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HISTORY

BRITISH BIRDS,

THE FIGURES ENGRAVED ON WOOD BY T. BEWICK.

VOL, I.

CONTAINING THE

HISTQRT AND DESCRIPTION OF LAND BIRDS.

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fRINTED By SOL. HODGSON, FOR BEILBY & BEWICK : SOLD BY THEM, AND C. C. & J. ROBINSON, LONDON.

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PREFACE.

J. 0 thofe who attentively confider the fubjefl: of Natural Hii- tory, as dlfplayed 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 lubjett Is far from being exhaufted. Syftems have been formed and explo- ded, and new ones have appeared in their Head ; but, like flce- letons injudicioufly put together, they give but an Imperfcft idea of that order and fymmetry to which they are intended to be fiibfervient : They have their ufc, but it is the flcilful prac- titioner who is chiefly enabled to profit by them ; to the Icfs informed they appear obfcure and perplexing, and too frequent- ly deter him from the great objeft of his purfuit.

To Inveftigate, with any tolerable degree of fuccefs, the more retired and diftant parts of the animal ceconomy, Is a taflc of no fmall difiiculty. An inquiry fo defireable and fo eminently ufe- ful would require the united efforts of many to give it the de- fired fuccefs Men of leifure, of all dcfcriptions, refiding in the country, could fcarcely find a more delightful employment than

a 2

itr PREFACE.

in attempting to elucidate, from their own obfervations, tlie va- rious branches of Natural Hiftory, and in communicating them to others. Something like a fociety in each county, for the purpofe of collefting a variety of thefe obfervations, as well as for general correfpondence, would be extremely ufeful and ne- ceffary : Much might be expefted from a combination of this kind extending through every part of the kingdom ; a general mode of communication might be thereby eflabliftied, in order to afcertain the changes which are continually taking place, par- ticularly among the feathered tribes ; the times of their appear- ing and difappearing would be carefully noted ; the differences of age, fex, food, &c. would claim a particular degree of atten- tion, and would be the means of correfting a number of errors which have crept into the works of fome of the mofl: eminent ornithologifts, and of avoiding the confufion arifing from an over-anxious defire of encreafing the numbers 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 objedls which enlarge its powers and give dig- nity to its exertions, to carry into the fulleft effe6l a plan for in- velligations of this fort.

In this refpeft no author has been more fuccefsful than the celebrated Count de BufFon : — Defpifing 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 moft lively imagination only could fuggeft. It muft, however, be allowed, that in many in- flances, that ingenious philofopher has overftepped the bounds of Nature, and, in giving the reins to his own luxuriant fancy, has been too frequently hurried into the wild paths of conjedure and romance. The late Mr White, of Selborne, has added much to the general ftock of knowledge on this delightful fubjedt, by attentively and faithfully recording whatever fell un^ der his^ own obfervations, and by liberal 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 trull with fome advantage, the works of thefe and other Naturallfts. In the arrangement of the various clafles, as well as in the defcriptive part, we have taken as our guide our ingenious countryman, Mr Pennant, to whofe elegant 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 charm. The communications \vith 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 remains only that we be pennitted to infert this teftimony of our grateful fenfe of them.

In a few inftances we have 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 foft-blUed birds, or thofe which fubfift chiefly on worms, infe£ls, and fuch like, are by this means pla- ced all together, beginning with thofe of the Lark kind. To this we mufl. obferve, that, by dividing the various families of birds into two grand divifions, viz. Land and Water, a number of tribes have thereby been included among the latter, which can no othervvife be denominated Water Birds than as they oc- cafionally feek their food in moid places, by fmall ftreamlets, or on the fea-fliore ; fuch as the 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 denomination of Waders. To thefe we have ventured to remove the Kingfiflier, and the Water Ouzel ; the former lives entirely on fi(h, 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 ; the latter fcems to have no connection with thofe birds among

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*i PREFACE,

^s'hich it is ufually clafled, its bufinefs being wholly among ra-; pid running ftreams, in which it chiefly delights, and froni whence it derives its fupport.

This work, of which the firlt 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 reprefentatlons of almoft every fpecles, faithfully drav/n 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 defcriptlons was undertaken by the other, fubjedt, however, to the correftlons of his friend, whofe habits had led him to % more intimate acquaintance with this branch of Natu- ral Hlftory : The Compiler, therefore, is anfwerable for the de- feats 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 feverity of crltl- clfm will be fpared, and that it will be received with that in- dulgence which has been already experienced on a former oc-? calion.

Newcastle upon Tyne, September, 1797=

tt

INTRODUCTION.

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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 ftrutture, formation, and various endow- ments of the feathered tribe. The fymmetry and elegance dlf- coverable in their outward appearance, although highly pleafing to the fight, are yet of much greater importance when confider- cd with refpeft to their peculiar habits and modes of living, to which they are eminently fubfervlent.

34

viii INTRODUCTION.

Inftead of the large head and formidable jaws, the deep capa- cious cheft, the brawny flioulders, and finewy legs of the qua- drupeds, we obferve the pointed beak, the long and pliant neck, the gently fwelling fhoulder, the expanfive wings, the tapering tail, the light and bony feet ; all which are wifely calculated to affifl and accelerate their motion through the yielding air. Eve- ry part of their frame is formed for lightnefs and buoyancy j their bodies are covered with a foft and delicate plumage, fo dif- pofed as to prote6t them from the intenfe cold of the atmofphere through which they pafs ; their wings are made of the lightefl materials, and yet the force with which they ftrike the air with them is fo great as to impel their bodies forward with aflonifli- ing rapidity, whilft the tail ferves the purpofe of a rudder to di- re£t them to the different objedls of their purfuit. The internal flrufture 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 Angularity of this almoft univerfal diftufion of air through the bodies of birds naturally excited a ftrong defire to difcover the intention of Nature in producing a conformation fb extraordinary. The ingenious Mr Hunter imagined that it might be intended to affift the animal in the ^& 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 to this he informs us, that the Oftrich, which does not fly, is neverthelefs provided with air

INTRODUCTION. i«

cells difperfed through its body ; that the Woodcock, and fomc other flying birds, are not fo Hberally fuppHed with thefe cells ; yet, he elfewhere obferves, that it may be laid down as a general* rule, that in birds of the higheft and longed flights, as Eagles, this cxtenfion or diff^ufion of air is carried farther than in o- thers ; and. with regard to the Oilrich, 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 diffiifion of air through the bodies of birds is of infinite ufe to them, not only in their long and laborious flights, but likewife in preventing their refpi- ration from being fl:opped 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 aftual refifl:ance of the air, as he is not provided with internal refervoirs fimilar to thofe of birds, would foon fuffocate him.*

Birds may be diilinguiflied, like quadrupeds, into two kinds or clafles, granivorous and carnivorous; like quadrupeds too, there are fome that hold a middle nature, and partake of both. Granivorous birds are furniihed with larger intefl:ines, 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 fl:omach or craw, where it undergoes a partial dilution by a liquor fecreted from glands fpread over Its furface ; it is then received into another fpecies of flioraach, where it is further diluted ; after which it is tranfmitted into the gizzard, or true fliomach, confifl:ing of two very flrong muf- cles covered externally with a tendinous fubfl:ance, and lined with a thick membrane of prodigious power and fl;rength ; in this place the food is completely triturated, and rendered fit for the operation of the gallric juices. The extraordinary powers

* May not this univerfal difFufion of air through the bodies of birds ac- count for the fuperior heat of this clafs of animals ? The reparation of oxy- gen from refpirable air, and its mixture with the blood, by means of the lungs, being fiippofcd by the ingenious Dr Crawford to be the efficient caufc of animal beat.

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 fafls founded upon experiments. In order to afcertain the ftrength of thefe ftomachs, the ingenious Spa- Ian zani made the following curious and very interefting experi- ments : — Tin tubes, full of grain, were forced into the ftomachs 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- jeAed 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 fliewing 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 projefted a little. The fame author relates another experiment, feemingly ftill more cruel : He fixed twelve fmall 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 perfectly found and entire. From thefe curi- ous and well-attefted fa£ts we may conclude, that the ftones fo often found in the ftomachs 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, " alfift in grinding down the grain, and, by feparating its parts, allow the gaftric juices to come more rea- dily into contact with it." Thus far the conclufion coincides with the experiments which have been juft related. We may

* Spalanzani's Differtation, vol. I, page 12.

INTRODUCTION. xi

obferve ftlll farther, that the ftones thus taken into the ftomachs of birds are feldom known to pafs with the faeces, but being ground down and feparated by the powerful aftion 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 difpofitioii of herbivorous quadrupeds. In both, the number of their flo- machs, the length and capacity of their inteftines, and the qua- lity of their food, are very fimilar; they are llkewife both dif- tinguiflaed by the gentle nefs of their tempers and manners : Contented with the feeds of plants, with fruits, infefts, and worms, their chief attention is direfted to procuring food, hatch- ing and rearing their offspring, and avoiding the fnares 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 tradable as eafily 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 felefted, from the numbers which every way furround him, thofe which are moll prolific, and confequently the moll profitable : Of thefe the Hen, the Goofe, the Turkey, and the Duck arc the mofl 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 l»y 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 flrong, whereby they are enabled to keep long upon the wing In fearch of their prey ; they are armed with ftrong hook- ed bills, fliarp 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 inconceivc- able fwiftnefs and undeviating aim ; their ftomachs are fmaller than thofe of the granivorous kinds, and their inteftines arc much fhorter. The analogy between the ftrudurc of rapacious

xii INTRODUCTION.

birds and carnivorous quadrapeds is obvious ; both of them are provided with weapons which indicate deftruftion and ra- pine, their manners are fierce and unfocial, and they feldom herd together in flocks like the inoffenfive granivorous tribes. When not on the wing, rapacious birds retire to the tops of fe- queftered rocks, or the depths of extenfive fore (Is, where they conceal themfelves in fallen and gloomy folitude. Thofe which feed on carrion are endowed with a fenfe of fmelling fo exqulfite, as to enable them to fcent dead and putrid carcafes at aftonlfh- ing diftances.

Befide thefe great divlfions of birds into granivorous and ra- pacious kinds, there are numerous other tribes, to whom Nature has given fuitable organs, adapted to their pecuhar habits and modes of living. Like amphibious animals,' a great variety of birds live chiefly in the water, and feed on fiflies, infefts, and other aquatic produdllons : To enable them to fwim and dive in queft of food, their toes are connefted by broad 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 marfliy 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 fiflies and reptiles j others derive nourlfhment by thrufling their long bills into foft and muddy fubftances, where they find worms, the eggs of infefts, and other nutritious matter j they do not fwim, but wade in quefl: of food, for which purpofe Nature has provided them with long legs, bare of feathers even above the knees ; their toes are not connefted by webs, like thofe of the fwimmers, but are only partially furnlfhed with membranaceous appendages, which are jufl: fufBcIent to fupport them on the foft and doubtful ground which they are accuftomed to frequent : — Mofl of thefe kinds have very long necks and bills, to enable

INTRODUCTION. liii

them 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 fwift- nefs from one place to another, birds could not eafily fiibfift : The food which Nature has fo bountifully provided for them is fo ir- regularly diftributed, that they are obliged to take long journics to diftant parts in order to gain the neceffary fupplies ; at one time it is given in great abundance ; at another it is adminiller- ed with a very fparing 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 caufes 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 faf- fage ; but moll birds are, in fome meafure, birds of pafiage, al- though they do not migrate to places remote from their former habitations. At particular times of the year moll birds remove from one country to another, or from the more inland diftri£ls toward the fliores : The times of thefe migrations or flittings are obferved with the mod allonifliing order and punftuality ; but the fecrecy of their departure and the fuddennefs of their re-appearance have involved the fubjedl of migration in general in great difficulties. Much of this difficulty arifes from our not being able to account for the means of fubfiltence during the long flights of many of thofe birds, which are obliged to crofs immenfe trafts of water before they arrive at the places of their dellination : Accudomed to meafure didances by the fpeed of thofe animals with which we are w-ell 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 Ilrongeft quadruped.

Our fwiftell horfes are fuppofed to go at the rate of a mile in fomewhat lefs than two minutes, and we have one inllance on record of a horfe being tried, which went at the rate of near-

XIV INTRODUCTION.

ly a mile in one minute, but that was only for the fmall fpace of a fecond of time.* In this and firailar 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 fwiftefi; quadruped, and they can continue on the wing with the fame fpeed 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 fpace 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 (horter 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 fagaclty pe- culiar to inftinftive knowledge, to difcover the route they are to take, from the appeai'ance of the atmofphere, the clouds, the direftion 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 vail tradls 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 ftru6ture 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 " neceffity for a precipitate paflage, as every day affords an in-

* See Hiftory of Quadrupeds, page 6, 3d edition.

INTRODUCTION. xv

" creafe of warmth, and a continuance of food. It is probable ** thefe itinerants may perform their journey in the night-time, ** in order to avoid ravenous birds, and other dangers which " day-Hght may expofe them to. The flight of the fmallev ** birds of paffage acrofs the feas has, by many, been confidered *' as wonderful, and efpecially with regard to thofe with {hort ** wings, among which Quails feem by their ftrufture 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 fliort, all we know of the matter ** 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 neceffilies, *' as well as to the different degrees of heat and cold in the fe- *' veral climates of the world, whereby no country is defl;itute *' 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 refpefting their difappearance, and the fliate in which they fubfift; during that interval. Some Na- turaliflis fuppofe that they do not leave this ifland at the end of autumn, but that they lie in a torpid fl^ate, 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 aflerted that Swallows pafs the winter ira- merfed In the waters of lakes and rivers, where they have been found la 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 Kleio very gravely aflerts> on the credit of forae coun-

xvi 1NTB.0DUCTI0N.

tryraen, that Swallows fometlmes aflerubled in numbers, cling- ing to a reed till it broke, and funk with them to the bottom ; that their immerfion was preceded by a fong or dirge, which lafted more than a quarter of an hour ; fometimes they laid hold of a flraw 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 impoffibllity of a body, fpecifical- ly lighter than water, employing another body lighter than it- felf for the purpofe of immerfion : But, admitting the poffibi- lity of this curious mode of immerfion, ft 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 accuftomed, and are befides totally unprovided by Na- ture with organs fuited to fuch a mode of fubfiftence.

The celebrated Mr John Plunter informs us, " that he had differed 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 fuppofe, that terreflrial ani- mals can remain any long time under water without drowning. It mufl not however be denied, that Swallows have been fome- times found in a torpid ftate during the winter months ; but fuch inflances 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 inftanccs 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 fliort fpace of time. But whilft we admit the fadl, 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 fcafon emerge and re-affume the ordinary fundtions of life and anima- tion ; for, it fhould be obferved, that in thofe inflances, which bave been the beft authenticated, [See Forfter's Tranflation of Kalm's Travels into North America, p. 140— cote.] it appears, that the Swallows fo taken up

Introduction, tvu

birds have been found in a torpid ftate may be inferred from the following curious fad, 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 hfe, 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 Oftober. Mr White, in his Natural Hif- tory of Sclborne, 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 aftually found in a torpid Hate, leave us no room to doubt, that fuch young birds as have been late hatched, and confequently not fl:rong enough to undertake a long voyage to the coafl of Africa, are left behind, and re- main concealed in hiding places till the return of fpring : On the other hand, that aftual migrations of the Swallow tribes do take place, has been fully proved from a variety of well-attefted

were generally found entangled amongit reeds and rulhes, by the fides, or in the ftialloweft parts of the lakes or livers 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 fa(5ls thus ftated we would infer, that at the time of the difappearance of Swallows, the reedy grounds by the fides of livers and (landing waters are generally dry, and that thefe birds, cfpecially the later hatchings, which frequent fuch 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 arc fometimes walhed into the deeper parts of the lake or river where they have been accidentally taken up; and that probably the tranCent figns of life which they have difcovered on fuch occafions, have given rife to a variety of vague and improbable accounts of their iramerlion, &c.

b

Xviii iMTRODtJCTIOM.

fafts, moft of which have been taken from the obfervations of navigators who have been eye-witneffes of their flights, and whofe fliips 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 mafler of a veflel, who, whilit 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 fliip in the evening, bat difappeared before morning. After all our in- quiries into this branch of natural ceconomy, much yet remains to be known, and we may conclude, in the words of the inge- nious Mr White, " that whilfl; we obferve with delight with *' how much ardour and punftuality thofe little birds obey ** the fl:rong impulfe towards migration or hiding, imprinted *' on their minds by their great Creator, it is with no fmall de- ** gree of mortification that we refledl, that after all our pains ** and inquiries, we are not yet quite certain to what regions ** they do migrate, and are fl;i]l farther embarraflTed to find that . " fome do not actually migrate at all.

" Amufive birds! fay where your hid retreat, " When the froft rages, and the tempefts beat ;■ " Whence your return, by fuch nice inftjn«ft led, " When Spring, fweet feafon, lifts her bloomy head ? " Such baffled fearches mock man's prying pride, " The GOD of NATURE is your fecret guide !"

Mofl birds, at certain feafons, live together in pairs; the union is formed in the fpring, and generally continues whilfl the united efforts of both are neceffary in forming their tem- porary habitations, and in rearing and maintaining their ofF- fpring. Eagles and other birds of prey continue their attach- ment for a much longer time, and fometimes for life. The nefls of birds are conflru6ted 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 as the fituations they feledt, are as various as the different kinds

INTRODUCTION. tUt

of birds, and are all admirably adapted to their feveral wants and necelfities. Birds of the fame fpecies, whatever region of the globe they inhabit, colleft 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 nells, 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 furniflies materials for the aerial archi- te£ls ; leaves and fmall twigs, roots and dried graf?, 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.

Some to the holly hec'ge

** Neftling repair, and to the thicket feme ; " &c. &c.*

After the bufinefs of incubation is over, and the young are fuf- iiciently able to provide for themfelves, the nells 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 bellowed upon his creatures in general, demand, in a peculiar manner, the attention of the curious Naturalill ; amongft the feathered tribe in particular there is much room, in this refpedl, for minute and attentive inveftiga- tion. In purfuing our inquiries into that fyftem of oeconomy, by which every part of Nature is upheld and preferved, we are ilruck with wonder in obferving the havock and dedrudtion 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 dcfl.ru6tion myriads of creatures tp fupport and continue the exiftence of others j but, although

* See Thomfon's Seafons— Spring. b2

■St INTRODUCTION.

It is not allowed us to unravel the myfterious workings of Na^* ture through all her parts, or unfold her deep defigns, we are, neverthelefs, flrongly led to the confideration of the means by which individuals, as well as fpecies, are preferved and multiplied. The weak are frequently enabled to elude the purfuits of the llrong, 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 fcarcely to be diftinguirtied from the bark of the tree on which it feeds, or the Snipe from the foft and moffy ground by the fprings 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 exa£t obferver may be very eafiiy deceived.

The attentive Ornithologlft 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 Kingfilher is a remarkable in- ftance, and deferves to be particularly noticed. This beautiful bird has been obferved, in fome fequeftered 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 fmooth furface of the water ; the fifh, 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 fifh by torch-light has been derived from this pradifed by the Kingfifher, but every one muft be ftruck by the fimilarity of the means. Others, again, derive the fame advantage from the fimplicity of their exterior appearance ; of this the Heron \yill 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 lie never fails to feize as foon as it comes within reach of his long neck ; he then reafliimes his former pofition, and con- tinues to wait with the fame patient attention as before.

Moft of the fmaller birds are fupportedj efpecially when

INTRODUCTION. xxi

young, by a profufion of caterpillars, fmall worms, and infedts, with which every part of the vegetable world abounds ; which is by this means preferved from total deftruftlon, 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 ceiterpillars weekly ; they likewife feed their young with butterflies and other winged infefts, each of which, if not deftroyed in this manner, would be produflive of feveral hundreds of caterpillars." Sv/allows are almofl; con- tinually upon the wing, and in their curious winding flights de- llroy immenfe quantities of flies and other infefts which are con- tinually floating in the air, and which, if not deftroyed by thefe birds, would render it unfit for the pui-pofes of life and health. That aftive little bird, the Tomtit, which has generally been fuppofed hoftile to the young and tender buds which appear In the fpring, when attentively obferved, may be fcen running up and down amongft; the branches, and picking the fmall worms which are concealed In the bloflbms, and which would etTedlual- ly deftroy the fruit. As the feafon advances, various other fmall birds, fuch as the Redbreaft, Wren, Winter Fauvette or Hedge-fparrow, Whitethroat, Redftart, &c. are all engaged In the fame ufeful work, and may be obferved examining every leaf, and feeding upon the infefts which they find beneath them. —Thefe are a few inllances of that fuperintending providential care, which is continually exerted In preferving the various rarfks and orders of beings In the fcale of animated Nature ; and al- though it is permitted that myriads of Individuals fliould every moment be deftroyed, not a fingle fpecles 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 ilate of cultivation to that of the %vlldeft, moft mountainous, and woody. The great quantities

b3

xxii INTRODUCTION.

of berries and other kinds of fruit produced in our hedges, heaths, and plantations, bring fmall birds in great numbers, and birds of prey in confequence : Our ftiores, and the numerous little iflands adjacent to them, afford fhelter and proteftion to 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, vpe prefume, be unacceptable to our readers, nor im- proper in this part of our virork. The following ai-e felefted chiefly from Mr White's Natural Hiflory of Selborne, and are arranged nearly in the order of their appearing.

1 Wryneck, ------ Middle of March

2 Smallefl; Willow Wren, - - Latter end of ditto

3 Houfe Swallow, - - - . Middle of April

4 Martin, --_.-- Ibid

5 Sand Martin, - - . - - Ibid

6 Black-cap, ------ Ibid

7 Nightingale, ----- Beginning of Apr il

8 Cuckoo, - Middle of ditto

9 Middle Willow Wren, - - Ibid 3 0 White throat, ----- Ibid

11 Redftart, Ibid

12 Great Plover or Stone Curlew, End of March

1 3 Grafshopper Lark, - - - Middle of April

14 Swift, ------- Latter end of ditto

1^ Leffer Reed Sparrow, - -

16 Corncrake or Land Rail,

1 7 Largeft Willow Wren, - - End of April

1 8 Fern Owl, ------ Latter end of May

19 Flycatcher, ----- Middle of ditto.*

Moll of the foft-billed birds feed on infefts, and not on grain or feeds, and therefore ufually retire before winter ; but the fol- lowing, though they eat infefts, remain with us during the whole year, viz. The Redbreaft, Winter Fauvette, and Wren,

* This is the latcft fummer bird of paffage.

INTRODUCTION. xxiii

which frequent out-houfes and gardens, and eat fplders, fmall worms, crumbs, occ. The Pied, the Yellow, and the Grey- Wagtail, which frequent the heads of fprings, where the waters feldom freeze, and feed on the aureliae of infefls 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 lead of all the Bri- tifti birds, is very hardy, and can endure the utmoft feverity of our winters. The White rump, though not common, fometimes Itays the winter with us. — Of the winter birds of pafTage, the following are the principal, viz.

1 The Redwing or Wind Thrufh,

2 The Fieldfare. — [Both thefe airive 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 leaves 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 i-n Britain, that it may be doubted whether they ever entirely leave this ifland.

6 The Jiidcock 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 Odlober, and remains there till March, when it retires more northward to breed.

9 The Wild Goofe pafTes foutluvard in Odobcr, and re- turns northward in April.

b4

sxiv INTRODUCTION.

With regard to the Duck kind in general, they are moftly birds of pafTage. Mr Pennant obferves, *' Of the numerous " fpecies that form this genus, we know of no more than five *' that breed here, viz the Tame Swan, the Tame Goofe, the " Shield Duck, the Eider Duck, and a very fmall number of *' the Wild'Ducks : The reft contribute to form that amazing *' multitude of water fowl that annually repair from moft parts *' of Europe to the woods and lakes of Lapland and other arc- " tic regions, there to perform the funftions of incubation and *' nutrition in full fecurity. They and their young quit their re- *' treats in September, and difperfe themfelves over Europe. "' With us they make their appearance in the beginning of " 06lober, circulate firft round our fhores, and, when compel- *' led by fevere froft, betake themfelves to our lakes and ri- *' vers."— In winter the Bernacles and Brent Geefe appear in vaft flocks on the north-weft coaft of Britain, and leave us in February, when they 'migrate as far as Lapland, Greenland, or Spltzbergen.

The Solon Geefe or Gannets are birds of paffage j their firft appearance is ia March, and they continue till Auguft or Sep- tember. The Long-legged Plover and Sanderling vifit us in winter only ; and it is worthy of remark, that every fpecies of the Curlews, Woodcocks, Sandpipers, and Plovers, which for- fake us in the fpring, retire to Sweden, Poland, Pruffia, Nor- 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 them totally of fubfiftence.

Befides thefe, there is a great variety of birds which perform partial migrations, or fiittings, 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-lhores in queft of food ; others, as the Wren, the Redbreaft, and a variety of fmall birds, quit the fields, and approach the habitations of men. The Bohemian Chatterer, the Grofbeak, gnd t^e Crofsbill, are only occafional vlfitors, and obferve no

INTRODUCTION. xxv

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 fmce 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. Moft birds acquire their fidl 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 fald 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 fmall birds have been kept in cages from fifteen to twenty years.

To the praftical Ornithologlft there arifes a confiderable gra- tification in being able to difcern the diftlnguifiiing characters of birds as they appear at a dlitance, whether at reft, or during their flight ; for not only every fpecies has fomething pecuh'ar to itfelf, but each genus has its own appropriate marks, upon which a judicious obferver may difcrimlnate with almoft uner- ring certainty. Of thefe, the various modes of flight afford the moft certain and obvious means of dlftlnftlon, and fhould be noted with the moft careful attention. From the bold and lofty flight of the Eagle, to the fliort and fudden flittlngs 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, tracing the various movements of the feathered nations which every where prefent themfelves to his view. The notes, or, as it may with more propriety be called, the language, of birds, whereby they are enabled to exprefs, in no inconfider-

xxvT INTRODUCTION.

able degree, their various paflions, 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 ad: 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 fpecies of quadrupeds, and affords them the greateft means of fafety from thofe attacks to which their weaknefs would otherwife expofe them. The focial inftinft among birds is pe- culiarly lively and interelling, and likewife proves an effeftual means of prefervation from the various arts which are made ufe of to circumvent and deftroy them. Individuals may perifli, and the fpecies may fuffer a diminution of its numbers j but its inftinfls, habits, and csconomy remain entire.

* White's Selborne,

CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME:

	Page.		Page.
Birds of Prey	1	Of the Onvl	43
The Falcon tribe	2	I Great-eared Owl	45
I Golden Eagle	5	2 Long-eared Owl	46
2 Ringtailed Eagle	7	3 Short-eared Owl	48
3 White-tailed Eagle	9	4 Female Horned Owl 50
4 Sea Eagle	II	5 White Owl	51
5 Ofprey	13	6 Tawny Owl	53
6 Common Buzzard	15	7 Little Owl	54
7 Honey Buzzard	17 19
8 Moor Buzzard
9 Kite	21	Of the Shrike -	56
lo Gofhawk	23	I Great afh-coloured
1 1 Sparrowhawk	27	Shrike	58
12 Jer- Falcon	26	2 Red-backed Shrike	60
J 3 Gentil- Falcon	30	3 Woodchat	61
14 Lanner	32 33
15 Hen Harrier
16 Ringtail	35	Birds of the Pie kind	63
17 Keftril	36	I Raven	66
18 Hobby -	39	2 Carrion Crow	6S
19 Merlin	41	3 Hooded Crow	69

xxviii	CONTENTS.
	Page.		Page.
4 Rook * ,	71	0/ the Grojheak	129
5 Jackdaw »	73	I Crofsbill	130
6 Magpie	75	2 Grofbeak	133
7 Red-legged Crow	77	3 Pine Grofbeak	^IS
8 Nutcracker	79	4 Green Grofbeak	136
9 Jay	80	5 Bullfinch	138
lo Chatterer	83 85
II Roller
12 Starling	88	Of the Bunthig	140
Rofe-coloured Ouzel 91	X Bunting . .	141
Ring Ouzel	92	2 Yellow Bunting	143
' Black Ouzel	94	3 Black-headed Bun-
Miffel Thrufh	96	ting	H5
Fieldfare	98	4 Snow Bunting	148
Throftle . " .	100	5 Tawny Bunting	150
Redwing	102 104
Cuckoo •
Wryneck •	III	Of the Finch	»53
		1 Houfe Sparrow 2 Mountain Sparrow	154
	158
The Woodpeckers	114	3 Chaffinch	160
1 Green Woodpecker	116	4 Mountain Finch	163
2 Greater fpotted		5 Goldfinch	165
Woodpecker	118	6 Siflcin	167
3 Middle fpotted		7 Canary Finch	169
Woodpecker	119	8 Linnet	171
4 Lefler fpotted Wooc	l-	9 Greater Redpole	173
pecker	120	- 10 LefTer Redpole .	174
Nuthatch	121 123
Hoopoe . ,
Creeper	12J	Of the Lark	176
		1 Skylark 2 Fieldlark	178
	180
Of the Pajferine order	127	3 Grafshopper Lark	181

	CONTENTS.	xxix
	Page.		Page.
4 Wood Lark »	183	Of the Tit7mtfe . .	235
5 Titlark •	185	1 Greater Titmoufe	237
		2 Blue Titmoufe 3 Cole Titmoufe	239
	241
Of the Wagtail 1 Pied Wagtail .	187 188	4 Mavfli Titmoufe 5 Long-tailed Tit-	242
2 Grey Wagtail 3 Yellow Wagtail	190 191	moufe 6 Bearded Titmoufe	243 245
Of the Flycatchers I Pied Flycatcher	193 ^9S	Of the Snualloiu I Chimney Swallow	24S 252
2 Spotted Flycatcher	196	2 Martin 3 Sand Martin 4 Swift	255 258
	259
Of the Warblers	198	Night-Jar	262
I Nightingale	199 203
2 Dartford Warbler
3 Redbreafl	204	Of the Dove kind ,	265
4 Red dart	208	I Wild Pigeon	267
5 Fauvette	209	2 Ring Dove	270
6 Leffer Fauvette	212	3 Turtle Dove .	272
7 Winter Fauvette	213 215
8 Reed Fauvette
9 Blackcap	217	Of the Gallinaceous kind	' 274
10 Whitethroat	219	I Domeitic Cock	276
1 1 Yellow Willow Wren 220	2 Pheafant	282
12 Willow Wren	222	3 Turkey .	286
1 3 Leaft Willow Wrer	1 223	4 Peacock	289
14 Golden-crefted Wren 224	5 Pintado . .	293
15 Wren	227	6 Wood Groufe	29J
16 White-rump	229	7 Black Groufe	298
17 Whinchat	231	8 Red Groufe	301
18 Stonechat	233	9 White Groufe	3^3

XXX	CONTENTS.
	Page.		Page.
10 Partridge .	305	I Great Plover	321
II Quail	308	2 Pee-wit	324
12 Corncrake	3^^	3 Golden Plover	. 329
1 3 Great Buftard	3H	4 Gray Plover	11"^
14 Little Buftard	3'8	5 Dotterel	' 332
	320	6 Ring Dotterel	334
Of the Plover

HISTORY

OF

BRITISH BIRDS.

VOL. I.

?cv»<!r3CJi«s^*tCi"&«.>oc»<

BRITISH BIRDS.

•aas<,isc;s*:,T,ic»'wi:*Jf'ii!'S?Bj!>K:w,:»«

BIRDS OF FRET.

Rapacious birds, or thofe which fubfift chiefly on flefli, are much lefs numerous than ravenous quadrupeds ; and it feems wifely provided by na- ture, that their powers ftiould 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 artifice could evade the one, and no fpeed could efcape the other.

The characters of birds of the ravenous kind are particularly flrong, and eafily to be difllngulfli- ed ; the formidable talons, the large head, the ftrong and crooked beak, indicate their ability for rapine and carnage ; their difpofitlons are fierce, and their nature untraftable ; 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- fcfts of their depredatory excurfions. The fierce- iififs of their nature extends even to their young,

B

2 BRITISH BIRDS.

which they drive from the neft at a very early period ; the difficuhy of procuring a conftant fup- ply of food for them fometimes overcomes the' feelings of parental afFeftion ; and they have been known to deflroy 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 : naturalifla have puzzled themfelves to affign the reafon of this extraordinary property, but the final caufe at leafl is obvious : — The care of rearing her young being folely intrufted to the female, nature has furnillied her with more ample powers to provide for her own wants and thofe «)f her offspring.

This formidable tribe conflitutes the firft order among the genera of birds. Thofe of our own country confill only of two kinds, viz. the Falcon and the Owl. — We Ihall begin with the former.

THE FALCON TRIBE.

The numerous families of which this kind is compofed, are found in almofl every part of the world, from the frigid to the torrid zone ; they are divided into various clalFes or tribes, confift- ing of Eagles, Kites, Buzzards, Hawks, &c. and are readily known by the following diftinguifhing charadleriftics :

The bill is ftrong, fharp, and much hooked, and is furnilhed with a naked Ikin or cere fituated at

British birds. ^

the bafe, in which are placed the noilrils ; the head and neck are well clothed with feathers, which fufficiently dillinguifh it from every one of the vulture kind; the legs and feet are fcaly, claws large and ftrong, much hooked, and very Iharp : Birds of this fpecies are alfo diftinguiflied by their undaunted courage, and great activity. BufFon, fpeaking of the Eagle, compares it with the Lion, and afcribes to it the magnanimity, the flrength, and the forbearance of that noble quadru- ped. The Eagle defpifes fmall animals, and dif- yegards their infults ; he feldom devours the whole of his prey, but, like the Lion, leaves the fragments to other animals ; though famillied 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; dellined for war and plunder, they are equally fierce, bold, and untraftable. Such is the refemblance which that ingenious and fanciful wri- ter has pidured of thefe two noble animals ; the characters of both are llriking 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

4

BRITISH filRD^.

young : at this feafon the return of the fmaller bird^ 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 Ihort diftance from each other. Thofe who have an opportunity of obferving their motions, fay, that the one beats the bullies, 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 fmall 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 paffed 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.

BRITISH BIRDS.

THE GOLDEN EAGLE,

{Falco ChryfatoSj Linnaeus. — Le grand Aigle^ BufFon.)

Is the largeft of the genus : It meafures, from the point of t^ie bill to the extremity of the toes,

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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 a projeding 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 Ihafts ; the tail is black, fpotted with afli 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 length. — This noble bird is found in various parts of Europe ; it abounds moll 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 three, and fometimes four eggs, of which it feldom Jiappens 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 Northumberland, fays, it former- ly had its aery on the higheft and fteepeft part of Cheviot. In the beginning of January, 1735, a very large one was ftiot near Warkworth, which meafured, from point to point of its wings, eleven feet and a quarter.

British birds.

THE RINGTAILED EAGLE.

{Falco FuIvuSb Lin» — USigle Commtin. BufF.)

This 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

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8

BRITISH BIRDS.

fame brown colour, diftinguifhed only by a deep- er Ihade ; and are nearly of the fame fize. In both, the upper part of the head and neck is mixed with ruft 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 Ikin of a dirty brown colour ; the legs are feathered to the toes, which are yellow, and the claws black ; die 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 diffiifed than the Golden Eagle, and prefers more northern climates. It is found in France, Ger- many, Switzerland, Great Britain, and in America §s far north as Hudfon's Bay.

BRITISH BIRDS.

THE WHITE-TAILED EAGLE.

GREAT ERNE— CINEREOUS EAGLE. {Falco AlbiullOi Lin. — Le grand Py^argtie^ BufF.)

10 BRITISH BIRDS.

Of 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 fmall Erne, or leffer White-tailed Eagle ; and the White-headed Erne, or Bald Eagle. The two firft are dillinguifhed 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 afh colour, mixed with reddifli brown; the general colour of the plumage is brown, dark- efl 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 legs, 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 ftrength 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 fliort time. It has commonly two or three young, and builds its neft upon lofty trees.

BRITISH BIRDS.

II

THE SEA EAGLE.

{Falco Ojftfragusy Lin. — UOrfraie, Buff.)

This 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.

13 BRITISH BIRDS.

Its bill is large, much hooked, and of a blueifti colour ; its eye is yellow ; a row of ftrong briftly 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 breall and belly whitilh, with irregular fpots of brown ; the tail feathers are dark brown ; the outer edges of the exterior feathers whitilh; the quill feathers and thighs are dulky ; the legs and feet yellow ; the claws, which are large, and form a compleat femipircle, 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 however widely difperfed, and was met with at Botany Hand by Captain Cook. It lives chiefly on fifli; 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 diftindlly in the dark, as to be able to purfue and catch its prey during the night. The llory of the Eagle, brought to the ground after a fevere confliQ: 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-witnefs of the fad, made a drawing of it, which he afterwards engraved*

BRtTISH BIRDS.

«3

THE OSPREY.

BALD BUZ2ARD, SEA EAGLE, OR FISHING HAWK. {Falco Haliatusy Iau—Lc Balhuzard, BufF.)

The length of this bird is two feet ; its breadth, from tip to tip, above five ; its bill is black, with a blue cere, and its eye is yellow ; the crown of its head is white, marked with oblong dullvy fpots ; its cheeks, and all the under parts of its body, are white, flightly fpotted with brown on its breaft ; from the comer of each eye a ftreak of brown ex-

14 BRITISH BIRDS.

tends down the fides of the neck toward the wirig j 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 Ihort 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.

BufFon obferves that the Ofprey is the moll 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 Ihore, and on the bor- ders of rivers and lakes ; its principal food is filh ; it darts upon its prey with great rapidity, and with undeviating aim. The Italians compare, its de- fcent upon the water to a piece of lead falling up- on that element, and diftinguilh it by the name of Auguilta 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 fpecics.

BRITISH BIRDS.

15

THE COMMON BUZZARD.

{Falco Buteo, Lin. — La Bufe, BufF.)

M. BuFFON diflinguiflies 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 poflefTed of flrength, agility, and weapons to defend themfelves, they are cowardly, inactive, and flothful ; they will fly before a Sparrow-hawk, and when overtaken will fuffer themfelves to be

l6 BRITISH BIRDS.

beaten, and even brought to the ground without refiftance.

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 dulky brown colour ; the wings and tail are marked with bars of a darker hue ; the upper parts pale, variegated with a light red- dilh brown ; the legs are yellow ; claws black. This v/ell-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, fmall quadrupeds, reptiles, and infefts ; its neft is conftrufited with fmall branches, lined in the infide with wool, and other foft mate- rials ; it lays two or three eggs, of a whitilh co- lour, fpotted with yellow ; it feeds and tends its young with great affiduity. 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 fpecies are fub- jedl to greater variations than molt 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 bii;ds by John Trevelyan, Efq. of Wallington, in the county of Northumberland, by whom it \3ras Ihot in the

BRITISH BIRDS,

»7

a6l of devouring its prey, which confifled of a par- tridge it had juil killed : The flelh was entirely leparated from the bones, which, with the legs and wings, were afterwards difcovered laying at a fmall diftance from the place where it had been fliot.

THE HONEY BUZZARD.

{Faleo Jp'ivoriiSi Lin.— Za Bondree^ BufF.)

Is as large as the Buzzard, meafuring twen- ty-two inches in length ; its wings extend above

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15 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 afli colour ; upper parts of the body dark brown ; the under parts white, fpotted or barred with rufty brown on the breait and belly ; tail brown, marked with three broad dufl^y bars, between each of which are two or three of the fame colour, but narrower j the legs are ftout and ftiort, 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 alh colour, with fmall brown fpots : It fometimes takes poffeflion of the nefts of other birds, and feeds its young with wafps and other in- fects ; 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 bufh 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 LIRDS.

»9

-=^^-- i^;!-^-^''- ^^^"i^-

. MOOR BUZZARD.

DUCK HAWK, OR WHITE-HEADED HARPY. [Falco JEriiginofuSy Lin. — Le Bufardy BufF)

Length 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 of a light rufl; colour ; the reft of the plumage is of a reddifli brown, with pale edges ; the greater wing coverts tipped with white ; the legs are yellow -, claws black. Our figure and

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20 BRITISH EIRDS.

defcrlptioii are taken from a very fine living bird fent us by John Silvertop, Eiq. of Minfter-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 defcribed 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- wife feeds on fifli, frogs, reptiles, and even infefts :■ Its haunts are in hedges and buflies near pools, marflies, and rivers, that abound with fifli ; it builds its nefl a little above the furface of the ground, or in hillocks covered with thick herbage j the female lays three or four eggs, of a whitilh colour, irregularly fprinkled with duflcy fpots : — Though fmaller, it is more adive and bolder T;han the Common Buzzard ; and when purfued, it meets its aijitagonift, and makes a vigorous defence.

BRITISH BIRDS.

21

THE KITE.

PUTTOK, FORK-TAILED KYTE, OR GLEAD. {Falco AlUvuSy lAu.—Le Milan Royals Buff.)

This bird is eafily dillinguiflied from the Buz- zard by its forked tail, which is its peculiar and diftinguifliing feature : Its length is about two feet ; its bill is of a horn colour, furniflied with briflles at its bafe ; its eyes and cere are yellow ; the fea- thers on the head and neck are long and narrow, of a hoary colour, ftreaked with brown down the middle of each ; the body is of a reddifli brown co- lour, the margin of each feather being pale ; the

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*-- 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 whitilh colour, fpotted with pale yellow, and of a roundifli 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 dillance it perceives its food diflinftly, 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 fufficient to drive away the robber.

BRITISH BIRDS.

23

THE GOSHAWK.

{Falco Palumbar'wsy Lin — V Autour^ Buff.)

This 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 whitifli 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 alli

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24 BRITISFI BIRDS.

colour, and croffed with four or five duiky 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 male and a female, makes the following obferva- tions : That the Golhawk, before it has flied its fea- thers, that is, in its firft year, is marked on the breaft and belly with longitudinal brown fpots; but 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 Gofliawk feeds on mice and fmall birds, and eagerly devours raw flefli ; it plucks the birds very neatly, and tears them into pieces before it eats them, but fwallows the pieces entire ; and frequent- ly difgorges the hair rolled up in fmall pellets.

The Gofhawk is found in France and Germany; it is not very common in this country, but is more frequent in Scotland ; it is likewife common in North America, Ruffia, and Siberia : In Chinefc 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 fporting excurfions, when he is ufually attended by his grand falconer, and a thoufand of inferior rank. Every bird has a fdver plate fattened 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

BRITISH BIRDS. 25

perfon ; but if he lliould not be found, the bird is delivered to another oflicer called the guardian of Iq/l birds, who, to make his fituation known, ere£ls his ftandard in a confpicuous place among the ar- my of liunters. In former times the cuflom of carrying a hawk on the hand was confined to men of high diilinclion, fo that it was a faying among the Welfli, *' you may know a gentleman by his hawk, liorle, and greyhound." Even the ladies in thofe times were partakers of this gallant fport, and have been reprefented in fculpture with liawks on their hands. At prefent this noble diverfion is wholly laid afide in this country ; the advanced Hate 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, v/here he may purfue his game without moleftation to hirafelf, or injury to his neighbour. The expence which attended this fpoit was very confiderable, which confined it to princes and men of the highefi: rank. In the time of James I. Sir Thomas Monfon is faid to have given a thoufand pounds for a call 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 punifliable with imprifonment for a year and a day, together with a fine at the king's pleafure. Such was the pleallire our anceilors took in this royal fport, and fuch were the means by whicJi they en-

26

BRITISH BIRDS.

deavoured to fecure it. — Befides the bird jull de- fcribed, 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 diftinguilhed from the Golhawk, the Sparrowhawk, the Kite, and the Buzzard, which are of Ihorter wing, flower in their motions, more indolent, and lefs courageous than the others.

BRITISH BIRDS.

27

THE SPARROWHAWK.

{Fa/co Nifusy Lin. — UEpervkry Buff.)

The length of the male is twelve inches ; that of the female fifteen : Its bill is blue, furnifhed with brillles at the bafe, which overhang the nollrils; the colour of the eye is bright orange ; the head is flat at the top, and above each eye is a flrong bony projection, which feems as if intended to fecure it from external injur}'-; from this projedion u few fcattered fpots of white form a faint line run- ning backward towards the neck ; the top of the head and all the upper parts of the body are of a dulky brown colour ; on the back part of the head there is a faint line of white ; the fcapulars are marked with two fpots of white on each feather ; the greater quill feathers and the tail are diiflv}-,

23 BP,.ITISH BIRDS.

witli four bars of a darker hue on eacli ; the inner edges of all the quills are marked with two or more large white fpots ; the tips of the tail feathers are white ; the breaft, belly, and under coverts of the wings and thighs are white, beautifully barred with brown ; the throat is faintly ftreaked with brown ; the legs and feet are yellow ; claws black.

The above defcription is that of a female ; the male differs both in lize and colour, the upper part of his body being of a dark lead colour, and the bars on his breaft more numerous. The Sparrow- hawk is a bold and fpirited bird, and veiy numer- ous in various parts of the world, from Ruffia to the Cape of Good Hope. The female builds her neft in hollow trees, high rocks, or lofty ruins, fometimes in old crows' nefts, and generally lays four or five eggs, fpotted with reddifli fpots at the longer end. The Sparrowhawk is obedient and docile, and can be eafily trained to hunt partridges and quails ; it makes great deflruclion among pi- geons, young poultry, and fmall birds of all kinds, which it will attack and carry off in the molt da- ring manner.

BRITISH BIRDS. 29

THE JER-FALCON.

{Falco Gyrfalcoy Lin.— L^? Gerfaut, BulF.)

This is a very elegant fpecles, and equals the Gofhawk in fize : Its bill is much hooked, and yel- low ; the iris is dufky ; the throat white, as is likewife the general colour of the plumage, fpotted with brown ; the breaft and belly are marked with lines, pointing downwards ; the fpots on the back and wings are larger ; the feathers on the thighs are very long, and of a pure white ; thofe of the tail are barred ; the legs are of a pale blue, and feathered below the knee. This bird is a native of the cold and dreary climates of the north, being found in Ruffia, Norway, and Iceland ; it is never feen in v.^arm, and feldom in temperate climates; it is found, but rarely, in Scotland and the Orkneys. BufFon mentions three varieties of the Jer- Falcon; the firft is brown on all the upper parts of the bo- dy, and white fpotted with brown on the under : This is found in Iceland : The fecond is very fmiilar to it ; and the third is entirely white. Next to the Eagle, it is the mofl formidable, the mod a£tive, and the moil intrepid of all voracious birds, and is the dearefl and mod efteemed for falconry : It is tranfported from Iceland and RufTia into France, Italy, and even into Perfia and Turkey — nor does the heat of thefe climates appear to diminilli its

30 BRITISH BIRDS.

ftrength, or blunt its vivacity. It boldly attacks the largeft of the feathered race ; the Stork, the Heron, and the Crane are eafv viftims : It kills hares by darting diredly upon them.^ The female, as in all other birds of prey, is much larger and Itronger than the male, which is ufed in falconry only to catch the Kite, the Heron, and the Crow.

THE GENTIL-FALCON.

{Falco GefJtilisj Lin.)

Tnis bird is fomevvhat larger than the Goftiawk: Its bill is lead colour ; cere and irides yellow ; the head and back part of the neck are rully ftreaked with black ; the back and wings are brown ; fca- pulars tipped with rufty ; the quills dufky j the outer webs barred with black ; the lower part of the inner webs marked with white ; the tail is long, and marked with alternate bars of black and afli colour, and tipped with white ; the legs are yel- low, and the claws black ; the wings do not ex- tend farther than half the length of the tail.

Naturalifts have enumerated a great variety of Falcons : and in order to fwell tlie lift, they have introduced the fame bird at different periods of its life ; and have, not unfrequently, fubftituted acci- dental differences of climate as conftituting perma- nent varieties ; fo that, as BufFon obferves with his ufual acutenefs, one would be apt to imagine that

BRITISH BIRDS. 3 1

there were as many varieties of the Falcon as of the Pigeon, the Hen, and other domellic 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 exifling in this part of the works of nature has fometimes led the too curious inquirer into unnecefiary 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 — whilft others differ only in fome uneffential point, arifmg 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 Paffenger 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 breafl is of a yel- lowifh white, marked with a few fmall dufky lines ; the belly, thighs, and vent of a greyifli white, croffed with dufky bands ; the quills are dufky, fpotted with white ; the tail is finely barred with blue and black i the legs are yellow j the claws black.

BRITISH BIRDS.

THE LANNER.

(Falco LanariuSf Lin. — Le Lanier y Buff)

This 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 of a dull yellow, marked with brown fpots ; thighs and vent the fame ; the quill feathers are dulky, marked on the inner webs with oval fpots, of a ruil colour ; the tail is fpotted in the fame manner ; the legs are Ihort and flrong, and of a blueifn colour. The Lanner is not com- mon in England ; it breeds in Ireland, and is found in various parts of Europe : It derives its name from its mode of tearing its prey into fmall pieces with its bill.

|i;Q|&..,...«ai^^

BRITISFI BIRDS.

S3

THE HEN-HARRIER.

DOVE-COLOURED FALCON, OR BLUE HAWK. [Fa! CO CyaneuSy Lin. — UOifeau St. Martin y Buff.)

The length feventeen inches ; breadth, from tip to tip, fomewhat more than three feet ; the bill is black, and covered at the bafe with long briftly feathers ; the cere, irides, and edges of the eye- lids are yellow; the upper parts of the body are of a blueilh grey colour, mixed with light tinges of rufty ; the breaft and under coverts of the wings are white, the former marked with rufty coloured ftreaks, the latter with bars of the fame colour ; the greater quills are black, the fecondaries and

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34 BRITISH BIRDS.

lelTer quills afli-coloured ; on the latter, in fome birds, a fpot of black in the middle of each feather forms a bar acrofs the wing ; the two middle fea- thers of the tail are grey, the three next are mark- ed on their inner webs with dulky bars, the two outermoft are marked with alternate bars of white and ruft colour ; the legs are long and llender, and of a yellow colour. Thefe birds vary much ; of feveral which we have been favoured with, from John Silvertop, Efq. fome were perfectly white on the under parts, and of a larger fize than common : — We fuppofe the difference arifes from the age of the bird.*

The Hen-harrier feeds on birds, lizards, and other reptiles ; it breeds annually on Cheviot, and on the fliady precipices under the Roman wall by Crag- lake ;| it flies low, feimming along the furface of the ground in fearch of its prey : The female makes her neft on the ground, and lays four eggs, of a red- difh colour, with a few white fpots.

* It has been fuppofed that this and the following are male and female ; but the repeated inftances of Hen-harriers of both fcxes having been feen, leaves it beyond all doubt, that they conftitute tv?o diflinft fpecies.

f Wallis's Natural Hiftory of Northumberland.

BRITISH BIRDS.

THE RINGTAIL.

{Fako PygarguSf Lin. — Soubu/ey BufF.)

Its length is twenty inches ; breadth three feet nine ; its bill is black ; cere and irides yellow ; the upper part of the body is dufls:y ; the breaft, bel- ly, and thighs are of a yellowifli brown, marked with oblong duiky fpots ; the rump white ; from the back part of the head behind the eyes to the throat there Is a line of whitilli coloured feathers, forming a collar or wreath ; under each eye there is a white fpot; the tail is long, and marked with alternate brown and dullcy bars ; the legs are yel- low ; claws black.

D 2

36

BRITISH BIRDS.

THE KESTREL.

STONEGALL, STANNEL HAWK, OR WINDHOVER. [Falco TinnunculuSy Lin. — La Crefferelky Buff.)

The male of this fpecies differs fo much from the female, and is fo rarely feen, that we have gi- ven a figure of it from one we had in our poffeflion. Its length is fourteen inches ; breadth two feet three inches ; its bill is blue ; cere and eyelids yellow ; eyes black ; the forehead dull yellow ; the top of the head, back part of the neck, and fides, as far as the points of the wdngs, are of a lead colour, faintly ftreaked with black ; the cheeks are paler ; from the corner of the mouth on each fide there- is a dark ftreak pointing downwards ; the back and coverts of the wings are of a bright vinous colour, fpotted with black J quill feathers dufky, with light edges ; all the under part of the body is of a pale ruft colour.

BRITISH BIRDS. 37

flreaked and fpotted v/ith black ; thighs plain ; the tail feathers are of a fine blue grey, with black fliafts ; towards the end there is a broad black bar both on the upper and under fides j tlie tips are white J the legs are yellow, and the claws black.

THE FEMALE KESTREL.

This beautiful bird is diftinguillied from e- very other Hawk by its variegated plumage ; its bill is blue ; cere and feet yellow ; eyes dark co- loured, furrounded with a yellow Ikin ; its head is ruft coloured, flreaked with black; behind each eye there is a bright fpot ; the back and wing co- verts are elegantly marked with numerous undu- lated bars of black ; the breaft, belly, and thighs

D3

^8 BRITISH BIRDS.

are of a pale reddifh colour, with dulky ftreaks pointing downwards ; vent plain ; the tail is mark- ed by a pretty broad black bar near the end, a number of fmaller ones, of the fame colour, occu- pying the remaining part ; the tip is pale.

The Keftrel is widely diffufed throughout Eu- rope, and is found in the more temperate parts of North America : It is a handfome bird, its fight is acute, and its flight eafy and graceful : It breeds in the hollows of trees, and in the holes of rocks, towers, and ruined buildings ; it lays four or five eggs, of a pale reddifh colour : Its food confifts of fmall birds, field mice, and reptiles : After it has fecured its prey, it plucks the feathers very dex- terously from the birds, but fwallows the mice en^ tire, and difcharges the hair at the bill in the form of round balls. This bird is frequently feen ho- 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 Ihoots like an arrow. It was formerly ufed in Great Bri- tain for catching fmall birds and young Partridges,

BRITISH BIRDS.

39

THE HOBBY.

(Faico Suhbuteot Lin, — Le Hohreauy BufF.)

The length of the male is twelve inches ; breadth about two feet ; the bill is blue ; cere and orbits of the eyes yellow j 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 crefcent, and extending downwards on the neck ; the breall and belly are

D4

40 BRITISH BIRDS.

pale, marked with dulky ftreaks ; the thighs rufly, with long duiky llreaks ; 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 fpots on her breafl more confpicuous than thofe of ^e male ; the legs and feet are yellow.

The Hobby breeds with us, but is faid to emi- grate in October. It was formerly ufed in falcon- Xy, chiefly for Larks and other fmall birds. The mode of catching them was fmgular; when the Hawk was call off, the Larks, fixed to the ground through fear, became an eafy prey to the fowler, |)y drawing a net over them. Buffon fays that it was ufed iu hunting Partridges and Quails,

BRITISH BIRDS.

41

THE MERLIN.

{Fiilco jS^/a/c/if Lin. — L'Emerillony BufF.)

The 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 rull colour, flreaked with black ; back and wings of a dark blueifn. afh colour, ftreaked and fpotted with ruft colour ; quill feathers dark, mark- ed with reddilh fpots ; the bread and belly are of a yellowifli white, with ftreaks of brown pointing downwards ; the tail is long, and marked with al- ternate dufky and reddilh bars ; the wings, when clofed, do not reach quite to the end of the tail ; the legs ar$ yellow ; claws black.

42

BRITISH BIRDS.

The Merlin, though fmall, is not inferior in cou- rage to any of the Falcon tribe. It was ufed for 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 vifits us in Oftober; it flies low, and with great ce- lerity and eafe ; it preys on fniall birds, and breeds in woods, laying fiv^ or fix eggs.

•'^'^ i ,"', I •" u\Vi J ** . ilH'

BRITISH BIRDS. 43

OF THE OWL,

The Owl is dillinguiflied among birds of the ra- pacious kind by peculiar and llriking characters : Its outward appearance is not more fmgular than are its habits and difpofitions ; unable to bear the brighter light of the fun, the Owl retires to fome 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 fmal- ler animals, which are its principal food, are feek- ing their neftling places, the Owl comes forth from its lurking holes in quell of its prey. Its eyes are admirably adapted for this purpofe, being fo form- ed as to diftinguifh objeQis with greater facility in the duflc than in broad day -light : Its flight is ra- pid and filent during its notSlurnal 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 fmall birds of various kinds, who, feeing his embarraflment, purfue him v/itli incefTant cries, and torment him with their move- ments ; the Jay, the Thrulh, the Blackbird, tlie Redbreaft, and the Titmoufe all afTemble 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 infigniii-

44 BRITISH BIRDS,

cant gefhires, turning its head, its eyes, and its bo- dy with all the appearance of mockery and aiFefta- 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 diftindt- ly in open day.

Nodlurnal 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 Handing up like ears on each fide of the head, which may be erefted or depreffed at the pleafure of the animal ; and in all probability are of ufe in directing the or- gans of hearing, which are very large, to their pro- per objedl. Both kinds agree in having their eyes fo formed as to be able to purfue 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 itfelf is the center ; the beak and talons are ftrong and crooked j the body very Ihort, 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 fmoothnefs and filence of its flight.

We fliall now proceed to mention thofe particu- lar fpecies which are found in this country, and fliall begin with the largeft of them.

BRITISH BIRDS. 45

THE GREAT-EARED OWL.

{Striix BtihOf Lin. — Le grand Duc^ Buff)

Trirs bird is not much inferior in fize to an Ea- gle : 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 ftrong, and much hooked; its eyes large, and of a bright yellow; the whole plumage is of a rulty brown, finely va- riegated with black and yellow lines, fpots, and fpecks ; its belly is ribbed with bars of a brown colour, confufedly intermixed ; its tail Ihort, mark- ed with dulky bars ; its legs are ftrong, and cover- ed to the claws with a tliick clofe down, of a rufl: colour ; its claws are large, much hooked, and of a duflvy colour : Its neft is large, being nearly three feet in diameter ; it is compofed of flicks 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; inaccefiible 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,

THE LONG-EARED OWL.

HORN OWL. {Sirix Otus, Lin. — Le HiboUf BufF.)

Its 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 of a dark rufty brown entirely furrounds the face ; its horns or ears confifi; 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 flreaks 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 dulky and reddilh bars ; the legs are feathered down to the claws, which are very Iharp ; 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- ftrufts a nefl of its own, but not unfrequently occu- pies that of the Magpie ; it lays four or five eggs ; the young are at firll white, but acquire their na- tural colour in about fifteen days.

48

BRITISH BIRDS.

THE SHORT-EARED OWL.

{Sinx Brachyoiosj Phil. Tranf. vol, 62, p. 384.)

Length fourteen inches ; breadth three feet: The head is fmall, and Hawk-like ; bill dufky ; the eyes are of a bright yellow, which, when the pupil is contradted, Ihine like gold ; the circle round each eye is of a dirty white, with dark llreaks pointing outwards ; immediately round the eye there is a circle of black; the two horns or ears, in thofe we have examined, confift of not more than three feathers, of a pale brown or tawny colour, with a

BRITISH BIRDS. 49

dark Ilreak in the middle of each ; the whole up- per part of the body is varioully marked with dark brown and tawny, the feathers being moflly edged with the latter ; the breaft and belly are of a pale yellow, marked with dark longitudinal llreaks, which are mofl numerous on the bread ; 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 likewife marked with bars of the fame colour, the middle feathers of which are dillinguilhed by a dark fpot in the centre of the yellow fpace ; the tip is white. Of feveral of thefe birds, both male and female, which we have been favoured with by our friends, we ihave obferved that both had the upright tufts or ears : In one of thefe, which was alive in our pof- felllon, they were very confpicuous, and appeared more ere£l while the bird remained undifturbed ; but Vv'hen frightened, were fcarcely to be feen j — in the dead birds they were hardly difcernible.

Mr Pennant feems to be the firfl defcriber of tliis rare and beautiful bird, which he fuppofes to be a bird of palTage, as it only vifits us the latter end of the year, and returns in the fpring to the places of its fumraer refidence. It is found chiefly in v/ooded or mountainous countries : Its food is principally field mice, of which it is very fond.

E

50

BRITISH BIRDS,

THE FEMALE HORNED OWL.

This 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 poffeffion, we fuppofed it to be a dillinft kind — but having Unce feen feveral, both males and females, we are convinced of our miflake.

BRITISH BIRDS,

51

THE WHITE OWL.

BARN OWL, CHURCH OWL, GILLIHOWLET, OR SCREECH-OWL,

{Strix Flammeay Lin. — VEffra'ie^ ou la Frefah^ Buff.)

Length fourteen inches : Bill pale horn colour ; eyes dark ; the radiated circle round the eye is compofed of feathers of the moil delicate foftnefs, and perfeftly white ; the head, back, and wings, are of a pale chefnut, beautifully powdered with very fine grey and brown fpots, intermixed with

E2

52 BRITISH BIRDS.

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 Ihort hairs ; the wings extend beyond the tail, which is fliort, and marked with alternate bars of dulky and white ; the claws are white. Birds of this kind vary confiderably ; of feveral which we h,ave had in our polTeffion, the differences were ve- ry confpicuous, the colours being more or lefs faint according to the age of the bird ; the bread 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 quefl 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 whitiih colour. It feeds on mice and fmall birds, which it fwallows whole, and afterwards emits the bones, feathers, ^nd other indigefliible parts, at its mouth, in the forni of fmall round cakes, which are often founcj in the empty buildings which it frequents.

BRITISH BIRDS,

S3

THE TAWNY OWL.

COMMON BROWN IVY OWL, OR HOWLET. [Sirix Stridiilay Lin. — Le Chathuant, Buff.)

Is about the fize of the laft : Its bill is white | eyes dark blue ; the radiated feathers round the eyes are white, finely flreaked 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 fcapulars are feveral large white fpots,

E5

_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 ; tlie 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 Pafferlnuy Lin. — La Cheviche ou petite ChouettCy BufF.)

This is the fmalleft of the Owl kind, being not larger than a Blackbird : Its bill is brown at the bafe, 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 fpotted with white ; the bre^ft and belly white, fpotted 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 j the toes and claws are of a brownifh colour. It frequents rocks, caverns, and ruined buildings, and builds its neft, which is conftrufted 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 nodurnal birds, and gives chace to fwallows and other fmall birds on the wing ; it like wife feeds on mice, which it tears in pieces with its bill and claws, and fwallows them by morfels : 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.

E4

^6 BRITISH BIRDS.

OF THE SHRIKE,

The laft clafs we fliall mention of birds of the rapacious kind is that of the Shrike, which, as M. BuiFon obferves, though they are fmall and of a delicate form, yet their courage, their appetite for blood, and their hooked bill, entitle them to be ranked with the boldeft and the moft fanguinary of the rapacious tribe. This genus has been variouf- ly placed in the fyftems of natnralifts ; fometimes it has been clalTed with the Falcons, fometimes with the Pies, and has even been ranked with the harmlefs and inoffenfive tribes of the PalTerine kind, to which indeed, in outward appearance at leaft, it bears no fmall refemblance. Conforma- ble, however, to the latefl: arrangements, we have placed it in the rear of thofe birds which live by rapine and plunder ; and, like moft of the connec- ting links in the great chain of nature, it will be found to poffefs a middle quality, partaking of thofe which are placed on each fide of it, and making thereby an eafy tranfition from the one to the o- ther.

The Shrike genus is diftinguilhed by the follow- ing charaderiftics : The bill is ftrong, ftraight at the bafe, and hooked or bent towards the end ; the upper mandible is notched near the tip, and the bafe is fumilhed with briftles ; it has no cere ; the

BRITISH BIRDS. 57

tongue is divided at the end ; the outer toe is con- nefted to the middle one as far as the firft joint. To thefe exterior marks we may add, that it pof- feffes the mofl undaunted courage, and will attack birds much larger and llronger than itfelf, fuch as the Crow, the Magpie, and moll of the fmaller kinds of Hawks ; if any of thefe lliould fly near the place of its retreat, the Shrike darts upon them with loud cries, attacks the invader, and drives it from its neft. The parent birds will fometimes join on fuch occafions ; and there are few birds that will venture to abide the conteft. Shrikes will chace all the fmall birds upon the wing, and fome- times will venture to attack Partridges, and even young hares. Thrufhes, Blackbirds, and fuch like, are their common prey ; they fix on them with their talons, fplit the iknll with their bill, and feed on them at leifure.

There are three kinds found in this kingdom, of which the following is the largeft.

58

BRITISH BIRDS.

GREAT ASH-COLOURED SHRIKE.

MURDERING PIE, OR GREAT BUTCHER BIRD. ^LaniuSy excubitoff hm.—La Pie-griefche grifsy Buff.)

The length about ten inches : Its bill is black, and furnilhed with briflles at the bafe ; the upper parts of its plumage are of a pale blue alh colour ; the under parts white ; a black ftripe pafles through each eye ; the greater quills are black, with a large white fpot at the bafe, forming a bar of that colour acrofs the wing ; the lefTer quills are white at the top ; the fcapulars 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 fpot 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 gi-een, fpotted at the end with black. Our fi- gure and defcription were taken from a very fine fpecimen, 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 Ruffia, and various parts of Europe ; it preys on fmall birds, which it feizes by the throat, and, after flrangling, fixes them on a ftiarp thorn, and tears them in pieces with its bill. Mr Pen- nant obferves, that, when kept in the cage, it fi:icks its food againft 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.

6o

BRITISH BIRDS.

THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE.

LESSER BUTCHER BIRD, OR FLUSHER. {Lanius Collurio, Lin. — UEcorcheuYy Buff.)

Is fomewhat lefs than the lafl, 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 j 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

BRITISH BIRDS. 6l

breall, belly, and fides of a dirty white ; the tail deep brown ; the exterior web of the outer feathers white. It builds its neil in hedges or low bulhes, and lays fix white eggs, marked with a reddilli brown circle towards the larger end. Its man- ners are limilar to the laft : It frequently preys on young birds, which it takes in the neft ; it like- wife feeds on grafshoppers, beetles, and other in- fe6ts. Like the laft, it imitates the notes of other birds, in order the more furely to decoy them. — When fitting on the neft, the female foon difcovers herfelf at the approach of any perfon, by her loud and violent outcries.

THE WOODCHAT,

(La Fie-Griefche RouJJe, Buff.)

Is faid to equal the laft in point of fize : Its bill is horn-coloured, feathers round the bafe whitilh ; head and hind part of the neck bright bay ; from the bafe of the bill a black ftreak paffes through each eye, inclining downwards on the neck ; back dulky, 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

62

BRITISH BIRDS.

Sloanian Mufeum, and is not unlike the leaft But- cher Bird of that celebrated naturalift, which it re- ferables 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 fpring ; 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, tranfverfely llreaked 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. 6;^

BIRDS OF THE PIE KIND

Constitute the next order in the arrangement of the feathered part of the creation ; they confift 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 leaft towards fupplying the neceffities or the pleafures of man. At the head of thefe we lliall place the Crow and its affinities, well known, by its footy plumage and croaking note, from eveiy 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 difgulHng and indifcriminating vo- racity, yet in many refpefts they may be faid to be of fmgular benefit to mankind, not only by de- vouring putrid flefh, but principally by dellroy* ing great quantities of noxious infedls, worms, and reptiles. Rooks, in particular, are fond of the e- rucae of the hedge-chafer, 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, bloffoms, and fruit, fpreading defolation and deftruAion wherever they go. — . They appeared in gieat numbers in Ireland during a hot fum- mer, and committed gi-eat rarages. 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 deftruQiion which they make among grubs, earth-worms, and noxious infefts of various kinds, will greatly overpay the injury done to the future harveft by the fmall quantity of corn they may deftroy in fearching after their favorite food. In general they are fagacious, a6tive, and faithful to each other : They live in pairs, and their mu- tual attachment is conftant. They are a clamour- ous race, moftly 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 aft 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 fmalleft appearance of real danger ; of this the dif- appointed fowler has frequently occalion to take notice, on feeing the birds fly away before he can draw near enough to flioot them ; from this cir- cumftance it has been faid that they difcover 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 jthe reafon why we have fo few of thcfe deftruftiTC animals.*—— Wallis's Hiftory of Northumhrlcvnd.

BRITISH BIRDS. 6^

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 ai- cribe it to the quicknefs of their fight, by which ihey difcover the motions of the fportfman.

The general characters of this kind are well known, and are chiefly as follow : — The bill is llrong, and has a flight curvature along the top of the upper mandible ; the edges are thin, and fharp or cultrated ; in many of the fpecies there is a fmall notch near the tip ; the nollrils are covered with briftles ; tongue divided at the end ; three toes forward, one behind, the middle toe conneded to the outer as far as the firft joint.

66

BRITISH BIRDS.

THE RAVEN.

GREAT CORBIE CROW. {Corvus CoraXj Lin. — Le Corbeauy Buff.)

Is the largeft of this kind ; its length is above two feet, breadth four : Its bill is ilrong, and very- thick at the bafe ; it meafures fomewhat more than two inches and a half in length, and i? cover- ed with ftrong hairs or briftles, which extend above half its length, covering the noflrils ; the general colour of the upper parts is of a fine glofly black, refle£ting a blue tint in particular lights ; . the un- der parts are duller, and of a duflc:y hue.

The Raven is well known in all parts of the

BRITISH BIRDS. 6/

world, and, in times of ignorance and fuperllition, was confidered asominous, 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 moft careful attention, and were made ufe of by artful and defigning men to miHead 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 fcents at a great dif- tance ; it is faid that it will deftroy rabbits, young ducks, and chickens ; it has been known to feize on young lambs which have been dropped in a weak ftate, and pick out their eyes while yet a- live : It will fuck the eggs of other birds ; it feeds alfo on earth-worms, reptiles, and even lliell-filh, 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 blueilh green colour, fpotted with brown. The female fits about twen- ty days, and is conft^ntly attended by the male, who not only provides her with abundance of food, but relieves her by turns, and takes her place in the neft. Fa

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 GROW.

MIDDEN CROW, OR BLACK-NEBBED CROW. {Corvus Corone, Lin. — La Corneilley BufF.)

Is lefs than the Raven, biit fimilar to it in its habits, colour, and external appearance : It is a- bout eighteen inches in length i 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, infeds, and various forts of grain. They live together in pairs, and remain with us during the whole year.

BRITISH BIRDS,

^9

THE HOODED CROW.

ROYSTON CROW. {Corvus CorniXf 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 Ihores of rivers^ and departs in the fpring to breed in other coun- tries, but it is faid that they do not entirely leave

Fa

70

BRITISH BIRDS.

US, as they have been feen, durhig the fummer months, in 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 fubfifls on fea-worms, Ihell-fifli, 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 faid to be much attached to their offspring.

BRITISH BIRDS.

71

THE ROOK. {Corviis Frugilegusj Lin. — Le FretiXf BufF.)

This bird is about the fize of the Carrion Crow, and, excepting its more glofly plumage, very much refembles it : The bafe of the bill, nollrils, and even round the eyes are covered with a rough fcabrous Ikin, in which it differs from all the reft, 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 unaccuflomed to that mode of fubfiftence, we are inclined to confider it as an original peculiarity. We have already had oc-

E4

72 BRITISH BIRDS,

cafion to obferve that they are ufeful in prevent- ing a too great increafe of that deflruftive infe£l the chafer or dor-beetle, and by that means make large recompenfe for the depredations they may occafionaliy make on the corn fields. Kooks are gregarious, and fly in immenfe flocks at morning and evening to and from their roofting places in quell 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. Thefe 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 nefts 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 whicji the fpire was taken down,

BRITISH BIRDS.

n

THE JACK-DAW.

{Corvtis Monedula^ Lin. — Le ChoucaSy Buff.)

This 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 gloily black above, beneath it has a dufky 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

74

BRITISH BIRDS.

build in trees : — In Hampfhire they fometimes breed in the rabbit burrows.* They are eafily tamed, and may be taught to pronounce feveral words ; they will conceal part of their food, and with it fmall pieces of money, or toys. They feed on infedls, grain, fruit, and fmall pieces of meat, and are faid to be fond of Partridge eggs. There is a variety of the Daw found in Switzerland, hav- ing a white collar round its neck. In Norway and other cold countries they have been feen per- fectly white.

* White's Natural Hlftory of Selborne.

>^

^

BRITISH BIRDS.

7S

,,,-?S?l»;t«'r**'

THE MAGPIE.

FIANET. {Corvus ricay Lin. — La Pie, Buff.)

Its length is about eighteen inches : Bill ftrong and black ; eyes hazel ; the head, neck, and bread are of a deep black, which is finely contrafted with the fnowy whitenefs of the breaft and fcapulars ; the heck feathers are very long, extending down the back, leaving only a fmall fpace, of a greyifli afli 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-

76 BRITISH BIRDS.

Ihaped; 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 whitifh hairs. This beautiful bird is every where very common in England ; it is likewife 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 fumiftied 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, fpotted with black.

The Magpie is crafty and familiar, and may be taught to pronounce words and even Ihort fenten- ces, and will imitate any particular noife which it hears. It is addi6led, like other birds of its kind, to Healing, 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 jnoderate diftances.

BRITISH BIRDS.

n

THE RED-LEGGED CROW.

CORNISH CHOUGH. {^Corvus GraculuSf Lin. — Le CoraciaSy BufF.)

This bird is about the fize of the Jack-daw : The bill is long, much curved, Iharp at the tip, and of a bright red colour ; the iris of the eye is com- pofed 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,

BufTon defcribes this bird *' as of an elegant fi- gure, lively, relllefs and turbulent, but it may be

78

BRITISH BIRDS.

tamed to a certain degree." It builds on high cliffs by the fea fide, and chiefly frequents the coafts of Devonfhire and Cornwall, and like wife many parts of Wales ; a few are found on the Dover cliffs, and fome in Scotland. The female lays four or five white eggs, fpotted 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 : It is attracted by'glittering ob- je6ls. Buffon fays that it has been known to pull from the fire lighted pieces of wood, to the no fmall danger of the houfe.

BRITISH BIRDS.

19

THE NUTCRACKER.

[Corvus CaryocataBeSy Lin. — Le CaJJe Noixj Buff.)

The length of this bird is thirteen inches : The bill is about two inches long, and black ; the eyes hazel ; the upper part of the head and back part of the neck are black ; its general colour is that of a dufky brown, covered with triangular fpots of white ; the wings are black ; greater wing coverts tipped with white ; the tail is white at the tip ; the reft black ; rump white ; legs and claws black.

There are very few inftances known of this bird having been feen in England : It is common in Germany, is found alfo in Sweden and Den- mark, and frequents the moft mountainous parts of thofe countries. It makes its neft in holes of

8o

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 fluffed fpecimen in the mufeum of George Allan, Efq.

THE JAY.

[Corvus G/afidariuSj Lin. — Le Geaif Buff.)

This 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, flreaked with black, and form a tuft on its forehead, which it can ere£t at pleafure ; the chin is white, and

BRITISH BIRDS. 8 I

from the corners of the bill on each fide proceeds a broad flreak of black, which pafies under the eye ; the hinder part of the head, neck, and back are of a light cinnamon colour ; the breail is of the fame colour, but lighter ; lefTer wing coverts bay ; the belly and vent almofl 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 ; leifer quills black ; thofe next the body chellnut ; 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 dillinguilhed as well for the beautiful arrange- ment of its colours, as for its harfli, 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 difappoints him. — The Jay builds in woods, and makes an art- lefs neft, compofed of flicks, fibres, and tender twigs : The female lays five or fix eggs, of a greyifh afh colour, mixed with green, and faintly fpotted 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 fpecies live on acorns, nuts, feeds, and various kinds of fruits ; they will eat eggs, and fometimes deflroy young birds in the ab-

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82

BRITISH BIRDS.

fence of the old ones. When kept in a domeftie flate they may be rendered very familiar, and will imitate a variety of words and founds. We have heard one imitate fo exaftly 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 dellroy it.

BRITISH BIRDS,

83

THE CHATTERER.

SILK TAIL, OR WAXEN CHATTERER. [Ampelis GarriiluSy Lin. — Le Jafeur de Bohemey Buff.)

This beautiful bird is about eight inches in length : Its bill is black, and has a fmall notch at the end ; its eyes, which are black and Ihining, are placed in a band of black, wliich palTes froni 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 reddifli afli 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

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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 fubllance of a bright vermillion colour. Thefe appendages vary in different fub- jefts — in one of thofe we had in our poffeffion, we counted eight on one wing and fix on the other ; the legs are fliort 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 ; fmce 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 ardlic 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 ftate 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 reft are natives of America,

BRITISH BIRDS.

85

THE ROLLER.

{Coracias Garrula^ Lin. — Le Rollier (TEurope^ BufF.)

This rare bird is diftinguillied by a plumage of moft exquifite beauty ; it vies with the Par- rot in an alTemblage of the finefl fliades of blue and green, mixed with white, and heightened by the contrail of graver colours, from whence perhaps it has been called the German Parrot, although in e- very other refpefl 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 fize it

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86 BRITISH BIRDS.

refembles the Jay, being fomewhat more than twelve inches in length : Its bill is black, befet with fliort bridles at the bafe ; the eyes are fur- rounded with a ring of naked Ikin, of a yellow co- lour, and behind them there is a kind of wart ; the head, neck, breaft, and belly are of a light pea green ; the back and fcapulars reddiih 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 dulky hue, inclining to black, an4 mixed with deep blue ; the rump is blue ; the tail is fomewhat forked, the lower part of the feathers are of a dufl?:y 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 j 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 Britifh Zoology mentions two that were Ihot in England, and thefe we may fuppofe have been only ftragg- lers. Our drawing was made from a fluffed fpe- cimen in the Mufeum of the late Mr Tunflall, at Wycliffe.

The Roller is wilder than the Jay, and fre- quents the thickefl woods ; it builds its nell chief- ly on birch trees. BulFon fays it is a bird of paf- fage, 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 grounds, with

BRITISH BIRDS.

87

Rooks and other birds, fearching for worms, fmall feeds, roots, &c. ; it likewife feeds on ber- ries, caterpillars, and infefts, and is faid, in cafes of necelfity, 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, brfeail, and belly are of a cheft- nut colour, bordering on a greyifli afli. 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 |iame of Garrulus.

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BRITISH BIRDS.

THE STARLING,

STARE. {Sturnus Vulgaris^ Lin. — UEtotirneau^ BufF.)

The length of this bird is fomewhat lefs than nine inches : The bill is ftrait, Iharp-pointed, and of a yellowilli brown — in old birds deep yellow ; the noftrils are furrounded by a prominent rim ; the eyes are brown ; the whole plumage is dark, glofled with blue, purple, and copper, each feather being marked at the end with a pale yellow fpot, which is fmaller and more numerous on the head and neck : the wing coverts are edged with yel-

BRITISH BIRDS. 89

lowifh brown ; the quill and tail feathers duflcy, with light edges ; the legs are of a reddifli brown. From the flriking fimilarity, both in form and manners, obfervable in this bird and thofe more immediately preceding, we have no fcruple in re- moving it from, its ufual place, as it evidently forms a connecting link between them, and in a variety of points feems equally allied to both. — Few birds are more generally known than the Stare, being an inhabitant of almoft every cli- mate ; and as it is a familiar bird, and eafdy train- ed in a ftate of captivity, its habits have been more frequently obferved than thofe of moft other birds. The female makes an artlefs neft, in the hollows of trees, rocks, or old walls, and fometimes in cliffs overhanging the fea ; llie lays four or five eggs, of a pale greenifh afli colour ; the young birds are of a dulliy brown colour till the firft moult. In the winter feafon thefe birds fly in vaft flocks, and may be known at a great diftance by their whirl" ing mode of flight, which Buffon compares to a fort of vortex, in which the collective body performs an uniform circular revolution, and at the fame time continues to make a progreffive advance. The e- vening is the time when the Stares affemble in the greateft numbers, and betake themfelves to the fens and marflies, where they roofl among the reeds : They chatter much in the evening and morning, both when they affemble and difperfe. So attach- ed are they to fociety, that they not only join

90

BRITISH BIRDS.

thofe of their own fpecies, but alfo birds of a differ- ent kind, and are frequently feen in company with Redwings, Fieldfares, and even with Crows, Jack- daws, and Pigeons. Their principal food confifts of worms, fnails, and caterpillars j they likewife eat various kinds of grain, feeds, and berries, and are faid to be particularly fond of cherries. In a confined Hate they eat fmall pieces of raw flelh, bread foaked in water, &c. The Starling is very docile, and may eafily be taught to repeat fliort phrafes, or whiffle tunes with great exaftnefs, and in this Hate acquires a warbling fuperior to itg na? tive fong.

BRITISH BIRDS. 9I

THE ROSE COLOURED OUZEL.

{Turdusy Rofeusy Lin. — Le Merle Couleur de Rofey BufF.)

Is the lize of a Starling : Its bill is of a carna- tion colour, blackilli at the bafe j irides pale ; the feathers on the head are long, forming a creft ; the head, neck, wings, and tail are black, gloffed with fhades of blue, purple, and green ; its back, rump, brealt, belly, and leffer wing coverts pale rofe co- lour, marked with a few irregular dark fpots ; 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 Britifli. There are however a few inltances of its being found here; and, although not a refident, it fometimes vifits us, on which ac- count it mult not be pafled over unnoticed. It is found in various parts of Europe and Afia, and in, mofl places is migratory. It feems to delight moft in the warmer climates ; it is fond of loculls, and frequents the places where thofe deflruQ:ive infeds abound in great numbers ; on which account it is faid to be held facred by the inhabitants.

92

BRITISH BIRDS.

THE RING OUZEL.

(Turdus Torqmtus, Lin. — Le Merle a Plajron Blanc^ BufF.)

This bird very much refembles the Blackbird : Its general colour is of a dull black or dulky hue, each feather being margined with a greyifh afh colour; the bill is dulky, corners of the mouth and infide yellow ; eyes hazel ; its breall is dif- tinguiflied by a crefcent of pure white, which al- moft furrounds the neck, and from whence it de- rives its name ; its legs are of a dulky 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 fpecies, 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 fmiilar fitua- tions, and lays four or live eggs of the fame co- lour : They feed on infefts 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 eiteemed 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 llay not more than a fortnight at one time. Our reprefentation was taken from one killed near Bed- lington in Northumberland.

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BRITISH BIRDS.

THE BLACK OUZEL.

BLACKBIRD. {Turdus Meruky Lin. — Le Merle^ BufF.)

The 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 mollly brown, inclining to ruft colour on the breafl and belly ; the bill is dulky, and the legs brown ; its fong is alfo very dilFerent, fo that it has fometimes been miftaken for a bird of a different fpecies.

Male Blackbirds, during the firfl year, refemble the females fo much as not ealily to be diftinguifh- ed from them ; but after that, they aflume the yel-

BRITISH BIRDS. 95

low bill, and other diftinguifliing marks of their kind. The Blackbird is a folitary bird, frequent- ing woods and thickets, chiefly of evergreens, fuch as pines, firs, &cc. efpecially where there are perennial fpfings, which afford it both Ihelter and fubfiftence. Wild Blackbirds feed on berries, fruits, infefts, and worms ; they never fly in flocks like Thrullies ; they pair early, and be- gin to warble fooner than any other of the fong- fters of the grove. The female builds her nefi: in bufties or low trees, and lays four or live eggs, of a blueifh green colour, marked irregularly with duflcy fpots. The young birds are eafily brought up tame, and may be taught to whiflle a variety of tunes, for which their clear, loud, and fpirited tones are well adapted. They are reftlefs and timorous birds, eafily alarmed, and difficult of accefs ; but BufTon obferves that they are more reitlefs than cunning, and more timorous than fufpicious, as they readily fuffer themfelves to be caught with bird-lime, noofes, and all forts of fnares. They are never kept in aviaries ; for when lliut up with other birds they purfue and harafs their compa- nions in flavery unceafmgly, for which reafon they are generally confined in cages apart. In fome counties of England this bird is called the Ouzel.

9^ BRITISH BIRDS.

MISSEL THRUSH.

MISSEL BIRD OR SHRITE. {Turdus Vijcivorusy Lin. — La Draln}^ BufF.)

The length of this bird is about eleven inches : The bill is duflcy , the bafe of the lower bill yel- low; the eyes hazel; the head, back, and lelTer coverts of the wings are of a deep olive brown, the latter tipped with white ; the lower part of the back and rump tinged with yellow ; the cheeks are ofayellowilh white, fpotted with brown, as are al- fo the breaft and belly, which are marked with la;r- ger fpots, of a dark brown colour ; the quills are brown, with pale edges ; tail feathers the fame; the three ouiermofl tipped with white ; the legs are yellow ; claws black. The female builds her nefl in bufhes or low trees, and lays four or five eggs, of a dirty fleih colour, marked with blood red fpots. Its nefl is made of mofs, leaves, &c. lined with dry grafs, ftrengthened on the outfide with fmall twigs. It begins to fing very early, often on the turn of the year in blowing fliowery weather, from whence in fome places it is called the Storm-cock. Its note of anger is very loud and harlh, between a chatter and a fhriek, which accounts for fome of its names. It feeds on various kinds of berries, particularly thofe of the mifletoe, of which bird- lime is made. It was formerly believed that the

BRITISH BIRDS.

^1

the plant of that name was only propagated by the feed which pafled the digeftive organs of this bird, from whence arofe the proverb " Turdus malum Ji" bi cacat-y'* it likewife feeds on caterpillars and va- rious kinds of infe6ts, with which it alfo feeds its young. This bird is found in various parts of Eu- rope, and is faid to be migratory in fome places, but continues in England the whole year, and fre- quently has two broods.

H

ps

SRITISH BIEP§?

THE FIELDFARE,

{Turdus Pilaris, Lin.— La Litorne, ou Tourdel/e, Buff.)

'This is fomewhat lefs than the Miffel Thmfh ; its length ten inches : The bill is yellow ; each corher of the mouth is furniflied with a few black briftly hairs ; the eye is light brown; the top of the head and back part of the neck are. of a light afli colour, the former fpotted with black; the back and coverts of the wings are of a deep hoary brown; the rump afh-coloured ; the throat and breaft are yellow, regularly fpotted with black ; the belly and thighs of a yellowifli white; the tail brown, in- clining to black ; legs dufliy yellowifli brown ; in young birds yellow.

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 RujfTia, Sweden, Norway, and as far as Siberia and Kamfchatka. Buffon obferves that they do not arrive iu France till the beginning of December, that they alTemble 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, fnails, and flugs.— Fieldfares feem of a more focial difpofition than the Throftles or the Miflels ; they are fometimes feen fmgly, but in general form very numerous flocks, and fly in a body, and though they often fpread themfelves through the meadows in fearch of food, they feldom lofe fight of each other, but when alarmed fly off, and colle6t together upon the fame tree. We have feen a variety of this bird, of which the head and neck were of a yellowilh white ; the reft of the body was nearly of the fame colour, mixed with a few brown feathers ; the fpots on the breaft were faint and indiftinft ; the quill feathers were perfectly white, except one or two on each fide, which were brown ; the tail was marked in a firailar manner.

H 2

100

BRITISH BIRDS.

THE THROSTLE.

THRUSH OR MAVIS. Tiirdus Muficusy Lin. — La Gr'ive^ BufF.)

This is larger than the Redwing, but much lefs than the MilTel, to which it bears a ftrong refem- blance both in form and colours ; a fmall 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 fpots on the breaft more regularly- formed than thofe of the MilTel Thrufh, being of a conical ftiape ; the infide of the, wings and the mouth are yellow, as are alfo the legs \ the claws are ftrong and black. — The Throftle is diftinguilh- ed among our fmging birds by the clearnefs and fuUnefs of its note ; it charms us not only with the fweetnefs, but variety of its fong, which begins

BRITISH BIRDS. lOI

early in the fpriiig, and continues during part of the fummer. This bold and pleafmg fongfter, from his high ftation, feems to command the concert of the grove, whilll, in the beautiful language of the poet,

** Tlie Jay, the Rook, the Daw, " And each harfii pipe (difcordant heard alone) ** Aid the full concert, while the Stock-Dove breathes ** A melancholy murmur through the whole."

The female builds her nell generally in bullies ; 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 dulky fpots. Although this fpecies is not con- fidered as migratory with us, it has, neverthelefs, been obferved in fome places in great numbers du- ring the fpring 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 Throllle 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 Thrufli kind are very fimilar to the males, and differ chiefly iu a leffer degree of brilliancy in the colours.

102

BRITISH BIRDS.

THE REDWING.

SWINEPIPE OR WIND THRUSH. Turdus lltacus^ 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 Thrufli, but a white ftreak over the eye diflinguifli- 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 charafteriftic, from whence alfo it derives its name.

Thefe birds make their appearance a few days before the Fieldfare,* and are generally feen with

A Redwing was taken up November 7th, 1785,

at fix

BRITISH liiKiJ&. 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 laid to be very pleafmg. The female builds its nefl in low bullies or hedges, and lays fix eggs, of a greenifli blue colour, fpot- 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 flelh : Thefe aviaries were fo contrived as to ad- mit light barely fufficient to diredl them to their food ; every object 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 diflurb the repofe necelTary 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 llerling each.

o'clock in the morning, which, on its approach to land, had flown againft the light-houfe at Tynemouth, and was fo flunned that It fell to the ground and died foon after ; the light moft probably had attrafted Its attention.

H4

104

BRITISH BIRDS.

THE CUCKOO.

THE GOWK. {Cuctilus Canorus, Lin. — Le Coucou, BufF.)

Length fourteen inches ; breadth twenty-five : Its bill is black, and fomewhat bent ; eyes yellow ; infide of the mouth red ; its head, neck, back, and wing coverts are of a pale blue or dove colour, which is darkeft on the head and back, and paleft on the fore part of the neck and rump ; its breafl and belly are white, elegantly croifed with wavy bars of black ; the quill feathers are dulky, their inner webs marked with large oval white fpots ; the tail is long ; the two middle feathers are black, with white tips ; the others dulliy, marked with al-

BRITISH BIRDS. I05

ternate fpots of white on each fide the fhaft ; the legs are fhort and of a yellow colour j toes two forward, two backward ; claws white.

The Cuckoo vifits us early in the fpring — its well-known cry is generally heard about the mid- dle of April, and ceafes the latter end of June ; its ftay is fliort, the old Cuckoos being faid to quit this country early in July. Cuckoos never pair ; they build no nell; and, what is more extraordinary, the female depofits her folitary egg in that of another bird, by whom it is hatched. The nell Ihe chufes for this purpofe is generally felefted from the fol- lowing, viz. The Hedge-fparrow, the Water-wag- tail, the Titlark, the Yellow-hammer, the Green Linnet, or the Wliinchat. Of tliefe it has been obferved that flie 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 fmgular bird in the difpofal of its egg, to the accurate obfervations of Mr Edward Jenner, communicated to the Royal Society, and publiflied in the 78th volume of their tranfa6lions, part II. He obferves that, during the time the Hedge-fpar- 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 ftie is fitting, not only throws out fome of her own eggs, but

Ib6 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- fparrow 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 forae of her own off- fpring from the ftiell, her own young ones, and any of her eggs that remain un hatched, are foon turned out, the young Cuckoo remaining in full pof- feffion of the neft, and the fole objed of the future care of her fofter parent. The young birds are not previoully killed, nor the eggs demolifhed, but all are left to perifli together, either entangled in the bufli 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 i8th June, 1787, Mr J. examined the neft of a Hedge-fparrow, which then contained a Cuckoo's and three Hedge-fpar- row's eggs. On infpefting it the day following, the bird had hatched, but the neft then contained only a young Cuckoo and one young Hedge-fpar- row. The neft was placed fo near the extremity of a hedge that he could diftindly fee what was going forward in it; and, to his great aftonifh*

BRITISH BIRDS. I07

ment, he faw the young Cuckoo, though fo lately hatched, in the a£t of turning out the young Hedge- fparrow. The mode of accomplilliingthis was cu- rious : The little animal, with the affiflance 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 Ihort 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 fmgular difpofition of the Cuckoo in its formation at this period, for, different from other newly hatched birds, its back from the fca- pul^e downwards is very broad, with a confiderable depreffion 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 fliape of neftling birds in general, and at that time the difpofition for turn-

1g8 BRITISH 3IRDS.

ing out its companion entirely ceafes. The fmall- nefs of the Cuckoo's egg, which, in general, is lefs than that of the Houfe-fparrow,* is another circum- ftance 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 fmall 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 talk of becoming fole pofleflbr of the neft, and might fall a facrifice to the fuperioi' ftrength of its partners.

Mr Jenner obferves, that it fometimes happens that two Cuckoos' eggs are depofited in the fame neft, and gives the following inftance of one which fell under his obfervation. Two Cuckoos and a Hedge-fparrow were hatched in the fame neft, one Hedge-fparrow's egg remaining unhatched : In a few hours a conteft began between the Cuckoos for poffeffion of the neft, which continued undeter- mined till the afternoon of the following day, when one of them, which was fomewhat fuperior in fize, turned out the other, together with the young Hedge-fparrow 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 were nearly of the fizc of thofe of the Thrufl;.

BRITISH BIRDS, I09

each carried the other feveral times nearly to the top of the nefl, and then funk down again oppref- fed with the weight of its burthen : till at length, after various efforts, the flrongeft prevailed, and was afterwards brought up by the Hedge-fparrow. It would carry us beyond the limits of our work to give a detail of the obfervations made by our in- genious inquirer ; we mull therefore refer our read- er to the work itfelf, in which he will find a vari- ety of matter entirely new refpeiSling this fmgular bird, whofe hiftory has for ages been enveloped in fable, and mixed with unaccountable ftories found- ed in ignorance and fuperllition. 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 thenifelves. That fome of them remain here in a torpid flate 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 inflances 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 prefer- ved through the winter by being fed with worms, infefts, foaked bread, and fmall pieces of flefli. The plumage of the Cuckoo varies greatly at different

* Sec the introduftion.

no

BRITISH BIRDS.

periods of its life. In young Cuckoos the bill, legs, and tail are nearly the fame as in the old ones ; the eye is blue ; the throat, neck, breaft, and belly are elegantly barred with a dark brown on a light ground ; the back is of a lead colour, mixed with brown, and faintly barred with white ; the tail feathers are irregularly marked with black, light brown, and white, and tipped with white ; its legs are yellow.

BRITISH BIRDS,

III

THE WRYNECK.

{Jy}i!>i Torquillay Lin. — Le Torcolj BuiF.)

The principal colours which diflinguifli this beautiful little bird confift of different lliades of brown, but fo elegantly arranged as to form a pic- ture of the moll 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, Itreaked and powdered with brown ; the throat and under fide of the neck are of a reddifli brown, crof- fed with fine bars of black ; the breaft, belly, and thighs are of a light alh colour, marked with trian-

fs

112 BRITISH BIRDS.

gular fpots, irregularly difperfed ; the larger quill feathers are marked on the outer webs with alter- nate fpots 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 fcapu- lars are nicely freckled and fhaded with brown fpots 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 fpots; its bill is rather long, fharp-point- ed, and of a pale lead colour ; its eyes are light brown ; but what chiefly diftinguilhes this fmgular bird is the ftrufture of its tongue, which is of con- fiderable length, of a cylindrical form, and capable of being pulhed 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 lliort and llender ; the toes placed two before and two behind ; the claws fharp, much hooked, and formed for climbing the branch- es of trees, on which it can run in all directions with great facility. It makes an artlefs neft, of dry grafs upon dufty rotten wood, in holes of trees, the entrance to which is fo fmall as fcarcely to admit the hand, on which account its eggs are come at with difficulty ; according to Buffon, they are per- fectly 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. II3

generally appears with us a few clays before the Cuckoo. Its food confifts chiefly of ants and other infefts, 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 aflbciates with them, but feems to form a fmall and feparate family. The Wry- neck holds itfelf very ere6l 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 diflblved, which is in the month of September, they retire and migrate by themfelves.

«»,..«l..Vi»'"»---^'"

114 BRITISH BIRDS.

THE WOODPECKERS,

^ Of thefe only three or four kinds are found in thefe kingdoms. Their characters are ftriking and their manners fmgular. The bill is large, llrong, 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 Ihort and thick, and furnilhed 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 infe6;s and their eggs, which are lodged there ; the tail eonfifts of ten lliff, Iharp-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 llrong hooked claws, by which it clings firmly and creeps up and down in all direc- tions. M. 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 fubfiflence by " fpoil, none leads a life fo laborious and painful " as the Woodpecker : Nature has condemned it " to inceflant toil and flavery. While others free-

BRITISH BIRDS. II5

*' ly employ their courage or addrefs, and either " Ihoot on rapid wing or lurk in clofe ambulh, the " Woodpecker is conllrained to drag out an infipid *' exiftence in boring the bark and hard fibres of " trees to extraQ; its humble prey. Neceflity ne- " ver fuffers any intermiffion of its labours, never " grants an interval of found repofe ; often during " the night it lleeps in the fame painful pofture as " in the fatigues of the day. It never fliares the " fports 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 foreft, exprefs conftraint and effort : Its " movements are quick, its geftures full of inquie- " tude, its looks coarfe and vulgar ; it fliuns 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.'*

I2

Ji6

BRITISH BIRDS.

THE GREEN WOODPECKER,

WOODSPITE, HIGH-HOE, HEW-HOLE, OR PICK-A-TREE.* [Picus Virtdisy Lin.-— Z? Pic Verdy Buff.)

This 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- founding 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

* WalHs, 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 Pluvia aves for the fame reafon.

BRITISH BIRDS. II7

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 dulky, 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, ilightly tinged with green ; the tail is marked with bars like the wings ; the legs are greenifli. The female differs from the male in not having the red mark from the corner of the mouth ; flie makes her neft in the hollow of a tree, iifteen or twenty feet from the ground. Buffoii 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 fhe lays five or fix eggs, of a greenifli colour, mark- ed with fmall 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 vv^hich the ants iflue, and draws out thefe infects in abundance. Sometimes, with its feet and bill, it makes a breach in the neft, 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 rooll very early, and repofe in their holes till day.

13

ii8

BRITISH 31RDS.

GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER,

WITWALL. (^Picus Majors Lin. — UEpeiche, ou le Pic varie, BufF.)

Its length is fomewhat more than nine inches : The bill is of a dark liorn 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 fpot of crimfon ; the forehead is buff colour ; the top of the head black ; on the back part of the neck there are two white fpots, feparated by a line of black; the fcapulars and tips of tl|e wing cq-

BRITISH BIRDS. II9

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 fpots ; the throat, breaft, and part of the belly are of a yel- iowifti white ; the vent and lower part of the belly crimfon ; the legs and feet of a lead colour. The female wants the red fpot on the back of the head. This bird is common in England. BufFon fays that it ftrikes againft the trees with brilker and harder blows than the Green Woodpecker : — It creeps with great eafe in all diredions 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 Mediusj Lin.— Z^ Pic varie a tete Rouge, BufF.)

This bird is fomewhat lefs than the former, and diiFers from it chiefly in having the top of the head wholly crimfon ; in every other refped 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.

14

I2Q BRITISH BIRDS.

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER,

HICKWALL. {Ptcus Minor f Lin. — Le petit Epeiche^ BufF.)

This is the fmallefl of our fpecies, being only- live inches and a half in length ; weight nearly one ounce : Its general plumage is very fimilar to the larger fpecies, but wants the red under the tail, and the large white patches on the flioulders ; the un- der parts of the body are of a dirty white j 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 poITeffion with the colemoufe, which it compels tQ give up its lodging.

BRITISH BIRDS.

121

4.

THE NUTHATCH.

NUTJOBBER, WOODCRACKER. (Sitta Europea, Lin — La Sittelk ou le Torchepot^ BuiE]

Its length is nearly fix inches : The bill ftrong, black above, beneath almoft white ; the €yes ha- zel ; a black ftroke pafTes over each eye, fronx the bill extending down the fide of the neck as far as the Ihoulder ; 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 duiky, three of the outer-

122 BRITISH BIRDS.

moft fpotted with white ; the legs pale yellow ; the claws large, Iharp, and much bent, the back claw very ftrong ; when extended, the foot mea- lures one inch and three quarters.

This, like the Woodpecker, frequents woods, and is a Ihy and folitaiy 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 flie is affiduoufly attended by the male, who fupplies her with food ; Ihe is eafily driven from her neft, but on being difturbed hiffes like a fnake. The Nuthatch feeds on cater- pillars, beetles, and various kinds of infe6ls ; it likewife eats nuts, and is very expert in cracking them fo as to come at the contents ; having placed a nut fall in a chink, it takes its Hand a little a- bove, and fhriking it with all its force, breaks the Ihell 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

m'^>^^

THE HOOPOE.

{Vpupa EpopSy Lin. — Le Hupe ou Puputy BufF.)

Its length is twelve inches, breadth nineteen : The bill is above two inches long, black, ilender, and fomewhat curved ; the eyes hazel ; the tongue very fliort 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 reddifli 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 lelTer coverts of the wings light brown ; the rump is white ; the tail confifts of ten feathers,

124 BRITISH BIRDS.

each marked with white, which, when clofed, a^f- fumes the form of a c;^efcent, the horns pointing downwards ; the legs are Ihort and black.

This is the only one of its kind found in thefe kingdoms ; it is not very comn:;on with us, being feen only at uncertain periods. Our reprefen- tation was tatken from a very fine one ihot near Bedlington, Northumberland, and fent us by the Rev. Mr Cotes. In its llomach were found the claws and other indigeftible parts of infefts of the beetle tribe ; it was alive fome time after being ihot, and walked about ereding its tail and creft in a very plealing manner. The female is faid to have two or three broods in the year; Ihe makes no neft, but lays her eggs, generally about four or ^ve in number, in the hollow of a tree, and fome- times in a hole in the wall, or even on the ground, ^uffon fays, that he has fometimes found a foff lin. ing of mofs, wool, or feathers in the nefls of thefe birds, and fuppofes that, in that cafe, they may |iave ufed the deferted neft of fome other bird. Its food confifts chiefly of infe£ts, with the remains of y/hich 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 Hands ered.

BRITISH BIRDS.

125

THE CREEPER.

[Certhla familtaris, Lin. — Le GrimpereaUf Buff )

Its 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 whitilh ; 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 dullcy, edged with tawny, and marked with bars of the fame colour ; the tips are white ; above each eye a fmall dark line paf- fes towards the neck, above which there is a line of white ; the tail is long, and confiits of twelve ftiff feathers, of a tawny colour, pointed and forked at the end ; the legs are Ihort and of a brown co-

126

BRITISH BIRDS.

lour ; the clav/s are long, fharp, and much hook- ed, which enable it to run with great facility on all fides of fmall branches of trees in quell of infeds and their eggs, which conllitute its food. Although very common, it is not feen without difficulty, from the eafe with which, on the appearance of any one, it efcapes to the oppofite fide of the tree. It builds its neft early in the fpring, in the hole of a tree : The female lays from five to feven eggs, of an afti colour, marked at the end with fpots of a deeper hue.

BRITISH BIRDS. 17.J

OF THE PASSERINE ORDER.

This numerous clafs conftitutes the fifth order in Mr Pennant's an-angement of Britifh birds, and includes a great variety of diiferent 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 diftinguilhed by their lively and active difpofitions, their beautiful plumage, and de- lightful melody. Of this order confifl thofe ama- zing flocks of fniall 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 largell and moll 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 deftroying myriads of noxious infefts, 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. Infeds and their eggs, worms, berries, and feeds of almofl every kind, form the varied mafs from whence thefe bufy little tribes derive their fupport. The charafters of the Pafferine order, which are as various as their habits and difpofitions, \^ ill

128 BRITISH BIRDS.

be beft feen in the defcription of each particular kind. It may be neceiTary however to obferve, that they naturally divide themfelves into two diilinft kinds, namely, the hard-billed or feed birds, and the flender or foft-billed birds ; the former are furniflied with flout bills of a conical fhape, and very ftiarp 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 fofthefs and delicacy of their bills ; their food confifts altogether of fmall worms, infeds, the larvae of infe£ls 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 fmall malTes 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 fwarms 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 naraelcfs nations feed

*' Of evanefcent infers."

BRITISH BIRDS. 129

OF THE GROSBEAK.

This. genus is not numerous in thefe kingdoms, and of thofe which we call ours, mofl; of them are only vifitors, making a Ihort ftay with us, and lea- ving us again to breed and rear their young in o- ther countries. They are in general fliy and foli- tary, living chiefly in v/oods 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 confifls 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.

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130

BRITISH BIRDS.

THE CROSS.BILL.

SHEL-APPLE. (Loxia Cut"Oiro^raf Lin.— Z^ he Crotfe, BufF.)

This bird is about the fize of a Lark, being nearly feven inches in length : It is dillinguilhed by the peculiar formation of its bill, the upper and under mandible curving in oppofite directions, and crofling each other at the points ;* its eyes are ha-

* This Angular conftruftion of the bill is confidered by M. BufFon as a defeA or error ih nature, rather than a permanent feature, merely becaufe that, in fome fubjefts, the bill crofles to the left, and in others to the right, ariiing, 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. I3I

zel; its general colour is reddifli, mixed with brown on the upper parts, the under parts are con- fiderably paler, being almoft white at the vent ; the wings are fhort, not reaching farther than the fetting 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 fubjed to variation ; amongft a great number there are hardly two of them exadly

food. This mode of reafoning, however, mull prove very de- fedlive, when we confider that this peculiarity is confined to a Ungle fpecies, no other bird in nature being fubjeA to a fimilar variation from the geneial conftru6lion, 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 ftrudlure of their bills ; neither has the argument, drawii 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 efFeft 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 dirediions, 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 underllandings, the good of all her creatures is the one great end to which they are all direAed.

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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 Rullia, 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 the Parrot, and when kept in a cage has all the aftions of that bird, climbing by means of its hooked bill, from the lower, to, the up- per bars of its cage. From its mode of fcrambling 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 refmous matter which exudes from that tree, and befmearing it on the outfide with tlie 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 Auguft.

BRITISH BIRDS.

133

THE GROSBEAK.

HAWFINCH. (^Loxia Coccothraii/ieSy Lin. — Le Gros-becy BufF.)

Length near feven inches : Bill of a horn co- lour, conical, and prodigiously thick at the bafe ; eyes afh-coloured ; the fpace between 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 greyifli afh colour ; the back and lefler wing coverts cheftnut; the greater 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

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134 BRITISH BIRDS.

quills have each of them a fpot of white about the middle of the inner web ; the bread and belly- are of a pale ruft colour, growing almoll white at the vent ; the tail is black, except the ends of the middle feathers, which are grey ; the outer ones are tipped with white ; the legs are pale brown. The female greatly refembles the male, but her colours are lefs vivid, and the fpace between the bill and the eye is grey inftead of black. Thefe birds vary confiderably, fcarcely two of them being alike : In fome the head 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 fpecies is an inhabitant of the temperate climates, from Spain, Italy, and France, as far as Sweden, but only vifits this ifland occafionally, and generally in winter ; probably being driven over in its paffage from its northern haunts, to the milder climates of France and Italy. It breeds in thefe countries, but is no where numerous. Buffon fays it is a fhy and folitary bird, with little or no fong ; it generally inhabits the woods during fummer, and in winter reforts near the hamlets and farms. The female builds her nefl in trees ; it is compofed of fniall dry roots and grafs, and lined with warmer materials : The eggs are roundifli, of a blueifli green, fpotted with brown. She feeds her young with infects, chryfalids, and other foft nutritious fubftances.

BRITISH BIRDS. I35

THE PINE GROSBEAK.

GREATEST BULLFINCH. (Loxia Enudeatory Lin. — Le Dur-becy BufF.)

This exceeds the lafl in fize, being nine inches in length : The bill is duiky, very ftout at the bafe, and fomewhat hooked at the tip ; the head, neck, bread, and rump are of a rofe coloured crim- fon ; the back and lefler wing coverts black, each feather edged with reddilh 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 ftraw-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- refls, 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 gi"ound, and lays four white eggs, which are hatched in June.

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136

BRITISH BIRDS.

GREEN GROSBEAK.

OREEN FINCH, OR GREEKS LINNET. (Loxia Chloris, Lin.— -L^ Verdier, BufF.)

The bill^is of a pale reddifh brown or flefh co- lour; eyes dark; the plumage in general is of a yellowifti green ; the top of the head, neck, back, and leiTer coverts olive green ; the greater coverts and outer edges of the fecondary quills afh-colour- edi the vent and tail coverts the fame, dallied witl^ yellow ; the rump yellow.

This bird is common in every part of Great Britain, and may be feen in almoft every hedge, e- fpecially during winter, when flocks of them keep together. The female makes her nell in hedges or low bulhes j it is compofed of dry grafs, and lined

BRITISH BIRDS. I37

with hair, wool, and other warm materials ; fhe lays five or fix eggs, of a pale greenilh colour, marked at the larger end with fpots of a reddilh brown ; Ihe is fo clofe a fitter, that flie may fome- times be taken on her neft. The male is very at- tentive to his mate during the time of incubation, and takes his turn in fitting. Though not difl:in- guifhed for its fong, this bird is fometimes kept in a cage, and foon becomes familiar. It does not migrate, but in the northern parts of our ifland it is feldom feen in winter, changing its quarters ac- cording to the feafon of the year.

$38

BRITISH BIRDS.

BULLFINCH.

ALP OR NOPE. (Loxia Pyrrhuloi Um.—Le Bouvreuily BufF.)

The 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 gloffy black ;* the back 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 lefs bright, and the under parts of a reddifli brown.|

* Hence in fome countries it is called Monk or Pope^ and in Scotland it is not improperly denominated Coally hood.

■\ The Bullfinch fometimes changes its plumage, and becomes wholly black during its confinement, efpecially when fed with hemp feed. In the Leverian Mufeum there is a variety of the Bullfinch entirely white.

BRITISH BIRDS. 139

This bird is common in every part of this if- land, as well as moil 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 deflroying the worms which are lod- ged in the tender buds. The female makes her nell in bulhes ; it is compofed 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 llatc, 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 fmg 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 diflind;nefs, feveral words.

14° BRITISH BIRDS.

OF THE BUNTING.

The principal diiFerence between this fpecies and the laft confifts in the formation of the bill, which in the Bunting is of a very fmgular conftrudion. The two mandibles are moveable, and the edges of each bend inwards ; the opening of the mouth is not in a llreight line as in other birds, but at the bafe 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 laft there is a hard knob, of great ufe 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^ die one.

BRITISH BIRDS. I4I

THE BUNTING.

{^Emheriza miliariay Lin. — Le Proyer^ BufF.)

The 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 llreaked down the middle with black ; the under parts are of a dirty yellowifli white, ftreaked on the fides with dark brown, and fpotted with the fame on the breaft ; the quills are dullcy, 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

142 BRITISH BIRDS.

tree, uttering its harfh and diflbnant cry, which it inceffantly repeats at Ihort intervals ; this conti- nues during the greateft part of fummer, after which they are feen in great flocks, and continue fo for the moll part during winter ; they are often Ihot in great numbers, or caught in nets, and, from the fi- milarity of their plumage, are not unfrequently fold for Larks. The female makes her nefl among the thick grafs, a little elevated above the ground : fhe lays five or fix eggs, and while fhe is employed in the bufmefs 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 foon after the Swallow, and fpreads itfelf through almofl every part of Europe. Their food confifts chiefly of grain ; they likewife eat variety of in- feds, which they find in the fields and meadows.

gfllTISH BIRPS.

»43

YELLOW BUNTING.

YELLOW HAMMER, OR YELLOW YOWLEY. {Emher'ixa citr'mdlay Lin. — he Bnia7it^ BufF.)

Length 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 reddifli, and the fides dalhed with ftreaks of the fame colour; the hind part of the neck and back are of a greenifh olive ; the greater quills are dufky, edged with pale yellow ; leffer quills and fcapulars dark brown, edged with grey ; the tail is dullcy, and a little forked, the feathers edged with

144 BRITISH BIRDS.

light brown, the outermoft with white ; the legs are of a yellowifh brown. It is fomewhat difficult to defcribe a fpecies of bird of which no two are to be found perfeiSbly fimilar, but its fpecific charaders 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 palTes along the road^ or uttering its fimple and frequently repeated monotone on the hedges by the way lide. They feed on various kinds of feeds, infefts, &c. The female makes an artlefs nefl, compofed of hay, dried roots, and mofs, which Ihe lines with hair and wool ; Ihe lays four or five eggs, marked with dark irregular flreaks, 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 efteemed 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 repalls.

BRITISH BIRDS.

145

THE BLACK-HEADED BUNTING.

REED BUNTING, OR REED SPARROW. {Emherlza SchanicluSy lAn^—'U Ortolan de Rofeauxy BufF.)

This bird is about the fize of the Yellow Bun- ting : Its eyes are hazel ; the head, throat, fore part of the neck, and breafl are black, which is divided by a white line from each corner of the bill, paffing downward a little, and meeting on the back part of the neck, which it almoft encir- cles i the upper parts of the body and wings are of a reddifti brown, with a ftreak of black down the middle of each feather ; the under part of the body , is white, with brownifli llreaks on the fides ; the rump and upper tail coverts blueilli aili colour, mixed with brown; the quills are duflcy, edged

I,

14^ BRITISH BIRDS.

with brown ; the two middle feathers of the tail are black, with pale brown edges ; the reft wholly- black, except the two outer ones, which are almoft white, the ends tipped with brown, and the bafes black ; the legs and feet dulky brown* The fe- male has no collar ; its throat is not fo black, and its head is variegated with black and ruft colour ; the white on its under parts is not fo pure, but is of a reddilh caft.

Birds of this fpecies frequent fens and marfhy places, where there are abundance of rufhes, a- mong which it neftles. The neft is compofed of dry grafs, and lined with the foft down of the reed ; it is fixed with great art between four reed ftalks, two on each fide, almoft clofe to each other, and about three feet above the water ; The female lays 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, whilft it fits perched among the reeds, and is fre- quently heard in the night time. It is a watchful, timorous bird, and is very eafily alarmed; in a

BRITISH BIRDS.

147

Hate of captivity it fmgs but little, and only when perfedly undillurbed.

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 Ilorm in the midfl of winter.

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148 BRITISH BIRDS,

SNOW BUNTING.

SNOWFLAKE. {^Emheriza Nivalis^ Lin. — UOrtolan de Neige^ BuiF.)

Length near feven inches : Bill and eyes black; in 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 a black fpot on their inner webs ; middle feathers of the tail black, the three outer ones white, with a dulky fpot near the ends ; legs black. Its fum- mer drefs is different, the head, neck, and