS,» pale, marked with dufky ftreaks; the thighs rufty, with long dufky ftreaks; the wings brown; the two middle feathers of the tail are of a deep dove colour, the others are barred with rufty, and tipt with white. The female is much larger, and the {pots on her breaft more confpicuous than thofe of the male; the legs and feet are yellow. Lhe Hobby breeds with us, but is faid to emi- grate in October. It was formerly ufed in falcon. ry, chiefly for Larks and other fmall birds. The mode of catching them was fingular; when the Haws was’ caft off, the Larks, fixed to the ground through fear, became ‘an ealy prey to the fowler, by drawing a net over them. Buffon fays that it was wed in hunting Partridges and Quails, oO iniwet aG «a Ab meme. ts aa me > a Ne AR ag ed ona Se <5 eT Se i i . -_ samemmmeidad ie . é —_ “ Z ~ ras — 2 - a ~ — Fes > - awe, * Shae egige ss a ee er T —_ > 7 oa ta a i Te . . > oi ST es le a= SO | yn ; Redes Reapers oe te SSO LE EAS - ee Fees be ae Sessa A ~— = — BRITISH BIRDS. 11 THE MERLIN, (Falco ASfalon, Lin.x—JL’Emerillon, Buff.) Tur Merlin is the fmalleft of all the Hawk kind, fcarcely exceeding the fize of a Blackbird: Its bill is blue; cere yellow; irides very dark; the head is ruft colour, ftreaked with black; bacs and wings of a dark blueifh afh colour, ftreaked and fpotted with ruft colour; quill feathers dark, mark- ed with reddifh fpots; the breaft and belly ar: of a yellowifh white, with ftreaks of brown ponting downwards; the tail is long, and marked with al- ternate dufky and reddifh bars; the wings, when clofed, do not reach quite to the end of the tail; the legs are yellow; claws black. = Se = = ous tea eS 42 BRITISH BIRDS. ad - Se The Merlin, though fmall, is not inferior in cou- rage to any of the Falcon tribe. It was ufed for = = Z = = = = ee SS “ ee a eg * - rr = = one aa e = - taking Larks, Partridges, and Quails, which it would frequently kill by one blow, ftriking them on the breaft, head, and neck. Buffon obferves that this bird differs from the Falcons, and all the rapacious kind, in the male and female being of the fame fize. The Merlin does not breed here, but vilits us in O€tober; it flies low, and with great ce- lerity and eafe ; it preys on {mall birds, and breeds in woods, laying five or fix eggs. < _ — , a =e Oe ii se etme, Seeger io tata if UW " | ah ‘} | wae 4 ' Wy i! | t ia: lai le f ae Hit) MALS) t Hii is ip, a j ‘ >) Hl Ie | oe 3 = SS SA" eee —_—— ae Shy) : : : ‘ ‘ H " J } : y ¥ : : : ’ \ to tee : } | t ‘ z “ - Pa 4 7 a ee 7 : - es ? “14 aah : att." 1H PH * ii hi ; | ' : ‘ | : le ’ . , be] ait th ‘ef / ‘on he ‘7 TD eee ta ri ee , wh ae a) + Mites : iy % + Teh 4 y 2 ' Th 4 ve Wee et ent iar a Oy ’ hail : iM } x rh ana Fa es a ‘ > ws ¢ 3h) ecu tele : AM. er ee ‘ ! be i) ; : $ : j he » : ; : bh } ey | . i LS ' H nh ate : s ,| A i Ky "| ae 5 oy aly MH 4 J" ‘ae ore ot... . it og M ws ye i . a’ “1 . yv = . WAY wi, Ao a= ewes BRITISH BIRDS. 43 OF THE OWL. ‘Tue Owl is diftinguifhed among birds of the ra- pacious kind by peculiar and ftriking charaCters : Its outward appearance is not more fingular than are its habits and difpofitions; unable to bear the brighter light of the fun, the Owl retires to fomie obfcure retreat, where it pafles the day in filence and obfcurity, but at the approach of evening, when all nature is defirous of repofe, and the {mal- ler animals, which are its principal food, are feek- ing their neftling places, the Owl comes forth from its lurking holes in queft of its prey. Its eyes are admirably adapted for this purpofe, being fo form- ed as to diftinguifh objeéts with greater facility in the dufk than in broad day-light: Its flight is ra- pid and filent during its nocturnal excurfions, and it is then known only by its frightful and reiter- ated cries, with which it interrupts the filence of the night. During the day, the Owl is feldom feen; but if forced from his retreat, his flight is broken and interrupted, and he is fometimes at- tended by numbers of {mall birds of various kinds, who, feeing his embarraffment, purfue him with inceflant cries, and torment him with their move- ments; the Jay, the Thrufh, the Blackbird, the Redbreaft, and the Titmoufe all aflemble to hur- ry and perplex him. During all this, the Owl remains perched upon the branches of a tree, and anfwers them only with aukward and infignif- 44 BRITISH BIRDS. cant geltures, turning its head, its eyes, and its bo- dy with all the appearance of mockery and affeéta- tion. All the fpecies of Owls, however, are not alike dazzled and confufed with the light of the fun, fome of them being able to fly and fee difting- ly in open day. Noéturnal birds of prey are generally divided in- to two kinds—thofe which have horns or ears, and thofe which are earlefs or without horns; thefe horns confift of fmall tufts of feathers ftanding up like ears on each fide of the head, which may be erected or deprefled at the pleafure of the animal ; and in all probability are of ufe in dire€ting the or- gans of hearing, which are very large, to their pro- Fe — — hi a = : _ E — - r ———s ~ _— a — =rs as = 1 eee ——= - eS ———=_ : = ——— — < . <= - 2 SSS == —— —— = . : ——— - « AS x. the an” ~~ = Pat ng ~ = +. —- : : - = —----—- ae ———— a ES = = -—= —— — -- —_— To a eee = . a : ral 2 = een — PA 2s eee +4 - See SS SSS : x t. — re = r aeut* saccade outs = a> Ss soe J i elt 2 ee Mec n! : ‘ -_ = = > 3.2 =e - mr er: ee ae ns i ree , = aS i : ei ——2 —— A per objet. Both kinds agree in having their eyes fo formed as to be able to purlue their prey with much lefs light than other birds. The general character of the Owl is as follows: The eyes are large, and are furrounded with a radiated circle of feathers, of which the eye itlelf is the center; the beak and talons are {trong and crooked; the body very fhort, but thick, and well covered with a coat of the fofteft and moft delicate plumage; the ex- ternal edges of the outer quill feathers in general are ferrated or finely toothed, which adds greatly to the {moothnefs and filence of its flight, We fhall now proceed to mention thofe particu- lar fpecies which are found in this ' fhall begin with the largeft of them, cone oo m ~ heb &, BRITISH BIRDS. 45 THE GREAT-EARED OWL. (Strix Bubo, Lin.—Le grand Duc, Buff) Tuts bird is not much inferior in fize to an Ea- ele: Its head is very large, and is adorned with two tufts, more than two inches long, which ftand juft above each eye; its bill is itrong, and much hooked; its. eyes large, and of a bright yellow ; the whole plumage is of a rufty brown, finely va- riegated with black and yellow lines, {pots, and fpecks; its belly is ribbed with bars of a brown colour, confufedly intermixed; its tail fhort, mark- ed with dufky bars; its legs are {trong, and cover- ed to the claws with a thick clofe down, of a ruft colour; its claws are large, much hooked, and of adufky colour: Its neft is large, being nearly three feet in diameter; it is‘ compofed of fticks bound together by fibrous roots, and lined with leaves ; it generally lays two eggs, fomewhat larger than thofe of a Hen, and variegated like the bird itfelf; the young ones are very voracious, and are well fupplied with various kinds of food by the parents. This bird has been found, though rarely, in Great Britain; it builds its neft in the caverns of rocks, in mountainous and almoft inacceffible places, and is feldom feen in the plain, or perched on trees; it feeds on young hares, rabbits, rats, mice, and reptiles of various kinds. 46 BRITISH BIRDS. i lex; ey FS mee. i NF tT »s . $2 haz et | 2 Gye = Seat aes THE LONG-EARED OWL. HORN OWL, (Strix Otus, Lin.—Le Eibou, Buff.) Irs length is fourteen inches; breadth fomewhat more than three feet: Its bill is black ; irides of a bright yellow ;. the radiated circle round each eye is of a light cream colour, in fome parts tinged > with red; between the bill and the eye there is a. circular ftreak, of a dark brown colour; another circle ofa dark rufty brown entirely furrounds the face ; its horns or ears confift of fix feathers clofe- ly laid together, of a dark brown colour, tipped BRITISH BIRDS. 47 and edged with yellow; the upper part of the bo- dy is beautifully penciled with fine iftreaks of white, rufty, and brown: the breaft and neck are yellow, finely marked with dulky ftreaks, pointing downwards ; the belly, thighs, and vent feathers are of a light cream colour: upon each wing there are four or five large white fpots; the quill and tail feathers are marked with duiky and reddith bars ; the legs are feathered down to the claws, which are very fharp; the outer claw is moveable, and may be turned backwards. This bird is common in various parts of Eu- rope, as well as in this country; its ufual haunts are in old ruined buildings, in rocks, and in hollow trees. M. Buffon obferves that it feldom con- ftructs a neft of its own, but not unfrequently occu- pies that of the Magpie; it lays four or five eggs ; the young are at firft white, but acquire their na- tural colour in about fifteen days. eee, aban OR ) » SAO & 2o Ss - a tn ee eee af . @- os Gs 2-8 @ ,- i] a —~ 3" 64'S as — = Be mo oC eae 2 a ee — nN ceil), ot ae. a a Ee Oo. SD ts YB oFseese ae) a oe ke ° rt GS. uae” = of a Oo - woe op F > Se ie rae. OO ~ [x] Q 4s & 8 n a = ; —a aYe so ao - @ . Ge S&S are Beu # io) a TY el FO6°o < oe n "S -op aes 5 a0 a fe oa Fos cc oe Oo Q —~ fx] og = a - c= ee, - af o 5 Oo ” Ooms © eRe a é — - ot = = oe, = ? ee eee £9 O A S 6m B48 8 5 Ho ls Sk. ae ee ee wf ~ SS on co oe ow BS S ~ i ct oo ) 2) pS 8 oS Baw ag & 3 cS 4 “= cs Ss ‘4S n oO e my tem ty OB TH RB ee Rm OO ®D w uw o & Os os Om KH WO A ‘= 2oen“% + = Of 2 = ROSE WMS y S GF = 2. ma 2S we Sra St oS + r ~ en |. oS mb. 4 8 0 6 = & SS SS SS SSS See oe eee = -—— ee BRITISH BIRDS. 49 dark itreak in the middle of each; the whole up- per part of the body is varioufly marked with dark brown and tawny, the feathers being moftly edged with the latter; the breaft and belly are of a pale yellow, marked with dark longitudinal ftreaks, which are moft numerous on the breaft; the legs and feet are covered with feathers of a pale yellow colour; the claws are much hooked, and black; the wings are long, and extend beyond the tail ; the quills are marked with alternate bars of a duf- ky and pale brown; the tail is likewifle marked with bars of the fame colour, the middle feathers of which are diltinguifhed by a dark fpot in the centre of the yellow {pace; the tip is white. Of feveral of thefe birds, both male and female, which we have been favoured with by our friends, we have oblerved that both had the upright tufts or ears: In one of thefe, which was alive in our pof- lefion, they were very confpicuous, and appeared more erect while the bird remained undifturbed : but when frightened, were fcarcely to be feen ;— in the dead birds they were hardly difcernible. Mr Pennant feems to be the firft defcriber of this rare and beautiful bird, which he fuppofes to be a bird of paffage, as it only vifits us the latter end of the year, and returns in the fpring to the places of its fummer refidence. It is found chiefly in wooded or mountainous countries: Its food is principally field mice, of which it is very fond, E, os ae Fe — ae at tet Se ae tr © BRITISH BIRDS. Legg . —aes\ a = .. mast = apr Manes = —s ™ in — SS ee oe {iS til i" ‘ | he hy THE FEMALE HORNED OWL. Tuts bird was fomewhat larger than the for- mer; the colours and marks were the fame, but much darker, and the fpots on the breaft larger and more numerous; the ears were not difcernible ; being a dead bird, and having not feen any other at the time it was in our pofleffion, we fuppofed it to be a diftin&t kind—but having fince feen feveral, both males and females, we are convinced of our miftake. é aiippeatppratineageai : 0 ERIM ——— : 7 . BRITISH BIRDS, tr See SU - xs Mane Sy >) PTA cr — ‘ —— ee ae a a LY =s. > i rt 4 1 ‘ : Ns eS A ' ' 4 teas Vw CAS» yey i} " ‘ ’ . 4 7 ort VY . TROD a==4y Ba, ak NAIF S==S SO api ats Em A ies Vix &= ee yo atzsre=t7y J) OY ey i Saat ee >—— Sana ih Ak | — ~ y -- Be. . ima == Z '. rT y ~ : ' , ae ‘ . a ( 5 ss v; > . - _ = s, borne « 4 os “ ot - =~ Far » he” = te SI ¥ Tr i ry bee - rxy, e ¢ , cS aie Ae AY ib te 3 pe - i y % af, oat - f 5 , a n> - f, “<< 7 ag at aS. ; by id 2 “3 ‘ . - gy i) . - oe — , a 2 pt Fal re # Cv ee, F " SY nett C Seg en > > * \ 4 a Bates 7 > me att : . Ve ~ noe " ‘te G AY — ome a 7 : ¢ —_ ay - bs 9 , = Ly ~ y > > ay SY : a 4 » ) 4, — a yb pal y ( xv v : z THE WHITE OWL. BARN OWL, CHURCH OWL, GILLIHOWLET, OR SCREECH-OWL. (Strix Flammea, Lin.—L’Effraie, ou La Frefaie, Buff.) Lencru fourteen inches: Bill pale horn colour; eyes dark; the radiated circle round the eye is compofed of feathers of the moft delicate foftnefs, and perfeétly white; the head, back, and wings, are of a pale chefnut, beautifully powdered with very fine grey and brown fpots, intermixed with E 2 i ~ Sty Att LE 52 BRITISH BIRDS. iS See = ee ee as = 2: white; the breaft, belly, and thighs are white; on the former are a few dark fpots ; the legs are feathered down to the toes, which are covered with fhort hairs; the wings extend beyond the tail, which is fhort, and marked with alternate bars of dufky and white; the claws are white. Birds of this kind vary confiderably ; of feveral which we have had in our poffeffion, the differences were ve- ry confpicuous, the colours being more or les faint according to the age of the bird; the breaft in fome was white, without fpots—in others pale yellow. The White Owl is well known, and is often feen in the moft populous towns, frequenting churches, old houfes, maltings, and other uninha- bited buildings, where it continues during the day, and leaves its haunts in the evening in queft of its prey: Its flight is accompanied with loud and frightful cries, from whence it is denominated the Screech Owl; during its repofe it makes a blow- ing noife, refembling the fnoring of a man. It makes no neft, but depofits its eggs in the holes of walls, and lays five or fix, of a whitifh colour. It — ee ee SS =e ee ee i ——— —— —< rs ns Se See S a ge se neeen = — oo eee ee eee ables les —_ 2 a — Se ee ee . tai) HM rth ar ag ati yall al) Sia ia i| yj we , ac! Or i i ‘ \ } 1 « biel | - in) at y % I i MI f nit *s Ny, a i, » Be a f iB i et He ‘ , | Hay ise if 4 argh: ah t eg " lf y "i | i A. WIN th t vy, 4 : i 2 Ne 4 Y 4 ’ . 4 AU eet | y aed a ri i” . an ‘ i. i ob * Hl ; " «fi ay ot ibs ) oh | : mie i a me { * wy. a Tt oe. Fé P ie pi " al pee | > ‘ : - ; * ba ‘ S72? nt >» a! Res - af We ae | }) ag] See i : - e ~ a, » eee x o a ~ eee Ss r = tha ee 5 = ~ yee... ee. ae o~« = papregae ts a aR Oe Sas 242 eS ui SRLS: = . oo -: = Sap ote Ss AROS Tes ES en feeds on mice and fmall birds, which it fwallows whole, and afterwards emits the bones, feathers, and other indigeftible parts, at its mouth, in the form of fmall round cakes, which are often found in the empty buildings which it frequents. BRITISH BIRDS, 53 iw on ate ce ee Atty ' cine THE TAWNY OWL. COMMON BROWN IVY OWL, OR HOWLET. (Strix Stridula, Lin.—Le Chathuant, Buff.) Is about the fize of the laft: Its bill is whites eyes dark blue; the radiated feathers round the eyes are white, finely freaked with brown; the head, neck, back, wing coverts, and fcapulars are of a tawny brown colour, finely powdered and fpot- ted with dark brown and black; on the wing co- verts and icapulars are feveral large white fpots, BK 3 ee oe - =< = oe 54 BRITISH BIRDS. regularly placed, fo as to form three rows; the quill feathers are marked with alternate bars of light and dark brown; the breaft and belly are of a pale yellow, marked with narrow dark {ftreaks pointing downwards, and crofled with others of the fame colour; the legs are feathered down to the toes; the claws are large, much hooked, and white. This fpecies is found’in various parts of Europe; it frequents woods, and builds its neft in the hollows of trees, THE LITTLE OWL. (Strix Paferina, Lin. —La Chevéche ou petite Chouette, Buff.) Tats is the fmalleft of the Owl kind, being not larger than a Blackbird: Its bill is brown at the bale, and of a yellow colour at the tip; eyes pale yellow ; the circular feathers on the face are white, _ tipped with black ; the upper part of the body is of an olive brown colour; the top of the head and wing coverts are {potted with white; the breaft and belly white, {potted with brown; the feathers of the tail are barred with ruft colour and brown, and tipped with white ; the legs are covered with down of a rufty colour, mixed with white ; the toes and claws are of a brownifh colour. It frequents rocks, caverns, and ruined buildings, and builds its neft, which is conftruéted in. the rudeft manner, in the moft retired places: It lays five eggs, fpot- BRITISH BIRDS. 55 ted with white and yellow. It fees better in the day-time than other noéturnal birds, and gives chace to fwallows and other fmall birds on the wing; it likewife feeds on mice, which it tears in pieces with its bill and claws, and fwallows them by moriels: It is faid to pluck the birds which it kills, before it eats them, in which it differs from all the other Owls. It is rarely met with in Eng- land: It is fometimes found in Yorkfhire, Flint- ihire, and in the neighbourhood of London, = —-= ee _—- ee — ‘ = os . et le OT ng —— ae > $SSRES - <= i ! j } { ; i ] i} : | ai att pile r ie | A i) He cs ’ ‘ : 1 : } : ‘ ‘ts is : if , 4 Tt i uM i} ih > Oe = ws serene: en AP on = SS ee ee = = - ee eee ee i 1 4 4 ha le oe oe Se a ES ee of aor ~ yn flag <7 yy LG; 7, A (6 {lr a NG Melt) sin if > ay Ct ‘ ity rata E ALE Ls CONTI SS GREAT ASH-COLOURED SHRIKE. MURDERING PIE, OR GREAT BUTCHER BIRD. (Lanius, excubitor, Lin.—La Pie-griefche grife, Buff. ) Tuer length about ten inches: Its bill is black, and furnifhed with briftles at the bafe ; the upper parts of its plumage are of a pale blue ath colour; the under parts white; a black {tripe pafles through each eye; the greater quills are black, with a large white {pot at the bafe, forming a bar of that colour acrofs the wing; the leffer quills are white at the top; the icapulars are white; the two middle fea. thers of the tail are black; the next on each fide are white at the ends, which gradually increafes to the outermoft, which are nearly white; the whole, when the tail is fpread, forms a large oval {pot of BRITISH BIRDS. 59 black; the legs are black. The female differs little from the male; it lays fix eggs, of a dull o- live green, {potted at the end with black. Our fi- gure and defcription were taken from a very fine {pecimen, fent us by Lieut. H. F. Gibfon, of the 4th dragoons: It is rarely found in the cultivated parts of the country, preferring the mountainous wilds, among furz and thorny thickets, for its refi- dence. M. Buffon fays it is common in France, where it continues all the year: It is met with likewife in Ruflia, and various parts of Europe ; it preys on {mall birds, which it feizes by the throat, and, after ftrangling, fixes them on a fharp thorn, and tears them in pieces with its bill. Mr Pen- nant obferves, that, when kept in the cage, it fticks its food again{t the wires before it will eat it. It is faid to imitate the notes of the fmaller finging birds, thereby drawing them near its haunts, in or- der more fecurely to feize them. 60 BRITISH BIRDS, THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE. LESSER BUTCHER BIRD, OR FLUSHER. (Lanius Collurio, Lin.—L? Ecorcheur, Buff.) Is fomewhat lefs than the laft, being little more than feven inches long: Its bill is black; irides hazel; the head and lower part of the back are of a light grey colour; the upper part of the back and coverts of the wings are of a bright rufty red; the breaft, belly, and fides of a fine pale rofe or bloom colour; the throat is white; a ftroke of black pafles from the bill through each eye; the two middle feathers. of the tail are black, the o- thers are white at the bafe; the quills are of a brown colour; the legs black. The female is fomewhat larger than the male ; the head is of a ruft colour, mixed with grey; the eee ee ee ’ + fi ‘ oa : +] jf , it} ‘eal ili i} tl at ty “iy = sf u J fi i rite ; : g! itt U ! yj ig : it H ee ' i ft r 'f h if >F) " ’ Wie Wh wehid i , it eit Ty ; Caine BRITISH BIRDS. 6x breaft, belly, and fides of a dirty white; the tail deep brown; the exterior web of the outer feathers white. It builds its neft in hedges or low buthes, and lays fix white eggs, marked with a reddifh brown circle towards the larger end. Its man- ners are fimilar to the laft: It frequently preys on young birds, which it takes in the neft; it like. wile feeds on grafshoppers, beetles, and other in- fects. Like the laft, it imitates the notes of other birds, in order the more furely to decoy them.— When fitting on the nelt, the female foon difcovers herlelf at the approach of any perfon, by her loud and violent outcries, THE WOODCHAT, (La Pie-Griefche Roufe, Buff.) Is faid to equal the laft in point of fize: Its bill is horn-coloured, feathers round the bafe whitifh ; head and hind part of the neck bright bay; from the bafe of the bill a black ftreak pafles through each eye, inclining downwards on the neck; back dufky, under parts of a yellowifh white; quills black, near the bottom of each a white fpot; the two middle feathers of the tail are black, the out. er edges and tips of the others are white; the legs black. The defcription of this bird feems to have been taken from a drawing by Mr Edwards, in the oo Hi Wh a se -, a SSS a = — = = 5 nyt ee vind eandiee ~~ 62 BRITISH BIRDS. Sloanian Mufeum, and is not unlike the leaft But- cher Bird of that celebrated naturalift, which it re- fembles in fize and in the diftribution of its co- lours. M. Buffon fuppofes it may be a variety of the Red-backed Shrike, as they both depart in Sep- tember, and return at the fame time in the {pring ; the manners of both are faid to be the fame, and the difference of colours not very material: The female is fomewhat different; the upper parts of the plumage being of a reddifh colour, tranfvertely ftreaked with brown; the under parts of a dirty white, marked in the fame manner with brown; the tail is of a reddifh brown, with a dufky mark near the end, tipt with red. BRITISH BIRDS. 63 BIRDS OF THE PIE KIND Constitute the next order in the arrangement of the feathered part of the creation; they confitt of a numerous and irregular tribe, widely differing from each other in their habits, appetites, and man- ners, as well as in their form, fize, and appearance. In general they are noify, reftlefs, and loquacious, and of all other kinds contribute the lealt towards fupplying the neceflities or the pleafures of man. At the head of thefe we fhall place the Crow and its affinities, well known, by its footy plumage and croaking note, from every other tribe of the fea- thered race. Birds of this kind are found in every part of the known world, from Greenland to the Cape of Good Hope; and though generally dif- liked for their difgufting and indifcriminating vo- racity, yet in many refpects they may be ifaid to be of fingular benefit to mankind, not only by de- vouring putrid flefh, but principally by deftroy- ing great quantities of noxious infects, worms, and reptiles, Rooks, in particular, are fond of the e- ruce of the hedge-chaier, or chefnut brown beetle, for which they fearch with indefatigable pains.* * Thefe infects appear in hot weather, in formidable num- bers, difrobing the fields and trees of their verdure, blofloms, and fruit, fpreading defolation and deftruction wherever they go.— They appeared in great numbers in Ireland during a hot fum- mer, and committed great ravages. In the year 1747 whole 64 BRITISH BIRDS. They are often accufed of feeding on the corn juft after it has been fown, and various contrivances have been made both to kill and frighten them a- way; but, in our eftimation, the advantages deri- ved from the deftruction which they make among grubs, earth-worms, and noxious infects of various kinds, will greatly overpay the injury done to the future harveft by the {mall quantity of corn they may deftroy in fearching after their favorite food. In general they are fagacious, active, and faithful to each other: ‘They live in pairs, and their mu- tual attachment is conftant. ‘They are a clamour- ous race, mofily build in trees, and form a kind of fociety, in which there appears fomething like a re- gular government; a centinel watches for the ge- neral fafety, and give notice on the appearance of danger. On the approach of an enemy or a ftran- ger they act in concert, and drive him away with repeated attacks. On thefe occafions they are as bold as they are artful and cunning, in avoiding the {malleft appearance of real danger ; of this the dif- appointed fowler has frequently occafion to take notice, on feeing the birds fly away before he can draw near enough to fhoot them; from this cir- cumftance it has been faid that they difcoyer their meadows and corn-fields were deftroyed by them in Suffolk.— The decreafe of rookeries in that county was thought to be the occafion of it. The many rookeries with us is in fome meafure the reafon why we have fo few of thefe deftru@tive animals, —— Wallis’s Hiftory of Northumberland. BRITISH BIRDS. 65 danger by the quicknefs of their fcent, which en- ables them to provide for their fafety in time ; but of this we have our doubts, and would rather af- cribe it to the quicknefs of their fight, by which they difcover the motions of the fportfman. The general chara&ters of this kind are well known, and are chiefly as follow:—The bill is ltrong, and has a flight curvature along the top of the upper mandible; the edges are thin, and {harp or cultrated; in many of the fpecies there is a {mall notch near the tip; the noftrils are covered with briftles ; tongue divided at the end; three toes forward, one behind, the middle toe connefted to the outer as far as the firft joint. iit 66 BRITISH BIRDS, = ak. Gh, ek eas ee xa Sth a ese <2 apne me ane ane Ot ere se “ Tym ot ~— = = == -atuee aw +: et sees gg eee = a — oo aes pee ae = = —ree 6 a engtaye —— => tenet thee ao ee ea 2! Soe - THE RAVEN. GREAT CORBIE CROW. (Corvus Corax, Lin. —Le Corbeau, Buff.) Is the largeft of this kind; its length is above two feet, breadth four: Its bill is ftrong, and very thick at the bafe; it meafures fomewhat more than two inches and a half in length, and is cover- ed with ftrong hairs or briftles, which extend above half its length, covering the noftrils; the general colour of the upper parts is of a fine glofly black, reflecting a blue tint in particular lights; the un- der parts are duller, and of a dufky hue. The Raven is well known in all parts of the I} Mm il 1 |} Mn | oo as Sart os tae elely ys aT bh actet Oihene ys BRITISH BIRDS. 67 world, and, in times of ignorance and fuperttition, was conlidered as ominous, foretelling future events by its horrid croakings, and announcing impending calamities: In thefe times the Raven was confider- ed as a bird of vaft importance, and the various changes and modulations of its voice were ftudied with the molt careful attention, and were made ufe of by artful and defigning. men to miflead the igno- rant and unwary. It is a very long-lived bird, and is fuppofed fometimes to live a century or more. It is fond of carrion, which it {cents at a great dif- tance ; it is faid that it will defttoy rabbits, young ducks, and chickens; it has been khown to feize on young lambs which have been dropped ih a weak ftate, and pick ont their eyes while yet a- live: It will fuck the eggs of other birds; it feeds alfo on earth-wornis, reptiles, and ¢ven fhell-fith, when urged by hunger. It may be rendered very tame and familiar, and has been frequently taught to pronounce a variety of words: It is a crafty bird, and will frequently pick up things of value, fuch as rings, money, &c, and carry them to its hiding-place. It makes its neft early in the fpring, and builds in trees and the holes of rocks, laying five or fix eggs, of a pale blueifh green colour, {potted with brown. The female fits about twen- ty days, and is conftantly attended by the male, who not only provides her with abundance of food, but relieves her by turns, and takes her place in the neff. 2 at 68 BRITISH BIRDS. The natives of Greenland eat the flefh, and make a covering for themfelves with the ikins of thefe birds, which they wear next their bodies. THE CARRION CROW. MIDDEN CROW, OR BLACK-NEBBED CROW, (Corvus Corone, Lin.—La Corneille, Buff.) Is lefs than the Raven, but fimilar to it in its habits, colour, and external appearance: It is a- bout eighteen inches in length; its breadth above two feet. Birds of this kind are more numerous and as widely fpread as the Raven; they live moft- ly in woods, and build their nefts on trees; the fe- male lays five or fix eggs, much like thofe of a Ra- ven. They feed on putrid flefh of all forts; like- wife on eggs, worms, infects, and various forts of grain. ‘They live together in pairs, and remain with us during the whole year. Nou iy a, == Ni; vt VS # ime MOO wa A fx i a at, We es f Ny F. Po ,. tig, eo Ss ~_ 7 - ore 0:00 -& 0.0% e BRITISH BIRDS. 69 THE HOODED CROW. ROYSTON CROW. (Corvus Cornix, Lin.—Le Corneille Mantelee, Buff.) Is fomewhat larger and more bulky than the Rook, meafuring twenty-two inches in length, and twenty-three in breadth: Its bill is black, and two inches long; the head, forepart of the neck, wings, and tail are black; the back and all the under parts are of a pale afh colour; the legs black. This bird arrives with the Woodcock, and on its firft coming frequents the fhores of rivers, and departs in the fpring to breed in other coun- tries, but it is faid that they do not entirely leave F 3 > 2S = 7 or, 1 1h ' = — ee ee ee a i oS es TT : { | a ui om i | . } - 1 my ‘Ly , | Lb Tl ahh ] HH TA ' oh ; | (it | ee : ‘i i UR f * th! nia ‘ ! mat - | } yy! ( “a Oo b bas 2) + q 4 ! } q ! ‘ i } ith | t i ‘ 111 | a es | ! ' : iz , } " an ts TES ~ \\ ' a ay | 4 a; + i. Ue ' 1 Bae y ' “ J - i) i ‘| a, lt WW ) ; ier ’ a) | =) | t le Ce + 14 { mh} ' ; ay { by | 4 mW } ' fi ;} (a : } ? - a . : ; ‘ 4) A ae : Hn. : i ) iin : re | | Hie ‘ - : ef Wi Hae 22 u be . : 2 b's! : ie a HOB) fF T ; \ | i ; met) 2 4 } } j " ; | fe Bl’ ob ylit : | ia ; : : Jon iii iif i= fj TW bi! q ’ iz ad : ‘} i ; ;/T A en ) : ; 1 i} : | i 7 ; Al Wy i : \ ay ] }} ‘ : { im : ii i aT rT | : ri : ' HiME Sal to } : : , f | 4 : - i] J >>| he : i} j ie ' Pi : - wh a : i 1 ta Cie 1} (fee : : 7 ' i a 7 . y " - ii} i { , \ | > sahil ¢ 7 ' nf es lan . i } Mh : ++i '" 7 4 bd ‘ / : : : 4 Me i : J ‘ ‘ | See & , ts i a) . ' ' ; > a 4 . - « se a a ) | : . ; Vato ieee” : it it : f i! Oye ' i #} a ' 7 i fi ey 2 ae | (jee tre f sa ’ ‘Do he ah 5 a as : : ] j ° a : ite rt | sy e n| ( ‘ i , Ba We a it a | ipa ih | bat , - wt P| iy tt Mathie i ‘| ¥ ‘ r } ft \ : " , : ‘ hal sVaL “| 4 a! ' 3 ee ’ TUS et 4s ate @ » i { Bes : yi. © i i. me ie 4 Tey : + > ebit iS 4 a i ah at 4 Thi ' ; ii ' Hy ; . - if4 J ii sp riley Ti (ele py H ‘4p : +f if ; 4 An ‘da he ae 5 r " | ty 7 ‘ 1) a ie 1 ee >" ‘J t reir ike ia Al : : } ict ) oe * it Fee ' rt t #y) t Ay | a; i f 4 a 4 | * te : . ‘ FR Th Ie he At) “hi ff ! kK }: i ia : { ’ aL ae ¥ rat Git i ae 7 4 ‘Oo 7 a | / D ae | j W r / ! | 1. " : I 1 P by e ; Ff on ‘ mst G he \ Hy 72 BRITISH BIRDS. us, as they have been feen, during the fummer months, im the northern parts of our ifland, where they frequent the mountainous parts of the coun- try, and breed in the pines. In more northern parts it continues the whole year, and fubfifts on fea-worms, fhell-fifh, and other marine produc- tions. With us it is feen to mix with the Rook, and feeds in the fame manner with it. During the breeding feafon they live in pairs, lay fix eggs, and are {gid to he much attached to their offspring. ‘+ +e & bb apet Oh bee Fe + SRITISH BIRDS. 71 ’ ! ; ‘ ; ; 5 ‘ ’ Sco SO eS eee na nant « . oy ba) : : SS Nb re AROSE LN Mie Hai Nt 2 ~_™ _ YTS S ae Sy eet PRG Cl Be ey is a > Rote fm " SS “2 2 os SET EN PRR, 2 cae <~ hs: f ‘ o, . - N SA snd 2 Ca OH ) A AS i oe Seal Dem & Ty stn aw Fg fe A lke Sa ae 9 CLG, Sate BE BRE ee ONL Nay SUM re 425% - aoe Lo Ty ~ 7 ~ 3 -— —_— esieis eel Meee: ~~ = ' } : x a Siete RO Ts'o Sok folatn ta lats ‘ses " a ” - ee 3 - gage —- : ¢ su mA | Cy fg, : oa , S: Ez 7 -* “ike << . ‘ ae ue a - . ty ¥ Lid ee mo Pak | gk mes att <= RR ke oe Be . Le Oe Bata 7S : Se ee . = x eo ae ——— = 2 =v = ¥ — = Sr mS FRA => Re 2 ¥ kes % a == Ta et ~% Py i - —* . . a en =m "je a pee ss | hao = oa - = =e CZ - . i = - i S > y te te 0 to fe tatata te yy we vee - : ) --- TE , — _ - _ >= pon 7 = —> i] \\ho —Ti ee ~= = ni —— ZA At) — 3 THE ROOK. | (Corvus Frugilegus, Lin. —Le Freux, Buff.) Tuts bird is about the fize of the Carrion Crow, and, excepting its more glofly plumage, very much refembles it: The bafe of the bill, noftrils, and even round the eyes are covered with a rough {cabrous fkin, in which it differs from all the relt, occafioned, it is faid, by thrufting its bill into the earth in fearch of worms; but as the fame ap- {; pearance has been obferved in fuch as have been brought up tame and unaccuftomed to that mode of fubfiftence, we are inclined to confider it as an original peculiarity. We have already had oc- a4 \ | tha | f | ' bait | 1 7 aie itt i . i} a , ae Ls ’ ie ee ‘i ) , ui i iM i { AAD | ey : ja eee ee aS 4e ~_ . ——— . meal i Sane “. = “ o. iS 7S oot ee ; iA-= 5 a 4 rd - - = = a = J = ws - - + > r 1 = et we — : a a ad 2 Sa ~ <2 - == = = =* = = a. ee Ga a 72 BRITISH BIRDS.- cafion to obferve that they are ufeful in prevent- ing a too great increafe of that deftrutive infect the chafer or dor-beetle, and by that means make large recompenfe for the depredations they may occafionally make on the corn fields. Rooks are gregarious, and fly in immenfe flocks at morning and evening to and from their roofting places in queft of food. During the breeding time they live together in large focieties, and build their nefts on trees clofe to each other, frequently in the midft of large and populous towns. ‘Thele rook- eries, however, are often the fcenes of bitter con- tefts, the new comers being frequently driven a- way by the old inhabitants, their half-built netts torn in pieces, and the unfortunate couple forced to begin their work anew in fome more undifturbed fituation ;—of this we had a remarkable inftance in Newcaftle. In the year 1783 a pair of Rooks, af- ter an unfuccefsful attempt to eftablifh themfelves in a rookery at no great diftance from the Ex- change, were compelled to abandon the attempt, and take refuge on the fpire of that building, and altho’ conftantly interrupted by other Rooks, they built their neft on the top of the vane, and brought forth their young, undifturbed by the noife of the populace below them; the neft and its inhabitants were confequently turned about by every change of the wind. ‘They returned and built their neft every year on the fame place till 1793, after which the fpire was taken down. | Phe ee ce ee BRITISH BIRDS. “I Wo iui I Ns ie TEA iy iil HUH i Ne bbs eae Hi) if i Hil Be 5) t : Hy on. THE JACK-DAW, (Corvus Monedula, Lin.—Le Choucas, Buff.) ‘Tunis bird is confiderably lefs than the Rook, being only thirteen inches in length: Its bill is black; eyes white; the hind part of the head and neck are of a hoary grey colour; the reft of the plumage is of a fine glofly black above, beneath it has a te hue ; the legs are black. ‘The Daw is very common in England, and re- mains with us the whole year: In other coun. tries, as in France and various parts of Germany, it is migratory. They frequent churches, old towers, and ruins, in great flocks, where they build their nefts: The female lays five or fix eggs, paler than thofe of the Crow, and fmaller; they rarely ay Choos ———— rs detects este pes Soe EEO WAC, Se at ie "tate te Te Oo x , cA "= > Sa Sees es me as o & S oO ag ese segs 2 BS° SCT RRR LE ge O90 8 Oo S by e & — a 09H Om & & Seo T Bao ss i oe = & © oO 4 wo wn “ GoKtprwws WY Us we a 2 a See oe Ss . Ss a * 3. ee ~ 4 Sn Caw gs a So, 2 wo Cj 2 PS S m &§ OS tom & 2 aoc S ry a Sts & @ eat = pe Oe Sok ioe SG r- % Feu 2®§SFESA*8 | 4 — eae 8 = a » S pct Fo eee & wy ne &§ BS eee Oo YF 3 So - >» “eee = i er i » oO ss SYP ao wf SS oo = DS aaqi°.. & 6 aa foam rm ere -7- 18 ORF SE SyPop. & eee SS y+ BREESE ,Be*unys”g ~N OO SEE 68BHBHEEL _- a Se pe hee wer : Fates s ; Ma aks 5 AO Teale ohare ae eee wae. Fd m= eg ES we oe “3 ¥ , , ee SEF IEP SS re ae eee ee a ites te Se Te BH aRee SER RH aR a SS oF tite Saar: oad A OS i eee ts = . Lalit - or a a ; SSS Ee Se Se ESE - =: de abe ————> ge = SS SSS Se = : an . — = 7 . a ~ =. _ a - —- = en — = SSS ~~ ~ a ~ > Se ee — “ —— ——— . ~- =e — = ee - » . ° ee ee Sas ee ee A rd aL Oren Abe ye PO ie ss Ow BRITISH BIRDS. 75 THE MAGPIE. PIANET, (Corvus Pica, Lin—La Pie, Buff.) Irs length is about eighteen inches: Bill itrong and black; eyes hazel; the head, neck, and breait are of a deep black, which is finely contrafted with the fnowy whitenefs of the breaft and feapulars; the neck feathers are very long, extending down the back, leaving only a fmall fpace, of a greyifh afh colour, between them and the tail coverts, which are black; the plumage in general is glofied with green, purple, and blue, which catch the eye in different lights ; its tail is very long, and wedge- > Bayi 12 | yal Nia bah ihe mia } Aaah | tat 1 a : . % | = — a Sere ri - = See —_—_s 2S ase nie \4 5 \¢ i It Hl HI. ‘ ‘j ‘ a \y t) 4 | f | ] Fs u ) : : \ ‘an i ( MH : fl io i i ae 5 "i ¥ , ey 1 ; é é ; tok } u | 4 ' fai | \ i ; ee a eit ' , 3 ah 9 hes : ag Pu 7 a i ) Wh a ey ae ae 1) ay 4 i} a im . Wh ‘he Pian , . ’ i Pe) Thin t i Ma { } ; ee eG Pautine b) 71 | ' ab i id Tits ' 1 } ~ ead ; m 7 ik titi abt elit ' > t | : ‘ | ib 2 ! | i ee i y 7 : Mh 1] 4 ‘iy | 1 a OPT eS) Wave. Ri i! iii Hie 7 | ’ | J i} 4 rt i ae | ye ae + - ES ava. ——s 2.5 SSS a tm li =.= AS = pend Pat r < wae le near: WS = Petes ~ + § to Rete ely et eA ake Pate. he. ——— — ews ~ * 76 BRITISH BIRDS.» thaped; the under tail coverts, thighs, and legs are black; on the throat and part of the neck there is a kind of feathers, mixed with the others, re- fembling ftrong whitith hairs. This beautiful bird is every where very common in England; it is likewile found in various parts of the Continent, but not fo far north as Lapland, nor farther fouth than Italy: It is met with in America, but not commonly, and is migratory there: It feeds, like the Crow, on almoft every thing animal as well as vegetable. The female builds her neft with great art, leaving a hole in the fide for her admittance, and covering the whole upper part with a texture of thorny branches, clofely entangled, thereby fecu- ring her retreat from the rude attacks of other birds; but it is not fafety alone fhe confults, the infide is furnifhed with a fort of mattrafs compofed of wool and other foft materials, on which her young repofe: She lays feven or eight eggs, of a pale green colour, {potted with black. The Magpie is crafty and familiar, and may be taught to pronounce words and even fhort fenten- ces, and will imitate any particular noife which it hears. It is addiéted, like other birds of its kind, to ftealing, and will hoard up its provifions. It is fmaller than the Jackdaw, and its wings are fhort- er in proportion; accordingly its flight is not fo lofty, nor fo well fupported: It never undertakes diftant journies, but flies only from tree to tree, at moderate diftances. \ are fe Pe BRITISH BIRDS. 77 ‘4 Of 36 Sy" Re cc 4) THE RED-LEGGED CROW. CORNISH CHOUGH. (Corvus Graculus, Lin.—Le Coracias, Buff.) Tuts bird is about the fize of the Jack-daw: The bill is long, much curved, fharp at the tip, and a bright red colour; the iris of the eye is com- poled of two circles, the outer one red, the inner light blue; the eye-lids are red; the plumage is altogether of a purplifh violet black; the legs are as red as the bill; the claws are large, much hook- ed, and black, Buffon defcribes this bird ‘‘ as of an elegant fi- gure, lively, reftlefs and turbulent, but it may be EE eee 4 ———— SS i . Hi i} i tej tii i} _— <—- Soar Sesdbssaesalesr) —— Soe ernment: . et f 4 we PaPeTa ere l STEPPES TENS oe teeter aSs| 78 BRITISH BIRDS. tamed. to a certain degree.” It builds on high cliffs bythe fea fide, and chiefly frequents the coafts of Devonfhire and Cornwall, and lkewiie many parts of Wales; a few are found on the Dover cliffs; and fome in Scotland. ‘The female lays four or five white eggs, {potted with yellow. It. is a voracious, bold, and greedy bird, and feeds on infects and berries: It is faid to be particularly fond of the juniper berry. Its manners are like thofe of a Jackdaw: Itis attracted by glittering ob- je&s. Buffon fays that it has been known to pull from the fire lighted pieces of wood, to the no {mall danger of the houfe, -~ay : = / ‘i * mh ; o— vo = ae “ ~~ ss = S - — \ = ee = , or K —, e pent an ms She at mon ae 2s eS \Wwe fee Fait toed, wea | eee epee ie ~oar < .& — =X > « ,“ “ew = eae = — PututEn © © ele ee OM “tear ee er SOOT ALS AAP OUG BRITISH BIRDS. 79 THE NUTCRACKER, (Corvus Caryocataétes Lin.—Le Cafe Noix, Buff.) ‘Tne length of thisbird is thirteen inches: The bill is about two inckes long, and black; the eyes hazel; the upper pari of the head and back part of the neck are black; its general colour is that of a dulky brown, cover:d with triangular fpots of white; the wings areblack; greater wing coverts tipped with white; the tail is white at the tip; the relt black; rump whie ; legs and claws black. There are very ew inftances known of this bird having been feerin England: It is common in Germany, is fourd alfo in Sweden and Den- mark, and frequents the moft mountainous parts of thofe countries, + makes its neft m holes of > So BRITISH BIRDS. trees, and feeds on nuts, acorns, and the kernels of the pine apple. It is faid-to pierce the bark of trees with its bill, like the Woodpecker. Our drawing was made from a ftuffed fpecimen in the eee ge at — : = PNG ie ee 7 — mufeum of George Allan, Efq. =P: BS a ? = a aaa ee + , ss = ae eee . _— —s 5 Se ee oe ee sf er <== “8 L angpan tana! Seesah eae | ~-4Sat SL - ae as ty = ~~ . GENEL SAS eG S\\ Ae Za = 7 2h ae fs Ve == — Sl £ ~A\ A = at) \S is S74 t WY a —~ Pe Ka _ ute THE JAY. (Corvus Glandarius, Linn—Le Geai, Buff.) Tu1s moft beautiful bird is not more than thir- teen inches in length: Its bill is black; eyes white; the feathers on the forehead are White, ftreaked with black, and form a tuft on its forehead, which it can erett at pleafure; the chin is white, and (uz BRITISH BIRDS, Si from the corners of the bill on each fide proceeds a broad ftreak of black, which pafles under the eye; the hinder part of the head, neck, and back are of a light cinnamon colour; the breaft is of the fame colour, but lighter; lefler wing coverts bay ; the belly and vent almoft white; the greater wing coverts are elegantly barred with black, fine pale blue and white alternately ; the greater quills are black, with pale edges, the bafes of fome of them white; lefler quills black; thofe next the body cheftnut; the rump is white; tail black, with pale brown edges ; legs dirty pale brown. The Jay is a very common bird in Great Bri- tain, and is found in various parts of Europe.- It is diftinguifhed as well for the beautiful arrange- ment of its colours, as for its harfh, grating voice, and reftlefs difpofition. Upon feeing the fportf- man, it gives, by its cries, the alarm of danger, and thereby defeats his aim and dilappoints him. —The Jay builds in woods, and makes an art- lefs neft, compofed of fticks, fibres, and tender twigs: The female lays five or fix eggs, of a greyifh afh colour, mixed with green, and faintly {potted with brown. Mr Pennant obferves, that the young ones continue with their parents till the following fpring, when they feparate to form new pairs. Birds of this {pecies live on acorns, nuts, feeds, and various kinds of fruits; they will eat egos, and fometimes defiroy young birds in the ab- G a == ee | i, i} " aN - ; — i peor Be r os Ee —— ; és 2 7 ; . a : = _— “ —_—= are ——— : ~ 3 7 . : eee — = — - so e =e == = —— es ; 5 ——- age a =. roe a 7s. ag ee zc. be = = . “e Pine ae { A . . : = ‘ 2 a RPSL > sna ——_ a % = 5 = le aes a —_ a - 3 es - y , 7 - a i . - . 2 > e. = © ~ * = = ——— — 1 we > ’ "1 RS as =e : > — — — —_— =< OT rs z — Z = en a) >a > epee : ‘i 3 - "9 ti SS - 4 = a — =, —— . a b Se a = ant L ~ a =r t a OL ~ awe Sng a eS =: + meee = “ Sy i 4 - Ge 7 A - ate i. fia, 2 aw ane ~ = > - = —— _— ——— rE F Be . — ~~ i . ~ wage <- ee Fs » —— -— — >: _ _ “ - = * een . ae = ten 6s , so, = a, - = o— = -- ————= - : Paria a Fs = es & = 4: Se Sa - £ * = = = aS 4-4 we = . +s : = 7+. z — = r : = 7. — re ee bam — = NS WOE os 82 BRITISH BIRDS. fence of the old ones. “When kept in a domeftic {tate they may be rendered very familiar, and will imitate a variety of words and founds. We have heard one imitate fo exactly the found made by the action of a faw, that, tho’ it was on a Sunday, we could hardly be perfuaded but that the perfon who kept it had a carpenter at work in the houfe.—A Jay, kept by a perfon we were acquainted with, at the approach of cattle, had learned to hound a cur dog upon them, by whiftling and calling upon him by his name; at laft, during a fevere froft, the dog. was, by that means, excited to attack a cow big with calf, when the poor animal fell on the ice and was much hurt. The Jay being complained of as a nuifance, its owner was obliged to deftroy it. BRITISH BIRDS, 8 3 THE CHATTERER. SILK TAIL, OR WAXEN CHATTERER. (Ampelis Garrulus, Lin,—Le Fafeur de Boheme, Buff.) Tuis beautiful bird is about eight inches im length: Its bill is black, and has a fmall notch at the end; its eyes, which are black and fhining, are placed in a band of black, which pafles from the bafe of the bill to the hind part of the head ; its throat is black; the feathers on the head are long, forming a creft; all the upper parts of the body are of a reddifh afh colour, the breaft and belly inclining to purple; vent and upper tail co- verts nearly white; the tail feathers are black, tip- ped with pale yellow; the quills are black, the G 2 watts ~* — —— a = = ~< - - —_ = = — a . — - - + as ere ; : “ ~ get + = = = —— —e —— = : SS or —— SSS SS = = eee = — —_—_- = . a > eae — . "i ~ poe 4 —— =~ : - -- a SS ue —— = ~ = ee == = _——— a : - = ne “2 on ——— te a SSS —— - ee x ~— +--+ ge a Pe a = eS wa% 2 he ; . = et Se - i or ~= at _o we ae ——— > =>" meth A= Sta “ail lle Ue tw, ee fils Fre ea - = a —— - " ate > . - ™ - . . oie - —— — — > = ‘ = a = —— ~¥ “* % e =e ~ 2 ed er 74 -~ — = > oh 2e~ as 3 = ss ~ er = | Reka ~ wns ” = . i. < Wi Aas BO dp . - jk aa bes SS =) NS ey -; ee re ss ee a a —=- 7 Tg. SSS = = ay : 2 eh se 3 - 2 Fe el SE Se ee a5 = ee ga ; F == =_—— *~ ~~ a : 4 Ra _ = -- 4 — = ~ z = oc i i = SS — = = —— — “ >. 7 - Ms - - an AS SS ae — = = 7 5 = . 84 BRITISH BIRDS. third and fourth tipped on their outer edges with white, the five following with ftraw colour; the fe- condaries with white, each being tipt. or pointed with a flat horny fubftance of a.bright vermillion colour. ‘Thefe appendages vary in different fub. jects—in one of thofe we had in our pofleffion, we counted eight on one wing and fix on the other; the legs are fhort and black. It is faid the female is not diftinguifhed by the little red waxen appen- dages at the ends of the fecond quills; but this we are not able to determine from our own obferva- tions. This rare bird vifits us only at uncertain inter- vals. In the year 1790 and 1791 feveral of them were taken in Northumberland and Durham as ear- ly as the month of November ; fince that time “we have not heard of any being feen here. The fum- mer refidence of thefe birds is fuppofed to be the northern parts of Europe, within the arétic circle, from whence they fpread themfelves into other countries, where they remain during winter, and return in the fpring to their ufual haunts. The general food of this bird is berries of various kinds; in fome countries it is faid to be extremely fond of grapes; one, which we faw in a flate of captivi- ty was fed chiefly with quicken-tree berries, but from the difficulty of providing it with a fufficient fupply of its natural food it foon died. .This is the only bird of its kind found in Europe ; ‘all the reit are natives of America, (i x eed Pee Oe et es Pes een BRITISH BIRDS, o Ww G THE ROLLER, (Coracias Garrula, Lin.—Le Rollier d’ Europe, Buff.) Tus rare bird is diftinguifhed by a plumage of moft exquifite beauty; it vies with the Par- rot in an aflemblage of the finefl fhades of blue and green, mixed with white, and heightened by the contraft of graver colours, from whence perhaps it has been called the German Parrot, although in e- very other refpeé& it differs from that bird, and ra- ther feems to claim affinity with the Crow kind, to which we have made it an appendage. In iize it G 3 Sy i if it] Rit f i ii i i] ~~ ere 6 ee ee — Ah Fe = eto ee Se Se : Se = Fie ee _ - aoe er ees | ™ y ee ig ee ae 2 he - * ie a = - 86 BRITISH BIRDS. refembles the Jay, being fomewhat more than twelve inches in length: Its bill is black, befet with fhort briftles at the bafe ; the eyes are fur. rounded with a ring of naked fkin, of a yellow co- Jour, and behind them there is a kind of wart; the head, neck, breaft, and belly are of a light pea green; the back and {capulars reddifh brown; the points of the wings and upper coverts are of a rich deep blue, the greater coverts . pale green; the quills are of a dufky hue, inclining to black, and mixed with deep blue; the rump is blue; the tail is fomewhat forked, the lower part of the feathers are of a dufky green, middle part pale blue, tips black ; the legs are fhort, and of a dull yellow.— This is the only one of its kind found in Europe ; it is very common in fome parts of Germany, but is fo rare in this country as hardly to deferve the name of a Britifh bird. The author of the Britith Zoology mentions two that were fhot in England, and thefe we may fuppofe have been only ftragg- lers. Our drawing was made from: a ftuffed {pe- cimen in the Mufeum of the late Mr Tunitall, at Wycliffe. The Roller is wilder than the Jay, and fre- quents the thickeft woods; it builds its neft chief. ly on birch trees. Buffon lays it is a bird of paf- lage, and migrates in the months of May and Sep. tember. In thofe countries where it is common, it is faid to fly in large flocks in the autumn, and is frequently feen in cultivated crounds, with BRITISH BIRDS. 87 Rooks and other birds, fearching for worms, {mall feeds, roots, &c.; it likewife feeds on ber- ries, caterpillars, and infects, and is faid, in cafes of neceffity, to eat young frogs and even carrion. The female is defcribed by Aldrovandus as differ- ing very much from the male; its bill is thicker, and its head, neck, breaft, and belly are ofa cheit- nut colour, bordering on a greyifh afh. ‘The young ones do not attain their brilliant colours till the fecond year, This bird is remarkable for making a chattering kind of noife, from whence it has obtained the name of Garrulus. S oa £8 epee eee See = SS J SY 5 or Se == oe oe? ae. = pees Parke ree — a me 2 > — Y eee ee or 2 ==> RS 3 FE ee ea eS Mie Ses = on A a Pe “ — — - — ——— -+ : ee a ee a a ee djs Me - _ a = 2a — Te FS 4 a . re 53 —< ~ x a Ree ne - a - = — - : —_— _ a - - us sores 2 = ; = —— —— = Pee, eee - _ er — -- - — — _ . ~ . > = E . r~ — — : = — — ———- : -—— —_——_—_ = = od = a = = = = = = ~ - 2 = of = 4 i eS = ~ = a ——— - _ —_— > a ———— - - _ ~ — —_——___— _ — -. oe 8 = 7 2 wee = —— — — = - = —— sn a — 35> se ~ n aut, - ja - : =a —— eS = = - = ———— — — SNS SS Sannin en ee - —— : x = “a a . ———_ — : = os Fe ae Fi c aes TOT se eet sa 4 “ — pel rem —= 7 : = = Se ee : — = - 3 - = < ¥ - ie ’ . : i ; = = = Se. dr Se > + omeet 3% - . a * " — = - ‘ : oe Ps % ~ = or * een atin 7s = > ~*~ "ead ‘ Suet “ : re P vat 4 ~< - ene <> 4 *: a = " > = = os y Sos si — . [= >’ 2 een e > 4 a —— oe aed . et . - = = “2 — — . — a - =->- = ~— : —— - = - = == — wate? . é Z = hi, ~ = = : = = Sr] = = a am 2 : 4 3 roe =s = : ‘ ‘ re . > oA Ry ew — te as ae ==> = . ettindil ia * f ‘ - 7 ie ~ S _ 5 — eo : Sanath wn 3 3 co. ~ ee - A Kg ty Ot =? : fe sae S i; ie ee ESSE ord aa - == >, _ as s = — — 2 Gee wpe = —- w A * == eS —- § - ~s —— . . - “ > “ > - hen na 2. = © eo coe r 5" ee SES 3+ Se a - fe ee = - ~ = mT es a » = — a el and his {tate acquires a warbling fuperior to its na. tive fone. Ina confined flate they eat fmall pieces of raw flefh, bread foaked in water, &c. 2 The Starling is very docile, and may eafily be taught to repeat fhort phrafes, or whiftle tunes with great exaétnefs Their principal food confifts ails, and caterpillars; they likewife BRITISH BIRDS. eldfares, and even with Crows, Jack- kinds of grain, feeds, and berries, and geons. , Fi in us ent kind, and are frequently feen in company with gs ario Redwin ‘ = "OC ras} Qe oO ~~ ©) = OQ & —_— 3 ~ ras] ma tr v Y x a & = © oad iB) ma Te | | © L ‘o) ss tend are faid to be particularly fond of cherries. daws, and Pi of worms, eat v in t = . a = = = ~ < Py ‘= ’ A ec RS ne a a se ER ri ae an 7 ‘ Se ko BOE ME Beir He Le ~ — <= i a - ~~ ee La i -_—* - ad BRITISH BIRDS. gt THE ROSE-COLOURED OUZEL. (Zurdus, Rofeus, Lin.—Le Merle Couleur de Rofe, Buff.) Is the fize of a Starling: Its bill is of a carna- tion colour, blackifh at the bafe ; irides pale; the feathers on the head are long, forming a creft; the head, neck, wings, and tail are black, glofled with {hades of blue, purple, and green; its back, rump, breaft, belly, and lefler wing coverts pale rofe co- lour, marked with a few irregular dark {pots ; legs pale red; claws brown. This bird has been fo rarely met with in Eng- land that it will fcarcely be admitted amongft fuch as are purely Britifh, There are however a few initances of its being found here; and, although not a relident, it fometimes vifits us, on which’ ac- count it muit not be pafled over unnoticed. It is ound in various parts of Europe and Afia, and in moit places is migratory. It feems to delight mof in the warmer climates; it is fond of locufts; and trequents the places where thofe deftruGtive infe&ts abound in great numbers; on which account it is laid to be held facred by the inhabitants. = ee a>. * . hse —-; >. s.* = es Be Ros 2 5 ~~: ei =o eT Tt SOP PTE RS YEO FF 44 OK cee SY — , r= fwAS tiaras - ee ¥ i = ~ . c = —_ — _. SS + = ~- = = => = - =SS : = <~= =a - =a = —- = rt * * TE SY s - i saa ——~: bathe ma << - 2 -—e _ = <= y o% eee 2-FS ~ = = - ~ ot v—-— - - - ~ 35 > : eto. : od - - i. i —_— > -< nae ne 9 = x -< eee ee eel Mery -- Dw oe ‘ 7s - ‘ Y = a > . —— | SSSI Or rt ae 3 4 _ = > bone ntme ne 24%. } PSs Gere r= : = =. . ’ . a . 4 . et in 3 . - q “+ - 4 < a 2 ” ~~ oom ae a. 1 ~ : . * =. - > + % a a _— “= aS — - 2 ‘ —_ - Patz BRITISH BIRDS- THE RING OUZEL. (Turdus Torquatus, Lin.—Le Merle 2 Plaftron Blanc, Buff.) Tuts bird very much refembles the Blackbird: Its general colour is of a dull black or dufky hue, each feather being margined with a greyith ath colour; the bill is dufky, corners of the mouth and infide yellow; eyes hazel; its breaft is dif. tinguifhed by a crefcent of pure white, which al- moft furrounds the neck, and from whence it dee fives its name; its legs are of a dufky brown. The female differs in having the crefcent on the breaft much lefs confpicuous, and in fome birds wholly wanting, which has occafioned fome au- thors to confider it as a different {pecies, under the name of the Rock Ouzel, BRITISH BIRDS. 93 Ring Ouzels are found in various parts of this kingdom, chiefly in the wilder and more moun- tainous parts of the country; its habits are fimi- lar to thofe of the Blackbird; the female builds her neft in the fame manner, and in ‘fimilar fitua- tions, and lays four or five eggs of the fame co- lour: They feed on infeéts and berries of various kinds, are fond of grapes, and, Buffon obferves, during the feafon of vintage are generally fat, and at that time are efteemed delicious eating. The fame author fays, that in France they are migra- tory, and in fome parts of this kingdom they have been obferved to change places, particularly in Hampfhire, where they are known generally to itay not more than a fortnight at one time. Our reprefentation was taken from one killed near Bed- lington in Northumberland, =e oe est 2 ee Ce 2 ee oe. 6 a « es ae ee > bee aes ee oo seh - - tet Ye meen ~ ot 94 BRITISH BIRDS» THE BLACK OUZEL. BLACKBIRD, (Turdus Merula, Lin.—Le Merle, Buff.) Tse length of the Blackbird is generally about ten inches: Its plumage is altogether black; the bill, infide of the mouth, and edges of the eye-lids are yellow, as are alfo the foles of the feet; the legs are of a dirty yellow. ‘The female is mofily brown, inclining to ruft colour on the breaft and belly ; the bill is dufky, and the legs brown; its fong is alfo very different, fo that it has fometimes been miftaken for a bird of a different {pecies. Male Blackbirds, during the firft year, refemble the females fo much as not eafily to be diftinguith- ed from them; but after that, they affume the yel- BRITISH BIRDS. 95 low bill, and other diftinguifhing marks of their kind. ‘The Blackbird is a folitary bird, frequent- ing woods and thickets, chiefly of evergreens, fuch as pines, firs, &c. efpecially where there are perennial {prings, which afford it both fhelter and fubfiftence. Wild Blackbirds feed on berries, fruits, infects, and worms; they never fly in flocks like Thrufhes; they pair early, and be- gin to warble fooner than any other of the fong- {ters of the grove. The female builds her neft in bufhes or low trees, and lays four or five egos, of a blueifh green colour, marked irregularly with duiky fpots. The young birds are eafily brought up tame, and may be taught to whilftle a variety of tunes, for which their clear, loud, and {pirited tones are well adapted. They are reftlefs and timorous birds, eafily alarmed, and difficult of accefs: but Buffon obferves that they are more reftlefs than cunning, and more timorous than fufpicious, as they readily fuffer themfelves to be caught with bird-lime, noofes, and all forts of f{nares. They are never kept in aviaries; for when fhut up with Other birds they purfue and harafs their compa- nions in flavery unceafingly, for which reafon they are generally confined in cages apart. In fome counties of England this bird is called the Ouzel. ae. 5 = SS ee ea - = ~ en e - a - a - — a —_———— SS — LK . . * ——— e ——_ ——~= =e ae yy = lp vy (297 vl - > Fo. Seti Se 3 i re a e> SS Se eS -: IS i ~~ See oa ah Beha =, en s = ; ee _ o> a 2 aoe Se = . “ ‘ hl Jf t . r ‘ oa. Wh We a ! tell ret. t v Math 4 ag : i" ‘ r ‘ al - A 4 1 ° Ve t ry : > t . i i 7 ¥ rt t i; eb) o> f i ' ret ee > Ls eee: a. a - -~_s een ane — — in each is furnifhed with a few black Buff.) BIRDS. The bill is yellow ; is light brown; the top of the BRITISH inches: coloured; the throat and breaft are fx] ‘aan < Fx a) ~ = [xy fx] an EH the eye the former fpotted with black; the back and coverts of the wings are of a deep hoary brown; Tuts is fomewhat lefs than the Miffel Thrufh; the rump afh clining to black; legs dufky yellowifh brown thighs of a yellowifh white; the tail brown, in- young birds yellow. head and back part of the neck are of a light ath yellow, regularly fpotted with black ; the belly and (Zurdus Pilaris, Line—La Litorne, ou Tourdelle, corner of the mouth its length ten briftly hairs ; colour, = = = > “o - Se ee =e a z —_ oa “ oe aes < ; we S-: = ete ar tS Serre t= * Fs wegre Ecostepie pale ee Rd gg - Gi - i _ 2 eer ™ por Re Tks nc ea : eee ere em: ee ae Se ne AB oT” tame ‘tes -* - 2 te . hey “oe eS On Cee a Pam atic ee Sa P= a5 _ ~~ hn Ot <2: = nS Ee PES ST - , w~ Sr 5 > “ . — BRITISH BIRDS. 99 The Fieldfare is only a vifitant in this ifland, making its appearance about the beginning of Oc- tober, in order to avoid the rigorous winters of the North, from whence it fometimes comes in great flocks, according to the feverity of the feafon, and leaves us about the latter end of February or the beginning of March, and retires to Ruffia, Sweden, Norway, and as far as Siberia and Kamfchatka. Buffon obferves that they do not arrive in France till the beginning of December, that they affemble in flocks of two or three thoufand, and feed on ripe cervices, of which they are extremely fond: Du- ring the winter they feed on haws and other ber- ries, they likewife eat worms, {nails, and flugs.x— Fieldfares feem of a more focial difpofition than the Throftles or the Miffels ; they are fometimes feen fingly, but in general form very numerous flocks, and fly in a body, and though they often {pread themfelves through the meadows in fearch of food, they feldom lofe fight of each other, but when alarmed fly off, and colle@ together upon the fame tree. We have feen a variety of this bird, of which the head and neck were of a yellowith white ; the reft of the body was nearly of the fame colour, mixed with a few brown feathers; the {pots on the breaft were faint and indiftin®; the quill feathers were perfectly white, except one or two on each fide, which were brown; the tail was marked in a fimilar manner. H 2 ) Gola, BRITISH BIRDS» ee eo = = — ae Sera P ROE SLi =. > = += ee ——S—= eS ee = a ; ne > am - % -* a = = = == Hi “ ‘ A) ey i ckal . a 1 i : Ri : : ; tM : : | hand ‘ ; AE : : ty : iy 1) eed | Ry ian ra : "i : bas } oP r , : 7 : THE THROSTLE. - THRUSH OR MAVIS. Turdus Muficus, Lin.x—La Grive, Buff.) Tuts is larger than the Redwing, but much lefs than the Miffel, to which it bears a ftrong refem- blance both in form and colours; a {mall notch is obfervable at the end of the bill, which belongs to this and every bird of the Thrufh kind; the throat is white, and the {pots on the breaft more regularly formed than thofe of the Miflel Thruth, being of a conical fhape; the infide of the wings and the mouth are yellow, as are alfo the legs; the claws are {trong and black.—The Throftle is diftinguith- ed among our finging birds by the clearnefs and fullnefs of its note; it charms us not only with the fweetnels, but variety of its fong, which begins BRITISH BIRDS. Io! early in the {pring, and continues during part of the f{ummer. This bold and pleating fongfter, from his high ftation, feems to command the concert of the grove, whilft, in the beautiful language of the et, tape « The Jay, the Rook, the Daw, «¢ And each harfh pipe (difcordant heard alone) ‘¢ Aid the full concert, while the Stock-Dove breathes *¢ A melancholy murmur through the whole.”’ The female builds her neft generally in buthes ; it is compofed of dried grafs, with a little earth or clay intermixed, and lined with rotten wood; fhe lays five or fix eggs of a pale blue colour, marked with dufky fpots. Although this {pecies is not con- fidered as migratory with us, it has, neverthelefs, been obferved in fome places in great numbers du- ring the {pring and fummer, where not one was to be feen in the winter, which has induced an opinion that they either fhift their quarters entirely, or take fhelter in the more retired parts of the woods.— That the Throftle is migratory in France, we have the authority of that nice obferver of nature, M. de Buffon, who fays that it appears in Burgundy about the end of September, before the Redwing and Fieldfare, and that it feeds upon the ripe grapes, and fometimes does much damage to the vineyard. The females of all the Thrufh kind are very fimilar to the males, and differ chiefly in a lefler degree of brilliancy in the colours. H 3 —_—— a. ot 4h Ss = 1 a oe age - = =ty* a. —— — . a ~~ meee 3S aes ak ao preee @ oor gagaty ee coe Se . = _ 7 eoieettl a = Se 102 BRITISH BIRDS, pe +4 —* ~ a= as _ 5 LoS N , 7 — 22 ~joed Mi eS SS be ee Aa —— SS 4 we Ve (le ane - : ~< Ma ~ wae Sys) bo ee Net ey < — . 6 5 Ae oS ~~ > av ~~ . yes “ \ee . yt 3 » > Os * a THE REDWING. SWINEPIPE OR WIND THRUSH. Lurdus Iiacus, Lin.—Le Mauvis, Buff.) Is not more than eight inches in length: The bill is of a dark brown colour; eyes deep hazel ; the plumage in general is fimilar to that of the Thruth, but a white ftreak over the eye diftinguith- es it from that bird; the belly is not quite fo much fpotted, and the fides of the body and under the wings are tinged with red, which is its peculiar charateriftic, from whence alfo it derives its name. Thefe birds make their appearance a few days before the Fieldfare,* and are generally feen with * AV Redwing was taken up November 7th, 1785, at fix BRITISH BIRDS. 103 them after their arrival; they frequent the fame places, eat the fame food, and are very fimilar to them in manners. Like the Fieldfare it leaves us in the fpring, for which reafon its fong is quite un- known to us, but it is faid to be very pleating. The female builds its neft in low bufhes or hedges, and lays fix eggs, of a greenifh blue colour, {pot- ted with black. This and the former are delicate eating; the Romans held them in fuch eftimation that they kept thoufands of them together in avia- ries, and fed them with a fort of pafte made of bruifed figs and flour, and various other kinds of food to improve the delicacy and flavour of their fleflh: Thefe aviaries were fo contrived as to ad- mit light barely fufficient to direét them to their food; every obje& which might tend to remind them of their former liberty was carefully kept out of fight, fuch as the fields, the woods, the birds, or whatever might difturb the repofe neceflary for their improvement. Under this management thefe birds fattened to the great profit of their proprie- tors, who fold them to Roman epicures for three denarii, or about two fhillings fterling each. o’clock in the morning, which, on its approach to land, had flown againft the light-houfe at Tynemouth, and was fo ftunned that it fell to the ground and died foon after; the light mofl probably had attracted its attention. H 4 a 3 lid Ae alka ign eG i Wl ine : enh 104 BRITISH BIRDS. wel ag set | . vais | Bae iba | at | + aie We oi | + nie eet | aa iat Bais vil nit tT) edge lb) 14 Higbee Beh os Ah \ bi a Ae | Me ear Lie * ‘a N | rey iff AB PS) ae : ‘| ( : : Pik a Papua THE CUCKOO. ae THE GOWK. | (Cuculus Canorus, Lin.—Le Coucou, Buff.) | Leneorn fourteen inches; breadth twenty-five : His ty Its bill is black, and fomewhat bent ; eyes yellow ; LR iie Sa infide of the mouth red; its head, neck, back, and Wikre wing coverts are of a pale blue or dove colour, i» Ly 6 - ~ Ae a which is darkeft on the head and back, and paleit “i shee te “ hg Ps yy on the fore part of the neck and rump; its breaft re and belly are white, elegantly croffed with wavy eae bars of black; the quill feathers are duiky, their 5) iy inner webs marked with large oval white {pots ; ig the tail is long; the two middle feathers are black, Hi with white tips; the others dufky, marked with al- BRITISH BIRDS. 105 ternate fpots of white on each fide the fhaft; the legs are fhort and of a yellow colour; toes two forward, two backward; claws white. The Cuckoo vifits us early in the {pring—its well-known cry is generally heard about the mid- dle of April, and ceafes the latter end of June; its ftay is fhort, the old Cuckoos being faid to quit this country early in July. Cuckoos never pair; they build no neft; and, what is more extraordinary, the female depofits her folitary egg in that of another bird, by whom it is hatched. The neft fhe chules for this purpofe is generally felected from the fol- lowing, viz. The Hedge-fparrow, the Water-wag- tail, the Titlark, the Yellow-hammer, the Green Linnet, or the Whinchat. Of thefe it has been oblerved that fhe fhews a much greater partiality to the Hedge-fparrow than to any of the reft. We owe the following account of the economy of this fingular bird in the difpotal of its egg, to the accurate obfervations of Mr Edward Jenner, communicated to the Royal Society, and publifhed in the 78th volume of their tranfactions, part I. He obferves that, during the time the Hedge-{par- row is laying her eggs, which generally takes up four or five days, the Cuckoo contrives to depofit her egg among the reft, leaving the future care of it entirely to the Hedge-fparrow. ‘This intrufion often occafions fome difcompofure, for the old’ Hedge-fparrow at intervals, whilft fhe is fitting, not only throws out fome of her own eggs, but -— 5 > oe ee So ee > SS > _ i. - = Ts - hy Wy: a rh it if (Fy! if es a ae’ > rT 2 FAS eS oes os iene Sige > ty tags =e 106 BRITISH BIRDS. fometimes injures them in fuch a way that they become addle, fo that it frequently happens that not more than two or three of the parent bird’s eggs are hatched with that of the Cuckoo; and what is very remarkable, it has never been obfer- ved that the Hedge-{parrow has either thrown out or injured the egg of the Cuckoo. When the Hedge-fparrow has fat her ufual time, and difen- gaged the young Cuckoo and fome of her own off- fpring from the fhell, her own young ones, and any of her eggs that remain unhatched, are foon turned out, the young Cuckoo remaining in full pof- feffion of the neft, and the fole objet of the future care of her fofter parent. The young birds are not previoufly killed, nor the eggs demolifhed, but all are left to perifh together, either entangled in the bufh which contains the neft, or lying on the ground under it. Mr Jenner next proceeds to ac. count for this feemingly unnatural circumftance ; and as what he has advanced is the refult of his own repeated obfervations, we fhall give it nearly in his own words. ‘ On the 18th June, 1787, Mr J. examined the nett of a Hedge-fparrow, which then contained a Cuckoo’s and three Hedge-fpar- row’s eggs. On infpecting it the day following, the bird had hatched, but the neft then contained only a young Cuckoo. and one young Hedge-{par- row. ‘The neft was placed fo near the extremity of a hedge that he could diftinétly fee what was going forward in it; and, to his great aftonith- BRITISH BIRDS.» 107 ment, he faw the young Cuckoo, though fo lately hatched, in the a&t of turning out the young Hedge- fparrow. ‘The mode of accomplithing this was cu- rious: The little animal, with the afliftance of its rump and wings, contrived to get the bird upon its back, and making a lodgement for its burden by elevating its elbows, clambered backwards with it up the fide of the neft till it reached the top, where refting for a moment, it threw off its load with a jerk, and quite difengaged it from the neft: After remaining a fhort time in this fituation, and feeling about with the extremities of its wings, as if to be convinced that the bufinefs was properly executed, it dropped into the neft again. Mr J. made fever- al experiments in different nefts by repeatedly put- ting in an egg to the young Cuckoo, which he al- ways found to be difpofed of in the fame manner. It is very remarkable, that nature feems to have provided for the fingular difpofition of the Cuckoo in its formation at this period, for, different from other newly hatched birds, its back from the fca- pulze downwards is very broad, with a confiderable depreflion in the middle, which feems intended by nature for the purpofe of giving a more fecure lodgement to the egg of the Hedge-fparrow, or its young one, while the young Cuckoo is employed in removing either of them from the neft. When it is above twelve days old this cavity is quite fil- led up, the back affumes the fhape of neftling birds in general, and at that time the difpofition for turn- ~ ~ _— . Rag. ae ¥ “ . > : = tt A Cal =. ct eer estab 2 ry a - - “ 2 ¢ -. > 7 ~ ~ r. : “—— a a oO d —— ‘ = — “ . R ' al ny Se Nn os an —_ a - : =! = =: _ —— 5 se & = -——— ee - r oa0 ee Be — yz 7 . 1% . - —= ae ST, d =< —— = i ie = “Ss =~ > i ail 7" 4 ie, com , P ec $ ze : 3 aS a. <== >; naa - “J Le. ellie s amet be < - 3 e ; <3 - : eye = - ee ~ > > eS ee . -——-— ~ 4 "2 =< = ra < ar ’ » a aa a — aad 7 ma &-+ x > = A. : : te “ea — Ce ee - i S RF TG. our \ 4 ¥s ee > A — J-< - —. — > ee: SSS == , ee = = erst : = - : ‘ bP Ot ee eS ae “_ =F Sa oS = as == : P Ta see 5 FO - ; 7 <2 _ 2 a ae = r ~ = Fade = see sat <= “r= x . SS - ~~@5 3 4 o od - a " - _ —- a Ped _— ~~ a - —_— —— > cc = = + aie — aie i i" Pb Ks Sia o : a =i See eet ory gs > ~ : eS eee : - ~ " - > : . — ng a ~ rs - : -. wz °—— oe - ——> = - - a ~—— ee > . i 2a _? aS chee +, = =z. * ; a. eS : . - = Sx Ee £372 ye ——— -s z a . =e “ _ Sn went abe oe Page a" ne : Pe FPN ag, ee ~ : : i - — : +— = a Si ee oem 2 SS SS ee eee — a es ee : — = — == ~ “Ea - —— = = “ar < er ; : site So aes re eae ae . = = — s = -. ee etme Spe ea were nearly of the fize of thofe of the Thruth. i108 BRITISH BIRDS. ing out its companion entirely ceafes. ‘The {mall nels of the Cuckoo’s egg, which, in general, is lefs than that of the Houfe-fparrow,* is another circum- {tance to be attended to in this furprizing tranfac- tion, and feems to account for the parent Cuckoo’s depofiting it in the nefts of fuch {mall birds only as have been mentioned. If fhe were to do this in the neft of a bird which produced a larger egg, and confequently a larger neftling, its defign would pro- bably be fruftrated; the young Cuckoo would be unequal to the tafk of becoming fole- pofleflor of the neft, and might fall.a facrifice to the fuperior itrength of its partners. Mr Jenner obferves, that it fometimes happens that two Cuckoos’ eggs are depofited in the fame ne{t, and gives the following inftance of one which: fell under his obfervation. Two Cuckoos and a Hedge-{parrow were hatched in the fame neft, one Hedge-{parrow’s egg remaining unhatched: In a few hours a conteft began between the Cuckoos : for pofleflion of the neft, which continued undeter- mined till the afternoon of the following day, when one of them, which was fomewhat {uperior in fize, turned out the other, together with the young Hedge-{parrow and the unhatched egg. This con- teft, he adds, was very remarkable: The combat- ants alternately appeared to have the advantage, as * 'The Cuckoo eggs which have come under our obfervation Fane) 7" J - BRITISH BIRDS. 109 each carried the other feveral times nearly to the top of the neft, and then funk down again oppref- fed with the weight of its burthen: till at length, after various efforts, the ftrongeft prevailed, and was afterwards brought up by the Hedge-iparrow. It would carry us beyond the limits of our work to give a detail of the obfervations made by our in- genious inquirer; we muft therefore refer our read- er to the work itfelf, in which he will find:a vari- ety of matter entirely new refpecting this fingular bird, whofe hiftory has for ages been enveloped in fable, and mixed with unaccountable ftories found- ed in ignorance and fuperftition. At what period the young Cuckoos leave this country is not pre- cifely known; Mr Jenner fuppofes they go off in fucceffion, and leave us as foon as they are capable of taking care of themfelves. ‘That fome of them remain here in a torpid ftate we have already had occafion to obferve ;* but this cannot be the cafe with the greater part of thofe which leave this coun- try and retire to milder climates, to avoid the ri- gours of winter. Buffon mentions feveral inftances of young Cuckoos having been kept in cages, which, probably for want of proper nutriment, did not fur- vive the winter. We knew of one which was preter- ved through the winter by being fed with worms, infeéts, foaked bread, and fmall pieces of flefh. ‘The plumage of the Cuckoo varies greatly at different * See the introduction. breaft, and belly are elegantly barred with a dark brown ’ In young Cuckoos the bill, the back is of a lead colour, and faintly barred with white BRITISH BIRDS. and white, and tipped with white; its the tail feathers are irregularly marked with black legs are yellow. light brown, “— Pp © B] QS gad oS om wY SS vo lool = i © led ~ > wee t~ ae “3 am © } a CS — 3 ~ = 5 om fas] un ote) vY nee ones; the eye is blue; the throat, neck mixed with brown, periods of its life. on a light ground wes ert ee 2 BRITISH BIRDS. IIIf THE WRYNECE. (Fynx Torguilla, Lin,—Le Tarcol, Buff.) Tue principal colours which diftinguifh this beautiful little bird confift of different fhades of brown, but fo elegantly arranged as to form a pic- ture of the moft exquifite neatnefs; from the back part of the head down to the middle of the back there runs an irregular line of dark brown, inclin- ing to black; the reft of the back is afh-coloured, {treaked and powdered with brown; the throat and under fide of the neck are of a reddifh brown, crof- fed with fine bars of black; the breaft, belly, and thighs are of a light afh colour, marked with trian- ie so _—— =: aS : = 2. ESI an PO - ores ne ese aE Te ¥ — ‘2 a > Dr es ear ameemas - oer. - paedaaetand = Se ae =s . I12 BRITISH BIRDS. gular {pots, irregularly difperfed; the larger quill feathers are marked on the outer_webs with alter- nate {pots of dark brown and ruft colour, which, when the wing is clofed, give it the appearance of chequered work; the reft of the wing and {capu- lars are nicely freckled and fhaded with brown {pots of different fizes ; the tail feathers are marked with irregular bars of black, the intervening fpa- ces being finely freckled and powdered with dark brown {pots ; its bill is rather long, fharp-point- ed, and of a pale lead colour; its eyes are light brown; but what chiefly diftinguithes this fingular bird is the ftru€ture of its tongue, which is of con- liderable length, of a cylindrical form, and capable of being pufhed forwards or drawn into its bill a- gain; it is furnifhed with a horny fubftance at its end, with which it fecures its prey and brings it to its mouth ; its legs are fhort and flender; the toes placed two before and two behind; the claws {harp, much hooked, and formed for climbing the branch- es of trees, on which it can run in all direGtions. with great facility. It makes an artlefs nett, of dry grafs upon dufty rotten wood, in holes of trees, the entrance to which is fo fmall as {carcely to admit the hand, on which account its eggs are come at with dificulty ; according to Buffon, they are per- fe€tly white, and from eight to ten in number.— This curious bird, though fimilar in many refpects to the Woodpecker, feems to conftitute a genus of itfelf: It is found in various parts of Europe, and BRITISH BIRDS. 113 generally appears with us a few days before the Cuckoo. Its food confifts chiefly of ants and other infects, of which it finds great abundance lodged in the bark and crevices of trees. The ftomach of one which we opened was full of indigefted parts of ants. It is faid to frequent the places where ant hills are, into which it darts its tongue and draws out its prey. ‘Though nearly related to the family of the Woodpeckers, in the formation of its bill and feet, it never aflociates with them, but feems to form a {mall and feparate family. ‘The Wry- neck holds itfelf very ere&t on the branch of the tree where it fits; its body is almoft bent back- ward, whilft it writhes its head and neck by a flow and almoft involuntary motion, not unlike the wa- ving wreaths of a reptile. It is a very folitary bird, and leads a fequeftered life; it is never feen with any other fociety but that of its female, and it is only tranfitory, for as foon as the domeftic union is diflolved, which is in the month of September, they retire and migrate by themfelves. | 1 Ses eeeSste Geers ee . <= ea on ‘ . BRITISH BIRDS.- THE WOODPECKERS. Or thefe only three or four kinds are found in thefe kingdoms. ‘Their characters are ftriking and their manners fingular. ‘The bill is large, ftrong, and fitted for its employment; the end of it is formed like a wedge, with which it pierces the bark of trees and bores into the wood; in which its food is lodged. Its neck is fhort and thick, and furnifhed with powerful mufcles, which enable it to ftrike with fuch force as to be heard at a confi- derable diftance; its tongue is long and taper; at the end of it there is a hard bony fubftance, which penetrates into the crevices of trees, and extracts the infects and their eggs, which are lodged there; the tail confifts of ten ftiff, fharp-pointed feathers bent inwards, by which it fecures itfelf on the trunks of trees while in fearch of food; for this purpofe its feet are fhort and thick, and its toes, which are placed two forward and two backward, are armed with ftrong hooked claws, by which it clings firmly and creeps up and down in all-direc- tions. MM. Buffon, with his ufual warmth of ima- gination, thus defcribes the feemingly dull and fo- litary life of the Woodpecker. ** Of all the birds which earn their fubfiftence by ‘* fpoil, none leads a life fo laborious and painful “© as the Woodpecker: Nature has condemned it “ to inceffant toil and flavery. While others free- BRITISH BIRDS. 115 “ly employ their courage or addrefs, and either *¢ fhoot on rapid wing or lurk in clofe ambuth, the ‘¢ Woodpecker is conftrained to drag out an infipid ‘‘ exiltence in boring the bark and hard fibres of ** trees to extract its humble prey. Neceflity ne- ‘“‘ ver fuffers any intermiflion of its labours, never * grants an interval of found repofe; often during “‘ the night it fleeps in the fame painful pofture as ‘‘ in the fatigues of the day. It never fhares the * {ports of the other inhabitants of the air, it joins * not their vocal concerts, and its wild cries and ‘* faddening tones, while they difturb the filence of “the forelt, exprefs conftraint and effort: Its ** movements are quick, its geftures full of inquie- ‘* tude, its looks coarfe and vulgar; it fhuns all fo- ** ciety, even that of its own kind; and when it is *¢ prompted to feek a companion, its appetite is not ** foftened by delicacy of feeling.” Se — -- . .—-<« = se <= @h Poe “= _ —_- Te ee = ———— ~~ « a Na SS a ee ee = a prague ao yates 116 BRITISH BIRDS. od Pp ot Free <4 Ge has = Pile Gee A “ 4 tH Te tiger ope. nl 243 , 4 sehen: Pe gil) eee NES ot tof AO MED ff Val ty vig 7 OT ah iy hie ‘ ADO LS ee AY eRe & THE GREEN WOODPECKER. WOODSPITE, HIGH-HOE, HEW-HOLE, OR PICK-A-TREE.* (Picus Viridis, Linx—Le Pic Verd, Buff.) Tuts is the largeft of the Britifh kinds, being thirteen inches in length: Its bill is two inches long, of a triangular fhape, and of a dark horn colour; the outer circle of the eye is white, fur- rounding another of red; the top of the head is of a bright crimfon, which extends down the hinder part of the neck, ending in a point behind; the eye * Wallis, in his Hiftory of Northumberland, obferves that it is called by the common people Pick-a-tree, alfo Rain Fowl, from its being more loud and noify before rain. The old Romans called them Pluvie aves for the fame reafon. BRITISH BIRDS. 117 is furrounded by a black fpace; and from each corner of the bill there is a crimfon ftreak pointing downwards; the back and wing coverts are of an olive green; the rump yellow; the quill feathers are dufky, barred on the outer web with black and white; the baftard wing is fpotted with white; the fides of the head and all the under parts of the body are white, flightly tinged with green; the tail is marked with bars like the wings; the legs are greenifh. The female differs from the male in not having the red mark from the corner of the mouth ; fle makes her neft in the hollow of a tree, fifteen or twenty feet from the ground. Buffon obferves that both male and female labour by turns in boring through the living part of the wood, fometimes to a confiderable depth, until they pe- netrate to that which is decayed and rotten, where {he lays five or fix eggs, of a greenifh colour, mark- ed with {mall black fpots. The Green Woodpecker is feen more frequently on the ground than the other kinds, particularly where there are ant-hills. It inferts its long tongue into the holes through which the ants iflue, and draws out thefe infe€ts in abundance. Sometimes, with its feet and bill, it makes a breach in the nett, and devours them at its eafe, together with their eggs. ‘The young ones climb up and down the trees before they are able to fly; they rooft yery early, and repofe in their holes till day, | $3 - 4 Ne ¥ >< - —7 =e — ~~ <> + > > “=< = ++ oe 7 ‘ — - ~ DS eS Rie a ee ee - Se . ae ih 118 BRITISH BIRDS, GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER. WITWALL, (Picus Major, Lin.—L’Epeiche, ou le Pic varie, Buff.) Irs length is fomewhat more than nine inches: The bill is of a dark horn colour, very ftrong at the bafe; the upper and under fides are formed by high-pointed ridges, which run along the middle of each; it is exceedingly fharp at the end; the eyes are reddifh, encircled with a large white fpot, which extends to the back part of the head, on which there is a {pot of crimfon; the forehead is buff colour; the top of the head black; on the back part of the neck there are two white {pots, feparated by a line of black; the fcapulars and tips of the wing co- BRITISH BIRDS. ifg verts are white; the reft of the plumage on the upper part of the body is black; the tail is black, the outer feathers marked with white {pots ; the throat, breaft, and part of the belly are of a yel- lowifh white ; the vent and lower part of the belly crimfon; the legs and feet of a lead colour. The female wants the red fpet on the back of the head. This bird is common in England. Buffon fays that it ftrikes againft the trees with brifker and harder blows than the Green Woodpecker :—It creeps with great eafe in all direCtions upon the branches of trees, and is with difficulty feen, as it inftantly avoids the fight by creeping behind a branch, where it remains concealed. THE MIDDLE-SPOTTED WOODPECKER, (Picus Medius, Lin.—Le Pic vari? a téte Rouge, Buff.) Tuts bird is fomewhat lefs than the former, and differs from it chiefly in having the top of the head wholly crimfon ; in every other refpeét the colours are much the fame, though more obfcure. Buffon gives a figure of it in his Planches Enluminees, but confiders it as a variety only of the former. Ss —- ee eg = ne peal ee oF RD eee — - = — —? 4s = oe Se, \ / } ul 4 ‘ ' j Ue 4 ; 1 a : | ’ : ier ine : a ( yh | ; | 8. ty 1 eB : , ered | 7) { 4 Re Wy f be J le : Ye er ‘sh : te t ALD mit) ru, BRITISH BIRDS. LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER, HICKWALL, (Picus Minor, Lin.—Le petit Epeiche, Buff.) Tuts is the fmalleft of our fpecies, being only five inches and a half in length; weight nearly one ounce: Its general plumage is very fimilar to the larger {pecies, but wants the red under the tail, and the large white patches on the fhoulders; the un- der parts of the body are of a dirty white; the legs lead colour. Buffon fays, that in winter it draws near houfes and vineyards, that it neftles like the former in holes of trees, and fometimes difputes poffeffion with the colemoufe, which it compels ta give up its lodging. ree MA ares BRITISH BIRDS, 121 THE NUTHATCH, NUTJOBBER, WOODCRACKER. (Sitta Europea, Lin.—La Sittelle ou le Torchepot, Butt.) Irs length is nearly fix inches: The bill ftrong, black above, beneath almoft white; the eyes ha- zel; a black ftroke pafles over each eye, from the bill extending down the fide of the neck as far as the fhoulder; all the upper part of the bo- dy is of a fine blue grey colour; the cheeks and chin are white; breaft and belly of a pale orange colour; fides marked with ftreaks of cheftnut; quills dufky ; its tail is fhort, the two middle fea- thers are grey, the reft dulky, three of the outer- 122 BRITISH BIRDS. moit {potted with white; the legs pale yellow; the claws large, fharp, and much. bent, the back claw very ftrong; when extended, the foot mea- {ures one inch and three quarters. This, like the Woodpecker, frequents woods, and is a fhy and folitary bird; the female lays her eggs in holes of trees, frequently in thofe which have been deferted by the Woodpecker. During the time of incubation fhe is affiduoufly attended by the male, who fupplies her with food; fhe is eafily driven from her neft, but on being difturbed hifles like a fnake. The Nuthatch feeds on cater- pillars, beetles, and various kinds of infe@s; it likewife eats nuts, and is very expert in cracking them fo as to come at the contents ; having placed a nut faft in a chink, it takes its ftand a little a- bove, and firiking it with all its force, breaks the {hell and catches up the kernel. Like the Wood- pecker, it moves up and down the trunks of trees with great facility in fearch of food. It does not migrate, but in the winter approaches nearer inha- bited places, and is fometimes feen in orchards and gardens. ‘The young ones are efteemed very good eating. BRITISH BIRDS.» 123 THE HOOPOE. (Upupa Epops, Lin.—Le Hupe ou Puput, Butt.) Irs length is twelve inches, breadth nineteen; The bill is above two inches long, black, flender, and fomewhat curved; the eyes hazel; the tongue very fhort and triangular ; the head is ornamented with a creft, confifting of a double row of feathers of a pale orange colour, tipped with black, the high- eft about two inches in length; the neck is of a pale reddifh brown; breaft and belly white, which in young birds are marked with various dufky lines pointing downwards; the back, fcapulars, and wings are crofled with broad bars of black and white; the lefler coverts of the wings light brown; the rump is white; the tail confifts of ten feathers, on = = en al < » a easiest ‘i? _ . = es be ee ee ee ~ 34-402 --- ——— rs 124 BRITISH BIRDS. each marked with white, which, when clofed, af- fumes the form of a crefcent, the horns pointing downwards; the legs are fhort and black. This is the only one of its kind found in thefe kingdoms; it is not very common with us, being feen only at uncertain periods. Our reprefen- tation was taken from a very fine one fhot near Bedlington, Northumberland, and fent us by the Rev. Mr Cotes. In its ftomach were found the claws and other indigeftible parts of infeéts of the beetle tribe; it was alive fome time after being fhot, and walked about ereCting its tail and creft in a very pleafing manner. ‘The female is faid to have two or three broods in the year; fhe makes no neit, but lays her eggs, generally about four or five in number, in the hollow of a tree, and fome- times in a hole in the wall, or even on the ground. Buffon fays, that he has fometimes found a foft lin. ing of mofs, wool, or feathers in the nefts of thefe birds, and fuppofes that, in that cafe, they may have ufed the deferted neft of fome other bird. Its food confifts chiefly of infeéts, with the remains of which its neft is fometimes fo filled as to become extremely offenfive. It is a folitary bird, two of them being feldom feen together; in Egypt, where they are very common, they are feen only in fmall flocks. Its creft ufually falls behind on its neck, except when it is furprifed or irritated, and it then ftands erect. 24... 4 es BRITISH BIRDS. 125 THE CREEPER. (Certhia familiaris, Lin.—Le Grimpereau, Buff.) Irs length is five inches and a half; the body is about the fize of that of the Wren: Its bill is long, flender, and much curved, the upper one brown, the lower whitifh; eyes hazel; the head, neck, back, and wing coverts are of a dark brown, varie- gated with ftreaks of a lighter hue; the throat, breaft, and belly are of a filvery white; the rump tawny; the quills are dufky, edged with tawny, and marked with bars of the fame colour; the tips are white; above each eye. a {mall dark line pat- fes towards the neck, above which there is a line of white; the tail is long, and confilts of twelve {tiff feathers, of a tawny colour, pointed and forked at the end; the legs are fhort and of a brown co- It is not feen without difficulty, rly in the fpring, in the hole of a vhich, on the appearance of any pes to the oppofite fide of the tree. lays from five to feven eggs, of BRITISH BIRDS. it 1e eafle with \ ,» marked at the end with {pots of a eggs, which conftitute its food. Although {ca builds its neft ea The female tl one, it e ry common, ' etl | © © Fa eo oo oe | O a = "Oo = CS oe 3 — = br 2) bee | o w wt. = _ cS O 8) ct ~ on wu ~ © ood ed, which enable it to run with great facility on all fides of {mall branches of trees in quett of infects an afh colour * < and their ve from tree deeper hue. a eg RT Ee i ee ee - ~ a+ a ee ee Se et wr ee eee et oe rc ee te Et BRITISH BIRDS. 127 OF THE PASSERINE ORDER. Tur1s numerous clafs conftitutes the fifth order in Mr Pennant’s arrangement of Britifh birds, and includes a great variety of different kinds: Of thefe we have detached the Stare, the Thrufh, and the Chatterer, and have joined them to the Pies, to which they feem to have a greater affinity. Thofe which follow are diftinguifhed by their lively and active difpofitions, their beautiful plumage, and de- lightful melody. Of this order confift thofe ama- zing flocks of {mall birds of almoft every defcrip- tion—thofe numerous families, which, univerfally diffufed throughout every part of the known world, people the woods, the fields, and even the largeft and moft populous cities, in countlefs multitudes, and every where enliven, diverfify, and adorn the face of nature. Thefe are not lefs confpicuous for their ufefulnefs, than their numbers and variety : They are of infinite advantage in the economy of nature, in deflroying myriads of noxious infeéts, which would otherwife teem in every part of the animal and vegetable fyftems, and would pervade and choke up all the avenues of life and health. Infects and their eggs, worms, berries, and feeds of almoft every kind, form the varied mafs from whence thefe bufy little tribes derive their fupport. The characters of the Pafferine order, which are as various as their habits and dif politions, will — SS = om? —— a ~ ~— _ ——_ a alii y » 7) — = = — o-. = a ee ~ Ce a — oe Oe ee eee ~ - Ps eps SR Dy Jt i mh 4 128 BRITISH BIRDS. be beft feen in the defcription of each particular kind. It may be neceflary however to obferve, that they naturally divide themfelves into two diftin& kinds, namely, the hard-billed or feed birds, and the flender or foft-billed birds; the former are furnifhed with {tout bills of a conical fhape, and very fharp at the point, admirably fitted for the purpofe of breaking the hard external coverings of the feeds of plants from the kernels, which conftitute the principal part of their food; the latter are remarkable for the foftnefs and delicacy of their bills; their food confifts altogether of fmall worms, infeéts, the larvee of infects and their eggs, which they find de- pofited in immenfe profufion on the leaves and bark of trees, in chinks and crevices of ftones, and even in {mall mafles on the bare ground, fo that there is hardly a portion of matter that does not contain a plentiful fupply of food for this diligent race of beings. ‘* Full nature {warms with life ; ‘¢ The flowery leaf ‘¢ Wants not its foft inhabitants. Secure * Within its winding citadel, the ftone “‘ Holds multitudes. But chief the foreft-boughs, “« That dance unnumber’d to the playful breeze, ‘«¢ The downy orchard, and the melting pulp “¢ Of mellow fruit, the namelefs nations feed ** Of evanefcent infeéts.” BRITISH BIRDS. 129 OF THE GROSBEAK. Tuts genus is not numerous in thefe kingdoms, and of thofe which we call ours, moft of them are only vifitors, making a fhort ftay with us, and lea- ving us again to breed and rear their young in o- ther countries. ‘I’hey are in general fhy and foli- tary, living chiefly in woods at a diftance from the habitations of men. ‘Their vocal powers are not great; and as they do not add much to the general harmony of the woods which they inhabit, they are confequently not much known or fought after. Their moft confpicuous character confifts in the thicknefs and ftrength of their bills, which enables them to break the ftones of various kinds of fruits, and other hard fubftances on which they feed. ‘Their general appearance is very fimilar to birds of the Finch kind, of which they may be reckoned the principal branch. = ne sey 5 — Ea ery = ne eminent a “ Ee or el ee = ———— 2 ee — ee 3 —_ < t~ << = a ee, ? ~ = SSS" ; ———— S| Se eRe ey te eee 4 E che » —_* o As eh se as —- oe + <' eR em eye” > — er ee te se ~ * es = — — a= Stee = - = Siniepe -wuisl as eR ee — ee & ——e a o --w-- ad ~ a ee —s ws a heeoomernsyaimepaiiae a ar anagem toda Wi GAEL. aetna Deine eaten we PS x mv , eee oe FS PPE To ret ~° ~ “eit Sues ——— — Pees — ~ == << hon a a : 130 BRITISH BIRDS. ez vw; _ i> A Pi he), SY D s PY LEY Wis MDLG Kes BeOS) * ub hile OL. } r MA ie ' ie ANY ee. Ets ‘ 4 Pe = Cee THE CROSS-BILL. SHEL-APPLE, (Loxia Curviroftra, Lin.—Le bec Croife, Buff.) Tis bird is about the fize of a Lark, being nearly feven inches in length: It is diftinguifhed by the peculiar formation of its bill, the upper and under mandible curving in oppofite direGtions, and crofling each other at the points ;* its eyes are ha- * This fingular conftruétion of the. bill is confidered by M. Buffon as a defe& or error in nature, rather than a permanent feature, merely becaufe that, in fome fubjects, the bill croffes to the left, and in others to the right, arifing, as he fuppofes, from the way in which the bird has been accuftomed to ufe its bill, by employing either the one fide or the other to lay hold of its BRITISH BIRDS. I3L zel; its general colour is reddifh, mixed with brown on the upper parts, the under parts are con- liderably paler, being almoft white at the vent; the wings are fhort, not reaching farther than the letting on of the tail—they are of a brown colour ; the tail is of the fame colour, and fomewhat fork. ed; the legs are black; the colours of the Crofs- bill are extremely fubje& to variation; amoneft a great number there are hardly two of them exally food. This mode of reafoning, however, muft prove very de- fe&tive, when we confider that this peculiarity is confined to a fingle fpecies, no other bird in nature being fubje& to a fimilar variation from the geneial conftruCtion, although there are many other birds which ‘feed upon the fame kinds of hard fubftances, which, neverthelefs, do not experience any change in the for- mation and ftru€ture of their bills; neither has the argument, drawiu from the fuppofed exuberance of growth in the bills of thefe birds, any better foundation, as that likewife may be ap-~ plied to other birds, and the fame queftion will occur—namely, Why is not the fame effect produced? This ingenious but fan- ciful writer, in the further profecution of his argument, feems to increafe the difficulties in which it is involved. He obferves, “* that the bill, hooked upwards and downwards, and bent in oppofite direciions, feems to have been formed for the purpofe of detaching the fcales of the fir cones and obtaining the feeds lodg= ed beneath them, which are the principal food of the bird. It raifes each fcale with its lower mandible, and breaks it with the upper.”” We think there needs no ftronger argument than this to prove, that Nature, in all her operations, works by various means; and although thefe are not always clear to our limited underftandings, the yood of all her creatures is the one great end to which they are all directed. K 2 hm =, wi z. —— - va fe. —t 3 =<. — FA, 9 guns ape me s eet 2 th eg Seca ; I a a . aeiied — y 4 | ’ Bid Dd ; : \ Feb AY - ve , a i ; Tt | | 4 ; ‘ } : +) re #| aha 7! 1S 4, : I : eed : i i | ] han + Te ; : ble 7 Widisde ; {i 3a ay ' 2) Oh ia be banre { ri) 7 lk “4 ' z ; " mn) at ae, gr? a i : - oy iy " We 4 , ‘ ; 132 BRITISH BIRDS» fimilar; they likewife vary with the feafon and ac- cording to the age of the bird. Edwards paints the male with a rofe colour, and the female with a yellowifh green, mixed more or lefs with brown. Both fexes appear very different at different times of the year. The Crofs-bill is an inhabitant of the colder cli- mates, and has been found as far as Greenland, It breeds in Ruflia, Sweden, Poland, and Germa- ny, in the mountains of Switzerland, and among the Alps and Pyrenees, from whence it migrates in vaft flocks into other countries. It fometimes is met with in great numbers in this country, but its vifits are not regular,* as in fome years it is rarely to be feen. Its principal food is faid to be the feeds of the pine tree; it is obferved to hold the cone in one claw like thqParrot, and when kept in a cage has all the a€tioris$of that bird, climbing by means of its hooked-bi##lyfrom the lower to the up- per bars. of its cage. From its mode of icrambling and the beauty of its colours, it has been called by fome the German Parrot. ‘The female is faid to begin to build as early as January; fhe places her neft under the bare branches of the pine tree, fix- ing it with the refinous matter which exudes from that tree, and befmearing it on the outfide with the fame fubftance, fo that the melted fnow or rain cannot penetrate it. * We have met with it on the top of Blackfton-edge, between Rochdale and Halifax, in the month of Augutt. BRITISH BIRDS» 122 Pixs, ig IP ME ge = \ re 1h THE GROSBEAK, HAWFINCH. (Loxia Coccotbrauftes, Lin.—Le Gros-bec, Buff. Lrenotu near feven ing es: Bill of a horn co- lour, conical, and prodigioufly thick at the bafe ; eyes afh-coloured; the ree een the bill and the’eye, and from thence to the chin and throat, is black ; the top of the head is of a reddifh cheftnut, as are alfo the cheeks, but fomewhat paler; the back part of the neck is of a greyifh afh colour; the back and lefler wing coverts cheftnut; the steater wing coverts are grey, in fome almoft white, forming a band acrofs the wing; the quills are all black, except fome of the fecondaries near- eft the body, which are brown; the four outer quills feem as if cut off at the ends; the prime K 3 1 34 BRITISH BIRDS. quills have each of them a {pot of white about a . the middle of the inner web; the brea! and belly are of a pale ruit colour, growing almoft white at the vent; the tail is black, except the ends of the 5 = . — = = 7 4 ee ee ee ee s - - ow —. e. : “ene ~ - ow ie « = ~ — = -- = 63 ee ta ang Ae, te dont be middle feathers, which are grey; the outer ones are tipped with white; the legs are pale brown. Oo 4 ge dere> ~ Sree + ‘The female greatly refembles the male, but her eek colours are lefs vivid, and the {pace between the ~~ pat 6. in anaghan te a abbas 5% 5 “ + ‘ ee . <. 8 Se ee bill and the eye is grey inftead of black. Thefe birds vary confiderably, fcarcely two of them being alike : 7 fome the h niles is wholly black, in others the whole upper part of the body is of that colour, and others have been met with entirely white, ex- cept the wings. This ipecies is an inhabitant of the temperate climates, from S Spain, Italy, and France, as far as Sweden, but only vifits this inand occafionally, and generally in winter; probably being driven over in its paliage from its northern haunts, to the milder climates of France and Italy. It breeds in thefe countries, but is no where numerous. Buffon { lays it is a {hy and folitary bird, with little or no long ; it generally inhabits the woods during fummer, and in winter reforts near the hamlets and farms. The female builds her neft in trees; it is compoled of imall dry roots and grails, and lined with warmer materials: The eggs are roundifh, of a blueith green, fpotted with brown. She feeds her young with infects, chryfalids, and other foft nutritious fubftances. ee ee — a == We Ht BRITISH BIRDS. : THE PINE GROSBEAK. GREATEST BULLFINCH. (Loxia Enucleator, Lin.—Le Dur-bec, Buff.) Tus exceeds the laft in fize, being nine inches in length: The bill is dufky, very ftout at the bafe, and fomewhat hooked at the tip; the head, neck, breaft, and rump are of a rofe coloured crim- fon; the back and lefler wing coverts black, each feather edged with reddifh brown ; the greater wing coverts tipped with white, forming two bars on the wing; the quills are black, with pale edges; the fecondaries the fame, but edged with white; the belly and vent are {traw-coloured ; the tail is mar- ked as the quills, and is fomewhat forked: the legs are brown, This bird is found only in the northern parts of this ifland and of Europe ; it frequents the pine fo- refts, and feeds on the feeds of that tree, like the Crofs-bill: It is likewife common in various parts of North America, vifiting the fouthern fettlements in the winter, and retiring northwards in the fum- mer for the purpofe of breeding. The female makes its neft on trees, at a fmall diftance from the ground, and lays four white eggs, which are hatched in June. K A. as 7 arenes. Hi { ti pit , a S #-, eee ee — ee sy ws Sy —— ae Ye ge St es > —x«= ———. ~ os - cee : = > ree- —_ oso > - aS Ri Fa SSS Saxe: ER STE. » z= ater yest ‘~ a a — - —_-—Son— 9 - ad wes Ra a eee. 2 eee ~ ees oS fat: “are st = 2 om a AP Siok eT — = ae as | * ee ee “ eae oe a = < ere ee - a = - or ohm fee = Cate wy eee PR TE ie ; & owet - 22 < Se se Seer ee PRBS En es: aes - 22 . di = ~ % ye. Se Satgeees ae a < z, ~ = . ec = igh - “ ~~ > a a a 2. BULLFINCH. ALP OR NOPE, (Loxia Pyrrbula, Lin.—Le Bouvreuil, Buff.) Tue bill is dufky ; eyes black; the upper part of the head, the ring round the bill, and the origin of the neck, are of a fine glofly black ;* the back c afh colour; the breaft and belly red; Wings and tail black; the upper tail coverts and vent are white; legs dark brown. The female is very fi- milar, but the colours in general are lef s bright, and the under parts of a reddifh brown.+ * Hence in fome countries it is called Mo, wk or Pope, and in Scotland it is not improperly denominated Coally hood. + The Bullfinch fometimes changes its plumage, and becomes 2 7 , “ . . 7 . wholly black during its confinement, efpeciall hemp feed. In the Leverian Bullfinch entirely white. y when fed with Mufeum there is a variety of the ‘ hy Wh { eee a 2 < - + ae Ss BRITISH BIRDS. 139 This bird is common in every part of this if- land, as well as moft parts of Europe; its ufual haunts, during fummer, are in woods and thickets, but in winter it approaches nearer to cultivated grounds, and feeds on feeds, winter berries, &c. ; in the fpring it frequents gardens, where it is ufe- fully bufy in deftroying the worms which are lod- ged in the tender buds. The female makes her neft in bufhes; it iscompofed chiefly of mofs; fhe lays five or fix eggs, of a dull blueifh white, mark- ed at the larger end with dark fpots. In a wild fiate, its note is very fimple; but when kept in a cage, its fong, though low, is far from being un- pleafant. Both male and female may be taught to whiftle a variety of tunes, and there are inftances of two Bullfinches having been taught to fing in parts ; a wonderful inftance of docility ! They are frequently imported into this country from Ger- many, where they are taught to articulate, with great diftincinels, feveral words. Se EE eee - ‘ - - gist 1} he r. - - s > 7 4 ol Bo i. ' bit Soe € ie u‘rea < 1 + - , - +) ithe “J 7 4 , ‘ rs : Le 1 dee 5 q *Mas - ' ‘ : is! - e 3 ; by ‘4 ahh wh tea : ae | > 7 Pie): 7 ? . * a : “ _ i Mal ( ATS Teak bavi vet. / Aste > ‘Sue es uit ” 7. F is j ‘ ti yy : ‘Shi . oe Tha ot ‘ ‘| i 1 7 ' " ett ee we - i ell ot ew a eens “ pecais lev: J PT. 2 . er ee Pe me ee SY = ~s 4 Se ee, eS o = * war xe oh igang o Se ee Se Sa ee —— - a a — 9) - Cay 2 - e eesea —~ w~ ee 140 BRITISH BIRDS. OF THE BUNTING. Tux principal difference between this fpecies and the laft confilts in the formation of the bill, which in the Bunting is of a very fingular conftrution. The two mandibles are moveable, and the edges of each bend inwards; the opening of the mouth is not in a ftreight line as in other birds, but at the bale the junction is formed by an obtufe angle in the lower mandible, nearly one third of its length, which is received by a correfponding angle in the upper one; in the Jaft there is a hard knob, of great ule in breaking the harder kinds of feeds and kernels, on which it feeds. The tongue is narrow, and tapers to a point like a tooth-pick ;_ the firft joint of the outer toe is joined to that of the mid. dle one. BRITISH BIRDS. TAL THE BUNTING. (Emberiza miliaria, Lin.—Le Proyer, Buff.) Tur length of this bird is about feven inches and a half: The bill is brown ; iris hazel; the ge- neral colour refembles that of a lark; the throat is white, the upper parts olive brown, each feather fireaked down the middle with black; the under parts are of a dirty yellowith white, ftreaked on the fides with dark brown, and {potted with the fame on the breaft; the quills are dufky, with yellowifh edges; upper coverts tipped with white ; tail fea- thers much the fame as the wings, and fomewhat forked; the legs pale brown. This bird is very common in all parts of the country, and may be frequently obferved on the higheft part of the hedge or uppermoft branch of a =o, are ee >a eee i . ! if ~ ————— — a = - 2s, cas - + > Ledge. > tee eT iam i ras en Sais » hee SON, . oe p a > = = oe en se ng 5 : ss i oo \ oe ~ S eee aes ra = ~ ee - - i 1] - 142 BRITISH BIRDS. tree, uttering its harfh and diffonant cry, which it inceflantly repeats at fhort intervals; this conti- nues during the greateft part of f{ummer, after which they are feen in great flocks, and continue fo for the moft part during winter; they are often fhot in great numbers, or caught in nets, and, from the f- milarity of their plumage, are not unfrequently fold for Larks.- The female makes her neft among the thick grafs, a little elevated above the ground: fhe lays five or fix eggs, and while the is employed in the bufinefs of incubation, her mate brings her food, and entertains her with his frequently repeated fong. Buffon obferves, that in France the Bunting is feldom feen during winter, but that it migrates Joon after the Swallow, and [preads itfelf through almoft every part of Europe. Their food confifts chiefly of grain ; they likewife eat variety of in- fects, which they find in the fields and meadows, BRITISH BIRDS» 143 17 a *S life AS v Ys >* 72S ~_2e = \.\, YELLOW BUNTING. YELLOW HAMMER, OR YELLOW YOWLEY, (Emberiza citrinella, Lin.—Le Bruant, Buff.) Lexctu fomewhat above fix inches: Bill duf. ky; eyes hazel; its prevailing colour is yellow, mixed with browns of various fhades; the crown of the head, in general, is bright yellow, more or lefs variegated with brown; the cheeks, throat, and lower part of the belly are of a pure yellow ; the breaft reddifh, and the fides dafhed with ftreaks of the fame colour; the hind part of the neck and back are of a greenilh olive; the greater quills are duilky, edged with pale yellow; leffer quills and icapulars dark brown, edged with grey; the tail is duiky, and a little forked, the feathers edged with © Se 144 BRITISH BIRDS- light brown, the outermoft with white; the legs are of a yellowifh brown. It is fomewhat difficult ~ aa a 2S = ee —e a — - SS ad corner ung + SS : — ae iio Saat Rap ai TSS re 6 cece ee — SS to deicribe a {pecies of bird of which no two are to be found perfectly fimilar, but its fpecific charaéters are plain, and cannot eafily be miftaken; the co. lours of the female are lefs bright than thofe of the male, with very little yellow about the head. ‘This bird is common in every lane and on every hedge throughout the country, flitting before the traveller as he pafles along the road, or uttering its fimple and frequently repeated monotone on the —_- hedges by the way fide. ‘They feed on various kinds of feeds, infeéts, &c. The female makes an artleis neft, compofed of hay, dried roots, and mofs, nae ri . +) 7 pt . ia mh ah eh i % ‘ a which the lines with hair and wool; fhe lays four or five eggs, marked with dark irregular ftreaks, and frequently has more than. one brood in the fea- fon. In Italy, where fmall birds of almoft every defcription. are made ufe of for the table, they are elteemed as very good eating, and are frequently fatted for that purpofe like the Orlotan; but with us, who are accuftomed to grofler kinds of food, they are confidered as too infignificant to form any part of our repatts, = 3 oe ee yr * 2) See > I? of > te — ee Se a pen A iw < - z - == a a. ae -- et Ee . ~~ + —— ~ ee =e” Se neers - oe Sts aoe S wes ria - re a ne - BRITISH BIRDS. 145 Le, es sf — . Y LAN : = '}, — AOE ror, Wy 4 { H 2 44 ley Vii, > — Z j r\ \ * : y ‘ $4 DIES Wh Z WY : ¥, } - THE BLACK-HEADED BUNTING. REED BUNTING, OR REED SPARROW. aa - ¥ \ 4 wit: i ! : Hae UTS | ote HAD ge i PS ee ay” he EN ee. oft Hib Veen ese Ce hs Ties WEE IA we {4 $ a | .) + i - ten ett =— ay Ju 5 =) Se Boos fe A Se : +h Las eg es Eafe To, ay 4 Se Ae ah A ela pany 4 Ree { SES ue Hi - . ~ Noe te ONAL Aya An . ~ Wit; RY PA Se is | i eh Aa , Sets PO aly . i .. ‘ j ; » whe cae “ of B5))\) Pi. wy NP Ye; ul pe ilie | ae ae ’ be) Se Se . OPM i Nees “ent = oe , rene ah a tht . =~ A's heat = vt) es ee \axk 3 es ft? _ “ TEL (i) wi ec Ms ‘|e Ufo Ce AS ME _ th: ‘ CB ND BS S) 4. “ , ent Fe > 1 4 4 - . ' @ Ge le ET So us wyder 7 —— on: « “ ’ < she t « LS BZ i | . 7 Z " ¥ - Nha y 7 4 | z Wy a = ehh) ee o 4) h : . 4, 4 n + fi i Fs 1in6 (Emberiza Scheniclus, Lin.x—L’Ortolan de Rofeaux, Buff.) Tarts bird is about the fize of the Yellow Bun- ting: Its eyes are hazel; the head, throat, fore part of the neck, and breaft are black, which is divided by a white line from each corner of the bill, pafling downward a little, and meeting on the back part of the neck, which it almoft encir- cles; the upper parts of the body and wings are of a reddifh brown, with a ftreak of black down the middle of each feather; the under part of the body is white, with brownifh ftreaks on the fides; the rump and upper tail coverts blueifh afh colour, mixed with brown; the quills are duflky, edged L rece as —=,) = = > ~ rae ee + - asthe cad erat a eee i 146 BRITISH BIRDS» with brown; the two middle feathers of the tail = 4S ~ oo «4 aw ~ = . 7 ened ai cake aaa ——-s ena re ed -*< > ad are black, with pale brown edges; the reft wholly black, except the two outer ones, which are almoft —y ~~ white, the ends tipped with brown, and the bafes black; the legs and feet dufky brown. . The fe- tiene eS ae Si a= male has no collar; its throat is not fo black, and oy a its head is variegated with black and ruft colour; -~ = : > ee Ww four or five eggs, of a pale blueifh white, veined irregularly with purple, principally at the larger end, As its chief refort is among the reeds, it is fuppofed that the feeds of that plant are its princi- pal food; it is however frequently feen in the higher grounds near the roads, and fometimes in corn fields. Thefe birds in general feek their food, fimilar to the Bunting, in cultivated places; they keep near the ground, and feldom perch except a- mong the bufhes. The male, during the time of hatching, has a foft, melodious, warbling fong, ig whilft it fits perched among the reeds, and is fre- a quently heard in the night time. It is a watchful, , timorous bird, and is very eafily alarmed; in a BRITISH BIRDS. 147 {tate of captivity it fings but little, and only when perfeCly undifturbed. Birds of this fpecies are migratory in France ; with us they remain the whole year, and are fel- dom feen in flocks of more than three or four to- gether. The one from whence our figure was taken was caught during a fevere ftorm in the mid{t of winter. Wey th fal ‘ hil Ny ; ) 148 BRITISH BIRDS. SNOW BUNTING. SNOWFLAKE. (Emberiza Nivalis, Lin.—L’Ortolan de Neige, Buff.) Lenctn near feveninches: Bill and eyes black; im winter the head, neck, coverts of the wings, rump, and all the under parts of the body are as white as fnow, with a light tint of rufty colour on the hind part of the head ; the back is black; the baftard wings and ends of the greater coverts white; the prime quills are black, fecondaries white, with 2 black fpot on their inner webs; middle feathers of the tail black, the three outer ones white, with a dufky fpot near the ends; legs black. Its fum- mer drefs is different, the head, neck, and under parts of the body being marked with trantverle waves of a rufty colour, of various ftrength, but never fo deep as in the female, of which it is the predominant colour; the white likewife upon the under’ parts of her body is lefs pure than that of the male. The hoary mountains of Spitzbergen, the Lap- and Alps, the fhores of Hudfon’s Bay, and per- aaps countries {till more northerly, are, during the ‘ummer months, the favorite abodes of this hardy bird. The exceflive feverity of thefe inhofpitable regions changes parts of its plumage into white in winter; and there is reafon to believe that the fur- ther northward they are found, the whiter the plu- BRITISH BIRDS, 149 mage willbe. It is chiefly met with in the nor- thern parts of this ifland, where it is called the Snowflake ; it appears in great flocks in the fnowy feafon, and is faid to be the certain harbinger of fe. vere weather, which drives it from its ufual haunts. This bird has been caught in various parts of Yorkfhire, and is frequently met with in Northum. berland; it is found in all the northern latitudes without exception, as far as our navigators have been able to penetrate, great flocks of thefe birds having been feen by them upon the ice near the ihores of Spitzbergen. They are known to breed in Greenland, where the female makes its neft in the fiffures of the mountain rocks; the outfide is compoled of grafs, within which is a layer of fea- thers, and the down of the artic fox compofes the lining of its comfortable little manfion; fhe lays five white eggs, fpotted with brown. Thefe birds do not perch, but continue always on the ground, and run about like Larks, to which they are fimi- lar in fize, manners, and in the length of their-hind claws, from whence they have been ranged with birds of that clafs by fome authors, but with more propriety have been referred to the Buntings, from the peculiar ftructure of their bill. They are faid to fing fweetly, fitting on the ground. On their firft arrival in this country they are very lean ; but foon grow fat, and are confidered as delicious food, The Highlands of Scotland abound with them. L 3 = 3 = =o : } : i ‘ - { ar 3) : iit ein} rw | i renee nt i ri 1 a bh ha i}! a { tal : i | if) : Mi : 4 ’ f Haag ean 10 peeas , | eae ‘ a 4 ’ 4 ’ 0 | —~) = . a a ee =~ ~ dp «ts = J a AOR A es ts St AS ee ~ ae et ~ « 150 BRITISH BIRDS. eee - & oi = — be at, whan Pins > eae et ie ser re ee we, ‘ Tk , 3) Paty: aA? Pia ithe rie 5 Bent Tat Te AL ikbes Te 4 Ass ; Byii : ) | SRiesiad: ! . 7 i<) 4 : ~ > = B ePucaetitic. oe Po pe NM He fos Ge Ait re ‘30. e ft \ a 2(e Be FON ys NY | 1 ath He es . : i. _ 57 malic: if as, bay ; 2) Pa a” on Bhs a 1) bb ne oe We eile , aot Be i | Se . ! Re ai: Sz ji ig : —- ; : eh <> £e AE » rz tea TAWNY BUNTING. GREAT PIED MOUNTAIN FINCH, OR BRAMBLING, Tue length is fomewhat above fix inches: The bill is fhort, of a yellow colour, and blackifh at the point; the crown of the head tawny; the fore- head cheftnut colour; the hind part of the neck and cheeks the fame, but paler; the throat, fides of the neck, and fpace round the eyes are of a dirty white; the breaft dull yellow; the under parts white, in fome tinged with yellow; the back and fcapulars are black, edged with redditfh brown; the quill feathers are dufky, edged with white; the fecondaries are white on their outer edges; the greater coverts are tipped with white, which, when the wing is clofed, forms a bed of BRITISH BIRDS. 151 white upon it; the upper tail coverts are yellow ; the tail is a little forked, the two outermoft feathers are white, the third black, tipped with white, the reft wholly black; the legs are fhort and black ; the hind claws almoft as long, but more bent than thofe of the Lark. Our figure and defcription of this bird are taken from one which was caught in the high moory grounds above Shotley-Kirk, in the county of Northumberland. We are perfectly of opinion, with Mr Pennant, that this and the former are the {ame bird in their fummer and winter drefs.* Lin- nzeus, who muft have been well acquainted with this fpecies, comprifes them under one, and fays that they vary, not only from the feafon, but accor- ding to their age: It is certain that no birds of the fame fpecies differ from each other more than they ; amongft multitudes, that are frequently ta- ken, fcarcely two being alike. Mr Pennant fup- pofes, with great probability, that the {warms which annually vifit the northern parts of our il- land arrive from Lapland and Iceland, and make the ifles of Ferro, Shetland, and the Orkneys, their refting-places during the paflage. In the winter of 1778—g they came in fuch multitudes into Bir- fa, one of the Orkney ifles, as to cover the whole barony; yet, of all the numbers, it could hardly * Vide Artic Zoology, Number 222. L4 = SEI ee ¢! — ‘ \ mi | *) ed), ‘ a tls > —————= x — ee : ———— . : i ia. ae — ——— as : _ oan. oa = ene as > a ee SS SS aS Se a “= = = —— ———— = . = = ; 2 MSA. ae Ss. ee et ee Sak. 4 tase 14. 0 858. e, © +.*.+8.+ 4.0.8.8 6 9,8 iF 152 BRITISH BIRDS. be difcovered that any two of them agreed perfeét- ly in colours. It is probable that the Mountain Bunting, or Leffler Mountain Finch of Pennant and Latham, is the fame bird in a fomewhat different drefs; it has been fometimes found in the more fouthern parts of England, where the little ftran- ger would be noticed, and without duly attending to its diltinguifhing characters, has been confidered as forming a diftin& kind, and adding one more to the numerous varieties of the feathered tribes.— We have frequently had occafion to obferve, how dificult it is to avoid falling into errors of this fort; the changes which frequently take place in the fame bird, at different periods of its age, as well as from change of food, climate, or the like, are fo confiderable, as often to puzzle, and fome- times to miflead, the moft experienced ornitholo- gift; much caution is therefore neceflary to cuard againit thefe deceitful appearances; left, by mul- tiplying the fpecies beyond the bounds which na- ture has prefcribed, we thereby introduce confufion into our fyftem; and, inftead of fatisfying the at- tentive inquirer, we fhall only bewilder and per- plex him in his refearches into nature. BRITISH BIRDS.» 153 OF THE FINCH. Tue tranfition from the Bunting to the Finch is very eafy, and the fhade of difference between them, in fome inftances, almoft imperceptible ; on which account they have been frequently confound- ed with each other. ‘The principal difference con- fits in the beak, which, in this kind, is conical, very thick at the bafe, and tapering to a fharp point: In this refpeét it more nearly refembles the Grofbeak. Of this tribe many are diftinguifhed as well for the livelinefs of their fong as for the beau- ty and variety of their plumage, on which accounts they are much efteemed: ‘They are very numer- ous, and aflemble fometimes_in immenfe flocks, feeding on feeds and grain of various kinds, 4s well as infets and their eggs. | t I j ; n ‘ — ~ POP Op, ee tegel ~ 2a _- — ——~ > “a n my HG ON, ws Pet — tle Sl ew ~ ‘a —Fa ~ See Bar mye — gubn yee ee oe ae Ry G &, ~ as mS ag He Sten: ee ORES. A" eS Some Ee oes SS ee ‘o = “ * et « a Ne te a eoaed 2. ee ee ai Sn Sarna -. Se ee ees eee eet — a OS -—-deugin- tice 7 Oy 6 ot ld em, -** vw Ser etn Ae ne 154 BRITISH BIRDS. THE HOUSE SPARROW. (Fringilla domeftica, Lin.—Le Moineau franc. Buff.) Tue length of this bird is five inches and three quarters : The bill is dufky ; eyes hazel; the top of the head and back part of the neck are afh co- Jour; the throat, fore part of the neck, and fpace round the eyes, black; the cheeks are whitifh; the breaft and all the under parts are of a pale ath co- lour; the back, fcapulars, and wing coverts are of a reddifh brown, mixed with black—the latter is tipped with white, forming a light bar acrofs the wing; the quills are dufky, with reddifh edges ; the tail is brown, edged with grey, and a little for- ked; the legs are pale brown. The female is dif- tinguifhed from the male in wanting the black patch on the throat, and in having a light ftreak BRITISH BIRDS.» iss behind each eye; fhe is alfo much plainer and duller in her whole plumage. In whatever coun- try the Sparrow is fettled, it is never found in de- fert places, or at a diftance from the dwellings of man: It does not, like other birds, fhelter itfelf in woods and forefts, or feek its fubfiftence in uninha- bited plains, but is a refident in towns and villages ; it follows fociety, and lives at its expence; gra- naries, barns, court-yards, pigeon-houfes, and in fhort all places where grain is feattered, are its fa- vorite reforts. Itis furely faying too much of this > poor proicribed Ipecies to {um up its character in the words of the Count de Buflon:—* It is ex- “ tremely deftructive, its plumage is entirely ufe- ‘¢ lefs, its flefh indifferent food, its notes grating to ‘“‘ the ear, and its familiarity and petulance difgutt- “ ing.’ But let us not condemn a whole fpecies of animals becaufe, in fome inftances, we have found them troublefome or inconvenient. Of this we are fufficiently fenfible ; but the ufes to which they are fubfervient, in the grand economical dif- tribution of nature, we cannot fo eafily afcertain. We have already obferved* that, in the deftru€tion of caterpillars, they are eminently ferviceable to vegetation, and in this refpeét alone there is rea- fon to fuppofe fufficiently repay the deftru€tion they may make in the produce of the garden or the field. The great table of nature is {pread * See introduction. -—~ + é aa) eee 2s: — See + ee SS =~ —— r— ~~ > ans al ~——* =. =——- ——- - eee ee - ae eae eS en = ——— =; . et em as o = sl 2 SR on apn ~ ne s ———s are 2 156 BRITISH BIRDS, out alike to all, and is amply ftored with every thing neceflary for the fupport of the various fa- milies of the earth; it is owing to the fuperior in- duftry of man that he is enabled to appropriate fo large a portion of the beft gifts of providence for his own fubfiftence and comfort; let him not then think it wafte, that, in fome inftances, creatures in- ferior to him in rank are permitted to partake with him, nor let him grudge them their {canty pit- tance; but, confidering them only as the tafters of his full meal, let him endeavour to imitate their chearfulnefs, and lift up his heart in grateful effu- fions to Him, “ who filleth all things liying with plenteoufnefs.” The Sparrow never leaves us, but is familiar to the eye at all times, even in the moft crowded and buly parts of a town: It builds its neft under the eaves of houfes, in holes of walls, and often about churches; it is made of hay, carelefsly put toge- ther, and lined with feathers: The female lays five or fix eggs, of a reddifh white colour, {potted with brown ; fhe has generally three broods in the year, from whence the multiplication of the {pecies muft be immenfe. Though familiar, the Sparrow is laid to be a crafty bird, ealily diftinguifhing the inares laid to entrap it. In autumn prodigious flocks of them are feen every where, both in town and country; they often mix with other birds, and not unfrequently partake with the Pigeons or the poultry, in {pite of every precaution to prevent BRITISH BIRDS.» 157 them. The Sparrow is fubject to great varieties of plumage: In the Britifh and Leverian Mufeums there are feveral white ones, with yellow eyes and bills, others more or lefs mixed with brown, and fome entirely black: A pair of white Sparrows were fent us by Mr Walter Trevelyan, of St. John’s College, Cambridge.—This bird, as feen in large and fmoaky towns, is generally footy and unpleafing in its appearance; but, among barns and ftack-yards, the cock bird exhibits a very great variety ‘in his plumage, and is far from being the leaft beautiful of our Britifh Birds. A iain ' } : ‘ ' ' ! - : : fj { ‘ w ; Phy { } ant t : : w toate ; H ws ; iti t ‘ : a eh We. , ] > * ‘Bra oy» % ; bal 4 | i 7 eee * c r ; ; I 7 a - . >. i ‘ % 3 a * 7 : La ~ ‘| - ait 4 1) a ti . : ar Sen > rer =. = = r? = = r= = Tr =k ee: pel ae —-< -* = = . = -< — apm aa _ 2 = -, - x = - - = ~ : = a 3 - by = ee —— ——— * ~ ee . * a - = —- ~~: ; 3 os - Pay p * = : - = — 2, reg = “ees — & ae - r — — es — a —__ ei - - s co big ee i Abe Ma x TOT SS = . 2 * > — 4 = — = 2 : . ==te + 5222 5335 . - — & ea fee > ==. S - + Z _— SS we = = . a ae — ~~. - ° — —- = ~ eae mse ar - ~ 158 BRITISH BIRDS. THE MOUNTAIN SPARROW. (Fringilla Montana, Lin.—Le Friquet, Buff.) Tuts bird is fomewhat lefs than the common Sparrow: The bill is black; eyes hazel; the crown of the head and hind part of the neck are of a cheftnut colour; fides of the head white; throat black; behind each eye there is a pretty large black fpot; the upper parts of the body are of a rulty brown, {potted with black; the breaft and under parts dufky white; the quills are black, with reddith edges, as are alfo the greater coverts; the leller are bay, edged with black, and croffed with two white bars; the tail is of a reddifh brown, and even at the end; the legs are pale yellow. This fpecies is frequent in Yorkfhire, Lanca- fhire, and alfo in Lincolnfhire ; it differs from the Houfe Sparrow in making its neft in trees and not in buildings ; it has not been feen further north than the above-mentioned counties. Buffon lays that it BRITISH BIRDS. Is9g feeds on fruits, feeds, and infefts; it is a lively, active little bird, and, when it alights, has a variety of motions, whirling about and jerking its tail up- wards and downwards, like the Wagtail. It is found in Italy, France, Germany, and Ruflia, and is much more plentiful in many parts of the con- tinent than in England. y " r] it i q ym E (x if ’ as, 4 >. a - . a ‘ ‘| ‘ " , 4 { b! “~ es ES _— oe — a * ¢ a oe as an) r Spe ae ™~-.- = + — 7 —_- = = e 7x = _ sre -ags ) x =_— SSS > . _ - 160 BRITISH BIRDS. THE CHAFFINCH. SHILFA, SCOBBY, SKELLY, OR SHELL-APPLE, (Fringilla calebs, Lin.—Le Pingon, Buff.) Tue bill is of a pale blue, tipped with black; eyes hazel ; the forehead black; the crown of the head, hind part, and fides of the neck are of a blue- ifh afh colour; fides of the head, throat, fore part of the neck, and breaft are of a vinaceous red; bel- ly, thighs, and vent white, flightly tinged with red; the back is of a reddifh brown, changing to green on the rump; both greater and lefler coverts are tipped with white, forming two pretty large bars acrofs the wing; the baftard wing and quill fea- thers are black, edged with yellow ; the tail, which is a little forked, is black, the outermoft feather edged with white; the legs are brown. The fe- BRITISH BIRDS. 161 male wants the red upon the breaft; her plumage in general is not fo vivid, and inclines to green; in other refpects it is not much unlike the male. This beautiful little bird is every where well known; it begins its fhort and frequently-repeated warble very early in the {pring, and continues till about the fummer folftice, after which it is no more heard. It is a lively bird, and perpetually in mo- tion, and this circumftance has given rife to the proverb, “ as gay as a Chaffinch.” Its neft is conftruc&ted with much art, of {mall fibres, roots, and mofs, and lined with wool, hair, and feathers ; the female lays generally five or fix eggs, of a pale reddith colour, fprinkled with dark {pots, princi- pally at the larger end. ‘The male is very aflidu- ous in his attendance during the time of hatch- ing, feldom ftraying far from the place, and then only to procure food. Chaflinches fubfift chiefly on {mall feeds of various kinds, they likewife eat caterpillars and infects, with which they alfo feed their young. ‘They are feldom kept in cages, as their fong poflefles no variety, and they are not very apt in learning the notes of other birds. The males frequently maintain obftinate combats, and fight till one of them is vanquifhed and compelled to give way. In Sweden thefe birds perform a partial migration; the females collect in vait flocks the latter end of September, and, leaving thei Mates, {pread themfelves through various parts of M fetter. Z 2 ee Fe Se Ss ——— ~ ae ~ _ _ ~ m=) pene = SS ee _ = = ~~. 4 : a ~ 2 = — ~mee. Naenlee 162 BRITISH BIRDS» Europe: The males continue in Sweden, and aré again joined by their females, who return in great numbers, about the beginning of April, to their wonted haunts. ‘With us, both males and females continue the whole year. Mr White, in his Hif- tory of Selborne, obferves, that great flocks fome- times appear in that neighbourhood about Chritt- mas, and that they are almoft entirely hens. It is difficult to account for fo fingular a circumftance as the parting of the two fexes in this inftance; we would fuppofe that the males, being more hardy and better able to endure the rigours of the nor- thern winters, are content to remain in the coun- try, and pick up fuch fare as they can find, whilft the females feek for fubfiftence in more temperate regions. to RITISH BIRDS. 163 ry, . —~ _— 2 2 “ , = ‘< ™~ —_ ~ Sma “sins - = eer a = 2 2 a THE MOUNTAIN FINCH. BRAMBLING. (Fringilla Montifringilla, Lin.—Le Pingon d’ Ardennes, Buff.) — a as 7 hh) Y A , Lenctn fomewhat above fix inches: Bill yel- low, blackifh at the tip; eyes hazel; the feathers on the head, neck, and back are black, edged with rufty brown; fides of the neck, juft above the wings, blue afh; rump white; the throat, fore part of the neck, and breaft are of a pale orange; belly white ; lefler wing coverts pale reddifh brown, ed- ged with white; greater coverts black tipped with pale yellow; quills dufky, with pale yellowifh ed- ges; the tail is forked,the outermoft feathers ed- ged with white, the reft black, with whitifh edges ; legs pale brown. Me 164 BRITISH BIRDS. The Mountain Finch is a native of northern cli- mates, from whence it fpreads into various parts of Europe: It arrives in this country the latter end of Saar = ee ee ST I fummer, and is more frequent in the mountainous parts of our ifland.* Great flocks of them fome- times come together, they fly very clofe, and on that account great numbers of them are frequently killed at one fhot. In France they are faid to ap- pear fometimes in fuch immenfe numbers, that the ground where they roofted has been covered with their dung for a confiderable fpace; and in one year they were fo numerous, that more than fix hundred dozen were killed each night during the = ~~ 3 se FS Ag. i | — the pt SF et pe ine pete tien LIES em > — =. i eter + ete gta (oO eoe. en Sen ney + we — +e pgm Se Ee aa oe ¥ = Lae Pr yh § greateit part of the winter.+ ‘They are faid to build their nefts in fir trees, at a confiderable height; it rs compofed of long mofs, and lined with hair, wool, and feathers; the female lays four or five egys, white, {potted with yellow. The flefh of the Mountain Finch, though bitter, is faid to be good to eat, and better than that of the Chaffinch, but its fong is much inferior, and is only a difagreeable kind of chirping. It feeds on feeds of various Kinds, and is faid to be particularly fond of beech mait. * ‘We have feen them on the Cumberland hills in the middle of Auguft. + Buffon. BRITISH BIRDS: 16<¢ THE GOLDFINCH. GOLDSPINK, OR THISTLE*FINCH. (Fringilla Carduelis, Lin.—Le Chardonneret, Buff.) Tue bill is white, tipped with black; the fore- head and chin are of a rich fcarlet colour, which is divided by a line pafling from each corner of the bill to the eyes, which are black; the cheeks are white ; top of the head black, which extends down- ward on each fide, dividing the white on the cheeks, from the white fpot on the hind part of the head; the back, rump, and breaft are of a pale brown colour; belly white; greater wing coverts black ; quills black, marked in the middle of each feather with yellow, forming, when the wing is Clofed, a large patch of that colour on the wing; the tips white; the tail feathers are black, with a M 3 a Nh = = apes i Sez E Ss RP Pees FA 8 3 REPS, ag RES => = = — = ——— : Ss = eee 7 . —— i cw = — — — ‘ _ , : ong i -- ~~ —— : — - = = = ——— — LSS SS ae Rowen PTAC - Mrtad -Os > ie - = >. + = : - =. —*" =< te —, - - nS wore <2 7 vee pita — ees gE hg ee PE zs eh na See : ~~ tommy See SP Pet . 4, 8 eee oe a Cee = _— > he ae a4 Ss St —* +z es > oat = OR IT LIT = - _ oe. Pa. PO P - he “aise ae << Sars 7 = > e ea ee s C: 3 - - —_ ’ . - oat inaie~ ei amcnaen tamed SOO aie ~ ° - $. Leon, ee lie in ' ' h a - ~ = -_ — em 7 ee _ — ae s ~~ - oo = . : a Pa - We. & _s ~—_— 166 BRITISH BIRDS. white fpot on each near the end; the legs are of a pale flefh colour. Beauty of plumage, fays the lively. Count de Buffon, melody of fong, fagacity, and docility_of difpofition, feem all united in this charming little bird, which, were it rare, and imported from a fo- reign country, would be more highly valued. Gold- finches begin to fing early in the {pring, and con- tinue till the time of breeding is over; when kept in a cage they will fing the greateft part of ‘the year. Ina {tate of confinement they are much at- tached to their keepers, and will learn a variety of little tricks, fuch as to draw up {mail buckets con- taining their water and food, to fire a cracker, and fuch like. They conftru€&t a very neat and com- pact neft, which is compofed of mofs, dried grafs, and roats, lined. with wool, hair, and the down of thiftles, and other foft and delicate fubftances. The female lays five white eggs, marked with {pots of a deep purple colour at the larger end: They feed their young with caterpillars and infects; the old birds feed on various kinds of feeds, particu- farly the thiftle, of which they are extremely fond. —Goldfinches breed with the Canary; this inter- mixture fucceeds beft between the cock Goldfinch and the hen Canary, whofe offspring are produc- tive, and are faid to refemble the male in the fhape of the bill, in the colours of the head and wings, and the hen in the reft of the body, | BRITISH BIRDS» 167 THE SISKIN, ABERDEVINE. (Fringilia Spinus, Lin.—Le Farin, Buff.) Lenetu near five inches: Bill white; eyes black; top of the head and throat black; over each eye there is a pale yellow ftreak; back of the neck and back yellowifh olive, faintly mar- ked with dufky ftreaks down the middle of each feather; rump yellow; under parts greenith yel- low, paleft on the breaft; thighs grey, marked with dufky ftreaks; greater wing coverts of a pale yellowifh green, and tipped with black; quills dul. ky, faintly edged with yellow—the outer web of each at the bafe is of a fine pale yellow, forming, when the wing is clofed, an irregular bar of that colour acrofs the wing; the tail is forked, the mid- M 4 ~* ee ee “* (ie >t Pfto ey > = = reat —— <=. = = — et - = — - =: —— 3 200 Seay Sr - » ce at Wear eer + * ne - me ea e — Sx< DD Se meee - a = < - 5 a ms SoD ee Seed re? °T 2 * oo ie = W nF, 4 ety! 1) - Pa iat , ay 5 f 7 i chi : ae 7 aw! js owe ebb ; Ye iii] ave ad ‘> h » / .) : in 7 « . a4 Pome € ’ 7 so ze ¥ & Bee! t) ¥¥ - - 7 : ; ! “ “ hi } ota ir r 7 . 4 : a oe w : a’ 1c p rT A Sag ‘* F . Ki 434 LA ] nh) if bi Ny ¥ is } _——_ ——* Sate ra _ es x = SSS : — — . _ as < ~ - —- + + ——— 2 2 — = oe ms . . —_ — we em ae — = - SS. ay —- “3 ——_- 7 " 4 : 2 SEs <-> ‘ =- . eS orn aes at “> r n ‘ . ore : = Wa Ey Ate q ae ae aad : aes - , _ ca tia > = os - 4 y — ~ ; no - eS AR — : ak . : ss -- ~ ~~ a - rr ier ae —— > i. oe A ese ss _— - : = = vw = a — pre . a = > : > a Soe ee ttttiinee = - ee = =. J po 4 $2 z AS SS ree Te a ak Pu i e oS +455 ‘ > Suse r = = = — a - Dt Set ate =e. 168 BRITISH BIRDS» dle feathers black, with faint edges, the outer ones yellow, with black tips; the legs pale brown; claws white. We have given the figure and defcription from one which we have kept many years in a cage; its fong, though not fo loud as the Canary, ‘is pleafing and {weetly various; it imitates the notes of other birds, even to the chirping of the Sparrow: It is fa- miliar, docile, and chearful, and begins its fong ear- ly in the mornings. Like the Goldfinch, it may ea- fily be taught to draw up its little bucket with wa- ter and food. Its food confifts chiefly of feeds ; it drinks frequently, and feems fond of throwing wa- ter over its feathers. It breeds freely with the Ca- nary. When a Sifkin is paired with the hen Ca- nary, he is affiduous in his attention to his mate, carrying materials for the neft, and arranging them ; and, during the time of incubation, regularly fup- plying the female with food. Thefe birds are com- mon in various parts of Europe; they are in moft places migratory, but do not feem to obferve any regular periods, as they are fometimes feen in large and at other times in very fmall numbers. Buf- fon obferves that thofe immenfe flights happen on- ly once in the courfe of three or four years. It conceals its neft with fo much art, that it is ex- tremely difficult to difcover it. Kramer obferves, that in the forefts bordering on the Danube thou- fands of young Sifkins are frequently found, which have not dropt their firft feathers, and yet it BRITISH BIRDS. 169 is rare to méet with a neft. It is not known to breed in this ifland, nor is it faid from whence they come over to us. Ours was caught upon the banks of the Tyne. In fome parts of the South it is called the Barley-bird, being feen about that feed time; and in the neighbourhood of London it is known by the name of the Aberdevine. CANARY FINCH. (Fringilla Canaria, Lin.—Le Serin des Canaries, Buft.) Is fomewhat larger than the laft, being about five inches and a half in length: The bill is of a pale fiefh colour; general colour of the plumage yel- low, more or lefs mixed with grey, and in fome with brown on the upper parts; the tail is fome- what forked; legs pale flefh colour. In a wild ftate they are found chiefly in the Ca- nary iflands, from whence they have been brought to this country, and almoft every part of Europe; they are kept in a ftate of captivity, and partake of all the varieties attendant on that ftate. Buf- fon enumerates twenty-nine varieties, and many more might probably be added to the lift, were all the changes incident to a ftate of domeftication carefully noted and brought into the account. The breeding and rearing of thefe charming birds forms an amufement of the moft pleafing kind, and 179 ERITISH BIRDS. affords a variety of {cenes highly interefting and gratifying to innocent minds, In the places fitted up and accommodated to the ufe of the little cape tives, we are delighted to fee the workings of na- ture exemplified in the choice of their mates, buil- ding their nefts, hatching and rearing their young, and in the impaflionate ardour exhibited by the male, whether he is engaged in aflifting his faithful mate in collecting materials for her neft, in arran- ging them for her accommodation, in providing food for her offspring, or in chaunting his lively and amorous fongs during every part of the impor- tant bufinefs. ‘The Canary will breed freely with the Sifkin and Goldfinch, particularly the former, “ . — - > - . - - - — —— = a —_—— “ a8 5 = — ~ = : a ———_—— = ees * = = Tut RE ee. ee - ° “ oe Sipe ? . —_ 5 = = a ae mos} Te - fi — — . iad . —_ 3 ~ iy = ~ . , ——- = . - - eat ee eee re = . <2 = ™ ss - = er ans - te eet ocleey oer as we have already obferved; it likewife proves prolific with the Linnet, but not fo readily ; and admits alfo the Chaflinch, Yellow Bunting, and e- ven the Sparrow, though with ftill more difficulty. In all thefe inftances, except the firft, the pairing fucceeds beft when the female Canary is introdu- ced to the male of the oppolite fpecies. According to Buffon, the Sifkin is the only bird of which the male and female propagate equally with thofe of the male or female Canaries. The laft-mentioned author, in his Hiftory of Birds, has given a curious account of the various methods ufed in rearing thefe birds, to which we Be ew ~ 25 ba Pe eee SS a = 2a = 2 + » 7 ‘ a | boi - ny ‘ - ‘6 : ’ ee : ’ : } , x 7 4 ver, ri tee 7 » te ‘ 1; it ie 1m. 45 : rhe Wh nt - . ’ 7 ; . an Fr se et : a Oe se —_— > SS et muft ‘refer our readers. We have thought it ne- ceflary to fay thus much of a bird, which, though neither of Britifh origin, nor yet a voluntary vifi- BRITISH BIRDS; 171 tor, muit yet be confidered as ours by adoption.* There are two kinds mentioned by Buffon, fimilar to the Canary, both of them fmaller; the former is called the Serin, the latter the Venturon, or Ci- tril; they are both found in Italy, Greece, Tur- key, and in the fouthern provinces of France; they breed with the Canary, and are almoft as remark- able for the fweetnefs of their fong. THE LINNET. GREY LINNET. (Lringilla Linaria, Lin.——La Linotte, Buff.) Lenctu about five inches and a half: The bill blueifh grey; eyes hazel; the upper parts of the head, neck, and back, are of a dark reddifh brown, the edges of the feathers pale; the under parts are of a dirty reddifh white; the breaft is deeper than the reft, and in {pring becomes of a very beautiful crimion; the fides are {potted with brown; the quills are dufky, edged with white ; the tail brown, likewifle with white edges, except the two middle * The importation of Canaries forms a {mall article of com- merce ; great numbers are every year imported from Tyrol Four Tyrolefe ufually bring over to England about fixteen hundred of thefe birds; and though they carry them on their backs one thoufand miles, and pay twenty pounds for fuch a number, they are enabled to fell them at five fhillings a piece.— Phil. Tranf. vol. 62. oe ee - —s - = = x >: ~— ~ . a —_ » —2® &- > i > ss b Re ind ‘ F == = Se eS ee ee — pet Sa a! Sime, felt a <3 rom 4 b ~~ — >: 172 BRITISH BIRDS. feathers, which have reddifh margins; it is fomee what forked; the legs are brown: The female wants the red on the breaft, inftead of which it ig marked with ftreaks of brown; fhe has lefs white on her wings, and her colours. in general are lefs bright. This bird is very well known, being common in every part of Europe: it builds its neft in low bufhes; the outfide is made up of dried grafs, roots, and mofs; within it is lined with hair and wool: The female lays four or five eggs, of a pale blue colour, {potted with brown at the larger end. She breeds generally twice in the year. The fong of the Linnet is beautiful and fweetly varied; its manners are gentle, and its difpofition docile; it ealily adopts the fongs of other birds, when con- fined with them, and in fome inftances has been faid to pronounce words with great diftinétnefs, This we confider as a petverfion of its talents, and fubftituting imperfe€t and forced accents, which have neither charms nor beauty, in the room of the free and varied modulations of uninftruGted na- ture. Linnets are frequently found in flocks; du- ring winter, they feed on various forts of feeds, and are faid to be particularly fond of lintfeed, from whence they derive their name, BRITISH BIRDS. 173 THE GREATER REDPOLE, (Fringilla Cannabina, Lin.—Le grande Linotte de Vig. nes, Buff.) Turs bird is fomewhat lefs than the laft, and differs principally from the Linnet in being mark- ed on the forehead by a blood-coloured {pot ; the breaft likewife is tinged with a fine rofe colour; in other refpects it relembles the Linnet fo much, that Buffon fuppofes them to be the fame, and that the red fpots on the head and breaft are equivocal marks, differing at different periods, appearing at one time and difappearing at another, in the fame bird. It is certain that, during a ftate of capti- vity, the red marks difappear entirely; and that, in the time of moulting, they are nearly obliter- ated, and for fome time do not recover their ufuai luftre. But hower plaufible this may appear, it is not well founded. ‘The Redpole is fmaller than the Linnet; it makes its neft on the ground, while the latter builds in furze and thorn hedges: They differ likewife in the colour of their eggs—that of the Redpole being of a very pale green, with rufty coloured fpots: ‘The head of the female is afh-co- loured, fpotted with black, and of a dull yellow on the breaft and fides, which are ftreaked with dufky lines. —Redpoles are common in the northern parts of England, where they breed chiefly in mountain- ous places. eens oe — ~ = ai Sowers xe : on . — < : ? aie al = = Se rn p= + <= 5 ~ ere es > 7 7" bie = —"s we 2 > . > —e a - " — = rs eS , ~ “ ~ : = - - > = “ “ e ss . = - one —— _ » — P od Ot i sa ad . — +a - - : a =a “*% oa —— + r , P: =e" —— z . — a a —_ = e _ , o Se a nt < - _ ~~ Yas ~ ee So so dte _ > = ar Eee — - i : 7 —— ee ee rere ~ones * pao m= on - ieeke ane te a et f. ET FES ae x = ~ - = - - 2x: a = > ‘ +. - 7 Wy ——~ - in —_ ~* . pres ory a Ff as “ a - re : -- * = o = — . - 4 = > ms ~ ? 4 = “=. - . ? “— J 2+ ~ ~ or ; x . —— +~e = = > 2 = satise & - = me ee eg pees =. a . . y i aia = a4 io 3 tienen s-- <= a Toes Se . on : ; ee 4 2 7. 2 . ge Ane ee : we: oa Se aoe = > — = PE. = LS cadena : : - = oe IE es ee es a + ~ Sew, +t SR Ee a" a= Santee =e, —) ~ ee be aie = SSeS we : PS: — La) + vatiiys “a ~ . ; S ire "2 —— = i : oa a 2th =< . > s SE aes — - . - — -— = - — ~~. i ae | 2 ee. ee a oe oe eet ——— ~ - rE UT Se . ea sie 34579 E> ee, Pra Fe wb ge: p44, he . ¥ 3 = - = - Pe ated — a - og % i a . —. ah -= _ jee ON em : = - — = —_ at 2m e oe ae - > 4 — eel ~— 2 _ = <3 > wees = _ as ¢ > - + 5 . - + + => $21 neem ~ Fa Ty - = , Q paid ‘ > | = ? ” FS - : Daa om “Oh ee. aioe ieee Loe i LESSER REDPOLE. (Fringilla Linaria, Lin,—Le Sizerin, Buff.) Lrenctu about five inches: Bill pale brown, point dufky; eyes hazel; the forehead is marked with a pretty large fpot, of a deep purplifh red; the breaft is of the fame colour, but lefs bright ; the feathers on the back are duiky, edged with pale brown; the greater and lefler coverts tipped with dirty white, forming two light bars acrofs the wing; the belly and thighs are of a dull white; the quills and tail dufky, edged with dirty white; the latter fomewhat forked; legs dufky. In our bird the rump was fomewhat reddifh, in which it agrees with the Twite of Mr Pennant, and moft probably conititutes one fpecies with it and the Mountain Linnet, the differences being immaterial, and merely »~ : = : : os < natin own toh eer nae =e eps SE “4 a. > ey ‘ » oe _ aoe MW _ ; . ir | ima we ltee BRITISH BIRDS. 175 {uch as might arife from age, food, or other acci- dental circumftances. ‘The female has no red on the breait or rump, and the fpot on her forehead is of a faffron colour; her plumage in general is not io bright as that of the male. Birds of this kind are not unfrequent in this if- land; they breed chiefly in the northern parts, where they are known by the name of French Linnets. They make a fhallow open neft, compofed of dried grafs and wool, and lined with hair and feathers : The female lays four eggs, almoft white, marked with reddifh fpots. In the winter they mix with Other birds, and migrate in flocks to the fouthern counties: They feed on {mall feeds of various kinds, efpecially thofe of the alder, of which they are extremely fond; they hang, like the ‘Titmoufe, with their back downwards, upon the branches while feeding, and in this fituation may ealily be caught with lime twigs. ‘This {pecies is found in every part of Europe, from Italy to the moit ex- treme parts of the Ruffian empire. In America and the northern parts of Afia it is likewile very common. at i ie roc SF i - _ - a ——~" =» 7s a ¢ “&- . a - _ => TU Fe < ee °*t"_© _— ee a ~ 5 9X OE Ee ae = =_— - nnd ~ Dy ate Se ees i en OT nnn >» Se or at wt —- ape ne oa - r gg ciate oe a "iy Rs eT es aeei ita ee. ~ 2 ah xa ee ~~ - mena HF! tue) y Tole BPOrae e ae ee ,- a ee - ~-4 ar . eeney AALS Y OD: aE SEE LR AE CELIAC LEE TT gl ee en EE ~ 176 BRITISH BIRDS. OF THE LARK. Amoncsr the various kinds of finging birds with which this country abounds, there is none more eminently confpicuous than thofe of the Lark kind. Inftead of retiring to woods and deep re- cefles, or lurking in thickets, where it may be heard without being feen, the Lark is feen abroad in the fields; it is the only bird which chaunts on the wing, and as it foars beyond the reach of our fight, pours forth the moft melodious ftrains, which may be diftinétly heard at that amazing diftance. —The great poet of nature thus beautifully de- {cribes it as the leader of the general chorus : ee a — Up fprings the Lark, «¢ Shrill-voiced and loud, the meflenger of morn ; ‘6 ?Ere yet the fhadows fly, he mounted fings ‘¢ Amid the dawning clouds, and from their haunts *¢ Calls up the tuneful nations,” From the peculiar conftruction of the hind claws, which are very long and ftraight, Larks generally reft upon the ground; thofe which frequent trees perch only on the larger branches: They all build their nefts upon the ground, which expofes them to the depredations of the {fmaller voracious kinds of animals, fuch as the Weazel, Stoat, &c. which deftroy great numbers of them. The Cuckoo likewife, which makes no neft of its own, frequent- ly fubftitutes its eggs in the place of theirs.——The BRITISH BIRDS, 177 general characters of this {pecies are thus defcri- bed :—T he bill is ftraight and flender, bending a little towards the end, which is {harp-pointed ; the noftrils are covered with feathers and briftles; the tongue is cloven at the end; tail fomewhat fork- ed; the toes divided to the origin—claw of the hind toe very long, and almoft ftraight; the fore claws very fhort, and flightly curved. —~ = é =< “SF2 =a ae =r ee - - a . — . a -- iat See SSS ee — -- nd == een <= —— - . a —— +. Se ape 7 ion *. Seeks see the aw 178 BRITISH BIRDS. THE SKYLARK. LAVROCK. (Alauda arvenfis; Lin. —L’ Alouette, Buff.) Lenctu neat feven inches: Bill dufky, under mandible fomewhat yellow ; eyes hazel; over each eye there is a pale ftreak, which extends to the bill, and -round the eye on the under fide; on the upper parts of the body the feathers are of a reddith brown colour, dark in the middle, with pale edges ; the fore part of the neck is of a reddifh white, dath- ed with brown; breaft, belly, and thighs white; the quills brown, with pale edges; tail the fame, and fomewhat forked, the two middle feathers dark- eft, the outermoft white on the outer edge; the legs dufky. In fome of our fpecimens the feathers on the top of the head were long, and formed a fort BRITISH BIRDs. 179 of creft behind. _ The Leffer Crefled Lark of Pen. nant and Latham is perhaps only a variety of this ; the difference being trifling, It is faid to be found in Yorkshire, The. Lark commences ‘its fong. early in the ipring, and is heard moit in the morning: It rifes in the air almoft perpendicularly and by fucceffive {prings, and hovers at a valt height; its defcent, on the contrary, is in an oblique dire€tion, unlefs it is threatened by birds of prey, or attraGted by its mate, and on thefe occafions it drops like a ftone. It makes its neft on the ground, between two clods of earth, and lines it with dried grafs and roots; the female lays four or five eggs, of a greyifh brown colour, marked with darker {fpots; the generally has two broods in the year, and fits only about fif- teen days; as foon as the young have efcaped from the fhell, the attachment of the parent bird feems to increafe; fhe flutters over their heads, direéts all their motions, and is ever ready to fcreen them from danger.’ The Lark is almoit univerfally. dif. fufed throughout Europe ; it is every where ex- tremely prolific, and in fome places the. prodigious numbers that are frequently caught are truly afto- nifhing. In Germany there is an excife upon them, which has produced, according to Keyfler, the fum of 6000 dollars yearly to the city of Leipfic alone. Mr Pennant fays, the neighbourhood of Dunftable is famous for the great numbers of thele birds found N 2 f wit wf ee {Ky i a ! ; rs - ~ chee = 180 BRITISH BIRDSe there, and that 4000 dozen have been taken be- tween September and February for the London markets. Yet, notwithftanding the great havock made amongft thefe birds, they are extremely nu- FF merous. ‘The winter is the beft feafon for taking them, as they are then very fat, being almoft con- ftantly on the ground, feeding in great flocks; whereas in fummer they are very lean; they then always go in pairs, eat fparingly, and fing incel- — iPad: fantly while on the wing. = < ——e - en e ad ae o Z ne “Ia = - “ - ‘ t.* -44@ry-"- —— a ; meer . ee - ——— ; : - “Pe 9 oes = _ - ” ~ radii 2x ara = “< = ar .2.8 6 #n =" x : — P Shs, gk ce ; a.m - = = = _ a _ <> ' " 3 = Fe = ss = - re "iio - : —Y—— ‘ ¥ - 4 ane — — : Be we ut bait. 2S - = a "te a ak le - ee : * (eee a~ 4 ST ee aes = ee a : : — ae : = = 5 oe ae = rs =—s = : ae 2 + a a —— = = ~4 7 eee — = = ; — ~~ Ae ee ane pa b, a — . ~ - i=. = _ « J a . LO LOI OO ERE ee ges THE FIELD LARK. sae ane eS (Alauda campefiris, Lin.—La Spipolette, Buff.) Tus exceeds the Titlark in fize, being about {rx inches long: Its bill is flender; the plumage on the head, neck, and back is of a dark greenifh brown, ftreaked with black, paleit on the rump; above each eye is a pale ftreak: quill feathers duiky brown, with pale edges ; the {capulars faint. ly bordered. with white; the throat and under parts of the body are of a dirty white; the breaft is yel- lowifh, and marked with large black {pots the fides and thighs ftreaked with black; the tail dul- ky, two outer feathers white, excepting. a {mall Ht part of the inner web, the two next tipped with if i white ; the legs are of a yellowilh brown; the ; i hind claws fomewhat curved. Hi BRITISH BIRDS. iS4 Though much larger than the Titlark, this bird is fimilar to it in plumage; its fong is however totally different, as are alfo its haunts, being found chiefly near woods, and not unfrequently on trees; it builds its neft like the laft, and in fimilar fitua- tions, on the ground, and fometimes in a low buth near the ground. ‘The male is fcarcely to be dif. tinguifhed from the female in its outward appear. ance. We have occafionally met with another bird of the Lark kind, which we have ventured to denominate the Tree Lark; it frequents woods, and fits on the higheft branches of trees, from whence it rifes finging to a confiderable height, de- feending flowly, with its wings and tail ipread out hike a fan. Its note is full, clear, melodious, and peculiar te its kind. THE GRASHOPPER LARK, (Alauda trivialis, Lin.—L’ Alouette Pipi, Buf.) Tuis is the fmalleft of the Lark kind, and: has, though we think not with fufficient reafon, been ranked among the warblers: Its bill is flender and dufky ; the upper parts of the body are of a green- ifh colour, variegated and mixed with brown; the under of a yellowifh white, fpeckled irregularly on the breaft and neck; the feathers of the wings and tail are of a palifh dulky brown, with light edges ; N3 = Se a ae ete . ix “~ i © ae it “6 qed _ -—~ ~~ ss ~_ ee = oe] +. = ~ 7 < hein ae Oe =o a o nr - - Tae 182 BRITISH BIRDS. the legs pale dufky brown; its hind claws, though fhorter and more crooked than thole of the Sky- lark, fufficiently mark its kind: It builds its neft on the ground, in folitary fpots, and conceals it be- neath a turf; the female lays five eggs, marked with brown near the larger end. In the fpring the cock-bird fometimes perches on a tall branch, finging with much emotion: At intervals he rifes to a confiderable height, hovers a few feconds, and drops almoft on the fame fpot, continuing to fing all the time; his tones are foft, clear, and harmonious. In the winter its cry is faid to refemble that of the grafhopper, but is ra- ther ftronger and fhriller: It has been called the Pipit Lark from its fmall fhrill cry, and in German Piep-lerche for the fame reafon. Mr White ob- ferves, that its note feems clofe to a perfon, though at an hundred yards diftance; and when clofe to the ear, feems fcarce louder than when a great. way off: It fkulks in hedges and thick bufhes, and runs like a moufe through the bottom of the thorns, e- vading the fight. Sometimes, early in a morning, when undifturbed, it fings on the top of a twig, ga- ping and fhivering with its wings. Pa en Re Pe = “————ee ———— > 4 ’ —_ > ” eae - * Se - = es a ee 7 = See ee tae ee eee + eee ag A ay = S. = x — = a. A tr ae | ue COI = <> m > , ; 1} - THE TITLARK. (Alayda pratenfis, Lin.w—La Farloufe ou L’ Alovette, de prez, Buiff. ) Tuts bird is lefs than the Woodlark, being not more than five inches and a half in length: Its bill is black at the tip, and of a yellowifh brown at the bafe; its eyes are hazel; over each eye is a pale itreak; the difpofition of its colours is very fimilar to thofe of the Skylark, but fomewhat dark- er on the upper parts, and inclining to a greenifh brown; the breaft is beautifully fpotted with black on a light yellowifh ground; the belly light ath colour, obfcurely fireaked on the fides with duiky ; the tail is almoft black, the two outer feathers white on the exterior edges, the outermolt but one eS 2 ein ‘ hh 2 : 3 4 : - acide : i. 4 ‘ w) i ,2 u i 2. aP'; H, . fi 1% ' \ : & t eat oh ‘ ean, ot OF a tipped with a white fpot on the end; the legs are yellowifh; feet and claws brown: The female -. = og ~ > ae ee eres —— rot = >. wees —— 2. a) i ii Wl Libis labia Bhan 186 BRITISH BIRDS. 1, MAD differs only in its plumage being lefs bright than Mi Hy that of the male. / uf a rr r ° - : . | | lhe Titlark is common in this country; and, tT) ae | though it fometimes perches on trees, is gene- Pe hs a) ae : ; 1 Sama rally found in meadows and low marfhy grounds: WE se ae —It makes its neft on the ground, lining it with it woe v4 ? o me ha hair; the female lays five or fix eggs, of a deep eo a brown colour; the young are hatched about the fai beginning of June. During the time of incuba- Hedi tion the male fits on a neighbouring tree, rifing a he, : at times and finging. The Titlark is flufhed with | i hy the leaft noife, and fhoots with a rapid flight. ee nere Its note is fine, but fhort, and without much va- BRR? Vio 3 ; : : aaa P ve riety; it warbles in the air like the Skylark, and " increafes its fong as it defcends flowly to the branch on which it chufes to perch. It is further diftinguifhed by the fhake of its tail, particularly whilit it eats. " my Be aah aie 5 Wy Wed I ie t Hin | Hi i iH] an BALTISH BIRDS, 157 OF THE WAGTAIL. Tue different fpecies of this kind are few, and thefe are chiefly confined to the continent of Eu- rope, where they are very numerous. ‘They are eafily diftinguifhed by their brifk and lively mo- tions, as well as by the great length of their tails, which they jerk up and down inceffantly—-from whence they derive their name.* ‘They do not hop, but run along the ground very nimbly, after flies and other infeéts, on which they feed: They likewife feed on {mall worms, in fearch of which they are frequently feen to flutter round the hul- bandman whilft at his plough, and follow the flocks in fearch of the flies which generally furround them. They frequent the fides of pools, and pick up the infects which {warm on the furface.. They feldom perch ; their flight is weak and undulating, and during which they make a twittering noile. * In almoft all languages the name of this bird is defcriptive of its peculiar habits. In Latin, Motacilla; in French, Mot- teux, La Lavandiere, or Wafher; in England, they are fome- times called Wafhers, from their peculiar motion ; in German, . Brook-ftilts; in Italian, Shake-tail, &c. &c. : 4 - : HW : ; ; i} " | n : : : : ; ‘ ] 7 ‘) : ; ; | ; : ; a7 - “at rh 44 7 | non : bi d's itt iit | SOP Sie 7 i yu 7 oT ' hit ’ Pe bh ¥ yi rT 7 4 J 7 bbaares : hepa, | if Wise ‘ ‘a ' j - tay 7 ' Wo i \ : i i] " : eal f - -* i : { ; oz ‘ +. : rT ny al | @ 4 " ' 4 ty hi ay 1 Ts ane rv) : wf ae he) - ide, iM ih en | Fe ' note 4 IF he if alt t ye Le aa Pd | “| ao! es 3 > : ofa * The { aie. A is, | ef, : ia } ; ee ee we = —<— OE” See ee re te eee . . z ~- oe oe, ~ ~ = Lo — _ oe _ i ios — _—_— — — — ~ -—-- — na = - 7 = = = - =< ~ 7 ~= oo ¢ - —— = er ee _ . oa “te a nly -— =r . =< + - _—_ ++. - we fl ‘ - - x os Ss ig a, ee ee a — » . Qte~ * - - “ aR <4 aap +e, eae oy Se ee = —— : = , a ne on cae et PS - SE SSS SS aa : : = - an Zz ais a 4 = =e - oe STs =e ———— Tere Ba : a Smee eset a . as a RTE ee rs ———— = me, a < = IT POG RTS <= . —_ ee a OO NE > an a "_. ae neti ad 288 BRITISH BIRDS. THE PIED WAGTAIL. BLACK AND WHITE WATER-WAGTAIL. (Motacilla Alba, Lin.—La Lavandiere, Buff.) Tue length of this bird is about feven inches; The bill is black ; eyes hazel; hind part of the head and neck black; the forehead, cheeks, and fides of the neck are white; the fore part of the neck and part of the breaft are black, bordered by a line of white, in the form of a-gorget; the back and rump are of a deep afh colour; wing coverts and fecon- dary quills dufky, edged with light. grey; prime quills black, with pale edges; lower part of the breaft and belly white; the middle feathers of the tait are black, the outermoit white, except at the bafe and tips of the inner webs, which are black; legs black. ‘There are flight variations in thefe birds ; fome are white on the chin and throat, leav- ing only a crefcent of black on the breaft, The head of the female is brown. BRITISH BIRDS» 139g This is a very common bird with us, and may be feen every where, running on the ground, and frequently leaping after flies and other infects, on which it feeds. Its ufual haunts are the fhallow margins of waters, into which it will fometimes wade a little in fearch of its food. It makes its neft on the ground, of dry grafs, mols, and {mall roots, lined with hair and feathers ; the female lays five white eggs, fpotted with brown. ‘The parent birds are very attentive to their young, and conti- nue to feed and train them for three or four weeks after they are able to fly; they will defend them with great courage when in danger, or endeavour to draw afide the enemy by various little arts. They are very attentive to the cleanlinefs of the neft, and will throw out the excrement; they have been known to remove light f ubftances, fuch as paper or ftraw, which has been laid as a mark for the neft. It is faid by fome authors to migrate snto other climates about the end of O&tober; with us it is known to change its quarters as the winter approaches, from north to fouth. Its note is fmalt and infignificant, but frequently repeated, efpecially while on the wing. Sey Bian => : fy : ie | Ny Mala “50 ita |, ! 4 a é . ** , a * ’ ’ , 54) ee 1 aN a foe 4 7 te eh iS, < f a 7 we ut : ; yar. | We ‘ 2 “ “ thy : eh % ¢ | bP an sae kes : + Te 4 "yar Be ‘ * ' ‘ This . ¢ 4 Fy a“ 4 § - mee) ote ‘ba’ if i , ' b 4 ‘7 Pur ‘ i Py , i ' tat i) igo BRITISH BIRDS: , HAGA Fat +?°?”. 2 __— SS a = ne Ss ns - Ky - . 9 * td Li 7. it : ¥ - 7 ' 7 ? - v4. ls oe 7 sd - 4, 4 is hit ; th ty ay _—— - Te < sane g en ate tee Lapa, 7 a = ~ ~ . ~~ - * ra 4 Pt 3 Ld i. a Oo FT tee =. ~ SD ae ee ar ~ — vate a r te Pe mee Sa Be Oe Oe nee ee ee er ee SS ene BRITISH BIRDS: ROE - ees as the laft; its food is likewife fimilar to it Ie remains with us during winter frequenting the neighbourhood of {prings and running waters: The female builds her neft on the ground, and fometimes in the banks of rivulets; it is compofed of nearly the fame matertals as the laft; fhe lays from fix to eight eggs, of a dirty white, marked with yellow {fpots: She differs from the male in having no black on the throat. THE YELLOW WAGTAIL. (Motacilla Flava, Lin.—La Bergeronetie de printems, Buff.) Lenctnu fix inches anda half: Bill black; eyes hazel; the head and all the upper parts of the bo- dy are of an olive green, paleft on the rump; the 192 BRITISH BIRDS. under parts are of a bright yellow, dafhed with a few dark {pots on the breaft and belly; over each eye there is a pale yellow ftreak, and beneath a dufky line, curving upwards towards the hind part of the head; wing coverts edged with pale yellow ; quills dufky; tail black, except the outer feathers, which are white; the legs are black; hind claws very long. Buffon obferves that this bird is feen very early in the fpring, in the meadows and fields, amongit the green corn, where it frequently neftles ; it haunts the fides of brooks and fprings which never freeze with us during winter. ‘The female lays five eggs, of a pale lead colour, with dufky {pots irregularly diipofed. > eee es te ee S32 Coes a zs a ~ = = ~ ~ —— = -< a = - ree ry — -~ —_ ; —-- ae —= — —_s eee a == — “gor were = —~ -= ct. - a2 E ¥ zs - ‘ee 4 os Pas L red Ss ' : > Pie a ees a= ‘ Ss. = FS ee a = — ed Sa nee Es ' Pgs See = pe ew nay =r os - ae ——e : —-- mar = = = —S rs a 3 =~ a ieee = ~ i ao = oo —— -_—~- - ea - =. = RE a ee i Be eee ei 2 7 ft Hh Pie Lan q. it § - Rg eng ee ee as ee ee BRITISH BIRDS. 193 OF THE FLYCATCHERS. Or thofe birds which conftitute this clafs we Only find two kinds which inhabit this ifland, and thefe are not the moft numerous of the various tribes with which this country abounds. The ufe- ful inftinéts and propenfities of this little active race are chiefly confined to countries under the more immediate influence of the fun, where they are of infinite ufe in deftroying thofe numerous {warms of noxious infeéts engendered by heat and moilture, which are continually upon the wing. Thefe, though weak and contemptible when indi- vidually confidered, are formidable by their num- bers, devouring the whole produce of vegetation, and carrying in their train the accumulated ills of peftilence and famine. ‘Thus, to ufe the words of an eminent Naturalift,*'‘‘ we fee, that all nature is balanced, and the circle of generation and deftruc. tion is perpetual! ‘The philofopher contemplates with melancholy this feemingly cruel fyftem, and {trives in vain to reconcile it with his ideas of be- nevolence ; but he is forcibly ftruck with the nice adjuftment of the various parts, their mutual con- nection and fubordination, and the unity of plan which pervades the whole.” * Buffon. O a’ - e ASS fee 2 ese = =" =— mo SS a eh + o 4 is Pu & hs ‘7 ANS Te ’ an } . ~ —— = - os Se ee RED - > —— ~~ - — = es t on 7 = . = E ~ be —— == ———— —— —— = > —* ~~. Se os - = = > — ry _ = itihima oe —— Sa ey met - Pes oak ee a> ~— x er. eet Ss ws : - he = = Rute 2 _ ee on ‘ ‘o : . Say OU ey a ~ ate % = 7 - ong ? “ — = ee —— a — aul . oe - > = ~~ “fi “~ > 2 : a -. Se < = < - = _< $e & Fee Se sai eS Pa Oe . < = wa > onal : 2; : a = & c spit hg ee . i sow 7 — = 3 2 % ee 21a7 SS 5 ~ , _ +4 Te . . lh ~——- 7 =: —— z= —< - ~ ‘+ ED ’ =. > —s » 2 ws ~ —_= _ - —=- - Sa it % 7 i 2 anak ss =e eer - : a * on — a F mere Be csr yt —- 2% : “ =— ie bs ‘ ba ewe = - te = Samer ee oe ee = — 194 BRITISH BIRDS. The characters of this genus with us are fome:- what equivocal and not well afcertained, neither do we know of any common name in’our lan. guage by which it is diftinguifhed. Mr Pennant defcribes it thus: ‘ Bill flatted at the bafe, almoft triangular, notched at the end of the upper mandi- ble, and befet with briftles at its bafe.”?> We have placed the Flycatcher here, as introduétory to the numerous clafs which follows, to which they are nearly related, both in refpe&t to form, habits, and modes of living: The affinity between them is fo great, as to occafion fome confufion in the arrange- ment of feveral of the individuals of each kind, for which reafon we have placed them together. BRITISH BIRDS. 195 THE PIED FLYCATCHER. COLDFINCH. (Mufcicapa Atricapilla, Lin.—Le traquet d’ Angleterre, Buff.) Lenox near five inches: Billblack; eyes has zel; the forehead is white; the top of the head; back, and tail are black; the rump is dafhed with afh colour; the wing coverts ate dufky, the great- er coverts are tipped with white; the exterior fides of the fecondary quills are white, as are alfo the outer feathers of the tail; all the under parts, from the bill to the tail, are white; the legs are black: ‘The female is brown where the male is black; it likewife wants the white {pot on the fore- head. ‘This bird is no where common; it is in moft plenty in Yorkfhire, Lancafhire, and Derby- fhire. Since the cut, which was done from a, ftul- O2 1! a Ht vee i | 2 ti 1 l i Wi 196 BRITISH BIRDS. fed fpecimen, was finifhed, we have been favoured with a pair of thefe birds, fhot at Benton, in Nor- thumberland: We fuppofe them to be male and female, as one of them wanted the white fpot on the forehead; in other refpects it was fimilar to the male: ‘Lhe upper parts in both were black, obicurely mixed with brown; the quill feathers dark reddifh brown; tail dark brown, the exterior edge of the outer feather white; legs black. SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. BEAM-BIRD. (Mufcicapa Grifola, Lin.—Le Gobe-mouche, Buff.) Lenctn near five inches and three quarters: Bill dufky, bafe of it whitifh, and befet with thort briftles ; infide of the mouth yellow; the head and back light brown, obfcurely fpotted with black ; the wings dufky, edged with white ; the breaft and belly white; the throat and fides under the wings tinged with red; the tail duiky ; legs black. Mr White obferves, that the Flycatcher, of all our fummer birds, is the moft mute and the moft familiar. It vifits this ifland in the fpring, and dif- appears in September ; it builds in a vine or fweet- briar, againft the wall of a houfe, or on the end of a beam, and fometimes clofe to the poft of a door where people are going in and out all day long; it returns to the fame place year after year: The BRITISH BIRDS. 197 female lays four or five eggs, marked with fmall ru{ty {pots ; the neft is carelefsly made, and confifts chiefly of mofs, frequently mixed with wool and {trong fibres, fo large, fays Buffon, that it appears lurprizing how fo fmall an artificer could make ufe of fuch ftubborn materials. This bird feeds on infects, which it catches on the wing; it fome- times watches for its prey, fitting on a branch or poft, and, with a fudden fpring, takes it as it flies, and immediately returns to its ftation to wait for more; it is likewife fond of cherries. Mr Lath- am. fays, it is known in Kent by the name of the Cherry-fucker.. It has no fong, but only a fort of inward wailing note, when it perceives any danger to itfelf or young: It breeds only once, and re- tires early. When its young are able to fly, it re- tires with them to the woods, where it fports with them among the higher branches, finking and rifing often perpendicularly among the flies which hum below. bi Lm } ft —— a pa a : ‘ " i- " “> . — « a, - — — ——— — . 2 — cd - = ~~; 198 BRITISH BIRDS. OF THE WARBLERS. Ts very numerous clafs is compofed of 4 great variety of kinds, differing in fize from the Nightingale to the Wren, and not a little in their habits and manners. They are widely difperfed over moft parts of the known world; fome of them remain with us during the whole year—others are migratory, and vifit us annually in great numbers, forming a very confiderable portion of thofe nu- merous tribes of finging birds, with which this if- land fo plentifully abounds. Some of them are diftinguifhed by their manner of flying, which they perform by jerks, and in gn undulating man- ner; others by the whirring motion of their wings. The head in general is fmall; the bill is weak and flender, and befet with briftles at the bafe; the noftrils are fmall and fomewhat depref- fed; and the outer toe is joined to the middle one by a {mall membrane. BRITISH BIRDS. L9G As i = ; Yea > _ po ll i = ——— al ey ~ * ~~ aK = ‘- THE NIGHTINGALE. (Motacilla lufcinia, Lin.—Le Roffignol, Buff.) Turs bird, fo defervedly efteemed for the excel- lence of its fong, is not remarkable for the variety or richnefs of its colours; it is fomewhat more than fix inches in length: Its bill is brown, yel- low on the edges at the bafe; eyes hazel; the whole upper part of the body is of a rufty brown, tinged with olive; the under parts pale afh co- lour, almoft white at the throat and vent; the quills are brown, with reddifh margins ; legs pale brown. ‘The male and female are very fimilar. Although the Nightingale is common in this country, it never vifits the northern parts of our ifland, and is but feldom feen in the weftern coun- O 4 i i i ‘ Fa Ht i rear. 8 Pd at, oh et —_ ao * . eel Ss = > “ m= ; =e a “ Peds) ¢ >. 3 ee Oe ee ee Fite at —s oe = ee ee ee ee SS rR : = A SR ee =a SS => oars _ 4 7 s _ =e ieee me ve a nen =e . . - — — - - = — — - . —<-— — -—--- = -, - = ~ < ~ > “ . _- ne % x —= ra : ¢ — —~- Ames vee aie 2 — Fonte wagey Se .- —— : : a — _— —. — aed ne Senden a — - a. rd ae fr Ste? It SS ee : = £ . - ———— i aa Tia = . en are ld —_ tT ek ee ee ai Stee See T= een Ot — = nae ‘ ’ ye = Pan an = tt —* pea - , a ay ~~ - ; <~ : - Pit : —~ 2-eKS . < - - ~ r. oe rs ; tla? SE are 252 = y Ray - +35 —- ¥ : AA. © <_ a = a - . Seathes Sa = Se = =* = in —s —s *<".2 ae yy Wea? bp ? , = = Te : . : it eo = : ‘3 ~ = > = oh — = nd a “ — 3 ; ; = on _ nasa z Pa ae are * gota? oth em “ ~ e ~~ = = erare uipeinent= <~*S ee oe : EEE CS ee SEE < Seeiseteewenn a te acer Rial i oe - = et ee le Sa ee 2090 BRITISH BIRDS, ties of Devonfhire and Cornwall: I: leaves ug fome time in the month of Auguft, and makes its regular return the beginning of April; it is fup- poled, during that interval, to vifit the diftant re- gions of Afia; this is probable, as they do not win- ter in any part of France, Germany, Italy, Greece, &c, neither does it appear that they flay in Africa, but are feen at all times in India, Perfia, China, and Japan; in the latter place they ae much e- jteemed for their fong, and fell at great prices. They are fpread generally throughout Europe, e- ven as far north as Siberia and Sweden, where they are faid to fing delightfully ; they, however, are partial to particular places, and avoid others which feem as likely to afford them th: neceflary means of fupport. It is not improbable, however, that, by planting a colony in a well-chofen fitua- tion, thefe delightful fongfters might be induced to haunt places where they are not at prefent feen; the experiment might be eafily tried, end, fhould it fucceed, the reward would be great in the rich and varied fong of this unrivalled bird. The fol- lowing animated defcription of it is taken from the ingenious author of the Hiftoire des Oifeaux:— ** The leader of the vernal chorus begns with a ** low and timid voice, and he prepar:s for the “hymn to nature by eflaying his powers and at- * tuning his organs; by degrees the found opens * and fwells, it burfts with loud and vivid flafhes, ** it flows with fmooth volubility, it faints and mur- NorTretr. Rrone as DKLLisii Binvss ZO|[ “‘ murs, it fhakes with rapid and violent articula- *‘ tions; the foft breathings of love and joy are o ‘poured from his inmoft foul, and every heart *‘ beats unifon, and melts with delicious languor. ‘¢ But this continued richnefs might fatiate the ear. ‘“‘ The ftreins are at times relieved by paufes, a ‘ which betow dignity and elevation. The mild ‘« filence of evening heightens the general effeé, ‘and not a rival interrupts the folemn fcene.”— Thefe birds begin to build about the end of April or the beginning of May; they make their neft in the lower part of a thick bufh or hedge; the fe- male lays four or five eggs, of a greenifh brown colour; the neft is compofed of dry grafs and leaves, intermixed with {mall fibres, and lined with hair, down, and other foft and warm fubftances. The bufinels of incubation is entirely performed by the female, whilft the cock, at no great diftance, entertains her with his delightful melody; {fo foon, however, as the young are hatched, he leaves off finging, and joins her in the care of providing for the young brood. ‘Thefe birds make a fecond hatch, and fometimes a third; and in hot coun- tries they are faid to have four. The Nightingale is a folitary bird; and never unites in flocks like many of the fmaller birds, but hides itfelf in the thickeft parts of the bufhes, and fings generally in the night: Its food confilts prin- cipally of infeéts, {mall worms, eggs of ants, and fometimes berries of various kinds. Nightingales, a — - -_ — i cs ‘ a Rs oe —_— —_ —. fi~- . ° an? Fe re ae ae ed 2 ZO2® BRITISH BIRDS. ent = eS though timorous and fhy, are eafily caught; fnares of all forts are laid for them, and generally fuc- ee ceed; they are likewile caught on lime twigs :— ~ .- —— AE i dy ans eemt ~—<« . a Young ones are fometimes brought up from the neft, and fed with great care till they are able to fing. It is with great difficulty that old birds are induced to fing after being taken; for a confider- able time they refufe to eat, but by great attention to their treatment, and avoiding every thing that might agitate them, they at length refume their fong, and continue it during the greateft part of the year, Hit: 7 i % . : : ray +. ee Li st] VY anithus P = oanthatun Raz omnia vanitas BRITISH BIRDS. 20% + THE DARTFORD WARBLER. (Le Pitchou de Provence, Buff.) Tu1s bird meafures above five inches in length, of which the tail is about one half: Its bill is long and flender, and a little bent at the tip; it is of a black colour, whitifh at the bafe; its eyes are red- difh ; eye-lids deep crimfon; all the upper parts are of a dark rufty brown, tinged with dull yellow; the breaft, part of the belly, and thighs are of a deep red, inclining to ruft colour; the middle of the belly is white; the baftard wing is alfo white ; the tail is dufky, except the exterior web of the outer feather, which is white; the legs are yellow. This feems to be a rare bird in this country, and owes its name, with us, to the accident of a pair of them having been feen near Dartford, in Kent, a penne aan ii if ih fate te ¢ igs re PP ey =e Saat, cts Ph. a Tee = ~~ 7 m7 own “Ges “—e - = - > 2 —— - SS ee =~ E 7 > r = a SS - = > a ee , = es S eeedadl Ad epee ore = 2 = = == — e ——« —- - — ne ae == ry wes nese ~ ~ . . 3 = — eT I Pe “pe Ss. : vatag ~—. ews POT Ae ET Ee ees rae ys eet 204 BRITISH BIRDS. ew years ago; they have fince been obferved in greater numbers, and are fuppofed fometimes to winter with us. Buffon fays they are natives of Provence, where they frequent gardens, and feed on flies and {mall infe&ts. Our reprefentation was taken from a ftuffed fpecimen in the Wycliffe Mu- feum, now in the pofleffion of Geo. Allan, Efq. of the Grange, near Darlington. ee we pe + as ~ 7 Soe = pe aa — ae =< PEEPS DP SI SSP IL Ss See POP ee eas Et ~ a 1 { THE REDBREAST, ROBIN-REDBREAST, OR RUDDOCK. (Motacilla rubecola, Lin.—Le Rouge-gorge, Buff.) Tis general favorite is too well known to need a very minute defcription: Its bill is flender and delicate; its eyes are large, black, and expref- five, and its afpe€&t mild; its head and all the upper parts of its body are brown, tinged with a greenifh BRITISH BIRDS. 205 Olive; its neck and breaft are of a fine deep red- difh orange; a fpot of the fame colour marks its forehead; its belly and vent are of a dull white ; its legs are duiky. During the fummer the Redbreaft is rarely to be feen; it retires to woods and thickets, where, with its mate, it prepares for the accommodation of its future family. Its neft is placed near the ground, by the roots of trees, in the moft conceal- ed ipot, and fometimes in old buildings; it is con- ftructed of mofs, intermixed with hair and dried leaves, and lined with feathers: In order more effectually to conceal it, the bird covers its neft with leaves, leaving only a narrow winding en- trance under the heap. ‘The female lays from five to nine eggs, of a dull white, marked with reddifh fpots. During the time of incubation, the cock fits at no great diftance, and makes the woods refound with his delightful warble; he keenly chafes all the birds of his own fpecies, and drives them from his little fettlement; for, as faith- ful-as they are amorous, it has never been obfer- ved that two pairs of thefe birds were ever lodged in the fame bufh.* The Redbreaft prefers the thick fhade, where there is water; it feeds on in- fe&ts and worms ; its delicacy in preparing the lat. ter is fomewhat remarkable :—It takes it by one end, in its beak, and beats it on the ground till the * Unum arbuftum non alit duos erithacos. 2 4 ole a ion <> a ae Re ee ayer es ao eee = " *, 7 - _ “~~ _ . sv.eatwas vw = = by Pee aS See ao here oe Ail eel oll ~ o ~~ ag me oe = ~— ye eee © +. han > : — - ” - = =<" =) ~ iF e = aa <2 oee Se. ee : ~ oneal ee Re - - a oa = = ocd = < “+ ee - ox. = ee 3 5 ms - ee ee rn 206 BRITISH BIRDS.» inward part comes away; then, taking it by the Other in like manner, cleanfes it from all its im- purities, eating only the outward part or fkin.— Although the Redbreaft never quits this ifland, it performs a partial migration: As foon as the bu- finefs of incubation is over, and the young are fuf- ficiently grown to provide for themfelves, it leaves its retirement, and again draws near the habitations of mankind: Its well-known familiarity has at- tracted the attention and fecured the proteCtion of men in allages; it haunts the dwellings of the cot- tager, and partakes of his humble fare; when the cold grows fevere, and fnow covers the ground, it approaches the houle, taps at the window with its bill, as if to entreat an afylum, which is always chearfully granted, and, with a fimplicity the moft delightful, hops round the houfe, picks up crumbs, and feems to make himfelf one of the family.— Thomion has very beautifully defcribed the an- nual vifits of this little gueft in the following lines : The Redbreaft, facred to the houfehold gods, Wifely regardful of th’ embroiling fky, In joylefs fields and thorny thickets leaves His fhivering mates, and pays to trufted man His annual vifit. Half afraid, he firft Again{t the window beats; then brifk alights On the warm hearth; then, hopping o’er the floor, Eyes all the fmiling family afkance, And pecks, and ftarts, and wonders where he is; Till, more familiar grown, the table crumbs Attra& his flender feet, BRITISH BIRDS. 207 The young Redbreaft, when full feathered, may be taken for a different bird, being fpotted all over with ruft-coloured fpots on a light ground: The firft appearance of the red is about the end of Au- gult, but it does not arrive at its full colour till the end of the following month. Redbreafts are never feen in flocks, but always fingly; and, when all other birds aflociate together, they {till retain their folitary habits. Buffon fays, that as foon as the young birds have attained their full plumage, they prepare for their departure ; but in thus changing their fituation, they do not gather in flocks, but per- form their journey fingly, one after another; which is a fingular circumftance in the hiftory of this bird. Its general familiarity has occafioned it to be dif- tinguifhed by a peculiar name in many countries : About Bornholm it is called Tomi Liden; in Norway, Peter Ronfmad; in Germany it is called Thomas Gierdet; and with us, Robin-Redbreaft, or Ruddock, = .. — . ~ = - - a“ — . : — - “4 ; > ~ = ‘ < 22 es = — a es a ~ a Pres = : = a . = i ; — * Si. - ? ~ i . A ~ ~* ca :< ? > - > Pa. £ Ao ; z: =. en he - —— = a rea i ta eA . ‘ Pe = z ee as z ns - . . Fee sod : ; : = woe cabt. MS ; : p - net IS ; = a ee a ne - i, -. coe a te - ~~. : _—— - na : 3 : - - 2 zi : 4 dep ~" a + = - PE SSS eS = = SS == =~ = = i —= gre . os ne res - ~~ s ~~. i ol = a a =a a . + , Se ee ete ry 2 - —— * A. = ; = - ee ee —- : - = = — - — : * i a re s., as a 2 eS Tre —_ . 2 “Eo Saas “ — — a = = ' “= ys x — = 7 2: ant ae tee — =< . s ~«, . ee ee —— 4 =) SS D. be = —— J DP Tina a - = . soo : : pubtpetirars »* geen LP ALO. EE LOCAL LE BS A A A Ge ty pe ES a = hae Se ee ee ewe es ~* ~ ee oe — _ SS eS Fa miatll iy ee ; " ip =—eigy ; —— ! THE REDSTART. RED-TAIL. (Motacilla Pheenicurus, Lin.—Le Roffignol de muraille, Buff. ) Tuts bird meafures rather more than five inches in length: Its bill and eyes are black; its forehead is white; cheeks, throat, fore part and fides of the neck black, which colour extends over each eye; the crown of its head, hind part of its neck, and back are of a-deep blue grey; in fome fubjeéts, probably old ones, this grey is almoft black; its breaft, rump, and fides are of a fine glowing red, inclining to orange colour, which extends to all the feathers of the tail, except the two middle ones, which are brown; the belly is white; feet and claws black. The female differs confiderably from the male; the top of the head and back are of a grey afh colour; the chin is white, and its colour not fo vivid. BRITISH BIRDS. 20 \ The Redftart is migratory ; it appears about the middle of April, and departs the latter end of S Sep- tember, or beginning of O&tober ;_ it frequents old walls and ruinous edifices, where it makes its neit, compoled chiefly of — lined with hair and fea- thers: It is diftinguifhed by a peculiar quick fhake of its tail from fide to fide on its alighting on a wall or other places Though a wild and timorous bird, it is frequently found in the midft of cities, alw ays chufing the moft difficult and inacceffible e places for its refidence; it likewife builds in for elts, in holes of trees, or in high and dangerous precipices; the eggs, not much unlike thofe of the Hedge-{parrow, but fomewhat lon- female lays four or five e ger. ‘Thefe birds feed on flies, fpiders, the eggs of ants, {mall berries, foft fruits, and fuch like, THE FAUVETTE. PETTICHAPS, (Motacilla hippolais, Lin.—La Fauvette, Buff.) Lenctu about fix inches: Its bill is blackith; eyes dark hazel; the whole upper part of the body is of a dark nani or moufe colour, lightly tinged with pale brown on the edges of the wing coverts, and along the webs of the fecondary quills; the larger quills are of a dufky afh colour, as are alfo thofe of the tail, except the outermoft, which are White on their exterior fides and tips; over each P os, ee "= ates ee eye ee = 210 BRITISH BIRDS-» $e, oe ~ ers = ¥ a ae ——— =~ SSS — = —— —_ —— = = 2 - = a = = _ Se ee ee eg ee eee ee ee eee eee 3 ee = a : ; . _ — : —— _ oad ~ > ~ _—_—4 — = _ ——— = —— — = — —— eye there is a pale ftreak; the throat and belly are of a filvery white ; legs dark brown. This bird frequents thickets, and is feldom to be feen out of covert; it fecretes itfelf in the thickeft parts of the bufhes, from whence it may be heard, but not feen: It is truly a mocking bird, imitating the notes of various kinds, generally beginning with thofe of the Swallow, and ending with the full fong of the Blackbird. We have often watched with the utmoft attention whilft it was finging de- lightfully in the midft of a bufh clofe at hand, but have feldom been able to obtain a fight of it: We could never procure more than one fpecimen :— Its appearance with us does not feem to be re- gular, as we have frequently been difappointed in not finding it in its ufual haunts. We fuppofe this to be the fame with the Fauvette of M. Buffon,* which he places at the head of a numerous family, confifting of ten diftin&t fpecies; many of which vifit this ifland in the fpring, and leave it again in autumn. ‘¢ Thefe pretty warblers,” fays he, ‘ ar- rive when the trees put forth their leaves, and be- tf Hee * We have adopted the name of Fauvette for want of a more : atl appropriate term in our own language. We apprehend this to | be the Flycatcher of Mr Pennant—Br. Zoot. vol. 2d, p. 264, If? ed.—and the Lefer Pettichaps of Latham, which he fays is known in Yorkfhire by the name of the Beam-bird; but he does not {peak from his own knowledge of the bird. It cer- tainly is but little known, and has no common name in this country. BRITISH BIRDS. 2iT gin to expand their blofloms ; they difperfe through the whole extent of our plains ; fome inhabit our gardens, others prefer the clumps and avenues; fome conceal themfelves among the reeds, and ma- ny retire to the midft of the woods.”? But, not. withftanding their numbers, this genus is confeffed- ly the moft obfcure and indetermined in the whole of ornithology. We have taken much pains to gain a competent knowledge of the various kinds which vifit our ifland, and have procured fpeci- mens of moft, if not all of them, but confefs that we have been much puzzled in reconciling their provincial names with the fynonima of the differ- ent authors who have noticed them. The following is defcribed by Latham as a va- riety of the Pettichaps, and agrees in moft refpeéts with our fpecimen. We conceive it to be the fame as the Pafferinette of Buffon, allowing fome- what for difference of food, climate, &c. AT” a ¢ Pe 212 BRITISH BIRDS. P \ ie AN ~ Pe ———* eae WRN ah multe. 73 a * THE LESSER FAUVETTE. PASSERINE WARBLER. (Motacilla pafferina, Lin.m—Le Paffrinette, Buff.) Lenotu nearly the fame as the laft: Bill pale brown; upper parts of the body brown, {lightly tinged with olive green; under parts dufky white, a little inclining to brown acrofs the breaft; quills dufky, with pale edges; tail dufky ; over each eye there is an indiftinct whitifh line ; legs pale brown. © The male and female are much alike: The eggs are of a dull white, irregularly marked with duf- ky and black fpots.—This bird is alfo a mocker; but its fong is not fo powerful as the laft. BRITISH BIRDS. Lal Wo to THE WINTER FAUVETTE. HEDGE WARBLER, HEDGE SPARROW, OR DUNNOCK. (Motacilla Modularis, Lin.—La Fauvette dhiver, Buff.) Tue length of this well-known — is fomewhat more than five inches: Its bill is dark; eyes ha- zel; its general appearance is as of a duiky brown, moft of the feathers on the back and wings being edged with reddifh brown; the cheeks, ' throat, and fore part of its neck are of a dull blue- ifh afh colour ; the belly is of a dirty white ; quill and tail dufky ; rump greenifh brown; fides and thighs pale tawny brown; the legs are brown. This bird is frequently feen in hedges, from whence it derives one of its names; but it has no 3 ' 5 : - . ' 214 BRITISH BIRDS. other relation to the Sparrow than in the dinginefs of its colours ; in every other refpect it differs en- tirely, It remains with us the whole year, and builds its neft near the ground; it is compofed of mofs and wool, and lined with hair; the female generally lays four or -five eggs, of a uniform pale blue, without any fpots: The young are hatched about the beginning of May. During the time of fitting, if a cat or other voracious animal fhould happen to come near the neft, the mother endea- vours to divert it from the fpot by a ftratagem I- milar to that by which the Partridge mifleads the dog: She fprings up, flutters from {pot to {pot, and by that means allures her enemy to a fafe diftance. In France, the Hedge-fparrow is rarely feen but in winter; it arrives generally in Otober, and de- parts in the {pring for more northern regions, where it breeds. It is fuppofed to brave the ri- gours of winter in Sweden, and that it affumes the white plumage common in thofe fevere cli- mates in that feafon. Its fong is little varied, but pleafant, efpecially in a feafon when all the other warblers are filent: Its ufual ftrain is a fort of qui- vering, frequently repeating fomething like the fol- lowing /it-tit-tititit, from whence, in fome places, it is called the Titling. We have already obfer- ved that the Cuckoo frequently makes ufe of the neit of this bird to depofit her egg in. BRITISH BIRDS. 215 Ye. -> >, ¢ » 2 - ‘ ‘ aad SES te ot . ‘ oo Beaten 1) . R. SS Sis g., * . Re gate =. ‘ eevee Fe ny Be 2 v4 YS SS Fae ea NTE, fm SP ates Ee ML, ’ vs Rea SW YS SS oe ss . . . S ~~ Sao eS mr X 7 < . ~~ SY Se - ‘ we DE SS OS { 4 = eS N . oe K » in, Sian b > . —* ae: Nh 3 2 ae =) Dyan . = 3 = Sane \ wes \ Md : nN ae PSs S . A $ , “ss a : ALL te - . SV a4 PL; . = G == ee a aie : - rt SM * ~ = L- —. ~ = —. << ott ) \\ D) 445 : ts . = ‘ ee Ne ene ihe — ae er ey .) = “F- ¥ nas = a2 / ya \) y } ey Ww ) ae mk “\ & G7 sor, ihe NES . ’ a) ‘ M \ me NN VI hy) aw s))\\\ Vilma Oe -_ —_ ee P ‘ . “ \) oe ba \) \\ ) i) ya . - gs-—- AN \ 4 ‘ ety) i = a < ae X wy Shoe i Wik ny yay fi ast} AAT Ni : a 4 YY 6 LP ‘% » ros ANG io) pe ‘* , y rte ae . THE REED FAUVETTE. SEDGE BIRD. (Motacilla Salicaria, Lin.—La Fauvette de rofeaux, Buff.) Tuts elegant little bird is about the fize of the Black-cap: Its bill is dufky: eyes hazel; the crown of the head and back are brown, marked with dufky ftreaks ; the rump tawny ; the cheeks are brown; over each eye there is a light ftreak ; the wing coverts are dufky, edged with pale brown, as are alfo the quills and tail; the throat, breaft, and belly are white—the latter tinged with yel- low; the thighs are yellow ; legs dufky ; the hind claws are long and much bent. This bird is found in places where reeds and fedges grow, and builds its neft there; it is made of dried grafs and tender fibres of plants, and lined with hair, and ufually contains five eggs, of a dir- P4 ae — - ee m7 fait - TA ting PET ree : = o 23 t+ pom SS “ag sl = ee” en 210 BRITISH BIRDS, ty white, mottled with brown; it likewife frequents the fides of rivers and ponds where there is covert : It fings inceflantly night and day, during the breed- ing time, imitating by turns the notes of the Spar: row, the Swallow, the Skylark, and other birds——= from whence it is called the Englith Mock-birg, Buffon obferves, that the young ones, though ten- der and not yet fledged, will defert the neft if it be touched, or even if a perfon go too near it. This difpofition, which is common to all the Fauvettes, as well as to this which breeds in watery places, leems to charatterife the inftinGtive wildnefs of the whole fpecies, A =. . = = : a SS ee SS artes —— : ote TE op T Sa aA ery tue . chi egal oe “tt Sth oe nee + -— = = > ss = a = | | | il) Hh iit re *F : awn _ _— oe Otay Jj 4a ~ - ; . APO ? «ety - : — = ———— — om —-—— — Se : : <3 ae es — ‘ = ; a mally gna ae a © a : ” — . - ees > -- a - : a _ ——® ' — a « 4 2 - cer! ” ‘ a » = ¥ » * — i ¥ ~— oe a a Sm! - ng - = —_ -< : -- _ = aad — ; : , : at ss ee = =< 3 —— == >. oe int alien coe Se - ee tr See et — Sas re: + = : = 4 ‘. ” = 4 - > = - , ~ - — Sat -. x ~ * . ~ . = ~ a as . - 4 oagn~ shee . , : Sy Rt - : od a; gn ee + “Pee es or. Ache : . ~~ 2 Se eS ES SH : = ? eee : As tlie : ages a < “3 ae : =e + Stee SS a ~~ a sans = oes 7 omy — a ” - = M S = a _ “ ‘ arr : . . - ee —— = ~ < > ° “ = ite - oorears — ~ +. se 7 Se cS . - ‘ a Page _— 2 md he a ca =. : = + Fo 45 > age es 4 aor pale _ ap ee nS ay - 3 = m2 Se “= —= e = 4-7 = + “= = —_—— i * 2» > = + —z=.- = a — oe | Sr : atcaaig el SOE eS oe Sel tee? a ttl - es SG ess nenkcattn 4 os Se ates ES TLE MOMS COE EP 8 te enter: See et eke o- es = ane Seer << Res ear - - = aS ae ; i” o< ~ ~—< 7 a « ~ —— i ~ 7 id IE a. _~ — - = = + 0 ag? rz . — " re NS SE - at ae s +. 7. a ‘ e, . 4 . oe a Pome, - m, a - m * Ses: = . = _ es "7 -_ =" *” ome oe —_ ~ a — 5 “a . 4h es = Tr a Sk a = « — — ’ : Pa - = - _ QO” > 2 ee ee - +4, = ” ri — 4 at 3 = < -— - “ — «< vil -~” =. eer. ee Oe ans on ee Reon. laa. = BRITISH BIRDS. 217 THE BLACK-CAP. (Motacilla Atricapilla, Lin.—La Fauvette 2 téte noire, Bull.) Tuts bird is in length fomewhat above five inch- eg: I'he upper mandible is of a dark horn colour ; the under one light blue—edges of both whitith ; top of the head black; fides of the head and back of the neck afh colour; back and wings of an olive grey; the throat and breaft are of a filvery grey; belly and vent white; the legs are of a blueith co- lour, inclining to brown; the claws black: The head of the female is of a dull ruft colour. The Blackcap vifits us about the middle of A- pril, and retires in September; it frequents gar- dens, and builds its neft near the ground, which is compofed of dried grafs, mofs, and wool, and lin- ed with hair and feathers; the female lays five eggs, of a pale reddifh brown, {prinkled with fpots of a darker colour. During the time of incubation the =e a PATTIE GI OATS. a og BEE . ta : : - es oe er eernor PO ee OP OG mr us - Qpce re - ee yo eedry 218 BRITISH BIRDS. male attends the female, and fits by turns; he like- wife procures her food, fuch as flies, worms, and infects. "The Black-cap fings fweetly, and fo like the Nightingale, that in Norfolk it is called the Mock-nightingale. Buffon fays that its airs are light and eafy, and confift of a fucceflion of modu- lations of fmall compafs, but fweet, flexible, and blended.‘ And our ingenious countryman, Mr White, obferves, that it has ulually a full, fweet, deep, loud, and wild pipe, yet the ftrain is of fhort continuance, and its motions defultory ; but when this bird fits calmly, and in earneft engages in fong, it pours forth very {weet but inward melody, and exprefles great variety of fweet and gentle modu- lations, fuperior perhaps to any of our warblers, the Nightingale excepted; and, while they warble, their throats are wonderfully diftended. Black- caps feed chiefly on flies and infects, and not un- frequently on ivy and other berries, BRITISH BIRDS» 219 THE WHITE-THROAT. MUGGY. (Motacilla fylvia, Lin.—La Fauvetie grife, Buf.) Tue length of this bird is about five inches and a half: Its bill is dark brown, lighter at the bafe; eyes dark hazel; the upper part of the head and back are of a reddifh afh colour; throat white ; lefler wing coverts pale brown; the greater dufky brown, with reddifh margins ; breaft and belly filvery white; the wings and tail are dufky brown, with pale edges, the outer feathers white ; the legs pale brown: The breaft and belly of the female are entirely white. This bird arrives with the Redftart, Black-cap, &c, in the fpring, and quits us in autumn about the fame time with them; it frequents thickets 220 BRITISH BIRDS. and hedges, and feeds on infects and wild berries ; jt makes its neft in thick bufhes, of dried grafs and mois; the female lays five eggs, of a greenith white, {prinkled with dark fpots. Its note, which is rather harfh and unpleafing, is frequently repeat- ed, and is attended with a particular motion of the wings; it is fhy and wild, and is not frequently found near the habitations of men. THE YELLOW WILLOW WREN. (Motacilla trochilus, Lin.—Le Pouillot, ou le chantre, Buff 4 Lencru nearly five inches: The bill is brown, the infide and edges yellow; eyes hazel; the up- per parts of the plumage are yellow, inclining to a pale olive green; the under pale yellow; over each eye there is a whitifh ftreak, which in young birds we have obferved to be particularly difting; the wings and tail are of a dufky brown, with pale edges ; legs yellowifh brown. The ingenious Mr White obferves, that there are three diftin& fpecies of the Willow Wren, of which this is the largeft; the two following differ in their fize as well as note; their form and man- ners are however very fimilar: We have been fortunate in procuring fpecimens of each kind, ta- ken at the fame time of the year, and had an op- portunity of noticing the difference of their fong. BRITISH BIRDS. 221 For {pecimens of all the birds of this kind, as well as many others, we are indebted to Lieut. H. F. Gibfon, of the 4th dragoons, whole kind attention to our work merits our warmeft acknowledge. ment.—This bird is frequent on the tops of trees, from whence it often rifes finging; its note is ra- ther low, but foft, and fweetly varied. It arrives in this country early in the fpring, and departs in autumn; it makes its neft in holes, at the roots of trees, or in dry banks; it is arched fomewhat like that of the Wren, and is made chiefly of mofs, lin- ed with wool and hair; the female lays from five to feven eggs, of a dirty white, marked with red. difh fpots. — - - an ee ee a ee ee = = > : -——— : a 2 4 4 77 x, S98 on a. : — - ° , ae - a ay z Om ote — é rsh - Saez == 2! = eo ~ a = . . pa Sl ~~ - a mse ne eg Say “ ee . ee cai ee Ee ee iho a ee OO 3 =e < d wee PS HE 4 3 - Sa - * RSet lig Prt LOO eT ot — mee - ~~ PH FO e NY BT Tae, $ Fake 3x = c . - we in. “ 4 n ~ SEES tena : ~ > ome oe eI : phage . = p 2 en > ons ‘ 2s ae Oe - ate: is a te +e = c ——s - 3 > : mites ae RS ST PT gt eee ee: 222 BRITISH BIRDS; = = St EWN OD i OY 10 HIS — sue 7 p Dy - = —s THE WILLOW WREN. (Le Figuier brun et jaune, Buff.) Tis is next in fize: Its bill is brown, the upper parts of a greenifh olive colour, darker than the lait; over each eye a light yellow line extends from the bill to the back part of the head; the wings are brown, with light yellowifh edges; the throat and breaft are white, with a pretty ftrong tinge of yel- low ; the belly is whitifh; thighs yellow ; legs yel- lowifh brown,—as is likewife the infide of the bill. They vary much in colour. We are favoured, by the ingenious Mr I. Gough of Kendal, with the defcription of a bird very fi- milar to this, which is common in Weftmoreland, where it is known by the name of the Strawfmeer. It appears in the vallies in April, a few days after BRITISH BIRDS. 223 the Swallow, and begins to fing immediately on its arrival, and may be heard till the beginning of Auguft; it frequents hedges, fhrubberies, and fuch like places; its food confifts of infeCts, in fearch of which it is continually running up and down imall branches of trees: It makes an artlefs neft, of wi- thered grafs, mofs, and the flender ftems of dried plants, it is lined with feathers, hair, and a little wool, and is commonly placed in a low thick buth or hedge; the female generally lays five eggs, of a dirty white, marked at the larger end with numer- ous dark brown oval fpots. We fuppofe this to be the Scotch Warbler of Mr Pennant, and the Fi- guier bran et jaune of M. Buffon. THE LEAST WILLOW WREN. Tue upper parts of the plumage of this bird are darker than the two laft, fomewhat inclining to a moufe colour: Its breaft is of a dull filvery white, from whence in fome places it is called the Linty- white ; its legs are dark. The fong of this is not fo loud as the latt, though very fimilar, and confifts of a fingle ftrain, very weak, and frequently repeated ; they are both com- mon in woods and coverts, warbling their little fimple fong as they fit upon the branches of trees. * = = —= —— =——-.- ~~"). en if 1) @ q | + # ay i) | et mi} Sh) it i ; : se Pe | +t) a te a : ' : i : ‘rt . 4 5 Brty | 4 : | it Ty ) ‘ i : 4 i] ’ , t i Kt 1 H A lh rae Neti We UT \ ‘ eo Few Si Bye oS* bE 2 5:5 8s ones 2 ee... & ooo defi ee eee oe Se | Yo ese Re eS Ss Xt es, ce ee ae” ~ = S ye a2. 4 Se Pi. & SER H OK EY BS & SEs AeMseeseSe eB S os POMBE & as Be: = 22> ats Q ~S bons 2 & cs = : © a Sma 2 0D VAS ee pee 5 wn fx] ¥ a Pe ie g a 2 m wo 8 Sbiveokee Bo vo 3 2 a. J) 33 See eee a AY Sespegeeg Fee = . © Som SoS Us Qe 2 ro ‘an & bo b> 6 ” 4s Nes a . go 3 >See Soo S f4 - -~ £8 seo = 36 % x va 45 Dee 8 rat 41. 3 see. os ee % w ws 5 ~ saa See Sy 8 oe 4 o Oe ee * Ss HX SSP SESESE F =~ Sn O09 6 aS a Ss 2 Sem 2 un SS 3% tS 2s 2S 4 ~— SS a ae ~o- "8 3 Y bo ee mt eo 4S eee f 5 ~ os < “0 fb e% 3 ae eH SGGn vez EE BO a GeHaemsSe& a Soe? & 2 = , — BRITISH BIRDS, 2 Wi der parts are of a pale reddith white, tinged with green on the fides; the greater coverts of the wings are of a dufky brown, edged with yellow, and tip- ped with white; quills dufky, edged with pale green, as are alfo the. feathers of the tail, but light- er; the legs are of a yellowifh brown. The fe- male is diftinguifhed by a pale yellow crown; the whole plumage is lefs vivid than that of the male. This curious little bird delights in the largeft trees, {uch as oaks, elms, tall pines, and firs, par- ticularly the firft, in which it finds both food and thelter ; in thefe it builds its ne{t, which is of 2 round form, having an aperture on one fide, and is compofed chiefly of mofs, lined with the foft- eft down, mixed with flender filaments; the fe- male lays fix or feven eggs, {carcely larger than peas, which are white, fprinkled with very fmall {pots of a dull colour. Thefe birds are very a- gile, and are almoft continually in motion, flutter- ing from branch to branch, creeping on all fides of the trees, clinging to them in every fituation, and often hanging like the Titmoufe: Their food con- lifts chiefly of the {malleft infeéts, which they find in the crevices of the bark of trees, or catch nim- bly on the wing; they alfo eat the eggs of infects, {mall worms, and various forts of feeds. The Golden-crefted Wren is diffufed throughout Eu- rope; it has alfo been met with in various parts of Afia and America, and feems to bear every change Q IRDS. #Q onl ro ~) BRITIS N N reateft degree of he to at “we It ftays with us the 0) whole year; but Mr Pennant obferves, that it ‘ea - 2 ee a ~ © - » ~~ oe So a am v O > 5 © aed C4 oe —_ usd 4) cS el Ww 2 . +1 a“ oO a x 2 0 or par ©) ~~ ———_2 ae 35. a eine 8 ae ee oe Sa ae ee Oe it has befides a of fixty miles) for fo {mall a bird. l cry, fomewhat like that of the Gral- re it breeds and returns before winter— f the common Wren; ‘offes annually from the Orknies to the Shetland Its fons is faid to be very melodious, but weaker ~~ + i oO “ta 2 2 me} w = = 6D a ow ar — — = wn O a =" _ oS Oo: oa a ao «= g 2) sore Aw va) gins et ee inane — BRITISH BIRDS. 227 THE WREN, KITTY WREN. (Motacilla troglodytes, Lin.—Le Troglodyte, Luff.) Lencru three inches and ahalf: The bill is flen- der, and a little curved; upper mandible end tips of a brownifh horn colour, the under one an! edges of both dull yellow; a whitith line extends from the bill over the eyes, which are dark hazel; the upper parts of its plumage are of a clear brown, obfcurely marked on the back and rump with nar- row double wavy lines of pale and dark brown co- lours ; the belly, fides, and thighs are the fane, but more diftin&; the throat is of a dingy white; the cheeks and breaft the fame, faintly dappled with brown; the quills and tail are marked with alter- Q2 = S A A ee a ~ a eee ee = = » —- = a, a . . penal - a ~~ = = 5 se ee ~ ae = a aaa 3 ar or As ‘ See Sol Ne eee tte 2 agin ~~ ee oe » 228 BRITISH BIRDS- nate bars of a reddifh brown and black; the legs are of a pale olive brown. This diminutive little bird is very common in England, and braves our fevereft winters, which it contributes to enliven by its fprightly note. Dv- ring that feafon it approaches near the dwellings of man, and takes fhelter in the roofs of houfes, barns, hay-ftacks, and holes in the walls; it continues its fong till late in the evening, and not unfrequently during a fall of fnow: In the fpring it betakes itfelf to the woods, where it builds its neft near the ground, in a low bufh, and fometimes on the turf, beneath the trunk of a tree, or in 2 hole in the wall; its neft is conftruéted with much art, being of an oval fhape, with one {mall aperture in the fide for an entrance; it is compofed chiefly of mofs, and lined within with feathers; the female lays from ten to fixteen, and fometimes eighteen eggs, of a dirty white, dotted with red at the larger end. SR Seer Pies PyS ~~ ~~ rear mae 8 Seta Ht PTL a > ieee eyeiteteo:-—@es:- 4 ? 2 7" ~ , Re a ci rrr EE 5 2 i i ah ee Soe Sicigtd-Set" Gpceenceeeterpear geet orn input z ee wee, oa Serer esae- midi om A ac i ae he ee eis Tome sis ar gle . > = rahe FP WL aa pv ogo) e/a -2 = mn —— UPL EUTU ere ieea ria iaa paises le) BRITISH BIRDS, 229 ty Se Ae ae . Pm (Adee, << —_ $3 eS : : Se Wu. tal — * A “TY WN ¥ ~ ° is n ad is —— * \ Clinics MS ~+, Ue . -o* ae ) ie * = 4 " Va yi.« « Late » (iis RAS | eS a3 Sean a Rice Wr RIT Cs Apo at! Re Say EO —— US t+ be tare a ees rt THE WHITE-RUMP. WHEATEAR, (Motacilla cenanthe, Lin.—Le Motteux, ou le cul-blane, Buff.) Lenctu five inches and a half: The bill is black; eyes hazel; from the bafe of the bill a black ftreak extends over the eyes, cheeks, and ears, where it is pretty broad; above this there is a line of white; the top of the head, back part of the neck, and back are of a blueifh grey ; the wing coverts and quills are dufky, edged with ruity white; the rump is perfe€tly white, as is alfo part of the tail; the reft is black; the under parts are of a pale buff colour, tinged with red on the breaft; legs and feet black. In the female the white line above the eye is fomewhat obfcure, and all the black parts of the plumage incline more to brown ; neither is the rump of fo pure a white. Q3 18 +- ~~ SFr; > eo ee ro ae Nad ee cmt — = 2 s - ie th ‘ “ihe } i a 230 BRITISH BIRDS. This bird vifits us about the middle of March, and from that time till fome time in May is feen to arrive; it frequents new-tilled grounds, and ne- ver fails to follow the plough in fearch of infets and fmall worms, which are its principal food. In fome parts of England great numbers are taken in {nares made of horfe hair, placed beneath a turf; near 2000 dozen are faid to be taken annually in that way, in one diftri& only, which are generally fold at fixpence per dozen :*—Great numbers are fent to the London markets, where they are much efteemed, being thought not inferior to the Orto- lan. The White-rump breeds under fhelter of a tuft or clod, in newly ploughed lands, or under ftones, and fometimes in old rabbit burrows; its neft is conftructed with great care; it is compoled of dry grafs or mofs, mixed with wool, and lined with fea- thers; it is defended by a fort of covert, fixed to the ftone or clod under which it is formed; the fe- male generally lays five or fix eggs, of a light blue, the larger end encompafled with a circle of a fome- what deeper hue. They leave us in Auguft and September, and about that time are feen in great numbers by the fea-fhore, where, probably, they fubfift fome little time before they take their de- parture. They are extended over a large portion of the globe, even as far as the fouthern parts of Afia. * Pennant. > Cn BRITISH BIRDS. Ss, — ro eee e - —™» at? cy o rv THE WHINCHAT. (Motacilla rubetra, Lin.—Le grand Traquet, ou le tae rier, Buff.) Tus bird is fomewhat larger than the Stone- chat: Its bill is black; eyes hazel; the feathers on the head, neck, and back are black, edged with ruft colour; a ftreak of white pafles from the bill over each eye towards the back of the head; the cheeks are blackifh; chin white; the breaft is of a ruft colour; belly, vent, and thighs pale buff ; each wing is crofled by a white mark near the fhoulder, and another fmaller near the baiftard wing; part of the tail, at the bafe, is white, the reft black, the two middle feathers are wholly black; the legs are black: The colours in ge- neral of the female are paler; the white ftreak Q4 atin ee ~— =: ~ ee ee ae Tenet aa ~ oa . 3 = hn 232 BRITISH BIRDS. Cis b : ‘ bat Hi auth ad over the eye, and the fpots on the wings, are much lefs con{picuous; and the cheeks, inflead of being black, partake of the colours on the head. The Whinchat is a folitary bird, frequenting heaths and moors; it has no fong, but only a fimple unvaried note; and in manners very much refembles the Stonechat; it makes its neft very fimilar to that bird, and is generally feen in the fame places du- ring the fummer months; the female lays five eggs, of a dirty white, dotted with black. In the northern parts of England it difappears in winter ; but its migration is Only partial, as it is feen in fome of the fouthern counties at that feafon: It feeds on worms, flies, and infeéts ;—about the end of fummer it is very fat, and at that time is faid to be fcarcely inferior in delicacy to the Ortolan, = = UE ET Ce Se Se ee ed eo BRITISH BIRDS. 22% ~ "Wit. 374 , ¥ Uf; = - 3 A = ‘ Pisa yliie 7 a rn \ (a Ts THE STONECHAT. STONE-SMITH, MOOR TITLING, (Motacilla rubecola, Linom—Le Traquet, Buff.) Lrnetn near five inches: The bill is black; eyes dark hazel; the head, neck, and throat are black, faintly mixed with brown; on each fide of the neck, immediately above, the wings, there is a large white {pot ; the back and wing coverts are of a fine velvet black, margined with reddifh browns the quills are dufky, with pale brown edges—thofe next the body are white at the bottom, forming a {pot of that colour on the wings; the breaft is of a bay colour, lighteft on the belly ; the rump white ; the tail is black, the outer feathers margined with ruft colour; the legs are black: The colours of the female are duller; the white on the fides of the neck is not fo confpicuous; the breaft and bel- athe te oS Ee ES ee ee ——- Se et. ee 2 a — - i ee : coke » aA¥ a an_aw_— 2s Sots ee FS «ae te 234. BRITISH BIRDS. ly are much paler, and the white fpot on the rump is wanting. This folitary little bird is chiefly to be found on wild heaths and commons, where it feeds on {mall worms and infects of all kinds: It builds its neft at the roots of bufhes, or underneath ftones ; it care- fully conceals the entrance to it by a variety of lit- tle arts; it generally alights at fome diftance from it, and makes its approaches with great circum- {fpeCtion, creeping along the ground in a winding dire&tion, fo that it is a difficult matter to difcover its retreat; the female breeds about the end of March, and lays five or fix eggs, of a blueith green, faintly fpotted with ruft colour. ‘The flight of the Stonechat is low; it is almoft continually on the wing, flying from bufh to buth, alighting only for a few feconds. It remains with us the whole year, and in winter is known to frequent moift places, in queft of food. Buffon compares its note to the word wiffrata frequently repeated. Mr Latham obferves, that it feemed to him like the clicking of two ftones together, from whence it is probable it may have derived its name. BRITISH BIRDS. to OF THE TITMOUSE. Tuis diminutive tribe is diftinguifhed by a pe- culiar degree of fprightlinefs and vivacity, to which may be added a degree of ftrength and courage which by no means agrees with its appearance.— Birds of this clafs are perpetually in motion; they run with great celerity along the branches of trees, fearching for their food in every little cranny, where the eggs of infects are depofited, which is their favorite food: During fpring they are fre- quently obferved to be very buly amongit the o- pening buds, fearching for the caterpillars which are lodged therein; and are thus actively employ- ed in preventing the mifchiefs that would arife from a too great increafe of thefe deftructive in- fe&ts, whilft, at the fame time, they are intent on the means of their own prefervation; they will likewife eat {mall pieces of raw meat, particularly fat, of which they are very fond. None of this kind have been obferved to migrate; they fome- times make {hort flittings from place to place in gueft of food, but never entirely leave us.— They are very bold and daring, and will attack birds much larger than themitelves with great intrepi- dity. Buffon fays, “ they purfue the Owl with great fury, and that in their attacks they aim chief- ly at the eyes; their actions on thefe occafions are attended with a fwell of the feathers, and with a vs rh ; i Sore Fen ea ee 7 “ —_ ae ee > Se ——— ~ ew 3 ? Ss ye 9a reg = “ ee —41 a te get ae a Le —— ee a = . > = _- - — o = _ Pete J > Pte ole . _ : . 7 =r- == = of Mat Be ag ee =e ; : ; seme ea — + ~ : : + ——— ee TS = I “~ — oe Ss < = - = - ‘ ——" — a | - — 4 = = a . = <= > La 4 “7 2 A te Mast at ead x 2% 660 oe FF ~ = aa = > eg earn tees mu P , = Ss ~ ~“ = 7 . -- ee ee SREP A ree “OEE =. x Ge se Se Se eee BT AAS = 3 Fie a 6% 7 aaa ee ema nate ete z zs . rc ye tne: f eAY aw . 4, oh at | Mel ey! te 1 on ? ye € 3a 81}. 2 att : i hips at ES si § : f - HE BE 2 Tay ; 1, i “W ; i ac at on 3 L tied Ane y a 1 7 A hin a r ee: a Se EE ee ‘ a‘ f ma 3 j 5 eg : i 236 BRITISH BIRD}. fucceflion of violent attitudes and rapid move- ments, which ftrongly mark the bitternefs of their rage: ‘They will fometimes atack birds fmaller and weaker than themfelves, which they kill, and having picked a hole in the fkul, they eat out the brains.” The nefts of moft of this kind are con- jtructed with the moft exquifite art, and with ma- terials of the utmoft delicacy; ome fpecies, with great lagacity, build them at tke extreme end of imall branches projeGting over water, by which means they are effectually fecurel from the attacks of ferpents and the fmaller beaft: of prey. Thefe birds are very widely fpread ovet every part of the old continent, from the northert parts of Europe to the Cape of Good Hope, as vell as to the far- theft parts of India, China, and Japan; they are likewife found throughout the vaft continent’ of America, and in feveral of the Weft India iflands ; They are every where prolific, even to a proverb, laying a great number of eggs, which they attend With great folicitude, and provid: for their numer- ous progeny with indefatigable activity. All the Titmice are diftinguifhed by fhott bills, which are conical, a little flattened at the fides, and very fharp pointed: The noftrils are fmall nd round, and are generally covered by fhort briftly feathers, refle&- éd from the forehead ;” the tongue feems as if cut off at the end, and terminated by fhort filaments ; the toes are divided to their origin; the back toe is very large and ftrong. BEITISH BIRDS. 239 oS) THE GREATER TITMOUSE. OX-EYE. (Parus major, Lin.—Le Grofe Mefange, Buff.) Tue length of this bird is about five inches: The bill is black, as are alfo the eyes ; the head is covered with a fort of hood, of a fine deep glofly black, which extends to the middle of the neck; the cheeks are white; the belly is of a greenifh yellow, divided down the middle by a line of black reaching to the rent; the back is of an olive green; rump blue grey ; the quills are dufky, the greater edged wih white, the lefler with pale green; the wing coverts are of a blueifh afh co- lour; the greater coverts are tipped with white, which forms a bar acrofs the wing; the tail is black, the exterior edge of the outer feathers is white; the legs ae of a dark lead colour; claws black. 238 BRITISH BIRDS. The Titmoufe begins to pair early in February; the male and female confort for fome time before they make their neft, which is compofed of the fofteft and moft downy materials—-they build it oe- nerally in the hole of a tree; the female lays from eight to ten eggs, which are white, fpotted with ruft colour. Buffon fays, that the young brood continue blind for feveral days, after which their growth is very rapid, and they are able to fly in about fifteen days: After they have quitted the neft they return no more to it, but perch on the neighbouring trees, and inceffantly call on each o- = —— FS NG os + Se F Ae ,* s = - ~~ ~ — = _ ay = . “ - ~ 4 - ° bs — = i= ~ : = - non ~ 4 > = a - _ = = oes * Tse 7. — ———_~— ——_ > - =F — ee — : ’ mace = Tr , - = = 2 4 r ee art ‘ eth yh _- ae =—* =< ~ a 2 = a + oe : SS oe z > _ — 5 aa ~e - Pen prem a es A ~ =f: Tt aes = rte =~ natin So - —-— — = = 4 o a - “ ~ - wit ae — wo = een ial Ea ~ xs 4 os os ba na ay a ee et me RS EES on ings sae —! - pis mG 7 = C4 . —T —— eee = - = eee a 4 : a DL Galanin ein Side tais ees > te ee a tee ee eee awe Se ae as RK ate = SS ae — ther ; they generally continue together till the ap- proach of {pring invites them to pair. We kept one of thefe birds in a cage for fome time; it was fed chiefly with hemp-feed, which, inftead of break. ing with its bill, like the Linnet, it held very dex- teroufly in its claws, and pecked it till it broke the outfide fhell; it likewife ate raw flefh minced {mall, and was extremely fond of flies, which, when held to the cage, it would feize with great avidity: It was continually in motion during the day, and would, for hours together, dart backwards and forwards with aftonifhing a@tivity. Its ufual note was {trong and fimple ; it had, befides, a more varied, but very low, and not unpleafant fong:— During the night it refted on the bottom of. the cage, L 4 ae ee BRITISH BIRDS 229 > AN ily cR VAISS = THE BLUE TITMOUSE. TOM TIT, BLUE-CAP, OR NUN. (Parus ceruleus, Lin.—La Mefange, bleue, Buff.) Tur length of this beautiful little bird is about four inches and a half: The bill and eyes are black; crown of the head blue, terminated behind with a line of dirty white; fides of the he: ad white, underneath which, from the throat to the back of the neck, there is a line of dark blue; from the bill, on each fide, a narrow line of black pafles through the eyes ; the back is of a yellowifh green ; coverts blue, edged with white; quills black, with pale blue edges ; the tail is blue, the two middle feathers longeft; the under parts of the body pale yellow; legs and claws black. The female is fomewhat {maller than the male, has leis blue on = ay — -_ == Gi. eee SS eee v7 “¥ =< x —_ - os ¥ = — ee _— ver - ~ se > = = ee ee - RC agers ‘4 ~ 2 . maton ~ ee e+e) ave == si me — al ogee canine? comet ih — 7 4 _-— _ > r “oe, > ~ 3 a a — s ee oe a ay - eee Oe og . = : 2 “ a eee | a" ~ = 8 = ms - omens : > eee ate a = eR > —~ra> J. — . ae oor we = aa - ——— . et hata - 2 . . —st --- ae 7 cancel se 1 es els — » = = — — Pa : 240 BRITISH BIRDS. the head, and her colours in general are not fo bright. | This bufy little bird is feen frequently in our gardens and orchards, where its operations are much dreaded by the over-anxious gardener, who fears, left in its purfuit after its favorite food, which is often lodged in the tender buds, that it may de- {troy them alfo, to the injury of his future harveft -——not confidering that it is the means of deftroying a much more dangerous enemy (the caterpillar), which it finds there: It has likewife a ftrong pro- penlity to flefh, and is faid to pick the bones of fuch {mall birds as it can matter, as clean as {fkele- tons. This bird is diftinguifhed above all the reft of the Titmice by its rancour againft the Owl: — The female builds her neft in holes of walls or trees, which it lines well with feathers; fhe lays from fourteen to twenty white eggs. If her eggs thould be touched by any perfon, or one of them be broken, fhe immediately forfakes her neft and builds again, but otherwife makes but one hatch in the year. ERITISH BIRDS, 241 THE COLE-TITMOUSE. (Parus ater, Lin.—Le petite Charbonniere, Buf.) Tuts bird is fomewhat lefs than the laft, and weighs only two drachms; its length is four in- ches : Its bill is black, as are alfo its head, throat, and part of its breaft; from the corner of the bill, on each fide, an irregular patch of white pafles under the eyes, extending to the fides of the neck ; a fpot of the fame colour occupies the hind part of the head; the back and-all the upper parts are of a greenifh afh colour; the wing coverts are tip- ped with white, which forms two bars acrofs the wing; the under parts are of a reddifh white ; legs lead colour ; tail fomewhat forked at the end. R — <= Se is = - 7 i Sy ene ade - “pil a am 5 ; Ere “ : ~ - a - ~ ore ’ ? * 7 . < . a i we ~~ —_ * a ™ s ~~. . : wee c on tS 2 . , _ —e * a ! > — m= Li ~ — = en Ss m ie 4 rg < .- ’ =. — a pa — 7 —_ —_ — - 7 = S = cr « . a t y+ eh a = — =. = = = = ~= z -. 5 te. a = Ma + , "\*- 2 eae SS - 2 ’ , ~~ = r << ‘ Aor « _ oe r q 4 ae ~ », haeinatie 4 > ¥ . = > - = in ¥ es ry S " - —- . ee ae ome. o> 2 - 1a . c = eae = Tee = = ~_ ee = = a I _ ee it ee er ce ~ = re = = r ap. - > jc; a Yr Soe 1 = : —_ + 4 me po et ae “ ’ . a = a — = = os -~ -—stae - 5 Bs “ pi , ee ye 7 a — a - oe : —o- 2 Patter 2 ye F< t on “apo 4 ound _ - . ~ > 2g aa ieee ie ~ be: a ag on ee ieee *: 242 BRITISH BIRDS- THE MARSH TITMOUSE. BLACK-CAPPED TITMOUSE. (Parus, paluftris, Lin—Le Mefange de marais, Buff.) Irs length is fomewhat fhort of five inches: Its bill is black; the whole crown of the head, and part of the neck behind, are of a deep black; a broad ftreak, of a yellowifh white, pafles from the beak, underneath the eye, backwards; the throat is black; the breaft, belly, and fides are of a dirty white; the back is afh-coloured; quill feathers duf- ky, with pale edges; the tail is dufky; legs dark lead colour. The Marth Titmoufe is faid to be fond of wafps, bees, and other infeéts :—It lays up a little ftore of feeds againft a feafon of want: It frequents marfhy places, from whence it derives its name; its man- ners are fimilar to the laft, and it is equally as pro- lific. a t ft | 4 in\ " ry it ik | BRITISH BIRDS. 243 THE LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. (Parus caudatus, Lin.—Io Mefange a longue queue, Buff.) Tue length of this bird is nearly five inches and a half, of which the tail itfelf is rather more than three inches : Its bill is very fhort and black ; eyes hazel, the orbits red; the top of the head is white, mixed with gray ; through each eye there is a broad black band, which extends backwards, and unites on the hind part of the head, from whence it pafles down the back to the rump, bordered on each fide with dull red ; the cheeks, throat, and breaft are white ; the belly, fides, rump, and vent are of a dull rofe colour, mixed with white; the coverts of the wings are black, thofe next the body white, ed- ged with rofe colour; the quills are dufky, with pale edges ; the tail confifts of feathers of very un- equal lengths, the four middle feathers are wholly black, the others are white on the exterior edge ; legs and claws black. R 2 —_ — ~ es an oe - r. ee. - ere es > re a ae tiny . — — = = =i iat at AO Se Ee on = ~~ ; “ey _—-- Snake -seqeeten rer Cr — ~ - 2 Se _ Sere oo > = _ ——— ——_-s re = ~ ¢ - eS — - ~- - -- a i ~s ntti = | ad - - —— a oe — <. Ms Eat ~- - . — > ea ete ee ila nnis.. ere, ey ~~ f aa is pou Peat, ‘~. EEE OO LT x io 4 = aa tS oe o=<_-ae se vot = > = eps = st ears cer. ae oe Se = eS roe ~+=* a st a s" Wine an, ar at we YS a” : => Z - En eee or ¥ Gee” _— ae er) ee ae eed nd 244 BRITISH BIRDS. Our figure was taken from one newly fhot, fent us by Lieut. H. F. Gibion. We made a drawing from a ftuffed bird in the mufeum of the late Mr Tun- ftall, at Wycliffe, in which the black band through the eyes was wholly wanting ; the back of the neck was black; the back, fides, and thighs were of a reddifh brown, mixed with white: We fuppofe it may have been a female. ‘The neft of this bird is fingularly curious and elegant, being of a long oval form, with a {mall hole in the fide as an entrance ; ay ye = agg hse ena omer ts nis are Sa ae ane sts outfide is formed of mofs, wool, and dry grals, curioufly interwoven, whilft the infide is thick- ly lined with a profufion of the fofteft down.*— In this comfortable little manfion the female de- pofits her eggs, to the number of fixteen or feven- ‘ ae) Line ® ks t iu N A ae ‘ | “es I Totty. j enah-4 f : teen, which are concealed almoft entirely among the feathers; they are about the fize of a {mall bean, and of a grayifh colour, mixed with red.—— This bird is not uncommon with us; it frequents the fame places with the other fpecies, feeds in the fame manner, and is charged with the fame mil- demeanor in deftroying the buds, and probably with the fame reafon: It flies very fwiftly, and from its flender fhape, and the great length of its tail, it feems like a dart fhooting through the air: It is almoft conftantly in motion, running up and down the branches of trees with great facility. The young continue with the parents, and form * In fome places it is called a Feather-poke. BRITISH BIRDS. 245 little flocks through the winter; they utter a fmall fhrill cry, only as a call, but in the fpring they are faid to acquire a very melodious fong. - The long- tailed ‘Titmoufe is found in the northern regions of Europe ; and, from the thicknefs of its coat, feéms well calculated to bear the rigours of a fevere cli- mate. Mr Latham fays, that it has likewife been brought from Jamaica, and obferves, that it ape peared as fully cloathed as in the coldeft regions. 246 BRITISH BIRDS, “N (A WIND flere ny — ys UU mya ul a a See > fae Ns i, wea teas : tll f . wes /_ SS as. ; Sh . S SN THE BEARDED TITMOUSE. (Parus biarmicus, Lin.—La Mefange barbue, Buff.) Lenctu fomewhat more than fix inches: The bill is of an orange colour, but fo delicate that it changes on the death of the bird toa dingy yellow; the eyes are alfo orange; the head and back part of the neck are of a pearl gray or light afh co- Jour; on each fide of the head, from the eye, there is a black mark extending downwards on the neck, and ending in a point, not unlike a mutta- choe; the throat and fore part of the neck are of a jilvery white; the back, rump, and tail are of a light ruft colour, as are alfo the belly, fides, and thighs; the breaft is of a delicate flefh colour; the ~ vent black; the lefler coverts of the wings are duf- ky, the greater ruft colour, with pale edges; the BRITISH BIRDS. 247 quills are dufky, edged with white—thofe next the body with rufty on the exterior web, and with white on the inner; the baftard wing is dufky, ed- ged and tipped with white; the legs are black.— ‘The female wants the black mark on each fide of the head; the crown of the head is ruft'colour, {potted with black ; the vent feathers are not black, but of the fame colour with the belly. The Bearded ‘Titmoufe is found chiefly in the fouthern parts of the kingdom; it frequents mar- fhy places, where reeds grow, on the feeds of which it feeds: It is fuppofed to breed there, though its hiftory is imperfectly known. It is faid that they were firft brought to this country from Denmark by the Countefs of Albemarle, and that fome of them having made their efcape, founded a colony here; but Mr Latham, with great proba- bility, fuppofes that they are ours ab origine, and that it is owing to their frequenting the places where reeds grow, and which are not eafily accef- fible, that fo little has been known of them. Mr Edwards gives a figure of this bird, and defcribes it under the name of the Leaft Butcher Bird. R 4 Rnige a ame pene Of ae es Z = — bh “ Pk a0 ain regi Sis - - = . — - = > = Pees Se : : Pat = - * ry a . oy « oa S + a = JS aon i —~ -m — Larne er * alts © 7 _ ee - pares : =e _ She erates ae VS i? +4 6 Aa uh Men . 2 a fa a " 1 = ae 2 a NSS ee eee 1 += a en : - —- = - = “ pear e ss SY ee ee —— - —— - - i x al 5 Eg we nS ae See > = Ss ere —ee SS ea a : ae = ; oo 4 > . . aa : ¥ - > ae - —. Pesos = CMS . — w = aden - i Loaatt s YS 2 —— ee ET es = — ee - —- - - = = i753: TA att ee Pe 7 lt een — eee ee Ms te oe oe = - —— £ - Se > == = ae e- . . a Sere :, = ingegige ~ a. == Se eee = Se —- ++ —— = oe ~ —~ -—- 3 = : - e com - on Te . ™ . -% oS Sudo ae > es apes u 4) wh ~—— DP ite ali, oor oa - At -—-- “ .* ti 248 BRITISH BIRDS. OF THE SWALLOW. Or; all the various families of birds, which refort to this ifland for food and fhelter, there is none which has occafioned fo many conjectures refpeét- ing its appearance and departure as the Swallow tribe :—Of this we have already hazarded our opinion in the introductory part of our work, to which we refer our readers. ‘The habits and modes of living of this tribe are perhaps more con- {picuous than thofe of any other. From the time of their arrival to that of their departure they feem continually before our eyes.—The Swallow lives habitually in the air, and performs its various functions in that element; and whether it purfues its fluttering prey, and follows the devious wind: ings of the infe€ts on which it feeds, or endeavours to efcape the birds of prey by the quicknefs of its motion, it defcribes lines fo mutable, fo varied, fo interwoven, and fo confufed, that they hardly can be pictured by words. —** The Swallow tribe is of all others moft inoffenfive, harmlefs, entertaining, and focial; all except one fpecies attach them- felves to our houfes, amufe us with their migra- tions, fongs, and marvellous agility, and clear the air of gnats and other troublefome infets, which would otherwife much annoy and incommode us. Whoever contemplates the myriads of infeéts that {port in the fun-beams of a fummer evening in this BRITISH BIRDS. 249 country, will foon be convinced to what a degree our atmofphere would be choked with them, were it not for the friendly interpofition of the Swallow tribe.’* Not many attempts have been made to preferve Swallows alive during the winter, and of thefe, few have fucceeded. ‘The following experi- ments, by Mr James Pearfon of London, commu- nicated to us by Sir John Trevelyan, Bart. are highly interefting, and throw great light upon the natural hiftory of the Swallow; we fhall give them nearly in Mr Pearfon’s own words. ‘‘ Five or fix of thefe birds were taken about the latter end of Auguft, 1784, in a bat-fowling net at night; they were put feparately into fmall cages, and fed with Nightingale’s food: In about a week or ten days they took the food of themfelvess they were then put all together into a deep cage, four feet long, with gravel at the bottom; a broad fhallow pan with water was placed in it, in which they fometimes wafhed themfelves, and feemed much ftrengthened by it. One day Mr Pearfon obferved that they went into the water with un- ufual eagernefs, hurrying in and out again repeat- edly, with fuch fwiftnefs as if they had been fudden- ly feized with a frenzy. Being anxious to fee the refult, he left them to themfelves about half an hour, and on going to the cage again, found them all huddled together in a corner of the cage, appa- * White’s Selborne. - —— — ~ 250 BRITISH BIRDS. rently dead; the cage was then placed at a proper diftance from the fire, when two of them only re- covered, and were as healthy as before—the reft died; the two remaining ones were allowed to wath themfelves occafionally for a fhort time on- ly; but their feet foon after became {welled and in- flamed, which Mr P. attributed to their perching, and they died about Chriftmas: Thus the firft year’s experiment was in fome meafure loft. Not dilcouraged by the failure of this, Mr P. determin- ed to make a fecond trial the fucceeding year, from a ftrong defire of being convinced of the truth re- {peCting their going into a ftate of torpidity. Ac- cordingly, the next feafon, having taken fome more birds, he put them into the cage, and in every re- {pe& purfued the fame methods as with the laft ; but to guard their feet from the bad effeéts of the damp and cold, he covered the perches with flannel, and had the pleafure to obferve that the birds throve extremely well, they fung their fong through the winter, and foon after Chriftmas began to moult, which they got through without any difficulty, and lived three or four years, regularly moulting every year at the ufual time. On the renewal of their feathers it appeared that their tails were forked ex- actly the fame as in thofe birds which return here in the {pring, and in every refpect their appearance was the fame. Thefe birds, fays Mr Pearfon, were exhibited to the Society for promoting Natu- ral Hiftory, on the 14th day of February, 1786, at BRITISH BIRDS. 25 the time they were in a deep moult, during a fe- vere froft, when the {now was on the ground. Mi- nutes of this circumitance were entered in the books of the fociety. Thefe birds died at laft from neglect during a long illnefs which Mr Pear- fon had ;—they died in the fummer. Mr P. con- cludes his very interefting account in thefe words: “Jan. 20, 1797-—I have now in my houfe, No. 21, Great Newport-ftreet, Long-Acre, four Swal- lows in moult, in as perfect health as any birds e- ver appeared to be in when moulting.” The refult of thefe experiments pretty clearly proves, that Swallows do not in any material in- {tance differ from other birds in their. nature and propenfities ; but that they leave us, like many o- ther birds, when this country can no longer furnifh them with a fupply of their proper and natural food, and that confequently they feek it in other places, where they meet with that fupport which enables them to throw off their feathers. Swallows are found in every country of the known world, but feldom remain the whole year in the fame cli- mate; the times of their appearance and departure in this country are well known; they are the con- ftant harbingers of fpring, and on their arrival all nature aflumes a more chearful afpe&. The bill of this genus is fhort, very broad at the bale, and a little bent; the head is flat, and the neck {carcely vifible ; the tongue is fhort, broad, and cloven ; tail moftly forked ; wings long; legs fhort. = + sae ae Ind “a a eg Ge * od - : tie : : | Ny} 4 ; : : { . il: a) i, ‘1n) ij : trae : : : : a tot. { : ii | \ ; "4 " : Mah i} mH : aay iti: Ay + ; : 4 : 4 aq le y at aaah if , yt ° f wel be PD) PL Ariwy ip) t if i). - whl? : oy “an aT) b . ] ' My - at DHE * i” ' tit 4 -_ We as | ha ‘et 1b ole * ) Fe 8 OCT EIS - aa ran - =~ SP dae ~ ~ -= Ss = a oes Sows 5 252 BRITISH BIRDS. \) BT sa in ~ A * \) am ALY . THE CHIMNEY SWALLOW. HOUSE-SWALLOW. (Hirundo ruftica, Lin.—L’Hirondelle domeftique, Buff.) Leyctnu fomewhat more than fix inches: Its bill is black; eyes hazel; the forehead and chin are red, inclining to cheftnut; the whole upper part of the body is black, reflected with a purplifh blue on the top of the head and fcapulars; the quills of the wings, according to their different po- fitions, are fometimes of a blueifh black, and fome- times of a greenifh brown, whilft thofe of the tail are black, with green reflections; the fore part of the breaft is black, and the reft of the breaft and belly white; the infide and corners of the mouth are yellow; the tail is much forked, each feather, except thé. middle ones, is marked with an oval BRITISH BIRDS- 25% white fpot on the inner web; the legs are very fhort, delicately fine, and blackifh. The common Swallow makes its appearance with us foon after the vernal equinox, and leaves us again about the end of September: It builds its neft generally in chimnies, in the infide, within 2 few feet of the top, or under the eaves of houles ; it is curioufly conftruéted, of a cylindrical dhape, plaftered with mud, mixed with ftraw and hair, and lined with feathers; it is attached to the fides or corners of the chimney, and-is fometimes a foot in height, open at the top; the female lays five or fix eggs, white, fpeckled with red. Swallows return to the fame haunts ; they build annually a new neft, and fix it, if the place admits, above that occupied the preceding year.* We are favoured by Sir John Trevelyan, Bart. with the following curious fa&t:—At Camerton Hall, near Bath, a pair of Swallows built their neft on the upper part of the frame of an old picture over the chimney, coming through a broken pane in the window of the room. They came three years fucceflively, and in all pro- bability would have continued to do fo if the room had not been put into repair, which prevented their accefs to it. Both this bird and the Martin have generally two broods in the year, the firft in June, the other in Auguft, or perhaps later. We have feen a young Swallow, which was fhot on the 26th * Buffon. ~ A O 2 8 2 'o S{6-g & a2 YV'6 o vu G — 6 lO O O 8 OQ mo w 20 op 2s wv = DB. . ee rah) 3, es ow i, i o, 2m Y ww Oo <7 tf) ' 5S ao MS & AR an on Tf YU NA oe rh N SI i4 237! oe 450) ¢ e222 95 5 : oh 2 =e ° = , = ge Pao ee i PF aS ££ ao w ey Aes . Ses < A th wee ies —~ Bod o—= Bf b- SH = O ne Os é ih. Sat . © A 4 6 So 'U oe Ay fe = 3c OU h& Vg, f ea) on as > be q “t3 “t3 my) a = = S S YL Boat onl ,, 7 Orv & JZ Oo nm oa a OU Ss > QO Ss Sc > SS > TS om © a. 50 a Chine OD B20 8 £6 oO o's oO Se Fr WM Mm OW On & BRITISH BIRDS. 255 THE MARTIN. MARTLET, MARTINET, OR WINDOW-SWALLOW. (Hirundo urbica, Lin.—L’ Hirondelle a cul blanc, Buff.) Lenctu about five inches and a half: The bill is black; eyes dark hazel; infide of the mouth yellow; the top of the head, the wings, and tail are of a dufky brown; the back is black, glofled with blue; the rump and all the under parts of the body, from the chin to the vent, are of a pure white ; the ends of the fecondary quill feathers are finely edged with white ; the legs are covered with white downy feathers down to the claws, which are white alfo, and are very fharp and much hooked ; the middle toe is much longer than the others, and is conneSted with the inner one as far as the firlt joint. This bird vifits us in great numbers; it has ge- nerally two broods, fometimes three in the year ; it builds its neft moft frequently againit the crags of SOT LOE -_e Side ae Cece St ee Sra : pase set oe A EE VRE DUES DO ed Oe we a oe ty _ - - 7 1 Wyre = ee a a> : . ——_ - ee Oo Atet ee m > en — = = oy - = a eget no Xe < 7 " we oe ot te —— ~ t irr ¥: 4 - * “ —— 3 Fs 3 ies of ¥ x . : eatin: aa a] ees © 256 BRITISH BIRDS. precipices near the fea, or by the fides of lakes, and not unfrequently under the eaves of houfes, or clofe by the fides of the windows; its neft is made of mud and ftraw on the outfide, and is lined within with feathers; the firft hatch the female lays five eggs, which are white, inclining to dufky at the larger end; the fecond time fhe lays three or four; and the third, (when that takes place) fhe only lays two or three. During the time the young birds are confined to the neft, the old one feeds them, ad- hering by the claws to the outfide; but as foon as they are able to fly, they receive their nourifhment on the wing, by a motion quick and almoft imper- ceptible to thofe who are not accuftomed to ob- ferve it. The Martin arrives fomewhat later than the Swallow, and does not leave us fo foon: We have obferved them in the neighbourhood of Lon- don as late as the middle of O&ober. Mr White, in his Natural Hiftory of Selborne, has made fome very judicious remarks on thefe birds, with a view to illuftrate the time and manner of their annual migrations. The following quotation is very appofite to that purpofe, and ferves to confirm the idea that the greateft part of them quit this ifland in fearch of warmer climates. ‘ As the fummer declines, the congregating flocks increafe in numbers daily by the conftant acceffion of the fecond broods ; till at laft they fwarm in myriads upon myriads round the villages on the Thames, darkening the face of the fky as they frequent the BRITISH BIRDS. 257 aits of that river, where they rooft: They retire in vaft flocks together about the beginning of Oc- tober.” He adds, ‘‘ that they appeared of late years in confiderable numbers in the neighbour- hood of Selborne, for one day or two, as late as November the 3d and 6th, after they were fup- pofed to have been gone for more than a fort- night.” He concludes with this obfervation :— ‘¢ Unlefs thefe birds are very fhort-lived indeed, or unlefs they do not return to the diftriét where they have been bred, they muft undergo vaft devatta- tions fomehow and fomewhere; for the birds that return yearly bear no manner of proportion to thofe that retire.” —— —— = + — = —>—— is <2 = — Se Se — 7 hw x? + a - 2 we Sr * MS — ae SOOT ra == nope sap ete eee ap be ee ae oe et eet LE ee — Cr bp ea § - iets aed . ~ - = = SS .— = = age eechen es y ta ; ae + > uy ; ‘ Se es “ ~ _— ~ -+- ction at - — ~ >%& . - ne ~ ~— _- A OSS Te eT age ee eth > si? Md oF eens So ee eee 258 BRITISH BIRDS. ss. == Wa. ~~ , “ THE SAND MARTIN. BANK MARTIN, OR SAND SWALLOW, (Hirundo riparia, Lin.—L’Hirondelle de rivage, Buff.) Lencru about four inches and three quarters: The bill is of a dark horn colour; the head, neck, breaft, and back are of a moufe colour; over each eye there is a light ftreak; the throat and fore part of the neck are white, as are allo the belly and vent; the wings and tail are brown; the legs are dark brown, and are furnifhed with feathers behind, which reach as far as the toes. This is the fmalleft of all our Swallows, as well as the leaft numerous of them: It frequents the {teep fandy banks in the neighbourhood of rivers, in the fides of which it makes deep holes, and pla- ces the neft at the end; it is carelefsly conftru@- ed of ftraw, dry grafs, and feathers; the female lays five or fix white eggs, almoft tranfparent, and is faid to have only one brood in the year. BRITISH BIRDS. 269 THE SWIFT. BLACK MARTIN, OR DEVILING. (Hirundo apus, Lin.—Le Martinet noir, Buff.) Lenotu near eight inches: Bill black; eyes ha- zel; its general colour is that of a footy black, with greenifh refle€tions; the throat is white; the wings are long, meafuring, from tip to tip, about eighteen inches; the tail is much forked; the legs are of a dark brown colour, and very fhort; the toes ftand two and two on each fide of the foot, and confift of two phalanges or joints only, which is a conformation peculiar to this bird. ‘T"he female is rather lefs than the male, her plumage inclines more to brown, and the white on the throat is lefs diftinét. The Swift arrives later and departs fooner than any of the tribe, from whence it is probable that it has a longer journey to take than the others ; it is larger, ftronger, and its flight is more rapid than any of its kindred tribes, and it has but one brood » 2 — wa > on es = -” a » + ~ ee Las < Says eco : SS = 373 = oe & ee ee ee eS Ped = —~—— 2 ee - oo ae 260 BRITISH BIRDS. in the year, fo that the young ones have time to gain ftrength enough to accompany the parent birds in their diftant excurfions: They have been no- ticed at the Cape of Good Hope, and probably vi- fit the more remote regions of Afia. Swifts are almoft continually on the wing; they fly higher, and wheel with bolder wing than the Swallows, with which they never intermingle. The life of the Swift feems to be divided into two extremes ; the one of the moft violent exertion, the other of perfe& inaétion; they muft either fhoot through the air, or remain clofe in their holes; they are feldom feen to alight ; but, if by any accident they fhould fall upon a piece of even ground, it is with difficulty they can recover themfelves, owing to the fhortnefs of their feet, and the great length of their wings. They are faid to avoid heat, and for this reafon pafs the middle of the day in their holes; in the morning and evening they go out in queft of provifion; they then are feen in large flocks, defcribing an endlefs feries of circles upon circles, fometimes in clofe ranks, purfuing the di- reClion of a ftreet, and fometimes whirling round 2 large edifice, all {creaming together; they often glide along without flirring their wings, and on a fudden they move them with frequent and quickly repeated ftrokes. Swifts build their nefts in ele- vated places; lofty fteeples and high towers are generally preferred; fometimes they build under the arches of bridges, where, though the elevation BRITISH BIRDS. 261 is not great, it is difficult of accefs; the neft is compoted of a variety of materials, fuch as dry grails, mofs, hemp, bits of cord, threads of filk and linen, {mall fhreds of gauze, of mudflin, feathers, and other light fubftances which they chance to find in the {weepings of towns.* It is difficult to conceive how thefe birds, which are never feen to alight on the ground, gather thefe materials; fome have fuppofed that they catch them in the air as they are carried up by the wind; others, that they raile them by glancing along the furface of the ground; whilft others affert, with more probabili- ty, that they often rob the Sparrow of its, little hoard, and frequently occupy the fame hole after driving out the former pofleffor: The female lays five white eggs, rather pointed and fpindle-fhaped ; the young ones are hatched about the latter end of May; they begin to fly about the middle of June, and fhortly after abandon their nefts—after which the parents feem no more to regard them.—~ Swifts begin to affemble, previous to their depar- ture, early in July; their numbers daily imcreafe, and large bodies of them appear together; they foar higher in the air, with fhriller cries, and fly differently from their ufual mode ;—thefe meetings continue till towards the middle of Auguft, after which they are no more feen, * Buffon. ¥ 2 262 BRITISH BIRDS, . i S 3 yes... ot ee es ere a “het i aes a - — a, ee ee Nis 1 apy ue | ae md Cee’ 2 ee 2 ree 5 <2 f ese ee Eee — ne ee ee ee = < — -* - - wiede - — “ m . pO - se o ~~ 7 — - = oman ~~ = ones - = ~ o-— ~~ - ~~ —~ _— “ + at emnline _ a ¥ - ———$—— ——= a —— =~ mI Beodaey - ct » - ee reese ek a — > see - —— = e a -- 2 ta .» 65 wow : > ~~ oe - os gae- re | ; tt ie TS rats tre — Bars a ws —--

Ana ) OE, ’ fi i PRS Pais vows ty — ; THE NIGHT-JAR. GOAT-SUCKER, DORR-HAWK, OR FERN OWL. _ *) "As or. fa Ts a C z = * tare s hae — Vat pl ns ee a = (Caprimulgus Europeus, Lin.—L’Engoulivent, Buff.) Tue length of this bird is about ten inches and a half: The bill is fmall, flat, and fomewhat hook- ed at the tip, and is furnifhed on each fide of the upper mandible with feveral {trong briftles, where- by it fecures its prey; the lower jaw is edged with 2 white ftripe, which extends backward towards the head; the eyes are large, full, and black; the plumage is beautifully freckled and powdered with browns of various hues, mixed with ruft colour and white, but fo diverfified as to exceed all defcrip- tion. ‘The male is diftinguifhed by an oval fpot of white on the inner webs of the three firft quill fea- thers, and at the ends of the two outermoft feathers of the tail; the legs are fhort, rough, and {fcaly, and feathered below the knee; the toes are con- BRITISH BIRDS. 263 nected by a membrane as far as the frft joint; the middle one is confiderably larger that the reft, and the claw is ferrated in one fide. To avoid as much as poflible perpduating error, we have dropped the term Goat-fucker, which has no foundation but in ignorance an¢ fuperftition, and have adopted one, which, thougi not univer- fally known, bears fome analogy to tie nature and qualities of the bird to which it relates, both with refpect to the time of its appearance, which is al- ways in the dufk of the evening, in fearch of its prey, as well as to the jarring noife which it utters whilft at reft perching on a tree, and by which it is peculiarly diftinguifhed. The Night-pr is found in every part of the old continent, fron Siberia. to Greece, Africa, and India; it arrivesin this coun- try about the latter end of May, beirg one of our lateit birds of paflage, and departs fore time in the latter end of Auguft or the beginniny of Septem- ber; it is no where numerous, and 1ever appears in flocks: Like the Owl, it is feldon feen in the day-time, unlefs difturbed, or in dark and gloomy days, when its eyes are not dazzled by the bright rays of the fun: It feeds on infeéts, wiich it catch- es on the wing; it is a great deftroye: of the cock- chafer or dor-beetle, from whence in fome places it is called the Dor-hawk: Six of thefe infects have been found in its ftomach, befides four or five Jarge-bodied moths. Mr White fuppofes that its 2 ees 264 BRITISH BIRDS. foot is ufeful in taking its prey, as he oblerved that it frequently put forth its leg whilft on the wing, with which it feemed to convey fomething to its mouth. Thefe birds frequent moors and wild heathy trats abounding with ferns; they make no neft, but the female depofits her eggs on the ground; fhe lays only two or three, wiich are of a dull white, fpotted with brown. Birds of this kind are feen moft frequently towards autumn; their motions are irregular and rapid, fometimes wheeling in quick fucceflion round a tree or other object, diving at intervals as if to catch their prey, and then rifing again as fuddenly. When perched, the Night-jar fits ufually on a bare twg, its head lower than its tail, and in this attitude utters its jarring note; it is likewife diftinguifhed by a fort of buzzing which it makes while on the wing, which has been compared to the noife caufed by the quick rotation of a {fpinning-wheel, from which, in fome places, it is called the Wheel-bird ; fome- times it utters a fmall plaintive note or {queak, which it repeats four or five times in fucceflion ; the latter, probably, is its note of call by which it invites the female, and which it has been obferved to utter when in purfuit of her. Buffon fays, that it does not perch like other birds, fitting acrofs the branch, but lengthwife. It is a folitary bird, and is generally feen alone, two being feldom found together, but fitting at a little diftance from each other, BRITISH BIRDS. 266 OF THE DOVE KIND. Tux various families which conftitute this beau- tiful kind are diftinguifhed by fhades and grada- tions fo minute as to exceed all defcription.. Of thefe by far the largeft portion are the willing at- tendants o1 man, and dependent on his bounty 5 but when we confider the lightnefs of their bodies, the great firength of their wings, and the amazing rapidity of their flight, it is a matter of wonder that they fhould fubmit even to a partial kind of domeftication, or occupy thole tenements fitted up for the purpofe of breeding and rearing their young. I muft be. obferved, however, that in thefe they live rather as voluntary captives, or tranfient guelts, than permanent or fettled inhabi- tants, enjoying a confiderable portion of that liber- ty they fo much delight in: On the flighteft difap- pointment they abandon their manfion with all its conveniences; fome take refuge in the woods, where, impelled by inftinct, they refume their na- tive manners; others feek a {folitary lodgment in the holes of old walls, or unfrequented towers ; whilft others, ftill more domefticated; feldom leave their dwelling, and only roam abroad to feek a- mufement, or to procure fubfiftence. Of thefe the varieties and intermixtures are in- numerable, and partake of all thofe varied hues which are the conftant refult of domeftication.— nner re me ene — - Ee SS a a es oe — - ee een heart ae = + = > ~~ a -- > ps - © — a ag - i 266 BRITISH BIRDS. The manners of pigeons are well known, few fpe- cies being more univerfally diffufed; and having a very powerful wing, they are enabled to perform very diftant journies ; accordingly wild and tame pigeons occur in every climate, and although they me ae i a wm a >a gee eS - —S ss ee ee ¥ a thrive beft in warm countries, yet with care they fucceed alfo in very northern latitudes: Every where their manners are gentle and lively’; they are fond of fociety, and the very emblem of con- nubial attachment ; they are faithful to their mates, whom they folicit with the fofteft cooings, the tendereft carefles, and the moft graceful move- ments. The exterior form of the Pigeon is beau- tiful and elegant; the bill is weak, ftraight, and flender, and has a foft protuberance at the bafe, in which the noftrils are placed; the legs are fhort and red, and the toes divided to the origin: A roe Ses Ste 7 t Oe eee = ee ee ity” - on =~ Cote ae ee mee “J ¥ = ae -* => BRITISH BIRDS. 267 THE WILD PIGEON. STOCK DOVE. (Columba cenas, Lin.—Le Bifet, Buff.) Lencrs fourteen inches: Bill pale red; the head, neck, and upper part of the back are of a deep blue gray colour, reflected on the fides. of the neck with glofly green and gold; the breaft is of a pale reddifh purple, or vinous colour; the lower part of the back and rump light gray or afh colour, as are alfo the belly, thighs, and under tail co- verts; the primary quill feathers are dufky, edged with white, the others gray, marked with two black fpots on the exterior webs, forming two bars acrofs each wing; the tail is afh colour and black Se | Lint aii! t] Mad h " We | | } | | \ | ‘be WH bie "i 268 BRITISH BIRDS. at the end, the lower half of the two outermof feathers is white; the legs are red; claws black. -—The Stock Dove, Rock Pigeon, and Wood Pi- geon, with fome {mall differences, may be inclu- ded under the fame denomination, and are proba- bly -the origin of moft of thofe beautiful varieties which, in a ftate of domeftication, are dependent upon man for food. | Wild Pigeons are faid to migrate in large flocks into England, at the approach of winter, from the northern regions, and return in the fpring ; many of them, however, remain in this country, only changing their quarters for the purpofe of procu- ring their food: They build their nefts in the hol- lows of decayed trees, and commonly have two broods. in the year. In a ftate of domeftication their increafe is prodigious ; and though they ne- ver lay more than two eggs at a time, yet, allow- ing them to breed nine times in the year, the pro- duce of a fingle pair, at the expiration of four years, may amount to the enormous number of 44,762.* The male and female perform the office of incubation by turns, and feed their young by cafting up the provifions out of their ftomachs in- to the mouths of the young ones. To defcribe the numerous varieties of the domeftic Pigeon would exceed the limits of our work; we. fhall therefore barely mention the names of the moft * Stillingfleet’s Tracts, BRITISH BIRDS. 209 noted amongft them, fuch as Tumblers, Carriers, Jacobines, Croppers, Powters, Runts, Turbits, Shakers, Smiters, Owls, Nuns, &c. Of thefe the Carrier Pigeon is the moft remarkably deferving of notice, having been made ufe of in very early times as the means of conveying intelligence on the moft trying and important occafions, and with an expedition and certainty which could be equal- led by no other. The Pigeon ufed on thefe occa- fions was taken from the place to which the ad- vices were to be communicated, and the letters being tied under its wings, the bird was let loole, and in fpite of furrounding armies and every ob- ftacle that would have effeCtually prevented any other means of conveyance, guided by infting a- lone, it returned direétly home, where the intelli- gence was fo much wanted. ‘There are various inftances on record of thefe birds having been em- ployed during a fiege to convey an account of its progrefs, of the fituation of the befieged, and of the probable means of relief: Sometimes they were the peaceful bearer of glad tidings to the anxious lover, and to the merchant of the no lefs welcome news of the fafe arrival of his veflel at the defired port. oe ‘ ‘ “ * - 4 * ? + ‘ ‘I t 4 ‘ i ‘ oes eu ah V ‘“ . rf t ’ 4 + a cgi latiel wish siglpbebelsinieys Ota 279° BRITISH BIRDS. THE RING DOVE. CUSHAT, OR QUEEST. (Columba palumbys, Lin.—Le Pigeon ramier, Buff.) Tuts is the largeft of all the Pigeon tribe, and meatures above feventeen inches in length: The bill is of a pale red colour, the noftrils being co- vered with a mealy red flefhy membrane ; the eyes are pale yellow ; the upper parts of the body are of a blueifh afh colour, deepeft on the upper part of the back, the lower part of which, the rump, and fore part of the neck and head, are of a pale afh colour; the lower part of the neck and breaft are of a vinous afh colour; and the belly, thighs, and vent are of a dull white; on the hind part of the neck is a femicircular line of white—from BRITISH BIRDS. 271 whence its name—above and beneath which, the feathers are glofly, and of a changeabe hue in dif- ferent lights; the greater quills are difky, and all of them, except the outermoft, edged with white ; from the point of the wing a white line extends downwards, pafling above the baftarl wing; the tail is afh colour, tipped with black ; the legs are red, and partly covered with feathers; the claws are black.—Our figure was taken fron fpecimens fent us by John Trevelyan, Efg. and Mr Bailey of Chillingham. The Ring Dove is very genenlly diffufed throughout Europe: It is faid to b: migratory, but that it does not leave us entirely we are well convinced, as we have frequently fen them du- ring the winter on the banks of the Tyne, where they conitantly breed: The neft is compofed of {mall twigs, fo loofely put together, that the eggs may be feen through it from below. The female lays two eggs, and is generally fuppfed to have two broods in the year: They feed o1 wild fruits, herbs, and grain of all kinds; they will likewife eat turnips, which give their flefh a unpleafant flavour. ‘The Ring Dove has a loudr and more plaintive fort of cooing than the comnon Pigeon, but is not heard except in pairing tine, or during fine weather; when it rains, or in the gloom of winter, it is generally filent. Their feth is excel- lent, elpecially when young. < ‘ 5 ‘ - * be) es 4 4) “a ‘ f 4 AF % ‘ : ‘ . in . fe - a t . = M 3 ‘ ‘ ? a + tt SS 272 BRITISH BIRDS. — : . IS Qe Ss Se <>. s SS Oe (Nha = . aN es » aS — S N 5 shy SARIS SS S SS SESS 3 : au w) t ~& SS s . eee eS . E Vis NY \ Hy 4% j MT PAs Ny WUE ata —_ - | AU AV (a\ - = a - THE TURTLE DOVE. (Columba turtur, Lin.—La Tourterelle, Buff.) Lencrn fomewhat more than twelve inches: The bill is brown; eyes yellow, encompafled with a crimfon circle ; the top of the head is afh colour, mixed with olive ; each fide of the neck is marked with a fpot of black feathers, tipped with white ; the back is afh colour, each feather margined with reddifh brown ; wing coverts and fcapulars reddith brown, fpotted with black; quill feathers dufky, with pale edges; the fore part of the ‘neck and breaft are of a light purplifh red; the belly, thighs, and vent white; the two middle feathers of the tail are brown, the others dufky, tipped with white, the two outermoft edged and tipped with BRITISH BIRDS. 273 white; the legs are red.—-One of thefe birds, which was fent us by the Rev. Henry Ridley, was fhot out of a flock at Preftwick-Carr, in Northumber- land, in the month of September, 1794: It agreed in every refpect with the common Turtle, except- ing the mark on each fide of the neck, which was wholly wanting. We fuppofe it to have been a young bird. ‘The note of the Turtle Dove is fin- gularly tender and plaintive: In addrefling his mate the male makes ufe of a variety of winning attitudes, cooing at the fame time in the moft gen- tle and foothing accents; on this account the Tur- tle Dove has been reprefented, in all ages, as the moft perfeét emblem of connubial attachment and conftancy. The Turtle arrives late in the {pring, and departs about the latter end of Auguft: It fre- quents the thickeft and moft fheltered parts of the woods, where it builds its neft on the highelt trees : The female lays two eggs, and has only one brood in this country, but in warmer climates it is fup- pofed to breed feveral times in the year. ‘Turtles are pretty common in Kent, where they are fome- times feen in flocks of twenty or more, frequent- ing the pea fields, and are faid to do much damage. Their ftay with us feldom exceeds more than four or five months, during which time they pair, build their nefts, breed and rear their young, which are {trong enough to join them in their retreat. T ee a 5 ft: if nM oe D if 274 BRITISH BIRDS. OF THE GALLINACEOUS KIND. We are now to fpeak of a very numerous and ufeful clafs of birds, which, by the bountiful difpo- fition of Providence, is diffufed throughout every country of the world, affording every where a plentiful and grateful fupply of the moft delicate, wholefome, and nutritious food. > Tux Cock, like the Dog, in his prefent ftate of | domeftication differs fo widely from his wild origi- : nal, as to render it a dificult matter to trace him i back to his primitive ftock ; however it is general- m,. ly agreed that he is to be found in a ftate of nature | t; { in the forefts of India, and in moft of the iflands of Bie the Indian feas. ‘The varieties of this ipecies are SPE SS Pasi Sr BRITISH BIRDS. 277 endlefs, every country, and almoft every diftrit of each country producing a different kind, From Afia, where they are fuppofed to have originated, they have been diffufed over every part of the in- habited world. America was the laft to receive them. It has been faid that they were firft intro- duced into Brazil by the Spaniards; they are now as common in all the inhabited parts of that vaft continent as with us. Of thofe which have been fele€ted for domeftic purpofes in this country, the principal are, 1. The Crefted Cock, of which there are feve- ral varieties, fuch as the white-crefted black ones ; the black-crefted white ones; the gold and filver ones, &c. 2. The Hamburgh Cock, named alfo Velvet Breeches, becaufe its thighs and belly are of a foft black.* This is a very large kind, and much ufed for the table. 3. The Bantam, or Dwarf Cock, a diminutive but very fpirited breed: Its legs are furnifhed with long feathers, which reach to the ground behind ; it is very courageous, and will fight with one much ftronger than itfelf. 4. The Frizzled Cock. The feathers in this are fo curled up that they feem reverted, and to ftand in oppofite direCtions: They are originally * Buffon. A 3 . — : : 7 he A $ ; y ar } I i% : Ww j ‘ 4 - ~~ ~~ ee Le 278 BRITISH BIRDS. from the fouthern parts of Afia, and when young are extremely fenfible of cold: ‘They have a difor- dered and unpleafant appearance, but are in much elteem for the table. We thall finifh our lift with the Englith Game- Cock, which ftands. unrivalled by thofe of any other nation for its invincible courage, and on that account is made ufe of as the inftrument of the cruel {port of cock-fighting. To trace this cuftom to its origin we muit look back into barbarous times, and lament that it ftill continues the dif- grace of an enlightened and philofophic age. The Athenians allotted one day in the year to cock- fighting ; the Romans are faid to have learned it from them; and by that warlike people it was firit introduced into this ifland. Henry VIII. was fo attached to the {port, that he caufed a commodious houfe to be erected for that purpofe, which, though it is now applied to a very different ufe, ftill re- tains the name of the Cock-pit. The Chinefe and — many of the nations of India are fo extravagantly fond of this unmanly {fport, that, during the par- oxy{ms of their phrenzy, they will fometimes rifk not only the whole of their property, but their wives and children on the iffue of a battle. The appearance of the Game-cock, when in his fyll plumage, and not mutilated for the purpofe of fighting, is ftrikingly beautiful and animated: His head, which is fmall, is adorned with a beautiful red comb and wattles; his eyes fparkle with fire, BRITISH BIRDSe 279 and his whole demeanour befpeaks boldnefs and freedom; the feathers on his neck are long, and fall gracefully down upon his body, which is thick, firm, and compact; his tail is long, and forms a beautiful arch behind, which gives a grace to all his motions; his legs are ftrong, and are armed with fharp fpurs, with which he defends himfelf and at- tacks his adverfary. When furrounded by his fe- males, his whole afpect is full of animation ; he al- lows of no competitor, but on the approach of a rival he rufhes forward to inftant combat, and © either drives him from the field, or perifhes in the attempt. The Cock is very attentive to his fe- males, hardly ever lofing fight of them ; he leads, defends, and cherifhes them, colle&ts them toge- ther when they ftraggle, and feems to eat unwil- lingly till he fees them feeding around him; when he lofes them he utters his griefs, and from the different inflexions of his voice, and the various fignificant geftures which he makes, one would be led to conclude that it is a fpecies of language which ferves to communicate his fentiments. The fecundity of the hen is great; fhe lays generally two eggs in three days, and continues to lay through the greateft part of the year, except during the time of moulting, which lafts about two months. After having laid about twenty-five or thirty eggs, fhe prepares for the painful tafk of incubation, and gives the molt certain indications of her wants by T4 6 a ee LS t : e ax: , —T.s eo Vit Mae iin i) +}. : . ‘ { a my t s Sgn SS ee rr - ~ 7 ae ma ars = tl ae» ohm tn om ~ = - ———>- SE nt reo ~ eS ae ——— a —_ NP ie To ae ——- Sa ee Ot te 280 BRITISH BIRDS. her cries and the violence of her emotions. If fhe fhould be deprived of her own eggs, which is fre- quently the cafe, fhe will cover thofe of any other kind, or even fictitious ones of ftone or chalk, by which means fhe waftes herfelf in fruitlefs efforts. A fitting hen is a lively emblem of the moft af- feCtionate folicitude and attention; fhe covers her eggs with her wings, fofters them with a genial warmth, changing them gently, that all parts may be properly heated ; fhe feems to perceive the im- portance of her employment, and is fo intent in her occupation, that fhe neglefts, in fome meafure, the neceflary fupplies of food and drink; fhe omits no care, overlooks no precaution, to complete the ex- iltence of the little incipient beings, and to guard againit the dangers that threaten them. Buffon; with his ufual elegance, obferves, “ that the con- dition of a fitting hen, however infipid it may ap- pear to us, is perhaps not a tedious fituation, but a {tate of continual joy; fo much has Nature con- nected raptures with whatever relates to the mul- tiplication of her creatures !” For a curious account of the progreis of incuba- tion, in the developement of the chick, we refer our readers to the above-mentioned author, who has given a minute detail of the feveral appearan- ces which take place, at different ftated periods, till the young chick is ready to break the thell and come forth. In former times the Egyptians, and in later days philofophers, have fucceeded in hatch- BRITISH BIRDS. a8 ing eggs without the afliftance of the hen, and that in great numbers at once, by means of artificial heat, correfponding with the warmth of the hen: The eggs are placed in ovens, to which an equal and moderate degree of heat is applied, and every kind of moifture or pernicious exhalation careful- ly avoided—by which means, and by- turning the eggs fo that every part may enjoy alike the requi- fite heat, hundreds may be produced at the fame time, © Co Ne BRITISH BIRDS. > oe te hi hy bana | ii | id 7 with t a ah | PEN t * THE PHEASANT. (Phafianus Colchicus, Lin.—Le Faifan, Buff.) | Is of the fize of the common Cock: The bill is | of a pale horn colour; the noftrils are hid under an 1 Ah arched covering ; the eyes are yellow, and are fur- i : rounded by a naked warty fkin, of a beautiful fcar-. i { let, finely fpotted with black; immediately under Hh each eye there is a fmall patch of fhort feathers, Au BRITISH BIRDS. 283 of a dark glofly purple; the upper parts of the head and neck are of a deep purple, varying to glofly green and blue; the lower parts of the neck and breaft are of a reddifh cheftnut, with black indented edges; the fides and lower part of the breaft are of the fame colour, with pretty large tips of black to each feather, which in different lights vary to a glofly purple; the belly and vent are dufky ; the back and fcapulars are beautifully variegated with black and white, or cream colour ipeckled with black, and mixed with deep orange, all the feathers being edged with black; on the lower part of the back there is a mixture of green; the quills are dufky, freckled with white ; wing co- verts brown, glofled with green, and edged with white; rump plain reddifh brown; the two middle feathers of the tail are about twenty inches long, the fhorteft on each fide lefs than five, of a red- difh brown colour, marked with tranfverfe bars of black; the legs are dufky, with a fhort blunt fpur on each; between the toes there is a {trong mem- brane. The female is lefs, and does not exhibit that va- riety and brilligncy of colours which diftinguith the male: The general colours are light and dark brown, mixed with black; the breaft and belly finely freckled with fmall black {pots on a light ground; the tail is fhort, and barred fomewhat like the male; the fpace round the eye is covered with feathers. SS re ee eee et = 2 er eee + eee if bd | on a |) af —— ee ——e 284 BRITISH BIRDS.» The Ring Pheafant is a fine variety of this breed ; its only difference confilts in a white ring, which encircles the lower part of the neck; the colours of the plumage in general are likewife more diftinét and vivid. A fine fpecimen of this bird was fent us by the Rev. Wm Turner, of Newcaf- tle, from which our figure was engraven. They are fometimes met with in the neighbourhood of Alnwick, whither they were brought by his Grace the Duke of Northumberland. ‘That they inter- mix with the common breed 1s very obvious, as in thofe we, have feen the ring has been more or lefs diftin& ; in fome hardly vifible, and in others a few feathers only, marked with white, appear on each fide of the neck, forming a white fpot. It is much to be regretted that this beautiful breed is likely foon to be deftroyed by thofe who purfue every [pecies of game with an avaricious and indifcrimi- nating rapacity. There are great varieties of Pheafants, of extra- ordinary beauty and brilliancy of colours; many of thefe, brought from the rich provinces of China, are kept in aviaries in this kingdom; the Common Pheafant is likewife a native of the eaft, and is the only one of its kind that has multiplied in our ifland. Pheafants are generally found in low woody places, on the borders of plains, where they delight to fport; during the night they perch on the branches of trees: They are very {hy birds, and do not aflociate together, except during the months BRITISH BIRDS, 285 of March and April, when the male feeks the fe- male; they are then eatfily difcoverable by the noife which they make in crowing and clapping their wings, which may be heard at fome diftance. The hen breeds on the ground like the Partridge, and lays from twelve to fifteen eggs, which are {maller than thofe of the Common Hen; the young follow the mother as foon as ever they are freed from the fhell. During the breeding feafon the cocks will fometimes intermix with the Com- mon Hen, and produce a hybrid breed, of which we have known feveral initances. a tet ray 256 BRITISH BIRDS: het hh a + hi ; te i, ; YP>, j it? meld WA > yi d rie : SO —e amg: | TTD SS Rea | Ti atiesy SS a li CEC : | :, Mh ie fe: f Hi e j i 13 at oat Ps Bai 7 ae : ine lf 35 , ig Ng i ae THE TURKEY. (Meleagris Gallepavo, Lin.—Le Dindon, Buf.) Ir feems to be generally allowed that this bird was originally brought from America, and in its wild itate is confiderably larger than our domeftic Turkies: Its general colour is black, variegated | with bronze and bright glofly green, in fome parts changing to purple; the quills are green gold, black towards the ends, and tipped with white ; the tail confifts of eighteen feathers, of a brown co- lour, mottled and tipped with black; the tail co- verts are waved with black and white; on the BRITISH BIRDS. 289 breaft there is a tuft of black hairs, eight inches in length: In other refpects it refembles the domeftic Turkey, in having a bare red carunculated head and neck, a flefhy dilatable appendage hanging over the bill, and a fhort blunt {pur or knob at the back part of the leg. Tame Turkies, like every other animal in a ftate of domeftication, are of various colours; of thefe the prevailing one is dark grey, inclining to black, with a little white towards the ends of the feathers: fome are perfettly white; others black and white ; there is alfo a beautiful variety ofa fine deep copper colour, with the greater quills pure white ; the tail of a dirty white: In all of them the tuft of black hair on the breaft is prevalent. ‘Tur- kies are bred in great numbers in Norfolk, Suffolk, and other counties, from whence they are driven to the London markets in flocks of feveral hundreds each. The drivers manage them with great faci- lity, by means of a bit of red rag tied to a long pole, which, from the antipathy thefe birds bear to that colour, ats as a fcourge, and effectually an- {wers the purpofe. The motions of the Turkey, when agitated with defire or inflamed with rage, are very fimilar to thofe of the Peacock; it eretts its train, and fpreads it like a fan, whilft its wings droop and trail on the ground, uttering at the fame time a dull hollow found; it ftruts round and round with folemn pace, affumes all the dignity of the moft majeftic of birds, and thus exprefles its attach- 288 BRITISH BIRDS» ment to its females, or its refentment to thofe ob- jects which have excited its indignation. The Hen Lurkey begins to lay early in the fpring; fhe is very attentive to the bufinefs of incubation, and will produce fifteen or fixteen chicks at one time, but feldom has more than one hatch in a feafon in this climate. Young Turkies, after their extrication from the fhell, are very tender, and require great attention in rearing them; they are fubje& to a variety of difeafes from cold, rain, and dews; even the fun itfelf, when they are expofed to its more powerful rays, is faid to occafion almoft immediate death. As foon as they are fufliciently ftrong, they are abandoned by the mother, and are then capable of enduring the utmoft rigour of our win- ters. aa ee fs < —_—". a 5 ‘ crore - — gp ae ee << : A ae - = “zi a = ye st Pe + t ls 1, at : | ‘ ] et hy ‘ ried) i. { a iy bait th { j bet rt, ee een aft rei a) a La ~ — - oe * - =—-. 2 _* o ~ ~ Lom eae Seopa hata ne a a is ate -~ ~ — “ eo - a er ~ wh oe Pe ee 7 ole ~ = ee = ae pa. 2 rs ——— er == SIO Were. eS re BRITISH BIRDS. 28 i» ‘Oo THE PEACOCE. (Pdvo criflatus Lin.—Le Paon, Buff.) To defcribe the inimitable beauties of this ele- gant bird, in adequate terms would be a talk of no U Ve v \, . Hh F e { a A | 4 V| a ; it A " ‘ : ' My { i - : ’ | it . : 5 t ’ \ i ‘ f 290 BRITISH BIRDS. fmall difficulty. ‘Its matchlefs plumage,” fays Buffon, * feems to combine all that delights the eye in the foft and delicate tints of the fineft flow- ers; all that dazzles it in the fparkling luftre of the gems; and all that aftonifhes it in the grand difplay of the rainbow.’ Its head is adorned with a tuft; confifting of twenty-four feathers, whole flender fhafts are furnifhed with webs only at the ends, painted with the moft exquifite green, mixed with gold; the head, throat, neck, and breaft, are of a deep blue, glofled with green and gold; the back the fame, tinged with bronze; the fcapulars and lefler wing coverts are of a reddifh cream co- lour, variegated with black; the middle coverts deep blue, glofled with green and gold; the great- er coverts and baftard wing are of a reddifh brown, as are alfo the quills, fome of which are variegated with black and green ; the belly and vent are black, with a greenifh hue: But the diftinguifhing cha- racter of this fingular bird is its train, which rifes juit above the tail, and, when erected, forms a fan of the moft refplendent hues; the two middle fea- thers are fometimes four feet and a half long, the others gradually diminifhing on each fide; the fhafts, which are white, are furnifhed from their origin nearly to the end with parted filaments of varying colours, ending in a flat vane, which is decorated with what is called the eye. ‘ This is a brilliant fpot, enamelled with the moft enchant- ing colours; yellow, gilded with various fhades ; BRITISH BIRDS. 294 green, running into blue and bright violet, vary ing according to its different pofitions ; the whole receiving additional luftre from the colour of the centre, which is a fine velvet black.” When pleafed or delighted, and in fight of his females, the Peacock ereéts his tail, and difplays all the majefty of its beauty ; all his movements are full of dignity; his head and neck bend nobly back; his pace is flow and folemn, and he frequently turns flowly and gracefully round, as if to catch the fun-beams in every dire€tion, and produce new colours of inconceiveable richnefs and beauty, ac- companied at the fame time with a hollow mur- muring voice expreflive of defire. The Peahen is fomewhat lefs than the cock, and though furnifhed both with a train and creft, they are deftitute of thofe dazzling beauties which dif tinguifh the male: She lays five or fix eggs, of a whitifh colour: For this purpofe fhe chufes fome fecret fpot, where fhe can conceal them from the male, who is apt to break them; fhe fits from twenty-five to thirty days, according to the tem. perature of the climate, and the warmth of the fea- fon. Peacocks have been originally brought from the diftant provinces of India, and from thence have been diffufed over every part of the world: —The firft notice that has been taken of them is to be found in holy writ,* where we are told, * od Chron. ix, 21. U 2 Fs Dae edaSe dins B r} ab oie PME q ey es ae ene St ee _- wo We THE PINTADO. GUINEA HEN, OR PEARLED HEN, (Numidia Meleagris, Lin.—La Pintade, Buff.) Tus bird is fomewhat larger than the common Hen: Its head is bare of feathers, and covered with a naked ikin, of a blueifh colour; on the top is a callous protuberance, of a conical form; at the bafe of the upper bill, on each fide, there hangs aloofe wattle, which in the female is red, and im the male of a blueifh colour; the upper part of the neck is almoft naked; being very thinly furnifhed with a few ftraggling hairy feathers; the {kin is of a light afh colour; the lower part of the neck is covered with feathers of a purple hue ; the ge- neral colour of the plumage is a dark blueith grey, U 3 ee ee = 2 * _ - ~ - 2 a ee —< a. ee oe gta te a hm lll in ~ a - oe . ee ee a ae ‘ { " » Lbet aL an : wey Bd yr J ’ 4 “ J mn) he rt, poe oe ee i ee mt ents Sen ee —— ea > sy — 294 BRITISH BIRDS. {prinkled with round white fpots of different fizes, refembling pearls—hence it has been called the Pearled Hen; its wings are fhort, and its tail pen- dulous, like that of the Partridge; its legs are of a dark colour. This fpecies, which is now very common in this country, was originally brought from Africa, from whence it has been diffufed over every part of Eu- rope, the Weft Indies, and America: It formed a part of the Roman banquets, and is now much efteemed as a delicacy, efpecially the young birds. The female lays a great number of eggs, which fhe frequently fecretes till fhe has produced her young brood: The egg is fmaller than that of a common Hen, and of a rounder fhape; it is very delicious eating. The Pintado is a reftlefs and very clamorous bird; it has a harfh, creaking note, which is very grating and unpleafant; it icrapes the ground like the Hen, and rolls in the duft to free itfelf from infeéts ; during the night it perches on high places; if difturbed, it alarms every thing within hearing by its unceafing cry. In its natural ftate of freedom it is faid to prefer marfhy places, BRITISH BIRDS. 205 — & \pate yi 4 — —— ts s Kaa thers = WA = — . . fis “e -) wera? —_— ih g IP Ler (s' y . tinea SBE; Ue ed Lf) he, d Uy) Viiprrd sf Wy A, . “iB, J THE WOOD GROUSE. COCK OF THE WOOD, OR CAPERCAILE, (Tetras urogallus, Lin.—Le grand Cog de Bruyere, Buff.) Tus bird is as large as a Turkey, is about two feet nine inches in length, and weighs from twelve to fifteen pounds: The bill is very {trong, convex, and of a horn colour; over each eye there is a naked fkin, of a bright red colour ; the eyes are U4 ae Ay ; ’ HH | 4 - 496 BRITISH BIRDS. hazel; the noftrils are fmall, and almoft hid under a covering of fhort feathers, which extend under the throat, and are there much longer than the reft, and of a black colour; the head and neck are ele- gantly marked with {mall tranfverfe lines of black and grey, as are alfo the back and wings, but more irregularly ; the breaft is black, richly glof- fed with green on the upper part, and mixed with a few white feathers on the belly and thighs; the fides are marked like the neck; the tail confifts of eighteen feathers, which are black, thofe on the fides being marked with a few white {pots ; the legs are very ftout, and covered with brown fea- thers; the toes are furnifhed on each fide with a {trong peétinated membrane. The female is con- fiderably lefs than the male, and differs greatly in her colours: The throat is red; the tranfverfe bars on the head, neck, and back are red and black ; the breaft is of a pale orange colour ; bel- ly barred with orange and black, the top of each feather being white ; the back and wings are mot- tled with reddifh brown and black, the fcapulars tipped with white; the tail is of a deep ruft co- Jour, barred with black, and tipped with white. This beautiful kind is found chiefly in high mountainous regions, and is very rare in Great Britain. Mr Pennant mentions one, which was thot near Invernefs, as an uncommon inftance. It was formerly met with in Ireland, but is now fup- poled to be extin& there, In Rutha, Sweden, and BRITISH BIRDS. 297 other northern countries, it is very common: It lives in the forefts of pine, with which thofe coun- tries abound, and feeds on the cones of the fir trees, which, at fome feafons, give an unpleafant flavour to its flefh, fo as to render it unfit for the table; it likewife eats various kinds of plants and berries, particularly the juniper. Early in the {pring the feafon of pairing commences: During this period, the cock places himfelf on an emi- nence, where he dilplays a variety of pleafing atti- tudes ; the feathers on his head ftand ere&, his neck {fwells, his tail is difplayed, and his wings trail al- moft on the ground, his eyes fparkle, and the fcar- let patch on each fide of his head aflumes a deeper dye; at the fame time he utters his well-known cry, which has been compared to the found produ- ced by the whetting of a fcythe; it may be heard at a confiderable diftance, and never fails to draw around him his faithful mates. The female lays from eight to fixteen eggs, which are white, {pot- ted with yellow, and larger than thofe of the com- mon Hen; for this purpofe fhe chufes fome fecret ipot, where fhe can fit in fecurity; fhe covers her eggs carefully over with leaves, when fhe is under the neceflity of leaving them in fearch of food. The young follow the hen as foon as they are hatched, fometimes with part of the fhell attached to them. Att esac eee Repoepoeer Nistegiiae a ysuk os 3 uy io | +s : i, bs i 4 ‘ . a es ‘ 44 BT, ry 208 BRITISH BIRDS- THE BLACK GROUSE. BLACK GAME, OR BLACK COCK. (Tetrao Tetrix, Lin.—Le Cog de Bruyere a queue four- chue, Buff.) Tuts bird, though not larger than a fowl, weighs near four pounds; its length is about one foot ten inches; breadth two feet nine: The bill 1s black; the eyes dark blue; below each eye there is a {pot of a dirty white colour, and above a larger one, of a bright fcarlet, which extends al- moft to the top of the head; the general colour of the plumage is of a deep black, richly gloffed with blue on the neck and rump; the lefler wing co- verts are dulky brown; the greater are white, BRITISH BIRDS. 299 which extends to the ridge of the wing, forming a {pot of that colour on the fhoulder when the wing is Clofed; the quills are brown, the lower parts and tips of the fecondaries are white, forming a bar of white acrofs the wing—there is likewife a {pot of white on the baftard wing; the feathers of the tail are almoft fquare at the ends, and when fpread out, form a curve on each fide; the under fail coverts are of a pure white; the legs and thighs are of a dark brown colour, mottled with white ; the toes are toothed on the edges like the former fpecies. In fome of our fpecimens the nof- trils were thickly covered with feathers, whilft in others they were quite bare, which we fuppofe mutt be owing to the different ages of the birds. Thefe birds, like the former, are found chiefly in high and wooded fituations in the northern parts of our ifland; they are common in Ruiffia, Siberia, and other northern countries: They feed on va- rious kinds of berries and other fruits, the produce of wild and mountainous places; in fummer they will frequently come down from their lofty fitua- tions for the fake of feeding on corn. They do not pair, but on the return of fpring the males af- femble in great numbers at their accuftomed re- forts, on the tops of high and heathy mountains, when the conteft for fuperiority takes place, and continues with great bitternefs till the vanquifhed are put to flight; the victors being left in pofleflion of the field, place themfelves on an eminence, clap 300 BRITISH BIRDS. their wings, and with loud cries give notice to their females, who immediately refort to the {pot. It is faid that each cock has two or three hens, which feem particularly attached to him. The fe- male is about one-third lefs than the male, and dif- fers confiderably in colour; her tail is likewife much lefs forked: She makes an artlefs neft on the ground, where fhe lays fix or eight eggs, of a yellowifh colour, with freckles and {pots of a rufty brown: The young males at firft refemble the mother; they do not acquire their full plumage till toward the end of autumn, when it gradually changes to a deeper colour, and aflumes that of a: blueifh black, which it afterwards retains.’ } ee eae tt Po MB oP 1% om = OO PP 5 ha —— oe eee S 2 = he wate pte, % wou : Ent = Hs ¥ > 2... -— , a » &- a : > al “ ‘ eS =>. <~ * = Sr BRITISH BIRDS. 20f we WY, Se a\y i, = s~ SS SAY .. ‘ PN In WL bg Wg MP . ' 4 Kip r "lhivdee RED GROUSE. RED GAME, GORCOCK, OR MOORCOCK, (Letrao Scoticus, Lin.—L’ Attagas, Buff.) Tue length of this bird is fifteen inches; the weight about nineteen ounces: The bill is black; the eyes hazel; the noftrils fhaded with {mall red and black feathers; at the bafe of the lower bill there is a white {pot on each fide; the throat is red; each eye is arched with a large naked {pot, of a bright fcarlet colour ; the whole upper part of the body is beautifully mottled with deep red and black, which gives it the appearance of tortoife- fhell; the breaft and belly are of a purpleifh hue, crofled with fmall dufky lines; the tail confifts of fixteen feathers, of equal lengths, the four middle- 302 BRITISH BIRDS. moit barred with red, the others black; the quills are dufky; the legs are clothed with foft white fea- thers down to the claws, which are ftrong, and of a light colour. ‘The female is fomewhat lefs ; the naked {kin above each eye is not fo confpicuous, and the colours of its plumage in general much lighter than thofe of the male. This bird is found in great plenty in the wild, heathy, and mountainous traéts in the northern counties of England; it is likewife common in Wales, and in the highlands of Scotland. Mr Pennant fuppofes it to be peculiar to Britain; thofe found in the mountainous parts of France, Spain, Italy, and elfewhere, as mentioned by M. Buffon, are probably varieties of this kind, and we have no doubt would breed with it. We could wilh that attempts were more frequently made to introduce a greater variety of thefe ufeful birds in- to this country, to ftock our wafte and barren moors with a rich fund of delicate and wholefome food; but, till a wife and enlightened legiflature fhall alter or abrogate our very unequal and inju- dicious game laws, there hardly remains a fingle hope for the prefervation of thofe we have. Red Groufe pair in the fpring; the female lays eight or ten eggs, on the ground: The young ones follow the hen the whole fummer ; as foon as they have attained their full fize, they unite in flocks of forty or fifty, and are then exceedingly fhy and wild. BRITISH BIRDS» 30 we WHITE GROUSE. WHITE GAME, OR PTARMIGAN, (Tetrao lagopus, Lin.—Le Lagopede, Buif.) Tuts bird is nearly the fame fize as the Red Groufe: Its bill is black; the upper parts of its body are of a pale brown or afh colour, mottled with {mall dufky fpots and bars; the bars on the head and neck are fomewhat broader, and are mix- ed with white; the under parts are white, as are alfo the wings, excepting the fhafts of the quills, which are black. This is its fummer drefs; in winter it changes to a pure white, except that in the male there is a black line between the bill and the eye; the tail confifts of fixteen feathers ; the two middle ones are afh-coloured in fummer, and 304 BRITISH BIRDS. white in winter, the two next flightly marked with white near the ends, the reft are wholly black; the upper tail coverts are long, and almoit cover the tail. The White Groufe is fond of lofty fituations, where it braves the fevereft cold: It is found in moft of the northern parts of Europe, even as far as Greenland; in this country it is only to be met vith on the fummits of fome of our higheft hills, chiefly in the highlands of Scotland, in the Heb- rides and Orkneys, and fometimes, but rarely, on the lofty hills of Cumberland and Wales. Buffon, {peaking of this bird, lays, that it avoids the folar heat, and prefers the biting frofts on the tops of mountains; for, as the fnow melts on the fides of the mountains, it conftantly afcends, till it gains the fummit, where it forms holes, and burrows in the fnow. ‘They pair at the fame time with the Groufe ; the female lays eight or ten eggs, which are white, {potted with brown; fhe makes no nett, but depofits them on the ground. In winter they fly in flocks, and are fo little accuftomed to the fight of man, that they fuffer themfelves to be ea- fily taken either with the fnare or gun. They feed on the wild produétions of the hills, which fome. times give the flefh a bitter tafte, but not unpalate- able; it is dark coloured, and according to M. Buffon has fomewhat the flavour of hare. BRITISH BIRDS« 395 THE PARTRIDGE. (Tetrao perdix, Lin.—Le perdrix Grife, Buff.) Tne length of this bird is about thirteen inches : The bill is light brown; eyes hazel; the general colour of its plumage is brown and afh, elegantly mixed with black, each feather being ftreaked down the middle with buff colour; the fides of the head are tawny; under each eye there is a {mall faffron-coloured {pot, which has a granulated ap- pearance, and between the eye and the ear a naked {kin of a bright fcarlet, which is not very confpi- cuous but in old birds; on the breaft there is a crefcent of a deep cheftnut colour; the tail is fhort; the legs are of a greenifh white, and are furnifhed with a fmall knob behind: The female Xx ( va ‘ - nis it ; } el um it } ; t \ ile ie 4 i f ih 306 BRITISH BIRDSs wants the crefcent on the breaft, and its colours in general are not fo diftiné&t and bright. Partridges are chiefly found in temperate cli- mates, the extremes of heat and cold being equally unfavourable to them: They ere no where in greater plenty than in this ifland, where, in their feafon, they contribute to our moft elegant enter- tainments. It is much to be lamented, however, that the means taken to preferve this valuable bird fhould, in a variety of inftances, prove its deftruc- tion; the proper guardians of the young ones and eggs, tied down by ungenerous reftriétions, are led to confider them as a growing evil, and not only connive at their deftruction, but too frequently af- fift in it. Partridges pair early in the fpring; the female lays from fourteen to eighteen or twenty eggs, making her neit of dry leaves and grafs upon the ground: The young birds learn to run as foon as hatched, frequently encumbered with part of the fhell fticking to them. It is no uncommon thing to introduce Partridge eggs under the common Hen, who hatches and rears them as her own: In this cafe the young birds require to be fed with ants’ eggs, which is their favourite food, and with- out which it is almoft impoflible to bring them up; they likewife eat infefs, and, when full grown, feed on all kinds of grain and young plants. The af- fection of the Partridge for her young is peculiarly {trong and. lively ; fhe is greatly affifted in the care of rearing them by her-mate; they lead them out BRITISH BIRDS. 397 in common, cal them together, point out to them their proper food, and affifi them in finding it by icratching the xround with their feet ; they fre- quently fit clofe by each other, covering the chick- ens with their vings, like the Hen: In this fitua- tion they are iot ealily flufhed; the {fport{man, who is attentiv: to the prefervation of his game, will carefully :void giving any difturbance to a icene fo truly interefting; but fhould the pointer come too neal, or unfortunately run in upon them, there are few who are ignorant of the confu- fion that follow:: The male firft gives the fignal of alarm by a peculiar cry of diftrefs, throwing himfelf at the fime moment more immediately in- to the way of cahger, ini otder to deceive or mif- lead the enemy; hé flies, or rather runs. along the ground, hanging his wings, and exhibiting every fymptom of delility, whereby the dog is decoyed, by a too eager expectation of an eafy prey, to a diftance from tle covey; the female flies off in a contrary direction, and to a greater diftance, but returning foon ifter by fecret ways, fhe finds her {cattered brood clofely fquatted among the grafs, and collecting ttem with hafte, fhe leads them from the danger, befire the dog has had time to return from his purfuit » x i. bs * . eee ee es Wi { oy 8) —-. - ~ ime.) as ; = hd a = *. 7 -_ nM e Pz = i aa a = a I ti sae enact ote etek te%e'« 8 BRITISH BIRDS. a ~ cm wee = 5 = = : . - r ~~ Seas: a SF Ste .. —-* = * ee = 6) oer w lee et esl = le «miele 2 roe o> ee et ee be ate $d ort ‘el epete * °, to = MSE THE QUAIL. (Tetrao coturnix, Lin.—La Caille, Buff.) sinieie _- ee Sibte: cinipmetete: seteied Tur length feven inches anda half: Bill duf- ky; eyes hazel; the colours of the head, neck, and back are a mixture of brown, afh colour, and black ; over each eye there is a yellowifh ftreak, and another of the fame colour down the middle of the forehead; a dark line pafles from each corner of the bill, forming a kind of gorget above the breaft; the fcapular feathers are marked by a light yellowifh ftreak down the middle of each; the quills are of a lightifh brown, with fmall ruft co- loured bands on the exterior edges of the feathers ; the breaft is of a pale ruft colour, fpotted with black, and ftreaked with pale yellow; the tail cone fifts of twelve feathers, barred like the wings; the belly and thighs are of a yellowifh white; legs pale brown. We were favoured with a very ine aT f ex ry 4 R) % ‘ = ¥ ‘ BRITISH BIRDS. 309 ipecimen of this beautiful bird alive by Mr Gil. frid Ward, and one fhot by the Rev. Mr Brockle- bank of Corbridge, from which our reprefentation was made. The female wants the black fpots on the breaft, and is eafily diftinguifhed by a lefs vivid plumage. Quails are almoft univerfally diffufed through- out Europe, Afia, and Africa; they are birds of paflage, and are feen in immenfe flocks traverfing the Mediterranean fea from Italy to the fhores of Africa in the autumn, and returning again in the (pring, frequently alighting in their paflage on ma- ny of the iflands of the Archipelago, which they almoft cover with their numbers. On the wel- tern coafts of the kingdom of Naples fuch prodi- gious quantities have appeared, that an hundred thoufand have been taken in a day within the fpace of four or five miles. From thefe circum- {tances it appears highly probable, that the Quails which fupplied the Ifraelites with food, during their journey through the wildernefs, were fent thither on their paflage to the north by a wind from the fouth-weft, fweeping over Egypt and Ethiopia to- wards the fhores of the Red fea. Quails are not very numerous in this ifland; they breed with us, and many of them remain throughout the year, changing their quarters from the interior counties to the fea coaft. The female makes her neft like the Partridge, and lays to the number of fix or : X 3 Z10 BRITISH BIRDS- feven* eggs, of a greyifh colour, fpeckled with brown: The young birds follow the mother as foon as hatched, but, do not continue long toge- ther; they are fcarcely grown up before they fe- parate; or, if kept together, they fight obitinately with each other, their quarrels frequently termina- ting in each other’s deftruction. From this quar- rellome difpofition in the Quail it was, that they were formerly made ufe of by the Greeks and Ro- mans, as we do Game-cocks, for the purpofe of fighting. We are told that Auguftus punifhed a prefect of I.gypt with death, for bringing to his ta- ble one of thefe birds which had acquired celebrity by its victories. At this time the Chinefe are much addicted to the amufement of fighting Quails, and in fome parts of Italy it is faid likewife to be no unuiual practice. After feeding two Quails very highly, they place them oppofite to each other, and throw in a few grains of feed between them—-the birds rufh upon each other with the utmott fury, ftriking with their bills and fpurs till one of them yields. * In France they are faid to lay fifteen or twenty. —Buf, ' ‘ai ap be tht me ae a -« ~ = ~ er = A a ~~ ee eT. ey Sty + ore a — - Pen Tl ett - tases BRITISH BIRDS. 211 THE CORN-CRAKE. LAND RAIL, OR DAKER HEN. (Rallus-Crex, Lin. —Le Rale de genet, Buff.) Lenctu rather more than nine inches: The bill is light brown; the eyes hazel; all the fea- thers on the upper parts of the plumage are of a dark brown, edged with pale ruft colour; both wing coverts and quills are of a deep cheftnut ; the fore part of the neck and breaft is of a pale ath colour; a ftreak of the fame colour extends over each eye: from the bill to the fide of the neck ; the belly is of a yellowifh white; the fides, thighs, and vent are faintly marked with rufty coloured {treaks ; the legs are of a pale flefh colour. We have ventured to remove this bird from the ufual place affigned to it among thole to which it feems to have little or no analogy, and have placed X 4 312 BRITISH BIRDS.» it among others, to which, in moft re{pects, it bears a ftrong affinity. It makes its appearance about the fame time with the Quail, and frequents the fame places, from whence it is called, in fome countries, the king of the Quails. Its well-known cry is firit heard as foon as the graf becomes long enough to afford it fhelter, and continues till the time it is cut, but is feldom feen; it conftantly {kulks among the thickeft part of the herbage, and runs fo nimbly through it, winding and doubling in every direCction, that it is difficult to come near it; when hard puthed by the dog, it fometimes ftops fhort and fquats down, by which means, its too eager purluer overfhoots the fpot, and lofes the trace. It feldom fprings but when driven to ex- tremity, and generally flies with its legs hanging down, but never to a great diftance: As foon as it alights it runs off, and before the fowler has reach- ed the {pot, the bird is at a confiderable diftance. —he Corn-crake leaves this ifland in winter, and repairs to other countries in fearch of food, which confifts of worms, flugs, and infects; it likewife feeds on feeds of various kinds : It is ve- ry common in Ireland, and is feen in great num- bers in the ifland of Anglefea in its paflage to that country. On its firft arrival in England it is fo Jean as to weigh lefs than fix ounces, from whence one would conclude that it muft have come from diftant parts; before its departure, however, it has been known to exceed eight ounces, and is then BRITISH BIRDS. 313 very delicious eating. The female lays ten or twelve eggs, on a neft made of a little mofs or dry grals carelefsly put together; they are of a pale alh colour, marked with ruft-coloured fpots. The young Crakes run as foon as they have burft the ihell, following the mother ; they are covered with a black down, and foon find the ufe of their legs.— Our figure was made from the living bird fent us by Lieut. H. F. Gibfon. i 4M big i is | = —_—— , “ ———— oe ~ ee ey | ‘ - ‘ $2 ‘ + + 4 . 4 & ™ 22 J se ho asi eobadebolet opniejel ciel mt bal rictrh aps Sere $14 BRITISH BIRDS. Erinn: Ais — —— — GREAT BUSTARD. (Otis tarda, Lin.—L’Outarde, Buff.) Tus very fingular bird, which is the largeft of our land birds, is about four feet long, from twenty-five to thirty pounds; its characters and weighs BRITISH BIRDS. 31s are peculiar, and with thofe which conne& it with birds of the gallinaceous kind, it has others which feem to belong to the Oftrich and the Caflowary : Its bill is ftrong and rather convex ; its eyes red; on each fide of the lower bill there is a tuft of fea- thers about nine inches long; its head and neck are afh-coloured. In the one defcribed by Eds wards, there were on each fide of the neck two na- ked {pots, of a violet colour, but which appeared to be covered with feathers when the neck was much extended. ‘The back is barred tranfverfely with black and bright ruft colour; the quills are black ; the belly white ; the tail confifts of twenty feathers —the middle ones are ruft colour, barred with black ; thofe on each fide are white, with a bar or two of black near the ends; the legs are long, na- ked above the knees, and dufky; it has no hind toe; its nails are fhort, ftrong, and convex both above and below; the bottom of the foot is fur- nifhed with a callous prominence, which ferves in- ftead of a heel.—The female is not much more than half the fize of the male: The top of her head is of a deep orange, the reft of the head brown ; her colours are not fo bright as thofe of the male, and fhe wants the tuft on each fide of the head: There is likewife another very effential difference between the male and the female, the former being furnifhed with a fac or pouch, which is fituated in the fore part of the neck, and is capable of contain- ing about two quarts; the entrance to it is im- ee wre ee ee we we we we — 0s eee ei = ee ee LITTLE BUSTARD. (Otis Tetrax, Lin.—Le petite Outarde, Buff.) Lrncru only feventeen inches: The bill is pale brown; eyes red; the top of the head is black, {potted with pale ruft colour ; the fides of the head, chin, and throat, are of a reddifh white, marked with a few dark fpots; the whole neck is black, encircled with an irregular band of white near the top and bottom ; the back and wings are ruft co- four, mottled with brown, and croffed with fine ir- regular black lines; the under parts of the body, and outer edges of the wings are white; the tail confifts of eighteen feathers—the middle ones are BRITISH BIRDS, 1g Uo tawny, barred with black, the others are white, marked with a few irregular bands of black; the legs are gray. The female is fmaller, and wants the black collar on its neck; in other reipects fhe nearly refembles the male. This bird is very uncommon in this country ; we have feen only two of them, both of which were females: Our figure was taken from one fent us by W. Trevelyan, Efg. which was taken on the edge of Newmarket Heath, and kept alive a- bout three weeks, in a kitchen, where it was fed with bread, and other things, fuch as poultry eat. Both this and the Great Buftard are excellent eat- ing, and, we would imagine, would well repay the trouble of domeftication; indeed it feems furpri- ling that we fhould fuffer thefe fine birds to run wild, and be in danger of total extinction, which, if properly cultivated, might afford as excellent a repait as our own domeftic poultry, or even the Turkey, for which we are indebted to diftant coun- tries: It is very common in France, where it is taken in nets like the Partridge: It is a very fhy and cunning bird; if difturbed, it flies two or three hundred paces, not far from the ground, and then runs away much fafter than any one can follow on foot. The female lays her eggs in June to the number of three or four, of a glofly green colour; as foon as the young are hatched, fhe leads them about as the hen does her chickens ; they begin to fly about the middle of Augutt. 9 oda i Ae A Cina Ma AE al toe a Sa "Se -- i oe ene eres = eS ee eee eT 6 oe renee se “° = > ~seeet oN ete ad cA ws aa sae nei sie BEI a SG rreor rr x as Seperate cane Ghee —-+> ia —— ees SE — ee nee - * TTT CT a i OT TET tt srt thai -* 320 BRITISH BIRDS. OF THE PLOVER. Autuoucs the Plover has generally been clafled with thofe birds whofe bufinefs is wholly among waters, we cannot help confidering the greater part of them as partaking entirely of the nature of land birds. Many of them breed upon our loftieft mountains, and though they are frequently feen upon the fea-coafts, feeding with birds of the wa- ter kind, yet it muft be obferved that they are no more water birds than many of our {mall birds who repair there for the fame purpofe. The Plover is diftinguifhed by a large full eye; its bill is ftrait, fhort, and rather {welled to- wards the tip; its head is large; and its legs are naked above the knee. ‘The long-legged Plover and the Sanderling are waders, and belong more immediately to the water birds, to which we refer them: The Great Plover and the Lapwing we confider as entirely connected with birds of the Plover kind; the former-has ufually been claffed with the Buftard, the latter with the Sandpiper ; but they differ very materially from both, and feem to agree in more effential points with this kind: We have thereivre given them a place in this part of our work, where they may be confider- ed as connecting the two great divifions of land and water birds, to both of which they are in fome degree allied. BRITISH BIRDS, 321 THE GREAT PLOVER. THICK-KNEE’D BUSTARD, STONE CURLEW, NORFOLK PLOVER. (Charadrius Oedicnemus, Lin.—Le grand Pluvier, Buff.) Tne length of this bird is about fixtéén inches; Its bill is long, yellowifh at the bafe, and black at the end; its eyes and eye-lids are pale yellow; a- bove each eye there is a pale ftreak, and beneath one of the fame colour exterids to the bill; the throat is white; head, neck, and all the upper parts of the body are of a pale tawny brown, down the YY 322 BRITISH BIRDS. middle of each feather there is a dark flreak; the fore part of the neck and breaft are nearly the fame, but much paler; the belly, thighs, and vent are of a pale yellowifh white ; the quills are black ; the tail is fhort and rounded—a dark band crofles the middle of each feather, the tips are black, the reft white; the legs are yellow, and naked above the knees, which are very thick, as if fwelled— hence its name; the claws are black. This bird is found in great plenty in Norfolk and feveral of the fouthern counties, but is no where to be met with in the northern parts of our ifland ; it prefers dry and {tony places, on the fides of floping banks: It makes no neft; the female lays two or three eggs on the bare ground, fhelter- ed by a ftone, or in a {mall hole formed in the fand; they are of a dirty white, marked with {pots of a deep reddifh colour, mixed with flight {treaks. Although this bird has great power of wing, and flies with great ftrength, it is feldom feen during the day, except furprifed, when it fprings to fome diftance, and generally efcapes before the {porti- man comes within gun-fhot; it likewife runs on the ground almoft as fwift as a dog; after running fome time it ftops fhort, holding its head and body ftill, and on the leaft noife fquats clofe on the ground. In the evening it comes out in queft of food, and may then be heard at a great diftance ; its cry is fingular, refembling a hoarfe kind of whiftle three or four times repeated, and has been BRITISH BIRDS. 343 compared to the turning of a rufty handle. Buf. fon endeavours to exprefs it by the words turrlui, turrlui, and fays, it refembles the found of a third flute, dwelling on three or four tones from a flat toa tharp. Its food confifts chiefly of worms. It is faid to be good eating when young; the flefh of the old ones is hard, black, and dry. Mr White mentions them as frequenting the diftri& of Sel- borne, in Hampfhire. He lays, that the young run immediately from the neft, almoft as foon as they are excluded, like Partridges; that the dam leads them to fome ftony held, where they bafk, fkulking among the ftones, which they refemble fo nearly in colour, as not eafily to be difcovered. Birds of this kind are migratory; they arrive in April, live with us all the fpring and fummer, and at the beginning of autumn prepare to take leave by getting together in flocks; it is fuppofed that they retire to Spain, and frequent the fheep-walks with which that country abounds. Re TES SEG OFT EA ; Po tere ee ee et — °C ne * = . x, a a : a «Se a SS oe TT i OT A thant tlt tiled ci manana mite cw - cine tote . 324 BRITISH BIRDS. THE PEE-WIT. LAPWING, BASTARD PLOVER, OR TE-WIT. (Fringilla vanellus, Lin.—Le Vanneau, Buff.) Tuts bird is about the fize of a Pigeon: Its bill is black; eyes large and hazel; the top of the head is black, glofled with green; a tuft of long narrow feathers iffues from the back part of the head, fome of which are four inches in length, and turn upwards at the end; -the fides of the head and neck are white, which is interrupted by a blackifh ftreak above and below the eye; the back part of the neck is of a very pale brown; the fore part, as far as the breaft, is black ;*the back and wing coverts ERITISH BIRDS. 2 C,> in are of a dark green, glofled with purple and blue reflections; the quills are black, the four firft tip- ped with white; the breaft and belly are of a pure white; the upper tail coverts and vent pale cheftnut ; the tail is white at the bale, the end is black, with pale tips, the outer feathers almoft wholly white; the legs are red; claws black; hind claw very fhort. This bird is a.conftant inhabitant of this coun- try; but as it fubfifts chiefly on worms, it is forced to change its place in queft of food, and is fre- quently feen in great numbers by the fea-fhores, where it finds an abundant fupply. It is every where well known by its loud and inceflant cries, which it repeats without intermiflion, whilft on the wing, and from whence, in moft languages, a name has been given to it as imitative of the found.-— The Pee-wit is a lively aGtive bird, almoft con- tinually in motion; it {ports and frolics in the air in all direCtions, and aflumes a variety of atti- tudes; it remains long upon the wing, and fome- times rifes to a confiderable height; it runs along the ground very nimbly, and fprings and bounds from fpot to fpot with great agility : The female lays four eggs, of a dirty olive, fpotted with black; fhe makes no neft, but depofits them upon a little dry grafs haftily {craped together ; the young birds run very foon after they are hatched ;—during this period the old ones are very affiduous in their at- i a , i i : e + ae . “are yaa ee tics 4 PIES Ss ae De i ete aa ne ee —— ee ee a == Pr a Pa ee oo eee 2 — oe —— SSeS = = 4 cer — ~ uepaneiel | j i 326 BRITISH BIRDS, tention to their charge; on the approach of any perfon to the place of their depofit, they flutter round his head with cries of the greateft inquietude, which increafes as he draws nearer the {pot where the brood are fquatted; in cafe of extremity, and as a laft refource, they run along the ground as if lame, in order to draw off the attention of the fow- ler from any further purfuit. The young Lap- wings are firft covered with a blackifh down in- terlperfed with long white hairs, which they gra- dually lofe, and about the latter end of July they acquire their beautiful plumage. At this time, according to Buffon, the great affociation begins to take place, and they aflemble in large flocks of young and old, which hover in the air, faunter in the meadows, and after rain they difperfe among the ploughed fields. In the month of O&tober the Lapwings are very fat, and are then faid to be ex- cellent eating: Their eggs are confidered as a great delicacy, and are fold in the London markets at three fhillings a dozen. The following anecdote, communicated to us by the Rev. J. Carlyle, is worthy of notice, as it fhews the domeftic nature of this bird, as well as the art with which it conciliates the regard of a- nimals differing from itfelf in nature, and general- ly confidered as hoftile to every fpecies of the fea- thered tribes. Two of thefe birds, given to Mr Carlyle, were put into a garden, where one of them foon died; the other continued to pick up BRITISH BIRDS. 327 fuch food as the place afforded, till winter deprived it of its ufual fupply; neceflity foon compelled it to draw nearer the houfe, by which it gradually be- came familiarifed to occafional interruptions from the family. At length, one of the fervants, when fhe had occafion to go into the back-kitchen with a light, obferved that the Lapwing always uttered his cry ‘ pee-wit’ to obtain admittance. He foon grew more familiar; as the winter advanced, he approached as far as the kitchen, but with much caution, as that part of the houfe was generally oc- cupied by a dog and a cat, whofe friendfhip the Lap- wing at length conciliated fo entirely, that it was his regular cuftom to refort to the firefide as foon as it grew dark, and fpend the evening and night with his two affociates, fitting clofe by them, and partaking of the comforts of a warm firefide. As foon as {pring appeared, he left off coming to the houfe, and betook himfelf to the garden; but on the approach of winter, he had recourfe to his old fhel- ter and his old friends, who received him very cor- dially. Security was productive of infolence ; what was at firft obtained with caution, was after- wards taken without referve: He frequently amu- fed himfelf with wafhing in the bowl which was fet for the dog to drink out of, and while he was thus employed, he fhewed marks of the greateft indignation if either of his companions prefumed to interrupt him. He died in the afylym he had Y4 ' 328 BRITISH BIRDS. chofen, being choaked with fomething which he picked up from the floor. During his confinement, crumbs of wheaten bread were his principal food, which he preferred to any thing elle. ra) aes See , = ni v7. ye ¥ pT o= as BRITISH BIRDS. 329 THE GOLDEN PLOVER. YELLOW PLOVER. (Charadrius Pluvialis, Lin.—Le Pluvier doré, Buff.) Tue fize of the Turtle: Bill dufky; eyes dark; all the upper parts of the plumage are mark- ed with bright yellow fpots upon a dark brown a ground; the fore part of the neck and breaft are the fame, but much paler; the belly is almoft white; the quills are dufky; the tail is marked with dufky and yellow bars; the legs are black.— Birds of this fpecies vary much from each other ; in fome which we have had, the breaft was marked with black and white; in others, it was almoft black; but whether this difference aroie from age or fex, we are at a lofs to determine. 330 BRITISH BIRDS. The Golden Plover is common in this coun- try, and all the northern parts of Europe; it is very numerous in various parts of America, from Hudfon’s Bay as far as Carolina, migrating from one place to another according to the fea- fons: It breeds on high and heathy mountains ; the female lays four eggs, of a pale olive colour, variegated with blackifh fpots: They fly in fmall flocks, and make a fhrill whiftling noife, by an imi- tation of which they are fometimes enticed within gun-fhot. ‘The male and female do not differ from each other. In young birds the yellow {pots are not .very diftinguifhable, the plumage inclining more to gray. BRITISH BIRDS, 331 THE ‘GRAY PLOVER, (Zringa Squatarola, Lin.—Le vanneau Pluvier, Buff.) Te length of this bird is about twelve inches: {ts bill is black; the head, back, and wing coverts are of a dulty brown, edged with greenifh afh co- Jour, and fome with white ; the cheeks and throat are white, marked with oblong dufky fpots; the belly, thighs, and rump are white; the fides are marked with a few duiky fpots; the outer webs of the quills are black, the lower parts of the inner webs of the four firft are white ; the tail is marked with alternate bars of black and white; the legs are of a dull green; its hind toe is fmall.—In the Planches Enluminees this bird is reprefented with eyes of an orange colour; there is likewife a duf- ky line extending from the bill underneath each eye, and a white one above it. We have placed this bird with the Plovers, as agreeing with them in every other refpeét but that of having a hind toe; but that is fo fmall as not to render it neceflary to exclude it from a place in the’ Plover family, to which it evidently* belongs. The Gray Plover is not very common in Britain ; it appears fometimes in fmall flocks on the fea- coafts: It’ is fomewhat larger than’ the Golden Plover. ‘Its fleth is faid to be’ very delicate. —ae en ee owe SS A Re ATF ee ere a . } | og if Ao! ; -" - | | 32 BRITISH BIRDS. THE DOTTEREL. (Charadrius Morinellus, Lin. —Le Guignard, Buff.) Tue length of this bird is about nine inches: Its bill is black; eyes dark, large, and full; its forehead is mottled with brown and white; top of the head black; over each eye an arched line of white pal- fes to the hind part of the neck; the cheeks and throat are white; the back and wings are of a light brown, inclining to olive, each feather being mar- gined with pale ruft colour; the quills are brown; the fore part of the neck is furrounded by a broad band of a light olive colour, bordered.on the under fide with white; the brea{t is ofa pale dull orange; middle of the belly black; the reft of the belly, thighs, and vent are of a reddifh white ; the tail is of an olive brown, black near the end, and tipped we BRITISH BIRDS. 33 with white—the outer feathers are margined with white; the legs are of a dark olive colour. The Dotterel is common in various parts of Great Britain; in others it is fcarcely known:— They are fuppofed to breed in the mountains of Cumberland and Weftmorland, where they are fometimes feen in the month of May, during the breeding feafon; they likewife breed on feveral of the Highland hills: They are very common in Cambridgefhire, Lincolnfhire, and Derbythire, ap- pearing in fmall flocks on the heaths and moors of thofe counties during the months of May and June, and are then very fat, and much efteemed for the table. The Dotterel is faid to be a very itupid bird, and eafily taken with the moft fimple artifice, and that it was formerly the cuftom to decoy them into the net by ftretching out a leg or an arm, which caught the attention of the birds, fo that they returned it by a fimilar motion of a leg or a wing, and were not aware till the net dropped and covered the whole covey. At prefent the more fure method of the gun has fuperfeded this ingeni- Ous artifice. a ee ase _ - -_—_-- A OE a ae er ee, -_ ee 3 34 BRITISH BIRDS.» Ly Fal »\ ote PRX oc “= : ~ 7% oa. v Le FRY EC ite THE RING DOTTEREL. RING PLOVER, OR SEA LARK. (Charadrius Hiaticula, Lin.—Le petit Pluvier 2 collier, Buff.) Te length is rather more than feven inches: The bill is of an orange colour, tipped with black ; the eyes are hazel; a black line pafles from the bill, underneath each eye, to the cheeks, where it is pretty broad; above this a line of white ex- tends acrofs the forehead to the eyes—this is bounded above by a black fillet acrofs the head ; a gorget of black encircles the neck, very broad on the fore part, but growing narrow behind—a- bove which, to the chin, is white; the top of the head is of a light brown afh colour, as are alfo the back, fcapulars, and coverts; the greater coverts are tipped with white; the breaft and all the under ERITISH BIRDS. 335 parts are white ; the quills are dufky, with an oval white {pot about the middle of each feather, which forms, when the wing is clofed, a ftroke of white down each wing; the tail is of a dark brown, tip- ped with white, the two outer feathers almoft white; the legs are of an orange colour ; claws black.—In the female, the white on the forehead is lefs; there is more white on the Wings, and the plumage inclines more to afh colour. Thefe birds are common in all the northern countries ; they migrate into Britain in the {pring, and depart in autumn: They frequent the fea- fhores during fummer ; they run nimbly along the lands, fometimes taking fhort flights, accompanied with loud twitterings, then alight and run again : If difturbed, they fly quite off. T hey are faid to make no neft; the female lays four eggs, of a pale afh colour, fpotted with black, which fhe depofits on the ground. Lately was publifhed, Price 9s. in Boards, THE THIRD EDITION OF A GENERAL HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. THE FIGURES ENGRAVED ON WOOD BY T. BEWICK, quite uge?@e i! ites 99081 1j;;; UY Ooo? C—O NEWCASTLE UPON TYN PRINTED BY AND FOR S. HODGSON, R. BEILBY, & T. BEWICK, NEW CASTLE: SOLD BY THEM, BY G. G. &. J. RO- BINSON, & C. DILLY, LONDON, 2 er re an pe oe, - " e _ en — es ——— 0 a ee —en — i tenes =a _ ety SNe I om . 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