ARCTIC ZOOLOGY.
VOL. II.
CLASS II. BIRDS.
PIED DUCK,
No
488.
P. Marell sculp.
LONDON: PRINTED BY HENRY HUGHS.
M.DCC.LXXXV.
CLASS II. BIRDS.
CLASS II. BIRDS.
DIV. I. LAND BIRDS.
II. WATER BIRDS.
DIV. I.
ORDER I. RAPACIOUS.
Genus. I. VULTURE.
Genus. II. FALCON.
Genus. III. OWL.
II. PIES.
Genus. IV. SHRIKE.
Genus. V. PARROT.
Genus. VI. CROW.
The
Genera
which have not the number prefixed, are not found in
America.
Roller.
Genus. VII. ORIOLE.
Genus. VIII. GRAKLE.
Genus. IX. CUCKOO.
Wryneck.
Genus. X. WOODPECKER.
Genus. XI. KINGFISHER.
Genus. XII. NUTHATCH.
Genus. XIII. TODY.
Hoopoe.
Genus. XIV. CREEPER.
Genus. XV. HONEY SUCKER.
III. GALLINACEOUS.
Genus. XVI. TURKEY.
Genus. XVII. GROUS.
Genus. XVIII. PARTRIDGE.
Genus. XIX. BUSTARD.
IV. COLUMBINE.
Genus. XX. PIGEON.
V. PASSERRINE.
Genus. XXI. STARE.
Genus. XXII. THRUSH.
Genus. XXIII. CHATTERER.
Genus. XXIV. GROSBEAK.
Genus. XXV. BUNTING.
Genus. XXVI. TANAGRE.
Genus. XXVII. FINCH.
Genus. XXVIII. FLYCATCHER.
Genus. XXIX. LARK.
Wagtail.
Genus. XXX. WARBLERS.
Genus. XXXI. TITMOUSE.
Genus. XXXII. SWALLOW.
Genus. XXXIII. GOATSUCKER.
DIV. II. WATER BIRDS.
VI. CLOVEN-FOOTED.
Genus. XXXIV. SPOONBILL.
Genus. XXXV. HERON.
Genus. XXXVI. IBIS.
Genus. XXXVII. CURLEW.
Genus. XXXVIII. SNIPE.
Genus. XXXIX. SANDPIPER.
Genus. XL. PLOVER.
Genus. XLI. OYSTER-CATCHER.
Genus. XLII. RAIL.
Genus. XLIII. GALLINULE.
VII. PINNATED FEET.
Genus. XLIV. PHALAROPE.
Genus. XLV. COOT.
Genus. XLVI. GREBE.
VIII. WEB-FOOTED.
Genus. XLVII. AVOSET.
Genus. XLVIII. FLAMMANT.
Genus. XLIX. ALBATROSS.
Genus. L. AUK.
Genus. LI. GUILLEMOT.
Genus. LII. DIVER.
Genus. LIII. SKIMMER.
Genus. LIV. TERN.
Genus. LV. GULL.
Genus. LVI. PETREL.
Genus. LVII. MERGANSER.
Genus. LVIII. DUCK.
Genus. LIX. PELECAN.
CLASS II. BIRDS.
DIV. I. LAND BIRDS.
ORDER I. RAPACIOUS.
I. VULTURE,
Gen. Birds
I.
86. CARRION.
Urubu, Aura Tzopilotl,
Mexic. Margrave,
207, 208.—
Wil. Orn.
68.—
Raii Syn. Av.
180.
Carrion Crow,
Sloane Jam.
ii. 294.—
Brown Jam.
471:
Corvus Sylvaticus,
Barrere,
129.
Gallinazo,
Ulloa voy.
i. 60. 201.
Turkey Buzzard,
Josselyn.—Lawson,
138.—
Catesby,
i. 6.—
Bancroft,
152.—
Du Pratz,
ii. 77.
Vultur Aura,
Lin. Syst.
122.—
De Buffon,
i. 175.—
Pl. Enl.
No 187.
Le Vautour du Brasil,
Brisson,
i. 468.—
Latham,
i. 9. No 5.—LEV. MUS.
WEIGHT four pounds and an half. Head small,
DESCRIPTION.
covered with a naked wrinkled red skin, beset with black bristles. This gives it some resemblance to a Turkey; from which it derives one of the names. The nostrils are very large, and pervious: the whole plumage is dusky, dashed with purple and green: legs of a dirty flesh-color: claws black.
These birds are common from
Nova Scotia
to
Terra del Fuego;
PLACE.
but swarm in the hotter parts of
America;
and are found in the islands, where they are said to be far inferior in size to those of
North America.
In the warm climates they keep in vast flocks.
MANNERS.
Perch at night on rocks or trees; sitting with dishevelled wings to purify their bodies, which are most offensively fetid. Towards morning they take flight, soaring at a vast height, with the gentle motion of a kite; expecting notice of their banquet by the tainted effluvia of carrion, excrements, or any filth. They have most sagacious nostrils, and smell their prey at a vast distance; to which they resort from all quarters, wheeling about, and making a gradual descent till they reach the ground. They do not confine themselves to dead animals, but feed on Snakes, and sometimes on Lambs. They are very tame, and, while they are at their meals, will suffer a very near approach.
In the torrid zone, particularly about
Carthagena,
they haunt inhabited places, and are seen in numbers sitting on the roofs of the houses, or walking along the streets with a sluggish pace. In those parts they are useful, as the IBIS in
Egypt,
devouring the noisome subjects, which would otherwise, by the intolerable stench, render the climate still more unwholesome than it is.
When these birds find no food in the cities, they are driven by hunger among the cattle of the neighboring pastures. If they see a beast with a sore on the back, they instantly alight on it, and attack the part affected. The poor animal attempts in vain to free itself from the devourers, rolling on the ground with hideous cries: but in vain; for the Vultures never quit hold, till they have effected its destruction. Sometimes an Eagle presides at the banquet, and keeps these cowardly birds at a distance, until it has finished its repast.
USES.
Mischievous as they are in a few instances, yet, by the wise and beneficent dispensations of Providence, they make in the hot climates full recompence, by lessening the number of those destructive animals the Alligators, which would otherwise become intolerable by their multitudes. During the season in which these reptiles lay their eggs in the sand, the Vultures will sit hid in the leaves of the trees, watching the coming of the female Alligator to deposit its eggs, who then covers them with sand, to secure them, as she imagines, from all danger: but no sooner does she retire into the water, than the birds dart on the spot, and with claws, wings, and beak, tear away the sand, and devour the whole contents of the depository.
No birds of this genus are found in northern regions of
Europe
or
Asia,
at lest in those latitudes which might give them a pretence of appearing here. I cannot find them in our quarter of the globe higher than the
Grison Alps
Wil. Orn.
67.
, or
Silesia
Schwenckfeldt av. Silesia,
375.
; or at farthest
Kalish,
in
Great Poland
Rzaczynski, Hist. Nat. Polon.
298.
. Certainly the Count
De Buffon
was misinformed as to the habitation of the species, which he ascribes to
Norway
Hist D'Ois.
i. 164.
Pl. Enl.
449.
. In the
Russian
dominions, the Bearded Vulture of Mr.
Edwards,
iii. tab. 106. breeds on the high rocks of the great
Altaic
chain, and beyond lake
Baikal
Dr. PALLAS'S
Catalogue of the Birds of the Russian empire,
which he favored me with in MS. my surest clue to the
Arctic
birds.
; which may give it in
Europe
a latitude of 52. 20. in
Asia
of 55.
II. FALCON,
Gen. Birds
II.
86. A. SEA EAGLE.
Br. Zool.
i. No 44.
Falco Ossifragus,
Lin. Syst.
124.—
Latham,
i. 30.—
Pl Enl.
12. 415.
Grey Eagle,
Lawson,
137.
Land Oern,
Leems,
230.
L'Orfraie,
De Buffon,
i. 112. pl. 3.—LEV. MUS.
VARIES a little from the
British
species, and is much superior in size. The length three feet three inches; of wing, twenty-five inches.
Feathers on head, neck, and back, brown, edged with dirty white: chin white: breast and belly brown, spotted with white: coverts of wings brown, clouded; primaries black: tail dusky; the middle mottled with white: legs feathered half down.
PLACE.
Very common in the northern parts of
America,
and endures its severest winters, even as high as
Newfoundland.
These birds prey on sea fowls, as well as land, and on young Seals, which they seize floating, and carry out of the water.
Eagles, and all sorts of birds of prey, abound in
America,
where such quantity of game is found. Multitudes are always seen below the falls of
Niagara,
invited by the carcases of Deer, Bears, and other animals, which are so frequently hurried down in attempting to cross the river above this stupendous cataract.
This species is very frequent in
Kamtschatka;
and is found during summer even on the Arctic coast: is very common in
Russia
and
Sibiria;
nor is it more rare about the
Caspian
sea, where they breed on the loftiest trees.
87. BLACK EAGLE.
Br. Zool.
i. No 43.
Falco Fulvus,
Lin. Syst.
125.—
Latham,
i. 32, No 6.
White-tailed Eagle,
Edw.
i. 1.—LEV. MUS.
L'Aigle commun,
De Buffon,
i. 86,—
Pl. Enl.
409.—LEV. MUS.
THE whole plumage is of a dusky-brown: the breast marked with triangular spots of white; in which it varies from the
British
kind: the tail white, tipt with black; but in young birds dusky, blotched with white: legs covered to the toes with soft rust-colored feathers: vent feathers of the same color.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay,
and northern
Europe
as far as
Drontheim
Especially in the winter,
Leems,
233.
.
PLACE.
Is found on the highest rocks of the
Uralian
chain, where it is not covered with wood
Dr. Pallas.
; but is most frequent on the
Sibirian,
where it makes its nest on the loftiest rocks. It is rather inferior in size to the former; but is a generous, spirited, and docile bird. The independent
Tartars
train it for the chace of Hares, Foxes, Antelopes, and even Wolves. The use is of considerable antiquity; for
Marco Polo,
the great traveller of 1269, observed and admired the diversion of the great
Cham
of
Tartary;
who had several Eagles, which were applied to the same purposes as they are at present
M. Polo, in Purchas,
iii. 85. in
Bergeron.
74.
. I must add, that the
Tartars
esteem the feathers of the tail as the best they have for pluming their arrows.
The
Kalmucs
use, besides this species of Eagle, that which the
French
call
Jean le Blanc
De Buffon.
, and also the
Lanner;
all which breed among them: but people of rank, who are curious in their Falcons, procure from the
Baschkirians
the Gyrfalcon and the Peregrine, which inhabit the lofty mountains of the country
Extracts,
iii. 303. A name by which I quote an abridgement of the travels of PALLAS, GMELIN, LEPECHIN, and others, published by the SOCIETE TYPOGRAPHIQUE, at
Berne,
under the title of HISTOIRE DES DECOUVERTES, faites par divers savans voyageurs dans plusieurs contreès de la
Russie
et de la
Perse,
4 vols. 8vo.
.
88. BLACK-CHEEKED EAGLE.
F. With a dusky and blue bill; yellow cere: head, neck, and breast, of a deep ash-color: each cheek marked with a broad black bar passing from the corner of the mouth beyond the eyes: back, belly, wings, and tail, black: legs yellow, feathered below the knees.
SIZE, AND PLACE.
Is about the size of the last. Communicated to me by the late
Taylor White,
Esq
who informed me that it came from
North America.
Is described by Mr.
Latham,
i. 35, No 10; and seems to be the species engraven by
M. Robert,
among the birds in the menagery of
Louis
XIV.
89. WHITE-HEADED EAGLE.
Falco Leucocephalus,
Lin. Syst.
124.
Bald Eagle,
Lawson,
137.—
Catesby,
i. 1
Le Pygargue a tête blanche,
De Buffon,
i. 99.
Pl. Enl.
411.
.
Brickell,
173.—
Latham,
i. 29.—LEV. MUS.
Le Pygargue a tête blanche,
De Buffon,
i. 99.—
Pl. Enl.
411.—LEV. MUS.
BILL, cere, and feet, pale yellow: head, neck, and tail, of a pure white: body and wings of a chocolate-color. It does not acquire its white head till the second year.
This Eagle is lesser than the foregoing species, but of great spirit: preys on Fawns,
MANNERS.
Pigs, Lambs, and fish: is the terror of the Osprey, whose motions it watches. The moment the latter has seized a fish, the former pursues till the Osprey drops its prey; which, with amazing dexterity, it catches before it falls to the ground, be the distance ever so great. This is matter of great amusement to the inhabitants of
North America,
who often watch their aerial contests. This species frequently attends the sportsman, and snatches up the game he has shot, before he can reach it.
These birds build in vast decayed cypresses
Catesby.
, or pines, impending over the sea, or some great river, in company with Ospreys, Herons, and other birds: and their nests are so numerous, as to resemble a rookery. The nests are very large, and very fetid by reason of the reliques of their prey.
Lawson
says, they breed very often, laying again under their callow young; whose warmth hatches the eggs. In
Bering
's isle they make their nests on the cliffs, near six feet wide, and one thick; and lay two eggs in the beginning of
July.
90. WHITE EAGLE.
THIS most beautiful and scarce species is entirely white, except the tips of the wings, which are black. We know nothing of this bird, but what is collected from
Du Pratz
Du Pratz,
ii. 75.
Latham,
i. 36.
. The natives of
Louisiana
set a high value on the feathers, and give a large price for those of the wings; with them they adorn the Calumet, or pipe of peace. Different nations make use of the wings, or feathers of different birds; but, according to
Hennepin,
always decorate it with the most beautiful.
The Calumet is an instrument of the first importance among the
Americans.
It is nothing more than a pipe,
CALUMET.
whose bowl is generally made of a soft red marble
Du Pratz,
i. 298.
Kalm,
iii. 230.
: the tube of a very long reed, ornamented with the wings and feathers of birds. No affair of consequence is transacted without the Calumet. It ever appears in meetings of commerce, or exchanges; in congresses for determining of peace or war; and even in the very fury of a battle. The acceptance of the Calumet is a mark of concurrence with the terms proposed; as the refusal is a certain mark of rejection. Even in the rage of a conflict this pipe is sometimes offered; and if accepted, the weapons of destruction instantly drop from their hands, and a truce ensues. It seems the sacrament of the Savages; for no compact is ever violated, which is confirmed by a whiff from this holy reed. The
Dance of the Calumet
is a solemn rite which always confirms a peace, or precedes a war. It is divided into three parts: the first, appears an act of devotion, danced in measured time: the second, is a true representation of the Pyrrhic dance
Strabo,
lib. x. p. 736. edit.
Amstel.
1707.
: the third, is attended with songs expressive of the victories they had obtained, the nations they had conquered, and the captives they had made.
From the winged ornaments of the
Calumet,
and its conciliating uses, writers compare it to the
Caduceus
of
Mercury,
which was carried by the
Caduceatores,
or messengers of peace, with terms to the hostile states. It is singular, that the most remote nations, and the most opposite in their other customs and manners, should in some things have, as it were, a certain consent of thought. The
Greeks
and the
Americans
had the same idea, in the invention of the
Caduceus
of the one, and the
Calumet
of the other. Some authors imagine, that among the
Greeks
the wings were meant as a symbol of eloquence. I rather think that the twisted Serpents expressed that insinuating faculty; and that the emblem was originally taken from the fatal effect the rhetoric of
Satan
had on our great mother, when he assumed the form of that reptile, which the highest authority represents as
more subtile than any beast of the field.
On this the heathen mythology formed their tale of
Jupiter
taking the figure of a Serpent, to insinuate himself into the good graces of
Olympias;
who, like
Eve,
fell a victim to his persuasive tongue. As to the wings, it is most probable that they were to shew the flight of discord; which the reconciled parties gave, with all the horrors of war, to the air, and sport of the winds.
The
Oole,
or Eagle, is a sacred bird among the
Americans.
In case of sickness, they invoke this bird to descend from heaven (which in its exalted flight it approaches nearer than any other) and bring down refreshing things; as it can dart down on its rapid wing quick as a flash of lightning
Adair's Hist. Am. Indians,
179.
.
91. OSPREY.
Fishing Hawk,
Catesby,
i. 2.—
Lawson,
137.—
Brickell,
173.
Osprey.
Josselyn's Rarities,
ii.—
Br. Zool.
i. No 46.—
Latham,
i. 45.
Le Balbuzard,
De Buffon,
i. 103. pl. 2.
Falco Haliaetus. Blafot. Fisk-orn,
Faun. Suec.
No 63.
Fisk Gjoe,
Leems,
234.—
Pl. Enl.
414.—LEV. MUS.
F. With blue cere, and feet: head, and lower part of the body, white: upper part brown: two middle feathers of the tail plain brown; the rest barred with white and brown.
This, in all respects, resembles the
European
kind.
MANNERS.
Notwithstanding it is so persecuted by the
Bald Eagle,
yet it always keeps near its haunts. It is a species of vast quickness of sight; and will see a fish near the surface from a great distance
That agreeable traveller, the reverend Dr.
Burnaby,
adds, that it is often seen resting on the wing for some minutes, without any visible change of place, before it descends.
Travels in America,
2d ed. p. 48.
: descend with prodigious rapidity, and carry the prey with an exulting scream high into the air. The Eagle hears the note, and instantly attacks the Osprey; who drops the fish, which the former catches before it can reach the ground, or water. It sometimes happens that the Osprey perishes in taking its prey; for if it chances to fix its talons in an over-grown fish, it is drawn under water before it can disengage itself, and is drowned.
It is very frequent in
Kamtschatka;
and in summer,
PLACE.
even under the
Arctic
zone of
Europe
and
Asia.
Is very common in
Sibiria,
and spreads far north; probably common to the north of
America,
and
Asia.
Is rare in
Russia.
It is likewise very frequent as low on the
Wolga
as the tract between
Sysran
and
Saratoff,
where they are said to be the support of the
Ern Eagle,
as they are of the White-tailed Eagle in
America,
each living by the labors of the Osprey. The
Tartars
have a superstition, that a wound from its claws is mortal, either to man or fish, and consequently dread its attack
Extracts,
i. 479.
.
92. ROUGH-LEGGED.
Falco Lagopus
Brunnich,
No 15.—
Leems Lapm.
236.
Rough-legged Falcon,
Br. Zool.
ii.
App.
529.—
Latham,
i. 75.—LEV. MUS.
F. With a yellow cere, and feet: head, neck, and breast, of a yellowish white, marked with a few oblong brown spots: belly of a deep brown: thighs white, striped with brown: scapulars blotched with yellowish white and brown: coverts of the wings edged with rust-color; primaries black: tail, little longer than the wings; the part next to the rump white; the end marked with a black bar; the tips white: legs feathered to the toes: feet yellow. Length two feet two inches.
SIZE.
PLACE.
Inhabits
England, Norway, Lapmark,
and
North America.
Was shot in
Connecticut.
93. ST. JOHN'S.
Latham,
i. 77, No 58.
F. With a short dusky bill: head of a deep brown: hind part of the neck, back, scapulars, and coverts of the tail, marked with bars of black, and dull white, pointing obliquely: coverts of the wings deep brown; the greater spotted on their inner sides with white; the primaries dusky, the lower part white, barred with deep ash-color and black: the under side of the body brown, marked sparingly with white and yellowish spots: tail shorter than the extremity of the wings; the end white; beneath that is a bar of black, succeeded by two or three black and cinereous bands; the rest of the tail marked with broad bars of white, and narrower of ash-color: the legs are cloathed with feathers to the toes, which are yellow, and very short.
SIZE.
Length, one foot nine inches.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay
and
Newfoundland.
BL. MUS.
alcon No .
93.
Chocolate Colored Fal
94. CHOCOLATE-COLORED.
Latham,
i. 54. No 34. A; 76. No 57.
F. With a short and black bill, and yellow cere. The whole plumage of a deep bay or chocolate-color, in parts tinged with ferruginous: primaries black; the lower exterior sides of a pure white, forming a conspicuous spot or speculum: the wings reach to the end of the tail: the exterior sides of the five outmost feathers of the tail, dusky; their inner sides blotched with black and white; the two middle, black and cinereous: the legs and toes feathered; the last remarkably short. LENGTH one foot ten inches.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay
and
Newfoundland.
Preys much on Ducks.
PLACE.
Sits on a rock and watches their rising, when it instantly strikes at them.
95. NEWFOUNDLAND.
Latham,
i. 79. No 60.
F. With a yellow cere: deep yellow irides: hind part of the head ferruginous: crown, back, scapulars, and coverts of wings, brown, edged with a paler color: belly rust-colored, blotched with deeper shades: thighs of a mottled ash, marked with round dusky spots, and on the lower parts with four large dark blotches: the tail crossed by four bars of deeper and lighter brown: legs yellow, strong, and feathered half way down. LENGTH twenty inches. The description borrowed from Mr.
Latham.
Inhabits
Newfoundland.
PLACE.
96. SACRE.
Belon, Hist. des Ois.
108.—
Buffon,
i. 246.
Speckled Patridge Hawk of
Hudson's Bay, Phil. Trans.
lxii. 383.—
Latham,
i. 78. Nos 58, 59.
F. With a dusky bill; upper mandible toothed: irides yellow: cere and legs bluish. Head, and upper part of the body, of a dusky brown: hind part of the head mottled with white: whole under side of the body, from chin to vent, white; the middle of each feather marked with a dusky spot: wings reach almost to the end of the tail: coverts, scapulars, and primaries, of a deep brown, elegantly barred transversely with white: tail brown, marked on each side with oval transverse spots of red: feathers on the thighs very long, brown spotted with white: the fore part of the legs covered with feathers almost to the feet. LENGTH two feet. Weight two pounds and an half.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay
and
Newfoundland:
found also in
Tartary,
and is a species celebrated there for the sport of falconry. It is a hardy species; for it never quits the rigorous climate of
Hudson's Bay.
Preys on the white Grous, which it will seize even while the fowler is driving them into his nets. It breeds in
April
and
May,
in desert places. The young fly in the middle of
June.
The females are said to lay only two eggs.
97. PERIGRINE.
Br. Zool.
i. No 48.—
Latham,
i. 68, No 49; 73. No 52.
Spotted Hawk, or Falcon; and Black Falcon,
Edw.
i. 3, 4.
Le Faucon,
De Buffon,
i. 249. pl. 16.—LEV. MUS.
F. With a short strong bill, toothed on the upper mandible, of a bluish color: cere yellow: irides hazel: forehead whitish: crown, and hind part of the head, dusky: the back, scapulars, and coverts of wings, elegantly barred with deep blue and black: the primaries dusky, with transverse oval white spots: the throat, chin, and breast, of a pure white, the last marked with a few dusky lines pointing down: the belly white, crossed with numerous dusky bars, pointed in the middle: legs yellow: toes very long.
The
American
species is larger than the
European.
They are subject to vary. The black Falcon, and the spotted Falcon of Mr.
Edwards,
are of this kind; each preserve a specific mark, in the black stroke which drops from beneath the eyes, down towards the neck. The differences in the marks in the tail may possibly proceed from the different ages of the birds; for few kinds differ so much in the several periods of life as the Rapacious.
Inhabits different parts of
North America,
PLACE.
from
Hudson's Bay
as low as
Carolina.
In
Asia,
is found on the highest parts of the
Uralian
and
Sibirian
chain. Wanders in summer to the very Arctic circle. Is common in
Kamtschatka.
98. GENTIL.
Gentil Falcon,
Br. Zool.
i. No 50.
F. Gentilis. Falk.
Faun. Suec.
No 58.—
Latham,
i. 64.—LEV. MUS.
F. With a dusky bill: yellow cere, irides, and legs: head and upper side of the neck ferruginous, streaked with black: under side, from chin to tail, white, marked with dusky heart-shaped spots: back, coverts of wings, and scapulars, brown, edged with rust-color: primaries dusky, barred on the exterior side with black: wings reach only half the length of the tail: tail long, barred with four or five broad bands of black cinereous; each of the first bounded by a narrow line of dirty white.
In size superior to the
European
kind,
SIZE.
being two feet two inches long. Shot in the province of
New York.
PLACE.
Is found in northern
Europe,
as far as
Finmark
Leems,
337.
Strom.
224.
.
99. GOSHAWK.
Br. Zool.
i. No 52.
F. Palumbarius,
Faun Suec.
No 67.—
De Buffon,
i. 230.—
Latham,
i. 58.—LEV. MUS.
F. With a bluish bill, black at the tip: yellowish green cere: yellow legs: head brown; hind part mottled with white: over each eye extends a long whitish line: hind part of the neck, back, and wings, of a deep brown color: breast and belly white, crossed with numerous undulated lines of brown: tail of a cinereous brown, crossed by four or five bars of black: wings shorter than the tail.
That which I saw in the
Leverian Museum,
was superior in size to the
European.
PLACE.
Mr.
Lawson
says, they abound in
Carolina:
are spirited birds, but lesser than those of
Muscovy.
Is common in that country,
A WHITE VARIETY.
and
Sibiria.
Dr.
Pallas
adds, that there is a large white variety on the
Uralian
mountains, mottled with brown and yellow. These are yet more frequent in the east part of
Sibiria;
and in
Kamtschatka
they are entirely white. These are the best of all Hawks for falconry.
EXCELLENT FOR FALCONRY.
They extend to the river
Amur;
and are used by the emperor of
China
in his sporting progresses
Bell.
ii. 87.
, attended by his grand falconer, and a thousand of the subordinate. Every bird has a silver plate fastened to its foot, with the name of the falconer who had the charge of it; that in case it should be lost, it might be brought to the proper person: but if he could not be found, the bird is delivered to another officer, called the
Guardian of lost birds;
who keeps it till it is demanded by the falconer to whom it belonged. That this great officer may the more readily be found, among the army of hunters, who attend the emperor, he erects a standard in the most conspicuous place
Bergeron,
75, 76.
.
The emperor often carries a Hawk on his hand, to let fly at any game which presents itself; which are usually Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, or Cranes.
Marco Polo
saw this diversion about the year 1269
Bergeron,
75. 76.
; a proof of its antiquity in these parts, when it formed so regular and princely an establishment in the state of this great eastern monarch; the origin of which might have been in some long preceding age. The custom of carrying a Falcon extended to many countries, and was esteemed a distinction of a man of rank. The
Welsh
had a saying, that you may know a gentleman by his
Hawk, Horse, and Grehound.
In fact, a person of rank seldom went without one on his hand.
Harold,
afterwards king of
England,
is painted going on a most important embassy, with a Hawk on his hand, and a Dog under his arm
Monumens de la Monarchie Françoise,
i. 372.
.
Henry
VI. is represented at his nuptials, attended by a nobleman and his Falcon
Mr. Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting,
i. 33.
. Even the ladies were not without them, in earlier times; for in an antient sculpture in the church of
Milton Abbas,
in
Dorsetshire,
appears the consort of King
Athelstan
with a Falcon on her royal fist
Hutchins's Dorsetshire,
ii. 443.
tearing a bird: and, perhaps to indulge his queen in her passion for the diversion, he demanded of my countrymen (besides an immense tribute) some of their most excellent Hounds, and of their best Hawks: which proves the high esteem in which our Dogs and Falcons were held in those early days
Malmsbury,
lib. ii. c. 6.
.
100. RED-TAILED.
American Buzzard,
Latham,
i. 50.—LEV. MUS.
F. With a dusky bill, and yellow cere: head, lower part of the neck, and chin, brown, mixed with white: breast and belly white, varied with long stripes of brown, pointing downwards: femoral feathers very long, white, and marked with long dentated stripes of pale brown: upper part of the neck, and back, of a very deep brown: coverts and tertials brown, barred or edged with white: primaries dusky, barred with cinereous: tail of a pale rust-color, marked near the end with a dusky narrow bar: legs yellow. SIZE of the
Goshawk.
Inhabits
North America.
Sent from
Carolina
to Sir
Ashton Lever.
PLACE.
101. LEVERIAN.
F. With a dusky bill, greatly hooked: head striped with brown and white: upper part of the body and wings of a deep brown; each feather elegantly marked at the end with a large white spot: the whole under side of the body white: the outmost feathers of the tail marked with nine white, and the same number of dusky bars; middle feathers with dusky and cinereous: the wings extend beyond the end of the tail: legs strong and yellow.
PLACE.
SIZE of a Buzzard. Sent to Sir
Ashton Lever
from
Carolina.
102. RED-SHOULDERED.
Barred-breasted F.
Latham,
i. 56, No 36.—LEV. MUS.
F. With a slender dusky bill; yellow cere; and legs, head, and neck, of a yellowish white, streaked downwards with dusky lines: back of a deep brown, edged with rust-color: lesser coverts of wings ferruginous, spotted with black; primaries and secondaries black, spotted on each side most distinctly with white: breast and belly of a light tawny; the first streaked downwards with black; the last traversed with deeper tawny: tail short and dusky, crossed by seven narrow bands of white; the two nearest to the ends more remote than the others: legs weak. LENGTH twenty-two inches.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Long Island.
This is a new species, preserved in Mrs. BLACKBURNE'S
Museum.
103. BUZZARD.
Ash-colored Buzzard,
Edw.
ii. 53.—
Latham,
i. 55, No 35. 48; No 28.—
De Buffon,
i. 223.
Falco Buteo. Quidfogel,
Faun. Suec.
No 60.—
Br. Zool.
i. 54.—LEV. MUS.
F. With a dusky bill, and bluish yellow cere: head, and hind part of the neck, of a cinereous brown, streaked with yellow: back brown; lower part and rump barred with rust-color, sometimes with white: the coverts of the wings brown; the greater and scapulars spotted with white; the three first quil-feathers black, white at their bases; the interior webs of the rest blotched with black and white: the throat and breast yellowish, marked thinly with oblong brown spots: belly white, varied with great spots of brown: feathers of the thighs long, white, crossed with sagittal bars of yellow: tail marked with about nine bands of black and light cinereous; the tip white: legs short, strong, and yellow. LENGTH two feet two inches.
The
American
varies in size, and sometimes slightly in color;
PLACE.
but in both has so much the habit of the
English
Buzzard, as not to merit separation. It is called in
New York,
the great Hen Hawk, from its feeding on poultry. It continues there the whole year. Lays in
May
five eggs: the young fly about the middle of
June.
It is also an inhabitant of
Hudson's Bay
and
Newfoundland;
and in
Europe
as high as
Sondmor,
in
Norway;
where, from its attacking the Eagle, it is called
Orne-Falk.
Migrates, before winter, from
Sweden.
Is scarce in
Russia;
and very few are found in
Sibiria.
Is found in winter as low as
Woronesch
In
Russia, lat.
52 north.
.
104. PLAIN.
F. With the bill black: head dusky: nape spotted with white: back, and coverts of wings, and tail, of an uniform deep brown: under side of the neck, breast, and belly, and thighs, deep brown, slightly spotted with white: primaries dusky: inner webs marked with great oval spots of white, mottled with brown: middle feathers of the tail plain brown; inner webs of the rest mottled with white; exterior webs and ends slightly edged with the same: legs strong: yellow? Wing reaches near the length of the tail. LENGTH, from bill to tail, two foot one.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay.
105. MARSH.
Marsh Hawk,
Edw.
iv. 291.—
Latham,
i. 90.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
F. With a bluish bill; orange cere, orbits, and legs: irides hazel: a black line extends from the corner of the bill beyond the eyes; above that is another of white, which encircles the cheeks, and meets in front of the neck: head, throat, and upper part of the breast, varied with black and rust-color: back, and coverts of the wings, brown: rump white: breast and belly, and thighs, of a bright ferruginous: tail dusky brown, crossed by four black bands: legs strong, thick, and short; which are specific distinctions from the next. LENGTH two feet.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Pensylvania:
frequents, during the summer, marshy places; where it feeds on the small birds, Frogs, Snakes, and Lizards. At approach of winter quits the country.
106. RINGTAIL.
Br. Zool.
i. No 59.—
Edw.
iii. 107.—
Latham,
i. Nris 75, 75 A, and No 34, is a rust-colored variety.
Falco Pygargus, F. Hudsonius,
Lin. Syst.
128.—
Muller,
No 72.—BL. MUS.
F. With a dusky bill and yellow cere: a white line over each eye: head, upper part of the neck, and back, dusky brown: coverts and primaries of the same color; the inner sides of the last white: breast, belly, and thighs, whitish, marked with ferruginous spots: vent and rump white, encircling the root of the tail: the middle feathers of the tail dusky; the next of a bluish ash-color; the outmost white, all marked transversely with orange bars: legs long, and very slender.
This species is superior in size to the
British
Ringtail;
SIZE.
but having most of the characters of that bird, we doubt not but that it is the same. Like the
European
kind, skims along the ground in search of prey, which is Mice, Frogs, and small birds. Builds its nest indifferently on the ground, or on the lower parts of trees. It is subject to vary to a deep rust-color; plain, except on the rump and tail.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay.
Weight, in
Hudson's Bay,
SIZE AND PLACE.
seventeen ounces and a half. Length twenty-one inches. Extent three feet seven. Is very common in the open and temperate parts of
Russia
and
Sibiria;
and extends as far as lake
Baikal
DR. PALLAS.
. It is not found far in the north of
Europe. Linnaeus
omits it among the birds of his country; but Mr.
Brunnick
describes one, which had been shot in lat. 58, on the little island of
Christiansoe
In the
Baltic,
a little north-east of
Bornholm.
.
107. WINTER.
F. With a black bill; yellow cere: head of a deep brown: back the same, tinged with rust: hind part of the neck streaked with white: the coverts of the wings dusky, edged with dull white; those on the ridge with orange; ends of the primaries dusky; the other parts barred with brown and white: breast and belly white, marked with heart-shaped spots: thighs sulphur-colored, speckled with dusky: vent feathers white: tip of the tail white; then succeeds a broad dusky bar; the remaining part barred with brown, tawny, and black: legs long, and very slender.
SIZE.
Is of an elegant form, and about the size of the RINGTAIL.
PLACE.
Inhabits the province of
New York:
appears at approach of winter, and retires in the spring. BL. MUS.
Mr.
Latham
's northern Falcon, No 62, seems to differ from this only in age, or sex.
108. SWALLOW-TAILED.
Hirundo maxima Peruviana, avis praedatoris calcaribus instructa,
Feuilles voy. Peru,
tom. ii. 33.
Herring, or Swallow-tailed Hawk,
Lawson,
138.—
Brickell,
175.—
Catesby,
i. 4.
Le Melan de la Caroline,
Brisson,
i. 418.—
De Buffon,
i. 221.
Falco Furcatus,
Lin. Syst.
129.—
Latham,
i. 60.—LEV. MUS.
F. With a black bill, less hooked than usual with rapacious birds; base of the bill hid in feathers, and bristly: the eyes large; irides red: head, neck, breast, and belly, of a snowy whiteness: back, coverts of wings, and scapulars, black, glossed with purple and green: inner webs of the primaries and secondaries white towards their base; the tertials white: tail of the same color with the back; and most extremely forked; the outmost feather above eight inches longer than the middlemost: the legs yellow.
PLACE.
This most elegant species inhabits only the southern parts of
North America;
and that only during summer. Like Swallows, they feed chiefly flying; for they are much on wing, and prey on various sorts of insects. They also feed on Lizards and Serpents; and will kill the largest of the regions it frequents with the utmost ease. They quit
North America
before winter. We are not acquainted with their retreat. It probably is in
Peru:
at lest we have the proof of one being taken in the South-sea, off the coast which lies between
Ylo
and
Arica,
in about the latitude 23 south, on
September
11th, by the reverend the Father
Louis Feuilee
Journal des obserru. &c.
vol. ii. 33.
.
wallow
ailed
alcon N• 108.
109. BUZZARDET.
F. With dusky bill: head, cheeks, neck, breast, and belly, white, marked with large brown spots, more sparingly dispersed over the breast and belly: lesser coverts, brown; the others colored like the head: primaries dusky: thighs white, with small sagittal spots of brown: tail dusky, barred and tipt with white: legs yellow. LENGTH fifteen inches. It has much the habit of the Buzzard; but the legs in proportion are rather longer.
In the LEVERIAN Museum. Except in the almost uniform color of the tail, Mr.
Latham
's species, p. 97, No 83, agrees with this.
110. LITTLE.
Little Hawk,
Catesby,
i. 5.—
Latham,
i. 110, No 94.
Emerillon de Cayenne,
Buffon,
i. 291.—
Pl. Enl.
No 444.
Falco Sparverius,
Lin. Syst.
128.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
MALE.
F. With bluish bill, and yellow cere: crown of fine light grey, with a red spot in the middle; on the hind part a semicircle formed of round black spots: cheeks white, bounded on each side with a large black spot: throat white: breast of a pale yellow, spotted with black: back of a brilliant bay, crossed by broad black bars: coverts of the wings of a beautiful grey, thinly spotted with black; primaries black, spotted on their inner webs with white: tail long; the middle feathers barred near the end with a black band, and tipt with white; the two exterior feathers white, crossed with three or four black bars: legs yellow.
Length eleven inches and a half.
SIZE.
Weight only three ounces and an half. This varies in color from the female, in the same manner as the
European
Kestrils.
These birds inhabit
America,
from
Nova Scotia
to the
Antilles;
PLACE.
are active and spirited. They prey on small birds, Mice, Lizards, and insects. The FEMALE is the following.
Emerillon de St. Domingue,
De Buffon,
i. 291.—
Pl. Enl.
No 465.—
Latham,
i. 111, No 95.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
F. With a short and very crooked bill: crown of a deep slaty blue, obscurely spotted with red: hind part of the neck, back, and tail, of a bright ferruginous color and black, elegantly disposed in narrow transverse bars: coverts of the wings of the same colors; primaries black: under side of the neck, breast, and belly, of a dirty white, marked with large ferruginous spots: thighs and vent feathers white: legs long, slender, and orange-colored: tail long, crossed with eleven black, and the same number of bright ferruginous bars.
The
New York
Merlin of Mr.
Latham,
i. 107, No 94, bears so great a resemblance to this, that I do not venture to separate them.
111. PIGEON.
Pigeon Hawk,
Catesby,
i. 3.—
Phil. Trans.
lxii. 382.—
Latham,
i. 101.
Falco Columbarius,
Lin. Syst.
128.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
F. With a dusky bill, and yellow cere: crown, back, and coverts of the wings and rump, of a bluish grey, with the middle of each feather streaked with black: the hind part of the head spotted with reddish white: cheeks and under side of the body white, with large oblong spots of black: primaries and secondaries dusky; their insides marked with great oval spots of white: tail long; black tipt with white, and crossed with four bars of bluish grey: legs yellow.
SIZE.
Its length is from ten to twelve inches. The weight six ounces.
PLACE.
It inhabits
America,
from
Hudson's Bay
as low as
South Carolina.
In the last it attains to a larger size. In
Hudson's Bay
it appears in
May
on the banks of
Severn
river, breeds, and retires south in autumn. It feeds on small birds; and on the approach of any person, flies in circles, and makes a great shrieking. It forms its nest in a rock, or some hollow tree, with sticks and grass; and lines it with feathers: and lays from two to four eggs, white, spotted with red. In
Carolina
it preys on Pigeons, and young of the wild Turkies.
112. DUBIOUS.
F. With a dusky bill: yellow cere and irides: head dusky, streaked with rust-color: back and coverts of wings brown, edged with rust; the primaries dusky ash-color, barred with black, and the inner webs marked transversely with oval ferruginous spots: tail long, of a deep cinereous, with four broad bars of black: breast and belly dirty white, marked with oblong streaks of brown: legs yellow.
Length about ten inches. Weight six ounces.
SIZE.
In the marks and colors of the tail it much resembles the Sparrow Hawk: in the spots on the breast it agrees with the
English
Merlin.
Inhabits
New York
and
Carolina.
PLACE.
I have my doubts whether this is any more than a variety of the preceding, especially as the
English
SPARROW HAWK varies with the same colors.
113. DUSKY.
F. With a bluish bill; upper mandible armed with a sharp process; yellow cere: head, back, and coverts of the wings, and tail, a dusky brown, slightly edged with ferruginous: hind part of the neck spotted with white: primaries dusky; inner webs marked with oval spots of a pale rust-color: tail
short,
tipped with white, and barred with four broad dusky strokes, and the same number of narrow ones of white: the hind part of the head spotted with white: from the chin to the tail whitish, streaked downwards with distinct lines of black: legs deep yellow.
Inferior in size to the last. Inhabits the province of
New York.
SIZE, AND PLACE.
BL. MUS.
A. GOLDEN EAGLE,
Br. Zool.
i. No 42.
Orn.
Faun. Suec.
No 54.—LEV. MUS.
F. With a bluish bill: plumage dusky and rust-color: tail dusky brown, blotched at the base with ash-color: legs feathered to the toes. Weight about twelve pounds.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Sweden;
perhaps
Norway.
Found about the southern part of the
Urallian
mountains, and the mountains which border
Sibiria
on the south. Grows scarcer towards the east.
B. CINEREOUS EAGLE,
Br. Zool.
i. No 45.—
Latham,
i. 33.
Vultur Albiulla,
Lin. Syst.
123.
F. With pale yellow bill, irides, cere, and feet: plumage light cinereous: body and coverts of the wings clouded with darker: primaries dusky: tail white.
SIZE, AND PLACE.
In size equal to the Black Eagle. Inhabits
Europe,
as high as
Iceland
and
Lapmark
Leems,
331.
. Is common in
Greenland;
but does not extend to
America:
at lest, if it does, it varies into the White-headed Eagle, to which it has great affinity, in particular in its feeding much on fish: the
Danes
therefore call it
Fiske-orn
Brunnick,
No 12.
. Is common in the south of
Russia,
and about the
Volga,
as far as trees will grow. Is very scarce in
Sibiria;
but has been observed in the eastern parts about
Nertschink.
It seems to be the species called by the
Tungusi, Elo;
which breeds on the banks of the
Khariousowa,
a river which falls into the
Penshina
sea
Hist. Kamtschatka,
501.
.
It inhabits
Greenland
the whole year, sitting on the rocks with flagging wing, and flies slowly. It makes its nest on the lofty cliffs, with twigs, lining the middle with mosses and feathers. Lays two eggs. Sits in the latter end of
May,
or beginning of
June.
These birds prey on young Seals, which they seize as they are floating on the water; but oft-times, by fixing their talons in an old one, they are overmatched, and drawn down to the bottom, screaming horribly. They feed also on fish, especially the Lumpfish, and a sort of Trout
Salmo. Carpio,
Faun. Groenl.
170, No 124.
; on Ptarmigans, Auks, and Eider Ducks. They sit on the top of rocks, attentive to the motion of the diving birds; and, with quick eyes, observe their course by the bubbles which rise to the surface of the water, and catch the fowls as they rise for breath.
The
Greenlanders
use their skins for cloathing, next to their bodies. They eat the flesh, and keep the bill and feet for amulets. They kill them with the bow, or take them in nets, placed in the snow, properly baited; or tempt them by the fat of Seals, which the Eagles eat to an excess; which occasions such a torpidity as to make them an easy prey.
C. CRYING EAGLE, Planga et Clanga,
Aristot. Hist. An.
lib. ix.
Morphnos, Clanga, Anataria,
Wil. Orn.
63.—
Raii Syn. av.
7, No 7.
Spotted Eagle,
Latham,
i. 38.
Le Petit Aigle,
De Buffon,
i. 91.—BR. MUS.
F. With a dusky bill and yellow cere: color of the plumage a ferruginous brown; the coverts of the wings, and scapulars, elegantly varied with oval white spots; on the greater coverts very large: primaries dusky; the ends of the greater white: breast and belly of a deeper color than the rest of the plumage, streaked downwards with dull yellow: tail dark brown, tipt with dirty white: legs feathered to the feet, which are yellow. LENGTH two feet.
PLACE.
Is found in many parts of
Europe,
but not in
Scandinavia:
is frequent in
Russia
and
Sibiria,
and extends even to
Kamtschatka.
Is less generous and spirited than other Eagles; and is perpetually making a plaintive noise, from which it was styled by the antients
Planga & Clanga;
and
Anataria,
from its preying on Ducks, which
Pliny
Lib. x. c. 3.
describes with great elegance. The
Arabs
used to train it for the chace; but its quarry was Cranes, and other birds: the more generous Eagle being flown at Antelopes, and various quadrupeds. This species was even itself an object of diversion; and made the game of even so small a Falcon as the Sparrow Hawk: which would pursue it with great eagerness, soar above, then fall on the Eagle, and, fastening with its talons, keep beating it about the head with its wings, till they both fell together to the ground. This Sir
John Chardin
has seen practised about
Tauris.
D. ICELAND FALCON,
Gent. Mag.
1771, p. 297, fig. good.
Falco Islandus Fuscus,
Brunnick,
2, No 9.
Le Gerfault d' Island,
Brisson,
i. 373, tab. xxxi.—
Pl. Enl.
210.
Falco Gyrfalco,
Lin. Syst.
130.—
Faun. Suec.
No 64.—
Latham,
i. 82, No 68; and 71, No 50 B. parag. 2d.—LEV. MUS.
F. With a strong bill, much hooked, and the upper mandible sharply angulated on the lower edges; cere bluish: head of a very pale rust-color, streaked downwards with dusky lines: neck, breast, and belly, white, marked with cordated spots: thighs white, crossed with short bars of deep brown: back and coverts of wings dusky, spotted and edged with white: the exterior webs of the primaries dusky, mottled with reddish white; the inner barred with white: the feathers of the tail crossed with fourteen or more narrow bars of dusky and white; the dusky bars regularly opposing those of white: the wings, when closed, reach almost to the end of the train: legs strong and yellow. The LENGTH of the wing, from the pinion to the tip, sixteen inches.
This species is an inhabitant of
Iceland,
is the most esteemed of any for the sport of falconry, and is, with the two following, reserved for the kings of
Denmark;
who sends his falconer, with two attendants, annually into the island to purchase them. They are caught by the natives; a certain number of whom in every district are licensed for that purpose. They bring all they take, about
Midsummer,
to
Besfested,
to meet the royal falconer; and each brings ten or twelve, capped, and perched on a cross pole, which they carry on horseback, and rest on the stirrup. The falconer examines the birds, rejects those which are not for his purpose, and gives the seller a written certificate of the qualities of each, which entitles him to receive from the king's receiver-general seventeen rixdollars for F, or the purest white Falcon; ten for E, or those which are lest white; and seven for this species
Brunnick,
p. 2.
. This brings into the island between two and three thousand rixdollars annually
Olaffen,
i. 32.
.
They are taken in the following manner:
MANNER OF TAKING.
—Two posts are fastened in the ground, not remote from their haunts. To one is tied a Ptarmigan, a Pigeon, a Cock or Hen, fastened to a cord that it may have means of fluttering, and so attract the attention of the Falcon. On the other post is placed a net, distended on a hoop, about six feet in diameter. Through this post is introduced a string, above a hundred yards long, which is fastened to the net, in order to pull it down; and another is fastened to the upper part of the hoop, and goes through the post to which the bait is tied. As soon as the Falcon sees the fowl flutter on the ground, he takes a few circles in the air, to see if there is any danger, then darts on its prey with such violence as to strike off the head, as nicely as if it was done with a razor. He then usually rises again, and takes another circle, to explore the place a second time: after which it makes another stoop; when, at the instant of its descending, the man pulls the dead bird under the net; and, by means of the other cord, covers the Falcon with the net, at the moment it has seized the prey; the person lying concealed behind some stones, or else lies flat on his belly, to elude the sight of the Falcon
Horrebow,
59, 60.
.
As soon as one is caught, it is taken gently out of the net, for fear of breaking any of the feathers of the wings or tail; and a cap is placed over its eyes. If any of the tail-feathers are injured, the falconers have the art of grafting others
Brunnick,
p. 3.
Horrebow,
58.
; which sometimes has occasioned a needless multiplication of species.
The
Iceland
Falcons are in the highest esteem. They will last ten or twelve years; whereas those of
Norway,
and other countries, seldom are fit for sport after two or three years use. Yet the
Norwegian
Hawks were in old times in great repute in this kingdom, and even thought bribes worthy of a king.
Geoffry Le Pierre,
chief justiciary, gave two good
Norway
Hawks to King
John,
that
Walter Le Madina
might have leave to export a hundred weight of cheese.
John,
the son of
Ordgar,
gave a
Norway
Hawk to have the king's request to the king of
Norway,
to let him have his brother's chattels; and
Ralf Havoc
fined to King
Stephen
in two Girfals (Gyrfalcons) and two
Norway
Hawks, that he might have the same acquittance that his father had
Madox, Antiq. Exch.
469. 497.
.
ANTIQUITY OF FALCONRY.
I cannot fix the precise time of the origin of falconry; the passage in
Aristotle,
and the epigram in
Martial,
do by no means fix it to the periods in which they wrote. The philosopher
Arist. de Mirabil. Auscult.
informs us, that
there was a district in
Thrace,
in which the boys used to assemble at a certain time of the year, for the sake of bird-catching. That the spot was much frequented by Hawks, which were wont to appear on hearing themselves called: and would drive the little birds into the bushes, where they were caught by the children; and that the Hawks would even sometimes take the birds and fling them to these young sportsmen; who (after finishing their diversion) gratefully bestowed on their assistants part of their prey.
This tale may have some truth at the bottom; it being notorious that Larks, and even Partridges, will, by the terror of a Hawk passing over them, lie so still as to suffer themselves to be taken by any passenger. Here seems to have been no training of these
Thracian
Hawks, but a mere casual concurrence of Hawks and small birds, which afforded now and then an amusement to the youth of the country. The thought expressed on the antient gem, of little
Genii
engaged in the chace of Deer, assisted by an Eagle, may have originated from this story.
The Poet only describes another kind of bird-catching, in the following epigram on the fate of a Hawk:
Praedo fuit volucrum, famulus nunc Aucupis, idem
Decipit, et captas non sibi, moeret, aves
Lib. xiv. ep. 216.
.
By the word
decipit,
it is plain that the Hawk was not trained; but was merely used as a stale, either to entice small birds under a net, or to the limed twigs: the last is a method still in use in
Italy.
The
Italians
call it
Uccellare con la Civetta;
for instead of a Hawk, they place a small species of Owl on a pole, in the middle of a field; and surround it, at various distances, with lime-twigs. The small birds, from their strange propensity to approach rapacious fowls, fly around, perch on the rods, and are taken in great numbers
Olina,
65.
. A Hawk would serve the purpose full as well.
Pliny
mentions the use of bird-lime
Hist. Nat.
lib. xci. c. 44.
; and
Longus,
in his elegant romance of
Daphnis
and
Chloe,
employs the latter to catch little birds for his beloved
Fr.
ed. octavo, 82.
.
I cannot find any certainty of Hawks being trained for diversion before the time of King
Ethelbert,
the
Saxon
monarch; who died in the year 760
Saxon Chr.
60.
. He wrote into
Germany
for a brace of Falcons, which would fly at Cranes and bring them to the ground
Quoted by Mr.
Whitaker
in
Hist. Manchester,
from
Max. Bibliotheca Patrum,
xiii. p. 85. ep. 40.
, as there were very few such in
Kent.
This shews how erroneous the opinion was, of those who place it in the reign of the emperor
Frederic Barbarossa,
barossa
Spelman's Gloss.
, who was drowned in 1189. By the application of
Ethelbert
to
Boniface,
archbishop of
Mentz,
for the brace of Falcons, it is evident, that the diversion was in perfection in
Germany
before the year 752, the time in which that prelate was martyred by the Pagans. It seems to me highly probable, that falconry was invented in
Scythia,
and passed from thence into the northern parts of
Europe. Tartary
is even at present celebrated for its fine breed of Falcons; and the sport is in such general esteem, that, according to
Olearius, there was no hut but what had its Eagle or Falcon
Olearius's travels,
177.
. The boundless plains of that country are as finely adapted to the diversion, as the wooded or mountanous nature of most part of
Europe
is ill calculated for that rapid amusement.
The antiquity of falconry in
Tartary
is evinced by the exhibition of the sport on the very antient tombs
Strahlenberg,
tab. A. B.
found in that country; in which are figured horsemen at full speed, with Hawks on their hands: others again, in the same attitude, discharging their arrows at their game, in the very manner of the antient
Scythians.
From
Germany,
falconry got footing in
England;
and became so favored a diversion, that even sanguinary laws were enacted for the preservation of rapacious fowls.
Edward
III. made it death for the stealing of a Hawk: and to take its eggs, even in a person's own ground, was punishable with a fine at the king's pleasure, and imprisonment for a year and a day. In the reign of
James
I. the amusement was carried to such an extravagant pitch, that Sir
Thomas Monson
is said to have given a thousand pounds for a cast of Hawks.
E. DUSKY. Falco Fuscus,
Faun. Groen.
56, No 34. b.
Grey Falcon,
Crantz,
i. 78.—
Egede,
64.
F. With dusky irides: lead-colored cere and feet: brown crown, marked with irregular oblong white spots: forehead whitish: cheeks blackish: hind part of the head and throat white: breast and belly of a yellowish white, striped downwards with dusky streaks: the back dusky, tinged with blue, the ends of the feathers lightest, and sprinkled over with a few white spots, especially towards the rump: wings of the same colors, variegated beneath with white and black: the upper part of the tail dusky, crossed very faintly with paler bars; the under side whitish.
Lesser than the Collared Falcon.
SIZE.
Inhabits all parts of
Greenland,
PLACE.
from the remotest hills to those which impend over the sea. They are even seen on the islands of ice remote from shore. They retire in the breeding-season to the farthest part of the country, and return in autumn with their young. They breed in the same manner as the Cinereous Eagle, but in more distant places; and lay from three to five eggs. The tail of the young is black, with great brown spots on the exterior webs.
They prey on Ptarmigans, Auks, and all the small birds of the country: have frequent disputes with the Raven, but seldom come off victors; for the Raven will, on being attacked, fling itself on its back; and, either by defending, itself with its claws, or by calling, with its croaking, numbers of others to its help, oblige the Falcon to retire. The
Greenlanders
use the skin, among many others, for their inner garments; the wings for brushes; the feet for amulets: but seldom eat the flesh, unless compelled by hunger.
It is also a native of
Iceland.
F. GYRFALCON,
Br. Zoo.
No 47, tab. xix.—
Latham,
i. 71, No 50 A, and No 50 B, 1st paragr. and 83, No 69.
Falco Islandus,
Faun. Groenl.
58, No 35.—
Brunnick,
Nris 7, 8.—
Crantz,
i. 78.—
Egede,
64.—
Horrebow,
58.—LEV. MUS.
F. With a yellow cere: bluish bill, greatly hooked: eye dark blue: the throat of a pure white: the whole body, wings, and tail, of the same color, most elegantly marked with dusky bars, lines, or spots, leaving the white the far prevaling color. There are instances, but rare, of its being found entirely white. In some, the whole tail is crossed by remote bars of black or brown; in others, they appear only very faintly on the middle feathers: the feathers of the thighs are very long, and unspotted: the legs strong, and of a light blue.
SIZE.
Its weight forty-five ounces Troy: length near two feet: extent four feet two.
PLACE.
Of the same manners and haunts with the former. Is very frequent in
Iceland;
is found in
Lapmark
Leems,
235.
, and
Norway
Strom.
; and rarely in the
Orknies,
and
North Britain.
In
Asia,
it dwells in the highest points of the
Urallian
and other
Sibirian
mountains, and dares the coldest climates throughout the year. It is kept, in the latitude of
Petersburg,
VERY HARDY.
uninjured in the open air during the severest winters, when the
Peregrine Falcon,
No 97, loses its claws by the frost.
Mr.
Hutchins
At the time this sheet was printing, I had the good fortune to meet with Mr.
Hutchins,
surgeon, a gentleman many years resident in
Hudson's Bay;
who, with the utmost liberality, communicated to me his MS. observations, in a large folio volume: in every page of which his extensive knowlege appears. The benefit which this work will, from the present page, receive, is here once for all gratefully acknowleged.
has often observed it about
Albany
fort, where it appears in
May,
and retires before winter. It feeds on the white, and other Grous. This species ought to be added to the
American
class.
This species is pre-eminent in courage as well as beauty, and is the terror of other Hawks. It was flown at all kinds of fowl, how great soever they were; but its chief game used to be Herons and Cranes.
G. COLLARED. Falco Rusticolus,
Lin. Syst.
125.—
Faun. Suec.
No 56.—
Faun. Groenl.
No 34.—
Latham,
i. 56.
F. With a lead-colored bill, tipt with black: head broad and flat, streaked lengthways with black and white; on the cheeks the white predominates: the throat, under side of the neck, and breast, are of a pure white; that on the neck almost surrounds it, forming a species of collar: the belly is of the same color, marked with a few dusky cordated spots: the back is waved with ash-color and white; the tip of each feather white: the coverts of the wings of the same colors, but more obscure: the exterior webs of the primaries dusky: the tail rounded, crossed with twelve or thirteen whitish and dusky bars: the legs yellow. SIZE of a Hen.
Is rarely found in the remotest parts of
Greenland.
PLACE.
Inhabits also
Sweden;
and extends eastward as far as
Simbirsk, lat.
54½, in the government of
Casan
Extracts,
i. 315.
.
H. KITE,
Br. Zool.
i. No 53.—
Latham,
i. 61, No 43.
Falco Milvus Glada,
Faun. Suec.
No 57.
Le Milan Royal,
De Buffon,
i. 197.—
Pl, Enl.
422.—LEV. MUS.
F. With yellow bill and cere: white head, streaked with black: body ferruginous, with a few dusky spots: tail much forked and ferruginous.
Weight forty-four ounces. Length twenty-seven inches:
SIZE.
extent five feet one.
Inhabits the north of
Europe,
as high as
Jarlsberg,
PLACE.
in the very south of
Norway
Hammer, Faun. Norway.
; but does not extend farther. This species, the
Sea Eagle, Lanner, Buzzard,
and
Kestril,
quit
Sweden,
in flocks, at approach of winter, and return in spring
Amoen. Acad. iv.
. Of these, the
Buzzard
and
Kestril
winter at
Woronesch,
in
Russia,
in
lat.
52
Extracts,
i. 100.
; and, together with the
Lanner
and
Kite,
about
Astrakan
Vol. ii. 142.
, in
lat.
46. 30; but the far greater part of the Kites are supposed to retire into
Egypt,
being seen in
September
passing by
Constantinople
Forskahl, Descr. Arab.
7.
, in their way from the north; and again in
April
returning to
Europe
Wil. Orn.
75.
, to shun the great heats of the east. They are observed in vast numbers about
Cairo,
where they are extremely tame, and feed even on dates, I suppose for want of other food
Belon Obs.
xxxvi. p. 107. b.
. They also breed there; so that, contrary to the nature of other rapacious birds, they encrease and multiply twice in the year; once in the mild winters of
Egypt,
and a second time in the summers of the north. It makes its appearance in
Greece
in the spring; and in the early ages, says
Aristophanes
Aves.
,
it governed that country: and men fell on their knees when they were first blessed with the sight of it, because it pronounced the flight of winter, and told them to begin to sheer their vernal fleeces. The CRANE likewise, by its autumnal departure, warns the mariner to hang up his rudder, and take his rest, and every prudent man to provide their winter garments: and the SWALLOW again informed them when they were to put on those of summer. Thus, adds the chorus of birds, are we to you as AMMON, DODONA, APOLLO:
meaning, in those early days, that man consulted only these natural calendars, and needed no other than what they took from the flight of birds
See this subject most ingeniously handled in Mr. STILLINGFLEET'S Essays, in the
Calendar of Flora.
, or the flowering of plants.
They inhabit
England
in all seasons. I have seen their young taken, the last week in
May,
or first in
June,
in the great woods belonging to Sir
Joseph Banks,
in
Lincolnshire;
and have often observed them in various places in the depth of winter.
I. HONEY BUZZARD,
Br. Zool.
i. No 56.—
Latham,
i. 52, No 33.
Falco Apivorus Slaghok,
Faun. Suec.
No 65.—LEV. MUS.
F. With an ash-colored head; dark brown above; below white, spotted or barred with rusty brown: tail brown, barred with two dusky bars, remote from each other: legs strong and yellow: bill and cere black. LENGTH twenty-three inches. WEIGHT thirty ounces.
Inhabits as far north as the district of
Sondmor,
in
Norway
Strom.
235.
.
PLACE.
Is found in plenty in the open parts of
Russia
and
Sibiria,
near woods; and preys much upon Lizards.
K. LANNER,
Br. Zool.
i. No 31.—
Latham,
i. 86.
Falco Lannarius,
Faun. Suec.
No 62.—
De Buffon,
i. 243.
F. With a white line over each eye: cere and legs bluish: breast white, tinged with yellow, and marked with brown spots: primaries and tail dusky; the first marked with oval rust-colored spots on the inner webs; the last, on both.
Inhabits
Iceland,
the
Feroe
isles, and
Sweden;
PLACE.
the
Tartarian
deserts and the
Baraba.
Breeds on very low trees. None in the north or east of
Sibiria.
Much esteemed for falconry.
L. MOOR BUZZARD,
Br. Zool.
No 57.—
Latham,
i. 53.
Falco Aeruginosus,
Faun. Suec.
No 66.
Hons-tjuf, Le Busard,
De Buffon,
i. 218. pl. x.—
Pl. Enl.
424:
F. Entirely of a chocolate brown, tinged with rust: on the hind part of the head a light clay-colored spot: slender long yellow legs: cere black.
Weight twenty ounces. Length twenty-one inches.
SIZE.
Found in the
Transbaltic
countries, as far north as
Sondmor
The same.
.
PLACE.
Common in the south of
Russia:
not in
Sibiria.
It continues the whole year in
Sweden.
M. KESTRIR,
Br. Zool.
i. No 60.—
Latham,
i. 94.
Falco Tinnunculus, Kirko-Falk,
Faun. Suec.
No 61.—
Muller,
No 65.
La Cresserelle,
De Buffon,
i. 280. pl. xviii.—
Pl. Enl.
401, 471.
Male. F. With the crown and tail of a fine light grey, the last marked with a black bar near the end: back and wings of a purplish red, spotted with black.
Female.
Head reddish; crown streaked with black: back, tail, and coverts of wings, dull rust-color, barred with black: legs yellow. WEIGHT of
Male
six ounces and a half: of
Female
eleven.
PLACE.
Frequent in the deserts of
Tartary
and
Sibiria,
in the open countries, where small trees are found for it to breed in. Migrates into
Sweden,
at the time in which the White Wagtail returns, and the Saffron, Snowdrop, and bulbous Violet, blossom. Each of these birds quit the country about the same day, in
September
Calendar of Flora,
and
Migr. av.
in
Amoen. Acad.
v. 397. 382.—Is found as far south as as the
Holy Land. Hasselquist, Itin.
291.
. Not found farther north?
N. SPARROW HAWK,
Br. Zool.
i. No 62.—
Latham,
i. 99.
Sparfhok,
Faun. Suec.
No 68.—
Muller,
No 71.—
Strom.
235.
L'Epervier,
De Buffon,
i. 225. pl. xi.—
Pl. Enl.
412, 467.
F. With head, back, and coverts of wings and tail, (in some) of a deep bluish grey; in others, of a deep brown, edged with rust-color: breast and belly of a whitish yellow, with waved bars of deep brown or dull orange: tail cinereous, with five broad black bars; the tips white.
Weight of the male five ounces: female nine.
PLACE.
Found as high as
Sondmor,
and in the
Feroe
islands, in the south of
Russia;
but none in
Sibiria.
O. HOBBY,
Br. Zool.
i. No 61.—
Latham,
i. 103.
Falco Subluteo,
Faun. Suec.
No 59.
F. With crown, back, and coverts of a bluish black: from the crown a black stroke points down the cheeks, which are white: breast white, with oblong black spots: thighs and vent pale orange: inner webs of primaries marked with oval reddish spots: two middle feathers of the tail plain dove-color; the inner webs of the others marked like the primaries: legs yellow. WEIGHT of the
male
seven ounces.
Schonen,
the most southern province of
Sweden
Faun, Suec.
, and, I believe,
PLACE.
does not extend farther north. This species winter about
Woronesch
and
Astrakan
Extracts,
ii. 142.
; and frequents the same places in
Sibiria
with the KESTRIL.
III. OWL.
Gen. Birds.
III.
* EARED OWLS.
114. EAGLE.
Great Horned Owl,
Edw.
60.—
Latham,
i. 119.
Great Grey Owl,
Josselyn,
96.—
Lawson,
145.
Jacurutu,
Margrave,
199.
Stria Bubo Uf,
Faun. Suec.
No 69.
O. With a dusky bill: yellow irides: horns shorter than the
European
Eagle Owl; those, with the head, black, marked with tawny: circle round the eyes cinereous, edged with black: on the throat a large cruciform mark of a pure white, reaching to the beginning of the breast: upper part of the breast dusky and tawny; the lower part thickly barred with black ash-color, mixed with yellow: coverts of wings, scapulars, and back, elegantly painted with zigzag lines, cinereous, black, and orange; the scapulars also marked with a few great white spots: primaries broadly barred with black and ferruginous: tail of a deep brown, crossed with brown dusky bars, and marked with numerous transverse cinereous lines: legs and feet covered with soft light brown feathers to the very claws, which are very strong and hooked.
SIZE.
This species is inferior in size to the EAGLE OWL,
Br. Zool.
i. No 64; but seems only a variety.
PLACE.
It is common to
South
and
North America,
as high as
Hudson's Bay.
Makes, during night, a most hideous noise in the woods, not unlike the hollowing of a man; so that passengers, beguiled by it, often lose their way.
The savages have their birds of ill omen, as well as the
Romans.
They have a most superstitious terror of the Owl; which they carry so far as to be highly displeased at any one who mimics its hooting
Colden's Six Indian Nations,
i. 17.
.
This species is common in
Kamtschatka,
and even extends to the
Arctic
regions; in the first of which it very often inclines to white. It is found as low as
Astrakan.
115. LONG-EARED.
Br. Zool.
i. No 65.
Strix Otus,
Faun. Suec.
No 71.—
Latham,
i. 121.
O. With very long ears, of six feathers each, yellow and black: irides yellow: back and coverts of wings deep brown, grey, and yellowish rust-color: primaries barred with dusky and ferruginous: breast and belly pale yellow, with slender brown strokes, pointing downwards: tail barred with cinereous and dusky; the bars of the middle feathers bound above and below with white: feet feathered to the claws. LENGTH fourteen inches: EXTENT of the
English
specimens three feet four
If no mistake is made in Mr.
Hutchins's
MS. the extent is less by far than that of the
English
kind.
. Weight ten ounces.
Observed by Mr.
Hutchins
about
Severn
settlement in
Hudson's Bay,
PLACE.
where it lives in the woods, far from the sea: at night sallies in search of prey. Approaches the tents of the inhabitants, and is very clamorous. Builds its nest in trees, and lays four white eggs in
April.
Never migrates.
Inhabits
Sweden,
and the northern and southern parts of the
Russian
dominions, and the eastern parts of
Sibiria.
Is found as far south as
Astrakan,
and even in the hot climate of
Egypt
Hasselquist, Itin.
233.
.
116. SHORT-EARED.
Short-eared Owl,—
Br. Zool.
i. No 66.—Phil. Trans. lxii. 384.—
Latham,
i. 124.
La Chouette ou la grande Chevêche,
De Buffon,
i. 372. tab. xxvii.—
Pl. Enl.
438. —BL. MUS.—LEV. MUS.
O. With a lesser head in proportion than the former: bill dusky: irides yellow: head, back, and coverts of the wings, pale brown, edged with dull yellow: breast and belly yellowish white, marked with a few dusky streaks pointing downwards: thighs, legs, and toes, covered with plain yellow feathers: primaries dusky, barred with red: tail of a deep brown, marked on each side of the middle feathers with a large yellow circle, with a brown spot in the middle. In some, the feathers are yellowish, obliquely barred with black. The horns, or ears, consist of only a single feather, which it can raise or depress at pleasure. The wings reach beyond the end of the tail.
SIZE.
LENGTH fourteen inches. Weight fourteen ounces.
PLACE.
Found in plenty in the woods near
Chateau Bay,
on the
Labrador
coast. It is also an inhabitant of the
Falkland Islands;
so probably is common to
North
and
South America.
In
Hudson's Bay
it is called the
Mouse Hawk.
It never flies, like other Owls, in search of prey; but sits quiet on a stump of a tree, watching, like a Cat, the appearance of Mice. It breeds near the coast; makes its nest with dry grass upon the ground; and migrates southwards in autumn. Father
Feuillée
speaks of an Owl he found in
Peru
that has some resemblance to this, particularly in the Hawk-like shape of the bill. He says it burrows under ground to a great depth, like a Rabbet; for which reason he names it
Ulula Cunicularia
Voy. Peru,
ii. 562.
. It is very common in the northern and woody parts of
Sibiria.
Comes boldly to the night fires, and assaults men, when it is often killed with sticks.
In
Europe
it is found in
Great Britain,
and reaches to the
Orkney
isles. Does not perch, but sits on the ground, on which it lays its eggs amidst the heath. Appears and disappears in
Lincolnshire
with the Woodcock. Perhaps migrates to
Sweden
or
Norway,
where it is also found, and even as high as Iceland
See Strix Funerea,
Faun. Suec.
No 75.
Pontop. Atlas Danica,
tab. 25.
Olaffen's Iceland,
ii. tab. 46.
. Flies and preys by day, in dark and cloudy weather. Friendly to the farmer, by being an excellent mouser. Does not fly far; but if disturbed, soon alights, and sits looking about; at which times its horns are very conspicuous. This circumstance hitherto unattended to; so that it has been ranked among the Earless Owls.
117. RED.
Little Owl,
Catesby,
i. 7.—
Latham,
i. 123.
Strix Afio,
Lin. Syst.
132.—BL. MUS.—LEV. MUS.
O. With yellow irides: horns, head, back, and wings, of a pleasant tawny red, streaked with black: the scapulars marked with large white spots: primaries barred with black, red, and white: breast pale tawny, marked with oblong black spots: tail red, barred with dusky: feet covered with feathers to the claws. LENGTH ten inches and a half.
Inhabits
New York,
and as low as the
Carolinas.
PLACE.
Lives in the woods near the coast.
118. MOTTLED.
Latham,
i. 126.—BL. MUS.—LEV. MUS.
O. With the face white, spotted with brown: head, wings, and upper part of the body, mottled with ash-color and pale red: the scapulars marked with great white spots; as are the coverts of the wings: the primaries with black and pale ferruginous: breast and belly whitish, varied with dusky ragged stripes, pointing downwards: toes feathered to the claws. LENGTH eleven inches.
Inhabits the province of
New York.
Breeds in
May,
PLACE.
and continues in the country the whole year.
** WITHOUT EARS.
119. WAPACUTHU.
O. With glossy black bill, and claws much incurvated: base of the bill beset with strong bristles: irides bright yellow: space between the eyes, cheeks, and throat, white: the ends of the feathers on the head black: scapulars, and all the coverts of the wings, white, elegantly barred with dusky reddish marks, pointing downwards: primaries, secondaries, and tail feathers, irregularly spotted and barred with pale red and black: back and coverts of the tail white, mixed with a few dusky spots: breast and belly dirty white, crossed with innumerable reddish lines: vent white: legs feathered to the toes, which are covered with hairs. WEIGHT five pounds: length two feet: extent four.
PLACE.
Inhabits the woods about
Hudson's Bay:
makes its nest on the moss, on the dry ground. The young are hatched in
May,
and fly in
June;
and are white for a long time after. Feeds on Mice and small birds. Called by the
Indians, Wapacuthu,
or the Spotted Owl. The
Europeans
settled in the bay, reckon it a very delicate food.
120. SOOTY.
Cinereous Owl,
Latham,
i. 134, No 19.—BR. MUS.
O. With a whitish bill: bright yellow irides: circlets consist of elegant alternate lines of black and pale ash-color: head, hind part of the neck, and coverts of wings, sooty, marked with narrow bars of dirty white: primaries deep brown, with broad bars, composed of lesser of dusky and pale cinereous: tail most irregularly marked with oblique strokes of brown and dirty white: the breast and belly whitish, greatly covered with large oblong blotches of dusky brown: as a singular mark, from the chin to the vent is a space, about an inch in breadth, entirely naked: legs feathered to the feet. WEIGHS three pounds: length two feet: extent four.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay
the whole year. Flies in pairs. Feeds on Mice and Hares. Flies very low; yet seizes its prey with such force, that, in winter, it will sink into the snow a foot deep; and, with great ease, will fly away with the AMERICAN HARE, No 38, alive in its talons. It makes its nest in a pine-tree, in the middle of
May,
with a few sticks lined with feathers; and lays two eggs, spotted with a darkish color. The young take wing in the end of
July.
121. SNOWY.
Great White Owl,
Edw.
61.—
Ellis's voy.
40.—
Du Pratz,
ii. 91.—
Clayton's Virginia.—Ph. Trans.
iii. 589.
Great Speckled Owl,
Egede, Greenland,
64.
Strix Nyctea, Harfang,
Faun. Suec.
No 76.—
Buffon,
i. 387.—
Latham,
i. 132, No 17.—BL. MUS.—LEV. MUS.
O. With a head less in proportion than other Owls: irides yellow: whole plumage of a snowy whiteness, sometimes pure, oftener marked with dusky spots: the legs and feet covered warmly to the very claws with long snowy feathers of the most delicate and elegant texture: the claws are of a fine contrasting blackness, very large and very crooked. Its length two feet;
SIZE.
but it varies greatly in weight, from three pounds to one and a half.
It inhabits the coldest parts of
America,
PLACE.
even as high as the remote mountains in the icy centre of
Greenland;
from which, in intense cold, it migrates to the shores. It adds horror even to that country, by its hideous cries, resembling those of a man in deep distress.
It is rare in the temperate parts of
America,
and seldom strays as low as
Pensylvania
or
Louisiana.
Is very common in
Hudson's Bay,
in
Norway,
and
Lapland.
It fears not the rigor of the season, but bears the cold of the northern regions the whole year. It flies by day, and is scarcely to be distinguished from the snow: it flies pretty swiftly, and falls perpendicularly on its prey. Feeds on the White Grous, and probably on the Hares; for to the last circumstance it owes its
Swedish
name,
Harfang.
It preys also on Mice, and Carrion; and in
Hudson's Bay
is almost domestic, harbouring in places near the tents of the
Indians.
Is scarce in
Russia;
grows more common on the
Uralian
mountains, and all over the north and east of
Sibiria,
and in its
Asiatic
empire, even in the hot latitude of
Astrakan
Extracts,
i. 91. ii. 142.
; are very numerous in
Kamtschatka.
122. BARRED.
Latham,
i. 133, No 18.—BL. MUS.—LEV. MUS.
O. With a pale yellow bill, beset with strong bristles: irides yellow: circlets whitish, barred with dusky lines: head, back, coverts of the wings, and the breast, barred with dark brown, and white tinged with yellow; the primaries with black and white: the belly white, marked downwards with long stripes of deep brown: tail barred with broad bands of black, and narrower of white: wings reach only half the length of the tail: feet feathered to the claws.
SIZE.
A large species, two feet long; the extent four. Weight three pounds.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay,
and
New York.
Preys on Hares, Grous, Mice, &c.
123. HAWK.
Little Hawk Owl,
Edw.
62.—
Lathams,
i. 142, No 29; 143, No 30; 147, No 36; 148, No 37.—
Phil. Trans.
lxi. 385.
Le Chat-huant de Canada,
Brisson,
i. 518.—
De Buffon,
i. 391.
Chouette a longue queue de Sibirie,
Pl. Enl.
463.—LEV. MUS.
O. With yellow irides: head finely spotted with dusky and pure white: back brown, with a few large white spots: primaries of a deep brown, regularly spotted with white on each web: upper part of the breast white; lower part and belly barred with brown: tail very long, and cuneiform, marked with broad bars of brown, and narrow of white: feet protected with feathers to the claws.
LENGTH seventeen inches. WEIGHT twelve ounces. Never hatches above two young at a time; which, for some months after flight, retain a rusty brown plumage.
This bird is very frequent in all
Sibiria,
and on the west side of the
Uralian
chain, as far as
Casan
and the
Volga:
not in
Russia.
124. WHITE.
Tuidara,
Margrave,
205.
Barn Owl,
Clayton's Virginia.—Phil. Trans.
iii. 589.
White Owl,
Br. Zool.
i. No 67.—
Latham,
i. 138.
Strix Flammea,
Faun. Suec.
No 73.
L'Effraie, ou L'Effrasaie,
De Buffon,
i. 366. pl. xxvi.—
Pl. Enl.
440.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
O. With a white bill: dusky irides: head, back, and coverts of wings, of a pale beautiful yellow, with two grey and two white spots placed alternately on each side of the shafts: breast and belly wholly white: interior sides of the feathers of the tail white; exterior marked with obscure dusky bars: legs feathered: feet covered with short hairs. LENGTH fourteen inches. WEIGHT eleven ounces.
This bird is common to
North
and
South America,
and to
Europe.
PLACE.
Was found by the navigators near
Sandwich
sound,
lat.
61 north. Is rare in
Sweden,
and, I believe, not found farther north. Inhabits
Tartary.
The
Mongol
and
Kalmuc Tartars
almost pay it divine honors; because they attribute to this species the preservation of the founder of their empire,
Cingis Khan.
That prince with his small army happened to be surprized and put to flight by his enemies, and forced to conceal himself in a little coppice: an Owl settled on the bush under which he was hid, and induced his pursuers not to search there, as they thought it impossible any man could be concealed in a place where that bird would perch. From thenceforth they held it to be sacred, and every one wore a plume of the feathers of this species on his head. To this day the
Kalmucs
continue the custom, on all great festivals; and some tribes have an idol in form of an Owl, to which they fasten the real legs of one
Extracts,
ii. 142.
.
125. BROWN.
Brown Owl,
Br. Zool.
i. No 69.—
Latham,
i. 140.—
De Buffon,
i. 372.—
Pl. Enl.
438.
Strix Ulula,
Faun. Suec.
No 78.—BL. MUS.—LEV. MUS.
O. With dark hazel irides: head, wings, and back, of a deep brown spotted with black: coverts of the wings and scapulars varied with white spots: breast of a pale ash-color, marked with dusky jagged strokes pointing downwards: feet feathered to the claws. LENGTH about fourteen inches. WEIGHT nineteen ounces.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Newfoundland:
rare in
Russia:
unknown in
Sibiria:
found in
Sweden
and
Norway
Brunnick,
No 19.
.
126. LITTLE.
Little Owl,
Br. Zool.
i. No 70.—
De Buffon,
i. 377.
Strix Passerina,
Faun. Suec.
No 79.—
Latham,
i. 149, No 38, No 39; 150, No 40. —BL. MUS.—LEV. MUS.
O. With pale yellow irides: bill whitish brown: head light brown, speckled with white: back, and coverts of the wings, and scapulars, of the same color, marked in parts with white spots: the breast whitish, varied with rust-color: tail barred with white, and marked regularly on each web with circular white spots: feet feathered to the claws. It varies in length, from eight to seven inches. The smallest I have seen is from
Nova Scotia;
which has white circlets about the eyes, and fewer white spots on its plumage.
PLACE.
Inhabits from
Hudson's Bay
to
New York.
Called by the natives of the first,
Shipmospish.
Lives in all seasons among the pines: builds its nest half way up the tree: lays two eggs. Are most solitary birds. Keep close in their retreat the whole day; but are most active mousers during night. Frequent in
Russia;
less so in
Sibiria.
* EARED.
A. SCANDINAVIAN EARED OWL, Strix Scandiaca,
Faun. Suec.
No 70.—
Latham
i. 120.
O. With the plumage entirely white, sprinkled with black spots.
Size of a Turky: in all respects like the Snowy Owl,
SIZE.
except the ears.
Inhabits the
Lapland alps.
Mentioned by
Linnaeus;
PLACE.
who seems to take his description from a painting of
Rudbeck
's; but its existence is confirmed by Mr.
Tonning
of Drontheim
Rariora Norvegiae, in Amoen. Acad.
vii. 479.
.
* * EARLESS.
B. TAWNY OWL,
Br. Zool.
i. No 68.—
Latham,
i. 139.
Strix Stridula, Skrik Uggla,
Faun. Suec.
No 77.—
Pl. Enl.
437.—LEV. MUS.
O. With a plain head: dusky irides: plumage of the head, and the whole upper part of the body, tawny, spotted and powdered with dusky spots: breast and belly yellowish, mixed with white, marked downward with dusky streaks: tail blotched, barred, and spotted with pale rust-color and black: toes feathered to the claws. WEIGHT nineteen ounces.
Inhabits
Europe,
as far as
Sweden.
Frequent in the south of
Russia,
PLACE.
and deserts of
Tartary;
and breeds in the nests of Rooks. None in
Sibiria:
a suspicion that it is found in
Hudson's Bay?
ORDER II. PIES.
IV. SHRIKE.
Gen. Birds
IV.
127. GREAT.
Great Shrike,
Br. Zool.
i. No 71.
Lanius Excubitor, Warfogel,
Faun. Suec.
No 80.—
Latham,
i. 160.
White Whisky John,
Phil. Trans.
lxii. 386.
La Pie-grieche Grise,
De Buffon,
i. 296. pl. xx.—
Pl. Enl.
445.—LEV. MUS.
S. With a black bill and legs: cinereous crown, hind part of the neck, and back: cheeks white, crossed from the bill with a bar of black: under side, from chin to tail, white, marked with semicircular lines of a pale brown: lesser coverts black; those on the joints of the wings ash-color: primaries black, marked with a single band of black; secondaries tipt with white: the tail cuneiform; the two middle feathers black, the tips of the next on each side white; on the rest the white prevales, till the exterior, when the black almost entirely vanishes: beyond each eye of the female is a brown bar.
PLACE.
Inhabits
North America,
from
Hudson's Bay
to
Louisiana.
In
Hudson's Bay,
lives in the woods remote from shores, and is the first bird there which brings out its young in the spring. Makes its nest with dry grass or bents, and lines it thickly with feathers: lays seven eggs, of a pale blue color, blotched with brown.
Is frequent in
Russia,
but does not extend to
Sibiria;
yet one was taken by our navigators within
Bering
's straits, in
lat.
66, on the
Asiatic
side of the Frozen Sea. Has the same manner of transfixing and tearing its prey as the
English
kind.
128. BLACK-CROWNED.
S. With the bill, legs, crown, and sides of the head, back, and coverts of wings, black: primaries black, marked with a small spot of white, and another on the ridge of the wing: throat, cheeks, and vent, pure white: breast and belly tinged with ash-color: tail long; middle feathers black; the rest marked at their ends with white, which increases to the exterior; in which the black almost vanishes. Rather inferior in size to the last.
Inhabits
North America.
PLACE.
Seems to be
La Pie Griesche de la Louisiane, Brisson,
ii. 162;
Latham,
i. 162.
129. CRESTED.
Lanius Canadensis,
Lin. Syst.
134.—
De Buffon,
i. 316.—
Pl. Enl.
479. fig. 2.—
Latham,
i. 182.
La Pie Griesche de Canada,
Brisson,
ii. 171.—LEV. MUS.
S. With black bill and legs: head adorned with a reddish crest: cheeks dusky, spotted with white: hind part of neck and back brown, inclining to red: throat and breast of a yellowish red: belly and vent of a fine ash-color: coverts of the wings black, edged with white; primaries with white on their exterior sides: tail black, bordered on each side, and tipt with white. LENGTH six inches and a half: EXTENT about eleven.
Inhabits
Canada.
PLACE.
130. NATKA.
S. With the bill slightly incurvated at the end, black, except the upper half of the lower mandible: crown, lower part of the upper side of the neck, and the back, black: over each eye is a white line, extending to the very nape; beneath that one of black: from chin to vent is wholly white: a narrow white circle quite encompasses the neck: lesser coverts of the wings black; greater white, more or less dashed down the shafts with black: primaries dusky, fringed with yellowish brown; secondaries black, edged and tipped with white: tail black, a little rounded; the four outmost feathers tipped with white: rump cinereous, the edges of the feathers grey: legs black. LENGTH seven inches one-fourth.
Brought from
Natka
sound in
North America.
PLACE.
Communicated to me by Mr.
Latham.
131. RED-BACKED.
Br. Zool.
i. No 72.—
Latham,
i. 167.
Lanius Collurio,
Faun. Suec.
No 81.
Pie-grieche de la
Louisiane, De Buffon,
i. 307.—
Pl. Enl.
397.—LEV. MUS.
S. With grey crown and rump: ferruginous back and coverts of wings: black line across the eyes: breast and belly roseate: tail black; exterior feathers edged with white: head and upper part of the FEMALE dirty rust-color; line over the eyes the same color: breast and belly dirty white, marked with dusky semicircular lines. LENGTH seven inches and a half.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Russia;
not
Sibiria.
Is found in
Sweden
and
Christiansoe.
The Count
De Buffon
says, he received one from
Louisiana.
I imagine, that, as the
Norwegians
give the Great Shrike and this a name, that they may be found in their country. The first they call
Klavert,
the last
Hanvark.
Mr.
Ekmark
has observed both of them, only during summer, in
Est Gothland;
but is not certain whether they winter. Each species appears in
Italy
in the spring; retires in autumn.
A. GREY, Lanius Nengeta,
Lin. Syst.
135.—
Latham,
i. 183.
Grey Pye of
Brasil, Edw.
318.
S. With the crown, hind part of the neck, back, and coverts of the wings, deep cinereous: a black line passes from the bill through the eyes to the hind part of the head: greater coverts and secondaries black, tipt with dirty white; primaries black: breast and belly light ash-color: tail black; ends of the outmost feathers white. Much larger than No 127, the common Great Shrike; and differs specifically.
Inhabits
Russia,
but is more frequent in
Sibiria;
PLACE.
where it lives in the forests the whole winter. Taken and tamed by the fowlers; and kept by the
Russians
for the diversion it affords in the manner of killing its prey. They stick a rod with a sharp point into the wall of a room, on which the Shrike perches. They turn loose a small bird, which the former instantly seizes by the throat, strangles, and then spits it on the point of the stick, drawing it on with its claws and bill. Thus it serves as many as are turned to it, and afterwards eats them, thus suspended, at its leisure
EDWARDS,
Gl.
p. 233.
. The
Germans
style it
Wurch-angel,
or the
Suffocating-angel.
The old
English, Wariangel,
which signifies a bird of some very mischievous qualities; as is evident from
Chaucer.
This Sompnour, which that was as ful of jangles,
As ful of venime ben thise
Wariangles
The Freres tale.
Ful of venime,
because it was believed, that the thorn on which it stuck its prey was venomous.
.
B. LESSER GREY, Pie Grieche
d'Italie, De Buffon,
i. 298.—
Pl. Enl.
32.
S. With the forehead black: a black line crosses the eyes, like as in the former: head, hind part and sides of the neck, back, and coverts of wings, cinereous, palest on the rump: ridge of the wing white: primaries black, with a white spot near the base; secondaries black, tipt with white: throat white: breast and belly tinged with rose-color: tail marked like the preceding.
Inhabits
Russia,
but not
Sibiria.
Found in
Italy
and
Spain.
PLACE.
V. PARROT,
Gen. Birds
V.
132. CAROLINA.
Parrokeeto,
Lawson,
142.—
Latham,
i. 227.—LEV. MUS.
Parrot of
Carolina, Catesby,
i. 11.—
Du Pratz,
ii. 88.
Psittacus Carolinensis,
Lin. Syst.
141.—
Brisson,
iv. 350.
La Perruche a tete jaune,
De Buffon,
vi. 274.
Le Papegai a tete aurore,
De Buffon,
vi. 247.
P. With the forehead, ridge of the wings, and feathers round the knees, orange: head and neck yellow: back, body, and coverts of wings and tail, green: primaries dusky, mixed with blue and green; the upper exterior sides edged with yellow: tail very long and cuneiform: legs white. LENGTH thirteen inches. WEIGHT three ounces and a half.
PLACE.
Inhabits the southern parts of
North America,
but never appears higher than
Virginia.
It is in general a migratory bird, even in
Carolina;
arriving at the season when mulberries are ripe, which they are very fond of, and which are the earliest fruits of the country, except strawberries. They infest, in autumn, the apple-orchards in vast flocks, and make great havock by splitting the fruit for the sake of the kernels only, being very greedy of them, and the seeds of cypress, and other trees. They devour too the buds of the birch.
Few of these tender birds continue in
Carolina
during the whole year. They breed in hollow trees, in low swampy grounds. When taken, they easily grow tame, but do not speak. Their intestines are said to be a speedy poison to Cats.
EGGS.
The eggs of Parrots are roundish, and generally of a pure white; those of the Maccaws spotted, like the eggs of a Partridge. The number usually two; yet the Count
De Buffon
gives an instance of a Perroquet, in a state of confinement, which laid four eggs every spring, during five or six years: one of the eggs was addle; the others productive
Ois.
vi. 115.
.
133. ILLINOIS.
Tui-apeta-jube,
Margrave,
206, No 2.—
Wil Orn.
116.—
Raii. Syn. av.
34.—
De Buffon,
vi. 269.—
Latham,
i. 228.
Psittacus Pertinax,
Lin. Syst.
142.
La Perruche. Illinoise,
Brisson,
iv. 353.
Yellow-faced Parrot,
Edw.
234.
P. With a cinereous bill: orange-colored irides: forehead, cheeks, and sometimes the hind part of the head, of a rich orange: crown, upper part of the body, tail, and coverts of the wings, of a fine green: primaries green, edged externally with blue: breast and belly of a yellowish green: vent yellow: tail very long and cuneiform. Of the same size with the former. Perhaps differs only in sex?
Inhabits the interior parts of
North America,
PLACE.
in the country of the
Illinois,
south of lake
Michigam:
it is also met with in the
Brazils.
Is a lively bird; but its voice not very articulate. Father
Charlevoix
met with some on the banks of the
Theatiki,
a river that rises a little south of lake
Michigam,
and runs into the
Missisipi.
He says, that those he saw were only stragglers, which migrated before winter; but that the main body passed the whole year on the borders of the
Missisipi
Journal Historique,
vi. 124.
.
The Count
De Buffon
confines the whole genus of Parrots to exactly twenty-five degrees on each side of the Equator
Ois.
vi. 82.
.
LATITUDES OF PARROTS.
It always gives me pain to differ in opinion with so illustrious a character; but I must produce my authorities of their being common at far greater distances. On the continent of
America,
two species have been observed by the
Spaniards
about
Trinity Harbour,
in the South Seas, in north
lat.
41. 7
Barrington's Miscellanies,
489. 491.
. Dr.
Forster
saw, in the raw, rainy latitude of
Dusky Bay,
in
New Zealand,
46 south, two kinds. In the neighborhood of
Botany Bay,
in
New Holland,
in south
lat.
34, five species were discovered; among which, the greater variety of the sulphur-crested
Cockatoo
appeared in amazing multitudes. But what is most wonderful, a small species of this tender genus is to be met with as low as
Port Famine,
in the streights of
Magellan,
in north
lat.
53. 44
See
Spilbergen's voy.
in
Purchas,
i. 80;
Wood's
in
Dampier's voy.
iv. 112; and
Byron's,
in
Hawksworth's Coll.
i. 38. Besides these authorities, Lieut.
Gore
(since Captain) and Mr.
Edwards,
now surgeon at
Caernarvon,
who sailed with Mr.
Byron,
confirmed to me the existence of these birds in the streights of
Magellan.
, in flocks innumerable. They inhabited the vast forests of the country. Their food must be confined to buds and berries; for no fort of fruit-trees have been observed there. The forests likewise were frequently bounded by mountains, probably cloathed with eternal snow.
VI. CROW.
Gen. Birds
XII.
134. RAVEN.
Br. Zool.
i No 74.
Corvus Corax,
Lin. Syst.
155.
Korp,
Faun. Suec.
No 85.—
Leems,
240.—
Faun. Groenl.
p. 62.—
Latham,
i. 367. —
De Buffon,
iii. 13.—LEV. MUS.
C. With the point of the bill a little incurvated, with a small tooth on each side, of a black color, glossed with blue. It varies to white, and to pied. In the
Feroe
isles is a breed which are black and white, and are said to keep in a place separate from the common kind
Brunnick,
p. 8.
.
The largest of the genus. Weighs three pounds.
SIZE.
Length two feet two inches.
Very numerous as far north as
Finmark, Iceland,
and
Greenland,
where it frequents the huts of the natives, and feeds on the offals of the Seals
Egede,
64.
. Preys in concert with the White Bear, Arctic Fox, and Eagle. Devours the eggs of birds, especially the Ptarmigan: eats shore-fish, and shell-fish: drops the last from on high to break them, and get at the contents. Turns roundin the air, and is dexterous; changes its prey from its bill to its feet, or from its feet to its bill, by way of ease. Eats also berries, and, when almost famished, dried skins and excrements. Nestles on high rocks, which overhang and afford a canopy. Couples in
March;
lays in
April.
Each preserves a district to itself. The male sits in the day; the female in the night: the former-sleeps close by its mate. Have strong affection to their young brood. Hearing its croaking echoed, repeats it; as if admiring its own note. At approach of storms, collects under shelter of rocks.
Caught by the natives. Its flesh is eaten. The skins reckoned the best for cloathing: the wings used for brushes: the quils split, are made into fishing-lines. They also inhabit
Newfoundland,
and now and then appear as low as
Virginia
and
Carolina
Lawson,
139.
.
This bird is, among the
American
savages, an emblem of return of health. Their physicians, or rather magicians, when they visit a sick person, invoke the Raven, and mimic his croaking voice
Adair's Hist. Am.
173.
. The northern
Indians,
on the contrary, detest this and all the Crow kind
Mr.
Hutchins.
. It inhabits
Kamtschatka
and
Sibiria;
but not within the
Asiatic
Arctic regions.
135. CARRION.
Br. Zool.
i. No 75?—
Latham,
i. 370.
Blaae Raage,
Brunnick,
No 29.
Corvus Corone,
Faun. Suec.
No 86.
La Corbine, ou l'Corneille,
De Buffon,
iii. 45.—
Pl. Enl.
483.—LEV. MUS.
C. With the plumage wholly black, glossed with violet: bill strong, thick, and arched: nostrils covered with strong black bristles: ends of the feathers of the tail slightly pointed. LENGTH eighteen inches and a half. Weight from twenty to twenty-two ounces
Voyage,
i. 121.
.
PLACE.
Inhabits the province of
New York,
and the inland parts of
Hudson's Bay.
Mr.
Blackburn
observed, that it retains there the same manners as the
European
species; and never migrates from
New York.
MR. KALM says, that they fly in great numbers, and have a cry much resembling the Rook
See article Rook, p. 250, A. where a comparison is made of the differences between these two birds.
. By his account, they appear of a mixed nature, feeding not only on grain, but on carrion; and are also very pernicious to young poultry. Like Rooks, they pull up the corn of the country, the new-sown maize; and, when it ripens, do pick a hole in the leaves which surround the ears, exposing it to corruption, by letting in the rain. The inhabitants of
Pensylvania
and
New Jersey
were wont to proscribe them, setting three pence or four pence on the head of each Crow; but the law was soon repealed, because of the great expence it brought on the public stock
Voyage,
ii. 65.
. Mr.
Kalm
also remarks this agreement with the Rook species, that they settle much on trees, both in
February
and the spring.
These birds are so rare in
Sweden,
that
Linnaeus
gives only one instance of its being killed in his country. Yet it is found in the diocese of
Drontheim,
and in the
Feroe
islands. They are scarce in
Russia;
and only in the north. Grow more common in
Sibiria,
and are found plentifully beyond the
Lena,
where the Hooded Crow ceases. Was observed about
Botany Bay,
in
New Holland;
and is met with in the
Philippine
isles
De Buffon,
iii. 66.
.
136. MAGPIE.
Br. Zool.
i. No 78.—
Latham,
i. 392.—
De Buffon,
iii. 85.
Corvus Pica, Skata, Skiura, Skara,
Faun. Suec.
No 92.—LEV. MUS.
C. Variegated with black and white, the black most beautifully glossed with green and purple: the tail very long, cuneiform, black, resplendent with the same rich colors as the body. Length eighteen inches: weight nine ounces.
Visits
Hudson's Bay,
where the natives call it
Oue ta-kee Aske,
or the
Heart-bird.
It migrates, and but seldom appears there
Phil. Trans.
lxii. 387.
.
Is found in
Europe,
as high as
Wardhuys,
in
lat.
71 ½.
PLACE.
It is esteemed there an augural bird. If it perches on the church, it is supposed to portend the death or removal of the minister: if on the castle, that of the governor
Leems,
241.
. The Magpies swarm in the temperate parts of
Russia.
Common in
Sibiria,
and even as far as
Kamtschatka,
and the isles.
137. CINEREOUS.
Corvus Canadensis,
Lin. Syst.
158.—
Latham,
i. 389.
Le Geay Brun de Canada,
Brisson,
ii. 54.—
De Buffon,
iii. 117.—LEV. MUS.
C. With a black bill, strong, strait, notched near the end of the upper mandible: nostrils covered with a tuft of whitish feathers reflected downwards: the forehead, cheeks, and under part of the body, of a dirty reddish white: the feathers on the crown long and black, forming a species of crest, like that of the
English
Jay: the plumage on the back brown, silky, loose, and unwebbed, like that of the Jay: wings black: tail long, cuneiform, blade; the three outmost feathers tipt with dirty white: legs black. LENGTH near eleven inches: extent fifteen. Weight two ounces and a half.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay, Newfoundland,
and
Canada,
and the woods on the western coasts of
America.
These birds breed early in spring: their nests are made of sticks and grass, and built in pine-trees. They have two, rarely three, young ones at a time. Their eggs are blue. The young are quite black, and continue so for some time. They fly in pairs. The male and female are perfectly alike. They feed on black moss, worms, and even flesh. When near habitations or tents, they are apt to pilfer every thing they can come at, even salt meat. They are bold, and come into the tents to eat victuals out of the dishes, notwithstanding they have their hoard of berries lodged in the hollows of trees. They watch persons baiting the traps for Martins, and devour the bait as soon as they turn their backs. These birds lay up stores for the winter; and are seldom seen in
January,
unless near habitations: they are a kind of mock-bird. When caught, they pine away, and die, though their appetite fails them
Mr. Hutchins.
. Detested by the natives of
Hudson's Bay.
138. BLUE.
Jay,
Clayton's Virginia.—Phil. Trans.
iii. 590.—
Lawson,
141.
Blue Jay,
Catesby,
i. 15.—
Edw.
239.—
Latham,
i. 386.
Corvus Cristatus,
Lin. Syst,
157.
Le Geay Bleu de Canada,
Brisson,
ii. 55.—
De Buffon,
iii. 120.—BL. MUS.— LEV. MUS.
C. With a strong thick bill: head adorned with a rich blue crest: a stripe of black from the bill extending beyond the eyes: throat and cheeks white: neck surrounded with a black collar: breast of a pale vinaceous red: belly white; back of a pale purple: coverts of the wings and secondaries of a rich blue, beautifully barred with black; the secondaries, and one order of the coverts, tipt with white: tail long and cuneiform, barred with blue and black; the tips of all white, excepting those of the two middlemost: legs black. LENGTH twelve inches.
Inhabits
Newfoundland, Canada,
and as far south as
Carolina.
PLACE.
Has the same actions and jetting motion as the
English
Jay, but its cry is less harsh. It feeds on fruits and berries, and commonly spoils more than it eats. It is particularly fond of the berries of the bay-leaved
Smilax.
Resides in the country all the year. Lays in
May
five or six eggs, of a dull olive, with rusty spots.
C. With a crested head: bill, neck, and back, black:
139. STELLER'S
Latham,
i. 387.
.
lesser coverts of the wings dusky; the others of a rich resplendent blue: exterior webs of the primaries of the same color; the inner dusky; the secondaries of a beautiful rich blue, crossed with narrow black bars, remote from each other: the rump, belly, and breast, of a dull blue: tail very long, cuneiform, and of a fine glossy blue; the middle feathers slightly barred. SIZE of an
English
Jay.
Inhabits the woods about
Natka
or
George
sound, in
North America.
PLACE.
It had been before discovered by
Steller,
when he landed on the same side of that continent. Described from a specimen in the collection of Sir JOSEPH BANKS.
A. ROOK,
Br. Zool.
i. No 76.—
Latham,
i. 372.
Corvus Frugilegus, Roka,
Faun. Suec.
No 87.—
De Buffon,
iii. 55.
C. Black, glossed with purple: a tinge of dull green over part of the tail: the ends of the feathers of the tail broad, and rounded; those of the Crow, acute: the bill straiter, slenderer, and weaker, than that of the Carrion Crow: the length two inches and a half; that of the latter only two inches and a quarter. The bill of the CROW is of a more intense black. The nostrils and base of the bill of the ROOK naked, and whitish, occasioned by being often thrust under ground in search of food. The WEIGHT of both nearly the same, about twenty-one ounces: the LENGTH about eighteen inches: the EXTENT of wings in the ROOK three feet one inch and a half; of the Crow, two inches and a half less
I once had the curiosity to compare the measurements of these common birds, and found them as above; but they are often inferior in sizes to the subjects I examined.
.
PLACE.
This species is not found farther north than the south of
Sweden.
It breeds there; but is driven away by the severity of the winter. No mention is made of it in the
Danish
or
Norwegian
Faunae. Is common in Russia, and the west of
Sibiria;
but there are none in the east. They migrate in the beginning of
March
to the environs of
Woronesch,
and mingle with the common Crows
Extracts,
i. 103.
.
B. HOODED CR.
Br. Zool.
i. No 77.—
Latham,
i. 374.
Corvus Cornix, Kraka,
Faun. Suec.
No 88.
Krage,
Leems,
239.—
De Buffon,
iii. 61.
C. With black head, wings, and tail; ash-colored body.
Inhabits
Europe,
as high as the
Feroe
islands and
Lapmark,
PLACE.
where it continues the whole year; but in the northern countries often retires to the shores, where it lives on shell-fish. Is very common in all
Russia
and
Sibiria:
none beyond the
Lena.
Migrates to
Woronesch,
and passes the winter there. Grows very large beyond the
Ob,
and often varies to entire blackness. This bird, and the Raven, in
October
quit the
sub-alpine
woods, where they breed; and spread all over the plains of
Italy.
This species extends to
Syria,
as do the Raven, Crow, Jackdaw, and Magpie
Russel's Aleppo,
69.
.
This species, the RAVEN, CROW, JACKDAW, PIE, and JAY, pass their winter at
Woronesch
Extracts,
i. 100.
, removing probably from hotter as well as colder climates; for three of the above can endure the severest cold.
C. JACKDAW,
Br. Zoel.
i. No 81.
—Latham,
i. 378.
Kaia,
Faun. Suec.
No 89.
—De Buffon,
iii. 69.
C. With white irides: hind part of the head light grey: breast and belly dusky ash: rest of the bird black. LENGTH thirteen inches.
Inhabits as far north as
Sondmor:
PLACE.
is sometimes seen in the
Feroe
isles. Migrates from
Smoland
and
East Gothland
the moment that harvest ends; and returns in the spring, attendant on the Stares. Winters about
Upsal,
and passes the night in vast flocks in ruined towers, especially those of antient
Upsal.
Common over all
Russia,
and the west of
Sibiria.
A few are seen beyond lake
Baikal.
Are migratory, unless in the south of
Russia.
D. NUTCRACKER,
Br. Zool.
ii. App. p. 625.—
Latham,
i. 400.—
De Buffon,
iii. 122.
Merula Saxatilis,
Aldr. av.
ii. 284.
Corvus Caryocatactes, Notwecka, Notkraka,
Faun. Suec.
No 91.
C. With primaries and tail black, the last tipt with white: vent white: rest of the plumage of a rusty brown: crown, and converts of the tail, plain; every other part marked with white triangular spots. SIZE of a Jackdaw.
PLACE.
Is found as high as
Sondmor.
Does not migrate. Common in the pine-forests of
Russia
and
Sibiria,
and even in
Kamtschatka.
Lives on nuts and acorns, and on the kernels of pine-cones. Nestles in the bodies of trees, which it perforates like the Woodpecker.
E. JAY,
Br. Zool.
i. No 79.—
Latham,
i. 384.—
De Buffon,
iii. 107.
Corvus Glandarius, Allonskrika, Kornskrika,
Faun. Suec.
No 90.
C. With a black spot on each side of the mouth: very long feathers on the head: body purplish ash: greater coverts of wings beautifully barred with rich blue, black, and white. LENGTH thirteen inches.
PLACE.
Is met with as high north as
Sondmor.
Not migratory. Common in the woods of
Russia
and
Sibiria;
but none beyond the
Lena.
F. ROCK, Greater Redstart,
Wil. Orn.
197.
La Paisse Solitaire,
Belon, Oys.
322.
Codirosso Maggiore,
Olina,
47.—
Latham,
i. 176.—
De Buffon,
iii. 354.—
Aldr. av.
ii. 282.
Stein-Rotela,
Gesu. av.
732.
C. With crown, and neck above, and coverts of wings, brown and dirty white. In the males, the middle of the back marked with a spot, consisting of a bar of blue, black, and rust-colored: throat, breast, and belly, orange, spotted with white, and a few dusky spots: two middle feathers of the tail dusky; the rest ferruginous: has the same loose silky texture of feathers as the Jay. SIZE of a Stare.
Found as high as the forests of
Lapland.
Is called by the
Swedes,
PLACE.
Lappskata
and
Olyckfugl;
by the
Norwegians, Gertrudsfogel;
also
Ulyksfuegl,
from its being supposed to forebode ill-luck.
Linnaeus,
for the same reason, styles it
Lanius Infaustus;
and in his
Fauna, Corvus Infaustus
Syst.
138.
Faun. Suec.
No 93.
. It is common in the woods of the north of
Russia
and
Sibiria.
Is a most audacious bird.
Linnaeus
relates, that in dining amidst the
Lepland
forests, it would often snatch away the meat before him. Breeds in crevices of rocks. Feeds on worms and insects. Sings finely, and is often preserved in cages for its song.
ROLLER.
Gen. Birds
XIII.
G. GARRULOUS,
Br. Zool.
ii. App. p. 530 quarto, 624 octavo.—
Latham,
i. 406.—
De Buffon,
iii. 133.—
Aldr.
i. 395.
Coracias Garrula, Spansk-kraka, Bla-kraka,
Faun. Suec.
No 94.
R. With a naked spot beyond each ear: head, neck, back, breast, belly, and greater coverts of the wings, of a light bluish green: back ferruginous: coverts of the tail, lesser coverts of the wings, and lower parts of the secondaries, of a rich blue; primaries black above, blue beneath: middle feathers of the tail dirty green; the rest of a light blue: the exterior feathers on each side much longer than the rest, and tipt with black: legs yellowish. SIZE of a Jay.
This elegant bird is found not spread, but as if it were in a stream,
PLACES.
from the southern parts of
Norway
to
Barbary
and
Senegal:
from the south of
Russia
to the neighborhood of the
Irtish,
only, in that empire; and southerly, to
Syria
Russel's Aleppo,
69.
. In
Sweden,
it arrives with the
Cuckoo;
retires at the conclusion of the harvest
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 583.
. It makes its nest in the birch, preferably to all other trees
De Buffon,
iii. 139: from this circumstance, one of its
German
names is
Birck-heher,
or the
Birch Jay.
; and in places where trees are wanting, such as
Malta
and
Barbary,
it forms its nest in clayey banks.
Zinanni
says it lays five eggs, of clear green, sprinkled with innumerable dark specks
Zinanni delle Nova, &c.
p. 68. tab. x. fig. 29.
. It feeds on fruits, acorns, and insects. Is a shy bird; but, at times, is seen in company with Crows and Pies on the plough lands, picking up worms, and grains of corn.
Schwenckfelt
says, that in autumn it grows very fat, and is esteemed as a delicacy
Av. Silefiae,
244.
. It is remarkably clamorous. Is migratory.
M. Adanson
observed them in
Senegal,
in flocks, in the month of
September,
and supposes they winter there
Voy. Senegal,
Engl. ed. 25. 107.
.
VII. ORIOLE.
Gen. Birds
XIV.
140. RED-WING.
Acolchichi,
Fernand. Nov. Hisp.
p. 14.—
Wil. Orn.
395.—
Raii Syn. av.
166.—
Latham,
i. 428.
Black Bird (2d sp.)
Lawson,
139.
Red-winged Starling,
Catesby,
i. 13.—
Du Pratz,
ii. 91.
Le Troupiale a Aisles Rouges,
Brisson,
ii. 97.
Le Commandeur,
De Buffon,
iii. 214.—
Pl. Enl.
402.
Oriolus Phoeniceus,
Lin. Syst.
161.
O. With black bill and legs: plumage of a fine jetty blackness, except the lesser coverts of the wings, which are of a bright scarlet, with the lowest row white. LENGTH ten inches. The FEMALES are of a dusky color.
Inhabit from the province of
New York
to the kingdom of
Mexico.
In
North America
they are called Red-winged Starlings,
PLACE.
and Swamp Black-birds; in
Mexico, Commendadores,
from their red shoulders, resembling a badge worn by the commanders of a certain
Spanish
order. That kingdom seems to be their most southern residence. They appear in
New York
in
April,
and leave the country in
October.
MANNERS.
They probably continue the whole year in the southern parts, at lest
Catesby
and
Lawson
make no mention of their departure. They are seen in flocks innumerable, obscuring at times the very sky with their multitudes. They were esteemed the pest of the colonies, making most dreadful havock among the maize and other grain, both when new sown, and when ripe. They are very bold, and not to be terrified with a gun; for, notwithstanding the sportsman makes slaughter in a flock, the remainder will take a short flight, and settle again in the same field. The farmers sometimes attempt their destruction, by steeping the maize in a decoction of white hellebore before they plant it. The birds which eat this prepared corn are seized with a vertigo, and fall down; which sometimes drives the rest away. This potion is particularly aimed against the PURPLE GRAKLES, or PURPLE JACKDAW, which consorts in myriads with this species, as if in conspiracy against the labors of the husbandman. The fowler seldom shoots among the flocks, but some of each kind fall. They appear in greatest numbers in autumn, when they receive additions from the retired parts of the country, in order to prey on the ripened maize.
Some of the colonies have established a reward of three pence a dozen for the extirpation of the Jackdaws: and in
New England,
the intent was almost effected,
USES.
to the cost of the inhabitants; who at length discovered that Providence had not formed even these seemingly destructive birds in vain. Notwithstanding they caused such havock among the grain, they made ample recompence, by clearing the ground of the noxious worms
The Caterpillar of the
Bruchus Pisi,
or Pease Beetle, in particular. See
Kalm,
i. 173. 176.
with which it abounds. As soon as the birds were destroyed, the reptiles had full leave to multiply: the consequence was the total loss of the grass, in 1749; when the
New Englanders,
late repentants, were obliged to get their hay from
Pensylvania,
and even from
Great Britain.
NEST.
The Red-winged Orioles build their nests in bushes, and among the reeds, in retired swamps, in the form of a hang-nest; leaving it suspended at so judicious a height, and by so wondrous an instinct, that the highest floods never reach to destroy it. The nest is strong, made externally with broad grass, a little plastered; thickly lined with bent or withered grass. The eggs are white, thinly and irregularly streaked with black.
Fernandez
says, that in
Mexico
they build in trees near towns; and both he and
Catesby
agree, that they sing as well in a state of confinement as of nature; and that they may be taught to speak. I agree with
M. de Buffon,
that, in case the manner of their nidification is as
Fernandez
asserts, the disagreement in the different countries is very wonderful.
In
Louisiana
they appear only in winter, and are taken in a clapnet, placed on each side of a beaten path made on purpose, and strewed over with rice. As soon as the birds alight, the fowler draws the net, and sometimes takes three hundred at a haul. They are also eaten in the
English
colonies.
Fernandez
does not commend their flesh, which, he says, is unpalatable and unwholesome.
Du Pratz
speaks of two kinds: this, and another which is grey and black, with a red shoulder; like the species in question.
YOUNG, OR FEMALES?
I suspect he forms out of the young birds, not yet arrived at full color, a new kind; or perhaps a female bird: for I have received from Dr.
Garden
one under that title, which agrees with the description given by M.
Du Pratz.
These are streaked with pale rusty brown: cheeks black: over each eye a white line: breast and belly black, spotted with pale brown: lesser coverts of the wings rich orange.
141. WHITE-BACKED.
White-backed Maize Thieves,
Kalm,
ii. 274.
A Species mentioned barely as above by Mr.
Kalm,
with the addition of their being less than the last: that they sing finely, and appeared flying now and then among the bushes near
Saratoga;
but that he saw them for the first time near
New York.
PLACE.
As Mr.
Kalm
seems not to have had a distinct sight of these birds, it is possible that they are the WHITE-WINGED ORIOLES of Mr.
Latham,
ii. 440: the coverts of whose wings are white; the rest of the plumage entirely black. His species came from
Cayenne.
142. BALTIMORE.
Baltimore bird,
Catesby,
i. 48.—
Latham,
i. 432.
Le Baltimore,
Brisson,
ii. 109.—
De Buffon,
iii. 231.—
Pl. Enl.
506.
Oriolus Baltimore,
Lin. Syst.
162.—BL. MUS.—LEV. MUS.
O. With the head, throat, neck, and upper part of the back, black:
MALE.
lesser coverts of the wings orange; the greater black tipt with white: breast, belly, lower part of the back, and coverts of the tail, of a bright orange: primaries dusky, edged with white: two middle feathers of the tail black; the lower part of the rest of the same color, the remaining part orange: legs black.
FEMALE.
Head and back of the female olive, edged with pale brown: coverts of the wings of the same color, marked with a single bar of white: under side of the body, and coverts of the tail, yellow: tail dusky, edged with yellow. LENGTH of this species seven inches.
PLACE.
Inhabits from
Carolina,
Lawson,
145.
to
Canada
De Buffon.
. Suspends its nest to the horizontal forks of the Tulip or Poplar trees, formed of the filaments of some tough plants, curiously woven, mixed with wool, and lined with hairs. It is of a pear shape, open at top, with a hole on the side, through which the young discharge their excrements, and are fed. In some parts of
North America,
this species, from its brilliant color, is called the
Fiery Hang-nest.
It is called the
Baltimore
bird, from its colors resembling those in the arms of that nobleman.
It quits
North America
before winter, and probably retires to
Mexico,
the
Xochitototl
of
Fernandez
Av. Nov. Hisp.
39.
seeming to be the same species.
143. BASTARD.
Bastard Baltimore,
Catesby,
i. 49.—
Latham,
i. 433.
Le Baltimore Batard,
Brisson,
ii. 111.—
De Buffon,
iii. 233.—
Pl. Enl.
506.
Oriolus Spurius,
Lin. Syst.
162.—BL. MUS.—LEV. MUS.
O. With the head, neck, and upper part of the back, of a full glossy black: breast and belly of a fine orange bay: lower part of the back, and coverts of the tail, of the same color: the lesser coverts of the wings light bay; the greater black, edged with dirty white: the quil feathers dusky, edged with white: tail cuneiform and black.
Baltimore Oriole N.
2
Inhabits
North America.
Arrives in
New York
in
May.
PLACE.
Lays five eggs; and usually hangs its nest in an apple-tree.
144. BLACK.
Latham,
ii. 445, No 37.
Le Troupiale Noir,
Brisson,
ii. 103. tab. x.—
De Buffon,
iii. 320.—
Pl. Enl.
534.— BR. MUS.
O. With a black bill, an inch long: legs of the same color: whole plumage black and glossy. LENGTH near ten inches. EXTENT one foot. WEIGHT two ounces and a quarter.
FEMALE. With head, breast, and belly, dusky, tinged with cinereous; the rest of the plumage of as greenish brown.
Inhabits
North America,
even a far as
Hudson's Bay.
PLACE.
Arrives there in the beginning of
June,
as soon as the ground is thawed sufficiently for them to get food, which is Worms and Maggots. They sing with a fine note till the time of incubation, when they desist, and only make a chucking noise till the young take their flight, when they resume their song. They build their nests in trees, about eight feet from the ground; and form them with moss and grass. Lay five eggs, of a dark color, spotted with black. Gather in great flocks, and retire southerly in
September.
A bird, which I apprehend to be only a lesser variety, is described by the
Comte de Buffon,
iii. 221.
Pl. Enl.
606.
Latham,
ii. 446.
145. BROWN-HEADED.
O. With the head of a rusty brown: the body and wings black, glossed with green: the tail of a dusky color. SIZE of a common Blackbird.—BR. MUS. LEV. MUS.
Inhabits
New York,
PLACE.
and appears there in small flocks during summer. Perhaps migrates to
St. Domingo,
where it is also found, and is called there, according to Mr.
Kuchan
's account,
Siffleur,
or Whistler; but differs from that described by M.
De Buffon,
iii. 230, which is entirely yellow beneath.
146. RUSTY.
O. With dusky bill and legs: head, and hind part of the neck, of a blackish purplish hue, with the edges of the feathers rust-colored: from the bill, over and beneath the eyes, extends a black space, reaching to the hind part of the head: throat, under side of the neck, the breast, and back, black, edged with pale rust: belly dusky: wings and tail black, glossed with green. LENGTH between seven and eight inches.
PLACE.
Appears in
New York
in the latter end of
October,
and makes a very short stay there: it probably is on its way southerly from
Hudson's Bay,
where it is also found.
147. WHITE-HEADED.
Le Cassique de la Louisiane,
De Buffon,
iii. 242.—
Pl. Enl.
646.
O. With the head, neck, belly, and rump, white: the rest of the plumage changeable violet, bordered with white, or in some parts intermixed. LENGTH ten inches
French.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Louisiana.
148. HUDSONIAN WHITE-HEADED.
O. With a dusky bill: head and throat pure white: ridge of the wing, some of the under coverts, first primary, and thighs, of the same color: all the rest of the bird dusky, in parts glossed with green: on the breast a few oblong strokes of white: legs dusky. LENGTH eight inches and a half. EXTENT thirteen and a half. WEIGHT an ounce and three quarters.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay.
A very rare species. Quere, if only differing in sex from the last.—LEV. MUS.
149. OLIVE.
Le Carouge Olive de la Louisiane,
De Buffon,
iii. 251.—
Pl. Enl.
607.
O. With the head olive, tinged with grey: hind part of the neck, the back, wings, and tail, of the same color, tinged with brown, brightest on the rump and the beginning of the tail: the sides also olive, dashed with yellow; the same color edges the greater coverts and primaries: the throat is orange-colored: the under side of the body yellow: legs a brownish ash-color. LENGTH six or seven inches
French.
EXTENT from ten to twelve.
Inhabits
Louisiana.
PLACE.
150. YELLOW-THROATED.
O. With a bright yellow stroke over each eye: cheeks and throat of the same color: all the rest of the plumage tinged with green, only some of the coverts of the wings are tipt with white: bill and legs dusky. LENGTH nine inches. EXTENT fifteen and a half.
Was shot in
Hudson's Bay.
PLACE.
151. UNALASCHKA.
Latham,
ii. 447, No 40.
O. With a brown bill; between its base and the eyes a white mark: plumage above, brown; the middle of each feather clouded: chin white, bounded on each side by a dark diverging line: fore part of the neck and breast of a rusty brown: coverts of the wings, the secondaries, and tail, brown, edged with rust: primaries and belly plain: sides dusky: legs brown. LENGTH eight inches.
Brought by the late navigators from
Unalaschka.
PLACE.
152. SHARP-TAILED.
Latham,
i. 448.
O. With the crown brown and cinereous: cheeks brown, surrounded by a border of light clay-color, commenced at the base of each mandible of the bill: throat white: breast, sides, and vent, of a dull pale yellow, spotted with brown: belly white: back varied with ash-color, black, and white: greater and lesser coverts of the wings dusky, deeply bordered with rust-color; primaries black, slightly edged with rust: the feathers of the tail slope off on each side to a point, not unlike those of a Woodpecker; are of a dusky color, and obscurely barred: the legs of a pale brown. SIZE of a Lark.
PLACE.
Inhabits the province of
New York.
—From Mrs.
Blackburn
's collection.
VIII. GRAKLE.
Gen. Birds,
XV.
153. PURPLE.
Tequixquiacatzanatl
i. e. The
Salt Starling,
because in
Mexico
it frequents the salt lakes.
,
Fernandez Mex.
21.
La Pie de la Jamaique,
Brisson,
ii. 41.—
De Buffon,
iii. 97.—
Pl. Enl.
538.
Merops Niger iride sub-argentea,
Brown's Jamaica,
476.
Purple Jackdaw,
Catesby,
i. 12.—
Latham,
i. 462.
Black Bird,
Lawson,
sp. 2d, 139.—
Sloane Jamaica,
ii. 299.
Gracula Quiscula,
Lin. Syst.
165.—BL. MUS.—LEV. MUS.
G. With a black bill: silvery irides: head and neck black, glossed over with a most resplendent blue, variable as opposed to the light: back and belly, with green and copper-color, growing more dusky towards the vent: tail long, and cuneiform: legs black: wings and tail rich purple. Female entirely dusky; darkest on the back, wings, and tail.
LENGTH of the male thirteen inches and a half:
SIZE.
the WEIGHT about six ounces. LENGTH of the female eleven inches and a half.
These birds inhabit the same countries as the Red-wing
Orioles,
and generally mingle with them. They sometimes keep separate; but usually combine in their ravages among the plantations of maize. After that grain is carried in, they feed on the seeds of the Water Tare Grass, or
Zizania aquatica.
Their good qualities, in clearing the country from noxious insects, have been recited before, in page mixed with the history of their congenial companions.
They appear in
New York
and
Philadelphia
in
February,
PLACE.
or the beginning of
March;
and sit perched on trees near the farms, and give a tolerably agreeable note. They also build in trees, usually in retired places, making their nests externally with coarse stalks,
NEST.
internally with bents and fibres, with plaister at the bottom. They lay five or six eggs, of a pale plue color, thinly spotted and striped with black. After the breeding-season, they return with their young from their most distant quarters, in flights continuing for miles in length, blackening the very sky, in order to make their depredations on the ripening maize. It is unfortunate that they increase in proportion as the country is more cultivated; following the maize, in places they were before unknown, wheresoever that grain is introduced.
They migrate from the northern colonies at approach of winter; but continue in
Carolina
the whole year, feeding about the barndoor. Their flesh is rank, and unpalatable; and is only the food of birds of prey. The small Hawks dash among the flocks, and catch them in the air.
They are also found in
Mexico,
and in the island of
Jamaica.
They are sometimes eaten; but their flesh is hard, rank, and of bad nourishment.
154. BOAT-TAIL.
Gracula Barri
a,
Lin. Syst.
165.—
Latham,
i. 460.
Le Troupiaie Noir, Icterus Niger,
Brisson,
ii. 105.—
De Buffon,
iii. 220.—
Pl. Enl.
534.
Monedula tota nigra,
Sloane,
299.—
Raii Syn. av.
185.—LEV. MUS.
G. With the bill an inch and a half long, sharp, and black: plumage black, glossed with purple: tail cuneiform, expanded when walking; in flight, or on the perch, folded, so as to form an oblong cavity in its upper part. LENGTH about thirteen inches.
PLACE.
Inhabits not only the greater
Antilles,
but the warmer parts of
North America;
consorting with the
Purple Grakles,
and
Red-winged Orioles.
Feeds on
maize
and insects; in the islands on
Bananas.
IX. CUCKOO.
Gen. Birds,
XIX.
155. CAROLINA.
Cuckoo of Carolina,
Catesby,
i. 9.—
Lawson,
143.
Le Coucou de la
Carolina, Brisson,
iv. 112.
Cuculus Americanus,
Lin. Syst.
170.—
Latham,
i. 537.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
C. With the upper mandible of the bill black, the lower yellow: head, and whole upper part of the body, and coverts of the wings, cinereous; under side entirely white: primaries brown on their exterior, orange on their interior sides: tail long; two middle feathers entirely cinereous, the others tipt with white: legs dusky. LENGTH twelve inches.
Inhabits
North America.
Arrives in
New York
in
May.
PLACE.
Makes its nest in
June,
usually in apple-trees; and lays four eggs, of a bluish white color. The nest is made of small sticks and roots, and resembles greatly that of the
English
Jay; but is smaller. It retires from
North America
in autumn.
This bird, as well as all the foreign Cuckoos, have only the generical character of the well-known
European
species. They differ in their oeconomy, nor have the opprobrious notes of that bird.
A. EUROPEAN CUCKOO,
Br. Zool.
i. No 82. tab. xxxvi. fem.—
Latham,
i. 509.
Cuculus Canorus, Gjok,
Faun. Suec.
No 96.
Le Coucou,
De Buffon,
vi. 305.—LEV. MUS.
C. With dove-colored head, hind part of the neck, back, rump, and coverts: throat, and under side of the neck, of a pale grey: breast and belly white, barred with black: primaries dusky; inner webs marked with white oval spots: tail cuneiform; middle feathers black, tipped with white; the rest marked with white spots on each web. FEMALE. Neck of a brownish red: tail barred with rust-color and black, and spotted with white.
PLACE.
Inhabits all parts of
Europe,
as high as
Saltens Fogderie,
in
Norway
Pontop.
ii. 75.
, within the Arctic circle; and even at
Loppen,
in
Finmark
Leems,
291.
. It is found equally high in
Asia;
and extends as far east as
Kamtschatka.
In all places it retains its singular note, and its more singular nature of laying its eggs in the nests of small birds, and totally deserting them
Dr. PALLAS.
. Of the above circumstance I beg leave to add a proof, which fell under my own notice in
June
1778; when I saw a young Cuckoo, almost full grown (when I first discovered it) in the nest of a white Wagtail, beneath some logs in a field adjacent to my house. The Wagtail was as solicitous to feed it, as if it had been its own offspring; for, many days after the Cuckoo fled, it was seen often perched on the adjacent walls, still attended and fed by the Wagtail.
It arrives in the northern and eastern parts of
Asia,
about the tenth of
June.
WRYNECK.
Gen. Birds,
XX.
B. WRYNECK,
Br. Zool.
i. No 83.—
Latham,
i. 548.
Jynx Torquilla Gjoktyta,
Faun. Suec.
No 97.
Le Torcol,
De Buffon,
vii. 84.—
Pl. Enl.
698.—LEV. MUS.
W. With a black and colored list dividing lengthways the crown and back: upper part of the body elegantly pencilled with grey, black, white, and ferruginous: tail consists of ten feathers, grey, speckled with black, and marked equidistant with four broad black bars.
Extends over all
Russia
and
Sibiria,
and even to
Kamtschatka.
PLACE.
Found in
Sweden,
and as high as
Drontheim,
in
Norway;
and probably migrates as far as the
Cuckoo.
The
Swedes
call this bird
Gjoktyta,
or the bird which
explains the Cuckoo:
probably for the same reason as the
Welsh
and
English
style it the
Cuckoo's Man,
as it seems its attendant, and to point out its arrival.
X. WOODPECKER.
Gen. Birds,
XXI.
156. WHITE-BILLED.
Quatotomomi,
Fernand. Mex.
50.—
Wil. Orn.
390.
Ipecu,
Marcgrave,
207.—
Wil. Orn.
138.—
Raii Syn. Quad.
43.—
Latham,
ii. 553.
Picus principalis,
Lin. Syst.
173.
Largest White-bill Woodpecker,
Catesby,
i. 16.—
Lawson,
142.—
Barrere Fr. Equin.
143.—
Kalm,
ii. 85.
Grand Pic noir a bec blanc,
De Buffon,
vii. 46.—
Pl. Enl.
690.
W. With a bill of ivory whiteness; great strength; three inches long: irides yellow: a conic crest, of a rich scarlet color, on the hind part of the head: head, throat, neck, breast, and belly, black: beneath each eye is a narrow stripe of white, crooked at its beginning, running afterwards strait down the sides of the neck: upper part of the back, primary feathers, and coverts of the wings, black; lower part of the back, and the secondaries, white: tail black.
This is a gigantic species, weighing twenty ounces; and in bulk equal to a Crow.
PLACE.
Inhabits the country from
New Jersey
to the
Brasils.
Is in
North America
a scarce bird; in
South America
more common. It breeds in the kingdom of
Mexico
in the rainy season; for which reason
Nieremberg
styles it
Picus Imbrifoetus
Euseb. Nieremberg.
. The
Spaniards
call them
Carpenteros,
Carpenters, on account of the multitude of chips which they hew out of the trees, either in forming their nests, or in search of food, insects, and worms, which lurk beneath the bark. They are very destructive to trees; for they have been known to cut out a measure of chips in an hour's time
Catesby.
. Instinct directs them to form their holes in a winding form, in order the better to protect their nests from the injury of the weather
Barrere.
.
Canada
is destitute of these birds. The
Indians
of that severe climate purchase the bills from the savages of the more southern parts, at the rate of two or three Buck skins apiece, in order to form the coronets
Catesby.
of their sachems and warriors. These coronets were made with several materials. Gay plumes formed the rays; the beaks of birds, claws of rare animals, and the little horns of their Roes, were the other ornaments. They were never worn but on high solemnities; either when a warrior sung the song of war, or was setting forward on his march to meet the enemy. He went forth like a
Spartan
hero, dancing, and crowned
Lafitau Moeurs de Sauvage,
ii. 60.
.
157. PILEATED.
Larger Red-crested Woodpecker,
Catesby,
i. 17.
Le Pic noir hupe de Virginie,
Brisson,
iv. 29.
Picus Pileatus,
Lin. Syst.
173.—
Latham,
i. 554.
Le Pic noir a huppe rouge,
De Buffon,
vii. 48.—
Pl. Enl.
718.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
W. With a bill two inches long, of a dusky color on the upper, and whitish on the lower mandible: irides of a gold-color: a tuft of light brown feathers reflected over the nostrils: the crown adorned with a rich scarlet crest, bounded by a narrow buff-colored line; beneath that is a broad band of black, reaching from the eyes to the hind part of the head; under this is another line of buff-color, commencing at the bill, and dropping down on each side of the neck to the pinions of the wings: from the lower mandible a line of scarlet extends along the lower part of the cheeks: chin and throat white: fore and hind part of the neck, back, breast, belly, and tail, black: the wings black, marked with a double line of white: legs dusky. LENGTH eighteen inches. WEIGHT nine ounces.
Inhabits the forests of
Pensylvania
and
New York.
PLACE.
When the maize begins to ripen, this and the other kinds make great havock, by settling on the heads, and picking out the grain; or making holes in the leaves, and letting in the wet, to the destruction of the plant
Kalm.
. It breeds and resides the whole year in the country. It extends as high as lat. 50. 31. north; being found near the banks of
Albany
river, near four hundred miles from its discharge into
Hudson's Bay.
Lays six eggs, and brings forth its young in
June.
The
Indians
deck their Calumets with the crest of this species.
158. GOLDEN-WING.
Golden-winged Woodpecker,
Catesby,
i. 18.
Le Pic Rayè de Canada,
Brisson,
iv. 70.
Picus Auratus,
Lin. Syst.
174.—
Latham,
i. 597.
Le Pic aux ailes dorees,
De Buffon,
vii. 39.—
Pl. Enl.
693.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
W. With a black bill, bending like that of a Cuckoo: crown cinereous; on the hind part a scarlet spot: cheeks and under side of the neck of a pale red: from each corner of the mouth a black line extends along the cheeks: the upper part of the breast is marked with a black crescent; the remainder and the belly whitish, spotted with black: back and coverts of wings of a fine pale brown, barred with black: the primaries cinereous; their shafts of a most elegant gold-color; the under side of the webs of a glossy yellow: rump white, spotted with black: tail black, edged with white: the shafts of all the feathers gold-colored, except those of the two middle feathers: legs dusky. LENGTH twelve inches. WEIGHT five ounces. The FEMALE wants the black on each side of the throat.
Ferruginous Woodpecker. No . 159. Nuthatch No . 170.
The
Swedish Americans
call it
Hittock,
and
Piut
Kalm,
ii. 36.
; words formed from its notes. It is almost continually on the ground; and never picks its food out of the sides of trees, like others of the genus: neither does it climb, but sits perched, like the Cuckoo; to which it has some resemblance in manners, as well as form. It feeds on insects. Grows very fat, and is reckoned very palatable. It inhabits the
Jersies,
and other provinces to the south, the whole year.
159. FERRUGINOUS.
Latham,
i. 592.
Le Pic Mordore,
De Buffon,
vii. 34.—
Pl. Enl.
524.
W. With a dusky bill: the crown and pendent crest of a pale yellow: a crimson bar extends from the mouth along the lower part of the cheek: the cheeks, back, and coverts of the wings, of a deep ferruginous color: lower part of the back of a pale yellow: primaries ferruginous, barred on their inner webs with black. SIZE of the Green Woodpecker.
This new species was sent to me by Dr.
Garden,
of
Charlestown,
PLACE.
South Carolina.
160. RED-HEADED.
Red-headed Woodpecker,
Catesby,
i. 20.—
Lawson,
3d sp. 143.—
Du Pratz,
92.—
Latham,
i. 561.
Picus Erythrocephalus,
Lin. Syst.
174.
Le Pic a teste rouge, de la Virginie,
Brisson,
iv. 53.—
Pl. Enl.
117.
Le Pic noir a domino rouge,
De Buffon,
vii. 55.—
Pl. Enl.
117.—LEV. MUS.— BL. MUS.
W. With a lead-colored bill: head and neck of the most deep and rich scarlet: back, coverts of wings, primaries, and tail, of a glossy blackness: the secondaries white, marked with two black bars: breast and belly white: legs black. The head of the FEMALE is brown. LENGTH nine inches and a half. WEIGHT two ounces.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Pensylvania,
and the neighboring provinces. Feeds on maize and apples; and is a most destructive species. They pick out all the pulp, and leave nothing but the mere rind. They feed also on acorns. They were formerly proscribed; a reward of two pence was put on their heads: but the law was repealed. They migrate southward at approach of winter. When they are observed to linger in numbers in the woods, in the beginning of winter, the inhabitants reckon it a sign of a mild season
Kalm,
ii. 87.
.
This species extends across the continent to the western coast of
America.
161. CAROLINA.
Red-bellied Woodpecker,
Catesby,
i. 19.
Picus Carolinus,
Lin. Syst.
174.—
Latham,
i. 570.
Le Pic varié de la Jamaique,
Brisson,
iv. 59.—
De Buffon,
vii. 72.
Woodpecker of Jamaica,
Edw.
244.—BL. MUS.
W. With the forehead, crown, and hind part of the head, of an orange red; under side of a light ash-color, tinged with yellow: the vent spotted with black: the back and wings closely barred with black and white: middle feathers of the tail black, the outmost barred with black and white. The crown of the female is light grey: hind part of the head red. LENGTH eleven inches. WEIGHT two ounces eleven penny-weights.
PLACE.
Inhabits
North America,
and the greater
Antilles.
162. SPOTTED.
Great Spotted Woodpecker?
Br. Zool.
i. No 85.—
Latham,
i. 564.
Le Pic varié,
Brisson,
iv. 34.—
De Buffon,
vii. 57.—
Pl. Enl.
196. 595.
Picus Major,
Faun. Suec.
No 100.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
W. With buff forehead; black crown, bounded behind with a crimson band: vent feathers crimson: back black: scapulars white: wings and tail barred with black and white: breast and belly white, tinged with yellow. LENGTH nine inches. EXTENT sixteen. WEIGHT two ounces three quarters. FEMALE wants the crimson marks.
Sent to Mrs.
Blackburn
from
New York.
Inhabits
Europe,
PLACE.
as high as
Lapmark.
Extends to the most eastern part of
Sibiria.
163. CANADA SPOTTED.
L'Epeiche de Canada,
De Buffon,
vii. 69.—
Pl. Enl.
347.—
Brisson,
iv. 45.
W. With white forehead, throat, breast, and belly: crown, black; beneath is a band of white, encircling the head; from each eye another of black, uniting behind, and running down the hind part of the neck; each side of this bounded by white; that again bounded by black, commencing at the base of the bill, and uniting with the scapulars: the back black; scapulars of the same color, mixed with a few white feathers: wings spotted with black and white: middle feathers of the tail black; the outmost black and white. SIZE of the last.
Inhabits
Canada.
PLACE.
164. HAIRY.
Hairy Woodpecker,
Catesby,
i. 19.—
Latham,
i. 572.
Picus Villofus,
Lin. Syst.
175.
Le Pic varié de la Virginie,
Brisson.
iv. 48.
L'Epeiche ou Pic Chevelù de Virginie,
De Buffon,
vii. 75.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
W. With the crown black: the hind part of the head marked with a crimson spot; the cheeks with two lines of white and two of black: whole under side of the body white: back black, divided in the middle lengthways with a line of white unconnected feathers, resembling hairs: the wings black, spotted in rows with
Phil. Trans.
lxii. 388.
white: two middle feathers of the tail black; the two outmost entirely white; the rest black, marked crossways with white. The female wants the red spot on the head. LENGTH nine inches. WEIGHT two ounces.
PLACE.
Inhabits from
Hudson's Bay
Phil. Trans.
lxii. 388.
to
Carolina.
In the last very destructive to apple-trees.
165. DOWNY.
Smallest Spotted Woodpecker,
Catesby,
i. 21.
Picus Pubescens,
Lin. Syst.
175.—
Latham,
i. 573.
Le Petit Pic varié de la Virginie,
Brisson,
iv. 50.
Fourth Woodpecker,
Lawson,
143.
L'Epeiche ou Petit Pic varie de Virginie,
De Buffon,
vii. 76.—LEV. MUS.— BL. MUS.
W. Of the size of a Sparrow. In all respects resembles the last, except in size; and in having the outmost feather of the tail marked with a single white bar.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Pensylvania
and
Carolina,
and is very numerous. It is also found, but more rarely, near
Albany
fort, in
Hudson's Bay.
The Woodpecker tribe is the most pernicious of all the birds of
America,
except the PURPLE GRAKLE; but this little species is the most destructive of its whole genus, because it is the most daring. It is the pest of the orchards, alighting on the apple-trees, running round the boughs or bodies, and picking round them a circle of equidistant holes. It is very common to see trees encircled with numbers of these rings, at scarcely an inch's distance from each other; so that the tree dries and perishes.
166. YELLOW-BELLIED.
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker,
Catesby,
i. 21.
Picus Varius,
Lin. Syst.
176.—
Latham,
i. 574.
Le Pic Variè,
Brisson,
iv. 62.
Le Pic Variè de Carolina,
De Buffon,
vii. 77.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
W. With a crimson crown, surrounded by a line of black: cheeks white, with two lines of black: chin crimson: breast and belly light yellow; the first spotted with black: coverts black, crossed by two bars of white: primaries spotted with black and white: tail black; interior webs of the two middle feathers barred with white; the two outmost feathers edged with the same color. The FEMALE wants the red on the crown. LENGTH nine inches. WEIGHT one ounce thirteen penny-weights.
Inhabits the same country with the former. Is very numerous,
PLACE.
and very destructive to the fruits.
167. YELLOW-LEGGED.
THIS is inserted on the suspicious authority of
Albin
Vol. iii. 9.
—Brisson,
iv. 24, who follows
Albin,
calls it,
Le Pic noir de la Nouvelle Angleterre.
. He says, that it is of the size of the Little
English
Spotted Woodpecker; that the hind part of the head is black; the ridges of the wings, and the lower part of the belly, white; the rest of the plumage, and the tail, black; the legs yellow.
168. THREE-TOED.
Three-toed Woodpecker,
Edw.
114.—
Phil. Trans.
lxii. 388.—
Latham,
i. 600, 601.
Picus Tridactylus,
Lin. Syst.
177.—
Faun. Suec.
No 103.
Le Pic variè de la Cayenne,
Brisson,
iv. 55.—LEV. MUS.
W. With black feathers reflected over the nostrils: crown of a bright gold color: irides blue: cheeks marked lengthways with three black and two white lines: hind part of the neck and back black; the last spotted on the upper part with white: coverts of the wings black; primaries black, spotted with white: all the under side of the body white; the sides barred with black: the middle feathers of the tail black; the outmost spotted with white: legs dusky: toes, two before, only one behind; which forms the character of this species. LENGTH eight inches. EXTENT thirteen. WEIGHT two ounces.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay,
and
Norton Sound,
lat. 64. Is frequent in
Sibiria,
and common as far as
Moscow,
in the alps of
Dalecarlia
in
Sweden,
and in those of
Switzerland
M. Sprunglin
's collection at
Stettlin,
near
Bern,
who told me it was common among the
Alps.
.
A. BLACK W. Picus Martius,
Lin. Syst.
173.
Spillkraka, Tillkraka,
Faun. Suec.
No 93.—
De Buffon,
vii. 41.—
Wil. Orn.
135.—
Latham,
i. 552.—LEV. MUS.
W. With the crown of the head of a rich crimson: the rest of the plumage of a full black: the head of the female marked with red only behind. LENGTH eighteen inches. EXTENT twenty-nine. WEIGHT near eleven ounces.
PLACE.
Inhabits the forests of
Germany, Switzerland,
and the north, from
Petersbourg
to
Ochotsk,
on the eastern ocean, eastward, and to
Lapmark
westward. It migrates to
Woronesch,
about the third of
March,
and continues coming in greatest numbers in
April.
Is called there
The Fusilier;
and is the most cunning, and difficult to be shot, of all the tribe.
It does vast damage to trees,
MANNERS.
by making holes of a great depth in the bodies to nestle in. A bushel of dust and chips, a proof of its labors, are often found at the foot of the tree. Makes as much noise in the operation, as a woodman does with an axe. Rattles with its bill against the sides of the orifice, till the woods resound. Its note very loud. Lays two or three white semi-transparent eggs. Feeds on caterpillars and insects, especially Ants.
B. GREEN,
Br. Zool.
i. No 84.—
Latham,
i. 577.
Picus Viridis, Wedknar, Gronspik, Grongjoling,
Faun. Suec.
No 99.—
De Buffon,
vii. 7.—LEV. MUS.
W. With crimson crown: green body; lightest below. LENGTH thirteen inches.
Inhabits
Europe,
as high north as
Lapmark,
PLACE.
where it is called
Zhiaine
Leems,
292.
. Is found in
Russia;
but disappears towards
Sibiria.
C. GREY-HEADED,
Edw.
65.—
Latham,
i. 583.
W. With a grey head, and neck of a bluish grey: nostrils covered with harsh black feathers, extending in a line to the eyes: a black line, beginning at the base of the lower mandible, points beneath the cheeks towards the hind part of the neck: under side of the body of the color of the head, dashed with green: all other parts so exactly like the last, that I should suppose it to have been a variety, had not my very scientific friend, PALLAS, assured me that it was a distinct species, and inferior in size to the common GREEN.
PLACE.
It is found in
Norway,
and among the
alps
of
Switzerland
Catalogue of
Swiss
birds in
M. Sprunglin
's cabinet, which that gentleman favored me with. This species was not unnoticed by the great GESNER. See his
Hist. av.
ed. p. 710, line 20.
; and common in the north of
Russia,
and still more in
Sibiria.
The
Tungusi,
of
Nijmaia Tungouska,
roast this species, bruise the flesh, and mix it with any grease, except that of the Bear, which dissolves too readily. They anoint their arrows with it, and pretend, that the animals, which are struck with them, instantly fall
Gmelin. voy. Sibiria,
ii. 113.
.
D. MIDDLE SPOTTED W.
Br. Zool.
i. No 86.—
Latham,
i. 565.
Picus Medius,
Faun. Suec,
No 101.—
Brisson,
iv. 38.
W. With a crimson crown and vent: in all other respects like the GREAT SPOTTED, No 162, except in size, being rather less.
E. LEST SPOTTED W.
Br. Zool.
i. No 87.
Picus Minor,
Faun. Suec.
No 102.
Le Petit Epeiche,
De Buffon,
vii. 62.—
Pl. Enl.
598.—
Brisson,
iv. 41.—LEV. MUS.
W. With a crimson crown: the rest of the head, breast, and belly, like those of the former: back barred with black and white: the white on the wings diffused in broad beds. WEIGHT under an ounce. LENGTH six inches. EXTENT eleven.
PLACE.
The MIDDLE is only found in
Russia.
This, and the GREAT SPOTTED, extend to the eastmost parts of
Sibiria;
but all three are found as high as
Lapmark
Leems,
292.
, the extremity of northern
Europe,
far within the polar circle; a country which is one vast forest of pines, firs, and birch
Flora Lapp. Proleg.
21.
. Innumerable insects, or their,
larvae,
lurk in all seasons in the bark of the trees; so that this tribe of birds is never compelled, for want of food, to shun even the most rigorous winters of that severe climate. It also bears the heats of the torrid zone; for I discovered it among the drawings in the collection of Governor
Loten,
made in the island of
Ceylon.
XI. KINGFISHER.
Gen. Birds,
XXIII.
169. BELTED.
Kingfisher,
Catesby,
i. 69.
American Kingfisher,
Edw.
115.
Le Martin pescheur hupè de la Caroline,
Brisson.
iv. 512. & de
St. Domingue,
515.
Alcedo Alcyon,
Lin. Syst.
180.—
Latham,
i. 637.
Le Jaguacati,
De Buffon,
vii. 210.—LEV. MUS.
K. With a black bill, two inches and a half long: head crested with long bluish grey feathers: above the upper mandible of the bill, on each side, is a white spot; beneath each eye is another: chin and throat white: the upper part of the breast crossed by a broad grey belt; the lower part, and belly, white: the sides of a vermilion color; in some crossing the breast: upper part of the neck, the back, and coverts of the wings, of a pleasant bluish grey: the secondaries of the same color; their ends, and those of the lower order of coverts, tipt with white: primaries black, barred with white: tail grey; the two middle feathers plain; the rest barred with white: the legs orange. LENGTH thirteen inches. WEIGHT three ounces and a half.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay, Norton Sound,
PLACE.
and other parts of
North America.
The
Achalalacti,
i. e. the Devourer of fish, of the
Mexicans
Fernandez, Nov. Hisp.
13.
, seems to be the same bird. It has the same cry, manners, and solitary disposition, with the
European
species; and feeds not only on fish, but Lizards. It makes its nest in the face of high banks, penetrating deep into them in an horizontal direction. Lays four white eggs, which discharge the young in
June.
It migrates in
Mexico;
is there eaten, but is observed to have the same rankness as other piscivorous birds.
A. EUROPEAN KINGFISHER,
Br. Zool.
i. No 88.—
Latham,
i. 626.
Le Martin-Pecheur,
Buffon,
vii. 164.—
Pl. Enl.
77.
Alcedo Ispida,
Lin. Syst.
179,—LEV. MUS.
K. With the crown, and coverts of the wings, of a deep green, spotted with caerulean: scapulars and back bright caerulean: tail rich deep blue: breast and belly orange red.
PLACE.
Said by
Du Pratz
to be found in
North America;
but, as I never saw it in any collection, doubt the fact. Inhabits the temperate parts of
Russia
and
Sibiria,
and is frequent about the
Jenesei,
but not farther east. It does not extend to
Sweden,
and it even seems a rarity in
Denmark
Muller, Prod. Zool. Dan.
13.
.
The
Tartars
and
Ostiaks
use the feathers of this bird as a love-charm. They fling them on water, and preserve those which swim; believing, that the woman, whom they touch with one of these feathers, will immediately become enamoured with them. The
Ostiaks
preserve the bill, feet, and skin, in a purse, and imagine them to be preservatives against all sorts of misfortunes
Gmelin, voy.
ii. 112.
.
The most singular northern philtre, is a sort of mushroom, worn by the youth of
Lapland
in a purse,
ante pubem pendulo.
LINNAEUS'S apostrophe is very diverting.
O ridicula VENUS, tibi, quae in exteris regionibus uteris
caffea
et
chocolata,
conditis et saccharatis, vinis et bellariis, gemmis et margaritis, auro et argento, serico et cosmetico, saltationibus et conventiculis, musica et comoediis, tibi sufficit hic solus exsuccus fungus.
Flora Lappon.
368.
XII. NUTHATCH.
Gen. Birds,
XXIV.
170. CANADA.
NUTHATCH,
Br. Zool.
i. No 89?—
Latham,
i. 648. 651.
Le Torchepot de Canada,
Brisson,
iii. 592.
Sitta Europea Notwacka,
Faun. Suec.
No 104.
La Sittelle,
De Buffon,
v. 460.—LEV. MUS.
N. With the crown, hind part of the neck, and shoulders, black: back and rump of a light blue grey: over each eye a white line: cheeks white: primaries dusky, edged with grey: breast and belly of a pure white: two middle feathers of the tail grey; the others black, with a white spot at the end: vent rust-colored. SIZE of the
European;
of which it seems a mere variety.
Inhabits
Canada,
and as far south as
New York;
PLACE.
and extends to the western side of
America, Kamtschatka
Among a small collection of drawings made in that country by one of our voyagers.
,
Sibiria,
and
Russia; Sweden,
and
Sondmor
Strom.
247.
in
Norway:
and does not migrate.
171. BLACK-HEADED.
Nuthatch,
Catesby,
i. 22, lower figure.—
Latham,
i. 650. B.
Le Torchepot de la Caroline,
Brisson,
iii. 22.
N. With the bill, head, and hind part of the neck, black: over each eye is a white line: back of a fine grey: wings dusky, edged with grey: breast and belly, and vent feathers, red: two middle feathers of the tail grey; the rest black, marked with a white spot. Less than the
European.
Inhabits the temperate parts of
America.
PLACE.
172. LEST.
Small Nuthatch,
Catesby,
i. 22.—
Brisson,
iii. 958.—
Latham,
i. 651. C.
La Petite Sittelle à tête Brune,
De Buffon,
v. 474.
N. With a brown head, marked behind with a white spot: back grey: wings of a deep brown: under side of the body of a dirty white: two middle feathers of the tail grey; the others black.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Carolina,
and other parts of
North America.
XIII. TODY.
Gen. Birds,
XXV.
173. DUSKY.
Todi Sp. quarta,
Pallas Spicil.
vi. 17.—
Latham,
ii. 661, No 9.—BR. MUS.
T. With a bill half an inch long, broad at the base, slightly indented above the nostrils, and a little bent near the point; base beset with bristles; upper mandible brown, lower white: colors above dusky; below yellowish white: primaries and tail of the same color with the back, edged with dirty white: legs dark. SIZE of a Hedge Sparrow.
Inhabits
Rhode Island.
Has the actions of a Flycatcher.
PLACE.
Frequents decayed trees, and feeds on insects. Has a brief agreeable note, which it repeats twice or thrice.—BR. MUS.
HOOPOE.
Gen. Birds,
XXVII.
A. HOOPOE,
Br. Zool.
i. No 90.—
Latham,
i. 687.—
De Buffon,
vi. 439.
Upupa Epops, Harfogel, Popp,
Faun. Suec.
No 105.—LEV. MUS.
H. With a high crest, of pale orange tipt with black: back and wings barred with black and white: neck reddish brown: breast and belly white: only ten feathers in the tail; black, with a white crescent
Correct the description of this part in the
British Zoology.
across the middle: legs black. LENGTH twelve inches.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Europe,
as far as
Sweden,
where it is called
Harfugl,
or Soldier-bird, not only on account of its plumed head, but because the common people believe its appearance to be an omen of war. The
Norwegians
style it
Aerfugl;
it is therefore likely that it may sometimes visit their country. It is properly a southern bird, and extends even to
Egypt
and
India.
Is common in the southern deserts of
Russia
and
Tartary;
grows scarcer beyond the
Ob;
yet some are seen beyond lake
Baikal.
Dr.
Pallas
confirms to me its filthy manners
See
Br. Zool.
i. 258.—Is rarely seen in
Britain.
. He assures, that it breeds, in preference, in putrid carcases; and that he had seen the nest of one in the privy of an uninhabited house, in the suburbs of
Tzaritsyn.
Lays from two to seven cinereous eggs. Usually has no nest of its own. Breeds sometimes in hollow trees, holes in walls, or on the ground. Migratory.
XIV. CREEPER.
Gen. Birds,
XXVIII.
174. EUROPEAN.
Br. Zool.
i. No 91.—
Catesby,
App. xxxvi.
Certhiu Familiaris Krypare,
Faun. Suec.
No 106.—
Latham,
i. 701.
Le Grimpereau,
De Buffon,
v. 481.—LEV. MUS.
C. With head and neck brown, streaked with black: rump tawny: coverts of wings varied with brown and black: primaries dusky, edged with white, and edged and barred with ferruginous marks: breast and belly silvery: tail very long, consisting of twelve sharp-pointed feathers of a tawny hue.
Inhabits
North America.
Is found, but very rarely,
PLACE.
in
Russia
and
Sibiria.
Found in
Sweden,
and never quits the country; and extends as far north as
Sondmor
Strom,
244.
.
175. BAHAMA.
Bahama Titmouse,
Catesby,
i. 59.
Yellow-bellied Creeper,
Edw.
362.
Certhia Flaveola,
Lin. Syst.
187.—
Latham,
i. 737.
Le Grimpereau de Martinique, ou le Sucrier,
Brisson,
iii. 611.
Le Sucrier,
De Buffon,
v. 542.
C. With a dusky bill head, and back: cheeks black: above each eye is a yellow line: rump yellow: wings dusky; the primaries crossed with a bar of white: neck, breast, and belly, yellow: tail black; the exterior feathers tipt with white.
The female hath the same marks, but the colors are more obscure.
Inhabits the
Bahama Islands,
and the
Antilles;
PLACE.
in the last it lives among the sugar-canes, and sucks the sweet juice which exudes from them
De Buffon,
v. 542.
.
XV. HONEYSUCKER.
Gen. Birds,
XXIX
This genus may be divided into those with strait and those with incurvated bills; but there being none of the last in
North America,
the distinction is omitted.
.
176. RED-THROATED.
Passer Muscatus,
Gesner, av.
655.
Ourissia sive Tomineio,
Clus. Exot.
96.
Guainumbi Prima, (foem.)
Marcgrave,
196.
Colibry, Viamelin, or Rising Bird,
Josselyn's voy.
100.—
Rarities,
6.—LEV. MUS.
Trochilus Colubris,
Lin. Syst.
191.—
Latham,
i. 769.
L'Oyseau Mouche a rouge gorge,
Brisson,
iii. 716.
Humming Bird,
Catesby,
i. 65.—
Lawson,
146.—
Edw.
38.
Le Rubis,
De Buffon,
vi. 13.
H. With a black bill, three quarters of an inch long: crown, upper part of the neck, back, and coverts of the wings, of a most resplendent variable green and gold: chin and throat of a shining rich scarlet, changing, as opposed to the light, from gold to a full black; these feathers lie nearly as compactly as scales: breast and belly white; the sides green: middle feathers of the tail green; the exterior purple.
The chin, throat, and whole under side, of the female, is white: the exterior feathers of the tail tipt with white.
MANNERS.
This bird, so admirable for its minuteness, vast swiftness of flight, food, and elegance of form and colors, gave rise to numbers of romantic tales. They were not the
Europeans
alone, who were struck with its great beauty; the natives of
America,
to whom it was so familiar, were affected with its gemmeous appearance, and bestowed on it titles expressive of its resplendent colors. Some nations called it
Ourissia,
and
Guaracyaba,
or the Sun-beam; others,
Guanaeygaba,
or Hairs of the Sun; others again named it
Huitzitzil,
or
Vicililin,
or the
Regenerated;
because they believed it died annually, and was re-animated at the return of the flowers it fed on: that it stuck its bill into the trunk of a tree, and remained lifeless for six months; when the vital powers re-migrated, and restored to nature one of its most brilliant wonders.
It flies with a swiftness which the eye is incapable of following.
SWIFTNESS.
The motion of the wings is so rapid as to be imperceptible to the nicest observer. Lightning is scarcely more transient than its flight, nor the glare more bright than its colors.
FOOD.
It never feeds but upon wing, suspended over the flower it extracts nourishment from; for its only food is the honied juice lodged in the nectarium, which it sucks through the tubes of its curious tongue. Like the Bee, having exhausted the honey of one flower, it wanders to the next, in search of new sweets. It admires most those flowers which have the deepest tubes. Thus the female
Balsamine,
and the Scarlet
Monarda,
are particular favorites. Whosoever sets those plants before the window is sure to be visited by multitudes of these diminutive birds. It is a most entertaining sight to see them swarming around the flowers, and trying every tube of verticillated plants, by putting their bills into every one which encircles the stalk. If they find that their brethren have been beforehand, and robbed the flower of the honey, they will, in rage, pluck off, and throw it on the ground.
The most violent passions animate at times their little bodies.
RAGE.
They have often dreadful contests, when numbers happen to dispute possession of the same flower. They will tilt against one another with such fury, as if they meant to transfix their antagonists with their long bills. During the fight; they frequently pursue the conquered into the apartments of those houses whose windows are left open, take a turn round the room, as Flies do in
England,
and then suddenly regain the open air. They are fearless of mankind; and in feeding will suffer people to come within two yards of them; but on a nearer approach, dart away with admirable swiftness.
Fernandez Oviedo,
an author of great repute, speaks from his own knowlege of the spirited instinct, even of this diminutive bird, in defence of its young:
So that when they see a man clime ye tree where they have their nests, they flee at his face, and stryke hym in the eyes, commyng, goying, and returnyng, with such swyftness, that no man woulde lyghtly beleeve it, that hath not seene it
Hist. of West Indies,
translated by
Richard Eden,
p. 199.
.
Father
Charlevoix
gives a more apocryphal instance of the courage of this bird, in its attack on its disproportioned enemy the Raven. As soon as the last appears, the Honeysucker flies up like lightning, beds itself beneath the Raven's wing, and, piercing him with his needle-like bill, till the bird is heard to croak with agony, at length tumbles to the ground dead, either from the fall or the wound. This relation seems of a piece with the combat of the Wren with the Eagle, mentioned by
Aristotle
Hist. An.
lib. ix. c. 11. vol. i. 931.—
Charlevoix,
v. 232.
: but, to do justice both to the
French
voyager and
Grecian
philosopher, I must add, that each of them delivered their reports from oral evidence.
Many fables have been related of the melody of the song of these birds.
NOTE.
In fact, their only note is
screep, screep, screep;
but the noise which they make with their wings, especially in the morning, when numbers are in motion, is a sort of buzz or sound resembling that of a spinning-wheel. Their note is chiefly emitted when they happen to strike against each other in their flight.
NESTS.
Their nests are found with great difficulty, being built in the branch of a tree, amidst the thick foliage. It is of elegance suitable to the architects; formed on the outside with moss; in the inside lined with the down or gossamer collected from the Great Mullein, or
Verbascum Thapsus;
but it is also sometimes made of flax, hemp, hair, and other soft materials. It is of an hemispherical shape. Its inner diameter an inch: its depth half an inch. The female is said to be the builder; the male supplying her with materials. Each assists in the labor of incubation, which continues during twelve days. They lay only two eggs, white, and as small as pease. The first is very singular, and contrary to the general rule of nature; which makes, in all other instances, the smallest and most defenceless birds the most prolific. The reasons of the exception in this case are double. The smallness of their bodies causes them commonly to escape the eyes of birds of prey; or if seen, their rapid flight eludes pursuit: so that the species is preserved as fully as if they had been the most numerous breeders.
The
Indians
of
Mexico, Peru,
and
Maynas,
make most exquisite pictures of the feathers of birds; but those of the Honeysuckers form the most brilliant part. Some use them as ornaments, and hang them as pendants in their ears, which give a blaze emulous of the Ruby and Emerald. In order to compose pictures, the
Indians
draw off the feathers with small pincers, and with fine paste most artfully join them together. They dispose them with such skill, as to give the true lights and shade to the performance, and imitate nature with the greatest fidelity. These were meant to decorate the idols and temples; for, before the depression of the
Indian
spirit by the tyranny of the
Spaniards,
religion was highly cultivated among the
Mexicans
and
Peruvians;
and, notwithstanding it was cruel, was attended with great splendor.
The generical name (in the
Brasilian
tongue) of these birds, is
Guianumbi.
There are several species, but only one which is found in
North America.
This kind is found from
Canada,
PLACE.
through that great continent, as low as
Louisiana,
and from thence to the
Brasils.
It breeds even in the northern climate of
Canada;
MIGRATES.
but retires not only from thence, but even from the warm provinces of
Carolina,
at approach of winter. In
Hispaniola,
the mountains of
Jamaica,
and the
Brasils,
countries where there are a perpetual succession of flowers, they reside throughout the year.
177. RUFFED.
Latham,
i. 785.
H. With long strait slender bill: head of a rich variable green and gold: the feathers on the neck long, and disposed on each side in form of a ruff, and of a most brilliant crimson and copper color: back, and coverts of the tail, rust-colored: breast and belly white, the last dashed with red: feathers of the tail pointed; the ends brown, bottoms ferruginous: coverts of wings green: primaries deep blue.
FEMALE.
Crown, upper part of the neck, back, and coverts of wings and tail, green and gold: throat white, spotted with brown and variable copper: belly white, dashed with rust: primaries deep blue: middle feathers of the tail green; those on the side ferruginous at their bottoms, black in the middle, and tipped with white.
PLACE.
Inhabit in great numbers the neighborhood of
Natka Sound.
The
Indians
brought them to our navigators alive, with a long hair fastened to one of their legs.
ORDER III. GALLINACEOUS.
XVI. TURKEY.
Gen. Birds,
XXXI.
178. WILD.
Turkey,
Josselyn's voy.
99.—
Rarities,
8.—
Clayton's Virgin.—Ph. Tr. Abridg.
iii. 590.—
Lawson,
149.—
Catesby,
App. xliv.
Le Coc d'Inde,
Belon,
248.
Gallo-pavus,
Gesner, av.
481.—
Icon.
56.
Gallo-pavo,
Aldrov. av.
ii. 18.
Gallo-pavo, the Turkey A. 3.
Gallo-pavo Sylvestris
Novae Angliae,
2
New England
Wild Turkey,
Raii. Syn. av.
51.
Meleagris Gallo-pavo, M. capite caruncula frontali gularique, maris pectore barbato,
Lin. Syst.
268.
Le Dindon,
De Buffon,
ii. 132.—
Brisson,
i. 158. tab. xvi.—
Pl. Enl.
97.
T. With the characters described in the definition of the genus.
DESCRIPTION.
Color of the plumage dark, glossed with variable copper color and green: coverts of the wings, and the quil-feathers, barred with black and white. Tail consists of two orders; the upper,
TAIL.
or shorter, very elegant; the ground color a bright bay; the middle feathers marked with numerous bars of shining black and green; the greatest part of the exterior feathers of the same ground with the others, marked with only three broad bands of mallard green, placed remote from each other; the two next are colored like those of the middle; but the end is plain, and crossed with a single bar, like the exterior.
The longer, or lower order, were of a rusty white color, mottled with black, and crossed with numerous narrow waved lines of the same color, and near the end with a broad band.
Wild Turkies preserve a sameness of coloring. The tame, as usual with domestic animals, vary. It is needless to point out the differences, in so well-known a bird. The black approach nearest to the original stock. This variety I have seen nearly in a state of nature, in
Richmond
and other parks. A most beautiful kind has of late been introduced into
England,
WHITE VARIETY.
of a snowy whiteness, finely contrasting with its red head, and black pectoral tuft. These, I think, came out of
Holland,
probably bred from an accidental white pair; and from them preserved pure from any dark or variegated birds.
SIZE.
The sizes of the wild Turkies have been differently represented. Some writers assert, that there have been instances of their weighing sixty pounds; but I find none who, speaking from their own knowlege, can prove their weight to be above forty.
Josselyn
says, that he has eaten part of a Cock, which, after it was plucked, and the entrails taken out, weighed thirty
New England Rarities,
8.
.
Lawson,
whose authority is unquestionable, saw half a Turkey serve eight hungry men for two meals
Hist. Carolina,
149 and 27.
; and says, that he had seen others, which, he believed, weighed forty pounds.
Catesby
tells us, that out of the many hundreds which he had handled
App. xliv. The greatest certain weight is given by Mr.
Clayton,
who saw one that reached 38 lb.—
Ph. Trans.
, very few exceeded thirty pounds. Each of these speak of their being double that size, merely from the reports of others.
MANNERS.
The manners of these birds are as singular as their figure. Their attitudes in the season of courtship are very striking. The males fling their heads and neck backwards, bristle up their feathers, drop their wings to the ground, strut and pace most ridiculously; wheel round the females, with their wings rustling along the earth, at the same time emitting a strange found through their nostrils, not unlike the
grurr
of a great spinning-wheel.
NOTES.
On being interrupted, fly into great rages, and change their note into a loud and guttural gobble; and then return to dalliance.
The sound of the females is plaintive and melancholy.
The passions of the males are very strongly expressed by the change of colors in the fleshy substance of the head and neck,
IRASCIBLE.
which alters to red, white, blue, and yellowish, as they happen to be affected. The sight of any thing red excites their choler greatly.
They are polygamous, one cock serving or hens.
POLYGAMOUS.
They lay in the spring; and will lay a great number of eggs. They will persist in laying for a great while. They retire to some obscure place to sit, the cock, through rage at loss of its mate, being very apt to break the eggs. The females are very affectionate to the young, and make great moan on the loss of them. They sit on their eggs with such perseverance, that, if they are not taken away when addle, the hens will almost perish with hunger before they will quit the nest.
Turkies greatly delight in the seeds of nettles; but those of the purple Fox-glove prove fatal to them
De Buffon.
.
They are very stupid birds; quarrelsome, and cowardly. It is diverting to see a whole flock attack the common Cock; who will for a long time keep a great number at bay.
They are very swift runners, in the tame as well as the wild state.
SWIFT.
They are but indifferent flyers. They love to perch on trees;
PERCH HIGH.
and gain the height they wish, by rising from bough to bough. In a wild state, they get to the very summit of the loftiest trees, even so high as to be beyond the reach of the musquet
Lawson,
45.
.
In the state of nature they go in flocks even of five hundred
Lawson,
149.
.
GREGARIOUS.
Feed much on the small red acorns; and grow so fat in
March,
that they cannot fly more than three or four hundred yards, and are then soon run down by a horseman. In the unfrequented parts bordering on the
Missisipi,
they are so tame as to be shot with even a pistol
Adair's Amer.
360.
.
They frequent the great swamps
It is in the swamps that the loftiest and most bulky trees grow: the wet, with which they are environed, makes them a most secure retreat.
of their native country;
HAUNTS.
and leave them at sun-rising to repair to the dry woods, in search of acorns, and various berries; and before sun-set retire to the swamps to roost.
The flesh of the wild Turkey is said to be superior in goodness to the tame, but redder. Eggs of the former have been taken from the nest, and hatched under tame Turkies; the young will still prove wild, perch separate, yet mix and breed together in the season. The
Indians
sometimes use the breed produced from the wild, as decoy-birds, to seduce those in a state of nature within their reach
Lawson,
149.
.
Wild Turkies are now grown most excessively rare in the inhabited parts of
America,
and are only found in numbers in the distant and most unfrequented spots.
The
Indians
make a most elegant cloathing of the feathers. They twist the inner webs into a strong double thread of hemp, or inner bark of the mulberry-tree, and work it like matting. It appears very rich and glossy, and as fine as a silk shag
Lawson,
18.
Adair,
423.
. They also make fans of the tail; and the
French
of
Louisiana
were wont to make umbrellas by the junction of four of the tails
Du Pratz,
ii. 85.
.
When disturbed, they do not take to wing, but run out of sight. It is usual to chase them with dogs; when they will fly, and perch on the next tree. They are so stupid, or so insensible of danger, as not to fly on being shot at; but the survivors remain unmoved at the death of their companions
Du Pratz,
224.
.
PLACE.
TURKIES are natives only of
America,
or the
New World;
and of course unknown to the antients. Since both these positions have been denied by some of the most eminent naturalists of the sixteenth century, I beg leave to lay open, in as few words as possible, the cause of their error.
MISTAKEN BY BELON.
Belon
248.
Hist. des Ois.
, the earliest of those writers who are of opinion that these birds were natives of the old world, founds his notion on the description of the
Guinea
Fowl, the
Meleagrides
of
Strabo, Athenaeus, Pliny,
and others of the antients. I rest the refutation on the excellent account given by
Athenaeus,
taken from
Clytus Milesius,
a disciple of
Aristotle,
which can suit no other than that fowl. "They want, says he,
natural affection towards their young. Their head is naked, and on the top is a hard round body, like a peg or nail: from their cheeks hangs a red piece of flesh, like a beard: it has no wattles, like the common poultry: the feathers are black, spotted with white: they have no spurs: and both sexes are so like, as not to be distinguished by the sight.
Varro
Lib. iii. c. 9.
and
Pliny
Lib. x. c. 26.
take notice of the spotted plumage, and the gibbous substance on the head.
Athenaeus
is more minute, and contradicts every character of the Turkey: whose females are remarkable for their natural affection; which differ materially in form from the males; whose heads are destitute of the callous substance; and whose heels (in the male) are armed with spurs.
Aldrovandus,
who died in 1605,
ALDROVANDUS,
draws his arguments from the same source as
Belon;
I therefore pass him by, and take notice of the greatest of our naturalists, GESNER
Av.
481.
;
AND GESNER.
who falls into a mistake of another kind, and wishes the Turkey to be thought a native of
India.
He quotes
Aelian
for that purpose; who tells us,
that in
India
are very large poultry, not with combs, but with various-colored crests, interwoven like flowers: with broad tails, neither bending, nor displayed in a circular form; which they draw along the ground, as Peacocks do when they do not erect them: and that the feathers are partly of a gold color, partly blue, and of an emerald color
De Anim.
lib. xvi. c. 2.
.
This, in all probability, was the same bird with the Peacock Pheasant of Mr.
Edwards, Le Paon de Tibet
of M.
Brisson,
and the
Pavo Bicalcaratus
of
Linnaeus.
I have seen this bird living. It has a crest, but not so conspicuous as that described by
Aelian;
but it has those striking colors in form of eyes: neither does it erect its tail like the Peacock
Edw.
ii. 67.
Brisson,
i. 291.
Lin. Syst.
268.
. The
Catreus
of
Strabo
Lib. xv. p. 1046.
seems to be the same bird. He describes it as uncommonly beautiful, and spotted; and very like a Peacock. The former author
De Anim.
lib. xvii. c. 23.
gives a more minute account of this species, and under the same name. He borrows it from
Clitarchus,
an attendant of
Alexander
the
Great
in all his conquests. It is evident from his description, that it was of this kind; and it is likewise probable, that it was the same with his large
Indian
poultry before cited. He celebrates it also for its fine note; but allowance must be made for the credulity of
Aelian.
The
Catreus,
or Peacock Pheasant, is a native of
Tibet,
and in all probability of the north of
India,
where
Clitarchus
might have observed it; for the march of
Alexander
was through that part of
India
which borders on
Tibet,
and now known by the name of
Penj-ab,
or Five Rivers.
NOT NATIVES OF EUROPE;
I shall now collect from authors the several parts of the world where Turkies are unknown in the state of nature.
Europe
has no share in the question, it being generally agreed, that they are exotic in respect to our continent.
NOR OF ASIA.
Neither are they found in any part of
Asia Minor,
or the
Asiatic
TURKEY, notwithstanding ignorance of their true origin first caused them to be named from that empire. About
Aleppo,
capital of
Syria,
they are only met with domesticated, like other poultry
Russell,
63.
. In
Armenia
they are unknown, as well as in
Persia,
having been brought from
Venice
by some
Armenian
merchants into that empire
Tavernier,
146.
; where they are still so scarce, as to be preserved among other rare fowls in the Royal menagery
Bell's Travels,
i. 128.
.
In
India
they are kept for use in our settlements, and imported from
Europe,
as I have been more than once informed by gentlemen long resident in that country.
Du Halde
acquaints us, that they are not natives of
China;
but were introduced there from other countries. He errs, from misinformation, in saying that they are common in
India.
I will not quote
Gemelli Careri,
to prove that they are not found in the
Philippine
islands, because that gentleman, with his pen, travelled round the world in his easy chair, during a very long indisposition and confinement
Sir
James Porter's Obs. Turkey,
i. 1.
.
But
Dampier
bears witness that none are found in
Mindanao
I. 321.
.
The hot climate of
Africa
barely suffers these birds to exist in that vast continent, except under the care of mankind.
NOR AFRICA:
Very few are found in
Guinea,
except in the hands of the
Europeans:
the negroes declining to breed any, on account of their great tenderness
Barbot,
in
Churchill's Coll.
v. 29.
Bosman,
229.
.
Prosper Alpinus
satisfies us that they are not found either in
Nubia
or in
Egypt.
He describes the
Meleagrides
of the antients; and only proves that the
Guinea
-hens were brought out of
Nubia,
and sold at a great price at
Cairo
Hist. Nat. Aegypti,
i. 201.
, but is totally silent about the Turkey of the moderns.
Let me in this place observe, that the
Guinea
-hens have long been imported into
Britain.
They were cultivated in our farm-yards: for I discover, in 1277, in the grainge of
Clifton,
in the parish of
Ambrosden,
in
Buckinghamshire,
among other articles, VI.
mutilones,
and
sex
AFRICANAE
faeminae
Kennet's Parochial Antiq.
287.
; for this fowl was familiarly known by the names of
Afra Avis,
and
Gallina Africana
&
Numida.
It was introduced into
Italy
from
Africa,
and from
Rome
into our country. They were neglected here by reason of their tenderness and difficulty of rearing. We do not find them in the bills of fare of our antient feasts
Neither in that of
George Nevil,
archbishop of
York,
in 1466, nor among the delicacies mentioned in the
Northumberland
Houshold Book, in the beginning of the reign of
Henry
VIII.
: neither do we find the Turkey: which last argument amounts to almost a certainty, that such a hardy and princely bird had not found its way to us. The other likewise was then known here by its classical name; for that judicious writer, Dr.
Caius
Caii Opusc.
93.
, describes, in the beginning of the reign of
Elizabeth,
the
Guinea
fowl, for the benefit of his friend
Gesner,
under the name of
Meleagris,
bestowed on it by
Aristotle
Hist. An.
lib. vi. c. 2.
.
Having denied, on the very best authorities, that the Turkey ever existed as a native of the old world, I must now bring my proofs of its being only a native of the new; and of the period in which it first made its appearance in
Europe.
BUT OF AMERICA.
The first precise description of these birds is given by
Oviedo;
who in 1525 drew up a summary of his greater work, the
History of the Indies,
for the use of his monarch
Charles
V. This learned man had visited the
West Indies
and its islands in person, and payed particular regard to the natural history. It appears from him, that the Turkey was in his days an inhabitant of the greater islands, and of the main land. He speaks of them as Peacocks; for, being a new bird to him, he adopts that name, from the resemblance he thought they bore to the former:
But (says he) the neck is bare of feathers, but covered with a skin which they change after their phantasie into divers colours. They have a horn as it were on their front, and HAIRES on the breast
In
Purchas,
iii. 995.
.
He describes other birds, which he also calls Peacocks. They are of the gallinaceous genus, and known by the name of
Curassao
birds; the male of which is black, the female ferruginous.
The next who speaks of them as natives of the main land of the warmer parts of
America,
is
Francisco Fernandez,
sent there by
Philip
II. to whom he was physician. This naturalist observed them in
Mexico.
MEXICO.
We find by him, that the
Indian
name of the male was
Huexolofl,
of the female
Cihuatotolin:
he gives them the title of
Gallus Indicus,
and
Gallo-Pavo.
As the
Indians
as well as
Spaniards
domesticated these useful birds, he speaks of the size by comparison, saying that the wild were twice the magnitude of the tame; and that they were shot with arrows or guns
Hist. Av. Nov. Hisp.
27.
. I cannot learn the time when
Fernandez
wrote. It must be between the years 1555 and 1598, the period of
Philip
's reign.
Pedro de Ciesa
mentions Turkies on the Isthmus of
Darien
Seventeen Years Travels,
20.
.
DARIEN.
Lery,
a
Portuguese
author, asserts that they are found in
Brasil,
and gives them an
Indian
name
In
De Laet's Descr. des Indes,
491.
; but since I can discover no traces of them in that diligent and excellent naturalist
Marcgrave,
who resided long in that country, I must deny my assent. But the former is confirmed by that able and honest navigator
Dampier,
who saw them frequently, as well wild as tame, in the province of
Yucatan
Voyages,
vol. ii. part 2d. p. 65, 85, 114.
,
YUCATAN.
now reckoned part of the kingdom of
Mexico.
In
North America
they were observed by the very first discoverers.
N. AMERICA.
When
Renè de Laudonniere,
patronized by Admiral
Coligni,
attempted to form a settlement near the place where
Charlestown
now stands, he met with them on his first landing, in 1564, and by his historian, has represented them with great fidelity in the Vth plate of the recital of his voyage
De Bry.
. From his time, the witnesses to their being natives of this continent are innumerable. They have been seen in flocks of hundreds in all parts, from
Louisiana
even to
Canada:
but at this time are extremely rare in a wild state, except in the more distant parts, where they are still found in vast abundance.
It was from
Mexico
or
Yucatan
that they were first introduced into
Europe;
WHEN FIRST INTRODUCED INTO EUROPE.
for it is certain that they were imported into
England
as early as the year 1524, the 15th of
Henry
VIII
Baker's Chr. Anderson's Dict. Com.
i. 354.
Hackluyt,
ii. 165. makes their introduction about the year 1532.
Barnaby Googe,
one of our early writers on husbandry, says they were not seen here before 1530. He highly commends a Lady
Hales,
of
Kent,
for her excellent management of those fowl. p. 166.
. We probably received them from
Spain,
with which we had great intercourse till about that time. They were most successfully cultivated in our kingdom from that period; insomuch that they grew common in every farm-yard, and became even a dish in our rural feasts by the year 1585; for we may certainly depend on the word of old Tusser, in his account of the
Christmas
husbandlie fare
Five hundred pointes of good husbandrie,
p. 57.
.
Beefe, mutton, and porke, shred pies of the best,
Pig, veale, goose and capon, and
Turkie
well drest:
Cheese, apples, and nuts, jolie carols to heare,
As then in the countrie, is counted good cheare.
But at this very time they were so rare in
France,
that we are told that the very first which was eaten in that kingdom appeared at the nuptial feast of
Charles
IX. in 1570
Anderson's Dict. Comm.
i. 410.
.
They are now very common in all parts of
Russia,
but will not thrive in
Sibiria.
Are cultivated in
Sweden,
and even in
Norway,
where they degenerate in size
Pontopp.
78.
.
XVII. GROUS.
Gen. Birds.
XXXVI.
179. RUFFED.
Ruffed Heathcock, or Grous,
Edw.
248.—
Latham.
Morehen,
La Hontan,
i. 69.
Pheasant,
Lawson,
139.
Tetrao umbellus,
Lin. Syst.
275.—Tetrao togatus,
ibid.
La gelinote hupèe de Pensylvanie,
Brisson,
i. 214.—and, La grosse gelinote
de Canada
—207.
Le Coq de Bruyere a fraise,
De Buffon, Ois.
ii. 281.—
Pl. enl.
104. — LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
GR. With a great ruff on the hind part of the neck, to be raised or depressed at pleasure: the head crested: that, hind part of the neck, the ruff, back, and coverts of the wings, prettily varied with brown, ferruginous, and black: the black on the ruff disposed in broad black bars: the coverts of the tail marked with heart-shaped spots of white: chin white: fore part of the neck yellowish: breast and belly dirty white, barred with cinereous brown: primaries barred on their outmost sides with black and rust-colour.
Tail large, expansible like a fan; in some of a cinereous colour, in others orange, most elegantly barred with narrow undulated lines of black; near the end with a broad band of ash-color, another of black, and tipped with white.
Legs feathered to the feet: toes naked and pectinated.
Female wants both crest and ruff. Crown dusky: back mixed with black and rust-colour like a Woodcock: breast, belly, and coverts of the wings, barred with dirty white and cinereous brown: tail short, brown, tipt with white; two middle feathers mottled with red.
SIZE.
In size these birds observe a medium between a Pheasant and a Partridge. Length 1 foot 5 inches.
PLACE.
They inhabit
North America,
from
Hudson's Bay
Phil. Trans.
lxii. 393.
to the
Carolinas,
and probably to
Louisiana
The accounts given by
Bossu, Engl. ed.
i. 95. and by
Du Pratz,
ii. are too flight for us to determine the species they mean.
Charlevoix,
in his account of
Canada,
vol. v. describes it very well.
.
MANNERS.
The history of this species is very curious: all which I beg leave to transcribe from Mr.
Edwards,
according to the accounts given him by Mr.
Bartram
and Mr
Brooke,
who had frequent opportunity of observing its manners; to which I shall add another, borrowed from the Travels of the Baron
La Hontan.
FROM MR. BARTRAM.
He is (says Mr.
Bartram
) a fine bird when his gaiety is displayed; that is, when he spreads his tail like that of a Turkey-cock, and erects a circle of feathers round his neck like a ruff, walking very stately with an even pace, and making a noise something like a Turkey; at which time the hunter must fire immediately at him, or he flies away directly two or three hundred yards, before he settles on the ground. There is something very remarkable in what we call their thumping; which they do with their wings, by clapping them against their sides, as the hunters say. They stand upon an old fallen tree, that has lain many years on the ground, where they begin their strokes gradually, at about two seconds of time distant from one another, and repeat them quicker and quicker, until they make a noise like thunder at a distance; which continues, from the beginning, about a minute; then ceaseth for about six or eight minutes before it begins again. The sound is heard near half a mile, by which means they are discovered by the hunters, and many of them killed. I have shot many of them in this position; but never saw them thump, they mostly seeing me first, and so left off. They commonly exercise in thumping spring and fall, at about nine or ten in the morning, and four or five in the afternoon. Their food is chiefly berries and seeds of the country: their flesh is white, and choice food. I believe they breed but once a year, in the spring, and hatch twelve or fourteen at a brood; which keep in a company till the following spring. Many have attempted to raise the young ones, and to tame them; but to no purpose. When hatched under a hen, they escape into the woods soon after they are hatched, where they either find means to subsist, or perish.
The history of this bird is thus further illustrated by Mr.
Brooke
of
Maryland,
in
North America:
The ruffed Grous, or Pheasant,
MR. BROOKE.
breeds in all parts of
Maryland,
some countries on the Eastern shore excepted. They lay their eggs in nests they make in the leaves, either by the side of fallen trees, or the roots of standing ones. They lay from twelve to sixteen eggs: the time of incubation is in the spring; but how long their eggs are hatching I cannot say; but probably it is three weeks, the time that a Dunghill Hen sits. I have found their nests when a boy, and have endeavoured to take the old Pheasant, but never could succeed: she would almost let me put my hand upon her before she would quit her nest; then by artifice she would draw me off from her eggs, by fluttering just before me for a hundred paces or more; so that I have been in constant hopes of taking her. They leave their nests as soon as they are hatched; and I believe they live at first on ants, small worms, &c. When they are a few days old, they hide themselves so artfully among the leaves, that it is difficult to find them: as they grow up, they feed on various berries, fruits, and grain of the country: grapes they likewise are fond of in the season; but the Pheasant is more particularly fond of the ivy-berry. I do not know any other animal that feeds on this berry: I know it is poison to many. Though the Pheasant hatches many young at a time, and often sits twice a year, the great number and variety of Hawks in
Maryland
feeding on them, prevents their increasing fast. The beating of the Pheasant, as we term it, is a noise chiefly made in the spring of the year by the cock-bird; it may be distinctly heard a mile in a calm day: they swell their breasts like the Powting Pigeon, and heat with their wings, which make a noise not unlike a drum in sound; but the Pheasant shortens each sounding note, till they run one into another undistinguishably, like striking two empty bottles together.
LA HONTAN.
In order to perfect, as far as I am able, the history of this bird, I shall give a quotation from Baron
La Hontan's Voyages to North America,
published in
English,
(vol. i. p. 67.) where he speaks of a bird found near the lakes of
Canada,
which, I think, can be no other than the above-described, though the names given them disagree.
La Hontan
says,
I went in company with some
Canadese
on purpose to see that fowl flap with its wings: believe me, this sight is one of the greatest curiosities in the world; for their flapping makes a noise much like a drum, for about the space of a minute; then the noise ceases for half a quarter of an hour; after which it begins again. By this noise we were directed to the place where the unfortunate More-hen sat, and found them upon rotten mossy trees. By flapping one wing against the other they mean to call their mates; and the humming noise that ensues thereupon may be heard half a quarter of a league. This they do in the months of
April, May, September,
and
October;
and, which is very remarkable, the More-hen never flaps in this manner but upon one tree. It begins at break of day, and gives over at nine o'clock in the morning, till about an hour before sun-set, then it flutters again, and continues so to do till night.
Mr. GRAHAM.
To these accounts I beg leave to add the following, out of the
Philosophical Transactions;
which informs us, that this species of Grous bears the
Indian
name of
Puskee,
or
Puspuskee,
at
Hudson's Bay,
on account of the leanness and dryness of their flesh, which is extremely white, and of a very close texture; but when well prepared, is excellent eating. They are pretty common at
Moose Fort
and
Henly House;
but are seldom seen at
Albany Fort,
or to the northward of the above places. In winter they feed upon juniper-tops, in summer on gooseberries, raspberries, currants, cranberries,
&c.
They are not migratory; staying all the year at
Moose Fort:
they build their nest on dry ground, hatch nine young at a time, to which the mother clucks as our common hens do; and, on the lest appearance of danger, or in order to enjoy an agreeable degree of warmth, the young ones retire under the wings of their parent.
180. PINNATED.
Urogallus minor fuscus cervice plumis alas imitantibus donata,
Catesby, App.
tab. i.
Tetrao Cupido,
Lin. Syst.
274.—
Latham.
La Gelinote hupèe d'Amerique,
Brisson,
i. 212.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
GR. With head, cheeks, and neck of a reddish brown, marked with dusky lines: chin and throat of a pale rusty brown: on the head is a small crest: on each side of the neck a most singular tuft (five feathers in each) gradually lengthening to the fifth, which is about three inches long: the upper feathers ferruginous and white; the lower black: back and scapulars black and pale rust-colour; the former spotted with white: breast and belly barred with white and pale brown: tail barred with pale brown and black.
Legs covered with soft brown feathers: toes naked and pectinated.
SIZE of a Pheasant. A peculiar species,
SIZE.
not to be confounded with the preceding
The Comte
De Buffon,
ii. 282. falls into this mistake.
. Described from the real bird by Mr.
Catesby;
and by myself from the specimens in Mrs.
Blackburn
's cabinet; which were sent from the province of
Connecticut.
PLACE.
Is frequent about a hundred miles up
Albany
river, in
Hudson's Bay.
The tufts, which distinguish this species from all others, are rooted high on the neck, not far from the hind part of the head. The bird has the power of erecting or dropping them at pleasure. When disturbed, it would spread them horizontally, like little wings; at other times let them fall on the sides of the neck
Catesby.
. It is probable, that they assist in running or flying, or perhaps both, as the real wings are very short, in proportion to the weight of the body. These appendages are peculiar to the cock, and almost the only difference between it and the hen.
181. SHARP-TAILED.
Long-tailed Grous,
Edw.
118.—
Ph. Tr.
lxii.
Tetrao Phafianellus,
Lin. Syst.
273.—
Latham.
Le Coq de Bruyeres à longue queue, de la Baye de
Hudson, Brisson, App.
9.—
De Buffon,
ii. 286.
GR. With the head, cheeks, and hind part of the neck, varied with reddish brown and black: the back and coverts of the tail of the same color: the scapulars and great coverts of the wings ferruginous, spotted with black, and great spots of white: primaries black, spotted with white: breast and sides white, elegantly marked with sagittal spots of black: belly white: tail short and cuneiform; the two middle feathers two inches longer than the others; the tail is of the same color with the back, only the exterior feathers are spotted with white: the legs are covered with soft and long feathers, extending over the pectinated toes, which would be otherwise naked.
SIZE.
The LENGTH of this species is seventeen inches: the EXTENT of wings twenty-four: WEIGHT two pounds.
PLACE.
Inhahits
Hudson's Bay;
and, according to Dr.
Mitchel,
the unfrequented parts of
Virginia;
but none have been brought over to
England
from any other place than the
Bay.
Linnaeus
confounds this with the Wood Grous, or Cock of the Wood
Br. Zool.
i. No 92. tab. xl.
. Comparison will shew with how little reason the Comte
De Buffon
Ois.
ii. 279.
makes it to be the female of the next species, our Spotted Grous. If the female of that was not ascertained, the difference in the form of the tail would be sufficient to establish a distinction; by which it approaches nearest to the
European
Pheasant of any bird in
North America.
The
Indians
about
Hudson's Bay
call this species the
Au Kuskow.
It continues there the whole year; lives among the small larch bushes, and feeds, during winter, on the buds of that plant and the birch; in the summer, on all sorts of berries. The females lay from nine to thirteen eggs. The young, like others of this genus, run as soon as hatched, and make a puling noise like a chicken. They differ chiefly from the cock, in having less of the red naked skin over the eyes. The cock has a shrill crowing note, but not very loud. When disturbed, or while flying, it makes a repeated noise of
cuck, cuk;
and makes a noise with the feathers of its tail like the cracking of a fan. The flesh of these birds is of a light brown color, plump, and very juicy.
182. SPOTTED.
Black and Spotted Heathcock (male)
Edw.
118.
Brown and Spotted Heathcock (female)
Edw.
71.
Tetrao Canadensis (male)
Lin. Syst.
274.
Tetrao Canace (female)
Lin. Syst.
275.—
Latham.
La Gelinote
de la Baye de Hudson, Brisson,
i. 201. and the same,
App.
10. (male.)
La Gelinote de Canada,
Brisson,
i. 203. tab. xx. fig. 1. 2. (m. and fem.)—
De Buffon,
ii. 279.—
Pl. Enl.
131, 132.
GR. With a white spot before and behind each eye: head, neck, back, and coverts of the wings and tail, dusky brown, crossed with black: throat of a glossy black, bounded by a white line, commencing at the external corner of each eye: breast of the former color: belly white, marked with great black spots: tail black, external feathers tipt with orange: legs feathered: toes naked and pectinated.
The FEMALE is of a reddish brown, barred and spotted with black:
FEMALE.
belly of a dirty white, spotted with black: tail of a deep brown, barred with mottled bands of black; the tips of the exterior feathers orange.
The WEIGHT is twenty-three ounces: LENGTH fifteen inches:
SIZE.
EXTENT near two feet.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay, Newfoundland,
and
Canada.
Is called by the
English
of
Hudson's Bay,
the
Wood Partridge,
from its living in pine woods. These birds are very stupid; so that they are often knocked down with a stick; and are usually caught by the natives with a noose fastened to a stake. In summer they are very palatable; for in that season they feed on berries. In winter they live on the shoots of the spruce-fir, which infects the flesh with a very disagreeable taste. If it is true, that this species lays but five eggs
Ph. Tr.
lxii. 390.
, it is a strange exception to the prolific nature of the genus.
183. WHITE.
White Partridge,
Edw.
72.—
Ellis's Voy.
37.
La Lagopede de la Baie de
Hudson, De Buffon,
ii. 276. tab. ix.—
Latham.
La Gelinote blanche,
Brisson,
i. 216.s
Pl. Enl.
Tetrao Lagopus,
suecis
Snoripa,
Lappis
Cheruna,
Faun. Suec.
No 203
GR. With a black bill: scarlet eye-brows, very large in the male; in the female far less conspicuous. Head, neck and part of the back,
SUMMER PLUMAGE.
coverts of the tail, and scapulars, deep orange, crossed with numerous dusky lines, and often marked with great blotches of white: belly, legs, and middle feathers of the tail, white: the rest of the tail dusky, tipt with white: the shafts of the quill feathers black: the legs and toes warmly clad with a very thick and long coat of soft white feathers: the claws broad and flat, adapted for digging.
WINTER PLUMAGE.
Such is the summer dress: in winter they change their color to white, or, more properly speaking, moult, and change their colored plumes for white ones.
DOUBLY FEATHERED.
By a wonderful providence, every feather, except those of the wings and tail, becomes double; a downy one shooting out at the base of each, as expressed in the plate, which gives an additional protection against the cold. In the latter end of
February,
the summer plumage begins to appear first about the rump, in form of brown stumps
Drage's Voy.
ii. 9.
, the first rudiments of the coat they assume in the warm season, when each feather is single, suitable to the time. I ought to have observed before, that the SPOTTED GROUS also changes its single for double feathers at approach of winter, notwithstanding it undergoes no change of color.
The WEIGHT of this species is twenty-four ounces:
SIZE.
its LENGTH sixteen inches and a quarter: EXTENT twenty-three.
These birds are met with round the globe,
PLACE.
within and without the
arctic
circle, and as high as
lat.
72, in the countries round
Hudson's Bay,
and as low as
Newfoundland;
in
Norway;
perhaps in the N. of the
Russian
dominions in
Europe
The feathers of the
Russian
kind, whichsoever it was, in early times, about
Pechora,
were an article of commerce, and were sold for two pence of their money per
Pood,
or 38 lb.
Purchas,
iii. 536.
, and certainly in
Asia
all over
Sibiria,
as far as
Kamtschatka,
and in the islands which lie between that country and
America.
Finally, they abound in
Lapland
and
Iceland;
and I repeat, with certainty,
NORWAY.
that
Norway
has supplied me with this species, which was sent to me by the late Mr.
Fleischer,
of
Copenhagen,
along with the lesser kind, which proved to be the same with the White Grous of the
Alps,
and the
Ptarmigan
of the Highlands of
Scotland.
Each of the varieties of the
Norwegian
birds were in their summer dress; and differed most materially in size as well as color, the one being in all respects like the
American
kind: the lesser agreed in every point with that which I describe, No 95, vol. i. of my
British Zoology.
The natives distinguish the kinds. The larger,
NORWEGIANS DISTINGUISH TWO KINDS.
which inhabits forests, is styled by them
Skorv Rype,
or the Wood Grous; the lesser, which lives in the mountains, is called
Fiaeld Rype,
or the Mountain Grous
The
Russian
White Grous inhabits indifferently woods, mountains, plains, and marshes. The
British
species or variety is in
Russia
about half the size of the
Sibirian
kind.
. They all burrow under the snow; and form extensive walks beneath. There they feed, especially in
Lapland,
on the seeds of the dwarf birch
Fl. Lap.
268.
, and in the season on variety of berries of mountain plants. During winter they are taken and brought to
Bergen
by thousands; are half roasted, and put into firkins, and transported to other countries
Pontoppidan,
ii. 92.
.
The lesser variety is not unknown in
America.
The sort here described is found in amazing quantities, especially about
Hudson's Bay,
where they breed in all parts along the coasts, make their nests on dry ridges on the ground, and lay from nine to eleven eggs, powdered with black.
This is the only species of Grous in
N. America
to which Providence hath given that warm protection to its feet, evidently to secure them against the cold of their winter lodgings: and, as they are greatly sought after by Eagles, Owls, and other birds of prey, a fine provision is made for their safety, by the change of color, which renders them not to be distinguished from the snow they lie on.
Every morning they take a flight into the air directly upwards, to shake the snow from their wings and bodies. They feed in the mornings and evenings, and in the middle of the day bask in the sun. In the morning they call to one another with a loud note, interrupted; feeding in the intervals, and calling again.
In the beginning of
October,
they assemble in flocks of two hundred, and live much among the willows, the tops of which they eat; whence they are called
Willow Partridges.
About the beginning of
December
they appear in less plenty, retiring from the flats about the settlements on
Hudson's Bay
to the mountains, where in that month the snow is less deep than in the lowlands, to feed on cranberries and other berries
Drage's Voy.
i. 174.
. In
Greenland
they resort in summer to the mountains for the sake of the crowberries
Empetrum Nigrum. See
Crantz. Greenl.
i. 64, 75.
, which they eat even with the leaves of the plant. In winter they descend to the shores, where the winds sweep the snow off the rocks, and enable them to pick up a sustenance.
They are an excellent food, and much searched after by the
Europeans
in
Hudson's Bay.
They are generally as tame as chickens, especially in a mild day: sometimes they are rather wild; but by being driven about, or shot at with powder, they grow so weary, by the short flights they take, as soon to become very tame again. Sometimes the hunters, when they see the birds likely to take a long flight, imitate the crying of a Hawk, which intimidates them so much, that they instantly settle. When the female is killed, the male can scarcely be forced from the body of its mate
Faun. Groenl.
p. 117.
.
The usual method of taking them is in nets made of twine, twenty feet square, fastened to four poles, and supported in front in a perpendicular direction with sticks. A long line is fastened to these props, the end of which is held by a person who lies concealed at a distance. Several people are then employed to drive the birds within reach of the net, which is then pulled down, and often covers at one haul fifty or seventy. At this time they are so plentiful, that ten thousand are taken for the use of the settlement from
November
to the end of
April.
In former days, they must have been infinitely more numerous; for Sir
Thomas Button
relates, that when he wintered there in 1612, he took eighteen hundred dozens of these and other fowl
Quoted in
North-west Fox,
228.
: but this is a trifle to the success of M.
Jeremie,
who asserts, that there were eaten in one winter, between himself and seventy-nine others, ninety thousand Grous, and twenty-five thousand Rabbets
Recucil de Voy. au Nord. iii. 344.
.
The
Laplanders
take them by forming a hedge with the boughs of birch-trees; leaving small openings at certain intervals, and hang in each a snare. The birds are tempted to come and feed on the buds or catkins of the birch; and whenever they endeavour to pass through the openings they are instantly caught.
184. ROCK.
ROCK Gr. With a black line from the bill to the eye. In all other parts of the plumage of the same colors with the WHITE, No 183; but inferior in size by one third.
Differs in nature. Feeds on the tops of small birch. Frequents only the dry rocky grounds, and the larch plains. Makes a singular snoring noise, with its neck streched out, and seemingly with difficulty. Is very numerous in the northern parts of
Hudson's Bay,
and never visits the southern end, except in very hard weather. Never takes shelter in the woods, but sits on the rocks, or burrows in the snow. Is inferior in goodness to the preceding.
A. WOOD GROUS,
Br. Zool.
i. No 92.
Tetraonis alterum Genus,
Plinii,
lib. x. c. 22.
Tetrao urogallus Kjader,
Faun. Suec.
No 200.—
Latham.
La Tetras ou le grand Coq de Bruyere,
De Buffon,
ii. 191. tab. v.—
Pl. Enl.
73, 74.
MALE.
GR. With head, neck, and back crossed with slender lines of black and grey: upper part of the breast glossy green: tail black; the feathers on each side spotted with white: legs feathered: toes naked and pectinated.
SIZE.
LENGTH two feet eight: WEIGHT sometimes fourteen pounds.
FEMALE.
Length of the female only two feet two: color ferruginous and black, disposed generally in bars.
Notwithstanding the opinions of
Linnaeus
and the Count
De Buffon,
this species is unknown in
North America.
Its most southerly habitation, as far as I can discover, is the
Archipelago,
PLACE.
it being found in the islands of
Crete
and of
Milo.
One was shot in the last, perched on a palm-tree, on whose fruit it probably fed. I suspect that it does not extend into
Asia Minor;
for Doctor
Russell
does not enumerate it among the
Syrian
birds. As the
Tetrao,
which
Athenaeus
Lib.
xiv. p. 654.
calls a sort of Pheasant, was found in the antient
Media,
it may still be met with in the northern part of
Persia.
If
Aristotle
intends this species by the words
Tetrix
and
Ourax
Hist. An.
lib. vi. c. 1.
, it was likewise found in
Greece;
but he applies those names only to a bird which lays its eggs on the grassy ground, and says no more.
Pliny
gives a far clearer description of the
Tetraones
of
Italy. Decet
TETRAONAS
suus nitor, absolutaque nigritia, in superciliis cocci rubor.
This certainly means only the cock of the
Black Grous;
which is distinguished by the intense blackness and the brilliant gloss of its plumage, as well as by its scarlet eyebrows, which is common to it and the Wood Grous; which last is the species described by the ancient naturalist; truly in some respects, hyperbolically in others. He says it is of the size of a Vulture, and not unlike it in color
Hist. Nat.
lib. x. c. 22.
. Both these assertions approach the truth; for the upper part of the body has a dusky or sooty look, not unlike that of the Vulture of the
Alps.
But when he speaks of its being the heaviest bird next to the Ostrich, we see plainly he goes beyond all bounds.
It is a species found in most parts of the wooded and mountanous countries of
Europe,
and extends even to the arctic
Lapmark
Leems,
241.
: is common in
Russia
and
Sibiria;
in the last are found greater and lesser varieties. It is found even as far as
Kamtschatka.
B. SPURIOUS GR. Tetrao Hybridus. Racklehane.
Roslagis
Rostare,
Faun. Suec.
No 201.
GR. With a spotted breast and forked tail. In size equal to the hen of the preceding. Is much scarcer, more timid, and its note very different.
Linnaeus
says it is a mixed breed between the WOOD and BLACK GROUS; but his account of it is obscure.
C. BLACK GROUS,
Br. Zool.
i. No 93.
Tetrao ius ,
Plinii.
Tetrao Tetrix, Orre,
Faun. Suec.
No 202.
Le Petit Tetras oa Coq de Bruyere a queue forchue,
De Buffon,
ii. 210.—
Pl. Enl.
172, 173.
GR. With a white spot on the shoulders, and white vent feathers: rest of the plumage of a full black, glossed with blue: tail much forked, exterior feathers curling outwards. Weight near four pounds. Length one foot ten inches.
Female weighs but two pounds. The tail is slightly forked and short: the colors rust, black, and cinereous.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Europe,
as high as
Lapland:
extends over
Russia
and
Sibiria
as far as birch-trees grow, of the catkins and buds of which it is very fond. Feeds much on the
populus balsamifera
The
Taccamahacca
of
North America. Catesby,
i. 34.
, which gives its flesh a fine flavor. In northern
Europe,
this and the last species live during summer on whortle-berries, and feed their young with gnats. In summer the males perch on trees, and animate the forests with their crowing. In winter they lie on the ground, become buried in the snows, and form walks beneath, in which they often continue forty days
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 591.
. They are at present taken in snares; but in
Lapland
were formerly shot with arrows
Olaus Gent. Septr.
lib. xix. c. 13.
.
During winter, there is at present a very singular way of taking the BLACK GROUS in
Sibiria.
In the open forests of birch, a certain number of poles are placed horizontally on forked sticks: by way of allurement, small bundles of corn are placed on them; and not remote, are set certain tall baskets of a conic shape, with the broadest part uppermost: within the mouth is placed a small wheel, through which passes an axis fixed so nicely as to admit it to play very readily, and permit one side or the other, on the least touch, to drop down, and again recover its situation. The BLACK GROUS are soon attracted by the corn on the horizontal poles; first alight on them, and after a short repast fly to the baskets, attempt to settle on their tops, when the wheel drops sideways, and they fall headlong into the trap, which is sometimes found half full.
D. PTARMIGAN,
Br. Zool.
i. No 95.
Tetrao Lagopus.
Suecis
Snoripa.
Lappis
Cheruna,
Faun. Suec.
No 203.
Le Lagopede,
De Buffon,
ii. 264. tab. ix.
GR. With the head, neck, back, scapulars, and some of the coverts of the wings, marked with narrow lines of black, ash-color, and rust, intermixed with some white: wings and belly white: outmost feathers of the tail black; those of the middle cinereous, mottled with black, and tipt with white. The male has a black spot between the bill and the eye; which in the female is scarcely visible. One which I weighed in
Scotland
was nineteen ounces. Another weighed by Mr.
Ray,
in the
Grisons
country, only fourteen. It regularly changes its colors at approach of winter.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Greenland, Iceland, Lapland,
all
Scandinavia,
and
Russia;
but I believe does not extend to
Sibiria
or
Kamtschatka.
This, from its haunts, is called by the
Norwegians, Fiaelde Rype,
or Mountain Grous. But in
Russia
it inhabits indifferently woods, mountains, plains, and marshes. Its feathers were formerly an article of commerce. It is taken among the
Laplanders,
by the same stratagem as the WHITE GROUS, No 183.
The
Greenlanders
catch it in nooses hung to a long line, drawn between two men, dropping them over the neck of this silly bird. They sometimes kill it with stones; but of late oftener by shooting. It is said, that when the female is killed the male unwillingly deserts the body
Faun. Groenl.
p. 117.
.
The
Greenlanders
eat it either dressed, or half rotten, or raw, with seals lard. The intestines, especially those next to the rump, and fresh drawn, are reckoned great delicacies. They also mix the contents with fresh train-oil and berries; a luxury frequent among these people. The skins make a warm and comfortable shirt, with the feathers placed next to the body. The women formerly used the black feathers of the tail as ornaments to their head-dresses.
E. REHUSAK.
Montin,
in
Act. Physiogr. Lund.
i. 150.
GR. With neck rust-colored, spotted with black: back and coverts of tail black, varied with rusty streaks: breast divided from the lower part of the neck by a dark shade: rest of the breast and vent white; the hen spotted with yellow: primaries white: tail black; end whitish: thighs white, with some rusty spots: legs feathered to the toes: toes naked, covered with large brown scales. SIZE of a small Hen.
Inhabits both the woods and alps of
Lapland.
PLACE.
Lays thirteen or fourteen reddish eggs, marked with large brown spots. When disturbed, flies away with a loud noise, like a coarse laugh. The
Keron,
or common Ptarmigan, on the contrary, is silent. The
Keron
inhabits the
Alps
only.
F. HAZEL GR.
Will. Orn.
175.
Tetrao bonasia. Hiarpe,
Faun. Suec.
No 204.
La Gelinotte,
De Buffon,
ii. 233. tab. vii.—
Pl. Enl.
474, 475.
GR. With the chin black, bounded with white: head and upper part of the neck crossed with dusky and cinereous lines: behind each eye a white line: coverts of wings and scapulars spotted with black and rust-color: breast and belly white, marked with bright bay spots: feathers of the tail mottled with ash and black; and, except the two middlemost, crossed with a broad single bar of black: legs feathered half way down. FEMALE wants the black spot on the chin, and white stroke beyond the eyes.
SIZE.
Its size superior to an
English
Partridge.
Inhabits the birch and hazel woods of many parts of
Europe,
PLACE.
as high as the diocese of
Drontheim,
and even
Lapland
Scheffer Lapl.
138.
; and is not unfrequent in the temperate parts.
Paulsen
Catalogue of Iceland Birds,
MS.
says that it migrates into the south of
Iceland
in
April,
and departs in
September?
It lays from twelve to twenty eggs: perches usually in the midst of a tree: is attracted by a pipe, imitative of its voice, to the nets of the sportsmen, who lie concealed in a hovel
Gesner Av.
230.
. Is excellent meat, insomuch that the
Hungarians
call it
Tschasarmadar,
or the bird of
Caesar,
as if it was only fit for the table of the Emperor. Is found in most parts of the
Russian
dominions with the
Ptarmigan,
but grows scarcer towards the east of
Sibiria.
XVII. PARTRIDGE.
Gen. Birds,
XXXVII.
185. MARYLAND.
American
Partridge,
Clayton, Ph. Tr. abridg.
iii. 590.—
Lawson,
140.—
Catesby, App.
plate xii.—
Du Pratz,
ii. 86.
Tetrao Virginianus,
Lin. Syst.
277.
Le Perdrix d'Amerique,
Brisson,
i. 231.—Et de la Nouvelle Angleterre, 229.—
De Buffon,
ii. 447.
P. With white cheeks and throat, bounded by a line of black on all sides, and marked with another passing beneath each eye: breast whitish, prettily marked with semicircular spots of black: upper part of the breast, coverts of wings, scapulars, and coverts of tail, bright bay, edged with small black and white spots; scapulars striped with yellowish white: primaries and tail of a light ash color.
The head of the female agrees in the white marks of the male, but the boundaries are ferruginous. There is also more red on the breast. In other respects the colors nearly correspond. In SIZE, above half as big again as the
English
Quail.
PLACE.
Frequent from
Canada
to the most southern parts of
North America,
perhaps to
Mexico.
Are great breeders, and are seen in covies of four or five and twenty. Breed the latter end of
April,
or beginning of
May.
Collect, towards the beginning of
June,
in great flocks, and take to the orchards, where they perch when disturbed. Feed much on buck-wheat; grow fat, and are excellent meat. Migrate from
Nova Scotia,
at approach of winter, to the southern provinces; but numbers reside in the latter the whole year. The males have a note twice repeated, which they emit, while the females are sitting, usually perched on a rail or gate. Make a vast noise with the wings when they arise.
Of late they have been introduced into
Jamaica;
IN JAMAICA:
are naturalized to the climate, and increase greatly in a wild state; and, as I am informed, breed in that warm climate twice in the year.
A. COMMON PARTRIDGE. Tetrao Perdix. Rapphona.
Faun. Suec.
No 205.
La Perdrix Grise,
De Buffon,
ii. 401.—
Pl. Enl.
27.
INHABITS as high as
Sweden;
but has not yet reached
Norway
Brunnich,
No 201.
. Found in the west, and all the temperate parts of
Russia
and
Sibiria,
and even beyond lake
Baikal,
where it winters about steep rocky mountains exposed to the sun, and where the snow lies lest.
During winter, in
Sweden
it burrows beneath the snow; and the whole covey retires there, leaving a spiracle at each end of their lodge.
B. QUAIL,
Br. Zool.
i. No 97.—
Wachtel, Faun. Suec.
No 206.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
IS found no further north than
Sweden.
It appears there in the beginning of the
leafing month (May);
and is neither heard or seen there in autumn or winter, unless it should, as
Linnaeus
supposes, migrate to the southern province, or
Schonen,
or retire to the
Ukraine, Wallachia,
&c
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 592.
.
Quails swarm so greatly, at the time of their migration, about the
Dnieper,
and in the south of
Russia,
that they are caught by thousands, and sent to
Moscow
and
Petersburgh
in casks. They are common in all parts of
Great Tartary;
but in
Sibiria
only in the south, as their passage is hindered by the lofty snowy mountains. It is said they winter beneath the snow; and in great frosts, to be found torpid in the
Ant-hills.
Beyond lake
Baikal,
the Quails exactly resemble those of
Europe,
but are quite mute. These are used by the
Chinese
in fighting, as we do Cocks.
XVIII. BUSTARD.
Gen. Birds.
XXXIX.
186. NORTON SOUND.
I Am sorry that I have it not in my power to do more than ascertain that a bird of the BUSTARD genus is found in
North America.
Captain KING was so obliging as to inform me, that he saw on the plains near
Norton Sound,
N. lat. 64 ½, great flocks of a large kind. They were very shy; ran very fast, and for a considerable way before they took wing; so that he never could get one shot.
I often meet with the word
Outarde,
or
Bustard,
among the
French
voyagers in
North America;
but believe it to be always applied to a species of Goose.
The Great Bustard,
Br. Zool.
i. No 98, is frequent over all the desert of
Tartary,
and beyond lake
Baikal.
Is a solitary bird; but collects into small flocks at the time of its southern migration, and winters about
Astracan
Extracts,
143.
.
. LESSER BUSTARD,
Br. Zool.
i. No 99.
Tetrao Tetrax,
Faun. Suec.
No 196.
La Petite Outarde ou la Cane-petiere,
De Buffon,
ii. 40.—
Pl. Enl.
10. 25.—LEV. MUS.
B. With crown, back, scapulars, and coverts of the wings, ferruginous and black; primaries black at their ends, white at their bottoms; the secondaries quite white: neck black, marked near the top and bottom with a white circle: breast and belly white: middle feathers of the tail crossed with rust and black, the rest white. FEMALE entirely ferruginous and black, except wings and belly. SIZE of a Pheasant.
Appears in
Sweden
rarely in the spring: not traced further north.
PLACE.
Very frequent in the southern and south-west plains of
Russia,
and in small flocks when it migrates. Continues a good way into the deserts of
Tartary;
but is never seen in
Sibiria.
ORDER IV. COLUMBINE.
XIX. PIGEON.
Gen. Birds,
XL.
187. PASSENGER.
Pigeon,
Josselyn's Voy.
99.
Wild Pigeon,
Lawson,
140.—
Kalm.
ii. 82.
Pigeon of Passage,
Catesby,
i. tab. 23.
Wood Pigeon,
Du Pratz,
ii. 88.
Columba Migratoria,
Lin. Syst.
285.
Le Pigeon sauvage d'Amerique,
Brisson,
i. 100.—
De Buffon, Ois.
ii. 527.— LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
P. With a black bill: red irides: head, and hind part and sides of the neck, of a slaty blue; on each of the last a large shining golden spot: coverts of the wings of a dark blueish grey, marked with a few black spots: quil feathers brown: tail of a great length, and cuneiform: the middle feathers dusky grey, the next paler, the outmost white. WEIGHT nine ounces.
MANNERS.
These birds visit the provinces of
North America
in most amazing numbers every hard winter. They appear in greater or lesser numbers, according to the mildness or severity of season; for when the weather proves mild, few or none are seen in the southern parts. Necessity alone obliges them to change their quarters, in search of acorns,
FOOD.
mast, and berries, which the warmer provinces yield in vast abundance. When they alight, the ground is soon cleared of all esculent fruits, to the great loss of the hog, and other mast-eating animals. When they have devoured every thing which has fallen on the surface, they form themselves into a great perpendical column, and by rotation keep flying among the boughs of the trees, from top to bottom, beating down the acorns with their wings, and some or other, in succession, alight on the earth and eat
Du Pratz.
. The species of food they are fondest of is the small acorn, called the
Turkey acorn,
it being also a favorite food of those birds. In
Canada
they do vast damage in autumn, by devouring the corn, before they begin their southern flight
The same.
.
They build their nests in trees,
NESTS.
and coo like the
English
Wild Pigeon; and lay two eggs. They breed in the more northern parts, from the country south of
Moose Fort,
in
Hudson's Bay
Ph. Tr.
lxii. 398.
, to that between
Fort Frederick
and
Fort Anne,
and the woods about the river
Onandago
Bartram's Journey to Onandago,
36.
—Kalm's Travels,
ii. 311.
. During the time of incubation and nutrition, they feed first on the seeds of the
Acer Rubrum,
Lin. —Catesby,
i. 62.
red maple, which ripens in
May;
and after that, on those of the elm
Ulmus Americana,
Lin.
. It appears by those accurate observers, Mr.
Bartram
and Mr.
Kalm,
that they continue in their breeding-places till the middle at lest of
July:
the first having seen them in
June;
the last, the 19th of
July.
Mr.
Hutchins
assures me, that they continue in the inland parts of
Hudson's Bay
till
December;
and when the ground is covered with snow, feed on the buds of juniper.
As soon as these birds find a want of food,
MIGRATIONS.
they collect in vast flocks, and migrate to such places as are likely to supply them with subsistence.
VAST NUMBERS.
The multitudes which appear during the rigorous seasons are so immense, that the mention of them, unless supported by good authority, would seem incredible. They fly by millions in a flock; and in their passage literally intercept the light of the sun for a considerable space. As soon as one flock has passed, another succeeds, each taking a quarter of an hour before the whole flock is gone. This continues, in some seasons, for three days without any intermission
Catesby.
.
The inhabitants of
New York
and
Pennsylvania
are frequent witnesses of the phaenomenon, and kill numbers of these migrants from their balconies, and the roofs of their houses. When they alight on trees to roost, they often break the limbs of stout oaks, unable to support the weight of the crowds which perch on them. The ground beneath the trees on which they have lodged a night, is covered with their dung to a considerable depth
Lawson,
44.—The Rev. Mr.
Burnaby
relates the prodigious flights he saw passing in
September,
southerly, over
New England.
He adds, he scarcely met with any other food in the inns he was at. p. 132.
.
Josselyn,
who observed these Pigeons in 1638, in
New England,
before they were disturbed by population, says, he has seen flights of them moving at
Michaelmas
to the southward, four or five miles long, so thick that he lost sight of the sun. He adds, that they return in spring;
RETURN.
and that they join nest to nest, and tree to tree, by their nests, for many miles together, in the woods
Voy.
99.
.
Kalm
mentions their passage through
Jersey
in
March.
The inhabitants of
North America
profit by this kind gift of Providence, and shoot them in their passage; for they are very fat, and excellent meat. The
Indians
watch the roosting-places; go in the night, and, knocking them down with long poles, bring away thousands. Formerly, you could not go into a little
Indian
town, in the interior parts of
Carolina,
THEIR OIL.
but you would find a hundred gallons of Pigeons oil or fat, which they use with their mayz, as we do butter
Lawson,
44.
. They scorn to obtain that useful article from the quiet employ of the dairy; but are fond of the similitude, provided it could be obtained by any means suitable to their active spirit.
M.
du Pratz
hit upon an ingenious expedient of taking them on roost, by placing under the trees vessels filled with flaming sulphur; the fumes of which ascending, brought them senseless to the ground in perfect showers.
I shall conclude this account with what was communicated to me by the late Mr.
Ashton Blackburne,
from his own observations, or those of his friends, who were eye-witnesses to the wondrous facts related of these birds.
New York,
June
21, 1770.
I think,
says Mr.
Blackburne,
this as remarkable a bird as any in
America.
They are in vast numbers in all parts, and have been of great service at particular times to our garrisons, in supplying them with fresh meat, especially at the out-posts. A friend told me, that in the year in which
Quebec
was taken, the whole army was supplied with them, if they chose it. The way was this: every man took his club (for they were forbid to use their firelocks) when they
flew,
as it was termed, in such quantities, that each person could kill as many as he wanted. They in general begin to fly soon after day-break, and continue till nine or ten o'clock; and again about three in the afternoon, and continue till five or six: but what is very remarkable, they always fly westerly. The times of flying here are in the spring, about the latter end of
February
or the beginning of
March,
and continue every day for eight or ten days; and again in the fall, when they begin the latter end of
July
or the beginning of
August.
They catch vast quantities of them in clap-nets, with stale pigeons. I have seen them brought to this market by sacks-full. People in general are very fond of them; and I have heard many say they think them as good as our common Blue Pigeon; but I cannot agree with them by any means. They taste more like our Queest, or Wild Pigeon; but are better meat. They have another way of killing them—They make a hut of boughs of trees, and six stale Pigeons on the ground at a small distance from the hut. They plant poles for the Wild Pigeons to light on when they come a
salting
(as they term it) which they do every morning in the season, repairing to the marshes near the sea-side; then the persons in the hut pull the stale Pigeon, when the birds will alight in vast numbers on the poles, and great multitudes are shot. Sir
William Johnson
told me, that he killed at one shot with a blunderbuss, a hundred and twenty or thirty. Some years past they have not been in such plenty as they used to be. This spring I saw them fly one morning, as I thought in great abundance; but every body was amazed how few there were; and wondered at the reason.
I must remark one very singular fact: that, notwithstanding the whole people of a town go out a
pigeoning,
as they call it, they will not on some days kill a single hen bird; and on the very next day, not a single cock (and yet both sexes always fly westerly); and when this is the case, the people are always assured that there will be great plenty of them that season. I have been at
Niagara
when the centinel has given the word that the Pigeons were
flying;
and the whole garrison were ready to run over one another, so eager were they to get fresh meat.
188. CAROLINA.
Picacuroba,
Marcgrave,
204.
Turtle Dove,
Lawson,
142.—
Du Pratz,
ii. 88.
La Tourterelle de la
Caroline, Brisson,
i. 110.
Turtle of Carolina,
Catesby,
i. 24.—
De Buffon,
ii. 557.—
Pl. Enl.
175.
Columba Carolinensis,
Lin. Syst.
286.
Long-tailed Dove,
Edw.
15.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
P. With the orbits naked and blue: crown, neck, back, and scapulars, brown; the last spotted with black: some of the lesser coverts of a lead-color: quil feathers dusky: beneath each eye in the male a black spot; on each side of the neck another, variable, with green, gold, and crimson: breast of a pale claret-color: belly and thighs of a dull yellow: tail very long and cuneiform; the two middle feathers brown; the others white, marked in the middle with a black spot. LENGTH fourteen inches.
Inhabits
Carolina
the whole year; and is found as far south as the
West Indies
and
Brasil.
Feeds much on the berries of the poke or
Phytolacca Decandria
Phytolacca Decandria,
Lin. Sp. Pl.
631.
, and the seeds of the mug-apple or
Podophyllum
Passenger Pigeon. No . 187. Carolina Pigeon▪ No . 186.
Peltatum
Lin. Sp. Pl.
723.
.
Lawson
says, it is a great devourer of peas; on which account the
Americans
catch as many as they can in traps; and as an additional reason, because of the delicacy of their flesh.
189. WHITE-CROWNED.
White-crowned Pigeon,
Catesby,
i. 25.
Bald-pate,
Brown. Jam.
468.—
Sloane,
ii. 303.
Le Pigeon de la Roche, de la
Jamaique, Brisson,
i. 137.—
De Buffon,
ii. 529.
Columba Leucocephala,
Lin. Syst.
281.
P. With the end of the bill white; the base purple: crown white, beneath that purple: hind part of the neck changeable green, edged with black.
Inhabit the
Bahama
islands, and breed among the rocks;
PLACE.
and prove of great use to the inhabitants, who take vast numbers. This species is found also in
Jamaica,
where
Brown
says they feed on the feeds of the mangrove and wild coffee.
I do not recollect that our navigators saw any Pigeons on the western side of
America;
but the
Spaniards
saw abundance in lat. 41. 7. north
In
Barrington's Miscellanies,
492.
.
190. CANADA.
La Tourterelle de
Canada, Brisson,
i. 118.—
De Buffon,
ii. 552.—
Pl. Enl.
176.
Columba Canadenfis,
Lin. Syst.
285.
P. With the crown, hind part of the head, and upper part of the back, of a cinereous brown: the lower part of the back and rump ash-colored: lower part of the neck and the breast cinereous, dashed with rust: coverts of the wings spotted with black: primaries dusky, the exterior edges of the greater yellowish: the tail long and cuneiform; the middle feathers ash-colored; the exterior on each side white, marked on their inner side with a red spot, and beneath that with a great black one.
The head, neck, back, breast, and coverts of the wings, of the female have the feathers terminated with dirty white and yellow.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Canada.
Greatly resembles, in size, form, and some of the colors, the
Carolina
Pigeon: I guess therefore, that it is here needlessly separated from that species.
191. GROUND.
Picuipinima,
Marcgrave,
204.—
Raii Syn. Av.
62. 184.—
Sloane. Jam.
ii. 305. —
Brown,
469.
Ground Dove,
Catesby,
i. 26.
La petite Tourterelle,
Brisson,
i. 113.
Columba Passerina,
Lin. Syst.
285.
Le Cocotzin,
Fernandez,
24.—
De Buffon,
ii. 559.—
Pl. Enl.
243.
P. With a yellow bill tipt with black: red irides: upper part of the head, body, and coverts, of a cinereous brown; the coverts spotted with black: breast and belly a variable purple, spotted with a deeper:
SIZE.
the two middle feathers of the tail cinereous brown, those of the sides dusky: legs yellowish. In SIZE does not exceed a Lark.
PLACE.
This diminutive species is not found further north than
Carolina,
where they sometimes visit the lower parts near the sea, where shrubs grow, in order to feed on the berries; especially of the pellitory, or toothach tree
Xanthoxylum Clava Herculis,
Lin. Sp. Pl.
1455.—
Catesby,
i. 26.
, which gives their flesh a fine flavor. The species is continued through the warm parts of
America,
the islands
Mexico
and
Brasil.
The
French
islanders call them
Ortolans,
from their excessive fatness and great delicacy. They take them young, when they will become very tame.
THERE is not a single species of Pigeon to be found in
Kamtschatka;
a proof that the birds of this genus do not extend far to the north-west of
America:
otherwise the narrow sea between the two continents could never confine birds of so swift and strong a flight.
A. The STOCK DOVE,
Wil. Orn.
Columba Oenas. Skogsdufva,
Faun. Suec.
No 207.
IS very frequent in a wild state in the south of
Russia,
breeding in the turrets of village-churches, and in steep rocky banks of rivers; but at approach of winter, migrates southward. It does the same in
Sweden
Ekmark Migr. av.
in
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 593.
. Is among the birds of the
Feroe
isles, and sometimes strays as far
Finmark
Leems,
245.
.
No Pigeons are seen in
Sibiria,
till you come beyond lake
Baikal,
where a very small variety (with a white rump) breeds in great plenty about the rocks. This is the same with our ROCK PIGEON, one stock or origin of our tame Pigeons. This species breeds in the cliffs as far north as the diocese of
Bergen
in
Norway
Pontop.
ii. 69.—Since the publication of the last edition of the
British Zoology,
I have been informed, by the Rev. Mr.
Ashby,
of
Barrow,
near
Newmarket,
that multitudes of
Stock Doves
breed in the rabbet-burrows on the sandy plains of
Suffolk,
about
Brandon;
and that the shepherds annually take the young for sale.
. Haunt during winter the cliffs of the
Orknies,
by myriads.
B. RING DOVE,
Br. Zool.
i. No 102.
Columba Palumbus. Ringdufwa,
Faun. Suec.
No 208.
Le Ramier,
De Buffon,
ii. 531.
COMMON in the
Russian
forests: very scarce in
Sibiria;
none in the north-east. Visits
Sweden
in summer: migrates in autumn. None in
Norway.
None of the Pigeon tribe inhabit the
arctic
zone, by reason not only of the cold, but of defect of food.
ORDER V. PASSERINE.
XX. STARE.
Gen. Birds.
XLI.
192. CRESCENT.
Lark,
Lawson,
144.—
Catesby,
i. 33.
Le Merle a collier d'Amerique,
Brisson,
ii. 243.
L'Etourneau de la Louisiane—449.
Le Fer a Cheval, ou Merle a collier d'Amerique,
De Buffon, Ois.
iii. 371.—
Pl. En.
256.—
Latham,
iii. 6.
Alauda Magna,
Lin. Syst.
289.
Sturnus Ludovicianus—290.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
ST. With a dusky head, divided in the middle by a pale brown line, bounded on the side by two others: on the corner of each eye, above the bill, is a yellow spot: whole upper part of the body, neck, and wings, reddish brown and black: breast and belly of a rich yellow; the former marked with a black crescent: primaries pale brown, barred with a darker: tail very short, the feathers sharp-pointed; the three outmost white, marked with a pale brown stripe on the exterior side; rest of the feathers light brown, marked with pointed bars of black: legs long.
SIZE.
LENGTH above ten inches: WEIGHT between three and four ounces.
PLACE.
Inhabits most parts of the continent of
North America:
lives in the
savannas,
feeding chiefly on the seeds of grasses; sits on small trees and shrubs; has a jetting motion with its tail; is reckoned excellent meat; has a musical but not a various note. Arrives in
New York
in
March,
or the beginning of
April:
lays in
June,
in the grass, five white eggs, thinly spotted with pale rust-color. Leaves the country in
September
or
October.
193. LOUISIANE.
Sturnus Ludovicianus,
Lin. Syst.
290.—
Latham,
iii. 6.
L'Etourneau de la Louisiane,
De Buffon,
iii. 192.—
Brisson,
ii. 449.—
Pl. Enl.
256.
ST. With a whitish bill, tipped with brown: with the crown, back, wings, and tail of a rusty ash-color; the first marked along the middle with a white line; and another of the same color over each eye; inner webs of the four outmost feathers white: in front of the neck a large black spot; each feather tipt with grey: rest of the fore part of the neck, breast, and belly, of a rich yellow: thighs and vent dirty white.
Inhabits
Louisiana.
PLACE.
A. STARE,
Br. Zool.
i. No 104.
STARE.
Sturnus, vulgaris Stare,
Faun. Suec.
No 213.
L'Etourneau,
De Buffon,
iii. 176.—
Latham,
iii. 2.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
ST. With a yellow bill: black body glossed with purple, and spotted with yellow and white: legs black.
Inhabits
Europe
as high as
Salten,
in the diocese of
Drontheim,
PLACE.
in
Norway;
and in great numbers in
Naesne Helgeland
Leems,
194.
, in
Feroe,
and in
Iceland
Brunnich,
64.
. They migrate from
Norway,
a few excepted, which lodge in the fissures of the rocky isle near
Stavanger,
at the southern extremity of that kingdom, and come out to bask in the sunny days of winter. They are found in vast flocks in all parts of
Russia,
and the west of
Sibiria;
but are very scarce beyond the
Jenesei.
In many places of
England
reside the whole year: in others, migrate after the breeding-seasons by thousands to other countries.
WATER OUZEL.
B. WATER OUZEL,
Br. Zool.
i. No 111.
Sturnus cinclus, Watnstare,
Faun. Suec.
No 214.
Le Merle d'Eau,
De Buffon,
viii. 134.—
Latham,
iii. 48.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
ST. Dusky above: throat and breast white: belly rust-colored: tail black. WEIGHT two ounces and a half: LENGTH seven inches and a half.
PLACE.
Found in
Europe
as high as
Feroe
and
Finmark
Leems,
261.
: in the
Russian
empire, as far as
Kamtschatka.
The
Tartars
believe, that the feathers of this bird, tied to their nets, produce good fortune in their fishery
Voy. en Sibirie,
ii. 112.
.
XXI. THRUSH.
Gen. Birds.
XLII.
194. MIMIC.
Mock-bird,
Catesby,
i.—
Lawson,
143.
Le Moqueur,
De Buffon, Ois.
ii. 323.—
Pl. Enl.
645.—
Brisson,
ii. 262.—
Latham,
iii. 40.
Turdus Polyglottos, T. Orpheus,
Lin. Syst.
293.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
TH. With a black bill and legs: head, neck, back, and lesser coverts on the ridge of the wing, ash-colored: the other coverts dusky, slightly edged with white: quil feathers black; white on their lower parts: under side of the body white: tail very long; the middle feathers dusky; two outmost feathers white; the exterior margins black.
The breast of the female of a dirty white.
A. The Lesser,
Edw.
78.
DIFFERS from the former in having a white line over each eye; and in being somewhat inferior in size.
Jamaica
Sloane,
ii. 306.
.
B. Varied.
Tetronpan, Fernanaez,
38.
WITH a spotted breast; probably a young bird of one of the others.
These birds shun the cold parts of
America;
PLACE.
and are found from the province of
New York
as far south as
Mexico
and the
Antilles.
They are so impatient of the rigorous season, as to retire at approach of winter from all the provinces north of
Carolina
or
Virginia.
In the first they inhabit the whole year. They visit
New York
in
April,
or the beginning of
May,
but are rather scarce in that part of
America:
they breed there in
June,
and lay five or six blue eggs, thickly spotted with dull red.
They build often in fruit trees
Lawson.
; are very familiar, and love to be conversant about dwellings; and, during summer, usually deliver their song perched on the chimney's top. During breeding season, are very shy, and will desert their nest if any one looks on the eggs
Kalm,
i. 218.
: but are sometimes preserved, and brought alive to
England.
During summer they feed on berries, mulberries, and other fruits, and insects. In winter, when other food is scarce, on the berries of the
Dogwood
Cornus Florida,
Lin. Sp. Pl.
. When tamed, feed on every thing.
VARIOUS SONG.
These birds are perhaps the first among the choristers of the woods; and are justly famed not only for the variety, fulness, and melody of their own notes, but their imitative faculty of the notes of all other birds or animals, from the Humming-bird to the Eagle. They will even imitate the sound of other things. I have heard of one, confined in a cage, that would mimic the mewing of a cat, the chattering of a magype, and the creaking of a sign in high winds. The
Mexicans
call them
Cencontlatolli
Fernandez,
p. 20.
, or the birds of four hundred tongues, on account of their vast variety of notes and imitative powers. In the warmer parts of
America
they sing incessantly from
March
to
August,
day and night, beginning with their own compositions, and then finishing by borrowing from the whole feathered choir, and repeat their tunes with such artful sweetness, as to excite pleasure and surprize. The super-excellence of their songs makes ample amends for the plainness of their plumage.
They may be said not only to sing, but dance: for, as if excited by a sort of extasy at their own admirable notes, they gradually raise themselves from the place where they stand, with their wings extended, drop with their head down to the same spot, and whirl round with distended wings, accompanying their melody with variety of pretty gesticulations
Catesby.
. They are birds of vast courage; and will attack any large bird.
195. FERRUGINOUS.
Ground Mocking-bird,
Lawson,
143.
Fox-coloured Thrush,
Catesby,
i. 28.
Turdus rufus,
Lin. Syst.
293.—
Latham,
iii. 39.
La Grive de la Caroline,
Brisson,
ii. 223.
Le Moqueur François,
De Buffon,
iii. 323.—
Pl. Enl.
645.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
TH. With yellow irides: head, and whole upper part of the body, coverts of the wings, and the tail, of a pale rust-color: under part of a dirty white, spotted with brown: across the coverts of the wings are two white lines: tail very long: legs brown. LENGTH twelve inches.
Inhabits
North America,
from
New York
to
Carolina.
PLACE.
In the former, arrives in
May,
and migrates to the south in
August:
continues in
Virginia
and
Carolina
the whole year: builds in low bushes, and (in
New York
) breeds in
June,
and lays five white eggs, closely spotted with rust-colour.
It feeds on berries, especially those of the cluster bird-cherry, of which all the Thrush kind are very fond. It is called in
America
the
French
Mocking-bird, from the variety of its notes; but they are far inferior to the real.
196. RED-BREASTED.
Fieldfare of Carolina,
Catesby,
i. 29.
La Grive de Canada,
Brisson,
ii. 225.
La Litorne de Canada,
De Buffon,
iii. 307.—
Pl. Enl.
558.
Turdus migratorius,
Lin. Syst.
295.—
Latham,
iii. 26.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
TH. With the bill half yellow and half black: head and cheeks black: orbits covered with white feathers: chin and throat black, streaked with white: under part of the neck, the breast, and upper part of the belly, of a deep orange: vent white: back and rump of a deep ash-color: coverts and quil feathers dusky, edged with white: inner coverts of the wings orange: tail black; the outmost feather marked with white: legs brown. SIZE of an
English
Throstle.
PLACE.
Inhabits
North America,
from
Hudson's Bay
to
Natka Sound,
on the western coast; and south as low as
Carolina.
Quits the warmer parts in the spring, and retires north to breed. Appear in pairs in
Hudson's Bay,
on
Severn River,
at the beginning of
May.
At
Moose
Fort, these birds build their nest, lay their eggs, and hatch their young, in fourteen days; but at
Severn
settlement, which lies in 55, or four degrees more north, the same is not effected in less than twenty-six days
Ph. Transact.
lxii. 399.
. They are also very common in the woods near
St. John's,
in
Newfoundland.
They arrive in
New York
in
February,
and lay their eggs in
May,
and quit the country in
October:
in each country where they pass the summer, they adapt their retreat to the time in which winter sets in.
NESTS.
They make their nests with roots, moss, &c.; and lay five eggs, of a most lively sea-green colour. The cock is most assiduous in assisting its mate in making the nest and feeding the young; and in the intervals chears her with its musical voice.
Like the
English
Fieldfare, they come and go in large flocks. They have two notes; one a loud scream, like the Missel-bird: the other, a very sweet song, which it delivers from the summit of some lofty tree.
They feed on worms, insects, and berries. Mr.
Catesby
brings a proof, that it is not the heat of the season alone that forces them away. He had, in
Virginia,
some trees of the
Aluternus,
in full berry; the first which were known in
America:
a single Fieldfare was so delighted with them, as never to quit them during the whole summer.
They are called in
America,
the
Robin;
not only from the redness of the breast, but from their actions and tameness, as I have observed in those kept in aviaries.
Varied Thrush No . 197.
197. VARIED.
TH. With a dusky crown: upper part of the neck and back of an iron grey: cheeks black: beyond each eye is a bright bay line: throat, under side of the neck, and breast, of the same color; the breast crossed by a black band: sides orange-colored: middle of the belly white: lesser coverts of the wings iron grey: greater, dusky, tipped with bright ferruginous: primaries dusky, crossed and edged with bay: tail long, of a deep cinereous color: legs pale brown. SIZE of the former.
Inhabits the woods of
Natka
Sound.
Latham,
iii. 27.
PLACE.
198. TAWNY.
TH. With the head, back, and coverts, tawny; the head the brightest: cheeks brown, spotted with white: throat, breast, and belly, white, with large black spots: rump, primaries, and tail, of a pale brown: the ends of the tail sharp-pointed: legs pale brown. SIZE of the Redwing Thrush.
From the province of
New York.
BL. MUS.—
Latham,
iii. 28.
PLACE.
199. BROWN.
TH. With the head, neck, back, cheeks, coverts, and tail, of an olive brown: primaries dusky: breast and belly of a dirty white, marked with great brown spots: legs dusky. SIZE of the former; and a native of the same country. BL. MUS.—
Latham,
iii. 28.
200. RED-LEGGED.
Merle appellé
Tilli? Feuillee,
i. 126.
Red-leg'd Thrush,
Catesby,
i. 30.
Le Merle cendré de l'Amerique,
Brisson,
ii. 288.
Turdus plumbeus,
Lin. Syst.
294.—
Latham,
iii. 33.
Le Tilly, ou la Grive cendrée de l'Amerique,
De Buffon,
iii. 314.—
Pl. Enl.
560.
TH. With a dusky bill: irides, edges of the eyelids, and legs, red: throat black: whole body of a dusky blue: tail long, and cuneiform: tail dusky, with the three exterior feathers on each side tipt with white. WEIGHT two ounces and a half. The hen is a third part less than the cock.
PLACE.
Inhabits the
Bahama
islands,
Andros,
and
Ilathera.
Has the voice and gestures of Thrushes. Feeds on berries, especially of the gum
elimy
tree
Amyris Elemifera,
Lin. Sp. Pl.
i. 495.
.
201. LITTLE.
Little Thrush,
Catesby,
i. 31.—
Edw.
296.—
Latham,
iii. 20.
Le Mauvis de la Caroline,
Brisson,
ii. 212.
La Grivette d'Amerique,
De Buffon,
iii. 289.—
Pl. Enl.
398.—LEV. MUS.— BL. MUS.
TH. With the head, whole upper part of the body, wings, and tail, of an uniform brown color: eyelids encircled with white: chin white: breast, and under side of the neck, yellowish, marked with large brown spots: belly white: legs long, and brown. SIZE of a Lark.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Canada, Newfoundland,
and the whole continent of
North America,
and even
Jamaica.
In all the cold parts, even as low as
Pensylvania,
they migrate southward at approach of winter. They arrive in that country in
April,
and breed there. They inhabit thick woods, and the dark recesses of swamps: are scarce, and not often seen
Catesby.
. In
Jamaica
they inhabit the wooded mountains
Sloane,
ii. 305.
. They feed on berries, &c. like other Thrushes, but want their melody.
202. UNALASCHA.
TH. With the crown and back brown, obscurely spotted with dusky: breast yellow, spotted with black: coverts of the wings, primaries, and tail, dusky, edged with testaceous. SIZE of a Lark.
PLACE.
Found on
Unalascha. Latham,
iii. 23.
203. GOLDEN-CROWNED.
Golden-crowned Thrush,
Edw. 252.
Motacilla aurocapilla,
Lin. Syst,
334.—
Latham,
iii. 21.
Le Figuier a tete d'or,
Brisson,
iii. 504.
La Grivelette de St. Domingue,
De Buffon, Ois.
iii. 317.—
Pl. Enl.
398.— BL. MUS.
TH. With the crown of the head of a bright gold-color, bounded on each side by a black line: upper part of the body, wings, and tail, of an olive brown: under side of the neck, breast, and sides, white, spotted with black; or, as the
French
expressively call, it
grivelées:
belly in some of a pure white; in others, spotted: legs of a yellowish brown. In SIZE lesser than the last.
Inhabits
Pensylvania,
and probably all the southern provinces.
PLACE.
It builds its nest on the ground, on the side of a bank, in the form of an oven, with leaves, lining it with dry grass, and lays five white eggs, spotted with brown. Migrates on approach of winter to the islands, such as
St. Domingo, Jamaica,
&c. Some having been taken at sea in
November
in their passage
Edwards.
.
204. HUDSONIAN.
TH. With a black bill: general color of the plumage deep blueish ash: crown, nape, coverts of the wings, and primaries, more or less edged with pale chesnut: coverts of the tail of the same color: tail deep ash, rounded at the end: legs black. LENGTH of the whole bird seven inches and a half.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay.
LEV. MUS.
PLACE.
205. NEW-YORK.
TH. With a dusky strong bill, half an inch long: head, neck, and breast, mottled with light rust-color and black: back very glossy: and the edges of the feathers ferruginous: from the bill, above and beneath each eye, extends to the hind part of the head a band of black: belly dusky: wings and tail black, glossed with green: tail rounded: legs black. SIZE of an
English
BLACKBIRD.
PLACE.
Appears in the province of
New York
in the latter end of
October,
in its way from its more northern breeding place. BL. MUS.
206. LABRADOR.
Latham,
iii. 46.—BL. MUS.—LEV. MUS.
TH. With a black bill, rather slender, near an inch long. In one specimen the plumage wholly black, glossed with variable blue and green
From
Hudson's Bay.
—LEV. MUS.
: in another
New York.—
BL. MUS.
, the feathers on the head, neck, and beginning of the back, slightly edged with deep rust: tail, and rest of the plumage, full black; tail
even
at the end.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Labrador,
and the province of
New York.
A. FIELDFARE,
Br. Zool.
i. No 106.
Turdus pilaris.
Suecis
Kramsfogel.
Uplandis
Snoskata,
Faun. Suec.
No 215.
La Litorne,
De Buffon,
iii. 301.—
Pl. Enl.
490.—
Latham,
iii. 24.—LEV. MUS.— BL. MUS.
TH. With head and rump cinereous: back and wing coverts chesnut: breast and belly of a rusty white, spotted with black. WEIGHT about four ounces. LENGTH ten inches.
PLACE.
These birds swarm in the woods of
Sweden
and
Norway:
breed in the highest trees; and continue, at lest in
Sweden,
the whole year
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 594.
. In
Norway,
I do not trace them further north than the diocese of
Bergen.
They migrate in great numbers into
Britain
at
Michaelmas,
and depart about the beginning of
March;
but I have no certainty of the place they come from. Multitudes are found in all seasons in
Poland
Klein Migr. av.
178.
: multitudes also migrate from other places to the
Polish
woods in autumn. Perhaps the woods in all those countries may be overcharged with them, so that annually numbers may migrate into other places, without being missed by the inhabitants.
Pontoppidan
says, that Fieldfares are in great flocks in autumn, when berries are most plenty
Hist. Norway,
69.
. Possibly, after they have exhausted the woods, they may migrate to us, compelled both by cold and want of food. They appear constantly in the
Orknies,
near the approach of winter, in their way south, and feed during their residence in those isles on the berries of
empetrum nigrum, arbutus alpina,
and
uva ursi,
and those of the
juniper.
They arrive in
England
about
Michaelmas,
and leave it early in
March.
They are frequent in the forests of
Russia, Sibiria,
and even
Kamtschatka,
as is the REDWING THRUSH. Both visit
Syria
Russel's Aleppo,
65, 71.
, and both migrate into
Minorca
in the end of
October,
and winter in that climate
Cleghorn's Minorca,
56.
.
B. MISSEL TH.
Br. Zool.
i. No 105.
Turdus viscivorus, Biork-Trast,
Faun. Suec.
No 216.
Le Draine,
De Buffon,
iii. 295.—
Pl. Enl.
489.—
Latham,
iii. 16.
TH. Olive-brown above: whitish yellow below, spotted with black: inner coverts of wings white: tail brown; three outmost feathers on each side tipt with white. WEIGHT near five ounces: LENGTH eleven inches.
Inhabits
Europe
as far as
Norway;
PLACE.
but not higher than the middle part. Common in
Russia;
but has not reached
Sibiria.
C. THROSTLE,
Br. Zool.
i. No 107.
Turdus musicus.
Faun. Suec.
No 217.
La Grive,
De Buffon,
iii. 280.—
Pl. Enl.
406.—
Latham,
iii. 18.—LEV. MUS.— BL. MUS.
TH. Above of an olive-brown: breast white, with large dusky spots: inner coverts of the wings of a deep orange: cheeks white, spotted with brown. WEIGHT three ounces: LENGTH nine inches.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Europe
as far north as
Sondmor
Strom,
260.
. Is found in most parts of
Russia,
where juniper grows, especially about the river
Kama:
not in
Sibiria.
D. REDWING,
Br. Zool.
i. No 108.
Turdus iliacus. Klera. Kladra. Talltrast.
Faun. Suec.
No 218.
Le Mauvis,
De Buffon,
iii. 309.—
Latham,
iii. 22.
TH. With a whitish line above each eye: and the cheeks bounded beneath by another: head, and upper part of body, brownish: on each side of the neck a spot of deep yellow: tail of an uniform brown: breast white, spotted with brown: inside of the wings deep orange. WEIGHT two ounces and a quarter.
PLACE.
Is met with as remote as
Sondmor,
and even in
Iceland.
In
Sweden
sings sweetly, perched on the summit of a tree, among the forests of maples: builds in hedges, and lays six blueish green eggs, spotted with black
Faun. Suec.
No 218.
. Appears in
England
with the Fieldfare, and has with us only a piping note. Such numbers of these birds, Throstles, and Fieldfares, are killed for the market in
Polish Prussia,
that excise was payed in one season at
Dantzick
for thirty thousand pairs, besides what were smuggled or payed duty in other places
Klein, Migr. av.
178.
. Found with the Fieldfare in the
Russian
dominions.
E.
Latham,
iii. 28.—LEV. MUS.
KAMTSCHATKAN.
TH. With a dusky bill: crown, upper side of the neck, back, and wings, light brown: from the base of the bill, on each side, a black line passes to the eyes, and a little beyond; over each, a line of white: chin and throat of an elegant rose-color: breast and belly of a whitish brown: tail of a light brown, and rounded. LENGTH six inches.
Inhabits
Kamtschatka.
PLACE.
F. ORIOLE,
Br. Zool.
ii. App. p. 626, 8vo .—4to , 532. tab. iv.—
Will. Orn.
198.
Oriolus galbula,
Lin. Syst.
160.—
Faun. Suec.
No 95.
Loriot,
De Buffon,
iii. 260. tab. xvii.—
Pl. Enl.
26.
TH. With head and whole body of a rich yellow: bill red: wings black; the primaries marked with a yellow spot: tail black; tips yellow. FEMALE dull green: ends of the exterior feathers of the tail whitish. LENGTH ten inches.
Inhabits many parts of
Europe.
Has been shot in
Finland;
PLACE.
but is in
Sweden
a rare bird. Seen in
England
but very seldom: affects warm climates: frequent in
India
and
China.
Found in the temperate parts of the
Russian
empire, as far as lake
Baikal:
none beyond the
Lena.
Is almost constantly flitting from place to place: makes no long residence in any. Builds a hanging nest between the forks of a bough, usually of some lofty tree. Lays four or five eggs, of a dirty white, spotted with dusky. Is reckoned very good meat. Receives its name of
Loriot
from its note. Feeds on insects, berries, and fruits.
G. ROSE-COLORED OUZEL,
Br. Zool.
ii. App. p. 627. 8vo .—4to . tab. v.
Turdus roseus,
Faun. Suec.
No 219.—
Will. Orn.
194.—
De Buffon,
iii. 348. tab. xxii. —
Pl. Enl.
251.—
Latham,
iii. 50.
TH. With a crested head: head, neck, wings, and tail, black, glossed with variable purple, blue, and green: breast, belly, back, and lesser coverts of the wings, of a fine rose-color. SIZE of a Stare.
Linnaeus,
on the authority of Mr.
Adlerheim,
says it is found in
Lapland.
Has been shot in a garden at
Chester;
and twice besides near
London.
Is migratory. I cannot discover its breeding-place in
Europe.
Is found during summer about
Aleppo,
where it is called, from its food, the
Locust-bird
Russel's Aleppo,
70.
.
Appears annually in great flocks about the river
Don:
and in
Sibiria
about the
Irtish,
where there are abundance of Locusts, and where it breeds between the rocks.
H. RING-OUZEL,
Br. Zool.
i. No 110.
Turdus torquatus,
Faun. Suec.
No 221.
Ring-trost, Norvegio,
Brunnich,
No 237.—
De Buffon,
iii. 340.—
Latham,
iii. 46.— LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
TH. With wings and tail black: upper part of the body dusky; lower part the same, edged with ash-color: breast marked with a white crescent. LENGTH eleven inches.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Europe
as high as
Lapmark
Gjelavaelgo
Lapponum.—Leems,
260.
. Is not found in
Russia
and
Sibiria:
is, in the south of
England,
and in
France,
an errant passenger, for a week or two, to other countries: in alpine parts, resident. Is met with about Mount
Caucasus,
and in
Persia.
Belon
Oyseaux,
319.
says, that in his time they swarmed so in their season about
Embrun,
that the hosts were used to treat their guests with them instead of other game. We are told by the
Count de Buffon,
that they build their nests on the ground at the foot of some bush; from which they are called
Merles Terriers.
I. BLACKBIRD,
Br. Zool.
i. No 109.
Turdus merula. Trast. Kohltrast.
Faun. Suec.
No 220.—
Latham,
ii. No 46.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
TH. With a yellow bill: plumage and legs intensely black. FEMALE with bill and plumage of a dusky hue. LENGTH nine inches and a half: WEIGHT about four ounces.
Inhabits
Europe
as high even as
Drontheim.
PLACE.
Is uncommon in
Russia,
except beyond the
Urallian
chain, and in the western provinces. But about
Woronesch,
this bird, and the STARE, do not make their appearance till about the 17th or 18th of
April
Extracts,
i. 107.
, searching for food in other places during the severe season.
XXII. CHATTERER.
Gen. Birds,
XLIII.
207. PRIB.
Chatterer,
Catesby,
i. 46.—
Edw.
242.—
Br. Zool.
i. No 112.
Le Jaseur de la Caroline,
Brisson,
ii. 337.—
De Buffon, Ois.
iii. 441.—
Latham,
ii. 93.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
CH. With a black bill: black band of feathers across the forehead, extended on each side of the eyes towards the hind part of the head: head crested; color of that and neck a pale reddish brown: chin black: back deep brown: rump grey: coverts of wings cinereous: quil feathers dusky; ends of the seven last tipt with wax-like, or enameled appendages, of a bright scarlet color: tail dusky, tipt with bright yellow: breast whitish: belly and thighs of a light yellow: legs black. LENGTH seven inches. FEMALE wants the scarlet appendages to the wings.
PLACE.
Inhabits
America,
from
Nova Scotia
to
Mexico
and
Cayenne
De Buffon.
. The
Mexican
name is
Coquantototl. Fernandez
Hist. av. Nov. Hisp.
55.
says, it lives in the mountanous parts of the country. Feeds on seeds; but is remarkable neither for its song, or the delicacy of its flesh. It migrates in flocks to
New York
the latter end of
March;
breeds there in
May
and
June;
and retires south in flocks in
November.
The differences between this bird, and the
CHATTERERS
of the old continent, are these:—it is about an inch inferior in length: it wants the rich yellow on the wings; but, as a recompence, has the same beautiful color on the belly.
IN EUROPE.
The
European
varieties are found as high as
Drontheim,
and appear in great numbers during winter, about
Petersburg
and
Moscow,
and in all parts of
Russia,
and are taken in flocks. They do not breed there: retiring to the very
arctic
circle for that purpose. It is said, that they never have been observed beyond the river
Lena:
and that they are much scarcer in
Sibiria
than
Russia.
Mr.
Bell
saw some about
Tobolski
in
December
Travels,
i. 198.
. The navigators found them,
September
1778, on the western coast of
America,
in lat. 64. 30.: long. 198. 30.
XXIII. GROSBEAK.
Gen. Birds,
XLV.
208. CROSSBILL.
Le Bee croise,
De Buffon,
iii. 449 —
Pl. Enl.
218.—
Br. Zool.
i. No 115.
Loxia curvirostra. Korssnaf. Kiagelrifvare,
Faun. Suec.
No 224.—
Latham,
ii. 106. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
GR. With each of the mandibles crooked, and crossing each other at the tips: wings, head, neck, and body, of a full red: wings and tail dusky: the coverts crossed with two white lines.
The FEMALE is of a dirty green: rump of a deep yellow: the colors of each sex vary wonderfully; there being scarcely two which agree in the degree of shades of red or green: but the bills are sufficient distinctions from all other birds.
Inhabits the northern latitudes of
North America,
PLACE.
from
Hudson's Bay
to
Newfoundland.
Mr.
Edwards
mentions one taken off
Greenland;
but that individual must have been driven there by a storm, since it could never have subsisted in that woodless region, its food being the kernels of pine-cones, apples, and berries.
These birds arrive at
Severn
river in
Hudson's Bay,
the latter end of
May;
but so greatly affect a cold climate, as to proceed even more northward to breed. They return in autumn at the first setting-in of the frost. Their habitations are the forests of pines.
They are found in all the evergreen forests of
Russia
and
Sibiria.
In
Scandinavia,
as high as
Drontheim.
In
England
they only appear in certain years. I do not find that they migrate in any part except in
America.
The
American
species varies from the
European
in being much less; and in the two white lines across the wings.
209. PINE.
PINE GROSBEAK,
Br. Zool.
i. No 114.—Edw. 123.
Le Dur-bec,
De Buffon,
iii. 444.—
Pl. Enl.
135.
Loxia enucleator. L. Canadensis,
Lin. Syst.
299, 304.
Tallbit, Swansk-Papgoia,
Faun. Suec.
No 223.—
Latham,
ii. 111.—LEV. MUS.
GR. With a very strong thick bill, hooked at the end: head, and upper part of the body, of a rich crimson; each feather marked with black in the middle: lesser coverts incline to orange; the others dusky, crossed by two white lines: the primaries and tail dusky: lower part of the neck, breast, and belly, of a pale crimson: vent cinereous: legs black. FEMALE of a dull dirty green; twice the size of the
English
Bullfinch.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay
Ph. Trans.
lxii.
,
Newfoundland,
and
Canada,
and as far as the western side of
North America:
visits
Hudson's Bay,
in
April:
frequents the groves of pines and junipers: sings on its first arrival, but soon grows silent: makes its nest on trees, at a small height from the ground, with sticks, and lines it with feathers. Lays four white eggs, which are hatched in
June.
The clerk of the
California
observed these birds first on the 25th of
January:
they fed on the poplar tree
Voy. to Hudson's Bay,
ii. 5.
. It is remarked, that birds of plain colors only inhabit the frigid climates: but this gay bird is an exception.
It is likewise an inhabitant of the northern parts of
Europe,
as far as
Drontheim;
and in
Asia,
in all the pine forests: is frequent in
Sibiria,
and the north of
Russia:
is taken in
autumn
about
Petersburg,
and brought to market in plenty. In spring it retires to
Lapland.
I have seen them in the pine forests near
Invereauld,
in the county of
Aberdeen,
in
Scotland,
in the month of
August;
therefore suspect they breed there.
210. CARDINAL.
Coccothraustes Indica cristata,
Aldr.
ii. 289.
Virginian Nightingale,
Will. Orn.
245.—
Raii Syn. av.
85.
Redbird,
Lawson,
144.—
Catesby,
i. 38.
La Cardinal hupè,
De Buffon,
iii. 458.
Grosbec de Virginie,
Brisson,
iii. 253.
Loxia Cardinalis,
Lin. Syst.
300.—
Latham,
ii. 118.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
GR. With a light red bill; base encompassed with black feathers: head adorned with an upright pointed crest: head, neck, and body, of a rich scarlet color: wings and tail of a dark and dull red. FEMALE of a much duller hue, with brown cheeks and back: belly of a dirty yellow. LENGTH nine inches.
Inhabits the country from
Newfoundland
to
Louisiana.
PLACE.
Is a hardy and familiar bird: very docile. Lives much on the grain of mayz, which it breaks readily with its strong bill. Lays up a winter provision of that grain; and conceals it very artfully in its retreat, first with leaves, and then with small branches, with an aperture for an entrance
Du Pratz,
ii. 94.
.
Their song is remarkably fine; so that they are called the
Virginian Nightingale.
They sit warbling in the mornings, during spring, on the tops of the highest trees
Kalm,
ii. 71.—He says that they are very destructive to Bees.
. They also sing when confined in cages, and are much sought on account of their melody. In a state of confinement the female and male are at such enmity, that they will kill one another. They seldom are seen in larger numbers than three or four together. I have heard that their note is toned not unlike that of a Throstle; and that when tame, they will learn to whistle. Arrives in the
Jersies
and
New York
in the beginning of
April;
and during the summer, haunts the
magnolia
swamps. In autumn retires to the south.
211. POPE.
Crested Cardinal,
Brown's Illustr.
tab. xxiii.
Le Paroure hupè,
De Buffon,
iii. 501.—
Pl. Enl.
103.—
Latham,
ii. 124.
GR. With a most elegant upright pointed crest: that, head, and neck, of a most rich scarlet: sides of the neck, breast, and belly, white: upper part of the neck, back, wings, and tail, dark grey: legs flesh-color.
SIZE a little inferior to the last. Is said to have a soft feeble note
Du Pratz,
ii. 93.
.
PLACE.
Inhabits from
Louisiana
to
Brasil.
212. RED-BREASTED.
Loxia Ludoviciana,
Lin. Syst.
306.—
Latham,
ii. 126. —
Brisson,
iii. 247.
Le Rose Gorge,
De Buffon,
iii. 460.—
Pl. Enl.
153.—BL. MUS.
GR. With the head, chin, and back, deep black: coverts of the wings black, crossed with two white lines: upper part of the primaries black; lower white: tail black; inner webs of the two outmost feathers marked with a large white spot: breast and inner coverts of the wings of a fine rose-color: lower part of the back, belly, and vent, white: legs black. Head of the FEMALE spotted with white: breast yellowish brown, spotted with black.
PLACE.
Inhabits from
New York
to
Louisiana.
Arrives in
New York
in
May:
lays five eggs: retires in
August.
Is in that province a scarce bird.
213. SPOTTED.
GR. With the middle of the head, neck, and whole under side of the body, white, marked with narrow spots of brown: above each eye is a long bar of white, reaching from near the bill to the hind part of the head: back, wings, and tail, brown: the coverts of the wings crossed with two white lines: inner coverts of the wings of a fine yellow: on the inner side of the outmost feathers of the tail is a white spot: legs dusky.
PLACE.
Inhabits
New England.
—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.—
Latham,
ii. 126.
214. FANTAIL.
Grosbec appellé queue en eventail de Virginie,
Pl. Enl.
380.—
De Buffon,
iii. 463. —
Latham,
ii. 128.
GR. With a dusky bill: scarlet head, neck, breast, and belly; colors most lively on the head: back and wings dusky, tinged with scarlet: the coverts of the tail a rich red: tail dusky, edged with red: lower belly and thighs in some white, perhaps females.
Inhabits
Virginia.
Mr.
Blackburne
sent one from
New York,
PLACE.
shot in
November.
This species has a custom of spreading its tail like a fan, from which arose the name.
215. YELLOW-BELLIED.
GR. With a yellow bill: red head; hind part of an olive brown: hind part of the neck, and whole under side, of a fine red: wings, lower part of the back, and the tail, olive, the two middle feathers of the last excepted, which are red: belly yellow.
Inhabits
Virginia.
From Mr.
Kuckahn
's collection.—
Latham,
ii. 125.
PLACE.
216. DUSKY.
GR. With the head, neck, and back, dusky, edged with pale brown: coverts of the wings dusky, crossed with two bars of white: quil feathers dark; their outmost edges of a pale yellowish green: middle of the throat white: the breast, and sides of the belly, white spotted with brown.
New York.
Killed in
June.
—BL. MUS.—
Latham,
ii. 127.
PLACE.
217. BLUE.
Loxia Caerulea,
Lin. Syst.
304.—
Latham,
ii. 116.
Pyrrhula Carolineus Caerulea,
Brisson,
iii. 223. tab. xi.
Blue Grosbeak,
Catesby,
i. 39.—
De Buffon,
iii. 454.—
Pl. Enl.
154.
GR. With a narrow black list round the base of the bill: head, whole body, and coverts of the wings, of a deep blue; the last marked with a transverse bar of red: primaries and tail brown, dashed with green: legs dusky. FEMALE of a dark brown, with a small mixture of blue.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Carolina
during summer only. Is a scarce bird, and seen only in pairs. Has but a single note.
218. PURPLE.
Loxia violacea,
Lin. Syst.
306.—
Latham,
ii. 117.
Purple Grosbeak,
Catesby,
i. 40.
Pyrrhula Bahamensis violacea,
Brisson,
iii. 326.
La Bouvreuil ou Bec rond violet de la Caroline,
De Buffon,
iv. 395.— LEV. MUS.
GR. With head and body entirely purple: wings and tail of the same color: over each eye a stripe of scarlet: throat and vent feathers of the same color. FEMALE wholly brown, with red marks similar to the cock.
PLACE.
Inhabits the
Bahama
islands. Feeds much on the mucilage of the poison
Amyris Toxifera,
Lin. Sp. Pl.
496.
wood-berries. From the trunk of this tree distils a liquid, black as ink, said to be a poison.
219. GREY.
Le Grisalbin,
De Buffon,
iii. 467.—
Latham,
ii. 134.
Grosbec de Virginie,
Pl. Enl.
393, No 1.
GR. Entirely of a light grey color, except the head and neck, which are white. SIZE of a Sparrow.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Virginia.
220. CANADA.
Loxia Canadensis,
Lin. Syst.
309.—
Latham,
ii. 127.
Le Flavert,
De Buffon,
iii. 462.—
Brisson,
iii. 229.—
Pl. Enl.
152.
GR. With the upper part of the plumage of an olive green; the lower light-colored, and inclining to yellow: chin black: base of the bill surrounded with feathers of the same color: legs grey.
PLACE.
Supposed, from the
Linnaean
name, to inhabit
Canada:
but is also found in
Cayenne.
A. BULFINCH,
Br. Zool.
i. No 116.
Loxia Pyrrhula. Domherre,
Faun. Suec.
No 225.
Le Bouvreuil,
De Buffon,
iv. 372.—
Latham,
ii. 143.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
GR. With a short thick bill: full black crown: whole under side rich crimson: tail black. Under part of the FEMALE of a light brown.
Is found in
Europe
as high as
Sondmor
Faun. Suec.
No 222.
.
PLACE.
Frequent in the north of
Russia;
and during winter, all over
Russia
and
Sibiria,
where it is caught for the table. The LOXIA ATRA,
Brunnich,
No 244, a bird shot at
Christiansoe,
and described as wholly black, except a white line on the wings, and the outmost feather in the tail, seems only a variety of this species.
GREEN GR.
Br. Zool.
i. No 113.
Loxia chloris. Swenska,
Faun. Suec,
No 226.
Le Verdier,
De Buffon,
iii. 171.—
Latham,
ii. 134.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
GR. With the plumage of a yellowish green.
Inhabits
Europe
as far north as
Drontheim.
Is rare in
Russia.
PLACE.
Seen about the
Kama.
None in
Sibiria:
yet
Steller
describes it among the birds of
Kamtschatka.
Inhabits
Sweden
the whole year, as does the BULFINCH.
C. HAW GR.
Br. Zool.
i. No 113.
Le Gros-bec,
De Buffon,
iii. 444. tab. xxvii.—
Pl. Enl.
99, 100.
Loxia coccothraustes. Stenkneck,
Faun. Suec.
No 222.—
Latham,
ii. 109.— LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
GR. With a large conic thick bill: crown and cheeks bay: hind part of the neck of a fine grey: chin black: breast dirty flesh-color: back, and coverts of wings, deep brown: tail short; inner webs white. WEIGHT two ounces.
PLACE.
Is a species that seldom is seen far north. Newly arrived in
Schonen,
where it does much damage to cherry-orchards. Lives on the kernels of fruits, and even on walnuts and almonds, which it easily breaks with its strong bill. Is migratory: appears only accidentally in
England.
Known only in the west and south of the
Russian
empire, where fruits grow, wild or cultivated. Disappears in other parts, as far as beyond lake
Baikal;
where they come from the south in great plenty, and feed on the
pyrus baccata,
a tree peculiar to that country. They build their nest, like that of the Turtle, with dry sticks fastened with slender roots; and lay five blueish eggs, spotted with brown.
Spotted Grosbeak. No . 213. White Crowned Bunting No .
XXIV. BUNTING.
Gen. Birds,
XLVI.
221. WHITE-CROWNED.
Emberiza Leucophrys,
Forster.—Phil. Trans.
lxii. 403, 426.—
Latham,
ii. 200.
B. With a red bill: white crown: sides of the head black: beneath the eyes a black line joining the former: space between both white: front, sides of the neck, and breast, cinereous: back and coverts of the wings of a rusty brown, spotted with black, crossed with two lines of white: scapulars edged with white: primaries brown: tail long, and of the same color: legs flesh-colored. LENGTH seven inches and a half: EXTENT nine: WEIGHT three-quarters of an ounce.
Inhabits the country round
Hudson's Bay.
PLACE.
Visits
Severn
river in
June.
Feeds on grass seeds, grubs, insects, &c. Makes its nest at the bottom of willow-trees: lays four or five eggs, of a dusky color. Appears near
Albany
Fort in
May:
breeds there, and retires in
September.
Its flight short and silent; but when it perches, sings very melodiously.
222. SNOW.
Br. Zool.
i. No 122.—Tawny B. No 121.—
Edw.
126.
Emberiza nivalis,
Lin. Syst.
308.—
Latham,
ii. 16.
Sno-sparf,
Faun. Suec.
No 227. tab. i.—Sneekok, vinter fugl.
Cimbris.
— Snee fugl. Fialster
Norvegis, Brunnich,
No 245.
L'Ortolan de Neige,
De Buffon,
iv. 329.—
Pl. Enl.
497.—LEV. MUS.— BL. MUS.
B. With a short yellow bill, tipt with black: crown tawny: neck of the same color: breast and belly of a dull yellow, declining into white towards the vent: back and scapulars black, edged with reddish brown: the coverts of the tail white on their lower, yellowish on their upper parts: on the wings is a large bed of white: the other parts black and reddish brown: tail a little forked; three outmost feathers white; the third black, tipt with white; the rest wholly black: legs black: hind claw long, but not so strait as that of the Lark. WEIGHT one ounce five drams: LENGTH six inches and a half: EXTENT ten.
PLACE. HUDSON'S BAY.
The earliest of the migratory birds of
Hudson's Bay.
Appeared in 1771, at
Severn
settlement, on
April
11th; stayed about a month or five weeks; then proceeded farther north to breed
Phil. Trans.
lxii.
403.
. Return in
September;
stay till
November,
when the severe frosts drive them southward. Live in flocks: feed on grass seeds, and are conversant about dunghills: are easily caught, under a small net baited with oatmeal, and are very delicate meat. I am not certain of the winter retreat of these birds out of
Hudson's Bay;
but having seen one of this species among those sent to Mrs.
Blackburn
from
New York,
I imagine that they spread over the more southern parts of
North America
in the rigorous season, as they do over
Europe
in the same period.
CHANGE OF COLOR.
These birds have a summer and a winter dress. The first we have described. Against the rigorous season they become white on their head, neck, and whole under side: great part of their wings, and the rump, assumes the same color: the back, and middle feathers of the tail, are black. But
Linnaeus,
who was very well acquainted with this species, says, that they vary according to age and season. Mr.
Graham
sent to the Royal Society two specimens; one in its summer feathers, which exactly answered to our TAWNY BUNTING, No 121; the other, to our SNOW BUNTING, No 122, in its winter feathers. On this evidence, I beg the readers of the
British
isles to consider the above as one and the same species.
GREENLAND.
Hudson's Bay
is not the farthest of their northern migrations. They inhabit not only
Greenland
Crantz,
i. 77.
, but even the dreadful climate of
Spitzbergen,
where vegetation is nearly extinct, and scarcely any but
cryptogamious
plants are found. It therefore excites wonder, how birds, which are graminivorous in every other than these frost-bound regions, subsist: yet are there found in great flocks, both on the land and ice of
Spitzbergen
Lord Mulgrave's Voy.
188.
—Marten's Voy.
73.
. They annually pass to this country by way of
Norway:
for in the spring, flocks innumerable appear, especially on the
Norwegian
isles: continue only three weeks, and then at once disappear
Leems,
256.
. As they do not breed in
Hudson's Bay,
it is certain that many retreat to this last of lands, and totally uninhabited, to perform in full security the duties of love, incubation, and nutrition. That they breed in
Spitzbergen
is very probable; but we are assured that they do so in
Greenland.
They arrive there in
April,
and make their nests in the fissures of the rocks, on the mountains, in
May:
the outside of their nest is grass; the middle of feathers; and the lining the down of the
Arctic Fox.
They lay five eggs, white, spotted with brown: they sing finely near their nest.
They are caught by the boys in autumn, when they collect near the shores in great flocks in order to migrate; and are eaten dried
Faun. Greenl.
118.
.
In
Europe
they inhabit, during summer, the most naked
Lapland Alps;
and descend, in rigorous seasons, into
Sweden,
and fill the roads and fields; on which account the
Dalecarlians
call them
Illwarsfogel,
or bad-weather birds. The
Uplanders, Hardvarsfogel,
expressive of the same. The
Laplanders
style them
Alaipg. Olaus Magnus
speaks of them under the name of
Aviculae nivales
De Gent. Septentr.
lib. xix. p. 156.
, but mixes much fable in his narrative: he perches them also on trees; whereas they always sit upon the ground.
Leems
Finmark,
255.
remarks, I know not with what foundation, that they fatten on the flowing of the tides, in
Finmark,
and grow lean on the ebb. The
Laplanders
take them in great numbers in hair springes, for the tables, their flesh being very delicate.
They seem to make the countries within the whole
arctic
circle their summer residence; from whence they overflow the more southern countries in amazing multitudes, at the setting in of winter in the frigid zone. In the winter of 1778-9, they came in such multitudes into
Birsa,
one of the
Orkney
islands, as to cover the whole barony; yet, of all the numbers, hardly two agreed in colors.
NORTH OF BRITAIN.
Lapland,
and perhaps
Iceland,
furnishes the north of
Britain
with the swarms that frequent those parts during winter, as low as the
Cheviot
hills, in lat. 55. 32. Their resting-places, the
Feroe
isles,
Schetland,
and the
Orknies.
The highlands of
Scotland,
in particular, abound with them. Their flights are immense; and they mingle so closely together, in form of a ball, that the fowlers make great havock among them. They arrive lean, soon become very fat, and are delicious food. They either arrive in the highlands very early, or a few breed there; for I had one shot for me at
Invercauld,
the 4th of
August.
But there is a certainty of their migration, for multitudes of them often fall, wearied with their passage, on the vessels that are sailing through the
Pentland Frith
Bishop
Pocock
's Journal, MS.
.
In their summer dress they are sometimes seen in the south of
England
Morton's Northamp.
427.
, the climate not having severity sufficient to affect the colors; yet now and then a milk-white one appears, which is usually mistaken for a white Lark.
RUSSIA. SIBIRIA.
Russia
and
Sibiria
receive them, in their severe season, annually, in amazing flocks, overflowing almost all
Russia.
They frequent the villages, and yield a most luxurious repast. They vary there infinitely in their winter colors; are pure white, speckled, and even quite brown
Bell's Travels,
i. 198.
. This seems to be the influence of difference of age more than of season.
GERMANY.
Germany
has also its share of them. In
Austria
they are caught, and fed with millet, and afford the epicure a treat equal to that of the
Ortolan
Kramer Anim. Austr.
372.
.
223. BLACK.
Fringilla Hudsonias,
Forster.—Ph. Trans.
lxii.—
Latham,
ii. 666.
Snow-bird,
Catesby,
i. 36.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
B. With a white short bill: blue eye: head, neck, wings, body, and tail, of a footy blackness, edged with rust: breast, belly, and vent, of a pure white: exterior sides of the primaries edged with white; of the secondaries, with pale brown: exterior webs of the outmost feathers of the tail white: of the specimen described in the Transactions, the two outmost are wholly white, and the third marked with a white spot; the rest dusky. LENGTH six inches and a half: EXTENT nine: WEIGHT half an ounce.
Appears near
Severn
settlement not sooner than
June:
PLACE.
stays a fortnight: frequents the plains: feeds on grass seeds: retires into the
arctic
parts to breed. Returns to
Hudson's Bay
in autumn, in its passage to the south. Migrates into
New York,
where it continues the whole winter. Appears in the southern provinces, as low as
Carolina,
but chiefly in snow, or when the weather is harder than ordinary
Lawson,
146.
. Arrive in millions, in very rigorous seasons, and fly about the houses and barns to pick up the corn. Frequent the gardens, and the small hills, to feed on the scattered seeds of grass. Are called by the
Swedes, Snovogel,
or
Snow-bird;
by the
Americans, Chuck-bird
Kalm,
ii. 51, 81.
. They do not change their colors in any season of the year. Are esteemed very delicate meat.
224. TOWHEE.
Towhee-bird,
Catesby,
i. 34.—
Latham,
ii. 199.
Fringilla Erythrophthalma,
Lin. Syst.—Brisson,
iii. 169.
Le Pinson noir, aux yeux rouges,
De Buffon,
iv. 141.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
B. With the head, coverts of the wings, whole upper side of the body, and breast, black: middle of the belly white: sides orange: quil feathers black, edged with white: tail long, and black; exterior edge of the outmost feathers white; and a large white spot on the end of the three first; middle feathers entirely black.
FEMALE of a rusty brown: belly white, bounded by dirty yellow: irides in both sexes red. LENGTH eight inches and a half.
PLACE.
Inhabits
New York
and
Carolina.
Has a pretty note.
225. RICE.
Maia
Fernandez,
56. C. ccxix.—
Wil. Orn.
386.—
Raii Syn. Av.
Rice-bird, Hortulanus Carolinensis,
Catesby,
i. 14.—
Edw.
291.
Emberiza oryzivora,
Lin. Syst.
311.—
Latham,
ii. 288, 289.
L'Ortolan de la Caroline,
Brisson,
iii. 282.
L'Agripenne, ou l'Ortolan de Riz,
De Buffon,
iv. 337.—
Pl. Enl.
388.—LEV. MUS. —BL. MUS.
B. With the head, and whole under side of the body, black: hind part of the neck in some pale yellow; in others, white: coverts of the wings, and primaries, black; the last edged with white: part of the scapulars, lesser coverts of the wings, and rump, white: back black, edged with dull yellow: tail of the same colors, and each feather sharply pointed: legs red. LENGTH seven inches and a quarter.
Head, upper part of the neck, and back, of the FEMALE, yellowish brown, spotted with black: under part of a dull yellow: sides thinly streaked with black. The bird described by
le Comte de Buffon,
under the title of
l'Agripenne de la Louisiane
Hist. d'Ois.
iv. 339.
—Pl. Enl.
388. fig. 2.
, seems to be no other than a female of this species, varied by having some of the secondary feathers wholly white.
PLACE.
These birds inhabit in vast numbers the island of
Cuba,
where they commit great ravages among the early crops of rice, which precede those of
Carolina.
As soon as the crops of that province are to their palate, they quit
Cuba,
and pass over the sea, in numerous flights, directly north; and are very often heard in their passage by sailors frequenting that course. Their appearance is in
September,
while the rice is yet milky; and commit such devastations, that forty acres of that grain have been totally ruined by them in a small time.
They arrive very lean; but soon grow so fat, as to fly with difficulty; and, when shot, often burst with the fall. They continue in
Carolina
not much above three weeks, and retire by the time the rice begins to harden. They are esteemed to be the most delicate birds of the country. I am informed, that the male birds have a fine note.
It is very singular, that, among the myriads which pay their autumnal visit, there never is found a single cock-bird. Mr.
Catesby
verified the fact by dissecting numbers, under a supposition, that there might have been the young of both sexes, which had not arrived at the full colors; but found them all to be females, which are properly the RICE-BIRDS. Both sexes make a transient visit to
Carolina
in the spring. It is said, that a few stragglers continue in that country the whole year.
RICE, the periodical food of these birds, is a grain of
India
Raii Hist. Pl.
ii. 1446.
: it probably arrived in
Europe
(where it has been much cultivated) by way of
Bactria, Susia, Babylon,
and the lower
Syria
Strabo,
lib. xv. p. 1014.
. The time in which it reached
Italy
is uncertain: for the
Oryza
of
Pliny
is a very different plant from the common Rice; but the last has been sown with great success about
Verona
for ages past; and was imported from thence, and from
Egypt
Anderson's Dict.
ii. 327.
, into
England;
until, by a mere accident, it was introduced into
Carolina.
It was first planted there about 1688, by Sir
Nathaniel Johnson,
then governor of the province; but the seed being small and bad, the culture made little progress.
Chance brought here, in 1696, a vessel from
Madagascar;
the master of which presented a Mr.
Woodward
with about half a bushel, of an excellent kind
The same, 238—and
Catesby,
ii. Account of
Carolina,
xvii.
; and from this small beginning sprung an immense source of wealth to the southern provinces of
America;
and to
Europe
relief from want in times of dearth. Within little more than half a century, a hundred and twenty thousand barrels of Rice have been in one year exported from
South Carolina;
and eighteen thousand
American Traveller,
95, 101.—In a news-paper of last year, I met with the following article:—A Gentleman died lately in
Carolina,
without any nearer relation than a third cousin. He determined to leave his estate, consisting of three fine plantations, to some person whose public deserts would justify such a step. The Gentleman, on consideration, determined in favour of Mr.
Ashby,
a gentleman in the province, whose ancestor had introduced the culture of rice, by which
Carolina
had increased so amazingly in wealth, declaring at the same time in his will, that if there had been any living person to whom his country was equally obliged, in the same line of peace, he would have preferred him. Mr.
Ashby,
on his death, which happened lately, took possession of the Gentleman's estate, in consequence of this will.—How much more rational is such a conduct, than endowing colleges or hospitals!
from
Georgia:
and all from the remnant of a sea store, left in the bottom of a sack!—Ought I not to retract the word
chance,
and ascribe to PROVIDENCE so mighty an event from so small a cause?
226. PAINTED.
Painted Finch,
Catesby,
i. 44.—
Lawson,
144.
Emberiza ciris,
Lin. Syst.
313.—
Edw.
130, 173.
Le Verdier de la Louisiane, dit vulgairement le Pape,
Brisson,
iii. 200. App. 74. —
Pl. Enl.
159.—
De Buffon,
iv. 176.—
Latham,
ii. 206.—LEV. MUS.— BL. MUS.
B. With the head, and hind part of the head, of an exquisite deep blue: orbits scarlet: back, greater coverts, and secondaries, green: primaries dusky: the upper orders of lesser coverts of a fine blue; the lower, orange: rump, and whole under side of the body, of a rich scarlet; the sides declining into yellow: tail dusky, edged with green.
This beautiful species is some years in arriving at the height of its colors. At first is of a plain brown, like a hen Sparrow; in the next stage, becomes blue; in the third, attains the perfection of its gay teints.
The FEMALE is brown, and has over its plumage a tinge of green.
Inhabits
Carolina
in the summer-time; but migrates in winter perhaps as far as
Vera Cruz,
in
Spanish America,
PLACE.
where the
Spaniards
call it
Mariposa pintada,
or the Painted Butterfly. It chuses a tree for nestling equal to its own elegance of form and color; affecting the orange for that purpose.
227. LOUISIANE.
Hortulanus Ludovisianus,
Brisson,
iii. 278.—
De Buffon,
iv. 325.—
Pl. Enl.
158.
Emberiza Ludovicia,
Lin. Syst.
310.—
Latham,
ii. 177.
B. With the crown reddish, surrounded with a black mark, in form of a horse-shoe: another black line beneath each eye: the whole upper part of the body of a rusty brown, spotted with black: lower part of the back, lesser coverts of the wings, and rump, black: breast and belly reddish; towards the vent growing more faint: tail and primaries black.
Inhabits
Louisiana.
Nearly allied to the
European
species:
PLACE.
perhaps a female, or young bird.
228. BLACK-THROATED.
B. With a large and thick bill: fore part of the head of a yellowish green: hind part and cheeks cinereous: above each eye a line of rich yellow: on the corner of the mouth another: on the throat a black spot: breast and belly of a fine yellow: back, scapulars, and secondaries, black, edged with reddish brown: lesser coverts of a bright bay: primaries and tail of a dusky brown: vent and thighs white: legs dusky.
Inhabits
New York.
LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.—
Latham,
ii. 197.
PLACE.
229. UNALASCHA.
B. With a yellow line from the bill, reaching over each eye: crown dusky, divided lengthways with a white line: back black, edged with pale brown: tail and primaries dusky, edged with white: throat and breast white, spotted with black: belly white.
Inhabits
Unalascha. Latham,
ii. 202. No 47.
PLACE.
230. BLACK-CROWNED.
B. With a deep black crown, and a rich yellow spot on the fore part: feathers on the back black, edged with rust-color: wings of the same color, crossed with a double line of white: rump olive brown: throat and breast cinereous: belly whitish: tail long, and of a deep brown: legs yellowish.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Natka Sound. Latham,
ii. 202.
231. RUSTY.
B. With head, neck, breast, and sides, rust-colored: belly white: wings ferruginous, with two white, marks on the primaries: tail of the same color: the two outmost feathers of the tail tipt with white.
PLACE.
New York.
In Mrs.
Blackburn
's collection. Perhaps the same with Mr.
Latham
's species, ii. 197
Emberiza Rutila
Pallas Itin.
iii. 698.
: if so, it is common to
Russia
and
America. Latham,
ii. 202.
232. UNALASCHA.
B. With head, upper part of the neck, back, wings, and tail, brown, tinged with red: breast and sides dirty white, clouded: middle of the belly plain dirty white.
PLACE.
Inhabits the western side of
North America.
233. CINEREOUS.
Le Bruant de Canada?
Brisson,
iii. 296.
Le Cul-rousset,
De Buffon,
iv. 368.—
Latham,
ii. 204.—LEV. MUS.
B. With a short bill: head, neck, back, breast, and coverts of the wings and tail, of a pale reddish brown, edged with ash-color: on the neck and breast: the ash-color predominates: belly white: primaries dusky, edged with white: tail pale brown, with the ends sharp-pointed.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Canada.
233. A VAR.
B. With a yellow bill: head, back, and wings, rust-colored; each feather deeply and elegantly edged with pale grey; some of the greater coverts edged with paler rust; the primaries and
Black throated Bunting No . 228. Cinereous Bunting No 333
tertials with white: throat, breast, and sides, white, fully spotted with rust: middle of the belly white: middle feathers of the tail brown; exterior feathers white; each feather truncated obliquely.
Inhabits
New York.
BL. MUS.
PLACE.
234. BLUE.
Le Bruant bleu de Canada,
Brisson,
iii. 298.
L'Azuroux,
De Buffon,
iv. 369.—
Latham,
ii. 205.
B. With the crown of a dirty red: the upper part of the neck and body, scapulars, and lesser coverts of the wings, of the same color, varied with blue: the lower part of the neck, breast, and belly, of a lighter red, mixed with blue: primaries and tail brown; with the exterior edges of a cinereous blue.
Inhabits
Canada.
Breeds in
New England;
PLACE.
but does not winter there.
235. INDIGO.
Tanagra cyanea,
Lin. Syst.
315.—
Latham,
ii. 205.
Blue Linnet,
Catesby,
i. 45.
Le Tangara bleu de la Caroline,
Brisson,
iii. 13.
Le Ministre,
De Buffon,
iv. 86.—BL. MUS.—LEV. MUS.
B. With a dusky bill: plumage of a rich sky-blue color; lightest about the belly and breast: across the coverts of the wings is a row of black spots: primaries and tail dusky, edged with blue.
FEMALE brown above; of a dirty white beneath. In SIZE less than the English Goldfinch.
Inhabits (according to
Catesby
) the interior parts of
Carolina,
PLACE.
a hundred and fifty miles from the sea. Has the note of a Linnet. It is found as low as
Mexico,
where the
Spaniards
call it
Azul Lexos,
or the far-fetched bird: and the
Americans
call it the
Indigo
bird. Notwithstanding
Catesby,
it appears in the province of
New York,
in
May.
Makes its nest of dead yellow grass, lined with the down of some plant; and places it between the fork of an upright branch.
A. GOLDEN BUNTING. Emberiza Aureola,
Pallas Itin.
ii. 711.—
Latham,
ii. 201.
B. With the crown, hind part of the neck, and back, of a deep bay: sides of the head, throat, and space round the nostrils, black: under part of the neck, breast, and belly, of a most beautiful citron-color: the middle of the neck crossed by a bar of bay: vent white: wings dusky, marked with a great bed of white: tail a little forked; two outmost feathers on each side crossed obliquely with white: legs pale ash-colored.
PLACE.
Found only in
Sibiria.
Most frequent in the east part; where it extends even to
Kamtschatka.
Is conversant in the islands, in rivers overgrown with reeds and willows. Has the note of the Reed Sparrow.
B. COMMON B.
Br. Zool.
i. No 118.
Kornlarka,
Faun. Suec.
No 228.
Knotter
Norvigis, Brunnich,
No 247.
Le Proyer,
De Buffon,
iv. 355.—
Pl. Enl.
30. 1.—
Latham,
ii. 171.—LEV. MUS.
B. With the head, and upper part of the body, light brown; lower part yellowish white: all parts, except the belly, spotted with black: tail subfurcated, dusky edged with white.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Europe
as high as
Sondmor
Strom.
240.
. Migrates into the south of
Russia.
Unknown in
Sibiria.
C. YELLOW B.
Br. Zool.
i. No 119.
Groning. Goldspink.
Faun. Suec.
No 230.
Le Bruant de France,
De Buffon,
iv. 340.—
Pl. Enl.
30. 2.—
Latham,
ii. 170.— LEV. MUS.
B. With the crown of a fine light yellow: chin, throat, and belly, yellow: breast marked with orange red: rump rust-colored: tail brown; two outmost feathers marked, near the end, obliquely with white.
Found as high as
Sondmor
Strom.
230.
, in the
Russian
empire. In
Russia,
PLACE.
and the west of
Sibiria:
but none in the wilds of the east.
D. ORTOLAN,
Wil. Orn.
270.—
Raii Syn. Av.
94.
Emberiza Hortulana,
Lin. Syst.
309.—
Faun. Suec.
No 229.
L'Ortolan,
De Buffon,
iv. 305.—
Pl. Enl.
247. 1.—
Latham,
ii. 166.—LEV. MUS.
B. With a cinereous crown: yellow throat: back pale brown, spotted with black: rump dashed with yellow: belly rust-colored: tail dusky; inner ends of the outmost feathers marked with a great spot of white.
These are a southern species; but sometimes wander into
Sweden,
PLACE.
in
March.
Breed, and quit the country in autumn
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 595.
. Are common in
Russia
and
Sibiria,
but not further than the
Oby.
Arrive in
France
with the Swallows
De Buffon,
iv. 309.
. In
Italy,
about
Padua,
in
May,
and retire in
September
M. SCOPOLI'S List of
Italian
birds, MS. with which he favored me.
. I cannot trace their winter residence. They come rather lean. Make an artless nest: lay four or five greyish eggs: and usually lay twice in the summer. These birds sing prettily, and in the night
Kram. Austr.
371.
: but, by epicures, are valued more as a delicious morsel, than for their song. They are taken and placed in a chamber lightened by lanthorns; so that, not knowing the vicissitudes of day and night, they are not agitated by the change. Are fed with oats and millet; and grow so fat, that they would certainly die, if not killed in a critical minute. They are a mere lump of fat; of a most exquisite taste; but apt soon to satiate.
These birds receive both their
Greek
and their
Latin
name from their food, the millet.
Aristotle
calls them
Cynchromi;
and the
Latins, Miliariae
Arist. Hist. An.
lib. viii. c. 12: and
Varro de re Rust.
lib. iii. c. 5.
—Ficedulae et miliariae dictae à cibo, quod alterae fico: alterae milio fiant pingues.
Varro de Ling. Lat. iv.
. The latter kept and fattened them in their
ornithones,
or fowl-yards, as the
Italians
do at present; which the antients constructed with the utmost magnificence, as well as conveniency
See a plan in the
Leipsic
edition of
Var. de re Rust,
lib. iii. v.
.
E. REED B.
Br. Zool.
i. No 120.
Saf. Sparf.
Faun. Suec.
No 231.
Ror-Spurv.
Brunnich,
No 251.
L'Ortolan de roseaux,
De Buffon,
iv. 315.—
Pl. Enl.
247. 2.—
Latham,
ii. 173.— LEV. MUS.
B. With black head and throat: cheeks and head encircled with white: body above rusty, spotted with black; beneath white. FEMALE has a rust-colored head, spotted with black: wants the white ring.
PLACE.
Is found as far north as
Denmark:
and is rare in
Sweden.
Common in the south of
Russia
and
Sibiria.
Its song nocturnal, and sweet. Makes a nest pendulous, between four reeds.
XXV. TANAGER.
Gen. Birds.
XLVII.
236. SUMMER.
Summer Red-bird,
Catesby,
i. 56.—
Edw.
239.
Muscicapa rubra,
Lin. Syst.
326.—
Brisson,
ii. 432.
Tangara du Missisipi,
De Buffon,
iv. 252.—
Pl. Enl.
741.—
Latham,
ii.
20.
T. Wholly red, except the wings; the ends of which are brown: bill yellow: legs reddish. FEMALE brown, with a tinge of yellow.
Inhabits the woods on the
Missisipi.
Sings agreeably. Collects,
PLACE.
against winter, a vast magazine of maize, which it carefully conceals with dry leaves, leaving only the hole by way of entrance; and is so jealous of it, as never to quit its neighborhood, except to drink
Du Pratz.
.
237. CANADA.
Scarlet Sparrow,
Edw.
343.
Tanagra rubra,
Lin. Syst.
314.—
Latham,
ii. 217. No 3. A.
Tangara de Canada,
De Buffon,
iv. 250.—
Pl. Enl.
156.
T. With a whitish bill: head, neck, and whole body, of a brilliant scarlet; the bottoms of the feathers black: primaries dusky; lower part of their inner webs white: tail and legs black; tips of the first white; but that circumstance is sometimes wanted. The supposed FEMALE is of a green color, light and yellowish beneath. SIZE of a Sparrow.
Inhabits from
New York
to the
Brasils.
PLACE.
In
New York
it appears in
May,
and retires in
August.
Is a very shy bird, and lives in the deepest woods.
238. OLIVE.
T. With the head, whole upper part of the body, and coverts of the wings, of an olive green, fading into cinereous towards the rump: wings and tail brown, edged with white: throat and breast of a fine yellow: belly white: legs brown. Wings and tail of the FEMALE dusky, edged with olive: under side of the body of a very pale yellow.
PLACE.
Inhabits
New York:
and as far south as
Cayenne
L'Olivet,
De Buffon,
iv. 269.
. BL. MUS.—
Latham,
ii. 218.
239. GREY.
Le Gris-olive,
De Buffon,
277.—
Pl. Enl.
714.—
Latham,
ii. 236.
T. With a black bill: forehead, and space above the eyes, grey: back of an olive grey: wings and tail dusky, edged with grey: under part of the body an uniform grey.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Guiana
and
Louisiana.
240. BISHOP.
Latham,
ii. 226.
Tanagra episcopus,
Lin. Syst.
316.
L'Eveque,
Brisson,
iii.
Le Bluet,
De Buffon,
iv. 265.—
Pl. Enl.
176.—LEV. MUS.
T. With a black bill: whole plumage of a blueish grey; in some places greenish: on the coverts of the wings the blue predominates: legs ash-colored. Head, neck, and breast, of the FEMALE of a blueish green: back, and coverts of the wings, brown; the last crossed obliquely with a greyish stroke: primaries and tail black.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Louisiana
Du Pratz,
ii.
; and as low as
Cayenne.
Haunts the skirts of forests, and feeds on the smaller fruits. Is sometimes gregarious, but usually found in pairs. Roosts on the palm-trees. Has a very sharp and disagreeable note.
XXVI. FINCH.
Gen. Birds.
XLVIII.
241. COWPEN.
Cowpen-bird,
Catesby,
i. 34.—
Latham,
ii. 269.
Le Pinçon de Virginie,
Brisson,
iii. 165.
Le Brunet,
De Buffon,
iv. 138.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
F. With the head and neck of a dusky brown: back, wings, and body, of a fine black, glossed with green and blue: tail the same: legs black. Crown and upper part of the FEMALE deep brown: throat white: breast and belly light cinereous brown: wings and tail dusky, edged with brown. Bigger than the
English
Bulfinch.
Arrives in
New York
in
May:
lays five eggs in
June:
PLACE.
and migrates southward in
August.
Appears in flights in winter, in
Virginia
and
Carolina,
and associates with the Redwing Orioles, and Purple Grakles. It delights much to feed about the pens of cattle; which gave occasion to the name.
242. GOLDEN.
American Goldfinch,
Catesby,
i. 43.—
Edw.
274.—
Latham,
ii. 289.
Fringilla Tristis,
Lin. Syst.
320.
Le Chardonneret jaune,
De Buffon,
iv. 212.—
Pl. Enl.
202.—BL. MUS.
F. With a flesh-colored bill: fore part of the head black: rest of the head, neck, and whole body, of a most beautiful gold color; whitening towards the vent: wings black, with two lines of white: tail black: inner webs of the exterior feathers white: legs brown. FEMALE wants the black mark on the head: whole upper part of an olive green; lower part of a pale yellow: in other marks the sexes agree: on coverts of wings two bars of yellow.
243. NEW-YORK SISKIN.
Le Tarin de la Nouvelle York,
De Buffon,
iv. 231.—
Pl. Enl.
292.—
Latham,
ii. 291.
F. With a black crown: neck encircled with yellow: breast and rump of the same color; the last fading into white: back olive brown: wings and tail black, edged with white: belly and vent whitish. The crown of the FEMALE wants the black: its colors also in general are less brilliant than those of the male. Superior in size to the
European
kind; but seems only a variety.
PLACE.
Inhabits
New York.
244. ORANGE.
Bahama Finch,
Catesby,
i. 42.—
Latham,
ii. 276.
Fringilla Zena,
Lin. Syst.
320.—
Brisson,
iii. 368.—
De Buffon,
iv. 140?
F. With a yellow throat: head and neck black: above and beneath each eye a long white line: breast orange-colored: belly white: back greenish: coverts of the wings black; lowest order white: primaries and tail dusky, edged with white: legs lead-color. Head of the FEMALE ash-color:
FEMALE.
back of a dull green: belly of a dull yellow.
PLACE.
Inhabits the
Bahama
isles.
245. RED-BREASTED.
F. With a white bill: cheeks, throat, and under side of the neck and breast, of a rich crimson: belly white: crown, upper part of the neck, back, wings, and tail, black: coverts crossed with two lines of white: legs black.
Eight of these were driven, in a storm, on
Sandy Hook,
in
April
1779.
Latham,
ii. 272.
246. TREE.
Br. Zool.
i. No 128.
Mountain Sparrow, fern.
Edw.
269.—
Latham,
ii. 252, 265.
Moineau de Canada,
Brisson,
iii. 102.—
Pl. Enl.
223.
Le Soulciet,
De Buffon,
iii. 500.—BL. MUS.—LEV. MUS.
F. With the end of the bill dusky; base of the lower mandible yellow: cheeks, and under side of the neck, pale ash-color: from the base of the bill, on each side, is a red line passing above the throat: crown, hind part of the neck, and feathers on the ridge of the wings, bay: back ferruginous, spotted with black: coverts of the wings black, edged with rust-color, and crossed with two bars of white: belly and breast of a dirty white: tail dusky, edged with ash-color. LENGTH six inches and a half: EXTENT ten.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay
during summer.
PLACE.
Comes to
Severn
settlement in
May.
Advances farther north to breed; and returns in autumn, in its way southward. Found also in
Pensylvania.
Supposed, by Mr.
Edwards,
to be the female of the Tree, or Mountain Sparrow,
Br. Zool.
i. No 128; but as I have had opportunity of seeing specimens of this bird from
Hudson's Bay, Newfoundland,
and
New York
BL. MUS.
, all of which agreed in marks and colors, I have no doubt but that it is a distinct species.
247. BAHAMA.
Bahama Sparrow,
Catesby,
i. 37.—
Latham,
ii. 300.
Fringilla bicolor,
Lin. Syst.
324.
Le Verdier de Bahama, Brisson, iii. 202.—LEV. MUS.
F. With the head, neck, and breast, black: the remaining parts of a dirty green color. SIZE of a Canary-bird.
Inhabits the woods of the
Bahama
islands.
PLACE.
Sits perched on a bush, and sings, repeating one set tune.
248. WHITE-THROATED.
Edwards,
304.—
Latham,
ii. 272.—BL. MUS.
F. With a broad bar crossing from the bill, over each eye, towards the hind part of the head; orange-colored near the bill; white beyond the eyes; and bounded above and below with a dusky line: crown divided lengthways by a white stroke: throat white: hind part of the neck, back, and coverts of the wings, prettily spotted with black, ash-color, and ferruginous: primaries and tail dusky, edged with white: ridge of the wing pale yellow: breast and belly of a brownish white: legs yellowish.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Pensylvania.
Mr.
Blackburne
saw a small flock of them in the province of
New York,
in
January.
I have likewise described them from
Newfoundland,
where they are found during summer: one, which I suppose to be the female, had the yellow spot at the base of the bill very obscure, nor had it the white spot on the chin.
249. YELLOW-THROATED.
F. With head, and upper part of body, cinereous: primaries dusky, edged with pale brown: chin white: on the throat a pale yellow spot: belly of a dirty white: legs and bill of a blueish grey.
PLACE
Inhabits the province of
New York,
250. STRIPED.
Latham,
ii. 275.
F. With a lead-colored bill: forehead, and space between the beak and eyes, yellow; on the crown are three black stripes on a white ground: behind each eye is a black spot: cheeks and chin whitish: hind part of the neck and back brown, spotted with dusky: coverts of the wings uniform brown: tail of the same color, and subcuneiform: primaries dusky: breast light grey: belly still paler.
PLACE.
Shot in
New York
in
May.
In the cabinet of Major
Davies,
of the Artillery: a gentleman to whom this Work is under great obligations.
251. FERRUGINOUS.
Little Sparrow,
Edw.
354.—
Latham,
ii. 272.—BL. MUS.
F. With the head and back cinereous, edged with rust-color: coverts of the wings and tail of a bright ferruginous: inner webs of the primaries, and the tail, dusky; the exterior ferruginous: the cheeks, breast, and belly, white, marked with large bright spots of ferruginous: legs yellowish. SIZE of a House Sparrow.
Inhabits
Newfoundland,
and as low as
Pensylvania.
PLACE.
Called in
New York,
the Shepherd, from its note
shep, shep:
stays there only the winter. Fond of scraping the ground.
A bird of a plain dusky rust-color above, and white beneath, spotted like the former, shot at
Unalascha,
seems a variety.
252. FASCIATED.
F. With the crown, hind part of the neck, and back, rust-colored, spotted with black; the spots on the back large: coverts of the wings of a plain ferruginous: primaries dusky, edged with dirty white: whole under side white, with black streaks pointing downwards: tail brown, crossed by numerous dusky bars.
Inhabits
New York.
BL. MUS.—
Latham,
ii. 273.
PLACE.
253. GRASS.
F. With the head, upper part of the neck, and back, cinereous, rust-colored, and black: cheeks brown: lesser coverts of the wings bright bay: the orders below black, edged with white: primaries dusky, edged with white: lower part of the neck and sides white, spotted with small white streaks: belly pure white: tail dusky.
Inhabits
New York.
Lays five eggs in
May,
in the grass.
PLACE.
Called the
Grey Grass-bird.
Continues the whole winter. BL. MUS.—
Latham,
ii. 273.
254. WINTER.
F. With the head, neck, and back, of a light brown, spotted with black: under part of the neck, breast, and sides, white, with small brown spots: belly white, and unspotted: primaries brown, edged with white; as are the coverts.
PLACE.
Inhabits
New York.
Seen and killed there, out of a small flock, in
January.
BL. MUS.—
Latham,
ii. 274.
255. BLACK-FACED.
Le Moineau de la Caroline,
De Buffon,
iii. 496.—
Pl. Enl.
181. fig. 2.—
Latham,
ii. 253.
F. With the fore part of the head and chin black: hind part, neck, and rump, crimson: back, tail, and wings, black, edged with rust-color: breast crossed with a black band: belly brownish.
PLACE
Inhabits
Carolina,
according to the Count
De Buffon,
who supposes it to be the female of a crested Finch, of a very different aspect
Pl. Enl.
183. fig. 1.
.
256. NORTON.
F. With the head, upper part of the neck, and secondaries, black, edged with bright bay: rump bright bay, edged with ash: lesser coverts of the wings bright bay; middle order black, crossed with a white line; primaries dusky: throat buff-colored; bounded on each side by a dusky line: belly and sides white: sides and under part of the neck spotted with rust-color: tail dusky, edged with dirty white: along the middle of the outmost feather is a pure white line, ending at the tip.
PLACE.
Discovered in
Norton Sound.—Latham,
ii. 274.
257. CRIMSON-HEAD.
F. With a crimson head and breast; the first faintly marked with dusky spots: space behind each eye dusky: back, coverts of the wings, primaries, and tail, black, edged with crimson: belly white, tinged with red.
Inhabits
New York.
Arrives there in
April.
PLACE.
Is very frequent among the Red Cedars, and shifts most nimbly around the stems. BL. MUS.—A bird of this species, or nearly related, is described by Doctor
Pallas,
under the name of
Fringilla rosea
Travels,
iii. 699.
; which, he says, frequents lake
Baikal,
and the country to the north of that water.
IN ASIA.
258. PURPLE.
Purple Finch,
Catesby,
i. 41.—
Latham,
ii. 275.
Le Bouvreuil violet de la Caroline,
Brisson,
iii. 324.
F. With a purple head and body, with some dusky mixture, especially the inner webs of the primaries, and the tail: belly white. FEMALE brown, with the breast spotted like a Thrush.
Appears in
Carolina,
in
November.
Feeds on
juniper
-berries.
PLACE.
In
February,
destroys the swelling buds of fruit trees.
259. LAPLAND.
Fringilla Lapponica,
Lin. Syst.
317.—
Faun. Suec.
No 235.
Fringilla calcarata,
Pallas Travels,
ii. App. 710. tab. E.
Le Grand Montain,
De Buffon,
iv. 134.—
Latham,
ii. 263.
F. With a yellow bill, with a dusky point: crown black: from the base of the bill is a white line, passing under each eye, descending down the sides of the neck, bending towards the breast: throat, and fore part of the breast, black: its sides and belly white: hind part of the neck and back brown, mixed with rust-color: tail forked; that, and the wings, dusky, edged with rust-color; some of the exterior feathers of the tail marked, near their ends, with a white spot: legs dark brown: hind claw long, like a Lark's, and almost strait. LENGTH five inches: EXTENT seven: WEIGHT half an ounce.
A bird of a hardy constitution.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay
during winter. Appears in
November,
and lives among the
juniper
bushes. Is called by the natives,
Tecurmashish.
It also inhabits
Greenland,
but continues there only in the summer. Makes an artless nest of moss and grass, lined with a few feathers; and lays in
June
five or six eggs, of a clay-color, clouded: departs early
Fauna Greenl.
119.
. Is found in
Lapland,
in the
Feroe
isles, the northern parts of
Sibiria,
and near the
Urallian
chain, where it breeds. Arrives in flocks, from the south, and frequent the fields at the first flowering of the
Draba verna,
or
Whitlow-grass.
Has nearly the note of a Linnet; but its flight is higher, and more lasting. It runs on the ground like a Lark: and feeds on seeds.
260. CINEREOUS.
F. With the head, upper part of the body, wings, and tail, deep cinereous brown, edged with obscure rust-color: at the corner of the upper mandible is a light grey line; another bounds the cheeks beneath; and a dusky line bounds that: the throat is of a light grey: under side of the neck pale cinereous, marked with great dusky black spots: middle of the belly whitish: bill long: that and the legs dusky.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Unalascha. Latham,
ii. 274.
261. GREATER REDPOLL.
Greater Red-headed Linnet,
Br. Zool.
i. No 131.—
Latham,
ii. 304.
Hampling,
Faun. Suec.
No 240.
La Linotte,
De Buffon,
iv. 58.—
Pl. Enl.
485.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
F. With a blood-red spot on the forehead: breast tinged with rose-color. In the
European
species, a rust-color prevales in all the upper part of the body; in this the greatest portion is white. LENGTH five inches and a half: EXTENT nine.
PLACE.
Is found in the northern parts of
North America.
Is seen only in the south and west of
Russia:
yet is met with in
Scandinavia,
as high as
Drontheim.
None in
Sibiria.
262. LESSER REDPOLL.
Br. Zool.
i. No 132.—
Ph. Trans.
lxii. 405.
Grasiska,
Faun. Suec.
No 241.
Le Sizerin,
De Buffon,
iv. 216.—
Pl. Enl.
151. 2.—
Latham,
ii. 305.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
F. With a red spot on the forehead: breast of the same color: back dusky, edged with rusty brown; coverts brown, with two transverse bars of white.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay,
and probably other parts of
America:
PLACE.
also
Greenland,
where it arrives in
April,
and quits the country in autumn. Is found in
Sweden.
Is seen in prodigious flocks all over
Russia
and
Sibiria,
particularly in the spring, flying about the villages. Mr.
Steller
also saw it in
Kamtschatka,
and the islands.
A. ARCTIC F. Fringilla flavirostris,
Lin. Syst.
322.
Riska,
Faun. Suec.
No 239.—
Latham,
ii. 260.
F. With a yellow bill: body black and ash-color, lightest in front: wings and tail black: tips of the feathers on the breast glossed with crimson. FEMALE of a dusky ash.
Appears about the
Jenesei,
and in the eastern parts of
Sibiria,
PLACE.
even in the severest of winters: and returns to the north even before the Snow Bunting
Pallas's Travels,
ii. 710.
. Is not seen in
Russia,
but inhabits
Sweden.
B. LULEAN F. Fringilla Lulensis,
Lin. Syst.
318.—
Faun. Suec.
No 234.—
Latham,
ii. 287.
Le Chardonneret à quatre raies,
De Buffon,
iv. 210.
F. With body and tail dusky cinereous: chin white: breast and shoulders ferruginous: belly whitish: primaries dusky: on part of the wings two black lines, one rusty, and a fourth white.
PLACE.
Inhabits about
Lulea,
in
West Bothnia.
C. TWITE,
Br. Zool.
i. No 133.
La Linotte de Montagne,
De Buffon,
iv. 74.—
Latham,
ii. 307.
F. With a short yellow bill: head cinereous, and black: above each eye a spot of pale brown: back rusty, spotted with black: coverts of the tail rich scarlet: tips of the greater coverts of the wings white: primaries dusky; inner sides white: tail dusky; all but the two middle feathers edged with white. About the SIZE of the greater Red-headed Linnet.
PLACE.
Is seen in northern
Europe
as high as
Finmark
Gran-Irisk,
Leems:
well described, p. 256.
. I discover it only in the
Fauna
of that country, of
Silesia
Linaria Saxatilis. Stein-henffling,
Schwenckfelt. Av. Silesiae,
294.
, and of
Great Britain.
It flits in great numbers, in spring and fall, in the neighborhood of
London,
to and from its breeding place.
D. FLAMING. Fringilla flammea,
Lin. Syst.
322.—
Faun. Suec.
No —
Latham,
ii. 259. LEV. MUS.
F. With a pale brown bill: crown of a deep crimson flame-color, slightly crested: upper part of the body and wings brown: lower parts of a light rose-color: legs pale brown. LENGTH four inches.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Norland,
in
Sweden.
E. BRAMBLING,
Br. Zool.
i. No 126.
Norquint,
Faun. Suec.
No 233.—
Latham,
ii. 261.
Le Pinson d'Ardenne,
De Buffon,
iv. 123.—
Pl. Enl.
54. 2.
F. With head and back of a glossy black, edged with dull yellow: breast, and lesser coverts of the wings, orange: inner coverts rich yellow: primaries dusky; exterior sides edged with yellow: tail a little forked; black, with the outmost webs of the outmost feather white.
Breeds in the woods of
Nordland
and
Drontheim.
PLACE.
In hard winters descends into
East Gothland
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 596.
.
F. CHAFFINCH.
Br. Zool.
i. No 125.
Finke. Bofinke,
Faun. Suec.
No 232.—
De Buffon,
iv. 109.—
Pl. Enl.
54.—
Latham,
ii. 257.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
F. With the front black: crown blueish-grey: cheeks, throat, and breast, reddish: upper part of the back tawny; lower, green: wings and tail black, marked with white. FEMALE of duller colors: breast of a dirty white.
Is found as high as
Drontheim.
PLACE.
Both sexes continue in
England
the whole year. By admirable and unusual instinct, in
Sweden
the females, to a bird, collect in vast flocks at the latter end of
September,
desert their mates, and, passing through
Schonen, Denmark, Holstein,
and
Holland,
visit several parts of
Europe.
They reach
Holland
about a fortnight after
Michaelmas,
and at that time afford great amusement to the gentry at their country houses, in taking them while they sit at tea in their pavilions. They spread nets among their plantations, and strew the ground with hemp-seed, by way of bait. The birds arrive, and perch by thousands in the trees: then alight on the ground, hungry, and inattentive to the danger. The nets are closed by the pulling of a cord by the persons in the pavilions; and multitudes are thus taken. Those which escape, continue their route to
Flanders, France,
and
Italy.
The males continue in
Sweden,
and enliven its rigorous winter with their chearful twitter. Towards spring, they receive additional spirits; perch on every tree, and animate with their notes every spray, expecting the arrival of spring, and of their mates. The last return invariably the beginning of
April,
in such numbers as almost to darken the skies; join their consorts, perform their nuptials, retire to the woods, increase and multiply
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 595.
.
France
has its resident Chaffinches, as well as
England:
many also winter in
Italy:
many come there in
April,
and migrate in
October
M. Scopoli,
MS. List, &
Av.
148.
; perhaps into
Minorca,
where it arrives in
October,
and continues in that island the whole winter
Cleghorn,
56.
.
G. SPARROW,
Br. Zool.
i. No 127.—
Latham,
ii. 248.
Fatting. Grasparf,
Faun. Suec.
No 242.
Le Moineau,
De Buffon,
iii. 474.—
Pl. Enl.
6. 1. 55. 1.
PLACE.
INHABITS
Europe
in plenty as high as
Drontheim
Aves Nidr. Enum.
MS.
; infests the corn, in the
Orknies,
by thousands: is native among the rocks beyond lake
Baikal;
but it is said, that they were unknown in the greatest part of
Sibiria
before the
Russians
attracted them by the cultivation of corn. By a wonderful instinct, these and many other birds discover the effects of rural oeconomy, which draws various species, unknown before, from distant parts, to share with mankind the several sorts of grain or seeds which are grateful to them. Partridges keep pace with the spreading of corn over many parts of the earth, and appear where they were never seen before: and RICE-BIRDS quickly discovered the cultivation of
rice
in
South Carolina,
and come annually some hundreds of miles to feed on it.
H. GOLDFINCH,
Br. Zool.
i. No 124.
Stiglitza,
Faun. Suec.
No 236.
Le Chardoneret,
De Buffon,
iv. 187.—
Pl. Enl.
4.—
Latham,
ii. 281.—LEV. MUS. BL. MUS.
F. With the base of the bill encircled with rich scarlet: cheeks white: crown black: primaries dusky, marked with a rich yellow spot: tail black; tips white: feathers round the bill of the FEMALE brown: other colors less brilliant.
This elegant bird is found as high as
Sondmor
Strom.
225.
:
PLACE.
whether it goes farther north, is rather doubtful
Gunner,
in
Leems,
256.
. In
Italy,
appears in
April:
breeds; and retires in
October
and
November.
Is common in
Russia,
and the greatest part of
Sibiria.
None beyond the
Lena,
and lake
Baikal.
I. SISKIN,
Br. Zool.
i. No 129.
Le Tarin,
De Buffon,
iv. 221.—
Pl. Enl.
485.
Siska, Grousiska,
Faun. Suec.
No 237.—
Latham,
ii. 289.
F. With a black crown: body yellowish; green above: breast the same: wings green, with a yellow spot in the middle: tail black; yellow at the base: head and back of the FEMALE greenish ash, spotted with brown.
Found as high as
Sweden,
and perhaps
Norway
Siisgen?
Pontoppidan,
ii. 94.
. In
Sweden,
PLACE.
during summer, lives in woods, and among junipers: in winter, consorts with Red-headed Linnets, and feeds on the buds of alders. Plenty in the south and west of
Russia,
but none towards the
Urallian
chain, nor in
Sibiria.
XXVII. FLY-CATCHER.
Gen. Birds,
XLIX.
263. TYRANT.
Tyrant,
Catesby,
i. 55.—
Brisson,
ii. 391.
Lanius Tyrannus,
Lin. Syst.
136.—
Latham,
i. 186.
Le Tyran de la Caroline,
De Buffon,
iv. 577.—
Pl. Enl.
676.—LEV. MUS.— BL. MUS.
FL. With a black bill and head; the crown divided lengthways by a stripe of scarlet; in some, yellow: back ash-color: wings dusky, edged with white: tail black, tipt with white: under side of the body white: legs black. SIZE of a Redwing Thrush.
PLACE.
This species appears in
New York
in
April:
lays five white eggs, spotted with rust-color: builds in low bushes: makes its nest with wool, and some moss, and lines it with small fibres of roots: leaves the country in
August:
observes the same time of migration in the southern provinces. Mr.
Catesby
gives so very good an account of its manners, and singular spirit, that I beg leave to express it in his own words:—
The courage of this little bird is singular. He pursues and puts to flight all kinds of birds that come near his station, from the smallest to the largest, none escaping his fury; nor did I ever see any that dared to oppose him while flying, for he does not offer to attack them when sitting. I have seen one of them fix on the back of an Eagle, and persecute him so, that he has turned on his back into various postures in the air, in order to get rid of him; and at last was forced to alight on the top of the next tree, from whence he dared not to move, till the little Tyrant was tired, or thought fit to leave him. This is the constant practice of the cock, while the hen is brooding: he sits on the top of a bush, or small tree, not far from her nest; near which, if any small birds approach, he drives them away; but the great ones, as Crows, Hawks, and Eagles, he won't suffer to come within a quarter of a mile of him without attacking them. They have only a chattering note, which they utter with great vehemence all the time they are fighting.
When their young are flown, they are as peaceable as other birds. It has a tender bill; and feeds on insects only. They are tame and harmless birds. They build their nest in an open manner, on low trees and shrubs, and usually on the
sassafras
-tree.
264. LOUISIANA TYRANT.
Le Tyran de la Louisiane,
De Buffon,
iv. 583.—
Latham,
ii. 358.
FL. With a long flat beak, hooked at the end: head and back cinereous brown: throat clear slate-colour: belly yellowish: primaries bright bay: on the greater coverts some lines of white: tail long, of a cinereous brown. Rather inferior in size to the last.
Inhabits
Louisiana.
265. FORK-TAIL.
Muscicapa Tyrannus,
Lin. Syst.
325.—
Latham
ii. 355.
Le Tyran a queue fourchue,
Brisson,
ii. 395.
Le Savana,
De Buffon,
iv. 557.—
Pl. Enl.
571.—LEV. MUS.
FL. With head and cheeks black: feathers on the crown yellow at their bottoms: upper part of the body ash-colored; lower white: tail greatly forked; the two outmost feathers on each side five inches longer than the others; color black: the lower half of the exterior feather white.
Inhabits
Canada,
and as low as
Surinam.
PLACE.
266. CHATTERING.
Yellow-breasted Chat,
Catesby,
i. 50.—
Latham,
ii. 350.
Le Merle verde de la Caroline,
Brisson,
ii. 315.—
De Buffon,
iii. 396.—
Pl. Enl.
627.—BL. MUS.
FL. With the crown, upper part of neck and back, and tail, of a cinereous green: each eye encircled with yellow: from the throat to the thighs of a fine yellow: belly white: tail dusky, edged with white: legs black. SIZE of a Sky-Lark.
PLACE.
Inhabits the interior parts of
Carolina,
two or three hundred miles from the sea. Is so very shy, as to be shot with the utmost difficulty. Lives by the banks of great rivers; and makes so loud a chattering, as to reverberate from rock to rock. Flies with its legs hanging down. Its musical note is good. Often flies up perpendicular, and lights by jerks.
267. CRESTED.
Crested Fly-catcher,
Catesby,
i. 52.—
Latham,
ii. 357.
Muscicapa crinita,
Lin. Syst.
325.
Le Gobe-Mouche hupè de Virginie,
Brisson,
ii. 412.
Le Moucherolle de Virginie a huppè verte,
De Buffon,
iv. 565.—
Pl. Enl.
569. —BL. MUS.
FL. With an upright crest: head and back olive: the coverts of the same color, crossed with two white lines: primaries dusky; the four first edged, on their outmost sides, with ferruginous: tail dusky; two middle feathers plain; the inner webs of the others orange: neck and breast of a lead-color: belly and thighs yellow: legs black. I have seen one of a cinereous color on the upper parts, and white belly: perhaps a young bird, or a hen. WEIGHT one ounce.
SIZE.
LENGTH eight inches. Sent from
New York,
with the name of the Large Wild
Phoeby Bird,
or Bee-eater.
PLACE.
Breeds in
New York
and
Carolina.
Its note extremely brawling, as if at enmity with all other birds. Makes its nest of snake-skins and hair, in holes of trees. Retires in
August.
268. LESSER-CRESTED.
FL. With a small backward crest: head, neck, and back, of a dirty light cinereous green: breast and belly whitish, tinged with yellow: wings and tail dusky; coverts crossed with two bars of white; secondaries edged with white: legs black.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Nova Scotia.
Captain
Davies.
269. BLACK-HEADED.
Black-cap Fly-catcher,
Catesby,
i. 53.—
Latham,
ii. 353.
Le Gobe-Mouche brun de la Caroline,
Brisson,
ii. 367.
Le Gobe-Mouche noirâtre de la Caroline,
De Buffon,
iv. 541.
FL. With a black crown: back brown, wings and tail dusky, edged with white: whole under side white, tinged with yellowish green: legs black. Head of the hen of not so full a black as that of the cock.
Breeds in
Carolina.
Is supposed to migrate in the winter.
PLACE.
270. CINEREOUS.
Little brown Fly-catcher,
Catesby,
i. 54. fig. 1.
Le Gobe-Mouche cendré de la Caroline,
Brisson,
ii. 368.
Muscicapa virens,
Lin. Syst.
327.
Le Gobe-Mouche brun de la Caroline,
De Buffon,
iv. 543.—
Latham,
ii. 350. —BL. MUS.
FL. With the upper mandible black; the lower yellow: eyes red: head and back of a deep ash-color: over each eye a faint white line: wings and tail brown: secondaries edged with white: whole under side of the body dirty white, tinged with yellow: legs black. WEIGHT nine pennyweights.
Inhabits
Carolina,
in the summer only.
PLACE.
271. RED-EYED.
Red-eyed Fly-catcher,
Catesby,
i. 54. fig. 2.—
Edw.
253.
Muscicapa Olivacea,
Lin. Syst.
327.—
Brown Jam.
476.
Le Gobe-Mouche de la Jamaique,
Brisson,
ii. 410.
Le Gobe-Mouche olive de la Caroline,
De Buffon,
iv. 539.—
Latham,
li. 351, 352.—LEV. MUS.
FL. With red irides: crown, and whole upper part of the body, wings, and tail, of a cinereous brown: over each eye a white line: edges of the primaries and tail whitish: under side of the body white, dashed with olive: legs black. WEIGHT ten pennyweights and a half.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Carolina,
and as high as
New York;
and migrates at approach of winter: probably into
Jamaica;
the same kind being found there, where, from its note, it is called
Whip Tom Kelly.
Has great affinity with the preceding: perhaps they differ only in sex.
NEST.
Makes a pendulous nest, usually in apple-trees, and hangs it between the horizontal fork of some bough, beneath the leaves. It is most curiously formed with cotton and wool, lined with hair and dead grass; and wonderfully bound to the branches by a certain thread, like moss, twisted round them, and likewise all about the outside of the nest. Lays five eggs, white, thinly spotted with deep rust-color.
272. CAT.
Cat-bird,
Catesby,
i. 66.—
Lawson,
143.—
Latham,
ii. 353.
Le Gobe-Mouche brun de Virginie,
Brisson,
ii. 365.
Muscicapa Carolinensis,
Lin. Syst.
328.
Le Moucherolle de Virginie,
De Buffon,
iv. 562.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
FL. With a black crown: upper part of the body, wings, and tail, blueish grey: the tail cuneiform, marked with numerous dusky bars: under side of the body of a pale grey: vent ferruginous: legs brown. Larger than a LARK.
PLACE.
Inhabits
New York
and
Carolina.
Mews like a kitten; from which arose its name. Lives among bushes and thickets. Feeds on insects. Makes the outside of its nest with leaves and matting rushes; the inside with fibres of roots. Lays a blue egg. Has a great spirit, and will attack a Crow, or any large bird. Mr.
Latham
saw one which was brought from
Kamtschatka,
which differed from this only in having no rust-color on the vent.
273. CANADA.
Muscicapa Canadensis,
Lin. Syst.
324.—
Latham,
ii. 354.
Gobe-Mouche cendrè de Canada,
Brisson,
ii. 406. tab. xxxix.—
De Buffon,
iv. 538. —
Catesby,
i. 60.
FL. With a cinereous head, spotted with black; a yellow spot between the bill and the eyes; and beneath each eye a black one: the upper part of the body cinereous; the lower, yellow, marked on the under side of the neck with small black spots: the tail of a cinereous brown, with the exterior webs ash-colored.
Inhabits
Canada.
PLACE.
274. GREEN.
FL. With a yellow spot on each side of the bill: head a cinereous green: back and coverts of the wings of a pale green; cross the last are two bars of white: primaries and tail dusky, edged with green: throat of a pale ash-color: middle of the belly white: sides of a fine yellow.
Sent from
New York
by Mr.
Blackburne,
PLACE.
under the name of the small Green Hanging Bird. It comes there in
May,
breeds, and etires in
August:
and is a scarce species. BL. MUS.
275. DUSKY.
FL. With a dusky head: back of a dull cinereous olive: quil feathers and secondaries dusky; the last edged with white: breast of a pale ash-color: belly of a whitish yellow: tail dusky; exterior web of the exterior feather white: legs black.
Sent from the same place,
PLACE.
under the title of The Small or Common
Phoeby
Bird, or Bee-eater. Appears the latter end of
March,
or beginning of
April;
lays five white small eggs: disappears in
August.
Eats Bees. BL. MUS.
276. GOLDEN-THROAT.
FL. With the crown, upper part of the neck, and body, of a dirty olive: throat and ridge of the wing of a very rich yellow: breast and belly white, tinged with yellow: primaries and tail of a bright olive green.
Inhabits
New York.
BL. MUS.
PLACE.
277. STRIPED.
Striped Fly-catcher,
Forster,
Ph. Tr. lxii. 406.
Muscicapa striata,
the same,
429.—
Latham,
ii. 349.—
Miller's Plates,
No 15.
FL. With a black crown; white cheeks: hind part of the head varied with black and white: throat of a yellowish white, striped with brown: bread white, striped on the sides with black: belly white: back of a cinereous green, marked with black: wings dusky, mixed with white: tail dusky, with the three outmost feathers marked with a white spot: legs yellow.
Head of the FEMALE of a yellowish green, with short streaks of black: a short yellow line passes from the bill over each eye: throat, cheeks, and breast, of a yellowish white, striped on the sides with black: in other respects like the MALE, but greener. LENGTH five inches;
Extent
seven.
PLACE.
Arrives at
Severn
settlement,
Hudson's Bay,
in the summer. Feeds on grass-seeds.
A. DUN FL.
Faun. Russ.—Latham,
ii. 351.
FL. Dusky above; ash-colored beneath: throat and vent spotted with white.
PLACE.
Found about lake
Baikal,
and in the eastern part of
Sibiria:
and observed by
Steller
in
Kamtschatka.
. PIED FL.
Br. Zool.
i. No 135,
Muscicapa Atricapilla,
Faun. Suec.
No 256, tab. 1
The description refers to the
Black-cap Warbler.
The figure to this bird.
.
Le Gobe-Mouche noir a Collier,
De Buffon,
iv. 520.—
Pl. Enl.
565.
Motacilla Leucomela,
Muller,
No 268.—
Latham,
ii. 324.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
FL. With white front: bill, head, back, and legs, black: coverts of tail spotted with white: coverts of wings dusky, crossed with a white bar: primaries dusky: exterior sides of secondaries white; interior black: breast and belly white: middle feathers of tail black; exterior black, marked with white: head of the FEMALE wholly brown, as is the upper part of the body: white in the wings obscure: breast and belly dirty white.
Found as far north as
Sondmor.
PLACE.
Inhabits that diocese the whole year; and, during winter, frequently takes refuge in the very houses
Act. Nidros,
v. 543.
. Feeds on the buds of birch. Is met with in
Russia
only between the
Kama
and the
Samara.
XXVIII. LARK.
Gen. Birds,
L.
278. SHORE.
Alauda gutture flavo. The Lark,
Catesby,
i. 32.
Alauda alpestris,
Lin. Syst.
289.
Gelbburtige Lerch,
Klein, Av.
72.—
Latham,
ii. 385.
Le Hausse-col noir, ou l' Alouette de Virginie,
De Buffon,
v. 55.—
Brisson,
iii. 367. LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
L. With yellow cheeks and forehead: breast and belly white: head divided by a line of black; another passes beneath each eye, bounding the throat, which is yellow: across the upper part of the breast is a broad black mark; beneath that is a tinge of red: upper part of the neck, and coverts of the wings and tail, are ferruginous: back brown: primaries dusky: two middle feathers of the tail brown; the rest black; those on the outside edged with white: legs dusky: head of the FEMALE dusky. LARGER than the common Lark.
PLACE.
Inhabit the large plains of several provinces, and breed there. They appear on our settlements in
Hudson's Bay
in
May,
and proceed farther north to breed. Feed on grass-seeds, and the buds of the sprig birch. Run into small holes, and keep close to the ground; whence the natives call them
Chi-chup-pi-sue.
In winter they retire to the southern provinces in great flights; but it is only in very severe weather that they reach
Virginia
and
Carolina.
They frequent sand-hills on the sea-shore, and feed on the
sea-side oats,
or
uniola panicula.
They have a single note, like the Sky-lark in winter.
They are also found in
Poland;
in
Russia
and in
Sibiria
more frequent: in both are very common during winter; but retire to the north on approach of spring, except in the north-east parts, and near the high mountains.
279. RED.
Red Lark,
Edw.
297.—
Br. Zool,
i. No 140.—
Brisson,
App. 94.—
Latham,
ii. 376.
L'Alouette aux joues brunes de Pensylvanie,
De Buffon,
v. 58.—LEV. MUS.
L. With a white line above and beneath each eye: thickish bill: chin and throat whitish: head, and whole upper part of the body, and coverts, pale ferruginous, spotted with black: breast whitish, with dusky spots: belly of a dirty white: side tinged with rust: tail dusky; outmost feathers white; the two next edged with white: legs dusky. When the wing is closed, says Mr.
Edwards,
the third quill from the body reaches to its tip; a constant characteristic of the Wagtail genus.
Inhabits
Pensylvania;
appears there in
March,
PLACE.
in its passage northward. Found also near
London.
280. CALANDRA.
Edw.
268.—
Latham,
ii. 382.
Alauda Calandra,
Lin. Syst.
288.
La Calandra on grosse Alouette,
De Buffon,
v. 49.—
Pl. Enl.
363.—
Brisson
iii. 352.
L. With a bill thicker and stronger than usual to the genus: from the bill a black line passes to and beyond the eye; above and beneath are two others of white, faintly appearing: head, neck, back, and coverts of the wings, reddish brown, spotted with black: primaries and tail dusky, edged with rust-color: throat white: upper part of the breast crossed by a narrow black crescent; beneath that the breast is of a pale brown, spotted with a darker: belly and vent white: tail a little forked: legs of a pale flesh-color. In SIZE rather superior to the Sky-Lark; but the body thicker. It is a species allied to the common BUNTING.
Brought from
North Carolina;
PLACE.
and first described as an
American
bird by Mr.
Edwards.
Is common in many parts of
Europe,
especially in the southern. In
Asia
it is found about
Aleppo,
and is pretty frequent about the
Tartarian
deserts bordering on the
Don
and
Volga.
A. SKY-LARK,
Br. Zool.
i. No 136.
L'Alouette,
De Buffon,
v. 1.
Alauda arvensis. Larka,
Faun. Suec.
No 209.—
Latham,
ii. 368.—LEV. MUS.— BL. MUS.
L. With the crown of a reddish brown, spotted with black: hind part of the head cinereous: chin white: breast and belly pale dull yellow; the first spotted with black: back and coverts of wings dusky, edged with pale reddish brown: exterior web, and half the interior web of the outmost feather of the tail, white: legs dusky. LENGTH seven inches one-fourth:
SIZE.
EXTENT twelve and a half: WEIGHT an ounce and a half.
PLACE.
Inhabits all parts of
Europe,
even as high as
Nordland
in
Norway,
beneath the
Arctic
circle. They migrate in
Scandinavia.
They are the first birds, in
East Gothland
in
Sweden,
which give notice of the return of spring, singing with a tremulous note, and flying in flocks near to the ground. Enlivened by the warmth of summer, they soar and sing with full voices. In
September
they collect in flocks, and retire south; probably into the province of
Schonen,
where they are found in vast multitudes during winter
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 593.
. They are frequent in all parts of
Russia
and
Sibiria,
and reach even
Kamtschatka.
B. WOOD-LARK,
Br. Zool.
i. No 137.
Alauda arborea,
Faun. Suec.
No 211.
Le Cujelier,
De Buffon,
v. 25.—
Pl. Enl.
660.—
Latham,
ii. 371.
L. With crown and upper part of back reddish brown: head surrounded with a whitish coronet from eye to eye: first feather of the wing shorter than the second. In form shorter and thicker than the Sky-Lark.
Inhabits not farther north than
Sweden.
PLACE.
Found in the woods of
Russia
and
Sibiria,
as far east as
Kamtschatka
Mr.
Latham,
ii. 372.
.
C. TIT-LARK,
Br. Zool.
i. No 138.
Alauda pratensis,
Faun. Suec.
No 210.
La Farlouse,
De Buffon,
v. 31.—
Pl. Enl.
574.—
Latham,
ii. 374.
L. With a black bill: olivaceous brown head and back, spotted with black: breast yellow, with oblong streaks of black. Of a slender form.
Found not higher than
Sweden.
PLACE.
D. FIELD-LARK,
Br. Zool.
i. No 139.
Alauda campestris,
Faun. Suec.
No 212.—
Raii Syn. Av.
70.
La Spipolette,
De Buffon,
v. 43.—
Latham,
ii. 375.
L. With head and neck pale brown, marked with dusky lines, faintest on the neck: rump and back of a cinereous olive; the first spotted with black, the last plain: legs pale brown: hind claw shorter than usual with Larks. Lesser than the Sky-Lark.
Extends only to
Sweden.
PLACE.
These three species disappear in that kingdom in the height of winter. If the weather softens, they return in
February.
The Comte
De Buffon
v. 38.
describes a variety of this, under the name of
La Farlouzzane;
which, he says, came from
Louisiana.
WAGTAIL.
Gen. Birds.
LI.
E. WHITE,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 142.
M. Alba. Arla,
Faun. Suec.
No 252.—
Latham,
ii. 395.
La Lavandiere,
De Buffon,
v. 151.—
Pl. Enl.
652.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
W. T. With head, back, and neck, black: cheek, front, and chin, white: belly white: primaries dusky: tail long, dusky, with part of the webs white.
PLACE.
Inhabits as high as
Iceland,
the
Feroe Isles,
and
Drontheim
Av. Nidr. Enum. MS.
. It is a bird of augury with the
Swedish
farmers; who have a proverb relative to this and the WHEAT-EAR, which is another bird of direction:
When you see the WAGTAIL return, you may turn your sheep into the fields; and when you see the WHEAT-EAR, you may sow your grain
STILLINGFLEET'S
Tracts,
2d ed. 265.
.
It is common in
Russia, Sibiria,
and
Kamtschatka,
but does not extend to the arctic regions.
F. Yellow Wagtail,
Br. Zool.
i. No 143.
M. Flava. Sadesarla,
Faun. Suec.
No 253.—
Latham,
ii. 400.
La Bergeronette grise,
De Buffon,
v. 261.—
Pl. Enl.
674.—LEV. MUS.
W. T. With crown and upper part of the body of an olive-green: breast and lower part of the body of a rich yellow: throat spotted with black. In the FEMALE those black spots are wanting: the other colors are also much more obscure.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Sweden;
but not higher. Migrates like the former. Common in all parts of
Russia, Sibiria,
and even
Kamtschatka.
G. Yellow-headed Wagtail. Motacilla cifreola,
Pallas Itin.
iii. 696.—
Latham,
ii. 401.
W. T. with citron-colored head, neck, breast, and belly: the hind part of the neck marked with a black crescent: the back blueish grey.
Common in
Sibiria,
as far as the
Arctic
circle: less so in
Russia.
PLACE.
Migrates with the last.
H. TCHUTSCHI,
Latham,
ii. 403.
W. T. With crown and back deep olive-brown: a spot of white between the upper mandible and eye: coverts and primaries deep brown; the first crossed with two bars of white: breast and belly white, dashed with rust: vent pale yellow: tail very long; outward web, and half the inward web, of outmost feather, white; all the rest dusky: legs black.
Taken off the
Tchutschi
coast, within the Streights of
Bering,
PLACE.
lat. 66, north.
XXIX. WARBLER.
Gen. Birds,
LII.
281. BLUE-BACKED RED-BREAST.
Blue-bird,
Catesby,
i. 47.
Blue Red-breast,
Edw.
24.—
Lawson.
Motacilla Sialis,
Lin. Syst.
336.—
Latham,
ii. 446.
Le Rouge gorge bleu,
De Buffon,
v. 212.—
Pl. Enl.
390.—
Brisson,
iii. 423.— LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
W. With bill and legs of a jetty blackness: head, hind part of the neck, back, tail, and coverts of the wings, of a rich deep and glossy blue: primaries dusky, tipt with brown: from the bill to the tail red. Head, and lower part of the neck, in the FEMALE, cinereous blue: breast duller than that of the MALE.
PLACE.
Frequent in most parts of
North America,
from
New York
to the
Bermuda
islands. Is the same in the new world as the
Robin-red-breast
is in the old. Are harmless, familiar birds. Breed in holes of trees. Have long wings. Are swift of flight, therefore elude the pursuit of the Hawk. Have a cry and a whistle. Feed usually on insects; but, through deficiency of that food, come to the farm-houses, to pick up grass-seeds, or any thing they can meet with.
282. BLACK-HEADED.
Redstart,
Catesby,
i. 67.—
Edw.
80.
Muscicapa ruticilla,
Lin. Syst.
326.—
Raii Syn. Av.
180. No 51.
Le Gobe-Mouche d'Amerique,
Brisson,
iii. 383.—
De Buffon,
v. 178, 566.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
W. With the head, neck, breast, back, and wings, black: the primaries crossed with a broad bar of orange: the sides and inner coverts of the wings, belly, and vent, white, spotted with black on the upper sides: two middle feathers of the tail dusky; the rest of the same color at their ends; the lower parts orange: legs black. The FEMALE cinereous olive above; white beneath, bounded on each side by yellow: the parts of the tail which are red in the male, are in this sex yellow.
PLACE.
Inhabits the shady woods of
New York, Virginia, Hudson's Bay,
and
Carolina,
during the summer. Retreat to
Jamaica,
and perhaps others of the
Antilles,
during winter
Sloane's Jamaica,
ii. 312.
.
283. YELLOW-BREAST.
Maryland Yellow-throat,
Edw.
237.
Le figuier de Maryland,
Brisson,
iii. 506.
Le figuier a joues noires,
De Buffon,
v. 292.
Turdus Trichas,
Lin. Syst.
293.—
Latham,
ii. 438.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
W. With black forehead and cheeks: crown cinereous: hind part, whole upper part of the neck, back, wings, and tail, of a deep olive green: primaries and tail edged with yellow: under side of the neck, breast, and belly, of a rich yellow.
Inhabits
Pensylvania
and
Maryland.
PLACE.
Frequents bushes and low grounds, near rills of water. Quits the country in autumn.
284. ORANGE-THIGHED.
La Fauvette a poitrine jaune de la Louisiane,
De Buffon,
v. 162.—
Pl. Enl.
709. —
Latham,
ii. 439.
W. With forehead and cheeks black: head crossed in the middle with a white band, which divides the cheeks from its hind part: nape, back, wings, and tail, deep olive: lower part of the neck, breast, and belly, fine yellow: thighs and vent reddish orange: tail rounded.
Inhabits
Louisiana;
and is a most elegant species: differs from the last in its rounded tail.
285. BLACK-THROAT.
Blue Fly-catcher,
Edw.
252.
Motacilla Canadensis,
Lin. Syst.
336.
Le petit figuier cendrè de Canade,
Brisson,
iii. 527.—
Latham,
ii. 487.
Le figuier bleu,
De Buffon,
v. 304.—
Pl. Enl.
685.—BL. MUS.
W. With the head, upper part of the neck, back, and coverts of the wings, of a slaty blue: throat, under part, and sides of the neck, black: primaries dusky; white at bottom: breast and belly white: tail dusky.
Inhabits, during summer,
Canada
and other parts of
America,
PLACE.
to the south. Arrives in
Pensylvania
in
April.
Migrates in winter to the
Antilles,
and returns in spring.
286. YELLOW-THROAT.
Yellow-throated Creeper,
Catesby,
i. 62.—
Latham,
ii. 437.
La Mesange grise a gorge jaune,
De Buffon,
v. 454.—
Brisson,
iii. 563.
W. With a yellow spot on each side of the upper mandible: throat of a bright yellow: from the bill, a black line extends across each eye, pointing down, and bounding the sides of the neck: forehead black: crown, hind part of the neck, and back, grey: wings dark cinereous; the coverts edged with white: middle of the breast and belly of a pure white: side spotted with black: tail black and white. The FEMALE wants both the yellow and black marks.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Carolina;
and is continually creeping about the trees in search of insects.
287. HOODED.
Catesby,
i. 60.—
Latham,
ii. 462.
Le Gobe-Mouche citrin,
De Buffon,
iv. 538.—
Pl. Enl.
666.
La Mesange a Collier,
De Buffon,
v. 452.—BL. MUS.
W. With the forehead, cheeks, and chin, yellow, regularly encircled with black like a hood. This black is the color of the head, breast, and each side of the neck: back, wings, and tail, of a dusky green: inner webs of the exterior feathers of the tail white: breast and belly bright yellow. SIZE of a Gold-Finch.
PLACE.
Frequents the thickets and shady parts of the uninhabited places of
Carolina.
288. YELLOW-RUMP.
Yellow-rumped Fly-catcher,
Edw.
255.
Le figuier tachetè de la Pensylvanie,
Brisson,
iii. 503.
Le figuier a tête cendrê,
De Buffon,
v. 291.—
Latham,
ii. 481.
W. With cheeks and crown of the head cinereous: hind part of the neck and back of an olive-green; the last spotted with black: rump of a bright yellow: throat and breast of the same color; the breast spotted with black drops: rest of the under side white: wings dark ash-color; the coverts crossed with two bars of white: inner sides of the primaries edged with white: coverts of the tail black; two middle feathers of the tail dusky; the middle part of the inner webs of the rest white; the tops and bottoms black.
Inhabits
Pensylvania.
PLACE.
289. RED-HEAD.
Yellow Red-poll,
Edw.
256.
Motacilla petechia,
Lin. Syst.
334.—
Latham,
ii. 479.
Le figuier à tete rouge de Pensylvanie,
Brisson,
iii. 488.—
De Buffon,
v. 286. —BL. MUS.
W. With the crown scarlet: cheeks yellow: hind part of the neck, back, and rump, of an olive-green: wings and tail dusky, edged with yellow: all the under side of the body of a rich yellow, speckled with red, except the vent, which is plain. A bird, which I suspect to be the FEMALE, shot in
Newfoundland,
had the scarlet crown; but the upper part of the body was dusky, edged with pale brown: coverts of the tail white: primaries and tail dusky: breast and belly of a dirty white, and unspotted.
Visits
Pensylvania
in
March.
Is a lonely bird,
PLACE.
keeping in thickets and low bushes. Does not breed there; but goes farther north to breed; probably to
Canada
and
Newfoundland.
Feeds on insects.
290. BLACK-POLL.
W. With the crown black: cheeks white: upper part of the body ash-colored, with long black strokes pointing to the tail: coverts of the wings and primaries dusky; the first marked with two white bars: the secondaries edged with white: tail dusky; ends of the two outmost feathers marked with a white spot: throat white, streaked on each side with black: breast and belly of a dirty white, streaked downwards with black: legs whitish.
Inhabits, during summer,
Newfoundland
and
New York;
PLACE.
called in the last,
Sailor.
Arrives there in
May;
breeds; and retires in
August.
BL. MUS.—
Latham,
ii. 460.
291. GREY-POLL.
W. With head, sides of the neck, and coverts of the wings and tail, of a fine grey; the coverts of wings crossed with two white bars: primaries and tail dusky, edged with grey: throat orange: chin and breast of a fine yellow: belly whitish ash-color.
PLACE.
Sent from
New York
to Mrs.
Blackburn.—Latham,
ii. 461.
292. YELLOW-POLL.
Le figuier tachete 1 Espece,
De Buffon,
v. 285.—
Pl. Enl.
58.—
Latham,
ii. 514. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
W. With the forehead and whole under side of the body of a fine yellow; the last streaked with red: the upper part, and coverts of wings, of an olive-green: the primaries brown, bordered with green: tail brown, bordered with rich yellow. FEMALE of a duller color.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Canada;
where it makes only a short stay, and does not breed there. Found in
New York;
and even
Hudson's Bay
during summer. Retires into
South America,
according to M.
De Buffon.
He suspects that No 1, plate 58,
Pl. Enl.
is the female. Till that is ascertained, I beg leave to make a new species of it, in the OLIVE, No
The nest is very elegant, composed of down, mixed with dead, grass; the inside lined with fine fibres. The eggs spotted near the larger end. Sent from
New York,
under the name of the
Swamp Bird.
293. WHITE-POLL.
Black and white Creeper,
Edw.
300.
Le figuier variè,
De Buffon,
v. 305.—
Latham,
ii. 488.
—de St. Domingue,
Brisson,
iii. 529.—BL. MUS.
W. With the crown white, bounded by a black line passing from the corners of the bill; beneath that is a stripe of white: below the eyes a broad bed of black, bounded with white: chin and throat black: hind part of the neck, back, and rump, white, marked with great black spots: coverts and primaries black; the first crossed with two white bars; the last edged on their inner sides with white: belly white: sides spotted with black: tail black, edged with grey; inner webs of the outmost feathers spotted with white.
Arrives in
Pensylvania
in
April;
stays there the whole summer.
PLACE.
Feeds on insects, caterpillars, &c. Probably winters in the
Antilles,
where it is likewise found
Sloane,
i. 309.
.
294. GOLDEN-CROWNED.
Golden-crowned Fly-catcher,
Edw.
298.
Le figuier couronne d'or,
De Buffon,
v. 312.—
Latham,
ii. 486.
W. With a golden crown, bounded on all sides with a blueish slate-color: above each eye, a narrow white line: from the bill, across the eyes, a broad band of black: throat and chin white: hind part of neck and back blueish, with dusky oblong spots: rump yellow: breast black, edged with grey; sides of the breast yellow: belly and vent white, spotted with black: wings dusky; coverts and secondaries edged with white: tail black; three outmost feathers on each side marked on their inner webs with white. FEMALE is brown on the back; wants the black stroke through the eye, and mark on the breast: in other respects agrees with the cock.
Arrives in
Pensylvania
in spring:
PLACE.
stays there but three or four days, proceeding northward to breed. Appears likewise in the same manner in
Nova Scotia.
295. GOLD-WING.
Golden-wing Fly-catcher,
Edw.
299.
Le figuier, aux ailes dorées,
De Buffon,
v. 311.—
Brisson,
App. 109.
Motacilla chrysoptera,
Lin. Syst.
333.—
Latham,
ii. 492.
W. With a golden crown: eyes inclosed in a bed of black, reaching from the bill to the hind part of the head, and bounded above and below with a white line: throat, and under side of neck, black: upper part, back, and lesser coverts of wings, pale blueish grey: greater coverts rich yellow: primaries and tail dark cinereous: belly white.
PLACE.
Like the preceding, transient in the spring through
Pensylvania.
296. YELLOW-FRONTED.
W. With the forehead and crown of a bright yellow: from the bill extends through the eyes a band of black, bounded on each side with white: chin, throat, and lower side of the neck, black: breast and belly white: upper part of the neck, back, rump, and lesser coverts of the wings, of a light blueish grey; the greater coverts, and lower order of lesser, of a bright yellow, forming a great spot in each wing: primaries and tail of a deep ash-color; inner webs of the outmost feathers of the tail spotted with white.
PLACE.
A passenger, like the former, through
Pensylvania.—Latham,
ii. 461.
297. GREEN.
Green black-throated Fly-catcher,
Edw.
300.—
Latham,
ii. 484.
Le figuier à cravate noire,
De Buffon,
v. 298.—
Brisson,
App. 104.
W. With yellow cheeks and sides of the neck: black throat, under side of the neck, and sides under the wings: upper part of the breast yellowish; lower, and belly, white: head, and upper side of the body, of an olive-green: coverts of the wings of the same color, marked with two bars of white: primaries and tail dusky; the inner webs of the first edged with white; of the three outmost feathers of the tail, spotted with white.
PLACE.
Appears and migrates in the same manner as the other.
298. BLOODY-SIDE.
Red-throated Fly-catcher,
Edw.
301.
La figuier a poitrine rouge,
De Buffon,
v. 308.—
Brisson,
Add. 105.
Motacilla Pensylvanica,
Lin. Syst.
333.—
Latham,
ii. 489.
W. With a yellow crown: white cheeks: a small black mark passing under each eye: throat, and whole under side of the body, white, except part of the breast, which is of a blood-red, which color extends along the sides under the wings: hind part of the head black: back and rump dusky, edged with yellowish green: coverts of the wings, and primaries, dusky; the first marked with two bars of white: tail dusky, with a white mark on the exterior feathers. FEMALE wants the black spot on the hind part of the head, and those on the back; in other respects agrees with the cock.
Attends the preceding species in their short passage through
Pensylvania.
PLACE.
299. CAERULEAN.
Little blue-grey Fly-catcher,
Edw.
302.
La figuier gris de fer,
De Buffon,
v. 309.—
Brisson,
App. 107.
M. Caerulea,
Lin. Syst.
337.—
Latham,
ii. 490.
W. With the head and whole upper part of the body of a blueish slate-color: wings brown; a few of the secondaries edged with white: over each eye a narrow line of black: tail dusky; two outmost feathers white; the third on each side tipt with white. FEMALE wants the black stripe over the eyes: and the colors of the tail, and upper part of it, brownish.
Appears in
Pensylvania
in
March.
Builds its nest in
April,
PLACE.
with husks from the buds of trees, down of plants, &c. coating it with lichens, and lining it with horse-hair. It continues in the country all summer, and retires south at approach of winter; perhaps to
Cayenne,
where the same species is found
Pl. Enl.
704.
.
300. WORM-EATER.
Worm-eater,
Edw.
305.—
Latham,
ii. 499.
Le Demi-fin. Mangeur de vers,
De Buffon,
v. 325.
W. With the crown of a reddish yellow, bounded by a line of a lighter; beneath that, another of black; and through the eye, from the bill, a third of yellow, bounded beneath by a dusky stroke: cheeks, throat, and breast, of a yellowish red, deepest on the breast, fading towards the belly, which is white: upper part of the neck, back, wings, and tail, of a deep olive-green: legs flesh-colored. BILL of this species is much thicker than others of the genus.
PLACE.
Does not appear in
Pensylvania
till
July,
in its passage northward. Does not return the same way; but is supposed to go beyond the mountains which lie to the west. This seems to be the case with all the transient vernal visitants of
Pensylvania.
301. YELLOW-TAIL.
Yellow-tail Fly-catcher,
Edw.
257.
W. With an ash-colored crown: hind part of the neck, coverts of the wings, and the back, of an olive-green: rump cinereous; sometimes that and the head of the same color with the back: throat, under side of neck, breast, and belly, white; the sides of the breast dashed with rust-color: sides, under the wings, yellow: on the lower part of the primaries a large bed of yellow: two middle feathers of the tail brown; the rest yellow, tipt with brown.
PLACE.
Taken on its passage, with other birds (before described) of this genus, off
Hispaniola,
at sea, supposed to be on their way to their winter quarters in
Jamaica,
and other islands.
302. SPOTTED.
Spotted yellow Fly-catcher,
Edw.
257.—
Latham,
ii. 482.
La figuier brun de Canada, (the male)
Brisson,
iii. 515.
— de St. Domingue (the female) 513.—
De Buffon,
v. 293.
W. With the head, upper part of the body, and wings, of a dark olive green: primaries and tail of a more dusky hue: the interior web of the outmost feathers of the tail marked with a large white spot: lesser coverts of the wings, near the ridge, crossed with white: rump yellowish: all the under side of the body yellow: under side of the neck, breast, and sides, spotted with black: middle of the belly and vent plain.
Taken with the preceding. Inhabits also
Canada,
PLACE.
which may be its place of summer residence and breeding. The FEMALE, which has a white breast, and the colors of the upper part of the body more dull than that of the cock, has been found in the isle of
Hispaniola;
which may be one of the winter quarters of this and congenerous birds.
303. LOUISIANE.
Le figuier à gorge jaune,
De Buffon,
v. 288.
Le figuier de le Louisiane,
Brisson,
iii. 500.—
Latham,
ii. 480.
W. With the head and whole upper part of the body of a clear olive-green: cheeks inclining to cinereous: coverts of the wings of a blueish ash-color, crossed with two white bars: primaries dusky, edged externally with olive, internally with white: tail of a dusky brown, edged like the wings; and the three outmost feathers marked near their ends with a white spot: lower side of the neck and breast of a fine yellow; the last spotted with red: belly and vent white, tinged with yellow. FEMALE wants the red spots on the breast.
Inhabits
Louisiana
and
St. Domingo.
PLACE.
304. ORANGE-THROAT.
Le figuier à gorge orangée,
De Buffon,
v. 290.
Le grand figuier de Canada,
Brisson,
iii. 508.
W. With the head, upper part of the neck and back, and lesser coverts of the wings, of an olive-green: the lower part of the back, rump, and greater coverts, ash-colored: primaries brown, edged on the outmost webs with dark cinereous; on the inner with dirty white: throat and under side of the body orange, except the vent, which is white. FEMALE differs from the male in having its under side of a duller and paler color.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Canada.
305. QUEBEC.
Le figuier à tête jaune,
De Buffon,
v. 298.—
Brisson,
iii. 517.—
Pl. Enl.
731.
Motacilla icterocephala,
Lin. Syst.
334.—
Latham,
ii. 484.
W. With a yellow crown: space between the bill and the eyes black: below the eyes, and on the sides of the neck, white: hind part of the head, neck, back, and rump, black, edged with yellowish olive: ridge coverts of the wings, and tail, of the same color; other lesser coverts, and the greater coverts, black, marked with two transverse bars of yellow: tail dusky, edged with olive; the outmost feathers marked half the length of their inner webs with yellowish white: all the lower part of the body of a dirty white.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Canada.
306. BELTED.
Le figuier a ceinture,
De Buffon,
v. 503.
Le figuier cendrè,
Brisson,
iii, 524.
Motacilla Canadensis,
Lin. Syst.
334.—
Latham,
ii. 486.
W. With an oblong yellow spot on the crown: rest of the head, upper side of the body, and coverts of wings, of a deep blueish ash-color, almost black; the last crossed with two white bars: from the bill, above each eye, passes a white line: the under side of the neck, breast, and belly, are white; the two first marked longitudinally with brown streaks: between the breast and belly is a transverse belt of yellow: tail dusky, a little forked; the two outmost feathers on each side white at their ends and inner sides: coverts of the tail yellow. FEMALE is brown on the upper side: the coverts of the tail are not yellow.
Inhabits
Canada.
PLACE.
307. OLIVE.
Le figuier de la Caroline,
Pl. Enl.
58, No 1.—
De Buffon,
v. 286.
W. With the head, upper part of the body, and coverts of the wings, of an olive-green: primaries and tail brown; the first bordered with green, the last with yellow: under side of the body of a pale yellow.
Inhabits
Carolina.
PLACE.
308. NEW-YORK.
Le Fauvette tachetée de la Louisiane,
De Buffon,
v. 161.—
Pl. Enl.
752.—
Latham,
ii. 436.
W. With a black bill, slightly bent at the end: over each eye a white line: crown, and all the upper plumage, cinereous and deep brown: lower part of the neck and body yellowish, streaked with black: legs reddish brown. LENGTH near six inches.
Inhabits
Louisiana,
and the hedges about
New York.
PLACE.
Not gregarious.
309. DUSKY.
Fauvette ombrée de la Louisiane,
De Buffon,
v. 162.—
Pl. Enl.
709.—
Latham,
ii. 437.
W. With a black slender bill: upper part of the plumage greyish brown: back marked faintly with black: wings, coverts of the tail, and the tail itself, dusky; the last edged with white, thinly speckled with black: legs dusky.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Louisiana.
310. PROTHONOTARY.
Le figuier protonotaire,
De Buffon,
v. 316.—
Pl. Enl.
704.—
Latham,
ii. 494.
W. With the head, neck, throat, breast, and belly, of a fine jonquil yellow: vent white: back olive: rump ash-color: wings and tail black and cinereous.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Louisiana.
Called there
le Protonotaire;
but the reason has not reached us.
311. HALF-COLLARED.
Le figuier a demi collier,
De Buffon,
v. 316.—
Latham,
ii. 494.
W. With a yellowish olive crown: an ash-colored band behind the eyes: coverts of the wings brown, edged with yellow: primaries brown, edged with white: throat and all the under side of the body of a clear ash-color: across the breast is a half-collar of black: belly tinged with yellow: tail ash-color: four feathers on each side edged with black on their inner sides.
312. ORANGE-BELLIED.
Le figuier a gorge jaune,
De Buffon,
v. 317.—
Latham,
ii. 495.
W. With the head and upper part of the body of an olive-brown: coverts of the wings yellow, varied with brown? primaries brown: secondaries and tail brown, bordered with olive: throat, under side of the neck, and breast, yellow; part of the latter tinged with brown: the rest of the lower part of the body reddish, approaching to yellow.
313. OLIVE-BROWN.
Le figuier brun olive,
De Buffon,
v. 318.—
Latham,
ii. 495.
W. With the upper part of the head and body of a brownish olive: the coverts of the wings, and primaries, brown; the first edged and tipt with white; the last edged with grey: throat and breast white, varied with teints of grey: belly of a yellowish white: vent quite yellow: tail brown, bordered with clear grey; those of the middle tinged with yellow; the two outmost on each side bordered with white.
314. GRASSET.
Le figuier grasset,
De Buffon,
v. 319.—
Latham,
ii. 496.
W. With the head and upper part of the body of a deep greyish green and deep olive; the middle of the head marked with a yellow spot: back tinged with black: wings brown or dusky: throat and under side of the neck reddish; the rest of the lower part white: tail black, edged with grey; and the four outmost feathers on each side marked near their ends with white.
315. GREY-THROAT.
Le figuier cendre, a gorge cendré,
De Buffon,
v. 319.—
Latham,
ii. 496.
W. With the head, and upper part of the body and wings, ash-color; the last edged with white: throat and under side of the body of a more clear ash-color: tail black: first feather on each side almost white; the second half white; the third tipt with the same.
These five species inhabit
Louisiana,
and are called there
Grassets,
PLACE.
from their exceeding fatness. They frequent the tulip-trees; in particular the
magnolia grandiflora,
or the
laurel-tree
Catesby,
ii. 61.
, whose evergreen leaves give ample shelter to the feathered tribe.
316. GUIRA.
Motacilla Guira,
Lin. Syst.
336.—
Edw.
351.—
Latham,
ii. 505.—
Marcgrave,
212.—
De Buffon,
v. 343.—BL. MUS.
W. With head, hind part of neck, and back, of an olive green; lower part dashed with yellow: lesser coverts dusky, slightly edged with white; greater, and primaries, dusky, with their edges deeply marked with white: throat, and lower part of the neck, full black: breast and belly of a fine light yellow: tail brown, edged with dull yellow. The crown of the FEMALE olive green, spotted with black: hind part of the neck plain green: chin and fore part of neck black: breast and belly yellow, spotted with red: wings and tail like those of the male.
PLACE.
Inhabits
New York.
Makes its nest between the small branches of some tree. It is open at top, shallow, and formed of broad dead grass, and some fibres. Its eggs white, thinly spotted with black.
317. BLACK-BURNIAN.
W. With the crown intensely black, divided by a line of rich yellow: from each corner of the upper mandible is another of the same color: through the eye passes one of black, reaching beyond it, bounded beneath by a narrow yellow line: sides of the neck, the throat, and middle of the breast, are of a beautiful yellow: sides spotted with black: vent and thighs white: lesser coverts black; greater white: back striped black and white: primaries dusky: middle feathers of the tail dusky; three outmost on each side marked with white.—
Latham,
ii. 461.
PLACE.
Inhabits
New York.
—BL. MUS.
318. PINE.
Pine-Creeper,
Catesby,
i. 61.—
Edw.
277.
Le figuier de sapins,
De Buffon,
v. 296.—
Latham,
ii. 483.
W. With the crown, cheeks, breast, belly, and thighs, of a bright yellow: from the bill to the eyes is a dusky line: hind part of the neck, the back, and rump, of a yellowish green, inclining to olive, brightest on the rump: wings and tail of a blueish grey: coverts marked with two white lines: outmost feathers of the tail with their inner webs white. FEMALES of a brownish color.
Appears in
Pensylvania,
from the south, in
April.
PLACE.
Feeds on insects and buds of trees. Continues there the whole summer. Inhabits the softer climate of
Carolina
the whole winter; and is seen creeping about the trees, especially the firs and pine, with other congenerous birds, which associate during that season in small flights.
319. YELLOW.
Yellow Titmouse,
Catesby,
i. 63.
Yellow Wren,
Br. Zool.
i. No 151.—
Edw.
278.
Le figuier brun & jaune,
De Buffon,
v. 295.
Le Pouillot, ou le Chantre,
Ib.
344.—
Brisson,
iii. 479.
Le figuier de Caroline,
Ib.
486.—
Latham,
ii. 512.
M. Trochilus,
Faun. Suec.
No 264.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
W. With the head and upper part of the body, wings, and tail, of a deep olive: cheeks yellow: through the eyes passes a dusky line, and beneath them another: whole under side and inner coverts of the wings, of a fine yellow; but in some much paler than others.
Inhabits
North Carolina;
breeds there, and disappears in winter,
PLACE.
retiring to
Jamaica
and other islands. Is almost an universal bird. Found in most parts of
Europe.
Bears all climates, from the
East Indies
to the rugged
Kamtschatka.
Is one of the smallest birds of
Europe.
Feeds on insects.
320. RUBY-CROWNED.
Ruby-crowned Wren,
Edw.
254.
Le Roitelet rubis,
De Buffon,
v. 373.—
Latham,
ii. 511.—LEV. MUS.
W. With a rich ruby-colored spot towards the hind part of the head: rest of the head, upper part of the neck, body, and coverts of the wings, of an olive-colour: coverts crossed by two white lines: primaries and tail dusky, edged with yellow: from bill to tail a light yellow.
SIZE.
LENGTH four inches: extent five: weight four drams.
PLACE.
Inhabits
North America,
from
Hudson's Bay
to
Pensylvania;
probably through the whole continent. A most delicate bird, to be found in the rude climate of the bay.
321. GOLDEN-CRESTED.
Br. Zool.
i. No 153.—
Catesby,
App. 13.
M. Regulus. Kongsfogel,
Faun. Suec.
No 262.—
Latham,
ii. 508.
Le Roitelet,
De Buffon,
v. 363.—
Pl. Enl.
651. 3.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
W. With a black crown, divided lengthways with a rich scarlet line, which it shews or conceals at pleasure. In other respects, the colors and marks resemble the former. The least of all
European
birds. LENGTH only three inches and a half.
PLACE.
Is found in
New York;
and inhabits the red cedars. Is met with in
Europe
as high as
Drontheim
Av. Nidr. Catal. MS.
. Crosses annually from the
Orknies
to the
Shetland
isles; where it breeds, and returns again before winter: along flight, of sixty miles, for so small a bird. Rare in
Russia.
Frequent in
Sibiria,
about the
Jenesei.
322. WREN.
Br. Zool.
i. No 154.
M. Troglodytes,
Faun. Suec.
No 261.—
Latham,
ii. 506.
Le Troglodyte,
De Buffon,
v. 352.—
Pl. Enl.
651. 2.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
W. With head and back brown, obscurely barred with dusky: coverts of wings, quil-feathers, and tail, elegantly barred with black and ferruginous: whole under side of a dirty white, mottled with pale brown.
Twice the size of the
European
Wren; yet appears to be of the same kind. Is one of the exceptions to the remark made, that the animals of the same species in the new are lesser than those of the old world.
Appears in the province of
New York
in
May,
and lays in
June.
PLACE.
Builds its nest in holes of trees, with fibres of roots and sticks, lining it with hairs and feathers. Lays from seven to nine eggs, white, thinly spotted with red. Has the same actions with the
European
Wren: sings, but with a different note. Retires south in
August.
The
European
kind reaches to the
Feroe
isles; where it enters the cottages, to peck the dried meat of the inhabitants
Brunnich,
No 284.
. Found also in
Norway;
but not far north. Rare in
Sweden
and
Russia.
Unknown in
Sibiria.
323. BUSH?
Little Sparrow?
Catesby,
i. 35.
Hedge Sparrow,
Lawson,
144.—
Latham,
ii. 420.
W. With the body entirely brown.
Less than the
European
Hedge Sparrow. Mr.
Catesby
says, that it partakes much of the nature of that species. Mr.
Lawson
says, that the Hedge Sparrow of
Carolina
differs scarcely from the
English;
only that he never heard it sing. They are not numerous; are usually seen single, hopping under bushes: feed on insects: and are commonly seen near houses in
Carolina
and
Virginia,
PLACE.
where they continue the whole year.
A. NIGHTINGALE,
Br. Zool.
i. No 145.
Nâchtergani,
Faun. Suec.
No 545.—
Latham,
ii. 410.
Le Rossignol,
De Buffon,
v. 81.—
Pl. Enl.
615.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
W. With head and neck tawny, dashed with olive: throat, breast, and belly, glossy ash-color: tail deep tawny.
PLACE.
Inhabits the groves of
Oland, Gothland, Upsal,
and
Schonen;
but not farther north. Appears about the middle of
May:
retires about the time of hay-harvest
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 597.
. Found in the temperate parts of
Russia;
and in
Sibiria,
as far as
Tomsk
only; not as yet in the eastern parts. None in
Scotland.
Extends over every temperate part of
Europe;
to
Syria
Russell,
as quoted by Mr.
Latham.
,
Persia
Fryer's. Trav.
248.
, and the
Holy Land
Hasselquist.
; and to the banks of the
Nile.
B. REDSTART,
Br. Zool.
i. No 146.
M. Phoenicurus Rodstjert,
Faun. Suec.
No 257.—
Latham,
ii. 421.
Le Rossignol de muraille,
De Buffon,
v. 170.—
Pl. Enl.
351.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
W. With white front: crown and back deep blueish grey: cheek and throat black: breast, rump, and sides, red: two middle feathers of tail brown; the rest red. FEMALE, head and back ash-color: chin white.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Europe,
as high as
Drontheim.
In all parts of
Russia
and
Sibiria:
in the last, the colors are extremely vivid. Extends to
Kamtschatka,
and even to the
Arctic
circle.
C. GREY REDSTART.
M. Erithacus,
Faun. Suec.
No 258.
Le Rouge-queue,
De Buffon,
v. 180.—
Latham,
ii. 423.
W. With a hoary crown: back and wings cinereous: whole under side of the body and tail ferruginous.
Inhabits
Sweden.
Lives in trees. Lays nine blueish grey eggs.
PLACE.
Seen also near the
Volga.
D. Red-breast,
Br. Zool.
i. No 147.
Rotgel,
Faun. Suec.
260.—
Latham,
ii. 442.
Le Rouge-gorge,
De Buffon,
v. 196.—
Pl. Enl.
361.—LEV. MUS.
W. With front, chin, and breast, of a deep orange red: upper part of the body, wings, and tail, olivaceous.
Inhabits
Europe
as far as
Drontheim.
Scarce in
Russia.
PLACE.
Is seen above the
Kama;
but never in
Sibiria.
Its familiarity with mankind has occasioned it, in many countries, to receive a fond name: thus the
Danes
call it
Tommi-Liden;
the
Norwegians, Peter Ronsmad;
the
Germans, Thomas Gierdet;
and we,
Robin Red-breast
Mr.
Latham.
.
. BLUE-THROAT.
M. Suecica,
No 259.
Bloukropfl,
Kram. Aust.
375.—
Latham,
ii. 444.
La Gorge-bleue,
De Buffon,
v. 206.—
Pl. Enl.
361.—LEV. MUS.
W. With a tawny breast, marked with a sky-blue crescent: over each eye a white line: head and back brown: tail dusky, ferruginous towards the base, and tipt with yellow: belly whitish: the vent yellowish.
Inhabits
West Bothnia
and
Lapland.
PLACE.
Lives among the alders and willows, and is supposed not to migrate from that severe climate
Amoen. Acad,
iv. 597.
. Is found in all the northern parts of
Russia
and
Sibiria.
Sings finely.
A bird, differing from this only by a blue line below each eye, is figured by Mr.
Edwards,
tab. 28, and drawn from one shot on the rook of
Gibraltar.
F. BLACK-CAP,
Br. Zool.
i. No 148.
M. Atricapilla,
Faun. Suec.
No 256.—
Latham,
ii. 415.
La Fauvette à tête noire,
De Buffon.
v. 125.—
Pl. Enl.
580.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
W. With a black crown: hind part of neck pale ash: back, and coverts of wings, greyish olive: breast and belly light ash. Crown of the FEMALE dull rust-color.
PLACE.
Found in
Sweden;
chiefly in
Schonen.
Not in the
Russian
catalogue.
G. PETTY-CHAPS,
Br. Zool.
i. No 149.
M. Hippolais,
Faun. Suec.
No 248.—
Latham,
ii. 413.
La Fauvette,
De Buffon,
v. 117.—
Pl. Enl.
579.—LEV. MUS.
W. With inside of the mouth red: head, back, and wings, olivaceous ash: inner coverts yellow: breast white, tinged with yellow: belly silvery: tail dusky.
PLACE.
Found as far as
Sweden.
H. HEDGE,
Br. Zool.
i. No 150.
M. Modularis Jarnsparf,
Faun. Suec.
No 245.—
Latham,
ii. 419.
Le Traîne Buisson, ou Mouchet, ou la Fauvette d'hiver,
De Buffon,
v. 151.—
Pl. Enl.
615.—LEV. MUS.
W. With a deep brown head, mixed with ash: throat and breast of a dull slate-color: belly dirty white: sides, thighs, and vent, of a tawny brown: tail dusky.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Sweden,
its farthest northern residence. Lays four or five fine pale blue eggs.
I. BOG-RUSH.
M. Schaenobaenus,
Faun. Suec.
No 246.—
Latham,
ii. 418.
La Roussette, ou la Fauvette des bois,
De Buffon,
v. 139.
W. With head, back, and rump, of a testaceous brown; the two first spotted: the wings testaceous on their outmost sides: throat and belly of the same color: tail dusky. SIZE of a Wren.
Inhabits among the bog-rushes of
Schonen
in
Sweden.
PLACE.
K. FIG-EATER.
M. Ficedula,
Faun. Suec.
No 251.—
Latham,
ii. 432,
Le Bec-figue,
De-Buffon,
v. 187.—
Pl. Enl.
668.
W. With head and upper part of the body and wings dusky, mixed with chesnut: breast of a cinereous white; that of the female white: tail of the male black; of the female inclined to chesnut: legs of the male chesnut, of the female black.
Inhabits (but rarely) the gardens and cultivated parts of
Sweden.
PLACE.
L. GRASSHOPPER,
Br. Zool.
i. No 382.
Alanda trivialis,
Lin. Syst.
288.—
Latham,
ii. 429.—LEV. MUS.
W. With head and upper part of the body of an olive brown, spotted with black: primaries dusky, edged with olive brown: breast and belly dirty white: tail very long, and cuneiform, composed of twelve sharp-pointed brown feathers.
Inhabits
Sweden.
Is frequent in
Sibiria.
Scarce in
Russia.
PLACE.
Has the note of a Grasshopper.
M. SEDGE,
Br. Zool.
i. No 155.
M. Salicaria,
Faun. Suec.
No 249.—
Latham,
ii. 430.
La Fauvette de roseaux,
De Buffon,
v. 142.—LEV. MUS.
W. With a brown head, streaked with dusky: over each eye a line of white, bounded above by another of black: throat white: breast and belly white, tinged with yellow: back reddish brown, spotted with black: rump tawny: tail brown; circular when spread.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Sweden.
Is frequent in
Russia
and
Sibiria,
in willow thickets near rivers, even to the
Arctic
circle.
N. SCOTCH,
Br. Zool.
i. No 152.
M. Acredula,
Faun. Suec.
No 263.—
Latham,
ii. 513.
W. With front and under side of the body of a fine pale yellow: back and wings green, dashed with ash-color: tail forked and brown. SIZE of a Wren.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Sweden,
about
Upsal.
Found also in
Russia
and
Sibiria.
O. LONG-BILLED.
W. With a very long slender bill: forehead, cheeks, and chin, pale rust-color: upper part of body and tail brown, tinged with olive: under part of the body of the same color, but lighter: middle of the belly white. Lesser than a Hedge Sparrow.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Kamtschatka.
* * WITH PARTICOLORED TAILS.
P. WHEAT-EAR,
Br. Zool.
i. No 157.
M. Oenanthe. Stensquetta,
Faun. Suec.
No 254.—
Latham,
ii. 465.
Le Motteux, ou Cul blanc,
De Buffon,
v. 237.—
Pl. Enl.
554.—LEV. MUS.
W. With head and back grey, tinged with red: from the bill to the hind part of the head, across each eye, is a broad bar of black; above that a line of yellow: breast and belly white, tinged with yellow: rump and lower half of the tail white; the end black. FEMALE wants the black bar across the eyes: less white on the tail, and the colors in general are duller.
A species which extends from the sultry climate of
Bengal
Edw. Birds,
i. Preface, xii.
to the frozen region of
Greenland,
Is migratory,
PLACE.
at lest in the temperate and frigid zones. Goes even in summer as high as beyond the
Arctic
circle, in
Europe
and
Asia,
wherever the country is rocky. In
Greenland,
is conversant among rills of water. Feeds, on insects and worms, especially those of places of interment; is therefore detested by the natives
Faun. Groenl.
No 84.
. Breeds in that country in
June.
Is found in
Iceland
and the
Feroe
islands. On its first appearance in
Sweden,
the peasants expect to be freed from the severe nocturnal, frosts
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 597.
. Its winter retreat unknown.
Q. STAPAZINA.
M. Stapazina,
Lin. Syst.
331.—
Latham,
ii. 468.
Le Motteux, ou Cul blanc roussâtre,
De Buffon,
v. 454.—LEV. MUS.
W. With head, neck, and breast, of a reddish brown: throat and belly, white: across the eyes a brown bar: rump white: tail like that of the former.
Is frequent, with the preceding, in
Russia
and
Sibiria;
PLACE.
and extends to
Kamtschatka.
Often found in the warmer parts of
Europe.
R. WHIN-CHAT,
Br. Zool.
i. No 158.
Le Tarier,
De Buffon,
v. 224.—
Pl. Enl.
678.
M. Rubetra,
Faun. Suec.
No 255.—
Latham,
ii. 245.—LEV. MUS.
W. With head and back of rusty brown, spotted with black: over each eye a white line; under that a broad bed of black: breast reddish yellow: two middle feathers of the tail black; the rest white at their bottoms, black at their ends. The FEMALE has on the cheeks a bed of brown instead of black, and the other colors less vivid.
PLACE.
Found not farther north than
Sweden.
Is found in the temperate parts of
Russia,
as far as the
Urallian
chain; but has not reached
Sibiria.
S. WHITE-THROAT.
M. Sylvia. Skogsneter mesar,
Faun. Suec.
No 250.—
Latham,
ii. 428.
La Grisette, ou Fauvette grise,
De Buffon,
v. 132.—
Pl. Enl.
579. 3.—LEV. MUS.
W. With head of a brownish ash: back tinged with red: lesser coverts of wings pale brown; greater dusky, edged with tawny brown: wings and tail dusky, with reddish brown margins: exterior side, and part of the interior sides, of the outmost feather of the tail white.
PLACE.
Not farther north than
Sweden.
Scattered over all
Russia
and
Sibiria.
T. AWATCHA.
W. With crown, upper part of neck and body, deep brown: primaries edged with white: lower part of the five outmost feathers of the tail deep orange; ends brown; two middle feathers wholly brown: throat and breast white; the sides of the first, and all the last, spotted with black: from upper mandible to each eye, an oblique white line: sides pale rust-color: middle of the belly white.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Kamtschatka.
U. KRUKA.
M. Curruca. Kruka,
Faun. Suec.
No . 247.—
Latham,
ii. 417.
W. With head, wings, and upper part of body, brownish ash; lower part white: tail dusky; but each outmost feather striped down with a line of white.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Sweden,
and all parts of
Russia;
but not
Sibiria.
Its eggs ash-colored, spotted with rust. Not our Hedge Sparrow, which
Linnaeus
makes synonymous with it.
XXX. TITMOUSE.
Gen. Birds
LIV.
324. TOUPET.
Crested Titmouse,
Catesby,
i. 57.—
Latham,
ii. 544.
La Mesange huppée de Ja Caroline,
De Buffon,
v. 451.—
Brisson,
iii. 561.
Parus bicolor,
Lin. Syst.
340.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
T. With the forehead, head, and upper part of the neck and body, of a deep grey: under side white, tinged with red; deepest: under the wings: feathers on the head long, which it erects occasionally into a pointed crest, like a toupet: legs of a lead-color. FEMALE differs not in color.
Inhabits the forests of
Virginia
and
Carolina
the whole year,
PLACE.
and feed on insects. Shuns houses. Found also in
Greenland
Faun. Groenl.
123.
. Flies swift; and emits a weak note.
325. VIRGINIAN.
Yellow-rump,
Catesby,
i. 58.—
Latham,
ii. 546.
La Mesange à croupion jaune,
De Buffon,
v. 453.
Parus Virginianus,
Lin. Syst.
342.—
Brisson,
iii. 575.
T. With the head, whole body, wings, and tail, brown, tinged with green: rump yellow.
Inhabits
Carolina.
Frequents trees, and feeds on insects.
PLACE.
326. CREEPING.
Finch Creeper,
Catesby,
i. 64.—
Latham,
ii. 558.
Parus Americanus,
Lin. Syst.
341.—BL. MUS.
T. With a blueish head: white spot above, and another beneath each eye: upper part of the back of a yellowish green; rest of the back, tail, and wings, of a dusky blue; the last crossed with two bars of white: throat yellow, bounded beneath by a black band, extending to the hind part of the neck; which is of the same color: breast yellow: belly white: sides tinged with red: legs dull yellow. FEMALE dusky.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Carolina
all the year. Creeps up and down the bodies of trees, and picks insects out of the bark.
327. COLEMOUSE.
Br. Zool.
i. No 164.
Parus ater,
Faun. Suec.
268.—
Latham,
ii. 540.
La petite Charbonniere,
De Buffon,
v. 400.—LEV. MUS.
T. With a black head, marked on the hind part with a white spot: back and rump of a cinereous green; brightest on the last: coverts of the, wings of a dusky green; the lowest order tipt with white.
PLACE.
Shot during summer in
Newfoundland.
Is found in
Sibiria,
even beyond the
Lena;
and winters in that climate.
328. CANADA.
Mesange à tête noire du Canada,
De Buffon,
v. 408.—
Brisson,
iii. 553.
Parus Atricapillus,
Lin. Syst.
341.—
Latham,
ii. 542.
T. With the head and chin black: sides of the neck, cheeks, and all the under part of the body, white: upper side of the neck, back, and rump, of a deep ash-color: coverts of the wings, and primaries, brown; the first edged with grey; the exterior sides of the last with a lighter grey; the inner with white: the two middle feathers of the tail cinereous; the others brown on the inner side, and ash-colored on the outmost, edged with light grey.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Canada
and
Hudson's Bay,
and as high as lat. 64. 30, on the western side of
North America.
Is a most hardy bird; and continues about
Albany
Fort the whole year; but most numerous in cold weather, probably compelled by want of food. Feeds on worms and insects: makes a twittering noise; from which the natives call it
Kiss-kiss-keshish
Phil. Trans.
lxii. 407.
.
I cannot add a bird of this kind from
Louisiana
as a new species, as it differs in nothing, except having the black spot on the chin larger, and the colors deeper. The FEMALE has a tinge of red amongst the cinereous, and on the head
De Buffon,
v. 407.
—Pl. Enl.
502.
.
329. HUDSON'S BAY.
Parus Hudsonicus,
Forster.—Ph. Trans.
lxii. 408. 430.—
Latham,
ii. 557.
T. With the head of a rusty brown: a white line beneath each eye: black throat: feathers on the back long, brown tipt with olive: feathers on the breast and belly black, tipt with white: sides under the wings ferruginous: wings brown: edges of the primaries cinereous: tail rounded; brown, edged with cinereous: legs black. Male and Female resemble each other. LENGTH five inches and an eighth. EXTENT seven. WEIGHT half an ounce.
Continues, even about
Severn
river, the whole year.
PLACE.
Frequents the juniper-bushes, on buds of which it feeds. Lays five eggs. In winter collects in small flocks, flying from tree to tree. The natives call them
Peche-ke-ke-shish.
A. GREAT TITMOUSE,
Br. Zool.
i. No 162.—
Latham,
ii. 536.
Le Charbonniere, ou grosse Mesange,
De Buffon,
v. 392.—
Pl. Enl.
3.
Talg-oxe,
Faun. Suec.
265.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
T. With white cheeks: bill, head, and throat, black: belly yellowish green, divided lengthways with a bed of black: rump blueish grey: coverts of wings blue: primaries edged with blue: tail dusky; exterior sides of the outmost feathers white; of the others blueish: legs lead-color. SIZE of a Chaffinch.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Norway, Sweden, Russia,
and
Sibiria,
even in the winter.
B. STRÖMIAN,
Strom. Sond.
i. 240.—
Brunnich,
p. 73.—
Latham,
ii. 537.
T. With bill black above, yellow below: neck and upper part of the body, yellowish green: throat yellow: breast yellow, spotted with bay: belly blue, yellowish near the vent: tail bifurcated, of the same color with the back; the two middle feathers greenish; the two outmost edged with white: legs black.
PLACE.
Discovered by Mr.
Ström,
in
Sondmor.
C. AZURE TITMOUSE.
Parus Cyaneis,
Nov. Com. Petrop.
xiv. 498. tab. xiii. fig. 1.—588. tab. xxiii. fig. 1.
Parus Indicus,
Aldr.—Raii. Syn. Av.
74.—
Latham,
i. 538.
T. With a very short and thick bill: crown and hind part of the neck of a hoary whiteness; the lower part of the last bounded by a transverse band of dark blue: cheeks white, crossed by a deep blue line, extending beyond the eyes: back light blue: rump whitish: under side of the neck, breast, and belly, of a snowy whiteness, with a single dusky spot on the breast: wings varied with rich blue, dusky, and white: tail rather long; of a dusky blue, tipt with white: legs dusky blue.
SIZE of the
English
Blue Titmouse. The plumage of this elegant species is extremely loose, soft, and of most exquisitely fine texture, and so liable to be raised, that when the bird is sitting, but especially when it is asleep, it appears like a ball of feathers.
PLACE.
It inhabits, in great abundance, the northern woods of
Sibiria
and
Russia,
and about
Synbirsk,
in the government of
Kasan.
It is a migratory bird, and appears in winter conversant about the houses in
Petersburgh.
It twitters like the common Sparrow, but with a softer and sweeter note.
D. BLUE,
Br. Zool.
i. No 163.
Blamées,
Faun. Suec.
No 267.—
Latham,
ii. 543.
La Mesange bleue,
De Buffon,
v. 413.—
Pl. Enl.
3. 2.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
T. With a rich blue crown, wings, and tail: a black line over each eye: cheeks and forehead white: back yellowish green: breast and belly yellow.
Inhabits as high as
Sondmor
Strom.
239.
. Found in southern
Russia,
PLACE.
but not in
Sibiria.
E. MARSH,
Br. Zool.
i. No 165.
Entita, Tomlinge,
Faun. Suec.
No 269.—
Latham,
ii. 541.
La Nonuette cendrée,
De Buffon,
v. 403.—
Pl. Enl.
3. 3.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
T. With head wholly black: under side of the body white: back cinereous. Like the
Colemouse,
No
it wants the white spot on the hind part of the head: its tail is longer, and the bulk larger.
Is found as far as
Sondmor
Ibid.
.
PLACE.
Inhabits all parts of
Russia
and
Sibiria,
even as far as
Kamtschatka;
and endures the hardest frosts.
F. CRESTED.
Parus cristatus. Tofsmyssa. Tofstita,
Faun. Suec.
No 266.
La Mesange huppée,
De Buffon,
v. 447.—
Pl. Enl.
502.—
Latham,
ii. 545.
T. With a large upright crest: chin black: rest of the plumage a mixture of black, ash-color, and white.
Is found in
Sweden,
and in the west and temperate parts of
Russia;
PLACE.
but does not reach
Sibiria.
G. LONG-TAILED,
Br. Zool.
i. No 166.
Lanius caudatus Ahltita,
Faun. Suec.
No 83.—
Latham,
ii. 551.
La Mesange à longue queue,
De Buffon,
v. 436.—
Pl. Enl,
502. 3.—LEV. MUS.— BL. MUS.
T. With crown white, mixed with dark grey: head surrounded by a bed of black, beginning at the base of the bill: from the hind part of the head to the rump a line of black; feathers on each side of that line, and those on the breast, a fine purplish red: tail very long and cuneiform; black, with the interior edges of the three outmost feathers white.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Sweden.
Frequent, even in winter, in thickets and woods, all over
Russia
and
Sibiria.
Its elegant nest described in the
Br. Zool.
i. p. 395.
H. BEARDED,
Br. Zool.
1. No 167.—
Latham,
ii. 552.
La Moustache,
De Buffon,
v. 418.—
Pl. Enl.
618.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
T. With a fine grey head: beneath each eye a deep black triangular tuft of feathers: back, sides, and thighs, orange-colored: secondaries black, edged with orange: middle of the breast bloom-colored: tail long, cuneiform, and ferruginous. FEMALE wants the black tufts: crown of a dirty brown: outmost feathers of the tail black; the ends white.
PLACE.
Found but rarely in
Schonen
in
Sweden.
Is very common about the
Caspian
and
Palus Maeotis,
and among the rushes of the rivers which fall into them; but in no high latitudes in
Asia.
None in
Sibiria.
XXXI. SWALLOW.
Gen. Birds,
LV.
330. CHIMNEY.
Br. Zool.
No 168.—
Latham,
ii. 560.
Hirundo rustica. Ladu Swala,
Faun. Suec.
No 270.
L'Hirondelle de cheminée,
De Buffon,
vi. 591.—
Pl. Enl.
543.—LEV. MUS— BL. MUS.
SW. With the head, upper part of the body, and coverts of the wings, black, glossed with rich purplish blue: forehead red: under side ferruginous. That of
Europe
white; in the MALE tinged with red: tail black; every feather, unless the two middle, marked with a white spot near the end.
Differs in nothing from the
English
chimney Swallow, but in the redness of the under side.
These birds inhabit, during summer,
Newfoundland,
PLACE.
and other parts of
North America.
Build on lofty rocks and precipices, especially such as yield shelter by overhanging their base. Others, since the arrival of the
Europeans,
affect the haunts of mankind, and make their nests in barns, stables, and out-houses: in some parts they are, on that account, called Barn Swallows. The
Swedes
give them the same name,
Ladu Swala,
because in their country they also nestle in barns.
They appear in the
Jersies
the beginning of
April,
wet, says Mr.
Kalm,
from the sea or lakes, at the bottom of which they had passed torpid the whole winter—I should rather imagine, from the casual showers they met with in their long flight from their winter quarters: and that they do take such, Mr.
Kalm
himself is witness to, by meeting with them on their passage at sea, nine hundred and twenty miles from any land
Voy. i. 24.—See also
Br. Zool.
i. p. 344, &c.
.
In the province of
New York
they appear in
May.
Make the same sort of nest with the
European.
Lay in
June.
Disappear in
August,
or early in
September.
Is found in
Europe
as far north as
Drontheim,
and sometimes frequents the
Feroe
isles.
IN SIBIRIA.
This species is very common all over
Sibiria;
but those which are found beyond the
Jenesei,
and in all the north-east part of that country, have their lower part rust-colored, like the
American
variety; for they cannot be deemed a distinct species.
331. MARTIN.
Br. Zool.
i. No 169.—
Latham,
ii. 564.
Hirundo urbica. Hus-Swala,
Faun. Suec.
No 271.
L'Hirondelle au Croupion blanc, ou de Fenêtre,
De Buffon,
vi. 614. —
Pl. Enl.
542.—BL. MUS.
SW. With a white rump, breast, and belly: head and back black, glossed with blue: wings and tail black: feet covered with white down.
PLACE.
In
Europe
is seen as high as
Drontheim.
Inhabits, during summer,
Newfoundland
and
New York.
It was also found by the navigators on the western coast in the month of
October:
it was inferior in size to those found in
Europe.
A specimen, with a black rump, was sent from
Hudson's Bay
Ph. Trans.
lxii. 408.
; doubtful whether a variety or distinct species. They build there under the windows of the few houses, or against the steep banks of rivers.
IN SIBIRIA.
Is very common in
Sibiria
and
Kamtschatka.
332. SAND.
Br. Zool.
i. No 170.—
Latham,
ii. 568.
Hirundo riparia. Strand-Swala. Back-Swala,
Faun. Suec.
No 273▪
L'Hirondelle de rivage,
De Buffon,
vi. 632.—
Pl. Enl.
543. 2.—BL. MUS.
SW. With the head and upper part of the body of a mouse-color: wings and tail dusky: under side white: throat crossed by a mouse-colored ring: feet smooth and black.
Arrives in
June
in
New York.
Builds in deep holes of banks,
PLACE.
over lakes and rivers; and departs in
August
or the beginning of
September.
It is frequent in
Sibiria
and
Kamtschatka.
Is found in
Europe
as far north as
Sondmor
Strom.
249.
.
333. PURPLE SWIFT.
Purple Martin,
Catesby,
i. 51,
Great American Martin (fem?)
Edw.
120.
Hirundo purpurea. H. Subis,
Lin. Syst.
344.—
Latham,
ii. 574. No 21.—575. Nos 23▪ 24.
Le Martinet coleur de pourpre,
De Buffon,
vi. 676.
L'Hirondelle de la Baie de Hudson,
Ib.
677.
L'Hirondelle de la Louisiane,
Ib.
674.—
Pl. Enl.
722.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
SW. With its whole plumage black, glossed most richly with variable blue and deep purple: wings and tail of a duller color: legs and feet naked, large, and strong; three toes only standing forward, not all four, as in the
European
kind. In SIZE far superior to the
English
Swift; but the wings in proportion shorter.
The colors of the FEMALE are less glossy on the upper part of the body; below of a dirty white: in some, the ridge of the wings is white, and the breast grey. Such is the specimen engraven by Mr.
Edwards;
which I suspect to be a young bird, and not to differ in species, although it may in sex, from that of Mr.
Catesby;
for I have had opportunity of examining both male and female from
New York.
I must also unite the
Louisiane
of the Count
De Buffon,
to this species.
Inhabits
North America,
PLACE.
from
Hudson's Bay
to
South Carolina
and
Louisiana.
Appears in
New York
in
April.
Leaves the province the latter end of
August.
By the self-interest of mankind, they are welcome guests, and provided with lodgings, in form of earthen pots or boxes, placed on the outsides of the houses, against their arrival, and sometimes with empty calabashes hung on the tops of poles
Lawson,
144.
. In these they make their nests, and lay four or five eggs. In return for these benefits, they are the guardian of the poultry; driving away, and pursuing with great noise, Crows, Hawks, and all kinds of vermin. On the approach of any thing noxious, they set up a loud note; which the chickens consider as an alarm, and instantly run under shelter.
334. SWIFT.
Br. Zool.
i. No 171.—
Latham,
ii. 584.
Swift, or Diveling,
Lawson,
145.
Hirundo apus. Ring-Swala,
Faun. Suec.
272.
Le Martinet noir,
De Buffon,
643.—
Pl. Enl.
542.—BL. MUS.
SW. With a very small bill: white chin: all the plumage besides dusky: all the toes standing forward.
PLACE.
According to Mr.
Lawson,
inhabits
Carolina.
Found in vast abundance beyond lake
Baikal,
on the loftiest rocks; chiefly about the river
Onon,
where a variety with a white rump is very common. Extends in
Europe
as high as
Drontheim.
335. ACULEATED.
American Swallow,
Catesby,
i. 8.
Chimney Swallow,
Kalm.
ii. 146.
Hirundo pelasgia,
Lin. Syst.
345.—
Latham,
ii. 583.
Le Hirondelle brune acutipenne,
De Buffon,
vi. 699. —
Pl. Enl.
726. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
SW. With the bill short, broad, and black: head, upper part of the neck, and wings, dusky: breast cinereous: back, tail, and belly brown: tail even at the end; extremities of each shaft naked and sharp-pointed: wings extend far beyond the tail: legs longer than common to this tribe, and naked a little below the knee. LENGTH five inches and a half.
PLACE.
Inhabits many parts of
North America.
Arrives in
New York
and
Pensylvania
in
May;
somtimes early, sometimes late in the month. Builds in chimnies, forming a most curious nest, with bits of small sticks, cemented by peach-tree gum. It is open at top, and forms about a third of a circle. Lays four or five eggs in
June,
and quits the country in
August.
They often stick close to the chimney-wall by their feet, and support themselves by applying their sharp tail to the sides. They make all day a great thundering noise, by flying up and down the funnel.
It is remarkable, that three species of the
American
Swallows, in general seek the protection of houses for their places of building their nests, ovation, and nutrition; yet it is very certain, that before the arrival of the
Europeans
they must have had recourse to rocks or hollow trees for those purposes; for the miserable hovels of the
Indians
had neither eaves for the uses of the 331st and 330th species, nor chimnies for that of the bird in question. The two first must therefore have fixed their nest against the face of some precipice, as some of the House Swallows do at present in
America,
and this species does about the steep rocks about
Irkutsk
in
Sibiria.
IN SIBIRIA.
The instinct that directs part of this genus to fly to the protection of mankind, as soon as opportunity, unknown to preceding broods, offered, is as wonderful as it is inexplicable.
The Comte
De Buffon
mentions another of this species
vi. 700.
,
LOUISIANE. A VARIETY.
which is found in
Louisiana.
It differs only in the superior length of the wings, from the bird I describe: I therefore can consider it but as a mere variety.
XXXII. GOATSUCKER.
Gen. Birds,
LVI.
336. SHORT-WINGED.
Goatsucker of Carolina,
Catesby,
i. 8.
East India Bat, or Musqueto Hawk,
Lawson,
144.
L'Engoulevent dela Caroline,
De Buffon,
vi. 532.—
Latham,
ii. 592.
G. With the head, back, breast, and coverts of the wings, elegantly mottled with black and bright rust-color, and spotted with large ragged black marks: the scapulars of the same color, here and there spotted with white: on the lower part of the back is a mixture of ash-color: primaries and secondaries most beautifully varied with narrow bars of black and ferruginous; the four middle feathers of the tail barred and mottled with the same colors; as are the external webs of the three outmost on each side; but the inner webs of a snowy whiteness. Wings, when closed, reach little farther than half the length of the tail.
SIZE.
LENGTH twelve inches: EXTENT twenty-four.
PLACE.
I received this species from Doctor GARDEN of
Charlestown, South Carolina;
where it is called, from one of its notes,
Chuck, Chuck Will's widow;
and in the northern provinces,
Whip poor Will,
from the resemblance which another of its notes bears to those words. This, Mr.
Kalm
says, is the fancy of the
Europeans;
for the real sound is likest to
Whipperiwhip,
with a strong accent on the first and last syllable
Kalm,
ii. 152.
. It begins its note about the time that the cherry-trees begin to blossom, or near the 22d of
April,
in the
Jersies;
probably sooner in the southern provinces. Mr.
Blackburne
observed them first,
EGGS.
in the province of
New York,
in
May.
Adds, that they lay two eggs on the bare ground; and that they will scarcely quit them on the nearest approach. They disappear in
August.
FOOD.
Their food is entirely insects, which they catch night and morning, at the time in which they emit their song. They never settle on high trees; but on bushes, rails, or the steps of houses, which they frequent, as insects swarm more, near to habitations, than other places. They give their note sitting: if they see an insect pass, they fly up, catch it, and then settle again, and renew their song. Oft-times numbers perch near one another, make a vast noise, repeating their song as if in emulation. They continue their call till it is quite dark: their note ceases during night; but commences at the dawn, and is continued till the sun rises, when they again desist for the whole day
Kalm,
ii. 153.
. I must add, that, besides these notes, it has that strange sound resembling the turning of a great spinning-wheel; probably common to the whole genus
Br. Zool.
i. p. 352, 4to—417, 8vo.
.
They are extremely rare towards the sea-side; but swarm towards the mountains. Doctor
Garden
never got but this one. Mr.
Clayton
confirms their scarcity in the maritime parts of the provinces; and favors us with the following account of them.
I never heard but one in the maritime parts; though my abode has been always there; but near the mountains, within a few minutes after sun-set, they begin, and make so shrill and loud a noise, which the echoes from the rocks and sides of the mountains increase to such a degree, that the first time I lodged there I could hardly get any sleep. The shooting them in the night is very difficult; they never appearing in the day. Their cry is pretty much like the sound of the pronunciation of the words
Whip poor Will,
with a kind of a
chucking
between every other, or every two or three cries; and they lay the accent upon the last word
Will,
and lest of all upon the middle one.
The
Indians
say, these birds were never known till a great massacre was made of their country folks by the
English,
and that they are the departed spirits of the massacred
Indians.
Abundance of people here look upon them as birds of ill omen, and are very melancholy if one lights on their house or near their door, and sets up its cry (as they will sometimes upon the very threshold); for they verily believe one of the family will die very soon after
Catesby,
App. 16.
.
337. LONG-WINGED.
Whip poor Will, or lesser Goatsucker,
Edw.
63.—
Catesby,
App. 16.—
Latham,
ii. 595.
Caprimulgus minor Americanus,
Lin. Syst.
346.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
G. With the head and body dusky, mottled with white and pale rust-color: primaries black, marked near the middle with a white bar: under the throat is a white crescent, with the ends pointing upwards; breast barred with dirty white and dusky: tail black, marked regularly on each web with spots, mottled with black and white: near the ends of each feather is a large white spot, the ends quite black: wings, when closed, extend beyond the end of the tail. LENGTH nine inches and a half: EXTENT about twenty-three.
PLACE.
Inhabits the same provinces with the former, and seems to have the same manners and notes; for, according to Doctor
Garden,
each are known in different places, by the name of
Whip poor Will.
It is found as far north as
Henly
House, a settlement for about a hundred miles up
Albany
river in
Hudson's Bay,
where it is called the
Musquets
Hawk.
Swallow No . 335.
A. EUROPEAN.
Caprimulgus Europeus. Nattskafwa. Quallknarran,
Faun. Suec.
No 274. —
Latham,
ii. 593.
L'Engoulevent,
De Buffon,
vi. 512.—
Br. Zool.
i. No —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
G. With head and back elegantly streaked with narrow lines of black and grey, and with a few long oblong strokes of black and rust: belly barred with black and grey: wings black; each web finely marked with rusty spots: near the ends of the three first primaries, a large oval white spot: tail dusky, with regular spots, mottled with rust and black; ends of the two first feathers white. FEMALE wants the spots on the wings and tail.
It is found in
Europe
as far north as
Sondmor,
PLACE.
and is common all over
Sibiria
and
Kamtschatka;
and lives not only in forests,
IN KAMTSCHATKA.
but in open countries, where it finds rocks or high banks for shelter.
DIV. II. WATER FOWLS. SECT. I. CLOVEN-FOOTED.
DIV. II. Water-Fowls.
SECT. I. CLOVEN-FOOTED.
XXXIII. SPOON-BILL.
Gen. Birds,
LIX.
338. ROSEATE.
Ajaja,
Marcgrave,
204.—
Wil. Orn.—Raii Av.
—Platalea ajaja,
Lin. Sjst.
231. —
Latham,
iii.
La Spatule d'Amerique,
De Buffon,
vii. 456.—
Pl. Enl.
165.—
Du Pratz,
ii. 84.
SP. B. With the fore part of the head and throat naked and whitish: the whole plumage white, tinged with a beautiful rose-color, deepest about the wings and coverts of the tail, where it nearly approaches crimson. SIZE of a Goose. Is an eatable fowl. Is conversant in
Louisiana,
PLACE.
about the shores and rivers; and lives on water-insects and small fish. Is found also in
Mexico
Fernandez,
49.
,
Guiana
Barrere,
125.
,
Brasil,
and in
Jamaica,
and the greater
Antilles.
The plumage acquires its beauty in proportion to the age of the bird
The same.
; so probably is whitish when young. It soon grows tame.
A. SPOON-BILL,
Br. Zool.
ii. App. No ix.—La Spatule,
De Buffon,
vii. 448. tab. xxiv. —
Pl. Enl.
405.—
Latham,
iii.
Platalea Leucorodia, Pelekan,
Faun. Suec.
No 160.—LEV. MUS.
SP. B. Wholly white, with a pendent crest: legs and bill black: at the angles of the bill, on each cheek, a bright orange spot. From the end of the bill to end of the claws, forty inches. EXTENT fifty-two.
Inhabits the
Feroe
isles
Worm. Mus.
310.
;
PLACE.
and on the continent is sometimes found in summer as high as
West Bothnia
and
Lapland
Faun. Suec.
No 160.
. Inhabits also the temperate parts of
Russia
and
Sibiria,
both in flocks and solitary, frequenting the vast lakes of the country. Is seen even beyond lake
Baikal.
Winters in the south. Builds its nest on high trees, and is very clamorous in the breeding season. Lays four eggs. Feeds on fish, which it is said to take from the diving tribe of birds, frightening them from their prey by clattering its bill
Worm. Mus.
310.
. It devours frogs and snakes; and will even feed on vegetables.
XXXIV. HERON.
Gen. Birds,
LXIII.
339. HOOPING CRANE.
Hooping Crane,
Catesby,
i. 75.—
Edw.
132.—
Latham,
iii.
Ardea Americana,
Lin. Syst.
234.
La Grue blanche,
De Buffon,
vii. 308.—
Pl. Enl.
889.
H. With a yellowish brown bill, serrated near the end: crown covered with a red skin, thinly beset with black bristles: from the bill, beneath each eye, extends a similar stripe: on the hind part of the head a triangular black spot: quil feathers, and a few of the greater coverts, black: secondaries, and the whole plumage, of a pure white: webs of the tertials elegantly loose and unconnected, and, falling over the primaries, almost conceal them: legs and feet black and scaly. LENGTH from the bill to the tip of the claws five feet seven inches.
PLACE.
Inhabits all parts of
North America,
from
Florida
to
Hudson's Bay.
Is migratory: appears early in the spring about the
Alatamaha,
and other rivers near
St. Augustine,
and then quits the country in great numbers, and flies north in order to breed in security. They appear in summer in
Hudson's Bay,
and return southward with their young on approach of winter. They make a remarkable hooping noise: this makes me imagine these to have been the birds, whose clamor Captain
Philip Amidas
(the first
Englishman
who ever set foot on
North America
) so graphically describes, on his landing on the isle of
Wokokou,
off the coast of
North Carolina:
"WHEN," says he,
such a flock of Cranes (the most part white) arose under us, with such a cry, redoubled by many ecchoes, as if an armie of men had showted all together.
This was in the month of
July
Smith's Hist. Virgin.
&c. 2.
; which proves, that in those early days this species bred in the then desert parts of the southern provinces, till driven away by population, as was the case with the common Crane in
England;
which abounded in our undrained fens, till cultivation forced them entirely to quit our kingdom.
340. BROWN CRANE.
Brown and ash-colored Crane,
Edw.
133.—Grus Canadensis,
Lin. Syst.
234.— Toquil Coyotl,
Fernandez,
44 —
Latham,
iii.
La Grue brune,
De Buffon,
vii. 310.—LEV. MUS.
H. With a dusky bill, near four inches long: crown red and naked: cheeks and throat white: hind part of the head and whole neck cinereous; rest of the plumage of the same color, tinged with pale rust: primaries black, shafts white; the row of feathers incumbent on them light ash: tertials brown with elegant loose webs, incurvated, and extending beyond the ends of the primaries: tail cinereous: legs black. LENGTH three feet three. EXTENT three,
SIZE.
five. WEIGHT seven pounds and a half.
This species is found in
Mexico;
PLACE.
but migrates into the north to breed. About the middle of
February
they are seen in their flight over the
Jersies,
steering northerly; and in the spring some make a short halt there
Kalm,
ii. 72.
. They arrive in
May
about
Severn
river in
Hudson's Bay.
Frequent lakes and ponds. Feed on fish and insects. Hatch two young; and retire southward in
autumn
Ph. Trans.
lxii. 409.
. I must observe, that they formerly made a halt in the
Hurons
country, at the season in which the
Indians
set their
maiz;
and again on their return from the north, when the harvest was ready, in order to feed on the grain. The
Indians,
at those times, were used to shoot them with arrows headed with stone; for
Theodat
As quoted by
De Buffon.
, my authority, made his remarks in that country in the beginning of the last century.
341. GREAT.
Largest crested Heron,
Catesby,
App. 10.—Ardea Herodias,
Lin. Syst.
Le grand Heron d'Amerique,
De Buffon,
vii. 385.—
Latham,
iii.
H. With a bill eight inches long: on the hind part of the neck a long crest of slender herring-bone feathers, of a brown color, to be erected at pleasure: the head, neck, and whole of the body, brown, palest on the under part, and spotted: primaries black: legs brown. HEIGHT, when erect, four feet and a half.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Virginia.
Feeds on fish, frogs, and lizards.
342. RED-SHOULDERED.
Ash-colored Heron,
Edw.
135.—Ardea Hudsonias,
Lin. Syst.
238.—
Latham,
iii.
Le Heron de la Baie d'Hudson,
De Buffon,
vii. 386.—LEV. MUS.
H. With a white forehead: black crest: hind part of the neck of a reddish brown; fore part white, spotted with black: feathers on the breast long and narrow: belly black and white, bounded with black: sides grey: primaries and tail dusky: coverts and secondaries cinereous: shoulders and thighs of an orange red: bill yellowish: legs dusky. In SIZE superior to the
English
Heron.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay,
frequenting, during summer, the inland lakes.
FEMALE?
Head smooth, deep cinereous: neck paler: throat white: breast and belly white, striped downwards with black: back, tail, and coverts of wings, light ash: primaries black: shoulders and thighs of a dirty yellow: legs dusky.
PLACE.
Sent to Mrs.
Blackburn
from
New York,
under the name of the
Hen Heron.
It probably is the female of the last. Its LENGTH was three feet to the tail: to the end of the toes four feet nine.
343. COMMOM HERON.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 173 —Ardea cinerea. Hagen,
Faun. Suec.
No 165.—
Latham,
iii.
Le Heron commun,
De Buffon,
vii. 34.—
Pl. Enl.
787. 755.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
H. With a white crown: long pendent black crest: white neck, streaked before with black: coverts of the wings, scapulars, and tail, grey: belly white: primaries dusky. Crest on the FEMALE very short. LENGTH three feet three.
PLACE.
Is frequent in
Carolina
Catesby,
App. xxxvi.
—Lawson, Hist. Carol.
148.
; and I think a specimen was sent to Mrs.
Blackburn
from
New York,
where they breed in flocks as they do in
England.
If I mistake not the kind, they come to
New York
in
May,
and retire in
October.
They are found in
Russia,
and
Sibiria,
but not very far north.
Crantz
says, that they have been seen in the south of
Greenland;
but were never observed by
Fabricius
Faun. Greenl.
106.
: but it certainly inhabits
Romsdal
and
Nordmer
Leems,
242.
, in the severe climate of the diocese of
Drontheim.
It may be here remarked, that this, and the whole tribe of what
Linnaeus
calls
Grallae,
or the
Cloven-footed Water Fowl,
quit
Sweden;
and of course the more northern countries, at approach of winter; nor is a single species seen till the return of spring
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 588.
.
344. GREAT WHITE.
White Heron,
Br. Zool.
i. No 175.—Ardea Alba,
Lin. Syst.
239.—
Faun. Suec.
No 166.—
Latham,
iii.
Le Heron blanc,
De Buffon,
vii. 365.—
Pl. Enl.
886.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
H. With a very slender yellow bill: plumage entirely of a milk white: legs black. LENGTH to the toes four feet and a half.
Inhabits
America,
from
Jamaica
and
Mexico,
PLACE.
to
New England.
It migrates, being seen in
New York
from
June
to
October
only. Is found, but rarely, in
Sweden.
Inhabits the
Russian
dominions, about the
Caspian
and
Black Seas,
the lakes of
Great Tartary,
and the river
Irtish,
and sometimes extends north as high as lat. 53. Captain Cook observed this species in
New Zealand
Voy. towards S. Pole,
i. 87.
.
345. LITTLE WHITE.
Garzetta,
Aldr. Av.
lib. iii. 161.—
Will. Orn.
280.—
Raii Syn. Av.
99.—
Catesby,
i. 77.—
Latham,
iii.
La Garzette blanche,
De Buffon,
vii. 371.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
H. With the bill and legs black: whole plumage white: on the head a short crest. LENGTH two feet.
This species is found in
New York.
PLACE.
Is met with again in
New Zealand
and
Otaheite.
The little white
Carolina
Heron of
Catesby,
with a red bill and green legs, seems only a variety of this.
346. GREAT EGRET.
La grande Aigrette,
De Buffon,
vii. 377.—
Pl. Enl.
925.—
Latham,
iii.
H. With a long slender crest: bill and legs black: whole plumage of a silvery whiteness: the feathers on the back inexpressibly elegant, long, silky, narrow, and with unwebbed plumes, hanging over the wings and tail; the same kind are pendent from the breast. Of double the SIZE of the
European
species. LENGTH of which, from bill to the tip of the tail, is two feet
Br. Zool.
ii. App. No vii.
.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Louisiana
and
Guiana.
Does not frequent the shores; but the vast morasses and overflown tracts, where it nestles on the little isles formed by the inundations. The
Guiritinga
of the
Brasilians
Marcgrave,
209.
is probably the same species. It extends to the
Falkland
isles; for
Bougainville
observed these Egrets, which he first thought were common Herons. They fed towards night, and made a barking noise
Voy. round the World,
Engl. ed. 67.
.
The feathers of the Great Egret would prove a valuable article of commerce, being very much sought after for the ornamental part of dress.
347. LITTLE EGRET.
Br. Zool.
ii. App. No vii.—Ardea Garzetta,
Lin. Syst.
237.—
Latham,
iii.
L'Aigrette,
De Buffon,
vii. 372. tab. xx.—
Pl. Enl.
901.—LEV. MUS.
H. With yellow irides: a crest with some short and two long pendent feathers: whole plumage of a delicate silvery white: feathers on the breast and scapulars very delicate, loose, and unwebbed: legs a blackish green. WEIGHT about one pound. LENGTH to the tip of the tail two feet.
Is frequent in
New York
and
Long Island:
PLACE.
about the
Black
and
Caspian
seas; but seldom farther north. Are found in
France,
and the south of
Europe.
Migrates into
Austria
in spring and autumn
Kram. Austr.
346.
. Is frequent in
Senegal, Madagascar, Isle de Bourbon,
and
Siam
De Buffon, Ois.
vii. 375. 376.
.
348. REDDISH EGRET.
L'Aigrette rousse,
De Buffon,
vii. 378.—
Pl. Enl.
902.—
Latham
iii.
H. With the body of a blackish grey: the silky long feathers of the neck and back of a rusty red. LENGTH about two feet.
Inhabits
Louisiana.
PLACE.
349. GREEN.
Small Bittern,
Catesby,
i. 80.—Ardea virescens,
Lin. Syst.
238.—
Latham,
iii.
Le Crabier vert,
De Buffon,
vii. 404.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
H. With a green head, and large green crest: bill dusky above, yellow beneath: throat white: neck a bright bay, streaked before with white: coverts of the wings dusky green, edged with white: tail and primaries dusky: feathers on the back cinereous, long, narrow, and silky: belly of a cinereous red: legs yellowish. The colors of the FEMALE less brilliant: wings spotted with rust-color. It wants the long silky feathers. LENGTH eighteen inches.
Inhabits from
New York
to
South Carolina.
Usually sits,
PLACE.
with its long neck contracted, on trees hanging over rivers. Feeds on small fish, frogs, and crabs. From the last, the
French
call several of these Herons
Crabiers.
They are supposed to migrate, even from
Carolina,
at approach of winter.
350. LOUISIANE.
Le Crabier roux à tête & queue vertes,
De Buffon,
vii. 407.—
Pl. Enl.
909.—
Latham,
iii.
H. With the crown and tail of a dull green: the neck and belly red, tinged with brown: coverts of the wings dusky green, edged with tawny: the back covered with long slender feathers, faintly dashed with purple.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Louisiana.
351. BLUE.
Blue Bittern,
Catesby,
i. 76.—Le Crabier bleu,
De Buffon,
vii. 398.— Ardea Caerulea,
Lin. Syst.
238.—
Latham,
iii.—LEV. MUS.
H. With a blue bill, dusky at the point: head and neck of a changeable purple; the first adorned with a beautiful crest of long slender feathers: the remainder of the plumage entirely of a fine deep blue: from the breast depend several long feathers: the back is covered with others a foot in length, hanging four inches beyond the tail; they are silky, and of the same fine texture with those of the crest: the legs are green. WEIGHT fifteen ounces.
PLACE.
It appears, but not in numbers, in
Carolina,
and that only in the spring of the year. Its winter residence seems to be
Jamaica
Sloane's Hist. Jamaica,
ii. 315.
.
352. YELLOW-CROWNED.
Crested Bittern,
Catesby,
i. 79 —Ardea Violacea,
Lin. Syst.
238.—
Latham,
iii.
Le Crabier gris de fer,
De Buffon,
vii. 399.
H. With a black, strong, and thick bill: crown of a pale yellow: from the hind part issue three or four long slender white feathers, erigible at pleasure; some are six inches long: a broad white stripe runs from the corner of the lower mandible as far as the ears: the rest of the cheeks and head are of a blueish black: head, breast, belly, and coverts of wings, of a dusky blue: the primaries brown, tinged with blue: the back striped with black, mixed with white: from the upper part arise tufts of elegant slender silky feathers, falling beyond the tail: the legs and feet yellow. WEIGHT one pound and a half.
This species appears in
Carolina
in the rainy seasons:
PLACE.
but their native places are the
Bahama
islands, where they breed in amazing numbers, amidst the bushes in the rocks. They are called by the islanders
Crab-catchers,
as they chiefly live on those crustaceous animals. They are of great use to the inhabitants; who take the young birds before they can fly, and find them delicious eating. They swarm so on some of the rocky isles, that two men, in a few hours, will fill a small boat with them, taking them when perched on the rocks or bushes; for they will make no attempt to escape, notwithstanding they are full grown.
353. ASH-COLORED.
H. With a black strong bill: crown dusky: cheeks and chin whitish: neck of a pale cinereous brown, streaked before with white: back, wings, and tail, cinereous, clouded round each feather with dusky: feathers on the sides of the back long and broad, hanging over the ends of the wings: belly white: legs yellowish. LENGTH two feet one inch.
Inhabits
New York.
Arrives there in
May:
breeds,
PLACE.
and leaves the country in
October.
—BL. MUS.—
Latham,
iii.
354. STREAKED.
H. With a bill about two inches long: crown, back, and tail, of an uniform dusky color: hind part of the neck and cheeks rusty and black: chin and throat white: fore part of the neck marked with streaks of white and black: coverts of the wings, with streaks of black and yellowish white: ridge of the wing white: primaries dusky.—LEV. MUS.—
Latham,
iii.
Another, in the same
Museum
and same case (probably differing only in sex) has, from the lower mandible, a white line bounding the lower part of each cheek: the greater coverts of the wings and scapulars dusky, each feather tipt with white. In other respects it agrees with the former: the legs of each are greenish: the form of their bodies slender and elegant. LENGTH, from bill to the tip of the tail, about seventeen inches.
PLACE.
Sent to Sir
Ashton Lever
from
North America.
355. GARDENIAN.
Le Pouacre de Cayenne?
Pl. Enl.
939.—
Latham,
iii.
H. With a dusky strong bill: head, neck, breast, and belly, whitish, elegantly streaked downwards with short fine lines of black; the crown and hind part the darkest: upper part of the back streaked with white; the lower dusky and plain: the whole wing of the same color: the lesser coverts marked with small yellowish spots; the greater coverts marked with a white spot at the end of each feather, forming, across the wings, two rows: the primaries edged with dull white; the ends tipt with the same: tail dusky: legs of a deep dirty yellow. LENGTH about twenty-two inches.
PLACE.
Doctor GARDEN, of
South Carolina,
favoured me with this bird. From the characteristic lines of white spots in the wings, I do not doubt but that the Brown Bittern of
Catesby,
i. 78, is the same
Also l'Etoile of
De Buffon,
vii. 428.
with this: notwithstanding, it would hardly be known, had he not preserved the spots in his very bad figure of it. He says it frequents ponds and rivers in the interior part of the country remote from the sea.—LEV. MUS.
356. NIGHT.
Ardea Nycticorax,
Lin. Syst.
135.—
Will. Orn.
279.—
Latham,
iii.
Le Bihoreau. Le B. de Cayenne,
De Buffon,
vii. 435. 439. tab. xxii.—
Pl. Enl.
758. 759. 899.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
H. With a black bill, crown, back, and scapulars; the last broad and long: forehead, cheeks, neck, and under side of the body, white: wings and tail of a very pale ash-color: the hind part of the head is most specifically distinguished by three very slender white feathers, five inches long, forming a pendent crest: legs of a yellowish green. The LENGTH, to the tip of the tail, one foot seven inches.
Inhabits
New York;
and a variety is found as low as
Cayenne.
PLACE.
Is common to
Europe.
Is frequent in the southern parts of the
Russian
dominions; but does not extend farther than lat. 53. It must not at this time be sought for in the wood near
Sevenhuys
in
Holland,
so noted in the days of Mr.
Willughby
for the vast
rendezvous
of Shags, Herons, Spoon-bills, and these birds, besides Ravens, Woodpigeons, and Turtles
Ray's Travels,
i. 33.
, it being now cut down. When Mr.
Willughby
visited the place it was rented, for the birds and grass, for three thousand gilders a year.
This bird is not the
Nycticorax
of the Antients; which was some rapacious fowl, probably of the Owl kind. It is the
Nacht-rab,
or Night-Raven of the
Germans;
so called from its nocturnal cry, resembling the straining of a person to vomit.
357. BITTERN.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 174.—Ardea Stellaris. Rordrum,
Faun. Suec.
No 164.—
Latham,
iii.
Bittern from Hudson's Bay,
Edw.
136.—Le Butor,
De Buffon,
vii. 411. 430.—
Pl. Enl.
789.—LEV. MUS—BL. MUS.
H. With the upper mandible dusky; lower yellow: feathers on the crown black and long; on the cheeks tawny; on the throat white: hind part of the neck brownish red; fore part white, beautifully marked with short stripes of red, bounded on each side with one of black: feathers on the breast very long: the belly of the colors of the fore part of the neck: back, coverts of wings, and the tail, are ferruginous, traversed with dusky lines: primaries black: legs yellowish green. Rather inferior in SIZE to the
European
Bittern; but so like, as not to merit separation.
PLACE.
It inhabits from
Hudson's Bay
to
Carolina
Lawson,
148.
. In the former, it appears the latter end of
May:
lives among swamps and willows: lays two eggs. Like the
European
species, is very indolent; and, when disturbed, takes but a short flight
Ph. Trans.
lxii. 410.
.
That of the old continent is found in
Russia;
and, in
Asia,
in
Sibiria,
as far north as the river
Lena,
and is continued considerably to the north. Inhabits
Sweden
Faun. Suec.
No 164.
; but, with all the other Herons, disappears at approach of winter
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 588.
.
The second species of Bittern, mentioned by
Lawson,
p. 148. as being lesser than the former, with a great topping, of a deep brown color, and a yellowish white throat and breast, is at present unknown to us.
358. RUSTY-CROWNED.
H. With yellow irides: very small crest: the bill seven inches long, slender, and of the same color with the former: forehead dusky: throat white: crest and hind part of the neck of a deep ferruginous color: the fore part of the neck marked with four rows of black spots: the feathers towards the breast long: a dark line passes from the breast upwards to the back of the neck: the upper part of the body, and coverts of the wings, deep ferruginous, marked with a few large black spots: primaries dusky: tail short, and of a lead color: belly and breast of a dirty white, striped with black: legs of a dirty yellow. The crest on the head is very small, and the feathers lie universally smooth. SIZE of the
European
Bittern.
PLACE.
Inhabits
North America;
the province unknown. Described from a live bird at
Amsterdam.
—LEV. MUS?—
Latham,
iii.
359. LITTLE.
Little Bittern,
Br. Zool.
ii. App. No x. tab. viii.—
Pl. Enl.
323.—
Latham,
iii.
Ardea Minuta,
Lin. Syst.
240.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
H. With a smooth head: crown black: hind part of the neck and cheeks ferruginous: coverts on the ridge of the wing, and ends of the greater, of a bright bay; the rest of the coverts of a very pale clay color: primaries and secondaries dusky, with ferruginous tips: lower side of the neck and belly of a yellowish white: breast crossed with a band of black: tail black: legs of a dusky green. LENGTH, to the end of the tail, fifteen inches. The body narrow: neck very long.
Inhabits from
New York
to
South Carolina,
PLACE.
and many parts of
Europe.
Extends to, and perhaps winters in
Jamaica.
Its eggs are of a sea-green color.
A. COMMON CRANE,
Br. Zool.
ii. App. No vi.—Ardea Grus, Trana,
Faun. Suec.
No 161. —
Latham,
iii. —La Grue,
De Buffon,
vii. 286. tab. xiv.—
Pl. Enl.
769. —LEV. MUS.
H. With a bald crown: fore part of the neck black: primaries black: a large tuft of elegant unwebbed curling feathers springing from one pinion of each wing: those, and all the rest of the plumage, cinereous. LENGTH six feet. WEIGHT about ten pounds.
Cranes arrive in
Sweden
in great flocks in the spring season; pair,
PLACE.
and disperse over the whole country; and usually resort to breed to the very same places which they had used for many years past
Amoen, Acad.
iv. 588.
. No augural attention is paid to them there; yet
Hesiod
directs the
Grecian
farmer
to think of ploughing whenever he hears the annual clamor of the Cranes in the clouds
. II. v. 66.
.
PLACE.
Inhabits all
Russia
and
Sibiria,
even as far east as the river
Anadyr;
and migrates even to the
Arctic
circle. None seen in
Kamtschatka,
except on the very southern promontory, which they probably make a resting-place, on their re-migration;
Kamtschatka
being destitute of serpents and frogs, on which they feed in countries where corn is unknown. They lay two blueish eggs on the rushy ground: the young are hatched late; and as soon as they can fly attend their parents in their southern migration:
Poturae te,
Nile,
GRUES.
For
Egypt
is generally supposed to be the great winter quarters of these birds. Previous to their retreat, they assemble in amazing numbers, choose their leader, soar to a considerable height, and then, with continued clamor, proceed to their designed place.
Milton,
when he touches on this wonderful instinct of nature, describes their progress with equal truth and elegance.
Part loosely wing the region: part more wise,
In common, rang'd in figure (
) wedge their way,
Intelligent of seasons, and set forth
Their aery caravan, high over seas
Flying, and over lands with mutual wing
Easing their flight. So steers the prudent CRANE
Her annual voyage, borne on winds;
The air flotes as they pass, fann'd with unnumber'd plumes.
B. SIBIRIAN CRANE. Grus Leucogeranos,
Pallas Itin.
ii. 714.—
Latham,
iii.
H. With a red bill like the former, serrated near the end: face naked beyond the eyes: coverts and primaries black: all the rest of the bird of a snowy whiteness: legs red. Its HEIGHT is four feet and a half.
Inhabits the vast morasses of
Sibiria,
PLACE.
and every part where lakes abound; and penetrates far north into the boggy forests about the
Ischim, Irtish,
and
Oby.
Makes its nest among the inaccessible reeds, with layers of plants. Lays two great grey eggs, streaked with numerous dusky lines. Makes a clamorous noise, and that frequently, especially during its flight. Feeds on small fish, frogs, and lizards. Winters usually about the
Caspian
sea. Observed to migrate in spring northward along the course of the
Wolga,
always in pairs
Extracts,
ii. 146.
.
C. WHITE STORK. Ardea Ciconia. Storck,
Faun. Suec.
No 162.—La Cigogne,
De Buffon,
vii. 253.—
Pl. Enl.
866.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
H. With red bill and legs: primaries black: the rest of the plumage white: skin of the color of blood. Larger than the common Heron.
Inhabits most parts of
Europe,
except
England.
PLACE.
In the west of
Russia,
is not found beyond 50 degrees north, nor to the east of
Moscow.
It appears in
Sweden
in
April;
retires in
August
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 588.
: does not reach
Norway,
unless tempest-driven.
This species is semi-domestic: haunts towns and cities; and in many places stalks unconcerned about the streets, in search of offals and other food. Removes the noxious filth, and clears the fields of serpents and reptiles. They are, on that account, protected in
Holland;
held in high veneration by the
Mahomedans;
and so greatly respected were they in old times by the
Thessalians,
that to kill one of these birds was a crime expiable only by death
Pliny,
lib. x. c. 23.
.
The Storks observe great exactness in the time of their autumnal departure from
Europe
to more favorable climates. They pass a second summer in
Egypt,
and the marshes of
Barbary
Shaw's Trav.
428.
: in the first they pair, and lay again, and educate a second brood
Belon Oys.
201.
. Before each of their migrations they rendezvous in amazing numbers; are for a while much in motion among themselves; and after making several short flights, as if to try their wings, all of a sudden take flight with great silence, and with such speed, as in a moment to attain so great a height as to be instantaneously out of sight. The beautiful and faithful description which the NATURALIST'S POET
THOMSON.
gives of this annual event, ought not by any means to be omitted.
Where the
Rhine
loses his majestic force
In
Belgian
plains, won from the raging deep
By diligence amazing, and the strong
Unconquerable hand of Liberty,
THE STORK-ASSEMBLY meets; for many a day
Consulting deep and various, ere they take
Their arduous voyage thro' the liquid sky.
And now, their route design'd, their leaders chose,
Their tribes adjusted, clean'd their vigorous wings;
And many a circle, many a short essay,
Wheel'd round and round, in congregation full
The figur'd flight ascends, and riding high
The aerial billows, mixes with the clouds.
D. BLACK STORK. Ardea nigra. Odenswala,
Faun. Suec.
No 163.—
Latham,
iii.
La Cigogne noire,
De Buffon,
vii. 271.—
Pl. Enl.
399.
H. With the bill, legs, and skin, red: head, neck, body, and wings, black, glossed with blue: breast and belly white. About the SIZE of the former.
Inhabits many parts of
Europe.
PLACE.
It is not uncommon in the temperate parts of
Russia
and
Sibiria,
as far as the
Lena,
where lakes and morasses abound. Migrates to warmer countries in autumn. Is a solitary species. Preys on fish, which it not only wades for, but, after hovering over the waters, will suddenly plunge on its prey. It also eats beetles and other insects. Perches on trees: and builds its nest in the depths of forests.
These birds pass over
Sweden
in the spring in vast flocks, flying towards the extreme north. They sometimes rest in the moors at night; but it is reckoned a wonder, if any one is found to make its nest in the country. They return southward in autumn; but, in both their passages, soar so high as to appear small as sparrows
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 589.
.
XXXV. IBIS.
Gen. Birds,
LXV.
360. WOOD.
Wood Pelecan,
Catesby,
i. 81.—
Latham,
iii.
Curicaca,
Marcgrave,
191.—
De Buffon,
vii. 276.—
Pl. Enl.
868.—
Brisson,
v. 335.
Tantalus Loculator,
Lin. Syst.
240.
I. With a bill near ten inches long; near seven in girth at the base; strait till near the end, where it bends downwards: fore part of the head and face covered with a bare dusky blue skin: hind part of the head, and the whole neck, of a pale yellowish brown: under the chin is a pouch capable of containing half a pint: the greater primaries, and some of the greater coverts, are black glossed with green; the rest of the wing, back, and belly, white: tail square, short, and black: legs very long, black, and semi-palmated. The body of the SIZE of a Goose.
PLACE.
Appears in
Carolina,
at the latter end of summer, during the great rains, when they frequent the overflown
savannas
in vast flocks; but retire in
November.
They perch erect on tall cypress and other trees, and rest their monstrous bills on their breasts for their greater ease. They are very stupid and void of fear, and easily shot. Fly slowly. Their food is herbs, fruits and seeds, fish, and water insects; notwithstanding which they are excellent eating.
The residence of these birds, the rest of the year, is
Brasil, Guiana
Des Marchais,
iii. 326.
, and perhaps other parts of
South America.
361. SCARLET.
Guara,
Marcgrave,
203.—
De Buffon,
vii. 35.—
Pl. Enl.
81.
Red Curlew,
Catesby,
i. 84.—
Latham,
iii.
Tantalus Ruber,
Lin. Syst.
241.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
I. With a slender incurvated bill, and naked skin on the face, both of a pale red color: the whole plumage of the richest scarlet, only the ends of the wings are black: legs pale red. In SIZE somewhat larger than the
English
CURLEW.
Frequent the coasts of the
Bahama
islands.
PLACE.
Are common in
East Florida:
in
Georgia
are frequent in the months of
July
and
August,
after which they retire southward. A few are seen in the south of
Carolina,
and the parts of
America
within the tropics, and very seldom to the north. These birds perch, like the former, upon trees, and make a most resplendent appearance. They lay their eggs in the tall grass. When first hatched, the young are of a dusky color: their first change is to ash-color; then to white; and, in their second year, to columbine; and with age acquire their brilliant red. In
Guiana
it is often domesticated, so as never to leave the poultry yard. It shews great courage in attacking the fowls, and will even oppose itself to the cat. The flesh is esteemed excellent. Its rich plumage is used by the
Brasilians
for various ornaments.
362. BROWN.
Brown Curlew,
Catesby,
i. 83.—
De Buffon,
vii. 42.—
Latham,
iii.
Tantalus Fuscus,
Lin. Syst.
242.
I. With the bill six inches and a half long, resembling the former: bill, face, and legs, red: neck, upper part of the back, and tail, of a cinereous brown: lower part of the back, breast, and belly, white.
363. WHITE.
White Curlew,
Catesby,
i. 82.—
De Buffon,
vii. 41.—
Pl. Enl.
915.—
Latham,
iii.
Tantalus Albus,
Lin. Syst.
242.
I. With the face, bill, and legs, like the former: the whole plumage of a snowy whiteness, except the ends of the four first primaries, which are green. The flesh and fat is of saffron-color.
These birds arrive in
South Carolina,
PLACE.
with the
Wood Ibis
and the
Brown Curlew,
in great numbers, in
September,
and frequent the low watery tracts: continue there about six weeks, and then retire south to breed. This species goes away with egg. There was a suspicion, that the BROWN and the WHITE differed only in sex; but experiment proved the contrary. The white kind are twenty times more numerous than the others; the flesh of the latter also differs, being of a dark color.
All these species frequent the sides of rivers, and feed on small fish, crustaceous animals, and insects.
A. BAY IBIS. Tantalus Falcinellus,
Lin. Syst.
241.—
Muller,
No 178.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
I. With a black face: violet-colored wings and tail: blue legs.
Inserted here on the authority of Mr.
Muller;
but this species has hitherto been known only to southern
Europe,
and about the
Caspian
and
Black Seas.
XXXVI. CURLEW.
Gen. Birds,
LXVI.
364. ESKIMAUX.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 177.—Eskimaux Curlew,
Faun. Am.—Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
C. With a dusky bill, near three inches long: crown of a deep brown, divided lengthways by a white stripe: cheeks, neck, and breast, of a very pale brown, marked with small dusky streaks, pointing down the back: scapulars and coverts spotted with black and pale reddish brown: primaries dusky; shafts white; inner webs marked with red oval spots: tail barred with black and light brown: legs blue. Larger than the
English
WHIMBREL, of which it is a variety; and differs only in having its back brown instead of white.
Were seen in flocks innumerable, on the hills about
Chateaux Bay,
PLACE.
on the
Labrador
coast, from
August
the 9th to
September
6th, when they all disappeared, being on the way from their northern breeding-place. They kept on the open grounds, fed on the
empetrum nigrum,
and were very fat and delicious. They arrive in
Hudson's Bay
in
April
or the beginning of
May:
pair and breed to the north of
Albany Fort,
among the woods: return in
August
to the marshes; and all disappear in
September
Ph. Trans.
lxii. 411. where it is called the
Eskimaux
Curlew.
.
A. CURLEW,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 176.—Scolopax arquata,
Faun. Suec.
No 168.—
Latham,
iii.
Le Courlis,
De Buffon,
viii. 19.—
Pl. Enl.
818.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
C. With an incurvated bill, seven inches long: head, and upper part of the wings, pale brown, spotted with black: back white: tail white, barred with black: legs blueish. WEIGHT from twenty-two to thirty-seven ounces.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Europe,
as high as
Lapmark
Leems,
249.
and
Iceland
Brunnich,
p. 49.
; and is found on the vast plains of
Russia
and
Sibiria,
quite to
Kamtschatka.
B. WHIMBREL,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 177.—Scolopax Phaeopus. Windspole. Spof.
Faun. Suec.
No 169.—
Latham,
iii.
Le Courlieu, ou petit Courlis,
De Buffon,
viii. 27.—
Pl. Enl.
842.—LEV. MUS.
C. With a bill near three inches long: head marked lengthways by a whitish line, bounded on each side by one of black: neck, coverts of wings, and upper part of the back, pale brown, spotted with black: lower part of the back and the belly white: tail light brown, barred with black: legs blueish grey. WEIGHT twelve ounces.
PLACE.
Inhabits the same places with the former.
Eskimaux Curlew No . 364. Little Woodcock No
XXXVII. SNIPE.
Gen. Birds,
LXVII.
365. LITTLE WOODCOCK.
SN. With the upper mandible of the bill two inches and a half long; the lower much shorter: forehead cinereous; hind part black, with four transverse yellowish bars: from bill to the eye a dusky line: chin white: under side of the neck, breast, belly, and thighs, of a dull yellow, palest on the belly: hind part of the neck black, edged with yellowish red: back, and lesser coverts, of the same colors; rest of the coverts marked with zigzags of black and dull red: primaries dusky: inner coverts rust-colored: tail black, tipped with brown: legs short, pale brown. LENGTH, from tip of the bill to the end of the tail, eleven inches and a half.
This species has entirely the form of the
European
Woodcock;
PLACE.
but differs in size and color. They appear in the province of
New York
in the latter end of
April,
or beginning of
May.
They lay, the latter end of the last month or beginning of
June,
from eight to ten eggs? and usually in swampy places. Mr.
Lawson
P. 44.
found them in
Carolina
in
September.
He prefers them, in point of delicacy, to the
European
kind.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
366. COMMON SNIPE.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 187.—Scolopax gallinago, Horsgjok,
Faun. Suec.
No 173.—
Latham,
iii.
La Becassine,
De Buffon,
vii. 483.—
Pl. Enl.
883.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
SN. With head divided lengthways with two black lines, and three of reddish brown: throat white: neck mottled with brown and testaceous: ridge of the wing dusky: greater coverts and primaries dusky, tipt with white: belly white: lower half of the tail black; upper orange, with two dusky stripes: toes divided to the origin. The
American
is lesser than the
British.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Europe
as far as
Iceland:
extends even to
Greenland
Faun. Greenl.
No 71.
; and common in all parts of
Russia
and
Sibiria.
Is found all over
North America,
and swarms in
South Carolina.
The lines on the head are less distinct in the
American
kind: the bill is also shorter than that of the
English.
367. JACK.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 189.—Petite Becassine, ou le Sourde,
De Buffon,
vii. 490. —
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
SN. With crown of the head black, tinged with rust: a yellow stroke over each eye: neck mottled with white, brown, and testaceous: rump of a glossy purplish blue: tail brown, edged with tawny. WEIGHT under two ounces.
PLACE.
These two inhabit
Europe, North America,
and
Sibiria.
368. RED-BREASTED SNIPE.
SN. With a bill like the common kind, two inches one-eighth long: head, neck, and scapulars, varied with black, ash-color, and red: under side of the neck and breast ferruginous, thinly spotted with black: coverts and secondaries dark cinereous; the last tipt with white: back and rump white, concealed by the scapulars: tail barred with dusky and white: legs dark green: middle and outmost toe connected by a small web. SIZE of the
English
Snipe.
PLACE.
Inhabits the coast of
New York.—Latham,
iii. —BL. MUS.
369. BROWN.
SN. With a bill like the former: from that to each eye a white bar: head, neck, and scapulars, of a fine uniform cinereous brown, in a very few places marked with black: coverts and primaries dark brown; shaft of the first primary white: secondaries light brown, edged with white: back white: rump and tail barred with black and white: breast mottled with brown and white: belly white: legs and toes like the former. Its SIZE the same.—BL. MUS.
Inhabits the same place.
PLACE.
370. NODDING.
SN. With the bill very slender, long, and black: the crown, and upper part of the back, dusky, streaked with red: cheeks cinereous, streaked with black: neck and breast cinereous, mixed with rust-color, and marked obscurely with dark spots: belly white: thighs spotted with black: lesser coverts of wings ash-colored; greater dusky, edged with brown: primaries and secondaries dusky; the last tipt with white: lower part of the back white, spotted with black: tail barred with black and white; tips reddish: legs greenish: the toes bordered by a narrow plain membrane. SIZE of the
English
Snipe.
Observed in
Chateaux Bay,
on the coast of
Labrador,
in
September.
PLACE.
Are perpetually nodding their heads.—
Latham,
iii.
371. GREAT GODWIT.
Edw.
137.—Scolopax Fedo
,
Lin. Syst.
244.—La Barge rousse de Baie de Hudson,
De Buffon,
vii. 507.—
Latham,
iii.—LEV. MUS.
SN. With bill six inches long: throat white: from the bill to the eye extends a dusky line: head and neck mottled with dusky and light brown: breast barred with black: belly plain brown: back and coverts varied with rusty brown and dusky: the primaries and secondaries ferruginous on their exterior webs: tail barred with light brown and black: legs very long, black, and naked very high above the knees.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay
and
Connecticut.
—BL. MUS.
PLACE.
372. RED.
Red Godwit,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 181.—
Edw.
138.—Scolopax Lapponica,
Faun. Suec.
No 174.—
Ph. Trans.
lxii. 411.—
Latham,
iii.
La Barge rousse,
De Buffon,
vii. 304.—
Pl. Enl.
900.—LEV. MUS.
SN. With a bill three inches three quarters long, reflecting a little upward; yellow near the base; dusky towards the end: head, neck, breast, and upper part of the back, ferruginous, and streaked with black, excepting the neck, which is plain: lower part of the back white: lesser coverts of the wings cinereous brown: exterior webs of the primaries black; the lower parts white: the lower part of the tail white; the upper black; the tips white: the legs dusky. LENGTH, to the tip of the tail, one foot six inches. EXTENT two feet four. WEIGHT twelve ounces. Varies much in colors, according to age.
PLACE.
Is common to the north of
Europe
and of
America.
Very numerous, in summer time, in the fens of
Hudson's Bay;
where they breed, and then retire. Appear about the
Caspian
sea in the spring; but never in
Sibiria,
nor in the north of
Asia.
373. COMMON.
Godwit,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 179.—
Catesby,
App.—
Latham,
iii.
La Barge Aboyeuse,
De Buffon,
vii. 501.—
Pl. Enl.
876.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
SN. With the bill turning a little up; four inches long; pale purple at the base; dusky at the end: head, neck, back, and coverts of the wings, of a very light brown, with a brown spot in the middle of each feather: primaries dusky; inner webs of a reddish brown: tail barred with black and white: belly and vent white: legs dusky; in some of a greyish blue. In SIZE somewhat inferior to the last.
PLACE.
Common to the north of
Europe, Asia,
and
America.
374. SPOTTED.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 186.—
Phil. Trans.
lxii. 410.—
Latham,
iii.—BL. MUS.
SN. With a very slender bill, a little more than two inches long: orbits, chin, and throat, white: from bill to eye a line of white: cheeks and under side of the neck white, with short streaks of a dusky color: crown and upper part of the neck brown, with white streaks: coverts of the wings, primaries, secondaries, and scapulars, black, with elegant triangular spots of white: tail barred with black and white: breast and belly white: legs long; and in the live bird of a rich yellow; sometimes red. LENGTH, to the tip of the tail, near sixteen inches.
Arrives in
Hudson's Bay
in spring.
PLACE.
Feeds on small shell-fish and worms; and frequents the banks of rivers. Called there, by the natives, from its noise,
Sa-sa-shew;
by the
English, Yellow legs.
Retires in autumn. Makes a stop in the province of
New York,
on its return, but does not winter there. This, and several other species of Snipes and Sandpipers, are called, in
North America, Humilities.
375. JADREKA.
Lesser Godwit,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 188.—La Barge commune,
De Buffon,
vii. 500. —
Pl. Enl.
874.—
Latham,
iii.
Scolopax Limosa,
Faun. Suec.
No 172.
Jadreka,
Olaf. Iceland,
ii. 201. tab. xlviii.
SN. With a bill near four inches long: head and neck cinereous: cheek and chin white: back of an uniform brown: wings marked with a white line: rump and vent feathers white: middle feathers of the tail black; in the rest the white predominates more and more, to the outmost: legs dusky. WEIGHT nine ounces. LENGTH, to the tail, seventeen inches.
Inhabits
Iceland, Greenland
Faun. Groenl.
No 72.
, and
Sweden.
PLACE.
Migrates in flocks in the south of
Russia.
376. STONE.
SN. With a black bill: head, neck, and breast, spotted with black and white: back, scapulars, and greater coverts, of the same colors: primaries dusky: rump and tail barred with black and white: belly white: legs long and yellow. Double the SIZE of a Snipe.
PLACE.
Observed in autumn feeding on the sands on the lower part of
Chateaux Bay,
continually nodding their heads. Are called there
Stone Curlews.
377. REDSHANK.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 184.—Scolopax Totanus,
Faun. Suec.
No 167.—
Latham,
iii.
Le Chevalier aux pieds rouges,
De Buffon,
vii. 513.—
Pl. Enl.
845.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
SN. With bill red at the base, black at the end: head, hind part of neck, and scapulars, of a dusky ash-color, faintly marked with black: back white, sprinkled with black: under side of neck white, streaked with dusky: breast and belly white: tail barred with black and white: legs of a bright orange-color.
PLACE.
Inhabits
North America,
in common with the north of
Europe,
as high as
Finmark
Leems,
253.
; and is found in
Sibiria.
Grows less common towards the north of that country. Is sometimes found, in
Hudson's Bay,
quite white
Edw.
139.
.
378. YELLOW-SHANKS.
SN. With a slender black bill, an inch and a half long, a little bent at the end: head, hind part of the neck, back, and greater coverts of the wings, dirty white, spotted with black: lesser coverts plain brown: primaries dusky: breast and fore part of the neck spotted with black and white: belly and coverts of the tail pure white: tail barred with brown and white: legs yellow. LENGTH, from tip of the bill to the tail, eleven inches.
PLACE.
Appears in the province of
New York
in autumn.—BL. MUS.
379. GREEN-SHANK.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 183.—La Barge varié,
De Buffon,
vii. 503.—
Latham,
iii.
Scolopax Glottis,
Faun. Suec.
No 171.—LEV. MUS.
SN. With a bill two inches and a half long, very slender, and a little recurvated: head, and upper part of neck, cinereous, with dusky lines: over each eye a white line: coverts of wings, scapulars, and upper part of the back, of a brownish ash-color: breast, belly, and lower part of the back, white: primaries dusky: tail white, finely marked with waved dusky bars: legs green. LENGTH fourteen inches. WEIGHT only six ounces.
Inhabits the province of
New York;
PLACE.
and in every latitude of
Russia
and
Sibiria,
in plenty. Is found in
Europe
as high as
Sondmor
Strom.
235.
.
380. SEMIPALMATED.
SN. With a bill two inches long, and dusky: head and neck streaked with black and white: breast white, with round brown spots: belly and sides white; the last marked with transverse bars of brown: back and coverts of the wings cinereous, with great sagittal spots of black: primaries dusky, with a transverse white bar: secondaries white: the middle feathers of the tail cinereous, barred with black; outmost white: legs dusky: toes semipalmated. LENGTH fourteen inches.
Inhabits
New York.
—BL. MUS.
PLACE.
381. BLACK.
SN. With red bill and legs: the plumage most intensely black.
Observed by
Steller
in the islands towards
America.
PLACE.
A. EUROPEAN WOODCOCK,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 178.—Le Becasse,
De Buffon,
vii. 462.—
Pl. Enl.
885.—
Latham,
iii.
Scolopax rusticola. Morkulla,
Faun. Suec.
No 170.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
SN. With a reddish cinereous front: hind part of the head barred with reddish brown: upper part of the body and wings barred with rust-color, black, and grey: breast and belly dirty white, barred with dusky lines. WEIGHT twelve ounces.
PLACE.
Inhabits, during summer,
Scandinavia, Lapland,
and
Iceland.
Migrates southerly at approach of winter. Common in
Russia
and
Sibiria,
but only in the time of migration; and breeds in the northern marshes and
Arctic
flats.
B. GREAT SNIPE,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 188.—
Latham,
iii.
Scolopax Media,
Frisch.
tab. 228.—LEV. MUS.
SN. With head divided lengthways by a testaceous line, bounded on each side by one of black; above and beneath each eye another: neck and breast yellowish white, marked with semicircular spots of black: sides undulated with black: back and coverts testaceous, spotted with black, and edged with white: primaries dusky: tail rust-color; external feathers barred with black. WEIGHT eight ounces.
PLACE.
Inhabits the
Arctic
regions of
Sibiria.
Found in
England
and
Germany.
The link between the Woodcock and Snipe.
C. DUSKY SNIPE. Scolopax Fusca,
Lin. Syst.
243.—
Brisson,
v. 276. tab. xxiii.
La Barge brun,
De Buffon,
vii. 508.—
Pl. Enl.
875.—
Latham,
iii.
SN. With the upper part dusky black, with the edges of the feathers whitish: lower part of the body dark cinereous: two middle feathers of the tail dusky, streaked crossways with white: the side feathers brown, streaked in the same manner: legs black. LENGTH twelve inches; of the bill two and a quarter.
Breeds within the
Arctic
circle. Migrates into
Russia
and
Sibiria.
PLACE.
FINMARK SNIPE. Scolopax Gallinaria,
Muller,
No 183.—
Latham,
iii.
SN. With the bill tuberculated like that of the common Snipe: head entirely grey: legs yellow. In other respects, has great agreement with the common sort.
Inhabits
Finmark.
PLACE.
XXXVIII. SANDPIPER.
Gen. Birds,
LXVIII.
382. HEBRIDAL.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 200.—Tringa interpres, Tolk,
Faun. Suec.
No 178.
Turnstone,
Catesby,
i. 72.—Tringa Morinellus,
Lin. Syst.
249.—
Latham,
iii.
Le Tourne-pierre,
De Buffon,
viii. 130.—
Pl. Enl.
130.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
S. With black bill, red at the base: white forehead, throat, belly, and vent: crown white, spotted with black: sides of the head white: a black line passes above the forehead; is continued under each eye to the corner of the mouth; drops on each side of the neck to the middle, which is surrounded with a black collar: breast black: coverts cinereous: upper part of the back, scapulars, and tertials, ferruginous, spotted with black: lower part of back white, traversed with a black bar: tail black, tipped with white: legs short; of a bright orange. WEIGHT three ounces and a half. LENGTH eight inches and a half.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay, Greenland
Faun. Groenl.
No 74.
, and the
Arctic
flats of
Sibiria,
where it breeds; wandering southerly in autumn. It lays four eggs. It migrates in
America
as low as
Florida.
In spring it possesses itself of the isles of the
Baltic,
till it quits them in autumn
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 590.
.
383. STRIATED.
Tringa Striata,
Lin. Syst.
248.—
Faun. Groenl.
No 71.—
Faun. Dan.
No 194.—
Latham,
iii.
S. With the base of the bill and legs yellow: upper part of the body undulated with dusky and cinereous: front of the neck dusky: breast and belly white: primaries and secondaries black; the last tipt with white: tertials white, with a stripe of black: tail black: the feathers on the side cinereous, edged with white. SIZE of a Stare.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Sweden, Norway,
and
Iceland.
Is found, but not frequently, in
Russia
and
Sibiria;
and is conversant, even during winter, in the frosty climate of
Greenland;
but retires to breed into the bottom of the bays: flies very swiftly along the surface of the water, catching the insects on the surface. Never touches the water with its feet or body; but dexterously avoids the rising of the highest waves. Twitters with the note of the Swallow
Faun. Groenl.
No 73.
.
384. KNOT.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 193.—Le Canut,
De Buffon,
viii. 142.—
Latham,
iii.
Tringa Canutus,
Faun. Suec.
No 183.—LEV. MUS.
S. With a black bill: between the base and eyes a white line: crown and upper part of the body of a dusky brown: wings of the same color, crossed with a line of white: the breast and under side of the neck white, spotted with black: rump white, with large black spots: legs short, of a blueish grey: toes divided to the origin.
I have seen this species from the province of
New York.
PLACE.
Observed by Dr.
Pallas
only about lake
Baikal.
385. SPOTTED.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 196.—Tringa Macularia,
Lin. Syst.
249.—
Edw.
277.—
Latham,
iii.
La Grive d'eau,
De Buffon,
viii. 140.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
S. With a white line above each eye: crown, upper part of neck and body, and coverts of the wings, olive brown, with triangular black spots: under side, from neck to tail, white, with brown spots: middle feathers of the tail brown; those on the side white, with dusky lines: legs of a dirty flesh-color. FEMALE has no spots on the lower part of the body. SIZE of the Striated.
Inhabits
North America.
Arrives in
Pensylvania
in
April,
PLACE.
and stays there all the summer. Visits
Hudson's Bay
in
May:
breeds there, and retires in
September.
386. ASH-COLORED.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 194.—Tringa Cinerea,
Brunnich,
No 179.—
Latham,
iii. —BL. MUS.
S. With a dusky cinereous head, spotted with black: neck cinereous, marked with dusky streaks: back and coverts of wings finely varied with concentric semicircles of black, ash-color, and white: coverts of the tail barred with black and white: tail cinereous, edged with white: breast and belly pure white; the first spotted with black: legs dusky green: toes bordered with a narrow membrane, finely scolloped. LENGTH ten inches. WEIGHT five ounces.
PLACE.
Seen in great numbers on
Seal
Islands near
Chateaux Bay.
Continues the whole summer in
Hudson's Bay,
and breeds there. Breeds in
Denmark?
Has been shot on the
Flintshire
shores in the winter season.
387. NEW YORK.
S. With the under side of neck and body white: the breast spotted with brown: lesser coverts dusky, edged with white: back and greater coverts dusky in the middle; the edges cinereous: the secondaries of the same colors: coverts of the tail barred with black and white: sides beneath the wings streaked with brown: tail cinereous.
PLACE.
Inhabits the province of
New York.
—BL. MUS.
388. COMMON.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 204.—La Guignette,
De Buffon,
vii. 540.—
Pl. Enl.
850.—
Latham,
iii.
Tringa Hypoleucus Snappa,
Faun. Suec.
No 182.—LEV. MUS.
S. Above of a deep brown, spotted with rugged marks of black: the plumage most glossy and silky: fore part of the neck and breast white, with a few black spots: belly white: primaries and secondaries dusky; the last with their bottoms and ends white: the outmost feathers of the tail spotted with white and brown; the middle brown, tipt with white: legs yellowish. WEIGHT about two ounces. Differs little from the
European
kind, but in the colors of the legs.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Chateaux Bay,
and the northern latitudes of
Sibiria,
as far as
Kamtschatka.
389. GREEN.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 201.—Le Becasseau,
De Buffon,
vii. 535.—
Pl. Enl.
843.
Tringa Ocrophus,
Faun. Suec.
No 180.—Tr. Littorea?
Faun. Suec.
No 185.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
S. With head and upper part of the neck cinereous brown, streaked with white: lower part of neck mottled with brown and white: back, scapulars, and coverts of wings, of a dusky green, glossy as silk, and elegantly speckled with white: primaries dusky: rump, breast, and belly, white: tail white, the feathers marked with different numbers of spots: legs a cinereous green. About a third larger than the COMMON.
I have seen this species in Mr.
Kuckan
's collection,
PLACE.
which he made in
North America.
It is also found in
Iceland;
and is very common in all the watery places of
Russia
and
Sibiria.
The
Tringa Littorea
is said to migrate from
Sweden
to
England,
at approach of winter
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 590.
.
390. PURRE.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 206.—Tringa Cinclus,
Lin. Syst.
251.—
Latham,
iii.
L'Alouette de mer,
De Buffon,
vii. 548.—
Pl. Enl.
851.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
S. With a slender black bill: head and upper part of neck ash-colored, streaked with black: from bill to eyes a white line: under side of the neck white, mottled with brown: back and coverts of wings a brownish ash-color: greater coverts dusky, tipt with white: breast and belly white: two middle feathers of the tail dusky; the others ash-color, edged with white: legs of a dusky green. WEIGHT an ounce and a half. LENGTH seven inches and a half.
Inhabits the coast of
New York,
PLACE.
and extends as low as
Jamaica
and
Cayenne.
Not mentioned among the
Scandinavian
birds. Common in all latitudes of
Russia
and
Sibiria.
391. DUNLIN.
Br. Zool
ii. No 205.—La Brunnette,
De Buffon,
vii. 493.—
Latham,
iii.
Tringa Alpina,
Faun. Suec.
No 181.—
Faun. Groenl.
No 77.
Loar Thraell,
Olaf. Iceland.
i. No 677. tab. xli.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
S. With head, hind part of the neck, and back, ferruginous, marked with great black spots: lower part of neck white, streaked with black: coverts of the wings ash-colored: breast and belly white, marked with a black crescent: tail ash-colored; the two middle feathers longest and darkest: legs black. In SIZE somewhat larger than the last.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia,
the alps of
Sibiria,
and, in its migration, the coasts of the
Caspian
sea.
392. RED.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 202.—Aberdeen Sandpiper, No 203.—
Latham,
iii.
Tringa Icelandica,
Lin. Syst.
Add.
S. With the bill black and slender, a little bending: head, upper part of the neck, and beginning of the back, dusky, marked with red: lower side of the neck and breast cinereous, mixed with rust-color, and obscurely spotted with black: lesser coverts of the wing cinereous; primaries dusky; secondaries tipt with white: two middle feathers of the tail are dusky, and extend a little beyond the others; the rest are cinereous: legs long and black.
PLACE.
The birds which I have seen of this kind came from the coasts of
New York, Labrador,
and
Natka Sound.
They are also found in
Iceland
Brunnich,
No 180.
. Probably are the same with the
Scolopax Subarquata,
which, during summer, frequent the shores of the
Caspian
sea, lake
Baikal,
and especially the mouth of the
Don
Nov. Com. Petrop.
xix. 471. tab. xix.—The
Tringa Ruficollis,
PALLAS
Iter.
iii. 700, is another red-necked species, found about the same salt lakes.
. I believe them to be the young, or the females, of that which is described in the
Br. Zool.
under the name of the Red. The last differs in nothing, but in having the whole under side of a full ferruginous color.
SIZE.
LENGTH from eight to ten inches. Varies greatly in size.
393. GREY.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 191.—Grey Plover,
Wil. Orn.
309.—
Latham,
iii.
Tringa Squatarola,
Faun. Suec.
No 186.
Le Vanneau Pluvier,
De Buffon,
viii. 68.—
Pl. Enl.
854.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
S. With a strong black, bill: head, back, and coverts of wings, black, edged with grey, tinged with green, and some white: cheeks and throat white, streaked with black: primaries dusky, white on their interior lower sides: belly and thighs white: rump white: tail barred with black and white: legs of a dirty green: back toe very small. WEIGHT seven ounces. LENGTH, to the end of the tail, twelve inches.
According to
Lawson,
PLACE.
frequents the vallies near the mountains of
Carolina.
Are seen flying in great flocks; but seldom alight
Hist. Carol.
140.
Catesby,
App.
. Very common in
Sibiria;
and appear in autumn in flocks, after breeding in the extreme north.
394. GAMBET.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 198.—
Latham,
iii.
Tringa Gambetta,
Faun. Suec.
No 177.—Tr. Variegata,
Brunnich,
No 181.
S. With head, back, and breast, of a cinereous brown, spotted with dull yellow: coverts of the wings, and scapulars, cinereous, edged with yellow: primaries dusky: belly white: tail dusky, bordered with yellow: legs yellow. SIZE of the Greenshank.
Taken in the frozen sea, between
Asia
and
America,
lat. 69½,
PLACE.
long. 191½. Inhabits also
Scandinavia
and
Iceland
Paulsen's List.
; in the last it is called
Stelkr,
from its note.
395. ARMED.
Le Vanneau armé de la Louisiane,
Brisson,
iv. 114. tab. viii.—
De Buffon,
viii. 65.—
Pl. Enl.
835.—
Latham.
iii.
S. With an orange bill, depressed in the middle: on each side of the base is a thin naked skin of a light orange-color, which rises above the forehead, extends beyond each eye, and falls, in form of a pointed wattle, far below the chin: crown dusky: hind part of the neck, back, rump, scapulars, and coverts of the wings, of a dusky grey: from the chin to the vent white, tinged with tawny: primaries mostly black: the fore part of the wing is armed with a sharp spur, a most offensive weapon: the tail short, whitish, crossed near the end with a black bar, and tipt with white: legs long, and of a deep red. LENGTH, from bill to tail, above ten inches. EXTENT about two feet two.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Louisiana.
396. SWISS.
Tringa Helvetica,
Lin. Syst.
250.—Le Vanneau Suisse,
De Buffon,
viii. 60.—
Pl. Enl.
853.
Vanellus Helveticus,
Brisson,
v. 106. tab. x.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.— BL. MUS.
S. With a strong bill an inch long, depressed in the middle: front and sides of the head white; hind part spotted with black and white: cheeks, under side of the neck, breast, and belly, black: thighs and vent white: primaries black: back, coverts of wings, and the tail, white, barred with black: legs black: back toe very small. SIZE of a Lapwing.
PLACE.
Inhabits the coast of
Connecticut
and
Hudson's Bay.
Visits the last in the spring. Feeds on berries, insects, and worms. Retires in
September.
Breeds also in the
Arctic
flats of
Sibiria;
and, in the time of migration, appears in all parts of the south of
Russia
and
Sibiria.
Is found in
France
and
Swisserland.
397. LITTLE.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 207.—Tringa pusilla,
Lin. Syst.
252.—Oddinstiane Islandis,
Latham,
iii.
S. With crown black: upper part of the plumage brown, edged with black and pale rusty brown: belly and breast white: tail dusky: legs black. SIZE of a Hedge Sparrow.
Inhabits the north of
Europe, Iceland,
and
Newfoundland.
PLACE.
Observed also in
Natka Sound.
It is met with as far south as
St. Domingo
Brisson,
v. 222.
. Probably migrates there in the winter.
A. RUFF,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 192.—Le Combattant, ou Paon de mer,
De Buffon,
vii. 521.—
Pl. Enl.
305, 306.—
Latham,
iii.
Tringa pugnax, Brushane,
Faun. Suec.
No 175.—
Leems Lapm.
246.—LEV. MUS.— BL. MUS.
S. With a long ruff of feathers on the fore part and sides of the neck; and a long tuft on the hind part of the head: legs yellow. REEVES, or the females, are of a pale brown: back slightly spotted with black: breast and belly white: neck smooth.
Inhabits the north of
Europe
in summer, as far as
Iceland,
PLACE.
and is very common in the northern marshes of
Russia
and
Sibiria.
B. FRECKLED.—Calidris naevia,
Brisson,
v. 229. tab. xxi. fig. i.—
Latham,
iii.
S. Above of a dusky cinereous, spotted with red and black; the last glossed with violet: lower part of the body of a reddish white, varied with dusky and chesnut-colored spots: two middle feathers of the tail ash-colored, edged with white; the rest dark cinereous: the outmost feather on each side marked lengthways, on the exterior side, with a white line: legs greenish. LENGTH near nine inches.
PLACE.
Is found in the north of
Russia
and
Sibiria;
and also in
France.
C. SELNINGER,
Muller,
No 206.—Tringa Maritima,
Brunnich,
182.—
Leems,
254. —
Latham,
iii.
S. Above varied with grey and black: the middle of the back tinged with violet: fore part of the neck dusky: lower part of the body white: tail dusky; four outmost feathers on each side shorter than the rest, and edged with white: legs yellow. SIZE of a Stare.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Norway
and
Iceland.
Lives about the sea-shores, and is always emitting a piping note.
D. LAPWING,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 190.—Le Vanneau,
De Buffon,
viii. 48.—
Pl. Enl.
242. —
Latham
iii.
Tringa Vanellus Wipa, Cowipa, Blaecka,
Faun. Suec.
No 176.—LEV. MUS.— BL. MUS.
S. With a black bill: crown and breast black: head adorned with a very long slender crest, horizontal, but turning up at the end: cheeks and sides of the neck, and belly, white: back and scapulars glossy green; the last: varied with purple: primaries and secondaries black, marked with white: coverts of tail, and vent, orange: outmost feathers of the tail white, marked with one dusky spot: the upper half of the rest black; the lower of a pure white. WEIGHT eight ounces. LENGTH thirteen inches and a half. EXTENT two feet and a half.
The Lapwing is common in most parts of
Europe.
PLACE.
Extends to the
Feroe
isles, and even to
Iceland
Brunnich.
. Is very frequent in
Russia;
but becomes very rare beyond the
Urallian
chain; yet a few have been observed about the rivers
Ob
and
Angara,
and beyond lake
Baikal;
but never farther to the east. They extend southward as far as
Persia
and
Egypt
Hasselquist,
288.
, where they winter; but, unable to bear the vast heats of the summer, migrate to the countries about
Woronesch
and
Astracan
Extracts,
i. 107. ii. 147.
. Appears in
Lombardy,
in
April;
retires in
September.
Continues in
England,
and I believe in
France,
the whole year; but constantly shifts its quarters in search of food, worms and insects. In
France,
multitudes are taken for the table in clap-nets, into which they are allured by the playing of a mirror.
E. WAVED. Tringa Undata,
Brunnich,
No 188.—
Latham,
iii.
S. Of a dusky color, marked with undulated lines of white and yellowish clay-color: shaft of the first primary white: tips of the secondaries, and their coverts, white: tail ash-colored, tipt with black.
Inhabits
Denmark
and
Norway.
PLACE.
F. SHORE. Tringa Littorea,
Faun. Suec.
No 183.—
Brunnich,
No 177.—
Latham,
iii.
Le Chevalier varié,
De Buffon,
vii. 517.—
Pl. Enl.
300.
S. With a dusky neck, striped obliquely with white: back and coverts of the wings dusky, with small rusty spots, lightest on the last: primaries and secondaries dusky, the last tipt with white; shaft of first primary white: breast and belly white: tail crossed with waved bars of dusky and white: legs dusky. SIZE of a Turtle Dove.
Inhabits the marshes of
Sweden;
and is found in
Denmark.
PLACE.
G. WOOD. Tringa Glareola,
Faun. Suec.
No 184.—
Latham,
iii.
S. With the back dusky, speckled with white: primaries and secondaries dusky; the last tipt with white: breast and belly whitish: tail barred with black and white; the outmost feathers lightest: rump white: legs of a dirty green. SIZE of a Stare.
PLACE.
Inhabits the moist woods of
Sweden.
H. UNIFORM. Keildu-suin, Islandis,
Muller,
No 205.—
Latham,
iii.
S. With a short black bill, and of an uniform light ash-color on all its plumage.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Iceland.
XXXIX. PLOVER.
Gen. Birds,
LXIX.
398. ALWARGRIM.
Spotted Plover,
Edw.
140.—Le Pluvier doré à gorge noire,
De Buffon,
viii. 85.
Charadrius Apricarius. Alwargrim,
Faun. Suec.
No 189.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
PL. With a short bill, like that of the
Swiss
Sandpiper: the forehead white, from which a white line falls from each corner, along the sides of the neck, and unites at the breast; the whole intervening space black, as are the breast, belly, thighs, and vent; only on the last are a few white spots: crown, hind part of neck, back, and coverts of wings and tail, dusky, most elegantly spotted with bright orange: the primaries dusky, edged with ash-color: secondaries and tail barred with dusky and brown: legs black. SIZE of a Golden Plover.
Inhabits all the north of
Europe, Iceland, Greenland,
PLACE.
and
Hudson's Bay,
and all the
Arctic
part of
Sibiria;
and descends southward in its migrations. Is called in
Hudson's Bay,
the
Hawk's eye,
on account of its brilliancy. It appears in
Greenland
in the spring, about the southern lakes, and feeds on worms and berries of the Heath
Faun. Groenl.
No 79.
. Arrives in
New York
in
May:
breeds there, and disappears in the latter end of
October,
after collecting in vast flocks. Is reckoned most delicious eating.
399. GOLDEN.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 208.—Le Pluvier doré,
De Buffon,
viii. 81.—
Pl. Enl.
904.
Charadrius Pluvialis, Akerhoua,
Faun. Suec.
No 190.—
Latham
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
PL. With head, upper part of the neck, back, and coverts of wings, dusky, elegantly spotted with yellowish green: breast brown, streaked with greenish lines: belly white: middle feathers of the tail barred with black and yellowish green; the others with black and brown: legs black. LENGTH, to the tip of the tail, eleven inches.
PLACE.
Inhabits
North America,
as low as
Carolina
Lawson,
140.
—Catesby,
App.
. Migrates to the
Labrador
coast, about a week after the
Eskimaux
WHIMBRELS, in its way to
New York;
but not in such numbers. Found in
Iceland
and the north of
Europe;
but are scarcely seen in
Russia.
Very frequent in
Sibiria,
where they breed in the north. They extend also to
Kamtschatka,
and as far south as the
Sandwich
isles: in the last it is very small. I have seen, which I suppose to be young, a variety with black breasts: and sometimes a very minute back toe.
400. NOISY.
Chattering Plover,
Catesby,
i. 71.—Le Kildir,
De Buffon,
viii. 96.—
Latham,
iii.
Charadrius Vociferus,
Lin. Syst.
253.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
PL. With a broad black bar, extending from the bill, beneath each eye, to the hind part of the head: orbits red: forehead, and space before and beyond the eyes, white: fore part of the crown black; the rest brown: a white ring encircles the throat and neck; beneath that another of black; under that succeeds, on the breast, two semicircles, one of white, another of black; all below is white: back and coverts of wings brown: primaries dusky: the feathers on the rump are orange, and extend over three parts of the tail; the lower part of which is black. SIZE of a large Snipe.
PLACE.
Inhabits
New York, Virginia,
and
Carolina;
where they reside the whole year. Are the plague of the sportsmen, by alarming the game by their screams. They are called in
Virginia, Kill-deer,
from the resemblance their note bears to that word. Migrate to
New York
in the spring: lay three or four eggs: stay late.
401. RINGED.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 211.—Le Pluvier à collier,
De Buffon,
viii. 90.—
Pl. Enl.
921.
Charadrius Hiaticula, Strandpipare,
Faun. Suec.
No 187.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
PL. With a short bill; upper half orange-color; the end black: crown light brown: forehead, and a small space behind each eye, white: from the bill, beneath each eye, extends a broad bar of black: the neck is encircled with a white ring; and beneath that is another of black: coverts of wings of a pale brown: primaries dusky: tail brown, tipt with lighter: legs yellow.
Almost all which I have seen from the northern parts of
North America,
have had the black marks extremely faint, and almost lost.
VARIES.
The climate had almost destroyed the specific marks; yet, in the bill and habit, preserved sufficient to make the kind very easily ascertained. The predominant colors were white, and very light ash-color. WEIGHT near two ounces. LENGTH, to tip of the tail,
SIZE.
seven inches and a half. Those of the western coasts of
North America
are much smaller.
Inhabits
America,
down to
Jamaica
Sloane.
and the
Brasils;
PLACE.
in the last it is called
Matuitui
Marcgrave,
199.
, where it frequents sea-shores and estuaries. Is found in summer in
Greenland:
migrates from thence in autumn. Is common in every part of
Russia
and
Sibiria.
Was found by the navigators as low as
Owyhe,
one of the
Sandwich
isles, and as light-colored as those of the highest latitudes.
402. BLACK-CROWNED.
PL. With the bill an inch long; black towards the end; red towards the base: forehead black: crown black, surrounded with a circle of white: throat white: neck and breast of a very light ash-colored brown, divided from the belly by a dusky transverse stroke: belly and vent white: back, scapulars, and coverts of the wings, cinereous brown: primaries dusky; white towards their bottoms: tail white towards the base; black towards the end; and tipt with white: legs very long, naked an inch above the knees, and of a blood-red: toes very short. LENGTH, to the end of the tail, about ten inches.
PLACE.
Inhabits the province of
New York.
Has much the habit of the
European
DOTTREL.—LEV. MUS.
403. SANDERLING.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 212.—Le Sanderling,
De Buffon,
vii. 532.
Charadrius Calidris,
Lin. Syst.
255.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
PL. With a slender, black, weak bill, bending a little at the end: head and hind part of the neck cinereous, streaked with dusky lines: back and scapulars of a brownish grey, edged with dirty white: coverts and primaries dusky: belly white: feathers of the tail sharp-pointed and cinereous: legs black. WEIGHT near an ounce and three quarters. LENGTH eight inches.
PLACE.
Inhabits
North America.
Abounds about
Seal Islands,
on the
Labrador
coast. I do not find it among the birds of northern
Europe;
nor in
Asia,
nearer than lake
Baikal.
404. RUDDY.
PL. With a black strait bill, an inch long: head, neck, breast, scapulars, and coverts of wings and tail, of a ruddy color, spotted with black, and powdered with white; in the scapulars and coverts of wings the black prevails: the outmost web of the four first quil feathers brown; the internal white, tipt with brown: the upper part of the others white; the lower brown: the two middle feathers of the tail brown, edged with rust; the others of a dirty white: legs black: toes divided to their origin.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay.
—Mr.
Hutchins.
405. LONG-LEGGED.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 209.—
Fl. Scot.
i. No 157.—
Latham,
iii.
Charadrius Himantopus,
Lin. Syst.
255.—
Hasselquist,
253.
L'Echasse,
De Buffon,
viii. 114.—
Pl. Enl.
878.—LEV. MUS.
PL. With the crown, upper part of the neck, back, and wings, dusky; the last crossed with a white line: tail of a greyish white: forehead and whole under side of the neck and body white: legs the most disproportionably long and weak of any known bird; the
French,
for that reason, call it, very justly,
l'Echasse,
or the bird that goes upon stilts; they are of a blood-red, four inches and a half long, and the part above the knees three and a half. LENGTH, to the end of the tail, thirteen inches.
Inhabits from
Connecticut
to the islands of the
West Indies
Sloane.
.
PLACE.
Is not a bird of northern
Europe.
Frequent in the southern desert of independent
Tartary:
very common about the salt lakes; and often on the shores of the
Caspian
sea. Is again found on the
Indian
shores near
Madras
Raii Syn. Av.
193.
.
A. DOTTREL,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 210.—Charadrius Morinellus
Lahul,
Lappis,
Faun. Suec.
No 188.—
Leems Lapmark,
260.—
Latham,
iii.
Le Guignard,
De Buffon,
viii. 87.—
Pl. Enl.
832.—LEV. MUS.
PL. With bill and crown black: from the bill, over each eye, a white line: breast and belly dull orange; the first crossed with a white line: vent white: back, coverts of wings, and tail, olivaceous, edged with dull yellow: tail dusky olive; ends of the outmost feathers white. Colors of the female duller. WEIGHT four ounces. LENGTH ten inches.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Europe,
even as high as
Lapmark.
First appears in
Drontheim;
then seeks the
Lapland
alps. Returns in smaller numbers. Appears in
May
at
Upsal,
in its passage northward. Breeds in all the north of
Russia
and
Sibiria;
but appears in the temperate latitudes only in their migrations.
B. ALEXANDRINE.—Charadrius Alexandrinus,
Lin. Syst.
253.—
Brunnich,
App. p. 77. —
Hasselquist Itin.
256.—
Latham,
iii.
PL. With a black bill: a white line over each eye, and collar round the neck: head, upper part of body, and coverts of wings, light cinereous brown: primaries dusky; from the fifth to eighth marked with an oblong white spot on the exterior margin: secondaries dusky, tipt with white: middle feathers of the tail black; outmost white: under side of the body white: legs dusky blue. SIZE between a Lark and a Thrush.
PLACE.
Found in the diocese of
Drontheim, Norway.
Common about the salt lakes between the rivers
Argun
and
Onon;
but not observed in any other part of
Russia
or
Sibiria.
Inhabits also the canal which conveys water from the
Nile
to
Alexandria
Hasselquist Itin.
256.
.
XL. OYSTER-CATCHER.
Gen. Birds.
406. PIED.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 213.—
Catesby,
i. 85.—L'Huitrier. La pie de mer,
De Buffon,
viii. 119.—
Pl. Enl.
929.—
Latham,
iii.
Haematopus ostralegus Strandskjura,
Faun. Suec.
No 192.—
Brunnich,
No 189.— —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
O. With a long depressed bill, cuneated at the end, and of a rich orange-color: beneath the throat sometimes a white bar: the whole neck besides, with head, back, and coverts of wings, of a fine black: wings dusky, crossed with a bar of white: under side of the body white: lower part of the tail white; end black: legs strong and thick, of a dirty flesh-color. WEIGHT sixteen ounces. LENGTH seventeen inches.
Inhabits
North America,
from
New York
to the
Bahama
Islands;
PLACE.
and again is found in
Sharks Bay,
on the west coast of
New Holland
Dampier,
iii. 85.
, with some variation of color. It is met with about
Curaçoa
in the
West Indies
Feuillèe, Observ.
ed. 1725. p. 289.
, and wholly black, with a red bill and cinereous legs.
Found as far as
Lapmark
Leems Lapmark,
252.
. Inhabits all
Russia
and
Sibiria.
Breeds on the great
Arctic
flats: and extends to
Kamtschatka.
XLI. RAIL.
Gen. Birds.
LXXIII.
407. CLAPPER.
R. With the crown, and whole upper part of neck, back, and wings, of an olive brown, edged with pale ash-color: primaries dark, edged with tawny: tail of the same color: cheeks cinereous: throat white: under side of the neck and breast brown, tinged with yellow: space beyond the thighs barred with dark cinereous and white: legs brown. LENGTH fourteen inches; of the bill two.
PLACE.
Inhabits
New York.
Called there the
Meadow Clapper.
It arrives there in
May,
lays in
June,
and disappears in
October.
—LEV. MUS.— BL. MUS.
408. VIRGINIAN.
Rallus Virginianus,
Lin. Syst.
263.—
Latham,
iii.
American Water Rail,
Edw.
279.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
R. With a dusky bill, red at the base of the lower mandible: crown dusky: cheeks cinereous: from the bill to each eye a white line: throat whitish: upper part of the neck and back dusky, bordered with brown: ridge of the wing white: coverts, ferruginous: primaries and tail dusky: under side of the neck and breast of a brownish orange: lower belly, sides, and thighs, dusky, barred with white: vent black, white, and orange: legs of a dirty flesh-color. In size and shape like the
English
Rail
Le Rale d'Eau,
De Buffon,
viii. 154.—
Pl. Enl.
749.
,
A VARIETY OF THE ENGLISH RAIL.
of which it seems a mere variety; ours having a deep ash-colored breast instead of a red one.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Pensylvania.
The common kind is found in the
Feroe
islands,
Norway,
as far as
Sondmor, Sweden, Russia,
and the west of
Sibiria.
Clapper Rail▪ No . 407. Semipalmated Snipe. No . 380.
XLII. GALLINULE.
Gen. Birds.
LXXV.
409. SOREE.
Little American Water Hen,
Edw.
144.—
Latham,
iii.
Soree,
Catesby,
i. 70.—Le Râle de Virginie,
De Buffon,
viii. 165.—LEV. MUS.
G. With a yellow bill: crown, hind part of the neck, back, tail, and wings, of a rusty brown, spotted with black: coverts of the wing alone plain and more ferruginous: forehead, throat, and great part of the front of the neck, of a deep black: cheeks, sides of the neck, and breast, of a fine blueish ash-colour: belly and sides of a dirty white; the last barred downwards with black: legs of a dull green. Rather larger than a Lark.
These birds migrate in great numbers into
Virginia
the latter end of
September,
and continue there about six weeks.
PLACE.
During that space they are found in vast multitudes in the marshes, feeding on wild oats. On their first arrival they are exceedingly lean; but soon grow so fat as to be unable to fly. In that state they lie upon the reeds; and the
Indians
go in canoes and kill them with their paddles, or run them down. It is said that they have taken a hundred dozen in a morning. They are most delicious eating; and, during the season, are found on the tables of most of the planters, for breakfast, dinner, and supper
Burnaby's Travels,
octavo ed. 42.
.
410. YELLOW-BRRASTRD.
G. With the crown and hind part of the neck dark olivaceous brown, spotted with white: back plain brown: scapulars edged with yellowish white: breast dirty yellow: belly white: legs brown. In SIZE lesser than an
English
Quail.
Inhabits the province of
New York.
—BL. MUS.
PLACE.
411. COMMON.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 217.—
Brunnich,
No 191.—La Poule d'Eau,
De Buffon,
viii. 171. —
Pl. Enl.
877.—
Latham,
iii.
Fulica chloropus,
Lin. Syst.
258.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
G. With the head and upper part of the neck, body, and coverts of the wings, of a fine deep olive green: primaries and tail dusky: breast and belly cinereous: vent white: legs green. WEIGHT of the male fifteen ounces: length fourteen inches.
Inhabits
New York,
and as low as
Carolina:
does not cross the
Baltic:
rare in
Denmark:
inhabits
Russia,
and the west of
Sibiria,
but not the east.
A. CRAKE,
Br. Zool.
i. No 216.—Rallus crex. Angsnarpa; Kornkraka,
Faun. Suec.
No 194.
Le Rale de Terre, Genet, ou Roi des Cailles,
De Buffon,
viii. 146.—
Pl. Enl.
750.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
G. With the crown, hind part of the neck, and back, black, edged with bay: coverts of wings plain bay: tail of a deep bay: belly dirty white: legs cinereous. When lean weighs six, when fat eight ounces.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Europe,
even as far north as
Drontheim.
Notwithstanding it is so short-winged a bird, and a bad flier, yet it is found in summer in the
Schetland
isles; not uncommon in the temperate parts of
Russia
and
Sibiria,
but none in the north, or towards the shores. Where Quails are common, in those countries this bird abounds; and the contrary where Quails are scarce. The Crakes depart at the same time with the Cranes. The
Tartars
observe how ill adapted the first are for a long flight; therefore believe that every Crane takes a Crake on its back, and so assists the migration
Gmelin.
.
DIV. II. SECT. II. PINNATED FEET.
DIV. II. SECT. II. PINNATED FEET.
XLIII. PHALAROPE.
Gen. Birds,
LXXVI.
412. GREY.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 218.—
Edw.
308.—
Latham,
iii.
Tringa lobata,
Faun. Suec.
No 179.—
Muller,
No 195.—
Brunnich,
No 171.
Le Phalarope à festons dentelés,
De Buffon,
viii. 226.—
Pl. Enl.
766.—LEV. MUS.
PH. With a black bill, flatted and dilated near the extremity: eyes placed far back: white forehead: crown dusky: upper part of the neck light grey: back, rump, and scapulars, deep dove-color, marked with dusky spots: edges of the scapulars yellow: coverts and primaries dusky; the first edged with white: breast and belly white: tail dusky, edged with ash-color: legs black: toes scolloped; the margins of the membranes finely serrated. SIZE of a Purre.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Scandinavia, Iceland,
and
Greenland:
in the last, lives on the frozen side, near the great lakes: quits the country before winter: is seen on the full seas in
April
and
September,
in the course of its migration. Swims slowly: cannot dive. Twitters like a Swallow. The feathers being very soft, the
Greenlanders
use it to wipe their rheumy eyes. Is not found in
Russia,
but is frequent in all
Sibiria,
about the lakes and rivers, especially in autumn; probably in its migration from the
Arctic
flats: it was also met with among the ice, between
Asia
and
America.
413. RED.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 219.—
Edw.
142, 143.—
Latham,
iii.
Tringa fulicaria,
Faun. Suec.
No 179.—
Brunnich,
No 172.—
Muller,
No 196. —
Faun. Groenl.
No 76.
Le Phalarope rouge,
De Buffon,
viii. 225.
PH. With bill in form of the last: crown, hind part of the neck, and upper part of the breast, of a dusky ash-color: sides of the neck ferruginous: throat, belly, and vent, white: wings black: greater coverts and secondaries tipt with white: back and scapulars dusky; the last edged with bright ferruginous; rump white, barred with cinereous: tail dusky: toes like the former. The whole under side of the neck, the breast, and belly, of the supposed FEMALE are ferruginous.
Linnaeus
calls the male
Tringa Hyperborea,
and separates them
Syst. Nat.
249.
.
Found in
Hudson's Bay
and
Scandinavia;
common about the
Caspian
sea, and lakes and rivers adjacent, during spring; but does not extend to the farther part of
Sibiria;
yet was found by the navigators between
Asia
and
America.
They go in pairs. Swim in the ponds of the fens; and are perpetually dipping their bills in the water in search of insects.
414. BROWN.
Edw.
46.—
Latham,
iii.
PH. With a slender black bill, a little bending at the end: crown black: cheeks and neck of a light ash-color, tinged with bloom-color: breast and belly white: back, wings, and tail, dusky: greater primaries and greater coverts tipt with white: legs like the preceding.
Taken on board a ship off the coast of
Maryland,
PLACE.
the wind blowing from land. The form of the bill is a specific distinction from the last.
415. PLAIN.
PH. With a slender black bill, dilated at the end: crown dusky and dull yellow: across each eye a black line: cheeks and fore part of the neck a pale clay-color: breast and belly white: back and tertials dusky, edged with dull yellow: coverts, primaries, and tail, cinereous; the last edged like the tertials: legs yellowish: toes bordered with a plain or unscolloped membrane.
Taken in the frozen sea, about
Lat.
69 ½.
Long.
191 ½.
PLACE.
XLIV. COOT.
Gen. Birds.
LXXVII.
416. COMMON.
Br. Zool.
i. No 220.—La Foulque,
De Buffon,
viii. 211.—
Pl. Enl.
197.—
Latham,
iii.
Fulica atra,
Faun. Suec.
No 193.—
Brunnich,
No 196.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
C. With a white bill: head, neck, body, wings, and tail, of a full black: legs yellowish green. WEIGHT from twenty-four to twenty-eight ounces.
PLACE.
Inhabits the shores of
Sweden
and
Norway:
appears in spring, and very rarely visits the lakes or moors
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 591.
. Frequent in
Russia,
and even to the east of
Sibiria.
I found it among the birds sent to Mrs.
Blackburn
from
North America.
The
Indians
about
Niagara
dress their skins, and use them for pouches. They are frequent in the rivers of
Carolina,
where they are called
Flusterers
Lawson,
149.
; I suppose, from the noise they make in flying along the surface of the water.
XLV. GREBE.
Gen. Birds,
LXXVIII.
417. HORNED.
Eared or horned Dobchick,
Edw.
49.—
Latham,
iii.
GR. with the head very full of feathers, and of a mallard green color: from each eye issues a long tuft of yellowish orange-colored feathers, almost meeting at the hind part of the head; beneath them is a large ruff of black feathers: fore part of the neck and breast of an orange red; the hind part and back dusky: coverts of the wings cinereous: primaries and tertials black: secondaries white: belly glossy and silvery: legs of a bluish ash-color before; flesh-colored behind. Of the SIZE of a Teal. Not the male of my Eared Dobchick, as Mr.
Edwards
supposes
See
tab.
96.
Edw.
and my account of that species,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 224.
; there being in that species no external difference of sexes, as I have had frequent opportunities of observing.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay:
appears there in the fresh waters in
June:
PLACE.
lays its eggs among the aquatic plants. Retires towards the south in autumn: is called by the natives,
Sekeep.
It appears in
New York
in that season, and continues there till spring, when it returns to the north. For its vast quickness in diving is called, in
New York,
the
Water Witch.
418. PIED-BILL.
Colymbus podiceps,
Lin. Syst.
223.—
Latham,
iii.
Pied-bill Dobchick,
Catesby,
i. 91.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
GR. with a strong arched bill, not unlike that of the common poultry; of an olive-color, crossed through the middle of both mandibles with a black bar: nostrils very wide: chin and throat of a glossy black, bounded with white: upper part of the neck and back dusky: cheeks and under part of the neck pale brown: breast silvery, mottled with ash-color: belly silvery: wings brown: ends of the secondaries white: toes furnished with broad membranes. The female wants the black bar on the bill. LENGTH fourteen inches.
PLACE.
Inhabits from
New York
to
South Carolina:
is called in the first, the
Hen-beaked Wigeon,
or
Water Witch.
Arrives there late in the autumn, and goes away in
April.
419. LOUISIANE.
Le Grebe de la Louisiane,
De Buffon,
viii. 240.—
Pl. Enl.
No 943.—
Latham,
iii.
GR. The end of the bill slightly bent: middle of the breast white, tinged with dusky: sides of the neck and body, quite to the rump, rust-colored: from the base of the neck to the thighs marked with large transverse black spots: upper part of the body and wings deep brown: legs dusky. In SIZE rather less than the common Grebe.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Louisiana.
420. DUSKY.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 225.—
Edw.
96. fig. 1.—Le petit Grebe,
De Buffon,
viii. 232.—
Pl. Enl.
942.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
GR. With the crown, neck, back, and primaries, dusky: ridge of the wings and secondaries white: rest of the wings dusky: breast and belly silvery, but clouded. SIZE of a Teal.
PLACE.
Sent from
New York
with the
Horned Grebe,
as its female; but is certainly a distinct species.
A. GREAT CRESTED GREBE,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 223.—Le Grebe cornu,
De Buffon,
viii. 235.—
Faun. Suec.
No 151.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
GR. With the cheeks and throat surrounded with a long pendent ruff, of a bright tawny color: on the head a great dusky crest: hind part of the neck and back dusky: primaries of the same color: secondaries white: breast and belly of a glossy silvery white: outside of the legs dusky; inside greenish. WEIGHT two pounds and a half. LENGTH twenty-one inches. EXTENT thirty.
Inhabits
Iceland,
northern
Europe,
PLACE.
and the temperate and northern parts of
Sibiria,
in every reedy lake.
B. EARED,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 225.—
Edw.
96. fig. 2.—
Latham,
iii.
Colymbus Auritus. Fiorna. Skraenlom,
Faun. Suec.
No 152.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
GR. With crimson irides: behind each eye a large tuft of ferruginous feathers: the head, upper part of the body, and primaries, dusky: secondaries white: whole under side white: feathers above the thighs ferruginous. LENGTH, to the rump, twelve inches.
Inhabits
Iceland
Olaffen.
,
Norway,
and
Sweden,
PLACE.
and also the lakes of
Lapland,
where it makes a floating nest: quits those countries in winter. Common in
Sibiria
and
Russia,
in all latitudes. Inhabits
England
the whole year. I have seen numbers shot in
Lincolnshire.
Could observe no external sexual differences; so am certain they are not of the same species with the
Horned Grebe,
No 417.
C. RED-NECKED GREBE.
GR. With the crown, hind part of the neck, back, and wings, dusky brown: secondaries white? cheeks and throat white; the first marked with a few brown streaks: under side of the neck bright ferruginous: belly white: legs dusky.
This species was sent to me by the late Mr.
Fleischer
of
Copenhagen,
PLACE.
from either
Denmark
or
Norway.
The same species is found, but very rarely, towards the
Caspian
sea
Doctor
PALLAS.
.
DIV. II. SECT. III. WEB-FOOTED.
DIV. II. SECT. III. WEB-FOOTED.
* WITH LONG LEGS.
XLVI. AVOSET.
Gen. Birds,
LXXIX.
421. AMERICAN.
AV. With a slender black bill, slightly turning up: head, neck, and upper part of the breast, of a pale buff-color: rest of the lower part of the body white: back and primaries black: lesser coverts white; greater black; beneath which is a long transverse bar of white: legs very long, and dusky: feet semipalmated; the webs bordering the sides of the toes for a considerable way. Larger than the
English
AVOSET.
PLACE.
This species is preserved in the LEVERIAN MUSEUM. It is a native of
North America.
I imagine that it sometimes is found entirely white; for the bird called by Mr.
Edwards
(tab. 139.) the
White Godwit
from
Hudson's Bay,
seems to be the same with this.
A. TEREK. Scolopax cinerea,
Nov. Com. Petrop,
xix. 473. tab. xix.—
Latham,
iii.
AV. With a bill one inch ten lines long, slightly recurvated: whole upper part of the plumage cinereous: the middle of each feather marked with dusky; on the rump in form of bars: lower part
American Avoset. No . 421.
of body white: tail cinereous; outmost feather on each side varied with white and ash-color: legs short, semipalmated. SIZE of the
Red Sandpiper.
Frequents and breeds in the north
Doctor
PALLAS.
; and haunts,
PLACE.
during the summer, the
Caspian
sea. Migrates through
Russia
and
Sibiria.
B. SCOOPING,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 228.—Skarflacka. Alfit,
Faun. Suec.
No 191.—
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 591.—L'Avocette,
De Buffon,
viii. 466.—
Pl. Enl.
353.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
AV. With a black, thin, flexible bill, three inches and a half long, bending upwards half its length: head, hind part of the neck, and part of the wings and scapulars, black: rest of the neck, breast, belly, and tail, white. WEIGHT thirteen ounces. LENGTH, to the end of the tail, eighteen inches. EXTENT thirty.
Inhabits, in
Scandinavia,
only the isle of
Oeland,
off
Sweden;
PLACE.
where it rarely appears in the spring. Is properly a southern bird. Very frequent, in the breeding season, about
Fossdike Wash,
in
Lincolnshire:
are then very easily shot, flying about one's head like the Lapwing, repeating shrilly,
twit, twit.
Lay two eggs, white, tinged with green, and spotted with black. Are frequent about the salt lakes of the
Tartarian
desart, and about the
Caspian
sea.
XLVII. FLAMMANT.
Gen. Birds,
LXXXI.
422. RED.
Flamingo,
Catesby,
i. 73.—Phaenicopterus ruber,
Lin. Syst.
230.—Le Flammant, ou le Phènicoptere,
De Buffon,
viii. 475.—
Pl. Enl.
63.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
FL. With the upper mandible extremely convex, ridged, and sloping to a point; the under very deep, and convex on the upper part; the edges of both furnished with numerous teeth: space between it and the eyes naked: neck very long: tail short: primaries black: all the rest of the plumage of a fine crimson color; but the
European
birds, which are the only I have seen, are roseate: legs very long: toes webbed: hind toe very small. The attitude is erect: and its HEIGHT usually five feet.
PLACES IN AMERICA.
These birds inhabit
Louisiana
Du Pratz,
ii. 81.
, the
Bahama
islands, and those of the
West Indies;
and frequent only salt waters. They live in flocks, and are uncommonly tame, or rather stupid. A person who can stand concealed may shoot as many as he pleases; for they will not arise at the report of the gun; but the survivors will stand as if astonished: nor will they take warning at the sight of the slain; but continue on the spot till most of them are killed. Such is
Catesby
's account. But the honest and intelligent
Dampier
gives a very different one; and says that they are extremely shy, and very difficult to be shot.
NESTS.
They build their nests in shallow ponds; and form, for that purpose, with mud, hillocks with a broad base, which appear about a foot and a half above the water: these taper to the top, in which the birds make a hollow for the eggs. They lay two, and cover them with their rump, their legs resting beneath the water. As soon as the young are hatched they run very fast, but cannot fly till they are full grown
Voyages,
i. 71.
. They are for a long time of a grey color, nor do they attain that of red till near two years.
They stand upright, and in a row; so at a distance look like a file of soldiers. They feed on the seeds of water-plants: not fish. Their flesh is good, notwithstanding it is lean, and looks black.
Dampier
also bears witness to the delicacy of the tongues; which, says he, are large, and furnished with a knob of fat at the root, the so much boasted morsel.
Apicius,
a
Roman,
probably cotemporary with
Tiberius,
had the honor of first introducing them to table: the same person whom
Pliny
so forcibly stigmatises with the title of
Nepotum altissimus gurges
Lib.
x. c. 48.
.
The FLAMMANT inhabits several parts of the old world:
PLACES IN EUROPE AND ASIA.
such as some of the coasts of the
Mediterranean
sea; the
Cape De Verd
islands; and the
Cape of Good Hope.
They are common on the shores of the
Caspian
sea, on the
Persian
and
Turcomannian
coasts: repairing in flocks to the mouth of the river
Yemba;
and sometimes to that of the
Yaik;
and also to that of the
Volga,
below
Astracan.
* WITH SHORT LEGS.
XLVIII. ALBATROSS.
Gen. Birds,
LXXXII.
423. WANDERING.
Diomedea Exulans,
Lin. Syst.
214.—
Pl. Enl.
237.—
Latham,
iii.
Albatross,
Edw.
88.—
Pallas, Spicil. Zool. Fasc.
v. 28.
Tschaiki of the Kamtschatkans, LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
ALB. With a strong bill, sinking a little in the middle; hooked at the end of the upper mandible, abrupt at that of the lower; nostrils covered with a strong guard, and opening forward; color red; tip dusky: the plumage, in some, wholly dusky, with the color most intense on the upper part; others again have their under side entirely white: the tail is rounded: legs and feet of a dusky red: the webs dusky.
SIZE.
ALBATROSSES differ greatly in size. Whether they differ in species I cannot determine. They weigh from twelve to twenty-eight pounds: and vary in extent of wings, from seven feet seven inches to ten feet seven.
PLACE.
The white and the brown variety or species appear annually in flocks of thousands, about the end of
June,
and spread over the whole
Ochotschan
sea, the gulph of
Penschinshi,
and the
Kurile
islands; but very rarely on the eastern coast of
Kamtschatka.
They also arrived in great numbers about
Bering
's Island, at the time when
Steller
was preparing to depart from his long confinement, after the shipwreck of his illustrious commander. He sailed from thence on the 10th of
August.
This coincides with the re-migration of these birds, who retire from the former places about the end of
July
or the middle of
August.
Their arrival is the certain forerunner of fish. It is probable that they pursue their prey northward, as they do not return the same way. They spread to the coasts of
America
Seen the 4th of
July,
in lat. 56. 30, off the western coast of
America.—Ellis's Voy.
i. 292.
, and tend from each continent to their breeding-places in the southern hemisphere, which they may arrive at by the season of summer in that adverse part of the globe.
They seek the northern shores,
MANNERS.
in pursuit of the vast shoals of salmon which frequent those distant places. They are the most voracious of birds; and will so fill themselves with fish, that sometimes a large one will hang half out of their mouths till those in their stomach are digested. They will be at times so loaden with food as to become incapable of flying; and even so stupified, as to be readily hunted down by boats, or transfixed in the water by darts: neither can they arise till they have vomited up their prey, which they strive to do with all their might.
The
Kamtschatkans
are very solicitous about the capture of these birds,
CAPTURE.
not so much for the sake of their flesh (which is very tough and dry, and never eaten unless hunger compels) but on account of the intestines, which they blow into bladders, in order to form floats for their nets. They angle for the Albatrosses as they do for the scaly race, baiting with a whole fish, a large hook fixed to a long cord. This they fling into the water, when there is an instant contest among these greedy birds, which shall first lay hold of it
Hist. Kamtschatka,
Engl. edit. 155.
.
They have only the vestige of a tongue; which is one of the characters of the Gannet, Corvorants, and other voracious birds. Their voice, like that of the Pelecan, resembles the braying of an ass.
The voyage which these birds undertake,
MIGRATIONS.
from perhaps almost the extremity of the southern hemisphere to that of the northern, urged by instinct, to attend the migration of certain fishes, is very amazing. They are, indeed, seen in
April
and
May
off the
Cape
of
Good Hope
Dampier,
i. 531.
—Osbeck,
i. 109.
, sometimes soaring in the air with the gentle motion of a Kite, at a stupendous height; at others, nearer the water, watching the motions of the Flying Fish, which they catch while those miserable beings spring out of their element to shun the jaws of the
Coryphenes.
I have not authority to say that some of them do not reside about the
Cape
the whole year: but I am acquainted with only two places in which they breed; one is the
Falkland
islands, the other the coast of
Patagonia
This account is given by a distinguished officer in our navy, who had visited these islands.
. In the first, they begin to lay their eggs in
October,
the spring of those regions, and continue that function about a month.
NESTS AND EGG.
They build their nests with sedges, in form of a haycock, about three feet high, leaving a hollow in the summit for the egg; for they lay but one, which is four inches and a half long, white, with some small obscure spots at the thicker end. They are constantly watched while on their nests by multitudes of Hawks, who no sooner see the Albatross quit its nest, but they instantly dart down and carry off the egg. This obliges them to lay another, and prolong the season of incubation.
The remaining part of the summer they wander over all parts of the
Antarctic
seas; and were seen as low as lat. 67. 20. in the middle of our
January
Cook's Voy. S. Pole,
i. 256.
; and have been seen in several successive months to the northward, shunning the winter of their native hemisphere, and seeking warmth and food in the remote climate of
Kamtschatka.
STELLER takes notice of some birds which the
Russians
rank under the name of
Gloughpichi.
He says they are found in great numbers on the isles between
Asia
and
America;
that they were of the size between an Eagle and a Goose, had a yellow crooked bill, and their plumage of the color of umber, spotted with white. He also saw numbers feeding on a dead whale. And in crossing the
Penchian
sea, he observed several flying: some white, others black
Descr. de la Kamtschatka,
492.
. All these I suspect to have been different sorts of ALBATROSSES, which may have wandered here; for the
Antarctic
voyagers observed at lest three species in their approaches towards the southern pole
Cook's Voy. towards the S. Pole,
i. 43, 256, 258.
.
XLIX. AUK.
Gen. Birds,
LXXXIII.
424. GREAT.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 229.—
Edw.
No 147.—
Latham,
iii.
Alca Impennis,
Faun. Suec.
No 140.—
Brunnich,
No 105.—
Muller,
No 139.— LEV. MUS.
A. With a strong bill, bending at the end; black, and furrowed transversely: between that and the eyes, a bean-shaped white spot: above, the whole plumage is of a glossy black; the secondaries alone tipt with white: breast and belly white: wings very short, and useless for flight, covered with very short feathers: legs black. To the end of the toes, three feet.
Inhabits (but not very frequently,
PLACE.
the coasts of
Norway
) the
Feroe
islands (in a certain number of years,
St. Kilda
)
Iceland, Greenland,
and
Newfoundland.
It lives chiefly on the sea; but never wanders beyond the soundings. Feeds much on the
Lump-fish, Br. Zool.
ii. No 57. and
Father Lasher, Br. Zool.
iii. No 99. and other fish of that size. Builds on rocks remote from shore. Lays one egg, six inches long, irregularly marked with purplish lines on a white ground, or blotched near the thicker end with black or ferruginous spots. Hatches late. The young, in
August,
are only covered with grey down. Their food, at that period, is vegetable, the
Rhodiola Rosea,
and other plants, having been found in their stomachs. The
Greenlanders
use the gullet as a bladder to support their darts
Faun. Groenl.
p. 82.
: and I think I have seen some habits of the
Eskimaux
made of the skins.
425. RAZOR-BILL.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 230.—Le Pingoin,
Pl. Enl.
1004, 1005.—
Latham,
iii.
Alca Torda,
Faun. Suec.
No 139.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
A. With a white line from the bill to the eyes: bill thick, bent at the end, crossed with transverse groves; the largest white, and passing over each mandible: head, back, wings, and tail black: secondaries tipt with white: breast and belly white: legs black. WEIGHT near twenty-three ounces. LENGTH eighteen inches. EXTENT twenty-seven.
PLACE.
Inhabits the north of
Europe, Iceland, Greenland,
and the coast of
Labrador
Doctor PALLAS; to whom it was sent by a
Moravian
missionary.
. Extends in
Europe,
along the White sea, into the
Arctic Asiatic
shores; and from thence to
Kamtschatka
and the gulph of
Ochotsk,
wherever there are lofty rocks
In the
British Zoology,
ii. No 230, I made matter of wonder, the manner in which this bird placed its egg on the naked rock, with so secure a balance that it would not roll off. Mr.
Aikin
referred me to the following passage in HARVEY
de Generatione Anim.
which most clearly expalins the cause: "In the same island" (the
Basi
), says he,
una mihi monstratur avis, quae ovum duntaxat singulare, sive unicum, parit, idemque super cujusdam lapidis acuti fastigium collocat (nullo nido, aut conquisitâ strue suppositâ), idque tam firmiter, ut mater abire & redire, salvo ovo, possit. Hoc autem si quis loco dimoveat, nullâ arte postea stabiliri potest; quin inde devolutum praeceps in mare ruat. Locus nempè (ut dixi) caemento albo incrustatur; ovumque, cum nascitur, lentâ & viscosâ madet humiditate, quâ citò concrescente, tanquam
ferrumine
quodam substrato saxo agglutinatur.
. It is the only one of this species which reaches the inland
Baltic.
It is found there on the
Carls-Ozar
isles, near
Gothland,
and the isle of
Bondon
off
Angermanland.
426. BLACK-BILLED.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 231.—Alca Pica,
Lin. Syst.
210.—
Latham;
iii.
Alca Unisuleata,
Brunnich,
No 102.—
Muller,
No 138.
A. With a black bill, marked with one furrow: whole upper side of the body black; the under, from chin to tail, white. WEIGHT only eighteen ounces. LENGTH fifteen inches and a half. EXTENT twenty-five.
PLACE.
Inhabits the north of
Europe,
and the same countries with the former. It extends farther south than any of the genus; being found on the coasts of
Candia,
the antient
Crete;
where it is called
Vuthamaria,
and
Calicatczu
Belon. Obs.
12.
. In
Greenland
neither of them frequent the bays till the intense cold sets in; but live in the sea, resorting, in the breeding season, to the cliffs in flocks, where each knows its station. Feed on the
cancer pedatus,
and other marine insects; and grow very fat. In winter, resort to the bays to feed; but at night return to sea. Vie with the
Eider-duck,
in point of utility to the
Greenlanders.
The skins are used for cloathing: the raw fat is sucked as broth: the flesh, half putrid, is much admired: and the whole fowl, dressed with the intestines in it, esteemed a high delicacy.
They are taken in the sea with darts; or, chaced in canoes, are driven on shore, and killed by the persons who wait for them; or are taken in nets made of split whalebone. They are the chief food of the natives during
February
and
March
Crantz,
i. 48.
.
The
Alca Balthica
of
Brunnich,
No 115, is a variety of these birds, only wants the white line from the bill to the eyes.
427. PUFFIN.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 232.—
Edw.
358.—Le Macareux,
Pl. Enl.
275.—
Latham,
iii.
Alca Arctica,
Faun. Suec.
No 141.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
A. With a short bill, deep at the base, ridged, triangular, ending in a sharp point; base strongly rimmed; upper part blueish grey; lower red; both furrowed transversely: crown, and upper part of the body, wings, and tail, black: cheeks white, bounded by grey: breast and belly white: legs orange-colored. WEIGHT twelve ounces. LENGTH twelve inches. EXTENT twenty-one.
Inhabits all the coasts of northern
Europe,
the icy sea,
PLACE.
and all the way to
Kamtschatka;
where they are larger and blacker than usual, and their crown cinereous. Found in the
Feroe
isles, where they are called
Lunda;
extends to
Iceland, Greenland,
and
Spitzbergen. Catesby
enumerates this species, and says that the GREAT AUK, and RAZOR-BILL, frequent the coasts of
Carolina
during winter
Catesby,
App. xxxvi.
. In the same season, numbers of these birds, and the RAZOR-BILLS, frequent the coast of
Andalusia;
but disappear in the spring. It is supposed that they continue swimming from the northern parts in search of food; the fish of the softer latitudes not retiring to the great deeps out of their reach, as is the case with the fish of more rigorous climates.
428. LABRADOR.
A. With a bill about an inch and a quarter long, much carinated at top, not very deep, a little convex; upper mandible dusky, lower whitish, marked with a black spot, and angulated like that of a Gull: crown, and upper part of the body, wings, and tail, dusky: lower part white: legs red. SIZE of the former.
PLACE.
Inhabits the
Labrador
coast?—BR. MUS.
429. LITTLE.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 233.—
Edw.
91.—
Latham,
iii.
Alca Alle,
Faun. Suec.
No 142.—
Brunnich,
No 106.—Rot-ges, or Rottet,
Marten's Spitzb.
85.—LEV. MUS.
A. With a short, black, convex, and thick bill: whole upper part black: cheeks and lower parts white: scapulars streaked downwards with white: legs dirty greenish white: webs black: throat of the male is black. In SIZE not superior to that of a Blackbird.
PLACE.
Inhabits the north of
Europe,
as far as
Spitzbergen;
but I believe does not extend to
Asia.
Frequent in
Greenland.
Dives well. Is always putting its bill to the water as if drinking. Grows very fat in stormy weather, when the waves bring small Crabs and little fish near the surface. Is called in
Newfoundland
the
Ice-bird,
being the
harbinger
of ice
Crantz,
i. 85.
. Varies to quite white; and sometimes is found with a reddish breast. Is called by the
Dutch, Rottet,
from its note.
430. ANTIENT.
A. With a black bill, crown, and throat: on each side of the head a short whitish crest: on the hind part of the neck are numbers of white, long, loose, and very narrow feathers, which give it an aged look: wings, back, and tail, sooty: breast and belly white. SIZE of the former.
PLACE.
Inhabits from the west of
North America
to
Kamtschatka
and the
Kurile
islands.—PALLAS, MS.—LEV. MUS.
431. PYGMY.
A. With the bill black and ridged: crown, upper part of the neck, back, wings, and tail, dusky: under side of the neck and breast of a deep iron grey: belly of a dirty white: legs dusky. SIZE of the
Water Ouzel.
Seen in vast multitudes about
Bird Island,
PLACE.
between
Asia
and
America.
432. TUFTED.
Alca Cirrhata,
Pallas, Spicil. Zool.
fasc. v. 7. tab. i.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
A. With a strong thick bill, of a sub-triangular form, arched, hooked near the end; the lower mandible truncated; the upper mandible, near the base, rising into a distinct prominence: the bill of the male marked with three furrows; of the female with two: its colors a fine red, yellow, and corneous: from the sides of the head are two long silky tufts of a yellow color, falling down the sides of the neck to the back: cheeks white: the rest of the plumage entirely black; lightest beneath: legs of a bright red. In SIZE superior to the
Puffin Auk.
Inhabits only the shores of
Kamtschatka,
the
Kurile
islands,
PLACE.
and those intervening between
Kamtschatka
and
America.
In manners this species greatly resembles the Puffin.
MANNERS.
Lives all day at sea, but at no great distance from the rocks: comes on shore at night: burrows a yard deep under ground, and makes there a nest, with feathers and sea plants: is monogamous, and lodges there the whole night with its mate. Lays one white egg, in the latter end of
May
or beginning of
June.
Bites fiercely when taken. Feeds on Crabs, Shrimps, and shell-fish, which it forces from the rocks with its strong bill.
The females of
Kamtschatka
copy from this bird the fashion of hanging, from behind each ear, tufts made of slips of the white part of the skins of the
Glutton.
These are reckoned the most valuable present a lover can give his mistress, or a husband to his wife, and the strongest proof of affection.
Their magicians formerly used to recommend the bills of this bird, mixed with those of the Puffin, and the parti-colored hairs of Seals, as a powerful amulet. The distant islanders still bear the bills in their helmets and caps, and make their garments of the skins; but the
Kamtschatkans
at present make no use of any part but the eggs, which are a common food; the flesh being hard and insipid.
433. PERROQUET.
Alca Psittacula,
Pallas, Spicil. Zool.
fasc. v. 15. tab. ii.—
Latham,
iii.
A. With an oval bill, or the upper and lower parts convex, and of a bright red color: from the remote corner of each eye is a very slender tuft of fine white feathers, hanging down the neck: the head and upper part of the body dusky; the lower whitish, varied with black edges: legs dirty yellow: webs dusky. About the SIZE of the Little Auk.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Kamtschatka,
the isles towards
Japan,
those towards
America,
and the western shores of
America,
in great abundance. They swim in flocks; but never, unless tempest-driven, go far from the rocks, to which they resort towards night, and shelter themselves in the fissures or holes, without keeping any certain nest. Are the most stupid of all birds, and caught by the natives in this ridiculous manner:—towards evening they put on their garment with great sleeves, pull out their arms, and leave the sleeves distended, which the birds will creep into by flocks, and thus become an easy prey.
The stupidity of this species has often been the salvation of mariners sailing by night in these dangerous parts; being often warned of the neighborhood of a dreadful rock, by these birds flying on board their vessel, mistaking it for their designed lodging. They lay one egg, uncommonly great for their size; it is of a whitish color, speckled with brown, dusky, or yellow; and is esteemed for its delicacy.
434. CRESTED.
Alca Cristatella,
Pallas Spicil. Zool.
fasc. v. 18. tab. iii.—
Latham,
iii.
A. With a scarlet bill: upper mandible convex, and end hooked; and near the angle of the mouth a scarlet heart-shaped substance: on the forehead rise some upright feathers; and above that a fine crest of longer feathers, curling forwards: head and neck black: behind each eye hang a few narrow feathers: back black, marked with dusky ferruginous strokes: rump hoary: wings sooty: under side of the body of a dusky cinereous cast: legs livid: webs dusky. SIZE of the Missel Thrush.
Frequent on
Bird Island,
between
Asia
and
America.
PLACE.
435. DUSKY.
Alca Tetracula,
Pallas Spicil. Zool.
fasc. v. 23. tab. iv.—
Latham,
iii.
A. With a small arched bill, dusky and yellow: above the base, on the forehead, the feathers divide into two points: beyond each eye is a whitish descending line, in which are a few setaceous feathers: general color of the bird dusky: belly hoary: on the hind part of the head and neck, and near the tail, a few rusty marks: tail very short, dusky, and some of the feathers tipt with ferruginous: legs livid: webs intensely black. LENGTH eleven inches. EXTENT eighteen.
Frequent about
Kamtschatka,
the
Kurile
isles,
PLACE.
and those situated towards
America.
Live in flocks on the rocks; but appear at sea solitary: most stupid, and clumsy. Can scarcely fly; or stand, except they rest against the rocks, where they lodge in the fissures the whole night, or in burrows, which they make with great facility. They swim and dive admirably well. Are exceedingly bad food; but are eaten by the almost-famished natives.
L. GUILLEMOT.
Gen. Birds,
LXXXIV.
436. FOOLISH.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 234.—Colymbus Troille,
Faun. Suec.
No 149.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
G. With the bill three inches long: head, neck, back, wings, and tail, of a deep mouse-color: secondaries tipt with white: breast and belly pure white: legs dusky. WEIGHT twenty ounces, LENGTH seventeen inches. EXTENT twenty-seven and a half.
PLACE.
Inhabits all parts of the north of
Europe,
to
Spitzbergen;
the coast of
Lapmark,
and along the white and icy sea, quite to
Kamtschatka
and
North America.
Found in
Newfoundland.
Not mentioned among the birds of
Greenland.
Is a species that winters on the coast of
Italy
MS. List, of Birds of Italy,
sent to me by that eminent Ornithologist, M. SCOPOLI, from
Pavia.
; possibly those which quit
England
before that season.
437. BLACK.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 236 —Colymbus Grylle,
Faun. Suec.
No 148.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
G. With the bill an inch and a half long: inside of the mouth of a fine red: bill, head, neck, back, tail, and under side of the body, black: wings dusky; the coverts marked with a bed of white; secondaries tipt with white: legs scarlet. LENGTH fourteen inches. EXTENT twenty-two.
PLACE.
Found in all the same places with the former, except
Italy;
doubtful as to
Newfoundland.
Inhabits
Hudson's Bay
the whole year. The young are mottled with black and white, and sometimes are quite white
Mr.
Hutchins
assures me, that the old birds do not vary, as has been imagined.
. Are excellent divers; therefore called sometimes
Diving Pigeons.
Make a twittering noise. The
Greenlanders
eat the flesh, use the skin for cloathing, and the legs as lures for fish.
billed Grebe No
8. Marbled Guillemot
In
Kamtschatka
is a variety, with a white oblique line issuing from the white spot on the wings.
438. MARBLED.
G. With a black bill: crown dusky: throat, breast, and belly, mottled with black and white: back and sides very glossy, and marbled with black and rust-color: wings dusky; greater coverts edged with white: tail black: legs yellow: webs black. LENGTH nine inches.
Inhabits
Prince William's Sound,
PLACE.
on the western coast of
North America,
and probably
Kamtschatka.
—LEV. MUS.
LI. DIVER.
Gen. Birds,
LXXXV.
439. NORTHERN.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 237.—L'Imbrim, ou grand Plongeon de la Mer de Nord,
De Buffon,
viii. 258.—
Pl. Enl.
952.
Colymbus Glacialis,
Lin. Syst.
221.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With head and neck black: throat, and hind part of the neck, marked with a semilunar spot of white, and with white streaks pointing downwards: upper part of the body and wings black, varied with white spots: tail dusky: breast and belly white: legs black. LENGTH three feet five inches. EXTENT four feet eight. WEIGHT sixteen pounds.
PLACE.
Inhabits the north of
Europe,
and spreads along the
Arctic
coasts, as far as the mouth of the
Ob
only. Is found about
Spitzbergen, Iceland, Hudson's Bay,
and as low as
New York.
Makes its nest, in the more northern regions, on the little isles of fresh-water lakes. Every pair keeps a lake to itself. Sees well: flies very high, and, darting obliquely, falls secure into its nest. Tries to save itself by diving, not flying. The young defend themselves stoutly with their bills. Appears in
Greenland
in
April
or the beginning of
May.
Goes away in
September
or
October,
on the first fall of snow. The natives use the skins for cloathing; and the
Indians
about
Hudson's Bay
adorn their heads with circlets of their feathers.
440. IMBER.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 238.—Le Grand Plongeon,
De Buffon,
viii. 251.—
Pl. Enl.
251.
Colymbus Immer,
Lin. Syst.
222.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With a dusky head: back, coverts of wings, and tail, dusky, elegantly edged with greyish white: primaries and tail black: breast and belly silvery: legs black: webs marked with white stripes. Larger than the last.
PLACE.
Inhabits
New York
during winter. Extends to
Kamtschatka;
but in no part of
Sibiria
or
Russia.
Found in
Iceland,
and most parts of northern
Europe.
441. SPECKLED.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 239.—Le petit Plongeon,
De Buffon,
viii. 254.—
Pl. Enl.
992.
Colymbus Stellatus, Soehane,
Brunnich,
No 130.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS. —BL. MUS.
D. With the bill turning a little upwards: head dark grey, spotted with white: hind part of the neck of an uniform grey: back, coverts of wings, primaries, and tail, dusky; the two first spotted with white: from chin to tail a fine silvery white. WEIGHT two pounds and a half. LENGTH two feet three. EXTENT three feet nine.
These three species visit
New York
in the winter,
PLACE.
and return very far north to breed. This is common about the
Baltic
and White Sea; but not observed in other parts of
Russia;
yet is a native of
Kamtschatka
Steller,
in
Nov. Com. Petrop.
iv. 424.
. It lays two eggs in the grass, on the borders of the lakes, not far from the sea. The eggs are exactly oval, of the size of those of a Goose, dusky, marked with a few black spots.
442. STRIPED.
D. With a strong black bill, three inches long: head and neck light grey, striped regularly downwards with long narrow black lines: back and scapulars dusky and plain: primaries, tail, and legs, dusky: cheeks, and whole under side of the body, of a glossy white. WEIGHT between two and three pounds.
Inhabits the inland lakes of
Hudson's Bay,
PLACE.
about a hundred miles southward of
York Fort.
Lays, in
June,
two eggs. Flies high, and passes backwards and forwards, making a great noise; which is said to portend rain. Detested by the natives, who look on this note as supernatural.—Mr.
Hutchins.
443. RED-THROATED.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 240 —Le Lumme, ou petit Plongeon de Mer de Nord,
De Buffon,
viii. 261.—
Pl. Enl.
308.
Colymbus Septentrionalis,
Lin. Syst.
220.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
D. With head and chin of an uniform grey: throat, and lower side of the neck, of a dull red: upper part grey, streaked with black: upper part of body, wings, and tail, dusky: back and coverts of wings spotted with white: breast and belly white: legs dusky. WEIGHT three pounds. EXTENT three feet five. LENGTH, to the tip of the tail, two feet.
PLACE.
Found in the north of
Europe
and
Iceland,
along the northern coast of
Russia, Sibiria,
and
Kamtschatka;
but does not haunt the inland lakes. Inhabits the rivers of
Hudson's Bay
during summer. Prey much on the fish entangled in the nets; but are often caught themselves in their rapid pursuit of the fish. Mr.
Hutchins
took fourteen out of a single net in one tide. Numbers of every species of Diver are frequently taken in this manner about
Hudson's Bay.
444. BLACK-THROATED.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 241.—Colymbus Arcticus, Lomm.
Faun. Suec.
No 150.
Le Lumme, &c.
De Buffon,
viii. 261.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
D. With bill, forehead, and cheeks, black: hind part of the neck cinereous: sides of the neck streaked downwards with black: fore part varying with black, purple, and green: back and coverts of wings dusky; the first marked with square, the last with round white spots: breast and belly white: tail black: legs partly red, partly dusky.
PLACE.
This, and the preceding, inhabit
Hudson's Bay
Edwards,
147.
, the north of
Europe,
and
Iceland.
Few in
Russia:
but frequent in the inland lakes of
Sibiria,
especially those of the
Arctic
regions; but in the wandering season spread over all latitudes.
The
Norwegians
remark the sagacity of these birds, in presaging the change of weather. When the skies are big with rain, they fly wildly about, and make the most horrible hoarse noise, fearing that the swelled waters should invade their nest; on the contrary, in fine weather, their note is different, and seemingly in an exulting strain. The
Norwegians
think it impious, to destroy, or even to disturb, this species
Worm. Mus.
304.
.
The
Swedes
have less superstition: they dress the skins; which, when prepared, shew in the clearest manner, on the inside, the quincuncial disposition of feathers. They are exceedingly tough, and are used for gun-cases and facings for winter-caps
Faun. Suec.
.
LII. SKIMMER.
Gen. Birds,
LXXXVI.
445. CUT-WATER.
Cut-water,
Catesby,
i. 90.—Le Bec en Ciseaux,
De Buffon,
viii. 454. tab. 36.
—Pl. Enl.
357.
Rynchops nigra,
Lin. Syst.
229.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUs.—BL. MUS.
SK. With the bill greatly compressed, the edges sharp; lower mandible four inches and a half long; upper only three; base red; the rest black: forehead, chin, front of neck, breast, and belly, white: head, and whole upper part of the body, black: wings of the same color: lower part of the inner webs of the primaries white: tail short, and a little forked; middle feathers dusky; the others white on their sides: legs weak and red. LENGTH one foot eight inches. EXTENT three feet seven.
PLACE.
Inhabits
America,
from
New York
to
Guiana
Barrera France Equin.
135.
. Skims nimbly along the water, with its under mandible just beneath the surface, feeding on the insects and small fish as it proceeds. Frequents also oyster-banks; its bill being partly, like that of the Oyster-catcher, adapted for preying on those shell-fish. In Mr.
Ray's Synopsis
194. No 5. tab. i. No 5.
is a sketch, sent from
Madras,
of one of this species.
LIII. TERN.
Gen. Birds,
LXXXVII.
446. NODDY.
Catesby,
i. 88.—Le Noddi,
De Buffon,
viii. 461.—
Pl. Enl.
461.
Sterna Stolida,
Lin. Syst.
227.—LEV. MUS.
T. With a black long bill: crown white, gradually darkening to the hind part: whole plumage brown: wings and tail almost dusky. WEIGHT four ounces.
Inhabit, in vast numbers, the
Bahama
islands,
PLACE.
where they breed on the bare rocks. In the breeding season they, and numbers of other birds, are seen in great flights, flying near the surface of the water, continually dropping on the small fish which are driven to the top, to shun the persecution of the greater. The whole air resounds with the noise of the birds, who seem in full exultation on their success; which is expressed in vast variety of notes. A rippling and whiteness in the water marks the course of the shoals of fish; and above them the air is animated with their feathered enemies. Where the strongest rippling is, there appear the thickest swarms of fowls. As soon as the time of nutrition is over, these birds disperse over the ocean separately; and are seen at the distance of hundreds of leagues from land; but very seldom on the outside of the tropics. Their stupidity is notorious; for they will suffer themselves to be taken by the hand, when they settle, as they often do, on the yards of ships.
447. SOOTY.
T. With a black bill, two inches long: forehead white: crown, hind part of the head and neck, back, and wings, of a sooty blackness: cheeks, fore part of the neck, breast, belly, and ridge of the wings, white: tail greatly forked; tip of the exterior feathers white; the rest of the tail dusky. Nearly the SIZE, of the Common Gull.
Sent from NEW YORK to Sir
Ashton Lever.
PLACE.
These birds are found in very remote climates. They swarm in the isle of
Ascension,
8 south latitude. Emit a most sharp and shrill cry: are quite fearless; and fly so close to the few men who visit that distant isle, as almost to touch them. They lay only two or three eggs, which are of a surprizing size, yellowish, spotted with brown and pale violet. The flocks which possess the different parts of the isle, lay at different times. In some quarters the young were found very large; in others only a single egg was found just then layed. Mr.
Osbeck
and Doctor
Forster,
who were here in
April
and
May,
are silent about this species: possibly it was then on its migrations. It is to the Comte de
Buffon
Ois.
viii. 345.
we owe this account; who received it from that observant nobleman the Marquis de
Querhoënt.
448. GREAT.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 254.—Sterna Hirundo, Tarna,
Faun. Suec.
No 158.
Le Pierre garin, ou grande Hirondelle de mer,
De Buffon,
viii. 331.—
Pl. Enl.
987.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
T. With bill and feet of a fine crimson color: forehead, throat, and whole under side, of a pure white: crown black: upper part of the body, and coverts of the wings, an elegant pale grey: tail much forked, white, with the exterior edges of the three outmost grey. WEIGHT four ounces one quarter. LENGTH fourteen inches. EXTENT thirty.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Europe,
as high as
Spitzbergen;
and also the northern parts of
North America,
as far as
Hudson's Bay.
It appears in
New England
in
May,
and goes away in autumn: called there the
Mackerel Gull.
It is found on the
Arctic
coasts of
Sibiria
and
Kamtschatka.
Retires even from
England
at approach of winter.
449. LESSER.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 255.—Sterna minuta,
Lin. Syst.
228.
La petite Hirondelle de mer,
De Buffon,
viii. 337.—
Pl. Enl.
996.—
Latham,
iii. LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
T. With a yellow bill and legs; the first tipt with black: forehead and cheeks white: from the back to the eyes is a black line: crown black: breast and belly of the most exquisite and glossy whiteness, unequalled by the finest satin: back and wings of a pale grey: tail white; less forked than that of the preceding. WEIGHT two ounces eight grains: LENGTH eight inches and a half: EXTENT nineteen and a half.
This species is too tender to endure the high northern latitudes,
PLACE.
nor even beyond the
Baltic.
Is met with in the south of
Russia,
and about the
Black
and
Caspian
sea; and in
Sibiria
about the
Irtish.
In
America
is seen, during summer, about
New York.
450. BLACK.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 256.—Sterna fissipes,
Lin. Syst.
228.
Le Guifette noire, ou l'Epouvantail,
De Buffon,
viii. 341.—
Pl. Enl.
333.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
T. With the bill, head, neck, breast, and belly, black: vent white: wings and back of a deep ash-color: tail short; exterior feathers white; the others cinereous: legs a dirty red: webs deeply hollowed in the middle, so as to form a crescent.
This is the species which I apprehend was sent to the Royal Society from
Hudson's Bay;
and was seen in vast flocks beyond lat. 41 north,
PLACE.
long. 47 west from
London,
by Mr.
Kalm
Voyage,
i. 23.
, somewhat south of the bank of
Newfoundland.
Is found in
Europe,
as far as
Iceland.
Very numerous in
Sibiria,
and about the salt lakes of the desarts of
Tartary,
which they animate by their note and active flight and motions.
A. KAMTSCHATKAN. PALLAS,
MS.
La Guiffette?
De Buffon,
viii. 339.—
Pl. Enl.
924.
T. With the bill and crown black: forehead and space over the eyes white.
Observed by
Steller
about
Kamtschatka.
PLACE.
A bird seemingly of this species was shot on the
Severn
a few miles below
Shrewsbury;
and is among the elegant drawings of my friend,
Joseph Plymley,
Esq
of
Longnor.
B. CASPIAN T. Terna Caspia, Mr.
Lepechin,
in
Nov. Com. Petrop.
xiv. 500. tab. xiii. —PALLAS, 483. tab. xxii.—
Latham,
iii.
T. With a scarlet bill, three inches long: crown and hind part of the head of an intense black, hoared with white: space round the eyes black; under each a white crescent: cheeks, lower side of the neck, and whole under side of the body, of a snowy whiteness: upper part cinereous and hoary: six first primaries darker, edged and tipt with black: tall deeply forked, and of a pure white: legs black. The specimen described by Doctor PALLAS was of darker colors; perhaps differed in age and sex. LENGTH near two feet. EXTENT three feet two inches. Seems, in the air, as big as a KITE.
PLACE.
Inhabits the
Caspian
sea, about the mouth of the
Yaik.
Makes a laughing noise. Fishes both in the sea and rivers. Remains long suspended in the air, then dashes on its prey; and skims the surface of the water like a Swallow. Lays, on the back of desart isles, two eggs marked with dusky spots. Wanders up the great river
Oby,
even, towards the
frozen
ocean
PALLAS
MS. Catalog.
.
LIV. GULL.
Gen. Birds,
LXXXVIII.
451. BLACK-BACKED.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 242.—Larus marinus,
Faun. Suec.
No 155.
Le Goeland à manteau noir,
De Buffon,
viii. 405.—
Pl. Enl.
990.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
G. With a strong pale yellow bill; the lower mandible marked with a black spot, encircled with red: upper part of the back and wings black; primaries tipt with white: the rest of the plumage of a snowy whiteness: legs pale flesh-color.
SIZE.
WEIGHT sometimes five pounds. LENGTH twenty-nine inches. EXTENT five feet nine.
Inhabits northern
Europe,
as high as
Iceland, Lapmark,
PLACE.
and the
White Sea; Greenland,
and the coast of
North America
down to
New York
and
South Carolina,
where they are called
Old Wives.
Is observed, in
Greenland,
to attack other birds, especially the
Eider Duck.
The
Eskimaux
and
Greenlanders
make their garments of the skins of these, as well as other water fowl. This was a practice, in early times, with every people to whom manufactures were unknown.
Non avium plumae in usum vestis conseruntur
Senecae Epist.
Ep. xc.
?
452. HERRING.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 246.—Larus fuscus,
Faun. Suec.
No 154.
Le Goeland à manteau gris brun,
De Buffon,
viii. 410.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
G. With a yellow bill; lower mandible marked with a red spot: irides straw-colored: head, neck, and tail, white: back and coverts of wings ash-color: primaries dusky, with a white spot near their ends: legs of a pale flesh-color; vary to yellow. WEIGHT about thirty ounces. LENGTH twenty-three inches. EXTENT four feet four.
Inhabits the north of
Europe, Iceland,
and
Greenland:
PLACE.
even in the last country a common species; and continues there the whole year. Breeds among broken rocks: much upon wing: is caught in snares, or by a baited hook. The flesh and eggs eaten; and the skin used, like that of most other Gulls, for garments. Is found in
Hudson's Bay
during summer: breeds there, and retires at approach of winter. It breeds likewise on the islands on the coast of
South Carolina.
Is frequent about the
Caspian
and
Black
seas, and their great rivers: also about the greatest lakes of
Sibiria.
453. WAGEL.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 247.—Larus naevius,
Lin. Syst.
225.
Le Goeland varié, ou le Grisard,
De Buffon,
viii. 413.—
Pl. Enl.
266.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
G. With a black bill: irides dusky: whole plumage, above and below, varied with brown, white, and cinereous: primaries dusky: tail mottled with dusky and white; near the end a black bar; tips whitish; legs of a dirty white. WEIGHT thirty-two ounces. LENGTH near two feet. EXTENT four feet eight.
PLACE.
Inhabits the north of
Europe, Iceland, Hudson's Bay,
and
Newfoundland.
Frequent about the lakes of
Russia,
and the west of
Sibiria.
454. LAUGHING.
Catesby,
i. 89.—
Will. Orn.
346. No iv.—La Mouette rieuse,
De Buffon,
viii. 433. —
Pl. Enl.
970.
Larus Atricilla,
Lin. Syst.
225.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
G. With a red bill: black head: the ends of the primaries black: back and coverts of the wings cinereous: all the rest of the plumage white: legs black and long. LENGTH about eighteen inches. EXTENT three feet.
PLACE.
Inhabits the
Bahama
islands. Their note resembles a coarse laugh.
455. BLACK-HEADED.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 252.—Latus ridibundus,
Lin. Syst.
225.—La Mouette rieuse,
De Buffon,
viii. 433.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
G. With a red bill and legs: head and throat black: neck, belly, and tail, white: back and wings ash-colored: ends of the primaries marked with black. LENGTH about fifteen inches. EXTENT thirty-seven. WEIGHT ten ounces.
Inhabits
New England:
comes in
May,
leaves the country in
August.
PLACE.
In
Europe,
not farther north than
England.
In all parts of
Russia
and
Sibiria,
and even
Kamtschatka.
Has the laughing notes of the former, of which it seems a variety.
456. KITTIWAKE.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 250.—
Phipps,
187.—Larus Rissa,
Lin. Syst.
224.
Kutge-gehef,
Marten's Spitzbergen,
82.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS?
G. With a yellow bill: inside of the mouth orange: head, neck, under side of the body, and tail, white: behind each ear is a black spot: the back and coverts pale grey: primaries dusky, with a white spot near the ends: legs dusky: no back toe. LENGTH fourteen inches. EXTENT three feet two.
Is found about
Newfoundland.
Inhabits
Spitzbergen, Greenland,
PLACE.
Iceland,
and the north of
Europe,
the arctic coast of
Asia,
and
Kamtschatka.
457. IVORY.
Larus eburneus,
Phipps's Voy.
187.—Larus candidus,
Faun. Groenl.
No 67.
Rathsher,
Marten's Spitzb.
77.—La Mouette blanche,
De Buffon,
viii. 422.—
Pl. Enl.
994.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
G. With the bill and legs of a lead-color: whole plumage of a snowy whiteness. LENGTH, to the end of the tail, sixteen inches. EXTENT thirty-seven.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Spitzbergen
and
Greenland:
also very frequent in the frozen sea between
Asia
and
America;
and off cape
Denbigh,
a little to the south of
Bering's Streights.
Keeps usually far at sea; but when it does alight, is very stupid, and easily killed. The young are spotted with black, and their bills are black.
458. COMMON.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 249.—Larus canus. Homaka. Mave.
Lappis
Straule,
Faun. Suec.
No 153.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
G. With a yellow bill: head, neck, tail, and all the under side of the body, white: back and coverts of wings light grey: primaries dusky; near their extremities a white spot: legs dull white, tinged with green. LENGTH seventeen inches. EXTENT three feet. WEIGHT twelve ounces and a half.
PLACE.
Inhabits as high as
Iceland;
and is common about the
Russian
lakes. Is frequent on the coast of
Newfoundland.
459. ARCTIC.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 245.—
Phipps,
187.—Le Labbe à longue queue,
De Buffon,
viii. 445.—
Pl. Enl.
762.—
Ph. Trans.
lxii. 421.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
G. With a dusky bill, much hooked at the end: upper part covered with a thin cere: crown black; back, wings, and tail, dusky: neck, breast, and belly, white: tail cuneiform; two middle feathers near four inches longer than the rest. FEMALE wholly brown; under side lightest. LENGTH twenty-one inches.
PLACE.
Inhabits, in
America, Hudson's Bay
Ph. Trans.
lxii.
; all the north of
Europe
to
Spitzbergen;
frequent in
Greenland.
Feeds almost entirely on fish caught by other birds, which it persecutes till they drop their prey, or vomit for fear; when it catches their droppings before it falls into the water. The
Dutch
call it, from a now exploded notion, that it lives on the dung of fowl, the
Stront-jagger.
Extends along the
arctic
coast to
Kamtschatka.
Ascends the great rivers, the
Ob, Jenesei,
and
Lena,
above a hundred leagues inland.
460. BLACK-TOED.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 244.—Catharacta cepphus. Strandhoeg,
Brunnich,
No 126.—Le Labbe, ou Stercoraire,
De Buffon,
viii. 441. tab. 34.—
Pl. Enl.
991.—
Latham
iii. —LEV. MUS.
G. With a bill resembling the former: head and neck of a dirty white, marked with dusky spots: back, scapulars, coverts of wings, and tail, black, prettily edged with pale rust: bread and belly white, crossed with numerous dusky and yellowish lines: the sides and vent barred crossways with black and white: tail black, tipt with white; the exterior webs of the outmost, spotted with rust; the two middle, feathers are near an inch longer than the others. These birds vary into lighter and darker colors; but the color of the toes are specific marks: the legs are of a blueish lead-color: the toes and webs have their lower parts of a deep black. WEIGHT eleven ounces. LENGTH fifteen inches. EXTENT thirty-nine.
Inhabits, in
America,
the coast of
Newfoundland
and
Hudson's Bay:
PLACE.
is hated by the natives, who have a notion that the birds are companions to the detested
Eskimaux.
I cannot, in
Europe,
trace it higher than
Great Britain
and
Denmark;
yet it has been shot, in the
Atlantic
ocean, as near to the line as north
lat.
8, west
long.
22. 12.
A. SKUA,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 243.—Catharacta Skua,
Brunnich,
No 125.—
Muller,
No 167. Le Goeland brun,
De Buffon,
viii. 408.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
G. With a strong sharp black bill and cere: head, back, and coverts of the wings, brown and rust-colored: primaries and secondaries dusky; the shafts of the primaries white: on the secondaries a great white spot: breast and belly of a rusty ash: tail brown, white at the base: legs black and scaly: claws black, sharp, strong, and hooked like those of a KITE. LENGTH two feet. EXTENT four and a half. WEIGHT three pounds.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Europe
very locally; only from
Foula
and
Unst,
two of the
Schetland
isles, to the
Feroe
isles,
Norway,
and as far as
Iceland.
Its manners, such as its great courage, and fierceness in defending its young, in driving away the eagle from its haunts, and, as is firmly asserted by Mr.
Schroter,
a surgeon in the
Feroe
isles, its preying on the lesser water fowl, like a rapacious land bird, are fully described in the
British Zoology.
They abound about
Port Egmont,
in the
Falkland
islands, and are therefore stiled by navigators,
Port Egmont Hens.
They have been observed in many parts of the
Pacific
ocean, as low as
lat.
36. 56 south, to the east
Cook's Voy. Hawksworth's Coll.
ii. 283.
of
New Zeland;
and as high, in the same hemisphere, as
lat.
67. 15
Forster's Voy.
i. 109.
. The navigators found them in great plenty, in their breeding season, in the latter end of
December,
about
Christmas Sound,
in
Terra del Fuego,
making their nests in the dry grass. They have not been remarked in other parts of the globe, nearer than the
Schetlands.
B. GLAUCOUS, Larus Glaucus,
Brunnich,
No 148.—
Muller,
No 169.—
Faun. Groenl.
No 64.—
Latham,
iii.
G. With a yellow bill, and orange spot near the end: head and lower part of the body white: back and wings of a fine hoary grey; primaries darkest, and tipt with white: legs of a pale fulvous hue. In SIZE superior to the Herring Gull.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Norway, Lapmark, Iceland, Greenland,
and
Spitzbergen.
Is called by the
Dutch, Burgermeister,
being the master of all other sea fowl. It builds its nest high on the cliffs: preys on dead whales: attends the Walruses, in order to feed on their dung; and, as
Frederic Martens
asserts, will even destroy and eat the young of the Razor-bills. It also feeds on fish; and does not despise the berries of the
Empetrum Nigrum.
It is almost continually on wing; and makes a hoarse noise, like the Raven.
C. SILVERY. Larus argentatus,
Brunnich,
No 149.—
Latham,
iii.
G. With a white head and neck, streaked downwards with cinereous lines: back and under part of the body like the former species: lower part of the primaries greyish; upper black; the tips white: bill yellow, with an orange spot. SIZE of the Herring Gull. This and the former seem nearly.
Inhabits
Norway.
PLACE.
D. TARROCK,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 251.—Larus tridactylus,
Faun. Suec.
No 157.—La Mouette tachetée,
De Buffon,
viii. 424.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
G. With a strong, thick, black, bill: with white head, neck, breast, and belly: behind each ear a black spot: on the hind part of the neck a black crescent: back and scapulars blueish grey: ten middle feathers of the tail white, tipt with black; outmost quite white: a protuberance instead of the back toe. SIZE of the former.
Inhabits
Europe
quite to
Iceland
and
Spitzbergen;
PLACE.
the
Baltic
and
White
sea; and again in
Kamtschatka.
E. RED-LEGGED.
G. With blood-red bill and legs: head and neck white, mottled about the former: back and coverts of wings fine grey: lesser coverts mottled: under side of body and the tail white; the last tipt with black. SIZE of the Black-cap Gull.
A bird of this species was brought from
Kamtschatka.
PLACE.
Another of the same kind has been shot in
Anglesey.
LV. PETREL.
Gen. Birds,
LXXXIX.
461. FULMAR.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 257.—Procellaria glacialis,
Faun. Suec.
No 144.—Petrel de l'isle de St. Kilda,
Pl. Enl.
59.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
P. With a strong yellow bill: head, neck, tail, and under side of the body, white: back and coverts of wings cinereous: primaries dusky: legs of a pale yellow. Rather larger than the Common Gull.
PLACE.
Abound in the seas of
Spitzbergen
and
Greenland,
and common in those between
Kamtschatka
and
America:
the latter are darker colored than the former. They are equally abundant in the southern hemisphere. Captain
Cook
found them among the ice, in his voyage towards the south pole, in lat. 64. 55
Cook's Voy. S. Pole,
i. 252.
; in lat. 59, to the south of the isle of
New Georgia
Forster's Voy.
ii. 534.
; and even in the moderate climate of lat. 34. 45, not remote from the
Cape of Good Hope
Forster,
i. 52.
. They keep chiefly in the high seas, and feed on dead whales, or any thing that offers on the surface; but will, with their strong bills, pick the fat out of the backs of living whales, especially of the wounded; whose bloody track they will follow by hundreds, to watch its rising. Their flight resembles running on the top of the water; for which reason the
Norwegians
call it
Hav-hest,
or Sea-horse; and
Storm-fugl,
or Storm-fowl, as being supposed to be a presage of tempests. The
Dutch
call it
Mallmucke,
or the Foolish Fly, from their multitudes, and their stupidity. They very seldom. come, to land, unless they chance to lose their way in the mists, which are so frequent on the coast of
Greenland
during the month of
August.
They breed on the broken rocks about
Disco,
and remote from the main land.
They are, by reason of their food, excessively fetid; yet the flesh is used as a food by the
Greenlanders,
both raw and dressed. The fat is also eaten, and serves to supply their lamps with oil. The prey of these birds being chiefly the blubber of cetaceous fish, it is quickly converted into oil, which serves the
Fulmars
for a double end; as a sustenance for the young, and a defence against. their assailants; for they spurt it, on being seized, out of their mouths and nostrils, into the faces of the persons who lay hold of them. The
Greenlanders
take them by darting them in the water.
462. SHEAR-WATER.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 258.—
Edw. Av.
359.—Procellaria Puffinus,
Lin. Syst.
213.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
P. With a dusky bill, more slender than that of the former: head, wings, and whole upper part of the body, of a sooty blackness: lower part, from chin to tail, and the inner coverts of the wings, white: legs weak, compressed; whitish before, dusky behind. LENGTH fifteen inches. EXTENT thirty-one. WEIGHT seventeen ounces.
Inhabits the northern parts of
Europe, Iceland,
and
Greenland.
PLACE.
Consort with the last in
Greenland:
and, in misty weather, quite cover the sea. It extends, in the
Atlantic
ocean, to
America,
and again almost to the
Cape of Good Hope
Cook's Voy. to S. Pole,
12. 13.
; and is also found in the southern hemisphere, having been seen in south lat. 13. 13, in Captain
Cook's
passage from
Easter
island to
Otaheitè
Ibid.
: and again, in numbers, as low as cape
Deseada,
in south latitude 53
Ibid.
.
463. FORK-TAIL.
P. With the whole upper and under parts of a cinerous grey: bill much hooked, and black: lesser coverts of wings dusky; greater, deep grey: exterior webs of primaries dusky; interior, light grey: tail forked, and of a light grey. LENGTH nine inches.
Taken among the ice between
Asia
and
America.
PLACE.
464. STORMY.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 259.—Procellaria pelagica, Stormwaders Fogel,
Faun. Suec.
No 143.
Le Petrel, ou l'Oiseau tempete,
Pl. Enl.
993.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
P. With a black bill, much hooked, at the end: rump and feathers of the vent, and each side of the tail, white; all the rest black: secondaries tipt with white: tail short: wings very long. LENGTH six inches. EXTENT thirteen.
PLACE.
This species inhabits the north of
Europe:
is common about
Kamtschatka,
where it is larger than in other places; but does not extend to the
Arctic
circle, at lest is unmentioned by the Faunists of that region. Is, with the preceding, found at all distances from land, in all parts of the
Atlantic,
from
Great Britain
to the coast of
North America
Kalm,
i. 22, 23.
: flocks attend the ships the whole way, and usually keep in the wake, where they pick up every thing that drops. They never are off wing; yet seem to settle. They are silent during day; clamorous in the dark. Are hated by the sailors, who call them
Witches,
imagining they forebode a storm. The
Norwegians
stile them
Sondenvinds Fugl;
the
Swedes, Stormwaders Fogel;
and the inhabitants of
Feroe, Strunkvit.
A. KURIL. Black Petrol,
Edw.
89.—
Latham,
iii.
P. With a strong yellow bill: whole plumage of an unvaried rusty black: legs the same, dashed with red. SIZE of a Raven.
Sent to Doctor
Pallas
from the
Kuril
isles.
LVI. MERGANSER.
Gen. Birds,
XC.
465. GOOSANDER.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 260.—Mergus Merganser, Wrakfagel, Kjorfagel, Skraka,
Faun. Suec.
No 135.—Le Harle,
De Buffon,
viii. 267.—
Pl. Enl.
951, 953.—
Latham,
iii.— LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
M. With a red bill: head full of feathers, loose behind, and of a mallard green: lower part of the neck and belly of a fine straw-color: upper part of the back, and scapulars next to it, black: lower part of the back, and the tail, cinereous: primaries dusky; secondaries white, edged with black: coverts on the ridge of the wing black; the others white: legs a full orange. WEIGHT four pounds. LENGTH two feet four. EXTENT three feet two. Head and upper part of the neck of the FEMALE, or DUN DIVER, ferruginous: behind is a pendent crest: throat white: back, coverts of wings, and the tail, cinereous: primaries dusky: breast and middle of the belly white.
Inhabits the province of
New York
in winter: retires in
April,
PLACE.
probably to
Hudson's Bay,
and other northern countries. It is also found as low as
South Carolina
The birds like a Duck, with a narrow bill, with sets of teeth, called in
Carolina, Fishermen,
and described as having a fishy taste, are of this species. See
Lawson,
150.
. Breeds in every latitude in the
Russian
empire; but mostly in the north. Is common in
Kamtschatka.
Extends through northern
Europe
to
Iceland
and
Greenland
Olaffen Iceland—
and
Faun. Groenl.
No 49.
. Continues the whole year in the
Orknies;
but visits
South Britain
only in severe winters. Swims with its body very deep in the water: dives admirably; and is a great devourer of fish.
466. RED-BREASTED.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 261.—Mergus serrator, Ptacka,
Faun. Suec.
No 136.—Le Harle huppé,
De Buffon,
viii. 273.—
Pl. Enl.
207.—
Faun. Groenl.
No 48.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
M. With a crested head; and part of the neck a mallard green: rest: of the neck, and whole belly, white: breast ferruginous, spotted with black: upper part of the back black: exterior scapulars black; interior white: coverts of the wings black and white: primaries dusky: lower part of the back, and sides under the wings, cinereous, barred with small lines of black: tail brown: legs orange. In the FEMALE the head and upper part of the neck are dull ferruginous: throat white: fore part of the neck, and the breast, marbled with deep ash-color: back, scapulars, and tail, cinereous: primaries dusky. WEIGHT of the male two pounds. LENGTH one foot nine. EXTENT two feet seven.
PLACE.
Frequent
Newfoundland
and
Greenland
during summer; and appear, in the same season, in
Hudson's Bay
in great flocks. Is found in
Europe,
as high as
Iceland,
where it is called
Vatus-ŏnd.
In the
Russian
dominions is gregarious, about the great rivers of
Sibiria
and lake
Baikal.
467. HOODED.
Round-crested Duck,
Catesby,
i. 94.—
Edw.
360.—
Latham,
iii.
Mergus cucullatus,
Lin. Syst.
207.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
M. With a large, upright, circular crest, beginning at the base of the bill, and ending at the hind part of the head; flabelliform, edged with black; the rest white; and on each side, above the eyes, streaked with a shorter set of black feathers: forehead, cheeks, neck, back, and tail, black: breast and belly white: sides yellowish rust, crossed by slender dusky lines. Head and neck of the FEMALE dark ash, mottled with black: crest short, and rust-colored: back, wings, and tail, dusky; the wings crossed with a white line: breast and belly white. In SIZE between a Wigeon and a Teal.
PLACE.
This species breeds in some unknown parts of the north. Appears in
New York,
and other parts of
North America,
as low as
Virginia
and
Carolina,
in
November;
and frequents fresh waters: retires in
March.
468. SMEW.
Br. Zool.
No 262.—La Piette,
De Buffon,
viii. 275.—
Pl. Enl.
449, 450.
Le Harle couronné,
De Buffon,
viii. 280.—
Pl. Enl.
935, 936.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
M. With a lead-colored bill: horizontal crest, white above, black beneath: eyes included in a large oval spot, black, glossed with green, which extends to the base of the bill: neck, and whole under side of the body, pure white: wings and scapulars parti-colored with black and white: tail deep ash-color: legs blueish grey. LENGTH eighteen inches. EXTENT twenty-six. WEIGHT thirty-four ounces. Head of the FEMALE
Confiding in other writers, I made, in my
British Zoology,
another species of the female of the Smew, under the name of the
Red-headed,
No 263. The bird I thought to be the female, and call the Lough Diver, is a distinct kind. Mr.
Plymley
informs me that he dissected several, and found males and females without any distinction of plumage in either sex.
rust-colored, and slightly crested: around the eyes a spot of the same color and form as in the male: neck grey, darkest behind: in the other marks resembles the male except the legs, which are grey.
This species was sent to Mrs.
Blackburn
from
New York,
PLACE.
I think as a winter bird. In
Europe
it extends to
Iceland:
visits
Britain
in the severe season. In the
Russian
empire frequents the same places with the GOOSANDER. Each of these retire southward at approach of winter; and are observed returning up the
Volga
in
February,
tending towards the north. Migrates, during summer, even as low as
Tinos
in the
Archipelago
Extracts,
ii. 146.
—Hasselquist,
269.
.
A. MINUTE Lough Diver,
Br. Zool.
ii. p. 560.—Mergus minutus,
Faun. Suec.
No 138. —
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
M. With head and hind part of the neck rust-colored; the head slightly crested: back, scapulars, and tail, dusky: fore part of the neck white: breast clouded with grey: on the lesser coverts of the wings a great bed of white; on the primaries and greater coverts two transverse lines of white: legs dusky.
PLACE.
Inhabits the shores of
Sweden:
found also, during winter, in
Great Britain;
at which season the whole genus quits
Sweden,
expelled by the ice.
LVII. DUCK.
Gen. Birds,
XCI.
469. WHISTLING SWAN.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 264.—Anas Cygnus ferus. Swan,
Faun. Suec.
No 107.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
D. With the lower part of the bill black; upper part, and space between that and the eyes, covered with a naked yellow skin: eye-lids naked and yellow: whole plumage pure white: legs black. LENGTH, to the tip of the tail, four feet ten. EXTENT seven feet three. WEIGHT from thirteen to sixteen pounds.
These birds inhabit the northern world, as high as
Iceland,
PLACE.
and as low as the soft climate of
Greece,
or of
Lydia,
the modern
Anatolia,
in
Asia Minor:
it even descends as low as
Egypt
Catesby, App.
xxxvi.
—Lawson,
146.
—Du Pratz,
ii. 78.
. They swarm, during summer, in the great lakes and marshes of the
Tartarian
and
Sibirian
desarts; and resort in great numbers to winter about the
Caspian
and
Euxine
seas. Those of the eastern parts of
Sibiria
retire beyond
Kamtschatka,
either to the coasts of
America,
or to the isles north of
Japan.
In
Sibiria,
they spread far north, but not to the
Arctic
circle. They arrive in
Hudson's Bay
about the end of
May:
breed in great numbers on the shores, in the islands, and in the inland lakes; but all retire to the southern parts of
North America
in autumn, even as low as
Carolina
and
Louisiana.
Mr.
Lawson,
who was no inaccurate observer, says, that there were two sorts in
Carolina:
the larger is called, from its note, the
Trumpeter.
These arrive in great flocks to the fresh rivers in winter; and, in
February,
retire to the great lakes to breed: the lesser are called
Hoopers,
and frequent mostly the salt water. The Cygnets are esteemed a delicate dish. The
Indians
of
Louisiana
make diadems for their chieftains with the large feathers: the lesser are woven into garments for the women of rank. The young of both sexes make tippets of the unplucked skin. They breed in great multitudes in the lakes of
Lapland;
and resort towards the more southern parts of
Europe,
during the severe season. Breed even in the
Orkney
isles.
HOW TAKEN IN ICELAND.
In
Iceland
they are an object of chace. In
August
they lose their feathers to such a degree as not to be able to fly. The natives, at that season, resort in great numbers to the places where they most abound; and come provided with dogs, and active and strong horses, trained to the sport, and capable of passing nimbly over the boggy soil and marshes. The swans will run as fast as a tolerable horse. The greater numbers are taken by the dogs, which are taught to catch them by the neck, which causes them to lose their balance, and become an easy prey. Great use is made of the plumage: the flesh is eaten; and the skin of the legs and feet, taken off entire, looks like shagreen, and is used for purses. The eggs are collected in the spring for food
Olaffen,
i. 118.
.
IN KAMTSCHATKA.
In
Kamtschatka,
where they abound both in winter and summer, they are also taken with dogs, in the moulting season; or killed with clubs. During winter they are taken in the unfrozen rivers, and form a constant dish at the tables of the natives
Descr. Kamtschatka,
495.
. This species has several distinctions from the species which we,
SPECIFIC DISTINCTIONS.
in
England,
call the Tame Swan. In
Russia
this species more fitly clames the name, it being the kind most commonly tamed in that empire. The Whistling Swan carries its neck quite erect: the other swims with it arched. This is far inferior in size. This has twelve ribs on a side; the MUTE
We change the name of the Tame Swan into MUTE, as the former name is equivocal, and this species emits-no sound.
only eleven. But the most remarkable is the strange figure of the windpipe, which falls into the chest, then turns back like a trumpet, and afterwards makes a second bend to join the lungs. Thus it is enabled to utter a loud and shrill note. The other
Swan,
on the contrary, is the most silent of birds; it can do nothing more than hiss, which it does on receiving any provocation. The vocal kind emits its loud notes only when flying, or calling: its sound is,
whoogh, whoogh,
very loud and shrill, but not disagreeable, when heard far above one's head, and modulated by the winds. The natives of
Iceland
compare it to the notes of a violin: in fact they hear it at the end of their long and gloomy winter, when the return of the Swans announces the return of summer: every note must be therefore melodious which presages the speedy thaw, and the release from their tedious confinement.
It is from this species alone that the antients have given the fable of the Swan being endued with the powers of melody:
VOCAL SWAN OF THE POETS.
embracing the
Pythagorean
doctrine, they made the body of this bird the mansion of the souls of departed poets: and after that, attributed to the birds the same faculty of harmony which their inmates possessed in a pre-existent state. The vulgar, not distinguishing between sweetness of numbers and melody of voice, thought that real which was only intended figuratively. The MUTE Swan never frequents the
Padus;
and I am almost equally certain that it never is seen on the
Cayster,
in
Lydia;
each of them streams celebrated by the poets, for the great resort of Swans. The
Padus
was styled
Oloriferus,
from the numbers which frequented its waters; and there are few of the poets,
Greek
or
Latin,
who do not truly make them its inhabitants. I shall give one reference only, out of respect to the extreme beauty of the imagery.
Haud secus
Eridani
stagnis ripave
Caystri
Innatat albus Olor, pronoque immobile corpus
Dat fluvio: & pedibus tacitis emigrat in undas.
Silius Italicus,
lib. 14.
470. MUTE SWAN.
Tame Swan,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 265.—Anser Cygnus, No 107. β.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
D. With a deep red bill, and black incurvated nail at the end: a triangular naked black skin between the bill and the eyes: at the base of the upper mandible a large black rounded protuberance: legs black: whole plumage of a snowy whiteness. WEIGHT sometimes twenty-five pounds.
PLACE.
The Mute Swan, or that which we call Tame, is found in a wild state in some parts of
Russia;
but far more plentiful in
Sibiria.
It arrives, in summer, later from the south, and does not spread so far north
Doctor PALLAS.
. Those which frequent the provinces of
Ghilan
and
Masenderan,
on the south of the
Caspian
sea, grow to a vast size, and are esteemed great delicacies. The
Mahometans
hold them in high veneration
Extracts,
iii. 78.
.
471. CANADA GOOSE.
Edw.
151.—
Catesby,
i. 91.—Anas Canadensis,
Lin. Syst.
198.—
Phil. Trans.
lxii. 412.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With an elevated black bill: head, neck, primaries, and tail, black: from the throat passes, along the cheeks to the hind part of each side of the head, a triangular white spot: bottom of the neck, vent feathers, lower belly, and coverts of the tail, white: breast, upper belly, back, and wings (except primaries) of a dusky brown: legs of a deep lead-color.
PLACE.
Inhabit the northern parts of
North America.
Immense flocks appear annually in the spring in
Hudson's Bay,
and pass far to the north to breed; and return southward in the autumn. Numbers also breed about
Hudson's Bay,
and lay six or seven eggs. The young are easily made tame. M.
Fabricius
suspects that they are found, during summer, in
Greenland
Faun. Groenl.
p. 66.
. They proceed, in their southern migration, as low as
South Carolina,
where they winter in the rice-grounds. The
English
of
Hudson's Bay
depend greatly on Geese, of these and other kinds, for their support; and, in favorable years, kill three or four thousand, which they salt and barrel. Their arrival is impatiently attended; it is the harbinger of the spring, and the month named by the
Indians
the
Goose
moon. They appear usually at our settlements in numbers, about
St. George
's day, O. S. and fly northward to nestle in security. They prefer islands to the continent, as further from the haunts of men. Thus
Marble Island
was found, in
August,
to swarm with Swans, Geese, and Ducks; the old ones moulting, and the young at that time incapable of flying
Drage,
i. 93.
.
The
English
send out their servants, as well as
Indians,
to shoot these birds on their passage. It is in vain to pursue them: they therefore form a row of huts made of boughs, at musquet-shot distance from each other, and place them in a line across the vast marshes of the country. Each hovel, or, as they are called,
stand,
is occupied by only a single person. These attend the flight of the birds, and on their approach mimic their cackle so well, that the Geese will answer, and wheel and come nearer the stand. The sportsman keeps motionless, and on his knees, with his gun cocked, the whole time; and never fires till he has seen the eyes of the Geese. He fires as they are going from him, then picks up another gun that lies by him, and discharges that. The Geese which he has killed, he sets up on sticks as if alive, to decoy others; he also makes artificial birds for the same purpose. In a good day (for they fly in very uncertain and unequal numbers) a single
Indian
will kill two hundred. Notwithstanding every species of Goose has a different call, yet the
Indians
are admirable in their imitation of every one.
The vernal flight of the Geese lasts from the middle of
April
until the middle of
May.
Their first appearance coincides with the thawing of the swamps, when they are very lean. The autumnal, or the season of their return with their young, is from the middle of
August
to the middle of
October
Dobbs's Hudson's Bay,
52.
. Those which are taken in this latter season, when the frosts usually begin, are preserved in their feathers, and left to be frozen for the fresh provisions of the winter stock. The feathers constitute an article of commerce, and are sent into
England.
472. BEAN GOOSE.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 267.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
D. With a small bill, much compressed near the end; base and nail black; middle of a pale red: head and neck cinereous brown, tinged with rust: breast and belly dirty white, clouded with ash-color: lesser coverts of the wings very light grey: back plain ash-color: scapulars darker, edged with white: primaries and secondaries grey, edged with black: tail edged with white: legs saffron-color: claws white. LENGTH two feet seven. WEIGHT six pounds and a half.
PLACE.
Observed by Mr.
Hearne,
in
Hudson's Bay.
Is in
Europe
a northern bird. Breeds in great numbers in
Lewis,
one of the
Hebrides,
and is most destructive to the green corn. Migrates at the latter end of
August,
in flocks innumerable, into the wolds of
Yorkshire,
and into
Lincolnshire;
and among them are some white
Lister,
in
Ph. Tr. Abridg.
ii. 852. I cannot but suspect, that some of the SNOW GEESE, No 477, may mix with them, as none of this genus vary in color in the wild state.
. They all disappear in the spring. The appearance and disappearance of this kind in
Austria
is similar
Kramer Anim. Austr.
339.
. Wild Geese are seen flying over, but very rarely alight in the
Orknies.
473. GREY LAG GOOSE.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 266.—Anas Anser. Willgâs,
Faun. Suec.
No 114.—Wild Goose of all authors.—
Latham,
iii.
L'Oye Sauvage,
Pl. Enl.
995.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With an elevated bill, flesh-colored, tinged with yellow, and with a white nail: head and neck cinereous, mixed with dirty yellow: neck striated downwards: back and primaries dusky; the last tipt with black; shafts white: secondaries black, edged with white: lesser coverts dusky, edged with white: breast and belly whitish, clouded with ash-color: rump and vent white: middle feathers of the tail dusky, tipt and edged with white; the outmost almost entirely white: legs flesh-colored: claws black. LENGTH two feet nine. EXTENT five feet. WEIGHT sometimes ten pounds.
Inhabits the north of
Europe, Asia,
and
America,
PLACE.
and migrates into
Hudson's Bay.
Frequents, during winter,
South Carolina,
and particularly the rice grounds, where it gleans the droppings of the harvest. This species breeds in the fens of
Lincolnshire,
and never migrates from that county. They are seen, early in the spring, flying over
Sweden,
to the
Lapland
moors, and to the eastern and southern parts of
Iceland;
in which quarters of that island alone they breed
Paulson.
. Return in autumn: make a short stay along the shores; but never winter in
Sweden
Amoen. Acad.
iv. 585.
. Abound in
Russia, Sibiria,
and
Kamtschatka;
but breed chiefly in the north.
474. BLUE-WINGED GOOSE.
Edw.
152.—Anser Caerulescens,
Lin. Syst.
196.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
D. With a red elevated bill: crown yellowish; rest of the head and neck white; the hind part of the last spotted with black; in some the spots are wanting: base of the neck, breast, sides under the wings, and back, of a deep brown: coverts of the wings and tail of a light blueish ash-color: belly and vent white: primaries dusky: scapulars and tail white and grey, disposed in stripes: legs red. In SIZE rather lesser than the common Tame Goose.
Migrates into
Hudson's Bay,
and re-migrates like the former.
PLACE.
The
Indians
have a notion, that to avoid the cold, it flies towards the sun, till it singes its pate against that luminary. Few go very far north; but are most numerous about
Albany Fort;
where, on the contrary, the SNOW GEESE are very scarce.
475. BERING.
D. With a yellow excrescence at the base of the bill, radiated in the middle with blueish black feathers: round the ears a space of greenish white: eyes black, encircled with yellow, and rayed with black: back, fore part of the neck, and belly, white: wings black: hind part of the neck blueish. SIZE of a common Wild Goose.—STELLER'S
Descr.
See
Descr. Kamtschatka,
496, 7.
PLACE.
Observed by Mr.
Steller,
in
July,
on the isle of
Bering.
They probably came from
America.
It is the remark of that great naturalist, during his stay on that island, that Geese of various kinds migrated this way to and from
America
to
Asia,
in vast flocks. In the spring they came from the west, in autumn from the east; which proves, that the Water-Fowl of these latitudes prefer, for breeding-places, the
Asiatic
wastes to those of
America.
476. WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 268.—Anas Erythropus Fiaelgas,
Faun. Suec.
No 116.—
Latham,
iii.
Laughing Goose,
Edw.
153.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With a pale yellow elevated bill: forehead white: head and neck of a cinereous brown, darkest on the crown: coverts of the wings grey, edged with brown: breast of an ash-color, clouded with a deeper: belly white, marked with large black spots: coverts of the tail and the vent white: tail dusky, edged with white: legs orange.
SIZE.
LENGTH two feet four. EXTENT four feet six. WEIGHT five pounds and a half.
PLACE.
Inhabits, during summer,
Hudson's Bay,
and the north of
Europe.
Breeds also in the extreme north of
Asia;
and in its migration is very frequently scattered over
Sibiria.
Migrates over only the east of
Russia;
and is very scarce in the west. Mr.
Fabricius
suspects that they are found in
Greenland
Faun. Groenl.
p. 66.
.
477. SNOW.
Anser Grandinis. Schnee Gans.
Schwenckfelt Siles.
213.—
Phil. Trans.
lxii. 413.
Anser Hyperboreus,
Pallas Spicil. Zool.
fasc. vi. 26.—
Latham,
iii.
White Brant,
Lawson,
147.
D. With an elevated bill; upper mandible scarlet; lower whitish: forehead yellowish: head, neck, and body, of a snowy whiteness: primaries white at the bottoms, black to the tips: lesser coverts usually cinereous, with dusky tips: legs and feet deep red. The young Geese are blue, and do not attain their proper colors in less than a year. LENGTH two feet eight inches.
SIZE.
EXTENT three feet and a half. WEIGHT between five and six pounds.
This species is common to the north of
Asia,
PLACE.
and to
North America.
They appear in flights about
Severn
river in
Hudson's Bay,
in the middle of
May,
on their way northward; return in the beginning of
September
with their young, and stay about the settlement a fortnight; and proceed, about the tenth of
October,
flying very high, southward to pass the winter. They come in flocks of thousands; quite cover the country; rise in clouds, and with an amazing noise. They visit
Carolina
Lawson,
147.—
Quere,
The sort of whitish fowl mentioned by Mr.
Lawson,
p. 150, which he calls
Bull-necks,
of the size of a Brant, which come to
Carolina
after
Christmas,
and frequent the rivers: are excellent meat; but are very shy, and such good divers, as not to be shot without difficulty?
in vast flocks;
FOOD.
and feed on the roots of sedge and grass, which they tear up like hogs. It used to be a common practice in that country, to burn a piece of a marsh, which enticed the Geese to come there, as they could then more readily get at the roots; which gave the sportsman opportunity of killing as many as he pleased. In
Hudson's Bay
thousands are annually shot by the
Indians
for the use of the settlement; and are esteemed excellent meat.
They arrive in the earliest spring,
MIGRATIONS.
before any other species of Water-fowl, in immense flights, first about the river
Kolyma.
Their course is from the east, tending to the frozen ocean; and spreading to the estuaries of the
Jana
and
Lena
before the ice is broken up. Finding the want of subsistence, they bend their journey a little southward, in search of the insects and plants which abound in the inland lakes and moors. In this manner they penetrate as low as
Jakut,
and very rarely farther, except in very small detachments, which stray towards the
Olecma,
and sometimes by accident to the junction of the
Witim
with the
Lena.
They make very little stay in those parts; but again tend directly to the
Arctic
coasts of
Sibiria,
where they breed; but they do not take the same route, keeping more easterly, towards the
Jana
and
Indigirka.
It is observable, that they never migrate westward beyond long. 130, a little beyond the mouth of the
Lena;
neither is their migration by so high a latitude as
Kamtschatka,
where they are extremely rare
Descr. Kamtsch.
496.
; or their flight over that country may be so lofty as to render their course imperceptible. In the beginning of winter they are seen flying at a great height over
Silesia;
but it does not appear that they continue there, being only on their passage to some other country
Schwenkfelt An. Silesiae,
215.
.
The general winter quarters of this species seems to be the temperate and warm part of
North America.
STUPIDITY.
They are the most numerous and the most stupid of all the Goose race. They seem to want the instinct of others, by their arriving at the mouths of the
Arctic Asiatic
rivers before the season in which they can possibly subsist. They are annually guilty of the same mistake, and annually compelled to make a new migration to the south in quest of food, where they pass their time till the northern estuaries are freed from the bonds of ice.
MANNER OF TAKING.
They have so little of the shyness of other Geese, that they are taken in the most ridiculous manner imaginable, about
Jakut,
and the other parts of
Sibiria
which they frequent. The inhabitants first place, near the banks of the rivers, a great net, in a strait line, or else form a hovel of skins sewed together. This done, one of the company dresses himself in the skin of a white rein-deer, advances towards the flock of Geese, and then turns back towards the net or the hovel; and his companions go behind the flock, and, by making a noise, drive them forward. The simple birds mistake the man in white for their leader, and follow him within reach of the net, which is suddenly pulled down, and captivates the whole. When he chuses to conduct them to the hovel, they follow in the same manner; he creeps in at a hole left for that purpose, and out at another on the opposite side, which he closes up. The Geese follow him through the first; and as soon as they are got in, he passes round, and secures every one
The
Kamtschatkans
use the same method in taking Geese.
Descr. Kamtschatka,
496.
. In that frozen clime, they afford great subsistence to the natives; and the feathers are an article of commerce. Each family will kill thousands in a season. These they pluck and gut; then fling them in heaps into holes dug for that purpose, and cover them with nothing more than the earth. This freezes, and forms over them an arch; and whenever the family has occasion to open one of these magazines, they find their provision sweet and good.
478. BRENT.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 270.—Anas Hrota,
Muller,
No 115.—Anas Bernicla. Belgis Rotgans. Calmariens Prutgas,
Faun. Suec.
No 115.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
D. With a short, black, elevated bill: head, neck, and upper part of the breast, black: a white spot marks each side of the neck near its junction with the head: primaries and tail black: belly, scapulars, and coverts of the wings, cinereous, clouded with a deeper: coverts of tail and the vent white: legs black.
Is frequent in
Hudson's Bay.
Breed in the islands,
PLACE.
and along the coasts; but never fly inland. Feed about high-water mark. Return towards the south in vast flocks in autumn. Probably they winter in
Carolina;
for
Lawson
mentions a
Grey Brent
frequent in that season
Lawson,
147.
. During winter, they swarm in
Holland
and in
Ireland:
in the first, every eating-house is full of them: in the last, they are taken in flight-time, in nets placed across the rivers; are fattened, and reckoned great delicacies. They appear in small flocks in
Hoy Sound,
in the
Orknies;
but do not continue there: on the contrary, they winter in
Horra Sound,
in
Schetland,
in flocks of two hundred, and are called
Horra Geese
Reverend Mr.
Low.
. They retire from
Europe
to breed in the extreme north. A few, after flying over
Sweden,
stop on the borders of
Lapland;
but the great bodies of them continue their flight even to the most northern isles of
Greenland
Faun. Groenl.
No 41.
, and to
Spitzbergen.
Fly in the shape of a wedge, and with great clamor. Feed on grass, water-plants, berries, and worms. Cannot dive.
Barentz
found multitudes sitting on their eggs, about the 21st of
June
1595, in the great bay called
Wibe Janz Water;
and, to his amazement, discovered them to be the
Rotgansen,
which his countrymen, the
Dutch,
supposed to have been generated from some trees in
Scotland,
the fruit of which, when ripe, fell into the sea, and were converted into Gossings
Navigation par la Nord, Amstelredam,
1606, folio, p. 14.—The
English
fabled the same of the
Bernacle.
See
Gerard's Herbal.
. These birds arrive every year in the east part of
Sibiria,
in order to breed; but are not seen to the west of the
Lena,
nor yet in
Russia.
479. BERNACLE.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 269.—Anas Erythropus (mas.)
W. Both.
—Fiaelgâs
Faun. Suec.
No 116.—Anas Helfingen,
Olaffen Iceland,
ii. tab. 33.—
Latham,
iii.
La Bernache,
Pl. Enl.
855.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With white cheeks and forehead: from bill to the eyes runs a dusky line; the rest of the head, neck, and part of the breast, black: belly, vent, and coverts of tail, white: back, scapulars, and coverts of wings, barred with black, grey, and white: tail and legs black. LENGTH two feet one inch. EXTENT four feet five. WEIGHT about five pounds.
These birds are seen, but extremely rarely, in
Hudson's Bay.
PLACE.
It is found, and I believe breeds, in the north of
Russia
and
Lapland,
in
Norway,
and in
Iceland
Not in
Greenland
or
Spitzbergen,
as I once conjectured. See
Br. Zool.
ii. p. 578.
; but not in
Sibiria.
They appear on the
British
shores and marshes, in vast flocks, during winter; but retire in
February. Linnaeus
unaccountably makes the White-fronted Goose, No 476, the female of this.
480. EIDER.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 271.—Anas Mollissima, Ada, Eider, Gudunge,
Faun. Suec.
No 117. —
Latham,
iii.
Great Black and White Duck,
Edw.
98.—
Pl. Enl.
208, 209.—LEV. MUS.— BL. MUS.
D. With a black bill, somewhat elevated: forehead of a velvet black: a broad black bar, glossed with purple, extends from thence beyond each eye: middle of the head, whole neck, upper part of the back, scapulars, and coverts of the wings, white: below the hind part of the head is a stain of pea-green: lower part of the back, tail, breast, and whole under side of the body, black: legs greenish. The FEMALE is almost entirely of a dull rust-color, barred with black: primaries and tail dusky. WEIGHT of the female is about three pounds and a half. The MALE is double the size of the common Tame Duck.
Inhabits the seas near
New York,
in the spring season;
PLACE.
and breeds on the desert isles of
New England,
and from thence as far as the extreme coasts of the northern world, in
America, Europe,
and
Asia;
but never comes within land. Common in
Kamtschatka.
The most southern of its breeding-places are the
Fern
isles, on the coast of
Northumberland.
Lays seldom more than five eggs; those large, and of a pale green color. These birds afford the most luxurious of down, which forms, in many of the regions, a considerable article of commerce. Most Ducks pluck off a certain down to form its nest: these have the greatest quantity, and the finest and most elastic. It is customary in some places to take away the first eggs, which occasions a second laying, and a second deplumation. In
Greenland
they lay among the grass; in
Sweden
among the juniper bushes. Nature hath furnished them with so warm a cloathing, that they brave the severest winter, even of the
Arctic
regions. In
Greenland,
they are seen in that season by hundreds, or even thousands, in the sheltered southern bays: their breeding-places are in the most northern. They take their young on their backs instantly to sea, then dive, to shake them off and teach them to shift for themselves. It is said, that the males are five years old before they come to their full color? that they live to a great age; and will at length grow quite grey. They are constant to their breeding-places: a pair has been observed to occupy the same nest twenty years. They dive to great depths for their food, which is shells of all kinds. The
Greenlanders
kill them with darts; pursue them in their little boats; watch their course (when they dive) by the air-bubbles; and strike them when they arise wearied. The flesh is valued as a food. The skin of this and the next species is the most valuable of all, as a garment placed next to the skin.
481. KING.
Grey-headed Duck,
Edw.
154.—Anas Spectabilis,
Faun. Suec.
No 112.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
D. With a red bill, extending high up the forehead on each side, in form of a broad bean-shaped plate: head, and part of the hind part of the neck, light grey, bounded by a line of black dots: cheeks and neck, as low as the grey color, pea-green: a narrow black line from the bar of the bill bounds the lower part of the cheeks: throat, neck, and breast, white: back, belly, and tail, black: lesser coverts of the wings, and primaries, dusky brown: secondaries black, glossed with rich purple; coverts above them form a great bed of white: legs dirty red. SIZE near double of the MALLARD. The FEMALE differs greatly in color, being mostly black and brown: the belly dusky: the plate on the bill slightly eminent.
This species is found in
Hudson's Bay;
and, in winter,
PLACE.
as low as
New York.
Is as common in
Greenland
as the Eider. Yields almost as much down, and is as useful to the natives: has the same haunts, and is taken in the same manner. Inhabits the coast of
Norway,
and even has been killed in the
Orknies.
Is frequent on the
Arctic
shores of
Sibiria,
and extends to
Kamtschatka.
482. VELVET.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 272.—Anas Fusca, Swârta,
Faun. Suec.
No 109.
La grande Macreuse,
Pl. Enl.
956.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
D. With a broad bill, elevated near the base; black in the middle; yellow on the sides; the nail red: behind each eye
Read
eye,
in the
Br. Zool.
instead of
ear.
is a white spot: a bar of the same color crosses each wing: all the plumage besides is of a rich velvet black: legs red. The FEMALE is of a deep brown; but marked, like the male, with white.
Frequents the seas about
New York.
PLACE.
Is very common in the great lakes and rivers of the north and east of
Sibiria,
and on the shores. Extends to
Kamtschatka.
Is less common in
Russia.
Lays from eight to ten white eggs. Notwithstanding they are Ducks which at all other times frequent the sea, yet, in the laying season, go far inland, and make their nests: as soon as that task is over, the males fly away; but as soon as the young can fly, they are rejoined by their mates; followed by the brood
Steller,
in
Nov. Com. Petrop.
iv. 421.
—Strom.
p. 230.
.
483. BLACK.
Edw.
155.—
Ph. Trans.
lxii. 417.—Canard du Nord, ou le Marchand,
Pl. Enl.
995.—
Latham,
iii.
Anas Perspicillata,
Lin. Syst.
201.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With a compressed bill, rising into a knob at the base, each side of which is marked with a patch of black; middle white; sides of a deep orange; the edges black; nail red: fore part of the head white: crown and cheeks black: just beneath the hind part of the head, the neck is marked with a large white spot: rest of the plumage of a dull black: legs and toes bright red; webs black. WEIGHT two pounds two ounces. LENGTH twenty-one inches. EXTENT thirty-five. The FEMALE is twenty inches long: of a sooty color: has no white on the hind part of the head; but the cheeks are marked with two dull white spots.
PLACE.
Appears in
Hudson's Bay
as soon as the rivers are free from ice. Breed along the shores: make their nests with grass, and line them with feathers. Lay from four to six white eggs: hatch in the end of
July.
Feed on grass. Extends to
New York,
and even to
South Carolina
Catesby,
App.
.
484. SCOTER.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 273.—Anas Nigra,
Faun. Suec.
No 110.—
Latham;
iii.
La Macreuse,
Pl. Enl.
278.—LEV. MUS.
D. With a bill black; of a rich yellow in the middle; on the base a green knob, divided longways with a furrow; no nail: whole plumage black: head and neck glossed with purple: tail cuneiform: legs black. WEIGHT two pounds two ounces. LENGTH twenty-two inches. EXTENT thirty-four.
PLACE.
Sent to Mrs.
Blackburn,
from
New York.
Abounds on the great lakes and rivers of the north and east of
Sibiria,
and on the shores; but is less frequent in
Russia.
Inhabits
Sweden
and
Norway
Lawson,
151.
. Lives much at sea. Is of a very fishy taste.
485. SHOVELER.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 280.—Le Souchet,
Pl. Enl.
971.—Anas Clypeata,
Faun. Suec.
No 119.—
Latham,
iii.
Blue-wing Shoveler,
Catesby,
i. 96. (fem.)—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With a very large black bill, expanding greatly towards the end: head, and greatest part of the neck, of a mallard green; lower part of the neck, breast, and scapulars, white: belly bay: back brown: coverts of wings of a fine sky-blue: primaries dusky: speculum green: outmost feathers of the tail white; rest dusky, edged with white: legs red. Plumage of the FEMALE like that of the common Wild Duck; only the coverts of the wings are of the same colors with those of the Drake. LENGTH twenty-one inches. WEIGHT twenty-two ounces.
Found about
New York,
and even as low as
Carolina,
PLACE.
during winter. Is common in
Kamtschatka;
and breeds in every latitude of the
Russian
dominions; but chiefly in the north. Inhabits
Sweden
and
Norway.
We are to seek for the
Swaddle Bill,
an ash-colored Duck of
Carolina,
with an extraordinary broad bill, said not to be very common there, but to be very good food; we must therefore join it, for the present, to this species.
486. GOLDEN-EYE.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 276.—Anas Clangula, Knipa. Dopping,
Faun. Suec.
No 722.
Le Garrot,
Pl. Enl.
802.—
Ph. Trans.
lxii. 417.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With a short broad black bill: large head, black, glossed with green: at each corner of the mouth a great white spot: breast and belly white: back, lesser coverts of the wings, and tail, black: scapulars black and white: greater coverts white: primaries dusky: legs orange. Head of the FEMALE rusty brown: neck grey: breast and belly white: coverts and scapulars dusky and cinereous: primaries and tail black: legs dusky. LENGTH nineteen inches. EXTENT thirty-one. WEIGHT two pounds.
PLACE.
Inhabits from
New York
to
Greenland:
in the last is very rare; and arrives in the bay on the breaking up of the ice: disappears on the return of frost. Frequents fresh-water lakes: makes a regular nest of grass, and feathers from its own breast. Lays from seven to ten white eggs. Is expelled
Sweden
by the frost, except a few which haunt the unfrozen parts of rivers near the cataracts: there they live, diving continually for shells. Extends to
Norway.
487. SPIRIT.
Little Black and White Duck,
Edw.
100.—
Ph. Trans.
lxii. 416.
Anas Albeola,
Lin. Syst.
199.—
Latham,
iii.
FEM. Little Brown Duck,
Catesby,
i. 98.
Sarcelle de la Louisiane, dite la Religieuse,
Pl. Enl.
948.—LEV. MUS.
With a black bill: crown and fore part of the head of a glossy black, varying with green and purple: throat and upper part of the neck encircled with the same: cheeks and hind part of the head white: lower half of the neck, breast, belly, and scapulars, white: primaries, secondaries, and tertials, dusky; upper ends of the secondaries white; coverts incumbent on them white; on the others dusky: back and tail dusky: legs orange. In the FEMALE the head and upper part of the neck dusky: a large white oblong spot marks the sides of the head, beginning behind each eye: back, tail, primaries, and lesser coverts, dusky: great coverts and secondaries white: breast and belly dirty white: legs orange. SIZE of a Wigeon.
PLACE.
Inhabits
North America,
from
Hudson's Bay
to
Carolina.
Called sometimes the
Spirit,
as is supposed, from its suddenly appearing again at a distance, after diving. Visits
Severn
river, in
Hudson's Bay,
in
June:
and makes its nest in trees, among the woods near fresh waters.
488. PIED.
D. With the lower part of the bill black, the upper yellow: on the summit of the head is an oblong black spot: forehead, cheeks, rest of the head, and neck, white; the lower part encircled with black: scapulars and coverts of wings white: back, breast, belly, and primaries, black: tail cuneiform, and dusky: legs black. The bill of the supposed FEMALE? resembles that of the male: head and neck mottled with cinereous brown and dirty white: primaries dusky: speculum white: back, breast, and belly, clouded with different shades of ash-color: tail dusky and cuneiform: legs black. SIZE of a common Wild Duck.
Sent from
Connecticut,
to Mrs.
Blackburn.
PLACE.
Possibly the great flocks of pretty Pied Ducks, which whistled as they flew, or as they fed, seen by Mr.
Lawson
Hist. Carolina,
148.
in the western branch of
Cape Fear
inlet, were of this kind.
489. BUFFEL.
Buffel's-head Duck,
Catesby,
i. 95.—Anas bucephala,
Lin. Syst.
200.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
D. With a short blue bill: head vastly increased in size by the fullness of the feathers; black, richly glossed with green and purple: neck white all round: upper part of the breast pure white; lower, and belly, clouded with pale brown: back, primaries, and secondaries, black: the coverts on the ridge of the wings mottled, bounding the others, which form a great bed of white: tail cinereous: legs orange.
Is found frequently in the fresh waters of
Carolina,
during winter.
PLACE.
490. HARLEQUIN.
Dusky and Spotted Duck,
Edw.
99; and the Female,
Edw.
157.—
Catesby,
i. 98.
Anas Histrionica,
Lin. Syst.
204.—
Ph. Trans.
lxii. 419.—
Latham,
iii.
Anas Brimond,
Olaffen Iceland.
ii. tab. xxxiv.—
Pl. Enl.
798.—LEV. MUS.— BL. MUS.
D. With a small black bill: between the base and the eyes a great white patch: crown black, bounded by a light rusty line: cheeks, chin, and neck, black; beneath each a white spot; below that a short line of white, pointing down the neck: bottom of the neck, on each side, bounded by a transverse line of white; beneath which is another of black: breast, back, scapulars, and part of the belly, of a pleasant slate-color: breast on each side marked with semilunar stripes of white, beginning at the shoulders, and bounded on each side with a stripe of black: wings and tail deep ash: rump, above and below, of a full black▪ legs black. The FEMALE is almost wholly dusky, and is marked at the base of the bill with a white spot, and another behind each ear. SIZE of a Wigeon.
PLACE.
Inhabits from
Carolina
to
Greenland:
in the last frequents, during summer, the rapid rivers, and the most shady parts. Nestles on the banks, among the low shrubs. Swims and dives admirably. In winter seeks the open sea. Flies high and swiftly, and is very clamorous. Feeds on shell-fish, spawn, and the larvae of gnats. Is found in
Iceland,
and as low as
Sondmor
Strom.
243.
. Is common from the lake
Baikal
to
Kamtschatka:
breeds there, as well as every where else, about the most rocky and rapid torrents.
491. POCHARD.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 284.—Anas Ferina,
Faun. Suec.
No 127.—
Latham,
iii.
Le Millouin,
Pl. Enl.
303.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With a lead-colored bill: head and neck bright bay: breast and upper part of the back black: rest of the back, scapulars, and coverts of wings, pale grey, streaked tranversely with lines of black: primaries dusky: belly grey and brown: tail deep grey: legs lead-colored. In the FEMALE the head rusty brown:
FEMALE.
breast rather darker: belly and coverts of wings cinereous: back like that of the male: legs lead-colored. LENGTH nineteen inches. EXTENT two feet and a half. WEIGHT one pound twelve ounces.
Inhabits
North America,
in winter, as low as
Carolina
Catesby,
App.
; and,
PLACE.
I believe, is the Red-headed Duck of
Lawson.
Is found, in
Europe,
as high as
Drontheim.
Is met with in the great rivers and lakes in all latitudes of the
Russian
empire. A fresh-water Duck, and of excellent taste.
492. WHISTLING.
Black-billed Whistling Duck,
Edw.
193
Probably not the female of
Edwards
's Duck, 194.
.—
Latham,
iii.
Anas Arborea,
Lin. Syst.
207.—Whistlers,
Catesby,
App. xxxvii.—
Lawson Carolina,
149.—LEV. MUS.
D. With a black bill, and crown slightly crested: cheeks brown: hind part of the neck dusky; fore part white, spotted with black: back and wings brown; coverts spotted with black: tail and its coverts black: breast of a dark reddish color, spotted with black: belly white, mixed on the sides with black: legs long, and of a lead-color; hind claw placed high up the leg. Lesser than a Tame Duck. Described from Mr.
Edwards.
Inhabits
South Carolina
and
Jamaica.
Is, from its voice,
PLACE.
called the
Whistling Duck:
perches on trees. Placed here merely on the authority of the name given it by
Lawson
and
Catesby.
The last says, that it frequents the coasts of
Carolina
during winter; which makes me doubt, whether Mr.
Edwards
's bird, a native of
Jamaica,
is the same: for it may be held as a rule, that the water-fowl of hot climates never retire in winter to colder; and that those of
Arctic
climates almost generally retire from them into warmer. Clouds of birds annually quit
Hudson's Bay,
and other severe climates, at approach of winter; stock the different latitudes of
North America;
and return in spring to encrease and multiply. To the constitutions of the SUMMER DUCK, a very few other water-fowl, and to many land-birds, the warm temperature of the
Carolinas
is climate sufficiently north. They are driven, by the excessive heat and arid soil of the
Antilles
and
Guiana,
to the moist savannas and woods of these provinces, there to discharge the first great command.
493. SUMMER.
Summer Duck,
Catesby,
i. 97.—
Edw.
101.—Anas Sponsa,
Lin. Syst.
207.
Le beau Canard hupé de la Caroline,
Pl: Enl.
980.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With the ridge and nail of the upper mandible black; lower part scarlet: on the head a beautiful crest, hanging half down the neck, and beginning at the base of the bill; upper part shining purple; beneath that a line of white; then succeeds purple; and that again is bounded by white: cheeks purplish and green: throat, and part of the neck, pure white: from the hind part of the neck a bead of purple divides the white, and points towards the throat: rest of the neck and breast ferruginous, spotted with white triangular spots: belly white: feathers of the sides, which hide part of the wings, elegantly marked downwards with incurvated lines of black and white: back deep brown, glossed with copper and green: primaries dusky: secondaries resplendent blue: coverts of the tail, and tail itself, dusky, glossed with green: legs dirty orange. Head of the FEMALE of a deep brown; crested, but not so much as the Drake: back deep brown: cheeks brown: behind each eye a white spot: throat white: neck and breast reddish brown, with white sagittal spots: belly white. LENGTH, from the bill to the tip of the tail, near nineteen inches. EXTENT about thirty.
PLACE.
This most elegant species is found from
New York
to the
Antilles,
and also in
Mexico.
It passes the summer in
Carolina;
and in a singular manner makes its nest in the holes made by Woodpeckers in the loftiest trees, which grow near the water, especially the deciduous cypress. When the young are hatched, they are conveyed down on the backs of the old ones, to whom the Ducklings adhere closely with their bills. It often nestles on the bodies or boughs of trees which have fallen over the streams which run up the woods. It appears in
New York,
in the latter end of
February
or beginning of
March,
and retires towards the south at approach of winter. They are very delicate eating. The
Mexicans
call it
Yztactzonyayauhqui,
or the bird of the
various-colored head.
It is there migratory. The natives feign that, from the situation of its legs, it cannot stand.
494. MALLARD.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 279.—Anas Boschas. Grā s-and, Blā nacke,
Faun. Suec.
No 131.—
Ph. Trans.
lxii. 419.—
Pl. Enl.
776, 777.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS. —BL. MUS.
D. With a bill of a yellowish green: head and neck of a shining changeable green: on the front of the lower part of the neck is a semicircle of white: breast of a purplish red: lower part of the back, and belly, grey, crossed with speckled lines of black: speculum purple: four middle feathers of the tail curled upwards: legs saffron-colored. FEMALE is of a pale reddish brown, spotted with black. LENGTH twenty-three inches. EXTENT thirty-five. WEIGHT about two pounds and a half.
Inhabits the northern parts of
North America,
PLACE.
from
Hudson's Bay
to
Carolina
Catesby,
App.
: is frequent in
Greenland,
and continues there the whole year. Arrives in
Hudson's Bay
in
May:
retires in
October.
Is common in all latitudes of the
Russian
empire: and was observed by
Steller
in the
Aleutian
islands. In
Sweden
retires in winter to the shores of
Schonen;
but in severe seasons passes over to
Denmark
and
Germany,
possibly to
England;
for this island can hardly supply the vast wintery flocks.
495. ILATHERA.
Ilathera Duck,
Catesby,
i. 93.—Anas Baliamensis,
Lin. Syst.
199.—
Latham,
iii.
D. With a large dusky blue bill; on the base of the upper mandible a great triangular orange-colored spot: head, as far as the eyes, hind part of the neck, and back, of a mixed grey, inclining to yellow: fore part and sides of the neck white: belly of the same color, spotted with darker: lesser coverts of the wings, and primaries, dusky; great coverts green, tipt with black: secondaries dull yellow: legs lead-colored. In SIZE somewhat less than the common Tame Duck.
PLACE.
Inhabits the
Bahama
islands; but is very rare: extends to the
Brasils,
where the
Indians
call it
Marecu
Marcgrave,
214.
. This species, the
Summer Duck,
and the
Whistling Duck, Edw.
193, perch and roost on trees; and are among the few of this class which do not migrate northward to breed.
496. DUSKY.
D. With a long and narrow dusky bill, tinged with blue: crown dusky: chin white: neck pale brown, streaked downwards with dusky lines: back, and coverts of the wings, deep brown: breast and belly of the same color, edged with dirty yellow: primaries dusky: speculum of a fine blue, bounded above with a black bar: tail cuneiform; dusky, edged with white: legs in one specimen dusky, in another yellow. LENGTH near two feet.
PLACE.
From the province of
New York.
—BL. MUS.
497. WESTERN.
Anas
Stelleri,
PALLAS
Spicil. Zool.
fasc. v. p. 35. tab. v.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
D. With the head, cheeks, and upper part of the neck, white: between the bill and the eyes a mallard-green spot; another across the hind part of the head: chin and throat of a full black: around the neck a black glossy color: back of the same color: coverts of the wings white: primaries dusky: secondaries black, tipt with white: breast and sides of a light yellowish brown: belly, vent, and tail, black. SIZE of a Wigeon.
Brought by the late navigators from the western side of
America;
PLACE.
but had been before discovered by
Steller
to breed among the inaccessible rocks about
Kamtschatka;
to flyin flocks, and never to enter the mouths of rivers.
498. SCAUP.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 275.—Anas marila,
Faun. Suec.
No 111.—
Ph. Trans.
lxii. 413.— Le Millouinan,
Pl. Enl.
1002.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With a broad, flat, and blueish grey bill: irides yellow: head and neck black, glossed with green: breast black: back, coverts of the wings, and scapulars, marked with numbers of transverse lines of black and grey: primaries dusky: secondaries white, tipt with black: belly white: tail, coverts, and vent feathers, black: legs dusky. Male WEIGHS a pound and a half: female two ounces more. LENGTH sixteen inches and a half. EXTENT twenty inches.
Inhabits
America,
as high as
Hudson's Bay:
comes there in
May;
PLACE.
retires in
October.
Is found in
Iceland,
and most part of the north of
Europe.
Are common on the northern shores of
Russia
and
Sibiria;
and are most frequent about the great river
Ob:
migrate southward: dive much: and feed on shell-fish.
499. BROWN.
D. With a large blueish bill: head and neck of a very pale brown: lower part of the last, and breast, of the same color, edged with rust-color: wings cinereous grey: speculum blue, tipt with white: tail and legs dusky.
Inhabits
Newfoundland.
500. PINTAIL.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 282.—Anas acuta, Aler, Ahlfogel,
Faun. Suec.
No 126.
Le Canard à longue queue,
Pl. Enl.
959.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS. —BL. MUS.
D. With bill black on the middle; blueish on the sides: head and half the neck rusty brown: from the ears, half way of each side of the neck, a white line, bounded by black, points downwards: lower hind part of the neck, back, and sides, marked with white and dusky waved lines: fore part of the neck, breast, and belly, white: coverts of the wings cinereous; lowest tipt with dull orange: secondaries marked with green, black, and white: exterior feathers of the tail ash-colored; middle black, and three inches longer than the rest: legs ash-colored. FEMALE brown, spotted with black. WEIGHT twenty-four ounces. LENGTH two feet four. EXTENT three feet two inches.
PLACE.
Appears about
New York
in winter: breeds in the north: in
Europe,
about the
White Sea.
Migrates southward at approach of the frost. Is seen in
Sweden
about fourteen days in the spring, on its passage northward: and in autumn repasses the same way to the south. Visit the
Orknies
in great flocks in the winter. In the
Russian
empire, extends to
Kamtschatka.
501. LONG-TAILED.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 283.—Anas hyemalis. Winter-and,
Faun. Suec.
No 125.
Anas Glacialis,
Lin. Syst.
203.—
Ph. Trans.
lxii. 418.—Male,
Edw.
280. Female, 156.—
Latham,
iii.
Le Canard de Miclon,
Pl. Enl.
954.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With bill black, orange in the middle: forehead, sides of the head, and neck, pale brown, dashed with rose-color: beneath each ear a large dusky spot points downwards: hind part of the head and neck, throat, and breast, white: back and belly black: sides and vent feathers white: scapulars long and white: coverts of the wings glossy black: primaries dusky: secondaries dark rusty brown: two middle feathers of the tail black, and four inches longer than the others, which are white: legs red. FEMALE; crown dusky: cheeks white: rest of the head, neck, back, and breast, coverts of the wings, and primaries, deep brown: scapulars and secondaries rusty: belly white: tail and legs like those of the MALE.
Inhabits to the extreme north.
PLACE.
Breeds in
Hudson's Bay
and
Greenland,
among the stones and grass: makes its nest, like the
Eider,
with the down of its own breast; which is equal in value to that of the
Eider,
if it could be got in equal quantity; but the species is scareer. It lays five eggs: swims and dives admirably: and feeds on shell-fish, which it gets in very deep water. Flies irregularly, sometimes shewing its back, sometimes its belly. Continues in
Greenland
the whole year, in unfrozen places
Faun. Groenl.
p. 73.
: but there are seasons so very severe, as at times to force them towards the south. Those which breed between
Lapland
and the polar circle, are often driven into
Sweden,
and the neighborhood of
Petersburg:
those from the coast of the
Icy
sea, as low as lat. 55; but on the setting in of frost, retire still further south, unless where some open spots remain in the rivers. Visit the fresh-water lakes in the
Orknies,
in
October,
and continue there till
April.
At sun-set they are seen, in great flocks, returning to and from the bays, where they frequently pass the night, and make such a noise as to be heard some miles in frosty weather. Their sound is like
Aan-gitche,
and is said not to be disagreeable.
Steller,
who observed them in
Kamtschatka
Descr. du Kamtschatka,
498.
, says, that their larynx has three openings, covered with a thin (I supose valvular) membrane, which forms the singularity of the voice.
La Sarcelle de Feroe,
or the
Feroe
Teal, of M.
Brisson
vi. 466. tab. xl.—
Pl. Enl.
999.
, is probably conjectured, by M.
Brunnich,
to be only a variety of this species: seemingly a female.
502. AMERICAN WIGEON.
Le Canard Jensen de la Louisiane,
Pl. Enl.
955.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
D. With a lead-colored bill, tipt with black: crown and forehead yellowish white: hind part of the head, and whole neck, prettily speckled with black and white: behind each eye is a large black spot, glossed with green: back and scapulars pale rust and black, elegantly disposed in narrow transverse waving lines: coverts of the wings white: primaries, coverts of the tail, and vent, black: tail cuneiform; middle feathers black; the rest cinereous: legs dusky. In SIZE superior to the
English
WIGEON; with which it seems to agree in colors and marks, except those on the head.
PLACE.
Sent from
New York,
under the name of the
Pheasant Duck:
is a rare bird there. Found as low as
Louisiana.
—BL. MUS.
503. WHITE-FACED.
White-faced Teal,
Catesby,
i. 100. Male.—Blue-wing Teal,
Catesby,
i. 99. Fem.—Anas Discors,
Lin. Syst.
205.
Sarcelle mâle de Cayenne, ditte le Soucrourou,
Pl. Enl.
966.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With bill and crown black; base of the bill bounded by black: between the last and the eyes a white stripe, ending on each side of the chin: cheeks, hind part of head, and whole neck, purplish green: breast yellow, spotted elegantly with black: back brown, waved with a lighter color; on the lower part several long, narrow, light brown feathers: coverts of the wings fine caerulean: primaries dusky: speculum green: vent black: tail brown: legs yellow. The FEMALE is almost entirely brown; in parts marked with dusky spots: the blue on the wings duller than that of the DRAKE. In SIZE a little larger than a Teal.
PLACE.
This species is found as high as
New York.
Arrives in
Carolina
in great plenty, in
August,
to feed on the rice; and continues till
October,
when the rice is got in. In
Virginia,
where there is no rice, it feeds on wild oats. Is reckoned most delicious meat. Extends as far south as
Guiana.
A VARIETY?
D. With crown and upper part of the neck dusky brown: cheeks, under part, and sides of the neck, whitish brown, mottled with darker: back, breast, and belly, marked with great dusky spots, edged with dirty white: coverts of the wings pale sky-blue; lower order white: speculum rich purple, with a white edge: primaries and tail dusky. Size of the last, with the female of which it has great affinity; but in the purple
speculum
resembles the GADWALL.
Brought from
Newfoundland
by Sir
Joseph Banks.
PLACE.
504. AMERICAN TEAL.
Ph. Trans.
lxii. 419.—Anas circia?
Faun. Suec.
No 130.—
Latham,
iii.
Krik-and
Danis, Brunnich,
No 130.
D. With head and upper part of the neck of a fine deep bay: from each eye to the hind part of the head is a broad bar of rich changeable green: wants the white line, which the
European
kind has above each eye, having only one below: lower part of the neck and breast dirty white, beautifully spotted with black: has over each shoulder a lunated bar, another distinction from our species: coverts of wings brown: upper part of the back marked with waved lines of white and black; lower part brown: tail dusky:
speculum
green: legs dusky. Plumage of the FEMALE of a brownish ash, tinged with red, and spotted with black: wings resemble those of the male.
Inhabits
America,
as high as
Hudson's Bay,
and as low as
Carolina.
PLACE.
Is found plentifully about
Severn
river, in the woods and plains near the fresh waters; and has from five to seven young at a time. Disappears in autumn: and is found, during winter, as low as
Carolina,
and perhaps
Jamaica.
We seem here to have recovered the SUMMER TEAL of Mr.
Willughby
Ornith.
378.
, to which the
American
kind has great affinity. He calls it the lest of Ducks: and must be the same with the second kind described by
Lawson
Hist. Carol.
149.
as frequenting fresh waters; being lesser than the common sort, and always nodding their heads.
A. GREAT GOOSE. With a black bill, tawny at the base: a dusky body; white beneath: scarlet legs. Of a vast SIZE, weighing near twenty-five or thirty
Russian
pounds.
PLACE.
This species is found in the east of
Sibiria,
from the
Lena
to
Kamtschatka:
and is taken in great numbers, together with the RED-NECKED GOOSE,
TAKEN IN GLADES.
in glades, as we do Woodcocks in
England.
The Geese in the day-time repair to the corn-fields and meadows: in the evening resort to the lakes, to wash themselves and pass the night. The
Sibirians
generally fix on a place where there are two or three lakes near each other, and out between each an avenue through the thick birch woods of the country. If there is not the advantage of adjacent lakes, the avenue is made through the woods which border the sides of any which the birds frequent. At the entrance of the glades, on each side, a tall birch-tree is left standing, and all their branches stripped away: from the tops of these naked trees is placed a strong net, which fills the breadth of the avenue: this net is capable of being dropped or raised at pleasure, by means of certain long cords which run along the top; and the ends of which are held by a man who conceals himself in the high grass. The Geese commonly leave the lakes an hour before sun-rise; and, as they do not chuse to fly high at that season, prefer going through the avenues; and with their long extended necks strike into the nets, which are suddenly dropped; and twenty, and often more, of the Geese are taken at a time. All sorts of Ducks, and other water-fowl, are taken in the same manner
PALLAS
's Travels,
ii. 325, 326.
.
B. CHINESE GOOSE. Anser Cygnoides,
Lin. Syst.
194. β.—Swan Goose,
Wil. Orn.
360. —
Raii. Syn. av.
138.—
Brisson,
vi. 280.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
D. With a black bill, and a large protuberance at the base, biggest in the males: on the chin is a naked, pendulous, black skin: from the crown to the back a black line runs down the hind part of the neck: the rest of the neck and breast is of a cream-color, often dashed with tawny: belly white: between the base of the bill and the eyes is a white line: the back and wings deep grey: tail of the same color, with whitish tips: legs red: in some the bill is of the same color. In LENGTH often reaches to three feet three.
This species is found wild about lake
Baikal;
in the east of
Sibiria;
PLACE.
and in
Kamtschatka.
They are very cemmonly kept tame in most parts of the
Russian
empire. Will produce, with the Common Goose, a breed which preserves an exact medium between both species. As an exception to the remark that a mulish race will not breed, these frequently couple with one another, and with the genuine kind
Doctor
PALLAS.
. They are frequent in
China:
are very stately birds, therefore are dignified with the title
Swan Goose.
C. RED-BREASTED GOOSE. Anser ruficollis,
Pallas Spicil. Zool.
fasc. vi. 21. tab. iv.— LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With a short black bill; a great patch of white between the base and the eyes, bounded by black: crown, chin, hind part of the head and neck, back, wings, and tail, of an intense black: sides marked with a few white spots: greater coverts tipt with the same color: coverts of the tail white: lower part and sides of the neck of a bright bay, bounded by a narrow line of white: the breast and lower part of the neck divided from the belly and back by a circle of black and another of white: legs black. LENGTH one foot ten inches. EXTENT three feet ten. WEIGHT three pounds
Troy.
PLACE.
This most elegant of Geese is found to breed from the mouth of the
Ob,
along the coasts of the
Icy
sea, to that of the
Lena.
The winter quarters of these birds is not certainly known. They are observed in the spring, flying from the
Caspian
sea, along the
Volga,
northward, in small flocks; and are seen about
Zarizyn,
between the sixth and tenth of
April.
They rest a little time on the banks of the
Sarpa,
but soon resume their
Arctic
course
Extracts,
ii. 20.
. Their winter retreat is probably in
Persia.
They are highly esteemed for the table, being quite free from any fishy taste.
D. SHIELDRAKE,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 278.—Tadorne,
Pl. Enl.
53.—
Latham,
iii.
Anas Tadorna. Jugas
Gotlandis, Faun. Suec.
No 113.—LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With a scarlet bill: on the base of that of the male a large protuberance: head, and part of the neck, of a mallard-green: rest of the neck and belly white: the breast crossed with a large band of orange bay: coverts of wings, and the back, white: scapulars pied: tail white; tips of the outmost feathers black: legs flesh-color. WEIGHT of the male two pounds ten ounces. LENGTH two feet. EXTENT three and a half.
PLACE.
Inhabits northern
Europe,
as high as
Iceland.
Visits
Sweden
and the
Orknies
in winter: returns in the spring. Continues in
England
the whole year. Is found in
Asia
about the
Caspian
sea, and all the salt lakes of the
Tartarian
and
Sibirian
deserts; and extends even to
Kamtschatka.
E. GULAUND.
D. With a narrowed bill: head of a mallard-green: breast and belly white. SIZE between the Goose and Duck kind.
Inhabits the morasses of
Iceland.
Lays from seven to nine eggs.
PLACE.
Is a scarce species. The account of it was communicated to me by M.
Brunnich,
from the catalogue of Doctor
Biorno Paulsen.
The
Icelanders
call it
Gulaund.
F. MORILLON,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 277.—Anas Glaueion. Brunnaeke,
Faun. Suec.
No 123. —
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
D. With dusky rust-colored head: irides gold-colored: neck with a white collar; and beneath that another, broader, of grey: back and coverts of wings dusky, marked with a few white stripes: greater coverts dusky, with a few great white spots: primaries and tail black: secondaries white: breast and belly white: above the thighs black: legs yellow. Rather less than the GOLDEN EYE.
Inhabits as high as
Sweden:
is found; but rarely, even in
Greenland
Faun. Groenl.
No
:
PLACE.
or may be supposed to be seen in the intermediate parts. Is frequent in every place in
Russia
and
Sibiria,
and even in
Kamtschatka.
G. TUFTED,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 274.—Anas fuligula, Wigge,
Faun. Suec.
No 132.— Le Morillon,
Pl. Enl.
1001.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With a thick, short, pendent crest: belly and under coverts of the wings pure white: primaries dusky; part of their inner webs white: secondaries white, tipt with black: all the rest of the plumage black; about the head glossed with violet: legs blueish grey. WEIGHT two pounds. LENGTH fifteen inches.
Inhabits
Europe,
as high as
Norway.
PLACE.
Common in all latitudes of the
Russian
empire; but commonly travels northward to breed. Frequent in
Kamtschatka.
H. Hrafn-ond,
Olaffen Iceland,
sect. 688.—
Muller,
No 161.—
Latham,
iii.
D. With a crested head, black above: under side of the neck, breast, and belly, white: legs saffron-colored.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Iceland.
Whether a variety of the former? for the
Icelanders
style that species
Hrafas-aund
Biorne's List.
.
I. FALCATED. Anas Falcaria,
Pallas Itin.
iii. 701.—
Latham,
iii.
D. With a small dusky bill: feathers above the base of the upper mandible white: middle of the head pale rust: rest of the head silky green, variable, and changing, on the sides of the neck, to resplendent copper: from the head to the hind part of the neck is a crest closely compressed, and ending in an angle: throat and half the fore part of the neck white; which color encircles the neck, and is bounded above by another of variable black and green; the rest of the neck, and the breast, elegantly marked with semicircles of grey and black: the back and wings undulated with the same colors: the
speculum
of the color of polished steel, edged with white: five last secondaries long and falcated, of a violet-color edged with white: vent white, crossed with a black bar: legs dusky. SIZE of a Wigeon.
PLACE.
Found, but rarely, in
Kamtschatka.
Frequent in the east of
Sibiria,
from the
Jenesei
to the
Lena,
and beyond lake
Baikal.
None in the west. Probably winters in
China
and the
Mongalian
deserts.
K. WIGEON,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 286.—Anas Penelope, Wriand,
Faun. Suec.
No 124. —Le Canard siffleur,
Pl. Enl.
825.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With forehead whitish: head and upper part of the neck of a bright light bay: hind part of the head, and breast, vinaceous: in other respects like the AMERICAN kind. FEMALE colored like a
Falcated Duck
I.
p. 574. Western Duck No . 497.
Wild Duck. LENGTH twenty inches. EXTENT two feet three. WEIGHT near twenty-three ounces.
Inhabits
Europe,
perhaps not higher than
Sweden.
PLACE.
Is not uncommon about the
Caspian
sea, and ascends its rivers, but not far up. Is sometimes seen in the great lakes on the east side of the
Urallian
chain; but not in the rest of
Sibiria.
Is found in plenty about
Aleppo,
during winter
Russell's Aleppo.
: and taken in great numbers in the
Nile,
in nets, just before the waters have quite subsided
Hasselquist,
288.
. These probably retire north to breed. The
Germans
call this species
Pfeiff-ent,
or the
Fifing Duck,
from its acute note. The
French,
for the same reason, call it
le Canard siffleur:
and the
English,
the
Whewer.
My Bimaculated Duck,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 287, has been discovered, by Doctor PALLAS, along the
Lena,
and about lake
Baikal;
and a description sent by him to the Royal Academy at
Stockholm,
under the title of
Anas Glocitans,
or the
Clucking Duck;
from its singular note.
L. GADWALL,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 288.—Anas strepera,
Faun. Suec.
No 121.—Le Chipeau,
Pl. Enl.
958.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
D. With a black flat bill: head and upper part of the neck reddish, spotted with black: breast, upper part of the back, and scapulars, elegantly marked with black and white lines: belly dirty white: coverts on the ridge of the wings reddish brown; the next purplish red, with a border of black: primaries dusky: speculum white: tail cinereous: legs orange. Breast of the female reddish brown, spotted with black: other colors similar, but more dull. Rather less than a WIGEON.
This species does not seem to advance higher in
Europe
than
Sweden.
PLACE.
In the
Russian
empire extends over most of the latitudes of the
European
and
Sibirian
part, except the east of
Sibiria,
and
Kamtschatka.
M. LAPMARK. Skoaara,
Leems Lapmark,
266.—Anas latirostra,
Brunnich,
No 91.— Le Canard brun?
Pl. Enl.
1007.—
Latham,
iii.
D. With a broad black bill and legs; the last reaching far beyond the tail: head, neck, and upper part of the body, dusky, thick set with small spots: on each side of the base of the bill a great white spot: neck and breast clouded: on the wings an oblique white mark: belly dusky: feathers on the sides ferruginous. SIZE of a Wild Duck.
PLACE.
Inhabits
Lapmark,
and frequents both sea and fresh-water. Is also found in
Denmark.
N. RED. Anas rutila,
Faun. Suec.
No 134.—Ferruginous Duck,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 285. —
Latham,
iii.
D. With a long pale blue bill, much flatted: head, neck, and upper part of the body, a fine reddish brown: throat, breast, and belly, paler: belly white: legs pale blue: webs black. WEIGHT twenty ounces.
PLACE.
Found, but rarely, in the
Swedish
rivers. Sent to me from
Denmark,
by the late Mr.
Fleischer.
Has been shot in
England.
O. GARGANEY.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 289.—Anas Querquedula,
Faun. Suec.
No 128.
La Sarcelle,
Pl. Enl.
946.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS. —BL. MUS.
D. With a white line from the further corner of each eye, pointing to the nape: crown dusky, streaked lengthways: cheeks and neck very pale purple, streaked with white: chin black: breast light brown, marked with semicircular bars of black: speculum green: scapulars long and narrow, hanging over the wings, and striped with white, ash, and black: tail dusky. LENGTH seventeen inches. EXTENT twenty-eight. The FEMALE has an obscure whitish mark over the eyes: rest of the plumage brownish ash, spotted. Wants the
speculum.
This elegant species seems not to inhabit
Europe
higher than
Sweden;
but is found in all latitudes of the
Russian
empire,
PLACE.
even to
Kamtschatka.
P. EUROPEAN TEAL,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 290.—Anas Crecia. Arta. Kraecka,
Faun. Suec.
No 129.
La petite Sarcelle,
Pl. Enl.
947.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS. —
OUR species in all respects resembles the
American,
except in having a white line above and beneath each eye, and in wanting the humeral stripe of white, which the latter has.
In
Europe
it is found as high as
Iceland;
PLACE.
and even in that severe climate lays from thirteen to nineteen eggs
Biornc's List.
. The
American
species appears to be far less prolific. Found in the
Russian
empire, in the same places with the GARGANEY.
LVIII. PELECAN
This genus, in the
Br. Zool.
is called by the more familiar name of
Corvorant,
there being none of the
Pelecan
species in
Britain.
.
Gen. Birds,
XCIII.
505. GREAT.
Pelecanus Onocratolus,
Lin. Syst.
215.—
Edw.
92.—
Ph. Trans.
lxii. 419.
Le Pelican,
De Buffon,
viii. 282.—
Pl. Enl.
87.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
P. With a bill fifteen inches long, flat, dilated near the point, with a hook at the end, and a ridge from that to the base running along the middle; on the midway of the ridge rises a bony process, an inch and seven tenths high, three inches broad at the base, and only two tenths of an inch thick. In some are several lesser processes between this and the point: a vast naked membranaceous pouch extends from the point of the lower mandible, widening gradually, and extending ten inches down the front of the neck: on the hind part of the head is a tuft of very narrow delicate feathers, not very discernible, as they usually lie flat: the rest of the head and neck is covered with most exquisitely fine down, and very thick set: the rest of the plumage white, except the primaries and bastard wings, which are black: legs flesh-color. The largest of web-footed Water-Fowl. Some are superior in SIZE to a SWAN. One was killed off
Majorca,
which weighed twenty-five pounds. Their extent of wings from eleven to fifteen feet. Notwithstanding their great bulk, they soar to a most surprising height. This is owing to the amazing lightness of the bones, which, all together, do not weigh a pound and a half. Add to this, the quantity of air with which its body is filled, which gives it a wonderful specific lightness.
PLACE.
One of the birds from which this description was taken, was shot at
Augusta
in
South Carolina,
a hundred and fifty miles from the sea. It agrees entirely with the Pelecan of the old continent, except in the bony processes on the bill. The other was sent, with other birds, from
Hudson's Bay,
to the Royal Society. Instead of the bony processes on the bill, was a tuft or fibrous fringe, sufficient to identify the species. This species extends over most parts of the torrid zone, and many parts of the warmer temperate. Is found in
Europe
on the lower parts of the
Danube,
and in all parts of the
Mediterranean
sea, almost all
Africa,
and
Asia Minor.
Are seen in incredible numbers about the
Black
and
Caspian
seas; and come far up the rivers, and into the inland lakes of the
Asiatic Russian
empire; but grow scarcer eastward, and are seldom met with so far north as the
Sibirian
lakes; yet are not unknown about that of
Baikal.
They are common on the coast of
New Holland,
where they grow to an enormous size
Cook's First Voy.
iii. 627.
. They feed upon fish; which they take sometimes by plunging from a great height in the air, and seizing, like the GANNET: at other times, they fish in concert, swimming in flocks, and forming a large circle in the great rivers, which they gradually contract, beating the water with their wings and feet, in order to drive the fish into the center; which when they approach, they open their vast mouths, and fill their pouches with their prey, then incline their bills, to empty the bag of the water; after which they swim to shore, and eat their booty in quiet. As the pouch is capable of holding a dozen quarts of water, a guess may be made of the quantity of fishes it can contain. The
French
very properly call them
Grand-gosiers,
or
Great-throats.
It is said that when they make their nests in the dry deserts, they carry the water to their young in their vast pouches, and that the lions and beasts of prey come there to quench their thirst, sparing the young, the cause of this salutary provision. Possibly, on this account, the
Egyptians
style this bird the
Camel of the River;
the
Persians, Tacab,
or the
Water-carrier.
506. DUSKY.
Pelecanus Onocrotalus occidentalis,
Lin. Syst.
215.—
Edw.
93.
Le Pelican Brun,
De Buffon,
viii. 306.—
Pl. Enl.
957.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
P. With a red bill and black hook: the pouch extending half way down the neck: between the bill and eyes naked and red: head mottled with ash-color and white: the nape slightly crested: hind part of the neck covered with soft cinereous feathers: back, scapulars, primaries, and coverts, dusky, edged with dirty white: tail deep ash: legs dusky green. In SIZE scarcely equal to a SWAN.
PLACE.
Inhabits, during summer,
Hudson's Bay.
One was sent to Mrs.
Blackburn,
shot near
New York,
I think in the winter. Extends to
Louisiana
Du Pratz,
ii. 79.
; to
Jamaica,
the bay of
Campechy
Dampier's Voy. Campechy,
70.
, and as low as
Carthagena.
They sit on rocks in the sea in a sluggish manner, with their bills resting on their breasts.
507. CHARLES-TOWN.
P. Dusky above: white on the breast and belly, with a pouch, beginning at the chin, and reaching to the breast-bone, capable of containing numbers of gallons of liquids. SIZE of a
Canada
Goose.
PLACE.
Abound in the bay of
Charles-town,
where they are continually fishing.—Doctor GARDEN
The same Gentleman informed me, that the SNOWY OWL, No
is frequent near the shores of
South Carolina,
among the
Palmetto
trees.
.
508. SHAG.
Wil. Orn.
330.—Pelecanus Graculus,
Faun. Suec.
No 146.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.
P. With head and neck black, glossed like silk with green: the back and coverts of wings of the same color, edged with purplish black: belly dusky and dull; the middle cinereous: tail consists of twelve feathers, dusky, glossed with green: legs black: middle claw serrated. LENGTH two feet six. EXTENT three feet eight. WEIGHT four pounds.
Frequent in many parts of
Great Britain.
Found in
Sweden,
PLACE.
Norway,
and
Iceland.
509. CORVORANT.
Br. Zool.
No 293.—Pelecanus Carvo, Haffs-tjader,
Faun. Suec.
No 145.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
P. With a narrow bill, hooked at the end: a small dilatable pouch under the chin; feathers at its base white, in the male: head and neck of a sooty blackness, sometimes streaked with white: coverts of wings, back, and scapulars, deep green, edged with black, glossed with blue: breast and belly black: on the thighs of the male a tuft of white: tail consists of fourteen feathers, and is rounded. WEIGHT seven pounds. LENGTH three feet four. EXTENT four feet two.
Extends over all parts of the northern hemisphere,
PLACE.
even to
Greenland,
where it continues all the year. The natives use the jugular pouch as a bladder to float their darts after they are flung. The skins are used in cloathing; the flesh is eaten;
GREENLAND.
but the eggs are so fetid as to be rejected, even by the very
Greenlanders.
These birds are taken either by darts on the water; by snares dropt down the precipices, and placed before their haunts; or, in winter, they are taken while asleep upon the ice. Are found in all the temperate latitudes of the
Russian
empire,
RUSSIAN EMPIRE.
and in immense numbers on the shores of the
Caspian
sea
Extracts.
i. 164.—ii. 405.
. Reach even to
Kamtschatka.
I believe this to be the the kind which the
Chinese
train for fishing. They keep numbers, which sit on the edge of their boats; and, on a signal given, plunge under water, and bring up their prey, which they are unable to swallow, by reason of a ring placed by their masters round their necks
Du Halde,
i. 316.
.
Mrs.
Blackburn
received this species from
New York.
There are great flocks in
Carolina,
especially in
March
and
April,
when the herrings run up the creeks; at which time they sit fishing on the logs of wood which have fallen into the water
Lawson,
150.
.
510. GANNET.
Br. Zool.
ii. No 293.—Pelecanus Bassanus.
Nautis,
Jaen Von Gent.
Faun. Suec.
No 147.—
Latham,
iii. —LEV. MUS.—BL. MUS.
P. With a strait dirty white bill, jagged at the edges: beneath the chin a naked black skin, dilatable so as to contain five or six herrings: hind part of the head buff-colored: bastard wings and primaries dusky: all the rest of the plumage pure white: toes black, marked before with a pea-green stripe: feathers of the tail sharp-pointed. WEIGHT seven pounds. LENGTH three feet one inch. EXTENT six feet two.
PLACE.
Inhabits the coast of
Newfoundland;
where it breeds, and migrates southward as far as
South Carolina.
The head of the bird which
Catesby
has engraven, and called the GREATER BOOBY, i. tab. lxxxvi. is of one in its young state. At that period it is deep ash-colored, spotted with white. In
Europe
it is common on the coast of
Norway
and
Iceland
Olaf. Iceland.
; but as it never voluntarily flies over land, is not seen in the
Baltic.
Wanders for food as for as the coast of
Lisbon,
and
Gibraltar,
where it has been seen in
December,
plunging for
Sardinae.
Straggles as high as
Greenland
Faun. Groenl.
p. 92.
. In northern
Asia,
it has been once seen by
Steller
off
Bering
's isle; but has been frequently met with in the southern hemisphere, in the
Pacific
ocean; particularly, in numbers about
New Zealand
and
New Holland
Cook's First Voy.
ii. 382.—iii. 439, 627.
. Captain
Cook
also saw them in his passage from
England
to the
Cape
of
Good Hope
Cook's Voy. towards the South Pole,
i. 10, 11.
, and remoter from land than they had been seen elsewhere. Among those observed in the South Sea, is the variety called
Sula
Wil. Orn.
331.
, with a few black feathers in the tail and among the secondaries. Found not only on the
Feroe
islands, but on our coasts, one having been brought to me a few years ago, which had fallen down wearied with its flight. A most ample account of the manners of the GANNET is given in the
Br. Zool.
A. CRESTED CORVORANT. SHAG,
Br. Zool.
ii. No 292.—
Latham,
iii.
Pelecanus Cristatus. Top-skarv.
Brunnich,
No 123.—
Faun. Groenl.
No 58.—LEV. MUS. —BL. MUS.
P. With a narrow dusky bill, hooked at the end: irides fine green: on each side of the head is a long tuft of dusky feathers reaching beyond the crown: head, neck, and lower part of the back, of a fine and glossy green: the upper part of the back, and coverts of the wings, of the same color, edged with purplish black: belly dusky: tail consists of twelve feathers, dusky tinged with green. LENGTH two feet three. EXTENT three feet six. WEIGHT three pounds three quarters.
Inhabits, in
Great Britain,
the vast precipices about
Holyhead;
PLACE.
and is found in
Norway, Iceland
Olaffen.
ii. tab. xxxix.
, and in the south of
Greenland
Faun. Groenl.
No 58.
; but in the latter is scarce. The places which it inhabits are covered with its filthy excrements. The
Greenlanders
therefore call it
Tingmingkpot,
or the bird
afflicted with a looseness.
It differs from the Shag in having a crest, and in being letter. The
Norwegians
are well acquainted with both species, and distinguish them by different names
Brunnich,
No 121, 123.
. I have seen several of the Shags shot among the
Hebrides,
but not one was crested. On the authority of the northern naturalists, I therefore separate them.
B. VIOLET CORVORANT. Pelecanus Violaceus, PALLAS
MS. List.—Latham,
iii.
P. With the body wholly black, glossed with violet color.
PLACE.
Found about
Kamtschatka
and the isles.
C. RED-FACED CORVORANT. Ouril of the Kamtschatkans,
Descr. de la Kamtschatka,
493.—
Latham,
iii.
P. With a slender bill; upper mandible black; lower red: from the bill to the eyes is a space covered with a blueish red naked skin: round each eye a white cutaneous circle: head crested: head, neck, and middle of the back, of a deep glossy green: on the fore part of the neck a few white slender feathers: sides of the back and scapulars glossed with purple: wings dusky: belly glossed with green: tail, consisting of twelve feathers only, is dusky: over each thigh is a tuft of white feathers: legs black. LENGTH of one I measured thirty-one inches.
Steller
compares its size to that of a Goose.
PLACE.
Inhabits the high precipices on the coasts of
Kamtschatka.
Is very slow in rising; but when on wing, flies most rapidly. Feeds on fish. During night they sit in rows on the cliffs, and often in their sleep fall off, and become the prey of
Arctic
Foxes; who lie in wait for these birds, which are a favorite food of those animals. They lay in
June.
Their eggs are green, and of the size of those of a Hen. They are very bad tasted, and are not easily dressed; yet are so acceptable to the
Kamtschatkans,
that, at the hazard of their necks, they will climb to the most dangerous places in search of them, and often fall and lose their lives. They catch these birds with nets, in which they are entangled in the places where they rest. They are also caught in snares, with a running noose hung to the end of a pole, with which the fowlers creep quietly towards the birds, and fling it round their necks, and draw them up the rock. The rest of the flock are so stupid, that, notwithstanding they see the fate of their companions, they remain, shaking their heads, on the same spot, till they are all taken. The flesh is excessively hard and sinewy. The
Kamtschatkans
cook it after their fashion, by putting the bird, without plucking or gutting, into a hole filled with fire: and when it is done enough, draw off the skin, and make on it a savory repast.
HAVING gone through the class of birds, let me remark, that there is the greatest probability, that numbers of those of
Kamtschatka
are common to
North America;
and that they pass there the seasons of migration; but not having actual proof of their being found on the new continent, I am obliged to place them in these appendages to each genus. The time may come, when it will be found necessary to remove them into the
American
sections. It is also likely, that numbers may seek a more southern retreat, and stock
Japan
and
China
with their periodical flocks. I have done as much as the lights of my days have furnished me with. In some remote age, when the
British
offspring will have pervaded the whole of their vast continent, or the descendants of the hardy
Russians
colonized the western parts from their distant
Kamtschatka,
the road in future time to new conquests: after, perhaps, bloody contests between the progeny of
Britons
and
Russians,
about countries to which neither have any right; after the deaths of thousands of clamants, and the extirpation of the poor natives by the sword, and new-imported diseases, a quiet settlement may take place, civilization ensue, and the arts of peace be cultivated: learning, the luxury of the soul, diffuse itself through the nation, and some naturalist arise, who, with spirit and abilities, may explore each boundary of the ocean which separates the
Asiatic
and
American
continents; may render certain what I can only suspect; and, by his observations on the feathered tribe, their flights and migrations, give utility to mankind, in naval and oeconomical operations, by auguries which the antients knew well to apply to the benefit of their fellow-creatures. He may, perhaps, smile on the labors of the
Arctic
Zoologist (if by that time they are not quite obsolete); and, as the animate creation never changes her course, he may find much right; and, if he is endowed with a good heart, will candidly attribute the errors to misinformation, or the common infirmity of human nature.
INDEX.
A.
AMERICA originally destitute of domestic animals Page 6
ALBATROSS,
wandering 506
its vast migrations 507
Amulets
of bills and claws of the Eagle 215
of the feathers of the Kingfisher 280
singular, of a species of mushroom
ib.
Ape, Sea, extraordinary animal 181
Argali, or Wild Sheep 12
AVOSET,
American 502
Terek
ib.
scooping 503
AUK,
great 509
razor-bill
ib.
black-billed 510
puffin 511
Labrador 512
little
ib.
antient
ib.
pygmy 513
tufted
ib.
Perroquet 514
crested 515
dusky
ib.
B.
Badger,
71
sometimes white
ib.
Bear,
polar page 53
their skins anciently offered to the church 57
black
ib.
not carnivorous 58
brown 61
carnivorous and granivorous 62
chace of the Bear by the
Indians
ib.
Laplanders 65
Finnish song on the death of 66
Beaver,
its wondrous oeconomy 99
Musk Beaver 106
forms houses like the Castor Beaver 107
Beaver. See Otter.
Bats 184
Beluga, a species of Porpess 182
Bison,
its limits 2, 3
chace of by the Indians
Bison or Ox,
musk 8
its excellent wool 9
Boars, wild, their most northern residence 35
Buck 33
Buzzard,
common 207
honey 224
moor 225
Butcher-bird. See Shrike
Bustard,
Norton Sound 321
great
ib.
little
ib.
BUNTING,
white crowned page 355
snow
ib.
its migrations 356
change of colors
ib.
black 359
Towhee
ib.
rice 360
singular migration of the males 361
painted 362
Louisiane
ib.
black-throated
ib.
Unalaschka
ib.
black-crowned 364
rusty
ib.
second Unalaschka
A wrong repetition of name: the Reader is therefore desired to distinguish by the addition of Second.
ib.
cinereous
ib.
blue 365
indigo
ib.
golden 366
common
ib.
yellow 367
Ortolan
ib.
reed 368
Birds, their skins used for cloathing 511, 127
Bimaculated Duck 575
C.
CAT,
domestic 52
wild, none in the Russian empire
ib.
Mountain, Cat a 50
Castor. See Beaver.
Camels, their highest latitude 35
Calumet, account of 197
CROW,
Raven 245
carrion 246
Magpie 247
blue 249
STELLER'S ib.
Rook page 250
hooded 251
Jackdaw
ib.
Nutcracker 252
Jay
ib.
rock
ib.
Roller
genus 253
garrulous
ib.
Cuckoo
genus 265
Carolina
ib.
European 266
Creeper
genus 285
European
ib.
Bahama
ib.
CHATTERER, prib 346
CURLEW,
Eskimaux 461
common 462
Whimbrel
ib.
COOT, common 496
Corvorant 581
Cranes,
America 442, 443
European 453
D.
DEER,
Moose 17
its chace by the savages 19
superstitions relative to 20
its size exaggerated 21
Rein Deer. See Rein.
Virginian 28
Dogs,
what the original Dog of America 39
of Kamtschatka, Greenland, &c.
ib.
beasts of draught in many places 40
no mad Dogs in Greenland 41
DORMOUSE,
striped page 126
English? 128
DIVER,
northern 518
Imber
ib.
speckled 519
striped
ib.
red-throated 520
black-throated
ib.
Dunlin 476
DUCK,
whistling Swan 541
mute Swan 543
Canada Goose 544
bean Goose 546
grey-leg Goose
ib.
blue-wing Goose 547
Bering's Isle Goose 548
white-fronted Goose
ib.
snow Goose 549
brent Goose 551
bernacle Goose 552
eider Duck 553
king 554
velvet 555
black 556
scoter
ib.
Shoveler 557
golden-eye
ib.
spirit 558
pied 559
Buffel
ib.
Harlequin 560
Pochard
ib.
whistling 561
summer 562
Mallard 563
Ilathera 564
dusky
ib.
western
ib.
scaup 565
brown
ib.
pintail 566
long-tail
ib.
American Wigeon 567
white-faced 568
American Teal 569
great Goose 570
Chinese Goose page 571
red-breasted Goose
ib.
Shieldrake 572
Gulaund
ib.
Morillon 573
tufted
ib.
Hrafn-ond 574
falcated
ib.
Wigeon
ib.
Gadwall 575
Lapmark 576
red
ib.
Garganey
ib.
European Teal 577
Duck, bimaculated 575
E.
Elk,
the same with the Moose 17
or wild Swan
Ermine 75
Echoueries, what 148
Eagle,
sea 194
black 195
black-cheeked 196
white-headed
ib.
its singular manner of preying
ib.
white 197
its feathers much used in the Calumet
ib.
Osprey 199
how robbed by the white-headed Eagle
ib.
golden 214
cinereous
ib.
crying 215
Eider Duck 553
Eggs of the Auk tribe, Doctor Harvey's curious remarks on 510
F.
Fisher Weesel 82
Fox,
common 45
its varieties 49, 47
Arctic page 42
are migratory 43
grey and silvery 48
Fallow Deer 33
Furs, multitudes imported from America 77, 105
Furs
unknown to the antient Romans as luxuries 81
when first introduced into Rome
ib.
long used in Tartary
ib.
FALCON,
rough-footed 200
St. John's
ib.
chocolate-colored 201
Newfoundland
ib.
sacre 202
peregrine
ib.
gentil 203
Goshawk 204
sometimes white
ib.
red-tailed 205
Leverian 206
red-shouldered
ib.
Buzzard 207
plain 208
marsh
ib.
ringtail 209
swallow-tailed 210
Buzzardet 211
little
ib.
Pigeon 212
dubious 213
dusky
ib.
Iceland 216
Greenland
By inadvertency the word DUSKY is applied to this species, a trivial before given to another Falcon: the Reader is therefore requested to alter this with his pen.
220
Gyrfalcon 221
collared 222
Kite 223
Honey Buzzard 224
Lunner 225
Moor Buzzard
ib.
Kestril 226
Sparrow Hawk
ib.
Hobby 227
Falconry,
earliest account of page 219
very antient in Tartary 220
great state in which the Chinese emperors hawk 204
Falcons, manner of taking in Iceland 217
FINCH,
Cowpen 371
golden
ib.
New York Siskin 372
orange
ib.
red-breasted
ib.
tree 373
Bahama
ib.
white-throated
ib.
yellow-throated 374
striped
ib.
ferruginous 375
fasciated
ib.
grass
ib.
winter 376
black-faced
ib.
Norton
ib.
crimson-head
ib.
purple 377
Lapland
ib.
cinereous 378
greater Red-poll
ib.
lesser Red-poll 379
Arctic
ib.
Lulean 380
Twite
ib.
flaming
ib.
brambling 381
Chaffinch
ib.
Sparrow 382
Goldfinch 383
Siskin
ib.
FLYCATCHER,
tyrant, its courage 384
Louisiana 385
fork-tail
ib.
chattering
ib.
crested 386
lesser crested
ib.
black-headed page 387
cinereous
ib.
red-eyed
ib.
Cat 388
Canada
ib.
green 389
dusky
ib.
golden throat
ib.
striped 390
dun
ib.
pied 391
FLAMANT, red 504
Fulmar 534
Fieldfare 340
G.
Goat,
wild 16
tame, inhabits far north
ib.
Gyrfalcon 216
Goshawk 204
Gentil Falcon 203
Grakle
genus 263
purple
ib.
most destructive to mayz 256
yet rashly proscribed
ib.
boat-tail 264
Gambet 476
Glades in Sibiria for Wild Geese, &c. 570
GROUS,
ruffed 301
singular noise made by 302
pinnated 305
sharp-tailed 306
spotted 307
white 308
amazing numbers taken 311
rock 312
wood
ib.
spurious 314
black
ib.
how taken in Sibiria 315
Ptarmigan
ib.
Rehusak page 316
hazel 317
GROSBEAK,
crossbill 347
pine 348
cardinal 349
pope 350
red-breasted
ib.
spotted
ib.
fan-tail 351
yellow-bellied
ib.
dusky
ib.
blue
ib.
purple 352
grey
ib.
Bullfinch 353
green
ib.
haw 354
GOATSUCKER,
short-winged 434
long-winged 436
European 437
GALLINULE,
soree 491
yellow-breasted
ib.
common 492
Crake ib.
GREBE,
horned 497
pied-bill
ib.
Louisiana 498
dusky
ib.
great crested
ib.
eared 499
red-necked
ib.
GUILLEMOT,
foolish 516
black
ib.
marbled 517
GULL,
black-backed 527
herring
ib.
Wagel 528
laughing page 528
black-headed 529
Kittiwake
ib.
ivory
ib.
common 530
Arctic
ib.
black-toed 581
Skua
ib.
glaucous 532
silvery 533
Tarrock
ib.
red-legged
ib.
Gannet 582
H.
HARE,
varying 94
American 95
Alpine 97
HOG. See Boar.
HUDGE-HOG 142
Hobby 227
HOOPOE, its filthy nest 284
HONEYSUCKER,
genus 286
red-throated
ib.
its curious manners 277
ruffed 290
HERON,
hooping Crane 442
brown 443
great
ib.
red-shouldered Heron 444
common
ib.
great white 445
little white
ib.
great Egret 446
little Egret
ib.
reddish Egret 447
green
ib.
Louisiane 448
blue
ib.
yellow-crowned
ib.
ash-colored 449
streaked
ib.
GARDENEAN 450
night page 450
Bittern 451
rusty-crowned 452
little 453
common Crane
ib.
Sibirian Crane 455
white Stork
ib.
black Stork 456
I.
IBIS,
wood 458
scarlet
ib.
brown 459
white
ib.
bay 460
Imber 518
K.
KINGFISHER,
belted 279
European? 280
Knot 472
Kamtschatkans
had no domestic animals before the arrival of the Russians 7
their chace of the Argali or Wild Sheep 13
use the Rein Deer in sledges 25
their chace of the Bear 64
of the Seal 158
superstitions about its chace 157
their chace of the Ursine Seal 170
their noblest chace of Leonine Seal 175
Kite, a kind of oracle with the Greeks p. 224
Kestril 226
L.
Lemmus 136
Lynx 50
bay 51
Lanner 225
LARK,
shore 392
red 393
calandra
ib.
sky 394
wood 395
tit
ib.
field
ib.
Lapwing 480
M.
Martin, pine 76
Minx 87
Manati 177
its conjugal affection 180
MARMOT,
Quebec 111
Maryland
ib.
hoary 112
tail-less
ib.
earless 113
Bobak 115
Morse. See Walrus.
Mouse,
common 131
field
ib.
meadow 133
Musk,
Tibet 34
a solitary animal
ib.
MERGANSER,
Goosander 537
red-breasted
ib.
hooded 538
small 539
minute 540
Massagetae, cloathed themselves in Seal-skins page 158
N.
Norway Rat. See Brown.
NUTHATCH,
Canada 281
black-headed
ib.
lest 282
O.
OPOSSUM,
singular asylum for its young 73
very tenacious of life
ib.
OTTER,
common 86
minx or lesser 87
sea 88
its singular manners 89
its fur exquisite, and of high value 90
Ox. See Bison.
musk 8
Octher, in the time of Alfred, first mentions the Walrus 146
OWL,
Eagle 228
a bird of ill omen with the savages
ib.
long-eared 229
short-eared
ib.
red 230
mottled 231
Wapacuthu
ib.
sooty 232
snowy 233, 580
barred 234
Hawk
ib.
white 235
brown 236
little
ib.
Scandinavian 237
tawny
ib.
ORIOLE
genus 255
red-wing
ib.
white-backed page 256
Baltimore 257
its curious nest 258
bastard
ib.
black 259
brown-headed
ib.
white-headed 260
olive
ib.
yellow-throated 261
Unalaschka
ib.
sharp-tailed
ib.
Oyster-catcher,
pied 489
black? INTRODUCTION.
Ouzel,
water 332
ring 344
rose-colored
ib.
P.
PETREL,
Fulmar 534
Sheerwater 535
fork-tail
ib.
stormy 536
Kuril
ib.
PELECAN,
great 578
dusky 580
Charlestown
ib.
Shag 581
Corvorant
ib.
Gannet 582
crested Corvorant 583
violet 584
red-faced
ib.
Panther, brown. See Puma.
PORCUPINE 109
its manners 110
Pekan Weesel 78
Peregrine Falcon 202
PARROT,
Carolina 242
Illinois 243
Philtre,
singular in Lapland 280
among the Ostiacs
ib.
PARTRIDGE,
Maryland page 318
common 319
Quail 320
PIGEON,
passenger 322
their amazing numbers 323
Carolina 326
Canada 327
white-crowned
ib.
ground 328
Stork 329
ring
ib.
PLOVER,
alwargrim 483
golden
ib.
noisy 484
ringed 485
black-crowned
ib.
sanderling 486
ruddy
ib.
long-legged 487
Dottrel
ib.
Alexandrine 488
PHALAROPE,
grey 494
red
ib.
brown 495
plain
ib.
Purre 475
Puma 49
Puffin 511
Q.
Quickhatch. See Wolverene.
R.
RAT,
black 129
brown 130
American page 130
water
ib.
common Mouse 131
field
ib.
Virginian 132
Labrador
ib.
Hudson's
ib.
meadow? 133
hare-tailed
ib.
oeconomic 134
its wonderful management 135
red 136
Lemmus
ib.
Lena 137
ringed
ib.
Tchelag 138
Rabbet. See American Hare.
RACCOON 60
its great cunning 70
Rein Deer 22
its great utility in northern countries 24, &c.
Roebuck 33
tail-less
ib.
Ringtail Hawk 209
ROLLER
genus 253
garrulous
ib.
RAIL,
clapper 490
Virginian
ib.
Razor-bill 509
Rice-birds, their wonderful migration 360
Rice, how introduced into North America 361
S.
Sable 79
how taken 80
Seals,
common 51
the flocks of the Arctic regions
ib.
their chace by the Greenlanders
ib.
by the Kamtschatkans 156
great Seal 159
rou
page 160
Lep
ine 161
hooded 162
harp 163
rubbon 165
Ursine
ib.
its curious history 167
Leonine 172
its history 173
chace by the Kamtschatkans 175
Sheep,
wild 12
chace of 13
tame of Iceland
ib.
tame as high as Finmark 14
Shrew, foetid 139
Squirrel 116
Hudson's Bay
ib.
grey
ib.
most destructive to the mayz 117
Americans once unable to pay their proscription money! 118
black 119
flying 120
hooded flying 121
Severn river flying 122
common European
ib.
European flying 124
Stag 27
Stoat 75
Skunk 85
Sacre 202
Sparrow Hawk 226
SKIMMER, Cutwater 522
Stork,
white 455
black 456
SHRIKE,
great 238
black-crowned
ib.
crested 239
Natka
ib.
red-backed 240
grey
ib.
lesser grey 241
Skua 581
STARE
genus page 330
crescent
ib.
Louisiane 331
common
ib.
water Ouzel 332
SWALLOW,
chimney 429
Martin 430
sand
ib.
purple swift 431
swift 432
aculeated
ib.
Unalaschka. See INTROD.
SPOON-BILL,
roseate 440
European 441
SNIPE,
little Woodcock 463
common Snipe
ib.
Jack 464
red-breasted
ib.
brown
ib.
nodding 465
great Godwit
ib.
red G. 466
common G.
ib.
spotted 467
Jadreka
ib.
stone 468
redshank
ib.
yellow-shank
ib.
green-shank 469
semipalmated
ib.
black
ib.
European Woodcock 470
great Snipe
ib.
dusky 471
Finmark
ib.
Sandpiper,
Hebridal 472
striated
ib.
knot 473
spotted
ib.
ash-colored 474
New York page 474
common
ib.
green 475
Purre
ib.
Dunlin 476
red
ib.
grey 477
gambet
ib.
armed 478
Swiss
ib.
little 479
ruff
ib.
freckled 480
selninger
ib.
Lapwing
ib.
waved 481
shore
ib.
wood 482
uniform
ib.
T.
TODY
genus 283
dusky
ib.
TURKY 291
manners 292
not a bird of the old continent 296
THRUSH,
mimic 333
its wondrous power of note 334
ferruginous 335
red-breasted
ib.
varied 337
tawny
ib.
red-legged
ib.
little 338
Unalaschka
ib.
golden-crowned 339
Hudsonian
ib.
New York
ib.
Labrador 340
Fieldfare
ib.
missel 341
Throstle page 342
red-wing
ib.
Kamtschatkan 343
rose-colored 344
ring
ib.
Blackbird 345
TANAGER,
summer 369
Canada
ib.
olive
ib.
grey 370
bishop
ib.
TITMOUSE,
Toupet 423
Virginian
ib.
creeping
ib.
Colemouse 424
Canada
ib.
Hudson's Bay 425
great
ib.
Stromian 426
azure
ib.
blue 427
marsh
ib.
crested
ib.
long-tailed 428
bearded
ib.
TERN,
Noddy 523
great 524
lesser
ib.
black 525
Kamtschatkan
ib.
Caspian 526
Tyrant Flycatcher, its great spirit 384
V.
VULTURE,
carrion 191
its great utility 192
Vision 78
W.
Woodcock,
American 463
European 470
Walrus page 144
its uses and chace 147, 148
WEESEL,
common 75
Stoat or Ermine
ib.
Pine Martin 76
Pekan 78
Vison
ib.
Sable 79
Fisher 82
striated 83
Skunk 85
Wolf 38
the Dog of America 39
Wolverene 66
WAGTAIL,
white 396
yellow
ib.
yellow-headed 397
Tcshutschi
ib.
WRYNECK 267
WOODPECKER,
white-billed 268
pileated 269
golden-wing 270
ferruginous 271
red-headed
ib.
Carolina 272
spotted
ib.
Canada, spotted 273
hairy
ib.
downy 274
yellow-bellied 275
yellow-legged
ib.
three-coed
ib.
black 276
green 277
grey-headed
ib.
middle spotted 278
lest spotted
ib.
WARBLER,
blue-backed 398
black-headed
ib.
yellow-breast 399
orange-thighed
ib.
black-throat
ib.
yellow-throat 400
hooded
ib.
yellow-rump
ib.
red-head 401
black-poll page 401
grey-poll 402
yellow-poll
ib.
white-poll
ib.
golden crowned 403
gold-wing
ib.
yellow-throat 404
green
ib.
bloody-side 405
caerulean
ib.
Worm-eater 406
yellow-tail
ib.
spotted 407
Louisiane
ib.
orange-throat 408
Quebec
ib.
belted
ib.
olive 409
New York 410
dusky
ib.
prothonotary
ib.
half-collared
ib.
orange-bellied
ib.
olive-brown 411
Grasset
ib.
grey-throat
ib.
Guira 412
Blackburnian
ib.
pine
ib.
yellow page 413
ruby-crowned
ib.
golden-crested 414
Wren
ib.
bush 415
Nightingale 416
Redstart
ib.
grey Redstart 417
Redbreast, Robin
ib.
blue-throat
ib.
black-cap 418
pettychaps
ib.
hedge
ib.
bogrush 419
Fig-eater
ib.
Grasshopper
ib.
sedge
ib.
Scotch 420
long-billed
ib.
Wheat-ear
ib.
Stapazina 421
Whinchat
ib.
white-throat 422
Awatcha
ib.
Kruka
ib.
FINIS.
ERRATA AND CORRECTIONS.
VOL. I.
Page IV, line 13,
for
but,
read
yet—P. XXVI, l. 31, similiarity,
read
similarity— P. XXXII, l. 23,
Moura,
read
Mousa
—P. XXXVII, l. 2,
maen-hirion,
read
meini-hirion
— P. XLII, l. 14, circumgirations,
read
circumgyrations—P. XLIII, last line,
for
‡ Same, p. 7. § Same, p. 8.
Torfaeus, &c.;
read ‡
Torfaeus Hist. Norveg.
ii. p. 96. § The same, p. 97—P. XLVI, l. 11, the last to 1766,
read
the last period it remained quiescent to 1766. l. 16, overflown,
read
overflowed—P. LVII, l. 16,
amata. Donec;
read
amata donec.
l. 19,
vidit,
read
vident
—P. LXII, l. 31, is,
read
are—P. LXIII, l. 18, as low as that of 60,
read
and that of 60—P. LXXVI, l. 14,
Plearonectes,
read
Pleuronectes
—P. LXXXII, l. 29,
insert, after the word
places,
the mark of reference ‡, and blot it out of line
31—P. LXXXVI, l. 13, 14, small and hard,
read
hard and small— P. XCI, l. 26,
Lapes,
read
Lepas;
l. 28,
carinotum,
read
carinatum.
l. 36, see p. LV— P. XCIX, l. 5,
dele
is—P. CIII, l. 10,
Salmon,
read
Salmo
—P. CVI, l. 6, yet is,
read
which yet is—P. CVII, last line, after
baccata,
add
Pallas Itin.
iii. 105.
Fl. Ross.
23. tab. X—P. CVIII, note *,
read
COOK'S
Voyage
—P. CXIV, l. 22,
Virg.
those,
read Virg.
are distinguished those—P. CXVI, l. 23, hieraciodes,
read
hieracioides—P. CXVIII, l. 30, finally, of those,
read
finally, those — P. CXX. l. 10, is,
read
are — P. CXXIII, last line, 261,
read
201—P. CXXXII, l. 28,
dele
either—P. CXLIV, l. 18, shall,
read
should—P. CLXVI, l. 24, had in the,
read
had been in the. l. 31,
dele
from— P. CLXXIV,
after
No 73,
add
74; after No 75,
add
76;
after
No 77,
add
78—P. CXCI, l. 1, oetus,
read
foetus. l. 18, ovaria,
read
ova, l. 20, northernly,
read
northern— P. CC, l. penult. for;
read,
P. 3, l. 24,
Mivera,
read
Quivera
—P. 24, l. 9, Kungus,
read
Kungur—P. 33, l. 11, is,
read
are—P. 34. note,
for
9, 44 or 45, read 20,
read
lat. 60 to 20—P. 43, l. 23, latter,
read
others—P. 50, l. 22,
add
The Lynx also inhabits the vast forests of the north of
Europe
and
Asia;
in the first, as high as
Lapland,
in the last, in most parts of
Sibiria,
and even in the north of
India,
amidst the lofty mountains which bound that country—P. 58, l. 26, carnivorous,
read
animal—P. 76, l. 16,
dele
in great plenty— P. 89, l. 10, lat. 44,
read
49—P. 90, l. 27, £. 25.
read
£. 20.—P. 98, l. 15, all round,
read
in all parts of—P. 99, l. 3, Konyma,
read
Kowyma—P. 112, l. 23,
Hist. Quad.
No 265—P. 116, note *,
Hist. Quad.
283. α.—P. 142, l. 16,
Sweden,
in the,
read Sweden.
In the
VOL. II.
P. 220, l. 26, E DUSKY,
read
E GREENLAND—P. 223, l. 21,
Sea Eagle,
read
Osprey
—P. 244, l. 7,
for
north,
read
south—P. 368, l. 5, cychromi,
read
cychrami —P. 407, l. 18, le,
read
la—P. 527, l. 18,
Non,
read
Nam:
and
dele?
OMITTED at p. 285, VOL. II.
L'Oiseau pourpre à bec de grimpereau,
De Buffon,
v. 526.—
Latham,
ii. 723.
175. A. PURPLE CREEPER.
CR. wholly of a purple color. Length four inches and a half.
According to
Seba,
it inhabits
Virginia;
and is said to sing well.