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Rev. CA^fo^l ATKiNfsor^.D.C.L

.<Y-i'^ '

BRITISH BIRDS, THEIR EGGS
AND NESTS

^ CtNTlJAL PARK, "^
- NEW YORK. ^.

PLATE I.

1. GoMea tagie. 2. Osprey. 3. Peregrine Falc -n.

6. Kestrel. 7. Sparrow Hawk.

jy. 5. Merlin.

,^ r> ' BRITISH

BIRDS' EGGS AND NESTS

POPULARLY DESCRIBED

REVISED AND RE-EDITED
BY

Rev. canon ATKINSON, D.C.L.

AUTHOR OF

WALKS AND TALKS," " PLAY HOURS AND HALF HOLIDAYS," " SKETCHES IN NATURAL

HISTORY," " THE CLEVELAND GLOSSARY," " THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND,"

"forty years IN A MOORLAND PARISH," " MEMORIALS OF

OLD WHITBY," <5r-C. «S-"C.

ILLUSTRATED BY W, S. COLEMAN

LONDON
GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS, Limited

BROADWAY, LUDGATE HILL
1898

.OA-i^ ^i

PREFACE TO ORIGINAL EDITION '

The object proposed in this volume is, in the first
place, to present our young readers with a complete
and systematic list of our British birds: — the word
British being taken to mean such as, being truly wild
birds, either inhabit Britain throughout the year ;
visit Britain statedly for longer or shorter periods of
each year ; or have been proved to reach the shores of
Britain two or three times, or oftener, under the
pressure of any incidental circumstances whatever.

In the next place, the attempt has been made to dis-
tinguish at once between the rare or casual visitors,
and such as are really denizens of the land, whether
for a few weeks or months annually or by unbroken
habitation.

But the principal object and intention of the book
is to present accurate and trustworthy accounts of the
Nests and Nesting-sites, the Eggs, and any ascertained

1 The Editor thinks it better to reproduce these portions of the
oiiginal book as they were written nearly thirty-five years ago,
partly because they are important parts of tho volume of which tlie
present is simply a New Edition, and partly because what in them
v/aa worth printing tlicu is worth printing still. Where moditica-
fcioD, more or less noticeable, is called for, attention will be directed
to tlio circumstances iu notes or othorwi^e.

V

vi Preface to Original Edition.

nesting or breeding-season peculiarities of every un-
doubtedly British-breeding species. And the author's
difficulty has often been, out of the large mass of
available materials at his command, acquired by
personal observation or from the reading and notes of
many years, to select what might be instructive, in-
teresting, or amusing, without burdening the book
with unnecessary details, or encroaching too much on
the allotted space.

The principle adopted in the illustrations has been
to omit all representations of eggs either white or
nearly white in colour, in order to husband space for
the admission of a greater number of those char-
acterised by varied colours and markings. On the
same ground, although it was earnestly desired by the
artist to give more than one representation of some of
the very marked variations occurring in the eggs of
several species, he has been compelled to content him-
self with selecting and figuring the most typical or
normal forms in all such cases. All the illustrations
given have been carefully drawn from unquestionable
specimens, and Mr. Coleman desires to acknowledge
in this place the assistance which, in this matter, has
been afforded him by that excellent and accurate
practical naturalist, Mr. F. Bond.

An Appendix is subjoined, in which a notice will be
found of the habits of nidification, the nest and eggs
of several birds, which, though regular inhabitants of
Britain or some part of it, for a given portion of each
year, still retire to foreign and distant localities for
the purpose of nest-making and rearing their young.

Finally, an attempt has been made to exhibit at one

Preface to Original Editioiu vii

j'^lance, and in a very condensed and S3^^tcmatic form,
as mucli information as possible touching the nest, its
customary site and materials, and also the eggs, their
number, colour, and markings, and any noteworthy
breeding peculiarities of each separate British-breed-
ing species. It is hoped this attempt, somewhat novel
as it is, and almost inevitably imperfect as it must be
in too many respects, will not be regarded as alto-
gether unacceptable by the youthful nest-hunter and
egg-collector.

The author has only to observe, in conclusion that
he has scarcely thought it necessary in the majority
of instances to notice the common and well recognised
fact that any particular species under notice, in common
with many or most of our common British birds, rears
two broods, or even more, in the course of the isummer.
Neither has he thought it requisite to attempt to
define the average season for the commencement of
nidification in the case of this or that species as they
came succes.^ively under review.

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS

TO THE

ORIGINAL EDITION,

CHAPTER I.

The object with which this book is written is that it
may be interesting and useful to young egg-collectors.
It is not easy to make a book, which is to be devoted
to such details as the length and breadth, and shades
and markings of some two or three hundred different
eggs, either interesting, or even barely readable. But
there is no necessity that a book of British Birds' Eo-o-s
and Nests should be devoted to merely such details as
those. For my own part, I do not tind it easy alto-
gether to dissociate the eggs laid from the bird which
lays them ; and when I see a beautiful nest I can
hardly help being led to think something about the
builder, its means, objects, powers, instincts and in-
telligence. And I don't see why a book about ego's
and nests should not follow the direction given by
those same objects to my thoughts, and the thouohts

2 British BirdSy

of hundreds and thousands of other men besides me,
and I am sure too of hundreds and thousands of bo3^s
and girls as well. I am as sure as if I could see into
the minds of the young nest-hunter generally, that
when he finds one day the wonderfully neat and
beautiful Chaffinch's or Goldfinch's or Crested Wren's
nest, and the next, lights upon some littering Jack-
daw's nest, or some inartistic, careless-seeming Jay's
or Ring-dove's, that the wide, wonderful contrast and
diflference sets him thinking — What is the reason
of this strange dissimilarity ? Is one of these birds
really less clever than the other ? Did God make one
of them a careless, disorderly, unthrifty bird, while
the other He made such a wonderfully neat and
dexterous and contriving one ?

And I am equally sure that a little measure of
observation and thought will be enough to show the
young inquirer not only that the Great Maker of
birds and Giver of their instincts and understandings
and capacities has not left some of His creatures im-
perfect in some of their qualifications and endowments,
but that the very contrasts and unlikenesses which
first set him on questioning at all, all teach one great
lesson and illustrate one great truth, — namely this,
" O Lord, how manifold are Thy works ! " and to add
the inquiry suggested by what follows the words
quoted, — " Hast Thou not in wisdom made them all ? "

Perhaps an Egg-book might be so written as to
help such thought and observation as is here sup-
posed, and now and then, besides, to suggest explana-
tions or lead to investigation or communicate a
knowledge of facts such as to illustrate and make

Their Eggs and Nests. 3

clear, and even entertaining or amusing, the every-
day incidents and facts which fall commonly enough
beneath the notice of the moderately sharp-eyed and
observant nest-huntcr.

The difficulty of making such a oook useful to the
systematic collector of eggs, however young, is not
nearly as great as that of making it interesting to the
many, who, though not inspired with the ambition of
owning a real grand cabinet, and of arranging its
manifold drawers with neatly ordered and ticketed
egg-cards, are yet sensible of a real pleasure and
enjoyment in noticing the nests and eggs of their
numerous "feathered friends," and in identifying
such as may chance to be less familiarly known than
the majority of those met with under ordinary cir-
cumstances. Faithful description and accurate
representation are clearly within our reach, and such
description and representation are sufficient in nine-
teen cases out of twenty for the purposes of identi-
fication in all instances of usual occurrence.

The cases in which identification is difficult are of
two or three kinds. Sometimes the difficulty arises
from the near resemblance of the eggs laid by differ-
ent allied species, sometimes from the wide dis-
crepancies in the markings and especially in the
shadings or tints of eggs laid by the same species ;
but much more frequently from the doubtful eggs
being met with apart from the containing nests, or
from want of proper or sufficiently accurate observa-
tion of the nests at the moment of discovery. The
young egg-fancier should always recollect that the
fashion and materials and site of the nest, taken in

4 British Birds,

connection with the eggs, will almost always, with the
aid of a tolerably accurate and well illustrated Book
of Eggs, enable him to decide without hesitation as
to the real owner of the nests and eggs in question ;
while there are very many eggs, such as the Common
Wren's, those of one or more of the Tom-tits, the
Lesser Willow Wren, etc., of which specimens may be
found so nearly resembling one another in shade and
size and spots, that it requires a very nice and
experienced eye to allot the several eggs to their
certain origin. In such a case as this, recourse must
be had to some kind and experienced oologist.

A few words on another subject. The author has
been gravely taken to task by some of his conscien-
tious friends, for delineating in one or two of his
former books the pleasures and excitements of egg-
hunting, or the satisfaction of trying to form a
methodical collection. He has been more than once
asked — "Do you really mean to encourage boys in
robbing birds' nests ? Can you defend such a practice
from the charge of cruelty ? "

If I thought there was any real or necessary con-
nection between a love of egg-hunting — yes, and egg-
collecting, too, — and cruelty, I would not say another
word for it or about it. But I am sure that the real
lover of birds and their nests and eggs is not the boy
who is chargeable with those torn and ruined nests —
" destroyed " as they may well be styled — which
grieve one as he walks along the lanes and hedge
sides. If the nest is taken, or rudely and roughly
handled, or the eggs all plundered, there is cruelty :
for in the one case, the poor parent-birds are warned

Thtir Eggs and Nests. 5

by their instinct, if not their intelligence, to forsake
their treasured charge ; in the other, they suffer from
pitiless robbery of what they most care for. But if
the parent-bird be not rudely and repeatedly driven
from her nest, — if the nest be not pulled out of shape,
or the containing bushes or environing shelter be not
wilfully or carelessly disturbed — if two or three eggs
are still left for her to incubate, there is, so far as
human observation can reach, no pain, or concern, or
uneasiness, to the little owners from the abstraction of
one ^^g or more ; and, therefore, of course, no cruelty
in the abstraction. The legitimate pursuit of sport in
the stubbles and turnip fields, or on the open moor,
does not differ more widely from the cruel proceedings
of the cold-blooded, hard-hearted slaughter of his
dozens of Rock birds (many of which are always left to
die lingeringly and miserably), than the object or
manner of action of the true lover of birds and their
ways and nests and eggs, from the ruthless destruc-
tion of every nest and its contents which may happen
to be met with by some young loutish country
savage.

Again, a few words more, and this time about
classification. I should like, if such a course were
profitable, or even practicable, to make just such a
classification as an active, sharp-eyed, observant, per-
severing nest-hunter would, as it were, find ready
made for him, by the results of his rambles and in-
vestigations and discoveries ; that is to say, to group
the birds and their eggs according to their frequent
occurrence, their comparative, but still not positive,
infrequency, or their downright rarity. By this

6 BritisJi Birdsy

means, and the subdivisions which would be suggested
by an enumeration of the most usual sites of the
several nests, an interesting, and at least partially
instructive as well as practical system of classification
would be devised. But I am afraid such a system
would not have much to recommend it besides its
novelty and interest, and practical hints "where to
look for this bird's nest or the other's ; and how to
look so as to find." One great disadvantage would be
that such classification, so called, would have the effect
of breaking up groups which nature has put together.
There is, generally speaking, what may be called a
great family-likeness between the eggs of the various
species of any given genus, or kind of birds. Take
the Buntings, for instance : anyone who is familiar
with the common Yellow Hammer's ^gg would at
once guess at the eggs of either of the other species as
belonging to a Bunting ; and the same of the Titmice,
Linnets, Thrushes, Crows, and so on without end.

So that, although it may seem at first sight that
scientific classification is hard and troublesome and
half unnecessary, and may often prompt the question
in the boy-collector's mind, Why wouldn't it do just
as well to write down the English names on the cards
and in my catalogue, and arrange them all my own
way ? — still it should be remembered that such classi-
fication after all is far from arbitrary, and on the
contrary, and as far as it is really good, only follows
out the teachings or guidings of nature. And this
quite independently of the trouble which is saved by
it to anyone who wishes to co-nsult books of reference,
and still more to examine large and well-arranged

Their Eccs cind Nests.

"^xb

collections of cge^s, whether for his own direct instruc-
tion, or merely in search of interesting pastime. If a
boy only knows that a Reed Sparrow is called a Reed
Sparrow or a Black-headed Bunting, and he wanted to
find the Reed Sparrow's eggs in a well-stocked collec-
tion, he might be half an hour before he hit upon what
he wanted ; but if he knew that the generic name of
the Bunting was Einberiza^ and the specific name of
the Reed Sparrow, ScJicenichcs he would be able to
pitch upon his quarry in half a minute. Besides all
which, no one was ever the worse for learning habits
of orderly and systematic arrangement, even though
he had to pay the price of doing a little puzzling
head-achy work, and had to bother himself with a
good many ugly-looking, ill-sounding, jaw-cracking
words, such as Coccothraustes, Troglodytes, Platy-
rhynca, Phalacrocorax, and the like.

It is proposed in this little book to adopt a classifi-
cation w^hich seems to meet with very general
acceptance or acquiescence, and principally for that
reason ; — that, namely, which was employed by the
late Mr. Yarrell. This classification depends on the
system which divides all birds whatever into five
great classes,^ viz : —

^ It will possibly be thought by some of my readers — and I must
admit that I have again and again debated the consideration with
myself — that it was scarcely necessary, perhaps desirable, to suffer
this and what follows to reappear in a new Edition. On the wiiole,
I thought it was ; because it will at least serve to direct attention
to the greatness of tlie changes consequent on more careful and more
scientific investigation which have been introduceJ during the period
which has elapsed since the first appearance of this little hook.
These will in this way l>c caused to appear less abrupt and startling,
and the reader to be better prepared for them, when he cornea to the

8 British Birds,

I. Raptores Prey-catchers.

II. Insessores Perchers.

III. Rasores Scratch ers.

IV. Grallatores .... Waders.
V. Natatores .... Swimmers.

Each of these classes, or *' Orders," as they are
technically called, is again divided either into distinct
Families, or (at least in some cases) into Sub-classes,
or Groups ; these Groups being then further sub-
divided into families. Again, these Families are made
up of more or fewer genera^ and each genus of more or
fewer species. These species^ so many of them as com-
pose any particular genus, all differ from one another
more or less, but yet have a strong general resem-
blance, or (what may familiarly be called) strong-
family likeness to each other.

The general scheme or, as I may almost call it, the
skeleton of our classification, will therefore stand
thus : —

ORDER I— RAPTORES.

Family I. Vidttiridcs^ . . Vulture-kind.
II. FalconidcB . . . Falcon-kind.
III. Strigidce .... Owl-kind.

more modern arrangement vhich will be found at the close of the
Introduction to the present Edition.

1 VuUto'idce, Falconidce, and the other similar names of Families,
are, most of them, Latin words, with Greek forms or terminations.
The true or real meaning of any one of them would be, that the
birds in the Family so named are the children, or descendants, of the
bird or birds whose name is used — thus, Vulturidcn, sons of a Vulture
or Vultures — which, of course, is nonsense, as the words are applied.

Their Eggs and Nests.

ORDER IL— INSESSORES.

Group 1. — DentirostI'

Family I Laniadce . .

1 1. MuscicapidcB

J II. MenilidcE

IV. Sylviadce^

V. ParidcB .

VI. Ampelidcc

VII. MotacillidcB

VIII. Anthidce .

!•>: (Tooth-Billed).

Butcher-bird-kind.

Flycatcher-kind.

Thrush-kind.

Wood-bird-kind.

Titmouse-kind.

Waxwinf^-kind.

Wagtail-kind.

Anthus-kind.

Family

Group 2. — Conirostres (Cone-Billed).

I.

AlaiididcB .

. . Lark-kind.

II.

EmberizidcB .

. . Bunting-kind.

III.

FringillidcB .

. . Finch-kind.

IV.

Stiirnidcs .

. . Starling-kind.

V.

CorvidcB . .

. . Crow-kind.

What is mtoAit by the use of the words in question is that the birds
grouped together in any one Family, all participate in some likeness
of kind— are, so to speak, *' connections " of each other, or that there
is a sort of kinship among them. This I have tried to convey in the
annexed translation. It ought to be observed also that the bird
whose name is given to the entire Family is selected for such pur-
pose as possessing the characteristic qualities or peculiarities of tlic
Family in question, or, at least, most of them, in the strongest and
most marked degree. [The reader sliould, on this point, consult the
Introduction to the present edition.]

1 Sylviachp, I have translated WoofJ -bird-kind, because SyJvkt
means something connected with wood, if it means anything. Sylvia
is taken, in bird-nomenclature, to denote a Warbler ; and it may be
said, that most of those birds which come under this division arc
Warblers in some sense, and are, in some degree or other, of sylvan
habits ; at least if we give to the word "sylvan" some latitude of
meaning.

10

British Birds,

Group 3. — Scansores (Climbers).

Family I. Piddle. .... AVoodpecker-kind.
II. CertJiiadcB . . . Creeper-kind.

III. CuciUidcB.

Cuckoo-kind.

Group 4. — Fissirostres (Cleft-Billhd).

Family I. Meropidce . . . Bee-eater- kind.

II. Halcyonidce . . . Kingfisher-kind.

III. HirundinidcB . . Swallow-kind.

IV. CaprimulgidcE . . Goatsucker-kind.

ORDER III.— RASORES (SCRATCHERS).

Family I. ColumbidcB .

. . Dove-kind.

II. Phasianidce .

. . Pheasant-kind.

III. Tetrao7iid(B .

. . Grouse-kind.

IV. Struthionidcs

. . Ostrich-kind.

ORDER IV.— GRALLATORES (WADERS).

Family I. Charadriidcs

. . Plover-kind.

II. Gniidce . .

. . Crane-kind.

III. ArdeidcB . .

. . Heron-kind.

IV. ScolopacidcB .

. . Woodcock-kind.

V. Ra/iidc^ . .

. . Rail-kind.

VI. LobipedidcB .

. . Lobed-foot-kind

ORDER v.— NATATO

RES (SWIMMERS).

Family I. Anaiidce . .

. . Duck-kind.

II. ColymbidcB .

. . Diver-kind.

III. Alcad(E . .

. . Auk-kind.

IV. PelccmiidcB .

. . Pelican-kind.

V. Laridce . .

. . Gull-kind.

TJieir Eggs and N'csts. II

Such being the skeleton of our classification, the
details necessary for the completion of the entire
system or frame will be most conveniently given as
we proceed to notice in detail the various Orders, their
component Families and subordinate members.

12 British Birds ^

CHAPTER II.

Any one "who is conversant with Yarrell's admirable
" British Birds," will most likely have noticed that
that author gives in almost every case very precise
measurements of the eggs of each particular species
of bird described. And it might, at first sight, seem
to be so necessary to give such measurements that
one would very likely feel half inclined to pronounce
a book of birds' eggs very imperfect, which omitted
all notice of dimensions. But the fact is, such
measurements are, in so very many different instances,
altogether fallacious and likely to mislead. Thus
Mr. Yarrell's measurements of the Blackbird's egg
are, " the length one inch, two lines ; the breadth ten
lines." That is no doubt a good average or approxi-
mate measurement, but I have Blackbirds' eggs before
me which vary between half a line, or ^t of an inch,
less, and a line, or yV of an inch, more in length, and
between half a line more or less, in breadth. Again,
I have two Starlings' eggs on my table, both taken
from the same pigeon-cote in Essex ; one of which is
\-l-^ inch long by \\ inch broad ; the other l/o inch
long, and \% inch broad ; while to the eye the latter is
not much more than half as large as the former.
Moreover, Mr. Yarrell's measurements for this bird's
eggs are precisely the same as for those of the Black-

TJieir Eggs and Nests. 1 3

bird, and not only not tallying with those of cither of
my e^^gs, but not even presenting a near approach to
the medium dimensions.

Great numbers of similar instances might be ad-
duced, and in connection with the very commonest
birds. Even eggs from the same nest may continually
be met with, presenting great disparity in bulk ; one
in the number being frequently so small in compari-
son with the others, as invariably to set one thinking
it must have been the last laid, and that a partial
failure of egg-producing power in the mother-bird
must be the explanation of the phenomenon.

It seems scarcely open to question that the physical
condition of the parent-bird must exercise a great
influence over its egg-producing capacity. Its powers
may be impaired by age, by the effects of recent
injury or sickness, by a partial failure of some neces-
sary element of food, by undue pressure on the egg-
producing organs, such as must occur by the loss of
one or more early layings. Indeed all these causes are
well known to interfere with the reproductive energies
of animals at large, and it is a thoroughly ascertained
fact that both the first and the last act most strongly
in the case of many birds. The comparative size of
birds' eggs, therefore, seems to me a matter to which
it is unnecessary, if not inexpedient, to direct the young
collector's attention ; in any other way, at least, than
as to a matter of curious observation and contrast.
As a means of identification it fails completely, and is
only adverted to here for the purpose of obviating a
portion of the perplexity which may often occur in
practice to the youthful egg-fancier from the differ-

14 Brit is Ji Birds ^

ence in size between diiferent specimens of what are
in reality eggs of tiie same species of birds, but seem
to him, from their discrepancy of dimensions, not
possibly so.

Again, the colour and markings of many different
species of eggs are found to admit of great variation.
The most familiar and striking instance is in the case of
the Guillemot; but one more within the reach of every
nest-hunter is presented by the eggs of the Blackbird.
Sometimes the spots on them are very minute and
multitudinous ; almost confluent from their number
and minuteness ; sometimes large and well-defined
and permitting the ground-shade of the shell to be
very apparent; sometimes reddish in colour, closely
approaching the shade of those on the Ring Ousel's
eo^o', and sometimes brown in hue, with no reddish
tinge at all ; and sometimes they disappear altogether,
or very nearly, and leave the ^gg with a strong
resemblance to the little-spotted Thrush's ^gg?- To
such an extent is this the case, that a year or two
since I was misled into assuming that four eggs
which I found in a nest with all the characters of a
Blackbird's nest, must most certainly, from their
colour and markings, be assigned to a Thrush original
and not to a Blackbird. Other familiar instances of
the same kind may be noticed as met with in the
House Sparrow, the Tree Pipit, the Sky Lark, the
Yellow Hammer, one or more of the Hawks, etc.

In the fabric and materials of nests, again, as con-
structed by birds of the same species, much dissimi-
larity, under peculiar circumstances, will be found to
1 Yarrell, i. 204. Ilewitson, i. G3.

Their Eggs and Nests. 15

prevail. But really not more than might have been
looked for beforehand, if it were not that, in our
usual way of thinking about birds and other animals,
we lay so much stress upon Instinct, and do not so
much as admit to our notice the possibility that many
of their actions may be prompted by a measure of
intelligence, and not simply an unconsidering, un-
reasoning influence, which we term their Instinctive
endowment. No doubt Instinct teaches them both to
build and how to build their nests, and what materi-
als are the most suitable, and the sites that are most
eligible. But it is scarcely Instinct which sets the
Eagle and the Crow, when their abode is in a place
that does not furnish the sticks they commonly or
instinctively use for building their nests, to adopt
instead of sticks the sea- weed stems which their home
does produce. And so too of the House Sparrow,
which, if it selects a tree or ivy for its site, builds a
huge domed or well covered-in nest, but only lines the
bottom of the hole in thatch, or a wall, with abundant
feathers or hair or straw. The Wren, again, which
usually builds its nest so that it may easily be
removed entire and compact, may be found to avail
itself of such a site for its nest, that it may be built
on the principle of application — like the Martin's to
the wall beneath the eaves — so that, when taken from
its site, it shall appear to have had a segment com-
pletely cut out or sliced off from it.

The adaptation of materials to site also, so as to
secure a greater degree of concealment by making the
intrusive structure assimilate in external fabric and
hue to the surrounding objects, is well worthy of

1 6 British Birds,

receiving attention, as supplying not only fresh sources
of seeming unlikeness in nests of the same species of
birds, but also fresh instances of the little feathered
architect's wonderful adaptive intelligence.

The question, — Why are birds' eggs, in so many
cases, so variously and beautifully ornamented ?
Why are their hues and markings made so attractive
to look at ? has often been asked, and two or three
different answers or modes of answer have been sug-
gested. I have seen the idea started that the design
of such various colouring and marking is intended to
facilitate concealment, by the adaptation of the
general hue of the ^gg to that of the recipient or
supporting substances. The theory is at least original
and amusing ; but unfortunately less happy than
when applied to the plumage of the birds themselves
which lay the eggs. It is no easy thing to detect a
Partridge as she sits, lifeless-seeming, amid other
objects not more still than herself, and presenting no
great contrast in colour to her feathers : but there is
no difficulty in seeing her eggs as they lie in the nest,
And so well aware is she of the fact, that she always
covers her eggs with some convenient and suitable
material — last year's oak leaves, for example — when
leaving her nest deliberately, or not under the im-
pulses of alarm. The Hedge Sparrow's eggs again, or
any other blue ^gg, how can they be supposed to
become less conspicuous by their colour when reposing
in some earth-brown or hay-coloured nest-cup ?

If it had been said that the Golden Plover's eggs,
the Peewit's, the Snipe's, the Norfolk Plover's — not to
name many others of which the same might be alleged

Their Eggs and Nests. \y

— were of such <:;eneral luio, so shaded and so marked
as to be anything but conspicuous, as to be indeed
well calculated to escape any but a most scrutinising
notice, in the apologies for nests which usually con-
tain them, the entire truth of the remark would have
appealed to every nest-finder's experience and assent :
but it will not do so in any other form.

It is impossible to lay down any rule for the colours
of eggs in connection with the places, or nature of the
places, in which they are laid. White eggs are not
laid in nests built in dark holes as a rule— indeed,
very much the contrary ; witness the Dove's eggs,
and so many of those of the Duck tribe ; nor are
dark-coloured eggs invariably found to be laid where
exposed to the greatest amount of broad daylight.
There seems to be no rule in the matter.

Again, another answer to the question just noticed
is. Eggs were made so beautiful, and so various in
their beauty, to gratify and gladden man's eye. I don't
dispute the fact that the beautiful shape, and the
beautiful tints, and the beautiful markings do gratify
and gladden the human eye and human heart too. I
know they do, and in thousands of cases, and with a
great, pure pleasure. But that is a very different
thing from saying that God made them so for no
other reason, or even for that purpose as a principal
reason. How m.any thousands of eggs, for ten that
are seen by man, escape all human notice whatever !
How many millions upon millions in the old-world
times before there were men to see them, must have
had their fair colours, and delicate symmetry, and
harmonious intermingling of hues, for no purpose

1 8 British Birds,

whatever according to this view ! No, no. Nature
should not be read so. God made the Beasts of the
Field, and the Birds of the Air, and the Fishes of the
Sea, and the Insects, and the Shells, and the Trees,
and Herbs, and Flowers, all, as a rule, wonderfully,
gloriously, harmoniously beautiful, because He is a
God of order, and beauty, and harmony ; because it
would have been inconsistent with His own Beinsf
with the necessary purposes of such a Being, with the
declared objects of such a Being in Creation, not to
have made all " very good ; " and the same reason
which accounts for the beauty of the myriad flowers
" born to blush unseen," for that of the innumerable
shells and insects of past days and the present day,
for that of the glorious birds of Tropic lands, is all
that we want in the way of explanation of the
symmetry and beauty of the bird's ^gg. God made
it as well as all other things " very good."

Something more to the point for the practical egg-
hunter, and even although he may be not very
juvenile, is to recommend the practice of jotting down
notes of any peculiarity of either nest or eggs or be-
haviour of parent birds, in any supposable case that
may be a little unusual. Such notes are always in-
teresting and very often useful at some long subse-
quent period ; useful in themselves, and useful too as
commenting on or else illustrated by, the similar
memoranda of other observers. Besides, in what is
put down upon paper w^hile the incident is still fresh,
and the memory of it not interfered with by other and
new^er matters of strong interest, the record is sure
to be accurate ; while mere recollection at a later

Their Eggs a?id N'ests'. 19

date is about sure to be insutticient or untrust-
wortll3^

Perhaps the boy-collector too may not tliink a few
sentences about blowing and drying and mounting his
egg-treasures either tiresome or unnecessary. As a
rule, let the egg intended to be kept be blown and
dried as soon as possible. There are several reasons
for this piece of advice. The light shells travel more
safely than the full Qgg ; the Qgg shells do not suffer
detriment from lying overlooked, with their contents
rotting within, as often happens with the collector of
uncareful and unprecise habits ; they are put into a
state of comparative readiness for prompt and complete
preparation and arrangement ; and though last not
least, a good, useful, methodical habit is encouraged in
the collector himself.

There are several ways of blowing an egg and going
through the preparatory stages of fitting it to take its
place in a collection. There are also instruments for
extracting the contents of the shell so as to obviate
the necessity of making more than one hole. I don't
think they are likely to be of much use to a mere boy.^
I am sure they would be a great deal of trouble, and
I don't think that the end gained would repay the

1 If, however, the boy has or acquires them, the following note is
useful : — " The simplest and best way of blowing eggs is to drill a
hole in one side (not at the ends), then taking the egg, hole down-
wards, between the finger and thumb of the left hand, place the
blowpipe point just outside the hole, and blow into the egg ; this
will force out the contents. When this is done, blow a little clean
water into the egg, and shake it well ; then remove the water in the
same way as above, and allow the egg to dry hole downwards on
blotting paper; it will then be quite clean." Tliis note was ap-
pended to the first Edition.

20 British Birds^

trouble and care expended. I have always found a
small hole, only just lar^e enough to admit the passage
of sufficient air to expel the contents, made very care-
fully and neatly at the small end, and a larger one
about half-way between the great end and the line of
greatest diameter, which need not be more than a line
in breadth for the very largest eggs (if not " hard-
sat") quite sufficient for my purpose, and not objec-
tionable on the score of disfiguring the shell ; for by
mounting the ^^^ with the larger or vent hole down-
wards — the smaller hole being practically invisible in
a great number of instances, at least until looked for —
it appears to be altogether entire and perfect.

Any tolerably strong pin will do for the purpose
with small eggs. For the larger and harder shells
something more efficient will be required. A hard
steel instrument fashioned like a " glover's needle " —
that is with the penetrating end furnished with three
edges all lost in the point — is as good as anything
that could be devised, and by having two or three of
diflerent sizes, every case of necessity would be pro-
vided for. The sharp-pointed pen-blade may be em-
ployed, but great care is necessary lest, when the
perforation is just efiected, the instrument should slip
a little farther in than was intended, and an ugly
fragment of shell be wrenched out.

When the ^gg is thoroughly blown, it is advisable
to draw up a little clean water into it by the process
of immersing the vent-hole and sucking or drawing
in the air from the shell with the mouth through the
other — just reversing the late process of "blowing,"
in short. The shell, when half-full, should be well

'TJieir Eggs mid Nests. 21

shaken, and the water then expelled as the legitimate
contents had been : a very gentle puff will suffice for
this. Repeat the process two or three times, or until
the water comes out as clear as it went in ; then dry
the e^g as well as you can by blowing through it at
intervals, after it has been so held that the moisture
on the inside may all trickle down towards the vent-
hole ; after which it may be set up for some hours
in an airy, but not sunny, place to dry thoroughly.
Some collectors varnish their eggs. A little of the
white of the egg itself is all-sufficient, and that should
not be applied unless the Qgg is perfectly clean, which
is by no means the case with the eggs of many ground-
building birds when taken from the nest. I have
taken Dabchicks' eggs also so completely muddied all
over, that it was almost impossible to get them clean.
One,met with on one of the Essex marshes a year or two
since, which was the only one yet laid and apparently
not a day old, was so engrained with dirt or mud that
it defied all efforts to restore it to its pristine white-
ness. In the case of an originally white eg^, such
efforts at cleansing will not do much harm; in the
case of an egg strongly marked with deep colours, it
is a difterent matter. The efforts to remove the clay
or dirt imparted by the feet of the parent bird may
succeed in removing the stains in question, but may
also very likely remove some of the tints or stronger
colouring too. It must be remembered that the
deeper colours of many eggs are not "fast," at all
events when they have not been long laid, and that
attempts at cleansing, more vigorous than judicious,
may easily produce an undesired result.

22 British Birds, their Eggs and Nests.

If the vent-hole is necessarily made large, tliere is
no objection to placing a piece of thin or gauze paper,
wetted with the varnish or white of the ^gg, so as to
cover the entire orifice, and so exclude dust or other
intrusive substances. As to mounting the eggs, and
labelling for insertion in the collection, much depends
on taste. An ordinary " printer's " card is as good for
the purpose as anything, and a little very strong gum-
water is the onl}^ other requisite. A little attention
to placing the eggs sj^mmetrically and neatly, and the
use of a few gun- wads or halfpence or small wooden
wedges, to retain the eggs when accurately set in their
true position, until the gum has had time to harden,
are matters which will almost surely suggest them-
selves to any youthful egg-fancier who is only toler-
ably given to admire the " simplex immditiis." As for
labels, they may either be neatly written, or procured,
at a very slight cost, printed on purpose for such
application. [See the remarks on the " Ibis " list in
the Introduction which follows.]

INTRODUCTION

TO THE

NEW AND REVISED EDITION.

Thirty-five years ago the author did not regard the
writing of introductory chapters to the Original
Edition of the present book either difficult or accom-
panied with risk. But the writing of an introduction
to a New and Revised Edition, under the circum-
stances of the present time, is by no means so easy a
task or one to be lightly undertaken. Then, it was
all comparatively plain sailing, with no hidden rocks
ahead, or risk of running upon hazardous quicksands.
But now, there are breakers ahead in the diversity of
conflicting views as to divers matters closely con-
nected with ornithological questions ; and, apart from
the shoals of error which it may require the nicest
steering to avoid, it is only too certain that there is
no chart laid down of sufficient accuracy to save the
course of the craft from being interfered with by the
influence of divers currents of diffiiring and discordant
views and opinions.

23

24 British Birds,

It is quite true that, within the interval of time just
adverted to, vast and most interesting additions have
been made to our knowledge about birds, and matters
connected with them ; their habits, their haunts, their
life-history, and especially the general run of facts
connected with their nests and eggs, their places of
nidification and all other circumstances of interest to
the egg-collector.

But, recognising in the fullest manner that this is
so, it is, at the least, equally open to recognition that,
notwithstanding the acquisition of a certain very large
amount of positive information and knowledge on
these and such-like topics, there is still a vast array of
ornithological matters remaining under debate, which,
moreover, are discussed with the usual amount of
warmth and mutual " agreement" still " to differ."

But interesting as all such discussions may be and
are to the scientific student and observer, it scarcely
follows that it would prove to be of interest to the
commencing bird-naturalist or the boy nest-hunter
and egg-collector. And what the editor of this "New
and Revised " issue of his book has especially to think
of is that the readers he has to desire as well as to
write and provide for, must mainly belong to a class
who are not, as yet, at least, either scientific or deeply
read, whether as biid-observers or ornithological
students. The time may come when they will be both.
But in the meantime, it seems to be an object to be
aimed at by the editor of this new edition of a book,
merely elementary (the kindly reception of which by
many past generations of nest-hunters and egg-
collectors has greatly gratified the author), while

Their Eggs and Nests. 25

steering clear of uninteresting, perhaps unnecessary
technicalities, to be equally careful alike to admit
nothing such as to discourage the attempt after more
accurate knowledge, and, on the other hand, by no
means to omit to notice anything that may possibly
serve to assist all such as desire, or may be aspire to,
fuller and completer knowledge.

With such views, then, the reviser might, and most
likely would, make a great mistake if he burdened the
few pages available to him for fresh matter with dis-
quisitions as to the superiority of this or that system
of arrangement over some other or others ; or the pre-
ferableness of this or that classified list of genera and
species, orders, families, and sub-families over this or
that other. The misfortune is — and it really is a
great misfortune to very many juvenile enquirers
about " our feathered friends " — that there are so
many differences or divergences or contentions as
those above alluded to. It will be our endeavour to
keep as clear of them all as one possibly can in a book
of this sort.

Still, it is absolutely necessary to the very being of
the book itself, that there should be some preference
shown, inasmuch as without it there could be no
attempt made at arrangement or classification of any
sort or degree whatever. In the Original Edition the
author took the then recent work by the late Mr.
Yarrell — a book welcomed with the liveliest and
heartiest recognition by all the ornithological world —
as liis standard book or book of reference. In the inter-
val between the completed publication of the original
edition of Yarrcli's work ^iud the present time, that

26 BritisJi BirdSy

book has passed through three other editions. Of
these " the second and third editions," as the editor of
the first two vohimes of the fourth edition says in his
" Prospectus," " with the exception of some few, though
not unimportant, additions and alterations, were, as a
whole, mere reprints of the first, which appeared some
thirty"' — now more than forty — "years ago." But
the same cannot be said of the fourth and last edition ;
and, least of all, can it be said of the third and fourth
volumes thereof. Certain systematic changes were
made, as well as alterations rather than merely
additions, in the first two volumes (for the original
three volumes had been expanded into four in the
latest issue), such as might be looked upon as satisfac-
torily established. But the editorship of this new
edition expired when it was half way through, and at
the close of the second volume — the last edited by
Professor Newton — he writes as follows : — " I am not
responsible for anything that may follow by another
editor."

This was in 1882 ; and the changes that have been
made under the direction of " another editor " are very
great ; and it may be added that there is, if not an
universal, still a very considerable consensus of opinion
that the systematic changes and alterations adverted
to are such as may be regarded as in the main satis-
factorily established. But, still, there is no question
possible but that they have introduced a very marked
incongruity between the systematic arrangement
adopted in the former editions, and even in the former
half of the fourth edition itself, and that exhibited in
the later and concluding moiety of the same.

Their Eggs and Nests. 2J

Thus, Mr. Yarrell iiimself be£(ins with the order
Raptorcs, an arrangement followed in all the three
earlier editions, and by Professor Newton in the
commencing volume of the fourth. But the newer
systems put the Passeres (or as it is in some lists
Pico-Passcres) as the first order ; and it is unnecessary
to dwell upon the almost utter subversion of Mr.
Yarrell's classification that is occasioned by this
change alone. Only it is very far indeed from
standing alone. It is but the first of a series of
changes which may almost be characterised as
startling.

Unhappily, there is not complete accordance, nor
too striking an approach to it, among those who
depart from the older arrangement ; and the present
writer feels that the best he can do for the readers,
for whom the present book is principally designed, is
to mark the difierences of System, Classification,
Nomenclature, and so forth, in such a way as shall
tend the least to confuse the young reader's mind, and,
at the same time, make it evident that many matters
are still left for further and fuller enquiry ; taking,
however, every care to avoid interference with the main
object of such a book as this — which ought to be of
course, and is intended to be, to render help to the
young nest-hunter and egg-collector ; to help him, in
fact, to classify the results of tlie prizes he gains and
discoveries he makes, as well as, perhaps, in the
desire to compare the collection he compiles with
other and larger and more complete and well-arranged
collections within his reach whenever such an op})or-
tunity may happen to oiicr itscif.

2S British Birds ^

Such an object as this renders unnecessary, even if
it does not exclude as mistaken and misplaced, any
attempt at scientific disquisition as to the differences
cr divergences just now referred to ; but perhaps it
apologises, even if it does not call, for some notice of
another topic not altogether unconnected. I mean,
the resort to some list or key-list, some catalogue, or
summary, or systematic sketch of the orders, genera,
and species of British birds. The writer has several
before him as he pens these lines. One by Mr. Henry
Seebohm ; another by Lieutenant-Colonel Howard
Irby, for instance. Then there is the " Ibis " List,
which is the list compiled for the British Ornitho-
logical Union, besides some others of more or less
considerable standing. Then again, there are the lists
one can make for oneself by copying from some such
book as Saunders' " Manual of British Birds," or from
the earlier pages of the several volumes of the last
edition of Yarrell's " History of British Birds," so
largely referred to above. All of these, however, will
be found to differ more or less in divers matters ; such,
for instance, as the number of birds whose names
should be admitted into the list of British birds ; or
the arrangement proposed or followed ; or the nature
of the nomenclature adopted. Among more than one
of the drawbacks thus enumerated, Mr. Seebohm's list
has certainly this advantage, that, besides giving a
most valuable summary of the geographical distribu-
tion of each British bird, it is also arranged for
" Labels of Collections of British Birds or Eggs." The
name of each separate species, together with the in-
forD:iation about it, is printed on one side of the paper

That- Eggs and Nests. 29

only, so that the list can easily be cut up into separate
slips as desired.

There is, however, one special advantage attaching
itself to the "Ibis" List. I mean that it mves the
various sj^nonyms that have been proposed (and by
different authorities accepted) by scientific systema-
tists for our various British birds. To mve an in-
stance of what I mean : — Take the well-known bird
called the Bullfinch. In different systems it is called
Loxia PyrrJiula, PyrrJiula Eitropoca, PyrrJmla Vul-
garis, PyrrJiula Rubicilla, and PyrrJmla Pileata.
Here are five scientific " aliases " for one familiar bird.
The Lesser Redpoll and the Mealy Piedpoll each have
six such " aliases," and the Common Guillemot is so
very far from being ordinarily " respectable," that it
has a list of seven scientific " aliases " belonging to it.
Of course all this is, to an outsider, very absurd;^
while to a would-be learner it is very perplexing.
The " Ibis " List tables all these aliases, as I have
called them — " synonyms " the learned call them —
and they may be seen and scanned at one glance.

" The nesting-places," says Mr. Headley (" Structure
and Life of Birds," p. 348), " the nesting-places of all
the British migrants except one, the Curlew Sand-
piper, have been found, thanks chiefly to the energy

1 It is, however, intensified, and in a much more serious degree,
in the list of synonyms (or as I have called them " aliases") given in
Mr. Henry Seebohm's ** History of British Birds," refixed to the
letterpress belonging to the description of cacn several species.
Thus the very familiar English bird, the ChifTchaff, has no less than
twenty-seven scientific synonyms printed below its Englisli (or
common) name. And for tlie purpose of this illustration, I opened
on it by the merest hazard.

30 British Birds,

of our English ornithologists. Our summer visitants
have been seen and recognised in their South African
winter resorts by English travellers." That is quite
true, but it is not much more to our special object and
purpose — which is mainly limited to British-breeding
birds — than a detailed notice of the differences and
vagaries of opinion as to the purely scientific matters
of Structure and System to which reference has been
made in the nearly preceding paragraphs. Our
business certainly lies with the birds which build
nests and lay their eggs in England — at least in
Britain — and more especially with those which are
most commonly met with.

But from time to time the nest and eggs of a bird
that breeds but rarely among us are met with, and
some notice of such bird is called for ; as also of the
helps and facilities which are afforded, in other books,
towards the identification of such birds, and their
allocation among the order, or group, or family they
belong to.

With this view, I append here a sketch of the
systematic arrangement adopted in the last edition of
Yarrell's " British Birds " ; and to the subsequent
letterpress will be added notices of some of the
members of the several groups therein specified, or
such additional nesting notes as may seem to have
either some approach to novelty, or else some attrac-
tiveness or helpfulness for the juvenile nest-hunter
and collector of eggs ; who, though not a scientific
ornithologist at present, may easily be a real lover of
birds and their ways and belongings now, and grow
up in increasing regard and admiration both for

TJieir Eggs a/id Nests.

31

themselves and the wonderful objects of study their
history reveals.

A comparison of the scheme -which follows with
that which is left standing in the " Introductory
Chapter to the Original Edition " may be not alto-
gether without profit to one who desires really to
study the general subject. The orders, it will be
noticed, are altered, and both in name and constitu-
tion, and the same as to groups or sub-orders. The
same as to families and sub-families ; and again, the
same as to the genera constituting these latter
divisions. But it is hoped that neither what is left,
nor what is substituted for the old, will be such as to
interfere with the utility and interest of the book to
the rising ornithologist.

ORDER.— ACCIPITRES.

Family I. VulturidcE . . (2 members or species.)
II. Falcojiidce . . . . (22 members.)
III. StrigidcB .... (10 „ )

ORDER.— PASSERES,

Family I. Laniadce

II. Miiscicapidcd

HI. Oriolidcs . .

IV. CinclidcE. .

V. Ixidce . .

VI. Tiirdidcs

VII. SylviadcB .

VIII. rroglodytidiC

IX. CertJiiadte .

X. Sittidcs . .

( 4 members.)
(3 „ )
( 1 member. )
( 1 „ )
(1 „ )
( 9 members.)
(30 „ )
( 1 member. )

(1 „ )
( 1 ,. )

32

British Birds

XI.

FaridcB ....

( 6 members.)

XII.

Panurido! . . .

( 1 member. )

XIII.

AmpelidcB . . .

(1 ,, )

XIV.

Motacillidce . . .

(11 members.)

XV.

Alaiididce . . .

(6 „ )

XVI.

EviberizidcE . .

(10 „ )

XVII.

F7'ingillidcB . . .

(20 „ )

XVIII.

Icteridce ....

. ( 1 member. )

XIX.

SUirnidcB . . ,

( 2 members.)

XX.

Co7'vidcs ....

(9 „ )

XXI.

HirmidinidcE . .
ORDER.— PICAE

(4 . )
AM.

Family I.

CypselidcB . . .

( 2 members.)

II.

Caprimtdgidcs . .

. ( 1 member. )

III.

Cuculidce. . . .

( 3 members.)

IV.

UpupidcB . . .

( 1 member. )

V.

Coracidce . . .

(1 „ )

VI.

MeropidcB . . .

(1 ., )

VII.

AlcedinidcE . . .

( 2 members.)

VIII.

Picidcs ....

(4 „ )

ORDER.— COLUMBiE.
Family I. Columbidce . . . . ( 5 members.)

ORDER.— PTEROCLETES.
Family I. Pteroclidce . . . . ( 1 member. )

ORDER.— GALLING.

Tetraonidcs . . . . ( 4 members.)

Family I

II. Phasia7iidce

( 4

TJieir Eggs and Nests. 33

ORDER.— HEMIPODII.
FA>[iLY I. Turnicidce . . . . ( 1 member. )

ORDER.— FULICARI^.
Family I. RalHdcB (7 members.)

ORDER.— ALECTORIDES.

Family I. GmidcB (1 member. )

II. Otididce (3 members.)

ORDER.— LIMICOLiE.

Family I. CEdicnemidcc . , . ( 1 member. )

II. GlareolidcB . . . . ( 1 „ )

III. Charadriidcc . . . (10 members.)

IV. ScolopacidcB . . . . (3G „ )

ORDER.— GAVI^.
Family I. Laridce (30 members.)

ORDER.— TUBINARES.

Family I. Procellariidcu . . . ( 9 members)
II. OceanitidcB . . . » ( 1 member. )

ORDER.— PYGOPODES.

Family I. Alcidce (7 members.)

II. CoIyj?ibidcB . . . . ( 3 „ )
III. PodicipcdidcB . . . ( 5 „ )

ORDER.— STEGANOPODES.

Family I. Pelecanidce . . . . ( 3 members.)

c

34 British Birds, their Eggs and Nests.

ORDER.— HERODIONES.

Family I. Ardeidce (10 members.)

II. Ciconiidce . . . » ( 2 „ )

III. IbididcB .,...( 1 member. )

IV. PlataleidcB . . o . ( 1 „ )

ORDER.— ODONTOGLOSS.E.
Family I. Pha^nicopteridce . . ( 1 member. )

ORDER.— ANSERES.
Family I. Anatidce .... (44 members.)

BRITISH BIRDS,
THEIR EGGS AND NESTS.

In the following pages I shall endeavour, as far as my
subject will permit, to avoid mere dry and uninterest-
ing detail. It is, of course, quite inconsistent with the
nature of the book to omit matter-of-fact descriptions
altogether, or even in any very great degree ; but an
effort will be made to relieve the whole from wearing

o

the appearance of a catalogue in disguise, and to give
it as much of a life-like practical character as possible.
How many incidents in a school-boy's life are con-
nected, in his memory, with some nesting expedition,
some recollection of perhaps an accidental discovery
of a nest and eggs he had never seen before, or pos-
sibly wished and tried to find, but always wished and
tried in vain. Such experiences are always pleasant
and interesting in their detail to the real lover of
birds and their belongings ; and often almost as much
so when detailed by others as when reproduced in his
own recollections of former days, and their hopes, and
plans, and successes, and disappointments, each often
renewed, or often repeated under some varying form
Why, then, should not such matters stand here and
there in these pages ?

35

36 British Birds, their Eggs and Nests.

Our plan, therefore, will be to omit all special
notice of the nests and eggs of so-called " British
Birds," whose only claim to the designation lies in
their having been met with once or twice, or even
some half-dozen times in the British Isles : to omit it,
that is, in the body of the book, and to give such
reference or description of at least the more interest-
ing species and their eggs, as space may allow, in an
Appendix. Accounts will be, however, given of the
habits of nidification and the eggs of all unquestion-
ably British birds, even although their breeding
habitat be in another country, or most rarely and
exceptionally within the compass of the British
seas ; such birds, for instance, as the Fieldfare, the
Redwing, the Snow Bunting, and others, besides
several of the Anatidcs. We begin, therefore, with
our first Order.

ORDER.— ACCIPITRES.

FAMILY I.— VULTURIDyS.

Two members of this Family, classed by some
naturalists as belonging to the ssune gentis, by others
as species of two different genera, have been met with
in Britain ; but I believe one of them, the first-named
below, only once, the other only twice or three times.
They are only mentioned here as showing the justifi-
cation there is for claiming the family of Vidturidcs
as being in anywise exemplified in birds belonging to
the British Isles. •

TJieir Eggs and Nests. 37

GRIFFON VULTURE— (6'//i";A/r7^^ formerly,

Vultiir fiilvus).

EGYPTIAN VULTURE— (A7"^^///r^>^ pzrcnopterus).

FAMILY II.- FALCONID^.

There are several species belonging to this family
of sufficiently common occurrence even still in these
days of game preservers, gamekeepers, and vermin-
killers.

Time was, and not so long since either, when many
even of those most rare now were familiarily met
with in almost all parts of the country ; and Eagles
and the Kite and several of the larger and more con-
spicuous Falcons and Hawks were not yet become so
much like Black Swans, as the}" are now in so many
English and even Scottish counties.

These birds differ, with a marked distinction, from
those belonging to the Vulture-kind ; and as much in
habits and food and power of wing, as in appearance,
formation, bill and claws, and other matters, such as
the scientific naturalist notices for the purpose of
enabling himself and others to distinguish between
family and family, genus and genus, species and
species.

Thus, the Vulture's foou is usually carrion, the flesh
of animals killed by other agency than their own, and
in numberless instances in a state of putridity more
or less complete.

The food of the Falcon tribe generally consists of
the flesh of creatures taken and killed by themselves

38 British Birds,

I say generally ; — not invariably. The Eagles in a
state of nature do not disdain to gorge themselves on
the flesh of a dead sheep, for instance, although they
have had no hand — or rather beak and claw — in the
death. Still the rule is, and admitting not many
exceptions when the whole family is considered, that
the Falconidse hunt for, or surprise, and slay their
prey for themselves. And very intent on this busi-
ness are they oftentimes, when engaged in discussing
the meal which their craft, or still vigilance, or fierce
impetuous speed and dash has secured for them.
Often, too, not a little sleepy and heavy are they after
having been lucky enough to secure a large prey, and
greedy enough to stuff themselves full with it.

The bird which stands at the head of the family
and alike deserves and does credit to his rank is the

GOLDEN EAGLE— (^^?///^ chvysaetos).

It seems almost too tame to talk of an " Eagle's
nest," and we seem almost to feel as if different words
might well be applied to the nursery-structure of the
King of Birds, and that of the tiny Tom-tit or the
Wren. So, independently of the old meaning of the
word eyry ^ which makes it so suitable as applied to
the egg-home of the grand kingly birds, called Eagles,

1 Probably from Saxon er/^e (.7 sounded like y) "an egg." The
modern English form of the word would be eggery therefore;
the old English form eyry or eyrie. Chaucer (about 1400) wrote ey for
"egg." Professor Skeat, however, does not approve of tlie derivation
from the Saxon, which would make the word equivalent to eggery.
He would refer it rather to the Icelandic arahrddr, meaning "an
eyrie, an eagle's nest" ; Icel. ari, "an eagle" ; hreidry "a wreath,"
"a bird's liest."

Their Egos aiid Nests. 39

we feel a sort of satisfaction in limiting the use of the
word eyry to the Eagle's nest alone.

No easy matter is it always to cultivate a visiting
acquaintance with an Eagle. His home is not in a
place easy of access to any but himself, or those like
himself, up-borne on wings. On rock platforms (not
too scanty in size), in mountainous districts, and
guarded by rugged, stern, precipitous rock-walls,
utterly forbidding, in almost every case, access by
human members from below, and not often to be
safely reached from above, the great pile which forms
the nest is usually built. Sometimes, but very rarely
by comparison, it may be found on some large, possibly
shattered, forest-trunk amid some wild, seldom-
approached scene of loneliness or desolation. It is
four to five feet in diameter, made of sticks of no
mean size and length, sometimes lined with softer
materials, sometimes not; the new or more recently
constructed nest placed upon those of last year and
other preceding years ; and it would require a willing
and able labourer to clear it thoroughly away, and no
slight touch of the quality of the gate-bearing Jewish
hero in the juvenile nest-seeker who might aspire to
carry off such a trophy of his nesting exploits. The
site chosen for the nest-pile too is almost invariably
one which commands a wide, unhindered look-out;
partly, it is likely, under the influence of the strong
instinct of vigilance in self-preservation, partly also
for the advantages offered by such a dwelling-place
towards the detection of a distant prey.

The number of eggs deposited is usually two, some-
times three. They are commonly of a dull whitish

40 British Birds,

ground, mottled or marbled nearly or quite all over
with a sort of rusty hue.

The young ones, while yet too young to leave the
nest, are amply catered for by their parents. Lists
are sometimes given of the spoils, feathered and four-
footed, found in what may be styled the Eagle's larder
— Black Game, Moor Game, Partridges, Hares, Rabbits,
Lambs, young Roes, and so on, to an amount that
would seem hardly credible to one not conversant with
the Eagle's power of vision and mighty sweep of wing.
Indeed there is a story told of a man in Ireland who
got a fair provision for his family in a season of
scarcity by no other effort than was requisite in
plundering an Eagle's nest of the food brought in by
the parent birds for their young. He is said also to
liave prolonged the season of supply by preventing
the young ones from flying, by clipping their wings as
tlie feathers grew. Instances have been known where
the prey seized was human. Professor Wilson tells a
touching story, in a touching way, of an incident of
the kind, in which the infant was seized as it lay and
slept where its mother had placed it, while herself
busy not far off in the harvest field, and carried off by
the strong bird to its eyry. The poor mother, frantic
with her loss, blind to everything but the thought and
effort for the recovery of her babe, safely scaled the
precipice, high up on which the nest was placed —
though no man, however skilful and expert as a crags-
man, had ever dared attempt the ascent — found her
babe alive and unhurt, and smiling in her face, de-
scended again — a more perilous feat still — in safety ;
and once more on level ground at the foot, swooned

Their Eggs and Nests. 41

helplessly away. The Eagles did not attack her in
reality, though their fierce menaces made the spectators
tremble. Our boy readers if ever they found an
Eagle's nest, which is not likel}^, might well need the
protection of a good strong cudgel, fearlessly and skil-
fully wielded, before they succeeded in possessing
themselves of one of its eggs. — Fig. 1, plate I.

SPOTTED EAGLE— (^^?///^ nccvia).
Met with in Britain once or twice only.

WHITE-TAILED Y.KGi:E.—{Haliaetus albicilla).

Called also Erne, Cinereous Eagle, Sea Eagle. — This
species — a member of another ge?ms^ however — like
the last, breeds amid high, almost inaccessible rocks,
in the mountainous solitudes of Scotland, and some of
the northernmost British Islands. The nest resembles
the Golden Eagle's, but is often more cushioned —
one can hardly say lined, when there is scarcely any
cavity or depression to receive the eggs — more
cushioned with soft material, such as heather or sea-
weed. This Eagle seldom lays more than two eggs,
which in ground-colour are like the Golden Eagle's
but not often noticeably marked with red.

The White-tailed Eagle is much more frequently
seen south of the Border than the Golden Eagle. In
fact, a year rarely passes without some record of the
occurrence of this fine bird in more than one county
of England, and those by no means always the most
nortlierly. On the rabbit warrens of Norfolk and
Sufiblk they used frequently to be met with, and it

42 British Birds^

not seldom happens that two are seen toorether —
perhaps the young from the same nest driven forth by
their stern parents to seek their own living in the
wide world.

The male Eagle of this species is known, like the
male of many other kinds of birds, to take his turn
with his mate in incubating their eggs. It would
seem difficult for the observer to be mistaken in this
fact ; for the male bird, as is the case in the other
families of the Falconidae generally, is very distinctly
smaller than the female — to the actual extent indeed
of not much less than one-third of the entire size.

We come next to a raptorial bird, whose food is
procured mainly from the water, — namely, the

OSPREY— fPc7;/^/^;z haliaetiis).

The Osprey, or Fishing Hawk, or Mullet Hawk, or
Eagle Fisher,^ builds its nest sometimes on a tree,
sometimes on some part of an ancient and deserted
building — always on the highest part, a turret or
chimney, for instance — and sometimes on a rock or
precipitous scar. But a very favourite and almost
characteristic site — speaking of the bird only as a
British bird — is on some low insular rock in a wild
mountain loch in Scotland. I extract a very striking
description from " St. John's Tour in Sutherland " :
" The nest was placed in a most curious situation.
About a hundred and fifty yards from the shore, there
rose from the deep water a solitary rock, about ten
feet high, shaped like a broken sugar-loaf or trun-

^ A translation of the Gaelic name of the bird.

TJieir Eggs a7id Nesis. 43

cated cone. On the summit of this was the nest, a
pile of sticks of very great depth, evidently the ac-
cumulation of many breeding seasons, as the Osprey
returns year after year to the same nest. How this
heap of sticks withstood the winter gales without
being blown at once into the water, puzzled me. . . .
The female Osprey allowed our boat to approach
within two hundred yards or so, and then, leaving her
nest, sailed upwards wdth a circling flight, till she
joined her mate high above us.

" Having reached the rock, and with some difficulty
ascended to the nest, our disappointment may be im-
agined when we found it empty. From the old bird
having remained on so long, we had made sure of
finding eggs in it. The nest itself, however, was in-
teresting to me, perched as it was on the very summit
of the rock, and composed of large sticks,^ every one
of which must have been a heavy burden for a bird of
the size of the Osprey.

" In the centre of the pile of sticks was a cup-shaped
hollow, the size of a boy's cap, lined with moss and
dead grass, and apparently quite ready to receive
eggs." " In another nest," says the same author,
elsewhere, " we found two beautiful eggs, of a round-
ish shape : the colour white, with numerous spots and
marks of a fine rich red brown." — Fig. 2, plate I.

The Osprey is met with from time to time in al-
most all parts of the kingdom, but more especially
along the east coast ; but it is known to breed no-
where in England now. In America, it is met witli in

1 .Some of the sticks — or rather branches — employed, are said to
have been 1^ inch in diameter.

44 British Birds,

considerable numbers, formino^, as it were, a large
colony during the breeding season ; of course, in the
vicinity of some ample and convenient fishing
station.

We come next to the Falcons, distinguished from
the rest of the Hawks by, among other things, their
long and pointed wings, and their vehement and
rapid flight and dash in pursuing and seizing their
quarry. First we notice the

GREENLAND FALCON— (i^^/^^ Candicaris ;
formerly, Grcenlandiciis).

Also called Jer Falcon or Gyr Falcon.

ICELAND FALCON— (/^^/^^ Islandicus).

Neither of these birds breed in Britain, and they
are only occasional and somewhat rare visitants.
Whatever notice can be afibrded to them, will be met
with in the Appendix.

PEREGRINE 'FKLCO^—{Falco peregrinus).

There was a time at which this bird was abundant
enough in our island. It still breeds in many parts
of both England and Scotland, though much more
commonly in the latter country. But in the feudal
times there would have been no diflSculty to the young
egg-collector — if such beings existed then — in meeting
with the nest of the Peregrine, in districts suitable to
their breeding habits and requirements. Although
some consideration, it is true, might have been ad-
visable previously to appropriating the contents of the

TJicir Eggs and Nests. 45

said nest for cabinet purposes. The nght hand of the
fortunate collector would have been the penalty- in
those days of strict " game laws." So stringent, in-
deed, were the provisions for preserving the Peregrine,
that the customary breeding haunt of a pair was
placed under the especial care of the occupiers of the
land in the immediate vicinity, and they were made
responsible, by the terms of their tenure, for the safe
keeping of the noble birds and their offspring. One
such site is in Goathland, on the line of the Pickerinsr
and Whitby Railway ; and it is an interesting fact in
the nesting habits of the Peregrine, that until within
a recent period (and it is believed at the present time
also). Killing-nab Scar has always been a site of that
Falcon's nidification.^ Many of its breeding places,
perhaps like others in the interior, known time out of
mind by some name derived from the circumstance of
their being thus appropriated, such as Falcon-scar,
Hawk-scar, Eagle-cliff, are among the tallest and least
accessible rocks both in the interior and on the sea
coast. The nest itself is placed on some projection,
possibly within some fissure, and is made of sticks, or
seaweed from the coast, and is lined with some hair,
on which, for the hollow is not deep, the eggs repose.
These are from two to four in number, often vary a
good deal in size (probably according to the age of the
laying bird), and not less in the markings and mottlings
which pervade the entire surface. A reference to the

1 It has bred iu this vicinity more than once within the last half
score years. I have had the details of more than one or two in-
stances (two in the parisli of Fylingdalcs) sent me only three or four
years ago.

46 Briiish BirdSy

engra\nncf will give a better idea of the colour and
appearance of this beautiful egg, than any description.
Indeed, description of many — of most — eggs fails al-
together in conveying an adequate idea of what they
are like.

These birds were greatly prized in the middle ages
on account of their fitness for the highly-esteemed
pursuit of Falconry ; and their power of wing and
magnificent flight are in themselves matters of great
interest, quite independently of the excitement of the
chase. The female, from her much greater size and
strength, was emphatically " the Falcon " ; the male,
called the Tercel or Tiercelj being more frequently
flown at much smaller game, as Partridges. A Falcon
flight — although the science is no longer systemati-
cally cultivated as it used to be at Didlington and
elsewhere — may still, however, be seen, from time to
time, by the fortunately-placed observer, both Hawk
and quarry being feroe natura. Some luckless Gull,
or Guillemot, or Rock Dove is selected by the strong
freebooter and carried off from amid the passing
multitudes with a fierce, rushing dash ; and if there
are young to be sustained, the onset and sweep may
possibly be seen once and again. — Fig. 3, plate /.

Wd^Wi—{Falco siLbhiteo),

This beautiful and active little Hawk — a sort of
" miniature Peregrine," Mr. Yarrell calls it — is not a
permanent inhabitant of our country. Visiting our
shores in April, it leaves us again before winter. It
usually selects a high tree to nest in, very often ap-
propriating the old year's or deserted nest of some

TJicir Eggs and Nests. 47

otlier bird — Hawk, or Magpie, or Crow — to be its
bridal home. It lays two or three (very rarely four)
eorgs, beautiful, as all the Falcons' eggs are, and leav-
ing no doubt as to their Falcon origin to anj^one
who is able even to tell "a Hawk from a Heron-
sheugh." They are of a nearly uniform pale dull red
in ground-colour, thickly spotted and mottled with
shades of deeper red. Larks and other small birds
are taken — often after lengthened chases — but, besides
its feathered prey, the Hobby, doubtless, destroys
large numbers of beetles and other insects of any con-
siderable size. — Fig. 4, plate I.

RED-FOOTED ¥KLCO^~(Falco vespertinus ;
formerly, rufipes).

Also Orange-legged Hobby, Red-legged Falcon. —
Only a rare visitant. Breeds in Eastern Europe and
Western Siberia (Seebohm).

MERLIN— (/^^/^^ cssalon).

Also Stone Falcon, Blue Hawk. — This beautiful
bird makes its nest, in moorland districts at least,
almost invariably on the ground ; though it is rather
a piece of flattery to say that it makes a nest at all.
A little hollow in the ground, and that usually not
too conspicuous by the absence of ling in its vicinity,
with scarcely any lining, receives the eggs, three to
five in number, and characterised by the reddish hue
and spottings which seem to garnish the eggs of
almost all the true Falcona. The nest is said to bo
sometimes built in a tree, and then, from Mr. Double-

48 British Birds^

day's account, seems to be made of sticks, and lined
with wool. The Merlin, or Blue Hawk, as it is
usually called here, has no longer, as it used to have,
its stated nesting-places on our Danby moors. Still,
it is not extinct. It is a very bold and active Hawk.
— Fig 5, plate I.

K ESTREL— (i^^/^^ tinminculus).

Also Windhover, Creshawk, Hoverhawk, Stannel
or Stannelhawk ; — query Stand-gale, as Montagu
writes one of its provincial names Stone-gall. Wind-
hover certainly suggests the meaning of Stand-gale,
and that word would be easily shortened into Stannel.

Who has not heard the sharp, ringing, half -laugh-
ing cry of the Kestrel ? What nest-hunter has not
often been warned by that well-known sound, as he
came near some scarp of rocks, wood-beset, well
qualified to furnish some ledge or crevice to hold the
loosely-compacted structure of sticks and wool which
does duty for this dainty-looking Hawk's nest ? Yes;
and have not more than one or two of us taken the
young, and reared them to be our pets, and taken no
little pleasure in their beauty and personal pride and
preening cares ? Often, too, in a tree, may the nest
be found, and not seldom will it prove to have been
not built by the Kestrels themselves, but found — per-
haps as many other things are often said to be that
certainly were never " lost " before they were " found"

ready-made to their wants by some luckless Crow

or Magpie. And what nesting school-boy, too, does
not know the four or five eggs — one of them often so
much less than the rest — which are to be found in the

Their Eggs and Nests. 49

nest ? Sometimes red all over, closely spotted with
deeper red ; sometimes blotched rather tlian spotted,
and with large blotches; sometimes with a lighter
ground-colour, but always tinged with red, though
otherwise not so unlike the Sparrow Hawk's as not to
remind one of that bird's eggs. I like to see, and I
like to hear the Kestrel, though it is no dainty song
he sings. I like to see him fly so stately and steadily
along, and then pause and hover — his wings this
moment moving rapidly, then as he sails off, seeming
to be as moveless as his body — and next he rounds
to so beautifully, and, after a moment's balancing,
drops to the ground with swift, but so evenly regu-
lated an impulse, and securing his mouse, sails off to
feed his expectant young ones. Mice seem to form a
favourite, if not staple, article of their food ; but they
are not exclusive in their diet. An occasional small
bird, hosts of coleoptera or beetle-kind, cock-chafers
in their season, grubs, and even worms, are known to
be readily eaten by them. As intimated above, the
species is everywhere familiar, and is alike too
beautiful and too useful to be so wantonly killed as
it too often is. — Fig. 6, plaic I.

QO^'RK\YK—{Asiiir paluvibariiis).
We do not often see the Goshawk in any part of
the kingdom, and very rarely indeed, except in some
parts of Scotland and in Orkney. It, like the
Peregrine, was in much request for the sport of
Hawking : only, as its manner of flight was difl^erent
from that of the Falcon, it was used for the pursuit
of different species of game from the latter. Probably

50 British BirdSy

this really originated in the impulses of the Goshawk's
own instinct, which leads it to attack Hares and
Eabbits, or birds which, like the Partridge and
Grouse, never voluntarily fly at any great height
above the level of the ground. One curious habit of
this bird is that of waiting patiently until some bird,
which it has driven to covert, leaves its shelter, when
the pursuit — after a pause of perhaps long duration —
is immediately resumed, and probably carried to its
purposed result. Most of the other Hawks, when
baffled in the way noticed, very speedily relinquish
all apparent thought or recollection of the escaped
creature, and proceed to seek for a fresh quarry. It
builds its nest on some high tree ; only the tree
selected is never found in the inner and deep
parts of the wood and forest. Like many other birds,
both predatory and other, it will often return to the
same nest, adding whatever repairs may be required,
for several successive years. It lays three or four
eggs, of a pale faint blue, quite untinged with any
other colour.

SPARROW ^k^^—{Accipiter niszis).
Sometimes called Pigeon Hawk. — Another short-
winged hawk, as the last named also was, but vastly
more common and familiarly know^n. Some of the
Falcons already named may be fitly called bold, or
fearless; the Sparrow Hawk may be pronounced
audacious, or impudent. If you hear some careful,
Martha-like housewife of a hen skirling and fussing,
in dire alarm, her terrified chicks the while seeking
any possible shelter, you may be almost certain that

TJieir Eggs and A^ests. 51

the gliding form you caught a glance of rounding the
corner of the barn and making a rapid, but by no
means noisy, stoop among the young poultry of
various kinds in lively attendance on their mothers, —
you may be tolerably sure that the intruder was a
Sparrow Hawk, and that some hapless Dove or
Chicken has lost the number of its mess. Not that
he does not like wild game as well as tame poultry.
Mr. Selby mentions one nest, containing five youno-
ones, in or close to which was found a Peewit, two
Blackbirds, a Thrush, and two Greenfinches, all fresh,
and half plucked. The Sparrow Hawk is believed
seldom to give itself the trouble of building a nest for
itself. Some old or deserted nest of the Crow or
Magpie, particularly the former, and whether in a
fork of the tree or high among its top, usually serves
its turn ; and in this, very slightly re[)aired if at all,
the mother bird lays four or five eggs, of a palu
blueisli white, abundantly and most variably blotched
with dark red brown. In some few eu'gs this darker
colour is more sparingly bestowed ; but they are not
frequent, and, usually, the red is more or less con-
fluent about some part of the Qgg — either end or
the middle — more rarely dispersed in very distinct
spots. — Fig. 7, plate I.

KITE — Milvus iclinus ; formerly, M. vulgaris.

Glead, Glade, Gled, Fork-tailed Kite or Glead,
Puttock, Crotchet-tailed Puttock.

One very rarely sees a Kite nowadays in our custom-
ary field ramblings and observings, or, indeed, any-
where ; though, to be sure, some one did write word

52 British Birds,

many years ago to the " Zoologist," that he had seen one
sailing overhead as he walked the streets of London.
Perhaps any but rather resolute nest-hunters might
say, if they knew the reception sometimes accorded
by a Kite to a would-be plunderer of its nest, " Well,
the loss is not without its compensation." For the
Kite fights fiercely for its eggs or young : and has
been known to inflict damage of both dress and
person on a boy attempting to plunder its nest. It is a
noble-looking bird; but not distinguished, as the Falcons
are, for any very remarkable degree of boldness or
courage. A fussy old hen has been known to frighten
one from his purposed foray on her chickens, and he
used of old to be chased (for sport, of course) by a
species of Falcon " to the manner " trained. The
nest, usually found high up in a high tree in thick
wood or forest, is made of sticks, and lined with any
softer material found handy, and contains two or
three eggs of a dirty white colour, with a few spots
or blotchings of dull red. They cater liberally enough
for their young, no less than twenty-two Moles having
been found in one nest. — Fig. 1, plate IL

BLACK KITE — {Milvus migrans ; otherwise, ater).
Accidental visitor.

SWALLOW-TAILED -KYY^^{Nauclerus furcatus).
Very rare accidental visitor.

COMMON BUZZARD— (52^/r^ vulgaris).
Puttock. — I well remember as a schoolboy in Essex

Their Eggs and Nests. 53

that the nests of the Puttock, as the Buzzard was in-
variably called in that district, were more frequently
found by us than those of any other wood-building
Hawk ; and many a hatch of young Puttocks it fell to
my lot to see brought within the old school gates.
Whether the Buzzard is equally abundant there now
I cannot tell. It seems to me that not only Hawks,
but very many of the smaller birds as well, are much
less numerous now than in the days of my boyhood ;
and I have heard other nest-lovers make the same
remark.

In rocky countries the Buzzard sometimes builds
her nest on precipices, or steep banks ; but generally,
in our own country, some fork in a tree supplies either
the site for the intended nest, or possibly the nest
itself ; for, like several other of the Hawks already
noticed, the Buzzard seems to think there is a deal of
sound sense in the saying, " Foolish birds build fine
nests for wise Hawks to live in them," and acts
accordingly. The eggs are from two to four in
number, of considerable size, and some of them ap-
proaching very nearly in general look and colour to
the Kite's ctg^. It just as frequently seems to wait
until its prey comes to it, as trouble itself to go far in
search of it. It is rather a sluggard and a coward, to
have so much the air of a fine-looking bird about it. —
Fig. % plate 11.

ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD— (Z?///.^^ lagopus).

Not to say a rare bird, but still, by no means a
common bird in any division of the kingdom.

54 British Birds,

HONEY BUZZARD— (/'^r/^/j: apivorus).

This never was an abundant species in this country,
and instances of its nesting with us are very rare. I
well remember, however, when White's " Natural
History of Selborne " first fell into my boyish hands,
how his history of the lucky bird's-nesting boy, who
climbed the " tall, slender Birch-tree," " on the steep
and dizzy situation, near the middle of Selborne
Hanger," and brought down the only egg in the nest,
and that " hard set," impressed itself on my attention
and memory. The nest was a shallow one, composed
of sticks, and lined with dead leaves of the beech.
The number of eggs — an illustration of which is given
— seldom exceeds two. — Fig. 3, plate II.

MABSH HAKRIER — {Circus ceruginosus ;
formerly, C. rufiis).

Moor Buzzard, Bald Buzzard, Marsh Hawk, Harpy,
White-headed Harpy, Puttock, Duck Hawk. — One
would hardly expect to find that a bird, with such a
string of aliases to its name, could enjoy a very whole-
some reputation. However, he's no worse than his
fellows of the Hawk family, and not so bad as some
of them. Probably the name of Harrier, given to this
and one or two of the Hawks next named, is derived
from their method of beating or quartering the ground,
when in search of prey, putting one in mind of the
evolutions of the hound similarly engaged. The
Marsh Harrier or Moor Buzzard (or Bald Buzzard, as
I used to hear it called in Essex) builds its nest of
flags or rushes — sometimes sticks or twigs — on the

Their Eggs and Nests. 55

^onnd, amid the grass at the l)ottom of a furze or
other bush ; occasionaUy low in the bush itself ; and
aojain, in a tuft of reeds or rushes sufficient to serve
the purposes of concealment. In it it deposits three
or four eggs, white, or with only a tinge of milk-blue
about them. It feeds itself and its young with young
water-birds, if it can meet with them — and its name
suggests the idea that young water-birds may be met
with where itself is found — or young rabbits or birds ;
a few mice and small rats doubtless not coming in as
altogether unworthy of notice to such hungry cus-
tomers as four young " Harpies."

HEN-HARRIER— (OVa/j- cyancus).

I don't give a list of country or local names here, as
usual, because I wish to draw my reader's attention
to the fact, that the different names' applied to the
same species of Hawk are, in several cases, partly at-
tributable to the differences in size, and especially in
plumage, dependent on sex and age in the cases in
question. This is quite the case with the Harriers
generally, and particularly with the bird now under
notice. There is a remarkable difference in colour
between the male and female when adult, and a like-
ness when the former is immature and the latter an
old bird. Thus, the old male is mainly blue, the
female brown ; so he is often called the Blue Hawk,
or Dove Hawk, and she the Ringtail. Like those of
the Marsh Harrier, the eggs of the Hen-Harrier are
white, and are placed in a nest of small sticks and
long, coarse grasses, built upon the ground, four or
five in number, and not often varying from the

56 British Birds,

uniform tint of the ground colour by the addition of
a few reddish-coloured spots or speckles. Its dis-
tinctive English name — //"^/^-Harrier, seems to be due
to the fact, that, like the sick and repentant old Fox,
it appears often to consider " a chicken might suit me
too," and acts accordingly. But, from its habits of
regularly working over stubbles and other haunts of
the Partridge and other like birds, there is little doubt
that it varies its diet with a little game occasionally.

MONTAGU'S HARRIER— (aVr//^ cineraceus).

Ash-coloured Harrier. — This bird, for which Yarrell
proposed the name assigned, is by no means of frequent
occurrence in this country, and is scarcely likely to
be met with by many of our young readers. The
nest, like those of the other two species of Circus just
named, is usually on the ground, often not far from
gorse or whin-bushes ; and the eggs, four or five in
number, are like those of its congeners in general
colour and appearance. With this bird our list of
Falconidae closes.

FAMILY in.— STRIGID^.

When I was a boy I remember — only those goings-
back to school were a sad hindrance — trying or help-
ing to make a collection not of birds' eggs exactly,
but of birds' "merry-thoughts." Did our young
readers ever see such a collection, or think of it ?
Perhaps the answer will be " No ; — and if we had,
what would it have to do with a book about birds'
eggs ? " I will try and show that I have a purpose

Their Eggs and Nests. 57

in mentioning birds' merry-thoughts, and that it may
have something to do with such a book as this, and
its subject.

We have already agreed that classification is a use-
ful and necessary thing ; that nature herself leads us
to it, and shows us how to fashion and contrive it ;
nay, that the very eggs of birds are, speaking gener-
ally, such in their shape and markings as often to
suggest the formation of a group out of such and such
different species producing them. But the merry-
thoughts and the bones they are immediately connected
with, the keel-like breast-bone and the side and wing
bones,^ will be found to do the same thing, with
respect to the collection of three or four (or more)
such groups of birds, as I have just called them, into
what is termed a Family. Thus, if our readers could
get the opportunity of looking at the merry-thoughts
and breast-bones of half-a-dozen different Hawks, they
would find, with a degree of variation, according to
the various species selected, a very obvious and
striking correspondence or resemblance. The breast-
bone, in every case, would show great depth of keel
and strength of substance ; and the merry-thoughts
would be seen to be firm and strong, and of great or
considerable substance. Next, if the corresponding
bones of about the same number of birds of the Owl-
kind {SirigidcB) were taken and compared with those

1 1 don't give the scientific names of these bones, for obvious
reasons. A very excellent book on " The Structure and Life of
Birds," by Mr. F. W. Headley, of Haileybury College, has lately
been published, which cannot but be helpful to any student of birds.
(Macniillan & Co.)

58 British Birds y

of the Falcon-kind just spoken about, while the
mutual resemblance of the Owl-kind bones was seen
to be quite as great and obvious as in the case of the
Hawks, the difference between the said bones of the
Owls and those of the Hawks would be altogether
strange and half startling, from its greatness and
suddenness. The deep keel and the strong substance
of the breast-bone in the Hawk has given place to a
shallow keel and weak walls in the Owl, while the
curved, strong, broad, solid merry-thought has become
a fork with thin, straight, weak, yielding shanks. So
great and plain is the difference that any sharp in-
telligent boy could almost directly pick out for him-
self all the Hawk bones, and all the Owl bones, and
put them in their several groups. And if he did, I
think he would say to himself, and perhaps to some
other person, as soon as he met with one likely to be
able to answer him, What does this difference in these
bones of these birds of different Families mean ? — In
plain words, it means difference in powers of flight.
Any of our school-boy readers who wanted to prise
his strong school-box open, because he had lost his
key, would not take his pen-knife for the purpose ;
because he would think it foolish to use so weak an
instrument for so strong an effort. A great strong
chisel would be much more likely to serve his pur-
pose. And so is the work of God's hand. If a long,
strong wing has to be moved rapidly, and even
vehemently, the motion, like all animal motion, must
be given by muscles. But the muscles must be fixed
to what they are intended to move, or they cannot
act on it ; and they must be fixed at some other point

Their Eggs and Nests. 59

also, or they wonld waste their power on nothino-, in-
stead of impartino^ motion. And, of course, the
stronger they are, the stronger must what they are
fixed to be, and the larger also to admit of more and
more strength. Well, the muscles that move the
bird's wing are affixed at their other extremities to
the breast-bone and merry-thought, and hence the
size and strength of these bones in the Falcon-kind
with their vigorous, impetuous flight and sweep of
wing ; and the comparative insignificance and weak-
ness of the same parts in the slow-flying, noiseless-
winged Owlet. If our young friends are disposed to
add, in their collection of birds' eggs, the so-called
merry-thought of each separate bird to the eggs laid
by that bird, they will be helped to learn an interest-
ing and instructive lesson in elementary anatomy.
And such a collection may be, to a great extent, made
without much trouble, by almost every one who has
the ordinary facilities of a residence in the country at
his command.

Having said so much to show how even the most
simple and obvious and familiar diff*erences in the
bone structure of birds suggests, or, if not, confirms
the principle of classification of birds, and therefore of
their eggs, let us now go on to notice our quaint
" feathered friends," the Owls, and especially our
more familiar acquaintance among them. There are
other things belonging fco the Owl family, which our
intelligent young friend just named would have just
as little trouble in picking out from a heap of similar
objects, as in the case of the bones. I mean the eggs.
The same character, however much they vary iu size

6o British Birds,

— and they do vary vastly in size — is common to
every one of the eggs. They are all white ; they are
all very slightly oval, or very nearly round, and you
cannot tell which is meant to be the big end, and
which the little. Of course, this being the case, it
would be of very little use to take up the small space
available for illustration in this book, with representa-
tions of Owls' eggs ; and for the same reason, as little
as possible will be said in the way of description.
Any Owl's eggs which are likely to come under the
notice of the school-boy nest-hunter will tell him a
good deal about their origin, by their size and the
place they are found in ; and the best picture and de-
scription possible would not be able to teach him half
as much.

Just as the bones, noticed a page or two back,
would be found to show that there was a sort of ap-
proach to something like a noticeable connection
between the Harriers and the Owls, so the eggs of the
former seem to hint at something of the same kind.
The merry-thought and breast-bone of the Harriers
are vastly less strong and solid than those of the true
Falcons ; and, so to speak, intermediate in such re-
spects between these and those of the truest Owl,
while the eggs are colourless or nearly so, and so
approach again to the Owl type.

TAWNY OWL — {Strix aliico; formerly, Syr7iium
striduld).

Brown Owl, Wood Owl, Hoot Owl, Ivy Owl, Jenny
Howlet. — This is the bird whose well-known and, as
I think, musical note, is so often heard at night in

Their Es'C's and Nests, 6l

-'0>Cj

woorled countries, in the c^enuine " tu-whit-to-who-o-
0-0," or " hoot." The Barn Owl is the Screech Owl
proper, though not, in my experience, very much ad-
dicted to indulge in her unpleasant song. I very
seldom used to hear a downright good screech in those
old days. The Brown Owl makes its nest — at least,
lays its eggs — in some hollow tree, usually in a wood
or near one. Sometimes a few feathers or a little
moss may receive the eggs, often only the decayed
wood. I have heard of the nest of this bird in other
positions ; ^.^., in a deserted Crow's nest, or a hole in
a rocky bank. But the hollow tree is the rule. The
eggs are three or four in number, and larger than the
Barn Owl's, being about 1|§ inch long, by Ih inch
broad. The old birds have two or three notes besides
the hoot ; one being a short, rather sharp cluck, often
repeated. The young ones, after they fly, depend a
good deal on their parents' exertions for food, which
consists of young Rabbits, Hares, now and then birds
of sorts. Rats, Mice, etc. I once saw a young Brown
Owl, apparently waiting for its food to be brought,
and sitting very still on the topmost bough of a tall
tree, almost knocked off his perch by the whizzing
flight of a Wild Duck. The Owl ducked his head, or
I thought the Duck would have actually struck him,
so near was the encounter. Another, a young Brown
Owl of my acquaintance was decorated by its young
lady owner with a red knitted hood. This was not
forthcoming one day. But the next it reappeared.
The bird had swallowed it, and it was found among
its castings.

62 British Birds^

TENGMALM'S O'^l^—^Nyctala Tengmalmi ;
formerly, Noctua Teiiginalmi\

LONG-EARED 0^\^—{Asio otus ; formerly,
Otus vulgaris).

Met with, though not very abundantly, in most
parts of England. Its haunt during the day-time is
in ivy bushes, or other retreats affording security from
the access of much light; its nest is most frequently an
appropriated old nest of the Crow or Magpie ; per-
haps even what was once the breeding-home of the
Squirrel ; and in it are laid four or five eggs \\\ inch
long, by 1^\ inch broad. It seeks its prey after sun-
set ; and as birds of various kinds are known to form
part of its food, it seems almost certain that they must
be taken as they sit at roost. What sad bug-a-boos
Horned Owls must be made to offending juveniles in
little-bird nurseries.

SHORT-EARED OWL— (^j-/^ accipitrinus ;
formerly, Otus brachyotus).

Woodcock Owl, Short-horned Howie t. Mouse Hawk,
Hawk Owl. — It breeds with us, and not uncommonly;
and many seem to come over in the autumn, and they
are then frequently seen in a stubble, or otherwise
roused by the sportsman. Its nest is sometimes on
the ground, and perhaps even in a rabbit-burrow.
The eggs are three in number, and scarcely differ the
least in size from those of the bird last named.
Young Grouse and other birds breeding about the
moors are abundantly supplied by the parent Owls to

TJieir Eggs and Nests, 63

their young when the nest chances to have been made
in such a locality, and the old ones are very jealous of
seeing their progeny too nearly approached, and ex-
pose themselves almost as fearlessly on such occasions
as either Partridge or Grouse. Their local name of
Hawk Owl is derived from the circumstance that they
pursue their prey — regularly " hawking " for it — dur-
ing the day-time, and even in the brightest sunshine.
They are so bold during the breeding time on some
moors in this northern part of Yorkshire that they
attack and intimidate the shepherd's dogs ; so much so
that they are not very ready to go about their work.
I have the following record of one shot ofi' her nest in
April, 1894, near Bolton Gill, Wensleydale. The nest
was in the open, and made of dead grass. It contained
eight eggs ; besides which there were three more
nearly ready for extrusion. Also there were fourteen
or fifteen other miniature ova in the body.

EAGLE OWL — {Bubo ignavus ; formerly,
B. maxiimcs).

This noble bird, the largest in our list of British
Owls, is so occasionally and iriegularly seen in Britain,
that it can scarcely claim lengthened notice at our
hands.

SCOPS EARED OWl.— {Scops Aldrovandi),

Almost as rare as the preceding, and one of the
smallest of its family. From notes in my possession
it seems to have a kind of ventriloquial power, such
that, although the bird is roosting quite quietly, its
cry appears to come from different quarters, so as to

64 British Birds,

make the listener imagine that it is uttered in the
course of a circling flight.

LITTLE OWL — {Carijie noctua ; formerly,
Noctua passerind).

Little Night Owl, Sparrow Owl. — A very occasional
visitant.

SNOWY 0^\.—{NyctcaSca?idiaca; formerly,
Suriiia nycted).

A beautiful bird, of very rare occurrence.

HAWK 0\\l^—[SiLr7iia funered).
Canada Owl. — More rare than the last.

BARN OWL — {Aluco flafnmeus ; formerly
Strzx flam med).

White Owl, Yellow Owl, Screech Owl, Gilly
Howlet, Howlet, Madge Howlet, Church Owl, Hissing
Owl. — This common and useful bird breeds by pre-
ference in some building or part of one ; a church
tower, dove-cot, ruined mansion, or castle, and the
like. My most familiar boy-acquaintance, however,
was with the nesting place and habits of a pair which
nested for many consecutive years in a slight hollow
in the crown of a large pollard elm tree in my father's
church-yard at Great Wigborough, in Essex. There
were usually three or four young ones year by year,
often with perceptible differences of growth among
them. Indeed it is well known that this Owl and the
Short-eared Owl, and probably others as well, lay their

Tiieir Eggs and Xests. 65

eggs in instalments, as it were, and when the first
batch of two or three is about hatching or nearly so,
others are deposited in addition, and thus hatched in
their turn almost as much by their brothers and sisters
as by their mother. Quainter, orraver, odder, stranger,
more irresistibly comic creatures than these young
Owls I never saw ; and the hissing and snoring, and
peering looks at the spectator, and strange antic con-
tortions I heard and saw, baffle all attempts at descrip-
tion. The entertainment, for such it was most truly,
usually began some little time before sunset, about
which time the old birds might be seen commencing
their labours of purveying food for Masters and Misses
Howlet. At intervals of from seven to ten minutes,
one or other of them came to the nest with a prey,
and I could always tell by the sounds and gestures of
the young Owls when the old one was approaching.
How they knew I could not tell ; it was not by sight,
and I could hear no sound myself; but know they did
most certainly. Mice, slugs, sometimes a large insect
apparently, or a small bird, very rarely a Mole, or Rat
of no large dimensions, were brought in continuous
succession, and in the claw, not with the bill. When
the animal was of small dimensions, the old Owl flitted
off again with scarcely any pause at the nest. If a
large one, it seemed by the time which elapsed, and
the sounds which became audible — most vehement
snorings and hissings — that partition had to be made,
and that the said partition was a matter of the greatest
interest to the parties concerned. I cannot affirm
positively that the old Owls prosecuted their most
successful hunting all through the night j but I believe

66 British Birds,

they did, and I have seen them still at work in the
morning long after sun-rise, once as late as between
eight and nine in the morning in the height of summer.
As the inmates of a dove-cot, they are on very excellent
terms with the proper dwellers therein, although from
the known habits of other Owls, the human owners of
the dove-cot are apt to assume, most groundlessly and
unjustly, that they are sure to destroy the young
Pigeons. I don't believe, however, that if all the
rejected pellets of bones, fur, feathers, etc., from all the
Barn Owls in the kingdom could be examined, that
any trace of Pigeon, old or young, would be discovered;
and that farmer is a foolish farmer who either destroys
a Barn Owl himself or suffers any one else, whom he
could prevent, to destroy one. They are perfectly
harmless, exceedingly useful, and strangely interesting
to the observer. I may add that since I began to
write these lines, I am told that the self-same tree is
still occupied by a pair of the self-same Owls, and has
continued to be from the days of my boyish recollec-
tions — a period of more than thirty years.^ The
young of this and the Tawny Owl are very bold,
resolute little creatures, if taken when rather more
than half -grown. They will throw themselves on their
backs, and defend themselves pertinaciously with bill
and claw against any foe, or supposed foe, human or
other. The Barn Owl has been known to take fish by
plunging upon it in the water. The eggs are about
\\ inch long by 1^ broad.

1 And that is now more than 30 years ao;o.

TJicir Eggs and Nests. Gy

We arrive now at the second Order.
ORDER.— PASSERES.
FAMILY I.— LANIAD7E.

GREAT GREY SHRIKE— (Zrt;^n/j exaibitor).

Greater Butcher Bird, Ash-coloured Shrike, Cinere-
ous Shrike, Grey Shrike. — This bird is an occasional
visitor only, and has very rarely been seen in the
breedincr season. No authentic instance of its nestinsf
with us is known.

LESSER GREY SHRIKE— (Z«;^//^j minor).

A rare and accidental visitor to England. It breeds
in Southern Europe and North Africa.

RED-BACKED SHRIKE— (Z^«2«.y collurid).
Lesser Butcher Bird, Flusher, Murdering-pie, Jack
Baker, etc. — The male of this species is a beautiful
bird, with his bright chesnut back and lively air.
They spend only a part of the year with us, but that
part involves the period of nesting. The nest is
usually rather high up in a strong, thick bush, large-
sized for the bird, cup-shaped, and made of coarse
withered herbage externally, with rather finer
materials within, and lined with hair or some sucli
substance. The eggs are four or five in number,
varying much in colour and marks. The ground-
shade varies, and so do the markings ; the latter,
however, being usually found thicker and darker in
a zone or baud encircling some part of the ^^g.

6S British Birds,

Description is quite inadequate to convey any idea of
these variations. The bird deserves its name, for it
" slauixhters " small birds, as well as other animals,
and hangs up the carcases in regular shambles. It is
wonderful how the frogs, beetles, caterpillars, cock-
chafers, birds, etc., which form its food, are fixed so
very firmly and tenaciously upon the strong thorny
point. — Figs. 4, 5, plate II.

WOODCHAT SHRIKE— (Z^;2/2^i- rufus).

Only a rare and occasional visitant. Breeds in
Central and South Europe and North Africa.

FAMILY II.— MUSCICAPIDiE.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER— (iI/?^.y^/V^/^ grisola\

Beam-bird, Bee-bird, Rafter-bird, Post-bird, Wall-
bird, Cherry-chopper, Cherry-sucker, Cobweb-bird. —
Many of these names are taken from the familiar
site of its nest, or from some of its habits in taking
food. It will return to the same post, after a short
excursion to seize an insect, ten or a dozen times in
succession ; and it will build its nest on a wall, on the
end of a rafter or beam, on a rake-head, in a trained
wall-tree — in fact, in almost every conceivable place.
The nest varies in material and structure, almost as
much as in its site. Moss, old and new, bents, straws,
twigs, hairs, feathers, all are used. It is an amusing
little bird,^ and pays many feeding visits to its young,

1 '* It is always pleasant to watch, and its nest is easy to find.
One pair had the audacity to build in the wall of tiie village school

Their Eggs and Nests. 69

as is the case with all insect-feeding birrls. The ep^c^'s
are four or five in number, of dull white, tino^ed with
blue, and spotted with faint red. It only visits us to
breed here. — Fig. G, plate II.

RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER— (J//^jaV^/a
pa7'va).

Accidental winter visitor.

PIED Y'LYCkTQKEK—^Muscicapa airicapilla).

Coldfinch. — A rare bird in some localities, and not
an abundant one in any. The nest is loosely made of
small roots, bents, grass, moss, hair, or some such
materia], in a hole, usually in pollard trees, or such
as have decayed from natural causes, but sometimes
also in a hole in a wall or other building. In it may
be found four to eight eggs of a uniform light blue
colour. — Fig. 7, plate II.

FAMILY ILL— ORIOLIDJ^.

GOLDEN ORIOLE— ((9;7'^///i- galbula).
Only an occasional summer visitor.

Another pair placed their nest on the sun-dial in a gentleman's
garden, as kite as mid-July." ("A Year with the Birds," p. 130.) A
book whicli migiit well be in every bird lover's bookcase. Mr.
Wardo Fowler is the author.

70 British Birds,

FAMILY IV.— CINCLID^.

COMMON T)\YY'm.—{Cinclus aquaiicus).
Water Ousel, Brook Ousel, Water Crow, Water
Piet, Bessy-ducker. — I may as well own that I am a
little bit " fond " about the Dipper. I dearly love to
see him and hear him in my rambles by our mountain
becks. So lively, cheery, and jolly, even in the cold
winter day, when the mere look of the chilly, shiver-
ing stream makes one feel goose-skinny. There he
sits at the water edge, and sings like a Robin a little
tipsy, and then in he tumbles, in a rollicking sort of
way, as you become a little too inquisitive, and emerg-
ing a few yards farther down, takes wing, and darts
off with his Kingfisher-like flight. One nest some
lads belonging to my family found here, was a
feather-bed sort of structure of moss and a few
feathers, filling up a six-inch square hole in the
masonry of a bridge in which one of the scaffold
rafters of the workmen had been inserted, there being
a small, round hole left in the exposed side for exit
and ingress. Others may be seen in cavities in a rock
by the water-side ; and one I heard of, if my memory
is correct, in Berwickshire, was built amid the stone-
work of a water-lead for conducting the waste water
away from a mill, and in such a position that the
water in its fall projected itself beyond the nest, and
formed a kind of arch above it. The old birds in
going into or leaving their nest had actually to pass
in either from the side or through the interstices of
the small cascade. The eggs are five or six in
number, and perfectly, purely white. A sad enemy

TJicir Eggs and Nests. 71

to fish spawn my little white-breasted friend is said
to be, but the fact is much questioned. I never yet
cared to shoot one, I love them so well. When there
are half-a-dozen small but very hunp^ry Dipper-mouths
to be fed, I fear much consumption of fishes' food, if
not fishes' eggs, takes place. It is able to walk,
though with much effort, under water, as well as dive
and swim ; and I have often seen them, on coming to
the surface in a quiet pool, remain perfectly quiescent
and floating for several seconds. — Fig, 8, plate II.

FAMILY v.— IXIDiE.

GOLD-VENTED THRUSH— (/>^;^^;/^///j capensis).
Has occurred in Ireland.

FAMILY YL— TURDlDiE.

WHITE'S THRUSH— (r?^r^2/j varius ; formerly,
T. whitei).

Accidental winter visitor. I once saw one here,
and had it under view for a space of many minutes,
at a distance of only a few yards, and with a pair of
excellent field-glasses at my eyes. It was on a
Sunday, and so was not molested.

MISSEL OR MISTLE THRUSH— ( r/^;^^«j

viscivorus^.

Misseltoe or Mistletoe Thrush, Missel-bird, Storm-

72 British Birds y

cock, Screech Thrusli, Holm Thrush, Holm Screech. —
A handsome bird and an early builder. The Missel
Thrush seems to lay aside some of its wildness in the
breeding season, and draws near the dwellings of
men. Its nest may continually be found in a garden
or orchard close to a house, and in the thick fork of
an apple or other fruit tree, often only a few feet
from the ground. Woe be to the Cat who comes near
the nest ! Such a storm of violent abuse and loud-
tongued birds' Billingsgate as is poured on her de-
voted head ! Nor does the human intruder escape
quite w^ithout a telling of it, or what my Yorkshire
friends term *' a calling." \i a Missel Thrush is very
abusive with you, be sure his nest is not far off. It is
a large structure, of much such materials and design
as the Blackbird's, but often bound round and round
with long rushes or roots, or other material sufficiently
lengthy and pliable. I have seen tailor's listing,
bast matting, and even discarded tape, used for the
purpose. The eggs, four or five in general, often vary
much in colouring and marks ; but are in general of a
whitish ground-colour, lightly tinged with green (or
perhaps faint red), and well spotted with red-brown.
—Fig. ^, plate 11.

SONG 'I'R'^T^'^'R—^Turdusmiisicus).

Common Thrush, Throstle, Mavis. — Every one
knows this sweet songster, and could point out its pet
stone with its little accumulation of shattered snail
shells, which, when whole, had been brought there by
the knowing Thrush and hammered against the well-
fixed anvil until they gave way. Everybody knows

Their Eggs a)ui Nests. ^'3

his persevering song, begun at day-(Ia^Yn in early
February, and persevered in for months of the sprinc;*
and early summer. Every one knows its trim, neatly-
plastered nest, with its warm, solid coating of grass
and bents and roots and such like materials. And
every body, too, knows the four or five fair blue eggs
with their tidy black spots, which now and then, how-
ever, can hardly be seen at all. Every body also
knows how fussy the old mother Thrush is the day
her brood quit their nest ; and how, if you catch one
of her awkward, ill-flying, soon-tired squad of young
ones, she will follow you with much objurgation and
no little plaintive entreaty that " a great fellow like
you, who ought to be ashamed of yourself for frighten-
ing a poor little fluttering creature like that, will put
it down again soon, and not hurt it, and be a dear,
good man, — now do, won't you ? " I have met with its
nest twice within the last three years built in among
the unmortared stones of the ordinary " dry-stone
walls " of this country. — Fig. 10^ plate 11.

REDWING— (r^/r^^j iliacus).

Like the Fieldfare, frequent in winter; but breeds
in another country.

FIELDFARE— ( Turdus pilaris),

Felfit, Felty-fare, Blue-back, Jack-bird. — A very
common winter visitor, and staying sometimes as
late as 20th May. But they do not breed with us ;
and as space is not too abundant, any notice which
can be afforded of this bird's nesting habits must be
put in the Appendix, if found possible.

74 British Bi^'ds^

BLACK-THROATED THRUSH— ( r?/r^//j
atrigularis).

It has only occurred three or four times as a
casual visitor.

BLACKBIRD— (T/zr^^/^ menila).

Black Ousel, Amzel, Ousel, also pronounced some-
times in North Yorkshire, so as to sound like Ussel
or Oossel. Merle in Shakespeare. — The Blackbird's
tawny bill and sable plumage and sweet mellow song
—would one like it as well if he were as lavish of it
as the Thrush ? Who does not welcome and love
him ? And to a very youthful nest-hunter what a
deserving bird the Blackbird is. Making his nest
usually in such places and so that detection is not at
all a matter of course, and yet not altogether beyond
the discernment of inexperienced eyes. The discovery
of our first Blackbird's nest is always felt to be a sort
of achievement, and one to be spoken of with reason-
able self-approbation too. In the hedge, at the
bottom of the hedge, on the stump, behind the stump,
below the stump, an excrescence on the side of the
ragged old tree, in a wall tree, in an evergreen or
other thick bush— how often have we found the nest
in these and such like places. Once we found one
which we set down as made by the untidiest Black-
bird that ever lived. It was in a thorn hedge thick
and high, and a great rough structure. But a lock of
wool, a big one, had been unmanageable and had
cauo-ht on the thorns, and the feathered architect
could do nothing with it, and there it hung out of the

TJieir Eggs and Nests. ^5

nest-wall a thick tangle, two or three inches lon^, and
making the nest as conspicuous as if a flag had been
stuck just above it. How the eggs vary in shade,
markings, size, etc., I have already noticed at a former
page, and I am fearful of absorbing too much of my
space by adding more. — Fig. \\, plate II.

RING O^J^Y.'L—{T^lrd'us torquatns).

Ring Thrush, Moor Blackbird, Mountain Blackbird,
Tor Ousel, Rock Ousel, Ring Blackbird. — A bold
abusive freebooter in our gardens in North Yorkshire,
and other similar localities. He's a beautiful bird, and
a wary, except when seduced by strawberries and red
currants. His wild and not unmusical note, though it
might sound harsh in a trim garden in Kent or Essex,
and to an ear not attuned to moorland sounds, is
always as welcome to me as the gentle twitter of the
Swallow. I like to hear his attempts at song, re-
minding the listener of the Missel-bird's early spring
music. And I like to hear his wilder, grating call-
note, which is the usual warning the ornithologist has
that the Moor Blackbird has returned for the season.
His nest is very like the Blackbird's in design and
general structure. An inner lining of bents and fine
ling, a wall of clay, and an outer husk of moss, ling,
and such like moorland matters. It is not strongly
or compactly formed, and makes a great litter if kept
a day or two and subject to be handled or moved,
however carefully. It is always built on, or near the
ground, on the wild moor ; and I once trod the
feathers out of the wing of a sitting hen, on whom and
her nest I nearly jumped in leaping a gully. The

7 6 British Birds ^

eggs are usually four or five in number, and remind
you of the Blackbird's eggs in their general appear-
ance ; but the blotchings or markings are redder, and
often much larger or more pronounced than in the
case of the Blackbird. Their eggs, too, vary generally
in size, even in the same nest. Out of the contents of
two nests I had brought to me a year or two since, no
two seemed to agree exactly in dimensions. — Fig. 12,
plate II.

ROCK THRUSH-^(J/^;^/2V«/^ saxatilis).
Of most rare occurrence.

FAMILY VII. SYLYIADiE.

ALPINE k.Q>Q;^^l:QiK— {Accentor collaris ; formerly,
Alpinus).

Met with two or three times in Britain.

HEDGE ^VKK^QT^— {Accentor modularis).

Hedge Warbler, Shuffle-wing, Dunnock, Hempie. —
I cannot call it Hedge Accentor, with all my respect
for Mr. Yarrell. It was Hedge Sparrow in my child-
hood and youth, and Hedge Sparrow to me it will be
called to the end of the chapter. I could no more
wantonly kill a Hedge Sparrow, in my sparrow-
killing days, than a Robin ; and now, when I hear his
low, sweet pipe, and see his wings quivered as he hops
on the ground, or from spray to spray, not knowing I
am noticing him, he seems as dear to me as ever. The
mossy nest, with its intermixture of fine roots and

Their Eggs and Nests, yy

hair, may be found weeks before leaves are thought of,
on the bank-side or low in the hedge, and little con-
cealed ; and the four or five beautiful blue eggs in it
become familiar to every nest-seeker among his very
earliest acquisitions. — Fig. \?>, plate II.

ROBIN — {Erythacus rnbecula).

Redbreast, Robin Redbreast, Ruddock, Robinet,
Bob-Robin. — I remember throwing a stone at a Robin
when a very little boy, and to my consternation and
utter grief, no less than to my surprise, killing it. I
" felt bad " about it — as our American friends say —
and thought I was as wicked as the Sparrow of bow
and arrow memory. It seems to be, or to have been,
a common feeling among boys, and is embodied in the
old lines : —

*' The Robin and the Wren
Are God's Cock and Hen."

How beautiful the Robin's eggs are when just laid ;
and how they lose their peculiar pinky loveliness
from being blown. A hundred different places, too,
the little bird selects for the site of its nest ; often
being such, moreover, as to illustrate their confiding
fearlessness, as much as the result in them of the
pressure of winter cold and hunger. In the tilt of a
wagon ; in a steam boat ; in a room of the cottage ;
near a blacksmith's forge ; in the constantly-used
garden-shed, as well as in the ivy or evergreen bush ;
or on the bank, or in the hedge ; or in a hole in the
old ruin or bank or house-wall : all places seem to
Buit it alike. The eggs are five or six, sometimes

78 British Birds,

seven ; and the shell is white, more or less freckled
with light red. — Fig. 14, plate IL

NIGHTINGALE — {Daidias luscinia ; formerly,
Philo7nela luscinia).

This sweetest of the English warblers has but a
limited range. In Essex^ Suffolk, and Cambridge-
shire, I used to hear it abundantly ; but of late years,
as a resident in Yorkshire, its note has become strange
in my ears. Shy and vigilant in its habits, it does
not willingly expose itself to observation, and its
haunts are so thick that discovery of its nest is not
always easy. It seems often an untidy structure, but
according to my observation not usually built on the
ground, as Mr. Yarrell states. I have found it in a
thick thorn hedge or bush, and in shrubs in the
garden, made of twigs, straw, grass, and especially old
oak leaves, and with only a jagged margin. The eggs,
four and sometimes five of them, are of " an uniform
olive-brown colour," and from the time they are laid,
the bird only sings occasionally. After they are
hatched, never. — Fig. b, plate III.

BLUE-THROAT— (i^?///a7/^ Suecica ; formerly,
PhcBuicura Suecica).

Blue-throated Robin, Blue-throated Redstart, Blue-
breast. — Only of very rare occurrence.

REDSTART— (i??///^*//^ phcenicurus ; formerly,

Phcenicura ruticilla).
Firetail, Fireflirt, Brantail, Redtail.— The male is
one of the most beautiful of our small birds, and I

Their Eggs and Nests. 79

wish I could think it as abundant with us as it used
to be. The nest is loosely constructed of moss, with a
few small straws or bents sometimes, and hair and
feathers inside, and almost invariably is placed in a
hole, it may be in a hollowish tree, or a wall, or even
in a bank ; and here, where dry-stone walls abound,
its choice of nesting-places is inexhaustible. Very
watchful are the old birds over the eggs, and very
fussy and noisy when the eggs have yielded their
living contents, and yet very careful too. I knew
there was a nest the year before last (1860) not far
from my garden gate ; but it was not till I hid my-
self most carefully and patiently behind the door, that
I made myself master of the vigilant little sentinel's
secret. It lays four or five, and, occasionally, six eggs,
of a pale uniform blue colour, perhaps tinged with a
faint green shade. They are almost as pretty as the
Hedge-Sparrow's. — Fig. lo, plate IL

BLACK REDSTART— (ie?///«7/^ Tithys ; formerly,
Phoeniciira Tithys).

Tithys Redstart, Black Redtail. — It has been met
with in Britain perhaps half a dozen times, or indeed
more.

STONE-CHAT— (5^A7V^A7 r///;?W^).

Stone -chatter. Stone -clink. Stone -smick, Stone-
chack. Stone-smith, Moor-titling, Chickstone, Black-
cap. — A very common bird in many districts, and
from his habits much more familiarly and commonly
known and noticed than other birds equally, or even
more, abundant, but of less obtrusive, or quieter

So British Birds,

habits. Flitting about from bush to bush, and seat-
inor himself pertly on the top spra}^ there he sits and
" chats " or " clinks " till the passenger comes too near,
and then off he flies, to perch again a few yards
further and repeat the same performance. The nest,
sometimes very neat and well-constructed, of moss and
benty grass, and lined with hair, feathers, fine grass-
stalks, etc., is often quite on the ground and with no
bush near ; sometimes at the foot of a low bush, or in
the bush itself, but very near the ground. The eggs
are five or six, of a pale blue ground, very sparingly
freckled with dull reddish brown, and chiefly near
the large end. The nest is often hard to find, and
especially when built among longish herbage, or in or
near a whin-bush. — Fig. 1Q>, plate 11.

\Nm.l^'OYLA!Y—{SaxicoIa rubetra).

Grass -chat, Furze-chat. — Many of the birds last-
named pass the winter in England ; but only a few of
the Whin-chats. This is never so abundant a species
as the last, and though with some similar habits, it
has no urgent inclination to force us to notice it by
the incessant repetition of its note. The nest strongly
resembles that of the Stone-chat. It is also usually
placed on the ground, and is fully as hard to find as
that bird's. The eggs, five or six of them, are of a
uniform bluish green, very slightly speckled or
marked with dull VQ^.—Fig. VI, plate II.

WHEAT-EAR— (5^;r2V^/^ cenanthe).
Fallow-chat, White-rump, White-tail, Fallow-smick,
Fallow-finch, Chacker, Chackbird, Clodhopper, with

Their Eccs and Nests. 8i

'o>i^

some other quainter names still, which I have noted
down, and yet another or two common to the Wheat-
ear and the Stone-chat, such as Stone-chacker. — A
common enough bird here, and with some of the more
obvious habits of the Stone-chat. It perches on the
stone walls as one approaches it, and flirts its tail and
chacks, and then diving below the wall on the far
side, re-appears again ten or twelve yards lower, and
acts as before ; and so on for a hundred yards or
more. The stone walls in our district and the large
heaps of stones, removed in reclaiming parts of the
moor, and flung promiscuously together anywhere to
be out of the way, afford them capital breeding places.
In other countries old walls, or holes in the sides of
pits or excavations, serve their purpose. The nest
is not very artistic or well-finished, and is formed of
many dift'erent materials — bents, feathers, dry roots,
fur; in short, any waste matters which may have
come in the way of the builders. The eggs are five
or six in number, and of a pale blue colour, not so dark
as those of the Hedge Sparrow. It is said that people
accustomed to the habits of the AMieat-ear are able to
find its nest without difliculty, from the occurrence of
certain noticeable signs in its neighbourhood. — Fig. 1,
plate III.

RUFOUS WARBLER— (^^'^;/ galactodes).

Only two or three instances of its occurrence in this
country.

ICTERINE WARBLER— (//jA'/^/V ieterina).
Only observed in Britain two or three times. Very

F

82 British BirdSy

possibly associated with the Willow Wrens, and so

overlooked.

GREAT REED WARBLER -(^^r^^^//2^/;/.y
turdoides).

An accidental visitor in this country.

REED '^ KB.'^'LY.V.—^Acrocephalus streperus ;
formerly, Salicaria arimdinaced).

Reed Wren, Night Warbler. — Almost as zealous a
songster as the Sedge Warbler. There are few hours
in the twenty-four when its voice may not be heard
about its accustomed haunts ; namely, willow and
reed beds, and particularly the latter. The nest is,
perhaps, the deepest made by any English bird, and
quite a long inverted cone in shape. It is aflSxed to,
or rather built so as to include three or four reeds, or
more. So that, however the wind blows, it is quite
fast, while its great depth prevents the eggs falling
out, even if the reeds be blown almost level. The
bird has been seen still sitting when the violent gusts
forced the nest down almost to the water level. The
nest is made of long grass and the seed-stalks of the
reed, and lined with wool or the like. Four or five
eggs of a greenish-white colour, marked in spots and
dashes of green and pale brown, are usually laid. —
Fig. ^, plate III.

SEDGE ^ KK^'LW.—^Acrocephalus schcenobcenus ;
formerly, Salicaria phragmitis).

This everlasting little songster is more common than
the bird last named, and almost every boy knows its

Their Eggs and Nests. 83

peculiar chiding note. Many a lad, too, knows that
by shyinpr a stone in near its haunt, its notes may be
elioited almost any hour in the night or day. I think
I have heard it singinor on all through the night, and
notwithstanding the absence of any pretence at day-
light. Its nest is usually placed near the ground, in
the vicinity of more or less water, and is supported,
as well as concealed, by the coarse herbage. Made of
coarse grass stalks externally, and lined with finer
ones and hair, sometimes with a foundation of moss,
five or six eggs are deposited in its cup-shaped hollow,
of a pale brown colour, a little mottled with darker
brown. — Fig. ^6, plate III.

AQUATIC \N KKE'LE.'K—iAcrocepkalus aquaticus).

Only recorded as visiting England two or three
times.

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER— (y^r^^r^//^^/^/^

ncevius; formerly, Salicaria locustella).

A summer visitor, of shy and retired habits, and
very vigilant. Its note, very shrill and constantly re-
peated, reminding one of the Cricket or Grasshopper's
note, gains it its name. The nest is hard to find, and
unless the bird be very closely watched, it may baftle
a good observer. It is placed in spots matted and
overhung with growth of grass or other herbage and
bushes ; is cup-shaped, made of coarse dry grass, with
finer within ; and contains sometimes as many as
seven eggs, of a pale pinky-white colour, freckled with
spots of a darker shade of red. — Fig. 'I, plate III,

84 British Birds^

SAVI'S ^ K:^Y,'L^^—{Acrocephahis licscinioides ;
formerly, Salicaria luscinioides).

Not of sufficiently common occurrence to demand
lengthened notice here.

DARTFORD ^ KK^'LY.'^—^Melizophilus undatus ;
formerly, M. provincialis).

A bird which is scarcely known except on some of
the furze-growing commons of the South, especially
Kent and Surrey. The nest is of dry grass-stalks,
loosely put together and tied with wool, and sparingly
lined with other fine and dry vegetable substances.
" The eggs," we read in Yarrell, " are somewhat similar
to those of the White-throat, but rather less ; and like
them, are tinged with green. They are speckled all
over with olive-brown and cinereous on a greenish
white ground ; the markings becoming more dense
and forming a zone at the large end." — Fig. 13, plate
III.

WHITE-THROAT i—(^y^7^ nifa; formerly,
Curruca cinered),

Nettle-creeper. — Another pleasant singer, but with
occasional harsher notes, and a chiding one, not un-
like the Sedgebird's, when uneasy or irritated. This
is the usual Hay-chat of the country lads, and fully
as often called the Nettle-creeper ; the former name
being due to the fabric of its nest, the latter to its
habite of twining in and out of the leaves and coarse
herbage which abound among its haunts. Little de-

^ Called *'The Greater White-throat" in the last edition of
Yarroll.

Their Eggs mid A^ests. 85

scription of the nest is needed, except that it seems
slighter, and is thinner at the sides than those of the
Blackcap and Garden Warbler, but still it is not less
compact. The eggs vary a good deal in appearance,
but there is still such a family likeness among them
that they are easily recognisable by most egg-fanciers.
Green, in different shades, is the predominating colour.
—Fig. S, plate III

LESSER WHITE-THROAT— (5;//77^ curruca ;
formerly, Curruca sylviel/a).

Not so common a bird nearly, as the last, and rising
higher in the bushes and shrubberies it frequents than
it. It sings low and pleasantly when you are near
enough to hear it, and very incessantly, but its more
frequently heard notes are rather harsh. The nest,
found among low bushes and brambles, is like the
White-throat's, and the four or five eggs laid in it are
white, speckled, most at the large end, with ash or
light brown. — Fig, 9, plate III.

GARDEN WARBLER— (5ji'/^/^ salicaria ; formerly,
Curruca ho r tens is).

Pettychaps, Greater Pettychaps. — Inferior to the
Blackcap in song, as the Blackcap is inferior to the
Nightingale, only not at so great a distance. Still it
is a sweet songster. It comes to us to breed, and
frequents thick hedges and the covert afforded by
our shrubberies and pleasure-plantings in gardens.
The nest, like the Blackcap's in materials and detail,
of dry grass- stalks or bents loosely twined, but bound
together with wool, etc., and lined with hair and

B6 British Birds,

fibrous roots, may be found among rank growth of
various herbage, or in a bush, or in a row of rodded
peas. The usual four or five eggs are of muddled-
white, stained and spotted with greenish brown,
lighter or darker. — Fig. ^, plate III.

BLACKCAP — {Sylvia atricapilla ; formerly,
Curruca atricapilla).

Blackcap Warbler. — This bird, with several others,
has a local or country name in common, derivable, I
believe, from the structure of the nest. I mean Hay-
jack or Hay-chat ; but it is, I think, much less fre-
quently distinguished by that name than the birds
just referred to. The country-boy's name for one of
these must always be distrusted, as is the case also
with his designation of other common, but much more
dissimilar birds. Thus, not to mention other instances,
the Blackcap proper, the Greater Tom-tit and the
Stone-chat are all called Blackcap. The Blackcap
Warbler comes to us in spring and builds in our
gardens and shrubberies as frequently as in wilder
resorts, but always in places where there is thick
foliage and plentiful means of concealment. It is a
very shy bird, and very unwilling to be gazed at. If
it sees you watching it, you soon lose sight of it as it
hops and twists from spray to spray into the inner
and shadiest recesses of its haunt. Its nest, too, is
studiously concealed, and Mr. Yarrell says it will
leave two or three just-commenced nests in succession
on light grounds of suspicion that it has been noticed
in its labours. The nest is a benty, and, saving for
the ties of wool or cobweb, a slightly compacted

Their Eggs and Nests. 87

edifice, lined witli hair and fine fibres, and contains
four or fiv^e e^gs of varying colour aiid mottlings —
white, greenish, or tinged witli a ]^eculiar shade of
faint red, being the ground-colour, with markings of a
reddish brown. — Fig. C, plate III.

ORPHEAN WARBLER— (5;'/e7^ Orphea).
Very rarely noticed in this country.

WOOD ^^Y.^—{PhyUoscopus sibilatrix ; formerly,
Sylvia sibilatrix).

Wood Warbler, Yellow Wren. — This bird was longr
confounded with the Willow Wren, to be named next
It comes to us for the summer, the males (as is the
case with so many of the Warblers) coming first by
several days. It is abundant enough in some well-
wooded parts of the kingdom, and its song is only
called such by courtesy. It builds a domed nest ; that
is one covered in above, and with a side entrance ; on
the ground amid grass or weeds. It is made of grass,
dead leaves, moss, and lined with hair and soft grass.
The eggs are six in number, white, and very much
speckled and spotted with dark red-purple. — Fig. 10,
plate III.

WILLOW ^V.Y.^—{PJiylloseopus trocJiilus ; formerly,
Sylvia iroc/iiljis).

Willow Warbler, Yellow Wren, Scotch Wren, Hay-
bird, Huckmuck, Ground Wren. — A well known little
bird to the observant. It sings " a soft and pleasing "

SB British Birds,

song, and is a lively little fellow, in incessant motion.
Very restless and uneasy too, when you are near its
nest, and particularly if the young are hatched. The
nest is domed externally like the one last named, but
always lined with feathers, which the last never is.
It is built on a bank or bankside, among grass or
other herbage, and contains five to seven eggs, white,
with many small speckles of red, not very dark.
There is an instance on record, in which this bird did
not leave its nest though it had been bodily removed
from its site on the ground, and even before any eggs
were laid or the nest itself completed — one of the
most remarkable cases of the kind known. — Fig. 11,
plate III.

QBlY¥C]lk¥¥—{Phylloscopus collybita ; formerly,
Sylvia hippolais).

Lesser Pettychaps, Least Willow Wren. — An "early
bird " this is in coming to us in spring-time, and able
and willing enough to take its substitute for the
" early worm." The two syllables of its name, differ-
ently accented, form its song. Its nest is like that of
the Willow Wren, with the addition of a few dead
leaves outside, and abundance of feathers inside, and
is also placed on (or very near) the ground on a
hedgebank. The Chiffchaff lays six eggs, white, with
specks of dark purplish-red. — Fig. 12, plate III.

YELLOW-BROWED y^KKB-LK^—iPhylloscopus
stipe7'ciliosiis).

Very rare and accidental as a visitor.

Their Eggs and Nests. 89

GOLD- CRESTED ^YJ^'\5\J5^—{^Regulus cri status).

Gold -crest, Gold - crested Wren, Golden - crested
Warbler, Gold-crowned Kinglet. — One of the smallest
of our native birds, and possessing a '• soft and pleas-
ing song." Its nest — one of the very most beautiful
of all our English nests — is often built below the
branch of a spruce fir-tree and near the end of the
bough, being suspended to two or more of the spread-
ing side-boughs. I have found it built below another
and larger bird's nest. The side boughs just named are
often woven in with the moss and wool of the nest, and
then tb.ere is a lining of feathers ; spiders' webs too are
used to compact the structure. Seven or eight eggs are
laid, which vary remarkably, in different nests, in both
ground-sbade and markings. Some remind one of
the usual Robin's o^gg in both, though the spots are
much finer. Others are pale white, with yellowish-
brown (latber than red) speckles. — Fig. \^, plate III.

FIRE-CRESTED REGULUS— (i^^-^^?///^^ ignicapillus.

Much less common than the last, though very likely
often confounded with it from its great general
resemblance. Its nest is like its gold-crowned rela-
tion's, and the eggs seem to resemble the variety fir.'st
described in the above notice of that bird.

FAMILY VIII.— TROGLODYTID.E.

WREN — {Troglodytes parvuliis ; formerly, T. vulgaris)
Jenny Wren, Kitty Wren, Titty Wren, Cutty

go British Birds,

Wren. — A kind of natural pet with every one. I
scarcely ever remember to iiave spoken of the Wren,
or heard others speak of it, without some gentle,
loving epithet applied to its name. Tlie provincial
names quoted are instances of what I mean, and how
often the words " poor," " little/' " tiny," and even
" dear," are joined to the prefixes of Jenny, or Kitty,
or Titty. Its little song, its seeming incapacity to
bear the rude buffets of storm and cold, its quiet
peculiar movements, all tend to commend it to our
kindly notice. And then the beautiful nest it makes
— such a great pile for such a tiny builder — and so
compact and warm and wonderfully concealed by the
use of the nicest adaptations of materials and design
to the site selected, — this makes us almost respectfully
admire, in addition to our love. I have found it on
the moss-covered bank, on the moss-covered trunk of
a tree, in thatch, in a haulm wall ; but wherever it is
found, the adjacent substances are made to help tho
concealment. One would think that when strength
and ability, seemingly so inadequate, had been so
heavily tasked as is implied in the construction of
such a nest, the little birds would not be likely to
leave it, especially with the building of another in
immediate prospect. But I have not found it so
in practice. A very trifling enlargement of the single
orifice, or straining of the fabric in the effort to send
the finger to the bottom of the nest, is quite sufficient
to cause the nest to be deserted ; especially if the
Wrens owning it have once or more been disturbed
when in it, or very near it. When the young ones
are hatched, the case is altered. The eggs are often

Their Eggs and Nests. 9 1

from six to nine or ten in number, and I have heard
of even more. They are white, with almost always a
few pale red spots about them. The male is said to
feed the female during the period of closest incuba-
tion. Many other birds certainly have the same
habit, even when the mate has left the nest just to
stretch her wings, as it were. I have seen the
Common Linnet do this. — Fig. Yl, plate IV.

FAMILY IX.— CERTHIADiE.

CREEPER— ((r-?;'////^ familiaris).

Tree-creeper, Tree-climber. — A shy, gentle-seeming
little bird, shunning observation, and, with the rest of
its neighbours in our catalogue, possessing a singular
facility of quietly and rapidly shifting its place on
the trunk or limb of a tree, so as always to interpose
an eflScient screen between its own minute body and
the eye of any passer-by. Its claws, sharp and long
and curved, aided by its long and pointed tail-feathers,
are its chief machinery in these facile motions. It
builds its nest, generally speaking, in a hole in a tree,
with only a very minute aperture. Sometimes, though
I think rarely, the nest is outside the tree, but
screened from observation by some casual dislodge-
ment of the bark, or in some similar way. It is made
of dry gra^s, small twigs, shreds of moss, with a
lining of feathers. It is very hard to distinguish
between the eggs of the Creeper, which number from
six to nine, and those of the Blue Titmouse and the

93 Bj'itish Birds,

Willow Wren, not to mention one or two other small
birds. The illustration will give a better idea of the
Qgg than many lines of description. — Fig IQ, plate IV,

FAMILY X.— SITTIDiE.

NUT-HATCH— (5///^ Europoed).

Nut-jobber, Wood-cracker. — A very beautiful bird to
my eye, with his bright slate-coloured back, and orange
breast, and black bill ; and a very great pet in former
days. I had a pair which had never known a day of
constraint, but which, by patient feeding, and care to
make them fearless of me, became so tame as almost
to take food from my hand ; to take it readily when
I jerked it a foot or two into the air. And they
would always come to my signal for them — a few
blows on the tree at which I fed them. But they
never suffered their young to come to the feast I
provided, and always absented themselves for about a
month at the breeding time. The nest is, I believe,
always made in the hole of a tree, and if the aperture
to the hollow is too large, the bird is apt to lessen it
by the application of a sort of mud-plaster to some
portions of the edge. The nest is rather a contrast
to that of the little Wren just now named, being little
more than a loose heap of moss, small twigs, and chips
of bark and wood. The eofcrs are five or six and some-
times, it is said, seven in number, white, with some
pale red spots. Many of them are very like the
Larger Titmouse's. — Fig. V^, plate IV,

TJicir Eggs and Nests, 93

FAMILY XI.— PARID^E.

GREAT TITMOUSE— (P.zr?^^ major).

Great Tit, Oxeye, Blackcap, Great Blackheaded
Tom-tit, Pick-cheese. — It might also be called, and I
believe is in one district, the Saw-sharpener, for its
note certainly puts one in mind of that agreeable
musical operation. The Tom-tits are familiar to all
of us, and " impudent " is one of the epithets we most
usually apply to the whole tribe. Most of them breed
in some hollow place or hole. The nest of the Great
Tit is formed of moss, with a feather lininof, and is
sometimes placed in a hole in a wall ; sometimes in
some appropriate recess in a hollow tree. Like the
other Tits, it lays many eggs, occasionally from six to
nine. They are white, of fair size, and well spotted
as well as speckled with a decided shade of red.
There is an easily recognised resemblance between tlie
eggs of all the Tom-tit family. — Fig. 16, plate III.

BLUE TITMOUSE— (/'^r/zj avruicns).
Tom-tit, Blue Tom-tit, Nun, Bluecap, Blue-bonnet,
Billy-biter, Hickwall, Blue Mope. — One of the most
impudent of an impudent lot. A pair had built their
nest in a crevice between the lintel and stone-work of
my coach-house, and my children from their nursery
window observed it. For their amusement I ^rot a
ladder and looked in. The bold little matron could
not be induced to leave the hole, but spit and hissed
like a regular vixen, and tried to make herself as big
as two by ruilling up her feathers, so as to Irighten

94 British Bifds,

the owners of tlie ugly faces, as she would think, she
saw at her door. Often, too, have I been bitten
sharply by one I had laid hold of. Almost any hole
in any object will do for the nest-site. Even a bottle,
a wooden box, a pump-barrel, a queer-shaped cavity
in an old tree only big enough to admit such a small
creature, all are made available, and I knew of one in
a private letter-box, into which letters and post-
packets were daily dropped. The nest is voluminous,
of moss, hair, and feathers ; and the eggs are almost
endless. From six up to twelve or thirteen is of
common occurrence. Mr. Hewitson mentions one
case of eighteen eggs ! They are white, and spotted
with pale red. The journeys of the old birds to and
from the nest when supplying their large family with
food are literally innumerable; and the number of
small caterpillars, grubs, plant-lice, and the like,
destroyed by these indefatigable caterers, must be
simply astonishing. I think the pair just now referred
to made at least one visit to the nest every two minutes
throughout the day. The climbing, clinging habits of
this and other Tom-tits are very amusing; and in
former days I made them dance on the slack-rope for
my amusement and my friends'. I strung a nut or
two on a piece of strong thread, and tied the two ex-
tremities to a tree and a nail in a wall near the window,
respectively. This plan gave me many lengthened
opportunities for watching their ways. I have also
seen them stripping off the loose bark from pine-
planks and picking out the fine fat grubs which eat
their way between the wood and the bark. — Fig, 16,
plate III.

TJicir Eggs and Nests. 95

COLE TITMOUSE— (P.?;7/j ater).

Colemouse, Coal- head, Cole Titmouse. — A hardy
little bird, of no rare occurrence in any part of the
kingdom. Incessantly active, and frequently associat-
ing with other small birds, it prosecutes a restless
search for the small insects and seeds which form its
food. Its nest, of moss and wool and hair, is placed
in a hole in a tree, sometimes very near the ground ;
sometimes even in a hole in the ground which has
been made by some small quadruped. Like the other
Tits, if necessary it will enlarge a hole in a tree which
it finds already such as nearly to suit its requirements.
Six to eight eggs are laid, white, and spotted with
faint red.

MARSH TITMOUSE— (P^r;/j palustris).

Coal-head, Blackcap, Willow-biter. — A plentiful
species in places ; but as its name intimates, with a
preference for districts with the peculiar low growth
of bush and willow found in low fenny countries. It
makes its nest in old willows and the low stunted
trunks of pollard trees, and will labour hard to make
a nearly suitable hole quite serviceable. It is said to
carry the chips it makes quite away to some distance.
The nest is better built than those of the Tits hitherto
named, of moss and wool ; and the number of eggs
varies from five or six to eight or even ten. They are
of the usual Tom- tit type, white, spotted with red.

CRESTED TITMOUSE— (P.?;-//.? cristaius).

As rare with us as the last two Titmice arc
common.

g6 British BirdSy

LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE- (^6T^^?//^ caudata;
formerly, Parus caudatiis).

Long-tailed Mag, Mum-rufEn, Bottle-tit, Bottle-Tom,
Long-tailed Capon, Long-tail Pie, Caper Long-tail,
Oven-builder, Poke-pudding, Mufflin, etc. etc. — The
beautiful, even wonderful nest of this little bird must
be well known to almost all nest-fanciers — oval, of
great size compared with the tiny architect ; built,
too, entirely by the female, wondrously compacted
with moss and wool, and " sparkling with lichens "
affixed to the outside, it affords access by one hole
only, on the upper part of one side, to the inside, most
warmly lined with feathers. So thoroughly is it
secured to the sticks which support it, that it is
scarcely possible to obtain an entire one without
cutting the sticks for removal also. The eggs are
often ten in number, and sometimes one or two more,
white, and very slightly specked with red, if at all.
What the little bird does with her long tail when
sitting, is a marvel.^ The young, when able to fly,
keep much together and with their parents ; and
often, when at rest, sit very close together on one
branch, so as to present a doubtful-looking feathery
lump to the observer's eye. — Fig. VI ^ plate III.

1 It is said that the hen's long tail is cocked forward over her back
as she tits, tvnd that it projects through the hole in the nest above
her bill.

Tlieir E^gs mid Nests. 97

FAMILY XIL— PANURID.E.

BEARDED TITMOUSE— (P^««r/^j biovmicus ;
formerl}^ Parus biannicus).

The male of this species is, indeed, a beautiful bird.
They are met with in sufficient abundance in many
districts in England, e.g., about the Norfolk Broads,
the Meres in adjacent counties, as well as in Surrey
and Middlesex. Until lately, from the fenny nature
of the soil of their habitat, they have been less ob-
served than any other birds ; but now their habits
are much better known. Their nest is often made of
various finer sedges and the dead flaor-like leaves of
the reed with a little grass, and lined with the seed-
down of the reed. Sometimes almost on the ground,
sometimes raised a little above it in a tuft of grass or
reeds, on the margin of a ditch or other water, it con-
tains four to six eggs, not so large as those of the
Greater Titmouse, and of usual Titmouse colour and
markings. — Fig. 1^, plate III.

FAMILY XIIL— AMPELID/E.

BOHEMIAN WAXWING— (yi;;/M> garrulus ;
formerly, Boinby cilia garriila.)

Waxen Chatterer, Chatterer, Bohemian Chatterer.
— Less rare as a visitor than some other British
birds ; but still only a vi.^itor.

98 British Birds,

FAMILY XIY.— MOTACILLID^.

PIED ^ kOr^kYL—i^Motacilla lugubris ; formerly,
M. alba).

White Wagtail, Black and White Wagtail, Dish-
washer, Wash tail, Nanny Wash tail. — I think we, all
of us, know this familiar and very graceful bird, and
like to see its active run and short flight taken for
the purpose of capturing an insect. We have often
been amused, too, at seeing perhaps a whole family of
young ones running among the legs of the cows near
the water, and taking a fly now from the belly or
flank of the great animal, and then from its leg or the
ground. The nest is made of grass, bents, dead roots,
moss, and is sometimes found in a hole in the rude
wall of an old shed or the side of a haulm wall or pile
of furze, or in a hole in a bank ; sometimes on the
outside of a heap of sticks, or in thatch, or upon the
end of a haystack, and other analogous places. Mr.
Warde Fowler mentions nests as made in stacks of
coal piled up near a railway siding, and in creepers
high up on the walls of college buildings in Oxford.
Four or five eggs are customarily found in it, white,
and speckled with cinereous spots and lines, being
often such as to resemble one variety of the varying
eggs of the House Sparrow. — Fig, 1^ opiate III.

WHITE \NAGTMh—{Moiacilia alba).

*' A rare straggler in the South of England, and in
Ireland." (" Ibis " List of British Birds.)

TJieir Eggs ayid Nests. 99

GREY '^ kQ^k\h—{MotaciUa suhJmrea; formerly,
M. boarula).

Less plentiful than the Pied Wagtail, equally ele-
gant and more beautiful, this little bird resembles the
other in its ways and habits. Its nest is placed on
the ground at no great distance from water, which has
many attractions for it, as well as for the common
"Nanny Washtail." The materials and general
structure are, in the main, the same as in the last case;
feathers and wool being introduced as a lining. There
are often five or six eggs in it, of a faint white ground-
colour, mottled and streaked with very light brown, a
few streaks being sometimes of a darker tint. — Fig, 20,
plate III.

BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL— (y]/^to///^ flava ;
formerly, M. 7ieglecta).

Called Grey-headed Wagtail in the earlier editions
of Yarrell. Met with but a iaw times in all in
Britain.

YELLOW \NA.011ML—{Motacina Rail ; formerly,
M. flavd).

Ray's Wagtail, Cow-bird. — A summer visitor, and,
of course, making its nest with us. It builds on the
ground, in cornfields or fallows ; sometimes on a stump
of a tree level with the ground, or on a bank of earth
overhanging water, or in a hole in a wall in the same
vicinity. The said nest is made of moss, roots, dry
grass, and lined with the same, only finer, and a little
hair. Four to six eggs are laid, which, Mr. Yarrell
says, "are not unlike those of the Sedge Warbler,

100 British Birds,

only rather larger, whitish in colour, mottled nearly
all over with yellow-brown and ash-brown."

TREE VlVlT—{A7it/ms trivialis ; formerly,^.
arboretis.)

Pipit Lark, Field Titling, Field Lark, Tree Lark,
Grasshopper Lark. — No long time elapses after the
spring arrival of the Tree Pipit before he makes his
presence observable by indulging in his peculiar mode
of recommending his song, not unpleasant in itself, to
our notice. Seated on the topmost twig of a tree or
high bush, he sings a while, and then up he goes with
fluttering wing, singing all the while, and also while
descending from his greatest height on outstretched
wing to the twig he started from. The nest is always
on the ground, and not far from a hedge, or under a
low bush, and is found also in woods or nurseries not
far from the edge of a drive or glade. It is made of
moss and fibres and grass, lined with finer grass and a
little hair. The eggs vary inconceivably in tint and
marks, and entirely baffle description. Some are
purple-red, others yellowish-white in ground, clouded
and spotted almost all over with different shades of
greyish-brown. — Figs. 22, 23, plate III.

MEADOW VlVlT—{A7zthus pratensis).

Titlark, Pipit Lark, Meadow Titling, Moor Tit or
Titling, Heather Lintie, Moss-Cheeper, Ling bird,
Meadow Lark. — A very common bird here, both in
the enclosed lands and especially on the moors. It is
amusing to observe how they sometimes wind their
way among the ling or heather, instead of flying from

Their Eggs and Nests. loi

the place at wliich they have alighted. Its nest is
always on the ground, sometimes in the middle of a
grass or corn Held, sometimes nearer the hedge, but
always so placed as to be very well if not very closely
concealed. One I found accidentally on the moor was
in the side of a cavity left by the extraction of a huge
surface block of stone, in a kind of small hollow or
recess, and completely covered in by earth and ling.
In addition to its five proper eggs, this nest contained
a Cuckoo's Qgg. The nest is made of bents, lined
with the same and some hairs. The eggs are from
four to six, and vary in colour, Mr. Yarrell's descrip-
tion is, " Of a reddish-brown colour, mottled over with
darker brown." The red is hardly discoverable, if at
all, in some I have, and I should have said " dusky
brown."— /'/V 1\, plate III.

WATER Y\V\T—{Anthus spipoletta).

" A very rare straggler in Great Britain." (" Ibis "
List.)

ROCK VlYVY—iAntJms ohscnms ; formerly,
A. petros2(s).
Dusky Lark, Rock Lark, Field Lark, Sea Titling,
Sea Lintie. This bird, it seems, was long confounded
with the others named a little above. It is seldom
met far inland, and is not always found near rocks,
notwithstanding its name. It is a ground-builder,
and where there are rocks handy, the nest is very
likely to be on their ledges, if only a little grass or
the like grows there. It is composed of various dry

I02 British Birds ^

grasses, and contains four or five eggs of a greenish
cast, and mottled with dusky brown or dark cinereous
markings.

TAWNY VY^YYl-^iAntJms campestris).
An occasional straggler to our coasts.

RICHARD'S YlYYl—{Anthus Ricardi).

An occasional visitor to our shores ; a good many
instances in all having been met with.

FAMILY XV.— ALAUDIDiE.

SHORE LARK — {Otocorys alpesiris ; formerly,
A laud a alpestris).

Only a very few of these birds have been met with
in Britain.

SKY LARK — {Alauda arvensis).

Lark, Field Lark, Laverock. — Very few words of
description are requisite in the case of this every-
where familiar and favourite songster. Up in the
sky, and soaring still, he pours out his joyous strains,
suggesting to us much more forcibly than any other
bird does in its song the thought that it is offering
praise and thanks to the Lord of Creation : so that
the thought in the old Shakespearian song,

*' Hark ! Haik ! the Lark at Heaven's gate sings,"

seems by no means fanciful to us. Once, many years

Their Eggs and Nests, 103

nufo, I was speaking the solemn words, " dust to dust,
ashes to ashes," over a dead parishioner, followei], as
they soon are, by the telling of our " sure and certain
hope of a joyful resurrection," when a Sky Lark, right
over our heads, broke out into his sweet, simple, thank-
ful, hopeful, joyous melody, and by it spoke to more
sad hearts than one in that silent company. Up, up,
to the sky was his pathway, and the song and the
soaring both said that a "joyful resurrection" was
no " cunningly devised fable."

The Sky Lark's nest is always on the ground, often
near the edge of a furrow, sometimes near a little
grassy unevenness of the surface, sometimes, even,
cunningly concealed in a dry grassy grip by the side
of a field at the foot of a low hedge-bank. It is but
a slifrht and inartificial structure of bents, lined with
finer grasses anrl a few fibrous roots. The eggs, which
I never knew to exceed five in number, vary as much
in general colour and markings as the Tree Pipit's,
and quite baftle verbal description. I once found
three in a nest, altogether dusky in general Iiue, and
so dark that I can hardly use the word brown in
describing the shade ; while generally " dark grey "
and " ash brown " will succeed in conveying an idea
of the mottlings characterising the ^gg. Besides
which, by no means a small proportion of a large
collection of Sky Lark's eggs will always be found to
show a prevailing tinge of green in the surface
colouring. The Lark is a very faithful mother, and
will not easily be induced to leave her nest ; and even
when the nest has become quite untenable any longer,
from any cause, the parent birds have been known to

I04 British Birds,

move both eggs and young to a safer place, by grasping^
them with the long prehensile claws of their feet. —
Fig. 1^, plate III.

WOOD 'hKK^—^Alatida arbor ca\

The Sky Lark is seen everywhere ; on the moors
here in small parties, on the Saltings in Essex and
other southern counties, in our meadows and corn-
fields all over the kingdom. The Wood Lark, on the
other hand, is strictly local, though sufficiently abund-
ant where it does occur. I knew in one case, where
a shot was fired at a lot of Larks in the snow, that
out of five or six which were killed, all but one proved
to be Wood Larks. So local is it, that though I have
been a resident in Essex, Suflfolk, Cambridgeshire,
Herefordshire, Berwickshire, and Yorkshire, as well
as a visitor in other counties, I have never lived
among or near its haunts, saving only in the western-
most county named. The nest is formed on the
ground, usually well concealed by grass or a neigh-
bouring scrubby bush, and is composed of dry grass and
moss, and lined with fibres and a few hairs. The
eggs are four or five in number, of a lighter ground-
colour (but scarcely less in size) than those of the Sky
Lark, vary very little comparatively in their general
appearance, and often in addition to the ash-brown or
greenish hue of the superficial f recklings and mottlings,
are marked by the presence of a few wine-red blotches.
The young are much sought for to keep in cages, as
they soon begin to sing very freely. The song of the
Wood Lark in a state of nature is one of the sweetest

TJiciy Eggs and Nests. 105

in some respects, with which I am acquainted. — Fig.
"Ih, plate III.

SHORT-TOED \jk^'K—{CaIandrella brachydactyla ;
formerly, Alan da bracJiyda-ctyla\

A bird much resembhng the Wood Lark in appear-
ance, but of very casual occurrence.

WHITE-WINGED l.KK}L—{Melanocorypha Sibirica).
Hardly seen more than once or twice in Britain.

FAMILY XVL— EMBERIZIDiE.

LAPLAND ^J51^T\^Q^—{_Plectrophanes Lapponica).

Has been met with in Britain, but on very few
occasions.

SNOW BUNTING— (P/^^/r^/'//^;/^i- nivalis).

Tawny Bunting, Mountain Bunting, Snow-flake or
-fleck. — Only a winter visitor in this country, tliough
often coming in not very scanty numbers. I have
frequently seen them on our North Yorkshire moors,
and have heard of them as seen in flocks of large
dimensions. One informant told me he had seen as
many as two hundred together. It breeds in countries
very far to the North, and, like other indigenes of the
North, is subject to considerable variations in colour
according to season. So much so, that the bird, which
used to be called Tawny Bunting '\i\ its summer

lo6 British Birds y

plumage, was re-christened by the name of Snow
Bunting, to suit its winter dress, while the young bird
was called by the name of Mountain Bunting.

REED BUNTING— (£'w^m>^ schceniclus).

Reed Sparrow, Water Sparrow, Mountain Sparrow,
Black-headed Bunting, Black-bonnet. — Not a rare
bird anywhere in England, I believe, where water is
not rare ; and very conspicuous from the dark head
and bright plumage of the male. On the Essex
marshes it is common enough, and so it is in the
marshy or ill-drained meadows of other counties. Mr.
Yarrell says the "nest is generally placed on the
ground, among coarse long grass or rushes, at the foot
of a thorn, or on the side of a canal bank." The last
I found was among, and supported by, the sedges
growing at the side of a marsh- ditch in Essex, and not
less than ten or twelve inches from the bank — a site
which I believe is not an unusual one. It is made of
grasses, fragments of rushes, stalks of different plants,
and lined sometimes with reed-down, or finer grasses
and a little moss. I dislodged the male bird from the
nest just named, and the eggs were perfectly warm to
the touch. They would have been hatched in a few
days. It was thus proved that the male Reed Bunting
takes his share in sitting, and the position of the nest
among green and growing sedges adds one more fact
to what is known of its nidification. The eggs are
four or five in number, of a pale reddish-brown colour,
streaked and spotted with dark brown of a rich purple
plate IV.

TJieir Eggs and Nests. 107

RUSTIC BUNTING— (i^;;/^rr/>^ pustka).
Has occurred in England too or three times only.

LITTLE BUNTING— (iiw^^r/^^ pusilld).
Equally rare and accidental with its predecessor

BUNTING, COMMON BUNTING— (£";;/^^r/^^

viiliaria).
Corn Bunting, Ebb. — The name of this bird shows
that it is not by any means rare in perhaps most of
our country districts. It often utters its not very
musical cry seated on a tall spray in a hedge, and
sometimes while flying along. The nest is always
made very near the ground, if not actually on it,
usually among stunted bushes or coarse herbage. It
is made of roots, bents or coarser materials yet, and
lined with hair. The Bunting lays four or five eggs,
of a kind of stained-white ground, suggesting the idea
that a vinous-red stain has been imperfectly washed
off, and blotched and streaked and speckled, in the
characteristic Bunting style, with shades of purplish
brown, some of them rather dark. Though called
Corn Bunting, it may be found where corn-fields are
not abundant. I once met with a nest at the foot of
St. Abb's Head.— T^zV \, plate IV,

YELLOW HAMMER— (i?;;2^m>^ citrinella).
Yellow Bunting, Yellow Yowley, Gold-spink, Yellow
Yeldring, Yellow Yoldring, or Yeorling, Yeldrock,
Yellow Yite, Yoit, etc. — I used to hear in Berwickshire,
that

•'The Brock, the Toad, and the Yellow Yeorling,
(jiet a diap o' the JJeil's bluid ilka May nioruiug."

lo8 British Birds,

I wonder what they all do with it, and how the plenti-
ful bleeding affects the patient. For there is certainly
no lack of Yellow Hammers all over the country ; and
if one looks at the long strings of blown birds' eggs
festooned at cottage doors, or hung over the cottage
or farm-house mantelpiece, the trophies of some young
nest-taking hopeful dwelling there, after the Black-
birds' and Thrushes' eggs, the most abundant are almost
always those of the Yellow Hammer. We all know
his rich plumage and somewhat plaintive song, which,
in my school-boy days, used to be Englished into " A
very, very little bit of bread and n-o-o c-h-e-e-e-s-e ! "
It does not spare materials when engaged in building
its nest. Dead grass, small sticks and moss, a few
feathers and plentiful hair to form the lining, are ready
enough in our fields for its use, and the structure com-
pacted with them is placed usually in a low, thick
bush on a hedge-bank, well concealed, and but little
raised above the soil. Sometimes I have found it in
a rough grass-field, amid tufts of rushes and other
such-like growth. Sometimes even in a wall-tree, as
in my own garden last year ; or in an evergreen shrub,
also in my garden a year or two since. But the hedge-
side is the rule. The eggs, three to five in number,
and often very round in shape, vary considerably in
individual cases, but never so much as to leave the
accustomed eye in a moment's doubt as to what bird
the ^gg belongs to. Of a white ground-colour, scarcely
tinged at all with vinous red, or perhaps much suffused,
all of them are streaked and veined and spotted with
dark brown with a shade of red in it. They are
beautiful eggs to my QyQ.—Fig. ^, plate IV,

TJieir Eggs mid Nests. 1 09

CIRL BUNTING— (£";;/^£'r/,:-^ cirlus).

French Yellow Hammer, Black-throated Yellow
Hammer. — A bird long overlooked by our native
ornithologists, and perhaps more frequently occurring
than is even yet suspected. Still it is by no means a
common bird, — though identified as occurring in, per-
haps, most of the southern counties. The Rev. Orpen
Morris, from whose work on British Birds and Eggs I
have taken the two provincial names given above, says,
" the nest is placed in furze or low bushes, and is
usually made of dry stalks of grass and a little moss,
lined with hair and small roots. Some are wholly
without moss or hair . . . the small roots constituting
the lining. The eggs are four or five in number, of a
dull, bluish white, streaked and speckled with dark
brown. They vary much in colour and markings." —
Fig. ^, plate IV,

ORTOLAN BUNTING— (i5'w^m>^ hortidana).

Ortolan, Green-headed Bunting. — Merely an occa-
sional visitor nesting in Denmark, Sweden, Norway,
and Lapland.

BLACK-HEADED BUNTING— (^«.r/z>^
melanocephala).

Its occurrence reported once only in England.

no British Birds,

FAMILY XYIL— FRINGILLID^.

CRKFYmCK—^Fringilla ccelebs).

Spink, Pink, Twink, Skelly, Shelly, Shell-apple,
Scobby, Shilfa, Buckfinch, Horsefinch, Copperfinch,
Whitefinch, Beechfinch, Wet-bird. — One of our most
beautiful birds is the male of this species — one of quite
the most beautiful of our English nests is its nest. It
would be a shame if he, with his gay dress and handsome
appearance, were the bachelor he is called in his Latin
name. It is, however, only at one period of the year
that the sexes in the Chaffinch tribe (as in many other
kinds of birds) separate. The song of the Chaffinch,
though not of great compass or variety, is very cheery
and sweet, and very different from his melancholy
cry of " Weet, weet," which many country people
take as a prognostication of rain ; — whence his local
name of Wet-bird. The nest, always in a tree-fork or
bush or hedge, always firmly and securely built in,
always contrived and fashioned with a wonderful
compactness, neatness and beauty, is formed of mosses,
with various-shaded lichens on the surface, and lined
with wool and hair and feathers, the last two being
the finishing substances. I never knew more than five
eggs to be laid, oftener four, of a peculiar winey-red
dun, spotted and streaked — and most near the large
end — with a rich, dark Sienna brown. I once found
a nest in which all the eggs were of nearly a uniform
creamy white, a little suffused with vinous reil. The
eggs in their comeliness befit the nest, and the nest is
worthy of the bird. The female is, however, the

Their Eggs and Nests, 1 1 1

principal, if not tiie sole, architect and builder. — Fig. 5,
plate IV.

BRAMBLING OR MOUNTAIN FINCH—

{Fri7igi!la viontifringilb.i).

Brambling, Bramble Finch, Lulean Finch.— Only a
winter visitor to our shores, but still pretty generally
diffused throughout the kingdom at that season,
though never perhaps, strictly speaking, anything like
a common bird anywhere. It has been known to breed
in Scotland.

TREE SPARROW— (P^ji-^;- moiitamis).

Mountain Sparrow. — This species has undoubtedly
been long and continually confounded with the
Common or House Sparrow- And even yet it has not
been satisfactorily proved to have occurred in very
many counties in England. Further observation may
do more yet in identifying the Tree Sparrow and de-
fining its localities. It nests in holes in pollard or
other trees, or in thatch, in company with other Spar-
rows of the common species, but in this case always
in holes entered from the outside, not from the inside
of the roof of the building. Sometimes it has been as-
certained to breed in nests made within deserted nests
of a Magpie, or some such bird. The nest, like that
of the Common Sparrow, is formed of dry grass or
hay, or fine straw, and abundantly lined with feathers
of all sorts. The eggs, four or five in general, are
distinctly less than those of the House Sparrow, and
with more decided brown in the markings on the
ground-colour of soiled white. — Fig. (j, plate IV.

112 British Birds,

HOUSE SPAKROW— (P^j^^r domesticus).
Sparrow, Common Sparrow. — He may well be called
the Common Sparrow, for we find him alike in the
town and the country, in the field and in the garden,
by the road-side hovel or in the neighbourhood of the
great mansion. And whether he be sooty and black
with the smoke of mid-London, or with his colours
pure and unsmirched and bright as in the clear breezy
village, he is still always the same pert, forward crea-
ture, whose name has passed almost into a proverb
for bold familiarity. Ubiquitous as he is by habit
and system, his nest is found in sites almost as various
and as numerous as the places of his residence.
Under the tiles or eaves of buildings, in the thatch-
edges of a barn, in holes in the interior of a thatch-
roof, in water-pipes and receivers for eaves-gutters, in
holes in walls or old buildings, in ivy clothing either
a wall or a tree, in fir trees, in wall-trees, especially if
large and high, below Rooks' nests, in deserted nests
of large birds, — frequent in all these sites, it seems
difficult to say where it may not be found. Often,
too, it becomes a mass of straw and dry grass and
lavish feather-lining, big enough to fill a man's hat of
large size. The eggs are very various in the intensity
of their surface markings. They are white, speckled
and spotted and streaked with ash colour and dusky
brown, some so slightly as to be pale grey, others so
profusely as to be very dark "pepper and salt."
They vary in number from four to six. Whenever
the nest is built in a situation naturally open at top,
it is domed over by the little constructor, — Fig. 7,
plate IV.

Their Es^qs and Nests. 1 1

'oi>

HAWFINCH— ( Coccothraustes vulgaris).

Common Grosbeak, Haw Grosbeak. — A bird which
seems to occur less sparingly in our island than was
supposed. For long it was taken to be merely a
winter visitor. It is not uncommon about Epping
Forest, and has been found nearer London, and in
many of the Southern counties. It has bred frequently
of late years in this county (York). Mr. Doubleday has
given a good account of its habits generally, as well
as of its nest and eggs. It seems to have no peculiar
situation for its nest preferred to all others, but builds
indiscriminately in trees or bushes, and at various
heights from the ground. The nest is said to be made
of twigs, " with fibrous roots and grey lichens laid flat
on them ; " the whole structure being such as to re-
mind one of the Ring Dove's flat platform of a nest.
The eggs " vary from four to six, and are of a pale
olive-green, spotted with black, and streaked with
dusky grey." Mr. Doubleday adds, that some are
much less marked than others. A few, indeed, with
no marks at all on the green ground-colour. — Fig. 9,
plate I V.

GREENFINCH— ((f^r^^//^r^;/j/£:j cJiloris).

Green Grosbeak, Green Linnet, Green Bird.— A
sufficiently common species, and often seen in winter,
on stubbles which aflurd a sufticiency of the seed-con-
stituents of its food, in large flocks. Neither does it
yield an insignificant portion of the ^^g spoils of the
country-boy. The nest is usually built in a hedge,
and it dearly loves a thick massive thorn hedge for
tlie })urpose. In one such, bordering an orchard in

H

114 British Birds ^

Essex, of perhaps seventy or eighty yards long, I
found one day a dozen or more of Greenfinches' nests,
almost all with eggs in. The nest is, however, not
seldom to be met with in an evergreen or other bush
in the garden ; sometimes in a fir tree, and again
in a fruit or ornamental tree. The materials
employed are roots, moss, grass, with a lining
of the same, only finer, and plentiful hair. I have
often noticed the presence of a kind of scrubby scales
about the interior of one of their nests. The eggs are
four, five, or six in number, and vary much in size
and but little in general appearance. They are white,
suff'used with a bluish tinge, and with reddish or
purple spots and streaks, intermingled with some of a
darker shade. — Fig. 8, plate IV.

SERIN — {^Serinus hortulanus).

This is a rare bird, having occurred in only a very
few localities.

GOLDFINCH— (r^r^?^f//i- elegans).

Thistle-Finch, Gold-spink, Grey Kate, or Pate (the
young), Proud Tailor, Goldie, King Harry Redcap. —
This beautiful little bird is, I fear, one of those which
are much less common in many districts than used to
be the case in my younger days. It is much sought
after for keeping in cages, and is caught for that
purpose in numbers by the professional bird-catchers.
It builds a beautifully neat and pretty nest ; some-
times in a bush or evergreen, often in the fork of an
apple or other fruit-tree, and more rarely in a hedge.
It is formed of moss, fir-needles, green bents, wool,

Their Eggs a?id Nesfs. 1 1 5

thistle-down, willow-down, feathers, hairs, etc., accord-
ing to the choice atlbrded by the locality of the nest.
The eggs are four or five in number, are bluish white
or pale grey, spotted with greyish putple and red
brown, and sometimes a little streaked with the
same. — Fig. 10, plate IV.

SISKIN — ( Cardiielis spimis).

Aberdevine. — Only a winter visitor; and though
not very uncommon at that season in many parts of
Britain, yet it has been known to nest with us so very
rarely that it seems scarcely requisite to give any
account of either nest or eggs in this place.

MEALY '^YJ)YO\A^—{Linota linaria ; formerly,
L. canescens).

Only a winter visitor to this country, and in vary-
ing numbers in different years. Many were obtained
in one or two of the counties adjoining the Metropolis
many years since ; but no instance, I believe, is known
of its remaining with us to breed.

LESSER REDPOLL— (Zz;/^/".? linavia).

Common Redpoll, Lesser Red-headed Finch, Rose
Linnet. — This is a winter visitor to the southern
counties of England; but remains all the year round in
Scotland and some parts of north England. The nest
seems to be built in some situation not too hifrh above
the ground ; for instance, in a bush or stunted tree ;
and is made of moss and bents, and like some of those
of the Common Linnet, with willow-down and the
like. There are usually four or five eggs deposited iii

Ii6 British Birds,

it, their colour " pale bluish green, spotted with
orange-brown, and principally at the larger end."
The ground-colour seems to vary to greenish-grey,
and the spots to become more of a reddish tinge.
(See Mr. Warde Fowler's " Year with the Birds," pp.
23, 24, for very interesting notes on these birds.) —
Fig. \% plate IV.

LINNET — {^Linota cannabind).

Common Linnet, Grey Linnet, Red Linnet, Brown
Linnet, Whin Linnet, Linnet Finch, Red-headed Finch,
Greater Redpoll, Rose Linnet, Lint-white, Lintie. — No
wonder school-boys and country boys had, and have,
three or four different names for this one bird (accord-
ing to the differences of plumage due to age, sex, or
season), when even naturalists made two species of it.
The male in his full plumage, with red poll and rose
breast and bright brown plumage, is a handsome bird,
and, compared with the female or the young, a very
" fine bird " indeed. It is common enough in most
districts, and pretty sure to be met with where there
is much furze. The nest is frequently to be found in
the midst of thick furze covers ; but like Mr. Hewit-
son, I have found it commonly in thickish thorn-
hedges, and very often in small and single furze
bushes. It is made of small twigs and bents and
moss, and often lined with a copious cushion of wool
merely ; at other times, with some hair and vegetable
down. The eggs vary greatly in size, as well as in
colour and markings, but usually they are of a pale
bluish-white ground, speckled with red of different

Their Eggs atui Xcsis. 1 17

shades, brown to purple. They are four, five, and
sometimes six in number. — Fig. 11, plate IV.

T^YY^—{Linota fiavirostra ; formerl}-, L.
niontiuni).

Mountain Linnet, Twite Finch, Heather Lintie. —
A bird seldom, if ever, seen much south of the
Humber. It is known to breed in Yorkshire and the
northern English counties as well as in Scotland, the
Hebrides, etc. As its occasional name leads one to infer,
it is usually found in the neighbourhood of hill or fell.
The nest is built on the ground, among the short
benty grass of the hill-side, or the dwarf ling of
similar localities, or even among longer heather, and
is made of the materials aiforded by such herbage,
and moss, and lined with fibrous roots, wool and hair.
The eggs vary from four to six in number, are almost
white, with the faintest blue or green tinge, spotted
with red, brown or dark purple, with sometimes a
few streaks of a lighter red tinge — Fig. V^, plate IV.

BULLFINCH— (/>rr/^?^/rt Eiiropa:a ; formerly,
P. vulgaris).

Olph, Alp, Hoop, Ked Hoop, Nope. — One of our
really handsome birds, and as familiar to many of us
as other and even commoner birds, by his frequent
occupancy of a cage. " Piping Bullfinches " are not
very unusual even in this country. The Bullfinch is
also one of those birds who have long been laid under
proscription, for the mischief he is assumed to do to
the buds of fruit trees. Like as rewards used to be
customarily paid in hosts of places out of the Parish

Ii8 British Birds,

funds for the heads of Sparrows, Tom-tits, etc., so has
it been, on a lesser scale, with our present birds, and
I cannot help thinking sometimes unjustly. No
doubt the " Olph " commits sad apparent havock on
the blossom-buds ; but I suspect the blossom-buds
damaged by him (as it seems) would, many of them,
never have come to anything if no Bullfinch had ever
been near them. There was a grub in each of them,
and that grub would have destroyed the bud quite as
effectually, if not quite as summarily, as the bird
which extracted it from what was alike its hiding-
place and scene of active ravage and consumption.^
Unlike the Ring Dove and Missel Thrush, and a few
other birds, which are usually very wild and shy,
but at breeding time lay aside their wildness and
distrust, and come to the close neighbourhood of
human habitations to nest, the Bullfinch, in spring,
leaves our gardens and orchards, and resorts to the
woods and wilds. The nest is made of twigs and roots
and moss, rather loosely constructed, and lined with
wool and hair, and is most commonly placed in a good
thick bush of considerable height and size ; sometimes
on a fir or other tree. The hen-bird lays four or five
eggs of a pale greenish blue, streaked and spotted
with purple-red, chiefly at the larger end, — Fig. 14,
plate IV,

SCARLET GROSBEAK— (/>;'r^2^/^ erythrind).
Quite a casual or accidental visitor.

1 But see the remarks on this topic in the second vohime of the
latest edition of Yaritjli, pp. lb 7, lo8.

Their Eggs and Nests. 119

PINE GROSBEAK— (/>r;'//?//rt: enucleator).

Pine Bullfinch, Common Hawfinch. — Only a very
rare visitor in our islands.

QVS)'^'^Wi\A^—{Loxiacurvirostra),

This is a bird which deserves a little notice at our
hands on two or three grounds. In its plumafj^e it
varies more, according to sex or age, than perhaps any
other English bird in a state of nature. It is indeed
subject to almost startling dissimilarity. The peculiar
shape and action of the bill is also notew^orthy, and
the strength of the muscles which move the mandibles
may be judged of by the powerful effect produced in
starting the scales of the strongest fir-cones. Again,
it has been repeatedly met with in this country in
large numbers ; and not only so, but at such seasons
as to render it almost positive that it must have
nested, or be nesting here : nay even females which
were obtained, showed, by the state of their plumage,
that they must have been so engaged : and yet until
comparatively recently, no authentic i)bservation has
been recorded of the actual occurrence of its nest and
eggs. It is now well known to have bred in eight or
nine different English counties. The nest is made of
twigs below, with grassy bents upon such foundation,
bound toofether with wool and lined with hair. The
eggs seem to vary much in colour, showing a sensible
degree of resemblance to those of the Greenfinch, but
with a generally warmer tint, and spots of a much
more decided or dark red shade, — Fig. \h, plate IV.

I20 British Birds,

PARROT CROSSBILL— (Z^;i;/^ pityopsittacus).

It has occurred in a few instances, but is much too
rare to be noticed by us at length ; and, indeed, the
same may be said of the two birds next named.

TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL— (Zd?,t7^ bifasciata).

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL— (Z^.r/^ leucoptera;
formerly, L. falcirostrd).

FAMILY XVIIL— ICTERIDiE.
RED-WINGED STARLING — (^^^/^z^^f phceniceus)
Several specimens, questionably wild, have been
met with.

FAMILY XIX.— STURNIDiE.

STARLING— (5///r?z?/j- vulgaris).

Common Starling, Stare, Sheep-stare, Solitary
Thrush, Brown Starling. — The two last of these
names used to be applied to the young of the Starling.
Few cases of more brilliant plumage are met with in
our English birds than in the instance of the male of
the Common Starling. The metallic glow and play
of colours in the feathers of his head, neck, and back
is very beautiful. It is a very abundant bird, and it
is supposed by some that there are some peculiarities
in its breeding habits. I mean that I have heard it
asserted that the male is a polygamist, or rather
perhaps a bigamist. I never saw anything within

TJicir Eggs and Nests, 121

my own scope of observation which led mc to suspect
it, but rather to hold the received belief that the
Starlin:^ pairs exactly as most other birds do. They
are exceedingly pertinacious in adhering to their
choice of a place for nesting in. I knew one case in
which, from the inconvenient nature of the nest-sito
selected, one of the birds was shot. In a very short
space the survivor had paired again, and the gun
again dissolved the union. The whole process was
repeated five or six times, and the Starlings bred at
last in the place chosen by the original pair. The
nest is found in a great variety of situations, — in the
bowl of a water pipe from the eaves of a house, in a
dove-cot, in holes in trees, below the nests in a
rookery, in holes in old buildings or more recent
masonry, between the slates and underdrawing of a
roof, in holes in steep high rocks, in chimneys of
houses, and the like. It is made, without stint of
materials, of straw, roots, grass, and a plentiful lining
of feathers. The eggs, four to six in number, vary
strangely in size but not in colour, which is of a uni-
form pale blue. In some districts where the Starling
abounds, they collect in huge flocks, the young with
the parents, and may be seen, when on the wing, like
a cloud, from a great distance. — Fig. 1, plate J'.

ROSE-COLOURED STARLING— (/^^^i•/^r rosaL'^).

Rose-coloured Ouzel or Pastor. — Merely an acci-
dental visitor to our shores.

122 British Birds y

FAMILY XX.— CORVIDiE.

CHOUGH — {Pyrrhocorax gracidus ; formerly,
Fregilus graculus.)

Cornish Chough, Red-legged Crow, Cornish Daw,
Cornwall Kae, Market-jew Crow, ChaukDaw, Hermit
Crow, Cliff Daw, etc. — A bird which occurs more
sparingly than it used to do. Its abiding and build-
ing place is among the steep rocks which line so many
parts of the British coasts. In the Isle of Wight, in
Man, on the Cornish shores, at Flamborough, in
Berwickshire near St. Abb's Head, it is still (or was
till lately, I860,) known to breed. " This bird," says Mr.
Yarrell, " makes a nest of sticks lined with wool and
hair, in the cavities of high cliffs, or in old castles, or
church towers near the sea ; laying four or five eggs
of a yellowish-white colour, spotted with ash-grey and
light hxo^ny— Fig 2, plate V,

RAVEN — {Corvus cor ax).

Corbie, Corbie Crow, Great Corbie Crow. — I dare
say the acquaintance of many of us with this fine
bird is limited to an introduction to some tame or pet
Raven. In this district, where, 1 believe, these birds
abounded a little more than half a century since — the
rocky cliffs of our moorland solitudes being so well
suited to their habits, — I do not know that I have
seen or heard one for the last thirty-five or forty
years. Persecuted by the gamekeeper, sought after
for domestication, or their eggs taken for sale to the
collector, they are becoming very rare in many a part
of the country where not long since they were fre-

TJuir Eggs and Nests. 123

quently seen. They build sometimes on old ruins or
craggy precipices, but oftener in a tree, piling nest after
nest in successive years upon the same bough, whence
the chosen tree soon comes to be called the " Raven-
tree." One such accumulation of nests I knew, as a
boy, in Essex, and after a stiff climb succeeded in
reaching it. I did it in jeopardy, however, for the
Ravens were very bold, and every moment I expected
they would assail me, in spite of the short bludgeon I
had suspended to my wrist. The appearance below
the nest of the farmer in whose fields the Raven-tree
grew, decided the question — perhaps he frightened the
Ravens as well as threatened me ; perhaps they knew
he came as their protector — anyhow I did not get my
6g&> although I had actually had it in my hand. The
nest is a great pile of sticks, lined with wool and roots
and felts of hair, and often has four or five eggs laid
in it, of a light green ground-shade, blotched and
spotted with browns of varying depth of colour, but
some of them very dark. — Fig. ^, plate V.

BLACK C^O'^—iCorviis coroiie).

Carrion Crow, Corbie Crow, Flesh Crow, Gor Crow,
Midden Crow, Black-neb, Hoodie. — Another bird not
nearly so common as it used to be, even within my
own recollection — and no wonder ; for he is a strong,
fierce bird (Mr. Waterton calls him his " Warrior
bird "), and a young and weakly lamb, a young Hare
or Rabbit, a wounded or frightened Partridge has
little or no chance with him. I knew a case many
years since of a Crow attacking a Partridge and driv-
ing it to cover in a hedge, where it lay so terrified and

124 British Birds ^

exhausted as to suffer itself to be picked up by a
spectator. I knew another instance, also many years
ago, in which the Crow attacked a young Rabbit.
The old doe came to the assistance of her young one,
and the battle was well contested, but the Crow was
the victor, and carried off the spoil. Paired once,
these birds, as in the case of the Raven, are paired for
good. The nest is placed in a main fork of a large
tree, and is made of sticks and twigs, with abundant
cushioning of wool and hair. It is believed not to
build a new nest every year. It lays four or five
eggs, varying much in the depth of the tint of the
greenish ground-colour, and generally well mottled
and blotched and spotted with greenish ash colour
and bright brown. The parents seem to expel their
young from the immediate precincts of their own
abode very soon after they are able to provide for
themselves ; as is the case with the Raven also. — Fig.
i^, plate V,

GREY (:My^—{Corvus comix).

Royston Crow, Dun Crow, Norway Crow, Kentish
Crow, Hooded Crow, Grey-backed Crow, Bunting
Crow, Scare-crow, Hoodie. — Even a fiercer and more
mischievous bird than the Carrion Crow. It has been
very seldom known to breed in England,^ though
coming in great abundance from its more northern
haunts before the access of winter. In north and

1 Both of these statements must be taken with the qualification
that it is by no means an ascertained fact that the Carrion Crow and
the Grey Crow form two distinct species. It is held by many orni-
tliologists that they do not. Certainly they interbreed with one
another.

Their Eggs ajid N'ests. 125

west Scotland, tlie Hebrides and Orkneys, it breeds in
large numbers, and rewards for its destruction have
been customarily paid to within a recent period ; if,
indeed, they have altogether ceased yet. They place
their nests among rocks, in the rifts or on ledges.
These are built of ling, sticks, roots, stalks of plants,
seaweed, and lined with wool and hair. There are
usually four or live eggs, not differing very materially
in colouring from those cf the Common Crow. — Fig. 5,
plate V.

ROOK — {Corvus frugilegus).

Crow. — Ever^^one must be acquainted with the
Rook and its nesting manners and habits. Even the
dwellers in great cities have sometimes had this bird
domiciled among them for the breeding season, and
many places in London are signalised by the presence
of a Rook's nest, or several, in very unlikely situations.
In the country some of the most familiar sights and
sounds are those aflbrded by the Rookery, or by the
huge assemblages of Rooks about the fields or wing-
ing their morning or evening flight in quest of food,
or in return to their domiciles. Most of us too have
heard of Rook courts of justice, and tlie sentences
awarded against the wrongful spoilers of a neighbour s
nest, as well as the battles to resist such an invasion.
It is certainly a remarkable instinct which, to so great
a degree, forbids birds building in communities to
plunder the building materials placed on the adjoin-
ing bough or ledge, and no wonder that instinct has
provided a remedy for what must be looked upon,
when it occurs to any extent, as a somewhat un-

126 British Birds y

natural offence. The Rook resorts to the same nest
year after year, merely making such repairs as a
year's wear and tear from wind and rain and accident
have rendered necessary. When the nest is ready,
four or five eggs are deposited, of a greenish ground-
colour more or less intense in shade, plentifully
mottled and blotched with darker and varying shades
of brownish green. Many of the eggs strongly re-
semble those of the Crow, while others are much more
like those of the Jackdaw. As in the case of the
Bullfinch, the Rook is often blamed for doing mischief
which was really done by the creature which formed
the real object of search to the supposed offender.
The wire worm and the grub of the cockchafer do in-
finite damage in grass or corn-fields by eating off the
roots of the plants in question. The Rook pulls up
these ruined plants and eats the offending larvae. The
farmer or superficial observer only sees the dead grass
or corn plant, and foolishly accuses the Rook, and
persecutes him, though in reality a f jiend and bene-
factor, to the death. Not but what the Rook does
mischief at times ; for I have often seen newly sown
corn-fields black with them, and have been continually
a witness to the very extensive damage done to the
potato crop just when the young tubers were in most
active growth and most susceptible of harm. Still, a
few precautions will suffice to protect both corn-field
and potato-crop during the brief space while protec-
tion is necessary, and the balance of good done is so
greatly on the predominating side, that the Rook may
well continue to be protected. Rook shooting has
charms for many. For myself I seem to see cruelty

Their Eggs arid Nests. 127

so conspicuous about the whole process, that I can-
not conceive in what the pleasure consists. — Fig. 6,
plate V.

JACKDAW 1 — {Corvus monediila\

Daw, Kae, Jack. — The chattering Jackdaw is as
fauiiliar as a " household word " to us, and when one
visits an extensive colony of Jackdaws in the nesting
season, he is apt to be enabled to form a good estimate
of the amount of chatter a few score Jackdaws can
contribute. They breed in many places in the im-
mediate neighbourhood of my residence in very con-
siderable numbers, in the holes and crevices which
abound among craggy rocks and precipices that rise
high above steep wooded banks. Besides, they build
in ruinous buildings, in church towers or pigeon-
houses, in little-used chimneys, in holes in modern
masonry, even in deserted chambers. The pile of
materials amassed is simply wonderful, and really
they are sometimes so laid together as if intended to
serve no other purpose but to lengthen out the nest-
pile for a builder's amusement. Sticks and wool are
the substances usually employed, and the eggs laid
vary, as to number, between three and six. They are
of a pale bluish-white, well spotted with ash colour,
light brown and dark brown. — Fig. 7, plate V,

1 111 tlic last edition of Yarrell's Birds this bird is called the "Daw,"
and the following one the ' ' Pie. " I have known the two birds all my
life long as the " Jackdaw " and the " Magpie," and for nie, as for
most field uaturalista, ao they will remain.

128 British Birds^

MAGPIE — {Pica riistica ; formerly, P.
caudata.)

Pyet, Pianet, Madge, Mag. — A very wary, crafty,
shy bird the wild Magpie is. A very bold, impudent,
thievish rascal the domesticated Mag as certainly
proves himself. Shy and wary as these birds are in
a state of nature, no bird whatever seems to affect
concealment less in the fashion and structure and
position of its nest. Placed high up among the
smaller branches of a tallish tree, or perhaps in the
upper part of a strong, thick, high bush in a hedge or
standing lonely in a field or park, nothing can well be
more conspicuous than the massy Magpie's nest, with
its large though light dome of thorny sticks and twigs.
I used to be assured as a schoolboy that there were
two sorts or varieties of Magpies, distinguished by
the comparative length of their tails and the site of
their nests: — the alleged short-tailed one was called
the Bush Magpie ; the other the Tree Magpie. It is
almost idle to say no such variety or distinction
really exists. The materials of the nest are chiefly
sticks, plastered with earth inside, and lined with
roots and hair. There are often as many as six or
seven eggs laid in it, pale bluish-white in colour,
spotted all over, and abundantly so in general, with
(^rey and greenish brown of more than one shade. —
Fig. Z, plate V.

JAY — {Garruhis glandaTius).

Jay-pie, Jay-piet. — The Jay's peculiar screeching
note is perhaps more familiar to many ears than the

Their Eggs and Nests, 129

bird itself to the eyes corresponding to the said ears.
It is a shy bird, seldom seen far from its haunts in
woods and copses, though when seen, it is noticeable
enough from a certain peculiarity in its flight, due to a
sort of fluttering use or motion of its wings. It is easily
domesticated, and becomes a tame and amusing pet.
The nest is very often extremely rude and inartificial,
almost as much so as the Ring Dove's. It is placed in
the upper part of a lofty bush in a wood, or on some
one of the lateral branches of a tree where the height
from the ground is considerable ; is made of sticks and
lined with roots ; the cavity containing the eggs often
seeming to be not very considerable. Now and then
a nest is met with carefully and strongly compacted,
and sufficiently cup-shaped. The Jay lays five or six
eggs of a faint shade of dusky green for ground
colour, closely and thickly freckled all over with
light brown. — Fig. 9, plate V.

^JJT-CRACKER-^(Nud/raga carfocatactes).

A bird which has probably been met with less than
a score of times in all in this country.

FAMILY XXI.— HIRUNDINIDiE.

S\Y ALLOW— (Hirundo rustica).

Common Swallow, House Swallow, Chimney Swallow,
Barn Swallow. — One of the most welcome of all our

130 British Birds,

spring visitors ; and so frequently coming back, the
self-same pair of birds apparently, to the self-same
nest, that they seem to be almost like members of the
family returning from a temporary absence. The
common name, Chimney Swallow, is, however, rather
a misnomer. No doubt they build in chimneys freely
and frequently, but in many districts the chimney is
quite untenanted by any Swallows, while the open
roofs of sheds and barns, the under side of bridges
sufficiently flat and uneven to afford the necessary
support, disused shafts of mines, and the like, and even
parts of unused rooms, or articles of furniture in such
rooms, are resorted to. These nests are very con-
siderably different from those of the Martin (to be
noticed next), inasmuch as they are always completely
open above, being so built that there is a sensible
space between the greater portion of the edge of the
plaster- work of the nest, and the roof or other surface
above; while in the case of the Martin's nest, it is
always built so as to be closed above by the eaves or
other ledge to which it is affixed, requiring a gap or
lip — so to speak — to be left in the wall to afford in-
gress and egress to the owners. The nest, in either
case, is built with many pellets of soft tenacious earth,
wrought into form with bits of straw or grass, and
afterwards lined with feathers. It is observable that
no more work at the nest is done in a day than will
readily harden enough to bear the requisite additions
of materials above when the time comes for making
them. There are usually four, five, or six eggs laid ;
white, speckled and spotted with deep red, and a
liMiter duller shade. — Fig; 20, plate IV.

TJicir Eggs and N'esis. 131

MARTIN — {C/ielido?i urbica ; formerly, Hirundo
urhicd).

Martlet, Martin Swallow, House Martin, Window
Martin, Eaves Swallow, Window Swallow. — This fami-
liar little bird, whose cheeping note in the nests above
our chamber windows is one of the sounds we should
sorely miss, frequents the dwellings of men quite as much
as, I think more than, the Swallow. Every one knows
where to look for the Martin's nest, and many a house
can we all call to mind which seems, from some
peculiarity in its site or external fashion, to be par-
ticularly affected by these birds — and certainly, in
most cases, the inmates of the house take much care
to save their confiding feathered friends from dis-
turbance. In many places, however, the Martin forms
large nesting colonies, which take possession of a
series of overhanging ledges on some steep rocky face,
and there build their nests in great numbers. In
Berwickshire, on the banks of the Whiteadder, I knew
of such a colony, and others elsewhere : the principal
ones, however, being on the rock-bound coast between
St. Abb's Head and Burnmouth. Hundreds of these
birds nested in several different places upon those
lofty precipices.^ No description of the nest itself —
beyond what was said in the notice of the Swallow —
seems requisite. The number of eggs, which are per-
fectly white, seems seldom to exceed six.

1 Of course Martina and Swallows were in being long before man,
and necessarily, therefore, before man's buildings. These birds,
then, must have had their building-site when neither chimney, barn,
nor eaves were in existence. In the face of this fact "Chimney
Swallow," "Eaves Swallow," and the like are, as names, only
partially justitlable.

132 British Birds,

SAND MARTIN— (6>///^ riparia ; formerly, Hirundo
riparia).

Bank Martin, Pit Martin, Sand Swallow, Bank
Swallow, River Swallow. — This delicate little visitor
comes to us in the spring, often very early, from
Africa, as do also the two others of the genus just
named. Where it does occur — and it is generally
diffused — it is often seen in very large numbers. A
ballast pit at Fingringhoe, in Essex, used to be occu-
pied by the most numerous colony I was acquainted
with ; and a site afforded by the surface beds of
sand and soil above a steep scarp of rock on Tweed-
bank, nearly opposite Norham Castle, used to accom-
modate another colony. Some of the holes are bored
to a very great depth. I have enlarged the orifice of
many till it would admit my whole shoulder, and
have then been unable to reach the termination of the
gallery. Others are much shorter, and admitting of
more easy access to the nest. The female will, not-
withstanding the noise and violence attending the
enlargement of the aperture of her nest-hole, sit
resolutely on, and allow herself to be taken in hand
with scarcely a struggle or sign of resistance — even of
life, sometimes. One I took thus many years since
lay in my open hand for a minute or more, and then
at last flew only leisurely away. A little loose, soft
straw, with some feathers, serves to receive the eggs,
which are four to six in number, often much elongated
in shape, of the most delicate white, and beautifully
pink from the thinness of the shell, before they are
blown.

Their Eggs and Nests. 133

PURPLE MARTIN— (Pr^^/^ purpurea ; formerly,
Hirundo purpurea).

^i^ 'ican Purple Martin. — Only a very casual
visitor

ORDER.— PICARI^.
FAMILY I— CYPSELID^.

SWIFT— ((5//j-^///j' apus).

Deviling, Black Martin, Screech, Screech Martin,
Shriek Owl, Screamer, Squeaker, Skeer- or Skir-devil,
Cran. — I should think no one who has once seen this
bird on the wing, and noticed its rapid, peculiar, power-
ful, long- winged, whirling flight, or heard its remark-
able scream, would ever be likely to mistake when he
saw it again. It is most frequently seen at no great dis-
tance from some old tower of castle or church, or such
like building, although at times it seems to range far
in search of food. It makes its nest of pieces of soft
straw, bents or grass or hay and feathers, and usually
in holes in the buildings aforesaid, or between the tiles
and under-roof of houses ; and the nest once made is
supposed to be used for many years in succession by
the same pair of birds. It sometimes seems as if it
had been cemented together in some way. The Swift
often lays only two eggs, but has been known to pro-
duce three, and even four. They are quite white,
and rather large for the size of the bird.

134 British Birds y

ALPINE ^\NIET—{Cypselus melba ; formerly,
C. Alpimis).

White-bellied Swift. — A bird which is known to
have visited us on some half dozen occasions or so.

FAMILY II.— CAPRIMULGIDiE.

NIGHT- J All — ( Caprimulgiis EuropcBits).

Night Hawk, Goat-sucker, Dor Hawk, Fern Ovvl,
Night Crow, Jar Owl, Churn Owl, Wheel-bird, Eve-
churr, Night-churr, Puckeridge. — Far more familiar to
many of the comparatively few among country dwellers
who notice such matters, is the Night-jar by sound than
by sight. Coming from its retirement but very little and
very reluctantly by day, and only pursuing its prey
towards and during twilight, it is not by any means
an obtrusive bird ; as little so, indeed, as any one of
the Owls. But its loud churring or jarring note, as it
wheels round a tree or clump of trees, is, often enough,
heard by many a one to whom its form and size and
plumage are nearly or utterly strange. It is perhaps
most frequently met with where patches of furze and
fern on open commons, not too far from the neigh-
bourhood of plantations, occur. The Night-jar can
hardly be said to make a nest ; but lays two eggs in any
slight natural depression of the ground which she can
find sufficiently near a bush or clump of whins to be
at least partly concealed by it. The eggs are very
oval in shape, and very beautifully mottled and
clouded and veined with varying tints of bluish

TJicir Eggs and Nests. 135

lead-colour and brown, on a whitish ground. — Fig, 1,
plate VI.

FAMILY III.-CUCULID^.

Q^^QYJdO—^Cuculus canorus).

Gowk. — " Have you heard the Cuckoo yet ? " How
often that question is asked by one's friends or neigh-
bours in the country. Hearing the first Cuckoo and
seeing the first Swallow are always events to true
lovers of country scenes and objects and sounds. But
what a strange instinct it is which forbids our Cuckoo
to build a nest, and instructs it to lay its ^gg — at least
to place it — in some other bird's nest, and that bird
usually not one-fifth its own size ! A Blackbird's nest
is sometimes selected to receive the deposit, but very
rarely compared with the Hedge Sparrow's, the
Lark's, the Meadow Pipit's, the Water Wagtail's, or the
Chaffinch's. How many eggs are laid by a single
Cuckoo in a season, is, I think, not ascertained. It is,
however, a very rare circumstance to find more than
one Cuckoo's ^gg in any given nest, and then open to
great doubt if both were placed there by the same
Cuckoo. It has been a matter of dispute how the
^gg is actually deposited in the nest selected ; whether
"laid" in, or placed in— after being dropped on the
ground, suppose — by the bill or claws. I found one
in the Meadow Pipit's nest mentioned above (p. 101),
where the position and site of the nest were such as
to leave no doubt whatever in my mind that the ^gg

136 British Birds^

could not possibly have been " laid " in tlie nest ; and
must almost certainly have been inserted by the aid
of the bill. How the Cuckoo found such a nest at all
was a marvel to me. As is more than suspected by
some enquirers and observers, the Cuckoo must watch
for its opportunities. The eggs are very small com-
pared with the size of the bird which produces them,
and strongly resemble some of the darker and more
closely freckled specimens of the House Sparrow's
^cs' ^^^ ^^^ rather larger in size ; while Mr. Double-
day says some of them resemble those of the Pied
Wagtail— i^^;^. \^, plate IV,

GREAT SPOTTED QJSQ^OO—iCoccystes
glandarius).

Of the rarest occurrence.

YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO— (r^^O^^^^

A inericanus),

A rare visitor only.

FAMILY IV.— UPUPID^.

B.OOVO^—{Upupa epops).

A casual visitor only, but still not so rare that
specimens are not obtained almost every year. In
fact, the whole appearance of the bird is so very
striking, that it is scarcely possible such a visitor
should pass without notice. It breeds in several
European countries.

Their Eggs mid Nests. 137

FAMILY v.— CORACIDiE.

ROLLER — {Coracias garrula).
Garrulous Roller. — Very rarely met with in Eng-

land.

FAMILY VL— MEROPIDiE.

BEE-EATER— (i^/^r^/j apiaster).
An African bird, which strays occasionally so far
to the North as to reach Britain, and be claimed as a
British bird.

FAMILY VIL— ALCEDINID^.

KINGFISHER— (^/r^^(? ispidd).

Beyond doubt, as far as exceeding brilliancy of
plumage goes, the most beautiful of our indigenous
birds. I have never seen it in any part of the king-
dom a numerous bird, though in my fishing and other
excursions in Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk, and Hereford-
shire, I used to see many pairs ; each, however,
domiciled at some distance from its nearest neighbours.
In the district of North Yorkshire I am best ac-
quainted with I have rarely seen it. Its straight,
arrow-like, speeding fiight is sure to be remembered,
when once seen, and so is the odour inseparable from
its nest hole or other stated haunt. A hole, sloping
upwards, in the bank of the water it most frequents,
whether pond, stream, marsh, ditch, or large river, is

138 British Birds,

usually chosen to receive the nest, which is often a
foot and a half, or two feet from the entrance ; but
sometimes the bird has been known to resort to a hole
at some distance from any water. The nest, so called,
seems to be constituted of small fish-bones, ejected
from the Kingfisher's stomach, and the dry soil of the
hole ; while the eggs deposited in it are five or six in
number, very round in form, beautifully white when
blown, though, from the thinness of the shell, seeming
to have a pink hue before the removal of the yolk.

BELTED KINGFISHER— (ary/^ Alcyon),
Two occurrences only recorded.

FAMILY VIII.— PICID^.

GREEN WOODPECKER— ((9^rn2?/j viridis ;
formerly, Picus viridis).

Wood-spite, Rain-fowl, Rain-bird, Hew-hole, Yaffle,
Whet-ile, Wood wall. Wit wall, Popinjay, Awl-bird,
Eaqual, Pick-a-tree, Yappingale, etc. — I observe Mr.
Morris spells the name I have written Eaqual in the
form Ecle> I have no idea of the origin or etymology
of either form, but I have given these names generally
in the thought that they may be helpful to some, and
interesting to other young egg-collectors. The Green
Woodpecker is the most common, and much the best
known of all our English Woodpeckers. Besides
beino" a very handsome bird, its organisation (as is

1 It is probably a phonetic variant of Hickwall, and equivalent to
Woodwall, Witwall, Whetile, etc.

Their Eggs and Nests. 139

indeed the case with all the tribe) is so beautifully-
adapted to its mode of life, as to merit a brief notice
at our hands. Its strong^ prehensile feet and claws,
two toes being directed forward and two backwards,
fit it not only for moving in all directions, and with
wonderful readiness and ease in any direction what-
ever, about the trunk or limbs of a tree, but also for
grasping the surface with great tenacity when neces-
sity arises for applying its strong bill to penetrating
or dislodging either bark or portions of the wood
itself. When thus occupied, the tail comes into use,
and the bones at the lower extremity of the skeleton
are so formed as to enable the stiff, pointed tail-
feathers to be applied to the tree in such a way as to
strengthen the purchase already obtained by the firm
foot-hold. Add to all this the length of the tongue,
its great extensibility, specially provided for by a
peculiar arrangement of muscles, together with the
structure of the tongue itself — remarkable for its
sharp, horny tip and barb-like bristles on either side
near the point — and we have one of Nature's most
beautiful accommodations of means to the intended
end which can well be offered to our notice. The
undulating flight and laugh-like cry of the Green
Woodpecker used to be more common than they seem
to be now, and the great multiplicity of provincial
names seems to show that once it must have been an
exceedingly common bird. I have rarely seen or
heard it here : and no wonder. For where once there
were miles of forest, now we have scarcely 100 acres
of wood in the whole district. This Woodpecker's cry
is loudly and frequently uttered before impendiDo*

140 British Birds ^

rain ; whence one of its common or by-names. It
breeds in holes in trees, which it often excavates in
part or enlarges to suit its wants. It makes no nest,
but deposits its eggs, four to seven in number, and
perfectly white, on a bed of the soft decayed wood of
the tree. The eggs average rather over 1^ inch in
length, by about f inch broad. No illustration being
possible, in our space, of purely white eggs, I think it
better to append their measurements.

GREAT SPOTTED ^OQiY)YM^'K^^—{Dendrocopus

major ; formerly, Picus major).

Pied Woodpecker, French-pie, Wood-pie, Whitwall,
Great Black and White Woodpecker, Wood-nacker. —
A not very uncommon bird in some localities, and
very rare in others nowadays. It is less likely, too,
to betray its presence by its note than the Green
Woodpecker, and is so shy and so capable of conceal-
ing itself, or keeping the trunk of a tree always
between itself and any prying observer, tbat doubtless
it is deemed to be more rare than it really is. It
seems to prefer the vicinity of woods, but may be seen
occasionally where woods do not abound, and some-
times even it resorts to places where abundance of old
posts or decaying tree-trunks lead it to expect a
plentiful repast. It breeds in holes in trees, making
no nest, and laying its four or five eggs on just such
a bed as its green namesake. The female is very
averse to leaving her eggs, and shows almost as much
pertinacity as a Tom-tit in abiding by them. They are
1 inch long by J inch broad.

Their Eggs and Nests. 141

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER— (Z>^«^r^^^/«x
minor ; formerly, Pious minor).

Barred Woodpecker, Hick-wall, Little Black and
White Woodpecker, Crank-bird. — A pretty little bird,
very shy, very active, very able to keep itself out of
sight, and so, hardly noticed by one in a hundred of
those whom Miss Edgeworth would class as more or
less nearly connected with the widely-spread family of
" No-eyes." It is said to prefer large woods of beech ;
and like the other Woodpeckers, makes no nest, but
places its eggs in a hollow tree, accessible by only a
small hole, the means of access being often at a con-
siderable distance from the eggs laid below. The eggs
of this little bird are four or five in number, purely
white, though seeming to be suffused with a delicate
pink hue before they are blown, which arises from
the transparency of the shell. They are about | inch
long by rather more than \ inch broad.

WRYNECK— (7?^;/^ torqnilla).

Cuckoo's-raate, Emmet-hunter, Snake-bird, Long-
tongue. — A dear little bird is the Wryneck, with his
cheery spring-announcing cry. We willingly pardon
its want of melody for its associations. The marvel-
lous rapidity with which its tongue is darted out and
retracted, enabling it by the aid of the glutinous
secretion with which its end is furnished to secure an
Ant at every action, is highly interesting as illustrat-
ing another of the wonderful and beautiful adaptations
provided by the Author of Creation. The Wryneck
makes scarcely any nest (if any), but lays its eggs on

142 British Birds,

the fragments of decayed wood which lino a hole in a
tree. They are from six to ten in number, and white
and glossy, and about the same size as those of the
Barred Woodpecker. The old bird is singularly un-
willing to leave her eggs under any intrusion, and
tries by such means as hissing sharply, elevating her
crest and contorting her neck, to intimidate or deter
the intruder.

OKDEK.— COLUMBiE.
FAMILY.— COLUMBIDiE.

RING V^O'^Y.—ijOolumba palumbus).

Wood Pigeon, King Pigeon, Cushat, Cushie Doo,
Queest. — This, the first bird in the new Order of
Columbae, is tolerably well known to every one the
least acquainted with ordinary country scenes and
objects. A fine, handsome bird, met with everywhere
throughout the country, and, in many parts of it,
seen in very large flocks in the winter-time ; sure to
attract attention, also, as we walk through the wood,
by the loud ringing clap of his wings as he takes
flight; and all this independently of his plaintive
murmur in the breeding season, sounding very sweet
and mellow as heard from a little distance — the Wood
Pigeon, or Queest, or Cushat, as he is named in
different districts, is as prominent among wild birds as
the parson of the parish among his parishioners. The
young birds are frequently taken from the nest and
reared by hand; and the bold, fearless, confiding

Their Eggs and Nests. 143

familiarity of such pets, considering their extreme
native shyness and wildness, is remarkable. The
Ring Dove makes its rude platform nest of sticks,
with a cushion of roots to receive the eggs, in bushes
standing singly or in hedges or woods, in pollard
trees, in holly or other thick trees, in evergreens in
gardens and the like; and nothing is more common
than to see the parent birds frequenting the garden
and close vicinity of a country house, almost as tamely
as if they were a pair of common or house Pigeons.
The eggs seem to be invariably very oval in shape,
and purely white. They are 1|- inch long, by \ inch
broad.

STOCK ViOy^—{Columha cenas).

Stock Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Wood Dove. — This
Dove is not only, generally speaking, much less
abundant throughout the country than the Ring
Dove, but very often, it would seem, confounded with
it by casual observers, who only notice the several
birds from a distance, or on the wing. They frequent
the same roosting-places, and often feed in the same
field, though probably on different species of food. I
have shot birds of both species at the same discharge
of the gun, and have noticed the different matters
which had supplied their meals of the day, — Holly-
berries, in the case of the Ring Dove ; wild mustard-
seed, in the other. The Stock Dove is, however,
immediately and easily distinguishable from the Ring
Dove, by its lesser size, a slight difference in colour,
and the entire absence of the " ring " of white feathers
on the neck. Its nest is placed sometimes on pollard

144 British Birds ^

trees, sometimes in open holes or hollows in old trees ;
and very commonly, in some districts, either on the
ground below thick furze-bushes, or in deserted
rabbit-burrows, two or three feet distant from the
entrance. The nest is very slight, consisting merely
of a few twigs or roots. The eggs are two in number,
pure white, about or rather exceeding \\ inch in
length, by IJ inch in breadth.

ROCK 'DO'^^—iCohimha livia).
Wild Pigeon, Rock Pigeon, Wild Dove, Doo,
Rockier. — This pigeon has usually, until not long
since, been confused with the Stock Dove. But their
plumage is unlike, their voice unlike, and especially
their habits and living and breeding haunts ^ unlike.
It is believed with some certainty that the Rock Dove
is the real origin of the Domestic Pigeon, and certainly
any one who has seen the large flights of Domestic
Pigeons turned wild, which frequent the caverns in
the rock-bound coast near St. Abb's Head and similar
localities, living with, flying with, feeding with, and
nesting with the undoubted wild Rockier, can enter-
tain but very small doubts on the subject. The Rock
Dove makes a loose nest of twigs and plant-stems and

1 This is subject to some qualiScations. Both species breed in this
neighbourhood, and both nest in holes or rifts among the sandstone
cliffs of the country. I have again and again seen the Rock Dove
leave such nesting-sites, and again and again recognised the Stock
Dove in the same locality. Twice within the last two or three years
I have come upon birds of one or the other species (which I could
not positively identify, but believe to have been the Rock Dove)
feeding on the bilberry fruit, and in close company with numerous
Ring Ousels.

Thci}' Eggs and Nests. 145

dry grass ; very often far back in holes and crevices
of the rock ; and lays two white eggs, with a much
better defined " big end " and " little end " than in tlie
case of the two Pigeons last named.

TURTLE DOVE — {Turtur communis; formerly,

Coluinba Uirttir).

Turtle, Common Turtle, Ring-necked Turtle, Wrekin
Dove. — Only a summer visitor and not a regular
inhabitant, like its three predecessors. It is long
since, living where I do, I have heard its sweet,
plaintive note. No one but one who loves birds and
their ways can tell how real a deprivation it is to live
for years out of sound of the sweet and familiar voices
of such as are only local: the Nightingale for instance,
the Turtle, and many others. The male Turtle Dove
is a very handsome bird, but much shier and more
retiring at breeding-time than the Ring Dove. The
nest is a light platform of sticks, easily permitting
the sky to be seen through it from below, and usually
placed high up in a holly, a thick bush in a wood, in
the branches of a fir, or the lesser fork of some limb
of an oak or other forest tree. As with the other
Doves, the eggs are two in number, quite white, about
\\ inch long, by f broad.

PASSENGER Y\<^YJdl^—{Ectopistes migratorius).

Every bird-loving boy, beyond doubt, has heard of
this Pigeon and the inconceivable vastness of the
flocks in which they pass from one distant district to
another in America. Here it is only a casual visitor,
and can lawfully lay claim to none of our limited space.

K

146 British Birds y

ORDER.— PTEROCLETES.

FAMILY.— PTEROCLIDiE.

SAND ^'K0'\5^'^—{Surrhaptes paradoxus).
It has appeared in large numbers on two or three
occasions.

ORDER.— GALLINiE.
FAMILY L— TETRAONID^.

CAPERCAILLIE— (r^/m^ urogallus).

Cock of the Woods, Wood Grouse, Cock of the
Mountain, Great Grouse, Capercailzie, Capercally. —
An indigenous inhabitant of this country, but one
which had become, or was becoming, extinct, a few
years ago. Now it is becoming comparatively abun-
dant again on the estates of several large and noble
owners, principally in Scotland. It is indeed a very
noble bird, and well worthy the care and attention
and expense which have been devoted to the attempt
to re-establish it. The female makes her nest on the
ground, and lays from six to ten or twelve eggs. These
are of a pale reddish-yellow brown, spotted all over
with two shades of darker orange brown. — Fig. 3,
plate VL

BLACK GROUSE— (r^/r«^ tetrix).
Black Cock, Black Game, Heath Cock, Heath Poult,

Their Eggs and Nests. 147

and the female, Grey Hen, sometimes Brown Hen.—
Still found in some districts out of the north of
England, where wild and hilly forest still remains, but
of much more frequent occurrence in more northerly
localities. In fact, the gradual and very complete de-
molition of the last remains of what were once very
extensive forests has completely banished the Black
Grouse from places where it used to be common with-
in the memory of living men. It is a very handsome
bird, and like the Capercailly and the Pheasant, does
not pair. The hen makes a very slight nest on the
ground, and lays in it seven to nine or ten eggs, of a
somewhat less warm ground-shade than those last
named, but with larger and brighter-coloured spots
and blotches. — Fig. ^, plate VI.

RED GROUSE— (Z^^^/?^j- Scoticus).
Red Ptarmigan, Red Game, Moor Game, Muir-fowl,
Moor-bird. — A beautiful bird indeed, and peculiar to
the British Islands. The Grouse moors, however, are
mainly confined to the northern counties of England
and Scotland. In the district in which this is written
the Grouse may be truly said to abound, and I hear
them continually from my garden or open window.^
These birds do pair, and pair very early indeed more-
over. I have frequently seen them in pairs before the
season for killing them — which expires on December
10 — is fully out. If the weather becomes severe this
union often seems to be annulled ; but I don't think it
is in reality. In the earlier spring, when the pairing

1 For a detailed series of observations on the habits, etc. , of the
Grouse, see '* Sketches in Natural History," RoutleUge & Co.

148 British Birds,

is becoming general, many fierce battles among the
males may be seen going on, and very resolute and
lengthened and circuitous flights of one in pursuit of
another occur. The nest is very slight, of ling and
bents chiefly, and usually well concealed in a tuft of
heather. From six or seven up to twelve or fifteen
eggs are said to be laid, but I should say that the
highest average, judging from the number of young
birds in a brood, very rarely much exceeds eight or
nine. The eggs are very beautiful and richly coloured,
but vary exceedingly in both ground-colour and mark-
ings, even those found in the same nest. Some are of
a yellowish shade, and others of a blood-stain red,
mottled and blotched with rich umber brown, and the
paler ones with shades of light brown. — Fig. h, plate
VI.

PTARMIGAN — {J.agopus mutits ; formerly,
L, vulgaris^.

White Grouse, Rock Grouse, White Game. — Only
found now among the rocky tops of the highest hills
and mountains in the centre and north of Scotland.
It is the smallest species of Grouse in Britain, and its
plumage varies greatly with the season, becoming
nearly pure white in winter. It lays seven to ten
eggs ; frequentl yon the bare stones. They are of a
yellowish ground-colour, blotched and spotted (slightly
so as compared with the eggs of the Red Grouse) with
rich dark brown.

Their Eggs and Nests. i^g

FAMILY II— PHASTANIDJS.

VUEASA^T—^F/iasmnus Colchicus).

I dare say " a good few " of our readers if they were
asked " Do you know the Pheasant ? " might answer,
" Yes, very well. We had some for dinner, such and
such a day." And I have no doubt the acquaintance
was satisfactory enough — at least to one of the
parties. The Pheasant does not pair, and on the pre-
served estates in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire I have
frequently seen in the spring large groups of Cock
Pheasants collected and consorting together without
the intermixture of a single hen. In a vast many
places now an artificial system of Pheasant-breeding
is adopted, three or four hens with one male being
turned into a large paled " apartment," well netted in,
the whole establishment comprising many such apart-
ments. Each hen lays double or treble the number of
eggs she would if suffered to run wild, and these are
collected daily and placed under heus ready to sit as
soon as a sufficient number is got together. In this
way twice or three times the number of young ones
is secured from one hen as compared with her own
greatest success in bringing oflf a brood in the woods.
In her wild state, the Pheasant makes scarcely any
nest, on the ground, and lays ten or twelve eggs, of a
uniform pale olive-brown shade. Not only are cases
in which two Pheasants lay in the same nest of by no
means unfrequent occurrence, but others even, in which
Pheasants' eggs have been iound in Partridges' nests.
Many instances are on record of tlie Pheasant inter-
breeding with other birds, such as the Guinea Fowl,

150 British Birds,

the Black Grouse, and the Common Fowl. The cross
last named is by no means uncommon, and a remark-
ably fine male specimen of the produce of a Cock
Pheasant and Speckled Hen occurred here (one of four
birds which were hatched) a few years since. The
Pheasant's tail and head and general shape as well as
fashion of feathers (with access of size) were united
to the shades and markings of the plumage of the
mother. The bird in question was so inveterate in
his visits to the neighbouring farm-yards in order to
challenge the cocks who dwelt there, and so sure to
kill them outright, or maim or maul them so severely
that they had to be killed, that it became necessary
to put him out of the way himself, and his present
(1860) memorial is his remarkably well-stuffed skin.
—Fig. % plate VI.

COMMON PARTRIDGE— (/'^^^/;t; cinered).

Much too familiar a bird by appearance, voice and
flavour to require any very lengthened notice from
us. The Partridge pairs pretty early — by the end of
January often — and once paired they never separate
again throughout the season. At pairing time the
cocks fight fiercely, and I have sometimes seen, and
even in my garden here, three or four engaged in the
conflict, with another, probably the female " apple of
discord," sitting quietly by the while. I have seen
the male, too, in the evening, when summoning his
newly-married wife, stand on the top of one of our
stone walls and call repeatedly. The nest is made on
the ground in a field of grass or corn, or on a dry
hedge bank, or at the foot of a wall among the long

TJicir Eggs and Nests. 1 5 i

grass, and consists of little but a slight depression in
the ground, with a few dead leaves and bents. The
number of eggs varies between eight or ten, and
twenty. But it is no uncommon thing for two Par-
tridges to lay in the same nest, and an instance came
to my knowledge a good many years since, in which a
Red-legged Partridge had laid several eggs in a
Common Partridge's nest. When two birds lay to-
gether thus, the covey sometimes amounts to thirty or
thirty-five birds. I knew one instance of forty, about
thirty years since. The male Partridge is known to
help his mate, when the hatch is drawing on, by
sitting at her side and covering some of the eggs.
When there are two layings in the same nest, it is an
interesting question whether the two hens sit to-
gether, or the original owner of the nest is simply
assisted by her mate. The young birds are able to
run and " fend for themselves " almost as soon as they
are hatched. The eggs are of a uniform pale olive-
brown hue. — Fig. Q, plate VI.

RED-LEGGED VKKTRIDG^— {Caeca b lis rttfa ;
formerly, Perdix riifa).

French Partridge, Guernsey Partridge. — A much
more striking bird in appearance than the Common
Partridge, and said also to be a powerful enemy to it.
Certainly, in districts where it has been encouraged
and preserved, it seems to have prevailed to the com-
parative exclusion of the indigenous species. It is
supposed to have been first introduced about the time
of Charles II. For long it seems to have increased
and spread but very slowly, but now there are many

152 British Birds,

districts of the south where it is exceedingly abundant.
These birds form a slight nest of dry bents and leaves
upon the ground, amid some growing crop of grass or
corn. Instances, however, have been asserted in which
the nest was a good deal elevated above the ground,
as on the top of a stack. The eggs, very hard-shelled,
are from ten to fifteen or sixteen in number, of a
cream colour, well spotted with small speckles of
reddish or cinnamon brown. — Fig. 7, plate VI.

QUAIL — {Coturnix comrminis ; formerly,
C. vulgaris^.

The Quail is believed, in some rare instances, to
stay with us all the year, but is usually only a
summer visitant, not coming in any great numbers.
In some countries its migratory hosts are so great that
one hundred thousand are said to have been taken in
a day. In its appearance, the Quail strongly reminds
one of the Partridge, and suggests the idea that itself
is only a diminutive bird of that species. It has been
said that they do not pair, still they have been re-
peatedly seen in apparent pairs. And one couple
which haunted my garden and the neighbouring fields
for many days could only have been regarded as having
" paired," and their nests are met with in many parts
of the kingdom. Two years since it was believed that
at least two broods were reared on certain lands in
Moorsholm, in North Yorkshire. A small depression
in the ground is made, or found, and loosely lined with
bits of grass and dry stalks. Seven to ten, or possibly
yet more Qg^^, are laid, presenting much variety of
appearance, but usually of a faint cream-coloured

TJieir Eggs and Nests. 153

ground, mottled and clouded in some cases with red
brown, and in others spotted with dark brown spots,
some of considerable size. — Fig. 8, plate VI

ORDER.— HEMIPODIL

FAMILY.— TURNICIDiE.

ANDALUSIAN HEMIPODE— (r?/r;2^:r sylvatica ;
formerly, Hciiiipodms tachydroviiis).

Some three or four examples have been met with
in Britain.

ORDER. — FU Lie ARIiE.

FAMILY.— RALLID^.

LAND-RAIL — ( Crex prat en sis) .
Corn Crake, Meadow Crake, Dakerhen. — This bird
is found in most parts of the kingdom, though for the
most part in no great abundance anywhere, in the
earlier months of the autumn. In most of the northern
parts it breeds annually, but I do not remember ever
hearing its breeding note while I was a dweller in the
district endjracnig what are usually called the eastern
counties. Nor yet in Herefordshire. But the note in
question has been sufficiently familiar to me for the
last lifty years, and here in North Yorksliire I hear

154 British Birds,

it on all sides of me, at all hours, I may say, of both
day and night. For two or three years in succession
a pair took possession of a small plantation of young
fir trees bordering my garden lawn on the north, and
only separated from it by a deep ditch with a run of
water at the bottom. Long after the union seemed to
have been formed the peculiar note was kept up, and
I used to see both birds within a few feet of each
other during its continuance. Scarcely a day passed
during their sojourn of eight or ten days in and about
the plantation but excursions were taken into the
garden, frequently extending to the terrace beneath
my dining-room window, where sundry very inquir-
ing and interested glances — not to say stares — were
exchanged between the visitors and myself and divers
members of my family. The visitors seemed very
little disturbed at our notice as long as we remained
quite still and silent, but any movement on our part
led to immediate retreat on the Corn Crakes. Its
movements were desultory or in jerks, so to speak.
The bird would run ten or twelve paces in an attitude
and with a speed which left one in doubt for a moment
whether it were not some small quadruped Then it
would skulk amid taller herbage, or under the shrubs
of a raised bed, in beneath a rhododendron bush. A
minute after it would be seen with its head and whole
body erect, and the neck so out-stretched that if the
bird had been hung up by its head it could not have
been much more elongated. This was the invariable
position or attitude assumed when interchanging
looks with the occupants of the window. My own
impression was that these journeys or excursions

TJieir Eggs and Nests. 155

(which I knew extended into the gi'ass-field beyond
the orarden, and into a field over the road at the back
of the plantation) were simply made for the purpose
of inspection, and with a view to the selection of a
place for nesting — and that, pending this interesting
investigation, the fir trees and herbage beneath afforded
an ample covert. As far as I could ascertain, the
place actually selected by them for the purpose was
in the field — a corn-field — just beyond that which lay
adjacent to the garden. The Corn Crake makes a
loose nest of dry herbage and stalks and grass ; and I
think almost always among growing herbage — grass,
clover, or corn. The hen lays seven or eight eggs,
sometimes even ten, and sits very close upon them.
They are whitish in ground, sufiused with a reddish
tinge, and spotted and speckled with brownish-red
and purplish-grey. — Fig. 4, plate IX.

SPOTTED Q^kY.'^—iPorzana viaruetta ; formerly,
Crex porza7ia).

A summer visitor, as the Land-Rail is, to our shores.
It is rare, however, compared with the Land -Rail, and
with more predilection for the vicinity of water.
Like all the other Rails it conceals itself very closely,
and from the form of its body and power of leg runs
with great speed and equal facility, even among what
seems to be and is very thick covert. It is known to
breed in Norfolk and in Cambridgeshire, in Yorkshire,
Durham, and Northumberland ; and it may do also in
other localities as well. The nest, made on the
ground in wet marshes, is " formed on the outside,"
says Mr. Yarrell, *'with coarse aquatic plants, lined

156 British Birds,

with finer materials within/' From seven to ten eggs
appears to be the number laid, and they vary very
much in their ground-colour, between a pale brown-
ish-dun and a slightly yellow-white, the spots or
blotches being of a reddish brown of some intensity. —
Fig. h, plate IX.

LITTLE Q^hK^—{Porzana parva; formerly,
Crex pusilld).

Olivaceous Gallinule, Little Gallinule. — Strictly
speaking, still a rare bird in this countryr

BAILLON'S C:;KKKY.—{Porzana Baillonit ;
formerly, Crex Baillonit).

More rare than the last, and, perhaps, occasionally
confused with it.

WATER-RAIL— (ie«//^.r aquations).

Bilcock, Skiddycock, Runner, Brook-runner, Velvet-
runner. — One of the very shiest of our British birds,
and thus seeming to be much more rare than it really
is. I have seen it at all seasons of the year, though
it is, I am well aware, less tolerant of cold than many
others of our winter-staying birds. Its motions on
the bank of a stream, when suddenly disturbed, are
much more like those of a Water Rat than a bird. It
])reeds with some degree of commonness in several of
the southern counties. I obtained two nests from
the estate in Norfolk elsewhere mentioned in these
pages, at the same time with the Woodcock's eggs,
and was informed that it bred regularly there. I had

Their Eggs and Nests. 157

reason also to know that it bred at ToUeshunt D'Arcy,
in Essex. The nest is made often in an osier ground
or among thick water plants, and composed of differ-
ent kinds of aquatic herbage. The eggs are from six
to nine or ten in number, and seldom quite white in
hue ; usually they are much more like pale or faded
specimens of the Land-Rail's eggs, the spots being both
fewer and fainter — Fig. Q, plate IX.

MOOR ^Y.^—{Galli7tula chloropus).

Water Hen, Gallinule, Moat Hen, Marsh Hen. —
Few nest hunters, however young, but know the nest
and eggs of this very common bird. I have in many
cases seen it almost domesticated, and constantly
taking its food among domestic fowls, and sometimes
even almost from the hands of human creatures. Its
nest is made in somewhat various places. I have
seen it amid the sedges growing in the water near the
edge of a marsh-ditch or the like, on dry tussock y
tumns near a sheet of water, amono^ the herbaoje and
willow stubs not far from the same mere, built upon
masses of fallen but not decayed bulrushes and flags,
at the edge of a pond, on a bough projecting several
feet horizontally from the bank over and resting
upon (or partly in) the water of a running stream,
nay, even in a branch or top of a thick tree, or among
the ivy which mantled its trunk and wreathed its
branches. In it are laid six, seven, or eight eggs, of a
reddish-white colour, sparingly speckled and spotted
with reddish-brown. The eggs have been known to
be removed by the parent birds under circumstances
of peril awaiting them — from a Hood, for instance —

158 British Birds.

and hatched in some new locality. Instances also
have been recorded in which a supplementary nest
has been constructed by the female parent to receive
a part of her brood, when they were too numerous
and had grown too large to be accommodated by their
original nest-home at night. — Fig. 7, plate IX.

COOT— {Fjilica atra).

Bald Coot. — A common bird enough in many parts
of the kingdom, and in former days, I have sometimes
seen them in straggling flocks of several hundreds or
thousands along the tide- way on the Essex coasts.
With its white oval spot on the forehead, and per-
fectly black plumage, it is a sufficiently noticeable
bird. It seems to be much more at home on the
water than on land ; but, like the Moor Hen, can and
does move with very considerable ease and speed on
the latter. The Coot makes a large and very strong
and compact nest, making or finding a firm founda-
tion for it below the surface of the water, and heaping
up and twisting in dry flags and bulrushes and pieces
of reed, until some of the nests are sufficiently firm
and stable to support a considerable weight. The
eggs laid are usually seven or eight, and up to ten ;
though even twelve or fourteen have been mentioned
as sometimes found. They are of a dingy stone-
colour, speckled and spotted with dark brown. — Fig.
8, plate IX.

TJicir Eggs and Nests. 1 59

ORDER.— ALECTORIDES.
FAMILY I— GRUIDiE.

CRANE— ((7;-?^ J- cincrea).

A couple of centuries since it is not improbable the
Crane may have — at least, occasionally — bred in this
country ; but now it is become a very rare and casual
visitor.

FAMILY II.— OTIDID^.

GREAT BUSTARD— (6'/z> tarda).
This noble bird, once abundant enough on our wide
plains and wolds in England, is now, I fear, almost
extinct among us, as so far as I am aware no very
recent^ capture of it has been announced. It used,
before the gun became so common and so fatal to
birds of much interest to the ornithologist or others, to
be customarily pursued with greyhounds. These birds
do not pair, and their nest is said to be a mere natural
saucer-shaped hole in the bare ground. The eggs are
seldom more than two, or at most three, in number,
and are of an olive-green ground, blotched and spotted
with two or three shades of brown, lighter and
darker.

LITTLE BUSTARD— ((9//^ tctrax).
Only a casual and not a summer visitor.

1 Since this was written, several instances have occurred, detailed
notices of which are given in the last edition of Yarrcll (iii., p. 207).

i6o British Birds,

MACQUEEN'S BUSTARD— (aV^ Macqueeni).

Only one occurrence as far as I know. Accidental
even in Europe.

ORDER.— LIMICOLiE.
FAMILY I.— GSDICNEMID^.

STONE QX^^l^'^—iCEdicnemus crepitans).

Great Plover, Norfolk Plover, Whistling Plover,
Stone Plover, Thick-knee. — The Stone Curlew is a
summer visitor, and strictly a local one. The Nightin-
gale, for instance, is very much more extensively
diffused than the bird just named. It was found abun-
dantly enough on the wide sandy plains of Norfolk,
and I used (1840) to hear it very commonly in the
fields a few miles to the north-west of Bury St.
Edmunds. Besides the counties just named, it is met
with in parts of Essex and Kent, in Hampshire, and
Cambridgeshire, and two or three others. Its peculiar
shrill cry or whistle, once heard, is not likely to be
forgotten. The female lays two eggs on the bare
ground, among white-coated flints and stones. An
idea of their ground-colour may be given by the
mention of what the painters call stone-colour, in pale
shades, and this is streaked and spotted, or marbled
with dark brown. — Fig. 1, plate VIL

Their Eggs and Nests. i6r

FAMILY II.— GLAREOLIDy^^

PRATINCOLE— ((9. pratincola ; formerly,
Glareola (orquala.)

Collared Pratincole, Austrian Pratincole. — A bird of
sufficiently rare occurrence in this country, and re-
markable as having caused some degree of perplexity
and dispute among naturalists as to the position it
should occupy in the general system or classification
of the bird family. Mr, Yarrell (in whose first edition
it appears at the head of the Rail family) says — " The
Pratincole has been arranged by some authors with
the Swallows, by others near the Rails ; but I believe,
with Mr. Selby, that it ought to be included in the
family of the Plovers, and had I known its Plover-
like habits and eggs sooner, I should have arranged
it between Cursorius and Charadrius." To this Mr.
Hewitson adds — "Besides the similarity of their
habits, the fact of this species laying four eggs is a
further link to connect it with the Charadriidfe." It
is, however, much too rare — besides being known not
to breed in Britain — to have any claim on our limited
space for description of its nest or eggs.

FAMILY III.— CHARADRIIDiE.

CREAM-COLOURED QO\Wx'S>E^— {Cursorius
Isabellinus).

A very rare bird indeed

1 62 British Birds,

DOTTEREL — {Eudrojuius viorinelhis ; formerly,
Charadrius morinellus).

Dottrel or Dotterel Plover, Foolish Dottrel. — Tliis
is a summer visitor to our country, and in many
localities where it used to be abundant, or at least
common, it is now rare or almost unknown. This is
the case on parts, at least, of the Yorkshire Wolds, as
well as in the Lake district. They are sought after
by the fly-fisher and by the ornithologist and by the
epicure, and from their exceedingly simple and un-
suspicious habits they fall easy victims before the
fowling-piece of modern days. The female makes no
nest, but lays her customary three eggs in a slight
cavity on the ground near high mountain tops, where
some tall-growing moss or other mountain herbage
facilitates concealment. The eggs are of an olivaceous
hue, spotted plentifully with very dark brown or
brownish-black.

RINGED PLOVER— (^^/<«////.y hiaticula; formerly,
Charadrius hiaticula).

Ringed or Ring Dottrel. — A very pretty shore-bird,
of interesting habits, and not infrequent, especially in
winter, on many parts of the British coast. In quiet
parts, where large expanses of sand or shingle, or even
mud, are left by the receding tide, it may be seen in
numbers. It seems to make no nest: — the eggs are
laid on the sand, and often at a very considerable dis-
tance from the sea ; as, for instance, on the warrens
in Norfolk and Suffolk. They are four in number,
very large in proportion to the size of the bird,

Their Eggs and Nests. 163

possessing the peculiar pointed shape of the eggs of
the entire class of birds we are now among, and of a
warm cream-colour, spotted and streaked with black.
The parent birds try hard to lead the casual intruder
away from the vicinity of their young. — Fig. '6, plate
VIL

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER— (^^'^/zV/V curonica ;
formerly, Charadrius minor).

A very rare British bird.

KENTISH PLOVER— {^^^/^//V/j Cantiana ;
formerly, Charadrius Cantianus).

Seldom obtained very far from the southern coasts
of England, and not appearing to be a very plentiful
bird even there. In habits it strongly resembles the
Ring Plover just named. The female makes no nest,
but lays her four eggs in a slight hollow on sand or
shingle ; which strongly resemble some of the lighter-
coloured examples of the eggs of the last-named
species. — Fig. ^, plate VII.

GOLDEN VhO^^'R— {Charadrius pluvialis).

Yellow Plover, Green Plover, Whistling Plover. —
It has sometimes been an object to me to obtain speci-
mens of this bird in its breeding-plumage, and it is
scarcely possible to imagine a stronger contrast than
that presented by the male in his May dross and six
or eight months later. All the glossy black of neck
and breast has entirely disappeared long before the
latter period. I have occasionally seen a single pair

164 British Birds,

or two, very early in the year, separating themselves
from the great flock of some scores ; and in the female
of one such pair which I shot some few years since
(the next shot killing five out of a very large flock, at
no great distance), I found an ^gg quite ready for ex-
trusion, and which, from the depth of its colouring,
would probably have been laid in the course of a few
hours at most. The hen-bird makes a very slight
nest, and lays just four eggs in it, seldom either more
or less. They are of a large size for the bird, of a fair
stone-colour, well blotched and spotted with very dark
or blackish brown. After sitting eight or ten days
the bird becomes very reluctant to leave her nest, and
will suffer herself to be almost trodden on rather.
The young ones, awkward-looking, mottled yellow
and brown puff-balls on stilts, run fast and well soon
after they are hatched, and do not speedily acquire
the use of those wings which, after a time, are to be
so strong and swift. Very jealous, too, are the
parents as long as their young are only runners, and
very plaintive is their incessant piping if you or your
dog approach too near their place of concealment. —
Fig. % plate VII.

GREY V'LO\^'R—{Sqiiataroia Helvetica; formerly,
5, cinerea).
A bird which has never been ascertained to breed
in England, although specimens in the dark-breasted
May plumage have been seen in the London markets,
and observed by Mr. Selby in the Fame Islands in
June. It is not uncommon as a winter visitor, though
even then nothing like so rmmerous as the Golden

Their Eggs and Nests. 165

Plover in its winter visits to districts in which it does
not breed. The eggs are said to be in colour " oil green,
spotted with different shades of umber brown, the
spots crowded and confluent round the obtuse end."

LAPWING — ( Vanellus viilgaj-is ; formerly,
V. cr is tat us).

Pewit or Peewit, Te-wit, Teu-fit, Green Plover,
Bastard Plover, Green Lapwing, Crested Lapwing. —
Another of those birds which are familiar to almost
everyone who is not a mere casual visitor to the
country, or quite deaf and blind to its commonest
sounds and sights. It is a very universally diffused
bird, even in those districts where it does not statedly
breed. It nests not only on commons and heaths and
the w^ide moor, but in the fields and inclosures ; and
round my present residence I have many yearly evi-
dences that there are half-a-dozen nests within the
limits of a short half-mile which intervenes between
me and the moors. The female constructs scarcely
any nest, properly so called, but makes, or more likely
avails herself of a ready-made, slight cavity on the
surface of the ground, with a sufficiency of some kind
of herbage to serve as covert. The female's habits in
connection with the nest and eggs are different from
the male's. She slips off on the approach of a visitor,
and runs very silently and quietly away to some dis-
tance before taking wing ; he hastens up on rapid,
sounding, whirling wing, and cries and dashes and
wheels above and around the cause of alarm in a very
remarkable manner. The Peewit lays four eggs, of
large size and acutely pointed at the lesser end, and

1 66 British Birds ^

like so many others of the class, often arranged so as
to occupy the least possible space, by having their
points all turned inward. They are of a darkish
olive-dun ground, abundantly blotched and spotted
with brown and black. These eggs are much sought
after as delicacies for the table. They are boiled hard
and served cold, and when the shell is removed they
have quite a jelly-like appearance. But few of the
eggs, however, sold in the market as " plovers' eggs,"
are sometimes recognised by the oologist as having
been laid by the Lapwing. — Fig. 5, plate VII.

TURNSTONE— (5/r^/.f//^i- interpres).

Hebridal Sandpiper. — Found on many parts of our
coast either in small parties, or one or two together,
from September all through the winter. In the
spring it leaves us to go to the north for breeding
objects, but it has never yet been fully proved to have
nested within the limits of the British Islands. We
cannot therefore notice its nest and eggs in this place.

OYSTER-CATCHER— (/2^^;;^«/^/^7/j ostralegus).

Pied Oyster - catcher, Shelder, Sea -Pie, Olive. — A
very beautiful and well-known dweller on our sea-
coasts, and wonderfully provided by nature, too, with
a suitable instrument for purveying its destined food.
The bill of the Oyster-catcher is one of those natural
objects which form each a study in themselves. Wo«^
be to the oyster or mussel, however powerful its
mechanism for closing its valves, if once the Oyster-
catcher has found means to insert that natural weapon

Their Eggs and Nests. 167

of his. Flattened sideways, and liard and strong as so
much bone, its efficacy is so great that there can be
scarcely a struggle for life on the part of the shell-fish.
This bird runs well, and is even said to dive and swim
with facility. I never saw this, though I have had
them under my observation for hours together in
former days. But I knew their shrill, rattling whistle,
and their short uneasy flights, and restless paddlings
up and down upon the ooze, ^vhen I have been among
their haunts, well ; — and many a nest it used to be my
lot to discover on some parts of some of the Essex Salt-
ings. The eggs, usually three or four in number, are
laid on the bare ground, sometimes in slight holes
amid the Salting herbage above high-water mark ; or
where there is shingle, in some cavity among its
higher and coarser layers. They are cream-coloured,
of varying shades of w^armth, and blotched and
spotted, or spotted and strongly streaked with very
dark brown and some few touches of a lighter hue. —
Fig, G, piaU VI L

FAMILY IV.— SCOLOPACID^.

AVOCET — {Reciirvirostra avocctta).

Butterflip, Scooper, Yeli)er, Cobbler's Awl, Crooked-
bill, Cobbler's-Awl Duck. — Fast verging on extinc-
tion. In Sir Thomas Browne's time, it was not at all
uncommon ; but of late years seldom recorded as
having been " obtained " or met with. If only people
weren't so fond of " obtaining" our rare birds. But
nowadays, when every third person has a gun, the

1 68 British Birds ^

appearance of a " rare bird " is enough to set half a
village off in pursuit, and the great object of hundreds
throughout the country seems just to be to destroy
the casual feathered visitor, however interesting it
may be, or whatever claims it might seem to possess
on our hospitality. The Avocet's bill and plumage
are enough to point it out for slaughter, and so,
slaughtered it has been. It used to breed in Sussex
and Norfolk. " The nest is said to be a small hole in
the drier parts of extensive marshes. The eggs are
said to be only two in number, of a clay-coloured
brown, spotted and speckled with black."

BLACK- WINGED ^T\\Jl—{Hinia7ttopiis candidus ;
formerly, H. melanopterus).

Long-legged Plover, Long-Legs, Long-Shanks, Stilt
Plover. — Not so very uncommon as a visitor : but still,
strictly speaking, only accidental in its appearance here.

GREY VYLKLAROV¥.—{Phalaropus fulicariits ;
formerly, P. lobaius).

Red Phalarope. — Supposed, some half century
since, to be exceedingly rare in this country, but
now known to visit our shores in small numbers,
perhaps annually, on their way to their winter place
of sojourning. Like the Coot, they are lobe-footed,
and very capable swimmers.

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE— (P//^/^;'^//^j

hyperboreus).

Red Phalarope. — More rare than the last-named in

Their Eggs and Nests. 169

England, thimgli occurring, occasionally, somewhat
more abundantly in some of the northern Scotch
Islands.

WOODCOCK— (5r^^/^^ riistieold).

One of our most universally recognised "birds of
passage," coming to us sometimes in the autumn
(always, at least, beginning to arrive in October), and
leaving us again in the spring. Still no season passes
in which many pairs do not remain to breed, and that,
too, in many different parts of the kingdom. It was
an object to me some tifty years ago to obtain eggs
of the Woodcock, and I applied to a person in Norfolk,
who had not any difficulty in procuring for me eggs
from the gamekeeper of a neighbouring estate out of
two different nests which had been deserted by their
owners. My friend added the information, that
scarcely a year passed in which one nest or more of
Woodcocks was not known of on the estate in ques-
tion. Their nests are not uncommon in some parts of
Galloway. The nest, a very loose one, is made of
dead leaves and the like, bracken leaves appearing to
be commonly used for the purpose. The eggs are
usually about four in number, and want the peculiar
pointed shape common to almost all the other birds of
the Order. They are of a dirty yellowish-white, a
good deal blotched and spotted with two or three
shades of pale brown and purplish-grey. The old
bird is known to transport her young, if occasion
demands, from one place to another. She has been
seen doing so repeatedly, and by good observers,
generally making use of both feet for the purpose,

170 British Birds ^

sometimes one only ; and, it is said, using her beak
sometimes for the same purpose. — Fig. 1, plate IX,

GREAT '^'m^Y,—{Gallinago major ; formerly,
S CO lop ax major).

Solitary Snipe, Double Snipe. — Often taken, no
doubt, by many a sportsman in former days to be a
very large specimen of the Common Snipe, than
which no bird with which I am well acquainted
seems to vary more in size. On the wing it does not
look much larger than the Common Snipe, and is
seldom seen except alone, or at most two in company.
It breeds in high northern localities, and never with
us, and no notice, therefore, of its nesting habits is
permissible in this place.

COMMON ^'^lV^—{Gallinago Ccelestis ; formerly,
Scolopax gallinagd).

Whole Snipe, Suite, Heather-bleater. — Although
this snipe, like the Woodcock, retires to northern
latitudes to breed, yet there are few districts in
Britain suitable to its habits in which it is not known
to breed in greater or less numbers. And it is a bird,
moreover, which is quite sure to make it very dis-
tinctly known that it has a nest and eggs somewhere
near, if only any human visitor appears on the scene.
I refer to the very peculiar note or sound emitted by
the male, always while he is on the wing high in the
air, and always accompanied with a very remarkable
action of his wings and curving descent in his flight.
This sound or note — for it is not absolutely certain, I

Their Eggs and Nests. 171

think, how it is produced — is variously called hum-
ming, bleating, drumming, buzzing. To me, the first
time I heard it, and before I knew to what oricjin to
assign it, the impression produced was precisely that
of the sound made by a large Bee, entangled in some
particular place and unable to extricate itself ; and I
remember spending some minutes in trying to discover
the supposed insect. The eggs are usually four, placed
in a very slight and inartificial nest on the ground
near some tuft of rushes or other water-herbage.
They are of a greenish-olive hue, blotched and spotted
with two or three shades of brown, the deepest being
very dark. The old ones are said to be very jealous
and careful of their young. Many couples are often
killed on the moors in this district on or just after the
12th of August.— i^/^f. % plate IX,

JACK SNIPE. — {Gallinago gallimda ; formerly,
S CO I op ax gal tin tild) .

Judcock, Half Snipe — A little bird, very often seen
quite late in the spring, but no specimen of whose egg
undoubtedly laid in Britain lias, as far as I know, ever
yet been produced. It may breed here, in some few
instances, but none such are yet ascertained. No
notice of its eggs can consequently be inserted here.

RED-BREASTED Sl::^lPE—{illacrora7np/ms griseus).
" A very rare straggler."

BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER— (A /;;//V^/^

platyrhynca ; formerly, Tringa platyr/iynca).

Of very rare occurrence.

172 British Birds y

PECTORAL SANDPIPER— (T-r/^^^ macidaia;
formerly, T. pectoralis).

Not so rare as the last.

BONAPARTE'S SANDPIPER— ( 7V/^^^ fuscicollis ;
formerly, T. ScJdnzii).

Very rarely met with.

J)'\]'^\A^—{Tringa Alpina ; formerly, T. variabilis).
Dunlin Sandpiper, Purre, Churr, Stint, Oxbird, Sea
Snipe, Least Snipe, Sea Lark. — Perhaps the very
commonest and best known, as well as incomparably
the most abundant of all our small shore birds, and
yet the one about which heaps of scientific mistakes
have been made. The male has a conspicuous wedding-
dress, which he duly puts on in the spring, and once
it was on he was christened Tringa Alpina, the Dunlin.
Then in the autumn and winter, having divested him-
self alike of his summer dress and all property or
concern in wife and children, he was named anew
Tringa Cincliis, the Purre. On its being satisfactorily
ascertained that the only real difference between
Dunlin and Purre was that of a few feathers, and
those chiefly on the breast, and dependent simply on
season, the new name at the head of this notice was
suggested and willingly adopted as altogether a fit
one. The Dunlin, always called Oxbird where my
boyhood was spent, and often seen there in flocks of
not simply hundreds, but thousands, and many
thousands, in the autumn and winter, goes to the far
north to breed, though some of their hosts stay in the

Their Eggs and Nests. 173

north of Scotland, the Hebrides, Orkneys and other
islands near. Their nests are placed on the ground,
among long grass and ling, and alwa^^s contain four
eggs. Mr. Hewitson says : — " In beauty of colouring
and elegance of form the eggs of the Dunlin are un-
rivalled. The ground-colour is sometimes of a clear
light green, richly spotted with light brown ; some-
times the ground-colour is of a bluish-white." The
hen will suffer herself to be removed from her nest by
the hand rather than leave her eggs. — Fig. 3, plate IX,

LITTLE ^Tmi;:—{Tringa mimita\

Not to be described altogether as a rare little bird,
for it seems to be met with sometimes in autumn on
the southern and eastern coasts in some numbers, and
even in flocks of twenty or thirty together. They are
often seen in company with the Dunlin or other small
shore-birds. Much more is known about their breed-
ing places or habits than used to be the case. It breeds
in Siberia, and other northern localities.

AMERICAN ^TmT—{Tringa minutella).
Twice met with in England.

TEMMINCK'S ^Tl^T—{Tringa TemmincHi).

Less even than the Little Stint, and much more rare ;
besides which it frequents fresh waters rather than the
sea-shore. No very great number of them, however,
has been met with in England.

174 British Birds ^

CURLEW SANDPIPER— (T^^^Vz^^ subarquata).

This little bird was till lately considered to be a
very rare and occasional visitor. But it is very likely
to have been confused with the Dunlin, or other small
shore-birds, and is now supposed even to breed
occasionally in our country. During autumn it
is sometimes seen in small groups or flocks.
" M. Temminck says this bird breeds occasionally in
Holland, and that the eggs are yellowish-white, spotted
with dark brown."

PURPLE ^K^T>VI?l^'R—{Tri?iga striata ;
formerly, T. maritima).

Selninger Sandpiper, Black Sandpiper. — Not a
very numerous species, but by no means infrequent on
the British coasts. Very few, however, are seen except
in winter and early spring, the far greater part resort-
ing to some place far in the north to nest. Still it
seems almost certain that a few breed with us in North
England and Scotland It lays four eggs of "a
yellowish-grey colour, varied with small irregular spots
of pale brown, thick at the obtuse end, rarer at the
other."

K^0T—{Tri7iga Canuius).

Camden says this bird derived its name from the
Danish King Knut or Cnut (generally written Canute,
but not properly pronounced so), probably because he
was very fond of eating them. A very poor piece of
etymology I should almost think. It is not uncom-
monly met with in autumn on several parts of our

Their Eggs and Nests. 175

coasts, and as far as I have seen is b}' no means diffi-
cult to approach. But its breeding-place is very much
more to the north than any portion of the British
Islands extends. The male in his nuptial dress is a
very much gayer gentleman than after his annual
honeymoon is over.

SANDERLING— (r^/Z-^r/j areitarid).

Common Sanderling, Sanderling Plover. — A by no
means unusual visitant to most parts of our coasts,
and sometimes met with also at the edge of large
pieces of fresh water, but never known hitherto to
have bred with us. It is found associating most com-
monly, though in small parties for the most part, with
the Dunlin, and other similar shore-haunting birds.

RUFF— ( Machetes pugnax).

Female, Reeve. — Time was, and not nearly a century
ago either, when one fenman could take six dozen of
these birds in a single day. Now, I fear, he would
scarcely get that number in several years. The Ruff
is, however, still known to breed annually in some
parts of Lincolnshire and Norfolk. The variety of
plumage, no less than the very remarkable ruff or
feathery appendage about the neck of the male in
the breeding season, is quite sufficient to make this a
very conspicuous bird among our truly native birds.
Scarcely any two males in an assemblage of some
dozens can, in some cases, be picked out as possessing
exactly the same plumage. The breeding habits, or
some of them, observed in this bird are also very

176 British Birds ^

characteristic. His Latin name, as given above, simply
means " pugnacious warrior," and verily he is as
thorough a lover of battle as any knight-errant of the
Middle Ages, or fierce Northern sea-rover of four or
five centuries earlier. They do not pair, and therefore
fight for the possession of the females, and they used
to have spots, known to the fenmen by the name of
Hills, which were as much the scenes of universal
challenge and battle as ever the stated " lists " of the
old days of tournament or playing at battle. This
habit of theirs facilitated the process of capture very
materially, and by means of a peculiar kind of net,
duly arranged before the day began to dawn, the
fowler was enabled to capture all, or almost all, who
had been attracted by their peculiar instincts to the
vicinity of any given " hill." The Keeves lay each her
four eggs, which vary in colour from olive-green to a
yellowish stone-colour, and are spotted and blotched
with " liver-colour " and rich brown.

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER— ( rrj/;^^//^.?
rufesce?is ; formerly, Tringa rufescens).

It has occurred perhaps some half-dozen times.

BARTRAM'S SANDPIPER— (^^r/;-^^/^ longi-
Cauda; formerly, Totanus Bartramia).

A rare straggler to our coasts.

COMMON SANDPIPER— (rd?/^;/2/^ hypoleuca).

Summer Snipe, Willy Wicket, Sand Lark. — A
pretty little bird enough, and seeming to be pretty

Their Eggs and Nests. 177

extensively diffused, tliouG;h not a numerous species
anywhere. It is commonly seen rannin<^ briskly
along by the water edge of streams or lakes, or per-
haps flitting along as disturbed by your sudden
invasion of its haunt. Unlike the Dipper, which may
constantly be seen sitting quite still near the edge of
the stream, the Summer Snipe is always in motion.
It makes a very rude nest of dry grass in some hole
in a bank not far from water, where the shelter and
concealment of sufficient herbage is available, and
lays in it four eggs, which vary often in colour and
spots, but are usually of a yellowish-white, with
blotches and spots of deep brown or ordinary brown.
The eggs are sometimes laid on the bare ground
among shingle or collections of small pebbles. — Fig. 5,
plate ^VIIL

SPOTTED SANDPIPER— (r^/^??;/^ viaadarius).

A visitor, but one of the rarest and most casual of
all our feathered visitors.

GREEN SANDPIPER— (r^/^7/7/j- ochrop^is).

It is supposed that a few of these birds may remain
with us to breed ; but far the greater part of those
which are customarily seen about the sides of our
smaller streams and ditches and canals, are known to
return far to the north to produce their eggs and
young. I believe no authenticated instances of its
nesting with us are known, but a few very young
birds have been met with under circumstances which
seemed to leave uo doubt that they must have been

M

1/8 British Birds,

hatched in the neighbourhood. The nest is said to
be placed " on a bank, or among grass, on the side of
a stream," and the eggs, four in number, to be of a
greenish ground-colour, spotted with different shades
of brown, light and dark, and with gray.

WOOD SANDPIPER— (r^/^;?2/j- glarcold).

This Sandpiper resembles the last in some degree,
and the two have been sometimes looked upon as
varieties of the same species. It is not by any means
a frequently occurring visitor, though it seems to be
admitted that it is more than probable it sometimes
breeds in this country. Mr. Hoy's account of its
habits and nesting peculiarities, as observed by him-
self in Dutch Brabant, is quoted at length by both
Mr. Yarrell and Mr. Hewitson. He says, " The nest
is generally placed at a short distance from the water,
among stunted heath, or scrubby plants of the Bog-
Myrtle, or among coarse grass and rushes. It is
placed in a hollow, and formed of dry grass and other
plants. The eggs are four in number. They are
pointed in shape, of a pale greenish white, spotted
and speckled, particularly over the broad end, with
dark reddish brown."

COMMON REDSHANK— (r^/^w?/.? calidris).
Redshank Sandpiper, Teuke, Pool Snipe, Sand
Cock, Red-legged Horseman, Red-legged Sandpiper.

One of the most familiar of all our birds to me in

my youth. Many long days have I spent amid their
haunts on the Essex Saltings. Their nests are very

TJicir Eggs and Nests, 179

slii:^htly constructed of a few bits of grass amidst a
tuft of herbage, or in a small hole or cavity which is
sheltered by some of the taller-growing marine plants.
The eggs are usually four in number, occasionally but
two or three, of a cream-colour (sometimes dashed
with a somewhat warmer hue) spotted and speckled
with dark brown. The spots are less and more
numerous than in the case of the Peewit's e^cs:. In
the case of the last nest I found, now many years
since, the old bird suffered me to walk within
a yard of her before taking flight. When the young-
are newly hatched the parent birds betray excessive
jealousy and anxiety at the approach of either man
or dog to their resort. They have sometimes come
and settled on the ground within two or three paces
of me, and, at others, flown so directly towards me, as
to suggest the possible intention of attacking me,
piping most plaintively and incessantly the while.
This conduct is designated by the term " mobbing,"
on the Essex marshes. — Fig. ^^ plate VIII.

SPOTTED REDSHANK— Cr^/^«7^j: fusais).
Spotted Snipe, Dusky Sandpiper, Black-headed
Snipe. — A bird' which varies much in plumage
according to season, being almost black in the
summer — but only an occasional visitor, and scarcely
anything known certainly of its ne.st or breeding
habits.

YELLOW-SHANKED SANDPIPER— ( Toianus
flavipes).

Exceedingly rare.

I So British Birds.

GREENSHANK— ( Totayius glottis).

Cinereous Godwit, Green-legged Horseman. — I used
to meet with it occasionally in the early autumn on
the Essex Saltings, and remember thinking I had got
a prize the first time I shot one, and noticed its
slightly upturned bill. It is only rare as a species,
and not known positively to breed anywhere much
south of the Hebrides. The nest is said to be like
that of the Golden Plover or Lapwing, consisting
only of a few blades of grass or sprigs of ling, placed
in a hollow in the soil. The eggs — like so very many
of those characterised by the pyriform shape peculiar
to the Grallatores — are placed with their pointed ends
together in the middle, and are of a pale yellowish-
green colour, spotted all over irregularly with dark
brown with intermingled blotches of light purplish-
grey ; the spots and blotches being more numerous at
the larger end.

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT— (Z/w^5^ cEgocephala ;
formerly, L, nielanurd).

Red-Godwit Snipe, Jadreka Snipe, Red Godwit,
Yarwhelp, Yarwhip, Shrieker. — Another of those
birds which two or three generations back were ex-
ceedingly more abundant than now ; proportionately
esteemed, too, as an article of delicate fare in the days
of its frequency, now little heard of, or perhaps
thought of. But our forefathers thought many
things of the eatable sort good, which their descend-
ants of 1896 had rather not sit down to. I rather
think my young readers might not eat Porpoise or

Their Eggs ajid Ncsis. i8i

Heron cither, with any great relish, not to speak of
other matters about equally, or more questionably,
" good eating." Both this species of Godwit and the
one to be mentioned next are subject, like the Golden
Plover, the Gray Plover, the Spotted Redshank, and
many others yet to be named, to very great and strik-
ing changes of plumage in the breeding season. At
all times tbey are handsome birds. The Black-
tailed Godwit is hardly believed to breed still in
England. The nest is found in marshy places, made
of dry grass and the like, and more or less concealed
by the coarse growths peculiar to such places. The
eggs vary in both size and colours, but are usually of
a greenish olive- brown, marbled and blotched with
darker brown ; and, as usual in this class of birds, are
generally four in number.

BAR-TAi±^ii:D GODWIT— (Z/;;^^^^ Lapponica ;
formerly, L. riifa).

Common Godwit, Grey Godwit, Red Godwit, God-
wit Snipe, Red-breasted Snipe. — Of much the same
habits as the last, and not remaining in this country
to breed, and consequently occurring much more
frequently in winter than in spring: not at all in
summer. As not nesting with us, no space can be
conceded here for a notice of its eggs and nest.

CURLEW— (yy/zw^-wzV/j arquata).

Whaup. — As common a bird as almost any along
the whole of the British coasts. Sometimes singly
and sometimes in groups of eight or ten, it may be

1 82 British Birds,

seen along the line of oozy shores or the sandy flats
which are laid bare by the recedinj^ tide. When the
water is sufficiently high to cover all its feeding
grounds, it betakes itself to some higher ground in
the vicinity, to rest during those hours of inactivity
in food-search. When removing from one place, or
one part of the coast to another, it usually flies in long
lines, which, however, scarcely maintain the same
degree of accuracy as in the case of W^ild Geese or
other line-flying wild fowl. On the arrival of spring
the Curlews leave the coast and retire to their breeding
haunts in the hills of the extreme north of England,
the highest moorlands of Scotland, and other similar
places in more northerly latitudes yet. It is very
abundant on the North Yorkshire moors. Near
Aysgarth and Bolton I have often seen from ten to
twenty flying and settling quite near an intruder on
their breeding haunts. Its note once heard is suffi-
ciently noticeable to be easily recognised on any
future occasion. It makes a very careless or rude
nest, and lays four eggs, which vary a good deal in the
depth of the ground-colour and the amount of their
spots. It is pale greenish dun, varying to olive-
green, and spotted with darker shades of green and
dark brown. — Fig. 3, plate VI I L

\^WiM'B'KFli—{Numenzusphceopus).

Whimbrel Curlew, Curlew Jack, Curlew Knot, Half
Curlew, Jack Curlew, Stone Curlew, Tang Whaap. —
No wonder it has the name of Half Curlew, for it
does most strongly resemble a diminutive Curlew in
its plumage, shape, fashion of bill, haunts, and many

Their Eggs and Ncsis. 1 83

of its habits. It is seen, in no great nnmhers, on
many of our coasts in winter ; but I have met with it
in former years on the Essex Saltings only in the early
spring and previous to its retirement to the north to
breed. It is difficult to assert positively that it fre-
quents any part of the main British Island for that
purpose ; but it is known to nest in both Orkney and
Shetland. The nest is said by Dr. Fleming to be
placed in exposed parts of a moor. The eggs are four
in number, and, though very much less in size, still
very much like the darker varieties of the Curlew's
eggs. The Whimbrel is probably a fast decreasing
species.

ESQ'^IMAUX CURLEW— (A^«;;/£';?z?/j' horcalis).
" A rare straggler in the British Islands." (" Ibis "
List.)

ORDER.— GAA^IiE.

FAMILY— LARID^.

BLACK T^VC^—{Hydrochclidon nigra ; formerly,
Sterna nigra).

Blue Darr. — These birds show considerable varieties
in plumage, according to sex and ago. They used to
be very much more numerous than they now are,
many of their favourite haunts having been drained
or otherwise broken up. Still it is not uncommon,
even yet, in some parts of the fenny districts — al-
though other Terns build in the close vicinity of the

184 British Birds,

sea, and in dry sites. The Black Tern, however,
selects marshy places and often builds in very wet
spots, making a nest of flags and grass. The eggs are
sometimes four in number, this being the only Tern
which lays more than three. They vary much in
colour and markings, some being of a palish green,
others of a brownish yellow, or dull buff, but all
spotted and blotched with deep brown. — Fig. 6,
plate XL

WHITE-WINGED BLACK '^Y.^l^—^Hydrochelidon
leucoptera ; formerly, Sterna leucopterd),
"A rare straggler."

WHISKERED 'Y^^'^—{Hydrochelidon hyhrida ;

formerly, Sterna leucopareid).
Like the last.

GULL-BILLED HW^^— {Sterna Anglica).

Of more frequent occurrence than either of the
two last; and especially in Norfolk.

CASPIAN T^-K^— {Sterna Caspia).

It may be remarked in connection with the birds
we are now among, that the Grebes, Divers, Cormor-
ants are all gifted with wonderful powers of diving ;
the Gulls and Terns are incapable of diving an inch.
The latter, buoyant and sitting as lightly on the water
as a cork ; the former deep-sunken in the water, and
seeming to require almost an effort to support them-
selves on the surface at alL The contrast is certainly

Their Eggs and Nests. 185

sufficiently striking, without taking into account that
the one group has immense power of flight, and
exercises it; and the others seem to have little in-
clination to use their wings at all more than is
absolutely necessary. The handsome and large Tern
specially under notice does not breed in this country^
but is known to inhabit the coast of some parts of the
European continent, at no great distance from our own
shores.

SANDWICH TERN— (5/^r«^ Canliaca).

This bird has been noticed as breeding in several
different localities on our southern coasts, and it is
known to frequent both Coquet Island and one or
more of the Fame Islands for the same purpose ; as
also several parts of Scotland. It lays three or four
eggs in a hole, or rather cavity, either scratched or
found ready-made in the neighbourhood of plants or
herbage sufficient to afford some covert. The colour
of the eggs varies from yellowish white to a buffy
stone-colour, and they are thickly spotted with neutral
tint, chestnut, and deep rich brown. There is, indeed,
considerable variation in the colourinor of the ecrizs,
but all are very beautiful. — Figs. 1, 1, plate XL

ROSEATE TERN— (5/^r«« Dougallii).

This bird is known to be a regular but not
abundant summer visitor. Unlike many of our re-
cognised British Birds, it seems rather to increase in
numbers than to diminish. They associate with
other and infinitely more common species, and closer

1 86 British Birds ^

observation only has distinguished between them and
their eggs and those of their more numerous associ-
ates. The 62:2:3 of the Roseate Tern are two or three
in number, and vary among themselves to some small
extent. They are usually of a light yellowish stone-
colour, spotted and speckled with dark-grey and dark-
brown.

COMMON Tm.'^~{Sterna fluviaiilis ; formerly,
5. Jdrundo).

Sea Swallow, Tarney or Pictarney, Tarrock, Pirr,
Gull-teazer, etc. — Although distinguished by the
epithet of Common, this Tern is really not much
more numerous, and in that sense common, than one
or two other species with which it customarily con-
sorts. It is very generally diffused, however, and in
that sense is common. It usually builds on the ground
in marshy localities near large sheets of water, or on
islands low and flat not far from the sea. Sometimes,
though more rarely, it builds upon low rocks or
slightly elevated sand-banks. They lay two or three
eggs, and are exceedingly and noisily restless and un-
easy when they, or especially their young, are too
nearly approached. Their eggs vary a good deal, but
most of them are of a medium stone-colour, blotched
and spotted with ash-grey and dark red-brown. The
buoyancy and power of flight exhibited by these
birds is very observable. — Fig. Z, plate XI.

ARCTIC TERN— (5/rr;2^ macrura ; formerly,
S. arcticd).

This Tern, until a comparatively recent period, was

Their Eggs and Nests, 187

confounded with the Common Tern, but a clear specific
difference was pointed out by M. Temminck, and it is
now acknowledpred that, in many of the more
northerly localities especially, it is a much more
numerous species than the Common Tern. It breeds
plentifully in Shetland, Orkney, and some parts of the
Hebrides, and in great numbers on Coquet Island and
one or more of the Fames. It lays two or three eggs,
which are exceedingly like those of the Common Tern,
and vary in the same proportion. Some have a
greenish shade, and others rather a pronounced buff,
spotted and blotched as in the case of those of the
last-named species. — Fig. 4, plate XL

LESSER TW.'^— {Sterna ininuta).

Lesser Sea Swallow, Little Tern. — A pretty — almost
a delicate — little bird, and not infrequent on such
parts of our coasts as are adapted to its habits. It
seems to prefer sand or shingle-banks or surfaces, and
lays its two or three eggs in any small cavity which
4t may be lucky enough to find in the selected place.
It is perfectly surprising in many cases how closely
the eggs laid resemble the stones and gravel among
which they are laid. They are palish stone-colour,
speckled and spotted with ash-grey and dark brown.
—Fig. ^, plate XL

SOOTY TY.Vx^— {Sterna fuliginosa).
It has been met with two or three times.

1 88 British Birds,

NODDY TERN — {^Anous stolidus ; formerly, Sterna
stolidd).

A bird of only rare and casual occurrence.

SABINE'S GULL — {Zenia Sabinii ; formerly, Larus
Sabini).

This, the first of the Gulls which falls under our
notice, is only a rare visitor.

CUNEATE-TAILED GJJ'LL—{Rhodostethia rosed).
A very rare bird.

BONAPARTEAN QTJIA.— {Larus Philadelphia).
Like the last.

LITTLE GULL— (Z^^«j minutus).

Not only the least English Gull, but the least of all
the Gulls, and a very pretty-looking little bird. It is,
however, only a visitor, though known, of late years,
as putting in a more frequent appearance than had
been before noticed. f

BLACK-HEADED GULL— (Z«r^/j ridibundus).

Brown-headed Gull, Red-legged Gull, Laughing
Gull, Pewit Gull, Black-cap, Sea Crow, Hooded Mew.
— This is a very numerous, and, at least at some
periods of the year, a very generally diffused species.
At the breeding time, although a few pairs may be
met with in an infinite number of localities, the great
bulk of the species seems to collect at a few chosen
places. One such place, in which they used to breed

Their Eggs and Nests. 189

in thousands, is on Scoulton Mere, in Norfolk ; an-
other at Pallinsburn, in Northumberland ; and a third,
in Lincolnshire, not far from Brigg. They have,
within the last few years, bred in some* numbers at
Lockerdam, near Bolton Castle, in Wensieydale. The
nests are made of sedges, grass, and the flowering
part of the reed, and are not very deeply cup-shaped.
The bird lays three eggs, and there is a very great
degree of variation between them in respect of colour
and markings ; the ground colour being sometimes of
a light blue or yellow, and sometimes green, or red, or
brown. Some, too, are thickly covered with spots,
and others scarcely marked with a single speckle or
spot. In more than one of their great breeding-places
the right of gathering the eggs was rented, and some-
times upwards of a thousand eggs collected in a single
day. When the first laying of eggs is taken, a second
batch, and even a third, is produced ; but in each
successive instance, the eggs become less. They are
used as the Pewit's eggs are, and al.^o for culinary
purposes. — Fig. ^, plate XL

THE GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL— (Z^r/^^

ichthycutus).

One or two specimens only.

COMMON GVh-L—{Lartis canus).

Winter Mew, Sea Mew, Sea Mall or Maw, Sea Gull,
Sea Cob, Cob. — This Gull is, on the whole, sufficiently
general and well known on all parts of our coast to
merit the ])refix of Common, which is usually applied
to it For though it is essentially a sea-bird, yet

190 British Birds,

during some weeks in the spring, it may frequently be
seen in the new-ploughed or sowed fields at some
miles' distance from the salt water. Its nest may
sometimes be found on marshes or low flat islands,
such as are not rare in some of our southern estuaries,
while in other districts it breeds on high rocks. In
either case, the nest is a structure of considerable size,
formed of sea-weed and grass, and the female deposits
two or three eggs in it, which are a good deal varied
in appearance : " Some," says Mr. Hewitson, " with a
ground colour of light blue, or straw colour, others
green or brown ; some a good deal like eggs of the
Oyster-catcher, others covered all over with minute
spots." Some, moreover, are sufficiently well blotched
and spotted with ash colour and dark brown ; others
well streaked with the brown, but with only a few
spots of the grey colour. — Fig, 2, plate XI L

HERRING GULL— (Z«;'z/i- argentatus).

A very numerous species in many different parts of
the kingdom, where rocky coasts sufficiently high and
precipitous are met with. I have seen it abundantly
at Flamborough Head and St. Abb's Head, and in
smaller numbers on many parts of the Yorkshire
coast north of Flamborough, as well as in others
not distant from St. Abb's. Here we see it on the
ploughed lands very abundantly in early spring. The
earliest date for their appearance this year (1 896) was
February 21st. I heard them also on February 26th ;
and I have heard them again as late as three days ago,
or May 26th. It usually selects for the site of its nest a
flat ledge or other rock-surface towards the upper part

Their Eggs mid Nests. 191

of the cliff, but will sometimes build on a low rock or
grassy island. The nest is like that of the last species,
but even larger, and usually contains three eggs.
These so strongly resemble those of the Lesser Black-
back as to make it very difficult to distinguish be-
tween the one and the other. Mr. Hewitson says the
only means of distinction available even to an ex-
perienced eye seems to depend on the somewhat greater
size of the Herring Gull's ^^^%, and the larger and
more confluent character of the blotches of surface
colour. — Fig. 4, plate XIL

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL— (Z^r/^^ fusciis).

Yellow-legged Gull. — This Gull is seen in sufficient
numbers, and all the year round, on many parts of
the British coasts, and in the south as well as the
north. It almost exclusively prefers localities to breed
in which are characterised by the presence of rocky
cliffs, but yet makes a nest of some considerable
thickness — even when placed on the grassy summit
of some rocky island — " of grass loosely bundled to-
gether in large pieces, and placed in some slight
depression or hollow of the rock." Its nests are
intermingled, in several places, with those of the
Herring Gull ; in many places greatly exceeding those
of the latter, in others as greatly inferior, in number.
Tlie eggs (two or three in number) vary greatly in
colouring, — from a warm stone-colour, through shades
of brown, to })ale green or light olive-green. The
spots and blotches vary too, and vary greatly, in
number, size, position, and intensity ; neutral-tint,
chestnut brown, and dark brown being all met with,

192 British Birds,

and sometimes in the same specimen, — Fig. Z^ plate
XII,

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GJJLL—(Larus
7nari?22is).

Black-back, Cob, Great Black-and-white Gull — By
no means a numerous species, and not affecting society
as so many of the other Gulls do. It breeds, in some
cases, on the Marsh or Salting-spaces met with so
abundantly on some of the southern and eastern
shores ; but more commonly on rocky parts of the
coast. Thus, it breeds very abundantly on the Orkney
and Shetland Islands. The nest is made of a large
quantity of dry grass simply thrown together. The
eggs are three in number, often bearing a great
resemblance to those of the two species last named,
but usually distinguishable by the larger masses of
surface colouring, and by some superiority in size.
The Black-back's eggs are much esteemed as articles
of food, or for cooking purposes generally. The yolk
is very deep and rich-coloured, and the white colour-
less or transparent. Each female will lay three sets
of eggs ; the first two sets being, in some cases,
customarily taken, and the last left for her to hatch.

GLAUCOUS GJJLL— {Lams o-iaucus).

Large White-winged Gull, Burgomaster. — A Gull
equally large with the last (one of which, shot by
myself, exceeded six feet from the tip of one wing to
that of the other); but one of merely casual occurrence
as a British bird.

TJicir Ei^gs and Nests, 193

ICELAND GULL — {Larus leucoptertis ; formerly, L,
Is/andicics).

Lesser White-winged Gull. — A bird which has been
obtained in this country from time to time, but in
cases of no great frequency.

KITTIWAKE— (i?/>i-^ tridactyla ; formerly, Larus
iridactylus).

Tarrock, Anne t. — A very common rock-breeding Gull,
met with on almost all parts of our coasts, and nesting
in great numbers in many different localities. Flam-
borough Head, St. Abb's Head, the Bass, more than
one of the Fame Islands, are such places. It places
its nest of sea-weed high up on the face of some rocky
steep on a narrow ledge, and deposits therein, for the
most part, three eggs. These differ much in colour
and in the amount and position of the spots ; some
are stone-coloured, some tinged with an olive shade,
and some with a bluish cast. The spots and blotches
are of ash-grey and two or three shades of brown,
chestnut to umber. — Fig. \, plate XI I.

IVORY Q\^\Aj—{Pagophela eburnea ; formerly

Lanis eburneus),
Snow-bira. — A bird of very raiO occurrence.

GREAT OR COMMON '^YJ5L—{Stcrcorarins catar-
rhactcs ; formerly, Lestris catarrhactes).

Skua Gull, Brown Gull, Bonxie. — Wo pass here
into a somewhat different class of birds. The Skua is
as bold and insolent as most of the Gulls arc timid
and retiring. In many instances these birds do not

194 British Birds,

take the trouble to fish for themselves, but, watching
the fishing operations of the Gull, seize their oppor-
tunity of assailing a successful fisher, and compel him
to disgorge his prey. The Common Skua has only a
very limited breeding-range in Britain, not being
known to nest out of Shetland, and to have but three
places for nidification there. So resolute and daring
are they when they have young to defend, they do
not scruple to attack the eagle, and a pair have been
known to beat the strong, proud marauder effectually
off. The Skua makes a large nest of moor-growing
moss, and takes some pains in its construction. It is
placed among the heath and moss of a hilly island.
The eggs are two in number, and vary much in
colour; according to locality, it would almost seem.
Some are dusky olive-brown, others with a much
greener hue, and they are blotched with darker
brown, and a few spots of rust colour.

POMAKINE SKUA — {Stercorarius pomatorhinus ;
formerly, Lestris pomarinus).

Merely a casual visitor, although more frequently
noticed of late years than before ornithology became
so favourite a study.

RICHARDSON'S OR ARCTIC SKUA— (6"^^;-^^^-
arius crepidaius ; formerly, Lestris Richardsonii).

Arctic Gull, Black-toed Gull. — This species is the
most numerous of all those who visit this country. It
breeds in the Hebrides, in the Orkneys and in Shet-
land, and numerously enougli in the two localities last
named. The female has been observed to make use

TJicir Ei!;gs and Nests. 195

of the same artifices as the Partridge and the Grouse
to decoy an intrusive dog or man away from its nest
or young. The nest is built of moss or ling, on some
elevated knoll amid marshy ground, or on the moor,
and contains two eggs. These are of a greenish olive-
brown colour, spotted with dark brown. This Skua
not only restlessly and pitilessly persecutes the Kitti-
wake and other Gulls in order to obtain its own food
from them at second-hand, but also makes free with
their eggs for the same purpose in a very marauder-
like fashion. — Fig. 5, plate XI I.

LONG-TAILED OR BUFFON'S SKUA— (S/^r^^r-
arms parasiticus ; formerly, Lestris Buffonii).
Mr. Yarrell distinguishes between this bird and the
true L. parasiticus, and consequently adopts the
scientific name I have now given. This Skua can
only be considered a rare and accidental visitor.

ORDER.— TUBINARES.
FAMILY.— PROCELLARIID^.

FULMAR PETREL— (/^///7;^^r/^j glacialis ; formerly,
Procellaria glacialis).

Fulmar, Northern Fulmar. — The Fulmar breeds in
incredible numbers at St. Kilda, but is rarely met
with, even in winter, about the southern coasts of
England. Both old birds and tlieir young on being
touched eject a considerable quantity of clear oil,
which, however, is by no means of an agreeable

ig6 British Birds ^

odour ; and probably from this cause the nest, youn^
birds, and even the rock on which they are placed,
stink almost intolerably. The nest is very slight, if
any, and the bird lays her single white ^^g in little ex-
cavations, and lightly lined, on such shelves on the face
of high precipitous rocks as are surfaced with a little
grass or sward. The ^^g varies in length from a
little over 1\ inches to 8 inches.

CAPPED VYIYV.YAj—{CEstrelata hcEsitata),
Of almost unique occurrence.

GREAT SHEARWATER— (P2#;^//^ major).

Cinereous Shearwater, Dusky Shearwater. — A bird
which has not been very frequently recorded as met
with on the British seas, but still one of occasional
occurrence.

SOOTY SHEARWATER— (/'^/^/z^/j griseus).

MANX SHEARWATER— (P^^^^^j: Anglorum),

Shearwater Petrel, Manx Puffin. — This is a regular
seafaring little bird, and perhaps would hardly ever
care to come to land if it were not for the need of
something solid for its eggs to repose upon. It usually
frequents islands well-washed by the sea and not
much frequented by men. It used to be very abund-
ant on the Calf of Man, but is never seen there now.
In one of the Scilly Islands it breeds in some
numbers still, and on St. Kilda, the Western Isles,
Orkney and Shetland. The nest is made deep down

TJicir Eggs and A^csts. igy

in a hole in some wild and half inaccessible part of
the islands frequented, and in it one egg of exceed-
ing whiteness is laid, and remarkable for the fine
texture of the shell and the musky scent of the entire
Qgg. It is about 2^ inches long by If broad.

DUSKY SHEARWATER— (/^?/^;^/^^ obscums).
A rare straggler.

BULWER'S PETREL-(5///et/6^n^ columbina ;

formerly, TJialassidroma Bidwerii).
A Petrel of sufficiently rare occurrence.

FORK-TAILED PETREL— (0^;;/^r/^^r^^ lencorrhoa ;
formerly, Thalassidro7Ha Leachii).

Breeds at St. Kilda, and an occasional straggler on
the British coasts.

STORM PETREL— (Pr^r^//^r/^ pelagica ; formerly,
TJialassidroma procellaria).

Mother Carey's Chicken. — This is said to be the
smallest web-footed bird known. It never comes to
the shore except at the breeding-season, and only
seeks comparative shelter under the pressure of very
heavy weather. It breeds in the Scilly Islands, some
of the islands on the Irish coast, and abundantly on
St. Kilda, the Orkneys and Shetland. They breed in
holes in a cliff, or under large-sized stones, which,
from their great size and accumulation of boulders
and large shingle about them, afford many deep
recesses well suited to the wants of the nesting

198 British Birds,

Petrel. Like tlie Manx Shearwater, tlicy are by no
means silent in their nest-holes, but make themselves
distinctly audible to the j^assenger above. They lay
one white Q,gg, a little exceeding 1 inch long, by |
broad.

FAMILY IL— OCEANITIDyE.

WILSON'S VYH'^'KL—^Oceanites Oceanicus ;

formerly, Thalassidroma Wilsonii),
Equally rare with the bird last-named.

ORDER.— PYGOPODES.

FAMILY L— ALCID^.
RAZOR-BILL— (y^/^^ tordd).

Razor-bill Auk, Black-billed Auk, Murre, Marrot. —
It may almost be said that wherever the Guillemot is
met with the Razor-bill is sure not to be far distant.
They have their habits, their food, their haunts, even
to a great degree their general appearance, in common.
There is, however a great difference both in the shape
and size and also in the colouring of the single ^gg
laid by the Razor-bill, from that of the Willock. It
is less in proportion, less elongated, wants the infinite
diversity of colouring which characterises the ^gg of
the latter, the ground-colour being always whitish or
white tinged with some light buffy shade, and the
spots and blotches, which are sufficiently abundant,
are some of a reddish or chestnut brown, others of a
very deep rich brown. — Fig. ^, plate X,

TJicir Eggs and Nests. 199

GREAT KV\^—{Alca impennis).

Gair-Fowl. — Not merely an exceedingly rare British
bird, but extinct as a British species. While yet in ex-
istence it was said scarcely ever to leave the water, and
it laid its one large Q^g almost close to high-water
mark. These eggs are white in ground, or sometimes
soiled or slightly yellowish white, blotched and
streaked, most at the larger end, with black. They
somewhat resemble the Guillemot's Q^^g in shape, but
are rather less elongated. The value of these eggs is
almost fabulous, sixty guineas ^ having been given foi-
a couple of them. I had to thank the late Mr.
Champley, C.E., of Scarborough, for most kindly send-
ing me an engraving of a Great Auk's egg in his
possession, as well as for offering me access to his ad-
mirable collection of eggs, numbering upwards of
8,000 specimens.

COMMON GUILLEMOT— (6^;/^ troile).

Foolish Guillemot, Willock, Tinkershere, Tarrock,
Scout, Sea Hen, LIurre, Lavy. — It is remarkable in
several particulars connected with its breeding peculi-
arities. It makes no nest, and lays but one Qgg, but
that an egg of huge dimensions as contrasted with the
size of the bird itself ; besides which, it is almost
impossible, out of a collection of many scores, to pick
out half a dozen that are j^recisely alike, either in
ground-colour or general markings. The eggs are
laid on the ledges of rocky precipices overhanging the
sea, on various parts of the British coasts. I have

^ Morria'a *' Dritish Ijirda.''

200 British Birds,

frequently seen the Willocks under the impulse of a
sudden alarm — for instance the firing of a gun in the
close vicinity of their egg-bestrown ledges — fly off in
very large numbers and with every symptom of pre-
cipitation. But no e^g is ever dislodged ; a circum-
stance which some have sought to account for on the
supposition that they must be cemented to the rock !
The explanation really is, it would seem, that the
shape of the Qgg is such that, instead of rolling oflP in
any direction, as a ball would do on being sufficiently
moved, they simply turn round and round within the
length of their own axis. It would serve but little
purpose to attempt a description of the Guillemot's
egg. They are of all shades, from nearly or quite
white to a dark green, some profusely spotted and
blotched and streaked with dark colours, others very
slightly so or scarcely at all. Unfortunately the egg
is so large that but two illustrations can be given in
the limited space available to us. — Figs. 1, 2, plate X.

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT— (^r/^ Brunnichii).

Thick-billed Guillemot. — Easily distinguished by
an experienced eye from the last, but a bird of which,
perhaps, it can scarcely be said that it has been
actually ascertained to breed anywhere within the
limits of the British Isles. The eggs are described as
varying from those of the Common Guillemot in their
greater roundness ; they are less long in proportion to
their thickness than the others, but seem to run
through the same endless variations of ground-
colour.

Their Eggs and Nests. 201

RINGED GUILLEMOT— (6^r/^ lacrymans).

Bridled Guillemot. — There has heen .some doubt
whether this bird is to be considered a distinct species,
or merely a variety of the Common Guillemot. It is
now hardly admitted as a good species. It occurs in
company with the other Guillemot on various parts
of our coasts, and in Wales is said to be equally
numerous with it. The eprgs are scarcely distinguish-
able from those of the other two species already named,
and exhibit precisely similar characteristics.

BLACK GUILLEMOT— (^;7^^^0^//^).

Tyste, Scraber, Greenland Dove, Sea Turtle. —
Sensibly less in size than the Common Guillemot, and
not found commonly on our more southerly coasts.
Shetland, the Orkneys and Western Isles are all
frequented by them, and their quick and lively
motions are pleasant enough to witness. These birds
lay two eggs each instead of one, in holes or crevices
of precipitous rocks, and at some distance from the
aperture ; sometimes, where no such nest-sites are
available, on the bare ground, under or between frag-
ments of rock or large stones. They are most
commonly white, more or less tinged with blue,
speckled, spotted, and blotched or marbled with chest-
nut brown, very dark brown and a kind of neutral
imi.—Fig. Z, plate X,

LITTLE K^3\\.—{Merg7dus allc ; formerly, M,
vielanolcucos).

I have rarely seen any bird, much more a very

202 British BirdSy

small bird like this, whose whole air and deportment
conveyed to me more completely the idea of entire in-
dependence. Only under the pressure of severe storms
or long continued hard weather do they leave the
deep sea in order to seek the comparative shelter of
some land-sheltered bay or reach. It breeds on the
Faroe Isles and in Iceland, but not in Britain.

V\]¥¥I^~{Frateraila arcticd).

Sea Parrot, Coulterneb, Tammy Norie. — This is,
one may safely say, the quaintest-looking of all the
host of our English birds. The young Owl is gro-
tesque enough, but more by reason of its deliberate,
solemn-seeming, and yet laughable movements ; but
the Puffin, with its upright attitude and huge ribbed
and painted beak — reminding one somewhat strongly
of the highly-coloured pasteboard noses of preposterous
shape and dimensions which, at some seasons, decorate
the windows of the toy-shop — strikes us as more
laughably singular yet. They breed abundantly about
many of our rocky coasts in all parts of the kingdom,
depositing their one ^gg — a large one, again, in pro-
portion to the size of the bird — sometimes in crannies
or rifts in the surface of the cliff, often very far back ;
at other times in rabbit-burrows where such excava-
tions are to be met with sufficiently near the coast and
otherwise suitable to the wants of the bird. It does
not follow that because the Puffin occupies the hole,
that the rabbit had forsaken it or even given it up
*' for a consideration." On the contrary the Puffin is
quite ready and equally able to seize on and continue
to occupy the desired home by force of arms. In

Their Eggs and Ncsfs. 203

other cases they dig their own holes, and often exca-
vate them to the depth of two or three feet. The eggs
are nearly white before they become soiled — that is,
spotted and marbled with a tinge of ash colour.

FAMILY II.— COLYMBIDiE.

GREAT NORTHERN Vil^Y.^—{Colymhus glacialis).

Greatest Speckled Diver, Great Doucker, Immer,
Iinmer Diver. — This magnificent bird — I shot one, in
full plumage, several years since, which weighed nearly
thirteen pounds — is usually found at some distance
from the coast, except during that part of the year
which is devoted to the work of propagation. There
seems good reason to think some of them may breed
in some of the most northerly British Islands, but no
authentic history of its ever having been known to
do so, is, I believe, extant.

BLACK-THROATED DIVER— (r^/j;;//;;/^ arcticus),

Lumme, Northern Doucker, Speckled Loon. — The
rarest of the three Divers known in our seas. It is,
liowever, described as breeding in several of the lakes
of Sutherlandshire. It makes no nest, but lays its
two eg^'S on the bare ground, at no great distance
from the water-edge. These are in some instances of
a light shade of chocolate-brown, others having more
of an olive-brown tinge about them, and sparingly
spotted with black.

204 British Birds,

RED-THROATED J)lNY.-R—{Colv7nbus
septentrioiialis).

Rain Goose, Cobble, Sprat-borer, Spratoon, Speckled
Diver. — The commonest and the smallest of the Divers,
and varying greatly in its plumage, according to age
and season. It breeds on the Scottish mainland, in
Shetland, in the Hebrides, and until lately, in the
Orkneys. The eggs are said to be always deposited
very near the water's edge. They are two in number,
of a greenish-brown colour, spotted with very dark
brown, but, as Mr. Yarrell states, when the ^gg has
been long sat upon, the brown ground-colour is apt to
assume a chestnut, or dark reddish-brown tint.

FAMILY III.— PODICIPEDIDiE.

GREAT CRESTED Q:KW>Y.—{Podiceps cristatus).

Cargoose, Loon, Greater Loon, Tippet Grebe. — The
family of Grebes to be noticed now are to be looked
upon as principally, but not exclusively, frequenting
the fresh water. The bird now under notice remains
almost all the year on the large sheets of water which
it inhabits in Wales, Shropshire, Norfolk, and Lincoln-
shire. Like the rest of the Grebes, it is little able to
walk, and not much disposed to fly, but possessing
marvellous capacity and power of diving. Its nest is
made of a large heap of half rotten water weeds, but
little raised above the surface of the water, and always
soaked with wet. On this likely-seeming place for
duly addling every egg deposited, three, four, or five

TJieir Eggs and Nests. 205

eggs are laid, which are ahnost white when newly
dropped, but soon become so stained from constant
contact with wet and decaying vegetable substances
as to be any colour rather than white. They are
about 2^ inches long, by IJ broad. The eggs, in the
absence of the parent bird, are usually found covered
with portions of some water vegetable; and the owner,
on being disturbed on her nest, always dives away
from it. The first lessons of the young Loon in diving
are taken beneath the literal " shelter of their mother's

RED-NECKED (^'K^^Y.—iPodiceps rubricolHs).

Not 80 common as the Grebe last named, and more
frequently met with on salt water, though not usually
far from some estuary or inland arm of the sea. It
is not known to have bred in this country.

SCLAVONIAN GREBE— (P^^/V^/^ auriius ;
formerly, P. covfiuiiis).

Dusky Grebe, Horned Grebe. — Rather a rare bird
in the summer, and not common at any period of the
year ; nor has it ever been known to breed with us.

EARED G^'E'EE—iPodiceps nigricollis ; formerly,
P. auriius).

The rarest of all the Grebes. It occurs, however,
from time to time, and I knew of one instance in
Essex some sixty-live years ago in which one of these
birds was taken from a Water Rat's hole into which
it had been seen to creep for shelter.

2o6 British Birds,

LITTLE GVx'EEY:—{Podiccps fluviatilis ; formerly, P*
viinor).
Dabchick or Dobchick, Didapper, Small Ducker,
Black-cliin Grebe. — A very common and very inter-
esting little bird, and yet, in spite of its frequency
and familiarity, blessed with two scientific names,
originating (as in the case of the Dunlin) in differ
ences of plumage, depending on age or season. It is
difficult to say where it is not to be met with in
spring, provided only there be what the Americans
call a sufficient " water-privilege," neither too shallow
nor too rapid, for its requirements. As expert a diver
as any of those hitherto named, it seldom resorts to
the use of its wings, except just at the time when
birds' love-making goes on. Then the male (at least)
may be seen working his short wings most vigorously
and rapidly, uttering his rattling cry as he circles over
and about the mere on which he has " squatted " for
the season. The nest is a heap of water weeds only
just flush with the surface, and always steeping wet.
The eggs are four, five or six in number, perfectly
white when laid, but soon ceasinsf to be clean-lookinof,
for they grow more dingy day by day, until on some
waters they become completely mud-coloured, on
others, assume a hue which I can compare to nothing
but old blood stains on some dirty surface. I am
quite convinced that in some cases at least this dis-
colouration is intentional on the part of the parent
bird, though in others it may be simply due to the
action of the juices of fresh or decaying vegetable sub-
stances. I never yet, though I have seen some dozens
of nests, found the eggs left uncovered by the owner

TJieir Eggs a?id lYcs/s. 207

save only in one instance, in which only one eg^f had
been laid. The vveeds used as a covering were, more-
over, in the majority of instances, fresh, and evidently
procured by the Dabchick in virtue of her skill in
diving. The young birds swim and dive almost im-
mediately they are hatched, and are very persevering
little skulkers if disturbed on their breeding waters.

ORDER — STEGANOPODES.
FAMILY.— PELECANIDiE.

COMMON COmiOUA:NT—(P/ia/acrocorax carbo).
Crested Cormorant, Corvorant, Great Black Cor-
morant, Cole Goose, Skart. — Wherever there are any
traces of a rocky coast about our island, there the
Cormorant is pretty sure to be found, so that he may
very well be described as a common bird. Where the
rocky coast is not only extensive, but not liable to
much disturbance from human intrusion, these birds
abound, and may be seen in numbers and observed to
anyone's heart's content. They build their nests,
which are of ample size, with sticks, sea-weed and
coarse herbage of any obtainable sort, on ledges of the
precipices ; and many nests are usually formed in the
near neighbourhood of each other. They are much
disposed also to select as the situation for their nests a
rocky islet with cliffy sides, and woe to the nose of
anyone who approaches such an island rock from the
leeward side. What from the nature of their food
and thu abundance of their excrement, an intolerably

208 British Birds,

fetid odour always prevails about their breeding-place.
The eggs vary in number from four to six, and are
almost entirely covered over with a white chalky in*
crustation, which, however, admits of easy removal by
a knife or similar means, leaving a shell of a bluish-
green colour apparent.

SHAG — {Phalacrocorax cristatus).

Green Cormorant, Crested Cormorant, Crested Shag.
— A smaller bird than the last, but easily distinguish-
able by that and its prevailing green colour. As to
habits and haunts, the differences are not great. The
Shags are said to breed lower down on the rocks than
the Cormorant, and the nests are principally composed
of sea-weed and grasses. The eggs are three to five
in number, and covered with the same incrustation as
those of the Cormorant, and equally removable.
White at first, they soon become as soiled and stained
as those of the Grebes.

GANNET— (5^/^ Bassand).

Solan Goose. — Common enough in certain localities,
though the^ localities in which they occur vary with
the season. When the breeding time comes round,
they congregate in hosts of many thousands at some
half-dozen different stations, particularly affected by
them, on different parts of our coasts. During the
breeding season if, or where, unmolested, they become
exceedingly tame, and will even suffer themselves to
be touched. They make their nests of a large mass
of sea-weed and dry grass, on rather than in which
they lay each one single ^g^^ of no very considerable

TJicir Eggs and Nests. 209

size. This, when firsfc laid, is white or bluisli- white
(the colour being due to an incrustation similar to that
of the Cormorant's ^g^, but soon becomes soiled and
stained.

ORDER.— HERODIOXES.

FAMILY I.— ARDEID^.

COMMON HERON— (^r^/^,z cinercd).
Hern, Heronshaw, Heronseugh. — It would have
been no light matter once to have molested a Heron.
Those birds were " preserved " with a strictness we
scarcely can imagine even in these days of game-pre-
serves. They were the peculiar game of royal and
noble personages. Now, however, the case is widely
different, and probably not one Heron in a hundred
can now be met with as compared with the days of
falconry. It is a strange odd sight to see a Heron
balancing himself on the topmost twig of some fir-
tree, and succeeding after a few uneasy motions of
body and wings in poising himself. The Heron some-
times breeds on precipitous rocks, but much more
commonly on trees, — generally trees of large size, and
commonly oaks or firs. It is not a solitary builder,
but like the Rook forms a community, and frequents
the same tree or clump of trees through successive
years for many generations. Each nest is of large
size, and composed of sticks with a lining of wool.
Four or five eggs are usually deposited, of an uniform
pale green colour. A few nests are said to have been

o

210 British Birds,

met with on the ground and even in a laurel. — Fig. 1,
plate VIIL

PURPLE HERON— (^r^m pttrpurcd).

A few instances only of the occurrence of this bird
in Britain have been recorded.

GREAT WHITE HERON— (^r^^^ alba).

White Heron, Great Egret. — A rarer and more
accidental visitor than even the bird last named.

LITTLE YJ^'KYll—{Ardea garzetta).

Egret, Egret Heron, Little Egret Heron. — There is
good reason to believe that this bird may once, at a
remote period, have been sufficiently common, or even
abundant in England. Now, however, it is of exceed-
ingly rare occurrence anywhere within the British
seas.

BUFF-BACKED HERON— (/^r^^ abtibulcus;
formerly, A. russaia).

Red-billed Heron, Rufous-backed Egret, Little
White Heron (the young). — An exceedingly rare bird,
with as scanty claim as not a few others to be con-
sidered British at all.

SQUACCO HERON— (^r^^^ ralloides).

BufF-coloured Egret. — A bird which has been met
with in several of the counties in the southern half
of England, and I believe more or less frequently in
some of them. Still it is but a visitor, and, com-
paratively with many other not very common birds, a

TJuir Eggs and Nests. 2 1 1

rare one ; and, as certainly not breeding in our island,
possessing no claim upon us for lengthened notice
here.

NIGHT ^Wi^fd'^—iNycticorax griscus ; formerly,
N. Gardeni).

Gardenian Heron, Spotted Heron, Night Raven. —
This bird claims to be a British bird, inasmuch as
upwards of a dozen specimens have been met with
here. But it does not breed with us, if indeed
commonly at all in Europe.

LITTLE BITTERN— (^r^^//.z minuta; formerly,
Botaurus inifiutiis).

It would seem that this bird is to be looked upon
rather as a summer visitor to us; and Mr. Yarrell says of
it, " Some, if not prevented, would probably have bred
in this country." Still, although the grounds for this
o])inion seem valid and conclusive, no actual instance
of nidification here has ever been ascertained.

COMMON BITT^'K^— {Botaurus stellaris).

Mire Drum, Butter-bump, Bog-bumper, Bittour,
Bumpy-coss, BuU-of-the-Bog, Bog-blutter, Bog-
jumper. — Clearances and drainage, and the onward
strides of agriculture, and the gun, and the pursuit of
specimen-hunters and collectors, have made this a rare
species almost everywhere. It was common enough a
century or two since; and many a fertile cornfield,
which then was a seemingly hopeless marsh and bog,
has resounded far and wide with the deep, booming,
bellowing cry of the Bittern. Recorded instances

212 British Birds^

even of its nesting here are becoming more and more
rare and unusual, and ere long, it is to be feared, this
beautifully plumaged bird will be among the things
that " have been." Its nest is composed of sticks,
reeds, and like matters, built on the ground, at no
great distance from the water it frequents, and hid
among the plentiful water-growth found at the edges
of shallow standing waters. The eggs are three to
five in number, of an uniform olive-brown colour. —
Fig. % plate VIIL

AMERICAN BITTERN— (5^/^^n/.y lentiginosiis).

A bird of rare and most accidental occurrence in
England.

FAMILY II— CICONIIDiE.

WHITE STORK— (c:/^^^^;^ alba).

A much too conspicuous object not to be noticed
whenever its visits have been paid to our shores.
Accordingly, we find it had long been known as a
visitor, though the instances of its occurrence in the
last generation or two are noticeably less frequent
than in former days. As breeding abundantly in
Holland, it would be strange if the Stork did not
come to us sometimes.

BLACK STORK— (aV^;^/^ nigra).

The Black Stork has occurred much more rarely
than its white congener.

Their Eggs and Nests. 213

FAMILY III— IBIDID^.

GLOSSY \V>Y^—{Plegadis falcifiellus; formerly,
Ibis falcincllus).

This visitor has been met with in lato years, even
in some numbers. There was one about the moors in
this district thirty-four or thirty-five years since, which
I saw myself and heard of as seen in the same neigh-
bourhood by others ; and about the same time I
noticed that birds of the same species had been
observed in several other parts of Yorkshire and
elsewhere. Still it is only a visitor, and a casual
one.

FAMILY IV.— PLATALEID.^.

WHITE SPOON-BILL— (P/^/^/^'a leucorodia).

A bird which is said to have bred in former days in
our country, but whicli has certainly become, for a
long time past, a mere visitor, and not a frequent one.

ORDER.— ODONTOGLOSS^.
FAMILY.— PH<J^:N ICOPTERID JE

FLAMINGO — {Phocnicopterus roseus).

Strange as it may seem, at least three occurrences
of this remarkable bird in our country have been re-
corded.

214 British Birds,

ORDER— ANSERES.
FAMILY I.— ANATID^.

GREY-LAG GOOSE— (^;/^^r ferus).

Grey-legged Goose, Grey Goose, Wild Goose. — It is
not proposed to give any illustrations whatever of the
eggs of the Wild-fowl — the Geese, Swans, Ducks, and
Diving Ducks — inasmuch as they are not only of large
size, and would usurp much space to the absolute ex-
clusion of many others of much interest and urgently
demanding pictorial illustration, but, also, are charac-
terised by so much sameness or general uniformity of
colour ; — for they vary only, in that respect, about as
much as the eggs of the common Fowl and common
Duck do. A w^ry large proportion of them, moreover,
never by any chance breed in any portion of the
British Islands, but resort to distant and very northerly
localities for that purpose. The first on our list, the
Common Grey, or Wild, Goose, is an instance in point.
It is believed once to have been a regular inhabitant,
and to have bred abundantly in the fenny districts
which then prevailed over many parts of the kingdom,
not at all near or connected with what is yet called
"the fen country." But now it is comparatively a
rare bird at any season of the year, and nests no
nearer to us than some of the isles and coasts of
Scandinavia.

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE— (^^^i'^;' albifrons).
Laughing Goose. — A regular winter visitor, and not

TJicir Eggs and Nests. 215

ill any very scanty numbers. One of my very worst
discomfitures in my early sporting-days took place in
connection with a Hock of these birds. There were
seven or eight of them which flew deliberately right
on towards my father and myself till they were within
twenty-five yards of us, and then they doubled up into
a confused clump, and I was already counting the
slain when my gun missed fire. My father's did not,
and gave us the opportunity of identifying the species.
It breeds in Scotland and other countries far to the
north.

BEAN Q^OO'^Y.—[Anser segetum).

Like the last, and in common with the Goose next
to be mentioned, indiscriminately known by the name
of Wild Goose. Unlike the last, however, it is ascer-
tained to breed in small numbers on some of the large
lakes in the north of Scotland, and in the islands of
Lewis and Harris. Besides which, a nesting locality
of this species in Westmoreland is named. The nests,
in some instances, are hid in very tall ling, and the
eggs are from five to seven in number. In size they
are a little under 3^ inches long by 2 A broad.

riNK-FOOTED GOOSE— (yl;/j-.7' hrachyrhyncus).

A smaller bird than the last, but otherwise bearing
a very strong resemblance to it ; so much so, that it
appears more than probable it has often been assumed
to bo a young or small s])ecimcn of the former species.
It is, however, of comparatively rare occurrence.

2l6 British Birds,

SNOW GOOSE— (6^//^;^ hyperhoreus).

Of rare occurrence, and, it is believed, in Ireland
only.

RED-BREASTED GOOSE— (5^r;7/<r/^ ruficollis ;
formerly, Aiiser ruficollis).

A very rare species, and one of vrhich but little is
known as to history or habits.

BERNICLE (^OO'^'^—iBernida leucopsis ;
formerly, Anser leucopsis).

Another winter visitor ; often appearing in great
flocks, but always retiring to the north again to breed.
It is supposed to frequent the shores of the White Sea
especially for such purpose.

BRENT Q^OO'^Y.—Bernicla brent a ; formerly,
Anser brent a).

Black Goose, Ware Goose. — By far the most numerous
of all the geese which visit our shores in winter, as it
is also the least. I have seen it in inconceivable
numbers on the Essex coast in hard winters, and the
numbers reported to have been killed at one discharge
of a heavy punt-gun seem simply incredible. In the
very hard and long-continued winter of 1837-38, 1 saw
the ice, which, in broken fragments of four or five feet
square by three or four inches thick, covered the
whole estuary of the Blackwater at Tollesbury (a space
of very considerable width), black with them during
highwater. The expression made use of by one of thf*-
sea faring men of the neighbourhood was, " There are

TJicir Ei^gs and Nests. 217

acres of* *em." Still of all their vast numbers none
remain to breed, and no great proportion of them are
known to breed in Europe,

CANADA GOOSE — {Bernicla Canadensis ; formerly,

A user Canadensis).

Cravat Goose. — Many of these remarkably fine birds
are kept on ornamental waters in many different parts
of the kingdom ; and these have been known some-
times (aided by a storm, perhaps, or some unusual
occurrence) to make their escape. Many of the sup-
posed wild birds shot, or otherwise taken, have been
accounted for on the supposition that they are such
escaped birds. However, it would seem almost certain
that considerable flights of really wild Cravat Geese
do occasionally visit this country, and even that some
pair or two of them may occasionally stay to breed.
The eggs are six to nine in number, of very large size,
and white.

EGYPTIAN Q.OO'^Y.—{Chcnalopex A'.gyptiaca;
formerly, Anser Egyptiacus\

As rare and not less exceptional than the last ; as
the few that have occurred may have escaped from
confinement.

SPUR-WINGED (^00'^Y.—{PIectropterus Gamhcnsis;
formerly, Anser Gambensis).
Gambo Goose. — An accidental visitor indeed.

WHOOPER— ( Cyg7ius ferns).
Wild Swan, Whistling Swan, Elk. — Of sufijciently

2i8 British Birds ^

common occurrence on the British coasts, and par-
ticularly in hard winters. Few birds vary much
more in size and weight than do these. A young bird
of the year may weigh only twelve or thirteen pounds;
the older and more full-grown specimens, twenty or
twenty-one. They breed very far to the north.

BEWICK'S ^"^ K^—{Cygnus Bewickii),

A smaller bird than the Whooper, and of very
much rarer occurrence. Still it is an ascertained
species, and visits us frequently, if not annually, in
some numbers.

MUTE '^y^ k^—{Cygnus olor).

The Common tame Swan of our ornamental waters.
— They are found wild in many, if not all, the
northern countries of Europe. It is too well known
by everyone to require detailed notice here.

POLISH SWAN — {Cygnus immtitabilis).

A bird of very rare occurrence in a wild state, and
deriving its Latin name from the circumstance that
its plumage undergoes no change in colour at any
period of its age. It is always white. The cygnets
of the other swans are, on the contrary, grey or
dusky-coloured for a lengthened period, and only
become white on their reaching maturity.

RUDDY ^BlKLD^kKE.—{Tador72acasarca;
formerly, T. rutild).

A bird of exceedingly rare occurrence.

TJicir Eg^s and Nests. 219

COMMON SHIELDRAKE {Tadorna cornuta ;
formerly, T. vulpaiiscr).

Burrow Duck, Skel Goose, Bar Goose. — One of the
most extremely beautiful of all our wild fowl, or even of
those which for their beauty are selected to be orna-
mental accessions to the waters of the park or pleasure-
ground. Its plumage is so beautiful and clear and
brilliant, and its attitude in repose so graceful, one
cannot but admire it greatly. It breeds not un-
commonly on many sandy parts of our coasts, occupy-
ing the deep rabbit- burrows, which are found in what
are called the "sand-hills,"' to place its nest in. The
nest is one really made of bents and dry stalks, and
lined or cushioned with down liberally plucked from
the builder's own breast. The number of euro's laid
varies between eight or nine and twelve or fourteen.
They are nearly or quite white, about 2J inches long
by nearly 2 in breadth. I have known instances in
which the eggs obtained from one of their nests have
been hatched under a common Hen. The young
seemed to accustom themselves to their life of restraint
tolerably well, but never showed any disposition to
pair or breed. Probably it might be because no suit-
able hole for a nest was within their reach. The
male of this species is known to assist the female in
the labours and constraint of incubation.

WILD DUCK or MALLARD— (yi;/.75 hoschas).

By far the most common of all our wild fowl among
the Ducks, but lessening, year by year, in the numbers
which visit us. Within my own recollection many

220 British Birds ^

Decoys on the Essex coast were worked constantly
and successfully, which for many years now have
been dismantled and unused. I well remember, when
I was a lad of ten or twelve, being at a house in
Tolleshunt D'Arcy, on the farm belonging to which
was an active Decoy, and seeing the birds which had
been taken in the course of one morning. The
numbers were so great that many of the undermost
Ducks, where the great accumulation had taken place
at the end of the "pipe," had died of pressure and
suffocation, and some even were sensibly flattened by
the superincumbent weight of their fellows. The
multiplication of shooters on shore and afloat has
sensibly tended to lessen the numbers of the Wild
Duck ; while drainage on a large scale in many a
district the country through, has materially lessened
the number of their haunts. Still a very considerable
number remain to breed, and a Wild Duck's nest in
many parts of the kingdom is no rarity. The nest is
made of grass, lined and interwoven with down. It is
customarily placed on dry ground on the margin of
water, among reeds and bulrushes, or the like ; but
may often be found at some distance from water, and
in places so unlikely for the purpose as on the open
moor, or in a tree top, or in the lofty deserted nest
of a crow. The eggs are from nine to twelve in
number, sometimes, however, exceeding the latter
limit, of a greenish-white colour, and about 1\ inches
long by IJ broad. It is long before the young Wild
Ducks fly well enough to leave their native reed beds
or similar shelter, and, in the state preceding that of
actual power to fly away, they are called Flappers.

Their Eggs and Nests. 221

GADWALL— C^l;/^j- streperd).

Rodge, Grey Duck. — A Duclc which occurs in no
very great numbers at any time ; mostly about the
end of the winter, or in spring ; and is not known to
breed commonly in any part of Europe.

SHOVELLER— (5/^////^ clypeata ; iovm^vXy , Anas
clypeata).

Blue-winged Shoveller, Broad-bill. — A very beauti-
fully plumaged bird indeed. But gaily feathered as
he is, and brilliant as is a part, at least, of the plumage
of all the male Ducks during a certain portion of the
year, yet it is remarkable that they all undergo a
change in this respect about the breeding time, just
the reverse of that which takes place in the males of
so many other birds at the same season. They become
more brilliant, or their colours deeper or richer
then : — the male Ducks duskier, plainer coloured, more
like the female in her more unobtrusive hues. The
Shoveller's bill is very remarkable, and, as I said of
the Oyster-catcher's, a study for all who admire the
works of Creation. It merits our notice for its adapta-
tion to its purposes, in a direction just opposite to
that which characterises the bill of the bird ju.st
named. Dilated at the sides so as almost to look
awkward, it is furnished with a large series of very
sensitive laminae or plates, such that the minute ob-
jects which form a considerable portion of the birds'
food may be instantly detected by the sense of touch,
and retained. It used to breed very commonly in
many parts of the kingdom, Norfolk and the Fen

222 British Birds^

district for instance, as well as in Romney Marsh and
other places more in the south of the island. At
present it has become comparatively rare. Tlie nest
is made of fine grass, and the eggs are eventually en-
veloped in down procured from the bird's own breast.
The eggs may be from eight to twelve in number*
white, tinged with a greenish-dun shade, and about
2 inches long by IJ broad.

PINTAIL WC}QK—{Dafila acuta; formerly,

Anas aaitci).

Cracker, Winter Duck. — An early visitor to our
shores when winter has once urged the wild fowl
hosts to leave their northern nesting-places. It is
not, however, a numerous bird with us, but abounds
in many of the northernmost countries of Europe.

TEAL — {Querquedida crecca ; ioxvu^xXy ^ Anas creccd).

A very pretty little Duck, and the least of all our
winter visitors of that species. It is of common
occurrence, but not met with in any great numbers.
It breeds abundantly in Norway and Sweden, and
especially in Lapland, whither the great bulk of our
winter friends retire on the approach of the northern
summer; still, pairs often remain throughout the
summer in various parts of our country to nest and reai"
their young. When I was a boy I heard of nests, al-
most annually, on some of the marshes I knew most
familiarly; and I have known of many broods
hatched and reared on these North Riding moors.
The Teal builds a nest of abundance of different

TJicir Eggs and Nests. 223

vepretable substances, varying according to the locality
and its productions, and lines it with down and
feathers, the concealment afforded by the neighbouring
herbage being carefully adopted. Eight to ten or
twelve eggs are laid, of a buff^^-white, IJ inch long by
rather over 1\ broad.

GARGANEY — {Qiierqiiedida circia ; formerly,
A nas qiierquedidd).

Summer Duck, Summer Teal, Pied Wiggon — This
is a somewhat rare bird, and is seen sometimes in late
autumn, but more usually in the spring. It has been
known to breed in this country, though by no means
commonly or frequently. It is said to make a nest
among reeds of dry grass, rushes and down, and the
number of eggs deposited to run from eight or nine to
twelve, or even more. They are of a distinct but pale
buff colour, IJ inch long by IJ broad.

WIGEON — {Marcea Penelope ; formerly. Anas
Penelope).

Whewer, Whim. — Mr. Waterton has recorded an
observation on the habits of this Duck, whicli is uf
great interest. Whereas, all the birds of the Duck-
kind which we have hitherto named are night-feeders,
the Wigeon obtains its food by day, " and that food
is grass." The great body of our winter visitors of
this species retire to the north to breed about the end
of March, or April ; but a few have been ascertained
to remain for that purpose in north Scotland. A nest,
found on Loch Laighal in Sutherlandshire, was '' placed
in the midst of a clump of grass, and was made of

224 British Birds,

decayed rushes and reeds, with a lining of the birds'
own down. The eggs were smaller than those of tb.e
Wild Duck, and of a rich cream- white colour." Tiie
number of eggs laid varies between five and eight or
nine; the length, 2J inches by 1^ in breadth.

AMERICAN ^V^YJd'^—^Marcea Americana;
formerly, Anas Aniericatia).

Of entirely rare and accidental occurrence.

RED-CRESTED VOGRKK'D—(Fnlignla riifina).
Red-crested Whistling Duck. — A rare winter visitor.

VO^MKKD—^Fuliguia ferind).

Dunbird, Red-headed Wigeon, Red-headed Poker,
Duncur. — A winter visitor, and in very considerable
numbers in districts where the presence of inland
waters to a sufficient extent enables them to follow
out their natural habits. It is almost impossible, from
their great quickness and skill in diving, to take them
with the other ''Fowl" in the Decoy, and they are
therefore captured by a peculiar arrangement of nets
affixed to poles so heavily weighted at one end as on
being liberated to elevate the net in such a way as to
intercept the flight of the birds, as soon as they are
fairly on wing. The Dunbird does not now breed in
this country.

FERRUGINOUS Vi^^Q^—iFidigtda nyroca).
Somewhat resembling the Pochard in general hue,
but smaller, and in respect of the numbers in which it

Their Eggs and Nests. 225

has been met with in this country, comparatively a
very rare visitor.

SCAUP DUCK— (i^////;^///^ viarila).

Spoon-bill Duck. — A •winter visitor, and not an
unusual one, although its numbers are never such as
to commend it to notice in the same way as the Wild
Duck, the Dunbird, the Wigeon, and some others. It
breeds commonly in Iceland, but never in Britain.

TUFTED DUCK— (i^z^//;^///^ cristatd).

Another constant winter visitor, and as well or
better known than the Scaup. Like the Scaup Duck
it usually prefers oozy or muddy estuaries and their
customary accompaniments. But I have met with it
here in the narrow, rapid trout-stream which runs
through this part of the country, and at a distance of
not less than nine or ten miles from the sea. It breeds
sparingly in Holland and in more northerly countries.

GOLDEN YXY.—{Clangiila glaucion ; formerly,
Fuligiila clangida).

Brown-headed Duck, Grey-headed Duck, Pied
Wigeon, Golden-eyed Wigeon, Duck, or Toal, Morillon,
Ilattlewings. — As well known and as connnon as per-
haps either the Scaup or the Tufted Duck, but known
by different names according to the state of plumage
depending on sex and age, females and young birds
being much more common than adult males. As not
known to breed in England, no notice of nest or e^^o-s
can bo iuhcrted here. In the Appendix, however, a

226 British Birds,

very interesting notice of one of its habits connected
with its breeding time will be inserted.

BUFFEL-HEADED W:5Q>K—{Clangula albeola ;
formerly, Ftiligula albeola).

A visitor, but a very rare one, to our shores in
winter.

LONG-TAILED J)XJCl^—{Harelda glacialis ;
formerly, Fidigula glacialis).

Another bird which, like the two last, is sufficiently
well known without being exceedingly or indeed in
the least degree numerous. It is, in fact, a rather rare
and very beautiful Duck, and is remarkable for the
great variations of plumage to which it is liable,
according to differences of age, sex, and season. It
breeds abundantly in Norway and Denmark, and
much more so in purely Arctic regions.

HARLEQUIN Vi\^Qi^—{Cosmonetta hisirionica ;
formerly, Fuligida hisirionica).

Another very beautiful bird, and most peculiarly
marked. So much so as to remind its sponsors, as it
appears, of the artistic effects produced by the custom-
ary pictorial adornment of our facetious friend Harle-
quin's face. A rarer bird, however, thai?, even the
Long-tailed Duck last named.

EIDER jy\JCK.—{So7nateria mollissima).
St. Cuthbert's Duck. — We have now arrived at

TJicir Eggs and lYrsts. 227

another section of the Duck family. Those hitherto
named all frequent the fresh waters, and chiefly affect
those that are of no great extent or depth. These,
the first of which we have just named, frequent the
sea or, in a few instances, the deepest parts of large
freshwater lakes. The Eider Duck, well known to
most of us by name, to some of us by sight, breeds in
some marshes on the Fame Islands, and in many
of the islands on the coast of Scotland. The nests are
])rincipally composed, on a foundation of sea-weed or
grass, of the beautiful light elastic down, commonly
known as Eider-down ; and if the first is plundered,
a second, and even a third are formed ; but the down
decreases in quality and quantity in each successive
instance. The first accumulation is so large and
springy as quite to conceal the eggs contained, which
are usually five in number, and are of a light-green
colour, about three inches long by two wide. The
lining of one nest, admitting of easy compression by
the hand, is described by iMr. Hewitson as capable,
when fully expanded, of filling a man's hat.

KING EWER— (SojnaUrm spectabilis)

King Duck.— A much rarer bird than the last, in-
deed occurring only very casually. It has been known
to breed in one of the Orkney Islands, while Iceland,
Nova Zembla, Spitzbergen, and like localities, are the
great breeding haunts of the species. The nests are
made on the ground, and contain five eggs, very
closely resembling the Eider Duck's. exce])t in size.
They arc rather less.

228 British Birds,

STELLER'S EIDER OR WESTERN DUCK—

{Somateria Stelleri ; formerly, Polysticta Stelleri).

Exceedingly rare in Britain, and not much less so,
it seems, in Europe generally.

COMMON SCOTER— ((S'^^;/2/^ nigra).

Scoter, Black Scoter, Black Duck, Black Diver. —
This dusky-coloured Duck is seen in considerable
numbers on various parts of our coasts in winter, and
always swimming and diving in what may be called
" loose order," like the Coots rather than any of the
true Ducks. It does not, however, ever stay to breed
with us, and can have no further notice here.

VELVET ^Q;OT'm.—{CEdemia fused).

Velvet Duck. — A winter visitor, and rare on our
south coasts. More common in the far north of
Britain.

SURF ^Q>OTE:^—{CEdemia perspicillatd).

A bird of very rare, and, perhaps also it may be
added, very local occurrence.

GOOSANDER — {Mergns merganser).

Dun Diver, Sparling Fowl, Jacksaw, Saw-bill. — A
few of these birds also remain to breed in Britain,
though by far the most retire to the north of Europe
for that purpose. Its nests are common both in the
Orkney Islands and the Hebrides. They are large,
made of dry grass and roots, and lined with the down
of the female, and placed amid bushes or stones, or in

Their Eggs and Nests. 229

some cavity afforded by an old tree. The eggs rarely
exceed six or seven, not varying much in shade from
those of the next species, and are 2J inches in length
by nearly 1| in breadth.

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER— (i^^r^«.r serrator).

Red-breasted Goosander. — This handsome bird is
an undoubted denizen of our country during the
breeding season, but in no great numbers in any year
or district. It breeds in Ireland, on islands in several
of the loughs ; also in the Hebrides and other
Scottish islands. The nest is made of long grass or
moss, small roots, dry water-herbage, mixed and lined
with the bird's own down, doubtless added to as in-
cubation proceeds. It is often placed at the foot of a
tree, if there be one on the islet selected. The eggs
are six to nine in number, of a pale buff or fawn
colour. They are 2 J inches long by If broad.

^llW^—^Mergus albellus).

"White Xun, Red-headed Smew (for young), Smee,
Lough Diver, White-headed Goosander, White Mer-
ganser. — The Smew is perhaps quite the most common
of the entire family ; but they are very wary and
difficult to approach. Tiiey are not known to breed
in any part of the United Kingdom.

HOODED MERGANSER— (J/^^^z/i: cucullatus).

A rare and accidental visitor to this country, and
indeed to the European continent. As far as is
known, it makes its nest in the hollow of trees.

APPENDIX

Oun object in adding this Appendix is simply a wish to make the
book more complete by adding notices, more or less detailed, ©f the
nests and eggs and any interesting breeding-season pectiliarities of
birds recognised as really well entitled to the name of British Birds,
but not happening to remain within the limits of Britain to breed.
The first bird of the kind in our complete list is — *

GREENLAND FALCON,
The equivalent to Mr. Yarrell's Gyr Falcon.

ICELAND FALCON.

These two species are now, I believe, looked upon as established,
but the differences between them are not excessively striking, except
it be to a scientific naturalist. Mr. Hewitson has figured an egg of
the Iceland Falcon which he believes may have lost some of its
colour. It was taken from a nest made with sticks and roots, lined
with wool, which once perhaps was the nest of a Raven. The nest
in question was in a cliff, and had the remains of many sorts of birds

1 If any reader desires to know more about the breeding habits of the birds not
mentioned in this Appendix, the " Ibis " List named in the text above in several
places will give him ready means of acquiring the inforraatiou desired.

22 J

232 Appendix.

— Whimbrels, Golden Plovers, Guillemots, Ducks — strewed round
it. The egg is of a buffy red colour, mottled and speckled — very
thickly in places— with deeper red.

SNOWY OWL.

Sufficiently often met with in North Britain (and even occurring
sometimes in England) to merit a short notice here. It inhabits
Sweden, Norway, Lapland, and the greater part of Northern Europe.
These birds are accustomed to take their prey by daylight, and seem,
from the accounts received, to be in the habit of ''bolting" their
food, when not very large, whole. It makes its nest on the ground,
and lays in it three or four white eggs.

GREAT GREY SHRIKE.

This bird is met with in Denmark and other northern countries of
Western Europe, and also in Russia, Germany, and France. It is
said to frequent woods and forests, and to build upon trees at some
distance from the ground, as well as in thick bushes and hedges.
The nest is made of roots, moss, wool, and dry stalks, lined with
dry grass and root-fibres. The eggs are four to seven in number,
and though they vary a good deal in colour, they always illustrate
the peculiar tendency of the eggs of the Shrikes to show a sort of
zone or girdle, due to the agglomeration of the spots about some
part of the circumference. They are yellowish or greyish white,
and the spots of grey and light brown.

FIELDFARE.

I have sometimes seen this favourite game-bird of the school-boy
here as early as the latter part of September, and I have frequently
noticed them feeding in hundreds on the holly berries which abound

Appendix, 233

\v\. more than one part of this district. They must breed very late
in the year, from the late period of their departure hence, and the
distance of the countries to which many of them resort for that pur-
pose. It breeds very abundantly in Norway, and also in Sweden,
Russia, and Siberia, not to mention other and more southerly
countries in Europe. Their nests, in Norway, are usually built
against the trunk of the spruce-fir, and at very variable heights from
the ground. They are said to be very like those of the Ring Ousel,
except that small twigs are added to the outside structure. The
eggs are from three to five, and are very like those of the Ring
Ousel, but with somewhat more red about them. The Fieldfare
seems to prefer breeding in numerous groups or colonies, two or
three hundred nests being frequently seen within a rather limited
space.

REDWING.

This winter visitor has been known to breed occasionally, but yet
only very exceptionally, in this country. A nest was brought to mo
many summers since, which, from its construction, the size and colour-
ing of the eggs, and especially from the description of the bird
which my informant saw leaving the nest, I have little doubt was a
Redwing. It breeds abundantly in Sweden, and in lesser numbers
in Norway, and is described as being a very sweet singer, as heard
among the forest solitudes of the latter country. Its nest is very
similar to those of the Blackbird, Ring Ousel, and Fieldfare, in
materials and structure. The eggs are four to six in number, and
very similar, allowing for a little inferiority in size, to those of the
Fieldfare, and to very red specimens of the Ring Ousel's. A nest,
with the parent birds, was kept for years at Kildale Hall, in the
North Riding. It was found in the parish.

SNOW BUNTING.
This bird resorts in the breeding season to the " Arctic regions

234 Appendix.

and the Islands of the Polar Sea." Mr. Yarrell says, **The nest is
composed of dry grass, neatly lined with deers hair and a few
feathers, and is generally fixed in a crevice of a rock, or in a loose
pile of timber or stones. The eggs are a greenish white, with a
circle of irregular umber-bro^vn spots round the thick end, and
numerous blotches of subdued lavender purple."

MOUNTAIN FINCH.

This Finch is occasionally met with in sufficient numbers to be
deserving of a short notice here. It seems to breed in Denmark,
Norway, and Lapland, and it is at least possible that a few pairs
may, from time to time, stay to nest with us. It is said to build in
fir-trees, though from Mr. Hewitson's account, the nests are by no
means easy to find. The following is an account of a nest made by
a pair in an aviary at Beccles in Suffolk : — ** The nest was deep, the
walls thick, a large quantity of materials employed for the founda-
tion, which was worked among the stalks of the ivy-leaves. It was
composed of moss, wool, and dry grass ; and lined with hair." The
general appearance of the eggs is one of resemblance to those of the
Chaffinch ; the spots, however, seeming to bo fewer, smaller, and
less decided.

SISKIN.

This little bird has been known in several instances to breed with
us in its natural wild condition, but its nesting-home is in Russia,
Germany, and North- Western Europe. It has been ascertained to
build in furze bushes, and also close to the trunk of a fir-tree, where
a projecting bough afforded support for the structure. The nest is
composed of similar materials to the Chaffinch's, and the eggs present
a good deal of resemblance to those of the Goldfinch, with a little
inferiority iu size.

Appendix, 235

TURNSTONE.

This very handsomely plumaged bird inhabits the countries
bordering on the Baltic, as also Greenland and other localities far to
tlie nortli. Mr. Hewitson gives a most interesting account of his
discovery of its nest in Norway: — "We had visited numerous
islands with little encouragement, and were about to land upon a flat
rock, when our attention was attracted by the singular cry of a
Turnstone. We remained in the boat a short time until we had
watched it behind a tuft of grass, near which, after a minute search,
we succeeded in finding the nest. It was placed against a ledge of
the rock, and consisted of nothing more than the dropping leaves of
the Juniper bush, imder a creeping branch of which the eggs, four
in number, were snugly concealed and sheltered." Several other
nests were also found in the course of further researches, which,
however, were required to be both close and systematic. The eggs
are of an olive-green colour, spotted and streaked with different
shades of red-brown, and all having a beautiful tint of purple or
crimson, seen in few other eggs."

SANDERLING.

It breeds in Greenland, Labrador and other Arctic countries. It
makes its neat on marshy grounds, of grass, and lays four ** dusky-
coloured eggs, spotted with black." But little seems to be known
of either the nidification or the eggs of this species, as no figure is
given by cither Mr. llcwitsou or in the Rev. 0. Morris's book.

HOOPER.

Occasionally met with during the breeding season in Iceland, and
more commonly in Lapland. They are described as inhabiting the
most remote and inaccessible lakes and morasses in forest districts.

2$6 Appendix.

The nest is made of any coarse water herbage which is suitable and
at the same time accessible. It is large, and raised some inches
above the surface of the supporting soil. The eggs are believed to
be from three or four to seven in number, and are usually of a pale
brownish white colour, extending to about 4 inches long by 2|
broad.

PINTAIL.

This Duck breeds in Iceland, and commonly in Lapland and some
of the districts about the Gulf of Bothnia. It builds, like most
others of its kind, among the thick herbage commonly growing near
the edge of pieces of fresh water ; the nest being made of the same,
but dry, and lined with down. The eggs are six to eight or nine in
number, and are of a light greenish-white colour, and about the same
size as those of the Wild Duck proper.

VELVET SCOTER.

This Sea Duck is found in Russia, Norway, the Faroe Islands, and
also in Iceland, Mr. Audubon's account of its nest and eggs is as
follows : — " The nests are placed within a few feet of the borders of
small lakes, a mile or two from the sea, and usually under the low
boughs of the bushes, of the twigs of which, with mosses and vari-
ous plants matted together, they are formed. They are large and
almost flat, several inches thick, with some feathers of the female,
but no down, imder the eggs, which are usually six in number,
2| inches in length, by 1| in breadth, of an uniform pale cream
colour, tinged with green.'*

COMMON SCOTER.
It breeds, but not very numerously, in Iceland ; but is seen nest-

Appendix, 237

ing in company with the Velvet Scoter, in Scandinavia, rather more
commonly. It makes a nest of any available vegetable substance,
such as grasses, twigs, leaves, dry stalks; it is lined with down, and
placed under the partial cover or concealment afforded by low
shrubs or other plants. The eggs are six or seven to ten in number,
of a pale buff colour slightly tinged with green, 2^ inches long by 1|
broad. After the eggs are laid, the males assemble in large flocks
and draw towards the coast.

POCHARD.

Tlie breeding haunt of this bird seems to be more to the eastward
than that of the majority of those hitherto named. It is said to be
abundant in Russia and in the North of Germany, and is very
commonly found in the fur countries in America during the
breeding season. A few also breed on the borders of the Meres
in Holland. The nest is similar in site and materials to those of
the Wild Duck and other Ducks, and the eggs sometimes reach
the number of twelve. They are of a greenish buff colour, 2
inches in length, by If in breadth. The Pochard was dis-
covered, several years since, as breeding about the Mere at Scar-
borough, and has also been stated to nest occasionally in ouo or
two places in Norfolk.

SCAUP DUCK.

This Duck has also been known as breeding very incidentally in
this country, but its almost unbroken habit is to return to such
countries as Iceland, the swampy lake-district north of the Gulf of
Bothnia, and some parts of Norway, for nesting purposes. It some-
times makes its nest in what may be almost called the usual site for
the nests of Ducks, and sometimes upon the stones and shingle at
the edge of sheets of fresh water. The nest is very thin ami slightly
formed, but well lined with down, and the eggs sctui to be six,

238 Appendix.

seven, or eight in number. They are of a pale buff colour, and
sensibly less in size than those of the Pochard last named.

TUFTED DUCK.

This little Duck is known to breed near the head of the Bothnian
Gulf, as well as in other parts of Sweden, and in Lapland and
Russia. A few pairs also are seen nesting in Holland. It makes a
very slight nest of grasses and the like. The eggs are seven or
eight to ten in number, very similar in shade to those of the Scaup
Duck last mentioned, but much less in size, being only a little over
2 inches long, by less than 1^ in breadth.

LONG-TAILED DUCK.

It is known to breed in Iceland, and believed to do so in Norway.
It makes its nest among low brushwood and the herbage usual at or
near the margin of fresh water. A few stems of grass form the sub-
structure, on which is placed a plentiful lining of down. The eggs
are from six to twelve in number. They are of yellowish-white,
just tinged with green, and nearly 1\ inches long by \\ in breadth.

GOLDEN EYE.

This Duck seems to prefer wooded or forest districts for nesting
iu. It breeds in Lapland, Sweden, and Norway, and has such a
strong liking for a hole in a tree to nest in, that if suitable boxes
with an adequate entrance-hole are placed on the trees growing on
the banks of streams or lakes frequented by them, their eggs are
sure to be deposited therein, to the great profit of those who sus-
pend the boxes. Of course when it is known that a Duck hatches
its young iu a hole in a tree, the question must suggest itself — as it

Appendix. 239

did to the original observer in tlic case of the Wild Duck's nest on a
pollard, or in a fir tree — How can the young ducks ever be got
down safely, and, still more, finally launched on their prcper ele-
ment ? An observed habit of the Golden Eye answers this question.
A Lapp clergyman saw the parent bird conveying its young, to the
number of five or more, but one at a time, from the nest to tlie
water, and he was at last able to " make out that the young bird
was held under the bill, but supported by the neck of the parent."
The eggs of the Golden Eye are said to be ten or twelve or even
more in number, and of a brighter colour than is usual with the
eggs of the Duck tribe, being of a rather decided greei. colour.

SMEW.

But little that is quite authentic seems to be knov/n of the nesting
habits of this little Duck ; nor is it certainly ascertained where its
chief numbers retire to breed. The eggs are said to be eight or ten
in number, or even more than that, and to be of a yellowish-white
colour.

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER.

This bird breeds on the Faroe Islands, and on some of the lakes in
Iceland ; as also on some of the islands of Fiumark. Spitzbergen
and Greenland are also named as the breeding resort of many of
these Divers. They lay, it is supposed, two eggs each, though in
some observed instances only one was to bo seen. Mr. Audubon
Bays that three are sometimes laid. They are of a dark olive-brown,
with a few spots of dark umber brown, and are of considerable size.

LITTLE AUK.

This little wave-dweller has its nesting hon in countries far more
to the North than ours. It abounds on soiiij parts of the Green-

240 Appendix,

lar.d shores, and it is also met with, but much more sparingly, in
Iceland. It makes no nest, but lays its one egg on the ground
amongst or possibly beneath the large rock-masses which encumber
the shore after falling from the overhanging cliffs and precipices.
The parent birds are exceedingly averse to leave their egg when
incubation has commenced, and like some other species already
mentioned, will rather suffer themselves to be removed by the hand.
The egg is white, lightly tinged with blue, a little spotted and veined
with rust colour.

INDEX

Abbreviated names for Jackdaw
and Magpie, 127n

Accentor, Alpine, 76
Andalusian Hemipode, 153
Association of eggs with the

birds that lay them, 1
Auk, Great, 199

— Little, 201, 239
Avocet, 167

Bee-eater, 137
Bittern, American, 212

— Common, 211

— Little, 211
Blackbird, 74

— Moor, 75
Blackcap, 86

Blowing birds' eggs, 19-22
Blue-throat, 78
Brambling, 111
Bullfinch, 117
Bunting, Black-headed, 109

— Cirl, 109

— Common, 107

— Little, 107

— Ortolan, 109

— Reed, 106

— Rustic, 107

— Snow, 105, 233
Bustard, (ireat, 159

— Little, 159

— Macquecn's, IGO
Buzzard, Common, 52

— Honey, 54

— Moor or Bald, 6 1

— Rough -legged, 53

Capercaillie, 146

Chaffinch, 110

Chough, 122

Classification of eggs, 5

Classification of birds, 5-7, 31-34

Coot, 158

Cormorant, 207

Courser, Cream-coloured, IGl

Crake, Baillon's, 156

— Little, 156

— Spotted, 155
Crane, 159
Creeper, 91
Crossbill, 119

— Parrot, 120

— Two-barred, 120

— White -winged, 120
Crow, Black, 123

— Grey, 124
Cuckoo, 135

— Great-spotted, 130

— Yellow-billed, 136
Curlew, 181

— Esquimaux, 183

— Stone, 160

Diflferences between Falcons and
Vultures, 37

Differing systems of classifica-
tion and arrangement, 24,
25

iJipper, Common, 70

Diver, Black-throated, 203

— Great Northern, 203, 230

— Red -throated, 204
Dotterel, 162

24

242

Index.

Dove, Ring, U2

— Rock, 144

— Stock, 143

— Turtle, 145

Duck, BufTel-headed, 226

— Ferruginous, 224
— ■ Harlequin, 220

— Long-tailed, 226, 238

— Pintail, 222, 236

— Scaup, 225, 237

— Steller's Eider or Western,

228

— Tufted, 225, 238

Eagle, Golden, 38

— Spotted, 41

— White-tailed, 41
Egret, Little, 210
Eider Duck, 226
_ King, 227

Falcon, Greenland, Gyr or Jer,
44, 231

— Iceland, 44, 231

— Peregrine, 44

— Red-footed, 47

Family resemblance among birds'

eggs, 14
Fieldfare, 71, 232
Flamingo, 213
Flycatcher, Pied, 69

— Red-breasted, 69

— Spotted, 68

Gad wall, 221
Garganey, 223
Godwit, Bar-tailed, 181

— Black-tailed, 180
Golden-eye, 225, 238
Goldfinch, 114
Goosander, 228
Goose, Bean, 215

— Bernicle, 216

— Brent, 216

— Canada, 217

— Egyptian, 217

— Grey-lag, 214

— Pink-footed, 215

— Red-breasted, 216

Goose, Snow, 216

— Spur-winged, 217

— White-fronted, 214-
Goshawk, 49
Grebe, Eared, 205

— Great Crested, 204

— Little, 206

— Red-necked, 205

— Sclavonian, 205
Greenfinch, 113
Greenshank, 180
Grosbeak, Pine, 119

— Scarlet, 118
Grouse, Black, 146

— Red, 147
Guillemot, Black, 201

— Briinnich's, 200

— Common, 199

— Cuneate-tailed, 188

— Ringed, 201

Gull, Black-headed, 188

— Bonapartean, 188

— Common, 189

— Glaucous, 192

— Great Black-backed, 191

— Great Black-headed, 189

— Herring, 190

— Iceland, 193

— Ivory, 193

— Lesser Black-backed, 19i

— Little, 188

Harrier, Hen, 55

— Marsh, 54

— Montagu's, 56
Hawfinch, 113
Hedge Sparrow, 76
Heron, Buff-backed, 210

— Common, 209

— Great White, 210

— Night, 211

— Purple, 210

— Squacco, 210
Hobby, 46
Hoopoe, 136

Ibis, Glopsy, 213
Identification of eggs, 3

— Difficulties attending, 4

Index

2.13

Intelligenco and Instinct, Con-
trast between, 15

Jackdaw, 127
Jay, 128

Kestrel, 48
Kingfisher, 137

— Belted, 133
Kite, 51

— Black, 52

— Swallow-tailed, 52
Kittiwake, 193
Knot, 174

Labels for arranging birds' eggs,

28
Land-rail, 153
Lapwing, 165
Lark, Shore, 102

— Short-toed, 105

— White-winged, 105

— Wood, 104
Linnet, 116

Magpie, 128
Martin, 131

— Purple, 133

— Sand, 132
Measurements of birds' eggs, 12

et seq.
Merganser, Hooded, 220

— Red-breasted, 229
Merlin, 47
Merrythoughts of birds, their

connection with flight, 57-liO
Moor Hen, 157
Mountain Finch, 111, 234

Nesting-places of British birds

mostly known, 29
Nightingale, 78
Night-jar, 134
Nut-cracker, 129
Nuthatch, 92

Oriole, Golden, GO
Ornamental colouring of birds'
eggs, IG et seq.

Osprey, 42
Ousel, Ring, 75
Owls, 57 -GO
Owl, Barn, 64

— Eagle, 63

— Hawk, 64

— Little, 64

— Long-eared, 62

— - Scops Eared, 63

— Short-eared, 62

— Snowy, 64, 232

— Tawny, 60

— Tengmalm's, 62

Partridge, Common, 150

— Red-legged, 151
Petrel, Capped, 196

— Fulmar, 195
Phalarope, Grey, 168

— Red-necked, 168
Pheasant, 149
Pigeon, Passenger, 145
Pipit, Meadow, 100

— Richards', 102

— Rock, 101

— Tawny, 102

— Tree, 100

— Water, 101

Plentiful provision made for
Eagles' and Hawks' nest-
lings, 40-51

Plover, Golden, 103

— Grey, 164

— Kentish, 163

— Little Ringed, 163

— Ringed, 162
Pochard, 224, 237

— Red-crested, 224
Ptarmigan, 148
Puffin, 202

Quail, 152

Rail, Land, 153

— Water, 156
Raven, 122
Ra/.orbill, 198
Redpole, Mealy, 115

— Lesser, 115

244

Index.

Redshank, Common, 178
Redshank, Spotted, 179
Redstart, 78

— Black, 78
Redwing, 73, 233
Regains, Fire-crested, 89

— Gold-crested, 89
Robin, 77
Roller, 137
Rook, 125

Ruff, 175

Sand Grouse, 146
Sanderling, 175, 235
Sandpiper, Bartram's, 178

— Bonaparte's, 172

— Broad-billed, 171

— Buff-breasted, 176

— Common, 176

— Curlew, 174

— Green, 177

— Pectoral, 172

— Purple, 174

— Wood, 178

— Yellow-shanked, 178
Scoter, Common, 228, 236

— Surf, 228

— Velvet, 228, 236
Serin, 114

Shag, 208

Shearwater, Bulwer's, 197

— Dusky, 197

— Fork-tailed, 197

— Great, 196

— Manx, 196

— Sooty, 196

— Storm, 197

— Wilson's, 197
Shieldrake, Common, 219

— Ruddy, 218
Shoveller, 221

Shrike, Great Grey, 67, 232

— Lesser, 67

— Red-backed, 67

— Wood chat, 68
Siskin, 115, 234

Skua, Great or Common, 193

— Long-tailed or Buffon's, 195

— Richardson's or Arctic, 194

Skua, Pomarine, 194
Sky Lark, 102
Smew, 229, 239
Snipe, Common, 170

— Great, 170

— Jack, 171

— Red-breasted, 171
Sparrow Hawk, 50
Sparrow, House, 112

— Tree, 111
Spoonbill, White, 213
Starling, 120

— Red-winged, 120

— Rose-coloured, 121
Stilt, Black-winged, 168
Stint, American, 173

— Little, 173

— Temminck's, 173
Stone-chat, 79
Stork, Black, 212

— White, 212
Swallow, 129
Swift, 133

— Alpine, 134
Swan, Bewick's, 218

— Mute, 218

— Polish, 218

Teal, 222

Tern, Arctic, 186

— Black, 1S3

— Caspian, 184

— Common, 186

— Gull-billed, 184

— Lesser, 187

— Noddy, 188

— Roseate, 185

— Sandwich, 185

— Sooty, 187

— Whiskered, 184

— White-winged, 184
Thrush, Black-throated, 74

— Gold-vented, 71

— Missel, 71

— Rock, 76

— Song, 72

— White's, 71
Titmouse, Bearded, 97

— Blue, 93

Index.

245

Titmouse, Cole, 95

— Created, 95

— Great, 93

— Long-tailed, 96

— Marsh, 95
Turnstone, 166, 235
Twite, 117

Varying names for the same

bird, 29 tt seq.
Vulture, Egyptian, 37

— Griffon, 37

Wagtail, Blue-headed, 99

— Grey, 99

— Pied, 98

— White, 98

— Yellow, 99
Warbler, Aquatic, 83

— Dartford, 84

— Garden, 85

— Grasshopper, 83

— Great Reed, 82

— Icterine, 81

— Orphean, 87

— Reed. 82

Warbler, Rufous, 81
Wagtail, Savi's, 84

— Sedge, 82

— Yellow-browed, 88
Water Rail, 156
Waxwing, Bohemian, 87
Wheatear, 80
Whimbrel, 182
Whinchat, 80
Whitethroat, 84

— Lesser, 85
Whooper, 217, 235
Wigeon, 223

— American, 224
Woodcock, 169
Woodpecker, Green, 133

— Great Spotted, 140

— Lesser Spotted, 141
Wren, 89

— Fire-crested, 89

— Gold-crested, 89

— Willow, 87

— Wood, 87
Wryneck, 141

Yellow Hammer, 107

Piinttdby Cowan b* Co., LimiUtf, Perth.

PLATE II.

]. Kite. 2 Common Buzzard. 3 Honey Huzzard. 4— 5. Butcher-bird. 8. Spotted Fh catcher.

T. i'ied FIjcitcher. 8. Dipper. 9. .Missel Thrush. 10. Sonjc Thrush. 11. Blackbird.

12. Ri « OuzeL 13. Hedge Sparrow. 14. Robin. 15. Redstart. 18. blonechat-

17. Whiiichat.

PLATE III

n^

•

.-^^ •'

1. WhMteir. J. Grasshov-.t. \\ „:,..:. 5. SeJire WarlU.-. i. IL-.l Wi.-:.er. i. X.^iii-i:^-*!*.

'\. ll:io< Cap. 7. GfcTvien \V*rbl*r. S. WhiWthroal. 9. Le*»er Whilethro»t. 10. Wood Wivn-

11. Wil.ow Wren. It Chiff Chaff. 13 P*rtford Warbler. 14. Ovld-crest li. Great Til.

1ft. Blue Til. ir. Lons-Uil Tit. IS. Bearded Tie 19. Pied Wagtail. JO. Grey Wj^aiL

:i. Meadow Pipit. fi 23. Tne Pipit. i4. Skvlark. £&. Wood Lark.

PLATR IV.

9

Mm

1. Common Iiuntin|)r. 2. Ulnck-lieade 1 Huiitiiiif. 3. Yellow-hammer. 4. Ciil Biiniii.if.

6. Chaffinch, a. Tree Sparrow. 7. House Sparrow. 8. Oreenflcicli. e. Hawfinch. 10. Gol..fiiica.

11. Linnet. 12. Redpole. 13. Twite. 14. lUillfinch. 15. Crossbill. 16. Creepi-r. l". Wren.

IS. Nuthatch. 19. Cuckoo. ':u Swallow.

PLATK V.

L Starling. 2. Chough. S. liaven. 4. Carrion Crow. 6. Koyston Crow. a. Rook.
7. Jackdaw. S. MAffi ie. 9. Joy-

I'LATK VI.

1. N'mht-Jir. 5. I'hea-ant. 3. Capercailzie. 4. Ulack Jr...^. . ,. iioi Lirous
a. Partridge. 7. Ked-leKKCd Partridge. 8. yuail.

PLATE VII.

1. SK.neCurle^v. J. Golden Plover. .1 Hin>rea Plover. 4. Kentish Plover. 5. Lapwlu?.
6. Oyster-Calclier.

PLATE VnL

I li<TVA. i. Bi»f«ro. *.

Sto49i>«c C >i

PLATE IX.

.■^^■^

^"♦■•^■''•■••..••■■^*'4'.^

• '»

f4-'^

i' ; . . . 2^. • ? -" - V > . - "^^ J. :

-1 w m.

smt

B7 /.*f ■-,■•>>

^

1. Woodcock. 8. Common Snipo. 3. Dunlin. 4. Land Rail. 5. Spotted Crake.
e. Water. Kail. 7. Moorhen. 3. Coot.

PLATE X.

Ll-Cfl

t. BUek Gu ll«ino«. ♦ R*xorbtU.

PLATK Xr.

1,2. Sandwich Tern. 3. Comnun Tern. 4. Arctic T^rn. 5. Leaser Tern. 0. Black Tcm.
7. Ulack-healeJ Gull.

PLATE XII.

'••5; ♦n' v > .*:^*<t^

Xis^^

L Kittiwake. 2. Common Gull. 8. Lesser Black backed Gull. i. llernnK GulL
5. BichardsonU Skua.

AMNH LIBRARY

100105045