The Birds of Great Britain & Ireland

Introduction

Ces oiseaux (gallinacés) meritent cependent bien plus notre attention, si nous envisageons sous le rapport de rutilite et des jouissances que nous serions à même d’en retirer: ce n’est qu’a Tinsouciance qui nous est si naturelle, qu’on doit reprocher de n’avoir pas des longtemps mis en ceuvre les moyens necessaires pour nous rendre familiers des etres qui, en s’accoutoutumant a l’homme auroient continue de vivre sous son domaine, et lui seroient devenus de la premiere utilite.—Temminck

In exploring the tract which leads us, step by step, to an acquaintance with them (grallatores), we must travel through reeds and rushes, with doubtful feet, over the moss-covered, faithless quagmire, amidst oozing rills and stagnant pools.—Bewick

Incapable of that perfection in swimming which is developed in the next order, the Waders may be termed Marine Rasores. or Fowls of the Sea. They are always walking on its shores, or on the sides of its fresh waters; and they depend as much upon their ambulations, for seeking sustenance, as upon their wings, for those long expeditions they are known to make.—Swainson

The Rasorial order of birds in the British Islands, contains a number of species so limited, that it has been necessary, in the present volume, to join with it the history of the Grallatores or Waders. The direct importance of the first to man, whether in a wild or in their reclaimed and cultivated state, is greater than that of any of the other divisions; almost all of them are available as a delicate and nutritious food, and the facility of their domestication and introduction from one climate to another, the ease with which they seem to be able to accommodate themselves to change of temperature or situation, afford additional proofs of the wise adaptation of structure to the wants of the species, or for the purposes which they were intended to fill in the arrangements of nature.

Continents containing an immense extent of forest and of dense cover, or stretching out into unbounded plains, are necessary for their abundance; and in all the great lands of our globe, we shall find analogous forms marked out for their respective localities. In the islands, the supply becomes naturally limited according to their extent; and it should be recollected, that here the native inhabitants have their maintenance supplied from the seas, in proportion as the ruminating animals and rasorial birds are wanting to the land. In Europe and Western Asia we find the least proportion, the families there being now confined to the Tetraonidæ or grouse, the bustards, and a limited number of pigeons. It may be remarked, at the same time, that these countries have been longer in a continued state of progressive civilization than any others, and that in them the greatest advantages have been taken of the capabilities which the foreign species afforded of being naturalised, every other continent having been laid under contribution for the luxury and refinement of this partial territory, as the fowls, turkeys, peacocks, and pintadoes, of the most ordinary farm and poultry yards will at all times show. Africa may be stated as next in scarcity, and her arid plains are most suitable to the Struthionidæ, the noble ostrich, and numerous bustards, exhibiting its rasorial character, accompanied by a peculiar form of partridges, and the genus Pterocles, or sand-grouse, while the guinea fowls seem to be the arboreal form, and frequent the lines of wood and cover which fringe the borders of the streams and rivers; but in this remarkable country we see every deficiency in this family of birds, as a mean of sustenance, more than compensated by the innumerable herds of ruminating quadrupeds, particularly antelopes, which are followed after and fed upon by the wandering hordes. It is in Central Asia and North America, with the northern half of the Southern Continent, that we find the great stronghold of the typical Rasores. In the former, we have the stock of our domestic poultry, the splendid pheasants and gorgeous peacocks, all so successfully introduced to Europe, besides bustards, numerous partridges, and pigeons, and the cassowary, or the Asiatic representation of the ostrich. To North America we are indebted for the turkey, and it possesses many species of grouse, in size, with a single exception, generally exceeding those of Europe. In the Southern Continent we encounter the whole family of the Cracidæ, abounding in the forests, easily procured, and producing a savoury food; and, towards the extremity, we meet with the Rhea or South American Ostrich. One continental island maybe noticed in this short sketch. Australia is remarkable, not in possessing many rasorial forms, for they are very few if we except its pigeons, but as showing another peculiar analogue to the large Struthionidæ, in the emu, and in possessing as its representing rasorial form, the Megapodinæ, composed of birds remarkable for the great development of their feet. The various islands in the world possess their Rasores, according to their extent and the continents to which they are related those of Britain; are now becoming too thickly inhabited to lay claim to many species, while these are even gradually decreasing in numbers; two or three pigeons, a straggling bustard, the partridge in our cultivated fields, the grouse or black game in our wooded valleys, are nearly all; the moor fowl of our heath-clad hills being our only peculiar boast, most remarkable, as continuing so restricted, and apparently still unknown elsewhere, either indigenously, or by the assistance of introduction.

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The next order, the Grallatores, leads us to those birds which are truly aquatic in their habits, or which are appropriated to, and hold their place in, that important element, “the waters,” which cover so great a portion of the surface of our earth. The Waders, as the name implies, frequent the margins of the waters, and scarcely intrude on the great field itself, but stalk among its shallows, and feed among the wreck brought down by its streams or left by its tides, and upon the various animal life periodically uncovered by the same agency. In point of utility, these birds stand more as a check upon the tribes of being’s which serve for their support, than as being directly beneficial. The flesh of some is used for food, and is both highly flavoured and wholesome; and the pursuit of a few in the fenny countries, with the collection of their eggs for the London and some other great markets, for a month or two, give employment to the fen-men. Others are domesticated, and walk about the public markets, or in warm countries through the towns, ridding them of all offal and animal refuse, which would so soon taint the air, and tend to increase the sickness or epidemical diseases. But their great place seems to be for the reduction of the numbers of reptiles, which abound in the districts where the larger typical species are most numerously found. The habits of patient watchfulness among all the Ardeadcæ or Herons, their quick sight, ravenous appetite, and great power of digestion, render the quantity that can be devoured in a short period very great, and they place a powerful restraint upon creatures which reproduce most rapidly. The other families are chiefly insectivorous, or support themselves also on molusca and the various marine life; and during the summer on our higher located pastures, or in winter on our fallows, keep within bounds many species of insects which, when exceeding, have been known to commit most severe ravages.

The British Islands possess some representative in all the families, which will be noticed as we proceed with our descriptive part.

Rasores or Gallinaceous Birds

The British Rasores are, as we have stated, so few in number, that we shall not here attempt to lead any chain of affinities between their various families; and we shall at once pass to those of which we possess some examples. The first, or the pigeons,

Columbidæ,

lead us from the true Incessores to an order of birds, which, in their greatest proportions, seek their food upon the ground, and subsist on grains or seeds, roots, and occasionally fruits. The true pigeons, although they are as much incessorial as the typical perchers, have, at the same time, their feet formed for walking, and exhibit no awkwardness when in quest of their food, which, with little exception, is procured upon the ground. Their internal structure also closely assimilates with that of the true gallinaceous birds, and in the group taken together, we find many foreign species, which, by their forms or manners, run very closely into genera that meet them from other families. There is one peculiarity, however, by which they differ, we believe, from all the Rasores, that of their young being produced unfledged,¹ and requiring care and attention before leaving the nest; this is their nearest tie to the Incessores, and we are not at present aware of any example among that order, where the young are even partially clothed with down, or run soon after exclusion from the egg.²

Britain possesses examples of three genera, one of them, however, resting on the capture of one, or at most two specimens.

Columba—Generic character.—Bill of mean strength, anteriorly deflected, maxilla with a slight angle; nostrils nearly linear, widest anteriorly and covered with a soft protuberant cartilage; tarsi short, partly feathered in front; toes entirely divided, hind toe of considerable length; wings powerful, rather pointed, second quill longest.

Types, C. palumbus, trocaz, &c. Cosmopolite.

Note.—Breed on trees, gregarious in winter, incessorial, but walk with facility.

The Stock-Dove

Columba œnas, Linnæus.—C. œnas. Linn. Columbe columbin, Temm.—Stock Dove of British authors.

This species, though apparently possessing a very wide geographical distribution, is local in its British range, and, so far as we can ascertain, has not yet been met with in Scotland or Ireland; it is, in fact, confined to a few of the southern counties in England, and there, not even to those in which wood abounds; and

in the open counties of Suffolk and Norfolk, this species frequently makes its nest in the holes in the ground, generally selecting a rabbit’s burrow for the purpose.

We have had little opportunity of seeing the species wild, or of attending to its habits; where we have seen it, it has been among aged wood, and at a distance the flight is not easily distinguished from that of the wood pigeon. According to our best informed British ornithologists, it is most frequent in a comparatively well wooded district, breeding in decayed trees and in the pollards. They are also described in the open countries to “nestle under thick furze bushes, which are impervious to rain.”⁴ Its manners, in other respects, somewhat resemble the last, mixing occasionally with it and being gregarious in winter; the food is also similar. Its note is described as more indistinct and regular than the last, and does not bring with it the same associations as that of either the wood pigeon or turtle dove. The young are frequently brought to the London market, and are much esteemed.

There appears to be authority for the occurrence of the Stock Dove in Sweden⁵ as a summer visitant. The same also in Germany and France, and the eastern part of Spain,⁶ Madeira,⁷ North Africa,⁸ Erzeroom.⁹

Specimens procured from Kent, in spring, had the head, throat, and fore part of the neck, dark blueish-grey, on the crown approaching to blackish-grey; the sides and back of the neck of a metallic lustre, changing from green to purple, the former being the prevailing shade. Back, blueish-grey. Wings on the shoulders, blueish-grey. The wing-covers pale, and marked with undecided dark nearly square spots, which form sometimes a partial bar. The greater covers are pale blueish-grey at the base, shading into deep blackish-brown at the tips. The quills blackish-brown, rump and upper tail-coverts blueish-grey. Tail at the base of the same colour, black at the tip, with an indistinct paler clouded bar about the centre, the outer web of exterior feathers white. The breast is reddish lavender purple, and the remaining under parts are pale blueish-grey. Feet and legs red.

White-Rumped Pigeon or Rock Dove

Columba livia, Linn.—Columbe biset, Temm. White-rumped Pigeon, Rock Dove of British authors.

It is to this species that all our most accurate ornithologists refer the domestic races of pigeons. Those of the dove-cots of Britain are undoubtedly referable to it; but it may be, that the more marked varieties have some additional cross. It is this bird also which has furnished those so celebrated in story as the messengers of politics, commerce, or of love; and it is the “blue rock” which supplies the traps for the modern pigeon-shooter.

In habits, the Rock Pigeon is very similar to those we have already described, only that rocks and gloomy caves 011 the sea coast, supply the place of hollow trees and the umbrageous forest. In winter they assemble in flocks, and feed on the various grains or seeds which their vicinity may supply, but they rarely venture to any distance from the shore; in addition, the animals of our land molusca, particularly Helices, seem to be frequently devoured. In a wild state, and when in health, we believe they never perch on trees, which are indeed very seldom present near their haunts; but we can corroborate the facts stated by Mr. Eyton, of the inmates of our pigeon houses frequently perching, when the cot happens to be built near or amidst old trees, particularly such as have bare branches; and, in one instance, we have seen a tree nearly dead and leafless, always selected. Nevertheless, as the name indicates, rocks and caves are the natural resting places, and a curious assemblage of birds, very different in their natures, may sometimes be observed in and about the entrance of these sea worn caverns. An eagle, or pair of peregrine falcons, may claim the centre of the precipice; a little lower, gulls and guillemots may nestle; cormorants may occupy the mouth of the cave, and jackdaws and starlings may chatter in its outward rents and crevices; the murmur of the Rock Dove, from its shelves, fills the interior, when it can be distinguished from the noise of the surge at its entrance.

As the last species particularly frequented the southern parts of our island, so do we find the Rock Dow, frequent, and most numerous, towards the north. We have indeed few English localities mentioned. Mr. Selby states, that they are found in the cliffs of Caldy Island in South Wales; and we are informed by a letter from Mr. Yarrell, on the authority of Dr. Moore and Mr. Couch, that they breed on some parts of the Devonshire and Cornish coasts. In Scotland the localities are numerous; on the southern shores, St. Abb’s Head, the Bass Rock, and Isle of May, produce them; but as the domestic varieties are occasionally seen in their company, it may be questioned, as Professor Macgillivray¹⁰ remarks, whether they are now quite pure in these stations. Scarcely any difference can be observed, except in size, from Orkney specimens, and the birds seem to have been inhabitants of these rocks as far back as we can trace. On all the rocky shores of the north of Scotland, and the islands Orkney¹¹ and Shetland,¹² they are common birds, breeding and roosting in the numerous caverns with which the precipices are pierced.

Its extra European range appears from various authorities to be very extensive. We have not had opportunities of examining specimens from any of the localities mentioned, nor have we ever received it in collections from abroad, but we give beneath the sources of our information. Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and the Feroe Islands, islands of the Mediterranean as far eastward as Greece, Madeira,¹³ Lake Baikal,¹⁴ Japan,¹⁵ North of Africa, and the island of Teneriffe.¹⁶

The prevailing colours in this species are also shades of blueish-grey, relieved by two broad and distinct dark bars on the wing-coverts and secondaries running across, and by the lower part of the back being white. The breast and neck are dark lavender purple, with rich purple and green reflections, but without any neck patch. The tail is of a deeper tint, tipped with a broad dark band. The feet and legs purplish-red.

The principal variations in a domestic or dove-cot state, are to paler shades of blueish-grey, and to the extinction of the white on the rump; vinous or reddish purple is a change not unfrequent, and here all the markings of the true state are kept up in darker and lighter shades; white birds occur, and they are sometimes pied with black. Among the fancy breeds, now become very numerous, and receiving provincial names from their properties. The “Tumbler” and “Carrier” pigeons are remarkable, from the proportional shortness and length of their respective heads and bills, and where a deviation of structure from the original type is observed. Another remarkable deviation is in the “Fan Tails” and “Broad-tailed Shakers” where the tail is displayed, and consists of numerous feathers, sometimes amounting to thirty-six in number. In the “Jacobin” the feathers are reversed, and turn over as a cowl on the back of the head and neck. In another, again, the tarsi become feathered, and in the extreme of this variation, the plumes are lengthened, and stick out in the form of little wings.¹⁷

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The Turtle Doves or Pigeons of which we possess a single migratory example, are all of a smaller and more slender proportion than the true pigeons, and the tail is much graduated. They are thus characterized.

Turtur—Generic character.—Bill slender, tip deflected; the maxilla showing little appearance of an angle; wings lengthened; the second quill longest, the first often partially accuminated; tail slightly graduated.

Types,—T. migratorius, risorius. Europe, Africa, Indian Islands, Australia.

Note.—Arboreal, chiefly migratory.

The Turtle Dove

Turtur migratorius, Swainson.—Columbaturtur, Linn.—Turturauritus, Ray.—La Tourturelle, Temm. and French authors. The Common Turtle, or Turtle Dove of British authors.

The Turtle Dove maybe considered as a species entirely southern; the instances of its capture in the northern counties of England, or in one or two instances in Scotland or Ireland, being only those of stray birds, which, from some cause or other, have exceeded the limit of their migration. We have seen it ourselves in Kent, in Hertfordshire, and in Holland, during temporary excursions, but have had no opportunity of observing it closely. In the instance, which we communicated to Mr. Yarrell, of shooting a specimen in the garden at Jardine Hall, the bird had frequented a break of peas, nearly ripe, for several days, and at last attracted the attention of the gardener, as one not previously known to him. When it was afterwards sought for, it was discovered in the same place, rose with considerable noise, and alighted on a neighbouring tree, whence it was shot. The plumage was that of an immature bird. Mr. Yarrell considers the Turtle more numerous in the wooded parts of Kent than in other districts of England, but it occurs in most of the southern counties, and becomes only occasionally seen in Yorkshire, Cumberland, and Northumberland, &c. The only other instances of the occurrence of the bird in Scotland, of which we have any record, is that of one killed in Perthshire, in October, 1834;¹⁸ and a few days since (2d October) we saw a fresh skin in possession of Mr. Carfrae of Edinburgh, taken from a specimen killed in Aberdeenshire about a fortnight previously. In Ireland it appears to be equally rare, arid equally a straggler. Out of Britain, it occurs on the continent and on the shores of the Mediterranean, in Asia Minor,¹⁹ in the vicinity of Smyrna;²⁰ and it is considered to winter in Africa.²¹ In its British localities it is a regular summer visitant, arriving about the end of April or beginning of May, leaving us again in August or September. The love note is described as low and plaintive, and the nest is a structure resembling that of the true pigeons. Their food is also similar, consisting* of various grains and seeds, at least during their visit to this country, elsewhere it is probable some green food may be in part resorted to. We have once or twice received the young birds from the south, but was never successful in preserving them alive over the ensuing spring; at first they are easily tamed and thrive well, but at the time of migration they became restless, and drooped ere the spring again advanced.

Crown blueish-grey; back of the neck and upper part of the back wood-brown, the same colour extending to the lower part of the back, rump, and upper tail-covers, the feathers on the last being grey at the base; scapulars and covers black, passing into grey, deeply edged with rufous orange; edges of the shoulders and first lesser covers, blueish-grey; quills, brownish-black; tail is blackish-grey, tipped with white, except the centre feathers, which are entirely clove-brown; at the separation between the white tips the blackish-grey becomes deeper, and sometimes indicates an indistinct bar; on looking at the tail from below, the dark part appears uniform black, and contrasts finely with the pure white extremities of the feathers, together with the outer web of the exterior feather, which is also white. The fore part of the neck, breast, and belly, shading gradually into the vent, are dull brownish crimson-red; the vent and under tail-covers pure white; on the sides of the neck there is the irregular patch of scale like feathers so frequently occurring among the Columbidæ, deep black, edged with white.

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The genus Ectopistes was long since established by Mr. Swainson, for the Passenger and Carolina Pigeons of America. They are closely allied to the last, and differ chiefly from it in the development of the organs of flight, the wings and tail; all the species that we know of are gregarious, perform lengthened migrations, and are arboreal in their habits.—Swainson.

Ectopistes—Generic character.—Bill moderate, the maxilla with little angle; “wings very long, pointed, the two first quills longest; tail cuneated, the four middle feathers lanceolate; hinder toe and tarsus equal, the latter half plumed. The fissirostral type.”

Types, E. migratorla. America.

Passenger Pigeon

Ectopistes migratoria, Swainson. Columla migratoria, Linn., etc.—Colombe voyageuse, Temm.—Ectoputes migratoria, Swain., Selby.—Passenger and Migratory Pigeon and Turtle of British authors.

The addition of the above genus to the British list, consists in the capture of a specimen of the migratory pigeon of America, recorded by Professor Fleming to have been

shot while perched on a wall in the neighbourhood of a pigeon-house at Westhall, in the parish of Monymail, Fifeshire, 1st December, 1825. The feathers were quite fresh and entire, like those of a wild bird.²²

A second specimen is said to have been killed in Roxburghshire, but we have not been able to trace it. According to Temminck, it occurs in a similar stray manner in the northern parts of the continent, and it is probable that some of these birds may occasionally wander and be taken on our islands.

The Passenger Pigeon is a native of and ranges over nearly the whole of the immense continent of North America, extending far to the northward. It visits the fur countries,²³ and the district around Hudson’s Bay,²⁴ but reaches the 53° only in fine summers. In warmer parts it extends to the 62°, and to the gulf of Mexico.²⁵ Its habits in its native country are described by Wilson and Audubon, with their own spirit and enthusiasm, and will repay the perusal; but extracts, which would do justice to the authors, are far too long to be inserted here. In this country they have been several times kept in confinement, and seem to thrive well, and not to suffer at the period of the spring and fall, as most migratory birds do, when detained from their change of country at the appointed time. Mr. Audubon, on one of his visits to America, returned with a large stock of live birds, which were distributed among those who possessed the convenience for keeping and superintending their almost domesticated state. Several pairs were presented to the magnificent aviary at Knowlsley, arid also to the Zoological Society, and in both instances they incubated and hatched their young.

Tetraonidæ

The Tetraonidæ is another family of the Rasores which belongs to British ornithology. The birds belonging to it in general pair and remain in parties, the number of the broods from season to season; but some species are polygamous, and run into this great characteristic of the rasorial group. They, during winter, congregate in large flocks, without distinction of broods, and continue thus assembled until breeding time. There is in all a greater or less change of plumage during the breeding season, and in some, that of the winter is very different from the summer state. The deprivation in this family of the naked skins and wattles, &c., with the large development of the tail and its accessaries so prevalent among the Pavonidæ, is represented only by the bright coloured skin around the eyes; the elongation of the feathers on the sides of the neck, and by the bare skins, capable of being inflated upon the axilla and sides of the neck.²⁶ All of them breed upon the ground, and, with few exceptions, they lay numerous eggs; they are, indeed, chiefly terrestrial in their habits, though several species inhabit wooded districts, perch on trees, and feed on their young shoots or buds.

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The genus Tetrao, or the Grouse, which are chiefly characteristic of this family, were formerly all included under that title, but have, by modern ornithologists, been sub-divided, both on account of a difference of habit, and a modification in the form of several of the parts, and Tetrao is now kept for those large and powerful species, with expanded tails and naked feet, which are polygamous, and dwell in shaded forests or wooded districts. Once we possessed a truly typical species, for the recovery of which great exertions are making; but the true forms are now chiefly found in Northern Europe and America, though a very near example of the general shape and appearance may be seen in the female of our black cock, the greatly developed tail of the male presenting a variation, which has been considered by some as of sub-generic importance.

Tetrao of modern ornithologists.—Generic characters.—Bill short, very strong and arched from the base; nostrils basal, lateral, and hidden from view by closely set feathers; a naked skin above the eyes, enlarging in spring, and coloured brightly; wings short, concave, third and fourth quills longest; tail very ample and expanding, (rounded;²⁷) feet naked, with the edges of the toes fringed; tarsi feathered.

Types, T. urogallus, obscurus. Europe, Northern Asia, North America.

Note.—Polygamous, gregarious in winter, breed on the ground; but in habits are partly arboreal.

The Wood-Grouse or Capercailzie

Tetrao urogallus, Linn.—Tetrao urogallus, Linn.—Tetro auerhan, Temm.—Wood Grouse, Cock of the Wood, Capercailzie, of British authors.

We gave the descriptions of most of the birds composing the game list in a former volume, and although, according to the plan of the “Library,” they must be also given here, we have little to add, except in bringing down our information to the present time, where any thing worthy of notice may have occurred.

At the head of this section we may place the Capercailzie, as first in both size and strength; the strong and hooked bill of the male reminding us more of that member in the birds of prey, than in one of the Rasores. The Capercailzie was certainly the noblest of the British feathered game: but the attributes of size, strength, and beauty, have proved his destruction, and it has been for many years extinct. In ancient times they were tolerably abundant in the primeval forests of Scotland and Ireland.²⁸ From the latter they appear to have been entirely extirpated at a very early period, while in Scotland their destruction was more gradual, but they dwindled away, and the last specimen is recorded to have been killed in the neighbourhood of Inverness, more than sixty years since. There is a prospect, however, of the species being again introduced into Scotland, by the exertions of some of our Highland nobility. Lord Fyfe has attempted to naturalise the Cock of the Wood at Mar Lodge. The first importation from Sweden was accomplished in 1827, or early in 1828, but was unattended with success, owing to the death of the male bird, most probably from harm received during the transportation. In the year following, fresh birds were imported, and young were successfully reared after several attempts. These, in 1831, it was intended to turn out, so soon as they were sufficiently advanced; but we have been unable to trace whether this was done, and what was their fate.²⁹ At a later period, 1838–39, Lord Breadalbane received from Mr. Loyd no fewer than forty-four Capercailzies, some of which were turned out, while others were retained in confinement; both have succeeded; and Mr. Yarrell states, that in 1839, seventy-nine young birds were known to be hatched. The Duchess of Athole had some birds sent to her at Blair, and some have been hatched in the aviary at Knowlsley. Thomas Fowell Buxton, Esq., has succeeded in rearing them in confinement in Norfolk; and it is evident, that with ordinary attention, there is little difficulty in their propagation in confinement, whence, in a few years, a stock could be reared in some suitable locality, where there was a strict protection. In various parts of Northern Europe also, we have the authority of Mr. Loyd, Nilsson, and others, for their being not unfrequently domesticated.

In its habits in a wild state, all our accounts agree, in stating their close alliance to those of the black cock. They frequent forests, and those wild tracts of country, which, we imagine, are partially interspersed with native brush-wood, intermingled with patches of old timber, where they feed on the tender shoots, the buds, and berries which those regions furnish. In breeding time the male attracts the females by his call, on some eminence or open spot, and, after that season has passed, retires and skulks to undergo the process of moulting; the female alone performs the duties of incubation, and the brood continues with her until the males begin to change their plumage. Such, at least, is the information we draw from the works of those gentlemen who have had occasional opportunities of observing them. The poulterers, in London and Edinburgh, now import them in considerable quantities, along with the other northern grouse, after the season has terminated here, and, we rather think, that many must be then procured after the season of courtship has commenced. In this present spring (1840), several pairs were for sale in the latter city, and in very good condition, and one guinea was the price asked for a male in a tolerable state of plumage. We have also received specimens from Newcastle, where we understand the importation is frequent at a similar period. They may be brought to table as a curiosity, but those we have tasted were coarse and highly flavoured with the fir; but during summer they may lose this, and the young birds may be very palatable.

Before passing from this species, we must shortly notice the Tetrao medius of authors, of which there are slight indications of its having once existed in Scotland, and, if the supposition of those ornithologists who consider it as a hybrid between the Capercailzie and the black cock, be correct, we see no reason why the occasional crossing should not have taken place in this country, as well as in Norway or Sweden. The continental ornithologists generally, we believe, adopt the theory of hybridity, and it has been assented to, or at least not contradicted, by those of this country. One residing at a distance from their haunts cannot be expected to go narrowly into the question, and the following remarks are made with the view of directing the attention of persons who have the opportunity, to a fact which we do not consider as yet satisfactorily proved. The bird in the dress of T. medius, appears to be far too common for a hybrid; since the introduction of game from Northern Europe, it is to be procured almost every spring in the poultry shops of some of the larger towns, and Mr. Yarrell speaks to as many as seven specimens, during ten years, in the shops of one poulterer in London. But among all the specimens we have examined, and in those of our own collection, there was, and is, no difference whatever in the plumage of the specimens, they are exactly similar; now, in hybrids, we should expect, and do find, not two species similar. The intermediate form of the bird is just that which we would look for to intervene between the Capercailzie, or the round tailed grouse of America, and the extreme of development seen in the black cock. On the other side, we have an intermediate form between them and the long acuminated tail of the cock of the plains. The scarcity of the females we would attribute to their being confused with the true Capercailzie hens, which vary so much in size. The similarity of the specimens we, however, consider now as the strongest fact against the hybrid theory, and even if a differently marked specimen should occur, and they can bear no proportion whatever to the resembling ones, we should consider it much more probable to be a cross between the presently considered hybrid and the Capercailzie. A fine male specimen of the Capercailzie will sit fully two feet above the branch on which he is perched; and will be in total length from two feet ten inches to three feet. The bill very powerful, is yellowish-white, darker towards the base; the whole head and neck is blackish-grey; the feathers of a lanceolate form, darker in their centres, and minutely freckled over with black; immediately below the chin they are elongated, and can be raised at will, these are of a deep black, and are edged with a glossy border of green and purple; underneath each eye there is a white patch; the centre of the back and wings are rich orange coloured brown, marked in wavy lines of freckles of brownish-black; the quills are reddish-umber-brown; the lower parts of the back and rump, have a ground colour of grey or brownish-grey, thickly marked with broad wavy lines of black, giving the whole, at a little distance, an appearance of blackish-grey; the centre upper tail-coverts are elongated, are nearly black, clouded with brownish-grey, and have the tips of each white; the tail is black, marked at about two inches from the extremity with broken white patches, which form a wavy interrupted band across; the breast is bright, shining greenish-black, shaded with purplish reflections on the sides, the feathers, of a very fine and close texture, and presenting a surface that would turn ordinary shot striking it directly; the belly and other parts of the under surface are glossy black, in the centre interspersed with patches of white on the sides and; flanks the feathers have the grey or brownish-grey ground colour, freckled with black; the tarsi are feathered with brownish-grey plumes, very much elongated behind, and approaching to the loose texture of those in the true moorfowl; they are double the length of the hind toe, which they completely conceal.

The females appear to vary considerably in size. One procured in the same cargo which contained the above described male, is only from two to three and twenty inches in length, and would not sit more than seventeen inches high. The general appearance of the markings are similar to those of the grey hen, ochreous-brown, barred with black, but the colours are clearer, the barring broader and more distinct, the edges of the feathers being always paler; the centre of the breast, where the rich green of the male is seen, is of a uniform tint of rich brownish-orange, in parts slightly marked with freckles, where the bars are placed. The bill is dark horn colour, paler towards the tip. In another female from Russia, now before us, the entire length is twenty-two inches.

The Black Grouse or Black Cock

Tetrao tetrix, Linn.—Tetrao tetrix of authors.—Tetras birkhan, Temm.—Lyrurus tetrix, Swain.—Black Grouse or Black Cock. Grey Hen of British authors.

This species is pretty generally spread over Europe, being met with in France and Germany, and even so far to the south as in Italy;³⁰ and as we reach the north, in Russia, Norway, Siberia, Scandinavia, and in Lapland. In Britain it occurs in the two countries, being most sparingly distributed, however, in England; the New Forest in Hampshire, Somerset, Dartmoor and Exmoor in Devonshire;³¹ the wild parts of Staffordshire and Lancashire, and so on until we reach the “border,” where it becomes abundant in the wild districts which conduct us to its still more frequent haunts in Scotland. There it is abundant, and may be found in most of the districts which are suited for it, extending north to Sutherland, and to the islands of Mull and Skye.³² In Ireland, Mr. Thompson informs us, it long since became extinct, though in Smith’s history of Cork (1749) it is mentioned as “frequent”

The favourite abodes of the Black Grouse are sub-alpine sheep countries, where there is comparatively little heath, where there are moist flats or meadows, abounding with a rank and luxuriant herbage, and where the glades and passes among the hills are clothed with natural brushwood of birch and hazel, willow and alder, and have a tangled bottom of deep fern. These afford an abundant supply of food, with shelter from the cold at night, and the scorching rays of a midsummer sun.

The Black Cock is polygamous. In the warmer sunny days, at the conclusion of winter, and commencement of spring, the males, after feeding, may be seen arranged on some turf fence, rail, or sheepfold, pluming their wings, expanding their tails, and practising, as it were, their love-call. If the weather now continues warm, the flocks soon separate, and the males select some conspicuous spots, from whence they endeavour to drive all rivals, and commence to display their arts to allure the females. The places selected at such seasons are generally elevations, the turf enclosure of a former sheep-fold, which has been disused, and is now grown over, or some of those beautiful spots of fresh and grassy pasture which are well known to the inhabitants of a pastoral district. Here, after perhaps many battles have been fought and rivals vanquished, the noble full dressed Black Cock takes his stand, commencing at the first dawn of day, and where the game is abundant, the hill on every side repeats the humming call; they strut around the spots selected, trailing their wings, inflating the throat and neck, and puffing up the plumage of these parts and the now brilliant wattle above the eyes, raising and expanding the tail, and displaying the beautifully contrasting white under tail-covers; he is soon heard by the females, who crowd around their lord and master. This season of admiration does not continue long; the females disperse to seek proper situations for depositing their eggs, while the males, losing their feeling for love and fighting, reassemble in small parties, and seek the shelter of the brush and fern beds to complete a new moult, and are seldom seen, except early in the morning or at evening, when they exhibit a degree of timidity, the very reverse of their former boldness and vigilance. The old males continue separate until winter, and afterwards seem to display an inclination to flock by themselves; but in many cases they join with the young broods, and all resort; morning and evening, to some favourite feeding grounds, spending the middle part of the day in rest, or in basking, pluming, or sporting upon some sunny hill side. Upon the females devolve the whole duties of rearing and protecting the young; the nest is made upon the ground, not far from water, and the young, when hatched, are conveyed to the low rushy hollows, where there is abundance of food, supplied by the tender seeds of the rushes and alpine grasses. The young are seldom full grown before the 1st of September; and even, at this season, if they have been undisturbed previously, they will almost suffer themselves to be lifted from before the pointers. During summer the general food is the seeds of the various grasses, and the berries of the different alpine plants;³³ in winter, the tender shoots of the fir, catkins of birch and hazel, heath, and even the leaves of fern, and these often give their peculiar flavour to the flesh. But in the lower districts, where, indeed, this bird is most abundant, the gleaning of the stubble yields a plentiful meal, fields of turnip and rape are also favourite feeding places, and the leaves supply a more grateful food during hard frost than they could elsewhere procure. In some places, flocks of hundreds assemble at feeding times, and although at this time they are extremely shy and wary, the fences and enclosures often allow them to be approached within shot.

The plumage of the adult male is on all the upper parts of a rich steel-blue, on the lower parts pitch-black, which duller colour is also seen on the secondaries and wing-coverts; the greater coverts are tipped with white, forming a bar across the wings, conspicuous in flight, and the under tail-coverts are of the same pure colour. In the full plumage, immediately succeeding the moult, there is a tinge of brown intermixed, which is changed as the winter terminates but the most remarkable structure of this bird, is that of the tail, formed of gradually elongated feathers, diverging or curving outwardly, and when at the highest development, expanding into a graceful lyre shaped tail. There is nothing in the habits of the bird which corresponds with this structure; the flight is powerful, but is neither in general long sustained, nor applied to any peculiar habits in the species. Mr. Swainson has from this form made his sub-genus “Lyrurus,” considering it as the fissirostral type, and bearing analogy, in its forked tail and glossy plumage, to the Drongo Shrikes of Africa and India. In the female the form is similar, but the proportions are smaller, and the divariation of the tail scarcely exceeds half an inch in depth. The ground colour of the entire plumage is pale brownish-orange, becoming nearly yellowish-white on the throat, breast, and belly; and on the sides of the neck, slightly tinged with a shade of vinous purple; all is barred with black, intermixed with wavy broken lines of the same colour; on the wings and shoulders the centre of the feathers are black, but the shaft runs through of a paler colour, broadening and becoming paler towards the tip, as in the partridges; the bill in both sexes is nearly black. This species does not seem so liable to variation as some of the other Tetraonidæ. We possess a female or grey hen, shot by the late Sir Sidney Beckwith, entirely of a dull whitish grey, having the cross markings of a darker and browner shade.

Lagopus.—Generic characters.—Bill very short, clothed at the base with feathers, which conceal the nostrils; wings short, somewhat rounded, with the third and fourth quills longest; tail short, and nearly square at the end; tarsi and toes completely covered with hair-like feathers, sometimes covering the claws, which are long, straight, and somewhat flattened.

Types, L. Scoticus mutus, &c. Europe, northern parts of North America. The Arctic Circle.

Note.—Monogamous; gregarious in winter; habits entirely terrestrial.

The Red Grouse or Red Ptarmigan

Lagopus Scoticus, Vieillot.—Tetrao Scoticus, Linn., Penn., etc.—Tetras rouge, Temm.—Moorfowl or Red Grouse of British authors.

The Red Grouse, or Moorfowl, has peculiar claims on the naturalists and sportsmen of Britain, as being an insulated species, hitherto undiscovered except in moorland districts of Great Britain and Ireland. Those birds which, in other parts of Northern Europe, resemble it in the colouring of the plumage of summer, differ from it in several particulars, considered of sufficient importance to constitute distinct species.

The Red Grouse is still plentiful in Scotland and England, but is no wmore sparingly spread over the southern districts of the former; upon the moors it is well known that not a tenth of the former number of birds at present exist, and it is only in the more remote districts, where access and accommodation for sportsmen are still in some degree wanting, that they are to be seen in any thing like their former numbers.

The habits of the birds have considerably changed. By the approaches of cultivation to the higher districts, and by insulated patches of grain even in the middle of the wildest, the grouse have learned to depend on the labours of the husbandman for his winter’s food, and instead of seeking a more precarious subsistence, during the snow, of tender heath-tops or other mountain plants, they migrate to the lower grounds and enclosures, and before the grain is removed, find a plentiful harvest. Hundreds crowd the stooks in the upland corn-fields, where the weather is uncertain, and the grain remains out even till “December’s snows;” while in the lower countries they seek what has been left on the stubble or ploughed fields. It is only in the wildest parts of the Highlands, the Cairngorm range, Koss, or Sutherland, where the grouse is an inhabitant, through the year, of the moors, his native pasture, and where he is also nearly the only enlivener of these wild solitudes, by his loud morning and evening call. During summer it may be varied by the whistle of the curlew, or the wailing of the golden plover, or perhaps interrupted by the sailing flight of some harrier or other bird of prey; but in winter, for miles around,

Dwells but the gor-cock and the deer.

Unless where much disturbed, the grouse is not a wild bird, and, unaware of danger, it will allow a person to approach or walk past, uttering only its call, as if to make its companions aware that something is near. In districts where they are much followed, they, however, become one of the most wild and wary of our game, and are almost impossible to be approached except by stratagem. For nearer concealment they are amply provided, by the similarity of the tints of their plumage with the dark brown moss and heath, and, except for the assistance of the pointer, could not be discovered. Unlike the large true grouse, the birds of the present group all pair and continue with their broods until a return of the warm season. The young in some seasons are dreadfully ravaged by the tapeworm almost entirely destroying them in the districts where it occurs. It is their most severe natural enemy. The Bed Grouse pairs very early—if mild in January—and the female commences laying at the end of March. The eggs are deposited in a shallow hollow at the foot of some tuft of heath, which affords a partial covering and shelter, and only a few straws or grasses serve to separate them from the ground. Both parents attend, and boldly defend the nest or young from the ordinary aggressors; one of the most dangerous for the eggs is the common carrion crow (C. corone); and this is attacked in return, and often beaten off successfully. In confinement they are easily tamed, and become familiar. They even lay under very dissimilar circumstances to the exposure of their native moors, though the young are not often so reared to maturity. We have known a brood hatched under a kitchen dresser. They have also bred in several aviaries; but the young have suffered a similar fate, most probably from the absence of some food peculiarly fitted for this season, and wanting in their artificial breeding grounds.

The adult plumage of the grouse which have attained an age beyond a year or two, is a ground colour of deep rich sienna-brown, shading on the belly almost to pure black, with paler tips, and wared across with brownish-black. Many specimens are much marked with white on the underparts, and some to a greater degree than others, and this, though it is generally considered to be the mark of age, is rather incident to the younger birds. The female is of a paler ground tint, and has all the pale markings larger. During the breeding season the feathers of both become much more marked, and cut into, as it were, with yellow, and have the tips pale yellowish-white; and the bare skin above the eyes increases in size and intensity of colour. The young, in their first plumage nearly resemble the female, but have rather more ochreous mixed with the plumage, and have the markings more distributed in bars. The Red Grouse is subject to variety, though not very frequently. It is generally to a paler tint of the whole plumage. Mr. Selby notes the occurrence of a cream-coloured or light-grey variety upon the Blanchland moors of Durham, which appear to have bred, and continued the variety from year to year. We possess a Grouse, shot on the moors of Galloway, where the ground colour is nearly yellowish-white, and all the dark markings are represented by pale reddish-brown; the quills are dirty white. In some instances the plumage takes an opposite shade, and is remarkable for its deep tint, and the almost entire absence of markings. The whole, or a part of the quills, are often found white.

The Common or White Ptarmigan

Lagopus mutus, Vieillot.—Tetrao lagopus. Linn., Penn., etc.—Lagopus mutus. Ptarmigan or White Grouse of British authors.

This bird, delicately marked in its summer dress, and of a snowy whiteness in that of winter, has generally been considered as a native of both the American and European continents. The comparison, however, of many specimens of grouse which become white in winter, leads us to believe that the distinction of species is still somewhat undecided, and that the range or comparative abundance of the British species is still undetermined. We have seen, however, what we consider the L. mutus, from arctic America, and also among the packages of birds which are said by the poulterers to come from Norway; but many of the birds mentioned by authors as “Ptarmigan,” from various localities, cannot always with certainty be referred to that of Britain.

In Great Britain it is a species confined to the most alpine districts, and its only habitation now, seems to be the high mountain ranges in the middle of Scotland, increasing in abundance as the same kind of wild country reaches to the north; and it also extends to the Hebrides. According to Pennant, and some contemporary writers, these birds were once found on the hills of Westmoreland and Cumberland; and, we believe, recollections even exist of a few having been seen upon the high ranges which appear on the opposite border of Scotland. These have been for some time extirpated, and unless a few solitary pairs remain on Skiddaw, or some of its precipitous neighbours, the range of the Grampians will be its most southern British station.

They inhabit the most barren and rocky spots, often where nothing is to be seen butan interminable series of rugged rocks distributed in boulder masses, varying in size from huge lumps to pieces of a few inches in diameter. Here, during spring and summer, the pairs and their broods remain almost the only inhabitants, and are discovered with the greatest difficulty, the mixture of the colours of the plumage forming a tint which harmonizes with that of the grey rocks around. At this season they are also tame and familiar, running before the intruder, and uttering their peculiarly low wild call, which is often the means of their discovery. In this way they will often reach the opposite edge of the rock, and will, as it were, simultaneously drop off; but the expectation of finding them on some lower ledge will be disappointed, for they have, perhaps, by that time, sought for and reached the opposite side of the mountains, by a low, wheeling flight, as noiseless as the solitudes by which they are surrounded. The nest is made under the rocks and stones, and is very difficult to be found, for the female, on perceiving a person approach, generally leaves it, and is only discovered by her motion over the rocks, or her low clucking cry. In winter they descend lower, but seldom seek the plains. In Ireland, Mr. Thomson states, “it is not now, nor do I consider it ever was, indigenous.”

Both sexes in winter are pure white, except the space between the bill and the eyes, the outer tailfeathers, and the shafts of the quills, which are deep black in the young birds. In seasons intermediate from the breeding season the darker feathers or clouded markings are generally grey, or brownish-grey, mottled with black. In the female, we believe the breeding state to be rich ochreous-yellow, barred and cut into with large masses of black, the pure white of the lower parts and shoulders remaining. We are uncertain, however, whether this change takes place in the male at the commencement of the season of incubation, or if, during the heat of the love season, he retains his pure plumage, commencing his change and moult to grey when the female begins to sit. The length of the male specimen before us, in this intermediate state, is sixteen inches.

---

We have, in this place, to notice another bird, which has lately gained a place in the British list as a distinct species, and we give a figure of the L. rupestris, both as illustrating the form of Lagopus, and as showing the appearance of the bird to which we have now to refer.

Perdix, Latham.—Generic characters.—Bill short, rather strong, bending from the base; nostrils lateral, uncovered by feathers, but protected by an arched naked scale; wings short, rounded, fourth and fifth quills longest; tarsi and feet naked; anterior toes united at the base by a membrane.

Types, P. cinerea, picta, &c. Europe, Asia.

Note.—Frequent lower countries, and are partial to cultivation. Not arboreal, gregarious only to the amount of their broods.

The Common Partridge

Perdix cinerea, Ray.—Perdix cinerea. Partridge of British authors.

The Partridge is distributed extensively over Europe, and, according to Temminck, extends to Barbary and Egypt, where it is migratory. It is almost everywhere abundant in our own island, the more northern moorish districts excepted. It follows the steps of man as he reclaims the wastes, and delights in the cultivation, which brings to it, as to the labourers, a plentiful harvest of grain. It is, perhaps, most abundant in the lower richly cultivated plains of England; but even the south of Scotland supplies many of the more northern markets with this game. Very early in spring the first mild days even of February the Partridges have paired, and each couple maybe found, near the part selected for their summer abode, long before the actual preparations for incubation have commenced. These are begun at a later period than generally imagined, and even in the beginning of September, particularly in the wilder districts, the young are not more than half grown. The nest is formed, or rather the spot where the eggs are to be deposited, is scraped out in some ready made hollow or furrow, or placed under cover of a tuft of grass, and from twelve to twenty eggs are deposited. This mode of nidification prevails through the whole genus. No nest is made, and often no great care of concealment is displayed. In cultivated countries, the young grasses and corns are their favourite breeding places, the former often fatal, from the hay-harvest having commenced before the brood is hatched. The choice of a place of security for their eggs is not always the same, for Montague mentions a pair which successively selected the top of an old pollard oak, and Mr. Selby writes of having known several parallel cases. It is a singular trait in the habits of many birds, that those of a wild nature will often select the most frequented parts for their nests. Both Partridges and Pheasants are often discovered with the nest placed within two or three feet of a highway or footpath, where there is a daily passage of men and animals. The parents, as if knowing their safety depended on sitting close, remain quiet amidst all the bustle, and often hatch in such places.

During incubation the male sedulously attends, and will generally be found near, if the female is intruded upon by any of her less formidable enemies. When the brood is hatched, both lead about the young and assist them to their food; and mild and timid as the partridge is generally described, instances have been seen where the love of offspring prevailed, and a vigorous defence was successfully maintained against a more powerful assailant. Among the many instances of such defence, mentioned by various authors, we shall notice one of the latest, which Mr. Selby has recorded in the last edition of his Illustrations of British Ornithology:³⁷—

Their parental instinct, indeed, is not always confined to mere devices for engaging attention; but where there exists a probability of success, they will fight obstinately for the preservation of their young, as appears from many instances already narrated by different writers, and to which the following may be added, for the truth of which I can vouch. A person engaged in a field, not far from my residence, had his attention arrested by some objects on the ground, which, upon approaching, he found to be two Partridges, a male and female, engaged in battle with a carrion-crow; so successful, and so absorbed were they in the issue of the contest, that they actually held the crow till it was seized, and taken from them, by the spectator of the scene. Upon search, the young birds (very lately hatched) were found concealed amongst the grass. It would appear, therefore, that the crow, a mortal enemy to all kinds of young game, in attempting to carry off one of these, had been attacked by the parent birds, and with the above singular success.

Such displays are, however, comparatively seldom witnessed, or indeed exercised, for nature has implanted another device in the greater number of this family, in which the organs of defence are in reality weak, against their many assailants. Stratagem is resorted to, and the parent feigns lameness, and even death, to withdraw the aggressor. The noise and confusion which occurs when a person suddenly, and unawares, comes on a young brood of partridges, is remarkable. The screams of the parents, apparently tumbling and escaping away with broken legs and wings, is well acted, and often succeeds in withdrawing the dog, and his young attendant, beyond the possibility of discovering the hiding places of the brood. When this is attained, their wonted strength is soon recovered, a flight to a considerable distance is taken but by the time the aggressor has reached the marked spot, the bird has again circuitously come up with her charge, and is ready again to act her part if discovered.

During the breeding season, all the colours of the plumage of the Partridge become deeper, and in the male, the skin above the eyes showing a modification of the slight wattle incident to the true grouse, becomes of a pinkish-red colour. In the female, the tips of the feathers become more decidedly marked with pale yellowish-grey. It is a bird much more liable to variation than any of the other British Rasores the pheasant, if included, being excepted. It is frequently met with of different shades of cream colour, the dark markings keeping a corresponding measure of intensity; and it is sometimes blotched, as it were, with pure white spots. We, last winter, procured a specimen from Mr. Fenton, in Edinburgh,³⁸ above of a brown tint, deeper than usual, but with the ordinary markings; the ground colour of the breast and under parts is of the uniform grey, which covers the breast in the ordinary state of the bird, having the black wavy markings; but there is not the slightest trace of broader marking to the feathers, or of the “horse shoe,” which prevails in other states, and, to a certain extent, even in the female; the head, neck, and patch on the throat, are umber-brown, and around the bill, mouth, and eyes, is nearly pure black; the bill itself is of a darker colour than usual.

The Common Quail

Coturnix dactylisonans, Temm.—Tetrao coturnix, Willough., Ray, Linn.—Perdix coturnix, Lath., etc.—Quail or Common Quail of Brit. Ornith.

The Common Quail seems to be generally distributed over the old world, though, in the south of Europe, it is perhaps more abundant than elsewhere. In Britain they may now be termed only an occasional visitant, the numbers of those which arrive to breed having considerably decreased, and they are to be met, with certainty, only in some of the warmer southern or midland counties of England. Thirty years since they were tolerably common and regular in their returns; and, even in the south of Scotland, a fewb roods were occasionally to be found. Mr. Macgillivray mentions its occurrence in Morayshire, and of having received a nest and eggs from Aberdeenshire.³⁹ Its occurrence farther north has not been recorded. In these same districts they are now very uncertain; we have known of broods only twice, and occasionally have shot a straggler apparently on its way to the south. In Ireland the Quail seems to be more abundant than in any parts of Britain; and according to notes by Mr. Thompson, they have of late years remained permanently in the north, and in winter have occurred in considerable numbers. In the winter of 1836–7, a gentleman shot, in one day, ten brace of Quails, in stubble fields bordering Belfast Bay.⁴⁰ They are extremely difficult to flush after the first time. The nest is made by the female, but, like the partridges, the eggs are deposited almost on the bare ground; these, also, unlike the uniform tint which we find prevailing in those of the true partridges, are deeply blotched with oil-green, and, except in form, are somewhat similar to those of the snipe.

In France the Quail is very abundant; and, besides supplying the markets of that country, thousands are imported alive by the London poulterers, and fattened for the luxury of the metropolis. They are taken by nets, into which they are decoyed by imitating their call. On the coast of Italy and Sicily, and all the Greek islands, they arrive at certain seasons in immense numbers. An hundred thousand are said to have been taken in one day. They are run after during the flight like the passenger pigeons of America, and a harvest is gathered when the numbers are greatest. In Sicily, crowds of all ages and degrees assemble on the shore. The number of boats is even greater than the crowd; and enviable is the lot of the idle apprentice, who, with a borrowed musket or pistol, no matter how unsafe, has gained possession of the farthest rock, where there is but room for himself and his dog, which he has fed with bread only, all the year round, for these delightful days, and which sits, in as happy expectation as himself, for the arrival of the Quails. Ortygia was named from them; and so abundant were they on Capri, an island at the entrance of the Gulf of Naples, that they formed the principal revenue of the bishop of the island. From twelve to sixty thousand were annually taken; and one year the capture amounted to one hundred and sixty thousand. In China, and in many of the eastern islands, and Malacca, they are also very abundant, performing regular migrations from the interior to the coast. It is thus seen that the geographical range of this bird is of great extent, reaching northward to Russia and Scandinavia,⁴¹ found in the intermediate countries of temperate heat, and abounding in continental India and Africa. We possess specimens which do not materially differ from each other, from Madeira, alpine India, the plains of India, China, Cape of Good Hope, and southern Europe. A specimen shot at Jardine Hall, in autumn, has the crown nearly black, the feathers edged with pale chestnut, streaks of ochre-yellow run over each eye, and the centre space between the eyes and bill, and auriculars, are chestnut. Colour of the upper parts black, having the shafts and a lanceolate mark in the centre of each, ochreous-yellow, palest at the tip, where the wings join the body; the central markings are wanting, and the black is relieved by grey tips and wavy bars of sienna-yellow; throat, pale ochreous-yellow, bounded by a deep blackish-brown gorget, and on the sides cut into by a dark stripe of the same colour, running from the gape, and curving inwards near the middle of the pale space; breast, yellowish wood-brown, shading into pale ochreous on the lower parts; on the breast, the feathers are marked with two round or oval spots, on the exterior of each web; on the flanks these patches border each feather irregularly, bounding a pale open space along the shafts, which is nearly pure white. The above described specimen was a female, and it may be stated, that all those which have been met with in autumn were of the same sex. In the male the chin and throat are brownish-black, forming almost a cross in the pale space of the female, the ends of the cross turning up to meet the stripes from the gape; the markings above are more distinct, and there is more chestnut in the tints, particularly on the flanks and sides of the breast; the breast itself is pale reddish wood brown, without spots.

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In all our modern works on ornithology, we have a few birds among the Rasores included, which have been introduced from other countries, and of which some have in a manner completely naturalised themselves and are generally distributed, being as hardy as many of the truly indigenous species; but there are also others, which, though they thrive comparatively well, yet require considerable attention, and continue very local and limited in their range; and while it becomes necessary to notice these, it is scarcely right to hold them in the same place with our indigenous game.

The Red Legged or French Partridge

Perdix rufa

Is a beautiful bird, and, in our park preserves, will make a most interesting addition or variation to the naturalist, though, from the experience which has been already had, it is not in request as a bird of game to the sportsman, nor is it so much esteemed for the table as the common grey partridge. There are a few birds distributed over southern Europe, Africa, and India, which are nearly allied to it in colouring and in markings, and which seem to have more skulking habits, and to be much more difficult to force upon the wing; all of these, we have little doubt, might be introduced to our parks, and would thrive equally well with the common red-legged bird. It appears to have been introduced so long since as in the time of Charles the Second; and several English noblemen, during the last century, are recorded as having bred them from continental eggs, and turned them out on their respective manors. Mr. Yarrell, in his British Birds, has stated various instances where they have been killed, or are now breeding, in several of the southern and eastern English counties; while the possibility also is suggested, of some straggling birds, occasionally met with on the coast, having made a flight, or been driven from Guernsey or Jersey. It has not appeared or been naturalised in any parts of Scotland or Ireland.

Virginian or American Ortyx

Ortyx Virginiana

Is another beautiful little bird, more lately introduced into some of the English counties, but with even less claim to a right in the British fauna, the success of its introduction having been scarcely yet ascertained. It belongs to a group of birds more strongly formed, having a stronger bill, and holding the place in the new world which the partridges do in the old, frequenting the borders of woods, roosting and occasionally perching on trees. Colonel Montague notices a specimen of the Virginian Ortyx shot near Mansfield, and some time previous to that, states, that some had been turned out. Staffordshire, Cambridge, and Norfolk, are also mentioned as localities where they have been tried, but we have been unable to trace exactly what has been the success of the trials.

Phasianidæ

The birds we have noticed, are all the species of Tetronidæ, whether indigenous or naturalised, which have any claim to a place in our fauna. Of the next family, the Phasianidæ, Europe presents no natural example; but one of the finest and most successful of all our ornithological introductions, typically represents it in

The Common Pheasant

Phasianus Colchicus.

It is recorded to have been introduced into Europe 1250 years before the Christian era;⁴² and into Britain in 1299, during the reign of Edward the First.⁴³ From its ease in rearing, the beauty of its plumage, the delicacy of its flesh, and value in cover to the sportsman, it has been, since that early period, fostered and preserved, and turned out from one locality to another; and, at the present time, there are few districts to the south of the middle of Scotland, or over England, where it is not to be met with in greater or less proportion. In Ireland we believe its distribution to be not so equal, owing to the impossibility of preservation. In Europe, or wherever they have been introduced, we have two birds of different plumage, the one with a conspicuous white ring upon the neck, the other wanting entirely that ornament. These, in our preserves, have bred together, and we have specimens with the mark modified or almost obliterated. By Temminck they are considered to have been originally distinct species, and several prominent differences are pointed out, which, in all our naturalised birds, are blended together. We have not been able to compare a sufficient number of wild specimens; but, in one from continental India, without the white mark on the neck, there are sufficient distinctions of plumage in addition, to warrant its separation. In our preserves, which, in most instances, are only a kind of semi-domestication, they are much inclined to become spotted or pied with white, and often show very beautifully contrasted markings. The female seems to assume an entirely pure white plumage more frequently than the male; in some localities, a silvery grey variety has become abundant, known under the name of Bohemian Pheasants; it is singular also, that in a number of eggs, received some years since from an extensive preserve, where the variety was prevalent, we could separate those which would produce the grey birds, the shells being different in their shade of colouring. There is also a tendency of the pheasant to breed with other gallinaceous birds; crosses with the domestic fowl are frequent, and some instances are given where there had been intercourse with the black grouse, and even with a turkey.

Struthionidæ

The family of the Struthionidæ, or Ostriches, is, in all countries, extremely limited in numbers, and contains birds of a very large size; in Europe we have only one representing genus in the Bustard, and the stronghold may be said to be in Africa and India, in the deserts and plains of which we see the ostrich and cassowary, besides several species of large bustards. In America and New Holland they are still more limited.

Otis Linn.—Generic characters.—Bill nearly straight, slightly depressed at the base; nostrils open; legs long, having the tarsi naked above the knees; toes, three directed forwards, short, bordered with a scutellated membrane; wings long and powerful, second, third, and fourth quills largest, nearly equal, first narrow towards the point.

Type, O. tarda. Europe, Asia, Africa, New Holland.

Note.—Inhabit plains and open countries, or with a thick clothing of rank vegetation; polygamous; run swiftly.

The Great Bustard

Otis tarda.—Outarde barbue, Temm.—Bustard, or Great Bustard of British authors.

The Great or European Bustard, indeed, the whole of the Struthionidæ, from their form and habits, and large size, are marked objects, and are a tribe of birds which have fled before the inroads of population and agriculture. Abroad, in many of the districts where the Emu and Ostrich abounded in almost innumerable herds, they have become extremely rare, and are either entirely extirpated or driven to seek more retired plains, and like causes have, in a similar manner, reduced the numbers of our native Bustard to straggling instances of their occurrence. In some few stations they seem still to be preserved, and keep up a scanty stock, from which, perhaps, may stray the occasional specimens of whose capture we are generally made aware through the public prints.

Newmarket Heath and Salisbury Plain, Sussex or South Downs, Royston Heath, &c., are well known stations of old for these birds; and Devonshire, Wiltshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk, Lincolnshire, &c., are all mentioned as districts where occasional specimens have been seen or procured. So late as 1819, Mr. Yarrell states, upon “authority,” that nineteen were observed together at Westcape in Norfolk, where they are carefully preserved by the proprietor. In Scotland, we have very few records of them. Sibbald seems to think they appeared occasionally

unam non ita pridem in Lothiana Orientali visam fuisse.”⁴⁴

One was shot in 1803, in Morayshire, by William Young, Esq. of Boroughhead.⁴⁵

Mr. Mudie, in his British Birds, relates, that he saw two birds in the parish of Carmyllie, Forfarshire,

which I have no doubt, in my own mind, were bustards.⁴⁶

They were, however, seen early in the morning, at the distance of a quarter of a mile, and objects seen “against the sky,” at an early hour, oftentimes “seem forms of giants’ height.” In Ireland, Mr. Thompson states it as “extinct long since,” but it is enumerated in 1749, by Smith, as one of the birds of Cork. On various parts of the continent they appear still to be far from unfrequent. During winter and spring, we have often seen specimens for sale in the poulterers’ shops in the Palais Royal, for which from fifty to one hundred franks were asked. Spain, Italy, and the plains of Greece are its southern range; Sweden,⁴⁷ Russia, Tartary, and Lake Baikal⁴⁸ is its northern extent.

The Bustard is recorded to have been run with greyhounds, and to be an object of chase; and instances where specimens have been taken in this way are mentioned, one or two of not very ancient date. The bird is heavy, and does not readily take wing, but is described, at the same time, to be of very powerful flight; and it has always appeared to us, that those taken in this way must have been under particular circumstances, either of moult or fatigue. The rifle is also sometimes used; but, so far as we can learn, the ordinary fowling piece is by far the most fatal weapon employed against them. The male Bustard will stand two feet six or eight inches in height, and, when the lengthened feathers, which most of them possess on the throat, or sides of the jaw, are raised, they have a very hold and commanding appearance. The head, neck, and upper part of the breast, are bluish-grey, darker on the crown, which is often marked with a streak of brownish-black; the chin and long maxillary feathers of a paler grey; the tint of the neck and breast shades nearly into pure white on the belly, vent, and lower tail-covers; the lower part of the back of the neck, the back, rump, shoulders, and scapulars, are reddish-orange; the feathers crossed with entire and interrupted bars of black; the greater covers greyish-white; secondaries deep brownish-black; quills very powerful, the first narrow and acuminated, the others with the outer web suddenly broadening at about a third from the base, these wood-brown, becoming brownish-black at the tips; the central feathers of the tail are reddish-orange with white tips, and a black bar crossing at about an inch from the extremity, with another narrower towards the base. The more exterior feathers are greyish-white nearly pure at. the base, and slightly tinted with the reddish-orange near the black bar.

Grallatores or Wading Birds

In passing from the Rasorial birds, one link of connection is at once conspicuous between the Bustards, which we have just described, and the Charadriadæ. The form of the feet and tarsi, and mode of running among the plovers, remind us of them; but in the genera Tachydromus and Œdicnemus, we have very near approaches, particularly in the last or “Thick-knees,” several foreign species being as tall as some of the middle-sized bustards. Mr. Swainson again states, that the Herons, by means of the Cranes, show the greatest affinity to the Ostriches, being all very tall birds, in a great part terrestrial in habit; and though the wing is ample, it is comparatively not in much use. But, in a limited fauna, it is impossible to enter minutely into these alliances, without introducing many species that are foreign; suffice it to say, that we esteem the connection through the Charadriadæ as the most marked at the same; time, we shall commence the order, by describing the British members of the family of the Herons, or the

Ardeadæ

The greater proportion of which, as stated, are birds of large size all of them have the feet and; legs elongated, and particularly fitted for wading, and, by the assistance of a lengthened neck, they are enabled to survey the pools and waters in which they seek their food, and thus easily discover and secure their prey. The true Herons, of which we possess two native species, will show a typical example, and their habits, which we shall endeavour to describe, if we take them in connection with the physical character of the various countries inhabited by others, will be found, with such modifications as depend on these, to be very nearly a picture for the whole.

They are gregarious during the breeding season, and the colours of the plumage are chiefly shades of grey, intermixed with brown, black, and white, or yellowish-white. Most have the head adorned with a crest, greatly developed during the breeding season, at which time also the plumes on the back and breast become elongated into narrow flattened tips, which, indeed, is almost the only change occurring at this period.

Ardea Linnæus.—Generic characters.—Bill long, straight, compressed, sharp pointed, edges irregularly broken or serrated inwards; lores naked: tarsi lengthened, tibiæ naked about the joint; toes four, all placed on the same plane, and resting entirely on the ground, hindertoe about half the length of the middle; claw of the middle toe pectinated:—wings ample, rounded, very concave, third quill slightly longest; tail short:—plumage rather loose, plumes of the neck, breast, and back, elongated into narrow points during the breeding season; head generally crested.

Types, A. cinerea, herpdias, &c. Cosmopolite.

Note.—Often gregarious during the season of incubation. Breed on trees.

The Purple Heron

Ardea purpurea.—A. purpurea, Linn.—Heron pourpre, Temm.—Purple Heron, Purple-crested Heron, Crested Purple Heron, African Heron of British authors.

This beautiful Heron has been sufficiently often killed in England, to entitle it to the rank of a frequent occasional visitant. Its range in our islands, however, is confined to the south, for we know of no instance of its occurrence in Scotland, and Mr. Thompson has recorded its appearance in Ireland only once. We possess one native specimen killed in Norfolk, and many others are known to have been procured in different parts of the southern and eastern counties. It should be observed, however, that birds, “in the flesh,” frequently come to the London markets from the continent, and may be (to increase their value) given out as British-killed specimens. Its most abundant country is perhaps Africa, the north and eastern coasts and we have received it also from the Cape of Good Hope. “Mr. Franklin exhibited specimens, at the Zoological Society, that were brought by himself from India;”⁵⁷ and Java is given as a locality.⁵⁸

Of the habits of the Purple Heron we have no detailed account to a certain extent it will resemble the others, but there are, without doubt, peculiarities belonging to it. Neither do we know much of its nidification, whether it is gregarious during that season, or breeds singly. Temminck states, that the nest is made “dans les roseaux, ou sur les bois en taillis,” very rarely upon trees; and, altogether, the habits approach nearer to those of the bitterns than of the typical herons. Writers agree in stating, that it is far from being uncommon in Holland, where it also breeds, and where we have seen it nailed up to trees, among crows and birds of prey; if some details of its economy could be procured from thence, they would be interesting.

The upper parts, wings, tail, and under tail-coverts of the breeding state of this Heron are of a dark brownish-grey, deeper on the tail, quills, and coverts, and these are tinted with greenish reflections, having the dorsal plumes narrowed and elongated as in the last, the narrow tips being of a much paler tint, those at the sides longest, and of a pale reddish-brown. The forehead and crown are black, the feathers lengthening into a long narrow crest, while a line of the same colour is carried down the back. The feathers covering the ears are black, forming a narrow stripe from the rictus, joining the black of the occiput. On each side of the neck a narrow stripe descends, mingling with the more irregularly dark edges of the lengthened plumes. The throat and fore part of the upper neck are pure white, gradually shading into the chestnut-brown, which covers the cheeks and sides of the neck, not occupied by the black stripes. On the fore part of the neck each feather elongates until it attains the lengthened narrow form; on the upper parts, the one side of each is yellowish-white, the other black and thus irregular lines of these colours are formed, until the long tips become entirely yellowish-white. The centre of the breast and belly is black, bounded on each side with very deep purplish-chestnut or brownish-red. The thighs are pale brownish-red. The fore part of the tarsus and toes are brown, tinted with greenish; the hinder part of the tarsus and naked tibiae, yellow. The development of the feet, compared with the length of the tarsus, is much greater than in the last, the centre toe, with its claw, being nearly equal to the tarsus in length. The claws are much more lengthened, slender, and less bent. The bill is nearly pure gamboge-yellow, shading from brown upon the ridge and extremity of the mandible.

In a specimen which we received as a female, and in which the elongated feathers of both the breast and lower part of the neck were marked as in the last described, the upper plumage has a brown tint spread over, the occipital crest is short, and the stripes of black on the neck are only slightly indicated. The purplish-brown on the sides of the breast is not so deep, and none of the colours are so vivid or well defined.

In an immature bird, brown is the prevailing colour, the upper plumes being all broadly edged with it. The crown and occiput chestnut, without a crest, and the sides and fore part of the neck yellowish-white, marked on both with lengthened dashes of brownish-black; no elongated feathers either there or upon the back.

Egrets

Our next beautiful division of the Herons, is that of the Egrets, distinguished by a more slender form in every part, by the plumes on the back being very long and disunited, and in the plumage being generally pure white, and always pale at one period, either in the complete or incomplete plumage. Some of the lesser species, where the colours and form vary, serve to connect them with the small bitterns. They breed on trees, sometimes at only a few feet from the ground, but in general at a high elevation, and, with few exceptions, in the vicinity of water. The species are numerous, and spread over the world, and are often so closely allied, that there is great difficulty in distinguishing them, consequently, our synonymes are both numerous and often erroneous.

Egretta.—Generic characters.—Bill very slender, slightly bending at the tip; gonys not ascending; legs long; inner toe shorter than the outer; feathers of the breast, back, and scapulars, very long, and with the webs much disunited.

Types, Ardea alba, A. garzetta, luce, Bonap., &c.

The Great White Egret

Ardea alba.—Ardea alba, Linn.—White Heron, or Great White Heron of British authors.

This is even of rarer occurrence than the last, and, until within these few years, authentic accounts of its appearance were somewhat questionable, or rested on the authority of specimens which could not be then traced. At the meeting of the British Association, in 1838, Mr. Strickland stated his opinion, that this bird was improperly excluded, and stated three instances of its capture within a comparatively recent period in Yorkshire to these Mr. Yarrell; adds an instance of another, shot on the Isis in Oxfordshire. A specimen, of a White Egret, was also shot during last winter at Tyningham, the seat of Lord Haddington, in Haddingtonshire. This has been considered to be the large species, or that we are now describing, but we have not had an opportunity of examining it: and, according to the newspapers, a “White Heron” was several times seen during the same winter upon the shores of the Solway, on the English side, above Port Carlisle, which also may have been identical with the Great Egret.

In Northern or Central Europe, the Large Egret appears to be nowhere very abundant, but becomes more frequent in the Grecian Archipelago, in Turkey, and on the Asiatic boundary. White Herons brought from Continental India by Colonel Sykes, are considered identical in that gentleman’s catalogue, and it is a range very likely to be taken by the species. The American Large White Heron is distinct, and represents it in the New World. We have also another, closely allied, in New Holland.

We have not a British or European specimen before us, and we do not find descriptions agree exactly in the colour and dimensions of some of those parts (the bill and legs), on which, among the Egrets, the specific distinctions in many instances rest. The plumage of both sexes, and, so far as we know, of the young, is pure white, the crest and elongated dorsal feathers being emblems of the season of incubation. The adult birds measure in length three feet four or five inches. The dimensions of the bill and legs are given by

The colour of the bill is black, or deep wood-brown, yellow at the base and about the nostrils;⁵⁹ legs almost black.⁶⁰ In the young birds, Mr. Selby states, the bill and legs are greenish-black.

The Buff-Backed Egret

E. russata, Wagler.—Ardea Œquinoctialis, Penn. Red-billed Heron, Penn.—Little White Heron, Montague.—Ardea russata, Wagler.—Buff-Backed Heron, Selby, Yarrell.

The occurrence of this Egret in Britain, rests still on the solitary specimen obtained by Colonel Montague, and removed with his collection to the British Museum.

It was shot near Kingsbridge, in Devonshire; had been seen for several days in the same field, attending some cows, and picking up insects, which were found in its stomach.

The attendance on cattle is a curious habit in someof the Egrets, without doubt, on account of the insects that abound near them; in India, for this reason, some have received a provincial name, signifying “Cow or Cattle Heron.”

The Asiatic continent, from every authority, would seem the most abundant locality, or rather the real country of this bird; Upper Hindostan,⁶¹ the Dukhun,⁶² Java,⁶³ isles of Sunda, Japan,⁶⁴ Himalaya and Nepaul,⁶⁵ are all given as countries from where it has been received.

In the adult birds, the feathers, at the roots, are pure white, but on the head, neck, and breast, with the elongated feathers on the back, are of an ron-yellow; the remaining parts of the bird are pure white; the bill and legs are yellow, the joints of the latter and the toes darker.

Montague’s young specimen is described by him to be in

length about twenty inches the bill; two inches long to the feathers on the forehead, and of an orange-yellow. The whole plumage snowy white, except the crown of the head, and the upper part of the neck before, which are buff. Legs three inches and a-half long, and one inch and a-half of bare space above the knees these; parts are nearly black, with a tinge of green; the toes and claws are of the same colour the middle; claw pectinated.

The above agrees nearly with the description given by Wagler of the young state, the brown colour prevailing with the advance of age.

A detail of the habits and nidification of this Egret is still much wanted.

The Squacco Heron

E. ralloides.—A. ralloides, Scopoli.—Ardeacomata. Pall., Penn.—Heron crabier, Temm.—The Squacco Heron of British authors.

In form, this species begins to depart from the true Egrets. The legs are feathered nearly to the knees, as among the bitterns. It has occurred several times in the southern and eastern counties of England, but we do not learn of any instance of its capture either in Scotland or Ireland. One is recorded, so lately as July 1840, to have been killed near Kingsbridge, Devonshire. In Middle and Southern Europe it is more frequently obtained, also in Greece but Africa and; some parts of Asia are its true localities; further than that its habits are considered as similar to its congeners, we have little knowledge of them.⁶⁶

The extreme length of this Egret is from the head, or rather the head and nape are crested, the feathers amount in number to eight or ten, and are so long as to reach the back, they are pure white, relieved by a narrow border of black on each side. The wings, and lower parts of the bird, are nearly pure white, but the upper parts are almost hidden from view, by a series of long hair-like feathers, which spring immediately from behind the shoulders, and exceed the tail in length; these are of a deep sienna-yellow, tinged with purple on the back. It is from these plumes that the name “comata” of Pallas has been taken; and we may state here, that we have some doubt whether that name or “ralloides” of Scopoli should have the priority; the chin and throat are white, and the neck and breast are sienna-yellow. Mr. Selby states the base of the bill, for nearly two-thirds of its length, to be pale azure-blue, black towards the end. The legs dusky, tinged with red. Mr. Yarrell again describes the bill to be greenish-brown, darkest towards the point. The legs yellowish-brown. In the young birds, the plumage has no pure white, except that of the tail, which is nearly so, and the dorsal plumes are wanting; the colour is wood-brown, streaked on the head, neck, and wing-coverts, with a darker shade the bill and; legs are tinted with yellowish-brown.

Bitterns

Where one individual of a form is only present in a fauna, it is often difficult to show its gradations; and, were no more discovered, it might merge into the adjacent genera, as only a very aberrant species; but, where others appear of a like structure, and are seen carrying a representative type into other countries, it is often better, for the sake of facilitating the artificial arrangement, to separate them. In the Little Bitterns, we have some parts of the form of the small egrets strongly marked, but the feathers on the head and neck are more broadly formed, and those on the back and scapulars are without division or separation of the webs, the tarsi clothed to the knees the; manners very skulking, and the nidification said to be on the ground; in which habits, and in the very narrow and compressed form of their bodies, they show a close alliance to the rails. The Prince of Canino has apparently acted on the same principles, and has given to these birds, taking the Ardea minuta and Exilis as typical, the title of Ardeola (Bittern-Heron.) Our native species is

The Little Bittern

Ardeola minuta. Ardea, minuta, Penn, etc.—Heron blongios, Temm.—Botaurus minutus, Selby, etc.—Little Bittern-Heron, Penn.—The Little Bittern of British authors.

The Little Bittern-Heron has been frequently met with in many of the English counties, extending to the Scottish border, and it is supposed that they have also occasionally bred in this country, young birds having been procured in one instance,⁶⁷ and, in some others, the circumstances in which they were taken left little doubt that they had bred near the locality where they were killed.⁶⁸ A specimen is recorded to have been procured so far north as Sanda, in Orkney,⁶⁹ and Mr. Thompson has stated its occurrence once or twice in Ireland. Its extra British range is the south of Europe, parts of Asia and Africa, where, however, a representing species may yet be confounded. Its habits, except in confinement, are not recorded but it is said; to frequent marshes, by the sides of rivers, amidst aquatic brush-wood, and to make its nest upon the ground. Wilson, speaking of the American bird, which is so closely allied as to have led to confusion, says,—

Those we have seen in confinement skulk, and walk with the head drawn closely in, and without showing any portion of the neck;

which agrees with the manner in which it and other small species, kept in our British gardens, conduct themselves. Mr. Audubon, in describing them, states, that specimens he had in confinement were fed on small fish and stripes of pork, and were very expert in catching flies. They showed also great scansorial powers. In trying to escape from the windows, they could climb with ease from the floor to the top of the curtains, by means of their feet and claws. The nest of the American species is also described as placed on the ground, or a few inches above it, attached to the stems of reeds, and, in one or two instances, in bushes about three feet from the ground.⁷⁰

In the adult state of this bird, the crown and upper parts are black, richly glossed with green; the cheeks, neck, and wing-coverts, pale sienna-yellow, the under parts of a redder or browner tint, dashed with brown upon the flanks; the bill and legs are of a dark yellow, the former generally brightest, the legs feathered down to the tarsal joint. The young are without the dark glossy mantle, and have the feathers there brown, margined with a paler shade. The lower plumage and sides of the neck are yellowish-brown, on the sides of the neck occasionally streaked with white, and on the flanks with brown; the bill, legs, and feet, are of a greenish-brown.

Butor.—Antiquorum.—Generic characters.—Bill lengthened, compressed, and strong at the base, angle of the maxilla placed far forward; nostrils placed in a deep furrow, and partly covered with a membrane; legs proportionally short and strong, tibias partially bare, feet much developed, toes long and slender, claws long, slightly bent, that of the middle toe serrated; wings rather long, the three first quills longest, second rather exceeding.

Types, B. stellaris, lentiginosa, &c. Europe, Asia, Africa, America.

Note.—Nocturnal, skulking. Back of the neck bare of feathers; those of the sides elongated, covering it, but capable of erection. Nest large, placed on or near the ground.

The American Bittern

Butor lentiginosus, Ardea lentiginosa, Montague.—Botaurus mokoho, Vieill.—Heron lentigmeaux, Temm.—The Freckled Heron or Bittern, American Bittern of British authors.

The original British specimen of this Bittern fell under the observation of Colonel Montague, and was killed in Dorsetshire. Since the capture of that specimen, a few have been taken, chiefly in the southern or south-eastern counties of England, and a bird taken in the Isle of Man, the description of which was communicated to Mr. Yarrell, is thought to be also referable to this species. It has not yet been found in either Scotland or Ireland. Hitherto, this bird has been considered identical with the species of America, representing there our native bird. The Prince of Canino, however, places the A. lentiginosa, Montague, and the American bird (under the title of B. minor) opposite, or as representatives in form and markings the last, of course, distinct. We possess specimens of the American bird, but have had no opportunity of comparing it with European or British killed specimens, and the description underneath, is taken from a skin sent to us from South Carolina. In habits, as described by Wilson and Audubon, the species of America closely resemble those of the Common Bittern.

Length of the skin, from the point of the bill to the end of the tail, rather more than two feet; bill to the rictus four inches, being longer proportionally, more slender and heron-like than in the true Bitterns. Length of the naked space on the tibiae one inch; of tarsus three and three quarters; of the centre toe, including the claw, four inches. The ground colour of the plumage, except the wings, is ochreous-yellow, on the crown being dark chestnut, changing into that colour; on the neck the centres of the feathers are pale sienna-brown, and they want the “rayed” appearance of dark and light seen in the common bird; on the back and wings the markings, although somewhat similar, are much divided; the throat is white, a stripe of the pale ochreous running along its centre, and, on the lower parts, the general colour is considerably paler than above; each feather is marked on the centre with a dash of sienna-brown, which is bordered and minutely freckled with brown. The quills, instead of being irregularly barred and blotched with pale reddish-brown, as in the Common Bittern, are of a uniform dull brown, pale reddish towards the edge of the inner web, where the dark colour is shaded off by minute freckles; the .tail is sienna-brown, freckled minutely with blackish-brown. Such is the general description of an American bird, but the distinguishing mark is a broad patch of glossy greenish-black upon each side of the neck, arising below the auriculars, and passing backwards, so as nearly to meet at the back of the head. This occupies the place of the dark stripe in the European bird, but arises much farther back, and is much broader. The distribution of this bird has been considered as European and American.

Night-Herons

Following the true Bitterns, but of a stronger form, we have a small group of birds known under the Anglicised name of Night-Heron, or Night-Raven; the latter given evidently from the hoarse call uttered by them, and from their feeding during the night, and remaining inactive during the day. They are generally distributed over the different quarters of the world; breed in companies, and on trees, and have the plumage of some dark chaste shade of grey, olive, or brown, above; white below, but tinted in parts with the same colour as that of the upper parts; the head crested generally with three long narrow feathers.

Nycticorax.—Generic characters.—Bill strong, rather short, bending from the base, tip notched, cutting edges not serrated; legs feathered to the knees, inner toe shorter than the outer; head generally crested.

Types, N. Gardenii, Americanus. Cosmopolite.

Note.—Nocturnal, gregarious during incubation, breed on trees.

Storks

The Storks will naturally hold a place among the Ardeadæ, but their proper situation among them is yet a little uncertain; they are aberrant in the form, and, with the next, run more into some rasorial families. The Storks, in the extended value of the term, as that of a group, will include all those very large birds belonging to India, South America, and New Holland, and known under the common names of Jabiru, Adjutant, &c., and they are mostly remarkable in the selection of some insulated elevation for the position of their nests. These will form Several genera, but the bird of Europe, the Ciconia alba, we shall consider as typical of the true Stork, or

Ciconia.—Generic characters.—Bill lengthened, straight, very strong, sharp pointed; nostrils nearly basal, pierced in the horny substance of the bill, somewhat linear; legs very long; tibiæ naked; toes four, connected by a membrane, considerably developed between the outer and middle toe, the posterior toe short, articulated above the place of the rest; claws short, that of the middle toe not serrated; tail comparatively short; wings long, third and fourth quills longest.

Europe, Asia, Africa.

Note.—Often familiar; breed on insulated elevations.

Another fine Stork has been admitted to a place in our fauna,

The Black Stork

Ciconia nigra.—C. nigra, Will.—Ardea nigra, Linn.—Cicogne noire, Temm.—Black Stork of British authors.

The first specimen, taken in the British Islands, was in Somersetshire, in 1814, and it fortunately came into the possession of Colonel Montague, who published the record of its appearance, with an account of its habits during the period it continued alive in his possession.⁸⁰ Another was taken, in 1831, on the Thames, a third near Ipswich, and the last in November, 1839, in the Isle of Purbeck, at the south side of Poole harbour,⁸¹ Its native countries are said to be Switzerland, Hungary, and Turkey, building in secluded forests, on the tops of high trees.⁸² It is also found at the Cape of Good Hope⁸³ and Madeira.⁸⁴ It is easily tamed, and is an elegant species, its dark and glossy upper plumage contrasting beautifully with the white of its under parts, relieved by the deep red of the bill and legs.

Mr. Yarrell thus describes the bird in the Zoological Gardens.

The beak and naked skin around the eye are red, tinged with orange; the irides reddish-brown; the head and neck all round, upper surface of the body, wings, and wing-coverts, are glossy black, varied with blue, purple, copper-coloured, and green reflections; the primary quill-feathers and the tail, black; the whole of the under surface of the body, from the bottom of the neck to the ends of the under tail-coverts, white; legs and toes, orange-red; the claws black.

Spoonbills

In the genus, which we place next, we find birds possessing the form, and many of the habits, of the herons; the bill lengthened, but instead of that member being sharp-pointed and rough on the edges, fitted for darting at and securing a slippery and sometimes strong prey, we see it depressed, endowed with sensibility, and modelled somewhat upon the plan of the bill among the ducks.

Platalea.—Generic characters.—Bill long, straight, depressed, very flat, dilated towards the tip; nostrils basal, placed above, and near each other; legs long, naked above the tarsal joint; toes before partially webbed, posterior toe articulated slightly above the plane of the others; claws short, not serrated; wings long, second quill longest; head often crested.

Types, P. leucorodia, ajaja, &c.

Note.—Gregarious, breed on trees, sometimes swim. Europe, Asia, America.

Cranes

The next form has given some difficulty in assigning it a situation; it is more varied in habits and feeding, and, in internal structure, seems to approach nearer the Rasores than the typical Grallatores; but the British bird, when viewed in conjunction with the foreign species, and some of those large birds which were formerly associated with the genus, will be found to take its place, and fill up a wanting gap among the Ardeadæ.

Grus, Pallas.—Generic characters.—Bill strong, nearly straight, compressed, pointed; nostrils large and pervious; legs long, much of the tibiæ naked; toes strong, but comparatively short, the hinder toe short, articulated, high on the tarsus; wings ample, rather rounded, third quill longest; tertial feathers often elongated.

Types, G. cinerea, Americana. Europe, Asia, America.

Tantalidæ

This is another group of birds, of which we possess only one example in our fauna, the Glossy Ibis, evidently of form intermediate between some of the herons and Scolopacidæ. The family has been denominated, from another genus, Tantalus, having all the proportions somewhat similar, but much more developed. These birds, though partially aquatic, are gregarious, breed on trees, and many of them possess the large development of the secondary quills which we saw in the cranes, while, in others, the elongated feathers of the neck and breast of the herons are represented. In the genus Ibis, as now restricted to the type of I. rubra, falcinellus, &c., we have the form more slender, and running into that of the curlew division of the Scolopacidæ, and their habits are also more akin to them, frequenting the edges of marshes, the borders of rivers, and the sea shore.

Genus Ibis.—Generic characters.—Bill long, curved at the base, compressed, thickened, and powerful; mandible deeply grooved for its whole length; tip, without development for sense of touch; face, chin, and throat, sometimes naked; legs rather long, strong; tibiæ partially naked; feet strong; toes joined by membrane, hinder toe on the same plane with the others; wings long, second, third, and fourth, nearly equal and longest.

Types, I. rubra, falcinellus, &c. Europe, Asia, Africa.

Scolopacidæ

The Scolopacidcæ typically represented by the Snipes and Woodcocks, is well seen in our British list, by a numerous series of forms and species, all extremely interesting, and is, we believe, a favourite family with almost every ornithologist. By far the greatest proportion of them frequent extensive marshes, or the shores and banks of our coasts and rivers, retiring, for a time, to the inland moors or fens, to breed and rear their young. A few only are partial to woods and thick covers, where, however, they are to be found in marshy glades, or the moist and more exposed openings which occasionally prevail; many of them are much esteemed for the table, and by the sportsman. The plumage of all is coloured with chaste and subdued tints, and is often remarkable for the purity and distinctness of its markings. The young run immediately on being hatched. Several of the genera feed and perform their migrations by night, these have the eye proportionally large, and much developed. The bill is often furnished, at its tip, with a structure of high sensibility, by which it can discriminate by the sense of touch, the insects, &c., with which it comes in contact. The first form we notice, is that of the Woodcocks or Snipes, which we shall here keep together, though, by several intelligent ornithologists, they have been separated, partly on account of the more sylvan habits of the former, and partly from a slight difference in the feathering of the tarsi, or in the one set of birds being formed for a wading or more aquatic life than the other. Without doubt, the three known species of Woodcocks, all sylvan in their habits, could at once be separated by any one from the Snipes; but, at the same time, we have one or two intermediate birds which could not, assuming the distinctions we have stated as characters, be placed in either.

Genus Scolopax, Linn.—Generic characters.—Bill lengthened, straight, basally compressed, slightly curved at the tip, and there dilated; the tip of the maxilla fitting into that of the mandible; legs and feet slender tarsi of moderate length; tibiæ only for a short space naked, or altogether clothed with feathers; wings moderate, tips of the quills somewhat rounded, but the first or second longest.

Types, Scolopox rusticola, gallinnago, Sabinii, &c. Cosmopolite.

Note.—Habits of several, to a certain extent, sylvan, all migratory, or partially so. Squat on the approach of danger. Breeding and winter plumage similar.

Sabine’s Snipe

Scolopax Sabinii.—Vigors.¹⁰³

We have introduced this Snipe after the woodcock, in consequence of the intermediate form and colour it possesses between the true woodcocks (Rusticola of some authors) and the Snipe. The upper parts are nearly of a dusky-brown, varied by narrow bands of pale yellowish-brown. The under parts are also rufous dusky-brown, alternately barred with pale yellow-brown. The tail, containing twelve feathers, has the basal half black, the terminal half chestnut-brown, barred with black or blackish-brown. Tibiæ plumed entirely to the knees. The entire length of the bird is from ten to twelve inches, of which the bill will measure from two to three.

This interesting bird was described by N. A. Vigors, Esq., in the fourteenth volume of the Linnæan Transactions, from a specimen shot in Queen’s County, Ireland, on the 22d of August 1822. A second Irish specimen was afterwards procured and exhibited to the Zoological Society, by Mr. Thompson; and three other specimens have since been killed in England, the last near Morpeth, in Northumberland, which is the most northern range ascertained for the species. We are not aware, with certainty, of any extra European locality.

Of the habits of the Sabine Snipe we know little. That exhibited by Mr. Thompson was not procured until after the third shot, and showed no shyness or timidity, alighting, after being fired at, without flying far. The cry is described as different from that of the Common Snipe.

The Great Snipe

Scolopax major.—Scolopax major, Gmel.—Grandeou Double Becassíne, Temm.—Great Double or Solitary Snipe of British authors.

This species occurs, as a straggling bird of passage, chiefly in the south of our island, where, in some seasons, its occurrence is pretty frequent; but, as we reach the borders of Scotland, and proceed northward and westward, or into Ireland, it becomes more rare in its appearance. In Continental Europe it is also migratory; appears to be most common and to breed in Norway and Sweden, occurring in Central Europe only at uncertain periods, but also incubating in scattered localities in Holland. Specimens were sent from Trebizond to the Zoological Society, by Messrs. Dickson and Ross, but its extra European range is not ascertained; some of those foreign specimens, which were considered identical (that from America for instance), being found to be distinct.

It is remarkable, that in Britain the specimens of the Great Snipe have been almost all met with in autumn, comparatively few being found in the spring, or on their return northward. When found, it is generally alone, or in pairs, which has gained for it the appellation of “Solitary Snipe,” and it is said to be not shy in approach. It is at once distinguished by its heavier flight, and by its out-spread tail.

In comparison with the Common Snipe, the hill and legs are short; the tibiae bare for only a short distance above the tarsal joint. The upper parts exhibit the general distribution of colouring and marking seen in the Snipes, the distinctions in which, between species, it is almost impossible to point out in words, but the under parts, to the breast, are pale ochreous, below that nearly white in the former, the latter having the feathers barred with black, the markings covering the whole under surface; the wings are short and rounded in all their proportions; the edges of the innerwebs very slightly tinted with a pale rufous, and minutely and delicately mottled with greyish-black (as in Tringa rufescens), though not so conspicuously; the axillary leathers with very broad and distinct black bars; tail very much concealed by both upper and under coverts; the centre feathers black, with rich rufous-orange tips, finished by a black and a white narrow bar; the four exterior feathers, on each side, white on the inner webs, more or less barred with black on the outer, and those next the centre being tinted with reddish-orange.

The Common Snipe

Scolopax gallinago, Linn.—Scolopax gallinago, Linn.—Becassíne ordinaire, Temminck.—Snipe, or Common Snipe of British authors.

The Common Snipe is abundant over the whole of Great Britain and Ireland, and is familiarly known to every sportsman. Many birds permanently remain, but in all districts we believe that a partial migration takes place, and we receive a large accession of numbers about the period of the arrival of our earliest winter visiters, which again, in part at least, remove with the coming spring. The general character of the English counties is rather unfavourable for this bird, but wherever these are suitable, it abounds. As we proceed to the northward, the moisture and moorlands increase, and with them the Snipe, and it reaches and increases in numbers, even to the most distant of the Hebrides. In the breeding season, the relative frequency of incubation is comparative with its numbers; and, on reaching the Scottish border, it may be said to breed every where. The localities preferred at this time, are the edges of marshy grounds; or, where these are very extensive, some drier spot amidst the lower moors, and the borders of the northern lochs. In the south, the marshes in the commons, and the open marshy valleys in the tracts called forests, are frequented by them. The nest is placed on some dry raised tuft or hillock, and it is a pressed or scraped hollow, the little herbage that is present being used, rather than a nest formed of carried materials. At this season, or when the pairing has commenced, the birds may be heard piping among the herbage, or may be both seen and heard in the air, performing their evolutions, and uttering the loud drumming sound, which, at one time, gave rise to so much discussion in regard to the manner Hi which it was performed. The sound is never heard except in the downward flight, and when the wings are in rapid and quivering motion; their resistance to the air, without doubt, causes the noise, which forms one of those agreeable variations in a country walk, so earnestly watched for by the practical ornithologist.

After incubation, the young may still be found near their breeding places, and it is not until the weather becomes variable, that they, according to circumstances, begin to shift their ground. We have often found them abundant in the low and sheltered marshes, and the day following sought the same ground, scarcely meeting with a bird. The same occurs on the upland wet pastures, and they come in and remove with the night. Frost has a similar effect on their motions, but in very severe weather, this drives them to be pretty stationary until the next change. They are also sometimes found in grounds having a considerable growth of scattered willow or alder, where the woodcock would rather have been looked for; and, in a very severe winter, we have seen Snipes come to the garden, and perch on the cabbages and greens along with the wood-pigeon, apparently in search of any moisture held between the blades.

From the close resemblance and alliance of some apparently distinct species of Snipe to that of Britain, the exact geographical range has not been ascertained; by some it is made to be extremely wide, while by others, again, it is almost restricted to Europe. Both are probably wrong, and much of our authority rests on the evidence of sportsmen; Lloyd, in his Northern Field Sports, finds it abundant in the north of Europe. Mr. Yarrell, on the authority of Mr. Dann, states, that it “breeds in extensive morasses and swamps, in the mountainous districts of Norway and Sweden.” From Scona to Lapland it is widely distributed. Russia and Siberia are given to it by Pennant; the vicinity of Smyrna by Mr. Strickland. It is enumerated in the Sumatran Catalogue of Sir Stamford Raffle’s collection. The birds of America are distinct.

The markings of the plumage of many of the Snipes is so similar, that there is great difficulty in describing them so as to show specific distinctions. The general upper ground colour of the Common British Snipe is deep brownish-black, and this is varied by the light wood-brown edges of the feathers, which are so distributed in many parts as to run in lines. The colour of the crown is divided by a central pale line produced in this manner; from the nostrils, over each eye, another broad line stretches, and from the gape to the eye there is a blackish-brown streak of uninterrupted colour; on the back of the neck, from the centres of the feathers only being dark, an irregularly varied mixture is produced; but upon the back scapulars and long tertials, the feathers are edged with a broad margin of clear wood-brown, which runs in lines along the back; the lower part of the back, when the long tertials are laid aside, is nearly black, each feather tipped with white, producing altogether a distinctly and beautifully varied appearance. Beneath, the chin is white or yellowish-white; the throat and breast dark wood-brown, the feathers of a deeper tint in the centre, the colours shading into pure white on the lower part of the breast, belly, and vent. The tail contains fourteen feathers, the two in the centre black, tipped with reddish-orange for the length of half an inch; this pale tint is sometimes mottled with black, and is crossed near the tip with a narrow dark bar; the other feathers to the exterior, are greyish-black, the reddish-orange extending further down, varied and clouded with the dark ground colour of the feathers; the outer feather is white at the tip, and on the outer web. When running, the Snipe jerks with its tail, spreading and expanding it like a fan, and often placing it in a lateral position; the shafts of the feathers bend inwards, that of the outer having a distinct angular curve.

Macrorhamphus

Next to the Snipes, and by some persons among them, has been placed a rare British bird, forming the genus Macrorhamphus of Leach. It is, in reality, a marine Snipe, with the plumage and seasonal changes of the tringæ.

Genus Macrorhamphus, Leach.—Generic characters—Bill long, slightly dilated at the tip, and there incurved and rugose above and below; mandible and maxilla furrowed until near the tip; nostrils basal, pervious; wings long, first and second quills longest, and nearly equal; small bastard quill narrow and rigid; legs, with the tibiae, naked for half the length; outer toes connected by a web to the first joint, hinder toe resting on its tip only.

Type, M. griseus.

Note.—Frequents the sea coasts, and is seldom seen inland; breeding and winter plumage dissimilar. Distribution, Europe, America.

The Brown Longbeak

Macrorhamphus griseus, Leach.—Macrorhamphus griseus, Leach, Selby.—Scolopax grisea, Penn., Mont., Jenyns, Temm.—Brown Snipe, Brown Longbeak, Red-breasted Snipe, Grey Snipe of British authors.

This bird is properly a native of North America, and reaches as far north as the fur countries, even to the Arctic Sea,¹⁰⁶ during the season of incubation; has been killed six or seven times in this country, and was first noticed, as a distinct species, by the indefatigable Montague. These have occurred chiefly in the south, and no instances have been noticed of its being met with either in Scotland or Ireland, the most northern range recorded, being that of a specimen killed near Carlisle, in the possession of Mr. Heysham.¹⁰⁷ In Northern Europe¹⁰⁸ it seems to be likewise uncommon, occurring only as a straggler.

The entire length of the bird will be about ten or ten and a-half inches, of which the bill measures from two and a-quarter to two and three-eights, and in the whole form and appearance, it is not unlike the Knot (Triga canutus), to be afterwards described. The plumage also has a good deal of the character of that bird, in the summer state being above broadly marked with black, cut into by narrow waves of brownish-yellow; the rump and tail-coverts are white, the tip of each feather marked with a crescent-formed spot of black on the tip, and barred diagonally with the same colour; the tail is also white, slightly tinted with rufous, and with all the feathers barred with black; beneath, the throat, neck, breast, and flanks, are orange-brown, each feather tipped and barred with black, these colours gradually disappear downwards, and the centre of the belly, with the vent, are pure white. In the winter, the plumage is of a greyish-brown on the head and neck, deeper on the hack and wings, and these, in some states, having the feathers edged with paler margins. There is a tinge of rufous on the breast, but the lower part and the belly, with the chin, are white; the tail and its coverts are similar in all states, a slightly deeper rufous tinge on the former during summer; the axillary feathers are white, barred with black; quills are deep hair-brown, shafts of the first broad and white. It may be observed, that, from the month of April until winter, various intermediate states of plumage are passed through, often very beautiful; the young exhibit a good deal of rufous on the under parts, when in their first feathers.

Godwits

With the last we entered into a race of birds, remarkable in the changes incident to the plumage between the breeding season and winter. In the genera which are now to follow, it is very dissimilar, assuming in some, colours of bright chestnut-red, mingled with deep black, in others of grey, also decidedly marked with black and white. This difference in appearance has given rise to a varied synonimy, and often to one species being described as several distinct birds. The Godwits, Limosa, frequent the open coasts during winter, and breed in inland marshes, differing from the true snipes in the habit of never frequenting or skulking among cover of any kind, and of being extremely noisy and vociferous when their nest or young is approached the change and colours of their plumage, and their whole structure, adapted for an open, partly maritime life, not for seeking their chief sustenance by boring into soft marshes, and seizing their slender and minute prey by the sense of touch rather than that of sight.

Limosa, Brisson.—Generic characters.—Bill very long, strong at the base, compressed, bending upwards; mandible smooth, rounded, slightly dilated at the tip, projecting beyond the maxilla; wings long, quills with the shafts very strong, flattened, first longest; legs long; tibiæ naked for the greater part of their length; outer toes connected by a membrane more than half the length of the basal joint; hind-toe articulated on the tarsus.

Types, L. melanura, rufa, &c.

Note.—Habits maritime, gregarious in winter, clamorous in breeding season. Europe, Asia, America.

The Common or Red Godwit

Limosa rufa, Briss.—Red-breasted Snipe, Mont., (summer plumage.)—Scolopax leucophea, Lath. Grey Godwit, Linn., (winterplumage.)—Common or Red Godwit of British authors.

This species, though more abundant and more generally distributed than the last, is by no means common, and their general time of appearance is in autumn, remaining with us during the winter, on the low lying shores of our islands, where the beach is soft, and there are rivers, or small streams from springs. They appear at that season in small parties, which have left the district where incubation had been carried on, and now mingle with other allied birds, but are easily known at a distance by their more compact form, and by the length of their bill, which is seen boring into the soft sand or mire. On taking wing their shrill cry, or “Whelp,” at once betrays them. We have shot many specimens, on the low shores between Holy Island and the Northumbrian coast. The Merse, at Skinburness, and banks of the Wampoole on the Solway, are localities where we have never missed parties of them in the end of August and in September, mingling with several others the Totani and Tringæ, which are considered of less common occurrence on the border. In Ireland they are “a regular autumnal visitant.” From the information we possess and can procure, the range of this bird is much more limited than that of the last, does not appear to reach so far north, and, out of Europe, parts of Continental India and the East India Islands, are its best authenticated localities. These are given on the authority of Temminck.

This bird, with the exception of the longer legs and variegated tail, much resembles the last. In summer, the whole head and neck, breast, and all the lower parts, are of a subdued orange-red of uniform tint. The centre of the feathers on the crown, lower parts of the back of the neck, being broadly marked along the centres with blackish-brown, which extends upon the sides of the breast in narrow streaks. The lower eyelid is white. Above, the ground colour is rich purplish blackish-brown, the feathers deeply cut into with ochraceous and pale reddish-orange; on the shoulders and wing-coverts the tint approaches more to clove-brown, each feather edged with white, and these are generally intermixed with feathers of a darker colour, cut into with red; but we do not find in that part that the whole plumage assumes the summer tints. The rump and tail-coverts in this state are white, tinted with rufous, and have the centre of the feathers dark, the tail-coverts often become entirely rufous, barred with blackish-brown; the quills are deep blackish-brown at the tips and along the outer webs, shading into white on the edge of the inner, and becoming there mottled with hair-brown. The tail is greyish-white, tinted with rufous, the tip of each feather white, the shafts of very deep clove-brown, with irregular but decided bars crossing each feather of the same colour. The axillary feathers are white, crossed diagonally with clove-brown, set in distinct bars, and in this is easily distinguised from the last, where they are pure white. In the winter state, the head in all its parts is greyish-white, broadly marked along the centre of the feathers with clove-brown. The neck and breast are wood-brown, the centre of each feather darker, and this shades into a very pale tint, approaching almost to pure white on the vent and lower tail-coverts, having the shafts of the feathers on the flanks, only relieving it by a dark thread-like streak. In specimens in this state, the axillary feathers show little of the angular barring, but have only an interrupted patch on the webs. On the upper parts, the ground colour is very rich purplish clove-brown, cut into with yellowish-white or pale wood-brown, in the centre of the back having the markings running in lines, and on the shoulders and coverts, having the edgings so broad, as almost to give the pale tint to those places. The rump is pure white, very conspicuous during flight; the upper tail-coverts and tail similar, now without any rufous tint, and are very distinctly barred with deep clove-brown. The bill, in both states, is blackish-brown for more than half its length, becoming paler towards the base, and there tinted with pink. Feet and legs dark greyish-green.

Totanus

In the next genus, some of the species are of comparatively small size, and resemble the true sandpipers or tringæ; the typical birds, however, are equal in size to the snipes, and stand higher upon their legs, have the bill hard at the tip, and seek their food without boring for it among the soft mud or sand; they are more fluviatile or lacustrine in their habits, most of them frequenting the sea coasts less frequently; the seasonal changes of plumage are less marked in many than in Limosa, but in some it is as complete, the colour in summer being black or very deep grey, instead of red and chestnut, changing in winter to pale clear shades of grey.

Totanus, Bechstein.—Generic characters.—Bill of mean length, sometimes slightly bending upwards, rather slender, rounded, the tip of the mandible bending over that of the maxilla, hard and sharp pointed; legs long, slender, naked above the tarsal joint; the toes, in front, connected with a slight basal membrane; wings rather long; scapulars elongated.

Types, T. fuscus, glottis, hypoleucus, macularius, &c.

Note.—Cosmopolite (N. H. excepted?) Breed in marshes, habits more lacustrine than maritime, plumage in some undergoing a seasonal change.

Redshank

Totanus calidris.—Scolopax calidris, Linn.—Totanus calidris, Bechstein.—Chevalier gambette, Temm.—Redshank or Pool Snipe, Red-legged Sandpiper or Horseman, Gambet of modern British authors.

This species is one of the most common of the larger British Totani, and although breeding in marshes, is perhaps more decidedly a maritime species than the others. It is also interesting, as showing an intermediate colouring, in the breeding season, between red and dark grey. In a few localities, on the Scottish coasts, it is stationary during the whole year; these are, where some suitable marsh is near for a breeding place; in this the nest is formed on, or sheltered by some tuft or bush of rank aquatic herbage; and the birds, on the approach of any stranger, are very clamorous, flying about with a slow quivering flight, uttering their shrill whistle, to which is now imparted an additional degree of wildness, and having their bright orange legs stretched out, and sometimes dangling behind them. We have several times procured them in the breeding season, and with the young, in a marsh such as we have noticed, on the banks of the Solway at Southerness, where a few pairs annually breed. It has also been found breeding in stations in Sutherlandshire, near Lairg, and at the head of Lochnaver. Several broods afterwards join on the shore, and continue together in parties, consisting of from a dozen to fifty. They are very wary, and, when taking wing, almost always utter their alarm note; but, if come upon unawares, from behind some rock or other cover, this note or scream is extremely loud and wild, and is always taken as a signal by the other birds feeding around. They feed on the sand banks and shell scalps, and rest at the full tide, assembling on the tops of the first appearing rocks as the waters recede; frequenting the same places, and following the same flights, day after day, so that persons may, by a little observation, easily conceal themselves in a situation which they are certain at a particular time either to pass or alight near. During winter their habits are nearly similar, and they are almost always to be met with on our coasts; but we have never seen them even as stragglers upon our lochs and rivers, as the Greenshank and some other maritime Totani frequently are.

The Redshank is also generally distributed over the greater part of Europe. Out of Europe, Japan is given to it.¹¹⁵ The Northern Zoology states, that a specimen from “Hudson’s Bay exists in the British Museum;” but it is not admitted by the Prince of Canino, to his last comparative list, as an American bird. We possess several birds from continental India, in their winter and young dress, which we refer to the Redshank; they are slightly larger, but present no other material difference.

In the dress of the summer, the Redshank has the prevailing colour of the upper parts (with the exception of the rump) hair-brown, with an olive gloss or reflection, such as is seen in the plumage of T. hypoleucus, each feather being darker along the centre, and many of them being barred with brownish-black and dull rufous the bird we describe from was killed from the nest, and is therefore in the complete breeding plumage. Some specimens are more or less intensely marked with the dark and rufous colours, but we believe that they never completely and regularly cover the upper plumage as in some of the tringæ; lower part of the back and rump, pure white. Underneath, the ground colour is white, the centre of each feather on the throat, neck, and breast, broadly marked with blackish-brown, and tinted with rufous; on the belly, flanks, and under tail-coverts, the markings are equal in intensity, but run more in the form of bars; quills are brownish-black, the shaft of the first white, and the tips of the four or five last pure white, the pale space longer in extent towards the last quill, and here barred and freckled with greyish-brown; secondary quills pure white, with distant indistinct bars of white towards the ends; the markings towards the base darker, irregular, and more crowded; the upper tail-coverts white, barred with black; the tail white, approaching to grey or hair-brown at the tip, barred with black, and tinted with rufous. Before appearing in the livery of winter, the flocks present many modifications of plumage. Out of a large flock, on the Solway Frith, in the end of August, we were once so fortunate as to procure thirteen specimens at one shot; among these, the upper part had, in the greater part, assumed the uniform hair-brown of winter, but many of the darkly marked and barred feathers were still interspersed; on the lower parts the white was more pure, but there still more or less dotted and barred with blackish-brown; on both, however, and indeed on the whole, all tinge of rufous had disappeared. In the perfect winter dress, the upper parts are of uniform greyish hair-brown; the lower parts pure white, dashed with narrow longitudinal streaks of grey on the throat, neck, and sides of the breast; on the flanks, the markings assume the form of irregular bars; and the centre of the breast and belly, with the vent, are unspotted; in both these states the base of the bill is rich tile-red; the legs and feet bright orange. In the young birds the upper parts are wood-brown, each feather edged on the margins with yellowish-white, on the wings and long tertials these markings become more decided, and are often surrounded by a darker shade; the grey markings on the lower parts are broader and more crowded, and on the breast form almost the prevailing colour the colour of the; base of the bill and the legs is less vivid. It may be remarked, that several of the specimens received from India are in this young state of plumage.

Greenshank

Tontanus glottis.—Scolopax glottis, Linn.—Le Chevalier aboyeur, Temm.—Greenshank, Green-legged Horseman of modern British authors.

In Scotland, whether in summer or in winter, the Greenshank is only a straggling visitor, in summer being confined to the extreme north, where it breeds sparingly, and in autumn or winter being met with singly, as young birds, on their migration from the breeding places, or in pairs. In the southern parts of our island it seems equally straggling, its nidification there being unknown, consequently, the autumn or winter are the only times when it is seen. A few years since, authentic accounts of its nidification in Britain were wanting; when, in the summer of 1834, several pairs were met with breeding by myself and Mr. Selby, and some others, during an excursion to Sutherlandshire; the season, however, being advanced, the young only were procured, which did not differ from similar states of the sandpipers, except in the down being of a grey or hair-brown colour, instead of the more umber and ochreous tints which characterise the same state in the Redshank. The nest was not seen, but the places selected, and where we found the young, were in low marshy hollows, in one instance surrounded with brushwood. The parents were extremely clamorous, flying around, sometimes with rapid evolutions, at others, with the legs stretched out behind, arid with the slow beat of the wing, peculiar to this and allied families during this season. They approached very near, and, at intervals, would alight on a large stone, or upon the highest twigs of the brushwood,¹¹⁶ uttering at the same time their wild and plaintive note. The young, in their first plumage, we have often met with, by the sides of the Highland lochs, which had evidently been bred in this country. In the south of Scotland (in our own vicinity) they are frequently, in autumn, observed in the evening, flying or passing over at a considerable elevation, as if on some passage or migration, and are betrayed by their noisy notes. During winter one or two individuals are seen, and occasionally procured, by the river side, or near some wide ditches arid we have also; frequently seen them, and have shot the young birds, on the banks of the Tweed, between Kelso and Coldstream. According to Mr. Yarrell, its occurrence in the south is, in a similar manner, only at times; and he states, that they are most frequently found in the London market in April and May, when beginning to assume the dark markings of their summer plumage, and, we have no doubt, they are at that time on their passage northward. In Ireland, according to Mr. Thompson, it is occasionally met with, but has not been known to breed there.

If the evidence of other observers is good, the Greenshank has a most extensive European, as well as extra European range, being met with nearly over all the Continent of Europe; near Smyrna, in winter,¹¹⁷ Trebisond,118 India and China,¹¹⁹ Bengal, islands of Sunda, the Moluccas,¹²⁰ and Java.¹²¹ The North American bird mentioned by various authors, has been placed by the Prince of Canino as T. Floridanus, and we know that a nearly allied species has often been confounded with the true European bird.

The change exhibited by this species is not nearly so marked as in the last, at the same time, it presents many differences. In the breeding state of birds shot in Sutherlandshire, from the nests, and with the young accompanying them, the crown and back of the neck appeared greyish-black, having the colour broken by narrow edgings of white on each feather on the centre; of the back the colour was nearly black, the edges of the feathers slightly cut into with white, and having the plumage intermixed with a hair-brown tint, giving these parts a patched or irregularly marked appearance, in which the masses of black were conspicuous; the long tertial feathers were hair-brown, paler and with a grey tint on the edges, having the shafts, and a series of diagonal bars, which lose themselves before reaching the centre, dark clove-brown; the shoulders and quills are greyish-black, the inner webs of the latter shading to a paler tint, and the shaft of the first only being white; the centre of the back, the rump, and upper tail-coverts, pure white tail of; the same colour, except the centre feathers, which are tinted with a brownish-grey; the whole irregularly, and in a broken manner, barred with clove-brown; all the under parts are pure white; the sides of the neck streaked along the centre of each feather with greyish-black; the feathers on the middle of the neck, and on the breast, being marked with an oval spot of the same colour, which marking extends irregularly downwards on the sides and flanks, taking on the latter the form of bars, and leaving the centre of the belly and vent very pure; the axillary feathers are narrowly waved across with hair-brown. In a specimen shot upon the Annan, in winter, there is a much greater mixture of white on the crown and back of the neck, and the dark markings are not so deep, the whole appearance being of a greyish tint; on the back, tertials, and wings, the colour is a greyish hair-brown, each feather edged with a much paler shade, succeeded by a narrow line of clove-brown, which often runs into the last barrings, seen in the summer state, particularly on the long tertials. In all the feathers the shaft is dark, and meets this dark line with a dilated end; the tail is similar, except in having fewer dark bars, the inner webs of the outer feathers being unmarked; the centre feathers are of a deeper grey, and have indications of the dark line upon the edges; the under parts are pure white, the shafts only on the sides of the neck and breast being dark, and on the latter having the colours dilated at the tips. In a young specimen, apparently in the plumage of the first year, all the upper parts are clove-brown, having the feathers cut into with wood-brown, particularly on the long tertials and coverts, where they take the form of regular triangular markings; the sides of the breast are crossed with irregular clove-brown bars, reaching, without being interrupted, to the flanks; the tail is as in the adult, but without the centre greyish feathers, and has the white warts tinted with rufous wood-brown.

The Green Totanus

Totanus ochropus, Temm.—Tringa ochropus, Linn.—Totanus ochropus, Temm., etc. Chevalier cul blanc, Temm.—The Green Sandpiper of British authors.

The birds belonging to the genus Totanus which we have described, were of considerable size, and attained proportions a little different from the other British species, and some others of a like form. They also showed a more distinct variation or plumage during the season of incubation, in one of them (that represented Plate XIV), as decided and marked as in any of the allied forms, or of the Charadriadæ or Tringæ. In the three or four beautiful birds which we have now to describe, the plumage is much more unbroken in its colours, and is confined to a dark shade above, and commonly pure white beneath, sometimes marked on the throat and breast with grey, or greenish-grey, distributed in streaks or spots. The Green Totanus is one of the most distinctly marked, arid, to the practical ornithologist, is always a bird of great interest, being seen only at rare intervals, startling the intruder by its clear whistle when first raised, and enticing him to follow, from its shyness and the fine contrast its white rump has with the upper plumage during flight. In Scotland it is met with in about equal numbers with the last, but has not been known to breed in the north; its most frequent appearance is in spring and autumn, particularly the latter, when it is evidently on its passage. In autumn it appears most commonly from the end of August to October, and is met with on the low moors, singly, or in pairs. Scarcely an autumn passes without one or two being seen in such localities, generally single, always extremely shy, and never remaining on the spot beyond twenty-four hours. The specimens alluded to by Mr. Yarrell, as shot in Dumfries-shire, were killed in spring, at the mouth of a small tributary of the Annan, where they remained some days notice having been sent to Mr. Murray of their being there, as a bird not known: they had also been seen near the same spot in previous years. Once or twice the Green Totanus has been seen near Jardine Hall in winter, stationary for some weeks, frequenting the banks of the Annan, where it is was soft, or some large ditches. One was shot in January 1836, which had remained for some time, and was frequently seen in some ditches, sheltered all around with wood. When disturbed, it would not continue flitting along the ditch, but would at once rise over the trees, and leave for the time; its return being often intimated by its shrill whistle, when passing in, before alighting. In the south of England it appears to be more frequent, decreasing northward; and, although there is no instance on record of the nest being found, it is more than probable that a few pairs have occasionally brought out their young. Mr. Blyth and Mr. Salmon consider that it does; and, from the old birds being by others also met with in summer, and young specimens in the first plumage (but quite able to migrate), having been killed very early in autumn, it has been concluded that it may occasionally incubate with us. In Ireland it is seen in somewhat similar proportions. Over the Continent of Europe, from all accounts, it is pretty equally distributed, but is no where very abundant, and regular breeding-stations seem scarcely to be mentioned with sufficient authenticity. Out of Europe, India¹²² and Japan¹²³ have been given to it; but we have no representative placed opposite in the Prince of Canino’s comparative list; T. chloropigius occupying the representing place of the next. Nevertheless, it may be occasionally found in North America, as it is stated in the Northern Zoology, that an individual

exists among a collection of birds from the fur countries, sent to the British Museum by the Hudson’s Bay Company.

In the specimen alluded to, as killed at Jardine Hall in winter, the head and nape, with a narrow streak above the rictus, are clove-brown between; the base of the bill, reaching halfway over each eye, is a triangular patch of white; all the other upper parts, except the tail-coverts, are blackish-green, tinted with brown, and with a bronzed and glossy lustre, each feather being marked on the outer webs with small triangular spots of dusky-white, relieved by a darker shade interiorly; the quills are greenish-black, having the shafts of the same colour; the rump is of a greyer tint than the upper parts; tail-coverts pure white the tail; white, the centre feathers to the third from the outside having three distinct broad black bars towards the tip, the third from the outside with two only, the second with a spot on the outer web, the exterior feather entirely white; on the under surface of the body the ground colour is entirely pure white; the cheeks, sides of the neck, and breast, being marked with narrow streaks and triangular spots of clove-brown in the centre of the feathers; the under wing-coverts are greyish-black, bordered with white, the axillary feathers of the same colour, and very narrowly barred with white; the bill, feet, and legs, blackish-green.

The Wood Totanus

Totanus glareola, Temm.—Tringa glareola Penn., Mont., etc.—Chevalier sylvain, Temm.—Totanus glareola, the Wood Sandpiper of British authors.

This bird has been considered a much rarer British visitant than the last, with which it was long confounded, though it has of late years appeared more frequently. It was first brought into notice by Colonel Montague. Many of the specimens mentioned seem to have been taken in spring and early in summer, its appearance in autumn being less frequent. To the northward, in England, we trace it to Northumberland, but, hitherto, we are not aware of any specimen killed in Scotland. In Ireland, with the last, it is recorded as a “summer visitant," from which we are not sure whether straggling birds occur, or that a few remain to breed. Out of Britain, it is recorded as met with in Norway and Lapland,¹²⁴ South Africa,¹²⁵ India,¹²⁶ Chili, and islands of the Pacific;¹²⁷ perhaps the last locality may be doubtful, and will require comparison. The specimens of T. affinis, Horsf., from Java, have also been considered identical, and we have received numerous specimens from Singapore, Java, &c., which are closely allied, though a comparison with many British or European specimens has been wanting. Mr. Jerdan states, that the T. glareola is common every where on the peninsula of India.

In a continental specimen before us, the upper parts are very deep clove-brown, tinted with umber-brown, on the crown and nape having the appearance of being narrowly streaked with white; on the back and wings the feathers are deeply cut into with white, and are sometimes tipped and edged with yellowish-white; the tail-coverts are white; the tail, with the centre feathers, grey towards the tip; the basal half, and the others, pure white, barred to the base with black, the outer feathers having the bars fewer or indistinct on the inner webs; the ground colour of the under parts is entirely white on the cheeks and sides; of the neck streaked with clove-brown; on the lower parts of the neck and breast closely marked with triangular spots, which stretch upon the flanks, and gradually assume the form of bars; the vent is dashed with black in the centre of the feathers the under tail-coverts barred with the; same colour; the axillary feathers pure white, clouded with hair-brown; bill and legs appear to have been blackish-green, the length of the naked space above. the tarsal joint fully seven-eighths of an inch.

In the Singapore specimens, and those from the Indian islands, the colour above is much more uniform, but this may be caused from the European specimen having been killed in summer there is; also little marking on the breast, that part being of a uniform shade; the axillary feathers show a greater disposition to have the markings; the centre tail-feathers show a slight difference of appearance and marking, and the naked space, above the tarsal joint, is in length scarcely five-eighths of an inch. We do not perceive much difference in the markings of the secondary quill-feathers. Dr. Horsfield states,

it differs principally in the marks of the secondary quill-feathers, and in the lower continuation of the covering of the tibiæ.

Additional comparisons of birds, from all the localities given, should still be made.

Ruffs

The next form, separated from the Totani and true Tringæ, is very remarkable, both on account of the singular development of feathers on the neck during the breeding season, and for the variations in the colouring by which these are marked, no two individuals being exactly similar.

Machetes, Cuvier.—Generic characters.—Bill straight, rather slender, tip slightly dilated and smooth; wings long and pointed, first and second quills longest; legs long, naked above the tarsal joint; outer toe somewhat palmated; hallux articulated on the tarsus.

Type, M. pugnax. The only species known.

Note.—Polygamous. Head of the male during the season of breeding covered with fleshy warts or papillæ; neck adorned with lengthened feathers. Distribution, Europe, Africa.

Tringæ

The true Tringæ, or Maritime Sandpipers, may be placed next. They are gregarious at all times, except during incubation, assembling in vast flocks, and frequenting, almost entirely, the sea shores, or marshes adjacent to them, a few being found in pairs, on the shores of our largest inland lakes, while breeding. Their changes during summer are black and chestnut, or grey and black.

Tringa of authors.—Generic characters.—Bill of the same length, or slightly longer than the head, often gently curved, soft and pliable; wings rather long, sharp pointed, the first quill longest; tarsi and feet of middle length (proportionally shorter than in Limosa, Totanus, or Machete;) toes slightly joined at the base, and narrowly fringed on the edges with a membrane; hallux small, articulated on the tarsus.

Types, T. canutus, variabilis, maritima, &c.

Note.—Gregarious in winter. Cosmopolite.

The Knot

Tringa canutus, Linn.—Tringa canutus, Flem., Selby, etc.—Tringa lslandica, Penn. (summer plumage.)—T. cinerea, Penn. (winter plumage.)—Red and Ash-coloured Sandpiper, Penn., etc. (in summer and winter plumage The Knot of British authors.

This bird, from its very different seasonal dress, has also undergone a variety of nomenclature, but is now understood in its changes. It is not known as a summer bird with us, or as breeding in this country, although it remains sufficiently long to attain its full breeding dress, and often returns with it only partially changed. It is by no means uncommon, though the range is not so extensive or general as the last; but at times, and on some of our shores, it appears in flocks of very great numbers in the autumn and winter. After they have recovered from their migration, they are rather shy, and we have often found them difficult to be approached; at other times, again, we have seen them almost regardless of danger; and once, in September, when making a circuit of Holy Island, on the Northumbrian coast, we fell in with a large flock, in great part composed of the birds of that year, which allowed an approach within ten yards. They must have been newly arrived from their flight, for, even when disturbed by a shot, they would not remove more than from fifty to one hundred yards, alighting and crowding the tops of the insulated rocks. We procured many specimens with stones, and believe that the whole flock, consisting of several hundreds, might have been shot. It occurs in a similar manner in Ireland. On the Continent, Mr. Yarrell states, he is unable to trace it farther eastward than France and Germany; but it is found in Northern and Arctic Europe, in Northern and Arctic America, and we possess a single specimen from New Holland that appears in every way identical. This specimen is either coming into, or removing from, the breeding state, being tinted with rufous beneath, and above having the light-grey plumage mixed with dark feathers.

In the plumage of incubation we see the reddish-orange predominating; all the face, crown, and under parts, from the chin downwards, are of that tint, on the cheeks slightly spotted with brownish-black, and on the crown and occiput having the feathers broadly marked in the centre with the same colour. The centre of the back, scapulars, and long tertials, are deep blackish-brown, on the first having the feathers broadly margined with buff-orange, on the latter having them irregularly blotched, and cut into with yellowish-white. The quills are clove brown, paler on the inner webs, and having the shafts broad and white; the tail is dark broccoli-brown, tinted with rufous. In the adult full winter dress, the plumage above is broccoli-brown, on the crown and back of the neck with the centre of the feathers darker, on the back having the shafts only dark; the under parts of the bird are pure white, having the feathers on the cheeks and neck dark in the centres; on the breast these are broader, and on the flanks they are distributed in irregular waves; the rump and upper tail-coverts are white, barred with clove-brown; the tail is nearly of the same tint with the upper plumage, the outer feathers paler in shade, all narrowly edged with, and having the shafts yellowish-white. In the young in their first dress, the upper parts are broccoli-brown, but the feathers on the back and wings are edged with yellowish-white, succeeded by a band of clove-brown, and having the shafts dark, the whole, as it were, tinted over with buff-orange; beneath, the dark markings in the centre of the feathers are broader and more spread over the surface, and the whole is also tinted with buff-orange on the belly, often approaching near to the shade of reddish-orange incident to sienna.

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper

T. rufescens, Vieillot.—Becasseau rousset, Temm. Buff-breasted Tringa or Sandpiper of British authors.

Only four specimens of this Tringa appear to have occurred in Britain up to the present time. These have all been killed in the more southern districts of England; Scotland or Ireland being unable yet to reckon it in their fauna. On the European Continent it also appears to be of rare and only accidental occurrence, and we are not aware of its being met with elsewhere in the Old World. In America, its true country (though it is generally a scarce bird even there), it extends from the Brazils¹³³ through the Northern Continent; and Mr. Audubon conjectures that it may breed near the Arctic Circle, having seen a wing in the possession of Captain J. C. Ross. We have not access to a specimen, but give Mr. Audubon’s description, probably taken from various birds, as he states it to be

by no means rare, at particular periods, along the shores of our eastern districts.

The entire length is eight inches, the weight two ounces and a half, the female being somewhat larger. The

bill, dull olive-green, dusky towards the point; iris hazel; feet dull yellowish-green; claws dusky. The general colour of the upper parts is greyish-yellow, each feather blackish-brown in the centre; wing-coverts lighter; quills and their coverts light greyish-brown, greenish-black at the end, but with a whitish tip; the inner webs whitish in the greater part of their breadth, and beautifully dotted with black in undulating lines; the inner secondaries like the feathers of the back; the two middle tail-feathers greyish-brown, dark brown glossed with green at the end, and slightly margined and tipped with white, the rest gradually paler to the outer, margined and tipped with white, within which are two lines of blackish-brown; sides of the head, fore neck, and sides, light yellowish-red; the throat paler; the sides of the neck and body spotted with brownish-black; the rest of the lower parts paler and unspotted. The lower wing-coverts are white, those near the edge of the wing black in the centre; the primary-coverts dotted with black, and having a spot of the same near the edge. The female has the lower parts paler, and the feathers of the upper parts of a lighter brown, with an inner margin of broccoli-black, and an outer edge of greyish-yellow.¹³⁴

The Purple or Rock Sandpiper

T. maritima, Brunnich.—Tringa nigricans, Mont., Linn. Trans.—Becoisseau violet Temm.—Selninger Sandpiper, Penn.—Purple or Rock Tringa, or Sandpiper of British authors.

We do not consider this Tringa as a very numerous species on our coasts, though, at certain seasons, in winter and spring, they may generally be met with where the shore is rocky, and particularly if it possesses long ridges of crag jutting out into the sea. The parties generally consist of four or five, the amount of the brood; but these at times assemble or congregate into flocks of considerable numbers. Such have been our own observations on the coasts of the south of Scotland and north of England; and Mr. Thompson states it to be “a local species, rather rare in Ireland,”¹³⁵ at the same time we have other authorities. Thus, Mr. Dann says,

the Purple Sandpiper is very numerous in Orkney and Shetland, appearing early in spring, and leaving again at the latter end of April, about which time it collects in large flocks.

Our information relative to its breeding in this country is very limited; Mr. Selby met with a family on the Fern Islands, which were scarcely able to fly. Mr. Rodd also communicated to Mr. Yarrell that he had killed them in Cornwall both in winter and summer;¹³⁶ and we once met with a pair of Purple Sandpipers on the Bass Rock at a time when all the other inhabitants had young; but, like the other birds of this and allied genera which are known to breed in northern latitudes, those which remain, and, as it were, accidentally breed with us, can only be considered as the very limit of the range, or as happening to do so from other circumstances. This species seems to be altogether a northern bird, extending over northern Europe and the continent of America to the Arctic Circle, being found incubating by many of the late Arctic travellers, while it does not range to Africa or India. In its habits, on our coasts in winter, it is tame, running upon the rocks, or skulking, and allowing a person often to approach within a few yards, their colour assimilating well with the surrounding objects, and preventing their being observed so long as they remain motionless; when disturbed they will also make a circuit, and return to the rock whence they rose.

In form this bird is more compact than many other of the Sandpipers, which, in appearance, is increased by the shortness of the tarsi and legs. In the winter and spring dress in which it is generally procured upon our coasts, the upper parts are of a greyish-black, the feathers margined with grey, and becoming more conspicuously so on the shoulders and wings, where the pale edgings are broader, and in colour almost greyish-white, the whole glossed over with purple, which, in some positions, appears very conspicuous, and has gained for the bird its English trivial name; the wings are nearly of the same colour with the upper parts, inclining to blackish-brown; the tertials and coverts are edged with white, the shafts of the quills appearing also of that colour; the rump and upper tail-coverts are of a very deep shade of greyish-black, and are more strongly glossed with the purple reflections; the tail itself is much cuneated, the centre feathers blackish-grey, the others greyish wood-brown, becoming paler on the outer pairs. The lower parts to the breast are greyish hair-brown, paler on the chin, and on the breast having the feathers broadly edged with white; the remaining under parts are pure white, on the centre of the belly and vent unspotted; but on the flanks and under tail-coverts having each feather broadly marked in the centre with hair-brown; bill brownish-black, pink or nearly reddish-orange at the base and gape; the legs and feet axe ochreous yellow. The entire length of the specimen alluded to, is from eight to nine inches; one before us being eight and a-half, the other nine inches. In a specimen in summer plumage, purchased some time since from Mr. Carfrae in Edinburgh, and said by him to have been procured from Hudson’s Bay, the head and back are deep purplish-black, the feathers on the head broadly edged with reddish-orange, on the back and scapulars deeply cut into with a paler shade of the same colour and tipped with white; the wings, including the tertials, the rump and tail, are as in the winter state; the back of the neck is pale wood-brown, tinted with rufous, each feather greyish-black in the centre; beneath, the colour is generally a greyish-white, each feather in the neck and breast marked angularly with brownish-black, in the centre of the belly crossed near the tips with a broad black bar, and though interrupted, showing there the rudiment of the dark band prevailing among many of the plovers, and in the Purre or Dunlin at this season, to which, in the whole summer dress, there is a considerable resemblance; the flanks and under tail-coverts are dashed along their centres with brownish-black. The length of this specimen is eight and a-half inches, and shows a great disparity in the length of the bill, which, to the forehead, is only one inch and a-tenth, while in the two previously described, it is respectively one inch and three-tenths, and one inch and four-tenths. The Northern Zoology, however, states, that the bill in the female is generally a quarter of an inch larger than in the opposite sex. In the young, Mr. Selby states the plumage to be

dull greyish-black, the feathers being margined with dirty yellowish-brown; bill at the base ochre yellow.

The Curlew Sandpiper

Tringa subarquata, Temminck.—Tringa subarquata, modern British writers.—Becasseau corcoli, Temm.—Curlew Tringa or Sandpiper, and Pigmy Curlew of British authors.

Of a more slender form, and standing higher than the Dunlin or Purre, this species has nevertheless been at times mistaken for it but it; may always be distinguished from that species, even in flight, by the white colour of the rump and upper tail-coverts. It is nowhere so abundant, and does not assemble in the vast flocks in which we sometimes find the others, but sometimes it mixes with them, where, in addition to the conspicuous white rump, its different call betrays it if at a distance. Spring, autumn, and winter, are the seasons when it is generally met with, though there seems to be evidence of the bird occasionally breeding with us. Mr. Yarrell states having obtained this bird in June, in the height of its summer plumage, from Norfolk, and having seen the young, from the same locality, in July. It has been in the autumn, after their return from breeding, that we have met with it on our shores, and have killed it on both sides of the Solway, either in small parties, or mixed with the Purre, or feeding by some muddy streams, in a salt marsh which they seemed fond of frequenting, and, when come upon unawares, would utter a shrill lengthened whistle, very different from that of the Purre under similar circumstances. In Ireland, Mr. Thompson considers it as a regular summer visitant. It inhabits also Northern Europe and America, extending there from the Arctic Circle even to the southern boundary. The East Indian Islands are given to it by Temminck, and the Zoological Society have specimens from Tangiers.¹³⁷

Specimens killed on the shores of the Solway, in autumn, have the head and neck hair-brown, shading into dark clove-brown on the back and wings, each feather in the first being darker in the centre, and on the latter, together with the tertials and coverts, being broadly edged with yellowish-white; the rump and upper tail-coverts pure white; the tail itself hair-brown, the feathers tipped and edged (those towards the outside paler and clouded) with white; the under parts are pure white, tinged on the sides of the neck and upon the breast with pale wood-brown, having the shafts and a narrow streak in the centre of the feathers hair-brown; the bill is proportionally long, being from one and a-half to one and seven-tenths in length, slender and slightly bending towards the point, which has gained for it its Curlew appellation; this, with the legs and feet, are greenish-black. The season and state in which these birds were procured, induce us to consider them as in the plumage of the young, or in the state intermediate to assuming the complete winter dress, which, we believe, to be quite uniform, or very nearly so, above, without pale margins to the feathers, the tint hair-brown, glossed with purple. In the summer or breeding state this Sandpiper follows more nearly the colours of the Knot; the head, neck, and breast, are a rich chestnut or the feathers on the crown dark in the orange-red; centre; the back and scapulars are nearly black, the plumage cut into with pale orange-red, and tipped with yellowish-white, and the white on the rump and tail-coverts appears to become spotted and barred with black; the under parts are reddish-orange, becoming paler on the belly and vent, and are crossed with irregular bars of black. A skin from Mexico, in our possession, shows an intermediate state of plumage.

In the next two small species, admitted as occasional visitants, there is a very close alliance, and in specimens intermediate in plumage, or not quite mature, there is a good deal of difficulty in distinguishing them. The first,

The Minute Sandpiper

Tringa Minuta, Leisler.—Minute tringa, Selby.—Little Stint, Yarrell,

is chiefly distinguished by the comparative greater length of the tarsus, the uniform colour of the tail, except the centre feathers, and in that member being slightly forked, the two centre feathers, however, projecting in the centre, and being longer than any of the others. The seasonal changes are somewhat similar to those we have been describing, dark above, having the feathers cut into with chestnut-red; but underneath, the plumage is pure white, interrupted by a band of pale reddish-chestnut, which crosses the breast, shading into the white below and on the sides of the neck; the centres of the feathers are dark; the tail is uniform hair-brown, except the long centre feathers which are glossy clove-brown. In a continental specimen before us, in the summer plumage, there is a great proportion of rufous intermixed, on the head and nape the feathers have dark centres, on the neck the rufous is nearly the prevailing tint, and on the back and wings the feathers are very broadly edged with it, and with buff-orange. In the complete winter dress, the plumage above is described as ash-grey, the centre of the feathers darker, beneath pure white, the band on the breast slightly indicated on the sides. Two specimens before us, from Southern Africa, show an intermediate state, the plumage above being hair-brown, darker along the shafts of the feathers, and mixed with dark feathers cut into with reddish-orange; the long tertials are deep purplish-brown, broadly edged with reddish-orange; the pectoral band is indicated by hair-brown, mingled with reddish-orange. The entire length of the Minute Sandpiper, is from five and a-half to six inches; the length of the tarsus given by Mr. Yarrell, is ten lines and a-half; by Mr. Selby as seven-eighths, which agrees nearly with an African specimen.

This bird has occurred in various parts of the English coasts, chiefly to the south and east side of the island, and Mr. Yarrell states, on the authority of Mr. Heysham, that they have been several times taken on the shores of the Solway. We have never been so fortunate as to meet with them there, nor do we hear of any instances of their capture in Scotland being recorded. Mr. Thompson has found them on the Irish coasts. On the European continent it does not appear to be of very frequent occurrence; and out of Europe, as already stated, we find it in Southern Africa; and various authorities consider Indian specimens identical.¹³⁸ In Mr. Jerdan’s catalogue, however, it is introduced with a ?¹³⁹

The second species we mentioned,

Temminck’s Sandpiper

Tringa temminckii, Leisler. Temminck’s Sandpiper and Stint, Selby and Yarrell,

is rather less than the last, has the tail graduated, and the tarsus comparatively shorter. In a continental specimen before us, in the intermediate plumage, the upper parts are hair-brown, the feathers darker in the centre, a few dark feathers with rufous margins being interspersed; the sides of the neck and breast are hair-brown, and the remaining under parts are white. In summer, the rufous colours above predominate, and tint the neck and breast; and, in the winter, the upper parts are hair-brown, tinted with olive. This specimen is only about five inches and a-quarter in length, and Mr. Yarrell gives five and three-quarters as the length of the largest specimen he has seen. He states the length of the tarsus also at eleven-sixteenths; Mr. Selby at five-eighths; in the specimen before us it is nearly six-tenths. Temminck’s Sandpiper is described to approach nearer to some of the Totani in habits, frequenting at times rivers of fresh water rather than the shores of the sea. It has occurred several times in England, but more sparingly than the last; Mr. Thompson mentions its appearance in Ireland, but we have not met with Scotch specimens. Out of Europe, North Africa and Himalaya are given to it,¹⁴⁰ also the Dukhun,¹⁴¹ Timor, and the Indian Archipelago;¹⁴² and Mr. Jerdan places it with a ? in his catalogue of the birds of the Peninsula of India.¹⁴³

Since the publication of Mr. Selby’s work on British Ornithology, three species of Tringa have been discovered to be occasional visitants on our coasts, and although they are of very rare occurrence, our volume would be incomplete without some notice of them, however short, and though it is not derived from observation.

Pectoral Sandpiper

T. pectoralis, Bonap.—Pelinda pectoralis, Bonap. Comp. List. Becasseau pectoral, Temm.—Pectoral Sandpiper, Jenyns, Yarrell, and modern British authors.

Two specimens of this species have been killed in Britain, one of them on Brydon Board in Norfolk. One or two other birds have been seen in the same country, but none have yet occurred in Scotland or Ireland. It is an American species, and seems to have been first detected as such by Mr. Say, and afterwards to have received a regular place in the histories of American ornithology. Mr. Audubon met with them “in the State of Maine, feeding on the rocky bars of the rivers at low water;” and states that Nuttall found them in. abundance in Massachusetts Bay, where they are migratory, and whence they are brought in numbers to the market in Boston, during their temporary abode. They extend also to the Southern Continent, are found in the Brazils;⁴⁴ and we have received the bird from the island of Tobago. We are not aware of any other extra European range.

In a Tobago specimen before us, the whole upper parts are deep blackish-brown, the feathers margined with ochreous; on the rump and upper tail-coverts the tint is nearly black, glossed with purple, and having the pale tips and edgings very narrow and indistinct; the quills are clove-brown, shafts of the first white; the tail is much cuneated, the centre feathers deep brownish-black, the others shading into hair-brown to the outer pair, and all edged narrowly with wood-brown; beneath, the throat is nearly white, the neck and breast wood-brown, the centre of each feather dark; the same colour extends slightly on the flanks, and the dark shaft of each feather is only seen; the belly, vent, and under tail-coverts, are pure white; the legs appear to have been greenish-yellow. The total length of this specimen is eight inches. The breeding state, as well as the regions where it incubates, seem yet to be undiscovered.

Broad-billed Sandpiper

T. platyrhyncha.—Becasseau platyrhynque, Temm.—Broad-billed Sandpiper, Gould, Yarrell, and modern British authors.

A single specimen of this bird was killed in 1826, in the same locality with the last; and is, we believe, the only instance of its occurrence in the British Islands. It is also of rare appearance in Southern and Central Europe, but has been found by Mr. Dann to be by no means uncommon in Sweden and Norway, breeding in the latter country at an elevation of three thousand feet above the level of the sea. Avery interesting notice, on the authority of that gentleman, of the bird during the season of incubation, is given by Mr. Yarrell.¹⁴⁵ The Indian Archipelago, Borneo, Sumatra, and Timor, are given to it by Temminck.

The adult bird, in the breeding season, has the beak, which is one inch and one-sixteenth in length, dark brown at the point, inclining to reddish-brown at the base; irides brown; from the base of the beak to the eye a dark brown streak, over that and the eye a white streak, with a brown central longitudinal line; top of the head brownish-black, slightly varied with greyish-white, and tinged with ferruginous; interscapulars nearly black with rufous edges; scapulars, wing-coverts, lower part of the back and tertials, black; the feathers having broad margins of buffy-white or rufous; the primary and secondary quill-feathers black; the shafts white; upper tail-coverts black, with rufous edges; the two middle tail-feathers nearly black, longer than the others, pointed and margined with rufous, the others ash-grey margined with buff colour; chin nearly white, with minute dark specks; sides and front of the neck, and upper parts of the breast, greyish-white, varied with black spots, and tinged with buffy-red; belly, vent, and under-tail coverts white; legs, toes, and claws, greenish-black. The whole length of the adult bird six inches and three-eighths.¹⁴⁶

Schintz’s Sandpiper

Tringa schintzii.—T. Schintzii, Bonap. (not Brhem.)—Schintz’s Sandpiper, Yarrell, Gould, and modern British authors.

Like the two last, this bird is very rare to our fauna, one British specimen only being on record, killed near Stoke Heath in Shropshire, and preserved in the collection of Sir Rowland Hill. This was made known to the public by Mr. Eyton, in his fauna of the above mentioned county.¹⁴⁷ We have very little knowledge of its distribution in Europe, and consider America as its stronghold; and though, from the accounts of American writers, the species does not appear very uncommon in that country, yet specimens are obtained with difficulty in England, and, on this account, we have to borrow our description. They appear to extend to the Arctic Circle on the one side, and to Florida on the other, but their regular breeding stations have not hitherto been marked. By the Prince of Canino they are said to

frequent marshy shores, and the borders of lakes and brackish waters. They are very social even in the breeding time, and are then by no means shy. During autumn they join company even with different birds, and become very wild. Their form resembles that of Tringa alpina, but is more feeble.¹⁴⁸

Audubon again says,

I have always found these birds gentle, and less shy than any other species of the genus; they fly at a considerable height with rapidity, deviating alternately to either side, and plunge towards the ground in a manner somewhat resembling that of the solitary Sandpiper.¹⁴⁹

The same ornithologist’s description is as follows:—

Bill and feet dusky; iris brown; the general colour of the upper parts brownish-black, each feather edged with yellowish-grey; the scapulars with light red; wing-coverts greyish-brown, the shafts black; primary and secondary coverts tipped with white; quills brownish-grey, darker towards the tips, the inner primaries, and outer secondaries, more or less edged and tipped with white; tail-coverts white, with a dusky spot, excepting the two central, which are blackish, with a few greyish-white markings; tail-feathers light grey, the two middle brownish-black towards the ends; sides of the head, fore neck, anterior part of the breast, and sides, greyish-white, with small lanceolate central brownish-black spots; rest of the lower parts white. Length seven and one-twelfth inches; tarsus eleven-twelfths of an inch.¹⁵⁰

Mr. Yarrell’s specimen, received from America, is noted at six inches and a-half.

Himantopus

These appear to be an enumeration of all the species of true Tringa now known to frequent suitable localities in the British Islands, or to be met with as occasional stragglers along their shores; many parts of their history are yet incomplete, together with their range of distribution, and both are worthy of the attention of our ornithologists. The remarkable bird which we place next, has an alliance with the Scolopacidæ, sufficient, by preference, to place it among them, particularly by its resemblance to the Totani and Tringæ, both in form and habits, and leading, by means of a curious New Holland bird figured by Mr. Gould, to the Avosets, it assists to form one point of connexion between the Grallatores and truly aquatic birds.

Himantopus, Briss.—Generic characters.—Bill long, slender, round, drawn to a fine point; tip of the mandible slightly bending over that of the maxilla (bill sometimes slightly turned upwards); nostrils linear, elongated, removed from the base; wings very long and pointed; tibiæ and tarsi very long and slender, the former naked for the greater part of their whole length; feet proportionally small, three toes, outer and middle connected by a broad membrane, which diminishes between the middle and inner; claws small, inner edges dilated.

Types, H. melanopterus, leucocephalus, &c.—Cosmopolite.

Avosets

Following Himantopus may stand the Avosets, Recurvirostra, Linnæus, a limited series of birds of grallatorial form and habits, but having the palmated feet of a natatorial or aquatic species.

Recurvirostra, Linnæus.—Generic characters.—Bill gradually bending upwards, long, slender, subulate, depressed for the whole length, becoming thin and weak, almost flexible towards the tip; nostrils basal, long, linear, semi-lateral; legs long and slender, great part of the tibias naked; toes in front united by a membrane occupying two-thirds of their length, hind toe minute, articulated on the tarsus; wings long, somewhat pointed.

Type, R. avosetta, Americana. Europe, Asia, Africa, America.

Note.—Plumage, in colours departing from the Scolopacidæ, no seasonal change, breed inland, partially gregarious in winter, do not naturally swim.

Turnstones

The Turnstone is another insulated form, which will hold its place in the present family; in its manners it most nearly resembles the Tringæ, while in its periodical changes it agrees with neither them nor the plovers, farther than in the breeding colours being black and red. The structure of the feet leads us to the plovers or Charadriadæ. The British bird, having a wide geographical range, is the only species known.

Strepsilas Illiger.—Generic characters.—Bill, in the form of an elongated cone, strong at the base, and on the culmen rather flattened, the maxilla from the angle ascending; nostrils nearly basal, linear, pervious. Wings long, and nearly as in Tringa. Legs feathered nearly to the tarsal joint, strong; toes bordered with a narrow membrane; hinder toe articulated on the tarsus, and only touching the ground with the point.

Type, S. interpret (only species known.) Cosmopolite.

Note.—Breeds on rocks under cover of brush or herbage; colours of the summer seasonal change red and black, lower parts continuing pure white.

Phalaropes

The next form we have to notice is that of the Phalaropes or Natatorial Sandpipers, a group of very limited extent, but showing beautifully a connection of their own sub-family, both with the Natatores, and with the more aquatic members of the Rallidæ. Their form is that of the true Tringæ, but their feet show an advance to the webbed structure, by the naked fringes lining the toes, while their plumage somewhat resembles that of the aquatic birds by its compactness. The seasonal changes are from grey to red or chestnut. They are chiefly northern in locality, breed on the sea shores, and freely swim or take to the water, occasionally roaming to some distance from shore. Two genera have been given to these birds by modern writers; we shall give the characters of both; but it is probable that they may with propriety be resolved into one.

Phalaropus, Brisson.—Generic characters.—Bill nearly angular at the base, and strong, depressed; mandible dilated towards the tip, afterwards rather suddenly accuminated, and at the point deflected over the maxilla, grooved for the whole length; tongue short, blunt at the tip; nostrils nearly basal, semi-lateral, oval, surrounded by a membrane; wings of mean length, and as in Tringa, small spurious quill, pointed and possessing rigidity; legs comparatively short; tibiæ naked for a short space above the tarsal joint; tarsus somewhat compressed; toes before, at the base, connected, and on their edges fringed with a lobed membrane; hallux slender, naked.

Type, P. lobatus. Northern Europe, the Arctic Circle, Northern Asia.

Note.—Breed on the sea shore; swim, and venture far out to sea; undergo a seasonal change.

---

The second form was separated by Cuvier, under the title of Lobipes, and contains two species, that of Britain, and an American bird, L. Wilsonii, given also in ornithological works, under the titles of “Frenatus”¹⁶⁷ and “Incanus.”¹⁶⁸ In L. Wilsonii, the form of the bill is intermediate, being straight, depressed for its whole length, and slightly dilated towards the tip; the tarsi are remarkably flattened, and with the whole leg and foot are proportionally more slender than in L.hyperborea; the lobed membrane to the toes is also less broadly developed.

Lobipes, Cuvier.—Generic characters.—Bill proportionally longer than in Phalaropus, slender, straight, grooved; depressed for half its length, at the tip subulate, the mandible there slightly deflexed, nostrils lateral, basal, surrounded by a membrane; tongue slender and pointed;¹⁶⁹ tarsi very much flattened; other parts as in Phalaropus.

Types, L. hyperborea, Wilsonii. Northern Europe, North and Arctic America, ranging to the borders of the Southern Continent.

Note.—Habits, and, to a certain extent, the changes of Phalaropus; “breeds in swampy situations close to the water’s edge.”¹⁷⁰

The Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus (lobipes) hyperboreus.—Lobipes hyperborea. Cuv.—Phalaropus hyperboreus, Lath., Temm., etc.—Red Lolefoot, Red Phalarope, or Red-necked Phalarope of British writers.

This small species, typical of the second form, possesses most of the habits of the last, swimming with facility; it is also, according to Audubon, gregarious in winter, and is found in large flocks, far from land, on the banks of sea-weed. It breeds near to the water’s edge, but in wet places or marshes, on some tuft or hillock of herbage. It has been occasionally procured in the English counties as far north as Northumberland, but not nearly so frequently as the last; and although it is said to be more commonly found in Scotland, we have never met with a freshly killed specimen. It is known, however, to be tolerably frequent, and to breed on several of the Orkney Islands, particularly Sanda and North Ronaldshaw.

We borrow Mr. Selby’s description of the different states, and add that of a specimen procured for us by one of the whale ships, and taken, so far as we could learn, on the island of Disco.

Crown of the head, nape, and hinder part of the neck, sides of the breast, and streak behind the eyes, ash-grey; sides of the neck marked with an irregular patch of orange-brown; throat, middle of the breast, and all the under parts, white, except the flanks, which are dashed with ash-grey; back and scapulars black, the feathers deeply margined with ash-grey and reddish-brown; wing-coverts blackish-grey, the greater ones terminated with white, and forming a bar across the wings; the two middle feathers black, the rest deep ash-grey, margined with white; bill black, legs and toes greenish-grey.

In the winter state, the description is taken from a bird killed in Northumberland.

Forehead white, tinged with cinereous crown of the; head, streak behind the eyes, and list down the back of the neck, blackish-grey; chin, throat, middle of the belly, abdomen, and middle tail-coverts, white, with a slight pinkish tinge. Sides of the neck and breast grey, with a faint blush of purplish-red; back, scapulars, and wing-coverts, black, the feathers of the former deeply edged with yellowish-brown, and the greater wing-coverts having their tips white, forming a distinct bar across the wings; middle feathers of the tail black, margined with yellowish-brown, the rest ash-grey, margined with white.¹⁷³

Our Arctic specimen had the crown, nape, and auriculars, clove-brown, on the first and second mixed with greyish-white and rufous; the throat, neck, and entire under parts, pure white, on the fore part of the neck, and sides of the breast, having traces of clove-brown and rufous; behind the auriculars, and running down each side of the neck, the red streak of the complete summer plumage is indicated the; back and upper parts are umber-brown, mixed with feathers having ochreous edges, and with the dark grey plumage edged with white intermixed; the quills dark brownish-black.

Curlews

The next form, or that of the Curlews, which we have placed last, reminds and leads us back to that of the Tantalidæ or Ibis, which we saw in the single British representative figured on our Plate X. They are, like them, also birds of considerable size; are chiefly maritime, except during the season of incubation; and, at that time, return to the wild subalpine pastures, the prairies or steppes of their respective countries, where their wild notes are often the only interruption that breaks the stillness of these barren tracts. We have them distributed over the world, though most abundant in temperate regions.

Numenius.—Generic characters.—Bill very long, slender, slightly compressed, curved, the tip, nearly round, hard; the mandible projecting over the maxilla; nostrils linear, lateral; face feathered; wings rather long, pointed; spurious quill rigid; legs proportionally, of middle length; tibiæ bare for some length above the tarsal joint; feet rather small; toes before connected by a basal membrane; hallux articulated above the plane of the others.

Types, N. arquata, longirostris, &c. Cosmopolite.

Note.—Maritime and gregarious in winter; breed inland are clamorous when their nest; is intruded upon. No seasonal change.

The Whimbrel

Numenius pheopus.—Scolopax pheopus. Linn.—Numenius pheopus. Lath. Ind., and modern ornithologists.—The Whimbrel or Whimbrel Curlew of British authors.

The Whimbrel, though pretty generally diffused, is not nearly so common as the Curlew, and is not found breeding except in the extreme north of Scotland, appearing chiefly on our shores in spring, autumn, and winter, or more inland, as a casual passenger, during its passage to or from its breeding stations. On the shores of the north of England and south of Scotland, they are commonly to be met with in autumn or winter, in small parties, and are at once betrayed, among a flock of Curlews, by their peculiar note. According to several authorities,¹⁷⁵ they breed in the Orkneys and in some of the Shetland Islands, and they were seen in Sutherlandshire, on the banks of Lochshin, in June, but neither nest nor eggs were discovered. We once shot a pair of Whimbrelson a salt marsh, on the Ross in Kirkcudbrightshire, in June, which appeared as if breeding, though no nest could be found. In Ireland, Mr. Thompson states that it

is a regular spring visitant in passage northward, and returns in autumn in much smaller numbers.¹⁷⁶

In Europe, it is found in the more northern parts. Out of Europe, Temminck gives India to it, as do also Messrs. Jerdan and Elliot, the latter stating that it is

found everywhere along the sea shore and mouths of large rivers.

Mr. Gould states Himalaya as a locality; and it is probably found in North Africa.

In the colouring and marking of the plumage, the Whimbrel very closely resembles the Curlew, the upper parts being shades of hair and clove-brown, the feathers margined with white and ochreous white; the crown, however, is divided along the centre by a streak of paler colour, occasioned by the feathers being broadly edged with white, while on each side they have scarcely any pale edging, but form patches of dark hair-brown; the white on the lower part of the back runs farther up than in the Curlew the chin is white and; unspotted; the cheeks, neck, and whole under parts are also pure white, but thickly and broadly dashed with hair-brown, the marking’s on the flanks and upper parts of the belly assuming the form of irregular bars the vent and under tail coverts only being unspotted, except the appearance of the hair-like dark shafts; the axillary feathers barred with hair-brown the centre tail-feathers are pale hair-brown; barred with a darker shade, the tint becoming paler and more broken up towards the outside, where the ground-colour is nearly pure white; the bill is deep blackish-brown, tile-red at the base of the maxilla the; legs and feet are bluish-grey, rather more stout and proportionally shorter than in the Curlew. The above is nearly the colouring of the male bird stated previously to have been killed near Kirk-cudbright. In the female, shot at the same time, the pale tints are all more or less ochreous, and the markings on the under parts extend only to the breast, the centre of the belly, vent, and tail-coverts being pure white; the upper tail-coverts are also more distinctly barred with hair-brown.

Charadriadæ

The Charadrladæ or Plovers naturally follow the family we have left, to which many species show very close alliance; while to the previous groups, and that which has yet to be described, there are also many close links of connection. Many of the genera still continue to be maritime at particular seasons, but the larger proportion show a greater affection for the land, and spend a portion of their time inland. We shall commence the series with a form which still continues the alliance with the Tringæ and Totani in the structure of the feet; it has also a periodical change of plumage, but differs, in a much greater size, in one or two species being adorned with beautiful crests, and in the habits being so plover-like, that they sometimes are known under that name.¹⁷⁷ The Lapwings may be thus characterized.

Vannellus.—Generic characters.—Bill straight, slightly compressed; tips of the mandible and maxilla rounded, smooth, and hard nasal; groove large and deep; nostrils linear, pierced in the middle of it; wings ample, more or less rounded, second or third quills often longest, sometimes narrowed or emarginated at the tip; the carpal joint spurred or tuberculated; leg’s of varied length; tibiæ more or less naked; toes before shortly connected by a membrane; hallux, when present, articulated on the tarsus.

Types, V. cristatics, Goensis, &c. Europe, Asia, Africa.

Note.—Breed inland; are very clamorous when the breeding-ground is approached; gregarious and partially maritime during winter; undergo a seasonal change.

Plovers

From Vanellus we reach the true Plovers, represented by the Grey and Golden Plovers of our own country. The birds known under the above name, in contradistinction to the true Charadrii or Dotterels, have been divided in their scientific arrangement, and the presence or absence of a hindtoe, has been given much weight to as a generic character. In both groups, we have so distinct and marked an arrangement of colouring, that the common observer, unaccustomed to scientific distinctions, will at once separate them. The sexual change is also to a certain extent different, and it is remarkable, that in both (arranging by plumage and marking), we have a species, which must, in either case, be placed away from those resembling it; the generic distinction resting alone on the presence or absence of the fourth toe, almost rudimentary. We have now, however, ventured to draw our characters, so as to allow the junction with it of C. pluvialis and Virginianus. These three species (including the Grey Plover) are closely allied in habits, in the marking and colouring, and in the dark state of their breeding plumage, occupying uniformly a great portion of the under surface of the body. In their habits they are gregarious, assembling often in vast flocks, while the others more generally congregate only in parties of limited numbers.

Squatarola.—Generic characters.—Bill rather strong, tumid, flattened on the culmen, cylindrical towards the tip, which is hard nasal; groove wide, more than half the length of the bill; nostrils linear, pierced in the nasal membrane; wings long, pointed, first quill longest; legs rather short, bare for a short space only above the tarsal joint; toes connected by a small basal membrane, slightly fringed on their edges; hallux rudimentary or wanting.

Types, S. cinerea, plumanus, Virginiamis. Cosmopolite.

Note.—Breed inland; gregarious except during incubation; undergo a seasonal change.

The Grey Plover

Squatarola cinerea.—Tringa squatarola, Linn., Penn., Selby, etc.—Fanellus melanagaster, Bechst.—The Greg or Bustard Plover of British authors.

We have no authentic record of this species breeding, or being a resident during the summer in our islands.¹⁸³ We have seen it early in the season, in the breeding plumage, in the London markets, and Mr. Yarrell has remarked the same circumstance; neither does it appear difficult to obtain specimens in this state from collectors; but, we believe, that most of these have put on the nuptial dress, and are at the time of their capture actually on their migration. Mr. Selby has seen one or two occasionally on the Fern Islands in June, but adds, they “may have been unequal to the usual migration.”¹⁸⁴ Their summer abode appears to extend very far north, reaching northern Europe, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands, and, on the authority of Captain James Ross and Dr. Richardson, extending over many portions of Arctic America. Its most usual appearance in Britain is in spring, autumn, and winter, and then generally on the coast, in small parties; never, so far as we have seen, in the large flocks in which the Golden Plovers assemble. We have met with them frequently on the Solway, and once shot a pair on the banks of one of the lochs at Lochmaben. Mr. Thompson states it to be an autumnal visitant to Ireland. There are various authorities for its having a very extensive distribution,—Algoa Bay,¹⁸⁵ Egypt,¹⁸⁶ Japan in summer and winter plumage;¹⁸⁷ Java;¹⁸⁸ and we have ourselves received specimens from China and Southern Africa, in the winter dress.

In summer, the Grey Plover has the forehead and streak over the eyes pure white; the space between the eye and the bill, auriculars, sides of the neck, breast, and belly, deep black, while the vent, under tail-coverts, and thighs, are white; the head and nape hair-brown, the feathers having lighter edges; the back and scapulars very deep clove-brown, sometimes nearly black, the shafts of the feathers being darkest, the tips edged with greyish-white; quills brownish-black, having the shafts white, and the inner webs shaded to greyish-white; tail-coverts white, barred with hair-brown; tail also white, barred with dark hair-brown, on the centre feathers the pale spaces are much clouded with the dark colour, and these feathers are accuminated, on the outer plumes the basal half of the feathers is without bars the; axillary feathers black. In the winter dress, the ground colour of the upper part of the body is hair-brown, the feathers margined and cut into with angular marks of greyish and yellowish-white no trace of black remains on the face or lower parts; the whole are white, on the chin and throat nearly unspotted, on the neck and auriculars having narrow streaks of hair-brown along the shafts, and on the breast and upper part of the belly, having those continued, more broadly expanded upon the base of the feathers, and forming a relief to the pale tips of those lying over them; the bill black; the feet and legs greyish-black. Two specimens, shot a few years since, by the side of one of the Lochmaben lochs, in the month of August, had the ground colour of the upper parts very dark, and the edging and angular spotting of the feathers nearly of the tint of sienna-yellow, so as to cause them to appear, when first taken up, to be the Golden Plover; the breast and belly also had the dark parts of the feathers much broader, and the whole tinted over with yellowish wood-brown. These were considered young birds arrived from migration; they were very tame, and allowed an easy approach. A bird from the Cape of Good Hope, apparently identical, is very dark above, having the colour glossed with olive reflections, has no white on the forehead, and very few light markings on the crown or centre of the back.

The Golden Plover

Squatarola pluvialis.—Charadrius pluvialis, Linn., etc.—Pluvier dorè, Temm. and French authors.—Golden or Yellow Plover of British authors.

This species, though retaining almost exactly the markings, and the corresponding seasonal changes in the plumage, with the last, differs in structure in the absence of the hinder toe; nevertheless, as stated, we consider, in these birds, that too much consequence has been set upon this form, and, for the present, prefer retaining them with S. Virginianus, as congeneric. In Britain, the Golden Plover is one of the most abundant species, being found on the coasts, generally in vast flocks, during winter; and, in summer, retiring to all the wide tracks of alpine moor which occur in Scotland and Ireland, extending northward to Orkney and Shetland, and, wherever such localities occur, to England. In Scotland, they reach their breeding grounds early in spring, and select some spot, from which they do not stray far. These are chosen both in the subalpine moorlands, and on the tops of hills of considerable elevation. The breeding plumage is altered almost immediately after the station has been fixed upon; and, when incubation has commenced, the appearance of an intruder causes reiterated utterance of their wailing cry, the birds flying around, and perching on some raised mossy hillock in the vicinity. The nest is scarcely more than a scratched hollow, very few grasses or lining material being used. When the young birds have attained their full plumage, the broods congregate together, and may be found in large flocks, frequenting for a time their moorland locality. As autumn advances, they descend to the lower meadows or fallows, collecting fresh numbers; and, by the time frost or winter has set in, they may be found assembled on the sea shores in flocks, the produce of the breeding grounds of the district. Before retiring to the shores, the flocks may be sometimes approached, or they come within shot in the wheels which it is their habit to make around any thing that disturbs them. On the coast they are much more shy, though, from the numbers composing the flock, the discharge of the fowler is often successful at a very long distance.

A very extended or cosmopolite distribution has been given to this bird, but, of its range, we may at once say we do not know the correct limits. We are inclined, at this moment, to consider it limited almost to Europe alone, its place elsewhere being taken up by the C. Virginianus. We have never seen an extra European specimen of the British Golden Plover. Sweden, as mentioned by Mr. Yarrell, on the authority of Professor Nilson and Mr. Loyd; Norway, where Mr. Hewitson saw it; Hammerfest, as stated by Mr. Chisty; and probably Lapland,¹⁸⁹ with suitable localities in other western districts of the European Continent, may be held as a certain extent of range; but we still think Faroe, Greenland, and Iceland, questionable. The American and Arctic birds are undoubtedly distinct, and, besides their smaller size and other distinctions, may be at once separated by the hair-brown colour of the underwing coverts and axillary feathers, which, in the British and European birds, are pure white. Mr. Yarrell states, that eastward he has traced it through France and Italy to the shores of Africa, and that the Zoological Society have specimens from Trebizond. This range is probable. All the Asiatic birds, with those of the Indian Islands and New Holland, agree with the American species; and Mr. Audubon, in his Appendix to the concluding volume of his interesting “Ornithological Biography,” has also included the American Golden Plover, under the title C. marmoratus, Wagler, as found in the New World. In addition to the common bird, as stated already, all the specimens which have come under our own observation have been the latter bird; at the same time, we have no reason to doubt Mr. Audubon’s well known accuracy.

This beautiful Plover, in the full breeding dress, has the space between the eyes and the bill, cheeks, auriculars, throat, breast, belly, and vent, of a deep the flanks and under tail-coverts velvetty-black; white, shaded with pale yellow; the forehead and streak above the eyes, nearly pure white the; ground colour of the crown, back, scapulars, and long tertials, very deep clove-brown, with purplish reflections of a paler shade upon the back of the neck, and having each feather cut into with small triangular spots of king’s-yellow; on the nape the centres of the feathers only are dark, leaving the whole margins yellow, which lightens or renders more yellow the general tint of this part; and, on the long tertials, the yellow runs round, tipping the extremity of each feather; on the rump and upper tail-coverts, they almost, and in some instances do, cross the feather, assuming the form of diagonal bars; the quills are clove-brown, with white shafts; the axillary feathers pure white;¹⁹⁰ tail hair-brown, the tint becoming paler towards the outside, and cut into with triangular markings, which almost meet at the shaft. In the female the black is not so intense, and is partially mixed with white. In the winter dress, the upper parts of the plumage are nearly similar to that of summer, the yellow tint spreading more uniformly over the cheeks and sides of the neck; beneath, the throat, vent, and under tail-coverts, are white, but the throat, breast, belly, and vent, are a tint of ash-grey, or greyish wood-brown, each feather having a darker centre, and the whole tinted over with king’s or Indian yellow; the bill black; legs dark grey. The intermediate states of plumage in which they are met with in autumn, are often very beautiful, the under parts being marbled with black, white, and pale king’s yellow, which blend softly together. Total length from ten and a-half to eleven inches. The true S. Virginianus is under these dimensions; but we possess specimens, said to be from America, in every way agreeing with the latter bird, having the hair-brown, instead of the pure white axillary feathers, which are fully eleven inches in length.

Dotterels

From what we have considered as the true Plovers, we pass to the genus Charadrius or Dotterel, all the known species of which present a generic similarity in colour and markings, differing from the others in being unspotted, of shades of hair or greyish-brown, the under parts generally crossed with distinct bands of black or chestnut. In their habits they are chiefly maritime, at the same time, a few agree in this respect with the true plovers, in their breeding in pretty inland localities. Their feet are of a more decidedly cursorial structure; but, in one or two exceptions, they possess the hinder toe.

Charadrius.—Generic characters.—Bill straight, somewhat dilated at the base, and gradually narrowed to the point, which is hard and slightly curved; nasal groove large; nostrils linear and pierced in it; wings pointed, of middle length, first quill longest; legs of middle length; tibiæ bare for a short space above the tarsal joint; toes short, formed for running; hallux entirely wanting.

Types, C. morinellus, hiaticula, &c. Cosmopolite.

Note.—Partially gregarious in winter; chiefly maritime; little seasonal change. The Squatarola cincta of “Orn. Illust.” The form Oreopholus, and Mr. Gould’s genus Erythrogonys, will either enter as sub-genera here, or may be taken as aberrant forms, as the systematist inclines.

The Dotterel

Charadrius morinellus.—Pluvier gingnud, Temm.—The Dotterel, or Dotterel Plover of British authors.

The Dotterel is a spring and summer visitant to Britain; in the southern counties of England only seen in their passage to and from their breeding stations; in the Lowlands of Scotland being occasionally found during a similar transition; but, in a few localities, incubating on some of the mountain ranges of both countries. In Ireland, we have the authority of Mr. Thompson for saying they are very rare. In the mountains of Cumberland and Westmoreland they regularly breed, though we hear their numbers are diminishing gradually. Mr. Heysham of Carlisle, has given a good account of their habits at this time,¹⁹¹ and states, that they assemble in their different localities, in the neighbourhood of Carlisle, about the middle of May, where they continue for ten days or a fortnight before retiring to mountains, in the vicinity of the lakes, to breed.

The most favourite breeding haunts are always near to, or on the summits of the highest mountains, particularly those that are densely covered with the woolly frieze moss, Trichostomum lanuginosum. They do not make any nest, but deposit their eggs, which seldom exceed three in number, in a small cavity on dry ground, covered with vegetation, and generally near a moderately sized stone or fragment of rock.¹⁹²

On the alpine ranges of Scotland, in a similar manner, they are found in particular localities, after the young have attained maturity. There are several stations upon the Grampians, and some of our sporting friends generally meet with small parties before they have dispersed, on the first week of the shooting season. In our own district, there is a locality on some subalpine moorland, partially cultivated, which is visited during their passage in spring, but we have not been able to trace them on their return migration. Their winter retreat seems scarcely to be known with certainty,¹⁹³ neither is it noticed whether at any time they frequent the sea shore like the grey and golden plovers; our information, in fact, is confined to their breeding habits, and their periodical passage to and from these stations. Their summer ranges extend to Northern Europe,¹⁹⁴ Russia, Siberia, and Northern Asia,¹⁹⁵ mountains of Silesia and Bohemia,¹⁹⁶ steppes of Tartary.¹⁹⁷ Mr. Yarrell also states, that Messrs. Dickson and Ross have sent specimens from Trebizond.

In summer, the chief food seems to consist of insects, particularly the Coleoptera, many species of which are extremely abundant on the coasts, and come abroad in numbers during the heat of the day.

A specimen killed in Dumfries-shire, in the end of March, has the crown clove-brown, bordered above each eye with white, which meets at the occiput; the chin, cheeks, and throat, are white the whole; upper parts of the body, neck, and upper part of breast, hair-brown the feathers on the back and; wings edged with pale orange-brown; immediately bordering the hair-brown on the breast, the feathers are tipped with dark edges, forming a narrow band, this is succeeded by a white gorget, gradually shading into rich brownish-orange, which occupies the whole lower part of the breast and belly, blending into a deep black conspicuous patch in the centre of the latter; the vent and under tail-coverts white; the quills are dark hair-brown, the first with a strong and conspicuous white shaft; the tail hair-brown, darker towards the tip, forming almost a bar across the ends of the three outward white feathers. This is nearly the plumage in the breeding time; the females have the colours of the breast scarcely so bright or marked. When these colours have been put off, the lower parts, we believe, are nearly white, and the crown loses the depth of its shade. Birds, however, are not frequently met with in this state, and a minute description is not given in any of our works.

The Kentish Dotterel

Charadrius Cantianus.—Charadrius Cantianus, Lath.—Pluvier a collièr interompu, Temm.—The Kentish Plover of British authors.

This species, though nearly allied to the last, is easily distinguished, both by the variation in its markings, and by its smaller size. From all our accounts, its habits are very similar, associating with the Ringed Dotterel when they happen to be on the same coast together. The species was first named, as above, by Dr. Latham, from specimens procured at Sandwich, in Kent, where it has since been frequently killed, and has also been taken on the Sussex and Norfolk coasts; and at Lydd, in Romney Marsh, Mr. Yarrell states, on the authority of Mr. Francis Plomly, that it is numerous. It also breeds in the localities where it is found. In Scotland we are not aware of an instance of its occurrence, and Mr. Thompson does not mention it in the Irish List. It seems also sparingly distributed over the continent of Europe; but, by Temminck, is said to be abundant in Germany and Holland. Out of Europe, it is found in Northern Africa, in Nubia and Egypt,²⁰¹ Indian Archipelago,²⁰² Java.²⁰³ The specimen of this bird in our possession, which served also for Mr. Selby’s figure and description, was procured on the continent. The forehead, running in a streak over the eyes, whole of the under parts, cheeks, sides of the neck, and a collar surrounding it, pure white; a frontal band anterior to the eyes, a stripe between the mandible and the eyes, posterior edges of the auriculars, and a patch on each side of the breast, forming the commencement of an interrupted pectoral collar, black; the crown and nape deep yellowish-brown, tinted with hair-brown, and shading to chestnut at the edges; the back and wings pale hair-brown, shafts of the feathers darker; secondaries tipped with white; quills clove-brown, with the shafts entirely white, the last quills also having the same light edges which we saw in the Ringed Dotterel; the centre feathers of the tail are clove-brown, the shade being lighter towards the base and outside, the two exterior feathers entirely white. In another continental specimen, considered to be a young bird, we have neither black nor yellowish-brown on the head or sides of the breast, these markings being indicated by pale wood-brown, the white forehead and eye-streak only being marked; the legs, feet, and bill, are black in all states.

The Little Ringed Dotterel

Charadrius minor.—Charadrius minor, Meyer.—Petit pluvier a collièr, Temm. The Little Ringed Plover of British authors.

As a British bird, this interesting species rests on a single specimen procured by Mr. Henry Doubleday; it was taken at Shoreham in Sussex. The habits of this Dotterel become interesting to the ornithologist, as being somewhat at variance with those of the two last, frequenting the banks of rivers in preference to the coast; but like the others, it lays its eggs on the sand, without any attempt at a nest.²⁰⁴ From the very young state of Mr. Doubleday’s specimen, it is conjectured that it may have been bred in England, and if so, we may yet find the species as an occasional visitant; though, perhaps, the character of the banks of the rivers is not such as will suit its habits. On the continent it is met with in several localities; in summer, so far north as Sweden,²⁰⁵ Messrs. Dickson and Ross sent it from Erzeroom,²⁰⁶ and it extends to Japan.²⁰⁷

We do not possess a specimen of this bird, and borrow Mr. Yarrell’s description:—

In the adult bird the beak is black; the irides brown; the forehead white, with a black patch above it, extending to the eye on each side; top of the head and occiput ash-brown; lore and ear-coverts black; nape of the neck white; back scapulars, wing-coverts, tertials, rump, and upper tail-coverts, ash-brown; primary and secondary wing-feathers dusky-brown; these and the greater wing-coverts edged with white; the first primary quill-feather only with a broad white shaft; tail-feathers ash-brown at the base, darker towards the end the five outer tail-feathers; on each side white at the end, this colour increasing in extent on each lateral feather, the outer one on each side having only a dusky spot on the inner web, but this appears to be constant at all ages; chin and throat white, this colour extending from the latter round the nape of the neck; below this, and above the breast, is a collar of black; the breast itself, the belly, vent, and under tail-coverts, pure white; legs and toes flesh colour, tinged with yellow; claws black. Females have the black and white frontal bands narrower than in the males. Young birds of the year want all the decided black markings which distinguish old birds; the ash-brown feathers of the back and wing-coverts have buff-coloured margins.²⁰⁸

Sanderling

We have ventured, after some hesitation, to place a bird, extremely interesting in form, after the Dotterels; in the form of the bill, its seasonal changes, and several of its habits, it is allied to the Scolopacidæ and to the Sandpipers, while the structure of the feet would place it among the Charadriadæ and the Dotterels. On the one side, it may be urged that we ought to have a Tringa with the feet and structure of the Dotterel, while, on the other, it might equally be said, that we should have a Dotterel with the bill and seasonal changes of the Tringæ. In either case it would stand as an oscillating form, and perhaps might be placed with equal propriety on the confines of either group. One species only is known.

Arenaria, Bechst.—Generic characters.—Bill straight, compressed; tip, dilated, smooth, hard; wings as in Tringa; legs of mean length, slender, naked for a short space above the tarsal joint; toes three before, bordered with a narrow fringe, basal connecting membrane very small.

Type, A. calidris.—Europe, Africa, North and Arctic America.

Note.—Breeds in marshes; the seasonal change of Tringa; maritime except during incubation.

The Sanderling or Dotterel Tringa

Arenaria calidris.—Tringa arenaria, Ray, Linn.—Calidris arenaria, Leach.—Arenaria calidris, Meyer and modern ornithologists.—Sanderling or Common Sanderling of British authors.

The Sanderling is pretty frequent on our shores during spring, autumn and winter, but does not breed with us; at least no authentic instances are on record. Mr. Yarrell has stated its frequency on the English shores, and we have ourselves procured it from the north-eastern coasts. In Scotland it is also met with in small parties, and we have shot it on the banks of the Solway. Mr. Thompson records it in Ireland. When we have observed the Sanderling, it has generally been in small parties, unmixed with other Tringæ; and the manner of running along the sand or shingle, with the head drawn very close upon the shoulders, is much in the manner of the small Dotterels. Occasionally we have seen them associated with the Purre, among which they were easily detected by their lighter colour and their call. It is a species apparently of very wide distribution, breeding far north and within the Arctic Circle, and reaching southward at least to Mexico. New Guinea and Sunda are given to it by M. Temminck; it is not, however, enumerated by Mr. Jerdan. We possess specimens from Southern Africa and North America.

In the breeding plumage, the Sanderling may be said to have the ground tint of the upper plumage dark clove-brown, the feathers tipped with greyish-white, and margined broadly with pale reddish-orange, forming, at a little distance, a rather hazy mixture, in which the red and white predominates; the throat, breast, and sides of the breast, are white, having the feathers barred with pale clove-brown and orange-red; the quills clove-brown, with white shafts, and having the inner webs approaching to greyish-white; the under parts pure white tail; with the centre feathers lengthened, accuminated, and dark clove-brown, the others pale hair-brown, becoming lighter towards the outside, the last entirely white, except a patch of hair-brown near the tip of the inner web; legs, feet and bill, black. In the winter state the plumage is very different; the face, anterior to the eyes, and all the lower parts, are pure white; the upper parts a chaste shade of brownish ash-grey; centres of the feathers on the head and nape darker, the shafts of the others only, appearing marked; the tips and edges are of a paler tint, approaching nearly to white on the wing-coverts and secondaries. The bird, when in flight, appears very pure and silvery, and contrasted only by the shoulders and band of the wing, which are nearly greyish-black, and the brownish-black outer webs of the quills; the tail has the grey tint prevailing instead of the clove-brown. In a young state, in which it is often procured in autumn, the lower parts are, as before, pure white; the centre of the crown is black, the feathers edged with yellowish white, shading off to both sides in depth of tint; the nape, sides of the neck, and breast, are pale brownish-grey, tinted with ochreous; and the back, scapulars, and long tertials, are deep black, having the feathers cut into on their margins with rounded and angular spots, similar to those upon the Squataroles or true plovers. we have specimens before us in this state from the Northumbrian coast, and from North America. A specimen shot on the Solway, towards the end of August, is also almost in complete breeding dress; while others, from the Cape of Good Hope, are pure white beneath, but above, show a good deal of dark marking, mixed with the delicate grey of the winter state.

Thick-Knees

Our next bird, the only British representation of the genus Œdicnemus, serves as the connecting chain between the Grallatores and Rasores by means of the Bustards, to which its members approach very nearly in habits, form, structure, and plumage; but we are not aware whether they undergo any marked sexual change like the Bustards and Plovers. They frequent plains or extensive downs, or the moist fallow lands in a cultivated country; and, so far as we know, are not at any season maritime in their habits.

Œdicnemus, Temminck.—Generic characters.—Bill straight, strong, at the base depressed; tip slightly bending, compressed; maxilla angulated; nasal groove wide, covered with a ceral membrane; nostril medial, pierced in the membrane; wings comparatively short, somewhat rounded, second quill longest; tail cuneated; legs rather long; tibiæ bare above the tarsal joint; feet with three toes, connected by a membrane, which fringes their edges, cursorial.

Type, Œ. crepitans. Europe, Asia, Africa, New Holland.

Note.—Habits not maritime; partially nocturnal; no decided seasonal change.

Swiftfoot

The Courser or Swiftfoot, which leads us nearer the typical Charadriadæ, are Little Bustard Plovers, intermediate in many respects, and showing a beautiful gradation of form. With the exception of their frequenting arid plains or steppes, we know little of their economy, and one specimen only occurs in the British List as an occasional and rare visitant.

Cursorius, Latham.—Generic characters.—Bill depressed, towards the tip curved, pointed; nostrils basal, pierced in the short and partial membrane of the nasal grove; wings of mean length, but ample from the breadth of the feathers; second quill longest, nearly equal to the first; tail short; legs long, slender; tibiæ naked far above tarsal joint; feet small; toes three, anterior, connected by a small membrane, claw of the centre pectinated.

Type, C. Europæus, licinctus, &c. Europe, Asia, Africa.

The Cream-Coloured Swiftfoot

Cursorius Europæus.—Cursorius Europeus, Lath.—C. Isabellinus, Meyer, etc.—Courvite Isabelle, Temm.—Cream-Coloured Courser or Swiftfoot of British, authors.

This interesting bird appears to be of extreme rarity both in Britain and upon the continent, all the instances of its occurrence being capable of being enumerated within the limits of a page. Four specimens seem only to be noted, at the present time, as having been killed in Britain, the first in Kent, which was presented to Dr. Latham, and served for his description of the bird; another in North Wales; a third in Yorkshire; and the last in Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire. No examples have occurred either in Scotland or Ireland. On the continent, stray specimens are mentioned by different writers as being met with, but the instances are extremely few. Africa appears to be its most abundant locality, or its stronghold; but little is known either of its habits or nidification, the specimens which have been observed here being in localities foreign to their habits. The other species of the genus are natives of Africa and India, frequent extensive dry plains or sandy deserts, and have both a powerful flight, and run with extreme swiftness, as the name implies, and which maybe at once seen from the structure of the feet and legs.

The crown is pale buff-orange, shading into grey; on the hind head there is a triangular, spot of black, terminating in a streak from the posterior angle of each eye, but through the centre of this, around the occiput, and passing over the eyes, is a stripe or band of pure white; the whole of the body is of an opaque tint of sienna-yellow, tinged with grey, paler on the under parts, and on the throat and fore part of the neck, shaded to reddish or yellowish-white; the quills are brownish-black, glossed with purple; the tail is nearly of the same tint with the body, the feathers paler towards the exterior pairs, and with the exception of those in the centre, there is a dark spot near to the tip of each; the legs and feet are yellowish-white. The whole length of this species is from nine to a little above ten inches, and from the length of the legs, it appears to stand proportionally taller. Mr. Yarrell states, the young birds of the have the feathers clouded with two shades of “year pale brown, with dark irregular transverse lines of dusky ash colour,” and the lines round the head are not very conspicuous.

Pratincoles

The remarkable genus Glareola or Swallow Plovers, to be placed next, continued for some time uncertain of its proper station; but it is evidently intimately connected with the last. In many of the Grallatorial birds, we have seen the wings developed to a great extent; but the principal varieties of structure are exhibited in the feet and legs, the organs on which this order is, in a great measure, dependant for seeking after its prey. The tail, comparatively of small use to wading birds, has been formed short, or verging in some to a rounded or considerably wedge-shaped form, but never to a greatly developed fork, as in the Fissirostral tribes, and this is what has puzzled systematists in looking for a station to place the Pratincoles. In all the other parts, the form of the Plovers is more or less kept up. We have the bill of the last; the colouring of the plumage continues pale rufous or fawn colour beneath, and has a narrow collar, representing the pectoral and abdominal bands, the upper parts generally glossed with a green or bronze reflection; the feet resembling Tringa, at the same time showing those of a Fissirostral type; while the tail, formed on the model of the swallows’, is the only exception among all the Grallatorial birds.

Glareola.—Generic characters.—Bill short, depressed, and expanded at the base, compressed towards the point, and bending for half its length; nostrils basal, oval, oblique, partially protected above with a membrane; wings very long, pointed, first quill longest, or equal to the second; tail forked; legs rather short, a short bare space above the tarsal joint; feet lengthened and slender, outer toes connected by a membrane; hallux of middle length, articulated on the tarsus; claws long, dilated at the base, that of the middle toe pectinated.

Types, G. torquata, lactea, &c. Europe, Asia, Africa.

Note.—Habits partially aquatic; food insectivorous; taken both on the ground and on the wing; “breeds on the ground, eggs four”²¹⁴

Oyster Catchers

The interesting birds which constitute the next limited genus, are nearly completely maritime in their habits, and exhibit an alliance, in various respects, to the family in which, by the almost common consent of modern ornithologists, they have been placed. They are gregarious except during the breeding season, and, even then, incubation is frequently conducted in companies. They breed chiefly upon the ground, making little or no nest, and lay four eggs. They are subject to a double moult, analogous to that of the Charadriadæ; and their manner, when an intruder approaches the nest, is also similar. We have representatives of the form in every quarter of the world.

Hæmatopus.—Generic characters.—Bill long, straight, or slightly bending upwards, compressed, point abruptly truncated; mandible with a large short nasal groove in the membrane, of which the nostrils are pierced; nostrils linear; wings ample, first quill longest; legs comparatively short; tibiæ for a short space naked; toes three, anterior, short, united by a membrane which borders them.

Types, H. ostralegus, paltiatus, niger, &c. Cosmopolite.

Note.—Habits maritime; gregarious except during incubation; breed on the ground.

Rallidæ

The family of the Rails, which we place last, as being the most truly aquatic of the Grallatores, is composed of birds, whose habits are skulking; during the day, frequenting meadows or marshes, and the banks of lakes and rivers, and there hiding themselves among the thick herbage which covers the localities selected by them. In the typical families, we saw the power of flight amply developed, in some instances, showing great swiftness and a capability of being long sustained; among the Rails, on the contrary, the wings are short and concave, the flight in the greater number awkward and fluttering; but, to compensate for this, the feet and legs are adapted for running, and the whole form is narrow, and when the neck is stretched out, is pointed and fitted for threading through a vegetation, which may be at once thick, and, at the same time, strong and matted. Many of them also swim and dive readily, and the feet are so constructed in those which are not natatorial, as to enable them to tread and walk with ease upon soft mud, and even over the large leaves of water plants. Many of them, however, differ, and come nearer the Rasores in building or constructing nests of a large fabric, and in laying a number of eggs. The British genera are limited.

Rallus.—Generic characters.—Bill long, slender, compressed, towards the tip subcylindrical and slightly curving; nasal furrow long and wide; nostrils linear and pierced near the centre of its length; wings short, concave, rounded, third and fourth quills longest; carpal angle often armed with a spine; legs of mean length; bare above the tarsal joint; feet long, slender; toes cleft to the base; hallux short, articulated near the plane of the others.

Type, R. aquaticus, &c. Cosmopolite.

Note.—Habits aquatic; skulking; lay numerous eggs; perch on rails or low trunks of trees; feathers of the forehead with the shafts prolonged into horny points

Crakes

Crex, Bechstem.—Generic characters.—Bill short, strong at the base; culmen entering the plumage of the forehead, its outline slightly deflected to the tip; maxilla angulated; nasal fossa broad; nostrils pierced in its membrane; wings, at the carpal angle armed with a knob or rudimentary spine, rather short, concave, second or third quills longest; legs strong, naked for a short space above the tarsal joint; anterior toes long, slender, cleft to their base; hallux short, articulated nearly on the plane of the others.

Types, C. pratensis, porzana, gularis, &c. Cosmopolite.

Note.—Habits skulking; chiefly aquatic; breed on the ground; and lay numerous eggs; noisy and often nocturnal.

Baillion’s Crake

Crex Baillonii.—Crex Baillonii, Illust. of Ornith.—Gallinula Baillonii, poule d’eau Baillon, Temm.—Zapornia Baillonii, Steph., Gould.—Baillons Crake or Gallinule of British authors.

This little Crake is almost a miniature representation of the last, and is beautifully marked on the upper parts with clear white spots. It is a bird not frequently met with, both from being comparatively limited in numbers, and from the activity it displays in eluding attempts to raise it from its retreats. It has been taken in several of the English counties as far north as Derbyshire; but we have no notice of it in Ireland. A specimen, which we shall immediately describe, is now before us, shot in summer, a few years since, in an extensive moss in this vicinity. Baillon’s Crake seems to be taken at all seasons with us, though most of the captures recorded have been made very late in autumn, or in winter; the nest is said to be constructed similarly to that of the last. In the marshes of the continent it seems to be more abundant than in our island; and has been found in those of Picardy by the naturalist whose name it bears, and extends southward to Italy; but we want information as to its continental range. Out of Europe, South Africa²²² and Japan²²³ have been given to it. From the former we possess specimens, received at various times, which do not seem to vary, except in the colours being richer and more brilliant than in the British specimen before us.

The upper parts and wings are yellowish-brown, tinted with oil-green; on the head the centres of the feathers darker; on the centre of the back the feathers are black, having the outer webs without the yellowish-brown, and finely freckled with white, the appearance given is like an irregular white patch, interspersed with black; on the secondaries and tertials the markings have the form of zig-zag lines, bordered with black; the under parts, as far as the line of the legs, is nearly bluish-grey; the colour of the upper parts running into it on the sides of the breast; the vent, flanks, and under tail-coverts, are dull black, crossed with broken bars of white; bill dark yellowish-green; feet and legs yellowish-green. Mr. Yarrell describes the under parts of the young birds to be “pale buffy white, mixed with light brown.” Length of our Scotch specimen about four inches, (perhaps slightly stretched.) Those from South Africa range from five and a-half to six and three-quarter inches.

Gallinules

Following the Crakes, the form of the Gallinules next presents itself. They are birds of larger size, and more aquatic in their habits, swimming with ease, and diving to avoid danger.

Gallinula, Latham.—Generic characters.—Bill short, compressed; culmen broadened into a shield on the forehead; nasal furrow not conspicuous; nostrils pervious and pierced in it; wings short, concave, second or third quill longest; carpal joint armed with a spine; legs rather short, strong, naked above the tarsal joint; feet large; toes long and rather slender, cleft to the base, bordered with a narrow membrane; tarsus comparatively short and articulated on the same plane.

Types, G. chloropus. Europe, Asia, Africa, and America.

Note.—Habits aquatic; swim freely; lay numerous eggs; perch on rails or low trees; fly with comparative difficulty.

Coots

The last form among the British Rallidæ is still more aquatic than the preceding, swimming freely, and diving expertly for its food.

Fulica, Linn.—Generic characters.—Bill strong, compressed; culmen gently curved to the tip, and forming a large frontal shield; nostrils oval, medial, pervious, pierced in the membrane of the nasal furrow; maxilla with a considerable apical angle; wings of middle length, rather pointed, second quill considerably larger than the first; legs rather short, strong, feathered nearly to the tarsal joint; feet large; toes long and slender, cleft to the base, and bordered with a broad lobed membrane; hallux articulated on the same plane, bordered with a continuous membrane; claws sharp, gently curved, compressed.

Types, F. atra, Americana, &c. Europe, Asia, Africa, America.

Note.—Swim and dive with facility; pursue their food under water; partially maritime; flight powerful; breed among herbage growing in the water; lay numerous eggs.